If you think museums are just temples of quietude where one tiptoes through halls decked with priceless paintings — think again. The institutions of Houston’s Museum District are ready to show you a good time this summer with happy hours, concerts and block parties sure to give you a new appreciation for the arts.
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston hosts its summer music event, Steel Lounge Underground on July 5. The annual event brings together a diverse array of musical artists and allows patrons to explore the current exhibition while listening to music. This year’s lineup includes Josh Dupont, Supa Neil, and Stewart Anderson from A Fistful of Soul. The free event will also feature a cash bar and food trucks. The current exhibition at CAMH features works from the interactive media group NoiseFold. 8 pm to midnight.
The Museum of Fine Arts hosts Happy Hour Thursdays each week through August 29. MFAH admission is always free on Thursdays thanks to Shell and from 6 to 8 pm this summer you’ll enjoy happy hour with tunes from a local DJ, light bites from Ladybird Food Truck and a cash bar. The museum is open til 9 every Thursday.
In July the Museum District will host its third Museum Experience with participants from Zone 3-MFAH, CAMH and the Jung Center of Houston. The walkable experience will showcase these three institutions and their current exhibitions combined with special programming, food trucks and more. All three will be free for the Experience, set for Saturday July 27. The next Museum Experience is scheduled for Sept. 28 and will include the Children’s Museum of Houston, the Health Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo and Rice University Gallery.
Need a little science in your life? Enjoy some cocktail concoctions, live music, food trucks and a little geekiness at the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s LaB 5555 event on August 23. This time HMNS is celebrating 80s Energy with sounds from the Space Rockers. These hilarious cartoon-like characters play their own brand of “superhero dance rock,” and are hailed for their take on hip hop and pop. The first 200 through the door will get a geeky gift, so show up early.
If family-friendly activities are what you seek, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft hosts its Hands-On Family Festival on September 7. Join the Center for the free celebration that brings together visitors of all ages for craft activities, demonstrations by area artists, refreshments and three different exhibitions in the galleries.
