Sneaker Summit Brings Mega Crowds to Houston, Girls Rock and the ’90s Come Back — the 5 Best Things to do in Houston

Houston weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s new events calendar offers a curated look at all the best things to do in the area. But everyone can still use a guru — or two.

PaperCity Weekend Gurus Matthew Ramirez and Virginia Reynolds cull our calendar for your weekend must dos in this weekly series.

A Houston Legend’s Modernism

Here in Houston, there’s a lot to be proud of: stellar baseball (pun definitely intended), warm weather, incredible food. But of the many things to boast, museums and art have to be at the top of the list, and we can thank Houston’s legendary philanthropist Miss Ima Hogg for that.

While her home at Bayou Bend. filled with beautifully preserved American art and furniture, provides a lens into the country’s history of fine craftsmanship, we would be remiss if we didn’t remember Hogg’s substantial collection of and appreciation for European and North American avant-garde art

Now, you can view Ima Hogg’s collection of European and North American art at The Museum of Fine Arts’ new exhibition, Miss Ima Hogg & Modernism. The exhibit, which opens this Saturday, July 27, will display more than 100 prints and drawings created by a number of renowned artists, including George Bellows, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, José Clemente Orozco and Pablo Picasso.

The exhibition runs through Sunday, November 3. Ticket prices vary.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

’90s Pub Crawl

You don’t have to be a ’90s baby to have a fondness for those “good ol’ days.” Music was funky fresh; fashion, having just come off of the ’80s, was beginning to mend itself; and all the gadgets and toys – who doesn’t love a good slap bracelet?

Well, this Saturday, July 27, you can relive your glory days by way of a Downtown pub crawl, hosted by Saved by the Bell‘s very own Dustin “Screech” Diamond. Put on your most prized and colorful ’90s extra-large polos, fanny packs and crew socks — and head to Live Sports Bar on Main Street to begin this flashback foolery. From there, you’ll hit the participating bars at your own pace.

Each ticket comes with some sweet swag, like a Tamagotchi, fanny pack, slap band, Yo-Yo and more.

General Admission is $18, VIP ranges in price from $28 to $31, Meet and Greet tickets are $50.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

H-Town Sneaker Summit

Texans are known for calling basically any shoe that exists a “tennis shoe,” unless it’s a dress shoe or sandal – or maybe everyone in the country does it too… except maybe for those in the Northeast. They are adamant to differentiate between the different comfy shoes that we wear. For instance, those shoes you run in? Those are called “running shoes.” And everything else? Well, those are “sneakers.”

This Sunday, July 28 will be “a day for people who love sneakers” (not tennis shoes or other comfy kicks), as NRG Center hosts the world’s largest community-based sneaker event, H-Town Sneaker Summit.

The sneaked-out event, which started in 2004, boasts tens of thousands of attendees and exhibitors each year, and this year is sure to be no different. You can buy, sell, trade and browse from the incredible collection of fashionable sneakers, clothing, and accessories. Recent years have hosted exclusive showcases from a number of popular brands, including adidas Originals, Reebok Classics, and more.

Early Bird tickets are sold out, but General Admission is still available for $35. VIP tickets are $65 and Friends and Family General Admission Packs are available for $25.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

QFest

One of Houston’s longest running cultural institutions, the LGBTQ film festival known as QFest roars into town this week, now in its 23rd year. Opening night saw iconic drag documentary Paris is Burning open the festivities, which run through an expanded seven days, ending July 31.

The best way to enjoy QFest is of course to snag a QPass (just $75) which grants you access to all the movies — short films, movies in competition, and movies that are not in the festival’s competitive lineup. Highlights include A Bigger Splash about the life of innovative artist David Hockney; Before Stonewall, a new documentary about the birth of the gay rights movement; and Pasolini, with Willem Dafoe in the title role (it doubles as the Texas premiere of the Abel Ferrara film five years in the making).

Venues include the MFAH, Rice Cinema at Rice University, Aurora Picture Show, and more. Individual ticket prices vary but most are $10. For the full lineup and much more information, click here.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Lima Time Time Live

Lima Time Time, a podcast about the Houston Astros (lovingly named after the late pitcher Jose Lima) is one of my go-to listens, a terrific blend of smart comedy (not drive-time laffs) and needlepoint precision takes about the Astros, baseball and sports in general. Hosted by James Yasko (aka @AstrosCounty on Twitter, a must-follow) and stand-up comedian Patrick McLellan, they are bringing the podcast to its first ever live show this Saturday, July 27, at standup hideout The Secret Group.

Doors open at 4 pm; tickets are just $5.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Girls Rock

Girls Rock Camp is one of the coolest arts initiatives in Houston, where local musicians, teachers and professionals team up to teach guitar, drums, keys and more to young girls, and eventually guide them through a battle-of-the-bands contest. Each summer Girls Rock Camp culminates in an end-of-the-camp concert, and this year is no different. Swing through Warehouse Live this Sunday, July 28, for the showcase.

Doors open at 4 pm; tickets cost $10.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.