Your Guide to Zoo Lights, EaDo’s Ultimate Bike and Beer Party and a Twin Peaks Surprise

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.

Brew Lights

Can you feel it? That holiday magic? As Christmas lights begin to don old oaks and inflatable blowups take over front lawns, that must mean it’s officially time to head to the Houston Zoo for the annual Zoo Lights. But before you go with the kids in tow and run like mad through the grounds, experience the holiday tradition a few days early at Brew Lights.

Brew Lights, held on Thursday, November 21, will be the 21 and up way to do Zoo Lights before it officially opens to the public on Saturday, November 23. Enjoy some Saint Arnold brew, wine, or spiked hot chocolate (the appropriate seasonal sip) as you stroll through the grounds and marvel at the lights.

Tickets to the fun and celebratory event will include two free 12-ounce pours of Saint Arnold beer. This is truly a win-win.

General Admission is $45,

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Zoo Lights

Once you’ve recovered from Brew Lights, roll on back to the Zoo (this time with the whole crew) for Zoo Lights. With the brightly lit, neon adorned trees and planned schedule of events and activities, this beloved holiday tradition will delights all those who attend.

Zoo Lights will include Candy the Zoo Lights Zebra, an ice throne perfect for selfies, plus photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and sweet snacking opportunities (churros or s’mores, anyone?). The Zoo will also be debuting some new features this year, so expect a bigger and better Zoo Lights than ever before. There will be a 100-foot-long Infinity Tunnel of Light, 4-D Enchanted Forest, a giant Ice Dragon, snow in the Winter Wonderland, and more. Go big or go home, they say.

Zoo Lights begins this Saturday, and will run through Sunday, January 12. Ticket prices vary, but start at $12.90 online.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

East End Taco, Brew, and Bike Tour

At this point, it’s become pretty clear that EaDo is a huge H-Town hotspot. The area has seen quite a revival in the last several years with new bars coming in and restaurants opening up (though some are now looking to move out). So head there this weekend, and see all the sites at this weekend’s East End Taco, Brew, and Bike Tour, taking place this Saturday, November 23.

The event will start at EaDo Bike Co., and will travel to two taco joints and two breweries: The Original Villa Arcos, La Esquina, Sigma Brewing Company, and 8th Wonder Brewery. Taste the love poured into some of the best tacos in town, and wash it all down with the familiar and refreshing flavors of some bangin’ brews.

And the best part of the tour (besides the blatantly obvious tacos and beer)? If  you find yourself bike-less, just get to EaDo Bike Co. early to rent one (or plan ahead and reserve yours online beforehand). Because nothing should stop you from making some tasty Saturday plans.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

MFAH Mixed Media

A fixture on the social calendar, albeit one that continues to surprise, is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Mixed Media parties, each timed to an ongoing exhibit the institution on Bissonett hosts. This season’s Mixed Media is based on MFAH’s Beatriz Gonzalez: Retrospective, the survey of the visceral Colombian artist.

Kiko Villamizar’s Afro-Colombian-meets-reggae-meets-cumbia music headlines, alongside Houston party mainstays Bombon and DJ Sun. After-hours views of the Gonzalez show await, along with an art-making activity, a sampling of Latin American food, and more. It gets underway Friday, November 22, at 8 pm. Tickets will set you back $25; $22 for MFAH members. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.

Twin Peaks

Chicago-based Twin Peaks have been active for about eight years now, and it’s been exciting to watch them evolve from a ramshackle, glam-influenced power pop band in the Midwestern vein of The Replacements to a sleeker, Grateful Dead-ish sound, evidenced on their solid 2019 record Lookout Low.

For fans of: Whitney, Sheer Mag, Dr. Dog. The show takes place this Friday, November 22, at Satellite Bar. Doors open at 8 pm; tickets are $18. -Matthew Ramirez

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.