TIME TO PAINT the town! This season, a trio of art fairs hits Houston, beginning with the Houston Art Fair (formerly the Houston Fine Art Fair), where nearly 50 local and international galleries exhibit Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at Silver Street Studios. On the same weekend, the Texas Contemporary event is held Downtown at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Opening-night festivities include a collaborative performance with the Houston Ballet’s Oliver Halkowich and multi-media artist Chris Doyle. And a week later, the semi-annual Bayou City Art Festival returns to the streets of Downtown with hundreds of outdoor booths.
Buddy & Kylie Carruth, Margaret & Jay Magness
Chaired by Zane and Brady Carruth, the evening started with a ghoulish reception that included magicians and fortune tellers in the Equine Rescue Arena that was decorated to look like a haunted mansion — floating candles and ghost dancers included! The horse barn was open for photo ops, and some of the horses wore costumes to partake in the night’s festivities.
Emcee Deborah Duncan welcome the crowd before it was time for a spellbinding three-course dinner as TUTS dancers performed “I Put a Spell on You”. Bone-appetit!
The live auction included a game in the Buzbee Suite at Kyle Field; a night out with Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud; a weekend getaway for at a Galveston beach house; and the opportunity to experience a release of rehabilitated bald eagles.
After dinner, “cocktails, cuddles and cookies” were available in the dog and cat adoption area, where sweet pups and kittens were available for petting and holding. The fab-boo-lous evening raised $1.3 million for those animals in need.
Allison and Jim Bagley
Bill Boyce, Ray Echevarria, Bruce Lundstrom, Scott Davenport
Carl and Cindy Bohannon
Deborah Duncan & Duncan Horner
John and Terry Johnson
Kristen & Mike Kelly
Brady and Zane Carruth
Hannah Barker, Ashley Nguyen
Cathy and Larry Kelley
Chris & Susan Dray
Hershey Grace and Ed McMahon
Ryan & Katherine DeLongchamps
Buttermilk Baby
Auden
Not Your Nana's Martini at Auden (photo by Jordan Hughes)
Auden is getting into the Halloween spirit with special spooky drinks and an all-day happy hour on Thursday, Oct. 31. The sophisticated Autry Park restaurant will be mixing up enchanting concoctions on Halloween day, such as Vampire Kiss with raspberry liqueur and champagne. Patrons can toast to All Hallows Eve with the Purple People Eater with blue Curacao and white rum, or the Witches Brew, an elixir of pear liqueur and smoked jalapeno tequila. Auden is open Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 10pm.
Aye Candy
Cocosol cocktail at Aye Candy (photo by George Villa)
This hidden speakeasy is offering a wickedly fun time on Halloween with a costume contest. Judges will vote based on creativity and overall look, awarding $1,000 to the 1st place winner, $500 to 2nd place, and $250 to 3rd place. DJ Jaime Martinez is set to spin spooktacular tunes, while guests can gnosh on Halloween skull and ghost strawberries from Chocolate Dippin. Bewitching beverages for the night include the Panama Spice Carajillo, with choice of whiskey, tequila or rum, then blended with Arroz con Pina, a traditional Panamanian horchata infused with sweet pineapple and cinnamon. The Wonkatini is a dreamy blend of vodka, creme de vanille, Licor 43, chocolate, heavy creamy, Ghirardelli white chocolate, and garnished with a spooky chocolate eye from Mostly Chocolate. Open on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 2am. The costume contest is at 10pm.
Brennan's of Houston
Brennan's Witchy Brunch
Ghouls just gotta have fun! Eat, drink, be mischievous, and head to Houston’s iconic Cajun/Creole palace for the Witchy Brunch featuring a three-course meal with favorites like turtle soup and Eggs Brennan (and a complimentary cocktail!). Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 713.522.9711. Available 11am-2pm Friday, October 25, and Sunday, October 27.
Buttermilk Baby
A Halloween ice cream toppings bar awaits: Buttermilk Baby in M-K-T Heights will serve its Carvel soft-serve with a special Halloween-themed pop-up toppings bar on the patio from noon to 6pm Saturday, Oct. 26. Come to lap it up during the beautiful fall weather!
Dandelion Cafe
Coffee at Dandelion (photo by Becca Wright)
Magical things are happening at Dandelion Cafe this Halloween. Now through Oct. 31, the cafe’s three locations will serve two whimsical, lush ube lattes to celebrate the holiday. Guests can choose between the Witches Brew, a purple ube latte with oat milk served hot or cold, or the Spooky Ube, an ube-flavored frozen drink with crushed Oreo cookies and topped with crushed Oreos and whipped cream.
The Cursed Cauldron
Cocktails at Cursed Cauldron
Step into another world where witches rule and magic thrives. On Halloween, guests can compete in a spellbinding costume contest with first place receiving a $250 cash prize for the most impressive/elaborate costume. Prizes will also be given for People’s Choice and Most Magical.
This traveling pop-up is at Aero Cocktail Co. for its second year, bringing enchanted vibes to Houston. Guests will be fully immersed in the experience with specially designed decor and themed drinks such as Freyja’s Cup, a Skyy Blood Orange Vodka cocktail with strawberry, rose, honey, lemon and Fever Tree Ginger Beer, or Old Magick with Redemption Rye Whiskey, black sesame, vanilla and sinnamon smoke. No ghouls need to leave hungry, as Aero Cocktail Co. provides savory bites like Char-Boo-terie Boards, Hocus Pocus Popcorn and Paranormal Pizza. Open through Nov. 2, from Tuesdays-Saturdays, 4pm-12am, and Sundays from 2pm-10pm. “Witches Hour” is 4pm-6pm from Tuesday-Friday with $10 cocktails & 25 percent off food.
Feges BBQ
Halloween Spooktacular at Feges BBQ's Spring Branch location
Houston families can kick off Halloween festivities at Feges BBQ Spring Branch’s annual Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 26. The BBQ joint will transform into a spooky spectacle complete with “Cupcake’s Haunted House,” a “Dragon’s Nest” play area, themed bounce house, tarot card readings, pumpkin-decorating ($5 per pumpkin) and more, while Hocus Pocus plays on the restaurant’s TVs. Costumes are encouraged, and a costume contest will award best family costume, best costume under 12 years old, and best costume 12 and up. Feges’ classic Texas BBQ menu will be available along with tantalizing drink specials. The event runs from 3pm-6pm. Entry is free.
Holey Moley Mini Golf
Holey Moley cocktails
Those that have the guts to hit the green can have a ghoulish good time at Holey Moley Mini Golf. Now through Nov. 1, the Caddy Shack bar will be serving spooky cocktails to get into the Halloween spirit including The Dead Duck with Tito’s vodka, pineapple, coconut cream, lime and chamoy, Witches Brew with Tito’s vodka, Triple Sec, lemon, sage and egg whites, and Worms of the Dirt with Tito’s vodka, Nutella, coffee liqueur, cream, and Oreos, plus a Spider Juice shooter with Tito’s vodka, apple pucker, honey and lemon.
Also expect live entertainment including magicians and DJs throughout the two-week celebration, and guests who dress up will receive a ‘treat’ from the team of spooky staff. Booking link here.
Montrose Cheese & Wine
Costume contest at Montrose Cheese & Wine
Do our pets like dressing up for Halloween? Apparently so! Goodnight Hospitality's Montrose Cheese and Wine is hosting their third annual dog costume contest throughout October for guests that come by and enjoy an afternoon or evening on the patio with their dressed-up dog(s). The winner will receive a bag of Olympia provisions dog treats for their pup, and a 6 pack of wine for the human!
Mostly Chocolate
Mostly Chocolates
Houston’s premier chocolatier, Mostly Chocolate, has a delectable array of handcrafted artisanal chocolates that exude autumnal flavors and will taste like fall even if our Houston weather is still catching up.
Shop Halloween by checking out the Trick-or-Treat Chocolate Box (4 or 6 pieces, starting at $14.75) for your Halloweenie sweetie, which includes two seasonal flavors of Lingonberry Oatmeal and Pumpkin Pie. There is also an array of savory sweet treats that are frightfully delightful like Celebration Popcorn, Potato Chips, Pretzels and Fritos or the famous chocolate dipped and decorated Oreos and Rice Krispies. All of these Halloween flavors and Mostly Chocolate classics are available in store or online in Build Your Own Boxes (6, 12, 16, 25 or 36 pieces, starting at $21).
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