Coddled Critters

The Houston Zoo is home to more than 4,500 animals, with more than 900 species representing the seventh most-visited zoo in the nation. Explore the featured attractions, which include the Kipp Aquarium, The Fischer Bird Gardens, the Tropical Bird House, a Children's Zoo with a petting zoo and water playground, the World of Primates, the Wildlife Carousel, the McNair Asian Elephant Habitat, and the Reptile & Amphibian Building.

Celebrate Hispanic culture and empower the community by promoting inclusion, culture, and education at the Institute of Hispanic Culture, where you will learn about the historical, linguistic, scientific, and artistic influence of Hispanic culture in the United States. Join together to preserve and disseminate the richness of Hispanic culture, values, and civic interests with the community of Houston, and see how they provide different educational and networking activities in collaboration with local universities. The main priorities of the Institute of Hispanic Culture are education and preserving Hispanic culture and values. As such, the Institute’s committees organize activities and events to raise funds for scholarship programs.

Bask in the sweet sounds of jazz music at the Houston International Jazz Festival, which makes its annual return by celebrating a remarkable run of music, artists, education, and history. The festival, benefitting Jazz Education, Inc., a nonprofit organization, starts the summer with live music and a host of musicians and bands worldwide. The focus of the festival always seeks to honor the legends, the music, and the standards of tradition, shaping young minds and educating them for the future.

Explore the remnants of the Old Market Square at La Carafe, where they have a reasonably priced wine bar where anyone can enjoy a mellow atmosphere, a nice wine selection, and good company with interesting people. The dim lights are coupled with arguably the best jukebox in town, ringing tunes from jazz and oldies to the cool sounds of Bob Marley. The bar takes as much space as the area for customers, but that doesn’t stop those wanting to come in and relax a bit, even if it means cozying up to a stranger on a crowded Saturday night.