Mary Grove Awning

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.

Dive into the wonders of the underwater world at the unique Downtown Aquarium, where you can interact with the ancient legends of El Dorado in the Sunken Temple, sink to the bottom of the neighboring sea, and catch glimpses of offshore rig divers in the Underwater Rig. Tour the marsh and bayous of the Gulf Coast and encounter the alligators, turtles, bullfrogs, and more in the Texas Bayou. Step inside the sunken hull of a 17th-century Spanish Galleon and see the giant octopus, a moray eel, clownfish, and the diversity of species the ocean world has to offer at the Shipwreck. Explore the lush environment of the dangerous tropical life of the red-bellied piranhas and venomous freshwater stingrays in the Rainforest. Step into Discovery Zone and come face-to-face with electric eels, seahorses, and a dazzling array of colorful fish. Interactive monitors let you further explore coral reefs, the arctic seas, and the mysteries of the deep ocean. You may even meet one of our Ambassador Animals up close during the daily Animal Encounters.

Discover new films every November at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, where they feature a wide variety of curated feature films that focuses on the diverse cultural community of Houston, Texas. Houston Cinema Arts Festival is the only U.S. film festival that features films by artists about artists. This vibrant multimedia arts event breaks out of the confines of the movie theater through live music and film performances, outdoor projections, and more. They will also showcase the return of CineSpace, the annual short film competition with NASA, and the third annual regional short film competition Borders | No Borders.

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.