Houston Entertainment

Downtown Houston has transformed into a vibrant entertainment district that buzzes day and night with restaurants, bars, clubs, cinemas and theatres. Bayou Place, an entertainment complex in the downtown Theater District, has been a great addition to the area, providing restaurants, live music and a multiplex cinema. Lovers of theatre are well catered for year round, as Houston is one of a handful of American cities that has permanent ballet, orchestra, opera and theatre companies.

Nightlife

Richmond Avenue, on the west side of the city adjacent to the Galleria, is a particularly happening place. Smart dress is expected in most of the clubs and bars, although venues that are more like pubs are fairly casual. Bars are generally open from lunchtime until 02:00 in the morning, and the minimum drinking age is 21. Catch retro disco at Polly Esthers, 6111 Richmond Avenue. Tonic, at 310 Main Street, is a funky place to be seen with different music each night, including hip-hop, house, salsa and meringue. Six clubs in one venue, City Streets, Richmond Avenue, comes complete with disco, country music and more, a piano bar and karaoke room.

McGonigels Mucky Duck, on Norfolk Street near Shepherd Drive, is one of the best venues for acoustic music and features a variety of folk acts. The Mercury Room, Prairie Street, is rather upmarket with a wide selection of live music and one of the hottest clubs around. Jazz lovers are drawn to the Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Texas Avenue, while dance music and great views of the city can be enjoyed from the top floor of the Sky Bar, on Montrose Boulevard at Hawthorne. Bayou Blues, in the Bayou Place entertainment complex on Smith and Texas Avenue, features live blues music, which is very popular downtown.

Theatre and music

Houston has gained an enviable reputation as a world-class centre for the arts, and is one of the few cities with its own resident professional companies in ballet, opera and theatre. The 17-block Theater District is home to over 200 performing arts organisations, and houses some very prestigious theatres and performance halls. Catch first-rate Broadway and off-Broadway productions at the Alley Theater, or opt for incredible opera performed by the Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winning Houston Grand Opera. The Aerial Theater is the resident theatre at Bayou Place, and offers a broad range of productions, including comedies and concerts.

Festivals

The Fourth of July celebrations draw thousands to the Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park, for the ever-popular rendition of classical favourites that culminates in a spectacular firework display. For one weekend in August each year, the annual Houston International Jazz Festival transforms the city into a mini New Orleans, with performances from national and international stars in front of the City Hall. The free performances of Shakespeares plays at the Miller Outdoor Theater, during the annual Houston Shakespeare Festival in August, are a real crowd pleaser. Other annual events include:

• Houston International Festival This annual festival is a massive celebration of international culture. The city closes off 20 downtown blocks to showcase arts, crafts and food from a dazzling variety of nations representing the diversity of Houston. More than 1,000 performers appear on the outdoor stages. Listen to music, dance, and people-watch during this week of fun and games. Each year, a different country is highlighted, and is a great opportunity to learn about other nations and have a great time doing it. Phone: +1 713 654 8808; website: www.ifest.org
• ZiegenBock Festival is one of Houstons most prestigious and awaited music events. Various national and international bands are invited each year to perform live in front of the citys crazy crowds. Produced by Mustang Music Group, the festival is known to create a high-voltage atmosphere as the audiences succumb to music mania. Phone: +1 832 237 8900; www.ziegfest.com
• Texas Renaissance Festival
  Step back in time to the year 1540 and watch in awe as knights seated on regal steeds joust with lances and provide unforgettable entertainment. The festival takes place over a period of seven to eight weekends in the fall. The 50-acre, Renaissance theme park, set in a shady pine forest, is host to a marketplace filled with more than 330 unique arts and crafts shops, and you get to sample some of the tasty cuisine that includes a range of food and drink from around the world. Phone: +1 936 894 2516; website: www.texrenfest.com