First Houston Barbecue Festival is coming

Are you ready for some BBQ?: Michael Paulsen/ Houston Chronicle

Of all the inferiority complexes Houston allegedly suffers, barbecue should not be among them. And yet, when Texas barbecue is parsed — and it’s currently very hot as a culinary topic nationally — Houston isn’t part of the discussion. Austin and its satellites, including Taylor, Elgin, Lockhart and Luling, seem to get all the attention.

 

Two Houston barbecue lovers want to change that. After investing years of hands-on research to find the best Houston barbecue, J.C. “Chris” Reid and Michael Fulmer are launching the first Houston Barbecue Festival, an event designed to celebrate the unique barbecue traditions of a city refusing to remain cloaked behind a veil of smoke. Today the festival, to be held March 24, launches its tickets sales on houbbq.com and announces its lineup, which at press time includes Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue, Tin Roof BBQ, Gerardo’s, CorkScrew BBQ, Ray’s BBQ Shack, Blake’s BBQ, Virgie’s Bar-B-Que, Gatlin’s BBQ, Burn’s BBQ, Brook’s Place BBQ and Lenox Bar-B-Que. About four other barbecue shops also may be added.

 

The festival, which will be from 1 to 5 p.m. at Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road, is modeled on the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival: for one price attendees can sample tasting portions from all the participating barbecue joints. It’s an opportunity for some of the city’s newer and unheralded barbecue operations to get some well-deserved exposure, the organizers say.

 

 

Houston Barbecue Festival
When: 1-5 p.m. March 24
Where: Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road.
Tickets: All will be sold in advance at www.houbbq.com (no sales at the door). General admission is $40 per person or $80 for VIP tickets, which allow guests to enter an hour early and includes a T-shirt, goodie back and drink tickets. Admission includes tasting portions from all participants. Beer and mixed drinks sold separately.

 

Read Full Article

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Houston Rodeo 2013

The "Click 2 Houston" website has a section dedicated to the Houston Rodeo to help you keep up today on events and happenings.

Click 2 Houston - Rodeo


Houston Rodeo Online


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Mardi Gras! Galveston 2013 links

The 2013 event is scheduled to be the biggest Mardi Gras! Galveston celebration yet!
Important Mardi Gras! Galveston 2013 links:

• Parking Information
• Ticket Information 
• Live Entertainment
• Uptown Parades
• FAQs 
• Other Event Information

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Houston bars and Mardi Gras

Houston bars and restaurants celebrate Mardi Gras

You don’t have to go to the island to celebrate Mardi Gras. Several local restaurants and bars will be hosting their own bead-filled bashes. (We'll be updating this list as it gets closer to Fat Tuesday.)

Oh, baby, it's Mardi Gras time!

House of Blues will be the site of a Mardi Gras Feb. 9. There will be a zydeco band, a Bloody Mary Bar and a Cajun feast. From noon-4 p.m., $29.95 gets you four pounds of crawfish and all you can at at a Cajun buffet.
1204 Caroline, 888-402-5837

 

The “Roots of Brazil” is the theme of the G Lounge’s Brazilian Carnaval (8 p.m.-2 a.m. Feb. 9). The Bacanas Brazilian Band will perform classic sambas and other traditional music. Presale tickets for this 18-and-up event are $25.
5718 Fairdale Lane, 832-881-1569.

Read Full Article

Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/

Mardi Gras in Galveston

Island gears up for 2013 Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras kick offs Feb. 1 on Galveston Island and runs through Feb. 12. The nation’s third-largest Mardi Gras celebration will feature 38 concerts, 24 parades, five masked balls and countless parties.
The pre-Lent party attracts more 300,000 to the island each year.
Admission at the gate to the downtown Mardi Gras entertainment district is $17 (free for ages 11 and younger). For discounts, purchase your tickets online at mardigrasgalveston.com. You’ll also find multiday passes and tickets for balcony-view parties.

Here are highlights — and, please, pace yourself.

Friday, Feb. 1
Four parades will roll through the downtown entertainment district beginning with the Party Gras Parade — a Dixieland jazz band — at 5 p.m. It will be followed by the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Parade at 7 p.m., the third annual Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade at 8:30 p.m. and the Krewe da’ Yaga’s Café Parade at 10 p.m.

The Mystic Krewe of Aquarius will roll again.: Mayra Beltran : 29-95

Saturday, Feb. 2
Grammy-nominated rockers Tonic will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Saengerfest Park, located at the corner of Strand and 23rd streets. It’s free with admission to the Mardi Gras entertainment district.
Parades routes will go along the seawall and through the downtown entertainment district.

Dionne Bennett of Houston screams for beads in 2012.: Associated Press

 On the seawall, 20 marching bands and hundreds of costumed krewe members will take part in the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Mardi Gras Kickoff Parade at noon. At 6 p.m., Krewe of Gambrinus “Lights Up the Night” Parade will conclude with a fireworks display.
Downtown will see the Zaniest Golf Cart Parade at 1 p.m., the iHeartRadio Rocks The Block Parade at 3 p.m., the Art Car Parade at 4 p.m. and the Build Your Own Krewe Parade at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 3

 Two family-friendly parades -- the Sunshine Kids Parade rolls at 1 p.m. and the Shriners Hospitals for Children Parade is a go at 3 p.m. – will be a celebration of children. Admission to the entertainment district is free.

Friday, Feb. 8

 Country music artist Lee Brice will perform a concert at 9 p.m. in Saengerfest Park, located at the corner of Strand and 23rd streets. Free with admission to Mardi Gras entertainment district.
Spectators can enjoy three parades in the downtown entertainment district, including the Danny Weber Memorial Fire Truck Parade at 7 p.m., the Krewe Babalu All Krewe Parade at 8 p.m. and the Krewe of Maximilian Parade at 10 p.m.

Read Full Article


Visit my Food Blog at http://southerncookingwithtodd.blogspot.com/