how to host an artsy friend who likes beer and good food

the second in an occasional series about the fun things to do when people come to visit!  my friend talia visited me in houston in…june.  early june.  but this post is better late than never, right?!  talia is artsy and loves food and good drinks and we became great friends the year i lived in new york, after becoming good friends working together in england for a few summers.

friday night: airport pick up, dinner at torchy's tacos (duh.  every visit to texas must start with tacos.)

saturday: brunch at down house, beers at karbach brewery (photo below! this brewery opens up several times a week for people to just come and drink and hang out.  there are dozens of picnic tables and people were there with board games, cupcakes for birthdays, meals…almost anything you can imagine.  i loved it!), watching 20 feet from stardom in the air-conditioning after sweating outside at karbach (good movie - thank you, netflix), turrell sky space for the sunset show, dinner at pondicheri (because talia and i had an indian food tradition in new york and pondicheri is AWESOME).

sunday: brunch at empire cafe (in the garden out back - such a fun spot), the menil art gallery (eclectic - right up talia's alley - and she knew all these damn artists i'd never heard of - impressive!), coffee at agora, looking at antiques in montrose, barefoot contessa on tv.

it was SO much fun hanging out with talia and showing her my city!  i think houston showed itself to be pretty awesome.  and i offer this key to hosting people in houston in the summer: alternate outside time with air conditioned time.  that air conditioned time is CLUTCH, but the whole trip can't be air conditioned - lots of fun things are outside!

who wants to visit me next?!