Need a gift idea for two new parents in Houston, TX!
December 22, 2012 3:48 PM Subscribe
Last minute gift panic: Halp! My sister and her husband live in Houston, TX. I'd let to get them a nice gift that they could use in the area- Spa time, restaurant gift cards etc. I know nothing about the area. Suggestions? Special snowflake details inside
They've lived in the area for about 2 years. My sister can be a picky eater, but is broadening her horizons. They have a 4 month old daughter, so couple time could be nice. He's a quiet dude, I have no idea what he likes aside from football.
I'd like to find them something nice to do in the area as a gift. I'm also willing to consider any other option that might be nice for two new parents, even if it has nothing to do with Houston, TX.
They've lived in the area for about 2 years. My sister can be a picky eater, but is broadening her horizons. They have a 4 month old daughter, so couple time could be nice. He's a quiet dude, I have no idea what he likes aside from football.
I'd like to find them something nice to do in the area as a gift. I'm also willing to consider any other option that might be nice for two new parents, even if it has nothing to do with Houston, TX.
Houston is big. Really big. Too big for a gift certificate to any particular restaurant to be anything but a dicey proposition.
I had a baby fairly recently, and the thing I really loved was ... sheets. Great linens greatly improved my life, but I don't think I'm typical there. Is this something you'll mail? Buy in person? How much do you want to spend?
I'm not sure you've provided enough detail to get great answers so far.
posted by purpleclover at 4:49 PM on December 22, 2012
I had a baby fairly recently, and the thing I really loved was ... sheets. Great linens greatly improved my life, but I don't think I'm typical there. Is this something you'll mail? Buy in person? How much do you want to spend?
I'm not sure you've provided enough detail to get great answers so far.
posted by purpleclover at 4:49 PM on December 22, 2012
You might want to include what types of food she is guaranteed to like, and roughly what area of town they live in. We are pretty spread out, and have almost as many restaurants as people.
Having said that, two places I've really enjoyed recently are:
- Polovina Italian Cafe. This is in the Heights area. The blue crab ravioli is tremendous. It's BYOB (which they can get at a Specs on their way to the restaurant). Can be a romantic place, but there was an infant there the last time I went and it can be family-friendly. Also, outside seating will be nice when it is warmer.
- The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen. This is in the Upper Kirby area. This is adults only. The food is awesome, and they have an interesting variety of beer. I wish I could tell you what we ordered, but I don't remember exactly -- only that everyone was grinning like a fool at the high-quality food and beer.
We're kinda known for having so many restaurants, and with a wide variety. You'll have to tell us more. Otherwise, someone's gonna recommend Feast, and you'll see the great reviews... and not know that it is closing, that it's pretty centrally located but with crap parking options, and that it is offal. (Although I'm just assuming that your sister would not be thrilled with "Head-On Duck Neck Sausage." OTOH, if she would be ok with that, we have another place in town that's similar....)
posted by Houstonian at 4:59 PM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Having said that, two places I've really enjoyed recently are:
- Polovina Italian Cafe. This is in the Heights area. The blue crab ravioli is tremendous. It's BYOB (which they can get at a Specs on their way to the restaurant). Can be a romantic place, but there was an infant there the last time I went and it can be family-friendly. Also, outside seating will be nice when it is warmer.
- The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen. This is in the Upper Kirby area. This is adults only. The food is awesome, and they have an interesting variety of beer. I wish I could tell you what we ordered, but I don't remember exactly -- only that everyone was grinning like a fool at the high-quality food and beer.
We're kinda known for having so many restaurants, and with a wide variety. You'll have to tell us more. Otherwise, someone's gonna recommend Feast, and you'll see the great reviews... and not know that it is closing, that it's pretty centrally located but with crap parking options, and that it is offal. (Although I'm just assuming that your sister would not be thrilled with "Head-On Duck Neck Sausage." OTOH, if she would be ok with that, we have another place in town that's similar....)
posted by Houstonian at 4:59 PM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
The last time, which did you get and how was it received?
posted by Houstonian at 5:02 PM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Houstonian at 5:02 PM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not sure what part of town they are in, but if they have a reliable baby sitter and you want to gift them with dinner and a show, here are some options for the "show" part:
Alamo Drafthouse (movie theatre)
http://drafthouse.com/houston/mason_park
One location in Katy, west of Houston. In February there will be another location north of Houston, near Tomball.
The cool thing about the Alamo Drafthouse is that they serve food and beer during the movie. The second cool thing is that they allow young children on "Baby Day" (the first show of the day on Sundays and Tuesdays). From their website:
Infants and children under 6 are welcome to these shows, and of course, are allowed in for free. For our baby day shows, we keep the lights up a bit, and the sound down a bit, so your little one never has to know they even went to the movies!
Society for the Performing Arts (dance, theatre, music... a little of everything)
http://www.spahouston.org/
Da Camera (chamber music and jazz)
http://www.dacamera.com/
Theatre Under the Stars (musicals)
http://www.tuts.com/
Mercury Baroque (orchestra)
http://mercuryhouston.org/
Houston Ballet
http://www.houstonballet.org/
Houston Symphony
http://www.houstonsymphony.org/
Alley Theatre
http://www.alleytheatre.org/alley/default.asp
Also, see:
Houston Museaum of Natural Science
http://www.hmns.org/
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
http://www.mfah.org/
And there are a number of community theatres scattered throughout the area, of varying degrees of quality.
posted by rakaidan at 9:31 PM on December 22, 2012
Alamo Drafthouse (movie theatre)
http://drafthouse.com/houston/mason_park
One location in Katy, west of Houston. In February there will be another location north of Houston, near Tomball.
The cool thing about the Alamo Drafthouse is that they serve food and beer during the movie. The second cool thing is that they allow young children on "Baby Day" (the first show of the day on Sundays and Tuesdays). From their website:
Infants and children under 6 are welcome to these shows, and of course, are allowed in for free. For our baby day shows, we keep the lights up a bit, and the sound down a bit, so your little one never has to know they even went to the movies!
Society for the Performing Arts (dance, theatre, music... a little of everything)
http://www.spahouston.org/
Da Camera (chamber music and jazz)
http://www.dacamera.com/
Theatre Under the Stars (musicals)
http://www.tuts.com/
Mercury Baroque (orchestra)
http://mercuryhouston.org/
Houston Ballet
http://www.houstonballet.org/
Houston Symphony
http://www.houstonsymphony.org/
Alley Theatre
http://www.alleytheatre.org/alley/default.asp
Also, see:
Houston Museaum of Natural Science
http://www.hmns.org/
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
http://www.mfah.org/
And there are a number of community theatres scattered throughout the area, of varying degrees of quality.
posted by rakaidan at 9:31 PM on December 22, 2012
Similar to Alamo Drafthouse (serve dinner/drinks during a movie) is Studio Movie Grill - you'd likely want the CityCentre location which is on the west side of Houston, unless you know they live closer to Copperfield.
As other have noted, Houston is HUGE and more info will get you better answers.
posted by jorlyfish at 4:19 PM on December 23, 2012
As other have noted, Houston is HUGE and more info will get you better answers.
posted by jorlyfish at 4:19 PM on December 23, 2012
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posted by swhitt at 4:48 PM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]