The Best Events This Week in Houston: January 13-19, 2020

Storytime in the Gardens at Mercer Botanic Gardens In partnership with Harris County Public Library, Mercer Botanic Gardens presents a unique storytime in the natural setting of Mercer for parents and children to enjoy together. Storytime garden locations vary each week. Call 713-274-4160 to find out the location or to check for cancellations due to weather or holidays. Free event! Recommended for children ages 2 - 5. DETAILS & LOCATION

Yoga @ Levy Park Bayou Bliss Yoga presents a low-impact physical and spiritual fitness program which includes breath control, simple meditation, and bodily postures focused on improving physical flexibility, strength, and mental relaxation. This hour-long program is open to Yogis of all levels.  Y­­­oga mats and yoga blocks are provided by Levy Park for your convenience. 

Cooking Thyme at Mercer Botanic Gardens This exciting class offers opportunities to learn cooking skills, try new foods, learn where our food comes from, and find out why good nutrition is important! Classes are free, but registration is required. A parent or guardian must stay with the child during the program. Recipes are subject to change based on the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables from Mercer’s Vegetable Garden. Space is limited, call 713-274-4160 to register! First Wednesdays (Recommended Ages: 6 – 8)February 5: Seeds and Roasted Eggplant SaladMarch 4: Mini Herb Frittata Third Wednesdays (Recommended Ages: 9 – 11)January 15: Hummus Two WaysFebruary 19:

Yoga @ Levy Park Bayou Bliss Yoga presents a low-impact physical and spiritual fitness program which includes breath control, simple meditation, and bodily postures focused on improving physical flexibility, strength, and mental relaxation. This hour-long program is open to Yogis of all levels.  Y­­­oga mats and yoga blocks are provided by Levy Park for your convenience. 

BOA's Screen on the Green: Sixteen Candles Enjoy family-friendly movies with a view of the downtown Houston skyline. Arrive early for contests and activities. PLEASE NOTE: Blankets, pets (on leashes), and picnics are welcome and encouraged. Lawn chairs are allowed on the north side of the hill. Food, beer and wine are available for purchase at The Lake House; glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park. DETAILS & LOCATION

Bird Walk at Sheldon Lake Join us to find the birds in the park! Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is a birding hotspot with nearly 300 species that can be found within its boundaries. Join a group of birders to search for the birds that are found in the park this time of year. Binoculars available to borrow. All ages and experience levels welcome! We will meet at the Pond Center Pavilion which is the first building on the left from the park road. All programs are FREE! Location & Information

Incredible Edible Plant Walk at Sheldon Lake Take a walk into the past and see which plants were utilized by those who came before us! Are you curious how others have lived off the land? Want to know about the relationships the indigenous peoples of the area have with the natural resources? Join a Park Ranger on this hike where we talk about the different plants of the park and their uses! Be sure to bring water, bug spray, and closed toe shoes. All programs are FREE and meet at the pond center. Location & Information

Lil' Naturalist Nature Hike at Sheldon Lake A story and a stroll for the lil' nature lovers in your family! A nature themed story with a short nature hike included! Every week will be a different topic for our explorations here at Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center. Meet at the Pond Center Pavilion, the first building on your left from the park road. Be sure to bring water, bug spray, and closed toed shoes. All programs are FREE! Location & Information

Arbor Day Celebration at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center Come celebrate Arbor Day at Jones Park. Visitors can take home a sapling and learn about local tree identification, planting, and care. Webelos scouts can complete the “Into the Woods” adventure with a self-guided activity.  Saturday at 10 a.m. includes a Tree Planting Party. Call to register at 281-446-8588.  DETAILS & LOCATION

Gulf Coast Model Expo at the Lone Star Flight Museum Honey, I shrunk the airplanes! Come experience the world in miniature during the 2020 Gulf Coast Model Expo on Saturday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. See hundreds of scale model aircraft, cars, tanks, trucks, spacecraft, ships and more!1 p.m. - Special presentation of modeling basics, Q&A and modeling tips!SPECIAL THEME DISPLAY - To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2, a special display of models related to the last nine months of the war (Jan. 1, 1945 to VJ Day) will showcase the men and machines of the war's end.

Cricket Buffet and Cricket Eating Contest at The Health Museum Hot dog eating contests are so yesterday. Celebrate sustainable food supplies by joining The Health Museum's cricket eating contest! Consume enough crickets to meet your daily recommended amount of protein and get your name in the Hall of Fame. Need to take it slow? You're welcome to sample a variety of flavors at the cricket buffet. Sriracha isn't your thing? There is also sour cream and onion, sea salt and vinegar, or Texas BBQ to tickle your taste buds. While you're here, learn how to incorporate cricket powder into your favorite cookie or pizza recipes.

Living History - Doolittle Raid at the Lone Star Flight Museum Enjoy the tale of the life and influence of Jimmy Doolittle, an accomplished, record-holding pilot with a PhD from MIT, as presented by our volunteer Don Houk. Most notably, the excitement and risk of living through the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, one of the most dangerous and effective missions of WWII. During a time when the morale of America was low, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle was selected to organize and conduct a secret program to place medium Army bombers on an aircraft carrier as a means of

Migration Mania at Lake Houston Wilderness Park Migration is not just for birds. We will dive into why, who and how animals migrate through the Pineywoods and beyond. Free with park admission. All programs require adult supervision for youth under 17. Reservation required.  Location & Information

Celebrate Arbor Day by taking home a free sapling and learning about tree care and and planting tips. Saturday also includes a TREE PLANTING PARTY at 10 AM. Reservations required only for the Tree Planting Party. Otherwise, join us in the Greenspace at the park for your free tree! DETAILS & LOCATION