Fandemonium

At a time when thousands are feared missing and dead in New Orleans, thinking about football hardly seems to be in good taste. But as relief efforts continue, people are already talking about the fate of the New Orleans Saints. The team may never again play in their beloved Superdome; rumor has it that they could go marchin' into San Antonio. Here at home, it's hard to imagine anything going on other than the effort to care for thousands of displaced New Orleanians, but our local football squad is here to get our minds back to pigskin with the second annual Houston Texans Touchdown Downtown Event. It's basically a huge pep rally featuring the Texans Bull Pen Pep Band, Texans cheerleaders, Texans mascot Toro, Texans tailgaters and the Ultimate Fan Contest. If you think the throngs of crazed fans in Reliant Stadium are a sight, wait till you negotiate the madness that'll be unleashed along Main Street. Speaking of insane fans, you can throw on your most ridiculous game attire (the rainbow wig is just the beginning) and compete in the Ultimate Fan Contest for a chance at tickets to the home game opener. And hey, this seems like the kind of party our visiting pals from the Big Easy would really dig (of course, they tend to drink a lot more at their downtown events). 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, September 9. Main Street Texans Stage, 406 Main. For information, visit www.deda.org. Free. -- Steven Devadanam

Big Weekend Sail

Muffy, Princess, Insider Trading) in seven different classes will race two separate courses off the waters of Seabrook and Kemah. Watch the yachters get their boat shoes wet starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11. 1900 Shipyard Drive in Seabrook. For information or to register, visit www.gbca.org. Free for spectators. -- Eric Ervin