August 19
Bay Area Massage Therapy Association The group meets to talk about the art and craft of massage therapy the third Monday of each month. 7:30 p.m. Southeast Memorial Hospital. For details, call 482-7091. Free.
Galveston
June 1
The Second Annual Island Art Festival No ordinary arts festival this; the folks at the Art Colony Association have brought in Wayanay, an all-Peruvian band whose members use homemade instruments to perform the hypnotizingly beautiful music of the Andes. These guys (or another group of negligible difference) play the Halloween celebration on Front Street in Maui each year, attracting hordes of revelers with their magical sounds. And this being an arts festival, there'll also be the wares of 100 local and national artists, food, jugglers, kids' activities and special performances by the Dice Band and the Broadway cast of Beatlemania. Sat., 10 a.m.10:30 p.m.; Sun., June 2, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Pier 21 at Harborside Dr. and 21st St., adjacent to The Strand Historical District. 521-0133. $5; children under 12, free.
Tenth Annual American Institute of Architects/ Steelcase/A&E Products Sandcastle Competition There are 1,300 competitors making up the 65 teams involved in this year's event. Team members start arriving at East Beach at dawn, but no sand may be moved until the 11 a.m. start time. After that, it's a race for the Golden Bucket, the top prize for the most original and beautifully executed sand castle. Organizers expect more than 40,000 people. 11 a.m.6 p.m. Watching is free; parking, $5.
August 24
Kemah Celebration Last year, this was known as the Festival by the Bay, but the North Galveston Chamber of Commerce has changed the name. They're still celebrating, though, in the spirit of old-fashioned fun. The event features more than 400 vendors, live music, a carnival, food and opportunities to compete with your fellow neighbor. August 24 and 25, Wal-mart parking lot, 9300 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City. 337-3434.
All Summer Long
Beaches The now well-established ban on drinking at all beaches except East Beach means that East Beach is now well-established as the hangout spot for the youthful, beer-guzzling set. Stewart Beach is the main destination for the youthful, juice-in-a-box guzzling set -- and their moms and pops, too. Use of the beaches is free, but expect to pay $5 per vehicle for parking.
Texas Seaport Museum This is the home of the 1877 tall ship Elissa, and admission gets you a self-guided tour of the restored sailing ship. They've also got museum galleries, theater presentations and a special immigration exhibit -- all summer long. Daily, 10 a.m.6 p.m. Pier 21, (409) 763-1877. $5, adults; $4, seniors and students.
1859 Ashton Villa This was the lovely abode of a prominent Victorian family; now, it's Broadway's only antebellum mansion. Tour the facility and see how the other half used to live. Mon.Sat., 10 a.m.4 p.m.; Sun., noon4 p.m. 2328 Broadway, (409) 762-3933. $4, adults; $3.50, seniors and students.
Galveston County Historical Museum Galveston's had some fairly up ups and some awfully down downs during its long history. Learn about them -- from its early settlers to the 1900 hurricane to the present -- through the Historical Museum's many exhibits. Mon.Sat., 10 a.m.4 p.m.; Sun., noon4 p.m. 2219 Market St., (409) 766-2340. Free.
Moody Gardens New exhibits, a new IMAX-3D feature and beach parties, beach parties, beach parties -- all added attractions to Moody Gardens' already spectacular array of offerings. See the kids section for more info on Palm Beach ($6), IMAX-3D ($6), the Rainforest Pyramid, paddleboat cruises and more. 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, (800) 582-4673.
Alfresco Dining
Sure it's hot. Sure it's muggy. But in Houston, when we can eat outside, we do. And catering to our need to gnaw out in the open, the city's restaurants, from the cheapest to the most haute, fling wide their doors, crank up the AC and go alfresco. All the restaurants listed below offer fine food and outside dining; for more details on them, check out the Press' weekly Cafe Capsules.
Antone's 807 Taft, 526-1046.
Becks Prime 2615 Augusta, 266-9901; 2902 Kirby, 524-7085; 11000 Westheimer, 952-2325; and 1202 Dairy-Ashford, 493-3806.
Berryhill Hot Tamales 2639 Revere, 526-8080.
Bistrot Aventure 1811 S. Shepherd, 527-9800.
Cafe Express 1800 Post Oak, 963-0222; 3200 Kirby, 522-3994; and 1422 W. Gray, 522-3100.
Cafe Noche 2409 Montrose, 529-2409.
Collina's 3933 Richmond, 621-8844.
Daily Review Cafe 3412 W. Lamar, 520-9217.
Empire Cafe 1732 Westheimer, 528-JAVA.
Floyd's Cajun Shack 1200 Durham, 862-3326.
Goode Company Barbecue 5109 Kirby, 522-2530.
Goode Company Hamburgers & Taqueria 4902 Kirby, 520-9153.
Green's Barbecue 5404 Almeda, 528-5501.
The Houston Brewery 6224 Richmond, 953-0101.
Jax Grill 1613 Shepherd, 861-5529; and 6510 S. Rice, 668-3606.
Kahn's Deli 2429 Rice Blvd., 529-2891.
Kaldi Cafe 250 W. 19th St., 802-2246.
La Griglia 2002 W. Gray, 526-4700.
