This year, the ever chic White Linen Night in the Heights is billed as "Sultry, Steamy, Exotic, and Artfully Provocative." Well, they nailed the "steamy." But besides white linen, the common thread for Saturday night's event is shopping. Go to the event's website for a full list of participating businesses--like Kaboom bookstore on Studewood, which will also host an exhibit of contemporary artists Ian Anderson, Justin Dunford, Matt Messinger and Lindsay Peyton. This year the event includes more retail shops and more streets (encroaching into nearby Woodland Heights for the first time) as well as 25 live music performances, along with free shuttles across the festival area. The genteel, Southern vibe lasts from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. (shuttles until 10 p.m.). Don't miss the fashion show at 7:30 p.m. featuring 19th street retail shops. And we're curious about the 6:30 p.m. "glass-walking demo" at Wind Water Gallery.

Those new to the White Linen Night experience should know that the original started in New Orleans to spike retail business, encourage interaction between artists and, of course, to celebrate--we all know New Orleans wrote the book on that. After Hurricane Katrina, relocated business owners set up shop in the Heights and decided to continue the tradition, which Houston has embraced as its own.