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Best Place for a First Date

Discovery Green

Photo by Katya Horner

Over the past five years, Discovery Green has played host to everything from political rallies to national sporting events to farmers' markets and dozens of free classes. And it's still the best place to go for a first date. The extensive calendar of free and cheap activities — kayaking on Kinder Lake, anyone? How about a free show at the Thursday Night Concert Series? Yoga on the Green? — ensures that you won't lose a mint if the chemistry is not right. And with two different restaurants, you'll have your choice of dinner and drinks. If your date turns out to be a bore, don't worry. The people-watching at Disco Green is top-notch.

Best Movie Theater

Edwards Houston Marq*E Stadium 23 & IMAX

Edwards Houston Marq*E Stadium 23 & IMAX has an unfair advantage over other multiplex movie theaters in that there are lots of before/after screening options for moviegoers. A variety of restaurants and shops crowd the plaza just outside its doors. But the real draw here is film choice. With 23 screens, Marq*E offers a full slate of movies. Family-friendly animation flicks, action-packed adventure sagas, the latest blockbusters and relatively unknown releases, all get screen time here. We suggest you choose the self-ticketing box-office options; they're quicker, and the less time you spend standing in line, the more time you can spend in the theater.

Best Midtown Club

5th Amendment

The 5th Amendment is a part of the Constitution of the United States that protects you from abuse by a government agency in a legal procedure, specifically when you're being asked or forced to incriminate yourself. In the case of this midtown establishment, after a night of drinking and dancing and flirting, just remember that "pleading the fifth" is totally an option. In fact, the diversity of this club is not unlike the diversity of Houston, showcasing a bit of hip-hop, a bit of EDM and a lot of sexiness. Whether you're greeted by Cheesecake the infamous doorman or some of the most beautiful go-go dancers in Houston, stop by, have a drink or five, and dance the night away.

Best Museum

Houston Museum of Natural Science

If you're looking for Ankh Hap, the resident mummy at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, you'll find him in his palatial new digs in the Hall of Ancient Egypt. And he's got company. The 10,000-square-foot addition to the museum complex houses two more mummies and hundreds of artifacts. Opened in May, the hall already has one of the city's most popular attractions. It's filled with what curators call "a permanently changing exhibit" of objects and displays covering Egyptian art, religion, the Pharaohs and, of course, those all-important mummies. The Hall of Ancient Egypt joins the museum's other permanent exhibits that cover everything natural and science-y such as dinosaurs, African wildlife, gems, earth science, malacology (the study of creatures that live in shells) and more. There's also the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and Wortham Giant Screen Theatre.

Best Gay Bar

F Bar

F Bar is the epitome of bar perfection, gay or straight, and the fact that it is indeed a gay bar with some of the most fabulous drag shows around makes it all the better. There's a mature vibe to the club that adds to the welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to mingle early in the evening. Add to the mix the über-friendly bartenders, a spotless decor and a massive dance floor surrounded by plenty of lounging space, and you've got a recipe for the perfect hangout spot. There's always a surprisingly equal male-to-female ratio, too, which presumably stems from the fact that this place has little pretentiousness to it, despite the upscale feel of it all.

Best Public Art Project

Houston Is Inspired Mural by Gonzo247

The Market Square Park area downtown already had its share of public art (there are mosaic fountains and benches, modernist sculpture by James Surls and photography by Paul Hester, to name a few of the installations). Now a new mural by street artist Gonzo247 adorns the south wall of the Treebeards restaurant building. Sponsored by the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of the city's new promotional campaign, the Houston Is mural reads, "Houston is inspired, hip, tasty, funky, savvy" in loud, bright colors as bold, exuberant images seem to flow from the city's crystal-white skyline.

Best Cigar Bar

Downing Street Pub

With the tragic passing of manager Joseph Dufault in May, it would have been easy to select Downing Street as the sympathetic choice for Best of. But between its whiskey wall, the world-class cigar room and a ventilation system that remains an architectural godsend, Downing Street doesn't need anything more to stand out as the finest cigar bar Houston can offer. Toss on a collar, grab a stogie, keep your voice low, and let the Skye Scotch and deep couches do the rest.

Best Place to See Vintage Flicks

Alamo Drafthouse Mason Park

When it comes to vintage flicks at Alamo Drafthouse, it's all about creating experiences. Vintage screenings have become a thing a lot of places do now, but no one makes them as fun as the folks at the Drafthouse. Whether it's showing vintage previews before the film, building special menus around the movie or providing the audience with props so they can be part of the evening's events, every vintage screening is unique to the individual film. It's not just about seeing the oldies on a real big screen; it's about celebrating why they're awesome to begin with.

Best Biker Bar

Outlaw Dave's Worldwide Headquarters

Outlaw Dave's proves that not all biker bars are created equal. They don't have to be scary places where you might get into a brawl or have to compete with vermin for a barstool. This outpost on the far west arm of Washington Avenue is clean, cool and considerably well-staffed. The location has a history as one of the city's original icehouses and beer shacks, at times serving as both a gambling lounge and a brothel. These days you can enjoy a plate of wings or quesadillas as you watch the namesake's radio show being broadcast from his studio in the bar while you drink a cold beer or Jack & Coke. Stop by on a Saturday night for Kiki Maroon's "Midnight Circus," full of fun and naughtiness.

Best College Campus Building

Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston

The Blaffer Art Museum's eclectic, adventurous programming has won it plenty of awards; over the past two years, it's been getting lots of notice for its new physical design as well. The museum's $2.25 million renovation brought the total space to almost 14,000 square feet; added an entrance, lounge and studio areas; and replaced the staircase. The result? An airy, light-filled, state-of-the-art facility ready to accommodate the museum's multitude of needs. The new design was overseen by Work Architecture Company with Houston consulting firm Gensler acting as the project's local architect.

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