HOUSTON March 18 - March 20, 2025
Travel Guide Dining · Local Gems · Culture · Experience The finest tables, hidden gems, and essential experiences in Space City — curated exclusively by your Houston Host Committee.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01
Meet the Houston Host Committee p.1
02
Fine Dinning
p.2
03
Houston Classics
p.3
04
Culture & Arts
p.4
05
Rodeo & Nightlife
p.5
06
In Play This Weekend
p.6
MEET THE HOUSTON host committee Brian Tippens
Phyllis Turner Brim
Cisco
HP
SVP, Chief Social Impact & Inclusion Officer
Brian Tippens is Senior Vice President and Chief Social Impact & Inclusion Officer at Cisco. In this role, Brian is responsible for advancing Cisco's social impact across communities around the world, creating tangible business value, and fueling Cisco’s purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All.
Phyllis leads legal support for HP’s Global Business Units and Global Supply Chain, overseeing teams in Anti Counterfeit, Fraud Prevention, and Supply Chain Securities. Her team spans five continents.
Telisa Toliver
Paula Harris
Atmos Energy
Hunting PLC
Board Director
Telisa Toliver has deep expertise across the full value chain and a strong record of leading diverse teams to deliver measurable business results. Known for strategic execution, stakeholder alignment, and an agile, people‐centered leadership style, she consistently drives growth in both domestic and international markets. A committed champion of equity and inclusion, she is recognized for building trust, inspiring talent, and creating clear pathways to shared success.
Board Director
Paula Harris is a senior energy executive recognized for global leadership in sustainability, governance, and stakeholder‐focused strategy. A multi‐sector board leader and award‐winning author, she has been honored by organizations including the United Nations and the Houston Business Journal.
Robert Kirkland
Lanesha Minnix
Amazon
Becton Dickinson
Director of Finance
Robert Kirkland is a seasoned Fortune 500 executive, decorated military officer, and public servant with over twenty (20) years of leadership and teamwork. From the training fields of the US Army, to the boardrooms of two global organizations, he has shown a tirelessly commitment to cultivating the talent of tomorrow talent that is rooted in good character, hard work, and a selfless commitment to serving others.
p.1
SVP & Deputy General Counselor
EVP & General Counselor
Lanesha Minnix is the executive vice president and general counsel of BD, where she leads the company’s global Law Group and Public Affairs functions. She previously served as chief legal officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance and has held senior legal and governance roles at Ecolab and Flowserve, bringing a strong record of modernizing legal functions and driving enterprise‐wide strategic impact.
FINE DINNING Brenner’s on the Bayou
★★★★★ 4.4
$100+
A classic Houston steakhouse set on a wooded bayou property near Memorial Park. Known for prime steaks, an extensive wine list, and one of the most romantic patio settings in the city.
Address: 1 Birdsall St, Houston, TX 77007 Reserve here!
Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse
★★★★★ 4.5
$100+
An upscale, downtown steakhouse known for USDA Prime beef, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine cellar. Popular for business dinners and special occasions, especially near the Theater District.
Address: 1510 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002 Reserve here!
Little’s Oyster Bar
★★★★★ 4.8
$100+
An intimate jewel-box on South Shepherd. Scallop chowder that defines the room. Gulf oysters impeccably sourced. Service that rivals any fine-dining table in the city. Reserve early.
Address: 3001 S Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77098 Reserve here!
Brennan’s of Houston
★★★★☆ 4.6
$50 - 100
A Houston institution offering refined Creole cuisine in a historic Midtown mansion. Famous for turtle soup, tableside bananas foster, and an exceptional brunch.
Address: 3300 Smith St, Houston, TX 77006 Reserve here!
p.2
HOUSTON CLASSICS Lucille’s
★★★★☆4.5
$20 - 30
Named for the chef's great-grandmother. Vibrant Southern cooking in the Museum District — the cornbread is legendary, the chicken fried steakv revelatory. Endorsed by two committee members.
Address: 5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004 Reserve here! Rf
Truth BBQ
★★★★★ 4.5
$20-30
Oak-smoked patience and obsessive craft. Brisket with a bark that cracks like lacquer. Tater tot casserole and banana caramel cake with their own devoted following.
Address: 110 S Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007 Reserve here!
Irma’s Southwest
★★★★☆4.5
$20-30
No menu. You sit, you trust, you are fed — beautifully. The chile relleno justifies the trip. Ask what's on. The founder has greeted guests personally since 1989 — a tradition as reliable as the food itself.
Address: 1475 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002 Reserve here! Rf
the breakfast klub
★★★★★ 4.7
$20-30
A Houston institution earned plate by plate. The line before 7AM is a testament. Wings and waffles is the iconic order. Catfish and grits is the revelation. One of the city's most beloved rooms. Address: 3711 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002 Reserve here!
p.3
CULTURE & ARTS HOUSTON BALLET: One of America’s five largest professional ballet companies. Currently performing Broken Wings — a celebrated ballet on the life and art of Frida Kahlo — at the Wortham Theater Center. An essential Houston evening. Purchase tickets.
●
HOUSTON SYMPHONY: Performing at Jones Hall since 1913. The city’s cultural anchor — masterworks, contemporary programs, and the kind of programming that earns a city its reputation. This visit coincides with the world premiere of Andy Akiho's Timpani Concerto paired with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, opening Friday March 20. Purchase tickets.
●
MUSEM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: ● The largest art musem in the South. 6,000 years of
art history across two Mies van der Rohe buildings. Rotating exhitions that rival museums in cities twice Houston’s size. Explore current exhibtions.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE: ● Among the nation's most visited natural science
museums. The Hall of Paleontology with its towering dinosaurs is worth the trip alone. The Wiess Energy Hall offers a uniquely Houston lens on the forces shaping our world. Planetarium and IMAX on site. Plan your visit.
SPACE CENTER HOUSTON:
Signature Experiences
● Mission Control, Saturn V rockets, and actual
Houston Brewery Tours:
spacecraft from the story of human spaceflight. Behind-the-scenes tram tours available. Best experienced on a weekday morning before evening Rodeo or cultural activities. Learn more.
● Houston has a thriving craft brewery science with
several established breweries offering tours and taproom tastings throughout the city. An excellent group activity or casual afternoon excursion before evening events.
Skeet Shooting: ● Houston's premier clay shooting facility offering trap,
skeet, sporting clays, and a rifle & pistol range. Pricing is based on the number of targets — ideal for groups or simply a distinctly Texan afternoon activity. Learn more.
p.4
rodeo & nightlife HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO COMPETITION Founded in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest rodeo and livestock exhibition worldwide — drawing over 2.5 million attendees across its threeweek run each February and March. For Houston, it is not merely an event. It is a civic institution, a cultural identity, and the clearest expression of what this city is at its core. Beyond the competition, NRG Park transforms into a world of its own: livestock exhibitions, a championship BBQ cook-off, wine garden, fine art show, carnival, and 300+ vendors filling the complex from midafternoon. It is also one of the great philanthropic engines of Texas, having awarded more than $600 million in scholarships to Texas students since its founding. Learn more here!
aFTER HOURS Fancy’s HTX ● Prohibition-era speakeasy hidden upstairs in River
Oaks. Art Deco design, craft cocktails, East Coast oysters, caviar service, fresh sushi, live DJs from 10 PM. Reserve now.
Off The Record ● Hidden behind a record shop facade at 416 Main
St — intimate music-forward listening bar, curated vinyl, craft cocktails, live events. Younger energy. Reserve ahead.
p.5
ROCKETS ROCKETS
IN PLAY THIS WEEKEND The Houston Rockets host three home games during your visit, including a back-to-back series against the Los Angeles Lakers — among the most anticipated matchups! Private suites and premium courtside experiences are available through the Toyota Center box office or the NBA official website. The arena is a short drive from the Theater District, making it an easy addition to any evening itinerary.
Wednesday, March 18
Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Toyota Center · 8:30 PM CDT
Friday, March 20
Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks Toyota Center · 7:00 PM CDT
Saturday, March 21
Rockets vs. MIAMI HEAT Toyota Center · 7:00 PM CDT
p.6
Enjoy Houston safe travels!