SPECIAL EVENTS

The "Entrepreneurial Spirit" of the Heights will be showcased at White Linen Night in the Heights 2011.  Sultry, steamy, exotic White Linen Night heats up the Heights on August 6. Discover The Heights treasures — markets, art galleries, shops, music, food and more White Linen Night in the Heights, billed by the organizers as sultry, steamy, exotic, and artfully provocative, is coming again from 6 – 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 6. Where: Houston Heights - 19th Street, 11th Street, White Oak, Heights Blvd, Yale St., Studewood, Houston Ave.

Art lovers will wear white linen, discover Heights treasures, and take to the streets of the Heights — one of the hottest professional art scenes in Texas and an area that promises “small town cool in the center of the big city.” The event, a celebration of art, culture, and community, will offer complimentary cooling summer drinks, entertainment, boutiques and shops, art galleries, some of the best restaurants in Houston and eclectic bars — with free pedi-cabs and shuttles for transportation. White Linen Night banners will identify the participating shops, restaurants, and galleries. Visitors will stroll in their white linen, sip beverages, browse, listen to music, shop, hail a pedi-cab or catch a shuttle from boutique to restaurant to gallery to bar to market and back again.

White Linen Night began in New Orleans‘ French Quarter’s Arts District as a way for artists and patrons to celebrate their city’s creativity while wearing cooling apparel to escape the summer heat. After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, several business owners relocated to The Heights and set up shop in their new community. Recognizing an opportunity to carry on the tradition set forth by the Crescent City, the new merchants approached neighboring business owners about starting a new event that mixed New Orleans soul with Heights heart.

Today, White Linen Night in the Heights is a neighborhood-wide event. It’s held the first Saturday evening in August and draws an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 attendees. Like in New Orleans, event-goers wear white linen and take to the Heights’ streets to celebrate art, culture and community while taking in some of the best entertainment, boutiques and shops, art galleries, restaurants and eclectic bars in Houston. “It’s a way of showing everyone in the city a good time and letting them know what we’re all about,” event organizer Mitch Cohen says.

More: http://WhiteLinenNightHeights.com  is updated daily with participants and events

UPDATE:  On August 6th revelers who hit the streets for the 5th Annual White Linen Night in The Heights will be wearing white but will be encouraged to “Think Pink”. The annual sultry celebration of art, community and all things Heights that draws 40,000+ to the streets of the bohemian suburb will promote breast cancer awareness this year. Houston, Art & Culture, the organizers of White Linen Night in The Heights, have partnered with the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas (BHCT) to create Pink Street, which will host various grass-roots and better-known awareness and survivor groups.

The inaugural Pink Street will reside on White Oak between Oxford and Columbia. Along this stretch of the neighborhood members of the BHCT will host booths offering all sorts of games, attractions and giveaways, all touting awareness and prevention. Visitors to the street will be encouraged to think pink with pink lemonade, pink tattoos, pink balloons and performances on the pink stage including Runaway Sun who will headline the evening. READ MORE ABOUT PINK STREET.