Venues

The former Brownstone building in Upper Kirby has added 1919 Wine & Mixology to its mix of venues. Corner Entertainment's mother-daughter duo Darla Lexington and Michelle Coopwood's latest space features a shabby chic three-sided bar, lounge seating, a speakeasy-themed cocktail room where guests can choose their drink's ingredients from costumed waitstaff, a private event space called the Lexington Room, and a patio. The venue accommodates 90 people.

The golf entertainment complex TopGolf offers its own game similar to bowling or darts, only players shoot golf balls with embedded microchips at targets. In addition to play, the venue offers separate event space. The 3,000-square-foot Signature Room fits 200 guests and can be divided for smaller events. There is also a rooftop terrace.

Batanga, a Latin America-inspired tapas restaurant, opened in April. Spaces for private events include the entire 3,500-square-foot interior space as well as a 3,600-square-foot brick patio. A chef's table in the kitchen seats 10, and the restaurant and the patio each seat 125.

In December, the Fourth Ward space formerly home to Zimm’s Little Deck was transformed into Brooklyn Athletic Club, a bar, restaurant, and casual sports center. The patio area has facilities for bocce, badminton, horseshoes, and croquet, as well as outdoor movies. The club is available for private events and teambuilding retreats.

Del Frisco’s Grille, the more casual concept from the company behind Double Eagle Steakhouse and Sullivan's Steakhouse, opened in March in the River Oaks area with more than 7,000 square feet of space, including a 1,400-square-foot patio. The main dining room seats 240 and two outdoor spaces can each accommodate 75 guests. A private dining room seats 25 people or 45 for receptions. The space features a bar countertop made of zinc, an open kitchen, dark wood accents, and chrome light fixtures designed to resemble stars.

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain is opening two Houston locations in 2013—one in Northwest Houston’s Vintage Park Shopping Village that opened in February, and another in midtown set to open later in the year. They are available for buyouts for corporate presentations and other private events. In Vintage Park, the largest theater seats 191 guests and offers 3-D capabilities as well as a stage, spotlight, and P.A. system.

The Fourth Ward bar Original Okra Charity Saloon opened in December with a novel concept: When guests order drinks, they get a ticket to vote for one of four charities. The charity with the most votes receives that bar's entire profit from that month. Private events can designate their own charity beneficiary. The venue seats 100 guests and can fit 150 standing.

Dual-concept space the Pass & Provisions opened in September in a historic 1930s building. Provisions, built around a wood-burning oven, has industrial elements and a long, communal table and serves handcrafted cocktails alongside thin-crust pizza. The Pass, which debuted in late 2012, is a more high-end experience, with a tasting menu and private dining room.

The second Hollister Grill opened in early March in the former Cova location. Hollister on Washington's menu features Southern-style seafood dishes such as shrimp croquettes as well as favorites like fried green tomatoes. The interior can accommodate 94 guests both for seated and reception-style events, and the patio holds 24 people. The 2,500-square-foot space is available for buyouts.

Dallas-based Texas de Brazil opened a Houston location in early April at City Centre. The-8,500 square-foot Brazilian steak house seats 225 people and two private dining areas can accommodate 30 guests. Gaucho waiters present and serve the churrascaria-style menu, which features a selection of grilled meats and vegetables.