Events of All Sizes

British-style gastropub West End opened near the Galleria in July, offering 50 tap beers, cocktails,and snacks in a former car wash space. The 8,300-square-foot venue includes a 5,000-square-foot patio, which can hold as many as 400 for events.

In late 2012, the Fourth Ward space formerly home to Zimm’s Little Deck was to reopen as Brooklyn Athletic Club, a bar, restaurant, and casual sports center. The patio will offer bocce, badminton, horseshoes, croquet, and movies. It will be available for private events and teambuilding retreats.

Philippe Restaurant added Phil’s Wine Lounge, a vino-centric venue, in August. Serving 80 wines by the glass in a warm room with a custom-built, wall-length wine display, red light fixtures, and columns bedecked in vintage wine labels, the lounge can accommodate groups of as many as 100. Pizzas and charcuterie are available.

Goldenvoice expanded its Coachella festival to two April weekends this year, nominally in an effort to reduce crowding and offer access to more fans.

H&M's loungey tent on the festival grounds beckoned attendees to drop in and share kisses in photo booths; every kiss resulted in the brand donating $1 toward HIV/AIDS causes. It offered other amenities like freshen-up products, and candy.

Adding to Coachella's dramatic skyline, the United States' largest movable Ferris wheel towered over the festival grounds.

A sea of fans set up camp in intricately ordered grids adjacent to the grounds.

A huge crowd packed into an airport hangar in Thermal, California, for the party late Saturday night.

Carnival games along one side of the huge outdoor space awarded prizes.

Bumper cars were among the many carnival-style attractions, which also included towering thrill rides.

Guests entered the space through a dramatic uplit corridor.

Lacoste hosted its Lacoste Live pool parties, presented by HTC, at a private estate in Thermal near the festival. The event included a pop-up shopping area with proceeds going to the Voice Project.

With the weather warmer on Saturday, guests filled Lacoste's pool with its signature inflatable green crocodiles.

HTC showed off its devices at the party and provided charging stations.

A sidewalk drawing announced the entrance to the pop-up Guess Hotel at Lake La Quinta, though the rare April storm washed it out after Friday's event.

Cabanas decked with logoed, black-and-white pillows provided outdoor, lakefront seating on Lake La Quinta.

Black-and-white blow-ups of model photography decked the Guess Hotel.

A small, bright room on the property served as a gifting suite and makeup area.

Details partnered with Hennessy V.S to bring its "Details @ Midnight" franchise to Coachella on Friday. Asher Roth performed alongside DJ Wreckineyez.

The event took over a sprawling estate in Rancho Mirage. The event provided a platform for Hennessy to generate further awareness for the brand’s new communications campaign, “Wild Rabbit.”

Guests took their turns on a mini-golf course in the yard.

Aerie, the intimates brand by American Eagle Outfitters, gave away its new Aerie concert bra, intended to be worn as a music-festival look.

Danish electropop singer-songwriter Oh Land was among the musicians present at the Thursday-night kickoff event.

Rapper Rye Rye performed a high-energy set for the Filter crowd.

Nylon's pool party with Hugo Boss took over a residence in Indio, and included brunch and a barbecue later in the day. Rye Rye performed an intimate set on the home's basketball court; the young dancer and rapper was a ubiquitous performer around the desert during the weekend's parties.

Hello Stranger and dubFrequency produced a weekendlong event with Flaunt magazine over at the new Saguaro.

A free, old-timey barbershop station took over the lobby of the Saguaro.

Lexus hosted a private dinner on Friday night at the new Saguaro hotel's restaurant, Tinto. The event was presented by Flaunt, Hello Stranger, DubFrequency, and JT Outdoor. Winner of the Food Network’s Iron Chef and a James Beard award, chef Jose Garces provided a sampling menu for guests after a Herradura Tequila reception that kicked off the evening's festivities. MAC Cosmetics and Herradura were gift sponsors.

Belvedere was back with its Belve Music Lounge during the first weekend.

Modern lounge furniture gave the space a clean look.

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.