• The Band Perry, All Your Life
• Scotty McCreery, Walk in the Country
• Chris Young, I Can Take It From There
• Eli Young Band, Even If It Breaks Your Heart
• Montgomery Gentry, Damn Baby
• Love and Theft, Angel Eyes
• Brantley Gilbert, Country Must Be Country Wide
• Hunter Hayes, Wanted

The promo code will load automatically if iTunes is already installed on your computer. Go online here for your download link. Code expires May 31, 2012.

Thanks to Cities on the Cheap for this tip!

Celebrate the art car — It’s Art Car weekend in Houston! Get a sneak peek of some of the entries in this year’s parade at the Art Car Parade Sneak Peek party at Discovery Green, Friday, May 11, from 6:30 pm- 10:30 pm. Live music, the Budweiser Clydesdales– plus a free screening of Art Car: The Movie. Discovery Green is located at 1500 McKinney. This event is rain or shine. The 25th annual Art Car Parade is Saturday, May 12, 1 pm, along Allen Parkway with more than 250 entries. Grand Marshals this year are JJ Watt and Connor Barwin of the Houston Texans.

Party with your pet — The Mix 96.5 Pet-A-Palooza is May 12, 1 pm – 4 pm, at Discovery Green. You and your pet can enjoy live music, pet demonstrations, services, and more. This event is downtown at 1500 McKinney.

Cool off on the ice — Ice at the Galleria is hosting its first Learn-to-Skate Open House May 12, noon to 5 pm, featuring ice rink games, free introductory learn-to-skate classes (ages 5-7), and on-ice performances and skating exhibitions by the Houston Aeros and various mascots. Face painting, giveaways and raffle drawings are just a few of the activities you can enjoy off the rink. Ice of Galleria is located at Galleria Mall, 5015 Westheimer.

Ogle at trucks — Kids young and old alike will enjoy The Woodlands’ Touch-a-Truck event May 12 from 9 am – 11 am. Get up, close and personal with all kinds of trucks including big trucks, ambulance, fire trucks and more. Located at the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, 6535 Creekside Forest Drive in The Woodlands.

Enjoy the ballet — Folks can enjoy three free performances of Giselle May 11, 12 and 13, 8 pm, at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive. Free tickets for reserved covered seating are available on performance day at the Miller Outdoor box office from 10:30 am – 1 pm. Or just bring your blankets and lawn chairs for seating on the hill!

Watch a flick under the stars — Enjoy Movie Night at Waterway Square Saturday, May 12, at 8 pm. This weekend’s movie is Monsters vs. Aliens.

Create cupcake fun — Williams-Sonoma is offering a free technique class featuring a Kids’ Workshop: Cupcake for Mom May 11 or 12 (depending on location). Kids participate in a hands-on cupcake decorating event for mom while dad shops! Times vary by location: Sundays at 11 am, 1 pm, Town & Country Village; Sundays at noon, Highland Village; Sundays at 2 pm, The Woodlands Mall; Sundays at noon, Baybrook Mall; plus 11 am Saturday and 1:30 pm Sunday at First Colony Mall.

Craft a keepsake — Kids can enjoy making a handprint keepsake for mom at Lakeshore Learning’s free weekly craft.  The fun kicks off Saturday from 11 am – 3 pm. Find locations on Post Oak Blvd., Friendswood, and The Woodlands.

Fresh Air Friday will be held from 11 am to 1 pm at Jones Plaza downtown (615 Louisiana at the corner of Louisiana and Capitol). This 10th-annual event is sponsored by the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

This week’s entertainment features Glen David Andrews Band with opening band Journey Agents. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome!  No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages.

Check out the weekly schedule in May:
May 10– Glen David Andrews Band, Journey Agents opens
May 17 — Buckwheat Zydeco, Zydeco Dots opens
May 24 — Buxton and the Tontons
May 31– Two Tons of Steel, Mike Stinson

photo: Christine Tremoulet

Celebrate Asian heritage — The 12th annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival kicks off Saturday, May 5, at 8:30 am.  Enjoy the thrill of dragon boat racing with more than 30 teams competing throughout the day.  Don’t miss the cultural performances, Asian cuisine, educational booths, and kid-friendly fun. The festival, located at Allen’s Landing in downtown Houston, is sponsored by Buffalo Bayou Partnership.  photo: Mark Lester

Chill with an outdoor silent movie — The Houston Public Media Silent Film Concert returns May 4 to Discovery Green. Bee vs. Moth, an instrumental Austin rock band, plays the score to the 1919 comedy the Oyster Princess. The evening kicks off at Discovery Green at 8:30 pm, 1500 McKinney.

Explore art in the Heights — The First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights returns this Saturday, May 5, from 11 am – 6 pm.  This monthly outdoor market features more than 30 artists, music, and fun. Food trucks St. John’s Fire and Porch Swing Desserts will be on site! Located at 548 W. 19th.  Check out the listing of artists online.

Celebrate book fun — The HPL Children’s Book Celebration, May 5, features a fun day of arts and crafts, performances, Crocodile Encounter, and author visit. Tom Angleberger will host a large event and book signing of his Texas Bluebonnet Award winning The Strange Case of Origami Yoda from 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm. The event is at the downtown Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo — Several Houston locations are celebrating Cinco de Mayo: the LULAC Cinco de Mayo Parade is downtown May 5 at 10 am, 501 Crawford. Enjoy marching bands, floats, antique cars and more. The Cinco de Mayo Festival at Minute Maid Park is May 5, 3 pm, featuring live music, games, player appearances, activities and Latin food. Miller Outdoor Theatre is hosting a Cinco de Mayo concert at 8 pm featuring Eugenia Leon. Sugar Land Town Square is having a Cinco de Mayo event from 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm with Grupo KaChe.

Honor the art cars — Enjoy a sneak peek of 10 art cars in this year’s Art Car Parade, thanks to the folks at Uptown Park. The Art Car Preview Show is Sunday, May 6, noon to 4 pm, with light bites from Uptown Park restaurants. This free event will be held at Uptown Park in front of Cafe Express off the 610 feeder. The 25th annual Art Car Parade is May 12!

Browse free museums and zoo – It’s Bank of America’s first weekend freebie for cardholders.  Get free admission May 5-6 at Children’s Museum, Houston Zoo and Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Free admission for individual cardholder, not children. More details in my original post here.

Support local — Houston’s Sustainable Living Fest features more than 75 businesses, organizations, musicians, artists, restaurants, creatives, and community rock stars joining together. This free event is Saturday, May 5, noon – 6 pm, downtown at Market Square Park. Enjoy live local music, a recycled fashion show, kid-friendly crafts, local food, and a family-friendly bike ride at 11:30 am by The Green Bicycle Initiative.

Make clay pinch pots — Once again, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is hosting Hands-On Houston, a free family event the first Saturday of each month.  This Saturday’s craft, May 5, features clay pinch pots decorated with small colored rocks in anticipation of Empty Bowls later this month. Older kids and adults can add clay coils or handles to their pots. Bowls will not be fired so you can take them with you. Come anytime between 11 am – 3 pm. All materials provided free. HCCC is located at 4848 Main Street.

Play at the Children’s Museum – It’s anotherTarget Free First Sunday May 6 at the Children’s Museum of Houston. It’s a great chance to check out some of the special exhibits such as Fiction, Fantasy and Fun. Hours are noon to 6 pm. The museum is located at 1500 Binz. Admission is normally $8 each.

Make a planter box – Kids will enjoy this Saturday’s Home Depot Kid’s Workshop  featuring a planter box. Clinics are from 9 am – noon the first Saturday of each month. In addition to the free wooden project, kids walk away with an apron, commemorative pin, and certificate of achievement.

Market Square Park will be transformed into little cities and towns with exhibitors showcasing what makes Houston great such as Balance Town, Earth Town, Community Hub, Kidtopia, Paw Town, Kinship, Tastington, Funky Art Town, and more. Enjoy live local music, a recycled fashion show, kid-friendly crafts, local food, and a family-friendly bike ride at 11:30 am by The Green Bicycle Initiative.

City of Houston Sustainability Director, Laura Spanjian, also will share details on Houston’s new bike share initiative, Houston B-Share, featuring 3 bicycle stations and 18 bikes for getting around downtown.

Market Square Park is located at 301 Milam. As always, there are plenty of dining spots available in and around Market Square Park. Parking is available for $5 in the Market Square Garage (300 Milam) or $6 in the Market Square lot (320 Milam). Find more parking options online here.

This week’s entertainment features Grupo Fantasma and Patricia Vonne. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are welcome!  No glass containers or outside alcoholic beverages. Recycle your empty Saint Arnold six-pack carriers for double rewards points at this concert.

Check out the weekly schedule in May:
May 3 – Grupo Fantasma & Patricia Vonne
May 10– Glen David Andrews Band, Journey Agents opens
May 17 — Buckwheat Zydeco, Zydeco Dots opens
May 24 — Buxton and the Tontons
May 31– Two Tons of Steel, Mike Stinson

photo: Christine Tremoulet

Houston Beer Fest 2012: The one-day festival June 9 features 70 brands of beer, 30 bands on four stages, beer classes at HBF University, cooking demonstrations, and Tournament of Champions. New changes this year include four entrances to avoid lines and a larger space with three parks.

General admission tickets to Houston Beer Fest are $15 instead of $25 tickets sold online. Your general admission ticket includes 10 beer samples and a festival guide. A $4.50 service fee is added to each ticket purchased, as with all online ticket deals.

GlamShop’s Art, LOVE and Beauty Soiree: Grab your girlfriend for the 5th annual GlamShop featuring an evening of shopping, pampering, cocktails and more. The event is Thursday, May 24, 6 pm – 9 pm at Heights Arts Studio. Discount tickets are $7.50 rather than $15 full price. A portion of proceeds benefit Cinderella Cinderfella to empower high school seniors.

Menopause the Musical: Tickets are not available online anymore…

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