<p>So, who's attending family weekend?
We are off to visit DD! Do experienced parents have advice about what to see and do? Is it difficult to get a seat/awkward to sit on on classes?</p>
<p>Where should we eat? We have tried Chuy's and La Tapatia Taqueria on previous visits (both had great food for good prices) but we'd like to try something new. We've seen Shiva recommended on this site before and will probably try that one night. Anywhere else you can recommend?</p>
<p>We'll be packing our coolers with items from central market on Westheimer (this kind of grocery store is a novelty to small-town folk!).</p>
<p>All suggestions for things to see/do/eat while at the weekend would be much appreciated.
GO OWLS beat Vandy!</p>
<p>Here’s one of my favorite, not-expensive places to eat in Houston. Not sure where on Westheimer you’ll be, but there are two locations right on Westheimer!</p>
<p>It’s not at all difficult or awkward to sit in on classes. I sat in on three of my daughter’s classes last year and thoroughly enjoyed them. I would recommend taking advantage of all of the things happening on campus–the Wiess One-Acts, the Phils, the improv group, the free admission to the museums (not exactly on campus) and the opening of the new rec center. I even went to a recital at the Shepherd school while my daughter was at a study session. Aside from that, my daughter and I discovered a wonderful Japanese restaurant in downtown Houston that I’d recommend. (She’s been back with friends several times since.) But, that’s only if you like Japanese food and feel like venturing downtown. It’s called Azuma, on Texas Street. Have fun!</p>
<p>If weather is good, head across the street to the zoo, or take the light rail to see some of the museums. Make sure your check out concerts at the Rice shepherd school. I love Shiva, also love Ruggles in Rice Village. I like the new frozen yogurt self-serve place in the village (it’s pricey, but yummy - especially if you choose the tart mango and tart fruit flavors that actually taste like yogurt.) YUMMMMMMMmmmmmm. I usually also go to IKEA, which is about 10 minutes away, to get household things.</p>
<p>Anyone planning on going to the football game? That should be fun. I’ll have to hang loose and see what my daughter wants to do. I think she may need to do a little shopping, hopefully not too much</p>
<p>We’ll be there in the student section - we really wanted to see the MOB half-time show. </p>
<p>Thanks for the food suggestions - it really helps when you don’t know a city.
The menus at Ruggles and the Med buffet both look great. Haven’t found a menu for Azuma (yet) but it’s great to have choices. The yogurt (especially the tart flavors) sound interesting - let;s keep our fingers crossed for good weather.</p>
<p>MS – I thought I’d chime in since restaurants are one of my favorite topics of conversation! Houston is filled with great restaurants of all kinds and price points. Here are a few to give you some suggestions. If there’s a particular type of restaurant you’re looking for, just ask and I’ll try to make some recommendations.</p>
<p>Benjy’s (next to Rice Village) – a little upscale, great for lunch dinner and weekend brunch [BENJYS[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Can’t remember the name, but we went to the tapas restaurant at Rice village twice, we loved it so much. Try to see if you can take some of the other kids with you, because then you get to order more food and try more of the great dishes!
I also liked the vietnamese rest in Rice village. It was a bit more expensive than the tapas. Sorry, don’t remember either of the names.
We sat in some of the lectures that were offered, as well as some of my son’s classes when we went and we enjoyed them all. We didn’t go until it was my son’s senior year and wished we had gone earlier. Have a wonderful time!!</p>
<p>Oh, how did I forget to mention the lectures when I listed things going on on campus? They were great. I’m not going this year, but if I were, I’d have to clone myself to go to all 3 of the lectures offered at 3:00.</p>
<p>I must admit I didn’t sit in on any classes, ever. DH did. I prefer to wander around campus, get a coffee, peek in buildings and labs and soak up the atmosphere…</p>
<p>We’re going this weekend and bringing our younger son. Can’t wait to see our freshman. Its been a long 5 weeks around our house. When we left him, he hadn’t unpack a thing. Looking forward to seeing him settled. We are going to the football game. I live with huge college football fans. Also get to watch him ref a powderpuff game on Saturday morning. Other than the games and a shopping trip for some dorm essentials we didn’t know he needed, we’re just planning on spending time together. A year ago I never would have thought I’d make 3 trips to Houston in 6 months. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions/comments they really help. Great list Blackeyedsusan Now we just have to decide where to eat (the goode company is catering the “eats” before the game, so we’ll definitely skip eating there)</p>
<p>Same comment about visiting Brooklyn. It’s a long 10 hour drive for us - It’s big commitment to visit so soon, but we’re really looking forward to the visit and seeing D again.</p>
<p>All this information is great. We have planned a visit to Rice with our HS senior son the last couple days of October. It will be a long, strange trip, actually, as a band of our generation used to sing. We’re flying from Milwaukee to Boston on Tuesday evening to visit MIT on Wednesday, then from Boston to Houston on Thursday so that our son can do a Rice overnight and we can have a full day at Rice on Friday. Then we’re flying home Saturday afternoon. </p>
<p>None of us have ever been to Houston, so we are looking forward anxiously to the whole experience. To say the least, as folks from the cold blue north we never would have imagined one of our sons possibly going to school in Texas, but if we were designing a school from the ground up in terms of its size, character and opportunities, we think it would look a lot like Rice, so we just can’t see NOT checking it out.</p>
<p>A quick thank you to all who gave us info about places to eat. We had a great time. Ate dinner Thursday evening at Shiva. We were really impressed. Excellent curries, not at all oily, great cuts of meat. One of the best curry meals I’ve ever had and as a transplanted Brit used to great curries in the UK that’s saying something. Prices are very moderate and recommend this place to all curry fans. Friday lunch at Rajin Cajun. The etouffee and red beans and rice were both good, That evening we ate at Benjy’s. Great food, a little pricey, but it was a nice night out. Saturday was the pregame bbq.</p>
<p>We had a great time and would recommend the family weekend to all on the fence next year. Too bad Rice lost to Vandy at football, but that was a minor hiccup in a great visit.</p>
<p>Glad you had a great time, MSmom&dad – I still remember last year’s Families Weekend – counting the days till we could be with our son, see him in class, go to an enviro event and meet some of the wonderful “Rice Moms” at the Pavilion. Interestingly, I found the good bye after FW harder than the move-in farewell. Watching him exchange hellos with friendly students and profs on campus, getting to see where he studied in Fondren, just seeing how comfortable he was made us so happy – but then having to say good bye hit me hard. It was all real now – no more SAT’s, applications, decisions … he was exactly where he belonged. And it was time for us to head home.</p>
<p>As the other half of MS mom and Dad, I wanted to add that the best part of the trip for me was how happy DD is. We sat in on two classes which were terrific (and one was intro physics). She is so engaged and busy, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Rice is looking to be the perfect fit we hoped it would be.</p>
<p>MilWDad - I laughed when I read your comment about someone from the “cold blue north” being surprised that your child was considering school in Texas. We still laugh when we say that our son is in Texas! (We’re in New England). Yesterday, I sent him a text to say that it was snowing in October. He texted back that they were all at the new pool in the rec center (an outdoor pool). Go and visit in April - you won’t want to leave.</p>