Rice Village Pub Crawl (Rice University)

Rice Village has lost some famous taps over the years — the Ginger Man and the Kelvin Arms are both gone — but the blocks just west of campus still hold a handful of bars with real mileage on them. This loop starts at the Owls' game-day patio on Morningside, detours down Kirby to a blues room that has run since 1994, and finishes on Bissonnet at a West U tavern whose roots go back to 1945 and a Day of the Dead cocktail den from 1989. Everything sits within about a mile and a half on foot. Rice's own volunteer-run grad pub, Valhalla, hides in the basement of Keck Hall roughly a mile east, so save it for another night. 21+ only — please drink responsibly and plan a sober ride or rideshare home.

Several beloved Rice Village bars have closed over the years, but the area just west of Rice University still has some with genuine history. This crawl is for people who care more about character than crowds, and it all fits within about a mile and a half.

The Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club has been a cornerstone of Houston's blues and zydeco scene since 1994, hosting performers such as Texas Johnny Brown and Trudy Lynn, along with a weekly jam for local musicians. Marquis II dates to 1945, when the original Marquis opened in another part of town. It later passed to two former servers and since 1985 has occupied a 1950s building that was once a doughnut shop.

Under the Volcano, opened in 1989, takes its name and Day of the Dead decor from Malcolm Lowry's novel, and its owners call it Houston's first craft cocktail bar. It's a relaxed night with a story at every bar. Participants must be 21 or older, so drink responsibly and arrange a sober ride or rideshare home.