Things to Do in Sugar Land

Inside Texas Rock Gym, over 14,000 square feet of climbable surface wait to be gripped and clambered over by novice and expert climbers, who navigate routes that are regularly altered to keep things fresh. The gym’s mandatory orientation ensures that each visitor observes proper safety measures during their climb. Following orientation, climbers can strap themselves to a harness at one of more than 40 rope stations and begin top-rope climbing up lofty heights, while more advanced climbers lead trips up over complex courses or the stone faces of former presidents. Climbers can also skip the harnesses altogether and try their hand at bouldering across height-restricted surfaces, or head to one of the gym’s Tai Chi or Yoga classes.

Those who know they learned everything they need to know in kindergarten shouldn't be allowed to drive, but they do know that painting ceramics is ecstatic craftitude. For $15, today's deal gets you $35 worth of pottery to paint at Glazed Over Ceramic Studio in West Houston. Glazed Over is a spacious, comfortable studio where friends and family can paint, stencil, and sponge imagery that's wildly innovative, beautiful, or commemorates the ancient Athenian victory at Marathon onto pottery ready to be filled with flowers, pencils, or just wishes.

Most camp counselors can teach children how to tie-dye a t-shirt or braid a friendship bracelet. Very few, however, have experienced the exhilaration of vaulting into the end zone for a goal-line touchdown or intercepting a game-winning pass in front of thousands of rabid football fans. Across the country, Sports International Football Camps grant participants the opportunity to learn firsthand from professional athletes, whose gridiron battle scars have been forged by bell-ringing collisions with fearless opponents and reckless mascots on motorcycles.

Since 1983, the organization has partnered with veteran high-school coaches and pros, such as three-time Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes, All-Pro linebacker Brian Cushing, and Super Bowl champion–cornerback Terrell Thomas. In those years, the camp has schooled some 91,000 alumni, including current NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich. Coaches break campers into groups by age, position, and ability and run practices that are competitive yet fun and supportive. For in-depth focus on the specific techniques of skill-position players, the camp also offers special academies for passing and receiving as well as kicking, punting, long snapping, and cooler lifting for Gatorade victory showers.

When Henry Harvey went to the University of Houston in 1975, he realized the dance moves he'd picked up at high school in Fort Worth were more valuable than he thought. In fact, he gave lessons to new people in the area who wanted to fit in on the dance floor. Years later, his wife decided they should start dancing together. "I went to dance class and found out they were doing the same things I was 10 years before," he said. Taking stock of his management abilities and previous dance experience, he realized he had the opportunity to be successful, so he brushed up his skills and founded High Steppers Dance Troupe LLC in 2007.

At locations throughout the area, Harvey and his team of instructors teach the Houston two-step—set to cool urban R&B tunes—as well as swing-out dancing and line dancing. He claims that his students, many of which are aged 40 and older, come not only for the health benefits of dancing for two hours, but also for the atmosphere, which he calls "very upbeat and very festive." His dance classes can also act as a stress reliever after a long day at work. "They get into dance class and they're rejuvenated," Harvey says.

In addition to dance lessons, the group takes charter buses on regional trips and hosts 2–3 showcases per year, where students regale audiences with a synchronized dance routine. At their social dances, a DJ spins tunes as students get the chance to put their lessons into practice and leave behind their days of doing the worm shyly on the dance floor sidelines.

At the dine-in movie theater Star Cinema Grill, concession stands are obsolete. By pressing a button, customers signal a server and are able to order restaurant-style without disrupting their viewing experience or screaming at an usher for a lobster bib. From angus sliders to ice-cream floats, Star Cinema Grill's menu appeases all ages with its gourmet-pub cuisine served amidst the glow of screenings and first-run film releases.

Merlot 2 Masterpiece's encouraging art instructors guide fledgling van Goghs in reproducing images on canvas with a flurry of colorful brushstrokes. Each of their painting classes escorts up to 30 students though the creation of a preselected composition, which ranges from landscapes and holiday themes to still lifes and blurry moving lifes. The studio provides all attendees with canvases, brushes, and paints, and welcomes students to bring their snacks and bottles of wine. Artistic expression chugs along to the beat of up-tempo music, easily muted to accommodate student solos. Merlot 2 Masterpiece regularly updates its locations' schedules with listings of dates, times, and featured paintings for each class.