Kick off summer with these seven events happening in the Bellaire, Meyerland and West University areas throughout May and June. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change. 

Sunset Bingo: Friends, families and pets can enjoy hand-held favorites and fun prizes at the event hosted by Levy Park. 

• May 8, 6 p.m. 
• $10 for eight games
• 3801 Eastside St., Houston

Night at the MFAH: Frida Forever: Enjoy the museum after dark while listening to jazz, sipping cocktails and visiting the Frida Kahlo exhibit during its final days.   

• May 9, 6-9 p.m. 
• $40 (per person)
• 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston

Summer Polywogs: Attendees can experience nature and water play with their infant or toddler with trail exploration and activities at the Nature Discovery Center.

• June 7, 10-11 a.m.
• $5 (member), $10 (non-member)
• 7112 Newcastle St., Bellaire

Ronald McDonald House is expanding its services in Houston with a new facility called Amschwand House, according to an April 28 news release.

The details: Located 10 minutes from the Texas Medical Center, Amschwand House will provide families with a “home away from home” while undergoing treatments and medical care. The space is meant for families “that require more space or have critical health needs that require isolation and social distancing,” the website states.

What’s in a name: Ronald McDonald House Houston acquired the property in 2025 from Missy Amschwand Bellinger. Bellinger was the founder of A Shelter for Cancer Families and used the facility to honor her late husband’s wish of providing housing for patients undergoing treatment. 

What’s next: The nonprofit will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 15 to celebrate the facility’s opening and Ronald McDonald House Houston’s 45th anniversary. 

• 4115 Drake St., Houston

Posted 8:31 p.m. May 2: 

Unofficial voting results from the city of Bellaire show Todd Thurber holds the lead in the May 2 race for Bellaire City Council, Position 4.

What you need to know: Thurber received 60.77% of the votes, or 683 votes, with Gay Mayeux receiving the second-highest number of votes at 329 votes, or 29.27%. All results remain unofficial until canvassed.

Results include early voting and election day counts. Officials said mail-in votes will be counted Monday, May 4.

How we got here: After Cindy Cohen-Taylor vacated her seat early in December, Bellaire City Council officially adopted an ordinance in January to call a special election to fill the role. Cohen-Taylor won her seat for Position 4 on Bellaire City Council in the Nov. 4, 2024, race against opponent Elan Tavor, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What else?: Candidates interested in the position could apply for a place on the ballot from Jan. 26 to March 3. The candidate who fills the vacant seat after the election will serve the remainder of the term through January 2028.

From the Houston Heights to Rice Village, check out these 10 places in Houston’s Inner Loop offering Cinco de Mayo specials. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change. 

Escalantes: Raise a glass to Cinco de Mayo with a $6 cinco shot, $6 sangria, mint watermelon margarita and other themed beverages at the Mexican restaurant. 

• May 5, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 
• $6 cinco shot, $6 sangria
• 4053 Westheimer Road, Houston; 590 Beechnut St., Houston

Traveler’s Table: The restaurant is hosting a Cinco de Mayo-themed dinner special with dishes such as oysters Oaxacafeller, snapper zarandeado and strawberry choco flan. 

• May 5, 5-9:30 p.m. 
• Prices vary
• 520 Westheimer Road, Houston

Monkey’s Tail: The restaurant is hosting a family-friendly celebration of Cinco de Mayo with brunch, mimosas and piñata painting.

• May 3, doors open at noon
• $45 (per family of four)
• 5802 Fulton St., Houston

Forty-four ZIP codes in the Greater Houston area have childcare deserts, with 28 of those ZIP codes designated as chronic childcare deserts, according to April 9 data released by the research and advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk.

The 2026 analysis shows childcare facilities tend to open in areas where it is already attainable, whereas more rural and low-income regions are overlooked.

Zooming in: An area is considered a childcare desert when the number of children under six years old with working parents surpasses the number of childcare providers by three times in a certain ZIP code, according to Children at Risk’s website. A ZIP code becomes chronic once it is listed as a childcare desert for three sequential years.

The bottom line: During the 2026 Children at Risk’s child care desert April 13 press conference, Santrice Jones-Hare, director of the Greater Houston Strong Start Alliance at Children at Risk, said Houston’s overall childcare quality has improved; however, families' ability to access that care remains an obstacle.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from April 27-May 1.

1. Conroe ISD decentralizing its special education program

2. Azalea District under construction in New Caney

3. The Woodlands Township considering new fees

4. Turquoise Wine Bar to open in Cypress

5. Mediterranean eatery Brassica opening in Sugar Land