Poison Girl

If your self esteem is shaky, we don’t recommend that you come to this ultra-hip hole-in-the-wall dive bar that is a hangout for Houston’s young, arty crowd. Poison Girl can seem cliquish to newcomers as everyone seems to already know everyone else, but don’t let that put you off because this tiny, red-walled bar has some great icebreakers like pinball machines, a jukebox and an outdoor patio with picnic tables and random lawn furniture where people sit and talk away from the crush inside (which can sometimes border on a mosh pit). Rather than jumping off the deep end and coming on a weekend, first-timers ought to try it out on a weeknight first.

The fiction readings most Thursday nights are fun.