Super Happy Fun Land

This place is certainly interesting and you should visit it just to see all of the stuff inside. The owners are very nice but this place just isn’t somewhere that I feel comfortable. It’s in a more industrial part of town so it doesn’t seem to be somewhere that people stumble upon. It was pretty empty when we went. They have a few beers available for purchase but there’s not really a bar so unless you are going to see a show there, there really isn’t a reason to hang out there. I won’t be back and this place would have gotten 1 star if it weren’t for the nice owners. Oh, and if you are a germaphobe this isn’t your place. It’s dusty, smells like cat pee and looks and smells like a underground goodwill.

This is a quirky little place, there is no other way to describe it!
I came here to see my brother perform and when I walked in, I was like WOW! This place is a combination of your favorite childhood toys, a garage sale and some warped dreams! One of the walls was covered in Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and other random knick knacks, while other walls were covered with murals and a giant Cabbage patch doll! This place had so much going on with the random grandma sofas lying around and the movie theater seats in front of the stage. Wow! I will also say they definitely need to invest in a new sound system and some air conditioning! A really fun place, but I must admit that I felt like I needed a shower after leaving.

I came here a few weeks back with my boyfriend, brother, and a few other people. My brother had been raving about this place for months so I was excited to check it out. I gotta say, it’s probably one of the most interesting bars I’ve been to in houston… and i loved it!
When my boyfriend and I first walked in, we spoke to a man sitting at a small table in the front asking us if we wanted to donate to the band that was playing that night. It was completely optional and he didn’t pressure us at all, which I liked. Once we walked in, it was kind of a shock. It looks like what you would expect a really creepy person’s old garage to look like. There are old dolls everywhere and other nicknacks, but it all adds to the character.
The band playing that night was… interesting. They were mostly making noises from their mouths, and I would say it was an interesting type of «music». I think people from the audience came up and started participating as well.
The drinks here are tip only. You just ask for whatever beer you want, and then leave some cash in the jar. I really like the system and haven’t seen that in any other Houston bar’s before.
My brother and a friend had told me about how the owners daughter also comes out and plays and talks to the customers. I was keeping an eye out for her but didn’t see her unfortunately.
Overall, it was a very interesting experience. Not your typical bar or music venue, but still a great place to hang out. There’s a nice patio in the back as well. I would definitely come back at some point.

Hippies mostly run by hippies that live there. The beer is free, except they want donations. Actually I think now they probably make you pay and don’t call it donations anymore. At the old location they use to have free beer with donations. This place use to be in a house in the Heights which I thought was a better location. Now it’s in the Warehouse district in some old warehouse. They have no AC or heat. Actually they do it’s just too expensive for them to run because the place is so open and big inside. It’s very dirty inside and full of dust and garbage. I’ve seen a few shows here. It sounds awful because the whole place is concrete. Super Happy Fun land has been mostly known for «Noise» music. They’ll have the occasional hardcore/​punk shows but it’s mostly strange talent less people that don’t know how to play their instruments. Last time I went which was years ago, the cover to get in seemed a little high for such a shit hole. I don’t think this place has ever been cleaned since they moved into it.

This place is creepy as hell in the best possible way. It’s like if a Chucky Cheese got turned into a crackhouse. Dark, musty, and full of dolls and weird shit.
The bands they booked fit in with the décor. One of them was a vegan-​themed metal/​punk band with all the band members dressed as different vegetables, and in the second bands last song, the guitaist got completely naked while playing a song adapted from a Charles Manson poem.
My kind of thing, will definitely be back.

I LOVE how different this venue is. Last time I went was when Mad Conductor was playing and it was amazing. Very interesting people and lots of fun definitely.

The place was full of overgrown toys. There was plenty of seats. It made my allergies go crazy! Their drinks are free but they ask for donations. The doormen had really bad body odor. Perfect place for stinky hipsters and punks!

OK, my review is based on the five minutes I spent here, so please take it with a grain of salt. We went to Super Happy Fun Land to meet a friend — her cousin was supposed to be DJing a party there, and I’d always wanted to check out the space. We arrived around 9pm, and the place was empty save for about 5 people sitting in the theater-​style chairs. The walls were covered with graffiti and kitsch — something I would have found AWESOME my freshman year of college, but at this point I just felt old and out of place. Fiancé referred to Super Happy Fun Land as the kind of place you go for an acid trip — old couches, colorful walls and trippy music. The party of five people weren’t providing much of a party (they were just sitting), and I didn’t even know where there was room for dancing (since the dance floor was covered with theater chairs). We moved on, it was for the best.

Don’t go during Houston summers!!! There is no real air conditioning there. Of course, there are a few fans (too few). I was there for an event, but I had to leave midway through the performance because my husband got sick from being over heated. Dirty bathrooms.

One of the strangest venues I’ve been to and feels a bit like a bad fever dream.

It is impossible to calculate how much acid is required to have fun here.

Saw my first show here last night. It’s an interesting venue with a great backyard and an affectedly disinterested bartender. Sort of like if you went to someone’s house in the 90s and they had their kid sister guarding the fridge to keep the beer supply going.
Really liked the place and honestly did not find the area as terrifying as my friends claimed it was.

Ok, i will admit, I am probably not the type of person SHFL is trying to connect with. (meaning I am not a hippy or street kid). But i went there for a show, a band I wanted to see prefers to play there, le sigh. I think I get the theme they are going for… but it just ends up looking like a fraked up garage sale… or like the back of a salvation army donation center. The old movie-​theater seats are odd, cause you can’t move them, so when with a big group of friends, you can’t turn to face each other… Bottom line, it was just weird. But if you need a place to let your freak flag fly– knock yourself out, you will be right at home.
oh, and did i mention they don’t have AC? HOT as can be.

Super Happy Funland has switched locations probably at least a year ago. I’ve been to the new location about twice now and I have to say it’s much more chaotic and unstructured than it used to be, which in my book adds to the fun. The owners are terrific and really talented at putting together the whole theme of fantasy day camp at a montessori school overrun by their hippiesque students and a tour of abandoned childhood playthings like the island of misfit toys if somewhat grimier.
The atmosphere is very laid back and allows for experimental art and music without all of the significant posturing that goes into playing at much more self conscious venues.
Drinks are sold out of a very unbar like amosphere and may come straight out of the refrigerator. I dont’ remember a cover charge, and when I ordered a drink it was very cheap, I think I was asked for whatever donation i wanted to give, but I don’t think that is a regular occurence. I have yet to see a band play here yet, but there is an ample stage and fixed seating, which still leaves a tremendous amount of space to walk around and play in. Parking is on the side streets for the most part. If you’ve never been do yourself a favor and visit at least once. I wouldn’t go dressed for high tea as the place more than a little grungy, it’s located old cash register wherehouse the owners had to fix up and clear out themselves.

Ah, Super Happy Fun Land. The absolute weirdest and wildest in Houston hang out and play the stage here. As my sister once said, «It’s like KTRU… live!»
I hadn’t been to Super Happy Fun Land since they switched neighborhoods – from north of the Heights to the dirty dirty East Side. I won’t bore you with the myriad of surreal and trippy experiences I’ve had at the old place – and I don’t do drugs. Luckily the move has only served to give SHFL more performance space, and it’s just as quirky as the old location, but with none of the claustrophobia. I doubt anyone will have trouble finding the building on Polk – it’s the only one in the East End decked out in colors that resemble a circus tent. Once inside you’re confronted with walls covered with gorgeous art that all came from a spray paint can; it’s like playing Houston street artist bingo, as I spotted Ack! and Mr. Waldo right off the bat. With incense burning in at least one corner, and old furniture and toys scattered around, I’d be able to figure out where I was immediately, even blindfolded.
As others have mentioned, the sound isn’t awesome, but I kind of doubt that immaculate sound is SHFL’s goal. With so many smaller and midsized venues for independent music dying a slow death in Houston, it’s refreshing to see Super Happy Fun Land still alive and kickin’.

I admit it, I loved this place because it was weird and catered to people who want to express themselves in any way their happy hearts desire.
The only con I can give the place is that we watched super happy fun dance music but nobody was dancing. In terms of designing space, something must have been off-​kilter, because even when the drummer from Achachay screamed «Get off your asses and dance a little!» people made half attempts to stand up to boogey, but found their asses falling back into the theatre seating.
Completely unrelated to rating, a sofa from my childhood house was nestled in the back right corner of the place. Symbolized to me how anyone here could find a piece of home in the space.

You’ll never find me here probably more than once a year, but that’s at least a visit more than I’d make to their old location which was… stinky, to say the least. This new space is still a bit harsh on the nose, but at least it’s more spacious. And the folks who call this place home have also done a pretty bang up job of decorating the vast walls of this former warehouse. They’re getting a few more better known acts than in the past, so perhaps SHFL will improve upon some of the lacking weirdness in Houston’s music scene since Fitzgerald’s seems to have fallen off the deep end.
Now a few words about the sound quality here. Once again, this space was formerly a warehouse so it is made of thick concrete, which is NOT known for its acoustic qualities. So if you go to see the headlining band it’s a good idea to take some earplugs to preserve your ears for what you came to hear. You can buy some at the bar, too, though.
Also, I’m sure that if you frequented the old SHFL then you’ll find all of your old hippie friends in residence here. Which is excellent if that’s your bag…

My brothers band, as well as some other bands that i know got their start here. While not a great place to check out polished musical acts, this is a great place for bands in the Heights area to hone their skills, have some fun, and learn how to get comfortable performing in a nurturing environment.
Did i just use the word ‘nurturing’ to describe a live music venue? Yes i did. Every city with a budding music scene needs places like this for young bands to cut their teeth. Glad to see Houston has a place like this. Im even more happy that its in the Heights.

Worth a visit for sure, don’t get me wrong. This place is more independent than you can probably fathom. I’ve seen great art and heard some terrific bands here, sometimes all at once. Parking isn’t a problem, drinks are cheap, and everyone is friendly and talkative and probably artsy.
Expect some post-​college couches and rickety folding chairs. Don’t be surprised by big bugs. Read up on the acts (or check their MySpace pages) before you drive out to the Heights, because they host alllll kinds of things here. Some things definitely fall under the umbrella of «explicitly not family friendly», but not really in a dirty way.
Cover ranges from nothing to about $ 7, depending on the number and prestige of the bands. They’re really good about updating their online schedule, so check it out and impress your date/​friends/​visiting family with your artsiness.

The name may sound funny, but it is completely appropriate for this hidden place in the Heights. It’s not a club, it’s not a bar, it’s more like an art gallery that is completely free from pretense. From experimental music, to performances that defy description, to impromptu jam sessions, to people who abuse the «fun machine».
The owners are super-​friendly, there are old couches to relax on all over the place, a nice patio out back, and all kinds of toys and things to play with. Even the bathroom walls are giant chalkboards you can leave your mark on.
If you hear of something there that you’re even remotely interested in, do yourself a favor and go.