Well, there's the Galleria at Westheimer and the 610 Loop - it's a huge mall with an ice rink, plenty of restaurants, and shopping galore. That would be the place to go to pass the time and it is close to Downtown. Right across the street from the Galleria is F.A.O. Schwartz and a slew of other great places to shop (The Container Store is a fave of mine).
-AP