Barcelona

10 Other Musicians Who Should Have Said "Blow Me"

The line between rock star and cranky toddler can be a fine one; deny them their candy and you've got tears welling up and naughty words being shrieked at ear-bursting decibels. Every once in a blue moon, though, a rational thought will pipe up from said rock star, and it deserves a little bit of no ... More >>

Promised Land's Hard Sell

For Matt Damon and company, the message is the message.

FFL Highlights (Fan Fighting League) -- Special Turkish Wheelchair Basketball Exhibition Bout

Much has been made over the last decade or two of the rise of popularity (and skill, quite frankly) in international basketball. Many trace it back to the 1992 USA Dream Team's ceremonious romp through the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Ask any international star today between the age of 30 and ... More >>

¿Como se dice "Whoops?": 5 Musicians' Romney-esque Blunders In Foreign Lands

Mitt Romney had a troublesome time during his recent trip abroad, pissing off politicians and citizens in England, Palestine, and Poland (although to be fair, that last one was simply a guy who worked for Romney, not Romney himself). Besides providing a potential future Ted Nugent album name -- "Ki ... More >>

Summer Olympics Weather Will Feel More Like Autumn for Many

Jolly ol' England with its fish and chips and beefeaters and shrimp on the barbie...wait, OK, not that last one, is hosting the Summer Olympic Games this year as everyone who isn't living in a cave probably knows (they might know as well). They've gone all out over the last ten years' building facil ... More >>

A Taste of Reality: Top 5 Food Documentaries

Tommy Lee Jones once didn't do a film because there was a scene in which he was supposed to eat on camera. Tommy Lee Jones doesn't eat on camera. Ever. That film was Man of the House, and it's a good thing that the producers caved to his demands, for the world would be a far, far worse place if ... More >>

Things Are Looking Up

Whit Stillman returns with the toe-tapping college-girl fantasy Damsels in Distress.

Girl Fight

Steven Soderbergh and his MMA star make impact with Haywire.

Question of the Week: Is the Pizza Boomerang a Real Thing?

Caution: The video above is highly NSFW for reasons including but not limited to: a penis being cut off by a pizza boomerang in graphic detail. Watch at your own risk. Pizza Boomerang is the latest viral video making the rounds on YouTube and Twitter. (And, if your mom happens to have seen it, then ... More >>

This Just In: SXSW Announces First Round Of 2012 Showcasing Bands, Including Fat Tony and Something Fierce

Photo By Marco TorresFat Tony at a day show at SXSW '11​Sweet lord, it's not even Thanksgiving yet and South By Southwest is making us excited for March in Austin already. Today the industry festival announced a few bands coming to the capitol city next year, and a few Houston names and Rocks ... More >>

Pop Rocks: Who Else Would Make A Good Bond Villain?

Jeez, when are they going to stop casting ugly actors in these Bond movies?​So it turns out Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Vicky Cristy Barcelona) is going up against 007 in Bond 23: After months of speculation about who would play the villain in the next James Bond installment, we fi ... More >>

SXSW Live Pics Last Night: B L A C K I E

Craig Hlavaty​We started our SXSW Wednesday night by supporting Houston's own B L A C K I E at underground venue Barcelona, where he scared unaware college gals and converted a slew of SXSW badgeholders.

Houston At SXSW: Where & When The Bayou City Invades

​In the coming week, legions of Houstonians will trek northwest to descend upon the city of Austin, blessing it with our mere presence during the madhouse that is SXSW. Heck, some of Houston is already there. Our delegation is not limited to SXSW attendees, however. A host of Houston bands, r ... More >>

Is All Hospital Food Bad?

A meal from Vall Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, Spain: consomme, vol-au-vent of shellfish with prawns and a filet with mushrooms and potatoes.​That's the question posed by a Tumblr page called merely "Hospital Food," where patients are invited to submit photos of their hospital meals from acros ... More >>

SXSW 2011 Still Untainted By Houston Artists

listenlisten: Not playing SXSW 2011... yet.​Rocks Off just got the latest list of names for next year's SXSW conference and festival in Austin, and just like the last time, the conference remains unsullied by any performers from Houston's filthy, rotten, disgusting, in-need-of-quarantine music ... More >>

Five Onstage Meltdowns Funnier Than Courtney Love In D.C.

Universal Music Group​As far as Rocks Off knows, everything is hunky-dory for Hole's show at House of Blues this evening. Courtney Love and friends are scheduled to play from 9:45 to 11:15, which Rocks Off is interpreting as they could go on anywhere from 9:45 to 11:15. As Hole's rambling, sl ... More >>

Sangria and Serrano

Tintos does some things right, but skip the paella.

SUMMER GUIDE: (100) Days of Summer Movies

Enjoy the great indoors!

Bartender Chat: Mike Sims of Rudyard's

​For the last ten years, Mike Sims has been working at Rudyard's British Pub (2010 Waugh Dr.). But he hasn't always been the bartender. He started out helping a friend bar-back, and then he moved to working the door. Eight years ago, he started working as a bartender.

Can Anyone Out-Twee Owl City?

​Owl City (really just a guy named Adam Young) is a bit of a conundrum. He's perfectly fine to listen to, as long as you pretend that his music is specifically intended for very young children, like the Wiggles or Raffi. Then you pay attention to the meticulous production and catchy hooks instead ... More >>

Happy Hour Scene: Richmond Arms

​ The patio at Richmond Arms was always the main draw on a couple previous trips, packed with twenty- and thirty-somethings drinking pints from the bar's large selection of beer. But it was empty when we showed up for last night's happy hour.We blamed the weather, which wasn't that bad but som ... More >>

Wine of the Week: Joan D'Anguera La Planella Montsant 2007

​The other week, we attended a wine tasting at Houston Wine Merchants. That Friday, they were featuring Priorat wines from Spain. If you haven't heard of the Priorat wine region, you're not alone. This was our first time tasting them, too. However, we didn't leave Houston Wine Merchants with a ... More >>

The Shameless Chef: Wiener Soup

In some places they call 'em "franks." "Wieners" is way funnier.​ This week's entry is pretty easy. In fact, it's so easy that, quite against character, I'm going to ask you to use a spice that's... well, it's pretty rare. But it'll be worth the trouble (more on that later). You will need: 1 ca ... More >>

Juan Mon's International Sandwiches

Photos by J.C. Reid​Juan Montero is an international man of sandwiches. Adorning the walls of his newly opened sandwich shop are pictures of him eating sandwiches in just about every world city -- Rome, Berlin, Barcelona, Buenos Aires and many others. And as it turns out, these gastronomic tra ... More >>

Oh My God, How Did I Not Know Gwyneth Paltrow Has A Stupid Website?

I am such a Johnny-come-lately to this party, I fear. But then again, perhaps it is for the best that I did not realize any sooner that Gwyneth Paltrow has what has to be the most self-indulgent, ridiculous website ever, and it's named -- for some reason -- Goop (with the tagline "Nourish the Inner ... More >>

Literacy Advance of Houston to Honor Hannah Storm

Every now and then I like to step away from the snark and write about something good that's going on. Today is one of those days. On May 1, 2009, Literacy Advance of Houston will be honoring ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm as its Champion of Literacy as part of the organization's Champion ... More >>

Literacy Advance of Houston to Honor Hannah Storm

Every now and then I like to step away from the snark and write about something good that's going on. Today is one of those days. On May 1, 2009, Literacy Advance of Houston will be honoring ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm as its Champion of Literacy as part of the organization's Champion ... More >>

U2 Closer to Firming Up Reliant Stadium Date

u2.com U2's free concert last Friday at Fordham University, the BronxUpdate: No Line did indeed debut at No. 1, selling 484,000 copies. U2 has sent out the equivalent of a "Save the Date" card. Today the Irish rockers, whose new album No Line on the Horizon opened to mixed reviews but d ... More >>

Digitalia: Discobelle

So maybe not everyone is into the Swedish music scene, but for all you club-music enthusiasts out there, Discobelle has a number of free MP3s, videos and fun mixes. The three-year-old site posts daily tunes by producers residing anywhere from Brazil to London. You'll find selections from ... More >>

Top Ten Latin Music Albums of 2008

Americans who still think of Latin music as mariachi bands and gyrating Ricky Martins and Shakiras might want to lend a closer ear to the genre. This country's Hispanic population isn't just growing, it's growing more diverse. More and more unique musical styles are being gobbled up, and that should ... More >>

Coming Soon: Juan Mon's International Sandwiches

A whole new concept in international fast food is coming to a stretch of Taft Street in Houston's Fourth Ward. Juan Mon's International Sandwiches and Drinks plans to bring an eclectic cuisine to one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in the city. First, the neighborhood. Taft Street between West ... More >>

Tom Tancredo and Coconuts

Mighty Aphrodites in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson join forces — and some other stuff — in Woody Allen's (winning!) latest

Murcof, Cosmos

CD Review

The Next Best Thing

The Next Best Thing

Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Farewell to the Twenty Nickel

Looking back on the '05 and dreaming in the '06

Naked Lunch

A spoken-word siren unleashes a virulent war against war

Perfecto Night Out

Paul Oakenfold takes the DJ booth at M Bar

Foreign Affairs

L'Auberge Espagnole observes the exotica of Barcelona through the eyes of a nitwit

The Art of War

The MFAH presents "Afghanistan: A Timeless History." What's next -- "Iraqis Are People Too"?

Saving Beauty

An exhibit at the MFA highlights Afghanistan's cultural riches

Stirred and Shaken

Solero's Berryrita

Best Neighborhood Spot Outside the Loop

Barcelona

The European Experience, Via Katy

At Barcelona, the mood and the menu say Spain. The parking lot says suburban mall.

Screwball Drama

Almodovar leans toward the dark side in this often funny meditation on the bond of all women

User-Friendly Farce

Mr. Jealousy hits the mark for director Baumbach

Disco Daze Downer

Dance-craze era bows out squeaky clean

Surface matter

Metropolitan maker goes abroad with the American bourgeoisie