East Africa

The Raw and the Cooked

Angels and Curanderos

Teresa Rodriguez is getting by with some help from interesting friends

What's Driving Miss Shelia?

With her frenetic grandstanding, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has irritated her staff, her colleagues, and even the president. she says she speaks for her constituents. But will anyone listen?

Inside Africa: Three Hidden Wars

Journalist and former detainee Paul Salopek talks about the wars in Africa

Letters

Journalist and former detainee Paul Salopek talks about the wars in Africa

The 38th Annual Houston International Festival

Go to Ireland and back again, without leaving downtown Houston

Fabulous Fridays

iFest hosts a series of free lunchtime concerts

The Houston International Festival Is Upon Us

iFest hosts a series of free lunchtime concerts

Blue Nile

iFest hosts a series of free lunchtime concerts

Skeleton and Spirits

The Museum of Natural Science takes Lucy to her first Halloween party

“Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia”

HMNS hosts world premiere of landmark African exhibit

The Plane Truth

Houston minister Dr. K.A. Paul flies around the globe using Jesus to pull in worldwide donations -- unfortunately spending more money on jet fuel than orphans

Who's Your Daddy?

Track your true identity along a DNA trail left behind by your ancestors

UniverSoul Circus

Web exclusive!

Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series: John Banville and Abraham Verghese

The Irish novelist gets beyond The Sea, and the doctor/memoirist looks home

iFest: Of Drew Brees and Discount Perfume

Photo by Jason Wolter​Every year since 1971, iFest has grown. And every year, it becomes less and less distinguishable from any other festival in Houston, for better or for worse. This year's iFest spans two weekends and roughly ten city blocks around City Hall. It's filled with more sights, s ... More >>

Spotlight On: Meade

​When you hear the words "golden delicious," think mead (not apples!), the drink of choice for various peoples throughout the ages, including ancient Greeks, twelfth-century Slavs, and modern-day Ethiopians. Loosely defined as any beverage made from honey, water and fermented yeast, mead is ce ... More >>

The 5 Most Comforting Funeral Foods

Photo by chotdaHard-boiled eggs are traditionally eaten after Jewish funerals, at the Seudat Havra'ah.​My sweet aunt passed away last week, with the funeral held this past Monday at my childhood church. Like at every proper Texas funeral, there was a spread of food laid out afterward that woul ... More >>

Sampler Plate: This Week In Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Chili Bob's Houston Eats: There's a new Ethiopian restaurant in town...finally. ... More >>

Twilight of the Bods

Sly and the family Stallone get nostalgic for their legacy of ­brutality in The Expendables.

Planet Houston

The world's great cuisines converge here.

Planet Houston: For All Your Pho and Fufu Needs

​In the midst of all the hubbub about the long-awaited Best of Houston® awards, we decided to spotlight a few places that might not necessarily make it onto any mainstream Best Of lists. Planet Houston, this week's cover story, focuses on immigrant food. After all, we're a nation -- and a ci ... More >>

Planet Houston: Country Cooking

An around-the-world guide to the foods of Planet Houston

Texan Concepts of Ethnic Food: Breaking It Down, Venn Diagram-Style

Pictured: a stereotypical Texan, according to The Simpsons.​Have you ever traveled abroad and met people who -- upon learning you're from Texas -- ask if you own any horses? Own any cattle? Own a ranch? Ask where your boots and buckle are? Stereotypes abound far and wide, from my dear ex-moth ... More >>

"Exotic" Ethiopian

You eat it with your fingers, yes. But the vibrant cuisine at Sheba Cafe isn't so unfamiliar.

An Ethiopian Breakfast at Sheba Cafe

Photos by Troy Fields​Whether you've grown tired of typical breakfast and brunch places, whether you're on the hunt for something exotic and new or whether you are simply interested in seeing traditional breakfast foods in a far different setting, breakfast at Sheba Cafe will suit you to a T. ... More >>

Comment of the Day: The Doc and the Gazelle

​Today Geri Maria Harris reported on the Twiga Terrace Restaurant in the zoo's new African Forest. And Doc Ricky had some ideas he thinks would work better than Twiga's veggie burgers and three-cheese sandwiches: Nice to have an African theme, but why doesn't it extend to the food? Perfect t ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 2: Shiva Patel of the Queen Vic Pub and Kitchen

​Yesterday we spoke with Chef Shiva Patel about how she came to start new British- and Indian-inspired restaurant, the Queen Vic. In today's segment, we learn more about her culturally rich heritage and how it's manifested on the playful menu. EOW: Culturally speaking, both the Queen Vic and ... More >>

Like the Obamas Wanted to Go to Your Stupid Royal Wedding Anyway

The invite the Obamas -- and you -- didn't receive​Despite having cast off the shackles of the British monarchy over 230 years ago, our great nation has yet to free itself of the embarrassingly colonial obsession with all matters concerning the Royal Family. A cursory scan of Google News yest ... More >>

David Axe, War Reporter, Thinks That "War Is Boring"

WarIsBoring.comDavid Axe, avatar.​David Axe, a 32-year-old freelance journalist who's garnered recognition for his Danger Room blog in Wired, started reporting on wars seven years ago. At first, he expected to be overcome by a steady stream of patriotic and adrenaline-fueled fervor. But after ... More >>

Soul Patrol

Several Houston DJs are discovering it's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod world.

Pop Rocks: The Case For Internet Piracy

Well, not always.​What follows is a more or less accurate transcript of a conversation I had yesterday: Me: Looks like that charity album for Japan raised $5 million. Not bad. They: Which one, Songs for Japan? I downloaded that last week. Me: You...downloaded a charity album? They: No! I mean ... More >>

Top 5 Local Food Products

Liz (perspicacious.org)City Hall Farmers Market​The local and sustainable food movement is not a new one, but for the last few years the interest here in Houston has grown as more and more chefs and restaurants have really begun to prominently feature and use local foods. The term "local" is s ... More >>

Little India

Hillcroft and Raja Sweets have become the epicenter of Houston's vibrant Indian population.

Punk Rock's 10 Most Potent Women

David EnsmingerExene Cervenka at Cactus Music​Women are the resilient backbone of punk, providing creative DNA for the movement since the "zero hour," including Houston's own MyDolls and members of AK-47 and Bevatron, among others. Up 'n' comers like Vivian Pikkles keep the faith as Zipperneck ... More >>

Forlorn Hope: "Blink" & You Won't Miss Modern-Rock T-Storm

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Forlorn Hope on Facebook​ ... More >>

How The Simpsons Makes Foodies Look Like Smug, Elitist Schmucks

There must be a kitchen sink that we can get to do a cameo too, guys...​I didn't want to watch the latest episode of The Simpsons, the one in which Marge inexplicably becomes a food blogger. Yes, the foodie backlash has officially begun. I haven't wanted to watch an episode of The Simpsons in ... More >>

6 Musicians and Their Charities

​The main knock on celebrity charity is that it's essentially a brand-building tool -- good for image and not much else. The tax savings don't hurt, either. But not all charitable connections are about image-burnishing and tax savings. (God, we sure hope not.) The number-crunchers at Forbes lo ... More >>

Top 5 Places to Carbo-Load in Houston

Photo by Fratelli's Authentic Italian CuisinePick up your pace with some pasta at Fratelli's.​Houston marathon runners, you've trained long and hard (I hope) in preparation for running 26.2 miles this coming Sunday. Now, it's time to eat. A lot. Although carbo-loading has its critics, many as ... More >>