Fourth of July

6 Thoughts on Tim Tebow's Lifetime Membership in the Museum of Sex

This past summer, my employer was kind enough to give me a few extra days off around the Fourth of July. Rather than go on an exotic journey somewhere far less humid than Houston, I opted to stay in Houston to relax and experience a few of the Houston landmarks I'd yet to see in my twelve years here ... More >>

10 More Black Stars Who Should Try Country

Country Time is a new biweekly column for our sister music blog in Seattle, celebrating that city's favorite musical genre: Mainstream country. BY MIKE SEELY With the nation's major-party political conventions drawing to a close last week with a rousing reelection appeal from the nation's first bl ... More >>

Write and Wrong

Texas BBQ Predates the Civil War

The tradition of open-pit barbecues in Texas is older than you think.

This Week in Deliciousness: Fail to Barrel Up at Your Own Risk

Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating...Our Words, where we've seen ice cream trucks, carts and bikes, but are still in the design stage on the ice cream motorcycle. Mostly we're hung up on how to keep the refrigerated sidecar from flying open when the Creamcycle launches itself off a 50 ... More >>

Bourbon, Burgers & Brew Bus: Not Your Average Fourth of July

While others were celebrating the Fourth of July with backyard barbecues and the obligatory Eleanor Tinsley Park fireworks, we went the nontraditional route, stepping onto The Wave, Houston's hipster-magnet jitney service, which chauffeured us and a mixed bag of revelers around the city's Inner Loop ... More >>

6 Non-Yank Bands Who Wrote American Anthems

Some of the most definitive "all-American" rock anthems were written by bands who not originally from the United States. Think about it... what are some rock and roll staples that remind you of our beloved country, which gave us the freedom to rock? "The Boys Are Back In Town" "We Are The Champions ... More >>

Top 5 All-American Red Wines for July 4th Grilling

It seems only natural to go All American for our Fourth of July recommendations. After all, wine -- and our nation's bizarre relationship with alcohol -- have been part of our history since the time of the Founding Fathers. "In nothing have the habits of the palate more decisive influence than in ... More >>

Freedom Over Texas

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens 4th of July Celebration

Galveston Island's 4th of July Celebration

CAMH Video Jam: Prince Varughese Thomas/Patrick Bresnan and Ivete Lucas

Hofmann Sausage Co: Texas Is About to Get Real ... Hotdogs! If You Live in Dallas Can You Bring Me Some?

So if you are from Upstate New York (like me), and if you love hot dogs (like me), and you live in Texas (like me), then you probably really, really miss Hofmann hot dogs. Like me. Because when I tell you I miss Hofmann hot dogs, I mean that I miss them super-duper terribly, especially when holidays ... More >>

Youth Lagoon: Death By Moon In "July"

The video for Youth Lagoon's "July" is like one of Stephen King's short stories come to life. Not like one of the ones about giant rats or haunted hotel rooms. We mean his study pieces on the apocalypse. Something like "Night Surf," in which a group of ordinary teenagers survive a deadly plague, and ... More >>

Top 5 Food-Inspired Holiday Games

Photo by Neighborhood CentersThese kids wouldn't last a second in our egg hunt.​Raise your hand if you are obsessed with holidays. I think I've spent a good $50 on mini pumpkins this month. I like hiding them around the apartment and surprising my fiancé with them; next to the alarm clock whe ... More >>

Top Five Cannibal Country Songs

​Songs about singers and other songs has long been one of Rocks Off's favorite fields of study within the wide-ranging curriculum of popular music. Off the very tippy-top of our heads, ABC's "When Smokey Sings," the Replacements' "Alex Chilton" and the Pogues' "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda ... More >>

Texas, You Got Your Drink On: 1,400 DWI Arrests Over the Fourth of July Week

More than 1,400 learn a hard lesson.​Texas, you know how to drink. You apparently just don't know when not to drive. The Department of Public Safety has released the stats for its DWI crackdown for the week surrounding the Fourth of July, and they're impressive: 1,406 arrests were made across ... More >>

Happy Hour Scene: Light Treason at Queen Vic

Katharine ShilcuttThe Jewel in the Crown, which is $1 cheaper during happy hour and worth the price either way.​The Place: Queen Vic 2712 Richmond 713-533-0022 www.thequeenvicpub.com The Deals: $5 daily wine specials, $4 daily draft specials, $1 off cocktails and bottled beers, bar bites menu ... More >>

Last Night: Steve Earle At House Of Blues

Photos by Jason Wolter​Steve Earle & the Dukes and Duchesses House of Blues July 6, 2011 During her sublime set at Verizon a couple of weeks ago, Emmylou Harris mentioned how she thought Barack Obama was pretty okay, and how she hoped his election meant our society had evolved beyond the even ... More >>

Seven Idiotic Ways Not to Use Fireworks This 4th of July (With Video Evidence)

This may look like it's all fun and games...​Everyone likes to burn stuff and watch it explode, right? Okay, well, some people do, which is why fireworks are so popular. They combine the fun of burning things with the excitement of blowing things up. It's like peanut butter and chocolate. Thi ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness

Photo by Mike Overall*sigh* Let the hoarding commence.​Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we're going to launch a class-action lawsuit against Diet Dr Pepper for not tasting more like real Dr Pepper. We'll probably be defeated in court by the Dr Pepper lawyers p ... More >>

Freedom Over Texas

14th Annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival

Houston Under Attack: Stephen Colbert Puts Us on Blast

The Colbert ReportGet More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video ArchiveStephen Colbert took on Houston -- nay, the entire state of Texas -- last night because counties and cities are banning Fourth of July fireworks displays due to the drought. We are, he said, ruining ... More >>

Upcoming Events

Photo courtesy of Tookie'sAll your honking finally paid off, folks!​It's a busy weekend across the city, from a pub crawl downtown to a flash mob in Clear Lake. But first things first, tickets are still available for the Hats Off to Hospitality gala this Sunday, June 26, at Haven. The gala wi ... More >>

Sneak Peek at Whole Foods Montrose

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttMany more photos and details are in our slideshow.​From the slyly named sandwiches in the deli to the emphasis on showcasing local artists, it's apparent that the new Whole Foods on Waugh is more committed than ever to being a "neighborhood" grocery store. It's a s ... More >>

Food Fight: Potato Salad

Nielsen's Deli​Potato salad is not, strictly speaking, an American concept, but the mayonnaise-based version that most of us know and love is in fact American - or at least its origins are murky enough that we might as well claim it. And claim it we do -- in some towns it's illegal to hold a s ... More >>

Texas Music Festival "Promoter" Gets Five Years In The Can

​Remember the Texas Music Festival? The multi-day outdoor event that was supposed to happen around the Fourth of July weekend 2008 (we think) in Eleanor Tinsley Park? Headlined by Los Lobos? Yeah, Rocks Off doesn't remember it either. Most of it got rained out, but even if the weather was pe ... More >>

DWI: Getting Away With It Is Getting Tougher In Harris County

Blood tests for drunk drivers will be the norm now that Harris County got a fat chunk of federal cash. ​Drinking and driving is serious business in Harris County, and to prove it, the District Attorney's office held a press conference this morning to promote some changes they've made. "A lot of dr ... More >>

Hurricane Alex: Mega 101.1 Helps Victims Of The Forgotten Storm

Photos by Paula BeltránSending food to the victims​Remember Hurricane Alex? Not very many people do. While most Houstonians geared up for a weekend of fireworks, barbeque and possibly too much time with family, many also spent this past Fourth of July weekend waiting to hear whether the homes of ... More >>

Pool Battles In First Colony: Keep Your Damn Waterpark Out Of Here!!

The First Colony Mall, gateway to a waterpark?​It's tense times out in First Colony, the Fort Bend County suburb.Residents are manning the barricades to prevent a plan by the community association to close five of First Colony's public swimming pools and build a $800,000 water park.An $800,000 wat ... More >>

The Tarballs Cometh, To Galveston

Crystal Beach, via KHOU​As the Fourth of July weekend loomed, Galveston's visitors bureau put out a press release "reminding the public that Island beaches remain oil free and open for business this 4th of July holiday weekend....The U.S. Coast Guard confirms that the spill remains more than 200 ... More >>

Houston Symphony: Star Spangled Salute

There will be cannons

4th of July Parade

We all love a spectacle

The Situation: Seven Stupid Things He (Or A Very Good Imposter) Said On His Flight To Houston

Laugh all you want -- he's getting a Bentley for his birthday​The Situation is in town!! He's here for a show, but you probably already knew that. Hey, hey -- that's not an insult. We're not saying you're the kind of person who follows The Situation's career or anything. Just that you're a d ... More >>

Scott LoBaido: The Biggest Mother-Effin' Flag In The World!! In Houston!!

Jasper Johns' "Flag" wasn't no 3.5 acres​You can judge a man's character by the size of his flag, we've always believed.Used-car lots tend to have very big flags, at least here in Houston. True patriots wear very big, noticeable flag lapel pins, and conscientiously -- for the sake of improvi ... More >>

Cowboy Tales From The Rodeo: He's Not A Bum On The Street

Bull rider Tyler Smith. ​Rodeo cowboys basically live on the road, traveling with men and women crazy enough to ride, rope and wrestle live animals for a paycheck. Each day, Hair Balls is asking a different cowboy to tell us a little bit about himself and his wildest story from a life of rodeo. Na ... More >>

Strike a Pose

Tom Ford's A Single Man: It's better to look good than to be good.

"Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon: Vietnamese America Since 1975"

This photography exhibit shows the journey one million refugees made

Red Basil Thai Fusion Cuisine

New York Thai

Freedom, Now!

Get banged this Fourth

Dish

Can't Buy Love -- or Armadillo

Soft and Crabby

Summer's the right time for many things -- but none better than soft-shell supping