Kool-Aid

Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In Montrose

As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeeh ... More >>

Burgers Off the Beaten Path: Chief Cajun Snack Shack

In response to last week's laughable Zagat list of Houston's best burgers, we're launching a series at Eating...Our Words that will spotlight overlooked but no less notable burgers off the beaten path. After all, hidden treasures are Houston's city's greatest commodity. You may find yourself faced ... More >>

Sex Slaves, Bio-Programming, and Christ Incarnate -- Now Near Laredo!

There were some that said it couldn't be done. There were some that said that Jonestown - after the cyanide and the suicide and the doctor from Houston who helped provide both - had turned cults passé, and tired, and pointless. Cults had had their time. They flamed out, in spectacular fashion, and ... More >>

Houston's Top 5 Punk Bars

5. LOLA'S DEPOT It it possible for a place to look run-down -- in a good way? Some who wax nostalgic about Lola's wasteland preeminence as the place to score drugs in the '80s now joke of it as a "neighborhood bar," offering such high-class amenities as ATM machines. Remnants of the old Lola's exi ... More >>

Who Should Play RodeoHouston In 2013?

On October 30, just a few days from now, RodeoHouston will announce its first round of performers for the 2013 edition of the star-studded, yeehawin', nearly three-week event at Reliant Park. The booking the last few years has been getting more adventurous, with the likes of Kid Rock, KISS, Mary J. ... More >>

Grand Incubator

Southern-fried dim sum from Yaki Snack Attack and Bernie’s Burger Bus.

National Rice Month: Strawberry Cream Rice Krispies Treats

September is National Rice Month, and in honor of this glorious grain, I've decided to cook and sample a few rice dishes in and around Houston. I don't know what exactly it says about my household that we have an extra-large box of (generic) "Rice Krispies" but no actual rice in our pantry. My o ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness: Hatch Chiles, Booze and That One Song

Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating...Our Words, where we're working hard every day coming up with innovative ways to beat scurvy and passing the drunkenness on to you. Don't thank us; booze-infused fruit is its own reward. We started the week off right by reaching number one in our T ... More >>

Texans Tailgate Thursdays: The Raging Bulls and Battle Red Kool-Aid

In addition to 2012 being proclaimed "The Year of the Texans" by our own Sean Pendergast, it's well known that the Houston Texans have one of the greatest tailgating traditions in the country -- a fact made more impressive by the team's relative youth. Each Thursday during football season, we're spo ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness: Someone Bring Me Some Food

Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating...Our Words, where the chicken 'n' waffles phenomenon has us throwing waffles on everything. Steak 'n' waffles, barley soup 'n' waffles, asparagus 'n' waffles...We just don't care anymore. We started the week off right with Haven's take on the Big M ... More >>

Readers Poll: Who Is the Most Overrated Artist in Rock History?

The concept of "overrated" and "underrated" has always confused me. There are groups that are critically lauded, yet got little commercial love, like The Band. And then there are groups that were almost universally reviled by critics, like Journey, who consistently managed to sell out shows, sell mi ... More >>

The Rose of Houston

Investigating old country music and beef jerky at Rose Garden, one of our city's most cherished hideaways.

Missing Old-School Kool-Aid

First, a haiku: Cool flavors are gone The Wacky Warehouse is closed Kool-Aid I miss you The Kool-Aid I knew as a child seems to have disappeared. Yes, I know that people are still drinking the Kool-Aid; production of "jammers" and "bursts" are in full swing, and you can still find large canisters ... More >>

Fried Red Velvet Cake and Pterodactyl Wings: Over-the-Top Eating at the Rodeo

"That looks like a pterodactyl wing," laughed Harry Miller, a committeeman on the Commercial Exhibits Committee, as he regarded a giant slab of unidentifiable meat that was making its way to a judging table. Miller emcees the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's Gold Buckle Foodie Awards competition eac ... More >>

Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo

Although I feel distaste for Bethenny Frankel, I did recently purchase the newish White Cranberry Cosmo from the Skinnygirl cocktails. I told myself I was not being a hypocrite because Frankel sold the franchise to Fortune Brands, which then independently created this particular low-calorie drink. ... More >>

5 Bands Your Musician Friends Love...But You Don't

austinpost.comYep. Robert Plant "copped everything" from this guy.​In a 2005 interview with Esquire, Johnny Depp discusses the unwavering authenticity of Hunter S. Thompson, and likens his late friend to another great, often-troubled mind, saying: "...like Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elev ... More >>

Cover Story: How James "Bull" Durham Became A Poster Boy for East Texas Meth

​See our slideshow of James Durham's descent into meth hell. James "Bull" Durham, Lufkin's meth poster boy, popped his first shot of that devil's potion at the age of eleven -- he says it helped him get through his day-long shifts as an off-the-books catfish skinner. Even so, he says his lif ... More >>

Comment of the Day: The Rick Perry Catch-22

​We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it's time we paid some damn attention to them. So we'll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day's work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula involv ... More >>

The 2011 Houston Press Music Award Nominees

​Took us long enough, right? It's been so long since we've had the Houston Press Music Awards, which were last handed out the evening of August 11, 2010, that we almost forgot we were having them. Not really. How could we? If our numbers are correct, in the two weeks this year's nomination b ... More >>

C&D & Nostalgia

This South Houston burger joint with a small-town vibe serves tasty, old-school burgers.

The Taste of Nostalgia at C&D Burger Shoppe

Photos by Troy FieldsPrepping for a busy lunch at C&D.​Everything about C&D Burger Shoppe has that pleasant glow of a hazy, nostalgic time somewhere in between the late 1970s and early 1980s. Even the slideshow accompanying this week's cafe review of the little burger joint in South Houston lo ... More >>

10 Tips for Eating MREs, from a Pro

The Beef Ravioli Meal, Ready to Eat (MRE) was the best option on my post Hurricane Katrina menu.​Six years ago, citizens of the Gulf Coast were starting to understand the immediate implications of their world post Hurricane Katrina. Power had been out since the storm made landfall, which mean ... More >>

Where Are We Drinking?

We were order No. 1 recently at this throwback burger joint, which offers grape Kool-Aid on tap and extra thick and creamy chocolate shakes. Yes, we ordered both. Does the scene below look familiar to you? Think you know where we're drinking this week? ​Leave your best guess in the comments s ... More >>

Brew Blog: Duchesse de Bourgogne

One birch-beating shy of a banya​If you're not prepared for The Duchesse, she can be a bit of a shock. It all comes down to familiarity with sour beers. If you've never had a sour, it doesn't really matter which one you try first. The response always seems to be the same. "This isn't beer." I ... More >>

Remember Doughbeezy's Reggie Bush and Kool-Aid?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Doughbeezy Reggie Bush and Kool-Aid (Self-released, 2010) Doughbeezy is, at the moment, one ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: Colorado Kool-Aid

Lonesome, Onry and Mean had just begun our phone interview with Monte Warden of the Wagoneers when we heard someone talking to Warden in the background. Warden then asked, "Are you that guy who wrote the blog about 'Colorado Kool-Aid'?" We had to admit that we were. "This is unbelievable," War ... More >>

5 Memorable Foods Advertised During Saturday Morning Cartoons

If only they'd been edible, Madballs would have been the perfect product. It's difficult for me to believe that I used to set my alarm to get up on Saturday morning, but I did. If there was a show I wanted to see that was on before sunrise, sometimes I would even set it for earlier than I did on a ... More >>

Brew Blog: Wild Blue Blueberry Lager from Blue Dawg Brewing

​Since I focused on Reinheitsgebot, Germany's beer purity law, in choosing my last two Brew Blog entries, I decided to kick it to the curb for this one. There's something to be said for tradition, but there's no reason to be stifled by it. With that in mind, I selected Wild Blue Blueberry Lag ... More >>

The United States of Soft Drinks

Full-size image below.​In 1998, Nebraska set a precedent for all other U.S. states when it formally declared Kool-Aid to be the state soft drink. Sure, plenty of other states have state foods or state dishes, but a state soft drink? The popular children's beverage was developed in Hastings, N ... More >>

The Best Bar-Fight Song Of All Time: "Colorado Kool-Aid"

​"I's sittin' in this beer joint down in Houston, Texas/ Drinkin' Colorado Kool-Aid and talkin' to some Mexicans..." So begins one of the greatest bar fight songs of all time. Along with "Pardon Me (I've Got Someone To Kill)," "Colorado Kool-Aid" is one of the high-water marks of Johnny P ... More >>

Pomegranate Martini at The Davenport

Chris Blakely​I'm usually all about a glass of red wine, but the holiday season and end-of-semester madness has gotten me in mood for good mixed drinks (plural intentional). Sidecars and cosmopolitans are usually my cocktails of choice, but lately I have been venturing into the world of marti ... More >>

Joe's Deli: As Simple As It Sounds

Almost as good as Wonder Bread and Kool Aid.​Joe's Deli 3729 W Alabama St Ste C I'm a sandwich guy, but I'm not fussy about it. I'm as thrilled with prosciutto and brie on Italian as I am with turkey and American cheese on Wonder Bread, especially if cherry Kool Aid is involved. While drivin ... More >>

Hurricane Judy at Katz's Deli & Bar

​I think I found the most overpriced, underwhelming drink in town. Enticed by the "2 for $10" deals offered in celebration of Katz's tenth anniversary, I went there for a discounted sandwich and some onion rings. I had never taken advantage of the "bar" aspect of Katz's, but as it was its ... More >>

Saturday Night: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes at Warehouse Live

Photos by Groovehouse​Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes Warehouse Live October 9, 2010 Oh crap, Aftermath thought shortly after Edward Sharpe struck up the Magnetic Zeroes Saturday night, it's the Polyphonic Spree all over again. Unless we are having an especially bad day, Aftermath is no ... More >>

The Ten Funniest Misunderstood Lyrics Ever

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn GrayJust another day of kicking the dancing queen...​Everybody knows that the part in "Purple Haze" where Jimi Hendrix (who died 40 years ago this month) sings "'Scuse me while I kiss the sky" sounds a lot like "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy." There's even ... More >>

The Five Worst Spring Break Alcohols

dianagurley​Spring Break is a time for roaming the beach looking for good, clean, wholesome fun killer parties and new friends. Here are the top 5 drinks to stay away from so you can keep enjoying your break, and not the bathroom floor of your hotel. We've made the mistakes so you don't have t ... More >>

"Weird" and Proud, Preemo Understands the Meaning of "Hustle Town"

​ We think "Weird Al" Yankovic screwed it up for everybody. There aren't lots of times you can use the word "weird" in a good way. That's one of those words we need to take back, on the real, because when you put "weird" into the right context it can be a positive thing - a differentiator from th ... More >>

Top 5 Cheesiest Soft Drink Commercials

Coca-Cola Hilltop Commercial Thirty years ago, Coca-Cola imagined itself as the arbiter of world peace. Let's just buy the world a Coke and everything will be hunky-dory. Today, America is often despised as a "Coca-Cola" culture, and Coke itself is blamed for the skyrocketing rates of obesity and ... More >>

See How Long You Can Make It Through This Before Losing It

It won't take long, trust me. Rocks Off was close after the Twins' "Walmart-K Mart" call-and-response, but he was a goner when the "God damn racist Kool-Aid" caption flashed on the screen. Nawida slizzerator!

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs: Dirt Don't Hurt

Drinking My Own Tex-Mex Apologist Kool-Aid

"Core Artists-in-Residence Exhibition," "Working It Out: Studio Program Residents," "Artadia at DiverseWorks...Reprised: The Artadia Awardees"

Three exhibitions showcase works by prize-winning artists

Chupa Thrills

Blood! Booze! Goats! It's Theatre Illuminata's Cabaret show

Get Out of My Head!

Earworms bore in and won't let go

Polyphonic Spree, with David Bowie

Thursday, April 29

Dark Riders

The good, the bad and the ugly rock-star performance contracts

Best Sangria

Cafe Piquet Cuban Restaurant

Two Girls Talking Bad

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

Superflies

R&B royalty roll out for Budweiser Superfest

Hot Plate