This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Thursday, June 24

These days, anyone can be an artist. All it takes is the nerve to create something,
whatever it might be, and then call it art. A monochrome canvas, a rusty hammer,
even an ashtray full of cigarette butts — all of these things can be art. It’s
all about perception. Find something cool in your home today and head over to
the Art Car Museum, where the folks from Lawndale Art Center (which is closed
for renovations) will be accepting entries for “The Big Show.” This annual
exhibition of works from the Houston area is a melting pot of artistic sensibilities.
Anyone can submit just about anything, so start cracking — you never know what
Michael Ray Charles, the show’s juror, will end up accepting. And, hey, if you
happen to have a real painting lying around, more power to you. 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. 140 Heights Boulevard. For information, call 713-528-5858 or visit
www.lawndaleartcenter.org. $15 entry fee (includes membership
to Lawndale).

Now that you’re a big-shot artist, you should stay up to date with what your peers are doing. Head over to the Contemporary Arts Museum for the opening of “Perspectives 142: Boys Behaving Badly.” The show features works of art that examine male adolescent behavior. And we know what that means: wrestling, making homemade weapons, insert testosterone-driven act here. Revel in a false sense of invincibility at the opening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today. Through September 12. 5216 Montrose. For information, call 713-284-8250 or visit www.camh.org. Free.

Friday, June 25

Calling all Klingons. Slap that ass-crack on your head and get your ugly self
over to the ApolloCon Science Fiction Convention. You can expect the
usual fantasy fare at this event, including role-playing games and board/card
games. On the ApolloCon Web site, the organizers encourage participants to come
dressed as their favorite sci-fi or fantasy characters, but they also make clear
that this is happening at a hotel, “so do not bring any weapons as part of your
outfit.” Leave your phaser at home and start gaming at 4 p.m. today. The convention
continues through 6 a.m. on Sunday morning at Embassy Suites, 9090 Southwest
Freeway. For information, call 713-995-0123 or visit www.apollocon.org.
$30.

Or, if you’d rather dance, leave your friends behind and shake your rump at the Supersonic Slapback Summer Social Dance Party. This shindig features spinning stylings from several notable crews, including Danseparc and the Sugar Beats. You might recognize the name of the latter from graffitied advertisements in finer bathrooms around town. See what all the fuss is about at 9 p.m. Union, 202 Tuam. For information, call 713-529-5296. Free before 10 p.m.; $5 thereafter.

Saturday, June 26

Straight out of an Archie comic comes a battle of the bands at
the Engine Room. Tonight eight bands will fight for the title of “The Greatest
Band in Town That Can’t Get a Real Gig.” Seriously, though, this event is a
great chance to catch some up-and-coming acts before, well, before they either
make it big or fade away. Rock on in uncertainty at 5 p.m. 1515 Pease. For information,
call 713-654-7846 or visit www.engineroomhouston.net.
$10.

Sunday, June 27

Gay Pride ain’t over yet. Grab your Stetson and head over to Opus for Urban
Cowboyz, an official Pride after-party. The event features beats from decknicians
Dawna Montel and Chris Sill. The whole shebang (or hebang, if you prefer) starts
in the wee hours of Sunday morning and ends just in time for you to start hitting
the brunches around town. Yes, we realize that doesn’t leave any time for sleep,
but you’ll be so pumped up on stimulants (we’re talking about Red Bull here)
that you won’t give a damn. 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. 412 Main. For information, call
713-529-6979 or visit www.spoiledparties.com.
$15 to $20.

Monday, June 28

Okay, you’ve been practicing those power chords alone in your bedroom long
enough. It’s time to show the world what you got at open-mike night at McGonigel’s
Mucky Duck. The crowd here is friendly, so don’t worry too much about missing
a high C or two. But be forewarned: No one, and we mean no one, wants to hear
you strum away at some played-out cover of an ’80s rock ballad. Keep the Queensrÿche
and Poison covers to yourself. Sign-up at 7 p.m.; music at 8 p.m. 2425 Norfolk.
For information, call 713-528-5999 or visit www.mcgonigels.com.
Free.

Tuesday, June 29

Coming every four years, the Blaffer Gallery’s “Houston Area Exhibition“
is a top-notch showcase of what’s going down in H-town. This year, the folks
at the Blaffer have broken with tradition by having a single out-of-towner make
the selections. Now, before you get all xenophobic on us, listen to what the
Blaffer’s director, Terrie Sultan, has to say: “We opted for a single juror,
selecting Bill Arning from the MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, someone
who had never been to Houston and had no preconceived notions about the visual
arts community here.” Well, that kind of makes sense. Arning made his selections
without rubbing elbows with the artists, hence making the process of judging
art as objective as it can be. Stop by the Blaffer today and see what the Cambridge
boy thinks of us. Opening reception for exhibition: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday,
June 25. Works on view through August 29. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays
through Fridays; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. University of Houston,
120 Fine Arts Building. For information, call 713-743-9530 or visit www.blaffergallery.org.
Free.

Wednesday, June 30

Well, it’s hump day, and if you want some action, we recommend heading over
to H-town’s hippie paradise, the Last Concert Cafe. Featuring live music
by the jam band Pot Roast and an open drum circle, Wednesdays are always a little
freewheelin’ at this Tex-Mex joint. So grab a drum, make up a seductive beat
and see who wanders over. Hell, he or she probably doesn’t have to get up for
work tomorrow anyway. Band at 9:30 p.m.; drums at 11:30 p.m. 1403 Nance. For
information, call 713-226-8563 or visit www.lastconcert.com.
$5.