As COVID-19 Surges, Local Leaders Warn Against New Year’s Superspreader Shindigs
Even though 2020 is almost in the rearview once and for all, the coronavirus will still be the biggest threat to the lives and livelihoods of Houstonians once the clock ticks over from midnight to January 1, 2021. Texas and Houston aren’t anywhere close to being out of the woods…
Heights Monolith Disappears, Leaves Behind Cheese Pizza
Just days after we reported on the mysterious appearance of a metallic monolith in the Heights it vanished, leaving behind only a slice of cheese pizza and a lingering sense of wonder to prove that it was ever there. Under the cover of thunder and lightning, powers unknown removed the…
Top 20 “Most 2020” Songs of 2020
The year 2020 was one like no other and it demands a year-end music list like no other. This one features 20 songs which reflect upon a complex year, one that was filled with challenges and setbacks but also innovation and victories of the human spirit. Unlike other year-end music…
Best Concerts Of 2020: Amanda Shires
During normal times, the music writers here at the Houston Press have about a six months “coming soon” schedule of area concerts we use to coordinate coverage. It’s a formidable list, incorporating our city’s many venues and the fact Houston is an expected stop for just about every touring act. I made…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Virtual Wine, Beer and Cheese Tasting
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: The Hope Farms Rolling Green Market will be at Tootsies, 2601 Westheimer, every Friday from noon to 2 p.m., and starting January 7, every Thursday at Bering’s, 6102 Westheimer. Each week the Rolling Green Market team…
Sexy Leatherface? Sure, Why Not
Have you ever sat there watching the iconic ending of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and thought to yourself, “Man, I wish this moment also had some waifu sizzle?” Anime statue company Kozuguru has your back as long as you have $130 and can wait until February. Behold the sexy…
How the Year 2020 Devoured Prominent Houston Sports Figures
The end is almost near in 2020. Wait, what’s that? I SCARED you with that proclamation? Oh sorry, I know that sentence reads as a doomsday proclamation, and let’s face it, with the way 2020 has unfolded, that’s probably the right way to set your default switch — somewhere between…
HISD Trustees Retain Their Seats For Now After Appeals Court Ruling
Houston ISD trustees won a round in court Wednesday when in a 2-1 vote, the Third District Court of Appeals upheld a temporary injunction barring Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath from ousting the HISD board and replacing it with one of his own choosing. The justices voting to uphold the…
Houston Grand Opera Presents Grammy Award-Winning Mezzo-Soprano Sasha Cooke
Like many other performers, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke has lost one booking after another in a year overturned by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the lost work will extend into 2021 as venues and companies try to guess when they’ll be open again and cancel some performances to make room for…
Streaming Concert Watch 12/30: Justin Bieber, KISS and More
The end of 2020 is finally in sight, folks. Like most of the world’s population, I can’t wait to say goodbye to this nightmare year and usher in 2021. There are some great live-streaming concerts happening this week to help you welcome the New Year, and we’ve compiled a few…
Four Thoughts on J.J. Watt’s Angry Press Conference
There are very few professional athletes to whom I have an emotional attachment. There are some players that I admire more than others, but when it comes to completing the sentence “[FILL IN ATHLETE NAME HERE] deserves better,” I generally feel like sports is inherently a big pool of randomness,…
Joey Bishop: The Lost Rat in the Pack
Deconstructing the Rat Pack: Joey, the Mob, and the Summit By Richard A. Lertzman with Lon Davis 367 pp. $24.98 Prestige Books For a brief time in the early ‘60s, they were the Connoisseurs of Cool and the Sultans of Swinging Swagger, taking Las Vegas by storm with a base…
Council Member Greg Travis Goes On Misogynistic Facebook Nonsense Rant
Greg Travis, the Council Member from District G, Spends a lot of his time online being a complete right-wing prat and spreading conspiracy theories about wealthy Jews (or at least George Soros) stealing the election. His latest bout of verbal diarrhea is a comment about how major female political figures…
TSA Airport Security Workers Don’t Undergo Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
This post-Christmas Sunday, over 1.28 million people flew out of U.S. airports. It was the highest single-day airport volume since the pandemic began, beating out the more than 1.19 million passengers on December 23 and the 1.17 million-plus people who flew on November 29, the Sunday following Thanksgiving. While we…
Mysterious Monolith Appears in the Heights
Since November, mysterious metallic monoliths have been appearing all over the world. Houston has one of its own. Located on 11th Street just east of Beverly, the monolith is identical to the one that was first discovered in San Juan County, Utah on November 18 and many of the dozens…
First Look: Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage
The holiday season is upon us and while it may not be as festive or grand as previous years, there are still many little joys to celebrate. One of those little joys are the sunshine-filled days that peek out occasionally in December. While our Houston summers are often unbearable, the…
Your Christmas Trees Can Help Texas Fight Climate Change
Don’t throw out your live Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands once the Christmas holiday is over. Brazoria County needs those to help fight the increasingly strong storms that have been pounding the Texas coast as climate change makes hurricane season longer and more brutal. The county has been running its…
Joy In Repetition: Why We Love To See Our Favorite Artists Live Again and Again
“I miss live music,” Yvonne Salvatierra said for us all. “I miss going to different music venues to hear local musicians play their hearts out. I miss attending concerts the most. If I had to guess, I would say that I’ve attended no less than 100 concerts in my lifetime…
Four Houston Texans Things That Will Assuredly Get Better Quickly With New Coaching Staff
Mercifully, the year 2020 will come to an end later this week, and the 2020 NFL season will follow by finishing up for 18 NFL teams on Sunday. Fourteen more will move onto the postseason, and as we all know, the Houston Texans will not be one of those teams…
Seismique Brings Mind-Bending Art Experience To Houston
Seismique, a 40,000-square-foot art-fueled experiential museum located in Houston’s west side, will feature 40-plus exhibits with dazzling displays of lights generated by 9 million LEDs, color, sound, and natural elements. The multi-dimensional immersive concept is located at 2306 South Highway 6.
This Week in Houston Food Events: Score Free Kids Meals at Peli Peli
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Wednesday, December 30 Steak Night at Better Luck Tomorrow COVID times are hard, so Better Luck Tomorrow, 544 Yale, has introduced a Wednesday Steak Night special that will run all day every Wednesday. Run, don’t walk, to get in on the…
George Thorogood Gets “Bad to the Bone” with Full Beantown Party
The year 1982 was turning out pretty good for George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Nearly a decade into their existence, the blues ‘n boogie band had opened a string of European dates for the Rolling Stones (as they had done the previous year in the United States). They were musical…
10 Best Horror Films of 2020
I’ve written before how I used horror films to cope with the existential dread of the pandemic. Not only has watching people fight monsters and other evils made me fee a vicarious sense of control and triumph, but the practice has allowed me to really bathe in what has been…
Old School I-45 Plans Clashing with Modern Houstonians
Twenty years ago, there would have been little debate. Maybe a few people would have complained, but the Texas Department of Transportation would have simply paved them over, if you’ll excuse the metaphor. Expanding freeways is the business of TxDOT in Houston and, for as long as anyone can remember,…
NFL Week 16 Disaster: Bengals 37, Texans 31 — Four Winners, Four Losers
I hope all of you are enjoying a wonderful holiday week. If you’re a Houston Texans fan, and you can answer affirmatively that you are, indeed, having a wonderful holiday week, then there’s a good chance that you skipped watching the Texans on Sunday, and this article may be the…
Openings and Closings: Dish Society West U, Mala Sichuan Sugar Land
Dish Society, 4191 Bellaire Boulevard, opened December 18. This is the sixth location for the farm to table restaurant from Aaron Lyons who opened the first in 2014. Since then, Lyons has opened a new location every year. Located in the 1955 building which once housed Palace Bowling Lanes, the…
NFL Week 16: Bengals-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
Three weeks ago, the Houston Texans lost at home to the Indianapolis Colts, when a Nick Martin snap went awry in the final minute of the game with the team driving for a go ahead score. After the game, Deshaun Watson sat on the bench for several minutes, towel over…
Micah Edwards On the Particular Brilliance of “The Christmas Song”
There’s no such thing as a perfect song, but certain songs might seem perfect to certain people. What are the reasons anyone might find a song particularly brilliant? That’s the simple question posed to musicians and music fans in this new Houston Press feature. The answer to that question is…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Promising Young Woman
Title: Promising Young Woman Describe This Movie In One Army of Darkness Quote: SHEILA: You found beautiful once … Brief Plot Synopsis: Former med student victimizes deserving men. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 4 “Stars Are Blind” maxi-singles out of 5. Tagline: “Take her home and take your chances.” Better…
Merry Christmas and Welcome to the New Baby Howler Monkey at the Houston Zoo
Just in time for Christmas, a baby howler monkey has made her appearance at the Houston Zoo. Proud parents Charlie (mom) and Howie (dad) welcomed her on November 17 and some of the first photos of her surfaced last week. According to the zoo, sunrise is prime time howling time…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Christmas Dining and an Intimate Cocktail Lounge
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings: Christmas Day Dining Friday From family-friendly dine-in specials and fancy prix fixe meals to holiday eats-go, check out our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Houston Dining Guides dine-in and takeout this year. Drink the Tree at The Rustic Post…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Kick the New Year Off With Brunch
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: UB Preserv, 1609 Westheimer, is offering an ace New Year’s Day Snack Pack, available for preorder through Sunday, December 27 and with pickup from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve or noon to…
New Book is One Stop Shopping on the Life — and Loss — of John Lennon
The Last Days of John Lennon By James Patterson with Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge 448 pp. $30 Little, Brown and Company December 8 of this year marked the 40th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon, gunned down in the hallway of his New York apartment building at the…
Best TV Shows of 2020
This was a year packed with great TV and it all couldn’t have come out during a better time than one in which almost everyone was stuck at home. From big franchise offerings to comedies and deeply personal dramas, this year provided so much memorable TV. This is a list…
College Football Botches Its Golden Playoff Opportunity
I have no idea if my view on the College Football Playoff is shared by a majority or a mere sliver of college football fans (mostly because I live on Twitter, where generally it seems people hate everything), but I am a fan of the four team playoff format. Don’t…
Best Virtual Bets: British Arrows, Henry V, and More Holiday Fun
The holiday season peaks this week and it’s reflected in this week’s best bets.
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 12: Restaurants
Welcome to the 12th and final part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online…
Hearts of Animals Wishes You a Disaffected Christmas
Most Christmas albums are a waste of digital recording space used to massacre classics (looking at you Bon Jovi) or awkwardly cash in by gruesomely sewing holiday trappings on otherwise standard band fare (I see you Erasure). Hearts of Animals has done what few other bands have managed to accomplish…
Hidalgo Begs Harris County Residents To Stay Home For Holidays and Says Curfew Is Still Last Resort
In a pre-Christmas Eve press conference, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urged county residents to stay home for the holidays and limit any Christmas or New Year’s Eve celebrations to within their immediate households given the troubling upticks in local coronavirus metrics over the last few months. “Right now, in…
NBA Postpones Rockets Opener Tonight Due to COVID-19
Well, that didn’t take long. The first game of the NBA season lost to COVID-19 just happened to be the first Rockets game of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center. The reason? The Rockets do not have enough players available. James Harden was deemed unavailable due…
Rockets Open Season: Six Thoughts
Despite the season ending in the fall, it feels like a long time since the Rockets were on the floor for meaningful games. This year, outside the bubble and with a slightly shortened season, you would think stability would be the key to success. It probably will be for teams…
Just In Time For Christmas: Bun B Helps Houston Music Foundation Offer Additional Grants
It’s no secret that the live music industry and all of its moving parts are hurting. Since the pandemic began the sector has been at a stand still with limited means to gain income for artists, venues and their support staff. As the government passed the long awaited COVID-19 relief…
The Art of the Perfect Christmas Stocking
For some people, the Christmas stocking portion of the holiday is merely an afterthought, something you throw a few candy bars in and call a day. I believe that the stocking is a chance to fully express how much you care for your loved ones in a variety of small…
The Stimulus Bill Screws Over Single Childless People
The recent COVID stimulus bill is expected to deliver $600 to Americans. I can just about pay my rent with that because I am married with a child and that adds up to $1,800 for the household. If you’re not, the government doesn’t seem to care about you as much…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 11: Stores & Products
Welcome to the 11th part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
Houston Concert Watch 12/23: Tennis, Rob Thomas and More
Typically, there isn’t much live music to enjoy during the week of Christmas. But in the age of COVID-19, when most artists are live-streaming performances rather than touring, there will be plenty of great shows worth watching — either with loved ones or as a reprieve from them. Here’s to…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Wonder Woman 1984
Title: Wonder Woman 1984 Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: LISA: [takes the monkey’s paw] I wish for world peace. HOMER: Lisa, that was very selfish of you! Brief Plot Synopsis: If wishes were horses, you couldn’t make them drink. Or something. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2…
The Definitive Anthology of the Indianapolis Colts Crushing the Houston Texans’ Souls
Growing up, we sports fans all rooted for our certain teams, and unless you rooted for the equivalent of the modern day New England Patriots or Alabama Crimson Tide, you rarely had your hearts ripped from your chest on a regular basis. Me, I didn’t root for these teams, so…
World’s First Private Space Station To Be Built In Houston By Local Company With Ex-NASA Brass
On Tuesday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner formally announced that the first ever commercial space station will be built right here in Houston by Axiom Space, a local company with strong NASA ties. “It will be the world’s first free-flying, internationally available private space station that will serve as humanity’s central…
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Grocery Store Hours
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, even if that year is 2020. While most of us are scaling back our holiday celebrations this year and focusing on our nearest and dearest, there are still items on our checklists that may be overlooked. This year, however, it’s best to…
Check Out Anytime You Like, But You Can Never Leave
A popular COVID-era music meme asks the question, “You’re quarantined with the last band you saw live – who are your new roommates?” In my case, the answer is the Eagles and I admit, it’s kind of fun to imagine Joe Walsh schlepping around my kitchen in his robe and…
Deshaun Watson and Laremy Tunsil Named To Pro Bowl
Bill O’Brien was only the general manager, officially, of the Houston Texans for a little over a year or so, but in that time he made several trajectory-altering decisions for the franchise, most of them poor decisions. He traded DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney for 40 cents on the dollar…
The Mandalorian and the Cameo Crutch
Major Spoiler Ahead for The Mandalorian Season 2 Before we get into the meat of this article, let’s give a paragraph so as to not spoil the season finale of The Mandalorian in online preview texts. Did you know that Alan Dean Foster and other authors who have contributed to…
Turner Calls Out Congress For Puny Relief Bill, Urges Houstonians To Stay Home for Christmas
On Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged residents to cancel any planned gatherings ahead of the Christmas holiday later this week given the still raging pandemic, and called out Congress for neglecting to authorize any more emergency funding for city governments in the latest coronavirus relief package. The Houston Health…
Loverboy Remembers Their First Kiss with Debut Reissue
When Loverboy’s self-titled debut came in in October 1980, the prevailing media format for music was the vinyl LP. But given what he saw shortly thereafter, guitarist Paul Dean probably didn’t expect that the Canadian rockers would be releasing Loverboy in a 40th anniversary edition on vinyl as well! The…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 10: Innovations
Welcome to the tenth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
NFL Week 15: Colts 27, Texans 20 — Four Winners, Four Losers
If the Texans were ready to turn the page to 2021 after the last two weeks of NFL action — a heartbreaking last second loss to the Colts two weeks ago and a 38-7 blowout loss to the Bears last week — then they may just want to go into…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Holiday Eats and a Pappy Party
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Tuesday, December 27 Taco Tuesday Team-Up at Tacos A Go Go Tacos A Go Go has teamed up with Mastrantos to create a limited-time specialty taco this month, with proceeds from each taco sold benefiting I’ll Have What She’s Having in…
Always On My Mind: Favorite Show Of 2020
Remember live music? That feeling of being shoulder to shoulder with strangers all experiencing something together, sharing a moment that can never be recreated. As someone who used to seek out live music as often as possible, it is a feeling I miss tremendously. As 2020 began, just like many…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 9: Industry Helpers
Welcome to the ninth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
5 Most Disappointing Video Games of 2020
Before we get started, let’s be clear on something. Disappointing does not necessarily mean “bad.” In fact, some of the games in this list are quite good overall. It’s just that for one reason or another they failed to live up to their hype or let themselves get bogged down…
Three Local Sisters Beat The Odds, Earn Their College Degrees Together In 2020
The Lampkin sisters — Zanda, 50, Erneka, 43, and Tiffany, 36 — always wanted to become college graduates, but never expected to achieve that dream together given their age difference. Life got in the way of each of their plans for higher education, but after years of hard work and…
TX Supreme Court Rules Alfred Dewayne Brown Will Be Paid After Death Row Exoneration
On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Alfred Dewayne Brown is entitled to monetary compensation from the Texas Comptroller’s Office due to his near decade on death row for a crime investigators later found he did not commit. Back in 2005, Brown was convicted of murdering Houston Police…
City of Houston Forces Delay In Harding Street Raid Hearing
A Harris County Probate Court hearing on 2019’s fatal Harding Street raid scheduled for Friday was delayed by the City of Houston’s last-minute request that the case be bumped up to the federal level and heard by the U.S. Southern District of Texas. Friday’s hearing was set to be held…
COVID Can’t Stop 16th Annual Trills The Season Toy Drive
For more than a decade and a half, Nosa Edebor has been working part-time as Houston’s own Father Christmas. Since he was 18 or 19 years old, the Bayou City native – who makes music under the moniker Nosaprise – has been hosting an annual toy drive for kids in…
Todd Rundgren Plots Nationwide Clearly Human Tour…Virtually!
During the Age of Coronavirus, musicians have struggled to find the best way to get live music to fans across the world. Audiences have seen everything from blurry solo iPhone videos in living rooms to professional, multi-camera shot, full band concerts in empty theaters. But leave it to multimedia genius…
Openings and Closings: Lefty’s Cheesesteak Debuts, Texas City Livens Up
Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies and Grill, 8057 Kirby, opened December 15 with Houston Texans Chester Pitts, Roderick Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, Duke Johnson and Brandin Cooks in attendance to lend support to their teammate, Texans quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Watson, who became an owner of the brand in August this year, plans…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Try a Deshaun Watson-Approved Cheesesteak
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings: Cheesesteaks and more at Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies & Grill Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 8057 Kirby Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson approves these cheesesteaks, as he helped open Lefty’s first Texas…
He Died Immersed In Music: The Tale of Tom Tarbox Kiersted
To casual observers and critics alike, punk was considered a flash-in-the-pan genre, just another degenerate subculture that would fade quicker than a searing, loud-as-hell album after turning off the electricity. Unfortunately for them, punk was more permanent and corrosive, like rust gnawing on the chrome empire of music. Thomas Tarbox…
The 50 Best Music Videos of 2020 You Probably Missed Part 5: 10 – 1
And now for the 10 best music videos of indie and underground acts we saw in 2020. 10. Nobody’s Girl, “Rescued” Austin’s own Nobody’s Girl shows how you can take a very simple idea and turn it into something amazing. Rather than lamenting the fact we’re all trapped in our houses,…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 8: Cocktails & Spirits
Welcome to the eighth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
NFL Week 15: Texans-Colts — Four Things To Watch For
For the most part, since the advent of the Bill O’Brien Era in 2014, the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts have traveled roughly the same course year to year. In O’Brien’s opening season, the Colts went 11-5, while the Texans went 9-7 while improving by seven games over the…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: News Of The World
Title: News of the World Describe This Movie In One Mars Attacks! Quote: PRESIDENT DALE: Why can’t we work out our differences? Why can’t we work things out? Little people, why can’t we all just get along? Brief Plot Synopsis: Mainstream media tool hangs around with underage girl. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant…
Abbott Vows No More Shutdowns As Pandemic Rages, While Widespread Vaccines Are Months Away
In a Thursday morning press conference outside of the UPS Distribution Center in Austin, Gov. Greg Abbott gave an update on the state’s coronavirus vaccine distribution program before he vowed that there will be “no more shutdowns” in Texas despite the still-raging pandemic. Abbott said that around 95,000 doses of…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Get New Year’s Eve Feast To-Go from Underbelly
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Chef Philippe Verpiand of Etoile Cuisine et Bar, 1101-11 Uptown Park, and Brasserie du Parc, 1440 Lamar, is continuing the great French holiday tradition of chocolate truffles, making his own and selling the treats at both…
Abuse of Power: Harden, Easterby, Luhnow Run Houston Teams Into the Ground
Just a couple years ago, the Rockets were perennial championship contenders with an MVP star and respected front office staff. The Texans had just drafted Deshaun Watson and still had J.J. Watt in his prime. The Astros, coming off a World Series, had a young core of talent and a…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 7: Delivery & To-Go
Welcome to the seventh part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
What Do All of These Texan Injuries and Suspensions Mean For 2021?
If you’d given me one reasonable wish before the Houston Texans’ 2020 season, I would wish for something that would best guarantee a successful season, and a a trip to (and possibly a deep run in) the playoffs. Thus, I’m fairly certain that a fully healthy season for Deshaun Watson…
Houston Holiday Gifts for Foodies
It’s getting down to the wire. Christmas Day is almost here and Hanukkah is almost over. If you’re still scrambling to find a perfect gift for the foodie who has everything, we have a list of local businesses that can ease the stress of holiday shopping. We know foodie is…
Best Virtual Bets: Cinderella, Capote, and A Cabaret
The holidays are in full swing in this week’s edition of best virtual bets.
The 50 Best Music Videos of 2020 You Probably Missed Part 4: 20 – 11
Finding the best music videos of indie and underground acts is no easy task. We look at hundreds, and we only accept the ones that transcend the medium in some way. Let’s look at what we have. 20. body / negative feat. Void of Course, “The Big Sleep” Directed by…
New Findings From Harding Street Raid Case Set To Be Unveiled in Hearing Friday
After months of courtroom wrangling, the legal team representing Rhogena Nicholas’s family will head to a courtroom this Friday as it continues its quest for more details surrounding 2019’s fatal Harding Street raid, during which Houston Police officers shot and killed Nicholas and her husband Dennis Tuttle. On Monday, Harris…
Houston Ballet Offers a Course of Mini Delights in Nutcracker Sweets
Houston Ballet condenses and moves their yearly production of The Nutcracker online this season.
Taylor Swift’s Intimate Turn is One of 2020’s Highlights
One of the side effects of modern “stan” culture is the reconception of the album release cycle. Yes, the component parts are all the same — singles, music videos, the album, tours — but it’s reframed the album as more than just a piece of art that you buy one…
Houston Concert Watch 12/16: Jack Ingram, Trills The Season and More
We’ve got some in-person music for you this week, Houston! And on top of good tunes, this week we are highlighting an annual toy drive organized by a local artist. Nosa Edebor — known in the music scene by his stage name Nosaprise — has been bringing joy to quite a…
Four Reasons Deshaun Watson Must Start the Final Three Games of the 2020 Season
The Houston Texans playoff hopes for 2020 are mathematically dead, thus making the calendar year 2020 of Texans football, which began with their blowing a 24-0 lead in Kansas City in a playoff game and likely ending with, say, a 5-11 record, the perfect metaphor for the ACTUAL year of…
Where to Dine Out On New Year’s Eve 2020, Plus Some NYD Hangover Cure Brunches
These Houston restaurants are here to help you say “goodbye and good riddance!” to 2020 as you ring in 2021 with a special New Year’s Eve meal (plus a few spots offering New Year’s Day brunch): New Year’s Eve a’Bouzy, 2300 Westheimer, 713-722-6899 Pop Champagne at this buzzy restaurant, which will be…
Year-End List: Albums You Might Have Missed
It goes without saying that 2020 has been a year we’d rather forget—an endless feedback loop of disappointment and disaster. It’s even further obvious that few have had a more difficult path navigating this mess than the countless number of musicians whose financial and creative livelihoods have been put on an indefinite halt, given their…
The 50 Best Music Videos of 2020 You Probably Missed Part 3: 30 – 21
We are halfway through our dive into the deep cuts when it comes to 2020’s music videos. Each one has been carefully selected from hundreds of submissions until we truly gathered the best of the best. Hold into your butts. 30. Agnes Obel, “Camera’s Rolling” I have no idea why…
Denying Reality Is How Trumpists Pray
The last several weeks have been a wave of easily disproven nonsense that outclasses everything we have endured even in the last four years. As Donald Trump’s electoral loss becomes more and more officially certain, the conspiracy theories get louder. It’s even reached up to our own Attorney General Ken…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 6: Coffee
Welcome to the sixth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
Study Finds Four Times as Many Houstonians Have Had COVID-19 As Previously Thought
On Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the true number of local residents who had gotten the coronavirus as of September was four times the amount previously confirmed by positive test results, according to a blood sample study from the Houston Health Department. The health department’s analysis found that…
The Amazing 2020 Disappearing Act of Whitney Mercilus
We are coming up on the one year anniversary, in a couple weeks, of what may wind up being Bill O’Brien’s worst deal that didn’t involve DeAndre Hopkins. On December 28, 2019, the Houston Texans inked outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a four-year, $54 million contract, with around $28 million…
Six Great Non-Alcoholic Beers for Holiday Cheer
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Americans over 30 drank alcohol 14 percent more often this challenging year than in 2019. JAMA’s report on drinking during the COVID pandemic noted a 54 percent spike in national sales of alcohol one week late in March versus sales from…
Until We Meet Again: The Biggest Losses In Music of 2020
The year 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic have forced us all to say goodbye to many things; a stable routine, comfortably gathering with friends and family and of course, many beloved artists and pioneers in the music world. Locally Houston has also said goodbye to some live music staples with…
The 50 Best Music Videos of 2020 You Probably Missed Part 2: 40 – 31
Our quest to bring you the best music videos that fly under the average person’s radar continues. These are the sort of music videos that don’t get millions of views, but they shine on like crazy diamonds regardless. Let’s get into the guts of it all. 40. The Unfit, “Caged…
New Reports of Questionable Behavior By Ren Fest Owner George Coulam
Recently, Texas Renaissance Festival owner George Coulam has been mentioned in a lawsuit filed in the Houston division of the Southern District of Texas, in which former employee Toni Ewton alleges he required her to peruse sugar daddy websites on his behalf. Though Coulam is not named as a defendant,…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 5: Chefs
Welcome to the fifth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
Rockets Biggest Offseason Acquisition: Enthusiasm
Former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni often spoke of the Rockets needing to play with “great spirit.” It wasn’t the same as intensity, exactly. The Rockets, even at their worst, weren’t known as a team lacking in hard work. But, what they did seem to be, at times, was lethargic. The…
Best Houston Music Releases of 2020
We take a look at the best local music releases from a difficult and seemingly never-ending year.
Where to Pre-Order Holiday Takeout in Houston This Christmas Eve and Day
Don’t feel like cooking this holiday? These Houston restaurants have you covered with takeout options (available for preorder) for Christmas Eve and/or Day. B&B Butchers & Restaurant, 1814 Washington, 832-767-4828 The Butcher Shop at B&B is offering a Holiday Take-Out Menu, which is available through January 1 and features ready-to-roast…
TCH’s Peter Hotez Throws Some Shade on Anti-Vaxxers
One of the greatest things to come out of the quarantine is judging people on Zoom calls by their bookshelves. In fact, there’s a whole Twitter account dedicated to it. Some people use their shelves to throw shade, and Houston’s own Dr. Peter Hotez went on The Rachel Maddow Show…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 4: Beer
Welcome to the fourth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
2020 Video Games of the Year
Gaming had a rough year in 2020. With many studios shutting down or delaying production on titles due to the COVID pandemic, as well as the ramp up to a new console generation launch, some loss in quantity and quality was to be expected. That said, we still got some…
The 50 Best Music Videos of 2020 You Probably Missed Part 1: 50 – 41
Every year we take a look at the music videos that fall through the cracks. Indie and local artists put out some of the best videos around, and this year was no different. For one week, we’ll hopefully introduce you to some artists you haven’t heard of. Let’s get cracking…
Houston Ballet Replaces The Nutcracker With Nutcracker Sweets in the Year of COVID
In this the strangest of all seasons with routines disrupted everywhere, First Soloist Allison Miller found herself — along with other members of Houston Ballet — dealing with a holiday production differing in just about every way from her normal involvement in The Nutcracker. “It’s very strange to have a…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Seafood Lunches and Sushi Tastings
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Monday, December 14 12 Bartenders of Christmas Highway Vodka Bartending Competition at Penny Whistle Pub Penny Whistle Pub, 1625 Richmond, will host a holiday “Chopped” style bartending competition featuring custom holiday cocktails infused with Highway Vodka. Beginning at 7 p.m., 12…
NFL Week 14 Debacle: Bears 36, Texans 7 — Four Winners, Four Losers
My biggest question coming into Sunday’s game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears had nothing to do with the “man event” storyline for he week, the battle between the two pivotal quarterback figures from the 2017 NFL Draft. I was mroe intrigued by what type of effort we would…
Houston Christmas Stage Offerings in Virtual Format Courtesy of 2020
In the continuing pandemic when all stages are shuttered, the only refuge we have as theatergoers is to watch the computer screen. At best, theaters are attempting to employ their actors and stagehands and provide us with much needed diversion. Unfortunately they haven’t as yet conquered that dreaded Hollywood Squares…
U.S. Supreme Court Throws Out Texas AG Paxton’s Last-Ditch Election Challenge
On Friday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed Monday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that sought to overturn the presidential election results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. All four of those battleground states went to President-elect Joe Biden, but Paxton hoped the Supreme Court would…
Three Local Democrats Indicted For Election Fraud In Texas House Races
In a surprise Friday press conference, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the Grand Jury indictments of three local Democrats — Richard Bonton, Natasha Demming and Damien Jones — connected to two election fraud schemes tied to the local Texas House of Representatives races in House Districts 142 and 132…
NFL Week 14: Texans-Bears — Four Things To Watch For
Say what you will about the disappointment of a 4-8 season for the Houston Texans in 2020, but there is no denying the fact that they are anything but boring. After an 0-4 start, they whacked arguably the least popular sports figure in this city over the last ten years,…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Place Your Preorders for Hanukkah Delights
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings: Hanukkah Menu at Golden Bagel Wednesday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3119 White Oak New director of operations and chef Jane Wild and crew go beyond the bagel with a special…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: I’m Your Woman
Title: I’m Your Woman Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: THE BE SHARPS: I’m telling you it’s mighty nice / Each trip’s a trip to paradise / With my baby on board Brief Plot Synopsis: Being married to the mob turns out to be less amusing than that one movie told us…
Openings and Closings: Tres Tacos and Hidden Omakase Opening, Morningstar Shutters
Hidden Omakase, 5353 W. Alabama, is shooting to make its debut December 15. The tasting menu-only restaurant comes from Japanese chef Billy Kin, most recently executive chef and partner at Blackbird Izakaya, a Japanese pub and restaurant Kin opened with Ken Bridge of Delicious Concepts. Blackbird closed this past July…
Isaac Rodriguez on the Particular Brilliance of “T’Aint No Big Thing”
There’s no such thing as a perfect song, but certain songs might seem perfect to certain people. What are the reasons anyone might find a song particularly brilliant? That’s the simple question posed to musicians and music fans in this new Houston Press feature. The answer to that question is…
The Challenge on MTV Continues to Get Bigger, Bolder and Tougher
America’s 5th major sport — so dubbed by MTV — is back. MTV’s The Challenge, one of the longest-running reality shows on television, premiered its new season this week. This season, entitled “Double Agents” follows the show’s most-watched recent season which premiered in April of this year. The Challenge: Total Mayhem…
You Likely Have COVID-19 Alert Tech In Your Pocket, But State & Local Health Departments Are Ignoring It
For almost six months now, iPhone and Android users in Texas have had cutting-edge technology that can alert them if they’ve been exposed to the deadly coronavirus right in their pockets. The only problem is state and local health departments have so far chosen not to use it. The technology…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 3: Wine
Welcome to the third part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
There Will Be STAAR Tests, But no Schools Will be Tagged with A-F Ratings in 2020-21.
As announced Thursday, the Texas Education Agency decided to hit pause on handing out any A-F ratings of schools this school year, but is still requiring students to undergo STAAR testing, despite pleas from many legislators to forego it this year. But, the TEA and others said the STAAR results…
Houston Symphony’s Very Merry POPS Brings Holiday Cheer
Houston Symphony celebrates the holiday season with Very Merry POPS. Join Michael Krajewski, vocalist Chelsea Cymone and the celebrated orchestra for a joyous romp through holiday tunes December 11 – 13 and 18 – 20.
The Catholic Girls Pray for a Resurrection with New Anthology
For any musician or band, a slot at the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is a highly coveted gig. It offers national exposure to millions, and always results in a bump in recognition and record sales. That was true when the show debuted in 1975, and remains steadfast in…
Rating the QB Situations of Likely NFL Teams Looking For New Coaches
The Houston Texans were the first team to fire their head coach and general manager this offseason. Conveniently, they were the same person, so there was only one termination package, one COBRA benefits package to process, one awkward meeting with HR. This head start for the Texans has been spent…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 2: Treats & Trends
Welcome to the second part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Give Yourself the Gift of Great Sandwiches
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Sticky’s Chicken, 2311 Edwards, has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters Houston for its 2020 toy drive. Now through Friday, December 18, Sticky’s will give customers 30 percent off their entire meal in exchange for a…
James Harden Not the First Rocket Star to Want Out
“You’ll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes. Think classy, you’ll be classy. If you win 20 in the show, you can let the fungus grow back and the press’ll think you’re colorful. Until you win 20 in the show, however, it means you are…
Best Virtual Bets: Jane Austen, Josephine Baker and Karen Carpenter
In this week’s virtual best bets, we’ve got more holiday (and a couple of non-holiday) offerings from across the Houston virtual stages.
1984: The Year George Orwell Met Prince, Madonna, Michael, and Bruce
Can’t Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop’s Blockbuster Year By Michaelangelo Matos 480 pp. $30 Hachette Books In late 1984, flush from the success of his work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller, super producer Quincy Jones told an interviewer from Radio & Records what he foresaw in music’s future. He envisioned…
Fort Bend County Judge KP George Raises Local Threat Level Back To Red Alert
For the second time in 16 days, Fort Bend County Judge KP George has raised his county’s COVID-19 threat level due to the rapid local spread of COVID-19 and its toll on local hospitals. On Wednesday afternoon, George announced that he had upgraded the local COVID-19 threat to a red…
Streaming Concert Watch 11/9: Andrea Bocelli, Gorillaz and More
We’re just two weeks away from Christmas, guys. And right after that, 2020 will finally be over. Here’s hoping 2021 is significantly less eventful. Imogen Heap Live-Streaming – 9 December Since 1998’s I Megaphone, British singer-songwriter Imogen Heap has been a pioneer in the electropop genre. The London native began…
TX Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Turned A Boring Job Into Radical Right-Wing Launchpad
With his sunburnt complexion and signature white cowboy hat that’s seemingly glued to his head, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller looks less like a government bureaucrat than he does a rootin’ tootin’ rodeo champion. Turns out, he’s both. Thanks in large part to his savvy marketing of himself as a…
Harris County Jail Isn’t Checking On Inmates Often Enough, State Inspection Finds
During last week’s annual, random inspection of the Harris County Jail by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the local detention facility got passing marks in 22 of the 23 areas of review. However, the county jail failed on one very important criteria: the requirement for jail staff to perform…
Jimi Hendrix’s Hawaiian “Adventure” Finally Explained
The music of Jimi Hendrix is often described as “fiery.” And one of his biggest hits was “Fire.” But the singer/guitarist probably never imagined that on July 30, 1970 he—along with drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Billy Cox—would be standing on an outdoor stage, on a cattle ranch, near the…
12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 1: Bars
Welcome to the first part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it’s also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded…
Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market Adapts to the Pandemic with Virtual Ease
Long a Bayou City tradition, the annual parade of trades merchants returns at the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market and thanks to a virtual leg-up from the folks at Map Dynamics, they’re making their 2020 season something truly unique. Evan Grappelberg, the CEO behind NexTech AR Solutions, which owns the subsidiary…
![Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Moved To May 2021 [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/jack_gorman_rodeo.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Moved To May 2021 [UPDATED]
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced on Tuesday that the 2021 rodeo will be held in May, two months later than usual, as long as the pandemic is in a manageable state at that point. Originally scheduled for March 2 – 21, next year’s slate of concerts, carnival amusements…
Texas AG Paxton Sues Battleground States in Another Attempt To Keep Trump In Office
Ladies and gentleman, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is at it again. Early Tuesday morning, the Lone Star State’s top law enforcement officer sued the presidential battleground states of Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the state of Texas for making allegedly unconstitutional…
Texans Announce Committee That Will Find the Next Head Coach and GM
It’s not an overstatement to say that the Houston Texans, and more specifically owner Cal McNair, are on the cusp of the most important tandem decisions in the history of the franchise. In the midst of a lost 4-8 season, the search for a new general manager and new head…
Turner Reluctant To Issue Local Curfew Despite High Case Counts, Calling It A Nuclear Option
In a Monday afternoon press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once again said that city lawyers have assured him he has the authority to issue a local curfew order to keep Houstonians homebound in the evenings if restaurants, re-tooled bars and other businesses don’t do a better job of keeping…
Houston Texans’ Opening Drive Awfulness Now Infecting the Defense, Too
At the beginning of every football game, at every level, there is a coin toss at midfield. The captain of the away team calls it in the air, heads or tails. The winner of the coin toss essentially chooses whether to put their offense or defense on the field to…
HGO Documentary Shows How the Ezra Jack Keats Classic The Snowy Day Was Made Into an Opera
This December was to have been the Wortham Center premiere of an opera based upon the iconic children’s book The Snowy Day that Ezra Jack Keats wrote almost 60 years ago and has been in demand ever since. The story of an African American boy who goes out to explore…
Beyond Folk: Houston’s Amanda Pascali Featured On Hope Rises Compilation
Hope is a powerful and abstract concept that we are all longing for, especially as this challenging year comes to an end. Hope and activism through music are very familiar concepts for Noel ‘Paul’ Stookey, better known as Paul from the popular folk trio of the ‘60s Peter, Paul and…
Where to Dine Out in Houston on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2020
Though the holidays may look a bit different this year, these Houston area restaurants are ready to welcome guests (with social distancing protocols, of course) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Christmas Eve The Annie Café & Bar, 1800 Post Oak, 713-804-1800 The festively decorated restaurant will be open for…
Most Popular 2020 News Stories in the Houston Press
In 2020, the year of the pandemic, it’s no surprise that many of our most-read news stories concerned COVID-19 and the political fallout from the virus. Even with the marches about the death of George Floyd and the national election for the presidency, the coronavirus question was there — should…
The Book of Chris Hillman and His Many Bands
Throughout his nearly 60-year career in music, he’s flown high as a Byrd and a Burrito Brother. He’s served as a Squirrel Barker and a Golden State Boy. He left the train depot in Manassas on his way out west to pick a Desert Rose. And he’s been rightfully lauded…
This Week in Houston Food Events: One Fifth Riffs on Southern Holiday Classics
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Tuesday, December 8 Introduction of One Fifth Southern Comfort The team at One Fifth, 1658 Westheimer, has changed concepts for the month of December, offering food that is comforting and reminiscent of the holidays. Guests can expect dishes like jalapeño cornbread,…
Where Can I Buy a Human Skull for Christmas?
Holiday shopping is always a drag, especially if the person you love wants a real human skull for Christmas. Why does he or she want it? Maybe it’s to be a memento mori reminding them to mask up and stay inside during a plague year. Maybe to build a really…
Most Popular 2020 Music Stories in the Houston Press
The pandemic dealt a crucial blow to music in Houston and around the world in 2020. As a review of this year’s most-read stories shows, readers were excited to read about and attend in-person performances right up until the time that COVID-19 shut everything down. In the following months, readers…
NFL Week 13 Heartbreak: Colts 26, Texans 20 — Four Winners, Four Losers
The look on J.J. Watt’s face said it all. All he could do was muster a “Why, football gods? WHY?” smirk, as the Indianapolis Colts’ defense fell on a bad snap from Nick Martin to Deshaun Watson, deep in the shadows of the Colts’ goalpost, inside the opposing two yard…
Openings and Closings: One Fifth Southern Comfort Pops Up, Bao Bros. Bistro Opens
One Fifth Southern Comfort, 1658 Westheimer, begins December 8. Owner/chef Chris Shepherd is constantly innovating and experimenting with his One Fifth concept and he has Matt Staph, chef de cuisine, in charge of this holiday pop up menu. Shepherd’s One Fifth restaurant has seen many iterations and the pandemic has…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Christmas Chronicles 2
Title: The Christmas Chronicles 2 Describe This Movie In One Lethal Weapon Quote: EBENEZER SCROOGE: Tell me … what day is it? MR. JOSHUA: [shoots TV] Goddamn Christmas! Brief Plot Synopsis: Dark elf threatens mystical kingdom. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 Thors from Adventures in Babysitting out of 5. Tagline: “The…
Houston Symphony Gets Festive With A Baroque Christmas
Houston Symphony is keeping the holiday traditions alive this year’s A Baroque Christmas, running Friday through Sunday at Jones Hall and via livestream.The program includes giants of the Baroque period, including great arias from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as Arcangelo Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and arias from Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.”
NFL Week 13: Colts-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
Well, there is certainly one thing you can say about the Houston Texans’ 2020 season — it’s definitely not boring. Sure, the parts where they run the ball on 2nd and 10 for a gain of zero yards, THAT’S boring. Also, watching numerous players with blasted guaranteed contracts slog around…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Santa Brunch and an After Hours Tacky Christmas
Here’s a look at this weekend’s tasty food and drink happenings: Brunch and Photos with Santa at B&B Butchers & Restaurant Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1814 Washington Santa Claus is coming to B&B this Saturday, taking pictures with patrons as they enjoy a tasty prix-fixe menu and fun…
The Outlaws Stage a German Showdown with Guitars Blazing
It was June 2, 1979 at Carter-Finley Stadium on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Two young guitar slingers, Freddie (Salem, of the Outlaws) and Edward (Van Halen of, well, Van Halen) were having a beer backstage. Their respective groups were sharing a bill with Poco and…
U.S. Rep. Crenshaw Injects His Action Hero Antics Into the Georgia Senate Runoffs
In an email to his supporters earlier this week, Houston area U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw announced he’ll be heading to Georgia “very soon” to help stump for his fellow Republicans Sen. David Perdue and Sen. Kelly Loeffler, whose January 5 runoff races will determine the balance of power in the…
Best Virtual Bets: Korean Film, Islamic Art, and Dickens Two Ways
Holiday programming abounds in this week’s virtual offerings.
Casino Mogul Adelson Hires Big-Time Texas Lobbyists
Gambling in Texas has never seemed more like a pipe dream, but the owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino, Sheldon Adelson, has spared no expense when it comes to hiring major lobbyists in the state. In a recent filing, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation listed ten lobbyists that Adelson…
Remembering Sampson, Ren Fest’s Amazingly Gentle Warhorse
As if 2020 wasn’t rough enough, one of the most beloved figures in the Texas Renaissance Festival, Sampson the Warhorse, died on Sunday, November 8 after nine years on the fair fairgrounds delighting visitors. He was 18-years-old. “I was so blessed to have him in my life,” says owner/trainer Angela…
Running the Banking Trainee Gauntlet in Industry From HBO
Industry follows a group of top graduates who are trying to establish themselves at Pierpoint, a banking firm in London. They all have their foot on the first rung of the corporate ladder ready to impress their superiors and hopefully leave a mark impactful enough to become a permanent hire…
Rockets Send Westbrook to Washington for Wall
For the third straight season, the Rockets will have a new point guard. On Wednesday, Houston shipped Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for veteran guard John Wall and a protected (quite heavily in fact) first round draft pick. Much like the deal that brought Westbrook to Houston in exchange…
Peter Guralnick Gets Lost in Profiles of Musical Giants
Peter Guralnick didn’t set out to be a music journalist. The occupation didn’t really exist at the time when a combination of luck and bluster led the obsessive blues fan to interview a “rediscovered” Skip James in 1965 for a non-existent magazine assignment. His piece was eventually published, and it…
Stages Offers Buttons in a COVID Panto As Well As a Radio Show Filled with Music and Hope
Ben Hope and Katie Baron Hope were all set. The husband-wife duo (Ring of Fire, Hank Williams: Lost Highway) had been commissioned by Houston’s Stages theater to write Nashville Jukebox Live. “It was going to be our January show,” says Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin. Then, of course, COVID hit and…
Who Is the Texans’ Stiffest Competition For a New Head Coach and GM?
Back on Monday, October 5, about 24 hours to the minute after the Minnesota Vikings finished dispatching his football team to its fourth loss of their winless season, Bill O’Brien was fired by owner Cal McNair and the Houston Texans. It would be a reach to say “nobody saw this…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: The Tutu Turkey Sandwich and Holiday Lunch
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 4520 San Felipe, 2724 West TC Jester, 6618 Fannin, continues its “H-Town Originals” sandwich collaboration series with Tutu Turkey, available during the month of December. Former Houston Prima ballerina Lauren Anderson worked…
As an Uncertain Season Begins, We Answer Some Questions About the Rockets
Stability. It’s one of the most underrated yet critical components of a winning franchise in any sport. The longer guys play together, the longer they work under the same system, the better they tend to get. For the Rockets, the years-long stability that came with the same coach and general…
COVID Has Been Dangerous for an Alcoholic
As President-Elect Joe Biden prepares to take office, the question of whether America is going to go on a full lockdown to combat the out-of-control coronavirus pandemic is on everyone’s minds. If you have substance abuse problems, that prospect can feel very bleak considering how many coping mechanisms have been…
Houston Concert Watch 12/2: St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Brian Fallon and More
Good morning, Houston. I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving. Despite all the craziness in the world, I still have plenty to be grateful for and I hope you do too. Here’s our weekly concert watch list, which includes another GRID concert at White Oak Music Hall and a…
Houston Company Produces Insane Playhouses
When I was a kid, my idea of a rich person’s playhouse was someone who had two couches for maximum cushion fort possibilities. For those who have real dough to drop, though, the possibilities are literally endless thanks to one Houston company: Tiny Town Studios. A brief look through their…
Houston Texans PED Suspension Fest — Four Winners, Four Losers
During the season, Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be quiet days on the NFL calendar each week, especially this week with NFL teams closing their facilities to try their best to prevent the spread of post-holiday COVID. However, perfectly on brand, the Houston Texans found a way to create…
![TX Attorney General Says Longoria’s Appointment As Harris County Elections Administrator Was Illegal [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/isabel_7_1_.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
TX Attorney General Says Longoria’s Appointment As Harris County Elections Administrator Was Illegal [UPDATED]
Isabel Longoria has been hard at work for weeks in her new gig as Harris County’s first Elections Administrator, a job she was appointed to by the county Commissioners Court back on October 30 after the court created the new office in July. But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is…
Texans Star WR Will Fuller Suspended For Remainder of 2020 Season For PED Usage
One of the most frustrating things about the Texans’ disastrous 2020 seasons has been that, for the first time in his five year NFL career, wide receiver Will Fuller has avoided the injury big. Not just that, but he has performed like a true No. 1 wide receiver, racking up…
Texas’s Police Watchdog Agency Gets Failing Grade In State Review
Texas’s Sunset Advisory Commission had some scathing words for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement — the statewide agency responsible for licensing and overseeing all police officers and departments in the state — in a November report analyzing the agency’s effectiveness. According to the report, the Lone Star State’s top…
Dolly Parton Releases Coffee Table Book Songteller: My Life In Lyrics
The year 2020 has been full of surprises but one of the most pleasant was a recent development in the race for a vaccine for COVID-19 when Moderna published its preliminary report on its progress and listed Dolly Parton as a major donor. Parton only learned that her donation helped…
The City is Closing Main Street to Cars: 5 Reasons to Keep It That Way
Last week, City Council approved the More Space Main Street project, which would close sections of Main Street in downtown, allowing bars and restaurants to spread outdoors and into the street. It is an idea that was floated earlier in the year to help struggling businesses in downtown. But, it…
Turner Warns He Might Order Curfew If “Restaurants” Don’t Enforce Masks & Distancing
In a Monday afternoon press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he hasn’t ruled out issuing a citywide curfew order if local businesses can’t keep crowds under control. Turner said his staff is in the process of scheduling pop-in visits for the mayor to local bars and clubs — many…
How Come No One Noticed at BARC When a Dog Chewed off its Own Paw
City prosecutors are seeking a court order to euthanize a dog that bit a woman, but no one is interested in how the dog was able to nearly bite off his paw while at BARC.
Houston Texans Release WR Kenny Stills
For all of the sketchy moves made by former head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien coming into the 2020 season, one aspect of the Houston Texans that was undeniable was that, for the first time in the O’Brien Era, they would have capable veteran depth at the wide receiver…
Five Reasons Channelizing Buffalo Bayou is a Bad Idea
As you may have read recently, the Army Corps of Engineers released its study on proposed changes to Buffalo Bayou and its upstream reservoirs in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and it was a stark reminder that we must remain hyper vigilant to keep plans like these from manifesting into…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Sip Festive Cocktails at a Holiday Pop-Up Bar
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Tuesdays Roti Breakfast Taco Tuesdays at Phat Kitchen Phat Kitchen, the new ghost kitchen operating out of Blodgett Food Hall, 2616 Blodgett, has announced a weekly buy one-get one special on its Roti Breakfast Tacos on Taco Tuesdays. To take advantage,…
Classic Rockers Firefall Drop First New Record in Two Decades
It was, according to guitarist/singer Jock Bartley, not only one of the highlights of his musical career, but of his life. And it happened onstage at Liberty Hall here in Houston late in the evening of February 24, 1973. Bartley was playing just his second gig behind country rock pioneer…
Missouri City Native and Clements HS Grad Jeremy Thomas Named Rhodes Scholar
When Jeremy Thomas heard the news Friday that he had won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, he couldn’t run out to tell his family immediately, because in true 2020 fashion he was stuck on a Zoom video call with the scholarship’s regional selection committee. As he sat and listened to the…
Lighting the Fire of Revolution With The Good Lord Bird
The Good Lord Bird begins with the end of its story, with abolitionist John Brown awaiting his execution. After a failed raid at an Army weapons depot, he has been sentenced to hanging. He looks out into the crowd that has gathered below the gallows with his wild passionate eyes…
Capitol Records Promo Man on the Me Decade
Run-Out Groove: Inside Capitol’s 1980s Hits and Stiffs By Dave Morrell 271 pp. $12.99 Self-published, available on Amazon The fourth volume of music biz publicist/promo man Dave Morrell’s ongoing memoir charts his decade at the storied label’s New York offices. He was there during a crucial changing of the guard…
NFL Week 12: Texans 41, Lions 25 — Four Winners, Four Losers
This has been Houston Texans season where good feelings have been hard to come by, so when Deshaun Watson throws four touchdown passes, J.J. Watt turns back the clock with a pick six, and the Texans turn a road win into a sandlot game in the fourth quarter, I’m gonna…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Black Friday Brunch and Friendsgiving To-Go
Check out this weekend’s tastiest culinary happenings: Black Friday Specials Friday From Black Friday brunches featuring things like biscuits and gravy and turkey, dressing and cranberry pizza to gift card specials and boozy discounts, check out our Black Friday Dining Guide for the best post-Thanksgiving food and drink deals in…
Openings and Closings: King’s Biergarten Pearland Makes Way for Good Vibes
Good Vibes Burgers and Brews, 1329 E. Broadway, is shooting to open by the end of 2020. In what came as a total shock to many of its loyal patrons, Hans and Philipp Sitter are passing the King’s Biergarten space onto Eric Nelson, chef and owner of the new concept…
Already Dealing With the Halloween Jump in COVID Cases, Healthcare Workers Brace for Thanksgiving
The very thing that made the holidays great before COVID is striking fear into the heart of the healthcare system – families gathering and being merry. There’s plenty of reason to suspect that the holidays will send cases skyrocketing. Two weeks after Halloween, the greater Houston area saw an uptick…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Where to Eat During Oyster Season
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: From Prestige Oysters’s Raz Halili, Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 6th, is now open in San Leon. Celebrate oyster season with cold bivalves on-the-half-shell, roasted oysters smothered in things like parm and herb-shallot butter…
NFL Week 12: Texans-Lions — Four Things To Watch For
A win over the Patriots last Sunday sent the Texans into Thanksgiving week feeling good about their general direction, but with only a few days to get ready for the next contest, a Thanksgiving Day (actually, Thanksgiving MORNING, Houston time, 11:30 a.m. CT kickoff) game in Detroit to face the…
Four Thoughts on Rick Smith’s Potential Return to an NFL GM Role
Rick Smith’s last day as general manager for the Houston Texans was January 1, 2018. On that day, he took a leave of absence to take care of his ailing wife, who was suffering from breast cancer at that time, and ultimately, he would not return to his post. January…
Where to Eat, Drink and Get Black Friday Dining Deals in Houston
If there was ever a year to skip the big stores on Black Friday, this is it. Do your shopping online and fill your day with dining deals from local restaurants and bars, instead. From Black Friday brunches to gift card promotions, here is what to eat, drink and buy…
Houston Universities Have Kept COVID-19 Cases Manageable, For Now
As a fall semester like no other nears its end, Houston is lucky that the thousands of college students attending local universities haven’t been the source of any huge coronavirus outbreaks and haven’t been the root cause of local case upticks over the past few months. Thanks to the lack…
The West Loop to I-69 North Ramp is Open: Hallelujah!
One of the worst and most dangerous intersections in the state of Texas opened its first new segment on Monday as the new offramp from the West Loop to the northbound lanes of I-69 finally opened. That faint sound of cheering you heard was from drivers forced to endure this…
Houston Concert Watch 11/25: Patti Smith, Dua Lipa and More
We’ve got quite a bit on tap this week, folks. There will be a lot of live music to enjoy from the comfort of your homes as you stuff your faces with turkey, so I’ll keep this week’s introduction brief. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and, ideally,…
Robert Del Grande Creates Space for Hearty Meals and Music
This week, Houston Press is showcasing local food professionals who are also musicians. We asked how their culinary and music lives intersect and how those experiences ultimately make your dining experience a better one. Each shared what’s new at their establishments and reminded folks that Houston eateries are open and…
Keeping The Music Alive: Record Store Day Black Friday Releases
Despite a year that has been anything but normal, the holiday shopping season has arrived just as it has in years past. Black Friday may look different this year, but the desire and need to check our loved ones off our Christmas list remains the same. Record Store Day has…
As FBI Investigates, TX Attorney General Ken Paxton Swears His Latest Scandal Is Also Bogus
A proud right-wing Christian soldier in the never-ending culture war, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton definitely isn’t shy about the political spotlight. The Tea Party warrior has been at the forefront of the Republican efforts to limit abortion, to dismantle Obamacare and to get rid of Obama’s DACA order to…
Thanksgiving Grocery Store Hours 2020
By now, most Houstonians have cemented their Thanksgiving plans. Some are opting for dinner with their pandemic pod while a few have made the decision to travel the roads or airways. Whatever the case, someone will forget the cranberry sauce or the marshmallows for the sweet potato casserole. We have…
Astros and Skeeters Joining Forces in Unique Minor League Partnership
Since the team’s inception in 2012, the Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball franchise has been part inspired creativity and part pray for luck on the part of the community on the southwest side of Houston. In many ways, it really was a “if you build it, they will come”…
Texans Win Sunday Had Several Positives From Young Players
With the smell of Thanksgiving turkey in the air, just a few days away, it’s officially holiday season in my house, and I refuse to let anything get me in a bad mood. Not the weather, not any bad gambling beats, and certainly not the Texans’ 3-7 record. In fact,…
Buffalo Bayou Offers Its Own Soundtrack Thanks To ROCO
ROCO has joined forces with Buffalo Bayou Partnership to provide a new experience along its banks. With “ROCO on Buffalo Bayou,” visitors can explore miles of trails lining the bayou to discover and scan QR codes posted at landmarks and public art works.
The Real School of Rock Beefs Up Its Curriculum
Jason Hanley, Ph.D., says he’s used to the reaction. As the VP of Education and Visitor Engagement at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, he’s attended plenty of educational conferences and meetings to let teachers and school administrators know about Rock Hall EDU, the educational component of…
Master Sommelier Steven McDonald Pours the Wine and Checks the Rhyme
This week, Houston Press is showcasing local food professionals who are also musicians. We asked how their culinary and music lives intersect and how those experiences ultimately make your dining experience a better one. Each shared what’s new at their establishments and reminded folks that Houston eateries are open and…
Houston Grand Opera Loses its Managing Director
Perryn Leech, the Houston Grand Opera managing director who so deftly helped steer the organization during the year it was booted from its Wortham Center home because of Hurricane Harvey floodwaters, will not be staying through to the end of the coronavirus pandemic. In an announcement made by HGO Chairman Allyn…
Rockets Draft/Free Agency Haul Brings Youth, Versatility
It was a tumultuous few weeks for new Rockets GM Raphael Stone. It included his hiring after the departure of Daryl Morey, the hiring of new coach Stephen Silas after Mike D’Antoni left the team, and the swirling of rumors that the team’s two stars, separately, want new homes. All…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Feasts to Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Monday-Tuesday Holiday Meal Express at Central Market Central Market, 3815 Westheimer, has opened its Holiday Meal Express for the season. Orders can be placed in-store, online at centralmarket.com/holiday or by calling 713-386-1785. Thanksgiving pre-orders can be placed now through Tuesday, November…
Donald Trump Could Have Been Great
The night before the 2016 presidential election, I was thinking a lot about my favorite president, Chester A. Arthur. Like Donald Trump, Arthur was a thoroughly corrupt New York dandy who never should have even come close to the presidency. As head of the New York Customs House, he ran…
How Chef Matt Marcus Turned His Passion for Music Into Your Favorite Food Truck Dish
The French food writer Lucien Tendret once wrote, “To give life to beauty, the painter uses a whole range of colors, musicians of sounds, the cook of tastes.” Tendret recognized the art of a great meal was like the art of a great song, each created from a place of…
NFL Week 11: Texans 27, Patriots 20 — Four Winners, Four Losers
We all know that the Texans are the youngest organization in the NFL. Currently in their 19th season, if the Texans were a person, they wouldn’t even be old enough to drink yet! So the whatever rivalries they have are more baked into the division they play in than any…
Acevedo and Crime Stoppers Blame Low Murder Solve Rate On Bond Releases and Coronavirus
In a Friday press conference, Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo addressed the increase in local homicides since this time last year, and attempted to shift blame for the rising number of unsolved murders by HPD over the past several years onto the Harris County court system, which he claimed…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Fatman
Title: Fatman Describe This Movie In One Futurama Quote: ROBOT SANTA: Your mistletoe is no match for my TOW missile! Brief Plot Synopsis: Deck the halls with blood and haunches. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2.5 Chester A. Arthurs out of 5. Tagline: “‘Tis the season to get even.” Better Tagline:…
Openings and Closings: Yi Peng Thai, Masraff’s Open, Good Dog Montrose Will Close
Yi Peng Thai Dining, 798 Sorella Court, opened at CityCentre October 28. Located next to Fellini Café, this is the first location in the United States for the upscale Thai eatery, owned by CPF and led by of Junnajet “Jett” and Jira Hurapan. Named after the annual sky lantern festival…
Houston’s Ink-Masters Are Tattooing Away Through The Pandemic
José Garcia came in to Battle Royale Tattoo in East Downtown on Wednesday afternoon to have his trusted ink-master Gabriel Massey add a nice new mandala pattern to his forearm. This visit was just a tad different from his past stops at the shop — both client and artist were…
Houston Chamber Choir’s 2020-21 Season Finds ‘A Time To Sing’
The Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson, announced its inspirational 2020-2021 virtual season, To Everything a Season. The Houston Chamber Choir kicks off November 22 and includes five custom, heartfelt concert videos created to remind audiences that even in difficult times like these, beauty and joy can be…
NFL Week 11: Patriots-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
It was December 1, 2019, less than 12 months ago. On that Sunday evening, the Houston Texans defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 28-22, in a game where the final score was not indicative of how lopsided the win was. The Patriots took advantage of a Charmin-soft…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Twisted Grilled Cheese Goes Brick-and-Mortar
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in and takeout options. Fall-Winter Menu at Bludorn Friday-Saturday, 5-10pm 807 Taft Guests of Bludorn can enjoy a selection of new, fall-winter menu additions now through the end of December. Celebrating autumn’s bounty, notable dishes include Foie…
Best Virtual Bets: Bollywood, A Cabaret, and A Choir of Man
There’s a wide array of virtual programming this week for those of us staying home.
Hot Off An SNL All-Timer, Chappelle Gives House of Blues Houston Three Nights
No stand-up comic in America offers a less predictable show than Dave Chappelle. The lion of stand-up has proven to be one of the fastest writers in the business, and show no qualms about releasing his quality material feverishly, often capturing the zeitgeist in sets that range from 15 minutes…
The Third Day: An Experiment in Filmmaking
You have probably never seen a show like The Third Day. The British-American drama is a co-production between HBO and its overseas counterparts, one following other successful collaborations including the critically acclaimed series I May Destroy You which premiered early this year. HBO is synonymous with “prestige TV” – their reputation…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Picos’ Tamales Are Back for the Season
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Picos, 3601 Kirby, has officially rolled out its annual Tamale Stand this holiday season, running now through January 3. Similar to years past, the stand will be located in the parking lot with a menu that…
Doc Hails the Return Of the True King (Sorry, Elvis!)
Usually, when a documentarian is prepping his film, it’s a bonus to have the subject not only still alive, but willing to participate. However, when that subject is the notoriously difficult rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry, all bets are off. Especially given how Rolling Stone Keith Richards said of…
Houston Ballet Cancels Remainder of In-Person Performances For 2020-21 Season
It’ll be all virtual for the rest of Houston Ballet’s 2020-21 Season. Due to the continuing pandemic, Houston Ballet will continue its virtual offerings but has cancelled the remaining performances it was hoping to stage for the 2020-21 season. “Safety remains our top priority during this unprecedented time,” said Jim…
My Dream Selection Committee For Houston Texans Coach and GM
When Bill O’Brien was fired on the Monday after the Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, it came as somewhat of a shock. It was not so much a shock that O’Brien was fired — let’s face it, the season was trending hard that direction — but that he…
Rockets Trade Covington to Portland. Are Bigger Moves on the Horizon?
Late Monday night, the Rockets dealt Robert Covington for former Rocket Trevor Ariza and two first round draft picks, including the sixteenth pick in Wednesday’s draft. No one disputes that the team, which has traded away virtually all of its picks for several years to acquire players like Covington and…
Five Middle Class AFC Teams That Have Shot Past the Houston Texans
As I was doing the postgame show, following the Houston Texans’ disappointing 10-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday, my cohost Clint Stoerner and I were watching the Red Zone Channel while simultaneously hosting. Yes, we are quite the multitaskers, but that’s not my point. As we watched…
Jamie Barton Sings Her Way Through a Cooking Lesson as Julia Child in Bon Appétit!
Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton is channeling her inner Julia Child in Bon Appétit! , a comic opera of just 20 minutes that pairs a typical TV lesson by the world-famous chef with an operatic score. And thanks to COVID-19 and director (and opera bass-baritone) Ryan McKinny, it has all been…
Follow the Turkeys: Retailers Face Unexpected Holiday Meat Demand and Supply Shortages
As COVID cases continue to spike, Harris County’s health officials have been stressing the dangers of the impending holiday celebrations that would bring together families and their germs. One way to know whether Houstonians are following health guidelines this Thanksgiving? Follow the turkeys. Turkey retailers are seeing lifts and drops…
Houston Concert Watch 11/18: Pearl Jam, Robert Earl Keen and More
Dave Chappelle visits Houston this weekend, but all three of his performances have already sold out. For those of you who weren’t able to snag tickets but are interested in getting out of the house, White Oak Music Hall and Scout Bar will be hosting concerts; for everyone else, there…
Hidalgo Pleads For Limited Thanksgiving Gatherings As County’s Top Doctor Steps Down
On Tuesday afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo once again urged county residents to limit their contacts with the outside world ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and as COVID-19 continues to ravage our community. Due to the troubling trends in the local COVID-19 test positivity rate, steadily rising local coronavirus…
Turner and Santa Announce Houston’s Holiday Spectacular Will Be Virtual This Year
On Tuesday morning, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the 101st annual Reliant Lights Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular will be a totally virtual affair this year due to COVID-19. Just as the city reimagined its annual Fourth of July celebration because of the coronavirus, the 2020 holiday spectacular will feature a…
Army Corps Needs a Do Over on the Buffalo Bayou Plan
The Army Corps of Engineers recently released plans for altering Buffalo Bayou as a means of decreasing flooding — deadline for comment ends this week — has certainly stirred up emotions among Houstonians and with good reason. The plan is an unmitigated disaster that would absolutely decimate the bayou and…
Turner Urges Turkey Day Caution As Houston’s Coronavirus Stats Keep Climbing
On Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner asked city residents to do their part to fight back against the resurgent coronavirus after weeks of worsening local metrics by keeping their Turkey Day gatherings small this year. Joined in an afternoon press conference by Dr. David Persse of the Houston Health Department…
MFAH Opens Doors (Free Weekend!) of the New Kinder Building for Modern and Contemporary Art
The culmination of events more than a decade in the making — the Kinder Building for Modern and Contemporary Art — was celebrated Monday at a gathering of media, VIPS and donors at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Everyone in attendance was properly masked and seated in socially distanced…
Robert Earl Keen Offers Us Some Western Chill And A Special Performance At WOMH
Even with live music largely on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston native and beloved singer songwriter Robert Earl Keen is finding ways to adapt and stay busy. Keen and his band, along with opening act and fellow Houstonian Max Flinn, will perform at the White Oak Music Hall…
Thanksgiving in the Time of COVID
The year 2020 has not been an easy one. What began as a nightly news story about a virus in Wuhan, China became a crushing pandemic that so far has claimed over a million lives worldwide and nearly 250,000 Americans. It has destroyed families financially, mentally and emotionally. It was…
Romeo Crennel’s Fourth Down Follies In Sunday’s Texans Loss
It was quite a day to be a Houston Texans fan on Sunday. From the time you woke up for your morning coffee right through the time you were sitting down for dinner, the whole day was a constant reminder of how miserable a lot in life this team (and…
NFL Week 10: Browns 10, Texans 7 — Four Winners, Four Losers
In an era where the content creators in Hollywood have cranked out more episodic gold than any in the history of entertainment, the content creators in the NFL — the league brass, the players, the coaches — continue to generate more weekly drama than any cinematic outlet, with storylines so…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Virtual Tastings and Sandwiches To Be Thankful For
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Tuesdays in November Taco Tuesday Team-Up at Tacos A Go Go Tacos A Go Go continues its Taco Tuesday Team-Up series with a new taco from chef Erin Smith of Feges BBQ for the month of November. Smith’s “Crispy Whole Hog…
Houston Rapper JUNO’s 2nd Album Attempts to Capture Nostalgic “’90s Kid” Aesthetic During the Pandemic
“We locked ourselves in the studio for like, a week. We did five days straight: we made a song a day. And almost every song we made during that time ended up on the album!”
Could Texas Make Weed Legal In 2021? Not If Dan Patrick Doesn’t Loosen-Up, Advocates Say
For a state that’d probably vote to have Willie Nelson’s perpetually-stoned visage carved into a Lone Star Mount Rushmore, weed laws in Texas are still a sticky subject. Some Texas lawmakers are hoping 2021 will be the year the state could finally see some big changes to our marijuana laws;…
Antonio Eyez Shows Us His Future In Rock And Roll With Latest Release
The future is a tricky subject these days but Houston based artist Antonio Eyez is embracing it in his recent release FutureRockNRoll. Eyez released his latest album last month which he wrote and recorded while recovering from COVID-19 earlier this summer. . “I can hear it in my voice,” says…
Five Problems Facing the Rockets This Offseason
Houston sports keeps getting weirder. Whether it’s Jeff Luhnow suing the Astros or George Springer opting for free agency or Jack Easterby running amok with the Texans, it always seems to be something. Did we mention the rumors J.J. Watt won’t be back next season? That brings us to the…
HISD Board Votes 6-3 Not to Give Lathan the Superintendent Spot
More than 100 people spoke to Houston ISD trustees Thursday night, nearly all of them urging the board to name Grenita Lathan the lone finalist for the superintendent’s position. In the end, however, they and Lathan were disappointed when a 6-3 vote left her interim status unchanged. Instead and by…
Openings and Closings: Dog Haus Opens Soon, Firehouse Saloon Closes
Dog Haus Biergarten, 8422 Highway 6 North, opens November 21 in Copperfield. This makes the first location in Houston and the fifth in Texas. The gourmet hot dog restaurant was founded by longtime friends, Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and Andre Vener in Pasadena, California in 2010. The Houston store comes…
During COVID, Houston’s Influencers Use TikTok to Connect to a Local Audience
To the uninitiated, TikTok is a platform for teens to share 30 second dance routines and memes. To the addicted, well, it depends. Are you on DIY TikTok? Straight TikTok? Or maybe your algorithm has stumbled onto Kameron Whiteside’s videos and you’ve found Houston real estate TikTok. Whiteside, as fitting…
NFL Week 10: Texans-Browns — Four Things To Watch For
As you all know, I’m an “odds guy.” Not only do I enjoy the occasional wager, but I feel like the oddsmakers setting those numbers have a keen feel and sharp knowledge on the topics they’re setting the action on. It’s my stock market, when it comes to those sports…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Freaky
Title: Freaky Describe This Movie In One All of Me Quote: EDWINA: Shall I tap? ROGER: Yes. EDWINA: Tap … tap. ROGER: Thank you. Brief Plot Synopsis: Serial killer and high school misfit swap bodies. Arterial spray ensues. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 4 packs of Southwest Airlines peanuts…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Takeout From New Ghost Concept Phat Kitchen
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Takeout Eats at Phat Kitchen Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2616 Blodgett Phat Eatery’s Alex Au-Yeung has officially expanded inside…
Will Grenita “Survivor” Lathan Finally Be Named HISD Superintendent?
A changing school board, a Texas Education Commissioner distracted and overwhelmed by the immensity of trying to get kids educated amid COVID-19, COVID-19 itself — all have aligned to give Houston ISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan a chance tonight to have the asterisk removed from her title. Or maybe, she’s…
Houston Texans Fire VP of Communications Amy Palcic
In a move that was stunning to those who work with her on a routine basis, Amy Palcic was fired on Wednesday from her role as Vice President of Communications for the Houston Texans. As first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, sources close to the situation said the organization…
4 Hard Truths the Democrats Have to Face About the Election
While the election of Joe Biden to the presidency is a call for celebration after four years of corruption, lies, and incompetency, the Democratic Party got some rude awakenings this cycle. The left just wouldn’t be the left if we didn’t immediately pick our scabs and drop them into our…
Best Virtual Bets: Bach, Cinema Arts, and Fine Wine
A film festival, legendary composers, a Broadway star, and more are available digitally this week.
The Fight Over Which Union’s Rules Theaters Follow Comes To Houston
It’s easy to imagine that audience members were thrilled when Stages announced they would be streaming the jukebox musical, Honky Tonk Laundry, live from the Gordy for one week beginning November 10. An honest to goodness live show? Broadcast from an actual stage inside a real theater? Performers in the…
New Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria Isn’t Here For The Drama
Every presidential election is obviously A Very Big Deal, but this year’s contest in Harris County made way more headlines than usual, due in large part to outgoing County Clerk Chris Hollins’s tireless efforts to make it easier and safer to vote during the pandemic and the deluge of Republican…
Attitude Of Gratitude: Catching Up With Ray Wylie Hubbard Before He Returns To Houston
As the music industry and live events adapt to the new norms and regulations during this ongoing pandemic, music venues in Houston are slowly bringing back live music. The Heights Theater is one of the city’s venues that have laid out a socially distanced plan to reopen their doors. Ray…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Peli Peli’s Special Menu and a Fish Fry Pop-Up
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Peli Peli South African Kitchen, 1201 Lake Woodlands, 5085 Westheimer, is collaborating with Holocaust Museum Houston on new menu, the Mandela Family Freedom Menu, in honor of the “Mandela: Struggle for Freedom” exhibit that is currently…
Farewell, Disco Kroger
At roughly 10 a.m. on a regular old weekday, I was walking the main aisle of the Kroger on Montrose Boulevard. I popped across the street, as I did most days, from the building that used to have a nightclub on the roof (RIP Cody’s) where I worked. I was…
Jeff Luhnow Needs to Give It Up Already
As we have born witness to a barrage of threatened and real lawsuits from the highest office in the country after a different candidate was elected to replace the current sitting president, there was another suit filed here in Houston that hit a bit closer to home. Jeff Luhnow, the…
Top 5 Ways Biden Can Reverse Trump On Climate Change
It’s no secret that Donald Trump isn’t exactly a tree-hugging environmentalist. Far from it — During Trump’s administration, the United States has pulled out of the biggest international agreement to fight climate change, rolled back regulations on emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere and has taken down guardrails put…
Who Gets the Blame For Texans Slow Starts In Games?
Lost in the Texans’ 2-6 disaster of a season is one of the oddest statistical paradoxes of my sports watching life, and it’s the fact that Deshaun Watson is having, statistically, the best season of his career. At the very least, these last four games (coincidentally, the four games since…
Houston Concert Watch 11/11: Metallica, Yungblud and More
Good morning, Houston. The election has been called, but unsurprisingly the results have been questioned. At least the local elections went off without a hitch. This week’s forecast calls for highs in the low 80s and plenty of sunshine, so do yourself a favor and spend some time outside. While…
Joe Biden: Our First Unashamedly Disabled President
One of the most emotional moments of the 2020 election cycle came during the Democratic National Convention. Amid all the stars and political bigwigs was 13-year-old Brayden Harrington, who in an emotional video talked about how President-Elect Joe Biden had shared tips with him on dealing with his stutter. The…
5 Job Offer Red Flags That Tell You This is Probably a Scam
A lot of Texans are looking for work right now, and because it’s the end of the year very few companies are hiring. If you’re one of the people whose unemployment has run out while we wait for the next round of stimulus, you might be grasping at any decent…
Jeff Porcaro: Of Timing and Tom-Toms
Jeff Porcaro: It’s About Time – The Man and His Music By Robyn Flans 241 pp. $24.99 Hudson Music With all due respect to Kevin Bacon, in terms of Classic Rock challenge games, a good one would be “Six Degrees of Jeff Porcaro.” Just a partial list of the artists…
Houston Texans To Get COVID-19 List Players Back For Week 10
For the first time all year, the Houston Texans were forced to deal with massive roster attrition on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They went into the game with four players unable to travel due to COVID reasons, with guard Max Scharping and linebacker Jacob Martin having tested positive, and…
Fargo Season 4, Gives Us a Crime Story About America and Race
Fargo Season 4 is ambitious. It is a crime story that has big ideas about the American dream. Set in 1950s Kansas City, the series pits an Italian crime family the Faddas against a rival black crime family the Cannons. Both families are seeking legitimacy while consolidating their power as…
Seeing Unicorns: Meet the Black Veterinarians Beating Down the Barriers in Houston
A few years ago, Dr. Aziza Glass was getting the cold shoulder from her professors — most of them white — at veterinary school, avoiding eye contact with her almost all-white classmates, and feeling the pressure of being one of the only people of color in the room. “It was such…
Houston City Council Approves Relief Plan For Musicians and Music Venues
Houston’s many music venues and musicians may finally have some good news. Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council voted to approve a three million dollar relief plan for those adversely affected by the closures due to COVID-19. The Musicians and Music Venues Economic Relief Program is funded by…
NFL Week 9: Texans 27, Jaguars 25 — Four Winners, Four Losers
After opening the 2020 NFL season with a seven game stretch that included, arguably five of the best ten teams in the sport, Sunday was supposed to make the beginning of a stretch of very winnable games for the Houston Texans — at Jacksonville, at Cleveland, home for the Patriots,…
Biden Win Leaves Texas Dems Giddy As Key State Republicans Call Foul or Keep Quiet
After Joe Biden was declared President-elect on Saturday morning by every major news organization in the country, Texas’s political leaders reacted in predictably partisan fashion, with Democrats celebrating a decisive victory while most Texan Republicans either parroted Trump’s baseless fraud accusations or tried to change the subject entirely. In his…
Steppenwolf’s John Kay Takes a Musical Turn for Solo Virtual Concert
John Kay’s voice is one of classic rock’s most distinctive. As the lead singer/rhythm guitarist for Steppenwolf, his gravelly, powerful tone drives their best known songs like “Magic Carpet Ride,” “Rock Me,” “Hey Lawdy Mama” and of course, signature tune “Born to Be Wild.” As the sole original member left,…
This Week in Houston Food Events: The Fall/Winter Menus Are Here
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All week long Saint Arnold Beer Dinner at State Fare Kitchen & Bar State Fare, 947 Gessner, 15930 City Walk, is collaborating with Saint Arnold Brewing Company to host a weeklong beer dinner, featuring four courses and pairs (plus swag) for…
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 Makes Streaming Theater Magic
It’s Director Malinda L. Beckham’s voice we hear on the screen prior to the opening of Dirt Dog Theatre Co’s production of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Anne Deveare Smith’s docu-play about the victims and participants of the LA riots. Welcome to this important piece of cinematic theater, Beckham says greeting…
Don Giovanni al fresco at Moores Opera Center
Sing Hosanna and Jubilate, there is praise to be given. The first live performance of an opera in Houston since COVID-19 locked down every theater in town, which has cursed us for nine months and counting, is happening at the University of Houston Moores Opera Center with a strongly sung…
GAME OVER: Biden Beats Trump, Even Fox News Agrees
On Saturday, former Vice President Joe Biden was finally projected by the Associated Press and all major media outlets as the winner of the 2020 presidential election following over three long days of vote counting, beating out President Donald Trump after a contentious, bruising campaign during one of the most…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Let Him Go
Title: Let Him Go Describe This Movie In One Ransom Quote: TOM MULLEN: Give me back my [grand]son! Brief Plot Synopsis: Alternative universe Ma and Pa Kent face off against Earth’s most terrifying villains: rednecks. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3.5 Wee-Beys out of 5. Tagline: “Fight for family.” Better…
Openings and Closings: Casa Do Brasil Opens, Pier 6 Debuts, Fat Cat Expands
Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House, 113 6th, opened November 5 in San Leon. The waterside restaurant comes from Raz Halili, owner of Prestige Oysters. Halili is a second generation oysterman and first generation American. Helming the kitchen will be renowned executive chef, Joe Cervantes, most recently executive chef at…
Dancing All Around Houston, Stanton Welch’s Restoration Makes Its Digital Debut
Calling on more than 60 dancers and crew members, visiting 19 iconic spots across the Houston area, Houston Ballet has put together Restoration, a world premiere choreographed by Artistic Director Stanton Welch to the song “Black Lung” by The Dead South. Due to be released on November 10, the video was…
As COVID-19 Spreads Like Crazy, Health Experts Say Vaccine Won’t End Mask-Wearing Overnight
While the world waits on the results of the U.S. presidential race, the United States finds itself reeling from a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the possibility of a vaccine coming to market by early next year, local public health experts say that we’re still months and…
NFL, Week 9: Texans-Jaguars — Four Things To Watch For
As we outlined earlier this week, the Houston Texans were largely inactive at the trade deadline. Running into the fray behind Cal McNair’s shield of optimism, the Texans are attacking the second half of the season with largely the same group that got them to 1-6 to start this season…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Coastal Italian Bites and Late-Night Pies
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Autumn Menu at Bistro 555 Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5 to 9:30 p.m. (plus weekday hours) 13616 Memorial The new concept from Alsace-born Genevieve…
Houston Grand Opera Cancels Rest of 2020-21 Mainstage Season
It will now be the fall of 2021 before Houston’s opera fans are able to see live performances of Houston Grand Opera. The news, which arrived this week and while not totally unexpected since any number of local venues and arts organizations have been making similar push-back-the-season announcements as the…
The Metal God Confesses Everything. And He Means Everything
Confess: The Autobiography By Rob Halford 368 pp. $30 Hachette Books For much of the 1970’s and ‘80s, even as he was fronting Judas Priest, one of the most popular, loved, and revered heavy metal bands of all time, lead singer Rob Halford was scared shitless. Scared that if the…
Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo Announces It’ll Be Junior Exhibitors Only — No Pros
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced Thursday that its 2021 Livestock Show will skip the adult Open Show and instead just focus on the Junior Show and certain Youth Show events. The same pandemic that forced the early closure of the 2020 show is expected to still be casting…
These Houston Restaurants and Bars Are Offering Discounts and Free Meals This Veterans Day
Restaurants and bars across Houston will be honoring veterans and active-duty military with free meals, food and drink specials, discounts and more this Veterans Day, which falls on Wednesday, November 11. Bowl & Barrel, 797 Sorella Bowl & Barrel is offering a free burger for all veterans with a valid…
Texas Dems’ Face-Plant In State House Takeover Means Abbott and GOP Hold All The Cards
Texas Democrats came into the 2020 election cycle with sky-high hopes of kicking ass and taking names. They talked a big game for months about sending Republican Sen. John Cornyn packing, getting the first win for a Democratic presidential nominee since 1976 and retaking the Texas House of Representatives to…
Best Virtual Bets: Dance Films, Zines, and Double the Mozart
Distractions abound this weekend with a wide variety of virtual and socially distanced events.
Zing Go The Strings With Houston Symphony’s ‘From Folk To Film’
Houston Symphony will present “American Strings: From Folk to Film” from November 20 – 22. The exciting program spotlights all-American composers who helped shape the country’s musical landscape pertaining to popular music. Principal POPS Conductor Steven Reineke will lead the world-class all-string section of the orchestra.
RB David Johnson’s Lackluster 2020 Makes Him One of Most Disappointing Texans
I’ll admit, I got duped. I got duped hard by Texans running back David Johnson in the preseason. The controversial (and wildly expensive) trade piece that came over in the DeAndre Hopkins trade, a running back who hadn’t really been productive since 2016, Johnson looked SO good in training camp…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Caviar Service and Savory Pho Cocktails
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi has officially launched caviar service at Kata Robata, 3600 Kirby, serving Kaluga caviar with salmon skin “chips” and cauliflower mousse ($75). It’s a combination he first served as an omakase course, and…
The Raw Rock of Michael Des Barres
With 50 years in the music business, singer Michael Des Barres certainly counts as rock royalty. But he’s also actual royalty, as in the 26th Marquis Des Barres of France—though his childhood was anything but a soft ride on a royal horse-drawn coach. “My father was a Marquis, but he…
![Mick Box Celebrates 50 Years of Uriah Heep with a Big Box! [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hou_mus_uriahheep.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Mick Box Celebrates 50 Years of Uriah Heep with a Big Box! [UPDATED]
It’s not every person who can literally hold their life’s work in their hands. But that’s what exactly happened with Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box when he recently unpacked the band’s massive, career-spanning box set 50 Years in Rock (BMG). “I was overjoyed, and it was an honest emotional reaction…
J.J. Watt Sticking Around: Four Thoughts on the Dormant Texans Trade Deadline
The NFL trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday, and for all of the chatter the last couple weeks about the Texans’ moving J.J. Watt, Will Fuller, or any number of second or third tier players on this ill-conceived, talent-deprived roster, the whole thing wound…
Six Offseason Notes in the Astros Early Offseason
The hot stove league is promising to be a rather complicated one for Major League Baseball. In a pandemic-shortened season, revenues were down dramatically and there is still uncertainty about the 2021 season with no guarantees of a vaccine in time for spring training. For the Astros, financial uncertainties mirror…
The Fight is On In The Queen’s Gambit
It may be a surprise that a show about chess has become one of Netflix’s most-streamed shows of the past couple of weeks. But it shouldn’t be — not when it is filled with standout performances and its chess competitions play out like boxing matches. The Queen’s Gambit is Netflix’s…
Houston Concert Watch 11/4: Nothing More, Charley Crockett and More
This article was filed long before talking heads started tallying votes and making predictions, so I have no idea who our president for the next for years will be, if Kim Ogg will remain Harris County’s DA or if Ed Gonzalez will still be our sheriff. But surely I’m not…
Cornyn and Crenshaw Win Quick as Trump Takes Texas
While the presidential race remained too close to call in the nation’s Electoral College Wednesday morning, victors were crowned before midnight (in some cases, well before) in the races for Texas Senate and U.S. House seats in Texas Congressional Districts 2, 7 and 22 .
Harris County Democrats Do Well in Down Ballot Races
Whatever happens in the presidential race, Harris County’s Democrats needn’t have worried about voters paying attention to the down ballot spots. Even without straight-ticket voting, turnout for local down ballot races still exceeded 1.3 million, with Democrats winning several races.
Returns for the State Board of Education and High Courts in Texas
The State Board of Education in Texas has an outsize reach. Not only does it approve textbooks for the public schools in the state, because its order is so big, its selections often get passed on to schools in other states by publishers looking to consolidate their options. Known for…
Turns Out Today Was the Day to Vote in the Houston Area if You Wanted Short Lines
Tens of thousands of voters headed to the polls in the first several hours of Election Day Tuesday in greater Houston, but record-setting turnout throughout this year’s extended early voting period has made for lines that are short to nonexistent across much of the area. At 11:47 a.m. Harris County…
Harris County Closes Nine of Ten Drive-Thru Voting Sites On Election Day
Citing the fear of future legal challenges, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced via Twitter late Monday night that all but one of the 10 drive-thru voting locations within the county would be shut down on Election Day. Despite Monday’s federal court ruling that said the nearly 127,000 votes cast…
Harris County Democrats’ HQ Vandalized On Eve of Election
The Harris County Democratic Party discovered on the eve of Election Day that its offices had been targeted by vandals over the weekend, according to a Monday announcement from the local party. In addition to filling the building’s locks with Super Glue, the criminals scrawled “ELECTIONS NO, REVOLUTION YES” and…
Return to Marais and Normalcy
My family and I have rarely gone out to restaurants since the pandemic began. My husband and I have braved a favorite Mexican restaurant for margaritas a couple of times and the tasting menu at Brennan’s for our anniversary. Still, we hadn’t gone out to dinner with friends for the…
Boot Scootin’ Live Performances of Honky Tonk Laundry Will Be Streamed Virtually
Virtual and live at the same time. That’s the idea for the virtual regional premiere of Honky Tonk Laundry produced by Stages theater with live performances at The Gordy that will then be streamed to the ticket-buying public. Adopting Screen Actors Guild guidelines instead of the more restrictive Actors Equity…
Six Houston Texans We Need To See More In The Final Nine Games
The full truth as to how the Houston Texans feel about their roster will reveal itself by 3 p.m. today. If they wind up making any sort of significant trade than we get some clarity — it would mean they feel they’re fighting to build a better machine for 2021…
Going Virtual with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Since the first event in 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has taken place in different cities (New York, Los Angeles, and Cleveland). It’s been televised or not televised, shown live or later, and in its entirety or edited. It has even occurred before there even…
Federal Judge Rules 127,000 Drive-Thru Votes In Harris County Will Count
On Monday afternoon, a federal judge dismissed the Republican-led effort to throw out the nearly 127,000 ballots cast through Harris County’s drive-thru voting system during early voting, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to have the votes invalidated. The decision from U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen came after local…
The Big Cautionary Tale In a Possible J.J. Watt Trade
As we all wake up on the Monday morning following the Texans’ bye week, here is where the trade market sits with the NFL and the Texans, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com: Dealing superstar defender JJ Watt remains unlikely, sources said, though many other front office executives believe…
Political Infighting Doesn’t Spare Harris County’s Asian American Community Even as Its Voter Turnout Doubles
“I am Vietnamese-American and I support VP Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris. I’m sticking my neck out by doing this and I fully expect my family to react badly to this.” That’s how Victor Nguyen began his Facebook post announcing his support for Biden’s bid for president. As election…
Where to Dine Out (or Take-Out) in Houston on Thanksgiving Day 2020
Restaurants across Houston are looking forward to giving you a break this Thanksgiving, whether that means you are skipping the dirty dishes and enjoying a socially-distanced meal out or scoring an epic takeout feast for you and yours. Here is where to dine out (or in) in Houston this Thanksgiving…
Tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz Rebounds From Cancelled HGO Production With an HGO Digital Concert
Tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, last seen as the Duke of Mantua in Houston Grand Opera’s production of Rigoletto, was all set to return to HGO for the title role in Werther when COVID-19 crashed the season. Instead of being part of the first performance of Jules Massenet’s Werther at the Wortham…
This Week in Houston Food Events: 50-Cent Kolache and a Farm-To-Table Sunday Supper
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Monday-Tuesday Burger Battle of the Century at Rodeo Goat Rodeo Goat Ice House, 2105 Dallas, is running the Burger Battle of the Century campaign through Tuesday, November 3. Choose between the The Biden Burger — a Delaware surf and turf served…
What Does and Doesn’t Happen if Democrats Take Over the Texas House of Representatives
It’s no secret that the Texas Democratic Party has been the state GOP’s wimpy little cousin for decades now. Despite the party’s best efforts, Democrats haven’t been able to break through to enough Texas voters to get a real seat at the table to put up anything resembling a real…
Home With The Armadillo: Saying Goodbye To The Original Country Outlaws
Dear 2020, leave our beloved artists alone or to be more specific, leave Willie Nelson alone. In just the month of October, the Texas music community has lost three of its most important and influential artists associated with the Outlaw Country movement from the ‘70s. First we said goodbye to…
Texas Supreme Court Says No Again to Throwing Out Drive-Thru Voting. Federal Judge Hears Case Monday Morning.
Adding an incredible element of tension (some would say infuriating absurdity) to this year’s elections, right wing activist Steven Hotze and three Republican candidates will continue their argument in federal court Monday morning that the nearly 127,000 drive-thru ballots already collected in Harris County should be thrown out. Discarding the…
Baby Yoda is Back Starting Today in Season 2 of The Mandalorian
Season 2 of The Mandalorian starts today with our titular hero (played by Pedro Pascal) and his companion, the wildly popular Baby Yoda, in a familiar scenario. The pair have arrived at a destination seeking information on the location of a lost member of Mando’s clan. Our hero navigates this…
Are Luhnow and Hinch This Generation’s Clemens and Pettitte? [UPDATED]
Last week, former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow went on the local news for an exclusive interview in which he claimed he had no knowledge of the film room shenanigans that cost him and former manager A.J. Hinch their jobs. “I didn’t know we were cheating. I had no idea. I…
Benjy’s Turns Local, K&Z Buffalo Speedway Closes
Benjy’s, 2424 Dunstan, closed back in March after the pandemic restrictions were instituted regarding restaurant dining. Benjy Levit’s last location of his eponymous restaurant will not reopen. Instead, the space is being transformed into a Local Foods and Local Foods Market, another of Levit’s concepts. It is expected to open…
Kulkarni Hopes To Flip Another Texas Seat Blue In an Accusation-Filled Toss-Up Race With Nehls
In Texas’s 22nd Congressional District, TV viewers have been routinely bombarded with ominous attack ads from both sides of the aisle for weeks now. One tells the tale of a reckless police officer who was fired for destroying evidence and turned a blind eye to racial profiling, while another commercial accuses…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Dia de los Muertos Feasts and a BOGO Halloween
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, plus Dia de los Muertos and Halloween fun. For even more tasty Halloween options, check out our 2020 Halloween Restaurant and Bar Guide. Dia de los Muertos with H Town Restaurant…
Houston Texans Head Coaching Search, This Weekend’s TV Viewers Guide
The Texans are off this weekend, which is probably a good thing, overall, for your mental health, if you’re a Houston Texans fan. It’s been that kind of season. Whatever time away the players need in order to recalibrate and get their minds right, you probably need something similar, as…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Come Play
Title: Come Play Describe This Movie In One Carly Rae Jepsen Quote: CRJ: Is this too much? Brief Plot Synopsis: Needy monster meets special needs kid. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 unwanted phone calls out of 5. Tagline: “He’s good at taking friends.” Better Tagline: “iBabadook” Not So Brief Plot…
Bird Flies Again…But Hopes to Land in Some New Nests
Today, their names are among the highest of jazz titans, familiar even generations after they laid down their most famous work: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach, and Charlie Parker. But it’s easy to forget that when these jazz men first started playing the new strain of bebop…
Exclusive Video Premiere: Easter Island’s “Sea Change”
As one of the hardest and most bizarre years in a generation limps slowly to a close under a dreary, cold rain, Athens, Georgia band Easter Island finds its members scattered to the winds with no stage to bring their music to an audience. Keyboardist Asher Payne landed himself in…
Rockets to Hire Stephen Silas as New Coach
According to multiple reports, the Rockets will hire Dallas Mavericks assistant Stephen Silas as the team’s new head coach after reaching an agreement on Wednesday. Silas will replace Mike D’Antoni, who decided not to return after the season, as the teams 15th head coach. Other candidates for the job included…
Night Cobra Strikes Fast with In Praise of the Shadow
Supergroup. It’s a hot potato music term because it’s tossed around loosely and it shifts a band’s focus from making incredible music to juggling high expectations. Christian Larson knows some people might consider his latest project, Night Cobra, a supergroup. But, he said, the reasons the band formed have kept…
Max Scharping Becomes Texans’ First Positive COVID-19 Test of 2020 Season
In what’s been a dumpster fire of a season so far in 2020 for the Houston Texans, after getting smoked on the field the first seven weeks to the tune of 1-6, and within that timeframe also firing their head coach and general manager (same guy, what’s up, Bill O’Brien!),…
Best Virtual Bets: Scary Stories, Día de los Muertos, and the Fringe Festival
Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos from your couch with this week’s best virtual bets.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Feast on Mexican Seafood Paella at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: The Original Ninfa’s Uptown, 1700 Post Oak, is releasing an exclusive new dish: Mexican Paella (feeds four for $125). Made with white wine, Gulf shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, squid,, Texas redfish, chorizo, olives and rabbit, the…
Is Heartbreaker/Breakee Tom Foti the Only Guido in Houston?
The old adage goes you can’t judge a book by its cover, but that goes for records as well. Looking at Houston singer/songwriter Tom Foti on his new CD–chiseled Romanesque face, brawny frame covered in a white tank top, hair slicked back with gel – you’d think he was an…
Abbot Claims He Ordered National Guard Troops To Houston Just In Case Of Post-Election Riots
On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott attempted to justify his decision to deploy Texas Army National Guard troops to Houston, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth ahead of Election Day next week by citing fears of post-election riots in the streets of Texas, and promised that troops would stay clear of polling…
Voter Fraud Conspiracy Theorist Accosts Woman Mailing Holiday Cards
In one of the weirder incidences of an already weird year, a Jersey Village woman ended up running in terror from a man screaming voter fraud conspiracy theories at her as she tried to mail her holiday cards on Monday. Becky Courington is in a high-risk population for COVID-19, so…
Steve Trevino Doesn’t Agree That Comedy is “Unessential Work”
“Captain Evil is my wife! …I’m very lucky to have a wife who is in on the joke, and she’s got thick skin”
Four Potential Trade Destinations For J.J. Watt
There are many different ways to process this horrific Houston Texans 2020 season. Some folks are confused. After all, we have Deshaun Watson, and the team is relatively healthy. How can this happen? Some folks are sad. Damn, it’s a pandemic, can we please have some joy? Some have likely checked…
Seriously, What’s With the Ultra-Creepy Halloween Decorations This Year?
Pumpkins. Candy. Adorable kiddos yelling “Trick or treat!” Neighborhood Halloweens have typically been family affairs with candy and mischief but generally good, clean fun. Sure, the adults may come out later and find their own debauchery, but when it comes to your garden variety trick or treating, it’s pretty tame…
Mico’s Hot Chicken Brings a Taste of Nashville to Houston
Talk about piling on the degree of difficulty factor. To begin with, Kimico Frydenlund decided to move her start-up, Mico’s Hot Chicken, from a food truck to a brick and mortar in March — the same month that all sorts of restaurant restrictions were invoked and people began isolating in…
Houston Concert Watch 10/28: Motionless In White, Alicia Keys and More
Election Day is in exactly one week, folks. So if you still haven’t voted – and if you’re so inclined – there’s still time. In fact, early voting here in Harris County runs through Friday evening, and personalized ballots are available here. Just enter your address, and you’ll be able…
Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel Live
This year was supposed to be a busy one for Asleep at the Wheel. The western swing revivalists (who also skilled in several other genres) were set to embark on their 50th anniversary tour. A victory lap of sorts for singer/guitarist Ray Benson for reaching a milestone that few bands…
Bah Humbug: No Live Performances of A Christmas Carol This Year, Alley Theatre Announces
The Alley Theatre has decided to throw in the towel for its planned live performances of A Christmas Carol this year, bowing to the continued presence of the coronavirus in the Houston area. Instead it is busy producing a digital production of the annual holiday favorite helped by the financial…
These Houston Restaurants and Bars Are Offering Tricks and Treats This Halloween
From candy spiked cocktails and spooky Halloween cupcakes to Dia de los Muertos celebrations and “boo”zy Halloween brunch, these Houston restaurants are offering tasty tricks and treats this season: a’Bouzy, 2300 Westheimer The bubbly-popping haunt will host a Veuve Clicquot Yelloween Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,…
Turner Sounds Alarm On Houston COVID-19 Metrics Ahead Of Potential Third Wave
On Monday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. Persse of the Houston Health Department warned city residents that troubling upticks in Houston’s COVID-19 metrics could portend a dangerous coronavirus surge if people don’t take precautions soon. Turner said that weeks of watching Houston’s COVID-19 test positivity rate decline led…
Which Houston Texans Are Possible Trade Deadline Assets?
The Houston Texans fell to 1-6 on the season this past Sunday, and anyone with a rooting interest in the team must now face the harsh reality that (barring a miraculous winning streak) what happens between now and the trade deadline, and what happens in interviews with prospective new head…
Strict Union Rule Leaves Many Houston Theaters Scrambling
What if measures taken to protect you have the effect of harming at the same time? It’s a question being considered by the actors and theaters represented by Actors’ Equity (AEA), the American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance. Thanks to COVID, the union that normally fights…
Book Tells the Whole Horrific Story of the Station Nightclub Fire
Ninety seconds doesn’t seem like a long amount of time. Most people can sing all of “The Star Spangled Banner” in that period. But a minute and a half was all that it took for 100 people to die and 200+ more to be seriously injured on the night of…
NFL Week 7: Packers 35, Texans 20 — Four Winners, Four Losers
Throughout last week, the betting line on yesterday’s game between the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers at NRG Stadium hovered around three or four points, with the Packers as a small favorite. That caught some people off guard, as the Texans were a horrid 1-5 on the season,…
Tales from a Safe Distance at Opera in the Heights: An Unbridled Success
As long as Covid-19 continues to plague us, theater must make do with restrictive safety precautions. While theater streaming has relied mostly on Zoom-style productions with individual panels stitched together, opera has flourished and been a fount of inspiration and creativity. (See Vinkensport at HGO for a primer on how…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Halloween and the Day of the Dead
Throughout these trying times, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, check out Halloween and Dia de los Muertos celebrations, score voters perks from free margs to dining discounts and more. Here’s…
Peter Frampton Shows Readers the Way in His Autobiography
Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir By Peter Frampton with Alan Light 352 pp. $28 Hachette Books If rock star careers were measured in terms of their level of roller coaster-ness, then Peter Frampton’s would be a ride on (shout out to Astroworld) the Texas Cyclone, Greezed Lightnin’,…
Opera Tweets: Vinkensport with Houston Grand Opera
In this never-ending pandemic with its restrictive social distancing edicts, there is hope. Who would have thought that the most promising spot would be the opera house? I turn your attention and your clicks to Houston Grand Opera’s digital production, in association with Austin Opera, of composer David T. Little…
Rising GOP Star Crenshaw Faces Mask Attacks From Ladjevardian In Reelection Bid
Houston area right-wing rockstar U.S. House Rep. Dan Crenshaw is running for a second term in Congress this year, but Democratic lawyer and former Beto O’Rourke advisor Sima Ladjevardian hopes that attacks on Crenshaw’s COVID-19 response will dim his spotlight enough to help her pull off an underdog upset. It’s…
ECHO’s 2020-21 Season Calls Upon Chamber Groups And Chutzpah
ECHO’s 2020-21 season combines the best of all realistic possibilities during a pandemic: outdoor performances; small, socially distanced chamber productions; online pre-recorded concerts; and hopefully a triumphant return in the spring. It kicks off October 25.
Openings and Closings: The Sporting Club Debuts, Better Luck Tomorrow Reopens
The Sporting Club, 5102 Washington, opened its doors and debuted its retractable roof October 22. The high energy restaurant and bar comes from SoClutch Group and is on the same block as another recent concept from the group, Sugar Room. Its 8,000 square feet includes 5,000 square feet of dining…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Title: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Describe This Movie In One Plan 9 from Outer Space Quote: EROS: It’s because of men like you that all must be destroyed. Brief Plot Synopsis: Stupid journalist brings daughter to America, old…
NFL Week 7: Packers-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
When you start an NFL season with a 1-5 record, like the Houston Texans have, you just inherently, by way of simple math, stop at several junctures along the schedule where you say “Welp, if they lose THIS one the season is over.” Very few teams make the playoffs after…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Pumpkin Dessert and Socially Distanced Patio Dining
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Curbside Pickup and Socially Distanced Dining at Doris Metropolitan Friday-Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m 2815 South Shepherd In addition to its indoor dining space and free curbside pickup, the Israeli steakhouse…
Just Say No to Drugs (and Yes To Positive Police Relations): DARE Returns
Whether or not DARE’s return to Houston Independent School District in January will successfully keep kids away from drugs remains to be seen, but one thing it will certainly do — what the district and its police department are intending it to do — is give kids more face time…
Kam Franklin & Friends Invite Viewers To The Polls With Online Festival
With Texas leading the country in early voting turnout and Houston alone surpassing 700,000 early votes since voting began last week, it seems all of this year’s turmoil has not been in vain. Kam Franklin of The Suffers has partnered with HeadCount, a nonprofit promoting voter registration, and Musik Houston,…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Synchronic
Title: Synchronic Describe This Movie In One Back to the Future Quote: DOC BROWN: If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour you’re gonna see some serious shit. Brief Plot Synopsis: Past is prologue, and pernicious. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 4 golfing Boon and…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Witches
Title: The Witches Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: GEORGE: Hello, I’m George Cauldron. Is Suzanne ready yet? HOMER: Almost, just give her another 20 minutes. [turns oven to high] GEORGE: But the concert’s at eight. Brief Plot Synopsis: Witches get stitches. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2…
HISD Reopens 16 Schools, Changes COVID-19 Closing Standards
The Houston ISD has announced that the 16 schools it temporarily closed as of Tuesday after coronavirus cases were confirmed or suspected there, will all reopen today for in-person instruction and that in the future it will take more than one case to shut down a campus. All 16 schools…
What Happens to 60 Million Trump Voters After the Glorious Leftist Revolution?
The thing that scares me the most about some of the far leftists that I run into lately is their disdain for democracy. Spend any time on Twitter and you’ll run across angry users reminding people again and again that elections are meaningless, that there is no difference between President…
Houston, Texas — Where Sports Coaches and GM’s Go To Die In 2020
In what’s already been a bizarre and twisted year globally on virtually every front — social, medical, political — here in Houston, the sports landscape has mirrored that craziness, as well. The results have actually been fairly cookie cutter and expected — the Texans lost in the divisional round of…
From Boom to Bust? The Future of Houston Sports
It felt like we were living in the golden age of Houston sports. The Astros, coming off a World Series (yeah, we know) looked like perennial contenders. The Rockets were embarking on what would be their best regular season ever and a near miss at a championship. The Texans rolled…
Best Virtual Bets: Finches, Melismatic, and LuPone
Enjoy this week’s right from your own living room.
Video Premiere: Opie Hendrix “I Still Sing”
Even though finding an audience these days can be rough, Opie Hendrix is reminding us all that he still sings. The Houston based artist recently released Unhappy People, his fifth studio album, and has taken advantage of his “layoff” during the pandemic to focus on releasing videos from his latest…
Bob Gruen’s Life Through the Lens of Rock and Roll
While their names are often known only to music nerds and credit line readers, the iconic images taken by A-list Classic Rock and Roll Photographers are familiar from hundreds of record covers, T-shirts, posters, and prints which now can be seen in high-end galleries. This small club includes shutterbugs like…
In Senate Race, Cornyn Still Leads As Hegar Rakes In Cash Amid Friendly Fire
While there’s been plenty of ink spilled over the showdown between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden and whether or not this could finally be the year that historically blood-red Texas turns blue, there hasn’t been nearly as much buzz around the contest that shows up second…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Place Your Vote in the Burger Battle of the Century
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Rodeo Goat Ice House, 2105 Dallas, is running the Burger Battle of the Century campaign through Tuesday, November 3. Choose between the The Biden Burger — a Delaware surf and turf served with blue crab cake,…
Elmer Manzano Charged With Capital Murder In Killing of HPD Sgt. Harold Preston
On Wednesday afternoon, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo gave an update on the fatal shooting of Houston Police Department Sgt. Harold Preston, a 41-year department veteran just days away from retirement, who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call on Tuesday. “He was about two weeks away from…
Houston Concert Watch 10/21: Shakey Graves, Major Lazer and More
It’s been a rough week for Houston sports fans. The University of Houston Cougars blew a 12-point lead and fell to BYU’s nationally-ranked football team; then the Houston Astros lost Game 7, which means no World Series this year; and finally, the Houston Texans lost a nail-biter to the Tennessee…
Heavens Help Us: The Wheel Workers Send an “S.O.S.” to the Cosmos
The Beatles once sang about getting by with a little help from our friends. A new single by The Wheel Workers takes that notion to intergalactic extremes. The new song is dubbed “S.O.S.” The upbeat, synth-driven track releases today and you might describe it as Stereolab meets Radiolab. Sonically, it…
Trump vs. Biden: Even More Food and Drink Specials
Election Day is a couple of weeks away. Some of us are pumped up with civic pride while others are worn out from the news overkill that has colored our world for the past year. The coronavirus pandemic, economic shutdown, record wildfires, an exceptionally busy hurricane season and arguments with…
Broadway at the Hobby Announces More Delays in Season Opening
Once again, citing the continuing pandemic and the need to ensure safe surroundings for audiences as well as their own personnel, Broadway at the Hobby announced Tuesday it is postponing and in some cases canceling its shows planned for January through March 2021. The reconfigured schedule includes the following postponements/cancellations:…
Four Thoughts on Jeff Luhnow’s Exclusive Interview With Channel 2
On January 13, 2020, Major League Baseball handed its punishment down to the Houston Astros for using a garbage can banging scheme to steal signs in 2017 and early 2018. In addition to losing multiple draft picks and getting hit with a multimillion dollar fine, MLB decided to suspend Astros…
Joel Sandel on Why Now Was the Perfect Time to Re-Stage RFK
When Main Street Theater began casting about for one-person shows that would more easily fit into the restrictions caused by a pandemic, veteran Houston actor Joel Sandel immediately thought of RFK and the title role he’d played in it in 2016. “We did RFK last time during the last presidential…
HISD Closes 16 Schools Where COVID-19 Detected
Well this was probably not what Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan and her administration wanted to see as on just Day 2 of in-person classes, the Houston ISD has announced it is temporarily closing 16 campuses where the coronavirus has been detected or is presumed to have arrived. The schools that…
Satellite Bar Makes Final Push To Stay Open
With basically all music venues and theaters across the nation in dire straits and few organized attempts to secure them the help that they need, small venues are taking matters into their own hands to stay afloat. Houston’s Satellite Bar is the latest independent music venue asking for a little…
Through Early Voting Week One, Greater Houston Casts Ballots At Record Pace
Americans have already been voting like crazy, and there are still two weeks to go before Election Day on November 3. That holds especially true for Texas, where so far over four million voters have already voted early, putting the Lone Star State above all others for early voting so…
Houston Texans Likely Underdogs In Majority of Remaining Schedule
The Houston Texans sit at 1-5 on the season, and even with the daunting early schedule that we all knew would be problematic, especially for an already poor defensive team that got WORSE in the offseason by letting D.J. Reader walk in free agency, 1-5 seemed like an absolute worst…
Your Contactless Houston Halloween Fun Guide
Because of COVID, this year I plan to spend Halloween trapped in my house, afraid to venture out lest unseen forces come out of the darkness to kill me. I’ve got to tell you; it’s really helping me connect with my Irish roots! There’s not much practical difference between a…
Choose One: Carol’s Vinyl Picks a Tom Petty Favorite
Tom Petty fans everywhere will be noting and celebrating what would have been the late rock icon’s 70th birthday today. Listeners across the globe will dial up their favorites from more than a dozen studio albums the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer/songwriter shared before his untimely passing in…
HISD Starts In-Person Classes As 13,000 Students Still Unaccounted For
On Monday, Houston Independent School District’s Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan was joined by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and other local lawmakers to celebrate the district’s first day of in-person classes amid the coronavirus pandemic after six weeks of online-only learning. Lathan’s 10:30 a.m. press conference — held at Highland Heights…
Astros Season Ends in ALCS Game 7: Four Winners, Four Losers
This has been a very difficult year for the Houston Astros. It began with the loss of one of their ace pitchers to free agency followed unceremoniously by a cheating scandal and the firing of both the architect of the team and their beloved manager. Then, the entire season was…
Stevie Nicks Sprinkles Some 24K Gold Dust in Concert Film
In rankings of a distinctive image and self-awareness as a rock star, Stevie Nicks skews toward the top of the list. For decades, she’s cultivated a persona of a mystical sorceress in both her music and lyrics as well as stage presence. Hell, her signature song “Rhiannon” is about a…
Canoe Chronicles: Knee Deep in Buffalo Bayou
This is part four of an ongoing series of posts about my purchase of a canoe during the pandemic. It was a beautiful, if warm, late Saturday morning and I was standing knee deep in Buffalo Bayou. Above me, cars were whizzing by on the West Loop with no idea…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Veg Out With Tacos A Go Go
Throughout these trying times, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, veg out on Taco Tuesday, and eat schnitzel for charity. Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Tuesday, October…
NFL Week 6 Shootout: Titans 42, Texans 36 (OT) — Four Winners, Four Losers
The Houston Texans fell to 1-5 on the season with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, 42-36, and at this point, that’s probably the nicest thing I can say about this cesspool of season — at least they are finding thrilling, heart-pounding ways to lose games, as opposed…
Houston Religious Leaders Present Some Saving Faith Guidelines
Twenty-five percent capacity. Pre-registration for attendees. Wearing masks throughout the service. No hymnals or prayer books in the pews. No shared audio visual equipment. Social distancing. Constant cleaning of surfaces. And although the guidelines didn’t specifically say so, shared communion cups are probably not a great idea right now. Before…
Joel Sandel Takes Center Stage in Main Street Theater’s Virtual RFK
It should be stated often and loudly, Houston is blessed by a host of the finest acting talent anywhere. Naming them would be obscene, for I would surely forget to mention one of them and all hell would break loose. But standing center stage, with pennants flying, is most certainly…
Chris Shepherd Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Houston’s much loved and respected chef, Chris Shepherd, announced in an Instagram post Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Shepherd, who operates a number of restaurants in Houston under the Underbelly Hospitality umbrella including UB Preserv, Georgia James, Hay Merchant and One Fifth, is known almost as…
Openings and Closings: King Ranch, Shoot the Moon Soon, Treebeards Memorial Now
King Ranch Texas Kitchen, 1605 Post Oak Boulevard, is slated to open before the holidays. The rustic, Western-style restaurant is a collaboration between prolific restaurateur and businessman Tilman Fertitta and family and King Ranch, Inc., the privately-held agricultural production and resource management company which also owns the historic King Ranch…
Springer, Correa Force Game Six with Dramatic Win: Four Thoughts
For the second straight night, the Astros won in an elimination game against Tampa Bay 4-3, this time forcing a Game 6 on Friday after going down 3-1 in this best-of-seven series. Unlike Game 4, however, this one began and ended in dramatic fashion with bookend home runs by two…
These Houston Bars and Restaurants Are Offering Specials and Voter Perks During the 2020 Election
Save that “I Voted” sticker because these local restaurants and bars are here to reward you for exercising your right to vote, offering food and drink specials and perks to voters from now through Election Day (some deals are valid on Election Day only, as noted). Brennan’s of Houston, 3300…
NFL Week 6: Texans-Titans — Four Things To Watch For
The Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans face off this Sunday in a matchup of two teams whose last couple weeks have been disrupted in completely opposite ways. The Texans’ season took a turn for the better, after an 0-4, when they decided to cut Bill O’Brien loose as head…
On the Road with Linda Ronstadt and Young Mexican Songbirds
Everybody thought she was crazy. I mean, she’s Linda Ronstadt. A reigning queen of rock and roll. Why the hell would she do a complete left (and right) turn and put out an album featuring her singing old Mexican songs in Spanish? And then go on tour with a full…
Houston Film Critics Society To Hold Virtual “POTUS Fest” On October 25
You may have heard there’s an election coming up. In the spirit of the American Experiment, the Houston Film Critics Society is celebrating the “reel lessons of leadership” with a salute to films about U.S. Presidents and the election process in POTUS Fest: Cinema in Chief. Society members’ comments and reviews on…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: A Mochi Donut Pop-Up and the Return of a Classic Steakhouse
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. First Anniversary at Ike’s Love & Sandwiches Friday, 10:30 a.m. (giveaway); specials all day 1051 Heights The San Francisco-based sandwich shop will be celebrating its first anniversary in Houston with free…
Daryl Morey Stepping Down as Rockets GM
According to reports, Daryl Morey’s decade-long tenure with the Houston Rockets is coming to a close. Morey will step down as the team’s general manager effective immediately and the team will promote Rafael Stone to the GM position. Stone will become the tenth black NBA executive to hold the title of…
Astros Enter Game Five Down 3-1: Four Things to Watch
The Astros clawed their way to a win, looking more like the resilient team we were used to on Wednesday night. The bats came to life (somewhat) and Dusty Baker gave Zack Greinke the opportunity to work out of a jam, and he did. It was the kind of performance…
Houston Wilderness Turns To “Super Trees” and Old Golf Courses To Fight Flooding and Climate Change
Houston Wilderness president Deborah January-Bevers knew that the coronavirus was going to turn Houston upside down when Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner cancelled the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in early March. When she heard the news, the local environmental nonprofit was just wrapping up a tree planting event with NRG…
Best Virtual Bets: RFK, The East End, and Stevie Wonder
It’s Global Handwashing Day, but take a break from the scrubbing to enjoy some of this week’s best virtual bets.
The Four Prongs of Bill O’Brien’s Complex Legacy
When we eventually have the stomach to look back on the Bill O’Brien Era here in Houston, I think it will be viewed as one of the more remarkable (not really in a good way) progressions of an individual hoarding power within an organization in NFL history. It will be…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Late-Night Eats at UPB After Dark
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: UB Preserv, 1609 Westheimer, is launching its UBP After Dark today, providing late-night food and drinks to post-shift restaurant industry workers and anyone else who wants something tasty after 10 p.m. The limited menu will run…
Dave Mason Strives to Be Alone Together…Again!
During the current pandemic, there probably aren’t a whole lot of new rock bands forming around the country—much less one whose lineup consists solely of current or about-to-be-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members. Unfortunately, for Dave Mason and the Quarantines, the scope of their entire career will probably…
Downtown District’s WindowWorks Offers A Socially Distanced Escape
The Houston Downtown Management District in partnership with UP Art Studio has installed a new series of public artworks by Texas-based artists along Main Street in Downtown. Make it even easier with Houston Mural Map.
U.S. Appeals Court Strikes Down Texas Law Banning Common Abortion Method
On Tuesday night, Texan abortion rights advocates celebrated a new ruling from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that finally struck down State Bill 8, the Texas Legislature’s attempt to ban the most common form of abortion used after 15 weeks of pregnancy. “My immediate reaction to yesterday’s Fifth…
Astros on the Brink, Down 0-3: Four Thoughts
The Astros came within one game of heading home for the offseason after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Tuesday night in San Diego. It was yet another frustrating game with unforced errors and difficulty putting runs on the board. Their two runs came on solo home runs from…
Streaming Concert Watch 10/14: Rufus Wainwright, Stone Temple Pilots and More
Early voting is underway, Houston. We hope you don’t let the long lines deter you. Also this week, the University of Houston will host the 14th ranked Brigham Young Cougars at TDECU Stadium on Friday, followed by a rejuvenated Texans squad traveling to Nashville for a game against the Titans…
It’s The Meat In the Middle That Gives Oh My God Its Sizzle
God walks into a psychologist’s office, angry, dejected, and seeking therapy. Not a bad premise for a two-hander, but what do you do with it? Serious thinky/talkie? Absurdist exploration? Dark comedy? In Oh My God, Israeli playwright Anat Gov, appears to be grasping at all three treatments without the moves…
On Early Voting Day One, Excited Voters Turned Out in Droves Across Greater Houston
Early voting started with an impressive turnout in Texas on Tuesday, despite some early hiccups and delays. While a voting system snafu caused serious delays in Fort Bend County, things went off pretty much without a hitch in neighboring Harris County, where over 100,000 voters flocked to polling places. For a…
Four Thoughts on Texans ILB Benardrick McKinney’s Season Ending Injury
Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney has been a fixture on the team’s defense since arriving as a second round pick out of Mississippi State in 2015. He made a Pro Bowl in 2018, and is viewed by his teammates and coaches as a leader of the team’s defense. So when…
HGO Has Fun With a Comic Opera Based on Vinkensport. Say What?
Hear the word “Belgian” and where does your mind go to? Belgian ale? Hercule Poirot? Belgian horses? Belgian chocolate? How about the Belgian sport of professional finch calling? No really, there is such a thing. And it provides the basis for Houston Grand Opera’s next virtual venture: Vinkensport, or The…
![Computer Error Means Rocky Start To Early Voting In Fort Bend County [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201013_092633_-_edited_2_.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Computer Error Means Rocky Start To Early Voting In Fort Bend County [UPDATED]
On the first day of early voting, widespread technical difficulties in Fort Bend County meant that no votes could be cast when polls opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. Hundreds of would-be voters were queued up in massive lines at polling places across the county, many of whom gave up…
Brave New World: Training to be a Doctor in the Age of COVID-19
Baylor Med student David Vien is working in an emergency room in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. It’s March 2020 and across the country from New York City to Seattle, the threat of COVID-19 is finally becoming real to millions of Americans. The Houston area’s first case has been discovered in…
Astros Go Down in 0-2 Hole in ALCS — Four Thoughts
The Astros have out-hit the Tampa Bay Rays 19-10 in the first two games of the American League Championship Series. Unfortunately, they’ve only managed three runs to the Rays six. Monday afternoon’s Game 2 felt like a carbon copy of Game 1 with the Astros shooting themselves in the foot…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Totally Under Control
Title: Totally Under Control Describe This Movie Using One Masque of the Red Death Quote: POE: The external world could take care of itself. In the meantime it was folly to grieve, or to think. Brief Plot Synopsis: 220,011 U.S. deaths, as of October 12, 2020. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant…
Four Reasons Bill O’Brien Should Have Been Fired After LAST Season
There are plenty of people who think the Houston Texans should have fired Bill O’Brien years ago. There are plenty of people who think he should have been fired after last season’s playoff debacle in Kansas City. There is NOBODY, nobody I’ve seen at least, campaigning for him to have…
Astros Fall in Game One of ALCS 2-1: Four Thoughts
The Astros were playing only a few hours south of where they faced off against the A’s in the American League Division Series, but the feel was quite different. After averaging three home runs and eight runs per game during the ALDS, they moved on to San Diego’s Petco Park…
NFL Week 5: Texans 30, Jaguars 14 — Four Winners, Four Losers
281 days. Going into Sunday, that’s how long it had been since the Houston Texans had won an NFL football game, all the way back in the first weekend in January against the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round of the playoffs. A lot has gone down since then,…
With COVID-19 and Finger Condoms Galore, Early Voting Sure Looks Different This Year
We’re about seven months into pandemic life at this point, and if that wasn’t enough to drive you nutty, our fearless leader President Donald Trump has been infected with the coronavirus. Thanks to our divisive Commander in Chief and his knack for riling-up concerned citizens on either side of any…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Gumbo Deals and Oktoberfest Brews
Throughout these trying times, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, get great deals on gumbo, and sip Oktoberfest brews at a virtual beer dinner. Here’s a look at this week’s hottest…
Garage Rock Fans Get a Double Whammy on Record Store Day
If film icon Indiana Jones is…well…the Indiana Jones of finding lost or undiscovered archeological artifacts from far-flung locales, then Alec Palao is the Indiana Jones of Music. Just picture him: Headphones in place on top of his cranium instead of a battered fedora as he sifts through dusty, forgotten boxes…
Houston Ballet’s Just is a Gut Punch Through Cyberspace
Houston Ballet opens their season with A Night at Jacob’s Pillow, a digital premiere of Artistic Director Stanton Welch’s Just.
Openings and Closings: East End Backyard Opens,The Union Kitchen Bellaire Closes
East End Backyard, 1105 Sampson, opens October 9. The spacious outdoor venue from owner and Houston Dynamo legend Brian Ching offers a bar with a 16,000 square foot dog-friendly patio with a 3,500-square-foot dog park. The massive outdoor space offers plenty of social distancing room for lawn games, relaxing with pod…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The War With Grandpa
Title: The War with Grandpa Describe This Movie In One Mr. Show with Bob and David Quote: BOB: Fifty-four percent … 1982 … rump roast? It all makes sense! The oldies are not goodies! Brief Plot Synopsis: The Boomer vs GenZ conflict gets physical. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The…
NFL Week 5: Jaguars-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
This time last week, the winless Houston Texans were heading into a home game against the winless Minnesota Vikings. For the first time all season, fans would be allowed in NRG Stadium. Try as they might, the Texans still couldn’t come out on top, and as we’ve learned in the…
The Sweet Soul (and Rock…and Gospel…) of Memphis
Memphis Mayhem: A Story of the Music That Shook the World By David A. Less 232 pp. $16.95 ECW Press While the first part of its title is more reminiscent of a true crime book, it’s actually a lightning-quick, fast-paced, tour through a city that at one time in the…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: A Burger and Shake Pop-Up at Fat Cat Creamery
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Burger and Shake Pop-Up at Fat Cat Creamery Saturday, noon until sellout 1901 North Shepherd The cult favorite ice cream shop is hosting a Burger and Shake Pop-Up boasting the culinary…
UH Professor and Spanish Language Fiction Writer Cristina Rivera Garza Named Houston’s Latest “Genius”
Before dubbing her a genius, the MacArthur Foundation had Cristina Rivera Garza fooled. When the acclaimed Spanish-language fiction writer and University of Houston professor was first contacted by the nonprofit group, she was told her help was needed to evaluate a candidate for the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship. Nicknamed “Genius Grants,”…
Astros Crush A’s in Game Four, Advance to ALCS: Four Thoughts
“They wanted us. They got us.” – Astros catcher Martin Maldonado via Twitter. It’s incredible to think how hated the Astros are, but only peruse Twitter for a while and you can feel the hate. That was even more evident after the Game 4 win over the A’s on Thursday…
A’s Avoid Sweep, Beat Astros 9-7 in Game 3: Four Thoughts
The Astros finally lost in the postseason. After a sweep of the Twins and opening 2-0 on Oakland, Game 3 gave the A’s some revenge, as they beat the ‘Stros 9-7 and staved off elimination. Like the rest of the series, there was a ton of offense on both sides…
Best Virtual Bets: God, Judy Garland, and Jacob’s Pillow
The virtual landscape is varied for the entertainment-seeker this week.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Feast on the Oktoberfest Dog at FM Kitchen & Bar
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: FM Kitchen & Bar, 1112 Shepherd, is bringing guests Oktoberfest specials now through Sunday, October 11. Try FM’s Oktoberfest Dog for $8, featuring a 44 Farms all-beef hot dog, sauerkraut, slaw, house relish and spicy honey…
New Book Tells How Rock and Roll Came Home to Cleveland
The House That Rock Built: How It Took Time, Money, Music Moguls, Corporate Types, Politicians, Media, Artists, and Fans to Bring the Rock Hall to ClevelandBy Norm N. Nite with Tom Feran 176 pp. $28 Kent State University Press For those who’ve never made the pilgrimage to the great glass…
Odds On Who Will Replace Bill O’Brien As Houston Texans Head Coach
Romeo Crennel officially took the reins of the Houston Texans on an interim basis yesterday, as he conducted his first practice in his new role. Crennel will not be the permanent head coach once the season is over. The future head coach of the Texans is out there working for…
Handing Out Candy on Halloween in 2020? Here’s How We Are Doing It Safely
You may have read that places like Los Angeles are canceling trick or treating on Halloween this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Boo, we say. We’ve been wearing masks every day, so why not combine them with a sweet superhero costume? And if there was ever a year…
![Abbott Says Bars Can Open Next Week At 50 Percent, If County Judges Approve [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/screenshot_2020-10-07_at_3.50.07_pm_-_edited_1_.png.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Abbott Says Bars Can Open Next Week At 50 Percent, If County Judges Approve [UPDATED]
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday afternoon that starting October 14, bars in most Texas counties can open at 50 percent capacity — as long as local county judges approve. Like his last round of opening Texas businesses more widely back on September 17, Abbott said that the new allowances for bar…
![Texas Supreme Court Blocks Harris County Clerk From Sending Mail-In Ballot Applications [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/screenshot_2020-10-07_at_10.02.42_am_-_edited.png.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Texas Supreme Court Blocks Harris County Clerk From Sending Mail-In Ballot Applications [UPDATED]
On Wednesday morning, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins cannot send out mail-in ballot applications to the 2.4 million registered voters in the county. “We hold that the Election Code does not authorize an early-voting clerk to send an application to vote by mail to…
Baby Jessica’s Well-Made Play: Performed to One Person at a Time By Phone
Even though he wasn’t even alive when it happened, playwright/actor Philip Santos Schaffer of New York City has been fascinated for years with the Baby Jessica story of the child who fell down a Midland, Texas well leading to a rescue seen by viewers around the world. Baby Jessica or Jessica…
Astros Take 2-0 Lead Over A’s in ALDS: Four Thoughts
The Astros leapt out to a two-game-to-nothing lead over the Oakland A’s in their best-of-five American League Division Series Tuesday in a 5-2 game leaving them just one win away from another trip back to the American League Championship Series. The bats broke out once again with three home runs…
Rescuing Throw-Away Food and Recycling It Into Dog Treats
Turns out ugly fruit and vegetables and parts of food that no human especially wants to dine on can be powdered, repurposed and baked into a treat for dogs that is not only supposed to be healthy but negates a trip to the landfill to dump consumables that no one…
Lawsuits Abound as Governor, Voting Rights Groups Spar Over Election Integrity
In the last few months, the volunteer organization Powered by People founded by Beto O’Rourke, has made 4.1 million calls and registered nearly 80,000 voters. So it’s not surprising that O’Rourke and Democratic leaders in Texas were not happy with Governor Greg Abbott’s October 1 order restricting the number of mail-in…
Texan Players React On Twitter to Bill O’Brien Firing
The year 2020 is a beautiful time if you’re into reacting not only to big news, but also reacting to the reactions of big news. I know, real multilayered stuff, right? But social media has given us that platform, several platforms really, to sound off with our own opinions, and…
To-Go Brews Allow Flying Saucer’s UFO Club Members to Soar Once More
COVID-19 put lots of personal goals on hold. Some of those plans were grand and some might have seemed frivolous, but they were our goals, mountains and molehills the pandemic forced us to stop scaling. Now, months later with no foreseeable end to our changed lives in sight, being able…
Streaming Concert Watch 10/7: Joseph, Pitbull and More
Ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come. Last week – shortly after our weekly concert watch had already been published – White Oak Music Hall announced two upcoming outdoor, socially-distanced “GRID” concerts: Austin native Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known by his stage name Shakey Graves, and Jaimaican-American EDM trio Major…
Abbott Winks At Reopening Bars, 18 Days After Calling Them “COVID-Spreading Locations”
In his latest coy pandemic policy tweet, Greg Abbott Monday afternoon strongly hinted that he might soon relax restrictions on state bars due to Texans’ alleged success in slowing the spread of COVID-19. “Texans have continued to keep COVID under control,” he wrote. “The hospitalizations, number of new positive cases,…
Astros Take Game 1 of ALDS 10-5: Four Thoughts
The Astros exploded for 10 runs, beating the A’s in Monday’s Game 1 of the American League Division Series in Los Angeles. Lance McCullers, Jr. struggled as the starter, but the Astros bullpen bested the A’s allowing no hits in five innings while the bats came to life and roughed…
Reginald Smith Presents an Online Concert for HGO Showcasing Black Composers
When he put together his concert program for the second installment of the Houston Grand Opera’s recital series, American baritone Reginald Smith knew he wanted something that would convey yearning, a stretch for something more and in the end, hope. He also was determined to highlight Black composers. So beginning…
Hearing Set For Harding Street Raid Investigation Despite City Hall Pushback
The family of Rhogena Nicholas is one step closer to uncovering the truth about what happened during the botched drug raid last year during which Houston Police Department officers shot and killed both Nicholas and her husband in their home. On Monday, Harris County Probate Court Judge Jerry Simoneaux set…
Eric Bloom of Blue Öyster Cult Talks New Record and Coronavirus Concert
If you were lucky enough to be in Swanzey, New Hampshire at the Cheshire County Fairgrounds back on July 18, then you got to see two things classic rock fans anywhere else would kill for: a live show, and one by the mighty Blue Öyster Cult. Even if you did…
Takeout Reviews: Unapologetically Good Thai at Street to Kitchen
As this coronavirus crisis continues, we continue to support our local restaurant industry any way we can, including by ordering takeout. Over in the East End just off Harrisburg sits a takeout spot you’ll want to get to know asap, the sizzling new Thai concept Street to Kitchen. It comes…
Houston Texans Fire Head Coach Bill O’Brien
The Houston Texans have started the 2020 regular season with four straight losses. They are 0-4. In the history of the NFL, there has been exactly ONE franchise to start a season 0-4 and go on to make the playoffs. (In case you get into bar trivia duels, that one…
Bill O’Brien’s Big Offseason Moves Backfired On Him
Bill O’Brien is, at his core, a football coach. At the professional level, he is an adequate football coach, having won four division titles in the last five seasons (a streak that appears a lock to crash land this season, but I digress). At the collegiate level, he was a…
Three Killed, One Injured in Building Collapse of Soon-to-be Marathon Oil HQ
The construction site of the new Marathon Oil headquarters in Memorial partially collapsed early Monday afternoon, killing three construction workers and injuring one, according to the Houston Fire Department. All 240 construction workers are believed to be accounted for after the building’s stairwell collapsed. The identities of the victims are…
No Chevron Houston Marathon Filling the Streets of Downtown Houston This January
There won’t be the usual mass of racers on course intent on PBs or just finishing. Spectators and volunteers with their placards and water bottles won’t have to face the sometimes bitter cold weather of Houston in January. All onlookers can now participate from the laid back comfort of their…
NFL Week 4: Vikings 31, Texans 23 — Four Winners, Four Losers
In the Houston Texans’ first three games of the 2020 season, it was generally accepted that their opponents were on a different level than the Texans were. The Chiefs and the Ravens are two of the three best teams in football, and the Texans’ opponent last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers,…
Months After George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Houston Keeps Fighting For A Better Bayou City
By any measure, 2020 has been one of the worst years of all time. It’d still rank high on the list of most awful years if it were only for the still raging coronavirus pandemic that’s killed over a million people globally and the plethora of natural disasters that have…
New Ways of Seeing the Music We Can’t Stand Hearing
Maria Ferrero loves music and she loves it ear-splittingly, bone-rattlingly, face-meltingly loud. She’s so hellbent on going to 11 she’s devoted her career to it as president and CEO of Adrenaline PR. Her New Jersey-based public relations firm specializes in promoting heavy metal acts like Lamb of God and Motorhead,…
Singing the Songs of Stevie Wonder and Telling His Story at A.D. Players
Stevie Wonders’ life is one that carries a story of redemption, says John-Mark McGaha. “His life is one that carries a story of redemption; it carries the story of how to stare whatever adversity you may have in the face and never yielding what it is you’ve been placed on…
Houston Food Banks Battle Skyrocketing Food Insecurity While Texas Slashes Budgets
Local food banks have found new ways to meet increased food insecurity needs during the pandemic, even as Texas has cut a food bank grant almost in half. Food insecurity has more than doubled in Southeast Texas since March, according to Reginald Young, the chief strategy officer at the Houston…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Go Vegetarian at Ike’s Love & Sandwiches
Throughout these trying times, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, eat all the vegetarian sandwiches, pair craft beer with dinner and celebrate your love of sake. Here’s a look at this…
HISD Board Hears Pleas From Speakers to Further Delay In-Person Classes
It somehow seems chillingly appropriate that after Thursday night’s parade of public speakers at the Houston ISD agenda meeting, all of whom pleaded with the district not to resume face-to-face instruction on October 19 because of COVID-19, that early today we learned that our mask-defying President and First Lady have…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Trial Of The Chicago 7
Title: The Trial of the Chicago 7 Describe This Movie In One “Book Revue” Quote: THE WOLF: You can’t do this to me! I’m a citizen, see! Brief Plot Synopsis: Incarcerated radicals struggle to become free. Free radicals. Is this thing on? Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 [Pentagon]…
NFL Week 4: Vikings-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
You don’t get these games very often in Week 4, and trust me, neither team involved in Sunday’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans wanted it this way, but this game between two 0-3 teams is basically a playoff game for the team that loses. 0-3 puts…
Openings and Closings: Xin Chao Debuts, Katz’s Deli Opens in the Heights
Xin Chao, 2310 Decatur, softly opened September 25 in the Sawyer Heights area. The modern Vietnamese restaurant comes from Christine Ha, Tony J. Nguyen and John Suh. Ha is best known as ” The Blind Chef” who won the third season of Master Chef in 2012. She and husband Suh…
Texas Renaissance Festival Starts Saturday For Those Ready to Party in a Crowd
It’s that time of year again, time for the Texas Renaissance Festival. — nine fun-filled weekends of visitors going to a rural area of Texas and pretending they live in another century. Although come to think of it, the early years of the Renaissance in Europe had a plague too…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Tacos, BBQ and an All-New Sunday Brunch
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Goode Co. Barbecue Woodlands Pop-Up Friday, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. 8865 Six Pines Though it’s been closed since the start of the pandemic, Goode Co. Barbecue…
“This is Bad Policy”: Trump Administration Proposes Restrictions for International Students – Again
The University of Houston and Rice University, which both enroll thousands of international students each year, are assessing the potential impacts of the Trump administration proposal to impose narrow time limits on international student visas. Dr. Adria Baker, Rice University’s Associate Vice Provost for International Education, said that requiring international…
How the San Francisco Area Speeded the Sowing of Thrash Metal
Maybe it was something in the water, but the San Francisco Bay Area certainly produced a lot of Titans of the Thrash Metal scene. Of the “Big Four” (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax), the first two had their careers catch fire there. And if you expanded it to a “Big Six”…
Abbott Limits Mail-In Ballot Drop-Offs Citing Fraud Fears, But Dems Call BS
Citing unsubstantiated fears of voter fraud, Gov. Greg Abbott has decided that Texas counties are only allowed to have a single location where voters can drop-off their mail-in ballots, no matter the county’s size. Issued via a Thursday afternoon proclamation, Abbott’s new rule is a gut punch for Harris County,…
Turner’s Police Reform Task Force Releases Full Report In Detail-Free Press Conference
On Wednesday, 97 long days after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner appointed his 45-person Task Force On Policing Reform in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, the task force’s leader was given the megaphone of City Hall to officially unveil the group’s painstakingly researched list of 104 recommendations on how the…
Rating the Roster Teardown Possibilities For Each Houston Team
It wasn’t all that long ago that we were touting a “golden age” of Houston sports. In early 2018, the Astros were beginning defense of the franchise’s only World Series title, the Rockets were on their way to a 65-17 regular season and a deep playoff run, and the excitement…
Best Virtual Bets: Altered Books, Diverse-City, and Dance
It’s the first week of October and we’re back with more virtual activities to keep you entertained.
Porn Viewing Was So Big During the First Presidential Debate
Warning: Most of the links in this story lead to porn. There will be many sex puns. Who won the presidential debate Tuesday night between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden? Numbers suggest that would be frustrated masturbators and the fine people who cater to their needs…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Antone’s Latest H-Town Originals Sandwich is a Schnitzelfest
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 4520 San Felipe, 2724 West T C Jester, has released its next H-Town Originals for the month of October: Brock’s Schnitzelfest with Saint Arnold’s Brock Wagner. Legacy Restaurants chef Alex Padilla and…
Rolling Stones’ Lost Steel Wheels Concert Fires on All Cylinders
In 1989, there was a lot riding (pun intended) for the Rolling Stones on the release of their new record, Steel Wheels. It had been three years since their prior LP, Dirty Work, and the feud between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had been going strong in the interval. There…
Astros Sweep Twins, Move on to ALDS: Four Thoughts
With few expectations following a generally rough season that just happened to coincide with the weirdest year in MLB history, the Astros waltzed into Minnesota and swept the team with the best home record in baseball. It’s surprising and then some because a) the Astros weren’t favored and b) they…
TEA Investigation Slams HISD’s Special Ed Operations
Calling the way Houston ISD provides services to disabled students a “historical failure,” the Texas Education Agency Tuesday released the results of its 11-month investigation into the district. Harsh in its criticism of HISD, a special investigation unit of the EA concluded that a state conservator should be appointed to…
Bill O’Brien Climbing The Odds Board For First NFL Coach Fired
On my radio show, which I cohost with original Houston Texan defensive tackle Seth Payne, Seth and I jokingly refer to Texans head coach Bill O’Brien’s general manager alter ego as “William O’Brien.” In other words, there are two Bill O’Briens — there’s the head coach who is named “Bill,”…
Astros Edge Twins in Game One: Four Thoughts
The Astros limped into the playoffs, one of only two teams in history to make the postseason with a losing record in Major League Baseball history. They faced a team in the Twins with one of the best pitching staffs in the majors and a power hitting lineup at home…
Seriously Stricken by a Bad Reaction to Medication, Musician Jason Yu Could Use a Little Help From His Friends
The Beatles famously sang about getting by with a little help from their friends and for local musician and videographer Jason Yu, these words have never been more true. Yu was recently hospitalized and his sister has organized a GoFundMe to help him cover medical expenses. A few weeks ago…
Streaming Concert Watch 9/30: Corey Taylor, Becky G and More
Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings – a winless football team that is scheduled to play the winless Houston Texans this weekend – announced that some of its players and staff had tested positive for COVID-19. We didn’t think either team’s season could get any worse, but here we are. At press…
Amsterdam Co. – Grab a Coffee and Some CBD Products
Coffee and CBD products — that’s the focus of a new coffee shop, Amsterdam Co., which will open October 4 in Houston. With a heavy dose of evangelical fervor on the side. The owners hope to not only sell what they say is high-quality CBD, but to spread the word…
YMCA of Greater Houston Nixes Long Term Locker Rentals and Loosens COVID-19 Restrictions
These past six months of pandemic living have been a struggle to say the least. Like the rest of us, the YMCA of Greater Houston is doing its best to manage during these strange times, even though there’s been some disorganization and confusing messaging from the local Christian charity and…
Abbott and State Leaders Talk Lake Jackson’s Brain-Eating Amoeba Problem
Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference an hour south of Houston in Lake Jackson Tuesday afternoon to give an update on the ongoing effort to purge a killer amoeba from that city’s water supply. Area residents will be asked to keep boiling their tap water before using it for…
Texans Open NRG Stadium to 13,300 Fans Starting Sunday
After opening their season in an empty arena, the Houston Texans announced Monday afternoon that a limited number of fans will be able to attend Texans home games at NRG Stadium for the rest of the season. Starting with this Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, up to 13,300 fans…
So You’re in a Hurry to Get to the Plane and You Just Forgot You Put a Loaded Gun in Your Carry-on?
In the period of one week, TSA officials at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport have confiscated eight guns in passengers’ carry-on luggage. Six of which were loaded. When the travelers were asked why they did this, the most common answer security officers got was “they forgot.” According to a TSA…
Astros Draw Mystery Opponent in Twins: Rating the Matchups
Weird things happen on the last day of the season in sports. When that particular season also happens to be a very condensed version of a normal MLB year thanks to COVID, it just amplifies it. In this case, for the Astros, there wasn’t much mystery in terms of their…
As a Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett Will Cause More Abortions
In a move that should be a blow to the pro-life movement, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amy Coney Barrett, is almost certain to be responsible for a large spike in abortion rates. The young jurist has just three years of experience on…
Four Thoughts On Houston Astros’ Upcoming Postseason
For the fourth straight season, the Houston Astros will be part of baseball’s postseason, but to say that this one feels different than the previous three is like saying a box lunch feels different than your three favorite high end steakhouses. In 2017, the Astros went into the postseason with…
Drama Squad Brings The Show To You
What did actors do in Elizabethan times when the plague hit and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was closed? Not like they could stream their work online or invite audiences to a Zoom show. Highly unlikely they were sitting at home baking banana bread. This is what Co-Founder and Artistic Director of…
Free Radicals Keep The Fight Funky With White Power Outage
No one could have predicted the mess that has become 2020 but when listening to the Free Radicals’ latest album, White Power Outage Volume 1, people might think the band and all of its collaborators had a crystal ball. “We just really took our time,” says founding member Nick Cooper…
NFL Week 3: Steelers 28, Texans 21 — 4 Winners, 4 Losers
On Sunday, in Pittsburgh, the Houston Texans fell to 0-3 on the season for the second time in the last three years under Bill O’Brien. Two seasons ago, in 2018, the Texans were able to pull the plane out of a nosedive, recover with a nine game wining streak, and…
With Massive Blood Drives on Hold Because of COVID-19, Smaller-Scaled Affairs Scramble to Fill the Need
Donating blood used to be a popular, low-hanging fruit way to give back to the community during pre-pandemic times — if you aren’t scared of needles, that is — but like so many other public traditions, COVID-19 has thrown the good old-fashioned blood drive to the wayside. Gone are the…
Articulate This! An Instagram Success Takes on Rolling Stone‘s Greatest Albums List
This is the sort of year where practically everything invites spirited discourse, to put it mildly. Rolling Stone’s revised list of the 500 greatest albums ever is no exception. An update of two previous rankings of your favorite music of all time, the 2020 model was unveiled a few days…
With Barely a Break For a Tropical Storm, Rice Students Continue to Protest Willy’s Statue
As Tropical Storm Beta approached Houston, a handful of Rice University student protestors weathered the rain outside in the school’s main quad, huddled under umbrellas and by the towering statue of the university’s founder, William Marsh Rice. While the students abided by the flash flood warnings and took the next…
This Week in Houston Food Events: The Final Days of HRW and a Remixed Southern Smoke Weekend
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All week long “Big Tex” Burger at Rodeo Goat Ice House Rodeo Goat, 2105 Dallas, will be paying homage to the State Fair of Texas with an over-the-top burger creation available now through Monday, October 5. The “Big Tex” burger features…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Enola Holmes
Title: Enola Holmes Describe This Movie In One Bowling For Soup Lyric: BFS: I got beat up by a girl with the right hook/Straight out of Rocky/Tyson’s got nothing/Or maybe she got lucky Brief Plot Synopsis: Teenage girl improbably gets along well with her mother. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The…
Openings and Closings: Ostia Debuts, Xochi Returns
Ostia, 2032 Dunlavy, opens for dinner September 25 with its lunch service set to launch October 1. The New American restaurant is a highly anticipated venture from executive chef/owner Travis McShane, a Houston native who has spent more than a decade earning his stripes with renowned chef and restaurateur, Jonathan…
NFL Week 3: Texans-Steelers — Four Things To Watch For
Downtrodden. Beleaguered. Mystified. Frustrated. These are all words that could be sued to describe Bill O’Brien at his press conferences this week, and they’re all words that could be used to describe any random Texans fan you walk up to on the street and ask “Hey, how ya doin’?” That’s…
Women, Modern Artists Take The Spotlight With Houston Symphony
Houston Symphony will shine a spotlight on extraordinary women composers, past and present, on Saturday at 8 p.m. via livestream. The program includes Reena Esmail, Florence Price and Ethel Smyth. Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor will join as guest vocalist.
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Lobster Rolls and Hot Sausage Po’ Boys
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. National Lobster Day at Loch Bar and Ouzo Bay Friday, all day 4444 Westheimer Whiskey-fueled seafood tavern Loch Bar will be celebrating National Lobster Day New England style, with a Maine lobster…
Health Department Says Proof Is In The Pooping For Houston’s Slowing Spread of COVID-19
After the Star of Hope men’s homeless shelter in downtown Houston suffered a coronavirus outbreak in May, the Houston Health Department wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again. Luckily, city health officials were tipped-off about a potential second outbreak before it happened when they noticed rising trace amounts COVID-19…
Best Virtual Bets: LGBTQ Films, Women Composers, and Tattoos
Celebrate National Cooking Day by making a great meal and settling in for one of this week’s best virtual bets.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Behold the “Big Tex” Burger
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Rodeo Goat Ice House, 2105 Dallas, will be paying homage to the State Fair of Texas with an over-the-top burger creation available now through October 5. The “Big Tex” burger features a 44 Farms all beef…
Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite on a Century (or More) of Chicago Blues
One of the tenets of blues music – especially that of the ‘50s/‘60s Chicago-based strain – is raw honesty. But it seems more than a bit dishonest that the title of Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite’s new record is 100 Years of Blues (Alligator). It’s supposed to represent how long…
Four Teams That Might Steal George Springer This Offseason
This past Sunday, the Astros beat the Diamondbacks in what, on the scoreboard and in the standings, looks like a fairly innocuous, insignificant game. The Astros were already a near lock for the postseason before the weekend started, and at this point, they’re probably more worried about keeping (and getting)…
Houston Gets Dumped On Again
So the coastal areas were supposed to be hard hit by Tropical Storm Beta but inland would be pretty much OK. And the rain was to move away from the southwest parts of Houston and the harder hit suburbs in Missouri City and Pearland on Tuesday night and move to…
Gordon’s (Still) Alive: Flash At 40
Who can say what makes a movie great? The AFI and similar organizations release periodic rankings with the usual suspects (Citizen Kane, Citizen Kane II: The Wrath of Kane), while online contingents continue their campaigns to elevate Megaforce to relevance. The common thread to most of these choices? Scope. Whether we’re…
Houston Texans’ Opening Drives Failing at an Unacceptable Rate
Trying to quantify “good coaching” or “bad coaching,” beyond the obvious metric of a win-loss record, is a very nuanced endeavor. The argument as to whether a head coach is effective in his job can become a very emotion-laden exercise. To wit, by the win-loss metric, Bill O’Brien had been…
Alley Theatre Embraces Hispanic Heritage Month With Virtual Bilingual Programs
An outreach initiative to the Hispanic community in Houston, one started by the Alley Theatre a few years ago that was kind of in stall mode thanks to other intervening events, has been reinvigorated recently, partly because of the pandemic conditions the area is in right now. Since the Alley…
Streaming Concert Watch 9/23: Mac Sabbath, Farm Aid and More
Well folks, it’s pretty wet out there. Tropical Storm Beta made landfall earlier this week, and it’s expected to bring quite a bit of rain to Texas. Flooding has been reported in different areas of Houston, so this is the perfect week to stay inside and stream some live music…
Flood Warning Extended For Harris County As Beta Shifts Toward Northeast Houston
In a Tuesday evening weather update, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that while Tropical Depression Beta continues to move slowly out of our region, it will likely keep dropping rain on the Houston area for “about 12 more hours.” After south and southwest Houston were battered by heavy rainfall Monday…
![Streets and Highways Flood Across Houston [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/288_under_water_800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Streets and Highways Flood Across Houston [UPDATED]
Tropical Storm Beta has been pouring down rain across the Houston area since Monday night, and its rain bands will continue to cause potentially heavy rainfall for at least the next 24 hours as Beta moves east at about 2 miles per hour. “They’re dropping water, sometimes 2 to 3…
Four Thoughts on the Horrific News About Justin Verlander’s Elbow
I’ll admit, I’m trying really hard not to get irrationally angry at anything that has happened with our sports teams in Houston this year, considering we were teetering on the brink of having no sports at all, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The sports gods are not making this easy…
Skateboarding — a Pretty Good Sport in Social Distancing Times – Jumps Back Into the Mainstream
Skateboarding will make its debut in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and Houstonian Jordan Santana, 16, is a qualifier to the USA team. It took just seven decades and previous confinement to designated competitions like the X-Games, before skateboarding got the nod. The addition to the Olympics signifies an…
Bill Flanagan Turns Back the Hands of Time in Music-Themed Novel
While time travel and body switching plots are common in books and films, few have ever waded deeply into musical territory. In Bill Flanagan’s new novel Fifty in Reverse (Tiller Press), 65-year-old Patrick Wyatt goes to sleep in 2020, but wakes up as his high-school freshman self in 1970 –…
![Local Leaders Say Beta Shouldn’t Be Catastrophic, But Flash Flooding Remains A Threat [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/9.22.2020_betaflood_hou_jackgorman-800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Local Leaders Say Beta Shouldn’t Be Catastrophic, But Flash Flooding Remains A Threat [UPDATED]
On Monday afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo gave a quick update on the fast-approaching Tropical Storm Beta, which is set to make landfall on the Texas coast near Matagorda Bay about 82 miles southwest of Houston Monday night. Hidalgo told county residents to be wary of potential pockets of…
Tropical Storm Beta Will Bring Lots of Rain, But It’s Not Harvey
As of Sunday evening, predictions were that Tropical Storm Beta would be scooting its way to a landfall along the coastal bend of Texas Monday afternoon. Beta remains a relatively slow moving storm, but it has not intensified and it should weaken rather quickly once it moves inland. As a…
If Verlander’s Astro Career is Over, It Was a Success
On Saturday, Justin Verlander revealed on Instagram that he would need to undergo Tommy John surgery on his pitching arm. After what had seemed to be a successful and speedy recovery from a forearm strain early in the season, he felt discomfort throwing in a simulated game that will require…
NFL Week 2: Ravens 33, Texans 16 — 4 Winners, 4 Losers
When the NFL released the 2020 regular season schedule back in May of this year, there were two reactions in Houston. The first one was the same reaction as the rest of the cities in the NFL — man, I sure hope the COVID pandemic doesn’t mess this up. Then…
Perryn Leech on How HGO Plans to Pivot to Outlast the Plague
Houston Grand Opera is transforming from a company that put immense effort into its planning process, determining its seasons five years in advance or more and engaging performers years before they would ever take the stage. Now, as Managing Director Perryn Leech puts it, they are all into pivoting. Pivoting…
Nothing But The Truth: Bert Wills Releases New Album On Mort Records
In October of 2019 Texas blues/country legend Bert Wills teamed up with his old friend and fellow Houston music legend Andy Bradley to record a sold out concert from the Galveston’s ETC Theater on the historic strand. The evening was filled with stories, music, fans and friends and proved the…
Honor Society Students Struggle to Get In Community Service Hours During a Pandemic. Safely, That Is.
High school wasn’t a cakewalk before the pandemic, and it’s sure gotten tougher due to the frustrating technical difficulties of digital classes and the feelings of isolation brought about by COVID-19. National Honor Society members are one group of high schoolers with a particularly tricky task ahead of them in…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Happy Hour Just Got Happier at Riel
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, smash sandwiches during happy hour, and try out Latin Restaurant…
Houston Ballet Will Open its 2020-21 Season Digitally With Stanton Welch’s Just
Houston Ballet has decided to delve even deeper into the digital world, announcing today that it plans to offer even more performances in that vein than it originally anticipated. As a result, its season opener for the 2020-21 season will be Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch’s Just which was…
Very Complicated Forecast for Tropical Depression 22
As we get closer to the end of September, the threats to the Texas coastline from hurricanes gradually diminish. This is thanks to the eventual steady line of cool and cold fronts that begin pushing through the state. But, as if we needed any evidence we aren’t there yet, we…
Happy Birthday, Emily Remler, Jazz Guitarist
Compile a list of jazz giants and it’s sure to be overwhelmingly male in nature. The genre is so gender lopsided it’s literally populated with Dukes and Counts. And, if you relegate your list to instrumentalists only, omitting the world’s great female jazz vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday,…
Openings and Closings: Sugar Room Debuts Again, Bellaire Broiler Burger For Sale
Sugar Room, 5120 Washington, has reopened. It originally debuted in January 2020 only to be sidelined by the pandemic restrictions against bars opening. The speakeasy-inspired lounge comes from SoClutch Group, a hospitality company that operates businesses like Concrete Cowboy and Clutch Bar in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Chicago. Due…
NFL Week 2: Ravens-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
I’m going to start off my preview of the Ravens-Texans game this Sunday at NRG Stadium by backing up, and taking a big picture look at things happening with the Texans over the next few weeks, and I want to start by admitting that I have a bit of a…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: UB Preserv Puts Its Spin on Chain Menu Classics
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. National Cheeseburger Day Special at FM Kitchen & Bar Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 1112 Shepherd FM Kitchen and Bar…
Mail-In Ballot Confusion Continues to Abound in Harris County
With Election Day right around the corner and early voting in Texas kicking off a mere 25 days from now on October 13, Houston area voters are still trying to make sense of the ongoing battle over mail-in ballots between the Democrats who lead Harris County and the state government’s…
ROCO, Again, Moves The Needle Forward During 16th Season
On the eve of ROCO’s 16th season, which kicks off via live stream on September 26, the orchestra announced it will make its performance free and available via livestream. Adding to the excitement, the organization recently earned accolades for its diversity of programming.
Turner Criticizes Abbott’s Latest Reopening Expansion While Hidalgo Offers Tepid Praise
Just a few hours after Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new wave of lessened restrictions on Texas businesses, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner predictably criticized the move, arguing that Abbott is being reckless by allowing many types of businesses across much of the state to expand their occupancy limits from 50…
Abbott Announces Most Texas Businesses Can Reopen at 75 Percent Capacity On Monday
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that beginning Monday, most businesses already open in Houston and other parts of Texas where COVID-19 hospitalizations have steadily fallen will be able to expand their operating capacity from 50 percent to 75 percent. Citing significant declines in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 across…
Get Your Live Punk Show Fix, Courtesy of Flogging Molly and NOFX
Live punk shows aren’t really back yet, but a pair of events this weekend starring some of the genre’s giants might help show-starved fans amble from the pit of housebound despair to a (virtual) punk rock mosh pit. The fun kicks off this afternoon with Flogging Molly’s Halfway to St…
Best Virtual Bets: Schubert, Sopranos, and Shakespeare Three Ways
The season’s changing, but we’re still here to suggest some things to keep you entertained.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Get the Full Flavor Experience During Latin Restaurant Weeks
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Three Brothers Bakery, 4036 South Braeswood, 12393 Kingsride, 4606 Washington, has brought back its Presidential Cookie Poll this election season, offering gingerbread cookies dipped in white chocolate with a scan of your favorite candidate and outlined…
Seven NFL Teams That Should “Tank for Trevor Lawrence”
The hardest position to fill in all of team sports is “NFL franchise quarterback.” In any given season, there maybe a dozen really good ones walking the face of the earth. It’s why Deshaun Watson just signed a deal for $40 million annually a couple weeks ago, and it’s why…
Soprano Tamara Wilson on What It’s Like to Sing Again With HGO
When soprano Tamara Wilson was done rehearsing for her concert recital at the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater, she went home and cried. “On rehearsal day we rehearsed and went through everything and then I drove home and just kind of had an emotional moment and kind of cried because I hadn’t…
Vanilla Fudge Adds a Little Led to the Mixture on Upcoming Record
One of Quentin Tarantino’s gifts as a filmmaker is to take a popular song of the ‘60s or ‘70s and use it really amplify a sequence. Think of the offbeat choice of Stealer’s Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” during the torture scene of Reservoir Dogs; John Travolta and…
Activists Say Chavez Case Shows Need For HPD Reforms and More Mental Health Help
Nearly five months after Nicolas Chavez was killed by Houston Police Department officers on April 21, recent developments in the case have become a flash point for criminal justice and civil rights groups who say more reform is needed to prevent future tragedies and to hold local cops accountable. Houston…
Rockets Offseason: Daryl Morey Will Remain as Team’s GM
Now that the Rockets are a few days removed from both a disappointing end to their time in the NBA bubble and the loss of their coach, Mike D’Antoni, who chose to head into free agency elsewhere, the offseason is fully upon the Houston franchise and owner Tilman Fertitta. That…
Talk About Timing: An Opera Series Based on People Trying to Escape the Black Death
The 14th Century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio wrote a series of novellas entitled The Decameron about seven women and three men trying to escape the Black Death by sheltering in a remote location. Turns out Opera in the Heights and eight other regional opera companies in a newly formed coalition found this…
Here Is One Thing Bill O’Brien Absolutely Must Stop Doing
The job title “NFL head coach” comes with long hours and high stress. Being the steward of the most relevant team in a major U.S. city is a stressful job. So is the job of “NFL general manager.” It just so happens that, somewhat miraculously, Bill O’Brien carries BOTH of…
Classic Rockers Pablo Cruise Release First Single in 37 Years — And We Have the Exclusive World Video Premiere
When the members of Pablo Cruise disembarked in Miami after playing on the high seas as part of the Puerto Rico-bound Rock and Romance Cruise, they had no clue that the late February gig was to be their last for 2020. Since then in quarantine though, the band – Cory…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Devil All The Time
Title: The Devil All the Time Describe This Movie In One Repo Man Quote: OLY: A lot of straight guys like to watch their buddies f*ck. I know I do. Brief Plot Synopsis: Poverty sucks. Religion too. War isn’t all that great either. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3.5 Joe…
Remembering Richard Connelly, Former Houston Press Staff Writer and Columnist
Richard “Rich” Connelly, a longtime former staff writer and columnist for the Houston Press, died Tuesday at his Houston home after a several years long battle with cancer, his wife Bobette Riner by his side. A graduate of the University of Houston, he had a long, successful journalism career starting…
Streaming Concert Watch 9/16: Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow and More
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo recently said Harris County’s COVID-19 threat level could be lowered from red (stay home) to orange (minimize all contact) in a matter of days. Doesn’t sound like much of a win but these days, we’ll take any good news regarding the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, there…
Public School Teachers Around the State Report COVID-19 Safety Violations
A survey by the Texas State Teachers Association reports hundreds of COVID-19 safety violations. Leading the way in the number of complaints in the Houston area is the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. After just two weeks, districts that opened for in-person classes showed a wide variance in how they are complying with…
It’s Not Actually Illegal to Collect Rainwater
It’s a weirdly prevalent meme from both hippies and libertarians that the government is walking around keeping people from collecting rainwater. Hang around anti-government malcontents long enough on social media and one of them will eventually make a joke based on the idea that collecting rainwater is stupidly illegal. Even…
NFL Week 1 Autopsy: Chiefs 34, Texans 20 — How To Lose A Game In Ten Plays
The NFL schedule maker is not giving the Houston Texans any leeway early in the season, as they must turn the page quickly from their 34-20 loss to the Chiefs in the season opener to their Week 2 home opener against the next best team in the NFL, the Baltimore…
Squirrel Nut Zippers Find What’s Been Lost for a Long Time
One could be forgiven for thinking that the man namechecked in the title of the Squirrel Nut Zippers’ new record Lost Songs of Doc Souchon is some mythical character out of legend from the misty streets of old (very old) New Orleans. Or a fantastical creation from the vivid imagination…
Deconstructing the Superhero Genre in Hench
Natalie Zina Walschots’ debut novel Hench is both a razor-sharp deconstruction of the superhero genre as well as the best example of prose writing on the subject since Austin Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible. Even while she’s pulling off that unlikely trick with deftness and wit, she also managed…
D’Antoni Not Returning First Step in Long Rockets Offseason
On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni announced he would not be returning to the team he helmed for the past four years including the best season in team history and four straight trips to the postseason. In a statement, D’Antonio, whose contract expired at the end of the season…
A Night at a Houston Drive-In During The Pandemic
Sometime last December the mysterious trailer for Tenet popped up on my phone. Scenes of John David Washington and Robert Pattinson speedily rappelling up a building, were followed by fancy people in suits doing spy things while characters spoke over ominous music. The clip ended with the unexplainable action sequence…
COVID College Football Scheduling! Baylor and Houston Agree To Meet This Saturday in Waco
Remember back in the day, before kids took on 12 hours a day of video games as their favorite pastime, and we would go outside and play some sandlot football? In my hometown, we had my group of about 10 or 12 friends, and our favorite thing to do was…
A Magnetic Performance by Sally Edmundson in A Woman of the World
My favorite theater critic has always been Addison DeWitt, that bitchy, manipulative, sharp-clawed writer in All About Eve. Played as if etched with acid by George Sanders, he gets many of Joseph L. Mankiewicz’ finest zingers. In one scene, in reaction to his latest conquest Miss Casswell (a pillowy Marilyn…
Not Seeing Biden Signs Doesn’t Mean He Doesn’t Have Measurable Support
I have lost count of the number of people, both hard leftists and President Donald Trump supporters, who try to tell me that Vice President Joe Biden is doomed this November because they have not seen many Biden/Harris signs or bumper stickers or positive comments about the ticket on social…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Double Your Burger for National Cheeseburger Day
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, sip Negronis and Mezcal, and get a local chef’s take…
NFL Week 1 Blowout: Chiefs 34, Texans 20 — 4 Winners, 4 Losers
Since taking their now famous 24-0 lead in their playoff loss to the Chiefs (or infamous, if you’re a fan of the Houston Texans, not the easiest sports occupation right about now, by the way), the Texans have been outscored by Kansas City by an 85-27 margin, aided some serious…
Openings and Closings: In-N-Out Willowbrook Open, Bistro 555 and Bottled Blonde Next Week
In-N-Out Burger, FM 1960, Willowbrook, opened September 4. The California-based fast food chain was founded in 1948 as the state’s first drive-thru hamburger joint. Its rabid fans feel an affection for its customizable burgers and fries the way Texans worship Whataburger. Perhaps it’s regional pride but West Coast transplants to…
Wild Thing the Latest — and Best? — Look at the Life of Jimi Hendrix
Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix By Philip Norman 400 pp. $28.95 Liverlight Publications When veteran music journalist Philip Norman turns his attention to a musician, the word “definitive” is not an understatement. For while many of his subjects are themselves subjects of dozens—even hundreds—of tomes about…
Italian Cultural Center’s Film Series Returns with Il Campione
Sometimes, stereotypes exist for a reason. Among the Europeans, the Italian culture is very much a touchy-feely one. There are a lot of hugs and kisses and embraces and talking loudly and closely with operatic hand gestures. So in the Age of Coronavirus with its masking and social distancing and…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: The Returns of Old Favorites and a Mezcal Menu
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Reopening of BCK Friday 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (plus weekday hours Tuesday-Thursday) 933 Studewood The next-level comfort food spot…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Rent-A-Pal
Title: Rent-A-Pal Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: HOMER: Television! Teacher, mother … secret lover. Brief Plot Synopsis: Video killed the maladroit star. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2 Videodrome flesh guns out of 5. Tagline: “He talks to you. He listens to you. He understands you.” Better Tagline: “Your [analog]…
HPD Chief Acevedo Releases Video of Fatal Police Shooting of Nicolas Chavez, Fires 4 Officers
On Thursday, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo was joined by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to unveil body cam footage from the fatal police shooting of Nicolas Chavez, 27, on April 21. Acevedo announced that he had fired four of the HPD officers who were involved in Chavez’s killing, calling their…
Houston Restaurateur Tony Vallone Has Died
Tony’s Restaurant owner and founder Tony Vallone passed away overnight of natural causes. He was 75. Vallone first opened his namesake restaurant on Sage in 1965 then later, on Post Oak Boulevard before ending up in Greenway Plaza in 2005. Italian food was not as ubiquitous in the Houston restaurant…
Rockets-Lakers Game 4: Three Keys to Victory
The Lakers have managed to reassert themselves in Games 2 and 3 after a rather dominant win for the Rockets in Game 1 of this Western Conference semifinal. Game 4 isn’t exactly a must-win, but going down in a 3-1 hole to Los Angeles would leave this series as good…
Astros End Long Losing Streak, but Does It Matter?
It took some very weird bounces, a bunch of walks and a late-night second game of a double header for the Astros to snap a six-game losing streak in Oakland. The big question going forward is, will it matter? The Astros are favorites to make the playoffs thanks to the…
Best Virtual Bets: Texas Music, Second Chances, and a Deconstructed Classic
Make your bed and stay in to enjoy this week’s best virtual bets.
Cindy Blackman Santana Gets Some — Of Her Own!
Like most musicians, Cindy Blackman Santana expected to spend the summer of 2020 on the road. Either playing drums in the band named for her Rock and Roll Hall of Famer husband in a seat she’s occupied for over a decade, or with gigs of her own in support of…
NFL Week 1: Texans at Chiefs — Four Things To Watch For
We’ve been building to this for months now, and after several ebbs and flows, filled with anticipation and (at times) doubt, it is here. We are getting NFL football, with a bonus does of optimism that this thing could go the whole season through the Super Bowl. The NFL has…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Nose-To-Tail Event Cochon555 Returns, and This Time It’s Virtual
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Kenny & Ziggy’s, 2327 Post Oak, will be offering a special menu for breaking the fast at the end of the high holiday, Yom Yippur, which falls on Sunday, September 27. Guests can order a la…
Children’s Museum of Houston Shifts to Virtual Learning For Fall After Summer Reopening
In the middle of a contagious disease outbreak, operating a safe haven for families that caters to curious children who are encouraged to get up close and personal with hands-on learning is no small task. Children’s Museum Houston has been grappling with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic for almost…
Turner Will Approve Limited Public Events At 25 Percent Capacity With Face Masks
On Wednesday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that he will begin approving certain public special events within the city. The move represents a reversal in the city’s pandemic-long policy of not sponsoring or permitting any public events, which has been the case since Turner shut down the Houston Livestock…
TUTS Musicals Won’t Be Back Till May 2021 (at the Earliest)
This is the kind of news where people are doing all the right things for the right reasons and it still is hard to hear. Theatre Under the Stars is announcing today that for safety and financial reasons, it is delaying its 2020-21 season to mid-May 2021 because of the…
HPD Launches New Sex Offender Search Site Based on High-Tech National Database
Thanks to a newly announced partnership between the Houston Police Department and a Louisiana-based tech company, local residents have more resources than ever before to help keep an eye out for sex offenders in their neighborhoods. HPD recently launched a brand-new online portal that Houston residents can use to view…
The Five Stages of First Day Remote School Emotions
School is very different here in the Plague Year. Virtually every school is offering some form of remote learning in the hopes that kids will continue their educations while not becoming vectors for the continued spread of the coronavirus. Tuesday was the first day of school for my child and…
Canoe Chronicles: Seven Tips for Safer, Happier Boating
This is part three of an ongoing series of posts about my purchase of a canoe during the pandemic. In case you missed them, part one of this series was about locating a canoe during the pandemic, something that was easier said than done. Part two was about managing to…
A Sometimes Bumpy First Day of Virtual School For an HISD Teacher
You only get one first day of school. There’s only one chance for a teacher to stand before a class and make a first impression. We print off our rosters and we begin learning our students’ names and nicknames. We do icebreakers to get to know everyone and begin to…
Streaming Concert Watch 9/9: Ruthie Foster, Cody Jinks and More
Welcome to the Houston Press’ streaming concert watch. This week, I’ve highlighted an innovative icon, an up-and-coming folk starlet, an established but criminally underappreciated country artist, one of the most powerful contemporary voices in Texas and a crotchety singer-songwriter who may have penned the most honest 2020 theme song. Keep…
Five NFL Season Win Total Best Bets (Including the Houston Texans!)
NFL football returns tomorrow night. It’s the Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs at a 22 percent full Arrowhead Stadium. If you’re a football fan, there has to be a feeling of excitement combined with cautious relief that we actually MADE IT to this moment. Let’s face it, there even…
Rapper Turned Comic Chingo Bling Brings A More Mature Act to Houston Improv
/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The Houston rapper known as Chingo Bling has always done it his way – whether it was being the funniest guy in the music scene,…
Rockets-Lakers Game 3: Four Thoughts
No one expected the Rockets to sweep the Lakers. In truth, some didn’t think they would win a single game. But after a massive comeback in Game 2, only to fall short, and a series tied at one game apiece, it’s pretty clear this is going to be a longer…
Local Architects Predict Big Changes to Building Design Thanks To COVID-19
When Albert Pope heard on the news that it took four years to develop a mumps vaccine and that it was the fastest a cure for a disease was ever created, he realized COVID-19 would probably be around for the foreseeable future. As an architecture professor at Rice University, Pope…
Houston Restaurant Weeks Lasts Through September
Houston Restaurant Weeks has been extended through the entire month of September and Houston foodie fiends are ecstatic. While many restaurants are continuing their HRW menus through the month, it’s best to check first before venturing out. The list of participating restaurants and their HRW menus can be found on…
Game By Game Predictions For the Houston Texans In 2020
This Thursday, we all embark on what is undoubtedly the strangest Houston Texans season in my 13 years as a member of the media covering the team and my nearly 20 years as a fan. The weird thing is that I might even be saying this even if we WEREN’T…
Back To The Rooftop: Axelrad Will Host Second Rooftop Drive-In Concert
Socially distanced concerts have become the new normal during this time with music lovers and performers working overtime to try to find innovative ways to connect while safely and responsibly providing a live music experience. Houston’s own Axelrad was one of the first in the state to offer a live…
Houston Ballet’s Planned Performance of La Bayadere Comes Under Fire
A Hindu rights activist based in Nevada is accusing the Houston Ballet of cultural insensitivity and is urging it to cancel its upcoming performances of La Bayadère, scheduled for February, saying the ballet set in India “trivializes Eastern religious and other traditions.” La Bayadère, a ballet originally performed in Russia…
Gibran Nassif Lands a Pair of Haymakers On COVID’s Music Slowdown
COVID-19 sucker punched the music industry this year and the blow has been painful, but it hasn’t been a decisive knockout. The battle has actually proven inspirational at times, with true fighters rising from the canvas to survive into the next round. Cue the Rocky theme music for Houston music…
A.D. Players Updates its Season in a Video Announcement
As the pandemic continues, local theater groups rejuggle their already juggled schedules, pushing shows back later and later into the 2020-21 season— or in some cases — all the way to the next. The latest is the announcement by A.D. Players Executive Director Jake Speck and Artistic Director Kevin Dean…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Tailgater Tacos and Labor Day Eats
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, try out a football-inspired taco and get one last taste…
Deshaun Watson Signs Massive Four Year, $156 Million Extension
Saturday was a very busy day, if you’re a Houston Texan fan, or anybody who is part of Deshaun Watson’s family tree or inner circle. We could see the figurative smoke coming from NRG Stadium on a Watson contract extension on Thursday, when the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted this:…
A Herd Of Bison Stampedes Through Houston
Kareem Day is the owner and creative mind behind A Heard Of Bison, a Houston fashion company that is quickly making its way through the city, and his latest release is a sneaker with a personal twist on an already classic shoe, the Jordan 1. Originally released in 1985, the…
Openings and Closings: Molina’s Fulshear Opens, Sweet Paris Sugar Land Soon
Molina’s Cantina, 6300 FM1463, opened September 3 in Fulshear. This is the third location for the Tex-Mex empire which began with Raul Molina’s first Mexican restaurant in 1941. For nearly eight decades, it has been owned and operated by the Molina family with Raul and Mary Molina’s grandsons Ricardo, Raul…
We All Want a Cool Front, But Don’t Count On It
Forecasters have been talking about the possibility of the city’s first legitimate cold front this fall blowing through the middle of next week. We all want to believe it’s true. But, don’t be too quick to pull those sweaters out of storage just yet. First, a bit about Houston weather…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Mulan
Title: Mulan Describe This Movie In One “Everything I Wanted” Lyric: BILLIE EILISH: They called me weak / Like I’m not just somebody’s daughter Brief Plot Synopsis: Young Chinese woman gets down to business to defeat the [touches earpiece] Rouran. Rating Using Random Elements Relevant To The Film: 2.5 Chris Chambers out of…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Kolache, Juleps and HRW Brunch
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, including Derby Day and Houston Restaurant Weeks options. Dine-In, Takeout, and HRW (including Brunch) at Traveler’s Table Friday-Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Sunday-Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Brunch Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m…
Slim Jim Phantom on 40 Years of Rockin’ Cat Cool
In 2019, fans of rockabilly revivalists the Stray Cats were ecstatic to hear that in celebration of their 40th anniversary, the band would reunite for a short tour and release their first studio album of new music in 26 years. The trio of Brian Setzer (vocals/guitar), Slim Jim Phantom (drums),…
Rockets Win Game 7, Face Lakers Next: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
“I’ve done a lot a basketball in my lifetime, but I don’t think I’ve seen as hectic a finish as that one.” Rockets broadcaster Bill Worrell, who, for the record, has seen a LOT of basketball games, was not kidding. In an incredibly weird season, this game seven win for…
And the Winner of the Houston Press 2020 Iron Chef Competition Is…
The first ever virtual Iron Fork competition between a Dallas and a Houston chef played out in all its streaming glory Wednesday night for Houston Press 2020 Menu of Menus ticket holders and unfortunately for our Houston fans of chef Matt Staph, he did not emerge victorious. Instead it was…
Four Predictions For the Houston Texans Final Roster Cutdowns
It’s not quite as hectic this week for the Houston Texans as it was this time last year. In 2019, the Texans had to combine cutdown week with a series of franchise-altering trades, the biggest of which brought in Laremy Tunsil and sent out Jadeveon Clowney. This season, it’s much…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Dine In or Out to Support No Kid’s Hungry
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Houston Restaurant Weeks has announced it will extend its run through the end of September in order to raise more money to fight hunger and further support the restaurants and industries that support the charitable cause…
Mayor and Experts Warn If Abbott Reopens Too Much Too Soon, It Could Lead to Disaster
The expectation that Gov. Abbott will authorize a new wave of business re-openings sometime after the Labor Day holiday prompted an outcry from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Wednesday and elicited concern from Texas virus scholars who have kept a close watch over the state’s COVID-19 metrics during the pandemic. After…
Charlie And The Regrets Release New Single “Prison Radio”
Houston’s Pacifica Radio station, KPFT, often flies under the radar of many Houstonians but the station has a long and rich history of providing the city with unconventional and non-commercial news and music. It is often the only place on the dial to hear local bands and find out what…
Best Virtual Bets: Broadway, Dragons, and Audre Lorde
After a brief Hurricane Laura break, we’re back with another list of virtual events to keep you busy.
These Houston Restaurants Are Offering Labor Day Weekend Grilling Packages, Brunches and More
Houston favorites are offering Labor Day food and drink specials, from boozy lazy day brunches and fun steak nights to at-home grilling packages featuring burgers, dogs and fajitas. a’Bouzy, 2300 Westheimer The bubbly bar and kitchen invites guests to pop bottles at an all-day Labor Day Brunch (10 a.m. to…
The City Of Houston Turns Red To Save Its Concert Venues
In an effort to help save concert venues,various locations around the country were lit red to bring awareness to the struggling live music industry.
Streaming Concert Watch 9/2: Patti Smith, LeAnn Rimes and More
Today’s post marks 21 weeks since we put together a watch list for in-person concerts. On the bright side, COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on the decline in recent weeks, despite a higher new case average. For the time being, it seems that streaming concerts will continue to be the norm…
Harris County Clerk Holds Off On Mail-In Ballot Application Plan, For Now
One day after a lawsuit from the state’s top lawyer landed on his desk, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced Tuesday that he is backing down from his previous promise to send applications for mail-in ballots to all 2.4 million registered voters in the county. On Monday, Texas Attorney General…
Bill and Ted Face the Music: A Metaphor for Adult Gifted Children
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A man goes to a Halloween party, and the host notices he’s wearing just regular everyday clothes. So, she asks what his costume is. He says, “I was a gifted child.” She replies, “but what are you supposed to be?” He answers bitterly,…
Texas Attorney General Sues Harris County Clerk Over Mail-In Ballot Applications
Last week, Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced a plan to send mail-in ballot applications to the nearly 2.4 million registered voters in Harris County. On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit in district court against Hollins with the hope of preventing those unsolicited applications from ever…
Privacy Advocates Question Police Partnerships with Amazon Ring
From voice-activated speakers that can scrape the web for all kinds of info to home security systems that trigger email alerts when motion detectors are set off and smartphone apps that constantly accumulate user location data, it’s undeniable that there are more devices collecting more information on more everyday people…
New Doc Celebrates — and Dissects — the History and Impact of MTV
It was an idea that very few people thought would work – including many of those hired to make it happen. A 24-hour cable channel showing nothing but music videos? What the hell was that? Music was meant to be heard via the radio or a stereo. And how could…
Four Thoughts on Texans ILB Zach Cunningham’s Gigantic Contract Extension
It’s been general knowledge for some time now that the Houston Texans and general manager Bill O’Brien have had two big action items to check off their list before the start of the 2020 NFL regular season — sign Deshaun Watson to a contract extension AND sign linebacker Zach Cunningham…
Pour A Drink And Gussy Up For The Strange Secret Of Mr. Adrian Rook
“We had a date night”, my husband declared excitedly as we stepped away from the computer screen and began to defrock ourselves of the flashy formal wear we’d been asked to don. He wasn’t wrong. Sure, we hadn’t left our house, might not have been wearing much from the waist…
Basketball, Baseball Facing Racial Injustice Head On
On Sunday, the Astros postponed the final game of their three-game series against Oakland, but not for the reasons you may have thought. After an A’s player tested positive for COVID-19, teams called off the game as part of MLB protocols. You would be forgiven if you thought the cancellation…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Go Back to School at Tarka Indian Kitchen
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, try out Houston Restaurant Weeks before it comes to an…
Houston Texans Training Camp, Four Practices To Go — 4 Winners, 4 Losers
If you’re a player trying to make a final impression in an NFL training camp, time is winding down, and it is REALLY winding down if you’re a member of the Houston Texans or Kansas City Chiefs. With those two teams slated to battle in the 2020 season opener for…
Bo Bundy Talks Rancho Humilde Deal and Why Houston Artists Leave the City
Three years ago, the Houston Press ran a profile on local rapper Bo Bundy and the wild night he experienced protecting his flooded home with an AK-47 during the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Today, the Northside Vato might just be thanking the man upstairs for sending Hurricane Laura the other…
State Fair of Texas Will Open for Drive-Thru Weekend Events
Nearly two months ago, Texas residents sighed with disappointment, even if it weren’t surprising that the State Fair of Texas canceled the season for 2020. It was the first time doing so since World War II. But this week, a release went out giving a big update:…
Houston Texans 53 Man Roster Prediction, Version 2.0
The Houston Texans finished up the portion of training camp that was open to the media — ten media members total, ten practices total — with a scrimmage inside NRG Stadium on Thursday night, that hung precariously in the balance over the previous 24 hours. As it turned out, Hurricane…
![Openings and Closings: Whiskey Cake Woodlands Opens Soon, Ninfa’s Uptown Locked Out [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/tacos_al_carbon_ninfa_s_by_cooper_ricca_hori.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Openings and Closings: Whiskey Cake Woodlands Opens Soon, Ninfa’s Uptown Locked Out [UPDATED]
Whiskey Cake, 27800 North Freeway Service Road, opens September 8 in Oak Ridge North. The farm-fresh American fare is dished out in a industrial-chic atmosphere with vintage repurposed light fixtures and reclaimed wood tables. This will be the ninth location for the brand with several Greater Houston area locations in…
Toyota Center Will Open For Voting Thanks to COVID-19
Houstonians will soon be able to set foot inside Toyota Center for the first time in months, just not to watch the Houston Rockets rain down three-pointers or to see the latest pop sensation live in concert. On Thursday, the Rockets and Interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins announced that…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Fried Chicken, BBQ and a Hot New Restaurant
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Feges BBQ and Beer Pop-Up at Holler Brewing Co. Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. 2206 Edwards Feges BBQ and Holler Brewing are teaming up for a fun night over at the…
Houston Symphony Concert Marks Homecoming For Guest Conductor
Guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero will lead the Houston Symphony in “The Fiddler’s March” from The Fiddler’s Tale, a piece by American composer and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, followed by Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale Suite and Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 2. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Saturday via livestream.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Pay It Forward To Teachers With Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Hopdoddy Burger Bar launched the Pay It Forward campaign in May 2020 to provide support (and burgers) to healthcare and hospitality professionals in Houston and across all markets. Now, the burger joint has pivoted the program…
A Facebook Page Pays Tribute to Rockefeller’s and a Lifelong Friendship
In the 1980s, music magic occurred at Rockefeller’s. The resilient Heights nightclub still hosts live music, but four decades ago it thrived with near-nightly bookings of local, regional and iconic artists like Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Bonnie Raitt, all presented in an intimate setting. Sometimes the feats were so…
Hours Before Laura’s Landfall, Turner and Hidalgo Give Final Updates
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo updated the public on Hurricane Laura in back-to-back press conferences Wednesday afternoon, likely their final remarks before the powerful storm makes landfall late Wednesday night. Laura has strengthened into a powerful category 4 storm that’s now on track to land…
Houston Lucked Out Because We Aren’t Ready for Hurricane Laura
Our hearts go out to the people along the Texas-Louisiana border as they are going to be devastated by the unreal power of Mother Nature in the form of Hurricane Laura. As of this writing, the hurricane was already a deadly powerful Category 4 storm with a massive 20-foot-plus storm…
Southeast Texas Prepares for Hurricane Laura’s Arrival Late Wednesday Night
In a Wednesday afternoon update on the quickly approaching Hurricane Laura, Gov. Greg Abbott said that southeast Texas should start to feel heavy winds “around 7 p.m. tonight” before the hurricane makes landfall “around 1 a.m.” in the wee hours of Thursday morning, and that the storm should blow through…
Kroger and H-E-B Stores Will Close Early Today Because of Laura
If you are still getting ready for a possible power outage (or worse) from Hurricane Laura, in need of supplies and you are a Kroger shopper, better hustle up. Kroger has announced that it will be closing all its stores at 6 p.m. today. They are doing to to make…
Will Houston Dodge a Bullet in Laura?
Since our last report, Laura has continued to gradually intensify over the Gulf of Mexico. While there hasn’t been rapid intensification yet, that is likely to come as it approaches the Texas-Louisiana coastlines. Now, where is it headed? When we reported early Tuesday morning, models had shifted somewhat to the…
Five Houston Texan Position Battles To Watch This Week
It’s Wednesday, and the Houston Texans have a day off from practice, with a full scrimmage looming inside NRG Stadium on Thursday night (Laura permitting). The first nine practices have had some spirited banging around, as much as you can have in practices that don’t allow full-on tackling. Battles for…
Streaming Concert Watch 8/26: Ellie Goulding, Megan Thee Stallion and More
I recently told my sister-in-law that, at this point, I’d be willing to attend a timeshare presentation if it included live music. And while I truly hope the recent decrease in both COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations will be the start of a trend, most music venues remain closed for the…
![Original Ninfa’s Uptown Gets Locked Down [Updated]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ninfa_s_fajitas_by_kirsten_gilliam.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Original Ninfa’s Uptown Gets Locked Down [Updated]
The Original Ninfa’s at Uptown Park was locked out overnight at BLVD Place by Whitestone REIT. A just-released press statement from Legacy Restaurants says that the restaurant group was shocked to find the doors at 1700 Post Oak locked to staff and managers this morning. Legacy Restaurants owner Niel Morgan,…
As Hurricane Laura Looms, Hidalgo Asks Coastal Residents to Evacuate Immediately
During a Tuesday afternoon update on Hurricane Laura, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a voluntary evacuation order for residents who live in zones A and B of the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s hurricane evacuation map, which encompasses the southeastern-most part of Houston in addition to parts of Deer Park, League…
Hurricane Laura Should Be a Major Storm at Landfall Somewhere Nearby
We wish we could report better news this morning, but forecast models have continued to trend westward overnight and now have a potentially very dangerous category 3 or 4 hurricane bearing down on the upper Texas coast overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The ridge of high pressure that is steering the…
Keeping Houston’s Chicano Music History Alive With Tejas Got Soul 2
Last year, Tejas Got Soul hosted Early Chicano Sounds of Houston, an all day event which featured a panel discussion, storytelling booth and live performances culminating into a block party at the historic Morales Radio Hall in Houston’s East End. The event spotlighted some of Houston’s biggest names in Chicano…
Laura Still a Threat to Greater Houston Area
Weather forecast models perform incredibly complex tasks. When you consider that within less than three days, the margin of error in a forecast track is less than 150 miles, that is impressive given all the factors involved in such calculations. But models don’t always agree and when one of the…
![Discovery Green’s House Of Cards Lights Up Public Art Scene (UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/house_of_cards_in_baltimore_photo_credit_merav_eitan_oge_group.png.png?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Discovery Green’s House Of Cards Lights Up Public Art Scene (UPDATED]
Discovery Green will unveil a public art display, House of Cards, starting Friday and running through October 11 in the park’s Sarofim Picnic Lawn. The piece is an astonishing structure consisting of 126 playing cards stacked to dizzying height of 18 feet. During the day, the cards’ crisp white lines and colorful images will dazzle; at…
We’ve Eaten Baby Yoda — And You Can Too
There are a lot of pop culture rites of passage, but few are as interesting as the tie-in breakfast cereal. Imagine how much of an impact you have to make to believe that people will want to eat the sweetened grain version of you. Mr. T had a cereal. Steve…
With Tropical Storm Laura Approaching, Hidalgo and Turner Urge Early Preparation
On the eve of Hurricane Harvey’s third anniversary, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner encouraged Houston area residents to start preparing for Tropical Storm Laura, which is predicted to make landfall somewhere between southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana late Wednesday night as a Category 2 hurricane…
Hurricane Laura a Legitimate Threat: Four Things Not to Worry About
We are rapidly nearing the statistical peak of hurricane season (September 10) and, if you were unclear what that means, no doubt the last few days have caught you up. As of writing this, Hurricane Marco is crossing the central Gulf of Mexico on a path toward Louisiana. Meanwhile, Tropical…
This Week in Houston Food Events: DIY Noodle Kits and a Kobe Bryant Tribute Sandwich
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, test your heat tolerance with Hatch chiles, and hit the…
Veteran DJ Madd Hatta Returns To The Radio Game with New KTSU Venture The Vibe
“I was sure that one day I would be away from that name… but then your career starts to happen…”
Top Four Houston Texan Storylines Halfway Through Padded Practice Schedule
For the fifth straight practice, the Houston Texans took their talents outdoors, back in pads for a spirited Sunday morning of rehearsal football. We are officially at the halfway point of the 14 allotted practices that the owners and players agreed to in this COVID-altered preseason, so the season opener…
A Hurricane May Be on Its Way and For Houston Shelters That’ll Mean a Mask-On Experience
If Tropical Depression 14 turns into a hurricane, hits Houston and forces some residents into shelters, they’ll need to be wearing masks, Mayor Turner said during his Friday afternoon press conference. Turner led off the afternoon press conference with the possibility of bad weather in the area early next week,…
Astros Win Streak Dulled by Growing Injury List
On Wednesday, the Astros announced Yordan Alvarez would have surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon and would miss the rest of the pandemic-shortened season. The same day in Colorado, MVP runner up Alex Bregman left the game against the Rockies with a hamstring injury. And on Thursday, while fielding…
Rockets Take 2-0 Lead on OKC: Four Thoughts
It wasn’t exactly a must-win for either team, but a win on Thursday for the Rockets would not only give them a 2-0 lead in the first round Western Conference playoff series against the Thunder, it would allow them to rest Russell Westbrook another game to get him back to…
Openings and Closings: Killen’s Finally Opens, The Original Hot Dog Factory Coming Soon
Killen’s, 101 Heights Boulevard, opened August 19 after months of pop-ups. The Southern comfort restaurant comes from Ronnie Killen, owner and operator of Killen’s Restaurant Group which he founded in 2006. Killen trained and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris where he graduated at the top of his class…
Review For The Uneasily Quarantined: Unhinged
Title: Unhinged Describe This Movie In One “Bad Day” Lyric: DANIEL POWTER: You had a bad day The camera don’t lie You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind Brief Plot Synopsis: Disturbed double-murderer somehow gets even angrier. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2.5 Mel’s Diners out of…
Two Tropical Storms Could Be in the Gulf Next Week
2020, man. Am I right? It really feels like we have seen almost everything this year. Pandemics, protests, impeachments, murder hornets…the list goes on an on. Yet, for anyone living along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, this was apparently merely a prelude to what promises to be one of the…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Dig Into Patty Melts, Chowder and Brownies a la Mode at B.B. Lemon
This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, plus some Houston Restaurant Weeks options. Dine-In, Curbside/Delivery, HRW and Brunch at B.B. Lemon Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. Saturday) 1809 Washington The…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Peninsula
Title: Peninsula (also called Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, presumably for Americans who also needed the “III” removed from The Madness of King George so we wouldn’t think there were two other Madness of King Georges). Describe This Movie in One Simpsons Quote: CHIEF JUSTICE: I now pronounce you President of…
Running the Numbers While COVID-19 Remains a Threat in Houston
The positivity rate is down, so that’s great, except maybe the first set of numbers wasn’t right? The number of hospital admissions has dropped, but people aren’t coming in to be tested, so we don’t really know how many cases there are. We have an inadequate computer system (what a…
Peter Green’s Swan Song in Fleetwood Mac Plays On
When English singer/guitarist Peter Green passed away last month at the age of 73, the obits, of course, led with his role as the founder of Fleetwood Mac. This no doubt came as a surprise to general fans who either assumed that title belong to Mick Fleetwood, or the group…
Houston Shelters Are Still Providing Refuge Despite the Pandemic
In the middle of a pandemic, Maurice Barksdale had nowhere to stay. A 38-year-old Philadelphia native, Barksdale took his father up on an offer to move down to live with him in Texas in February after Barksdale’s mother passed away two months prior. Barksdale stayed with his dad in a…
Best Virtual Bets: Frankenstein, Mozart, and Missing Secretaries
We’re back with another list of ideas to keep you glued to the couch and safely indoors.
For a Master Class in Band Survival During the Live Music Slowdown, Go to Grade 2
A lifetime ago in March of this year, the Houston Press spoke by phone with Sid Ryan, bassist for the surging street punk band Grade 2. Ryan was in Canada with his band mates, guitarist Jack Chatfield and drummer Jacob Hull. The band had played the first show of a…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Goode Bird Flies Into The Woodlands For A Weekend
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Last month, Goode Company introduced its to-go fried chicken concept, Goode Bird; and it was so well-received, chef-restaurateur Levi Goode announced he is bringing the concept to The Woodlands via two days of pop-ups on Saturday and Sunday,…
Rockets Take Game 1 Over OKC: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
It was supposed to be a head-to-head between a pair of guys traded for one another last offseason. It was going to be Russell Westbrook vs. Chris Paul. Westbrook, however, was sidelined with a strained quad and Paul was only average in his first playoff game against his former teammates…
Houston Texans 53 Man Roster Prediction, Version 1.0
The survivability of an NFL roster from year to year is a dicey proportion, even for good teams around the league. For a variety of reasons — injuries, non guaranteed contracts, impulsive general managers, to name a few — teams tend to churn at least a third of their roster…
Streaming Concert Watch 8/19: Tim McGraw, Kam Franklin, Fat Tony and More
This week, we celebrate the release of a modern country icon’s newest record, the reconciliation of love lost between a group of emo rockers, a recurring live-stream from an introspective singer songwriter, a group of locals hoping to help out our ailing venues and one of our era’s most visionary…
Abbott Threatens Texas Cities With Property Tax Freeze if They Defund Police
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that he plans to help craft state legislation that would permanently freeze property tax rates in any Texas city that votes to reduce funding for local police departments. Abbott revealed the policy during a press conference in Fort Worth, flanked by his conservative statehouse…
Rockets Face Thunder in First Round: Four Things to Watch
In what is one of the strangest twists of irony in the weirdest sports year in history, the Rockets face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs beginning Tuesday night from the bubble in Orlando, the same two teams who swapped All-Star point guards Chris Paul…
Houston METRO Still Rolling With Half the Riders and Lots of Face Masks
Even in a highway-riddled, car-crazy town like the Bayou City, public transportation still plays a pivotal role in getting thousands of Houstonians to work, the grocery store, healthcare appointments and everywhere in between. And it’ll take more than a global pandemic to stop the more than 1,300 vehicles that together…
Houston Sports Fans, Prepare Your Clickers For an Incredible Week
Back around the middle of April of this year, around the time we’d gone through at least the first couple Kubler Ross stages of COVID-19 grief, we reached the stage that I’ll just call “looking for the bright side in all this craziness and uncertainty.” Perhaps, I can just call…
Cocaine Cowboys Are on the Bill at Tonight’s Pop-Up Show in Houston
Local artists Worst Nightmare (Jesse Cardoso) and Hollywood Dreaddy (Jacob Isget) have teamed up for their newest joint project and premiere of their collaborative group, Cocaine Cowboys. While the two had planned an album release concert for earlier this year, the continuing number of coronavirus cases caused the duo to…
From Houston To Hollywood, Writer Attica Locke Balances Novels with Empire and Little Fires Everywhere
It was a roundabout way of getting there, but it sounds like Houstonian Attica Locke was born to write. “I’ve been writing my whole life, acknowledges the novelist and TV scribe promoting her latest book Heaven, My Home being published in paperback on August 25. “I went to Alief-Hastings High…
Murder By The Book Hosts Virtual Event with Chris Mooney Talking About Blood World
A little of this, a little of that, mixing the right medicines with the blood of certain young people and voila, suddenly eternal youth is only a transfusion away. But it’s costly and supplies are limited. Supplies being, of course, the humans who are kidnapped and held captive while tapped…
Sensitive Guys May Be the Wokest Thing You See This Theater Season
Watching Stages’ slick, well-acted, Zoom-inspired production of MJ Kaufman’s Sensitive Guys, I consider myself fortunate to have finished my school days eons ago. That would have been in the dark ages, way before snowflakes, empowerment, toxic masculinity, student environment action groups, safe space, being in the moment, micro aggression, transformative…
White Whale Swims Again in RSD Exclusive Psych Pop Compilation
One of the biggest COVID-Casualties in the music biz has been the cancellation of Record Store Day. The annual event celebrates independent stores and their music head/crate digger customers. They descend upon real brick-and-mortar buildings to snap up what are now hundreds of exclusive and limited edition RSD releases each…
It’s Official, No Fans At NRG Stadium For Houston Texans’ Home Opener
If you’re a football fan, this COVID-19 roller coaster has been a pretty mentally draining, with constant concern over whether we will even get games this fall, let alone be allowed back into stadiums to watch. Getting the game onto the field appears to be happening, at least for the…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Chef Ryan Lachaine Launches Louie’s Sandwiches at Riel
Though social distancing is in effect with bars closed for in-house services and restaurants limited, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, try out Japanese-inspired ice cream and hit up a new…
Canoe Chronicles: A Permanent Home
This is part two of an ongoing series of posts about my purchase of a canoe during the pandemic. In my first installment, I left off with a new-used canoe strapped to the roof of my SUV in north Texas. What came next was a certain level of disappointment, the…
Slain Army Soldier Vanessa Guillén’s Public Memorial Service is Underway in Houston
Houston native Vanessa Guillén’s public memorial service is underway today at Cesar Chavez High School, Guillén’s alma mater. Guillén’s family and friends were joined by their fellow Houstonians to mourn the loss of the 20-year-old Army soldier, who was killed on her base at Fort Hood in April. “Trust me…
Fort Bend County Offers No Cost Spay & Neuter Program
Today starting at 8 a.m. Fort Bend County Commissioner Ken R. DeMerchant and Fort Bend County Animal Services in collaboration with Dr. Diarra Blue will be offering no cost spay and neuter services for eligible Fort Bend County residents’ cats and dogs. Blue of Cy-Fair Animal Hospital, is known for…
Fort Bend County Handing Out Free PPE Kits Starting Today
Thanks to the pandemic, the annual Fort Bend County Fair was cancelled this year, but starting today, Fort Bend County Judge KP George and other county officials are making good use of the fairgrounds where they will be distributing free personal protective equipment to residents starting at 8 a.m. Other…
Matt Staph Will Represent Houston in This Year’s Menu of Menus Iron Fork Competition
The Houston Press is announcing today that Matt Staph, chef de cuisine at One Fifth Mediterranean, will represent our city in the Iron Fork competition that is part of this year’s Menu of Menus.This year the event will be presented virtually on September 2 starting at 7 p.m. GA tickets…
Wade In The Water: Gospel Of Rufus Preaches In Latest Single “Harriet Tubman”
The year 2020 was supposed to mark the first time in history that a female, American hero would finally grace U..S currency. That image would be of Harriet Tubman, leader of the Underground Railroad, spy for the Union Army and activist in the movement for women’s suffrage. Though Tubman’s face…
Four Reasons Why Canceling Power Five College Football Doesn’t Make Sense
We are just days into this historic new world, where two fifths of college football’s Power Five have canceled football for 2020, and the other three fifths remain steadfast in moving forward with a season. Sure, the Big Ten and Pac-12 are paying lip service to “delaying” until the spring,…
The Catastrophic Theatre Announces its 2020-21 Season
Embracing a Do-it-Yourself approach, Catastrophic Theatre has announced a 2020-21 season dominated by all original work starting off with a promise to return live theater — upon request — to your front lawns and the resurrection of a work done by Horse Head Theatre as its goodbye presentation. Co-founders and…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Experience Thai Flavors at the New East End Sensation, Street to Kitchen
With restaurants beginning to open back up and many continuing to go the takeout route, this weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, including some Houston Restaurant Weeks options. Note: Anyone who may have recently been exposed to COVID-19…
Openings and Closings: White Elm Bakery Opens, Bludorn Debuts Next Week
Bludorn, 807 Taft, is slated to open August 21. The new dining destination comes from Chef Aaron Bludorn and wife Victoria Pappas, daughter of one of the Houston restaurateurs behind the prolific Pappas Family Restaurants. Chef Aaron and Victoria met while working at famed Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group…
Turner Joins City COVID-19 Cleanup Crew to Sanitize Homeless Camp
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner came out Thursday to the Gulf Freeway overpass at Bellfort Street in southeast Houston to support the city’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among local homeless camps. After a brief press conference alongside the Gulf Freeway feeder road, Turner joined a Solid Waste Department…
Best Virtual Bets: LED Lights, Quarantined Actors, and Sensitive Guys
If you’re looking for some ideas to keep you entertained, but socially distant and socially responsible, we’ve got some ideas for you.
Steve Hackett: A Guitarist’s Genesis and Beyond
A Genesis in My Bed: The Autobiography By Steve Hackett 208 pp. $29.99 Wymer Publishing While his name may not be as familiar to casual classic rock fans has his former bandmates in Genesis, guitarist Steve Hackett has had a surprisingly long and varied (and still evolving) musical career with…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Eat Your Way Through the “Battle of the Burgers”
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Rodeo Goat Ice House, 2105 Dallas, has brought back its “Battle of the Burgers,” running epic competition showcasing the season’s Hatch chiles now through Monday, August 24. Guests can order the “Hatch Me If You Can”…
Man and Pig: A Relationship In Need of a Second Look
We’ve all been in a relationship that’s reached its natural end: a childhood friend we’ve outgrown, the significant other who became insignificant, the job that lost its luster. Is it time to reevaluate how we interact with pigs? On a macro scale, there are plenty of reasons to rethink America’s…
Hidalgo Announces New Guidelines for Safely Reopening Harris County Schools
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo revealed on Wednesday a new set of recommendations for when she and county public health officials believe area schools could safely reopen for in-person instruction, based on multiple COVID-19 metrics. During an afternoon press conference held to announce these legally non-binding guidelines, Hidalgo and Dr…
Is It Time for the Astros to Focus on 2021?
It remains one of the most controversial headlines in Houston media history and it had nothing to do with politics or social justice or pandemics. On June 1, 2005, the Houston Chronicle ran a story that covered nearly the entire front of the sports section. It included a massive illustration…
Big Ten and Pac-12 Cancel Their 2020 Football Seasons, Big XII and SEC Forge Ahead
At its highest levels, in the Power Five conferences, college football has always been part cartel, part “Game of Thrones.” On the one hand, these five conferences have managed to hoard most of the power and TV money the sport claims, and on the other hand, one conference will gladly…
Worker Advocates Demand Restoration of $600 Weekly Unemployment Benefit
Claudia Urbiales worked in food service at George Bush Intercontinental Airport for just over five years before she lost her job in March thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. A single mother to three children living in Houston’s Northside district, Urbiales depended on the additional $600 per week of federal unemployment…
Streaming Concert Watch 8/12: Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Franti and More
Captain’s log, day 154: I’ve become good friends with the plants in my house. Sometimes I sing to them. I’ve been reading far too many dystopian novels, and I may at this very moment be wearing a tinfoil hat. I’m not sure I miss live music anymore because, if I’m being…
Stripping Down The Barriers To In-Person Theater During COVID
It was a Monday, the first time I tried to go to the drive-through strip club. I suppose I should’ve known it would be closed; this style of performance sounded more like a weekend kinda thing. I did have a nice chat with the Parking Valet though, bemused as he…
Deep Purple Drops New Album As Ace Frehley Goes Space Truckin’ As Well
Deep Purple have just released their 21st studio album, called Whoosh! at the same time founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has released a cover of Purple’s classic “Space Truckin'”
Before It’s Gone: A Summer Playlist
Damn, bro. It’s August how did that happen? Okay, okay, that doesn’t mean we can’t still act a summer fool— under the current guidelines that is. On the plus side, we won’t have soon to be flooded feeds of back-to-school pictures to look forward too! On the plus side, have…
A Pièce de Résistance About Pizza…New Haven Style!
Pizza. It’s probably the most beloved – and often simplest to make – food on the planet. You’ve probably had a slice or several in the past week. Or you’re thinking about it now. And for you kids, according to analytics it’s the “Most Instagrammed Food,” beating out burgers 10-to-1…
4th Wall and Alley Theaters Each Reshuffle Their Seasons
The 4th Wall Theatre Company has announced it is delaying the opening of its tenth anniversary season, pushing back its planned opening of Between Riverside and Crazy from September to January. In the meantime, it, like many other Houston-based theater companies, will be presenting live-streamed offerings to help keep theater…
Port Neches-Groves High’s Cheerleaders Yell “Scalp ’em!” While Others Call Foul
Cindy Reeves grins from ear to ear as she strikes a proud pose in front of the hazy purple backdrop. She is decked out in her drill team best: bright white boots and gloves, a cute white and purple blouse and a pleated white skirt. It isn’t just the colors…
Houstonians Aren’t “Overdue” For Their Flu Shots, Despite Conflicting Messages
Houston Methodist patients recently received an alarming message on their online MyChart inboxes. As of August 1, the healthcare provider told people they were “overdue” for their annual flu shot. Understandably unnerved by the message’s phrasing — sent in the middle of a bona fide public health crisis that has…
As Training Camp Begins, NFL Gets Good News on COVID-19 Testing Front
I think even the most tunnel-visioned sports fanatics would admit that they knew the return fo sports amid a global pandemic was going to be a dicey proposition, with many peaks and valleys. The NBA’s bubble in Orlando has been as close to flawless as it gets, with literally three…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Free Coffee Mondays and Fly By Tacos
Though social distancing is in effect, bars are closed for in-house services and restaurants have limited capacities, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, eat for a cause during Houston Restaurant Weeks,…
Possible Santería Animal Sacrifice Found in Galveston
On Wednesday, August 5 at 2 p.m., Houston artist Autumn Smith and her boyfriend J.D. Hartman were walking on the trails in the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve. Because the trail is fairly short and they wanted to get a bit more exercise, they decided to wander off the beaten…
Canoe Chronicles: The Obsession and the Search
In the height of a raging pandemic, I drove to north Texas to buy a canoe. Let me explain. My brother-in-law is an outdoorsy guy. Eric and his family live in Austin in a beautiful house that backs up to the city’s green belt. My wife and I would visit…
America: 50 Years of Golden Music and Nameless Horses
If you’re a fan of the band America – the trio behind such classic rock warhorses as, well, “A Horse with No Name” along with “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People,” “Sandman,” “I Need You,” and “You Can Do Magic,” you have one organization to thank: The…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Waiting For The Barbarians
Title: Waiting for the Barbarians Describe This Movie In One Farewell to the King Quote: COLONEL FERGUSON: When you’re young you think you’re blazing a trail. One day you look down and notice it’s a beaten track. Brief Plot Synopsis: Things fall apart; The center cannot hold. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To…
Experience All Four Seasons This Weekend With Houston Symphony
Houston Symphony presents Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Serenade in G major, and William Grant Still’s “Summerland” from Three Visions as part of its Live from Jones Hall virtual series this Saturday at 8 p.m.
Openings and Closings: Brennan’s New Executive Chef, Phat Ghost Kitchen
Phat Kitchen, 2616 Blodgett, is slated to open in early September 2020 at Cloud Kitchen’s Blodgett Food Hall. Cloud Kitchen is specifically designed for production kitchens creating food for off-premise dining. Phat Kitchen will join a number of other “ghost kitchens” operating at the food hall. Phat Kitchen comes from…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Black Water: Abyss
Title: Black Water: Abyss Describe This Movie In One Barack Obama Quote: PRESIDENT OBAMA: “I have to admit when we reformed health care in America, crocodile insurance is one thing we left out.” Brief Plot Synopsis: I remember when rock (climbing) was young/Me and Suzy had so much fun. Rating Using…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Old School For Houston Restaurant Weeks
With restaurants beginning to open back up and many continuing to go the takeout route, this weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, plus some Houston Restaurant Weeks options. Note: Anyone who may have recently been exposed to COVID-19…
Splice Records Video Premiere: Colin Lake Explores The “Forces Of Nature”
People have long looked for signs to help them find their way through life. Nature, the stars and God have all been popularly employed in these quests with accompanying responses either subtle or loud and clear. In Colin Lake’s new single “Forces Of Nature,” the title track to his upcoming…
New “Walkable Places” Ordinances a Change of Pace for Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner called it a “paradigm shift.” Council member Michael Kubosh said he would have been “shocked” if this were brought to council “20 or 30 years ago.” On Tuesday, the city took a first baby step toward making Houston, a historically car-dominant city, more walkable by passing a…
Ride Out For Take Out And Support Houston Area Restaurants
Continuing through August 9, a special “Ride Out For Take Out” event hosted by Reserve Supply Company seeks to get people on motorcycles out and about and buying takeout food at local restaurants. Reserve Supply, a men’s clothing store and motorsports store, 2205 Washington Ave, says that many of its customers work…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: A New H-Town Originals Sandwich and the Virtual Fried Rice Club
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 2724 West T.C. Jester Blvd, 4520 San Felipe, has debuted another one of its H-Town Originals sandwich for the month of August — this time with award-winning radio personality Roula Christie of…
August Hurricane Forecast Calls for Explosive Peak of Season
As if 2020 weren’t already cruel enough, the widely respected hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University released their updated hurricane season forecast on Wednesday, and it is a doozy. According to the report, a combination of near historically warm sea surface temperatures combined with low to non-existent wind shear and…
Best Virtual Bets: Shakespeare, Black Art in Houston, and a Murder Mystery
If you’re in the market for some ideas to keep you socially distant and socially responsible, we’ve got some suggestions for you.
Houston Music Roundup: Summer 2020 Edition
Summer 2020 may not have panned out the way we envisioned it. Scratch that. Most of 2020 hasn’t gone according to plan. A running tab of offenses would include, but certainly wouldn’t be limited to, scorching temperatures, social and political unrest, spiking COVID cases, a brewing hurricane season, and a…
Turner Details Newly Passed Rental Relief Program and Eviction Limitations
On Wednesday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner filled in some more details of the new rental relief program he announced Friday, including the fact that landlords who accept funds from even one tenant who qualifies for assistance must agree to halt evictions for all residents at that apartment through September 2020…
Is the Unique Game Plan Enough for the Rockets?
The start to the NBA restart has been a success. Plenty of exciting games and, most importantly, no new cases of the coronavirus. The Rockets have started 2-1, including a rather dead-legged loss to Portland on Tuesday night. But, even with the solid start with wins over both the Mavs…
Harris County To Offer Free COVID-19 Tests With Results In 3-5 Business Days
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced on Tuesday that county residents will soon be able to get free COVID-19 tests and have results back within three to five business days. It’s welcome news for the Houston area, as results from free coronavirus tests offered by the county and the City…
New Book Digs Deep on the Bitter End of the Beatles
And In the End: The Last Days of the Beatles By Ken McNab 320 pp. $28.99 Thomas Dunne Books By the summer of 1969, the finely-tuned motorcar that was the Beatles was nearing “E” on its collective gas tank. There was a grimness that had fallen over their company (Apple),…
Would a Verlander Season Ending Injury Be Houston’s Most Devastating Ever?
The Houston Astros are 5-4 to start the 2020 season, putting them firmly in a slog of around-.500 teams that, if things hold up over 60 games, should cruise into the postseason under the expanded 16-team format, either as the eventual winner of the AL West or as one of…
Streaming Concert Watch 8/5: The Weeknd, Björk and More
On Monday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he was seeing “too many street parties, house parties, zydecos on the corners, backyard parties, and more happening in our city especially when individuals are not wearing masks.” In the before times, such events would be celebrated; these days, they’re cause for concern. Turner…
Announcing the 2020 Houston Theater Awards
When Hurricane Harvey smashed into Houston in August 2017, its destruction to our theater community was horribly awesome. The devastation was mighty and biblical. Theaters were wrecked, props lost, costumes stank from mildew, schedules hastily shuffled or postponed, jobs lost, budgets thrown out of whack. The world had turned, and…
Four Thoughts on The Rock’s Surreal $15 Million Purchase of the XFL
Back in 2002, during the highest of WWE’s popularity, the company shot an on-screen, scripted angle where 16-time World Champion and then-soon-t0-be Hall of Famers Ric Flair found a way to arrange for a consortium of anonymous folks to buy up WWE stock and seize control of the company from…
Bobby Rush Digs Deep Into His Roots On His New Album Rawer Than Raw
It has been said that the only constant in life is change and 2020 has only further proven the old saying true. Between the upheavals brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the re-examining of racial tensions and police reform across…
Turner Tells HPD To Enforce Mask Use With $250 Fines
No more Mr. Nice Mayor on masks — Houston Mayor Sylvester announced Monday that he’s instructed the Houston Police Department to start issuing citations and fines of up to $250 to Houstonians who refuse to wear face masks in public to slow the spread of COVID-19. Back on July 2,…
The Hobby Center Gets Top Marks From Cleaning Council
Good news for all the people who would really like to get back to live theater but who in equal measure don’t want to leave a performance with a healthy dose of COVID-19. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts announced today it has received top marks for the protocols…
This Week in Houston Food Events: New To-Go Specials and a Wine and Chocolate Zoom
Though social distancing is in effect, restaurants have reduced seating and bars are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, raise money for a good cause during Houston…
An Ode to Watermelon
National Watermelon Day is today, August 3. However, most of us have been enjoying its sweet, refreshing flavor for the past month or two already. Watermelon loves the heat so August is a great time to head to the grocery store or local produce stand to pick up a ripe…
Peddling Door to Door Sales as Fast as They Can
So you’re on your laptop, feverishly applying for jobs, when suddenly you get an email from a company you never applied to, stating that they’ve “carefully reviewed” your resume, and it really “stood out” to them. “We would like to invite you to an interview,” says the email, credited to…
The Four Most Important Tidbits Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt Gave Us On Saturday
The return to some semblance of sports normalcy has not been without its well documented hiccups. Just ask, Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, who’s spent most of the last week praying for negative COVID-19 tests to come back from teams that have brushed up against the Marlins and…
Beloved Alice’s Tall Texan Bar Is Closing Its Doors Forever In August
Alice’s Tall Texan bar has recently announced on their Facebook page that they will be permanently closing in August.
Houston Reports Record 18 COVID-19 Deaths as Turner Announces Rent Relief Fund
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the Houston Health Department reported a record-high 18 new COVID-19 deaths within the city on Friday in an end of week press conference. The previous single-day record of 16 new deaths was reported on July 15. Houston’s COVID-19 death toll now sits at 450,…
Rockets Back in Action: Four Thoughts
The NBA has laid dormant since March 11 when the league halted play due to the impacts of COVID-19, most specifically the infection of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. At the time, the Rockets were sixth in the Western Conference standings, a game-and-a-half out of seventh place and third, showing…
Openings and Closings: Flower Child Heights, Fiori Montrose
Fiori, 4315 Montrose, opened July 10. It takes over the spot of Montrose and Richmond that has previously housed French boutique restaurants like La Villa and Brasserie Max and Julie. The Italian restaurant offers beautifully done dishes from executive chef Marcos Salazar. The space also features a florist, Flowers and…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Big Ugly
Title: The Big Ugly Describe This Movie In One Commando Quote: CINDY: I can’t believe this macho bullshit. Brief Plot Synopsis: Rowdy Redcoat riles randy rednecks. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2 glasses of milk out of 5. Tagline: n/a Better Tagline: “Oh, to be in Appalachia, now that Vinnie’s there.” Not…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Outdoor Beer and the Start of Houston Restaurant Weeks
With restaurants beginning to open back up and many continuing to go the takeout route, this weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, plus some Houston Restaurant Weeks options. Note: Anyone who may have recently been exposed to COVID-19…
Liberty DeVitto: Billy Joel’s Big Beat Man Remembers
For nearly 30 years, he provided the big backbeat behind Billy Joel as a core member of his band for hundreds of concerts around the world and on a string of hugely successful records. The two also formed a deep personal relationship, enjoying good times and the vast fruits of…
AFC South Offseason Report Card: Did The Houston Texans Improve?
As the owners and players continue to work on the safety and business issues of football, despite the NFL players’ barrage of tweets with angst, anger, and fear on Sunday, I choose to go about my life under the assumption we will get NFL regular season football at some point…
SPA Launches Commissioning Project for Houston Artists
SPA recently announced the launch of its SPA Houston Artist Commissioning Project. By supporting local artists directly by awarding financial resources for newly created works, the project will give the city’s performing artists an opportunity, and funding, to move their creativity forward.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Houston Restaurant Weeks Returns This Weekend
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Chef Jonny Rhodes has officially reopened Indigo, 517 Berry, for its final year of service. This time, the 13-seat Neo-soul restaurant and thought-provoking food experience will be taking reservations for Thursday and Sunday service at 7…
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston Defaced in Act of Racist Vandalism
When Desmond Bertrand-Pitts, CEO of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, got an email from a colleague on Tuesday asking if he needed any help cleaning up, he thought there had been some kind of mistake. Even when his colleague followed up with photos of the hateful message scrawled…
Which Major Studio Releases Have Been Delayed By Covid-19? All Of Them.
In news only slightly less surprising than the fact Major League Baseball is probably going to shut down entirely after three games, Disney (and other studios) have delayed most of their upcoming movies to 2021 due to the coronavirus: Disney has taken Mulan off the theatrical release calendar amid the ongoing…
Streaming Concert Watch 7/29: Aaron Lewis, Stone Temple Pilots and More
It has been 20 weeks since Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo would be ending early. Somehow, it feels like 20 years have passed since the cancellation shook Houstonians to their cores and made it clear that local leaders were taking the COVID-19 outbreak seriously…
Seven Key Dates For Amazing Sports Content In Houston
Since the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down the world in the middle of March, the return of live sports has been a slow trickle back. Golf started up again in June, we’ve had a few NASCAR races, and soccer (both men’s and women’s) has been back for several weeks now…
Houston Afrofuturism Book Club Provides Space to Discuss Work of Black Creatives
Earlier this year, Jaison Oliver encountered one of Facebook’s, often annoying, memory posts about the first meeting of his Houston Afrofuturism Book Club. The old image was from 2016, dating the club back further than even he would have guessed..,
Texas Attorney General Says Local Health Authorities Can’t Close Schools
A new missive from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has muddied the waters on who has the authority to shut down state classrooms to in-person instruction due to COVID-19. In a legally nonbinding guidance letter published Tuesday, Paxton argued that Texas state law and Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide reopening orders…
Sports Outside the Bubble: Can MLB and the NFL Survive?
It was wonderful. Quiet, but wonderful. The Major League Baseball season got underway last week, not in front of fans and with some players wearing masks, but it started none the less. And it was glorious. Less than a week later, the entire league is on the verge of shutting…
Texas Renaissance Festival Says No Ticket Sales at the Gate This Year
Will the devoted fans of the Texas Renaissance Festival, many of whom arrive in full costume for a day’s visit, be willing to add a mask to their finery? That’s what RenFest organizers will find out starting October 3 if their plans for a 46th season proceed as scheduled. All…
Abbott Extends Fall Early Voting, Waives Grade Advancement STAAR Test Rules
It was a busy day for Gov. Greg Abbott, as he announced extra early voting days for this fall’s general election and declared that state requirements for grade promotion for fifth and eighth graders would be lessened this school year thanks to COVID-19. Monday afternoon, Abbott issued a proclamation extending…
Gio Chamba Can’t Stop And Won’t Slow Down With New Releases in 2020
In terms of diversity, Houston has nothing to prove but for anyone looking for an example of the city’s ability to represent culturally, look no further than the energetic duo Gio Chamba. Gio Chamba and his percussionist Coffee Leaf have been drawing in Houston crowds for the past five years…
Astros Lose Game and Possibly Verlander
After two wins over the very young Seattle Mariners Friday and Saturday, all seemed well in Astro-land. Lance McCullers, Jr., after a rocky start, settled in and looked good in his first time on the field in nearly two years. The bats were what we expected. News was that Jose…
J.J. Watt, Texans Veteran Players Report To NRG Stadium For COVID Testing
If you took off for a long weekend, and went off the grid for a few days starting on Friday, then you missed the good news — the NFL owners and players were able to swiftly and cooperatively come to an agreement to bring the sport of football back to…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Sticky Wings and Houston Restaurant Weeks
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can get off-the-menu wing specials, help support bars across Houston and eat for charity with Houston Restaurant Weeks. Here’s a look at this…
Opera in the Heights Suspends Fall Productions, Furloughs Some Staff, Institutes Pay Cuts
Opera in the Heights has joined several other arts organizations in Houston in reluctantly announcing that its plans for a fall performance schedule have been cancelled and that because of all the financial losses caused by COVID-19 restrictions, it is furloughing nearly half its staff. The remaining employees, including Artistic…
Taylor Swift’s Folklore is Whatever Story You Need It To Be
She’s a snake, even if she’s never broken your trust. She’s your best friend, sharing her secrets in your ear. She’s a good role model, the girl next door you want your kid to be. She’s too outspoken and needs to stay in her lane. She tries too hard and…
Hanna Arrives in Texas as a Hurricane
With sustained winds of 95 mph, Hanna, a Category 1 hurricane made landfall on Padre Island at 5 p.m. Saturday, with the island and nearby Corpus Christi and Port Mansfield bearing the brunt of the high winds and rain. Its accompanying rain bands and high winds were felt over a…
Astros Begin the Restart With 8-2 Win Over Seattle: Four Thoughts
While many things about the baseball season has changed in 2020 due to the pandemic, one thing appears to be the same. In 2019, the Astros absolutely dominated the Mariners beating them 18 out of 19 times. On Friday at Minute Maid Park, the Astros took down the Mariners 8-2…
Hidalgo and Turner Announce Harris County Schools Will Stay Virtual Until September 8
Thanks to the “still raging wildfire” of COVID-19, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that area schools will have to stay online-only through Labor Day, and possibly longer. Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Friday that Houston and Harris County Local Health Authorities Dr. David Persse and Dr. Umair…
Some Speed Bumps Ahead in HISD’s Brave New Virtual World
If you’re going to set out to go virtual-only for at least the first six weeks of school, it has to be somewhat disheartening to hear that there’s been a run on Google Chrome books while there are still 23,000 Houston ISD students waiting for a device. You also probably…
Openings and Closings: Pier 6 This Summer, Blackbird Izakaya Closes
Pier 6 Seafood and Oyster House, 113 6th, is slated to open summer 2020 in San Leon. Owner Raz Halili, the president and owner of Prestige Oysters, has brought in chef Joe Cervantez who has stepped down as executive chef of Brennan’s. Cervantez took over the role at Brennan’s in…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Sip Tequila and Try an “At Home Happy Meal”
With restaurants beginning to open back up and many continuing to go the takeout route, this weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service, plus boozy options for National Tequila Day on Friday. Note: Anyone who may have recently been…
Four Thoughts on The Astros and the Weirdest Opening Day Ever
Welcome to what has got to be the strangest opening day in the history of baseball. The Astros get their abbreviated regular season underway on Friday night at Minute Maid Park against division rival Seattle. Like every other team in this 60-game mini season, the Astros will have 40 games…
Chinese Consul General Deflects On Espionage Accusations After Consulate Shutdown
New details about the U.S. State Department’s rationale for ordering the closure of China’s consulate in Houston have emerged, while China’s top diplomat in Houston has expressed his frustration with accusations of espionage levied against his country. Throughout the day Wednesday and late into the night, workers at the local…
Cheer on the Astros with These Houston Game Day and Opening Weekend Food and Drink Specials
Baseball may look a little bit different this year, but nevertheless, the Houston Astros are back — and so are the Game Day and Opening Weekend food and drink specials from these Houston spots. From opening weekend “Take It Back Tinis” to $1 Dog Nights, here’s how you dine-in, takeout…
Turner Talks Chinese Consulate and COVID-19 Stats in Wednesday Press Conference
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner spoke Wednesday about the abrupt closure of China’s local consulate office and shared new statistics about COVID-19 in an afternoon press conference. The Trump administration did not inform the City of Houston ahead of time about its decision to shutter the Chinese consulate located on Montrose…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Astros Game Day Burgers and National Tequila Day
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: River Oaks District seafood tavern, Loch Bar, 4444 Westheimer, is rolling out Game Day specials in time for opening day. During all Astros games, guests can enjoy the “Bregman Burger Special” which is the signature Loch…
Catching Up With the Arts in Houston: A Lost Masterwork, the Irrepressible Tamarie Cooper & More
A forgotten film of note being aired by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Catastrophic Theatre’s Tamarie Cooper’s Quarantine Edition. A new participatory public arts project through the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. While visual and performing arts venues are dealing carefully with the coronavirus, there is still plenty to see and do right now.
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Evolution of Education
Like all musicians in the Age of Coronavirus, singer/guitarist/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter has been forced to alter her usual professional life. Instead of being on tour right now opening up for Sugarland or playing duo dates with Shawn Colvin and promoting her upcoming record The Dirt and the Stars, she’s…
Tropical Weather Will Bring Heavy Rain This Weekend
After a couple days worth of rain thanks to a tropical wave — the first good rain the area has seen in a while — get set for round two this weekend. A tropical wave the National Hurricane Center has given an 80 percent chance of developing into a depression…
U.S. State Department Orders China to Close Its Consulate in Houston
The U.S. State Department revealed on Wednesday that it has ordered China to shut down its Houston consulate at 3417 Montrose Boulevard by Friday “in order to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information.” The announcement came after the Houston Fire Department and City police were called to the…
NBA Bubble May Have a Chance of Working
ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols was finally ready to leave her hotel room. In a video she posted on her Twitter feed, the host of The Jump ceremonially cut off the green wrist band she had been wearing while quarantined in her room and emerged into the Orlando heat and sunshine…
Streaming Concert Watch 7/22: Snoop Dogg, DMX and More
Another week, another suggestion to stay home. The recent surge in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Houston area seems to be leveling off, which is good news, but most live venues remain closed. That being the case, we’ve put together yet another list of some of the best live-streaming options…
Houston Texans Place Three Players In ESPN.com Positional Rankings
The Texans offseason has left the team in a weird spot — nearly all of Bill O’Brien’s moves have been questionable, at best, and yet, I think they should probably be favored to win their third straight AFC South title. Much of my optimism is based in the existence of…
Children’s Museum Launches Online Store as Parents Scramble for Sanity
If you’re like me, your child has been perched in your hair like a very loud bird with their talons wrapped firmly around your last nerve since March thanks to the pandemic. With no end in sight for the quarantine, keeping them occupied and quiet has become a Sisyphusian task…
A Documentary Focusing on Plastic Before it Ends Up on the Ocean Floor
We see plastic every day. The material lines shelves at grocery stores in the form of bottles, bags and cases. It acts as a container for our leftover meals and provides our children and loved ones with distractions in the form of toys and video game and movie cases. The…
National Wine and Cheese Day is July 25
National Wine and Cheese Day is July 25. Yes, there is such a thing and we have a list of places to help you celebrate the special day whether you are braving the outdoor patios of reopened restaurants and wine bars or cuddling at home with your cat watching the…
Tropical Disturbances Remind Us It’s Hurricane Season
We know you are a little caught up at the moment with a pandemic, civil unrest, an economic meltdown and what feels like the disintegration of the fabric of society as we know it, but this is your friendly reminder it is hurricane season. And you need look no further…
NFL Owners and Players Ratify Stringent COVID Testing Protocol
Heading into Monday morning, when we last checked in on the efforts to start training camp in the NFL and get on with a 2020 season, the league had issued a memo advising all players to report by July 28. The players then responded with a storm of Sunday morning…
The Jayhawks Embrace Band Democracy on XOXO
In the Age of Coronavirus, bands releasing new records are facing challenges unlike those at any other time. The grinding halt of much of the industry leaves a lot of time for musicians to stay at home to pursue interest of both musical and non-musical variety. That includes Karen Grotberg…
I am Not Sending My Kid Back to School
There is no greater debate in America now than what school districts are going to do when the fall rolls around and coronavirus is still active. However, whatever they decided, it is really time for parents to figure out what we’re going to do. I for one am not sending…
Turner and Local Officials Talk Schools, City Services and Hospitals in COVID-19 Update
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced at a Monday afternoon press conference that the Houston Health Department was reporting 884 new COVID-19 cases and seven additional deaths from the coronavirus within the City of Houston,, putting Houston’s cumulative case count at 36,985 and the city’s death toll at 329. The Harris County…
Vincent Mandola Passes Away
Vincent “Bubba” Mandola passed away Sunday, July 19 at the age of 77. The family said the cause of death was heart failure. Mandola had recently battled COVID-19 this past June, as reported by abc13.com. Mandola owned a number of restaurants over the years, including his namesake Vincent’s, plus Nino’s,…
Texas Republicans Elect Right-Winger Allen West as Party Chair
Just hours before sunrise on Monday morning, the Republican Party of Texas chose former Florida congressman, conservative rabble rouser and Texas transplant Allen West to be their new chairman at the end of another chaotic day of the party’s virtual convention. West declared victory about half an hour before incumbent…
Fort Bend County Judge George Decries Racist Attacks Sent His Way
Over the weekend, Fort Bend County Judge KP George shined a light on some of the racist and xenophobic attacks that have been sent to him online in recent weeks. George, an Indian American Democrat who’s served as county judge since 2019, published a collage of offensive comments he’s received…
Houston Ballet Reshuffles Its Dance Card Again
The ongoing pandemic has once again altered scheduling for another Houston arts group, this time the Houston Ballet that today announces two fall performances will not be held in-person and The Nutcracker will not be performed this year. Also, because of resulting financial losses, it could no longer retain all…
NFL Makes It Official: Training Camp To Begin On Time July 28
It’s Monday. There should be REAL Major League Baseball being played in this city by the end of the week. The Rockets will begin scrimmaging in the NBA’s Orlando bubble this week, with an eye on July 31 to resume the 2019-2020 regular season. There is light at the end…
Voting Third Party is the Political Equivalent of Sending Thoughts and Prayers – 2020 Edition
Some dissatisfaction with the binary choice for president in 2020 is to be expected. On the Republican side we have the incumbent Donald Trump, an impeached golfer whose incompetence has directly led to the deaths of 80,000 Americans and counting. On the Democratic side is former Vice President Joe Biden,…
This Week in Houston Food Events: All-Day Burgers and a New Spritz Patio
Though social distancing is in effect, restaurants have seen a step backward in the capacity they are allowed and bars are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service,…
Andyroo Adapts His Andyrooniverse With Roocycle
This summer has been unlike any other for children and parents around the world. COVID-19 not only shut down the spring semester early, but also took countless summer programs off the table leaving families to find their own ways to stay busy while staying safe. Houston’s Andyroo is adding joy…
Federal Appeals Court Puts Brakes on In-Person GOP Convention Once Again
Once again, the courts have intervened to prevent the Republican Party of Texas from having an in-person convention in Houston during an ongoing pandemic thanks to an appeal filed by the City of Houston and Houston First, the city’s convention arm. In a tweet sent out in the wee hours…
Turner Gives COVID-19 Update and Thanks New York Gov. Cuomo for Supplies
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner gave a brief coronavirus update Friday afternoon, during which he announced that the Houston Health Department was reporting 11 new COVID-19 fatalities, the second highest single-day reported death total in Houston after Wednesday’s record-high 16 reported deaths. Houston’s coronavirus death toll now sits at 315. Two…
![Federal Judge Rules Texas GOP Convention Can Be Held at GRB [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/discovery_green_and_george_r._brown_convention_center_2012_-_edited-2.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Federal Judge Rules Texas GOP Convention Can Be Held at GRB [UPDATED]
Late Thursday afternoon, Judge Lynn Hughes of the Southern District of Texas ruled in federal court that the Republican Party of Texas can go forward with an in-person convention at George R. Brown Convention Center either this weekend or next. The decision was based on a lawsuit previously filed by…
TEA Loosens the Reins Slightly For More Virtual Classes
Any public school district in Texas can declare that it is going the online-only instruction route — for the first four weeks, according to the latest update from the Texas Education Agency. Districts like Houston ISD and several other area school districts that had intended to go longer will then…
Openings and Closings: Goode Bird Debuts, King’s Biergarten Reopens
King’s Biergarten, 1329 E. Broadway, reopened July 14. The Bavarian restaurant and beer garden has been undergoing remodeling since closing this past March, just before its ninth anniversary. It first opened in April 2011 after owner and founder Hans Sitter renovated an old computer shop and turned it into a…
This “New” Prince Track Lets You Party Like It’s 1979
Rejoice fellow Prince fans because tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1979. Newly released, previously unheard music from the late artist’s storied music vault debuted Thursday and the track is a blueprint of sorts, a window into Prince’s evolution from the decade he emerged in to the next decade, which…
Houston Restaurant Weeks Will Reveal Its Initial List Today
Houston Restaurant Weeks 2020 goes live today, July 17, with its list of participating restaurants. This will be the first year without its founder Cleverley Stone, who passed away of cancer this past May. Stepping into her mighty shoes will be her daughter, Katie Stone, who is assuming the leadership…
Twitter Hack Underscores Social Media Vulnerabilities: Four Thoughts
If you happened to miss it, Twitter was the subject of a massive breach on Wednesday that affected a number of high profile accounts including Joe Biden and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos among others. The hackers posted cryptocurrency scams on the compromised user accounts. As a result, Twitter shut down…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Blessed Child
Title: Blessed Child Brief Plot Synopsis: Young woman flees cult, still talks to parents. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 Voldemorts out of 5. Tagline: n/a Better Tagline: “The dark side of the Moonie.” Not So Brief Plot Synopsis: Cara Jones was raised in Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church,…
Catching Up With the Arts in Houston: Front Porch Poetry & More
Sitting on a front porch in Houston, Dabrina Sandifer reads out the poem “Great Grandmother’s Pearls,” running through the words about the woman who “gave me pearls. She gave me pistols.” It’s an affecting delivery captured by photographer/videographer Pin Lim. Jennifer Decker, artistic director of Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company, clued…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Black Restaurant Week and the Return of Schnitzel
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have…
Pandemic Plans and Furry Friends: COVID-19’s Impact on Houston Animal Rescues
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown Houston area animal shelters for a loop just like the rest of us. For the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the City of Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, that’s meant dealing with an influx of pet abandonment, virtual…
Zoom Tarot Readings with Madame Daphne Mixes Camp with Compassion
Oh Madame Daphne, how I’ve missed you. Not that I’m happy it took a full-blown pandemic to realize that your brand of mysterious and compassionate camp is exactly the balm I needed. But here we are. Needing this kind of strangely wonderful distraction more than ever. If you attended Strange…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Family Meals, Date Nights and Christmas in July
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Caracol, 2200 Post Oak, has added two botana (meaning appetizer or snack) family meals to its menu, spotlighting the coastal Mexican kitchen’s popular seafood items. Features include the Botana Caracol, with a dozen camarones a la…
New Book Shows The “Quiet Beatle” Was Anything But Silent
George Harrison On George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters Edited by Ashley Kahn 573 pp. $30 Chicago Review Press The “Quiet” Beatle? Ha! While that particular sobriquet dogged George Harrison for nearly 40 years, here’s tangible proof that moniker was more in need a for quick nickname or (lazy journalism!). The…
Houston Reports 16 New COVID-19 Deaths, a Single-Day Record
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner revealed Wednesday that the City of Houston had hit a tragic new milestone: the first new daily COVID-19 death count in the double digits. In an afternoon press conference, Turner announced that the Houston Health Department added 16 deaths from the coronavirus to the city’s official…
HISD Delays Start of School Year and Will Be Virtual For First 6 Weeks at Least
Houston ISD will start the fall semester on Tuesday September 8 with virtual classes through Friday October 16 and then reassess before proceeding. The last day of school for the 2020-21 school year will be June 11. Houston ISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan Wednesday made the announcement several hours after…
Texans Pick John Cornyn’s November Foe In Tuesday’s Primary Runoff
Tuesday’s primary runoff election felt just a tad different from the pre-pandemic voting days Houstonians are used to. Held in the blistering July heat after being postponed in May thanks to the coronavirus, Tuesday’s election led Houston voters to line up in a socially distanced fashion in their face masks…
Eight Great Player Prop Bets for the Astros’ 2020 MLB Season
After a labor dispute that ate up the months of May and June, pushing the MLB season back unnecessarily to the end of July, we are getting close now. The anger has subsided (for me, at least), and now the prospect of getting at least SOME baseball is downright tantalizing…
Streaming Concert Watch 7/15: Camila Cabello, Underoath and More
Another week has come and gone without live music in Houston. It has been more than four months since I personally attended a concert, and as much fun as Post Malone’s performance at Toyota Center was, I am eagerly awaiting the day when local music venues can again safely open…
The Best — And Worst — Things To Watch Right Now Instead Of The World Burning
One of the worst secondary effects of our ongoing pandemic isn’t the lockdown itself, or the way it’s exposed huge swaths of our population as gibbering morons, but how it’s complicated the central quandary of our age: what are we going to watch tonight? Twas ever so. And yet now,…
ICE Decides Not to Deport International Students Taking All Online Classes
After being sued and raked over the coals for the past several days, the Trump administration backtracked on a controversial policy that would have sent thousands of foreign college students packing back to their home countries. On Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency officially reversed course by…
Fort Bend County Judge Declares Red Alert for COVID-19
Fort Bend County Judge KP George announced Tuesday that his county is on red alert due to the “uncontrolled community spread” of COVID-19, the highest possible warning level in the county’s threat level system. “I just want our citizens to know that this is not a drill. This is real,”…
Westbrook Tests Positive for COVID-19, Harden May Join Him
Before they were even able to reach the Orlando NBA bubble, Rockets superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook have apparently been sidelined by COVID-19. Most of the members of the team and staff for the Rockets arrived in Orlando last week and began workouts over the weekend. Reports on the…
The Texas Gentlemen Cover Lots Of Ground With Their Latest Release Floor It!!!
2020 is the year to expect the unexpected to say the least and The Texas Gentlemen are adding a sense of positivity to this trend with their upcoming album Floor It!!!, due out July 17 on New West Records. The Texas Gentlemen are made up of some of the Lone…
Taco Cabana Margaritapalooza: Review
Taco Cabana introduced its Margarita Palooza on July 3, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend, as we reported here in the Houston Press. The two dollar price tag and promise of 12 different flavors was too much temptation for this writer and her husband to pass up,…
Deadline For NFL Franchise Tagged Players To Sign Long-Term Deals Looms
A year ago at this time, Houston Texan fans were dealing with the pending drama of the July 15 deadline for players on the franchise tag to sign a long term deal. It was the Jadeveon Clowney Situation (absolutely deserving of “proper noun” status), and it was an unnecessary point…
It’s Zoom Zoom Zoom Time as Stages Re-adjusts Its Schedule
Pivoting with the best of them, Stages has once again redesigned its 2020-21 theater season, moving three plays to virtual viewing status, replacing some plays with ones with fewer cast members on stage and — perhaps most surprisingly (and ingeniously?) — working with playwrights to rewrite some scripts to acknowledge…
Virus Fighting Words From Turner and Hidalgo: it’s Time to Just Stay Home
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo both addressed the public on Monday in separate events, during which each leader reiterated their now shared view that a new area stay-home order would be the best bet for reversing the trajectory of COVID-19’s spread throughout the region. In…
Saint Arnold Closes Restaurant For Dine-In
Saint Arnold Beer Garden and Restaurant, 2000 Lyons, is closing its outdoor dining area to the public due to the Texas State Governor’s Office abruptly deciding to restrict certain restaurants’ dine-in operations based on their alcohol sales. The new requirement disproportionately affects breweries which also serve food because the new…
Texas Supreme Court Throws Out State GOP Convention Lawsuit
In a Monday morning ruling, the Supreme Court of Texas rejected an appeal from the Republican Party of Texas asking the court to allow state Republicans to go forward with their in-person party convention in Houston this week after it had been cancelled by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Last Thursday,…
Turner Recommends Two-Week Houston Lockdown to Fight COVID-19
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner believes it’s time for his city to pump the brakes hard on business as usual and go back to stay-at-home conditions in order to take the fight to COVID-19. On Saturday, Turner proposed that Houston go back into lockdown for two weeks to try and blunt…
Dusty Baker’s Comments on MLB Protocols Concerning
Astros Manager Dusty Baker has been around baseball a long time. He has seen more than his fair share of odd situations, but nothing could have prepared him for 2020. Over the weekend, after the Astros had to cancel yet another workout thanks to potential exposure of a staff member…
Four Thoughts As We Wonder “Will There Be a 2020 NFL Season?”
If we’ve learned one thing during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that nothing is going to be easy when it comes to reopening businesses. We know this all too well in the state of Texas. Professional sports leagues are, at their core, businesses, and reopening them has become even more complicated…
Can ’90s Alt Rockers The Incoherents Get It Together One More Time?
Music heads are generally suckers for movies about “Getting the Band Together” or “Getting the Band Back Together.” Titles of varying quality featuring fictional groups run the gamut from Eddie and the Cruisers, That Thing You Do!, and The Commitments to more independent fare like Garage Days and Still Crazy…
COVID First Responders Bare Their Pain in The Line
A show comprised of real-life interviews with COVID first responders while we’re still in the middle of a global pandemic. Sounds like theatrical redundancy. After all, aren’t we already taken into the belly of the emergency response beast via the embedded journalists, personal essays, and social media videos that document…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Dine Out or In During Houston Black Restaurant Week
Though social distancing is in effect and bars are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support black-owned restaurants during Houston Black Restaurant Weeks, All week long Black Restaurant Week With its mission is to feed and fuel the cultural…
Former Houston Police Chief C. O. “Brad” Bradford Has a Few Things to Say About Policing Reform
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Houston Police Department like many around the country, took several steps away from community education and awareness and toward a much more aggressive policing that placed a premium on enforcement and tactical operations, according to former Houston Police Chief C. S. “Brad” Bradford…
Openings and Closings: Black Restaurant Week Begins, State Fare Sugar Land
Houston Black Restaurant Week launches July 10 and will run through July 19. The week-long event will feature black-owned restaurants throughout eight cities. The Black Restaurant Week LLC began in Houston in 2016, founded by Warren Luckett and co-founders Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. It started as a one-city food…
Cancelled Texas GOP Convention Met With Anger, Relief and a Shrug from Greg Abbott
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner generated a predictable amount of uproar when he opted to cancel the Republican Party of Texas State Convention on Wednesday afternoon, dashing the plans of more than 6,000 would-be attendees poised to descend on the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston from July 16-18. In short…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Poutine, Deli Dogs and More for Canada Day
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering dine-in, takeout, delivery and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have…
Texas GOP Sues the City of Houston for Cancelling Next Week’s Convention
The Republican Party of Texas told Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner that they’ll see him in court after he cancelled their massive in-person convention scheduled for next week due to COVID-19. On Thursday afternoon, the state GOP filed a lawsuit against Mayor Sylvester Turner, the City of Houston, Houston First Corporation…
Houston’s Municipal Courts Extend Suspension of Jury Trials Through August
Houston’s municipal courts won’t be holding jury trials any time soon thanks to the risks posed by the ongoing and worsening coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday morning, the City of Houston announced that the Municipal Courts Department has decided to keep all jury trials suspended through August 31, while all non-jury…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Taste the World with Bento Boxes To-Go
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Traveler’s Table, 520 Westheimer, has introduced Bento Boxes, now available for dinner takeout, and including a small plate, entrée and side (plus a complimentary flavored fortune cookie) for $18. Choose from small plates such as pão…
Rating Jadeveon Clowney’s “Texans Revenge Factor” Among Suitors
With Cam Newton’s signing with the New England Patriots several days ago, the easy choice as the No. 1 free agent still on the market in the NFL is unquestionably former Houston Texan franchise tag designee Jadeveon Clowney. After a season where he did some good things for the Seattle…
Here’s Your Chance to Cook with Kent Rathbun in a Virtual Event
The Houston Press is partnering with Kent Rathbun a four-time James Beard Award-nominated American chef, 2008 Iron Chef America winner, and restaurateur to bring our readers a unique virtual cooking experience. This virtual event will take us into Rathbun’s home where he will teach viewers the tips and tricks behind…
Mark May Confronts His Demonic Side
If there was any single event in recent history that has given the people of Houston the most of collective case of the blues, it would have to be Hurricane Harvey. And while it’s been almost three years since that most unwelcome guest arrived at the city’s proverbial doorstep, it’s…
Texas RenFest Plans an October Return and is Looking For Actors Now
The Texas Renaissance Festival is looking for actors, holding auditions over the next two (maybe three) weekends to ensure that if everything goes as planned, they’ll be opening their doors in October as in years past. Of course, somewhat appropriately for a special event fixed in the 16th Century, this…
Houston Mayor Cancels State GOP Convention Citing “Clear and Present Danger”
On Wednesday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner followed through with his statement earlier in the day that he would move to cancel the state GOP’s convention that was set to be held next week in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center if the City’s legal team believed the…
Remembering Tony Vega of Tony’s Mexican Restaurant
Longtime customers of Tony’s Mexican Restaurant can still count on its strong margaritas and delicious enchiladas. But they won’t be greeted by owner Tony Vega’s warm smile anymore since he passed away from a heart attack on July 2. He was 57 years old. Vega moved from Mexico to the United…
Turner Hopes to Cancel GOP’s Houston Convention Today
In remarks during Wednesday morning’s City Council meeting, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that he hopes to cancel the state GOP convention scheduled for next Friday at George R. Brown Convention Center, if the City of Houston’s legal team finds that he has the authority to do so. Turner said…
Streaming Concert Watch 7/8: Jack Ingram, Anberlin and More
A week ago — just after my weekly column had been published — organizers of the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival informed would-be attendees that the event wouldn’t be happening this year. The news was unsurprising given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent uptick in confirmed cases, but that…
2020 is the Year of Digital Video: Four Ways
For eight minutes and forty-six seconds, native Houstonian George Floyd was suffocated by police officers in Minneapolis. It has become not only a brutal reminder of the inequality faced by black people every day in America, but a seminal moment in our country’s history, one that appears to be a…
TEA Opens the Doors For On Campus and Virtual School Classes Starting Right Now
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath Tuesday opened the door wide for on-campus school instruction in Texas in continuing summer school classes now and in the fall — never mind the upward spiral in number of coronavirus cases across the state. His action comes as little surprise since Gov. Abbott made…
ICE Says International Students Must Leave U.S. If Their Schools Go Online Only
In the newest effort by Donald Trump’s federal government to reduce the international presence on American soil, international college students now face deportation if their schools move to digital classes only for the fall. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced Monday that international students won’t be allowed to…
State Fair of Texas is Cancelled for 2020
The State Fair of Texas, the longest running state fair in the United States, has just announced it is skipping the 2020 season — another victim of the pandemic sweeping Texas and the country. This is the first time since World War II the fair has not opened. In early…
Not Your Pre-Pandemic Salad Bar
The days where you could go full When Harry Met Sally Meg Ryan on your salad bar—personally selecting each and every tomato—may be gone. Limiting high-contact surfaces is key in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and standard salad bars are rife with them. In light of Texas’ health regulations for…
Landing Theatre Company Moves Its Playwriting Festival Online
The New American Voices Playwriting Festival, now in its ninth year, will move online this year because of the coronavirus, its sponsor The Landing Theatre Company has announced. The festival, originally planned for April, will now take place July 28 through August 2. In addition to the four new winning…
Please Don’t Think Kanye is Really Running for President
Although some may be handling the twists and turns of 2020 better than others, it seems that as a collective our BS detector has broken entirely. One only has to look at the responses to a tweet sent out by Kanye West over the weekend that he has decided to…
Here’s What We Know On Whether a 2020 NFL Season Is Happening
Of the three big sports leagues that govern our sports lives (and, selfishly, the ones that steer the conversation on my sports talk show on SportsRadio 610), the one that has been most steadfast in trying to maintain its normalcy amidst COVID-19 has been the National Football League. The other…
Turner Asks State GOP to Cancel Convention Amid Local Hospital Bed Crunch
Between rapidly diminishing local hospital capacity and the way the coronavirus is still rampaging through Houston, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is pleading with state Republicans that this is no time to host a massive indoor get-together in his city. In a Monday afternoon press conference, Turner announced that he’ll be…
Astros Cancel Practice Thanks to Delays in Testing
On Monday, the Astros became another yet MLB team to lose practice time due to a delay in receiving virus test results. The Oakland A’s have not practiced at all because a shipping issue over the holiday weekend, but at least least other teams including the Angels, Nationals and Astros…
COVID-19 Looms Over Rockets as They Head to Bubble
On Thursday, the Rockets will head for the NBA bubble in Orlando. Those who have not tested positive for the coronavirus, anyway. Therein lies the problem for every NBA team as we head toward a restart at the the end of July. As teams begin their migration to the NBA…
Thanks to COVID-19, It’s Even Harder to Access Abortion in Texas
Abortion is currently legal and available in the state of Texas, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more difficult for Texans to exercise their constitutional right to receive one over the past few months. For 31 days early in the pandemic from March 23 to April 22, abortion…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Support Local Bars and Feel the Southern Love at Lucille’s
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, Monday, July 6 National Fried Chicken Day Frank’s Americana Revival,…
What Would an Antonio Brown Signing Mean For the Houston Texans?
Amidst this offseason of pandemic, full of hope that there will actually be a 2020 NFL season, Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has made two things abundantly clear — the Texans’ roster is currently still incomplete, and secondly, any move they make will be in the best…
Amanda Pascali Receives Grant For Immigrant American Folk Music Project
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to become more resourceful. Musicians and artists in particular have had to find new ways to connect with audiences and continue to spread their work and messages to the community. In turn, with all the extra time at home people have been consuming more…
Local Private ER Tells COVID-19 Patient He Could Be Sent Out of State
One Houston resident with COVID-19 was told on Friday by the private emergency room facility he visited that if he needed to be hospitalized, he could possibly be sent out of state due to limited local hospital bed capacity, the Houston Press has learned. The patient in question, who requested…
Texan Leaders Talked COVID-19 and Reopening Strategy in ABC13 Town Hall
If there’s one thing we learned from Thursday evening’s “Reopening Texas” virtual town hall on ABC13, it’s that even those who control the levers of power in the state’s political, business and media worlds still have to deal with the awkwardness of remote video conferencing, just like us everyday Texans…
![Openings and Closings: The Rustic is Coming Uptown, Hay Merchant Reopens [Updated]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cavatore_sign_by_federico_cavatore.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Openings and Closings: The Rustic is Coming Uptown, Hay Merchant Reopens [Updated]
Since March 17, our Openings and Closings column has been a mix of closures, both temporary and permanent, reopenings and a few openings. As Texas reopened, we saw some restaurants jump right back in the water while others dipped in a toe or two. Others still remained unconvinced and continued…
A Sign Of The Times: Antonio Eyez Releases New Single “Last Days”
“Say Their Names” has become a rally call for those who say there have been years of racial injustice, systemic racism and police brutality and that the names of victims shouldn’t be forgotten. Local artist Antonio Eyez released a new single “Last Days” along with a powerful video to express…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Celebrate the Fourth With Fried Chicken, Fajitas and More
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have recently…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Hamilton
Title: Hamilton Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: MISS HOOVER: Bart, do you want to play John Wilkes Booth, or do you want to act like a maniac? Brief Plot Synopsis: Musical responsible for the second-funniest line in Knives Out gets a theatrical streaming release. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The…
Gov. Abbott Issues Mandatory Statewide Mask Order as Positive COID-19 Cases Continue to Spike
An unmasked Gov. Abbott announced today that he was ordering everyone in Texas living in counties with 20 or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 to wear a mask or other face covering while out in public. Trying to make the case that he was not reversing course in any sense,…
Former HPD Cops Face New Charges in Connection with Fatal 2019 Drug Raid
On Wednesday evening, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced 15 new felony charges against six former Houston Police Department officers connected to the January 2019 drug raid gone awry that led to the deaths of married couple Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. The new charges came about from the…
City of Houston Will Have Fireworks, But Wants You to Watch from a Distance
The city has canceled the annual Freedom Over Texas event they hold every year in downtown Houston due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. This was not unexpected given the state order mandating no crowds larger than 100. Freedom draws thousands of Independence Day revelers each year. But, the…
Bestselling Author Scott Turow Goes Back to the Courtroom For The Last Trial
The Last Trial By Scott Turow Grand Central Publishing 449 pages $29.00 The prologue begins with a woman screaming. The lead counsel has collapsed at the defense table. The defendant, a celebrated physician, yells that the elderly attorney has no pulse. The old man’s granddaughter runs from the courtroom as…
Four Ways Sports Owners Can Mitigate Revenue Shortfalls
Throughout the agonizingly long negotiations between the players’ union and the owners in Major League Baseball, the owners attempted to make one thing abundantly clear — with no fans in the stands for this season (at least starting out), they will not be running a profitable business. The degree to…
Chris Frantz Remembers Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, and Most of All, Tina
Chris Frantz remembers very vividly the first time he ever laid eyes upon one Martina Weymouth. It was September of 1971, and was lounging on a grassy park with a fellow student at the Rhode Island School of Design. When he saw a vision. “Suddenly, as in a scene from…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Fried Chicken, Champagne and the New “Sweet Tea Supper Club
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Turner Talks COVID-19 Ahead of July 4 and Touts New Homeless Program
In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner discussed the worsening COVID-19 pandemic ahead of the Fourth of July holiday while touting a new partnership with Harris County and private donors to address local homelessness amid the coronavirus crisis. Of immediate concern for the holiday weekend was an…
Broadway at the Hobby Delays Two Shows Till 2021
Broadway at the Hobby has just announced two of its shows planned for this fall will instead be delayed until 2021, citing the difficulty of negotiating “the challenges of scheduling touring Broadway shows during this unprecedented time.” My Fair Lady previously scheduled for September 29 through October 4, 2020 has…
Austin City Limits Music Festival Cancelled for 2020
Organizers of the Austin City Limits Music Festival have just announced the annual event won’t be happening in 2020. Without ever mentioning the words “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” the organizers say: “We would have loved to put on another memorable show this year, however, with the uncertainty surrounding the current situation in…
Texas Medical Association Asks Texas GOP to Nix Houston Convention
At the beginning of this week, plans were moving along for the Texas GOP’s in-person convention on July 16-18, where around 6,000 state Republicans would gather at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center without any requirement for attendees to use face masks. Thanks to sustained negative press and a public…
Streaming Concert Watch 7/1: Bowling For Soup and More
Is it already (and yet only) July? So far, it feel like 2020 has been simultaneously the shortest and longest year on record. This whole pandemic has thrown me for a loop, and I’ve never had such an open calendar since I had a driver’s license. But I’m trying to…
Fort Bend County Extends Mask Order Through July 31
Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s latest effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus by ordering county businesses to enforce mask use got a helpful boost on Tuesday. In a special session, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to extend George’s face mask order for businesses and…
![Harris County Mask Mandate Extended Through August 26 [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/screenshot_2020-06-30_at_1.31.14_pm_-_edited.png.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Harris County Mask Mandate Extended Through August 26 [UPDATED]
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s mask order for businesses isn’t going anywhere any time soon. In a Tuesday meeting, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 along party lines to extend the county’s official COVID-19 disaster declaration—and thereby Hidalgo’s mask order which is linked to the county’s disaster status—by nearly…
Could Saharan Dust Clouding Our Skies Dampen Hurricanes?
Once again this week, much of East Texas will sit beneath a haze of dust that has traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from the Sahara Desert. Unlike last Friday, it won’t be quite as intense, but anyone with allergies or asthma will certainly feel the effects. This time of year,…
Turner Reveals Wall of Shame and Asks Abbott for His Tools Back
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once again asked Gov. Abbott to give back the ability for local officials to make sweeping orders to help corral the spread of the coronavirus after revealing the first inductees to the city’s wall of shame for COVID-19 rulebreakers in a Monday afternoon press conference. Turner…
Love In The Midst Of Mayhem: A Timely Message From Joe Ely
Love is a tricky thing that’s been called everything from a bitch to the only thing we need. Texas songwriting legend Joe Ely has made it the main focus of his newest album, Love In The Midst Of Mayhem. The ten track album was released digitally in mid April and…
Putting the T in LGBT: Nothing Keeps Alexis Nicole Whitney Down
Alexis Nicole Whitney won’t let anything slow her down. She is one of the many LGBTQ community members who lives her life loud and proud.
Reliving the Trades of the Magical Houston Summer of 2017
By late 2016 and early 2017, here in the city of Houston, sports was in a pretty good place. The Rockets were in the midst of a 55-win season with Mike D’Antoni in his first season, the Astros were clearly a rising team, ready to become a perennial postseason contender,…
Supreme Court Strikes Down Restrictive Louisiana Abortion Law
In the latest in a string of major decisions this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday morning to strike down a Louisiana law that would have drastically reduced the number of abortion providers in that state. The court voted 5-4 to overrule the state law, with conservative Chief Justice…
HISD Restricting Access to its Facilities July 3-19 Because of Pandemic
Starting July 3, Houston ISD is restricting access to all of its buildings through Sunday July 19 and cancelling all athletic practices. Students who had been expected to turn in their lap tops can keep them until the fall. No one will be there to accept them. The district decided…
Hidalgo In Isolation After Possible COVID-19 Exposure
The worsening pandemic hit closer to home than ever for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo this weekend. Just two days after issuing a county-wide coronavirus red alert, Hidalgo announced Sunday that she was in self-quarantine after learning that one of her staffers tested positive for COVID-19. According to an official…
Abbott Throws Lifeline to Bars After Closing Down Inside Seating Again
On Saturday Gov. Greg Abbott wrote another in a long line of executive orders lately, this one allowing restaurants and some bars to sell to-go, pre-mixed drinks. This action follows his decision to once again close bars in Texas for in-person guests after the spike in COVID-19 cases. In previous…
Timely “Soul of a Nation” Finally Reaches the MFAH. But See It, Quick!
Sparked by a spate of high-profile killings of African-Americans by law enforcement and private citizens – and the worldwide George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests that have ensued and continue – we are seeing unprecedented dialogue about, attention to, and action against long simmering issues of racial prejudice, inequality, and social…
Inside the Identities and Intersectionalities of Houston’s LGBTQ Music Scene
Pride month looks quite different from years past without its annual traditions of parades and festivities in the midst of a pandemic and ongoing social unrest. But cancelled celebrations and concerts haven’t yielded lower visibility of Houston’s LGBTQ music scene, a network of socially charged, politically aware artists that range…
Four Intriguing Astro Storylines As They Head To Spring Training 2.0
So it would appear, Good Lord willing and the COVID hospitalizations don’t rise, we are going to have Major League Baseball in 2020. Ultimately, the two sides, owners and players, after a series of half-hearted offers and counteroffers, buried in a sea of tone deaf public statements, didn’t agree on…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Get BOGO Burgers and More This Fourth of July
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, score 50 cent kolaches and celebrate the Fourth of July…
Turner Gives COVID-19 Update Without Explicit Stay At Home Recommendation
In a Friday afternoon COVID-19 update, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner once again begged Houstonians to wear their face masks, but came short of asking them to stay at home just yet. Turner announced that the Houston Health Department reported 879 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing Houston’s cumulative total…
Hidalgo Warns of Catastrophe, Raises COVID-19 Alert to Highest Level
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo sounded the alarm on Friday that without drastic, immediate action, the coronavirus pandemic in our area may reach a point of no return. “Today, we find ourselves careening toward a catastrophic and unsustainable situation,” Hidalgo warned, moments before she announced that she would upgrade the…
Felony Charge Made in Fort Bend County Dog Shooting Case
After a six-month investigation, justice appears to be on the horizon for Clarence, a 10-year-old Staffordshire Terrier who was shot twice in the face this past December and as a result, lost an eye. In a Friday morning press conference, Fort Bend County Judge KP George was joined by Fort…
Rice Alums Campaign to Remove Statue of the School’s Slave Owner Namesake
In the center of Rice University’s main quad sits a hulking bronze statue of the school’s namesake, William Marsh Rice. For some, “Willy’s Statue” is a harmless relic, a fun campus icon seen mostly as a backdrop for goofy college pranks. To others, it represents the looming specter of white…
Abbott Walks Back His Reopening Plans As COVID-19 Cases Continue to Surge
As of noon today, all bars and other businesses in Texas that receive more than 51 percent of their receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages are ordered to close their in-house service — the result of a new executive order from Governor Greg Abbott. Citing the surge in the…
Four Reasons the NBA Needs to Closely Reconsider Its Restart
The NBA is finally set to resume its season beginning in late July at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. But, should they? There has been a rush to get teams back so the 2019-2020 season (yes, this season started last year) can be completed. Still, there are…
Openings and Closings: Indigo’s Final Year, Petrol Station Closes
Indigo, 517 Berry, will reopen July 23. However, the acclaimed “neo-soul” restaurant from rising star Chef Jonny Rhodes will only remain open for another year, as Rhodes announced in an Instagram post on June 21. The post read: “I write this with tears in my eyes. This all started with…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Indulge in Coastal Mexican Fare at Caracol
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have recently…
Erin Rodgers Begins Something New with “Endgame”
Erin Rodgers is arguably one of Houston music’s busiest people. Whether she’s performing in one of many bands, working on behalf of artists as an entertainment lawyer or teaching copyright and business courses at area colleges, it’s normal for her to be engaged with this city’s music community. So, how…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Irresistible
Title: Irresistible Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: KODOS: It’s true, we are aliens. But what are you going to do about it? It’s a two-party system. You have to vote for one of us. MAN: Well I believe I’ll vote for a third-party candidate. KANG: Go ahead, throw your…
And in More Apocalyptic News, Abbott Hits The Pause Button on Reopening
Sure to inherit both applause and condemnation for this action, Greg Abbott, our Republican pro-business governor, has just announced that he’s hitting the pause button on his additional re-opening plans for businesses in Texas amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state. The action comes on a busy day…
Governor Suspends Elective Surgeries in Harris, Travis, Dallas and Bexar Counties
In an executive order released on Thursday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott has called a halt to any elective surgeries at hospitals in the four mostly densely populated counties in Texas as COVID-19 cases continue to mount. Hospitals in Harris, Bexar, Austin and Dallas counties are barred from doing elective surgeries…
Baseball is Back and It’s Gonna Be Weird: Four Observations
After weeks of back and forth between Major League Baseball and the union representing players, both sides essentially agreed not to agree, falling back on a deal they made in March to allow the league to schedule a 60-game season to begin in July. For the moment, let’s set aside…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Throw a Backyard 4th of July Bash
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
New Doc Finally Gives Suzi Quatro Her Due
In the mid 1970s, she was a pioneering female rocker at a time when that term was nearly nonexistent, a hugely popular record and concert attraction, and a style icon. That is…in much of the non-U.S. world. Here in her own home country, the singer/bassist born and bred in tough…
Turner Gives Houston COVID-19 Update and Unveils Police Reform Task Force
In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner straddled the two crises gripping the nation: the troubling spread of COVID-19 and the mounting pressure to reform our country’s police departments in the aftermath of the tragic deaths of black Americans like George Floyd at the hands of law…
Streaming Concert Watch 6/24: Macklemore and More
Just when it seemed like we had weathered the worst of it, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warned that Houston “may be reaching the precipice of a disaster” regarding Covid-19. Mask orders are back in effect — even though everyone really should have been wearing them all along — and it…
Ranking the Decade in the AFC South by QB Season Quality
Earlier this week, we were joining ESPN.com for a little spin back through time, the last ten seasons of NFL football, more specifically, as we examined their All Decade team for the AFC South. The summary for that exercise was part celebration (Yay! The Texans had ten guys who made…
The Suffers Bring The Joy With Their New Single “Take Me To The Good Times”
2020 is feeling like the longest year ever, but that doesn’t mean that the summer will go without a feel good jam courtesy of Houston’s soulful sweethearts, The Suffers. Their latest single “Take Me To The Good Times” will be out on June 24. It is the first single from…
Abbott Warns of Soaring COVID-19 Cases as Fort Bend County Mandates Masks
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 5,489 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, setting a single-day record and prompting Gov. Greg Abbott to urge Texans to stay indoors if at all possible. Abbott spoke with local media in Austin before the DSHS new case statistics were made public…
Houston Grand Opera Cancels 5 Productions and Won’t Be Back Till April 2021
Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Grand Opera has just announced it is canceling five different productions and won’t be back on the Wortham Center stage until April 2021. In addition, it is reducing its workforce and implementing salary cuts. Canceled performances include Carmen (October 23–November 13), Werther (October 30–Nov ember…
Houston Flooding Possible Tuesday Night and Wednesday Morning Says NWS
It looks like rain is in the forecast for Tuesday night, along with a side of potential flooding for Houston. On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for Houston and surrounding areas, lasting from 7 p.m. June 23 through 7 a.m. Wednesday, June 24. After…
TABC Suspends Permits at 17 Bars and Restaurants, Including One in Houston
Well it appears Operation Safe Open, the undercover task force the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, has been busy — suspending the permits of 17 bars and restaurants across Texas who weren’t doing what they should have been doing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Among them was one Houston establishment,…
Matthew McConaughey to Read Where the Wild Things Are Today at 10 a.m.
Fans of Matthew McConaughey will have a great opportunity to hear from him today at 10 a.m. when the Oscar-winning actor and his wife, model and designer Camila Alves McConaughey, will read Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Does someone on staff for Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott have…
You Might Need a Mask for More Than COVID-19 This Week
Add it to the list of apocalyptic signs in 2020, from locusts to murder hornets to pandemics…now, a dust storm. Saharan dust — literally dust blown off the Sahara Desert in Africa — is a common weather condition in the summer months across the Atlantic Basin. Huge plumes of the…
Putting the G in LGBT: Barry Mandel Recounts Tackling Gay Issues
We know Barry Mandel as the head honcho at Discovery Green. What many might not know, though, is the circuitous journey that lead him from leading the fight against HIV/AIDS to leading the park.
Houston Texans Place 10 Players on ESPN’s AFC South All Decade Team
The Texans’ inability to surpass the divisional round of the NFL playoffs is not a frustration that is latent or bubbling under the surface. It’s a very obvious issue. Fans are vocal about, Bill O’Brien openly acknowledges it. That said, the Texans have been the clear superior team, year over…
Abbott Warns Texas COVID-19 Spread “Unacceptable” as Turner Pleads for Caution
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sought to reassure Texans that recent statewide spikes in key coronavirus metrics shouldn’t cause alarm. Six days and a more than 1,300 patient increase in state COVID-19 hospitalizations later, the governor’s tone was noticeably less confident. “To state the obvious, COVID-19 is now spreading…
Hidalgo Calls for Applications for County COVID-19 Relief Fund
Early Monday afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that low-income county residents affected by the coronavirus pandemic have until Wednesday to apply for financial assistance from the Harris County COVID-19 Relief Fund. Money from the county fund, which totaled $30 million before around half was distributed to local nonprofits…
Four Reasons Why New York Jets Safety Jamal Adams Ain’t Coming to the Texans
Bill O’Brien, in his general manager role for the Houston Texans, likes to make deals. He is always looking at any way he can to make the team better, even if his evaluation of what that entails may skew wildly — like, WILDLY — from what Texan fans think is…
This Week in Houston Food Events: A Brunch Favorite Returns (With Cinnamon Rolls To Boot)
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, celebrate…
14 Face Mask Questions Answered by Texas Virus Experts
The coronavirus pandemic isn’t ending any time soon, if recent spikes in COVID-19 cases across Texas and throughout the Houston area are any indication. Over the past few weeks, hospitalizations for COVID-19 have continued to climb to record highs both in Texas and in the greater Houston area. Harris County…
![Space City Gets Its Own Red Dwarf In Houston’s Newest Midtown Venue [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/reddwarf.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Space City Gets Its Own Red Dwarf In Houston’s Newest Midtown Venue [UPDATED]
Red dwarf stars are some of the smallest, faintest and longest living stars in the galaxy. Space City is about to get its own Red Dwarf in the new Midtown venue opening July 1, in the previous location of the popular bar, Mongoose Versus Cobra at 1011 McGowen. Red Dwarf…
Musical Theater Resurrected! For One Performance At Least
Hooray! Theater has finally opened in Houston! The venue is the intimate cabaret space, The Music Box Theater. It’s the size of a shoe box, long and narrow, but the revues produced within are expansive and roof-raising, the current one being no exception. The Fab 5 performers – Rebekah Dahl,…
Harris County Judge Hidalgo Orders Businesses to Require Masks
No shirt, no shoes, no face masks, no service — introducing the new motto for Harris County businesses. Amid sustained, dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the Houston area, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered businesses in the county to require their customers to wear face masks in…
The Looming Disaster: A Sports Pandemic Within the Pandemic
The NBA has a 113-page manual on health and safety for the coming restart at the end of July. Every league is said to be preparing for what will be the most unique set of circumstances in the history of sport. But, what few are openly discussing is the real…
Carmageddon 5: The Carmageddoning of the West Loop
It’s back…with a vengeance. The sequels in Houston traffic just keep coming. Just when you thought it was safe to get on the freeway… You get the idea. Traffic: It’s bad and this weekend it is going to get worse…much worse. Welcome to Carmageddon 5: The Carmageddoning. It’s like that…
Openings and Closings: The Union Kitchen Katy Opens, Lucky’s Pub East Closes
This week has some surprising new openings and some sad closings, some permanent, some just temporary. As Texas sees a second spike in COVID-19, it’s inevitable that it would affect the restaurant industry. Staff are on the front lines serving guests and while most employees are wearing masks, many customers…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined:7500
Title: 7500 Describe This Movie In One Airplane! Quote: ELAINE: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your stewardess speaking. We regret any inconvenience the sudden cabin movement might have caused, this is due to periodic air pockets we encountered, there’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you enjoy the…
In Praise of Drummers: Goodbye Arthur Hays
Arthur Hays was an irreplaceable figure in music scenes that included San Antonio, Austin, and most recently Houston. A Texas native son born who graduated from high school in the early 1970s, he was a rock’n’roll drum legend whose sheer titanic pounding, flexing rhythmic force, and sheer velocity filled records by The Next, The Ideals,…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Grill an At Home Feast for Dad
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service, and some Father’s Day options. Note:…
HISD Adds a Boot Camp But Ditches Idea For a Year Round School
After a lot of talk about the possibility of moving to an 11-month academic calendar, the Houston ISD administration turned thumbs down on the idea Thursday and announced to parents it was sticking with the usual school year that starts in late August and runs until late May . So…
Supreme Court Rules Trump Can’t End DACA For Now
In a 5-4 decision Thursday morning, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s four liberal justices to reject President Trump’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA. Thursday’s ruling is the second bombshell this week to come from the nation’s highest court,…
Baseball Athletes, Owners Need to Read the Room
It’s incredible when you think about it. This year has seen the impeachment of a sitting president, a global pandemic that has infected over two million people and massive protests over racial inequality that are already changing the dialogue and policy in America. And we are only in June. Which…
Making The Music: The Behind-The-Scenes Story Of Houston Symphony’s Instruments
Each instrument seen in the Houston Symphony is wildly unique from the one located just next to it – even if they look exactly alike. The dedication and attention that goes into selecting and caring for the instruments is a level of complexity most never experience elsewhere.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Treat Dad To A Steak This Father’s Day
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Rec Room Cancels Rest of 2019-20 Season, Citing COVID-19
Rec Room Arts, the Houston theater known for its innovative productions, has announced it has decided to cancel the final two shows in its 2019-20 season due to the continued presence of the coronavirus. Even though Gov. Greg Abbott has allowed businesses in Texas to re-open, Rec Room Artistic Director…
Houston Businesses May Be Required To Mandate Customer Face Masks
In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner signalled that he’s open to mandating that city businesses require their customers to wear face masks. “I think we’ll take a look at it…We’ll do what we can, and I’ll certainly entertain it,” Turner said. Turner’s remarks came one day…
Turner and Other Texas Mayors Ask Gov. Abbott to Let Them Require Mask-Wearing
Late Tuesday afternoon, a coalition of nine Texan mayors politely demanded that Gov. Greg Abbott allow them to make rules to enforce wearing facemasks in their cities to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The request came via a letter to the statehouse signed by nine Texan mayors, including the…
Where to Support Bakers Against Racism
This week marks a national effort across the globe to fight racism using the humble tools of butter, sugar and flour. Bakers Against Racism is a “worldwide virtual bake sale” that invites bakers everywhere to join together, sell sweets, and raise money for their organization of choice to support the…
Gov. Abbott Says It’s Our Own Responsibility to Make Sure We Don’t Get COVID-19
Despite significant increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases across Texas in recent weeks, Governor Greg Abbott remains confident that there’s no need to slow down statewide business reopenings and the continued loosening of state rules around business occupancy levels due to the state’s as of yet sufficient hospital capacity to…
Don’t Share Content From The Alt-Right, Even When You Agree With Them
Just because a stopped clock is right twice a day is no reason not to fix or replace the clock. There’s this tendency, particularly on the left side of the American political spectrum, to want to be liked by everyone. The ability to win over “all sides” might be worthwhile…
Houston Concert Watch 6/17: Amanda Shires and More
Late last week, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warned that Houston “may be reaching the precipice of a disaster” regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic. That being the case, the Houston Press’ weekly concert watch will continue to skew toward streaming options. As always, we invite any regional acts with shows…
How One Man Took Over the Houston Reseller Market From His Apartment
Michael Mills is a Houston entrepreneur that has turned his one bedroom apartment into a streetwear one-stop shop.
Five Houston Texans Who Must Live Up To Their Salary Cap Hit
Bill O’Brien and Jack Easterby, collectively as sort of a two-headed GM monster (sometimes a monster that works for good, and sometimes evil, if you ask Texans fans), have been urgently active over the last year, trying to put together a team that is seemingly designed to TRY to win…
Putting the L in LGBT: Christina Wells Transforms Shame Into Fame
Singer Christina Wells, who identifies as lesbian, has faced a lifetime of shame over her weight. Instead of letting it get her down, she instead used it as fuel to not only show off her powerful vocal chords on America’s Got Talent but also to become a motivational speaker to show others how to let…
Supreme Court Rules That LGBT Americans Are Protected From Discrimination
On Monday morning, the scales of justice tipped one step closer toward equality for LGBT Americans when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the same federal Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination based on sex also applies to sexual orientation and gender identity. In a 6-3 vote, conservative Justice Neil M. Gorsuch,…
City Slow Street Pilot Program Should Become Permanent in Some Areas
It only took a pandemic for the city of Houston to realize that providing safe ways for people not in cars to get around is perhaps a good idea. Something cycling enthusiasts and proponents of neighborhood walkability have been clamoring for in a city ruled by the car seems to…
Will J.J. Watt Kneel for the National Anthem This Fall?
Will J.J. Watt kneel for the national anthem this fall prior to Houston Texans games? Just three weeks ago, this question would have been a headline dismissed as the most ultimate salacious headline porn. After all, the number of players still kneeling for the anthem a few weeks ago had…
Socially Distancing While Spreading Love: Reggae Brunch With Dem Returns To La Grange
As Houston reopens and people return to their favorite spots while adjusting to the new norms of social distancing in a world with COVID, one activity is back on the minds of many Houstonians: brunch. Local roots reggae groovers, Dem are picking up where they left off with their weekly reggae…
![No Live Crowd for This Year’s Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July Celebration [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/freedom_over_texas_turner.png.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
No Live Crowd for This Year’s Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July Celebration [UPDATED]
The coronavirus won’t stop Houston’s annual Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July celebration from happening, but this year’s event will be a remote, socially-distanced affair. In a Monday morning press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the show would go on—pyrotechnics, music and all—just without any in-person spectators. “Watch…
Theatre Under the Stars Postpones Start of Season Until December
This September, Theatre Under the Stars audiences were going to have a chance to see the much-anticipated Broadway-bound revival of 1776. But today TUTS is announcing that because of continuing risks related to COVID-19, it is having to put those plans on hold. Rock of Ages, which was to start…
Remembering Macario Ramirez, the Embodiment of Mexican American Culture
His own personal history was captivating — brutally hot summers in his childhood spent as a migrant farmworker with his immigrant parents and six siblings, a friend of Cesar Chavez as a young Chicano activist, a language adviser with the U.S. Department of Defense who braved the hotspots of South…
Blackberry Smoke Revisits Ground Zero for Southern Rock on New Covers EP
During the 1970s, most of the major rock recording studios were in well-known cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Memphis. But down in Macon, Georgia, a little upstart operation called Capricorn Studios made a surprising impact, particularly with the raucous sounds of Southern Rock. Founded in 1969 by…
Four Thoughts on the New York Yankees (Possibly) Getting Their Cheating Comeuppance
There’s an old saying on social media (if social media has been around long enough for anything related to it to be considered “old”) — “it’s tough on these Twitter streets.” Houston Astro fans know exactly what that means. Since the Astros were pinched for stealing signs during the 2017…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Dim Sum Style Brunch is Back
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, get curbside tacos and attend a virtual happy hour and…
Houston Theater Actors Share Stories of Racism Behind The Scenes
Theaters are liberally minded organizations that wish to be welcoming spaces where people of all races can participate in the power of live performance. Theaters are also spaces where racism happens. Shocked by this dichotomy? You wouldn’t be if you were a black actor. Or a Latinx artist. Or Asian…
Last Call for Lucky’s Pub in the East End
Lucky’s Pub in the east end, known for hosting block parties on Saint Emanuel for Dynamo and Astros games, is apparently closing its doors tonight – well at 2 a.m. early tomorrow. As Houston Food Finder is reporting, the bar located just east of downtown near to Minute Maid Park, is…
Mayor Turner Will Fast-Track The Removal of Confederate Monuments
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Thursday the intended removal of two confederate statues will be expedited to happen before Juneteeth, the observance on June 19 of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas were read the Emancipation Proclamation. “Our plan for relocating confederate statues from public parks to locations more…
HISD Trustees OK a New Budget Amid Calls For Change
Armed with more questions than answers about the future — COVID-19 costs? 11-month school year? Classes that are virtual, in-person or hybrid? What do we do with calls to defund our police department? — the Houston ISD trustees Thursday night trudged through another lengthy meeting and approved a $2 billion…
Openings and Closings: Jax Grill Expands, Island Grill Opens, Americas Departs
The restaurant community in Houston is reopening and the June 12 guidelines set out by Governor Greg Abbott will now allow restaurants to go to 75 percent capacity. Some opened May 1 with 25 percent capacity while others waited till the May 22 allowance of 50 percent. While many of…
Harris County Judge Hidalgo Warns “The Precipice of a Disaster” Might Be Approaching
“I want the reopening to be successful. I want the economy to be resilient. But I’m growing increasingly concerned that we may be reaching the precipice of a disaster,” warned Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a Thursday afternoon press conference. Moments later, she revealed a new threat level system…
Four Industries Bolstered by the Pandemic
With tens of millions out of work and the entire economy reeling from stay-at-home orders and worried shoppers over the last two months, it is difficult to imagine any good news could come from the pandemic. Believe it or not, however, there are businesses that are thriving. Some are not…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The King Of Staten Island
Title: The King of Staten Island Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: NED FLANDERS: But, Reverend, I need to know. Is God punishing me? REVEREND LOVEJOY: Oh … short answer: “yes” with an “if.” Long answer: “no” with a “but.” Brief Plot Synopsis: Slacker lacks track. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant…
Drive-in Music Festival Metamorphosis Scheduled for This Saturday
In the new normal of living with COVID-19, the way we experience concerts has had to change. Though some venues around town are slowly opening up and holding smaller, socially distanced concerts, drive-in concerts are popping up around the world. Metamorphosis, a drive-in music festival, will take place in the…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Get Your Hand Roll On at Hando
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have recently…
Garth Brooks Concert Set for June 27 at Drive-in Theaters Across North America
On June 27, everyone who can motor their way to a drive-in theater in the United States and Canada will be able to see country superstar Garth Brooks perform in a one-night concert. According to a press release: “The concert will be the largest ever one-night show to play at…
Houston Restaurant Weeks 2020 is Announced
The passing of Houston’s queen of the culinary scene, Cleverley Stone, hit Houston foodies hard, as well as volunteers and staff of Houston Food Bank, an organization that Stone championed with her founding of Houston Restaurant Weeks in 2003. Stone was the former host of The Cleverly Show, a CBS…
Mayor Turner Signs Order to Limit HPD’s Use of Deadly Force
“It is the policy of the City of Houston…to value and preserve human life…” So reads the opening to Executive Order 1-67 on Policing Reform: Use of Force, signed by Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday evening. The new order codifies a set of policy reforms designed to limit the use…
Rockets Smallball to Be Tested in Shortened Season
When the NBA finally makes its return from its conronavirus-induced quarantine, things will go quickly. Teams will play about seven games before getting to the postseason, not much time to ramp up, which means those squads who start fast will have a leg up on any team that doesn’t. It’s…
Beyond The Blackout: Twelve Local Artists To Add To Your Playlist
Last week the music industry responded to the movement to bring increased awareness to and help to end racial injustice and police brutality with Blackout Tuesday. The day was the brainchild of music executives Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas. It was intended to be a day for the music industry…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Taste The Flavors of Jalisco All Month Long
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Harris County District Attorney’s Office Drops Nearly 800 Charges Against Non-Violent Protesters
Hundreds of non-violent protesters recently arrested by Houston police can sleep a little easier tonight. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office announced on June 10 that they had dropped nearly 800 criminal charges made against people who were taken into police custody after participating in local protests concerning the killing…
![A Call for More Diversity on and Around Houston’s Stages [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/detail_from_theater_announcement_745.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
A Call for More Diversity on and Around Houston’s Stages [UPDATED]
If you’re a theater-goer in Houston, you’ve probably seen Candice D’Meza. She’s appeared in productions at the Alley, Catastrophic, Main Street, Stages, Rec Room and the Ensemble to name just a few. Now what she wants to find out is exactly how much of an anomaly she and other actors…
Houston Concert Watch 6/10: Willie Nelson and More
While some Houston music venues have reopened with reduced capacity, it seems that would-be concertgoers still aren’t comfortable attending live shows just yet. That being the case, our streaming concert watch continues. As always, we invite musicians to reach out to us regarding upcoming shows. Willie Nelson 9 p.m. CST…
Rating the Full Plate of Issues for Each Houston Sports Owner
Mo’ money, mo’ problems. It’s not just an iconic song title from The Notorious B.I.G. In Houston, and honestly, around the entire sports landscape, it’s a realization that many owners across all sports are having, that with the eight digit annual operating income, and the ten digit franchise valuations, come…
Don’t Worry, Harry Potter Will Outlive J.K. Rowling’s Bigotry
There had been rumors that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was a transphobe for years based on her following and liking tweets from some prominent British practitioners of that particular dark art. Recently, she made it more overt with a series of tweets condemning using the phrase “people who menstruate”…
George Floyd’s Funeral Was Equal Parts Celebration and Call to Action
“This is a moment of connectivity,” said Pastor Mia Wright to the crowd assembled to honor the life of Houston’s own George Floyd, a mission statement for the emotional afternoon that lay ahead. “In the tradition of the African American church, this will be a home-going ceremony … We are…
Four Biggest Stories of Bill O’Brien’s First Year as Texans’ GM
With everything going on in the world over the last few weeks and months, it would be easy to notice that the anniversary of the Texans’ firing Brian Gaine after just over a year as general manager of the Houston Texans came and went late last week. What, you didn’t…
MLB No Closer to Return with New Proposal
On Monday, Major League Baseball made a new proposal for a pandemic-shortened season, but it appears it is dead on arrival with the players’ union. The proposal included 76 games, but with a flat-rate pay cut for players across the board to 50 percent that would increase to 75 percent…
These Houston Restaurants Have Father’s Day Covered, For Both Dine-In and Take-Out
Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday, June 21; and whether you prefer to dine in at home or dine out with the family, these Houston rest have you and Dad covered. Treat the special fathers in your life to prix fixe feasts, at-home grilling sessions, tasty burgers, mouthwatering desserts…
How The Duke and The Messiah Met on the Path to Save Souls
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation By Kristin Kobes du Mez 368 pp. Liverlight $29.85 That Christian conservative and evangelicals would vote Republican in a U.S. presidential election is not surprising. More of a shock is just how fervently they have –…
A Survivor’s Story: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Plane Crash Gets the Movie Treatment
Sometimes, the sound of impending doom is quiet. And sometimes it is loud. Less often, it is both. That’s how Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle recalls what he and 25 other band members, crew, associates, and pilots heard inside their Convair CV-240 plane over the swamps near Gillsburg, Mississippi on…
Texans Take a Hit With Retirement of Special Teams Coach Brad Seely
Say what you will about the low approval rating of Bill O’Brien’s roster moves as general manager this offseason, but the decisions he’s made relative to his coaching staff have been largely met with approval or, at the very least, optimistic intrigue. I think most fans are pleased that someone…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Hit a Summertime Burger Pop-Up
Though social distancing is in effect, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, eat pizza and help raise money for the NAACP, get pop-up burgers and enjoy the return of a fan-favorite…
Checking Back In With Three Actors Trying To Stay Afloat During COVID-19 Shutdowns
Back in March, as shows were canceled and stages went dark, I spoke with three Houston actors to get a sense of how they were coping with the Coronavirus shutdown financially, emotionally, and artistically. At the conclusion of each interview, I asked if they’d be open to another check-in should…
Video Premiere: Houston Artist Hannah Wolf Brings To Life The Lewd Dudes In “Pay Him”
The Lewd Dudes, “Your favorite band in Austin,” are premiering an animated video created by Houston artist Hannah Wolf for their song “Pay Him” off their latest release Malbec. The song explores the complicated dynamic between making art to live, and making a living from your art begging the question,…
Acevedo Brings Forward Family Members in Officer-Involved Shootings to Explain Why No Video Released
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo has undergone fire from the public as well as media for not releasing body cam footage of the seven officer-involved shootings that have occurred in Houston since April 21, six of which were deadly. In a press conference Saturday, Acevedo along with Mayor Sylvester Turner…
HISD Board Hears From Some Very Unhappy People Upset By Cutback in Planned Raises
Faced with an almost $19 million deficit in its $2 billion budget, Houston ISD administration has jettisoned a recommendation reached by its Joint Compensation Committee, and decided to back away from its plan to give out 1.5 percent raises to teachers and school employees. Under the new plan, district police…
Cristobal Falling Apart, Still a Risk for Northern Gulf
No one can accuse 2020 of not being interesting. The latest, of course, is the artist formerly known as Tropical Storm Cristobal, churning itself ragged over Mexico as this is being written. The early season storm — now a depression — spent most of Thursday over land, weakening it significantly…
Openings and Closings: Dolce & Cannoli Expands, Penny Quarter, Patrenella’s Close
Dolce & Cannoli Pizza Cafe, 20131 Highway 59, softly opened at Deerbrook Mall May 6. It fully opened May 20 and will be up to 75 percent capacity this week with the Phase III of Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to reopen businesses after the original pandemic shutdown. The pizza and…
Time’s Up: The 30 Year-Old Album That Foretold America’s Last 30 Days
“Moment by moment, day by day, the world is just slipping away.” That line from the Living Colour song “Time’s Up” seems relevant as ever. American life came to a grinding halt because of a global pandemic and, day by day, we’ve tried to decipher our roles in a virus-stricken…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: Shirley
Title: Shirley Describe This Movie In One Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf Quote: MARTHA: What, you think it was sexy back there? You think he made his own wife sick? GEORGE: Well, you make *me* sick. MARTHA: That’s different. Brief Plot Synopsis: Marriage is a horror story of its own. Rating Using…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Support Houston’s Black-Owned Restaurants
As the country takes on the uphill battle against racism, many of us are looking for ways to show up for the African American community—just on Tuesday, we had more than 60,000 people united in support of Houston native George Floyd and his family. One way to do that is…
Yes, There are Already COVID-19 Video Games
One of the great things about the massive indie game scene is that it’s possible to get video games based on real-world events as they are happening. Granted, these are often as cheap and quick as a punk song, but it’s still rather remarkable that a medium with a famously…
Thanks to a Confirmed Case of COVID-19, HISD Cancels 6 Meals Sites and All Produce Stops
Houston ISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan just announced that six curbside summer meals sites have been canceled after a confirmed case of the coronavirus. The silver lining is that health officials do not think that families who came to pick up the food were exposed. “The six summer meals sites…
Coronavirus Can’t Stop Applehead’s HTX Blues
Houston’s Applehead is planning on recording a debut album during the coronavirus shutdown of live music.
Tropical Storm Cristobal Likely to Threaten Texas/Louisiana, but As What?
Tropical Storm Cristobal is drifting around just onshore in Mexico south of the Bay of Campeche as of writing this, and the longer it remains over land, the more disorganized it will be when it reemerges later this week. After that time, the forecast models seem in fairly good agreement…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Restaurants Honor Cleverley Stone With Early HRW Menus
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Open Wider Texas! Gov. Abbott Announces Phase III
Saying that many of the new COVID-19 cases are coming from people at nursing homes, meat packing plants and jails, Gov. Abbott announced he was ready to go to Phase II of his reopening plan and that effective immediately, all businesses in Texas are able to operate at up to…
NBA Set to Resume With Quirky 22-Team Format
“We’re going to play basketball at the end of July. Everybody knows that. It’s going to happen.” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta was pretty direct when being interviewed by CNBC Tuesday. “We’re all going to come to terms with this in the next couple of days.” Indeed, the league appears poised…
![Protests Heat Up After the Peaceful March On City Hall For George Floyd [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/line26.2.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Protests Heat Up After the Peaceful March On City Hall For George Floyd [UPDATED]
On Tuesday, after a powerful and peaceful march that attracted what organizers estimated to be 60,000 people in honor of George Floyd, yet another splinter faction of the group flirted with destruction beginning in late afternoon. Houston police chief Art Acevedo was called back to Discovery Green, particularly the intersection of…
Houston Graphics Company Posts “All Lives Splatter” Decal
In a startlingly offensive move, local graphics company Underground Graphics posted a car decal for sale with the slogan “All Lives Splatter” that contained a picture of someone driving a car through a crowd of people. It also contained the the message “no one cares about your protest.” The implication…
Four Reasons the Astros Would Benefit From a Drastically Shortened MLB Season
For the last few weeks, the Major League Baseball owners and players have been carrying out a very public dispute over exactly how to bring their game back from its coronavirus-induced suspension. Unlike the NBA players and owners, whose sport has already played out 80 percent of its regular season,…
Streaming Concert Watch 6/3: Clint Black and More
Recently, some Houston music venues — notably Warehouse Live and The Secret Group — have reopened with social-distancing policies in place. While we’re excited to see local businesses begin returning to normal, we recognize that not everyone is comfortable attending live concerts yet. So we have compiled another list of…
60,000 Support George Floyd’s Family On March To City Hall
Sixty thousand people joined the family of George Floyd as well as elected officials and religious leaders today in a peaceful Houston march from Discovery Green to City Hall organized by rappers and civic activists Trae tha Truth, Bun B, and Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams. Floyd, 46, a native Houstonian…
Houston Alert Says Bricks Found, Asks Public To Report Suspicious Activity
The City of Houston has sent out an alert after finding “several piles of bricks and rocks from several locations in Houston this afternoon.” The city’s Public Works Department removed the piles. The alert comes as the march in support of Justice 4 George Floyd begins, traveling from Discovery Green…
Abbott Urges No Violence; Calls George Floyd Death “Horrific”
Saying that “what happened to George Floyd is a horrific act of police brutality,” Gov. Greg Abbott echoed other leaders throughout the state saying that the violence and vandalism that has accompanied some protests about his death are “overshadowing Floyd’s death rather than shining a light on the injustice that occurred.”…
Evelyn Rubio is Crossing Borders – Musical and Otherwise
In the Age of Coronavirus, musicians all over Houston (and the world) are understandably itchy to get back onstage—even under new rules and restrictions for live venues. And for artists who also happen to have new records to promote, there’s an extra twist of the metaphorical knife. That’s how Houston-based…
Four Thoughts on J.J. Watt’s Recent Media Appearances
Prior to last week, the last time we’d heard anything publicly from Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, aside from a few promotional spots for Ultimate Tag on FOX, was after the team’s evisceration at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Thanks for…
Tropical Depressions: Three in the Gulf, One to Watch
Impeachment trials, pandemics, intense protests and riots, murder hornets, even a plague of locusts (yes) have turned 2020 into one for the record books — books we will all want to destroy with fire if we make it through the year — and it’s only the beginning of June. But,…
Will Alcohol To-Go Become Permanent in Texas?
Monica Richards was elated when she heard the news that her family’s restaurant could finally serve their popular cocktails for takeout and delivery. As Marketing and Beverage Director for Arnaldo Richards’ Picos Restaurant, the local Mexican food mainstay founded by her father, Arnaldo, Richards had been asked by plenty of…
City of Houston Facilities in Downtown Closing Early Tuesday As a Result of the George Floyd March
The Mayor’s Office has just announced that all City of Houston facilities in Downtown Houston are scheduled for early closure Tuesday in preparation for the march honoring George Floyd and his family. The march will start at 3 p.m. from Discovery Green and will go to City Hall. It is not…
Tuesday’s March Planned to Honor George Floyd and His Family
Beginning his afternoon press conference Monday with word of two more deaths in the city due to COVID-19, Mayor Sylvester Turner reminded one and all that the coronavirus is still present in Houston and urged participants in the recent marches related to George Floyd’s death to take advantage of the…
“Black Out Tuesday”: The Music Industry Stands With George Floyd And Houston Will March
The nation is on fire. With the brutal killing of George Floyd, a Houstonian who had relocated to Minneapolis, the issue of racism is once again front and center. Following his tragic death at the hands of police officers, demonstrations and riots have ensued in more than 100 cities worldwide…
Catching Up With the Arts in Houston, 06.01.20
As Gov. Abbott has been opening up the state in phases, museums and art galleries are slowly opening up — while still maintaining an online presence, while performing arts in Houston continue to reach out with virtual programming. This Wednesday, Asia Society Texas Center will re-open to the public with…
Houston Texans Restructure RG Zach Fulton’s Contract
As the Texans’ 2020 offseason has evolved over the last several weeks, it seems like one of the moves everyone had been waiting for was the release of veteran right guard Zach Fulton, who had two years and a non-guaranteed total of $14 million remaining on his deal. At the very…
Opinion: What Bothers You More? George Floyd’s Death or the Riots?
On September 27, 1966, 60 Minutes aired an interview of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During this interview, Dr. King stated, “I contend that the cry of black power is at bottom a reaction to the reluctance of white power to make the kind of changes necessary to make justice…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Feel Good With Buy-One-Give-One Burgers
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service and partake in events like a free taco giveaway from…
![Another Madness Monday: Madness On Main Continues Their Weekly Livestreams [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/madness.webp.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Another Madness Monday: Madness On Main Continues Their Weekly Livestreams [UPDATED]
Local music festival Madness on Main was due to mark its sixth year this month but like everyone else, it has had to adapt to the times. The yearly event focuses on local and Gulf Coast region bands and was founded to draw attention to Houston’s vibrant local music scene…
Five Shot At Large Block Party in Sunnyside This Weekend
Saturday night, five people were shot outside Greenlight Food Mart in Sunnyside during a neighborhood block party, stated commander Ron Borza of South East Patrol in a press conference early Sunday morning. Reportedly the party had attracted up to 500 people, children’s bouncy houses included, though when Houston Police officers…
City of Houston Prepares For Saturday Night After Friday’s Protests Took a Bad Turn
As he attributed most of Friday night’s vandalism problems to about 10-20 percent of the participants at the Justice For George Flynn march in Houston, Police Chief Art Acevedo at a 3 p.m. press conference today said officers will be out in force tonight trying to make sure looting and…
![Houston Protest Over George Floyd’s Death Attracts Hundreds [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/policeandmarchers745.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Houston Protest Over George Floyd’s Death Attracts Hundreds [UPDATED]
Beginning their march at Discovery Green about 2 p.m. Friday, hundreds of protesters joined by hundreds more along the way, made their way to Houston City Hall to join in nationwide protests about the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody. Coinciding with Friday’s march, Derek Chauvin, the…
Carmageddon IV: The COVID-ining
Mountain goats in Wales. Pumas in Santiago. Fox cubs in Toronto. Wild boar in Mumbai. These are just a few of the animals folks around the globe have seen on city streets and highways since coronavirus (temporarily) killed traffic. It’s perhaps the only welcome sight in a world on lockdown…
Openings and Closings: Westchase Tavern Opens Soon, Barry’s and Bernie’s Close
We knew this day would come. The COVID-19 crisis was predicted to take a harsh toll on the restaurant industry across the country and it has. In a city like Houston, with 7,000 restaurants and arguably the hottest culinary offerings in the nation, the dining restrictions have made a difficult…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Vast Of Night
Title: The Vast of Night Describe This Movie In One Close Encounters Quote: ROY NEARY: I guess you’ve noticed something a little strange with Dad. It’s okay, though … I’m still Dad. Brief Plot Synopsis: Aliens love New Mexico. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 “Eye in the Sky” singles…
Rocker Joe Grushecky’s Iron City Serenade at 40
It hard to fathom in a time when the push of a button can send the music of an album to the entire country at the same time. But from the ‘60s through the early ‘80s, local rock scenes thrived around the country. Midwest and East Coast towns like Boston,…
Bill O’Brien at Rock Bottom of Odds Board for 2020 NFL Coach of the Year
It’s been a rough offseason for Bill O’Brien’s approval rating among Texan fans, and that is largely because of the moves he’s made as the team’s general manager. When you trade DeAndre Hopkins for a second round pick, when you take on David Johnson’s guaranteed contract in full, when every…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Journey Around the World at Brunch
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have recently…
Houston’s Beloved Cleverley Stone Has Passed Away
Houston has lost its First Lady of Food. Cleverley Stone passed away Thursday of cancer, according to a just-issued press release. She was 68. Stone was a much-loved figure in Houston’s dining scene, not only for her journalistic skills, radio show and television appearances but also for her philanthropy. She…
Chief Acevedo Addresses George Floyd Killing At Hands Of Minneapolis Police
Wednesday afternoon, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who is also president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, a professional organization of police executives representing the largest cities in the United States and Canada, held a press conference to discuss police sentiment surrounding the death of Houston native George Floyd that…
Which NBA Return Most Favors the Rockets
The NBA is full steam ahead on a return to the 2019-2020 season with workouts expected to ramp up in June and an anticipated re-launch to the season in July. There are a number of possible options on the table from going straight to the playoffs to playing out the…
Abbott Touts Amarillo as an Example of How COVID-19 Can Be Contained
Saying Amarillo “has turned the corner” since a surge strike force was sent in to help deal with a sudden spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the Texas Panhandle city, Gov. Greg Abbott touted it as an example of what can be accomplished when state and federal resources…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: A Gulf Coast Sunday Brunch and Fiesta Punch Bowls To-Go
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Digging Into The Future: Record Stores Are Pushing Into The New Normal
Record Store Day, like everything else, had to be canceled due to COVID-19. Originally set for April 18, organizers initially pushed back to June 20 but have since re-formatted the event as Record Store Day Drops, making it a three date event in August, September and October. Instead of a…
Thursday is National Burger Day: We Got the Beef (and Lamb)
Most everyone loves a juicy burger. However, tastes vary when it comes to toppings, temperature and even grinds of meat. In Houston, there is no shortage of burger joints, roadside shacks, fast food spots and high end steakhouses at which to satisfy the craving for a hamburger sandwich. National Burger…
Four Houston Texans Seasons That Deserve “The Last Dance” Treatment
This past Sunday was the first Sunday in a month and a half where we didn’t have two hours of Michael Jordan tearing the ass out of the NBA in the 1990s to entertain us. The soon to be award-winning, ten-part documentary The Last Dance finished up last week with…
Paprika 3: The Ultimate Recipe Storage Solution
My wife and I love to cook. I’m also a nerd with an affinity for technology. You would think that years ago we would have figured out that storing printed pages and internet links for recipes would not only be inefficient but a difficult way to remember what we had…
ROCO Welcomes Composer-In-Residence To 2020-21 Season
ROCO recently announced its 2020-2021 season, and as part of its look to the upcoming year, it is welcoming composer-in-residence Alyssa Morris. As part of her tenure, she’ll will write a triptych of pieces showcasing the ensemble‘s flexible model – including a work for wind sextet, solo instrument, and a piece for chamber orchestra inspired…
Streaming Concert Watch 5/27: Flying Lotus and More
Amid ongoing concerns regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, artists are continuing to share their music with fans via live-stream. This week, the Houston Press highlights an imaginative producer, some battle-rap ready MCs, a Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee, an iconic punk outfit and a screamo group. Keep scrolling to see what’s…
There Will Be No Rescheduling of Hamilton For Houston This Year
Hopes that Broadway at the Hobby Center would be able to reschedule that national tour of Hamilton that was postponed because of the coronavirus were dashed Tuesday when it was announced the show has been moved to canceled status as far as Houston is concerned for 2020. Because of COVID-19’s…
Gov. Abbott Opens Up Texas Even More With a Nod to Water Parks, Food Courts and Driver’s Ed
Undaunted by photos and reports of people crowding together over the Memorial Day weekend across the nation and at a pool party in Houston with nary a mask in sight, Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday announced additional services and programs that can resume operation in the state. “Water parks, recreational sport…
Ranking the Houston Texans’ 2020 Road Trips (If They Happen)
Every year, after the NFL schedule is announced, I do a post ranking the Texans’ eight road trips on the schedule for that particular season. It’s a fun, VERY SUBJECTIVE process that is grounded in my 30 years of adulthood, traveling the country on business for about half of that…
Allen Hill Is Offering Everyone “Beautiful Sounds”
Houstonian and Mr. Oldies himself, Allen Hill is sending everyone a postcard during these strange times. It is addressed: from happiness, to happiness. Hill released his new single “Beautiful Sounds” on May 12 and is available now for streaming and purchase on all platforms. Listening to “Beautiful Sounds,” it is…
Whitey Bulger’s Brutal Life…and Death
Hunting Whitey: The Inside Story of the Capture & Killing of America’s Most Wanted Crime Boss By Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge 352 pp. William Morrow $28.99 Late in the evening on May 1, 2011, President Barack Obama announced to the world that terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden had been…
The Ups and Downs of Wearing a Mask While Waiting Tables
There are serious YOLO vibes going on as more and more American’s don their masks and gay apparel. And yes for some who work in the restaurant industry it does feel amazing to be shaking gin fizzes and eating mis-ordered pizza in the back of the kitchen once again—and of…
Another Sports Holiday Wiped Out by Coronavirus
Memorial Day weekend isn’t just the unofficial beginning of summer or a time to honor the men and women who gave their lives to support our country. It’s also a time when sports begins its long summer of events. And there are some big ones we are missing. While the…
Texas Driver License Offices Begin Re-opening Throughout the State
Texas Driver License offices across the state are scheduled to start re-opening this week, but no drop-ins allowed — which means if everything goes well, there should be no long lines. The Houston area is part of the Southeast Texas region which is included in Phase 3 of the operation…
This Memorial Day, Maybe Watch A Less Somber War Movie
Memorial Day is when we honor those men and women who gave their lives in military service. It’s a solemn occasion, and rightfully so. Conversely, it’s also traditionally a day of picnics and cookouts, because nothing says “sober reflection on the sacrifices of our military” like guzzling Miller Lite and…
Texas Music Focuses on Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental health experts are predicting a second pandemic of sorts, an epidemic born from coronavirus worries and lockdowns. “Some experts are calling this the world’s greatest psychological experiment, for which we will surely pay a significant price. All indications are the coming of a second pandemic, a significant increase in…
This Week in Houston Food Events: National Burger Day Deals and Memorial Day Brunch
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, get Memorial Day brunch, and crawfish, and score National Burger…
Alley Theatre Drops 3 Plays From 2020-21 Season, Lays Off Staff
In sad Friday news going into the Memorial Day Weekend, the Alley Theatre has announced that because of COVID-19 financial repercussions, it is reducing its upcoming eight play season to five and none of the remaining plays will be performed in the smaller, 296-seat Neuhaus Theatre. Specifics on the plays…
Baseball’s Return Complicated by Money, Star Power
Major League Baseball wants to finally get its season underway. For nearly two months, they have discussed the process by which that might happen. But, as we barrel ahead into summer, some of the complications of restarting have come from factors other than COVID-19. No one said it would be…
Reviews For The Uneasily Quarantined: The Trip To Greece
Title: The Trip to Greece Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: HOMER: Boy, the way the Bee Gees played… MARGE: Movies John Travolta made… HOMER: Guessing how much Elvis weighed… MARGE: Those were the days. Brief Plot Synopsis: … “plot?” Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3.5 Danny Zukos…
Openings and Closings: Kin Dee Debuts, Treebeards Market Square Will Close
In light of Governor Abbott’s guidelines for Phase Two of the Reopening of Texas more and more Houston restaurants are finally going forward with dine-in service. We even have a list this week of several new restaurants opening for the first time despite the current difficulties. Bars have a different…
A Houston Widow Gives Witness to the Devastation of COVID-19
On February 18, the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund honored Tony Pierce for his 20 years of service, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at his Thursday press conference. “Two months later Tony passed away as a result of COVID-19.” Readily acknowledging that this far into weeks of his almost…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Lodge-Style Bar Bites and To-Go Party Packs
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone who may have recently…
KOU’s Jon Wilkes Debuts New Single “Burn”
“I just woke up one day and was like, ‘I have to release these songs,'” Jon Wilkes says of his new project KOU, which released its new single “Burn” today. “I don’t even care if no one listens; I’ve got to get them out there.” Formerly the drummer for the…
Looking at Historical Inaccuracies in The Great
Hulu’s The Great is, well, great. Starring Elle Fanning, it’s the story of how Catherine the Great led a coup against her husband and took over power in the Russian Empire. The scripts are charming, witty, and fun while also baldly looking at the brutality and incompetence of the Russian…
Mayor Turner Decides to Keep City Pools and Splash Pads Closed
Apparently unconvinced that there would be any way to ensure social distancing and public safety from COVID-19 at the city’s public swimming pools, Mayor Turner announced late Thursday that they and all splashpads would remain closed until further notice. In a press release form the mayor’s office it stated: “We…
Harris County Judge Extends Stay-at-Home Order Through June 10
Insisting she was not in conflict with the governor, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extended her stay-at-home order through June 10, saying it was needed as a reminder that the coronavirus was still with us. Although Gov. Greg Abbott allowed his statewide stay at home order to expire at the…
![Memorial Day Specials at Houston Restaurants [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/the_pit_room_crawfish_by_dominique_mcghee-2.webp.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Memorial Day Specials at Houston Restaurants [UPDATED]
This weekend will see a number of restaurants, bars and breweries opening for the first time since the pandemic began in March. With Phase Two of the Reopening of Texas, restaurants can increase capacity to 50 percent and bars are now allowed to open with a 25 percent cap. Memorial…
![The Sky’s The Limit: Axelrad Will Host First Rooftop Concert With El Lago And Flower Graves [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/crowdaxelrad.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
The Sky’s The Limit: Axelrad Will Host First Rooftop Concert With El Lago And Flower Graves [UPDATED]
As the city is slowly opening back up, bars and music venues are trying to find ways to roll with the new normal. Axelrad, the eclectic outdoor midtown bar, planned an innovative event weeks before the Governor announced his decision to begin phase two of reopening the state. Axelrad will…
![Classical Music and Modern Literature Share Stage In Symphony’s Livestream [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/joan_derhovsepian-8290.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Classical Music and Modern Literature Share Stage In Symphony’s Livestream [UPDATED]
The Houston Symphony will continue its Living Room Series with viola player Joan DerHovsepian. In a special partnership, a representative from the Houston Public Library will also share some suggested reading materials to keep people entertained during self isolation, all available via a free library card.
NBA Expecting Return in June, but Questions Remain
The NBA is expecting to give teams guidelines on a return to basketball beginning on or around June 1. The guidelines would then open the door for more players to begin workouts in preparation of a resumption of the season. Many questions loom over the discussions and nothing is final,…
Whatever Happened to Spider-Verse’s Doc Ock?
The introduction of a new Doctor Octopus was one of the best parts of Into the Spider-Verse. Rather than the classic, portly evil scientist driven by equal parts narcissism and insecurity, the script gets flipped when the Dock Ock of this universe is revealed as Olivia Octavius. Having managed to…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Memorial Day Brunch and a Stay-At-Home Wine Dinner
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one, with restaurants pivoting to takeout and some returning to in-house dining as Texas slowly reopens. Here’s a look at what’s going on…
Steve Earle Releases Ghosts Of West Virginia
Steve Earle has never shied away from giving a voice to the voiceless. His latest album, Ghosts of West Virginia, due out on May 22 on New West Records, revolves around the tragic explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia which took place almost exactly ten…
HISD Announces Summer Curbside Food Service For Students
Houston ISD, which has been working for weeks in partnership with the Houston Food Bank distributing food at different school sites throughout the district, is about to embark on its own curbside summer meals programs starting June 1 with some adjustments made for the coronavirus. Pickup will be available twice…
Streaming Concert Watch 5/20: Haim and More
Welcome to the Houston Press’ streaming concert watch. This week, I’ve highlighted a few artists who put out new music during quarantine — one of whom wrote, recorded and released an entire album – alongside some recurring favorites. As always, if you’re a Texas musician planning on live streaming a…
Catching up With the Arts in Houston With Online and Re-Opening News
As Texas begins to open up again while the coronavirus is still very much with us, some arts groups are staying online while others are carefully opening up while keeping to the governor’s guidelines of no more than 25 percent of listed occupancy at any time. And if you’ve ever…
The Most Fun Individual Three Year Stints in Houston Texans’ History
Slowly, the wheels are turning in the NFL to get us back to having football on the field, in some form, in September. Even little things like, late last week, Roger Goodell’s announcing that some of the non-football staff are allowed back in facilities is a big deal, because it’s…
Cash Money: Does Anyone Miss It?
Since the coronavirus outbreak, all of us have been forced to make some changes to our daily lives. Things like masks, once reserved for Halloween or that creepy Eyes Wide Shut-themed party your neighbor invited you to that one time, are now commonplace. Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are in…
Independent Music Venues in Houston Are Fighting To Stay Alive
There is no industry that has been safe from the economic wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects, long or short term, cannot be denied but one area that will most likely suffer for a long time is the music industry. Music venues, large and small, were some of the…
Takeout Reviews: Family Meals from Hugo’s
As this crisis continues, we continue to support our local restaurant industry any way we can, including by ordering takeout. Sitting on lower Westheimer in one of the hottest dining pockets of the city, there’s a reason Hugo’s is a Houston institution. And that’s because chef Hugo Ortega and Co…
Deshaun Watson’s MVP Odds Tell The Story On O’Brien’s Offseason
There’s a lot that goes into an NFL offseason for a general manager — free agency, the draft, trades… hell, this season, managing your staff amidst a deadly virus! Along those lines, there are a lot of ways to measure the offseason that a general manager just had. Subjective report…
FX Renews Dave for Second Season After Overwhelming First Season Success
These days, cable networks have their work cut out for them in the perpetual content battle against the big streaming giants. With Netflix, Prime and HBO dominating the original content conversation, it seems the days of network dominance are a distant memory. And yet, in this cord-cutting dystopia, FX and…
Abbott Opens Massage Centers, Bars & Child Care & Don’t Worry About Those Numbers
Despite more positive cases of the coronavirus being reported in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that Texas is ready to take the next step to get business moving by among other things, re-opening massage parlors, bars and bowling alleys. Beginning today, child care facilities, massage and personal-care centers,…
Treebeards to Close June 26 in Market Square
Treebeards, 315 Travis, will close its doors permanently June 26, according to its Facebook page. The post cited a “huge increase in rent demanded by the landlord” as the reason for no longer being able to serve its customers from the longtime spot in Market Square. The Southern-style restaurants serves…
Coronavirus Sobriety Check-In: April Hartman, Apes of the State
In a few weeks, April Hartman will mark six years of sobriety. Hartman is a busy musician who splits her time between three Pennsylvania-based bands. Her music and the people it reaches have shaped her successful recovery. Many of her followers and fans contact her directly for support staying clean…
Former UH Cougar, Current NFL Star Ed Oliver Arrested in Houston
Say what you will about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He’s done some good things as the head of the league, and he’s done some very questionable things, but one of the trends he can certainly hang his hat on is the downward trend in offseason crime generated by the current…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Kata Robata Returns and Musaafer Debuts
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out or making reservations for dine-in service, learn how to make a cedar plank salmon, get fly-by…
Funding Tied To Tourism Is Just Another Reason Houston Theaters Are Suffering Due To the Coronavirus
The bad news came on May 5 – an email from the Houston Arts Alliance informing theater companies that, due to the negative economic impact of COVID 19, the grant money they’d been promised would be reduced going forward. By 6 percent for the first quarter and a warning of…
Chief Acevedo Holds Press Conference After Elderly Woman Stabbed to Death
Chief Art Acevedo held a press conference Saturday morning in a Walgreen’s parking lot off South Braeswood where earlier an 80-year-old woman was stabbed to death in a car jacking by a man, who was then, in turn, shot and killed by a Houston police officer. A nine-year veteran officer,…
Chief Acevedo Responds to Another Officer-Involved Deadly Shooting
Houston Police Officer J. Goff, an officer with less than two years on the force, shot and killed a 30-year-old man only after the man advanced on him and reached for his weapon, Chief Art Acevedo said at a Friday press conference. The 30-year-old man, whose name has yet to be…
HISD Studies Ways to Rebound From the COVID-19 Disruption
In a speech that was in turn optimistic and sobering, Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan Friday cautioned that for Houston ISD students whose studies and lives have been disrupted by COVID-19: “It could take us several years to rebound. It could take us three to five years.” At a press conference…
Musaafer Opens May 18
The Indian cuisine restaurant Musaafer has finally made its way to Houston, two years to the date after we first announced its upcoming arrival in the Houston Press. It originally was slated to open in the fall of 2018 but the restaurant and hospitality industry are unpredictable at best. This project…
Comedy Writer Alan Zweibel Curates Memoirs With Help From Funny Friends He’s Made Funnier
/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Memory is a funny thing – and Alan Zweibel knows a bit about what’s funny. Over his nearly 50 years writing comedy, Zweibel has worked…
Haunter Doubles Down On Self-Love With New Single “Miss Me”
Barely three months ago, Haunter was gearing up for the future. The band drew favorable comparisons to the likes of Chvrches of Ellie Goulding with their debut single “Love You Better,” and things looked to be heading in the right direction for the self-described former emo kids. Then the COVID-19…
Openings and Closings: New Restaurants are Coming, Old Favorites Return
Our Openings and Closings is beginning to look familiar with a handful of new restaurants planned for the future, old favorites reopening and unfortunately, some inevitable closings. Some Houston restaurants are staying with take-out only while other are cautiously dipping their toes into the reopening waters. It’s up to each…
Beethoven to Beyoncé: Switched on Pop Authors and Podcast Hosts Reveal the Powers of Popular Music
Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why it Matters By Nate Sloan & Charlie Harding 224 pp. $24.95 Oxford University Press Think back to Summer 2012. Gotye ached and crooned about somebody he used to know; LMFAO wiggled and party-rocked till the tide turned; Carly Rae Jepsen just…
Dennis DeYoung Goes Back to the Basement Where It All Began
Like all musicians of varying ages, genres, and stages in their career during the Age of Coronavirus, Dennis DeYoung is stuck at home. He’s got a new solo record coming out, but has put a planned tour on ice. So he finds himself at walking the floors with his wife…
Pros and Cons of Returning to an Office
Since the avalanche of coronavirus cases struck the United States, businesses have been forced to close, sending millions of Americans home. For those lucky enough to have a job they can do remotely, that has meant an adjustment to a very different environment than what they are used to. Many…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Dine-In or Take Out Tacos, Pasta and ‘Q
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open dining rooms and patios back up, while many have continued to go the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. Note: Anyone…
Take Out Reviews: Sticky’s Chicken
This column attempts to cover a wide variety of locally-owned Houston restaurants. We’ve reviewed takeout offerings from chef-driven fine dining establishments and local fast-food haunts. Some of our subjects have adopted takeout to survive in a post-COVID world, others are leveraging their existing takeout models to thrive in a down…
Anthony Weaver Meets The Media, Excited About 2020 Texans Defense
The road to becoming an NFL defensive coordinator has been a slow, deliberate build for Anthony Weaver, ever since he retired as a player after the 2008 season. From cutting his teeth in the college ranks on Urban Meyer’s Florida staff, to working for coaches like Mike Pettine, Rex Ryan,…
City Closes Rent Assistance Site After Deluge of Calls, More COVID-19 Deaths and Cases Reported
The city of Houston’s new site designed to handle rental assistance requests because of COVID-19’s financial impacts did not crash Wednesday despite earlier reports that it had, according to Mayor Sylvester Turner. It was just shut it down once officials figured it was out of money, said Turner at an…
Houston Debut: Texas Transplant Kory Quinn Releases New Album The Blueroom
The art of telling a great story through song is a gift and a craft. Some songwriters imagine their stories out of thin air, while others pick up the parts through their life experiences weaving fiction with reality. Either way, a good songwriter captivates their listeners not only with the…
Heroes vs. Coronavirus: Ranking the Avengers and Justice League Against COVID-19
They’ve done battle with aliens and demigods. They’ve faced off against one another and often themselves. It’s tough out there for a superhero. But, which ones will meet their match when facing a killer like coronavirus? It got us to thinking. For the sake of time and space, we’ll stick…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Patio Burgers, DIY Handrolls and Malaysian Curry Crawfish
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including restaurant re-openings, a virtual Thai cooking…
Early Signs of Hurricane Season in the Atlantic
Hurricane season begins on June 1, but that isn’t stopping the tropical Atlantic from heating up in May. A broad surface of low pressure in the Atlantic west of Florida is being given a 50 percent chance of forming into a depression or tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center…
![5 Old World Wine Regions and the First Dates To Serve Them On [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/brunello.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
5 Old World Wine Regions and the First Dates To Serve Them On [UPDATED]
First dates are deliciously awkward and best served with wine—but as all wines are not created equal, neither are first dates. A little more goes into securing a tasty bottle than just picking a region. While mandated requirements aid in keeping quality ship shape, also vintage, producer, and varietal come into…
NBA Players Take Poll: Yes or No to Finish the Season
On Tuesday, ESPN reported that the NBA players union had informally text messaged its players to ask a simple question: Do you want to play again this season? Union reps agreed to keep the information confidential, but it certainly puts a wholly different take on the NBA’s attempts to restart…
Streaming Concert Watch 5/13: Eric Tessmer and More
I haven’t attended a concert in two months, and I’m getting a little stir crazy. Thankfully, plenty of performers are continuing to share their art with fans from the comfort of their own homes and studios, providing a fix for all the live music addicts who are going through withdrawal…
Further COVID-19 Fallout: Houston Has To Counter $169 Million Budget Gap and More Cases
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner had mentioned in passing in press conferences before that as of July 1 there would be furloughs because of COVID-19’s effects on the economy. Tuesday he got more specific, saying 3,000 city employees will be furloughed at a savings of about $7 million. It’s all part…
Experience A Fever Dream: Take A Trip Out West With The India Tigers Of Texas
Psychedelic rock band India Tigers In Texas are taking people on a trip, though it’s not necessarily the kind of trip that comes to mind. The band is releasing the video for their song “Fever Dream” on Wednesday, May 13 at 9:15 pm. They will be screening the video live…
Chief Acevedo Addresses May 8 HPD Shooting of Adrian Medearis
At his Monday press conference, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said DWI Task Force Officer J. Ramos acted in a professional manner and tried to de-escalate a May 8 confrontation with Adrian Medearis before shooting and killing the locally well known gospel singer. Ramos had stopped Medearis for allegedly traveling…
Four Thoughts on the MLB Re-Opening Plan and How It Affects the Astros
On Monday, Major League Baseball was briefed on a plan to re-start the season beginning July 1. Training camps would open in June and opening day would be the first week of July as a best case scenario. There would be roughly an 80-game schedule, expanded playoffs and teams would only…
Texans Open 2020 Regular Season As Biggest Week 1 Underdog
For me, and hundreds of thousands of other NFL fans around the country, the schedule reveal for the upcoming season has morphed into sort of a Christmas morning. At 7 p.m., on that magical night, we open our football gifts and find out exactly when the 16 games on the…
ROCO’s 2020-21 Season Brings Color And Light For Its Sweet 16
ROCO has announced its 2020-2021 season, titled “Color and Light,” offering new commissions, global partnerships, and unique concert spots.
Wine Time: Houston Sommeliers On Keeping Staff and Guests Safe as Dine-in Service Resumes
Governor Greg Abbott has provided little guidance to Texas restaurateurs who began reopening their businesses for dine-in service beginning last week. As a result, many are looking to Georgia governor Brian Kemp’s restaurant guidelines as they resume operations. But even the Georgia order makes no mention of wine service and…
Proof of Life: Houston’s Arts Community Now and in the Future
The Alley Theatre has announced it is holding 2020-21 Season video auditions for Houston actors. Beginning Wednesday, May 27, members of Actors Equity Association can begin scheduling appointments and on the next day, non equity actors can do the same. There are a limited number of slots — 130 total…
He’s No False Prophet: Bob Dylan Announces New Album Due Out Next Month
Bob Dylan is at it again. He recently announced the release of his upcoming album, Rough And Rowdy Ways via Columbia Records, due out on June 19. Rough And Rowdy Ways is available for pre-order through his website. The singer, who celebrates his 79th birthday this month, has been dropping…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Have a Nosh and “Mensch Out”
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, “mensch out in support of Jewish-owned and operated restaurants, learn to make Pad Thai at home, and help feed the frontline. Here’s a look…
Deshaun Watson Stoked Some Drama on Twitter Over the Weekend
In the annals of great NFL “what ifs,” the Chicago Bears’ deciding to draft QB Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in 2017, might take the cake for this decade. If you recall (and in Houston, we recall the whole thing, chapter and verse), the Bears traded significant…
Happy Motörhead Day, Houston!
As we’ve all learned recently, there’s no telling what tomorrow might bring, so we take it day by day and cling to each day’s certainties. That makes today, Friday, May 8, a.k.a. Motörhead Day, one to circle on the calendar. It’s a sure bet that every music fan celebrating the…
Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans’ 2020 Schedule
As we continue to trudge through the COVID-19 pandemic, with virtually no live sports, we continue to do what we can, and a big part of that is treating these live NFL offseason milestones almost as if they are live sports. So, to that end, the 2020 NFL schedule was…
Openings and Closings: Restaurants Reopen, Take-Out Continues
The past week has seen a number of restaurants reopen their dining rooms for business. It’s been a learning curve for many, with some doing an outstanding job while others, not so much. The human element always gets in the way of doing things properly. Judge Lina Hidalgo’s order to…
Former CCR Drummer Doug Clifford Peers Through a Window 35 Years Later
It’s common record company hype to claim that an album has been “years in the making” upon its release. But in the case of Doug “Cosmo” Clifford’s new record, it’s more like decades. Three and a half, to be exact. The former drummer for Creedence Clearwater Revival and Rock and…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: The Return of Rosie and Mother’s Day Dining
As Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, restaurants are beginning to open back up, while many have continued the takeout route. This weekend, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options from restaurants around town, covering both dine-in and curbside service. See our list Mother’s Day Dining Guide for…
Mayor Announces Expanded Number of Testing Sites, Urges Continued Preventative Measures
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the city’s Recovery Czar Marvin Odum came together Thursday to announce a significant increase in the number of fixed and mobile COVID-19 testing centers, while also stressing that the public has to do its part by continuing to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Turner…
Bill O’Brien’s Major Wagers For the Texans’ 2020 Season
I’ve long held a theory on hiring NFL head coaches — if I were an owner, I would never hire a head coach until I went to a casino and played blackjack with him. Now, your first question is probably “Hey Sean, what if he doesn’t play blackjack?” The answer…
![Final Fantasy VII Remake Ruined [Redacted]’s Death](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/sector_7_fall_in_ffvii_remake.png.png?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Final Fantasy VII Remake Ruined [Redacted]’s Death
Massive spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake Ahead. This paragraph is just here to give you a chance to click away to avoid spoilers. How about some quick trivia so you don’t feel you’ve wasted a visit? Did you know that the original Final Fantasy VII was the first game…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Taste An Epic BBQ Collaboration
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including a collaboration for National Barbecue Month,…
Friends and Co-workers Remember Texas’ First Muslim TDCJ Chaplain who passed away from COVID-19
“I’m in bad shape, brother.” These were the words Eugene Farooq says he heard from his long-time friend, co-worker and mentor, Akbar Shabazz, who could barely get out a breath. Days later on April 23, despite being hospitalized, Shabazz would lose his battle against the infectious coronavirus. In September 1977,…
The Houston Press Has an Immediate Opening For a Food Editor
The Houston Press has an immediate opening for a journalist with a sophisticated understanding of food and the skill to write about it in an engaging way. The food editor directs the Press’s restaurant industry coverage, recruits and manages freelance writers, assigns and edits stories, writes daily food posts and…
The Houston Press Has an Opening For a Full-time News Reporter
The Houston Press has an immediate opening for a full-time news writer to continue our record of hard-hitting reporting in the nation’s fourth-largest city. We’re looking for a journalist with a solid news background to cover developing stories through the week and find news of interest to our educated urban…
Today’s Binge Watch: Watsky’s Run at Rap’s World Record
Tired of binge-watching every Netflix scripted series? Already need a fresh take on the music livestream concert that’s becoming the norm? Do you thirst for the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in the dearth of sports created by coronavirus times? If so, clear your calendar for the…
Houston’s Seniors Get Help Feeding Their Pets Amid COVID-19 Concerns
In partnership with the Houston SPCA and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the Houston Food Bank has been delivering dog and cat food to vulnerable seniors involved in its Senior Box Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to pet food, the combined effort from the three groups is helping out with…
Mayor Turner Announces a $15 Million Rent Relief Program Which Critics Say Is Not Enough
If approved by City Council Wednesday, $15 million in federal funds will be set aside for Houston residents who are behind in their rent payments because of the lost jobs and other financial impacts of COVID-19. Critics say it’s not nearly enough. Mayor Sylvester Turner says it’s a start. The…
Will Coronavirus Permanently Change How We Consume the Arts?
Theaters are doing online shows. Intimate streamed concerts are replacing huge arena productions. Movies, which cannot screen in cinemas, are heading direct to Amazon and Apple TV. Since the country has shut down due to the pandemic, it has been a necessity for performing arts organizations, film and TV studios,…
Take Out Reviews: Tornado Burger
The stay home order is, within limits, over for some businesses, among them restaurants. While many eager freedom lovers will rush our city’s dining rooms, masked and carefree, I’d wager a bet the rest of us will continue looking for drive-thrus and takeout for the foreseeable future. I certainly will…
Streaming Concert Watch 5/6: Midland and More
It has been nearly two months since I attended a concert. Post Malone’s performance at the Toyota Center in March was my last, and I’ve lost track of how many I’ve missed during this pandemic. So while we continue mourning the closures of some of our favorite live music venues…
Bachelor Producer Suggests Sex for Wins to Spice Up Baseball Games Without Fans
We know that news organizations are doing everything they can to find ways to keep sports writers busy (ahem). We get it. Professional sports writers have struggled to keep things interesting and, as such, so have the publications they write for. So, we should all cut them some slack when…
Soon You Can Go to the Gym! But You Can’t Use the Showers or Lockers There.
Saying “it’s up to Texans whether or not we remain open or in fact, open up even more,” Gov. Abbott Monday announced further loosening of COVID-19 restrictions: most immediately opening up tanning bed salons, barber shops, hair and nail salons and by May 18 okaying gyms and exercise facilities to…
Hamilton Won’t Be Coming to Houston This Summer After All
The Houston arrival of the much-awaited return engagement of the national tour of Hamilton has been postponed, according to a Broadway at the Hobby announcement this morning. Who every thought that the juggernaut that is Hamilton could be stopped by anything. And yes, it’s because of the coronavirus. The Tony…
Rice Professor Wins the Pulitzer Prize For History
Caleb McDaniel, a Rice University history professor, has won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for History for his book about Henrietta Wood, a woman who was enslaved twice and eventually sued her captor and won the largest financial settlement known in restitution for slavery. In Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True…
Monday Morning Rush? Not So Much.
Last week, Governor Greg Abbott announced the re-opening of Texas beginning last Friday, which included restaurants, some office spaces and other venues at a reduced capacity. The Friday opening was mostly to accommodate places like the beach and restaurants over the weekend. But as we pointed out, the real story…
Some New COVID-19 Testing Sites in Houston, and Get Ready for the Governor’s Speech
In a continuing effort to make free COVID-19 testing more accessible to all parts of the city, the Houston Health Department has announced some new locations and an extension of a mobile site starting Tuesday, May 5. And good news for people who’ve been insisting for weeks that the narrow…
Stages Announces It Won’t Be Able to Reopen The Gordy in May
As it turns out, theaters like Houston’s Stages — live performance venues — are not included in the list of reopened businesses in Texas. It seems that movie theaters, which were allowed to start back up, are considered a different animal. So Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin and Managing Director…
All Hail Andy Dalton! The Most Important Opponent in Texans History
On Saturday evening, news broke that the Dallas Cowboys had signed free agent quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton, a Katy native, had not been a free agent all that long, having been released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday morning after a nine year run that saw him lead the Bengals…
Seabrook Bar Volcano Room Collaborates with Local Chef
Local Seabrook bar owner gets creative with a local chef and have found ways to keep revenue flowing during the last several weeks while bars and restaurant dining rooms have remained closed.
Five Things Homeowners Did During the Quarantine They Might Not Normally Do
It’s been a weird month. Many of us have been stuck at home, quarantining from the coronavirus. It was the right thing, the smart thing and it probably saved a lot of lives. For homeowners who were lucky enough to remain healthy during the time at home, it gave us…
Catching Up With the Arts in Houston
Hands down best news recently for Houston’s performing arts and their artists was Houston Grand Opera’s announcement that on the second try for money from the Payroll Protection Plan they were successful in securing $2.5 million and able to rehire the staff they’d laid off. According to HGO the PPP…
This Week in Houston Food Events: How To Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, support local restaurants by carrying out, fuel up on tacos for Cinco de Mayo, and celebrate all the moms in your life with tasty…
Four Thoughts on Houston Texans’ Decisions in the Secondary
For a team that finished 10-6 last season, and made a trip to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, the Houston Texans had plenty of leaks that were springing on board their ship. Deshaun Watson disguised many of them during the playoff win over Buffalo, and the 24-0 lead…
Houston Symphony Launches ‘Living Room Series’ With Live Recitals
Houston Symphony’s newest endeavor, loving titled the “Living Room Series,” will offer hour-long, livestream recitals by the world-class musicians of the orchestra Friday nights at 8 p.m. during the month of May. Streamed online via a private link to ticket holders, each recital spotlights an individual Houston Symphony musician, and in some cases, musician members of…
It’s Re-Opening Day in Texas! Never Mind 96 More COVID-19 Cases and 3 More Deaths in Houston
As Sylvester Turner prepared himself and his city for the governor-ordered Phase I reopening of Texas on Friday, the Houston mayor reported three more deaths and 98 more positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday. He once again repeated his mantra of caution. Just because theaters are clear to open up doesn’t…
Openings and Closings: The 25 Percent Solution
Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that Texas would begin reopening in phases, with Phase I starting May 1. It allows restaurants to operate their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity while adhering to safety measures outlined here. While many restaurant owners and staff are thrilled to get back to some…
Monday Morning Traffic Will Demonstrate How Open Houston Businesses Really Are
In Houston, if you are driving on a freeway and there is no traffic, you can be relatively certain it is a holiday or early morning on a Sunday. Even then, road construction and accidents can make your travels miserable. For the past month-plus, the city has experienced a prolonged…
And Now, To Cheer People Up: Catastrophic Theatre’s Tamarie Cooper Mix Tape
Looking for something to do to perk up your spirits amid the COVID-19 blues all you social distancing avant garders out there? Try this: Co-artistic director and actor Tamarie Cooper’s lovingly assembled favorite musical numbers from her recent shows. You can catch the compilation on their youtube channel or right…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Dine Out or Take-Out
Gov. Greg Abbott’s stay-at-home executive order has now expired, and as of Friday, May 1, all restaurants can reopen with proper social distancing measures and 25-percent occupancy limits. With some restaurants beginning to open back up and some continuing to go the takeout route, we’re sharing five fantastic dining options…
Houston Music Roundup: Pandemic Can’t Stop Houston Artists from Releasing New Music
It’s hard to know exactly what to listen to in a time like this. Do you numb the chaos with mindless lyrics (thank God the “Baby Shark” curve flattened some time ago), or do you embrace it with more challenging fare (Looking at you, Fiona Apple)? Do you find comfort…
When Will the NBA Ramp Back Up and How Will the Rockets Fare?
It’s becoming clearer that professional sports leagues are gearing up to play whatever amounts to a season in the age of coronavirus. While the NFL still has most of its offseason ahead and baseball has only lost about a month so far, leagues like the NBA and NHL were blunted…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Eat and Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including curbside delivery, Cinco de Mayo specials…
SPA’s Creative Connection Spotlights Artists Of All Levels, Types
Society for the Performing Arts launched its latest initiative, Creative Connection, which spotlights artists of all levels and types across the city. Artists are encouraged to submit their videos, and all people are welcomed to visit the daily updates to keep the creative spirit alive during a time of social distancing.
I Called the TWC 12,000 Times and Wrote This
Hundreds of thousands of desperate, frightened human beings in Texas are calling the Texas Workforce Commission’s hotline, looking for help getting unemployment benefits. The alternative to calling is using the TWC’s website, which is only marginally more technologically advanced than communicating via carrier pigeon. To ease call congestion, the TWC has posted guidelines…
The Black Moods Add a Little Sunshine to Their Demeanor
In the Age of Coronavirus, the music industry – like so many others – has had to change plans, lower expectations, and pivot to unchartered territories. We’ve seen any number of Virtual Concerts where band members are Zoomed in from their own homes or studios and—through the magic of technology—perform…
Chief Art Acevedo Addresses Video Of Man Shot by HPD Officers
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo held a press conference Wednesday afternoon addressing a cell phone video that began circulating on social media the day after 27-year-old Nicholas Chavez was shot and killed by Houston police officers in East Houston on April 21. The video appears to show Chavez on his…
These Houston Restaurants Have Mother’s Day Covered, Even in the Midst of the COVID-19 Crisis
Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10; and you can still celebrate while practicing safe social distancing. As local restaurants decide whether or not to open up their dining rooms at 25 percent capacity per Governor Greg Abbott’s latest COVID-19 protocols, many are getting creative with Mother’s Day…
Texans GM Bill O’Brien’s Post-Draft To Do List
Even amid the slew of trades over the last several months, and in the wake of his first draft as general manager of the Texans this past weekend, Bill O’Brien has been quick to point out that there is still work to be done on the roster between now and…
Streaming Concert Watch 4/29: Ryan Bingham and More
Another week has come and gone without live music, and I mourn with the rest of you. In lieu of in-person concerts, there are a lot of great shows we can enjoy from the comfort of our own homes while we continue adhering to social distancing guidelines. I’ve compiled a…
Takeout Cocktails: One Coronavirus Change We’d Like to Keep
Governor Greg Abbott announced the re-opening of restaurants on a limited basis this week, but it’s clear not all of them will re-open immediately. Many will continue to focus on take-out orders until they can ensure the safety of not only the patrons, but their employees. Reports out of other…
Do Offerings Like alley@home Signal Future Changes in the Way Theater Survives?
It was 1939 when NBC first televised an NFL game on TV (the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the then-named Brooklyn Dodgers). In 1956, CBS brought in regular Sunday pro football games. Rather than discouraging fans from attending games in person, the increasing availability of pro football on TV in the ensuing years…
Mayor Turner Says Don’t Be in a Hurry to Mingle Just Yet
The governor of Texas has made his decision to allow restaurants and malls to open up this Friday but Mayor Sylvester Turner made it clear in a Tuesday afternoon press conference that he isn’t in any hurry to rush out and about, no matter how much he wants the local…
Achieving COVID-19 Containment Will Be “A Tall Order” Given the May 1 Re-Opening, Hidalgo Says
A day after having her knees cut out from under her by the Texas governor as regards the possible fines accompanying violations of her 30-day mandatory mask order, Lina Hidalgo outlined a speeded-up three-point plan for containing the spread of COVID-19 in Harris County. Saying that practicing social distancing, wearing…
NBA, MLB Optimistic About Their Seasons
As governors and the federal government move to re-open businesses around the country after a month or more of shutdowns due to the coronavirus, sports leagues are lining up to get back to work. The NBA has been the most aggressive, originally agreeing to let players voluntarily back into facilities…
Houston Actors Spill Some Hairy Tales Amid Coronavirus Stay At Home Orders
Actors are shapeshifters by profession. For a role they’re at times called upon gain/lose weight, wear prosthetic makeup and, of course, cut their hair, grow their hair, dye their hair or hide their own hair under a wig. In other words, they’re used to not being fully in control of…
It May Take a Year, But Live Music Will Be Back
There will be a music festival of some sort in the United States before the end of the year, of this much I am certain. It’s going to be a bad idea, and will likely result in people getting sick or worse, but it is going to happen. Whether it’s…
Takeout Reviews: Common Bond’s Box Lunch FTW
As this crisis continues, we continue to support our local restaurant industry in anyway we can, including by ordering takeout. I always work from home, but my husband does not. While I’m usually cool with a fried egg, toast and avocado for lunch and he’s used to taking some mix…
Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans’ 2020 NFL Draft
When bad things happen, we all have choices in life. We can tread water in our own tepid pool of misery, or we can move forward. To that end, I know a lot of Texans fans are choosing to continue wallowing in the DeAndre Hopkins Trade Negativity circle of Texans hell…
Abbott Flexes His Powers, Opens Some Businesses, Not Others and Kills Fines For Harris County Mask Order Violations
In an address that contained more than a few surprises — he didn’t open up hair salons after all — Gov. Greg Abbott Monday outlined his plan for en-energizing the Texas economy in a way that some will see as reckless and others as not enough. When his stay-at-home executive…
Lina Hidalgo Announces a Harris County Nursing Home Strike Force
Last Friday, the Houston Health Department announced it was expanding its COVID-19 outreach efforts to the city’s nursing homes. Today, in her morning press conference, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced the formation of a county Strike Force to look into the situation countywide. “We all have heard the stories…
Main Street Theater Announces Its 2020-21 Season
With an optimistic spirit, Main Street Theater today announces its 2020-21 Season, complete with a Tom Stoppard play — always a more than reliable option for the theater’s core audience. The Real Inspector Hound, a one-act by Tom Stoppard, hasn’t been done by Main Street in a long while but…
TUTS Takes the Tommy Tunes Awards Online
Every year, high schools in the Houston area that are active in musical theater, vie for a chance to be selected for and then prosper in the Tommy Tunes competition culminating in a special program. Well, we all know what’s happening to live theater right now thanks to the coronavirus,…
Trump is Clearly Suggesting Dangerous Quack Medicine
President Donald Trump is being dragged over the coals for suggesting that people drink bleach to protect themselves from the coronavirus COVID-19. Thing is, he did not actually say that. All he did was heavily imply to a desperate population in the middle of a pandemic in a country where…
Laremy Tunsil Signs Record Breaking Extension With Texans
In a time on the football calendar, and in an unprecedented era in our history, when Bill O’Brien can accomplish very little under the “head coach” umbrella of his job description, the Texans’ also-general-manager went to work this weekend trying to fortify the roster for the 2020 season. Yeah, there…
Amazon Prime Helps Bring The SXSW Film Festival To Audiences At Home
With the decision to cancel SXSW this year also came the decision to cancel the SXSW Film festival, leaving participating filmmakers with little to no options to find an audience for their films. The SXSW Film Festival was the first film festival to cancel instead of postponing their event during…
This Week in Houston Food Events: FM Burgers and Virtual Boozing
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, support local restaurants by carrying, try out DIY cocktail, pizza making, and cupcake decorating kits,…
Party on the Plaza Is Going Virtual to Benefit Houston Food Bank
Back in February, Houston First Corporation unveiled plans for the 2020 spring version of the popular live concert series, Party on the Plaza. Thursday night shows from late March to early May were scheduled to bring diverse music acts and Houston music fans to Avenida Houston. The pandemic stopped those…
A Mixed Report Day for COVID-19 in Houston
While Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was announcing the shutdown of the popup hospital the county erected outside NRG Stadium, saying the need for COVID-19 beds wasn’t as great as anticipated, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner had to announce that the city’s brief string of no coronavirus deaths had been broken…
Houston Limits Parking Lot Access at City Parks Again This Weekend
To once again encourage social distancing because of the coronavirus, Mayor Sylvester Turner has decided to once again limit parking lot access at some city parks for the second weekend in a row. This includes limiting access to parking lots at Buffalo Bayou Park, Memorial Park, Hermann Park, and Spotts…
The First “Virtual” NFL Draft Broadcast: Four Takeaways
The NFL Draft is one of the biggest spectacles of the sports year. But, in the era of COVID-19, things were a bit different. Gone were the red carpets, the bright lights, the crowds and in-person interviews. Instead, ESPN and the NFL Network jointly broadcast a socially distanced draft complete…
Openings and Closings: Good News and Good Deals
Right now, many of us are working at our home computers, trying to figure out how to teach our children algebra and what to make for dinner from the supplies that we have left. Others are pulling double shifts at hospitals or fending off complaints from shoppers who are pissed…
Care to Help the Houston Press Keep the Music Going?
Thanks to the conronavirus, large gatherings of any kind — including music concerts — are on hold right now. But that doesn’t mean our Houston Press music writers haven’t been busy keeping us apprised of what’s going on. Matthew Keever converted his best concerts of the week column to best…
Empty Stadium Sports Will Be Really Weird
One of the most relaxing things to listen to is spring training baseball on the radio. There is no pressure and no crowd screaming. The announcers are relaxed and feel free to yammer on about random things they would likely never discuss during a regular season game. It’s just quiet…
Antonio Eyez Blasts Into The Future With The Second Coming
When an artist as monumental as Prince passes away, he leaves a gaping hole in the landscape of popular music that is not easily filled. As we reach the four-year anniversary of the artist’s passing, his influence is still as present as ever. Houston’s downtown venue Lucille’s holds a yearly…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Everything You Need for a Home Fiesta
With large gatherings banned and bars and restaurants not being fully operational at the time being, we’re doing things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town: Happy Hour at a’Bouzy Daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2300 Westheimer Missing happy hour? The bubbly-popping…
TV Shows To Binge Once You’ve Watched All The Famous Ones
As we enter the tenth year (or whatever) of self-quarantine, you’ve likely settled into a semi-sustainable routine of homeschooling (if you’re a parent), working from home (if you’re still employed), and gorging yourself on the obscene bounty of streaming entertainment you hopefully have at your fingertips. [Yes, it’s annoying, but…
Gov. Abbott Tells Dallas Radio Station He’s Opening Up the State the First Week in May
Well to the cheers of those in the state who want Texas businesses open right now despite any fears about the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott has told Dallas radio station WBAP that he’s going to issue a new ruling that does just that. “This is going to…
Wine Time: Master Sommelier Steven McDonald
Until late March, Master Sommelier and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse wine director Steven McDonald managed what many consider to be one of the best wine lists in the United States. Last year, his program, which includes thousands of rare and high-priced wines, was one of just eight in the world to…
Lavish Book Celebrates Joe Cocker’s Legendary “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” Tour
There once was a glorious age of Music Journalism Past, an era when the magical could happen. A time when interviews with rock stars weren’t 15-minute phoners with a publicist listening in, or concert pictures limited to first-three-songs-only-no-flash. For back then talent, luck, and moxie could combine to give a…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Enjoy a Local Stay-at-Home Picnic
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including a citywide #StayAtHomePicnic, Sunday Supper fundraising…
How Will The Texans Improve Without First Round Picks the Next Two Years?
Despite the mood Texan fans are in due to Bill O’Brien’s moves this offseason, the fact of the matter is that the Texans will probably have a winning record again in 2020, and might win the AFC South for a fifth time in seven seasons under O’Brien. MY point is…
Face Masks Now Mandatory in Harris County
Starting Monday, April 27, and for 30 days thereafter, every person in Harris County ages 10 and older will have to wear a face covering if they are out and about. “The latest research on this virus tells us that even if you are not symptomatic, you still could carry…
4th Wall Theatre Announces its Upcoming 10th Season
To kick off its 2020-21 season, announced today, 4th Wall Theatre Company is beginning with Between Riverside and Crazy, the Adly Guirgis Pulitzer Prize winning play that was part of the 2019-20 season that opened and closed only days later because of COVID-19. Its other three season productions will all…
Hey, Buddy, Keep Your (Social) Distance When Grocery Shopping
Going to a grocery store or a crowded farmer’s market is often nerve racking without the fear of catching a deadly virus. With the spread of coronavirus, any crowd makes even the least germaphobic person feel like they need a Silkwood-level shower. Right now, no one wants to go out…
Streaming Concert Watch 4/22: Nathan Quick and More
While Houston continues adhering to social distancing guidelines, the Houston Press will continue doing its best to keep readers abreast of the best streaming concerts taking place in lieu of live performances. Beginning with this week’s post, I have decided to focus on local and regional acts, many of whom rely…
We’re Going to Need to Build a Memorial When COVID-19 is Over
As of this writing, the coronavirus COVID-19 has killed 44,234 people. That is more than died fighting in seven American wars, and by the end of April the number will almost certainly be larger than the causalities our soldiers suffered in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. In Texas, 477…
Gov. Abbott Says His Orders Will Override Those of Local Officials If He Decides to Open Things Up
The same Texas governor who earlier in the spread of the coronavirus said he was leaving certain decisions to local mayors and county judges, said at his Tuesday press conference that if his new order expected on April 27 conflicts with any local stay-at-home orders — his rules will override…
Wine Time: Matthew Pridgen, Wine Director at Southern Smoke and One/Fifth
Sommelier Matthew Pridgen is the Beverage Director at the Underbelly Hospitality restaurant group and the Wine Director at its flagship concept One/Fifth. He’s also the “Special Events, Wine, and Silent Auction Director” at Southern Smoke, a non-profit association that provides assistance to Houston-area restaurant workers in times of need. Last…
The Definitive History of Each 2020 Texans’ NFL Draft Slot
Last Thursday, during what was ostensibly billed as his “Pre-Draft Press Conference,” Texans head coach/GM Bill O’Brien was asked 27 questions. Exactly THREE of them had anything to do with this week’s NFL Draft. That stands to reason, as O’Brien’s noteworthy moves this offseason have been mroe about actual human…
Out-of-Work Hospitality Workers Can Pick Up Free Meal Kits Every Tuesday at The Tasting Room Uptown Park
It’s no secret that Covid-19 has hurt the restaurant and hospitality industry in a huge way. With restaurants and bars forced to close, many in the hospitality industry have found themselves furloughed or laid off. Meanwhile, restaurants like The Tasting Room have had to be creative in order to survive…
Music Man Mike Lee’s Pick Me Up Café Blends Folk and Blues To Be “Cosmic American”
Queens-based singer/songwriter Mike Lee has spent the last year and a half on his debut full length, Pick Me Up Café – but he’s been writing songs longer than he knew. “I grew up in South Dakota and have this big country music background,” the stage actor says, “which I…
Book Details Long Delayed Justice for Soldiers of the “Brownsville Incident”
The Brownsville Texas Incident of 1906: The True and Tragic Story of a Black Battalion’s Wrongful Disgrace and Ultimate Redemption By Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) William Baker 481 pp. $30 Red Engine Press It was one of the most famous (and infamous) incidents in the racial and military history of Texas…
It’s Encore Time For Former Shell Oil President and Hurricane Harvey Recovery Leader Marvin Odum
Going for the tried and true, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Monday named former Shell president Marvin Odum to the position of Houston COVID-19 Recovery leader. Odum was also the first Hurricane Harvey recovery leader appointed by Turner in 2017. Saying Odum had performed to “rave reviews” the last time he…
Hidalgo Names State Rep. Armando Walle the Harris County COVID-19 Recovery Czar
At her Monday morning press conference, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo named State Rep. Armando Walle (D-Houston) the Harris County COVID-19 Recovery Czar, in an unpaid position designed to help the county move forward from the coronavirus. “This is not an honorary position. It is not a symbolic one. This is…
What’s Going On in Houston’s Arts World While We’re Homebound
Houston Grand Opera which received the sad news that the PPP money from the Small Business Administration had run out before it could get any of it, is still offering broadcasts on Fridays and Saturdays from some of its favorite operas. Turn in at 8 p.m. Fridays or 1 p.m…
Five Astros Games Worth Re-Watching
As we continue to wait for sports to begin playing games again, we are forced to think about better days when sports were a constant companion and there wasn’t enough time to watch it all. In late spring and early fall, in particular, it could be tough to decide what…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Kata Robata (And Its Miso Lobster Mac) Returns
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, you can support local restaurants by carrying out, celebrate 420 with a “bodacious” burger, learn to make your own dumplings and enjoy a Sunday…
The Suffers Made Room For Us All: Kam Franklin Hosts Weekly Live Streams From Home
Who couldn’t use a warm hug these days? With the constant stream of bad news and lack of social interaction, there’s no doubt we are all getting a little lonely and discouraged. As people are turning to the internet to fill their minds, artists are using live streams as a…
Four Big Takeaways From Bill O’Brien’s Pre Draft Press Conference
They say good things come to those who wait. I don’t know if Bill O’Brien’s pre-draft press conference fits under the “good category” for most Texans fans, but there is no doubt that the wait to hear from the Texans’ supreme leader was long and frustrating. It took over a month for…
Why Direct Ordering is the Best Way to Support Local Restaurants
You’ve probably seen and heard about how the hospitality industry is in turmoil thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps you’ve been doing your part to support your local Houston bars and restaurants, ordering takeout food and beverages as often as your wallet can justify. But are you hitting a few…
Onward: Another Weird Pixar Ayn Rand Love Letter
Let me start by saying that no film has ever pleasantly surprised me more than Onward did. The trailer underwhelmed me, but like a lot of you I’m stuck at home with a bored child thanks to the coronavirus, so we watched it thanks to Disney+. It ended up being…
Houston Mayor and Harris County Judge Still Want Masks, Social Distancing and More Testing. Montgomery County Judge Ends Stay-at-Home Order
In the wake of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement earlier in the day that he was ready to open up the Texas economy, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo held their own separate press conferences, carefully threading their ways through what they were ready to embrace…
Gov. Abbott Closes Schools For Rest of Year, Re-Opens State Parks And Says It’s Time For Retail-To-Go
Gov. Greg Abbott, vowing to re-open the Texas economy in a way that will still be safe and healthy for its residents announced at Friday’s noon press conference that he was ordering all public, private and higher education schools closed for the rest of this school year. At the same…
J.J. Watt Near Top of the Odds Board for 2020 Defensive Player of the Year
If you’re a sports bettor (or bettor of any type), then you probably already know this, but the online sports books out there are finding anything they can on which to provide odds. With no baseball, no basketball, no hockey, no golf… well, all of it puts a serious crimp…
Openings and Closings Take-out for the Long Haul
As you may have noticed, the Openings and Closings column has been focused on restaurants around Houston that have turned to take-out and delivery to make it through the current coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on dining in. However, we actually have a recently opened food truck and a restaurant…
Mayor Turner Announces a #TakeUsToYourTable Campaign in Support of Area Restaurants
In support of the much-beleaguered Houston restaurant industry, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the #TakeUsToYourTable campaign Thursday, urging everyone to buy takeout from area restaurants every Thursday. High profile Chef Hugo Ortega (Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s. Caracol and Xochi) was on hand to add his endorsement to the attempt to pull in…
Sass Jordan and the Coronavirus Blues
Screens and screens of digital ink have already been spilt opining about the fate, recovery, and dissolution of the music industry in the Age of Coronavirus. From clubs and concerts to record stores and touring, things look…not good. Like a lot of artists right now, Canadian blues rock singer Sass…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: At-Home Grilling and Curbside Beer
With large gatherings banned and bars and restaurants not being fully operational at the time being, we’re doing it things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town: All-Day Menu and At-Home Cooking Packages at B&B Butchers & Restaurant Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 8…
Nothing Like A Little Friendly Playwrighting Competition To Pass The Time In Isolation
Attention sports fans! Attention theater fans! Attention anyone looking for a competitive but friendly way to fill their isolation time. Cone Man Running Productions is here to scratch your itch with its bracketed War of the Words playwrighting competition. Pitting 16 playwrights up against each other to create a total…
Wine Time: Goodnight Hospitality Partner and Master Sommelier June Rodil
In April 2019, Master Sommelier June Rodil moved to Houston from Austin to become a partner in the Goodnight Hospitality restaurant group, which includes Goodnight Charlie’s, Montrose Cheese and Wine, and Rosie Cannonball. The Houston Press spoke late last week with the former TexSom “best sommelier in Texas” about what…
![Walgreens to Open two Drive-Thru COVID-19 Sites and Yes, You Have to Sign-Up First [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/walgreens.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Walgreens to Open two Drive-Thru COVID-19 Sites and Yes, You Have to Sign-Up First [UPDATED]
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that they have been working with Walgreens to bring two more testings sites to Harris County. Starting on Friday, April 17, the Walgreens sites will be able to handle up to 200 tests a day at their store…
For Hate of a Sneeze: Why the WWE is Still Live During a Pandemic
Of all the things that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis thought he might end up talking about during a pandemic, one imagines that World Wrestling Entertainment was not a subject near the top of the list. “Controversy” isn’t the right word, but many an eyebrow was raised recently when it was…
Houston Reports Latest Numbers While Fort Bend Opens Up COVID-19 Testing For All
In a press conference of general good news — new donations from NRG to frontline responders and others affected by the shutdowns caused by the coronavirus — the city’s health autority Dr. David Persse sounded a note of caution amid the encouragement and congratulations. “I want to remind everyone that…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Antone’s and Bun B Relaunch the Hot Wang Sandwich
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including a charitable sandwich, free eats for…
Thanks To COVID-19, Here Are The Movies And TV Shows You Won’t Be Seeing In Coming Months
The expression “May you live in interesting times” has often been attributed to the translation of a traditional Chinese curse. While this origin is almost certainly incorrect, I think we can all agree that a little boredom in our current events would be a welcome change. Many of us, after…
Houston Music Foundation Fields 600 Applications for Aid From Houston Music Pros in Its First Week
The Houston Music Foundation officially launched last Tuesday. That’s the day a very good idea, devised by Mark and Rachel Austin, a married couple with deep roots in Houston’s music and public relations scenes, sprang into action. Within days, the upstart crisis relief fund for Houston music industry professionals had…
Fort Bend ISD Will Go With Online Classes for Rest of 2019-20 School Year
Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre announced Tuesday in a letter to the FBISD community that his school district won’t be doing in person classes for the rest of the school year because of the coronavirus. Dupre, head of the fourth largest school district in the region, acknowledged in…
Embracing Change: Robert Kuhn Celebrates Release Of Third Album “Persevere“
The last time Galveston native Robert Kuhn released an album, Houston was under water during Tropical Storm Harvey. Now Houston, along with the rest of the world, is facing another major challenge and Kuhn is at it again. On April 20 he will be releasing his new album, Persevere. “Writing…
Sorting Out Which Leagues Will Have a Season and Which Won’t
For the first time since stay-at-home orders were issued and social distancing was implemented, there is a sense that the entire country needs to begin figuring out how to get back to work. It certainly won’t happen in the next couple weeks, nor will it happen all at once, but…
Drag Queens Stay Fabulous Despite COVID-19
Leave it to the drag community to make like their fake nails and press on during the pandemic. Due to the shut down of Houston’s bars and clubs – where many drag performers earn their main source of income – the entertainers have turned to their ingenuity and creativity to survive COVID-19. Get the run down…
Wine Time: Kroger Beverage Director and Sommelier Jaime De Leon
After the city of Houston ordered restaurants and bars to close a few weeks ago, nearly all of the city’s wine professionals have been either furloughed or laid off. Jaime De Leon, the Adult Beverage Sales Manager for Kroger’s Houston Division is also an Advanced Sommelier and a leading member…
HISD Moves One Food Distribution Site
Houston ISD has announced that since Cullen Middle School has now been designated a COVID-19 testing site for the city, the school district will move the food distribution it has been doing there to Hartsfield Elementary at 5001 Perry, The same guidelines apply: As families arrive at sites, nutrition staff…
City Flooded With COVID-19 Testing Calls, Amid 5 New Reported Deaths
On Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the city would be opening up its public testing sites for COVID-19 to anyone. And on Tuesday, the city’s health center call in number was innundated. “So many people called in earlier today that it overwhelmed the system and we are adding additional…
A Killer Quarantine Sandwich With Local Ingredients
One of the wonderful things about sandwiches is that they are extremely takeout friendly. This is particularly important during the era of the coronavirus. But with the constraints of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, getting a fresh sandwich every day isn’t always possible. And in a quarantine, why not just…
What Now For the Houston Texans After the Brandin Cooks Trade?
We are a little over a week from the 2020 NFL Draft, and I have to admit that, next to handling the psychological and fiscal strain of virtual quarantine from a deadly virus, the toughest thing for me these days is writing a post about the Houston Texans knowing full…
CARES Act Comes to the Rescue of Laid Off Alley Theatre Employees
Good news arrived on Monday for the Alley Theatre. Thanks to the passage of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act, the Alley was able to secure funds to help it continue its operations and will be able to hire back the employees it temporarily laid off because of…
Streaming Concert Watch 4/14: Amanda Shires and More
Until about month ago, the Houston Press ran a weekly concert watch, detailing the best shows coming to the Bayou City in a given week. But live music has come to a screeching halt amid concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I can’t say with any certainty when we’ll all…
![COVID-19 Tests For All, Mayor Says and Russell Westbrook Donates Computers For Kids [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/russell_westbrook_800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
COVID-19 Tests For All, Mayor Says and Russell Westbrook Donates Computers For Kids [UPDATED]
Taking classes online because schools are closed by the coronavirus is tough in a city like Houston where nearly 140,000 households do not have a computer and more than 200,000 do not have internet access, Mayor Sylvester Turner said at his Monday press conference. “We have a digital divide right…
Gov. Abbott Announces a $500 Million Small Business Initiative
Saying “Texans need relief so they can provide for their families and meet their families’ daily needs,” Gov. Abbott announced this morning his Small Business initiative in cooperation with Goldman Sachs, the San Antonio-based non-profit LiftFund and other community development financial institutions. The group pledged $50 million in Texas for…
New York Times Best-Selling Author Shea Serrano Raises $31,000 for the Houston Press
Last week, we ran an appeal to readers as part of our recent campaign to attract donor/members to help support the continuing work of the Houston Press. It caught the eye of Shea Serrano, a former freelancer for us, more commonly known these days as the New York Times best-selling author…
Frog Hair Tries Their Luck On The Internet: Mouse In The Belly Of The Snake Digital Release
Musicians and music venues were one of the first sectors affected by the sudden cessation of social activities due to COVID-19 leaving countless people scrambling for a way to share their art and make rent. Houston’s Frog Hair is no exception. The band was scheduled to release their sophomore album,…
XFL Suspends Operations, No Plans To Return In 2021
We are all feeling the effects of the coronavirus, if not the direct effects of the virus itself then more likely the economic and psychological effects of a near shutdown of the entire economy. In the sports world, the pandemic nuclear bomb has put multiple leagues into limbo, thousands of…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Superica and La Lucha Return, Plus a Pop-Up BBQ Tent
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, support local restaurants by carrying, hit up pop-up markets for fresh produce and bbq, and find out how you can help the community through…
The Parts of Us That Will Die with COVID-19
If you’re searching and finding silver linings when it comes to COVID-19 and the inconvenient changes it’s caused society, you probably haven’t had someone close to you die from it. You’re exploring the bright side from a place of privilege. I hope it stays that way for all of us…
Asian Grocery Stores Are Fully Stocked, Ready to Serve and Have No Lines. Why Aren’t You Going?
With news that employees at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and H-E-B have tested positive for Covid-19, many Houston-area grocers are now employing stricter measures to ensure the safety of their customers and staff. Plastic screens are being put up at the cashier stands to protect employees from inadvertently being exposed…
In a Time of Social Distancing, Theater Students Run Lines With Inanimate Objects
All across Houston, high school teachers are scrambling to teach lessons online, figuring out how best to translate their curriculum to the virtual world. With subjects like math, English, and history, some of this new learning can come from self-study at home, using books or online text. But what if…
Mildred’s Umbrellas Delays Rest of Season, Ars Lyrica Cancels Bach Goes Greek
Houston’s performance arts companies hoping that COVID-19 would soon be behind us continue to rearrange their upcoming schedules as it becomes clear that while perhaps life will be back to closer to normal by late May, getting ready for full scale productions and events for then may not be possible now…
As If We Needed More Good News, Hurricane Season Could Be Busy
If 2020 couldn’t get any weirder, the team at Colorado State University, known as the foremost hurricane forecasters in meteorology, came out with their seasonal forecast calling for an above average hurricaneseason this year. Joy. The CSU team uses statistical modeling and historical information to generate a very early season…
Openings and Closings: We’re Still Standing
The hospitality industry is still struggling to adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions and reinvent itself, at least for the short term, in order to make it through this crisis. Unfortunately for the bars and nightclubs, there aren’t many options. For local restaurants and markets, however, the looser laws on alcohol…
Doc Shows How Miles Davis Ran Cool…and Hot
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool Directed by Stanley Nelson Blu-Ray + DVD 115 minutes $29.98 Eagle Rock Entertainment This documentary on jazz icon Miles Davis opens with black and white footage of the trumpet player throwing punches in a boxing ring. A lifelong enthusiast of “the sweet science,” it…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Easter Takeout and Drive-Thru Crawfish
With large gatherings banned and bars and restaurants not being fully operational for the time being, we’re doing things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town (including takeout for Easter Sunday): Live Mariachi Curbside Pickup and Farmers Market Packages at Arnaldo Richards’ Picos…
![Mayor Turner Shuts Down City Parks For Easter Weekend [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/acevedo_parks_800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Mayor Turner Shuts Down City Parks For Easter Weekend [UPDATED]
One day after declining to join Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s decision to shut down county parks over the East Weekend, Mayor Sylvester Turner Thursday changed his mind and announced he was closing the city’s parks as well starting on Good Friday. What changed his mind? At 1:30 p.m. today,…
Harris County Does Not Need to Become the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Texas
After days of being reassured that Houston and Harris County’s problems with the coronavirus were nowhere near those of New York City, Chicago or New Orleans, it was somewhat confusing Wednesday to hear that Harris County is now considered a hot spot and one of special concern extending even to…
Become a Member of the Houston Press and Help Us Continue to Dish Up Food News
Houston’s restaurants have retooled themselves, becoming the masters of takeout on what seemed like a moment’s notice. Some have extended their offerings into local grocery stores for the first time. Others are now selling wine and beer out the door as long as a food order is attached. Several have…
10 Plant-Based Take-Out Ideas From Houston’s Restaurants
Looking for plant-based takeout inspiration in this quarantine era? Here are some of my top picks for vegetarian eats to-go, most of which are situated inside the Loop. Make sure to take advantage of some of the amazing specials, tip generously, and order directly from the restaurant for pickup or…
How Many Future Hall of Famers Does Houston Have?
For sports fans in Houston, 2020 has not been an easy calendar year, thus far. The Astros were thumped by the punishment of a cheating scandal that has cast an asterisk-pall over their only world championship. The Texans followed up their unceremonious playoff ouster by trading their best player for…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Cookie Delivery and Filet from a Food Truck
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including restaurants and farm stands to support,…
Satellite Houston Launches GoFundMe Page Amid Live Music Standstill
As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on small businesses throughout the city, forcing a mass stream of layoffs and shuttering of operations, business owners of all forms are dreaming up different ways to mitigate these losses in any way they can. Whether it’s rolling out gift card specials for restaurants, or curbside…
Houston Symphony Cancels the Rest of its 2019-20 Season
The Houston Symphony has announced it is cancelling the rest of its 2019-20 season as well as the Jones Hall performances scheduled for June in order to continue to follow social distancing rules involving the coronavirus. Previously the Symphony had cancelled performances through May 10. In the Wednesday announcement, John…
Inconic Folk-Country Legend John Prine Dead At 73
Folk-country legend John Prine died today of complications related to Covid-19. The 73-year-old singer-songwriter had been hospitalized last month after showing symptoms of the coronavirus. A prolific songwriter whose admirers included the likes of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Roger Waters, Prine recorded 18 studio albums over a career than spanned…
Harris County Judge Closes County Parks Good Friday Through Easter
As often as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has mentioned his concerns about people turning out in force at local parks for Easter weekend, it shouldn’t come as a complete surprise that today Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced she’s closing the county’s parks from Good Friday through Easter. “We are…
“We Have Not Reached the Peak,” Mayor Turner Says, While a Report Shows Lives Have Been Saved
For more than 20 minutes at his Tuesday press conference, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner repeatedly stressed the need for local residents to keep to social distancing, stay home and wear masks — saying that those measures have been working in the city to slow the COVID-19 death count, now at…
Passover and Easter: Holy Week Under Quarantine
Passover begins Wednesday April 8 at sundown for those of the Jewish faith. Palm Sunday was this past weekend and for many Christians, it begins the holiest week of the year. Ramadan starts April 23 this year for Muslims. Whether you are a believer or not, being on shutdown during…
Could Baseball Return in May? More Importantly, Should It?
Everyone who loves sports misses them terribly. Not only is it something people enjoy, it is a way to pass the time. And God knows we all need to find more ways to pass the time. This week, reports have leaked that Major League Baseball is considering a way to…
Country Legends Willie and Kenny (and Their Friends) Shine on Pair of Specials
With most folks in Coronavirus Quarantine, our televisions are likely going 24/7 with all the watching, playing, and streaming (stocks I should have bought two months ago: Charmin, Purell, Zoom, and Netflix). Fortunately for the music fan, we live in a golden age of documentaries and concerts across seemingly all…
Horror Movies Got Me Out of My COVID-19 Depression
“It’s a tragedy/It’s a sad song/But we sing it anyway.” -“Road to Hell” from Hadestown Spoilers for a lot of Netflix horror films ahead. I remember the exact moment during the coronavirus outbreak when I stopped thinking about how hopeless this whole thing is. It was as I watched Iván…
Texas State Parks Close at End of Day Today
Gov. Abbott has decided safety trumps recreational yearnings and has ordered the state parks of Texas to close their gates as of end of business today. Would-be visitors will have to take their hopes of hikes, bikes, jogs, walks, fishing and wildlife viewing elsewhere. It just got too tough for…
Don’t Ever Underestimate the Heart of Rudy T
Last week, Rudy Tomjanovich — Rudy T to, well, everyone — was finally elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He has been up for the honor numerous times, but finally made it in 2020 along with a cast of basketball legends that includes Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan…
Officials Say It’s Do or Die Time: April is the Month to Keep Social Distancing Yourself
The message from the Mayor’s Office and the Governor’s Office was clear on Monday: Now is the time to stay the course. If people can social distance themselves from others, there is a good chance that Houston and Texas will be spared the kind of scene existing in New York…
Was 1978 the Most Diverse Year in Music History?
On Record – Vol. 1: 1978 – Images, Interviews, and Insights from the Year in Music By G. Brown 340 pp. $40 Colorado Music Experience Even the most causal music listener would find it hard to argue that 1978 was not one of – if not the – most diverse…
![Take Out Reviews: Riel [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/img_20200403_172941-2.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Take Out Reviews: Riel [UPDATED]
As this crisis continues, we’re wading into unchartered territory. This once-in-a-generation pandemic is shutting entire industries down for longer than we’ve ever seen. Hospitality, in particular fine dining, is suffering perhaps the worst depression in the industry’s history as restaurants in some cities go into their fourth or fifth weeks…
Houston’s Performing Artists Say Don’t You Forget About Me
Their stages may be closed, but Houston’s theater companies and performers continue to put themselves out to the community both to remind residents of their continued existence and to help at-home families with their down time as the coronavirus continues to spread in the area. Several artists from Classical Theatre…
J.J. Watt Makes NFL 2010’s All Decade Team, Hopkins Snubbed
When it comes to accolades in the National Football League, obviously getting that gold jacket in Canton, and being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame tops the list. The next notch below that, though, almost serves as a precursor to Canton, and that is being named to the…
Rice University Opens 2 Dorms for Med Center Workers
Rice University which emptied out most of its dorms more than three weeks ago because of the coronavirus, has opened rooms at two of those dorms for temporary housing for medical personnel who work in the Texas Medical Center hospitals. In a message sent out to the Rice campus community,…
Houston Ballet Decides to Close Down the Rest of its 2019-20 Season
There will be no rescheduled date for Romeo & Juliet this season for the Houston Ballet. In fact there won’t be anything for the rest of the season as today, Houston Ballet is announcing today that despite earlier hopes that it would be able to resume its coronavirus-disrupted 2019-20 season,…
![These Houston Restaurants Are Offering Easter Sunday Eats To-Go [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ouisies_lamb_chops_-_photo_by_frances_foreman.webp.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
These Houston Restaurants Are Offering Easter Sunday Eats To-Go [UPDATED]
Easter, which falls on Sunday, April 12, is sure to look a little different this year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a special meal with your loved ones. Local restaurants are offering everything from family-style brunch kits complete with Easter egg decorating kits to fancy four-course meals for…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Holiday Eats, Tacos for Heroes and Curry that Heals
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, support local restaurants by carrying out, get in the kitchen with at-home cooking kits and check out the Easter and Passover to-go holiday offerings…
Houston Costume Designer Makes Masks For Emergency Room Staff
Costume Designer Donna Southern Schmidt was thinking way ahead of most Houstonians when she decided to grab a bunch of leftover materials and take them into isolation with her as the stay at home order hit Houston. Social media connections with fellow costume designers all over America, but especially Schmidt’s…
Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans’ Conference Call Misfire With Season Ticket Holders
Since the DeAndre Hopkins trade, Houston Texans fans have been very antsy about hearing from the head coach and general manager of the team, Bill O’Brien. They have a lot of questions for him, and for ownership, over why the best football player on the team and the best wide…
Who Bassist John Entwistle’s Life of Loudness
The Ox: The Authorized Biography of John Entwistle By Paul Rees 384 pp. $30 Hachette Books Every member of the Who has been the subject of a number of biographies and autobiographies save one: bassist John Entwistle. Known as “The Quiet One” for his stoic, anchoring stage presence and unflappable…
Judge Ritchie Orders Halt to County Jail Release of Prisoners
Friday afternoon, Judge Herb Ritchie countermanded Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s prisoner release order and ordered a stop to any release of county jail inmates charged with a felony. In his “Order to Disregard Directive,” Ritchie, the administrative judge for the Harris County Courts Trying Criminal Cases, said that all…
Alley Theatre Announces its 2020-21 Season
The Alley Theatre today announces its 2020-21 season which includes two previously cancelled productions (Amerikan and Dead Man’s Cell Phone) and five world premieres. Clue, which was to be the theater’s Summer Chills offering, will now be the season opener starting in mid-September. Three of the plays being presented were…
Abbott Says Texas Has Enough Hospital Beds, While COVID-19 Cases Continue to Increase
In his press conference Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at present there are enough hospital beds — more than 19,000 remain available — to handle the state’s needs for coronavirus patients. He and Dr. John Zerwas, Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Texas System, also…
Let’s Keep Going
In today’s Houston Press you’ll read a story about the A.D. Players announcing their 2020-21 season, one in which they’ll be premiering two commissioned works. We have to admire their enterprise and optimism. Our writer John Amar earlier this week told the stories of several artists busy adapting to present…
Any Of You Weirdos Still Watching Contagion?
Among the — to me — more surprising revelations during the opening weeks of this, the Great Pandemic of 2020, was that Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 virus epic Contagion was one of the most-watched streaming movies: Contagion is currently trending on both Amazon Prime and iTunes and is in the top four…
Alas Poor Yorick, No Houston Shakespeare Festival This Year. or Texas Music Festival.
The University of Houston has decided to postpone its much-beloved Houston Shakespeare Festival scheduled for July and August and its Texas Music Festival scheduled for June because of the coronavirus. In a group letter signed by leaders in the McGovern College of the Arts at UH, the writers say that…
Openings and Closings: The Local Edition
We are all getting a little cranky and stir crazy as the weeks turn into possible months of quarantine and social distancing. And some of us are still not getting the idea. We are trying to support Houston’s restaurants and businesses but we would like to reiterate that in doing…
Stone Crush Revives “Lost” era of Memphis Soul & Funk
When most people think of Memphis Soul, it’s the era from the mid-‘60s to mid-‘70s where labels like Stax and Hi put out the massively popular – then and now – music by artists like Otis Redding, Al Green, Booker T. and the MG’s, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas, and…
Technology That Has Proven Invaluable During the Coronavirus
While so many of us have been hidden away, practicing self quarantining and social distancing, we have managed to remain remarkably connected and keep ourselves busy. Much of that is due directly to technology. It’s difficult to imagine how we would have gotten through in the early twentieth century when…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: “To-Geaux” Gumbo, Grill Your Own Brats and More
With large gatherings banned and bars and restaurants not being fully operational at the time being, we’re doing it things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town: Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: To-Geaux at Brennan’s of Houston Daily, 3…
A.D. Players Announces its 2020-21 Season at The George
Without naming specific dates, A.D. Players at The George has announced its 2020-21 Season beginning sometime this fall with the A.D. Players-commissioned and world premiere of Apollo 8 by Jayme McGhan, the true story of the first NASA mission to successfully orbit the moon. Sometime around Christmas, A.D. Players will present…
City Records 2 More Deaths Within 24 Hours and More First Responders Test Positive (UPDATED}
At his afternoon press conference Thursday, Mayor Turner reported two more deaths, bringing the total of people who have died from COVID-19 to six. All were older and had underlying health conditions according to the Houston Health Department. “The latest deaths were a woman in her 60s who died March…
After Conducting a One-Day Survey, Fort Bend County Judge Extends Stay at Home Order
At 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Fort Bend County Judge KP George sent out a press release that yes, the judge was extending his “Stay at Home to Save Lives” directive through April 30. While other local governmental entities including the city of Houston and Harris County on Tuesday extended their stay…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Restaurant Workers Relief and Easter To-Go
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including ways you can help, restaurants to…
Deaton LeMay Project’s Day After Yesterday is a Study in Perfect Timing
Ask Craig LeMay and Roby Deaton, the Houston musicians and namesakes behind the Deaton LeMay Project, and they’ll tell you timing is everything. It’s certainly critical to their style of progressive rock. They believe their debut album, Day After Yesterday, might have fared well in a long-ago music industry where…
Local Musician Goes Virtual With ‘Stay At Home’ Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony principal double bass player Robin Kesselman has joined a virtual symphony group to keep producing art despite the COVID-19 quarantine. The “Stay at Home Symphony Orchestra” released Mozart’s “Overture” from The Marriage of Figaro on YouTube.
Houston Texans Fans Select Team’s All-Time Top Five
Content is always king, but during the sports hiatus which we are on right now, creatively finding content for the tens of thousands of stuck-at-home sports fans is going to be very interesting. One of the easy layups to spark debate and draw eyeballs is soliciting opinion on power rankings,…
HISD Gets Back Into the Food Service Business Starting Monday, April 6
After cancelling its own food distribution on March 26, the Houston ISD just announced it is getting back into the game, starting Monday, April 6. The first effort operated in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, was very successful but concerns about possible community spread arose among workers and the…
Hamilton Still Coming to Houston, Single Ticket Sales Open April 3
Yes, even in the midst of the coronavirus malaise, we have something to look forward to this summer and to act upon starting this Friday. Broadway Across America has announced that single tickets for Hamilton at the Hobby Center will go on sale April 3 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com…
No Nets, No Hugs, Keep Social Distancing Working, Houston Mayor Says
Even though Texas Governor Greg Abbott cleared the way for churches in the state to meet in physical not virtual reality — a directive that goes against Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s ban against large gatherings — Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Wednesday urged people to use common sense. While most…
Houston Press Menu of Menus® 2020 Rescheduled Again For September
In light of the continuing developments of the COVID-19 virus and the announcement from the federal government extending the social distancing guidelines, the Houston Press has decided to further postpone its annual Menu of Menus® Extravaganza 2020 date until September 1. All tickets purchased for the original date will be honored…
Emergency Political and Business Policies That Could Outlast the Viral Outbreak
As we enter another month of quarantine from the Coronavirus outbreak, all levels of business and politics have been impacted. From mom and pop shops to huge corporations, city managers to the President, everyone is being forced to adapt to a relentless virus and the changes we are all having…
Act Natural, This Ain’t No Farewell Party: Country Legend and Houston Native Gene Watson Reschedules Dates
Houston has always been and will always be a music town. Though not everyone is aware, the city has birthed and housed music superstars in all genres. Country singer Gene Watson is no exception. The 76 year-old artist was born in Palestine, Texas and has called Houston and Kingwood home…
At ComedySportz Houston, The Show Will Go Online on April Fools Day – Really!
“We’re going to actually have players broadcasting from their home, in their living rooms or whatever rooms they have in their house, and we’re going to be playing ComedySportz games right there.”
Harris County Stay at Home Order Extended Through April 30 as City Records Another COVID-19 Death
As the City of Houston recorded its fourth COVIID-19 death, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced they were each extending their stay at home orders through April 30, saying experts expect the cases may peak around May 2 in this area. Earlier in the day…
Storied Producer of Doobies, Van Halen, and More Tells His Own Story
Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music By Ted Templeman as told to Greg Renoff 450 pp. $19.95 ECW As an introduction to the often misunderstood art of record production, young Ted Templeman could not have found a better session to observe. Through friends in the music biz, the…
NRG Center Looked at For Possible Coronavirus Bed Site, More Local Deaths
On Monday, the Houston Health Department reported one new death and 23 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the city’s total to 309. To date there have been three reported deaths in the city due to the coronavirus. “The deceased resident was a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions. She…
Betting Lines On Every Houston Texans 2020 Regular Season Game
Maybe some of you have adjusted to the “new normal” we are in, you’ve immersed yourself in binge watching The Tiger King or Season 3 of Ozark, and you haven’t really noticed that there are literally NO sports being played right now. It’s a strange place, and the withdrawals are…
Take Out Reviews: Fat Bao
You may find, during these difficult times, that you miss not only your daily routine but also the spontaneous, “once in while” type things you inadvertently took for granted. For me, this has meant certain restaurants and their associated experiences — the intimacy and pleasure of sushi from the counter,…
Houston Actors Go Online To Entertain And Occupy Their Time
“Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; man got to sit and wonder ‘why, why, why?” Leave it to Kurt Vonnegut to unintentionally describe our different reactions/realities when it comes to dealing with global problems such as coronavirus. But what about the actors among us? What do they have…
Quarantunes: 6 New Albums to Get You Through the Quarantine
With life as we know it being virtually upended by COVID-19, and a mandatory stay at home order being issued for Harris County (and most surrounding counties), it’s safe to say that we’ll continue needing things to pass the time with during this indeterminate quarantine period. Whether you’re finally getting…
MLB Staves Off Labor Crisis For Now
Last week, Major League Baseball and the players’ union came to an agreement on terms during the Coronavirus pandemic. While this may just seem like another business figuring out what to do while everyone is out of work, it is quite a bit more complicated for professional sports who operate…
Houston Artists’ Silver Linings Songbook: A Pause for Grief and Searching For What’s Next
Before COVID-19 halted arts and music industries around the world, Garfield Elementary general music educator Abby Veliz was in the process of booking a performance for her students with the Houston Dash. Veliz, an HSPVA and UH graduate, was also prepping her kindergarteners and 4th graders for their end-of-year graduation…
Texas is Lining Up Alternatives to Hospitals in Case More Beds Needed for COVID-19 Patients
While stating that the number of hospital beds that could be used for coronavirus patients in the state has doubled over the past week to more than 16,000, Gov. Abbott said at his Sunday press conference that state has also been busy identifying locations for possible use as health care facilities…
Reacting To New Texan WR Randall Cobb’s Press Conference Answers
It’s been a rough couple weeks to be a Houston Texans fan, we all know this. Tomorrow will represent the two week mark since Bill O’Brien decided to jam a harpoon through the collective heart of the Texans’ fan base by tasing DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. The one…
Some of the Latest Changes to Houston’s Performing Arts Scene Coming to You
As the local Stay At Home orders remain in place, Houston’s performing arts community continues to find ways to remind audiences that it is still here despite postponing and cancelling performances that audiences were counting on and the companies need to stay financially solvent. Houston Ballet has cancelled its scheduled…
That Time Christian Kidd Met The Ramones at a 7-Eleven And Other Houston Punk Memories
Christian Kidd, founder, lead guitarist and singer of seminal Houston punk band The Hates ran into the Ramones by chance at a Houston 7-Eleven store back on February 19, 1978 after their show at the now defunct On The Border club.
This Week in Houston Food Events: DIY Cocktail Kits, Make-Your-Own Pizza and BBQ To-Go
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community continues to truck on. This week, support local restaurants by using carry out, try out DIY cocktail, pizza making, and cupcake decorating kits, and hit up pop-up markets for fresh…
Houston Records Second Death as Reported Cases of COVID-19 Jump
As Houston recorded its second known death due to the coronavirus, Mayor Sylvester Turner Saturday urged people to follow the social distancing recommendations as the city’s number of cases increased to 232. Apparently that hasn’t been the case in one area of Lake Houston and while the city is not…
Fort Bend Reports First COVID-19 Related Death
Fort Bend County Health & Human Services has just announced the first COVID-19 related death in the county: a woman in her 70s with pre-existing medical conditions. Before she died, she was hospitalized briefly in a local hospital. She died late Wednesday, March 25 and her physicians agree that cornavirus…
New Texas Rules for Travelers and Abortion, While Houston Comic Cons Decide to Sit Out 2020
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that any travelers coming into Houston from New Orleans — where cases of the disease have boomed — will be subject to a 14-day self-quarantine along with travelers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. During that Thursday press conference, Abbott said that there…
![Openings and Closings: The Stayin’ Alive Edition [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/local_group_brewing_beers_by_carla_gomez.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Openings and Closings: The Stayin’ Alive Edition [UPDATED]
Every week, we list Houston’s newest restaurants opening and the occasional shutter in the Openings and Closings. For now, we are focused on keeping Houston’s existing restaurants open. There are a number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs that have suspended operations temporarily because of the coronavirus. When noted, please remember…
Reviews For The Self-Quarantined: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
COVID-19 has already drastically altered our lives; forcing millions of Americans to remain home and practice “social distancing” to (hopefully) slow the spread of the disease. Movie theaters are also closing and the release dates of just about every major studio release has been pushed to the end of the…
Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s Reveals All She Ever Wanted
Note: Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the book signing/meet and greet with Kathy Valentine scheduled for April 26 at Cactus Music has been postponed indefinitely. For Kathy Valentine, it was a Christmas gift that not only kept on giving, but in many ways came to define her life and music…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Curbside Pick-Up, Mini Bodegas and Take-and-Bake Meals
With the new “Stay home, work safe” measures in effect and bars and restaurants not being fully operational at the time being, we’re doing things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town: Bernie’s “Name Your Own Price” Bodega at Bernie’s Burger Bus Bernie’s…
Deshaun Watson is Tweeting Quite a Bit, And This Can’t Be Good
These are anxious times we are living in right now. I don’t need to list all of the reasons or ripple effects as to why we are all so on edge. You know those. What we don’t need right now is any sort of undue stress in our sporting lives…
Houston Records Its First Coronavirus Death in the City on Day Two of Stay Home
On Day Two of the city’s stay at home order, Houston’s Health Department today recorded the first death in the city due to the coronavirus: a woman in her 60s who had underlying health conditions and who died at an area hosptial Speaking at the mayor’s afternoon press conference, Dr. David…
There’s Never Been a Better Time For the Vulcan Salute
As with all new habits, we’ve still got some fine-tuning to do. The handshake — an age-old custom designed to show the hand holds no weapon — is now verboten. It seems our hands are in fact weaponized with insidious, invisible little viruses that are hell-bent on demolishing humanity. We’ve…
HISD Cancels its Food Distribution Starting Today
Houston ISD has announced it is cancelling its food distribution sites throughout the district starting today. Previously scheduled pickup availability will not be happening. HISD was operating the food giveaways for students and their families in partnership with the Houston Food Bank. In response to high demand after iit first…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Buy, Eat and Give Back to the Community
Times are tough for everyone, including the hospitality industry. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, as Houston’s food community has proven to be a strong one. Here’s a look at what’s going on in the food world during the COVID-19 crisis, including ways you can help, restaurants to…
Moons of Madness: Cthulhu on Mars
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 H.P. Lovecraft has been going through a renaissance in video games lately thanks to titles like Call of Cthulhu and The Sinking City. None of them are as good as Moons of Madness, now out on PS4 and Xbox One. The game focuses on a…
Stay Home, Snack Healthy with Chipmonk Baking Cookies
After social distancing for more than a few days, it’s all too easy to fall into the all-day snacking trap at home. If you’re currently dreaming of a cookie that will curb your cravings and also just happens to be low-carb, low-sugar and delivered to your doorstep, now is a…
Fort Bend Opens First COVID-19 Testing Site in County
Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Fort Bend County Health & Human Services Director and Local Health Authority Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson Minter in coordination with OakBend Medical Group Wednesday night announced the first COVID-19 testing site in Fort Bend County. “Oakbend Medical Group is launching the first COVID-19 testing…
Wednesday’s Coronavirus Developments in the Houston Area
On Wednesday, Gov. Abbott got the Major Disaster Declaration he wanted from the White House that will enable him to apply for increased federal assistance. “The President’s declaration opens up new sources of funding for individual and public assistance that will help Texas respond to this public health emergency and…
City Waiting For Another PPE Shipment From FEMA, While Testing Continues For Now
The possible shortage of coronavirus testing equipment was on the top of the list of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Wednesday morning press conference following the city council meeting on Day One of the new stay-at-home order. David Persse, the public health authority in Houston’s Department of Health, said if any part…
New Restrictions From the Houston Parks Department
Well, here it is. Some City of Houston facilities are not as open as they were for a while. Blame the coronavirus. Dog parks are still open, however. Here’s today’s release from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Closed Park Facilities The Memorial Park Tennis Center, Lee LeClear Tennis Center,…
City of Houston Suspends All Municipal Court Trials Through May 1
The City of Houston has just announced it is suspending all jury and judge trials, jury duty, arraignments and parking adjudication hearings through Friday, May 1. The culprit in this case is, of course, the coronavirus. Still, municipal courts remain open for other proceedings although people should not come to…
White Oak Music Hall Starts GoFundMe Page For Staff Affected By Coronavirus Outbreak
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, people all around the world have been advised by health officials to avoid crowds of people. Here in Houston, bars and clubs were ordered to close for 15 days beginning on March 17, and Governor Greg Abbot issued an executive order temporarily closing…
How the Coronavirus Could Reshape the Debate on Traffic in Houston
For years the debate over traffic in Houston has centered primarily around two concepts. The first is that we needed far greater vehicle infrastructure (i.e. more freeways) to handle the surge in commuters and those new to the city. The second was a move toward more public transportation with an…
Coronavirus Food Tips: Don’t Waste the Goods
You’ve done all your shopping. You and the people you love are hunkered down, working from home and ready for the long haul. It might be a while. It’s time to make the most of what is in your house and at your disposal. Houston is not on a mandatory…
With Live Gigs Scarce, Comic-Songwriter Robert Price Goes Digital with “Heartbreak” Album
“Every song is like a little play you don’t have to go to. Which is really convenient, because now we can’t!”
Governor Supports Restaurants Selling Retail To Get The Supply Chain Moving
Governor Abbott announced earlier today his support for restaurants to sell retail products directly to consumers. The initiative was headed by Dr. Emily Williams Knight, CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, and State Representative Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), who worked with the governor and key agencies to create guidelines effective…
Fort Bend County Joins Harris County in a Stay At Home Order, But Montgomery County Says Nah.
On a day that President Trump, apparently discounting anything his medical advisers are trying to tell him, announced he hoped all churches in the United States would be filled for Easter, some Texas officials continued to tighten the governmental reins surrounding the virus crisis. A lot of people were still…
An Important Message From the Houston Press
Dear Friend, First of all, thank you for supporting the Houston Press. Clearly, without our readers we couldn’t exist, couldn’t continue telling you stories that might otherwise have gone untold. Right now we are dedicated to keeping you informed about every facet of how the coronavirus is affecting our community…
![Harris County Judge Issues Stay at Home Order [UPDATED WITH ORDER]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/stayhome_announcement.png.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Harris County Judge Issues Stay at Home Order [UPDATED WITH ORDER]
Well it’s not turn out the lights, but the party (if there was one scheduled) is definitely over in Harris County starting at one minute before midnight today. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in an early morning press conference today issued a mandatory stay-at-home, work-safe order effective through April 3,…
Take Out Reviews: Georgia James
Pandemic aside, who doesn’t love take-out? The convenience of taking home our favorite restaurant meals was, perhaps, something we took for granted before it became the only way to eat out. Long before this crisis, carry-out was a constant part of my busy life. That said, even the best take-home…
Best Case Scenarios For All Of Bill O’Brien’s NFL Trades
If there is one thing you could say about Bill O’Brien, even before the controversial DeAndre Hopkins trade a week ago, it’s that he is aggressive in doing the things he thinks is right for the Houston Texans organization. The exasperating thing, of course, is that most of these moves…
Got Bored Kids at Home? Teach Your Children Well…with Rock Hall EDU!
So, are you a Music teacher and need to keep students engaged and learning during the current pandemic-based shutdown of schools? Or a harried Gen X parent with a musical bent trying to keep your toddlers, tweens, and teens occupied? Or just a rock and roll fan looking for a…
Quarantine Cooking: The Ever-Versatile Dutch Baby Pancake
With social distancing being of the utmost importance right now, it’s a good time to make use of that one room you always say you’re going to get to know better: the kitchen. Here, we share a family-friendly recipe that can become breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. The Dutch Baby…
Houston Chamber Choir Launches Podcast ‘With One Accord’
Houston Chamber Choir has launched a daily broadcast titled “With One Accord.” In it, Founder and Artistic Director Bob Simpson gives a brief history of each day’s selection followed by a recording from one of the choir’s previous performances.
Southern Smoke Receives Huge Donations from Houston Texans and Tito’s Vodka
News that Southern Smoke Spring, the fundraising event for The Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund to help industry employees was canceled in early March hasn’t, as it turned out, ended the all-important fundraising efforts of restaurateur and chef Chris Shepherd and his group. Over the weekend, the Houston Texans Foundation…
Mayor Accepts Donation of Medical Supplies from Asian Chamber; Still Not Issuing a Lockdown Order
When Asian restaurants in Houston saw their business dip to historic lows in January and February because of rumors about the coronavirus, Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo were among officials showing support by eating at those restaurants. Monday, at his early afternoon press conference, Turner announced…
Harris County Opens More COVID-19 Testing Sites
Harris County had some good news to deliver this morning with the announcement that it has opened more coronavirus testing sites and they are open to anyone with symptoms — once you qualify through the county’s screening procedure. “We finally received the supplies from the federal government to be able…
Streaming Productions A Tricky Prospect For Most Houston Theaters
Almost immediately upon learning of the temporary theater closures across the United States due to coronavirus, it seemed as though every critic in America began filing stories detailing the ways audiences could stream plays and musicals online. Want to see the Tony-Award winning Indecent, Patrick Stewart in Macbeth or Brokeback…
Gov. Abbott OKs More Patients in a Hospital Room, Declines to Order Shelter in Place
On a busy Sunday, Texas Gov. Terry Abbott issued two new executive orders involving healthcare and the coronavirus but he declined a request from North Texas hospital executives to issue a statewide shelter in place order. One order says that all elective surgeries and non-emergency medical procedures should be postponed…
Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Moves
Well, over the weekend, the Houston Texans finally got around to two things. First, they dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s enough on their deals over the last few weeks to announce them via press release for all the world to see… Man, it’s still surreal to see DeAndre…
Paper Towels and Pee Pads: Surviving the COVID-19 TP Shortage
In the first week of the coronavirus pandemic, across the country people were stocking up on the essentials: milk, eggs, cleaning supplies and toilet paper. Worries over quarantines and what measures we might be forced to take in the coming weeks and months caused a lot of people to lose…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Support Local Restaurants, Earn Gift Cards and Get Free Toilet Paper
Though social distancing is in effect and bars and restaurants are closed for in-house services, the ever-strong Houston food community is trucking on. This week, support local restaurants by carrying out and earn stuff like free gift cards and discounts (and toilet paper!), try out batch margaritas, and hit up…
Genesis Blu Drops New Single “Matter” Early
If there is any upside to the current crisis it’s that a lot of artists are releasing their work early and online for the fans who are stuck in their houses. One of those is Houston hip hop artista Genesis Blu, who just dropped “Matter” from her upcoming EP Magical…
Houston Native and Music Megastar Kenny Rogers Dies at 81
And somewhere in the darkness, the Gambler he broke even. This won’t be the first – or hundredth – obituary for singer Kenny Rogers which quotes that line from his signature tune, “The Gambler.” The Don Schlitz-penned story song about two Old West characters on a train with one imparting…
The City of Houston is Not Shutting Down So Have a Good Weekend Everyone
Mayor Sylvester Turner called a 6:15 p.m. press conference Friday to repeat again that the city of Houston is not shutting down. Residents are not being told to shelter in place. The National Guard is not taking over. And social media messages that say or suggest those things are all…
The Alley Theatre Cancels The Rest of Its Season Through July, Lays Off Most Staff
The Alley Theatre is cancelling the rest of its 2019-20 season due to the coronavirus crisis. The Alley, which has a resident theater company of actors, is laying off 75 percent of its staff because of the virus’s effects on its financial stability. The statement from the Alley: The cancellation…
HISD Readies Its Online Learning Operation, Log On Monday
Houston ISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan announced today that on Monday, March 23, the district will launch HISD@H.O.M.E. with studnets and parents able to log in on that day, with lessons and activities starting the followin gMonday on March 30. Recognizing that some families may not have internet service or…
![Friday’s Coronavirus News in the Houston Area [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus_testing_site_butler800.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Friday’s Coronavirus News in the Houston Area [UPDATED]
On a day when more stores (Kohls for instance) announced they were temporarily closing and the number of confirmed coronavirus cases Texas stood at 325 and 5 deaths, one of the four city-county publicly-operated free drive thru centers in Harris County was due to open Friday. As Mayor Sylvester Turner…
Take-Out Reviews: Fajitas A Go Go
There’s no two ways around it, folks. This sucks. The worsening COVID-19 pandemic has affected every level of our society, leaving many of us stranded in our homes, some of us jobless and many others forced to keep working in high-risk environments. You’ve probably heard it already, but perhaps no…
Openings and Closings: The Take-out Version
By now, many of us are getting a little stir crazy. We have been in isolation baking bread like John Lennon. On March 16, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered restaurants to close down their dine-in operations and convert to take-out and delivery service only,…
What Can Texan Fans Expect With the Second Round Pick From the Hopkins Trade?
DeAndre Hopkins is gone, on his way to Arizona in a trade that has been widely considered one of the most lopsided in the history of team sports. The Houston Texans, more specifically Bill O’Brien, got fleeced by the Arizona Cardinals, and not even a failed physical by David Johnson…
Snapping And Singing: Ancient Cat Society Premieres Video For “Anyone”
With everyone on lock down and so many concerts and events getting canceled around the world, there’s one thing that can’t be stopped, a video release. Houston’s Ancient Cat Society is currently in the studios working on their second album but in the meantime they are letting fans wet their…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Excellent To-Go Options and Curbside Pick-Up
With large gatherings banned and bars and restaurants not being fully operational at the time being, we’re doing it things a little differently this weekend, covering five fantastic to-go options from restaurants around town: Takeaway or Delivery at Phat Eatery 23119 Chinatown Parkway, 832-913-6382 Sadly, Asiatown restaurants have been affected…
Travels with Gen Z: The Pro Football Hall of Fame – Part II
In Part I of our series, we discussed some of the Hall’s interactive exhibits, stories of pro football’s early popularity and integration issues, and their planned interactive app. In Part II, we’ll look at the Hall’s origin, highlighted exhibits, and the Hall’s Houston connections. Note: Due to the coronavirus outbreak,…
Five Tips for Meeting Your Neighbors…From a Distance
Houston is a naturally friendly place, but it is still a big city with huge swaths of suburbia. As a result, while we may be neighborly, we don’t always know who our neighbors are. People are busy and don’t often have time to socialize and there is backyard life, which…
Take Two Minutes to Support Houston Restaurants Today
Houston restaurants need your help, and they need it NOW (like literally, today). Since the Harris County mandate on Monday to close all bars and end dine-in service for restaurants through April 3 in an effort to increase social distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus, many restaurants are…
HISD Suspends Friday Food Distribution Due to Expected Rain
Houston ISD has announced that because the weather in Houston is supposed to be bad on Friday, it won’t be doing its food distribution. It will resume operations on Monday, March 23. According to a press release “Families who do not have transportation and must walk to the site can…
The Houston Press Not Immune to These Hard Times, Needs Help
Dear Reader, As the Houston Press has documented for you over the last several days, these are hard times for our city. We’ve gone out of our way to detail the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, especially for those in the arts, music and restaurant/bar communities, as well as…
![Thursday’s Coronavirus News: Port Closes 2 Terminals, Abbott Closes DPS Offices [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/publichealth319800.png.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Thursday’s Coronavirus News: Port Closes 2 Terminals, Abbott Closes DPS Offices [UPDATED]
It’s Thursday morning and the reported number of coronavirus deaths in the state stands at three people: two in north Texas and one in South Texas. It was also reported at a morning press conference that a truck driver at the Port of Houston had tested positive for COVID-19 and…
Tech Needs Increase as People Work from Home
Grocery stores are not the only retail establishments with lines over the last week or two. While many have been hoarding toilet paper and searching in vain for hand sanitizer, others have lined up at computer stores looking for ways to expand their home offices while on extended hiatus from…
Details Surface Regarding Toxic Relationship Between Bill O’Brien and DeAndre Hopkins
As I was performing my popular morning sports talk radio show on SportsRadio 610 on Wednesday with my cohost Seth Payne, we continued to wallow in the misery-ridden aftermath of the DeAndre Hopkins trade, wondering just what the hell want wrong between thee All Pro wide receiver and Texans head…
Checking In With Actors As Coronavirus Threatens Their Livelihood
It was just over a week ago that Brandon Morgan got a call from the Houston Grand Opera offering him a supernumerary role in their upcoming production of Salome. He eagerly agreed. Then just days later, he received the email that so many performers in Houston got from so many…
Top 5 High Fidelity Songs to Lift Spirits During the High Anxiety
If you’re binge watching television shows during your sudden self-quarantine, here’s a recommendation from a fellow television and music lover. Hulu’s High Fidelity, a reboot of the 2000 John Cusack film and Nick Hornby novel, is entertaining and affords a bit of nostalgic familiarity in these times of uncertainty. Hulu’s…
Stay Calm And Listen To Good Music: Coronavirus Playlist
It feels like the whole world is coming to an end but let’s all remember, it’s not really. Well, at least let’s hope not. This may be the first time we have experienced a situation quite like this with important events getting canceled left and right and everyone hunkering down…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: What’s to Come Later This Spring
With nothing in the books for the next few weeks, we take a look at some of the tasty events in the lineup later this spring. Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Originally slated for April 7, our annual Houston Press Menu of…
Coronavirus Anxiety? Maybe It’s Time for Therapy
Since Monday, Houston has been under more and more stringent social-distancing protocols in order to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The closure of many businesses plus the shutting down of most of the city’s recreational facilities, are leading to widespread financial distress and other anxieties that are…
Travels with Gen Z: The Pro Football Hall of Fame – Part I
In the previous Travels with Gen Z articles, we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Read Part I and Part II). Next, we drove about an hour south from Cleveland to Canton, Ohio, site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Note: Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the…
Houston Restaurateurs Send Petition to Mayor Turner
Making the point that Houston restaurants have given so much to the community whenever there has been a natural disaster or major event in the city, a number of Houston restaurateurs today signed a letter to Mayor Sylvester Turner asking him for help during the coronavirus crisis. On Monday, Harris…
The Rumor Mill is Wrong. Coronavirus Testing Sites in Harris County Are Not Ready Yet.
Harris County Public Health authorities say they believe some people think the coronavirus testing sites they’re putting up at several locations will be ready to go today, March 18. That is not the case. This is what Ready Harris News from the county had to say: Despite reports, the sites…
![Nearby Cities and Counties Follow Houston and Harris County’s Lead — to an Extent [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/roy-luck-flickr-galveston-state-park.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Nearby Cities and Counties Follow Houston and Harris County’s Lead — to an Extent [UPDATED]
Wednesday morning and the list of coronavirus-inspired changes continues. MATCH, the Midtown arts center that houses a variety of productions, has announced it is closing until further notice. In its announcement it cited the Harris County and City of Houston latest guidelines asking everyone to avoid groups of ten or…
10 Sports Movies to Watch While We Wait for Live Sports to Return
Sports fans get bored easily. Now, compound that with a prolonged absence from sports and perhaps quarantine conditions with family. Suddenly, you have a damn panic on your hands. Instead of freaking out, settle in for some greats sports movies to pass the time. There are a LOT of them,…
Four Things Bill O’Brien Ruined With the DeAndre Hopkins Trade
As we sifted through the rubble of the aftermath of Monday’s DeAndre Hopkins on Tuesday morning, we had pretty much heard from anyone who mattered in the storylines. All of the prominent media members had weighed in, most of them incredulous over a deal like this even happening. J.J. Watt…
Justin Verlander Out Six Weeks After Groin Surgery
File this under things to be done when the coronavirus shuts down your league. It was announced on Tuesday that pitcher Justin Verlander would miss six weeks after undergoing successful surgery on his groin. This, it would seem, is unrelated to the lat injury he sustained during spring training. Fortunately,…
Travels with Gen Z: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Part II
Note: In Part I, we looked at the Rock Hall and how it was striving to appeal to Gen Z with new attractions. In Part II, we give some background on its foundation, current exhibits, Houston connections, and just what is considered “rock and roll.” Also, the Rock Hall has…
James Beard Foundation Honors Sylvia Casares
It’s a combination of triumph and tragedy. The James Beard Foundation is inviting Houston celebrity chef, Sylvia Casares, to showcase her cuisine at the James Beard House in New York City, date to be determined. The invitation is one of the most coveted honors in the food industry, and Casares…
Four Ways to Replace the Sports You Will Be Missing
With sporting events canceled worldwide, spectators and fans may be finding passing the time (in isolation) to be a bit tedious. Live sporting events are, after all, a way many Americans enjoy spending their time, either in person or on television. Without those options, many fans will feel like children…
Houston Art Car Parade 2020 is Cancelled
The Houston Art Car Parade that draws visitors from around the world, has been canceled for this year because of the affects of the coronavirus on the area. In a just-released statement the Orange Show announced it was cancelling the 33 year-old event for 2020 whcih was to have taken…
![A Texas Death and More Closings Due to Coronavirus [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hou_arts_discovery_green_gardens_photo_by_katya_horner_2017.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
A Texas Death and More Closings Due to Coronavirus [UPDATED]
It’s Tuesday morning and we’ve been greeted with news of the first death in Texas due to the coronavirus. A man in his late 90s in Matgorda County in South Texas died late Sunday. The death, confirmed by the Texas Department of State Health Services, was thought to be the…
Covid-19 Takes Its Toll On Local Venues: Ways To Help And Stay Connected
With Covid-19 taking the world hostage and authorities advising everyone to stay home and avoid crowds, one of the industries that felt the effects first, besides the stock market, was the service industry. As the news rolled out about the endless concerts and tours were cancelled all over the world,…
Shawty McNaughty: Good Music for the End of the World
I can’t remember the last time a stoned dude handed me a CD outside a donut shop, much less took it seriously. There was something about the guy who introduced himself as Shawty MacNaughty, though. He looked and dressed like a black Bob Dylan, and even though he was high…
Quarantine Cooking: This Restaurant Worthy Pasta Has Only Four Ingredients
With social distancing being of the utmost importance right now, it’s a good time to make use of that one room you always say you’re going to get to know better: the kitchen, Here, we share a deceptively simple, restaurant-quality pasta dish that doesn’t require much in the way of…
Travels with Gen Z: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Part I
Note: Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be closed until at least March 27. Like countless teenagers before him, Vincent Ruggiero cautiously picks up a used guitar in a garage surrounded by posters of bands with other instruments strewn about. Hoisting the strap…
Coronavirus Tips: Life During a Pandemic
By now, most of us have settled into our pandemic routine. For some, it means stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitizer. For others, it means posting on social media non-stop about what a hoax it is. For the majority of us, it means taking precautions, washing our hands and avoiding…
How to Help Theaters And Artists Affected By Coronavirus
The theater has always been the place we go to in times of trouble. Sitting in the dark with our fellow humans, experiencing stories about the people we share the world with, provides us with insight, distraction, a sense of community and at times a much-needed laugh. So, the closing…
Time to End the NBA Season and Re-Think Baseball
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that no groups larger than 50 should gather for the next two months. The President has said it could be July before things return to normal. Cities around the country including Houston are putting restrictions on everything from gatherings to bars…
Harris County Judge Orders Bars and Clubs Closed, Restaurants to Move to Take Out, Pick Up and Delivery Only
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced at a 5 p.m. press conference today that she was ordering that for the next 15 days, starting Tuesday at 8 a.m., all bars and clubs in the county be closed and that restaurants offer no sit down service — instead just delivery, take…
Houston Head Scratcher: Texans Trade DeAndre Hopkins To Arizona Cardinals
Bill O’Brien was named general manager of the Houston Texans in title just about a month or so ago, in a statement released by team owner Cal McNair, but the truth of the matter is that O’Brien had been running things since the firing of former GM Brian Gaine back…
Houston Press Menu of Menus® 2020 Postponed Till June 2
The Houston Press is postponing its annual Menu of Menus® event, originally scheduled for April 7, until June 2 because of concerns caused by the coronavirus. In a statement released today, the Press said: “Out of an abundance of caution and in order to follow the guidelines set by the Centers…
Houston Grocery Stores Not Shutting Down
Houston grocery stores are not shutting down because of the coronavirus. There is no issue with the food supply chain, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner repeatedly stressed at an 11 a.m. news conference today. And if you are looking for a job, go to H-E-B, Kroger or Randalls because they are…
Social Judging: Casting Aspersions in the Era of Coronavirus
Sitting at home over the weekend, social media was difficult to ignore. There were photos of friends out at dinner, posts about drinking at favorite bars and gathering for birthday parties. Given all the recent calls by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take rather extreme precautions including…
NFL Players Vote To Pass New Collective Bargaining Agreement
With the coronavirus pandemic and the complete shutdown of sporting events as its backdrop, the NFL Players Association, on Saturday night, ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to begin immediately, and will run through 2030. As we all know, here in Houston, this was not an agreement…
What COVID-19 is Doing to Houston’s Restaurants and Their “Counter” Moves
When officials at all levels urge people to stay away from large gatherings in public places, when they list in-depth sanitary measures and urge higher risk individuals to just stay home, they hope to significantly reduce the number of individuals who get sick or die from the COVID-19 virus. But,…
In Search of Live Music During the Coronavirus Scare
Much of Houston’s and the world’s music news over the past week has focused on concert cancellations in the wake of COVID-19 concerns. From the biggest acts in the world to our local favorites, music artists have been forced to adjust their calendars and their livelihoods as long-planned events have…
Republicans Think Rules Don’t Apply to Them
“People who are against him get the law. People who are his friends or can help him out? Merry Christmas.” -Rachel Maddow Liberals have got to stop doing is trying to point out the hypocrisy of Republicans in power. For one, they are bad at it, which you can see…
AMC Theaters Stay Open During Outbreak, Halve Capacity
Moviegoers may still have a home during the quarantining from COVID-19 thanks to AMC Theaters. The chain announced that they will remain open despite the threat of the novel coronavirus, but they will be taking extra precautions to protect patrons. The foremost of these is that they will be immediately…
Doc Celebrates 50 Years of Houston’s Own ZZ Top
ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas 125 mins./DVD + Blu-Ray $29.98 Eagle Rock Entertainment Last year, the three members of ZZ Top — singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons, singer/bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard — celebrated 50 years together, the longest of any major rock band without any lineup…
![Houston Public Library Shuts Down to Combat Coronavirus and Other Ways Your Life Has Been Upended Today [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/library.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Houston Public Library Shuts Down to Combat Coronavirus and Other Ways Your Life Has Been Upended Today [UPDATED]
Well it’s Monday morning, it’s a new day and the Houston Public Library has closed up shop. The main downtown library and all of its branches are shuttered because of the coronavirus. They’ll let us know when they open their doors again. It is an understandable effort to prevent transmission…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Corned Beef and Whiskey for Saint Patty’s Day
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All week long Spring Break Specials at Dish Society Dish Society, 5740 San Felipe, 23501 Cinco Ranch, 12525 Memorial, 1050 Yale, wants to help teachers make the most of their Spring Break holidays by offering them 50-percent off on all alcoholic…
![HISD Expands its Meal Distribution Operation After Saturday’s Crowd [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/grenitalatest_1_.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
HISD Expands its Meal Distribution Operation After Saturday’s Crowd [UPDATED]
On Saturday, when Houston ISD working with the Houston Food Bank School Market program, opened up a meal distribution at Chavez High School, the turnout was impressively substantial. Hundreds of families came for the free food. As a result, and showing an admirable ability to turn on a dime, HISD…
![Latest Closings and Adjustments in the Houston Area Thanks to COVID-19 [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/guy_roberts_hamlet_2800.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Latest Closings and Adjustments in the Houston Area Thanks to COVID-19 [UPDATED]
The Alley Theatre, keeping the show on the road in some form, has announced that its production of 1984 which closed after one night because of COVID-19 concerns, will be filmed and made available to people for home viewing in another two weeks. In other COVID-19 related news: Space Center…
4th Wall Presents a Glorious Time at the Theater With Between Riverside and Crazy
Just like at Spindletop, 4th Wall Theatre Company has struck oil. Hell, forget oil, they’ve struck gold! With this glistening production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Between Riverside and Crazy (2014), 4th Wall bursts into the best-of-the-best. What a glorious time at the theater – explosive, funny, gritty, true. Playwright Guirgis…
Coronavirus Shutdowns Affect Theater Companies/Productions Differently In Houston
Oh, what a difference a day makes. Last Thursday our inboxes were flooded with messages from theaters outlining the precautions being taken to disinfect their spaces and ensuring us that the show would safely go on. Then Friday happened. The Alley was first. All shows canceled until the end of…
Restaurant Deals During the Coronavirus
By now, we are all feeling overwhelmed by current events. The coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation of our beloved Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the 61st Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Houston and numerous events across our city and our nation. While many of us will feel…
![H-E-B Reduces Hours, While Kroger Urges Customers to Think of Others Shopping After Them [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/heb800.webp.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
H-E-B Reduces Hours, While Kroger Urges Customers to Think of Others Shopping After Them [UPDATED]
H-E-B’s President Scott McClelland has just released an announcment that starting today, all H-E-B, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Mi Tienda and Central Market stores in the Houston area will shift to modified hours, closing at 8 p.m. today. Starting tomorrow, March 14 we will shift to modified hours of 8 a.m…
![More Houston Area Postponements and Cancellations Including Asia Society [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/german_fest_12-45-1res-1.webp-1-e1757635314777.webp?resize=745%2C532&ssl=1)
More Houston Area Postponements and Cancellations Including Asia Society [UPDATED]
The toll the perceived dangers of CORVID-19 are taking on Houston area events and organizations continued Friday with more places deciding that cancelling their plans might be the best course of action. Asia Society announced today that it is cancelling its Spring Break programming for March 16-21. This includes daytime…
#HoustonSafe: City Can Survive Another Crisis if We Are Smart
In 2017, the world got its first glimpse of the resilience of Houstonians when Hurricane Harvey deluged the region with rainfall. They witnessed neighbors helping neighbors and everyday residents handling an impossible situation with toughness and kindness. Today, we face a completely different challenge. Instead of banding together, we need…
Rudyard’s Gets an Instant Makeover
Lelia Rodgers remembers the band that played the night Rudyard’s first opened its upstairs live music show space. It was a Thursday night in 1997, she said, and the headliner was Moses Guest. When the band members arrived, they were confused by the changes made to the venue, which was…
NCAA Tourney Canceled, Sports Leagues Suspended Over COVID-19
Most professional sports leagues have announced over the past couple of days that they would be suspending play for at least a month. In the case of the fledgling XFL and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, it’s full on cancelation. On Thursday, the NCAA announced it would cancel…
YELO Will Hello This Summer, Sam’s Fried Chicken and Donuts Closes
YELO, 231119 Colonial Parkway, will open in late summer. Cuc Lam and Alex Au-Yeung will open the collaborative banh mi restaurant in Katy Asian Town in the spot next to Au- Yeung’s Malaysian restaurant, Phat Eatery. The all day concept will specialize in craft banh mi and specialty coffee and…
Grocery Store Madness Just in Case of a Quarantine (We Think)
Chips it became clear, are really important for the end times. Trips to several greater Houston area grocery stores Thursday revealed completely empty shelves in certain sections of the store while shopping carts became a prized acquisition. Apparently sparked by fears of CORVID-19 and despite Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s pleas…
![Embracing The New: Sam Doores Explores New Paths On Debut Solo Album [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sam_doores_by_sarrah_danziger.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Embracing The New: Sam Doores Explores New Paths On Debut Solo Album [UPDATED]
It’s long been said that the only constant is change. New Orleans based artist Sam Doores knows this sentiment well and his debut self-titled solo album delves into the philosophical implications that come with the winds of change. Doores spent ten years writing music and constantly touring with the Deslondes…
A Critic Doesn’t Look Forward to Weeks Without Houston Theater
What are we to do? How much self-quarantine can theatergoers endure without a healthy dose of art to inoculate us against the slings and arrows of everyday life? We will see, I guess. Many theaters in Houston (Alley, Catastrophic, Stages, Miller Outdoor, Houston Ballet, Classical) have already postponed their current…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Crawfish Boils and Green Beer
Update 1:19 p.m. 3-12-20: The OMG Food Fest at Midtown Park scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed due to concerns about CORVID-19. Original story: Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Saint Patrick’s Day Midtown Madness at Pub Fiction Saturday, doors open at 11 a.m. 2303 Smith…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Special Teams
We’ve spent most of the last two weeks chopping up the Houston Texans’ offense and defense. To summarize, the offense has a chance to be really, really good, and the defense has a lot of work to do to become really, really average. There is free agency, the draft, and…
![The Changing State of Houston Given the Coronavirus Scare [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/southern_smoke_aperol_by_lorretta_ruggiero.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
The Changing State of Houston Given the Coronavirus Scare [UPDATED]
Amid increasing concern in the Houston area about the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus, more notifications are trickling in that events are being postponed or canceled. To date, however, this hasn’t affected Houston’s theater stages as organizers say performances are going on as planned at any number of venues,…
![George Orwell’s 1984 Brought Into the Light at Alley Theatre [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1984_interrogators_lynn_lane_photo.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
George Orwell’s 1984 Brought Into the Light at Alley Theatre [UPDATED]
The dystopian world of George Orwell’s Oceania in the Alley Theatre’s production of 1984 isn’t as dystopian as it used to be. It’s clean and bright and cubic as if a Philip Johnson interior. It has polished gray metallic-like walls, designer lamps for interrogation, a nifty sunken industrial space for…
Don Toliver Brings The Gang To Houston
In a private listening party, Houston artist Don Toliver unveils his debut album, Heaven or Hell.
Sports Leagues Face Cancellations Due to Coronavirus Fears
On Wednesday evening, the NBA announced that it would suspend the 2019-20 season until further notice after the Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder game was abruptly canceled. According to reports, at least one Jazz player was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, which was discovered before the game began. Speculation…
![Beautiful Noise: LEYA Finds Ground Between Worlds [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/leya_by_serge_serum.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Beautiful Noise: LEYA Finds Ground Between Worlds [UPDATED]
With the decision to cancel SXSW, bands from all over the world and venues in Austin are trying to fill in the gaps and make due with the current situation they find themselves in. One of those bands is New York-based experimental duo, LEYA who had been accepted as an…
Best Bets This Weekend: Outbreak, Ballet, and a Haunted House
It’s Friday the 13th and we’ve compiled a list of things to do that includes film screenings, music and even a haunted house.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Rodeo-Style Kolache and a Final Family Meal
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: The Roastery Coffee Kitchen has joined forces with cult-favorite Truth BBQ to create a special edition kolache, available throughout Rodeo season at the Buffalo Heights, Heights and San Felipe Roastery locations. The Texas-sized kolache ($6) features…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Safeties
Getting through the analysis of the cornerback position was a cathartic process. As of right now, it’s not very good, but fortunately a secondary is comprised of two elements — cornerbacks and safeties — and while the cornerback position is in teardown mode, the safety position, at the very least,…
![With the Travails of 2020, the Mastersons Have No Time for Love Songs [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hou_mus_mastersonsmain.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
With the Travails of 2020, the Mastersons Have No Time for Love Songs [UPDATED]
It’s the morning after the city of Austin announced the complete cancellation of the SXSW festival when Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore are on the phone from New York City. The day prior also marked the release date for their new album, No Time For Love Songs, and they’d played…
Coronavirus Fears Shut Down Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo 2020 Early
In an unprecedented action, officials are expected to announced any moment today that they are cutting short the run for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo amid coronavirus fears. It had been expected to continue through March 22 after its opening day on March 3. In a hastily called press…
Houston Concert Watch 3/11: Gwen Stefani and More
Concerns about the Coronavirus be damned, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is officially in full-swing. More than 566,000 people attended activities on the grounds between March 3 and 9, and 439,000 of them attended concerts inside NRG Stadium, according to RodeoHouston’s web site. Which is to say that if…
![Take A Trip Down Music’s Memory Lane With Dave Bennett [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/db3793-1.webp-1-scaled-e1757635250544.webp?resize=760%2C476&ssl=1)
Take A Trip Down Music’s Memory Lane With Dave Bennett [UPDATED]
The Houston Symphony will welcome multi-talented artist Dave Bennett for Swing to Rock with Dave Bennett, running March 20 – 22. Music lovers will have the chance to relive a century worth of music put into one show, including hits from Benny Goodman, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Bennett’s most recent album.
Five Astros with Injury Concerns to Watch
Justin Verlander’s lat. Yordan Alvarez’s knee. There are already a couple of injuries for two of the Astros most important players and we haven’t even gotten to March 15. While both appear to be relatively minor — the whole “abundance of caution” taking on a meaning outside the coronavirus —…
The Blessings and Curses of Working From Home
As most parents who have less than perfect children know, a student ordered home on suspension can usually cover the homework assignments sent with him in less than half the time they would take in school. Rid of distractions and downtime, it’s remarkable how any student’s productivity can increase. If…
Social Media Is Changing Us Some More
“I love you Gramma,” a toddler sputters from her high chair, followed with an impromptu giggle: 201 likes. (Two-year old grandson opens a bag of flour—it goes everywhere—and he looks up wide-eyed.): 157 likes. In the day or so since posting, ticks begin to dwindle as does the excitement of…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Cornerbacks
OK, previewing Houston Texans position groups the last week or so has been largely fun and games. Sure, other than quarterback (we love you, Deshaun!), none of the groups are perfect, but they are all largely average, at worst, and near elite (or at least containing elite players), at best…
![St. Patrick’s Day Turns Houston Green [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/king_s_bierhaus_green_beer_by_phillip_sitter.webp.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
St. Patrick’s Day Turns Houston Green [UPDATED]
It’s the most emerald time of the year, where the most diverse city in the United States turns Irish for a day, or a week at some establishments around town. It’s a celebratory time where we are all full of blarney and have no idea what we are actually celebrating…
![Seeing Stevie Ray: Local Photographer Tracy Anne Hart Captures The Texas Blues Scene [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ssr_poster.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Seeing Stevie Ray: Local Photographer Tracy Anne Hart Captures The Texas Blues Scene [UPDATED]
To photographer Tracy Anne Hart Texas blues is her religion and Joe Ely, Jimmie Vaughan and his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan are her holy trinity. She began photographing musicians, specifically guitarists, as a student at the University of Texas many years ago and then homed in on the Texas blues…
In Honor of Pie Day, Here’s a Deal From Prasek’s Family Smokehouse
In honor of National Pie Day on Saturday, March 14, Prasek’s Family Smokehouse is offering a special deal on all its pies. That’s a $3.14 deal to match the Pie Day date. Representatives of Prasek’s dropped off three pies at the Houston Press newsroom — cherry, apple and buttermilk —…
Post Malone Brings Forlorn Celebration to Toyota Center
Post Malone Toyota Center March 9, 2020 Austin Richard Post is renowned for wearing his heart on his sleeve. Better known by his stage name Post Malone, the chart-topping singer-songwriter has made a name for himself by combining elements of pop and rap music, with an emphasis on sentimental lyricism. It…
Coronavirus Memes to Ease The Tension
On the modern-day annoyance scale that ranks things zero to Run-Around by Blues Traveler, the mounting concern caused by the spread of the coronavirus actually registers off the charts at: the live version of Run-Around. Per usual, memes mocking the ins and outs of modern-day life have come to the…
Reviewing the Rockets Hideous Week: From the Penthouse to the Outhouse
Just over a week ago, it looked like the Rockets could, perhaps, maybe slide into second place in the Western Conference standings. They were on a winning streak with a game against the awful Knicks before facing the Clippers, who were just ahead of them in the standings. A lot…
Why Are You Hoarding Toilet Paper? We Want to Know.
The coronavirus is essentially holding the entire world hostage. Trips are being canceled. Markets are crashing. People are dying. Cats and dogs living together…mass hysteria intense concern. And we have no desire to downplay the impacts of the coronavirus or underplay the need for safety and good hygiene. We practice…
Houston Theaters Respond To Coronavirus Worries
“Dear Patrons, Your health and safety is important to us. We want to assure you that our priority is making sure you feel safe and informed.” Emails like this one from A.D. Players started flooding inboxes late last week as theaters all over Houston assured audience members that despite coronavirus…
Just In Time For The Apocalypse: Rev. Scott H. Biram Is Much More Than A One Man Band
Just in time for the COVID-19 over run, apocalyptic mindset everyone is in, Scott H. Biram is kicking off his tour in Houston on Thursday, March 12 at the Continental Club. Biram’s songs of sinning and redemption should really add to the mood that the world might be heading to…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Linebackers
When it comes to the Texans’ defense, which statistically was one of the worst in football last season, there is absolutely talent in certain spots, and there were times in a 10-6 season where they produced at relatively high levels. If we’re charting the strong suits of the defensive unit,…
Trying Out Ike’s Love and Sandwiches
While I am generally loathe to consider sandwiches from national chains for the best sandwiches in Houston list, I still want to try out any place that makes a point of crafting great hoagies. The California chain, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, is the second such place that has opened in…
Ramon Ayala Headlines Go Tejano Day at RodeoHouston
Ramon Ayala Go Tejano Day NRG Stadium March 8, 2020 Many artists have their signature instruments: Stevie Wonder makes magic on the piano/keyboard, Carlos Santana wails with his electric guitar, and Willie Nelson serenades us with notes from Trigger. In the same respect, the stories of love, heartbreak, and nightlife…
Jill Scott Takes Her Fans Down Memory Lane
“You’ve got to listen real down deep,” whispered Jill Scott as she waved her hand and quieted the band behind her. The Philly songstress walked across the stage while addressing the sold out crowd at the Revention Music Center Sunday night. The walls of the performance hall vibrated as the…
Roughnecks Remain Undefeated with Win Over Seattle
Down twice to the Seattle Dragons and struggling with three turnovers, Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker did what he has been doing all season. He stepped up and got the ball to Cam Philips. Walker finished with 357 yards and three touchdowns, two to Phillips who also had 10 catches for…
Verlander Exits Game with Sore Triceps
The Astros are loaded with talent in the lineup, the rotation and even the bullpen, but there is one equalizer: injuries. During their run of success of the last few years, the Astros have managed to avoid big, season-long injuries with the exception of Lance McCullers, Jr. There were problematic…
![Just Warming Up: Raul Malo Brings His Solo Show To Houston {UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/raulmalo_gigposter_master.webp.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Just Warming Up: Raul Malo Brings His Solo Show To Houston {UPDATED]
Latino contributions to rock and roll have been significantly overlooked historically. Artists like Richie Valens and the Sir Douglas Quintet influenced the layout for popular music in their time and beyond, without always getting the credit they deserve. Raul Malo of The Mavericks agrees, “It certainly is under appreciated, but…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Half-Price Bottle Mondays and a Pilot Pete Finale Party
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: New and seasonal specials Half-price wine Mondays at Emmaline Emmaline, 3210 West Dallas, invites guests to enjoy half-priced bottles of wine (under $100) every Monday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cassoulet at Etoile Cuisine et Bar Etoile Cuisine et Bar,…
![Lady of Agreda Wasn’t the Flying Nun But That Didn’t Stop Her Mystical Travels [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bruce_lumpkin800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Lady of Agreda Wasn’t the Flying Nun But That Didn’t Stop Her Mystical Travels [UPDATED]
A new musical based on the life of a cloistered-in-Spain nun who somehow ministered to people in the 17th Century New World by means of bilocation is about to debut at Queensbury Theatre. Lady of Agreda, A Mystical Journey with book by Marley Singletary and music and lyrics by Cynthia…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Defensive Line
We did the offseason preview for the offensive side of the ball for the Houston Texans last week. With that being the more solid of the two key areas, and with most of the talent over there locked down for 2020, that was a mostly fun exercise. This week, the…
Trippie Redd Sells Out Revention With His Love Me More Tour
Trippie Redd bring his Love Me More tour to Revention Center Friday night/
Maren Morris Brings Her Imminent Mom Energy To The Rodeo
Maren Morris NRG Stadium March 7, 2020 Maren Morris will make you feel like an underachiever. She released her first album at the age of 15, and would drop two more (while writing songs for the likes of Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson) before her major label debut. 2016’s Hero vaulted…
There’s No Mystery to the Eagles’ Half-Century of Success
The Eagles Toyota Center March 6, 2020 When does a concert review require a spoiler alert? Well, let’s say a band’s engagement in your city is a multi-night affair. That might be the time, if you’ve covered the opening night, to alert those who plan to attend but weren’t on…
Chance The Rapper Renews Fanbase’s Faith At RodeoHouston Debut
Chance The Rapper NRG Stadium March 6, 2020 Better late than never, as they say. Ask any Chance The Rapper fan, and they’ll tell you the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter was supposed to perform in Houston back in January. The 26-year-old Chicago native had announced a tour in support of his debut album, The…
Austin Cancels SXSW Because of Coronavirus Fears
Austin city officials announced Friday afternoon that this year’s SXSW festival has been canceled over concerns about the novel coronavirus. In a statement, festival organizers said they were “devastated” by the cancellation of the festival, which was scheduled for March 13-21, but would try to reschedule the event. Organizers said…
Gold Buckle Foodie Awards 2020: Get Fried
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is famous for many things. Trail riders and mutton-bustin’. Sold-out concerts and carnival rides galore. And lots of animals, be they livestock or party people. Most importantly, the annual event has raised 500 million dollars since 1957 for educational scholarships for young Texas scholars…
Becky G Performs Perfect Tribute to Selena at RodeoHouston
Becky G NRG Stadium March 5, 2020 Rebecca Marie Gomez was 10 years old when she appeared on Sabado Gigante, the immensely popular and longest-running Spanish language variety show hosted by the legendary Don Francisco. On the show, little Rebecca was dressed in a purple jumpsuit in honor of her…
Mayor Turner Implores Houstonians To Not Let Fear Take Over
As of Thursday, five cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, (four in Harris County, one in Fort Bend County,) have been confirmed. It was coming. We knew it. Now it’s here. Supermarkets are cleared of bare essentials; toilet paper, Advil, you name it. Fistbumps—even foot taps—have replaced the handshake, and hand sanitizer…
Who’s the Bully in From White Plains at MATCH?
Thunderclap Productions, who’s that? Weeks ago, I received an Evite to review their latest show, From White Plains, at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston. Latest? Who are they, and what other shows have I missed? I looked them up. Oh, that company… Thunderclap has such a sketchy production history…
La Fin Du Bond: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
We’re revisiting the highs and lows of Eon’s James Bond movies in the lead-up to No Time to Die. This week, Bond gets married … briefly. The first James Bond movie not starting Sean Connery, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service desperately wants you to remember it still is a James…
Rockets Crushed by Clippers in Disappointing Week
It started in New York. Facing an awful Knicks team, the Rockets got down early, made a run to come back, but fell short late. It was the type of game you could argue the team looked past with a showdown Thursday night at home versus the team just ahead…
Killa Kyleon And A Crew Of Houston’s Best Take Us To Class
In episode five of the Classroom Concert Series, special guest’s Killa Kyleon, GP 4/5, Dedoe, and Dende give there “lectures” and performances at Houston’s Midtown Arts & Theater Center.
Openings and Closings: Be More Pacific Comes to Houston, III Forks Downtown Closes
Be More Pacific, 506 Yale, softly opened March 2. The first brunch service will be Sunday March 8.The Filipino restaurant began as a food truck in Austin in 2011 from founders Mark Pascual and Giovan Cuchapin. They opened a brick and mortar at 7858 Shoal Creek in Austin in 2017…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: The Way Back
Title: The Way Back Describe This Movie In One Married… with Children Quote: AL BUNDY: Let me tell you something, I served my country: I played high school football. Four touchdowns in one game, yet I’m not exempt from state and federal taxes. Is this how you treat us heroes? Brief…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Booze Can Sunday is Back
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Memorial City Restaurant Weeks All month long Memorial City has launched its month-long Memorial City Restaurant Weeks campaign, showcasing specially-curated lunches and dinners from top area restaurants, with a portion of the price of each meal benefiting Memorial Hermann Foundation. Restaurants…
The Classic Mode in Final Fantasy VII Remake Isn’t Very Classic
The first level of the loooooong-awaited Final Fantasy VII Remake dropped unexpectedly this week. The iconic opening of the game where Cloud, Barret, and a misfit group of eco-terrorists attack the Shinra Mako reactor looks absolutely gorgeous and plays like a dream. But there’s always a however… One of the…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Offensive Line
We talked earlier in the week about the instantaneous transformation of the Texans’ running back position literally DURING training camp, and how amazing that was. Incredibly enough, that wasn’t even the most incredible positional metamorphosis on the offensive side of the ball for the Texans. That would be the offensive…
Willie Nelson Takes Victory Lap At RodeoHouston
Willie Nelson NRG Stadium March 4, 2020 Willie Nelson is one of a kind. For nearly 60 years now, he has been one of country music’s most beloved icons, capable of bringing audiences to the brink of tears with melancholic tunes like “Always On My Mind” only to swiftly lift their…
Breaking Down U.S. Sports’ Response to the Coronavirus
The stories of infections and deaths related to the coronavirus have prompted quarantines and event cancellations around the world. In France, gatherings of more than 5,000 people were banned. Chinese officials outright forced citizens in some areas to remain indoors. In Houston, several events have been canceled over fears of…
Where the Boos Are: The Five Toughest Places to Visit for the Astros in 2020
The Astros have already been hearing it from fans in Spring Training. As pitches come to the plate, shouts of “fastball,” “curve” and even banging sounds emanate from the crowd. The team knew it was coming and as it has lessened slightly throughout the preseason, once regular games get underway,…
Get Chopped and Screwed at CAMH’s Slowed and Throwed Exhibit
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston will present Slowed and Throwed: Records of the City Through Mutated Lenses, an exhibition inspired by late Houston music maker DJ Screw. It opens Friday and continues through June 7 at 5216 Montrose Blvd.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Cocktail Making and Sushi for a Cause
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Third Coast, 6550 Bertner, continues its Tasting Series with a Mixology class, held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Guests will learn the proper way to make three of the restaurant’s favorite cocktails,…
Best Bets This Weekend: Magicians, Crawfish, and a Country Jukebox Musical
It may be National Procrastination Week, and if you find yourself putting off the weekend plan-making, we’re here to help.
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Tight Ends
If there was a “tentpole” moment for the tight end position group during the Bill O’Brien Era, a moment or game where the need for drastic change was accentuated and driven home, it was Week 1 of the horrific 2017 season. In that post-Harvey 29-7 blowout at the hands of…
Biden Takes Texas in Super Tuesday Democratic Primaries
Super Tuesday in Texas turned out to be a good day for Joe Biden. In day-of voting he pulled ahead of Bernie Sanders to take the lead in the Democratic primary here and the battle for its 110 party delegates. He also won Alabama, Arkansas, Maine, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Minnesota,…
Come From Away Reminds Us What Kindness Looks Like
For months now I’ve been urging everyone I meet who has even the slightest affection for the theater to make sure they see Come From Away when it plays in Houston. “I absolutely adore every second of this show, you will too”, I promise. “Great”, they ask. “What’s it about?”…
Get Ready to Be Between Riverside and Crazy at 4th Wall
If you thought 4th Wall Theatre Company’s 2018 production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s Jesus Hopped the ‘A’Train was top-level theater (as we at the Houston Press did) then you’re probably not going to want to miss the same playwright’s 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning Between Riverside and Crazy. Opening at Studio 101…
Smoked Out: Pizzitola’s Bar-B-Cue
Increasingly, the landscape of Texas barbecue has become one of new versus old. 12-hour low-and-slow pits versus three-hour high heat smokers. Dinosaur-sized beef ribs versus sauce-slathered pork ribs. Ethnic fusions and hipster beards versus old school pit bosses smoking the classics. In Houston, the nouveau trends of Central Texas have…
Houston Concert Watch 3/4: Willie Nelson and More
RodeoHouston is here, folks. And while this year’s lineup boasts plenty of acts worth seeing — from seasoned veterans to rising stars — NRG Arena won’t be the only venue in town playing great music. So keep scrolling to see our picks for this week’s best concerts, ranging from classic…
ScreamWorld to Open Friday the 13th, Then Close Indefinitely
Houston’s longest-running horror attraction, ScreamWorld, will open for a special night of scares on Friday, March 13, and then close for the foreseeable future. “It seems only fitting that after 31 years of terrorizing well over 1 million patrons, we’ll open our doors one last time on Friday the 13th,”…
Exploring the Sandwiches of Florida’s Central Gulf Coast
Tampa stakes a claim as the home of the cubano, the Cuban pressed pork sandwich that is an obsession for some (yours truly included). The origin story here is that the sandwiches were made to serve a growing population of Cuban immigrants, particularly low wage workers. There are those who…
Not Dead Yet: Jon Dee Graham Comes Back Swinging
Don’t worry, Jon Dee Graham was only dead for a little while. The beloved Austin artist had a close call this past summer but he’s back on his feet and playing the guitar with more energy than before and a band of Houston artists lighting a fire deep from deep…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Wide Receivers
On paper, fully healthy, wide receiver is not a major position of need for the Houston Texans. DeAndre Hopkins is, perhaps, the best receiver in the game today, Will Fuller is the most impactful speed guy, and Kenny Still is the steady veteran third wide receiver that I’ve been clamoring…
To Kill a Mockingbird, Mean Girls and Hadestown: the 2020-21 Season of Broadway at the Hobby
With six premieres and Tony Award® winners, the 2020-21 Season announced by Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby today seems power-loaded to attract a wide range of audiences featuring everything from Best Musical Hadestown to the much-applauded stage version of To Kill a Mockingbird and the can’t-miss-in-Houston Wicked. Other shows in…
Kitchen Gear Essentials: The Chef’s Knife
Brand new to the kitchen? Trying to figure out what gear you need to get the job done? Or maybe you’re getting married and want to add to the registry. We’ve got you covered with basic kitchen essentials for the home cook. There is perhaps no more critical cooking instrument…
Four Rockets Players Replacing Height with Toughness
The Rockets playing “small ball” seems to be about the only thing people can talk about these days. They are either super high on the concept or see it as an “experiment” bound to fail. At this point, the team is 10-3 in games with the smaller lineup despite a…
Five Annoying Habits of Houston Drivers in the Rain
Two things Houstonians like to complain about the most are the weather and traffic. We have a lot of both here. The weather is in the form of rain quite often, sometimes significant amounts. The traffic is always significant and never easy. But when you put the two of them…
A Power Shake Playlist Because You’re Fantastic
Did you seriously think we were going to leave you in a four-foot hole, five miles outside Vegas without six McDonald’s straws attached end-to-end for air and a gardening trowel seven inches away from your left hand to dig yourself out? Come on. Shortly after a breakup, what you need…
Dropouts: The Great American Workforce Waiting to Happen
In The King’s Speech, a movie about King George VI’s ascension to the throne of the British Empire – the royal hires a speech therapist, named Lionel Logue, to overcome his stammer. The most powerful scene in the movie is when the king questions his teacher’s educational background, or lack there…
Houston Ballet Explores What it Takes to Get on Stage in Trey McIntyre’s “Pretty Things”
So our society generally regards narcissism as bad. But isn’t a healthy dose of that intense preoccupation with and belief in oneself essential to performing artists aspiring to greatness? That’s the question dancer/choreographer Trey McIntyre set before himself when putting together “Pretty Things,” part of the upcoming mixed rep program…
Market Square Park Gets In The Groove With DiverCity Project
Downtown District is launching DiverCity Project, a bi-monthly concert series held at Market Square Park, that will showcases the city’s multicultural musical influences. Houston Brass Quintet, along with guest performers, will provide the programming, which includes six hourlong concerts with themes including jazz with African roots, Middle Eastern, Western Bluegrass.
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Running Backs
When the Texans began training camp last year, as late as early August, it appeared as though their running back duo was going to be veteran Lamar Miller and oft-injured, former third round pick D’Onta Foreman. Well, life can come at you pretty fast, because by the time Week Three…
Whit’s “Hand It Over” Hands Viewers a Glance at the Band’s Future
Mad Whitaker sounds almost unreasonably comfortable discussing crippling creative blocks, the ingrown fear that stifles life goals and the grit required to take an unflinching look at one’s self in order to grow. Whitaker’s no self-help guru, but she is the creative force behind the pop-prog-art rock band Whit. The…
Cumbia pioneers Los Angeles Azules perform at Smart Financial Centre
Los Angeles Azules Smart Financial Centre Sugar Land March 1, 2020 Growing up in a Latino household, there are some things that were simply inevitable. Going to church on Sundays, wearing hand-me-downs from your older siblings and cousins, and being forced to say hello and goodbye to every single aunt,…
Doctor Who: The End to a Very Frustrating Season
Spoilers Ahead There’s a moment in “The Timeless Children” when The Doctor basically launches a DDoS attack on the server in Gallifrey that contains all Time Lord knowledge, using her own mind to over-stimulate and break the server in order to escape. The Doctor is left lying unconscious on the…
Four Astros Who Need to Have Big Seasons
As opening day inches ever closer, the play on the field for the Astros has finally begun to get more attention — at least locally — than the disaster off the diamond during the offseason. During Spring Training, most players aren’t concerned about stats as they work on fine tuning…
Houston Texans 2020 Offseason Position Preview: Quarterbacks
The NFL offseason is about to, potentially, become a gigantic game of quarterback roulette here over the next few weeks. Big, veteran signal caller names are hitting free agency, big names are potentially on the trade block, and there is about to be an influx of new, young talent in…
Sounding The Alarm: Fat Tony Is Forcing People To Wake Up And Look Around
Houston’s own Fat Tony is sounding the alarm and forcing everyone to wake up. “The whole album is about the chaos that we are in right now, not explicitly about the chaos, but about how it’s making us feel and my ideas about how we can react against it,” says…
Memes Are Fun, Memes Are Powerful
A digitized baby— a 3D baby, dancing to Blue Swede’s oogachaka, oogachaka. How amusing. Gerald really is the office jokester—I can think of at least 15 people to email this too. Circa 1996. Look at these ridiculous cat pictures and the dumb stuff that comes out of their mouths. “I…
This Week in Houston Food Events: The Crawfish Croissant is Here
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Seasonal specials Crawfish Croissant at EggHaus Gourmet EggHaus Gourmet, 2042 East T C Jester, has launched its Crawfish Croissant, a freshly-baked EggHaus croissant stuffed with rice and house-made crawfish étouffée. Get it now throughout crawfish season (roughly through the end of…
Live From The Bayou Showcases Houston and Louisiana Culture.
Traffic was backed up around the 610 Loop near Main Saturday as the rodeo kicked things off with a downtown parade. Ten minutes west down 610 at the entertainment center known as The Media Block John Fuggin Dough put on the third iteration of Live From The Bayou, a party…
Beach Bunny Leaps Into Secret Group with Honeymoon Tour
In between songs is the ideal time for a front-woman to hydrate onstage. With the heat of the lights, the stench of sweat from the crowd, and hollering into the mike about relationships that you wish would just work themselves out, a girl’s gotta drink. Throughout Beach Bunny’s sold out Secret…
A Storybook Romance Comes to Life in The Sleeping Beauty
Ben Stevenson’s The Sleeping Beauty returns to the Wortham Theater Center, courtesy of Houston Ballet.
YBN Cordae Brings The Lost Boy Tour to Warehouse Live
Chants of “One More Time!” filled the ballroom of Warehouse Live. YBN Cordae looked back at his DJ and laughed at the overwhelming response. “Y’all want to do that again?” the North Carolina rapper asked the crowd as he walked back toward the center of the stage. He stood and…
Amanda Shires Is Fearless (And Atmosphereless) At The Heights Theater
Amanda Shires The Heights Theater February 27, 2020 Amanda Shires got her start at 15, playing fiddle for the legendary Texas Playboys. She’s also performed with John Prine, Todd Snider, and the 400 Unit alongside husband Jason Isbell. She’s released six solo albums and in the last year founded the…
La Fin Du Bond: You Only Live Twice
We’re revisiting the highs and lows of Eon’s James Bond movies in the lead-up to No Time to Die. This week, it’s 007’s not-so excellent Japanese adventure. Despite the fact mankind has only traveled to the Moon a handful of times, we as a species have gotten pretty blasé about space travel…
Openings and Closings: Flower Child Heights Soon, The Rustic Goes Uptown, Pi Pizza Closes
Flower Child, 1533 N. Shepherd, will open March 24 in the Houston Heights area. This is the third Houston-area location for the healthy eating chain that is on a “soul-satisfying mission of positively delicious vibes.” Those delicious vibes include a lot of vegetables, fruits and healthy grains. There are plenty…
Trail Riders and Road Closures: Yee Haw for Traffic This Weekend
Only in Houston can we flood half a city without a single drop of rain. And, naturally, the burst water main that robbed much of Houston of water pressure and forced the closure of HISD and HCC did the most damage to a freeway. Because God knows the one thing…
1984: A Timely Look at Big Brother and an End to Privacy
In 1949, George Orwell published his book 1984, a look into a dystopian future in which the state, AKA Big Brother, monitors all human activity and squelches any dissent and individuality. At the time he was influenced by Soviet Stalinism and events in Europe post World War II. Playwrights Robert…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Start Your Sunday with a Free Kolache
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Go Texan Day at The Patio at The Pit Room Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. 1205 Richmond Celebrate all things Texan at The Patio at The Pit Room’s Go Texan Day fiesta, featuring BBQ, crawfish, specialty foods, drinks, raffle prizes, DJ…
God, Guns, and the Tragedy of Sutherland Springs Explored in New Book
On November 5, 2017, Joe Holley was busily signing his work at the Texas Book Festival in Austin, and had heard someone mention something about a shooting somewhere near San Antonio. As he drove home toward Houston, the CNN radio report began trickling out more details: A massacre with multiple…
Taking Inventory of the Craziest NFL QB Offseason Cycle Ever
The National Football League is the king of the team sports landscape right now in nearly every way. Ratings are on the rise again, and a majority of the list of “most viewed” programming on television throughout the year is comprised of NFL games. The Super Bowl is programming mecca…
Rockets Continue Roll in Romp Over Grizzlies
Jonas Valanciunas and his Memphis teammates kept getting rebound after rebound. They crushed the Rockets on the offensive glass 22-9. They shot respectably from the three point line when it mattered and had fewer turnovers. The Rockets still blew them out 140-112 on Wednesday night in Toyota Center, leading by…
![Best Bets This Weekend: Brunch, Overwatch, and the Downtown Rodeo Parade {UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ez7a6186.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Best Bets This Weekend: Brunch, Overwatch, and the Downtown Rodeo Parade {UPDATED]
Not only is rodeo season upon us, we’ve found plenty for you to do, including eating everyone’s favorite meal, walking for a cause, and taking in some art.
For The Sake Of The Song: Dylan LeBlanc Is Writing For His Soul
Muscle Shoals, Alabama is known for its famous “Muscle Shoals Sound” which broke through the airwaves in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Heavy hitters like Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon would all flock to the sleepy town in hopes of breaking off a little piece of…
Marian’s Song: The Story of the First Black Artist to Sing at the Metropolitan Opera
Marian Anderson was an accomplished singer of classical music and spirituals who grew up at a time that was not welcoming to African American performers of any kind in the United States. Her story of perseverance and undeniable talent is legendary as she traveled to Europe for the kind of…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Memorial City Launches its Inaugural Restaurant Weeks
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Memorial City will launch its month-long Memorial City Restaurant Weeks campaign on Sunday, March 1, showcasing specially-curated lunches and dinners from top area restaurants, with a portion of the price of each meal benefiting the Memorial…
What Makes The Most Sense For a 17th NFL Regular Season Game?
It would appear that the NFL’s adding a 17th regular season game to the schedule is just a matter of time. An additional game will mean more money for players, lots more money for owners, and more content for everybody in the business — television, radio, web writers, gamblers, the…
The Alley Theatre Unveils Part of its 2020-21 Season
A new musical Noir promising “a web of love, lies, deceit and danger” will be on stage at the Alley Theatre in the 2020-21 Season along with four other just-announced productions, according to Alley Artistic Director Rob Melrose. Noir opens in January, but fast-forward to the summer and another production…
Four Thoughts on the Rockets Final 25 Games of the Season
As has been the case over the last few seasons here in Houston, where the Rockets began this season is quite different from where they are with just 25 games remaining before the playoffs. The Rockets have gone deeper into the Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni philosophy of threes, free…
Beach Bunny to Bring Honeymoon to Secret Group
When Lili Trifilio studied journalism at DePaul University, she probably didn’t anticipate her then-solo project Beach Bunny would blossom into a fully formed pop-punk outfit playing festival sets or headlining a near sold out national tour in support of their recently released Honeymoon LP. An early tour Texas stretch finds…
Upper Crust: Frank’s Pizza
There’s a slice of pizza for every occasion: the football game and a beer slice, the college all-nighter slice, the kids’ sleepover slice, the fancy date night slice. Each pie tied to a moment of nostalgia, a sense memory that endears the simple Itianian street-food to our culture and cements…
Houston Restaurants and Bars Offering Rodeo Specials, Just in Time for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Giddy up, y’all! With the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo taking over the city from Tuesday, March 3 through Sunday, March 22, it’s officially Rodeo season. And these Houston-area restaurants and bars are getting in on the fun. From succulent bbq brisket sandwiches and smokehouse burgers to steaks the size…
Come From Away Recalls a Time of “Better Angels” Post 9/11
Moments after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the resulting air traffic chaos and shutdown, nearly 7,000 airborne passengers were diverted to Gander International Airport, located in a small town in Newfoundland. Over the next few days, most of the world heard the story of the welcoming Canadians who took…
Houston Concert Watch 2/26: Tennis and More
RodeoHouston kicks off this week, and you know what that means, folks. It’s time for carnival rides, funnel cakes and mutton bustin’. So get your boots shined, your jeans hemmed, your hats fitted and break out those belt buckles because it’s time to ride! Midland will open this year’s festivities, but…
Texans HC Bill O’Brien To Relinquish Play Calling Duties To Kelly
The NFL draft combine is under way, so that means the Houston Texans are doing their best to find the next wave of cheap labor for a roster where the salaries for the upper tier talent is in the process of busting at the seams. The Texans’ first pick in…
Four Astros Training Camp Storylines…Besides the Cheating
It’s been a really, really long offseason despite the fact that the Astros played until literally the last day of the offseason. Obviously the news has been dominated by a series of scandals culminating with the commissioners’ report that the Astros cheated. As spring training opened, it only seemed to…
Breakups Happen. Here Are Some Pain Songs.
So. Like a Civil War battlefield amputation, your relationship took a turn for the worse. We’re sorry he/ she didn’t turn out to be all butterflies and strawberries. There, there. On the upside, now you can wallow for a week or so in pain songs, and what’s this— we’ve collected…
J.J. Watt’s Tweet About Proposed CBA Has Many Folks Upset
AS the NFL combine gets underway this week in Indianapolis, one of the big storylines surrounding the league’s annual redraft dog and pony show has nothing (or very little, at least) to do with the NFL Draft. The NFL’s owners plan to meet with the NFL Players Association to discuss…
The Road of Southern Avenue Leads to Blues, Soul, and Funk
When he landed in Memphis, Tennessee in 2013 to compete in the annual International Blues Challenge and represent his native Israel, it was a dream come true for guitarist Ori Naftaly. And while victory in his category eluded him, he quickly made some contacts, formed a band, and went on…
We Crave Temporary Experiences, Popups Deliver
Blasts of neon light with accompanying music all fueled by personal touch at The Color Factory. Bright yellow shipping container Café Bustelo slinging cortaditos and hot, crisp empanadas. A trip to the theater that’s actually located in an Airbnb to see All Through The House. Keep these one-of-a-kind popups coming,…
Four Days, Four Sandwich Shops in Austin
Austin is an interesting food town. It’s short on diversity but long on craft with plenty of interesting and unique restaurants — along with a whole mess of barbecue and taco joints. While visiting friends and relatives recently, I wondered how their sandwiches stack up. In Houston, the list is…
The Astros Owe Houston An Apology, Just Not For The Reasons You Think
To the chagrin of the city of Houston, MLB Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, and the attention-starved Washington Nationals, the fallout from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal continues, and is actually getting worse, no thanks to the response from the team itself. Owner Bob Crane may have fired manager A.J. Hinch…
Stages Announces its 2020-2021 Season and Can You Spell E-C-L-E-C-T-I-C?
From an season opener in July which will call upon one lucky (?) member of the audience to play the problem-solving MacGyver each night, to a one-woman tour-de-force by Sally Edmundson playing a woman lost in history to all things Trailer Park and Panto, Stages is mounting an impressively busy…
Tweaks, Apps and New Opportunities at the 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Striving for more comfort and convenience, the 2020 version of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has added baby stations at multiple locations, tweaked its rideshare drop-offs by moving them to a new spot and for visitors of all ages: added a new tented area with sofas, outlets, and water…
Rodeo Uncorked Best Bites 2020: Scenes and Winners
And thus, it begins. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 2020 got kicked off last evening with the Rodeo Uncorked! Best Bites Competition which featured 113 Houston restaurants serving delicious bites along with pours of 450 wines from the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition to accompany them. Officially Rodeo…
New Opera: The Leader May Go the Distance
Opera in the Heights’ New Works Festival, a two-weekend presentation of world premieres has a winner in The Leader. I believe this one will have a full afterlife. Composer Karim Al-Zand teaches at the Shepherd’s School of Music at Rice University, and to judge by his work here, he must…
Fish Fridays: Where to Eat in Houston During Lent 2020
After the decadence of “Fat Tuesday,” the 40 days of Lent begin, a time of prayer, atonement, and sacrifice that traditionally comes in the form of meat-free Fridays. All of it leads up to Easter Sunday, which this year, falls on Sunday, April 12 (with Good Friday on April 10)…
XFL Week 3: Roughnecks 34, Vipers 27 — Four Winners, Four Losers
I have no idea if I’d be saying this if the XFL team here in town wasn’t undefeated and power fueled by the most dynamic quarterback-wide receiver combination in the entire league, but so far, so good for the XFL in Houston! On Saturday afternoon, the Houston Roughnecks went on…
Road Trips 101: Highway Rules for Long Drives
For some, road trips are liberating. See the landscape up close. Control your travel and don’t worry about flight delays and cramped airplanes. It’s not for everyone, obviously, but if you enjoy or think you might like to try a long drive consider this your primer. We will cover everything…
Houston Playwrights Rarely Seen On Houston Stages, But That Might Be Changing
It was January 2016 and Houston playwright Brendan Bourque-Sheil was on top of the world. Stages Repertory Theatre, one of the biggest companies in town, was opening his new play, The Book of Maggie, with a full bells and whistles production. A mainstage show at a prestigious theater is a…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Fat Tuesday Boils and Go Texan Day Eats
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Seasonal specials Westheimer Crawfish Crawl with Underbelly Hospitality Underbelly Hospitality is celebrating Houston’s favorite season with a season-long Crawfish Crawl. Now through the end of May, grab your Crawfish Passport at an Underbelly Hospitality restaurant, get it punched with any crawfish…
Paulie Think Drops In Again
On his first day back in Texas, Paulie Think had a gnarly wipeout on his skateboard. “Actually, I ate shit in the H-E-B parking lot. I was on my skateboard,” said the avid skater and musician. “I was going down the hill out the parking lot and I don’t know…
A Good Cast Works Hard in Yeltsin in Texas
Opera world premieres don’t grow on trees. They’re expensive, time consuming, and usually a logistic nightmare to prepare. Also they’re a big gamble. With yet another production of Boheme at least the design team and the audience know what to expect. When it’s set on Mars, that’s another problem all…
Young Dolph and Key Glock Bring No Rules to The House of Blues
Key Glock, braced himself as he leaned out into the crowd. The lights in the House of Blues dimmed but the flash from the hundreds of camera phones in the packed house illuminated the Memphis MC and sparkling diamond chain draped around his neck. He stepped out onto the crowd,…
Dead Eye Boy Fails To Disturb
There are shows where the performances are so superb, they distract, making a less than stellar play seem better than it is. Conversely, a decent enough play may be made less palatable by a weak performance. Both of these scenarios are present in Dirt Dogs Theatre’s production of Angus MacLachlan’s,…
Rockets’ New Additions Paying Dividends Already
Robert Covington stopped with the ball at the top of the key about three feet beyond the arc. He calmly took the shot and drained it. It was one of Covington’s five made three pointers in the Rockets 135-105 laugher win over the Golden State Warriors Thuirsday night. Covington, who…
Middle East Peace Gets The Fly On the Wall Treatment In Camp David
About ten minutes into Lawrence Wright’s, Camp David, we find President Jimmy Carter, on his knees, praying. “Please don’t let me screw this up,” Carter beseeches God, while acknowledging that the road ahead will be challenging. So challenging in fact, it could cost him his already shaky Presidency. An Arab…
Openings and Closings: The Burger Joint Heights Finally Opens, One Fifth Makes a Change
The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd, opens February 21, after several years of anticipation. The first location opened in Montrose in 2015 and has been a hot spot for lunch, dinner and late night burger fixes. Owners Matthew Pak and Shawn Bermudez (Present Company) have had to jump over a…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Get a Buzz on the Houston Caffeine Crawl
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Houston Caffeine Crawl Friday and Saturday The seventh annual Houston Caffeine Crawl plays host to a two-day, six route coffee and tea tour, with pit stops from Katz Coffee in Spring Branch East to Xela Coffee in the Second Ward. Each…
Texans Give DT Brandon Dunn New Deal, Watt Clamors To Bring Back Reader
With the land rush of NFL free agency under a month away, the Houston Texans are working hard to handle internal housecleaning, and bringing back their own free agents that they want to see continue as part of this team’s core nucleus and role player fringe. On Wednesday, they brought…
Southern (Rock) Man: Marshall Tucker Band’s Doug Gray on Their Rich Past and Busy Present
For many people, remembering where they were and what they were doing on any given New Year’s Eve is an effort hampered by time, memory, or alcohol. But Doug Gray recalls exactly where he was more than four decades ago when the year 1978 rolled into 1979: Onstage at the…
La Fin Du Bond: From Russia With Love
On April 10, the 25th (official) James Bond movie hits theaters. No Time to Die also marks the (allegedly) last time Daniel Craig will don the tuxedo. While this (probably) doesn’t herald the end of 007, it’s a significant milestone nonetheless. And you know what that means: that’s right, it’s nostalgia time…
Best Bets This Weekend: Communists in Texas, Women Rockers, and Acrobats
Whether you’re interested in a heavy family drama or a toe-tapping musical, punk rock or Beethoven, vampires or acrobats, we’ve got you covered this weekend.
What The World Needs Now: Tomar And The FC’s Encourage Everyone To Rise Above
Tomar and the FC’s are encouraging everyone to rise above all the noise with a little bit of love and a lot of soul. The Austin-based soul quintet just released their highly anticipated sophomore album Rise Above this month. They celebrated in their hometown with a sold out show at…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Snag Your Menu of Menus Tickets Now
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Tickets are now on sale for our 18th Annual Houston Press Menu of Menus® Extravaganza, set for Tuesday, April 7 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards, and featuring tastes from over 35…
MFAH Showcases Four Millennia of Spanish Art in a Rare Exhibit
It’s probably true that the majority of people don’t discover what will become their lifelong passion as a pre-teen, but for Archer Huntington (1870-1955) that’s exactly what happened at the tender age of 12. Hailing from one of America’s wealthiest families, young Archer was on vacation in England in 1882…
Houston Astros Are Still Good At Baseball, Place Eight in MLB Top 100
If I had to guess, there won’t be any point during the 2020 MLB season where the Astros’ sign stealing scandal goes away. It might be placed on the shelf for random periods of a day or two, but it will hang over this team, in some form, all season…
Rockets Add Jeff Green, to Sign DeMarre Carroll
The Rockets did what they have done almost every year for a while now: sign veteran talent during the season. Names as varied as Austin Rivers, Gerald Green, Joe Johnson and Michael Beasley have made their way onto the roster in midseason. On Tuesday, they inked veteran swingman Jeff Green…
Stunning Once on This Island A Perfect Distraction From the Book at TUTS
The French Antilles serves as the setting for the retelling of a mermaid-centric fable in Once on This Island, now playing courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars.
Why Some Brown Girls Don’t Fight Back
What we teach our kids is based on our values, our history, our experiences, and the world we live in. Teaching little girls to fight, as our own Jef Rouner recently suggested, is a response to the active threats that they will get all their life and makes sense in…
These Houston Bars and Restaurants Are Getting Gluttonous on Fat Tuesday
From festive King Cake and Mardi Gras crawfish boils to frozen hurricanes and all-you-can-eat pancakes, these Houston restaurants and bars are celebrating Fat Tuesday (February 25) and the gluttony that comes with it: BB’s Tex-Orleans, multiple locations Come dressed in purple, gold and green and “laissez les bon temps rouler”…
Houston Concert Watch 2/19: Joseph and More
There was a little something for everyone this week in music news. Billie Eilish released “No Time To Die,” her moody theme for the next James Bond film; Justin Bieber put out an underwhelming, albeit catchy new album; and Korn announced a co-headlining tour with Faith No More. What more…
The New Black Magic of Paul Hope & Co. at Ovations
What is it that make a Paul Hope Cabaret revue so damn delicious? Its latest revue, That Old Black Magic, the ’40s Songs of Harold Arlen is about as tasty as you would want. In the intimate space of Ovations Night Club, you sit snuggled up against other patrons in…
Whining and Dining: Hot Wings and Baby Swings at Preslee’s
Life has changed for this food writer. As a brand-new mom, poppin’ bottles has taken on a slightly different meaning. But while I find myself seeking out diaper changing tables for the first time ever, I’m still on the hunt for all the awesome happy hours, exciting menus and H-town…
Oddsmakers Place Odds On Most Frequent Astro Targets For Beanballs
There’s really no playbook for the processing of the Astros’ sign stealing scandal by opposing teams and fan bases. The previous “biggest MLB scandal of our lives” was the overabundance of steroid abuse back in the late’ 90s and early 2000s, but the targets of fan scorn in that case…
Chef Gone Wild: Chris Shepherd Has Big Plans for One Fifth
Chris Shepherd is not a man to rest on his laurels. He was named Best Chef in the World by The Robb Report in 2019. He owns and operates four successful restaurant concepts in Houston. He released his cookbook, co-written with Kaitlyn Goalen, Cook Like a Local, last year and…
Astros’ Martes Suspended a Full Season for PED Use
As if the Astros needed anything else controversial to deal with, the team announced Monday that pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended 162 games for the use of a performance-enhancing drug, in this case something called Boldenone. This is the 24-year-old’s second offense in two seasons. In 2019, he got an…
A Full Heart And A Lot Of Soul: Marc Broussard Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is
Marc Broussard is putting his money where his mouth is, the same mouth that produces that deep, soulful voice the artist is known for. His recent project, A Lullaby Collection is his latest effort in fundraising for his SOS Foundation and proceeds will benefit Our Lady of the Lake Children’s…
These Houston Bars and Restaurants are Celebrating National Margarita Day
National Margarita Day is Saturday, February 22, and call us biased, but we think we’re in the best city in America to celebrate. From tequila-soaked parties to boozy drink specials, these Houston bars and restaurants are honoring the sacred margarita this year: Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, 3601 Kirby Housing over 250…
Translating Deshaun Watson’s Twitter Shout Out To Roughnecks’ QB P.J. Walker
The second version of Vince McMahon’s XFL is off to a pretty impressive start. The quality of football is decent enough, the television production is predictably top notch, and we all have one more thing to gamble on throughout the month of February, which is historically a painfully light gambling…
Women Rock! for a Cause at Upcoming Mildred’s Umbrella Benefit
Women Rock!, a benefit concert for Mildred’s Umbrella, takes over Rudyard’s for the third year for an evening of rock and punk music.
Classic Rock Warriors Wishbone Ash Don a New Coat of Arms
Though not as well known among classic rock aficionados in the United States as their home base in England or even Europe, for more than 50 years prog rockers Wishbone Ash have carved out their own place in rock history and attracted some very, very rabid fans. Known as pioneers…
Feges BBQ Plans a Second Location in Spring Branch
Erin Smith and Patrick Feges are working toward opening a second location of their critically acclaimed barbecue restaurant in Spring Branch in early 2021. The married couple opened Feges BBQ in Greenway Plaza two years ago and Feges’ mastery of the smoked meats and Smith’s creative takes on the seasonal…
The Bad Boy of Norway: Ibsen’s Peer Gynt at Classical Theatre
Classical Theatre Company has answered a question I’ve pondered for years, Why is Henrik Ibsen’s seminal drama Peer Gynt (1876) such a rarity? The only stage production I’ve seen has been Ben Stevenson’s 1981 version for Houston Ballet, a phantasmagoric adventure yarn that used almost all of Edvard Grieg’s original…
Four Improvements to Make the Rockets a Legit Contender
After a perfectly bizarre All-Star weekend, the Rockets are back in gear Thursday night against the Warriors. The figurative second half was good to the Rockets last season as they narrowly missed the second seed on the final day of the season. In 2020, they are battling for legitimacy among…
Balancing Act: Ian Moore Juggles Big Projects And Keeps Rocking
Finding balance in life can be tricky, everyone is constantly being pulled in multiple directions. Ian Moore is no different, the singer songwriter is constantly working on projects involving more than just songwriting and performing. He will be returning to Houston on Thursday, February 20 to play the Heights Theater…
Shipping Dogs Out of State to a Better Life or Hell. Who Knows?
For more than a year, a Huntsville-based animal rescue group has been picking up dogs from municipal shelters in and around Houston and sending them to a Connecticut shelter with a history of animal cruelty. According to one source close to the operation, the Texas dogs transported along this route…
Four Worst Out of Market Responses To the Houston Astros’ Cheating Scandal
The 2017 Houston Astros cheated, a LOT, throughout the regular season and, seemingly less so, in the post season. This has been established, admitted to, and (to varying degrees of sincerity) apologized for. These are immutable facts that nobody in Houston is running away from. Most everyone associated with the…
Houston’ Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty: Be Careful Who You Leave Off the Guest List
Maybe there are some very good reasons that Carabosse places a curse on Princess Aurora. Well, if not good, then at least understandable. After all, it’s something most of us can identify with: Feelings of sadness, embarrassment and anger when everyone else is invited to a party and we’re not…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Slurp Brisket Ramen at Ramen Tatsu-Ya
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All month long “H-Town Originals” with chef Ryan Lachaine at Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 4520 San Felipe, 2724 West TC Jester, continues its “H-Town Originals” celebrity chef campaign, in which a different local celeb creates a signature…
Kat Edmonson Dreams Big Ahead of Heights Theater Concert
As they are in Edgar Allen Poe’s “Dream Within a Dream,” or Christopher Nolan’s Inception, dreams are a point of fascination for Houston-native jazz singer Kat Edmonson on her newest album Dreamers Do. The concept album embarks on a nocturnal journey, narrated by Edmonson’s distinct, ray-of-light voice, through a mix…
Music Box Theater Scores With Another Version of Broadway at the Box
If you’re any fan of the Broadway musical – who isn’t, really – then the intimate cabaret revues produced by Music Box Theater are required listening. Its latest version, Broadway at the Box, 2020 is no exception. Actually, it proves the rule. You know the one I’m talking about: that…
Xavier Omar Fights Sickness and Lifts His Houston Curse
“I’ve been doing this in every city with this song and I have someone special for you guys to see tonight,” exclaimed Xavier Omar as he motioned to a woman standing off stage. The lights dimmed in the smoke-filled ballroom at Warehouse live as up-and-coming singer Miche’la Walker hit the…
Blue October Opens First Weekend of Mardi Gras Galveston
Thousands gathered in Galveston’s Saengerfest Park Saturday night, crowding the stage around the headlining Blue October, quickly spilling beyond the park’s borders into surrounding streets and balconies. Before the closing notes of the opening track, the small park — which butts up against the Strand’s famous Yaga’s Cafe — was…
Even When the Audience Stays in its Seats, Fefu and Her Friends is Intense
In 1935, seven girlfriends gather at Fefu’s luxurious country home in New England. The house is well appointed, looking like a Cedric Gibbons’ MGM fantasy torn from Norma Desmond’s imagination. Thank you designer Ryan McGettigan, for the skewed lintels, the wallpaper shreds of women through art history (Grant Wood’s American…
Recovery Laid Bare in Stages’ Water by the Spoonful
In Quiara Alegría Hudes Water by the Spoonful, the second play in her Elliot Trilogy now playing at Stages, we meet Iraq war veteran Elliot six years later.
Jet Lag Can’t Slow Eliza & The Delusionals’ Fast Ascent
Doing a cross-country phone interview might not sound like the best way to spend part of one’s day off – particularly if that day off followed a 36-hour day – but that’s what Eliza Klatt did on the second day of her first U.S. music tour. Klatt is the front…
Four Ways the Astros Can Win Back Houston Fans
The Astros opened spring training with a rather bizarre display of canned apologies from star players and team owner Jim Crane. Things improved in the club house where players dispensed with the script and gave honest responses to questions — as honest as they could be given the circumstances. Overall,…
HAUNTER Releases Debut Single, Talks Future
“HAUNTER, for me, is almost an overcorrection,” Enoma Asowata says of his new band. A seasoned guitarist, Asowata boasts a long history in the Houston music scene. Since the age of 21, he has played in a plethora of bands, most recently serving as the guitarist for Otenki, an outfit that saw…
Openings and Closings: Eighteen36 Debuts, Local Group Brewing Opens Soon
Local Group Brewing, 1504 Chapman, is set to open softly February 28 with a full food menu and abbreviated beer menu. A grand opening will follow within a few weeks. The 7,500 square foot brewpub comes from veteran brewer James “Huggy Bear” Wolfe, Michael Steeves and Todd Donewar. The trio…
Four Thoughts On the Houston Astros’ Apology Fiasco
Jim Crane promised us this day would come. Back on January 13, shortly after the Astros’ owner got done terminating the Astro careers of manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow (which came shortly after the commissioner of baseball had suspended both men for failing to stop the Astros’…
Posthumous Memoir of Music Exec Tells Tales of T. Rex, Pink Floyd, Wham! and More…
Have a Cigar! The Memoir of the Man Behind Pink Floyd, T. Rex, The Jam, and George Michael By Bryan Morrison 224 pp. Quiller Publishing $39.95 Of all the inductees into this year’s class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it’s the one of oldest vintage that stands…
Yeltsin in Texas!: Opera Buffa in Real Life at Opera in the Heights
Sometimes, you just can’t make up what happens in real life. And sometimes that real life story is just too good and larger than life to pass up. Composer Evan Mack and librettist Joshua McGuire, who’ve worked in tandem on a lot of new productions, knew they had opera gold when…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Savor the Love on Valentine’s Day
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Valentine’s Day Dining Friday (including some through Sunday) Check out our Houston Valentine’s Day Dining Guide to find which Houston restaurants are ready to bring the love this Valentine’s Day, from decadent, prix fixe meals for two to a la carte…
Oppression Gets The Existentialist Treatment In Pass Over
Of the many smart touches Director Mekeva McNeil brings to Rec Room Arts’ production of Antionette’s Nwandu’s, Pass Over, perhaps the most astute is her decision to eschew the curtain call. A blank stage is all we’re given to indicate the end of the show. And for this we’re thankful…
Breaking The Mold: Flor De Toloache Is Indestructible
In 2020 it’s easy to think that everything has already been done. After all, everything is cyclical and few things are really new. Flor de Toloache breaks with this sentiment by being the first all female mariachi band. The unique group will perform Sunday, February 16 at the House of…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: A Laugh and a Nosh at Kenny & Ziggy’s
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Bistro Provence, 13616 Memorial, will be hosting a dinner featuring wines of Alsace with Domaine Ruhlmann on Tuesday, February 18, led by the winery’s owner and winemaker, Antoine Ruhlmann. With dishes from Alsace offering a blend…
Songs to Make The Clothes Melt Off This Valentine’s Day
Tick-tock-tick-tock—Makin’ Love With The Houston Press is hungry once again to deliver more unconventional Valentine’s Day music recommendations. Expect this lineup to melt the clothes right off your bodies wherever you may be; the kitchen, the parking lot, let’s hope not a parent/teacher conference… but I guess depending on the…
Best Bets This Weekend: Mardi Gras, Star Trek, and a Latinx Theater Festival
Whether you like chamber music, want to have a good time at a festival, or are a Trekkie, there’s something for you this weekend. Oh yeah, and it’s also Valentine’s Day.
Houston Texans Place Three Players In Pro Football Focus 101
The time for NFL roster reshaping will be upon us very, very soon. The NFL Draft Combine begins at the end of the month, free agency starts on March 16, and the 2020 NFL Draft will come the following month. I love the upcoming time of year, because it’s shopping…
Houston Gets Ratchet With Tim Ned and Fat Pimp
Houston rappers Tim Ned and Fat Pimp unveil their joint project The Art of Ratchet at House of Blues on Tuesday night.
That Old Black Magic in Song Makes Its Way to Ovations in Rice Village
Don’t have a clue as to who Harold Arlen was? How about if we run a few of the songs whose music he composed by you? Say, for instance: “Stormy Weather,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” or the immortal “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead.” Yes, he was the composer for The…
Four In-House Solutions For The Astros To Replicate 2019
Being an Astros fan over the last month or so has not been easy. Starting with the January 13 announcement by owner Jim Crane that GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch would be fired, it’s been hard to find a safe haven from the criticism of the team and…
Wireless Earbuds and the Tiptoe Service Phenomenon
In the middle of wiping down a bottle of Irish whiskey, the abrasive sound of wood screeching on concrete alerted me to a new guest adjusting himself on a bar stool. Grey suit, top two buttons unfastened, he placed his cell phone on the bar and watched me approach with…
Houston Concert Watch 2/12: Silversun Pickups and More
Surely I’m not the only one who had way too much fun watching the opening weekend of the XFL. I know it’s far too early to make any projections, but the Houston Roughnecks looked like one of the strongest teams in the league during their debut. Given the ongoing mismanagement…
This Ain’t No Love Song: Adam Bricks Releases The Anti-Valentine “Funeral”
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. For some people, it is a day to celebrate their love for each other with marked up candy and flowers but for others, it can easily become a day to remind them of failed relationships. After all, who hasn’t had a broken heart?…
Trying Out the Riel-Antone’s Pizza Sub
Every month, Antone’s has been pairing with a local celebrity or chef to create a dish that is not only unique but provides money for local charities. So far, every one has been a winner from Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus’s heavy-handed Hangover to Bun B’s chicken wing spectacular. For February,…
Former Houston Texans In The XFL, Week 1 Summary
The reviews are in for the first week of XFL action, and they are largely very good. The quality of football appears to be more than adequate, the presentation is professional and high level, and the league’s format and place on the landscape lends itself to highly competitive, highly motivated…
Marcel P. Black’s Ministry Goes In Search of the Black Messiah
“I’m like the last word of mouth rapper left,” said Marcel P. Black, the Baton Rouge-based rapper who has helped make his city pivotal to burgeoning artists in the genre. “I don’t have a whole bunch of followers on Instagram or Twitter but for people who know Marcel P. Black,…
Sand, Wind and Rain: All on Stage in Once on This Island at TUTS
Jahmaul Bakare has never played a god before, never been on a national Broadway Tour before for that matter either but he’s now doing both with Once On This Island, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Bakare plays Agwe, the god of water, in this…
New Restaurants and a Way to Save on Tickets at Menu of Menus® 2020
As we grow closer to April (and no we’re not talking about when your taxes are due) it’s a good idea to make your plans for the annual Houston Press Menu of Menus® event at Silver Street Studios on Tuesday, April 7.. To help inspire you, the Houston Press today…
Houston Doesn’t Care What You Think
The Astros continue to be mired deeply within a shocking and awful cheating scandal. The Rockets have not only gone all in on small ball, but they feature two of the most surprisingly unliked superstars in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Despite the excellence on the court and the diamond,…
The Diary of Anne Frank is Brought to Devastating Life and Death at the MATCH
By the time the Nazis burst into the secret annex, behind the bookcase where the Frank family and others have been hiding for the past two years, to haul them away to death camps, and you haven’t shed a tear, then I suggest you haven’t got a heart. This Theater…
Camp David at the Alley: When the World Paused For a Moment of Hope
Elijah Alexander was an Egyptian child growing up in the Middle East when Camp David happened in 1978. “I was young but the image of the three of them — Sadat, Begin and Jimmy Carter — on the White House lawn had a big impact on me.” Despite this, he…
Four Reasons the XFL Has a Chance To Be Successful In Houston
If you were sad to see the end to the NFL season last weekend, not because of the outcome of the game, but because of the thought of several months until competitive NFL football is on the radar again, the XFL is counting on enough of you just wanting football…
Tim Ned And Fat Pimp Teach Us What Ratchet Really Means
Houston artists Tim Ned and Fat Pimp are set to unveil their collaborative album The Art of Ratchet at House of Blues with a special show to kick off their tour.
UH Welcomes International Guest Performers and Scholars for Beethoven 250 UH 2020 Festival
Beethoven’s music has a knack for embedding itself in our DNA. If the human brain came hardwired with a pre-set music library, his greatest hits likely loom atop that short list. With a limitless legacy and a persona bolstered by melodic achievements of legends’ echelons, it makes sense why the…
The Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Will Probably Not be Your Second Choice
Now that the Democratic nomination process is actually into the voting portion of the contest, the field is getting winnowed down considerably. As the hard numbers roll in, a lot of people are starting to dream of their favorite candidate at least sharing the ticket, with some version of Sens…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Get a Head Start on Fat Tuesday at a Mardi Gras Brunch
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All month long “H-Town Originals” with chef Ryan Lachaine at Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 4520 San Felipe, 2724 West TC Jester, continues its “H-Town Originals” celebrity chef campaign, in which a different local celeb creates a signature…
Language Fails and War Happens in Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue at Main Street
Main Street Theater mounts the first play of Quiara Alegría Hudes’s Elliot Trilogy, Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue, about a 19-year-old Iraq War veteran.
Here’s Your Chance Right Now to See a Very Good Jersey Boys at the Hobby
Jersey Boys (2006) is not only the best jukebox musical ever created, but also the best musical, other than Hamilton, of the 21st century. There is no show so slick, so lovable, so inventive. How could it miss with its resonant raft of hit tunes from the Four Seasons that…
Sarah McLachlan’s Music Hath Charms To Soothe The Savage Hobby Center
Sarah McLachlan The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts February 6, 2020 It’s been five years since Sarah McLachlan made a tour stop in Houston. And if she hasn’t given us much in the way of new material (aside from a Christmas album, 2016’s Wonderland), she’s at least been keeping…
They’re Gonna Party Like It’s 1917: Here Are Your 92nd Academy Award Predictions
Whatever else you want to say about 2019, there were a hell of a lot of good movies. And some of these even got nominated for Academy Awards! The only real lingering stench from last year’s clusterf…ork is the reminder that Green Book is (until Sunday night) your reigning Best…
Openings and Closings: El Capitan Opens, Ibiza Closes Next Week
El Capitan Seafood and Mexican Grill, 17519 N. Gessner, opened early January. This is the second location. The original is in Hobart, Indiana. The restaurant offers traditional Mexican cuisine along with seafood boils and other dishes inspired by the Mexican coast. Expect menu prices at dinner to be a bit…
Olivia Jean: The Night Owl Will Fly Into Houston
Detroit’s musical history is one of the richest and most genre spanning stories in the world. From Motown to Madonna, something about the motor city has helped to produce some of the most influential and important sounds in music. Detroit native Olivia Jean is no exception, her sound is as…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Lobster Friday and National Pizza Day
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Lobster Friday at Bernie’s Burger Bus Friday, 11 a.m. to sold out 5407 Bellaire, 2643 Commercial Center, 2200 Yale, 6324 Highway 6 It’s the first Friday of the month, which means it’s Lobster Friday at Bernie’s Burger Bus. Show up early…
4 Reasons Tilman Fertitta Is Not Cheap
There has been an undercurrent of anger among diehard Rockets fans about owner Tilman Fertitta. The narrative goes something like, “He is too cheap to be willing to pay the luxury tax and, as a result, the team is suffering.” For those who aren’t aware, the NBA has a weird,…
Bassist Nikki Monninger Talks New Album, Working With Butch Vig, Upcoming Houston Performance
Last June, Los Angeles rockers Silversun Pickups released their fifth studio album, Widow’s Weeds. Sonically, the record picked up where 2015’s Better Nature left off; lyrically, it gave listeners a deeper look into some of the group’s most personal struggles, notably vocalist Brian Aubert’s decision to get sober. “It’s kind of…
Best Bets This Weekend: The Elliot Trilogy, Sarah McLachlan, and the Schumann Festival
Welcome to your last weekend before Valentine’s Day. Here you’ll find plenty to do and see this weekend, including two plays from a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, the works of some great composers, and the country’s first Muslim woman comedian.
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Riel and Antone’s Team Up on The Pizza Sub
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 4520 San Felipe, 2724 West TC Jester, continues its “H-Town Originals” celebrity chef campaign, in which a different local celeb creates a signature sandwich to benefit a charity of their choice each…
Current or Former Houston Texans With a Chance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
As part of the annual tradition of Super Bowl weekend, the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee announced their Class of 2020. From a semifinalist list of 25, they cut the list down to ten finalists and arrived at these five names: With the franchise now almost twenty years old,…
Rockets Go (Sm)all In with Trade of Clint Capela: Four Thoughts
Of course it would be Rockets GM Daryl Morey and his former protege, Minnesota GM Gerson Rosas, who would pull off one of the largest and most complicated deals in NBA history. The trade, which included 12 players and four teams — for Rockets fan purposes — sends Clint Capela…
Houston Concert Watch 2/5: Yola and More
Yesterday, RodeoHouston announced that Chance the Rapper, Marshmello and Houston-by-way-of-Minneapolis native Lizzo would round out its 2020 lineup. All three are noteworthy additions to this year’s schedule, but there’s plenty of music to be had between now and March as well. So we’ve compiled a list of the best acts in…
Six Most Intriguing Players on the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks
If you’re a fan of the National Football League, football ended a few days ago in Miami. However, if you’re just a fan of professional football in any form, then you’re getting a ten week bridge to the NFL Draft and the Texans’ minicamp and OTA’s. Say hello to the…
Houston’s Mocktail Revolution
Dry January is over. For some folks that means they are heading back to their debauched ways but for others, it may be a lifestyle change they want to continue. Whether it’s your turn to be the designated driver or you are committed to your hard-earned sobriety, the trend toward…
Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue: Points and Counterpoints at Main Street Theater
A fugue is defined as a short melody or phrase introduced in one part and then taken up by the following parts, all woven together. It is also defined as a state of loss of a person’s identity, sometimes accompanied by a departure from a person’s usual environment. Both definitions…
Uncle Jumbo Has Big Plans for Little Music Fans
James Pendleton’s whole life in music has been leading up to this moment. He’s certain of it. The Houston music-maker has been crafting tunes since he was a teenager, most recently and perhaps most notably as a member of Rosewood Thievz. That group, with its genre-mashing blend of R&B and…
Chance the Rapper to Take the Rodeo Stage March 6
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo welcomes Chance the Rapper on Friday, March 6. The singer, actor and hip hop artist is another of a rather eclectic lineup on non-country artists this year that includes Khalid, Marshmello, Gwen Stefani and Lizzo among others. In December, the artist canceled his entire…
Marshmello Bringing a Dance Party to the Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced electronic artist and DJ Marshmello would perform at the rodeo on Friday, March 20. The pure electronic dance vibe is certain to bring a very different atmosphere to the rodeo. In recent years, the HLSR has tried to diversify its musical base from…
Rodeo Feeling Good as Hell Welcomes Lizzo March 13
Fresh off of a trio of wins and a live performance at the Grammy’s and a year filled with skyrocketing success, Houston’s own Lizzo will perform at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Friday, March 13 as part of Black Heritage Day. The talented singer (and flautist) has taken the world…
Ron Pope Brings Nashville Sound to House of Blues
Back in 2007, an unknown singer songwriter by the name of Ron Pope hit a nerve with music fans across the internet with the viral song, “A Drop in the Ocean”. With a stripped down piano melody and a gripping voice, the boy from Georgia captivated millions in the early…
Water By The Spoonful: How Families Are Made and Stay Together, Or Not
Elliott Ortiz is a 24-year-old Puerto Rican and Iraqi war vet struggling with his life. He hallucinates about the violent and heartbreaking experiences from his past which weren’t limited to his military duty. In Water by the Spoonful (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2012), playwright Quiara Alegria…
Ranking the NFL Teams That Must Say Yes to Hard Knocks
It’s always fun to think back to the summer of 2015, when the cameras and crews from HBO and NFL Films descended upon Houston to give us some of the best insight we’ve ever had to the Houston Texans’ operations. Given how central Rick Smith and others were to that…
Astros Hire James Click to Be New General Manager
The Houston Astros announced on Monday they have signed Tampa Bay Rays Vice President of Baseball Operations, James Click, as their new general manager to replace Jeff Luhnow who was fired in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal. The announcement comes quickly on the heels of the signing of Dusty…
“Don’t California My Texas” is So Stupid
“Don’t California my Texas!” If you hang out on news outlet Facebook pages you have probably seen this statement any time a story about Texas becoming Blue shows up. Down in the comment sections, a never-ending horde of middle-aged white people, many of them holding fish in their profile pics…
Maysoon Zayid’s First Rule As A Stand-Up Comic: DO NO HARM
“I was up against the wall of not seeing people on TV who looked like me, whether it was being a woman of color, or being disabled, or being of fluffy size.”
Whining and Dining: Beating the Crowd at Coltivare
Life has changed for this food writer. As a brand-new mom, poppin’ bottles has taken on a slightly different meaning. But while I find myself seeking out diaper changing tables for the first time ever, I’m still on the hunt for all the awesome happy hours, exciting menus and H-town…
Super Bowl LIV, 49ers-Chiefs — Four Winners, Four Losers
After 256 regular season games, and 11 more in the postseason, the 2019 NFL season has come to an end, and now our long offseason nightmare sans football — sorry, XFL, sans NFL FOOTBALL — begins for the next several months. The Kansas City Chiefs are the champions of the…
Rockets Need a 2019 Finish in 2020
Last season, the Rockets were 26-20 before finishing off the season 27-9. This season, they are ahead of last year’s pace after beating New Orleans on Sunday to up their record to 31-18. But, it has felt a lot like the 2018-2019 season with injury issues and some underwhelming performances…
Report Card: J.J. Watt, Host of Saturday Night Live
I’m 1,000 percent certain that J.J. Watt would have much rather been in Miami this past weekend, preparing for Super Bowl LIV as a player, than in New York City making the NBC rounds, but if you’re not going to play in the Super Bowl, short of taking home a…
Streaming Services Need a Random Episode Button
The great thing about the streaming age is that nearly everything is available at our fingertips. The terrible thing about the streaming age is that nearly everything is available at our fingertips. We desperately need a random episode button on streaming services. Like a lot of adults in their late…
Paul English’s Girl in Green Finally Makes Her Jazzy Debut
It only took jazz composer/pianist Paul English and an ad hoc ensemble two days to record his new album, Girl in Green. But that was all the way back in 2000, and the master tapes sat on his shelf for two decades before finally seeing the light of day. Longtime…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Get 50-Cent Kolache at Kolache Shoppe
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Limited-time special Mardi Gras special at Max’s Wine Dive Now through the end of February, Max’s Wine Dive, 214 Fairview, 4720 Washington, will be featuring a Kings Cake French Toast ($12) in honor of Mardi Gras, made with crème brulee battered…
A.D. Players Presents a Compelling Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
I’m not sure I can accurately give a review of A.D. Players’ Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner because I’m fairly certain I didn’t see all of it. I was completely dumb-struck by Kirk A. Domer’s luscious – and I mean luscious – set design for the Drayton’s swanky mid-century aerie…
Celine Dion Adds Houston to Her List of Conquests
Celine Dion Toyota Center February 1, 2020 Celine Dion spent most of this century conquering Las Vegas and the live music industry with a pair of lucrative concert residencies. If you were lucky to have seen her perform any of the more than 1,000 shows she held in the desert…
Magnificent Singing in Aida Saves This HGO Production
Ancient Egypt looks mighty cheesy in Houston Grand Opera’s new production of Verdi’s colossal masterpiece Aida (1871). Granted, the former HGO production from fashionista Zhandra Rhodes (seasons 2006 and 2013) didn’t look much better, staged flat as a hieroglyphic, but at least it was psychedelic. This one, from director Phelim…
Delightful Fantasticks Opens The Gordy, Stages’ New Home
Stages starts a new chapter in their brand new home, The Gordy, with a production of the longest running musical in history, The Fantasticks.
Openings and Closings: Adair Downtown Debuts, Buff Burger Shutters Two Locations
Adair Downtown, 1000 Louisiana, opened January 27 in Wells Fargo Plaza. The new concept offers four different areas: a full service restaurant, a gourmet coffee bar, a cocktail bar and patio, plus a grab and go market. The restaurant’s menu features some of the items from Eloise Nichols and Adair…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Hot Wings, Ice Cream and Barrel Aged Beer
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: A Barrel Aged Evening at Saint Arnold Brewery Friday, 7 to 10 p.m. 2000 Lyons Saint Arnold invites guests to its Beer Hall and Investors Pub for an evening of all things barrel aged. Beer nerds will get to sample a…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Chef
Best Chef: Austin Simmons It’s been ten years since Austin Simmons first commanded the title of executive chef at Hubbell & Hudson Bistro in The Woodlands, but it wasn’t until last year, with the rebranding of the restaurant to Tris (named after his daughter) that Simmons really began to express…
Carmageddon 4: The West Loop-ening
Just when you thought it was safe to go to the Galleria… For the past few months, there have been some inconveniences along the West Loop as the work on not only the new rapid bus lane was being completed, but the initial construction on the rebuilding of one of…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Brewery
Best Brewery: Brash Brewing Five dollars of quarters, a pint of Ghost, and ten minutes later if you haven’t made the top ten in the Area 51 arcade game then you’re definitely not ready for a zombie apocalypse. Maybe Cruisin’ off the cliffs of Monte Carlo is more your speed—or…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: The Rhythm Section
Title: The Rhythm Section Describe This Movie In One Grosse Pointe Blank Quote: MARTIN BLANK: What am I gonna say? ‘I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How’ve you been?’ Brief Plot Synopsis: Morose English person opts for murder over Morrisey. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 Pionus…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Brunch
Best Brunch: Eunice With its kitchen run by chef Drake Leonards — whose impressive portfolio includes top NOLA spots like August, Domenica, and Shaya, this modern Cajun-Creole brasserie brings the wow factor to Greenway Plaza. And that’s not just when it comes to the eats (though we promise we’ll get…
Four Intriguing Things About Super Bowl LIV, Game Prediction
It is Friday of Super Bowl week, so we are finally here. Forty eight hours (depending on exactly when you’re reading this) away from what should be a fascinating matchup, in large part because I’m confident these are truly the two best teams in football — Patrick Mahomes and the…
A Little Soul Can’t Do No Harm: Flyjack Celebrates Release Of Soul Catcher With A Houston Show
Everything around here is about to get funky. Austin-based funk band, Flyjack is celebrating the release of their fourth album Soul Catcher this Saturday, February 1 at the Continental Club. They will be sharing the bill with Houston’s own Bayou City Funk for what is sure to be a soulful…
Astros Officially Name Dusty Baker Manager
As expected, the Astros on Wednesday evening named veteran manager Dusty Baker as the successor to A.J. Hinch as the skipper for the ballclub. Baker, 70, will be the winningest active manager in baseball when he opens spring training in a couple weeks. With tremendous scrutiny on the Astros in…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: The 8th Annual Houston Barbecue Festival Announces a Date
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella, will host its next monthly wine tasting on Wednesday, February 12, featuring the wines of Mexico. The “sip and stroll” style tasting will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with four wine…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Food Hall
Best Food Hall: Bravery Chef Hall Even before it opened, it was more than just a food hall. Bravery Chef Hall was designed to showcase Houston’s incredible culinary talent, and it serves that up in spades. Curated by owner and founder Anh Mai, each of the chef’s counters is a…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Service
Best Service: Tony’s The country at large has been experiencing a service shortage for the past several years now, and Houston is no different. With so many new restaurants opening, and a small pool of servers, you’ll often see your favorite server or manager from one restaurant appear at a…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Pizza
Best Pizza: Coltivare Pizza & Garden This city has seen, in the past few years, an increase in quality pizza kitchens slinging artisan pies on wood-fired crusts. Respectable pizzerias of every variety, from chef-focused concepts sourcing exotic ingredients to mom-and-pop hole-in-the-walls tossing simple feel-good pizza. Some honorable mentions include the…
Underground Stars $NOT and Jasiah to Perform at the House of Blues
Emo, hardcore, SoundCloud, DIY; preface it how you will, the underground rap movement in America is booming and has been for years. Quietly, under the noses of parents, record labels and industry executives alike, an extremely young hip hop revolution has taken hold, garnering more influence over mainstream music each…
Who Will Be the Houston Texans’ Next First Time Pro Bowler?
This past weekend, the NFL held its annual assembly of top tier talent that (a) isn’t playing in the Super Bowl and (b) feels like playing football on a weekend off. Yes, the Pro Bowl took place in Orlando, with the AFC winning 38-33 in a game where the most…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Burger
Best Burger: Squable It’s only been around since last spring, but this bodacious burger has already secured its spot in Houston’s Burger Hall of Fame. Created by Squable’s Mark Clayton and Drew Gimma, the “French Cheeseburger” features a fat, ultra-moist Augustus Ranch beef patty (done medium-rare unless you specify otherwise…we…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Category We Forgot
Best Category We Forgot: Best Spa – Bare Necessities Spa & Boutique Over the years, Bare Necessities has won many awards, including from the Houston Press. So it was no special surprise when our readers in the Readers’ Choice portion of this year’s Best Of Houston®, picked Best Spa as…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Music Festival
Best Music Festival: Astroworld Festival A note about crowning Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival Houston’s best music fest: It’s not simply by default. True, the hometown hip-hop hero’s music-filled ode to the bygone amusement park stands as tall and nearly as singular as the Texas Cyclone. But even a music landscape…
Words With Friends: Danez Smith Brings Their Homie To Houston This Week
On the phone with a modern master of the subject, we ask Danez Smith about words. Smith is one of America’s rising literary stars, a black, queer, gender-neutral, HIV-positive writer from St. Paul, Minnesota whose latest collection, Homie, just released via Graywolf Press. It’s the follow-up to their highly-acclaimed 2017…
Best Bets This Weekend: Pepperland, The Band’s Visit, Sticky Fingers and an Ice Festival
Don’t let the big game distract you – there’s plenty to do this weekend that doesn’t involve Super Bowl LIV. Whether you’re boycotting everything but the halftime show because the Texans didn’t make it or you just need a break from all things pigskin, this weekend offers much more, from…
EarthGang’s Welcome to Mirrorland Tour Comes to Warehouse Live
“Everybody shhhhhh! Quiet! Shhhhhhhhh!” exclaimed Johnny Venus as he whispered loudly into the microphone while motioning with his arms to bring the sound down. The fans at Warehouse Live gradually followed suit as the lights slowly dimmed and the venue was enveloped in darkness. For a brief moment the room…
The Band’s Visit Brings A Gentle Humanity
On paper, it doesn’t work. A musical without any epic love story or giant conflict, no big dance or chorus numbers, a plot that barely sets up a narrative and then fails to resolve anything, where the leading man doesn’t sing and the Israelis and Egyptians brought together by accident…
These Houston Restaurants Will Take Care of This Year’s Super Bowl Spread for You
You can throw a winning Super Bowl LIV party without the hassle; just let these Houston restaurants do the work for you. With crowd-pleasing bites from hot wings and sliders to queso and barbecue, check out these Super Bowl to-go menu for Game Day in Houston. Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Chinese
Best Chinese: Bamboo House Houston It says a lot when a location that’s notoriously difficult to fill becomes a magnet for hungry foodies, but that’s what Bamboo House Houston, the second location of the Peking duck specialist in Humble, has become. Tucked away in the corner of the strip mall…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Ceviche
Best Ceviche: Pacha Nikkei Ceviche is the national dish of Peru, so when chef Masaru Fukuda, who was born in Lima, debuted Japanese-Peruvian food stand Pacha Nikkei at Politan Row food hall in Rice Village, it was a given that ceviche would feature on the menu. And sure enough, ceviche…
Houston Concert Watch 1/29: Celine Dion and More
The Astros have acquired a new manager, and Bill O’Brien has been named general manager of the Texans. Personally, I welcome Dusty Baker to the Bayou City, because he brings a history of success, both as a player and a manager. O’Brien’s promotion, on the other hand… Well, let’s just…
Houston Symphony’s Schumann Festival Dives Into The Musician’s Mind
The The Houston Symphony will explore the trials, triumphs, love and madness of famed composer Robert Schumann during its Schumann Festival: Angels and Demons. The celebration features a comprehensive exploration to explore the Schumann oeuvre in all its breadth and depth, delving into every facet of his legacy.
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Wine Bar
Best Wine Bar: 13 Celsius For Houstonians, 13 Celsius has come to embody all the things we desire in an enoteca. Ambiance. A killer wine list. Friendly, educated staff with excellent service. Salumi sliced thin to order. And that one-of-a-kind scent of sweet, malt-sugar wafting from the fortune cookie factory…
Jersey Boys Returns For 5 Encore Performances at the Hobby Center
It’s the four guys singing under a street lamp, behind-the-scenes story of a boys band that hit the triifecta of stardom. Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, has returned to Houston for a brief, blink-and-you’ll-miss- them run, courtesy of Broadway at the Hobby. The ’60s group…
Houston Texans Housecleaning Continues, Numerous Staffers Fired
The corporate kill count for the Bill O’Brien Era regime over on Kirby Drive continues to pile up. While the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers make final preparations to play in Super Bowl LIV this Sunday, the Houston Texans continue to chop heads, presumably in an effort to…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Live Venue (Small)
Best Live Venue (Small): White Oak Music Hall The subtle irony to the tiff between White Oak Music Hall and its residential neighbors is that the concert venue actually feels a little like a residence. It recalls youthful visits to the homes of especially cool relatives, houses filled with artsy…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Bakery
Best Bakery: La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe With its charming storefront located on lower Westheimer, La Sicilia backs up the optics with expert pastry technique, perhaps best proven in the folds of a sfogliatella . Grandiose pastries, both sweet and savory, push the limits of what’s deemed “regular” in this…
Dusty Baker the Right Choice for the Astros…Right Now
On Tuesday, it was widely reported that veteran manager Dusty Baker would take over for the Astros after the firing of A.J. Hinch in the wake of the sign stealing scandal. Baker is a three-time manager of the year and considered a steady hand with veteran players. He most recently…
These Houston Restaurants and Bars are Offering Specials and Watch Parties on Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Sunday is coming up on Sunday, February 2; and Houston bars and restaurants are giving you a reason to leave the couch to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers face off. From wing specials and beer buckets to Game Day watch parties with giant…
Crane Must Weigh Astros Manager, GM Choices Carefully
The number of candidates interviewed for both top managerial positions vacated when Astros owner Jim Crane fired A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal continues to rise. In the days since the startling revelations released in baseball’s punishment of both now former Astros, quite the…
The Global Kitchen at The Health Museum
Houston is chock full of residents who call themselves “foodies” and our growing exposure on the international culinary stage has made the city a destination for gourmands seeking the most creative dishes Houston chefs have to offer. There are also the everyday tourists looking for the best barbecue, Viet-Cajun crawfish…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Beer List
Best Beer List: The Ginger Man “It’s hard to separate a good beer list from the place that you’re drinking the beer,” said a chap at the bar who’s been frequenting The Ginger Man for 25 years, not just because he loves beer, but because he likes going there. For…
King Of The Jungle Blues: C.W. Stoneking Returns
Some sounds cannot be pinned down to an era or attributed to a race, they somehow find a way to seep through a conglomeration of varied influences that manage to work together. Australian artist C.W. Stoneking does just this; he manages to combine blues, boogaloo and calypso music without coming…
Will Fuller Undergoes Successful Sports Hernia Surgery
With the death of Kobe Bryant dominating the news cycle over the last couple days, and rightfully so, there are still a few nuggets to catch up on from over the weekend. The various wheels are in motion on the NFL offseason, with the Senior Bowl over the weekend and…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Tex-Mex
Best Tex-Mex: El Tiempo Cantina Admit it. Great-Aunt Janet comes to town and wants to get down on some dope Tex-Mex, where do you take her? Exactly. El Tiempo Cantina continues to make the magic happen night after night. Appetites perk moments upon entering as the sound of roasting meats…
Adult Swim Stars Tim and Eric Fight “Relatable Safe Comedy” with Absurdity and Silliness
“It’s ’95 so – yeah, it’s 25 years! In the fall it will be 25 years. That’s the Jubilee, no? The semi-Jubilee.”
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Bar
Best Bar: Julep White lace and a frosted, silver cup—Julep is the sexiest bar in Houston from top to bottom. Owner Alba Huerta leads a talented staff of individuals where no shortcuts are taken and special care is given to the simplest of details. In the past five years Julep…
WWE’s Royal Rumble Hits Minute Maid Park
The spotlight panned over to a row of Porta Potties as the crowd in the Minute Maid Park jumped to their feet to get a better look at the fight happening outside the ring. The “Falls Count Anywhere” match at the 33rd edition of WWE’s Royal Rumble gave the crowd…
Wale Pays Respect To Kobe And Houston At His Sold Out Show
After a groovy setup of dance hits from his DJ, rapper Wale emerged from the side stage to one of his most popular hits, “Lotus Flower Bomb.” Slowly dancing toward the crowd, the rapper stopped center stage as the song ended and removed his Versace sunglasses to observe the roaring…
Kobe Bryant Dominated Everyone, Including the Rockets
As was reported Sunday morning, legendary NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were killed in a tragic helicopter crash in California, which claimed the lives of Bryant, his child and seven others. The news stunned athletes and fans around the world leading the NBA to briefly consider…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Go Truffle Heavy at the 2020 Truffle Masters
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All week long Galveston Restaurant Week Now through Sunday, February 9, Galveston Restaurant Week raises funds for the Access Care of Coastal Texas, which provides weekly lunches to persons with HIV or AIDS. This year, participating restaurants include spots like Blake’s…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Sushi
Best Sushi: MF Sushi Tuesday nights are hopping at MF Sushi in the Museum District. But then again, so are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The reason? Compared to other sushi restaurants in Houston, the quality and style of MF is said to be the closest you can get to…
The Glorious Sons Wage a Six-Man War
Well, you can’t say that The Glorious Sons don’t give their fans truth in advertising. It’s not just for shock value that their third and most recent studio record is titled A War on Everything. For while the music’s pendulum swings back and forth between pop and hard rock, the…
Houston Grand Opera Cried Lend Me A Tenor And Voila! One Flew In From NYC.
Sunday’s Houston Grand Opera matinee performance of Donizetti’s La Favorite was notable for any number of reasons (beautiful music in a little performed opera, great singing all round) — but the topper had to be a last minute substitution for international superstar Lawrence Brownlee who was to sing the lead role…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Barbecue
Best Barbecue: Blood Bros. BBQ In a town where the national and (let’s be honest) local food media rarely deviate from praising a handful of beloved chefs, three lifelong friends from Alief appeared seemingly out of nowhere to steal the national spotlight and redefine Texas barbecue. The culinary and cultural…
Texans Safety Justin Reid Announces Successful Shoulder Surgery on Instagram
The last couple weeks have not been easy on Houston sports fans. The Texans finished their season with an embarrassing, historical forfeiture of a lead in a playoff game, becomes the only team to lose a 20-plus point lead and actually lose the game by 20-plus points on the final…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Record Store
Best Record Store: Cactus Music Record stores have found ways to remain alive and even thrive in entertainment’s digital era. Cactus Music’s diverse offerings form a blueprint for how it’s done. For one, it has name recognition built over 40 years of business here, giving it the same status as…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast
Best Breakfast: Atlas Diner Located in the super cool Bravery Chef Hall in Downtown’s Aris Market Square, this 1940s-style, globally inspired diner concept was originally the brainchild of highly revered chef Richard Knight (you may remember him from his excellent work at nose-to-tail spot Feast and Hunky Dory). As Knight…
Imagine: An Aida On Stage in Houston With Tamara Wilson (But No Camels)
For 11 years, off and on, soprano Tamara Wilson has sung the title role of Aida to no little acclaim. “It holds a special place for me. I started my career with this,” she says as she prepares for what she believes will be one of the last times she…
Worlds Collide When NXT Touches Down at The Toyota Center
The crowd in the Toyota Center rose to their feet as the members of Undisputed Era and Imperium stood opposite each other in the center of the ring. The two groups hyped up the audience but at this point it didn’t take much to get the WWE fans to react…
The Green Book Educates and Moves at The Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre hosts the regional premiere of The Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey.
La Favorite: A Chance to Hear Jamie Barton’s Voice For the Ages
If someone ever asked you to write an homage to “bel canto” opera, you’d probably write something very much like Gaetano Donizetti’s La Favorite (1840). He certainly did. La Favorite has all the requisite parts: flowing melody, relatively apt musical equivalence to what’s going on in the drama, some gangbuster…
Roddy Ricch Performs for a Sold-Out Crowd at Warehouse Live
The opening creak from the No. 1 song in the country filled the main ballroom at Warehouse Live. Roddy Ricch, bathed in color changing spotlights held his hand up as if to brace the audience for the encore of his hit single. “I need everyone in here to go crazy…
Say Hi, How Are You To Houston’s New Mural Honoring Daniel Johnston
Houston now has its own mural recognizing the late singer-songwriter and visual artist Daniel Johnston, known for his “Hi, How Are You” greetings. As part of the annual Hi, How Are You day, people everywhere on Wednesday remembered Johnston. The day — held each year on his birthday — celebrates Johnston’s life…
Bobby Feeno Performs with Marlon Craft at Satellite Bar
“Early contender for best city on the tour.” Marlon Craft, the 27-year-old Manhattan native, was riotously and lovingly welcomed, for the first time ever, to Houston Thursday night at Satellite Bar. Performing alongside fellow microphone fiend and iconic Houstonian Bobby Feeno — rap persona of former Texans running back Arian…
Openings and Closings: The Sauer Kraut Grill Opens, The Next Door Closes
The Sauer Kraut Grill, 734 Crabb River Road, opened January 21. Owner Eric Morse has been serving German cuisine from the Sauer Kraut food truck for five years and has now achieved his dream of owning his own brick and mortar restaurant. Morse attended culinary school in Austin and is…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Cider, Whiskey and One Pot Wonders
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Lunar New Year Festival at Chinese Community Center Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9800 Town Park The Chinese Community Center celebrates the Year of the Rat with its Lunar New Year Festival, a family-friendly festival showcasing Dragon and Lion dances…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast Taco
Best Breakfast Taco: Tita’s Taco House There are places for breakfast tacos and then there is Tita’s Taco House. A hidden gem, the family-run spot is located about 10 minutes from IAH. Visit during the peak breakfast rush and a line will be out the door. Never mind that the…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Gluten-Free Pizza
Best Gluten-Free Pizza: Coltivare Pizza & Garden “Oh my God, we’re back again,” says the Backstreet Boys, but also gluten-free pizza lovers of Houston as they type their cell phone number into the iPad book at Coltivare. Because there is certainly no reason why eating gluten-free must feel like a…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Color Out Of Space
Title: Color Out of Space Describe This Movie In One 1999 Quote: PRINCE: The sky was all purple, there were people running everywhere Brief Plot Synopsis: Meteor lands on family homestead, unleashes full Nicolas Cage. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 4 possessed hair transplants out of 5. Tagline: N/A Better…
Evaluating Texans’ Track Record at Addressing Offseason Issues
The Houston Texans have their fair share of problems. Always have, and this week, despite the fact that some of the moves they made led to the response “OK, so when is O’Brien going to do something about O’BRIEN,” they DID do things to try to address the issues that…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Delivery Service
Best Delivery Service: Favor The one, the only, the OG, Favor. We love Favor so much sometimes, under special circumstances, we order two at once. Bagels just because, pho because you’re under the weather—why choose when technically you don’t have to? One customer raves: “I use all of the delivery…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Cocktail Bar
Best Cocktail Bar: Anvil Bar & Refuge Ten years later and Anvil Bar & Refuge is still the best place in Houston to grab a cocktail—if only one can arrive at a choice—there are so many rabbit holes to travel down. Where to begin, where to begin. Seasonal offerings created…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Brunch – Heights
Best Brunch – Heights: Superica Chef-owner Ford Fry (State of Grace, La Lucha) and executive chef Bobby Matos brought the Heights this Tex-Mex haunt in the spring 2018, and it’s been popping ever since. At brunch, dig into reinvented Tejano favorites, starting with a killer Bloody Maria or Black &…
A Teacher Facing the New Reality After a Student’s Death at Bellaire High School
I’m a high school teacher and last week the fear of every teacher in the United States came to pass at my school. On Tuesday, January 14 as Bellaire High School was being dismissed, Cesar Cortes, a 19-year-old senior, was accidentally shot by a classmate and shortly died at the…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: The Gentlemen
Title: The Gentlemen Describe This Movie In One Dazed and Confused Quote: WOODERSON: Say man, you got a joint? MITCH: No, not on me, man. WOODERSON: It’d be a lot cooler if you did. Brief Plot Synopsis: Crime occasionally pays. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2 parachutes out of 5…
Pear Duo are Together in Music and Life
Curtis Brengle and Julie Ragins don’t look like hardcore criminals. In fact, the pair – partners in both their musical and personal lives – more resemble a very hip aunt and uncle than people who would encourage committing an act that’s a crime in 47 of 50 states. Yet the…
Yola’s Headed For The Grammys First, Then Houston
Right about this time a year ago, Yola was awaiting the February release of her debut album, Walk Through Fire. Not many people knew her, but she knew herself and that was already a huge accomplishment in a career and a life that had been beset with hardships and mistakes…
Machine Head Pushes Houston Fans To Their Limit
Machine Head brings their Burn My Eyes 25th Anniversary Tour to Houston
Quixote Nuevo Is Half Successful In Its Quest
Jose Quijano lives in two different worlds. In truth, he’s a retired literature professor suffering from worsening dementia, dependent on his sister and niece to care for him. In his imagination/tenuous grasp on reality, he’s Don Quixote, hero of one of his favorite works of literature. In real life, he’s…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Galveston Restaurant Week Returns
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Galveston Restaurant Week returns to the island, running Saturday, January 25 through February 9 and raising funds for the Access Care of Coastal Texas, which provides weekly lunches to persons with HIV or AIDS. This year,…
Today’s the Day: Girl Scouts Are Standing By to Take Your Cookie Orders
Been dreaming of Thin Mints for a year? Maybe you’re a Caramel Delights kind of guy or gal. Or a shortbread cookie traditionalist. In any case, whether you were a Brownie or Girl Scout in your younger days or you just love the cookies, that time of year is upon…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Taco
Best Taco: Cochinita & Co. When half of your menu is made up of three tacos, you better believe that it’s gotta be good. That’s the gist of the offerings at Cochinita & Co., Victoria Elizondo’s taco stand inside Politan Row Food Hall in Rice Village. Her signature taco, the…
Take a Look at Two People on a Park Bench Talking About Birds in The Aves
It’s a story told in the near future and starts with two people sitting on a bench. In the space of about an hour, the audience will have the chance to find out what concerns these two. The Aves, part of the Alley’s All New Festival going on now, is…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Barbecue Ribs
Best Barbecue Ribs: Gatlin’s BBQ While no one with a half-functional palate could argue that the best brisket in the world comes from anywhere other than Texas, those of us who know barbecue know the Lone Star State is playing (at best) third fiddle when it comes to smoking hog…
Stages Gets Ready to Show Off The Gordy With The Fantasticks
The newly renamed Stages (sans the Repertory Theatre follow) has decided to open proceedings in its new home The Gordy with The Fantasticks, a story of young love between a neighbor boy and girl whose fathers decide they’ll orchestrate events — all accompanied by a score that includes some pretty…
A Topo Chico And A Smile: Robert Ellis Is Having Fun As The Texas Piano Man
Robert Ellis is having a ball. The Houston native has been non stop touring in support of his 2019 release, Texas Piano Man. The album saw Ellis lay down his guitar and sit behind a piano, clad in a white tuxedo he’s been wearing for most of his tour. Ellis…
All Girls Should Learn Jiu Jitsu In a Rape Culture World
One of my most popular pieces of all time was called “Teach Your Daughters to Hit People Who Touch Them,” but I have to confess that I no longer actually tell her to hit people. I tell her to put them on the ground. Hard. That’s why I enrolled her…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Margaritas
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Margaritas With more than 70 Blue Weber Agave tequila infusions at a given time, at El Big Bad, margarita variations could go a Rubik’s cube number of ways. Salty rim, with a downtown Houston balcony sunset as a backdrop, this tequila bar serves up precision…
ROCO’s Age of Aquarius Dawns With Professor Robert Greenberg
Professor Robert Greenberg leads a ROCO trio through the 1770s, 1870s, and 1970s in Age of Aquarius.
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Crawfish
Best Crawfish: BB’s Tex-Orleans It’s all in the hips. It’s all in the hips. The swing is in the hips. Okay, well for crawfish, it’s all in the mix, and BB’s Tex-Orleans is the very definition of that. Crawfish season comes but once a year, and with it a flood…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Midtown Bar
Best Midtown Bar: Belle Station Belle Station is club vibes minus the effort it takes to pull it all together—and remember it’s Houston— so yes, there is a dress code, but, but… After all—designer sweats and kicks aren’t the worst thing in the world to look at. This Midtown stop…
J.J. Watt To Host Saturday Night Live on February 1
For his first five seasons in the NFL, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt played in every game, 80 in all, and won three Defensive Player of the Year awards. In the process, he became one of the biggest crossover stars in the NFL and all of sports, landing spots in…
![Theatre Under the Stars Announces its 2020/21 Season [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14_tuts_20_21_season_simone_gundy_in_sister_act_photo_credit_laura_hagen800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Theatre Under the Stars Announces its 2020/21 Season [UPDATED]
Theatre Under the Stars announced its 2020/21 season this morning.. If this were a baseball team we’d call it a lineup with a heavy reliance on tried and true veterans (Rock of Ages, Little Mermaid, South Pacific, Sister Act), a revitalized older player (1776) and a sixth player to be…
![Where to Dine on Valentine’s Day 2020 in Houston [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/rack_of_lamb.webp-scaled.webp?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
Where to Dine on Valentine’s Day 2020 in Houston [UPDATED]
Love is in the Houston air, y’all. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, now is the time to make reservations for the special day. From decadent, prix fixe meals for two to a la carte affairs complete with chocolate and bubbly, these Houston restaurants are ready to bring the love…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Nam Giao Celebrity chef David Chang sang its praises when he visited Nam Giao for his Houston episode, but you don’t have to take his word for it. Step inside the modest, family-owned restaurant and you’ll discover an almost entirely different menu than the one found at…
Pack Animals: The Ghost Wolves Celebrate New Release
Seeing a ghost or a wolf can be a jarring experience for anyone, but standing before The Ghost Wolves will shake audiences to the bone. The Austin-based, rock and roll couple has been bringing their electrifying live performances to stages all around the world for over ten years. They will…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast – Oak Forest
Best Breakfast – Oak Forest: Frank’s Grill Just across the Northwest Freeway from the heart of Oak Forest is one of the best little greasy spoon diners you’ll ever visit. The sister location of Frank’s on the south side, this has everything you want from a great diner for breakfast…
Four Reasons the Houston Astros are MLB’s Face of Cheating
We are a little over a week removed from the announcement of Major League Baseball’s punishment for the Houston Astros, a lashing that was compounded with the firings of manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow by owner Jim Crane. It’s been fascinating watching the city go through the…
Houston Concert Watch: 1/22: Dwight Yoakam and More
I don’t know about you guys, but my New Year’s resolutions haven’t gotten off to a hot start. I haven’t attended a single concert yet this year! But this week, I hope to change that. And I’ve compiled a list of some of the most noteworthy shows happening in Houston…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Barbecue Sausage
Best Barbecue Sausage: The Pit Room Another top contender for best overall barbecue joint in Houston, Michael Sambrooks (owner) and Bramwell Tripp’s (pitmaster) Montrose smokehouse, The Pit Room, is undoubtedly slinging the best smoked sausage in town. The old-school Texan ‘que joint with a ton of south-of-the-border flare is famous…
Next Generation Of Vocal Talent Takes The Stage With Houston Chamber Choir
Houston Chamber Choir presents Hear the Future, an annual event in which the company invites three outstanding school choirs from the Greater Houston area to participate in its invitational choral festival. The free event takes place 4 – 5 p.m. on Sunday at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street, featuring performances from each choir…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Kolache
Best Kolache: River Oaks Donuts Competition is stiff in this kolache town, but for a doughnut joint to repeatedly sell out of kolaches, even hustle to prep more—well, that says something. Considered a relative newcomer to the scene, River Oaks Donuts swings the top prize because of balance and quality…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Bowling Alley
Best Bowling Alley: Bowlmor Bowling alleys have gotten mighty fancy over the last decade with gourmet food and cocktails. Thankfully, there are also some tried and true alleys for real bowlers like Bowlmor. You can still get good food and drink in a VIP area even, and their recent renovations…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Icehouse
Best Icehouse: West Alabama Ice House Shaded when sunny, sealed when chilly, the West Alabama Ice House has been the easy choice for outdoor hang for over 90 years. Sports of the day are delivered with just enough screens to not be overkill, while bets have been equally won and…
The Aaron Hernandez Documentary — Four Winners, Four Losers
If you’re into visual content — television shows, movies, documentaries — you are living in a truly golden age. The ease and portability of consumption from anywhere, along with the wide open spaces for competition among content providers in the cable and streaming realms have yielded some truly amazing products…
Rockets Faltering at Midway Point Need a Dose of “Spirit”
Coach Mike D’Antoni is fond of mentioning the need for his players to play with great spirit. It is roughly the equivalent of effort and energy combined. The good teams have it. The bad teams don’t. As the Rockets passed the halfway point of the season on Monday night teetering…
Whining and Dining: A Fresh Start to the New Year at Vibrant
Life has changed for this food writer. As a brand-new mom, poppin’ bottles has taken on a slightly different meaning. But while I find myself seeking out diaper changing tables for the first time ever, I’m still on the hunt for all the awesome happy hours, exciting menus and H-town…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Steak
Best Steak: Doris Metropolitan It was the outlier, for sure: A steakhouse from Israeli butchers, with locations in Costa Rica and New Orleans? Could Houston welcome such a place? Since its opening in 2018, however, Doris Metropolitan has not only embedded itself in the Houston steakhouse firmament, it’s become one…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Thai Food
Best Thai Food: Asia Market Thai Lao Food Asia Market Thai Lao Food brings traditional Thai recipes to life in more ways than one. Definitely try one of several curries on offer—the Panang is bang-bang. And the Tom Yum soup available to be served with a variety of proteins is…
Robb Flynn and Machine Head Have A Monster Show on Tap For Houston
Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn tells about reconnecting with former band members, his personal journal, and new songs before the band brings their monstrous 3.5 hour long, two set, 25th anniversary tour to House of Blues Houston.
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Italian Bakery
Best Italian Bakery: La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe When gazing at the elegant carnival of world-class pastry on display, there might not be a bakery that warrants as much excitement, here or in Italy, as La Sicilia. Pristine, fanned layers of sfogliatella, croissants the size of your face, sweet to savory,…
We Need More Now! Right Now and Maybe More Than Ever
At Christmas, my son gifted me a copy of the very first U.S. Now That’s What I Call Music! album. My initial reaction was a burst of laughter. I hadn’t received a compact disc (you remember those, right?) as a gift in several years, but, as he astutely pointed out,…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Plant-Based Burger
Best Plant-Based Burger: The Bistro Burger at Verdine The Bistro Burger at Verdine is the real deal Charles McNeil when it comes to feel-good, plant-based burgers. The patty is made from lentils, walnuts and mushrooms, and is the perfect combination of each. It doesn’t stop there. Caramelized onions, red pepper…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Dive Bar
Best Dive Bar: Griff’s Irish Pub Jeff Bezos doesn’t have anything on the princes and princesses of the Houston restaurant industry on $3.50 you-call-it night at Griff’s (Sundays). Divey without being dirty, the decorative clutter is as sentimental as that fake Christmas tree you’ve hauled in and out of the…
The Band’s Visit Comes to Houston and Good News, It’s For More Than One Night
It’s not many actors who can say they secured a part in a national Broadway tour by going to a call back and successfully showing they can stay upright as they cross the floor on roller skates. But that’s precisely what Jennifer Apple had to do to secure the role…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Place to Buy Plants
Best Place to Buy Plants: Buchanan’s Native Plants With a passion for native Texas species, Buchanan’s is one of the most unique nurseries in the city. From vegetables for all seasons to trees and borders, they have it along with everything you need to keep your garden healthy and beautiful…
Shakeup on Kirby: Crennel Out, Weaver In As Defensive Coordinator
Well, there is one thing you can say about the Bill O’Brien Era — it’s never dull. Just a week after the Texans’ season ended in embarrassing fashion, in a 51-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Bill O’Brien and Executive Vice President Jack Easterby began their annual facelift of…
Rapper Z-Ro Presents An Unforgettable Performance For His Birthday Celebration
Rap legend Z-Ro celebrates his birthday with a concert celebration at House of Blues Houston, including some the cities most popular hip-hop artists including Paul Wall and Slim Thug
Brutal Week in Houston Sports: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
Last week, I did my regular Monday morning sports segment on Houston Matters (KUHF 88.7 FM). But, before my spot, I joined a panel of enthusiasts to discuss the most important moments in Houston sports history. Given that long, storied and often depressing legacy, it shouldn’t come as a surprise…
This Week in Houston Food Events: A Beer-Fueled One Pot Showdown
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All month long Winter specials and Australian Wildfire Relief at Present Company Present Company, 1318 Westheimer, has introduced its new drink specials, with interesting flavor profiles and $1 from each cocktail sold being donated to to WIRES Wildlife Rescue in Australia,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Soup Dumplings
Best Soup Dumplings: Wanna Bao How do you measure the greatness of a xiao long bao soup dumpling? The dumpling wrapper should be hand rolled and made fresh. It should be as thin as possible, but elastic enough to hold the goodness inside without breaking when you lift it. The…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Pizza – Thin Crust
Best Pizza – Thin Crust: Piola Typically speaking, chains (especially global chains) are the bane of a food journalist’s existence. In our lifelong search for the next bite of inspiration, chains represent the metaphorical and literal gentrification of local food scenes. But, what happens when an international company brings the…
Steve Harris’ British Lion Loudly Roars its Own Identity
For any new (or new-ish) band based in Europe, the first tour of America is something that’s usually looked forward to with equal levels of anticipation and anguish. English hard rockers British Lion will probably experience those feelings, with nearly 20 gigs booked across the United States in January and…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Late Night
Best Late Night: Ninja Ramen Whether you’re wrapping up a night spent in the club/bar bouncy-house that is Washington Avenue or just getting off a shift, stepping up into the saloon-esque Ninja Ramen is a warm grandmother’s hug at the end of the night. Open till 3 a.m. Fridays and…
Soundtrack for a Scandal: Six Songs for the Houston Astros’ Sign Stealing Mess
We’re now into the second week of fallout from the biggest scandal to ever rock Houston sports, the shame that is the Houston Astros’ sign stealing fiasco. Baseball fan or not, virtually everyone in this city by now knows the hometown heroes were knocked down a few pegs following an…
HGO Presents the Beautiful Music and Heart-Breaking Story of La Favorite
It’s the 14th Century story of a love triangle, involving a married king, his mistress and the would-be monk turned warrior who falls in love with the mistress without having a clue about her royal connections. The Donizetti composition, performed in four acts is about to play out on the…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best French Bakery
Best French Bakery: Magnol French Baking Top-tier French technique is alive and well in the Branch as expertly laminated butter translates into croissants curled in perfection with only the best, Valrhona chocolate, oozing from some. (Mid-day is a good time to catch them fresh from the oven.) Trained in the…
Houston Texans 2021 Super Bowl Odds Reflect Franchise’s Fragile State
I love gambling, I love looking at futures odds, and I love using that data as the basis for sound analysis. You can learn a lot by following the money. I just wish I didn’t have to follow this particular money in the latter half of January. We are about…
Keeping Up With The Realistic Joneses at 4th Wall Theatre Co.
Will Eno gets into the weeds of mortality as two marriages are threatened by death in The Realistic Joneses, now playing at 4th Wall Theatre Company.
Big Freedia and The Suffers Bounce & Turn Up at the House Of Blues
Big Freedia & The Suffers House Of Blues January 17, 2020 The spirit and magic of New Orleans will always be a part of our identity here in Houston. Even before August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina forced many to relocate west down I-10, our city was already immersed with the…
5 Songs for the 40th Anniversary of Zork
Forty years ago, one of the most influential games of all time was released. Zork was a true game changer, selling over 300,000 copies of personal computers in 1980. Distributed in plastic baggies with an instruction booklet like it was a new kind of drug, the game was a text…
Openings and Closings: SusieCakes and Voodoo Doughnut Open, Fluff Bake Bar Relocates
SusieCakes, 1709 Dryden, opened January 16 in the Medical Center. This is the second location for the California-based company which was founded thirteen years ago by Susan Sarich in Brentwood, California near Los Angeles. The company soon expanded throughout California and has opened five shops in Texas. Sarich based many…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Chili, Beers and Marathon Crepes
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest at The Strand Saturday, 10 a.m. 23rd & Strand The 11th Annual Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest will take place on Saturday, January 18, with a special kick-off party at Yaga’s Cafe, 2314 Strand,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Pho
Best Pho: Pho Saigon There are newer, trendier places than Pho Saigon, but when you need a quick Vietnamese beef noodle soup fix that won’t break the bank, this OG Midtown spot is as satisfying now as it was when it opened its doors in the ’80s. Though the restaurant…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Mexican Bakery
Best Mexican Bakery: El Bolillo Bakery The El Bolillo Bakery is like a fantasy world that’s open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week and is never not full and is always fresh-baked. Speed racks and shelves of colorful conchas y empanadas y galletas y so many baked…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Gelato
Best Gelato: Rosie Cannonball The Goodnight Hospitality team packs heavy talent, among them is executive pastry chef Shawn Gawle, whose thick resume includes institutions and modern kitchens alike from both the Chicago and New York circuits (Tru, L20, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Corton). In 2011, he was awarded New York…
NFL Playoffs, Conference Title Round — Predictions and Best Bets
We will get to the AFC and NFC title games in just a moment, but first, as long as gambling is the topic in this post, give me a brief moment to frame the impact of Major League Baseball’s punishment of the Houston Astros for their electronic sign stealing back…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast – Midtown
Best Breakfast – Midtown: the breakfast klub In an ever-changing hood like Midtown, this longtime cult favorite still manages to keep a line around the door thanks to its oh-so addicting take on homestyle Southern breakfasts. Hit it early (breakfast starts at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends)…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Costume Shop
Best Costume Shop: Performing Arts Supply Company Pray tell us, where might thou find the costumiest of shops in all the land? Get thee to Performing Arts Supply Company! Where time travel is easily managed with the garb to match the imagination. Just about every time period is represented as…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Computer Store
Best Computer Store: Micro Center When you are searching for a new laptop or an obscure part for your old desktop, searching the internet is one option, but nothing satisfies like the instant gratification you get by finding what you need now. Micro Center is a home to and for…
Fania Records Reissues Serve Up Spicy Salsa
For aficionados of Latin music in the 1960s and 70s, Fania Records was considered “The Motown of Salsa.” Based in New York, it was infused with that city’s rich makeup of Latin cultures and style. And while Fania was best known for bringing the dance-based salsa music to the world,…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: One Fifth Brings Back Old Favorites As It Turns Three
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: On Tuesday, January 21, chef Ryan Stewart and his team at Peli Peli Woodlands, 1201 Lake Woodlands, will prepare a South African-inspired four-course menu to pair with sips from Texas Whisky favorite, Balcones Distillery. The special…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Tapas
Best Tapas: MAD Reservations are hard to come by, and it’ll cost you a pretty penny, but no place in Houston is doing anything close to the tapas that the chefs, under the direction of Luis Roger, are doing at MAD. Whimsical and fun, you can build your own tapas…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Banh Mi
Best Banh Mi: Roostar Vietnamese Grill The banh mi game is very strong in Houston, which means competition can be tough. How can a place set itself apart from the rest? Does it compete on price? On bread? On fillings or condiments? Graduates of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel…
Blue October and Bowling for Soup to Headline Mardi Gras! Galveston 2020
Top entertainment and other event highlights have been announced for the 105th annual Mardi Gras! Galveston. The biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas will be headlined by rock icons and Houston natives, Blue October, along with fellow 2000’s pop-rock sensation, Bowling for Soup. Rap legend Bun B will also be…
Do You NEED to Watch Rise of Skywalker? No.
Warning: contains spoilers for Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker. The ninth and final film in the Star Wars/Skywalker Saga (until the next one) is one of the most divisive films of the series. So, here’s a question: can it be skipped? For the record, this isn’t a Rise of the…
Evaluating the Houston Texans’ 2020 Opponents
Man, it’s been a quite a week in Houston, starting with the Texans catastrophic collapse against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday, and continuing with the firings of Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. It’s been a week unlike any I’ve experienced in my 13 years…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Italian
Best Italian: Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino Time spent in Italy as a child, and with years after that continuing to mold and develop Italian cuisine in Houston, at Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino, chef-owner Lynette Hawkins clocks in every single day to see to the food, the wine, the business, all…
Rock and Roll Disciple: Chuck Prophet Will Perform A Special Acoustic Show
Chuck Prophet is Rock and Roll to the bone. His early work with his band Green on Red is not only considered a major contribution to California’s Paisley Underground scene, but also a predecessor to the Americana music movement people recognize today. Prophet will be making a special appearance at…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Montrose Bar
Best Montrose Bar: The Flat Hanging at this funky Montrose house-turned-lounge, quite simply, just feels good. It’s dim, but warm all at the same time, and the soulful music is always on point, like a refreshing drink that really hits the spot—they have those too. Rums from all around: Bermuda,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Sports Fans
Best Sports Fans: Houston Texans Fans It takes a special sort of sports fan to ride or die on the fits-and-starts bandwagon that hitches up to the Houston Texans. The team has squandered talents like Hall of Fame lock Andre Johnson (and possibly also J.J. Watt) and once puzzlingly believed…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best French Fries
Best French Fries: Boheme An entire tray of crisp, wet french fries plus bae plus Calvin Harris minus bae plus vodka all in a dimly lit rose-colored setting? With dozens of eclectic nooks to park it for the night or at least a while? That’s some tasty ambiance right there…
If Comedy Ever Stops Being Fun, Stand-Up Kathleen Madigan Can Always Bartend
“The comedians that I’m friends with are great to drink with, and the ones that are not great to drink with are not my friends”
Voodoo Doughnut Opens Today
Voodoo Doughnut, 3715 Washington, is finally here. The grand opening is January 15 at 10 a.m. and there will definitely be a long line of drooling dough nuts. The festivities begin with a ribbon cutting, live band and giveaways. The first 28 customers will receive a free Voodoo Dozen in…
Upper Crust: Costco and its Pizza Pies
My wife and I live alone with a medium-size dog who needs little more than dry food, water, and your endless supply of undivided love and attention. This is to say, we do not need our $60/year Costco membership. We don’t need it because two people and a dog don’t…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Middle Eastern Bakery
Best Middle Eastern Bakery: We’re-Dough Bakery Fresh-yeast breads, prepared crisp or fluffy embody this Lebanese Halal bakery whose menu tends to lean more savory than sweet. It’s hard not to exhale and relax with a Turkish coffee in a black velvet armchair as Arabic melodies waft overhead. Circular manoush flatbread…
Fans, Houston Suffer Most at Hands of the Astros
It is difficult to understate the damage done to the Houston Astros organization on Monday. Not only did they lose arguably the best manager in baseball and the architect of the operation that took them from three straight 100-loss seasons to three straight 100-win seasons and a World Series, but…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Wine List
Best Wine List: Pappas Bros. Steakhouse With an Avengers-like crew—half of which have earned Advanced or Masters certificates from the Court of Master Sommeliers—and first access to hardly allocated bottles, the wine program at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse packs major heat. Scanning the list, there is Burgundy and Bordeaux abound, but…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Family Friendly Restaurant
Best Family Friendly Restaurant: Dish Society Little ones can order off the “Childish” menu at this locally-sourced, all-day diner (and they’ll get a free fountain drink if they do). The friendly, casual kitchen makes for a super easy family meal, offering counter service for breakfast, lunch and brunch, and full service…
Houston Texans Free Agents’ Likelihood of Returning In 2020
Unfortunately, the Houston Texans’ dream of a playoff run deeper than the divisional round died a gruesome death in the middle of the field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. The Texans lost the game by a final score of 51-31, after taking a 24-0 lead in…
Legendary Satirist Lewis Black Returns To The City That Drove Him To Comedy
“Most people, what’s really being missed in all this, is there is this great middle, and it’s the middle that’s important. That’s what counts.”
Houston Concert Watch: 1/15: Big Freedia and More
In the past week, the Texans turned a 24-point lead into a 20-point loss, the Astros terminated manager AJ Hinch after the team was found guilty of sign-stealing during the 2017 season and the University of Houston’s star-quarterback D’Eriq King announced his intention to transfer to another school. All in…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Brunch – Montrose
Best Brunch – Montrose: UB Preserv This neighborhood cult favorite — a reinvention of the now defunct Underbelly — pairs Houston hero Chris Shepherd with the talented chef de cuisine Nick Wong. On Sundays, the team offers a dim sum-style brunch that feels so wholly Houston it almost hurts. The…
Astros Disaster: 4 Losers, 4 Bigger Losers
On Monday, Major League Baseball dropped a Louisville Slugger the size of Mount Everest on the Houston Astros leaving them with no manager or general manager for the 2020 season and no first or second round draft picks for two years. Then, in one of the most shocking developments in…
![Anne Frank’s Diary Explores Hope in the Face of a Great Evil [UPDATED]](https://i0.wp.com/www.houstonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/anne_farnk_family800.webp.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Anne Frank’s Diary Explores Hope in the Face of a Great Evil [UPDATED]
Vivienne St. John, Artistic Director of Main Street Theater’s Theater For Youth, was — like many people — sadly surprised by the recent anti-Semitic attacks in New York City. She had hoped, thought, that kind of prejudice and violence against Jews was a thing of the past. Totally coincidentally, because…
First Look: The Toasted Yolk Heights
When people wonder why we Houstonians put up with the heat and humidity of our blazing summers, I like to point out that sometimes, in the middle of January and February, we get 70 degree temperatures under perfectly blue, cloudless skies. My Connecticut friends are not sitting outside on a…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Coffee
Best Coffee: BlendIn Coffee Club On the surface, BlendIn Coffee Club is just a cool coffee shop. The all-white interiors and cool contemporary design are fashionable and stylish, a great gathering place if you want to escape the world of corporate coffee. But look a little deeper, and BlendIn is…
More Parties or Directly Elect the President. You Can’t Have Both.
Voting in the Democratic Primary is about to start (In Texas, early voting begins February 18). That means that in very short order a whole lot of Democrats are going to be very disappointed or angry when their preferred candidate doesn’t win the nomination. Inevitably, it a lot of them…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Sandwich
Best Sandwich: First Friday Lobster Roll at Bernie’s Burger Bus Lobster really should be a specialty item. It’s expensive. It’s delicate. And we don’t live in New England. Bernie’s gets it with their first Friday lobster menu, loaded with options which include one of the best lobster rolls you’ll ever…
30 Years Under The Big Top: Leftover Salmon Returns To Houston
Doing anything for 30 years is no small feat, especially something like maintaining a band together and staying relevant. Leftover Salmon recently celebrated their 30-year anniversary with a New Years extravaganza, a book titled 30 Years of Festival! and a vinyl box set of all their albums titled 30 years…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Indian Food
Best Indian Food: Himalaya Restaurant When 50 Cent sang, “I’ll take ya to the candy shop,” what he meant was “Let’s get Indian,” pointing at Himalaya. Well-harnessed spice springs from every bowl and platter gifting guests with the ceremonial taste-bud wake-up call that only a trip to the Mahatma Gandhi…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Greek Food
Best Greek: Helen Greek Food & Wine Greek cuisine at its finest touches the soul because, perhaps, Greece is where the soul was first born. Dining at Helen Greek Food & Wine is romantic in a sense that the space, the food, the wine marry so effortlessly it feels as…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Arts Festival
Best Arts Festival: CounterCurrent Since 2014, the University of Houston’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts has been doing the Lord’s work in bringing an increasingly diverse group of artists and an increasingly varied voices to Houston each spring for a free festival. And if we do say so, they…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Honky Tonk
Best Honky Tonk: Goodnight Charlie’s Just two years old and Goodnight Charlie’s has turned into the honky tonk that Houston city slickers didn’t know they needed. Because why not incorporate a little country dancin’ into the social repertoire? Charlie’s keeps it fresh with a weekly rotating lineup of crooners on…
Four Frustrations of the Current Bill O’Brien Situation
As we in Houston stumble out from under the rubble of the the Patrick Mahomes siege on Sunday, and try to mend our wounds, know that Bill O’Brien DID manage to make history in the Texans’ embarrassing 51-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs — the Texans are the first…
Dirty Honey: Not Changing Their Act for Instagram Moms
In music culture, everything is cyclical. And one glance at today’s Top 40 charts dominated by hip-hop, pop, rap, and balladry means it’s time for yet another round of hoary “rock is dead” stories (insert yawn here). But newer and younger bands like the Struts, Red Sun Rising, Greta Van…
Luhnow, Hinch Fired, Team Loses Draft Picks in Sign Stealing Scandal
On Monday, Major League Baseball handed down some of the stiffest punishments in the history of the sport in the wake of the sign-stealing allegations against the Houston Astros. General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager A.J. Hinch both received one year suspensions that began now and end at the conclusion…
The Intertwined Lives of The Realistic Joneses at 4th Wall
When Kim Tobin-Lehl and Philip Lehl, co-artistic directors of Houston’s 4th Wall Theatre Company, saw Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses on Broadway, they liked it immensely. And thought they could do it a lot better. Both of them say they felt the play about two suburban couples sharing the same…
NFL Playoffs, Divisional Round: Chiefs 51, Texans 31, Season Over — Four Winners, Four Losers
There was a dream NFL playoff scenario for Houston in play heading into this weekend of divisional round action. The odds of it playing out were very slim, about 20 to 1 to be exact, but if the Tennessee Titans could pull off the upset of the Baltimore Ravens on…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Get a Hold of the ShackMeister Burger
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: Seasonal Specials Classic Comfort Menu at Shake Shack In honor of the New Year, Shake Shack has launched its limited edition Classic Comfort Menu, offering a trio of shakes — Cookie Butter, Malted Milk Chocolate and Frozen Hot Chocolate — as…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Barbecue Brisket
Best Barbecue Brisket: Tejas Chocolate+Barbecue How, in this fine state of ours, does one win best brisket and not best overall barbecue? The short answer is the margin of selection between Blood Bros. and Tejas Barbecue was razor thin. In the end, innovation and menu variety lifted the former above…
A Farewell To A King: Rush’s Neil Peart Passes Away
Suddenly you were gone From all the lives you left your mark upon Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for the band Rush, died of brain cancer last week. He was 67. Peart was still jokingly referred to as “the new guy” by bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, despite joining…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Ramen
Best Ramen: Tiger Den The ramen craze may have peaked in 2013, but Houstonians still love their noodles. And Tiger Den, one of the first bona fide ramen shops to open in Houston, still manages to stay at the top of its game. Part of it is definitely the vibe…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Fried Chicken
Best Fried Chicken: La Lucha An ode to shuttered fried chicken and oyster shack the San Jacinto Inn, this neighborhood favorite from restaurateur and chef Ford Fry blends old-school nostalgia with a modern, chefy touch, offering a decadent menu that is made to be shared…or not, depending on your hunger…
Cirque Du Soleil’s Alegría Brings Joy To The Big Top
Cirque Du Soleil will return to Houston for its magical and visually jaw-dropping production of Alegría February 29 – April 12 at Sam Houston Race Park. This revival keeps the essence of the original production by revisiting its signature elements and pushing them further for today’s audiences.
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant
Best Vegetarian: Vibrant Marfa meets Joshua Tree meets Vogue photo shoot as sweeping windows usher pure, unadulterated sunlight into the space at Vibrant. Walking in and that healthy feeling washes over, as if the clean, contemporary design serves as a precursor to the nutritionally satisfying meal ahead. The best part…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Grocery Store
Best Grocery Store: Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown Market Downtown Houston isn’t exactly a food desert, but any glimpse of a grocery store with fresh produce and protein selections might be a mirage if it’s not Phoenicia Specialty Foods on Austin. There are options on the outskirts of the city center…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Happy Hour
Best Happy Hour: Better Luck Tomorrow If anything, in a city of two million where unemployment happens to be down, Houstonians love their happy hour. And as the bars and restaurants that serve them offer hard-to-beat happy deals from booze to wine to food to free games of pool, this…
This Condensed Hamlet at Main Street Theater is a Most Satisfying Meal
It was the furled umbrella leaning against the metallic cafe chair that piqued my interest upon entering Main Street Theater for Guy Roberts’ one-man Hamlet. What’s this doing here? A piece of black fabric lies on the stage floor. Three water bottles are placed around the stage. Not surprising to…
A Stunning Puzzle Awaits In Samuel Beckett’s Ladies Night
It’s overwhelmingly tempting for any critic, when writing about a production of Samuel Beckett works, to begin a review by penning paragraph after paragraph on the brilliance of the man, the work he accomplished and why you must pay reverence. Beckett is, after all, the English-language grandfather of anti-realist theater…
Houston Gets Ready to Tackle a Makeover for Bagby
In 2015, Houston finally installed a dedicated bike lane traversing downtown along Lamar. The stretch of green-painted path runs from Bagby all the way to Discovery Green with further connections to existing hike and bike trails on each end. There have been a few complaints, namely cars illegally parking in…
Astros Make Trade for Hometown Pitcher
On Thursday, the Astros announced they had acquired pitcher Austin Pruitt from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor leaguers, pitcher Peyton Battenfield and outfielder Cal Stevenson. Pruitt is from Houston. He played at College Park High School in The Woodlands before going to University of Houston. The 30-year-old right hander is…
Openings and Closings: Mutiny Wine Room Opens Soon, Andes Cafe Closes
Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener, will open January 18. The Napa Valley-inspired wine tasting venue and restaurant comes from longtime Heights residents, Marke Ellenberger and Emily Trout. Husband Mark hails from California while wife Emily is a native Houstonian. The couple have been involved for years in the wine country…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: “Sticky” Chicken, Hot Sauce and Brew Years Resolutions
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Hops n’ Hot Sauce Festival at SpindleTap Brewery Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 10622 Hirsch Benefiting Addi’s Faith Foundation, the 2020 Hops n’ Hot Sauce Festival will test your heat tolerance with free samples from over 65 vendors of hot…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Underwater
Title: Underwater Describe This Movie In One Florence and the Machine Lyric: But oh, my love, don’t forget me When I let the water take me Brief Plot Synopsis: Is that an Alien or a Leviathan in the Deep, Rising from the Abyss-al depths? Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 3 Nick Noltes…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Pork Chop
Best Pork Chop: Field & Tides When you’re in the mood for a good ‘ole Southern-style pork chop, there’s no better place than Field & Tides in the Heights. Chef/owner Travis Lenig’s creation is a sight to behold: Double-cut and seared until it crusts golden brown at the edges, the thick,…
NFL Playoffs, Divisional Round: This Weekend’s Best Bets
For the last ten seasons, in the NFL’s divisional round of the playoffs, home teams have dominated the results, going 30-10 over that stretch. So picking winners straight up should be fairly formulaic. Picking winners against the spread is a different story, as you’re going to have to have a…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast – Montrose
Best Breakfast – Montrose: Blacksmith Coffee shops are often known to have good pastries in the morning, but this local café takes things to the next level. While you get your caffeine fix via expertly crafted lattes, macchiatos and flat whites, you can also satisfy your morning cravings with a…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: 1917
Title: 1917 Describe This Movie In One Monty Python Quote: NARRATOR: … in a reign of violence, terror and torture that makes a smashing film. Brief Plot Synopsis: British buddies brave bushels of bullets, battle Boche. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: 2.5 Snoopy on his Sopwith Camels out…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Dessert
Best Dessert: MAD Did you know there was once a strawberry mousse that wanted to be a lemon so bad it ended up masquerading in a perfectly air-brushed disguise, sticker and all? The dessert menu at MAD is expressive, exploding with creativity, and executed at the highest level. So, Fresa…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Liquor Store
Best Liquor Store: Houston Wine Merchant Houston Wine Merchant best liquor store in Houston? Yes. Maybe it’s not what brought you there in the first place, but it should have been. From Rye to Mezcal, the manicured selection hits all the categories, and in terms of quality, there really isn’t…
Leif Garrett: An American Idol
It’s one thing to make a memorable stage entrance, but this was something way out of the ordinary. That’s what was going through 17-year-old Leif Garrett’s mind on the evening of February 25, 1979 as he charged across the dirt floor of the Astrodome on a white horse and carrying…
RodeoHouston Announces its Star Entertainment for 2020
RodeoHouston has officially announced most of its star entertainer lineup just now, although earlier today several media outlets reported versions of leaked lists that had been received. This is the second consecutive year in which the list has been leaked early. Willie Nelson is scheduled to come in the second…
HISD Replacement Board on Hold After Judge’s Ruling
In the latest twist in the ongoing battled between the Texas Education Agency and the board of trustees of Houston ISD, chalk up one for the school district’s elected representatives. A state district judge based in Austin late Wednesday stopped the planned takeover of the board by the state —…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Go Wine Tasting at Revival Market
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: Alicia’s Mexican Grille is kicking off the new year with its first seasonal tequila and wine dinner series at all five locations around Houston. The winter event features handcrafted Goza Tequila cocktails as well as Franscian…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Pizza – Deep Dish
Best Deep Dish Pizza: Chicago Italian Beef & Pizza Regional food pride has a way of weaving itself into a city’s identity. The not-so-friendly competition that exists between the various barbecue regions of the South and Southwest makes for some heated debates. Tex-Mex vs. Cali-Mex mirrors the cultural hostilities between…
Far From Insecure, Nigerian-American Comic Yvonne Orji is Thriving
“You know when you get that biggest laugh, you’ve told a truth that resonates beyond just that circle of friends”
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Seafood
Best Seafood: 1751 Sea and Bar Seafood restaurants for the most part are the same old, same old, but from the minute 1751 Sea and Bar opened, it was clear that they aspired to something more. More importantly, with J.D. Woodward in charge of culinary, it was…
NFL Playoffs, Divisional Round: Texans-Chiefs — Four Things To Watch For
Which Houston Texans team shows up on Saturday? Heading into the Texans’ fourth crack at getting to an AFC title game in team history, that’s the biggest question surrounding this trip to Kansas City to face defensing league MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If the Texans were a one…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Deli
Best Deli: B&B Butchers Butcher Shop It’s difficult to procure better meat for a sandwich than directly from a butcher and there aren’t many speciality butchers as unique as B&B. While their steakhouse in the same building might offer high-end fare, the deli counter in the front has some of…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Spay/Neuter Clinic
Best Best Spay/Neuter Clinic: SNAP Spay-Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic Reducing pet overpopulation is an ongoing battle in the Houston area, and SNAP Spay-Neuter and Animal Wellness Clinic is a key player in that fight. According to the SNAP website, their hope is to create a “world where there are…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Place To People Watch
Best Place To People Watch: River Oaks District The billion-dollar block where Lambos and ‘Raris roam free and store mannequins are not to be re-positioned in compromising ways is the perfect place to dip out of Houston in Houston. As the minty River Oaks District continues to fill its storefronts…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Downtown Bar
Best Downtown Bar: Public Services Wine & Whisky Houstonians love vintage, which is why this space within the historic Houston Cotton Exchange building turned wine bar, turn-of-the-century seating and all, really checks off the ambiance box. Owner Justin Vann curates an extensive list of wine, whisky and fortified spirits, and…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Comfort Food
Best Comfort Food: Ramen Tatsu-Ya You know a dish is soul-satisfying when locals seek out its piping hot comfort despite the Houston weather. Case in point: the pulled noodle soup from this cult-favorite ramen shop. With three years under its belt, you’ll still find a line winding passed The Notorious…
So Nice to Have Hello Dolly! Back Where She Belongs
Is there any other classic Broadway musical as candy-coated as Hello, Dolly! (1964)? Now playing for a limited run via Broadway at the Hobby, this touring production is the acclaimed 2017 Tony-winning revival, that starred irrepressible Bette Midler as irrepressible matchmaker Dolly Levi. Although peppered with Broadway pros, there are…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Mediterranean
Best Mediterranean: Arpi’s Phoenicia Deli When you think that Phoenicia Specialty Foods, the specialty grocer by the Tcholakian family, started more than three decades ago with a small deli that specialized in shawarma, you come to realize how special Arpi’s Phoenicia Deli is. Arpi, the family matriarch, still works her…
MLB Widens Cheating Scandal: What Does That Mean for the Astros?
On Tuesday, The Athletic, the same publication that broke the Astros electronic sign-stealing investigation, reported that Major League Baseball was widening its investigation, and that the Red Sox were one of the teams implicated. Make no mistake, this doesn’t lessen what the Astros may or may not have done. Cheating…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Chicken Fried Steak
Best Chicken Fried Steak: Live Oak Grill Driving up to Live Oak Grill, the restaurant has that Southern, down-home feel that is immediately welcoming. Out front, a huge live oak tree provides much-needed shade on a hot day. Inside, you find pictures of local stars all over the walls, wooden…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Vegan
Best Vegan: Verdine For years, Chef Stephanie Hoban has been delivering creative and tasty vegan cuisine to Houstonians via her uber-popular food truck Ripe Cuisine. Now in brick-and-mortar form, Verdine provides the same delicious product in a sleek new setting with locally produced beer and biodynamic wine to pair. The…
Four Thoughts on Matt Rhule’s Leaving Baylor for the NFL’s Panthers
For college football in the state of Texas, we knew that the coaching carousel following the 2016 season would prove pivotal for football in this state and for the Big XII as a conference. After all, this was the offseason in which Tom Herman would be anointed the new king…
Houston Concert Watch 1/8: Gladys Knight and More
If there’s one resolution we can all agree on, it’s that we didn’t see enough live music in 2019. Whether you attended two concerts or 20, why not make 2020 the year of concerts? This week, we’ve got some great options for music lovers of just about every genre. Keep…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Heights Bar
Best Heights Bar: Johnny’s Gold Brick Johnny’s Gold Brick offers top-notch quality cocktails at affordable prices in a comfortable atmosphere. Classic cocktails as well as a rotating menu of new creations are prepared with deft precision and quickly, in fact, the staff of Johnny’s just won the 2019 Bar Fight…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Bike Shop
Best Bike Shop: Blue Line Bicycle Laboratory-The Heights Nowadays many things can be bought (and returned) easily online. But with bicycles, which for many is more than a hobby, that requires something a little more personal. Blue Line is a full-service shop with, apart from welding a frame, can build…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Beach
Best Beach: Galveston Island State Park With so many public beaches nearby, it can be hard to choose. But, for a $5 entrance fee, the one at Galveston Island State Park, should be your beach of choice. Bathrooms, showering stations, camp sites and even a vast bay side with wildlife…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Brunch – Midtown
Best Brunch – Midtown: Taste Bar + Kitchen You’ll get a taste of Southern comfort at this fresh-faced neighborhood hotspot; and you’ll get it in the form of sweet and savory waffles and lovingly crisped fried chicken. From Houston native chef Don Bowie (formerly of Red Cat Jazz Café and…
Stages Gets Ready For the Grand Opening of its New Theater Campus: The Gordy
“Shakespeare.” According to Kenn McLaughlin that’s the word pretty much everyone has said aloud when they step onto the Lester and Sue Smith stage in the 223-seat arena theater of Stage’s new campus. Seats surround all sides of the stage providing an unimpeded view to audience members of whatever will be…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast – Downtown
Best Breakfast – Downtown: Atlas Diner Great news, Downtown folk. The city’s epicenter finally has a super cool diner, where you’ll find eats from warm-spiced Jamaican pancakes with rum syrup, bacon-avocado omelets rolled and layered Japanese-style, hash brown cakes topped with eggs and smothered in gravy and pico de gallo,…
See Hamlet From Hamlet’s POV at Main Street Theater
It’s Hamlet performed with only the scenes that Shakespeare’s Prince of Denmark was privy to. So, if you’re a big fan of the line “Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark” you won’t be hearing it when Guy Roberts performs at Main Street Theater in a one-actor show this month…
Four Thoughts on DeAndre Hopkins’ First Team All Pro Honors
When it comes to all-time Houston Texans players, the very top of the list is occupied by players who took the league and the city by storm. Andre Johnson was the third overall pick in the draft, and was essentially The Chosen One as the first superstar of the franchise…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Korean
Best Korean: Bori Houston’s Korean food game got a huge boost this year with the opening of Bori. A Korean barbecue restaurant specializing in premium meats, the operation’s owners have heavily invested in the buildout to create an upscale Korean dining experience. The design of the restaurant is sleek and…
Pre-Sale For the Houston Press Menu of Menus® Starts Today
Yes we just cleared Christmas and New Year’s and today’s a chilly day in Houston, but it’s not too early to think warmer temperatures and Spring, and when you do, you need to think about the Houston Press Menu of Menus® on Tuesday, April 7 from 7-10 p.m. at Silver Street Studios,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Romantic Restaurant
Best Romantic Restaurant: Château at La Table. From the minute you step foot into La Table Château, it’s clear that it was designed with romance in mind. A beautiful canopy of drop lights hang from various lengths in the middle of the room, providing soft, attractive illumination. Velvet half-moon booths make it…
5 Rockets Questions for 2020 Answered
Nearly halfway through the NBA season, the league appears to be as wide open as it has been in years. With the rapid demise of the Warriors, there are at least six or seven teams that could argue right now they are good enough to win it all. Your Houston…
Celebrating An Unlikely Pair: Splice Records Presents BowieElvis Fest
Elvis Presley and David Bowie were two artists who not only rocked the world with their musical contributions, but also shook the planet with their deaths. Both men have very different styles, but share a birthday on January 8. Local label, Splice Records has been celebrating their lives for the…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Patio Bar
Best Patio Bar: AvantGarden Mystery, history, character, the bones of this turn-of-the-century Kraft home have acquired them all. AvantGarden is more an atmosphere than a location as artists, comedians, musicians and patrons—hell, even wedding parties collect to create and enjoy. The back patio boasts high ceilings with tree foliage filling…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Movie Theater
Best Movie Theater: Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra A trip to Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra might start as a movie excursion and end in the produce aisle at Trader Joe’s or knocking back a stiff drink at Bar Louie, just two of the many upscale dining and shopping spots surrounding the cinema. Though…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Sports Bar
Best Sports Bar: McIntyre’s With flat screens as far as the eye can see—49 to be exact—it’s hard to miss a moment in the world of sports at McIntyre’s. The welcoming infrastructure—plenty of places to get your swing on—always collects a crowd because whether it’s the playoffs or not, the…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Enchiladas
Best Enchiladas: Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen With 19 variations on the menu, Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen is Tex-Mex mandatory in this town. For 20 years, Sylvia Casares has been spatula-serving love onto Houstonians’ plates with the jolting flavor and perfect texture that keeps them coming back. The El Paso cheese and onion,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best French Restaurant
Best French Restaurant: Étoile Cuisine et Bar Every night at Étoile Cuisine et Bar, Master Chef of France Philippe Verpiand can be seen cooking on the line and expediting dishes. It’s one of the main reasons why his restaurant, which he established with his wife Monica Bui in 2012, has…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Grab a Free Scoop at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All month long Old World Kings’ Cakes at Etoile Cuisine et Bar F Now through the end of January, Etoile Cuisine et Bar, 1101-11 Uptown Park, will partake in the Mardi Gras tradition of Kings’ Cake, French-style, revered by French people…
Tale of the Tape: J.J. Watt’s 2011 Pick Six vs J.J. Watt’s 2019 Playoff Sack
When the Hall of Fame tribute to J.J. Watt is eventually written, and his list of primary accomplishments is compiled for his bust in Canton, it will include all of the big picture stuff — the three Defensive Player of the Year awards, the five first team All Pro nods,…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Japanese Restaurant
Best Japanese Restaurant: Kata Robata Can it take ten years for a restaurant to mature to its full potential? In the case of Kata Robata, the restaurant has always executed highly, but this past year during its tenth anniversary, it seemed to soar to new heights. Just take a seat…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Wine Store
Best Wine Store: Avondale Food & Wine Avondale Food & Wine is part-werewolf, part-vampire, part-wine shop, part-restaurant—and 100 percent sexy. This hybrid concept is romantically sleek in design and whereas you’re picking out bottles in the shop from big hitters like Dunn Vineyards or fun new producers like Jauma, just…
Comic Nick Pruher Loved The ’90s – And Has The VHS Tapes To Prove It
“It’s our life’s work. I think [our collection] has grown to 1600 tapes now, and those are just the good ones – so it’s pretty staggering.”
5 Astros Questions for 2020 Answered
Don’t look now, but spring training is only about six weeks away. It feels like the season just ended, and considering the Astros played on the very last possible day of the year in game seven of the World Series, it kinda did. Now, as we race towards opening day,…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Museum
Best Museum: Houston Museum of Natural Science It was hard to miss, but just in case you did, let us remind you – we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 2019. Across the city, there were all manner of celebratory events, but the Houston Museum of Natural Science…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Beer Garden
Best Beer Garden: Heights Bier Garten With kegs on the right, whiskey on the left, Heights Bier Garten and Worcester’s Annex is a meet-in-the-middle type taphouse and bar with individual swings, hammocks, and firepits to facilitate the feeling. Ninety-four beers on tap ought to keep connoisseurs busy from refreshing sours…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Doughnuts
Best Doughnuts: Christy’s Donuts “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius. Devoid of toppings like Fruity Pebbles, or applewood smoked bacon bits, or Butterfinger crumbles, a trip to Christy’s makes doughnut lovers realize—it’s the little things. On simplicity alone, Christy’s Donuts nails the…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Vape Store
Best Vape Store: VapeRX At VapeRX, MODs and e-cigarettes are sold in size from level: discreet to vape is life. E-liquid selections change seasonally and cover more than 25 different name-brand liquids. VapeRX even includes a lounge with TVs, couches, and complimentary drinks as well as a menu of e-liquids…
NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round Thriller: Texans 22, Bills 19 (OT) — Four Winners, Four Losers
All week long, one of the biggest themes leading up to Saturday afternoon’s wild card round playoff game between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills had been history, specifically the Bills’ comeback from being down 35-3 to the Houston Oilers in a playoff game back in early 1993, still the…
Openings and Closings: Antone’s Opens, Theo’s, Belden’s, Yauatcha and Hupcap Grill Close
Antone’s Famous Po’boys, 6618 Fannin, opened in the Medical Towers Building at Fannin and Dryden. The buildout of the new 1,960 square foot space was overseen by Construction Concepts and the updated interior design was done by Gin Braverman Design Group. Two upcoming locations will also feature the new design…
Harris County Constable Race Generates Controversy Over Candidate’s Noose Image
Recently, a picture of Harris County constable candidate Ken Jones with a noose has been making the rounds on social media. The former Precinct 3 constable is trying to reclaim his office from incumbent Sherman Eagleton, who is black. Both men are Democrats vying for the nomination in the primary…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Get the Weekend Rolling with Lobster
Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: Lobster Friday at Bernie’s Burger Bus Friday, 11 a.m. until sold out 5407 Bellaire, 2643 Commercial Center, 2200 Yale, 6324 Highway 6 The first Friday of the month means it’s time to skip the burgers in lieu of lobster at Bernie’s…
NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round: This Weekend’s Best Bets
We’ve had 17 weeks of regular season NFL action, and the entire body of work is now in the books. It’s onto playoff time, where hopefully, my four months of mediocrity turn into something special. Something that can pay off all of these damn shopping bills from December, and help…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Ice Cream
Best Ice Cream: Nu Cafe One on top of the next, paper-thin ribbons of Taiwanese snowflake ice layered high as the razor-sharp blade whirs against a frozen cylinder of coconut ice cream. While the ice cream itself, devoid of preservatives, carries genuine flavor, its remarkable texture is where this ordinary…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Breakfast – Heights
Best Breakfast – Heights: Golden Bagel & Coffee Move over breakfast tacos and kolaches, bagels are in the neighborhood now; and at this White Oak shop, they mean business. Here, New York-caliber bagels with a nice chew come freshly baked, toasted (upon request), and accompanied by things like house cured…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Live Venue (Large)
Best Live Venue (Large): Smart Financial Centre More than a million people can’t be wrong: Smart Financial Centre is a fantastic place to take in a live concert performance. The three-year-old auditorium sold its millionth ticket in 2019 which put the 6,400-seat hall in rare air. It was among planet…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Gay Bar
Best Gay Bar: Eagle Houston Long live the Eagle. Saturday nights are lit, Sunday Funday even fierier as twinks and bears will agree this stop on the Montrose circuit makes for a good meet-up at one point or another. With a dark, intimate dance floor, traditional house DJ, and several…
Best of Houston® 2020: Best Dog Park
Best Dog Park: Congressman Bill Archer Dog Park At more than 20 acres, Bill Archer Dog Park is one of the largest in the region. It has walking trails for humans and big lakes for puppies. And don’t be surprised if low spots become mud holes your canine family member…
Best of Houston® 2019: Best Bookstore
Best Bookstore: Brazos Bookstore Any bookstore must have the main commodity on hand to be a successful enterprise – books, and lots of them. Brazos Bookstore certainly has its share, but what it offers readers beyond titles is a true love for all things literary, a love that is shared…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Get a Taste of the Town in The Woodlands
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings: The Chinese Community Center of Houston, 9800 Town Park, will host a Lunar New Year Cook & Dine workshop on Wednesday, January 8 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Guests will learn how to make pork, beef…
Disruptive Since ’79: MDC’s Radical American Rock’n’Roll Revisits Houston
For 40 years, groundbreaking hardcore punk band MDC has proven that commitment works. As a globe-reaching political unit, they foreshadowed The Woke Generation’s emphasis on social justice, pro-LGBTQIA fights, environmental awareness, labor concerns, police brutality, and much more. Though they began as the Stains at long-lost clubs like Raul’s in Austin in the late-1970s, they…
Eight Houston Sports Predictions for 2020
The calendar flipped over to a new decade yesterday. Across the big three professional teams in town, we closed out the 2010s in much better fashion than we started the decade. The Texans were 6-10 in 2010, and in 2019, they just polished off their fourth division crown in five…
NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round: Bills-Texans — Four Things To Watch For
Earlier this week, on my morning radio show on SportsRadio 610, my cohost (former Houston Texan, Seth Payne) and I were having one of those “greatest moments of the decade” conversations that are a staple in that medium this time of year. The particular superlative being discussed was “greatest signature…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Wings
Best Wings: Pluckers Wing Bar Oh, Pluckers Wing Bar doesn’t play. Yes, they have a plethora of sauces to choose from—like the sweet and tangy Goldrush BBQ, or the spicy garlic Vampire Killer, or Korean BBQ Gochujang, or even Dr. Pepper. Can you get 100 wingies at a time? Sure,…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Dance Club
Best Dance Club: Concrete Cowboy No matter what, Concrete Cowboy packs ‘em in week after week as Top 40 and EDM jams reign supreme. On either side of the DJ booth, unassuming tables are laid out as people perch on booth-like benches and when that beat drops fog blasts hit…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Hot Dog
Best Hot Dog: Yoyo’s Hot Dog Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival let out and all of a sudden Yoyo’s hot dog cart was a hundred customers deep—on top of the other hundred or so people who also had been fantasizing about that juicy, crisp, saucy topped wiener. As the line moves…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best CBD Shop
Best CBD Shop: Vapor-Lot Vapor-Lot has been selling CBD products for three and a half years and has amassed a collection that far outreaches the wildly popular oil that can do just about everything except file your tax return. Can you say g-u-m-m-i-e-s? Gummy worms, gummy bears, sugar-free, all shapes…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Comic Book Store
Best Comic Book Store: Bedrock City Comic Company Did you know that Houston is home to six time and teleportation machines masquerading as comic book stores? Yes, we’re talking about the six Bedrock City Comic Company locations. Walk through the doors of any of them and be ready to be…
Popular Food Truck Opens First Brick and Mortar in Sawyer Heights
Patrons of McIntyre’s are likely familiar with the extremely popular food truck, Sticky’s Chicken. The wings concept owned by siblings Patsy and Benson Vivares had, until recently, held residence outside the Heights sports bar since 2014. Now, with the help of a trio of West Coast partners, the Vivares have…
It’s Official! J.J. Watt Activated To Play This Saturday
The Houston Texans have made it through the seventeen week war of attrition that is the NFL’s regular season, and they’ve managed to survive fairly healthy. Yeah, like every team, they’ve suffered a few season-ending injuries that are going to leave a mark — right tackle Tytus Howard, special teams…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best New Restaurant
Editor’s note: Today starts our annual Best Of Houston® and Readers’ Choice awards that will run throughout January across all four segments (food, news, arts and music) of houstonpress.com. Best New Restaurant: MAD The moon spy-glassing a gentleman in a peculiar predicament. A stairway that leads to nowhere. An illuminated hallway…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Place To Buy Video Games
Editor’s note: Today starts our annual Best Of Houston® and Readers’ Choice awards that will run throughout January across all four segments (food, news, arts and music) of houstonpress.com. Best Place To Buy A Video Game: GameStop With several stores in Houston, GameStop nation makes it easy to buy or trade-in…
Best Of Houston® 2020: Best Sporting Goods Store
Editor’s note: Today starts our annual Best Of Houston® and Readers’ Choice awards that will run throughout January across all four segments (food, news, arts and music) of houstonpress.com. Best Sporting Goods Store: Academy Sports + Outdoors Whoever came up with the Academy jingle is straight-chilling in a bungalow on a…
Houston Concert Watch 1/1: Dawn & Hawkes and More
Happy New Year, Houston. We hope you all stayed safe last night. We know that today may seem especially bright and loud, but those feelings will pass. Once you’ve worked your way through your first hangover of the year, we hope you take a look at this week’s concert watch,…