Another Victim Dies in Senseless SXSW Tragedy
One of the youngest people injured in the tragedy at SXSW two weeks ago has died reports Austin TV station KXAN and a host of other media outlets. An Austin police spokeswoman wouldn’t officially confirm confirmed but KXAN says it confirmedthe news to us that 18-year-old DeAndre Tatum died in…
Alleged TV Channel 13 Shooter Wrote of People “Exploiting Me Nude,” and Other Bizarre Stuff
The woman accused of firing shots outside Channel 13 (KTRK) Thursday morning posted results of a pap smear on her Facebook page, and wrote about people “who are defaming” her. Michelle Monique Burks, who was charged with felony deadly conduct after she allegedly fired shots into the TV station’s West…
Body Odors Don’t Matter in Teens’ Water Fundraiser
Money, it’s the root of all evil, but for a bunch of teenagers raising awareness for the water crisis in Kenya, it’ll help them give the gift of H2O to 201 people. Working with the Austin non-profit Well Aware, about 10 girls have gone on a shower strike from March…
Who Are These Texas Animal Welfare Groups Protecting, and Why?
The Texas Humane Legislative Network pushes for animal-friendly laws, and encourages responsible ownership, a la spaying and neutering your pet. But it appears that the Network itself is neutered when it comes to supporting its dedicated volunteers. We’re talking about an alleged incident where the Houston Humane Society’s shelter director…
At Rosemont Social Club Brunch Isn’t Just a Meal, It’s an Atmosphere
The Rosemont Social Club, if you haven’t yet been, leaves quite an impression–even before you get to brunch. (But you should get to brunch, and soon.) Entering through the “secret” back door, your first look is of the downstairs bar and the giant, turquoise-upholstered captain’s chairs that surround it. Couches…
A Soundtrack for Houston, Texas
A project ordered up by Holly Clapham-Rosenow and the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has resulted in a grab-you-by-the-throat, beautiful and original short film by Zenfilm. Set to a score by Jeff Walton, performed by Houston Symphony and conducted by Brett Mitchell, the film starts with some of our…
First Look at Boulevard Coffee: Top-Notch Mocha Lattes and Blueberry Scones
Remember Waldo’s Coffee House on Heights Boulevard? The casual coffee house with an outdoor patio and casual indoor seating perfect for lounging, studying or chatting with friends closed last summer, but if you regularly pass by the intersection of East 11th Street and Heights Boulevard, you might have noticed some…
March Madness: Ranking The Sweet 16 Matchups
The first couple rounds of the NCAA Tournament is almost bulletproof. With so many games, and now the ability to actually see all of them, rarely do we come away disappointed with the first weekend of games. We get upsets, we get buzzer beaters, we get Greg Gumbel butchering interviews…
History Tonight as Rockets Look to Hand 76ers Their 26th Straight Loss
Back on November 13, 2013, the Houston Rockets travelled to Philadelphia to take on what, at the time, we could call an “upstart” Philadelphia 76ers squad. Given that all indications in the offseason had been that they were aligning themselves to be so terrible that they would practically be hoarding…
Experimental Theater Director Robert Wilson Speaking at Rice, Says Actors Must Learn to Be Still
Innovative stage director and playwright Robert Wilson — most famous for collaborating with composer Philip Glass on the five-hour, no-intermission opera Einstein on the Beach — is giving the Campbell Lecture Series at Rice University this week with three lectures on three nights. In last night’s first part, Wilson covered…
Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Five Ways
If you’re trying to watch your weight or eat healthier, there is no doubt you’ve come across the chicken lettuce wrap. A big leaf of lettuce is the perfect, low-carb vehicle for chunks of lean chicken and veggies, especially when we’re gearing up for swimsuit season. But there’s much more…
Oil Slick Is Still on the Move
Although commerce is pretty much back to normal with limited use of the Houston Ship Channel for fishing and recreation, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that the oil slick that was cramping Galveston Bay’s style isn’t gone yet. It’s currently traveling south along the Texas coast. Right now, environmentalists are…
The United States of Desserts: Smith Island Cake
In this series, we examine the history and origins of famous sweets, confections, and desserts associated with American states. Maryland’s Official State Dessert is a cake after my own heart. I’ve long been a proponent of equal cake-to-icing ratios, which is why I ultimately favor the layer cake over the…
The Rocks Off 200: Jake Rawls — Kemo For Emo Is Back
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Jake Rawls…
Pop Rocks: U.S. Economy Looks Blah But Your Ass Looks Great
This week’s Gallup Economic Confidence Index was released yesterday with complete stagnation from the week prior. While no news is also good news, this doesn’t mean we are all excited over the country’s current economic situation. According to the poll’s trend, Americans “remain in negative territory, where they have been…
NCAA Must Be Worried College Football Players Won Bid to Unionize
After decades of exploiting football players as highly inexpensive labor, the clock may be officially ticking on the NCAA. Last year, it was the class action lawsuit settled out of court between college football players (past and present) and EA Sports for video game royalties. The Ed O’Bannon lawsuit still…
Murder Ballad Gives Audience Members a Chance to Get up on Stage and Order a Drink
Sara (Lauren Molina) is a New York City resident living on the Upper West Side with a dangerous downtown past mixed up in a love triangle gone wrong. She’s one of the lead characters in Murder Ballad, an 80-minute, without intermission, pop rock musical. The off-Broadway show was something that…
Ordering Truffles Out of Season
“Don’t order anything with truffles,” my friend said during a recent dinner at an upscale restaurant in town. “It’s not truffle season any more. It won’t be worth it.” I had, of course, heard the phrase “truffle season” before, particularly in reference to the expensive Alba white truffles, which achieve…
For Sanity’s Sake, Just Say No to the Astros
The 2014 Houston Astros open up the regular season next week, and I don’t give a damn. Seriously, that’s a hard admission to make because I love baseball. But I can’t even begin to muster any enthusiasm for the band of rejects (mostly) that will trot out onto the Minute…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 4, XI Madame at Eleven XI
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Rest of the Best: Top 10 Pro-Wrestling PPVs Ever Held in Houston
It’s the big show. The final grudge match. The one where everything will be settled. Having grown up addicted to professional wrestling my life was a constant series of begging and whining to try and get my parents to shell out an exorbitant amount of money to watch grown men…
Dear Arcade Fire: No More Covers On This Tour, Please
Folks, I have made it no secret over the years that I am no fan of what Arcade Fire does. The Woodlands expats make lightweight pretentious rock for hipsters and bored suburban kids. That’s fine, because it’s a market that apparently Jason Mraz wasn’t quite cornering well enough. But now…
The Last VJ’s Top Five Videos of the Week
Welcome back, music fans, from the Last VJ. It’s a whole bunch of smoke and mirrors this week as we see people trick their cameras in handful of ways to create strange illusions. We also go straight into the hellish mind of Hieronymus Bosch thanks to Odonis Odonis, and we…
My Doctor Is Out of Control. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! SINGLE MOTHER STRUGGLING Dear Willie D: I am a single mother of two teenagers and one…
10 Great Lost ’80s Punk Bands
Ah, punk rock. No matter how many times declare its demise, it just keeps coming back upon us. Right now, Houston’s underground scene is bubbling over with talent and the influence of the ’80s scene is going strong. Underground bands are getting resurrected by 7-inch collectors, and the look going…
