Ethan Hawke Embodies Chet Baker, but Born to Be Blue Proves Too Familiar
The Chet Baker portrayed by Ethan Hawke in Robert Budreau’s misty biopic Born to Be Blue is midway between beauty and ruin. Behind him are the 1950s, when his easy virtuosity and matinee-idol looks swiftly took Baker from Charlie Parker’s sideman to major player on Dick Bock’s Pacific Jazz label…
A Sweet Inside Peek at Damian’s In-House Bakery
Walking up the stairs to the in-house bakery at Damien’s Cucina Italiana, I see dead people…in a good way. The walls are lined with photographs and memorabilia chronicling jubilant patrons and professional staff that have passed through this restaurant over its over 30-year history. Clearly, good times have been had…
The Way We Currently Monitor Air Pollution Near the Ship Channel Sucks, Researchers Say
Houston is the petrochemical epicenter of the United States, possibly the world. Yet we have no idea what chemicals the people who live near the industrial tangle of pipelines, train tracks, refineries and chemical plants along the Houston Ship Channel have to breathe in every day, according to new research from the Houston Advanced…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Title: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: Fallout Boy: “Billowing backpacks, Radioactive Man! It’s the worst villain of them all: the Scoutmaster!” Radioactive Man: “I see him, Fallout Boy.” Scoutmaster: “Go get ’em, scouts! Don’t be afraid to use your nails, boys!” Rating Using…
March Madness 2016: Sweet Sixteen Best Bets
Five years ago, the last time the Final Four was being played at NRG Stadium, the bracket was like a playground for underdogs, which is always fun for a round or two of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but eventually you want to see best-on-best, clashes of the titans. That…
Pencil in That Uni-Brow Because It’s Time for Frida Festival 2016
What’s not to love about Frida Kahlo de Rivera? Both feminine (wore flowers in her hair) and masculine (dressed like a man; smoked cigars), this temperamental Mexican artist channeled her personal pain to produce surrealist folk art, often in the form of self-portraits, and received more fame after death than…
6 Great Italian Horror Films Any Fan Should Watch [NSFW]
Horror movies come in many different flavors, from truly dark and disturbing films like “The Exorcist” to comedy crossovers such as the “Evil Dead” sequels. Horror trends come and go, as any scary movie fan can confirm. For instance, we’re still knee deep in zombie and found footage films, with no end anywhere…
“Good Divorce” Author to Read at Brazos Bookstore This Thursday
Many of us are guilty of envying the celebrity life: fancy cars, designer wear, a swankienda (or two) and waking up every morning to somebody who actually does look like a movie star. But what happens when it all heads south? There’s the cerebral breakup, like the “conscious uncoupling” of…
Texas Companies Save Millions by Opting Out of Workers’ Comp, Study Finds
This week, a Stanford University law professor released a study that found that 15 large Texas companies have saved significantly by choosing to opt out of workers’ compensation and instead write their own workplace-injury benefit plans. According to the findings, by ditching the state system these companies report a 44…
The Best Silent Film Ever Now Has a Just-As-Eerie Live Score
Donald Greig of the Orlando Consort, like so many others, hasn’t been able to get La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc (The Passion of Joan of Arc) out of his mind. The 1928 film, a silent-movie masterwork directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer and featuring Renée Maria Falconetti in her one and…
Instrumental Warriors Agamemnon Aim to Conquer Houston’s Metal Battlefields
Advancing the avant-garde in Houston’s metal scene, the four-piece Agamemnon may be a band you’ve never heard of, but soon that unfamiliarity will be ancient history. Coming off the victorious January 30 release of their self-titled EP, Agamemnon is the stuff of ancient Greek gold or creative metal gold, whichever…
10 Candidates Once Again Shunned by the WWE Hall of Fame
With Wrestlemania fast approaching the WWE has been announcing its 2016 inductees to its distinguished, if still non-corporeal, Hall of Fame. With the WWE still the largest and longest running promotion, its Hall of Fame is the de facto wrestling Olympus for the greats in the squared circle. This year’s…
Who Could Object to Something So Nice as My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2?
The joke was on me when I first saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding back in 2002: I watched the film at a press screening that also happened to be attended by a large group of older female tourists. While I grimaced through the movie’s obvious gags and not-ready-for-prime-time direction,…
Ted Cruz Wants to “Patrol and Secure” American Muslim Communities — Get Ready, Houston [UPDATED]
Practically before the dust even had a chance to settle in Brussels, where ISIS attackers killed dozens of people in multiple explosions this morning, Sen. Ted Cruz released a statement ramping up his familiar anti-Muslim rhetoric to another level, calling for U.S. law enforcement to “patrol and secure” American neighborhoods…
Parole Board Member Accused of Blowing Off Prisoner Interviews Gets Indicted Five More Times
If you believe Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles member Pamela Freeman, then you believe that six prisoners declined an interview with her that could have led to their release because it was fried chicken day at the prison cafeteria. The inmates had been waiting 20 years behind bars for…
Why Don’t Republicans Like Merrick Garland? (Don’t They Know About Judge Edith Jones?)
If Republicans closely examine the record of centrist judge and U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland they might find at least one thing to like a lot – his apparent role in protecting the famously conservative and controversial Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Edith Jones. Garland, chief judge of…
Special Masters in Foster Care Reform Appointed After State Loses Request for Stay
A federal judge on Monday appointed two special masters to oversee reforms to the Texas foster care system, just after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the State’s request to stay the December 2015 ruling ordering those reforms. The appellate court ruled, essentially, that the request for a…
Try Your Hand at the Iconic 18th Hole at This Year’s Shell Houston Open
Imagine the hush of the crowd, the bead of sweat on your brow, and the intense pressure as you stand before the iconic 18th hole at Shell Houston Open – all eyes on you. It might be a replica, but this new feature, built in celebration of what will be…
Johnny Manziel Update: Hired a New Agent, Spotted Throwing a Football (Sort Of)
I’m not breaking any news here by telling you that Johnny Manziel appears to be on the slow train to Nowheres-ville, USA. If you’re wondering where exactly Nowheres-ville is, it’s right around where all the money and adulation run out, and the discard of an NFL career is totally complete…
This Week in Houston Food Blogs: DIY Fancy Pimento Cheese
This week, we have a recipe for your vacation (or staycation) brunch, reviews of a few food bloggers’ go-to eateries and a dessert idea that’s much easier than pie. During Erika Kwee’s recent visit to Costa Rica, she had her eye out for banana pancakes that one of her friends…
Trans Women of Peru Celebrated in “Canon” Exhibit at McClain Gallery
As a child, Peruvian-born Juan José Barboza-Gubo witnessed the brutal beating of a trans woman and it made him wonder, “Why no value?” Fast-forward many years and academic degrees later to the man, now an artist with years of teaching experience, who has found a way to return dignity to…
Indie News: Latino Film Festival Debuts in Houston’s East End
The 1st Annual Houston Latino Film Festival makes its debut this month, with screenings at both Talento Bilingüe de Houston and The MATCH. What’s being billed as “the brightest in independent Latino cinema” includes offerings from the United States, Latin America, Spain, Portugal and even one entry from Ireland. Film…
Texas Women Increasingly Cross the Border Into New Mexico for Abortions
It’s been three years since the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2, the controversial law that shuttered more than half the abortion clinics in the state, leaving thousands of women — particularly those living in more remote areas like West Texas and South Texas — without easy access to an…
Iron Fork Judge and Retired Champion Kevin Naderi Shares His Winning Competition Tips
Chef Kevin Naderi of Roost is the retired Iron Fork competition champion after having won four years in a row at the Houston Press Menu of Menus® Extravaganza. It’s not the only cooking competition he’s won, but it’s an accomplishment of which he is especially proud. “Doing it by myself…
Bernadine’s Focuses on Gulf Coast Seafood, Achieving Some Stunning Successes
Like many Houston restaurants that have opened lately, Bernadine’s has a raw seafood program. It’s not about East Coast oysters or fish flown in from other countries, though. The focus at Bernadine’s is on the very best that can be had from the Gulf Coast. There’s a selection of fine…
Brock Osweiler Is an Historic Signing for the Texans, but at QB They Shouldn’t Stop There
In today’s National Football League, by and large, your team is only as good, and most certainly as bad, as its quarterback play. So after enduring a three-year quarterback hell that began with a mountain of Matt Schaub pick-sixes in 2013, continued with a coaching change that begat seven —…
10 Most Underrated Road Trips From Houston
Last week, we catalogued the 10 most overhyped car-pointed destinations around Houston. This week, we look at the road-trip spots that are actually worth the rising cost of fuel. New Braunfels/GreuneOnce away from the madness of the I-35 feeder road chaos, these Hill Country spots, though growing and growing due…
Upcoming: 311, Armin Van Buuren, The Blasters, Dashboard Confessional, Suzanne Vega, Vans Warped Tour, etc.
Note: Events in bold reflect highly recommended shows. 6th Annual Caribbean Heritage Month Festival: With Adrenaline Carnival Mas Band, Raices Dominicans, Yamilka G, Khiara, Opcion, Anthony T, Klandestino, T-Rock and Shanade, Kubuli Dancers, Renegade Steel Pan Orchestra, Grupo Folklorico Raices de Panama, Island Vybz Radio. Sat., June 4, 2-10 p.m.,…
Houston’s Immigration Court Backlog Isn’t Helped by a Judge That Barely Works
There’s a sign outside the United States Department of Justice courtroom of Houston immigration judge Mimi Schooley Yam, warning people against wearing perfumed shampoo, fragrant hair product or scented deodorant. Inside Yam’s court, there’s a good chance she’ll give everybody the boot. “She has cleared her courtroom if somebody’s outfit…
Restrooms in Music Venues Are There for Only Two Reasons
Here’s the condensed version of this story: there are basically only two things you should be doing in a music venue’s restroom. They are the two chief reasons anyone goes to the restroom, from potty-training and on through life. These two reasons are so paramout that they are literally referred…
The Damn Quails Frantically Seeking Missing Tour Manager [Updated]
Oklahoma’s The Damn Quails, a popular act on the Red Dirt circuit, are frantically searching for their tour manager after he disappeared during the band’s gig last Saturday night at the Firehouse Saloon. According to a message posted Monday morning on the Quails’ Facebook page, Colin Deyalsingh was last seen…
Year of the Panda: SXSW 2016 in Photos
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Austin’s annual SXSW Music Conference transforms Houston’s friendly-rival city into the center of the music universe every March. From the hot-ticket showcases featuring established touring acts to the small club shows, exclusive keynote interviews and late-night afterparties, the beauty of SXSW music week stems…
Celebrated Austin Chef Paul Qui Arrested on Assault Charges
For years now, word has spread of Austin chef Paul Qui’s culinary brilliance, first at Uchi and Uchiko and later for his edgy East Side Kings food trucks and storefronts. In 2013, he achieved the dream of opening his eponymous restaurant, Qui. Today, news is spreading of a different kind…
As It Nears Its Finale, 11.22.63 Asks What Anyone Can Do Against the Awfulness of History
Prestige cable flatters us about the past. It lets us vacation in the backwardness of previous generations, usually while throwing some empathetic side-eye. Gape at Mad Men’s blithe white dudes, each convinced he earned every bit of authority he commands over women and minorities. Or thank Jezebel that we’ve evolved…
At the End of Spring Break, NOFX Takes Houston to School
NOFX, Unwritten Law, FenixTX, That Lying Bitch House of Bl ues March 20, 2016 Many punk rock lessons were instructed from House of Blues’ stage at yesterday’s NOFX show. For several in the audience, the band’s return to Houston was probably akin to a refresher course. It’s built a devout…
Kelvin Sampson Had to Rebuild the Cougars This Season
The Houston Cougars finished the season last Wednesday with a rather desultory 81-62 loss to Georgia Tech in the first round of the NIT. This loss came upon the heels of the disappointing 72-69 American Conference Tournament loss to Tulane. The finish was definitely disappointing for the team and the…
Keith Urban Proves that Nice Guys Finish First
Keith Urban Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo NRG Stadium March 20, 2016 As the final concert of the 2016 Houston Rodeo and Livestock show commenced, pyrotechnics filled Reliant Stadium to help usher in everyone’s favorite Australian country star, Keith Urban. Immediately, a palpable vibe of positivity filled the venue as…
Radio Guru Donna McKenzie Co-Authors Super-Sexy Political Thriller
He knows about political machinations. She knows how to write steamy love scenes. It took a merging of their literary styles to bring about the world premiere of The Boundary, a new play that tells the story of a “crisis management expert who couldn’t manage the crises in his own…
March Madness 2016: Texas A&M 92, Northern Iowa 88 — Anatomy of a Collapse
I will admit up front, this was all set to be a standard Monday wrap up post about the first weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in my usual “4 Winner, 4 Losers” format. I had it pretty much ready to go with the standard mix of analysis, humor,…
Chef Rick Bayless Talks New Chicago Restaurants and Old Houston Favorites
Award-winning chef, author and TV show host Rick Bayless was in The Woodlands on Saturday for a cooking demonstration, part of the long-running Macy’s Culinary Council series. “I’ve been doing these for a number of years,” said Bayless, “and it’s always fun for me because they invite me to visit…
Dish of the Week: Gremolata (The Simple Condiment Missing From Your Kitchen)
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we’ll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. Find other dishes of the week here. This week, we’re sharing a recipe for a condiment that we’re sure you’ve come across in your dining experiences, but we’re not so sure…
Underoath Adds an Exclamation Point to Their Legacy
It’s only been a few years since Underoath originally embarked on their farewell tour, and presumably played their last shows ever. It’s been a bit longer since last remaining founding member drummer Aaron Gillespie departed the band in 2010, which means fans have waited six years to see the band…
John O’Quinn Still Looms Large at the Courthouse, Even in Death
When legendary Houston attorney John O’Quinn died in 2009, he had over 1,200 automobiles but no children to leave them to. The collection was called Classy Classic Cars and was among the largest in the world, but on the night he crashed into a tree going 60 miles an hour…
The Sweet Potato Queens Is One Half-Baked Spud of a Musical
The set up: Lady Gaga has her ‘little monsters’, Gloria Steinem has the big F feminists and Ruth Bader Ginsburg has the Notorious RBGers. But only Jill Conner Browne has The Sweet Potato Queens. Not only does she have them, she is also one of them. The SPQs as we’ll…
Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark Gets Ready to Shut Down for 6 Months
It’s pretty much gonna suck for awhile. Ever since the grand opening of the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark in 2008, we’ve been up, down and all around the 30,000-square-foot facility, practicing our kick flips, ollies, shove-its, 360s and more. And why not? With plenty of poles, walls and ramps,…
This Week in Houston Food Events: Charity Food Events & Easter Sunday
Monday, March 21 Bishop’s Barrel 13 Celebration at Hay Merchant When you buy a Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel No. 13 from Hay Merchant, 1100 Westheimer, you’ll be entered into a drawing for an opportunity to buy one of six limited edition crates of the first dozen Bishop’s Barrels. They’re adorned…
With a Little Help, Brad Paisley Proves He’s a RodeoHouston Master
Brad Paisley NRG Stadium March 19, 2016 Of all the RodeoHouston shows I’ve been to, no one has looked as comfortable performing at NRG Stadium as Brad Paisley. I’m not sure what his early rodeo performances looked like, but his tenth trip to the revolving stage was just the latest…
After Finding Human Remains, Investigators May Have a Breakthrough in Jessica Cain Case
After digging for 25 days, a forensic crew looking for the remains of Jessica Cain, who went missing as a teenager nearly 20 years ago, may finally have a breakthrough. On Friday, they discovered bones buried four feet beneath underground in a horse pasture along East Orem Drive. The primary…
Hearing Voices: Five Podcasts You Have to Binge-Listen To
For even the toughest road warriors, travel dulls the mind. Spend enough time behind the wheel or in a seat watching the world go by and it all just becomes a blur of scenery and moments. It’s even worse when you’re solo, when all you have is yourself and whatever…
The Parks and Wildlife Department Has New Nuke Detectors (But Shhh…It’s a Secret!)
Last week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sent out a press release gushing about its new toys. The department’s “newly-acquired advanced detection equipment” will supposedly keep us safe from a “potential radiological or nuclear threat.” Sounds cool, but, uh, what exactly is this thing? Should be a simple question,…
Little Big Town Is So Much More Than One “Girl Crush”
Little Big Town Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo NRG Stadium March 18, 2016 Some things are worth waiting for. Success did not come quickly to Little Big Town; neither did a spot on the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo stage. Formed in 1998, the Nashville quartet took seven years to…
Shows of the Week: An Indie Pop Star Perfectly in Tune With the Times
SANTIGOLD House of Blues, March 21 Santigold’s contemporary sound tends to mask what a veteran she is. By the time of her 2007 breakout single, “L.E.S. Artistes,” the 39-year-old Philadelphia native (nee Santi White) had already worked in Epic Records’ A&R department, sang lead for the Philly punk band Stiffed,…
10 Reasons You Should Never, Ever Date a Musician
Musicians are a sexy bunch. Something about black eyeliner, a spotlight, and a slow ballad in a room full of smoke and lasers can drive any sane person to the depths of groupie whoredom in a back alley or a stinky tour bus. Not that we would personally know (ahem)…
Moody’s Downgrades Houston’s Credit but Mayor Turner Has a Plan. Sort Of.
There’s a reason Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has been talking about Houston’s budget and money issues from pretty much the moment he was sworn into office in January: Houston’s finances are not doing so hot, and we now have a downgraded credit rating to make that even more apparent. Considering…
Smart and Brutal, Daredevil Improves in Every Way It Can
Like the Juggernaut or St. Patrick’s Day drunks, nothing can stop the hundreds of hours of filmed superhero junk that hits our faceholes each year. But rest easy, true believer! Once in a while, the onslaught can still offer surprise and pleasure. A shiver of both hit me minutes into…
Burger Master Reigns Supreme on All-Houston Episode of Chopped
It was an inevitable Houston win on last night’s episode of Food Network’s competitive cooking series, “Chopped.” All four chefs came traveled from the Bayou City to New York to do their best with three courses each featuring four unexpected—and required—ingredients. The competing chefs were Angela Rowley of Blackbird Foods…
Allegiant Pits Shailene Woodley Against the Divergent Series’ Greatest Danger Yet: Exposition
Take heart, Newsroom fans. If you were hankering for more scenes of Jeff Daniels standing around talking, you’ll find an unlikely ally in the new young-adult sci-fi sequel Allegiant, the third entry in the Divergent series based on Veronica Roth’s hit novels. Too bad the stuff he’s saying is so…
Black Pussy Tickles St. Paddy’s Day Crowd Pink at Rudyard’s
Black Pussy, HogLeg, the Dirty Seeds Rudyard’s British Pub March 17, 2016 St. Patty’s Day can be a rough gig, man. It’s the one day out of the year when most people would actually rather be listening to pipes and drums, and even the people who do show up to…
How to Make the Most of Your Texas Antique Week Treasure Hunt
It’s antique season in Texas – that glorious time of year when the wildflowers are blooming, big white tents are popping up in empty fields, dealers and purveyors of junk are dusting off their finest (and rustiest) treasures, and big city folks from Houston and Austin get ready to meet…
Five Brock Osweiler Questions for Texans Fans
Last week was a big week for the Houston Texans. It’s not often that our city gets to spend time as the belle of the news cycle ball, but last week, for about three days, we were it, man. Brock Osweiler became a Houston Texan, and in the process, not…
Moody Gardens Really Is Showing The Force Awakens Bigger and Brighter Than Ever
Did you know that one of the largest cinema screens in Texas is in Galveston? At 60 by 80 feet, the screen in Moody Gardens’ 3D Theater is massive, and they’re quite proud of it. Billed as the first 3D theater in North America, the giant screen has been entertaining…
Coheed and Cambria Didn’t Need Green Beer to Make Houston Smile
Coheed and Cambria, Glassjaw, I The Mighty, Silver Snakes Revention Music Center March 17, 2016 We expect our rock stars to have some ego. We might not want them to go full Kanye West, but you don’t become a golden god by being timid. There was this moment during Coheed…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Celebrate All Things Local
Locals Only Beer Fest @ Moon Tower Inn Saturday, noon 3004 Canal For the first time, everyone’s favorite craft beer and weenie joint is hosting this annual Houston (and spitting distance) Only Beer Fest. They’ve invited their homies from H-Town and surrounding area breweries to peddle their wares, answer questions,…
The Necks from Australia Don’t Talk, They Just Play
If you spend enough time in a band, you’re bound to develop an unspoken language with the other members. The Necks, the Sydney, Australia-based everything-and-the-kitchen-sink improvised music trio, might discuss which member starts one of the group’s hour-long improvisations, but that’s about it. “Nah, we never talk in advance about…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Master Coffee Basics at Blacksmith
Do you often brew coffee at home and need some help troubleshooting? Do you travel and want to learn how to put together a brewing travel kit? Take the Brewing 300: Learning to Brew Anywhere class held on Monday, March 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Blacksmith, 1018…
Education Advocates: Why Is a Person With No Education Experience in Charge of HISD?
Some education advocates in Houston have a straightforward question for the Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees: Why is the person charged with overseeing education, as interim superintendent, someone who doesn’t appear to have any experience in education? Art Smith and his wife, Darlene Koffey Smith, who recently ran…
The Five Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Blacktop Battle, Tour de Houston & More
It’s an awesome weekend in Houston for treasure-hunting (for cool stuff like cuff links wearing shades); running, walking or cycling to save the trees in our parks; turning the streets into a streetball haven with Blacktop Battle; and watching the Houston Disc Dogs do their stuff at the Rodeo (it’s…
Openings and Closings in Houston: An Abrupt Exit by Hughes Hangar
After a small electrical fire wiped out some of the audio and visual equipment at Hughes Hangar, 2811 Washington, the bar announced via social media that it would be shuttering for good on March 12. The original Facebook post announcing the closure has been removed, although the Twitter version is…
Getting an Abortion in Texas Is Harder if You Don’t Live Near a Clinic, Go Figure
Last week, Texas officials emphatically denied any ties to a study published in a prestigious medical journal about the effects of ousting Planned Parenthood from the state’s Women Health Program in 2013. They seemed to have fun with that, but now state lawmakers have a new study to rail against…
Houston’s Metal Scene Pays Tribute to “The Master” This Sunday at Scout Bar
On Sunday, Houston’s heavy-metal community will mourn the passing and celebrate the life of one of the scene’s biggest champions. Scout Bar will host an all-day memorial concert to help raise funds for the family of Bill “The Master” Bates, one of the city’s longest-running and best-loved DJs. Bates was a…
Texas Lawmaker Doesn’t Seem to Understand Medical Marijuana Bill She Helped Pass
It might be possible that State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) was sleeping when the Texas Legislature passed an extremely limited medical marijuana bill last year that only provides relief for severe epileptic patients with uncontrollable seizures. As Texas Cannabis Report recently pointed out, at a Veteran Affairs Committee meeting last week,…
Keep Metal Off of Horror Sound Tracks
Lately one of my favorite local directors, Josh Vargas, has been getting a lot of buzz for his upcoming heavy metal horror flick, Hair Metal Shotgun Zombie Massacre. I’ve gotten a few sneak peaks here and there, and it’s a very badass film, totally devoted to both the concepts of…
The “New” Fitzgerald’s Is Coming Along Nicely
As owner Sara Fitzgerald walks through her beloved Houston venue at the corner of White Oak and Studemont, her voice brightens when speaking of all the upgrades and improvements now occurring at her namesake establishment. We peek through the back door to the patio where tables, chairs and night lights…
Black Barbie Decides to Pack It In
Black Barbie, the former taqueria on Canal Street that has become a haven for a wide swath of anti-pop performers over the past two years, many of them local, will cease operations after tomorrow night. According to a message on the club’s Facebook page earlier this afternoon, unspecified “recent events”…
10 Can’t-Miss Bands at For the Community 11
If you follow what we do here even a little, you know something about For the Community. In a nutshell, it’s a huge, bi-annual festival featuring dozens of musical acts and an array of performing and visual artists. Presented by Visionary Noise and has been stationed at Last Concert Cafe…
Nancy Henderek Serves Up a Generous Portion for Dance Salad Festival 2016
A seasoned dancer has an internal, intuitive understanding of her piece and the audience, says Nancy Henderek, Artistic Director of Dance Salad Festival 2016. “Instead of three turns, they may try four. Or they’ll stretch their bodies longer. They can feel where to put in something more.” This mirrors Henderek’s…
First Look: New Cocktail Bar Canard Opens Tomorrow
Canard, a new cocktail bar at 4721 North Main by the Treadsack group and bar director Leslie Ross, is officially opening for business on Friday, March 18 at 5 p.m. The fledgling establishments hosted a test drive service last night with a small group of employees, relatives and close industry friends…
Texans Signing Osweiler Has Created a Solid Game of NFL QB Musical Chairs
During this offseason’s NFL free agency period, the Texans have been quite the pain in the ass to the Denver Broncos. There is, of course, the minor free agency hemorrhoid that they caused by signing away running back Lamar Miller from the Dolphins, which caused the Dolphins to splurge on…
Eat This: Thai-Style Fried Snapper for Two at Holley’s
Looking at the dinner menu at Holley’s, it’s easy to get a little carried away. Though it’s only one page, the menu is densely packed with a variety of appealing dishes for any seafood lover. Oysters on the half shell from the raw bar? Check. Ceviche and crudo? Check. Chef-driven…
Northwest Houston Homeowners Want to Euthanize Annoying Ducks
Ducks in a northwest Houston neighborhood have become so annoying over the past decade that the local homeowners association has decided it’s time to kill them — which has neighbors feeling either totally relieved or very uncomfortable. For the past 15 years, the Muscovy ducks in a neighborhood called Woodwind…
The Road to Wrestlemania 32 Has Been Full of Potholes
It’s been a rough year for the WWE, and nowhere is that more evident than the card for Wrestlemania 32. Considering how things were looking a year ago as Wrestlemania 31 came to its shocking conclusion, it’s amazing how different the WWE landscape is two weeks out from the biggest…
NASA Set to Play With Fire During Next Week’s Commercial Resupply Mission
Next week NASA will go where the federal space agency has never intentionally gone before: Up in flames. Or more specifically, the spacecraft they’re launching next week will eventually be burned up by researchers eager to find out what it’s really like to deal with a fire in space. On…
Top Houston Chefs Join Forces With Black Hill Ranch for an Old-Fashioned Boucherie
Usually, an event that features more than a dozen of Houston’s top chefs would be indoors, with dressed-up diners sitting at a nice table waiting for pretty plates to be served to them. This is not that kind of event. Instead, this Sunday, March 20, Black Hill Ranch is hosting…
A Psychotic Ranking of All 97 Geto Boys Songs
For all most of the world knows, hip-hop in Houston began with the Geto Boys. The facts don’t bear out that legend, but there’s a ring of truth to it, nonetheless. Before Rap-A-Lot Records founder James Prince plugged stars-in-waiting Willie D, Scarface and Bushwick Bill into a stalled-out group backed…
Congressmen Call on Feds to Investigate Harris County’s Primary Election Day Disaster
Two Texas congressmen have officially asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Harris County’s recent primary election, which was riddled with problems like excessively long lines at polling centers and confusing directions where to vote, the Texas Tribune first reported yesterday. The letter, penned by U.S. Reps. Gene Green and…
Kid Rock Keeps Lyrics Clean, Music Dirty During Rodeo Romp
Kid Rock Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo NRG Stadium March 15, 2016 Kid Rock’s lyrics are a virtual minefield for anyone charged with ensuring he keep it clean. Granted, few of his songs are truly G-rated, but there’s less outright profanity than you might think — less than a few…
I Need to Choose the Right Lady. Help!
I NEED HELP CHOOSING THE RIGHT LADY TO BE WITH Dear Willie D: My name is Wood. I’m one of your biggest fans from way back in the gap. I’ve been having the biggest problem in my life with two ladies. I’ve been with one lady for 12 years through…
Rules for Spies: The Americans Finds Heartsick Ethics in Cable Sex and Violence
For the protagonists of cable dramas, sex and death are twin forces of titillation, pressure valves for frustrated middle-aged men or steely-eyed careerists. That’s also true for the audience of cable dramas, of course, but there’s a reason we eagerly pursue onscreen what often makes us squirm in real life:…
Pee-wee’s Big Friendship: Paul Reubens Talks Phil Hartman (and More)
The Pee-wee Productions logo that kicks off the new Netflix film Pee-wee’s Big Holiday trumpets comedian-turned-actor Paul Reubens’ comeback as the formerly ubiquitous man-child. Forget about The Pee-wee Herman Show, Reubens’ fan-service-intensive Broadway extravaganza. Big Holiday (which premieres March 18 on Netflix) plays like an un–self-conscious continuation of the character’s…
Judge Accused of Sexting While Reviewing Judicial Misconduct Complaints at Meeting
After allegations that the vice chairman of the State Commission for Judicial Conduct was sexting during one of the commission’s meetings, he is now under investigation by his colleagues for, well, judicial misconduct. This week, Smith County Judge Joel Baker was accused of sending over a thousand explicit messages to…
Comicpalooza Is Bringing an Aliens Reunion to Houston
There’s more Houston con news to talk about, and this round doesn’t include a lawsuit from the GHCVB. Comicpalooza is the big dog in the world of Houston cons, and this year’s lineup may just feature the most interesting reunion yet. Come the weekend of June 17, you can celebrate 30…
UberEATS Substantially Expands Delivery Area and Hours in Houston
Good news for busy, hungry Houstonians—Uber Eats has more than tripled the size of their delivery area and now runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, there is now a dedicated UberEATS app. It’s the first time the company has released an app that is not related to…
Texas Hit With Yet Another Lawsuit Over Voting Rights
The confusion that resulted in over 1,800 Texas voters being sent home from the polls began online, according to a lawsuit filed by the Texas Civil Rights Project. After moving to a different county, those 1,800 people went to the Department of Public Safety’s website to change their address and…
The 10 Best Fancy Restaurant Burgers in Houston
There’s a difference between having a burger at a fast-casual restaurant and a burger at a “nice” restaurant. At a casual place, the burgers are expected to be good but at finer establishments, that’s not enough. To stand proudly alongside other entrées, the finest restaurant burgers must be experiences unto…
The State Board of Education Is Looking at Science Curriculum. Again
Maybe the State Board of Education members got bored waiting for the next fight over evolution and whether dinosaurs ever hung out with humans. Maybe they were just itching to dig back into discussions about what constitutes a “fair” representation in social studies textbooks of various topics including slavery, Native…
Judge Says Prison Sentence Shouldn’t Equal Constant Rape, Assault for LGBT Inmates
This week U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director Brad Livingston filed by a transgender inmate who faced 12 years of near constant rape and assault in the Texas prison system. As Bennett wrote in his ruling, that’s…
Awning Collapses at Houston Rodeo, Injuring Two
The casualties are piling up at the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show this year. Yesterday, KTRK first reported that an awning from a vendor collapsed, injuring two people. According to KTRK, the awning at the Joel’s Alehouse booth, run by Aramark, crashed down on a man and woman. Both victims…
Where to Find Houston at SXSW, and Vice Versa
When you live this close to Austin, fallout from SXSW is inevitable. Houston gets it both ways: this city is just one tour stop away for acts coming or going to the festival, and nearby enough to send a sizable delegation of our own artists into the fray every year…
Searing Debut Krisha Makes Hell Out of Coming Home
Brash yet intimate, writer-director-editor Trey Edward Shults’ observant, unnerving first feature transcends the notion of a “promising debut.” Here, the promise is already fulfilled on the screen, which bustles with chaotic family life — and prickles with anxiety. Krisha is a heartsick family story that plays as psychological horror, its…
Hugo Ortega of Caracol and Justin Yu of Oxheart Named 2016 James Beard Award Finalists
This year, there were more concurrent semifinalists for the annual James Beard Foundation Awards from Houston than ever before, but this year looks a whole lot like last year. Chefs Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s and Caracol and Justin Yu of Oxheart are once again finalists. This is the fifth year…
Too Bad Midnight Special‘s Gripping Parental Drama is on the Run
In Jeff Nichols’s gripping domestic thriller Take Shelter, Michael Shannon played a family man convinced that Armageddon was upon us. But even as the character’s visions compelled him to take more and more extreme precautions, the film remained fixed in the world of the real. It was a portrait of…
Netflix’s Pee-wee’s Big Holiday Made Us Cry Literal Tears of Joy
That light-gray Glen plaid suit, topped with a bright red bowtie and white kicks. That precociously naive predilection for absurdly oversized or miniaturized household gadgets. Those impatient eye rolls, mischievous tongue darts and sweetly demented giggles. The fizzy comic persona of Pee-wee Herman dates back to the late ’70s, when…
