Discovery Green is the place to be Friday night for Rainbow on the Green, part of the Pride Houston 2012 celebrations. Entertainer Tye Blue will host the evening's lineup, with artists such as Grammy Award winner Thelma Houston, Houston drag star KOFI, and American Idol season seven finalist Colton Berry. Presented by Land Rover Central, the show also includes performances by a variety of other singers, dancers and musicians. Highlights of the evening will be the Donna Summer medley and Whitney Houston tribute.
The music starts at 8 p.m. on Friday at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. For information, visit the Discovery Green website or call 713-400-7336.
Lance Bradley's Demon Shrimp Fest mural is one of the more iconic landmarks of Austin's east side. With its bright colors and surreal lines, it tells you everything you need to know about the daring Dadaist. ''Out From Under the Bed: Drawings & Prints by Lance Bradley'' opens Saturday at Domy Books. The exhibit features more than 30 of his works -- offset and screen prints, works on paper, and posters -- randomly selected from storage under his bed.
The Houston native is a master of all that is unconventional, getting much of his inspiration from cereal boxes, trolls and skateboards. Some of the top bands in the world have commissioned art from him, including Skinny Puppy, the Butthole Surfers and GWAR. His work defies the mainstream, with meandering forms that play out like snapshots of hallucinations.
There's an official opening reception at 7 p.m. on June 26. Regular viewing hours, starting June 23, are noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. The exhibit continues through July 26. Domy Books, 1709 Westheimer. For information, visit the Domy store website or call 713-523- 3669.
On Saturday night, you can join the throng when 300,000 spectators jam lower Westheimer to watch the Houston LGBT Pride Parade 2012. There are more than 125 entries in the parade, which will be led by Celebrity Pride Marshal Madison Hildebrand, from Bravo's Million Dollar Listing. He's joined by Female Pride Marshal Jenifer Rene Pool, an activist for transgender issues, and Male Pride Marshal Nick Brines, a successful businessman.
The parade is free for spectators. VIP packages are available with grandstand seating, food, cocktails and parking passes for a fee. (By the way, parking will be a serious pain. Save yourself some trouble and take the bus or make other arrangements.) 8:15 p.m. Westheimer at Dunlavy. For information, visit the Pride Houston website.
Ridley Pearson stops in Houston on Sunday to introduce his latest thriller, The Risk Agent. The first in a new series, the book features two new characters. There's John Knox, a no-holds-barred man of action, and Grace Chu, a forensic accountant who's capable of throwing a good punch of her own. The two are tasked with investigating a kidnapping in China. Trouble is, private investigating is illegal in China, so they'll have to find the kidnapped man and avoid the authorities at the same time. Things get grim when a severed hand is found in a river. Could it be the missing man's? Or are there other victims out there, too?
Pearson, who has more than 40 novels to his credit, recently spent a year in China and The Risk Agent, with its fast paced action and carefully crafted characters, is peppered with details that only a boots-on-the-ground writer would know.
Pearson discusses and signs The Risk Agent on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet. For information, visit the bookstore's website or call 713-524-8597.
Jef with One F and Abby Koenig contributed to this post.
