New Heights

SAT 8/29

Tucked away in the more industrial part of downtown sits the sprawling Meridian.
Inside is a mammoth, dark space lit with a deep red hue, complete with corner
lounges with drapes, fluffy pillows and cushy benches. It’s reminiscent of a
mobster flick — when you enter, you half-expect to witness a slow-motion scene
where three guys in black suits walk in, hand a briefcase to some schlub and
gun him down. Sounds like the perfect place to throw a Celtic festival, huh?

Robert Fuldauer and Michael Martin, former managers of Garden in the Heights, think so. During their Garden days, the pair hosted the annual Celtic Festival Series, which was known as a jumpin’ outdoor romp where the tunes and brew flowed freely. The fest came to an abrupt halt when the Garden was sold nearly two years ago, but they’ve decided to bring it back to the Meridian, which they both partly own.

Martin remembers the parties fondly. “Everyone loved it, from the Renaissance Festival patrons to the Irish Catholics,” he says. “They all came together.”

At the upcoming Celtic Harvest Festival, Lughnassadh, which celebrates the
first harvest of fall and the last quarter of the Celtic calendar, Martin promises
all the Garden fare in the massive new Meridian. There’ll be live music (from
bagpipes to Celtic rock), food (even haggis, if you can stomach it), traditional
Irish dance and the Highland Games, which will take place in a lot adjacent
to the club. “You’ll have guys in kilts throwing huge stones, bagpipes, food
and crafts,” adds Martin. “That’s what people love, and that’s what we’re bringing
back.” 4 p.m. Sunday, August 29. 1503 Chartres. For information, call 713-225-1717
or visit www.meridianhouston.com.
$8 to $12. — Steven Devadanam

Wanderlust

WED 9/1

Looking for a bit of escapism? Even if you’ve used up all your vacation days,
mountains, seascapes and wildlife are closer than you think. The seven IMAX
films of “Around the World in 30 Days” at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
take you from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the peaks of Kilimanjaro, with
Alaska, Australia and the Amazon in between. Don’t worry: Your Expedition will
still be there when you get back, though now you might be tempted to drive it
off into the sunset. The films screen from Wednesday, September 1, through September
30. One Hermann Circle Drive. For a full schedule, call 713-639-4629 or visit
www.hmns.org. $4 to $7. — Julia Ramey

House Party

SUN 8/29

Open houses are a voyeur’s dream. They’re the perfect opportunity to check
out someone else’s dirty laundry without getting arrested. This weekend you
can dig through the drawers of our city’s performing artists at the Houston
Theater District Open House, a daylong peek at what’s going on in the downtown
arts scene. The Alley Theatre (615 Texas) will be giving folks the opportunity
to try on costumes from previous performances. At 2:30 p.m. the Houston Symphony
(615 Louisiana) will perform selections from its upcoming season. And Houston
Grand Opera and Houston Ballet (500 Texas) are hosting the perfect event for
garage-sale junkies: a bazaar. Sound like a great opportunity to pick up that
Figaro getup you’ve always wanted. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 29. For a complete
schedule of events and venues, call 800-446-8786 or visit www.houstontheaterdistrict.org.
Free. — Keith Plocek

Back in the Former USSR
The Return comes to the MFAH

Nobody does bleak, brooding despair like the Russians. The Return,
a film directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev, is a shiningly dank example of the former
Soviet Union’s prime emotional export. It’s a family film, technically, since
it’s about two teenage boys forging a relationship with their newly re-emerged
father during a fishing trip. But Uncle Buck it ain’t. In fact, the sinister
threat of violence bubbling just under the surface keeps you on your toes, even
while the understated humor draws you in and the breathtaking cinematography,
um, takes your breath away. Speaking of oxygen deficiency, Vladimir Garin, who
plays the older brother, tragically died a few weeks after The Return was completed. Apparently he was trying to impress some women by swimming across
the same lake used in the movie. 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet. For a full schedule, call 713-639-7593
or visit www.mfah.org/films. $5. —
Scott Faingold

Child Labor

If you’re tired of coming home to find your sofa dismantled and turned into a fort by your hyperactive kids, drag the little laborers to the Children’s Museum of Houston for the debut of Building Zone. In this interactive area, they can wear themselves out while building structures such as domes and towers — and, no doubt, tearing them down. This weekend they’ll also get to meet Homer, the Home Depot mascot. We assume this Homer is a little better with tools than Mr. Simpson. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 28; and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 29. 1500 Binz. For information, call 713-522-1138 or visit www.cmhouston.org. $4 to $5. — Keith Plocek