january 8
"Classical Sensibilities: Images by Alain Gerard Clement and George Dureau" These two contemporary photographers use classicism as a springboard for their photography. Classical themes ground Clement's experimentation with a cameraless photographic process. After creating multilayered drawings on translucent paper, he lays the drawings over a large sheet of silver chloride-treated paper and exposes them to natural sunlight. Dureau, on the other hand, shoots classical portraits of male friends and acquaintances who live in his New Orleans neighborhood. His subjects range from athletes to dwarves to physically challenged individuals. He sees them all as ideals of the human form, and the direct gazes of his subjects challenge the viewer to disagree. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. today. (See Thrills for other dates and times.) The Glassell School of Art, 5101 Montrose, 639-7500. Free.
Weave Dance Company mixer The dancers will perform excerpts from two new works at tonight's mixer, and will show videos of some of their past modern-dance works. But the evening is about schmoozing for a good cause as well as about dance: The "Weavers," as they call themselves, will mingle with the crowd in an effort to support the Houston Area Women's Center. Come and meet this eclectic group of women who dance, and be sure to bring clothing, food and baby items for the women's shelter. Ken Mondshine will provide the music. 6-9 p.m., Cody's Jazz Bar and Grill, 2540 University Boulevard, 526-6884 to RSVP. Free; cash bar.
friday
january 9
The Great Houston Golf Show Spring is a couple of months away, but any devoted golfer wants to be ready for the first dry day she or he can get out on the course. Now's your chance to see what's new in the way of golf accouterments. For the next three days, the convention center will offer everything from clubs to personalized video lessons to the World's Longest Putt Competition. And the nationally renowned Paul Hahn Jr. will entertain audiences with his amazing trick shots. 2-8 p.m. today (see Thrills for other dates and times). George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Convention Center Boulevard. For information, call (800) 221-1280. $8; $7, seniors; $5, kids 13-19; $3, kids six-12; free, kids five and under.
Tri-Star Beanie Expo They're everywhere these days; in fact, there may be a couple sprawled across your Nissan's dashboard at this very moment. And who knows how many Santa stuffed in the stockings of your little loved ones? Alas, those Beanie Baby specimens probably aren't the rarities worth over $2,500. But if you've a hankering to see those collector's items -- or if your own pint-sized collector wants to case the market -- head to the convention center this weekend. The expo runs 3-8 p.m. today (see Thrills for other dates and times). George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Convention Center Boulevard, 840-7827. $7.50, $4.99, kids six-12; free, kids five and under.
Towards Zero Towards Zero is considered one of Agatha Christie's best murder mysteries, replete with Dame Agatha's usual odd assortment of clues and red herrings. Now, for your post-holiday delectation (isn't this the time of year when the mind turns to murder?), Theatre Suburbia presents a stage version. Opens tonight at 8:30 p.m. (see Thrills for other dates and times). Theatre Suburbia, 1410 West 43rd, 682-3525. $8; $7, seniors and students.
Z Director Constantin Costa-Gavras's 1969 film, originally subtitled "The Anatomy of a Political Assassination," is based on the real-life 1963 killing of Gregorios Lambrakis, a Greek liberal whose extreme popularity and advocacy of peace shook the stability of the government in power. Costa-Gavras, the son of a Greek Resistance fighter, took the incidents in his film from the actual trial; thus, the film is charged with true-to-life facts and with the rage of a man on a mission. Not surprisingly, the film -- which won numerous awards at Cannes, at the Academy Awards and from New York Film Critics --was banned in Greece until the military government was deposed in 1974. In the U.S., a less dramatic (but sadder) fate befell the film: Though Costa-Gavras has gone on to direct mainstream commercial successes (including the current Mad City, with John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman), his masterpiece has been out of release for more than a decade. For the next three nights, the Museum of Fine Arts rides to the rescue. The film shows at 7:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow; and at 1 p.m. Sunday. Museum of Fine Arts, Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet, 639-7515. $5; $4, matinee.
"Yishai Jusidman: Pictorial InVEstigations" This show marks the first museum survey of this young Mexican artist's work in the United States. The exhibition features 30 large-scale paintings and beautiful spherical painted sculptures, some of which are suspended or mounted at eye level on rodlike pedestals. Jusidman, who still lives and works in his homeland, does not use the exotic imagery that Americans often associate with Latin American art; instead, he's more interested in the issues now beguiling the international scene. 7-9 p.m. opening reception (see Thrills for other dates and times). Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston, entrance no. 16, 743-9528. Free.
