Chiapas Benefit The Austin-based Chiapas delegation and the brand-new Corazon shop (formerly Pueblo to People) offer a craft sale with a conscience. All profits from the sales of traditional weavings made by the Comite de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico will go to the indigenous weavers' cooperative. The goal is to establish an economic base from which the villagers can preserve their communities. Carol Hayman, of the Chiapas delegation, will speak and show slides on weaving traditions and the current political situation in Chiapas. 7:30 p.m. Corazon, 4809 Montrose (look for the hammocks; there's no sign yet), 526-6591. RSVP. Slide show free.
Ringo Starr Ringo and His All-Starr Band of classic-rock icons (including Peter Frampton, Cream's Jack Bruce and Bad Company's Simon Kirke) will perform oldies but goodies like "Yellow Submarine," "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." A multitude of the middle-aged will relive their glory days as well. 8 p.m. Six Flags AstroWorld's Southern Star Amphitheatre, 9001 Kirby Drive, 799-1234. Call 629-3700 for tickets. Park admission is $30.95 if you are over four feet tall; $19.95 if you're not. $5, concert reserved seats; $3, lawn seats.
Sand Blast You can see the amazing sand sculptures, play volleyball and get some sun at this Memorial Day blowout at Stewart Beach. But if you're pre-qualified and really lucky this afternoon, you can dig up KRBE's grand prize -- a "Totally New Life" -- in your roped-off square of sand. The metamorphosis will include 52 pizzas, 52 six-packs of Pepsi, 52 movie tickets, 52 CDs and perhaps 52 new friends. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; noon-3 p.m. Sunday. Stewart Beach, Galveston. Free. For more information, call 266-1000.
Pan African Cultural Festival Zulu poetry will broaden your mind; Southern soul food will fill your stomach; and blues great Grady Gaines will stir your soul. Pay attention to the traditional headdress-wrapping demonstration -- it's got to stay on through the African dancing lesson. The festival starts at noon and the performance begins at 8 p.m. Through Monday. Miller Outdoor Theatre, Hermann Park. For more information, call 521-0629.
Port of Houston Cruises Puerto Vallarta it ain't, but today, for the first time, the Houston Ship Channel becomes a cruise ship departure point. The Norwegian Cruise Line will take you from our brown waters to the very blue ones of the Caribbean: The seven-day "Texaribbean" expedition will stop at Cozumel, Calica and Roatan. Gawk at the big boat from Barbours Cut at the head of Galveston Bay. For more information, call (800) 327-7030.
monday
may 26
George Ranch Memorial Day Celebration Costumed players will take you back to the turn of the century with historical vignettes and a Decoration Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Ranch's Victorian mansion and family cemetery. A baseball game, the great American cure-all, will lighten the mood in the afternoon. It will be played 1890s-style, at the slow pace appropriate to a world before channel-surfing: no overhand pitching, no base-stealing and six balls to merit a walk. Graze on roasted peanuts and fresh watermelon, and take advantage of a long, lazy afternoon outside the city and the century. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10215 FM 762, Richmond, (281) 343-0218. $6 adults; $3 children.
PhoneWorks You've read every book in the house. The library and neighborhood bookstore are closed. It's too late to get tickets to any of the evening's goings-on. And you're broke to boot. The need for a quick fix of cutting-edge culture is overwhelming. Your head pounds. Your veins tighten.... What to do? Quick, dial PhoneWorks, DiverseWorks's 24-hour hotline for poetry, short fiction and experimental text-based art. You can even respond to the reading after the beep. Fiction writer Bill U'Ren's recorded voice speaks to you through May 31. 228-2882. Free.
It's not the heat; it's the humidity Memorial Day means the smelly, sticky, sweaty summer is upon us. Seize this day off from work to heat-proof your life. Make sure your air conditioning, icemaker and ceiling fans are in tiptop working order. Stock up on cold beer. Hire someone to walk the dog and hang your hammock. And buy yourself a bug zapper: It's great fun to watch the skeeters sizzle.
tuesday
may 27
Lorie Line Live! Remind you of Regis and Kathie Lee (Live!)? The comparison is not much of a stretch. This department-store pianist has made her way into the pages of the Wall Street Journal with the talk-show marketing strategy of playing nice and making friends. Though her performances take place in large concert halls, they are homey affairs with audience interaction, comic relief and storytelling. Line's Pop Chamber Orchestra is handpicked from the local talent in her hometown of Minneapolis; the group spikes its classical repertoire with Native American flutes, Renaissance recorders, African percussion and gospel vocals. 7:30 p.m., Stude Concert Hall, Rice University, 6100 Main. Call 629-3700 for tickets. $25 and $28.
