This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Thursday, July 22

Billy Gardell was an overweight kid with a tough upbringing in Pittsburgh
and Central Florida. So the chubster took up comedy to make light of his situation.
He was almost an instant hit on the comedy circuit, scoring gigs in clubs before
he was old enough to drink. He brings his blue-collar show to the Laff Spot
this week, where you can expect a lot of honest, self-deprecating humor. That,
and he just might make fun of you, too. 8 p.m. today and Sunday, July 25; 8
p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 23 and 24. 17776 Tomball Parkway.
For information, call 281-955-9200 or visit www.laffspot.com.
$12.

Friday, July 23

There’s just something to be said for a one-act play. You jump right into the
action and barrel straight toward the denouement. Theatre Southwest’s Festival
of Originals features five one-act scripts, with five directors and five
casts. There’s The Wait, by J.D. Porto; The Dead Salesman, by
Mark De Chiazza; Chrysalis, by Ed Vela; Ophelia Rocks, by Melrose
Fougere; and Members of the Club, by Carl Williams. This show should
be perfect for our ADD generation. Now what were we talking about? 8 p.m. Fridays
and Saturdays, through August 7. Marie Pearsall Theatre, 8944A Clarkcrest. For
information, call 713-661-9505 or visit www.theatresouthwest.org.
$12.

And then you’ve got Sophistaphunk Fridays over at the Underground Lounge. Hosted by V-Zilla and Friends, this weekly event features hip-hop DJs Ish, Witnes and A-Wax on the decks. Plus, you never know who’s going to step up and toast the mike. Hop to the hip sounds from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 804 Fannin. For information, call 713-225-0948 or visit www.vzilla.com. $5 to $7.

Saturday, July 24

Sure, you and your sweetie have a lot in common. You both like the same things,
you have the same beliefs, and you just get along so well. But hey, neither
one of you is a psychic, so you’d better make sure the stars agree with your
relationship. Today psychic Kim O’Neill is using her “ability” at a workshop
on relationship channeling, where she can tell you if you’re with Mr.
or Ms. Right. If you’re really secure in your relationship, then this could
be good fun. If you’re not too sure about your love and are looking to O’Neill
for confirmation, then it probably wasn’t meant to be anyway. 7:30 p.m. to 10
p.m. CenterPoint, 1920 Hollister. For information, call 713-932-7224. $30.

Or maybe you don’t even want to know what some psychic thinks about you and yours. You’re ready to get married, dammit. Then head over to the Bridal Extravaganza Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Featuring more than 500 companies, this event provides one-stop shopping for all your wedding needs. Invitations? Check. Caterer? Check. Dress? Check. Prenup? Um, you might want to call ahead about that one. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today; and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25. 1001 Avenida de las Americas. For information, call 281-340-7777 or visit www.bridalextravaganzashow.com. $8 to $9.

Sunday, July 25

The minute we hear the word “lowrider,” we can’t help but start humming the
War tune of the same name: “Take a little trip / Take a little trip / Take a
little trip with me.” That shit’s just catchy as hell. Today all the lowriders
gonna drive real fast over to Reliant Arena for the Lowrider Evolution Tour.
Presented by none other than Lowrider magazine, this event features customized
cars, trucks, SUVs, bicycles and tricycles. It takes some nerve to pimp out
a trike. Órale. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8400 Kirby. For information, call
713-769-7474 or visit www.lowridermagazine.com.
$30.

Monday, July 26

Now that some random psychic royally effed up your relationship last Saturday,
you can consider yourself newly single. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Well,
actually, you are alone, but at least there are other people who are just like
you. Today is International Newly Single Meetup Day, and you can meet
up with other Houston singles today at 8 p.m. at an undecided location. (Talk
about an inability to commit.) Get on the Net and visit newlysingle.meetup.com/196 to cast your vote for a location. Free.

Tuesday, July 27

We love bingo. And we’re not talking about hipster bingo on Monday nights at
the Continental Club. That’s cool, no doubt, but we love real bingo, with elderly
men and women sitting around, smoking cigarette after cigarette as they wait
to win big. It’s like a live version of a Diane Arbus photograph. You get to
see the heartland of America, not to mention a lot of heart disease in the making.
Play the real deal at the Knights of Columbus Bingo Hall at 7 p.m. Tuesdays
through Thursdays; 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Fridays; 7 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m.
and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. 8001-U South Kirkwood. For information, call 281-498-7036
or visit www.bingohouston.com. Free.

Wednesday, July 28

A fob is a pocket you put your watch in. A FOB, on the other hand, is someone
who’s fresh off the boat, as in an Indo-Pak immigrant who hasn’t quite assimilated
to American culture. Your Levi’s fifth pocket is a fob. Sai Ranade is a FOB.
Ranade takes the stage tonight for Indians at the Improv, an evening
of comedy by people of East Indian origin. “Good stand-up happens on the edges,”
he says. “Stand-up works when an outsider looks in or an insider looks out.”
He will be joined by Paul Varghese and several other performers, including Houston
Press assistant Night & Day editor Steven Devadanam. That’s right: One of
our own is taking the stage to try to make you laugh. Show him your appreciation
by throwing gifts at him when he takes the stage. We know for a fact the man
loves tomatoes. 8:30 p.m. The Improv, 7620 Katy Freeway. For information, call
713-333-8800 or visit www.improv.com. $12.