This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Thursday, November 20

“Metrosexuality” — the love a man shares with his scruffing lotion and his
Prada pants — is now officially a Houston trend. How do we know? A local bar
promoter has turned it into a theme night. Today is Solero’s first Metrosexual
Thursday. Future Thursdays will feature fashion shows and art exhibitions,
but you’ll want to start attending ASAP and make friends with the DJ so he’ll
know what entrance music to play when you arrive. Cancel that post-workout pedicure
and spend the evening trading style tips with men who aren’t afraid to compliment
each other’s shoes — over brightly colored cocktails, of course. 9 p.m. 910
Prairie. For information, call 713-227-2265 or visit www.solerorestaurant.com.
$5.

Friday, November 21

Comb the litter off your cat’s backside, wipe his crusty eyes and clip his
claws to the quick — it’s time for the Cat Fanciers’ Association International
Cat Show. At this “Westminster” of cat shows, feline owners of every stripe
can show off their flabby tabbies for fun ‘n prizes. Enthusiasts can also discuss
clumping versus cedarized litter with others who care. The highlights of the
event will be the breed awards and the coveted “Best Cat in Show” award. Will
this be the year the sphynx — that creepy hairless breed — finally beats the
Persian longhair? 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, November
22; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 23. George R. Brown Convention Center,
1001 Avenida de las Americas. For information, call 1-877-232-7469 or visit
www.cfainc.org. $8; $6 for kids and seniors.

Saturday, November 22

Let’s make one thing clear: Most folks don’t want to peer into your meat freezer,
no matter what impressive hunting spoils it may contain. If you’re looking to
show off your sporting prowess to an appreciative audience, haul your best-dressed
kills to Texas State University for its annual Kill It ‘n Grill It Cook-off.
Participants will barbecue the best of what they’ve brought low with their own
hands and compete for prizes in barbecue-pit showmanship and cooked-meal deliciousness.
Squeamish grill masters can compete in the Bought It category with store-bought
meat, and the truly squeamish can enter the meatless Grew It competition. Note:
The organizers of the event wish to remind you that even if Granddad’s recipe
for armadillos on the half shell is legendary, no roadkill can be used in this
event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bobcat Stadium parking lot, Aquarena Springs Drive
at Post Road in San Marcos. For information, call 512-245-3322 or visit www.txstate.edu/agriculture.
$35 to enter; $5 to eat.

Sunday, November 23

Men, there’s way more to proper etiquette than the maxim “Don’t spit while
you’re on the treadmill.” In fact, there’s a whole panoply of arcane rules out
there that you weren’t taught in shop class — and they might smooth out the
bumps in your business and personal relationships. Peter Post, the great-grandson
of etiquette maven Emily Post, is stepping in to help men mend their brutish
ways with his new book, Essential Manners for Men. He’ll be signing copies
at Crane & Co. Papermakers today. Why will he be holding court at a fine stationery
store? It’s for your benefit: You’ll want to make an extra purchase when you
learn that fold-over notes are for women’s use only. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Galleria
IV, 5135 West Alabama. For information, call 713-621-8788. $19.95 book; free
signing.

Monday, November 24

Lately, it seems like the world of entertainment is being overrun by amateurs.
Reality shows, televised talent competitions, amateur porn — have the professionals
all taken the year off? Now that we’ve grown accustomed to finding enjoyment
in the unpolished antics of folks who may as well be our friends and neighbors,
it’s the perfect time to face down the potentially painful Open Mike Night at the Laff Stop. Try to keep a straight face as a bevy of unpaid clowns-about-town
stammer, shake and break out in a flop sweat. Or, you brave soldiers out there
can take the stage yourselves and try out your patented office banter on an
actual audience. Although there’s no drink minimum, you may want to belt back
a few, simply as schlock absorbers. 6:45 p.m. sign-up; 7:30 p.m. performances.
1952 West Gray. For information, call 713-524-2333 or visit www.laffstop.com.
Free.

Tuesday, November 25

Beyond his enormous talent, beyond the surefooted way he glides between musical
styles, beyond the secret of whatever he did right (or wrong) to land America’s
Sweetheart as his bride, Lyle Lovett has lessons for all of us about
driving in Texas. He shares some of his extensive knowledge of our local roads
on his new album, My Baby Don’t Tolerate. At his concert today at Jones
Hall, nod your head in true understanding when he sings, “Interstate 610 / Highway
45 / Some drunk redneck / Barely left me alive,” and “Thirty’s fine / Oh but
thirty-one is a crime / And they all / Have a gun.” 8 p.m. 615 Louisiana. For
information and tickets, call 713-629-3700 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
$26 to $47.

Wednesday, November 26

Today is Thanksgiving Eve, and we at Night & Day wish to remind you that starving
yourself today will only lead to stomach shrinkage and extra discomfort following
tomorrow’s gorging. If you want to be inspired to eat today despite what’s coming
tomorrow, we suggest you go see Brasil Cinema’s outdoor presentation of the
1966 film Hunger (Svält). A hungry writer in
Copenhagen would rather starve than accept charity. He will earn his bread through
his chosen work or have none at all. But when our protagonist finally receives
a newspaper assignment, he finds he’s too weak to write even a word. What delicious
irony. 8 p.m. 2604 Dunlavy. For information, call 713-528-1993. Free.