Recipe: Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon
After Julie Powell’s online rendezvous with Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, everyone started talking about Child’s Beef Bourguignon. Before Powell, and then Meryl Streep, breathed life back into this traditional French beef stew, only professional chefs and skilled cooks had this recipe in their repertoire. Now, everyone…
Game Time: Jim Rome Smack-Off Appendix — 12 Most Memorable Calls From The Golden Era
I appreciate everyone’s comments, feedback, kind words on yesterday’s post that gave a diary-style breakdown of the 2010 Jim Rome Smack-Off and my perspective on where the show is now compared to where it was during the earlier part of this decade. If you missed it, you can easily go…
Melissa Gilbert in Little House Musical Weighed Down by Pioneer Garb
“I’m losing my voice on opening night,” a raspy sounding but energetic Melissa Gilbert said in a whirlwind interview with Hair Balls this morning. (Hey, we were allotted five minutes and think we stretched it to seven or eight.) Gilbert, clearly the audience draw for the musical version of Little…
Sampler Plate: This Week In Food Blogs
Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. The Necessarian: Although at the time of this writing, Nancy has packed…
Win Two Dead Weather Tickets In Rocks Off’s Facebook Contest
UPDATE (5:46 p.m.): We have a winner for the Dead Weather tickets, but please add us anyway, because we’ll have more giveaways in a day or so. Alright gang, we promised you a contest last week for some Dead Weather tickets for Saturday night’s show at the House of Blues…
Jerome Ponette Wrecks Six Cars After Getting 86’d From Strip Club
Wow, helluva night at the strip club for 40-year-old Jerome Ponette. First, he got kicked out of Mirage Cabaret on West 34th Street for allegedly being drunk. Then he got behind the wheel of his Mercedes Benz and went all Mallachi brothers in the parking lot, and before his impromptu…
Lankford Grocery Versus Avalon Diner: Battle Biscuits and Gravy
There among the grits, okra and fried green tomatoes on any list of Southern favorites is biscuits-n-gravy, a humble dish composed exactly as it sounds: warm biscuits graciously bathing in a heaping helping of sausage-studded cream gravy. Hearty, delicious and highly caloric, this dish is nobody’s friend and everyone’s mistress…
Frank Wilson Survival Watch, Day 3: Spanish Bombs
How long will the embattled Metro president last? Hair Balls presents today’s installment of the Frank Wilson Survival Watch. 1. The Federal Transit Administration sends Frank Wilson a damning letter. Dorval Carter, the FTA’s chief counsel, alerted Wilson at the end of last week that the feds are investigating a…
Five Songs We Don’t Want To Hear At Buzzfest
This Sunday, Craig’s Hlist embarks on one of the most dangerous adventures of his music-journalism career, covering BuzzFest XXIV out at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. It will be our first go-round at the bi-annual modern-rock radio festival. This year’s line-up was the first one that made us leap to…
Some Local Has A Winning $76 Million Lottery Ticket — Or Do They?
Someone bought a winning $76 million Texas Lottery ticket at an Alvin H-E-B last October. We know that much.Someone has submitted a ticket claiming it’s the winning one. We know that too.Whether the claim is valid or not is still being investigated.Lottery officials told the Brazosport Facts the ticket was…
Recipe: 15-Minute Udons
This is a great way to clean out all the leftover veggies in the fridge, as well as create an inexpensive, quick meal. Unlike the previous iteration, 5-minute udons, these are a shade more authentic, and the flavor is much better. This is no substitute for making your own dashi…
Rocks Off Sets You Straight On Musical Happy Hours
On newsstands now – or soon, depending on where in the metro area you live – you will find the Houston Press’ new cover story, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” – a guide to Jimmy Buffett’s discography our city’s varied, vibrant happy-hour scene, in which Rocks Off had some input. Naturally,…
Houston Happy Hours: Don’t Go Out Un-Guided Or Un-Apped
Happy hour in Houston can be a strange thing. Michelle Cowden, a bartender at Washington Avenue’s Sawyer Park, told us recently, “I don’t really do happy hours. I’ve probably only been to one in my life.” Sawyer Park never seems to have trouble packing in crowds during the late night,…
Dope House Records Invades San Antonio
If you know anything about San Antonio’s annual Fiesta celebration, you know it’s a two-week excuse to show up three hours late to work hung over and throw up in your company’s restroom a few times throughout the day without getting written up (which only applies to those living in…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #53: Beef Tips at Davis Meat Market on Lockwood
Over the course of the next few months, I’m counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments…
Rick Perry, Great White Hunter: How Does He Stack Up?
Rick Perry is getting a lot of Internet play today for manfully admitting to the Associated Press that he used a laser-sighted pistol with hollow-point bullets to kill a coyote that was threatening his dog while he was out jogging.Take that, dog predator. You should have known our governor never…
Top 5 “Healthy” Fast Food Items Worse Than The KFC Double Down
The poor, unfairly maligned Double Down. Yes, that’s right — we’re here to take up the dubious mantle of Double Down Defenders. What did it ever do to deserve the kind of scorn that’s been heaped upon it by the media? So it’s a sandwich that doesn’t have any buns…
Mike Stinson’s Paranoid-Musician Nightmares
From time to time, Rocks Off thought we’d ask both local and touring musicians to tell us the worst gig they’ve ever played, in the hopes that the next one won’t be quite so awful. We asked Houston honky-tonk transplant Mike Stinson, whose new CD The Jukebox In Your Heart…
Chocolate Meringue Pie, Grandma Style
My grandmother never fit the down-home-cookin’ stereotypes. She made a few things well like roast and gravy for Sunday dinners, hotcakes on Saturday mornings and spaghetti with meat sauce that was certainly not authentic, but as a kid, I thought it was the bee’s knees. There was one homemade item,…
Enron The Musical Gets Only Slightly Better Reviews Than Enron The Company
Houston has inspired many Broadway plays, if you count Marvin Zindler in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and define “many” as “one.”But now it’s two!!! Enron, a semi-musical, opened on the Great White Way last night. Judging from the reviews, however, it’s not likely to be around long.Kind of like…
Porn-Loving SEC Employees Deserve A Helping Hand
When we heard news that Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) employees were watching porn while our country’s economy was crashing, it didn’t surprise us … at all. Yeah we know, the SEC was formed to police Wall Street, and while the culprits were getting away like bank robbers, 33 SEC…
Twitter You’ve Heard Of (Grrr), But What’s a Drobot?
Rocks Off’s sister music blogs have been kicking ass on music analysis lately. At The Sound of The City, critic Christopher R. Weingarten talks about how Twitter and search-engine optimization (SEO) are ruining music journalism. And if you think Austin City Limits was a mess last year, check out the…
Glee: Marking Time
At the outset, it looked like another Sue Sylvester-heavy episode. First, she gave Mercedes (and, less emphatically, Kurt) an ultimatum to lose weight or be dropped from the squad, then she commandeered the McKinley High auditorium for an entire week, forcing New Directions to secure a new location for their…
Tan Tan’s Thousand-Year Egg
I recently tried congee with “thousand-year-old” egg and minced pork from Tan Tan (6816 Ranchester, 77036). Congee is a porridge. It’s made by cooking which rice in much more water than necessary for merely cooking rice. The grains break down and the starch acts as a thickening agent. When I…
A Day At The Beach For Beyonce, Dad
One of the things Rocks Off is most grateful for is our Google alert for Beyonce, which provides us with a never-ending stream of amusing and occasionally newsworthy anecdotes concerning the escapades of Houston’s hometown diva and her extended family. This morning’s was especially rich, because not only has the…
American Idol: Twice the Twain
There’s an unmistakable air of fatigue in the American Idol proceedings at this point in the season: “Idol Gives Back,” which raised $45 million for worthy causes, has come and gone; the judges’ save has been used; and we’re down to just six contestants, which means we’re rounding the home…
Glee: Marking Time
At the outset, it looked like another Sue Sylvester-heavy episode. First, she gave Mercedes (and, less emphatically, Kurt) an ultimatum to lose weight or be dropped from the squad, then she commandeered the McKinley High auditorium for an entire week, forcing New Directions to secure a new location for their…
Alvin Brooks Gets A Second Chance With UH Hoops
The story of the University of Houston men’s basketball team can be seen as one of rebirths, second chances, starting over.Head coach James Dickey hasn’t been a head coach since losing his job at Texas Tech in 2001. His associate head coach, Alvin Brooks, flamed out as the Cougars head…
Idol Beat: Twice the Twain
There’s an unmistakable air of fatigue in the American Idol proceedings at this point in the season: “Idol Gives Back,” which raised $45 million for worthy causes, has come and gone; the judges’ save has been used; and we’re down to just six contestants, which means we’re rounding the home…
Stirred and Shaken: The Next Door’s Bend Me Over
“The best things in life are free, so let your mind and soul be free. Only you can hold yourself back.” I was reading that piece of bathroom graffiti at The Next Door (2020 Waugh, 713-520-1712), head twisted toward the wall behind me, when I realized I was nearly pissing…
Ex-Box DJ Klean Cutt Talks About Kracker Nuttz’s Firing
The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -lots of times, you’re even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good- so once a week we’re going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask…
Houston Food Bank A Step Closer To Its New, Gigantic Digs
Hey, Houston — you are about to be home to the largest food bank in the nation!!Congratulations?On the one hand, it’s great that the Houston Food Bank will take over the old Sysco Foods warehouse on the Loop and have plenty of room. On the other hand, it’d be even…
High School Girls Wrapped In Plastic And Slathered In Whipped Cream & Chocolate: Just Fine With HISD
Here’s what you need to bring if you go to the annual Bellaire High School girls’ freshmen volleyball team sleepover: Whipped cream, chocolate pudding, a plastic tarp and plenty of Saran Wrap. No, you sick bastard, not for any immoral purposes, but because it’s a tradition for new team members. The…
Game Time: Jim Rome Smack-Off 2010, A Five-Time Champ Weighs In
If you’re a sports fan in the Year 2010, you probably know who Jim Rome is. If you read my blog posts each day, you almost definitely know who Jim Rome is.For those who don’t, I’ll be brief with the history lesson — Rome is a syndicated radio host who…
Help Rocks Off Adjust This Year’s HPMA Categories
Rocks Off is about to take the first steps down the long and winding road to this year’s Houston Press Music Awards in late July, but we’d like our readers’ help with something first. We will be revising the list of categories soon, but we’d also like to hear how…
Johnette Duff Knows About The Ups And Downs Of The Film Business
Screenwriter/producer Johnette Duff has been dreaming about the premiere of her new film Up & Down — literally.”I dreamt that nobody woke me up in time for the premiere and so I got there late,” she laughingly tells Hair Balls. “Then there were all these scenes in the movie that…
Harris County Jail Passes Inspection, Gets Certified
The oft-troubled Harris County Jail has passed a surprise week-long inspection and has been certified by the state, Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced this afternoon.”This is just the beginning of our efforts to not only stay in compliance with state regulations, but also to use ‘best practices’ and become a comprehensive…
The Shameless Chef: Dump Cake
My Dad was rummaging through some old recipes recently and came across one for “Dump Cake.” Knowing how I choose to make my living, he of course passed the recipe on to me. “There’s no way this is real,” was my first thought, but he assured me that his mother,…
Cheese Contaminated With Staph Hits Houston Shelves
There might be a reason Nicaragua and Honduras aren’t known for their fine cheeses. And no one seems more determined to make sure the Central American nations continue to hold the dubious title of “Countries I Probably Won’t Purchase Cheese From” than Francisca Josefina Lopez and Jorge Alexis Ochoa Lopez…
Cheese Contaminated With Staph Hits Houston Shelves
There might be a reason Nicaragua and Honduras aren’t known for their fine cheeses. And no one seems more determined to make sure the Central American nations continue to hold the dubious title of “Countries I Probably Won’t Purchase Cheese From” than Francisca Josefina Lopez and Jorge Alexis Ochoa Lopez…
Recipe: Five-Minute Udons
Udons tend to be pricey when you get them at local restaurants. We admit the quality is of no comparison, but you can get really great results using the office microwave and leftover stir fry veggies. We picked up a few containers of Sanukiya Udons ($1.90) at Ranch Market a…
R&B Legend Ivory Joe Hunter To Get State Historical Marker
Rocks Off’s predecessor John Nova Lomax, who normally reports on much more sordid goings-on in East Texas, tipped us off to a story in today’s Beaumont Enterprise that reports late Texas R&B legend Ivory Joe Hunter will have an official Texas State Historical Marker erected at his gravesite near Kirbyville…
Wine of the Week: 2007 Bouchaine Chene d’Argent Chardonnay, Estate Vineyard
These 80 degree afternoons beg for a glass of crisp, white wine. Sipping a cool, refreshing white is the closest thing we get to a summer vacation these days. On this particular sunny afternoon, we decided to expand our horizons and choose an un-oaked Chardonnay from Napa Valley-Carneros. If you…
TDCJ’s Intercept Of Drug-Filled Toolbox Ruins Inmates’ Day
When you think about it, anytime you try to get a toolbox delivered to a prison, you’re going to raise some suspicion. You’d have to figure the authorities aren’t just going to carry it down to Cellblock D and say “Here you go, here’s the file, screwdriver and chisel you…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #54: Bun Bo Hue at Kim Chau on Longpoint
Over the course of the next few months, I’m counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments…
Is Valero Really Trying To Take Food Out of the Mouths of HISD’s Children?
The Houston ISD school board has spent several sessions now listening to dire warnings from Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett and Superintendent Terry Grier about what may happen if energy company Valero is able to get tax exemptions at its Texas refineries for a piece of equipment that cuts down…
Lupe Fiasco, Trae And Bun B Pack House Of Blues
For more images from the show, see our slideshow here. 9:10 p.m.: Goodness gracious. House of Blues is stuffed to the gills tonight. And it appears that all races love alt-rap. 9:13: Is it really so much to ask that venues that have no seating to arrange for some type…
Gravitas For Lunch; No Dinner Needed
Gravitas seems to be doing its best to fly under the radar these days. With the high-profile departure of executive chef Jason Gould in August 2009, and owner Scott Tycer’s recent decision to leave more of the day-to-day operations of Textile to others and focus his energy on the kitchen…
Baldwin, Streep & Steve Martin — Three Old Pros Having Fun: New On DVD
Out today on DVD is the Meryl Streep/Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin triangle It’s Complicated by writer/director Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give and The Holiday). Actually the story isn’t very complicated at all. Jane (Streep) is a woman with three grown children. It’s been ten years since her divorce to Jake (Baldwin)…
Graffiti — It Can Be Gorgeous In Houston
As we noted recently, city councilmember Sue Lovell has announced a war on graffiti, something that hasn’t been declared by a politician in ages, and by “ages” we mean just about everyday, in some city in the country.Lovell says eradicating graffiti puts a financial strain on the city. She also…
97.9 The Box Declines Comment On Trae Situation
After a couple of days of phone and email tag, Rocks Off was finally able to get in touch with Terri Thomas, program director of 97.9 The Box, regarding the highly rated urban station’s reputed ban on everything associated with local rapper Trae tha Truth – songs, mixtapes, in-studio appearances,…
Sienna Sip and Stroll
The giant outdoor food and wine extravaganza known as the Sienna Sip and Stroll held in the Sienna Plantation development in Sugar Land is just one of many epicurean events encompassed in the annual Grand Wine & Food Affair. Last Saturday, desperate housewives and oenophiles alike trudged upon a steamy…
13 Things You’ll Never Hear At Anvil
I found myself explaining to a friend last night that my entire philosophy and approach toward bars now that I’ve gotten older can be summed up by one question: Does it have a Golden Tee machine? If the answer is “yes,” then you can bet your backwards-facing Stephen F. Austin…
Drug Kingpin Juan Jose Quintero-Payan Extradited To Texas
The U.S. Attorney’s offices of Houston and San Antonio have announced a major coup in the drug war: Mexican kingpin Juan Jose Quintero-Payan, 68, has been successfully extradited from Mexico to Texas.Quintero-Payan, of Guadajara, had fought extradition for eight years, but he was moved to San Antonio on Friday and…
When Animals (And Tornados) Attack: Touring Edition
Touring bands generally have to cope with enough grief on the road without worrying about something swooping down on them out of the sky, be it a whopping tornado or errant oversized bird. But both of those things managed to happen last weekend. While traveling to a gig in Memphis,…
Congratulations, Kemah Smokers: You’re 20 Feet Closer To The Front Door
The Kemah city council couldn’t agree on a smoking ban in bars and restaurant bars at their meeting last night, but they did agree on one thing: Those desperate, addicted puffers forced outside in rain, cold and heat can be a little closer to the front doors of wherever they’ve…
It’s (Semi-)Official: Houston Is Not That Fun A City
As you walk two mushy downtown blocks on a blazing August afternoon in Houston, surely the question that comes to your mind is “Isn’t this fun?”Or maybe not.Anyway, the extremely important publication Portfolio has done an extremely scientific survey of the “most fun” cities in America, and you may not…
Catfish in Caramel Sauce
To the uninitiated, caramel and fish sauce are like Romeo and Juliet: The relationship defies the stars. But it’s as natural as that light through yonder window. After the jump, a recipe for catfish simmered in a caramel sauce. And watch out for another upcoming recipe here on Eating Our…
Justin Bieber Chopped & Screwed
Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off’s weekly rap post. It probably won’t rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. H.I.S.D. “Lando” Music Video (PeaceUvMine.com) from PeaceUvMine on Vimeo. Single of the Week: “Lando,” HISD Wire to Wire Scarface is remaking some of…
Upcoming: 50 Cent, Aventura, Hole, Jonas Bros., Liza Minnelli, Octopus Project, Etc.
50 Cent: Sat., June 12. Arena Theatre. Agent Orange: Wed., June 30. Rocbar. Asleep At The Wheel: Fri., May 28. Cypress Saloon. As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between The Buried And Me, Blessthefall, Cancer Bats: Tue., July 27. Verizon Wireless Theater. Aventura: Thu., July 1. Toyota Center. Barrington Levy: Fri.,…
Nolan Ryan: Abandon The Rangers And Run The Astros, Please
The news is that Drayton McLane is still attempting to sell the Houston Astros. After the laughingstock that he turned this franchise into, I can’t say that I blame him for wanting to dump the club on anybody who will meet his financial demands without backing out on the deal,…
J. Hill, Local Artist, Gets Some Of That Long Green From Artadia
Houston’s branch of Artadia, an organization that promotes local artists with cash, has announced its 2010 awardees. Among the seven winners is visual artist J. Hill of the Glassell School of Art, who received a $15,000 award.Hill, who creates installations and event-based art, says he’ll used the money to add a…
Where Are We Drinking?
This swanky establishment offers something you wouldn’t expect from a place where the cocktails come at a high price: 25 cent martinis during weekday afternoons. Don’t have to go back to work on Friday afternoon? We can’t think of a classier place to get day drunk. Leave your best guess…
Screwed Up Click Reunion: “If You Take A Bath Every Day, Make Some Noise!”
2:58 p.m.: So this thing was supposed to start at 2 p.m., right? And we purposely got here an hour late so as to miss a significant portion of the standing around portion of the show. Only we just got texts from a few of the big name guys performing…
Jeff Beck, Speaking Without Words
Aftermath supposes that, when it comes to music, poetry is where you find it. But unlike the evergreen Beatles vs. Stones debate, or the even more pronounced vinyl/CD/MP3 back-and-forth, the line between those who prefer their music with lyrics and those who can take it straight without the benefit (or…
Unidentified Female, 43, Bayou Body Count No. 94
An arrest has been made in a wild shootout that killed a woman in the Third Ward Sunday.Police have not released the woman’s name, but they have arrested Richard Gregory Harrison, 48, for faces one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of beinga felon in…
Tchernavia Sessum, Young & Recessioned: “I Had No Idea It Would Be This Hard”
Today’s installment of Young & Recessioned features Tchernavia Sessum, a 26-year-old Clark Atlanta University grad, who struggled for several years in the job market before finding a job that put her schooling to use. Everybody in my family either went to Texas Southern [University] or Prairie View [A&M], and I…
Randy Quaid, Wife Jailed In California
Randy Quaid, one-half of the Pride of Bellaire Quaid Brothers, is in a California jail, People magazine is reporting.A judge there got fed up with the actor and his wife missing court dates in connection with non-payment of a $10,000 hotel bill. The two were arrested in Marfa last year,…
Glenn Beck, Lowering The Standards For What Makes An “Honorary Texan”
You know what you were needing right now?Video of a screaming Rick Perry making the sanity-challenged rube-riler Glenn Beck an “honorary Texan” in front of a yahooing crowd of East Texans.What, you didn’t need that?…
iFest Closes To An Afro-Cuban-Reggae Beat
If the first weekend of the Houston International Festival felt like a detour down Canal Street, the second evoked the festival’s emphasis on “Spotlighting the Caribbean.” Summer picked this weekend to descend two months early, as it tends to do, resulting in increased traffic and a heightened sense of anticipation…
Kitchen Recreations: Spanglish Sandwich
If you’ve seen the movie Spanglish — a mediocre 2004 film starring Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni and Paz Vega — you surely remember The Sandwich. In the flick, Adam Sandler plays a critically acclaimed chef. One evening he makes an inspired sandwich that has engrained itself in my memory, even…
Tower Theater Gets A Fancy Facelift
Back in November 2009, the Hollywood Video store that occupied the erstwhile Tower Theater on Westheimer at Waugh closed for good. Since then, the property has sat vacant, the same sad way as the Alabama Theater has been empty since Bookstop finally sold its last book in August 2009.But a…
Rebirth Brass Band Lights A Fire At iFest
Weather – usually the bad, wet, turbulent kind – has often been the story at iFest. But the story this year is that in spite of the threat of rain in the forecast, both weekends turned out to be everything promoters could have hoped for weather-wise. As the sun set…
Game Time: Sure I’ll Grade The Texans’ Draft, Just As Soon As I’m Done Tweeting With Peter King
I admit I’m a total mark for Twitter. I’m not one of those people who has to tweet every little thing that happens throughout the day (unless there is some semblance of comedic value, and then I become to Twitter what Travis Henry becomes to the vagina). I have a…
Samuel Bustamante Hunted Aliens; Should Texas Be Killing Him In Light Of Stephen Hawking’s Warning?
“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America,” astrophysicist and wheelchair-enthusiast Stephen Hawking opines in a new documentary to be shown on the Discovery Channel.And the big problem is, Texas is about to execute perhaps our most renowned alien-hunter:…
Araya Artisan Chocolate
Next door to the River Oaks Theatre sits the storefront for Araya Artisan Chocolate (2013 W. Gray St.), which is turning out some of the most decadent chocolates in the city. The room is miniscule, yet open and inviting. Lush orchids occupy angular white tables. The tiny sitting area offers…
$13 at Salata
Where: Salata Medical Center, 6620 Fannin St., 713-797-0700. What $13 gets you: A deceptively large salad, a soup and a couple of pieces of pesto French bread. When we finally stopped into the new Salata in the Medical Center with a few coworkers, the place was totally empty. In the…
Frank Wilson Survival Watch, Day One: He Just Keeps Us Hanging On
In the last several months, things could not have gone worse for Metro president Frank Wilson. When Annise Parker was elected mayor, it seemed only a matter of time before Wilson was ousted from the agency. Parker was critical of Metro during her campaign, and her criticism continued after the…
Spotlight On: Apple Butter
Ingredients, like shoes, tend to go in and out of style. Bacon has enjoyed a long season of popularity, understandable but still tiresome. Meyer lemons and beets have become likewise ubiquitous. But what of those ingredients that seem to go out of fashion? Apple butter is an old-school, distinctly American…
Aftermath: Three (Count ‘Em) Takes On SXSW Heroes Local Natives At Mango’s
Ed. Note: As anyone who followed our SXSW coverage would know, perhaps no band got as much critical love thrown its way as L.A.’s Local Natives. So much so that, when the Natives returned to Mango’s this past Saturday, somehow Rocks Off wound up with three reviewers at the show…
Unidentified Man, Bayou Body Count No. 93
As it involves our attempt to defend the good name of one of our favorite East End dive bars, this one is close to our heart…Police say a man and a woman were headed home from a pool hall when a passing train halted their car at the corner of…
Tejano Ain’t Dead; Chingo Bling Puts On His “Lentes”; Flatline Rides For His Block; And The 210 Mic Pass
How can something be claimed dead when it still has life, when it’s still living in speakers, iPods, as well as the hearts and souls of red-blooded American music lovers across the country? When it’s still being passed on to younger generations? In the track “Pimpin’ Ain’t No Illusion,” Pimp…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #55 Catfish and Grits at the Breakfast Klub
Over the course of the next few months, I’m counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments…
Michelle Bachmann FAIL: Houston, Harris County Beat 2000 Rate Of Mailing In Census Forms
Way out there among the legions of birthers and deathers and FEMA concentration camp believers, there’s the census haters. Led by Minnesota rep Michelle Bachmann, they refuse to fill out the 2010 census forms because…because….something about government spies or black helicopters or whatever, we’re sure.It’s just the type of nutty…
Random Ingredient: Calabacita
What is it? Calabacita is a Spanish word meaning “little squash.” Officially, the term “calabacita” can encompass different types of summer squash, including the zucchini and yellow squash. However, around town, a variety of summer squash known as Tatuma, with wider body and green-and-pale-yellow speckled and striped skin, is sold…
iFest Aftermath: A Whirlwind Afternoon With Zydepunks, Some Cha-Chas, Taj Weekes And Dave Alvin’s Guilty Women
There was a moment as Aftermath was walking through the Caribbean Market section of iFest Saturday when we had the most visceral of flashbacks — stepping off a Carnival cruise boat at the rip old age of 14 in Nassau, Bahamas, and being inundated by tourist-baiting marketeers trying to pawn…
Unidentified Man, 23, Bayou Body Count No. 92
At 9 p.m. last night, Houston police responded to a call at the Crescent Park Apartments on Crescent Park Drive near Kirkwood and Westheimer. Once on the scene, they found the body of a 23-year-old man with a single gunshot wound. Witnesses described the man’s assailants as two black males,…
Aftermath: Beach House, Real Or Imagined, A Breathtaking Walter’s Show
Aftermath is not quite sure what we can possibly add to a band already self-aware enough to put the word “dream” in its album title. We can tell you this, though: We put on Beach House’s Teen Dream, the Baltimore duo’s second LP for Sub Pop, shortly before leaving work…
Recipe: Baked Artichoke Brie Spread
We usually save creamy, hearty dips like this one for the winter. But when the afternoon rain clouds roll in, we want something decadent for our couch-bound movie night. We found this Baked Artichoke Brie Spread recipe in our Peace Meals cookbook. It’s quick, easy and perfect for a party…
Dan Pastorini Fender-Benders His Way Into A DWI
Houston Oiler quarterback Dan Pastorini, the man who led the team to within a blown call of the Super Bowl, was arrested this morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.Pastorini was driving a Mercedes in Bryan just before midnight Sunday when he rear-ended a Toyota at a stop light. (Is…
Dynamo Get Burned By The Chicago Fire
They huffed, and they puffed, and the Chicago Fire blew the goals down.Chance after chance, Chicago threatened to score goals the entire first half. Just when the Dynamo appear to be in the clear during stoppage time before the half, Baggio Husidic of the Fire knocked in the first goal…
Odd Pair: Tortillas & Queso
The last Odd Pair caused quite a stir not because of the wine choice but because of the fast food choice – Taco Bell crunch tacos. Despite the fact that the point of this feature is not the junk food choices but pairing them with wine, we took your suggestion…
Aftermath: George Clinton & His P-Funk Army Seriously Funk Up iFest
For nearly two hours on Saturday night, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic tickled every single funk bone in iFest’s sun-drenched body. For a festival so family-friendly and altogether worldly, Clinton and his gang made the lawn in Sam Houston Park feel sleazy in the most admirable way. No one will take…
Treme: Right Place, Wrong Time
The third episode is potentially a tough one in a ten-episode arc like the one we’re getting in the first season of Treme: Far enough in that characters have been set up, not quite at a major halfway point that would entail some twists or the onset of the momentum…
The Week In TV: Lost Takes A Break, South Park Takes A Dive
The sun chased the rain, I can feel summer coming, and I was greeted at the door by a rabbi that looks like Joaquin Phoenix. This was the week in TV Land: • So, this is dumb: South Park has been forced by Viacom to bend to the will of…
Aftermath: Paul Wall & Chamillionaire, Together Again At House Of Blues
For more pictures from the show, see our slideshow here. 11:03 p.m.: This place is pretty well packed. 97.9 FM’s G.T. is on stage. It’s unclear whether he’s the opening act or is just up there to fill time. He leans on a bunch of Houston classics to gain the…
Where Are We Eating?
This restaurant serves one of the most interesting versions of crawfish etoufee we’ve ever encountered. And despite its unorthodox preparation and presentation, we love it. Not to mention the excellent bread service here negates the need for an appetizer. Does this meal look familiar to you? Leave your best guess…
Treme: Right Place, Wrong Time
The third episode is potentially a tough one in a ten-episode arc like the one we’re getting in the first season of Treme: Far enough in that characters have been set up, not quite at a major halfway point that would entail some twists or the onset of the momentum…
Rice Plunders ECU’s Pirates As They Surge in C-USA
Walking from the Rice clubhouse to the Rice dugout, right past the trainer’s room, you pass a dry erase board. There was a message on that board Saturday afternoon. A message reading “Plunder the Pirates. Go Owls.” And if one word can be applied to describe what the Rice Owls…
Fails Of The Week: Justin Bieber, Tom Petty, Jenna Jameson, The Killers, Voxtrot
If you’re reading this, you’re either on the Internet, or else you’ve mastered multi-dimensional thought-projection processes that would make Michio Kaku cry like a little girl. We’ll assume the former, and just in case you don’t already know, the Internet has decided that the word “failure” is too long by…
An American (Stranded) In Paris
Hala Daher is stuck in Paris. Sure, she’s staying at her aunt’s house in the 4th arrondissement, steps away from the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou. And it’s a step up from Beirut, where she was previously stranded until she hustled her way onto a flight from Lebanon to France…
Matt Sonzala’s Open Letter To 97.9 The Box: “You Are In The Wrong Here”
UPDATE: DJ Klean Cutt has confired via text-message that the Kracker Nuttz were dimissed by 97.9 The Box on Wednesday. The DJs were let go in individual meetings with Box management shortly after playing a Chamillionaire song featuering Trae, but did not say that was the explicit decision for their…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we’re still trying to get the President to do something to ease the suffering of those of us who forgot we had Buffalo wing sauce on our fingers before rubbing our eyes. Hopefully something will be done to…
Kelly Willis Happy To Leave Kids At Home For Miller Outdoor Show
Kelly Willis, who plays Miller Outdoor Theatre Saturday night with Ray Wylie Hubbard, has four kids and is known to be a doting mother. She and husband Bruce Robison could probably both have much more tour-heavy careers were they not so devoted to raising their kids in a family, non-showbiz…
Sole of Houston: Passing the Torch
It’s been a while since I’ve posted in the Sole of Houston, and truth be told, ever since David Beebe moved to Marfa and I got a bike, we’ve kinda hung up our walking shoes. But that’s just us. A guy named Brent Zius is picking up the slack. This…
Upcoming Events
Six years of hosting traveling “takedowns” — the Yankee version of our hometown throwdowns — has led Brooklyn native Matt Timms to finally bring his popular food fights to Houston. The Bacon Takedown made its first Texas appearance last month in Austin, which coincided with SXSW. The Houston Bacon Takedown…
Bartender Chat: Julian Luna of The Boom Boom Room
Julian Luna was the only one working at The Boom Boom Room (2518 Yale) the night we visited. But we were able to catch him while he paused from frantically delivering paninis and serving wine. Luna has been working at The Boom Boom Room since June of last year. In…
Save A Houston Librarian, Buy A Book
While Hair Balls is fearful of ever-expanding government power and its attendant death panels and Wall Street takeovers, there is one government institution we absolutely love: libraries. We’re total whores for literacy and recreational/ educational reading. Which is why we’re stoked for the Friends of the Houston Public Library’s annual book…
Fine Living No More: The Cooking Channel To Debut May 31
If you think that food-oriented television couldn’t get any worse or lowbrow than Sandra Lee’s infamous Kwanzaa cake or the frosted tips of Guy Fieri traveling the nation in search of burgers, burgers and more mediocre burgers, you’re in for a shock: There is much worse programming on the menu…
Young and Recessioned: Stephen Rawlings, From Engineer to Part-Time Musician
The Big Recession may have hit the rest of America harder than it has Houston, but that doesn’t mean we’re not feeling the effects. Especially the youngest people in the job market — whether it’s twentysomethings trying to start their dreamed-of career or teens looking to begin making money on…
Lotus Effect Channel Soul Asylum, Shakespeare On Rabbits And Royalties EP
OK, in your head, we want you to picture Soul Asylum. No, not “Runaway Train.” We mean the energy, angsty effervescence of something like “Somebody to Shove.” Wed that haunting voice and throbbing guitars to a mild prog-rock sensibility and you have Lotus Effect’s EP, Rabbits and Royalties. The release…
Kaiseki: Technique Meets High Art at Kubo’s
“A sushi chef may train for 10 years. There is only one thing he needs to know: fish. But a kaiseki chef trains for at least 20 years,” Kubo’s newly installed executive chef, Kiyoka Ito, explained in brusque Japanese, as owner Yoichi Ueno (Yogi-san to his friends) translated for us…
Museum Of Fine Arts Screening Rare Beatles And Bob Dylan Footage This Weekend
It’s an odd thing to think about, but imagine seeing the Beatles on American television for the very first time. Imagine how different they looked from any other musician making popular music in the early 1960s. Or think about Bob Dylan, going electric at Newport, how scandalous it would have…
Game Time: If You Like The Texans Pick Of Kareem Jackson at #20 GIMME A HELL YEAH…Hey, Who Let All These Crickets In Here?
I would have to say the NFL’s taking the first round of its draft and transforming it from hardcore niche sporting event on Saturday afternoons to Must-See TV Thursday night melodrama was a success in its first year. We got plenty of shaking and moving (seven draft night trades involving…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #56 Chicken-fried Steak at Frank’s Chop House
Over the course of the next few months, I’m counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments…
Rocks Off Exclusive: Behind The Scenes Of Chamillionaire’s “The Main Event” Video
As we walked into the warehouse off Commerce Street where a music video was scheduled to be shot for Chamillionaire’s recent single, “The Main Event,” Slim Thug pulled up. In style, we might add (above). We let the boss and his posse head inside first, then followed them to the…
The Agony of the Ecstasy
The Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy, based out of Galveston, was in the news again today: Cruise ship guests recalled Thursday their wild ride when the captain of the Carnival Ecstasy made an emergency maneuver to avoid an adrift buoy, causing the ship to list to one side. Guests and equipment…
Rick’s Picks For iFest’s Second Weekend
Ed. Note: Here are Houston International Festival Director of Peforming Arts Rick Mitchell’s choices for can’t-miss acts for the festival’s second weekend, spread over five categories. Rick should know; he books all the artists. Rocks Off will follow with a few more picks of our own a little later on…
Thursday Spaghetti Lunch at Sacred Heart Society
Few dishes have the ability to rouse warm fuzzies like spaghetti and meatballs, and the version found at the Sacred Heart Society of Little York’s spaghetti lunch every Thursday is a giant pink bunny slipper of a meal. Since 1953, the Catholic men’s organization has been dishing out Sicilian fare…
DJ Eddie Deville: Mastering Turntable Artistry; Pursuing Anesthesiology; Liking John Mayer
Pre-med. University of Houston. John Mayer. Atheist. Anesthesiology. These are all terms that aren’t associated with hip-hop. Or could that change? Acres Homes’ own Edwin Penn may change all that if he stays his course… or, should we say, passes his courses. Eddie, known better to the streets as DJ…
Hey Astros, Here’s a Thought: Bench Carlos Lee
The Astros Twitter feed was rather shocked that Carlos Lee couldn’t bend over and make a play on a ground ball in left field last night. It’s as if the Astros writers thought there was either a legitimate outfielder in left field, or that Carlos Lee actually gave a damn…
More With Esperanza Spalding: “So Much More I Can Do With A Live Band”
Ed. Note: See Part 1 of Rocks Off’s interview with Spalding here. Rocks Off: You compose, arrange, perform, sing, record and teach. Which is the easiest for you? Which is the most expressive? Esperanza Spalding: No way to really answer that. Each one has its context and moment when it…
Summerfest Announcing Schedule May 1; “Fancy Pants Pass” Price Going Up
Rocks Off got an email from Jagi Katial over at Pegstar Thursday that he and the other organizers of Free Press Summerfest will announce the schedule for the two-day festival June 4 and 5 in Eleanor Tinsley Park next Saturday, May 1. Some late-breaking, “surprise” additions to the lineup will…
Health Dept. Roundup: Skyscraper Edition
Come along this week as Health Department Roundup visits the skyscrapers of our pulsing “skyline district,” as the signs would put it. First, a pre-opening inspection held April 14 at Tasti D Lite, at 919 Milam, found the wall was not light-colored in the walk-in fridge, food prep, storage or…
NBC’s Thursday Night: Chicken Fingers and Self-Loathing
I’m trying something different this week, thanks to a suggestion from my editor, who noticed that each successive episode of The Office was pushing me into a darker corner of the world inhabited only by hateful characters with no hope in sight. Rather than just blog about that show, I’m…
Aftermath: Never Mind The Hipsters, Kenny G Blows Us Away
Aftermath shook hands Thursday night with Kenny G, a man who has arguably been one of the most reviled men in pop music now nearly 30 years. Why are we bringing this up? It’s not to name-drop or poke fun at the man. We mainly feel guilty for being a…
Metro, Investigate Thyself
The Metro board called a special meeting yesterday afternoon to hold a private executive session to discuss attorney Lloyd Kelley’s lawsuit against Metro, which deals with all that alleged document shredding. But the board also used the opportunity to release the findings from UHY Advisors, a firm Metro hired to…
Five Artists To Watch From Houston’s G.O.A.T. Entertainment
Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we’ll examine a recent bit of music news and, albeit sometimes awkwardly, tie it back to Houston with occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. G.O.A.T. Entertainment is an indie record label based here in Houston. Despite the weird name – yes, we’re aware…
Dinner for Two at Rice University’s Farmer’s Market
Let’s say it’s a Tuesday evening and you’ve got a hot date, but your wallet has nothing but a maxed out credit card and a shabby $20 bill. You could go to McDonald’s or maybe even Taco Cabana if you’re feeling really fancy, but we suggest heading down to the…
Houston Is Under Attack…From Bedbugs
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Houston is under attack from bedbugs. Of course, Hair Balls has never had to deal with these savage beasts because all the roaches in our apartment get to them before they can get to us, but we still wanted to share some interesting,…
Mother Earth Says, “Ha!”
Want proof of the butterfly effect? Okay, a volcano in Iceland erupts and half-way around the world, Houston arts organizations have to scramble. Two highly anticipated concerts were forced to change their line-ups and one theatrical piece was rescheduled – twice – as performers got caught in Europe and were…
An Open Letter To Metro Spokesman George Smalley
Fans of the ongoing Metro drama may want to check out the beleaguered agency’s response to an April 15 KHOU story on allegations that Metro submitted outdated financial projections to the Federal Transit Administration. According to the text preceding the video, the story was “distorted and plain wrong…Here’s the truth.” What follows…
Grier Hires An Aggie As His New Communications Chief
Verifying rumors that have been floating around the district for days, the Houston Independent School District just announced that Superintendent Terry Grier is bringing in a Maryland administrator as his new chief communications officer. Aggie Alvez replaces William “Lee” Vela who was hired under previous superintendent Abe Saavedra’s regime. Vela…
Ingredient to Try: Freshly Ground Chocolate-Peanut Butter
While in the process of procuring some freshly ground peanut butter for this week’s food face-off, I inadvertently filled a container with what I thought was black and white peanut butter. You see, it was late at night and I was tired, and in my world, black peanuts not only…
Brew Blog: Beer and Cashews
We had some spare cashews in the pantry and, being the innovative people we are, figured we should try to pair them up with a beer suited to their unique flavor. Step aside, peanuts. It’s cashew time. We stopped by the D & Q and found two bottles we thought…
Piney Woods Penis Parade: Two Pervs In Court On Same Day For Public Masturbation
What in tarnation is going on up in the Piney Woods? On the very same day this week, one fortysomething East Texas man was arrested after a woman said he masturbated at her car from the side of the highway, while not far from there, after a plea deal, a…
Bobby Heugel’s Weekly Cocktail: Mint Julep, Part 1 – Bourbon
The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, which means that outside of Christmas, more bourbon will be sold over the next two weeks for various Derby celebrations than during any other time period. If you’re one of these thousands of people buying bourbon, there are a few simple rules…
Please Add “Like” Rocks Off On Facebook; Win Dead Weather Tickets
So apparently there’s this thing called social networking. These days it seems to be centered around a Web site called Facebook, which Rocks Off suspects you may have heard of. Actually, we’ve heard of it too and have had our own page for a minute now, but currently Rocks Off…
HISD Turns To Failed Principal For Advice on How to Handle the State Board of Education
The Houston ISD employees who were asked to draft a resolution asking the State Board of Education to step back from the changes it made recently in the proposed social studies curriculum for public school students, told the Houston school board today that students will be asked to memorize an…
Clearing Out the Pantry
Occasionally, there are days when you don’t have the funds, energy or motivation to make it to the grocery store. You probably need milk, coffee, eggs or other staples found in even the barest refrigerators and pantries, but the thought of heading anywhere but home after the workday seems more…
Happy Hour Scene: Absolve Wine Lounge
The Place: Absolve Wine Lounge 920 Studemont St. 281-501-1788 www.absolvewinelounge.com The Hours: Seven days a week 4-7 p.m.; all day Wednesday. The Deals: Selected wines — the bar carries about 150 labels — start at $7 a glass and get cheaper. Domestic beers are $2, sangria is $4, and the…
Who Is Houston’s Most Hated Musician?
He is a legend, and the musicians, promoters, reporters, DJs and engineers of our great city whisper his name in shivering tones. He books shows, and because he has no car, insists that other bands on the bill chauffeur him to the gigs. At the shows, he begs the audience…
Masih Golabbakhsh, 2 Months, Bayou Body Count No. 91
UPDATE: After the medical examiner determined that Masih had been buried alive, a charge of murder was filed against the mother, now identified as Narjes Modarresi. It was one of the most horrific reported incidents of this or any other year: a young mother told police she was pushing her…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes #57 The Barbecue Brisket and Egg Breakfast Taco at Plantation BBQ Trailer on 90A
Over the course of the next few months, I’m counting down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. Share your own nominations in the comments…
Bassist Esperanza Spalding, Jazz Musician With A Neo-Soul Style
Esperanza Spalding has the sort of backstory that public relations firms dream of – and it has the advantage of being true. At four-years-old, she saw a Yo-Yo Ma performance on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and promptly asked for a violin (the pre-schooler didn’t know the word cello). She taught herself…
Game Time: If You Want To Hear Richard Justice Getting Fired, Click Here
If you are a celebrator of Christmas, you know what I mean when I say “that Christmas morning feeling” — the giddy sensation when you wake up on December 25th, knowing that you made it through the 362 day grind since the last Christmas morning and today is the day…
Kitchen Recreations: Brasil’s Red Velvet Hash
You know you’ve eaten at a great restaurant when the dishes inspire memories. The best restaurants turn out the sort of meals that one considers on the drive home, imagining how to recreate them, or plotting when to make a return visit. But just how easy is it to recreate…
Mark Kurlansky Sees Eastern Stars
Author Mark Kurlansky worked as a journalist covering the Caribbean for several years. When he wanted to write a book about the Dominican Republic that showed the people that lived off the tourist routes, he decided the best way was to focus on one town and tell that town’s story…
Where Are We Peeing, And Talking About Freddy Fender, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Barbra Streisand And Adam Lambert?
So Tuesday night, we found ourselves all by our lonesome at this small bar, coming down off our birthday weekend. It’s a cozy little spot with an ample jukebox, plenty of character, and way too much Lone Star. We sat next to the bar’s video poker machine, mainly to rest…
Five Absolutely Cringeworthy Restaurant Commercials
By now, we’ve all seen the commercial for Jones’ Good Ass BBQ & Foot Massage. Sadly, the video with the dancing chickens, catchy jingle and promise of a pedicure with the finest honey barbecue sauce in Illinois was too terrible to be true. Fortunately, there are plenty of actual commercials…
Corey Bean, 27, Bayou Body Count No. 90
UPDATE: As of April 22, 2010 charges of murder were pending against 21-year-old Kendrick Romaine Hicks. According to HPD, Hicks surrendered to police and confessed to the crime. At 8:20 AM, while the rest of us were downing coffee, dozing over our cereal, or enduring a freeway traffic jam somewhere…
It’s Not Easy Being Green: How Venues And Festivals Handle All That Garbage
On any given night, 18,000 to 25,000 people fill the Toyota Center, whether to watch the Rockets play or to see Lady Gaga in full regalia. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces more than four pounds of municipal solid waste per day. Multiply that by 18,000,…
Pop Rocks: Earth First! Five Acts of Terran Aggression
It’s Earth Day, that magical time of year when we’re supposed to pretend we don’t “accidentally” throw most of our aluminum cans in the trash instead of the recycling bin and gaze wistfully at the bus stop as we blow by it in our air conditioned Ford Excursions. When tens…
Y’all Musta Forgot: Lil’ Flip’s The Leprechaun (And That Awful Cover)
Houston’s history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We’ll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Lil’ Flip The Leprechaun (Sucka Free Records, 2000) Ah, Flipperace. Most people don’t remember this, but prior to the…
Healthy Alternatives: Mission Burrito’s Burrito Bowl
Last week we attempted to find a figure-friendly burger to fill up our bellies. This week we were craving a Houston favorite: Mexican food. Specifically, something yummy from Mission Burrito. We love going to the original location at 2245 W. Alabama so that we can sit on the patio under…
Nature’s Revenge: Tunes For A Vengeful Planet
We like to think of the planet we live on as “Mother” Earth, a caring, nurturing parent figure who we thoughtlessly abuse. Well, we at Rocks Off don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Mom ain’t exactly helpless. In fact, sometimes she seems less like a benevolent hippie goddess and more…
Farewell, Kevin Constantine
The Houston Aeros parted ways with head coach Kevin Constantine last week as the parent organization, the Minnesota Wild, chose not to renew Constantine’s contract with the team. He took the Aeros into the playoffs in two of his three seasons as head coach, and this past season, he coached…
American Idol: The Tumor is Removed…Eventually
This is my first season of American Idol, and thus my first brush with the behemoth that is “Idol Gives Back.” This is the third time the show has staged its charity event, and there were far fewer celebrities this year. The goal was ostensibly to educate viewers about the…
Roasted Pork with Green Onion Oil
Today we’re going to cheat a little. I will tell you how to have this authentically traditional Vietnamese meal with only about five minutes of actual cooking. You’ll also get to enjoy a nice, leisurely drive through Houston’s bustling Chinatown off of Bellaire Boulevard near the Beltway. This version of…
American Idol: The Tumor is Removed… Eventually
This is my first season of American Idol, and thus my first brush with the behemoth that is “Idol Gives Back.” This is the third time the show has staged its charity event, and there were far fewer celebrities this year. The goal was ostensibly to educate viewers about the…
Paddling Kids Won’t Whip HISD Into Shape, Grier Says
The leaders of Temple, Texas may have decided that restoring paddling to their bag of tricks was a good idea for schools there, but Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier doesn’t agree. At a Wednesday media roundtable, Grier talked about the discussions district personnel are having with parents from what have…
Reefer Madness, The Musical
It takes just a few puffs of marijuana to turn well-mannered teens into raging, violent punks who spend all their time having rough sex, listening to wild jazz music and, oh yeah, killing people. At least that’s the way the comedy Reefer Madness, The Musical plays it. Originally a 1936…
David Sedaris
David Sedaris’s forthcoming book, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, is a collection of tales in which turtles, toads, kittens and more are given personal lives so the best-selling, award-winning humorist can expose their shortcomings. (That’s an honor usually reserved for his friends and family.) In one tale, a chipmunk…
Aszure Barton & Artists
Dance fans are captivated by Aszure Barton’s electric performances. During today’s performance by her company Aszure Barton & Artists, you’ll see fluid, quick motions explode into serious sexuality or delirious angst, but then they’ll flit into the irreverent, with a kick here, a shoulder shake there, imparting a clear sense…
Little House on the Prairie, the Musical
In the 1930s, when Laura Ingalls Wilder began publishing her Little House series of children’s books, the novelist could never have imagined the big, brassy production Little House on the Prairie, The Musical. Coming to Houston thanks to Theatre Under the Stars, the two-year-old musical boasts the television series’ Laura,…
“Stretch”
Curator Gwynne Rukenbrod put this challenge to ClayHouston, a local artist group: Stretch clay, what it looks like and what it means. The group answered with a variety of ceramic works. The result is “Stretch,” a juried show with pieces by 24 artists. Some were sculptural, others functional, but all…
Emerson String Quartet
The renowned Emerson String Quartet makes a stop at Rice University. During today’s performance, violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer, who exchange first chair, are joined by violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist David Finckel, to perform a program that includes selections from Dvorak and Janácek. Last season the Quartet performed…
Harvey
Who wouldn’t want to have a six-foot-tall invisible rabbit as a best friend? The idea seems perfectly reasonable to Elwood P. Dowd in the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy play Harvey. Elwood is a nice enough fellow; he has a quiet life with his sister and niece, and bothers no one. Harvey,…
Patti Vasquez
Comedian/actress Patti Vasquez got her start onstage by dropping out of grad school at Northwestern (ouch!). Leaving a Ph.D. in history unfinished, she went on to star in her own one-woman shows. The first was Pregnant Party Girl: From Stoli’s to Stirrups, followed by Mamacita: Tales of a Diaper Diva…
A Thousand Words
It’s easy to see where the organizers of A Thousand Words got the name for the event (you know that old saying “A picture is worth…”). A Thousand Words is a collection of six short plays by Houston playwrights, with each work connected to photography in some way. “We have…
Catastrophic Theatre’s Big! Bang! Catastrophe!
BODY: Jim Parsons — the Emmy-nominated star who plays Sheldon in the CBS hit comedy The Big Band Theory! — is no ordinary local boy done good. “He’s not only a tremendous talent, but he’s also incredibly likable,” says Jason Nodler, artistic director of Catastrophic Theatre. And Nodler should know…
Patrick Carman: Thirteen Days to Midnight
Children’s-book author Patrick Carman gives writing for young adults a go in Thirteen Days to Midnight. The plot follows Jacob Fielding, who has suddenly become indestructible. Afraid of his new power, Jacob nonetheless tries it out and finds the thrill of testing his physical and emotional limits intoxicating. That is,…
Geeks Who Drink: The Quiz that Must Not Be Named
Think you’re a Harry Potter expert? Quick, how was Sirius Black related to his killer? What’s the spell that will open a locked door? And who celebrates his/her deathday? Think you know the answers? Then you just might be ready for the Geeks Who Drink: The Quiz that Must Not…
Movies Houstonians Love (Meals on Reels): Babette’s Feast
The chef and owner of Ibiza Food & Wine Bar, Charles Clark, knows a little something about the power of a meal done right. Maybe that’s why he picked Babette’s Feast for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s series Movies Houstonians Love: Meals on Reels. The granddaddy of all food…
Shakespeare in the Park
To celebrate the birthday of the world’s greatest playwright (the only sure date we know is his baptismal day, April 26, 1564), the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance stages two of his masterpieces in their outdoor program Shakespeare in the Park. The original battle of the sexes,…
“Robert Glen and Sue Stolberger: The Wildlife of Africa”
The beasts of Africa have been inspiring safari-goers and artists for centuries. Pairing reality with art, the Houston Zoo, with some help from the Artists for Conservation Foundation, is showcasing the work of two artists who have been so inspired, Kenyan-born sculptor Robert Glen and Tanzania-raised painter Sue Stolberger, in…
Sakay
Sakay, April’s installment of the Monthly Movie Night and Discussion presented by Project Row Houses, tackles the serious subject of the Philippine-American war in the early 1900s and the revolutionary Macario Sakay. After the Nacionalista Party, which Sakay co-founded, failed to negotiate Philippine independence, many people took up arms and…
Doug Stanhope
At 43 years of age, comedian Doug Stanhope is clearly part of “Generation X.” However, he thinks the newer kids – or “Millennials” – are pretty boring. “The older generations always complain how the newer ones are more deviant, but I’ll be the first one to complain the other way,”…
Jay Mohr
Comedian Jay Mohr is a busy man. He first got noticed during a two-year stint on Saturday Night Live. From there it was roles in movies like Jerry Maguire and Pay It Forward. Jumping to television, Mohr created, executive produced and hosted Last Comic Standing. Other projects included the ESPN…
Murals Under the Stars
With the help of some nifty technology, Murals Under the Stars will bring some of Mexico’s greatest wall art to Discovery Green. The digital projections of murals by Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Rufino Tamayo are so high-quality, they’ll make you feel like you’re gazing on…
“Santiago Forero: I Want to Live in America”
Colombian artist Santiago Forero sets the idea of the American dream on its ear with his exhibit “I Want to Live in America,” currently at Station Museum of Contemporary Arts. Brightly colored oversized photographs depict Forero’s version of the United States. The most dynamic of the photos is The Riot,…
The Beatles-Rare Film Clips (1962-1970) and Bob Dylan & Friends, (1963-2000)
When classic rock archivist Bill Shelley was first collecting films, he found himself digging through the trash looking for gold as he sifted through company storage rooms full of treasures headed for the Dumpster. “They considered these films junk because, as one boss claimed, ‘Disco is the best music in…
Carlos Cisneros: The Name Partner
Attorney Guillermo “Billy” Bravo has two problems in the novel The Name Partner, written by Carlos Cisneros. First, Billy is trying to make partner in his law firm, but he’s been handed a case that’s a ticking time bomb. He has to defend a pharmaceutical company against charges that its…
Chelsea Handler
Comedian Chelsea Handler enjoys prancing around in short skirts, dating moguls and proclaiming her adoration of booze. But she’s far from being a vapid socialite: The busty blond originally from New Jersey is an actress, star of her own late-night talk show (E! Entertainment’s Chelsea Lately) and author of the…
“Made in Mexico” and the Border Fence
Dear Mexican, I have a friend who frequently wears a T-shirt that boldly states in big, bad-ass, Old English letters, “Hecho en México.” Five facts follow: • He was born 23 years ago in the United States, in Bellflower, California • His truly Mexican parents were nowhere near Mexico when…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Allison Hunter: Zoosphere”, “Dirty Secrets from the Cataract Cinema”, “Eileen Maxson: Orphans of Failure”,
“Allison Hunter: Zoosphere” “Zoosphere” is an impressive video installation, composed of both large and tiny projections of animals Hunter videotaped at the Houston Zoo. Hunter’s photographs of animals freeze them in moments of self-conscious reflection, stripping away their natural environments and emancipating them, in a sense, from their natural contexts…
Local Natives
Hailing from the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, Local Natives has enjoyed one of the biggest SXSW buzzes for two years running. Indie peeps around Austin were raving about their galloping sound and snaky rhythms after every day show and stray showcase set. We sort of get a sunnier…
Shogi Hibachi Express
Joanne Fu and her partner Bill Ho are part of an investment group that owns Taisho Japanese Grill & Bar, a traditional Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in the bustling Sugar Land Town Square, about one block from their newest restaurant, Shogi Hibachi Express (15977 City Walk, Sugar Land, 281-491-0088)…
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers
It’s no surprise that the same quick and agile mind that gave rise to Steve Martin, erudite playwright/essayist; Steve Martin, debonair Oscars host; and Steve Martin, side-splitting wild and crazy guy, produced Steve Martin, banjo virtuoso. (We hear he’s also a decent actor.) The Waco native picked up the five-stringed…
Heavenly Hummus
The hummus at Mashawi Lounge (13525 Westheimer, 281-752-4440) is made with garbanzos blended until they’re as smooth as can be. It’s topped with seasoned ground beef and roasted pine nuts, which add not only a fascinating series of flavors but different textures and colors too. It’s similar to adding ground…
Steel Pulse
Only two current members of Steel Pulse have appeared on all 11 of the group’s studio albums, keyboardist/backing vocalist Selwyn Brown and lead guitarist/vocalist David Hinds, but it’s been enough to hold up the band’s strong musical and lyrical backbone. At its inception in the mid-’70s, the group of Jamaican…
Nouveau Antique Art Bar’s Aviator
“Jesus Christ, there are a lot of lamps in here,” was my first thought when I entered Nouveau Antique Art Bar (2913 Main, 713-526-2220). Pretty pedestrian as far as thoughts go, but if you walked into a hockey-rink-sized bar with hundreds of stained-glass lamps on ceilings, shelves and tables, your…
Awesome Color
Brooklyn trio Awesome Color is signed to Sonic Youth co-fronter Thurston Moore’s boutique label Ecstatic Peace, if you need any other concrete reason to be at Mango’s tonight beyond a stellar catalog that ambles from Stooges-style death jams to funky-ass Comets on Fire-esque freakouts. In any other age, AC would…
Girl’s Got Rhythm
These days tribute bands are as plentiful as Twitter updates, but Hell’s Belles’ all-female take on Australian bad boys AC/DC caused a stir when the band formed in Seattle in 1999. That was “before the tribute thing really caught on,” notes Adrian Conner, who dons Angus Young’s famous schoolboy —…
Salad Daze
Fondue, sandwiches and hot pot, they’re fun and all, but food just tastes better when other people make it for you. And salads are no exception. I’m always entranced by the gleaming surfaces and myriad toppings at the Central Market salad bar, yet the resulting concoction usually ends up more…
Amy Speace
Just a moment’s exposure to Amy Speace’s intimate yet powerful voice and timeless arrangements, and her roster position on Judy Collins’s Wildflower Records makes perfect sense. Speace’s voice may not be the most original, but she owns it so fully that you can’t help being immersed in her straightforward, folky…
Kelly Willis
If Texas ever needs a First Lady of Country Music, Kelly Willis would fill the job nicely. No doubt she could be in Nashville singing whatever anyone tells her will be a hit, but she tried that game and found it didn’t suit her. Instead, she stays in Austin with…
Andrew Karnavas
On his first proper solo outing, Film Noir, Runaway Sun front man Andrew Karnavas pulled out almost every trick under his sleeve for his new LP. The burly-voiced guitar strummer went into SugarHill Studios last year and worked tirelessly while also promoting for RS’s The Bridge, but the weariness he…
The Meeting Place
“The Meeting Place” is a crucial part of every FotoFest biennial. Held at the FotoFest headquarters hotel, this is where scores of reviewers sit in a ballroom and peruse hundreds of portfolios offered up by eager photographers, amateur and professional alike. (See “The Meat Market,” April 1, 2004) Dozens of…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Dangerous Liaisons, Queen of Spades, Seascape
Dangerous Liaisons Christopher Hampton’s wicked dissection of upper-crust pre-Revolutionary France brings passion without heat, sincerity without heart and sex without love: artifice on a grand scale. Show your soft side and you might get your head bitten off. To take revenge on a former lover, the icy Marquise de Merteuil…
The Man Who Sued the Pope
Five years ago, Houston attorney/theologian Daniel Shea watched the results of the papal conclave at home. Intellectually, he knew what the dirty-gray smoke puffing out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney signaled: that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger would soon be announced as the new Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Now,…
Cry for Yelp
Atif Mehana came to the United States from Egypt two decades ago. The short, clean-shaven 58-year-old spent more than a decade selling seafood to tourists on Miami’s bayfront. He saved enough to open a second eatery in 2008. But now he’s broke. Who’s to blame? He says Yelp, the megapopular…
Nailed the Title
Writer Andy Diggle dedicated his snappy DC comic books “The Losers” to ’80s screenwriting superstar Shane Black, creator of the Lethal Weapon series. But in adapting “The Losers” for film, director Sylvain White and screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Peter Berg strain to achieve the pleasurable mix of cheap laughs and…
9th Ward Ramblers
Juan Christian Küffner correctly calls his band Zydepunks’ moniker a “misnomer.” For catchiness’ sake, or economy’s, the New Orleans-based five-piece’s name only squeezes in two of the more than half-dozen different strains of folk music that routinely intersect and overlap in its songs. Zydeco and punk rock are well represented,…
Chron‘s Feelings Are Hurt
SPACED CITY Chron’s Feelings Are Hurt HBO drama didn’t celebrate Houston as best-est place By Richard Connelly In case you hadn’t heard — and there’s no way you haven’t heard, since seemingly everyone who writes for a living in America worships David Simon’s TV shows — Treme premiered recently. It’s…
Silver Soul
Baltimore duo Beach House revels in large, lush sonic compositions. The pair joins a select handful of bands in the postrock era — Cocteau Twins, Galaxie 500, Mazzy Star — that expertly render shimmering sounds with equal parts confidence and mystery. Now on its third album and first for Sub…
High Flying
Flying High Hard Work: I once worked for Principal Ronald Mumphrey and found a man who truly cares about all his students. While he, Coach Wise and the coaching staff were turning out superior basketball stars [“Third Ward High,” by Paul Knight, April 8, 2010], they did not neglect the…
Houston International Festival
An Afro-Cuban dance ensemble straight out of Havana, socially conscious Nueva York salsa ensemble and the Maestro of the Mothership himself, George Clinton? Must be the second weekend of iFest. What makes Houston’s long-running educational, cultural and musical banquet unique is that unless you already know who’s from across the…
