Antonio Smith Suspended, and Yet Richie Incognito Walks the Streets
On Saturday night, in a fit of preseason deja vu rage against the Miami Dolphins, Antonio Smith retaliated to a Richie Incognito instigation with an act that will see Smith punished and vilified around the league. Somehow, Incognito will manage to walk away scot-free. Hell, in this case, with national…
Sen. Ted Cruz Will Stop Being Canadian, ASAP
We’ve all had our suspicions about Sen. Ted Cruz. Didn’t he seem a little too comfortable in that chilly Washington D.C. weather? Didn’t someone one time hear him say something nice about Queen Elizabeth II? When he stops talking, doesn’t it seem like something is missing? A space for a…
The Nine Best Live Acts We’ve Ever Seen
Friday, one hand holding our collective nose, Rocks Off brought you our opinions on the worst live acts we’d ever had the misfortune to encounter in a post imaginatively titled “The Nine Worst Live Acts We’ve Ever Seen.” But for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction –…
Houston Market Continues Its Explosion in July
According to a report from the Houston Association of Realtors, the city of Houston had its biggest single month of home sales ever in July. This continues the housing boom of 2013 that has seen dramatic increases in the number of homes sold and the sharp rise in home prices…
Ooh La La Bakery: A Confection Consortium
To say I have a sweet tooth is perhaps the understatement of the century. I could easily live on chocolate chip cookies and have been known to fight children for the corner piece of a sheet cake (best icing-to-cake ratio). Although I get away with eating more brownies and pie…
Technology and the Democratization of the Media
Tech author and guru Seth Godin penned a blog post about the democratization of media and art via technology this morning. The point he has been making for quite some time and reiterated here is that technology is not the devil. It is simply the means by which we now…
Foxfinder is More Murky Than Mysterious
The set-up: Foxfinder won a playwriting contest and was produced in a small West End theater in London in 2011, garnering good reviews. It is a small-scale drama, exploring the impact of a long-running, governmental witch hunt. The hunt is for citizens who may be conspiring to protect a fox,…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 93 Vuelve a la Vida Soup at Connie’s Seafood
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. Just as Katharine Shilcutt did before her, and Robb Walsh before that, Kaitlin will eat and learn as she goes, compiling a list of…
NSFW: Five Videos Recently Banned From YouTube
Want a music badge of honor? Well, the key to earning one is simple, apparently. All you have to do is release a new, sometimes subpar single, and set it to a visual backdrop of either half-nekkid chicks scenes of violence and murder. Throw in enough stuff that the censors…
Harden Gets “Crossed Over” by Kid at Basketball Camp (w/Video)
It’s been a busy week for Houston athletes and their videos. We had James Harden in hilarious Foot Locker ads and now JJ Watt for Yahoo! Fantasy Sports. But, in the non-ad category, the folks at ClutchFans let us in on a bit of fun Harden had with kids at…
Cake Decorating 101: Rose Cake
So far in the Cake Decorating 101 series, we have looked at different ways to make flowers with fondant, frost a cake with butter cream and cream cheese frosting, spruce things up with easy designs and we have learned how to decorate the inside of the cake to create beautiful…
Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld Says He’s In a Different Place Now
Justin Furstenfeld, the 37-year-old front man, vocalist and creative force behind Texas rockers Blue October, has turned a corner, both lyrically and in his personal life. His band’s new album, Sway, released today, is a far cry from 2011’s angst-ridden Any Man In America, which was written while Furstenfeld was…
Bad Robot Has a New Mystery Promo That Isn’t About Star Wars
If there is one thing that the guys at Bad Robot – the minds behind Lost, the rebooted Star Trek Universe, and others – are good at it’s putting together trailers and promos. While the final product doesn’t always live up to the hype (yeah, I’m talking about you Super…
Weather Week: Back to School, Back to Summer…for Now
That dreaded first morning back to school (for kids and parents) this year was punctuated with surprisingly cool weather. While northerners may be used to sub-70 degree August mornings (or sub-50 in some cases), Houstonians are not exactly acclimated to that kind of “cool” weather this time of year. Instead…
Houston Press Brewfest Presale Tickets Go on Sale Today
No, it’s not quite on par with Oktoberfest in Munich, but it’s pretty damn close! The Houston Press Brewfest will take place at Silver Street Station on Saturday, October 5 from 2 to 7 p.m. in conjunction with Lucky’s Pub. The event features more than 30 beers on tap including…
Upcoming: Alkaline Trio, Janelle Monae, Monster Magnet, Twin Forks, Polica, etc.
Alex Cuba: Tue., September 17, 8 p.m., Free. Theater One, Houston Community College Central, 1300 Holman, Houston, 713-718-6570. Alkaline Trio: With New Found Glory. Thu., October 31, 7 p.m., $25. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston, 888-402-5837. And So I Watch You From Afar: With This Town Needs Guns, Mylets…
Matricide is Messy: A Look at Xavier Dolan’s I Killed My Mother
Xavier Dolan was only 16 when he wrote I Killed My Mother (J’ai tue ma mere) and only 20 when he filmed the feature, juggling director and lead actor duties. A former child actor, Dolan wasn’t a complete newbie to the industry but even for an experienced actor, My Mother…
Another Day, Another Houston Athlete Commercial (w/ J.J. Watt VIDEO!)
On my radio show a couple months ago, I posed the question to my co-host John Granato “What if there were a list of ’25 under 25′ for sports?” Granato, as he does most of the time, wondered what in the hell I was talking about, so I explained it…
I Love Micheladas and I’m Not Ashamed: The Top 5 Micheladas in Houston
I was first introduced to the michelada one summer in Corpus Christi. I grew up on the bayfront, but I’d never learned to surf, so a few years back, I decided it was time. My first lesson had nothing to do with the board or the waves though. Instead, my…
The Rocks Off 100: Jacqi Kil, The Bad Drugs’ Screaming Bitch Creature
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who: Since 2011, Houston has…
Boppin’ and Shakin’, Little Shop of Horrors is the Ultimate Little Show That Could
The set-up: Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s funky little musical spoof has been around so long (1982) – it’s played off-Broadway, on Broadway, and in regional theaters too numerous to count – that it’s taken on the cult status of Oklahoma or South Pacific. In a co-production with Music Box…
Sebelius Announces Obamacare Video Contest From Houston, Perry Probably Isn’t Entering
You might be able to find someone who hates the Affordable Care Act more than Gov. Rick Perry, but you’ll have to look hard, especially now that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius came all the way to Houston on Monday to announce a video contest promoting the…
Project Row Houses’ “Summer Studios 2013” is About Communities, Near and Far
In the Project Row Houses main office, Jessie Lott plays dominoes with three women. He’s a funny gentleman with a thick white beard who sings random songs at random times. He likes to quip, too. “As well? As well.” “My medium is medium.” Lott has a medium because Lott is…
Six More Weird Bands to Watch In 2013
Back in February, I told you about five weird bands that adventurous music listeners might want to watch out for if they happened to be looking for something outside the mainstream. As the year has plugged on, all five have done some exciting things, but even more noteworthy experimental bands…
Food in Film: Pasta Sauce in Goodfellas
It’s little surprise many famous movie scenes involve food; there’s a certain pleasure in watching characters eat the foods we enjoy in real life or grapple with the familiar challenges of cooking, say, lobsters. But have you ever been watching a film and someone mentions a food you’ve never heard…
Greg Abbott Thanks ‘Retard Barbie’ Tweeter For Support, Learns Twitter Is Tricky
State Attorney General Greg Abbott, who threw his hat in the ring for the governor’s seat last month, has gone and insulted Wendy Davis on Twitter. Sort of. It turns out, as Abbott learned this weekend, a thank you tweet can also be an endorsement, and thus an insult. Abbott…
How to Behave When Dining Out: Top Ten Etiquette Tips for Diners
I’ve never worked as a waiter, waitress, hostess, manager or chef, but I like to think I can recognize when a customer is being an asshole. I’m betting you probably can too. We’ve all seen the guy who chooses to yell at the top of his lungs on a cell…
Back To School Lessons From the Movie Back To School
The end of August has this very funny way of temporarily cooling down. All of a sudden those email solicitations from the Gap about boots and jackets don’t seem all that ridiculous. Shopping for a light sweater, in fact, sounds lovely. It’s a total farce, of course. My mother used…
I Watched Nearly Four Hours of Brony EDM So You Won’t Have to
You know how this works: a snarky writer starts off with a few high-minded paragraphs about subcultures and having an open mind and cultural anthropology. The goal is to make it seem like they started watching whatever video they’re about to tear apart with the best intentions, instead of admitting…
Up All Night to Get Lucky With Bun B, Fat Tony, Riff Raff, Nosaprise, Red Bull…
Saturday night, the eyes of the world were on Houston. The North American Finals of Red Bull’s BC One B-Boy competition was taking place at Warehouse Live. As hundreds packed in to the venue, tens of thousands watched the livestream online. Just south of the city, in a graffiti mecca…
NYC Cyclist Purposely Runs Into Things to Make Point, Houston Cyclists Nod in Approval
New York City cyclist Casey Neistat got a $50 ticket for riding outside the bike lane in the city. Like many cities, New York is seeing an increase in cyclists on the roadways. Houston is certainly no different. Despite massive sprawl and a square footage big enough to hold like…
Lil Wayne, T.I. & 2 Chainz at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 8/18/2013
Lil Wayne, T.I., 2 Chainz Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 18, 2013 There comes a time in every boy’s life where he learns an inadvertent anatomy lesson with the help of some overzealous audience members, their crotches, and a jumbotron. Sunday night was that night for many a Houston boy,…
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Starts Slow But Eventually Comes to Life
The set-up: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was the personal favorite of playwright Tennessee Williams; I share his high evaluation. It covers many themes and ties them together deftly, it avoids the melodrama of some of his work, it reaches into the human heart with surgical precision, and it…
The Last Hurricane: Houston Has Been Lucky Since Alicia 30 Years Ago
On my first day of high school, my parents drove me from my aunt’s house. We were all living there because our house on the north side of town still had no power thanks to Hurricane Alicia, a storm that hit Houston 30 years ago this past weekend. And while…
Breaking Bad, It’s About To Get Real
Imagine you are driving around your neighborhood and you pull over because you see something strange. What is it? Is it a stack of cash? Yes. But then it’s not just one; to your far left you see another and another and another. You follow a trail of money to…
Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms & Fastball at Arena Theater, 8/17/2013
Under The Sun Tour Feat. Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms & Fastball Arena Theater August 17, 2013 The ’90s were an interesting time for music, especially in the realm of pop. It was an age of one-hit wonders, and as a band it seemed like it took a whole…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: The Oceanaire Seafood Room
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks:The Oceanaire is offering two menus for Houston Restaurants Weeks: a lunch menu, a two-course meal for $20 ($3 donated to the Houston Food Bank), and a three-course dinner for $35 ($5 donated to the Houston Food Bank). Service/Atmosphere: The Oceanaire is located right…
FOX 26 Welcomes “Children Are Sexy” Cult Co-Leader to Houston
Let’s all give a big hand to Houston’s local FOX affiliate for recently doing a puff interview of ex-chiropractor Dain Heer, co-leader of a cult that believes that “young children are incredibly sexy” and that the only thing your family is good for is giving you money! This was brought…
House of Creeps Packs ‘Em In at “We’re Getting Sued!” Party
“We’re Getting Sued!” Party House of Creeps/The Doctor’s Office August 17, 2013 The Houston House of Creeps never set out to be a landlord’s worst nightmare. When the dedicated roommates/DIY collective began hosting house shows at their old address on Carrollton Street three years ago, all they wanted to do…
Leap of Faith (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Proves This Flop Still Has Lots of Life
Last season’s biggest Broadway musical flop was Leap of Faith, a musical adaption of the barely remembered 1992 film starring Steve Martin. The musical featured a Book by Janus Cercone (1992 film Leap of Faith) and Warren Leight (Side Man, winner of the 1999 Tony Award for Best Play), with…
Houston Texans: Why Not Case Keenum?
Case Keenum had a good game on Saturday night versus the Dolphins. He had a good game two weeks ago against the Minnesota Vikings. He’s been good enough that there’s been some thinking coming from Texans camp that Keenum might be the team’s second-string quarterback to open the season. And…
Pimp C’s Mom, Weslyn “Mama Wes” Monroe, Passes Away at 66
Rocks Off has learned that Weslyn Monroe, mother of rap pioneer Chad “Pimp C” Butler, passed away over the weekend after suffering an undisclosed illness. She was admitted into intensive care a few days ago, but she sadly lost her life in a Port Arthur hospital on Sunday. She was…
In Tarzan the Musical the Gorillas are Better Than the Humans
The set-up: The Pearland Theatre Guild has the courage of a lion in presenting the regional premiere of Tarzan the Musical, for two reasons: 1) it is an ambitious project with a large cast and the need to create a jungle set; and 2) the Disney Broadway production received some…
The Top 5 “Power Dining” Locations in Houston: Where to See and Be Seen
Last week, the New York Times published an article about D.C. restaurateur Ashok Bajaj with the subtitle “A New Delhi-Born Restaurateur Brings Power Dining to D.C.” Several of us read the article, but not because we were super interested in Mr. Bajaj’s latest opening. We had no idea what “power…
Mayoral Candidate Ben Hall, ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There,’ Says Parker’s Camp
Ben Hall got a jump start on the whole campaign season thing when he started running his rather mystifying television advertisements last week, and this week Mayor Annise Parker’s camp has responded with a couple of ads of their own. The first Parker video is pretty basic — people talking…
Is Xenoblade Chronicles Worth $90 Used? I Say Yes
It took over a year to get the RPG Xenoblade Chronicles for the Wii from Japan to America, and lots of people thought it would never happen at all. An online campaign finally convince the makers that there was a market here in the US, and it sold well and…
Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly, Isley Brothers & Kem at Toyota Center, 8/16/2013
Bounce TV Music Festival Feat. Maze w/Frankie Beverly, the Isley Brothers & Kem Toyota Center August 16, 2013 Soulful, upbeat sounds in combination with sultry “baby-making music” combed through the spirits of the reminiscing concertgoers at Friday’s Bounce TV Music Festival, a delightful exhibition of timeless rhythm and blues by…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: L’Olivier
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: L’Olivier Restaurant & Bar offers three menus for Houston Restaurant Weeks: two lunch menus, a two-course meal for $20 and a three-course meal for $30, and a three-course dinner for $35. Each menu comes with an optional wine pairing; $5 per course for…
Texans 24, Dolphins 17: Five Things We Learned
It’s not regular season football by any stretch, but we’ve reached the two preseason weeks where starters appear for more than a cameo and meaningful trends can be deciphered. In the case of the Texans and Dolphins on Saturday night, that comprised much of the first half. For the home…
True Blood: Imagine Dragons… I Don’t Get It
Alan Ball was known for his masterful use of music in Six Feet Under. He’s lost none of his touch when it comes to his current HBO series, True Blood — which happens to be set in the Louisiana swamps, not terribly far from Houston. Much thanks to True-Blood.net, who…
What’s Cooking This Week? Flank Steak Tacos w/ Mango Salsa & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and me, but most of the time, cooking for two proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredient’s I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
States of Matter at Avis Frank, a Treat for the Senses
This past Friday, the Avis Frank Gallery in the Heights opened a shared exhibition by two artists that come at conceptualization from similar a mindset; their execution, however, is as different as comparing the forest to the ocean. States of Matter, a collection of works by Alex Larsen and Dylan…
Texans-Dolphins: 4 Winners, 4 Losers (“Chita Johnson, Weather Khaleesi” Edition)
Was preseason football fever in full swing on Saturday? Well, late Saturday afternoon, I managed to make it from my home near downtown to the area near Reliant in almost record time, thanks to very light Saturday traffic. As I drove down Murworth to the media parking area, roughly two…
It’s National Cupcake Day: Ten Cupcake Bakeries That Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
I don’t care what anyone else says, cupcakes are awesome. I have said it before and I will say it again, why wouldn’t you want a cupcake? It’s a personal dessert all to yourself, and there is a perfect proportion of frosting to cake; cupcakes will always make me a…
Video Game High School: Play to Learn
If there is anything that Video Game High School really does well in this second season it’s the show’s ability to explore the video game generation. I’m on the tail end of that, myself, but the show is more interested in the types of kids that have really grown up…
UPDATED: The Best Concerts In Houston This Week: John Egan, Icona Pop, Colt Ford, etc.
UPDATE (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.): Fat Tony is no longer playing Fitzgerald’s on Thursday 22, but is still playing 3 p.m. Saturday 24 at Cactus Music (2110 Portsmouth). John Egan The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, August 19/House of Blues, August 22 Earlier this year, John Egan competed at the…
R.I.P. Elroy Boogie: Popular Kracker Nuttz DJ Passes Away at 27
Sad news this Sunday: Elroy Boogie, a member of popular Houston DJ collective the Kracker Nuttz who had been battling cancer for the past few months, passed away earlier today, according to a statement on Kracker Nuttz co-founder DJ BabyJae’s Facebook page. “I am truly at a loss for words,”…
Anti-Pit-Bull Group Eatin’ Wings, Spreadin’ the Stupid in Rosenberg Saturday
A friend in the animal rescue community tipped us off to an anti-pitbull group organizing an event for dog-bite victims at Buffalo Wild Wings in Rosenberg Saturday, and we had to roll our eyes. For one thing, Hair Balls felt bad we weren’t invited — after all, we own a…
Hayes Carll Is Not In a Mental Institution, Says Hayes Carll
Friday is traditionally the day the media jettisons its more unpleasant stories, similar to the way the Millennium Falcon escaped that Star Destroyer in The Empire Strikes Back (“…We’ll jut float away with the rest of the trash”). Other Friday afternoons the news is just odd, but either way there’s…
Texas B-Boys Step Up to North American Finals
Within the four elements of hip-hop, breaking (aka “breakdancing” or “B-boying”) is perhaps the most dynamic, and by far the most physical. The act of transforming a DJ’s beats and MC’s rhymes into a work of performance art takes courage, training, creativity, and a bit of luck. And like hip-hop…
Corner Table Restaurant Valet Driver Accidentally Kills Motorcyclist
On Thursday night around 11:40 p.m., a valet driver for Corner Table was retrieving a BMW from the parking lot when he made a right turn from the left lane on the 2800 block of Westheimer. He turned into an oncoming motorcyclist in the right lane, which forced the motorcycle…
Brittany Martinez: Lawyer, Husband Astonished at Light Sentence
Would-be husband-killer Brittany Martinez felt the swift hammer of Texas justice this week when a Harris County District Court judge sentenced her to eight whole years of probation, and the husband and his lawyer are befuddled. Robert Kuehm, who represents Houston firefighter Adrian Martinez, told Hair Balls, “Adrian’s just extremely…
Otenki Goes Old-School Hoping For Biggest House of Blues Show Yet
Having spent some time on the road, on local television and with recent EP still drawing fans’ attention, Otenki have returned to their roots, to their hometown. And they happen to be performing at the best-sounding venue in town. Tomorrow night, the Houston-based six-piece will headline its first local performance…
Rock Stars, Painted Faces, Fountain and Fish: The Top 10 Photos of the Week
We here at the Houston Press have long believed that some of the best photographers in the world live right here in Houston. Between the slideshows and blogs we publish and the images you share with us in our Flickr Pool, we see tons of amazing photos every week, and…
METRORail Update: When Are the New Lines Going to Start Running?
The expansion of METRORail has at times felt to be moving at a snail’s pace, but progress is being made and it appears that all three of the new lines — plus the extended “downtown” line — will be in place by the end of 2014, including one much sooner…
The Nine Worst Live Acts We’ve Ever Seen
Rocks Off is not going to lie. The prospect of getting into concerts for free is what leads many people to become music writers/reviewers in the first place. Though it’s not true of everyone, we’ve generally found that with experience comes plenty of practice in the art of grading on…
Port Arthur ISD Bans Hoodies, Cargo Pants…What’s Next, Jorts?
I have never liked dress codes. In fact, I hate them and, to be completely honest, I rarely understand them. For example, why do FBI agents, detectives and the like wear suits and loafers? Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to be dressed like ninjas or, at the very…
Houston’s Legion Unleashes Young Metal Attack Tonight
Though few tears were shed when the grunge explosion killed off the likes of Warrant and Winger back in the ’90s, hair bands weren’t the decade’s only heavy-metal casualty. After a decade of all-out war with the poodle-heads, thrash metal — hair metal’s uglier, speedier, more psychotic cousin — suddenly…
Weekend Weather: Cooler Weekend and a Tropical Disturbance in the Gulf
Before you start pulling out your sweaters, when I say “cooler,” I mean “not quite as unbearable but basically still brutal.” Fact is, a trough of low pressure moved through the area and that should lead to slightly milder temps and drier weather as we move into the weekend. There…
Summer TV Club: Breaking Bad: “Fly”
This week Jef, Pete and I decided to celebrate the mid-season premiere of Breaking Bad by rewatching one of the best episodes of the entire series, Season Three’s “The Fly.” The first time I saw it, I remember being blown away. It is one of those episodes that stick with…
7 Quality Rums to Try for National Rum Day
Today, August 16, is National Rum Day, and while you might be tempted to partake in a little Captain and Coke or Malibu and pineapple to celebrate, don’t reach for that bottle of Bacardi so fast. Rum is actually a complex, incredibly tasty spirit with as many varieties as there…
The Serious Message Within Face-Melting Comedians Psychostick’s “Humorcore”
Who better to discuss the nuances of songwriting and the decline of the traditional music industry than a man who wears a crown of duct-taped spikes on his head? That man is Rob Kersey, affectionately known as “Rawrb” to legions of fans that follow his band, Psychostick. The group returns…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Kick-Ass 2
Title: Kick-Ass 2 Does It Kick Twice As Much Ass As The Original? Possibly. I never saw the original (I was in newborn baby enforced lockdown in 2010). Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Three Felix Leiters out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: Teen vigilantes mete out messy…
Former Press Writer Mike Giglio Detained, Beaten and Released During Egypt Protests
Former Houston Press writer Mike Giglio, who is now a correspondent for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, retold the chilling story of being detained, beaten and ultimately released by Egyptian police during protests in the capital city of Cairo on Wednesday. Giglio was one of a number of foreign journalists…
Bruno Mars & Ellie Goulding at Toyota Center, 8/15/2013
Bruno Mars, Ellie Goulding Toyota Center August 15, 2013 Robin Thicke may have the song of the summer, Timberlake may be the returning icon, Pitbull may be the ultimate party machine, but in the realm of male pop stardom Bruno Mars is The Talent. He’s has serious pipes. He can…
Cool Spreads at The Hot Bagel Shop
There was a period in my life when I had unlimited access to wonderful bagels and I did not appreciate it. I was living in Brookline, Massachusetts, and within a stone’s throw of my apartment were at least three top-notch bagel bakeries, including one that offered the best dill cream…
Yes, There Are Still Some Reasons to Pay Attention to the Astros
You might not realize this, but the Astros are still playing baseball. So before diverting all your attention to the Texans and whether J.J. Watt is going to get some snaps at tight end this season, here are a few reasons for you to continue watching or listening or reading…
Houston’s 5 Best Social Bike Rides
As Houston’s cycling infrastructure has grown, so has its cycling community. There are now social bike rides for nearly every day of the week, each with its own focus and personality. Below, we highlight five of our favorites just in time for the start of training season…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Rum, Beer, Wine…and Vegetables
3rd Annual Caribbean Rum Fest @ House of Deréon Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to Sunday 2 a.m. 2204 Crawford Street The two-day rum-stravaganza is back with more cocktails, history, tastings and Caribbean music! There will be live performances by more than two dozen artists, a bartender…
People, It’s Time For Yet Another Lesson In Concert Etiquette
Listen up, live music fans. It’s time for an etiquette lesson. No, not a lesson on how to pour tea or eat crumbly shit without spilling down your blouse. This lesson is on concert etiquette. Some of you may need it, some of you may not, but I’m sure you…
California Law Allows Transgender Students to Select Male or Female Bathrooms
Life can be damn confusing. And before you get all up in arms about how tough it is these days to figure things out, imagine if you spent your entire life feeling like the wrong gender. Unfortunately, that is the case for many transgender individuals. If you thought high school…
Upcoming Events: All About Bees…and Alligators
On Monday, August 19, at 7 p.m., Flora & Muse is hosting a gastronomical tour of Spain by Chef Kelly Boyd and Sommelier Evan Turner. The dinner will include six courses paired with Spanish wines. The first course will be a charcuterie plate with cured meats and cheeses from different…
100 Creatives 2013: Lacey Crawford, Her Painted Animals
What She Does: Lacey Crawford is a painter and sculptor. Her latest works are heavily centered on animal prints and Victorian styles, giving her an almost steampunk sort of verve that you should really have hanging in your home if you’re interested in maximum elegance. Her pieces use soft, pastel…
UPDATED: Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In the East End (or “EaDo”)
As our sister blog Eating…Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse…
James Harden’s Foot Locker Jam: The Extended Mix
On the surface, James Harden’s new Foot Locker commercial with Steph Curry is just that — 30 seconds of frivolity designed to compel kids (and their parents) to go to Foot Locker and buy shoes, jerseys and whatever else they sell at Foot Locker. In case you haven’t seen it…
The Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Robert Glasper Experiment, Little Big Town, the Dead Links, Mike Stinson, Lil Wayne, etc.
Robert Glasper Experiment Miller Outdoor Theatre, August 16 This should be a real pleasure: a free show under the stars featuring a hometown kid who has gone on to become a Grammy winner. Pianist, HSPVA alum and dedicated J. Dilla fan Robert Glasper was showered with hosannas with his 2012…
Top Five Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: The Aliens, Buster Graybill’s “Feral,” Augustine and More
Horse Head Theatre Company is well known for mounting its progressive and edgy theatrical productions in unexpected venues. Boheme’s Cafe and Wine Bar’s back lot is the site of the troupe’s presentation of Obie Award winner Annie Baker’s The Aliens, a show that follows two friends talking in a coffee…
Openings & Closings: Tequila Bar, French Food and How Many Dunkin’ Donuts?
So many awesome openings, so little time to try all the new places! Bobby Heugel and Alba Huerta of Anvil opened a new bar, The Pastry War, downtown on August 13 to major crowds interested to see what the Anvil boys had up their sleeves. The Pastry War is a…
Web Site Says Houston Teachers Are So Underpaid, They’re Seeking Sugar Daddies
If there’s anything we love, it’s press releases from online dating services for gold-diggers and the douches who love them. And if there’s anything we love more than that, it’s the weird contortions they go through to hawk their sad, toxic wares — which is why we freaking love that…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Au Petit Paris Bistro
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: Au Petit Paris Bistro is serving two Houston Restaurant Weeks menus, a three-course lunch for $20 ($3 donated to the Houston Food Bank) and a three-course dinner for $35 ($5 donated to the Houston Food Bank). You can pair a glass of red…
Joe Biden Is Coming to Houston: What He Might Say, Based on His Foot-in-Mouth History
Vice President Joe Biden is that rarest of rarities, a politician with the savvy, skill and flexibility to continually stick his foot right in his mouth and just start chewing like there’s no tomorrow. He does it on planes. He does it in the middle of presidential campaigns (his and…
Steve Jobs Movie Is No Apple IIGS
Steve Jobs was a complicated man. In his college years, he was a freethinker, a student of the world. He wanted to experience life and he did so by traveling abroad and eating acid. And then he became motivated by a desire to change the world’s perception of what a…
The 32 Most Memorable Juggalos From the 2013 Gathering (NSFW)
Nate “Igor” SmithFor five magical days in August, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois hosted one of our favorite events, The Gathering of the Juggalos. Our photographer, Nate “Igor” Smith, took thousands of pictures at the Gathering, but some of the folks he captured stood out more than others. There was the naked BBQing…
A Cozy and Cool Happy Hour at Cove Cold Bar
Cove Cold Bar, a “self-contained mini-restaurant,” opened inside Haven late last year with chef de cuisine Jean Philippe Gaston taking charge. The regular menu is a trip around the world with offerings from Tahitian poisson cru to Mexican ceviche to Italian crudo. But the “seafood haven of sorts” also explores…
Tropical Storm Erin Forms, Caribbean Disturbance Weakens
As we enter the peak of hurricane season (August 15 actually marks that day), it seems fitting that there are two disturbances in the Atlantic. Fortunately, neither seems to be a significant threat to anyone at this point. The first is the one closest to us. A disturbance over the…
Top 5 Restaurants to Try on South Padre Island
Eating on South Padre Island? Don’t you just go there to drink? Well, perhaps if you’re an early twentysomething on spring break from college. The rest of us are more okay with splitting our money between booze and food. If you’re SPI-bound and looking for places to eat, here are…
Meeting of the Minds: Morrissey and Charlie Brown
Morrissey always seemed like a rather gloomy chap, on that we can all agree. But how does he stack up against the all-time glum heavyweight, Charlie Brown? In case you never wondered that before, go ahead and kick yourself just like we did. That’s the germ of an idea behind…
Politicians Find Dead Body on the Rio Grande
It’s one thing to talk about immigration problems, but it’s a whole other ballgame to actually see a dead body floating in the Rio Grande, along that ribbon of water dividing Texas and Mexico. That’s what a group of politicians saw as they motored down the border river between Texas…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 94 Foie Gras Mac & Cheese at BRC Gastropub
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. Just as Katharine Shilcutt did before her, and Robb Walsh before that, Kaitlin will eat and learn as she goes, compiling a list of…
5 URLs You Can Safely Ignore When Your Friends Share Links on Facebook
Now, I am a professional Internet writer, which means that I get a lot more practice at it than most of you because my paycheck is directly tied to exactly how much insane nutjobbery I can mine from the ample veins of the online world. And that’s a good world…
Heart at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 8/14/2013
Heart, Jason’ Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 14, 2013 You know, Wednesday night proved that the boys that could learn a thing or two from the ladies in Heart on how to rock the hell out. Those Wilson sisters are freakin’ awesome from head to badass…
James Harden’s Subtle Sense of Humor on Full Display in New Foot Locker Ad
The chill, ’70s vibe that James Harden gives off in interviews seems to be his genuine personality. He’s like the Billy D. Williams of the modern NBA, but instead of smooth malt liquor ads set in front of a roaring fireplace, Harden does seriously funny ads for Foot Locker, including…
Top 5 Dunkin’ Donuts Dozen Combinations
Picking up a dozen donuts for some houseguests, the office crew or, um, just yourself on that lonely weekend night seems initially like a simple favor and easy act of generosity…that is, until you’re standing at the counter of Dunkin’ Donuts and find yourself completely flummoxed as to which and…
The Man I’ve Been Seeing Online Doesn’t Know I’m a Man. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! NO JOB, NO COMMITMENT Dear Willie D: I’ve been seeing this guy I met through mutual…
Why the Facebook Warnings About Photos Tagged with Your Locations Are Less Serious Than You Think
There has been a warning flying around Facebook lately letting people know the act of simply posting a photo online could be revealing your personal information and even your location to would-be predators. The news report that accompanies the post is actually from 2010 and details the use of EXIF…
The Rocks Off 100: Folk Descendent Kevin Taylor Kendrick
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Kevin Taylor Kendrick is…
Pop Rocks: Hugh Jackman Quit Wolverine, Put On Tap Shoes
The first time I saw Hugh Jackman was in the original X-Men movie. His portrayal of Wolverine was spot on, moody, angry, spiky handy. The next time I saw Jackman, he was in the 2001 rom-com Kate and Leopold, which is about a duke who travels through time in an…
Pigs Have Seams, and Other Lessons Learned at Revival Market’s Hog Butchery Demo Series
If you think spending two hours watching a pig butchery demonstration at Revival Market makes for a weird date night, we probably couldn’t be friends. Earlier this week my husband and I shared a romantic evening — with about 20 other hog butchery/charcuterie fans–while getting up-close and personal with a…
Will Rap 4 Weed: Woman Gets Creative with Street “Ad Campaign”
Though Houston has enjoyed a rather robust economy even during the recession, money is still tight for many, which means the many joys in life often get placed on the back burner for necessities like food and rent. One creative, perhaps innovative woman spotted on lower Westheimer by photographer Michael…
Hey, Dummy, Read This Book to Stop Eating So Much Sugar: Beating Sugar Addiction for Dummies
How many times have you heard about the keys to weight loss or been given a list of foods you should avoid because they cause you to gain weight? Probably a lot, right? Well, I’m sorry, but here’s another method for losing weight and getting rid of your addiction to…
House of Creeps Is Being Sued, So They’re Throwing a Party
The dudes behind Houston House of Creeps — downtown home of DIY concerts, free kegs, kitchen Jacuzzis and possibly even a few renters — are throwing another huge party on Saturday, and you’re invited. This time, though, all the debauchery will be for a cause: raising money for a lawyer…
I Could Use a Drink: The Songs of Drew Gasparini is Invigorating and Original
At the age of 12, Drew Gaspirini wrote his first song as a gift for his mother on Mother’s Day. In 2006, he won the John Lennon Songwriting Award. He has toured as a performer with Jason Mraz, Third Eye Blind, and the Plain White T’s. He contributed music to…
Congrats to the University of Texas on an 8th Straight National Title in…
….merchandise royalties! Indeed, while the on-the-field product for football has regressed to “decidedly average with hope this season” and the on-the-court product for basketball has devolved to “just plain bad,” one thing the University of Texas does really well — TWO things, actually — is cash checks from the Longhorn…
Reviews for the Lazy Gamer: DuckTales Remastered
Game: DuckTales Remastered Platform: PSN/XBLA/Wii U/Steam Publisher/Developer: Capcom/ WayForward Technologies Genre: Platformer Describe This Game in Three Words: The Legend Returns Plot: Scrooge McDuck foils a robbery in his money bin, only to find that there’s a treasure map hidden inside a painting in his office. Now he’s off to…
You May Serve Our Drinks, But You Ain’t God: Ten Etiquette Tips for Bartenders
Last week, I gave you a list of 10 etiquette tips for patrons of a bar. This week, in fairness, I’m turning the tables. Sure, there are some really annoying customers out there, but sometimes bartenders need a little reminder about how to behave as well. Yes, you work hard…
Music’s Five Dumbest Pseudonyms
Have you ever wanted to change your name? I’m going to guess that almost all of us have at some point wanted to go by some cooler moniker, unless your given name was something like “Max Power,” a name that sounds good in your ear. I’m going to also guess…
Capsule Art Reviews: “CTRL + P” “Dining In: An Artful Experience” “Gifts from the Past: The Isabel Brown Wilson Collection” “In Residence: Work by 2012 Resident Artists” “Late Surrealism” “Unwoven Light”
“CTRL + P” Authorship. Originality. These are some, but of course not nearly all, of the things that usually come to mind when considering art — the conceit of the artist and that his or her unique vision gives meaning and value to the work. Now, get ready to turn…
Jobs Report
Geniuses, unfortunately, tend to be impossible people. Consumed by their own dazzling brilliance, they treat those closest to them cruelly and thoughtlessly, causing much undue suffering — only to turn around and invent a device that can put 1,000 songs in your pocket. Damn them. If what we see in…
The World’s End Creators Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright Versus Starbucksification
Like so many screenplays, The World’s End has its origins in a Starbucks. As director Edgar Wright tells it, the ideas for next week’s sci-fi action-comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost came to him while shooting the trio’s last film, the buddy-cop parody Hot Fuzz. That film takes place…
Lucky 2013
HPMA A reliably diverse crop of local musicians got lucky at this year’s Houston Press Music Awards ceremony last week, with artists ranging from ambitious prog-metal band Oceans of Slumber (Best New Act) to the late Texas Johnny Brown, who won for both Best Blues and Local Musician of the…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Anne of Avonlea, Tamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell, Tea and Sympathy
Anne of Avonlea Anne of Green Gables, by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was published in 1901; it has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 20 languages. Montgomery wrote six sequels, and the first of these, Anne of Avonlea, has been adapted for the stage by…
Protective Gear
Highlights from Hair Balls Crime Did undercover cops wear Speedos and penis T-shirts when busting gay dudes in Memorial Park? The answer to that question, according to gay activist Ray Hill, is a resounding “yes.” Here’s the deal: A Houston Police Department spokesperson told Hair Balls that officers conducted a…
La Fisheria
Restaurant News La Fisheria made national news after an announcement last week that the owner, Aquiles Chavez, has decided to ban kids under nine years old after 7 p.m. out of respect for other patrons. The announcement was made on La Fisheria’s Facebook page. La Fisheria isn’t open on Mondays,…
Ethnic Identity and…Spanish Rock?
Dear Mexican: This pregunta has been simmering in my brain for a while, like slow cooking birria, and the recent question about whether saying “Viva la Raza” is racist reminded me to ask you. According to José Vasconcelos, the Mexican people are La Raza Cósmica (Cosmic Race); which, to myself…
Happy Trails? The Battle Over a Bike Path and the Fate of the Texas AIDS Memorial Garden
On July 18, 2013, Michael Lee watched a guy on a bulldozer dig up the grass making up the greenbelt that wound through the expansive garden behind Lee’s home in Houston’s Third Ward. After months of fighting Mayor Annise Parker’s office over the development of a 277-yard-long portion of bike…
If You Plan on Eating at Caribbean Hot Pot Restaurant, You Had Better Know the Rules
Get a behind the scenes look at Caribbean Hot Pot by checking out our Cafe slideshow. At Caribbean Hot Pot Restaurant, you must follow the rules. You want fish for dinner? Sorry, you should have called ahead and ordered it. You can’t just place a fish order, because it takes…
Esteban Delgado’s Abstractive Constructions Show Promise and Sophistication
Esteban Delgado’s current show at Avis Frank Gallery, “Esteban Delgado: Abstractive Constructions,” features paintings in vivid and slightly offbeat colors in combinations that could be a visual train wreck in the hands of a less chromatically skilled artist. There’s a lot of hard-edged geometric abstraction out there, but these paintings…
Kick-Ass 2 is Giddy, Gory and Meaningless
Despite the giddy, gory ridiculousness of Kick-Ass 2, this summer’s most violent yet least punishing comic-book movie, there’s a kernel of ugly human truth at the core of the Kick-Ass fantasy. In the first issue of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s Kick-Ass comic, from 2008, a lonely high school…
The Butler Is So Old-School It Feels Modern
At the movies, straightforward storytelling, the kind in which a director and his cast push a story forward in waves of action and feeling, has become so out of fashion it’s almost avant-garde. Moviegoers, it seems, need to be cool: not too moved, not too surprised, not too impressed. We…
Out of the Box: Mike Stinson Calls His Own Shots
Mike Stinson takes a personal inventory at just about every gig he plays. One song on his new album, Hell and Half of Georgia, “The Box I Take to Work,” totes up a good two dozen things he — or any talented independent musician clawing out a living one show…
