Houston Police Museum
Anyone who’s visited the Houston Police Department headquarters during the last few months has seen bits and pieces of the new Houston Police Museum peeking out from behind partitions during its construction. Now it’s finished and open for viewing. A scaled replica of an HPD helicopter is hung from the…
“Secrets of the Silk Road”
Beginning in 138 B.C., the legendary Silk Road linking Xian, China, to cities west of Asia, including Rome and Baghdad, was a route of transport for people, trade goods (including silk, of course) and ideas for almost 1,500 years. The route and its impact on commerce and culture are explored…
“Gabriel Kurl: Nobody needs to know the price of your Saab”
Mexican artist Gabriel Kuri is having his first solo museum exhibit in the United States, “Gabriel Kuri: Nobody needs to know the price of your Saab.” The collection is a ten-year survey of collages and sculptures that he says examine society’s material consumption. One collaged photo shows a snake in…
“Tobiah Mundt: Being”
Tobiah Mundt isn’t here to make friends. “I don’t want to make cutesy things. I don’t want to make toys,” says the artist behind the exhibition “Being.” This statement may seem a little strange, considering that her wool menagerie includes bunnies, pigs, monkeys, bears and camels. But Mundt turns what…
Accessories Houston Rappers Don’t Leave Home Without
Rappers have always been obsessed with accessories. It’s mandated in rap contracts, right next to girl songs and Bun B collaborations. The tradition dates back to hip-hop’s early days. Before Kanye popularized shutter shades, Kool Moe Dee kept it fresh with Star Trek shades. Before T-Pain dropped 400 grand on…
Stirred & Shaken: The State Bar & Lounge Gypsy Martini
I was driving downtown for nearly five minutes before I realized the radio station I was tuned to had lapsed into static. It had been that kind of day. I had plans that evening, though, and needed something to reanimate me, so I claimed a meter outside The State Bar…
Latasha Connor: Cinnabon Enthusiasm Gets 10-Year Ban From Mall
Fox 26 has the story of Latasha Connor, who likes movies at Deerbrook Mall, and Cinnabons at Deerbrook Mall. Who doesn’t? Connor might have been too enthusiastic about her Cinnabon love, though — she got a citation from a Humble cop and was banned from the mall for 10 years…
Top Five: Funniest Internet Video Recuts
Every week at the end of Mad Men, they preview the next episode. The formula follows: dramatic music plus dramatic phrases randomly lifted from the next episode’s plot and haphazardly ordered to ensure curiousness and confusion. YouTube user franklindelanobluth pokes fun at Mad Men by combining the phrase “on the…
Ashes To The Clash: Vinyl Junkies Find Ultimate Resting Place
As a vinyl nerd, Rocks Off has been reduced to childlike, almost feral, giddiness by the mere entry into a record store or, God help us, a record convention. There’s something about the round multi-colored spinning things that gets our motor running. Now a company in England, And Vinyly, has…
Patrick Edwards: UH Receiver Sues Over His Spectacularly Appalling Injury
If you’ve seen the clip above, you definitely haven’t forgotten it. It’s University of Houston received Patrick Edwards breaking his leg in the most flamboyant way, as he ran into a cart behind the end zone at Marshall University two years ago. Now Edwards is suing the school and Conference…
Sinfully Good Treats from Sinfull Bakery
Ever since my run-in with some miserable gluten-free (GF) pancakes a while back, I’ve been wary of GF food in general. But wary doesn’t mean I don’t keep trying the stuff in hopes of finding some magical GF cookie that doesn’t taste like a Frisbee. There are certainly plenty of…
Happy Commute Home!!!
This is what it looks like at 59 and Weslayan right now. We imagine things will be just fine very, very soon…
Top 5 Most Nightmarish Combined Foods
Yesterday, Jason Kerr delivered a heartfelt sonnet to a jar of baconnaise, a combination bacon-and-mayonnaise condiment that he seemed to enjoy but which would almost certainly give me nightmares. Sure, I’ll have bacon and mayonnaise together on a turkey sandwich, but there are a lot of other foods in play…
Institution for Creation Research: Texas School Concedes Defeat In Court Battle
Earlier this summer the Institute for Creation Research got uttlerly slammed by a federal judge as they tried to force Texas officials to certify their graduate school.There is always an appeals process in such matters, of course, but it appears the ICR has given up the fight.ICR CEO Henry Morris…
Dessert Trays at Abdallah’s: Be the Hit of Your Office
It’s a rule of thumb that if you’re running late in the morning, you might as well stop and pick up a box of donuts or kolaches to bring to the office. As a Whataburger commercial once put it, “Then, you aren’t the guy who’s late. You’re the guy who…
Gallery Scene: Opening This Week
Excellent options in visual art this week: An opening at the University of Houston Downtown, a new all-sculpture exhibit at the Art League, and a roundup of all-star Houston painters, picked by the new curator of modern and contemporary art at the Menil. Here’s our rundown of places to see…
Game Time: Houston Texans — Business Is Good (plus my stab at a 53-man roster)
At their core, the Houston Texans are a business, just like any other business, and they have customers — you, the season ticket holders. The Texans have been above .500 for a total of eleven weeks in their history. I mean, let’s face it, for the better part of eight…
Houston Texans: Five Possible 2010 Theme Songs
If you haven’t been able to tell by the depleted charcoal supplies and life-size bikini-model cutouts by the Miller Lite at your neighborhood grocery store (provided it’s not Whole Foods), it’s almost football season. Houstonians greet this time of year with the same unbridled jubilation they would if the North…
Houston Pwns Texas On List Of Most-Congested Roadways. Yay?
The Texas Department of Transportation is touting new and improved technology to determine the worst traffic spots in the state, and the cutting-edge analysis has discovered…Houston sucks!Which we kinda knew already.Fully 35 of the state’s 100 worst congested roadways are in the Houston area, the study says. Seven of the…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Justin Strang of Bistro Catron
We ventured out to the west side to meet with Chef Strang of Bistro Catron (17754 Katy Freeway), learned how one goes about becoming a self-taught chef and got the scoop on his hot selling bacon chocolate brownie. EOW: Tell me about your training. Strang: I started in Charleston, South…
Seven Songs To Mourn A Beloved Pet
The Craig’s Hlist family had an emotional time this past week, to say the least. We had to say goodbye to our chihuahua Cholula after 11 years of bright-eyed yapping and begging for scraps and cookies. She had a bad back, which basically rendered her hind legs paralyzed the last…
Galveston Begins Latest Push For Casinos With Poll
Just about everyone in Galveston wants casinos, the Galveston Chamber of Commerce has announced.At least just about everyone who was polled by the Chamber, that is.The organization has announced the results of a poll of members and non-members that finds 79 percent of respondents support casinos on the island…
Bartender Chat: Kassidy Motal of Ruthie’s
Bartender by night and pin-up model by day, Kassidy Motal is one hot mama. She’s tattooed, pierced and ridiculously cute, but none of that stops her from being one of the most bubbly, happy people you’ll ever meet. I stopped by to see Motal at Ruthie’s (1829 Richmond), a blink-and-you-miss-it…
TCEQ & The EPA: Feds Again Slam Texas’ Pollution-Control Efforts
The EPA took yet another bite out of the Texas air-pollution regulatory system on Tuesday when it decreed that some of state’s rules violate federal clean air law.At issue is what’s called the New Source Review Program. It deals with the permitting of new or expanding facilities and requires, among…
Weird Weekly Video: Family Fog
The collaborative husband-and-wife team Mary Magsamen and Stephan Hillerbrand, who live in Houston, were recently awarded a grant from the Austin Film Society for the above experimental film Four Place Setting. The emotionally cold and ethereal short work is a kind of video portrait of a family dinner that becomes…
Nick Kosir: Beaumont’s Rapping Weatherman Hits The Big Time
Nick Kosir, the absoulute best rapping weatherman in the Beaumont TV market, is going big.Our sister paper the SF Weekly says he’s been hired by KRON in San Francisco. That’s a top 10 TV market, as compared to Beaumont’s mid-100s ranking.A San Francisco media blog first broke the story, and…
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. Culture Map: Sarah Rufca asks a question that anyone who deals with…
Z-Ro’s Woes: Rapper’s Latest Drug Charge Resolved
Back in February we broke the story of Joseph Wayne McVey’s latest drug charge. Back then things were looking pretty grim for the 33-year-old rapper/singer known as Z-Ro and “the King of the Ghetto.”Based on his prior drug history, the District Attorney had just refiled the pending codeine possession charge…
Z-Ro’s Woes: Rapper’s Latest Drug Charge Resolved
Back in February we broke the story of Joseph Wayne McVey’s latest drug charge. Back then things were looking pretty grim for the 33-year-old rapper/singer known as Z-Ro, or “the King of the Ghetto.” Based on his prior drug history, the District Attorney had just refiled the pending codeine possession…
Deep In The Piney Woods, A Big-Ass Pot Farm Grew
Police say they typically find a couple of hundred pot plants when they raid an outdoor growing operation. This is Texas. Everything’s bigger here, including the pot farms.Hunters sprucing up their deer blinds in darkest East Texas made a startling discovery Sunday — close to 5,000 pot plants growing in…
Local Spotlight: Pershing Middle School
What: Vegetables that taste good and teach well. Now that school’s back in session, Charles Coursey can go back to what he loves: teaching, gardening and teaching kids about gardening. A history teacher at Pershing Middle School, Coursey loves to go beyond the books. In addition to leaders, villains, governments…
First Play: Kyle Hubbard’s “New School Slang” Vs. hasHBrown’s “Grand Champion”
Houston exists largely as its own market. As such, rappers here tend not to like – on the record, anyway – ranking themselves, their albums or their songs against each other or each other’s. So we’ll do it for them. Email sheaserrano (at) gmail (dot) com. The Songs: Kyle Hubbard’s…
Credit Cards: Houstonians Have Three, And Owe $5,300 On Them
If you’re a Houstonian, you have three credit cards in use, and you have a total debt of $5,328.Many Houstonians right now are going “I wish,” we’re sure.But the financial firm Experian insists it’s so, after a study that looked at credit card use in big cities across the U.S.Houston…
Anachronistic Chef: Sasparilla
My recent post on birch beer got me rather excited about other antiquated soft drinks and, in keeping with the theme of root beverages, I decided to buy some sasparilla. Sasparilla has a rather tangled history. Food historians are generally divided as to the nature and origins of this distinctly…
Top Five: Arty Hotels
As summer winds to a close, we dream of jet setting off and staying in a fabulous art-centric accommodation like the Surrey Hotel on New York’s Upper East side. But alas, if you’re as strapped for cash as we are, you might consider “staycationing” in one of Houston’s luxurious options…
A dream Asleep: Furry-Friendly, Down With The Skeleton Dick
Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group “Artist of the Week,” bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn’t awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Sometimes when you’re interviewing a band, you feel…
Brian Tuohy’s The Fix Is In: Nothing In Sports Is As It Seems
As hard as it might be to believe, every Super Bowl since 1996 has been fixed. No, not fixed by gamblers or players trying to throw the game. But instead fixed by the NFL. Sure it sounds a bit far-fetched, but that’s the allegation made by Brian Tuohy in his…
Reliance Radiance Foundation: Controversial Billboards Come To Texas
Perhaps because it would take up too much room to say “Honk if You Love Insane Conspiracy Theories,” the new super-creepy billboards in Bryan simply show an African-American child under the terrifying slogan “Black & Unwanted.” Welcome to life as viewed through the paranoid lens of The Radiance Foundation, which…
Five Easy Steps To Beer Pairing Nirvana
No, we’re not talking about the way the subtle notes of ice-cold rocky mountain air in that Coors Light accentuate the cool ranch flavor in Doritos, not here at least. The knowledge that different varieties of beer compliment various foods in much the same manner as wine dates back many…
The Mystery of The “Backwards Music Station”
All around us are radio waves carrying news, music, and whatever the hell you call the sound that comes out of Katy Perry’s Summer’s Eve-smelling yap. Hidden amongst the programming, though, are mysterious signals of unknown origin. Consider the Backwards Music Station, aka Whalesong. It doesn’t play backwards music, and…
Talent In the Raw: Brian Boyter
It’s a Sunday and we’re leisurely sipping a beer at Rudyard’s. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. This particular Sunday happens to be the Montrose hub’s 32nd anniversary and the main room downstairs is filling up around the table we’re sharing with local artist Brian Boyter. We pull…
Bedbugs Vs. Fire Ants: Which Are Worse?
Cities across the continent are having hissy fits because of infestations of bedbugs. Offices and dorms in Manhattan are being invaded, the Toronto Film Festival is afraid for visitors, it’s a dire situation out there. The critters have also shown up in Houston, of course — we tend to welcome…
East and West Coast Rich With Waves, The Gulf Gets Nada — Five Surfing Alternatives
AtlanticDude: Would you say I have a plethora of waves?GulfDude: A what? AtlanticDude: A “plethora”. GulfDude: Oh yes, you have a plethora. AtlanticDude: GulfDude, what is a plethora? GulfDude: Why, AtlanticDude? AtlanticDude: Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know…
Twitter That There Dove Hunt, With TPWD’s Help
You bag yourself a nice impressive set of doves in a kill-or-be-killed situation, what’s the first thing you want to do? Tweet the ever-living shit out of it, of course.The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department understands this. That’s why they’re premiering new Twitter and Facebook doohickeys just in time for…
Burger Break at Padre Island Burger Company
Eating at a restaurant near the beach is like dining at a theme park. In either case, you get wrapped up in the atmosphere and the moment forgetting about what it is you’re really eating and how much you’re paying for it. Anyone ever ordered clam strips at a place…
What Kind Of Music Stresses You Out The Most?
Recently, Forbes magazine released a list of America’s most stressful, and stressed-out, cities. Houston came in third, behind Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We know, we thought it would be higher, too. Forbes based its calculations on six factors that are either causes or effects of stress, and we’re quoting:…
George Greanias Lays The Groundwork For Metro’s Tough Upcoming Budget Decisions
September is a big month for Metro. It’s when the board will start to publicly discuss and plan its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. There are only 20 days between the first budget presentation to the board — September 8 — and its final approval — September 28. To…
The Great Food Truck Race Re-Cap, Episode 3 – Ft. Worth
The show starts up and so does my hatred for Tyler Florence. Tyler, you think you are the shit, but you are not. What’s up with those pearly-white framed aviator sunglasses? Ugh. One more sartorial side note: it’s really hard to take the Crepes Bonaparte team seriously with those outfits…
Mark DeArza: DPS Trooper Charged With Selling Driver’s Licenses To Illegal Aliens
A state trooper, a fellow Department of Public Safety employee and a middleman were charged today with a scheme to sell driver’s licenses to illegal aliens for $3,000. Troooer Mark DeArza, 39, DPS clerk Lidia Gutierrez, 37 and a gas-station manager named Maen Bittar, 46, all face charges, the U.S…
Herbs: Grow Your Own, Man
September is a great time of year to start a windowsill herb garden. Not only are these plants attractive and aromatic, you’ll be able to add fresh-picked flavor to your meals all winter long. After the jump, eight great herbs for windowsill gardening plus tips on keeping them happy…
Joesph Rouse: Priest Threatens To Bomb Aflac Over Customer Service
It’s always refreshing to read about a priest who’s not accused of diddling little boys, so it was a treat to learn that retired Houston priest John Rouse is only accused of…threatening to bomb an insurance company if it didn’t process his claim fast enough.Rouse pleaded not guilty in a Georgia…
Machete Will Rule Labor Day Weekend
It’s Labor Day weekend. There’s a fridge full of Lone Star tall boys and hot dogs, but you’re buying tickets online to see Going the Distance because the girlfriend thinks it looks cute. Wait a minute … take the fingers off the mouse. Labor Day is about hard … laborers…
Music’s 15 Gnarliest Moustaches
Moustaches are all the rage these days. From shirts to snow globes, rides, wax and tattoos, everyone wants a moustache or at least to support the cause. Rocks Off even has a moustache. When it was longer we combed it while driving or lounging, much to the chagrin of the…
“Healthy” Chorizo: Thanks, But No
I’m not one to turn my nose up at “healthy” chorizo purely because it’s healthy. After all, I once made the claim — highly disturbing to some — that Soyrizo, made entirely from soy, tasted just as good as the real thing. I’m an equal opportunity chorizo lover. So when…
Hurricane Earl: Tips From The Gulf Coast
The single most important type of hurricane ever — one that threatens the New York metropolitan area — is looming. As everyone knows, events that happen in New York are far more important than events elsewhere. Luckily for TV viewers up there, we’re sure the sophisticated local news shows will…
Second-Line Parade Commemorates Katrina Anniversary
Sunday evening about 500 people lined west Richmond Avenue to commemorate the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a New Orleans-style second line parade. The parade, which began at Dave & Busters, was a reunion of sorts for Katrina refugees still living in Houston, and was produced by Cloud 9…
Indian Barfees: Tastier Than They Sound
Hillcroft is ripe with Indian and Pakistani eateries — some large and well worn, others small and largely quiet during the day. Less common than either type is the Indo-Pak bakery, small storefronts that often act as squatters or share space with another restaurant. Last week I dropped by a…
Bob Dylan Rolls With The Thunder In Shelter From The Storm
Shelter from the Storm: Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Years By Sid Griffin Of the many different periods in the career of Bob Dylan, the years 1975-76 were particularly productive on a variety of fronts: the recording of Desire, two Rolling Thunder Revue tours, filming of Renaldo & Clara, and the…
Ron Paul Is Coming For You, Fort Knox
Ron Paul — the Brazoria County congressman who would be president, if only the country would come to its 18th-century senses — is going Goldfinger. He says he just wants to see what actual gold the U.S. has in safekeeping at Fort Knox and and New York. But we know…
Baconnaise Sonnet: Pork-Based Condiments
I spent the day Thinking about Baconaise French Fries could be the way Maybe a BLT, can’t say Bacon and mayonnaise It is all the craze Spreading Pork for days Sandwiches will be a phase But fish sticks will stay Even with all the praise Your cholesterol won’t stray If…
Laura Resendez: Another Woman Sues Over Alleged Sexual Assault In Iraq
Houston-based energy services companies have gotten plenty of ink over the past several years due to allegations and accusations that male employees working in places such as Iraq have raped and abused their female co-workers. Much of it is thanks to industry giants such as Halliburton and KBR.But even the…
Top Five: Most Bizarre August Trends
This last month, the human visage figured heavily in some strange cultural phenomenon. From facial hair fanaticism to food-on-face photography (right) to face-swapping family portraits, the following are five of the most bizarre trends in popular culture, art, and design for August 2010. 5. Urban Outfitters’ Mustache Mania On the…
Okra Pie: It Can Be Done
If there’s one thing that Houston farmers markets have in abundance right now, it’s okra. The summery vegetable is either loved or hated — there seems to be no middle ground — due in large part to its mucilaginous properties. (The nice way of saying the okra pod is filled…
New Fitzgerald’s Team Releases First Music Calendar
Update (1:56 p.m.): According to Katial, Summer Fest is scheduled for two days in 2011 and the listing on Pegstar is a typo. Although several of the shows have been listed on their promoters’ Web sites for a while, the new owner-operators of Fitzgerald’s released the club’s first live-music calendar…
Gregory Chambers: Popped For Smearing Poop On Seawall Burger Joint
Here’s the poop on a low-down crime, a mystery worthy of Scooby Poo… Just who was that incontinent miscreant who has spent much of this long hot summer by creeping down to the Wendy’s on Galveston’s Seawall in the wee hours and smearing human crap all over the doors and…
Drilling For Oil In Houston Parks: Five Things To Consider
City Council will consider this week a proposal to let Southern Star Exploration drill for oil and gas in Houston parks.Specifically, Herman Brown Park, Brock Park, parts of Maxey Park, and Public Works McCarty Road Service Center. (The last isn’t a park per se, but it’s a very, very bucolic…
Brew Blog: What Guinness and Bud Light Have in Common
A friend showed up to a party last weekend with a head start on the rest of us. Pointing to the Guinness Draught in his hand, he grinned and said, “This is number nine.” That severely impressed some partygoers, who assumed that Guinness’ weight would make its booze content that…
James Black Directs A Behanding in Spokane Hoping to Provoke a Response
A man loses his hand. More than 25 years later, he’s still looking to get it back (yuck) and goes to, of all places, the Midwest to retrieve it. There he runs into a couple of small town drug dealers (a man and a woman) who see him as the…
Bigger Than Jesus: The Best Musician Boasts
First off, Rocks Off is not including rap and hip-hop artists in this article, because a) we’d be here all damn day; and b) We could write another book about what we don’t know about the rap world. So we’ll just stick to good old-fashioned rock-star prick-waving. Whether they try…
Houston Cop Becomes National TV Star Tonight
ABC is premiering another newsmagazine, this one called Primetime:Crime, and the star in the first show is a Houston cop famous for his interrogation skills.(In case you’re wondering, rejected names for the series included Primetime: Crime: Dime: Lime: Mime SUV.) HPD Homicide Sgt. Brian Harris, ABC says, is “the grand…
It’s Not You, It’s Me: Top 5 Break-Up Foods
So things didn’t work-out. Now that stupid list we did a few months ago about dining a deux just annoys you. We here at Eating Our Words feel your pain and have created this list of food designed to make you feel a little better while you make it through…
Is Diddy’s Life Like Coming to America?
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…
Angelika Closing Is a Dirty Shame for Houston Moviegoers
With nothing more than a terse note and a locked door, the Angelika Film Center in downtown Houston closed for good on Sunday afternoon. Word spread via Twitter and Facebook that evening before Monday saw some official word from the parties involved. An Angelika rep said only that they were…
Mike Yeo And The Other New Aeros Coaches Have A Houston Connection
Come the start of this AHL hockey season, the fans of the Houston Aeros will see lots of familiar faces on the ice as, even though last season was rather disappointing, many of the players will be returning. But where the fans will not be seeing familiar faces is behind…
Pop Rocks: Fantasy Football For (Immature) Dummies
Football season is almost upon us. For many people, this time of year offers renewed hope for the future, ranging from the merely possible (can the Saints repeat?) to the improbable (will the Texans makes the playoffs) to the “You gotta be fucking kidding me” (Kris Brown kicks a last-minute…
Pop Rocks: Fantasy Football For (Immature) Dummies
Football season is almost upon us. For many people, this time of year offers renewed hope for the future, ranging from the merely possible (can the Saints repeat?) to the improbable (will the Texans make the playoffs) to the “You gotta be fucking kidding me” (Kris Brown kicks a last-minute…
Upcoming: Buzzfest XXV, Chuck Prophet, Deer Tick, Lights, Posies, Etc.
Update/correction (10:03 a.m.): Big Boi is not playing Ghoulsfest after all. But if you happen to be on the U.S.S. Yorktown aircraft carrier in Charleston S.C. on October 28, you can see Sir Luscious Left Foot there. Bob Schneider: Thu., Oct. 28. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. Buxton, Cotton Jones, Pepper Rabbit,…
Where Are We Drinking?
A tall, cold glass of green tea sometimes hits the spot in the summer heat better than a glass of iced Lipton. Does the setup below look familiar to you? Think you know where we’re drinking this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Unidentified Male, Bayou Body Count No. 215
Things went from sitting around drinking beer to a heated argument to a dead body early Saturday morning on the northwest side.The incident, in which an unnamed victim died of blunt-force trauma after being hit in the head with a rifle, is being referred to a Harris County grand jury.Police…
The Five Most Overrated Houston Athletes
In Houston, we mostly love our athletes. It takes a lot to get on our bad side. Of course, sometimes we overlove our athletes. Not only do they hold a special place in our hearts, but we insist that they were much better than they actually were. So what athletes,…
Audiences Turned Up Big for Theater District Open House
British actor Kenneth Haigh once said “You need three things in theater: the play, the actors and the audience-and each must give something.” Houston’s Theater District had that formula in mind when they hosted the 17th annual Theater District Open House on Sunday. From noon to 4 p.m., the public…
What’s My Crime: Match The Mug Shot To The Misdeed
To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Macbeth, “Your face, my thug, is as an open book, where men may read strange matters.” We got to wondering how much you could tell about someone by just looking at their mugshot, so we pieced together this photo array of ten men and women, all of…
Back To Paper Ballots For Some Of Harris County
For all those who pine nostalgically for cardboard privacy boxes and paper voting ballots, oh boy is this the year for you.At an emergency meeting of the Harris County Commissioners’ Court on Monday, County Clerk Beverly Kaufman said paper ballots will be used to help compensate for the 10,000 pieces…
TruMeals: Fresh Food Made Easy
I drove past TruMeals (3821 Farnham) many times before I finally got up the nerve to try it. Yes, I was nervous about it. Their motto reads “Fit Tasty Ready-to-go”. “Tasty” – okay, I’m more than down with that. “Ready-to-go” – hmm, sounds easy, but maybe not all that fresh…
Albaro Munoz, 36, Bayou Body Count No. 214
A 36-year-old man was found dead of a gunshot to the head in his Gulfton apartment, and Houston homicide officers are investigating. Albaro Munoz’ body was discovered by police about 4:15 a.m. this morning in the 6200 block of Renwick. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is urged to…
High School Football In Full Swing; Katy The Team To Beat In Region
Click here for a slideshow from the Katy/North Shore game Friday night. The east stands were alive and doused in red, with chants of “Ka-ty! Ka-ty! Ka-ty!” before the team had even taken the field. The number of dancers and cheerleaders rivaled that of the football team. Once the players…
Rudy’s Country Store Sign Don’t Need No Thought Control
Either someone in the front office at Rudy’s Country Store & Barbecue near U.S. 290 and Huffmeister got a push from the corporate higher-ups to start slinging more banana pudding, or they are really stoked to have scored front-row Roger Waters tickets. Or maybe Live Nation is introducing some covert…
Chef Philippe Schmit Takes Aim at Galleria Crowd
Philippe Schmit wants to feed you. On Saturday night from the kitchen and rooftop of the condos at 510 Lovett, he settled for a group of food bloggers and freelance writers. Schmit, formerly of Bistro Moderne at the Hotel Derek, is planning a late fall opening of his own place,…
Food for Geeks: Look to the Cookie…for Augmented Reality
Self Refilling Wine Glass The Kyouei Design website describes the Drink Tank best: “It is a glass for drinking a lot.” Yes, indeed it is. It’s also designed to keep your glass full, but not overflowing. Several blogs had comments along the lines of: “Holy crap! It’s the Jesus glass!”…
A Photographic Summer Spun to a Close at “Spin 6”
The Houston Center for Photography hosted an end-of-summer party last Friday, marking the beginning and end of their “Spin 6” exhibit. Partygoers brought their own summer photos and added their prints to the ones already on display, and Real Ale Brewing Company provided enough beer at the open bar to…
GAME TIME: Texans-Cowboys — 5 Winners, 5 Losers
It’s the preseason and we must remember that the Dallas Cowboys are making a return trip to Reliant Stadium in about a month, so let’s not get crazy over what the Texans’ 23-7 manhandling of the Cowboys on Saturday night means in the big picture. That said, if the Cowboys…
Ingredient of the Week: Panko
What is it? Panko is just the fancy, Japanese word for breadcrumbs. These crumbs are ground more coarsely from bread that tends to be lighter making for larger, crunchier and sometimes fluffier results when used in a recipe. Sometimes made from crustless bread, this variety of panko can be lighter…
Ten Thousand Harmonicas Coming To Minute Maid Next Friday
If you’re going to try to break a world record by having 10,000 people play the same instrument at the same time, Rocks Off supposes the harmonica is a pretty good way to go, and a ballpark is a pretty good place to do it. And so the Astros, who…
ACORN And Tea Partiers: The Hilarious Voter-Fraud Fight Goes On
We have stayed away from the ongoing battle over voting-fraud allegations in Harris County because it reminds us of that quote about college-faculty infighting: “Academic infighting is so vicious because the stakes are so low.” But bring comic sans into the conversation, and an absolutely hilarious over-the-top video, and we’re…
Andrew Weems Promises to be “Brutally Funny” in A Behanding in Spokane at the Alley
Actor Andrew Weems’ father worked for the U.S. State Department, so young Weems was travelling the world at an early age. Born in Korea, by age 10 he was in Nepal, acting one of his first roles in an amateur theatrical. The show was A Thousand Clowns and on the…
Bosnian Bresaola: Slavic Charcuterie in Houston
Last week, I found myself over on the west side of town far too late for lunch at Cafe Pita and too early for dinner but still craving a Bosnian treat. So I ducked into the Balkan Market & Coffee Shop (10928 Westheimer) just across the street and did a…
Saturday Night: Meat Loaf At House Of Blues
Meat Loaf House of Blues August 28, 2010 For more photos of Mr. Loaf and friends from Saturday, see our slideshow here. Meat Loaf decimated House of Blues Saturday night for nearly three hours of pneumatic dick cannons, theatrical stomp, lights and his own burly-bear countenance. He also managed to…
HPD Beating Video: Officials Really Don’t Want You To See It
When word first broke that an alleged Houston police beatdown of a teenage had been videotaped, we speculated that law enforcement officials were dreading the day the video went viral. That day is coming closer, and officials are fighting tooth and nail to keep it from happening. District Attorney Patricia…
Health Dept. Roundup
Maybe it’s the weather, but a lot of places had pest problems this week on Health Department Roundup. Let’s take a look: At Shahnai Restaurant (5920 Hillcroft), an August 22 inspection found the condition of the restaurant was encouraging insects or rodents to make the place their permanent home. That…
Prom Night With Aurora Picture Show
Why not celebrate the first week of school with a prom? Saturday night, Aurora Picture Show did just that. The El Dorado Ballroom was appropriately decorated with streamers, balloons, tacky prom photo sets and of course, spiked punch. People even decorated themselves, going all-out in poly-blend, pastel colors, big hair…
What Are The Two Best Rap Songs Of The Year?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday Rocks Off will have some of them hear discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: Bun B, Chuckway, Preemo, Fat Tony, LeS, Killa Kyleon, Scooby, hasHBrown, Propain, Rob G The General, Young Sensation Not Invited: Ricky Ross, for…
Joseph Wade Walker: The XXXL Bandit Has Waddled His Last
Houston has been transfixed with the livin’ large antics of the XXXL Bandit, the roly-poly bank robber who was a modern-day cross between Charlie Weis and (Not So) Pretty Boy Floyd.The run — the waddle? — is over. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has announced today they captured the man…
Unidentified Female, Bayou Body Count No. 213
A woman was found stabbed to death in a southeast side apartment Sunday morning, police say. Police responded to an assault call about 7 a.m. Sunday and discovered the victim, whose name and identity have not been released. She was pronounced dead from “possible sharp force wounds,” police say. Her…
Sundae Sundays: Baskin-Robbins
After my disappointing Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Sunday, I was curious if any other national chain ice cream vendor offered a better alternative. Next at bat: Baskin-Robbins. I could create my own fantabulous ice cream sundae at home pretty much ensuring a terrific Sundae Sunday experience. Maybe I will one…
Texas City & Its BP Plant Star In The New York Times
BP’s release of massive amounts of carcinogens into the Texas City air has been covered by the media here, but today it’s getting a much larger spotlight.The New York Times looks at the incident, in a story headlined “With Neighbors Unaware, Toxic Spill at a BP Plant.”The story covers the…
Friday Night: Sheryl Crow At The Woodlands
Sheryl Crow Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 27, 2010 See a slideshow of photos from the concert. There is a mile-wide disparity between what Sheryl Crow is doing now and what her fanbase wants her to do, which was evident on Friday night at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Touring…
Five Reasons The Dynamo Sucked Saturday
The Houston Dynamo needed to walk away with points following their match at Colorado Saturday night to keep their playoff hopes alive. Instead, they laid a big goose egg in 3-0 rout at the hands, or feet, of the Rapids. The entertainment – assuming you are a Rapid fan -…
When Recipes Go Wrong
Faced with a surfeit of nearly over-ripe summer peaches and no energy to make a pie (if I’m going to make a pie, I’m making that entire sucker from scratch), I decided to use them up in a cobbler this weekend before they went bad. The great thing about cobbler…
The Week In TV: Parsons Emmy Win; Bristol Palin and The Situation Sadly Not a Band
First off, we love the above clip–Alec Baldwin refers to Houston’s own Jim Parsons as “what’s his name,” and then compares Parsons to Argentine tennis star Juan Martin del Potro: “He’s coming to the Open; he’s gonna kick our ass.” And he did. Otherwise, we’re all a bunch of Bucky…
Henry Winkler: Fonzie Schools Us On Edward Sharpe, Weezer
It’s not every day one gets music recommendations from The Fonz. During our Art Attack interview last week with Henry Winkler, the actor spoke about how music from the 1950s was a big draw for Happy Days. Winkler, who is super-friendly on the phone, later asked Rocks Off about our…
Unidentified Male, 20, Bayou Body Count No. 212
A 20-year-old man was found shot dead in his apartment on the west side Saturday night, and a young child was wandering about the complex when police arrived.Houston police were called to an apartment complex in the 2400 block of West Sam Houston Parkway a little after 7 p.m. Saturday…
Dinner at Block 7: Food V. Service
A recent dinner at Block 7 was excellent in some regards and less so in others. I arrived a few hours before closing on a weekday night and was greeted by the manager and sommelier who allowed me to choose my own table, which I appreciated. He helped me choose…
Shrek Hits the Road, Gets a Newer, Better Dragon
There’s a not inconsiderable chance that the Shrek: the Musical that’s gone on tour and is coming to Houston’s Hobby Center is actually better than the Broadway version. On Broadway, reviews for Shrek were mixed. Some critics liked it immensely, others thought it started slow and just didn’t hang together…
Friday Night: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears And The Relatives At The Continental Club
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, The Relatives Continental Club August 27, 2010 A few times a year, the Continental Club hosts shows that can be legitimately described as “soul happenings,” usually featuring venerable Gulf Coast stars such as Archie Bell, Roy Head and Barbara Lynn; just last Saturday, we…
Drayton McLane: Time To Open The Books
Several things happened last week on the edges of the sports world that, while interesting on their own, are even more interesting when connections are made.For instance, early last week, the sports blog Deadspin published the financial documents for several major league baseball teams. Not just any financial documents, but…
True Blood: “Flesh Blood,” Eels And Hostages
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. Season 3, Episode 11: “Flesh…
Douglas Wayne Evans, 51, Bayou Body Count No. 211
A man walking along a street in northwest Houston was shot in the head and killed early Sunday morning, police said. Douglas Wayne Evans, 51, was walking near Crosstimbers and Yale about 3 a.m. when a red Jeep Cherokee, driven by a woman, pulled up, police said they were told…
Where Are We Eating?
Half a succulent, perfectly roasted chicken waiting to be devoured — what are we doing wasting time in taking a picture? This requires quicker action; that chicken won’t eat itself. Does this fowl look familiar? Think you know where we’re eating this week? Leave your best guess in the comments…
UPDATED: Angelika Film Center Closes, Movie Pickings Get Even Slimmer
UPDATE:Reps from Bayou Place and Angelika both issued conflicting statements today regarding the closure. See below for more. Anyone trying to take in a movie at the downtown Angelika this weekend got a surprise — it’s shuttered. The doors and windows were blocked with brown paper, and a note informed…
5 Reasons Katrina Was Good For Houston
Five years on from the still mind-blowing events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, perhaps no city outside of Louisiana is more tied to the story than Houston.We had no idea what was coming, of course, but overall it’s hard to say we’re worse off for how things played out.Here are five reasons…
Texans 23, Cowboys 7: Does Houston Finally Have An Offensive Line?
See photos of tailgating Texans fans in our slideshow. Over the course of their brief existence, the Texans and offensive line woes have been synonymous. Could it now be that the long-standing source of franchise ridicule has become a foundation of strength? In recent years, savvy draft picks like tackles…
Angelika Film Center Closes, Movie Pickings Get Even Slimmer
Update: Reps for both Bayou Place and Angelika issued statements that seem to conflict. Read both sides of the story on Art Attack. Anyone trying to take in a movie at the downtown Angelika this weekend got a surprise — it’s shuttered. The doors and windows were blocked with brown…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we have no cream of the crop because crops aren’t supposed to have cream on them. Gross. We started off the week by disarming some alarmism with our look into some foods which are slightly radioactive, but not…
FAIL: Lady Gaga, Spain
Oh No, Not Lady Gaga, Too: Get ready, kids. We’ve got some truly shocking, devastating news for you. Are you sitting down? Okay, good, now listen closely. Lady Gaga – the whacked-out pop singer you’ve been listening to for the past couple of years – has, on occasion, experimented with…
Chile Mine Disaster: NASA Helps Out
NASA may be out of the moon business and seen a lot of other space-related dreams curtailed, but now it looks like they can direct their energies underground.The government of Chile has asked for NASA’s help in dealing with the 33 miners trapped in a tight space a half-mile underground.What…
Happy 32nd Anniversary, Rudyard’s
Sunday, Rudyard’s celebrates its 32nd anniversary with an afternoon barbecue buffet and night of free music with sharp-witted singer-songwriter Teresa Kolo, holy terrors the Hell City Kings and the stuff Rocks Off’s dreams are made of, an all-Thin Lizzy cover band called Ultimate Warrior. Bring on that whiskey in the…
Henry Winkler on Helping Stroke Victims, Lost and Jumping the Shark
Henry Winkler is probably better known to you as Arthur Fonzarelli, the Happy Days character that shot the Shakespearean-trained actor to fame in the 1970s. But Winkler hasn’t been The Fonz for a while. In 1996 he had a comeback with a cameo role as the high school principal in…
Giving Up the Greens
If you had been a devout vegetarian (or even a pescatarian, or a vegan) for the past decade of your life, what would be the first meat you’d want after deciding to revert back to your carnivorous ways? That’s the question currently being pondered by my significant other, who’s decided…
The Stern-Gaiser Affair: HPD Arrests Alleged Shooter
A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with events surrounding the alleged murder-for-hire plot of Yvonne Stern, the Bellaire trial lawyer’s wife who survived three recent attempted hits.Houston police say that 26-year-old Damian Ricardo Flores was the shooter in this case. He was picked up Tuesday on an unrelated…
Recipe: Ginger Tripe
Eevery once in a while, I pig out on tripe. Before you turn your nose up at it, realize that it’s a staple at dim sum places all over the U.S. and commonly added to pho. And, of course, it’s swimming in the tasty menudo at your favorite taqueria over…
The Top Five Hurricane Katrina-Related Rap Songs
New Orleans is home to many rappers, including Lil Wayne and Juvenile. So, when Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast five years ago this weekend, it only felt natural for hip-hop to step up and capture the debacle on wax. It’s been five years since the disaster and this Katrina-inspired playlist…
Katrina, Five Years Later: A News Consumer’s Guide To The Anniversary Stories
If you aren’t aware that this weekend marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, you will be by the time Monday rolls around.Newspapers, TV shows and websites will be heavy on commemorating the event. Here’s what to look for:1. The use of musicWe’re guessing some pre-Katrina shots will include some…
Top Five: Drive-In Movies Within Movies
If you were fortunate enough to grow up in the ’70s you caught the tail-end of the drive-in era. The drive-in wasn’t a particularly pleasant place to actually watch a movie; it was a place for rites of passage. Stereotypically the most traumatic teenage experiences, especially the sexual ones, occurred…
ESPN GameDay Coming To….Waco?
Colleges all over the country drool at the thought of hosting ESPN GameDay. It’s a mark of high honor and respect, and students try to outdo each other in raucously cheering on-camera behind the hosts. Baton Rouge, Austin, Gainesville, they’ve all hosted. And ESPN has now announced that they will…
“What Up”: Drake And Bun B Summon The Spirit Of Pimp C
If you woke up this morning wishing for a Pimp C/Drake collaboration, then consider this your lucky day. You should also go ahead and play the mega-lottery while you’re at it. Why, yes, the paths of Chad Butler and Aubrey Graham have finally crossed on “What Up,” the lead cut…
Openings & Closings
A reader alerted us via Twitter to the fact that the Lemon Tree (207 West Gray) had closed its doors sometime in the past week. We went by to check it out and it is, indeed, closed. A call to Lemon Tree’s original location on Whittington revealed that the owner…
Happy Hour Scene: Cheerz Bar and Grill
The Place: Cheerz Bar and Grill 2416 Brazos Street713-522-0118www.cheerzmidtown.comThe Hours: Nightly drink specials. The Deals: On Mondays, Bud Light drafts are $1, pitchers are $4, and wings are 50 cents. Domestic drafts are $1 on Tuesdays, and domestic pitchers are $7. Well drinks are $3. On Wednesdays, burgers are half…
Larry Williams: Bean Recipes Are Worth Stabbing Over, Dammit
A bean-pot was at the heart of a violent conflict on the Texas coast this week. As this is the second such episode in the past six months, we hope we are not seeing the outlines of a new trend. The most recent legume fracas took place in Corpus. Just…
Talking Stevie Ray Vaughan, 20 Years Gone, With The Mighty Orq
“Alpine Valley, in the middle of the night,” begins Jimmie Vaughan’s “Six Strings Down,” his account of the time heaven called another blues singer back home – namely, his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan. Shortly after he finished an all-star blues jam with his brother, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Robert…
The Art of Selling Beer
Art and beer may not be as natural a pair as rhythm and blues, but ever since John Gilroy’s “My Goodness, My Guinness” posters hit the scene in the 1930s, Guinness has been elevating their advertising to the status of high art. One particularly noteworthy campaign, of which many Americans…
Market Square Park: Reopened And Repurposed Tomorrow
Houston officials have tried for years to make a go of Market Square Park, but it never seems to take. The latest effort, a $3 million one, gets unveiled tomorrow at 2 p.m. The park has been closed since December for a makeover that has changed the place from a…
Recipe: Shrimp Bisque
After chatting with Heather Vaughan for last week’s Chef Chat, she was kind enough to pass along her recipe for Shrimp Bisque. A rich and creamy base provides the perfect backdrop for a ton of plump shrimp. This is an abbreviated (but still delicious) version that is friendlier to the…
A Protest Playlist For The March On Washington Avenue
Saturday marks the 47th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the huge civil rights rally in Washington D.C. where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. This rally is largely credited for helping to put enough pressure on Washington to pass…
Game Time: Tiger Woods — Divorce, It Does A Body Good
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Oil spills, hurricanes, divorce. Compassionate human beings don’t wish any of these things upon their fellow man. That said, we live in a capitalist society. Financial Darwinism, survival of the fittest, whatever you want to call it. The bottom line is the bottom…
Upcoming Events
If you’re a lady who loves lager, there’s a new(ish) club in town for you: Texas Girls’ Pint Out is a group of hardcore beer nerds and geeks — labels which they bear proudly — who also happen to be women. They’re in the process of organizing all manner of…
Friday Meal Deals
Though it’s a slow week for food deals, there are still a few to be had. Share some if you know some in the comments. Either TGI Friday’s has been really generous or they’ve been hurting. Either way, you can buy one entrée and get another for 50 percent off…
Electronic Voting: Harris County Is Scrambing After Warehouse Fire
When Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufman got a call from the fire department a little after 4 a.m. today telling her a giant warehouse holding nearly all of the county’s voting machines had burned to the ground, she couldn’t believe her ears. “It’s like losing a member of the family,”…
Johnny Falstaff And Friends Make Quite A Spectacle At Blanco’s
Lonesome Onry and Mean is a huge fan of Elvis Costello’s Spectacle TV show. It would be wrong to say there was a “best” night, but our favorite is the Renee Fleming episode. Fleming, New York’s reigning Metropolitan Opera diva who released the pop-covers album Dark Hope earlier this year,…
Sports Authority’s Bond Rating Now Equals The Quality Level Of Teams Playing In Its Stadiums
The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, the entity created to build new stadiums for billionaire sports owners, has found itself reduced to junk-bond status.Kind of like the Astros, Texans and Rockets, really.Hotel occupancy and car rentals — the magic carpet that would allow these playpens to be built without local tax…
Tax The Wolf Sets Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Tonight Tax the Wolf unleashes their new album, Hold The Sun, onto Houston audiences at Mango’s. In the wake of the band’s Best Progressive Rock win at this month’s Houston Press Music Awards, they have a lot to prove, a fact not lost on the boys. Rocks Off’s own Shea…
Double Cheeseburger at Annie’s Hamburgers
Because I associate hamburgers more with dinner than with lunch and I usually avoid rush-hour traffic at all costs, I was always doubtful I would make it to Annie’s Hamburgers, which closes on the early side (7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday) and lies not within…
10 Sex Offenders Who Look A Lot Like Sex Offenders
Many of the twisted people who are sex offenders don’t look the part — they seem like upstanding citizens, until you get them alone with a helpless kid.Others, though — well, let’s just say they might as well have a large neon sign on their forehead saying “Why yes, I…
Five Years After Katrina, Legendary K.O. Still Don’t Like George Bush
“George Bush ain’t a gold digga, but he ain’t messin’ with no broke niggas.” If Rocks Off were to make a list of memorable lines from underground Houston rap songs, that line from The Legendary K.O.’s viral 2005 single “George Bush Don’t Like Black People,” would no doubt earn a…
High School Football: If Hollywood Were In Control, These Five Things Would Happen
Sacred groundsThis evening marks the start of another high school football season. Entire cities and towns will be shuttering their doors and congregating at the central holy ground: the football stadium. Well, that may not be the case in Houston, but certainly in Dillon and West Canaan. (Oh, those are…
Trying Out Groupon
Groupon is a genius and yet evil invention. It’s the popular coupon-deals website that offers stuff like $25 coupons for $59 worth of facials or $30 coupons for $75 worth of adventure boot-camp health classes – basically, things you might buy impulsively just because they’re there. The site also offers…
Hollywood Black Confront Their Inner Devils On New EP
We hate to teabag your macaroni, but sometimes music is just a paycheck to the people here at Rocks Off. This is not one of those times. As your humble narrator cast about the Internet in search of things to write about, he came across Hollywood Black and tonight’s show…
Downtown’s Sam Houston Park Getting $2 Million Facelift
Sam Houston Park — come on, it’s that picturesque if undervisited piece of grass and historic homes just outside of downtown — is about to get a makeover.The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the city’s Capital Improvement Project fund are kicking in $1 million each to the project, which…
Black Eyed Peas DJ Motiv8 Moonlights At Reign Lounge
Rocks Off had a feeling that last night was going to be a good night when we checked out Fresh Entertainment’s “The Power of the DJ” show at Reign Lounge on Washington. With DJ Motiv8 of the Black Eyed Peas headlining the event, beats were bumpin’ from start to finish…
Aeros’ Schedule Finally Out, And Season-Ticket Holders Get Ripped Off
The long wait for Houston Aeros fans is over as the AHL released the league’s schedule on Wednesday afternoon. The Aeros season will open on the road on October when they play the first regular season game in the history of the expansion Oklahoma City Barons. And their first home…
Holly Ann Butler, Shrek’s Wicked Witch: A Master of Costume Changes
In the space of moments, Holly Ann Butler transforms from blind mouse to Queen Lillian (and at another point to the Wicked Witch) – all part of her duties in the national tour of Shrek the Musical, being brought to Houston in October by Gexa Energy/Broadway Across America. Butler accomplishes…
August 21-27: The Week in Photos
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. As summer winds down, be sure to add your images to our Flickr pool. They might even show up online. As usual, for more information on a subject…
A Pork Belly Slider at Odd Duck Trailer in Austin
Austin is inundated with food trailers these days, and it’s glorious. With so many to choose from, deciding on a trailer was a big decision. Luckily, with the help of my dear friend and mentor, Tony Bourdain, who doesn’t yet know he’s my good friend and mentor but has already…
Is Thy Milk Not Epic? Add Carmina Burana!
Well folks, it’s been great bringing you the videos every day, but sometimes you just run plum out of Internet. Remember, the sun never sets on those who ride off into it! The country remains divided on any number of issues, but on one thing your Daily VJ is certain…
Joyce Espinosa: The Family That Lifts Together Sticks Together
And they say that not enough families are spending time together and sharing family activities…Last week, a 42-year-old Webster mom was arrested along with her two teenaged kids after the threesome walked out of a Friendswood HEB with $700 worth of food, toys, and booze. Fun for the whole family!An…
Metro: E-Mails Show How Not To Negotiate To Buy Rail Cars
Frank Wilson, Metro’s former president, might be considered old news, but the decisions he made, and more importantly the contracts he signed, continue to linger. At a recent Metro meeting, board member Christof Speiler, referencing the Harrisburg overpass, said, “Metro should have had a much better public process three years…
The Week in Art Photos
Each week, we scour the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool and every Friday we’ll post the most eye-popping shots. As always, for more information on…
Five Other Ways HISD Can Pay Students And Parents
The Houston school district, desperate to get grades and test scores up, is offering cold, hard cash to fifth graders who do their math homework. A kid who masters a bunch of “concepts” can rack up $440 from HISD.That can buy a whole lot of….books extolling math as a fun,…
10 by 10
Roughly a third of the plays at this year’s upcoming Ten by Ten showcase are about Hurricane Ike. The credit – or blame – for that can go in large part to Fernando Dovalina, who took up playwriting in earnest when he retired from the Houston Chronicle a few years…
Hurricane Heist
Mat Johnson and Simon Gane’s graphic novel Dark Rain tells the story of a stormy sting. “Some ex-cons in Houston get the brilliant idea to go into New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation and rob a bank,” he says. UH creative writing professor Johnson wrote the book, which depicts…
“SPIN 6:” Spin on Summer
The Houston Center for Photography has capped off every summer in recent years with an annual exhibit and Spin party. The center asks for pictures with a certain premise, exhibits them for a few weeks and then teams up with another city organization for a shindig to close the show…
17th Annual Theater District Open House
Kicking off the 2010-2011 performing arts season is the 17th Annual Theater District Open House. The family event offers a behind-the-scenes view into every major venue in the district. At the Alley Theatre, kids and grownups can spend the day in the land of make-believe, trying on costumes and learning…
10 by 10
Roughly a third of the plays at this year’s upcoming Ten by Ten showcase are about Hurricane Ike. The credit – or blame – for that can go in large part to Fernando Dovalina, who took up playwriting in earnest when he retired from the Houston Chronicle a few years…
David Rosenfelt: Dog Tags
Mystery author David Rosenfelt owns 27 dogs. His latest mystery, Dog Tags, is the third in a series featuring Andy Carpenter, a dog-loving attorney and — we think — Rosenfelt’s alter ego. When German Shepherd Milo, a former police dog, and his owner are found next to a corpse, the…
Steel Lounge Underground
In a sign that summer is coming to an end, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is presenting the last of the season’s Steel Lounge Underground. A hip mash-up of art, music, food and booze, Steel Lounge Underground allows visitors to enjoy the current exhibits “Perspectives 171: Jennifer West” and “Dance…
“My Community Through My Eyes”
Children invite you to look at their world in the exhibit “My Community Through My Eyes.” Through artwork, photography and creative writing, Third Ward-area children ages 6 to 11 years old will show viewers how they see themselves and those closest to them. The kids, who received guidance from FotoFest’s…
An Oboist’s Life
It may not be as sexy as the saxophone or as elegant as the flute, but we must give some props to the workhorse of woodwinds, the oboe, which originated in the 17th century. Fans of classical music will enjoy today’s An Oboist’s Life. The concert will be led by…
The Lion in Winter
Showtime program The Tudors ended its sexy run earlier this year, but Houston Anglophiles need not fret. Domy Books has just the fix you need. The funky Montrose-area bookstore is showing The Lion in Winter, a 1968 Academy Award-winning film about England’s lusty King Henry II and his politically smart,…
Sara Paretsky: Body Work
Novelist Sara Paretsky starts off her latest novel Body Work with investigator V.I. Warshawski finding a dying woman in the parking lot of a nightclub. As she holds the woman, Warshawski can’t help but wonder, “Who was she? And more importantly, who wanted her dead?” Paretsky’s biting writing makes the…
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
In 1975, one of the most brutal regimes of the 20th century came to power. Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, attempted to reshape the tiny Southeast Asian country of seven million into an extreme agrarian communist country. Schools were closed. Religion and money were abolished. Every educated person…
Embargo
EDUCATION Media Embargo UH and Rice Get What They Want from the Chronicle By Richard Connelly If you’re going to kill off the last station in town that epitomizes “college radio” (for better or worse), you have to work hard not to come off looking like a villain. The University…
The Ladies’ Man
Often, musicians doing multiple phone interviews from a hotel room or publicist’s office will try to open the door with journalists by throwing out some fond memory of said city, whether it’s actually true or not. But not Meat Loaf. You see, he was born and raised in Dallas. And…
Asylum Denied
As evening falls on southern Mexico, Sarah (not her real name) is shopping at a fruit market a block from her house. It is Friday, and her father, an investigator for the State Judicial Police, is home relaxing on his night off. Wearing blue jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, he…
KTRU Love
KTRU Love Online readers comment on “KTRU: Is U of H About To Buy Rice Student Station?” by Chris Gray, Rocks Off blog, August 16: Please no: It’s the only music station I listen to in Houston. Drod Tragedy: I host KTRU’s Africana show and I am shocked at this…
Pierson’s Cajun & Country Cafe
Ed Pierson recently retired. For about a month. Then, he says, “I had finished every project there was around the house and I was going crazy.” So he decided to open Pierson’s Cajun & Country Café (3843 Cartwright Rd., Missouri City, 281-208-8882). Since Pierson is originally from Opelousas, Louisiana, it…
Slow food: Snail Pizza at Pizza Nonni
Unless you carefully read the description of Pizza Nonni ($12) on the menu at Bistro Provence (13616 Memorial, 713-827-8008), you might miss the fact that it’s topped with snails. Yes, snails — eight large ones, sitting atop a 10-inch crust. This unusual pizza is one of the best ever. The…
Capsule Art Reviews: “If We Only Knew Now What They Knew Then,” “Kaneem Smith,” “The Masterworks of Charles M. Russell: A Retrospective of Painting and Sculpture”
“If We Only Knew Now What They Knew Then” Doilies meet fringe in “If We Only Knew Now What They Knew Then” at the Houston Arts Alliance’s space 125gallery. The show pairs Individual Artist Fellowship recipients Melanie Crader and Katy Heinlein. Crader is known for her deadpan “girly” abstractions referencing…
Capsule Stage Reviews: August in August, Fear of Ducks, Leaving Iowa
August in August In Obsidian Art Space, Houston’s coolest new venue, The Fan Factory Theatre has returned after a hiatus to present August in August, a collection of works by Swedish writer August Strindberg that will change from weekend to weekend. The one constant in the production is Pariah, or…
Mareshah Shepard Benefit
Large or small, and however great the music, most benefit shows are born out of extremely bad news. This one is no different: Houston disco-rock demons Electric Attitude lead singer Blake Shepard’s sister Mareshah was hit by a suspected drunk driver while crossing Washington Avenue outside Pearl Bar the night…
Happiness Is a State of Mind
Elegant opening credits, written as if calligraphy on a wedding invitation, yield to a couple in blunt close-up — unhappy, interracial, tearfully celebrating their anniversary in a shopping-mall restaurant. After an unfathomable exchange, he presents her with an antique bowl found on eBay and, after reciting a guffaw-worthy litany of…
Perfectly Frank
The Hot Dog Shop (6405 Brittmoore), a restaurant/sports bar out in the northwest Houston wilderness near Beltway 8, has existed for 25 years. It’s been a teeming suburban punk/rockabilly/ska venue for a considerably shorter period. Normally, this is where the Nightfly would segue into our “This Is What This Place…
Sushi Surprise
Check out a behind-the-scenes slideshow from Sushi Miyagi. The agedashi tofu at Sushi Miyagi looks alive. The pile of gauzy bonito flakes on top of the squares of silken tofu are gently wilting into the heat of the tofu and the dark tentsuyu broth below. “It’s moving!” my dining companion…
The Dubliner’s Strawberry Pamcake
If you go out on St. Patty’s Day or New Year’s Eve, you’ll encounter hordes of unseasoned drinkers. They’re an irritating but forgivable element of the high-drinking holidays. But what possesses a lightweight to push it past the point of no dignity before 10 p.m. on an August Tuesday? My…
Ranch Style Beans
While he remains largely anonymous after 25-plus years on the Houston art/music scene, Dale “Beans” Barton is, for those who have encountered his wacky, frenetic performance-art shows, a local icon and people’s hero. From the multi-layered costumes he peels off during his shows as his character changes, to the painting…
Sheryl Crow
On Sheryl Crow’s new album, 100 Miles from Memphis, she infuses her already signature roots-pop sound with a dash of vintage soul from the disc’s titular city, breathing a fresh but historic air into her sound. She even has Memphis’s other Golden Boy, Justin Timberlake, swing by for the single…
The worst of times? Take a hike!
Dear Mexican, Oye, I’m a Mexican con un pie aquí y un pie allá, and I have to admit that it is difficult to be a Mexican these days. I’d like to make the argument that it is one of the worst times ever to be a Mexican. I even…
Dwele
On the first tune of Dwele’s new album, W.ants W.orld W.omen, the performer utters, “I wish I made music that appealed to the masses/ Instead of writing lyrics that requires poetic classes, yeah.” It appears that, after four sophisticated full-lengths, being an on-the-fringe, boho-soul man with a respectable cult following…
Faith No More
With a small, well-chosen cast, sly script, and slippery, ambivalent characters, The Last Exorcism gives a welcome twist to the demonic-possession movie revival. A fourth-generation minister, Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) of Baton Rouge’s Church of St. Mark, was groomed for the pulpit. A onetime child preacher, Cotton has grown out…
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, The Relatives
There is a great tradition of getting a little on the side within soul and R&B, so when we saw this show advertised as “Black Joe Lewis & the Relatives” for the longest time, we thought the Austin shouter was stepping out on our beloved Honeybears. Turns out Lewis and…
Epic in Training
Happily sampling nasty beats and riffs from the Scorsese catalog, the new Aussie crime saga Animal Kingdom begins with a hushed but breath-holding set piece: A gawky lad watches TV on the couch next to his dozing mum . . . until the already-summoned EMTs arrive and the boy calmly…
Rudyard’s 32nd Anniversary
Leave it to Rudz booker Mike Sims to throw together an excellent mish-mash lineup for the Montrose institution’s 32nd anniversary show. The evening begins with quirky songbird Teresa Kolo, who has been slowly moving toward completion of her next album with a clutch of new, witty songs about all the…
