Shonda Alexander, Killed in 2004: Sheriff’s Cold-Case Squad Racks Up Another Arrest
Troy McWhorter was scheduled to be released from prison next month after serving time for theft, but now he faces murder charges in a 2004 case brought by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office cold-case squad. HCSO investigators say McWhorter’s DNA matches that found on the abandoned body of Shonda Alexander,…
RIP Joe South: “Games People Play” Singer Passes Away at 70
Joe South, the singer whose gospel-lite anthem “Games People Play” reached No. 12 in 1969 and won a Grammy for Song of the Year, passed away Wednesday after being in “failing health,” the country-music Web site musicrow.com reported. He was 70. For a brief time, the Atlanta native (born Joseph…
Reliant Offering Free Rides to Texans Games Again: Ride with Andre
One more problem solved as regards the Texans: Getting to home games. It’s maybe not as important as making sure Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson make it through the season without missing a half-dozen games each to injury, but if you’re a fan headed to Reliant, you do want your…
This Week’s Restaurant Review: Tyson Cole’s Uchi
See our slideshow of Uchi’s gorgeous interior. This week for her print restaurant review, Katharine Shilcutt tackled a mighty one: Uchi. You know the one, right? The Houston outpost of James Beard Award-winning Tyson Cole’s Uchi and Uchiko in Austin? Of course you do. Does the Westheimer spot live up…
Comment of the Day: The Rockets’ Obscenely Huge New Videoboard
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous…
South Of Houston, A Cambodian Village And A People Who Have Rejected Modernity
On March 13, 2011, I took out my journal and wrote an entry that I still sometimes go back and read when life in the United States — the buzzing of social media, the vitriol of partisanship — becomes too much and I need to remember the life I once…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 17, Drunken Foie Gras at Philippe
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Julian Castro: Three Things We Learned About San Antonio’s Mayor At Last Night’s DNC
At first, it seemed strange that, on one of the most important nights for Democrats, they would open with a a guy with a sprawling white smile who no one had heard of before. But hey, Dems must have thought, it worked in 2004 — why not play this hand…
Fun Fun Fun Fest Releases Daily Schedule
This morning Fun Fun Fun Fest organizers released the daily schedule for November’s three-day orgy of booze, denim, and loudness in the middle of Austin’s Auditorium Shores. The color-coded stages — black, yellow, orange, and blue — are set up according to genre and size of the act. Last year…
Tess Gerritsen: The Last to Die
Suspense novelist Tess Gerritsen comes by her sense of the macabre honestly. Her mother was a Chinese immigrant who learned English by watching American horror films, so Gerritsen spent hours watching creature features such as The Birds and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. “My mom was an immigrant and her…
UPDATE: Viswa Subbaraman Leaves Opera Vista Joins Milwaukee’s Skylight Music Theatre
We just got word that Opera Vista artistic director and founder Viswa Subbaraman is leaving the group to become becoming the new artistic director for Milwaukee’s Skylight Music Theatre in the 2013-2014 season. Skylight Music Theatre has a full season (some 90 performances are planned for the upcoming year) with…
Recipe: Stir-fried Water Spinach with Garlic
See our cover story on water spinach and its cultivation locally in a Cambodian village near Rosharon. Water spinach, sold in Asian markets, where it is called ong choy, is called rau muống in Vietnamese. It thrives in swampy, wet soil, where it grows like weeds, and is harvested by…
Paws Up! Lady Gaga Announces January 31 Houston Date
Houston gets another dose of Lady Gaga on January 31, 2013, when the diminutive pop star and budding media mogul comes back to Toyota Center. Gaga has been touring overseas since the release of last year’s Born This Way disc and only made scattered U.S. appearances. Mother Monster released this…
Fashion Convention: Michelle Obama and Ann Romney Dress for (White House) Success
Now that our current and our hopeful first ladies have taken the stage at their respective conventions, and now that each has made the case for her husband to be elected president in November, it’s time to turn to what’s really important — what did they wear? Last week Ann…
Joe B. Phillips Goes For “Despicable Lawyer Of The Year” Award: Rips Off Mentally Incompetent Vets
Just before his trial was set to start in federal court yesterday, Houstonian Joe B. Phillips, 73, faced up to the truth: He’s a pretty despicable guy. How despicable? He entered a guilty plea to ripping off mentally incompetent veterans to the tune of more than $2 million. That’s right:…
This Art Show Is for the Dogs
Houston is very much a dog town. There’s a bar for dogs, for one, plus that whole Paws on Patios movement. You’ll probably have a harder time thinking of friends without dogs than with. So a show devoted to art depicting man’s best friend is almost a sure thing. G…
The Prettiest Grandfather Child Footage You Will Ever See
Rewind: Friday Night: Grandfather Child, the Suffers, etc. at Fitzgerald’s Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason, known together as Window Pictures, have made a performance clip with Houston favorites Grandfather Child to help promote the group’s brand-new self-titled release. This past Friday the band played a silky set at Fitzgerald’s for…
Reality Bites: Abby & Brittany
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. I swear the first time I saw the TLC promo for Abby & Brittany, the reality show about 22-year old conjoined (technically “dicephalic parapagus”) twins Abby and Brittany Hensel, I…
Homeless Man, Aged 60 To 65, Bayou Body Count No. 152
The body of a man believed to have been homeless was found dead near White Oak Bayou on the far west side of town Monday morning, police say. The identity of the victim has not been released pending verification, but he is thought to have been between the ages of…
What’s Cooking on Pinterest? French Toast Dumplings
When I was in elementary school, my dad took me to Burger King every once in a while to get the delicious miniature French Toast Sticks. Being able to dunk the scrumptious bite-size French Toast Sticks into the package of maple syrup always made my day. So when I came…
CMA Nominations Don’t Forget Texans Miranda Lambert, Eli Young Band
Nothing says country music like Times Square. Or is that the other way around? Regardless, the 2012 nominees for the Country Music Association were announced by stars (and nominees) Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean earlier this morning. It helps that Times Square is the home of Good Morning America’s studios,…
Hello It’s Me: Emily Sloan and Sasha Dela at Darke Gallery
Emily Sloan’s latest works are as basic as it gets — circles. During her summer residency at Darke Gallery, the Houston artist has crafted metal sculptures inspired by mandalas — a Sanskrit word literally meaning circle that is a major element of Buddhist and Hindu religious art. They’re often seen…
Last Night: T.S.O.L. at Fitzgerald’s
T.S.O.L., Spastic Fit, Dead to the World, Crime Wave Fitzgerald’s September 4, 2012 It seemed as though I was the only Rocks Off blogger who failed to catch a show over Labor Day weekend, so I was looking forward to Tuesday night. This summer has evolved into something of of…
Tango and Steak Night Tuesdays at MKT Bar Downtown
It’s a Tuesday night, and as I enter the MKT Bar at Phoenicia Specialty Foods Downtown, there’s this kind of hazy, underground, industrial vibe going on. Strains of poignant, dramatic tango music are coming across the loudspeaker, and dancers slide and sway across the concrete floor, some with the tentative…
HISD Tries To Get Back That Money It Says It Incorrectly Paid Staffers & Some Teachers
The Houston school district says it’s been wrongly paying staffers and some teachers for years, and now it wants that money back. About 3,700 school district employees are affected (HISD has about 24,000 workers, according to the Texas Education Agency), and they are being told to make things right. The…
UT: Yeah, We’re Totally Fine With Our Professors Publishing Anti-Gay Studies Funded by Anti-Gay Advocates
In its infinite wisdom, the University of Texas-Austin is backing a professor whose study, co-funded by one of the kookiest anti-gay-marriage groups out there, suggests a higher incidence of suicidal thoughts and unemployment among children of same-sex households. After blogger Scott Rose complained to the university about what he believed…
Broke Meals, Ramen Hacks and Food Snobbery
Last week at work, I ate shitty mall food court Chinese food for lunch. I relished every bite of it. As I walked in the room with that Styrofoam container, several of my coworkers looked on incredulously. They were surprised that I would deign to eat from such a place…
Breaking Bad: What Should Happen Next Half of a Season
As our own Abby Koenig broke it down yesterday, this past Sunday night’s half-season of Breaking Bad ended with a killer cliffhanger, with Walter White’s brother-in-law on the toilet in the White residence making the WW connection, caught literally with his pants down. Sweet and poetic. The reaction to the…
Houston Chronicle To Employees: No Raises, But Enjoy The Barbecue & 5k Runs
The Houston Chronicle, like many if not all print-journalism outlets, is still trying to adjust to the ever-changing conditions that have been thrust on it. Fear not: The paper has undertaken a campaign designed to make it one of the “Top 50 Places to Work in Texas.” How it’s reportedly…
100 Creatives 2012: Matthew Detrick, Classical Musician
Matthew Detrick, artistic director and violinist for The Apollo Chamber Players, is diplomatic when we ask him which he thinks came first, art or music. “I’d like to think that when some caveman was drawing on a wall, another caveman was in the corner banging on a drum.” It’s a…
Top 10 State Fair of Texas Foods
See our slideshow of more State Fair of Texas Foods. Some go for the carnival-style attractions. Others go for the garden exhibition. Thousands go for the live musical entertainment. Many go for the shopping. But the truth of the matter is, all flock to the State Fair of Texas for…
The Erratic Flight Pattern of the Byrds’ Gene Clark
Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of the Byrds’ Gene Clark By John Einarson Backbeat Books, 339 pp., $19.99, www.backbeatbooks.com The pun has been too good for most music writers (including, sadly, this one) to not use in describing Gene Clark as “The Byrd Who Wouldn’t Fly.” But the…
Allen Pinkett Suspended 3 Games For Having The Backs Of Dudes Suspended For 1 Game
“I’ve always felt like to have a successful team you’ve got to have a few bad citizens on the team.” Allen Pinkett, in an interview last week with 670-WSCR in Chicago Last week, on the way to the airport to hop a flight over to Dublin, Ireland, so that he…
What The Hell Is An Oogielove And Why Should You Care?
By now you have all heard about how Oogieloves in The Big Balloon Adventure is literally the biggest flop in film history from The Village Voice’s Michael Musto. The film opened wide at 2,060 theaters across the country but only snagged around $47 a screen this past weekend. That means…
This Week in Food Blogs: How Many Moons Does Your Favorite Pub Have?
Eater Houston: I’ve been enjoying Eater’s recent series “Front and Center,” in which front-of-house industry professionals are spotlighted for their vital efforts in making a dining experience special. The last two entries in the series have been some of my favorites: Sabin Shk, a Nepalese immigrant who offers five-star service…
10 Great Hal David Lyrics: “Enough Germs to Catch Pneumonia”
The music world truly lost one of the greats when songwriter Hal David passed away at age 91 following a stroke this past Saturday in Los Angeles. To borrow an old joke, the lyricist wasn’t from the old school, he was from the school they tore down to build the…
Kirko Bangz Has a New Free Mixtape Out Right Here
About a year and a half ago — or maybe it was two years or 20? You get the point — at some only mildly nice bar on 59, I watched a Kirko Bangz show. This was when “What Yo Name Iz” had gained strength regionally but not enough to…
Nayely Ruby Herrera, 21: Houston Woman’s Strawman-Purchasing Spree Nets 15 AK-47-Type Weapons
A 21-year-old Houston woman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for using false information to purchase at least 15 AK-47-type weapons over a two-month period. Nayely Ruby Herrera, 21, made her purchases at a Valley gun store called The Armory, located in McAllen. “During trial, the government…
UPDATED: Unidentified Male, 26, Bayou Body Count No. 151
Updated: Police have identified the 26-year-old dead man as Dwayne Mitchell. An argument led to a fatal shooting on the north side Friday evening, Houston police say. One man was killed and another injured in the incident, which happened in the 400 block of East 43rd about 8:20 p.m. Friday…
Toyota Center’s Gigantic New Video Board Lets You Watch All The Omer Asik You Can Take
Now we know what the problem has been for Houston Rocket fans — they just have not been able to get a clear view of the mediocrity on the court. Problem solved. The Rockets are unveiling a massive new scoreboard/video thingamajig which they claim “will be the largest indoor center-hung…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 18, 63-Degree Egg at Brasserie 19
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Morbid Email Subject Heading of the Week: “George Jones Alive and Touring Through the Fall”
Look, Rocks Off is a countrycentric place. We love our classic country and good modern country like no one’s business, and we have driven miles and miles to see some of our heroes. When country legend George Jones has taken ill these past few years, our hearts have all skipped…
DVDs & Blu-rays: The Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection, Titanic 3D and Piranha 3DD
With a list price of $499, casual fans aren’t the target audience for The Harry Potter Wizard’s Collection which hits the shelves on September 7. (Amazon.com has a pre-order price of $344 for the set as we write this.) HP fanatics, however, will get their money’s worth. For obvious reasons,…
Breaking Bad Half Season Finale: Can We Ever Forgive Walter White?
(Spoiler like whoa) On Sunday, the Fifth Season of Breaking Bad came to its inevitable “season” conclusion. The season as a whole/half was just OK as compared to its high standard of excellence. This is not to say that there weren’t moments of brilliance, as well as the many understandably…
Unidentified Male, 29, Shot At El Mundo Nightclub, Bayou Body Count No. 150
A man standing in the parking lot of the El Mundo nightclub on the north side was shot to death about 3 a.m. Sunday, police say. The victim, whose name has not been released pending verification, was shot “multiple times” by an unknown male suspect who fled the scene, HPD…
Copper: “In The Hands Of An Angry God”
After episode two of Copper, I was reinvigorated with promise for BBC America’s newest entry into the hour-long drama sweepstakes. The ending, featuring the death of detestable kiddie rapist and panderer Winford Haverford at the hand of ex-child prostitute Annie, brought a new grit to the show which didn’t shake…
Half-off (or More!) at Skewers Cafe & Grill, Firkin & Phoenix, and Soma Sushi
Today’s Houston Press Voice Daily Deal is good for half-off of Lebanese food-with-a-twist ($12 for $24) at Skewers Mediterranean Grill & Café. Enjoy fresh, healthy flavors at Skewers, which also references Greek and Mediterranean cuisines; there is something for everyone on the menu — vegan and vegetarian friendly. Skewers is…
Houston-Area Pharmacies, Bad Men Are Coming for Your…Metal? (w/VIDEO)
Maybe it’s just us, but if we’re going to all the pain and trouble of breaking into a pharmacy, we’re walking out of there with some good drugs. And maybe an US Magazine or two, if it’s a good one, but that’s a given. That’s not the new thing, though…
Happy B’Day, Beyoncé: 10 Gift Ideas for Houston’s Homegrown Megastar
“What do you get for the woman who has everything?” That question must have been plaguing Sean Carter for the past weeks, at least. His lovely wife, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, whom he so callously stole away from our fair city even though she is 100 percent too good for him, turns…
Frankenstein: the New Musical: Talent at Stage Door Inc. Can’t Breathe Life into this Script
The set-up: The iconic story of the Creature brought to life in Mary Shelley’s novel has long captured the human imagination, leading to scores of dramatic stage and film adaptations — even a Nintendo game and a pinball table. 2007 off-B’way musical Frankenstein: the New Musical hews more closely to…
Pappas Come Lately, There’s a New Kid in Town: Sommelier Steven McDonald
Last week, I sat down to chat with thirtysomething San Antonio native Steven McDonald, who recently returned to Texas from New York City, where he had been working as a sommelier at some of the city’s top fine wine destinations. A former music educator, Steven is now working as a…
Denis John Chabot, 37, Tased After Erratic Behavior, Bayou Body Count No. 149
Houston police are investigating an “in-custody death” that happened when a man began behaving erratically, ran into highway traffic and was tased. Denis John Chabot, 37, was visiting a friend at the Texan Inn and Suites in the 4000 block of the North Freeway about 10:15 p.m. Friday when things…
Houston Fringe Festival 2012: Cutting Edge & Two More Weekends To Go
Margo Stutts Toombs offered us free bourbon balls and a ride home to get us to stay until the 1 a.m. end of the Saturday portion of Freneticore’s Houston Fringe Festival, held Thursday through Sunday at Frenetic Theater, but we didn’t need convincing. After the evening’s first performance, Out on…
Celebrate Kyle Hubbard’s Birthday With This Chopped Not Slopped Version Of His Album
Rewind: Let’s All Take a Second And Enjoy One of the Most Compelling Local Rap Songs of the Year First Play: Kyle Hubbard’s “New School Slang” Vs. hasHBrown’s “Grand Champion” Artist of the Week: Kyle Hubbard Beneath the glitter and glamour, beneath the prestige and the wealth, beneath the chic…
Where Are We Drinking? Clue: Just Like Old Times
There’s only one place we know of that still makes drinks like grape phosphates, mixes its own Cokes at the soda fountain and serves Blue Bell ice cream shakes on top of all that. It’s a bit of a drive, but it’s worth the trip — especially if you’ve got…
Frame Dance Productions Forgives in The Black Space
The set-up: During the past weekend, the Houston dance community and friends were invited to examine the true meaning of forgiveness. Staged at the Spacetaker Gallery at Fresh Arts, Frame Dance Productions’ newest work, The Black Space, can only be described as a personal experience. The interactive exhibit featured three…
Before You Mow Your Lawn, Be Sure and Forage Your Dinner
There are fads, there are trends and then there are those ideas that are so clearly right and time-honored that we must take notice. Alice Waters started it on the West Coast, and Monica Pope started it on the Gulf Coast — locavorism, sustainability and seasonality. These are ideas that…
Muddy Waters and the Stones Get Their Mojo Workin’
Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones Live at the Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981 Eagle Rock, 106 min., $14.98 DVD/$19.98 DVD/CD What a great time it is be a classic-rock fan with eyes as well as ears. Between a trove of rare and unreleased concert and TV appearance videos readily available…
Norma Jean Scott, 48, Grandmother of 18, Bayou Body Count No. 148
Houston homicide detectives are looking for clues in connection with the discovery of the dead body of a woman who had gotten into a domestic dispute in the Fifth Ward. The body of Norma Jean Scott, 48, was discovered Monday evening in an undeveloped area near 59 and the North…
Pop Rocks: Guys, Don’t Watch Guys With Kids
Autumn is almost here, and with it comes yet another batch of new TV shows. The fall TV season is both more and less significant than it was in the past. More, because the number of networks debuting new series vastly eclipses the Big Three from days of yore. Less,…
Tracing Texans Hope & Optimism Through Houston Press Covers
This Sunday — finally — the NFL season begins, at least as far as the Texans are concerned. And that’s what counts here in Houston, of course. The Texans have been with us since the 2002 season, making this year the 11th time they will be suiting up to elate,…
The First Alt-Country Record? Flatlanders Rediscover The Odessa Tapes
A lot of stellar music came out of that flat land known as West Texas. Bob Wills, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Terry Allen, Guy Clark, and the Sparkles are just a few artists who found something in the wind, the dust, the heat, the cactus, the mesquite, the…
My First Taste of Bernie’s Burger Bus
What’s bright yellow, has four wheels and could be mistaken for a school bus at a quick glance? In Houston, that would be the ultra-gourmet burger joint by the name of Bernie’s Burger Bus. And if you haven’t yet tried it, you’re seriously missing out. I’d heard great things about…
Dwayne Gator Liggins and More: It’s the Quarterly Strange (Accused) Criminal Name Report
As we head into what passes for fall down here, it’s high time we came up with another list of the strangest, funniest and most awesome names to pass through the Harris County Criminal Justice Center over the last few months. (Or years. We stumbled on some older ones.) As…
Lucky Peach: A Huge Helping of Irreverence with a Hint of Man-Ass
I just got my hands on Lucky Peach, David Chang of Momofuku’s New York Times-best-selling food journal, which features essays, photography, full-color recipes, art, travelogues and rants in a meticulously designed format. There are currently five issues, with the first issue out of print (it sold over 60,000 copies). The…
The League of Extraordinary Internet Trolls
Recently I became aware of a new kind of performance artist. At least a kind I had never heard of before. It was a group of dedicated Facebook pseudonyms that made it their goal to attack right-wing Facebook pages with angry, profanity ridden, and often hysterical comments specifically to be…
Dum Dum Girls “Coming Down,” Out of Their Clothes
I have a deep place in my heart for Dum Dum Girls. Their music is a kind of aching, empty light that is like being shot with some sort of experimental anesthesia before a doctor restructures a deformation. Think of it as Adele, but produced in an alley where crime…
RIP Big Man Character Actor Michael Clarke Duncan: Five Of His Best Film Moments
His size and booming voice made him equal parts menacing, childlike, and unique. Michael Clarke Duncan was easily one of the most beloved “big man” character actors of the past decade, and now he is gone, dead at 54 from heart attack complications. He passed away on Monday. He never…
College Football Week 1: 4 Winners, 4 Losers Among Coaches, Heisman Candidates, QBs
Thursday night college football is fun. The Friday night ESPN game, at least under the magical watch of Joe Tessitore, has become somewhat sneaky over the years. But the college football season truly begins on that first Saturday. So when I fired up the television Saturday morning, then and only…
Checking Out Jemma Kidd’s New Eyeliner Colors For Fall & Winter
Recently a press release hit my inbox that gave me pause. Jemma Kidd–a makeup artist who has her own line of cosmetics, sold at Target–was announcing two new colors in her I-Conic Eyes eyeliner collection: “Idol,” a dramatic green, and “Prima Donna,” a deep purple. While both colors are very…
What do French Aperitifs, River Boats and the Vietnam War Have in Common? Build-A-Bar: Bonal Gentiane-Quina
I know, I know. It’s been awhile. I’ve been suffering from a bit of drinker’s block, every attempt at creating something interesting ending in false start, disappointment or disaster. One particularly unpleasant effort — involving root beer liqueur, rum and orange juice — finally convinced me to put the shaker…
Heart’s Ann Wilson: Still a Fanatic
Rewind: Last Night: Heart at House of Blues (March 11, 2012) For decades, Heart has been one of the premiere, best-selling and most influential bands in rock. Starting with 1976 debut Dreamboat Annie, the group structured around Wilson sisters Ann (singing) and Nancy (guitars, occasional singing) has paved the way…
The 5 Best Shows In Houston This Week: T.S.O.L., Girl In a Coma, Etc.
The true sounds of liberty since 1978, whether those sounds are Black Flag-ish hardcore or Danzig-like mook-rock, the decidedly gothic T.S.O.L. sprang from the surfer’s paradise of Huntington Beach, Calif., and palled around with the Damned and Dead Kennedys before helping their younger SoCal siblings like Bad Religion and Social…
Three-Month-Old Baby, Bayou Body Count No. 147
Houston police are investigating the death of a three-month-old baby on the southeast side August 30. The baby boy, whose name has not been released, died after being taken to Texas Children’s Hospital and the cause of death is pending autopsy results by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences…
Comment of the Day: Would Life in Paul Ryan’s America Be Scary?
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous…
#MadeInAmerica: Pearl Jam & Jay-Z Rock Together to Close Out
As day two of the Made In America festival came to the end, much of the crowd decided to leave early. That was just fine for the thousands of Pearl Jam faithful, who had plenty of room to witness the 20-year-old Seattle band rock out after being personally chosen by…
#MadeInAmerica: The Rain, Restrictions & Randomness of Day 2
Day two of the first-ever Made In America music festival felt considerably less hectic and crowded than day one. The blazing heat of the previous day was replaced with scattered showers, and the humidity that follows, making for a sticky and slippery situation on the Ben Franklin Parkway. The crowd…
Timothy Briscoe, 23: Dead Body Ignored in Alleged Drug House for Four Hours; Bayou Body Count No. 146
Police says drug activity might be connected with the August 28 fatal shooting of a man on the northwest side of town. Katy resident Timothy Briscoe, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene in the 10200 block of Bamboo Road about 5 p.m. that afternoon, inside a residence police say…
Last Night: Mary J. Blige & D’Angelo at Toyota Center
Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo Toyota Center September 2, 2012 There’s a wildly popular scene in comedian/actor Jamie Foxx’s hit late 90s television show, The Jamie Foxx Show, in which he dresses up — or undresses, actually — as funk singer D’Angelo in penance for some slight done to his girlfriend…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 19, Truffled Egg Toast at Dolce Vita
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Let’s Hear It for Houston, Home to 4 of TxDot’s 10 Most Congested Highway Stretches
The Texas Department of Transportation has released its annual list of the most angst-producing stretches of highway in the state, and once again the Houston area is not to be denied. Four of the top 10 most congested “roadway segments” are within driving distance, if by “driving” you mean “sitting…
Saturday Night: The Tontons at Warehouse Live
The Tontons, Quiet Company, Featherface Warehouse Live Studio September 1, 2012 Rewind: The Tontons Are Deemed Buzzworthy By MTV, Playing PopMontreal It’s hard to put my finger on why, but Saturday felt like the most important night for local music since at least Friday’s Grandfather Child hoedown at Fitz. I’m…
Where Are We Eating? Clue: Pork ‘n’ Beans
When you order the “pork and beans” at this new restaurant, you might be surprised with the kind of pork and beans you receive: fresh, vibrantly green fava beans beans and a huge braised pork shank, all of it in a sweet-and-sour agrodolce reduction that mimics the tangy taste of…
Etta James, Live at Montreux 1993 and “Something’s Got a Hold of Me”
We’ve got our winner for the Etta James Live at Montreux 1993 DVD giveaway — congratulations to Madi T. For everyone else who didn’t win a copy of the DVD, we thought we’d give you a taste with a clip of James performing a raucous version of “Something’s Got a…
New Cereal Muffin Mixes from Betty Crocker
Although in the past I’ve mocked foods experiencing a certain degree of identity confusion, e.g., gum that thinks it’s key lime pie, I nevertheless remain strangely fascinated with these fusion products. When my friend Maggie sent me a snarky FYI e-mail on Betty Crocker’s new Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Reese’s Puffs,…
Saturday Night: Def Leppard, Poison & Lita Ford at The Woodlands
Def Leppard, Poison, Lita Ford Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion Saturday, September 1, 2012 Rewind: Lita Ford: Still Living Like A Runaway The Best Def Leppard Demos, Rarities, And Deep Tracks Lita Ford kicked off Saturday evening with her blazing cover of Elton John’s “The Bitch Is Back.” Considering the interview…
UH Coogs It, Loses Embarrassingly to Texas State
The Houston Cougars were huge favorites coming into Saturday night’s game against the Texas State Bobcats. It was the Bobcats’ very first ever game as an FBS school. But like the last time the Cougars played a game at Robertson Stadium before a packed crowd, the Cougars were embarrassed, losing…
Five Lessons Learned from Hurricane Isaac
The circus has finally left New Orleans as they begin their cleanup after Hurricane Isaac dropped boatloads of rain on the Big Easy earlier this week. Despite some dire early warnings and a near-miss of the GOP convention in Tampa Bay, Isaac was fairly tame by hurricane standards. That didn’t…
NobleMotion Dance Explores the Light in Spitting Ether
The setup: Since 2009, NobleMotion has established itself as a company built on athleticism, explosiveness and a keen exploration of technology and contemporary culture in relation to dance. The company’s main interests are on full display in its newest piece, Spitting Ether: A Reality Bending Dance. A full-on collaboration with…
Top 5 Ice Cream and Cake Combinations
Although cake and ice cream can stand alone as their own desserts, when you put them together, it’s heavenly. It’s easy to pair vanilla or chocolate ice cream with a simple cake, but there are other combinations that will make your taste buds say, thank you. Here’s my top five…
Friday Night: Covenant at Numbers
Covenant, The Break Up Numbers August 31, 2012 I couldn’t believe that this was Covenant’s first Houston show, and much thanks must go to Roberth Ehlinger of The New Beat and John Housman and David Spade of Past Present Productions for making it happen. It cannot be overstated just how…
The Texans Fan Brawl at Reliant, Zaprudered & Starring Bedazzled Jorts
It’s been a tough couple of weeks at Reliant Stadium. Not on the field — in that case, the Texans are doing okay. But off the field, a fan has died after falling from an escalator, and now video has emerged of a brawl in the stands during the 49ers…
Friday Night: Grandfather Child, the Suffers, etc. at Fitzgerald’s
Grandfather Child, the Suffers, Brent Nettles, Don’t Poke the Bear Fitzgerald’s August 31, 2012 Rewind: Grandfather Child Prepare for Debut (print feature) “Lucas was always getting into things as a kid. Asking questions, touching things,” says Lucas Gorham’s aunt while Gorham and his band Grandfather Child are playing one of…
What’s Cooking This Week? Gourmet Grilled Cheese & 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 ingredients I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
10 Best Ways Video Games Told Players to Stop Being Assholes
You know why games like Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City and Xenoblade are so damn near perfect? It’s because there are two kinds of players. There are those that say, “Fuck your linear plot. I’m going to see what’s over here,” and there are those that say, “Fuck that shit over…
Gilbert Kibble, 38, Curtis Steward, 22, and Felipe Castillo, 26, Victims of Nightclub Shootout, Bayou Body Count Nos. 143-145
A wild end to the night at a northeast-side club Sunday morning left three dead and three others injured, police say. A fight between two groups at Club ICU near Meas & Rinn led to gunfire, with reports of at least one shooter firing wildly into the air and into…
Labor Day Laughs: Real Actors Read Yelp Reviews
On the off chance that you haven’t been exposed to the thrilling beauty that is “Real Actors Reading Yelp Reviews,” we’ve compiled the entire series into one post for you. So take a break from doing…whatever the hell it is people do on Labor Day…and remember that dining at the…
Labor Day: The 7 Best Birthing Scenes in Film (NSFW)
It’s one of Hollywood’s favorite and most pervasive tropes: the labor scene. Think of the films that have come out in the last few years or are about to come out. Knocked Up*, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Juno, Twilight: Breaking Dawn. You might think this says something about…
Friday Night: Morgan Page at Stereo Live
Morgan Page Stereo Live August 31, 2012 Rewind: Morgan Page: On The Road, In The Air, and Going Green Morgan Page may not be the world’s most famous DJ, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a name within the community. The loudest cheer all Friday night happened when he stepped…
Exterminate: 5 Songs For the Daleks
Note to my fellow Whovians: This is being written in the past, so I have no idea how much then-me will have enjoyed the first episode of the season (now). If you want to read what I will have thought you can see that at this link, but please pop…
Doctor Who: It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Dalek World
Briefly: Now, I get paid to watch Doctor Who. Suck it, real work! Also, check out my musical tributes to the Daleks. It’s been almost a full year since the season finale of series 6, and having watched the entirety of the rebooted series on Netflix over the last several…
#MadeInAmerica: Jay-Z, Obama & G.O.O.D. Music Close Out Day 1
Rewind: #MadeInAmerica: The Heat, Crowds & Fireworks of Day 1 See Jay-Z, Kanye, Rick Ross’ crew, Passion Pit, Gary Clark Jr. and lots more from Made In America’s maiden voyage in our slideshow. The setting was grand: One of the most iconic set of stairs in the world, in one…
#MadeInAmerica: The Heat, Crowds & Fireworks of Day 1
Rewind: #MadeInAmerica: Translation’s Steve Stoute Talks Diversity, Honesty, and The Digital Revolution See Jay-Z, Kanye, Rick Ross’ crew, Passion Pit, Gary Clark Jr. and lots more from Made In America’s maiden voyage in our slideshow. “If you put on a festival full of good music, people will find you”. That…
Thus Endeth the Republican Convention: The Best of Our Miami Sister Paper’s Coverage
Florida has survived the 2012 Republican National Convention, which perhaps should not surprise too many people because Florida has always shown a knack for surviving whatever gets thrown at it. Even if it’s Clint Eastwood arguing with a chair. The RNC was in Tampa, but our sister paper Miami New…
It’s Labor Day Weekend! Time for More DWI No-Refusal Programs!
A long weekend that semi-officially marks the end of summer is a good cause to celebrate, but unfortunately too often that celebrating can get dangerous. In an effort to crack down on the danger, local law-enforcement agencies are making sure the public is aware that there will be increased emphasis…
Last Summer’s Drought, Still Killing Trees: Help Out Sam Houston National Forest
Okay, so this tree, with its lovely green canopy, looked like it had handily survived last summer’s Texas drought. But just this week, it popped out of the ground in its Montrose backyard and took out a hammock as it crashed down to the patio. Same thing holds for a…
Juan Villarreal: HISD Teacher Arrested on Child-Porn Charges (UPDATED)
Federal officials have arrested a Houston ISD elementary school teacher and charged him with possession and distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today. Juan A. Villarreal, 52, a third-grade teacher at Anderson Elementary in Westbury, was taken into custody pending a September court hearing. Prosecutors say an…
Waiver Wire Guide: Where the Texans May Look for Help
Yes, the Houston Texans had a game last night. Yes, they won (28-24). No, it’s probably not worth extensive discussion. Aside from the very small handful battling for the remaining roster and practice-squad slots, there wasn’t much to be learned out of the preseason finale with the Vikings. Sean Pendergast…
This Week in Deliciousness: Hatch Chiles, Booze and That One Song
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating…Our Words, where we’re working hard every day coming up with innovative ways to beat scurvy and passing the drunkenness on to you. Don’t thank us; booze-infused fruit is its own reward. We started the week off right by reaching number one…
Alternative Names for Eva Longoria and Tilman Fertitta’s “Female-Oriented” Steakhouse
This afternoon, CultureMap announced that Houston restaurant kingpin Tilman Fertitta would be teaming up with Eva Longoria and Morton’s to create a Las Vegas steakhouse that will “create a feeling of empowerment, especially for female guests.” SHe — yes, that’s the name; no, there’s not a typo there — will…
The Houston Texans Sideline Experience
(Note: I didn’t know that a man had fallen to his death yesterday at Reliant Stadium until I was leaving the complex on Thursday night. ) Check out Groovehouse’s spectacular slideshow from the Texans and Vikings match-up. Yesterday afternoon I had the honor of seeing a side of the Houston…
All The September 11th Dubstep Tribute Videos You’ll Ever Need
Most of the email I get in my Rocks Off inbox is pretty boring. The bulk of it is press releases for bands I’m never going to listen to with the occasional new album download sprinkled in, but every now and then something comes along that stops me in my…
Action Filmmaker Tsui Hark on Jet Li and The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Chances are you aren’t reading this on a 3D IMAX screen. That’s a pity. To get the full effect of Tsui Hark’s The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate nonstop wuxia action, you should see it in an IMAX theater, in 3D. (For right now, you’ll have to settle for the…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 20, Roasted Cauliflower at Roost
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
From Boys to Men: Former Jersey Boys Castmembers, The Midtown Men Make Their Symphonic Debut
The Midtown Men perform “Happy Together” (Ed. Note: I met these dudes on Friday morning — this morning — at the Midtown Starbucks location, so this blog is a happy accident. They were bright-eyed and impeccably-coiffed and outfitted while most people were still in their bedclothes.) The four members of…
Comment of the Day: The GOP, In to Save the Day on Voter ID
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous…
Celebrity Wine: Tasting Notes for (Drew) Barrymore Pinot Grigio
According to the Decordi winery’s Web site, “the 2011 Barrymore Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie IGT is a dry and fruity wine made with grapes from the Veneto, Friuli and South Tyrol regions.” The Decordi winemaking facility is located in Cremona (in the region of Lombardy), a two-hour drive — minimum…
Montana Cans: The Week in Art Photos
It’s time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston’s creative community. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool…
Happy Birthday to Archie Bell, Houston’s Multi-Hit Wonder
Sixty-eight must be a pretty significant number to Archie Bell these days. Not only was 1968 the year that “Tighten Up” — his million-selling single with Archie Bell and the Drells — was released, but the man himself turns 68 years old tomorrow. A seminal piece of endlessly danceable proto-funk,…
Gabriel Morales, 55, Bayou Body Count No. 142
A man walking home on the northwest side about 2 a.m. this morning was shot to death by an unknown assailant, Houston police say. Gabriel Morales, 55, was walking home along the 5800 block of West Tidwell about 1:50 a.m. when someone approached him, shot him and left him for…
Upcoming Events: Sweet Charity and Celebrity Chef Tours
First and foremost, go check out today’s Voice Daily Deal. It’s the first time we’ve partnered with 100% Taquito, and today’s deal gets you $20 worth of food for $10. For those (like me) who are terrible at math, that’s half-off your meal. Do you know how many cups of…
Remembering Hip-Hop Mogul Chris Lighty
Sitting at my desk for the past day or so, I’ve struggled to come up with words about numerous subjects. Since Sunday, I’ve had to assume control of my dad’s company with him being in the hospital threatening critical condition. I’ve never been more scared or felt more vulnerable at…
Dynamo Earn 1-1 Tie in Honduras to Keep Pace in CONCACAF
Down a man for almost the entire second half, the Houston Dynamo held on to an important 1-1 road draw against Honduran side Deportivo Olimpia. The Dynamo and Olimpia remain tied atop of the CONCACAF Champions League Group 3 standings with 4 points apiece. It didn’t take long for the…
Don’t Do What Donny Don’t Does: South Austin Brewery Belgian Style Saison
I got off to kind of a rough start with this one. First off, someone needs to teach those guys that there are supposed to be six twists to a cage. I don’t know if that rule is different with beer, but I counted eight. After I absentmindedly tried to…
Lita Ford: Still Living Like A Runaway
In the ’80s, Lita Ford was one of the most prominent female voices in hard rock. With hits such as “Kiss Me Deadly” (which was named the 76th “Greatest Hard Rock Song Of All-Time” by VH1), “Back To The Cave,” and “Close My Eyes Forever,” she was on a winning…
If You Can’t Get Laid on a Layover, Shop Instead
Stuck at the airport? Things could be worse. (Depending on what airport, anyway.) Although we are ideally in airports only as long as we need to be in order to catch our next flight, sometimes there is no getting around an extended layover, or even a long wait on those…
Austin’s New (C)KOKE-FM Can’t Beat The Real Thing
Lonesome, Onry and Mean had been hearing about the new KOKE-FM progressive country station in Austin for a few weeks. One friend in particular kept raving about the station, so today we finally sauntered over to KOKE-FM (99.3) on the world wide web. Back in the day when we were…
From Boys to Men: Former Jersey Boys Cast Members, The Midtown Men Make Their Symphonic Debut
The Midtown Men perform “Happy Together” The four members of The Midtown Men — Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer — first met and performed together in the original Broadway production of Jersey Boys, a jukebox musical based on the music of Frankie Valli and the…
Celebrate International Bacon Day Tomorrow With Houston’s 8 Craziest Bacon Dishes
Tomorrow is International Bacon Day. In honor of everyone’s favorite fatty strip of pig, we’re bringing you some of Houston’s Most Outrageous Bacon Dishes. Country-Fried Bacon: BRC Gastropub’s Deviled Eggs w/ Country-Fried Bacon. Leave it up to a Big Red Cock to take a piece of humble bacon, chicken-fry it…
Are You Ready for Some Football? Well, the Rice Owls Sure Weren’t
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Rice beating Rice. The little mistakes leading to big plays. The Owls thought they could win the game. Then stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Owls come out slow, fall behind by a huge amount, rally, then fall way short in…
Week in Photos: Kobe Roast Beef
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. We’re looking for pictures that represent the best of Houston, from food to art to events, to secret hidden spots of beauty. Just drop them in our Flickr…
Health Department Roundup: Montrose Edition
Inspectors really picked over 77006 last week. This part of town is known as Neartown, Montrose, the Montrose (kind of annoying, but technically okay) or “the ‘Trose” if you’re into efficiency. By swapping a single syllable for another single syllable, you avoid having to say the entire sentence: “I am…
Ten Musicians Who Did Time On Broadway
Broadway has been known to make both actors and singers into legends. However, due to what is known as stunt casting — which is essentially gimmickry in order to gain ticket sales — some musicians have headed to Broadway, if only for a short period of time. Here are some…
Political Pornfest: From Thomas Jefferson to Nude Obama on a Unicorn
I’m not breaking any new ground here, but presidential politics have gotten more ridiculous than marketing StairMasters to Daleks. Everyone seems to have gone completely cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the fact that presidential candidates have apparently become prime subjects for pornography. This…
Man Falls to Death Off Escalator at Texans’ Game (UPDATE: ID’d As Jonathan Kelly, 25)
A man fell from one of Reliant Stadium’s large escalators and died during Thursday night’s Texans-Vikings exhibition game, various media outlets say. The identity of the victim has not been released, but CBS Houston says says the 45-year-old man “fell to his death while horse-playing on an escalator at the…
Happy National Trail Mix Day: The Ultimate Guide to Building the Perfect Trail Mix
The beauty of trail mix is that you can put all sorts of ingredients together to make an ultimate and flavorful snack. The trick is putting together a cohesive mix. So, in celebration of National Trail Mix Day, I have put together a guide to building the perfect trail mix,…
100 Creatives 2012: Travis Ammons, Filmmaker
What He Does: Travis Ammons is a filmmaker whose upcoming film, Suicide Notes, is a dark comedy of the most macabre bent. In it, a struggling playwright writes a show that culminates with the main character’s suicide. A money-hungry producer decides to go for broke and do a three-show run…
Marcus Manchild + Delo + Doughbeezy + Propain + Michael Artis = A Headache For Everyone Else Competing
Here’s how you be successful in three simple steps: 1. Take four of the city’s very best young rappers, ace sirs that have been recognized by brands like MTV and XXL, and put them on a song together. You won’t need to worry about energy or creativity because the competitive…
Let’s Get Ahead of Ourselves: Romney Wins, Dies and Paul Ryan Takes Over? Introducing Paul Ryan’s America
For a moment, let’s talk fantasy. Let’s say Mitt Romney somehow overcomes all of his apparent weakness — Bain Capital rapaciousness, tax-record speculation, rich-guy aloofness — and somehow ekes past President Obama in November in one of the narrowest victories in recent American politics. Democrats are swept into apoplexy, Paul…
August 2012 Openings & Closings: Lucille’s Lands in the Museum District and Dunkin’ Donuts Hits Houston Hard
Lucille’s had its soft opening earlier this week, and plans to host its grand opening on Monday, September 10. The restaurant is the latest addition to the food-starved Museum District, which recently saw the well-received Jade Stone Café open inside the Asia Society. Unlike the pan-Asian menu at Jade Stone,…
Best-Selling Single Of All Time “Candle In The Wind 1997” Turns 15 Years Old
Re-written in the wake of his friend Princess Diana’s car accident death on August 31, 1997, Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind” was merely a maudlin tribute to Marilyn Monroe before tragedy struck. Diana died from her wounds in a Paris road tunnel crash, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed,…
Celebrity Voice Suggestions for Cartoon Network
In case you needed another reason to be in love with Matthew Broderick, the actor and husband of Sarah Jessica Parker will add his voice to an upcoming episode of the Cartoon Network animated series Adventure Time. Broderick will voice a used-car salesman named The Dream Warrior, which is not…
P.L.X.T.X. Is Pronounced “Pluto” Because of Liberty, Apparently
It’s a well-known fact that most band names are essentially gobbledygook, but here at Rocks Off we’re trying hard to find meaning in the oddest monikers. I can’t really describe Bradley Munoz and his hard, throbbing electronica act P.L.X.T.X. better than my pal Jeremy Hart did over at Space City…
Bernie’s Burger Bus Invited to the World Food Championships in Las Vegas
We’re issuing a belated thank-you to everyone who came out to The Distillery back in April for the 2012 Houston Press Burger Bracket, and another round of congratulations for the winner — Bernie’s Burger Bus. Why? Because our Burger Bracket — now in its second year — was identified as…
Brandon Brown: Binoculars Aid His Masturbatory School-Kid Watching, Cops Say
Police have charged a 21-year-old Atascocita man with felony indecency exposure in connection with his using binoculars to spy on schoolchildren waiting at a bus stop, court documents say. Brandon Sean Brown was arrested after being seen near Oaks Elementary in the 19600 block of Merrillwood about 7:30 a.m. yesterday…
Dogs Seized from Spindletop Need a Loving Home, So What’s Your Deal?
A dozen dogs seized from the Spindletop Dog Refuge last month are still at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter and in need of forever homes. So what the heck are you waiting for? They all vary in breed, age and temperament, but they’re all the same in one crucial way:…
James Yeakey: Spring Man’s Amazing Drink-and-Drive Binge Leads to Prison
A Spring man who is the son of a former active-duty serviceman stationed in Japan pleaded guilty in Houston today to intoxication manslaughter in connection with a March 2008 fatal crash. James Lewis Yeakey was 20 at the time and partying with friends in Okinawa, federal prosecutors say, when he…
#MadeInAmerica: Translation’s Steve Stoute Talks Diversity, Honesty, and The Digital Revolution
This Labor Day holiday weekend in Philadelphia, Jay-Z is teaming up with Budweiser and Live Nation to curate the initial and inaugural Made In America Music Festival, a two-day, multi-genre event featuring acts such as Pearl Jam, Skrillex, Santigold, and Gary Clark Jr, and features the return of D’Angelo and…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 21, Chicken-Fried Water Buffalo at The Hay Merchant
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Texas GOP Slapped Again: Now Judges Toss Voter ID Law
For the second time this week, federal judges have dealt setbacks to grand plans by Texas Republicans to suppress the minority vote protect the sanctity of the ballot. Tuesday a federal panel found the state’s new redistricting maps to be biased; today another panel has ruled that the new voter…
The Tontons Are Deemed Buzzworthy By MTV, Playing PopMontreal
Just this morning, MTV’s Buzzworthy site decided to show the world the Tontons and their track “Golden”, which was easily one of the best things about 2011. Bun B and myself decided it one night at a food truck. That’s how things happen in Houston. Great, now these guys and…
What Was That Dish on That Show I Saw? There’s an App for That
You’re in Las Vegas, and it’s dinner time. Sure, there are hundreds of hotel restaurants you could try — some of them even worth it — but you are remembering a restaurant you saw on the Food Network. It was on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and it was…
Free for All: Blazing Baroque, and “Dog Park”
As she made clear in her review, Art Attack arts writer Meredith Deliso liked Lillian Warren’s “Wait with Me,” our suggestion for a visit on Friday. Warren’s paintings show people in a variety of poses, all of them seemingly waiting. One’s looking at his watch, another’s standing with his arms…
Angelo Miller: Alleged Door-to-Door Drug Salesman on Run After Residents Fight Back
Houston police are looking for a man on the run after a north Houston apartment-complex shootout triggered by drugs. Angelo Miller, 23, is charged with aggravated assault. HPD says Juan Espinoza, 35, has been arrested in connection with the incident and faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly…
thelastplaceyoulook Turn To Their Fans To Help Kickstart Their First National Tour
To make the most out of the chance of a lifetime, you may have to make some sacrifices. For thelastplaceyoulook that means quitting their day jobs, looking for more affordable housing, and leaving their families behind for six weeks. Having built a dedicated fan base here at home the band…
David Mamet’s November: A Funny, Forgettable Farce
See our interview with director Sanford Robbins. The setup: Whatever happened to David Mamet? The testosterone-fueled playwright (Pulitzer Prize-winning Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, Sexual Perversity in Chicago; films The Untouchables, The Verdict) has had a dramatic change of heart, or some other organ. His politics have veered sharply from…
Kelly Wearstler Chats Color and Shows Off FW 12 Collection at Tootsies
Kelly Wearstler’s FW 12 collection is ripe with rich colors and lush textures with a slight ’80s rocker vibe. Many designers are familiar with textiles, but Wearstler’s experience comes from her first career: interior design. Famous for her Hollywood Regency aesthetic, Wearstler has designed a chic, opulent hotel chain, The…
Drunk Melon Balls: The Labor Day Party Must-Have
Although it’ll stay hot here through at least the “fall,” Labor Day weekend is traditionally the last big pool party and/or barbecuing weekend of the year. And nothing goes better with swimsuits and/or smoked meats than cool, refreshing, healthy fruit. That’s been saturated with booze. Drunk watermelon is a summer…
Happy Birthday, John Peel: Our 10 Favorite Sessions
Today would have been the 73rd birthday of John Peel, one of the planet’s most legendary, eclectic and flat-out best radio disc jockeys of all time. He died in 2004, but the nearly 40 years of outrageously good music that he helped bring to the masses at BBC Radio 1…
Lindsay Ann Grice: Accused Klein Meth Cook Advertises Business on LinkedIn, Faces Arson Charge After Friend Is Burned in Explosion
New charges have been filed in connection with a Klein meth fire that sent one man to the hospital with critical injuries and two others to jail. Harris County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Lindsay Ann Grice, 25, and Thurman Lee Hall, 37, back on May 24 after a pot of what…
New Fees for the MFAH’s Free Lecture Series
Members of the Museum of Fine Arts were in for a bit of a surprise when they received their September member guide in the mail. The museum, which regularly hosts multiple free talks throughout the month, will be charging for some of these lectures beginning this fall. Lectures are a…
Hatch Chile Menu Specials at Chuy’s
While many local establishments’ Hatch chile celebrations are winding down, Chuy’s is just getting started. Their annual Hatch Chile Festival began August 20 and will continue through September 9, which means there’s plenty of time to try their limited-time-only Hatch chile menu…
The Niceguys Have A Video For “Magick” And It’s Just As Great As The Song Itself
Last month, The Niceguys released a song called “Magick” and we all fell all ourselves to throw compliments at it. Earlier this week, the video for it came out. And holy fuck. It’s wonderful. I could spend another 200 words fellating the guys that are nice and the director that…
2 Pianos 4 Hands at Stages: Life at Their Fingertips
When Jeffrey Rockwell was young, he decided he wanted to play the piano and nothing would deter him. “I badgered my parents,” he recalls, and finally they caved. “When I was nine I started classical lessons.” He continued with these lessons through his early 20s. When he was still a…
A Food Scale That Tells You More Than Just Weight
Last Christmas, my mom purchased the Eat Smart Nutrition Pro Scale for me to use while I cook. I have type 1 diabetes and need to know how many carbohydrates and grams of fiber are in each item of food I eat. So, when I’m cooking, especially with foods that…
Anthony Carey, Missing Texas A&M Student: Apparent Death “Doesn’t Make Sense,” Friends Say
Along a rural forested road in Marlin, local police discovered an abandoned 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer earlier this week, its doors locked and a cell phone inside. The car belonged to Texas A&M student Anthony Carey, who had been missing for several days. But what police found perhaps 50 yards away…
Pop Rocks: Courtney Stodden Turns 18, Perverts Exhale Noisily
Good heavens, night is falling and the text entry window for my due-at-8 a.m. pop culture blog entry remains alarmingly free of text. To TMZ! Here’s a shocker…Courtney Stodden says she definitely has NOT ruled out any of the porn offers that have rolled in since she turned 18 this…
Gay Couple Sues United Airlines Over Sex Toy Allegedly Taped to Their Luggage
Back in the day, there used to be a popular TV ad featuring an ape as an airport baggage-handler…. ….and things somewhat predictably did not go well. Sure, the ape was a little rough on the goods, but one thing he/she/it didn’t do? He/she/it didn’t tape a greasy dildo to…
A Date with a Pig and Much More at Monica Pope’s Sparrow Bar + Cookshop
Chef’s Monica Pope’s new concept to replace the famed t’afia is called Sparrow Bar + Cookshop. She chose the word because it resembles the Latin word for “hope” — “sperare,” fitting — not only because she is working on a memoir entitled Eating Hope, but also because hope is truly…
Looking Back On Queens Of The Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf
This past week one of the most beloved rock disc in the decade turned 10 years old. It was August 27, 2002 that the world met Queens Of The Stone Age’s third LP, Songs For The Deaf, a blistering, swaggery, pummeling kick-in-the-nuts of a rock album. The band, lead by…
For the NFL Season: The Overpowering Awfulness of Houston Oiler Fight Songs, Collected
Everyone’s happy, happy, happy with where the Houston Texans are headed into the 2012 season — the roster battles are largely confined to low-profile back-up positions, the division’s weak and a Super Bowl beckons — but this city has been there before. We’ve gone through it with the Texans themselves,…
Lindsay Heffron of Liberty Station on Her Upcoming National Cocktail Competition and Pet Pigeons
It doesn’t take long to notice that Liberty Station is a lot like Houston itself. Like the city, the little bar housed in an old filling station is many things to many people — and it really does have to be visited and explored to get a feel for it…
The Best Def Leppard Demos, Rarities, And Deep Tracks
Def Leppard is one of the quintessential rock bands of the ’80s. With such hits as “Foolin’,” “Hysteria,” and the ever-popular “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and countless others. Despite the numerous tragedies that have befallen the band, including the death of guitarist Steve Clark and a car wreck that…
Movies You Can Watch for Free on YouTube (of Varying Artistic Merit)
For the past few weeks, I have been trolling through the vast and wonderful landscape of YouTube searching for feature films in their entirety. A few weeks back, I even did a piece for our music blog Rocks Off on the best rock documentaries you can find on YouTube, which…
Houston Texans: Some Pre-Final Preseason Game 53-Man Roster-tology!
Thursday night, the Texans’ 2012 preseason wraps up with a game against the Minnesota Vikings. The game is meaningful to a couple dozen guys still battling for roster and practice squad spots (and REALLY degenerate gamblers — seriously, final preseason game gambling is the bestiality porn of the gaming industry),…
Texans Tailgate Thursdays: The Raging Bulls and Battle Red Kool-Aid
In addition to 2012 being proclaimed “The Year of the Texans” by our own Sean Pendergast, it’s well known that the Houston Texans have one of the greatest tailgating traditions in the country — a fact made more impressive by the team’s relative youth. On Thursdays during football season, we’re…
So Long, Nintendo Power: A Look at the Best Classic Covers
Once upon a time Nintendo was more than a game company, it was the kind of community that you get among Apple users today. Maybe it was because gaming was still mostly a kid thing and kids are the world’s best obsessors, or maybe it was just because Nintendo in…
Now Broadcasting From The Red Planet: 5 Artists Who Deserve A Premiere On Mars
While it was neither a small step nor a giant leap NASA once again made history on Tuesday. Not content with just beaming music in to space they successfully streamed a song from the Curiosity rover hanging out on Mars back to the little blue orb we call home. If…
30 Seconds With Brandon Miles of Crunk Witch
Straight out of Maine comes a bizarre electronic duo called Crunk Witch that simply has no fucks to give. Their work is off the charts in terms of genre and any kind of normalcy. They are simply brilliant. I managed to grab a moment of vocalist Brandon Miles’ time in…
Indiana Jones and the Perils of Humanistic Decency
The story goes that while filming in Tunisia in the summer of 1980, Steven Spielberg avoided the dysentery that afflicted most of the cast and crew of Raiders of the Lost Ark by holing up in his hotel room with a suitcase full of SpaghettiOs. Like most studio-approved behind-the-scenes errata,…
Flags and Cycles
Dear Mexican, What is the reason for the colors of the Mexican flag? Is there any razón it resembles the Italian flag, minus the águila y serpent? Conozco más mexicanos que estadounidenses pero none of mis ‘manitos morenos seem to know why… El Girafe Dear Male Giraffe Gabacho, Good for you…
Mel Tillis: Coca-Cola Cowboy
At 80, Mel Tillis, once one of country music’s hottest commodities, isn’t finished yet. “I’m just about to publish my first novel,” he says in a jovial, upbeat voice that screams huckster with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s called Acting Sheriff and it’s set in Palm Beach in 1947,”…
T.S.O.L.
T.S.O.L. are one of the longest-running grandaddies of the SoCal punk scene, forming in 1978 as a straight-ahead hardcore band, then morphing into gothic post-punk and then Guns N’ Roses-style sleaze (they were friends with the GN’R tribe) before returning to the tried-and-true punk formula by the ’90s and ’00s…
2012: Year of the Texans
Check out our Texans 2012 Season Bingo Card/Drinking Game. “I’ve said this many times and I think we can win any week right now and that’s very encouraging. I love the way our players came in here today. It was different than it has been. It’s almost like they would’ve…
Paneer on Bombay Pizza
Check out more photos from the inside of the warm and welcoming Bombay Pizza in our slideshow. Bombay Pizza possesses the warm glow of a beacon in the evenings, the Edison bulbs that hang in its windows illuminating one of the few downtown restaurants along Main Street that have thrived…
Japanese Splendor at MFAH
If you were a serious collector of Asian art, post-World War II was the right time to build your collection. With the economy not quite yet recovered from the war, significant historical pieces were relatively affordable, and prominent collectors like John D. Rockefeller III and John and Kimiko Powers were…
Grandfather Child Prepare for Debut
This weekend Grandfather Child releases their self-titled debut album for New West Records. The label has already had success with Robert Ellis — a GFC member when not on the road himself — and Buxton, its first two local signees from the modern Houston music explosion. Grandfather Child’s album is…
Hillbillies vs. Peacocks in Lawless
Screening the history of bootlegging in urban America led to the invention of a genre — the gangster film — but moviegoers have seen little of the hills and hollers from whence the syndicates’ potent spirits were shipped. Offhand, I can only think of Robert Mitchum’s homegrown 1958 vehicle Thunder…
D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige
After years in the wilderness, neo-soul man D’Angelo returned to the U.S. stage in early June for a late-night set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. He already had a few European dates under his belt, but this was his first appearance onstage in the States since…well, no one could remember…
Covenant
This is a classic Numbers show, all right; it’s even on a Friday night. Early on a Friday night. Covenant is one of those ultra-rare bookings that make people who never threw away their Nitzer Ebb records swoon: European, synthesized, futuristic, perhaps a little humorless but absolutely dramatic. Arising from…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Glass Graphica,” “Interstitial Spaces: Julia Barello & Beverly Penn,” “James Turrell: Holograms,” “Layover,” “Matt Weedman: Order No. 227,” “Perry House: Elegance/Violence,” “Sky, Trees and Earth”
“Glass Graphica” The two artists whose works appear side by side in this exhibition, Moshe Bursuker and Miguel Unson, have long been acquaintances. Bursuker taught at UrbanGlass, a community space in Brooklyn, New York, when Unson was a student. The two found that their love of glass was a common…
Knights of the Fire Kingdom
After Roky Moon & BOLT splintered this past spring, drummer Jeoaf Johnson and guitarist Aaron Echegaray didn’t stay lost at sea for long. Johnson assembled his own band, the Knights of the Fire Kingdom, bringing his gravelly bellow up front to sing lead and play guitar. Echegaray joined the Knights…
Bad Teacher
Highlights from Hair Balls Bad Teachers The NSFW Sexts That Got Teacher Fired Unbelievable. An Alief economics teacher (Really? Economics?) faces a felony charge of improper relationship with a student after authorities learned about lewd texts and illegal physical contact between him and a 17-year-old female student. Jeffrey Nicholas Guzman,…
Quiet Company
Quiet Company has one of the more interesting backstories to come along in a while, but even that’s not as compelling as their actual music. Over two albums, the Austin five-piece began making a few waves in Christian-rock circles without ever identifying themselves as such, though their themes and lyrics…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Happily Ever at the Box, KOOZA, Leading Ladies, Next Fall, Our Town
Happily Ever at the Box Fairy-tale archetypes get a scrumptious musical makeover from our favorite cabaret troupe, The Music Box Theater. In the tradition of their former shows, Music Box interlaces a little plot — here a mélange of fairy-tale types: princess, prince, wicked queen, godmother, narrator — with a…
The Best Beer Labels
Booze Last week, we took a look at some of the very worst labels you can find on a bottle of beer. To counterbalance all that artistic vomit, we gathered some of the most iconic and creative labels on shelves today — labels that feature artwork as original and important…
