World’s Worst Get-Away Vehicle Succeeds, At Least For Now
If you’re going to rob a bank and hope to get away with it, a couple of basic tips would seem to be a) Drive a vehicle that looks like every other vehicle on the road, and b) Don’t do everything but pose for your security-camera shot.Tossing caution to the…
MP3 of the Day: You(genious)’s Sticky-Sweet “Sex on a Spoon”
Hello, ladies. Come on in. Allow Rocks Off to take your coats. What’s that? It’s August? You don’t have any coats? No matter. Would you care for a glass of wine? Perhaps some Hennessy? Help yourself to this plate of fine cheeses, please. Half off at Spec’s, you know. Here,…
Two Cousins Nabbed In Mexico For Separate Houston Murders
Two men wanted for separate Houston murders were caught together in Guadalajara, Mexico yesterday afternoon. The crimes, which occurred about two years apart, were unrelated. The suspected killers are cousins. “Murder runs in this family,” said homicide detective Michael Miller of the Houston Police Department at a press conference this…
The Giant Salsa Bowls at Tacos La Bala
At Tacos La Bala #2, the subject of this week’s café review, the fiery green house hot sauce is served in enormous three-legged plastic bowls that look like Mexican molcajetes. The big bowl on each table usually has a plate over top to keep the flies and foreign matter out…
Want To Attend A Gene Green Town Hall? Bring A Photo ID
Town Hall meetings for members of congress have gotten pretty heated lately, as the president’s health-care proposal has, it’s safe to say, riled up some on the right. Houston congressman Gene Green’s office is doing something about it — they’re requiring that people present a photo ID proving they live…
Houston Music Fight Club: Roky Moon vs. Joe Mathlete, Asli vs. Zahira, Hippie Mike vs. Little Joe
Last week Rocks Off was mindlessly trolling the Interweb when we stumbled upon a site solely dedicated to animal fights. No, not the awful kind that say, Michael Vick would have been found at a couple of years ago. This site, Wild Animal Fight Club, trafficks in speculative death matches…
Houston 101: Cruising Westheimer: The Favorite Teenage Pastime of Reagan-Era Houston
For such a big city, ’80s Houston was in some ways still a small town. Case in point: the teenage ritual of cruising Westheimer, in which the fourth largest city in America did its best to impersonate a one-Dairy Queen town, one where all you can do is drive down…
Health Department Roundup: Tex-Mex Edition
There are usually more Tex-Mex restaurants on the Health Department’s online list of cited restaurants than any other type of facility.Wait, now, before you report the Press to Ask a Mexican, let me explain. There are many more Tex-Mex restaurants than any other type in the Houston metro area. Just…
Bayou Beat: McKenzies Break Up, Live Nation Goes for (Almost) Broke, New Discovery Green Season, etc.
Unfortunately, Houston power-pop prodigies the McKenzies (above) announced after Free Press Summer Fest they have broken up, for the usual reasons. “It’s all on good terms,” the band said via email. “It’s just been really hard to do anything… everyone has personal things to do – school, jobs, schedules, you…
Times Writer Dumps on Texas’ JC Penney, Because We’re Just So Damn Fat Here
JC Penney is the reliable standby of malls across the Midwest and in Texas; for the past 20 years the company’s been headquartered in Plano, the mall-infested suburb of Dallas.They’ve decided to open a Manhattan branch, and were met with heaps of condescending scorn from The New York Times’ “Critical…
The Continuing Adventures of Hippie Mike
Tuesday night, Rocks Off got a text alerting us that Hippie Mike, the unofficial mascot of this year’s Free Press Summer Fest, was tripping the light fantastic over at Brasil in Montrose. We quickly ate a free hot dog at Continental Club where we were watching Umbrella Man and booked…
KHOU Has A Treat In Store For All You News-Hungry People Up At 4:30 In The Morning
If there’s one thing Houston’s been lacking, it’s a news show that starts at 4:30 in the morning. (Maybe there is one already, but we wouldn’t know, because it’s on at 4:30 in the freaking morning.)KHOU is leaping into that dark, dark void beginning Labor Day, when it launches 11News…
Lunch at Tiny Boxwood’s Cafe
Eating lunch at Tiny Boxwood’s Cafe can be a paradoxical experience. On the one hand there is a crisp attention to detail in both the decor and the food. On the other hand, the menu, scribbled on a wall-high chalkboard just as you walk in, frustratingly omits any reference to…
Artist of the Week: Trash-Talking “Booty Truck” Indie-Rockers Giant Princess
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 introducingliston@gmail.com. If you could input a bunch of information…
Another Round In the Jolanda Jones-Jeff Caynon Pissing Match
You know how there are things you know you’re supposed to care about, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it?That’s kinda how we feel about the ongoing pissing match between city council member Jolanda Jones and firefighters union chief Jeff Caynon.As everyone knows, there’s been a series of…
The 10 Most Underrated Restaurants in Houston (According to You)
Last week, we asked you to share your comments with us about Houston’s most underrated restaurant. In the second of a two-part question about overrated and underrated restaurants thorughout the city, you weren’t any shyer with your comments than you were when we asked about overrated restaurants. With 125 comments…
Pitbull, Baby Bash, Rob G, Robert Horry, Scantily Clad Women and Obnoxious Drunk Guy Salute Latium Entertainment
[Note: Monday evening, Houston label and management company Latium Entertainment, which has sold more than 15 million digital singles ringtones of artists such as Baby Bash, Frankie J and Pitbull, celebrated its 10th anniversary at Washington Avenue nighspot Reign Lounge. We had some trouble getting the pictures to transmit Tuesday,…
Top 10 Ice Cream Experiences in Houston
This week, Robb Walsh explores the vast world of Houston’s ice cream parlors in the feature story, “The Scoop.” In the course of writing his article, he ate more ice cream than Napoleon Bonaparte did at the Ziggy Pig in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (but didn’t get a pin…
Missouri City Goes Back To The Non-Computer Age
The modern computer age? Not in Missouri City.The world has tumbled to a halt in the suburb — computers and phone lines have crashed at both City Hall and the police department.”It’s some kind of virus,” police captain John Bailey tells Hair Balls.911 calls can still come in, because the…
A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas, Part 2: “Trinity”
[Note: This week Rocks Off is looking at the musical heritage, highs and lows, for each of the five possible states that might result should Texas secede from the U.S. like Gov. Rick Perry wants it to. Yesterday we began with the Panhandle/West Texas “Palo Duro” territory; today it’s northeastern…
Media Day For The Coogs: They’re Quietly Confident This Year
Case Keenum is the name most people think of when the University of Houston football team is mentioned. That’s probably because Keenum, a junior, plays the glamor position of quarterback.He was the 2008 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 5,020 yards last season while tossing 44…
A Cafe Bites Nibble
Michael Housewright, the Director of Operations for the new Block 7 Wine Company (720 Shepherd, 713-572-2565), has spent 15 years of his life dedicated to wine. His resume includes Pogo’s in Dallas, the Dallas Central Market, the Austin Wine Merchant, Vinfolio in San Francisco, and the Tasting Room and Max’s…
The Best Sports Palaces In Houston History, Ranked For Her Pleasure
It’s been a few years since Houston’s most recent orgy of building new sports arenas for down-on-their-luck franchise owners. There’s a new soccer stadium trying to get itself born, but other than that we probably won’t be seeing any new facilities being built for a while.So it’s as good a…
Are You Ready for That Great Atomic Power? Songs That Go Nuclear
This past week marks the 64th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S., on August 6 and 9, respectively, bringing an end to World War II. The subsequent decades have brought us a Cold War, explosive proliferation, and largely fruitless attempts…
Your Voice Shall Be Heard: Vote For The Best Of Houston
You’re reading this, so you must dig blogs.But what’s the best blog in Houston? Now’s your chance to be heard.Is it the real-estate-obsessed (in a good way) Swamplot? The ornery commentary of Slampo’s Place? Those crusty right-wingers at blogHouston?Or maybe you’ve got ideas on Best Sports Bar, or Best Adult…
This Is One Way To Report A Story, We Guess
All the BARC brouhaha today brought us an interesting bit of e-mail correspondence, forwarded to us from a chain that began with a Houston Chronicle reporter.Rebecca Maitland, a freelancer who writes occasionally for the Chron’s Fort Bend zoned edition, was doing a story on animal shelters in that area. Here’s…
Hong Kong Supermarket’s Herb Bin: Fish Mint
You may recognize the heart-shaped leaves and weird aroma of this Vietnamese herb. It’s called dap ca, or fish mint in English. You often get fish mint on the herb plate when you order bo nuong xa, the popular dish that comes with lemongrass-marinated beef, herbs, shredded carrots, cucumbers and…
Hey Houston!! You’re Getting A Raise!! (Well, Some Of You Are)
There’s startling news out of a new survey by Hewitt Associates, a national human-resources firm: People are getting raises.In this day and age! Not only that, but Houston is at the top of the pack for this strange, more or less unheard-of phenomenon.Hewitt’s survey shows that Houston workers can expect…
MP3 of the Day: Pickin’ Party at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Tonight’s installment of the Mucky Duck’s monthly Songwriters in the Round series might as well be co-sponsored by Under the Volcano. Taking the stools will be recent Houston transplant Mike Stinson and Lance Smith, who put on a graduate-level seminar in honky-tonk history and current events last Wednesday at the…
No Reservations: San Francisco
Feeling even more antagonistic than usual, Anthony Bourdain toured San Francisco in this week’s episode of No Reservations. He brought the full power of his disdain to the city’s organic, local and vegan food by not sampling a bite of it. Finding the city to be a place of contradictions,…
Aggies Finally Get Around To Caring About Their Athletes’ Safety As Much As UT Does
A dozen people were injured when a freakishly strong spring storm slammed into the Dallas Cowboys practice facility in Irving earlier this year. It turns out Texas A&M ‘s $35 million new athletic center was built by the same company and has the same basic steel-and-fabric design.Now the Aggies are…
He Said She Said: Breakup Songs to Help You Bawl, Part 2
Ever since men and women set eyes upon each other at the beginning of time, there have been break-ups, and painful dissolutions of romantic escapades have made the best art in the world. Hell, somewhere in the world there is a probably a cave painting of a pretty young Neanderthal…
A Return to Falafel Frenzy…err…Factory
Last fall, Robb Walsh took note of a funky new falafel joint called Falafel Frenzy located at 914 Prairie in downtown Houston, pointing out the donut shape of the falafels and the unique coating of sesame seeds. These mentions came close on the heels of an epic falafel discussion in…
He Said She Said: Breakup Songs to Help You Bawl
We’ve all been there, in the throes of a breakup so bad you fear you’ll end up dying alone or in jail: Crying so hard your eyes are chapped and red, throat sore and aching from sobbing, hair matted from days without a shower and nails chewed to the quick…
The Newest Giraffe: As Cute As He Thinks He Is?
There’s a new giraffe in town. Supposedly there’s nothing cuter than a baby giraffe, but — and we admit we might be in the minority, even just in the office here — we’re not feeling it. What, just because they have big eyelashes we’re supposed to go gaga? Sorry. You’re…
A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas: “Palo Duro”
View Five States of Texas in a larger map As any proud Texan can tell you, the Lone Star State is entitled constitutionally to split into five states if it so wishes. The scenario has rarely been more in the news than it has relatively recently, when Gov. Rick Perry…
A $10 Million Cricket Stadium In Houston? A Big-Time Cricket Official Says It’s In The Works
Two years ago, officials in South Florida built a $10 million cricket stadium, because…because….well, apparently it seemed the thing to do.But the thing has turned into a bit of a white elephant, reports the Sun-Sentinel of Broward County.The paper talks to Don Lockerbie, president of the USA Cricket Association, who…
Christian Country Singer + Cowboy Hat + Amarillo Diner = Beating
In about 45 minutes, Rocks Off will publish the first in our series of musical guides to post-secession Texas (you know it’s gonna happen, y’all). Today we’re focusing on the Panhandle-area state of “Palo Duro.” This as-yet fictional state includes the city of Amarillo, about which – as our guide…
Cherry Top Bakery’s All-Day Burrito
In August of 2004, I asked a truck driver in the parking lot of Laredo Taqueria on Patton if he agreed that the spectacular breakfast tacos we just ate were the best in the city. “Second best,” he said, “the best is Cherry Bakery.” I had never heard of Cherry…
Beaumont PI Is On The Case Of Olivia Newtown-John’s Missing Lover
Strange doings out of Beaumont, involving a private investigator, a faded pop star and the mysterious semi-death of her lover.Beaumont PI Philip Klein tells RadarOnline that he has proof that Pay McDermott is alive! He’s alive!!!Which leads to the question “Who is Pat McDermott, and why should we care?”McDermott was…
Ask a Rapper: Foreigner-Sampling Battle MC G.T. Garza
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. Something you always wanted to…
Distant Early Warning: Archie Bell, Cannibal Corpse, Maxwell, Scott H. Biram, Titus Andronicus, etc.
The 69 Eyes, Dommin, The Becoming: Sun., Oct. 11. Meridian. All Time Low, Hey Monday, We The Kings, Friday Night Boys: Wed., Oct. 28. House of Blues. “Oldies Fest” With The Allen Oldies Band, Roy Head, Archie Bell, Barbara Lynn: Sat., Sept. 5. Continental Club. Billy Squier: Sun., Oct. 4…
The Chronicle’s Columnist Does BARC Again, And Again The Result Is WTF?
If you heard what sounded like a sonic boom this morning, it was the thunderclap of Hair Balls’s head exploding. And why would that be? Because one of the nation’s biggest newspapers — the daily for the fourth-largest city in the country — allowed a columnist to print the bizarre evangelical…
Late Night Scene: BB’s Cajun Café
It’s such a victory to walk into a joint — especially a tiny place like BB’s Cajun Café (2710 Montrose Blvd., 713-524-4499) — and snag the very last table, and a corner one at that. The other tables seat small groups and some couples; a pair of cops chills at…
The Music of True Blood, Episode 8: Beck’s “Timebomb” and Regenerative Hymens
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. Though we’re picking up midway…
Listen Up, People: The Top Ten Coaches In Houston History
The Chron’s Jerome Solomon has another of those endless lists we writers like to do, this one asking for input on the top 10 coaches in Houston college and pro sports history. And he helpfully provides us with some candidates for the list. So I thought I would help out…
Not Much Good Happens When You Piss On A Cab
In court, sometimes it’s not as much about who’s more right as it is about who is less wrong. Welcome to Neckelmann vs. Madugba, A.K.A.: The case of the man who pissed on a cab and barely lived to tell about it. (Allegedly, of course). According to the lawsuit recently…
Where Are We Eating?
After Robb Walsh extolled the virtues of a hot cup of espresso on an equally hot day, we were inspired to seek out some of the best cups around town. Can you guess where we’re eating (and drinking) this week? Leave your guess in the comments section below…
Aftermath: Even More Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park
Let’s get the obligatory Summer Fest comments, critiques and criticisms out of the way first: yes, it was hot; yes, unfortunately, there was limited water available; and yes, there was a glaring lack of box-office infrastructure Saturday. Did you really expect anything different from a first-time festival being held in…
Texas Traveler: Must-Do Dallas
So maybe, like Texas Traveler, you’re exiled to Dallas for a business conference, or an extra-long layover at DFW airport, or relocated for work and have no idea how to pass the time. Well, Texas Traveler has a few ideas, some off the beaten path, and some right smack square…
Turning the Screw: Killa Kyleon, Chamillionaire, Wendy Williams, 50 Best Rap Albums of the ’00s, Drake, Weezy, Chris Brown, UGK, etc.
Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off’s weekly rap post. It probably won’t rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. Single of the Week: Killa Kyleon, “Ego” (remix) P.S. Kyleon is one of Houston’s best remixers. Remember his “A Milli” remix? Or his…
HISD’s Customer-Service Survey: Some Highlights
The Houston school district has released a new “customer satisfaction” survey, where parents and the general Houston population were asked to rate various aspects of the district.Officials are crowing because many of the ratings increased — “The results of a new survey conducted earlier this year show a marked increase…
Summer Fest Snapshots: Hippie Mike and the Paint Kids
If you attended this weekend’s Summer Fest in Eleanor Tinsley Park, you may have found yourself as enchanted as Rocks Off was with “Mike.” The skinny hippie child of Asian decent could be seen all over the grounds at the most opportune times. Sunday, our day began by meeting him…
French-Vietnamese Open-Faced Sandwiches at Parisian Bakery
The small banh mi rolls are six for a dollar at the Parisian Bakery next to the giant Viet Hoa supermarket in the Asian shopping center west of Beltway 8 at the Beechnut exit. While I was filling up a bag with the Vietnamese bolillos, I noticed some fine-looking savory…
Aftermath: Big Walter “The Thunderbird” Price’s Birthday at the Big Easy
While the indie-rock world dodged lightning strikes Sunday afternoon, Houston’s blues community gathered inside the Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club to pay homage to its most elder statesman, Big Walter “The Thunderbird” Price. The venue was packed with dancers, drinkers and a plethora of players who were way into…
Judge Reportedly Questioned Whether Woman Was Raped Because She Was “On Top”
Newly elected judge Kevin Fine isn’t your typical jurist — he’s been frank and outspoken about his missteps in life, which include a cocaine addiction.Now he finds himself dealing with another alleged misstep — accusations that he told a rape victim in his court that he didn’t believe she was…
Aftermath: Still More Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park
Summer Fest paid out much more than necessary over its two-day span, offering local artists the chance to take the same stage as major artist and, rather than be treated like small opening acts by an unknowing crowd, some audience members knew the words to their songs better than to…
Lobster Grits: A Stroke of Genius
As we reported previously, there is a glut of cheap lobster on the market. Last Thursday, I took advantage of the weak market by picking up three sea monsters for a dinner party. The prices at Hong Kong Supermarket in Bellaire Chinatown were $8.99 a pound for big lobsters, and…
Aftermath: More Free Press Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park
“How is this Houston?” “How the hell is this Houston?” Aftermath couldn’t stop saying that phrase over and over again to whoever we found ourselves walking with the past two days all over Eleanor Tinsley Park at the inaugural Free Press Summer Fest. Attendance figures of up to 30,000 (total)…
BARC Whistleblower’s Case To Continue
A Harris County Court judge found probable cause this morning in the case of a BARC volunteer accused of filing a false police report; the next court date is scheduled for August 28. With all the change-agentization taking place at BARC, Hair Balls was surprised that no one from BARC…
Midtown Was Smokin’ On Sunday — We Have The Photographic Proof
Photos by Craig HlavatyMidtown residents were treated to a ton of smoke yesterday when a transformer blew and caught on fire.No injuries or major damage was reported, but it sure did look smoky/ HFD assistant chief Adrian Trevino tells Hair Balls an investigation will take place, but lightning is “the…
Aftermath: Free Press Summer Fest at Eleanor Tinsley Park
They said it couldn’t be done, that no one in Houston would dream of spending two days in the punishing August heat at an outdoor music festival. Rightfully (somewhat), the Bayou City has acquired a reputation where indie-minded bands like Explosions in the Sky and Of Montreal went to die…
Bayou Body Count: Son Kills Mom, Heads To Mexico
Laura Palacios of Houston died with her son at her side. Though it was hardly a comfort to the 51-year-old woman: It was her son who allegedly killed her. That’s the story told by Harris County Sheriff’s homicide detectives who have charged Jose Palacios, 24, with murder. But he is…
$13 at Pavani Indian Cuisine
Where: Pavani Indian Cuisine, 10554 Southwest Fwy., 713-272-8259 What $13 gets you: As many circuits through the buffet line as you need. Plan to make at least a few. We walked in at 5:30 sharp, right when the place opens for dinner, which meant it was just us and the…
Aftermath: George Strait at Reliant Stadium
Aftermath escaped the first day of the inaugural Free Press Summer Fest to venture out to Reliant Stadium to catch country legend George Strait. It was like walking into a hella weird alternate universe where the musicians weren’t five inches from your face, and everyone was fully clothed. Those who…
Some Old A**hole Is Swiping The Sunflowers Of Montrose
Saturday afternoon Hair Balls was rolling up Van Buren Street in Montrose when we spied this apparently wind-blown note tangled high in a tall sunflower, which was one of dozens in a vacant lot. Upon stopping to take a look, we found that in fact the nasty little missive had…
Slide Show: Sideshow Tramps and Lots More Summer Fest
Craig Kinsey (left) and Geoffrey Muller of Sideshow Tramps led a foot-stomping hillbilly hallelujah revival at Summer Fest Sunday, inspiring a mosh pit with overstimulated takes on gospel/blues standards like “St. James Infirmary” and “John the Revelator.” Lots more where that came from: Click here for a slideshow more than…
PBS’s Guru Of Extreme Skateboarding Twinkies & Ants Wearing Pants
Skateboarding Twinkies, ninja squirrels and space hamsters are making their way to Houston, with Commander Mark leading the way. Things might get a little weird. Mark Kistler, the self-styled Bob Ross of children’s art, will be holding drawing camps in the area over the next two weeks. Kistler got his…
Restaurant Bill Padding: How Often Does It Happen?
I recently had an expensive dinner at an established, well-known French restaurant in Houston. There were just two of us, and we ordered sparingly: one glass of wine each, one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert. The food and service were worth it, so I didn’t blink when the hefty…
Summer Fest Snapshot: Devin the Dude
The bouncing bangers and smoky slow jams of hometown hero Devin the Dude had Free Press Summer Fest blazing in more ways than one Sunday. Stay tuned for much more on the not-so-little, locally-minded two-day indie festival that could – and did – throughout the day…
The Beatification Of St. Bud, Patron Saint Of A-Holes
John McClain had the latest of his many love letters to Bud Adams inside yesterday’s Chron. The excuse for this one revolved around this being the 50th anniversary of the founding of the American Football League.Reading this article, I had several thoughts, the first being that I thought the Chron…
Kemah Cops Are Finding Out About Fighting City Hall
It’s been about one month since we reported on the four Kemah police officers who were laid off and filed grievances with the city because the officers weren’t buying the story that they were simply victims of the economic downturn and Hurricane Ike. Attorney Greg Cagle, who was retained by…
Aftermath: Green Day at Toyota Center
During “Minority,” the motorized 2000 Celtic-thrash mash-up that closed Green Day’s main set Saturday night, Toyota Center’s video screen became a collage of flyers from the group’s early days, before the platinum albums, roadies, Grammys and extra live musicians (there were four Saturday). Meanwhile, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, showing little…
Snackshot: Jelly Jars
Today’s sweet Snackshot is courtesy of Baby Loves Jellies and some Ball jars filled with joy: From the photographer’s description: “Jalapeño-peach preserves.”…
Social Distortion: Dear Social Media Swami
Dear Social Media Swami,I think my girlfriend’s social media obsession is out of control. At any given time, she’s either on the computer or checking her iPhone for the latest stuff happening on Twitter, Facebook, or whatever. She hates being bothered while she’s doing it, and she’s so into it. …
From Sudan To Houston To The Fashion Runway
The supermodel Alek Wek, a refugee from Sudan who had been resettled in London, was discovered by a talent scout at a market. Louice Ali was working his summer job last month when his break came. Born in Khartoum, Ali fled war-torn Sudan with his family just after middle school…
Cleaning House at T.H. Rogers And Elsewhere In HISD
Word on the street from Friends of Hair Balls is that there’s a lot of pro-active housecleaning going on by the regional superintendents in advance of the new Houston ISD superintendent’s arrival. Just one case in point seems to be Cathryn White, the principal at acclaimed T.H. Rogers school who came…
George Strait Week, Part 5: Texas George
Like the man himself said, easy come, easy go. Happy as we are that it’s Friday, and almost quitting time to boot, Rocks Off a little sad too, because that means George Strait Week is almost over. But not quite. We’re putting it to bed the only way we know…
This Week In Deliciousness
Welcome back to Eating Our Words’ weekly round-up, where we’re seriously considering camping out for tickets to that new Julia Child movie. Look, it can’t possibly be worse than Episode 1, and we’ve been told there are far fewer Gungans. We’d like to point out that, yes, we can be…
Things to Do This Weekend If You’re (Almost) Broke
Generationals, Floating Action. 5:30 p.m., Cactus Music. Free. Molly & the Ringwalds celebrate six years of “Time After Time” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” at the Continental Club. 6 p.m., free. The Brilliance of Suffering, Vehement, Sinister Minister, A Cyanide Suicide, Based on Death, My Ending Farewell, 7 p.m., Meridian…
Maxim’s Tarama Salada
When I stopped into Spec’s on Westheimer near Dunvale to pick up some champagne for a party, I was trying to think of what to serve as an appetizer with the bubbly. There, at the front door, was Ronnie Bermann handing out samples of his tarama salada. I dipped a…
DPS Will Recruit You With Its Really Keen Graphics
Get ready for some highway excitement from the DPS!!As part of a new recruitment campaign, the agency is painting seven of its vehicles with detailed images of troopers in action. Recruiters will drive them to appearances around the state.”These vehicles will be rolling billboards for DPS, featuring photos of helicopters,…
George Strait Week, Part 4: Actor George
As our George Strait week comes to an end before the big show Saturday night at Reliant Stadium, Rocks Off takes a look back at his first and sadly only lead-acting role, 1992’s Pure Country. The film is pure cornball cinema gold. We had the pleasure of re-watching it a…
Openings and Closings
The bell tolled for several area restaurants over the past week, including some big-name establishments that have been in Houston for quite a long time. Fox Sports Grill was at the top of that list, with a significant presence and killer location in the Galleria. There has been no immediate…
Perhaps The Internet-Cafe Trend In Nederland Was Overstated
Just as we were trying to figure out why there were internet cafes in Nederland and Port Arthur, we find out that the places were actually fronts for illegal gambling, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department announced yesterday that six people were charged with running the gambling…
Houston Remembers Green Day, Back In the Day
Saturday night, one of the most polarizing bands of the past 20 years rolls into town. Since its 1994 mainstream breakthrough, Dookie, Green Day has been dividing fans and critics alike. Some damned the trio for leaving their punk-rock roots behind at 924 Gilman for the glamour of MTV videos…
Last Call For Art: Shakespeare, Etiquette & The Big Show
Several stage shows are giving their final perfomances this weekend, and it’s also your last chance to see unknown Houston artists aim for recognition in the Lawndale Center’s annual Big Show.The Houston Shakespeare festival always does a bang-up job with the Bard, and this year’s Twelfth Night is no exception…
Slide Show: Albums You Can Smuggle Into Prison In Your Fat
Courtesy of our friends at the Chron, here is the heartwarming story of Houston’s George Vera, a 500-lb purveyor of illegally bootlegged albums who managed to mule a gun past the guards at both the city and county jails. How did he do it? Vera squirreled the piece safely away…
Houston’s Most Underrated Restaurants: The Saga Continues
On Monday of this week, we asked a simple question that sparked a firestorm of controversy: What is Houston’s most overrated restaurant? Nearly 140 comments later, we published a list of the Ten Most Overrated Restaurants — according to a tally of your comments — that incited a flamewar here…
The Bronx Bar Somehow Has Never Heard A Complaint Against It
Our item a while back on a black Army officer being refused admittance to the Rice Village’s Bronx Bar stirred up some controversy, with a lot of people telling of similar incidents.Among the comments added to the piece was one from The Bronx Bar Group, presumably the owners or managers…
For Method Man, Five Musical Shootings
Should be an interesting scene at House of Blues this evening, where Method Man, not exactly the shy type, might get a little more attention than he bargained for. Rumor has it some time between sound check and the tall, fragrant rapper’s headlining set with Redman, he’ll be served with…
Shipley Do-Nuts Pays Up For Using Illegal Immigrants
Shipley Do-Nuts, the oddly spelled longtime Houston morning favorite, will be forking over a ton of cash to the feds for using illegal immigrants in the workplace.The U.S. Attorney’s office has announced the company will pay a $250,000 fine and forfeit $1.3 million to the government for harboring illegal aliens.The…
Protest Erupts as Alpha Bakery Suspends “Buy 5, Get 1 Free” Policy
I was shocked to discover that the price of the banh mi thit at Alpha Bakery in the Hong Kong City Mall had gone up, but my reaction was downright civil compared to the guy in line behind me. Sandwiches were only $1.85 a couple of years ago, with the…
Don’t You (Forget About Me): John Hughes’ Greatest Hits
Nothing epitomized the human and suburban experience better than the films of director John Hughes in mid-80s. Hughes, 59, passed away yesterday of a heart attack while visiting family in New York City. The writer/director had been largely inactive since the late ’90s, only occasionally producing the random feature or…
Don’t Expect Smooth Driving Near The Galleria This Weekend
Planning on a big weekend in the Galleria area? Better bring some good music for the car. Because you are going to be sitting in traffic with a capital T.The Uptown Houston development TIRZ is announcing what it euphemistically is calling the “Final Push to Finish San Felipe,” but you…
Some Counties Are Seeing More Paupers’ Burials, But Not Us…Yet
“Hard Times Come Again No More,” wrote Stephen Foster, but they have.And so some people, much as they like, can’t afford to bury their dead. In Corpus Christi, for instance, requests for pauper burials are up 13 percent.Once again, though, it looks like Houston is dodging the economic bullet a…
MP3 of the Day: Yes, There Are Summer Fest Tickets Left
Rocks Off just got off the phone with Free Press Houston editor/publisher Omar Afra, the Bill Graham of Saturday and Sunday’s Summer Fest. After disguising himself as “that guy from that punk band you wrote those bad things about” – dude, you’re going to have to be more specific than…
Ten Reasons to Attend an Astros Game
The slumping Astros are facing the slumping Milwaukee Brewers this weekend in a series that is key only to those of you deluded enough to think the Astros have a shot in hell at making the NL playoffs. The good thing is that both teams have been losing, and losing…
A Chat with Isang Undoinyang of Boheme
Isang Undoinyang is one of those guys who started waiting tables in college, thinking it was a temporary gig, and just never stopped. After more than five years on the floor and behind the bar at Two Rows, he’s bounced to Bar Boheme (307 Fairview St., 713-529-1099), an eclectic wine…
The Five Most Obnoxious John Hughes Characters
John Hughes passed away yesterday at the age of 59, and In spite of the fact he hadn’t done anything of note for almost 20 years (no, Baby’s Day Out does not count), he long ago secured his reputation as the director who defined 80s teen cinema. An entire generation…
Five Spot: Chamillionaire’s Mixtape Messiah 7
Welcome back to Five Spot. Every Friday, we’ll examine a recent bit of music news and, sometimes awkwardly, tie it to a bit of Houston rap. It’s five videos and occasional cussing. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Say what you will about Chamillionaire’s occasionally irritable nature, but the man is a…
Houston 101: Hi, Bob!
When it comes to stand-up, Houston isn’t famous merely for launching the careers of some of the edgiest comedians of the `70s and `80s. It also gave the world Bob Newhart.Newhart grew up in Chicago and became an accountant, but always had a comedy jones. He wrote gags and did…
Social Distortion: Social Media Under Siege
Yesterday, August 6th, 2009 – a date which will live in infamy – the social web was suddenly and deliberately attacked by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) of the Online Empire of Cyxymu.In a word? Thursday SUCKED.A spam campaign by a pro-Georgian (the country, not the state, ahem) blogger…
Health Department Roundup: Hyperlink Edition
This week’s hall of health-code-violating shame includes restaurants previously reviewed, mentioned, discussed or otherwise examined in the Houston Press. Back in September 2004, Press food critic Robb Walsh said to forget about the then-ubiquitous South Beach bitch of a diet and eat up at The Sacred Heart Society’s (816 E…
Rocks Off’s Brother Once Stepped in Human Shit at a U2 Show… Got a Better Astrodome Story?
Smash Mouth had just finished playing, and not coincidentally, Rocks Off’s brother John had just returned from a trip to the bathroom. It was November 1997, and we were watching the stagehands putting the finishing touches on U2’s ginormous set in the Astrodome. The Irish rockers were touring behind Pop,…
There’s A Whole Ton Of Cases That Might Be Affected By The Allegedly Fraudulent Expert
Last month we reported on the arrest of Matthew Leddy, a psychologist working for the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County. His arrest, for alleged Medicaid fraud and theft, caught our attention because he evaluated defendants in two criminal cases we wrote about last year. It turns…
Houston’s Ten Most Overrated Restaurants (According to You)
Editor’s Note: We miscounted the number of votes that one restaurant received, accidentally leaving it off the Top Ten list. Reef should be at #5 on the list, meaning that Rainbow Lodge drops off the Top Ten list entirely. We regret the error. On Monday, we asked our readers a very…
Yet Another Piece Of Good News For TSU
Photo courtesy TSUSheila Jackson Lee and TSU officials announce their big newsWhat’s this? Good news two months in a row from TSU? The world spins crazily on its axis.Last month the embattled institution found out it had been taken off probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council…
Food Fight: Battle Breakfast Taco
There are those of us who are naturally early risers. And to those people go such wonderful things as brilliant sunrises, early morning calm, blessedly empty streets and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. And then there are the rest of us, for whom significant motivation is required to crawl out…
MP3 of the Day: Ghost Town Electric
Rocks Off amuses ourselves at the office in many ways. We drink during the day, take long lunch breaks and listen to our music really loud, breaking any kind of cubicle etiquette. We’re kidding, mostly, but one of the latest bands we’ve added to our desktop mix is Ghost Town…
HISD’s Gets On The Rankings Roller Coaster
Oh, HISD. You didn’t get to enjoy your “We Got Great Rankings!!” moment for long.Just a week after crowing about their improvement in the state’s assessment of schools, the district got slammed by the feds for failing to make the grade in No Child Left Behind rankings.The dispute comes down…
George Strait Week, Part 3: George’s 10 Commandments
As sad and downbeat as George Strait can be, the dude can also get hella domineering. When he’s not doing his best Cajun jams or crying in his beer, he’s telling you to do things. Nothing dirty – sorry, Mom – he just wants you to carry out various tasks…
Help A Brother Out For Peace
Heading into work this morning, we noticed two guys walking down Milam who we assumed were either crazy American or regular German tourists.They looked like twins and were dressed identically, each sporting a frame backpack with a bedroll attached to the top. We didn’t think much of it, until the…
How Did Texas Monthly Miss This Burger?
You’ve had the fabulous “Baby Goat Masala Burger” at Indika, right? You know, the cabrito burger seasoned with masala and topped with goat cheese and watercress? How did Texas Monthly skip this masterpiece on its list of the 50 top burgers in Texas, while the messy bulgogi burger at Burger…
Bayou Beat: Method Man on His Pellet-Gun Aim, The Debut of HUSH, Local Bands Vying for ACL Spot, Thee Armada MySpace Finalist, etc.
Above, Method Man talks about his pellet-gun accuracy, which was a little off the night he allegedly shot Houstonian Mary Anderson, who is now suing him on several counts including assault. Besides playing House of Blues Friday with Redman and Ghostface, looks like Meth will spend some time in Houston…
Method Man, On His Pellet-Gun Habits
Rapper Method Man, who is being sued for allegedly plugging a fan with an air-gun outside Houston’s House of Blues last winter, is apparently no stranger to shooting people with the BB gun. Above, he tells VladTV all about the time he injured someone on a tour bus. “I shot…
Austin American-Statesman Takes Down The “For Sale” Sign
About a year ago, Cox Enterprises, the media company that owns the Austin American-Statesman, put the paper up for sale.Today they took it back, saying they will keep the thing because this whole print phenomenon still has legs, dammit.Or maybe they just didn’t get any good offers. Publisher Michael Vivio…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: Jesse Winchester and Ian Hunter Prove 70 Is the New 30
Those of us who read Tom Friedman’s July 28 New York Times column about 59 being the new 30 like it was a lost edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls should be cheered by the musical efforts of two 70-year-olds who just keep on keepin’ on. So far this year,…
In the Little Stalls Behind Canino’s: Huauzontle
Maybe I am spending too much time hanging around at Canino’s trying to score. This time, I went home with a bag full or huauzontle [wah-ZONT-lay], a Mexican weed that tastes like broccoli. Some food writers have mistaken it for sorghum, which was imported to the New World from Africa…
Another Wrongful-Death Lawsuit For The Harris County Jail
There may be a new sheriff in town, but the jail lawsuits keep coming.Relatives of a 44-year-old woman who died in custody in January 2008 sued the county today, saying jail employees ignored her severe leg pain for three days and taunted her until she died.Margarita Saavedra, a grandmother, was…
Cutout Bin: Kijana’s Scented-Hairspray Soul
Kijana The Soul of Kijana Unfolds In Music (Mahdi Records, 1976) One of the coolest DIY album covers in COB’s collection is courtesy of a suave California crooner named Kijana. We’ve had this record for some time, and have always wondered who this guy was. “Kijana” is a Swahili word…
At Least One Football Team In Town Is Supposed To Be Good This Year (Hint: They Don’t Get Paid)
Most of Houston’s football focus is going to the Houston Texans, who are once again striving to produce an actual winning season. But there are several other football teams in Houston, and today, one of those teams officially reports for preseason camp.The team in question is the Houston Cougars, and…
The H-Town Countdown, No. 25: Big Moe’s City of Syrup
Roughly 84,000 rap albums have been released in Houston since 1989. We’re counting down the 25 best of all time every Thursday. Got a problem with the list? Shove it. Just kidding. Friendship. Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. The first thing we thought once this list was compiled and all the records had…
RDG + Bar Annie’s Shrimp Meat Balls
In the wake of Café Annie’s closing, Robert Del Grande has taken up the chef’s hat again. Just a bit further down Post Oak, the RDG Grill Room, Bar Annie and the BLVD Lounge are now all serving a variety of small plates and entrees at different price points. But…
A Shake-Up At BARC, For Better Or Worse
BARC went through some housecleaning yesterday — in a big way.In addition to the firing of veterinarian Eunice Ohashiegbula-Iwunze, other BARC personnel issues Wednesday included the resignation of Administrative Supervisor Dorian Strickland and a “disciplinary procedure in process” for vet tech Abiga Arredondo. Ohashiegbula-Iwunze had recently been demoted from the chief…
Aftermath: Mike Stinson at Under the Volcano
At his first proper gig since relocating to Houston last month, suit-clad Mike Stinson raised the bar for honky-tonk around here a little. Maybe a lot. Joined by guitarist Lance Smith and Winfield Cheek on keyboards, steel and mandolin, Stinson sang his way through a jukebox’s worth of field notes…
A New Competitor In The Learn-To-Pole-Dance World: How Does It Stack Up?
We were excited to get a press release today announcing the August 14th grand opening of a new pole-dancing-fitness-t&a-jigglegym, PoleLaTeaz. But how does PoleLaTeaz compare with S Factor or Carmen’s Boutique? Let’s take a look. Miscellaneous Class Names at PoleLaTeaz: Sexy Flexy, Chair, Jiggle It Miscellaneous Class Names at S…
Houston 101: A Notorious Montrose Murder’s (Alleged) Connection To The Deaths of JFK and MLK
At first, it seemed like a routine call to Houston cop C.M. Bullock. On June 23, 1965, a concerned relative of elderly couple Fred C. and Edwina Rogers had asked the police to check on the couple, as they hadn’t been answering the phone for a few days. Bullock and…
Amarillo’s Big Texan Steak Ranch
Having seen the steak challenge at Amarillo’s Big Texan on television, I had to drop by the restaurant when I swung through West Texas. For the unacquainted, the challenge touted on billboards hundreds of miles away requires you to eat a 72-ounce steak, a baked potato, two fried shrimp, a…
The High Cost Of Metro Congratulating Itself
Last month, Metro had a big ol’ ceremony to mark the groundbreaking on two new light-rail lines.Union Station was the scene, and a life-size mock version of a light-rail train was included, as this picture from Metro’s blog shows: To the accompaniment of music that was a lame cross between…
“Paramilitary Show”
Apama Mackey Gallery’s “Paramilitary Show” at the Houston Fire Museum features contemporary art sharing space with the museum’s impressive collection of firefighting gear. Ronald Moran’s Observance: Gentle Pressure, placed between a 1937 Chevy fire truck and an 1890 hand-pumper apparatus, dominates the entrance of the museum. The eight-foot-tall lace-up boots,…
Shauna Glenn
On her Web site, author Shauna Glenn writes, “If you stick around long enough, you’ll probably hear me say the word vagina (but only really positive things about it) and you’ll also learn about my sick fascination with midget porn.” Clearly, this is someone we should get to know better…
Joan Rivers
You can call her brash and make as much fun of her facelifts as you’d like — but you can’t deny that Joan Rivers is one-of-a-kind. The stand-up comedian, would-be Celebrity Apprentice, talk show host and author will appear today as part of the Brilliant Lecture Series in a Las…
Pablo Francisco
You could say Pablo Francisco is a sound man. The comedian buzzes, zings, rings, thumps, toots, hoots and hollers his way through a vault of pop culture musings. In a style akin to Michael Winslow’s, Francisco utilizes his talent for mimicry to pose questions like, “Could the movie voice-over guy…
Beckett Times Two
It’s cool enough that two Samuel Beckett shows are on the program. But Ornery Theatre is actually producing two “very rarely produced” fragments not published till the ‘70s, says Michael Switzer, the director and producer of Rough for Theatre I and Rough for Theatre II. (They are so unusual, Switzer…
Laila’s Birthday
In writer/director Rashid Masharawi’s light-hearted Palestinian romp Laila’s Birthday — yes, Palestinians actually laugh and have fun — proud Dad (Mohammed Bakri),was once a judge but now he must earn a living driving a taxi in war-torn Ramallah. He has one important thing to do today: bring home a cake…
2nd Annual Frenetic Fringe Festival
The 2nd Annual Frenetic Fringe Festival is all about timing. “It’s a very concentrated type of festival that requires absolutely no patience,” says co-creator Robert Thoth. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, “wait 15 minutes,” he says. Chances are, one of the 15- to 30-minute theater, dance or film…
Tuna Does Vegas
What happens when Vera Carp, a proud member of the Smut Snatchers of the New Order, ends up in Las Vegas? A whole lot of laughing, at least that’s what Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard are hoping for in Tuna Does Vegas. They are the silly threesome behind…
Oliver!
Oliver Twist may be one of the luckiest characters ever to step on the stage. The star of the musical Oliver!, Twist goes from rough times at an orphanage to a cushy life with his rich uncle. Of course, there are some bumps and bruises along the way, including being…
Ken Rogerson
H-town has made its way into one of comedian Ken Rogerson’s bits: “I was in Houston, Texas, in January. I thought, ‘January, Houston. It’s near the Gulf of Mexico, it’s gonna be nice and warm.’ 40 degrees in Houston. Boston? 65. That’s the problem with trying to get people to…
First Thursdays at Dean’s
See the ones that almost got away at today’s First Thursdays at Dean’s. Sponsored by the Houston Film Commission, the program features shorts that didn’t make the cut the first time around but which event organizers thought were worth a look. Houston filmmaker Keeley Steenson contributes Alexander Family Farm, about…
Big, Loud & Live! 6
The Concord Blue Devils marching band bested a field of 22 a couple of weeks ago to earn their spot in today’s 2009 Drums Corps International World Championship Quarterfinals in Indianapolis. The semi’s are tomorrow, with the finals on Saturday, but you can pick your favorites during today’s Big, Loud…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Red Door Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream isn’t exactly what Shakespeare had in mind. This Dream, written by local playwright Louis B. Moore especially for Red Door, is billed as “a parody for the 21st century.” In Moore’s play-within-a-play version, the Garage Door Theater Troup has…
Jacuzzi Movies
Curator Andrea Grover selected Touched by Water for today’s edition of Jacuzzi Movies at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. It’s an exploration of our connection to water and all the ways we swim, bathe and play in it. (We’re not sure about communal baths in polluted rivers, but we like…
Arte y Pureza
Local flamenco dancer La Tempestad is used to being onstage, but she says she’ll gladly relinquish the spotlight in favor of today’s performance by Arte y Pureza. Three members of the Seville-based flamenco company (dancers Cihtli Ocampo and Javier Heredia, and musician Ethan Margolis) have been in town leading workshops,…
Day for Night
Seeing the ever beautiful Jacqueline Bisset would be reason enough to watch Day for Night. But seeing her in the first film that she says ever used her properly, makes it required viewing. The movie chronicles the making of a French film, catching all the action in front of and…
Dear Mr. Waldman
In Hanan Peled’s richly evocative world, the past is never truly in the past, nor is it ever easily forgotten. As the final movie of the Jewish Community Center’s Summer Israeli Film Series, Peled’s uplifting and bittersweet post-WWII family drama Dear Mr. Waldman makes the strongest case possible for the…
Not Bad for Government Work
In the Loop doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the know. In Armando Iannucci’s movie, a satire of the run-up to war with a Middle Eastern country, it means that all the poor bastards are stuck in a loop, making the same bad decisions and tragic mistakes over and over again…
Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak’s success in almost every realm of show business has always seemed somewhat out of place. Whether he’s making music, acting or interviewing celebrities, he’s forever the blue-eyed crooner who never really loses — even though he’s always losing. In fact, Isaak’s ability to craft spot-on recollections of love’s…
Top Chef
It was the best of movies. It was the worst of movies. Which is to say: There’s half of a great movie in Julie & Julia — but since Meryl Streep has already starred in one titled Julia (Fred Zinnemann’s penultimate feature in 1977), perhaps it was merely necessary to…
What a Night
The night was unseasonably cool, the audience was festive and the show, well…it was Twelfth Night, one of William Shakespeare’s most enchanting. The jovial, sexy, wonderfully funny cast guided the audience through plot twists and difficult language toward a charmed ending. Now in its 35th year, the Houston Shakespeare Festival…
Free Willy. Seriously.
Late in the infectiously frisky documentary The Cove, an older man calmly gate-crashes an international conference on whaling with a television screen strapped to his chest, showing bloody images of the mass slaughter of dolphins in a pretty cove off the coast of Japan. It’s a show-stopping publicity stunt by…
How High
Known for their sharp and hilarious turns on albums like 1999 collaboration Blackout!, Method Man and Redman have also appeared in deodorant commercials, the stoner cult classic How High and short-lived Fox sitcom Meth & Red. Indelible pop-culture creatures, the rappers’ brand-new sequel Blackout! 2 is much better than most…
The Baby Boom That Wasn’t and Allen Stanford Deserves a Break, Right?
Hurricane Ike Nine months later, no flood of “Ike Babies” BY RICHARD CONNELLY Whenever a city suffers a blackout for any extended period of time, you can be sure that journalists will trot out the old story about a “baby boom” happening nine months later. It’s definitely been enough time…
White Rhino
Given the band’s all-too-familiar name construction of color + exotic animal, it would be all too easy to mistake White Rhino for indie-rockers whose jeans are too tight and songs are too loose. That impression would last about one second once the Austin-via-Houston trio smacked you upside the eardrums with…
Minority Report
The Mexican Not a fan: I am writing in regards to the recent Ask a Mexican debacle in hopes of shedding some light on the subject. I am what is considered a “Latino writer,” though I do not market myself as such. I felt compelled to write because of the…
ABSINTHE BRASSERIE’S VINYL SUNSET
I don’t love the taste of Absinthe, but I do love Absinthe Brasserie (609 Richmond, 713-528-7575). This gig sends me to a lot of bars, but if this isn’t the coolest, coziest, most comfortable cocktail lounge in town, I don’t know what is. From the dim candlelight and all-around warm…
Soccer, Soccer and… Soccer
Dear Mexican, Why does El Tri act like pendejos every time the U.S. men’s national soccer team kicks their ass? They won’t even shake hands or exchange jerseys after the game and they always act like the U.S. got lucky with the win, even though the Americans have destroyed Mexico…
Know Your Enemy
Washington politics, schmolitics. When this country votes incompetent presidents into office, Bay Area punk bands get sworn into leadership positions. It’s impossible to mention the Reagan years without hearing Jello Biafra’s nasal rants against Republican values with the Dead Kennedys. And Green Day cranked up the George W. Bush backlash with American Idiot,…
Splitsville
There are three steadfast ways, all fairly easy to identify, to tell if a club’s DJ is doing an okay job. Take, for example, the man behind the decks tonight at Blvd 610 Bar and Lounge (3005 West Loop S.), DJ Cruize Control. Wednesdays are Blvd’s chill night, so the…
Summer Stock
No rest for the wicked. On the heels of last week’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase and ceremony comes this weekend’s two-day Free Press Houston Summerfest, not to mention George Strait, Green Day and Chris Isaak. Suddenly, it’s not hard to believe at all that Houston can make a go…
Crüefest
It’s not really summer until Mötley Crüe blows through your city. Through nearly 30 years of member changes, public scandals — sex tape, anybody? — and general constant turmoil, the Crüe has shown its audience what it means to be bad and enjoy every second. As a reward, few people…
Otep
For most bands, it’s not a good thing when your fans start thinking that you might be eating people and casting spells in your spare time. For Otep, an eponymous, female-fronted goth-metal outfit, those rumors won the band fans, Marilyn Manson and an Ozzfest slot. Otep, in other words, is…
Free Press Summer Fest
Houstonians have long been plagued by a nagging musical inferiority complex, both vocally and surreptitiously wondering if their scene is good enough, with doubts ranging from concern over the caliber of local talent, to the often-difficult prospect of attracting big-name national acts. In one fell swoop, fellow Space City boosters…
A Darker Look at Che’s Revolution
Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s famous beret is gone. His iconic beard is filthy and matted against skeletal cheekbones. Bushy eyebrows arch over his half-open eyes. As a Bolivian country surgeon methodically saws off his lifeless hands, Che appears vaguely amused. Gustavo Villoldo, a stocky figure in green army fatigues, stands just…
George Strait
At an age when his onetime peers have been exiled to the nostalgia circuit (Randy Travis) or ridden into the sunset altogether (Garth Brooks), George Strait continues to crank out albums and hits at a pace that would shame even hardworking disciples like Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw. Truthfully, with…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Amy Blakemore: Photographs 1988-2008,” “Carlos Runcie-Tanaka: Fragmento,” “Detritus,” “$timulus,” “Toil and Trouble”
“Amy Blakemore: Photographs 1988-2008” The photographs Amy Blakemore takes with a crappy plastic camera can make you cry. Dad (1999) is an image from this exhibition, a 20-year survey of the artist’s work at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The entire time I was in the gallery, people kept…
Sweet Lola Yogurt Bar
“The first Christmas presents my husband bought for me, back in the late ’70s, were a vacuum cleaner, a bicycle and a yogurt maker, so my interest in yogurt goes back a long way,” says Sarina Blanchard, owner of the new Sweet Lola Yogurt Bar (304 Gray, 713-521-1333). “Lola stands…
Chinese Chili
The fungus salad from Chinese Halal Cuisine on Bellaire was made from triangle-cut carrot slices and the wood ear mushrooms known as black fungus in Chinese cooking. The flavor was mild, but the texture was wild. Each bite made an audible squeaky noise, like a deflated balloon. We ate the…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Ps and Qs: the ABCs of Manners, Sherlock Holmes and the Crucifer of Blood, Steel Magnolias
Ps and Qs: the ABCs of Manners Given anyone the middle-finger salute on the freeway recently? Bought coffee at Starbucks while chatting on your cell phone? Eaten dinner with your elbows on the table? Oh, you naughty, naughty Houstonians — Main Street Theater has a show for you. Indeed, Ps…
Breakfast bites at Tintos Spanish Restaurant & Wine Bar
The morcilla del caribe ($8) at Tintos Spanish Restaurant & Wine Bar (2015 W. Gray, 713-522-1330) is part of the tapas menu, but the small portion packs a tasty punch. Three crispy corn arepas, each about the size of a silver dollar, are topped with slices of morcilla, or blood…
