J.J. Watt on Offense? You’ve All Been Catfished
Exactly nine days ago, after the re-emergence of his black elbow brace at a Sunday morning practice caused a momentary collective heart attack among Houstonians, I wrote that J.J. Watt has the capability, if he so chooses, to troll the entire city of Houston. With a tweet, with a few…
Former Houston Pavilions Getting Facelift to Go with Name Change
When the downtown Houston Pavilions was being built, it was touted as a pass-through from Main Street and the rail line to the other side of town with Discovery Green, Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center. People would be able to leisurely stroll and browse various shops…
Here’s to You, Pam Robinson: Musicians Rally Around Beloved Walters Owner
Texas has a lot of history, and for better or worse, we’re damn proud of it. So it’s no surprise that Houstonians grow attached to their places and things, and Walters is no exception. This past Saturday, August 10, news began to spread that Walters owner Pam Robinson had been…
This Week’s Cafe Review: Jamaican Him Crazy
I’m pretty sure that when I first walked into Caribbean Hot Pot Restaurant at 7 p.m. on a Monday the owner thought I was a crazy person. I arrived positively giddy at the thought of eating Jamaican food at Caribbean Hot Pot, the subject of this week’s cafe review. I…
Alley Theatre Changes Line-up For Next Season, Subs in A Theresa Rebeck New Play
The Alley Theatre has just announced that it is switching out one of its plays in the upcoming season to make room for the premiere of a new work by playwright Theresa Rebeck. In Fool, a comedy, two kings offer up their jesters in a bet to see which one…
Cover Story: A Bike Path and an AIDS Memorial Garden
Ten years ago, residents of a Third Ward neighborhood near MacGregor Way vociferously — yes, vociferously — objected to then-Mayor Bill White’s plans to convert an old railroad right-of-way into a bike path. A resulting lawsuit stopped a roughly 1,500-foot section of the path in its tracks, although the rest…
Reality Bites: Who Do You Think You Are?
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. How come in former lifetimes, everybody is someone famous? I mean, how come nobody ever says they were Joe Schmo? – Crash Davis It’s not entirely analogous, but there are…
Telecaster Master Bill Kirchen Is Down to Seeds and Stems Again
Bill Kirchen, the warhorse guitar virtuoso behind some of the most familiar licks on the planet, comes to Mucky Duck Thursday to preview his latest album, Seeds and Stems, which was released June 18. Kirchen first made musical waves with his cowboy crazoids band Commander Cody and the Lost Planet…
TCBY Serves Chocolate Almond Frozen Yogurt Made with Silk Almond Milk
Frozen yogurt is known for being a lighter and healthier option in comparison to ice cream and custard, but TCBY has made one of its yogurt offerings much healthier by substituting Silk Almond Milk for regular milk. TCBY has created Chocolate Almond frozen yogurt using the Silk brand of almond…
Summer of Johnny: Within 24 Hours of Each Other, the Best and Worst Johnny Manziel Pictures
The autograph broker feeding frenzy is now in full swing on Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, as Tuesday sources told ESPN.com of at least two more autograph sessions that Manziel partook of back in January, including one right here in Houston. It feels like we’ve officially…
Lazy Lunchtime Adventures with Evol. Bowls and Flatbreads
By now you guys know that I just can’t resist a frozen-food case! I recently popped into Spec’s (their olive bar — Sweet Jesus, their olive bar) and I couldn’t help myself. After a few minutes perusing the selection, I noticed a brand called “evol.” That touted — among other…
Kirko Bangz Keeps Moving Ahead On Progression III
The hip-hop community is buzzing over the release of Progression III, the third installment in the Progression mixtape series by the young Don of the H-Town, Kirko Bangz. The young rapper/singer enlists vocals from artists such as Paul Wall, Trinidad Jame$, Slim Thug, French Montana, Nipsey Hussle and a few…
Suggestions for Navigating Home Buying During a Housing Boom
Closing is an annoying process, but at least it’s the end. Sitting in a conference room with sandwiches, chips and a bowl full of Halloween candy wasn’t exactly how I pictured the final moments of my quest for home ownership — second time around for me, first for my fiancée,…
Three Brothers Bakery Cupcake Poll: Which Cupcake Is Your Favorite?
Monday, August 19, is National Cupcake Day and Three Brothers Bakery is honoring the sweet holiday by adding a new cupcake to its lineup. But customers get to choose which cupcake they want to see on the menu. Now until August 19, you can taste any of these five and…
10 Musicians Who Have Retired and Stayed Retired
Though it isn’t marked by a specific holiday, today is the anniversary of the day that the Social Security Act was enacted, 78 years ago in 1935. That means babies born on the day the bill was signed into law are currently reaping the rewards of the system they paid…
Barry Smitherman Calls For ‘Conservative Crusade’ Against The EPA, Drives Truck In Election Ad
Barry Smitherman hasn’t done a lot of time on the Railroad Commission, but he’s already set his sights on becoming the next state attorney general, and he’s calling for a conservative crusade to get him there. Smitherman has come a long way from the days when he was a prosecutor…
Remembering Tompall Glaser: An Outlaw Just Beyond the Spotlight
Tompall Glaser, one of the original and most confrontational Nashville outlaws, passed Tuesday morning after a long illness, according to the singer’s nephew. The flannel-throated Glaser, whose upraised middle finger to the Music Row establishment was even bigger than Willie’s or Waylon’s, was 79. A singer, writer, producer, publisher and…
“The Beauty Box” Pretties Up a Third Ward Lot
Rain can’t wash away “The Beauty Box.” A day after an unexpected noon deluge, the rug is a little soggy, but the rest of the pieces in “The Beauty Box,” an outdoor public installation, have dried. “The Beauty Box” is the brainchild of local mixed-media artist Robert Hodge, who, with…
First Look at La Balance Cuisine by Jose Hernandez
Jose Hernandez has been busy. The acclaimed pastry chef, who went off radar after leaving his high-profile post as Chef de Cuisine at Triniti, has re-emerged on the Houston food scene with an offering of his own: La Balance Cuisine, located in the heart of Katy’s Cinco Ranch development. The…
Blurred Lines Turns Tables on Robin Thicke’s Old Nemesis Timberlake
Whether seen or not, Thicke has been working his ass off for over two decades to finally get to this point, and he seems ready to fight for his time in the spotlight. You see, though Thicke has been working hard, he always seems to have bad luck with timing…
JFK, Oswald and Nick Beef: A Mystery Solved
JFK assassination conspiracy theorists probably felt a pang of disappointment when The New York Times revealed the (non)-mystery behind the curiously monikered grave marker beside Lee Harvey Oswald’s grave in Fort Worth. For 15 years, conspiracy theorists and pilgrims to Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery have wondered: Just who is “Nick…
100 Creatives 2013: Homer Starkey, Novelist
Homer Starkey recently checked something big off his bucket list, getting his first novel published. He had been working on You Will Believe in Love for a while, always stopping and then starting again. “Eventually, I said, ‘Before I turn 40 I’m gonna write this thing and get it published.’…
This Week in Food Blogs: Gastro Punk Food Truck, Burger Porn and Breaking the Indian Buffet Habit
Houston Food Truck Reviews: This is a great blog if you get tired of waiting for our sporadic (but, ahem, excellent) food truck round-ups. This week, blogger David Sarkozi checked out one of Houston’s newest food trucks, Gastro Punk. Sarkozi writes, “Ok, maybe I have a problem, Gasto Punk has…
Former Texan Travis Johnson: “Tony Romo Is a Thief”
“Be memorable.” Back in the day, we had a sign on the door of our studio and that was all that it said, but in a radio/television/print/Web world cluttered with thousands of sources for content, and with only 24 hours in a day to consume just a fraction of them,…
UPDATED: The 8 Stupidest Things in the Houston Restaurant Scene Right Now, Plus 1
First off, we want you to know that we think Houston has a killer restaurant scene. We have some truly top-notch eateries in this town, and we’re damn proud of them. That said, everyone messes up from time to time. Chefs, waiters and restaurateurs all do stupid things. And we…
Super Bowl Shuffle: Five Houston Texans Who Should Record an Album
I just finished watching the Houston Texans defeat the Minnesota Vikings in the first preseason game of the 2013 season. As you read this, I’m fewer than four days from firing up the grill, knocking back beers and listening to get-pumped music with great friends at Reliant Stadium’s preseason opener,…
10 More Remastered Classics We Want Besides DuckTales
I spent a happy evening reliving one of my favorite NES titles, DuckTales, which WayForward has completely redrawn with amazing graphics and a few gameplay updates. These efforts continuously allow a new generation to experience the best games of bygone eras without having their eyes bored out of their heads…
Imperial Sugar Sure Is Sweet On Blake Shelton, Houston’s Reginald Adams
Rocks Off has made no secret that we’re not the biggest Blake Shelton fan who ever lived. He knows that. So it’s not like we lie awake at night wondering what he’s going to do next. Still, we didn’t expect this. Houston artist Reginald Adams, founder of the Museum of…
Weather Week: Summer Pattern Engaged, Hurricane Season Peaks
You’ll have to excuse my smugness as I’ve spent the last week in a place where the high temperature never got above 85. One day it was 79, and the evenings were downright chilly. But now that I’m back in Steamroom, Texas, I’ll happily accept the fact that summer is,…
To Be Truly Great, Houston Needs Another Motown
Recently Rocks Off asked our writers if Houston could ever have a “great” music scene,whatever that means. The answers were so wide-ranging we had to divide them among several posts. My suggestion to take Houston’s music scene to greater heights is this: create a record company here. Not a label,…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: RDG + Bar Annie
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: We went to RDG + Bar Annie for a luxurious lunch that was a stunning value: three courses for $20. You can also go for dinner ($45 for four courses) and they even have an HRW brunch ($35 for three courses). Service/Atmosphere: RDG…
Judge Forces Parent to Change Child’s Name from Messiah Because of Jesus
In Tennessee, Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered parents to change the name of their child from Messiah to something else because, “The word Messiah is a title and it’s a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ.” Of course,…
Pizza, Limoncello and Double Dating at Piola
Shame on me for forgetting about Piola. It had been too long, so I recently reacquainted myself with the Italian chain on a double date with friends. Luckily, the flame is still burning (with the restaurant, not the other couple, creeps). You could say I’m hot for pizza. Piola gets…
Upcoming: Billy Ocean, Kid Cudi, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Neutral Milk Hotel, etc.
AFI: Thu., October 17, 6 p.m., $25. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston, 713-225-5483. BC Presents HeArt: With Saturn Will Not Sleep, CB Kings., Thu., September 19, 8 p.m., $10. House of Blues — Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston, 888-402-5837. Billy Ocean: Fri., October 11, 7:30 p.m., $23 to…
AOL CEO Firing Employee During Conference Calls Raises Questions
If you haven’t heard the bizarre and awkwardly hilarious audio of AOL CEO Tim Armstrong firing creative director Abel Lentz on a conference call — a call of over 100 people there to discuss Patch, an AOL rollout that Lentz was in charge of — take a listen. Armstrong fired…
Sandy Stewart & Bill Charlap’s Something To Remember is Evocative and Expressive
In the 1950s and early 60s, Sandy Stewart was a well-known vocalist, booking television gigs with Merv Griffin, Dick Van Dyke, regularly appearing on The Perry Como Show, and touring with Benny Goodman. She is best known for her hit, Grammy-nominated recording “My Coloring Book,” which lost to Ella Fitzgerald’s…
Cake Decorating 101: Reveal Cake
Last week we took a look at decorating cakes on the inside by making a Zebra Cake, so I thought I would continue that theme by showing you how to make a reveal cake for a baby shower. Sharing with friends and family the gender of the soon-to-come baby has…
Houston Has a Great Music Scene. Just Keep the Musicians In and Hipsters Out.
Recently Rocks Off asked our writers if Houston could ever have a “great” music scene,whatever that means. The answers were so wide-ranging we had to divide them among several posts. I want to preface this by saying that I am in love with Houston’s music scene, and think it already…
Save at Little Bitty Burger Barn, Le Peep, *17 — Plus Half-Off Entry to Houston Wine Fest
Today’s Houston Press Voice Daily Deal is good for 53 percent off ($7 for $15) burgers and more at Little Bitty Burger Barn. http://www.voiceplaces.com/houston/little-bitty-burger-barn-2355137-l This is your last warning–the deal expires this evening, so get on it. LBBB is famous for burgers (natch) as well as other menu favorites like…
More Is More: Texans Set to Unveil Gargantuan Video Board at Reliant Stadium
Let’s dispense with the “bigger in Texas” jokes right off the bat. Also, no “size matters” quips, if you please. The Rockets installed a massive video board inside Toyota Center before last season. If you were wondering just how big it is, imagine installing a 60-inch flat screen in your…
Best Gluten-Free Menu Items That Are Normally Off Limits (Pizza, Pasta and More!)
On August 2, the Food and Drug Administration finally decided to define the term “gluten free.” Up until then, manufacturers had been able to slap the label on anything that they felt was gluten free enough. How much gluten to include in gluten-free products was completely up to the discretion…
Man With OCD, Neil Hilborn, Delivers Powerful Poetry Performance
Don’t think poetry has much to say to you? Watch this powerful poetry performance by Neil Hilborn, formerly of Houston, now living in Minnesota. Hilborn has OCD and his poem is about being in a relationship. In June he performed this in the regional finals of the 2013 Rustbelt Regional…
The Bozo Porno Circus Diaries: Sunny Days, Shit-Smeared Walls, and Slayer
If you never saw a Bozo Porno Circus show then you just plain missed out. The Tone Zone Records band was a freak-out and a half, stuffed to the wall with loud noises and pretty girls getting sparks shot off their metal-covered crotches by belt sanders. Recently, lead guitarist Chris…
Tennessee Fan Tries to Take Horrible SEC Fan Songs to Another Level (w/ Zapruder VIDEO)
Sometime before the 2014 college football season, the SEC will launch its own television network. With 14 schools, the station probably won’t be as challenged for content as its ESPN-owned brethren the Longhorn Network, but 24 hours is still a lot of time to fill every single day, even with…
August Kickstarter Round-Up: Chemtrails. Beer Pong, and ASL Music Videos
Once a month we’ll be bringing you a look at some of the best local Kickstarter campaigns in order to let you know what’s getting ready to be unleashed through the help of small investors. American Sign Language (ASL) Music Video Project: The first Kickstarter this month that I’m really…
Let’s Move On: Houston Doesn’t Need a Central Live-Music Hub
Recently Rocks Off asked our writers what it would take for Houston to have a “great” music scene, if for no other reason to see what their ideas of a great scene were. The answers were so wide-ranging we had to split them into a few separate posts, but in…
Saint Arnold Expands Craft Beer Distribution to Colorado & Florida, But Still Thrives in Texas
Saint Arnold is heading east and west. The local craft beer brewery will now offer several of its beers in Colorado and Florida at the start of the fall season. While the dates are not set in stone, marketing director, Lennie Ambrose, and Jeremy “Jerm” Johnson of the marketing team,…
Scott Ota Is “Texas’ Best Sommelier” 2013, James Watkins of Houston Takes Third Place
Which Austrian wine appellation lies farther to the north, Kremstal or Kamptal? What’s the minimum alcohol content required for the first fermentation for wines destined to become Moscato d’Asti in Piedmont, Italy? These are the type of “theory” questions that wine professionals must answer when competing to become the best…
The Electronic Traveler: Improving Mobile Mapping Technology
By far, the single most important app on my recent vacation was Google Maps. When you log more than 3,500 miles in a car, a map is often your best friend and the Google Maps app was outstanding at getting me from point A to point B. But, like all…
Doctor Who: The Doctor and I Explain Death to a Four-Year-Old
The reason that my daughter isn’t named Relm isn’t only because my wife thinks that Final Fantasy VI was a lackluster entry in the franchise. It’s mostly because we named her after our best friend Kat Cresswell, who we lost to cancer nine years, two months, and 16 days ago…
Top 5 “Big Salads” to Try in Houston*
*First, let me be clear that in selecting the items on this list, I was operating under the Elaine Benes definition of a “big salad.” As you Seinfeld fans might remember, Jerry initially said that a “big salad” contains “big lettuce, big carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs,” but in another episode,…
The Rocks Off 100: Eloy Contreras, Deathrazor’s Sharp Thrash Vocals
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Deathrazor had a rocky…
Patrick Renner’s “Funnel Tunnel” Installation Celebrates Montrose
If art was human, Patrick Renner’s installations would personify the skeletal system. Many of his installations begin as hollow structures, which he either fills up or attaches something to. That “something” is usually wood, and when working solely with wood, Renner creates thick, surly, unbreakable pieces streaked with rainbow colors…
Ben Hall Says…Something in His New Mayoral Campaign Videos
Ben Hall is running for mayor and he’s running early and with videos that are that always-difficult-to-land blend of performance art, pure campaign video and something Ingmar Bergman might have put together in his spare time. The first video ran last Wednesday, and in a move that reminded us at…
Don’t Speak Wine Geek? The Houston Sommelier Association Has Room for Everyone
“Education is key,” write the founders of newly formed Houston Sommelier Association, “and for many of us sommeliers seeking the highest levels of certifications (Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, Certified Wine Educator) the desire to teach is our motivation to learn.” Officially launched this week, the group — composed of nine…
Happy International Lefthanders Day: The Five Best Southpaw Guitarists
I have to admit something a little odd: I’ve always been a bit jealous of left-handed people. It seems like so many of our greatest minds in the arts and sciences are left-handed, and it seems like it must have some sort of connection to greatness. Sure, they typically die…
Stephen Hawking and George Mitchell Totally Wheelchair Raced
As the tributes and memorials keep pouring out for George P. Mitchell, father of fracking, savior of Galveston and creator of the Woodlands, it seems pretty clear that he was a pretty cool dude. In fact, Mitchell was cool enough that he and famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking were buddies…
Video Game High School: Parents Just Don’t Understand
It’s Parents Day at VGHS, and oh my God it’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know why I’m surprised. I made a list of all the orphaned characters in the Final Fantasy series once and it got so sad I had to go outside and sit…
The 5 Best Things to Eat at Buc-ee’s, the Convenience Store of the Gods
Because my family lives in both Corpus and the Hill Country, I find myself on the road to and from Houston frequently. During those long, boring drives through south and central Texas, there is one thing that shines like a beacon among the run-down gas stations and cows and oil…
Could Houston Ever Have a Great Music Scene?
Houston is changing fast; that much we all know. Doesn’t matter if it’s the new housing sprouting up all over town, rampant job growth, the city making yet another “best” or “hottest” (or even “coolest”) national list, or even the Texans’ status as (possible) Super Bowl contenders, Houston isn’t the…
This Incredible Make-A-Wish Teenager Got a Lap Dance at the Gathering of the Juggalos (NSFW)
Note: this past weekend, the folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off is amazed they made it out in one piece, but they did. We first heard about 17-year-old Cody Morin on our…
Nearly 9,000 Expected for American Legion Convention
Nearly 9,000 veterans will attend the American Legion’s 95th national convention in Houston August 23, according to the nation’s largest organization of wartime vets. A press release states that “blue-capped Legionnaires will be seen primarily in the downtown area where they will be housed in a number of hotels consuming…
Some Things That Happen After 5 a.m. at the Gathering of the Juggalos
Note: this past weekend, the folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off is amazed they made it out in one piece, but apparently they did. Nate “Igor” Smith…And this is all before 5…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Coppa
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: Coppa has a Houston Restaurant Weeks menu available for dinner that reads like a Greatest Hits list. I was able to have several of the dishes they are known for in one meal and was thrilled. The cost is $35…
Uncle Allegedly Shoots and Kills Nephew After Assault
In what appears to best be described as a domestic disturbance gone very wrong, one man is dead and another injured after the two had an altercation Saturday afternoon in the near west side of Houston. The deceased, Robert Love III, 25, was at his home at 7815 Bellewood Drive…
Juggalo Eats and a Quest for the Mystical Burrito Man
Note: this past weekend, the folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off is amazed they made it out in one piece… especially considering the food on offer there. Drew AilesWondering what’s in a…
We Made Sangria Pie, Because Why Not
So we all love sangria, right? Who doesn’t. Know what else we love? Pie. So then we were all like, wait a minute. Sangria. Pie. Sangria Pie! Suddenly, life just got a little more beautiful. We suggest letting your freak flag fly and enjoying a slice of sangria pie with…
HPD, State Farm to Unveil Pricey Crime Prevention Robot?
This is how it begins. One minute, we’re introducing a remote-controlled robot to students for teaching purposes, the next minute, we’re introducing the NS-5 with its three-laws perfection…until some giant, sentient computer brain decides we’re all too stupid to survive. Apparently, HPD and State Farm believe we are three-laws safe…
Five Musicians We Would Like to Ball Gag
Look, we’re going to cut right to the chase on this one. Some artists are more famous for their ill-advised antics than for their music, and those artists need to stuff a sock in it. These musicians are making fools out of themselves, and the shameless self-promotion by any means…
Dazzling Displays at the Four Seasons Inaugural Eid Al-Fitr Celebration
It’s hard to wish others a hearty (and intelligible) “Eid Mubarak” with a mouthful of food. I came to this realization several times this past Friday during the Eid al-Fitr dinner at the Four Seasons as I sat at my table and consumed plate after plate of the most outstanding…
Now The New York Times Doesn’t Want You To Be A Stay-at-home Mom Either
Vigil wrote in The Aeneid, ” A shifty, fickle object is woman, always.” Women have for centuries been described as indecisive. We want something and then we don’t want it anymore. We love you; we hate you. We buy jackets with shoulder pads and then we decide they look ridiculous…
Dwight Howard’s Instagram Account Is The Bizarro Johnny Football Account
With Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the like, the argument can very easily be made that we know too much about athletes in this day and age. (Actually, the argument can be made that we know too much about everybody in this day and age, but this is a sports blog…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 95 Sweet Potato Gnocchi at Brooklyn Athletic Club
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. Just as Katharine Shilcutt did before her, and Robb Walsh before that, Kaitlin will eat and learn as she goes, compiling a list of…
Breaking Bad: It’s Science Bitch
Every so often a piece of media, be it a movie, a book or a television program, comes along that captures something that no previous program had. These shows stay in the history books and they are discussed in communication and philosophy courses in universities. They don’t just capture a…
America at Stafford Centre, 8/10/2013
America Stafford Centre August 10, 2013 ‘Murica. Something about the ’70s folk-rock band America reminds me of the happier parts of my childhood. I remember sitting on the green shag carpet in our house, listening quietly to my dad pluck away at the notes to “A Horse With No Name,”…
The Electronic Traveler: AroundMe, Hotels.com and the Surprising Strength of the AT&T Signal
So, I’m back in Houston after a VERY long road trip. I logged more than 3500 miles and remarkably only had to sleep in two hotel beds thanks to relatives and soon-to-be relatives along my path. Like early in my road trip, my iPhone played a critical role in the…
Tea and Sympathy Written 60 Years Ago, Still Has Power
The set-up: Tea and Sympathy, by Robert Anderson, opened on Broadway in 1953 and ran for 712 performances, with John Kerr in the role of the prep school student struggling with the perception that he is effeminate. John Kerr passed away this year, I’m sorry to report, at the age…
True Blood: Life Matters Because We Die
Alan Ball was known for his masterful use of music in Six Feet Under. He’s lost none of his touch when it comes to his current HBO series, True Blood — which happens to be set in the Louisiana swamps, not terribly far from Houston. Much thanks to True-Blood.net, who…
Chef Georgia Pellegrini Brings Haute Hunting to Texas
An old acquaintance of mine recently moved to Texas. That may not sound like breaking news, but my friend, Georgia Pellegrini, just happens to be an awesome chef and a crack shot who hosts some badass hunting and cooking retreats, so her presence in the Lone Star state…well, as Martha…
Texans-Vikings: 4 Winners, 4 Losers (From What I Saw, Ahem, Channel 13)
When you’re the preseason television flagship for an NFL team, you’d better be on your game because you only get four opportunities to make it count. And let’s face it, these aren’t your normal broadcasting opportunities. Most fans are watching preseason games just to see how some of the obscure…
The Bozo Porno Circus Diaries: It’s Cold When You’re Naked
If you never saw a Bozo Porno Circus show then you just plain missed out. The Tone Zone Records band was a freak-out and a half, stuffed to the wall with loud noises and pretty girls getting sparks shot off their metal-covered crotches by belt sanders. Recently, lead guitarist Chris…
Turning Wine into Water: Houston Sommeliers Give Their Two Cents About L.A.’s 45-Page Water Menu
Apparently California, more specifically Los Angeles, is ahead of the culinary curve. Ray’s & Stark Bar recently created the most extensive (and probably the only) water menu with the first water sommelier, Martin Riese. Riese is a self-proclaimed water sommelier and the general manager at Ray’s & Stark Bar. He…
The Lifeguard and other Feminist Minded Indies that make life confusing
Being in that young adult group which ranges from late twenties to early thirties… for someone like me movies like this summer’s “The Lifeguard” which focuses on a young woman worried about growing up and being lost can be somewhat depressing, but at the same time true. I have to…
What’s Cooking This Week? Tortellini w/ Mushroom Cream Sauce & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and me, but most of the time, cooking for two proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredient’s I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
Back-to-School Shopping: No School Required
Of all the things that suck about growing up, one of the worst is missing out on the excitement of back-to-school shopping. Whether it’s school supplies, new clothes, or picking out the perfect book bag, there is nothing like that August shopping trip with mom or dad. Now that I’m…
Bloodhound Gang vs. Russia: No Contest, Comrade Putin
It’s not quite the Cold War, but the current relationship between the U.S. and Russia is especially frosty these days. From Syria to Snowden, we can’t seem to see eye to eye across the globe, or even the Bering Strait, as Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency seems like regression…
Will The Texans Ever Again Open The Roof?
The people of Houston and of Harris County paid a lot of money to put a retractable roof on top of Reliant Stadium. Nobody can quantify the amount of money spent, but the roof is supposed to have increased the cost of the stadium by nearly 50-percent. So when the…
13 Things I Would Tell My Son About Being a Man
I am plagued in my life by an ever-expanding line of people obsessed with the idea that “manliness” and “masculinity” are under threat, maybe even extinct. I can’t comment on a single issue involving sexual assault or women’s rights without some shining example of my gender leaving a 300-word comment…
UPDATED: The Best Concerts In Houston This Week: Heart, Bruno Mars, The Leavers, Bill Kirchen, etc.
UPDATED (Monday, 11 a.m.): Removes Tianna Hall, who is not playing Sambuca this evening. DJ Sun The Flat, April 1 Now that some of the well-deserved publicity surrounding DJ Sun’s first-ever full-length release, One Hundred, has subsided a little, his true accomplishment on the disc seems even more impressive. In…
Single White Foodie Looking for Love: Food Dating Sites for Every Niche
George Bernard Shaw once said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” While I have to agree with him on that, sometimes the love of another person can be nice too. And because these days the Internet can solve most problems, there are now websites that allow…
12-Man Swimming Pool Alley Oop Ups Ante on Suburban White Kid Tomfoolery
Every kid who’s ever played basketball growing up, either organized or on the playground, wishes he could dunk. It’s one of the immutable, uncontrollable urges of teenage boys, like sweets and morning wood. However, without the aid of a trampoline or an adjustable rim (8 foot rims, I was a…
The Gathering of the Juggalos’ Best Overheard Quotes
Note: The folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend. Nate “Igor” SmithDuring the Gathering of the Juggalos, Cave-In Rock, Illinois becomes a sonic disaster zone…
Ten Things You Don’t Need When Camping With Juggalos
Note: The folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend. Nate “Igor” SmithOnce you arrive at the Gathering, you quickly learn you did not need to…
UPDATED: Death at Juggalo Gathering: “Four Dudes Had Been Sleeping With a Corpse”
Note: The folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend. UPDATE (Sunday, 1 p.m.): Reached by phone on Sunday afternoon, Hardin County coroner Jessica Cullum released…
UPDATED: Death Reported at Juggalo Gathering; Drug Bridge Closed
Note: The folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend. Daniel HillThe now-closed “drug bridge” UPDATE (Sunday, 1 p.m.:): Reached by phone on Sunday afternoon, Hardin…
Breaking Bad’s Best Musical Moments
Breaking Bad is easily the best television show currently running, and only The Wire can challenge its all-time supremacy. The riveting saga of what happens when a mild-mannered science teacher dying from cancer makes a fatally bad decision to cook methamphetamine has more twists and turns than the wildest ride…
Perry Goes Old School Mexican Bandito On Health Secretary About Affordable Care Act
As has been made clear, Gov. Rick Perry isn’t a fan of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), and it seems the guy with the perfect mop of hair is even less of a fan of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius after her swing through the state Thursday…
10 Must-Have Items When Camping With Juggalos
Note: Bless their souls, the folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend, and praying for them. Nate “Igor” SmithA juggalo photographed on Wednesday, the first…
Fire Up the Roasters, It’s Hatch Chile Season at Central Market
Hatch is the word – or for at least until August 20. Central Market is hosting its 18th annual Hatch Chile Festival and on Thursday, August 8 the specialty grocery store kicked off the celebration of all things hatch chile by firing up the roasters for the first time. Outside…
Chef Chat, Part 3: Dylan Murray of Local Foods and Benjy’s and His Mission to Offer Delicious, Healthful, Farm-Fresh Food
This is the third part of a three part Chef Chat series. If you missed our previous posts, you can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. This week, Dylan Murray of Local Foods and Benjy’s has been talking about how he wants to help Houstonians eat better. We…
The Bozo Porno Circus Diaries: Sid, the Evil Sex and Drug Clown
If you never saw a Bozo Porno Circus show then you just plain missed out. The Tone Zone Records band was a freak-out and a half, stuffed to the wall with loud noises and pretty girls getting sparks shot off their metal-covered crotches by belt sanders. Recently, lead guitarist Chris…
Red Alert: Stay Away From the Malls Because Tax-Free Weekend is Here (Unless You Really Really Need to Go)
If you woke up this morning with a sinking feeling in your stomach that you couldn’t explain, there’s a good chance it’s because subconsciously you know about the dark cloud hanging over Texas the next few days. Tax-free weekend has returned. Those of you who made the mistake of deciding…
The Gathering of the Juggalos: Misconceptions and First Impressions
Note: Bless their souls, the folks at our sister paper Riverfront Times have ventured into the breach that is the Gathering of the Juggalos in Hardin County, Illinois. Rocks Off will be following their exploits all weekend, and praying for them. Nate “Igor” SmithA juggalo photographed on Wednesday, the first…
S’more S’mores Cupcake, Please! Or, How Ooh La La Renewed My Faith in Cupcakes
Okay, so I hadn’t completely lost faith in cupcakes, but in the past year, I’ve eaten more that are mediocre rather than magnificent. Granted, some of those cupcakes were made by yours truly, but the larger point is that I had begun to doubt the cupcake’s capacity to thrill me…
Texans-Vikings: Let The (Preseason) Games Begin!
This time of year, we are looking for signs that football is actually here. The Texans’ open practices are nice, but rarely involve hitting, or even pads and helmets. There are Gary Kubiak soundbites on the radio every day, and that’s all well and good. But until something that feels…
Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical Brings Its Australian Outback Trip to Houston
Bryan West was part of the original production on Broadway of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical and when offered the chance to go on tour in one of the lead roles, jumped at the chance to move up from understudy. Touring isn’t something new for him – he’s…
Top 5 Ways to Improve Cauliflower: Say Goodbye to Bland Flavor
It can be hard to always eat your vegetables, especially ones that are pretty bland on their own. When I was seven years old, cauliflower was one of those vegetables I just never liked. It’s not sweet like carrots (my favorite veggies), it’s a little mushy and let’s face it,…
No Regrets: America’s Dewey Bunnell On the Reunion That Never Was
While some classic rock-era bands have been able to carve out a comfortable touring niche on the strength of a couple of hits, others face an opposite dilemma in trying to cram all or most of their most popular material in a show. In the ’70s, America notched up a…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Backstreet Café
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: Backstreet Café is taking a beverage-driven approach to Houston Restaurant Weeks and there’s something for everyone. They have developed specific, three-course dinner menus for red wine, white wine, beer and cocktails. Pairings are an additional cost, but you can, if you want, order…
The 10 Suckiest Bands of the ’00s
Okay, guys. Enough with the nostalgia shows already. We know you’ve noticed it, the sudden influx of ’90s nostalgia bands that have made their way back on tour. Up until this point, it was fine to dig up a few musical memories while listening to an aging band play their…
Summer TV Club: Malcolm In the Middle “The Graduation”
This week Jef, Pete and I went back in time about five years to weigh in on the series finale of the hit sitcom Malcolm In the Middle. The show quickly became a huge hit for Fox television and made stars out of Malcolm (Frankie Muñiz) his mother Lois (Jane…
High Brow Eyebrows: A Guide for You
Eyebrows are weird. You don’t really notice them on other people unless they are really bad, and when they are really good, you just think, “Wow, that person looks great!” without attributing it to the little strips of hair that rest above their eyeballs. So how do you get a…
Hummus for Breakfast? Yep, and Even in Mashed Potatoes
For many of you, hummus is probably not on your list of favorite things to eat, but it should be. Hummus is a healthy, tasty and satisfying food you should incorporate into your diet. I have been a huge fan of hummus for many years; I love dipping carrots, pita…
The Melvins & Honky at Warehouse Live, 8/8/2013
Melvins, Honky Warehouse Live Studio August 8, 2013 Kind of feels like the Melvins have been around forever, doesn’t it? There’s just something primordial about the band’s sludgy, signature sound. But it’s actually only been 30 years now since the weird, noisy little Washington rock group began showing everybody exactly…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: French Cuisine and English Tea
Celebrating Julia Child @ Sur La Table Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 1996 West Gray “No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” Great advice from beloved chef Julia Child, who’s being honored this weekend in a cooking class by Sur La Table in River Oaks…
How a Prince Cover Sent Me to YouTube’s Copyright-Infringement Cartoon
Thursday morning I logged onto YouTube and found that my account had been frozen for copyright infringement. It’s happened before, but this time I was instructed to watch a five-minute cartoon from the folks behind Happy Tree Friends about being a dirty, content-stealing pirate as well as take a quiz…
10 Most Horrifying Silent Hill Items on Etsy
Recently I’ve been replaying Silent Hill series of games, because apparently I was having way too much restful sleep. What the series lacks in Resident Evil’s accessibility, it more than makes up for in sheer, chilling horror. As I typically do with whatever I’m interested at the moment, I hauled…
100 Creatives 2013: Jenn Fox, Mixed Media and Mania
What She Does: It’s very hard to describe Jenn Fox’s work because it’s like snagging pink elephants out of a hallucination, but I’ll give it a shot. By trade she’s a mixed media artist who works with sculptures, paintings, and collages to create strange narrative works that though static, seem…
Woody Allen’s Five Greatest Musical Moments
Today Woody Allen’s latest film, Blue Jasmine , his 45th directorial effort in as many years, opens in Houston at the Landmark River Oaks Theatre. The living legend’s tireless output has led to a hit-or-miss career, but his highs have been so high as to make him one of the…
Upcoming Events: Lavender, Wine and a Swedish Soiree at IKEA
Bistro Provence is continuing its herb dinner series on Monday, August 12 with the fourth installment, a lavender menu. All evening, the restaurant will be serving dinner specials that incorporate lavender into the recipes. The appetizer option is fried squash blossom with lavender batter, the fish option is fish du…
Summer of Johnny: Johnny Manziel’s Lawyer Is Awesome, Wears A Cowboy Hat
The Summer of Johnny started innocently enough. Truth be told, Johnny’s extended summer really started well before the actual summer, beginning around February with Johnny posting pics from Mardi Gras on his Instagram page. From there, the saga of our hero took twists and turns through Cabo (spring break!), casinos,…
Mars Missions And Twin Testing: Just Regular Old NASA Stuff
Seeing astronauts on Mars in the near future still seems as unlikely as the moon landing must have seemed when President John F. Kennedy first got the program going in the early 1960s. But the folks over at NASA are still dreaming Martian dreams, and conducting weird experiments on twins…
The Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Letters to Voltron, Runaway Sun, Ours, etc.
Letters to Voltron Rudyard’s, August 9 If you haven’t heard Letters to Voltron, then you are missing out. It’s like… how can I put this? Imagine if every second-rate, coked-up joker you knew from your club days was also a brilliant metal musician. That’s Letters to Voltron, all cackling hyped-up…
The Top 5 Things to Do in Houston this Weekend: Ralphie May, the SWEAT Tour, Salma and More
Comedian Ralphie May, in town for a weekend stint at Houston Improv and our first pick for Friday, is a veteran of 19 USO tours. Not only does May support the military men and women serving active duty, but he also has several strategic suggestions for them. “Send gang-bangers to…
Openings and Closings: Midtown Happenings & a Cupcake ATM!
We had one major closing to speak of this week and one almost closing, so let’s just start there, and then move on to all of the exciting openings, shall we? Zunum restaurant in the Woodlands announced its closing on its Facebook page on Monday, August 5. Many people voiced…
Rock Romano at d.m. allison Full of Color and Light
Last night the d.m. allison gallery previewed its new exhibition of works by Rock Romano AKA “Dr. Rockit.” The show, which officially opens Saturday, features a large collection by the artist and musician. Many know Romano as being a staple in the Houston blues community. During the ’60s, Romano was…
Auditioning a New Friend at Oishii’s Happy Hour
So my husband does this thing where, once he finds a restaurant or two to fill a niche (sushi, Italian, burgers, etc.) he stops wanting to try new places in that niche. This makes me crazy, especially because as soon as I get back from trying a new place (where…
Los Enanitos Verdes at House of Blues, 8/7/2013
Los Enanitos Verdes, La Sien House of Blues August 7, 2013 Before there was Maná, or Juanes, or any number of Rock en Español bands, there was Los Enanitos Verdes. These soft-spoken but hard-rockin’ dudes from way south of the border are legendary for their inspired, melodic and heartfelt rock…
Robert Ellis’ Return Leads Discovery Green Fall Concert Lineup
It sure is hard not to make a Thin Lizzy joke right now, but you can watch this video if you want to. The returning Robert Ellis was among the acts announced Thursday morning for Discovery Green’s fall concert series, which begins September 19 and switches title sponsors from UH-Downtown…
Hormel REV Wraps Will Make You a Football Star or Something
Last week I was sitting on my couch reading, while my husband was watching television. I wasn’t really listening to whatever show was on, until a commercial tugged at the corner of my attention span, distracting me from the adventures of Bruno, Chief of Police. (Best mysteries ever, with lots…
The Bozo Porno Circus Diaries: The Van Eats Shit, and I Almost Eat Rooster Balls
If you never saw a Bozo Porno Circus show then you just plain missed out. The Tone Zone Records band was a freak-out and a half, stuffed to the wall with loud noises and pretty girls getting sparks shot off their metal-covered crotches by belt sanders. Recently, lead guitarist Chris…
A Timeline of the World, Post-Beyoncé Haircut
On August 7, in the year of Beyoncé and Blue Ivy 2013, a photo was placed on the official royal Instagram of her Bey-Hiveness Beyoncé. The queen had gotten a haircut. People gasped, women immediately called their beauticians at the stroke of midnight wanting the cut. Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Dylan Murray of Local Foods and Benjy’s Talks Current Menus and the New Local Foods Location in Upper Kirby
This is Part 2 of a three part Chef Chat series. You can read Part 1 here and Part 3 Friday. Yesterday, we chatted with Dylan Murray, the chef-partner of Local Foods and Benjy’s, about his role in the organization, and his commitment to promoting healthier eating habits. Today, Murray…
War Master at Mango’s, 8/7/2013
War Master, Howl, Lord Dying, Warhounds Mango’s August 7, 2013 There ain’t much street-level activity going on in Houston on a Wednesday night in August. It’s too hot, too fetid and just too draining. To get to the real action, you’ve got to slither through the cracks and the crevices…
UPDATE: The Pass & Provisions Nominated for Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant 2013
Update Two: Bon Appetit announced today that The Pass & Provisions has made it to the “Hot Ten” in their list of the best new restaurants in America. It joins one other Texas restaurant, Jeffrey’s and Josephine House in Austin. Judge Andrew Knowlton said of The Pass & Provisions, which…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Soma Sushi
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: During the month of Houston Restaurant Weeks, Soma Sushi offers a four-course dinner for $35 per person, from which the restaurant will donate $5 to the Houston Food Bank. The fact that I could have four courses from an awesome sushi restaurant for…
Did Undercover Cops Wear Speedos and Penis T-Shirts When Busting Gay Dudes in Memorial Park?
The answer to the question in the headline, according to gay activist Ray Hill, is a resounding “yes.” Here’s the deal: A Houston Police Department spokesperson told Hair Balls that officers conducted a “proactive investigation” at Memorial Park last week, in which seven men were arrested and charged with misdemeanor…
Jonas Brothers & Karmin at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 8/7/2013
Jonas Brothers, Mike Tompkins and Karmin Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 7, 2013 Pop music is synonymous with screaming girls, a young audience, and music that will make you want to dance no matter how hard you fight it. Catching the Jonas Brothers in concert checks off all three things…
I’m Going Broke Dating My Lady. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! SHE KNOWS I’M NOT RICH, SO WHY DOES SHE ACT LIKE I AM? Dear Willie D:…
5 Things Missing From the Ender’s Game Trailer (Spoiler Alert)
It’s finally here, the trailer for Gavin Hood’s film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s celebrated science fiction novel Ender’s Game! It’s easily one of my favorite books of all time, and I must have stolen at least four copies since I learned about Card’s virulent homophobia and contributions to hate…
Waffle Iron: The Solution for Evenly Cooked Grilled Cheese
Nothing beats a good grilled cheese sandwich, especially on a rainy day or when the air conditioner is turned up too high. Unfortunately, I haven’t always been successful making my own grilled cheese sammies at home. No matter how much (or little) I grease the pan or butter the bread,…
John Cornyn Insists Voter ID=Voter Equality, The Right Side of Texas Nods Its Amens
While President Obama and many others see the Supreme Court’s June ruling on the Voter Rights Act as the complete knee-capping of minority election rights, our own Senator John Cornyn says everything is a-OK and it’s about time. Continuing his appeal to the right wing people of Texas, says the…
12 Houston Chefs with Celebrity Doppelgangers: Restaurant Weeks Edition
It’s Doppelganger time! See which Houston local chef tried to steal a kiss from Natalie Portman and who plays for the MLB in his spare time. And don’t forget to support Houston Restaurant Week by visiting the chef’s restaurants all month long (special bonus: if you sneak into the kitchen…
Pop Rocks: How Will Breaking Bad End?
This Sunday marks the beginning of the end… of the outrageously popular AMC drama Breaking Bad, that is. On August 11, the final eight episodes of the show’s fifth season will premiere and what will happen is anybody’s guess. The show’s creator Vince Gilligan is a mastermind at creating twists…
The Rocks Off 100: Robert McCarthy, Guitarist From Beyond
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Now, I got to…
Houston Cougars Employ The Defense of Kings
Is it game, set, and match for Michael Young? Is the University of Houston out of the woods? Does anybody but the parties involved (and the NCAA) really give a damn? Young sued the university in early July, seeking to rescind an employment contract he had signed but then wanted…
Our 11th Time Around, the Best HPMA Ceremony Yet
Tuesday was my eleventh foray to the Houston Press Music Awards, and it was certainly my favorite ever — excepting maybe the time Molly of Molly and Ringwalds called me out from the stage to insist that her band was “not lame.” What made Tuesday night so special? Well, it…
Prominent Cryptozoologists Denounce Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives
The Discovery Channel has been in deep chum all week over opening their annual Shark Week with a special called Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives. Those looking to tune in to see an exploration of the life of the presumed-extinct legendary shark were treated to something very different indeed. Megalodon,…
Indulging My Honey Tooth at Niko Niko’s
Niko Niko’s may be known for itsgyros and kebobs, but they’ve got another specialty up their sleeve: sweets. I mean, have you ever seen the dessert case? Usually I’m in too much a falafel coma to partake, so I’ve taken to heading to Niko Niko’s solely for dessert and coffee…
The Rest of the Best: Houston’s Top 10 Swimming Spots
We have to come clean, there aren’t really any natural swimming spots inside the Houston city limits, so we’ve gone a little farther looking for places to take a dip. These spots might not be in Houston, but they are the most popular with Houstonians. Some are just 30 minutes…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Sorrel Urban Bistro
What they’re up to for Restaurant Weeks: Two course brunch or lunch for $20 (choose either appetizer and entrée or entrée and dessert) and three course dinner for $35. Sorrel Urban Bistro will donate $3 per brunch or lunch and $5 per dinner to the Houston Food Bank. Service/Atmosphere: We…
Zapruder Analysis Of The Dallas Mavericks’ Recruiting Video For Dwight Howard
Conceptually, sales is a pretty simple concept — cast a wide enough net to gather enough prospects, deliver your message to said prospects, accentuating your strengths and addressing objections about your weaknesses, and then close the deal on a certain percentage of said prospects. Daryl Morey knows this. He’s talked…
The World’s 10 Finest Superstar Musical Collaborations
Well, folks, it appears we’re getting a Superman/Batman movie whether we like it or not. Comics fanboy and Frank Miller obsessive Zack Snyder broke the news a couple weeks back at San Diego Comic-Con that his big-budget sequel to Man of Steel will find a way to shoehorn in the…
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Dumbs Down Folklore Exactly How You’d Expect
How would those Bronze Age storytellers who shaped and handed down the myths of ancient Greece fare in a modern screenwriting seminar? All that elusive, improvisatory strangeness, that alien sense of causality, that emphasis on origins, not just of franchisable characters but of everything in the natural world, right down…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Call It Street Art, Call It Fine Art, Call It What You Know” “São Paulo 2013” “Self, Model, and Self as Other” “Some Tree Rings, a Vision, and the Third of May” “Water’s Edge (Mizugiwa)”
“Call It Street Art, Call It Fine Art, Call It What You Know” In our time, there may be no art form more divisive than street art. For decades, the public has debated the merits of the genre — from the criminality of the act to the skill and creativity…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Anne of Avonlea, Rent, Tamarie Cooper’s Old as Hell, Wicked
Anne of Avonlea Anne of Green Gables, by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, was published in 1901; it has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 20 languages. Montgomery wrote six sequels, and the first of these, Anne of Avonlea, has been adapted for the stage by…
The Funny Outweighs the Cock-Ups in I Give It a Year
Besides its dozen or so big laughs and its winning streak of middle-upper-crust romantic jadedness, Dan Mazer’s I Give It a Year has going for it a trait you might have thought had been bred entirely out of audience-pleasing romantic comedies by now: suspense about who its leads will happily-ever-after…
Top 5 Enchilada Platters to Try In Houston
On the Menu As part of the holy trinity of Tex-Mex (the other members being tacos and fajitas), the enchilada appears in diverse forms in our city. And thanks to intense competition among Mexican restaurants, few enchilada platters are really bad, and most are pretty good. Some, however, are just…
Not on Hand
Highlights from Hair Balls Courts A Houston judge issued a warrant for ex-hand surgeon Michael “I am the alpha male and live to suit my dick” Brown’s arrest after the alleged anal herpes purveyor failed to appear at a hearing in his divorce case last week. Lawyers for Brown’s estranged…
R.I.P. Robot
Gothtopia The morning of Monday, July 29, Numbers Nightclub’s official Numbers Facebook page profile and cover pictures changed to solid black images as rumors of a tragedy began to swirl among Houston’s goth and club scenes. After the initial silence, a sad story began to take form, that owner Robert…
Traffic and Trade
Dear Mexican, My coworker was driving to work this morning when she realized she was being followed by a Mexican in his vehicle. He followed her for at least three miles on the road, and during this time he waved at her, smiled when she frowned, and even puckered his…
The Houston Bucket List: Near Misses
If we’re going to break down the absolute essence of a bucket list, what it really comes down to is a set of experiences that you’ve always wanted for yourself but because of time, money, circumstances or ennui, you just never got around to.There’s nothing wrong with that, but the…
Elysium: This Bramble of Lofty Ideals Is No Darn Fun
Movie stars shouldn’t be subject to the rules of gravity, as we mere mortals are. One of the great pleasures of watching actors is to see them move, and when yesterday’s youngsters start creaking, we feel it in our joints. That’s not to say actors can’t age gracefully or that…
We’re the Millers: A Family That Hates Together Stays Together
If there’s one nuance mainstream comedies have yet to learn, it’s that “empathetic” need not mean “likable” — audiences can feel for characters they don’t necessarily want to be. The hit black comedy Horrible Bosses, which had three angry underlings plotting murderous vengeance against their you-know-whats, should have been a…
Disney’s Planes Really Is Just Cars 2 with Wings
You can guess the plot of Disney’s Planes — it’s just Cars 2 with wings, an international romp that pits a humble country bumpkin against a fleet of literally jet-setting competitors in a race around the world. With pit stops on four continents, more cultural stereotypes than the Eurovision song…
The “Anti-Casting” of Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch in Prince Avalanche Marks an Indie Return for David Gordon Green
When David Gordon Green introduced Paul Rudd to Emile Hirsch, the two actors didn’t click. It was an awkward seafood dinner. “Emile just started talking about something–girls, maybe–and I was doing a piss-poor job of trying to follow along,” recalls Rudd. “And when Emile got up and went to the…
The Houston Bucket List: The 100 Things to Do Before You Kick It
Get a printable copy of all 100 entries of the Houston Bucket List by clicking here. When friends who aren’t from Houston ask what there is to do here, it isn’t always easy to come up with a clear answer. Houston is, after all, a place to live and not…
Change Is Constant at Goro & Gun, Like It or Not
Maybe it’s my bad for thinking soft-shell crab would survive the eight-minute drive from the ramen hot spot on Main to my office all the way down Milam. I’m a sucker for crab in any form, and the second I saw it on the menu, I had to have it,…
Lovers and Warriors Hit the Stage for the Houston Shakespeare Festival
Mike Nichols, winner of eight Tony Awards as best director, with seven additional nominations, once said, “I’ve noticed that, in repertory companies, the actors are all very slightly miscast.” Like all great truths, this has exceptions, of course, but it does illustrate the need to cast properly. Nichols also said:…
