UPDATED: Craig Biggio NOT Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
Updated: Biggio became the first player to miss the Hall of Fame by a single vote. Original Post: One of the greatest and most beloved Astros, Craig Biggio, was NOT elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame again today, the first lifer Astro to make the Hall. Biggio got close…
Two Charged in Bike Trail Rape, Robberies
Photo courtesy Houston Police DepartmentMitchell (left) and Hughes charged in crimes near park. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a sexual assault and string of robberies on the Terry Hershey Park bike trail. Damontres Darnell Mitchell and Jassan Rashaad Hughes, both 18, are each charged with…
The Soon-to-Open Menil Cafe Has a Name, and We’re Underwhelmed
The publicity information for the “Menil Café Name Game” came with the following headline: “What do you call a café housed in a Craftsman-era bungalow that’s nestled in the green heart of Houston’s Museum District and affords views of a renowned modern landmark?” What indeed? That description of the upcoming…
This Week’s Cafe Review: Bring Me Beer at Café Brussels
I didn’t plan on writing about the beer. I planned on writing about the food, but when the food isn’t quite as good as the beer, well… That’s what I discovered at Café Brussels, the subject of this week’s cafe review. The place has a lot going for it. It’s…
Baby, It’s Muggy Outside: An Ode to the Gulf Coast and Its Weather in the Dead of Winter
Toward the end of last summer, I was standing in the Atlantic waters off New Jersey. I was cold. The temperature outside was hovering in the upper 70s and the water was colder than that. The coastline of New Jersey, with its long, raised boardwalks and bell-ringing ice cream vendors,…
Reality Bites: Big Tips Texas
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. If you live in a city, state, or part of the world that’s been the focus of a reality show, you probably have plenty of complaints. The more thoughtful residents…
This Week In Food Blogs: Cloud 10’s Dessert Tasting Menu & Healthy Eating Advice
CultureMap: Eric Sandler visited Cloud 10 Creamery for the seven-course dessert tasting menu. You must reserve a spot for the tastings at least one week in advance, and Sandler reports that the tasting menu includes a variety of savory and sweet plates, such as the savory cabbage braised in dashi,…
Hall of Fame Prediction: Biggio In, Bagwell Out in 2014
The Baseball Hall of Fame vote is today at 1 p.m. Joined-at-the-hip Astros teammates Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are on the ballot for their third and second times respectively. Bagwell received 59.6 percent of the votes needed to get in last year (players need 75 percent to get into…
January Kickstarter Round-Up: The Future of Pants
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. Lauren Murphy Documentary: Nothing irks me more in the world of sports than the way…
Rest of the Best 2013: Houston’s Top Ten Pasta Dishes
Our 2013 Best of Houston® winners have been announced, but in many cases, picking the best item in any category was no easy task. In order to show off all the culinary greatness Houston has to offer, we’ll be rounding up the “rest of the best” in some of our…
ESPN’s BCS Megacast Was Awesome: 5 Other “Casts” I Would Add
If we ever sat back and thought about how much of our sports thinking is shaped by ESPN and its programming, it would be a little bit frightening. The facts are, by and large, when people need sports news, they go to SportsCenter. When they want to get ready for…
Culture 101: Build a Great Classical Music Library for $20 (or Less)
Our first taste of super cheap, super classical music recordings was an 89 cent uncredited MP3 album of violin concertos. It was about an hour’s worth of music, all smashed onto one track with no title or performer information at all. During a recent visit to Amazon, we noticed the…
Celebrate the Return of Downton Abbey With These 5 Foods and Drinks
While Downton Abbey isn’t ostensibly a ‘foodie’ show, I still can’t watch it without getting a bit peckish. All that blather about inheritance and estate upkeep that goes on during these dinner scenes can’t distract me from mooning over the exquisite china and decadent meals. Season 4 is in full…
Raising the Minimum Wage Would Reduce Poverty; the GOP Thinks “Tough Love” Is Better
If you’ve been driving around in just about any major American city, you have probably seen strikes (of a sort) by fast-food workers — who generally make minimum wage which is currently $7.25 per hour — asking for a raise. And, inevitably, this has set off a political debate about…
10 Best Celebrity Prayer Candles on Etsy
I grew up in East Houston surrounded by a type of Catholicism that was part Christianity and part pagan weirdness. Nothing has ever seemed to exemplify this to me more than the endless collection of prayer candles on sale for a dollar or less each at Fiesta that illustrate the…
Cheap & Good Eats: Top 5 Budget Lunch Spots in the Heights
We’ve been rounding up our favorite budget lunch spots in different neighborhoods around town (See the complete list at the end of the post). This time, we’re moving to the antique shop, bungalow, and dining mecca that is the Houston Heights. There were certainly no shortage of great eateries before,…
The Conservative Thought Police Hits Kansas
One of conservatives’ favorite rhetorical tropes is to criticize the “liberal elite.” Birthed largely by Barry Goldwater and George Wallace, it was perfected by Nixon. Spiro Agnew, Nixon’s attack dog/Vice-President made references to the coastal elite, a red-meat line in his speeches. Necessarily included in the liberal elite were university…
100 Creatives 2014: Teresa Chapman, Choreographer and Dancer
If you were lucky to see Teresa Chapman’s choreography in Shifting Spaces or the work she showcased in 2012’s Triple Focus program at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, you know that her dancers dance big. Her bold and beautiful aesthetic was nurtured by Christopher Pilafian during her BFA work…
Pardon Me, Bartender…What’s Wrong With This White Lady?
The White Lady is a neglected cocktail, due to a misunderstanding.
With Money Tight, the EPA Is Dialing Down Actual Enforcing
Once upon a time — and we’re talking like three years ago — the Environmental Protection Agency was a force to be reckoned with. EPA regulators were throwing their weight around and pushing the issue on things like biofuels, air quality and the effect of fracking on water quality. They…
State Representative to Sriracha CEO: Relocate to Texas
By now we’ve all heard about the ongoing saga of the Huy Fong Sriracha plant, which was forced to temporarily shut down part of its production due to complaints from nearby residents about fumes emanating from the plant. We’ve moaned and groaned and wrung our hands, fearful that we might…
10 Perfect Cover Songs for 10 Houston Bands
Every one of the acts listed here writes fine, original music. They’re too busy creating Houston’s sound to be bothered with cover songs. That’s a good thing. Still, a man can dream, right? In fact, this whole exercise began when I fell asleep listening to a song and dreamed a…
The Top 7 Texas-Centric Movie Remakes Starring Jennifer Lawrence
Whether she’s comforting sick kids in a pre-Christmas visit to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Kentucky, schmoozing a love-struck David Letterman, or extolling the virtues of stuffing herself with junk food, we cannot get enough of Jennifer Lawrence. Can. Not. In fact, we’d even be OK with the ultra-real, refreshingly self-effacing…
Springsteen’s Fans Take Center Stage In New Doc
Springsteen & I Eagle Vision, 142 mins, $14.98 Every musician at least pays lip service to the importance of their fans. Some even coalesce together as a community, former stronger-than-normal bonds (think Deadheads. The KISS Army. Beliebers). But few performer’s fans are more rabid, loyal, and emotional about the artist…
January: Houston’s Month of Tribute Bands
I spend a lot of time working out my concert calendar. Even if I don’t make it out to all the shows I want to go to, I still like to know when all my favorite bands are going to be in town. So besides the Houston Press’ own concert…
Metal Can Teach You Anything You Want to Know
Robert Bejil, FlickrMost people regard metal as an anti-intellectual, chest-beating, noisy fit for cavemen. Despite this being 100 percent true, there are a few positive things that result from having an intense dedication toward one of the most juvenile forms of music out there. While listening to metal may still…
Hard Feelings Mount Between Rival Houston Rap Stations
A growing nastiness is brewing between Houston’s longstanding rap-radio standard-bearer, KBXX 97.9 The Box, and the recently reformatted KKRW 93.7 The Beat. However, much of the venom has come from the side of the new station. The latest salvo in Houston’s brand-new radio war came early Tuesday morning, barely a…
UPDATED Serial Cat Killer Strikes Again in Timbergrove/Lazybrook
Update: The dead cat turned out not to be this woman’s pet, but an unknown cat. Resident and advocate Jennifer Estopinal tells us via email that the woman’s cat returned Jan. 9, “unharmed after a five day absence. At this time [it’s] not known who the mutilated cat belong to.”…
Old Red Riding Hood and Yellow-Tooth Guy Sought in Separate Robberies
The FBI uses some creative approaches in their press releases, namely how they label particular wanted criminals. In the last couple of days, they have asked for help locating a “yellow-teeth” bandit, for example. But they missed out on a chance to call the woman above Old Red Riding Hood,…
What’s With the Brits and Their Toffee? A Short History for National English Toffee Day
This post seeks to to answer why the modifier English is so often attached to toffee. Is the basis for this adjective’s syntactical proximity to toffee based purely on the geopolitical origins of this candy? Or is England’s continued (ostensible) monopoly on the production of toffee the result of a…
How Does Old Spice’s “Mom Song” Rate Against Other Creepy Commercials?
If you watched any NFL wildcard football last weekend, you saw it. And if you didn’t, I’m here to make sure you see it anyway, because why should the rest of us be the only ones to suffer? Several friend of mine compared this (unfavorably) to Love You Forever, a…
Johnny Watch: Manziel Says “We’ll See” on Going to the NFL
Johnny Manziel’s flair for the dramatic over the last two years is well documented. In 2012, road wins against Ole Miss and Alabama came down to plays made late in the game by the eventual Heisman winner. In 2013, Manziel had to figuratively carry A&M’s defense on his back just…
Top 5 Asian Sodas That You Should Try
Soda may be almost as American as apple pie, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the world isn’t making a good show of producing their own noteworthy varieties of pop. Special props go to Asia (yes, the whole continent), whose diverse component countries have come up with some wicked…
Other Desert Cities Where Your Parents’ Best Friends Are Ron and Nancy Reagan
A daughter returns to her parents’ home where she reveals she is about to write a memoir – a bit of unwelcome news that further strains relations among her relatives, both liberal and conservative. She’s been away so long in large part because she believes her parents have put their…
Five Social Media Weather Posts That Need to Be Retired
Here in Texas, you can be certain of one thing when it comes to the weather: if you don’t like it, just wait. But on social media, there are some certainties about the weather as well. One of the wonderful things about the Internet is that it provides detailed access…
Want a Pint While Shopping for Groceries on Kirby? Welcome to Kirbside Bar
A new bar has opened in the Kirby neighborhood, and it’s inside a grocery store. On Friday, January 3, Whole Foods on Kirby celebrated the grand opening of the Kirbside Bar, and now you have a place to sit down and grab a drink while out shopping for groceries. Kirbside…
Oak Forest Voted Least Recognizable Neighborhood, But Where’s All the New Stuff?
Swamplot, Houston’s snarky real estate blog, recently announced the winners of its 2013 “Swampies,” otherwise known as the The Swamplot Awards for Houston Real Estate. Now in its sixth year, The Swamplot Awards offer Houstonians a chance to first nominate and then vote on eight distinct real estate related categories…
Five Reasons Ted Cruz Should Stay Canadian
Last year, it was revealed that Sen. Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada, actually holds Canadian citizenship. Cruz subsequently made headlines — it was a slow news cycle by all accounts — last August, by vowing to renounce his Canadian citizenship. After all, the theory goes you can’t run…
An Open Letter to James Franco: Do the Double Dick Dude
James, By now, your buddies have forwarded you the Reddit Ask Me Anything where a 24-year-old man with Diphallia — aka two penises — says he wants to give you a facial. Say yes. Let’s get through the superficial reasons first. This magical male unicorn (er, twonicorn?) is anonymous, which…
27: The Musical Club With a Grim Entry Fee
27: A History of the 27 Club Through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse By Howard Sounes Da Capo Press, 360 pp., $26.99 When reached for comment shortly after the world found out that Nirvana singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain had committed…
Houston’s Top 5 Places for Greek Pastries
When someone mentions Greek sweets and baked goods, nine times out of ten your mind will go straight to baklava. And there’s no shame in that! The sticky, sweet, nutty and flaky dessert puts a smile on everyone’s face. But there’s more to Greek bakeries than baklava. Much more. Houston…
Pop Rocks: The Brilliance of “The Yada Yada” With Video Evidence
Last week, I was recovering from a nasty flu virus, sitting on the couch and flipping channels. When I saw the Seinfeld listing on the on-screen guide, I checked and, lo and behold, “The Yada Yada.” I admit I love Seinfeld, in fact significantly more than I enjoy the stand-up…
Bill O’Brien Not the Only New Coach in Town as Houston Dash Make First Hire
The Houston Dash, Houston’s new National Women’s Soccer League team created on December 13, have only a few short months to get a team together from scratch before their inaugural game in March. The first order of business was to find a head coach. Monday morning, they officially announced Randy…
The Rocks Off 200: Walter Carlos, Guitar-Punisher of Funeral Horse
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, 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 previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Walter Carlos,…
Battle Peanut Butter Cup: Reese’s Vs. Butterfinger
Someone dared contest the primacy of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Well, I shouldn’t be too dramatic. This isn’t the first time, for Paul Newman and others have offered some competition. Never before, however, in (my) recent memory has another major candy manufacturer issued such a direct smack-you-in-the-face-with-a-glove challenge to…
Fashion Is Just Like Football
I am both amused and frustrated by individuals who continually mock those interested in fashion, especially those who work in fashion. It has happened to me so often that I have created a go-to answer for those would-be comedians: “Fashion is just like football!” I chose football because of the…
Federal Appeals Court Hears Texas Abortion Law
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Monday over the controversial Texas abortion law. The law, which was allowed to be enacted in October by the Fifth Circuit, requires doctors to have local hospital admitting privileges to conduct abortions. State Sen. Wendy Davis rocketed to political fame opposing…
Sriracha Shortage? No Problem! Make Your Own With This Simple Recipe
In late 2013, news about Sriracha was almost as ubiquitous as those bright red bottles with the rooster logo were throughout the rest of the year. First came news that the Huy Fong Foods plant in Irwindale, California, might be forced to close in November due to the offensive odors…
Rockets Seek More Time, Fans Shrug Their Collective Shoulders
Since the Rockets took over negotiations on behalf of the CSN Houston group of partners, it has been quiet. On Monday night, the Rockets formally requested until January 31 to continue what it considers significant progress in its negotiations to extricate the network from financial troubles and, hopefully, get it…
The Top Ten Reasons Texas Should Legalize Cannabis, Y’all
There’s a movement going on in other states, and it’s a movement we quite like. A movement toward the legalization of cannabis, y’all. As we’re sure you know, Colorado has become the first state in the nation to legalize the recreational use of pot, and the response is overwhelming. On…
Top 5 Mozzarella Sticks to Try in Houston
I have trouble seeing how anyone could not want to embrace breading and deep-frying a stick of cheese (especially in Texas), yet strangely I’ve found my all-time favorite appetizer is not as popular in Houston as I would expect. I know we have our loyalties to chips and queso, but…
Should Bands Play What We Want to Hear?
This question comes up time and time again in discussions about live concerts, and it seems like it’s going to come up again now. Recently post-hardcore/indie-rock band Brand New played some shows on the East and West coasts performing their full-length records in their entirety. It was a bold move…
Upcoming: Mobb Deep, Chromeo, Com Truise, La Dispute, Primal Scream, Russian Circles, etc.
Abandon All Ships: With The Browing, My Ticket Home, I Am King., Mon., February 17, 6 p.m., $13 to $17. Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, Houston, 713-862-3838. American Werewolf Academy: With Trial By Bourbon, The Witherees., Sat., January 11, 10 p.m., $8. Rudyard’s, 2010 Waugh, Houston, 713-521-0521. Animals As Leaders: With…
Our Favorite Musical Discoveries of the Past Year
DEAFHAVEN Despite a popular withdrawal from black metal, Deafheaven’s Sunbather was one of 2013’s most beautiful albums, and even named Metacritic’s “Top Album of 2013.” Because its song structures dabble more in pop and rock, it’s a noticeable step away from their debut EP Roads to Judah, but that’s not…
Weather Week: Houston Winter Bringing 20s and 70s in Same Week
A hard freeze warning remains in effect for Houston and most of Texas for that matter as bitterly cold Arctic air filters down into the state, bringing with it some of the coldest temperatures we’ve had in three years. Overnight temperatures fell into the 20s, and it is expected that…
Hughie’s Tavern and Vietnamese Grille: A Texas-Size Banh Mi
The grilled pork bahn mi at Hughie’s is one of the great new sandwiches of Houston.
Under a Cowboy Moon Provides Low-Key Entertainment
The set-up: Houston playwright Carl Williams has turned his attention to Cowboy poetry, and the result is the comedy Under a Cowboy Moon set in Spitwhistle, Texas, on the occasion of its annual poetry contest. The execution: Ten characters grace the stage, some entering late, though one is so despicable…
Winter of Johnny: Johnny Football Is Back and Partying in Hollywood!
Johnny Football is back! No, not the Johnny Football who hops through defenses like a jackrabbit and throws downfield frozen ropes. Not that Johnny Football. I’m talking about the Johnny Football who flips over Twitter, who breaks the Internet. I’m talking three in the morning Johnny Football. I’ve missed that…
What’s Cooking This Week? Chicken Fajitas, Carrot Ginger Soup & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and planning meals for us, but cooking for two often proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredients I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
“50 Shades of Green” at the Archway Gallery: The Name Says a Lot
Noted art collector Peggy Guggenheim is quoted with saying, “My knowledge of art ended at impressionism.” Guggenheim was a well-known fan of abstract and avant garde art; she was married to Dadaist Max Ernst after all. Whether Guggenheim was complimenting the Impressionist movement or putting it down is up for…
Police Investigating Death of Woman Killed in Dog Attack
Houston police are seeking one of two dogs that appear to have killed a woman in southeast Houston Sunday morning. Two witnesses were also injured when they tried to help the woman, whose identity and cause of death are pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, according…
Zapruder Analysis of Insane Alabama Woman Attacking Sooner Fans
Oftentimes, when it comes to Zapruder analysis of viral fan-fighting videos, we have virtually no back story, no participant names, so it leaves us (well, leaves me) to fill in the blanks. Pseudonyms, contrived trigger events, these are hallmarks of the genre. I do what I can. But sometimes a…
Babylon 5 Reunion and Behind-the-Scenes Thrones Stories Delight at Space City Con
Attendance at Space City Con in Galveston seemed a little sparse, most likely because it followed so soon after the New Year’s holiday this year. One exhibitor that we talked with on Saturday afternoon said he was unlikely to come back the following day due to low sales. Still, the…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 50, Black Pepper Beer Lobster at Hai Cang Seafood Restaurant
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. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
The Predicted Top 4 National Political Stories of 2014
Why four? Because five is just as arbitrary. With that out of the way . . . . Many blogs, pundits, commentators and so forth have just finished looking back at 2013 and what the biggest stories of the year past were. We’re going to try a different tact: prognostication…
Dinner With Dad: Bun Cha Hanoi at Thien Thanh
Another dinner with Dad, another new dish discovered, this time at Thien Thanh on Bellaire Boulevard. Thien Thanh is not a new restaurant, of course; their banh cuon is the best in the city, and has been much lauded by Vietnamese-food lovers all over Houston. When my dad suggested we…
Murder City Devils at Fitzgerald’s, 1/3/2014
Murder City Devils, American Sharks, Crooked Bangs Fitzgerald’s January 3, 2014 Is it fair to call the Murder City Devils nostalgia-rock at this point? Jeez, who even knows anymore. The Seattle outfit broke up in 2001, and they haven’t released any new music since, save for one single in 2011…
How the Other Half Loves: Disastrous Dinner Parties and All
The set-up: Bob Phillips’ shoe is in the wastebasket. Taken for granted, his wife Theresa is slovenly and edgy. Their baby is covered with prunes and honey. Frank Foster, Bob’s boss, has settled into a predictable married routine. Frank’s neglected wife Fiona finds excitement by having an affair with Bob…
It’s Time for UH Fans to Shut Up and Start Showing Up
Dear UH football fans. I realize the Cougars lost to Vanderbilt by 41-24 on Saturday. I realize that 8-5 appears to be a more disappointing keg season than 9-4. I realize that AAC football is really nothing more than C-USA 2.0. But that aside, the time for excuses is over…
10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Feminist Man From Texas
2013 was… an interesting year as far as the rights of women were concerned. Especially if you live here in Texas where we considered unsupervised uteruses to be slightly less dangerous than illegal immigrants, but slightly more dangerous than homosexuals having the same rights as others. On the sliding Yee…
Tipping in Restaurants Reaches a Tipping Point…Will 2014 Be the Year It’s Abolished?
Next time you hear a waiter or waitress complain about his or her tips, remember that the United States and Canada have the biggest tippers in the world (but maybe don’t tell them that fact, ’cause it probably won’t help). In many other countries, service is included in the bill,…
Recipe: New Orleans BBQ Shrimp with Turmeric Rice
Mardi Gras mecca New Orleans may not be the first city you think of as an idyllic winter holiday destination, but that delicious, charming city will be forever part of my Christmas memories thanks to an impromptu trip my and husband and took the week before the 25th. With both…
Book Check: The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Title: The Signature of All Things Tell Me About the Author: Elizabeth Gilbert is the worldwide literary superstar behind the 2006 memoir Eat, Pray, Love. Besides topping bestseller lists across the globe, what makes her a literary superstar? Well, how many writers of acclaim can say that they were played…
The First Asteroid of 2014 Hit Earth!
Those who were anxiously awaiting the big arrival didn’t have to wait long. Less than an hour into brand new 2014, Central Standard Time, Asteroid 2014 AA was spotted at the Catalina Sky Survey, Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona streaking across the sky, according to a NASA release…
Out With The Old: Bill O’Brien Era Begins With Staff Changes
Of all the things that dictate success of a coaching regime, especially with a first time NFL head coach, the one thing that may be most important (and is almost certainly the most underplayed) is the assembly of a coaching staff. You are who you roll with, who you surround…
First Look at Nara by Donald Chang
Nara. There’s something so inherently sensual about the way in the which the name rolls off the tongue. Spoken with a Japanese intonation, the “r” sound takes on the form of a soft “d,” so that that it sounds like a secretive whisper of some sort: “Nah-dhah.” My first time…
10 Things Country Music Should Write About Besides Trucks
Though it’s probably no worse than current pop, rock or hip-hop, you know country music is in sorry shape when someone from Entertainment Weekly goes after it. A few days before Christmas, EW critic Grady W. Smith posted a video to YouTube that boils down dozens of 2013 country hits…
Doctor Who: 5 Reasons to Love Audio Adventures More Than the Television Stories
For Christmas my wife decided to fuel my recently acquired and somewhat crippling addiction to the Big Finish Audio Doctor Who stories and set me up with the first two seasons of the Eighth Doctor Adventures. 16 wonderful, non-stop radio plays starring Paul McGann as The Doctor and Sheridan Smith…
Why the Everly Brothers Still Matter
The first thought that came to mind when word got out that Phil Everly had passed away Friday was just how long it’s been since the Everly Brothers’ harmonies topped the charts — more than half a century now. The second was just how easy it is to spot their…
Six Other Crazy Places Metallica Should Play Now
2013 was a big year for Metallica, featuring performances in IMAX 3D and in Antarctica of all places. Let’s face it, there’s not a whole let left for the biggest rock band in the world to accomplish. I mean, when you’re forced to start playing in Antarctica just to do…
Dear 2014: Can You Tell Kanye to Please Stop Talking?
Note: in his column Serrano Time, Houston’s award-winning writer and goofball Shea Serrano writes about his life and times. SheaDear 2013, Oh, man. So you’re officially over. That’s kind of sad. You were mostly a very dope year — at least for me, anyway, and truth be told, that’s all…
Houston’s Best Shows This Week: Debonair Lounge, Cate Le Bon, Umbrella Man, etc.
Free Radicals AvantGarden, January 6 Free Radicals is both Nick Cooper’s revolving-door ensemble that at any given moment could be playing free jazz or Latin funk, and also Cooper’s ongoing testimonial to how much he digs being a member of the Houston music community. He has so much experience at…
UPDATED: Texas Supreme Court to Take Up First Amendment Internet Smear Case
UPDATED: The previous post reflected that the plaintiff, Robert Kinney, asked for a temporary injunction. In fact, Kinney asked for a permanent injunction. Apologies if there was any confusion caused by this. The error was mine. Next week, the Texas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that…
Food Truck Parks Face Obstacles in Bringing Booze to the Masses
You know what would go perfect with that Shorty Mac from H-Town StrEATS? Or with that Kimchi Koagie from Koagie Hots or something spicy and Cajun from St. John’s Fire? Beer. Beer would go great with food truck fare. I imagine cocktails probably would, too. And I know I want…
NFL Playoffs: This Weekend’s Best (Or Worst) Bets
With the hiring of a new coach here in town and the NFL playoffs beginning this weekend at the forefront of everybody’s mind, flying under the radar is this little bit of news — the great Mario Williams Engagement Ring Tussle has finally been resolved! If you recall, earlier this…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 51, Red Dragon Roll at Michiru Sushi
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. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Happy Happy Students in Aggieland: No. 1 According to The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast, a news and opinion website connected to Newsweek magazine, has declared that Texas A&M students are the happiest students of all the colleges in the entire United States. In awarding the No. 1 spot to A&M, Daily Beast editors used student retention information and student ratings. Under…
Jesus Rises From TV to Movie Theaters in Son of God
If you decided to spend part of the holidays going to see a movie, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the trailer for Son of God. Did you at any point feel like you’ve already seen the film? I don’t mean in the “here’s a story everyone knows” sort of…
Gun Accessory Manufacturer Leaving Lame, Gun-Hatin’ Colorado for Texas
Magpul Industries, one of the largest producers of firearm magazines, has said a recently passed Colorado law limiting magazines’ capacity has forced it to seek business-friendlier pastures in Texas. The company has not specified where it will relocate its headquarters, but has announced it will also move part of its…
Houston’s Ramen Obsession Isn’t Dying Down in 2014
Whenever my parents come to visit, I give them a verbal tour of notable restaurants and my favorite spots as we drive around town. “There’s House of Pies,” I’ll say, “still under construction from that damn fire. Nara just opened in that big complex. I’ll take you there sometime. And…
NBC’s Community Returns and It’s Freaking Awesome
The Greendale gang is finally, really back, except not all of them are back. Okay, let me start over. Fans of NBC’s irreverent situational comedy Community finally have reason to rejoice. Last night, the show returned for a mid-season start with its original show runner, Dan Harmon, back at the…
Jeremy Sumrall, the Beast of Houston Horror
Jeremy Sumrall is a rarity on the local film scene in that he is arguably our own true horror icon along the lines of Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. In 2009 he played The Beast in Stacy Davidson’s gorefest Sweatshop, as well as serving as associate producer on the film…
Top 5 Saffron Dishes to Try in Houston
Saffron, whose scarlet threads infuse a dish with a unique salty-sweet fragrance (as well as a warm tangerine hue) can be an elusive spice. Its costliness and pungent strength prevent chefs from using it willy-nilly, which makes its occasional appearances even more exciting and enticing. Saffron will never be the…
The New Guy in Town: Your Required Bill O’Brien Reading and Viewing
This morning out at Reliant Stadium, perhaps already in the books by the time you read this, the Texans will introduce now former Penn State head football coach Bill O’Brien as the third head football coach in their franchise’s history. As the head coach for the professional football team in…
Hack Your Resolution: 5 Apps, Tips and Tricks for an Awesome 2014
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? What are they? To stop being late for work? To remember to floss every night? To read less Internet during the day? Here’s a little secret you might not know about me: I LOVE productivity tools. The Millennial word is “lifehacking,” but call it…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Welcome Pink’s Pizza to the UH Campus & Learn How to Make Gnocchi
Food Truck Friday @ Houston Press Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 2603 La Branch In continuation of Food Truck Friday at the Houston Press office, Bernie’s Burger Bus will park its truck in our parking lot from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. to serve up its signature burgers and fries. Whether…
Upcoming Events: Mexican Breakfast Cooking Class, Galveston Restaurant Week & a Montrose Walking Food Tour
Three words: free wine tasting. In honor of France’s Feast of the Epiphany, French Country Wines will host a wine tasting on Wednesday, January 8 from 5 until 7 p.m. featuring three wines and slices of La Galette des Rois, otherwise known as the King’s Cake. Enjoy tastings of Baur…
5 Things We Want to See From the Video Game Industry in 2014
You’ll never catch me saying that 2013 was anything but a grand year for video games. Not only did we see two new consoles get released, but we got some of the best titles for the seventh generation systems on top of that. Bioshock Infinite and The Last of Us…
Matthew Sowders Held in Wife Melissa Sowers’ Death
The estranged husband of Melissa R, Sowders, the 26-year-old woman who was reported missing last week and who is believed to be the body found along Cypress Creek on Thursday, has been arrested. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported that investigators were questioning the 28-year-old husband Thursday night after his…
Amarillo Highway: How Well Does Houston Music Travel?
My daughter recently moved to Colorado. Like a lot of young people striking out on their own, she decided she wanted to celebrate her first holiday away by coming back to visit. Her boyfriend drove her to Amarillo, and Mrs. Sendejas and I made a weekend trek to retrieve her…
Charming Beatles Secretary Breaks Long Silence in Good Ol’ Freda
Good Ol’ Freda Directed by Ryan White Magnolia Pictures, 87mins, $26.98. Few people could have gotten the famously flinty John Lennon to literally get down on his knees to beg for something. But he did it backstage at a show to a girl barely out of her teens because he…
Cougars Stun UConn While Nobody’s Watching
In days of yore, Hofheinz Pavilion would’ve been filled to overflowing for a game pitting UH against nationally ranked UConn. In days past, students would’ve been camped out overnight for the chance to spend a New Year’s Eve cheering on the Cougars as a national audience watched on ESPN 2…
Top 5 Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Space City Con, A Sodomite’s Christmas, Monster Jam and More
Space City Con’s winter gathering, which starts on Friday, has something to satisfy every sci-fi, fantasy, comic book and cosplay desire. Actors from the hit HBO series Game of Thrones are attending: Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), Finn Jones (Loras Tyrell), Gethin Anthony (Renly Baratheon) and Kristian Nairn (Hodor) are on…
Openings & Closings: Long Awaited Fish & The Knife Might Be No More
The year 2014 is here and we are gearing up for a multitude of restaurants to open and to bring their culinary styles to the Houston dining scene. For most, it’ll be a while before they open, but two are almost ready. In Kaitlin Steinberg’s post about the ten highly…
Everybody Line-Dances at Mo’s Place, and Some Sing, Too
“I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin’ bad…” The heavy smoke hanging around Katy’s sprawling Mo’s Place (21940 Kingsland Blvd.) can’t stop us from being mesmerized by the two men killing it on Bruno Mars’ “Billionaire.” Their performance is worth the cloud of carcinogens. The guy in the cowboy boots…
Fall Out Boy’s Young Blood Chronicles Is Completely Ridiculous, Awesome
When Fall Out Boy reunited this past year for a tour and a new album, I don’t think anybody took them very seriously. It seemed like a clear, desperate cash grab by a once-popular band who had broken up and unleashed a torrent of unsuccessful solo projects that drove them…
Top 10 Bars in River Oaks
As our sister blog Eating…Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse…
The Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Murder City Devils, Kelcy Mae, etc.
Murder City Devils Fitzgerald’s, January 3 Seattle’s Murder City Devils drenched some pretty grisly post-Misfits horror-punk with all kinds of sinister organ on albums such as 1998’s Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts and 2000’s In Name and Blood. Eventually the lineup splintered into other groups including Pretty Girls Make Graves and…
Warm Up With the Best Spots for Tea in Town
Though winter officially began a while back, from now until February, the weather is just going to keep getting colder. There’s a hard freeze in the forecast for Thursday night, and since the week isn’t quite over, I don’t recommend you warm yourself with a few too many hot toddies…
One Day Into 2014, the Internet Gives Us Coolest and Lamest Houston Texans Pictures
For a 2-14 team, the Texans should be plenty newsworthy over the next few months. They have a head coaching search that should officially conclude with an announcement on Thursday that Bill O’Brien is coming to Houston, and they have the number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft,…
Galleria Happy Hour Ideas for the Fatigued Shopper
We’ve all been there. We’ve shopped for hours on end, until we’re dry and parched, our feet can barely move and we’re desperately in need of revival. We get in the car to drive home, and get stuck in the middle of rush hour, a sea of cars sitting between…
UPDATED: Judge Says HCC Trustee-Elect Dave Wilson Can’t Take Office Yet
A judge has issued a temporary restraining order against Houston Community College Trustee-elect Dave Wilson, preventing him from taking the oath of office. Harris County District Judge Elaine Palmer granted Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan’s motion December 30, after Ryan asked the court to determine if Wilson actually resided in…
Comedian Loni Love: “Stage Time Is Key”
Comedian Loni Love returns to her “old stomping grounds” this week, visiting the Houston Improv to promote her new book, Love Him or Leave Him, But Don’t Get Stuck With The Tab. The Prairie View A&M University graduate may have a full plate for this coming year, plans that include…
Before Saying “I Do,” Listen to Your Gut Feelings, New Research Shows
The Holiday season has come and gone, but many people made a big decision over the past couple weeks: they got engaged. The couple, presumably, is happy. The respective families, again, presumably, are happy to have a new addition to their family. The DeBeers cartel is happy and laughing all…
TruTV’s The Tenderloins: The Tender Side of Self-Abuse
Candid Camera and Allen Funt started it in the 1960s. Ashton Kutcher continued it, 21st-century style, with Punk’d. Late-night talk show hosts still revel in it. Even lovable funnywomen like Ellen DeGeneres and Betty White capitalize on the sure-fire laughs delivered by hidden cameras focusing on an unsuspecting, often-mortified public…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 52, Fried Bananas Foster at Custom Confections
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. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Pop Rocks: Words of 2013 That Made It Into the Dictionary
I didn’t do much of anything on New Year’s Eve, which is just fine by me. When you are in the state of gestation that I am in, eating cake is about the most exciting thing you can do. But I did scroll through Facebook to live vicariously through everyone…
Pair of Illinois Hunters Charged With Shooting Game Warden
In the movie Meatballs Bill Murray’s character warned Camp North Star visitors that hunting season had opened and that they should wear bright clothing and stay low. Hunters know that every precaution must be taken when hunting, but one game warden from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is in…
The Rocks Off 200: Ryan James, Putting Up a Good Fight
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, 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. Who? In all likelihood you haven’t heard much about Ryan James, but that’s why…
10 Tech Resolutions for an App-y New Year
Every year beginning January 2, people start with resolutions they can’t or won’t possibly stick with, as if the arbitrary start to a new calendar year is going to be the impetus we all need to be better, skinnier, healthier, smarter and less drunk. By February, it’s all over and…
The Top 10 Cannabis Contraptions for Colorado’s Recreational Pot Shops
Well, Colorado is quickly becoming the coolest of the 50 states. Sorry, New York and California! You can no longer toot your own overinflated horns, because Colorado wins the entire Internet now that they’re legalizing recreational pot shops. Yep, you read that right. Colorado, our white-water-loving, snowboard-obsessed neighbor to the…
Steak ‘n Shake: Chili, Beans and Great Hamburgers On The Road
A Steakburger is one of the best burgers from a chain.
The Top 10 Houston Sports Stories of 2013
Let’s call 2013 a transition year for sports in Houston. That’s the polite way of saying it, for the most part, really, really sucked. There were very few “up” moments in 2013 even if you go all the way back to the playoffs for the Texans and Rockets — remember…
One of Our Own Wins VMG Music Writing Award
Note: Kiernan Maletsky is the Music Editor of the Dallas Observer. William Michael Smith (left, photo by Chris Knight) and David ThorpeThe 11 alternative weeklies of Voice Media Group are responsible for a tremendous amount of music writing: this year, we produced thousands of pages of printed stories and tens…
In Memoriam: Top 12 Saddest Restaurant Closings of 2013
A few weeks ago, we brought you a slideshow of the best restaurants that opened in the past year. But in the midst of celebrating all the great new places to chow down in the Bayou City, we are reminded of those we lost in 2013. As you get a…
Tila Tequila’s Meltdown Seems Awfully Familiar
There’s nothing quite like a celebrity meltdown to raise public interest, eh? It seems that celebrity meltdowns — from A-Listers like Charlie Sheen and Kanye West to obscure actresses like Amanda Bynes — are happening at a rapid pace as of late. Although most of these meltdowns are a result…
Everything You Needed to Know About Houston Rap In 2013
Our year-end Houston rap recap (this right here — oh hi!) is always an exercise in economical efficiency. The amount of words that can fit in this space is about 1/15th of the total amount of local rap artists, so capturing all of the neat things they did in 2013…
Vote or Die: The Last VJ’s Top Five Videos of the Week
Welcome back to The Last VJ, music fans. Fresh off the heels of our week-long celebration of the best music videos of 2013 we’re back to active competition. More and more tremendous works in the medium come screaming out at us through the wonder of the Internet, and we’re here…
Is This the Michael Bolton Renaissance We’ve All Been Waiting For?
Soft-rock seems to be making a comeback. Just recently Phil Collins announced his glorious return to music, and now Michael Bolton has been plastered all over our TV screens. That’s right, Michael Bolton. That balding dude your mom used to listen to. It’s tough defending Bolton, but hey, I’m up…
Loni Love
To be sure, comedian Loni Love likes to tap — and we don’t mean dance. A frequent guest on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show, Love isn’t shy about discussing her sex life. Love, who plays the Houston Improv this weekend, says her requirements for a romantic partner are minimal. It seems…
Monster Jam
Dennis Anderson’s Grave Digger® and Nicole Johnson’s Scooby-Doo™ go head to head…well, actually, front grill to front grill, at today’s Monster Jam. Lots of other drivers will have their trucks on the track, too. George Balhan will be behind the wheel of Mohawk Warrior®, Alex Blackwell will have Captain’s Curse®…
Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony
The Houston Symphony kicks off the new year with a performance of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony. Opening the program is Haydn’s Symphony No. 59, known as the Fire Symphony. There’s also Schnittke’s Moz-Art à la Haydn for two violins and chamber ensemble, but the highlight of the program is sure to…
Space City Con – Game of Thrones, Babylon 5
Space City Con’s winter gathering will have something to satisfy every sci-fi, fantasy, comic book and cosplay desire. Actors from the hit HBO series Game of Thrones are attending: Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), Finn Jones (Loras Tyrell), Gethin Anthony (Renly Baratheon) and Kristian Nairn (Hodor) are on the list. Star…
Soul Mates
Houston actors Christina Keefe and James Belcher star in Soul Mates, the latest installment in the Wordsmyth Reading series. A new play by Israela Margalit (seen above), Soul Mates centers on Carlie Harper, a woman who walks out to her porch with a cup of coffee one morning and watches…
Dark Duets Launch Party
A stellar lineup of bestselling and award–winning writers will be on hand for the launch of the Dark Duets anthology, a collection of new horror and fantasy stories penned by duos who had never collaborated before. Charlaine Harris (of the Sookie Stackhouse series, seen above) and Rachel Caine (the Morganville…
The Bridge
The 2006 documentary The Bridge is a provocative and controversial look at suicide. Filmmaker Eric Steel (seen above) and his crew spent all of 2004 documenting the many suicides — and suicide attempts — at the Golden Gate Bridge. The crew later interviewed survivors and relatives of the dead. Among…
A Curio-Cabinet Puppet Show
“These inanimate objects have a past and history just as sordid or magic or happy as people do,” says Lindsay Burleson of the 100 or so stars of Boo-Town’s A Curio-Cabinet Puppet Show. Staged in seven vignettes at three separate venues, the show was inspired by Burleson’s meanderings through suburban…
Community Returns — and Feels Like Community Again
Community returns for season 5 on January 2 with a two-episode block that plants its feet on the study room table and regrounds the characters after a fourth season of viewer discontent and lost purpose. It’s impossible to discuss the season opener without talking about the show’s creator. The sweet,…
Stuntwoman Zoë Bell on the hard, satisfying work of ass-kicking
New Zealand stuntwoman-turned-actress Zoë Bell is fully aware of her unique position as an action star that also does her own stunts. After working as Lucy Lawless’s stunt double on Xena: Warrior Princess, Bell was discovered by Quentin Tarantino on the set of Kill Bill. After that, Bell has enjoyed…
Who Is Kickstarter For, Anyway?
So many ideas in our country begin with the best of intentions and end up completely corrupted. From Lindsay Lohan’s acting career to the once-noble filibuster, well-meaning stuff sometimes just gets out of hand here. But has it caught up with Kickstarter, too? Launched in 2009, this crowd-funding platform seemed,…
A Sodomite’s Christmas in Elizabethan London
Christopher Buehlman’s new play about Christopher Marlowe, A Sodomite’s Christmas in Elizabethan London, is meant to shock – just look at the title. Marlowe was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and a playwright to whom fame came early, as did death – he died at the age of 29 in…
My Girl Doesn’t Want Sex Anymore. 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! CRYING BABY Dear Willie D: How do I make my baby daughter stop crying and go…
Circling Vultures
ASK WILLIE D Dear Willie D: Three years ago I was involved in a major accident that left me partially crippled. Recently I was awarded a large settlement for pain and suffering and to pay for medical expenses. Before I could go to the bank and cash the first check,…
The Silent Treatment
Highlights from Hair Balls Courts On an early December morning in 1992, two brothers were shot in a Houston home. There were no witnesses. The HPD’s investigation led them to Genovevo Salinas, who had been at a party with the victims the evening before. Salinas agreed to accompany the police…
Eat the Grasshoppers at Hugo’s
Off the Wall I believe the last time I willingly ate bugs was when I was five and didn’t know any better. So, how did I find myself in my twenties ordering grasshoppers to share as an appetizer with my fiancé while dining atHugo’s? In certain countries, bugs and insects…
Pronunciation, Dating and Employment
Dear Mexican: One of my pet peeves are Latinos who pronounce their last names with Anglo accents. For example, Rod-driguez instead of Roh-driguez. Would love it if you address this. Personally, I believe we Latinos should educate Anglos on correct pronunciation. Gomez the Groper Dear Wab: Before you start correcting…
Movies 2014: The Spectacular Next – Ten Movies to See in 2014
As awards season draws nearer and best-of-the-year lists keep rolling in, there’s only one thing left to do: get excited about what comes next. Here are ten films you won’t want to miss in 2014. 1. Adieu au language (Dir. Jean-Luc Godard) Jean-Luc Godard, former master of the French nouvelle…
Ba Mien Bistro Brings Elegance and Taste to a Ubiquitous Cuisine
Want a behind the scenes look at Ba Mien Bistro? Check out our slideshow! It seemed like the start to an uncomfortable dinner when my Vietnamese dining companion began interrogating the server about the details of the menu. Are the rolls egg rolls, or are they wrapped in rice paper?…
Movies 2014: The Most Anticipated Non-Sequels of 2014
While 2015 may eventually reap more buzz, thanks to the release of The Avengers: Age of Ultron and the first-ever George Lucas-less Star Wars movie, there won’t be any shortage of films to check in the coming year. Problem is, a lot of those are sequels. Check out any list…
Movies 2014: Why You Should Be Excited for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a movie that shouldn’t exist. The original Planet of the Apes film is a solid movie with an ending that’s so iconic, people ignore the fact that it’s basically just a long episode of The Twilight Zone. Most moviegoers today don’t know…
It’s Impossible to Recap Every Houston Rap Release from 2013, But That Won’t Stop Us From Trying
Our year-end Houston rap recap (this right here — oh, hi!) is always an exercise in economical efficiency. The number of words that can fit in this space is about 1/15th of the total number of local rap artists, so capturing all the neat things they did in 2013 is…
Mo’s Place in Katy: Come for the Karaoke, Stay for the Line Dancing
‘I wanna be a billionaire, so frickin’ bad…” The heavy smoke hanging around Katy’s sprawling Mo’s Place can’t stop us from being mesmerized by the two men killing it on Bruno Mars’s “Billionaire.” Their performance is worth the cloud of carcinogens. The guy in the cowboy boots nails every note…
The Age of Impressionism Satisfies as an Ensemble, Not Because of Star Paintings
Some shady ladies and gentlemen are reported to refer to certain parts of their persons as their “moneymakers.” When it comes to art museums, the term could just as well be applied to Impressionist exhibitions. Mind you, I’m not suggesting any moral judgment or equivalency here, but they’re the art…
Steel-True Will Leave You Wanting More Barbara Stanwyck, Even After 1,000 pages
When Peter Guralnick released Last Train to Memphis, the first half of his superb two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, some people must have wondered, “Who needs two books to tell the story of Elvis?” They may as well have grumbled, “Two whole books about America?” Some lives, some careers, push…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Antonio Berni: Juanito and Ramona,” “Nice. Luc Tuymans,” “São Paulo 2013,” “SPRAWL,” “Wols: Retrospective”
“Antonio Berni: Juanito and Ramona” Antonio Berni (1905-1981) was Argentina’s greatest 20th-century artist, a greatness recognized far beyond Argentina during his lifetime. Since his death his fame has faded, especially in North America. The exhibition “Antonio Berni: Juanito and Ramona,” on view at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is an…
