Look Out, Rachael Ray: Annise Parker Is Coming After Your $100,000 in ASPCA Cash
Mayor Annise Parker announced today the kickoff to a plan to get 2,100 dogs and cats adopted out of Houston facilities in order to win a $100,000 grant sponsored by TV food guru Rachael Ray. Houston’s BARC is one of 50 operations across the country to qualify as a finalist…
The Houston Zoo Ostrich Photobomb: Epic
Ostriches, when they’re not sticking their heads down in the sand, are apparently camera hogs. At least one of them, at the Houston Zoo, seems to be. Says the zoo: “When we introduced our zebra to its new home in the giraffe exhibit, seems that one of our ostriches wanted…
Unidentified Alleged Foiled Burglar, 22, Bayou Body Count No. 119
A man allegedly trying to burglarize a northwest-side business early Tuesday morning was shot to death in a case that will be referred to a Harris County grand jury, Houston police say. The 22-year-old man, whose name has not been released pending notification of family members, was apparently trying to…
Monica Pope on the Transformation of t’afia, Hope for Houston and Being Pretty Darn Cool
The current photo on t’afia’s Web site, which is being updated every day with new imagery which relates to Pope’s plans. You’ve heard of burning your boats. But what about burning your apron? It’s this striking visual that is currently greeting visitors to the Web site for t’afia, chef Monica…
Houston Music Showcase: A Semi-Talk With B L A C K I E
See also Craig Hlavaty’s review of B L A C K I E’s new album GEN. This week brings us the Houston Press Music Awards and the feature story is a profile of B L A C K I E (all caps, with spaces), a noise musician that’s a little…
A Quiet Moment With the Very Loud B L A C K I E
See also Craig Hlavaty’s review of B L A C K I E’s new album GEN. To go with the Houston Press Music Awards issue, this week’s feature story is a profile of B L A C K I E (all caps, with spaces), a noise musician that’s a little…
Which Houston Restaurants Are Dog-Friendly? BlackFinn Is Just One
So, I’m not the hugest fan of BlackFinn American Grille. I think that’s pretty evident from this week’s cafe review, in which I found a few things to enjoy about the place — giant mug of chocolate cake here, pretty good service there — but not enough to outweigh the…
Bejart Ballet Cancels Tour, SPA Subs in Shen Wei Dance Arts
Next May when The Rite of Spring is performed at Wortham Center’s Brown Theater, it will be by New York City-based Shen Wei Dance Arts, making its first appearance in Houston. The Switzerland-based dance company Béjart, in a return Houston engagement, was to perform the Stravinsky composition to coincide with…
Wanna See Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer Have an Epic Smackdown? RIP Gore Vidal.
Last night literary jack-of-all-trades Gore Vidal passed away at the age of 86 due to complications from pneumonia. The man had a 60-year career in literature, and was a noted liberal figurehead and pundit. And boy, could he turn a phrase. The New York Times turned in a wonderful and…
New Album GEN Makes B L A C K I E a Capital-A Artist
GEN is the name of B L A C K I E’s newest album, a disc which is by far one of the most artistically groundbreaking and emotionally raw releases to come from anyone in any art medium this year in Houston. GEN doesn’t prove that B L A C…
Unidentified Man Tased to Death, 38, Bayou Body Count No. 118
A man died after being hit with a Taser by Houston police Tuesday night. The 38-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, was banging on the front door of the Interstate Motor Lodge in the 13200 block of the East Freeway about 11:35 p.m. Tuesday, HPD says. “According to…
Mikkeller Offers a New Salvo in the Beer Wars: 300 IBU Tastes Like Burning
The beer wars are nothing new. Long before craft beer came along, the large macro breweries engaged in back-and-forth barbs, jockeying for position in the market. Usually carried out via marketing and commercial sniping, the battles all but amounted to multimillion-dollar re-enactments of schoolyard taunts. In the modern craft beer…
Reality Bites: Campus PD
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. When I first heard G4 had a show called Campus PD, my first reaction was, “Really? How hard is it to get harassed by actual police?” But the more I…
Ted Cruz: First Intellectual Tea-Partier Ever
Last night, as we watched Sarah Palin bloviate on Fox News — yes, doubtful reader, we do under highly unusual circumstances tune in to Fox News — we were struck by something. Ted Cruz, compared to virtually every single Tea Party member on this green earth like Palin, is really…
Gumbo and Half Bottle of Riesling for a Lonely Diner at Brennan’s
Yesterday evening, when I found myself in the peculiar predicament of having to dine alone, I decided to treat myself to a bowl of gumbo at the bar at Brennan’s, a landmark where I still hadn’t eaten after nearly four years in Texas. Beyond the social awkwardness, dining alone for…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Nathan Quick
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Reviews for the Lazy Gamer: Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Game: Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance Platform: 3DS Publisher/Developer: Square Enix Genre: Action RPG Describe This Game in Three Words: Kinda Mickey Mouse Plot Synopsis: Sora and Riku find themselves sucked into adventure again when they wake up in mirror versions of Traverse Town. The two Keyblade wielders are…
Comment of the Day: Defining A Political Nut
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning or afternoon from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 42, Frito Pie at C&D Burger Shoppe
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
5 Weird Music Figurines To Spruce Up Your Home or Office
For those looking to bring a bit of personality to their cubicle or to add character to a boring bookshelf there is a whole world of music collectables out there to choose from. From statues to bobbleheads to dolls these figures, no matter what you call them, are yet another…
Epic Prints Make Inman Gallery’s Diverse Summer Group Show
With just enough space to display a single work, the entryway in Inman Gallery has always served as an alluring preview of what’s to come in the main gallery. And for its summer show, this piece is one roller coaster of a print. Emily Joyce’s “Fuchsia Rose in Mike Kelley’s…
Ghxst Re-Enacts The Doom Generation
My new favorite band is an NYC death-grunge group fronted by the fetching Shelley X, Ghxst. The band sucked me in with the single “Doomgirl,” which I described as Fiona Apple singing for Alien Sex Fiend. If that doesn’t make you want to download them immediately then brother, you’re reading…
Houston Employs More Artists, Photographers Than Doctors
Houston is known for many things — the Texas Medical Center, its international population and the worst baseball team that has ever played on a major-league diamond — but is this place a friendly one for creative professionals such as musicians, writers, architects and graphic designers? According to The Creative…
Tunnel Explorer: Deli Deluxe
I do most of my tunnel exploring blind. Figuratively. Though the low light is beginning to take its toll. What I mean is, I typically just stumble around down there until something looks interesting, or until I’ve walked far enough that my breadcrumbs are nearly used up. The thought of…
Dear Olympics: More Nudity And/Or Violence, Please
“We live in a cynical world, a cynical, cynical world…” said a very smart man once. Maybe it was Nietzsche, or Elmer Fudd. Artifacts like the Olympics — both the summer and winter variety — have grown boring and stale. TV giant NBC is getting torn to shreds for including…
Improve the Olympics: Combine Sports. Weightlifting/Trampoline, Anyone?
Olympic Fever!! Possibly uncaught, still. It’s only every four years when the powers that be foist these odd events on us, but somehow that doesn’t seem long enough. Things used to be different when it was relatively rare to see sports on TV, but now that we’re awash in it,…
Top 5 Foods (Almost) As Good Canned As Fresh
Canned foods get a bad rap, and for good reason. They’re often high in sodium, lower in nutrients and less flavorful. Sometimes, however, the “real” or “fresh” version is only infinitesimally better, and if you don’t plan on using all or most of a particular ingredient immediately, canned may be…
Six Different Artists, Six Different Approaches at Barbara Davis Gallery
“Six Apart,” Barbara Davis’s new exhibition as part of ArtHouston, is a pretty random show. The six artists come from as far away as Portugal and as close as Houston. They work in sculpture, painting, installation and on paper. There are vivid, intricate paintings, and minimal black and white drawings…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Potbelly
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Ted Cruz Is Here to Protect Texas from the UN
Texas Republican voters finally jumped to their senses Tuesday and followed the clarion call of Sarah Palin by electing Ted Cruz to the U.S. Senate over pallid insider David Dewhurst. The upset was the latest bit of rebellion from the Tea Party, adding to the footnotes that will be written…
Spaghetti Squash and Spicy Cherry Tomatoes: Eat Healthy This Summer
This summer, my obsession with spaghetti squash increased significantly. There are endless possibilities for using this vegetable. It can be a substitute for pasta, offering a healthier alternative to a starch-heavy and carb-loaded meal, or it can be eaten just as it is. One of my favorite combinations is adding…
What the F Is F.D.R.?: Two Minutes With Hollywood FLOSS
Beginning last week, Rocks Off started receiving emails about something called “F.D.R.” Beyond that it involved a person and/or people saying words that possibly rhymed, the details were sparse. But after some mega-sleuthing (sending a few text messages), we’ve gathered the details. F.D.R. is a collaboration project between rappers Hollywood…
100 Creatives 2012 Jessica Janes, Actress and Musician
Actress and musician Jessica Janes believes in taking risks in her life. She previously lived in Houston when she was in high school because of her dad’s job, and attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for her last two years. She then headed for the College…
Houston Texans: My Annual Way Too Early Guess at the 53-Man Roster
On Sunday morning at the Texans’ second day of practice of the young preseason, I was hanging out with my co-host John Granato watching the wide receivers go one-on-one against the cornerbacks in pass catching drills when Evan Koch of the Texans media relations team walked by and asked us…
This Week In Food Blogs: Bycatch Gets Bigger and Brownies Bring Doom
CultureMap: Houston Restaurant Weeks starts today, and celebrated earlier this week with a kickoff party at Momentum Audi. The Houston Press was not invited (was it something we said?), but luckily CultureMap was there to cover the event and remind folks that, above all, HRW is about raising money for…
Truth, Justice and the American Way: History As Portrayed By Comic Books
Throughout time, comic books have been known to serve as a chronicle to history — sometimes even predict it. In many ways, comic books have used real-life events and people to further propel their storylines. The reason is that they are part of our pop-culture history. As we all know,…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Leah White
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Guess the Country Star by Only His Cowboy Hat
You’ll ride a black tornado cross’t the western skies Rope an ole blue norther, milk it till it’s dry Bull dawg the Mississippi, pin it’s ears down flat Long before you take this cowboy’s hat. — Chris Ledoux, “This Cowboy’s Hat” A popular saying in Texas goes that a man…
Did You Get Nabbed During DPS’s July 4 Crackdown? Join the Crowd
The Texas Department of Public Safety has released the results from its July 4 crackdown on DWI and traffic tickets, and as usual it resulted in a blizzard of paper. DPS troopers made more than 1,200 DWI arrests in a nine-day special enforcement period surrounding the holiday, when stepped-up patrols…
The DR 12 Six-Pack Scalping Has Begun
The 12th series of Saint Arnold Divine Reserve was released this morning, an Old Ale recipe developed by local homebrewer David Rogers. And as with every Divine Reserve release, the hunt to find the few six-packs in Houston stores has intensified throughout the day. On Twitter, beer fans are trading…
Jason Jacobs, 31, Bayou Body Count No. 117
A man was shot on the southeast side of town last night and was taken to the hospital by a Good Samaritan, but later died, police say. HPD says Jason Jacobs, 31, flagged down a motorist in the 8100 block of Lenora about 11:30 p.m. Monday and said he’d been…
William Park: Helena Brown’s Volunteer “Senior Adviser” Owes IRS $339,000
City Council Member Helena Brown’s volunteer “senior adviser” William Park, who was barred from the investment industry last year and has come under criticism for his apparent influence over the councilwoman, owes the Internal Revenue Service $339,160 in federal liens, raising significant ethical concerns over why Brown has selected as…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 43, Wings and Grits at The Breakfast Klub
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Traditional Indian Chanting Fills the Rothko Chapel
Last night the Rothko Chapel’s famous black canvassed walls played host to an evening of traditional kirtan, which is a form of Indian devotional chanting. As a part of the chapel’s Summer Sounds Concert Series, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityanda, renowned monk and speaker, took the center stage at Rothko to share…
Middling Mains and Better Beer at The Hay Merchant
After an absolutely amazing meal at Underbelly, my husband and I were game to try its next-door neighbor, The Hay Merchant. The fact that Hay Merchant offers an ever-changing menu of craft beers was an additional enticement for my home-brewing better half. In the past year, my knowledge of and…
Last Night: Aerosmith & Cheap Trick at Toyota Center
Aerosmith, Cheap Trick Toyota Center July 30, 2012 It always happens. I go into an Aerosmith show full of hate and distrust of laser-lips Steven Tyler and the Aero Posse and end up half-enjoying myself despite all the reservations that the rest of the world pumps into my head. It’s…
Another Place The Man Won’t Let You Dance: The HOV Lane
Hollywood, we have your Footloose sequel. Not the dreck that came last summer(? Who knows), but a fresh, exciting new reboot of the concept. We give you Footloose: High Occupancy. When that dancin’ fever hits and you just gotta kick off those Sunday shoes, it doesn’t matter where you are…
The James Gang: Houston’s Leela Updates the Great Etta
How do you remake a song as iconic as Etta James’ “At Last”? Should you? That’s the question Houston’s Leela James had to confront on her new project Loving You More… In the Spirit of Etta James, a tribute to the R&B legend who died this past January. Rocks Off…
Chefs Hugo and Ruben Ortega: Soulful Masters of Mexican Cuisine
I met chefs Hugo and Ruben Ortega of Hugo’s last week, and what I walked away knowing is that I want to spend a lot more time with these guys — in Mexico tasting their memories. Chefs Hugo and Ruben are engaging, enchanting and extraordinary, and they’re coming out with…
DVDs & Blu-rays: Zack Parker’s Scalene, Lots of Marilyn and Weightier Issues
Scalene stars Margo Martindale, Hanna Hall and Adam Scarimbolo; Zack Parker co-writes, produces and directs. Our featured release this week is filmmaker Zack Parker’s Scalene. The story is a knotty tangle. Three characters – frumpy, middle-aged Janice (Margo Martindale), her brain-damaged mute son Jakob (Adam Scarimbolo) and Jakob’s beautiful young…
Ceceilia Sanders, 27, Bayou Body Count No. 116
A woman was stabbed to death in her apartment near her two small children a little after midnight Monday, and a man has been charged with murder. Ceceilia Sanders, 27, was found in her apartment in the 5600 block of Yale, stabbed several times. Two children, ages three and eight…
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s Work Coming to the MFAH in October
Henry Ossawa Tanner, the son of an escaped slave mother and a preacher father, was one of the first African-American artists to achieve a reputation in both America and Europe. An exhibit of more than 100 of his works is coming to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston in October…
Where Are We Drinking? Clue: Playing with Pints
The gentlemen you see below are playing Cards Against Humanity. But that’s not what’s important; what’s important is where they’re playing it. It’s a grand tradition to take a card or board game to spots like this — and some light snacks, too, while you’re at it — on the…
Upcoming: Tomahawk, GWAR, 2 Chainz, Matt & Kim, OFF!, Yanni, T.S.O.L., Etc.
2 Chainz: Wed., Sept. 26, 8 p.m., $25-$150. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown: Sun., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., $27.00. Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas Ave., Houston. All American Rejects, Boys Like Girls: Tue., Oct. 2, 6 p.m., $27.50. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline,…
Of Course Grills By Paul Wall Made Ryan Lochte’s U.S. Flag Job
The other day, when U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte was showing off his collection of jewel-encrusted mouthpieces (or “grills”) to an NBC interviewer, we couldn’t help but wonder if Paul Wall had a hand in it somehow. Of course he did. One grill in particular, made to look like the U.S…
Highway to a Helluva Good Time: I-69 Opens
With little fanfare, the Texas Department of Transportation has announced that some segments of U.S. 59 have been officially renamed I-69, the new NAFTA Highway. Why the hush-hush? Is Colonel Angus going to be driving down to make a visit? We don’t know if I-69 was named by the Official…
Just Desserts at Dolce Delights
The cakes dazzled like jewels — bright, plump and enticingly delectable. Delicately placed on sheets of gold, the pastries radiated sweetness. Invited to select any and all that my little heart desired, I stared, licking my lips and feeling like Marie Antoinette in front of my queen’s feast of confections…
Gothic Council: Was Christian Death’s Rozz Williams an Overhyped Douchenozzle?
One of the functions of the Gothic Council is to rule on matters of Goth-point attribution. Think of us as professor McGonagall awarding or deducting points at Hogwarts… with that act mattering exactly as much to the real world as it did in the Harry Potter books. Recently, our own…
You Can’t Be Half A Gangster: Season Three Teaser for Boardwalk Empire Premieres
If you have been following HBO’s gangster bootlegging saga Boardwalk Empire the past two seasons, you have been subject to all manner of bloodshed, heartache and mother-fucking. And you, like me, have enjoyed every minute of it. Okay, the mother/son sex scenes not so much, but they only added to…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: thelastplaceyoulook
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
What Are We Stuffing? Tomatoes
One of my favorite things to pair tomatoes with is blue cheese. The acidic tomatoes pair nicely with the tangy blue cheese. I usually slice tomatoes and crumble blue cheese for a tomato salad, but a couple of summers ago I had the idea of stuffing the tomatoes with blue…
Kaz Tanahashi: Master Calligraphist Visits Houston Zen Center
At age 23, while living in his native Japan, Kazuaki “Kaz” Tanahashi wanted to improve his handwriting. Fifty-five years later, Kaz is anchoring an ancient art that, at present, is living strong in some ways and dying in others. Tanahashi is a famous calligraphist who reinterprets classical Chinese masterpieces and…
Houston Punk Gets a Welcome Shot of Youth Juice (UPDATED)
Note: Due to an editing error, the photos were mistakenly attributed to the author, and proper credit has been restored. Last Thursday I went to Mango’s to see the Funboys, Lazer Cuntzz, and a band from Austin called Hamburguesa; It was free and I heard that my husband’s band Noguey…
Five Uses for Your Umbrella Other Than Rain
It’s been a fairly dry week around Houston and, while the rain should return soon enough, I got to thinking about what to do with the umbrella that I constantly keep with me in the summer or, as I normally like to call it, monsoon season. The truth is, a…
Pop Rocks: It’s A Magic Number — Your Hobbit Trilogy Is on the Way
I had to double-check the calendar. Unfortunately, both it and the searing heat outside confirmed it’s not April Fool’s Day: Last month at Comic-Con, Jackson teased fans with the idea that he was interested in pushing beyond his planned two-film adaptation of “The Hobbit.” Now, after weeks of intensive talks…
Brady Conine of Flying Saucer Talks Beer, Bums and the Waco Connection
Now over ten years old, The Flying Saucer downtown is not only one of Houston’s longest-standing craft beer bars, it also has stood long enough to see myriad other bars come and go in its wake. I am lucky enough to live less than a mile away from Flying Saucer,…
Michael Phelps: What the Heck Is He Listening To?
When he competes, U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps is usually seen walking into the arena with headphones on, blasting music in order to get him pumped up for the upcoming race. But what the hell is he listening to? It’s rumored that Phelps is a huge rap and hip-hop fan, but…
Meet the HPMA Showcase Nominees: Caretta Bell
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Holy Crap, Have You Seen the Cloud Atlas Trailer?
This week the first trailer for the Wachowski gang’s film version of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas hit the Web, and it’s full of CGI, time-jumping, clouds, atlases, Tom Hanks, and Jim Broadbent-starring glossy goodness. Directed by Tom Tykwer and the brother-sister Matrix team of Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski, the…
Keep Cool and Caffeinated: Houston’s Top 10 Iced Coffee Drinks
August is nearly here, and the summer ain’t getting any cooler. But at least your coffee can. I’m not the type of person who can make it through a morning without getting caffeinated, but it requires a special kind of fortitude to grimly chug a few cups of hot coffee…
Saint Arnold Releases Divine Reserve No. 12 Today
Home brewer David Rogers is the man responsible for Saint Arnold’s latest Divine Reserve batch — that’s because Rogers’s entry into the 16th Annual Big Batch Brew Bash won him the chance to have his recipe featured as the most recent Divine Reserve to be released by Houston’s oldest craft…
Have A Drink On Us: AC/DC Sells Wine Now, and We Had a Tasting
Shout-out to the oenophiles out there, there is a new kid on the wine block these days, with the introduction of two varieties of vino geared towards fans of classic-rock band AC/DC. Now, I know what you are saying: Since their music goes so well with the hard stuff, shouldn’t…
A Trio of Equally Fantastic Exhibitions at Art League Houston Right Now
Art League Houston’s Project Gallery currently holds the honor of housing Jeff Schmuki’s GenAIRator exhibition, a combustion of wall-hanging art and horticultural installations. In the center of the space sit the installations, more garden projects than artworks. The first, “Air-Filtering Hydro Unit #1,” is an awkwardly slanted compartment of air-purifying…
Zapruder-Style Breakdown of the Worst National Anthem Performance Ever
My general rule of thumb when it comes to snark or out-and-out ridicule is that kids are off-limits. I have three kids of my own, and they’re not perfect. I get it. However, there are rare exceptions, and on those occasions, what you’ll usually find is that any derision of…
Vladimir Putin: No Pussy Riot On His Watch
Above: Video of the performance that got three Moscow punk rockers arrested If he were still alive, Frank Zappa would have a field day with this one. Just when we thought the Montgomery County sheriff’s department was setting the standard for dodgy tactics and thought control with Friday’s suspicious preemptive…
Two Tellers Tending to ATM Upkeep in a Walmart, End up Robbed
Just before 3 p.m. today, an unidentified man walked into the Woodforest National Bank inside the Walmart at 2700 Kirkwood in Houston, threatened that he had a gun and walked away with cash from two tellers. The FBI is looking for help in identifying the suspect. According to their report:…
Sarah Palin Visits Chick-Fil-A in The Woodlands, Presumably to Hate On the Gays
Mike Huckabee did it. Rick Santorum did it (I don’t mean having his last name irreversibly associated with a rather disgusting by-product of certain sexual acts). And now Sarah Palin has done it…in Texas. All three politicians have recently gone out of their way to promote Chick-Fil-A, in what some…
Freddie For a Day Is September 5; Dress Like Mercury For a Good Cause
Rocks Off has always been a big champion of all things Queen and Freddie Mercury, so when we found out that Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity set up in the late singer’s name in 1992, was setting up something called Freddie For a Day, we had to pass it…
FBI Releases Photos of Unshaven Would-be Bank Robber; Anybody Recognize Him?
Okay, he didn’t get any cash — asked for it but left after not getting any — but the FBI is calling him a bank robber all the same. According to the FBI, the as-yet-unidentified man walked into the Wells Fargo Bank at 4645 Reed Road in Houston on Saturday,…
It’s National Cheesecake Day: Oreo Cookies & Cream Cheesecakes
Out of all the weird and ridiculous national food holidays our country celebrates (or at least acknowledges), National Cheesecake Day is a day we should all take seriously. With all the varieties and forms of cheesecake, there’s a flavor or style out there for everyone to enjoy on this creamy…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 44, Spaghetti Carbonara at Coppa Ristorante Italiano
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Unidentified Woman Found Dead at Home During Welfare Check: Bayou Body Count No. 115
An autopsy is being performed on a woman found dead at 237 West 18th St. No. 4 at 11:05 p.m. Sunday, Houston Police report. The woman’s identity is being withheld pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences…
Last Chance for Tea with a Japanese Master at MFAH
This Tuesday is your last opportunity to experience a glimpse of ancient Japanese culture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. These Tuesday afternoon events complement the exhibition Unrivalled Splendor: The Kimiko and John Powers Collection of Japanese Art. The only Certified Tea Master in Texas leads the Tea Ceremony:…
Low-Alcohol Vermentino from California Makes Me Happy
The winemakers behind Uvaggio Vermentino from Lodi have a theory. “If we grow the right grape in the right place,” they write on their Web site, “we can manage to get by with our respective degrees in psychology and geography. (If one of us gets lost then other can figure…
Unidentified Man Found Stabbed to Death: Bayou Body Count No. 114
Houston police are investigating the stabbing death of a man that occurred Friday afternoon. The identity of the victim, who was found face down at a residence at 10751 Corona Lane about 4:30 p.m. on July 27, is being withheld pending notification of relatives…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Free Radicals
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
3 Reasons I’m NOT Excited about a Hedwig Sequel
Just to clear the air first, I have impeccable credentials when it comes to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I saw the original off-Broadway production with John Cameron Mitchell while on my senior trip in New York City. I saw the absolute first screening of the film adaptation when it…
Where Are We Eating? Clue: Bratwurst and Beer
Sometimes we all have to indulge our inner German and enjoy some Würste mit Bier. And the platter you see below is one of the finest ways to do so, with ample servings of warm German potato salad, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, bread that’s served soft and hot, and — of…
5 Ways to Tell If You’ve Politically Lost Your Damned Mind
If you’re a sane person then you are dreading the next four months leading up to the presidential election. Every single election cycle has gotten more and more crazy, but I have a feeling this is going to be the one where we end up developing airborne thorazine to try…
Saturday: 94.5 The Buzz “Weenie Roast” at The Woodlands
Saturday: 94.5 The Buzz “Weenie Roast” Feat. AWOLnation, Chevelle, Trapt & Hoobastank Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion July 28, 2012 Summer is here, folks. And it’s in full effect. The very people who have been complaining about the amount of rain we’ve been getting will be grumbling and whining, “It’s too…
6 Unsolicited Suggestions About the Astros Fan Experience
The Houston Astros sent me a little fan survey last week, wanting my thoughts on the so-called fan experience at Minute Maid Park. There were some rather standard questions about where I usually sit, what price I usually pay for tickets and for parking. There weren’t, however, very many questions…
What’s Cooking This Week? Chipotle Cheddar Burgers, Watermelon Feta Salad & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and me, but most of the time, cooking for two proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredients I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
Ashes of the Wake: A Playlist for Baghdad
On this day in 762 A.D., caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad in what is modern-day Iraq. The area was and remains one of the commercial and intellectual centers of the Arab world, though it’s obviously had a few problems since the U.S. invaded in 2003 and toppled Saddam…
The Inaugural Houston Arts Resource Fair: Excellent Conversations, Very Few Hiccups
This past Saturday marked the inaugural Houston Arts Resource Fair. The Arts Resource Fair came together due to a consortium of Houston-based arts organizations including Dance Source Houston, DiverseWorks, Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Theatre Alliance, Spacetaker/Fresh Arts, Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) and Texas Accountants & Lawyers for the Arts…
Jouer Cosmetics: Makeup You Can Play With
When Nordstrom calls, you answer. And when Christina Zilber, founder and creator of Jouer Cosmetics, puts down the phone, having made a deal to place her makeup line in the chain of high-end retail stores, you get excited. Zilber, Neil Scibelli, national makeup artist for Jouer, and Meg Young, the…
Friday Night: Murder by Death at Fitzgerald’s
Murder by Death, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons Fitzgerald’s July 27, 2012 When I discovered that Murder by Death was set up to play the smaller downstairs room at Fitzgerald’s Friday night, I was a little surprised. The Indiana-based y’allternative act may hail from a small town, but they’ve…
Easy Summer Recipe: Vietnamese Avocado Milkshake (Sinh To Bo)
The weather in South Vietnam is hot and humid, much like it is here in Houston. To beat the heat, the Vietnamese drink a lot of iced beverages, including Sinh To, which means milkshake. Most Vietnamese restaurants offer a variety of fresh fruit milkshakes, like Sinh To Thom (pineapple), Sinh…
App of the Week: Avoid Traffic with Inrix Traffic
App: Inrix Traffic Platform: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile Website: InrixTraffic.com Cost: Free Mr. Burns once called sitting “the great equalizer” on The Simpsons, but I tend to think it’s traffic. We all get stuck in it and we all curse the day we were born as a result. In…
First Lady Suite: Another Home Run from Bit of a Stretch Theatre Co.
The set-up: After its mesmerizing former production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit, the young Bit of a Stretch Theatre Co. hits another home run with Michael John LaChiusa’s thoroughly intriguing first major work, the chamber musical First Lady Suite (1993). Here is a distinctive, adult voice that demolishes the lie…
2nd Annual Margarita Fest at El Pueblito
Last Thursday, July 26, 11 tequila purveyors went head to head at El Pueblito for their second annual margarita festival. Think the Olympics inspire intense competitors? Those athletes have nothing on the ferocity of brand representatives, each determined to produce the best margarita for what appeared to be a very…
Welcome Back, Hot and Dry. How Long Will It Last?
So, the rain, did you enjoy it? I think after the record-breaking drought of 2011, most Houstonians were open to some days filled with more than just the occasional pop-up thunderstorm and we got them. Virtually every day for the last three weeks, we’ve had some rain in the area…
Saturday Night: Nicki Minaj at Bayou Music Center
Nicki Minaj Bayou Music Center July 28, 2012 I am told by countless bloggers that Nicki Minaj is a “polarizing.” Her Grammy performance, her lyrical abilities, whether she’s a rapper or pop star, the quality of “Starships”; all have been debated endlessly on this here World Wide Web. Because the…
JERMPING TEH SHERK: ERMAHGERD EENERPERPRIT ERMAHGERDZ
Not yet sick of ERMAHGERD memes? Check out our foodie version, ERMAHGERD CERPCERKS. By now you all know about the ERMAHGERD meme, using the twisted face of some poor girl from the ’90s for the expression of excitement and the belittling of those with speech impediments. It showed up on…
Know Your Local Media: Lanny Griffith, the Master of Traffic Talks KLOL, Hellish Interchanges and Bondage
For those of you who have been around Houston for a while and listened to the radio, you’ll probably remember Lanny Griffith and his “Traffic in Bondage” on legendary former rock station, KLOL. Well, Griffith is still around and while he may have dropped the bondage part from his traffic…
Top 5 Kitchen Appliances
When I walk into Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table, it’s hard for me to not want to buy everything I see. Especially those silly gadgets like the whipped cream canister…I have to remind myself that even though it’s super cool, it’s a waste of money. There are some kitchen appliances…
5 Most Overrated Players in College Football
College football’s media days are done, the preseason picks for top teams and players in. “And why did you pick him?” we sit here scratching our heads. A majority of these guys on this list made either Athlon Sports’s first, second or third All-American teams. Please try again if you…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Steve Krase & the In Crowd
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Yellow Rose, Houston’s First Legal Bourbon Distillery, Set to Launch Soon
Master distiller Troy Smith points to a few sacks of corn on the floor of the small warehouse that houses Yellow Rose Distillery in a quiet, residential area just north of Tomball. “We use organic corn from North Texas,” he says. “And we grind it all by hand.” That corn…
7 Of the Strangest Vending Machine Items
It seems that you can find just about anything these days in a vending machine, soda, chips, a copy of the Rosetta Stone Language Series on CD, a charger for your iPhone, mashed potatoes… Mashed potatoes? As reported by our sister paper at the New York Village Voice, among various…
Texans Training Camp: Andre Johnson’s Groin Becomes the Most Scrutinized Groin in Houston (Non-Stripper Division)
When I moved back to Houston in 2007 to start a career in radio, literally the first event I ever attended as a media member was the opening of Texans training camp. So excited I was for this assignment, I literally showed up at the facility like two hours before…
All Week Long: $50 Floor Seats to Chesney & McGraw’s “Brothers of the Sun” Show
You know an upcoming show is a big one when you see an actual TV commerical about it like we did on VH1 over the weekend. Also a good tipoff: The concert is at the same venue where the Houston Texans will soon enough start their 2012 season. So all…
Cowboy Broc Cresta RIP, Competed in Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Sad news today that professional team roper Broc Cresta was found dead in his living quarters Saturday while in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to compete in the annual Frontier Days rodeo there. The news was confirmed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on its Web site. Cresta was only 25 years old…
Local Activist Aaron Brown Arrested at Cruz/Palin Event in Woodlands, Doesn’t Even Get to Show His Signs
Local activist Aaron Brown, one of the organizers of protests against Westboro Baptist Church, was arrested by a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy Friday while walking to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion to protest Sarah Palin’s appearance at an event supporting Republican senatorial candidate and Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz. Brown,…
William Park Denies Getting Banned By FINRA, Then Says He Was Banned By FINRA
Read what else we wrote about Councilwoman Helena Brown and her adviser William Park today. City Councilwoman Helena Brown’s volunteer “senior adviser” William Park issued a lengthy third-person press release today about himself, denying that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority banned him, before admitting, later, that they banned him. And…
Helena Brown Denies William Park’s Past, But We’ve Got the Proof Right Here
Check out our report on what adviser William Park had to say. Embattled City Council Member Helena Brown, ending weeks of silence amid growing ethical concerns over her decision-making — from altering employees’ time cards to taking publicly funded vacations to Asia — has lashed back in a string of…
Darrick Shelton, Motorcylist Dead After Running from the Law
A 39-year-old man, wanted on an aggravated assault charge involving a family member, died this morning after running from the law enforcement personnel who came out to serve him his warrant. Members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Unit, led by the U.S. Marshals Office, along with Harris County Sheriff’s…
Juan Jose Valerio-Dominguez Found Stabbed & Burned in Woods: Bayou Body Count No. 113
The body of a 34-year-old Spring man was found at 20900 Birnam Wood near Bush Intercontinental Airport about 1 p.m. Monday and police are investigating his death. The victim has been identified as Juan Jose Valerio-Dominguez…
Corie Doyle Shot Dead in Driveway Attack: Bayou Body Count No. 112
A 29-year-old man was shot to death about 6 p.m. Wednesday while he stood in a driveway at 5542 Shamrock, Houston police say. Corie Doyle was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced dead on Thursday, July 26…
7 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Soft Metals, Buxton, Grand Old Grizzly, Etc.
Correction (July 29, 6 p.m.): Apologies to Grand Old Grizzly’s Will Thomas for somehow thinking his last name was Allen. And they really are brand-new. Tonight L.A.-via-Portland electro duo Soft Metals (synthy, spooky, dreamy) headline the return of the Musum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Mixed Media social-hours from 8 p.m…
Top Shelf Shorts from NightCap Theatre Displays a New Company’s Talents
The setup: Houston’s new NightCap Theatre follows its entertaining production of The Coitus Plays in February with Top Shelf Shorts, ten brief plays that showcase the writing talents of its two founders as well as those of 18 actors and six directors. The execution: An almost empty stage with a…
This Week in Deliciousness: The Octopus Gambit
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating…Our Words, where the experiments on which libation works best for spiking watermelons continue. More research needs to be done, but we have reached one solid conclusion: It ain’t bitters. Whoof. It’s named that for a reason, turns out. We started the…
Aggronautix Bringing You Bobblehead Wayne Kramer, James Williamson
Aggronautix has brought you bobbleheads of GG Allin, Mojo Nixon, Roky Erickson, Andrew WK, and even Milo from the Descendents. I even purchased a creepily lifelike model of Allin’s head from them a few years back. Today they announced two new additions to their bobbled family, in the form of…
Believe the Unbelievable in Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA
See our interview with Cirque du Soleil clown Colin Heath. The setup: In KOOZA’s loose narrative, a shy, foppish character known as The Innocent discovers a Cirque du Soleil world of magic, acrobatics and illusion. He’s not only awed by the fantastic, but also finds a sense of self and…
Perspectives 179 — Alvin Baltrop: Dreams into Glass: Not Overlooked Anymore
The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston can always be relied upon to produce exhibits that push conventional boundaries, exhibits that make us think and reflect on ourselves and society, and this collection of photographs by Alvin Baltrop does just that. CAMH Senior Curator Valerie Cassel Oliver, who put together the show,…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 45, Larissa Plate at Harry’s
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Houston Is Hot: Forbes Names Houston the Coolest City in America (Duh)
We saw the headline late yesterday afternoon on Forbes.com: Houston Tops Our List Of America’s Coolest Cities To Live. No shit, Sherlock. Us die-hard Houstonians have been saying that for a long time. I mean, haven’t you guys heard of Houston: It’s Worth It? We’ve even done our own list,…
Smoke: The Week in Photos
It’s time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston’s creative community. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool…
Grappa Joe and the Lambrusco Revival
And they called him “Grappa Joe.” “When I first started at Spec’s 20 years ago,” says Joseph “Grappa Joe” Kemble, who was born and raised in Houston, “I was the only one in the store who was into grappa. When a customer would come in and ask for grappa, they…
Unidentified 2-Month-old Baby Girl Found Dead: Bayou Body Count No. 111
Houston police are investigating the death of an unidentified two-month-old baby girl who died about 2 p.m. Thursday. The infant was transported by ambulance from her home at 11911 Martin Luther King Boulevard to Texas Children’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead…
Five Film Directors Who Should Be in Charge of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
Film director Danny Boyle is producing this Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony in London; odds are he’ll dazzle and puzzle viewers in equal parts. The filmmaker, known for such diverse fare as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire, isn’t the first person we would have pegged to produce the opening…
Claude Lamont Kibbie Shot to Death: Bayou Body Count No. 110
A 33-year-old man found shot at 9555 Crofton Wednesday died on Thursday, Houston police said. Claude Lamont Kibbie was found shot and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he later died…
8 Musical Activities That Should Be Olympic Sports
After years of preparation, unprecedented security, and a Mitt Romney gaffe or two, the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London get underway about 3 p.m. Houston time. At the same time, multitudes will gather in nearby Hyde Park for a free concert with Duran Duran, Snow…
Scouting Report: Trae’s Son, Rapper Lil’ Jared, Hits the Court
The kid shooting the free throw, that’s Jared. He’s a rapper. And this is kind of about him, but also about some other people. Because this is kind of about rap, but also about some other things. Jared’s father is Trae tha Truth, which means a few different things: 1…
Taste of Texas at Valentino Wine Bar
What do you get when you place six premium Texas distillers enthusiastically vending their wares in one room and a complimentary assortment of tapas? A jolly good time. Wednesday night, representatives from Texas-made Cinco Vodka, Rebecca Creek Whiskey, Enchanted Rock Vodka, Treaty Oak Rum, Waterloo Gin and Republic Tequila assembled…
2012 Summer Olympics: 10 Badass Houston Athletes to Watch in London
Check out our slideshow of the Texas Olympians competing in the 2012 Summer Games. ERMAHGERD, are you squee-ing with as much excitement for the Summer Olympic Games as I am? Seriously. I am counting down the minutes until I can leave work and check out the Danny Boyle-directed Opening Ceremonies…
Lou Ann Barton: Austin Blues Queen Is Working Her Butt Off
It’s 2 p.m. and Austin blues diva Lou Ann Barton is just downing her first cup of coffee of the day. Rocks Off admitted to her he was only on his second. “We were recording last night, so I’m a little sluggish,” says the Fort Worth native in her gravelly…
The Charles Botts Collection Finds a New Home
Wednesday night there was a rumbling in the GLBT community regarding one of Houston’s most treasured collections of gay and lesbian artifacts, the Charles Botts Memorial Archives and Library. An anonymous collector recently acquired the Charles Botts Collection from its longtime home at the Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, where it…
Upcoming Events: Restaurant Weeks and Rare Real Ales
On August 15, culinarians across the country will be celebrating what would have been Julia Child’s 100th birthday. Hoping to recruit at least one million people into the celebration, her original publisher — Alfred A. Knopf — has begun JC100, a celebration of Julia’s legacy in the 100 days leading…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: The Watch
Title: The Watch Wasn’t This Originally Called Neighborhood Watch? Yes, but in a typical act of corporate ass-covering, Fox changed the name following the shooting of Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watch captain Charles Zimmerman. Because otherwise people would think Martin was an extraterrestial. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant to the…
Comedy of Errors With a Texas Twang: Cindy Pickett and Mark Metcalf Join the Houston Shakespeare Festival
Actress Cindy Pickett (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, St. Elsewhere) grew up in the Houston heat. She was no stranger to theater, given that her father the late Cecil Pickett was so involved with it. So she didn’t hesitate to agree to join this year’s Houston Shakespeare Festival, sponsored by the…
The 4 Best Cocktails Named For Rock Stars
I played rock star for a few years here in town, loading in equipment at 7 p.m. to go on around midnight. You know what you do in the interim? You drink, heavily, because you’re in a bar and you’re bored off your ass. I even ended up writing the…
The Non-Pressure Test: Make Eggs Like a Masterchef Part 2
Recently on Masterchef (team Christine!), the contestants were put to the ultimate culinary 101 pressure test when asked to cook the perfect egg…four ways…in 20 minutes. Ramsay and his fellow judges were looking for the “one perfect soft-boiled egg,” “one impeccable, sunny-side-up fried egg,” “one stunning, perfect poached egg” and…
Robert Steve Mills: Pleaded Guilty to Money Laundering in Case Where a Fake Insurance Policy Was Issued & 20 People Died
Check out our earlier story when Christopher Purser pled guilty in the same case. A 57-year-old Florida man has been convicted of “conspiracy to launder money” for his involvement in a case in which a false insurance policy was issued for the tour boat Ethan Allen, the U.S. Attorney’s office…
Week in Photos: Pickles!
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what ourtalented photographers have been up to. We’re looking for pictures that represent the best of Houston, from food to art to events, to secret hidden spots of beauty. Just drop them in our Flickr group…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Espantapajaros
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Health Department Roundup: Macondo, Rioja, BB’s and more
Let’s start with the really vital stuff. Dr Pepper is opening a bottling plant at 2400 Holly Hall, and a pre-opening inspection report shows that it’s clean, except for a bit of debris on the floor — a dusty old book marked “Recipe.” The book was tossed in the trash…
Bridezilla Brittany from Pearland: “I Can Take Over the World”
Picture this: You’ve successfully auditioned for a reality television show. Soon, the cameras invade your private life — in this case, as you prep for your wedding — and you really can’t control how you’re going to be portrayed. Your friends and family, all anxious to see how you look…
Dear Astros Fans, Repeat After Me: Rebuilding Is a Good Thing
There are some Astros fans who are kind of upset about the veteran purge going on with the team at the moment. These fans profess to understand the team’s need to rebuild, finally. But they don’t want this rebuild to come at the expense of the big league club. What…
100 Creatives 2012: Dennis Draper, Actor/Director and He Can Throw a Party Like Nobody’s Business
If you frequent the Houston theater scene, Dennis Draper is one of those names that you have surely come across, a lot. Draper has been an active member of Houston’s dramatic world for two decades as an actor and director. Draper is also the go-to guy if you want your…
Where the Chefs Eat: Brandi Key, Monica Pope, Jamie Zelko
Family matriarchs the world over may dominate their household kitchens, but in the professional world of restaurant kitchens, women are still the minority, which is why the three chefs featured this week are so notable. All three women in this week’s Where the Chefs Eat have reached the top of…
Musically Speaking, What Is the Best Zodiac Sign?
Sometimes some musicians just can’t even be put in the same sentence as one another. Depending on people’s musical preferences. It’s hard to compare and can be a bit confrontational. But one thing is for sure the day on which someone is born can’t be changed. And then that’s where…
Openings & Closings: Blind Items and Other “Fun” Activities
A busier week than last gives us some bad news, some intriguing news, some good news and a couple of interesting blind items. Let’s get that bad news out of the way first. Samba Grille closed last Saturday evening after service. The downtown restaurant — which won our 2011 Best…
Pop Culture Slap Fight: Alan Moore’s God vs. Kevin Smith’s God
As the staff bottle washer, astrolabe mechanic and Satanist, the realm of the divine is obviously outside my purview. Which is why being evil is so lucrative because all you have to do is…remove the person who holds said purview and boom! Purviewcity, population this guy. Thanks to a revelation…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: H.I.S.D.
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Ten Television Tech Advances That Have Made Watching Sports More Interesting
Seeing a sporting event in person is one of the more enjoyable parts of being a sports fan. From the smell of the grass to the roar of the crowd, it can be an exhilarating experience, particularly if you are fairly close to the action. On the other hand, tickets…
Braving the Boos: Bob Dylan and 10 More Artists Unafraid to Piss Off Their Fans
Forty-seven years ago this week (wow!), a ’60s folk icon by the name of Bob Dylan made his third and final appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. It was a highly anticipated set — Dylan was the de facto leader of the American folk-music revival at the…
USDA’s Meatless Monday “A Slap in the Face!” Texas Ag Commish Says
In a blog post today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples says the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s call for Meatless Mondays as part of a green environmental effort is a gross betrayal of everything the federal government should stand for. He calls for the firing of whoever came up with that…
The City of Houston Releases Its Own Version of Die Hard
It’s come to this. In the wake of the shooting in Colorado and the countless other shootings in offices and public places, the City of Houston, in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, released “RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event” on YouTube. The…
Bahram Arabpour: Austin-area Realtor Busted Here with Almost Two Pounds of Opium
More evidence that Houston has arrived as a world-class city: It is now apparently the kind of town where you can get your hands on large quantities of opium. Yes, if Harris County Court records are to be believed, Houston is now a market for the same “celestial drug” that…
Damn, It’s Good To Be A Harris County Commissioner
A couple of things became pretty obvious after rifling through the Harris County Commissioner campaign finance records — one, these dudes got a lot of money, like, millions of it. And two, Commissioner Steve Radack LOVES the Denis’ Seafood House. So in the spirit of these revelations, here’s five reasons…
RIP Leo Aston: Local Guitarist, Leo Trio Leader Passes Away
Local blues guitarist Leo Aston has passed away. According to posts on the Houston Blues Society and Houston Blues Museum Facebook sites, Aston finally succumbed to cancer in the early hours this morning. The leader of the Leo Trio, Alston was one of the good guys in the Houston blues…
Old Houston Photos Mashed With Modern Houston, Part 3: Cleaners, Carpets and Chevys
Check out the first and second installments of old Houston photos mashed up with modern-day Houston. Here we go with our third installment of vintage Houston photos mashed with their present-day locations. This round we show you several different locations surrounding downtown and Montrose. Also, we go back to 1992…
Clown Shoes Clementine: Luxe and Reduxe
I’ve always had a pretty good palate. I’m not one of those poor, plagued “super-tasters,” for whom an onion is like a sulfurous lance to the brain, but I pride myself on my sense of taste. It’s one of the reasons that I enjoy writing and thinking about beer so…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Los Skarnales
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 46, Chicken-Fried Steak at Triple A
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston® issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
Dallas: “I Crossed A Line I Promised Myself I’d Never Cross”
Family comes first. The various schemes of John Ross have led to various decision points for many in the Ewing clan. He himself is about to be set up for Marta’s murder, while Bobby is soon to butt heads with the Venezuelans who own the lien on Southfork. J.R. and…
Six Houston LINdmarks That LINd Themselves to Further LINsanity
When being interviewed over the last week, newly acquired Rockets guard Jeremy Lin admitted that the use of his last name for Lin-based puns got a little old in New York. In fact, he banned the use of them among friends, but he did admit that of all the ones…
ERMAHGERD, CERPCERKS
Of the many Internet memes that you and I and our moms are currently spreading across Facebook and Twitter these days, ERMAHGERD and WHARRGARBL are my current favorites. But whereas WHARRGARBL is only funny in limited contexts, as seen above, ERMAHGERD lends itself to a whole array of possibilities. The…
QFest Is Here and All About Town
QFest is here. It’s queer. Attend it. Houston’s Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, also known as QFest Houston, begins today and lasts until Monday, July 30. The film festival will celebrate its 16th anniversary with 19 films at six locations: the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rice Media Center,…
Magic Trick: A Goldfish Named Lazarus
Tim Cohen is a man who wears many hats. He’s been in more bands and released music under more names than any other musician I can think of, and each one is an exercise in brilliance. His latest mask is Magic Trick, and I got the opportunity to look at…
Meet the HPMA Showcase Nominees: Downfall 2012
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Good Deals and Hot Steals Around Town: Style Edition
Everybody loves a good deal, right? Over at Eating Our Words, our readers eat up the Voice Daily Deal offers, so we thought: Why not see what we can find when we round up great deals on style, around Houston? First up is our Houston Press Voice Daily Deal–don’t blink,…
Walmart Robbery Suspect Photos Released: Camouflage Hat & All
Thanks to the miracle of modern surveillance cameras, we can all now have a look at the fellow who the FBI believes robbed the Woodforest National Bank located inside a Humble Walmart store on Saturday, July 14. The 9:17 a.m. robbery occurred at the bank in the Walmart at 9235…
Baby Chino, World’s Youngest DJ: “I Have Haters”
Austin-born Ri-yan Dolan is only eight years old — he turns a ripe nine on August 25 — and holds the title of the world’s youngest DJ, spinning under the name DJ Baby Chino. At a time when kids half his age can operate iPads and iPhones with ease, it…
Top 5 Stuffed Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury crescent rolls are one of the most delicious, scrumptious and addictive pre-made bread products. Pop them out of their package, separate into beautiful triangles, roll up into a beautiful crescent and bake until perfection. I especially love crescent rolls at Thanksgiving; they’re always a necessity at family gatherings. By…
Free for All: Alvin Baltrop, Julydoscope and Samuel Bak
On Friday, the best show in town may well be “Perspectives 179 – Alvin Baltrop: Dreams into Glass,” currently at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. A photographer, Baltrop captured images of street life in New York City during the 1970s, when the Big Apple was a much different animal than…
Top 5 Obscure Eating Utensils
I don’t know about you, but when it’s time to eat dinner, my tools of choice are usually either 1) my hands or 2) a (plastic) fork and maybe a knife. Sure, the more sophisticated repast requires me to use a steak knife or teaspoon or salad fork, and sometimes,…
4 Reasons Why Old Albums Are Now Outselling New Ones
So here’s an interesting fact: according to Nielsen Soundscan, older catalog albums have officially overtaken brand-spanking-new albums in sales for the first time since Soundscan has been keeping track. That’s only since 1991, but it’s probably safe to say that this is the first time such a thing has ever…
Pop Rocks: Sure, Act Like You Don’t Care About Kristen Stewart Cheating On Robert Pattinson
Because everyone knows you’re lying. In case you’ve somehow missed it, here’s the scoop: Kristen Stewart has apologized publically to boyfriend and “Twilight” co-star Robert Pattinson following tabloid reports she had a brief but steamy affair with her “Snow White and the Huntsman” director Rupert Sanders. The 22-year-old actress issued…
The Non-Pressure Test: Make Eggs Like A Masterchef Part I
Last week on Masterchef (team Christine!), the contestants were put to the ultimate culinary 101 pressure test when asked to cook the perfect egg…four ways…in 20 minutes. Ramsay and his fellow judges were looking for the “one perfect soft-boiled egg,” “one impeccable, sunny-side-up fried egg,” “one stunning, perfect poached egg”…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: Bang Bangz
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
Eight Awesome Events That Should Be Added to the Olympic Games
Every couple of years, the world turns its eyes to a country to watch the pomp and circumstance, the agony and the defeat (as the brilliant Jim McKay put it), the drama and potential glory that is the Olympic games. This year’s spectacle are the summer variety being hosted by…
The Buyer’s Guide to Horrifying Baby Clothes
So you’ve had a baby. Good for you. Now is the opportunity for you to pass along all the lessons learned in your life, which is hopefully a culmination of all the lessons your ancestors learned as well. Of course, what if you’re an idiot from a long, unbroken line…
Rockabilly Filly Rosie Flores Slings a Working Girl’s Guitar
Rosie Flores, known these days affectionately by many as the Rockabilly Filly, has had several careers: Punk rocker, cowpunk alt-country badass, potential country star, rock and roller, and rockabilly queen. Born in San Antonio, she spent her teen years in San Diego before striking out to find a career as…
Top 5 Condiments You Should Make at Home
My wife is a recovering ketchup junkie. When we first got married, she would break my heart every night around 6 p.m. As soon as dinner hit the table, it was doused in ketchup. Wild mushroom risotto? Ketchup. Red beans and rice? Ketchup. Meatloaf with a ketchup glaze? Actually, she…
Jason Gandy, Houstonian Busted for Taking Teen Rent Boy to London for Olympics
Take it from someone who knows: British customs and immigration officials are a suspicious lot. Sometimes it’s a major pain, like when they tear your bags apart for an hour in a fruitless search for drugs because you’ve arrived from Amsterdam looking scruffy and fatigued. Other times, it’s damned impressive,…
Meet the 2012 HPMA Showcase Nominees: The Abyss’ Sean Ozz
Rocks Off reached out to the artists playing this year’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase Sunday, August 5, and asked them to introduce themselves. Here’s what they sent back. Catch up with the other showcase nominees and see the rest of our HPMA coverage Rocks Off: When and where was…
First Look at Mia’s, the First of Carrabba’s Three New Restaurants on Kirby
While the chain of Carrabba’s Italian Grill restaurants exists across the nation — there are more than 230 locations these days — the original Carrabba’s itself was founded here in Houston in 1986. John Charles “Johnny” Carrabba III and his uncle, Damian Mandola, opened the first Carrabba’s on Kirby. And…
Going to the Airport? Get Dressed, for Chrissakes!
This month I am writing mostly from airports and hotel rooms, during a series of trips for both work and pleasure. As you guys know, I’m a big fan of keeping comfortable (especially when it’s practical), but I also think there is something to be said for the concepts of…
ESPNU To Launch New Talk Show, So Let’s Zapruder Some 1993 Sportsnight Footage From ESPN2
Every now and then, because it’s the “worldwide leader in sports” and can get away with random programming heat checks whenever it wants, ESPN will try and force-feed the viewing public some ill-fated attempt to blend sports and pop culture. Examples include: – Who’s Now?, an ongoing feature a few…
Fanning the Flames: The Top 10 Performances at Woodstock 99
This week marks the 13th anniversary of Woodstock 1999, the iconic festival’s much-maligned third iteration that kinda dissolved into rape and looting towards the end. As 200,000-strong anarchic gatherings go, everything went off rather pleasantly for much of the festival, but the bonfires, looting and Fred Durst’s goony mug quickly…
AWOLNATION
AWOLNATION singer/songwriter Aaron Bruno cobbles together modern-rock tunes that are candy pop, hard as nails and cathedral-huge. Aggro refrains choke on wafting choruses and kitchen-sink post-Beck song suites, but somehow it still all feels right. At once wading-pool shallow and mercilessly affecting, the quintet caulks the fault line separating a…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Avenue Q, Black Coffee, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Dog Act, Life Could Be a Dream, The Lion King, Tamarie Cooper’s DOOMSDAY REVUE (the greatest musical ever)
Avenue Q This 2004 Tony Award winner for Best Musical works well in the intimacy of the Country Playhouse because the show isn’t about the pomp and circumstance of most Broadway shows. It’s about real life and the full-bodied characters that make up that reality. And it’s about laughing. Hard…
Illegal Americans and Urban Legends
Dear Mexican, I know I might sound like a gabacho borracho, but I’m really just a gringo trying to make progress towards getting work legally in Mexico, a side of the immigration debate we rarely hear about. Most gringos that move to Mexico are students at UNAM or they are…
Jason Boland & the Stragglers
Like Cross Canadian Ragweed and then Cody Canada & the Departed, Jason Boland & the Stragglers are one of the principle reasons the genre commonly known as “Texas Music” is perhaps more correctly called “Red Dirt.” In other words, the Oklahoma artists’ contribution shouldn’t be discounted. Although he has since…
Aerosmith Returns with New Album
This coming November, embattled rock veterans Aerosmith are releasing Music from Another Dimension, their first album of new material since 2001’s Just Push Play. The band, now entering 42 years of existence, comes with decades of decadent, drug-addled, combative baggage, but somehow they continue to keep the train a-rollin’. For…
Festival of Originals a Theatrical Feast
For the 15th year, Theatre Southwest presents its annual array of one-act plays, giving playwrights, directors and actors an opportunity to prove their mettle. The offerings of The 15th Annual Festival of Originals range from the delightfully comic to the powerfully dramatic, with an occasional misstep along the way. Instant…
Trishna
Michael Winterbottom is multitasking — like that’s a surprise. He has made a dozen films in the past decade, as varied as the Steve Coogan-as-Steve Coogan joints 24 Hour Party People and The Trip; the controversial Jim Thompson adaptation The Killer Inside Me, and two radically different assessments of the…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Kyle Farley: Countenance,” “Perry House: Elegance/Violence,” “Rita Bernstein: Out of Place,” “UNIT,” “Woven Landscapes”
“Kyle Farley: Countenance” Most of the eight works by Kyle Farley in this show are lit, either by a source within, by small bulbs on the surface or, as is the case in one piece, by a red spotlight attached to the work. But it’s one of the more straightforward…
Texan Challenges Civil Forfeiture Law
It was the BMW’s missing license plate that led the troopers to the guns, drugs and cash inside the car. The driver, stopped on I-45 outside Conroe, might have just gotten a citation and been sent on his way that March day in 2011 had he not fibbed to the…
“Tonight We Unite Tour”
We aren’t quite sure why they are uniting because it’s all punk to us, but this bill is a one-stop gutter- and trad-punk must for anyone in the Houston area still rocking liberty spikes or a pompadour. The Casualties, a long-running New York City quartet, have been creating crusty-punks out…
Friends Can Also Betray You
The American press continues to report the body count in Mexico’s “War on Drugs” at more than 50,000 dead. But Molly Molloy, a researcher at New Mexico State University, tallies more than 100,000 Mexicans killed to wage a war financed and mandated by American authorities and led by Mexican president…
Red Lights
Red Lights aspires to be a genre movie of ideas. Like a great number of films dealing with supernatural and extraterrestrial phenomena, it’s a thriller in which suspense depends on keeping both viewer and protagonist teetering, in the face of the unexplained, between rational agnosticism and faithful credulity. By the…
The Bounty of Dadami
By the time the foot-long boat of sashimi arrived on our table at Dadami, I had already counted 12 other dishes that preceded it: delicate, tempura-battered sardines meant to be eaten whole; grilled squid in a smoky, red gojuchang sauce on a sizzling comal; scallion pancakes cooked to a golden…
Strap On Halo Resurrected
Houston has long been a significant tour stop for electro-goth acts, but its status as a place rock bands on the darker end of the spectrum could count on for good attendance is much lower. However, this has been changing significantly in the last several years as acts like Faith…
Murder By Death
Recorded in Dallas with producer John Congleton (Explosions In The Sky, the Polyphonic Spree), Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon is Bloomington, Indiana’s Murder By Death’s sixth disc and the group’s first for notable roots label Bloodshot Records. The pre-order campaign for the album, due September 25, has already begun, with a…
Brown’s Pricey Vacay
Highlights from Hair Balls POLITICAL ANIMALS Brown’s Pricey Vacay $2K Spent on Asia Hotels. By Terrence McCoy Marking yet another strange turn involving City Council Member Helena Brown’s recent trip to Asia, Brown stayed at a series of luxury hotels in Beijing and Seoul, charging the City of Houston more…
Lou Ann Barton
Lou Ann Barton has a voice that could shame the devil. The Fort Worth native’s barbecued drawl makes it clear she is not a woman to be trifled with, but she can belt out a broken-hearted ballad with the best of them. She also has a special touch with Gulf…
Bring ‘Em Back
TOP FIVE We’ve been lamenting the discontinued food items that were sadistically ripped from our lives and our stomachs by the soulless monster that is corporate America. It’s a cruel, cruel world out there, even for that staple on every fast-food joint menu: the side. So grab a box of…
