“The Interactive Book: Works from the Hirsch Library”
Some books are more than just words on a page. The eight books on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s “The Interactive Book: Works from the Hirsch Library” are also artistic objects. On view through September 19. 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7325 or visit www.mfah.org. $7; free…
The Faces of Inman Gallery’s “do i know you”
The new exhibit at Inman Gallery, “do I know you,” consists of several dozen portraits by some 30 different artists who employ paintings, photographs, sculpture and other media. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Through August 21. 3901 Main. For information, call 713-526-7800 or visit www.inmangallery.com. Free…
Stirred & Shaken: The Cozy Corner’s Salty Dog
“I’ll be with you guys shortly,” the bartender at the Cozy Corner (11530 Burdine St., 713-723-4048) said for the fourth time in two minutes. The air conditioning was set on “meat locker,” and some sadist had put “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” on the jukebox. The bar was done up with Fourth of July…
Gregory Clark: Metro Driver Fired For Drinking Before A Fatal Crash
On Tuesday, a Metro wrecker hit a car on the south side of the city, sending the two passengers in the car, including a 64-year-old woman, to Memorial Hermann hospital. According to a Metro press release about the accident, the woman “went into cardiac arrest at the hospital and died.”Today…
Meeting Spanish Village For the First Time
I made the acquaintance of Spanish Village (4720 Almeda Rd.) for the first time last night. For a lifelong Houstonian, this might seem odd and perhaps a bit heretical, but the truth is that I’d never before set foot inside the old Tex-Mex joint just south of downtown. If you…
Giving the Gift of Gift of Photography
Photographer Rachel Hewlett and her friends came up with a great way to help emerging artists get their work into a major collection–just donate it. (It’s actually not that easy.) Calling themselves Gift of Gift of, they struck a bargain with the Museum of Fine Arts to accept high-quality work,…
Channel 39’s New TV News: Good Lord, The Help-Wanted Ad
The lowly rated Channel 39 newscast, as we’ve discussed, is switching this fall to an innovative style imposed by its owner that features no anchors and lots and lots of cutting-edge stuff.No, check that — not cutting-edge, bleeding-edge.That’s the term used in the Tribune Company’s help-wanted ad for positions here…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Ronnie Killen of Killen’s Steakhouse
We caught up with Certified Executive Chef Ronnie Killen of Pearland’s Killen’s Steakhouse to discuss what it was like interviewing with the White House and the reason for a steakhouse in Pearland, of all places. EOW: I understand that back in 2005, you were one of the finalists vying to…
What If The Beatles Broke Up After Revolver?
Thursday is the 44th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ pivotal Revolver, an album that continued their growth away from their boy-band roots and into something stranger, better and far more complex. 1965’s Rubber Soul had started the transformation with its multiple psychedelic influences, but Revolver was much more…
Recipes: Dog Treats
There is an entire shelf in my pantry devoted to canine fare that Lola, my one-year old Boston Terrier/French Bulldog mix, has refused. At one time the selection included Chew-eez, Yam Goods (okay, I’m not a fan of yams either), Greenies, Dentastix, Nylabones, Busy Bones, Mini Jumbones, Oinkies, Canyon Creek…
Larry Kaiser of UT-Health Science Center: Still Getting That Sweet Commuting Money?
We first told you in November about Larry Kaiser, the head of the UT-Health Science Center here in Houston, and his seeming sweetheart deal on living and moving expenses.Kaiser claimed he couldn’t sell his Pennsylvania home in this economy, so UT paid $2,500 a month for a condo here and…
Devo, MGMT, Mastodon, Devin, Black Congress Head Fun Fun Fun Lineup
The official lineup for this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest, set for November 5-7 at Waterloo Park in the heart of downtown Austin, was released moments ago. In terms of firepower, this year’s Fun Fun Fun roster arguably brings the festival within striking distance of the Austin City Limits Music…
Bobby Heugel’s Weekly Cocktail: The Charlie Chaplin
Sloe gin is one of those products that people who overvalue the importance of spirit and liqueur knowledge reference to impress friends when ordering at a bar. You know the guy: For some reason, he always tries to get the bartender’s attention by saying, “Hey, bud…” Then: “Can I get…
Game Time: Jenn Sterger — Best Cast Addition To A Sitcom EVER (Favre In Charge, Season 3)
The fact that I’ve been comparing the third season of the Brett Favre saga (heretofore referenced as Favre In Charge) to a sitcom is entirely appropriate. I don’t profess to know many athletes. By and large, the ones I do know seem to be fairly normal people. The other 99.99999…
Cookies and Cappuccino at Cafe Rosé
Cafe Rosé (800 W. Sam Houston Parkway) is the less-discussed western outpost of the Houston Brennan’s empire, a small, European-style coffee shop tucked away underneath the modern architecture of Bistro Alex at CityCentre. Along with the adjoining Hotel Sorella, Cafe Rosé and Bistro Alex were two of the mixed-use development’s…
In Dreams: 15 Songs For Mr. Sandman
For some reason, Craig’s Hlist has been sleeping way too much lately. Blame the booze, fear of the sun, or just plain lack of giving a rat’s ass about the daylight. With sleep comes dreams, and we have had some messed-up ones lately. The one about dirt bikes and the…
BARC Sued By Another Whistleblower; Still Stonewalling On Releasing Information
You said you would change, BARCA former Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care employee filed a whistleblower suit against the City of Houston Tuesday, claiming she was fired after she notified investigators of animal cruelty and record-tampering. Hope Bennett’s complaint states that she notified the Houston Police Department’s Office of Inspector General in…
Died And Gone To Houston: A Honky-Tonk Jukebox
Besides the whomping pullout section with brief thumbnail sketches of every artist playing Saturday’s Houston Press Music Awards showcase on Washington Avenue, in this week’s print issue of the Press you’ll find a feature story Rocks Off was proud to co-write called “Died and Gone to Houston.” The somewhat unlikely…
BP Defending Itself On Yet Another Pollution Front
During this economic recovery, we bet one place is hiring: the BP legal department.Not only is the company struggling to defend a crush of lawsuits connected to the oil spill in the Gulf, but now it has to deal with a $10 billion lawsuit for allegedly making thousands of people…
Street Art: Where Does It Live?
The above stencil graces a wall in the HCC area, near a funeral home and a pizzeria. It pops against the abstract forms surrounding it, suggesting that the work is somehow “Texas-approved.” (Which we like very much.) Bragging rights to the first person to name the street. artsblog@houstonpress.com…
Name That Pizza Place
First things first, let’s get this out of the way…Yes, they still serve pepperoni rolls. Sure, the pizza place on Ella near the intersection of 34th may not be a Double Dave’s Pizza Works anymore, but they kept a signature item on the menu from the previous incarnation. This time…
Port Of Houston’s Women’s Restrooms: The Horror
If you’re a woman working the ships at the Port of Houston, don’t drink a lot of coffee. Otherwise, you’re dealing with this: On the door it says “Women’s Room.” The lock is broken on the inside, so you walk in to a darkly painted, dimly lit room. The broken…
Not Bad for Kids from The Suburbs
The Suburbs, the new album by The Arcade Fire, was released yesterday to widespread acclaim, and the Montreal band is capitalizing on the release with a timely concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The band, of which former Press music editor John Nova Lomax predicted in 2005, “I’ll bet…
UT-Notre Dame Football Series: It’s Coming, Longhorns
It’s not often that the University of Texas steps up to play major college football programs — they seem to prefer the Sam Houston States and UL-Monroes of the world for their out-of-conference schedule — but that may be changing.Rumors are flying that the Longhorns are about to agree to …
Sampler Plate: This Week In Food Blogs
Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. And after this Monday’s nearly comprehensive list of all the Houston area food blogs, we now have even more blogs to spotlight each week! Know a blog we should be…
When Sharks Attack Album Covers (Partially NSFW)
As Rocks Off reminded you Tuesday via a rather egotistical video – and as you no doubt already know if you’ve been within 50 feet of a working television set – this week is Shark Week, the Discovery Channel’s annual feeding frenzy of programming about the undersea alpha predators. People…
NASCAR License Plates: Let the Rednecking Begin
For years you’ve been giggling at drivers from other states with NASCAR vanity plates. Now you can do it to your fellow Texans. Yet another “Like/Don’t Like” poll has come from Myplates.com, the private company that has taken over the vanity-plates business from the state and has been aggressively pushing…
Desir Bakery at 99 Ranch Market
I did some weekend grocery shopping at 99 Ranch Market at I-10 and Blalock. On the way out, I noticed the Desir Bakery next to the checkout lines was not overflowing with people as it usually is, so I decided to stop in to pick up a small pastry to…
WTF is Trash Humpers?
Director and screenwriter Harmony Korine is known for shenanigans like his unfinished project Fight Harm, in which he engaged random individuals in street fights until the unwitting participants threatened to kill him. The project remains unfinished because Korine wound up hospitalized during filming. Also known for provocative, engrossing films like…
Bun B Has A Trill Tuesday At Greenspoint Meet & Greet
UPDATE (9:59 a.m.): Hip-hop journal The Source has just published its opinion of Trill OG, giving it the magazine’s first five-microphone rating in more than five years. Like Kanye West before him, Houston’s beloved Bun B is getting to know this thing called Twitter. Tuesday, Kanye’s fellow Twitter newcomer (follow…
Handsomebeast Loves The Funk, Promises You’ll Get Wet
Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group “Artist of the Week,” bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn’t awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. A ways ago, Rocks Off was out at…
Was Roy O The Best Pitcher In Astros History? No
The talk of greatest Astros pitcher ever was part of the discussion when Roy Oswalt was traded last week. And it seemed that most of the Houston media were in agreement that Oswalt was, indeed, the greatest pitcher in Astros history. But as much of a Roy Oswalt fan as…
The Amazing Raving Dog
Every day Rocks Off trolls the tubes of you in search of videos to share. If you have something that you think deserves to be video of the day, send a link to jef_rouner at yahoo dot com. Raves are not Rocks Off’s thing. We tend to make glowstickers cry,…
Gay Cruising Spots: Five Odd Complaints From Houston Customers
We got an impassioned complaint from a guy who got arrested at an adult book store. He got invited into a locked booth by a nice-looking guy who, unfortunately for him, turned out to be a cop. We thought the whole adult bookstore thing was dead — new rules, raids,…
Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Cake with Crema and Fresh Berries
After exploring the line of Cacique’s authentic Hispanic products last week, I found myself unsure of what to do with a bottle of Crema Mexicana. It reminded me of a thinner version of sour cream and also of English table cream. Though the label suggests pouring it on a vegetables,…
Horse Head Theatre: Ready for a Bit of the Old Ultra-Violence?
After two successful shows boasting acting and design talent, plus a penchant for dirty, male-oriented dialogue, Horse Head Theatre is going male-only for its third production, a stage adaptation of Louisiana journalist Bill Buford’s acclaimed 1990 non-fiction book Among the Thugs. It’s the story of Buford’s real-life descent into the…
Will The Real Fun Fun Fun Fest Lineup Please Stand Up?
Lots of late-night intrigue in the Twitterverse, as anticipation for the announcement of the lineup for Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 builds to a boil. Late Wednesday, Austin blog Party Ends published a list including Animal Collective, Gang Gang Dance, Gary Numan, Grizzly Bear, Sebadoh, “Slash Solo” – which led…
Houston Slammed By European Travel Blog: We’re Boooorrring
Among world cities, in which category does Houston rank second only to Brussels, the capital of the European Union? Tedium, at least according to the European Union-funded wiki blog OpenTravel. According to “Chili,” an English-language challenged scribe there, our fair city is the second-most-boring city on the planet. Let’s parse…
Houston Zoo Cute-Off: The Second Round. No Monkeys Allowed
The first round of voting in the great Houston Zoo Cute-Off is finished, and one thing is clear: Everyone hates Baylor the baby elephant. And Houston is no place for Saki Monkeys. Actually, we’re kidding about Baylor. But not about the Saki Monkey. Dude got stomped by a meerkat, for…
Bartender Chat: Geronimo Villalobos of Etro Lounge
Geronimo Villalobos is not only one of the coolest bartenders at Etro Lounge (1424 Westheimer ) – he’s also the owner. And we love the fact that this doesn’t stop him from pouring some of the best drinks in town. Villalobos had been bartending for 12 years, two of those…
Pardon Our Stage Fright
Art Attack had a case of the jitters while we ironed out some digital wrinkles. Please excuse the delay. We are officially up, running and cranking out arts coverage. Again, please don’t hesitate to send questions, comments and critiques our way. -Art Attack artsblog@houstonpress.com…
Five Questions to Answer Before You Decide Where to Eat (When You’re Drunk)
You’ve closed out your local pub, and you’re a little bit lit up. Not so drunk that you’re stumbling around talking to trees and vomiting on yourself, but drunk enough to be extremely impulsive. And the impulse hitting you right now: You need food. Slowly you remember that you haven’t…
How Is Houston Doing ACL-Wise?
If you have even bothered to venture out of doors during these days of 105-degree heat indices and “Unhealthy” air-quality advisories, you may have noticed that things have been a little light on the roadshow front lately. We have, and not just because we’re happy to have a clear calendar…
What Does Katy Perry Taste Like?
Last week when we gave Kesha a bloggardly shellacking, we compared her and other female pop stars of her ilk to burritos. You may remember we said she was a gas-station burrito and Miley Cyrus was a Big Mac wrap. It was either a stroke of genius or the starved…
Art Attack is Looking for Writers!
Think you know your way around the arts scene? Can you write about it in a smart, concise and above-all entertaining way? Art Attack is looking for freelancers, so send your blog ideas and pitches to artsblog@houstonpress.com. Especially wanted: architecture writers–are you out there?…
Art Attack Is Up, Running And Covering Houston
If you’ve come here for the usual slight taste of art news and reviews in Houston, you’ve officially come to the wrong place. You need to head over to Art Attack, the newest blog of the Houston Press, where you’ll get a much fuller sampling of everything the sprawling Houston…
Wonderland to Hit Broadway
Another Houston-developed musical will land upon the Great White Way next year when Wonderland opens at a Nederlander theater April 17, 2011. While it’s had a hard time worming its way into critics’ hearts, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired musical was a huge hit with audiences. No doubt after the Alley…
Sunday Afternoon at Mi Tienda
Whoever said you can’t spend a pleasant afternoon in South Houston hasn’t been to Mi Tienda (or to Pho Binh, but that’s a different blog post altogether). The Hispanic-centric concept store from H-E-B opened on Spencer Highway in 2006 and has been packing in the crowds every day since then…
Divorce: Italian, Indian & Indonesian Style
In the upcoming film Eat, Pray, Love (based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert), Julia Roberts’ character goes on a “journey of self-discovery” after a messy divorce. Actually, let’s call it what it is: a year-long vacation. With child-custody a non-issue, she gorges on Italian food (in Italy); finds spiritual…
Texas Is Not Obese!! Go Ahead, Eat That Cheese Enchilada!!
We are celebrating tonight in Texas. Everyone around us — except New Mexico, and who counts New Mexico? — is fatter than a heifer convention, while we here in the Lone Star State are svelte, health-conscious model types. In fact, you’re looking a little thin out there. Go ahead, get…
Five Disagreeable Food Dysphemisms
“Sweetbreads,” “Cowboy Caviar.” I understand the point of most food euphemisms: to make decent-tasting dishes get a fair shot from diners despite their unappetizing ingredients. I myself would certainly rather put my mouth around a “rocky mountain oyster” than a fried bull’s testicle. What I find more confusing is when…
Game Time: Favre In Charge — Season 3 Preview (w/ video of Season 1 and Season 2 recaps)
“Wow- what do you guys think of latest Favre news?? I am tied up on some other stuff this week, so I will be watching from afar like all you!” — ESPN’s Rachel Nichols on TwitterWhen I saw Rachel Nichols’ tweet that she wasn’t sitting in Hattiesburg in front of…
What Does Katy Perry Taste Like?
Last week when we gave Kesha a bloggardly shellacking, we compared her and other female pop stars of her ilk to burritos. You may remember we said she was a gas-station burrito and Miley Cyrus was a Big Mac wrap. It was either a stroke of genius or the starved…
Recipe: Honey Vanilla Pound Cake
The one problem I ever had with pound cake is its name. I used to think it was because the cake weighed a pound. Then I learned that the name came from how it is traditionally made from a pound each of eggs, butter, flour and sugar. So “four-pound cake”…
Judge Samuel Kent: I Obstructed Justice In A Sex-Offense Case, But I’m No Sex Offender
U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, currently imprisoned in Florida, is asking a federal court to overturn his sentence because, he says, the court treated him as a sex offender.He also complains about losing sleep because a guy was being violently raped in the next cell.”All sexual allegations against Sam Kent…
First Look at Caffe Bello
Tony Vallone has officially invaded Lower Westheimer. The Montrose dining scene has long been a bastion of quirky restaurants — whether upscale or ultra-casual — and seeing an old-school, old guard River Oaks restaurateur like Tony Vallone move into the turf was unusual to say the least. Visiting Caffe Bello…
Style: Zingara Swimwear Show
I’ve always been partial to the idea that ‘a bikini is a bikini is a bikini.’ Without a doubt it awkwardly covers up the essentials but always feels like voluntarily wearing undies in public. Still, we live in a tropical weather environment and swimsuits/bikinis seem to be a staple in…
Imprisoned Iran Hikers: Mom Still Has Hope, And Obama, On Her Side
Ben Felleman is almost a typical Millennial or Gen Y young man: a 25-year-old who digs the local Houston music acts, enjoys steady employment as an SAT instructor and his own freelance work as photographer, and is counting the days until he begins his doctorate in clinical psychology this fall…
Blue October Bassist Tries On Producer, Manager Hats
Musicians guiding musicians may sound like the blind leading the blind, but his firsthand experience with music-business pitfalls showed Blue October bassist Matt Noveskey otherwise. “I’ve worked with a lot of producers that, well, they think their shit doesn’t stink,” Noveskey says of his experiences. “They’re really stubborn, they talk…
What a Burger, What a Birthday
Today marks the 60th birthday of Whatabuger, a southern icon that’s just as Texan as boots, bluebonnets, and barbecue. And to honor the day, the old-timer plans to party. So grab your Dynamo jersey and stop by your local Whataburger for “Orange Night Out” from 5 to 8 p.m. Every…
Brew Blog: “Moveable Yeast” Series
We here at Brew Blog try to be educational. The ultimate goal, of course, is to welcome casual beer drinkers into the more complex but infinitely more satisfying world of craft beer. So we were flat out exuberant when we heard about a new project from hometown St. Arnold Brewing…
Quanell X’s Missing Man Found, Wasn’t Missing In First Place
A couple of TV stations — including Channel 39, above — had stories last night on a Quanell X press conference in front of the jail, criticizing the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for releasing a former inmate with mental problems without informing relatives. The former inmate, Clifton Barber, was now…
Confessions Of A Sheet Music Salesman
Readers may be surprised to learn this, but searching for YouTube videos to mock and talking about Goth bands does not exactly pay for the finer things in life. So six days a week, Rocks Off – or at least the Rocks Off writer with only one “f” in his…
Medical Marijuana Group Starts In Texas, We Think
Our sister blog, Toke of the Town — the number one site for all weed-related news on the net — reported yesterday on the founding of a new group seeking to make medical marijuana legit in Texas.Lots luck with that, fellas.There’s an official press release from Texas Medicinal Marijuana Advocates…
Upcoming: D.R.I., Neon Indian, LCD Soundsystem, Texas Tornados, Etc.
The American Heist, Hell City Kings, Blackmarket Syndicate, All At Sea: Sat., Sept. 4. Walter’s on Washington. Atlanta Rhythm Section: Sun., Nov. 14. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Best Coast: Sat., Nov. 6. Fitzgerald’s. Blitzen Trapper: Tue., Oct. 12. House of Blues. Bring Me The Horizon, August Burns Red, Emarosa, Polar…
Recipe: Queso Fresco Cotija and Chorizo Dip
Queso should arguably be the official food of Houston. No one makes it better than us, and we cannot ever seem to get enough. Although the creamy-smooth Velveeta variety is always a nostalgic favorite, switching up cheeses and throwing in some meat and vegetables is a great way to turn…
Casting Scarface With Houston Rappers
The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place – lots of times, you’re even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good – so once a week we’re going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted…
Lance Berkman & Roy O: Don’t Retire Their Numbers, Drayton
With the trades of Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman last week, the talk has started about whether the Astros should consider retiring their numbers once they retire. Now as much as I like to the honor the history of baseball and some of the great teams and players, I most…
Pop Rocks: It Was You, Don Draper…You Broke My Heart
We’re two weeks into the new season of Mad Men and already we’ve witnessed the event that may signify the ultimate spiritual and mental collapse of series lynchpin Don Draper. No, I’m not talking about his post-Christmas party tryst with Allison, his loyal secretary (loyal to a fault, it would…
The Most Awesome Shark Week Song You’ll Ever Hear
Every day Rocks Off trolls the tubes of you in search of videos to share. If you have something that you think deserves to be video of the day, send a link to jef_rouner at yahoo dot com. The Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week is a sacred institution, in which…
Alley Theatre: Cashing In?
Critical response to the Alley Theatre’s production of Conor McPherson’s St. Nicholas has been less-than-ravenous. Everett Evans of the Houston Chronicle wrote, “Alas, despite the resourceful performance by James Black, the play remains as unappealing as ever,” and he wrapped up his assessment with an insult for the ages, labeling…
Where Are We Drinking?
Among refreshing alcoholic beverages for the summer heat, very few items beat a glass of truly good Spanish sangria. Does the tall glass of deliciousness below look familiar to you? Think you know where we’re drinking this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Unidentified Female, 20, Bayou Body Count No. 189
Charges have been filed against a drunk driver who killed a pedestrian on the south side of town Friday night, police say.William F. Jones, 73, has been charged with DWI in connection with an accident involving injury or death.Authorities say he was driving in the 5800 block of Martin Luther…
Dumb Counterfeiters Allegedly Strike Again: Garbage Men Crack Montgomery County Case
Counterfeiting money is a real art. It’s not easy reproducing all those watermarks, holograms, and color-changing inks, but some — the real artists of the form, manage to do so. Others fail humorously. From the looks of it, you’d have to say that Montgomery County accused ne’er-do-wells Robert Wayne Davis,…
Unidentified Victim, Bayou Body Count No. 188
A drunk driver killed his passenger on the West Loop Satruday morning, police say.Rogelio Velazquez Morin, 37, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the incident, which occurred in the 3100 block of the West Loop North about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.Police say he was driving his black GMC pickup and…
A Comprehensive Guide to Houston’s Food Blogs
In a city as large as Houston and with as many culinary options as we’re blessed with, it’s no surprise that the food blogging community here is large and diverse. Say what you want about food bloggers: that we’re arrogant, obtrusive know-it-alls. That we’re clueless neophytes who shouldn’t be allowed…
Texans’ Scratch-Off Lotto Ticket: How Bad Can It Be?
The Texas Lottery announced a new Houston Texans scratch-off game today, with lots of second-chance prizes like “Autographed authentice Texans jersey from a Texans star player.”Scratch-off games can be cruel. Especially when you’re dealing with the Texans.How bad can it get? Just take a look at the doozy of a…
Party Like A Rock Star at House of Dereon
The Hoff was there, chatting with Katy Perry. Lindsay Lohan was there too, in her sexy orange jumpsuit. Ziggy Stardust danced with members of Run DMC.As predicted, there were multiple Elvii (Costello and Presley) and a whole lot of people dressed like Bret Michaels.And we were there too, staying long…
Game Time: Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman — Five Thoughts
I know it’s only three games. I know they were playing the Brewers. I know my judgment may be clouded by the fact that they actually won all three games, getting great pitching in the process. But I actually enjoyed going to an Astros game for the first time in…
Dried Persimmon
A beloved college professor of mine once poetically described to us how persimmons dried in the wind in her hometown in South Korea. She told us that residents would string up the fruits, and when they were ready it looked like they had been snowed upon. She said it was…
Inside GhoulsFest, Houston’s Newest Music Festival
This weekend the first annual GhoulsFest was announced for October 30 out at Tom Bass Park in Pearland. Things like this usually get telegraphed in a big way from bands leaking things out on Facebook and the like, but not this time. The event is thankfully set for one of…
Mary Rambin: The Chronicle’s Newest Blogger Is A Former Gawker “Star”
The Houston Chronicle has a new social-media writer!! And she’s a piece of work!!Mary Rambin is perhaps best known in web circles for her time as a favorite target of Gawker (don’t miss her unhinged call to complain about their coverage, in which she calls for a writer to be…
Nostalgic for Houston’s Fried Chicken
If there is one thing I’ve began to miss about Houston over the years ever since I moved away, it’s the chicken. Sure, I could’ve said the usual stuff, like family, friends, the Astrodome or whatever. But family and friends are always a phone call away, and I can look…
Little Joe Washington Now Feeling Well Enough To Record Again
UPDATE (5:40 p.m.): Boondocks’ Shawn Bermudez says Little Joe will resume his Tuesday residency at the bar tomorrow night. Only a few weeks out of the hospital, Little Joe Washington took another step back this past Friday, when he was enlisted by local blues-rocker John Egan to lay down some…
Nikki Araguz: She Says E-Mails Prove Husband Knew She Was Born A Man
The fallen Wharton firefighter whose transgender widow is at the center of a nasty probate lawsuit knew about his wife’s sexual reassignment surgery as early as October 2008, two months after their wedding, according to an e-mail exchange released today by his wife. Hair Balls has also obtained another e-mail…
Health Dept. Roundup: Fuddruckers
Our hometown Luby’s announced in June it would take over the bankrupt Fuddruckers chain. That turnaround must be almost complete, because city health inspectors hit eight Fuddruckers across town on Tuesday for change-of-ownership (or “pre-opening”) inspections. Let’s see how they scored. The 13010 Northwest Freeway location was the worst offender,…
Battle Celebrity Chefs
The other night I was watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and every time it would go to commercial, I would scroll down to the Travel Channel and watch No Reservations. Then it hit me: Could there be two “celebrity chefs” any more famous and yet totally different than Guy Fieri…
Christopher Rohrman, Dumbest Employee Ever: Tries To Solicit His Boss’ 11-Year-Old Daughter
If you think Facebook-sexing your boss’ pre-teen daughter is a good idea, you have something in common with Christopher Rohrman. And you don’t really want to have too much in common with Christopher Rohrman.At least partly because he’s facing charges of communicating in a sexual manner online with a person…
Friday Night: Davey Crockett, Muhammadali And The Mahas In The Heights
Davey Crockett, Muhammadali, the Mahas “Awesome Street Gallery” July 30, 2010 It had been a while since Aftermath had been to an old-fashioned house show, but not for our lack of admiration of these most DIY ventures. So on Friday evening, we headed over to the former Blossom Street Gallery…
Celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week Through August 7
Why, you ask? “Farmers markets are good for you for health, good for your community, and good for the economy,” says Stacy Miller, executive director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a nonprofit supporting farmers’ markets across the country. “During Farmers Market Week, we invite everyone to celebrate the freshest foods…
Annise Parker Praises Shanghai For Its Acceptance Of Gays
Mayor Annise Parker is in the midst of the first big international trip of her term, a visit to China.She’s attending the World Expo in Shanghai (Motto: “Yes, they still have World Fairs”), and in a speech cited the city’s openness to gays as a source of its strength.”To boost…
Harris County Inmates Still Fighting To See Medical Records
The on-again-off-again court battle to allow Harris County prison inmates to obtain copies of their own medical records while behind bars is starting to steam up once more.In one corner there is Matthew Collazo, who has been sentenced to prison for jumping bond, and his mother, Julie, who has power…
How Stressful Is Being A Rapper… Really?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday (that isn’t a national holiday) Rocks Off will have some of them discuss issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: V-Zilla, Nosaprise, Preemo, Yung Redd, hasHBrown Not Invited: Ricky Ross, because he thinks he’s Big Meech, Larry Hoover. This…
A Peruvian Anniversary Party at Pollo Bravo
Pollo Bravo (10434B Richmond Ave.) is the only place in town I know of that makes homemade lúcuma ice cream. They’re the only place I know that serves lúcuma ice cream, for that matter. The flavor is difficult to describe — caramel custard or flan with a telltale chalkiness at…
Ingredient of the Week: Pepitas
What is it?”Pepita” is the Mexican Spanish word for “pumpkin seed.” Pepitas are sold either with the shell on or off and can be raw or toasted. They’re very popular in Mexico – where their status as a popular snack originated from the Aztec culture. Pumpkin seeds have a high…
Eric Pink, 24, Bayou Body Count No. 187
A man was shot several times in the back Sunday afternoon and died at an apartment complex on the south side.Eric Pink, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, at the Park Texas Apartments in the 19100 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, about 4:20 p.m. Saturday.Witnesses told police there…
ArtClash: Local Rockers Amok in the Menil
On a scorching summer afternoon, Art Attack invited members of the popular local rock band The Manichean to take a tour of the Maurizio Cattelan exhibition at the Menil Collection. We wanted to see what kinds of correlations and contradictions existed between the worlds of narrative rock and contemporary art…
True Blood: “Hitting The Ground” With Gordon Gano & PJ Harvey
Alan Ball was known for his masterful use of music in Six Feet Under. He’s lost none of his touch when it comes to his current HBO series, True Blood – which happens to be set in the Louisiana swamps, not terribly far from Houston. Season 3, Episode 7: “Hitting…
Thierry Henry Comes To Houston, Doesn’t Cheat; Dynamo Tie
It took some last-minute heroics, but Dynamo midfielder Brian Mullan salvaged a 2-2 tie against the New York Red Bulls with his header in the 90th minute. The game at Robertson Stadium drew 24,750 spectators, and as one Dynamo official put it, they came out to see the international MLS…
Cacique: Go Autentico!
Cacique products are a line of deliciously authentic Hispanic foods, including cheeses, creams, and chorizo. After making quality products for over forty years, the brand recently partnered with Food Network celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez. Together they have launched a campaign to encourage people to cook with only authentic Latin foods…
Top Five: Houston Movies
At Saturday’s U.S. premiere screening of Mao’s Last Dancer, Houston was treated to a welcome addition to films set in our city. The movie chronicles former Houston Ballet dancer Li Cunxin’s rise from his remote peasant upbringing in China to his tour-de-force performances on downtown Houston stages–and his dramatic 1981…
Enough Is Enough: Trae And The Box Need To Bury The Hatchet Now
Read about the actual Hip-Hop for HIV concert here. As Rocks Off was walking out towards the car after Saturday’s Hip-Hop for HIV concert, a brawl erupted in the parking lot. Cops were running around trying to nab people, people were getting punched and kicked and chased, subsidiary fights broke…
The Week in TV: Ellen Degeneres Realizes American Idol Sucks
The dog days are upon us, the networks are planning for fall, and there’s always money in the banana stand. This was the week in TV Land: • The Television Critics Association summer press tour has been going on for the past few days. The biannual event is a chance…
Saturday: Hip-Hop For HIV Concert At Reliant Center
Hip-Hop for HIV concert Reliant Center July 31, 2010 2:55 p.m.: Here now. It’s crazy packed. The line to get in reaches back, back, back. Good to see. Before we get inside though, we should clear up a few of the plot points for the day: First, a bit of…
The Catastrophe That Is Your Houston Astros
Optimism — not in the cardsThe Houston Astros made some much-needed moves last week, dealing Roy Oswalt for a bottom of the rotation starter and some prospects and sending Lance Berkman to the Yankees for some middling prospects.There are problems with the deals — with all of the money Drayton…
An (Andy) Huu Ho, 24, Bayou Body Count No. 186
A fight between two groups outside a west Houston restaurant turned deadly early Saturday morning.An Huu Ho, who went by the first name of Andy, was shot to death about 1 a.m. in the 7900 block of Westheimer.Police say two groups of men began arguing outside a restaurant, and someone…
Where Are We Eating?
Fresh dumplings, steamer baskets and a virtual assembly line of hard-working servers behind the counter: Does this scene look familiar to you? Think you know where we’re eating this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Curtain Up!
Get ready for Art Attack! The brand new Houston Press blog will feature news, profiles, random ephemera and tidbits on everything from the Downtown Theatre District to museums and galleries to the most underground experimental freakshows. Along the way we’ll praise, ponder, critique and slam as we see fit, always…
Nice Peter Really, Really Excited About His Parking Space
Every day Rocks Off trolls the tubes of you in search of videos to share. If you have something that you think deserves to be video of the day, send a link to jef_rouner at yahoo dot com. Rocks Off has a confession. Every year, on Christmas Day, we drive…
The Houston Zoo Cute-Off: Last Chance For First-Round Votes!!
The epic tournament of adorableness, also known as the Houston Zoo Cute-Off, is in full swing.Time is running out to cast your votes to see who makes it out of the first round.Will it be Hasani?…
Nikki Araguz: Lawyer Representing Her Husband’s Ex-Wife Faces State Bar Investigation
The case of whether a fallen Wharton firefighter’s benefits should go to his transgender widow just gets exponentially weirder: Frank Mann, the lawyer representing Thomas Araguz’s ex-wife, is facing investigation by the State Bar of Texas’s disciplinary office for a possible ethics violation related to an e-mail he sent “outing” the widow, Nikki…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we freely and lasciviously mix in Corn Pops with our popcorn. Well, it’s all over. Robb Walsh’s countdown of his favorite 100 dishes in the greater Houston area has finished, and his favorite dish was universally accepted, with…
HCC Trustee Wonders Whether Adminstrators Are Leaking Info About Her To Reporters
More strangeness is afoot at HCC.Today Hair Balls received an e-mail, along with other media folks in town, in which a trustee is demanding an investigation into how private information possessed by the college administration and its attorneys was allegedly leaked to the media.The e-mail was sent by trustee Yolanda…
Openings & Closings
Add another unlikely mobile food vendor to the list of food trucks now rolling through Houston’s streets: Hubcap Grill’s fire engine-red truck had its grand unveiling last night in the parking lot of Christy’s Donuts at West Gray and Montrose. The burgermobile — or the “Big Red Patty Wagon” as…
Channel 39’s “Groundbreaking” TV News Format: A Preview
The Tribune Company sneak-peeked a look at how Channel 39 here will present news in a groundbreaking way starting this fall, and it sounds awful.Variety talked to Tribune execs and some people who saw the preview and had this description:The prototype, produced with nationally and New York-oriented stories, plays as…
Happy Hour Scene: Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen
The Place: Tony Mandola’s Gulf Coast Kitchen1962 West Gray St. 713-528-3474www.tonymandolas.comThe Hours: Monday through Friday 2-6 p.m.The Deals: Domestic bottles are $2, pints of Bud Light are $2.75, and pints of Ziegenbock are $3. House wines are $3.75 and select wines are $1 more. Wells drinks are $3.50; calls are…
Michael Anthony Green: Wrongly Imprisoned For 27 Years, But Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting For Restitution
The case of Michael Anthony Green has been in the news lately, because Green served 27 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. The district attorney’s office sent out a press release yesterday taking credit for Green’s freedom, saying his release is the result of “an extensive investigation…initiated…
FAIL: Kings Of Leon, Pigeons, Bush
Kings of Leon Respond Poorly to Mother Nature’s Criticism: Last weekend, bro-rock champions Kings of Leon were three songs into a set when a pigeon in the rafters of St. Louis’ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater made its opinion known by taking a dump directly into the mouth of bassist Jared Followill…
Local Man Is a Genius; Plots All 100 of Robb Walsh’s Favorite Dishes on Google Maps
Kyle Nielsen is a genius, and I don’t use that word lightly. Nielsen, a frequent commenter here at Eating Our Words and a man known for his preternatural knowledge of the Houston restaurant scene, sat down on the day that Robb Walsh released the final dish from his list of…
Houston In A Murder Slump
What’s happened to murder in Houston?Typically, only a couple of days go by without someone offing someone else. But it’s been nine days since the last murder, and even that was a dead body found. Who knows when the murder actually happened? (Investigators, we hope.)The last murder that didn’t involve…
Houston Scenesters Sound Off On The Fitzgerald’s Changeover
Nationally, the music buzz may be all about Kanye’s somewhat belated discovery of Twitter, Justin Bieber on CSI and the “Teknoviking 2.0,” but this week all anyone in Houston seems to be talking about is the impending Fitzgerald’s takeover by Free Press Summer Fest partners Omar Afra and Jagi Katial…
Friday Meal Deals
Today, July 30, is National Cheesecake Day. In observance of this special day, The Cheesecake Factory is offering each dine-in customer a slice of any cheesecake at half price. Unfortunately, any slices after the first will be at original price. On Tuesday, August 3 from 5 to 8 pm, Whataburger…
Eminem: 6 Ways He Can Still Screw Up His Comeback
Marshall Mathers III has certainly enjoyed great success, but it hasn’t been easy for the guy. He’s had difficulty overcoming addiction and depression, and like many of us, he keeps returning to that one bad relationship over and over again. His latest album, Recovery, has brought him back into the…
Game Time: The Oswalt Redemption
“I guess it comes down to a simple choice really…get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’.” — Andy DufresneIf you’re a true competitor, at some point the front office ineptitude goes beyond constraining, and the losing becomes suffocating.For Roy Oswalt, the “get busy living or get busy dying” realization moment…
Attention, Houston Crime Victims: Be Like This Guy
TV news loves to talk to witnesses or victims of crime. We’d love it, too, if they were all like this guy, from Huntsville, Alabama.Please adopt his style when you are interviewed for television, Houston.Thank you…
Upcoming Events
Houston Restaurant Week is here once again, the annual benefit to assist the Houston Food Bank. And this year, “week” is a misnomer: Houston Restaurant Week runs from August 1 through August 21, giving you nearly an entire month to dine out at some of Houston’s best restaurants, all while…
“Punchline King” Lloyd Banks: G-Unit Will Rise Again
Fans of self-proclaimed “Punchline King” Lloyd Banks will be pleased to learn that he’s mapping out a comeback plan that doesn’t include slinging mud at every big enchilada in the industry. With a new album tentatively slated to arrive this fall, Banks says he’s as focused on music as ever…
Texas Education Agency’s Rankings Come Out
The Texas Education Agency has released its latest set of accountability rankings, and you know what that means — the results can be spun any way you want, depending on your agenda.The Houston school district professed satisfaction: The state accountability ratings, released today, show that the number of HISD schools with…
Kevin Smith And Scott Mosier’s Smodcast Live At The Alamo Drafthouse
The West Oaks Alamo Drafthouse is a cool place with a lot of great screenings, festivals, and events constantly going on, and it’s a good thing, because its location is terrible.Not only is it a good 45 minutes from anywhere, but the theater itself is tucked around in the back…
Brain Toniq
Advertised as the “clean and intelligent think drink,” Brain Toniq at first reminded me of those cure-all potions sold by itinerant quacks in the early nineteenth century. I spotted it on the shelves of a local health food store and, feeling a bit fuzzy-brained myself from reading too much Bruno…
Last Night: B L A C K I E, Summer Blondes, The Tontons And Somosuno At Mango’s
B L A C K I E, Summer Blondes, The Tontons, Somosuno Mango’s July 29, 2010 Aftermath had an inkling that we’d wind up at Mango’s on Thursday as soon as we heard about the so-called “surprise show.” For one, our love of music perpetually drags us out of our…
Brewster McCloud: Your Chance To See 1970s Houston Through Robert Altman’s Eyes
Roger Ebert is a happy man: “Altman’s “Brewster McCloud” is *finally* on DVD!” he’s just tweeted.You should be happy, too, if you have any interest in seeing old Houston.The 1970 film — which, frankly, we haven’t heard great things about — was filmed in Houston. It’s known for the semi-iconic…
Chef Chat, Part 3: Gilbert Arismendez of Phil’s Texas Barbecue
We end our meeting with Arismendez by trying a three-meat combo plate with sliced beef with jalapeno sausage, barbecue ribs, garlic cheese grits and barbecue beans. Look carefully and you’ll see that the ribs don’t have the typical pink smoke ring. Instead, the ribs are pink all the way through,…
Top Ten Sports Moments: Four Personal Stories
We’ve identified the absolute, unarguable Top 10 Sports Moments (and five worst) in Houston history. Everyone has at least some personal stories connected to events on the list. I have four.1. UH-LouisvilleI was the quintessential cub reporter, having lucked into a job with the Dallas Morning News’ Houston bureau while…
Odd Pair: Ched ‘R’ Peppers & Onion Rings
If you’re a true Sonic connoisseur, you’ve probably figured out that this week’s post involves two of their deliciously fried side orders. The not-so-cleverly-named ched ‘r’ peppers are mild jalapenos stuffed with cheddar cheese, breaded and deep fried, and the classically delicious and slightly sweet iconic onion rings. Between the…
6 Ideas: How to Dress Like A Rock Star
This Saturday we’ll be Partying Like A Rock Star with Allen Hill and DJ Psychedlic Sex Panther… and maybe Tina Turner, Pink, Zombie Michael Jackson, and probably a few Elvii… or at least some people in attire inspired by famous singers. The event at House of Dereon is a fundraiser…
Hikers Imprisoned In Iran Getting Houston Support Tomorrow
Ben Felleman is hoping that the vigil he is hosting this Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of his cousin Josh Fattal’s arrest and imprisonment in Iran’s infamous Evin Prison is canceled: “I would be thrilled to get that call that could transform the event from a vigil into a…
Local Spotlight: Angela’s Oven
What: Fresh baked breads from a baker with military precision. Jerry Shawn never dreamed of being a baker. He happened upon it, quite literally. Shawn started baking — or at least trying to bake — when he was in the Marines, stumbling upon an Italian cookbook while weaving through a…
The Ultimate Houston Rap Battle Royal: Who Should You Fight?
Of all of the Rap Round Table columns that have gone up, none generated more emails than this past Monday’s “Which Rappers Would You Fight?” segment. Some people were pissed, some people were entertained, but most everyone had the same basic question: Why didn’t anyone list any Houston rappers? It’s…
The Post-Oswalt Astros: Oy
The seemingly impossible happened yesterday, as the Astros front office found a moment of competence and finally found a way to trade Roy Oswalt.Of course, this being the Astros’ front office, Oswalt ended up with the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal about as surprising as Gary Kubiak hooking up with…
Top Five Edible Food Implements
Every dietician on the planet will tell you to give up your membership in the Clean Plate Club, but I still derive some pleasure from consuming every last morsel of my meal. A dish scraped clean means I’ve conquered my food; anything else means the food has conquered me. And…
Galveston Deep Thinker Disses Fitzgerald’s
Every day Rocks Off trolls the tubes of you in search of videos to share. If you have something that you think deserves to be video of the day, send a link to jef_rouner at yahoo dot com. Houston is twitterpated over the shift in management over at Fitzgerald’s. Will…
Metro’s University Line: Start Digging?
Metro released news yesterday that the Federal Transit Administration has officially approved an environmental impact review of the University light rail line, giving Metro the authority to start buying land along the planned 11.3 mile route. At another time, this would have been great news for Metro, especially considering progress…
Human Trafficking In Houston? A Bus Tour Will Show The Signs
Did you know that blacked-out or barred windows and 24-hour massage parlors are “red flags” that human trafficking may be afoot? Nor did we.If you want to heighten your human trafficking awareness, all you need to do is hop on a bus with the Houston Rescue & Restore Coalition. Not…
Our New Arts & Culture Editor: Troy Schulze & Art Attack
Troy Schulze has been a professional actor, a director, a playwright, art critic and journalist.Starting next Monday, he’ll add a new title to his repetoire as he unveils a brand new enterprise for the Houston Press — an Arts & Culture Blog called Art Attack — that will join its…
Food Fight: Battle Spring Rolls
When it’s hot as all-get out, kind of like it is right now, the thought of turning on the stove or oven to cook dinner, thereby heating up the whole freaking house/apartment, is downright depressing. Even when eating out, we don’t want anything hot. Steaming bowls of soup? No. We…
Roy O Traded To Phillies: The Rich Get Richer
Roy Oswalt is leaving town, taking his four-pitch repertoire to the two-time defending National League champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.The trade was pending league approval as of Thursday afternoon, since the Astros are also sending cash. The trade is expected to go through pretty quickly.In return, the Astros are receiving J.A…
HISD’s Greg Meyers Divorcing HCC’s Sandie Meyers
A divorce decree is expected to be issued tomorrow morning for Greg Meyers, president of the Houston ISD school board and his wife Sandie Meyers, a Houston Community College trustee, after more than 20 years of marriage.”It’s an unfortunate situation,” Greg Meyers said when reached at his office today.The couple…
Brisket Done Right at The Brisket House
Only last week, I was lamenting the lack of truly good barbecue within the Houston city limits. The fourth largest city in the nation, the largest in Texas, and host to an annual barbecue championship that pulls in the greatest talent in the world should have a larger selection of…
Houston Zoo Cute-Off: A Competition For The Ages
The Houston Zoo is filled with animals so astoundingly cute that they’re almost a danger to the public.But only one can be The Cutest of All.It has come time to determine who exactly should wear that noble title: Harry, the White-Faced Saki Monkey? Zuri, the African Pygmy Falcon? Some other…
TRUly Good Booze
Although I have been eating organic for many years, the idea of drinking organic had not really permeated my brain until maybe a year ago. Even then, finding organic spirits was somewhat of a hassle, especially if I wanted something that was actually drinkable and affordable. After visiting with the…
Guess Who’s Skipping Houston This Time?
Attention local musicians, music bloggers and music organizations: have something that should be included in Magnolia City Mixtape? Leave a comment below or email brittanie.shey (at) houstonpress (dot) com. • The Caprolites soothe our summer boredom with their new video for “I Need A lot,” above. • Craig Hlavaty and…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Gilbert Arismendez of Phil’s Texas Barbecue
We continue our chat with Gilbert Arismendez, the pitmaster of Phil’s Texas Barbecue, to see how Phil’s is trying to set itself apart from the local competition. The pitmaster will also give some expert smoking advice and discuss his favorite woods for smoking. EOW: Phil’s is located in an area…
Game Time: Best of the Best — Top 10 Moments from Clutch City Rockets (w/video)
I am a total sucker for lists.This makes me like roughly 95 percent of society; the fact that I openly admit I’m a sucker for lists makes me a little more unique. There are so many list books, list columns, list blog posts (many by yours truly) that it seems…
Bob Marley: Think You Know Him, Mon?
Bob Marley: The Untold Story By Chris Salewicz Music journalist Chris Salewicz hasn’t been afraid to tackle the big names in print. In addition to his work as a features writer at NME from 1974-81 and active freelancer, he’s previously penned biographies on Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Mick & Keef…
Aggies And Horns Want Part Of Your Electric Bill For Their Struggling Sports Programs
It seems like we’ve heard a joke before about how many Aggies it takes to change a light bulb. It wasn’t really funny then, but considering that Texas A&M, specifically Aggie athletics, is getting into the energy business, we’re sure the joke will finally have some legs. On September 3,…
Kanye West’s New Toy: Twitter
If there was any other pop-culture wonder in need of a worldwide soapbox to spout off from it was Kanye West. Yesterday sweet dreams became a beautiful nightmare when West got his own verified Twitter account, @kanyewest. Little wonder this comes right before the run-up of publicity for his new…
Finding a New Voice
“I just picked up a knife for the first time today about an hour ago,” an exasperated but happy-looking Greg Lowry gushed yesterday evening at Voice. The new chef at the downtown restaurant in the sumptuous lobby of the Hotel Icon has been spending his first month revamping every menu…
Art Car Parade Moves To Sunday (For One Year)
The Art Car Parade, that annual celebration of forcing writers to come up with synonyms for “wacky,” will be on a Sunday in 2011, instead of the traditional second Saturday in May.The move is to take advantage of a related international conference that will be in town.Says the Orange Show:This…
Post-Gaga Depression Rears Its Sad, Ugly Head
PostGaga Depression (PGD), sometimes referred to as post-monster depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, young girls and, less frequently, dudes who claim to be men after finally seeing Lady Gaga and getting their faces melted off. Rocks Off has PGD real bad right now. It’s…
Fried Green Tomatoes at Home
In my mind, the summer months in Texas are inextricably tangled up with one food above all others: tomatoes. Growing up, we had a dish of sliced tomatoes with nearly every single meal during the summer. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, the bright, ruby slices were consumed as quickly as they…
Troy Aikman Doing Dancing With The Stars
Rejoice, Cowboy fans — the last quarterback to lead you to a Super Bowl is going on Dancing with the Stars.Troy Aikman has confirmed to TMZ — who ambushed him outside a restaurant to get the answer to this pressing questions — that he will follow in the slightly swishy…
Wine of the Week: The Show 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
I’m a sucker for catchy advertising jingles and funky wine labels. With that knowledge in hand, you probably don’t need to guess the reasoning behind this week’s selection. The Show is made by a group of self-proclaimed wine rebels labeled The Three Thieves. Unlike most wine makers, these guys take…
Some Fitzgerald’s Acts Concerned Over Ownership Change
Earlier this week, as Rocks Off reported, Free Press Summer Fest partners Omar Afra and Jagi Katial bought Fitzgerald’s from the historic Heights venue’s longtime owner Sara Fitzgerald. This is exciting news for many fans and local musicians, but some are worried about the nightclub’s possible change in direction. “Omar…
Time’s 50 Great Roadside Attractions: Can You Name The Four From Texas?
Time magazine has put together its list of the 50 Greatest Roadside Attractions in America. When you’ve got the national resources of a media empire like Time, this is the type of thing you can do.Exactly four of the 50 “nostalgic, gaudy, run-down and kitschy locations” come from Texas. Can…
Protesters Against Arizona Law At Montrose Church: Injunction Doesn’t Go Far Enough
While many civil rights advocates are heralding the recent injunction against Arizona’s notorious SB 1070 as a major victory, not everyone is getting in on the celebration.In Houston, local and national immigrants rights groups assembled outside St. Stephen’s Episcopal School to say the injunction, which went into effect today, only…
Stuffed Cotton Food From IKEA
What’s the best way to prevent childhood obesity? Give your kids FAKE FOOD! IKEA, the company responsible for such creepy stuffed toys as the Famnig Hjärta, that bestselling heart pillow with human arms and hands, will expand their popular Duktig children’s line in 2011 to include plush, fabric stuff to…
Tony Yayo Talks Sex, Patron And The Future Of G-Unit
G-Unit soldiers Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo have signed on to headline Saturday’s 4th Annual Hip-Hop For HIV Awareness concert at Reliant Center. Tickets are free, but only with an HIV test at one of the City of Houston Department of Health & Human Services’ designated testing locations. A list…
Houston’s Top Ten Sports Moments: Another View
The bosses came out their Top 10 Greatest Houston Sports Moments today, so I thought I would share mine.1. September 25, 1986: The magic number for the Houston Astros to clinch the NL West is one game. The Astros are playing a midweek day game against the San Francisco Giants,…
Guerilla Barfare: Becks Prime and West Alabama Icehouse
There’s been some debate lately about Becks Prime. Some people like it; some don’t see the appeal. But I am definitely a fan. The Becks Prime TKO — a chili burger with shredded cheddar — is pretty amazing…
Remember Killa Cal-Wayne’s About My Brother’s Business?
Houston’s history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We’ll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Killa Cal-Wayne About My Brother’s Business (mixtape, 2008) As a rapper, Killa Cal-Wayne is still mostly an unknown name…
Man Utd Crushes MLS All-Stars: Four Reasons Why
Ed. note: For photos of last night’s game, check out our slideshow.There’s no sugar-coating the performance of the MLSers in last night’s All-Star Game at Reliant Stadium; they simply got spanked. Manchester United, coming off their 2-1 loss to Kansas City, came out more aggressively and dominated the entire match…
Pop Rocks: They’re Baaaaack!
Tonight marks the return of MTV’s Jersey Shore. Season 2 moves the juice-headed, monosyllabic cast from East Coast to South Beach (which is still technically the East Coast, but let’s not worry about that right now). The gang’s all here: love starved Oompa-Loompa “Snooki,” surgically enhanced underwear hater “JWoww,” overcompensating…
On the Road in The Florida Keys
In the Keys, you are then only 90 miles from one of the world’s most mysterious countries, a place that until recently you could not visit legally. Plus you get to party with Hemingway’s famous six-toed cats, and they are always good for a laugh. Keys Fisheries (3502 Gulfview Ave.)…
Total Eclipse Of A LEGO
Every day Rocks Off trolls the tubes of you in search of videos to share. If you have something that you think deserves to be video of the day, send a link to jef_rouner at yahoo dot com. If there are two things that Rocks Off is certain we loved…
The Week In Photos
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. The summer doldrums may not produce much in the way of TV or sports entertainment (or movies this year), but at least our photogs are always digging up…
Chelsea Clinton’s Wedding: Five Reasons We Won’t Be Attending, Thank You Very Much
Frankly, when June ends we breathe a sigh of relief. No more weddings, we think. And even more: No more having to turn down invitations to weddings at Vail, Santa Fe, St. Bart’s or all those New York suburbs. It can be devastating listening to someone plead for you to…
Melissa Etheridge
If you are only concentrating on sexuality when it comes to Melissa Etheridge, you are missing a big boat of riffs and one of the most dynamic female rock voices of the past 30 years. Mixing equal parts Janis Joplin and Robert Plant, Etheridge has been making meaty rock since…
Bald in the Land of Big Hair
In her autobiography about surviving non-Hodgkins lymphoma, acclaimed Texas writer Joni Rodgers says, “In the great barnyard of life, cancer is a manure pile. It stinks, but it makes great fertilizer.” And for Rodgers, who lives in the Woodlands area, great fertilizer grows a whole lot of creativity. Out of…
RealFilms Screening: Living with the Trinity
Younger generations might not be aware of the Trinity River’s extraordinary history. The waterway links Dallas/Fort Worth to Galveston Bay, and in the early 1970s there were controversial plans to transform the Trinity’s entire length into a barge canal, turning Dallas/Fort Worth into a competitive inland port. Presented by RealFilms…
2010 Houston Shakespeare Festival
Hermann Park in early August is an ideal stand-in for Fairyland, the lush setting of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The actors of the Houston Shakespeare Festival will provide the regal fairies, confused Athenians and rude mechanicals that embody the beloved play’s roller-coaster romances. Now in its 36th season,…
“Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom”
When it comes to big books, Atlas Shrugged has nothing on the literally life-size, 133-pound, tall-as-a-small-child Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom. The 141-page photo book, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest book in the world, takes viewers on a journey through…
Popcorn Kids: Boot Camp Screening
Young filmmakers’ works will be on display in the second annual showing of the Aurora Boot Camp Films. The films were made as part of the Popcorn Kids educational series, a five-day camp where children and teens were given a unique hands-on experience in filmmaking. They learned firsthand what goes…
Brad Garrett
Everybody loves Brad Garrett. The popular comedian, who played the downer brother on Everybody Loves Raymond, can now be seen pitching 7UP soft drinks and doing stand-up. He takes the stage at the Houston Improv today at 8 p.m. 7620 Katy Freeway. For information, call 713-333-8800 or visit www.improvhouston.com. $25…
“If Only We Knew Now What They Knew Then”
For their double show, “If We Only Knew Now What They Knew Then,” artists Katy Heinlein and Melanie Crader have kept it simple and open to interpretation. “Melanie and I have some similarities formally,” says Heinlein. “We’re both really interested in color and a neo-minimal aesthetic. And we’re both interested…
Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier LIVE
Kevin Smith and his friend/producer Scott Mosier will be bringing their popular podcast “Smodcast” to the West Oaks Alamo Drafthouse. If you’re a fan of either Smodcast or An Evening With Kevin Smith and its sequels, don’t miss this. Thursday, July 29, 7:30 p.m., 1000 West Oaks Mall. $45. Fri.,…
Seth Alverson
Check out Seth Alverson’s haunting works at Art Palace. The University of Houston graduate endows the most innocuous imagery with a disturbing quality. Even a painting of a bed offers a bizarre complexity and presence. On view Wednesdays through Saturdays through August 21. 3913 Main. For information, call 281-501-2964 or…
S.C. Gwynne
There might be only one man in history responsible for hundreds of American deaths who later went on to socialize with an American president. Most likely, that man was Quanah Parker, the Comanche warrior at the heart of S.C. Gwynne’s history Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the…
Houston Restaurant Week 2010
Used to fighting your hunger by eating? During Houston Restaurant Week, you can fight other people’s hunger, too. At more than 100 restaurants in and around the city, diners can get high-end cuisine at decidedly low-end costs. A typical dinner at Mark’s (seared Hudson foie gras, fire-roasted breast of Muscovy…
“When the Spirit Moves: African American Dance History”
It’s been said the spirit can move people to dance, and we won’t argue with that. “When the Spirit Moves: African American Dance in History and Art,” an exhibit on display at the Houston Public Library, explores the different dance styles that came out of Africa and how they changed…
Li Cunxin: Mao’s Last Dancer
In 1981, former Houston Ballet principal dancer Li Cunxin (pronounced Lee Shwin Sing) caused an international incident in Houston when he suddenly and unexpectedly defected from China on the eve of his return to the communist country. For a grueling 21 hours, Li was detained at the Chinese consulate in…
Irene Keliher
A mother-daughter feud crosses continents in Irene Keliher’s soon-to-be-released novel What Secret Borders. After adopting Sophia in Guatemala as a baby, her mother brings her to Boston. “She’s a teenager now, so she’s dealing with things like displacement and curiosity about her heritage,” says Keliher. Her mother Ingrid has her…
Breathless/Two in the Wave
Jean-Luc Godard’s first feature film, Breathless, with a screenplay by his friend Francois Truffaut (who had his movie premiere just a year earlier with the international smash The 400 Blows), virtually created the French New Wave. Godard changed the face of cinema with his handheld camerawork, jump cuts and antiheroic…
Messina Hof 2010 Harvest Festival
Are you an aspiring foodie looking to learn more about winemaking? Why not go to the source? Messina Hof Winery, located near Bryan College Station, has the perfect day-trip crash course. It’s harvest time for the vineyard’s award-winning port, and you get to participate in the process. The day starts…
Ridley Pearson: In Harm’s Way
Murder By the Book is celebrating Ridley Pearson’s new book In Harm’s Way, which comes out August 2, with a much-anticipated reading by the popular author. The book takes readers on an adventure with Idaho lawman Walt Fleming, who teams up with another character familiar from Pearson’s fiction, Lou Boldt…
The Happen-Ins
The Happen-Ins’ four-piece ass-shaking swagger harkens back to a time when rock and roll was a simpler beast, when bands were like boozy little gangs one step ahead of the law and one foot in the grave. The group has deservedly been getting its buzz on in Austin for its…
Moon Over Buffalo
Playwright Ken Ludwig’s 1995 situation comedy Moon Over Buffalo was the subject of a D.A. Pennebaker documentary spotlighting legendary comedienne Carol Burnett’s star turn in the play – her eagerly anticipated return to the Great White Way after 30 years in Hollywood. The documentary revealed Burnett’s struggle with a script…
Piranha
John Sayles, one of the most respected living filmmakers, started his career writing schlock for “King of the B-Movies” Roger Corman. Sayles’s first screenplay, Piranha, helped fund his first feature, Return of the Secaucus 7, which was eventually entered into the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Meant…
Ellypseas
Ellypseas has only been around since spring 2009, but in a city known for out-there bands, this avant-everything quintet is already pushing the envelope. Ellypseas’ particular brand of strange, as heard on June debut Indescribable Colours, is worth a double-take. Jazz-rock leanings brush shoulders with spaced-out sonics, occasional shards of…
ILLEGAL from Terry Greene Sterling
Editor’s Note: As a staff writer for Phoenix New Times, award-winning journalist Terry Greene Sterling reported for years on the political brawls and human tragedies that have made Arizona the epicenter for the national immigration debate. Sterling is now a contributor for The Daily Beast, and Writer-in-Residence at the Walter…
Marquez vs. Diaz II
The last time boxers Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez and Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz met each other in the ring, it wound up being widely considered the best fight of 2009. Their sure-to-be-epic rematch will play all over town live and on the big screen. 8 p.m. Various theaters in Houston,…
Bend It Like Beckham
Perhaps hoping to take advantage of Houston’s recent love affair with the World Cup, Mix 96.5 FM’s Sports Center is presenting a free screening of director Gurinder Chadha’s 2002 hit dramedy Bend It Like Beckham at downtown’s Discovery Green. The movie features Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley as young female…
Get Out!
Editor’s note: Following publication of this article, U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton enjoined the state of Arizona from enacting key provisions of state Senate Bill 1070. Though the law’s most dangerous sections were put on pause, pending the outcome of litigation, the remainder of the law goes into effect,…
“Main Street Music Festival” With Screwtape, Spain Colored Orange, Young Girls, The Watermarks
Houston looks to soon be leading the country in music festivals: Our own Houston Press Music Awards Showcase, Summerfest, the annual noise fests at Super Happy Fun Land, Trae Day, and the dormant (for now) Westheimer Block Party, Houston has them on lock. Here comes another, the Main Street Music…
Bowling For Soup
In between recording their newest as-yet-untitled album, Denton pop-punkers Bowling For Soup escape the studio for few headlining dates. Come hear what the band is working tonight, and also stick around for their older hits like “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” and “Punk Rock 101.” Sun., Aug. 1, 7…
Ocean’s Heaven
See a slideshow of Ocean’s chef at work. I took a sip from my $9 margarita as I sat with two beautiful ladies at Ocean’s. The drink was like a martini, but with fresh lime and subtle hints of liqueurs in the back finish. Heaven! As the tequila warmed my…
Suburban Suckers
Vampires just aren’t that interesting anymore. They used to prey on innocent girls, sucking blood from their tender throats and virtue from their fragile souls. Only coming out with the darkest moon, they lived on the spooky fringes of the social order. And best of all, they haunted and hunted…
Basketball Diaries
Basketball Diaries Online readers respond to “Trash Talk,” by Craig Malisow Thursday, July 15: Wow: This is one of the most ridiculous articles I have ever read in the HP. I realize more and more every year why I quit watching the NBA more than six years ago. It’s sad…
Teotihuacan’s Topo and Gin
I feel guilty badmouthing the drink that probably had a hand in my conception (hi, Mom and Dad), but I don’t like most house frozen margaritas. I do enjoy a good ‘rita on the rocks made with fresh lime juice. I just can’t stomach the blended Ectoplasm a lot of…
Simple Semolina: Dessert at Sabetta Cafe
The semolina cake ($8) at Sabetta Café & Wine Bar (2411 S. Shepherd, 832-623-6307) doesn’t sound that exciting in itself. But the sauce, a rosemary syrup, not only adds a perfume and a strong herbal note, but also a touch of elegance to the otherwise plain cake. The cake is…
Robb Walsh’s 100 Favorite Houston Dishes
Over the course of the past few months, I counted down 100 of my favorite Houston dishes. I chose some because they are such quintessential Houston creations, others for their cultural or historical significance, and others because they are just so damn tasty. To read about the 99 other dishes…
Keith Sweat
You know what’s funny? We don’t think we’ve heard an original Keith Sweat song in a decade, maybe since “My Body,” the smoldering late-’90s slow jam he did with Johnny Gill and the late Gerald Levert when they briefly formed the soul-singing supergroup LSG. It’s probably fair to say that…
Houston’s 10 Best Sports Moments*
When we put out the word to Houston that we were seeking input on the city’s ten greatest sports moments and its five most heartbreaking moments, the response was instant and unanimous. “Don’t you have that reversed?” people said. Why did we get that response? Because Houston sports fans are…
Funeral Party
Straight outta famously rocking Whittier, California, scream these four, sometimes five, cheeky lads who, hanging out in a park late one night, formed a band that would tell a different story about what was really going on in their hardcore- and metalhead-clogged hood. Playing on borrowed equipment at East L.A…
Main Street Music Festival
Houston looks to soon be leading the country in music festivals: Our own Houston Press Music Awards Showcase, Summerfest, the annual noise fests at Super Happy Fun Land, Trae Day and the dormant (for now) Westheimer Block Party, Houston has them on lock. Here comes another — the Main Street…
Million Miles Away
In a story very similar to Steve Earle’s, Peter Case quit school and left his home in Buffalo, New York, at age 17 to follow his musical muse. A brief time as a San Francisco street musician preceded a move to Los Angeles, where the young troubadour formed the legendary…
Hip-Hop for HIV Awareness Concert
We’ll spare you the grim details, facts and figures, but suffice to say HIV remains a significant problem in the Houston area. It’s hard to take any pleasure at all in that, but as a capper to the City of Houston’s Department of Health and Human Services “Hip-Hop for HIV…
The Year of Magical Thinking
Bun B is hip-hop’s grieving widower, the guy for whom you want to leave a pot roast on the front steps. You watch what you say around him, knowing that, less than three years after the death of his UGK partner Pimp C, the wound is still raw. Less like…
Melissa Etheridge
If you are only concentrating on sexuality when it comes to Melissa Etheridge, you’re missing a big boat of riffs and one of the most dynamic female rock voices of the past 30 years. Mixing equal parts Janis Joplin and Robert Plant, Etheridge has been making meaty rock since 1988’s…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Lighter Than Air,” “Maurizio Cattelan,” “Seth Alverson”
“Lighter Than Air” This exhibition, presented by Blaffer Gallery, showcases Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno’s eye-popping creations. Saraceno approaches art from his background in architecture. He’s influenced largely by the geodesic domes and spheres of Buckminster Fuller (Epcot Center’s “Spaceship Earth”) and utopian ideals of sustainability. Saraceno imagines a future in…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Fear of Ducks, Jewtopia, Leaving Iowa, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Rent
Fear of Ducks Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the theater, along comes the inspired lunacy of Radio Music Theatre. You’re never safe around these three (Steve Farrell, Vicki Farrell, Rich Mills), for you could die laughing, or at the very least spray your drink…
Retro Redux and Words Lost in Translation
Dear Mexican, As an old gringo who calls himself a gringo (not a gabacho), I study Mexican culture and ask myself, “Where have I seen this before?” The answer invariably is: 1950s America, that’s where. Current Mexican culture in the U.S. is about 50 years behind current American culture. Back…
Messed Up
In Steve Carell’s first few episodes of the American version of The Office, his character, Michael Scott, hewed closely to the template created by the series’s British mastermind, Ricky Gervais. Scott, like David Brent before him, was cruel and obtuse, a nightmare of a boss who thought he was a…
Snatching Some Meth
TALES FROM TRANSIT Commercial-Free Zone Metro still won’t put ads on buses By Richard Connelly Anyone who has taken mass transit in most major cities knows one thing: There are a ton of ads on the buses and trains. Not in Houston, though. And that policy won’t change anytime soon, even…
Red Bull
>Alain Resnais’s Wild Grass has plenty of fans — it copped an award at Cannes in 2009 — but I don’t see what they see. The 88-year-old filmmaker’s latest is an insufferable exercise in cutie-pie modernism, painfully unfunny and precious to a fault. Adapted from a novel by Christian Gailly,…
No Happily Ever After Included
Strictly speaking, the two scrappy Irish kids in Lance Daly’s Kisses aren’t homeless, but in every sense that matters, they have only each other for shelter. Kylie and Dylan (played by Kelly O’Neill and Shane Curry, both plucked from Dublin schools and oozing forlorn defiance) live next door to each…
Azuma on the Lake
The Azuma Group has an addition to its growing list of restaurants, which includes Soma Sushi, Kata Robata Sushi & Grill, Azuma Downtown and Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar. Azuma on the Lake (15830 Southwest Fwy., 281-313-0518) just opened in Sugar Land. Dish spoke with Ryan Snyder, director of operations…
Come as You Are
What’s better than sex? Sex and a cigarette, evidently. At least that’s implied in Stereo Hogzz’s catchy “Sex and a Cigarette,” a spacey, digitized, Trey Songz-ian sexing-up of your ears. The Hogzz are a five-man Houston R&B group. They’ve been together for a year or so and do complex dances…
