KPRC Rob Arnold Tweets Spam-Worthy Image of “Baby Killer”
KPRC’s Robert Arnold has always had a flair for the dramatic. One of my favorite images from local news was that of Arnold standing nearly waist deep in water during Tropical Storm Allison imploring all those watching to, for the love of God, not go in the water. Back in…
Reality Bites: Catfish: The TV Show
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. Man, am I glad I’m not single. It was bad enough back in the Dark Ages (i.e. the 1990s), when you had to put on pants and physically drag yourself…
This Kobe-Michael Video Mashup Is Amazing and Creepy (VIDEO)
From the time he entered the NBA as a teenager, Kobe Bryant wanted to be Michael Jordan, with every fiber of his being. He made this very clear from a young age, not so much by saying the words “I would like to be Michael Jordan” but by seemingly mimicking…
Hump Day Cocktail: Tuxedo Martini a.k.a. Sexual Chocolate at Char Bar
It’s Wednesday. Hump Day. Still two days until the weekend. Honey, you look like you need a drink. Here’s our suggestion. Tell ’em the Houston Press sent you. “You can’t write about what you see upstairs.” Jeremy, the bartender at Char Bar, is wary of me. He knows I’m a…
Thank Rick Smith: A Look at the Texans’ Abnormally Inept and Unlucky 2013 Draft Class
Back in June of 2012, Houston Texans General Manager Rick Smith gave a fairly memorable interview to SI.com NFL scribe Peter King in which he laid out his philosophy on roster construction in today’s NFL. Now, keep in mind that, looking back, if ever there were a time during the…
It’s Time for the 10×10 Festival With Short Plays by Houston Writers
Ten short new plays and nine monologues will be presented as part of Scriptwriters/Houston’s 24th Annual 10×10 Showcase scheduled for the nest two weekends at Company OnStage. Houston-area playwright have a chance to show their stuff, as well as the directors and actors who put this writing on stage. The…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Adison Lee of KUU
KUU, a fine Japanese restaurant that opened six months ago, is tucked in the back of Memorial City’s new “lifestyle center” near Vallone’s. I wish it faced the feeder road of I-10, because KUU is putting out cuisine that deserves to be front-and-center. Although Chef Adison Lee resists comparisons, the…
Good Investments: Teaching Texas Inmates About Business Can Turn Criminals Into CEOs
“This is not about charity. This is about opportunity.” — Jeremy Gregg, chief development officer, Prison Entrepreneurship Program A short while into a 30-month sentence for buying a stolen trailer, James Cornish received a peculiar postcard in his Plainview prison cell. It was from a group called the Prison Entrepreneurship…
This Week in Food Blogs: Sliders, Doughnuts & Ice Cream, Oh My!
Gastronaut: Houston is blessed with a multitude of doughnut shops, and Emily Donaldson of Houstonia’s Gastronaut has ranked their five favorite places to get the sugary treats. Of course, Christy’s Donuts received a spot on the list for its classic options, like the devil’s food chocolate cake doughnut, as did…
Superhero Sequel at the Children’s Museum
Last year the Children’s Museum of Houston hosted the Summer of Epic Adventure, a superhero-themed series of days and activities that my four-year-old dragged me to at least four times. It was such a big bit that the Museum decided to go for a sequel, and all joking aside it…
7 Observations on the Houston Texans’ First 2014 Depth Chart
Insights into the roster.In the grand scheme of the “unveiling” scale, I’m not sure where the Texans’ first depth chart of the preseason ranks. It’s definitely not as exciting as finding out your team’s first round draft choice, and it’s definitely way more exciting than getting a copy of the…
Review: Punk’s Simple Southern May Be Trying a Little Too Hard, But Don’t Miss the Biscuits
As we placed our order, the server’s eyes grew wider and wider, and his hand moved furiously across his notepad, attempting to keep up with our laundry list of desired appetizers. When we were finally finished, he stepped back and looked at us — two people who had just ordered…
The Trivago Guy Is From Houston, of Course
I was a media buyer in another life, specifically for crappy 1-800 commercials and .com start-ups, so I like to keep up to date on the latest whatsiwhosit you can get for $9.99 or some website that promises to fix your computer via the Internet. The secret that they don’t…
Wrestlers Grooving Hard After Lollapalooza Gig
At 21, Houston native Aidan Kennedy released 100% Panther on Paris’s Plik & Plok Records under the alias Bagheera, an homage to the panther from The Jungle Book. He eventually changed his moniker to Wrestlers after learning of another group with the same name. Evidently there are a lot of…
State Attacks Whole Women’s Health in Battle Over Anti-Abortion Bill
Clinics continue to rail against the state’s new abortion law in court, a law that has closed almost half the abortion clinics in Texas through more stringent facilities requirements and required hospital admitting privileges. Whole Woman’s Health has closed clinics in Beaumont, McAllen and Austin since House Bill 2 went…
100 Creatives 2014: Alonzo Williams Jr., Shooting the Music
What He Does: There are plenty of photographers in the city of Houston. There are even plenty of photographers that specialize in shooting musicians. There are probably not any that feel the power of music as deeply as Alonzo Williams Jr. does though. He even started out as an aspiring…
Houston Restaurant Weeks at Churrascos Sugar Land: A Double Date in the Suburbs
On a double date with old friends this weekend, we took advantage of Houston Restaurant Weeks and booked a table at Churrascos in Sugar Land. The beautifully designed restaurant — which won the Houston Press Best South American Restaurant award in 2013, is often overlooked because of its suburban location,…
UPDATED Inside the Theresa Roemer Defamation Lawsuit
Twitter screenshotWe hope there’s a happy ending. Updated: Court records show Theresa and Maximilian have worked things out. Roemer’s lawyer, William Ferebee has filed a motion to dismiss, stating that the two have “resolved their differences and request that this matter be dismissed without prejudice.” It doesn’t appear that the…
Cowboy or Club Roxy, Galleria Nightspot Had Quite a Run
Quietly, the Roxy shut its doors several months back after billing itself for years as Houston’s “longest-running nightclub.” Whether that statement is true or not, an extensive, eclectic history lies within the now-empty space near W. Alabama and Sage Rd. Personally, I remember the Roxy’s teen night, where around age…
Doctor Who: 5 Best “Day of the Doctor” Re-Edits
I don’t know if I will ever watch something as personally exciting as the 50th Anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor”. On one hand the Zygons were kind of a bust, Eccleston refused to take part, and I still say Tennant phoned his performance in. But on the other…
Rest of the Best 2014: Houston’s Top 10 Family-Friendly Restaurants
There are still a few weeks left before school starts for most of Houston on August 25, and in that interum, parents will be getting in as much time as possible with their little bundles of joy–assuming they aren’t already itching to hand them off to teachers the first moment…
New Houston Rap: Beyoncé’s Remix Isn’t That “Flawless”
10:32 Saturday night. That’s when I got a phone call about a new Beyoncé remix hitting the Internet. 10:34 p.m.: that’s when I realized Beyoncé decided to rap about that infamous elevator fight between her husband and her sister and laugh about it. The bar itself, “of course sometime shit…
Ice-T & Body Count Come Blasting Back
Note: sad to say, Body Count has dropped off the Woodlands date of the Mayhem tour. Sorry, y’all. Crank up the volume, load up the shotty and make damn sure your bandanna is the right color, because Ice-T and Body Count are back, and they still shoot to kill. More…
HPMA New Act Nominees Tout Their Gateway Venues
The Beatles had Liverpool’s Cavern Club. For Bruce Springsteen, it was the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. Too many bands to count got their start at CBGB. Every new music act needs a place to play its music, that first friendly space where it may unveil its brilliance to…
World’s First Commercial Launchpad Coming to Texas
It’s been a months-long courting process complete with millions of dollars in offered incentives, but private rocket company SpaceX finally gave in to Texas’ incessant beckoning to establish the world’s first commercial spaceport in Brownsville. The San Francisco headquartered company has toyed with the idea of planting a launchpad in…
UPDATED: Pegstar Reveals Plans for Near-Northside Music Venue
Note: this article has been updated after speaking with Jagi Katial. Days of speculation about a possible new music venue on Houston’s northside and the ultimate fate of Fitzgerald’s ended this morning when Jagi Katial, founder of Pegstar concerts and an owner of Fitzgerald’s since 2010, told the Houston Chronicle…
James Harden, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen Team Up for Funny Foot Locker Video
The NBA season may still be several months off, but James Harden is back in another Foot Locker commercial. This one features a pair of former Rockets and all-time NBA greats in Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen discussion how all great players need short memories, something Harden and the Rockets…
How to Survive a Pandemic, According to Hollywood
The West African Ebola outbreak has, as of this writing, killed 887 people and is far from being contained. Two Americans who contracted the virus have been flown to Atlanta for treatment, a decision which has many questioning how long it will be before we’re facing a similar situation as…
Amazing Time-Lapse Views of the Houston Area Over the Past 70 Years
Anyone who has lived here for even 10 years would not argue that the city of Houston has changed a lot. Go back two decades and it is even a more marked difference. But what about 40, 50, even 70 years ago? How far has our city really come? Thanks…
Five Things the Houston Bar/Restaurant Scene Is Missing
Let’s get one thing straight: Houston has a pretty rockin’ restaurant scene. This is largely thanks to the sheer number of restaurants we have in town (by some estimates, one of the highest numbers per capita in the country) and the huge variety of ethnic food available. Still, there are…
The Old Friends, Horton Foote’s Most Outrageous Play, Starts the Alley Season
There’s the usual rivalries and gothic relationships between families and friends. Yet the characters are more jet-set swingers than salt of the earth – even when they call the fictional town of Harrison, Texas home. Or so it seems. Acclaimed playwright Horton Foote (Trip to Bountiful, The Young Man From…
With Training Camp Always Comes Promise, Even for the 2-14 Texans
Training camp is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for any fan. Players are back, new faces emerge and the promise of a new season lingers on the horizon. Also, no games have been played and fans have limited access to their team meaning there is very…
lntroducing the Subtle Wit of Elizabeth Fox and Striking Sculptures of Jesse Lott
The d. m. allison gallery is dedicated to the exploration of new and emerging talent, as well as being a venue for nationally known visual artists. In its new group show, the gallery is featuring the works of Elizabeth Fox, whose paintings have a sprightly, highly contemporary look, not too…
Food Fight: Grocery Store Pizzas at Phoenicia and Whole Foods
You can always smell the fresh-baked pizzas at Phoenicia Specialty Foods located downtown when you walk by the prepared foods section. It’s almost hypnotizing as you find yourself wandering over to the glass case with four different pizzas (BBQ Chicken, Cheese, Pepperoni and Vegetarian). The same thing happens at the…
Armed Gas Mask-Wearing Robbers Hit IHOP on FM 1960 Tuesday Morning
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that three men with guns wearing gas masks burst into an IHOP on FM 1960 and Champions Forest around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning demanding cash and phones from employees and patrons dining at the 24-hour restaurant. According to a report on ABC13.com, the…
Pop Rocks: The Seven Emerging Genres of 2014 Fall TV Shows
Like all forms of entertainment, television can get locked into some patterns. Often times, those simply follow what has been successful recently. And while you might think that means cop shows and hospital dramas, that isn’t always the case. This new fall season, as it turns out, is virtually devoid…
The Rocks Off 200: Frank Ortiz, Synth-Pop Served Perfectly Frank
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? I’ve said…
Taste-Testing the Lay’s Do Us a Flavor Chips
The Lay’s Do Us A Flavor Competition has returned once again. The four potato chip flavor finalists are Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Cappuccino, Wavy Mango Salsa and Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger. Each chip is on opposite ends of the taste spectrum. You have 75 days to vote for your…
Antemasque & Le Butcherettes at Fitzgerald’s, 8/4/2014
Antemasque, Le Butcherettes Fitzgerald’s August 4th, 2014 It’s amazing how quickly things can change for the better. Consider the relationship between Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. These are two guys who were musically attached at the hip for something like 17 years who suddenly found themselves not even on speaking…
Bengals QB Andy Dalton’s Contract Extension Actually Makes Sense
It was around 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, and I was hanging around the south end zone of the Texans’ practice field, sweating profusely, watching the team practice with about a dozen other fellow media members, when my phone vibrated. I looked down and there it was, courtesy of the “PUSH”…
Marta Chilindron & Graciela Hasper: Dialogues
The Sicardi Gallery has paired two artists, both born in South America, one in Montevideo and one in Buenos Aires, who share an interest in creating colorful, vibrant art, though they are not collaborators with each other. Graciela Hasper works with acrylics on canvas to create wall art, and Marta…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 74, The Couch Potato Cookie at Fluff Bake Bar
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
NASA Begins Martian Chronicles (Even Though There’s Still No Way to Get to Mars)
Despite all evidence to the contrary, NASA still has Martian intentions. The space program folks made that clear with the release of their latest plans for the next Mars rover. There have been three rovers so far — Spirit, Curiosity and Opportunity — and the vehicles have been collecting data…
Upcoming: David Gray, Eagles, Iggy Azalea, Lil Jon, Machine Head, Wanda Jackson, Zoe, etc.
1st Annual Cajun Zydeco Fest: With Chubby Carrier, Jamie Bergeron, Bayou Roux, Step Rideau, Zydeco Dots. Sun., August 24, noon, $20. Cypress Saloon, 12710 Telge, Cypress, 281-304-7777. Adam Hood: With Jason Eady., Wed., August 20, 8 p.m., $15 to $25. Main Street Crossing, 111 E. Main, Tomball, 281-290-0431. Amaranthe: Sun.,…
5 Surreal Moments in Pornographic Film History
The production of pornography has marched along with humans since the dawn of man. Pornographic cave paintings have been found, which confirms that humanity has wanted to see depictions of sexual acts since the very beginning of human society. When cameras were first invented, their use to create erotica followed…
Houston Restaurant Weeks: Caracol
What they’re up to for Houston Restaurant Weeks: Two-course lunch for $20 or choose from one of three options for a four-course dinner for $45 or a four course vegetarian meal for $35. The other dinner options are seafood, meat or mixed. Caracol will donate $3 to the Houston Food…
Ballad of History’s “Record Men” Sings Familiar Tune
Cowboys and Indies: The Epic History of the Record Industry By Gareth Murphy Thomas Dunne Books, 400 pp., $27.99 For a music-industry executive, label head, A&R scout, producer or agent, there was once no higher praise than to be known far and wide as a “real record man.” That meant…
The “Swagger Wagon” & Other Great Rap Commercial Fails
Face it — hip-hop has been commercialized for a very long time. Hammer yukked it up on Saturday mornings with his own cartoon, 2Pac and Biggie shilled malt liquor, plenty of others have hawked FUBU and Lugz (I think Birdman still sells Lugz), and Ludacris pushed Pepsi (and pissed off…
When Will Houston’s 290 Traffic Nightmare End?
The short answer is 2017, but that doesn’t really begin to cover the mangled mess that is Highway 290 from the 610 Loop way out to somewhere near Hempstead or maybe Austin. According to TXDOT, the 38-mile stretch of Highway 290 being currently destroyed and rebuilt will be completed by…
App of the Week: Anonymously Rant to Your Heart’s Content With Speakle
App: Speakle Platform: iPhone, Android Website: Speakleapp.com Cost: Free (requires registration) There was a time when the Internet was almost entirely anonymous. If you wanted to keep yourself hidden from the masses, you could. You can still do that, but with social networking it is increasingly more difficult to do…
Get Your Frappes at Bite Macarons This Summer
You could get your Frappuccino fix at Starbucks this summer, but you can also satisfy that sweet tooth while cooling off with the frappes at Bite Macarons, and they are much better. For the rest of the summer, the French patisserie is offering summer drink specials, such as New Orleans…
The Leftovers: The Industry of Post-Apocalypse
I love an American apocalypse more than any other kind. I mean, 28 Days Later was awesome too (By that I mean Chistopher Eccleston was also in it), but Americans are simply made for the end of the world. We prepare for it, fetishize about it. What do you expect…
Hurricane Season 2014: Hurricane Bertha Has Arrived
Before digging too deeply into what is going on with hurricane number two of this Atlantic Hurricane Season, can we talk for just a moment about why someone thought Bertha was a good name for a hurricane? I guess if it grew very large, there could be quips about “Big…
First Look: Julep, An Old-Fashioned Southern Cocktail Bar With Modern Sensibilities
When you first drive up to Julep, the chic new cocktail bar from Alba Huerta of Anvil and Pastry War, all you can see through the large glass windows is white lace with whispers of people floating somewhere behind it. It’s a cool, easy vibe made cooler by the mounds…
The Reasons I Changed My Mind About the Death Penalty
Years ago, when I was still a teenager, an elderly great aunt of mine was viciously raped and murdered by a person that broke into her house one night. Despite this crime happening in another state, and her being a distant relative I’d never met, I still remember the raw…
Zapruder Analysis of Andrew Wiggins’s Painfully Awkward SportsCenter Interview
When you’re the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft in late June, the summer months should be a time of celebration. For that player, years of youth basketball, high school basketball, the AAU circuit and a hard-fought few months in the college ranks have all culminated in the realization…
Dish of the Week: Scallion Pancakes
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we’ll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. See the complete list of recipes at the end of this post. This week, we’re sharing a recipe for scallion pancakes. Scallion pancakes are a popular Chinese dish also known as…
Ray LaMontagne at Jones Hall, 8/3/2014
Ray LaMontagne, The Belle Brigade Jones Hall August 3, 2014 Many singer-songwriters talk throughout their shows, telling stories about how particular tunes were developed or tales of adventures with strange characters, but Ray LaMontagne is a different breed. To characterize him as being a man of few words simply does…
The Two Gentlemen of Verona a Weaker Play But Boy, We Like the Dog and His Handler
The setup: The Two Gentlemen of Verona is second-tier Shakespeare, a romantic comedy that is neither romantic nor a comedy. Instead, it is primarily a character study of male bonding, and of betrayal of friendship. It takes place in Verona and Milan, but has been updated to make Verona St…
The Cougars Are Ready to Play Some Football
The Houston Cougars of 2013 were a bit different than the more recent iterations of the Cougar football team. The offense still scored lots and lots of points behind a flashy quarterback and a quick moving offense. But there was a noted focus on the improved, physical running game. And…
Total Abuse & Rusted Shut at Mango’s, 8/1/2014
Rusted Shut, Total Abuse, RU-486, etc. Mango’s August 1, 2014 Summer might have been in full swing on the sweat-soaked streets of Montrose, but no rays of sunshine made it anywhere near Mango’s on Friday. Partly because the tiny club’s windows are pretty well boarded up, sure. But the deep,…
8 “Awesome” Rip-Offs of the Movie Jaws
When Jaws blew the record for movie attendance sky high in 1975, it did more than usher in the era of the summer blockbuster. It also fueled a stampede of killer shark copy cat films, with creators who were dreaming of some sweet easy money. Spielberg’s film still holds up…
Six Summer Salads to Enjoy Now in Houston
Say what you will about the oppressive Houston heat–our greenhouse-like atmosphere makes for some great summer growing. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, corn, beans, melons and various greens are in abundance, while traditionally fall crops like squash, brussels sprouts, grapes figs are starting to ripen and find their way onto restaurant menus…
My Power Went Out and the E-Mail I Got From CenterPoint Surprised Me
On Sunday night just after 7 p.m., I was finishing making dinner when the lights went out. Fortunately, I was finished cooking, but it still was surprising. There were no storms in the area. In fact, the weather was damn beautiful for an August evening. And here my wife and…
Room-Temperature Ramen and Cooling Appetizers From Nippon
It feels like 105 degrees outside, yet still craving ramen? Not an uncommon situation for Asian noodle soup lovin’ Houstonians in the summer months. In the humid hell that is August, there’s something to be said about letting a giant bowl of ramen delivered to you piping hot, cool to…
Henry IV, Part I:Good Acting Dominates in the Classic Tale of Royalty and Rogues
The setup: The theme of a wayward, rebellious son and an authoritarian father is timeless, and resonates today as richly as it must have when first produced more than 400 years ago.That the father here is a king, and the son a prince, raises the stakes enormously. Playwright William Shakespeare…
Foam Wonderland Feat. Carnage at NRG Arena, 8/1/14
Carnage NRG Arena August 1st, 2013 Foam Wonderland did not end with some giant, faux-orgasmic tidal wave of foam engulfing an excited crowd an hour and a half deep into a set from Carnage. Whether or not that was the plan we’ll never know, because it ended half an hour…
DQ Strong: Texans Begin Campaign to Raise Money in Honor of Teammate
Since being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma back in June, Houston Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry has been undergoing treatment back in his home state of California. While he’s been away, though, he’s remained in the thoughts of his Texan teammates, particularly those along the offensive line, and this past weekend,…
The Most Underrated Greasy Spoon in Houston…According to You
Ah, the old-fashioned American diner. The place where the servers wear uniforms with tarnished gold name tags, the coffee tastes like city tap water and the food is nothing, if not predictable. It’s been the same since man first walked on the moon, and it sure ain’t gonna change any…
True Blood: Dwarves, Rutger Hauer and Roy Orbison
Some people say that as the universe’s entropy speeds us towards the inevitable Big Crunch, the massive amount of forces in play will actually cause bits of reality, space and time to break off from the universe proper and explode beautifully and brightly as the rest of us trudge towards…
If You Really Must Take a Selfie: 11 Ways to Make It Look Decent
For years, photographers work to perfect their craft. And any photographer who has spent any time shooting human subject understands that it is not easy to get a great shot of a person who is trying to pose for you. Even experienced models can look awkward, uncomfortable, goofy, unhappy and…
Paramore & Fall Out Boy at The Woodlands, 8/1/2014
MONUMENTOUR featuring Paramore, Fall Out Boy & New Politics Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 1, 2014 Haters gonna hate, but Paramore and Fall Out Boy make great rock music. Any band that gained notoriety during the post-pop-punk-emo boom of the mid-2000s has been pigeonholed into a very specific category –…
Yes: Venerable Prog-Rock Icons Are the Opposite of Fragile
In his 40-plus years of sitting on the drum stool for classic-rock legends Yes, Alan White has thumped skins in locations all over the world and under all kinds of conditions. But it was a show on the high seas a couple of years back, part of the prog-rock-themed “Cruise…
The Five Best Concerts in Houston This Week: Antemasque, Mike Stinson, HPMA Concert, etc.
Antemasque Fitzgerald’s, August 4 Monday night at Fitzgerald’s, Antemasque will make their Houston debut. It’s the third live show ever from the latest off shoot brand of experimental rock music from guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the duo which masterminded legendary and now defunct Texas bands At the Drive-In…
Chef Randy Evans Talks Haven’s Closing and What’s Next for Him
It was a celebration last night at Haven, chef Randy Evans’s farm-to-table restaurant famous for its fried chicken and upscale comfort food. December 19 would have marked Haven’s fifth anniversary, but the restaurant closed unexpectedly after service last night to make way for a new business in the cozy space…
A Breakdown of the Former NFLers Bull Rushing Houston Sports Radio Market
When George Costanza was looking for a job, he said that he might like to be a color commentator for baseball to which Jerry Seinfeld responded, “Well, they tend to give those jobs to ex-ballplayers and people that are, you know, in broadcasting.” While this may not have seemed fair…
Houston Woman Sues Facebook Over Revenge Porn Account
Meryem Ali got a call from her cousin. “Meryem, what is up with you and Facebook?” her cousin asked in December 2013. Ali said she hadn’t logged onto the site in months. “You need to get home and look at it,” her cousin told her, “because someone’s acting like it’s…
The Newest Houston Texan Has One of the Greatest Plays of All Time on His Résumé (VIDEO)
Believe it or not, going 2-14 in 2013 does come with some privileges for your Houston Texans. Privileges beyond the right to select Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick, privileges beyond the right to select first in every round after that (S’ua-Filo! Fiodorowicz!), privileges beyond the right to finally…
Summer Dessert Recipe: Mandarin Orange & Pineapple Cake
When someone thinks of a “summer dessert,” most likely cake does not come to their mind. Usually, sweet treats in the scorching hot summer months include ice cream, Popsicles, sno cones and the occasional milkshake. Cakes are covered in frosting, be it chocolate, strawberry, vanilla or cream cheese, and that’s…
MLB Trade Deadline: Fake Trades Overshadow Real Trades
If you live in Houston, there’s a decent chance you didn’t notice that the MLB trade deadline yesterday was pretty damn awesome. With 12 trades involving a total of 37 players, with the defending World Champions among the key sellers, with the Oakland A’s looking to corner the market on…
Ramen: Where to Get the Trendy Dish in Houston and What’s Next
For every one person in Houston who complains that the ramen fad is over, there are ten more people who get really excited about every new ramen joint opening and every bowl they have yet to try. Like the cupcake, ramen refuses to die. Fortunately, as Houston’s ramen universe continues…
The 5 Best Fashion Stories of the Week: Celeb Impersonator Wins Instagram and Workout Gear Made of Sour Milk
Lots of breaking fashion news hits the interwebs and I don’t want you to miss one bit of it. So, I present some of the biggest headlines each week for your reading pleasure. Click and enjoy!…
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers at Jones Hall, 7/31/2014
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers Feat. Edie Brickell & Paul Simon Jones Hall July 31 2014 The Houston Symphony must have enjoyed having the night off Thursday. But helpfully, Steve Martin was there to explain to any subscribers wondering what had happened to their concert hall that “Yo-Yo…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Guardians Of The Galaxy
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians Or The Avengers? In a fight? I’m pretty sure any team with Thor and the Hulk in it are odds-on favorites. The Guardians are more like the annoying kid brother. Or cousin Oliver. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Five Guido the…
CSN Houston Still Bankrupt, Still Not Coming to a TV Near You
Presumably the bidder for CSN Houston was made known to Comcast yesterday. Presumably, of course, because nobody will comment. An order was sought yesterday evening seeking to prevent Comcast from divulging any details regarding the potential bidder. The parties are supposed to have a status conference with the bankruptcy judge…
A Last Look at the People of San Diego Comic-Con 2014
After a long day of walking around the con, your feet get to the point where you just can’t take anymore. This is especially when you’re cosplayer in heels or a photographer lugging around a bunch of equipment. It was time to find an alternative method of getting around. Taxis…
The Dunlavy Event Space Will Bring Clark Cooper Concepts Food to Buffalo Bayou
If you’ve ever wished that Coppa Ristorante or Brasserie 19 could cater your next big party, you’re in luck. Clark Cooper Concepts, the restaurant team behind Ibiza, Brasserie 19, Coppa Osteria, Coppa Ristorante and Punk’s Simple Southern recently announced they secured a space at Buffalo Bayou Park for private events…
[PHOTOS] Stop Patriarchy Protests Outside Harris County GOP Office
If the War Against Women is a national battle, Texas is ground zero. That’s according to Sunsara Taylor, a leader of Stop Patriarchy, a movement that is attempting end to the enslavement and degradation of women — notably when it comes to the right to an abortion and the production…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Houston Restaurant Weeks Kicks Off
Houston Restaurant Weeks Starts Friday Houston Restaurant Weeks kicks off today. Why not celebrate the weekend by eating at one of the many participating restaurants and benefiting the Houston Food Bank all at the same time? Check out our guide to help you decide where to eat; we’ve categorized the…
5 Things Radical Conservatives Have Ruined for Everyone Else
I have an addiction that is worse than heroin and twice as likely to end in my tragic death at my own hands… I read the comments under political news stories. In part because keeping my finger on the ketchup-and-gravy-infused pulse of America is my job, but really because I…
Harris County Boy Hospitalized From Latest Internet Trend, the Fire Challenge
You’ve probably seen it at some point on your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Vine feeds: people, particularly teenagers, participating in video “challenges” that usually involve doing something pretty stupid. Say, for instance, swallowing a spoonful of cinnamon in under 60 seconds, or dumping an entire bucket of ice on your…
Upcoming Events: Central Market’s Hatch Chile Festival Returns
Americas in River Oaks will host a Jordan Wine Dinner on Tuesday, August 5, beginning with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the seated dinner at 7 p.m. For $195, each person will receive four main courses paired with a wine from the Jordan Vineyard & Winery, plus dessert…
100 Creatives 2014: Rudy Zanzibar Campos, Painting Them Loudly
What He Does: Rudy Zanzibar Campos likes to paint, but he prefers flesh to canvass. No, not tattooing, but airbrush and other techniques to transform mere mortals into the otherworldly and uncanny. The ultimate results are strange metahumans that defy belief. Campos got started doing this as an offshoot of…
Fireman’s Widow Sues Over Training Course Death
The widow of a volunteer Atascocita firefighter who died of overheating during “smoke diving” training in Beaumont in 2012 has sued two firefighters’ groups and a safety council, accusing them of gross negligence leading to his death. Captain Neal Wade Smith, 46, a U.S. Navy veteran and father of two,…
The 5 Best Things to Do This Weekend in Houston: The Air Sex Championships, Houston Shakespeare Festival and More
Sex has always been a competitive sport. It just took people awhile to organize a league and have championships with rules and judges and actual prizes. The Air Sex World Championships took care of all of that. Now we have official fuck-offs (contests between finalists) in cities around the country…
Openings & Closings: Say Hello to Another Cupcake Shop
The Houston Chronicle reports that Newk’s Eatery will be opening its second location in Houston at 20802 Katy Freeway in Katy on Saturday, August 2. The first Newk’s that opened in Houston is located at Cypress at 25712 Northwest Freeway. Newk’s serves a variety of large salads, a selection of…
HPMA Nominees School Us On Reggae & Ska
I love all music, but admit some genres draw the short straw when it’s time for me to tune in. Reggae and ska are a couple of those styles I’d like to know more about. Who better to ask than the proficient artists in this Houston Press Music Awards category…
Nine Things Playing In Rock and Roll Bands Taught Me
Most people have entertained the fantasy of becoming a wealthy rock star, and a lot of them buy an instrument to fiddle around with. The majority of them eventually just throw that instrument into a closet after they move to another hobby, while a few become proficient players but never…
A Beginner’s Guide to Antemasque
Monday night at Fitzgerald’s, Antemasque will make their Houston debut. It’s the third live show ever from the latest off shoot brand of experimental rock music from guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the duo which masterminded legendary and now defunct Texas bands At the Drive-In and The Mars…
The 10 Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Total Abuse, Lil Boosie, Ray LaMontagne, etc.
Total Abuse, Rusted Shut Mango’s, August 1 Modern hardcore a tad too cute for you? You certainly wouldn’t be alone in that sentiment, but take care that you’re ready for the alternative. From the all-too-safe environs of Austin, punk terrorists Total Abuse have been savagely battering audiences with their uniquely…
Popular Farm-to-Table Restaurant Haven Serving its Last Meal Tonight
The Houston Chronicle’s Greg Morago first reported this afternoon that Haven and Cove Cold Bar will be closing after service tonight. The well-liked restaurant just off Kirby Drive is known for serving fresh produce from its own garden and meats sourced from local producers. Chef Randy Evans of Haven and…
10 Places Where Summer Weather Is Worse Than in Houston
No one will argue with you if you claim that Houston is one of the most miserable places to be in the summer. It is. It’s hot. It’s humid. The mosquitoes fly off with small children. And, of course, there is always the threat of a hurricane. But is it…
Competitive Wine Prices at Coltivare Pair Well
Back in 2009, when the Houston wine scene was just beginning to take off, then-sommelier Antonio Gianola asked a visiting wine writer to cast his gaze across the dining room of the now defunct Catalan. “Look,” he said with evident pride, “there’s a bottle of wine on every table.” It…
This GoPro Stuntman Video Will Put Your Stomach in Knots (VIDEO)
Ethan Swanson is one bad dude. Until about 15 minutes ago, I had no idea who Ethan Swanson was, but I learned from the video in this post that he is a professional stuntman, and 15 minutes is about the amount of time it takes to watch this video. Seven…
Liberty Kitchen Just Won Chicken & Waffles
There’s no shortage of Houston eateries banging out some pretty fine chicken and waffles. But Liberty Kitchen’s Chicken & Pecan Waffles breakfast sandwich has beaten them all. Here’s how:…
Diana Vreeland Holds Court in Full Gallop at Stages Repertory Theatre
Diana Vreeland was an American fashion icon for more than 50 years. As a columnist and fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar and then editor for Vogue, the undisputed fashion bible of the era, Vreeland influenced styles, set trends and ran with a very famous crowd (she “discovered” Lauren Bacall, advised…
Doughbeezy & Dat Boi T at Warehouse Live, 7/30/2014
Doughbeezy, Dat Boi T, Cray Cray Warehouse Live 7/30/2014 A Wednesday night at Warehouse Live shouldn’t be about comedy, yet that’s what you get sometimes. Wednesday was billed as a show to be headlined by Dat Boi T and Doughbeezy, something that may commonly happen given both men’s pull of…
Roy Andrew Langley: Officials Seeking Kin
Officials in Kentucky are seeking relatives of a Texas man who died there in 1994, but who was only recently identified as Roy Andrew Langley. Langley was born 11/22/49 to parents Lee Andrew and Laura Faye Harvey Langley. Lee Langley’s last known address was in Crockett, Texas. (His parents died…
The Best Comics in July Part 2: Four Weird Mysteries and Lumberjanes
Each month the staff at 8th Dimension Comics picks out the best book to review. Click here for Part 1. Supreme Blue Rose #1 This part of the comic round up this month is dedicated to a quartet of strange mystery stories that all began in July. It was just…
311 at Bayou Music Center, 7/30/2014
311, Full Service Bayou Music Center July 30, 2014 Three songs into Wednesday night’s show at Bayou Music Center, 311 played their hit song “Come Original.” Despite what its name might imply, there was nothing original about it, and that was exactly what the crowd wanted. 311 came to Houston…
First Look at True Food Kitchen, A Restaurant Based on Dr. Andrew Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet
It’s sad, but true: When you think of the “healthy” food options available in Houston today, there aren’t many exciting options that come to mind. Enter True Food Kitchen, the Phoenix-based chain that is poised to take the nation by storm (they currently have eight open locations; Houston will be…
Arian Foster’s Media Non-Responses Funny but Needless
“Yeah, man. I’m just out here trying to be the best teammate I can be. And I’m gonna work hard at doing that.” — Arian Foster Anyone who follows the Texans knows Arian Foster is a different cat. He writes poetry, waxes philosophical on Twitter and bows in the end…
Ghostbusters Is 30, and 5 Reasons It’s Still the Best Movie Ever
In case you didn’t think you were old, Ghostbusters is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Yes. 3-0. If you are like me and you saw it 30 years ago when it was first released, rather than examining how little you’ve accomplished in your life since then, acknowledge that even…
The Olajuwon at Kahn’s Deli Is A Slam Dunk
Although Kahn’s Delicatessen has been serving sizable “real sandwiches” to the Houston community since 1945, the restaurant is often overlooked in favor of powerhouse delis such as Kenny & Ziggy’s. H-towners should spread the love to Kahn’s, which also knows a thing or two about what to put between two…
Hurricane Season 2014: Atlantic System No Serious Threat
Invest 93L, as designated by the National Hurricane Center, is not terribly impressive. Despite predictions it would be nearing tropical storm strength by now, it has floundered, fighting with dry air in the area north of the storm and high wind shear. Would be Tropical Storm Bertha is simply not…
6 Scary Clowns Creepier Than Pennywise
Clowns are creepy. Yes, they are. At least, that’s the impression I’ve always gotten from most people I’ve met when the subject of clowns comes up in conversation. It seems the ratio of people that dislike or who are afraid of clowns far exceeds the number of people that actually…
The 5 Best Brunch Spots in the Museum District
In Houston, we’re pretty serious about our brunch. Whether it be migas and breakfast tacos or chicken and waffles and loaded Bloody Marys, we have no shortage of awesome spots to get our brunch on. Keeping later hours and killer cocktails in mind, we’ll be taking a look at some…
The Rocks Off 200: Optimo Ram, Online Radio Jefe
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? “If it…
It’s Going to Be Hot As Hell Come Summer 2100, Study Finds
Come 2100, summers in Houston will feel like Mission, Texas. That’s according to a research by Climate Central, a journalism and research non-profit based out of New Jersey. Climate Central’s analysis looked at projected changes in average summer high temperatures at the end of the century for 1,001 U.S. cities,…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 75, Fried Chicken Ballotine for Two at Provisions
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
Houston Founders at City Hall is a Showcase of Houston Art from the ’20s to the ’70s
The vibrant Houston art scene didn’t spring full-blown from the contemporary professional galleries, individual studios or garages of aspiring Bayou City artists, but instead built on the artists, some brilliant, who preceded them in the 20th century. Now Houstonians have a chance to savor some of these pioneers, in an…
What A Muslim Looks Like
Photo by Maha AhmedSeveral years ago, my mom told me about an incident in which one of my cousins and his friends were told, or more fittingly “yelled at,” to “go back to their damn country.” They were playing basketball in a local, empty outdoor court, when some white people…
Blaggards’ 10 Favorite Drinking Songs
Year in and year out, no matter what trends may come and go, Houston’s stoutest Irish rockers will always be those battlin’ Blaggards. Since July 2004, Patrick Devlin, Chad Smalley, Mike McAloon and now Brittany Johnson (the newest Blaggard) brandish a three-pronged rock trident of AC/DC, Social Distortion and Thin…
Rest of the Best: 8 Best Dinosaurs (& 2 Pseudo-Dinos) That Once Roamed Houston
I am an unashamed dinosaur nut. I had three different Time Life series on them as a child and if I had them today I would still read them. Dinosaurs are amazing and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about them. In case you didn’t know, Texas…
Yellow Rose Distilling Plans to Open Houston’s First Whiskey Distillery
Update: After receiving an email from Whitmeyer’s Distilling and some readers, we wish to clarify our previous statement that the Yellow Rose Distillery will be the first whiskey distillery in Houston. See the end of the article for the full explanation. The Great Texas Whiskey Debate–as we’ve come to call…
RIP Dick Wagner: Nightmarishly Good Rock Guitarist Was 71
Note: Dick Wagner, a guitarist who played with everyone from Lou Reed to Hall & Oates but most famously with Alice Cooper’s ’70s band (he co-wrote “Welcome to My Nightmare” with Cooper, among other shock-rock hits), passed away Wednesday morning at age 71, according to ultimateclassicrock.com. As tribute, Rocks Off…
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
When Christopher, a teenage boy, is caught next to a dead dog just after midnight, he immediately, though perhaps not justifiably, falls under suspicion. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, being presented here by the National Theatre of London, began as an award-winning novel by Mark Haddon…
Triassic Parq: The Musical
When genetically cloned primeval creatures (a.k.a. dinosaurs) are confined to a scientific enclave, mutations naturally start to emerge (members of the all-female group of dinos suddenly develop male genitalia). So do conflict and controversy, two problems that can be solved only by breaking into hilarious song and energetic dance. At…
“Mexican Masters”
If you’re a fan of famed Mexican artists Diego Rivera and José Orozco, you’ll enjoy seeing their paper works in “Mexican Masters,” currently on exhibition at Redbud Gallery. Gallery Manager Gus Kopriva says, “A highlight of this exhibition is the inclusion of a rare WW II-era pencil study drawing for…
Houston Shakespeare Festival 2014
Years ago, Mirron Willis was one of the supernumeraries — “the attendant to the far left” — during the Houston Shakespeare Festival. This week, he returns as a king in the title role of one of William Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Henry IV Part I. Although Henry IV is considered one…
I’m Bored With My Boyfriend. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! I’M READY FOR THE NEXT STEP BUT SHE ISN’T Dear Willie D: My girlfriend and I…
Code Black
You can tell by the title that the medical documentary Code Black is about serious life-and-death stuff. (Of all the codes you can hear in a hospital, “Code Black” has got to be the most dire, don’t you think?) Filmmaker Ryan McGarry makes his debut with Code Black, which follows…
Pollywog
Director Matt Huff wasn’t looking for swimmers when he cast Pollywog, but he got them. “The play is about swimming, and…I was originally planning to have a swim coach spend some time with the cast in order to teach them the proper technique for each stroke,” he tells us. “Strangely…
Jaws
What Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho did for the shower, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) did for summer swimming. People still get chills looking into the dark depths from the shore, anxious about dipping their feet into the waiting hungry mouth of…boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Thank you, John Williams, for that…
Capsule Stage Reviews: July 31, 2014
Equus Equus, which won the 1975 Tony Award as Best Play, depicts a psychiatrist trying to find out why a 17-year-old boy blinded six horses. Matthew C. Logan brings a revival to the Frenetic Theatre, with Kevin Daugherty as psychiatrist Martin Dysart, who yearns for an imagined, idealistic golden era…
Full Gallop
Diana Vreeland was an American fashion icon for more than 50 years. As a columnist and fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar and then editor for Vogue, the undisputed fashion bible of the era, Vreeland influenced styles, set trends and ran with a very famous crowd (she “discovered” Lauren Bacall, advised…
James Brown Killed Dumb Biopics: Why the Messy Get On Up Gets It Right
James Brown stripped pop to its rhythmic essentials: the groove and the grunt, the bridge, and the scream. Tate Taylor’s Get On Up likewise reduces James Brown — and the biopic form — to all that matters most. Here are the highs of the man’s life, both artistic and recreational…
Culinary Mash-up The Hundred-Foot Journey is Tasty Enough
Lasse Hallström has become an expert at making mom-jeans movies, nonthreatening pictures in which headstrong women find love just when they think it’s too late (Once Around), take the upper hand with their cheating husbands (Something to Talk About) and turn small French villages topsy-turvy by opening chocolate shops (Chocolat)…
What If’s Daniel Radcliffe Knows He Makes You Feel Old
Daniel Radcliffe’s first trip to Comic-con kicked off like the world’s cuddliest Nuremberg rally. This summer, just minutes after he walked into Hall H, the hangar-sized sardine can of 6,500 people sang him “Happy Birthday.” It was an emotional moment for everyone. “The fact that I was turning 25 slightly…
Air Sex Championships – Houston
Sex has always been a competitive sport. It just took people awhile to organize a league and have championships with rules and judges and actual prizes. The Air Sex World Championships took care of all of that. Now we have official fuck-offs (contests between finalists) in cities around the country…
“Joe Lopez: Calles de la Vida”
When San Antonio artist Joe Lopez launched his Gallo series, a certain huge wine corporation objected. In court. The word “gallo” is Spanish for rooster, and Lopez, who considers the spirited birds a symbol of strength, courage and beauty, paints vibrant portraits of them. Lopez, supported by Houston folk art…
Gary Owen
Hugely popular among black audiences, comedian Gary Owen is not black. In fact, he’s kind of pasty pale even for a white guy. Still, he won Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego (that’s an actual competition), and has worked onstage and in film with well-known African-American comics such as the…
24th Annual Houston International Jazz Festival
Houston’s not exactly known as a mecca for jazz, but the truth is the city has produced several internationally known artists (Joe Sample, Kirk Whalum and Ronnie Laws leap to mind). The local jazz scene might be low-key, but it’s been around awhile, with a yearly jazz festival since 1990…
Drama in the House: Barry Lyndon
Auteur filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (Spartacus, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey) is a throwback to Hollywood’s golden age, as much of a cinematic perfectionist as Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford or Cecil B. DeMille. But his movies are always a bit chilly in their clinical dissection. Using Thackeray’s classic rogue’s…
Doctor Who’s Five Best Recent Pop-Song Parodies
Whenever I hear that a new song sensation is sweeping the radio waves, I do two things. First, I take a moment to try and remember what radio is and whether or not it matters (spoiler: it doesn’t). Second, I wait approximately three to five days for a Doctor Who-inspired…
Guardians of the Galaxy Has a Sense of Humor, but No Real Wit
Beware the movie that’s Fun! with a capital F, the one populated with seemingly unpretentious characters that say adorable, clever things, the one that presents each off-kilter joke as if it were a porcelain curio, the one that boasts a comfort-food sound track of songs you’ve always liked but perhaps…
Get on Up Is an Inspired James Brown Biopic
He couldn’t have known it at the time, but James Brown’s debut recording and first chart hit — made in 1956 with the Famous Flames — is a question that contains its own answer. The lyrics to “Please, Please, Please” speak, pretty obviously, of sexual desire. But Brown’s voice is…
Magic in the Moonlight: There’s Nothing Inspired in Woody’s Annual Update
“The heart wants what it wants,” Woody Allen has taught us, and apparently what his heart wants these days is not to have to bother with writing second drafts of film scripts. His latest, Magic in the Moonlight, plays like a sumptuous vacation, its stars larking in ’20s finery about…
Hercules Surprisingly Has Both Brains and Brawn
One could be forgiven for being skeptical that a Hercules movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and directed by Brett “Rush Hour Trilogy” Ratner might have a brain in its head, but it actually does. We’re not talking Snowpiercer levels of intelligence, but it’s far less aggressively stupid than, say,…
Capsule Art Reviews: July 31, 2014
“Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris” Charles Marville was an early and prolific photographer of old Paris, commissioned to record the before, during and after of Emperor Napoleon III’s radical transformation that remade a medieval city into the first modern one. But these aren’t the rose-tinted images of the City of…
Language and Food
Dear Mexican, What is it about the many gringos/gabachos that constantly slaughter Spanish words? Spanish is easy to pronounce (and spell) compared to English. The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are always pronounced the same way. In English, vowels vary a lot — difficult for new learners. All the other…
