There’s a Difference Between Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking
Usually, when someone is smuggled into the country they pay a fee to a coyote. When they are forced here to work, or to pay off a debt with their labor it becomes trafficking. Sometimes it’s not clear which one it is until all the facts come to light. And…
Fish & the Knife Was Not Designed By Tony Chi
On February 13 we posted a first look at the just-opened Houston restaurant Fish & the Knife and included the news that New York-based restaurant and hotel designer Tony Chi was involved in the project. As it turns out, he says he wasn’t. We had received this information from Samantha…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 10, Seafood Gumbo at Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Cops Know Street Racers Like the West Side
Boys and their cars. The display of testosterone and souped-up engines has been a yearly thing for over a decade here in Houston. It’s all thanks to the TX2K auto racing event at the Lone Star Motorsports Park in Sealy. The event draws racing nerds with fast and furious ambitions…
Podcast: Nymphomaniac
On this week’s Voice Film Club podcast, We’re split on Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac: Volume I, but laughed throughout the the latest Muppets movie. The Veronica Mars movie is worth your money, and so is The Great Invisible, a revealing doc about the BP oil spill, which was named the…
Does Dallas Make Better Margaritas Than Houston?
That headline is ridiculous, because of course Dallas doesn’t make better margaritas than Houston. I mean really, the suggestion is laughable. Yet here we are, with just one week left of a Margarita Madness bracket presented by our parent company, Voice Media Group. We hadn’t yet reported on it because…
Cover Story: Trapped in Houston’s Traffic Nightmare
If you are under 40 and live inside the 610 Loop, where many young professionals have moved in the last 10 years and continue to do so with the kind of frenzied pace normally reserved for the Loop itself, your solutions to traffic are probably quite different than if you…
NFL GMs Ranked in Order of Tenure (Sorry, Texans Fans)
On the surface, the word “loyal” feels positive, and that’s because at its core, loyalty is a noble trait that comes from a good place in one’s heart. However, in business (and really in any walk of life, but especially business), loyalty has to be based on merit. It can’t…
SXSW Style Simplified for the Masses: 5 Major Looks
When a festival gets its own street style label, you know it has made it to the big leagues. South by Southwest, the ten day music and media extravaganza set in our neighbor to the west Austin, has crossed that bridge never to return…
This Week in Food Blogs: Chocolate Banana Bread & Doughnuts for Brunch
Eater National: Eater is celebrating Pizza Week, and in honor of this splendid Italian food-centric “holiday,” Eater National compiled a list of the 38 essential pizzerias across America, and Houston’s very own Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana made the list. This Memorial Drive pizzeria is loved by many Houstonians. In fact, the…
Robin Thicke at Reliant Stadium, 3/18/2014
Robin Thicke Reliant Stadium March 18, 2014 Robin Thicke finishes strong. Down on his knees, on top of a piano, arms raised to the sky as fireworks go off, he looks like a champ. The crowd is roaring, as it comes down from the high of “Blurred Lines,” and as…
Laura Benanti Will Be the Featured Performer at the TUTS Gala
Tony Award winning (and frequent TV) actress Laura Benanti will be the headliner at this spring’s Theatre Under the Stars “Broadway Empire” Gala at the Hobby Center. And while Benanti may be most recognizable to a lot of people for her recurring role on Nurse Jackie, last December’s live version…
How to Cook Asparagus Pretty Close to Perfect
Asparagus popping up from the soil is the first culinary sign of spring.
Human Trafficking in Houston Is More Likely Than You Think
Photo By Camilo SmithSheriff Adrian Garcia talks about human trafficking in Houston.It’s the face of everyday Houston. The local nail salon worker, the guy toiling every afternoon on a construction site, the server at a local cantina, there’s a possibility they could all be victims of human trafficking. At least…
The United States of Desserts: Buckeyes
In this series, we examine the history and origins of famous sweets, confections, and desserts associated with certain American states. Buckeye. I can’t think of another word in the English language that simultaneously denotes a professional sports organization, a tree, a butterfly species, a breed of chicken and a type…
In Defense of the Amazon.com Prime Rate Hike
No one wants to pay more for anything. That’s been true since the dawn of commerce. I’m pretty sure some caveman grunted his begrudging dissatisfaction when the guy who sold sticks of fire raised his price from one dead rat to two, but if he wanted fire, he ponied up…
Stupid Advice About “Marrying Smart” in New Book
Last week, collegiate women everywhere were offered some advice that seemed to be sent via mimeograph directly from 1955. Author Susan Patton, who dubs herself “The Princeton Mom,” released her book Marry Smart: Advice for Finding THE ONE (capitals hers). The book is a self-help guide, if you will, on…
Where the Chefs Eat: Benjy Mason, Mark Decker, Richard Knight
This week, our Where the Chefs Eat series visits the The Heights-area chefs of Treadsack, the restaurant group that includes the ever popular Down House, D & T Drive Inn, and the opening-in-the-near-future Hunky Dory and Foreign Correspondents. We asked them the regular questions, and we got some amazing answers,…
100 Creatives 2014: Atseko Factor, Actor
A 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner, Lynn Nottage’s Ruined is a difficult story – to watch and certainly to perform. The production, directed by Tom Stell, is in the last week of its run at Obsidian Art Space. The story takes place in a bar-and-brothel in the Congo. There’s the no-nonsense…
Cowboys and Indians Protesting the Keystone Pipeline Together
Cowboys and Indians are usually on opposing sides in stories of the Old West, but the modern variations have found something to unite them: opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a 1,700-mile pipeline that will tote sticky black bitumen from the Canadian Tar Sands to the…
The Gospel According to Scott H. Biram: Nothin’ But Blood
The last time Rocks Off really caught up with Scott H. Biram, Austin’s “Dirty Old One Man Band” helped us with our continuing mission to teach appropriate concert behavior to Houston audiences. We figured he was a good guy to ask because at the time (June 2011), he had just…
Cowboy Diaries 2014: Dakota Eldridge, Living the Rodeo Life
True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough…
UPDATED: We’re Giving Away Two $120 Tickets to Our Inaugural Menu of Menus® Pop-Up Dinner!
Yesterday we announced an exciting new event to kick off Menu of Menus this year. On March 25 at 9 p.m., we’re hosting the inaugural Houston Press Pop-Up Dinner at Haven featuring chef Randy Evans along with Kevin Naderi of Roost and Kevin Bryant of Eleven XI. The pop-up dinner…
My Hair Dryer Is Terrible (And So Is Yours)
A couple of weeks ago my dear friend (and longtime hair stylist) Jessica called to let me know that she would be in San Antonio for the weekend, and would I perhaps be interested in getting into some trouble (as we are wont to do)? The answer was naturally yes,…
Houston Bands Have Cancer Covered at Fitz Benefit Show
Houston may be home to ten trillion tribute bands aping everybody from Pat Benatar to Pantera, but even with not one, but two Concert Pubs giving the people what they want on a weekly basis, there’s not a lot of opportunity out there to hear a local group covering more…
GT Garza Sticks to the Script on Legacy of Ritchie Valens
Maybe it’s because they hold down the concept of traditional Houston rap more than anyone else, but today nothing typifies that late-’90s, hazed-out lull of street rhythms combined with Mike Dean-like church organs more than the Hispanic rap crowd. And now we’re in the age of the inevitable: the slow…
What’s on the Musical Menu at These New Houston Spots
Just three months into 2014, Houston already has a fair amount of newly opened restaurants and bars that host live music. Seeing that the Greater Houston area is large, diverse, ever-changing and all kinds of grand, we all could have probably guessed that. It’s still early in the year, but…
Five Great Singers in Bad Bands
A couple of months back, we discussed how so many great bands have ended up with some pretty bad singers in them, usually because they couldn’t find a decent lead singer around when they started or they started off playing a wildly different style and eventually took a detour that…
Teddy Bridgewater Struggles at Pro Day, Looking Back at Other QB Pro Days
With the NFL Scouting Combine a few weeks in the rear view mirror, now comes the fun part of the silly pre-draft season — individual workouts and Pro Days. In plain English, this is the part of the Prospect Assessment Calendar where everyone will freak out (positively and negatively) over…
Appeals Court Will Hear First Arguments Under New “Junk Science” Law Wednesday
The state Court of Criminal Appeals will hear arguments Wednesday in the curious case of Neal Hampton Robbins, convicted in Montgomery County in 1999 of killing his girlfriend’s 17-month old daughter, and sentenced to life in prison. It’s the first time the CCA will hear arguments under a 2013 statute…
Four Houstonians Make Final Beard Awards Cut
The James Beard Foundation has released its short list of nominees for awards in all categories, including media. The long list for awards was announced in late February, but now it’s been whittled down, and we still made the cut. Congrats to Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s, Chris Shepherd of Underbelly…
Johnny Manziel Is in New McDonald’s Commercial With LeBron James
I have no idea what kind of NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel is going to be. I think he’s going to be good. Really good. But the fact of the matter is none of us know. Well, if corporate partnerships are any indicator of how good a player is going to…
The Russians Are Bad Guys Again, and It’s About Damn Time
Things are getting a mite testy down Crimea way: KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainians in this nation’s capital prepared themselves for war after results from the disputed referendum in the Crimea showed an overwhelming majority in favor of joining the Russian Federation. Crimea’s election committee said that 97% of voters backed…
The Honeymoon: Just What Downtown Needs
If you work, live or just spend all of your time downtown, you’ve probably noticed there aren’t that many places to grab a quick bite to eat, sit down for a cup of coffee, or enjoy a casual dinner and dessert before or after a theater performance. Sure, there are…
I Want My CSN: Rockets Wins, Losses Won’t Change a Thing
Last year when the Rockets acquired Dwight Howard, there was much talk about how landing a marquee free agent not only made the Rockets a legitimate title contender, but that it was sure to provide the needed impetus for completing a deal to get CSN Houston, the television home of…
Weather Week: Un-freeze My Heart, Say You’ll Spring Me Again
Nothing like a one-hit wonder love ballad with an awkward phrase to put a little bounce in your step. When it comes to Houston weather, this week you won’t need the heart-wrenching tones of Toni Braxton to make you want to leap up from your seat (and turn off the…
VegOut! Challenge Takes Over Houston
If you’ve noticed a lot of folks around Houston “vegging out” on Twitter and Facebook lately, it’s not an epidemic of complete laziness–it’s a pro-vegetable movement. The Recipe for Success Foundation is in the middle of its second annual VegOut! Challenge, to encourage Houstonians to embrace a healthier lifestyle by…
Top 10 Portal Easter Eggs in Other Video Games
If I have to pick a favorite video game of all time it would definitely be Portal 2. To my mind there has simply never been a more perfect mixture of inventive play, storyline, voice acting, graphics, and humor. Every day I open up Google and ask it what it…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 11, Grilled Fish Masala at Himalaya Restaurant
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Rice Basketball Hits the Reset Button, Starts Search for New Coach
John RoyalThe Ben Braun era at Rice has ended.Ben Braun resigned as Rice’s head basketball coach on Thursday morning. Braun was a good man, a good coach, who had previously taken Cal to five NCAA tournaments and who won a NIT. He’s got 615 career wins, 12th best among active…
Luke Bryan at Reliant Stadium, 3/17/2014
Luke Bryan Reliant Stadium March 17, 2014 Luke Bryan knows a lot of things. For example, Luke knows the value of a good drinking reference. He’ll “Drink a Beer.” He’ll get “Drunk on You.” If you need to crash a night out of drinking with the boys, it’s cool. Hell,…
Pop Rocks: In Honor of the Poltergeist Remake, 5 Scary Movies I’ll Actually Watch
I would argue that it is surprising, all the remakes of classic horror films lately if it weren’t so typical of Hollywood to remake anything it thinks might sell. From Carrie and the new Poltergeist to the TV series prequel to Psycho, Bates Motel, everyone wants in on some of…
Playboy Playmate Butt Cheek Golf Tee Stunt Goes Awry (w/ VIDEO)
Even if you’re not a big golf enthusiast, golf tournaments can still be a lot of fun. That’s because good golf tournaments, charity or otherwise, typically have plenty of ancillary agenda items and accouterments to distract you from just how utterly ragged your golf game is. Open bar, hole-in-one contests,…
Chris Shepherd Dishes on Underbelly’s New Dinner Series
If you’ve ever been to Underbelly, you’ve seen the wall adorned with photos of Houston culinary personalities and places. Not everyone in the photos is famous; some of the people pictured own small mom-and-pop restaurants that serve authentic ethnic food. There are farmers and fishermen. These are the people from…
The Rocks Off 200: DJ Dayta, Keeper of That Good Good
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? Trent Icaza…
The Couple at the Center of Time Stands Still at Main Street Theater Explores War and Peace
A photojournalist (Sarah Gaston) and a journalist (Sean Patrick Judge) who have worked together for several years covering the news – most of that in war zones – have returned home from their latest assignment. “She’s coming back from being nearly killed in a roadside bomb explosion that killed the…
People Turn Out for Houston Rodeo, Despite the Weird Weather
Houston is known for being a city of unpredictable weather, but the past few weeks have been remarkably changeable and weird, even for Houston. And as anyone who is in this city right now knows, all this strange and wintry weather has coincided with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo…
Got Corned Beef? Here Are 5 Delicious Ways to Use the Leftovers
One of the best things about St. Patty’s Day — besides the green beer, Irish soda bread, and pistachio cake that you convinced yourself was an acceptable breakfast — is most definitely corned beef and cabbage. Though it’s about as Irish as spaghetti, the dish has become a Saint Patrick’s…
Zach Levi Explains It All: Why Nerd HQ 2014 Needs Fan Funding
Nerd HQ is the brainchild of actor Zachary Levi of Chuck fame, business partner (and former Chuck props guy) David Coleman and Courtney Coleman, David’s wife. (Levi also provided the voice of Flynn Rider in Disney’s Tangled and his singing on “I See the Light” garnered a Grammy award, as…
Cowboy Diaries 2014: Chad Ferley, in It for the Adrenaline
True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough…
Celebrate Menu of Menus® Early With a Special Pop-Up Dinner at Haven
So you know how there’s that Iron Fork event at Menu of Menus? It’s hosted by Randy Evans, and this year it’s a battle of the Kevins, pitting returning champ Kevin Naderi against new contender Kevin Bryant. And it’s going to be awesome. Unfortunately, though you’ll be able to watch…
The Allman Brothers Band’s Still-Unfolding Saga Ain’t Got But One Way Out
One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band By Alan Paul St. Martin’s Press, 464 pp., $29.99 Make no mistake. While only two of the six original members of the Allman Brothers Band were actual biological siblings, the fraternal ties of Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts,…
Upcoming: Nine Inch Nails, Bette Midler, Gilby Clarke, Kool & the Gang, Goo Goo Dolls, etc.
Abigail Williams: With Cardinal, Nephilim Terror, Irreconcilable Suffering, Sleep Labs., Fri., April 11, 7 p.m., $10. Walters, 1120 Naylor, Houston, 713-222-2679. All That Bleeds: With Gods of Death Screw, Tue., April 8, 7 p.m., $10. Walters, 1120 Naylor, Houston, 713-222-2679. Allvaret: With Keno Sims, Wed., April 2, 8 p.m., $7…
What It’s Like Being Pepper-Sprayed at SXSW
It’s hit all the major news outlets now: Odd Future’s main attraction Tyler, the Creator was arrested on Saturday while trying to board a flight out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the misdemeanor crime of inciting a riot. This came as little surprise to those of us who were there…
County Attorney Puts Another Gang Injunction on the Books
The idea behind a gang injunction is to limit a gang’s ability to gather, cause trouble or plan any future troublemaking. At least that’s what’s behind the Harris County attorney’s push for a preliminary injunction ordered last week to create the “East Aldine Safety Zone.” Under the order by Judge…
UPDATED: Go Tejano Day at Reliant Stadium, 3/16/2014
UPDATED (Monday, 4:30 p.m.): Actually this year’s Go Tejano attendance fell short of last year’s record by less than 100 people. Still a lot of folks. Go Tejano Day, feat. Pesado and Banda MS Reliant Stadium March 16, 2014 “Tejano is dead…at least at RodeoHouston”. — me, every year The…
Will Houston Athletes Ever Get Paid to Play in College?
TaShawn Thomas dreams of one day becoming a professional after college. He’s a junior and a forward on the University of Houston’s men’s basketball team. Without his scholarship he wouldn’t be in college, he says. With the money he receives his housing and food are paid for. Still, he thinks…
The Roscoe Is Back at Torchy’s Tacos
Torchy’s Tacos is known for its inventive and creative tacos, and this month, due to high demand, the popular taco shop has brought back the sweet, salty and savory chicken-and-waffles taco known as The Roscoe. Chicken and waffles is an iconic dish loved by many. Sweet, thick waffles sit under…
Memorial City Mall Needs to Get It Together on Paying for Attractions
When other parents ask me for cheap outing ideas with their children, I always used to recommend an afternoon at the Memorial City Mall because you can spend hours there having a good time for $20. Lately I find that recommendation to be rather false as the mall struggles to…
I Mourn These Top 5 Discontinued Cookies
In a world in which we have shelf space for Berry Burst Oreos, it’s a mystery to me why any decent-tasting cookie is discontinued. I guess it’s a fact of life that some of the most delicious baked goods go the way of all flesh while far crappier ones enjoy…
Machete Kills Producers Sue Texas Film Commission
A lawsuit filed by the producers of Machete Kills accuses the Texas Film Commission of violating the producers’ First Amendment rights by denying tax breaks usually granted to films made in Texas. Per the Courthouse News, the suit claims that the sequel to director Robert Rodriguez’s 2010 Machete was “‘perceived…
Dish of the Week: Pastitsio
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. Pastitsio (or pastichio) is a classic Greek baked pasta dish. Its name is based on the Italian word pasticcio,…
Namaste! Arian Foster Returns to Twitter (And Is Reportedly Healthy)
Last season went sideways on a lot of Houston Texans, and if we count “the season” to include the month or so after the season as well, perhaps it spun out of control for none more so than running back Arian Foster. Think about it — with fans, the perception…
Against Me! at Fitzgerald’s, 3/16/2014
Against Me! Fizgeralds March 16, 2014 Formula is often the death knell of bands that stick too close to a template that wears thin as a soggy cracker after a decade. Luckily, Against Me!, who helped ignite the world’s interest in Gainesville, Fla., has run the gamut from loose-knit, post-Fugazi…
The Plot of Gidion’s Knot Is Not Up to the Talents of Its Cast and Director
The setup: The theme of bullying has been much in the news recently, so playwright Johnna Adams could not be more timely with a play that explores, in a way, how and why a fifth-grade student, Gidion, came to blow his brains out in the garage just before dinner on…
Bun B’s Birthday Celebration at Warehouse Live, 3/16/2014
Bun B, Kirko Bangz Warehouse Live March 16, 2014 By the time big Southern rap impresario Bun B took the stage at Warehouse Live early this morning, there was a lot to celebrate. It was St. Patrick’s Day, of course, but the occasion also marked the kickoff of the UGK…
Unhappy Artists Deluge Bayou City Art Festival With Emails After Last-Minute Rule Change
Months after the November deadline for artists to sign up for this month’s Bayou City Art Festival, its organizers changed the rules, expanding the pool of artists from 300 to 450, increasing booth fees and converting what had been the artists’ close-in parking lot to more exhibition space. The changes…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 12, Curry Noodle Soup at Mamak Malaysian
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Rick Perry Has No Intention of Going Gently Into the Good Night (But We Already Knew That)
Gov. Rick Perry is wrapping things up. Yeah, he’s been the guy with the best hair in Texas politics and has held the governor’s seat for a record-setting 14 years, but Perry has obviously decided he hasn’t reached the end of the political line quite yet. He popped up on…
Puking Isn’t Just for St. Paddy’s Day
I know that to many people who actually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in earnest, the holiday dedicated to the death of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, is a time of family celebration and Irish pride. But sadly, to most of the United States, the holiday has turned into…
Keith Urban at Reliant Stadium, 3/14/2014
Keith Urban Reliant Stadium March 14, 2014 “This is the fifth time we’ve played the rodeo, and this is also the most amount of people we’ve played to in Houston,” Keith Urban said halfway through his set at Reliant Stadium Friday, to an announced crowd of 74,054. “As a matter…
Zapruder Analysis of Justin Bieber’s Deposition Video
They say the true gauge of what a person is really like is what they do when no one is watching. Public Justin Bieber is a colossal douche bag, on this there can be no debate. And with television, social media, and the internet, the fact of the matter is…
Houston Pastry Chef Injured in SXSW Crash
On March 13, a drunk driver barreled into a crowd of concert-goers at the SXSW music festival in Austin, killing two people and injuring another 23 people. One of those injured is the pastry chef at Mark’s American Cuisine, Gracie Nguyen. Nguyen, 23, was in Austin for the music festival,…
HGO Presents World Premiere of A Coffin in Egypt
The Setup: Houston Grand Opera presents the world premiere of A Coffin in Egypt, librettist and director Leonard Foglia’s and composer Ricky Ian Gordon’s adaptation of the Horton Foote play of the same name. Frederica von Stade stars in this largely one-woman show as the indomitable Myrtle Bledsoe, a woman…
The Most Underrated Burgers in Houston…According to You
We recently tallied the votes and revealed what you, our dear readers, think are the most underrated restaurants in Houston. There were a lot of votes, and the initial call for comments sparked much discussion about hidden gems, great, underappreciated food. But now we’ve got a new challenge for you:…
Cowboy Diaries 2014: Christy Loflin
True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough…
Miley Cyrus at Toyota Center, 3/16/2014
Miley Cyrus, Icona Pop Toyota Center March 16, 2014 Two dozen plus balloons are bouncing above the audience. A group of furries dance onstage. On the screen behind them is a giant digital photo of Miley Cyrus. Then a hole opens in the screen and a giant pink tongue comes…
Boheme’s New Lobster Pizzas Are Unlike Any Pies You’ve Had Before
Since Rishi Singh took over as executive chef at Boheme, the food has gone from microwaved bar fare to truly top-notch. The inventive chef is constantly dreaming up ways to elevate the cuisine at the space that’s better known for being a bar than a restaurant, and he’s doing it…
Ben Tate Signs With Cleveland (w/ Vine of Tate Barking)
On Saturday, the inevitable finally happened. The Ben Tate Era in Houston ended. In one of the most easily forecasted transactions of the offseason, Tate finally agreed to become a Cleveland Brown. And while this move finally gets Tate out from underneath Arian Foster’s shadow, and it finally gives him…
The 10 Worst Pickup Lines of All Time
So, you’re standing at a bar, and some over-cologned dude who’s sporting sunglasses indoors slides in next to you and says the following: “Do you want to see something swell?” And then he proceeds to look down at his crotch. No. Just no. These are situations that should never happen,…
Hunter Hayes at Reliant Stadium, 03/15/2014
According to Billboard, in a little less than two months Hunter Hayes will attempt to break the Guinness world record for most concerts played within a 24-hour period. On May 9 and 10, he will play one gig about every three hours on a ten-city itinerary going from Good Morning…
The Bizarre, Awful World of Dubstep Metal
Recently I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, the guitarist for local metal band Rebuild, and he was complaining about the wave of dubstep that has infiltrated metal. As a genre, metal has historically always adapted to include whatever modern mainstream trends were going on at the…
The Best Concerts in Houston This Week: Robin Thicke, Scott H. Biram, Steve Aoki, etc.
John Egan The Big Easy, March 17 Solo bluesman John Egan sings in a tone that suggests someone is constantly walking over his grave, and his lyrics are loaded with bad mojo like nature gone haywire and apocalyptic visions. All he needs live is his National Resonator, one of those…
Happy Anniversary KPFT: 44 Genres for 44 Years
Today Rocks Off would like to salute 90.1 FM KPFT on its 44th anniversary, which it celebrates this Sunday under the “big top” behind McGonigel’s Mucky Duck The lineup is a real hootenanny too, featuring Shinyribs, Del Castillo, Lisa Morales, Annika Chambers, Parker Millsap, recent Rocks Off 200 subject Robert…
Lesbian Couple From Houston Featured in CDC’s Report on Rare HIV Transmission
The Centers for Disease Control this week released a report on a Houston case of HIV transmitted through lesbian sex. Rare, but true. According to the report (which did not name any names), one of the partners, a 46-year-old woman, had been fighting an HIV infection since 2008, but stopped…
Zelko Bistro’s Anniversary Gift to You: Half-off Your Favorite Comfort Foods
Zelko Bistro is celebrating its fourth anniversary with an exclusive offer for diners — enjoy half off ($25 for $50) chef Jamie Zelko’s award-winning menu with this Houston Press Voice Daily Deal. Dive into Zelko Bistro’s menu of delicious comfort foods, and enjoy the cozy ambience of its dining room,…
Marcus Jarrell Willis and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: A Story of Grace
Marcus Jarrell Willis, a former Houstonian and HSPVA alum, has been a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for six years now. (Before that he was a member of Ailey II.) He’s a different dancer now, says Willis. “For me, things have changed in that I used to…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 13, Foie Gras au Torchon at Étoile
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 14, Caramelized Pork Spare Ribs at Cafe TH
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Zapruder Analysis: The Conroe Prostitution Ring
I consider myself a fairly worldly fellow. I have a social life, I’ve traveled to multiple continents, I’m not afraid to try new things. But admittedly, I’m not all that dialed into the prostitution game. Oddly enough (and despite what some of you would contend is a miraculous proclamation), I’ve…
What’s in Fashion: Topshop Is Coming, Ban the Fanny Pack, Target Photoshop Fail
Every week lots of breaking fashion news hits the interwebs and I don’t want you to miss one bit of it. So, I present 10 of the biggest headlines packaged by me each week for your reading pleasure. Click and enjoy,…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: Need for Speed
Title: Need For Speed Did You Feel It? The ‘Need For Speed?’ Not even a little bit. Sorry, Goose. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Two Greased Lightnings out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: Ex-con terrorizes motorists in cross-country vendetta. Tagline: “Feel the need.” Better Tagline: “Who’s gonna…
Twitter Wars: Richard Sherman Takes on the World
It was a polarizing moment, maybe the most polarizing moment of the NFL season (not involving Richie Incognito talking about running a train on one of Jonathan Martin’s female relatives), but I loved Richard Sherman’s promo that he cut on Michael Crabtree after the NFC Title Game in Seattle. It…
Who Will Be the First Houston Bakery to Copy the New Cronut?
Clearly it’s not actually a cronut, but Dominique Ansel, New York pastry chef and inventor of the croissant/doughnut hybrid that took the country by storm last summer, is at it again, and this time he’s debuted his creation at SXSW. The treats, which are not yet named, appear to be…
Green Day’s Punk Rock Opera American Idiot Headed For Houston
Will is the guy who stays home; who does right by his pregnant girlfriend and gives up his dreams rather than move to the big city with his two friends. Except it doesn’t work and what better way to play out his angst than with Green Day’s punk rock opera…
Maroon 5 at Reliant Stadium, 3/13/2014
Maroon 5 Reliant Stadium March 13, 2014 Adam Levine is a different breed of pop star than he was when Maroon 5 earwormed its way onto our iPods 12 years ago. Thanks to the power of reality television, he’s more visible, more vocal and — need I say — just…
Audience Erupts in “Fire Terry Grier” Chant as HISD School Board Closes Dodson, Saves Jones (Sort Of)
Amid chants of “Fire Terry Grier,” Houston ISD school board members and their superintendent retreated into a back room Thursday night while HISD police officers formed a protective barrier in the front of the room after audience members began shouting in protest about two proposed school closings. After reconvening their…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Wear Your Green & Drink Green Beer
2nd Haak Madeira Food Truck, Art and Culinary Festival @ Haak Vineyard & Winery Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 6310 Avenue T., Santa Fe Spend your Saturday at Haak Vineyard & Winery during the 2nd Haak Madeira Food Truck, Art and Culinary Festival. Angie’s Cake, Mom & Eddie’s, Foreign…
Upcoming Events: Haute Wheels Food Truck Festival Returns & Saint Arnold Takes Over Dry Creek Cafe
In honor of National Ravioli Day, D’Amico’s Italian Market in Rice Village will celebrate all things ravioli for an entire week. Beginning on Monday, March 17, D’Amico’s will offer special ravioli dishes featuring a variety of fillings, including fresh salmon ravioli smothered in a delicate cream sauce, and veal ravioli…
100 Creatives 2014: John Pluecker, Writer, Poet and Language Justice Worker
We admit that before talking to John Pluecker, co-founder of language experimentation collaborative Antena, we hadn’t heard of language justice. Sure, we heard about gender-neutral language (waitstaff vs waitress), but that’s not what writer, poet and translator Pluecker means. “What [Antena’s] really talking about is the right that people have…
NFL Free Agency Day 3: Silence on Kirby Ends
Three days of NFL free agency in the books, and here is your Houston Texans scorecard: * Two players cut * Five players left in free agency * One cockblocking on a veteran quarterback * Zero new players acquired * One player re-signed * A growing abyss between the AFC…
Safety and SXSW: Was the Mohawk Tragedy a Tipping Point?
The last morning of SXSW 2011 was not a pleasant one. Not because of any kind of personal debauchery the previous evening; that had come a few days before. Reprimands had been handed down, wrists had been slapped, and tails were hanging between a few legs, these two included. The…
Cowboy Diaries 2014: Stran Smith, the Consummate Professional Cowboy
True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough…
Top 5 Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, A Coffin in Egypt and More
Marcus Jarrell Willis, a former Houstonian and now a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, was in awe of the famous company when he first saw it onstage. Willis was a student at the time, and the experience made a lasting impact. It inspired him to become a…
Openings & Closings: Bradley’s Fine Diner Is on Hold & Michael’s Cookie Jar Opens Downtown
Despite The Fresh Market expanding throughout Houston last year, one of the locations has already closed, and it’s the one across the street from Central Market — a likely reason for the market’s closure. CultureMap reports that this is the only Fresh Market location closing in the Houston area; the…
South Side Roller Derby Seeks Local Bands to Rock the Track
“She was five-foot-six and 215, a bleached-blonde mama with a streak of mean And the roller derby program said that she was built like a ‘fridgerator with a head.” That’s how singer-storyteller Jim Croce described his “Roller Derby Queen” 40 years ago, but times have changed. Today’s player is a…
The Natural: Laura Stevenson Returns to Houston
Listening to a Laura Stevenson song conjures up words like “natural” and “organic,” which may seem at odds with someone so strongly associated with punk music. Still, it came as little surprise when she talked dogs, donkeys, squirrels and other beautiful natural creatures in advance of her show Sunday evening…
Against Me! Today: “No Sugar Dust or Fancy Tricks”
Every half-decade or so, a band becomes the epicenter of a punk-gone-popular zeitgeist. The Clash became hybrid sonic legends underpinned by a political conscience, Nirvana delivered the sludge-core ennui of the Pacific Northwest to the masses, Green Day brought tightly coiled power-trio fare to FM-radio daylight of FM radio and…
The Best Concerts in Houston This Weekend: Rozz Zamorano Memorial, Rodney Crowell, etc.
2 Chainz Bayou Music Center, March 14 How do we miss the days that 2 Chainz went by Tity Boi. Whether rapping as one-half of Atlanta duo Playaz Circle or under his more recent moniker, you probably know who 2 Chainz is, because the man is straight-up everywhere. From appearances…
10 Initials Worse Than NRG for Renaming Reliant Stadium
It has been widely reported that NRG Energy, the company that bought the retail division of Reliant Energy in 2009, would be re-branding Reliant Stadium and the surrounding complex as part of efforts to make its name change more visible. Reliant agreed to pay $300 million over 30 years in…
Shooting at Adair Kitchen Shocks Galleria Residents and Workers
Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, March 11, two workers were shot while leaving their jobs at Adair Kitchen , which is located at 5161 San Felipe. According to the police report, the victims, 31-year-old Estela Renteria, a cook, and 20-year-old Jose Isabel-Amador Vasquez, a dishwasher, were approached by two men…
Cheers! The First Houston Whiskey Festival Is Here
The first Houston Whiskey Festival is upon us. On Saturday, March 15, at the Julia Ideson Building, you can sample more than 60 whiskies from around the world (other spirits and cocktails will also be available) while enjoying the cigar lounge, live brass bands and more. (No tickets will be…
Update: Third Person Dies; Man, 21, Charged With Capital Murder in SXSW Fatal Crash
Update: 3/17 Sandy Thuy Le, 26, who had previously been listed in critical condition after Rashad Charjuan Owens allegedly drove into a crowd of SXSW festival-goers has been pronounced dead, according to Austin police. She’s the third person to die in the incident. Update from Austin Police on 3/14, with…
Jake Owen at Reliant Stadium, 3/12/2014
Jake Owen Reliant Stadium March 12, 2013 Jake Owen gave up professional golf for country music. Wonder how much that decision weighed on him. Not much, probably. No idea what kind of golfer he was, but Owen has such an easy charisma and magnetic orientation towards audiences — most of…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 15, Kobe Beef at Nara
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus® issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Sir Elton John at Ford Arena, Beaumont, 3/12/2014
Sir Elton John Ford Arena, Beaumont March 12, 2014 “My first show was in 1974, and the tickets were $7.50 then. A lot has changed since then.” The man sitting next to me, Jeff Young, has now seen Elton John play 165 times, and is beaming as he recalls his…
Get Rodeo Ready (But Don’t Stop There) at Emerson Rose
Emerson Rose boutique is tucked between the Heights General Store and Torchy’s Tacos on W. 19th Street, and according to co-owner Bonnie Reay, she already feels right at home. “We have only been open a few months, but we’re so excited to be here,” said Bonnie, who owns Emerson Rose…
It’s an Egg of a Different Color! Why Shell Hues Vary
A good friend of mine raises chickens and regularly surprises me with eggs straight from the henhouse. With their oversize orange yolks and superior taste, these ova outdo a dozen from H-E-B any day of the week. These farm-fresh eggs also outshine supermarket eggs in terms of appearance, as well…
Making Homemade Crème Fraîche Is Much Easier Than You Think
Crème fraîche may sound fancy, but it’s really just soured cream. With its roots in France, it was traditionally made by leaving fresh cow’s cream at room temperature until it thickened. Today, since our cream is pasteurized (or even ultra-pasteurized), we have to introduce an outside bacterial culture, such as…
Real Pirate Treasure Comes to Moody Gardens
It was a weird fact to learn, but in all the history of nautical archeology there has been one, and only one, completely authenticated pirate ship wreck that has been discovered. It was the Whydah, which sank in 1717 but was discovered by Barry Cliffords in 1984. Now, the surviving…
Despite the Astros’ Legal Claims, More Money’s Not the Key to Competing With Texas
I’ve read way too much of the legal documentation generated in the Astros/CSN Houston bankruptcy litigation. And I’m not much in the mood to rehash what I’ve read — I also assume you’re pretty tired of reading about it, too. But I did recently see a new argument generated by…
Gary Numan at Fitzgerald’s, 3/12/2014
Gary Numan Fitzgerald’s March 12, 2014 Though he’ll be forever best known for “Cars,” his enduringly popular hit recorded all the way back in 1979, Gary Numan has always been a man drawn toward the future, not the past. When most of his early contemporaries are cashing in on the…
UPDATED: Overnight SXSW Crash Leaves 2 Dead, 23 Injured
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims from tonight’s tragedy. Make sure everyone you know is home safe tonight.— The Hawk (@mohawkaustin) March 13, 2014 A statement from the Mohawk about two hours after the fatal crash outside. UPDATE (Thursday, 1 p.m.): According to more current…
Reliant Stadium May Be Changing Names, But Texans Still Lining Pockets With Naming Rights Fees
For over a decade, Bob McNair has been given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his ownership of the Houston Texans. “He brought football back to Houston and he spent a billion dollars to do it,” is the familiar refrain. Part of that sentence is true. After…
An Irish Cocktail With the Taste of Texas
Jameson Irish Whiskey and Q Ginger Ale with a slice of Texas grapefruit isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day.
The Rocks Off 200: Matthew Davis Buehrer, Runaway Sun’s Globally Thinking Bassist
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? Do you…
WhatsApp With Facebook Taking Over the World?
I try my best to keep up with all the web goings-on that the kids are into: For one, it’s a part of my job and for two, it makes me feel not so old. But I won’t lie; I had never even heard the word WhatsApp before two weeks…
Greg Abbott’s Past Court Fight Against Equal Pay
Abbott World just can’t seem to catch a break lately. It began Sunday with his dancing around the question of his support for the Texas Equal Pay Act and some very damaging evidence emerged earlier this week. State Senator Wendy Davis held a teleconference with Senator Sylvia Garcia and former…
March Kickstarter Round-Up: Your Lactic Threshold and Some Great Surreal Art
Once a month we’ll be bringing you a look at some of the best local Kickstarter campaigns in order to let you know what’s getting ready to be unleashed through the help of small investors. Fluid Dynamics: It’s rare that I get really excited by art projects on Kickstarter because…
The United States of Desserts: Mississippi Mud Brownies
In this series, we examine the history and origins of famous sweets, confections, and desserts associated with certain American states. Mississippi was the second state whose name I learned how to spell (the first, naturally, being my home state of Pennsylvania). If you uttered the letters in a certain repetitive…
Cowboy Diaries 2014: Jesse Bail, Doing What He Knows Best
True cowboys are hard to find, but not at the Houston Rodeo. Life on the road leads them here this time every year for the biggest rodeo in the world, where they’ll ride and wrangle livestock for cash and glory. Each day, Hair Balls will spotlight one person with enough…
Crawfish Season Is Off to a Slow Start, But Here’s Where to Get Your Mudbugs
“The only thing better than a crawfish dinner is five crawfish dinners.” Coach Red Beaulieu, The Waterboy Ain’t that the truth? It’s time to eat up, because crawfish season is upon us once again … well, sort of. Gulf coast crawfish season typically begins in early to mid-March, but this…
Rest of the Best: Top 10 Movies Set in Houston
Our city seems like it’s had to fight for its identity on a national scale sometimes. How many movies have you seen set in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago? Happens all the time, yet despite ranking right up there in terms of population, diversity, culture, and history it seems…
The Last VJ’s Top Five Videos of the Week
Welcome back to The Last VJ, music fans! Gone forever are the days where we vote for winners and losers, and instead we’ll just focus on the best finds to be found. This week we see ducks dancing, J-Rock J-Rocking, and one of the best pure performance videos I’ve ever…
Life Carved From Clay
A friend of mine, who’s in his fifties, is getting an MFA in nonfiction writing. Many of the other students in his program are in their twenties, and most have no interest in writing any kind of nonfiction other than memoir. Everyone, it seems, has a story to tell, and…
The Dune That Died
The most perfect works of art are those suspended between conception and realization, the ones that seize you up with how great they’re gonna be. (Well, those and Busby Berkeley numbers.) Alejandro Jodorowsky’s daft, daring, surrealist, possibly impossible adaptation of Dune, Frank Herbert’s spice-mining science-fiction novel that later proved unadaptable…
Fourteen Going on Everything
In her pitch-perfect feature film debut, writer-director Eliza Hittman explores the terrible uncertainties of adolescence, and in the process reclaims the word “girls” for its rightful owners. Fourteen-year-old Lila (Gina Piersanti) is way too young to lose her virginity, and smart enough to know it, but she can think of…
Speaking Truth to the Choir
Have you ever felt that you needed to see Anita Hill’s family doing the Electric Slide? It’s clear from the subtitle that Freida Mock’s documentary Anita: Speaking Truth to Power will be a rah-rah job, which is fine. What isn’t clear, and what isn’t fine at all, is why the…
Missing Dads
Tyler Perry probably wishes he’d been raised by a single mom. As he has said in interviews, his father, Emmitt, was abusive and once beat him so hard with a vacuum hose that his skin felt flayed. In response, the writer-director reveres mothers, synthesizing his mom and aunt into the…
Steve Tyrell & Friends
Singer/producer Steve Tyrell grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward. (“I was the only white guy around for miles,” he jokes.) His neighborhood friends included other budding musicians, among them Houston Music Hall of Fame inductee Joe Sample. Tyrell’s parents were fans of Frank Sinatra, but he was into rhythm and…
I Don’t Want My Kids Anymore. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! MY PAST HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT ME Dear Willie D: I moved from Los Angeles…
“Curtis Gannon: Remnants of Yesterday / Fragments of Tomorrow”
In his first exhibition at The Mission, Houston-based artist Curtis Gannon tackles Pop art using American action comics for his material. The centerpiece for “Curtis Gannon: Remnants of Yesterday/Fragments of Tomorrow” is an installation of suspended, scattered miniature bottles. It’s what Gannon calls “controlled randomness.” Other works include panels of…
20/20/20
A lot of comedy is about doing it short and fast. Clubs know that if they keep a comedian between the five- and ten-minute mark on set time, if the crowd doesn’t like them, at least it’s not too long before the next act can try to win them back…
May Catch On
Here’s a hearty keep-at-it award for Christopher Folino and Todd Burrows, directors of this restless, reckless superhero crime curio, an on-the-cheap indie that feels like a couple years’ worth of some noirish throwback comic book series shredded up and fed into one of those machines where dollar bills fly around…
“Mário Macilau: The Price of Cement and Recent Work”
Marcus Jarrell Willis, a former Houstonian and now a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, was in awe of the famous company when he first saw it onstage. Willis was a student at the time, and the experience made a lasting impact. It inspired him to become a…
These Kids Yesterday
Today it’s hard for us to fathom why preachers used to rail so vehemently against jitterbugging. Even with cultural context — black music infiltrating white America; the revolution of rhythm over melody — the athletic whirligig swing-time boogie craze of the ’30s and ’40s now looks as wholesome as the…
Anime Matsuri
This is the sixth year for the Anime Matsuri convention and the first time that it has moved into the George R. Brown Convention Center to join other growing dens of geekery like Comicpalooza. The setting will be host to a much bigger spread of Japanese culture. Top of the…
Fans’ Fiction
According to lore, Liberace used to greet the tourists who’d come by bus to gawk at his bejeweled home with the line, “I hope you like it. After all, you paid for it!” Not everyone has to like Rob Thomas’s Veronica Mars, the feature-length incarnation of his much-loved television series,…
Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion
Zakir Hussain, a classical tabla virtuoso, is considered a national treasure in his native India. Hussain brings his artistry to Houston, courtesy of the Indo-American Association, with Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion. Joining Hussain will be Deepak Bhatt (dhol), Niladri Kumar (sitar), Vijay Chauhan (dholki), V. Selvaganesh (kanjira and…
Ready for Battle
Highlights from Hair Balls Political Animals Wendy Davis v. Greg Abbott. Let me take the suspense out of this race: Abbott will win in convincing fashion. As I’ve noted before, there are simply not enough women and minority voters in Texas who will support Davis such that she can win…
A Coffin in Egypt
Myrtle is a 90-year-old woman, reflecting on a life that has had its dark moments along with the brightness. A creation of the famed late playwright Horton Foote, Myrtle will be played by true opera royalty Frederica von Stade when Houston Grand Opera presents the one-act A Coffin in Egypt…
There’s More to Streaming Than Netflix
As of this writing, the Netflix Instant catalog boasts more than 10,000 titles available for online streaming — a number that, as per the official Netflix rhetoric, seems colossal. But the landscape of this digital paradise may not be quite so idyllic. As classic film enthusiast Jaime Christley reminds us,…
Boeing Boeing
Bernard, the playboy at the center of Playhouse 1960’s production of Boeing Boeing, has a pretty sweet setup. He has three airline stewardesses rotating through his Paris bachelor pad on a whirlwind schedule. Each woman believes she’s engaged to Bernard. His scheme has worked so far because of the women’s…
I’m Trying to Love Wes Anderson, That Miniaturist Puppet-Master
If you were to survey people who pay attention to movies — to go door-to-door with a clipboard, a sharpened No. 2 pencil, and a sheaf of forms with the word SURVEY printed in clean block letters across the top, later to be tabulated on a vintage Underwood adding machine…
Gidion’s Knot
Two women sit down together to discuss one 11-year-old boy, who may or may not have done something he shouldn’t have. One woman is his mother, the other his teacher. It is, in fact, the dreaded parent-teacher conference, amped up to the nth degree in Gidion’s Knot. “Both are dealing…
Endless Love Earns Its Title the Bad Way
The endless love in question unfolds in that universe where shy, bookish teenage girls are always catalog-model beautiful, not a pimple in sight or a pound overweight, not a garment from Hot Topic darkening their closets. The movie tells us that 17-year-old Jade Butterfield (Gabriella Wilde) is “awkward” and has…
“Vladimir Frumin and Gennady Meergus: Behind the Mountains”
Photographer Vladimir Frumin’s series Russia 2013 was inspired by a visit to Siberia after 23 years of living abroad. “How had I changed during that time?” he says. “How had my friends changed? I wanted to talk to them and see how we were different.” The photographs, posed shots of…
He’s Gotta Have It
Let’s start with the ending, the closing credits disclaimer that insists that none of the lead actors in Lars von Trier’s two-part erotic epic Nymphomaniac filmed penetrative sex. If there is real sex in the movie, and it sure looks like there is, it must have been the duty of…
UPDATED: 20 ’90s Pop-Punk Albums Better Than Green Day’s Dookie
UPDATE (Thursday, 11:15 a.m.): Corrects the pogo-worthy track on NOFX’s Punk In Drublic to “Reeko.” “Bob” is on 1992’s White Trash, 2 Heebs and a Bean. Our bad. Brace yourselves, kids. Green Day’s Dookie turned 20 last month, and that means we’ve all got a case of the olds. Grab…
The 2014 Houston St. Patrick’s Day Guide
Mondays are, of course, the worst, but there’s no better way to spruce up the start to your workweek than with a trip to your favorite haunt on St. Paddy’s Day, where you can knock back a few green beers, listen to the music of the old country and take…
Need for Speed Has Aaron Paul and Not Much Else
Think adapting War and Peace is hard? Try adapting the race car video game Need for Speed. Tolstoy’s 1,225-page behemoth has nothing on the Electronic Arts franchise’s irreconcilably complicated 20-year, 20-installment history: Sometimes cars are subject to physics; sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they’re invulnerable; sometimes they break. Maybe you’re in…
Wes Anderson Takes on World War II in The Grand Budapest Hotel
Leave it to Wes Anderson to make a film about World War II without mentioning Germany. In The Grand Budapest Hotel, a wundercabinet set in the fictitious Eastern European Republic of Zubrowka circa 1932, Anderson captures the collapse of a kingdom and rise of a reich without so much as…
Capsule Art Reviews: “The Age of Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute,” “Georges Braque: A Retrospective,” “Funnel Tunnel,” “Garden Object,” Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938
“The Age of Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute” These days, Impressionist exhibitions are the art museum version of the ballet The Nutcracker: frothy and beautiful, if a little overexposed, and sure to pack ’em in at almost any price. Even though we’ve already…
Capsule Stage Reviews: The Columnist, Fool, Rome, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily, The Wizard of Oz
The Columnist David Auburn received the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for his play Proof, and now turns his attention to the widely read Joseph Alsop, whose influential column until the mid-’70s made him one of the power brokers of Washington, D.C. Joe Alsop was a closeted homosexual when…
Special Best Of Edición
Dear Mexican, The current clothing trend is for ladies to wear low-cut jeans and belly shirts that expose their midriffs. That looks great on a hard-bodied woman, so why do so many fat Mexican mujeres insist on dressing like this? It’s one of the grossest things imaginable. Their gut hangs…
Genre Man
Like James Bond, Elijah Wood spends his latest film in a tuxedo trying to save a beautiful blonde from an assassin. Only he’s gotta do it sitting down. In Spanish director Eugenio Mira’s tidy thriller Grand Piano, Wood plays first-class concert pianist Tom Selznick, a prodigy nicknamed “Failznick” after choking…
The Welcome Return of Kurt Russell
A wise man — or, more precisely, a wiseass trucker named Jack Burton — once opined that “it’s all in the reflexes.” Few actors have had better ones than Kurt Russell, who makes a welcome return to theaters this weekend in The Art of the Steal. Having been largely MIA…
How Will Obamacare Affect Musicians?
Just two days after she received her brand-new Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas insurance card guaranteeing her coverage, Alexis Kidd was in the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hermann Northwest. Sitting with her at every possible moment was her husband, Christian, a.k.a. Christian Arnheiter, a.k.a. Christian Oppression, but mostly…
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Features John Singer Sargent: The Watercolors
The reputations of artists rise and fall over decades, until finally they’re either ensconced in the pantheon of the Greats, or more or less forgotten. Most, of course, are forgotten. The reputation of American expat artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) hasn’t just risen and fallen; it has soared and crashed,…
Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music Shines at the Houston Grand Opera
Has any classic Stephen Sondheim musical ever looked quite so ravishing as this Houston Grand Opera production of A Little Night Music, borrowed from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis? Sondheim’s multiple Tony-winner, awarded best Book (Hugh Wheeler), Score and Musical, freely adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s period movie romance Smiles of…
Oral History
Screwston, Texas The shittiest thing about Houston Rap, the big, glossy picture book put out late last year by Sinecure Books, is that it isn’t 11 million pages long. A ten-year labor of photographic love by documentarians Peter Beste and Lance Scott Walker, the book is an absolute treasure trove…
Roost Bistro Debuts New Dishes
On the Menu Maybe it’s because it’s nearly spring and more and more wonderful fruits and vegetables are coming into season. Maybe it’s because chef/owner Kevin Naderi celebrated the restaurant’s two-year anniversary back in December, so now he’s really pulling out all the stops. Perhaps it’s because he’s practicing for…
Asian and South American-Inspired Fare at Fusion Taco
The words and phrases used by my friend to describe the food are not fit to print. Suffice it to say that he wanted to do unmentionable things to the queso, and he wanted the lamb taco to do unmentionable things to him. This is the introduction I had to…
