Summer Film Guide
In the decadent 21st century, the summer movie season now sprawls from March through December. (Star Wars: Episode VII is due to awaken the Force December 18; every prior Star Wars picture has come out Memorial Day weekend.) But I’ll stick to tradition and call Memorial Day the start of…
After School Special: Local Students Review Recent Local Releases
Another school year is quickly drawing to a close. Area students are not only looking forward to a reprieve from pencils, books and teachers’ dirty looks, they’re also ready to catch up on all the music they may have missed while writing term papers or studying for final exams. As…
Rap’s Five Least Likely Pop Collaborations
Hip-hop is a genre that doesn’t look back often. Stars rise and fall every day, and the cycle continues. It’s a constantly forward-looking scene, abandoning its former golden children like so much fodder after only a few years when a new trend comes along. Respect for your elders? Please. Rap…
Extreme Sports in Houston
Hovering about 18 feet over Galveston Bay, the aspiring pro athlete holds himself steady as a stream of water propels him into the air. His feet, encased in what appears to be a water-powered rocket, maneuver in line with his body expertly as he flips backwards and then dolphin-dives into…
Mad Max Shows How Anti-Feminism is Ruining Masculinity
That seems counterintuitive doesn’t it? It’s not the usual line that gets thrown around. Mostly people talk about how feminism is gelding the manly man of yesteryear and replacing him with women in domains they were previously excluded from. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s anti-feminism that’s the…
The 10 Worst Guns N’ Roses Songs
The first four albums I ever owned were the first four albums Guns N’ Roses ever made. I wouldn’t even say that they were my favorite band growing up because there weren’t other bands. Music would flicker in and out of MTV but only Axl, Slash and the gang were…
Judd Apatow’s Second Act
Two and a half years ago, Judd Apatow released This Is 40, the most personal film of his career. He was anxious. He usually is. His default setting is inward panic. “I don’t know if people can understand the pressure to be funny,” Apatow says today, “just knowing how badly…
4 Houston Shops That Should Appeal To Any Fan Of Hats
In past generations, people wore hats more often than is fashionable in modern America, with many men and women wearing them almost anytime they left the house. Hats have never completely gone away of course, but with the exception of baseball style caps, it’s not common to see men wearing…
Run For It in Houston This Summer
Bathing suit season is in full swing. What better way to keep your summer bod in check than with an exhilarating fun run? Whether you’re a beginner hoping to get on a fit track, a family looking to enjoy some good old-fashioned and healthy fun, or an athlete ready to…
Eat This: Bodacious Brownie Cake at The Chocolate Bar
From the sweet folks that brought us enviable confections such as Uncle Darryl’s Cake and Pumpkin Cheesecake comes another dessert likely to clog your arteries but absolutely guaranteed to make you go, “MMMMM”: The Bodacious Brownie Cake. Having debuted approximately three months ago at The Chocolate Bar, the Bodacious Brownie Cake…
When It’s Hot Outside in Houston, Here’s What to Order
When temperatures turn a blistering 90 degrees and up, Houstonians start looking for fresh summertime foods to cool down from the inside out. It’s also the season for grilled foods — burgers, steaks and hot dogs — and there’s no better time to patronize our many food trucks than a…
Interview: Dan Starkey, Strax from Doctor Who
Dan Starkey currently plays the reconstructed Sontaran Strax on Doctor Who as part of the Paternoster Gang, which aids The Doctor in adventures that take place in Victorian London as well as far-flung places like Trenzalore and Demon’s Run. He sat down with us for a brief interview before he…
The Sights & Sounds of Hangout Music Fest 2015
Hangout Music Festival Gulf Shores, Alabama May 15-17, 2015 Every dream has a beginning. For Hangout Music Festival founders A.J. Niland and Shaul Zislan, that dream was to create a beach party-style music festival in Gulf Shores, Ala. Their dream was nearly shattered when the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster…
Fifth Circuit Says Racketeering Lawsuit Against Former HISD Trustee Larry Marshall Should Proceed
Larry Marshall, the former Houston ISD trustee and school board president accused in a bribery lawsuit, a man who has been embroiled in controversy time and time again while on the school board saw his fortunes take a definite turn for the worse Monday as a federal appeals court decided a…
Miami Gives Huge Contract Extension to Former Aggie Ryan Tannehill
The old saying in the NFL used to be “If you have two quarterbacks, then you really have no quarterback.” The implication of that saying, of course, was that if you don’t have a quarterback that is clear cut good enough to seize the job, then whoever wins the job…
Buzzkill Medical Marijuana Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
Last night an overwhelming majority of Texas House members voted to legalize some marijuana-derived compounds for patients suffering from uncontrollable seizures. To be sure, the passage of SB 339, which cleared the Senate earlier this month and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, is an historic moment for the…
Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Bad Blood’: Why This Song Sucks
The Billboard Music Awards are an event. They don’t necessarily fall in the rotation of peak award-show television like the Super Bowl, Grammys and Oscars, but they do matter. They matter in a social-media world where Miguel attempting to leap over a crowd and accidentally delivering a Hulk Hogan leg-drop…
Bette Midler’s ‘Divine Intervention’: Brilliance, With Occasional Nonsense
Bette Midler Toyota Center May 18, 2015 Bette Midler’s “Divine Intervention” show was an odd mix of brilliance and WTF moments. The brilliance came from Midler. Most of the time she was onstage, she was giving a stellar performance (the key phrase there is “most of the time”; more on…
2015 NBA Playoffs: Rockets Warriors, Western Conference Finals Preview and Prediction
“Nobody believes in us.” — Every disrespected athlete ever It’s a mantra that every underdog athlete since the dawn of time, in a meaningful athletic situation, has embraced — taking “nobody believes in us” and trying to convert it into some sort of emotional fuel to spur his team on…
Dish Society Wins All at the 3rd Annual Big Taste of Houston
The third annual Big Taste of Houston benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters took place Sunday night. For the third year in a row, KPRC 2 News’ Rachel McNeill presided over the festivities. Celebrity food judge Adam Goldberg (Twitter: @Lifewortheating) also returned for the third year running, flying in to Houston…
The 2015 Houston Summer Events Guide
Things are really heating up in Houston. And we’re not just talking about the temperature. From mind-numbingly delicious culinary festivals to exhilarating dance showcases that will get participants on their feet, this summer is full of fabulous events. Kick things off with The Woodlands’ Wine and Food Week, where guests…
Big Eyed Fish has a Great Concept but Needs More Great Food
The dense bread pudding at Big Eyed Fish is baked in a shallow layer in a round pan until the edges become dry, brown and crisp. Alongside is a fan of fresh strawberry slices and a metal cup of whipped cream piled in a tall, snowy heap. Despite these positive…
Outlaw Bikers and Gunfire: What We Know About the Motorcycle Gangs in Waco
The investigation is still underway in Waco regarding the events leading up to a massive gun battle between rival outlaw biker gangs and the police at a Twin Peaks restaurant Sunday, which left nine bikers dead and at least 16 more seriously wounded. According to reports, the restaurant had been…
American Modern: Collector Alice Simkins has Assembled an Exhibit That Sparkles at MFAH
Revolution was in the air and its leaders were not to be satisfied by anything less than total overthrow. No longer would pretty pictures of Hudson River landscapes be tolerated, nor even gritty views of decaying city tenements. Paintings in the new order had to be less and more at…
Open Carry Set for State Senate Showdown
As a fan of the late, great Justified, a TV show in which every major character either fatally shot someone or was the target of gunfire (or both!), whenever the open-carry debate pops up, I sometimes think, “sure, waving guns around in public, whatever. That happened every single episode on…
JerryBuilt’s Seasonal Specials Boast Bold Flavors and Sensational Textures
Although Tarantino fans will get an extra kick out of JerryBuilt’s new “Big Kahuna Burger,” all will enjoy this seasonal special for its layers of intense flavors and textural variety. The savory, rich juices of the beef burger are well complemented by salty crispy bacon strips but lest both in…
This Week In Houston Food Blogs: Servers Can Make All The Difference
Houston Fed’s chronicle of all the restaurants he visited in April is well worth reading. He starts off with a tale of how a server can completely change whether or not a diner will enjoy the experience. After that, it’s a whirlwind tour around Houston, all in one blog post…
Upcoming: BettySoo, Ghoul, Invincible Czars, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, Raekwon & Ghostface, Zedd, etc.
25th Houston Int’l Jazz Festival: With Rachelle Ferrell, Los Lonely Boys. Sat., August 1, 7 p.m., $28.25 to $68.25. Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas, Houston, 713-225-8551. 94.5 The Buzz Weenie Roast: With Shinedown, Blue October, Meg Myers, Nothing More, X Ambassadors. Sat., July 11, 3 p.m., $9.45 to $75. Cynthia…
Rescued: Project HEEL is Saving Street Dogs and Incarcerated Juveniles
The respectful, guarded stance of the three boys in the lockup jumpsuits lasts maybe 20 seconds when they walk into Unit Six at the Harris County Leadership Academy near Katy. Almost immediately, they beeline to the row of cages that line the far wall. One of them is occupied by…
Pop Culture’s Big Names are Headed to Houston’s Comicpalooza 2015
We caught up with Comicpalooza founder John Simons just as he was “somewhere between insane and crazy.” The four-day long popular culture convention is just days away and Simons is still confirming guests (he puts us on hold to talk to Jackie Earle Haley during our phone call). Simons and…
Almost 30 Big Houston Concerts Worth Checking Out This Summer
Future Arena Theatre, May 21 If there’s one thing you should know about rapper and singer Future, it’s that he’s just being honest. Or at least that’s what a person could gather from his 2014 mega-hit “Honest,” a heavily auto-tuned track that helped launch the Atlanta native into mainstream success…
A Day at the Races: Balling Out of Control at Sam Houston Race Park
Not too long ago, my friend and I were having a conversation about going up to Austin to eat at Shake Shack. If you’ve never been, it’s a delicious hamburger restaurant that got its start in NYC’s Madison Square Park and has now made its way all the way down…
Built to Spill’s Secret to Success: Just Keep Playing
Last month, the highly influential and legendary indie-rock band Built to Spill put out Untethered Moon, their first album since 2009. The album represents another solid entry into the band’s already stacked catalog, proving that while they have found a comfortable groove, the output has not faced any diminishing returns…
Biz Vicious’ Brief Set Leaves Downtown Gallery Crowd Dumbfounded
Biz Vicious Esperson Art Gallery Ma y 16, 2015 Recently the esteemed Houston producer Flcon Fcker strongly recommended checking out a rapper whom he esteems as one of H-town’s finest MC’s, Biz Vicious. Not one to question his endorsements, and equally intrigued by the name, I immediately went to Bandcamp…
NKOTB’s “Main Event” Delivers the Wrong Stuff (No Offense, TLC & Nelly)
NKOTB, TLC, Nelly Toyota Center May 16, 2015 Guys, we need to talk. We could have lived our entire lives without ever seeing Donnie Wahlberg rub a fan’s T-shirt on his balls during a concert. And yet here we are. But while we’re all for the revival of nostalgia acts, it’s…
Game Of Thrones S05E06: “We Both Have Our Fantasies, Brother Lancel. Mine Just Happen To Be Entertaining.”
Sorry I wasn’t around last week to cover the previous episode. Lots of doings transpired in the previous episode, though: dinner with the Boltons, the attack of the Stone Men, and can we at least acknowledge how awesome Stannis correcting grammar was? Last night’s episode, “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” was — for…
Stanton Welch’s World Premiere of Zodiac Calls for Abbreviated Costume Design
About a year ago, Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch met with New York City-based stage designer Eduardo Sicango to begin describing his vision for Zodiac, a new ballet based upon the 12 astrological signs which will world premiere as part of Houston Ballet’s Morris, Welch & Kylian mixed repertory…
100 Favorite Dishes 2015: No. 93, Housemade Bologney With Smoked Cheddar Spread and Crackers at Public Services Wine & Whisky
When I was a child, I’d make myself a bologna sandwich on squishy white bread with a slice of American cheese and mayonnaise. Sometimes, I’d toast the bread first. Later, I decided that it was best to toast only one side of the bread so the inside of the sandwich…
Rice Owls Win 20th Straight Conference Title
The Rice Owls took both ends of a regular season ending doubleheader against FIU on Saturday afternoon. The two wins gave the Owls the outright regular season C-USA title, marking the 20th straight year that the Owls have won either a conference title, a conference tournament title, or both. That’s…
This Week In Houston Food Events: Marking The End Of Spring With Wine Dinners
Monday, May 18 Dinner Before Bette Midler Concert At Quattro At Four Seasons (Going to Rush instead? The special repeats on Thursday.) Quattro is having another of its clever pre-concert dinners that include free parking within walking distance of Toyota Center. Dinner options are for either one or two courses…
Dish of the Week: Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we’ll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. Find other dishes of the week here. This week, we’re taking a look at Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza. Made in a specialized deep and round pan, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza has a pan-crisped…
A.D. Players’ The Miracle Worker is a Grand Outing
The set-up: Is there a viscerally more exciting American play than William Gibson’s bio-drama The Miracle Worker (1959)? Are there better plays? Sure. But I can’t think of any other that so catches the audience by the throat and wrings it dry, that so encapsulates the human spirit, that makes…
10 Things Fans Hopping on the Rockets Bandwagon Should Know
You haven’t been following the Rockets very closely for a while. Who can blame you? Up until Sunday night, it had been 18 years since the Rockets made it out of the second round of the playoffs. In fact, they had only made it out of the first round once in…
Eat This: Soft-Shell Crab and Crawfish Enchiladas at Arnaldo Richards’ Pico’s
If you only eat soft-shell crabs once while they’re in season, go to Arnaldo Richards’ Pico’s Mex-Mex. Yes, it’s great and all to be able to enjoy soft-shell crab dishes year-round in Houston, where many restaurateurs keep a frozen stockpile of these crustaceans on hand. There’s no denying, however, that the…
Dante Higgins Ends Two-Year Silence On ‘Good Forever’
What happened to Dante Higgins? It’s a conversation-starter. A question that is followed by a ball of answers, some of which are anecdotal and others flat-out opinion. The smallest answer you can give is that he’s gone through a few things between albums one and two. The largest answer you…
Magician Robby Bennett Brings A Renewed Sense Of Wonder To His Audiences
The history of stage magic goes back centuries, and some version of the art form can be traced back to the earliest human civilizations. People have always been entertained by performers who seemed able to create miracles onstage, as seeing the impossible appear to occur right in front of their…
10 Screenshots from “Pretty Girls” That Set Feminism Back 100 Years
All around the world Pretty girls, wipe the floor with all the boys Jump the line into the front Do what we like, get what we want. Dear God, make it stop. If you’re not living under a rock (or some other godforsaken place without Internet), chances are you’ve heard…
The Five Best Concerts In Houston This Week: Bette Midler, Built to Spill, The Bluebonnets, Queensryche, etc.
Bette Midler Toyota Center, May 18 It’s a little late, but a date to see Bette Midler would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. The two-time Oscar nominee is an entertainer of the highest order, and her first concert tour in quite a while promises plenty of old-fashioned showbiz razzle-dazzle…
Houston Press BrewFest Draws Dozens Of Breweries and More Than 1,000 Beer Fans
Despite more than 1,000 attendees at Saturday’s Houston Press BrewFest, no one seemed to have any problems getting enough beer. A ticket got each attendee eight samples and extra beer cards were for sale (a mere $8 for eight more tastes). Even at the popular tables, lines were short and…
UPDATED: Eleven:Eleven Has Closed — But Why?
Houston diners will be surprised to hear that yesterday’s service at Eleven:Eleven at 607 West Gray might have already been the last time they turned off the lights and locked the doors. Eric Sandler of Culturemap Houston reported yesterday about the closing, but at the time, chef Kevin Bryant said…
Matthew McConaughey Was His Chilled-Out Self at the University of Houston Commencement
Graduations are usually only exciting to the people actually marching along to a thumping rendition of Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance. But that electric slightly-possibly-stoned graduation mood rippled through the entire crowd on Friday night as they packed into TDECU Stadium. They were all officially there to watch their loved…
Watch Rep. Sylvester Turner’s Cri de Coeur for Grand Jury Reform
State Rep. Sylvester Turner, a staple of the Democratic caucus in the Texas House for more than a quarter century, is making what could be his final pass through the legislature, having announced his candidacy for Houston mayor. Over the years Turner developed a reputation for delivering impassioned speeches from…
Will State Rep. Bell’s Bill to Super-Ban Gay Marriage Rise from the Dead?
Marriage equality advocates are cautiously celebrating a victory today, after the last of some 20 proposed bills with a noticeable anti-LGBT bent failed to make it out of the House last night. House Democrats chubbed (a parliamentary process allowing them to try and stall other bills from being heard) HB…
University of Houston May Have to Halt Commencement Due to Bad Weather
Barring any truly crazy weather the University of Houston commencement scheduled for 7 p.m. today will happen just as planned, UH spokesman Mike Emery says. But if the weather does get really bad — “really bad” being defined as worse than a little rain — they might have to halt…
Rick Perry Signals Presidential Run (Sort Of)
It appears we’re almost past that point in the presidential primary season where we pretend it’s still an open question whether a politician that’s given us every signal he’s going to run will actually do it. Trying to rebound from his bombed 2012 presidential run, former Gov. Rick Perry has…
Tom Brady, the NFL and Burdens of Proof
As reasonable people, can we all agree that this so-called “Deflategate” thing involving Tom Brady and the New England Patriots is perhaps the stupidest sports controversy to ever exist? Not even the baseball performance-enhancing-drugs controversy has come close to this level of stupidity, though that, too, was a rather stupid…
OSHA Proposes Slap-on-the-Wrist Fine for DuPont Accident That Killed Four Workers
In the months following the toxic chemical leak at DuPont’s La Porte plant last November that killed four workers, investigators began to piece together exactly what happened. Their damning assessments, as provided to Congress and in periodic updates to the media, were all the more stunning considering DuPont’s self-described role…
The Thrill Is Gone: B.B. King Remembered
Today the entire music world is mourning the loss of guitarist B.B. King, the last Mississippi Delta-born bluesman to become a worldwide household name. After entering hospice care at his Las Vegas home two weeks ago today, King, who was 89, passed away in his sleep at 9:40 p.m. Pacific…
B.B. King and the Greatest Note Ever
My favorite guitar player, BB King, died Thursday. Undoubtedly – and correctly – as people write about his remarkable career, they will pay particular tribute to his 1965 Live at the Regal album, documenting a 1964 concert in Chicago. There’s no way to overstate how powerful a performance this was…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Mad Max: Fury Road
Title: Mad Max: Fury Road Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote: “Movies aren’t stupid, they fill us with romance and hatred and revenge fantasies.” Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Five Night Riders out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: In the roar of an engine, he lost everything,…
Retaliation and Secrecy at HCC: A Tale of Two Lawsuits
There are some familiar, unifying themes in two lawsuits that continue to nag at Houston Community College. Retaliation and secrecy. We’ve already written much about the community college system’s ongoing legal battle against its former general counsel Renee Byas — how HCC says it fired Byas last summer (without cause,…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Our Brewfest Is Going Down
Houston Greekfest @ St Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church Friday – Sunday 1100 Eldridge In its 20th year, St. Basil’s annual Greekfest is back and better than ever. Immerse yourself in Greek culture as you enjoy traditional Greek eats – including dolmades, gyros, spanikopita and baklava – alongside live…
Say Girl Say Celebrates Its Labor of Love
“Say, girl, …say!” It’s not just the name of yet another exciting young band from Houston, it’s also a salutation traded between the band and its loyal followers. Say Girl Say hopes to see many of those followers tonight at Walters for the release of its eponymous album, its first…
Needle Exchange Program Could Come to Houston
Earlier this week, the Texas House of Representatives finally passed a bill allowing for the creation of needle exchange pilot programs in the state’s urban areas. San Antonio Representative Ruth Jones McClendon once again filed the bill, this time to relatively easy success (similar bills did not make it out…
10 Thoughts I Had Reading the Most Popular Texas Baby Names
The Social Security Administration released the list of most popular baby names, including ones just in our great states. Here’s the list. Boys: Girls: 1 Noah 1 Emma 2 Jacob 2 Sophia 3 Daniel 3 Isabella 4…
Local Punks Step Up to Help Save Maximumrocknroll
Let’s face it: the Internet has not been too good to Maximumrocknroll. Indisputably the ultimate punk-rock ‘zine, founder Tim Yohannan’s monthly soapbox of record reviews, artist interviews and political screeds spent nearly two unchallenged decades as both the document of record and primary connector between all of the world’s far-flung…
HISD Sets Some New School Boundaries, Backs Away From Others
With 139 speakers signed up to give their one-minute’s worth of opinions, the nine trustees of the Houston ISD began Thursday evening by dispatching one principal (Jason Catchings of Westbury High for allegedly forcing a substitute teacher to jack up grades. He and his attorney say no he didn’t.) Then…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Dinners for Winos & 92 Cent Dogs
On Wednesday, May 20, Nino’s and Vincent’s, 2817 West Dallas, will host their annual Sip & Stroll. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., guests will enjoy 16 unique varietals of wines from different regions of Italy alongside tasty bites and live music. Cost is $30 per person and advanced reservations…
Openings & Closings: La Fisheria, Dosi and Barnaby’s Just for Starters
Thanks to a tip that led us to call the restaurant, La Fisheria is closing its existing place at 4705 Inker in two or three months and will relocate to a space downtown around the same time. According to an employee we spoke with, the existing lease is up and…
The 5 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Houston Ballet’s Giselle, “Cosmic Dialogues” and More
Start your weekend off with the story of a broke-hearted peasant girl when the Houston Ballet presents Giselle at Miller Outdoor Theatre on Friday. Giselle falls in love with a nobleman and then dies of a broken heart when she discovers he’s already engaged to a member of royalty. Rising…
The Ronnie James Dio-MD Anderson Connection Lives On
For those of us who spent most of our teenage years headbanging and blasting metal, Ronnie James Dio was a legend. Though he was not quite as highly regarded as his predecessor in Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, those of us who gave Dio’s operatic vocals a chance found riches in…
Anatomy Of A Comeback: Rockets Get Improbable 119-107 Win Over Clippers
As I type this post, the replay of the Rockets’ 119-107 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series is playing on ESPN. Admittedly, I’m up late watching it just to reaffirm that the ending is the same as the one I saw…
Houston’s 10 Best Restaurants For Live Music
Going out to eat now and then is nice, as is going out to see live music performed, so why not combine the two? Many music venues in our area also serve bar food and snacks these days; the places on this list can stand on their own as eating establishments…
Jesus & Mary Chain’s ‘Honey’ Can’t Sweeten a Harsh Levitation Fest
As the sun grew tired of further dehydrating the crowd at the Levitation Festival last Saturday afternoon on Carson Creek Ranch, free water bottles were handed out to the crowd before San Francisco’s Thee Oh Sees took the stage. Festivalgoers seized the bottles, ripping them out of the hands to…
The 10 Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: John Prine, Daniel Markham, Austin Jones Band, etc.
John Prine Cullen Performance Hall (University of Houston), May 15 Although Kris Kristofferson or Guy Clark could probably at least carry his guitar, John Prine has few peers when it comes to craftsmanlike songwriting. The 68-year-old Illinois native — once known as the “Singing Mailman” — effectively took over from…
Sugar Land Rep. Rick Miller Gives House Dems the Gift of Chub
In a remarkable demonstration of legislative dithering, state Representative Rick Miller (R-Sugar Land) managed today to get a House Joint Resolution regarding federal spending through an initial hurdle in the state House. It’s not surprising, really, that the Lege passed on second reading HJR 77, which calls on U.S. Congress…
UPDATED: Westbury Principal Was Acting on Orders From Above in HISD, Attorney Says
The attorney for Jason Catchings, the Westbury High School principal put on leave for allegedly ordering that some students’ grades be raised to passing, says today he has documentation showing that Catchings was just following a superior’s orders. Austin-based attorney Tiger Hanner, who has represented educators for the past 25…
Meet Some Online Perverts Who Got a Reprieve
The 77 people in Harris County who have had their convictions of online solicitation of a minor in Harris County vacated — or are seeking such relief — include two teachers, an applicant for a Harris County constable’s office, and a genius who used a computer at the public library…
The 5 Best Tom Brady Deflate-Gate Parody Videos
Ok, I know a lot of you probably have Deflate-Gate fatigue, and I guess I would tell you, if that is the case, to hunker down or cancel your internet service, because this sucker is about to get drawn out O.J. style. Big gun attorneys are now involved (what up,…
Acid Mothers Temple Travels to New Dimensions of Sound
Acid Mothers Temple Fitzgerald’s May 13, 2014 If hallucinogenic rock and roll coupled with Mount Everest-sized feedback and noise slightly excites your interest, then Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. was the cult of choice Wednesday night at Fitzgerald’s. Invoking John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and early Pink Floyd,…
Lively Local Lads Love Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds House of Blues May 13, 2015 Oi, mate! Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds played at House of Blues Wednesday night, and we are just chuffed to bits with their performance. While we half-expected a bout of whinging or two, the show was an absolute doddle…
Pegstar’s New Venue Now Has a Name: White Oak Music Hall
Overnight, Houston’s Pegstar Concerts released the name and logo of its music venue in progress at N. Main in the Woodland Heights neighborhood on the Near North Side. Dubbed the White Oak Music Hall, it is scheduled to be completed in late 2014 or early 2015. Pegstar officials are hosting…
House Approves Bill Restricting Abortions for Minors
It just wouldn’t be a 21st-century Texas legislative session without a needless, hours-long incursion into the wombs of Lone Star women. And if you think it’d be hard to restrict abortion access any further than what was accomplished in 2013, when, despite-then state Sen. Wendy Davis’ filibuster and a flurry…
Slithering Neighbors – Dealing With The Types of Snakes That Might Live Near You
Houston is a huge modern metropolis and sometimes it’s difficult to remember that the city was originally founded on the banks of the bayou systems winding through town, and that despite all of the concrete, highways, and huge buildings, wildlife is still living throughout the area. While residents of greater…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Fadi Dimassi of Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill
Fadi Dimassi started his first restaurant like many independent owners do: by working, saving money and getting loans from friends. The first Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill was started with $60,000 pulled from various sources. That’s a shoestring budget by restaurant standards. Today, there are seven Fadi’s Mediterranean Grills. Four are in…
That Awkward Moment When You Realize Heath Ledger’s Joker Was The Hero
I’ve been seeing a lot of articles lately with headlines like “Why Heath Ledger’s Joker Will Never Be Matched”. I was going to do a take down of that for several reasons; he’s largely a product of a post-9/11 world that will eventually move on from that mindset, The Arkham…
Soccer Fan Loses His Job Over This NSFW Viral Video (w/ VIDEO)
Up until this past Sunday, the viral internet meme in which men walk up behind female television reporters and scream “F—- her right in the p——!”, which might be the dumbest cyber invention in the history of the web, was best known for being the impetus for the suspension of…
100 Favorite Dishes 2015: No. 94, Bo Luc Lac at Cheno’s Fast Food
For this dish, I headed to an old haunt that my family and I lived close to until three years ago. I pulled into the parking lot, somewhat dismayed that the sign that used to say “Chino’s Fast Food” now reads “Cheno’s Fast Food.” No matter what the name, it’s…
Hell Paso: Early At the Drive-In Side-Project Surfaces
In 2000 and 2001, At the Drive-In was an inescapable force. The El Paso natives made their name off the single “One Armed Scissor,” an unlikely MTV hit that paved the way for mainstream emo as we know it today. But the story didn’t start there for front man Cedric…
These Scientists Are Wrong: ’80s Pop Music Is Not Boring
Sorry, ’80s fanatics, but may be time to surrender your beloved Genesis records. It seems that science has proven pop music from that decade isn’t nearly as awesome as you remember it. According to a report on PBS’ Newshour last week, an article in the journal of Royal Society Open Science tracked…
I Caught My Son Watching Porn. Help!
I CAUGHT MY SON WATCHING PORN Dear Willie D: I caught my son watching porn on his computer when he was supposed to be sleep. He is 14 years old so I know that he has certain feelings at that age, but what does this mean, and should I punish…
A Brief Britpop Refresher Course
Although it was upstaged by the Queen Elizabeth/007 skydiving stunt, one of the lasting impressions from the 2012 opening ceremony of the London Olympics is what a big role British pop music has played in not only the UK’s recent history, but also its national character. And tonight one of…
Bill Making It Harder for Minors to Get Abortions Heads to House Floor
A bill that would radically change how and when minors can get an abortion without parental consent has been fast-tracked to hit the House floor later today. A law that passed during George W. Bush’s final term as governor created the so-called judicial bypass process in Texas, in which minors…
Zach Tate Finds Texas Life Suits Him Just Fine
Years ago, Zach Tate relocated to Clear Lake from Los Angeles. He has since fallen in love with the South, especially his nearness to both the beach life in Galveston and the bustling commotion of Houston, citing plenty of great spots in between for performing live music. But that’s not…
Dan Golvach Wants to Know a Few Things About the Man Accused of Killing His Son. Law Enforcement Says He Doesn’t Have the Right.
Three and a half months after his son’s murder, Dan Golvach is seeking some basic facts about the man authorities say killed him. Both the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department have explained to Golvach, with varying degrees of plausibility, why they can’t — or won’t —…
D.J. Swearinger Gets Picked Up by Tampa Bay (w/ O’Brien AUDIO)
For what I would presume was the last several days, the Houston Texans had been shopping safety D.J. Swearinger, trying to find a trade partner desperate enough for a strong safety with tackling and coverage issues that they would give up a draft choice or something of even minimal value…
Try These Five Seriously Awesome Lamb Dishes in Houston
You don’t need to be at a fancy, expensive restaurant to enjoy good lamb. From a fiery lamb sausage to lamb keema smothered fries, these five seriously good lamb-loaded dishes prove that it’s not all about the racks and chops: Lamb Keema Poutine Where to get it: The Queen Vic…
Report: FBI Spied on Houston Tar Sands Blockaders in Violation of Agency Rules
Two years ago, the East Texas pines played backdrop for a dramatic struggle. Environmental activists and protesters locked themselves to earth-moving machines. Some took to the trees, sitting in platforms suspended 50 feet in the air by lines tethered to heavy equipment on the ground. Anything to stall construction of…
Hell on Wheels: Mad Max: Fury Road Is Peerless, Exhausting Gearhead Mayhem
This doesn’t feel like a film that exists. How is George Miller’s bonkers, exhausting, no-future smash-’em-up Mad Max: Fury Road not one of those almost-was boondoggles mourned and dreamed of by fans, a revered director’s impossible vision that, thanks to the un-stout hearts of studio beancounters, never actually vaulted from…
Just Another Cover: Pitch Perfect 2 Strains to Hit the Same Notes
Some people complain about sequels to beloved movies, while others welcome the possibility that a part deux might be even better than the first. Sometimes that happens: While The Godfather is great, The Godfather: Part II expands on its dramatic intensity without repeating any of the same tricks, and The…
