Of Course the Batman vs Superman Movie Got a Dumb Title
Titles are not the most important thing when it comes to film quality, but they are important. Face it: Jaws just sounds cooler than Ripple. And so it’s with great anticipation that we’ve all been waiting on what the official title of until today untilted Batman vs Superman was going…
UH Football Coach Levine Signs Five-Year Contract Extension
This season the University of Houston will open a new football stadium and the Cougars’ head coach will have a new contract to go with it. It was announced this week that Tony Levine, 41, will enter his third season as head football coach after he signed a five-year contract…
‘I Did What I Had to Do,’ Says Mailman Accused of Killing Dog With Rock
Houston may have a high number of dog attacks on postal workers, but it’s a Fort Worth letter carrier who’s taking heat for allegedly killing a family’s dog with a rock. Lawrence Brown says the mailman, whose name has not been released, admitted to caving in the 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier’s…
This Week’s Cafe Review: What’s the Deal With Grace’s?
Lately I keep getting that question. “What’s the deal with Grace’s, anyway?” I’m never quite sure how to answer, never sure if my friends are looking for stats (hours, etc.), a back story, or an answer to why the menu is so–as one of my buddies described it–bipolar. The first…
Reality Bites: Down East Dickering
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. The only conclusion I can reach concerning all these shows about pawn shops and junk collectors and barter economies is that someone in a pretty high position at A&E Networks…
Cover Story: Move Over, Colorado; Nevada May Be the New Amsterdam
High rollers. Glitzy casinos. Feathered showgirls. And now, weed. Las Vegas has long been a city of overindulgence. That little slogan, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” exists for a reason. And that reason? Debauchery. Throw a little weed into the mix and it may just push that Vegas-bred…
Summer Food Book Reading List: Read About Food & Eat It, Too
Summer is almost here, and what goes hand-in-hand with a lazy day at the pool or the beach? Why an excellent book, of course! Rather than getting strangely addicted to whatever sensational novel is released (I’m talking about you, 50 Shades of Grey), kick back and relax on the beach…
Trailer Talk: A Talking Raccoon and Matthew McConaughey Head to Space
This is the story of two space films coming out in the year 2014. One is completely ridiculous, made by a director who got his start with the wild folks at Troma, whose biggest star is the voice of a talking raccoon. The other looks much more serious, made by…
High School Baseball Coach’s F-Bomb-Laden Rant Is the Worst (w/ NSFW AUDIO)
Some of you may have seen the story last week about former Major League Baseball closer Mitch Williams. Williams is (well, was) the head coach of a ten-year-old team that was playing in a Ripken Tournament baseball game on the East Coast last week. According to fans and parents in…
How to Screw Up Your Order at The Waffle Bus
It’s totally my own fault. I was so excited by my first visit to The Waffle Bus that I completely disregarded the words on the menu. I had, of course, been trying to order one of the bus’s famous waffles. Instead, my fiancé and I ordered two kinds of “waffle…
Tony Award Winner Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Comes to the Alley Theatre
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike declares its origins early on. Call it Chekhov with a twist. “The title gives you a very strong indication by adding the word ‘Spike’ in there,” says visiting director Jonathan Moscone who’s heading up the Alley Theatre production of the 2013 Tony Award…
This Week in Food Blogs: Make It a Summer of Barbecue, Ice Cream & Quesadillas
H-Town Chow Down: Ace Chinese Restaurant in The Woodlands is no more; it was gutted and transformed into a new restaurant, The Republic Grille. The H-Town Chow Down crew paid a visit to the Texas cuisine restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed its offerings, especially the Republic Burger and chicken fried steak,…
NASA Quite Possibly Contaminated Mars
Ray Bradbury once said that Mars is the future for mankind, so we have to wonder what the science fiction genius would have to say if he knew that we’ve already (possibly) managed to contaminate our future with Earth bacteria. Yep, the Mars Curiosity Rover landed on the red planet…
The Eight Best Things You Can Find in a Houston Pawn Shop
Despite what the Pawn Stars of the History Channel may have you believe, pawn shops aren’t all wacky items that require expert appraisal. Houston has its fair share of pawn shops, and they’re filled with items both quirky and practical. “You can find almost anything — literally almost anything,” said…
As Julep Nears Opening, Alba Huerta Talks Southern Cocktail History
“Who knew I could exercise so much patience?” Alba Huerta laughed as she recounted the two-year process of getting her new Southern cocktail bar, Julep, from conception to opening. Well, almost opening. According to Huerta, we’ll be sipping bourbon from beneath the shade of our wide-brimmed sun hats within the…
5 Things People Hate About the President (Which Are Bullshit)
If you spend even a modicum of time on the Internet, you will discover that the President is very, very much disliked by a very large group of people. I don’t mean Barack Obama, by the way. I just mean the President. Since America in general has the collective attention…
Naked Dallas Man Jumps in Car, Chokes Female Driver (VIDEO)
It could happen to any of us, I suppose. You’re driving along on a pleasant Friday afternoon in May. The workweek is through, you’ve got the sunroof open and you’re jamming the latest tunes that the young people enjoy, not a care in the world. Birds are singing, life is…
David Lebovitz Talks About His Latest Book, My Paris Kitchen
When I joined Twitter some years ago, it gave me suggestions for people to follow based on my interests. One of those people was David Lebovitz, and while I wasn’t acquainted with his work at the time, I was fascinated in the way of a non-stalkerish yet avid Twitter follower…
100 Creatives 2014: Anat Ronen, Urban Artist
The first big Houston commission Israeli native Anat Ronen received was to paint the Galveston Causeway. “A company that paints the highways called me from my ad in Craigslist,” she tells us. “They usually just paint the highways all one color, but sometimes they have murals. A Russian artist got…
Creepy Third Ward Mansion Sold for $251K
Towers, unfinished walls and a new owner — oh my! This 4,861-square-foot five-bedroom mansion at 2309 Wichita Street sold Tuesday. Listing Realtor Brenda Ames said in an email that the property was listed at $150,000 but after approximately 25 offers, the property sold for $251,000. That’s a lot of money…
I Ate One of the Best Meals of My Life This Weekend…and It Was in Dallas
Some people call it sibling rivalry. Others say that Houstonians are jealous that Dallas is thought of as wealthy and sophisticated, while we have more of a gritty, urban reputation. Maybe it’s because Dallas always seems to get national attention for good things, while we end up on lists for…
Podcast: The Strange Career of Tom Cruise, Plus X-Men, Han Solo and Cannes
On this week’s Voice Film Club podcast, the Village Voice’s Alan Schestuhl and L.A. Weekly’s Amy Nicholson are joined by special guest Chris Klimek to discuss the strange career of Tom Cruise, the new X-Men movie, and why Han Solo should die. We close the show with a special phone…
The Definitive Breakdown of BeatKing’s Freestyles
BeatKing is a supernatural rap being composed of blood, flesh and the mental capacity to enjoy ridiculing folks. It happens on Twitter constantly, so much so he gets escorted around like a conquering gladiator whenever he dives into one of his legendary rank sessions. Charting his career falls into three…
The 8 Best Soundtrack-Exclusive Tracks
Soundtracks were a huge deal in the ’90s. It was a chance for us to get all our favorite bands together in one place, like a high class, far more expensive mixtape. They were such an affair that bands would release their best songs and greatest hits on these records,…
Gregg Allman Invites All-Star “Friends” for Epic Jam in Atlanta
All My Friends – Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman 2CD/1DVD Rounder Records What sometimes gets lost in consideration of Gregg Allman’s career – both with the Allman Brothers band and as a solo artist – is the actual quality of his songwriting. The melodies, the lyrics -…
Making Magic on the Beach at Hangout Music Festival 2014
“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. With an equal opportunity, for all to sing, dance and clap their hands.” — Stevie Wonder There is something absolutely incredible about music. The way it acts as a conduit of expression and celebration, attracting multitudes of people…
It’s a Free Country: Fans Second-Guess Summer Fest Lineup
The late Rick Nelson once sang, “You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself.” For sure, there are better credos to live by, but this would be the one I’d hang onto were I tasked with booking talent for Free Press Summer Fest. A week and a half…
Crooks Target Dollar Store and SWAT Team Comes Out
A SWAT team answered a call to a Family Dollar store last night, according to authorities. A pair of masked robbers mugged a patron and tried to knock over the store. Reports say two workers in the store hit a panic button and fled to the rear of the place…
Dan Patrick Isn’t Alone; Here Are More Examples of Texas Political Mudslinging
Political fights can get ugly, but the grappling over who will get the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor got particularly unsightly last Friday. Up until then, both the remaining candidates, State Sen. Dan Patrick and current Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, had done their best to embarrass and undermine each other,…
El Celler de Can Roca Announces Launch of World Tour in Houston
“We have an 11-month wait list right now,” said chef Joan Roca apologetically when I inquired about dining at his restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca. Ranked among the top five restaurants in the world for six years consecutive years by Restaurant magazine, El Cellar de Can Roca reached the…
Y Kant Kendall Read? 10 Hard-to-Pronounce Band Names
I didn’t watch the Billboard Music Awards last weekend, because why would I? Even so, it was hard to avoid the news about Kardashian sibling Kendall Jenner’s flubbing an intro: The 18-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star botched her introduction of Australia’s boy band, 5 Seconds of Summer, at…
Houston Food Trucks Shine in 3rd Annual Curry Crawl Throwdown
Fresh on the heels of the recent Kiss My Grits throwdown last week, I wondered: What kind of creativity would Houston’s gourmet food trucks bring to the table for this year’s 3rd Annual Curry Crawl throw down competition at Straits Asian Bistro? The answer was easy: A whole heck of…
Lou Holtz Retiring From ESPN; Six Moments That Capture His Television Career (w/ VIDEO)
I am a Notre Dame graduate, class of 1991, and I say all the time that I owe at least seven of the ten best memories I have from college to Lou Holtz. Holtz was the head football coach at Notre Dame while I was there. He arrived in South…
Drake Announces HAW Date at Warehouse Live
One day, I want to send a message like Drake does. I want to randomly appear wide awake at 4 a.m., finish off a bowl of cereal (preferably Cinnamon Toast Crunch), get a few strong drags from a hookah pipe, check and see if my next awkward move can be…
UPDATED: USDA, PETA Go After Dude Whose Monkey Hit Deborah Duncan
Update: Staples responded to us Tuesday; see the end of the story for his answer to the USDA’s allegations. It was the slap seen ’round the world: a capuchin monkey bopped Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan in the face in April, and almost everyone thought it was super-cute. Of…
Cookbook Review: The Homesick Texan’s Family Table
As many of you know, I’m a native Texan. I was born and raised in Corpus Christi and went to college in San Antonio. Then, for grad school, I decided to branch out a little, and I moved to Missouri. I lived there for two years, and while there were…
The 10 Best CBS Sitcoms of the 1980s
On an episode of The Simpsons, Bart tried to explain primetime television comedy promotions to his sister, “Lis, when you get a little older, you’ll learn that Friday’s just another day between NBC’s must-see Thursday and CBS’s Saturday night crap-o-rama.” Much like ABC, CBS enjoyed a terrifically successful run of…
Human Trafficking Sting Named After Disco Hit Nets 18 Arrests at Houston Cantinas
In all likelihood, it was ranchera music playing, and not a Donna Summer classic, when a squad of law enforcement officials stormed a cantina called Lolita’s Bar, an alleged front for prostitution, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The sting was dubbed “Operation Last Dance,” in a video that…
From Corn to Barley, Part 2: Private Collections and Single Malts Beyond Scotland
You should not be surprised to read that, as a native of south Louisiana, I love a good crawfish boil. When my friend “Ken”* invited me to his, I thought I’d catch up with him and a few others, and maybe discuss our upcoming fantasy football season. What I got…
Wherever Mad Men Is Going, I’m Going Too
This has been an interesting season for AMC’s Mad Men, but I’m OK with that. In fact, I really like wherever it’s all going. As we count down until the final episode of this season (let’s just call it a season and not a half season or marketing ploy to…
Pop Rocks: Dress Codes Are Worse Than Sagging Pants
I went into business for myself years ago for a variety of reasons. But there are two items on my list of things I want out of a job that I have tried to maintain. First, I don’t want to be penalized for being fast. If I can get my…
10 Best Summer Drinks to Keep You Cool
During the summer, we all want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, but living in Texas, more specifically Houston, that length of time outside tends to shorten as we get closer to three digit temperatures. Sure, water can help you stay hydrated and cool off your body, but so…
Space Center Is Streaming the Shuttle Craft Carrier Assembly, for Those Who Like to Watch
The space shuttle carrier arrived at Johnson Space Center a few weeks back and now, for some strange reason, you can go watch live-streaming video of the craft being re-assembled. Yes, NASA has gone and created nonstop video of this exciting process. As y’all must be able to imagine, this…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 96, Cheeseburger at Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
Jim Seigler: My Life With the Circus: Let the Calliopes Play!
Jim Seigler began designing for the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus long before most of us were born. His designs are for sets, floats and costumes, but there’s more, much more. Seigler is also an accomplished ceramicist, mostly portraying circus characters, and also a sensitive portrait artist. Hyde Park…
Kevin Love Sweepstakes, This Summer’s Houston Rockets Story Line
“We’re going to have cap room to bring in a terrific free agent and I think next year we’ll be a lot better than we were this year.” — Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, 5/5/2014 It seems crazy to think that after pilfering James Harden, a likely first team All-NBA…
Rocks Off 200: Randall Hopkins, Featherface Drummer and Brilliant Video Director
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who: If I…
Bartender Chat: Kathy Brophy of Prego Talks Speed Bartending and People Pleasing
Quick, picture the rowdiest beach bar you’ve ever been in. Now, picture the exact opposite. These are the two ends of the spectrum in which Kathy Brophy, bartender at Prego, has worked. She started out in clubs and bars on South Padre Island, and now she’s at Prego, the subdued…
Doctor Who: Four Doctors and Captain Jack Come to Houston
Last year Comicpalooza was scheduled to host Peter Davison, the Fifth Doctor, but unfortunately Davison was forced to cancel. This year Comicpalooza will accomplish something no Houston comic or geek culture convention ever has, and something all but the largest conventions in the country can claim. This weekend there will…
Five Things the Average Person Can Take Away From the AT&T-DirecTV Merger
It’s hard to know exactly what any merger of two giant conglomerates means for the world. If you are like me, you view the joining of AT&T and DirecTV with about the same level of passing interest you might have for the sports scores from a team in the division…
Upcoming: The Airborne Toxic Event, Lily Allen, Coheed & Cambria, The Pretty Reckless, etc.
The Airborne Toxic Event: Thu., September 25, 7 p.m., $20. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston, 888-402-5837. The Antlers: With Thus Owls., Mon., July 21, 8 p.m., $15 to $17. Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, Houston, 713-862-3838. Bad Suns: With Catch Fever., Mon., May 26, 7 p.m., $5. House of Blues,…
The 10 Best Music-Oriented Secrets on Whisper
Remember when the prospect of Big Brother was frightening? This was back in ancient times, when people shuddered at the thought of anyone being able to watch their each and every move any time of the day. That was before the Internet, before Facebook, before apps that track your mobile…
The Six Least Fruitful Collaborations Ever
Collaborations are often a dream come true for music fans. Who among us hasn’t fantasized about our favorite musicians getting together for a jam session? When it happens though, the results may vary. One pairing you might think unlikely might do great things, where another one you always thought would…
Judas Priest, Nas, Death Cab for Cutie and Girl Talk Top Fun Fun Fun Fest 2014 Lineup
Fun Fun Fun Fest is not the biggest festival in the world. It doesn’t draw the biggest names. It’s not a hub for celebrity activity, although Val Kilmer did show up once. But true to its name it is fun, and if you ask me (let’s pretend that you did)…
Grant Awarded to A&M to Study Potential Effects of Bacteria in African Dust
Add the flesh eating bacteria Vibrio to the list of threats from Africa that could cross the Atlantic Ocean. Remember those Africanized bees threatening us? The Houston Chronicle reports that dust from the Saharan and Sahel desert that lands in the Gulf will be under more scrutiny. With climate change…
Dave Matthews Band at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 5/16/2014
Dave Matthews Band Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion May 16, 2014 If it’s May, it must be another Dave Matthews Band show. The venerable ensemble made its annual late spring stop at the CWMP last Friday night, enjoying unseasonably temperate weather (Dave himself commented on the refreshing lack of humidity) and…
Post-Draft NFL Season Win Totals Are Out! The Texans’ Number Is….
Amidst the myriad of Johnny Manziel prop bets and NFL Draft forecast wagers, anyone who enjoys the occasional bet knows that there is a distinct beginning to NFL betting season, a harbinger of the gambling delights of the autumn. It’s when the Las Vegas Hilton releases its first post-NFL Draft…
The Bull and the Pearl Is the Latest Hip Pop-Up to Feed Houston
“I kind of stay away from pretentious food, but I try to bring something a little different to the table,” says Ben McPherson before launching into an explanation of his re-imagined hushpuppy. It’s more like a beignet than a dense ball of cornbread, but it retains the sense of the…
Grace Church (Obviously) Uneasy About Giving LGBTQ Community Some Protections
Oh, the Riggle’s were at it again last night at their Grace Community Church. After sending out a three-page letter last week giving their followers some of the all-caps “truths” about Houston’s equal right’s ordinance proposal. Their main fear, as usual: the mobs of gay and transgender people (and those…
Elevation Burger: Ingredients Matter, But So Does Flavor
A burger and fries for me is one of those guilty pleasure meals in life — you know it’s not great for you but when you want one you want a really good one. When a craving hits you, it hits you hard and if you’ve used up your designated…
The Inner Marilyn: An Eclectic Remembrance of Marilyn Monroe
Public fascination with Marilyn Monroe continues its groundswell, with the iconography of her image earning $27 million last year, third on the Forbes annual list of the earnings of deceased celebrities, after Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. The Jung Center has created a fascinating exhibition, curated from The Babydoll Museum,…
Veterans and Pit Bulls, Workin’ Hand-in-Paw
We want to give a shout-out to Guardian Pit Bull Rescue and Club Canine for launching a therapy program that pairs pits with veterans. Operations Pits Healing Heroes “will rescue and train pit bull candidates to become service and companion dogs, and help veterans regain physical and emotional independence,” according…
Game of Thrones: “You and My Family Have More in Common Than You’d Like to Admit.”
One constant theme of the fourth season of Game of Thrones has been motherhood and the difficulties thereof. But in last night’s episode, the duties and disappointments of brotherhood took center stage, with painful exchanges between Jaime and Tyrion coupled with the Hound’s of hurt and betrayal after the horrible…
Dish of the Week: Fish and Chips
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we’ll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. See the complete list of recipes at the end of this post. This week, we’re sharing a recipe for Great Britain’s favorite pub fare, fish and chips. The classic dish gained…
Top 5 Marketing Mistakes Indie Authors Make (And How to Do Better)
Some indie authors sell thousands of books. Most don’t. Here are five marketing mistakes we see indie authors make that land them in that “most don’t” category, and a few suggestions on how to do better. 5. Write a lousy book Fail: It’s hard to sell a bad product. Especially…
NFL Player Ordered to Pay $150,000 Lap Dance Bill to Strip Club
A story made the rounds last week here locally in Houston about a 32-year-old Houston man who was suing a stripper for thousands of dollars that he reportedly loaned her. Apparently, there was a miscommunication between the two as to whether the cash should have been defined as a handout…
Chicken Florentine Benny at Brick & Spoon
To visit Brick & Spoon, I first had to get over my annoyance over the recent rash of restaurants in Houston that have chosen to title themselves via the pairing of two vaguely related things through the conjunction “and.” (See Goro & Gun, Fish & The Knife.) Then, I had…
EELS at House of Blues, 5/17/14
EELS House of Blues May 17, 2014 Those that ascended to House of Blues Saturday night expected a rock show. And while they eventually got a very stripped-down version of one, they definitely left having paid for a differently packaged product than they received. Those that were expecting the prototypical…
Peak Season: Five Standout Corn Dishes in Houston
Do you know what time it is, friends? It’s corn time! What exactly is corn time? We’re not quite sure because made it up! But we do know that starting this month and into the late summer, good old fashioned corn is in peak season. That means our favorite corn…
The Fall TV Schedule Breakdown
It’s Upfronts season and the television world is buzzing with fall premiere possibilities. It’s a nice time for the TV execs because right now, in this moment, not one of their new programs has been watched and therefore none of them have been not watched and ultimately canceled. And of…
Owls and Cougars Looking Good for Postseason Success
The regular season’s over for the Rice Owls and Houston Cougars baseball teams. Both teams are poised at or near the top of their conferences, riding hot streaks into their respective conference tournaments starting Wednesday. And if things go right this week, both teams are primed to host regionals in…
Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands Celebrates 10 Years
For the past ten years, Food & Vine Time Productions has hosted Wine & Food Week in The Woodlands featuring a multitude of wine dinners, seminars, food competitions and tasting events. Last year nearly 11,000 people attended events during the week, and this year, co-founders Clifton and Constance McDerby expect…
Cassandra Goes Mad Outdoors in the Westbury Square Courtyard
The set-up: Young playwright Katharine Sherman has a nimble touch with ancient tales and fables. A recent MFA graduate from the Playwright’s Workshop at the University of Iowa, she deconstructs myths with well-placed charges of modern theatrical dynamite. Like the Night (2009) reconfigures moon goddess Selene as contemporary prom queen;…
Kid at Rangers Game Pulls Smoothest Foul Ball Trick Ever (VIDEO)
Like many of you reading this, I have a teenage daughter. She’s 16, so she’s slowly gaining wisdom, and is slightly cagier than in her junior high years, when life basically kicks you into the deep end of the emotional swimming pool and says, “Here ya’ go,” so I’m not…
5 Best Underrated Barbecue Joints in Houston (According to You)
You guys. This was a close one. For the past week, I’ve been watching the numbers on the poll rise. For some time there was a clear leader, then suddenly, the next time I checked, the former leader had fallen to third place, and the two frontrunners were neck and…
5 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Godzilla
We’ve got a new Godzilla film coming out and all signs point to it being as colon-stompingly awesome as we could possibly hope for. For me, this is a personal victory. The first film I ever remember both loving and being completely terrified of is Godzilla 1985, and then when…
Cops Search for Clues After Decomposed Body Pulled From Sims Bayou
Just last week we told you about Tim Miller and his organization finding more than 100 cars at the bottom Sims and Braes bayous. As if to punctuate his point about potentially finding bodies inside some of those vehicles, the badly decomposed corpse of a man was found Sunday afternoon…
5 Rock Bands Made Better by Switching Vocalists
Every now and then, switching things up in a band isn’t the end of the world. In fact, recruiting a new singer can revitalize and expand the horizons of a band in completely unexpected ways, bringing them out of obscurity or to previously unheard of levels of success. We’ve covered…
Jimmy Eat World at House of Blues, 5/16/14
Jimmy Eat World House of Blues May 16, 2k14 Some people just ooze cool. You look at them and no matter what they’re doing they just look cool. If you’re in a band, you’re not guaranteed to look cool, but it certainly helps. Millions have slapped on guitars in the…
The Five Best Concerts in Houston This Week: Skid Row, Stephen Marley, etc.
John Egan The Big Easy, May 19 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…
Data Compares Houston Street Grid With Others From Around the Country (Update)
For the non-GPS drivers among us, do you ever marvel at how the city’s streets follow a north-south axis? Of course not. But a data scientist from the Northwest put together a few comparisons of street grids using Census data and came up with this: The plots reveal some stark…
Report Puts Houston Among Big Cities Closing Schools Serving Communities of Color
A coalition of grassroots community groups has included the Houston Independent School District in its report this month about school closings that disproportionately affect communities of color. While Houston isn’t among the cities with triple-digit closings like Detroit, New York and Chicago, it did make a list of districts that…
The 4th Annual Kiss My Grits Throwdown: Shrimp ‘n Grits and Crafted Cocktails
Four years ago, the first inaugural Kiss My Grits Gulf Coast Throwdown benefitting the Young Texans Against Cancer (YTAC) charity took place at Silver Street Studios. I still remember the first year vividly, because I got to see the chefs exercise an immense amount of creativity. I remember grits gnocchi,…
No, Drake Isn’t Performing at Warehouse Live Tonight
Update (1:19 pm): We made a few more phone calls this afternoon, and this is the statement we got from Warehouse Live: Warehouse Live cannot confirm or deny whether Drake will be performing there soon, but Drake will not be performing there tonight. Sorry Houston, your dreams of seeing Drizzy…
Don’t Forget You Can Rat Out Drivers Who Throw Trash From Their Window
Are you the type of driver who gets pissed when you see someone ahead of you toss a fast-food wrapper out of his or her window onto the roadway? If you’re trash-averse and want to help the Texas Department of Transportation create a catalog of offenders, then you’re in luck…
Ten Best Alternatives to Beer (For Those Non-Hop Heads Among Us)
With the summer and Memorial Day approaching it’s time to gather ’round the grill with friends and family and a nice cold brewski. Unless, of course, you’re one of those crazy many people who just don’t really dig beer. For folks like you, there’s always wine, of course, and cocktails,…
War Horse: The One Show Where You Don’t Say ‘Break a Leg’
For the last two years, actor Michael Cox has spent most nights doing a delicate ballet on stage with a large puppet horse named Joey. “It wasn’t difficult. The puppeteers are excellent and they bring the horse to life so well. It’s second nature to them.” Cox is talking about…
Justin Townes Earle at Fitzgerald’s, 5/15/14
You never know what you’re going to get when you walk into a Justin Townes Earle show. It could be a rowdy get-together or a laid back evening of sleepy numbers. No matter what, though, it’s always good. Fitzgerald’s, which has been Earle’s stomping grounds his last few trips to…
Step Aside, Waffogato, Houston Has Five Awesome Affogatos
Affogatos are one of the simplest, yet most enjoyable Italian desserts. In Italian, affogato means “drowned,” which is exactly what happens — a scoop of ice cream or gelato gets doused with a piping hot shot of espresso. This “drowning” action creates a complex and satisfying treat with just two…
Top 10 ABC Sitcoms of the 1980s
The second installment of the best sitcoms of the 1980s focuses on the American Broadcasting Company (you know it as ABC). Unlike NBC, ABC struggled with scattershot primetime comedy programming in the ’80s after a massively successful batch of shows in the mid and late 1970s. In the ’70s, ABC’s…
Donald Sterling Describes Sex With V. Stiviano: “She Was an Animal” (AUDIO)
It’s been a few weeks now since the original Donald Sterling recordings emerged, the ones depicting a destructively racist old man with a plantation mentality who happens to own a potentially billion-dollar company whose most famous and well-compensated employees are African American. Actually, that’s a description for most recordings or…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: Godzilla
Title: Godzilla Best Godzilla Movie. Go. The 1954 original, of course. But I’m willing to consider any film that doesn’t have Minya in it. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant to the Film: Four and a half flying dropckicks out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: Radioactive behemoth points up the folly…
What’s in Fashion: White Powder on Angelina’s Face Explained
Lots of breaking fashion news hits the interwebs and I don’t want you to miss one bit of it. So, I present some of the biggest headlines each week for your reading pleasure. Click and enjoy!…
Post-NFL Draft Super Bowl Odds Are Far Too Kind to the Houston Texans
For NFL Draft enthusiasts and for those of us who make our living discussing the NFL, it feels a little strange to be dissecting the draft fallout in mid-May. This year, as has been mentioned here a handful of times, the draft was pushed back by two weeks, which left…
Goro & Gun Combines Two of Houston’s Biggest Obsessions: Ramen and Crawfish
The broth is darker than ramen broth, and it’s more rich, more velvety. Instead of a five-minute egg and slices of pork floating above chewy noodles, there’s fresh corn and bright red curly crawfish tails. To eat it, you’re given chopsticks and a chirirenge spoon. On the side, packs of…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: This Little Piggy Went to the Market, This Little Piggy Got Smoked
Hoppy Hour @ MKT Bar Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 1001 Austin Get hoppy with us at MKT Bar tonight during the Houston Press Hoppy Hour. Start your weekend with flights of beer from 8th Wonder Brewery and scrumptious bites to eat from MKT Bar for $14; purchase select…
The Male Tummy Tuck Is a Thing, But Maybe That’s Okay
Every once in a while I begin to receive press releases from incredibly random companies based on posts I’ve written that are loosely related to the field they represent. I don’t have any problem with this, but I usually feel bad for the company because more often then not, I…
HISD Officially Unveils Its Proposed 2014-15 Budget, Which Changes the Magnet School Funding Equation
At the last school board meeting on May 8, there was a long line of people protesting propsed changes in magnet and vanguard school program funding. Basically, in testimonial after testimonial from students, parents and teachers, the message was: Why are you trying to destroy programs that have been working…
100 Creatives 2014: Amber Galloway Gallego, Rockstar and Sign Language Interpreter
Who knew interpreting Kendrick Lamar’s “Fuckin’ Problems” at the 2013 Lollapalooza would make American Sign Language interpreter Amber Galloway Gallego famous? (More famous, actually, we’ll get to that in a bit.) The video, showing Gallego (with her signature bright pink bangs) as she expertly and enthusiastically interpreted lyrics such as…
DirecTV Tells CSN Houston Where to Stick Its Teams
DirecTV wants nothing to do with CSN Houston or the teams that broadcast games on that network. AT&T is doing fine without the network. So are the rest of the cable/satellite providers in the five-state CSN Houston market. This is not news. The fact that most of the state of…
Hank Williams Jr., Steelers Fan, Keeps Up the Family Tradition
It’s not hard to believe the Coastal Conservation Association enlisted Hank Williams Jr. for its third annual Concert for Conservation, given all the hunting and fishing talk in “A Country Boy Can Survive” alone. What is hard to believe is that it’s been some 13 years since Bocephus has performed…
Upcoming Events: Eat Sushi for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Each Monday, Osteria Mazzantini hosts “Mussel Madness” from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Make after work plans on Monday, May 19, to eat half-price mussels at Osteria Mazzantini at the bar or on the patio. For $9, each guest will receive cozze (black mussels) tossed with garlic, parsley and a…
Openings & Closings: Niko Niko’s Heads to Pearland While Dunkin’ Donuts Continues Its Houston Takeover
It was quite an exciting week for many anticipated restaurant openings. Some are still in the soft opening stage, like Common Bond, but others have officially opened to the public, like Preview Modern Seafood Cuisine. This new Sugar Land restaurant at 4645 Highway 6, Unit C, was in the soft…
The 5 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: The Best of Fringe, Feeling Alright, Hitchcock Silents and More
Can’t wait until next fall to get your annual Houston Fringe Festival fix? You don’t have to. Starting Friday, festival organizers have something to tide you over – The Best of Fringe. Some of the most-appreciated events of last year’s festival are being restaged. There’s Alexandria Gurley in Passport to…
Ledisi Comes Home: A Time for Omawale
Tonight Houston welcomes home Ledisi, a dynamic singer and daughter of the bayou area. But can you ever really go home again? A famous text says, “They asked us to sing songs, but how can we sing songs of Zion in a strange land.” No doubt these questions are the…
Woman in Her 30s Probably Didn’t Need a High School Diploma This Badly
The term “black don’t crack” means that older African-Americans age well. The term has never been more exemplified than in the case this week of a 34-year-old woman who allegedly attended high school pretending to be 16, for months. Longview police said they were still working on the investigation as…
Don Felder Surprised at Ex-Eagles Mates’ Ill Will Toward Him
When guitarist Don Felder joined the Eagles in 1974, he was seen by many as a sort of bridge member, as the band was morphing from the more countrified lineup with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner to the latter, rockier quintet that also included Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh…
May the Force Be With You at Neil’s Bahr
“Eat, sleep, game, repeat.” A tall, slick-haired guy whose black T-shirt is emblazoned with that very slogan pushes his way through this packed EaDo bar, but no one seems to mind. Most folks are giving him the thumbs-up, which seems strange given the density of the room. But he’s earned…
The Seven Best Godzilla Songs NOT by Blue Oyster Cult
It’s that time again. The King of Monsters is back on the big screen, and I plan to see it at the absolute first opportunity because if there’s anything I love more than giant monsters destroying things it’s GIANT MONSTERS DESTROYING THINGS! Can’t help it. It’s the four-year-old in me…
The Five Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Ledisi, Jimmy Eat World, Dos, etc.
Ledisi Bayou Music Center, May 16 Though a true breakthough into the mainstream pop world has thus far eluded her, New Orleans native Ledisi (born Ledisi Young) has clandestinely become a star among fans who love little else than to dim the lights and turn up the grown-folks music. (She…
Aaron Hernandez Indicted for 2012 Double Homicide in Boston
Pretty soon, they’re going to need a ticker in Times Square to keep track of the Aaron Hernandez-related body count. The murder of Odin Lloyd last summer, for which Hernandez was subsequently and swiftly indicted, opened the door to a bloody Pandora’s box that has shown no signs of slowing…
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky: Is It Really That Good?
Why does everybody love Fireball Cinnamon Whisky? A taste will tell.
Former Jailer Arrested for Allegedly Killing, Chopping Up Common-Law Husband
Quote of the day, courtesy of a small-town Texas cop talking about a dismembered body: “In Bardwell, we found a leg. In Richland Chambers, lake we found a head and torso — a head, chest and torso.” That’s Lt. Mike Hopson of the Ennis Police Department, southeast of Dallas, interviewed…
Messy Magnificence at Flip ‘n Patties
As if I needed further enticement to frequent Marquis II, home of the all-powerful “Texas Tea,” Filipino street food purveyors Flip ‘n Patties food truck now parks outside Tuesday and Friday nights. I do wonder whether these regularly scheduled visits are yet another effort on the part of the Marquis…
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Rests Too Heavily on Nostalgia
Admittedly, when I first heard about Beautiful: The Carole King Musical I wasn’t thrilled. As an avid theatergoer and fan of the medium, the jukebox musical that has seemingly taken over the genre of “new” musical is growing long in the tooth, and I can’t help but wonder who still…
Zapruder Analysis of Four Dallas TV Women Verbally Brawling Over Michael Sam
In the history of the NFL Draft, I don’t know that more words, more tweets, more angst has been expended over a seventh round draft choice than that which has been expended over Michael Sam and the “kiss heard ’round the world.” If you put “Michael Sam” into YouTube’s search…
3400 Montrose: Piece of Houston History Going…Going….Gone
The parking lot of Disco Kroger at the corner of Montrose and Hawthorne has been an ideal vantage point from which to watch the two-month-long demolition of yet another curious piece of Houston history. While the ten-story building at 3400 Montrose is little more than twisted girders and concrete rubble…
10 Best NBC Sitcoms of the 1980s
There was a certain vibe that reverberated through the comedies of the 1980s. The gritty, biting comedic satire that defined the ’70s was out (for the most part) and wholesome ensemble comedies were in. Sitcoms had a certain lightness to them. Even the darker moments were couched in a kind…
BrewFest Is Upon Us! Start Hydrating NOW!
The Third Annual Houston Press BrewFest is back this Saturday, May 17 from 2 to 7 p.m., and we’ve got your final brewery list and music lineup right here! General admission tickets are currently $35, and VIP tickets are $60. Ticket prices go up $10 if you wait to buy…
Heather Webb’s Debut Novel, Becoming Josephine, Is a Study of Personal Evolution and the French Revolution
In the opening pages of Becoming Josephine we meet a young teenage girl named Rose Tascher. Rose is a free-spirited young woman who lives on a plantation in Martinique, and who dreams of a marriage that is (unlike that of her parents’) full of love. It’s the beginning of a…
Taming Sugar Cravings and Balancing Blood Sugar: What I Learned at Monica Pope’s New Food-as-Medicine Dinner
“If there’s one thing you remember from tonight, remember 15 grams,” said Ali Miller, a registered dietitian who practices functional medicine. It was the inaugural dinner for the new Food-as-medicine dinner series she’d designed with chef Monica Pope at Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, and we were about half-way through her…
So NASA Is Finding Odd-Shaped Holes in the Sun, But Don’t Panic
First NASA figured out how to fit a square peg in a round hole (it happened in Apollo 13 and it’s totally worth googling to see how they did it, but Hair Balls digresses); now they’ve spotted a square hole in the sun. Yep, folks, those who thought that the…
The Rocks Off 200: Jeremy Killgore, a Treasonous Vocalist
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? Jeremy Killgore…
The 5 Best Brunch Spots in the Heights
In Houston, we’re pretty serious about our brunch. Whether it be migas and breakfast tacos or chicken and waffles and loaded Bloody Marys, we have no shortage of awesome spots to get our brunch on. Keeping later hours and killer cocktails in mind, we’ll be taking a look at some…
Houston Dogs Hate Postal Workers
More postal workers were bitten by dogs in Houston last year than in 61 other cities. In advance of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which we all know kicks off May 18, the United States Postal Service has released statistics showing that Houston had 63 dog attacks on postal workers…
10 Games With Guinness World Records
You hear about dedicated gamers breaking world records all the time when it comes to speed runs and marathon gaming sessions, but the games themselves also manage to make it into the Guinness Book of World Record as well. Today we celebrate them. Final Fantasy XII – Longest Development Period…
Second Chances Rarely Apply to Texas Death Row Inmates
“America is a country of second chances” Rick Perry said in a recent television interview. His declaration was very statesmanlike, but he was referring to himself and his possible repeat performance as a presidential candidate. If he truly believed in the concept of second chances, things might be different in…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 97, Mi Quang at Simply Pho
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
From Head to Toe: The Cleo Collection From Cuteheads
It’s hard to ignore the amount of cute over at Cuteheads, the local kidswear company headed by Esther Freedman. Now, with the introduction of the new Cleo Collection, Freedman is looking to expand her brand, which focuses on stylish, practical fashion for kids. Featuring topknots, diaper covers, and blankets made…
The Five Best Hidden Restaurant Gems in Spring Branch
Oh, Long Point Road. You are a foodie’s dream destination. There are consummate favorites Vieng Thai and El Hidalguense. There’s Korea House, one of the most popular Korean restaurants in town, and Tacos Del Julio, home of greasy but delicious trompo. Detour a little and you’ll find Polonia, Houston’s only…
More Talk on Transgender People and Bathrooms as Council Pushes Back Vote
Discussions around the ordinance proposal called HERO have been so intense that you’d think they were giving out free passes to the Super Bowl the way people were crowding City Hall on Tuesday. Now that a final vote by city council has been pushed back yet again, more intense testimony…
Rest of the Best: 10 Best Places to Study in Houston
Many of you are leaving school this month, probably screaming like mad people and vowing never to darken the doors of academia again. Others are preparing to enter college for the first time in the fall, and it’s to that latter group I come bearing gifts. Specifically, the gift of…
A Fond Look Back at 1998’s Godzilla: The Album
The latest installment in the long-running Godzilla series, and the second American-produced version of the monster movie, comes out on Friday. Though I personally don’t trust this one to go any better than the one in 1998 went, and the Japanese fanbase is already making fun of our “fat, American”…
Ex-Eagle Don Felder’s Solo Flight Takes a Road to Forever
For anyone making a Top 10 list of classic rock’s most iconic songs, of course there has to be a slot for “Hotel California.” Right up there with “Hey Jude,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Layla” and “Smoke on the Water.” The 1977 Eagles song — written by band members Don Henley,…
Jeffery Deaver: The Skin Collector
Fans first met forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme in Jeffery Deaver’s novel The Bone Collector. The book was later made into a film with Denzel Washington as Rhyme and Angelina Jolie as Amelia Sachs, his sexy sidekick. With Deaver’s newest book, The Skin Collector, Rhyme is back, this time to deal…
Capsule Art Review: May 15, 2014
Ann Harithas: Memory is the first exhibition of this artist after she recovered completely from what may have been a stroke last year, in which her memory and ability to recognize old friends were damaged. Harithas began reviewing old photographs, and her faculties and memory were restored. She works with…
The Best of Fringe
Can’t wait until next fall to get your annual Houston Fringe Festival fix? You don’t have to. Festival organizers have something to tide you over – The Best of Fringe. Some of the most-appreciated events of last year festival are being re-staged. There’s Alexandria Gurley in Passport to Womanhood, a…
Hitchcock Silents: Blackmail
Catch the Hitchcock Silents and watch young filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock transform himself from a newbie into the peerless movie master we all know and love. The series includes four rare silent movies from the late 1920s. Only one could be credibly labeled “Hitchcockian,” that’s the classic Blackmail (1929), partially reshot…
3rd Annual Houston Press BrewFest
Spend Saturday the 3rd Annual Houston Press BrewFest. Presented in conjunction with Lucky’s Pub, the indoor/ outdoor event features sample craft beers from a multitude of local and national breweries such as Karbach Brewing Co., Alaskan Brewing Co., 8 New Belgium Brewing, Woodchuck Hard Cider, Saint Arnold and more. Here’s…
I Can’t Accept My White Siblings. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! I DON’T KNOW HOW TO ACCEPT MY WHITE SIBLINGS Dear Willie D: I’m 35 years old,…
Apollo Chamber Players: Of Gypsies and Rhapsodies
Pianist Viktor Valkov joins the Apollo Chamber Players for Of Gypsies and Rhapsodies. First prize winner of the Liszt-Garrison International Competition in 2011, Valkov has performed the music of Liszt around the world. Apollo Chamber Players founder and Artistic Director Matthew Detrick tells us Valkov is the perfect collaborator for…
Feeling Alright
Stand Room Only Productions revives the rock musical Feeling Alright. Built around popular songs of the 1960s, the show follows a group of former bandmates and friends who are reunited for the first time in a decade. The six characters fall into one of two categories, those that left and…
Cassandra
Katharine Sherman’s Cassandra, based on the ancient Greek myth and presented here by Umbrella Theater Company and Wordsmyth Theatre, opens The Women’s Project, a series of female-centric shows. In the myth, the god Apollo gave Cassandra the gift of prophecy. When she refused his sexual advances, he turned that gift…
“Transcendent Deities of India: The Everyday Occurrence of the Divine”
Works by two artists, separated widely by time and culture, but linked by devotion to the depiction of Indian deities, come together in “Transcendent Deities of India: The Everyday Occurrence of the Divine.” The first is a series of vibrant photographs by Brooklyn-based Indian contemporary artist Manjari Sharma. Sharma collaborated…
Feast Your Ears on BeatKing’s Awesome Jay Z/Solange Freestyle
Monday, the Earth shook. Well, not really, but if you deal with gossip the way journalists, social-media commentators and those who wield Photoshop for evil purposes, Solange fighting Jay Z in an elevator shook everything imaginable. The days that have followed have been awkward. The facade of privacy that Beyoncé…
Oil Boom Doesn’t Mean an Oil Booty Boom
Highlights from Hair Balls Spaced City Of course, you already know about the energy boom that has generated so much for Houston, but what about the booty boom? Well, that last part is a myth that comes up every year there’s some big convention in the area, or a major…
Dumplings N More Has Mastered the Art of Soup Dumplings
There’s a magical moment when you lift the lid off a basket of dumplings. The steam rises and rushes out in one big gust, and the spirals of vapor briefly obstruct your view of the perfect little purses inside. As the steam dissipates, the dumplings come into view, but even…
The Houston Rockets Have to Grow up to Be Winners
Nine-tenths of a second. Leading 98-96 after a Chandler Parsons layup, nine-tenths of a second was all the Houston Rockets had to spin off of the clock against the Portland Trail Blazers at the end of Game 6 of their opening-round playoff series. Do that, and it would be back…
Two Third Ward Exhibitions Show the Importance of Perspective
On July 26, 1970, 21-year-old Carl Hampton was shot and killed on Dowling Street by members of the Houston Police Department. They fired from the roof of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The police called it self-defense; the black community called it murder. The story of Carl Hampton, and other…
Geek Culture Meets Houston Nightlife at Neil’s Bahr
‘Eat, sleep, game, repeat.” A tall, slick-haired guy whose black T-shirt is emblazoned with that very slogan pushes his way through this packed EaDo bar, but no one seems to mind. Most folks are giving him the thumbs-up, which seems strange given the density of the room. But he’s earned…
Godzilla Plays Too Small a Part in His Own Movie
Godzilla is the movie monster with the mostest. King Kong may be just one gorilla-chest-hair behind, but not even the greatest of apes can quite match the half-dragon, half-dinosaur who first stomped and chomped his way through Tokyo in Ishiro Honda’s 1954 Toho Co., Ltd., extravaganza Godzilla. In that picture…
Million Dollar Arm Thinks Agents Are More Interesting Than Sports.
Looking for a chance to shout “Only in America”? Only in America — or an American movie — could the story of the first two Indian players to be signed to a Major League Baseball team get spun as an L.A. sports agent’s journey toward realizing the importance of family…
Houston’s 10 Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurants
Best of Houston When many people hear the word “vegan,” their minds immediatelyrush to all the things that arenot a part of a vegan diet, all the things a vegan can’t eat. It’s all about the negative — the lack of meat, the dearth of dairy, the absence of eggs. If you’re one of those people (just admit it)…
Capsule Stage Reviews: May 15, 2014
Evita There are always reasons to revisit Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s operatic treatment of the life of Eva Perón, now brightly burning under Theatre Under the Stars’ presentation of this Broadway revival from 2012. You might want to hear “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” again, or see the…
The Boss Works His Magic for Houston Once Again
Live Shots It’s fitting that the rooflike shelter hanging above the seats at the Woodlands Pavilion is shaped in a tent spire. Because no one has ever merged the concepts of rock and roll show and religious tent revival like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Sure, the usual…
Stereotypes and Fear of Education
Dear Mexican, So, I had our graphic artist walk out of the room pissed the other day because the publisher asked my opinion over a Cinco de Mayo advertisement they were planning to publish and ended up publishing. The graphic showed a row of chickens with sombreros. The publisher asked…
Up and Coming: 5 Houston-Area Musical Artists You Should Know About
The Houston area probably has as many aspiring bands and musicians as it does different ZIP codes, if not more. With the only condition being their subjects have never been previously profiled (either in these pages or elsewhere in local media), we asked a few of our regular music writers…
