Five Reasons Getting Super Bowl LI Is a Good Thing for Houston Even if You Hate Sports
As noted here yesterday, the NFL awarded Super Bowl LI to Houston. The game will be played at Reliant Stadium in February 2017. There are plenty of you out there who couldn’t care less about football and sports in general. Frankly, the Super Bowl is often anticlimactic as a sporting…
Fanged: Houston Rockers Brawl With Self-Proclaimed Vampire On Tour
Maybe the band should have expected strange things to happen when they headed out on tour with Hollywood Undead. Considering their own name, American Fangs, this couldn’t have come as a complete shock. Because it sounds more like something that would happen in an episode of HBO’s True Blood. Last…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Ruben Ortega of Hugo’s and Backstreet Cafe and the Story of How He Came to Houston
This is the first part of a three-part Chef Chat series. Come back to read parts two and three in this same space on Thursday and Friday. In the Houston food world, everyone knows Hugo Ortega. The chef who started out as a dishwasher before falling in love with his…
The Not-So Magnificent Seven: Car Thieves Busted, S***-Eating Grins Ensued
A group of men were arrested by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for after 29 vehicles were found at a salvage yard in northwest Harris County. The men allegedly brought them to the yard where they swapped the serial numbers. All seven are charged with placing serial numbers with the…
Reality Bites: Burger Land
It’s taken awhile, but after years of self- (and external) loathing, Houstonians have largely come around to appreciating their city. Houston’s negative aspects can’t be waved off: The heat and traffic are legendarily terrible, the sprawl threatens to make any trip outside our immediate environs an epic pilgrimage, and our…
Bocca Deli: Your North Downtown Destination for Sandwiches and More
Bocca Deli is just one of a handful of restaurants that’s reinvigorating the sleepy Northside as the City of Houston finishes laying the tracks for a light rail line that will eventually run through this quiet area north of downtown. A few blocks away on Fulton, Radical Eats is challenging…
After Nearly Year Stuck in Base Library, TXANG First Lieutenant May Finally Be Able to Work Elsewhere
Ian MacLeod thought he would finally receive his separation from the Texas Air National Guard on May 1. He’d been stuck in the base library since the beginning of August — his ordeal was detailed in this week’s issue — when an investigation into his personal life first began. His…
Under $20 Bordeaux for Memorial Day, Earthy the Way I Like It
“Fruit forward” and “fruit bomb” are descriptors commonly used to describe “big” red wines, the kind you want to break out for Memorial Day, when you’re going to be grilling and smoking. And hey, I’ve got nothing against fruit: Wine is made from fruit and it should taste like fruit…
HPMA Nominations Close at Midnight Tonight
Rocks Off is not going to make this long, because we don’t have much to say. But it’s important. If you haven’t filled in your choices for this year’s Houston Press Music Awards, you don’t have much time. The nominations are still open at our handy little HPMA poll page,…
You Need to Watch Amy Schumer Immediately
I rarely pay attention to any of Youtube’s “suggested” videos, mostly because they’re primarily paid advertisements hidden behind too-obvious product placement or they’re videos of cats with hats on. But for some reason, I clicked on the highlighted video called “Amy Schumer: Compliments.” I had read about Schumer’s new show…
More Than 500 Indians Abused by Human Trafficking, Lawyer Says
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina not only almost destroyed New Orleans and wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. The hurricane may also have opened the door for human trafficking for one company, according to lawsuits filed in Texas and Mississippi on Tuesday. The swathe of destruction Hurricane Katrina cut along the…
The Bayou Planting Guide: Updated and Ready to Help Save Houston
When I lived in Mississippi on the edge of undeveloped land, our family spent a lot of time and effort beating back the kudzu during the year. We were beating it because it couldn’t be killed. At least we never figured out how. Kudzu was one of those well-meaning efforts…
Long Island Iced Teas, Lone Star State-Style at Marquis II
In response to last week’s paean post on the Long Island Iced Tea, commenter Chris suggested that I check out the Texas Teas proffered at Marquis II. He added: Report back on the experience, because it’s tough not to get wasted starting the night with one of those. That, sir,…
Shallow Pool: Adding Musicians (and Silly Theme Songs) to TV’s Splash
As often as I’ve been complemented on my taste in music, I’ve been ridiculed for the horrible television programs I sometimes watch. Case in point: my DVR’s arteries were recently clogged with episodes of the ABC celebrity competition, Splash. For those who may have missed it, Splash was a taped…
Oklahoma Storms: What Is It Like Living in Tornado Alley?
This summer will mark my 10-year anniversary of moving to Houston. I don’t miss Oklahoma often, but the last two days have been particularly hard. I’ve been glued to the Internet and NPR, absorbing the news with an emotion that can only be described as helplessness. Moore, Oklahoma, the area…
Delbert McClinton Keeps Satisfying His Jones
It’s noon, and 72-year-old Delbert McClinton sounds like he’s just woken up and maybe had the first cigarette of the day. But he’s a pro and is ready to talk about his career, his forthcoming New West Records album with old running buddy Glen Clark, Blind, Crippled & Crazy, and…
Blue Man Group Returns to Houston
Everyone’s favorite blue men return to Houston for an eight-performance engagement at Jones Hall from June 4 to June 9. Blue Man Group’s touring production brings together all of its trademark elements: original instrumental rhythms, mind-altering video projections and unforgettable sound design. Part music concert, part multimedia art project, Blue…
This Week in Food Blogs: Nuts for Tacos and the Importance of Buns
Open the Taps: The big news this week is the passage of a few beer-related bills in the Texas Senate. Open the Taps has the rundown on what it means now that brewpubs’ annual production limit has been raised to 10,000 barrels and breweries can sell beer directly to consumers…
Getting Business Info Changed on Google a Difficult Task
As Google has gotten increasingly more sophisticated about delivering search results to specific users, it has incorporated tools that make local searches easier. In fact, Google prefers to provide local searches. No doubt it is less of a database strain, but more importantly it targets very specific data to users,…
The Five Most Insane Bands to See Live Right Now
I don’t know about most people, but my favorite thing about seeing a band live is the energy. I just can’t get enough of the frenetic intensity that pervades shows and runs back and forth between the manic audience and the performer, even if the actual playing is off because…
Doctor Who: A Look Back on Series 7
If there’s any sentiment I’ve heard consistently since last fall it’s that this has been the worst season of Doctor Who since the 2005 reboot. Now that we’ve all had our brains thoroughly exploded with the season finale, it’s time to put the whole thing in perspective and decide exactly…
How To: Cornish Hens Under a Brick
With Memorial Day just a few days away, it’s time to plan what you’re going to grill to celebrate this wonderful outdoor holiday. While everyone else is probably going to be grilling burgers, hot dogs and chicken, be a little different and grill Cornish hens under a brick. Like most…
Dustin Reininger: Texas Dude With a Truckload of Guns Forced to Remain in New Jersey Gulag
Second Amendment-hating New Jersey judges rejected a Texas man’s appeal on a 2010 conviction of illegal possession of multiple firearms this week, but the case may soon be headed for New Jersey’s Supreme Court. Rockport resident Dustin Reininger’s Kafka-esque nightmare began in 2009, when he was driving through Readington, New…
100 Creatives 2013: Maggie Lasher, Dance Professor and Artistic Director
Maggie Lasher is, in a word, vibrant. From the lights and fire that she weaves into her dance performances to the colors she dons around Houston, everything Maggie touches in Houston’s art scene seems to glow. Maggie currently serves as a dance professor at Houston Community College as well as…
Take-Out Fake-Outs: 5 Summer Barbecue Recipes Lightened-Up
We love Friday-night pizza or lazy-Sunday Thai delivery as much as the next guys — but we can’t say the same for our waistlines. Luckily, we have a few tricks up our sleeves. By remaking your favorite take-out foods at home, you can get all the pleasure…with none of the…
The Chronic: 10 Musicians With Ongoing Illnesses
When they hit the stage and do what they do, it’s easy to forget that our musical heroes are basically just talented, driven and very lucky human beings. They’re flesh, blood, bone and the right type of grey matter, all formed into a singular unit designed to delight us all…
Kevin Durant Donates $1 Million To The Red Cross For Tornado Relief
As the Rockets first round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder unfolded, as Kevin Martin flopped around like a spastic Euro, as Derek Fisher continually executed the only discernible basketball skill still in his repertoire (corner three!), as Kendrick Perkins ran up and down the floor with the grace and…
Comicpalooza: The Shadow Casts Come Out at Night
Your humble narrator was part of a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast for the better part of a decade. I spent every Saturday night in Frank-n-Furter’s fishnets singing “Sweet Transvestite” and soaking up the unique ambience of carnival and cabaret that comes from the experience. There is simply nothing…
How to Make a Drunk Watermelon and Be the Hit of Your Memorial Day Party
Note: This is a reprint from last year. This almost goes without saying, but very few things complement an afternoon of barbecuing or grilling like a slice of ice-cold watermelon and a pleasant buzz. That’s where Drunk Watermelons come in. A slice of Drunk Watermelon is the best of both…
Tesla Coils to Unsettling Steampunk: The Music of Comicpalooza
All kinds of things are happening this weekend when the annual Comicpalooza convention rolls around, but one thing you may not know is that you can see some truly exceptional concerts there as well. As part of our coverage leading up to the fun, here are some of the bands…
Super Bowl LI Officially Awarded to Houston
Houston will host its third Super Bowl in February 2017. NFL owners voted to award the event to Houston over Miami, who lost the bid when stadium plans fell through. The last Super Bowl in Houston was XXXVIII in 2004. The first, Super Bowl VII, was held at Rice Stadium…
Down Boy: Texas Ranks Third in Most Dog Bites in the U.S.
Being a mail carrier for the postal service must be a bitch, particularly in older neighborhoods where they have to walk up to houses instead of just driving by a mailbox. There’s the heat and carrying a big pack full of mail. But, perhaps the worst part is the fear…
Arraignment Today for Huffman Woman Who Put Son Up for Adoption on Craigslist
Having trouble raising the kids? Put them up for adoption on Craigslist. At least that’s what one area mom did for her son. Stephanie Redus of Huffman sent out a desperate plea to the Craigslist community, saying the responsibilities of parenthood were just too much and she couldn’t handle the…
Who Should the New American Idol Judges Be?
This past week, when American Idol concluded its twelfth season by crowning Candice Glover (who edged out Woodville’s Kree Harrison), it was also announced that the show’s latest lineup of judges is kaput. Randy Jackson went first, followed by Nicki Minaj. We’re guessing that leaves Keith Urban and Mariah Carey,…
Weather Week: Heat, Rain, Possible Severe Weather But Probably No Tornadoes
It’s tough not to think about weather after the devastating tornadoes that hit Oklahoma the last two days. The probably F-5 tornado that struck Moore just south of Oklahoma City could be one of the largest on record, an incredible two miles wide at its peak. Tornadoes are certainly nature’s…
Saying Goodbye to Studio A at the Met
This week marks the last run of classes at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center’s 1202 Calumet address. The company is moving to its new residence at 2808 Caroline, and the studios will be christened with free dance classes at the center’s open houses on June 1 and 2. Every dancer…
PB2: Low-Calorie Peanut Butter with the Same Taste
If you give me a jar of peanut butter, there is a guarantee that I will start eating it by the spoonful. Creamy, sticky and comforting peanut butter is one of those foods I just can’t resist. Unfortunately, it isn’t calorie- or fat-free — the downside to most comforting foods…
Upcoming: Icona Pop, The Cult, HIM, Carolyn Wonderland, etc.
All Stars Tour 2013 featuring Every Time I Die: With Chelsea Grin, Veil of Maya, Terror, Stray From The Path, Capture the Crown, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, For All Those Sleeping, Ice Nine Kills., Sat., Aug. 10, 2 p.m., $22.50. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston, 888-402-5837. Amy Lavere: Thu., June 13, 7:30…
Downing Street Pub Manager Joseph Dufault Died In Sunday’s Hummer Wreck
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed to Hair Balls that Downing Street Pub Manager Joseph Dufault died in Sunday’s single-vehicle wreck on Allen Parkway. Dufault was driving a Hummer around 2 p.m. near Waugh when he sped off a curve before smashing into a tree. He was 29. According…
Five Songs That Are Surprisingly Awesome When Dubstepped
So I’m not sure how this blog came to fruition, but it did, and I can honestly tell you that I never expected to be writing about dubstep. I don’t mind the whole electronic-music craze, but you would be hard-pressed to find me making the trek to Ultra Fest or…
Ramps Aren’t Rampant in Houston
From the mailbag, a reader request for ramps: Ramps, which are basically wild leeks, are widely available in other parts of the country in the spring. Where can Houstonians find lovely spring vegetables like ramps, fiddleheads, etc? Tried Trader Joe’s, no luck. Houston needs our ramps! Sorry to say, but…
Keith J. Varadi’s Muted Oil Paintings at David Shelton Gallery
Keith J. Varadi’s oil paintings have something you can’t quite put your finger on. They seem unexpectedly muted and soft. Even the boldest colors have a quiet quality to them. That’s because these oil paintings are copies of oil paintings, the original discarded in favor of this second life. It’s…
Dan Patrick Announces End to Pro-Islamic CSCOPE — Main Supporter, in Celebration, Yells Out ‘Yeehaw!’
Months after becoming one of the favored bogeymen among certain right-wing circles, it appears CSCOPE, as a lesson framework used in nearly 900 school districts around the state, is no more. State Sen. Dan Patrick held a press conference Monday morning announcing that he had received a letter from the…
HSPVA Sends Out Jazz Ambassadors, Ready to Do Thelonius Monk Proud
A group of students from Houston ISD’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is now on a weeklong tour, representatives of one of only two schools in the country chosen as ambassadors of jazz and bound for the famous Jazz Kitchen itself. Houston’s own: Drummer Jalon Archie, 18;…
Relaxation and Repast at Bon Ga
After two meals at Bon Ga , I understand why Oxheart chef Justin Yu names it as one of his go-to restaurants. Bon Ga is not about culinary posturing, fussy presentation and unorthodox flavors. Fresh ingredients and consistently impeccable preparation are Bon Ga’s hallmark virtues and the reason this restaurant…
The Lonely Island’s “I Fucked My Aunt”: NSFW, But Over the Line?
If you would have heard the names Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone or Akiva Schaffer six years ago, you probably wouldn’t have known who they were. Now the trio has become famous through a combination of their work on Saturday Night Live, their 2007 full-length film Hot Rod, and their mock-rap…
Top 10 Things Not to Miss at Comicpalooza
Comicpalooza this year is bigger than ever before, with more stars and more than 300 hours worth of programming to keep you busy. Just to give you a heads up, here are the ten things you absolutely don’t want to skip. 10. Cryptozoology 101: You might remember our own Ken…
What Will We Take Away from the Age of the Foodie?
It could be said that the Age of the Foodie has arrived. Food is the topic of interest across more conversations than simply what the current fad diet is or what restaurant you ate at for your anniversary. Food is everything these days. Hell, it’s even being blamed for killing…
The Rocks Off 100: The Jobe Wilson Band, the Boys From Chambers County
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, 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 the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? “Y’all ready?” asks Casey…
The State Water Plan May Not Be Dead (The Unkillable Zombie of Legislation?)
Going into the 83rd state legislative session, it seemed as if the state water plan would swim on through the legislative plumbing faster than Nemo went down that sink drain and onward to freedom and hanging out with some tubular sea turtles in Finding Nemo. Well, that’s just not how…
How To: Fried Ice Cream Balls
With summer right around the corner, it’s always fun making new cool and refreshing treats for your friends and family. While you could stick with regular ice cream, ice pops and other ice-cold treats, take the classic ice cream to a whole new level by deep-frying a few scoops. Last…
Five Other Musicians We’d Like to See Take on Historical Fiction
This past week Downtown Abbey fans got a hell of a shock when Diddy announced via Twitter that he was going to be starring on the show, his purported favorite. Producers were quick to deny it, but no doubt fans of the PBS period drama were a little hesitant to…
Recked Productions Goes Up for Air in Hermann Park
The Setup: For most native Houstonians, Hermann Park and the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool are as familiar to us as our own backyards. On May 18, during two afternoon performances, Recked Productions transfigured the space into a site-specific dance, Up for Air, that melded the realms…
Steven Hotze Gets Funky: His New Songs Denounce Obamacare But Are Sadly Silent on Why Birth Control Makes Chicks Ugly
We were stoked to hear that Republican activist Steven Hotze — a physician who once extolled the virtues of 19th century snake oil such as colloidal silver and who belongs to a hardcore Christian sect that believes doctors shouldn’t provide medical services on the Sabbath — had recorded some anti-Obamacare…
10 Questions for Dr. Ruth on Erotic Art for Her Talk at the MFAH
The MFAH has always done an excellent job at getting top artists and critics to come speak during its many lecture series. One such series the museum is now hosting is titled “Conversations with the Director,” in which MFAH’s Director, Gary Tinterow, talks about art-related topics such as the state…
5 Thoughts On Jay-Z’s Getting Skylar Diggins The Best Graduation Present Ever!
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, like women’s hoops star Skylar Diggins this past weekend, I graduated from the University of Notre Dame. And thus ends the list of things that Skylar Diggins and I have in common. At the time of my graduation, I was…
Texas Concert For Conservation at Sam Houston Race Park, 5/18/2013
Texas Concert For Conservation Featuring Dwight Yoakam, Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll & Ray Wylie Hubbard Sam Houston Race Park May 18, 2013 If I wanted to make a dopey analogy, which I’m going to do anyway, I’d say Texas’ coastal waters and our wry but soulful singer-songwriters are two…
Today’s DVDs & Blu-rays: Mel Brooks: Make a Noise, True Blood: Season 5 and Last Kind Words
Comedy fans will find the documentary Mel Brooks: Make a Noise irresistible. Part of the upcoming American Masters series on PBS, Noise is more than just a retrospective of Brooks’ career. He gives new interviews to filmmaker Robert Trachtenberg, as do many of his cohorts including frequent partner Carl Reiner,…
Here, Eat This: A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Cuisine (That’s Not Sushi or Ramen)
Although it’s all the craze lately, ramen is just one of the soups you’ll find in Japanese cuisine. And although you’ll find sushi everywhere these days — from gas stations to grocery stores — there’s more to Japanese food than raw fish and rice. And while Houston may have far…
RIP Ray Manzarek: Bespectacled Keyboardist of The Doors Was 74
Ray Manzarek, the Doors keyboardist who brought both a light jazz touch and some seriously heavy piano-pounding to one of the most influential American bands of the late ’60s and early ’70s, passed away earlier Monday, according to CBS News. He was 74. By most accounts, including the one in…
Kaufman County Copycat Killings?
Most people reading about the killings of Kaufman County officials earlier this year – Mark Hasse, an assistant district attorney was shot on the courthouse steps in January, then District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead in their home on Easter weekend – responded with the appropriate…
Game of Thrones: “You’re Not a Man Who Slaughters Innocents for Gain or Glory.”
As is usually the case with Game of Thrones episodes, titles have two meanings. “Second Sons,” the third to last ep of season three, refers to both the mercenary (or “sellsword,” if we’re sticking to the GRRM vernacular) company hired by the “Wise Masters” of Yunkai and to numerous secondborn…
King’s X at Scout Bar, 5/18/2013
King’s X Scout Bar May 18, 2013 When I spotted a poster advertising Saturday’s King’s X gig at Scout Bar a few weeks back, it was kind of a relief. The news coming out of the celebrated Houston band’s camp hasn’t been the greatest recently. Last year, drummer Jerry Gaskill…
Dynamo Learn, ‘You Can’t Win Them All’
Have you ever been traveling, and you just have this sneaky suspension that you left something in the hotel room? The lads in Orange over at BBVA Compass Stadium might be having that same feeling right about now. Just two weeks ago, they were the proud owners of a 36…
The Practicality/Possibility of Alcoholic “Ice” Cubes
Every since my experimentation with the Halloween brain hemorrhage cocktail, I have continued to scheme about concocting beverages that change in character as you drink them. Thus far I’ve focused my efforts on cocktails that change color, but a few weeks ago, in a tipsy Joycean epiphany, I thought: What…
The Cool Whip Frosting Incident
A couple of months ago I was waxing nostalgic about some of my favorite forbidden foods. Everyone has them — items you can’t keep in the house because you just eat them, all in one sitting, until the bag/jar/box is empty. About a month after I made that list, I…
Norbert Leo Butz’s Memory & Mayhem – Live at 54 BELOW is Thrillingly Raw, Sensational, and Compelling
2013 saw the beginning of a novel partnership between the new label Broadway Records, dedicated to Broadway and Off Broadway-related recordings, and 54 BELOW, a classically designed state-of-the-art nightclub located just a few blocks from the heart of Times Square below the legendary Studio 54. Norbert Leo Butz made his…
Scott H. Biram at the Continental Club, 5/17/13
Scott H. Biram Continental Club May 17, 2013 Fans of Scott H. Biram’s brand of rusty yelpin’ need not worry, because the Dirty Old One Man Band still sheltering us in a hefty dose of antiquated down-home blues. With slightly less audacity than past shows and sipping Guinness tallboys all…
Tale of the Tape, “Butchered National Anthem” Category: Alexis Normand vs Frank Drebin
Music is a tough business. Thousands of artists are writing and performing tens of thousands of songs every day for little to no wage, trying to strike it big and gain some degree of relevance. However, in the Darwinian age of the internet, YouTube, iTunes, and a thousand different television…
Most Texas A&M Fees Missing Documentation, University Insists No Money Misspent
Any high school student in Houston will, or should, automatically know one of the biggest colleges to get into is Texas A&M. That is, if you have the money or the scholarships to afford the tuition and fees. In recent years, what’s been attracting a lot of attention at any…
Kanye’s “New Slaves” Video Bomb: An Eyewitness Account
Between his video premieres and SNL performances, Kanye West managed to confuse me in a good way all weekend. So it’s Friday night in Chicago and I had planned my night of catching up on television shows I’ve missed all week. But I checked my Twitter and my timeline was…
Spoiler Alert!: J.J. Abrams, Star Trek, And The Non-Surprise Surprise
Before we get in to the nuts and bolts of Star Trek Into Darkness, let us take a moment to see what the studio behind the film wants us to believe the movie is about: When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force…
First Look at Pistolero’s, Mexican Pop Cuisine Restaurant and Newest Addition to an Empire
Shawn Bermudez has slowly and steadily amassed a small real estate empire along Lower Westheimer to rival that of longtime restaurateur Marco Wiles and recent upstart Bobby Heugel. Wiles owns three spots, Heugel four. But Bermudez — he now owns five. In addition to Pistolero’s, a tacos and tequila joint…
Dave Matthews Band at Cynthia Woods Pavilion, 5/17/2013
Dave Matthews Band Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion May 17, 2013 “It’s the humidity that makes the funk more glorious,” mused a certain Mr. Dave Matthews in his amused, half-mumbled manner as he opened Friday night’s show in The Woodlands, the first stop on the band’s annual summer tour. Oh, and…
Reid Ryan Wants a More Fan-Friendly Astros, So Here Are Our Suggestions
In his introductory press conference on Friday, new Astros team president Reid Ryan made it clear that things are going to change. He wants the team to be more fan-friendly, and he said he’s going to work on making it clear that the team is now putting fans first. So…
Shen Wei Dance Arts Brings Rite of Spring and Folding to Houston
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Get Your Caffeine Fix Without the Heat
I’ve always hated the phrase “movers and shakers,” but if applied literally, it’s an accurate description of our city right now. With locals running around town implacably, outpacing frequent mentions from national publications (which have taken to calling us the new “it” city), it’s easy to forget that Southerners are…
NASA Budget Cuts Could Hit Johnson Space Center (First No Shuttle, Now This?)
In recent years, NASA has been hit pretty hard, and another hit may be coming. We’re a long ways off from the days when JFK told the nation that the United States would put a man on the moon, and in recent years, what with the Great Recession, space exploration…
Seven Recent Albums By ’60s Artists That Don’t Suck
Age gets us all eventually. I’m only in my early twenties and already I’m having to do stupid things like eating healthier, quitting the smokes, and watching my blood pressure. So it really shouldn’t come as any surprise that musicians start to slow down in their old age, especially if…
Doctor Who: The Man Between Heaven and Hell, the Roses in The Tardis
I have watched hundreds of episodes of Doctor Who, both classic and new. I have read dozens of books and comics, heard a similar number of audio stories, and pored over Tardis Wiki daily. I have engrossed myself in this show so deep that I can honestly say I have…
What’s Cooking This Week? Grilled Pork Tenderloin & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and me, but most of the time, cooking for two proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredient’s I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
Mario Williams Can Now Actually Arrest His Haters
The relationship between former Texan Mario Williams and the city of Houston has always been somewhat dicey. It goes all the way back to the day he was drafted in 2006, when most of Houston wanted the Texans to take Vince Young or Reggie Bush instead of the big defensive…
James Coney Island Unveils Line of Chef-Designed Hot Dogs on June 1
James Coney Island is one of the oldest restaurants in Houston, founded in 1923 by Greek immigrant brothers James and Tom Papadakis (this explains the Greek-influenced chili that remains on the menu to this day). But although the chain is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, the food is anything…
Different Tongues: 10 Foreign Language Songs That Rule the World
A couple of caveats to this list: first, it actually includes more than ten songs. Since one is sung primarily in English and another isn’t technically a “foreign” language, they’re considered halfsies, making up one whole. Also, no songs sung in Spanish are on this list. I’m not saying Spanish…
TV Fake-Out: A Cheat Sheet to Today’s Popular TV Shows
Recently I received a surprise package in the mail. When I opened it, I was thrilled to find a mini-stuffed Li’l Sebastian horse courtesy of my husband. What an amazing gift for a huge Parks and Recreation fan. I posted a picture on Facebook and got lots of “likes” and…
George Bush Intercontinental Is One of the Top Hookup Spots; Who Knew?
You thought the only action you were going to see at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was from that one airport security guard who always gets a little handsy in the pat-downs, but you’ve got another think coming. Turns out, if you’re looking to get a little lovin’, IAH is the…
Max’s Wine Dive Moving into Montrose; What Does That Mean for Houston?
Fried eggs and truffle oil as toppings may be old hat to foodies these days. We’re easily distracted creatures who paw like needle-clawed kittens at every new bauble that comes along. But back in the rollicking days of the mid-2000s, the novelty had not yet worn thin and restaurants like…
I Really Hope Damian Wayne Stays Dead
It’s just months since Grant Morrison killed off the latest Robin, Damian Wayne, in the pages of Batman: Incorporated. Wayne was an artificially aged clone birth from Talia al Ghul from Batman’s DNA, in essence a son he never particularly wanted. Trained to be a master assassin by the age…
Win Tickets to Scoremore’s Jambalaya Festival Right Now
Normally Rocks Off’s first post of every week is our selections for the best shows happening in Houston for that given Monday through Thursday. This week we’d like to try something a little different. Houston being what it is (a city we love, of course), the weekday live-music options can…
The Five Most Disappointing Goth Albums: Sisters of Mercy, Vision Thing
All this week we’re going to look back over albums from undeniable goth icons and talk about their failures. I have a feeling this one is going to get me into trouble, but hear me out, OK? Both music editor Chris Gray and I agreed that the debut Sisters of…
Johnny Manziel Officially Concocts the Most Creative First Pitch Ever at Padres Game
Cabo spring breaks, courtside NBA seats, luxury boxes at concerts, appearances on Letterman, rounds of golf at Pebble Beach, batting practice in Major League Baseball stadiums… I’m pretty sure that soon it will make more sense to just create a Johnny Manziel-specific blog on HoustonPress.com to capture all of the…
Gloriously Silly Spamalot: Think Monty Python Goes to Broadway
The setup: A show this downright, deliciously silly is the drug-of-choice for legions of Pythonmaniacs, who still exist decades after the British TV troupe’s demise and who can still quote whole sequences by rote. We — and I include myself among the unrepentant acolytes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus –…
New Azerbaijan Cultural Center Shows Why Baku Was the Houston of the Soviet Union
Irada Akhoundova remembers when the Soviet military rumbled outside her house. It was late 1991, post-perestroika, pre-independence, and Akhoundova, a principal of one of the schools of the Azerbaijan Republic, heard the four-wheelers and hard-tops tossing gravel outside her house. It was an early morning, and she had to get…
UPDATED: Tera Melos, TTNG and LIMB at Fitzgerald’s, 5/16/2013
UPDATE: Rocks Off incorrectly identified the former By the End of Tonight member now performng as LIMB as Jeff Wilson, not James Templeton. Our apologies to LIMB. Tera Melos, TTNG, LIMB Fitzgerald’s May 16, 2013 It’s unusual to walk into a show where majority of the crowd is under legal…
Macro Snake: The Week In Photos
It’s time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston’s creative community. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool…
Three Men Accused of Beating Pregnant Woman; Newborn in Critical Condition
Harris County Sheriff’s Department announced Thursday they had arrested two men and one juvenile accused of beating a pregnant woman after breaking into her home in northwest Harris County. The woman was tied up with tape and beaten. She was taken to the hospital and an emergency C-section was performed…
Upcoming Events: Wine Dinners, Small Plates and Large Pours
Wednesday wine tastings at French Country Wines are changing up a bit, but don’t worry – the popular evening event isn’t going anywhere. Husband-and-wife team Phyllis Adatto and Tim Smith have changed the hours of the weekly wine tasting, which will now take place every Wednesday evening from 5 to…
The Top Five Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Pam Ann: Cockpit!, the Houston Press BrewFest 2013 and More
Thankfully ameliorating the perils of modern flight with her Mad Men-era attendant’s cap and saber-sharp punch lines, that gorgeous standup stew from Australia jets back into Houston this Friday with the appropriately titled Pam Ann: Cockpit! The title is appropriate in that you’ll see more gay men in her audience…
Kylesa and Blood Ceremony at Walters, 5/16/2013
Kylesa, Blood Ceremony, White Hills, Lazer/Wulf Walters Houston May 16, 2013 Ever notice how some weeks just never seem to end? There’s nothing worse. On those occasions when each and every workday feels scientifically engineered to kick your ass, Thursdays can be the longest days of all: the weekend is…
Surprise! Abercrombie & Fitch Is for Douchebags
So this week everyone got really upset at the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mike Jeffries, after a seven-year-old Salon article surfaced in which he stated the only customers he’s interested in serving are the “cool kids” and that “a lot of people don’t belong” in his clothes or store…
The Final Countdown: Galveston County Puts Up Massive Countdown Clocks/Billboards for Hurricane Season
3…2…1…HUNKER! Along the Gulf Coast, most of us are keenly aware of the approach of hurricane season each year. Even if we don’t know the exact date it starts (June 1), we know that the advance of summer and hotter temperatures means the tropics are about to get busy. Some…
Summer TV Club: Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Welcome to the Hellmouth”
Due to the massive amount of season finales going on in TV land, a place where most of us writers at Art Attack live, we came up with the idea to watch (rewatch) an older show and report back on our findings in a round table like discussion filled with…
Steve Aoki at Stereo Live, 5/16/2013
Steve Aoki Stereo Live May 16, 2013 According to the World Black Belt Bureau, the term “Dim Mak”, also called the “Touch of Death,” is defined as “the ancient martial art of striking vital points of an opponent’s body… engineered to cause a knockout, death, or delayed reaction in the…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Star Trek Into Darkness
Title: Star Trek Into Darkness Do They Boldy Go Where No Man One Has Gone Before? “Boldly” isn’t really the problem. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Three and a half Denebian Slime Devils out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: Attractive starship crew wrestles with morality of extrajudicial…
Antiabortion group accuses Dr. Douglas Karpen of late-term abortions, authorities investigating
It seems that Philadelphia might not be the only city in the United States with its very own late-term abortion doctor. That’s right folks, Houston may have its very own version of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, according to a report issued by Operation Rescue. The Kansas-based pro-life/antiabortion/whatever’s-the-correct-term group issued a report…
Close Up Space: A Comedy With Somber Tones About a Father and Daughter
When Molly Smith Metzler was a senior in college she took a course in playwriting, setting her on a new “hard” path. The “hard” comes from what she says are the demands of writing a play. “Your toolbox is so small when you write a play. It’s the most reduced…
Taylor Swift at Toyota Center, 5/16/13
Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran Toyota Center May 16, 2013 There was a moment about a minute and a half or so into Thursday night’s concert where Taylor Swift stopped, looked straight into one of the many cameras filming her show, and smiled. The crowd roared as if they had seen…
UPDATED Crush Video Case: Feds Drop Remaining Charges
Federal prosecutors have dropped the two remaining obscenity charges against alleged animal crush video producers Ashley Richards and Brent Justice and filed a notice of appeal on five counts previously tossed out by a federal judge…
Waka Flocka Flame Needs to Stay Away From EDM
Electronic dance music genre is corrupting trap music, and this trend is driving me bonkers. It’s worse than any country/rap collaboration ever made. The mix of electronic and/or dubstep and Southern rap music is not a good blend. It’s gotten so bad that poor Waka Flocka Flame barely even knows…
I Went Outside the Beltway and Messed With the Space-time Continuum
The offer was somewhat enticing: A brand new Cineplex, the Santikos Palladium AVX, opening May 16, was offering a sneak peek into their wonderful world of entertainment. The theater was not only letting folks immerse themselves into free bowling and snacks, but this new theater would be one of the…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Beers and Bowls for Charity, BrewFest and a Curry Crawl
Beers for Boston at The Railyard All weekend 4200 San Felipe The Railyard (the bar which famously replaced the old Roll-In Saloon) is hosting a mini tap-takeover and charity event to support victims of the marathon bombing in Boston. Through the end of May, The Railyard will donate proceeds from…
Bo Don’t Know Shifts: Astros Manager’s Defensive Shifts Rankle Pitcher
There’s been a lot of nonsense coming out of the Houston Astros this week. Primarily the nonsense around the Houston Area Women’s Center and a canceled gala that instead of being handled quietly saw the Astros filtering press statements through attorneys. Here’s a hint: The Astros lost that PR war…
100 Creatives 2013: Jordan Jaffe, Founder of Black Lab Theatre
What He Does Jordan Jaffe founded Black Lab Theatre in 2011 while still an undergraduate at Rice University. On the day we spoke, he was preparing for the opening night of Black Lab’s most recent play, Chinglish, to be shown at Asia Society Texas Center through May 26. “I bring…
Top Five Totally Legit Porn-Star Music Videos
So apparently actor Jonah Falcon is packin’ heat in his pants. No, we’re not talking about the kind of heat that the NRA and Ted Nugent endorse — this is not that kind of blog. We mean packing heat in more of a “huge cock” kind of way. Unfortunately for…
Health Department Roundup: Clean Ruchi’s, Dirty Whataburger and a Place Called Ernie’s
We had a TB skin test a couple days ago, and as we approach the 48-hour minimum for a visual reading with no ominous red bump, it feels strangely like the Texans entering the fourth quarter with a two-touchdown lead on whatever ungulate team Peyton Manning is leading. Either way,…
Johnny Manziel Hits Batting Practice Home Run at Petco Park (w/ VIDEO)
In the game of “Bucket List,” Johnny Manziel is officially running up the score on all of us. Over the weekend, the Texas A&M Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback capped off a round at Pebble Beach with his parents by knocking in a birdie on 18 to break 80. About the only…
The Bridesmaid’s Dress: Your Survival Guide
I was a 36-year-old bridesmaid, and I lived to tell the tale. I’m telling it now, risking discovery of this article by the bride and the dissolution of our 30-year friendship. Shhhh. Quiet. Anyone who has ever been in a wedding has horror stories to tell. Tyrannical brides, unexpected guests,…
Openings & Closings: The Bar Beat Gets Busy While Sushi Spots Shutter
Weeks like this one make it hard to believe I’m actually leaving this post next Friday, because what a whirlwind of activity we’ve seen in the last seven days. First is news of four exciting new bars heading to downtown, north downtown and Montrose. Two of those bars are from…
The Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Jeezy, CCA Conservation Concert, etc.
Jeezy Arena Theatre, May 17 A self-proclaimed hustler on the mike, the Atlanta rapper known as Young Jeezy has grown up quite a bit since his 2001 debut album dropped under the name Lil J. Rising through the ranks via his several independently released Dirty South mixtapes, he’s now sittin’…
Weather Sucks: Thank God We Only Have Hurricanes to Deal with in Houston
“It’s already here!” — Twister Overnight in north Texas, a rash of tornadoes killed at least six people and injured many more. There could be another outbreak of twisters tonight as dry, cool air from the north slams into warm Gulf air over Texas. It’s unfortunately a common occurrence for…
HPMA Nomination Ballot Is Going, Going… Only One Week Left
Hard to believe it’s already been almost two weeks since we put up the 2013 Houston Press Music Awards nomination ballot. This year has not been a slow one, that’s for sure. But now there is officially less than one week until the nominations close, which happens at the stroke…
Foodstagramming Is Apparently a Problem
We are all guilty of whipping out our phones to snap a photo of our food at dinner, then making it look artsy and hipster before uploading it to Instagram for all our friends to see, secretly hoping they will be jealous of the delicious meal we are about to…
The Ryan Express: Astros to Name Nolan Ryan’s Son, Reid, as Team President
The Astros desperately want Nolan Ryan as part of their organization. Today it appears as if they might get as close as they have been in a while. Multiple sources are reporting the team will announce the hiring of Reid Ryan, son of the Hall of Fame pitcher, as their…
Stephen Sondheim’s Road Show: When the American Dream Becomes Greed
Kenn McLaughlin, producing artistic director for Stages Repertory Theatre, knows that especially in Houston, where lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s work doesn’t get done that often, a lot of attention will be paid to their upcoming production of Road Show. Road Show tells the story of two brothers, Wilson (Tom Frey) and…
The 5 Most Disappointing Goth Albums: Nine Inch Nails, With Teeth
All this week we’re going to look back over albums from undeniable goth icons and talk about their failures. In 1999, Trent Reznor released The Fragile, which if not his greatest album… nah, you know what? It is his greatest album. Just huge and dark and there like the death…
Oklahoma City Twitter Thugs Go in on Patrick Beverley After Thunder Season Ends (LOTS of NSFW)
It must hurt to go into a season with the highest of hopes, dreams of a championship, go through the grind of an 82-game regular season to secure a one seed, and then have it all go up in smoke in a matter of about a week. It’s been so…
That Tree in the Side of Project Row Houses? It’s Not Art
In the current round of art projects at Project Row Houses, artist Rahul Mitra has filled his art house with colorful cardboard boxes and black-and-white wall drawings. But that gaping hole in the floor is anything but intentional. During last Friday’s storm, strong winds and rain caused a tree in…
UPDATED: The Rocks Off 100: Kimberly M’Carver, Missouri City’s Nightingale
Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, 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 the entire Rocks Off 100 at this link. UPDATED (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.) Corrects…
Travelin’ Man: Web Site Helps Dudes Find Vacation Hookups Based on the Books She Is Reading
I’m a travelin’ man I’ve made a lot of stops all over the world And in every part I own the heart Of at least one lovely girl When Ricky Nelson sang those words, he was a rock star traveling the globe and probably getting all the action he could…
Disney Drops “Sexy-Merida,” But You Should Still Be Mad
Earlier this week public pressure managed to convince Disney to drop its make-over of Merida from the Pixar release Brave as she was being prepared for induction into the official 11 princesses in the Disney universe. Her princess model featured a more slender waist, slightly larger bust, make-up, tamer hair,…
Smashing Pumpkins at Bayou Music Center, 5/15/2013
Smashing Pumpkins Bayou Music Center May 15, 2013 This is not a Smashing Pumpkins review. Sure, the title of this post hints otherwise, but I assure you — the Smashing Pumpkins broke up in Chicago, on December 2, 2000. I was there. Props to front man Billy Corgan for trying…
Harris County Attorney Sues Sharpstown Hotel Over Drugs, Prostitution, Violence
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, in conjunction with the Sharpstown Management District, filed suit against the Plainfield Inn off Interstate 59 and Bissonnet on Wednesday. The hotel is known around the country — it must be because they mentioned that TWICE in the press release — for its prostitutes who…
Breakfast in a Mug: 90-Second Blueberry Muffin
It’s fair to say I’ve become obsessed with microwavable desserts in a mug. I’ve made some fudgey 60-Second Brownies, a gooey Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie and a Crumb-Topped Mug Coffee Cake. Now it’s time for a muffin in a mug, or as I like to call it (because I’m…
The Rest of the Best: Houston’s Top 10 Tiny Art Galleries
Everything’s actually not bigger in Texas, at least not when it comes to art galleries. Houston’s the fourth largest city in the country (you know we have to say that every chance we get), and home to some of America’s most acclaimed museum galleries (yes, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,…
Google Wallet Takes on PayPal with Send Money Function
Remember checks? Some of us still use them on occasion. They are those paper things we have to fill out by hand and use to pay for stuff, mostly rent and maybe a birthday gift for the nephew. Just like the U.S. Postal Service is rapidly being replaced by e-mail,…
Whataburger Ketchup Now Available by the Bottle Thanks to H-E-B
Texans love their homegrown restaurants and grocery stores, and the affinity that people feel for San Antonio-based H-E-B is easily matched (if not surpassed) by the cult of Whataburger. The best thing to come out of Corpus Christi aside from Selena (a.k.a. the Mexican Madonna), Whataburger inspires the sort of…
Pop Rocks: 24 Is Back, Except Now It’s 12
Some may say that Fox is hard up for new content and that rehashing an old series in a new format is like cutting the sleeves off of a T-shirt and calling it a tank top, or some may say, “What! They are bringing back 24. That’s awesome.” Which group…
Willie D, Please Save My Long-Distance Relationship
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! LONG DISTANCE LOVE FADING Dear Willie D: I’m in a long-distance relationship with a good man,…
5 Houston-Area Barbecue Joints Top Texas Monthly List of 50 Best BBQ Spots
The last time Texas Monthly released its list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas was 2008. During that five-year interim, a lot has changed. Namely, the Austin-based magazine now boasts its very own barbecue editor — the only publication anywhere to have a single person devoted to the…
Rudy’s Return: Houston’s Latest Ska Revival
Billy Munoz wants to reassure you would-be skankers to just get on the dance floor and do your thing. He won’t judge you. “It doesn’t matter what you look like as long as you’re moving,” he says. “The goofier the better. We feed off our audience.” Andrew Garrigan agrees. “Is…
May Kickstarter Round-Up: Caveman Chow and Ayn Rand Games
I have to be honest with you, I almost killed this column. That’s how little I like the cut of Zach Braff’s jib. Then I thought, “Screw him, I’m still going to showcase the Houstonians crowdfunding awesome ideas! Face of Mankind: Fall of the Dominion There are two reasons I…
The Dead and the Apathetic: School Board Election Absurdity in Texas
In these highly charged political times. it’s easy to forget that for the most part, the average American is fairly apathetic when it comes to politics. Oh, there may be causes he or she cares about and politicians he or she despises, but when it comes to actually going out…
West Nile Virus Approaches, Proving Hurricanes Aren’t the Only Danger to Houstonians This Time of Year
It is completely official. The Centers for Disease Control announced this week that 2012 was a terrible year for West Nile Virus — actually the worst ever — and warns that it may happen again. Clearly Houston is a prime stomping ground for the disease. We have swampland, mosquitoes and…
A Gallery of Awesome Taylor Swift Memes
When I think of Taylor Swift, my mind immediately goes to the category it has labeled as “sheer hilarity.” From the Kanye incident to the bleating goat videos, the poor girl has become synonymous with accidental antics, and those are the best kind in my opinion. Taylor, who has skyrocketed…
Top 10 Restaurants in Downtown Houston
New restaurants and bars are opening in downtown Houston faster than we can keep up, thanks to a renaissance around the Market Square Park area that’s bringing new life to downtown’s north side. But that’s not the only part of downtown that’s blossoming — nor are those new restaurants the…
Surviving Summer in Houston: Five Must-Have Items
That impending sense of dread as the mercury climbs higher and higher up the thermostat, coupled with increasing humidity; the inevitability of leaving the air conditioning running day and night; the explosive growth of displays of sunscreen at the drugstore. These are just a few of the signs that summer…
The Pho-ndamentals
Here, Eat This Vietnamese cuisine has become one of Houston’s favorite over the past few decades — coinciding with the large influx of Vietnamese immigrants that began following the Vietnam War — with dishes such as pho now rivaling cheese enchiladas as sought-out comfort food and banh mi joints rivaling…
Open Season: Do Laws Against Animal Crushing Videos Violate Free Speech?
Update: Federal prosecutors have dropped the remaining two obscenity charges and have filed a notice to appeal the five counts under the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act Meanwhile, state prosecutors have refiled animal cruelty charges against Richards and Justice, who remain in Harris County Jail. For more information, click here…
Getting Your Ital-Mex Fusion Fix at Bellissimo
Take a virtual tour of Bellissimo in this week’s slideshow. You know that tired old bumblebee metaphor people trot out when they’re trying to describe something that shouldn’t work but does? I always found it rather silly — and maybe a bit insulting to the bumblebee itself, which knows what…
Warrior Class: Hitting the Stage
A Republican assemblyman from New York, Julius Weishan Lee, Chinese-American, has given an inspirational talk that has gone viral and brought him to the attention of some political kingmakers. He is being vetted for the nomination for a Congressional seat by a veteran political practitioner, who works behind the scenes…
Facing the Blunt Force Drama of Race
The title of David Mamet’s last successful play is a four-letter word. Race. Surprise? Mamet is the Shakespeare of the scatological, the poet of the profane. He’s the only contemporary playwright who can drop the F-bomb with such gleeful aplomb, as well as other earthy, Chaucerian depictions of anatomy and…
Star Trek Heads into Darkness and Familiar Territory
‘Who are you?” pleads a doomed man as Benedict Cumberbatch looms into his first close-up in Star Trek Into Darkness. The answer is Khan. And that’s not a spoiler — it’s a selling point. A less secretive director (i.e., all save the ghost of Stanley Kubrick) would trumpet that his…
Lights, Camera, Headaches
Festival Experience So Ashton Kutcher allegedly got in a fight at the Stagecoach Music Festival last month, staying true to his douche-roots and brawling with a security guard over a chick. I guess it can get more demoralizing than when he made an ass out of himself at the 2012…
New Bike Law Quiz!
Highlights from Hair Balls Spaced City In a long-overdue move, the city of Houston has passed an ordinance intended to make the roads safer for bicyclists and other non-car users of the road. How enforceable it is, we’ll find out. Until then, it’s important to arm yourself with KNOWLEDGE!!, and…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Chinglish, MBTV, Ravenscroft, Six Degrees of Separation, There Is a Happiness That Morning Is, Tribute
Chinglish A businessman from Cleveland travels to China seeking a contract to create signage, using as an interpreter an alleged consultant, an expatriate Caucasian fluent in Mandarin. The Chinese officials rely on incompetent interpreters, so misunderstandings abound. The gaps between what the American says and what the translator reports are…
Spanglish and Self-Esteem
Dear Mexican, Where did the notion of adding an -o to the end of an English word and assuming it makes it a Spanish word come from? Juanito Dear Wab: “Anglos have long held power in making Spanish and Spanish-speaking culture invisible,” writes University of South Florida assistant professor of…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Colony Collapse,” “Pastmodern,” “Shambhala,” “Unwoven Light”
“Colony Collapse” Nicola Parente has a way of getting your attention. Four years ago, it was with giant mushrooms made of peat moss that sprouted from Art League Houston’s patio. The piece, a collaboration with Divya Murphy, was in response to a New York Times article that named Houston the…
