Annise Parker Tweets Her Joy on Obama’s Gay-Marriage Announcement
Mayor Annise Parker has tweeted her joy — if not astonishment — at President Obama’s announcement today that he endorses same-sex marriage. “Wow! I was wrong. Call from White House. The President has stepped up and stated his support for recognizing relationships…like mine!-a” Parker got a call from an Obama…
Kemp: East Texas Town Disbands Its Police Force
The motto of Kemp, if wiki is to be believed, is “Easy Livin’.” The livin’ just got easier for any crooks, reprobates and no-goodniks in the East Texas town of 1,133 people, as the five-person police force disbanded this morning. A budget crunch made the department untenable. The Kaufman County…
Happy Birthday, Dave Gahan: 5 Essential Depeche Mode Songs
Today Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan turns 50 years old. This is a remarkable achievement, in that he was once declared legally dead but still looks like he’s 20. Not only that, but he, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher are easily the most popular and influential electronic-rock band of all…
DVDs & Blu-rays: Amador and Norman Mailer: The American
Amador stars Magaly Solier: Fernando Leon De Aranoa directs. Peruvian actor Magaly Solier and Spanish filmmaker Fernando Leon De Aranoa tell a story that is universal in Amador. Tender and lyrical, the film chronicles the unexpected relationship between a young caretaker, Marcela (Solier), and her elderly charge, Amador (Celso Bugallo)…
Houston Slips to No. 4 on Travel + Leisure‘s List of Top Burger Cities
After reigning as Travel + Leisure’s No. 1 burger city in America for 2011, Houston has now slipped to No. 4 in the magazine’s 2012 list. This year’s top city? Providence, “with its reputation for creative, locavore chefs” according to the magazine, followed by Philadelphia and Chicago. Providence? For burgers?…
Relax, Evildoers: KPRC’s “Screamin’ Stephen” Dean Leaving Houston (Includes Spanking Porn!)
After 11 years of undercover scoops and dramatic stand-ups, KPRC’s Stephen Dean is leaving to take a job in Columbus, mikemcguff.com reports. Umm, Columbus? Turns out he and his wife have family there. “Screamin’ Stephen” won a Peabody Award and other honors both at KPRC and at KTRH, when that…
Shot In The Dark: A Brief Preview Of Next Week’s Show
Gosh, it’s almost a week away from Rocks Off’s second Shot in the Dark photo show. Snuck up on us. Today we just wanted to show you a few pictures you’ll be seeing at War’Hous Visual Studios (4715 Main) next Thursday, May 17, from 7 to 10 p.m., like Marco…
Specialty Rolls and Customer Service Make The Blue Fish a Solid Washington Ave. Destination
See more photos of The Blue Fish in our slideshow. Despite the popularity of sushi, many of us still cringe at the idea of eating raw fish. I remember the first time I tried it, during my early twenties. No amount of coaxing, reassurance or gentle prodding could get me…
Reality Bites: Duck Dynasty
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. Up until about 15 minutes before watching this show, I had almost no idea what Duck Dynasty was about. I half hoped it was nothing but 30 minutes of following…
Cover Story: Houston’s Controversial Noise Ordinance
In this week’s cover story, Houston Press examined the effects of the citywide sound ordinance, which Houston City Council passed on October 10. While a Houston Police Department officer is confident that the noise ordinance task force (whose members aren’t required to carry decibel meters) is doing a good job,…
Cover Story: Houston’s Noise Ordinance Has Bar and Club Owners Screaming
Things have been quite noisy since Houston’s new noise ordinance became law. In this week’s cover story, Houston Press examined the effects of the citywide sound ordinance, which Houston City Council passed on October 10. While a Houston Police Department officer is confident that the noise ordinance task force (who…
The Wine Lover’s Bill of Rights
We the Wine Lovers of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Meal, establish better Wine Pairings, insure enogastronomic Tranquility, provide for the common wine service, promote the quality of fine wine, and secure the Blessings of Vinous Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and…
Trailer Park: Will Ferrell and Zach Galifiaspellcheck Team Up for The Campaign
This week the trailer for this summer’s Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis vehicle The Campaign dropped online. The film chronicles the political campaigns of Cam Brady and Marty Huggins, played by Ferrell and Galifianakis, and will surely catch fire in this presidential election year. The only problem that one could…
Mike Leach Jumps on the “Craig James Killed 5 Hookers” Bandwagon
In case you were wondering, former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach isn’t supporting the quixotic senate campaign of Houston native and former SMU star Craig James. Proof is provided by Deadspin, which got this shot of an autograph Leach provided to a fan who bought his new book Swing Your…
Gregg Allman’s Cross to Bear: Not Gonna Catch the Midnight Writer
My Cross to Bear By Gregg Allman with Alan Light William Morrow, 400 pp., $27.99 If there were a classic-rocker version of the TV show Survivor, Gregg Allman would surely be one of the last contestants on the island, perhaps engaging in stealth coconut-bombing wars with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton…
First Look at Union Kitchen: 5 Things It Does Wrong and 5 Things It Does Right
Because it’s not fair to give a full cafe review to a restaurant before it’s been open for at least three months, we bring you First Looks at new restaurants around Houston to see what they’re doing right so far and what they still need to work on. The new…
A Different Kind of Orange Show at Gallery Sonja Roesch
Berlin artist Dirk Rathke has quickly built himself a reputation here in Houston. After several shows at Gallery Sonja Roesch, he’s known for his curved canvases — monochrome shapes that bend, twist and seemingly ripple ever so slightly you have to check the edge of the work just to make…
Keith Judd: Texas Prisoner/Presidential Candidate Does Shockingly Well in West Virginia Primary
Majestically mulleted Texas prisoner-cum-presidential candidate Keith Judd has picked up 41 percent of the vote in West Virginia’s Democratic primary. (We examined the Keith Judd phenomenon back before he was just a gleam in West Virginia’s eye.) The Associated Press reports that Judd, serving time in the federal pokey in…
Christa Havican: Artist & Bartender Brings “Spirit Animals” to Life
You may have seen Christa Havican shaking cocktails at Kata Robata or competing in local cocktail competitions, but that’s not all she does. She’s also the artist known as “Christa Monster” in-residence at The Photobooth on Montrose, a combination photo studio, art gallery and performance space established by photographer Simon…
Can Domino’s Pull Off “Brooklyn-Style” Pizza?
No! 1000 percent, N-effing-O. Maybe my expectations were raised too high by the promise of hand-stretched, perfectly foldable crust, and by images of the flavorful, thin, crisp crust conjured by the word “Brooklyn.” Or maybe it was the fact that I just wasn’t drunk. Anyway I look at it –…
Rearviewmirror: 5 Ways Ticketmaster Survived Pearl Jam
Do you hate Ticketmaster convenience fees? If you don’t, it’s because you’ve never been to a concert. The various fees tacked onto admission prices by the global ticketing behemoth can add a pretty penny in a hurry to the face value of a chance to see and hear our musical…
Hofmann Sausage Co: Texas Is About to Get Real…Hot Dogs! If You Live in Dallas, Can You Bring Me Some?
So if you are from Upstate New York (like me), and if you love hot dogs (like me), and you live in Texas (like me), then you probably really, really miss Hofmann hot dogs. Like me. Because when I tell you I miss Hofmann hot dogs, I mean that I…
Renowned Printmaker Dennis McNett Builds His First Art Car, Will Give Lecture
Dennis McNett, one of the nation’s renowned printmakers, practices the tedious, time-consuming art of carving. Most of his works are huge and have a graphic basis in ’80s skateboard and punk rock culture; they are frequently described as “surly.” He also specializes in large, mobile pieces such as the Wolfbats…
Varrie V: Hey Everyone, a Local Musician Is on National TV Again
Each week, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group “Artist of the Week,” bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn’t awful? E-mail their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Last year, the underground Houston music scene was…
Comment of the Day: If Dan Patrick Is Gay, How We’ll Find Out
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Prison Employees Say The Man (i.e., TDCJ) Is Monitoring Their Facebook Friends Lists
Some employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are accusing wardens of disciplining, and in some cases firing, them for having Facebook friends with criminal records. Duane Stuart, who runs a private TDCJ employee forum, thebackgate.org, tells Hair Balls that wardens regularly inspect employees’ profiles, asking employees for their…
UPDATED John Travolta Under Fire: We’ve Got Chills and They’re Multiplying
By now we have all read about the lurid accusations against actor John Travolta that have been leveled by not one, but two male masseuses. Or is it masseui? Both men have now filed lawsuits and the details of each allegation are disturbing. Travolta’s people are denying each man’s story…
4 Disimprovements Outgoing A&M AD Bill Byrne Made to Aggieland
“Dollar Bill” won’t be receiving a paycheck from Texas A&M any longer because on Tuesday, A&M athletic director Bill Byrne announced his retirement. A few weeks earlier, Aggie president R. Bowen Loftin said that Byrne, who held the job for nearly ten years, would “transition” out of his position, even…
100 Creatives 2012: Laura Burlton, Photographer, Dreams in Chalk
What She Does: Laura Burlton is a photographer who does all the standard photographer things like weddings and portraits. She also produces startlingly original photographic art. Her latest series is called “Dreams in Chalk,” a co-production with her daughters and her daughters’ friends. Burlton re-enacts fairy-tale settings using sidewalks and…
Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs
Fat City Houston: Believe it or not, this year’s list of our 100 Favorite Dishes is ramping back up again for 2012, starting tomorrow. Until then, refresh your palate with Fat City’s continued and detailed and often hilarious examination of the items we included on 2011’s list. CultureMap: If this…
Jane’s Addiction & Other Big 1987 Debut Albums
Tonight Jane’s Addiction comes to the Bayou Music Center, touring behind last year’s The Great Escape Artist, only their fourth studio album in their nearly 27 years as a band. A few weeks back, Rocks Off talked to lead singer and Lollapalooza honcho Perry Farrell about the band’s future and…
Exotic Prop Bet Mania: Profiting Off the Madden Curse
When the average sports fan hears the word “wagering,” for the most part they equate it with football and basketball, betting on spreads and total points scored. But if you read my work in this space, you know that the occasional prop bet is a fun diversion and oftentimes a…
A Showcase of Inappropriately Dubbed Puppet Musicians
I spend an unfortunately large amount of time on two activities. No. 1, I am paid under the table by the felt lobby to promote puppet music. No. 2, I have an irresistible compulsion to ruin children’s entertainment. It’s not that I’m a bad person; it’s that I’m a horrible…
UPDATED: A Closer Look at the Upcoming Animated Portal Short
UPDATE: You can keep up to date on this project from Alex Zemke’s new Twitter. The geekier side of the Internet has been fair abuzz since test shots of Alex Zemke’s upcoming animated short Companionship, based on the award-winning and impossibly excellent video game series Portal from Valve, were revealed…
HISD Settles with Don Lee Farms About Pink Slime
First the Houston ISD declared stoutly that it had no pink slime in the meat it had purchased for its children. Restaurants and schools throughout the country might have a problem. It did not, it assured parents and the public. Then, after discovering it did, in fact, have some, and…
Denise Davis, Mugshot of the Day: Saddest Shoplifter Ever
Today’s entrant in the Mugshot of the Year award bespeaks sadness, gloom, the bleak emptiness that comes when you realize you’re getting jail time for allegedly shoplifting at a Harlingen Beall’s. Not that Denise Davis, 38, didn’t have high-toned tastes: She’s accused of lifting two $77 bottles of Armani fragrance…
Best Texas High Schools: Dallas Edges Houston 4-3 in Top Ten Picks
Three Houston schools made the list of top ten Texas high schools put out by U.S. News & World Report, which was good but not good enough to top Dallas, which had four. HISD schools making the list were Carnegie Vanguard (ranked third), DeBakey H.S. for the Health Professions (fourth)…
Man Robbed of Whataburger Dinner at Knifepoint
You know times are tough when muggers are in the market for anything you have on you — including a sack of fast food. A Corpus Christi man found that out firsthand when he was held up by two robbers armed with a knife and a bat this past weekend…
AVICII Cancels May 17 Reliant Arena Date
According to an announcement by Houston promoters Nightculture, Tim Berg, the enormously popular Swedish house DJ known as AVICII, has been forced to cancel the early dates of his upcoming LE7ELS tour, including a stop at Reliant Arena May 17, because changes in the tour’s production introduced at the recent…
Upcoming: Candlebox, Lower Dens, Jerry Jeff Walker, Murder By Death, M83, Etc.
Candlebox: Sat., June 23, 8 p.m., $20. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. The Casualties, Nekromantix, Down By Law, Lower Class Brats: Mon., July 30, 6 p.m., $16/$17. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Chino Y Nacho: Sun., May 20, 8 p.m., $29.50-$39.50. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, Houston. “Concert…
Burger or Bust at Barnaby’s
Ever since my “grass-is-always-greener” incident eating Sunday brunch at West Gray Cafe, I’ve been jonesing for what I originally set out to get on that fateful day: a burger from Barnaby’s. Barnaby’s is my go-to restaurant. It’s a place that my girlfriend and I have a standing agreement over. Whenever…
Why the HELL Does Houston Not Have an Emergency-Preparedness Flash-Mob Song Like Austin?
Once again, Austin has out-hipped us. We get all the emergency situations they do — plus hurricanes. But which city has got the skillz to put on a flash mob and write about these things? (Hint: Not Houston.) From tornadoes to dirty bombs and bioterrorism, dancing will solve the problem,…
Lynyrd Skynyrd Borrows Scarface Album Title For New LP
Something must be in the air, with this bizarre concurrence of Houston rap and classic rock. We blame the supermoon. This morning, Rocks Off told you about ZZ Top using the chopped-and-screwed standard “25 Lighters” in the Texas band’s new commercial for flavored malt beverage Jeremiah Weed. Not an hour…
Of Vegetables and Domestic Unrest: A (Semi) Cautionary Tale
I gave up meat for Lent. I’d thought it would be difficult, but for the most part, I found it an enjoyable exercise. The night my wife insisted on the decidedly un-vegetarian-friendly Hubcap Grill for dinner, relegating me to a couple of orders of fries and a beer, was pretty…
Last Night: Nick Lowe at the Continental Club
Nick Lowe Continental Club May 7, 2012 Nick Lowe learned a lesson Monday night: Houston rocks, and Houston will shut up and listen. Lowe and his band seemed slightly flummoxed by the Continental Club and a beyond-capacity crowd Monday night as they worked through a set that was as carefully…
Last Night’s Screening of Plan B Was Pretty Scary
Last night The Progressive Forum, an organization “dedicated to enriching our democracy and culture,” presented a screening of the documentary Plan B, along with a panel discussion, at the Sundance Cinema. The panel included Plan B’s producers, Marilyn and Hal Weiner, as well as local environmental attorney Jim Blackburn. The…
EarthQuest’s Don Holbrook Threatens to Sue Critics into Submission
We couldn’t help but laugh our asses off at the latest move by EarthQuest “consultant” Don Holbrook to silence two of his loudest critics: Last week, he hired an Ohio attorney to send cease and desist letters to Garland, Texas, resident Heather Dobrott, who runs a site called realscam.com, and…
Vinal Edge Records Moving to the Heights
Exalted record haunt Vinal Edge Records, which for more than 26 years has been a destination for vinyl enthusiasts all over Houston off Veterans Memorial Drive, is moving into the Heights. To be specific, 239 W. 19th Street, in the thick of all the funky antique and craft stores. Late…
Celebrate National Burger Month with Half-off Burgers at The Counter
Dear National Burger Month: We love you! And we are proving it with today’s Voice Daily Deal, good for half off ($15 for $30) at The Counter. Build your own custom burger at The Counter, from your choice of: five different proteins, 12 different cheeses, 32 different toppings, 23 different…
Ask a Rapper: Krucial Picks Which 2012 Rap Tapes Will Be Crucial
The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place — lots of times, you’re even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good — so once a week we’re going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to…
Freelance Dance Writer Wanted for the Houston Press
Like to dance? Okay, so maybe you don’t dance, but you like to watch ballet, modern dance, tap and B-boys. And — this is most important — you understand what they’re doing and whether they do it well, and you can write this assessment up in a clear and entertaining…
Richard Earl Davis, 26, Bayou Body Count No. 56
A distraught man who was threatening his girlfriend started to pull out a pistol as two cops approached him, and ended up dead, police say. Richard Earl Davis, 26, who was “distraught after losing his job several weeks ago,” was arguing with his girlfriend at a bus stop at 17300…
Art Puts Laughter on Display at Studio 101
The setup: The international comedic triumph Art, by Yasmina Reza, returns to Houston, as the long-standing friendship of three males is threatened by the purchase of a large, expensive, almost entirely white painting by one friend. The execution: Shunya Theatre and director Dianne K. Webb have staged this popular comedy…
ACL 2012 Rumors: 10 Bands That Could Make the Cut (No, Not Radiohead)
Before we begin, Radiohead is in Europe for the duration of this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. They will not fly 12 hours to play a field in Austin. Ah, it just wouldn’t be May without ACL rumors running rampant. Rocks Off is guilty every year of stoking the…
Texas Repertory Theatre Brings Art to Exciting Life
The setup: The Tony Award-winning international hit Art, by acclaimed playwright Yasmina Reza, gets yet another successful Houston production at Texas Repertory Theatre, as the long-established friendship of three adult males is threatened when one buys a large, expensive and almost entirely white painting. The execution: The proscenium setting of…
Stella Sola Closed Its Doors on Sunday
Bryan Caswell announced today that Stella Sola, his Texan-Tuscan restaurant in the Heights along with partner Bill Floyd, closed its doors on Sunday. The announcement followed months of rumors that Stella Sola would soon be closing, a result of the building in which it was housed going up for sale…
ZZ Top Taps SUC Classic to Shill Dubious Malt Beverage
Rocks Off did certainly not expect to find this on the Internet today. Or ever, really. But what could possibly be the first single from ZZ Top’s long-awaited new album is now appearing in a new ad for a budget line of liquor-flavored malt beverages, the kind you might find…
James Dinkins: Justice of the Peace Charged with Hurricane Ike Fraud
A former longtime Justice of the Peace in Montgomery County has been charged with fraud in connection to receiving Hurricane Ike relief funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. James W. Dinkins, 64, got $120,000 in relief funds by falsely claiming his primary residence was in Galveston County, prosecutors say. Dinkins…
Karenni Women’s Weaving Subject of Arts Alliance Program
Weaving has been a cultural tradition of a small refugee community known as the Karenni since they left their home in the mountainous region bordering Thailand. Originally from Burma, the Karenni families escaped a civil war that’s been going on there for about four decades. Over time, many of the…
Top Five Cutest Baby Dining Accessories
A baby boom among my circle of friends has alerted me to the diverse world of child cuisine. I’ve gotten a kick out of eating some “baby” foods (such an exclusionary label, really), and recently I’ve been cooing over the cuteness that is kiddie dining accessories. Here are five I…
The Beams Are Creaking from A. D. Players: A Finely Realized Production of a Dull, Monotonous Play
The setup: The life of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed Hitler and paid for his resistance with his life, is so full of drama that his story should be a natural for the theater. Just the basic facts would fill a play threefold: an international man of God, whose…
New Play Magdalene Severely Needs an Editor
The setup: An emerging playwright, Sara Kumar, tackles the New Testament with Magdalene, told from the point of view of Mary Magdalene as she moves from debauchery to redemption. The execution: This is an ambitious project, with a cast of 22, and courageous, in that it presents material familiar to…
Mother’s Day 2012: Where to Eat on the Mother of All Dining Holidays
She changed diapers, bandaged scraped knees, drove to and from a million extra-curricular activities, cooked, cleaned and still managed to love you as a teenager — taking your mom out for a nice meal is the least you can do on Mother’s Day. Luckily there is no shortage of restaurants…
Comment of the Day: Yeah, About Houston Honoring Its History…
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Robert A. Heinlein: Can You Grok This Playlist?
It was on this day in 1988 that science fiction lost one of its most brilliant and influential voices to emphysema and heart failure. Robert A. Heinlein was the man who wrote legendary novels like Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers and the Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. All…
Southwest vs. United: The Tale of the Texas Tape
This week brings another chapter in the titanic showdown between Southwest Airlines, who wants to fly international flights out of Hobby, and United Airlines, the company that flies international flights out of Bush. United knows that allowing international flights out of Hobby would be a very, very bad thing. For…
Pop Rocks: Guys, the Biggest Movie of 2012 Hasn’t Been Released Yet
If The Avengers’ $200 million opening weekend proves anything, it’s that piracy isn’t having any effect on the movie industry. Ha ha. But seriously, what it’s shown us is 2012 will likely be one of the biggest — if not *the* biggest — years in Hollywood box-office history. From The…
GOP State Senator John Carona to Colleague Dan Patrick: I Heard You’re Gay, But I Never Said It
When Republican state senators attack!!!! (Things get extremely passive-aggressive.) Texas state senators Dan Patrick, Tomball’s Own, and Dallas’s John Carona got in a nasty e-mail fight first discovered by the Quorum Report. QR is behind a paywall, but some subscribers have posted highlights of the fight that began when Patrick…
Sweating to the Beat: 5 EDM Artists to Help You Get in Shape
If you’re looking to drop ten pounds for summer, now seems like a great time to start hitting the gym. If you’re one of the many that don’t do well left to their own devices, then you’ll probably want to be part of a workout group. If you’ve never been…
Project Runway Season 10 Casting Shrouded in Mystery, Plus Three Cool Blogs to Take the Edge Off
Project Runway has been holding casting calls across the country this spring and sharing some of the details on its blog. And by “some of the details” we mean very few, very scant details — a photo from the Dallas, Seattle and New York City casting calls, plus a few…
Where Are We Drinking?
This violently violet cocktail tastes as sweet as it looks — which is what you get for ordering a champagne cocktail off a serious cocktail menu from a bartender who tells you his preferred drink is “Scotch, neat.” The other cocktail I ordered, an Old Fashioned, was far better. But…
Terence Johnson Throws American Flag into Traffic, But Is That Illegal?
There can be a thin line between ballsy and dumb. Terence Dwayne Johnson, 20, of the tiny East Texas hamlet of Bedias, apparently decided to test where that line might be. According to cops who talked to KLTV, security footage at a Lovelady hardware store shows him grabbing an American…
Damn Right He’s Got the Blues: Buddy Guy’s Life Story
When I Left Home: My Story Buddy Guy with David Ritz Da Capo Press, 320 pp, $26 Once the young kid in a stable of blues giants, Buddy Guy is now an elder statesman of the genre. And in this memoir, the story of his life is also the tale…
Follow Your Dreams in the Perfect Strangers Video Game
I was only five years old when Perfect Strangers debuted on ABC, but I remember absolutely loving the hell out of it. Part of the appeal was of course the funny voice that Bronson Pinchot used in his portrayal of Cousin Balki, since funny voices are all you really need…
Wilbur the Pig Can Live, Homeowners Associations Get Another Black Eye
Wilbur the Pig is a pet, not livestock. With that august ruling, Judge Mike Engelhart stopped the cold-hearted local homeowners association in Spring, whose president will be played by a sneering Alan Rickman in the made-for-TV movie, from throwing Wilbur out in the street to a near-certain death. (Or maybe…
Justin McGee, Two Others Arrested for Southwest Side Murder of Chajioke Ukegbu
A shootout in a southwest side apartment complex last September was a robbery, police say, and they have arrested three men and charged them with capital murder. Chajioke Ukegbu, 21, was killed in the incident in the 8300 block of South Course Drive. Arrested without incident were Justin McGee, 20,…
Y’all, We Have All Been Doing “Punk” Wrong
When you think of punk rock, images of a bloodied Sid Vicious in a leather jacket may come to mind. Skinheads flipping off a camera. Henry Rollins and Black Flag destroying a crowd in a basement. Jello Biafra jumping into a surging pit of people after screaming about holidays in…
5 Things You Missed at the East End Street Festival
This past Saturday, East End residents celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a block party on Harrisburg — steps away from where the new East End light rail line will soon be operating. The street festival, sponsored by the Greater East End District, featured performers such as Los Pistoleros de Tejas…
A Texican in New Orleans: Lessons Learned from Jazz Fest
This past weekend was the last for this year’s edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which started way back on April 27. The festival runs over two weekends, usually Thursday through Sunday. Obviously, since it is a uniquely Nawlins institution going back to 1970, it’s not a…
Sharon Keller, Pat Lykos Fare Badly in Houston Bar Association Qualification Survey
The Houston Bar Association has released its judicial qualification poll for this year’s primaries, and it’s clear two candidates aren’t viewed favorably: Criminal Court of Appeals Justice Sharon Keller and Harris County DA Pat Lykos. Since the overwhelming number of people who take part in the survey are defense attorneys,…
Mad Men: Acting Out
The Internet world is all abuzz about last night’s episode of Mad Men, but not so much for its twists and turns but for the cameo by…Rory Gilmore! Little Rory (Alexis Bledel) winds up in the sack (on the floor) with Pete Campbell. Wait, wait, that’s not all. If you…
How Do You Say “I Love You” in German?
A Swiss-German friend of mine once told me that “there is really no way to say I love you in Swiss-German.” She was referring to the fact that the German-speaking Swiss have only a roundabout way to express familial affection. This linguistic nugget came to mind the other night when…
The Global Burger: Argentina
I love a good burger. While I always enjoy the regular patty on a bun with cheese, lettuce, tomato and ketchup (as long as it’s cooked at least medium rare), sometimes I like to put a twist or two on tradition. In this series of posts, I’m globalizing the burger…
Rap Round Table: The Best Skit on a Rap Album Is…
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: Kyle Hubbard, Preemo, Rob Gullatte, Chuckway, Propain, Delo, Renzo, Yung Truth, Show, Brad Gilmore, more. Not Invited: W. Balls This Week’s Prompt: Here’s…
Sneak Peek at James Turrell’s Highly Anticipated Rice University Skyspace
Anticipation is building for Rice University’s latest piece of public art. The newest skyspace from renowned light artist James Turrell doesn’t open until next month, but members of the press, Houston arts community, and Rice faculty and students got a sneak peek at the installation this past weekend. Called “Twilight…
Christie Loraine Marshall: Tries to Run Man Off Road While Both Have Kids in Their Cars
If you’re so pissed about a dude that you follow him in a car, try to run him off the road and ram him when he stops, remember one thing: Take your kid along for the ride. That’s what Christie Loraine Marshall, 32, did, according to cops and the Galveston…
Six Years Gone: Big Hawk Remembered
Six years ago last week, on May 1, 2006, local rapper and Screwed Up Click Five-Star General Big Hawk was gunned down outside of a friend’s home on Redfern on Houston’s Southside. He was 36. While it’s never acceptable to lose a gifted artist to violence in the prime of…
Borgias: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Trust the cross-dressing Satanist when I tell you this…it’s a funny thing, sin is. The only way you ever know for sure what is a sin and what is not is to commit it and then see what kind of harvest you sow. Throw on high heels and strut your…
Go Way Out to Eat: 5 Favorite Dining Destinations
Food & Wine magazine recently featured a series of articles on culinary destinations, or “…the world’s best food pilgrimages,” as they put it. While it was indeed interesting, I must say that places like Bangkok, Rome and India are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to food…
Andres Martinez: Driving While Rolling Joint, Almost Hits Cop, Cops Say
You’re leading police on a low-speed chase and notice they’ve laid a spike strip across the road ahead, so you swerve around it. Unfortunately, you almost hit a cop, making him jump for his life. Bad driving? No — amazing multi-tasking, if what KHOU reports is true. Andres Martinez told…
Who Said It: Anthony Bourdain or Paula Deen?
Anthony Bourdain and Paula Deen may currently be the two most diametrically opposed personalities in today’s food world. The two have feuded for years, with Bourdain generally accusing Deen of fattening up America for profit and Deen generally accusing Bourdain of being an elitist. Most recently, Bourdain has been on…
High School Students Did That? HCP’s Annual Student Show Shows Maturity
There is certainly something to be said about established artists. The “greats” are called so because of the very definition of the word. They are great. Have you ever, though, found yourself staring at the work of a celebrated artist and wondered, “How did they get here?” How did Man…
Springboard South: A Peculiar New Festival Arises at CityCentre
Springboard South Music Festival Citycentre May 6, 2012 An interesting experiment unfolded this weekend at CityCentre. The Springboard South music festival was the brainchild of Barry Coffing, a music and film industry vet who’s the director for the Houston chapter of the National Association of Recording Industry Professionals (NARIP). The…
Joseph DeeLee Mouton Killed Six-Month-Old Son, Put Him in Refrigerator, Cops Say
The father of a six-month-old boy whose body was found in a refrigerator has been charged in the death. Joseph DeeLee Mouton, 57, has been charged with injury to a child in connection with the May 2 death of Joseph Elijah Mouton. Mouton called 911 about 8 a.m. May 2…
Urine Soaked Virgin Boy Eggs: A Springtime Treat
Spring in Houston is my favorite season. By season, I mean that I do love the two to four weeks of relatively mild weather that we receive between what is referred to as “winter” and the unforgiving, eye-melting hellbeast that is summer. When I think of springtime, I think of…
The Foreigner in Fine Hands at Company OnStage
The setup: Larry Shue’s sweet backwoods comedy (1983), a staple of regional theaters and as often performed as his earlier The Nerd (1981), receives an equally sweet rendition at Company OnStage. Shue’s often very funny play is in fine hands, eliciting all the laughs — and the gentle message –…
Friday Night: Chamillionaire, Paul Wall & Z-Ro at Warehouse Live
Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Z-Ro Warehouse Live May 5, 2012 If you’ve been staying up nights worrying that Houston’s rap legacy will be lost on the city’s current crop of teens and young adults, go ahead and sleep soundly tonight. The crowd for Friday night’s concert featuring local all-stars Chamillionaire, Z-Ro…
What’s Cooking This Week?
I love cooking for my fiancé and myself, 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 ingredients I’ve bought (and I HATE wasting food). Enter…
Friday Night: Social Distortion at House of Blues
Social Distortion House of Blues May 4, 2012 Be sure to check out our slick slideshow from Social D Friday night. “If it weren’t for good black music, there wouldn’t be any good white music,” Social Distortion’s Mike Ness told Friday’s House of Blues crowd. “We’d all still be sitting…
Reviews from a Lazy Gamer: Spirit Camera
The Game: Spirit Camera: the Cursed Memoir Platform: 3DS Developer: Tecmo Koei Genre: Augmented Reality Experience Describe This Game in Three Words: Gimmicky, Awkward, Terrifying Plot Synopsis: After you receive a mysterious diary, you become the center of a paranormal battle being waged in a creepy old house and right…
Comment of the Day: Hilariously Bad Vaginal Euphemisms
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Rice Continues Dominating the Cougars in Baseball
John RoyalOwls outfielder Jeremy Rathjen singles in the first inning yesterday.It’d been 11 years since the Houston Cougars baseball team won the Silver Glove series against the Rice Owls. And coming into Friday’s game, the Owls had won 16 straight games against the Cougars. The Cougars can now actually say…
Flip the Script: 5 Things Rock Bands Can Learn from Hip-Hop
When we discuss forward thinkers in rock music, Pete Wentz isn’t a name that comes to mind. That’s probably because, if you’re like a lot of people on the Internet, the mention of his name will cause you to groan and/or think of the word “douchebag.” While you may not…
Game of Thrones: “The Old Gods and the New”
Does the theme music to GoT bum anyone else out like it does me? Jesus, talk about doom-filled, with those minor-key violins and the sorrowful build at the end. I wonder if any character will make it past the next few weeks. Just kidding. HBO announced a third season a…
Upset of the Century: Team Cleavage Falls to Team Modesty in Texans Cheerleaders Bout
Where is Howard Cosell when you need him? “Down goes Team Cleavage! Down goes Team Cleavage! Down goes Team Cleavage!” It’s at least as big an upset as Joe Frazier getting decked by George Foreman. We told you earlier that many of the finalists to become a Houston Texans cheerleader…
Enter Shikari: Either You Know You’re Oppressed, Or You’re Asleep
If there is anything you can say about Enter Shikari, it’s that the band is a challenge just by its very nature. There’s no genre, no label, no box that they fit comfortably in. Ultimately, they are that obnoxious zigzag Tetris piece that brings the whole game down. Lots of…
Where Are We Eating?
The banh mi below contains savory strips of filet mignon and comes from a food truck that recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. If that’s not a hint enough this week, maybe the name of the sandwich will be: The Vandalizer. Think you know where we’re eating this week? Leave your…
Maura Pozek, the Teenage Designer in the Dorito Bag Prom Dress
An inspiring piece about fashion as art popped up in our NPR newsfeed the other day. The story centered around 17-year-old Maura Pozek, from Reed Springs, Missouri, who has been making her own prom dresses for three years. Big deal, right? So she took Home Ec., or her mom taught…
Old Houston Photos Mashed with Modern Houston, Part 2
It’s time for another look at vintage Houston photos mashed with their present-day locations. Since the last post, people have asked why I am doing this, and it’s never just one answer. Houston needs to be remembered for its go-get-`em-everything-is-bigger-in-Texas ways. I’ve heard people complain about how much downtown Houston…
Kristy Peet and Britt Ragsdale’s Body Talk at Gallery 1724
Houston artists Kristy Peet and Britt Ragsdale have notable photography exhibitions up right now in one of the Museum District’s more unconventional spaces. Described as a gallery, salon, home and chicken ranch, Gallery 1724 is all of those things, though it’s no more a gallery than your local Starbucks, hotel…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating…Our Words, where we’re currently writing page 355 of a lengthy treatise on the many misapplications of the word “zesty” throughout history. We started the week off right with a look at dining outside the Loop, and we’d say not to let…
Jaime Mata, Gabino Silva: Two Suspects in Chilling Arson Attempt Caught on Video Surrender
Both suspects caught on video barricading the front door of a crowded bar and then setting it on fire have turned themselves in to authorities. First was Jaime Mata, who did most of the work captured on tape, who told police he was surrendering because “his face was all over…
Star Wars Day: Recasting the Movie with ’70s Rock Stars
Today is Star Wars Day, or “May the 4th be with you.” Something less than a national holiday but more than a horrific pun, it’s evidence that we still very much live in a Star Wars world 35 years after the movie was released, as well as that once the…
Dexter Gerald August, 35, Shot at Candlelight Memorial Service, Bayou Body Count No. 55
A candlelight memorial service for a murder victim ended with an argument and a fatal shooting, police say. Some 200 to 300 people were in and around Yellowstone Park in south Houston for a memorial for Brandon Bryant, killed Tuesday. Dexter Gerald August, 35, was shot several times about 8:50…
Upcoming Events: Take Your Pick of Avocado, Snails and Beer
Fed up with Cinco de Mayo? Just want to do something different from the rest of the crowd this weekend? Then head out to the 6th annual Polish Festival this weekend. The two-day festival will take place at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church (1731 Blalock Drive) from 10 a.m. to…
LookOut Arts Collective Is a Force to Be Reckoned with
If you see some electricity crackling across the sky tonight and tomorrow, it may be the energy generated by a young acting troupe performing five short plays that raise the intellectual level of Houston by several degrees. Not only is the writing brilliant — some of the plays are by…
Chef Chat, Part 3: Kaz Edwards and his Stunning Specials at Uchi Houston
Kaz Edwards Uchi Houston 904 Westheimer 713-522-4808 uchirestaurants.com/houston This is part three of my chef chat with Chef de Cuisine Kaz Edwards of Uchi Houston. Parts one and two ran in this space in the last couple of days. This week, Kaz Edwards, chef de cuisine at Uchi Houston, has…
Community: “Course Listing Unavailable”
Alex “StarBurns” Osborne is dead. Long live Alex “StarBurns” Osborne. Questioning one’s own mortality is a common reaction when someone you know dies. So is glomming onto the attendant atmosphere of grief to exploit it for your own benefit (which happened pretty much every time a fellow student died when…
Devin the Dude Is Here to Satisfy You…and That’s It
Hello. It’s Friday. And Devin the Dude is alive. So let’s celebrate. This is “You’ll Be Satisfied,” the first single from his upcoming EP, Seriously Trippin. It just came out. There are no tricks here and there are no gimmicks here. It is simply a traditionally Devin track, which is…
Sharon Russell: Mom Sues HPD (Again) for Auctioning off Evidence Related to Daughter’s Suspicious Death
Approximately three years ago, the Houston Police Department auctioned off evidence that prosecutors planned to use in a tricky case against a disgraced lawyer named Shawn Roberts. Roberts’s girlfriend, Tara Sganga, was found dead in her apartment in March 2007, and prosecutors planned to use Sganga’s computers and cell phones…
Grab Bag: Free Tickets to Women on the Verge from Bayou City Women’s Chorus
Snap up a couple of free tickets to The Bayou City Women’s Chorus concert, Women on the Verge. The show is set for the Hobby Center on Sunday night at 5 p.m. and these are prime seats (Row A, anyone?). To claim your tickets, send an e-mail to olivia.alvarez@houstonpress.com, with…
The Holy Mole Grail of Wine Pairing
Our blogging colleague Dr. Vino loves to post about what he calls “impossible” food and wine pairings. Recently, he asked his readers what they would pair with “virgin boy eggs” from China, eggs that have been cooked in urine “collected from primary school toilets.” [Ed note: Strangely, you can look…
Vogue Joins Movement to Ban Underweight, Underage Models from Fashion Images
Banning the use of models under the age of 16, and/or those who appear to have an eating disorder, isn’t exactly breaking news, but Vogue’s announcement that they are jumping on board and adopting this policy themselves certainly is. Yesterday afternoon the magazine’s publisher, Condé Nast International, announced that editors…
RIP Adam Yauch: Beastie Boys’ MCA Dead at 47
Well, damn. Adam Yauch, the gravel-voiced third of Noo Yawk ’80s and ’90s rap-rock superstars the Beastie Boys, has died at age 47, Rolling Stone reports. The exact circumstances of his death were unknown at press time, but Yauch had been battling cancer since being diagnosed with a tumor in…
Pam Matranga: Her Former Deputy Sues for Sexual Harassment Citing Forced Motorboating; She Says It’s an Election Ploy (UPDATED)
A former deputy to Galveston County Constable Pam Matranga has sued her, claiming she sexually harassed him by, among other things, pulling his head under her shirt and into her cleavage. Forced motorboating!! Other allegations involve farts and some of the worst euphemisms for female genitalia we’ve heard. Matranga says…
Schroeder Hall: 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…
Person of Interest: Will There Be “Many Happy Returns” for Reese?
I get it now; the “hunted by the authorities” part of the opening credits has been moved so it plays over a surveillance camera shot of Reese instead of Detective Carter. If you’ll recall, I questioned whether he was really being “hunted” by her any more after a certain point…
Openings & Closings: April 2012
So, while I was gone last week, chef Ryan Hildebrand and his investors announced plans to open yet another restaurant only four short months after Triniti opened on Shepherd. Brande, as the new restaurant will be called when it opens in late 2013, will occupy the old Ruggles space on…
Top 5 Ways EDM Is Now Mainstream
1997 provides us with an interesting cautionary tale about the pursuit of the next big thing and how it doesn’t always play out the way we expect. From MTV’s Year in Rock: Music fans were restless, record sales were stagnant…Then, a new music emerged…one that captivated listeners, created new stars…
Comment of the Day: Life Lessons from Clacker Balls
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Axiom: The Restoration of Fire Station No. 6
Tom Hair was driving down Washington Avenue in the Sixth Ward area in 2004 when he saw the dilapidated shell of former Houston Fire Station No. 6. He was looking for a new home for his branding and creative communications agency, Axiom, and saw potential in the 1903 brick building…
The 5 Worst Musical Careers By Professional Boxers
Rocks Off is waiting for the day that our 52-year-old mother sits us down for a serious talk and says that she’s ready to pursue her dream of becoming a rapper. She’ll say, “Mi hijo, you know Lil Casper’s mom, Brenda, on 4th Street? Her boyfriend set up a home…
The Astros Battle #MillsLogic
It’s hard not to get excited about the Houston Astros right now (well, not hard for those actually paying attention, and judging by the attendance, not many of you are). Sure the team has a losing record (11-14) and they’re five games out of first place, but the team has…
A Clusterfucken of Turducken, with Seafood, Lots of Bacon & Some Peeps
At this point in our meaningless lives, we should all know about the monstrosity that is a turducken; I mean, the thing is over 30 now, for Christ’s sake, get with it. If you haven’t been living on this planet, welcome! it’s a turkey (tur) stuffed with a duck (duc)…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: The Avengers
And check out our Pop Rocks take on whether The Avengers is for everyone. Title: The Avengers Who Would Win in a Fight: Thor Or The Hulk? Look, I’m a busy man; I don’t have time for this geek crap. And Hulk is the strongest there is. Rating Using Random…
How Bizarre: How the Hell Are These Songs All 15 Years Old?
“Simple. Fifteen years have gone by.” Nineteen ninety-seven may have been one of the most magical years in trash-pop history. You had the Spice Girls, Hanson, Shania Twain, Puff Daddy, Toni Braxton and Aqua burning up the radio as old-timers like David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac and Elton John made returns…
Kyle Pierson of The Hay Merchant Pouring Pints in Same Spot He Bussed Tables Back When Montrose Was…Scary
Lately, I’ve been pretty obsessed with sour ales, and there aren’t many establishments in Houston that cater to my sweet sour tooth. One that does, however, is The Hay Merchant. They have three sours on tap including my favorite, Brouwerij Bockor’s Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge. I stopped in this week…
Week in Photos: At Sea
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. We’re looking for pictures that represent the best of Houston, from food to art to events, to secret hidden spots of beauty. Just drop them in our Flickr…
Jason Blain Wagner: Pawned Laptop Full of Child Porn, Then Scoffed at Terms of Probation, Police Say
It’s kind of amazing how regularly it happens — a guy will pawn his laptop full of kiddy porn and then is amazed when the buyers somehow discover the disgusting footage and call the police. These days, surely everybody, especially devotees of child porn, must know that files are very…
Golf and Men’s Fashion: A Retrospective
This weekend Houston is going to be graced with some of the game’s biggest names when Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino compete in “The Greats of Golf” competition at The Woodlands Tournament Course on Saturday, May 5, during the Insperity Championship tournament. This foursome represents the…
What Is the Springboard South Music Festival Anyway?
The 2012 Springboard South Music Festival makes its debut this weekend, starting today and running through Sunday at CityCentre Houston. The event, boasting three days of music from 45 bands on two stages, is being touted by organizers as an opportunity for independent artists and musicians and educators and music…
Jerry “The King” Lawler Piledrives Clipper Fan: Old School WWE Wrestlers for Each NBA Playoff Series (w/ VIDEO)
People laugh dismissively when I say it, but the more they can incorporate WWE performers and the general WWE “way” of entertainment, the more enjoyable other genres of sports will become. No, I’m not talking about the predetermined outcomes of matches (The NBA has already incorporated that aspect of WWE…
100 Creatives 2012 David Peck, Fashion Designer & Eco-Friendly
After earning his degree in classic cello, David Peck found himself moving to Paris to study fashion at the Parsons Paris School of Art & Design. Graduating with top honors, he was awarded the Designer of the Year award for his senior collection, Brave New World. In spring 2006, he…
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Houston’s Top 10 Margaritas
You don’t have to wait for Cinco de Mayo to enjoy one of the city’s favorite cocktails, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few in celebration, either. Just remember to toast the Battle of Puebla (after all, that’s what Cinco de Mayo commemorates — not Mexican Independence Day.) 10…
7 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Tails & Tunes, Los Skarnales, Etc.
Mango’s gets a jump on Cinco de Mayo with its “Cuatro de Mayo” party presented by Rockin’ Steady. Cover is only $2, or free with a Social Distortion ticket stub. This could be fun: This month across the street, Numbers is letting one lucky winner create his or her own…
Cinco de Mayo As Celebrated in Five of America’s Whitest Cities
Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, meaning restaurants and bars are all going Mexican-themed with their specials and events. The day has grown to be a big deal in the U.S., if not Mexico, where it’s not Mexican Independence Day or anything. Everyone’s hopping on the Cinco de Mayo bandwagon, including…
Bernie: Skip Hollandsworth Tells Us about His Texas Movie
Bernie stars Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Shirley MacLaine; Richard Linklater directs and co-writes the screenplay with Skip Hollandsworth. Magazine writer Skip Hollandsworth has written dozens of crime stories, but none, he tells us, were like the 1998 “Midnight in the Garden of East Texas.” Set in the tiny East…
30 Seconds with Benjamin Wesley
Benjamin Wesley is one of Houston’s greatest talents, and his new album Think/Thoughts completely redefined what I thought musicians were capable of in the realm of songwriting. I fired off an e-mail to my new audio-crush to see what I could learn and discern about his bearded majesty in 30…
Trouble Brewing in Houston Pavilions Exclusivity Battle
Well, Rocks Off was about to head over to Discovery Green’s first free Thursday concert of the season when we noticed this item on the Chronicle’s real estate blog, Prime Property. Seems that House of Blues is suing its landlord Houston Pavilions, which is currently in receivership after some funding…
Luis Gonzalez: Drunk Off-Duty Border Patrol Agent Crashes into Taco Shop, Cops Say
An off-duty Border Patrol agent drunkenly drove his truck into a Brownsville taqueria in the early-morning hours Thursday, police say. Luis Alfredo Gonzalez, 24, faces DWI charges after driving into the popular local eatery called the Ultimo Taco Restaurant, the Brownsville Herald reported. “Gonzalez was identified as the driver and…
Make a Gourmet Meal in Half the Time with Our Tips and Tricks
Don’t call it cheating; call it a shortcut. Very few of us these days have the time or energy to make phyllo dough from scratch or even to simply chop vegetables. And if you’re trying to host a nice dinner for friends or cook a good meal for your loved…
Ex-Astro Screams at Former Teammates, Carlos Lee Screams Back But Doesn’t Know Why
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been less than kind to Astros first baseman Carlos Lee over the last four years or so. On my radio show, privately joking with friends and at times in this space, most notably my open letter to him a couple of seasons…
Health Department Roundup: Ninfa’s, Frenchy’s, Soma and More
There were an unusual number of inspection reports posted this week on the Health Department’s site, but only three citations were issued. One was for a McDonald’s, and one was for a liquor store out on Telephone. We’ll take the latter for a lunch break any day. The only notable…
EarthQuest’s Don Holbrook Sued by Ohio City for Alleged Fraud
Don Holbrook, one of the masterminds behind the perpetually stalled New Caney clusterfuck known as EarthQuest, has been sued by the city of Huber Heights, Ohio, for allegedly performing a substandard economic analysis for the city. The city, located just northeast of Dayton, entered into a $66,000 contract with Holbrook,…
Gordon Ramsay Delivers Three Delicious Shows for Our Summer Viewing Enjoyment
When regular networks like NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX put their shows on hiatus, they line up mind-numbing, inexpensive-to-produce fare for us to consume while Mark Harmon, Alec Baldwin and Patrick Dempsey (and their expensive hair, wardrobes and sets) get a well-deserved vacation. CBS will bring back the blight that…
Not a List: Your Favorite Musicians As Food
Sometimes an idea comes from the basest regions of your brain. Sometimes you think of something so stupid that you need to share it with your art director. Sometimes the snow comes down in June, and sometimes the Sun goes ’round the Moon, right? Anyone with a Tumblr who isn’t…
HPD Officer Miles Dumas Flashed Bar Patrons, Beat Some Up, Cops Say
A Houston cop has been accused of flashing patrons of a Galveston bar and then getting in a tussle with some of them. Miles Stedman Dumas, 24, has been charged with indecent exposure and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and been relieved of duty pending an investigation, the Galveston…
Wild Moccasins: Zahira Gutierrez’s Top 10 New Wave Songs
Have you seen the Wild Moccasins? Rocks Off is starting to get a little worried. Just kidding. Houston’s favorite indie-pop quintet has been strangely scarce recently, working their day jobs and getting ready to head out for a month of dates with Michigan don’t-call-them-emo crew Saturday Looks Good to Me…
Free for All: The Oyster Princess, East End Street Fest and “Art Car Revolution”
On Friday, catch the latest screening and performance in the Houston Public Media Silent Film Concerts. A comedy in four acts, The Oyster Princess is a 1919 film by German director Ernst Lubitsch. It chronicles the story of a spoiled rich girl whose marriage isn’t everything she thought it would…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Kaz Edwards of Uchi, on Creating the Perfect Dish
Kaz Edwards Uchi Houston 904 Westheimer 713-522-4808 uchirestaurants.com/houston This is the second of a three-part Chef Chat with Kaz Edwards of Uchi Houston. Click to read Part 1 and Part 3. Yesterday, we chatted with Uchi Houston’s Chef de Cuisine, Kaz Edwards, about his beginnings with Uchi Austin. Today, we…
Colorado Sues Some Mag Crews; Maybe Texas Should Take a Gander?
Colorado’s Attorney General is suing the owners of a door-to-door magazine sales service, accusing them of deceiving consumers in Colorado and across the country. Filed April 23 in Denver County District Court, the suit against Jennifer Proffitt-Payne and Cody Payne lists a bevy of corporate names they and their roving…
5 Bands George Clooney Likes
Boy, the Houston media is in a tizzy about George Clooney today. The King of Hollywood is in town this evening as part of the “Brilliant Lecture Series” at the Wortham Center. (Celebrity with a Cause Alert: Clooney, who will be interviewed by Houston socialite Lynn Wyatt, will probably discuss…
May Is National Burger Month: Celebrate and Drool
It’s no secret that Houston is home to some bad-ass burgers. (This makes up for our overall lack of good barbecue, or at least that’s what I tell myself to get through the day.) And since May is National Burger Month, we thought we’d spotlight a few of our favorites…
Comment of the Day: Sometimes You Just Have to Block People on the Web
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Summer Fest Adds Pretty Lights, Erykah Badu, 3 Dozen Locals
After raising ticket prices Monday night, Free Press Summer Fest announced more headliners Thursday morning. What are you getting for that extra dough? How about Pretty Lights, Erykah Badu, Fitz & the Tantrums, Phantogram, R3hab, David Garza? Respectively, that’s one Colorado EDM space cadet, one Dallas old-skool gangsta-diva, one slick…
Reality Bites: My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding
For a country that likes to crow about how great we are for throwing off the yoke of British oppression, we sure like to steal a lot of their shit. I don’t mean “steal” in the, well, Gypsy sense. But The “Learning” Channel’s (please make air quotes every time you…
Joseph Elijah Mouton, 6 Months: Baby Found Dead in Refrigerator, Bayou Body Count No. 54
A man who called 911 to say he was having suicidal thoughts is suspected of killing his infant son and putting him in the refrigerator, police say. The body of Joseph Elijah Mouton, six months old, was found in the refrigerator in an apartment in the 7100 block of Beechnut…
Scotch: A Taste of Smoke and Fire
Simon Brooking, Master Ambassador for Laphroaig®, recently visited Houston to inspire, educate and spread word about the brand. I had an opportunity to go to a tasting of four varieties of the scotch whisky at Down House, as well as one from their Ardmore brand. The nature of Scotch…
Scarlett Johansson’s Boobs Do the Heavy Lifting for The Avengers Promo Push
Our own Pete Vonder Haar checks out the other end of things with Pop Rocks today. The Avengers has already racked up in excess of $218 million in ticket sales globally and it hasn’t even hit American theaters. Early estimates say that it could top $500 million by Sunday night…
Kirko Bangz, OG Ron C, Delo, Marium Echo & More Launch New Music
The other day, Boy B woke up screaming like a madman. He said he’d had a “terrible” dream, that “We were in a volcano with lava. The volcano had a door. And Daddy was in the volcano being burned.” This happened while I was at work (I’m usually gone before…
Last Night: Florence + the Machine at Bayou Music Center
Florence and the Machine, Blood Orange Bayou Music Center May 2, 2012 If you skipped Florence and the Machine’s show at Bayou Music Center on Wednesday, you might be out of luck. The English indie-poppers aren’t likely to be playing the theater again anytime soon. Judging by the sold-out crowd’s…
David A. Brown’s “Optical Chapel” — The Last Days
Houston is losing another chapel. But this one doesn’t have anything to do with the Byzantine frescoes. This Friday, Heights artist David A. Brown will be taking down Optical Chapel, a photographic installation that represents more than 135 hours of manpower and is comprised of just under 11,000 photos. For…
A Little Pork Fat and a Little Red Wine — Just What the Heart Needs
Sunday night, 20 miles south of Houston, two culinary heavy hitters knocked it out of the park at the Revana Wine Dinner at Killen’s Steakhouse. Chef Ronnie Killen and Chef Randy Rucker began preparing weeks in advance, tasting wines and developing recipes to pair perfectly with Revana wines. It was…
Is Houston America’s Future Bicycling Capital? Tom McCasland Thinks It Is, and Is Making It So
Tom McCasland has long believed that Houston is a sleeping giant of a bicycling city, and these days Houston appears to be waking up and stretching its legs. Today Yale Law grad McCasland serves as the interim head of the Harris County Housing Authority, but even before he began his…
Pop Rocks: Will Chicks Dig The Avengers?
Anybody remember the kerfuffle around the original version of the Avengers movie poster? Or how incensed everyone was that Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow was the only character whose rear end was pointed at us? Kevin Bolk’s response, shown above, parodied it nicely. I don’t remember if anybody asked Johansson herself…
Destiny Adams and Kimberly Pierce: Two East Texas Women on Cutting Edge of “Keying Men’s Trucks” Epidemic?
As the furrow-browed detectives say in all those bad cop dramas, “Looks like we’ve got a pattern here.” Criminal mischief. Lots of it. And of the felony kind. Two East Texas women have been arrested on that charge in the last week, both of them for damaging the paint jobs…
Bootleg Clacker Balls!! The Feds Make Huge Seizure in Houston
The eagle-eyed inspectors at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have prevented Houston from suffering a scourge of unimaginable proportions: clacker balls. You may be too young to remember, but an entire generation of baby boomers was almost wiped out by playing with clacker balls, two balls on opposite ends…
How to Make the Perfect Margarita for Cinco de Mayo, Diagram-Style
Illustration credit: tabletinfographics.com You don’t need Triple Sec or fancy ingredients to make a good, basic margarita. That’s exactly what a good margarita is, after all: basic. If you decided not to brave the Cinco de Mayo crowds this year, just follow the simple diagram above to make the perfect…
Going the Distance: The Hot 100’s 10 Longest-Charting Songs
Let us hop in our time machine and head back to a magical place in the past known as December 23, 2010. Here is a snapshot of things going on at the time: Rocks Off was making wishes for the year 2011; Kanye West was knee-deep in Album of the…
4 Horrifying Interpretations of Children’s Shows Part 2
Last year around this time, I decided to share with you the absolutely terrifying conclusions I had drawn from being forced to watch children’s programming with my one-year-old daughter every day. Well, here we are with her quite a bit bigger, but no less in love with the folks on…
Roger Clemens vs. Government, Round 2: Another Mismatch
“Andy Pettitte is my friend. He was my friend before this. He will be my friend after this and again. I think Andy has misheard,” Clemens said. “I think he misremembers.” — Roger Clemens in front of Congress, February 2008 If you’ve been following the ongoing trial of Roger Clemens…
A Showcase of Cute Things Hating Bad Music
“Through their own words they will be exposed / They’ve got a sudden case of the Emperor’s New Clothes.” — Sinéad O’Connor Surely you’ve heard the story of how a rich and powerful ruler was duped by a con man who pretended to weave magnificent garments visible only to those…
Skullgirls: Nothing New, But Lots of Fun
Back in the ’90s, after the success of Street Fighter there was a rush to put out 2D animated fighting games. It was exactly like how hair metal took off in the ’80s. Products were rushed to market to capitalize on the trend, and it was kind of a two-edged…
Dominic Walsh Dance Theater Spring Mixed Rep
The life of a woman artist who influenced Auguste Rodin is the focus of Dominic Walsh’s new ballet Camille Claudel. The piece is making its world premiere during today’s Dominic Walsh Dance Theater Spring Mixed Rep. “She was an incredibly refined sculptress at the turn of the [20th] century, but…
Todd Snider
It’s hard to choose just one song as Todd Snider’s musical calling card, but a halfway decent choice is “Alright Guy,” from his 1994 debut Songs for the Daily Planet. He starts that one off by ogling Madonna’s Sex book and ends up swearing “maybe I’m dirty and maybe I…
Dos Equis Feast of the Brave
Dos Equis has decided to test Houstonian palates with its special Cinco de Mayo event. The company has teamed up with locals H-Town StrEATS, Chef Jason Hill and Chef Matt Opaleski to serve free tacos with unusual ingredients to the city’s inhabitants. From fried pig ear, chicken gizzard and armadillo…
Jo Koy
Comedian Jo Koy got his start in stand-up through his hairdresser. After an offhand comment about his comic aspirations, the stylist introduced Koy to a friend who owned a coffee shop that featured regular comedy nights, and his career began. Koy, a regular on Chelsea Lately, just premiered his new…
East End Street Fest
The East End Street Fest is a celebration of Cinco de Mayo and the new METRO light rail, a music festival and taco contest, all wrapped up into one fun, family-friendly mega-party. Taco trucks will battle it out for the title of Houston’s Best Taco, and there will be live…
Cinco Drinko at Berryhill Baja Grill
At 2 p.m., Berryhill kicks off its aptly named Cinco Drinko parking lot party. There will be an outdoor concert featuring the Tontons and Poor Pilate. The menu will be a limited version, offering fish tacos, tamales, street tacos, and bar bites, as well as $3 frozen margaritas and $2…
Corella Ballet Castilla y León
Houston audiences will be happy to see that the Corella Ballet Castilla y León has Clear on the schedule for their one-night stint at Jones Hall. Choreographed by Stanton Welch in 2001 for American Ballet Theatre, where Corella Ballet’s founder and star Angel Corella was then a soloist, Clear is…
Stick ’Em Up
When he was still filming his documentary Stick ’Em Up, someone asked director Alex “Pr!mo” Luster where he’d like to screen the film when it was finished. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was on his short list. The museum might not be a good fit, he was told. His…
Star Wars Invades War’Hous!
Star Wars isn’t just a film franchise, any more than Doctor Who is just a television series. It’s a multimedia phenomenon that’s fascinated legions of fans. Stars Wars Day is May 4, a holiday set aside to celebrate all things Skywalker-related. (It neatly lends itself to the catch phrase: “May…
One Kiss: The Music of Sigmund Romberg
Music greats Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand and Bobby Darin all sang Sigmund Romberg’s songs. True, Romberg composed mainly for the Broadway stage, but his tunes were so strong, they became mainstays for jazz and pop singers. Now the best of those songs have been put together for the cabaret show…
Only at the Alamo: The Avengers Marathon
Since the success of Iron Man in 2008, a series of films based on Marvel Comics characters has been released. This Friday, Joss Whedon’s new film The Avengers will be added to the list. But before that happens, Alamo Drafthouse is offering fans a chance to see how it all…
The Foreigner
Larry Shue’s The Foreigner is full of mild-mannered sweetness. The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia. A very shy guy named Charlie has come to visit a friend, but the friend has to leave for a few days for business. Charlie is undone at the idea…
George Clooney: Hollywood Humanitarianism: To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected
He’s charming, talented and very, very handsome. And this week, he’ll be at the Wortham Theater Center discussing his remarkable Hollywood career, not only as an actor and director but as a humanitarian. George Clooney’s presentation, “Hollywood Humanitarianism: To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected,” is the latest in…
Art
The bright and witty Art garnered just about every theater award there is to…uh, garn when it opened on Broadway in 1998. Written by Yasmina Reza, the playwright behind God of Carnage and Unexpected Man, Art gleams and sparkles, and makes you laugh out loud. This production by Texas Repertory…
The Case of Joe Campos Torres
The Case of Joe Campos Torres, a documentary film, will screen in the Community Room of PlazaAmericas. There will be a social at 6:30 p.m. before the film starts at 7. The documentary is about one of the most infamous cases of police misconduct in Houston history, chronicling the event…
”Dirk Rathke: Endearing the Line”
”Dirk Rathke: Endearing the Line” is the third solo exhibit for the Berlin-based artist at Gallery Sonja Roesch. Rathke works in what Roesch calls the geometric-abstract tradition. Translation: He focuses on the relationship between line, space and movement, often with startling results. Rathke presents objects created with the normal tools…
Fiesta Universal
Head to The Woodlands to celebrate Latin culture at the Fiesta Universal. The event is free and will include food, music and entertainment in a family-friendly environment. Live entertainment comes courtesy of Mango Punch from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For information, call 281 770-1128. Fri., May 4, 2012…
Cinco de Mayo at Talento Bilingüe de Houston
Talento Bilingüe de Houston hosts a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. The event honors Dr. Luis Malpica y de Lamadrid, Honorable General Cónsul de Mexico in Houston, and the 150th Anniversary of the Batalla de Puebla. The event will feature a performance by Mariachi MECA from…
“Dinosaurs! at the Houston Zoo presented by Orkin”
Dinosaur. Few other words conjure up images of of such strength and power. Thousands of years ago, the huge monsters didn’t just walk the Earth, they ruled it. Now, they’re making a repeat appearance in the Museum District at “Dinosaurs! at the Houston Zoo presented by Orkin.” This is the…
The Knux
When the hip-hop duo of Kentrell “Krispy” Lindsey and Alvin “Joey” Lindsey, better known as The Knux, burst onto the scene with 2008’s Remind Me in Three Days, they were decked out in skinny jeans and leather jackets, with electric guitars strapped on and skateboards under their Chucks. In short,…
Combat Veterans Fall Prey to Gambling Addictions at an Alarming Rate
In 2007, having served with distinction during two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, U.S. Air Force firefighter John Brownfield Jr. took a job as a correctional officer at the maximum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado, 40 miles south of Colorado Springs. Ten months later prison officials caught the…
Wild Moccasins, LIMB
Wild Moccasins are playing yet another tour kickoff, this time headed out for the Midwest and Northeast before returning home to play this year’s much-awaited Free Press Summer Fest. If you somehow haven’t already heard of them, these local stars have a great melodic dynamic, their songs peppered with catchy…
The Knux
When the hip-hop duo of Kentrell “Krispy” Lindsey and Alvin “Joey” Lindsey, better known as The Knux, burst onto the scene with 2008’s Remind Me in Three Days, they were decked out in skinny jeans and leather jackets, with electric guitars strapped on and skateboards under their Chucks. In short,…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Don’t Drink the Water, First Baptist of Ivy Gap, Mary Stuart, The Seafarer, The Unexpected Man
Don’t Drink the Water Woody Allen, already famous for his stand-up routines and comedy writing for TV giant Sid Caesar, went solo with his first Broadway comedy, Don’t Drink the Water (1966). The play had a successful run for a year and a half, but it wasn’t very good then,…
Social Distortion
Mike Ness has been leading different editions of Social Distortion since the late 1970s, and in the three-plus decades since blazing forth from the SoCal hardcore scene, the band has transitioned from scrappy to increasingly slick. Last year’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes does nothing to dispel the reality that…
Enter Shikari
Apparently aiming to appeal to every single one of their young Brit peers, Enter Shikari marry metalcore muscle and post-hardcore guitar adventurism to early-hours trance/electronica hedonism and the grimy grooves of dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass. Oddly, far from devolving into some lowest-common-denominator mush, their music sounds vital, heartfelt and,…
Another Austin Lover
TEXAS Another Austin Lover Six bad reasons to move there By John Nova Lomax Some mewling mouth-breather named Ed Reed on a blog called Thought Catalog has fallen in love with Austin and listed off six reasons why more Yankees and Californians should move there and join him. And of…
Justin Townes Earle
With this year’s new LP, Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now, the Justin Townes Earle story just keeps getting more complex and captivating. While his 2008 debut The Good Life was a hopped-up, spare, Jimmie Rodgers-style acoustic romp, the subsequent Midnight at the Movies and Harlem…
Rockets Mascot Gets in the Ring
Be sure to check out our slideshow of Clutch’s annual birthday party ad Robert Boudwin, the man behind the mask. In March 2007, the Houston Rockets were home for the New Jersey Nets and a serious injury occurred on the floor, but it didn’t involve any of the players. Clutch,…
Todd Snider
It’s hard to choose just one song as Todd Snider’s musical calling card, but a halfway decent choice is “Alright Guy,” from his 1994 debut Songs for the Daily Planet. He starts that one off by ogling Madonna’s Sex book and ends up swearing “maybe I’m dirty and maybe I…
Cucina Italiana con Comfort
Take a peek inside the new home of chef Aldo el Sharif at Aldo’s Cucina Italiana. In the late 1990s, chef Aldo el Sharif was serving meals to rival those at Tony’s from a two-story house on lower Westheimer that’s now known as Feast. Before it was home to a…
Hurt Pride and Ethnic Identity
BUY TACO USA! Gentle cabrones, my much-promised Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America has finally hit bookstores! Place your order with your favorite local bookstore, your finer online retailers, your craftier piratas, but place it. My libro editor has already promised to deport me from the publishing industry if…
Where to Party This Cinco de Mayo
No, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That’s September 16. Cinco de Mayo marks the defeat of the French army by Mexican forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The holiday is actually more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico. In these parts, May…
Nick Lowe Tries to Recapture That Old Magic
Nick Lowe sounds energized on the phone and laughs heartily when the Houston Press suggests that lately he hasn’t been letting things slide, a reference to his classic ballad “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide.” “No, we’ve been pretty busy since the last album dropped,” says the London-based writer of the…
Main Street Theater’s Richard III is punk-goth magnificence
Shakespeare’s magnificently malignant spider, the Duke of Gloucester, soon-to-be Richard III, as embodied by the equally magnificent Guy Roberts, scuttles gleefully across Main Street Theater’s Chelsea Market stage spewing evil in his wake. The splash he makes is pure acid. No one is spared the scarring. In Roberts’s punk-gothic, evocative…
Perry Farrell Is Doing Just Fine
Jane’s Addiction lead singer Perry Farrell just spent an afternoon in his hometown of Santa Monica, California, eating “miracle berries,” those strange little pieces of fruit that make everything taste sweet to your tongue. “They brought us a plate of lemons, limes, and now everything tastes sweet. I’m taking it…
Things Go Boom in Avengers
At the start of Joss Whedon’s long-awaited Marvel superhero supergroup flick, The Avengers, the Tesseract — a powerful, potentially dangerous glowing cube that fell to the ocean floor after Captain America (Chris Evans) liberated it from the Nazis in his movie last summer — is in the hands of NASA…
True Believers and Other Local Releases
Blackmarket Syndicate, And the Peasants Rejoiced: It’s hard for us to see the title of Blackmarket Syndicate’s second album without thinking about that line in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “and there was much rejoicing.” But the Houston punk-rock quartet takes this stuff seriously, maybe a little too seriously…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Anodyne,” “Between Heaven and Home,” “CTRL group two,” “Elixir,” “Pressing News,” “Prints”
“Anodyne” It’s difficult to label Joe Mancuso’s work by any traditional means. Is it sculpture? Painting? Installation? All of the above seem appropriate in the Houston artist’s latest show at Barbara Davis Gallery. These art vocabulary-defying conundrums begin with the piece Bouquet. It’s a careful arrangement of polywood, with flower…
