EquuSearch Has a Plan for Pulling Up More than 100 Vehicles From the Bayou
Update: Information about specific bayou locations was added. When Texas EquuSearch was called to help find a missing woman, they weren’t expecting to find the Valley of Lost Vehicles underneath the murky depths of the city’s bayous. And neither was the Houston Police Department, which had asked the search organization…
Philippe Schmit Re-Emerges With Wine and Chocolate Dinner
After abruptly parting ways from his eponymous restaurant last September and triumphantly returning to the kitchen in March for a pop-up foie gras dinner at Kris Bistro, chef Philippe Schmit is back again, and this time, his focus is on chocolate. Schmit is widely regarded as one of the best…
Cover Story: 10 More Houston Acts You Should Know About
In this week’s cover story, “Up and Coming,” the Houston Press is proud to spotlight five local artists — BLSHS, Libby Koch, Real Flow, War Master and Easy Yves Saint (whose new EP, Sincerely, Yves, we told you about Tuesday) — we think you’re going to be hearing a lot…
Apollo Astronaut Space Suits for Sale
There was a time — Hair Balls is reasonably sure — when every kid wanted to be an astronaut when he or she grew up. And why not? They were watching on TV as astronauts were launched into space and walked on the moon. It was the age of the…
Reality Bites: Hollywood Exes
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. You know, kids [hitches pants up to midsection and lights corncob pipe], it used to be that the term “celebrity” applied to someone famous by virtue of their being arguably…
Cocktail Mixers in Tiny Bottles: Tastes Like Syrup, Lysol and Dirt
While strolling down the booze aisle at CVS recently, something caught my eye. It was a tall vertical package with small bottles of brightly colored liquid peeking out of it. “Forget the expensive bar tab,” it read. “Thanks to the Modern Cocktail, you can now shake up your favorite cocktails…
This Can’t Be True About Our Drinking Water, But It Is
So, according to an article in the Texas Tribune, we’re drinking Dallas’s toilet water. Maybe not literally, but no doubt the folks up north are grinning from ear to ear on that one. The story comes in a piece about Wichita Falls dealing with drought and a move to turn…
Band of Skulls at Warehouse Live, 5/13/2014
Band of Skulls Warehouse Live May 13, 2013 I’m not sure what it is, whether it be the accent or the rich history of rock and roll, but for some reason you’re just cooler if you’re British and in a band. Think in your head what your definition of “rock…
McDonald’s Still Just Missing the Point of Non-Gendered Toys
As I mentioned a little bit back when I was talking about my daughter playing with autistic children, I’ve spent a fair amount of time at McDonald’s. It’s cheap food, there’s an air conditioned playground, the wi fi is free, and it allows my daughter to run around having fun…
Cookbook Review: Open Up Your Pantry With The Chopped Cookbook
You don’t necessarily need crazy ingredients to make a delicious meal. Although the hit Food Network reality competition, “Chopped,” uses a multitude of out-of-the-box foods like goat brains, hibiscus flowers in syrup and preserved duck eggs, The Chopped Cookbook helps you put a restaurant-quality meal on the table with everyday…
Tracy McGrady’s Brief and Memorable Minor League Debut
Somewhere in Middle America, a bit of peace can still be found on a minor league baseball diamond. You don’t have to deal with price gouging in concessions, the world still feels small and constricted, and you can’t seem to argue with a $5 funnel cake. Matter of fact, never…
Tootsies Hosts Event to Raise Awareness About Stray Dog Dangers in Houston
There are 1.2 million stray dogs in Houston and most of them are in the poorest parts of the city. Most of them are harmless but some are not and they become part of the danger for kids going to school in the morning, whether they walk or wait at…
This Week in Food Blogs: Eat Your Veggies at Coltivare
Hank On Food: Hank fills us in on an overlooked pizza and wine restaurant in Sugar Land, Coal Vines & Wine Bistro. His server was not only knowledgeable about the wine offerings, but also the craft beer selections. After munching on fried zucchini chips and sipping on Row Eleven Vinas…
On This Week’s Film Podcast: Godzilla, Neighbors and Chef
2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Legendary Pictures Productions LLC.Godzilla, opening May 16.Village Voice film editor Alan Scherstuhl and L.A. Weekly film critic Amy Nicholson recommend Neighbors (Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron) and Godzilla (Bryan Cranston, Godzilla) and are joined by special guest, James Beard Award-winning L.A. Weekly restaurant…
Andre Johnson Situation: An Overview
“I’m under contract, so I have to play my contract out. I can’t do anything about that.” — Andre Johnson, 11/17/2013 Truth be told, we should have seen this coming. Back in November of last year, in the waning minutes of another soul-crushing 2013 defeat, this one at the hands…
10 Best Things to Christen Your Grill With on Memorial Day (or Whenever)
Memorial Day is just around the corner, and you know what that means — it’s grilling time. You might have used your grill here and there throughout the spring season, but as the summer months approach, get ready for back-to-back weekends (and even weeknights) of grilling your food. Of course,…
Doctor Who: 5 Obscure Doctor Who Adventures That Are Free on YouTube
Take it from me…getting into Doctor Who can be an expensive hobby. Sure, when you’re plowing through the modern series on Netflix, it feels like a steal, but once you run out of Matt Smith and decide to go exploring the classic series or Big Finish audio or even the…
100 Creatives 2014: Michael Weems, Playwright
Playwright Michael Weems has a super-simple procedure for creating successful new work:Receive inspirationScribble down inspiration as to not forget (especially when it arrives in transit, in sleep, or in the shower)Review scribbling and decide if the idea is best suited for a film, a short play, web series or longer…
Rustika Offers a Continental Breakfast All in One Spot
Perhaps you’re craving a breakfast taco–because really, when are you not? But your significant other wants pancakes with the works and your mom wants just a bowl of oatmeal and fruit, thank you. You could drive all over collecting breakfast items to suit each taste. Or you could go to…
Fantasy Crime League: Greg Hardy Domestic Assault Gets Panthers on the Board
Despite the fact that it guarantees them a one-year salary that is the average of the top five salaries at their position, generally speaking, NFL players do not like to get hit with the “franchise tag” when they reach free agency. More often than not, the franchise tag is a…
Five Things Ukrainians Need to Know About Ted Cruz
There’s been a lot going on in Ukraine, what with Russia and Putin and all that upheaval. It’s been so crazy that everyone in Washington D.C. has an opinion on Ukraine and half of them seem to be actually crossing the big water to go tell Ukrainians in person what…
The Ultimate Midtown Bánh Mì Taste Test
Because the Houston Press office is in Midtown, I eat a lot of bánh mì. Need a light lunch? Bánh mì. In a hurry? Bánh mì. Craving meat, veggies and carbs? Bánh mì. Want something spicy? Bánh mì. It’s my go-to meal to satisfy just about any lunchtime criteria. Unfortunately…
Seven Movies We Want to Un-See
You know those moments in your life when you wish you could go back in time and relive them, except completely differently? Or rather you could go back and those moments just wouldn’t ever happen? Have you ever had that feeling after watching a movie? You know what I’m talking…
Cynic’s Big Admission Threatens Metal’s Homophobia
By now Cynic are legends in the metal scene. In 1993, they released their magnum opus Focus before quietly disbanding, but the album’s impact was fully felt in the realms of technical and progressive metal, influencing younger bands for years to come. They repeated the feat with 2008’s reunion record…
Traffic Jammer Dave Mason Peers Into His Future’s Past
Most of the time, a traffic jam is a wholly unpleasant experience and something to avoid at all costs. But when the said confluence of cacophony is Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam, time spent sitting in it will probably fly by too quickly. Mason, a founding member of Traffic and Rock…
R.I.P. H.R. Giger: His 10 Best Album Covers (NSFW)
The world has lost one of its most original voices. H.R. Giger, the surrealist painter and sculptor who designed some of the silver screen’s most disturbing monsters, such as the Xenomorph in Alien, died this week at age 74 from injuries related to a fall. He leaves behind him a…
Judge Stays Execution of Death Row Inmate Convicted in Harris County
Robert James Campbell, whose 1991 murder conviction in Harris County sent him to death row, won’t die tonight (and won’t be long on death row if his lawyers can help it). A U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judge issued a stay of execution so that Campbell’s lawyers could work…
Are These App Services Launched in Houston Worth the Money?
By living in a major city, we get the pleasure of trying out new things. Sometimes they are untested products or services that are riding the line of legality with the city and government, but no matter, as long as there’s a benefit to us for trying them out. Technologically…
Some Stuff You Need to Know About Pit Bulls
Stay tuned — we’ll be adding to this list throughout the day… In April, a tug-of-war over the fate of a pit bull in Montgomery County came to a happy end: noted dog trainer Cesar Milan agreed to take the dog, Gus, on the condition Gus never again step paw…
First Look at Luna Pizzeria
If you drive past the Barnaby’s Cafe on West Gray, you’ve probably noticed a sign telling you to eat at Luna Pizzeria on Kirby. After reading this sign practically every day, I have developed an undying craving for pizza. So, this past weekend I finally visited Luna, a new concept…
Five Reasons NBC’s Constantine Will Be Great (And Five Reasons It’s Doomed)
NBC announced its fall lineup last weekend, and among the “no duhs” (two nights a week for The Voice) and head scratchers (Katherine Heigl’s getting another shot?), was a show that raised few eyebrows outside of the comic book community: Constantine. Based on the long-running (300 issues in 25 years)…
5 Best Things to Order at House of Pies BESIDES Pie
It goes without saying that if you visit House of Pies you should order a wedge of Bayou Goo, Washington Cherry, Texas Pecan, or any other of their terrific types of pie. But men and women cannot subsist on pie alone (believe me, I’ve tried). Here are five other menu…
Heights’ Alleged Serial Crapper Arrested (UPDATED)
Update: Check out the page after the jump to read what happened to the suspect after police arrested him. Original: So here’s one for the Harris County Constable’s Office archives: The intrepid shitting bandit of Woodland Heights has been caught. That’s right, the victims of his heinous disorderly conduct/indecent-exposure crime…
Top 5 Ginger Cocktails to Try
No spice quite as elegantly marries heat with sweet as ginger, which is why it’s been a favored ingredient of barhops and mixologists for centuries. If you adore potable manifestations of ginger, but if you’re looking for adult beverages a bit more unusual than the standard Dark ‘n’ Stormy, try…
Deadline Approaches for Fringe Festival Applications
The Fringe Festival is always one of the highlights of the Houston art calendar, and definitely a place for the more “out there” visual artists to show off their creations. The actual festival isn’t until September, but interested applicants need to submit by May 27 if they wish to be…
Wolfmother at House of Blues, 5/12/2014
Wolfmother House of Blues May 12, 2014 To be a successful rock band these days you need a signature sound, one that makes you stand out above the rest. People need to identify with you, which is impossible if you’re just another band going through the motions after becoming big…
Astros Get Into Throwback Mode for Civil Rights Game
Houston gets to play host to this year’s Civil Rights Game, in a year that marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. This is only the eighth time that Major League Baseball has held the throwback-style…
Socially Conscious Company Earthredz Launches With a Pop-Up Shop in West Ave
Socially conscious companies are popping up all over the fashion landscape. Some are dedicated to green products, others to clean manufacturing, and many have a charitable component – whether domestic or abroad. I had the pleasure of discovering a company that does all of the above and my new go…
Uchi’s Community Table Showcases So Much More than Japanese Seafood
Once a month, the chefs at Uchi get together and visit various farmers’ markets around town for fresh, seasonal veggies to use in unique culinary creations the following Monday. They choose the best looking vegetables from local farmers and the best Gulf fish from fish mongers, and then they retire…
Equal Rights Ordinance Changes Section Regarding Gender ID and Bathroom Access (UPDATED)
Update 3: The City Council meeting this afternoon had two overflow rooms, with more than 200 names on the speaker’s list. Police were gathered in front of the building while protesters singing Hallelujah stood outside holding up signs calling for a “No” vote on the ordinance. Young kids holding smaller…
Growing up Godzilla: How My Childhood Saturday Afternoons Led to This Weekend
Growing up a white kid in the Houston suburbs, I was fascinated with anything and everything that seemed completely different from myself. My heroes growing up included Bruce Lee, Dr. J and KISS, and much of what fueled my interest in these divergent people was Saturday afternoon television. In the…
Bartender Chat: Kimberly Paul of Osteria Mazzantini gets Witchy
Welcome to Eating…Our Words’ Bartender Chat, in which we sit down with local bartenders and get to know their style. Whether they’re slinging beers or mixing complex cocktails, bartenders are our buddies and confidants, but we’re turning the tables and the camera on them to find out what they’re passionate…
The Rocks Off 200: Roby Deaton, Open-Mike Pocket of Cool
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? There’s a…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 98, Helado de Lúcuma at Pollo Bravo
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
Suchu Dance Presents Steel Puffs Have Left the Building
The Setup: In Steel Puffs Have Left the Building, Suchu Dance’s second full-length work in its new Garden Oaks space, choreographer Jennifer Wood explores the multifaceted nature of the feminine. The all-female quartet of longtime company members Shanon Adams, Sarah Leung, Tina Shariffskul and Prudence Sun investigate the tension-filled space…
Houston Texans: The Truth on Tom Savage’s Chances for Success
Mathematically, the most certain way (or more accurately, the least uncertain way) to acquire a franchise quarterback in the NFL is to choose one with the first pick of the draft. For the third time in their franchise’s history, the Houston Texans had the first pick in the NFL Draft…
10 of the Most Difficult Recipes to Make at Home
I’m always up for a challenge when it comes to cooking a dish with many, many steps. But, sometimes my confidence gets the best of me and I end up miserably failing at cooking whatever it is I decided to make. For years, I had my eye on this layered…
10 Things Houston Drivers Should Relearn From the Driver’s Handbook
Driving in harmony in Houston is a rarity, especially during rush hour. Drivers here might just be a little more difficult than motorists in other cities, too. According to the In the Driver’s Seat Road Rage Survey released this week, Houston ranked first on the least-courteous-driver list. So we thought…
Law & Order: Houston Rap/R&B Edition
Normally television on the weekends is a drag, a malaise of programs you find yourself absorbed in but would easily skip during the week. But come Saturday and Sunday, you’re glued to the couch, and no show pulls this off more consistently than Law & Order. Doesn’t matter, the show…
5 Video Game Endings That Were Originally WAY More Brutal
I love a video game that can immerse you so deep in its world that you honestly forget who is doing the controlling, you or it. As an art form, games are unique and wonderful, and the ability for them to tell one-of-a-kind stories is what draws me back into…
Upcoming: Adventure Club, Conor Oberst, Marcia Ball, MKTO, Uncle Lucius, etc.
Acoustic Alchemy: Sat., May 31, 8:30 p.m., $88 to $128. Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N., Spring, 281-367-3774. Adam Hood: Thu., June 12, 8:30 p.m., $15. Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N., Spring, 281-367-3774. Adventure Club: Sat., May 31, 9 p.m., $20 to $30. Stereo Live, 6400 Richmond, Houston, 832-251-9600. Afrodreamfest: Sun.,…
Help Wanted: We Need a Club-Listings Editor
The Houston Press is looking for a part-time Music Listings Editor. The ideal candidate will be interested in and knowledgeable about the local music and nightclub scene, as well as have a high attention to detail. The primary component of the job is data entry to keep our concerts and…
What If Stevie Had Been a One-Hit Wonder?
If hit songs were eggs, flour and frosting, Stevie Wonder would be a Cake Boss. He’d be able to bake one of those huge, rectangular monstrosities they roll out at corporate functions, and it would taste damn good. Down deep, there’d be the belly-filling substance of songs like “Front Line”…
Ruling Could Enforce Collection of Pole Tax in Strip Clubs
After a legal fight waged for more than five years, it looks like strip-club-going might in fact cost a little more here in Houston, the Mecca of strip clubs (can we really say that?). After the state supreme court ruled against a challenge from the Texas Entertainment Association that said…
5 Best Coconut Desserts to Try in Houston
Are you nuts about coconut? Are you a sweet freak who’s exasperated with all those enterprising chefs wasting using coconut in savory curries and marinades? If yes, this list of five coconut desserts to try in Houston is for you. 5. Coconut Flan (Emporio Brazilian Cafe). Many go to Emporio…
Weather Channel’s Snarky Social Media Probably Cost Someone a Job (UPDATED)
Update: Looks like the Weather Channel is still working on damage control. We got the following statement from weather.com: “This morning one of our team members used sarcasm in an unfortunate and unacceptable way on our Twitter account. It was not our intention to offend and we are sorry that…
Spending Saturday With St. Arnold
You can’t call yourself a true Houstonian until you’ve done the tour at St. Arnold Brewing Company — it’s on everyone’s Houston bucket list and rightfully so. I myself checked it off many years ago but I’m ashamed to admit I hadn’t been back since they’ve moved into their current…
NFL Draft 2014: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
Check out our slideshow of the Texans welcoming Jadeveon Clowney. On Texans Radio on Saturday, covering Day 3 of the NFL Draft with my buddies John Harris (smartest football guy I know) and Ted Johnson (3-time Super Bowl winner, great on the radio himself and all-around good guy), I made…
Game of Thrones: “I Wish I Was the Monster You Think I Am.”
Considering how Cersei-centric last week’s episode was (to say nothing of Lysa and Sansa’s little tête-à-tête), it probably would have been a better fit for Mother’s Day than last night’s Tyrion-heavy installment (his mother died giving birth to him, remember… just thinking of all the moms out there). Still, we’re…
Music Is Freedom at the Wildly Eclectic Pachanga Fest
Pachanga Fest Latino Music Festival Feat. Julieta Venegas, La Santa Cecilia, El Gran Silencio y más Fiesta Gardens, Austin May 10, 2013 “Music is our freedom” said the lead singer of Making Movies as the band opened the 2014 Pachanga Fest Latino Music Festival. That concept was felt all throughout…
Dish of the Week: Falafel
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we’ll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. See the complete list of recipes at the end of this post. This week, we’re sharing a recipe for everyone’s favorite chickpea dish (well, besides hummus), falafel. A traditional Middle Eastern…
Highlight Reels and Twitter Handles for All 10 Houston Texans Draft Picks
For the Texans, the road back from 2-14 began this weekend. Truth be told, it began back on New Year’s Eve with the decision to hire Bill O’Brien as the new head coach, effectively giving this team an infusion of tough-mindedness and effectively suturing the aftereffects of the Kubi-ectomy that…
Free Eats in Houston for the Enterprising Souls Among You
It is tough to complain about the cost of living in Houston. Housing is fairly affordable and there is usually a food truck around the corner willing to sell you a filling taco dinner for $5 or less. That being said, there are always those days when a meal out…
Ann Harithas Makes Art Out of Her Memory Loss and Recovery
Ann Harithas: Memory is the first exhibition of this artist after recovering from what may have been a stroke last year, where her memory, and even ability to recognize old friends, was dramatically impaired. Harithas began reviewing old photographs, working with them, and her faculties improved, and are now completely…
Dewhurst’s ‘Frozen’ Video: More Proof We’re Losing Greatness
Is it one of the worst political ads of all time or what? Is it even real? These were the thoughts we were wrestling with as we took in a minute-long commercial featuring a Dan Patrick animated picture singing about how he changed his name from Danny Goeb. The ad…
Celebrate American Craft Beer Week at These Houston Spots
Twenty years ago, this wouldn’t have been a thing at all. But it’s 2014, and the craft beer movement is bigger and more awesome than ever. And just in case you needed an excuse to indulge in craft beer made right here in the ol’ US of A, some marketing…
Heartbreak House Is a Triumph of Manners at Main Street
The setup: Heartbreak House is one of the early masterpieces of Bernard Shaw – he dropped the opening name “George”, though it has a life of its own, and refuses to die; Shaw is often referred to as “GBS”, and the play program here retains “George”. The play is rarely…
Karin Broker: damn girls, Contemplating Tall Flowers
From a distance, the huge flowers drawn by Karin Broker seem merely decorative, though also powerful in their stark simplicity; it is only on a closer approach that the background is seen to be, not neutral, but filled with the names of women, painstakingly handwritten. Some are horizontal, some vertical,…
Vote, What Vote? It’s Time to Discuss the Astrodome’s Future, Yet Again
And so it begins again. The quest to save the Astrodome from the uncaring philistines who care nothing for architecture or history. Sure, there was a vote last November. And sure, the voters defeated a measure that would have used taxpayer funds to turn the Astrodome into a glorified visitor…
The United States of Desserts: Hartford Election Cake
In this series, we examine the history and origins of famous sweets, confections and desserts associated with American states. Baking a cake is not usually what i want to do after casting my ballot, but back in 18th-century America, folks felt differently. Perhaps still giddy from their relatively recent independence…
5 Tips for Taking Young Children to a Graduation
This past weekend my wife graduated from nursing school, an accomplishment that is massive to someone like me whose employable skills involve overanalyzing Doctor Who and ranking video game farts. I couldn’t be more proud of her, and of course I wanted to celebrate her victory over academia by attending…
New Monsoon at Last Concert Cafe, 5/10/2014
New Monsoon Last Concert Cafe May 10, 2014 Take them or leave them, jam bands have been a steady force on the touring circuit since the touring circuit has been the touring circuit. Thanks to the grandfathers of the genre, the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band, plus arena-filling…
We’ve Narrowed Down the Most Underrated Barbecue…Vote Now!
Well, that got ugly fast. We’re serious about our barbecue here in Houston. So serious, it seems, that the claws came out in the comment section when readers began debating the legitimacy to each other’s claims of barbecue greatness. The most animosity was between fans of Baker’s Ribs and The…
North Forest ISD Memorabila Ready for Auction
Check out our slideshow of the NFISD memorabilia up for auction. Critics might think this was a way to wring the last ounce of sweat out of the late North Forest ISD, but based upon the pricing, they would be wrong. “It’s not for profit; it’s for peace of mind,”…
The Five Best Bands That Started as Solo Projects
The conventional wisdom about playing music is that you learn an instrument and then you recruit a band to play with you, or you join one that already exists. Not so these days, when it’s easier than ever with the use of computer programs to record a full album of…
Toadies at House of Blues, 5/9/2014
Toadies, Supersuckers House of Blues May 9, 2014 If playing their 1994 album Rubberneck front to back chafes the Toadies at all, they’re being very good sports about it. The Fort Worth quartet has been on a nationwide tour all spring celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album, which bequeathed…
The Five Best Shows in Houston This Week: Wolfmother, Band of Skulls, etc.
Debonair Lounge Cafe 4212, May 12 Since approximately Labor Day 2013, the only way to get each week off on a good foot has been at this Museum District oasis of cool. Debonair Lounge has already welcomed a who’s who of Houston’s hottest young hip-hop and R&B performers strutting their…
Stark Naked Theatre Does Right By Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
The set-up: The following observation will come as no surprise, nor is it original, but it still must be stated: compared to Shakespeare, all other playwrights are pinched and parochial. The wit of Stoppard, the cosmic howl from Beckett, the bitchy laceration of Albee, the epic family squabble from O’Neill…
Translating Netflix-speak Into Consumer-talk: “You WILL Pay Us More Money”
Netflix, a service we personally subscribe to, just sent us an “important membership information” note about price increases. It’s Friday afternoon…after 4 p.m. and most people are trying to get their weekend started, not read “important membership information” notices. The note, in part, reads: In order to continue adding more…
What’s With All the Naked People Doing Crazy Stuff This Week?
Screencap from KHOUThink of it as a call for help, just don’t stare.It might be part of some pagan annual rite of spring or something like that, but this week there were three incidents that involved people doing naked stuff in public. While you should be able to let your…
Latin Invasion Takes Over Warehouse Live
Latin Invasion feat. GT Garza, Dat Boi T, Doeman, Kleva & Coast Warehouse Live May 8, 2014 As he looked out upon Warehouse Live’s packed Studio room, a sense of reflection took over the rotund rapper named Cassette Coast. “Why can’t we do this more often?!” he asked out loud…
What’s an Urban Winery? Not Sure, But Now We Have One in Houston
There are many things that make Houston a hip, cosmopolitan city. We have an incredible array of ethnic restaurants. We have a lesbian mayor. We have Johnson Space Center, the Texas Medical Center and plenty of universities. And now we have one more thing to solidify our coolness: An urban…
What’s in Fashion: Rachel Zoe Mommy Tips, Printable Makeup, $2 Tank Tops
Lots of breaking fashion news hits the interwebs and I don’t want you to miss one bit of it. So, I present some of the biggest headlines each week for your reading pleasure. Click and enjoy!…
Sandy Witch Sandwich Co. Debuts New Happy Hour Menu
While pondering what he should serve for happy hour at Sandy Witch inside Grand Prize Bar, owner Anthony Calleo kept three things in mind: First, he looked at about 40 different happy hour menus around Houston to figure out what type of food most people serve during happy hour. Then…
Latter-Day Bluesman Tommy Castro Introduces Us to The Devil You Know
If you had to find a CD by Tommy Castro, chances are you’d find one (or all) of them in the “Blues” section. But with his most recent release, The Devil You Know (Alligator Records), the 59-year-old California native who has been making records for 20 years consciously wanted to…
Man Guilty for Threatening Two Synagogues in Houston
A Houston man charged by a federal grand jury last month with two civil rights violations pleaded guilty last week for threatening to blow up a pair of synagogues. We’re not sure what the man had against Jewish houses of worship, but according to court documents, he left voice mails…
Say Hi at Fitzgerald’s, 5/8/2014
Say Hi, Big Scary Fitzgerald’s May 8, 2014 Because Eric Elbogen’s personality is naturally charming and warm, his solo project Say Hi’s set downstairs at Fitz Thursday night felt as personal as it gets. It was as though a group of close friends had decided to gather for an intimate…
The Six Best Things About the New Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Trailer
It’s no secret that I’m entirely too excited for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Yeah, I’m looking forward to watching Godzilla next week, and I have high hopes for Guardians of the Galaxy, but at the end of the day my movie year revolves around the continuing adventures…
Ten Best Places in Houston to Get Your Next Cake
It’s graduation season, which means two things: Uncomfortable polyester robes and cake. Of course, I’ve never needed an excuse like graduation to order and then devour a custom cake (Congrats, it’s Tuesday, here’s a cake!), but if you need to justify your consumption, I’m sure you can think of something…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: Neighbors
Title: Neighbors Zac Efron: This Generation’s Tom Cruise or This Generation’s Brad Pitt? This generation’s Ted McGinley. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant to the Film: Three and a half kegs of watered-down Meisterchau out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: Fraternity moves in next door to negligent parents. Everybody wins. Tagline:…
As It Turns Out, the NFL Wasn’t That Into Johnny Manziel
In the most recent episode of Game of Thrones, as they make their way across the countryside as perpetual fugitives trying to keep their heads attached to their torsos, the Hound and Arya Stark lie down to sleep by a small campfire. As is her ritual each night before getting…
No Long Hair, Just Long Noodles at Fabio’s Fresh Pasta
As you might have guessed from my recent posts about Houston’s terrific ravioli and tortellini offerings, I’m on a bit of a pasta kick. Some readers rightfully pointed out that neither of my Top 5 lists included anything from Fabio’s Fresh Pasta, and in truth their exclusion was due only…
The Long, Strange Trip of Austin Psych Festival
When I woke up last Saturday morning in Houston deciding whether to attend Austin Psych Fest, I had barely wanted to go. When I got to the grounds near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, my worst fears were realized: the heat was unbearable, it was dusty, and I spent that afternoon wandering…
Beach Bag Bingo for the Relaxation-Challenged
The beach is the best, but devoting one’s entire day to enforced lounging, defying open container laws, and swimming takes some planning–you can’t just go, plop down in the sand, and relax! You have to make lists and go shopping and be very, very organized about it. (Or at least…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Show Your Love for Mom & Jodycakes
Pub Night @ Saint Arnold Brewery Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 2000 Lyons It’s that time again for another Pub Night at Saint Arnold. The tour hall will serve as a bar from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. tonight so you can pick and choose the brews you want…
4 Ways Fox News Has Become a Doomsday Cult
Like most of you who aren’t Batmen, I have parents, and living in Texas means that at least one of those parental units gets most of their news from Fox News. Now, this may shock you as I confess it from the art blog of a Voice Media Group affiliated…
Elementary School Teacher Charged in Heroin Bust
A Humble elementary school teacher was thrown into jail Tuesday following a drug bust at her apartment, according to authorities. Reports say neighbors at an apartment complex in Porter reported the foulest of (allegedly) chemical drug odors emanating from an apartment shared by the teacher, Monica Quintero, and several other…
Upcoming Events: Pig Dinner, Curry Crawl, Fried Chicken Throwdown & More
BRC Gastropub will host a Pig Dinner with brews from Firestone Walker on Wednesday, May 14, beginning at 6 p.m. For $50, each guest will feast on pho-braised pork belly served with a Vietnamese salad and nam pla (fish sauce) paired with Firestone Walker Pale 31; spicy grilled pork lettuce…
100 Creatives 2014 Lane Montoya, She Draws on Everything
What She Does: Lane Montoya’s family moved all over the country when she was young, and one of the few constants in her life was a love of cartoons. Enamored with the colorful images she saw on the screen she started out drawing a mermaid on packing paper and hasn’t…
Pachanga Fest: A Latino-Music Spread Worth Driving West
For anyone who loves music, it would be a dream come true if some of your favorite bands accepted an invitation to play a show in your backyard. Throw in a variety of delicious food, cold drinks and a handful of your family and friends, and you might stumble upon…
Openings & Closings: It’s Good to Have You Back, MF Sushi
Last week ended with sad news when local baker, Jody Stevens, lost her home in a fire. Thankfully she was not at her home during the fire, but she lost everything inside her home, including the the tools she uses for her cake business, Jodycakes. Various restaurateurs and chefs have…
HFT Survey Says Houston ISD Teachers Will Bolt if Pay Is Based on Teacher Evaluations
Continuing their criticism of the evaluation system used to determine teacher bonuses in the Houston ISD, the Houston branch of the American Federation of Teachers Thursday released survey results that clearly show a high level of front-line educator disgruntlement in the district. On May 1, the HFT and seven HISD…
Five Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Alonzo King LINES Ballet, “The Waiting Room,” Houston Art Car Parade and More
The San Francisco-based Alonzo King LINES Ballet makes its Houston debut on Friday with two works that epitomize King’s interest in creating movement that explores the real and the tangible, as does much of the company’s work. “The term LINES alludes to all that is visible in the phenomenal world,”…
Local Bands Remember Infamous Joe Campos Torres Case
Photo courtesy of FuskaRichard Molina, center, and members of FuskaThis Saturday night, a half-dozen bands, their fans and friends will gather at Taqueria La Macro on North Main for a remembrance of one of Houston’s most significant historical moments of the last 50 years. The event is simply billed as…
Steve Olson Has Come a Long Way From Appearing In Devo Videos
To be sure, Steve Olson is the modern equivalent of a renaissance man with a street edge: he is a man of action, not bulky proclamations, weak dribbling philosophy or crimped visions. He steadfastly helped revolutionize skateboarding in the late 1970s, brainstormed the clothing line SOS, was cast in movies…
Houston’s 10 Best Concerts This Weekend: Art Car Ball, Madness On Main, Sir Mix-a-Lot, etc.
Art Car Ball One & Two Allen Center, May 9 Attention, the 100-150K people who have moved to Houston in the past 12 months, or whatever the actual number is: this weekend is one of the Bayou City’s signature events, the Art Car Parade, and you should go. (Helpfully, it’s…
NFL Draft 2014: Live Twitter Feed
The NFL Draft is finally here, and I’m so happy! Not just happy; we are talking like “Navin R. Johnson when the new phone books arrive” levels of happiness. We are talking a “Roscoe P. Coltrane thinking he just caught those diabolical Duke boys” level of happiness. We are talking…
Metro Really Wants Bus Riding to Be Cool in New Transit Refix
If you already don’t ride Metro buses, then Metro wants you to think again. Then come back in five years, because riding buses in the city will be awesome. Today, the group’s board unveiled a plan that they say will increase ridership and make taking buses the quick, hip way…
The Bright Side of the Lime Rip-Off
Key lime juice tastes much better than regular lime juice when mixed with rum, cachaca, and tequila.
Not Too Thrilled With the Astros? (Is Anybody?)
Is it already time to write off this season? The Houston Chronicle had a major revelation Wednesday: The folks running the Houston Astros might not know what they’re talking about. Beat writer Evan Drellich doesn’t quite state it that way, of course. But his paywalled story is a thing of…
Watch Out, Fashion Bloggers, Beauty Vloggers Are Taking Over & Making Millions
Fashion blogging has taken the world by storm but it pales in comparison to the exponential growth of beauty vlogging. In just a few years, the format once seen as a space for amateur makeup and hair stylists to showcase their tips has exploded into a huge media business and…
Top 5 Expensive Pasta Sauces Worth the Price
Pasta and sauce, the staple of rushed weeknight suppers, can be incredibly cheap and simple to prepare. Or not, if you splurge on the sauce. Although price is not always a reflection of quality, with regards to these five tomato gravies, the quality ingredients and balanced textures actually warrant paying…
Dude Is Turning Woodland Heights Into a Bathroom, Say Neighbors
There’s no poop joke for this. It’s not funny that there’s some guy going around shitting up people’s yards in Woodland Heights. The Precinct One Constable’s Office is on the case and with the help of a neighbor who was literally tired of being shitted on, has surveillance video to…
Never Be Alone Again: Five Places That Should Offer Giant Stuffed Animals
I have quite a few people in my life who don’t like to eat out by themselves. I’ve never had this problem, so I can’t pretend to understand it, especially in the age of cellphones, but they feel the way they feel and I’m not here to pass judgment. With…
Ten Best Signs You’re a Houston Foodie
Sure, you live in Houston. Maybe you even grew up in Houston. But are you a true Houston foodie? Do you plan your days off around which type of ethnic food you most want to eat, and stick to a single neighborhood for hours so as to properly indulge and…
Fantasy Crime League: Marcell Dareus Continues Buffalo’s Horrific Offseason
On Saturday, May 3, the deadline hit for teams to exercise the fifth year option on their 2011 first-round rookies. In the end, 21 of the 32 rookies of 2011 had their teams pick up their fifth-year option for 2015. Among the most notable was San Francisco 49er Aldon Smith,…
Josh Young as Che Takes Center Stage in Evita in Houston
The set-up: There are always reasons to revisit Evita, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s operatic treatment of the life of Eva Peron, now burning brightly in Theatre Under the Stars’ presentation of this Broadway revival from 2012. You might want to hear “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” again, or…
Get a Discounted BrewFest Ticket With This Voice Daily Deal
As the weather gets warmer and more humid with each passing day, few things sound more appealing than relaxing and sipping on a cold craft beer. Fortunately, here at the Houston Press, we understand these cravings, so we’re bringing back BrewFest on May 17 from 2 to 7 p.m at…
Mother’s Day Wish List for New Moms
In my very short three months as a new mother, I have already come to realize that this is a thankless job. More thankless now, I assume, as my twin babies cannot speak. And while I don’t normally condone what are really just Hallmark holidays, Mother’s Day is a complete…
5 Best Brunch Spots in Montrose
In Houston, we’re pretty serious about our brunch. Whether it be migas and breakfast tacos or chicken and waffles and loaded Bloody Marys, we have no shortage of awesome spots to get our brunch on. We’ll be taking a look at some of our favorite spots around town. Starting with…
Battle-Drink, NFL Draft 2014: The Johnny Manziel Era Begins
Pretty much everyone that I interact with on a daily basis loves the NFL. I work at a sports talk radio station that is the flagship for the local NFL team. I am on Twitter for a huge chunk of the day conversing with NFL fans. I talk to my…
The Rocks Off 200: Nosaprise, Hurrah! for the Blushing Bridegroom
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See the original Rocks Off 100 at this link. Searching across the city, it…
100 Favorite Dishes 2014-15: No. 99 Fat Fries at Fat Bao
Once again, Kaitlin Steinberg is eating her way through Houston and counting down her 100 favorite dishes as we work our way toward our annual Menu of Menus® issue and culinary extravaganza. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most delicious, most creative and, of course,…
Five More Houston ISD Teachers About to Be Canned for Alleged Test Cheating
Five more Houston ISD teachers are on the brink of being booted out after an investigation indicates they manipulated test scores in the spring 2013 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness statewide exams, it was announced late Wednesday by HISD. The teachers are all at Jefferson Elementary and no…
Flashes: A New Houston-Based Film About Alternate Realities
You might know director Amir Valinia as one of the top music video directors in Houston, but thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Mayor’s Film Task Force you’ll get a chance to see his new feature-length alternative reality thriller Flashes on the big screen. The movie stars Donny Boaz…
Rest of the Best: The 10 Best Houston Life Hacks
Sometimes the key to winning at life is finding ways to circumvent the normal method of living. Like an old NES game, you just have to have the cheat code. Today we’re going to look at ten things that make living in Houston a little bit easier and more fun…
Grades Are In: Rockets 2014 Report Card
It was a very interesting year for your Houston Rockets. They struggled early, hit an incredible hot streak at the start of the new year and rode it all the way to the fourth seed in the playoffs. They battled through injuries and lack of experience playing with one another,…
5 Best Cooking Video Sites for When the Printed Word Isn’t Enough
Have you ever read a recipe and had absolutely no idea what it was saying? You try to dissect it and attempt to figure out what it means by looking up certain words, or reading user reviews online, but nothing helps. That’s because you can’t cook the dish until you…
Rubbernecking at the Toadies’ Bug-Eyed Masterpiece
Some albums don’t grow old gracefully, because they were never graceful to begin with. The Toadies’ Rubberneck is rude, blasphemous, unstable, cathartic and possibly murderous, but graceful it is not. One of the angriest rock albums to be released by a Texas artist in the ’90s, it is also (arguably)…
The Last VJ’s Five Best Videos of the Week
Welcome back to The Last VJ, music fans. We’re keeping things funny this week, including a music video from the one and only Monty Python. On top of that you can expect metal to provide us some hilarity, both intentionally and unintentionally, and I even brought you some steampunk rap…
Let’s Fall in Love: The Songs of Harold Arlen
Bayou City Concert Musicals brings us -another in its series of cabaret productions with Let’s Fall in Love: The Songs of Harold Arlen. The genius behind such enduring classics as “Stormy Weather,” “Paper Moon” and “The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” Arlen was a master of American popular music…
Million Dollar Arm Thinks Agents are More Interesting Than Sports.
Looking for a chance to shout “Only in America”? Only in America — or an American movie — could the story of the first two Indian players to be signed to a Major League Baseball team get spun as an L.A. sports agent’s journey toward realizing the importance of family…
“T. Smith: The Waiting Room”
Artist T. Smith had a little trouble with the models that appear in the Waiting Room series. “Some days they just wouldn’t cooperate,” the artist, recently named a Houston Press 100 Creatives, says. “At first I called them ‘the girls,’ but when they started being difficult, I changed that to…
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
The San Francisco-based Alonzo King LINES Ballet makes its Houston debut with two works that epitomize King’s interest in creating movement that explores the real and the tangible, as does much of the company’s work. “The term LINES alludes to all that is visible in the phenomenal world,” King says…
Dr. Dead’s Halfway to Halloween CarnEVIL
Halloween is still some six months away, but the appeal of zombies, vampires, werewolves and freaks of nature is not limited to the holiday, as seen in Dr. Dead’s Halfway to Halloween CarnEVIL. The carnival features sideshows, live music, belly dancers, magicians, burlesque and fire performers and an appearance by…
Bayou City Bike Tours
Founded in 2012 by three native Houstonians who are strong advocates for a more bike-friendly, healthy and service oriented Houston, Bayou City Bike Tours aims to introduce (or reintroduce) the city to people from the vantage of two wheels instead of four. The company currently offers tours of downtown and…
My Folks Don’t Know My Teenage Sister Is Eloping. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! MY GROUP MEMBER MAKES JOKES ABOUT MY RELIGION Dear Willie D: I am a Black Muslim…
Leslie Jordan: Show Pony
Give yourself permission to giggle, guffaw and even do a few nose snorts at the Leslie Jordan: Show Pony show. A comedian, actor, writer and LGBT icon, Jordan is set to perform , a collection of no-holdsbarred behind-the-scenes stories of his work on , and . If we’re lucky, we…
Houston Art Car Parade
From its funky, hodgepodge origins to its current state as an art gathering known around the world, the Houston Art Car Parade is certainly one of the city’s signature events. No longer just a parade, it has evolved into the Houston Art Car Parade Weekend. “Over the last five years,…
Cock
Obsidian Art Space and Theater LaB Houston join forces to produce the Southwest premiere of Cock. Michael Bartlett’s comedy/drama features a cast of three men (John and two others known simply as M and F) and a woman (W). A gay couple, John and M, are on a break from…
Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre
It has been ten years since Stanton Welch became artistic director of , and in that decade the company has deepened its repertoire of classical and contemporary works. Houston Ballet’s three evening performances at the Miller Outdoor Theatre showcase the company’s diverse programming as well as the technical and artistic…
Danica Dawn Johnston
Soprano Danica Dawn Johnston returns to the Centrum stage in a solo concert presented by Cypress Creek FACE. The group’s artistic director, Clara Lewis, says, “Danica Dawn Johnston lights up the stage wherever she goes. Our audiences were first introduced to her engaging talents when she appeared with the Houston…
The Winter’s Tale
The Winter’s Tale has been postponed one week and will now start on May 8. A king misunderstands a meeting between his pregnant wife and his longtime friend and fellow king. He thinks she has been unfaithful; she hasn’t. “And because he is a king, he acts upon it with…
Evita
Eva and Juan Perón were in love “but it was definitely business first and foremost,” says actor Sean MacLaughlin, who’ll play the Argentine dictator when Tony Award winner Evita, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, returns to the Hobby Center thanks to Theatre Under the…
The Old Settler
Detria Ward, named Best Actress at last year’s Houston Theater Awards, appears as Elizabeth Borny in The Old Settler. John Henry Redwood’s bittersweet drama follows Elizabeth, a fifty-something spinster living in Harlem during WWII. Respectable, somber and self-contained Elizabeth lives with her rather nosey and noisy sister Quilly. When Elizabeth…
The 10 Best Songs We Miss From the ’90s
You know, the ’90s gets a little screwed when it comes to nostalgia, which is perhaps a bit unfair. Sure, the ’80s gave us Scrunchies and ALF, and we got to show off our Lisa Lisa cassette with pride. But in the ’90s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was born,…
Capsule Stage Reviews: April 8, 2014
Carmen If there’s one opera in the rep that lends itself to a Broadway makeover, it’s Georges Bizet’s evergreen and surprisingly modern tale of bad girl Carmen and her wayward love life. In its original 1875 form, the piece had spoken dialogue between the music passages, what the French called…
What’s in a Name, and Ethnic Pride
Dear Mexican, I’m a pocha and my husband is a gabacho (by the way, we loved your explanation in your book on why Mexicans and Irish get along so well — it really explained a lot about our marriage). We had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding catered by one…
The Curious Case of African-Art Appraisal and Tax Fraud
Whether you believe anything art dealer and convicted tax cheat Sulayman Jarra says depends on whether you swallow his tale of the vanishing elephant tusks. It’s important to picture the 63-year-old soft-spoken Gambian telling the story with a straight face, as if what he’s about to say not only could…
Smoked Meats and a Charming Brood Welcome You to Brooks Family BBQ
‘Excuse me, ma’am,” came the shout from across the room directed my way. “We don’t allow that kind of language here.” Don’t ever utter the word “vegetarian” inside the walls of Brooks Family BBQ. I’d just been called out at a barbecue restaurant for talking about vegetables. My shame was palpable. I…
Toadies Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Their Unhinged Breakthrough Album
Some albums don’t grow old gracefully, because they were never graceful to begin with. The Toadies’ Rubberneck is rude, blasphemous, unstable, cathartic and possibly murderous, but graceful it is not. One of the angriest rock albums to be released by a Texas artist in the ’90s, it is also (arguably)…
Stages Production of The Whipping Man Is a Wondrous Triumph
The final moments of Matthew Lopez’s thrillingly theatrical TheWhipping Man, now smoldering inside Stages Repertory Theatre, now bursting into scalding flame, are silent. There’s a steady downpour outside the war-ravaged Richmond, Virginia, house in early April, 1865. It’s been raining on and off for days, but the heat inside can’t…
With Chef, Jon Favreau Whips Up Indie Comfort Food
Chef, the back-to-his-roots indie flick from Jon Favreau (Iron Man), is to modern foodie culture as his own Swingers is to ’90s swing revival. Favreau plays Carl Casper, a culinary bad boy, barreling egotist and divorced father with a chef’s knife tattoo stretching down his right forearm and “El Jefe” across his…
Frat-vs.-Family Comedy Neighbors Won’t Haze You
Nicholas Stoller’s hilarious Neighbors splashes into summer with the satisfying swish-plop-hooray of a winning beer-pong serve, making the director, who also wrote March’s Muppets Most Wanted, the first filmmaker in history to simultaneously have in theaters both a kiddie flick and an R-rated comedy where two men sword-fight with dildos…
Democrats Not Racing to Stand With Wendy Davis
Highlights from Hair Balls Political Animals It’s one thing to have the opposing party saying a candidate doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell (or a Democrat’s chance in Texas), but when the candidate’s own party signals it isn’t so sure, now that has got to be awkward. Case in…
Where to Eat on Mother’s Day 2014 in Houston
On the Menu It feels like just yesterday we were rounding up the places to eat on Easter. Now it’s time to help you decide where to take Mom out on her special day. A multitude of Houston restaurants are opening their doors on Sunday, May 11, to serve brunch,…
Capsule Art Reviews: April 8, 2014
“Charlotte Smith: Paint Rhetoric” These paintings use similar materials, but color variations are vast; each painting sings a different siren sing. They seem to be invitations, telling the viewer what kind of experience to expect. Dominant in the Anya Tish Gallery is Late Conversation (Night Dance). With a black background…
Could Houston Host a Large-Scale EDM Festival?
Hey, the Kids Like It Following the troubles at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival in late March, the city’s mayor considered banning the event. More than 100 people were treated by paramedics and nearly that many were arrested, including 30 on felony charges. Those problems were amplified when a security guard…
