A Survival Guide for Holiday Shopping in the Heights
Remember that “Buy Local” bumper sticker you have on your car? That idea extends to more than just fresh vegetables and craft beer. It also means buying gifts and wares from local artisans, local designers and tiny, independent shops. And shopping for the holidays is the perfect time to buy…
Santa Willie Delivers a “Pretty” Holiday Tale
The backstory behind the Red Headed Stranger’s popular Texas holiday carol is about as unusual as you’d expect.
This Week in Houston Food Events: Holiday Tamales & Mole Days
Here’s a look at this week’s hottest culinary happenings: All month long Holiday Tamale & Mole Specials at Arnaldo Richards’ Picos Through the end of the year, Arnaldo Richards’ Picos, 3601 Kirby, will be opening its famous tamale stand, offering signature and special off-the-menu tamales by the dozen or half-dozen from 11…
10 Holiday Tracks That Don’t Suck
Hey, not all holiday tracks are played out or just flat-out terrible.
Remember When It Snowed in Houston?
It’s finally cold in Houston. For good this time (we think). Temperatures dropped into the 40s a few times last week, and we can expect more of the same in the coming week. Digging out our coats and (gasp) long-sleeved shirts got us thinking about the few times real winter…
Houston Restaurants You Should Hustle to in December
Here’s our monthly catch-up post to let you know what Houston restaurants you need to get to right away this month. Here’s the ones that scored highest on our food barometer in November. Morningstar Offers a Delightful Way to Start — or Continue Through — the Day Morningstar is surprising…
Houston’s 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Shipley Do-nuts Is 80 & Bernadine’s Is 1
With not one but two birthdays to celebrate, here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings: YUMMY! Wonderland at Phoenicia Specialty Foods Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1001 Austin Guests can enjoy the second annual YUMMY! Wonderland, an international holiday festival and brunch highlighting art, music, traditions and…
Upcoming Houston Food Events: Tacos, Truffles & Whiskey
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings, from a month-long black truffle special to a whole hog butchery demo: Berryhill Baja Grill is wrapping its 2016 Taco of the Month promotion in December with its final creation, the Chicken & Chorizo Taco. Created by…
Two Americas: How Deep Cultural Differences Helped Put Trump In The White House
There’s a sudden scramble to discover exactly “what went wrong” with the 2016 election, and how an Agent of Chaos such as Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, a candidate who, as her most dedicated supporters liked to remind us, was the most qualified person to ever run for President. It…
NFL Week 13: Texans-Packers — Four Things to Watch For
There is no getting around it — the Houston Texans’s home loss to the San Diego Chargers last week, while not unexpected (the Chargers were a three-point favorite at kickoff), was fairly devastating when it comes to the team’s ability to fix some of their problems offensively (roughly 98 percent…
The Five Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: HGO’s World Premiering Opera
Love it or hate it, there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground when it comes to the inventive style of steampunk fashion. This is the weekend to celebrate both the Victorian era and the retro-futuristic attire at this weekend’s Steampunk Ball at Galveston’s Dickens on the Strand. We also…
Openings & Closings: Bye-Bye Mockingbird, Hello to The Branch [UPDATED]
After 15 years, Mockingbird Bistro helmed by John Sheely is saying good-bye. The Houston Chronicle reported that Chef John Sheely was unable to negotiate lease terms (which expire on January 2) with the building’s landlord. The classic French restaurant at 1985 Welch in Montrose will close by December’s end. Sheely…
Guster’s ‘Slow and Steady’ Approach Has Worked Out Nicely
Guster was never the biggest band in the world, and that’s actually suited them well.
World’s Only Metal Mariachi Band Shreds Houston This Weekend
Metal and mariachi actually aren’t so different, swear the L.A. cats in the studded dog collars.
Smart Financial Centre Puts Sugar Land on Houston’s Musical Map
Greater Houston’s entertainment compass is about to get spun hard towards the southwest.
Conservative Watchdogs Keeping an Eye on 10 Radical Liberal Professors in Texas
Because going to college means only engaging in constructive dialogue with people who agree with you, the national conservative group Turning Point USA has come up with a handy guide called the “Professor Watchlist” to help conservative students avoid professors who have said something that could, in any way, be…
Oral History Project Depicts Houston’s Uneven Response to AIDS Epidemic
When Sarah Canby Jackson set out to research Houston’s response to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 90s, she was soon shocked — there was virtually no scholarship on how the fourth-largest city in the United States responded to one of the most significant public health crises of the…
Best Bets for This Weekend’s College and NFL Games
It’s conference championship weekend in college football, which is always an interesting weekend to try and defy the gambling gods, as you’re not only gauging the talent levels of the teams involved (as you would any weekend of the season), but also the motivation levels. Thankfully, having lost a game…
Fighting Donald Trump Final Fantasy IV-Style
I tend to use video game metaphors to cope with the increasingly insane world of America politics. Systems within systems is as good a way to internalize needed action as any in my book, and besides, America will never be great again until there’s a new Chrono Trigger game on…
How the Roosevelts Found Bloodsport in Politics and Personalities
When modern times have seen political family dynasties like the Bushes and Clintons, members are generally united against outside enemies. Not so those Roosevelts. For while they produced two U.S. Presidents, a well-regarded do-gooder, and others who held offices in the government and military, their intra-family backstabbing, score-settling, jockeying for…
Art Acevedo, A “Cop’s Cop,” Takes Helm of Houston Police Department
Before swearing in former Austin police chief Art Acevedo as Houston’s new top cop, Travis County State District Judge Cliff Brown told a story about how, at one point in time, he had wondered if all the great things people said about Acevedo were the true. Years ago, when he…
First Look at Holler Brewing Company
“Holler for Houston, Holler for Beer.” This is the whimsical mantra you will see on display at the newly opened Holler Brewing Co., located next to Silver Street Studios, in the Washington Avenue art district. After almost a yearlong wait, John and Kathryn Holler began serving beer a few weeks…
Houston’s 10 Best Concerts in December
These hot shows should help ward off that December chill — as much as Houston gets, anyway.
Essential Dos and Don’ts for Your Holiday-Party Playlist
First of all, don’t overthink it.
I’m Addicted to Gay Porn. Help!
What’s on your mind? What isn’t? Ask Willie D!
Magical Winter Lights Festival Amazes in Second Year
The majestic Magical Winter Lights Festival returned to the Houston area this year and does not disappoint. We shot a video at the festival to capture the spectacle of thousands of Chinese lanterns on display. Themed sets this year include a winter wonderland, a celebration of the Far East, a…
Monty Python’s Eric Idle and John Cleese Deliver a Spam-Free Show at Cullen Hall
It’s impossible to overstate the influence of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Debuting almost 50 years ago, and running a mere four seasons, it’s still arguably the most influential TV comedy series of all time, and its impact is still felt — for better or worse — to this day. Pythons…
Who Will Replace Tom Herman at UH? Here’s a Cheat Sheet.
The search for the University of Houston head football coach is underway. Truth be told, it’s probably been underway from about the time Charlie Strong was losing his third or fourth game of the season at the University of Texas, with both schools knowing full well that now-former U of…
Judge Upholds Waller County’s Ban on Guns at Courthouse
The Second Amendment has it limits, even in Texas. A Waller County judge on Monday upheld the county’s ban on guns in its courthouse, which a gun-rights activist had declared was illegal. That activist, Terry Holcomb, is the executive director of gun-rights group Texas Carry. Over the summer, Holcomb insisted…
Rice Retains David Bailiff for Year 11 Despite Another Losing Season
On Tuesday Rice announced that David Bailiff is returning for season No. 11 as head coach of the Rice Owls footballl. This despite Rice going 3-9 this season. This despite it being Rice’s second straight losing season, and this despite it being the team’s sixth losing season out of the…
Harris County Unveils Super Bowl Traffic Nightmare Survival Guide
After two years’ worth of planning with a host of various agencies, Harris County officials have announced a transportation guide for surviving Super Bowl traffic. They’re calling it the #KnowBeforeYouGo transportation plan. The guide includes Metro shuttles that will run every 15 minutes, directions for navigating downtown road closures, an…
HIV-Positive Magician Daniel Bauer’s Death-Defying Escapes are Beyond Belief
Don’t call Daniel Bauer an illusionist. “The ‘i’ word is a horrible word, I never use it,” says the New York born performer who is coming to Houston. “What I do is I’m a magician, an escape artist and a mind reader.” Bauer, who fancies himself a modern day Harry Houdini, has been…
Is Houston’s Best Movie Theater Closing? [UPDATED]
Outside of the Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park location is a proud sign declaring it the best movie theater in Houston, as certified in Houston Press’ own Best of Houston Award in 2015. However, it’s possible that the location may soon be closed. Readers alerted us to the fact that on…
Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift to Play Club Nomadic, a Venue That Doesn’t Exist Yet
Two of the biggest stars in music are headed for a “traveling nightclub experience” in Houston on Super Bowl Weekend.
Law Firm’s Lawsuit Against Student Over Bad Yelp Review Backfires Badly
When an attorney from the Tuan A. Khuu law firm threatened to sue her for writing negative comments about the firm on Facebook and Yelp, 20-year-old Lan Cai was barely deterred. Lawyers at the law firm, Cai wrote on Facebook, had first gone into her bedroom while she was half-asleep…
Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles at Strings Noodle
The first time I saw noodles being hand-pulled, I was fascinated. A chef — in this case Tony Wu of Martin Yan’s M.Y. China in San Francisco — was pulling noodles as part of the annual Chinese New Year’s celebration at Fung’s Kitchen. His movements were deft, extremely quick and…
Houston’s Five Best Venues for Up-and-Coming Acts
Every aspiring musician needs a few venues willing to cede them the stage. In Houston, these places are the likeliest spots to catch bands on their way up.
Five Acts Who Should Definitely Play Trump’s Inauguration
It seems our new President-elect is having some difficulties booking musical acts for his January inauguration.
HPMA Ceremony & Afterparty Coming Next Thursday
First, we hand out the 2016 HPMAs to their rightful owners. Then, we all party.
Aborted Fetuses Must Now Be Buried, Cremated in Texas
It’s official: Fetuses in Texas will now have proper burials. Texas health officials submitted final burial rules to the secretary of state’s office yesterday, as the Texas Tribune reported. Despite months of pushback from reproductive rights advocates, women’s rights advocates and health professionals, the rules will take effect December 19. The…
“Run, Hide, Fight”: The Standard Practice for Fending Off a Mass Shooter?
“Active shooter on campus. Run Hide Fight.” That tweet from Ohio State officials was how thousands of students, and people across the country, learned of the chaos that was ensuing on the school’s campus Monday morning. The attacker turned out to be a man with a knife, who sent nearly…
Sterling House Has Room to Improve in Flavor and Execution
It’s Wednesday night and one of the newest options for steak night is at Sterling House in Midtown. For $20, 14 ounces of grilled rib eye, a salad, a side and a draft beer can all be yours. While the deal sounds good, taste is another test. The small-bites menu…
Incoming Sheriff Ed Gonzalez Declares Bail System Unconstitutional
After defeating Sheriff Ron Hickman in the election this month, Sheriff-elect Ed Gonzalez is already sticking his nose in Hickman’s official business — mainly, the lawsuit filed against him. Hickman, along with the county, all the county judges and five bail hearing officers, has been sued for participating in what…
Upcoming: Terry Allen, Anvil, The Avett Brothers, Bun B, Nobunny, Reverend Horton Heat, Slim Thug, Uncle Lucius, etc.
A constantly updated guide to upcoming concerts in the Greater Houston area.
World AIDS Day: A Reason to Remember December 1
In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, we’ve decided to bravely speak about the disease as well as detail a list of resources for education, testing and support.
Chargers 21, Texans 13 — How to Lose a Game in Ten Plays
Foe the Houston Texans, the play in the picture above was from a much happier time and place, a Brock Osweiler one-yard QB sneak giving them their only touchdown of the afternoon in Sunday’s 21-13 loss to the San Diego Chargers. The joy would be short-lived, though, as the Texans,…
Supreme Court to Vet “Lennie Test” for Executing Mentally Disabled Inmates
More than a decade ago the U.S. Supreme Court declared executing mentally disabled people unconstitutional. However, the Court didn’t define what standards should be used to determine what level of disability precludes execution, so Texas came up with its own standards derived from John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Go figure…
Even Tina Turner Can’t Help The Big T.N.T. Show Eclipse the T.A.M.I. Shadow
The Big T.N.T. Show Shout! Factory, 93 mins, $14.98 DVD One of the most celebrated concert films of all time — and deservedly so — is 1964’s The T.A.M.I. Show. Filmed (and performed) live in front of an energetic, mostly teenage audience, the once-in-a-lifetime bill caught the greats of the day…
Meet the 2016 Houston Press Music Award Winners
Houston is a transitory city where, with a few exceptions, longtime residents have little trouble taking big changes in stride. But even then, the past year has seen an unusually large number visited upon our music scene.
The Suffers Give Back to Houston With Yet Another Star-Making Turn
Whether on old material or brand-new, Houston’s favorite 10-piece band made certain that every note found its way home Saturday night.
Barbra Streisand Wows ‘Em in Her First Ever (!) Houston Appearance
The legendary stage and screen star showed up at her first-ever Texas concert with a hankering for barbecue, apparently.
Tom Herman’s Gone, So Now What for the Cougars?
And just like that it’s all over. Less than two years after it began, the Tom Herman era at the University of Houston comes to a quick, anticlimactic end with Herman quietly bailing on the Cougars and taking half of his coaching staff to the University of Texas. The ending…
The 1975 Gives Houston a Post-Holiday Visual Feast
Just imagine what they could do at Toyota Center.
NFL Week 12: Texans-Chargers — 4 Winners, 4 Losers
For virtually the entire 2016 NFL season, the Houston Texans have been operating with a cushion. It’s been a combination of a mathematical cushion thanks to the avoidance of losing streaks, and the cushion of residing in the worst division in football, the AFC South. When you go 2-0, then…
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”: Why This Song Sucks
You don’t make a song about Santa, dismiss Santa in said song and then put him all in the video to coddle his feelings.
Houston Ballet’s New The Nutcracker a Superb Production
Right at the start, the world premiere of Stanton Welch’s choreography of The Nutcracker signaled this would be different. Instead of party guests traveling through the snow to get to the Stahlbaum family home, we start with Clara center stage addressing her toys, toys that don’t intend to stay cooped…
#HTownTakeOVER: Herman Accepts Texas Head Coaching Position
The Tom Herman head coaching saga is officially over. Ultimately, the outcome everybody predicted would happen about the time Texas head coach Charlie Strong lost his fourth game of the 2016 football season did happen — Tom Herman, the soon-to-be-former University of Houston head coach and founder of the #HTownTakeover,…
Cougars Lose Season Finale Amid Rumors of Tom Herman’s Departure to LSU
Amidst a flurry of rumors and denials the Houston Cougars came out Friday to play a football game against the Memphis Tigers. And with head coach Tom Herman angrily denying stories that he was to be the next coach of the LSU Tigers, the Cougars went out and looked like…
Bad Santa Is One of the Most Brilliant Christmas Soundtracks Ever
The music of Bad Santa not only helps push the story along, but often provides some pretty pointed commentary itself.
Fire Breaks Out at El Tiempo in Katy
Overnight, a sizable fire broke out at the El Tiempo Cantina restaurant in Katy, with crews still on hand at the location this morning. Fortunately, no one was inside when the first started around 11:30 p.m., according to Click2Houston. Initial reports were that the restaurant was destroyed in the fire…
