RIP Ian McLagan, Rock Legend and Adopted Texan
Austin is in a state of shock this afternoon after the passing of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Austin music icon Ian McLagan. McLagan, 69, suffered a stroke at his home in Austin on Tuesday night. According to sources who wish to remain anonymous, McLagan, who was scheduled…
Watch Chef Randy Evans on Food Network’s Kitchen Inferno Tonight
After Houston Press Tequila & Tamales tonight, what should you do? Race to the Lillo & Ella (2307 Ella) viewing party to watch Houston chef Randy Evans compete on Kitchen Inferno on Food Network. Randy Evans, formerly executive chef of now-closed Haven, is currently a consulting chef for JCI Grill,…
Houston Mother Facing Charges for Emaciated Child Found Dead in the Refrigerator
Charges have been filed against a local mother who officials claim kept the emaciated body of her disabled daughter in the crisper drawer of her refrigerator for months following her death. Amber Keyes was charged Monday with injury to a child by omission in the death of her daughter, nine-year-old…
AEG, TMG Bringing Kenny Chesney to BBVA May 22
After dipping a couple of toes in with last summer’s “Beat Down” hip-hop mini-fest, BBVA Compass Stadium is jumping into Houston’s concert waters with both feet next May by welcoming Kenny Chesney’s “The Big Revival” tour to the East End. The show — scheduled for Friday, May 22 — was…
Fifth Circuit Issues a Stay of Execution: Scott Panetti Won’t Be Executed Tonight
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the execution of Scott Panetti, who had been scheduled for execution in Texas tonight at 6 p.m. The order, issued by Chief Justice Carl Stewart, Judge Patrick Higginbotham and Judge Priscilla Owen reads as follows: We STAY the execution pending further…
Reality Bites: Antiques Roadshow
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. When thinking of reality shows, one generally doesn’t consider PBS. That might not make a a lot of sense at first; after all, the network airs programs which certainly qualify…
Ace Frehley Makes KISS Army Wait for It at Scout Bar
Ace Frehley Scout Bar December 2, 2014 Members of the KISS Army started to grow a little restless Tuesday, as the night closed in on 11 p.m. and Ace Frehley had not appeared on the Scout Bar stage. An hour earlier, the crowd had chanted “We Want Ace!” and “Bring…
College Football Playoff Rankings v 6.0: Baylor’s Day of Reckoning Is Nigh
Well, it was bound to happen at some point. The new College Football Playoff committee was bound to make themselves the topic as opposed to the teams they’re picking. Tuesday night, in the sixth unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings, the final edition before the rankings are used to…
Common & Jay Electronica Show Some Love at Warehouse Live
Common, Jay Electronica Warehouse Live December 2, 2014 The mystery behind Jay Electronica is that he’s a supreme talent, a nomad who for reasons only known to himself is holding fans at bay with an album he promised to deliver five years ago. When you see him flash a gold-tooth…
UPDATED HISD to Consider Resignation of Controversial Elementary School Teacher Angela Box
Updated December 4 at 10:45 a.m.: The HISD Board of Education signed off on Angela Box’s resignation Thursday morning in a special meeting. HISD says that Box, whose resignation will take effect immediately, will receive the equivalent of three months’ pay. — Original story: It looks like the controversial HISD…
UPDATED: Does Greenling Really Help Local Farmers?
A few weeks ago, I posted an article on how much I love the Greenling service, a convenient way to get fresh fruits, vegetables, local goods and pre-prepped meal kits delivered right to your door. Immediately after publication, more than one local farmer contacted me to say that, in their…
The Best Comics in November Part 2: Tony Stark Is Such an Ass
Each month the staff at 8th Dimension Comics picks out the best book to review.Click here for part 1. Multiversity: Pax Americana I’m one of the people that has called Grant Morrison’s Multiversity this generation’s Watchmen. It’s still an incredible book, but I do think I’m going to have to…
Saint Arnold Icon Red Winter 2014
“I have to be able to drink a pint and want another.” And thus, Brock Wagner of Saint Arnold Brewery, 2000 Lyons Avenue (713-686-9494), expresses his philosophy of brewing succinctly. No matter the style, the gravity, the strength of the beer, if having one doesn’t make him want to have…
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix and the Future of Video Game Preservation
I was delighted to receive an advance review copy of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix in the mail last week. Delighted, but also a bit uneasy. Confession time, I have never beaten the first one. I always seem to lose steam after the Tarzan stage. Nothing to do with how…
Prosecutors Call Former Software Company Executive a “Calculated, Choreographed Sexual Predator” UPDATE
Update 3:30 p.m.: In court on Tuesday morning, a visibly distraught Henri Morris opted to plead guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting one employee rather than continue with what was certain to be a grueling jury trial. Morris spent much of the morning slumped over in a chair at the…
100 Creatives 2014: Chuck Norfolk, Filmmaker
What He Does: Chuck Norfolk is a titan of the local film industry. He’s written, directed, produced, and acted in at least a dozen features and shorts, a real hands-on member of the local scene. He’s most notable for The Haunted Trailer starring Ron Jeremy, Joe Grisaffi, and Lauren Leal,…
This Week in Food Blogs: What Do Restaurants Do With Leftovers?
Diners don’t like to think about it, but the truth is that reducing food waste is an important aspect of cost control in the food service industry. The “Where’s My Gravy” blog gives us some perspective on, and examples of, how restaurants use leftovers to make another round of good…
Five Reasons the Rockets Continue to Win Despite Injuries
At the moment, it is arguable that the four guys making up the injury list for the Houston Rockets currently are better than the Rockets best four healthy players. Subtract James Harden from that list and it’s not even an argument. Starters Terrence Jones (nerve), Patrick Beverley (hamstring) and Dwight…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Ben McPherson of Prohibition Supperclub & Bar
Let it never be said that chef Ben McPherson fails to give credit to others. Throughout our chat, the chef frequently said, “That’s Wommack’s dish,” or “Wommack did that.” “Wommack” refers to Matt Wommack, McPherson’s cooking partner in their successful but short-lived pop-up venture The Bull & Pearl. It was…
Meet the Sharp-Tongued Hosts of Bayou City Reviews
Note: this article was written according to the format of our now-retired “Rocks Off 200” series. But it still works. Who? In a lot of situations, being honest doesn’t necessarily net you the most positive response. At least, not in the veins of Houston rap. When Ryan “Ryno” Mast, Craig…
Raw Material Exhibit Shows off Works by Mari Omori, Kia Neill and Cassie Normandy White
Mari Omori first captured my eye – and my imagination – as part of a brilliant two-person show at Total Plaza in July. She is Japanese born, now a Houston resident and educator, and she creates delicate, graceful, surprising art through use of teabags . . . yes, teabags! I…
The Dude Hit by HPD Chief’s SUV While Crossing a Downtown Street Is Now Suing
Remember that accident that Houston Chief of Police Charles McClelland was in last year, in which he hit a pedestrian with his city vehicle while driving downtown? Well, it looks like the city’s top cop may end up on the wrong side of the courtroom over it. James Harris, the…
New Books Explore Fleetwood Mac’s Vast Appetites
Play On: Now, Then and Fleetwood Mac By Mick Fleetwood with Anthony Bozza Little, Brown; 352 pp.; $30. Before the Beginning: A Personal and Opinionated History of Fleetwood Mac By Sam Graham eBook (iTunes only); 42 pp.; $4.99. Mick Fleetwood used to love cocaine. I mean, love cocaine. At one…
Remembering Dale Brooks, Early Houston Punk Videographer
When the first wave of punk swept through America and Britain during the rather moribund mid-1970s, it became so fertile because punk was inclusive, participatory and democratic. Into its ranks swept musicians, fashion designers, artists, radio personalities, photographers and writers, as well as filmmakers and documentarians. Dale Brooks, who passed…
Local Pit Bull Owner Drops Lawsuit Against Victims of Dog Attack
After nearly a month of public scrutiny over her million dollar lawsuit, the Texas City woman who was suing her neighbors for injuries she says she sustained after her four pit bulls broke through a shared fence and killed her neighbor’s beagle has dropped her lawsuit. Emerald White, a Texas…
RIP Bobby Keys: Texan and Stones Saxophonist Dies at 70
Note: According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Bobby Keys passed away earlier Tuesday. The Lubbock-born saxophonist was a longtime side man for the Rolling Stones, first appearing with the band on 1969’s Let It Bleed. Keys was especially close to Keith Richards, with whom he shared the birthday of December 18,…
Salon Article Thinks Upper Kirby Is an Example of “Monstrous Gentrification” in Houston
Guys, we have something very serious to discuss with you about the city of Houston. And what is that issue, you ask? Well, it’s the monstrous gentrification of Upper Kirby. No, we’re not kidding. Not one bit. Those claims were made by local writer and resident Anis Shivani in a…
Justin Timberlake Stakes His Claim as Pop’s Top Dog
Justin Timberlake Toyota Center December 1, 2014 Ten years ago, Justin Timberlake played a show in Houston that shocked the world. It was the halftime show for Super Bowl 38 headlined by JT’s longtime friend Janet Jackson. He popped in at the end to sing “Rock Your Body,” and that’s…
Augustana’s Dan Layus Leads With His Heart
Throughout the past ten years, singer Dan Layus has been the only constant member of Augustana through a number of lineup changes. For some bands, this is is one of the toughest roads to travel, especially once more die-hard fans get involved. For Layus, however, it’s been a chance to…
Mentally Ill Death Row Inmate Scott Panetti Isn’t Too Mentally Ill to Be Executed Wednesday
UPDATE December 3, 2014: The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the execution of Scott Panetti, who had been scheduled for execution in Texas December 3 at 6 p.m. During Scott Panetti’s 1995 capital murder trial, Kerr County District Judge Stephen Ables interrupted Panetti as he asked a…
Catastrophic Theatre Announces Its 2015 Season With 2 Returning Playwrights and More
A 16-year-old, who had something horrible happen to him as a youngster, makes a movie with sex, violence and the undead and somehow this is funny and a love story. Ludwig van Beethoven and Quasimodo, both deaf, form a panel on sound design. After her mother dies, Charlotte buries herself…
Baylor Hires Public Relations Firm To Lobby For CFB Playoff Spot
Tonight, the latest rankings from the College Football Playoff committee will be released. With this being the first season under this format, we are still learning what’s important and what’s not important to the committee when it comes to evaluating the potential participants. Even with just a week left in…
Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar Successfully Mines the World for Oysters and More
There is a lot to love about Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, and at the top of that list is the gumbo. There’s rich, lingering flavor from duck confit, stock and dark roux. Meaty Gulf shrimp and delicately fried oysters rest on top and in the center is a…
Katie Scott Merges Style, Spirit and Symbolism to Create Katie Design Jewelry Line
Artists don’t often place their spirituality at the center of their creativity, but Katie Scott of Katie Designs has done so and seen her career go from a superficial pursuit to a deeply fulfilling part of her life and career…
Life Hacks: Armed With Smartphones, Young Houston Entrepreneurs Work to Live, Not Live to Work
Vaughn Chung, 22 and a student at the University of Houston, doesn’t have a job. Correction: He doesn’t have “a” job. Subsequent further correction: He doesn’t have a job as most people define the term, though he certainly works and makes money. Every Friday and Saturday from about 8 p.m…
When it Comes to Punishment, the NFL and Roger Goodell are Making it Up as They Go
The surveillance video is chilling. It’s late February, and we see then-Ravens running back Ray Rice drag the limp carcass of his then–fiancée (now wife), Janay Palmer, from an Atlantic City casino elevator and plop her down on the floor like luggage. She’s unconscious, and her feet are actually blocking…
The Best Comics in November Part 1: Alice Cooper and Haunted Gotham
Each month the staff at 8th Dimension Comics picks out the best book to review. Tooth and Claw #1 Kurt Busiek’s newest epic from Image comics had the potential to be one of the greatest fantasy books of all time. Though I’d still say that nothing can top Saga at…
This Week In Food Events: Tequila, Tamales and So Much More
This week is full of fun and relaxing events, so there is no excuse to not take bit of time for yourself in between the holiday madness. We hope to see you at Tequila & Tamales Event this Wednesday! There’s also a patio stroll with a slew of craft beers,…
Rewriting History: Apollo 20’s Legacy as it is Now, Was Once and What it was Supposed to Be
As Jennell Minor weaves her way among the sixth-grade students divided into groups, each with its own tutor, she talks about the challenges she and other teachers face at Attucks Middle School. It’s tougher than usual this year because of the change in math objectives — concepts that in previous…
Upcoming: Buddy Guy, Deadhorse, Lana Del Rey, Idina Menzel, Mushroomhead, Spoon, etc.
13th Sky: With Brumes, DJ Hex, DJ Deathchurch. Fri., December 5, 9:30 p.m., $5. Mango’s, 403 Westheimer, Houston, 713-522-8903. 7th Annual New Years Eve Ball featuring Dyro: With Surain, Sam Thompson DJ RN. Wed., December 31, 9 p.m., $20 to $50. Stereo Live, 6400 Richmond, Houston, 832-251-9600. 8 Seconds: Fri.,…
Try These 5 Awesomely Delicious Kimchi-Packed Eats in Houston
Had enough turkey and stuffing to last you a lifetime? Us too. That’s why we’re sharing five insanely delicious Asian-fusion dishes stacked with of our favorite hot and sour Korean condiment, kimchi. See also: Try These Five Outrageously Awesome Shellfish Dishes Try These Five Monster Breakfast Dishes Try These Five…
Being Horny at the Texas Renaissance Festival
This year, as I do most years, I took the Wife With One F to the Texas Renaissance Festival for her birthday. Both of us have been going since we were teenagers, and it’s very rare for us to miss the season entirely. However, this year something got on my…
Mike Red’s Third Tape of 2014 Bares His Root$
Mike Red, Root$ If one were to sit back and discuss producers from the Northside who don’t normally get their due, George Young and Mike Red would be 1 and 1A. Think a mixture of Stephen Curry and James Harden, a backcourt of light- and dark-skinned sampling fools who choose…
Local Director’s New Film Uses Flamethrower Guitar
When Josh Vargas wrapped up filming on his Dean Corll biopic In a Madman’s World, he told us that he wanted his next picture to be something a lot more playful. Plenty of blood and guts, but this time just pretend. Originally this was supposed to involve a biopic on…
Authorities Say Reserve Deputy Constable Shot Woman Because She Honked at Him in Traffic
A Harris County Constable has been arrested, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for a road rage incident in which he allegedly shot a woman in the freaking head for honking at him in traffic. Kenneth Caplan, a reserve deputy constable for Harris County, Precinct 6, was arrested…
The New MLK Statue at MacGregor Park Was Vandalized This Weekend
In today’s random vandalism news, vandals were caught striking a massive bronze statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in a local park over the weekend, but no one’s sure exactly why. A city park ranger was completing a routine check of MacGregor Park in Third Ward about 11 p.m. Friday…
Trombone Shorty Brings Pure New Orleans Swagger to House of Blues
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Soul Rebels Brass Band House of Blues November 30, 2014 On Episode 6 of Dave Grohl’s new HBO series Sonic Highways, a four-year-old Troy Andrews is shown onstage with the legendary Bo Diddley at New Orleans’ annual Jazz Fest. From busking for tips in Jackson…
Newsflash: Dave Chappelle Will Be at Bayou Music Center on December 13
Call it what you want — a pleasant surprise, a shocking turn of events, a Christmas miracle — but today brings exciting news for Houston comedy fans: Dave Chappelle will be visiting us again. And soon. Like, really soon. A week from Saturday (December 13), to be precise…
Family, Fans Boogie Down to Remember Elroy
Saturday afternoon at Bear Creek Park, family and friends gathered to remember Roy Samano, better known as DJ Elroy Boogie of The Almighty Krackernuttz at the Second Annual Boogie In the Park. Rocks Off photographer Marco Torres was on hand to capture the highlights…
High Court Grants New Trial Under “Junk Science” Law
For 15 years, Neal Hampton Robbins has been serving a life sentence for a murder that may not have occurred. The Montgomery County man was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 17-month-old daughter, Tristen Rivet. Prosecutors’ strongest evidence came from Harris County assistant medical examiner Patricia Moore, who testified that the…
Dwight Yoakam Was the Eternal Honky-Tonk Man at Arena Theatre
Dwight Yoakam Arena Theatre November 28, 2014 Guitars, Cadillacs, etc., etc. was released in 1986, and other than his catalog expanding, not much has changed about Dwight Yoakam. He has been one of country music’s most consistent performers, who gives equally consistent performances. If you have ever seen one of…
Should Being Just Good Enough Really Be Enough for UH Football?
On December 3, 2011, the 12-0 Houston Cougars hosted the 10-2 Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The game, aired on ABC, would determine the winner of Conference USA. A win for the Cougars was worth more than a conference title. A win for the Cougars would send Houston to a BCS…
Fitz-Magic: Texans Route Titans Behind Resurgent QB
The Texans 2014 season has been nothing if not interesting. They’ve already won four more games than last year and have been a lot more fun to watch most of the time. They went from not drafting a quarterback to benching the starter, who was only supposed to be a…
“Gone With the Wind” Exhibition Gives Visitors a Glimpse Into Old Hollywood
During the hectic holidays, it’s easy to miss out on cool things that are going on around town, and even easier to to miss out on interesting events that are happening outside of our immediate area, but for classic movie buffs who don’t mind a short road trip, there is…
The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Egg Custard Tart at ECK Bakery
Walking into ECK Bakery, 6918 Wilcrest Drive, 281-933-6808, there is rarely more than one other customer. Sometimes there is a lady reading a Chinese newspaper manning the counter. Sometimes the owner is there. You’ll recognize him from all the pictures he has hanging on the wall, pictures of him standing…
Convicted Child Rapist to Get New Trial
A Houston appellate court has granted a new trial for a convicted child rapist because he was blocked from presenting character witnesses at his 2012 trial. In a Nov. 20 opinion, a majority panel of the First Court of Appeals ruled that Harris County District Judge Michael McSpadden should have…
An Embattled President, Immigration Reform, Religious Fervor and New Technology Marks America of…1844
America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation By John Bicknell 320 pp. Chicago Review Press $26.95 It was a tumultuous year for the United States. An embattled President whose public approval was dropping fast waged legislative war against an unfriendly Congress. Immigration was…
Dish of the Week: Mexican Hot Chocolate
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. Just in case the weather actually gets colder for good this time, this week we’re sharing a recipe for…
Texans 45, Titans 21: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
Ok, so I give up trying to predict what’s going to happen in NFL games. No, really, I GIVE UP. During the week, after Ryan Mallett’s injury was finally confirmed with a trip to the injured reserve list on Wednesday (welcome, Thad Lewis!), my feeling was that it was only…
Don’t Work 9-to-5? There’s a Monday Brunch Just for You
Many people who work in restaurants don’t get to have a nice sit-down meal themselves very often. They work weekends, nights and holidays, often getting off work so late that pretty much all that’s open is the corner Whataburger, some taquerias and a few 24-hour diners. The same goes for…
The Changing Face of Houston – Texas Medical Center
All of the previous entries in this series have covered residential neighborhoods. This one is slightly different. While the Texas Medical Center is a distinct part of the Houston landscape, it is important not as a community of homes and the people who live there, but for the contribution that…
The 10 Best Titans-Texans Rapper Tweets
The 2014 Houston Texans have a new coach, new players, new hope and the same dedicated fan base of Houston-based rappers. As in years past, they took to Twitter on game day to comment on the home team’s gridiron action. Rocks Off read their tweets when we had time to…
Revisiting Dio’s First Two Albums, 30 Years Later
It’s hard to believe that it has been four years since legendary metal front man Ronnie James Dio passed away from cancer. His body of work and contributions to the metal world will never be forgotten, and that was hammered home recently when Foo Fighters released their Sonic Highways single…
The 5 Best Concerts in Houston This Week: Common, Ryan Adams, Brown Sabbath, etc.
Common Warehouse Live, December 2 The most natural heir to Curtis Mayfield’s legacy of socially conscious and intrinsically soulful Chicago music (sorry, Kanye), Common doubles down on this year’s Nobody’s Smiling, tackling his hometown’s record-setting epidemic of gun violence head-on. That’s not all that’s on his mind — he even…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: The Babadook
Title: The Babadook Finally, A Big Screen Bio Of Gary Dell’Abate. You’re thinking of Baba Booey, who is only slightly less terrifying. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Four-and-a-half bunyips out of five Brief Plot Synopsis: Monster infiltrates home to terrorize occupants via a sinister book, kind of…
Is Any Part of Bill Cosby’s Legacy Worth Salvaging?
Bill Cosby’s present is secure. Despite the 17 women (so far) who have publicly come forward with notably similar allegations of drug-enabled sexual assault, the comedian received standing ovations for his stand-up performances in the Bahamas and in Florida recently. His comeback tour will likely continue over the next few…
College and Pro Football: This Weekend’s Best Bets
My girlfriend, Amy, and I moved into a new house this week, and as is bound to happen, the cable and Internet installation is about five days behind our move-in date. Unfortunately, it’s arguably the five best days of the year to sit around and do nothing but watch television…
[Video] As RenFest Comes to a Close, We Ask the Workers What’s Next
After a glorious few weeks, the 2014 Texas Renaissance Festival comes to a close this weekend after celebrating a Celtic Christmas. With what looks to be nice weather this weekend, it looks like the crowds will be out in full force, giving merchants and performers plenty of chances to make…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend (Besides Leftover Turkey)
Black Friday Brewery Tours @ Karbach Brewery Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 2032 Karbach Skip the Galleria madness and head to Karbach this Black Friday. The brewery will opening its doors for extended hours on both Friday (2 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (noon to 5 p.m.). It’s…
100 Creatives 2014: Reginald Smith Jr., Opera Singer
Reginald Smith Jr. is a studio artist in his second year with the Houston Grand Opera, which means he’s part of a small elite group getting an intense course of study and a chance to appear in operas while readying for what he hopes will be a longtime career. At…
Upcoming Events: Tequila, Tamales and Holiday Tastings
We here at Eating…Our Words are bringing you a FREE Tequila & Tamale Tasting on Wednesday, December 3. Head to The El Cantina Superior, 602 Studewood, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to get your fix of tamales from El Big Bad, Radical Eats, Los Tios and more. Take them…
Texas Gay Marriage Campaign Gets Personal
A few years ago the thought of a Texas campaign to garner support for gay marriage would have been both depressingly pointless and just-this-side-of-the-Marx-brothers laughable. But now, with gay marriage legal in 35 states and a Texas case set to be heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in…
Openings & Closings: Pretty Is As Pretty Does
As recounted on Monday, Eater Houston found information on Yelp that tipped them off that Fish & The Knife is closing after a mere nine months of being in business. Many people said the restaurant design was gorgeous, but looks aren’t everything. Customers found the restaurant/nightclub combination be confusing and…
The 5 Best Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Zoo Lights, The Nutcracker and More
See an electrified giraffe at Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo, our suggestion for Friday. The life-size, long-necked giraffe, a wire structure wrapped in lights, has lots of company with dozens of brightly lit horses, apes, hippos, elephants and other animal sculptures scattered around the zoo’s illuminated and decorated grounds…
Houston’s 10 Best Dance Clubs
Note: this article originally appeared on July 24, 2014. Happy Black Friday! Grooving to the beat is all well and good and all, but sometimes when the music burrows deep into your veins, there’s only one way to unleash that energy…and that is to get down on it, shake your…
Kelvin Sampson Begins the Biggest Challenge of His Career
An SI.com writer was at Hofheinz Pavilion Saturday night working on a story on new Cougar head coach Kelvin Sampson. He stood in one of the bunkers ringing the top of the arena, looking out over the mostly empty stands. He asked when the crowd was going to show up…
The Top 10 Country Stars Who Live in Texas
Note: this article originally appeared on September 19, 2014 HONORABLE MENTION: SUNNY SWEENEY Thus far mainstream success has eluded Sunny Sweeney, but not for lack of either talent or trying. According to her Facebook page, Sweeney (a former standup comic) has now played the Grand Ole Opry 41 times but…
Outdoor Texas Music Festivals: What Not to Do
Note: this article originally appeared on June 4, 2014. Free Press Summer Fest dodged a pretty serious bullet this year. When festival officials announced that the grounds around Eleanor Tinsley Park needed to be evacuated around 2 p.m. on the Saturday of the festival, some of us who were there…
The 10 Best Concerts in Houston This Weekend: Randy Rogers Band, Supersuckers, etc.
Randy Rogers Band House of Blues, November 28 & 29 About at a year ago, the Randy Rogers Band and a tribe of their soon-to-be-hoarse Hill Country fans gathered at the legendary John T. Floore’s Country Store outside San Antonio for two nights of sawing fiddle, steamrolling drums and overdrive…
Chocolate and Charity: Cacao & Cardamom and the Chester Pitts Foundation
Sometimes when people are trying to do something good, challenges arise. Such was the case when Cacao & Cardamom at 5000 Westheimer joined forces with former Houston Texan Chester Pitts last week to host a group of kids, show them how chocolates are made and sell chocolates to raise money…
The 25 Best Songs About Houston
Note: this article originally appeared on October 24, 2014. Happy Thanksgiving! Bobby Bare, “I Can Almost See Houston From Here” One of the great homesick songs, Bobby Bare infuses this one with downtrodden ennui as he pines for the warmness of his old hometown. Usually veteran Houstonians are forced to…
Doomstress Alexis’s Top 5 Desert Island Discs
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Today we’re starting a new column on Rocks Off, where we ask local heroes for their top five absolute desert island discs, the records that made them the musicians they are today. This week; Doomstress Alexis, vocalist and bassist of Project Armageddon. Iron Maiden, Live After Death…
Houston’s 10 Best Bars for Out-of-Town Guests
Note: this article originally appeared on October 3, 2014. Happy Thanksgiving! So you’ve got out-of-towners coming in — old friends, relatives, business prospects from Minneapolis, Titans fans in for a hit-and-run NFL weekend, or whatever. Now the burden is upon you, the local-scene guru, to show them the town. You’ve…
Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo
See an electrified giraffe at Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo. The life-size, long-necked giraffe, a wire structure wrapped in lights, has lots of company with dozens of brightly lit horses, apes, hippos, elephants and other animal sculptures scattered around the zoo’s illuminated and decorated grounds. Jackie Wallace, zoo spokesperson,…
Make an Ornament: Glass Blowing
Houston’s only open-access glass-blowing studio, Three Dimensional Visions, is offering the opportunity to create your own holiday ornament during Make an Ornament sessions. Every Sunday afternoon, visitors can choose their form (sphere vs. tear drop), the type of hanger and the colors to make their own unique ornament. Visitors apply…
A Christmas Carol — A Ghost Story of Christmas
Thirteen-year-old Winch Eagleton has been in far more performances (more than 200) of A Christmas Carol at the Alley Theatre than he has ever seen. This year, the classic Charles Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s eye- and soul-awakening journey with three ghosts of Christmas (plus Marley’s ghost) will be told…
“UltraBlack by Mario M. Muller and Randy Twaddle”
Both Mario M. Muller and Randy Twaddle have worked for years in black and white. Unknown to each other until recently, the two were pursuing somewhat parallel artistic goals. Rudolph Blume Fine Art, aware that few artists have dedicated themselves to working in monochromatic black and white, presents the pair…
Bruce Munro: Field of Light
It takes 42 people working in rotation over five days to place the 4,500 radiant glass spheres that make up Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation at Discovery Green. Each sphere is set atop a thin, clear stem. Installed in the ground on either side of the Brown Promenade, under…
65th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade: Houston on Parade
Plan on getting to the 65th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade: Houston on Parade early if you want to claim a good spot to watch the festivities. Expect to see marching bands, drill teams, huge floats and balloons, along with notable celebrities such as our own Mayor Annise D. Parker,…
Maid Marion in a Stolen Car
Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame is headed back to Galveston for three Thanksgiving weekend shows, and in this case, the name of his latest one-man show — Maid Marion in a Stolen Car — isn’t just a catchy title but an episode he’s reliving from his own life. He…
If You’re Buying a Cheap TV on Black Friday, Here Are Some Reasons to Watch Yo’ Ass
So there’s a good chance some of you are planning to venture out on Black Friday, intent on throwing yourself into the hordes of people fighting over an iPod knockoff. Well, we kinda think you’re nuts. But the good thing is, you’re not alone in your nuttery. Plenty of Houstonians…
I Got Invited to a Friend’s Divorce Party. Help!
Welcome to Ask Willie D, Rocks Off’s advice column where the Geto Boys MC answers reader questions about matters, in his own words, “funny, serious or unpredictable.” Something on your mind? Ask Willie D! I CONFESSED MY LOVE FOR A FRIEND AND SHE REJECTED ME Dear Willie D: I’m feeling…
Chef Chat, Part 2: How to Make Chex Mix With Crickets
Who among us doesn’t have some sour cream and onion crickets sitting in our pantry that we don’t know what to do with? OK, so the odds of you actually having any crickets, let alone those of the sour cream and onion variety, in your pantry (or anywhere else in…
A Short Film about Killing (Krotki film o zabijaniu) and Blind Chance (Przypadek)
Famed Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski explores what might happen to someone’s life if one little incident were changed in his 1981 Blind Chance. (Think Groundhog Day with a decidedly darkly and ironic Polish twist.) The story restarts three times. Medical student Witek (a young Boguslaw Linda, who would soon become…
Jupiter String Quartet with James Dunham
The Jupiter String Quartet is often described as a “young and award-winning group.” For the upcoming Jupiter String Quartet with James Dunham concert, they’re also generous as they welcome another musician onstage. The members of most quartets are, by necessity, exceedingly close (they spend long hours rehearsing, traveling and performing…
Dead But Not Forgotten: Group Signing by Charlaine Harris, Nicole Peeler and Rachel Caine
Fans were plenty upset when novelist Charlaine Harris called it quits on her Southern Vampire Mystery series featuring telepath Sookie Stackhouse and her various vampire, fairy, demon and shape-shifter friends with the 2013 release of Dead Ever After. Sookie, Harris promised, was finished. So readers were delighted when the anthology…
Houston Ballet: The Nutcracker
There are giant mice, a King Rat, toy soldiers that come to life and Clara, who seems a nice enough young girl, whirled into a wild post-party night when magic and Tchaikovsky’s music take over the evening’s events. Yes, it’s time once again for Houston Ballet’s annual holiday offering of…
The 10 Best Butt-Rock Bands in Recorded History
Note: this article originally appeared on April 17, 2014. Happy Thanksgiving! What is butt-rock, you ask? As usual, we’ve got all your answers, courtesy of Urban Dictionary: A derogatory term for any hard-rock music. The term comes from a nationwide advertising campaign on hard-rock radio stations in the 1990s that…
2014 Thanksgiving Day Football Gorging Guide
This is going to sound a little strange, but there’s a small part of me that was always jealous of the old bedridden grandparents in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I mean, sure, they were all pushing 80 and sharing a full size double bed with three other octogenarians…
Black Friday’s Free Art Events: Field of Light, Hidden Treasures and More
It took 42 people working in rotation over five days to place the 4,500 radiant glass spheres that make up Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation at Discovery Green. Each sphere is set atop a thin, clear stem. Installed in the ground on either side of the Brown Promenade, under…
The 5 Best Happy Hours in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest
If you love happy hour as much as we do, you’ll love this new series. We’re taking a look at the best happy hours in town, ‘hood by ‘hood. To narrow it down, we’re focusing on the spots with the best deals on not only drinks, but eats, too. From…
24 Reasons We’re Thankful We Live in Houston (Hint: It Ain’t Dallas)
Just kidding! We’re also thankful for Dallas, which might share a high-speed rail with us one of these days, so we should probably play nice. Here are the actual reasons we’re thankful we live in Houston, presented without an ounce of snark, of course. 24. The Lady Bird Johnson wildlife…
Horrible Bosses 2 is the Comedy the First Should Have Been
The third-greatest scourge of the earth, right after online comments sections and bedbugs, is the unfunny comedy sequel, which may be why you think you should skip Horrible Bosses 2. The miraculous surprise is that Horrible Bosses 2 isn’t terrible at all. It’s looser, breezier, more confident than its 2011…
Tommy Lee Jones’s The Homesman Brings a Lost America to Life.
Tales of the Old West continue to make up a significant portion of our cultural narrative, mostly because we still like to comfort ourselves with stories showing that ours is a land of opportunity. Making the trek to the American frontier promised a new life, or at the very least…
Wrestling Drama Foxcatcher Engages but Doesn’t Pin
The du Pont family made its fortune selling gunpowder during the War of 1812, and soldiered on to invent everything ever worn by a cop: Kevlar, nylon, polyester, synthetic rubber. If you’ve cooked on Teflon pans, that money’s theirs, too. That means you’ve supported American patriotism, or at least heir…
Capsule Art Reviews: November 27, 2014
“Buildering: Misbehaving the City” “Buildering” describes overt acts of artistic expression with elements of rebellion against the establishment. It requires an unsanctioned, “in-your-face” attitude, and, more important, it’s great fun. There are striking sculptures, exciting videos and photographs of some of the coups that mischievous practitioners have pulled off in…
Immigration Outrage and What’s in a Name?
Dear Mexican, I was reading the comments (BIG MISTAKE) on an article I recently read regarding St. Charles, Missouri, adopting Arizona-style immigration Law. I was SHOCKED at the amount of people who support this law and my question to you is: Why can’t people see the bad implications of that…
