Zoo Boo
The largest family-friendly Halloween event in Houston is back, the Zoo Boo. with plenty to do for every little goblin who visits the Houston Zoo. Trick-or-Treaters will enjoy the Fiesta Mart Pumpkin Patch, with dozens of kid-sized pumpkins ready to paint. Or take a turn at the Monster Mural, a…
Halloween Bash with Feo y Loco
The Hideaway will be holding a Halloween Bash with Feo Y Loco. Ages 21 and up only.The party will go from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 3122 Dunvale Road. For information, call 713-977-3515 or visit www.hideawayondunvale.com. $8. Sat., Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m., 2010…
Houston Press Halloween Bash
Don’t miss what is, in our humble opinion, the city’s best Halloween party, with a costume contest, drink specials and music by Gene’s Addiction. Doors open at 7 p.m.; all guests will have access to the club’s members-only Foundation Room after 11 p.m. House of Blues,1204 Caroline. For information, call…
10 Pumpkin Dishes to Try in Houston, #9: Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
I adore pumpkin. It’s orange (my favorite color), healthful (fiber! Vitamin A!), and associated with two lovely, food-centric holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving). Starting around October, I always find myself on the hunt for pumpkin-flavored foods, and this autumn is no exception. So, between now and Turkey Day, I will be…
Six Songs That Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
If there’s one musician whose advice is worth heeding, it ought to be Johnny Cash. But when the Man in Black sang “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town,” a whole lot of musicians must not have been listening. Perhaps they were tuning in one of Cash’s other songs that takes…
Unidentified Male, Bayou Body Count No. 253
Found dead in a nothwest side apartment complexA man was found dead of a gunshot wound to the chest after midnight this morning, Houston police say.The man was pronounced dead at the scene at the Shadow Creek Apartments in the 7500 block of Pinemont about 12:35 a.m., HPD says. The…
John Turturro Opens Houston Fest with Passione
And the stars keep coming. Cinema Arts Festival Houston will kick off with a screening of John Turturro’s new film Passione, which the actor directed, co-wrote and narrated. Turturro will be on hand to introduce the film at the red-carpet screening Wednesday, November 10 at the Museum of Fine Arts…
Brew Blog: Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale from Rogue
Hope y’all enjoyed Houston Beer Week. We’re poor and generally allergic to ticket prices, so we missed most of the high-end fun, though we did find occasion to try a Southern Star Smoked Porter on cask at Anvil (smooth, good, unapologetically malty), and a Victory Hop Devil on cask at…
SFA vs. Sam Houston: The Battle Of The Piney Woods Comes To Houston
SFA-SHSU — Big crowd expectedThere’s Texas-OU in the Red River Shootout (eff that “Rivalry” crap). Florida-Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. And Oregon-Oregon State in the Civil War.And then there’s the Battle of the Piney Woods, where two meth-fueled, teeth-lacking inbred teams get togeth — no, no, NOT…
“Veal Vincent” at Vincent’s Restaurant
A frequent entry on many a list of top Italian restaurants in Houston, Vincent’s nevertheless has been recently called out in online forums and review sites for its supposedly declining service and food quality. So I was a little apprehensive when I chose it as the location of a recent…
Shrek: The Musical – Blinded by the Lights
The lights went down; the theater was dark. Shrek: The Musical was starting at the Hobby Center last night. And something kept flashing to the left of my seat, right beyond where my husband sat. We’d already had all the usual pre-show warnings about “open your wrapped candies now,” so…
The 10 Do’s and Don’t’s of Texas Food
After seeing the dialogue back and forth on Lennie Ambrose’s post about sweet tea and its availability in Texas, my colleagues and I began discussing our own caveats about eating in Texas. Like other states or cities who are very particular about their cuisines, Texas has its own little set…
Tea Party: Coming Soon To Texas License Plates?
Courtesy MyPlates.comJust a historical reference, nothing politicalTexas — ever eager to do its part to foment rightwing nuttism — may be giving official state sanction to the Tea Party, via license plates.New proposed license plates from MyPlates.com are out for review, and they include the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag…
Start Wearing Purple: No Bullies Allowed
Bullies suck. Growing up, Craig’s Hlist watched a lot of kids in school getting the brunt of the, quote-unquote, “cooler” people giving them hell for being big, gay, handicapped or just smart. They would start fights, make up songs or stories about them, or find ways to embarrass them in…
Stirred & Shaken: Yaksok Karaoke Bar’s Soju
The first time I met Sunny, the owner of Yaksok Karaoke Bar (9444 Long Point, 832-358-0035), she poured shots of soju for a friend and me and told us about getting robbed by a Vietnamese gang in Queens while the bar’s sing-along machine plunked out a MIDI version of “Hotel…
Carlos Hernandez’s Latest Tribute to Dead Rock Royalty
“I love the idea of bringing the dead and living together in a very unique way. The music of some of my favorite musicians who have passed away has been an awesome inspiration to me–and what better way to celebrate their existence.”–Carlos Hernandez The Aztecs believed that life was a…
UH Basketball Tries Once Again To Resurrect Phi Slama Jama (And Our List Of The Five Best Basketball Coogs)
While the University of Houston tries to resurrect its basketball program, we reflect on the glory days. Bryan Williams, who was a part of the University of Houston’s Phi Slama Jama teams, took pictures for this week’s cover story in the Houston Press about the incredible decline of the university’s…
Eight Halloween Ideas For Today’s Hottest Pop Stars
Halloween is only a little over a week away, and the spirit of the season is in the air. Rocks Off knows everyone has already picked out their costumes: Girls are starving themselves to fit into that slutty nurse or cop uniform, while boys are waxing their legs to wear…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Mark Schmidt of The Rainbow Lodge
Today we continue our chat with chef Mark Schmidt of Rainbow Lodge, discussing his favorite Houston-area restaurants and what’s in his fridge at home. Eating Our Words: Before coming Rainbow Lodge, you previously owned Cafe 909 in Marble Falls with your wife, Shelly. I read that you liked to call…
No Day-Care Centers In Strip Malls, Missouri City Decides
View Larger MapMissouri City councilmembers, after a long debate, decided 4-3 Monday night to ban all such businesses from the town’s strip malls, Fort Bend Now reports.Proponents said it was a safety issue; the day-care center shown above, behind the yellow pillars, isn’t in Missouri City, it’s in Houston (it…
Houston’s Loretta Devine Powerful in For Colored Girls
Last night, Houston Cinema Arts Society held a special VIP event to kick off its upcoming film festival in November, and it featured a special advance screening of Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls, which officially opens on November 5. The film is an adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s landmark “choreopoem” For…
Died and Gone to [Burger] Heaven at Zelko Bistro
A strange thing happened last Sunday evening. I found my new favorite burger in Houston — and possibly in Texas — in the most unexpected of places. Chef Jamie Zelko is known these days for the delicious comfort food she serves at her restaurant, Zelko Bistro (the subject of this…
Frightened Rabbit: Not Scared At All, Actually
In the short course of three albums, lately last year’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit has created a very distinct sound of Elliot Smith-like hyperrealism couched in the emotional alienation of 21st-century banality. The Scottish indie-rockers take the every day and make it sad; not since the days…
Theodore Mitsakos, 49, Bayou Body Count No. 252
Killed in a road rage incident, police sayA road rage incident on the southwest side left a 49-year-old man dead Tuesday afternoon, police say.Theodore Mitsakos, 49, had gotten into a traffic altercation about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday while driving on the Southwest Freeway, the Houston Chronicle reported, and exited at West…
Beyonce: Pregnant?
T Beyonce: Look for the baby bumphe celebrity journal of record, US Weekly, is reporting as authoritatively as it can that Houston’s Beyonce is pregnant.Their source? According to the headline, it’s a “Source.” So there you go.”B was shocked. She loves kids, but she wasn’t ready to be a mother…
Odd Pair: Malbec and Macaroons
French macaroons are fabulous. Not only are they the most perfectly glamorous little cookies in the whole world, but they are also amazingly delicious and decadent despite their light-as-air consistency. Currently, I am most in love with the chocolate, pistachio, and almond flavors that are available at Araya Artisan Chocolate…
Sarahi Rosales Gutierrez, 19, Bayou Body Count No. 251
Teen shot “without provocation”A teenager who was chatting with friends was shot “without provocation” by one of the group and has died, Houston police say.Sarahi Rosales Gutierrez, 19, was in a driveway in the 200 block of Tallant on the northside about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, visiting with friends, when…
Wails: Wintry, Wilcoesque, Worth Listening To
Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group “Artist of the Week,” bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn’t awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. Chances are you’ve never heard of local indie-rock…
Coming Soon to Art Attack: 100 Creatives
Art Attack will soon be launching an ongoing series of profiles on Houston artists of all stripes–visual, performing, fashion, film, video, writing and more. Called “100 Creatives,” the series will delve into what motivates our artists’ creativity and feature examples of their output. We have some folks in mind, but…
Houston GLBT Center Jumps On The Washington Avenue Bandwagon
View Larger MapThe Houston GLBT Center is moving into new digs in the historic Sixth Ward.Not so new, actually — they’re leasing space in the 1912 Dow School building, which has been renovated…
Top Five Under-Appreciated Juices
I know everyone and their mother are gaga for pomegranate and acai, but there’s other ways to get your fruits and vegetables in liquid form without reverting to boring old apple and orange juice. Here are five juices you may have overlooked recently on supermarket shelves: 5) Prune Juice. The…
Last Night: Gorillaz At Toyota Center
Gorillaz Toyota Center October 19, 2010 For more photos from the show, see our slideshow here. Gorillaz may have overspent on their first-ever extended tour. True, the entire concept is that the group is officially made up of four cartoon characters, so there kind of has to be a visual…
Cougar Basketball: Stressing The Fundamentals
Houston Cougar basketball fans might be in for a bit of a shock when basketball season gets underway next month. That’s because they’ll be seeing something that they haven’t seen in a few years: An offense running plays. The Cougars started practice on Friday afternoon, and the words of the…
Fiverr.com: What Texans Will Do For Five Bucks
For sale, cheap: Critiques of your dating profileHair Balls has five bucks burning a hole in our pocket, and we’re thinking about spending it on a postcard from a Houston-based model no one’s ever heard of. Or possibly a Texas State Fair award-winning pecan pie recipe.The problem is, there are…
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Plane Crashes And The Fall Of Icarus
The quicker us pick Icarus to be a stinker of a pilot, but anyone that near the sun ain’t no shrinking violet. – Richard O’Brien, Ain’t That to Die For Lynyrd Skynyrd, “What’s Your Name” Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie…
Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs
Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Robb Walsh: Walsh has been documenting a variety of very interesting, very…
HGO Presents the World’s First-Ever Mariachi Opera
An elderly Mexican American man who lives in Houston is dying and decides there are some things he must do. For the first time he tells his grown son and granddaughter that when he came to the United States as a migrant worker in the bracero program years before, he…
Texas Rangers vs Yankees: Who The Hell Can You Root For?
W vs. Rudy? That’s no helpThe American League Championship Series, also known as the Reminder That Some Texas MLB Teams Are Still Playing, continues on.We’ve tried, but we can’t figure out who to root for in this thing. We know who to root against — the Rangers, and the Yankees…
Linda Rosales and Jessica Rosales: Fail In Scheme To Use Kid’s Breath To Fool Breathalyzer
Cameron County SOLinda Rosales: Where’s mother’s little helper?We’ve all been there before: we’ve driven to a party and gotten shit-faced. And then we’ve been faced with a dilemma: How best to get you and all your kids home?It’s especially hard when the damn law has ordered that your car be…
Is Ex-Velvet Moe Tucker A Tea Partier Or Not?
The Velvet Underground has certainly had an interesting second act. After Andy Warhol’s favorite NYC “party” band soundtracked countless narcotic jags and laid the foundation for everything from punk rock to shoegaze, its members went on to very different lives: Lou Reed to street-life classics like Transformer and New York…
Andre Johnson Goes To School
Photos by Dawn McGeeAndre Johnson gets team coverageAfter being postponed by an injury, Texans star receiver Andre Johnson made his annual visit to Bastian Elementary today, hot on the heels of his clutch game-winning TD catch Sunday.Johnson has more or less adopted Bastian, and the kids can’t seem to get…
NFL Headhunting — The Party Is Over
With many of life’s problems, sometimes the issue isn’t finding the solution, it’s experiencing a trigger event that makes you put the solution into action (and 99 percent of the time, wondering why you hadn’t done it a whole lot sooner). Along those lines, like a drunk-driving arrest finally convincing…
5 Lame Food-Themed Halloween Costumes to Avoid
Halloween is a time for creativity. It’s the one time of year when you get to be someone else for a night, so you should make your alternate identity a good one. Put some thought into it, think of something original that will make people laugh, think, or even get…
Dining for a Cause: 5115’s Pink Menu
Looking for an excuse to enjoy a gourmet three-course meal while giving back to the community? All through October, 51fifteen Restaurant and Lounge (5115 Westherimer Rd, inside Saks Fifth Avenue) is hosting “Dine With Us and Donate,” benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Houston Chapter. 51fifteen Restaurant &…
R.I.P. Mister C
Tom Bosley, best known as Howard Cunningham on the popular ’70s series Happy Days and as a pitchman for Glad trash bags, passed today at 83 after a struggle with lung cancer. Bosley was the quintessential ordinary guy, a model (not perfect) TV parent and an uber-goober to kids, but…
David Kaczynski: Unabomber’s Brother Campaigns Against Death Penalty
Photo by Craig MalisowDavid Kaczynski hasn’t heard from Ted latelyOnce you become forever known as “The Unabomber’s Brother,” there are probably two ways you can go: you can do your best to hide (say, maybe move to a cozy, isolated cabin in Montana?) or you can use your position to…
From Fish to Feast: Breaking Down a Yellowfin Tuna
When you have a landlord that occasionally goes deep sea fishing, you can expect some goodies to come your way every once in a while. That’s what happened this past Sunday afternoon, when my boyfriend came home to find his landlord fileting an enormous yellowfin tuna in their driveway. Yellowfin,…
One Live Humpback Whale: Local Fantasy Tour Riders
Everyone probably knows that top-selling bands like Van Halen routinely demand everything short of the moon and stars for their tour contract and rider, but specifically No Brown M&Ms. Some bands have a schedule for required nourishment, or in Rush’s case, for booze. The “Weekly Booze Schedule” inserted into the…
Houston’s Lindsay McCormick Hits The Big Time — Dating Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez’ Houston heartthrob, reportedlyLindsay McCormick is an ESPN type from Houston who, we have to admit, we’ve never heard of.But her official bio says she “has appeared on ESPN Streak for the Cash and ESPN College Pick’em on ESPN.com, the MtvU music countdown show The Dean’s List, The Coach…
Vid Picks of the Week: The State of Politics on YouTube
The web has presented an interesting opportunity for even the most remote politicos to gain national attention. In some cases this power can be used for good, but for the most part, YouTube works as a Theatre of the Absurd, providing us with an endless supply of political gaffes. We…
Top 5 Foods I’d Like to See Paula Deen Eat
Paula Deen’s renowned high-fat recipes are enjoyed by millions, including Dean herself. But I care about the Queen of Consumption, and thus have generated a list of my top five foods I’d like to see her eat. 5. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter This one makes the list simply…
Bankrobbers: The Clash Family Tree
Rocks Off cried the night he heard Joe Strummer died. It was December 2002, and we sat on our family couch and let it all out. That fabled Clash reunion that seemed just months away would never happen. Strummer died of a heart attack at 50, just three days before…
Recipe: Edible Kitty Litter
Ever had the sudden urge to grab a handful of your dirty cat litter and eat it? Me neither, but when Halloween rolls around, it seems that the nastier the presentation, the more acceptably awesome the dessert. With that criteria, this should come in at a “10” in the disgusting…
Gay Houstonians: Go Apply For The Armed Forces, You Can’t Be Rejected
Don’t ask, don’t tell — but let us know what happensThe Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder is reporting that the Pentagon’s legal office has given guidance to recruiters saying that, thanks to a federal judge staying “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” gay applicants cannot be rejected.”As of today, one can walk into a…
Bill White: Five Campaign Posters He Should Consider
Last week we presented Five Campaign Posters Rick Perry Should Consider.In the interests of fairness, we do the same now for Bill White.It’s a slightly tougher job with White, of course. Rick Perry is out there shootin’ coyotes, secedin’ from America, buildin’ walls like crazy, and so on. Basically doin’…
Adrian’s Is Gone, But This Is It Remains
Yesterday afternoon, a friend picked me up from work and we headed over to Jefferson to grab some burgers and soul food from Adrian’s Local Cafe. Sadly, we found out once we arrived that Adrian’s — home to one of Robb Walsh’s favorite Houston dishes and one of the largest…
New on DVD: Oceans, Agora, Please Give, Holy Rollers, Predators
(Capsule reviews by Michelle Orange, Eric Hynes, J. Hoberman, Andrew Schenker and Nick Pinkerton) Oceans An almost miraculously photographed showcase of some of the seven seas’ least seen and most incredible specimens, Disney’s Oceans (a follow-up to last year’s Earth) lets its subjects speak for themselves. Timed to coincide with…
KPFT’s Matt Helfrich ID’d As Montrose Stabbing Victim
Updated at 1:47 Wednesday with Helfrich’s funeral information. Matt Helfrich, an imposing-looking but good-natured volunteer and occasional fill-in DJ for 90.1 KPFT FM, has been identified as the man stabbed to death at the Skylane Apartments on West Alabama around 9 p.m. this past Saturday night, station manager Duane Bradley…
Health Dept. Roundup
City health inspectors appeared to focus mainly on taco trucks last week. Here’s the lowdown: Antojitos Las Catrachas (6026 Dashwood) was closed temporarily after an October 15 visit found six violations, including some paperwork troubles and potentially hazardous foods being stored at an unsafe temperature. The eatery also was not…
Cop-Beating Video Will Stay Under Seal: Judge Agrees It’s Gonna Go Viral Big-Time
Rodney King might be wondering if Houston can get alongA federal judge has ruled that the video of Houston cops beating a 16-year-old handcuffed suspect will be kept under wraps until trial, and his reasoning gives even more credence to the theory that when it finally comes out, it’s going…
Inocencio Martinez-Solis, 36, Bayou Body Count No. 250
Shot to death despite a nearby copA shooting at a southwest side car wash — while a cop was investigating a traffic accident next door — left a 36-year-old man dead, police say.I(nocencio Martinez-Solis was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene in the 7100 block of…
The Top 15 Cartoon Bands (Sorry, Gorillaz)
Gorillaz makes a stop in Houston tonight (Toyota Center, 7:30 p.m.) on their “Escape to Plastic Beach” world tour. Damon Albarn’s “virtual band” is by now far better-known on this side of the pond than his original group, Blur, and is as famous for its inventive music videos as for…
The Marriage of Bette and Boo Offers a Rare Laugh at Infant Mortality
Mildred’s Umbrella, the humble shoestring theater company that always delivers, is currently showing a brief run of The Marriage of Bette and Boo by Christopher Durang. Typically, anything by Durang just reminds us of pimply, high-school-theater kids auditioning for terrible one-act incarnations of Durang’s shows for UIL one-act play competitions…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Mark Schmidt of the Rainbow Lodge
This weekend I sat down with insightful veteran chef Mark Schmidt of the historic Rainbow Lodge. We talked about seasonal cooking, his childhood summers spent in England, and his experience as a guest chef at the James Beard House. Eating Our Words: Can you start by telling us about your…
Rand Paul’s Baylor Escapades Ignite Churchiness Battle
We’ve written before about the odd Baylor episode of Rand Paul, son of Houston’s own Ron Paul and somehow a leading candidate for the Senate (in Kentucky, which may explain the “somehow”).His Democratic opponent, Jack Conway, has released an ad using details of what Paul says was a pranky tying…
Upcoming: Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy! Slash! And Robert Earl Keen
Alien Ant Farm: Wed., Nov. 17. Scout Bar Clear Lake. “Be A Lot Cooler If You Did: Halloween At The Moon Tower” With Black Congress, Roky Moon & BOLT, LIMB, Venomous Maximus: Sun., Oct. 31. Moon Tower Inn. Brian McKnight: Sat., Dec. 11. Arena Theatre. Cowboy Mouth, Silverleaf: Fri., Dec…
Cooking Through Alton: Best Ever Green Bean Casserole
We’re trying recipes by Food Network icon Alton Brown that might work for Thanksgiving. If they’re good, you’ll have a complete guide for the big meal. If they’re clunkers, we’ll provide you with alternate recipes that are tried and true. Best Ever Green Bean Casserole The dish: Using “Best Ever”…
Green-Clad Dress-Wearing Horde Descends On Rice Village
Men and women running down Rice Boulevard in green dresses and purses in hand, what’s up with that? If you happened to be driving along Rice Boulevard this past Saturday you would have had to stop for hundreds of runners, both men and women, donning their green dresses, purses, tutus,…
13 Quotes You’re Likely to Hear on Sarah Palin’s Alaska
In the grand tradition of the Kardashians, Paris Hilton and any number of shows on MTV of the E! Network, Sarah Palin has received her own reality show. Starting in November, you’ll be able to see Sarah Palin’s Alaska on TLC (The Learning Channel). Take a moment to let the…
Three Overrated, Underrated And Perfectly Rated Rappers
The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place – lots of times, you’re even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good – so once a week we’re going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted…
Victor Malone: Teacher’s Aide Breaks Up Fight, Says District Is Screwing Him
Victor Malone says he lost his job at Hightower High School after being assaulted by one of his students. On April 12 of this year, Victor Malone, a teacher’s assistant at Fort Bend’s Hightower High School, was working in an “alternative education” class when a fight between two boys broke…
ICP’s “Echo Side”: The Only Truly Spooky Rap Song Ever?
Frequent visitors here will note that Rocks Off is not much of a rap guy… and Halloween is one of the reasons why. See, we grew up as rap and hip-hop did, and consequently we got to watch the genre go through an adolescent phase just as awkward and embarrassing…
Ten TV Shows That Need To Go Away Now
We’re barely a month into the fall TV season and have already lost three new network shows. My Generation, the show that was to catch us up on a group of high school graduates ten years after the fact (and presumably set to the music of The Who) pulled a…
Ten TV Shows That Need To Go Away Now
We’re barely a month into the fall TV season and have already lost three new network shows. My Generation, the show that was to catch us up on a group of high school graduates ten years after the fact (and presumably set to the music of The Who) pulled a…
Where Are We Drinking?
If the patrons aren’t your first clue to this establishment, a beloved ’80s character hidden to the right should really be the only clue you need. Think you know where we’re drinking (and possibly being barsexual) this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Falcon Lake: Casting The Inevitable Lifetime Movie
Okay, so it’s time to get started on the script and casting for the movie about David and Tiffany’s fateful Jet-Ski trip on Falcon Lake. First, what to name this movie? The Pirates of Falcon Lake will never do: it conjures Johnny Depp and also sounds too much like a…
The 10 Biggest Homes For Sale In Houston Right Now
Feeling a little cramped these days? Sure you are, what with all the stocking up whenever Costco has a sale on baked beans and rice.Well, an economic downturn is the perfect time to move on up in the real estate world. People who have overextended themselves — or maybe have…
Five Very, Very Scary Houston Sports Halloween Costumes
Drayton doesn’t TP your house, he covers it with advertisingHalloween is getting ever closer, and you’re still undecided on your costume?If you live in Houston, there are some choices available sure to strike terror, horror or sickening dismay into anyone who dares open their door to you.Like these five:5. Roger…
Eating On $20 For One Week
Last Sunday, after a day of blissful gorging at Yelapa Playa Mexicana and Zelko Bistro, I realized that I needed a break. Even when I’m not eating for work, I find myself eating out far more than I eat in, rarely cooking for myself anymore these days. Like many other…
Rayond Wilson II: Three Life Sentences For East Texas Trailer Park Bloodbath
Back in December, Hair Balls brought you the story of an East Texas trailer park murder spree that left two women and one man dead. Late last week the accused in the case — 46-year-old Raymond Wilson II — took a plea deal granting him three concurrent life sentences in…
Two Star Symphony Moves Onstage For First Course
Diverse and in-demand Houston Press Music Award-winning classical ensemble Two Star Symphony hits Hobby Center this week as part of Dominic Walsh Dance Theater’s program, First Course. Houston’s most unusual string quartet has collaborated with world-renowned modern dance guru and former Houston Ballet lead dancer Walsh on several projects, including…
Outpost, Legendary NASA Bar, Burns After Closing Doors For Good
Photo credit collectSPACEWhat’s left of the OutpostThe Outpost bar, home to countless astronauts and NASA types letting off steam, closed for good in January.It burned to the ground over the weekend.We’re not saying anything, you know what we mean? The website collectSPACE.com is certainly implying things, though: “There was no…
Weekly Time Waster: Chase Goose 2
It’s not often that an internet game can make you tired. Hand cramps, maybe. Bored, all too often. But when’s the last time you had to take a break because your fingers were winded? Well, Chase Goose 2 is devilish exercise for your fingers. We’re no scientists (this is an…
Immortal Milk at Central Market
“Cheese – milk’s leap toward immortality.”-Clifton Paul Fadiman, author, editor, radio host (1904-1999) Clark Wolf loves cheese — and cheesy wit. As I adjusted my camera to capture the gorgeous array of artisanal cheese and fruit displayed at the front of the room during his Cheese Tasting 101 course Sunday…
Houston Texans — The Green Mile, 5 Winners and 5 Losers
The Texans beat the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon 35-31 to move to 4-2 for the first time in the history of the franchise, and I for one am going to enjoy it. Seriously, try to stop me. You can try and bring me down with your texts and tweets and…
iPhone 4 – Drops Calls on Earth, Works Great in Outer Space
As a kid one of my most requested bedtime story reads was Balloonia by Audrey Wood, a tale of the fun adventures in store for a balloon that gets loose (a sad occasion for any child). Perhaps that’s why I find this “Homemade Spacecraft” video to be as charming as…
Baby Barnaby’s: A Good Place to Bring a Baby?
Baby Barnaby’s has received no lack of attention over the years, much of it from this publication, including a Best of Houston® award for Best Breakfast and one for Best Gay-Friendly Restaurant. The food is tasty (like Katharine Shilcutt, I’m partial to the green eggs), the portions large, the prices…
Last Night: Chris Isaak At House Of Blues
Chris Isaak & Silvertone House of Blues October 17, 2010 Aftermath would like to get a look at Chris Isaak’s business card sometime. We’re assuming he has one. Mostly, we’re wondering what it would say underneath his name: “Musician,” “Entertainer” or perhaps both. Based on Isaak and longtime band Silvertone’s…
Grandparent Alert: Sun City Development Coming To Houston
Del Webb was the guy who invented retirement communities, with Sun City in Arizona.He’s long gone now, but his company lives on — even if most of its clients don’t — building other big-time developments across the southern tier of the country, including Georgetown, north of Austin.Now they’re coming to…
Slideshow: East End Arts Festival
Tlaquepaque Market on Telephone Road hosted the third annual East End Cultural Arts Festival this Saturday. The event promotes culture and business in the largely Hispanic East End Neighborhood. This year’s theme was “Going Green,” but it just as well could’ve been “Day of the Dead,” judging from the abundance…
Oatmeal Five Ways
I’ve always been a fan of oatmeal, even from a young age, when most children are supposed to prefer Count Chocula and Fruity Pebbles for breakfast. I was raised on a steady diet of warm, mushy cereal grains for breakfast — oatmeal, grits, Cream of Wheat, Malt-o-Meal — and love…
Urban Dictionary’s 11 Best Musical Definitions
Rocks Off’s editor loves Urban Dictionary so much that he keeps hoping that a human/computer marriage amendment will somehow allow him to marry the Web site. He also uses it to argue with your humble narrator about the proper spelling of the word “t’ain’t.” We wonder if this introduction will…
Derrick Traylor: Tries To Sell Stolen Items Via Small-Town Radio Show, Gets Arrested By Small-Town Cops
Photo courtesy Jasper County JailDerrick Traylor: Not the world’s best mugshot, or stolen-goods fencerFencing your stolen goods can be such a pain in the ass — you’ve got to find a conspirator, and then you’ve got to drag all your ill-gotten gains over to him. If you haven’t stolen a…
HFIG Houston Fashion Week, Day Two
See photos from Day 2 of HFIG’s Fashion Week in our slideshow. HFIG’s Friday night fashion shows at Tranquility Park were a grab bag of experienced tailors and novice artists. The designers delivered exciting, unique (and in some cases possibly un-wearable) garments. Houston has exceptional talent, and it’s nice to…
10 Pumpkin Dishes to Try in Houston: #10: Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls at Chocolat Du Monde
I adore pumpkin. It’s orange (my favorite color), healthful (fiber! Vitamin A!), and associated with two lovely, food-centric holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving). Starting around October, I always find myself on the hunt for pumpkin-flavored foods, and this autumn is no exception. So, between now and Turkey Day, I will be…
Unidentified Male, 42, Bayou Body Count No. 249
Stabbed to death near the 527 overpass in MontroseA man was stabbed to death Saturday night in Montrose after an argument, police say.The 42-year-old victim, whose identity is still being verified, had been arguing “with several unknown males” in the 200 block of West Alabama about 9 p.m. Saturday, HPD…
Chef Jeramie Robison Plays Around With Gumbo and More at Zimm’s Little Deck
We stopped in at the just-opened Zimm’s Little Deck the other night for a tasting session – zoomed right past the place at first and had to reverse course, it being just a left hand turn off the Richmond exit on Highway 59 North. It’s got several things going for…
Ingredient of the Week: Chinese Long Bean
What is it? Very long pods that grow 1-3 feet long, they are similar to what we know as green beans or string beans. They are chewier, less fibrous and have a slightly nutty, sweeter taste than their shorter, American counterparts. According to SteamyKitchen.com, the best beans are young and…
Tea Party: At The Race Track With George Washington
Photos by Craig HlavatyNo treading allowedOn Saturday afternoon I visited the North Houston Tea Party’s “I Will Vote” rally, held at the Sam Houston Race Park. This was my second Tea Party rally in six months, following on the heels of the one in April at Discovery Green where my…
Is The U.S. Education System Too Broken To Fix?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn’t a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: Fat Tony, Kyle Hubbard, Renzo, Brad Gilmore Not Invited: President Obama, mostly because he’s not a rapper This…
Recap: Episode Three of The Next Iron Chef
On the last episode of The Next Iron Chef, Mario Pagan was booted and Ming Tsai declared he would never be in the bottom two of a challenge again. We’ll see, Ming. We’ll see. Challenge one for the night is based on the theme of resourcefulness, and the secret ingredient…
Transmission Dome, As Useful As The Current Dome, To Be Torn Down
Photo via SlampoRIP, Transmission DomeHarris County politicians take note: it is possible to tear down a decrepit, useless Dome. Swamplot, website of record for notable demolitions, reports this morning that the hallowed Transmission Dome, at Chimney Rock and 59, is soon to be no more…
Studio Session: Lane Hagood
Art Attack is kicking off a new series of studio visits with local artists. To herald it in, we’ve interviewed Lane Hagood – sculptor, drawer, painter, member of Sketch Klubb, and 2010 winner of the Hunting Art Prize. Before taking us to his home studio, Hagood invited us to come…
Saturday: The Marching Owl Band At Rice Stadium
For more photos from Saturday’s game, see our slideshow here. Saturday was a difficult day for Aftermath on a number of levels. Not only did we have to watch our soon-to-be alma mater get its tail kicked by our crosstown rival, we were also forced to sit through what we…
Early Voting Begins: Five Reasons To Get It Out Of The Way
The Harris County ballot is about as long as this, and not as grippingEarly voting began today in Harris County and elsewhere, as voters and candidates finally hit the home stretch for the very bizarre Campaign 2010.Voting early is usually a good idea; here in Houston it makes more sense…
Wine of the Week: Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend 2009
In honor of the previously-trapped miners in Chile, I found this cheap magnum of Chilean wine. It seemed the appropriate wine to toast their newfound freedom. Unlike the massive rescue efforts, this wine wasn’t incredibly complex. But like the Chilean miners, it had plenty of surprising characteristics to keep things…
Christopher Purves, From Rocker to Choir Boy to Opera Singer On Stage in HGO’s Peter Grimes
Christopher Purvesused to be a rock star. At 32 he discarded that to become an opera singer, and a successful one at that. He’s in Houston now running through final rehearsals for the upcoming Houston Grand Opera production of Peter Grimes where Purves will be singing the Captain Balstrode role…
Friday Night: Legends Of Rap At Verizon Wireless Theater
“Legends of Rap” featuring Rakim, Slick Rick, Whodini, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte Verizon Wireless Theater October 15, 2010 For more photos from Friday, see our slideshow here. Friday night at Verizon Theater was a celebration of hip-hop legends, the types that would pick a fight with anyone who had…
Aeros Crashed And Burned This Weekend
The Aeros came into this weekend’s games at Toyota Center riding high. They’d won their first two games of the season, beating Oklahoma City twice in Oklahoma City. Sure, there were 78 games still to go, but the offense seemed to be clicking, the defense was tight, the goalies keeping…
Pink Power Propels Rice Over Houston
Saturday was a tale of two halves. The Rice Owls dominated the first, playing easily their best half of football this year. The Houston Cougars came out and took over most of the second half. But for the Cougars, winning the second half wasn’t enough as they lost their second…
Where Are We Eating?
So many dishes to choose from — at least one of these gems should help you identify this week’s restaurant without any difficulty. Think you know where we’re eating this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Combichrist: Making Monsters, Racking Up Huge Bar Bills
Combichrist is one of those bands that you know just from the sheer number of T-shirts you see at Numbers on any given night. The aggressive synth act founded by Andy LePlegua is entering its seventh year as an unstoppable force of electronic beatdowns. This month the band released its…
Cai Guo-Qiang’s Odyssey Installed, Open to the Public at MFAH
Over the weekend, the public got its first glimpse of Cai Guo-Qiang’s gunpowder drawing Odyssey as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston officially opened its new Arts of China Gallery. The installed work, commissioned by the museum, is the gallery’s permanent wall covering. Preceded by weeks of preparation and anticipation…
Texans 35, Chiefs 31: Johnson Returns To Form, And So Does The Offense. But…
Winning a squeakerWith Andre Johnson’s ankle seemingly healthy again, the Texans’ offense on Sunday silenced concerns about its ability to remain among the NFL’s elite.That might mean something if head coach Gary Kubiak and defensive coordinator Frank Bush can find a way for their defense to not be among the…
Breast Cancer Awareness: Five Bad Attempts
As any sports fan knows, October has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month — uniforms and gloves and wristbands have been pink; outside of sports the Empire State Building and the White House have gone pink to remind women to get themselves checked.The campaign has grown tremendously since the San Francisco…
FAIL: Motown Scam Artists, Musicians Unions, Iron Fences
Unions Are Basically Legalized Mafia: Sarah Chang, a gorgeous and talented young violinist, tried to perform a recital in Detroit this week. Unfortunately for her, the classical music unions happen to be on strike in Detroit. Chang was probably not even aware of this fact, but she became very aware…
Old 97’s: What’s So Good About A Good-Time Band?
When Rocks Off was talking to Old 97’s front man Rhett Miller last week, we told him it was going to be nice to see them at the Continental Club. He chuckled and said, “Yeah, it kind of feels like we’re going backwards.” It may feel like that for the…
KTRU: Will The Supposedly Fearless MOB Take It On?
Will the MOB do to Rice what it did to UT?Rice’s Marching Owl Band, known everywhere as the MOB, is famous for taking no prisoners with its skewering of anything they decided to skewer. (Longhorns are still pissed about the 2007 show dedicated to UT football arrests.)Rice University administrators these…
Terry Grier’s AP Tests Could Also Stand for Auto Power
In Greensboro, North Carolina, Terry Grier was known as that (crazy) guy who gave a car away every year.Grier, now slightly more than one year into his superintendency in Houston, used that dramatic, crowd-pleasing technique to up the number of kids taking Advanced Placement classes. Kids who took a certain…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where anything served on a bed of rocket will be loaded into our corporate trebuchet and launched at the Free Press building. We started the week off by playing a riveting round of “Guess the Meatpaste!” Yeah, if you…
Happy Hour Scene: Los Cucos
The Place: Los Cucos5851 Westheimer Rd. 713-278-2802www.loscucos.comThe Hours: All day Monday and Tuesday; Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.The Deals: Draft beers are 99 cents; margaritas — frozen or on the rocks — are $1.50.The Scene: We usually try to reserve our drinking for weekends or after 4…
Houston Fashion Week, Day Four: Lynn Wyatt, Eileen Ford, Pucci, Marc Bouwer
A member of the International Best-Dressed-List Hall of Fame, Lynn Wyatt allowed the audience at Houston Fashion Week a glimpse into her closet–one full of haute couture designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfield, Chanel, Givenchy, and many more, down the runway one after the other. Wyatt’s first couture purchase…
Best Sporting Event I Ever Attended — 10/15/88
“This game was won by the Notre Dame spirit.” — Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz after Notre Dame’s 31-30 win over Miami, October 15, 1988 Fact. Those eight words uttered by Lou Holtz encapsulate so much. In specific terms, it pays homage to the tradition and magic that was…
Upcoming Events
There’s still time to buy your tickets to the Great Gulf Dinner, happening tomorrow — Saturday, October 16 — at The Usual from 2 to 6 p.m. $15 buys you a plate filled with delicious Gaido’s seafood and sides along with an afternoon of great live music and a raffle…
The Top 10 Rock-Musician Film Scores
David Fincher’s Facebook creation tale The Social Network has been the No. 1 film in America the past two weekends, and no doubt it will continue that streak this weekend, barring an assault by Jackass 3-D which comes out today. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone is already hailing Network as…
Why You Should Dress Up Like a Hot Dog on Halloween
On Monday we provided a snapshot into the disturbing world of mechanically separated chicken with a lovely photo of a strawberry pink, soft-serve like chicken slurry on its way to becoming nuggets–one of the processed foods celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has campaigned against in schools through his Food Revolution program…
Falcon Lake: Case Closed? Five Remaining Oddities In A Very Weird Case
After the murder and decapitation of one of their own, Mexican investigators are calling off the search for David Hartley’s body, temporarily at least.So, is it case closed? Is STRATFOR’s theory — that Hartley was gunned down by Zeta thugs who believed he was a scout for the rival Gulf…
Why I’d Rather Eat Halal Food (Including Campbell’s Soup)
The latest round of anti-Muslim rhetoric to spew forth from the nation’s right-wing extremists has formed from the strangest combination of ingredients: Canada and Campbell’s soup. News that Americans have started a Facebook group called “Boycott Campbell Soup” [sic] — which has nearly 3,500 members — springs from the fact…
Blanco’s Honky-Tonk Hot Streak Finally Runs Out
Lonesome Onry and Mean recently opined that one of the reasons honky-tonk bands are back in vogue in Houston is that some of the better musicians in town have gravitated to honky-tonk bands in the last couple of years. It had been a long stretch since we had seen a…
Slideshow: HFIG Houston Fashion Week Day One
Houston Fashion Independence Group (HFIG) kicked off two consecutive days of runway fashion Thursday night at Tranquility Park in downtown Houston. The outdoor event, as you can can see from the shots, was more laid-back compared to the Wortham shows, with tattooed and exotic models, and international flavor. Some of…
Texas Rangers: Five Things To Know About Them As They Begin The ALCS
Thanks for the Iraq War, RangersIf you’re an Astros fan, you might be surprised to learn that the baseball season did not end back in July — that was just when the Astros season was deemed over. Baseball has continued to be played and, for the first time ever, the…
Shiftwork Bites: Pasta Carbonara
I am a shift-worker. I spend half my life working 12 hours overnight, stuck staring at a bank of computer monitors near the top of a downtown office building. To most, the concept of working long hours and flipping constantly between day and night schedules sounds awful. It is. Most…
Hopefully This Will Tide All You Juggalos Over For Now
Here at Rocks Off, we’re all heartbroken that Insane Clown Posse has postponed the Warehouse Live date of their “Old Sh*t” tour from Saturday to December 6. We’re not sure why; a fictional ICP spokesman would only say “Whoop Whoop!” over and over again until Rocks Off had to hang…
Arthur Yoria Following His Heart To New York City
Longtime Houston pop-rock scenester Arthur Yoria is moving to New York City in December. And for all the right reasons. “There’s a gal involved,” Yoria chuckled when we spoke by phone this week. Yoria noted he’s likely to take a pay cut along with his move to the Big Apple…
USSR’s Moon Lander: A New Look At A Space Race Oddity
You can see the hammer and sickle, and the “C” in “CCCP.” What is this thing? It’s the USSR’s version of the lunar module that — as far as we know — never made it to the moon.It’s not on public display, but a student got a tour of…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Jackass 3D
Title: Jackass 3D Director: Jeff Tremaine … like it makes a difference. Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, and the usual assortment of lunkheads with little to no sense of self-preservation. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant to the Film: Three and-a-half out of five Porta-Johns. Tagline: “THE STUNTS IN THIS…
The Full Package: Queen Vic
Where has this place been my whole life? Some friends and I rolled into the Queen Vic Pub and Kitchen (2712 Richmond) recently, and let me tell you, this place is the full package. The menu is mostly a fusion of Indian and pub dishes. The short rib samosas –…
Taxicab Murders: HPD Seeks Woman Who Called For Doomed Driver’s Taxi
Two taxi drivers dead in two daysHouston police are looking for the woman who called for a cab, the driver of which later wound up being the second murdered taxi driver in two days.”Shantay,” HPD says, called at 2:53 a.m. Thursday looking for a cab dispatched to 1905 block of…
“Rape Gaze”: Worst Genre Name Ever? Not Quite…
Let’s take a moment to think about labels and what they mean to us. Why do people feel the need to label things? The obvious answer is: It’s the only way we know what stuff is. To anyone who automatically dismisses the very idea of labeling, just imagine what it…
Oprah Restores Sanity, Sends Entire Daily Show Audience to Washington D.C.
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon – Thurs 11p / 10cRally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Announcementwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorRally to Restore Sanity Nobody even flinched when Oprah Winfrey said, “I think we need a little bit more sanity in the world,” on last night’s Daily Show with Jon…
Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Oprah And The Houston Press
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon – Thurs 11p / 10cRally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Announcementwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorRally to Restore SanityOprah (no last name needed) went on the the Daily Show last night to give the audience a surprise — tickets to the Rally to Restore Sanity.Which…
Brew Blog: Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye
The rye-based ale most local craft beer drinkers are familiar with is surely Real Ale’s Full Moon Pale Rye Ale (the one with the blue label), which we quite enjoy and which has a nice mix of subtle flavors. If you want to try that beer on steroids, you simply…
Shirley MacLaine To Appear at Cinema Arts Festival
Houston Cinema Arts Society has confirmed the rumors that Shirley MacLaine will attend a Houston screening of Terms of Endearment, the 1983 film for which she won a best-actress Academy Award, and which was also shot in and around Houston. MacLaine joins Isabella Rossellini in the Cinema Arts Festival’s roster…
DPS To Recruit, Use, Possibly Brainwash Schoolkids
Everyone’s an informantA shocking program by the Texas Department of Public Safety will transform young, impressionable schoolkids into snitches who just might get their own parents arrested, DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange has confirmed to Hair Balls.Not in so many words, to be sure, but the implications are clear. To us,…
Surrender Dorothy: Five Better Dark Side Of The Moon Films
Tonight at Miller Outdoor Theatre, a group of musicians will play Pink Floyd’s legendary album Dark Side of the Moon live, in its entirety, with each and every instrument that was used to record it back in 1972-’73. With 45 million copies sold, Dark Side is still the third best-selling…
A Twist on Tailgating
There’s no denying that Texas stands out from the rest of the 50 states in size, shape and personality. We’re an inherently proud and individualistic people. I often demonstrated this during a time when I worked with a group of people from more than 22 countries. In a simplistic way…
Bill O’Reilly Clears the Couch on The View
Even Jay Leno weighed in on yesterday’s episode of The View: “Everyone is talking about getting the Palestinians and Israelis to sit down for peace talks. We can’t even get the ladies of The View to sit down and talk to Bill O’Reilly.” The popular, outspoken conservative put the…
Heights-Area Walmart: City Thought South Park Episode Would Help
Let the City Council record reflect……Channel 13 and the Houston Chronicle have exposed e-mails from city staffers regarding the proposed Walmart near the Heights (a/k/a The Walmart In The Area To Which No One Can Agree On A Name).The e-mails are fairly typical intra-office political stuff, but Heights residents are…
Last Night: Screwed Up Click At House Of Blues
Screwed Up Click House of Blues October 14, 2010 8:19 p.m.: The doors opened for the show at 8 p.m. today, which is precisely why we plan on continuing to not be there until about 10 p.m. Fools no longer, we are. 10:00: Just walked in. Already saw a guy…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Red
Title: Red What The Hell Does That Mean? “Retired, Extremely Dangerous” in fictional CIA parlance. Directed/Written By: Directed by Robert Schwentke, whom some of you may know from Flightplan. Based on a comic by Warren Ellis, whom none of you know (unless you’re fairly serious comics nerds). Rating Using Random…
Hurricane Judy at Katz’s Deli & Bar
I think I found the most overpriced, underwhelming drink in town. Enticed by the “2 for $10” deals offered in celebration of Katz’s tenth anniversary, I went there for a discounted sandwich and some onion rings. I had never taken advantage of the “bar” aspect of Katz’s, but as it…
The 71’s: God’s Punk-Ass Kids
The 71’s are a band that by all rights Rocks Off should be throwing rocks at instead of embracing warmly in our ear canals. Their rock is poppy, sincere, and inspired by faith in a God we want nothing to do with. So why do we love their new EP…
Aileen Willis, 90, Bayou Body Count No. 248
Quincy Lee Johnson, Jr.: Strangled his 90-year-old great-grandmother, police sayCapital murder charges have been filed against the great-grandson of a 90-year-old woman found strangled to death on the west side, police say.Quincy Lee Johnson, Jr., 17, has been charged with murdering Aileen Willis, 90, in the 700 block of Cherrybark…
Carol Mims Galloway Says Sending Benji’s Academy Students to Another Charter is Just Dumping on Her District
Houston ISD trustee Carol Mims Galloway made it very clear at Thursday’s school board meeting that she isn’t all that happy with the district riding to the rescue of the kids at the failed charter school, Benji’s Academy by putting them in another charter school. District 2 in northeast Houston…
Cougars Want To Get Physical, Physical
Here’s the thing about that Houston Cougars loss to Mississippi State last week. The defense was often in the right place, at the right time, to be able to make the play.They just didn’t make the plays. They whiffed on tackles. They got blocked at the last minute. The runner…
Community: The Wacky Episode
Community’s first season was marked by episodes that started somewhat more normally before gradually increasing the rule-breaking cartoonishness of the show’s world; I’m thinking of “Modern Warfare” in particular, which started out innocently enough before exploding into a glorious mash-up of modern action classics. But the second season looks more…
October 8-14: The Week in Photos
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. Be sure to add your images to our Flickr pool — if it’s Houston-related, we want to see it. They might even show up online. As usual, for…
Sunday Brunch at Yelapa: Texan Twists on Old Favorites
Last Sunday morning, a table of friends and I attacked our plates with a vengeance on the sunny back patio at Yelapa Playa Mexicana (2303 Richmond, 281-501-0391). Although it’s been open for nearly a year, I’m still convinced that Yelapa’s cozy, sun-drenched rear patio is one of Houston’s most well-hidden…
Houston Rockets: In Yao We Must Hope, Pray And Trust (Or Use As Drinking Game Material)
Power walkers are tough to pick out of size 18s.’Melo ain’t coming. Rockets Nation has to resign itself to that fact.But that should be all right. With the current roster, we’re young, we’re quick, and we don’t have a scorer (we’ll discuss Kevin Martin later). But you heard the young…
Abortion Wars: “40 Days For Life” Vs. Planned Parenthood Is Quiet So Far
Photos by Paula BeltránMostly quiet at the “abortion supercenter”Depending on who you ask, 40 Days of Harassment or 40 Days For Life have been in full swing since September 22, with anti-choice groups gathering outside Planned Parenthood clinics to protest their abortion services all over the nation. What’s it like…
Avoid Memorial Drive This Weekend. As If You Had A Choice
A bridge to somewhereDon’t bother trying to get on Memorial Drive this weekend — you won’t be able to.The picturesque road will be closed from Waugh to downtown from just before 12:01 a.m. Saturday to just before 12:01 a.m. Monday. And no, that doesn’t mean you can walk it or…
Cheat Sheet: Basic Box Cakes Jazzed Up 4 Ways
For some reason, many of the people I hold near and dear are all born within a two-week window of October. Unfortunately, it’s usually the same two-week period as midterms and a host of other pressing responsibilities. Since I have always had that 1950s housewife mentality of needing to bake…
Rhett Miller Talks Old 97’s, Bob Dylan, Trains And More
The band probably doesn’t remember this, but one of the first interviews Rocks Off ever conducted as a quote-unquote professional journalist was talking to the Old 97’s in their tour van behind Austin’s Liberty Lunch as opener Don Walser(!) yodeled in the background. That was around the time the band’s…
Southwest Freeway, 1962: Bad Traffic & A Car From Mars
La plus ca change….While doing a photo search, we came across this gem (Couldn’t find a credit; if anyone knows please pass it on). (Update: It’s a Houston Chronicle photo, also used in the out-of-print book Houston Freeways, by Erik Slotboom.)It’s apparently the Southwest Freeway in 1962. Which, in terms…
Houston Beer Week: Stinky Beer Tastes Great with Goat
How do you kick off a $100-a-head beer dinner at Catalan? If you’re head chef Chris Shepherd and Anvil co-owner Kevin Floyd, you start with Keystone Light and bologna sandwiches. To be fair, the sandwiches were water buffalo bologna on rye with bread and butter pickles, and the Keystone Light…
A Literal Art Attack in a Colorado Gallery
Last week, 56-year-old truck driver Kathleen Folden, proudly wearing her “My Savior Is as Tough as Nails” T-shirt and wielding a crowbar, walked into an art gallery in Loveland, Colorado and proceeded to destroy a plexiglas display case and the work of art it contained. Enrique Chagoya, a San Francisco…
Dan Wallrath: A CNN Hero Has Shot At $100,000
Houston-area homebuilder Dan Wallrath is a finalist with a chance for $100,000 if he’s chosen as a “CNN Hero” for his work providing homes for Iraq and Afghanistan vets.You just have to vote for him.For five years, Wallrath has been building homes for wounded vets…
Top 5 Food Network Chef-Inspired Halloween Costumes
Halloween is upon us, yet again. And every year, Halloween costumes get either sluttier or blatantly, intentionally lamer. (Witness our sister blog, Art Attack, for more ideas on how to achieve the latter.) So what does a food-loving, non-slutty, only slightly lame person do for Halloween? We’ve assembled five choices…
College Football and NFL: Weekend’s Best Bets (One Day Early)
If you’re keeping score at home, it was not a pretty week for society. In no particular order, in the last seven days, the following occurred: — Much like the self-handling of his own Johnson (and we have the pictures to prove it), Brett Favre was coddled ever so gently…
Five Ways We Have Screwed Over Other Bands
In order to not implicate Rocks Off’s more moral brethren and sistren here, I’m gonna drop the royal we, m’kay? The evil machinations mentioned hereafter are the work of one man with one F, and are not endorsed by the Houston Press. Ed. Note: We are real paragons of virtue…
Live On Stage: Glenn Beck’s Alien Nightmares
Wait until Glenn Beck finds out he was part of the inspiration behind Jose Torres-Tama’s sci-fi/Latino/noir multimedia performance Aliens, Immigrants, & Other Evildoers. Originally from Ecuador, Torres-Tama has called New Orleans home since 1984 and he’s in Houston for a National Performance Network residency at MECA, which commissioned the work…
Food Fight: Battle Hot Pocket
Battle Pocket isn’t about finding a winner — it’s about crowning a decent loser. I honestly had not consumed one of these things in about 15 years. Memories of a burnt tongue drove me away from The Pocket. But I’m back, pitting Mean vs. Lean. Hot Pocket Meatballs & Mozzarella…
CVS: No Longer Available For All Your Meth-Making Needs
CVS: No longer a convenient stop for meth dealersCVS, the drugstore chain that seems to have an outlet on every Houston intersection that doesn’t have a Walgreen’s on it, has agreed to pay a whopping $75 million fine to make up for selling a key ingredient used in cooking meth.The…
Vintage Cocktails: The Mary Pickford
Last week I told you about the La Florida Bar in Havana, Cuba, “la catedral del Daiquiri.” This week’s drink comes from a brittle 1937 copy of that bar’s recipe book, which was found at a flea market. The book is old enough that each recipe is in both Spanish…
Famous Juggalos Throughout Music History
Update (5:20 p.m.): Juggalos lament – Saturday’s ICP show has been pushed back to December 6. This weekend Rocks Off and photographer Marc Brubaker head once more into the Juggalo breach, to bathe in Faygo at the Insane Clown Posse concert Saturday night at Warehouse Live. It’s somewhat become our…
Houston Fashion Week, Day Three: Chloe Dao, Irina Shabayeva and Marc Bouwer
Normally, all fashion shows are odes to women and their endless ability to change from goddess divine to Jersey Shore party girl and back again, but day three at Houston Fashion Week was an ultimate ode to women and fun…
Falcon Lake: An Austin-Based National Defense Think Tank Chimes In
STRATFOR, an Austin-based think tank specializing in the Drug War and other national security measures, claims to have information shedding light on the disappearance and possible death of jet-skier David Hartley. Here’s the scenario they unveiled in a press release yesterday…
Blaize Uzoma Nwokenaka, 50, Bayou Body Count No. 247
Two cab drivers killed this weekFor the second time this week, a taxi driver has been found shot to death. Earlier this week it was a body found abandoned in a northwest-side drainage ditch; today it’s a man found dead in his cab on the far west side.The man was…
Nigori Sake: Shaken, Not Stirred
Only a couple of weeks ago, I was lamenting the fact that classes about sake, rice wine from Japan, weren’t as prevalent as those about wine, beer or even spirits. As if in response from the sake gods themselves, I heard about a sake and sushi class next Tuesday, October…
Top 10 Pop Songs With Children’s Choruses
On the way home from ACL this past Sunday night, Craig’s Hlist had his Rdio account humming over the speakers playing one of his playlists (phlayhlist?), but not the sad-bastard mix we rocks whenever we are at work alone. It was the life-spanning one we have been making since we…
Classic Manwich vs. Classy Manwich
It should come as no surprise that the idea for Battle Manwich came to fruition over more than a few beers. Two coworkers of mine got into a malt and hops-fueled discussion one night at a local tavern about what could, in casual conversation, be called “Manwich.” Frank was talking…
Dick Cheney’s Shooting Victim Finally Speaks
A boon for budding comediansThe Washington Post has a great story this morning, a profile of Austin lawyer Harry Whittington, better known as the man shot by Vice-Preesident Dick Cheney on a South Texas hunting trip.The lengthy story breaks some new ground — for instance, despite reports, Whittingon and Cheney…
Your Meme of the Week: Happy Keanu
Your internet meme this week is Happy Keanu, following this summer’s Sad Keanu, Helmet Keanu, Standing Keanu, and Muffin-Eating Keanu. This one follows the same trend as this fall’s Prancing Michael Cera and Strutting Leo, injecting some happiness into the forlorn-prone Keanu memes. Plus, WTF is he holding a camera…
Rick Perry: Five Campaign Posters He Should Consider
The Texas gubernatorial race plods along, both sides flinging charges of corruption, no debates, not a whole lot of doubt about the outcome.Rick Perry, it seems, will be re-elected even though no one really likes the guy.Perry needs to stir up some excitement, and you don’t do that by just…
Five Groups We’d Pay To Break Up
Why do people support so much bad music? What if people paid awful bands to quit instead? Weezer fans are willing to try. Sick and tired of being let down by his favorite band, last week a fan jokingly offered Weezer $10 million to split up. Naturally, this had Rocks…
Grilled Fish Burrito at Mission Burritos
I have become quite of fan of what I call “point-at-the-glass” fast food restaurants: you know, those quick-service establishments where you construct your own sandwich/burrito/Middle Eastern plate by gesticulating at a gloved attendant behind a diaphanous screen. Such places appeal to me because I can be “creative” in my dinner…
Video: The Reconstructed Realities of Amy Patton
Currently on view at UH’s Blaffer Art Museum are video works by Berlin-based, Texas-raised artist Amy Patton, a filmmaker interested in our perceived notion of imagery. By applying narratives to b-roll, i.e. editing footage into a storyline, Patton asks us to question our reality and (consequently) how our minds work…
Last Night: Accept And King’s X At House Of Blues
Accept, Kings X House of Blues October 13, 2010 While modern heavy metal is split into so many categories and subsets that you practically need a field guild to tell your headbangers apart, things weren’t so complicated back in the early ’80s when Germany’s Accept had their heyday. But if…
Aeros Start With A Win And Are Feeling The Excitement
The Houston Aeros will finally hit the ice in Houston for some hockey this weekend, and this will be the first chance for the fans to see the new-look squad in a game situation.The team actually opened up their season last weekend, defeating the Oklahoma City Barons 6-1 in Oklahoma…
So Who Hasn’t Gotten Naked?
In the latest news from the Land That Talent Forgot, Kim Kardashian has gone starkers for the November issue of W Magazine: Kim Kardashian has bared all on the cover of a fashion magazine. The reality star, who turns 30 on Oct. 21, appears nude on W Magazine’s November 2010…
So Who Hasn’t Gotten Naked?
In the latest news from the Land That Talent Forgot, Kim Kardashian has gone starkers for the November issue of W Magazine: Kim Kardashian has bared all on the cover of a fashion magazine. The reality star, who turns 30 on Oct. 21, appears nude on W Magazine’s November 2010…
Remember Fat Tony’s RABDARGAB EPreview?
Houston’s history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We’ll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Fat Tony RABDARGAB EPreview (self-released, 2010) Fat Tony has, it seems, worked hard to keep the traditional Houston rap…
SLGTexans (or Tailgating, Your Call)
Whether you’re one of those poor souls who no longer feels welcome tailgating outside Reliant Stadium or whether you just prefer to tailgate at home (my personal choice), here are a few suggestions for partying down at home while keeping it local. Spec’s downtown location is my favorite place to…
Campaign 2010: 7 Great Moments In Political History
The governor of Texas talks about seceding from the United States of America. Remember when we all thought that was a goofy moment?It turned out to be only a tease for the rest of the political year. When it comes to politics in 2010, things got a whole lot weirder.And…
Tiffany Young-Hartley: A CSI Expert Comments On The Strange Physics Of Her Husband’s Alleged Shooting
One of the things that has troubled us from the get-go about Tiffany Young-Hartley’s accounts of the events on Falcon Lake has always been her initial description of the moment her husband was shot. This is how she described that event to Greta van Susteren. Hartley says they were headed…
Grown-Up Storytime 30
Calling all grown-up boys and girls – it’s Story Time for Grownups with BooTown. Once a month, the funky company gathers at Rudyard’s British Pub and hosts a performance of original tales written especially for the night. According to company artistic director Emily Hynds, the show’s bar location gives the…
Brilliant Traces
Bristol and Levi aren’t the only strange love story to come out of Alaska – there’s also Cindy Lou Johnson’s 1989 play Brilliant Traces. Not exactly a black comedy, this strange and fantastic take on the traditional love story nonetheless mixes humor with anguish to examine what happens when grown-ups…
Rakim
Rakim Allah (born William Michael Griffin Jr.) is the father of lyrical finesse and the king of emceeing. His emergence onto the hip-hop scene in 1987 arguably changed the theatrics in rhyme scheme, impacting the future flow of cats like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang’s Raek-won and a host of others…
Tony DiTerlizzi: The Search for Wondla
The author behind The Spiderwick Chronicles and Kenny & The Dragon, Tony DiTerlizzi, is doing pretty good these days. His latest book, The Search for Wondla, is among the most highly anticipated of the season (oh, and it’s been optioned to Paramount Pictures). Wondla features a young girl and her…
Salvadoran American Cultural Day
We’re not sure why the two-day festival celebrating the arts of El Salvador is called The Salvadoran American Cultural Day, but we’re willing to overlook that grammatical glitch, given the festivities, which include an abundance of music, art, film and literature. Singers Felix and Alma Lopez will provide folkloric songs,…
Shrek the Musical
The typical fairy tale has a charming, handsome prince show up to rescue a beautiful, thin princess. That’s not what happens in Shrek the Musical. This time, the prince is a not-so-handsome ogre, and the princess he shows up to rescue is plus-size and opinionated. Oh, and there’s a donkey…
Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future
MECA’s Day of the Dead Festival: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future kicks off on Friday night with a calavera (skeleton) fashion show presenting holiday-inspired looks from designers at the Art Institute of Houston, all set to the sounds of DJ Joe B. Saturday and Sunday will be all about…
Día de la Hispanidad: 26th Annual Day of the Hispanic World
There’s only one thing you really need to know about the Día de la Hispanidad: 26th Annual Day of the Hispanic World festival – Cristian Castro. The Mexican singer/actor/heartthrob headlines the show. There are also plenty of folkloric dance groups performing, along with music and lots of other fun usually…
P.J. O’Rourke
You may or may not agree with the main tenets of the Cato Institute think tank – that free markets should reign, Social Security should be privatized and government in general is not to be trusted – but most everyone agrees that P.J. O’Rourke, a Cato fellow, is pretty damn…
Tyler, Tyler
East meets West and the two make beautiful music together in the dance production Tyler, Tyler. In 2003, New York choreographer and modern dancer Yasuko Yokoshi went to Japan for personal reasons. Once she was there, she decided to learn traditional Japanese dance, studying with Masumi Seyama, a 79-year-old master…
The Silent Prince
You’ve heard of classical operas? And rock operas? With Opera Vista’s The Silent Prince, now there’s a Bollywood opera. The score is a stylish combination of western and Indian sounds, but the choreography is all Bollywood. The Silent Prince tells the story of Temiya Jataka, a Buddha who comes back…
MOMIX: Botanica
The performers of MOMIX describe themselves as dancer-illusionists – and when you see their bodies transform into plants, bend into light and rise from billowing clouds, you’ll be at a loss for any other term. In Botanica, performed here by the Connecticut-based troupe, they examine the natural world by using…
Festival of New Spanish Films
If the only Spanish filmmaker you know about is Pedro Almodóvar, check out this week’s Festival of New Spanish Films. You’ll discover lots of other equally talented, if slightly less well-known, directors and see a variety of new shorts, features and documentaries. Friday’s screening, Yo también (Me Too!), by Álvaro…
Macbeth
Shakespeare’s Macbeth hits the stage with plenty of witches and ghosts just in time for Halloween. “We’re running in late October so we really want to embrace that supernatural field, and of course there will be plenty of blood,” says director Joey Milillo. 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 20, 8 p.m…
Ang Lee Film Series
Before Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, there was The Wedding Banquet. The Ang Lee Film Series, presented by the University of Houston-Downtown, is your chance to see it and other early Lee films such as Pushing Hands and Eat Drink Man Woman. The Wedding Banquet examines sexual identity and societal pressures…
Bruce Machart: The Wake of Forgiveness
Bruce Machart comes home to promote his highly anticipated debut novel, The Wake of Forgiveness. Although Machart has lived in the big city all his life, he enjoys writing about the country landscape and The Wake distinctly reflects Machart’s curiosity about rural Texas. “I…began writing…this novel because I wanted to…
SPECIAL BEST-OF EDITION
Dear Mexican, What is it with the Mexican hangup on body parts? When General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was struck by a cannonball at the knee in one of his 8,000 wars, his right leg was removed from the knee down. When he returned to Mexico City, he ordered…
The Grand Theatre
“I just might get drunk tonight, and burn the nightclub down,” Old 97’s front man Rhett Miller sings on “Nightclub,” from the Old 97’s 1997 album Too Far to Care. In those days, that was textbook behavior for the Dallas-formed alt-country band’s raucous, enthusiastic fans. And although both band and…
Spirited Peter
The Alley Theatre is putting on a thrillingly buoyant production of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. (Somewhere during all the countless revisions of this classic tale — most of them done by Barrie himself — the original 1904 title “The Boy Who Wouldn’t…
Screwed Up Click
Started in the ’90s by the late DJ Screw, the Screwed Up Click at once claimed title to the Houston area’s strongest rap figures. Death eventually ravaged SUC’s leadership — Screw, Fat Pat, Big Hawk and Big Moe are all deceased — which effectively made it possible for anyone with…
Co-Pilot
Houston instrumental rock quartet Co-Pilot describes its sound as “the soundtrack for an epic battle,” and we have to agree. The band, around in name since 2001 but with this lineup only active since 2005, has a woozy, Explosions in the Sky-type sound. Layering effects pedals — sometimes as many…
Sue Foley & Peter Karp
Canadian-born blues diva Sue Foley takes a new musical tack on her latest album and tour, a musical departure courtesy of Americana/blues singer-songwriter Peter Karp, who collaborated with Foley in turning a year of letters between the two into an album. In He Said, She Said — The Letters, what…
Wanda Jackson
When you first discover “Queen of Rockabilly” Wanda Jackson, you’ll spend about a month in awe of her sinful growl. Easily one of the most underrated female instruments in rock and country, Jackson’s voice can sound shredded by the daggers of love one moment and absolutely man-ravaging the next. Early…
The Way of The Vaselines
In many ways, The Vaselines are more a legend than a band — three years, two EPs, one proper album, some of the most singularly enigmatic indie-pop ever put to tape, and that’s it. But then Sub Pop’s 20th-anniversary festival in July 2008 brought Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee together…
Chris Isaak
Because Chris Isaak’s pompadoured mug might as well be the picture of eternal California youth, it’s a little discomfiting to realize that the Golden State singer-songwriter is now four years past his 50th birthday — and that it’s been almost 20 years since his black-and-white romp on a Hawaiian beach…
Mucho Mediocre
“I don’t care if you liked it, at least I tried,” huffed a middle-aged Mexican man with a laugh after he finished singing a Vicente Fernández ballad on Mucho Mexico’s elevated karaoke stage one Friday evening. I laughed. Most of the diners in the large, basketball court-size dining room laughed…
Jamaica House Cuisine & Culture
It’s not just the reggae rhythms that give the new Jamaica House Cuisine & Culture (6357 Westheimer, 713-339-1004) its island feel — it’s the laid-back decor and, of course, menu full of Jamaican specialties. When Wendi-Ann Francis-Walker moved here a couple of years ago, her goal was to replicate the…
Salatos Hot Po-Boy
You may almost feel embarrassed ordering the Huge Double Po-Boy ($5.49) at Salatos Hot Po-Boy (1410 Lockwood, 713-672-6358), but one thing’s for sure, you won’t leave hungry. The eight-inch sandwich is made with bread that’s just crusty enough and filled with at least a pound of meat — both ham…
Killer Instincts, Bad Knees
Classiest. Comic. Book. Movie. Ever. Not the best. Not the worst. Just the classiest — Helen Mirren (and Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich and Brian Cox and Richard Dreyfuss) can spruce up any pulp. As far as comic-book adaptations go, though, Red is a little closer to the bright side…
The Littlest People
Here’s what can happen when you’re the parent of a primordial dwarf: First of all, you don’t know you’re the parent of a primordial dwarf. The words “primordial” and “dwarf” have rarely surfaced on their own in conversation, let alone together. So you’re not aware that this is a thing,…
Branch Water Tavern’s Ramble
I’m not sure that the whiskey sour has developed a wimpy reputation, but I have one decent piece of anecdotal evidence. I was at Leon’s Lounge a few years back with my friend Dulin, who doesn’t drink much. (He’s an Irish Catholic outlier.) Dulin ordered a whiskey sour, and the…
13-Year-Old’s Suicide
A 13-Year-Old’s Suicide Online readers respond to “Asher Brown: Tragedy and Questions,” Hair Balls blog, by Richard Connelly, September 30: Promoting intolerance: I can easily imagine an instance when someone takes the complaint but never informs the parent of proper paperwork to be filled out to start a thorough investigation…
Capsule Art Reviews: “35 Years: Anniversary Exhibition,” “Dante Marioni: Recent Glass Works,” “Libby Black: If Nothing Else Matters,” “Richard Misrach: After Katrina,” “St. Boniface’s Last Days”
“35 Years: Anniversary Exhibition” Moody Gallery is 35! Packed with gallery artists, the anniversary show is like a big, riotous family reunion where all the crazy cousins showed up and brought art instead of a covered dish. Among the offerings, Michael Bise has a naked portrait of himself hooked up…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Hairspray, Ghost, Sleuth,
Hairspray In set, music and performance, this show is, perhaps, the most exuberantly exciting musical Theatre Under the Stars has produced in seasons. It never stops moving. The ersatz ’60s rock and roll score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and the electrifying cast keep us bopping in our seats…
Head Out
It’s that time of year again, when people prowl the streets wearing everything from barely-there bunny suits to floor-length cloaks. The classics might have a bit of a twist as a few cat suits take on a blue tinge (yes, Avatar is still around). But, whether you pick an old…
The Hokey Poky
After Fox Searchlight’s Amelia spectacularly flamed out last October, the studio tries again to grab awards-season honors with another biopic starring and executive-produced by Hilary Swank. Gone is the Kansas-patrician enunciation and smartly tailored Depression-era trousers; as Conviction’s Betty Anne Waters, a Massachusetts high school dropout and single mom who…
Capital Steps
Band of Horses (Sunday): They sound to us like the angelic sides of the Beach Boys mating with My Morning Jacket or Drive-By Truckers. It’s pretty, peaceful, serene stuff, and was a good mix with the rapidly setting sun. The band covered Cee-Lo’s recent single “Georgia” to close its set,…
Wet and Half Naked
CRIME Wet Dudes in Underwear One way to smuggle $1.6 million By Richard Connelly More trouble for those pesky drug lords trying to get their cash from the marketplace in America to home in Mexico — an employee, Juan Sanchez, just got more than seven years in a federal prison…
The Vibrators
With UK Subs, Total Chaos, Star Fucking Hipsters and Molotov Compromise (upstairs), and Chelsea Hotel, Vatos Locos, Black Market Syndicate, Talk Sick Brats and Fuska (downstairs), 8 p.m. Thursday, October 14, at Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, 713-862-3838 or www.fitzlivemusic.com. Trash-boogie vets the Vibrators were already a little older than yer…
