This Week’s Cafe Review: El Tiempo, You Have Some ‘Splainin’ to Do
I was raised on Tex-Mex food in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Breakfast tacos were the only way to get the day really going, and a huge bowl of chips and salsa seemed a perfectly acceptable dinner dish. I obsessed over finding the best fish tacos in town, and I…
Abbott Leads Davis in Early Governors Race Poll
Wendy Davis hasn’t even announced she’s running yet (that will come tomorrow), but she is already lagging behind GOP candidate Greg Abbott by 8 points according to a Texas Lyceum poll reported in the Houston Chronicle. The feisty, filibustering Davis trails 21 percent to Abbot’s 29 percent in the poll…
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Has Sparkle, Color & Disco Hits But Seems a Bit Dated
The set-up: Without apology for fear of being bashed by the politically correct, I can honestly say that this new jukebox musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, is “so gay.” Unabashedly so. Normally, this would be a good thing, except this hyper-colored valentine, all bells, whistles, and razzle dazzle, has…
Cover Story: Saving Graces
Last summer the doors to North Forest Independent School District closed for the last time. When they reopened again, the campuses and students once a part of the realm of the small, impoverished, minority-dominated school district in northeast Houston were under the control of Houston Independent School District, with Superintendent…
“Nice. Luc Tuymans” Uses Dark Colors to Create Dark Moods About Famous Figures
With “Nice. Luc Tuymans,” the painter of the same name uses his enduring style – realism – in portraiture. The exhibition, curated by Menil director Josef Helfenstein and Menil curator of modern and contemporary art, Toby Kamps, sets 30 of his portrait paintings among 25 pieces from the Menil Collection…
Houston Restaurants Honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and several Houston restaurants are rolling out the pink for monthlong specials and promotions, as well as a few fundraising events. Show your support for breast cancer awareness by visiting these restaurants and events in October. Prego 2520 Amherst, 713-529-2420 For the entire…
Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck at Bayou Music Center, 10/1/2013
Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck Bayou Music Center October 1, 2013 God only knows the kind of byzantine William Morris-type negotiations that led to Jeff Beck and Brian Wilson hitting America’s large-theater circuit this fall. Oh, to be a fly on the wall at that meeting. Sure, Beck supposedly loves…
Gambling! 2013-2014 NBA Season Win Totals Are Out!
Amidst the hoopla of “Johnny Football, Part Two” and the carnage of the box set of back breaking turnovers that Matt Schaub is assembling, the Rockets quietly opened training camp this week with arguably their best assembly of talent since the mid 90’s. Indeed, a new age of Rockets basketball…
Pasta Eaters Flock to Paulie’s and Camerata for Mangiamaccheroni Pop-Up
“Just drove by and Camerata is hopping on a Sunday night,” my friend texted me at around 6 p.m. this past Sunday. I arrived shortly thereafter to confirm her assessment. It was definitely hopping. Even before pushing open the doors, I noticed that a nice crowd had gathered at Camerata…
Veronica’s Room Takes Stages in a New, Scary Direction (at Least for a Few Nights)
Director Josh Morrison (who directed last season’s Wittenberg), acknowledges that Veronica’s Room is a different type of play for Stages Repertory Theatre to do, and one that he expects will “get some screams and gasps” from the audience. “There’s twists and turns and a definite theatricality to the piece,” he…
Report: Only 2 Percent of U.S. Counties Behind Most Executions
Harris County is responsible for 115 executions since 1976 — by far the highest driver of capital punishment — but taxpayers statewide have to bear the burden of the costly appeals process, according to a new study by an anti-death penalty group. The Washington, D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center report…
DeLorean at Warehouse Live, 10/1/2013
Delorean, The Outfit, TX, Dewayne Jackson Warehouse Live October 1, 2013 “Cut that, I’m done,” a visibly exhausted DeLorean said Tuesday night under the warm lights of Warehouse Live’s studio room. He had sweated through his white T-shirt, and his eyes had scanned the room and began delivering individual shoutouts…
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Returns For Season Two… All At Once
It’s been more than two years since Kevin Tancharoen’s web series re-imagining of Mortal Kombat had its first season online. That initial outing was an incredible series of ups and downs, with some of the finest moments I’ve ever seen in a web series, but also some clear misses. I…
This Week in Food Blogs: Why Brunch Is a Must & a List of the Best Candy Bars
Adventures in a New(ish) City: 99 cent mimosas at Sorrel Urban Bistro for brunch? Sign us up! Kim used to live in New York City, where, according to her, brunches are required components of weekend activities. Keeping up with this NYC tradition, she and a friend checked out the brunch…
Dallas Morning News Abandons Paywall
For years, daily news publications have struggled. As the market flooded with broadcast outlets and the Internet rendered news essentially free to anyone who wanted to read, many newspapers simply became unsustainable. But the real killer was Craigslist, which destroyed classified advertising, the bread-and-butter income of daily newspapers. Some have…
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Still Exists, has a New Trailer
I occasionally feel bad for Peter Jackson. Sure he got to bring three of the most beloved books in fiction to life while making a ton of money and winning a boat load of awards in the process, but look at him now. After the heavily flawed King Kong and…
Provisions Elevates the Caesar Salad
Most of the time, remaking a classic can feel gimmicky and overcomplicated. There are times, though, when each twist and tweak can feel revolutionary. And this is the case with Provisions’ take on the classic Caesar salad; not only is it revolutionary, it’s extraordinary…
Why We (You) Love Your Partisan Media Shows
Rush Limbaugh is a popular, indeed transformative, character — and I use that word intentionally — for conservatives. Glen Beck has lost some of his luster, but his right-wing star still shines brightly enough. (Hannity, tho . . . Hannity is trending downward). That’s the conservative side of the spectrum…
Top 5 Cocktails for National Vodka Day Celebrations
Screw the Screwdriver. For National Vodka Day (October 4), look beyond your old favorites and celebrate with something new and different…and simple! Here are five vodka cocktails to try, each containing three or fewer ingredients. 5. Salty Dog. Though often confused and conflated with its close friend the Greyhound (vodka…
100 Creatives 2013: Ana Villaronga-Roman, Katy Contemporary Arts Museum Director
Ana Villaronga-Roman is a busy woman. A little over two years ago, she started the Katy Culture and Arts Alliance and the Fort Bend Arts Alliance. This summer she opened the Katy Contemporary Arts Museum, which includes an affiliated film school and photography school. She’s already working to get the…
Despite Glitches, Houstonians Are Flocking to the Obamacare Exchanges
Even as the United States government shut down over a deadlock in Congress regarding the continued funding of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, the insurance exchanges created by the law that allow private citizens to shop for plans that will cover them despite pre-existing conditions opened for…
Doctor Who: Babelcolour Brings Us a Ten-Doctor Special
Stuart Humphryes, better known to the online Doctor Who community as Babelcolour, is one of the top producers of online video content. His work is almost unrivaled in popularity, and his ability to colorize the adventures of the First and Second Doctors is beyond compare. Recently, he contributed to the…
Want to Compete on MasterChef ? Read This, Houston
After the MasterChef success of Houstonians Christine Ha (Season 3 winner), James Nelson (fifth place on Season 4) and Alvin Schultz (Season 2), people are starting to notice the prowess of Houston amateur chefs. Of course, Houston is already getting notice for our burgeoning restaurant scene (though some would argue…
Meet Memphis Ambassador John Paul Keith, Sharpest Pen Around
Writer, rocker, and raconteur John Paul Keith swings into Houston Saturday night after a long absence. He’s touring behind his latest release on Big Legal Mess Records, Memphis Circa 3AM. American Songwriter has been streaming the album for several weeks, and Rocks Off can’t get it off our daily listening…
Yes, My Musician Kids Have Jobs. They’re Musicians.
Recently someone I kinda-sorta know asked about my son. He’s doing great, I said. He and his band are on a 30-city tour. No sooner than I’d answered this fellow, I regretted it as simple math scribbled itself onto his brain’s chalkboard. Thirty shows minus my son being at home,…
Five Totally Original Music-Inspired Halloween Costumes
Halloween costumes used to be about novelty and flexing your creative muscles. I distinctly remember the simple pleasure of spray-painting a couple of boxes silver, slapping some bicycle reflectors on the front and calling myself a robot. Who cares if I was five and inexplicably being allowed to play with…
[Photos] What’s Worse Than a Bunch of Evil Baby Dolls and Severed Heads?
I’ll give you a hint. It’s big. It’s yellow. And it looks like it’s on fire. No, it’s not Big Bird ACTUALLY aflame, it’s a giant yellow Hummer covered in evil baby dolls and severed heads. That is apparently what Houston Press art director Monica Fuentes ran into outside of…
Does It Mean Anything to Be a Democrat Anymore?
“The market is the best mechanism ever invented for efficiently allocating resources to maximize production . . . I also think there is a connection between the freedom of the marketplace and freedom more generally.” -President Barack Obama We live in an era where income inequality is its greatest since…
10 Reasons Why You Should See Lizzie at TUTS Underground
We all know the jump rope rhyme “Lizzie Borden took an axe/ Gave her mother forty whacks./ When she saw what she had done/ Gave her father forty-one.” Lizzie Borden is an American icon, an institution even. In anticipation of TUTS Underground’s production of the rock musical Lizzie, Houston audiences…
Weather Week: Fall is Coming
The first day of October is going to be a muggy one. With temperatures in the low 90s and humidity in the same vicinity, it’s not going to feel very much like fall around here this week. When people up north are already pulling out sweaters and jackets, we are…
Old-School Service and Italian Classics at La Griglia
Ah … fall. What a great time of year. Time for Houston weather to (finally) cool down, for appetites to perk up, and for chefs across the city to introduce new dishes. If anything, it’s definitely a good excuse to dine out and get to know places you’ve never tried…
The Best Comics in September Part 2: Duck Zombies and Angela Returns
Each month the staff at 8th Dimension Comics picks out the best book to review. Doctor Who: Babelcolour Brings Us a Ten Doctor Special” target=”_blank”>Click here for Part 1 of this month’s round-up. Infinity Heist: Lately, I just love looking at the supervillains of the Marvel universe. It’s honestly something…
Breaking News: Fatal Shooting at Mah Express Chinese Restaurant
A suspect opened fire on Monday at Mah Express, a Chinese restaurant at 4565 Griggs Road, fatally shooting one man and wounding his brother. The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. Police say the suspect, identified as an African-American male, demanded money before shooting inside the restaurant. The owner of Mah…
Prescription Painkiller Pill Mills and Corporate Greed
Purdue Pharma makes Oxycontin. In fact, Purdue has made $27 billion selling the drug since it was introduced in 1996. In case you weren’t aware, Oxycontin is a powerful opiate painkiller — it’s twice as potent as morphine — that is coveted by opiate-lovers in the drug-using community. Indeed: OxyContin…
“Kermit Oliver: Tracing Our Pilgrimage” Traces the Career of A Great American Painter
The man’s face looks aged and weathered. Accordionist is the last vocation you would pick for him, as his wrinkled hands relay the same signs of aging; still, he holds the instrument expertly, fingers lingering over keys like a lover’s graze upon soft flesh. However nimble and confident his fingers…
Mudhoney at Fitzgerald’s, 9/30/2013
Mudhoney Fitzgerald’s Monday, September 30, 2013 The summer of 2013 has seen a good number of ’90s stalwarts reunite in the name of cash and creativity. The Replacements, Pixies and Sebadoh have all regrouped in recent months, or announced their intention to do so. But don’t lump Seattle grunge pioneers…
The Science of Baking Cookies: Have It Your Way On National Homemade Cookies Day
There really isn’t anything better than a homemade cookie, and today is the perfect day to celebrate, because it is National Homemade Cookies Day. It does seem odd to have this food holiday now rather than around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you don’t see us complaining. While we could provide…
Cowboy And Charger Fans Take Turns Breaking Bottles Over Each Other’s Heads (w/ VIDEO)
Over the last couple seasons, I’m very fortunate in that I’ve had the chance to frequent some of the away venues and cities on the Houston Texans’ schedule. Last season, I made road trips to both Chicago and New England. A couple seasons ago, it was Indianapolis. This weekend, it’ll…
On the Way to IAH? Detour to Donut licious
As happy as I was to see my out-of-town friend, picking her up at 7 a.m. was also the perfect excuse to make a stop at Donut licious, a family-run doughnut shop north of IAH in Spring. Exhausted and less than enthusiastic from her red-eye flight from San Francisco, a…
Immediate Family Tackles Being Gay and Race Relations Within a Family
The set-up: The siblings of the Bryant family return to their roots in the home they were raised in, a large, attractive house in racially-integrated Hyde Park in South Chicago. The occasion is the imminent marriage of one son, but another son, gay, arrives with his lover of two years,…
Roosh Williams Gives His Sound a 24-Hour Reboot
A few weeks ago Roosh Williams still, more or less, hadn’t crossed over the mainstream line. His March LP had created a sizable dent through mentions by Complex and highly touted features with New York story-weaver Action Bronson and peerless Geto Boy Scarface himself. But seemingly nothing else had kicked…
HISD Board Looking at a Higher Tax Rate
The Houston Independent School District may be about to get a little more in the tax dollars department. Next week the HISD school board will consider a 4 cent property tax rate increase, bumping it up to $1.1967 per $100 taxable value. If the move is approved by the HISD…
The Fluffernutter Sandwich: What You Need to Know
In about a week’s time, we’ll have the opportunity to observe National Fluffernutter Day, which celebrates that gloriously sticky sandwich made from marshmallow cream and peanut butter. When I was a wee thing, my mom and I constantly battled over my preference for Flutternutters over the admittedly more healthful combo…
10 Houston Drivers You Know Or Are One Of
I will fully admit that I am an awful driver. My car is a series of scratches and dings, few of which I can tell you where they even came from. The thing about my driving is that the only person I ever hurt is myself, or my car rather…
The Rocks Off 200: Saturn Will Not Sleep, Scout Bar’s Electronic Mad Scientist
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Steven Trimble,…
Five Ways the Government Shutdown Will Screw Up Your Life
With the Affordable Care Act tied to the federal budget, and the Senate and House of Representatives about as cooperative as a herd of sugared-up, nap-free toddlers, it seemed inevitable that the government would shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday…and it did. A government shutdown hasn’t happened since way…
Good Taste: Midnight Moon Apple Pie Moonshine
Among the few reality shows I do NOT watch is Moonshiners, which, as the name implies, chronicles the existence of several producers of illegal moonshine in the Eastern United States. That may change now, because this past weekend I tried Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moonshine and I am seriously hooked. Heretofore…
The Liberated State of the Final Fantasy XIV Economy
Final Fantasy XIV is my first real MMORPG experience. When I was growing up I watched my brother descend into an EverQuest addiction that left me treating the very concept of online adventuring with the same trepidation that the DARE program taught me to avoid drugs. What can I say,…
Why Schaub’s Latest Blunder Is His Brad Lidge Moment In Houston
Photo by Marco TorresGary Kubiak’s play call wasn’t the reason for Matt Schaub’s latest interception.The beauty and tragedy of sports comes in transcendent, “Where were you?” moments. I remember the apartment and spot on the couch in December 2011 where I watched T.J. Yates find Kevin Walter for an improbable…
10 Things Everyone Knows About Congress (Which Are Wrong)
My fellow Americans, I like you am annoyed with the 113th United States Congress. There is a reason that the percentage of Americans who approve of the job they’re doing is in the single digits. The constant infighting, the endless threats of a government shutdown, and our own Ted Cruz…
Food Network Star Aarón Sánchez Visits Houston to Promote Hispanic Higher Education…and Cheese
There was already a decent crowd gathered under the awnings outside of the H-E-B on Alabama by 11:30 a.m., all awaiting the noon arrival of Chef Aarón Sánchez. The crowd, primarily women, milled about, snacking on quesadillas and gently blotting sweat from their foreheads so as not to smudge their…
The 10 Best Songs Less Than 30 Seconds Long
Look, I’m a very busy man, and by that I mean that someone put the ENTIRE run of Seventh Doctor stories online for free, and I can’t be bothered talking to you people about music all the dingalong day when that’s waiting for my rapt attention. Unfortunately, the editor was…
Upcoming: Brian McKnight, Demi Lovato, Jaheim, Megadeth, Superchunk, etc.
Anthony Green: With Dave Davison, Brick + Mortar., Wed., November 27, 7 p.m., $15 to $21. Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, Houston, 713-862-3838. Backspace On the Run: Benefitting Evelyn’s Park Conservancy., Sat., December 7, 7 p.m., $25. Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, Houston, 713-862-3838. Brian McKnight: With Musiq Soulchild., Sat., November 16,…
For Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, Life’s a (Busy) Beach
He may be 71 years old, but Head Beach Boy Brian Wilson might be busier today than at any point in his career. Having already completed the band’s 50th anniversary reunion tour and new studio record last year, he’s now on the road with two of the Boys (Al Jardine…
Fire Shutters Houston’s MF Sushi
A fire that began in the kitchen of MF Sushi early Sunday morning has forced the popular restaurant to close it doors. KHOU reported that the blaze was quickly extinguished by Houston firefighters. Chef Chris Kinjo told CultureMap Houston that he wasn’t sure when the restaurant would reopen. “We are…
On-Line Dating and Politics: Opposites Do Not Attract
Political scientists have long-established that there is a strong link between a parent’s political views and their off-spring: if you’re conservative, your kids(s) are more likely to be as well; the same holds true for those with liberal political views. Moreover, political scientists have documented that, contra Paula Abdul, opposites…
Report: Suspect Charged In May Assault On La Mafia Singer
According to AbOUT Magazine, a suspect has been charged in the May assault on singer Oscar De La Rosa of legendary Tejano band La Mafia, who in July were part of the inaugural class of inductees into the Houston Music Hall of Fame. The report says Jared David Avila of…
UPDATED Road Rage Leads to Death of Woman Sunday
Update: The 2-year-old son of a woman killed Sunday in a fit of road rage has died from injuries he sustained in the same accident. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reports that Alejandro “A.J.” Vercher and his mother, Tania M. Vercher, were killed after their vehicle was hit by a…
Jazz Masters of Houston: Hubert Laws
Above: Hubert Laws exhibiting his incredible facility at classical music with a jazz touch While Houston is loaded with talented musicians, flautist Hubert Laws is probably the only one who performs annually at Carnegie Hall. A child prodigy born into a family of musicians in the Studewood area, Laws has…
Not a Conspiracy Theory After All: CSN Files Bankruptcy Petition Citing “Total Gridlock”
On Friday, CSN filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy asking a court to allow them to restructure. According to the heavily redacted court papers, CSN is citing “total gridlock” as the reason behind the move and is asking a judge to place a trustee in charge of the channel that could…
Best Comics in September Part 1: The Punisher on Trial and Sex Magic
Once a month the staff at 8th Dimension Comics selects ten of the best books for us to review. Tune in tomorrow for part 2. Captain Midnight #3: I honestly picked up the title because I though it was a Dr. Mid-Nite reboot, and I always though he was interesting…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 82, Grilled Ahi Tuna at St. John’s Fire
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
HISD Doesn’t Give a “Fat Rat” Carol Mims Galloway said at Meeting
Photo by Dianna WrayProtest signs outside the meetingThe American Coalition for Justice might as well be renamed the Coalition for People Who Really Don’t Like HISD/Superintendent Terry Grier. Because it was very clear that the Gran Palacio Event Center was the last place in the world the Grier fan club…
Diary of a Man Vastly Unqualified to Fix a Wii Going For It Anyway
September 15: Despite the fact that I’m supposed to be doing a series on Final Fantasy XIV I once again delve into Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii because it is still quite possibly the greatest RPG of the last several years. Just as a I go up to yet another…
Baker Spotlight: Chef Michael Savino, Michael’s Cookie Jar
If there’s one thing people can agree on, it’s cookies. That’s what chef Michael Savino of Michael’s Cookie Jar believes in and has believed in since he began his business in 2006. Savino hails from upstate New York, and after a failed career in television and radio production, he started…
Aimee Mann at House of Blues, 9/30/2013
Aimee Mann feat. Ted Leo House of Blues September 30, 2013 House of Blues showed off a slightly different side Sunday: coffeehouse style. It was a good look. Sure, the venue has hosted seated concerts before, but last night it was missing something it sees all too often: an inattentive,…
Video: Man Pays Fan $200 for Schaub Jersey and Burns It in Reliant Parking Lot
I heard reports yesterday of fans burning Matt Schaub jerseys in the Reliant Stadium parking lot after the 23-20 loss to the Seahawks, but now we have actual proof. The video shows a man paying a fan $200 for his Schaub jersey just to set it on fire in the…
An Open Letter to the Atlas Shrugged 3 Kickstarter
Dear Dedicated Filmmakers, I want to start off by telling you that I really do admire what you’re trying to do. No really. I know that I’m speaking here in the pixels of what you consider a liberal rag, but I swear to you that I legitimately love Ayn Rand’s…
Top 5 Riffs on KFC We’d Like To See in Houston
I think it’s clear people in Texas are into eating fried food. And, it’s becoming even clearer that we aren’t shy about deep-frying non-traditional items. Why, then, should we be limited to chicken (and maybe fish) when we’re craving a red-and-white bucket of battered goodness? Attention, colonel! Here are five…
The Matt Schaub Jersey Barbecue
“But I put him in a bad situation, not running the ball there, trying to be aggressive, trying to make a play and we didn’t. And it ended up killing us.” — Gary Kubiak on the Seahawks’ interception returned for the game tying touchdown against the Texans After the Texans’…
And The Defense Shall Lead Them: Rice Defeats FAU
There’s bad football. There’s awful football. Then there’s what the Rice Owls played on Saturday night. But here’s the thing, as bad as the Rice Owls played on Saturday night, as bafflingly as some of the coaching decisions, as mind-numbingly stupid as some of the officiating, the Rice Owls still…
Top 8 Seasonal Texas Brews to Get You in the Fall Spirit
Many small brewing companies love any excuse to come out with a special beer to stir up excitement among fans. The idea is that if it’s available for only a short period of time each year people will want it that much more. In my case, it totally works. Every…
Breaking Bad: #thankyoubreakingbad
Obviously, don’t read this if you haven’t watched the series finale. Well, it’s been a long five years, but Breaking Bad has finally come to a close. I have to say that I am actually relieved that it has ended. It’s gotten way too stressful to be this invested in…
Lawsuit Filed to Block Texas Abortion Law: If You Can’t Beat ’em, Sue ’em
If you thought we were done talking about abortion around the Lone Star State, you obviously haven’t been paying attention. As Sen. Wendy Davis gears up for her big gubernatorial run, the abortion legislation that sparked her star-making filibuster in the state legislature has been slapped with a federal lawsuit…
The Moving Sidewalks at Bayou Music Center, 9/28/2013
Moving Sidewalks Bayou Music Center September 28, 2013 “We’re actually remembering this shit,” Billy F. Gibbons said after the Moving Sidewalks had played two choppy, fuzz-clouded songs Saturday night at Bayou Music Center. By all accounts, it was his pre-ZZ Top engagement’s first public performance on a Houston stage since…
Cheap Eats In Chinatown at Xiong’s Cafe
If you’re looking for cheap eats in the form of dumplings, noodles, and rice plates, look no further than Xiong’s Cafe, located on Bellaire Boulevard in a strip mall behind the more popular Sinh Sinh Restaurant. The modest hole-in-the-wall, comprised of two small rooms, offers no-frills, simple Chinese food via…
Hot History: Benjamin West and John Singleton Copley’s Bold Art Revolution at the MFAH
In the late 18th century before the Revolutionary War, a good number of English citizens were pish-poshing the very idea of a United States of America. So the thought of former colonists creating any kind of unique art worth looking at — much less comparing to centuries of British tradition…
Seahawks 23, Texans 20: Congratulations, You’ve Been Schaubed
I’m not generally a fan of doomsday predictors. I like them only marginally less than rose-colored glasses wearers. I tend to prefer reality and the reality is the Texans have a serious problem. Before you start shouting the name of the current starting quarterback or the perfect-haired play caller on…
Blondie & X at Warehouse Live, 9/27/2013
Blondie, X Warehouse Live September 27, 2013 Blondie’s show last Friday night was a far cry from faultless. And I, like everyone else on the packed floor of Warehouse Live, could’ve cared less. It was Blondie. Opening band X played a fairly long set of sustainable American music that sounded…
What’s Cooking This Week? A Spanish Tortilla, Beer-Braised Brats, & More
I love cooking for my fiancé and planning meals for us, but cooking for two often proves to be difficult. If I don’t make a plan, I end up running around in circles at the grocery store and wasting half the ingredient’s I’ve bought (and I hate wasting food). Enter…
Defy Gravity: 9 Awesome Special Effects That Aren’t CGI
I saw the trailer recently for the upcoming lost-in-space film Gravity, due out next weekend, and had to cringe. I mean, the story seems original enough — spacewalkers suffer freak accident, become untethered and adrift in space with only themselves for survival. I have no idea how they’re going to…
The 10 Most Spinal Tap Moments From Metallica: Through the Never
Over the weekend, Metallica: Through the Never opened in theaters nationwide. As a longtime fan of the planet’s favorite heavy-metal band, I wasn’t going to miss it. Not only because I love Metallica’s music (the good stuff, anyway), but because I’m also a fan of hilariously overblown visual spectacle. Which…
Texans-Seahawks: The 10 Best Rapper Tweets From a Matt Schaub-y Game
This muthafucka here— IG:HOGGLIFE101 (@slimthugga) September 29, 2013 Houston has a professional football team. They are called the Houston Texans. A lot of people like them. Some of the people who like them are rappers. The Internet has several forms of social media. One of those forms of social media…
Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck On Tour: Where Cars Meet Guitars
On paper, it seems like at odd pairing for a joint tour: Brian Wilson, Head Beach Boy and pop-music chronicler of sunny California life, with Jeff Beck, fiery and restless hard-rock English guitarist whose work helped lay the groundwork for heavy metal. Not to mention inspire Nigel Tufnel’s haircut for…
Houston’s Best Concerts This Week: Mudhoney, Delorean, Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck, etc.
Mudhoney Fitzgerald’s, September 30 Mudhoney didn’t invent grunge, or maybe they did, but either way, Mark Arm’s crew has been making some of the gnarliest noise Seattle has to offer for a solid 25 years. Landmark debut single “Touch Me, I’m Sick” and the Superfuzz Bigmuff EP introduced rock to…
UPDATED AGAIN: Man Douses Himself With Liquid From a Gas Can Outside Exxon Building
Update 11 a.m. September 30: Houston police say the man, who has a history of mentall illness, will not be charged and remains in Ben Taub NeuroPsychiatric Unit. A man in a suit doused himself with what appeared to be gasoline outside the Exxon building on the corner of Milam…
Seahawks-Texans BATTLE-DRINK: If Schaub Goes Down, We All Go Down
How do you know when a BATTLE-DRINK Bingo card is hitting its mark? Well, when people are talking about liver transplants, rehab, detox, and a fear that they haven’t completely updated their will at the end of the first quarter, that’s a pretty good indicator! That’s what happened this past…
Weekend Weather: More Rain Forecast, but Report Says Drought Could Last 15 Years
The temperatures are gradually moving in a downward direction as we get set for October and autumn. Last weekend saw our first significant cool front, dropping temps into the mid 60s in the evening. We also got a LOT of rain — the most we’ve gotten in that short of…
Up in the Sky, Out in the Streets: The Top 10 Photos of the Week
We here at the Houston Press have long believed that some of the best photographers in the world live right here in Houston. Between the slideshows and blogs we publish and the images you share with us in our Flickr Pool, we see tons of amazing photos every week, and…
An Open Letter from DEFCON Dining
Dining out with children is an exercise in situational awareness. Each experience is unique, with different variables leading to different possible outcomes, DEFCON-like in their escalating threat levels. Keen observation, forward planning and prior experience are critical in determining the proper strategy. Here at DEFCON Dining, we do the grunt…
SAT Test: Report Says Students Not Academically Prepared Resulting in Lower Scores
SAT scores were stagnant for the third straight year, though African-American scores were up slightly. (If it has been awhile since you took the SATs, remember that a perfect score, the old 1600, is now 2400 with 800 points possible on each of the three sections — reading, math and…
EYESORE and give up Team Up For a Street Art Gallery Showcase
To evolve and adapt. In the world of street art, those factors are as important for success as the development of a unique aesthetic and consistent output. You gotta stay up. As street art hits the galleries, the same is true. When the idea of a joint showcase first hit…
“Mama’s Boys” and Souped-Up Stews from Campbell’s
I watch a decent amount of “SportsCenter” and therefore am no stranger to the commercials for Campbell’s Chunky soups featuring hulking football players (aka the “Mama’s Boys”). Campbell’s is the “Official Soup Sponsor” of the NFL (suck it, Progresso!) and has tried to convince Americans that its stews are hearty…
This Weekend’s Best Bets: Does Pam Oliver Survive 2013?
I know many of you will be shocked that I feel this way, but one of the most beautiful things about life in 2013 is that you can bet on almost anything. Know a little something about movies, and care to wager on the Oscars? No problem. Have a hunch…
Imagine Dragons at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 9/28/2013
Imagine Dragons Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion September 26, 2013 It wasn’t that long ago that I was typing that same band name into a headline, only it was followed by the words “House of Blues.” It’s a strange feeling to do so again so quickly. The idea of Imagine Dragons…
TV Club: Mad Men “The Wheel”
It is somewhat surprising that it’s taken us this long to watch and write about what is considered one of the best dramas currently on television, but we have finally gotten around to examining one Mr. Donald Draper and the hit AMC series Mad Men. We chose to watch the…
City Hall Farmers’ Market Returns with Eight New Vendors
The City Hall Farmers’ Market reopened on September 20, and this week I went to see what its eight new vendors are offering, as well as what the regulars have in store for shoppers this year. The market boasts more than 35 vendors, many of which are organizations looking to…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2
Title: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 What, Another Kids Movie? Isn’t Rush Coming Out This Week? Yes, because as a heterosexual man I was *so* eager to see another movie where Chris Hemsworth takes his shirt off. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Three Crocostimpys out…
Alt-J at Bayou Music Center, 9/26/2013
Alt-J Bayou Music Center September 26, 2013 The fall music season is in full swing, and Bayou Music Center was alive and kicking with a sold-out crowd of young adults for a showcase of talents by the likes of English indie-rockers Alt-J, with their folkier friends Lord Huron as support…
Lee Harvey Oswald’s Wedding Ring on the Auction Block
As we roll up to the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, a lot of weird stuff keeps getting brought up and it seems like everything that was ever even slightly related to the president, Jackie, or his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is up on the auction block. The frenzy…
Fall TV Pilots: The Michael J. Fox Show
Title: The Michael J. Fox Show Network – Day – Time: NBC – Thursday – 8 PM Brief Plot Synopsis: Michael J. Fox is Michael Henry, an award-winning news anchor who left is job due to his struggle with Parkinson’s. After spending too much time at home annoying his family…
A First Look at Mr. Peeples
Stepping into Mr. Peeples for the first time, it’s inevitable that you’ll have a strong reaction. Bright neon pinks and purples, royal blues and golds dominate everywhere you look, from the ornate crystal chandeliers above the billiard table in the restaurant’s main landing, to the hostess stand shaped like giant…
The Five Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: Shrimp Fest, Mangiamaccheroni Pop-Up & More
4th Annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival @ Saengerfest Park Friday-Sunday 2302 Strand, Galveston Eat some of the best and freshest shrimp from the Gulf during the 4th Annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival. Start with a fried shrimp dinner in the park on Friday, followed by a gumbo stroll during the…
Believe It Or Not, There Is Fan Interest In The Astros
The Astros season mercifully ends this weekend. Another 100-plus loss season. They are chasing the all-time strikeout record for a team — a record held by the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s the only visit of the season by the New York Yankees and the final chance to see Mariano Rivera and…
Do This, Don’t Touch That: Museum Etiquette for Beginners
I was having lunch a few weeks ago with a friend who works in the art industry when the topic of museum etiquette came up. I had just gone to see two separate exhibits in town and was marveling at how the atmosphere differed so widely at each gallery. In…
Sweet Pea vs Jacoby Epilogue: Jacoby Jones Apologizes For Doing Nothing Wrong
Ain’t no party like a Bryant McKinnie party. This is known. As debauchery and salaciousness goes, the gold standard for a McKinnie-approved throwdown is still the 2005 Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal, and frankly until another scandalous party gets its own Wikipedia page, it will always be the gold standard…
Rock the Vote: Texas Scrambling to Implement New Voter ID Requirements
With the November elections rapidly approaching, the State of Texas is trying everything to get people registered. This is nothing new, except the voter ID law passed earlier this year has added a new wrinkle, complicating efforts for those who want to vote and the people trying to register them…
100 Creatives 2013: Erin Wasmund, Actor, Singer and Dancer
Bayou City Theatrics recently mounted a dual-cast production of Les Misérables. One cast sang in the traditional Broadway musical style; the other cast sang in a pop/rock style. Woodlands native Erin Wasmund played Eponine in the traditional cast. Eponine, a street-wise teen, falls hopelessly in love with Marius, one of…
Upcoming Events: Pumpkin Carving Contest, Oktoberfest Celebration & More
Revival Market’s chef de cuisine Adam Dorris wants you to attend his Feast of the Maturing Sun on Tuesday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m. The menu consists of a smorgasbord of meat, fish, sides and dessert. Enjoy Tejas Heritage rabbit loin with Swiss chard and Brussels sprouts with smoked kidney…
Openings & Closings: Bye Bye Burger Guys, Hello Cloud 10 Creamery
Even though it began with two surprising closing announcements, the rest of the week has been pretty slow. The Burger Guys announced that its downtown location has closed after being open for only one year. Owner Jake Mazzu and Chef Brandon Fisch told CultureMap that they didn’t believe in cursed…
UPDATED: This Fall’s Five Most Anticipated Houston Rap Releases
UPDATE (Friday, 1:30 p.m.): Per the man himself, Bun B’s new project is still untitled. Is it Fall already? Considering that Houston rap doesn’t seem to recognize dates on the calendar, we’re here pretty much anticipating rappers and musicians to say they’re releasing something like gifts on Christmas. So far,…
Top Five Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: i scream, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, R J Palacio and More
Hope Stone Dance’s Lemonade Stand: i scream, running Friday and Saturday, was originally scheduled to be at the Photo Booth, the site of previous Drive By Dance performances. Those plans changed unexpectedly and the group scrambled to mount the show in another space. “I was going to do a fishbowl…
35 Years of Numbers Memories: Music to Die By
Over the last couple of days, we’ve looked at some Houstonians’ best concerts and experiences from Numbers over the course of its 35-year history. Its legacy as a center of the excellent local gothic-music scene, as well as a unique size and scope that attracts an impressive array of touring…
How Many Building Temples From Death Fest Band Logos Can You Decipher?
Despite punishing eardrums for more than three decades, death metal remains a decidedly underground movement. That’s mostly by design, obviously — the genre’s bloody and extreme artwork, cruelly downtuned guitars and horrific, indecipherable lyrics are intended to provoke as much as they captivate. But when you slap a band logo…
Hank3’s Family Tradition: Doing Whatever the Hell He Wants
Don’t confuse Hank Williams III with the ones who came before him. This sure ain’t Bocephus’ music he’s playin’. Hank Williams III, or Hank3, as he’s known to his fans, is hardly the honky-tonk musician of old. Despite being descended from country-music royalty — he’s the grandson of good ol’…
Houston’s Top 10 Cover-Band Venues
As our sister blog Eating…Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse…
Houston’s Best Concerts This Weekend: Blondie & X, Miranda Lambert, Aimee Mann, etc.
Blondie, X Warehouse Live, September 27 Arguably the two best American bands to come out of the punk era, Blondie and X each personified the late’70s/early-80s rock scenes of New York and L.A, respectively. Fronted by impossibly glamorous Debbie Harry, Blondie mingled downtown CBGB cool with Studio 54 glitter, while…
HISD Student Stabbed at Bus Stop, Suspect in Custody
Having to ride a bus is bad enough, and then some guy throws a knife into the mix. A Westside High School freshman was cut with a knife Thursday morning when he helped fight off a man who was allegedly trying to abduct another student, according to a release issued…
You Can’t Take It With You Still Shines and Never Slows Down
The set-up: In most comedies there’s one crazy among the sane. Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, Broadway’s royal couple, give us a whole house full. In this most American of plays, winner of the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it’s the loonies who are normal – sweet, innocent, decent…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013: No. 83, Lobster Roll at Maine-ly Sandwiches
This year, leading up to our annual Menu of Menus issue, Kaitlin Steinberg counts down her 100 favorite dishes as she eats her way through Houston. She’ll compile a collection of the dishes she thinks are the most awesome, most creative and, of course, most delicious in town. It’s a…
Analysis: Matt Schaub’s “Winner” Label, The 16 “Biggest” Games Of The Schaub Era
Photo by Marco TorresIs Matt Schaub a winner?”First off, I think he’s a winner. That’s all he’s done since he came here. I believe in him and our team believes in him.” — Gary Kubiak, Wednesday on Matt Schaub I suppose if you say something enough times, not only do…
Reality Bites: The Most Embarrassing Rooms In America
There are a million reality shows on the naked television. We’re going to watch them all, one at a time. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like a competition for “most embarrassing room in America” could go on for something approaching eternity (much like this blog itself). Going solely…
Brian Ching Ready For Final Match: Soccer Notes
At a press conference this past Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium, Brian Ching, the Dynamo’s all-time leading scorer, announced his retirement from the game after the end of the 2013 season. To bid farewell to one of the last of the original Dynamo players, the team announced a Brian Ching…
Sushi Club of Houston Takes Over Sukiyabashi Jiro
Houstonians know their food, and they sure do get around. Take the thirteen members of the Sushi Club of Houston who recently ventured to Japan with Carl Rosa, president of the club, for the trip of a lifetime. Rosa led the group through six cities, including Narita, Tokyo, Mishima and…
Bing Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons Loves Him Some Houston Sports
Anyone who has seen any interviews with multiple Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons knows of his love for his home town. He is not shy in talking up Houston on national talk shows and even dropping in stuff about us in his show. But, even more than being an unabashed…
Ronnie Killen and Team Plan To Win at Smoke@ICC in New York
While the pastry chefs of Uchi and Triniti will be competing in the 4th Annual StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition, Ronnie Killen will be competing with a team of Houston chefs in the 1st Annual StarChefs.com SMOKE@ICC on September 28. Both of the competitions will take place in New York City…
Got to Tell You… The New American Horror Story Sounds Terrible
Two years ago our editor here at Art Attack said to me, “Hey, you’re weird. Watch American Horror Story and do a review. So I did, and I really fell in love with the show, both seasons. The first had its ups and downs, and ended on a very weak…
It’s a Major Award! HISD Named Top Urban School District in America For the Second Time
Sometimes, Christmas comes early. That appears to be the case for the Houston Independent School District which, for the second time was awarded the Board Prize for Urban Education. The award is in recognition of the district’s overall performance and reduction of achievement gaps among poor and minority students. And…
Peter and the Starcatcher Calls Upon Imagination to Fly High
The mustache is painted directly on his face. And it’s really large, designed to evoke a Groucho Marx image. Peter and the Starcatcher has as much to do with vaudeville silliness — and who did that better than Groucho and his brothers — as it is a look at why…
Fall Out Boy at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 9/25/2013
Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Twenty One Pilots Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion September 25, 2013 For many of their fans, a Fall Out Boy concert is most likely the kind of thing that has always been experienced in the darkest, dirtiest clubs that a city can offer. It’s…
Short Rib Meatloaf and Other New Delights at BRC
I swear to God, there was a period (2009? 2010?) during which BRC Gastropub never changed its menu. I loved the food, but after a handful of trips I had developed a “regular” order, and that’s a behavioral practice I want to reserve for my late eighties. Now, however, the…
Ted Cruz, The Miley Cyrus Of Politics, Reads “Green Eggs and Ham”
Sen. Ted Cruz, the freshman senator from Texas with possible 2016 ambitions and a knack for pissing off fellow members of the Republican party he represents, has been everywhere lately. A few weeks ago there was the Canadian citizenship thing. Then he was tromping on the toes of his fellow…
Pop Rocks: Madonna’s Secret Revolution, Neither a Secret Nor a Revolution, Discuss
Tuesday night, Madonna finally unveiled her new “secretprojectrevolution,” you know, the one that we’ve all been waiting with baited breath for her to uncover? Oh, you hadn’t heard about it? Or you didn’t care? Both? Since the summer, Madonna has been leaking trailers of a secret project to the media…
The Rocks Off 200: Tommy Grindle, Guitarist of Square and Compass
Welcome to The Rocks Off 200, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community — a lot more than just musicians, but of course they’re in there too. See previous entries in the Rocks Off 100 at this link. Who? Tommy Grindle…
7 Of Houston’s Best Takes On The Classic Bacon & Eggs
Last year, Urban Daddy rounded up some of New York City’s best alternatives to the classic Bacon & Egg Sandwich. Well, watch out, NYC, because H-town’s come to play. Readers, we give you seven of the most mind-blowingly delicious takes on bacon & eggs in Houston:…
Go Ahead, Keep Clicking that Like Button, the First Amendment is Behind You
A federal court (the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals) ruled last week that clicking “like” on a political candidate’s Facebook page “is the Internet equivalent of displaying a political sign, which the Supreme Court has held is substantive speech.” The case came from humble beginnings. Dan Carter and Robert McCoy…
The Autumn Elixir: A Cool Cocktail For Fall
When the temperatures finally dropped last week, many Houstonians probably sighed with relief and made plans to incorporate more outdoor fun into their weekends. I pondered how the brisker weather would affect my drink preferences, and though high temps are temporarily back, it’s always a good idea to plan your…
5 Most Insulting “Alternative Medicine” Products [UPDATED]
I will never understand how so many of my friends can state with absolute conviction that all the world’s doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and governments are simply out to take you for every penny they can no matter the risk… then in the next breath show me a link to some…
Trill In a Tux: Bun B Opens Up On November’s Houston Symphony Gig
“It’s more than a concert. It’s a celebration of what we stand for. Of what we believe in. Of the values we share. And it’s a first for Houston” — Bun B, at Wednesday’s press conference Bernard Freeman sits nervously at the head table in a room full of wealthy,…
NFL Crime Update: Pac-Man, Hugh Douglas, Gangsta Viking Owners
“Do this research, if we don’t have a season…watch how much evil, which we call the crime…watch how much crime goes up, if they take away our game…” — Ray Lewis to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio during the 2011 lockout We all remember this famous Ray Lewis rant, right? Where he…
Working-Class Metal Is No Sacrifice For UK Lifers Saxon
As befitting a band who takes their status as metal band for working-class fans seriously, Rocks Off reached Saxon lead singer Biff Byford via cell phone on the band’s tour bus, where he has just finished a no-frills meet-and greet with a group of fans. Now, said bus is currently…
Don’t Miss Out … Get Your Brewfest Tickets NOW!
Brewfest is only two weeks away, so we can finally reveal our awesome list of beers and breweries and the stellar band lineup. In case you missed our first post, the festival will take place on October 5 from 2 to 7 p.m. in and around Silver Street Station. Inside,…
The Rest of the Best: Houston’s Top 10 Places to Get Married
Harmony Wedding Chapel, Photo by Chris Adams (Exquisitely Bored in Nacogdoches) Getting married in Houston can be an exercise in stress and overspending. Here are a few venues we suggest for upcoming wedding ceremonies and, more importantly, receptions. 10. Harmony Wedding Chapel 8120 Gulf Freeway, 713-643-7777 First on our list…
My Son’s Football Coach Beats His Players. 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! SON’S ABUSIVE COACH Dear Willie D: My son’s football coach is a nutcase. He has slapped,…
35 Years of Numbers Memories: A Unique Place For Touring Acts
This week we are celebrating the 35 years of history that surrounds one of Houston’s longest-running music venues. Wednesday it was a look at the excellent and vibrant local goth scene that set up shop in the club in the ’90s and early ’00s. Today we discuss another facet of…
“Nice. Luc Tuymans”
If visual arts were songs, the “Nice. Luc Tuymans” exhibition at The Menil Collection could be considered a series of duets. The Belgian artist handpicked some 30 of his paintings to hang in tandem with works from the Menil’s permanent collection. Using mostly photographs and film stills as sources for…
”Gaia: New Installation”
”I am fascinated by the incomprehensible energy, size and scope of Houston, which on the surface may appear to be a bland metropolis,” says Gaia, the artist behind ”Gaia: New Installation” at Rice University Art Gallery. ”There is a tremendous sense of interconnectivity in the ways in which people relate…
A Hard Day’s Night (Gaunts): Kiwis Blaze Through Houston On First U.S. Tour
While on their first-ever American tour this summer, New Zealand ska-punks the Night Gaunts were excited to play shows with Mustard Plug — a favorite, influential band of theirs — and New York’s Stupid, Stupid Henchmen. They met and bonded with new groups along the way, like New Orleans’ Joystick,…
UPDATED: Houston’s Best Internet Radio Stations
UPDATE (Friday, 9:30 a.m.): Corrects Rock 101’s mobile-app notation to “Yes.” Much like newspapers, radio has been irrevocably changed by the rise of the Internet. With broadband broadly available, there are fewer and fewer reasons to flip on the dial, so even giants like Clear Channel have added Web-based platforms…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Arsenic and Old Lace, Assistance, Hamlet, The Middle Ages, The Real Thing, Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays
Arsenic and Old Lace Arsenic and Old Lace was a huge Broadway hit, opening in 1941 for 1,444 performances, and is currently on three Houston stages — a tribute to the enduring appeal of farce. The members of the Brewster family are a few cards short of a full deck,…
Go to Moon Tower Inn
Local Spotlight While we are certainly excited about their newest venture, Voodoo Queen, we revisited Evan Shannon and Brand Young’s first baby, Moon Tower Inn, to remind ourselves just how great it is. Here are 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit (or revisit) as well: 10. The Dogs First and…
The Prison System and Cream of Mushroom Soup
Dear Mexican, With the current state and federal prison system spitting out even harder criminals due to over crowding and gang activity allowed to a certain degree by the ‘system,’ while considering the small percentage of inmates who actually make it out and live a positive life…why are some legislators,…
Whatever It Takes: Houston Baptist University Turns to Football to Build a Name
On August 30, the opening Saturday of the 2013 college football season, for the first game in their program’s history, the Houston Baptist University Huskies drew the Division I Football Championship Subdivision version of the LSU Tigers: the fourth-ranked Sam Houston State University Bearkats. In the past two seasons, the…
Every Meal Is a Feast at Hai Cang Seafood
Get a look inside Hai Cang Seafood Restaurant with our photo gallery. From the outside, Hai Cang Seafood Restaurant resembles any other Chinese restaurant in any other run-down strip center on Bellaire. Boxy, windowless, heralded by a large neon sign in English and Chinese characters. Outwardly, there’s nothing to entice…
Found Objects: Francesca Fuchs Makes Art of the World Around Her
Francesca Fuchs is an artist who always seems to have a good answer to the question “What to paint?” Over the years, she has turned wallpaper, her friends, her kitchen and her breastfeeding baby into great paintings, sometimes on a wall-size scale. Fuchs has an amazing ability to match her…
After 21 Years, Mireille Hassenboehler Is Bowing Out in Style
Houston Ballet’s first full-length production of the new season is Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow, a charming, sweet delight of a narrative about young love reawakened in maturity. Last Thursday’s opening-night performance saw Principal Dancer Mireille Hassenboehler in the lead role; her run as Hanna Glawari marks her final bows…
Enough Said Is a Small Blessing for Gandolfini Fans
When a relatively young actor dies suddenly, as James Gandolfini did in June, it’s tempting to wonder about the roles he’ll never get to play. When we didn’t know we’d be losing him so soon, it was always fun to see Gandolfini show up, a casual surprise: In 2012 alone…
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Does It All in Don Jon, Except Dance
To paraphrase the Bee Gees, Joseph Gordon-Levitt should be dancing. He’s already done it in (500) Days of Summer, where he led an exuberant ensemble routine that out-Dr Peppered any Dr Pepper commercial. Then there was his smashing Saturday Night Live re-creation of Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘Em Laugh” — like…
On FX’s The Bridge, Serial Killers Are a First-World Problem
Mild spoilers up to The Bridge’s ninth episode below. Artisanal murders are all the rage these days. On Showtime’s Dexter, NBC’s Hannibal, and Fox’s The Following, small-batch, labor-intensive, sold-with-a-story slaughters have become TV’s equivalent of the Cronut. Handsome, intelligent, and mannered as court eunuchs, serial killers have become the new…
Sigh No More
Live Shots It’s hard to think of a band that’s been so heavily vilified over such a short period of time as Mumford & Sons. Even perennial doormats like Nickelback and Coldplay were given a pass for an album or two, but almost from the moment the Sons’ debut album,…
Capsule Art Reviews: “The Beauty Box,” “Calaveras Mexicanas: The Art and Influence of Jose Guadalupe Posada,” “Self, Model, and Self as Other,” “Wols: Retrospective”
“The Beauty Box” This is the brainchild of local mixed-media artist Robert Hodge, who, with partner Philip Pyle, a sculptor and digital artist, has converted an open-air space in the Third Ward into a replica of a living room, like “your grandmother’s living room or dining room,” says Hodge. The…
How to Annoy Your Fellow Republicans
Highlights from Hair Balls Political Animals Senator Ted Cruz is apparently annoying everyone in Washington. From political blog The Monkey Cage: “The staffer, whom two GOP sources identified as working for Representative John Culberson of Texas, went on to decry Cruz for holding events in Culberson’s district and telling his…
