Steve Jobs RIP: Apple Founder Succumbs To Cancer At 56 #SteveJobs
Apple has passed along the sad news that it’s founder, Steve Jobs, has died this evening at the age of 56. News of his death is now sweeping the web and social media is afire. The tech mogul and pioneer in personal computing had been battling pancreatic cancer for a…
My Personal Funeral For Don Lapre (w/ 6 Videos Of Other Terrible Infomercials)
We lost another icon of my youth over the weekend when Don Lapre, best known for his promises of mountains of wealth by merely placing tiny classified ads in newspapers around the country, committed an apparent suicide awaiting sentencing on fraud charges. The late `80’s and early `90’s were the…
5 Movies That Wouldn’t Exist Without George Harrison
After giving the deluxe documentary treatment to Bob Dylan (No Direction Home) and the Rolling Stones (Shine a Light), Martin Scorsese now trains his camera on George Harrison for George Harrison: Living In the Material World, his two-part film about the “Quiet Beatle” that airs at 8 p.m. tonight and…
Comment of the Day: Those Whispering Sausages
Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a…
Christopher Purser: Pleads Guilty To Selling Fake Insurance Policy To Boat That Sank, Killing 20
The Ethan Allen was a tour boat that plied the waters of Lake George in upstate New York. Six years ago this week, it sank and killed 20 of the elderly tourists on board. The owners believed they had sufficient insurance, until they tried to use it and found they…
Celebrity Makeup Artist Napoleon Perdis Coming to a Target Near You
This weekend celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis is holding two, day-long makeup events at local Target stores. Perdis has worked with such famous faces as Jamie Lynn Siegler, Debra Messing, and Anna Lynn McCord. He will visit two area Target stores for six-hour events, during which shoppers can visit beauty…
Going Vegan in Houston: Where to Get Your Grub
Earlier this week, we featured some stunning vegan donuts from local vegan and gluten-free baker Jodycakes. Even in a carnivorous city like Houston, eating vegan can be done — and done surprisingly well. Jodycakes isn’t the only vegan baker in town; Sinfull Bakery’s vegan cookies and other sweet treats are…
Aaron Vaughn’s Wedding Band: Navy SEAL Widow Asks Houston If You’ve Seen It
Kimberly Vaughn, a former Washington Redskins cheerleader who married a Navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan this summer, was visiting the Houston area this weekend before flying back home to DC. Somewhere along the way, she lost her husband’s wedding band, which he had given her t owear while he…
Free for All: Art Without a Price Tag
Just because the economy is in the toilet doesn’t mean you should miss out on all of the performing and visual arts happenings in town. Even the most expensive productions have some cheap seats, right? Trouble with cheap seats is you generally get a really lousy view. How about getting…
Ingredient of the Week: Leeks
What is it? Part of the onion and garlic family, leeks are large green stalks that resemble scallions or green onions on steroids. The flavor is described as falling somewhere between a mild onion and a cucumber, similar to the shallot but sweeter. Unlike scallions, leeks are not pungent or…
30 Seconds with La Dispute’s Jordan Dreyer
By fusing spoken word with an unrelenting punk-2.5 sound, La Dispute has won our allegiance. We gave singer Jordan Breyer the third degree in order to find out what we could from him in 30 seconds. Rocks Off: What is the worst song in the world? Jordan Dreyer: It’s hard…
RIP Bert Jansch: Legendary Folk Guitarist Dies At 67
Dave Alvin alerted us via Facebook shortly ago that British guitar master Bert Jansch has died. Jansch, who along with his band Pentangle was at the forefront of the ’60s British folk movement, was 67. According to the Associated Press, the cause of death was lung cancer. The Scottish-born Jansch…
Dustin “Young Spliff” Aleman: College Station Teen’s Diabolical Criminal Scheme Foiled By Lunch Lady
A College Station teen was arrested yesterday after he attempted to pass off two counterfeit bills in the cafeteria of A&M Consolidated High School. According to the Bryan-College Station Eagle, police say that 17-year-old Dustin Dominique Aleman gave a friend a stack of five one-dollar bills — three of them…
Hey Wino, Eat This: Top 5 Liver Friendly Foods
Yesterday, October 4, was National Vodka Day. Did you celebrate? If so, listen up. You may not feel it now, but eventually the happy hours, pub crawls and Sunday fun-days are gonna catch up with you. Sure, everyone’s got a hangover remedy, a fix for the morning after, but what…
Susan Sarandon Turns 65: Ten Hot Pictures Of The Sexagenarian (Indeed)
This week actress Susan Sarandon turned 65, and the star of such films as Dead Man Walking, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma & Louise, and Bull Durham is obviously one of the hottest of the older grand dames in Hollywood. Her turn in Elizabethtown is probably my favorite though…
Ask Me Anything: What Would You Ask Your Favorite Artist?
Part of the job here at Rocks Off – this daily Make-A-Wish kid circus – is talking to musicians and people in the musical know. One of the most fun parts of the job is booking an interview with an artist coming to town and cramming for a few days…
Rick Perry’s Texas Mirage
Rick Perry is raising impressive amounts of cash and, even though he’s stalled a biit in the polls lately, has been largely successful in promoting the storyline that he’s an anti-government tax-cutter who has seen a business and job boom in his home state. It’s a record that doesn’t stand…
The Taste of Nostalgia at C&D Burger Shoppe
Everything about C&D Burger Shoppe has that pleasant glow of a hazy, nostalgic time somewhere in between the late 1970s and early 1980s. Even the slideshow accompanying this week’s cafe review of the little burger joint in South Houston looks as if it could have been shot on Kodachrome. And…
Hot Trends for Fall 2011: Five Looks We Love for Guys
Fashion is not just for women, okay? Men can–and do–care about the way they look. And while menswear runways might not get the same attention as the ladies’ catwalks, guys can benefit from a few minutes of scrutinizing what emerges from September Fashion Week. The best news is that many…
7 Musician Exes (Or Daughters) Who Should Write Tell-All Books
7. Dita Von Teese (Marilyn Manson): Famed burlesque performer Dita Von Teese (above) met Marilyn Manson in 2001. He proposed in 2004, and the couple wed a year later. Von Teese filed for divorce when she couldn’t deal with Manson’s alcohol abuse and his extramarital affair with actress Evan Rachel…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Soren Pedersen of Sorrel Urban Bistro, On Culinary School in Denmark
In late July, Sorrel Urban Bistro opened in the old Ziggy’s Healthy Grille space at Greenbriar and West Alabama. In the open kitchen, Chef Soren Pedersen can be seen every day, turning out some of the most beautifully plated food in the city. We were curious about this newcomer to…
Cedric Mason: HS Basketball Coach On Run For Raping Underage Girl (UPDATED)
A La Marque High basketball coach is on the run and wanted by authorities for raping a 14-year-old girl, Houston police say. Cedric Tyrone Mason, 41, assaulted the girl in his southeast side apartment on two different days in July, HPD says. “A sexual assault exam was completed on the…
The Dictator’s Handbook: 7 Dictators We Love To Hate
This evening, the World Affairs Council of Houston is presenting a talkback with author and New York University Professor, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, on his book The Dictator’s Handbook. According to the author and co-author of the book, Alastair Smith, they have “concluded that leaders are not as concerned with…
Rick Perry’s Big Campaign-Cash Haul: Phil Gramm Redux?
The political world is abuzz today with word of Rick Perry’s impressive fundraising. Right after he entered the GOP presidential primary, Perry hauled in $17.1 million. The cah grab could “counter the perception that his campaign his struggling,” the AP says; describing a campaign that is polling behind Herman Cain…
Garden Fresh: Growing Spinach
After many attempts, I finally sautéed a gorgeous pan of panko-crusted Chicken Parmesan, laid the cutlets on beds of linguini, and sauced them pretty enough for a photo shoot. Meanwhile, my lovely wife blanched some fresh spinach for five minutes, squeezed out the water, seasoned it, then casually plopped it…
Most Houston Street Art is Really Boring
You make street art. I picture you dressed in all black, sneaking-up late night, just to wheat paste a poster of a cat below a giant advertisement for Bud Light. Or maybe you spend hours painting a wall with well-executed artwork, and it’s extremely likely this artwork has no deeper…
Garland Jeffreys: NYC Rock Hero Still Wild In The Streets
As vapid as television has become, if you’re a fan of great live music you might want to check The Late Show With David Letterman Friday night, when Dave welcomes the incomparable Garland Jeffreys. Unless you’re a serious music nerd, you’ve probably never heard of Jeffreys, although you most surely…
Recipe: Almond Coconut Candy Fudge
On a cloudy weekend afternoon, I felt like baking, but the cupboard held everything but flour. To save myself a trip to the store and an overheated kitchen, I settled instead on making fudge. Chocolate was the favor I craved, but since I was having Caribbean cocktails later that evening,…
Metro Rail Crash Video, Including Man Jumping For His Life
Yesterday’s Metro light-rail crash was, of course, captured on security video. The jumpy video is silent, so you can’t hear the engineer’s exclamation when the dump truck pulls onto his tracks and there’s nothing he can do about. We’re going with “Fuuuuuuck” instead of “Oh, shit” here, but we could…
McDonald’s: A Gallery of Fine Art With Fries
Today is Ray Kroc’s 109th birthday. Kroc is the entrepreneur who took over the tiny McDonald’s corporation and turned it into a delicious empire known the world over. We had lunch there this afternoon, and while the food at Mickey D’s is never going to be called fine cuisine, there…
How To: Make Homemade Ricotta
It’s Wednesday, so obviously I’m craving wine. This leads me to then crave cheese. Which potentially will leave me craving more wine — but that’s beside the point. Since the thought of no cheese with my wine literally kills me, I’ve learned how to make my own fresh ricotta at…
Saxon: “Denim And Leather” Never Goes Out Of Style
While they did not achieve the level of success in America as Iron Maiden, Motörhead, or Judas Priest, Yorkshire-based Saxon was an early battalion on the front lines for the invasion of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (that’s NWOBHM to music nerds) in the late ’70s and early…
Comment of the Day: Bears & Pterodactyls Along Buffalo Bayou
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Guess Where This Is (Was) In Houston
We downloaded this picture a while back, and now, sadly, we can’t figure out where we saw it first. We thought it was from the highly entertaining website/e-book Houston Freeways, which we encourage everyone to explore, but a quick scan doesn’t seem to show it there. (If we’re wrong, or…
Top 007 James Bond Musical Title Sequences
59 years ago today, United Artists released Dr. No, the first film adaptation of Ian Feming’s James Bond novels. There have since been 21 more movies with another one on the way, and the series is the second-highest grossing film series ever after Harry Potter. One of the things that…
Blu-ray Battle: Pulp Fiction vs. Jackie Brown
Yesterday, Tarantino-philes rejoiced as the long-awaited release of two of the Q-man’s best, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown are being released on Blu-ray. When Pulp Fiction hit the screen in 1994, critics hailed it as a masterpiece. The movie not only shot Tarantino to immediate fame, but also paved the…
Atheist Woodstock: “Free Thinkers” Respond to Rick Perry’s Prayerapalooza
The Response happened. Now, some “atheist superstars” are responding to The Response. This weekend, the Texas Freethought Convention/Atheist Alliance National Meeting will go off for its “From Grassroots to Global Impact” event. The weekend-long shindig will feature left-of-field speakers such as the freest of the free thinkers Richard Dawkins as…
Michelle Williams in What My Husband Doesn’t Know
Former Destiny’s Child group member Michelle Williams is returning to Houston to star with Morris Chestnut (ABC’s V and The Best Man) in a story about a woman who feels her businessman husband doesn’t pay enough attention to her and steps out. Williams said she’d been wanting to work with…
Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs
Eater Houston: Amber Ambrose has released the Eater Essential 38 for Houston, a list of the 38 restaurants that you must eat at this year. Do you agree with the list? What I find most interesting about it — when viewed in map form — is how closely it follows…
11 Horrible Wham-O Toy TV Ads From The `60s You Won’t Believe
Wham-O has long been a purveyor of the kinds of toys that look great on TV, or even not so great on TV, but end up even worse when you try them at home. They’ve had their successes, of course — the Hula-Hoop, the Frisbee — but TV back in…
Top 5 Musicians Whose Art Trumps Their Politics
Once again we have yet another example that if a musician opens his or her mouth without the benefit of a guitar or piano close by, trouble is usually not far behind. In this case it’s Rockin’ Randall Hank Williams Jr., who compared this year’s Obama/John Boehner “golf summit” to…
Comment of the Day: Japanese Kit Kat
Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a…
NASA Taking Astronaut Applications: A Job With A Bright Future
Tired of your dead-end job? Get into a profession that’s guaranteed to be well-funded for the foreseeable future and beyond: manned space travel!! NASA is once again opening up the application process for astronaut jobs, even though, you know, there are no more shuttle missions and NASA is a prime…
Adele Cancels U.S. Tour Due To Bad Vocal Chords (UPDATED)
UPDATE (6:56 p.m.): According to Live Nation, the show will “most likely” be rescheduled, so you may not want to cash in on those refunds just yet. Stay tuned. Chart-topping, world-beating British neo-soul singer Adele has canceled her upcoming U.S. tour, including a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion…
Going Vegan: Trimming My Waistline, Trimming My Budget, Expanding My Horizons
For the past two weeks, in an attempt to experiment with new ingredients and foods, I’ve been eating vegan when I haven’t been working. Admittedly, I “work” — that is, eat — for about half of my meals. But the other half have been [almost] entirely vegan. And it’s been…
“Dick Stands Up To Parker”: Mayoral-Race Press-Release Headlines We Don’t Need To See
Eric Dick, the mayoral candidate with the annoying signs everywhere, has done it again: Given us a press-release headline that revels in his last name which, if you didn’t realize it, is a common nickname for a penis. “Dick Stands Up To Parker” now joins suck heads as “Parker Afraid…
Rappers Predict The Best & Worst Of BET’s Hip-Hop Awards
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: Preemo, Kyle Hubbard, Brad Gilmore, Medicine Girl, D-Risha, Kiotti, Chane, Renzo, Mic Skills, Young Sensation Not Invited: Everyone…
Brunch On The Island: Mosquito Café
Mosquito Café is housed in a large yet quaint, renovated, two-story, 158-year-old structure in Galveston’s historic East end, a little bit off the beaten path if you’re accustomed to The Strand and Seawall. For 12 years, the cafe has been serving fresh, eclectic food ranging from sandwiches, pasta and salads…
Hooters Trade Secrets, (Possibly) Revealed
A Twin Peaks breastaurant is about to open at the corner of Kirby and the Southwest Freeway, and it is not an homage to the cult-fave TV series. Instead, it is the product of some of the minds that brought us the Hooters chain. (Twin Peaks says it was founded…
A Cooler Coke: Waialua Soda Works Pineapple Natural Soda
Simplicity is a good idea. With simplicity comes focus; with focus comes deliciousness. At least that’s the theory. It’s certainly what lead me to pick up a bottle of Waialua Soda Works Pineapple Natural Soda the other day. I was milling around the deli area of the Midtown Spec’s, trying…
Today’s DVDs: The Presence and Hitchcock
The Presence stars Mira Sorvino and Shane West, Tom Provost directed. The moral to the story in The Presence is never date a girl who has her own live-in ghost. Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino stars as an unnamed woman who relocates to an isolated cabin in the woods to…
Buffalo Bayou Improvements: Pedestrian Bridges & Strolling, Happy People
The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is ready to present the next phase of plans for improvement plans along the waterway, plans that include pedestrian bridges and pavilions. Trudi Smith of the organization tells Hair Balls the latest series of architect’s renderings is based on suggestions from last year’s series of public…
ICP’s Violent J Talks Texas, Faygo & The Juggalo Family
“Texas is my favorite state” Next Tuesday, Detroit’s Insane Clown Posse invades Houston for the third time in as many years for another night of Faygo and Juggalo family fun at Warehouse Live. This will also be Rocks Off’s third jump into that sticky, harrowing breach. The past two years…
The Top 10 Video Game Power-Ups
Recently, Art Attack reached the ultimate milestone. We became a video game reviewer. There are game companies right now who have our name on a list to send us every game they make for free no questions asked in hopes that we will say something nice about it to you…
Tuesday October 4, 2011 Deals of the Day
Today’s VOICE Daily Deal from the Houston Press is good for 50 percent off ($10 for $20) of five small gelato cups at Gelato Blu. The smooth, creamy gelato at Gelato Blu comes in 75 varieties, like chocolate chip, hazelnut and amaretto; try fun flavors like Almond Joy, Bailey’s, or…
UGK’s Top 10 Most Insightful Songs, Part 2
As Rocks Off continues our countdown of UGK’s Most Insightful Tracks, it’s important to point out that this isn’t a “best of” list. Perhaps this is a safer route, but it doesn’t make the list any less important. Especially as we break into the Top 5, the joking in Part…
First Look at Felix 55
The first time I tried to eat at Felix 55, the new Rice Village restaurant with Chef Michael Kramer at the helm, it was utterly packed. The patio was overflowing with guests and music pulsed from inside the restaurant, which is sandwiched between Baker St. Pub and D’Amico’s in the…
“Book Report” in the Bank of America Building, Organized by Kinzelman Art Consulting, Gets an A
As the electronic word slowly usurps the printed word, books are becoming increasingly fetishized. “Book Report,” organized by Kinzelman Art Consulting in the lobby of the Bank of America building, brings together a host of book-related works. Given all the recent bank bailouts (and my personal animosity towards BoA and…
Eddie and Sharon Nichols: Prominent East Texas Cop/Pastor and Wife Charged with Sex Crime
Authorities in the east Texas town of Marshall say a local cop / pastor and his wife, an assistant clerk in the county clerk’s office, committed indecency with a child by contact. Huey Edwards “Eddie” Nichols Jr., 49, and his wife Sharon Nichols, 33, were arrested Friday. Police there say…
Spicy Korean Tofu Soup (Soondubu Jigae) with a Side of Mackerel
You’d think that a restaurant with the name “Tofu House” would be vegetarian, but this only applies outside of Chinatown. Inside Chinatown, where the Asians are, people can tell that a name like Jang Guem Tofu House means that it’s a Korean restaurant serving a spicy Korean hot tofu soup,…
Top 6 Most Underappreciated Hip-Hop Albums, By Le$
This Week’s Rapper: Le$ (pronounced “Less,” though it’s way more fun to call him L-E-dollar sign) This Week’s Topic: Underappreciated albums, mixtapes, songs, etc. Last year, Le$ released a very good mixtape called The Beautiful Struggle. It was almost entirely overlooked. So, we asked L-E-dollar sign to offer up six…
The Scene of A Fantastic Metro Crash: Conveniently, Near Lawyers’ Offices
At around 9 a.m., a dump truck headed eastbound on Capitol was struck by a southbound MetroRail train. The truck was knocked up on the sidewalk, where it came to rest very near the door to Ziggy’s deli. The train derailed, but both vehicles remained upright. A statement from the…
Susan O. Koozin Takes on 7 Roles in Two Acts in Her One-Woman Play at Stages
Tackling a one-person show is tough for any actor – one person alone trying to hold the interest of an audience can be mesmerizing or painful to watch if events take a left turn. But actress Susan O. Koozin was more than intrigued when Stages Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Kenn…
Jordan Schafer (He’s An Astro, People) Arrested On Weed Charge
Jordan Schafer — who you can be forgiven for not knowing is a centerfielder for the Astros — was arrested early this morning on felony marijuana-possession charges in Tampa, Flordia. Tampabay.com reports that he was nabbed in a Cheesecake Factory about 12:30 a.m. today. Schafer, 25, came to the Astros…
Comment of the Day: A Steeler Fan Reacts
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Top 10 Songs About Other Musicians
When you make music your life, it’s only natural that you’d look at the people around you doing the same and find someone who just moistens the muse’s panties. What we’ve tried to put together here is a list of those best efforts. Bear in mind, with one notable exception…
Getting Right Again at Darkhorse
Sunday drinking can be as much of a palliative as it is a worthwhile activity in its own right, and Bloody Marys, despite the massive amounts of salt, are the standard alcoholic treatment for over-consumption. Whoever invented them – and there are a couple theories – is a candidate for…
Top 5 Marketing Techniques That Baffle Us (With One Really Disturbing Picture)
If Art Attack has learned anything from watching Mad Men besides that working drunk is a perfectly viable business stratagem, it’s that there is some real money and art behind marketing. Then there are techniques that are just plain baffling. Maybe they’re really modern art that we’re just too un-hip…
Upcoming: Aretha Franklin, Prince Rama, The Game, Tinariwen, Etc.
Aretha Franklin: Thu., Nov. 17. Arena Theatre. Big Sean, Shawn Christopher: Sun., Dec. 4. Warehouse Live. “Big Star Bar 3rd Anniversary” With Born Again Virgins, Lower Life Form: Sat., Oct. 8. Big Star Bar. Girl In A Coma: Sat., Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m. Cactus Music & Video…
Pop Rocks: For The Gene Simmons-Shannon Tweed Wedding, Her Best VHS Covers (NSFW)
On behalf of all of us here at Art Attack, I’d like to congratulate Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed on the joyous occasion of their marriage. The pair lived together, “happily unmarried,” for 28 years before finally deciding to take the plunge. I have no idea what prompted them to…
The Ever Expanding World of Oreos
With temperatures falling and pumpkins filling the parking lot of Whole Foods, it’s hard not to get excited for autumn and its accompanying pleasures. For me, that’s Halloween Oreos. I’ve always been a fan of “milk’s favorite cookie” and look forward to the time when the lard filling is tinged…
Bunny Time: Playboy Casting Call Comes To Houston
Playboy is looking for new talent in Houston next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The magazine, now in it’s 58th year of shaping the lives and minds of men — and women — of all ages hosts casting calls around the world looking for the next Claire Sinclair or Sara…
Playboy Holding A Casting Call In Houston Next Week
The folks at Playboy are looking for new talent in Houston next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The magazine, now in it’s 58th year of shaping the lives and minds of men – and women – of all ages hosts casting calls around the world looking for the next Claire…
Pop Rocks: Gene Simmons Is A Lucky Man — Our Six Favorite Shannon Tweed VHS Covers (NSFW)
On behalf of all of us here at Art Attack, I’d like to congratulate Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed on the joyous occasion of their marriage. The pair lived together, “happily unmarried,” for 28 years before finally deciding to take the plunge. I have no idea what prompted them to…
Top Five Movies That Influenced Hip-Hop Culture
Rappers love to imagine their lives as movies. They see bits of their lives on the big screen and turn to those cinematic treasures to help them make sense of their immediate environment: “If Tony Montana can rise to meteoric heights, so can I; if Frank Lucas can make it…
Camera Holden, Kinte Garner: Dealing the Bright Blue & Pink Meth, Cops Say
Police in northeast Texas have arrested two men and seized three pounds of unusual meth. Last Friday, police in the town of Canton in Van Zandt County noticed 30-year-old Camera Holden driving erratically on Interstate 20. When they tried to pull him over, Holden gunned it and exited on FM…
100 Creatives: Candy Caine
What She Does: Candy Caine is our first haberdasher. She makes mini top hats, cocktail hats, feather fascinators, bows, barretts, and fluffies. She started drawing upon skills she learned in 7th grade home economics in order to generate some extra money. “I have a problem holding onto normal jobs,” she…
Where Are We Drinking?
At this brand-new restaurant, a few Peruvian influences poke through an otherwise staid menu, including this twist on a Pisco sour. Think you know where we’re enjoying this “scratch cocktail”? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
8 Football Announcing Cliches That Must End Now
We are joyfully deep into the football season, both college and pro, and gobbling up as many games as we can. This means we have been subjected to the latest or the most longlasting bits of coachspeak that get parroted on the air ad nauseam by announcers in the booth…
Comment of the Day: Um, No Thanks
Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a…
Caption This: Football-Fan Headgear
Although they appear to reside on opposite sides of the Steeler-Texans divide, the two men in this screencap from Sunday’s game agree on one thing: Watching football demands odd headgear. Be it a Pittsburgh version of Warrant or the least fear-inducing horned helmet imaginable, they will do what it takes…
Last Night: The Meat Puppets At Fitzgerald’s
The Meat Puppets Fitzgerald’s October 2, 2011 Last night was a special night in Houston, and for a couple of reasons: First, we felt our first taste of autumn, with temperatures dipping into the low 60s; more importantly, in this instance, was the city’s opportunity to see veteran hard-rockers and…
Box 13 Brings a Snuggly Temple-Fortress, A Stinking Kenmore Icebox and a Horror Show
The centerpiece of the new Box 13 exhibit, which opened Saturday night, was “Temple Hive,” an ambitious blanket-fort by Monica Vidal, her second such “hive” installation. This one is golden and shimmery, a quilted skin fitted over an intricate, loopy framework that allows the visitor to step inside and examine…
Houston Texans Game 4: 4 Winners, 4 Losers
It feels like virtually every fall Monday the last two years have been spent listening to callers to my show, co-workers around the office, people around town all saying “same ol’ Texans.” And to be sure, it’s much harder to argue that it hasn’t been “same ol’ Texans” than argue…
Garden & Gun Recognizes Houston In Its Latest [and Largest] Issue
When I attended the James Beard awards ceremony earlier this year in New York City, I found myself sandwiched between Maggie Kennedy and Robb Walsh at the dinner table. Kennedy is the photography director for Garden & Gun, while Walsh has been known to contribute articles to the Southern lifestyle…
Surprise Beyonce Appearance Sends UH Into “Pandemonium”
The University of Houston went into pandemonium this afternoon when a pregnant Beyoncé showed up to surprise her mother Tina Knowles during the latter’s interview for the Living Archives of the school women’s studies collection. Even U of H’s administration had no idea Beyonce was going to show up, but…
Fifth Ward Jam: More than Just Public Art
Texas Johnny Brown has never played on a stage quite like this one before. A haphazard mix of scavenged red, blue, yellow and white wooden planks fan out over the microphones, amps and drum set, forming the recognizable concave shape of a bandshell. The building’s past life is still discernible,…
Last Night: Murs At Fitzgerald’s
Murs, Tabi Bonney, Ski Beatz Fitzgerald’s October 2, 2011 Murs, Tabi Bonney and Ski Beatz dropped into Fitzgerald’s Sunday for an intimate show in the Heights, Murs and Bonney’s second time at Fitz this year. Bonney entered the stage at 10 p.m., wearing white skinny jeans and a red polo…
Three Greek Yogurts
The biggest explosion of supermarket choice seems to be in the dairy aisle, where the small yogurt section has lately become the Wall of Yogurt. I’d been happy enough with Dannon and Yoplait, but then came Fage Greek yogurt, and the inevitable me-too Greek yogurts, so I decided to give…
Dominique Curry, 20, Bayou Body Count No. 151
A man was shot to death in broad daylight in a southside apartment complex Sunday, police say. Dominique Curry, 20, was killed about 3:20 p.m. when he was shot in the parking lot ofthe complex in the 7400 block of Calhoun. He was taken to a hospital where he died…
Crawling In Art: A Weekend of Houston’s Finest Art Leads Us Through Cruise Sites, Brain Experiments and the Studios of Artists Good and Bad
This weekend Houston was abuzz with art. Each year, Winter Street and (now) Spring Street studios open their collective doors for the Annual Artist Exhibition, which is similar the studios’ monthly Second Saturday, but on speed, giving patrons and art lovers the opportunity to see what goes on behind the…
Saturday Night: Roky Erickson At The Continental Club
Roky Erickson Continental Club October 1, 2011 Roky Erickson, the godfather of Texas psychedelic music and one of the state’s most beloved musical figures, has come far since his days of disabling schizophrenia and poor health. Saturday night he roared through an hour of material that spanned his entire catalog…
What’s Cooking This Week?
I can’t believe it’s October already. Since I’ve been pretending it’s fall with my menus but it’s really not, the lineup this week will be a nice mesh of both summer and fall recipes. With my picnic oven fried chicken and coleslaw and my brown butter pumpkin ravioli, you won’t…
Report: Beyonce At U of H RIGHT NOW
Rocks Off’s glitz-tracking colleagues/rivals over at CultureMap are reporting that Beyonce has just dropped in at the University of Houston to watch her mom, designer Tina Knowles, get interviewed for the university’s Women’s Archive and Research Collection. Like, RIGHT NOW, y’all. So is about half of Twitter, as you can…
Texas Roadhouse Discriminates Against Old People, Feds Say
There’s not a lot that’s authentically Texas about the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain — it’s based in Massachusetts, after all — but there are 52 locations here in the state, including a handful in the Houston area. We think we’ve eaten there once, but have forgotten, which says about as…
Splatterfest: The Weekend Report
Check out our slide show. Terrifying things happen outside the 610 Loop. When the zombie apocalypse comes, the first people to go will be actors Michael Biehn and Bruce Campbell, and ground zero will be The Alamo Drafthouse White Oaks. It’s not that they’re unfit to survive or that White…
Wine of the Week: Biodynamic Lees-Aged Grüner Veltliner
Although Nicolas Joly is widely hailed as the father of biodynamic grape-growing and winemaking in Europe today; the Nikolaihof estate in the Wachau region of Austria is generally considered to be the first biodynamic winery in the world. (The pan-agricultural biodynamic movement was founded by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner in…
Music Awards Nomination Ballot Now Online
Get your mouses ready (mice?), because the 2011 Houston Press Music Awards nomination ballot is live, online, and waiting for you fans to fill in your choices. Right now. Before you get started, a few program notes. The final tally of categories is down one this year, from 43 to…
My Table‘s 15th Annual Houston Culinary Awards
“This is a great city to work in,” said Hugo Ortega as he accepted his award for Chef of the Year at last night’s My Table’s Houston Culinary Awards. “And this is truly a great country,” he finished to loud cheers and applause. It was well-deserved recognition for the man…
Dr. Brown’s Letters to Sophie, Volume III: The Key to an Awesome Orgasm
We’re guessing many fathers might feel uncomfortable discussing sex with their daughters. And it’s a real shame, because, based on what we’re reading in Dr. Michael Brown’s “Letters to Sophie,” telling your daughter that the key to a happy, successful marriage is to fuck your husband a lot, is in…
The Week in TV: More Arrested Development! Kind of! Eventually!
Has anybody in this family even seen a chicken? This was the week in TV Land: • At the New Yorker Festival over the weekend, the reunited cast and creators of Arrested Development announced that they’d be bringing the show back for a shortened season of 10 or so episodes…
Did Steeler Fans Take Over Reliant Again? And Can This Now Stop?
Everyone knows the Pittsburgh Steeler fans travel better than any NFL team outside of the Cowboys. But the Texans are a real team now, we’re told, and they certainly dominated the Steelers yesterday to a degree that the scoreboard doesn’t indicate. So why was Reliant Stadium feeling so much like…
Hanging Plants, Hot Pink and Happy Hour: “Salon of Beauty” at Rice Gallery
Art Attack dodged the raindrops last Thursday to make it inside of Rice Gallery for the opening of Ana Serrano’s installation exhibition, “Salon of Beauty,” which was packed. The installation is a recreation of the urban landscape. Each building the artist created for her mini “city” is its own piece…
Saturday Night: Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald At Verizon
Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald Verizon Wireless Theater October 1, 2011 Now, Classic Rock Bob doesn’t want to come off as some sort of out-of-touch curmudgeon (“What do you mean you don’t sell cassettes anymore? Hey! You kids get off my lawn!”), but one of the reasons to love classic…
Project Runway Alum Chris March Brings “Mad Fashion” to Bravo Network
Longtime Project Runway fans are sure to remember the big, happy-go-lucky costume designer-cum-Project Runway finalist Chris March. One of the most popular contestants in show history, March’s designs were memorable, if not always tasteful. His genial attitude and quick wit made him a favorite among fans and contestants alike and…
Baked Salmon Salad Sandwich at Kenny & Ziggy’s
The subtitle of this post might be “Expedition Egg Salad Fail.” As part of my Expedition Egg Salad series, I was going to try the egg salad sandwich at Kenny and Ziggy’s. Bruce R and others have rightfully pointed out that their ESS isn’t cheap, but having sold a bulk…
Finally, We Have A County Commissioner Named Cactus Jack
If you’re going to replace a roguish rascal like Jerry Eversole on the powerful commissioners court, which you pretty much have to since he’s entered a guilty plea in a corruption trial, how better to do it than with someone named Cactus Jack? Keeps the whole sophisticated world-class feel of…
Saturday Night: Vicente Fernández At Toyota Center
Vicente Fernández, Edith Marquez Toyota Center October 1, 2011 If Aftermath were forced to assign Mexican equivalents to famous Anglo and/or American musicians, the list would go like this: Los Tigres del Norte = The Beatles Maná = The Rolling Stones Vicente Fernández = Elvis, Frank Sinatra & Johnny Cash…
Victor Molinares, 30, Bayou Body Count No. 150
A man who was found lying on the side of a Gulfton road told police he had been shot several times by unknown assailants. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Victor Molinares, 30, was discovered in the 6600 block of Ashcroft about 2:15 a.m. Sunday, police say…
Fast Times Snack Attack: Starbucks Cheese & Fruit Bistro Box
Bad planning and Houston traffic led to my latest Fast Times adventure. I had a full day of meetings and errands planned out, and I knew I would be gone for hours. I have been on quite the health kick lately, so I even brown-bagged some healthy snacks: fruits, veggies,…
Galveston! The Musical! Not Ready for Broadway
The set-up: There is nothing in this world premiere, produced by Masquerade Theatre, that approaches the program cover art. Two men (the Maceo brothers, Rose and Sam) stand at pier’s end with an expanse of water leading to a strip of island beyond. Seagulls fly overhead. Sleeves rolled up, they…
5 Other Stephen King Novels That Could Use Sequels
Recently, Stephen King announced that we could expect a sequel to one of his best books ever, 1977’s haunted house masterpiece the Shining. The follow-up, titled Doctor Sleep, examines psychic Danny Torrance as a grown man of 40. He now uses his abilities to ease the deaths of hospice patients…
Top 5 Food Inspired Moments in Television
Food and television. My two favorite things in life. I mean, besides family and friends, of course. Anyway, some of the greatest scenes in television are based around food, as evidenced by this season’s rum-ham filled It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode. Feeling inspired myself, I made a list of…
Cougars, Owls, and Memories of Buddy Ryan
One of the most memorable images for any Houston Oilers fan is of Buddy Ryan throwing a punch at Kevin Gilbride on the sidelines of a Sunday night football game. Ryan, the Oilers defensive coordinator, had been critical of offensive coordinator Gilbride’s playcalling the entire season, and as the halftime…
Friday Night: Incubus At The Woodlands
Incubus Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion September 30, 2011 Aftermath’s dirty little theory is that Incubus is probably one of the most critically underrated modern-rock bands of the past decade. Or, they are justly compartmentalized as a blustery Southern California group whose dreamboat lead singer in Brandon Boyd has enough snaky…
Comment of the Day: Lord of the Rings
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
The Hottest Women in Children’s Television
We watch a lot of children’s programming in the House With One F. It’s gotten to the point that if Dora the Explorer hasn’t commented on a current event, then we haven’t heard about it. Still, it does hypnotize the offspring long enough to wet yourself with a sponge, take…
Gothic Council Presents the Best Goth Music Videos
Gothtopia spent last weekend on a beach dressed in designer black looking sad at the waves… for a purpose, we swear. Despite having been a musician in Houston for quite a while, it was our first music-video shoot. Well, unless you count this one, which isn’t so much a music…
Whitney: Unfunniest Show Ever?
For a while now, NFL games and websites have been cluttered with ads for Whitney, a new sitcom starring an apparently wacky young comedienne who was — wait for it — edgy, oh so edgy, that she would blow your socks off. The star, Whitney Cummings, is pretty, but we…
Where Are We Eating?
This is a special edition of Where Are We Eating, as the donuts you see below are no regular donuts. You can only get these by ordering them from a certain local baker, and that’s because they’re both vegan and gluten-free. (Yes, even the chocolate and the sprinkles.) Even better:…
“Mary McCleary: A Survey 1996-2011” Is Well-Crafted and Wonderfully Obsessive, But There’s Something Missing
The Art League Houston named Mary McCleary Artist of the Year and is presenting a jam-packed 15-year survey of her work. McCleary is widely known for her collages, which incorporate “paint, paper, rag board, foil, glitter, sticks, wire, mirrors, pencils, nails, glass, painted toothpicks, string, leather, lint, small plastic toys…
Texans 17, Steelers 10: No Longer Bullied, These Texans Are The Bullies
See more pics from the Texans’ third win in our slideshow. Led by a dynamic running game and relentless pass rush, the Texans beat and bullied defending AFC champion Pittsburgh to the point that Ben Roethlisberger compared the Texans to the Ravens. Wait, what? “That defense is physical,” Roethlisberger said…
Bettye Fitzpatrick, Alley actress, former company member, dies
Alley Theatre has just announced that longtime beloved company member — the self-described “walking file cabinet” — Bettye Fitzpatrick died today at the age of 79. Fitzpatrick spent “53 years with the Alley as a stage manager, production manager, director of interns and most notably a member of the Acting…
HPD Sting Snags HBU Cop with Coke
A three-year veteran of the Houston Baptist University police force has been fired and now faces first-degree felony drug charges after the Houston Police Department caught him in a sting operation yesterday. According to the Harris County District Attorney’s office, HPD had received a tip that an HBU cop was…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we’ve filled a vacationing co-worker’s cubicle with gummi bears. Ah, delicious whimsy! Good thing it’s cooled off a little; last time we tried this back in July, she came back to a cubicle full of piping hot rainbow-colored…
Carlos Lee May Retire…
…after his contract is up next year! There, now you know how I felt yesterday when I read that headline. In this day and age where there are so many different places to swallow up news, we see tweets or vague headlines and the human tendency is to fill in…
Guys and Dolls from TUTS: a Brilliant Revival
The setup: Damon Runyon’s sharply etched portrait of clandestine gamblers is brought to vivid stage life in Guys and Dolls, the Tony Award-winning, long-running B’way hit of 1950, and the current revival from Theatre Under the Stars reminds us of the glory that once was Broadway. The execution: Outside of…
10 Things You May Not Know About G N’ R’s Use Your Illusion Albums
For the past few weeks, the music world has been firmly entrenched in Nirvana nostalgia. Hell, even Rocks Off took a crack at it, looking up all the expensive memorabilia on eBay related to the band. But in September 1991, another album hit the store shelves that had a lot…
There’s a New Ann in Town: Ann Taylor to Open New Concept Store in The Woodlands
Ann Taylor, the popular purveyor of women’s classic career-chic fashions for more than 50 years, is opening a new concept store, one of only a select few in the country, in The Woodlands Mall in October. This new, updated version of Ann characterizes the sophisticated style of the modern, fashion…
Bank of America Debit Card Fee Hike Just the Beginning
In case you hadn’t heard, Bank of America announced that, beginning in 2012, it was going to begin charging $5 per month for account holders who used their debit cards for retail transactions. The move is in response to the federal government via the Dodd-Frank bank reform law putting a…
Protecting Trees During the Drought: The Good News and the Bad News
The drought has taken its toll on Houston area plant life of all kinds, but the potential damage this drought could cause to trees seems to generate the most worry among residents. Despite the fact that people who have never visited Houston have the impression we are a dusty cow…
The Houston Press Underground Rap Awards, Vol. 3
We are 75 percent of the way through with 2011, and somehow it is still unclear: a) Which underground rapper is having the best year; b) Which is the best underground rap song of the year; c) Which underground rapper has had the best verse of the year; d) Which…
Project Runway: So-so Attempts to Sew ’70s
This week on Project Runway: The designers are charged with creating sophisticated, ’70s-inspired fashion; Viktor worries that the other designers are going to start getting catty; Viktor’s catty side comes out. There are seven designers left on Project Runway and the claws are coming out. In the opening montage Viktor…
5 Restaurant Names that Baffle Us
Topolobampo. momofuku ssäm bar. DGHGDDUGDUWYVEFDNT. Bizarrely named — yet entirely successful — restaurants abound in every corner of the world. I’m not talking about unintentionally silly names like Hung Far Low, Flavors of Negros or Kum Den. And I’m not talking about intentional double-entendres like Big Red Cock or Twin…
Today at Splatterfest: Jacob, by Houston’s Larry Wade Carrell
Jacob Preproduction Trailer from Stacy Davidson on Vimeo. Getting to work with a childhood idol is just one of the highlights of shooting the horror film Jacob for Houston-based filmmaker/actor Larry Wade Carrell. The idol in question is actor/director Michael Biehn of The Terminator, Tombstone and Alien. “I used to…
Doctor Wants Ring Back, Doesn’t Want Mexicans
Wow, talk about having something blow up in your face: On Thursday, the Chron reported on the lawsuit filed by Dr. Craig Fischer against his ex-fiancee, wherein he demanded she return a $73,000 engagement ring. He also accused Nichole Johnson of defaming him to “thousands” of friends on Facebook by…
UGK’s Top 10 Most Insightful Songs, Part 1
There’s a big difference between being a fanatic and fan of someone’s music. We all know this, but let’s spell it out for the slow kids in class. For instance, Rocks Off is a fanatic of Death Cab for Cutie. We love their deep cuts as much as the widely…
How to: Make Homemade Applesauce
Apple season is here, and I love me some apples. I am a big fan of baking with them (apple crisp a la mode = heaven), but who knew applesauce was so easy to make? And why didn’t anyone tell me until now? At my sister’s suggestion, I gave homemade…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: Machine Gun Preacher
Title: Machine Gun Preacher Jesus Jones, Is That Poster For Real? Mock if you must, but it might do the best job representing the actual contents of the film of any poster since Snakes On A Plane. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: One RPG out of five…
The X Factor: “Stop Messin’ With My Mom”
I admit that I am amazed the ratings for The X Factor started off low and have continued to drop. While the show has its share of product placement, campy/terrible auditions, and judges’ table drama, they stick mostly to talented singers and have limited the audition rounds to a very…
BestFest: All Its Awesomeness Captured in Video Form
We’re just finally getting over the fatigue that comes along with 48 hours of great music, tasty-licious food and damn good times at BestFest, probably one of the best parties we’ve ever thrown. If you missed any of the bands, we’ve now got video documenting the epic weekend festival. Favorite…
Odd Pair: Wine Pairings for Fast Food (Part I)
“Sonic, a drive-in chain a based in Oklahoma City,” reported The New York Times this week, “added beer and wine to the menu in its new Homestead, Fla., location in July. The addition was based on nearby restaurants’ menus, and it was meant to bring in customers at night, said…
Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald: Smoothest Of The Smooth
For fans of ’70s classic rock, it was the equivalent of three comic book heroes coming together in one Super Smooth Team when Boz Scaggs, ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, and Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen announced last year that they would do a short tour as “The Dukes of September.” The…
Person of Interest: “Ghosts” in the Machine
As you’ll recall from last week, Jim Caviezel plays the Man With No Name…well, we actually found out his name. It’s Reese, and he was evidently a spook of some ability in his past life. Michael Emerson plays Finch, the Mysterious Billionaire who designed a machine that measures calamitous intent…
Two Sets of Human Bones Found in Houston Area in the Past Week
There have been two separate reports of skeletal remains found in the Houston area over the past week. The first set of bones was found September 24 by the U.S. Forestry Service in the National Forest in Montgomery County. The remains were found near Forest Service Road 234 off of…
Month of Muertos: The Week in Art Photos
It’s time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston’s creative community. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool…
Last Night: Kyuss Lives! & The Sword At Warehouse Live
Kyuss Lives!, The Sword Warehouse Live September 29, 2011 The reason Aftermath always liked Kyuss was because they sounded sure of themselves, almost arrogant. They weren’t timid, but cocksure. Every record we have ever owned from them, all of them, from Wretch, Blues for the Red Sun, Welcome to Sky…
Upcoming Events: Ghetto Dinners, Gulf Repasts and Movies in the Park
At least one good thing has come out of our list of 100 Favorite Dishes so far: This deal from Brennan’s, in which the restaurant is offering a special deal on its shrimp and grits, our No. 9 favorite dish. Brennan’s is extending its current $99 deal — which includes…
BestFest Not, Repeat Not, Passing Bad Checks
Due to a formatting error, some checks issued to vendors for this past weekend’s Houston Press Best of Houston® BestFest were rejected by the bank. But they’re not bad checks. Although the date on the paper checks read 2011, they were accidentally marked in our computer system as 2007. That’s…
Eric Paul Morgan: Veteran Houston Robber / Thief Comes to Grief in Navasota
After a short multi-county crime spree, including an armed home invasion in Lufkin and a bank robbery in Navasota, Eric Paul Morgan sits in the Grimes County Jail. He’s already been charged with bank robbery, and Lufkin police are in the process of getting a warrant for the home invasion…
The X Factor: Final Audition Rounds
I admit that I am amazed the ratings for The X Factor started off low and have continued to drop. While the show has its share of product placement, campy/terrible auditions and judges’ table drama, they stick mostly to talented singers and have limited the audition rounds to a very…
Brew Blog: Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life and Limb 2
I had been pretty excited to get my hands on this one, ever since seeing breathless tweets announcing its arrival in Houston. To be honest, I’m not a particular fan of either brewery, finding Sierra Nevada to be solid but uninspiring, and Dogfish to be somewhat erratic. Of course, it’s…
Full Swag For DJ Screw & Framboise; Half Swag For Riff Raff
One of the many things we love about Houston is the diversity of its music. For instance, on Tuesday night we went to Mango’s to see Psychic Palms and Mikey & The Drags, two of our favorite local garage-rock bands. After The Drags performed their cover for “Then He Kissed…
Weather Roundup: Rain, Hail and Cooler Temperatures
Walking out of the Houston Press offices last night around 6:30 p.m., there was a noticeable difference in temperature from the last time I had been out at lunch and a funny feeling of water dropping on my head. Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as rain. Thunderstorms rumbled…
Health Department Roundup: Schoolhouse Edition
The Health Department inspected a number of schools last week. Each school inspection yields at least a couple reports – one for the kitchen and one for the premises. Usually there’s not much going on in the way of violations, but we’ll do our best with what we have. Ridgecrest…
Community: The U.N. Is Pointless in All Possible Worlds
Community is a true ensemble show: Instead of treating the group as one generic body, the writers give us seven clearly defined individuals who grow and change over time. The main story in this week’s episode, “Geography of Global Conflict,” was about Annie’s latest baby step toward the adult world,…
Last Night: Skrillex At Verizon Wireless Theater
See pics from the official Skrillex afterparty at Rich’s. Skrillex, 12th Planet, Foreign Beggars Verizon Wireless Theater September 29, 2011 Dubstep is to music what the Oakland Raiders are to the NFL. It’s as if a gigantic group of people got together and, as a whole, screamed, “Forget your system,…
Comment of the Day: Parker Afraid of Dick
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Vegetarian Day is October 1, Celebrate with a Burger!
Omnivores, grab your favorite herbivore and head to The Counter. The Washington Ave. burger joint, as well as the Woodlands location, will be celebrating Vegetarian Day on Saturday, October 1, with their “Veg Out at The Counter” promotion. Customers will receive a complimentary mini veggie burger with any burger purchase…
Theater LaB’s Debbie Does Dallas, the Musical Offers Plenty of Laughs, But Needs More Characterization
The setup: Take the classic hardcore porn movie, soften it with music, overlay it with an ironic, all-American, can-do attitude, and this is what you get: a goofy G-rated XXX. The execution: Actress and entrepreneur Susan Schwartz saw gold when she optioned the 1978 porn classic and brought it to…
The End is Nigh: 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Edition
Mason Lankford said, “There will come a day when we forget the Rapture ever even happened,” but Rocks Off is keeping an eye out for signs of our impending Armageddon. We were wrong last time, but we’re totally right this time! Once again the time has come to select the…
Week in Photos: Dust Bowl
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. We’re looking for pictures that represent the best of Houston, from food to art to events, to secret hidden spots of beauty. Just drop them in our Flickr…
Houston Artist Dixie Friend Gay’s Public Art Project Accepted, then Rejected, in Florida
It all seemed like a go. Last year, Houston artist Dixie Friend Gay submitted a proposal for a public art project to go up at the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport. She was among a handful of artists picked from around 300 submissions to fly to Florida and meet…
Z-Ro’s Meth Puts Him Back In Crack Form
Three years ago, Z-Ro, man turned machine turned man, released Crack, the first in his semi-appreciated “Drug Albums” series. And it was splendid; courageous, aggressive, ambitious, more. Nobody anticipated it then, but it ended up being the last time last time he allowed himself to sound vulnerable on a proper…
Football! Weekend’s Best Bets (No, Really!)
I realized something in the last 48 hours. I am a big fan of the Boston Red Sox, which means by sports fan definition, I should be on suicide watch right now. I mean, “my team” just pulled off the biggest September choke in MLB history with a soul-crushing ninth…
100 Creatives: James Ferry
What he does: James Ferry tells stories. Often that means writing a script, sometimes it means crafting comic books, and at others it encompasses filming those tales. “I am not concerned about what medium I use to tell whatever story I am thinking at the time; I don’t see much…
Openings & Closings: Of Pinkberry, Pollo Campero and Prego
All the big news is down south this week, starting with the big news from Galveston that two old favorites have reopened. B4-U-Eat reports that The Diner will reopen for business on Monday, October 3, after being closed for nearly three years, one of Hurricane Ike’s many victims on the…
Hayes Carll Leaving Lost Highway After Declining Option
As if we haven’t heard enough news about what trouble the major labels are having and the changing business model for labels and artists, Rocks Off learned over the weekend that Hayes Carll is leaving Universal Americana imprint Lost Highway. According to Carll’s longtime manager, Mike Crowley, label head Luke…
Wanda Trombley, 56, Bayou Body Count No. 149
Remains found September 22 in Pasadena have been identified as Wanda Trombley, 56, who had been missing since July. Trombley was last seen in the 200 block of Harris Road. The remains were found in the 6100 block of Red Bluff. No other information was available. The investigation is being…
Wednesday Was the Best Night of Baseball Ever, and We Have Dan Shaughnessy to Thank (w/ VIDEO)
Well, they say that if you’re playing in a game that matters on the final game of the season, that’s all you can hope for. The Astros were playing in a game that mattered last night; unfortunately, it mattered only for the opposition. For the Astros, last night’s two-hit shutout…
Comment of the Day: What Is Your Favorite Dish?
Here on Eating Our Words, the commenters absolutely make the blog, and our Comment of the Day honors the best of the bunch. Every day, we read you guys and pick the commenter, or commenters, who made us laugh, cry, salivate over something delicious, or think about things in a…
Severe Storms, Hail Moving Through the Area
So, you wanted some rain, eh? Well, here you go. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Harris and Montgomery counties. Strong storms that include heavy rain, damaging winds and even hail are moving through the area from the north ahead of an expected cold front…
Free METRORAIL Rides to and from Reliant Park for Texans Home Games
Traffic around any sports stadium can be a serious pain on game day, so Reliant has teamed up with METRO to provide free light rail rides to and from Reliant Park for every Texans home game in the regular season. Free rides begin at 5:30 a.m. on game day and…
Eight Businesses We Expect Will Be Getting Custom Texas License Plates Soon
We recently wrote about a new crop of Texas license plates with a variety of themes, most of them sports related. One of the designs, however, was for the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain that isn’t even based in the Lone Star State. We certainly understand the passion of a sports fan, but…
Josefus, Houston’s First Metal Band, Reuniting Saturday
When Lonesome, Onry and Mean moved to the Bayou City in 1968, it wasn’t long before we stumbled upon what would become our favorite local band of that period: Josefus. They were known for playing free shows that would last a couple of hours and for a 20-minute version of…
100 Favorite Dishes: No. 1, Cheese Enchiladas at Los Dos Amigos
This year leading up to our annual Best of Houston issue, we’re counting down our 100 favorite dishes in Houston. This list comprises our favorite dishes from the last year, dishes that are essential to Houston’s cultural landscape and/or dishes that any visitor (or resident) should try at least once…
You Can Do It, Autumn! 5 Green Spaces to Relax in Houston When the Weather Drops
We’re big fans of Japanese gardens. Their minimalism shows us what’s possible with the less showy plants that typically grow well in Houston, like aspidistra or cast iron plants, iris, monkey grass and crepe myrtles. So we’re also big fans of the Japanese garden in Hermann Park. Hidden and humble,…
Oh Lawd: New Phone App to Tell You If Your Son Is Gay
This week a new app hit the Android market, aimed at helping families figure out once and for all if their sons are homosexual or not. The app, costing $1.99 on my phone, opens with a stark black and white photo of a worried mother, looking into the middle distance…
Bartender Chat: Sarah Daniel of The Davenport
It’s early on a Friday night at The Davenport , but there’s already a pretty decent crowd. The interior is dark, almost romantic, lit by candlelight and a faux fireplace. Throw a bearskin rug on the floor, and I bet some people would forget they’re in public. A few folks…
Drivers Protest as Metro Contract Negotiations Grind to Halt
Union members lined the north and east side of Metro’s downtown headquarters this morning — a prime visibility location for those taking the light rail to work — to protest the breakdown in contract negotiations between Metro’s leadership and members of the Transportation Workers Union Local 260. At issue is…
Dark Humor Lights Up Helen Altman’s Fiery Works at Moody Gallery
It’s like she’s psychic. The nature and fire imagery in Helen Altman’s show, done way before the rash of Texas wildfires, was nothing if not prescient. Of course, it’s not like it came out of nowhere — Altman has an abiding interest in the natural world, and she’s done drawings…
45 Years Of The Chevy Camaro In Rock & Roll
Today is the 45th birthday of the Chevrolet Camaro, a car we may never own but respect just the same. It’s not that we hate Camaros, because you are reading the writings of an avowed Chevy man, but we are scared that if we bought a Camaro, we would quit…
CM Jones Review Panel: No Council Action Needed, but OIG Investigation Kinda Lame
The three-member review panel charged with deciding whether Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones violated the city’s ethics code found that she showed “extremely poor judgment” by including her council office number on a card advising people of their rights under the U.S. Constitution, and stated that some other violations alleged…
Mango Frozen Yogurt at (You Guessed It) Red Mango
Prior to last week, I had been to Yogurtland, Berripop, and Swirll but not Red Mango. Not that I had anything against the chain. It did, however, always strike me as odd and a bit disappointing that “mango” wasn’t one of their standard flavors. But they’re presently offering it “for…
Michael Biehn’s Love Affair with Houston
Michael Biehn Love Affair with Houston If you see actor/director Michael Biehn wearing an I ♥ Houston T-shirt at Splatterfest on Friday, he’s got good reason to. Biehn acted in and made his directorial debut in the horror film The Victim. When he was in town last August for an…
Twin Miami Sound Machines Drive HBO’s Latino List
Rocks Off is on the phone with perhaps one of the great photographers of this era, critically acclaimed and award-winning photojournalist Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. His brainchild, The Black List – a collection of intimate, up-close photos of the great black leaders and personalities of our time – came to life on…
Whole Wheat Couscous Pudding with Dried Cranberries and Honey
Reading about Mark Bittman’s savory oatmeal inspired me to try a similar flavor reversal with couscous. I love the texture of couscous, especially the whole-wheat variety, which is nuttier and more filling. After some online research and small-batch experimentation, I settled on a semi-healthful recipe for a sweet whole wheat…
Dis-Astros Season Mercifully Comes to an End and That’s the Good News
Early in spring training, some cockeyed optimists probably opined to one another about how if things went just right for the Astros this year, well dad gummit, we could have ourselves quite the little season. And then reality kicked in. The Astros ended their season last night with their 106th…
The X Factor: A Host, A Pussycat Doll & A “Creep”
As I settled in to watch The X Factor last night, my husband asked me, “Who is that British guy?” and I said, “Um, that’s Simon Cowell, honey. From American Idol? A show we watched for like, five years?” And my husband said, “Um, no, the other British guy -…
This Doghouse Is Nicer Than My Apartment
There’s a reason “in the doghouse” became a metaphor for a bad situation, as the term is generally associated with a dirty plywood shack behind the garage filled with dust and insects and lord knows what else. That is, unless the phrase refers to one of the canine domiciles featured…
Beer-quila at El Gran Malo
Deschutes Brewery in Portland makes a hop-infused cheesecake for its brewpub menu. Charbay Winery & Distillery in California makes a hop-infused whiskey. New Holland Brewing in Michigan makes a hop-infused whiskey that it calls Hopquila. But the gang at El Gran Malo are making the real thing: hop-infused tequila. The…
National Illegal Immigrant Sting Nets Over 2,900 Convicted Criminals, 125 in Houston
On Wednesday, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the results of its “Cross Check” enforcement operation targeting convicted criminals who are also illegal immigrants. The sting conducted in all 50 states netted 2,901 criminals, including 125 in the Houston area. The seven-day operation was the largest of its kind…
Five Worse Professions To Date Than Musician
They may be sexy as hell, but musicians are notoriously impossible to date. They sleep all day and party all night, and travel around for months on end, often in the company of drugs, alcohol, and eager women. Take issue with a flirtatious gesture made towards a female audience member…
Up All [Saturday] Night [Live]: Chris Brings the Sexy Back, Plus an Extended “Lonely Island” Skit
We all have our prejudices. They’re the very personal and quite possibly irrational dislikes (or perhaps outright hatreds) that make open and honest dialogue with our fellow human beings so difficult at times. The real problems arise when these prejudices are based on assumptions instead of experience. I’d wager many…
Would You Like Some Cheese with That Beer?
Greg Engert, the only beer expert ever to be named Sommelier of the Year in 2010 by Food and Wine Magazine, first got his interest in fine craft beers from his father. After he studied abroad in Munich and Dublin, his taste for international brewing developed. Engert now works with…
NBA Lockout Could End or Season Could Be Canceled This Weekend
The continuing NBA lockout may be coming to a head this weekend as talks between representatives for the players and owners resume on Friday. Training camps around the league have been canceled as have some preseason games, and if talks were to break off this weekend with no resolution to…
The X Factor: Did You Know This Show Has a Host?
As I settled in to watch The X Factor last night, my husband asked me, “Who is that British guy?” and I said, “Um, that’s Simon Cowell, honey. From American Idol? A show we watched for like, five years?” And my husband said, “Um, no, the other British guy –…
Last Night: Mango Punch! Celebrates 20 Years
Mango Punch! 20th Anniversary Concert Talento Bilingüe de Houston September 28, 2011 If you felt the earth shake last night, it was because one of Houston’s most popular performers, Walter Suhr, was on stage with the original members of Mango Punch! celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary. Coming together for a…
Republicans Dominate Democrats…in Tweeting
Our modern technological age has created a lot of new ways to communicate with others. For some, these means seem cold and impersonal. For those who use them regularly, they are simply another option for sending messages into the giant black hole of data that is the Internet. For politicians,…
$1 Jello Shots at Sunny’s Bar
A good jello shot can bring out the kid in anyone. “You’re supposed to loosen the sides with your tongue so you can get at the jello,” my friend told me as I held the little plastic cup against my mouth , trying to suck out the contents in vacuum…
Everybody Dies: 5 Signs House Is Over
We’re huge TV fans at Art Attack, but we hold a special place in our hearts for Dr. Gregory House. For seven years, the brilliant curmudgeon has lied, deduced, cracked wise, reasoned and sexually harassed his way into becoming one of the most compelling characters on television, a 21st-century echo…
Trae Tha Truth Opening Emergency Children’s Shelter
Trae tha Truth is a rapper. And a community leader. It’s starting to get hard to decide which of those phrases should go first when you’re talking about him. Earlier this year, he released Street King, arguably the most imposing musical project any Houstonian has put out this year. It…
Pop Rocks: Andy Rooney Is Retiring. You Won’t Miss Him.
If a crabby, unpleasant nonagenarian who ceased being relevant 20 years ago retires from broadcasting, does the collective sigh of relief make a sound? Andy Rooney will announce on Sunday’s “60 Minutes” that it will be his last regular appearance on the newsmagazine. Rooney, 92, has been featured on the…
Top 5 Songs About Coffee To Celebrate National Coffee Day!
National Coffee Day is September 29. Most of us can’t function without our morning cup, whether it’s black, loaded with sugar and cream, or one of those $10 fancy-pants 20-ouncejobs. It’s part of our morning routine, it’s a ritual, it warms our souls and gets us moving. It’s a social…
Elizabeth Ashley Comes to the Alley for Dividing the Estate
Famed actress Elizabeth Ashley is back in Houston, preparing for her starring role in Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate at the Alley Theatre. Art Attack had a few questions for the actress known as much for her candor as her longevity and famous voice. Art Attack: Are you doing Dividing…
Pop Rocks: Good Night (And Good Riddance), Andy Rooney
If a crabby, unpleasant nonagenarian who ceased being relevant 20 years ago retires from broadcasting, does the collective sigh of relief make a sound? Andy Rooney will announce on Sunday’s “60 Minutes” that it will be his last regular appearance on the newsmagazine. Rooney, 92, has been featured on the…
The Song Stylings Of The Modern Presidents
For reasons better not gone into, Rocks Off has been running around YouTube searching for presidents singing, rapping, and otherwise making music, and YouTube delivered as usual. It’s like the Web site is a kind of third-rate God that answers every prayer, but only with penis jokes and Rick Astley,…
Comment of the Day: James Edwin Durham
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Romanian-Sounding Family Charged in $1.6M Gandhi District Gold Heist
Police are seeking four family members in connection with a brazen September 4 heist at an Indian-American jewelry store on Hillcroft. Police say Ion Miclescu, Ileana Miclescu, Mirela Miclescu and Constantin Miclescu (and at least three other accomplices) made off with over $1.6 million in gold and jewels. According to…
100 Creatives: Sean Ozz
What He Does: Sean Ozz is a freelance tattoo artist who works by special appointment in North Houston, though he does travel frequently to California at the special request of favored clients. “It’s not an art form to just dabble in. It’s a do-or-die kind of lifestyle choice. Would you…
Best of Houston® 2011: Now In Handy Map Form!
View Best of Houston® 2011 Food & Drink Winners in a larger map By now, you’ve hopefully had time to peruse this year’s Best of Houston® winners in the food and drink category. If not, then we’ve put together a handy map (above) with all of the winners listed, for…
Throne of Death
Proving that everything really does depend on your point of view, Indian director Murali Nair’s film Throne of Death presents capital punishment as an honor bestowed on a lucky few. Throne of Death, which was awarded the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1999, is a scathing satire centered on the…
Fifth Ward Jam
Creative partners Dan Havel and Dean Ruck — the pair responsible for the funnel structure at the Art League of Houston site before construction on the new ALH building began — have been busy for the last several months building a stage that’s as much a work of art as…
Guys and Dolls
Former Miss America Susan Powell was a classically trained singer, but opted for musical theater over opera because (a) she didn’t want to starve, and (b) the only way to avoid (a) was to work in Europe, which she didn’t want to do that early on in her career. But…
Galveston, The Musical
Houstonians may think Galveston has always been a sleepy little laid-back island. But take a look at the island’s history, and you’ll see that’s hardly the case. Galveston has a colorful history, one that’s been turned into a sultry Broadway-style musical making its world premiere here. Galveston! The Musical follows…
Manhattan Short Film Fest
The Manhattan Short Film Festival does more than just screen films; it gives viewers the chance to be part of a worldwide jury. Ten finalists will be screened at each festival site on six continents. Dik, a comedy that examines the paranoid reactions of a father who interprets his son’s…
Ether Dome
Have you had much surgery? Can you imagine having it without pain relief?That’s what director Michael Wilson uses to emphasize the importance of the story told in Ether Dome, the new three-act play premiering at the start of the Alley Theatre’s 65th season. But beyond a purely medical story, Ether…
“Large — Scale: The Painting Show”
Gallery owner Wade Wilson knows some people see abstract art like the works he’s exhibiting in “Large — Scale: The Painting Show” and scoff, “My kid could do that.” That’s because they don’t see what Wilson sees: the movement, the spirit, the emotion that the artists convey through the minimal…
Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most beloved musical, Phantom of the Opera, turns 25 this year, and to celebrate, Ramin Karimloo (the Phantom) and Sierra Boggess (Christine) will lead some 200 of the show’s current and former singers and musicians in a lavish concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The performance will…
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
There’s a whole subgenre of horror movies that involve dark nights, the woods and groups of horny, not-too-bright teens. Of course, there’s usually a gap-toothed, overall-wearing redneck wielding a big-ass butcher knife hunting the kids down. Not so in the horror comedy Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. Here, the good…
Leigh Anne Lester: “Beautiful Freaks/Nature’s Bastards”
Artist Leigh Anne Lester puts as much effort into her titles as her works themselves. Take the piece Crocboleaparsempeustusgiaervivum Zpnaluriaspetecttusduraorum pictured here, a silk on silk embroidery piece showing a purple flower sprouting from a gold bulb, all set against a muted blue background. It’s one of the embroidery efforts…
Vault: ConTornTion
Choreographer/dancer Amy Ell has been defying gravity for more than 20 years. Often using aerial silks, bungees, counterweights and harnesses, she’s created dances that are as much about flying through the air as moving across a stage. The newly completed Torn is part of today’s performance Vault: Con Torn Tion,…
“Great New Work”
Naming an art show “Great New Work,” as the Joanna has, could be seen as pretentious, but this exhibit totally walks the walk. The Joanna’s latest group show features pieces, in a variety of media, made by a talented quartet of creative types that includes two locals and two out-of-towners,…
Republic Day
Playwright/director Tom Stell has a dark tale to tell in his new play Republic Day, currently making its world premiere at Obsidian Art Space. Presented by Big Head Productions, Republic Day was inspired by recent events in Yugoslavia. The play takes place in a fictional republic where two groups of…
“You Are Your Own Twin”
It helps if you know a little bit about history when you see Robert Pruitt’s “You Are Your Own Twin.” Currently a visiting professor at Texas Southern University, Pruitt based the drawings in the show on W.E.B. Du Bois’s idea of double consciousness. African Americans have a dual identity, Pruitt…
“Monkey Men in Tin Town”
Artist Jimmy Houston draws what he calls “cartoonish varmints” — that is, animals, robots and other odd, funny, imaginary characters. For his new show, “Monkey Men in Tin Town,” his assortment of odd beings will take over the entire ZEN Art Space Gallery for two days. Houston, who was a…
Anna in the Tropics
Nilo Cruz’s 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Anna in the Tropics is a glorious tale. Set in Tampa during the 1920s, the play recounts the story of a group of cigar workers. During their hours processing tobacco and rolling cigars, they’re entertained by a lector, someone who reads to them to…
Houston Symphony: Watts Plays Beethoven’s Emperor
He was only 16 years old when famed conductor Leonard Bernstein plucked him from obscurity to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic. That was some 40 years ago; since then, legendary pianist André Watts’s fairy–tale beginning has long been overshadowed by his illustrious career. Much in demand as…
“Found”
The beauty of the artwork seen in the new Canal Street Gallery exhibit “Found,” according to the gallery’s director, Valentina Atkinson, is that while the pieces are created from similar materials — bits of rubber tires, leftover Christmas decorations, scraps of paper — the results are unique reflections of the…
La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment)
Music fans won’t get a huge, Italian spectacle at the operatic comedy La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), presented today by Opera in the Heights. Instead, OIH delivers what the company’s new Artistic Director Enrique Carreon-Robledo calls a fresh take on a precious French jewel. Set at…
Lotto: Experience the Dream
Winning the lottery might seem a stroke of luck, but Cliff Roquemore’s Lotto: Experience the Dream at The Ensemble Theatre shows us that winning big often comes with its own set of strange and, in this case, hilarious problems. The story follows Earl, a middle-aged city worker in Los Angeles…
“Jackson Potts II: Rock & Roll Portraits”
If you’re a music lover, you probably have noticed Jackson Potts II at a few concerts in town — it’s hard to miss him. He’s the 11-year-old walking around the venue taking pictures. Potts has been taking concert and band photographs as long as he can remember. For the past…
Debbie Does Dallas, The Musical
Debbie may have done Dallas, but she’s never done Houston before. Today’s presentation of Debbie Does Dallas is, according to director Mark Adams, the first production of the musical in Houston. The Debbie in question is Debbie Benton, captain of her high school cheerleading team. Ambitious, with stars in her…
“Mayuko Ono Gray: Japanese Calligraphy My Way”
As a child, Mayuko Ono Gray attended calligraphy school every Saturday in Japan. That experience influenced Gray’s most recent exhibit, “Japanese Calligraphy My Way,” a collection of graphite drawings incorporating traditional Japanese calligraphy with contemporary Western-style drawing. Gray, a mostly figurative artist who is now based in Galveston, started the…
Insperity Golf Experience
Putt-putt golf enthusiasts will be able to explore their creative side at Insperity Golf Experience, a nine-hole miniature golf course designed by ten local artists. Participating in the ode to all things putt-putt are The Art Guys, who contribute A Sure Thing, a narrow ramp that leads directly into a…
Fresh Ink Reading Series: Elsewhere
Teddy, the lead character in Adam Szymkowicz’s play Elsewhere, goes to Celia’s house simply to deliver a package, a rather impersonal transaction. When she invites him to stay for dinner, he accepts. When she invites him to move in, he accepts. When he moves in, well, let’s just say everything…
“Fourteen”
Think of “Fourteen”as an artistic version of affirmative action. The exhibit features the work of 14 female artists in an attempt to showcase the talents of women artists who, although numerous, are woefully underrepresented in Texas galleries and museums. Julie Zarate, recently named to the Houston Press blog Art Attack’s…
2011 Call of the Wild Speaker Series: Dr. Colleen Begg
Think you have a cool job? Chances are Dr. Colleen Begg, founder of the Niassa Lion Project, has you beat. Begg works along with her researcher husband Keith Begg and a team of five villagers, protecting the majestic beasts that live on the Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique. Today’s guest…
“Daniel Anguilu: Famous Monsters”
Daniel Anguilu is quickly becoming Houston’s go-to guy for big outdoor murals. Just drive around the East End and Midtown, and you’ll recognize the angular, sometimes abstract, signature of his work, particularly on Midtown’s vacant MHMRA building, which Anguilu has been steadily covering in paint. Thankfully, Anguilu doesn’t traffic in…
“Greetings from Houston”
Houston’s celebrating its 175th birthday in a big way, with exhibits and events all around the city. One of those exhibits, “Greetings from Houston: Vintage Postcard Views of the City,” currently on view at the Museum of Printing History, showcases tiny snapshots of the past. The postcards not only show…
“Ours to Fight For: American Jews in the Second World Warâ€
In acknowledgement of the Jewish servicemen and women who served in the United States military during WWII, the Holocaust Museum of Houston presents “Ours to Fight For: American Jews in the Second World War.” The exhibit is made up of artifacts, military paraphernalia and documents, along with videos and audio…
Gang Gang Dance
It’s the nature of the avant-garde to be somewhere just beyond our current understanding of cool and in the ether of uncool — rad, but still fairly confusing. Such is the manner of Gang Gang Dance’s genius fifth album, Eye Contact. The Manhattan quintet’s fantastically weird psychedelic dance sound has…
Roky Erickson
It’s Halloween all year round in many of Roky Erickson’s songs, which stew imagery ripped straight from the pages of EC Comics (“Two Headed Dog,” “I Walked with a Zombie,” “Stand for the Fire Demon”) in a viscous tub of diesel-fueled psychedelic blues. That wasn’t the side of Erickson on…
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets’ improbable gold album, 1994’s Too High to Die, has a title both accurate and true. The band’s main men are brothers Cris and Curt Kirkwood, who began playing punk in the ’70s, turned hardcore in the early ’80s and landed a deal with SST Records, which was…
Three to See
Two weekends ago, Houston hosted the Houston Fine Art Fair, the city’s first art fair. More than 10,000 people showed up, and participating local galleries got a lot of traffic through their booths in the George R. Brown. Some also got a lot of sales. But there are many younger…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Asis/Esmeraldo/Espinosa/Lizarraga,” “Hayden Fosdick: Paper Compounds,” “Helen Altman: Half-Life,” “Insperity Golf Experience,” Marc Swanson: The Second Story, “Raimund Girke 1930-2002,” “Working in the Abstract”
“Asis/Esmeraldo/Espinosa/Lizárraga” Work by 79-year-old Argentine artist Antonio Asis is a standout in Sicardi Gallery’s thoughtful works-on-paper show. The gallery is showing Asis’s geometric work from the 1960s — small, page-size acrylic works on paper. Carefully rendered on graph paper, Asis’s designs reveal their handmade origins in minute and endearing ways…
That’s Rich
To see more photos from Brasserie 19’s small but efficient kitchen, check out our slideshow. The dining room at Brasserie 19 on a Saturday night might be the loudest spot in the city that offers a veal porterhouse on its menu. But it’s a beguiling sort of loudness, a raucously…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Anna in the Tropics, Ether Dome, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Republic Day, A Texas Romance, Woof
Anna in the Tropics While the cigar rollers toil in a small factory in ’20s Tampa, Florida, a new “lector” reads to them to pass the time and alleviate boredom. He chooses Tolstoy’s classic tale of adulterous passions Anna Karenina, and their lives change forever. Tradition, morality and dreams dash…
Double Jeopardy
It’s the opening reception for Seth Alverson’s latest solo exhibit in early September, and approximately 30 people are taking in the local artist’s paintings at Art Palace. On one side of the gallery, Alverson’s Chair hangs on a wall next to a painting called Chair II. The oil-on-canvas works are…
50/50
One single scene captures the tricky tonal balance of Jonathan Levine’s cancer comedy 50/50. Adam, the straightedge radio producer played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, has just finished his first round of chemotherapy. It was tough, but the kindly gents IV’d next to him (Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer) made it…
Por Favor, Nanny
SPACED CITY Por Favor, Nanny Houston moms help the help By Richard Connelly First World Problems, part XVII: Communicating with your nanny. A hassle! Luckily, three plucky Houston mothers have banded together to put out a new book called Por Favor Nanny, Please Make Dinner, which comes complete with a…
Why Do Mexican Business Owners Hire People Dressed as Shrek to Advertise Their Business?
Dear Mexican, I hear that at the last Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors hearing about redistricting, some lady accused Supervisor Gloria Molina of Reconquista. What is that — and what on earth is going on over there? I don’t get what all the fuss is about. The U.S. Census…
History, Screwed and Chopped
Ever since Julie Grob can remember, she wanted to be a gangster. Grob isn’t a gangster in the literal sense — far from it. She is the polite, kind-eyed, abundantly intelligent Coordinator for Digital Products and Instruction for the University of Houston Libraries. Among other things, her job includes providing…
A Band to Save Me
Festivals are incredibly complex machines, with hundreds if not thousands of moving parts. Those include everything from stage construction and sound engineering to trash disposal and security, but unless something goes wrong, most of them are taken for granted or just go unnoticed by the public (with good reason). But…
Diamonds and Pearls
Logan Houston may never dominate an NBA game. As a matter of fact, at 5’5″, 125 lbs, he probably wouldn’t dominate an under-14 AAU game. But tonight, right now, Houston is as big as a Tyrannosaurus rex. Houston is a singer, and a very good one. Behind him is a…
Kyuss Lives!, The Sword
Where hardcore’s Black Flag left off in 1986 with a sludgy and chest-beating bluster, two years later Kyuss picked up the bong, er baton, to create the template for all down-tuned, blistering stoner metal to come. Over four albums from 1991 to 1995, the desert-partying band, led by lead singer…
Skrillex
If electronic music in 2011 needs a face or a spokesman, look no further than Skrillex’s Sonny Moore, former front man of mid-’00s post-hardcore band From First to Last. As dubstep and all things electro continue their colorful assault on the ears of Generation Y’s youngest members, becoming a sort…
