Astros to Appeal CSN Bankruptcy Ruling
Bank in bankruptcy court today, the Astros announced they would appeal the ruling made this week that CSN would be afforded protection under Chapter 11. The Astros will be asking for a stay of the ruling issued by the court in a hearing set for next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m…
Model Says Dudes Tricked Her Into Letting Them Post Nekkid Photos
An aspiring Houston model is seeking a court order against two men she says misled her into signing a document that gives them the right to post her nude photos on a site called — get this — Verticalsmiles.com. In an application for a permanent injunction filed in Harris County…
100 Favorite Dishes 2013-2014: No. 34, Chiles de Padron Asados at Caracol
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…
David Stuart MacLean and The Answer to the Riddle Is Me, A Memoir of Amnesia
It was on October 27, 2002, that author and former Houstonian David Stuart MacLean woke up on a train platform in India with no idea of who or where he was. His memory was blank. MacLean, a graduate of the University of Houston writing program and co-founder of the Poison…
Media Tweets and Images From Sochi May Be More Entertaining Than Actual Olympics
Russia allegedly spent more than $50 billion for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the most ever spent to prepare for the Olympics. Yet the reports from the site of the games are not exactly what you call favorable. It has mostly been the media that is sending back reports…
10 Fun Facts About the Beatles’ Ed Sullivan Debut
Fifty years ago this Sunday, the Beatles ushered in a new era in pop music and youth culture when they made their first live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. While the four lads from Liverpool were still mostly unknown to Americans in 1964, they were already the most hyped…
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heroin and the Secret Club of Addiction
For weeks after Heath Ledger’s body was found in an apartment in New York City in 2008, curious folks would come into the store in SoHo where I worked and ask, “Do you know where Heath’s building is?” Of course I knew where it was; everyone who worked or lived…
Three Brothers Bakery Charms With Anti-Valentine’s Day Treats
Valentine’s Day can really blow. The years I have been single and lonely on February 14 still outnumber the (recent) years when I have not been, so when people tell me they loathe the holiday because it only reinforces feelings of personal inadequacy brought on by their solo status, I…
Reviews for the Easily Distracted: The Monuments Men
Title:The Monuments Men Wasn’t This Supposed to Come Out Last Year? Yes, it was. Go figure. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant to the Film: Two and a half Flying Hellfish out of five. Brief Plot Summary Top men race to save precious antiquities from Nazis. Top. Men. Tagline: “It was…
Early NBA All-Star Present: Charles Barkley’s Attempt to Pronounce “Valanciunas”
It’s been a while since I’ve said this, but I’m actually looking forward to the NBA’s All-Star weekend. I’m always a sucker for the actual All-Star Game itself on Sunday, but this season Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be relatively compelling, too. The Slam Dunk Contest actually has…
Lay’s Flavor Contest Is Back, So We’ve Created Some Houston-Inspired Flavors Of Our Own
Last month, potato chip brand Lay’s brought back its “Do Us A Flavor” contest, which invites fans all over the nation to submit their ideas for the next great potato chip flavor. What’s in it for the fans, you ask? Well, a $1 million grand prize, for starters. Plus eternal…
Yuck at Rudyard’s, 2/6/2014
Yuck Rudyard’s February 6, 2014 There were a few possible reasons for Houstonians to stay indoors last night: Not only was it the first televised night of the Winter Olympics, but it was also uncharacteristically frigid outside (at least by Houston standards). Nevertheless, Houston’s hip weren’t phased, as Rudyard’s was…
Miki Johnson’s New Play clear/through Looks at Death, Love and the Impulse to Self-destruct
Playwright Miki Johnson’s clean/through, receiving its world premiere at Catastrophic Theatre, isn’t exactly a happy story. It’s about a rock star/heroin addict bent on self-destruction. It isn’t exactly a completely sad story either. Nothing’s ever completely happy or completely sad, Johnson tells us. “[Nick’s] story is specifically about drug addition…
History and Immigration Reform: The Tea Party Gets It Wrong Again
As I predicted, some form of immigration reform is getting closer to passing. It likely won’t be comprehensive, but the establishment GOP is feeling like they aren’t beholden to the crazies in the Tea Party who only know one thing about “illegals”: let’s build a big fence and kick them…
The 5 Best Things to Eat or Drink This Weekend: You’ve Got Some Brunchin’ to Do
Food Truck Friday @ Houston Press Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 2603 La Branch How does a bowl of slow-braised beef with collard greens, mashed potatoes and crispy onion strings sound for lunch? Or how about a bowl of roasted sweet corn, fried black beans, aji verde chili, avocado cream, heirloom…
Be Polite With Your Pot by Using Cannabis Etiquette
Let’s talk about keeping our pot elbows off the table, shall we? So, as I’m sure you’re all aware, both Colorado and Washington state have passed laws that not only legalize marijuana for medical use, but also allow for the freedom of choice when it comes to recreational pot use…
Weekend Weather: Cold to Start, but Warming Up
When Houstonians began rolling out of bed on Thursday morning, they may have noticed a strange-looking rain falling outside. It was white…and chunky. That’s because it was a combination of freezing rain, hail and snow, which stuck to cars, roofs and plants through the early morning hours. This is the…
Upcoming Events: Make a Valentine’s Date With Beer & Cheese at Saint Arnold Brewery
Let Central Market’s cooking school staff help you choose which wine(s) to have for your Valentine’s Day feast. Sign up for Wine Workshop: Wines for Valentine’s Day, which will take place on Monday, February 10, from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The Central Market experts will be on hand to…
100 Creatives 2014: Shelbi-Nicole, Artist
Shelbi-Nicole was still new to the art scene in Houston when she was invited to show some of her work at a gallery. At the time, she was working mostly on commissioned work but wanted to do more gallery shows so it seemed a great opportunity. She had no idea…
CSN Houston, Bankruptcy and Why the Rockets Aren’t Just Innocent Victims
Odds are that if you’ve flown an airline in the past decade, you’ve flown on an airline going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is the popular bankruptcy, the one that lets the airline stay in business and keep flying while attempting to come up with a profitable business plan. You’re…
Openings & Closings: Ranch Bakery Returns, and a Beloved Food Truck Will Soon Be Back
It has been quite a slow week for restaurant openings and closings. In fact, there weren’t any notable closings that we heard about. So, let’s get right to the openings. CultureMap Houston’s Eric Sandler reports that Ranch Bakery has reopened inside Cypress’s The Backyard Smokehouse. The bakery reopened on Saturday,…
Wild Moccasins Get Into the Groove on 88 92
One week ago today, Wild Moccasins played an in-store that packed Cactus Music to the gills, performing a brief set from their brand-new sophomore full-length LP 88 92. Afterward, what looked like a cross section of Houston’s hipper secondary schools queued up to get the five Moccasins’ autographs. It was…
Top 5 Things to Do in Houston This Weekend: Ron White, Doctor Faustus, “Iconic 20th Century Photographs” and More
For stand-up and former Deer Park resident Ron White, comedy is a trial of endurance. “Expect to laugh real hard,” he says. “Not just chuckle, but gut laugh for an hour. I can’t stand it any other way.” Houston audiences ready for the challenge can catch the Blue Collar Comedy…
Marfreless Returns, Sleeker and Swankier But Just as Sexy
“Hey, does anyone else smell that? It really smells like wood varnish in here!” The well-heeled patrons are trickling into the crowded bar at a steady pace, and as they appear, one by one through the hostess area, they all exclaim the exact same thing: This bar smells strongly of…
Five American Anthems Sung In Other Languages
This past Sunday, we witnessed what was either a charming portrayal of the broad multicultural landscape that is America, or the most shocking betrayal of American values by an American cultural icon that we’ve ever witnessed. Of course, I’m talking about Coca-Cola’s commercial during the Super Bowl that featured “America…
Houston’s Top 10 Karaoke Bars
10. JR’S BAR & GRILL We love everything about karaoke at JR’s, right in the heart of the gayborhood. The music selection is fantastic, the crowd is receptive, and tons of folks crowd into the back room to watch. However, the bar’s massive karaoke following is the precise reason we…
The Best Concerts In Houston This Weekend: Superchunk, Sting & Paul Simon, QOTSA, etc.
Superchunk Fitzgerald’s, February 7 Among the handful of ’80s/’90s college-rock acts who have found equal if not greater success on the reunion circuit — Pixies and Sebadoh come to mind, both due here later this month — Chapel Hill’s Superchunk melded the melodic roar of Husker Du with the quirks…
