august 15
Get rich Are you rich? That's the question posed by the members of the Borders Book Shop prosperity workshop, and "Why the heck not?" is implied in their tone. Wealth, according to workshop members, can be a state of mind, a belief system or (my personal favorite) huge bank accounts in the Cayman Islands. Join the group and concentrate on abundance. 8 p.m. Borders Book Shop, 9633-A Westheimer, 782-6066. Free.
friday
august 16
Texas Stampede '96 Fixer-uppers and arty types of any age and sex are invited to the Stencil Artisans League's convention and exposition, where everybody will get all wiggly about ways of making ordinary things look special. Stencils are only the beginning -- stencil artisans and their ilk go after old furniture and plain walls with faux finishes that include tortoiseshell, combed malachite techniques, moss terra cotta and a multitude of ways to make cheap veneers look like aged metals. More than 100 booths will be busy promoting equipment and crafty playthings, and there will be classes and demonstrations for three full days. The whole shebang opens to the public at 10 a.m. today. 10 a.m.6 p.m. today and tomorrow; 10 a.m.3 p.m. Sunday. Adam's Mark Hotel, 2500 Briarpark, 976-7400. $5 per day.
Get in touch with your inner Elvis Del Lago Golf Resort and Conference Center -- and, clearly, a mecca for Elvis fans -- has a weekend getaway special, the Heartbreak Hotel Weekend. You get Elviscentric food such as fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches in a '50s-style diner, the joy and heartbreak of an Elvis look-alike contest, the slightly exploitative joy and heartbreak of a "Little Elvis" contest, dancing to Johnny D and the Rocket 88s, "King Karaoke," two skydiving shows from the E Team, Elvises of the Sky, and a "Reflections of Elvis" revue from Graceland-sanctioned impersonator Joseph Anthony. Eating begins at 5 and entertainment at 6 p.m. We think Elvis would appreciate the priorities shown by that. 600 Del Lago Boulevard, Montgomery, (800) DEL-LAGO. Rooms start at $250 for the two-night minimum; Heartbreak Hotel entertainment packages start at $62.50 per night; lawn tickets for the Sunday skydive show and concert, $10.
Mom's the Word Life-based monologue revues are all the rage, so why not one from ordinary mothers? Written by a group of Canadian moms, the Mom's Collective, this evening of theater features personal, sometimes funny and sometimes tragic monologues about birth, sex and loss. Houston performances of the show will benefit Children of the World, a Houston-based charity with the Shelby Hodge seal of approval. Opening tonight with a pre-show reception and buffet. Curtain, 8 p.m. (Other showtimes in Thrills, Theater.) Stages, 3201 Allen Parkway, 489-3191. Opening night, $50; other performances, $12 and $15.
U.S. Ballroom Dancing National Championships Ballroom dancing made a man of Paul McCartney; imagine what it can do for you. This weekend, hundreds who just plain adore that one, two, three, four will enjoy social and strictly ballroom dancing. Dancers range from kids, actual ten-and-up children, to spry oldsters with more energy and stamina than many Olympic athletes. The elite from this competition will go on to represent our great nation in the World Championship. Noncompeting dance fans can enjoy workshops and exhibitions. First dancers hit the floor tonight at 8 p.m. and continue till the Cinderella hour. Dancing 9 a.m.-midnight Saturday and Sunday. University of Houston, Student Center, ballroom (entrance no. 1 off Calhoun). For more information, call 856-8833. $15, Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday during the day; $20, after 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Discounts for youths.
Justin World Bull Riding Championship The world's top cowboys and cowgirls will compete for more than $100,000 in prize money. After the fast action in the ring (fast action accompanied by blaring rock music), bull riding fans get a live music concert. The three-day event opens tonight with a winner-take-all grudge match. Through August 18. 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday. The Summit, Greenway Plaza, 629-3700. $12.50$20.50. Series ticket packages and Super Chute Seats also available.
John Nevitt A young man with a big band, John Nevitt and his 18-piece band swing through classics such as "Let's Fall in Love," "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and "Something's Gotta Give." Big band fans may have heard Nevitt sing on KQUE, where his CD, The Nearness of You, is on the play list. The 18-piece band accompanying Nevitt's vocal stylings includes Ed Gerlach on sax. 8 p.m. Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, Texas at Smith. For tickets, call Don's Record Shop, 667-9196. $25 and $27.50.
Shaver We always mention Billy Joe and his son Eddy when we have the slightest excuse. We've pointed out Billy Joe's long, weird career as a country music legend, we've talked about what a sweet thing young Eddy is, and now we're pointing out that the father-son duo has a new release, Highway of Life, on Justice records. (It's entirely possible that the Highway of Life title is in homage to Roy Blount's poem, "I'm Just a Bug on the Windshield of Life." Country music and Southern writing are all mixed up with such cross-references.) Shaver performs at 10:30 p.m. Kimmie Rhodes opens. The Fabulous Satellite Lounge, 3616 Washington, 869-COOL. $8.
