june 20
Blaxploitation Movies: Let's Talk About Them! In conjunction with its series of '70s blaxploitation films, the MFA hosts a panel discussion. The talking heads will include Houston Chronicle film critic Jeff Millar, Houston Community College professor Brenda Jones, poet Lorenzo Thomas and University of Houston professor Garth Jowett. They'll discuss contemporary cinema's debt to such classics as Super Fly, Foxy Brown and Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song. 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonnet, 639-7300. Free.
friday
june 21
Searching for the Promised Land Connecticut Congressman Gary Franks -- the first conservative African-American elected to the House -- is on a book tour, signing copies of his upbeat autobiography and defending his controversial political beliefs. 68 p.m. Nia Gallery and Bookshop, 7725 West Bellfort, 729-8400.
Geek chic Landmark Theaters is offering you, the ticket buyer, a chance to win valuable prizes and show the world your nerdy junior high self. Tonight and tomorrow night at the 7 p.m. shows of Welcome to the Dollhouse, highly trained theater employees will collect photos (or quality copies) of patrons that show them at their adolescent worst. In return, the theater will give all willing victims a film pass valid at either Landmark theater, plus, each night, the person with the geekiest photo will win a Dollhouse prize set. (Soundtrack CD, posters, movie passes, dinner for two, ponytail holders with weird plastic balls on top ....) Landmark warns, "All photos (or copies) will go on display at the River Oaks 3 (unless you're just too darn embarrassed!) and will not be returned." 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday. River Oaks 3, 2009 West Gray, 524-2175. $6.75; $4.25, seniors and children.
Jake Johannsen He's not Tim Allen -- and that's not meant to reflect badly on Mr. Tool Time or Johannsen; it's just a way of saying that Johannsen's comedy is subtle, even sneaky. The low-key comic likes to tell long, weird stories about family life and such -- and Texans traditionally go ape over well-told tales. He can do bits, and even jokes, when the spirit moves him, but Johannsen would rather meditate on toasters or mumble at length about "SALT talks with his sister about where, exactly, the middle of the back seat was." Tonight and Saturday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Laff Stop, 1952 West Gray, 524-2333. $12.99.
Ashik Kerib National news shows and CNN offer the average American a lot of information from Armenia and Georgia, reporting on elections and political struggles and such. But for a look at the human side of the region, see Sergei Paradjanov's 1986 film. His visual style makes any midnight movie you can think of look like a ketchup commercial: Ashik Kerib includes tigers, machine guns, magic carpets and medieval costumes. Based on a story by Mikhail Lermontov, the plot follows a Turkish minstrel, Kerib, on a quest. Shown as part of a double feature with Swan Lake: The Zone, an homage to Paradjanov made by his disciple Yuri Illiyenko. (Special note to all friends of Dorothy: these films could be construed as a Pride Week event, since Paradjanov was often thrown in jail for being gay. Homosexuality did not go over well back in the U.S.S.R.) Program begins at 8 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, 1001 Bissonnet, 639-7515. Double feature, $6; $5, seniors and students.
Houston Symphony and Hilary Hahn The Summer Symphony Nights series opens with Stephen Stein conducting and 16-year-old violinist Hilary Hahn demonstrating her virtuosity with Camille Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto. 8:30 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Drive, Hermann Park, 520-3290. Free.
saturday
june 22
Canoe tour Not enough bugs on your suburban lawn? You need some major bites, a bit of muscle ache and possibly a nice sunburn? Try a canoe tour of the Brazos River. Wilderness Furnishings and the Brazos River Preservation Society will show you the beauty of the river on a slow, quiet paddle on waters the color of coffee with cream. You bring your lunch and drinking water; the preservation society provides canoes, paddles and life jackets. $15. (Those with their own canoes and gear can join the tour free of charge.) Tours begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 980-3545.
From Blank to Beautiful East End kids will be painting building walls this summer -- but at least some of them will do it while supervised by honest-to-god artists, and with the permission of the walls' owners. On weekends now through mid-August, several artists will help kids create murals on three walls frequently tagged by gangs. The gig is open to all kids ages ten-19, and the Orange Show enthusiastically invites those who are at risk or already involved in gang activity. Adult volunteers are also needed, and donations of painting supplies would be appreciated. 9 a.m.noon. The Orange Show, 2402 Munger, 926-6368 (orangeoINSYNC.NET).
