I'm sure your life has been a complete bore since I took a two-week hiatus from writing this column to enjoy some down time on a Peruvian beach somewhat removed from humanity (absurd joke of course — or is it?) How else would you know what to do in Houston?
Since I so enjoy bossing people around, here I go again with this week's suggestions, which include photography exhibits, rodeo fun, dancing to your death, a festival in which you can feel like a kid again and an acrobatic troupe that will dazzle you with gravity defying feats.
Houston Center for Photography opens Learning Curve 8, Ryan Bush: Visions and Bill Armstrong: Buddha and Mandala
Three exhibitions open at the Houston Center for Photography, giving you plenty of reasons to visit this contemporary space. In Buddha and Mandala, artist Bill Armstrong explores Buddhist concepts through gradations of colors that form spiritually meditative works.
Visions by Ryan Bush continues this metaphysical adventure with three-dimensional photographs that nod to dreams and the natural world. Learning Curve 8 includes a mixed bag of works by the center's students.
The deets: Opening reception Friday, 5:30-8 p.m.; Houston Center for Photography; free event.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Smell that? Take a whiff of the smoky aromas that have infused the NRG Park during the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, running now through Saturday. If you need to work off those fatty calories, the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run on Saturday morning is your ticket to feeling better about ingesting that much meat while raising funds for youth scholarships. You can also sleep in a bit more and wake up just in time for the Downtown Rodeo Parade, also on Saturday.
That's all a prelude to what starts next week on March 3, when 19 days of concerts will have me begging to never hear country music again. Mostly.
The deets: Check out the full schedule here.
Houston Ballet presents Romeo and Juliet
It doesn't end well for the youngsters who in 30 seconds fell in love and later decided to take their own lives because they couldn't be together. But things do fair fabulously for the audience, who are in for a treat in this lavish Houston Ballet production that accentuates the opulence of Renaissance Verona thanks to breathtaking sets and costumes by Roberta Guidi di Bagno.
Stanton Welch's choreography is dotted with humor and drama, rendering this archetypal story a must for romantic types. It makes for a perfect date night as talking isn't required.
The deets: Through March 8; Wortham Theater Center; tickets start at $19.
Once Upon A Door Festival
Presented by Little Wonders Learning Center and the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts, this festival has surely piqued my curiosity with a promise of an immersive sensory environment that engenders participants to feel like children again (but will it take care of the grays growing around my temples?) and view the world through a creative lens.
Music, imagery, theater, video, lights, games and creative doors fuse to form a 360-degree milieu where this is possible. Doesn't this sound fascinating?
The deets: Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.; 3402 Crawford St.; free event, registration is requested.
Discovery Green hosts National Danish Performance Team in "Orbita"
If you are sober from your Saturday night antics and don't have any Sunday brunch plans (you poor soul), then Discovery Green has a thrilling 90-minute spectacle as the park hosts the National Danish Performance Team for "Orbita" (a female orbit?).
Spirited acrobatics, colorful costumes and energetic music give way to modern gymnastics about feelings and the senses. Follow that with good grub at Phoenicia Specialty Foods across the street.
The deets: Sunday, noon-1:30 p.m.; Discovery Green; free event.
Staff writer and pop-up dinner fanatic Eric Sandler's pick: Ghetto Dinner
Eric says: "Start your week off with some tasty food and good drinks for a worthy cause Monday night. Pax Americana chef Adam Dorris will revive his popular Ghetto Dinner pop-up for one night only to support Melange Creperie's Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000. No word on what Dorris plans to serve, but he writes on Facebook that it will be 'cheap and delicious.'
"For his part, Melange Creperie owner "Buffalo" Sean Carroll has promised 200 blood sausage crepe mille. Expect quality cocktails from Alex Gregg and the staff at Moving Sidewalk, too."
The deets: Monday, 7 p.m. - late; Moving Sidewalk; price varies by menu item.
Connor Walsh and Karina Gonzalez in Houston Ballet's Romeo and Juliet.
D.R.E.A.M.S. by Camilla Falsini is coming to the Balloon Museum.Photo courtesy of the Balloon Museum
Spiritus Sonata by ENESS.Courtesy of the Balloon Museum
"Swing" by Motorefisico — part of a different international exhibition — shows scale as a child explores.Photo courtesy of the Balloon Museum