Weekend event planner

Here are the top 10 things to do in Houston this weekend

The weekend is near, so punch out, wind down and start planning. Read on for your guide to the best things to do in Houston. From an extra cheesy festival to some amazing concerts, your weekend starts here.

For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Spanish wine
Thursday, April 13: The “Dynamic Spain Wine Tasting” event at downtown’s Pappas Bros. Steakhouse (5:30 pm; tickets: $75 per person) showcases several unique vintages, including Godello, Rafael Palacios "As Sortes", Valdeorras 2014; Priorat Blanco, Celler Piñol “L’ Avi Arrifo" 2011; and Listán Blanco, Suertes del Marques "Vidonia", Canary Islands 2014. Seasonal hors d’oeuvres, the chef’s pick, will also be served. 1200 McKinney St.; 713-658-1995

Class is in session
Thursday, April 13: From the history of shochu to how it’s made, learn all about the Japanese liquor at Izakaya’s “Shochu for Dummies” class (6:30 pm; tickets: $45 per person). You'll also enjoy shochu tastings, both straight-up and in cocktails, along with food pairings by executive chef Jean Philippe Gaston. 318 Gray St.; 713-527-8988

Disney day
Friday, April 14-Sunday, April 16: Grab the kids and head to Memorial City Mall (various times; tickets: free but limited. Sign up here) for your fill of all things Disney/Pixar’s Cars 3: Road to the Races (scheduled to hit theaters June 16) related. Activities include a sneak peek of the film in a mobile movie theater, visits — and selfie opps - with life-size, character look-alikes, a movie-themed play area, and more. 303 Memorial City

Concert fun
Friday, April 14: Musical group the Isley Brothers hits the stage at Arena Theatre (7 pm; tickets: $49.50-$59.50 per person). The band, first formed in the early '50s, has enjoyed a long and influential career. Their hit singles include "This Old Heart of Mine," "It's Your Thing," "Love the One You're With," and "Who's That Lady." 7326 Southwest Fwy.; 713-772-5900

More concert fun
Friday, April 14: Although Morrissey, the former front man of The Smiths, canceled his San Antonio appearance Wednesday night due to health concerns, the Houston show is still on, according to a tour spokesperson, who adds that the concert has been moved from White Oak Music Hall to the Smart Financial Centre (8 pm; tickets: $49.50-$58 per person). Although the Smiths disbanded in 1987, Morrissey has gone on to have a successful solo career boasting 49 singles and 12 top 10 albums. Hits by the indie rock/Britpop singer include “Everyday is Like Sunday,” Suedehead,” and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys." 18111 Lexington Blvd, Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

Airport fest
Saturday, April 15: Celebrating Hobby Airport, HobbyFest offers a lineup that’s fun for the whole family including vintage aircraft, a kiddie zone, and DJ (10 am; tickets: free). Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring a canned food as donation. Hobby Airport, east ramp at 8402 Nelms St.; 713-213-0908

Pedal away
Saturday, April 15: Midtown Houston and BikeHouston team up for a bike ride (10 am - 12 pm; tickets: free), that begins at Bagby Park and continues to downtown and to Montrose, with a stop for refreshments at Rico's Morning Noon Night. 415 Gray St.; 713-526-7577

Get cheesy
Saturday, April 15: Cheese it up at the Mac and Cheese Festival at Silver Street Studios (12-4 pm; tickets: $50-$80 per person), featuring bites from 36 restaurants (think Jonathan’s the Rub, Luby’s, Peli Peli, and Ritual), plus sips several breweries from City Acre Brewing to Karbach. 2000 Edwards St.

Catch a buzz
Saturday, April 15: Expect performances by a laundry list of bands, including Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, P.O.D., Red Sun Rising, The Unlikely Candidates, and the Toadies, at 94.5 FM’s 2017 Buzzfest (1 pm; tickets: $43-$73 per person) at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. 2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands; 281-363-3300

Hop to it
Sunday, April 16: Houston's most festive Easter party continues with the 38th edition of Bunnies on the Bayou (1-6 pm; tickets: $50-$100 per person), at Fish Plaza in front of downtown’s Wortham Center. Join thousands of Houstonians at the massive outdoor cocktail party. All proceeds from the event benefit local charities in the LGBT community. 501 Texas Ave.

Houston's most festive Easter party continues with the 38th edition of Bunnies on the Bayou.

Photo by © Dalton DeHart

Houston's most festive Easter party continues with the 38th edition of Bunnies on the Bayou.

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Movie Review

Summer camp drama The Plague proves middle school is still pure horror

Photo courtesy of IFC

Everett Blunck in The Plague.

Anybody who’s attended elementary school in the last 100 years knows the concept of “cooties,” a fictional affliction that is typically caught when touched by a member of the opposite sex. A more updated version of the same idea is featured in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this time called the “Cheese Touch,” making anyone who touches a moldy piece of cheese on the school’s basketball court an outcast.

A much more menacing version of this “disease” is on display in The Plague, which takes place at a summer water polo camp for tweens. The film focuses on Ben (Everett Blunck), a slightly awkward boy who struggles to fit in with the “cool” crowd led by Jake (Kayo Martin). That group has no problems making fun of others that they deem to be different, especially Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who has been ostracized because of a rash he has that the kids call “the plague.”

Ben wants to be part of the main group, but his natural empathy leads him to reach out to Eli on more than one occasion despite Eli engaging in some uncomfortable behavior. With the camp’s coach (Joel Edgerton) not much help when it comes to the bullying tactics by Jake and others, especially those that take place at night, Ben is left to fend for himself. His vacillations between wanting to be accepted and wanting to do what’s right continue until his hand is forced.

Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Charlie Polinger, the film has all the feel of a horror movie without actually being a horror. The staging used by Polinger gives the film a claustrophobic feel as Ben can’t seem to escape the psychological torture inflicted by Jake and others no matter where he goes. He also employs a jarring score by Johan Lenox to great effect, one that’s designed to keep viewers on edge even when nothing bad is happening.

No matter how far removed you are from middle school, the film will likely bring up feelings you thought you had left behind. Much like with Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, Polinger finds a way to tap into something universal in his depiction of tweens, an age when everyone is still discovering who they really are. Some go along to get along, others don’t even attempt to fit in, but no one truly feels settled.

Whether the plague is real or not in the world of the film is up for debate. While most of the time it comes off as something made up to underscore the feeling of otherness felt by Ben, Polinger does literalize it to a degree. He even tiptoes up to the line of body horror before wisely retreating, although what he does show will still make some viewers squeamish. However, because he seems to be leaning one way before pulling back, there’s the possibility that some will be disappointed by the tease of something more intense.

The film’s biggest success is in its casting. Finding good child actors is notoriously tough, and yet Polinger and casting director Rebecca Dealy found a bunch who sell the story for all it’s worth. Blunck, Martin, and Rasmussen get the most play, but everyone else complements them well. Edgerton is the only well-known actor in the film, but he’s used sparingly and isn’t asked to do much, leaving the kids to carry the story on their shoulders.

Fitting in as a tween is hard enough without others actively trying to find ways to cast someone out. The Plague is an effective demonstration of the dynamics that can play out in a competitive environment that also includes a group that has yet to develop into fully-rounded people. It features discomfort on multiple levels, marking an auspicious debut for Polinger.

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The Plague is now playing in theaters.

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Movie Review

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