With Wednesday being the Fourth of July, many of you have begun your weekend, called in sick or are lagging behind in their work duties.
For those of you adult Ferris Buellers who are looking for things to do while playing hooky from your jobs, as always, we're here to help with a rundown of weekend happenings.
Thursday, July 5
Drag divas Lady Shamu and Tatiana's weekly comedy revue
RuPaul’s Drag Race may have wrapped up its latest season, but there is a place right here where you can get a weekly dose of epic, cross-dressing camp. Since last month, drag performers Tatiana Mala-Nina and Lady Shamu have been hosting a night of entertainment, aptly called Shenanigans with Lady Shamu & Tatiana. This mix of high drag and comedy says it's “proud to be the shame of the neighborhood every Thursday night.” You can also get 50-cent boneless wings, $2 shot specials, and $5 frozen margaritas — so it’s fabulous all around! 7-10 pm.
Friday, July 6
Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day at Lucille’s
Friday is officially National Fried Chicken Day, and you could celebrate this occasion like our own Ken Hoffman by heading to Popeyes or KFC or Frenchy’s or Louisiana Fried Chicken — or even Hartz Chicken Buffet if you're outside the loop. Or, you could attend Lucille’s in the Museum District and feast on the family-style dinner the restaurant has planned. For $50, you’ll get a three-course meal that includes Thai fried chicken, Nashville hot fried chicken and mustard jalapeno battered chicken, as well as sides and beverages. 4-10 pm.
Get to know Fantastic Negrito at Cactus Music
His name is Xavier Dphrepaulezz, but since he knows people will probably never pronounce his last name right, he refers to himself as Fantastic Negrito. Once upon a time, the soulful rocker only went by his first name, back when he released a major-studio album called X Factor. In 2016, he introduced his new handle on The Last Days of Oakland — an obvious nod to his Bay Area roots. He’s currently on tour, promoting his latest album Please Don’t Be Dead. (He’ll be at House of Blues at 6:30 pm). But if you want to ask him where he got his name, catch him at Cactus first. 5:30 pm.
Enjoy Elvis at this month's Giving Spirits Concert
Every month, usually on a Friday, Sugar Land Town Square puts on an event called the Giving Spirits Concert, an evening of music benefitting a local charity or non-profit organization. This month, the beneficiary is Nora's Home, known as a haven for organ failure and transplant patients receiving care in the Texas Medical Center. And who's the headliner for this month's show? Why, it's professional Elvis Presley impersonator Vince King, who will cover every high of the King's career in his tribute. 7:30 pm.
Saturday, July 7
Jam out at the Majic 102.1 Summer Block Party
During last year’s inaugural, Majic 102.1 Summer Block Party, there was a melding of ’90s and 2000s artists, as neo-soul star Jill Scott shared the stage with Bell Biv Devoe, SWV, and Brandy. This year, some major, sexy hitters in the current, contemporary R & B scene will be taking the stage. First off, we have Miguel, ready to tell ladies he wants them to “Come Through and Chill.” Then, there’s Tank, whose latest, smoldering single “Can We” continues to be a heavy-rotation radio favorite. And there’s Ne-Yo, who just dropped his new album Good Man. Oh, Fantasia will be around too. 6 pm.
Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy plays video-game music at Jones Hall
This weekend, the Houston Symphony continues its mission of showing it’s not the usual, stodgy, run-of-the-mill symphony orchestra by playing — video-game music! That’s right: the symphony will perform music from the famed video-game series, composed by Japanese video-game composer Nobuo Uematsu, all while screen images from game developer Square Enix play over the orchestra. So, you could very well see the high-falutin' crowd mingling with the hardcore gamers in the audience — and that’s worth the price of admission right there. 7:30 pm.
Watch Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore’s Whip It at Landmark River Oaks
Recently, the Houston Chronicle compiled a list of the 50 greatest Texas movies of all time, and while they range from the obvious (The Last Picture Show) to the obscure (Upstream Color), there are some under-appreciated gems that didn't make the cut. One movie that wasn’t on the list is this little-seen 2009 dramedy, Whip It, which is also this weekend’s midnight movie at Landmark River Oaks. In the only film directed by Drew Barrymore (who co-stars), Ellen Page stars as a small-town Texas girl whose rebels against her domineering mother by joining an all-girl, roller-derby team. Midnight.
Sunday, July 8
Nail some strikes with George Springer at his 4th Annual All-Star Bowling Benefit
In 2015, Houston Astros hero George Springer started the First Annual George Springer Bowling Benefit, where he, pro athletes and celebrity friends mingled with folks before hitting the lanes of Lucky Stroke Houston for a night of bowling to benefit The Stuttering Association for the Young, which he is a spokesperson. Three years later, Springer (who is now a World Series Champion and MVP) is still repping for SAY by inviting people to join him in knocking down some pins and raising money for his George Springer Kids Fund, which sends children who stutter to Camp SAY. 7 pm.
The good times roll in Whip It.
