Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 9 things to do in Houston this weekend that aren't Halloween related

It's Halloween weekend, but there are a lot of other events going on around town that have nothing to do with goblins, witches or scary pumpkins. Concerts, festivals, and home tours are a few of the many activities that Houstonians can partake in without an overt Halloween theme.

Here's a roundup of nine events that are definitely worth adding to your weekend plans. For a full list of all that's happening around town, check out the CultureMap Events Calendar. And check back on CultureMap Friday for our Procrastinator's Guide to Halloween Parties and Happenings.

Friday, October 28

The Council on Recovery 2016 Fall Luncheon with Lynda Carter

The original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, makes her way to Houston (sans invisible plane) to tackle a different type of villain than her superhero character. Her "powers" are now aimed at championing charitable causes. She will join The Council on Recovery as the speaker for their 2016 Fall Luncheon. The goal of The Council is to help overcome the epidemic of addiction in Houston and provide support to all in need; quite a great initiative for Wonder Woman to be a part of.

Society for the Performing Arts presents Underwater Bubble Show

A favorite childhood pastime is running around with a bubble wand trying to make the most awesome bubble creations (and the biggest). The Society for the Performing Arts is presenting an interactive experience that all the family will enjoy. The Underwater Bubble Show uses cutting-edge laser technology, optical illusions, theatrical fog, and soap bubble tornadoes to create an experience like no other. What a fun way to embrace your inner child!

Asia Society Texas Center presents Indian Film Festival of Houston

IFFH 2016 kicks off Friday with a cocktail reception, entertainment, and film screenings. The festival showcases documentaries, shorts and feature films, along with Q&A sessions with directors and actors. The closing night program on Saturday includes screenings with Q&A sessions, award distribution, and a cultural entertainment program.

Saturday, October 29

MECA presents Dia de los Muertos Festival

The Washington Avenue Arts District plays host to MECA's annual festival. It reflects the traditional customs and practices around Dia de los Muertos through live performances, customary face painting, Texas & Latin American delicacies, and artisan goods. It takes place Saturday and Sunday.

AIA Houston presents 2016 Home Tour

The annual AIA Houston Home Tour highlights nine homes selected by industry experts that showcase the best in new architecture. Selected based upon design, quality and craftsmanship, innovative design solutions and materials, and sustainability, these homes are sure to inspire awe and aaah's. Join the tour on Saturday or Sunday.

Something Wicked Music Festival

Prepare to fist bump and party into the night at the festival headlined by popular DJ's Diplo and Hardwell as attendees jam to body-moving electronic hits on Saturday and Sunday. Revel in the moments as more than 40 bands take the the stage and deliver hauntingly good performances.

Stevie Nicks & The Pretenders

24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault is the latest work from the legendary singer who kicked off this tour a few nights ago in Phoenix. Nicks will be joined by The Pretenders as she takes the stage at the Toyota Center to perform.

Sunday, October 30

Tamale Fest III

Tamales and beer are a match made in food heaven; at least it's a match that I can get behind. Live music, a costume contest, $3/pint brews, and ALL YOU CAN EAT tamales are definitely worth the drive to Katy. We are responsible for the Tamale coma you may experience afterward. No Label Brewing and the Texas Tamale Co are the hosts.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown - Houston Watch Party

No Reservations (see what I did there) are needed for the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown - Houston watch party. Axelrad Beer Garden will host as viewers watch Bourdain showcases what makes the Bayou City special. Himalaya (appears in the episode), Harlem Road Texas BBQ, and Plant It Forward Farms are featured and will be dishing out bites. Since no party in complete without music, JeReeCe and Sherita Perez will provide live entertainment.

Enjoy these events and we would love to hear about your experiences!

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown-Houston watch party will be held at Axelrad Sunday.

Anthony Bourdain/Facebook

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown-Houston watch party will be held at Axelrad Sunday.

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Movie Review

Margot Robbie ignites provocative new take on Wuthering Heights

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights.

Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel Wuthering Heights is one of those classic books assigned in high school English classes, and it has received a number of film adaptations over the years — each of which differ in numerous ways from the source material. Purists won’t receive any reprieve from Emerald Fennell’s 2026 adaptation, with a title that is stylized as "Wuthering Heights” for good reason.

Cathy (played as an adult by Margot Robbie) and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) have known each other their entire lives, with Cathy’s alcoholic and inveterate gambler father (Martin Clunes) taking in Heathcliff on a whim when he was a boy. The two bond as they grow up together, although Cathy always seems to have an eye on moving up in society from their relatively impoverished lifestyle.

Cathy finally gets her wish when the rich Linton familyled by Edgar (Shazad Latif), moves in down the road, Despite discovering she has feelings for the now grown-up Heathcliff, Cathy sees Edgar as her way out and agrees to marry him. A scorned Heathcliff flees, returning years later as mysteriously wealthy. His reappearance ignites something in Cathy’s soul, and the two engage in a perhaps unwise affair.

Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) infuses the dusty material with an energy that’s not typically present in stories set in this particular time and place. Aside from the occasional Charli XCX song (the singer created a whole concept album for the film), the film looks and feels like a period piece, albeit one that doesn’t get bogged down in the drudgery that can sometimes come from films set in the distant past.

Much of that has to do with the lust the filmmaker puts into the story. Even if you’re not familiar with Brontë’s book, you can rest assured that Fennell has strayed far from the text, giving Cathy and Heathcliff thoughts and actions unthinkable in the 19th century. Fennell plays with expectations by opening the film with audio featuring creaking noises and a man grunting, conjuring up a situation far different than what is actually happening, and she also makes liberal use of rain, sweat, and tears to make the actors enticing.

What she can’t do, however, is make the two lead characters compelling. Cathy is a striver who never seems to know what she wants out of life, and Heathcliff goes from a bore to a brute over the course of the film, with no clear indication that he likes anybody, much less Cathy. Anyone expecting some kind of grand romance will be disappointed as Fennell is much more interested in making the film weird, like having the walls of Cathy’s room look like her skin, complete with freckles.

Robbie and Elordi do well enough with the material, and it’s clear that both of them are committed to bringing Fennell’s vision to life. Their styles tend to balance each other out, and if the story had been committed to their characters’ relationship, they might be lauded for their chemistry. In the end, though, the supporting actors feel more interesting, including ones played by Hong Chau, Alison Miller, and Clunes.

This version of Wuthering Heights should never be construed as an alternative to reading the book for any high schoolers out there. While Fennell makes the film interesting with her technical filmmaking choices, the story never finds its footing as it fails to sell the one thing that it seems to promise.

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Wuthering Heights opens in theaters on February 13.

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