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!

Get design inspiration on the AIA Houston Home Tour Saturday and Sunday.

Benjamin Hill Photography

Get design inspiration on the AIA Houston Home Tour Saturday and Sunday.

event-planner

Movie Review

A magnetic Brad Pitt goes full throttle in new film F1: The Movie

Photo by Scott Garfield / courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Apple Original Films

Brad Pitt in F1: The Movie.

The sport of auto racing has been tackled in a variety of ways over the years by filmmakers, with the intoxicating ability of the cars to go super-fast often overriding whatever story they’re trying to tell. The Formula 1 circuit has been the subject of several films based on real drivers, and now it’s at the center of a fictional story in F1: The Movie.

Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is an aging driver who lives an itinerant lifestyle, traveling in a van to whatever kind of racing organization will give him a chance to show his skills. Ruben (Javier Bardem), an old competitor from Formula 1 who now owns his own team, comes calling when the lead driver of his team gets injured. Soon enough, Sonny has joined up with the team halfway through their season, with rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) as his teammate.

The bulk of the film finds Sonny trying to impose his old-school ways on the modern sport, with crew members like Kate (Kerry Condon) and Kasper (Kim Bodnia) alternately bristling and marveling at his methods. Sonny and Joshua also spar, sometimes off track, but typically on, where the stubbornness of each threatens not only the success of the team as a whole, but also their safety.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Ehren Kruger, the filmmaking team tries to bring the same you-are-there feel that they did successfully in Top Gun: Maverick. And there’s no doubt that the film is at its best when it puts multiple cameras in a Formula 1 car while it navigates tight turns and speeds down straightaways, especially because it seems like Pitt and Idris actually did some of the driving. Even non-racing fans should come away impressed with what the cars and drivers are capable of.

Now, if you’re looking for any kind of story, you’ve come to the wrong place. The Sonny-Joshua rivalry has a bit of juice to it, but not much. Unlike most sports movies, the film rarely goes outside of the team, so there’s no antagonist to be found in the film. In fact, were it not for the presence of other cars in the various races, you’d think that Sonny and Joshua were the only drivers, with an annoying commentator constantly talking about them alone, even when they’re far behind the leaders.

The film also struggles with making the sport accessible for non-fans. With the winding courses the circuit uses, there’s far more to it than a car’s (and driver’s) ability to go really fast. The characters use lots of technical jargon about how the design of the car allows the driver to shave tenths of seconds off their times, but the filmmakers are not able to deliver that information in a manner compelling enough to draw the viewer in.

Pitt, as he’s been for more than 30 years, is a magnetic presence who knows how to play to the camera. Sonny is not one of his most interesting characters, but he makes the role work overall. Idris, best known for starring in the FX series Snowfall, makes the case for being the film’s breakout star, giving his character plenty of charm and cockiness. Bardem, Condon, Tobias Menzies, and other members of the team are cast well, even if the story lets them down.

As a showcase (aka advertisement) for the sport it depicts, F1: The Movie works relatively well, giving viewers a taste of what it’s like to actually be in a rocket on wheels. As a film, though, there’s not much to recommend, to the point that it almost negates any of the positives that come from the racing scenes.

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F1: The Movie opens in theaters on June 27.

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