Celeb Spotting

Champagne Johnny Manziel parties with friends at trendy River Oaks bistro and TexMex hot spot

Give me liberty or give me champagne!

That could be the rallying cry for the much-maligned Johnny Manziel, who can't throw a bender without being labeled an alcoholic. That unwelcome tag didn't seem to phase the Cleveland Brown's quarterback as he and friends toasted with Veuve Cliquot Rosé at Brasserie 19 on Sunday afternoon.

While H-Town's answer to St. Barts Nikki Beach (all those chic hipsters) was packed to the rafters, Champagne Johnny, his fetching girlfriend Colleen Crowley and five other friends took a table on the patio at the popular River Oaks bistro. Never mind that it was 3:30 in the afternoon, just about everyone in B-19 was celebrating the first day of sunshine in days with adult beverages.

We're not sure whether Manziel was playing it incognito with his bright orange ski cap pulled down over his brow or was just keeping warm in the afternoon chill.

We're not sure whether Manziel was playing it incognito with his bright orange ski cap pulled down over his brow or was just keeping warm in the afternoon chill. But there was no denying the blonde Crowley, whom the 22-year-old was spotted kissing several times.

The former Texas A&M football star took a more subtle approach to socializing on Saturday when around 3 o'clock, he and four friends had a table at Cyclone Anaya's Midtown location. No booze on the tab on this damp and chilly afternoon. By all accounts he was low-key and spent most of the time looking at his cell phone.

As one observer noted, "He's very small in stature. By the way he's behaved the last few years he seems small in other ways. Hopefully he'll figure things out. For himself."

unspecified

don't get burned

Talented performers fire up new store and training facility in Houston

Supplies for fire performances to open in Houston in 2025.

Photo by Matt Hellman

Kira Bailey performs with fire fingers.

Have you ever wanted to juggle, swallow, or dance with fire? Houston will soon be home for a place that sells the gear and offers lessons in that art.

Chris and Kira Bailey of the Solar Rain Performance Troupe have been firebending for audiences for more than a decade, as well as running their own online store for tools of the trade, TheOddPropShop. In 2025, they plan to open a combination storefront and workshop for Houstonians to enter and practice the fiery arts.

"Having a physical location allows us to connect with our customers on a more personal level that can’t be replicated online — which is especially important for building props that performers must trust with their lives," the Baileys wrote in an email. "Because of that, we’re building this workshop to become a space to create and test products, and invite our customers in when they want custom-made props. We go through a long trial-and-error with each of our new ideas, often using affordable items from Temu to build our prototypes, and then improve our designs until they’re ready to sell."

The space will be located in Kemah and is scheduled to open in the second half of the year. It will be a combination storefront, living space, and workshop area that will serve aspiring fire performers in a variety of ways. The Baileys will sell their signature fire bubblers, fire jump ropes, and sun wheels that are perfect for both professionals and hobbyists.

The brick-and-mortar OddPropShop will serve as a hub for greater Houston's performance community. Interested first timers will be able to take classes, while established performers can try out new routines and equipment. According to the couple, Houston is home to a significant community of fire artists.

"We wanted to be in a city that not only has a great arts scene and supportive creative community, but is also in a location where we could quickly and easily get the materials we needed to build our props," the Baileys wrote. "Houston was the only place that checked all those boxes. We were also personally drawn to Houston because many of our friends and fellow performers live in the city. In many ways, Houston already felt like home."

In addition to the tools of the fire trade, TheOddPropShop will sell costumes and accessories such as leather and stone jewelry. These small pieces of flair help add to the pagan ambience of the overall fire package.

performing-arts shopping fire performers