This week, it seems that every single Houston publication has its own round-up of the best places to watch the World Cup. It's all a very original idea, but if you don't like to grunt like a goalie, then hide out at these other haunts, where talk of the new ball won't be a topic.

• Many will be closely watching Cup host South Africa vs. our close kins Mexico on Friday morning — and they'll be missing the Houston Symphony presentation of "Sounds Like Fun!" at the Ripley House. Expose your family to Wagner, J. Strauss Jr., Dvorak, Ravel. It's a touch classier than a bucket of Coronas.
• The athletics at Poison Girl start and stop at the bar's row of pin ball machines. Head to the hole in the wall that invented "over it" before people were even saying "over it" if you want to avoid the soccer talk. Lounge around the sandlot backyard to get your stare-downs in the sun.
• Remember Beau Comeaux's feature on CultureMap during the 2010 FotoFest Biennial? The artist will be giving a talk on his post-apocalyptic photographic landscapes at DARKE gallery at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Didn't England and the U.S. resolve their issues in 1776, anyway?
• Shocking: lawyers don't like to laze away Saturday afternoon at a sports bar. "Night Court 2010: Legal Holidays" at the Wortham Theater Center is the Houston Bar Association's annual musical comedy written by lawyers, performed by lawyers and even includes an orchestra and crew of lawyers. Instead of dropping dollars in the tip jar at the bar, support the Houston Bar Foundation, which distributes all show proceeds to local charities.
• Dark bars are for night-time gallivanting — after all, this is the season for soaking up the sun's rays, not hiding out in sweaty dives. Skip Sunday afternoon's Germany vs. Australia match and make a break for Discovery Green, squeeze on some SPF and think tan thoughts. Get your fill of international flair at 3 p.m., when the Space City Gamelan bring their Indonesian blend of metallophones, xylophones, drums, gongs, plucked strings, bamboo flutes and vocals to the park.