What was I up to last week? Since you ask, I'll share. A bit of green, vogue nakedness and social media love.

Most who forget phone numbers but memorize and know people via their Twitter handles flocked to Black Sheep's social media gathering at El Xuca Xicana. Old-school mojitos flew while the connected got connected inside and outside their smartphones.

It's always neat to finally meet people IRL (in real life) who you have been "following." You know them, but you don't. But you do. Get it?

Among the influencers were Aimee Woodall, Brian Truax, Mandy Graessle, Reissa Evans, Carrie Schneider, Robin Babb, Imelda Bettinger, Javier Fadul, Jamie Glover Dabbs, MaryBeth Davison, Jason Armstrong, Mike Tremoulet, Geoff Smith, David Tong, Candace Kizer and Daniel Calderon.

In collaboration with Houston Green Scene, Greeni Recycling and Planeta Verde Now, Talento Bilingüe de Houston mingled eco-loveliness and art for its first ever Green Arts Fest. A cozy room of creatives showcased their best work using recycled and environmentally-conscious materials.

My favorite finds? Bowls made from vinyl records by Michele Eigler (aka the Bodacious Boomer), repurposed beer and wine bottles as functional objects by Damin West, bags crafted out of plastic grocery bags by Optimal Goods and wall pieces made from old publications by Janise Cookston.

At the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the first comprehensive and large-scale exhibition of Helmut Newton's photography — in size and scope as some of the images are 8 x 8 feet — chronicle his journey through his three groundbreaking books: White Women, Sleepless Nights and Big Nudes. Nothing about his approach is subtle. He presents unapologetic, somewhat confrontational fashionable models.

Walking through the exhibition was like receiving a timeless '70s and '80s in-vogue slap in the face.

Born in Berlin and misplaced after the Kristallnacht attacks of November 1938, Newton fled as a teenager to Singapore, moved to Australia and later settled in Paris.

His photography is the definition of glam and mystique. The “Tutto Nero o Niente" (everything black of nothing) series shows, side-by-side, clothed and nude nearly identical works, questioning societal conventions. His photography from Saint-Tropez (French Riviera) oozes luxe and allure, with a hint of mysterious voyeurism.

Curious? Check out the haute fete this Friday.

Other notable happenings last week included Houston's first SlutWalk, a myriad of art openings and a sold-out screening of Bill Cunningham New York at MFAH followed by a panel discussion with Lynn Wyatt, Chloe Dao, Jay Marroquin and Luis Soto.

Hope you got out and played. If you didn't, here are my recommendations for this week.

Aurora Picture Show Summer Video Jam Series at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

When Aurora and CAMH get together, cool things happen. The Summer Video Jam Series extends the museum's Slide Jam Series, where film aficionados are introduced to video/film artists working locally. A screening is usually followed by an informal chat where creative practices are discussed and audiences are invited to ask questions.

The second of a three-part series, this Video Jam film session features visual artist Allison Hunter and video artist and photographer MIchael Brims. Thursday night at 6:30.

Opening of Meaning in Motion: Travelling Into Self Reflection at Spacetaker

Trains. If you have spent any time at Winter Street Studios, you know how disruptive they can be. But from afar, they are quite poetic.

Leave it to Spacetaker to present multimedia artist Pablo Gimenez Zapiola, who adds meaning by projecting words, literary passages and poetry onto a moving train and uses long exposures to create ghostly transparent images, video and animations.

Does Meaning in Motion add meaning to the moving object? Or does it change the meaning of the words? Perhaps a little of both. Find out at Friday's opening at 7 p.m. where the artist will be on hand to answer questions. It's also a good spot to meet art-curious people.

One Hot Texican Summer (or the summer I found out I was Mexican) at 14 Pews

I am used to film screenings from 14 Pews. So when the mastermind behind the venue's offerings, Cressandra Thibodeaux, ventures into live performances, we should pay attention.

I am not really sure what a jalapeno milkshake is, but trust that writer and actor Alvaro Saar Rios will make me laugh when telling audiences about it. One Hot Texican Summer is a story of self-discovery and racial awareness with plenty of ranchera music. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Beat Hollow by Brian Siskind at Rothko Chapel

I can't get enough of the programs at the Rothko Chapel. They manage to blow my mind and chill me out at the same time. Beat Hollow by Brian Siskind promises to do just that. Experimenting with the line where music ends and sound begins, his beatscapes mingles the rural with the urban.

This guided meditation focuses on the collective experience. That's so Rothko. Saturday at 3 p.m.

"White Christmas in July" hosted by Theater Under the Stars at the Hobby Center

If you need to escape the hot-as-hell Houston summer, Theater Under the Stars is clicking its heals to summon 16,000 pounds of freshly fallen snow. I also hear that Santa is making an early appearance.

Build snowmen, take pictures and get first dibs on tickets to Guys and Dolls and White Christmas. Sunday at noon.

And my colleagues recommend...

Assistant editor and art savant Steven Thomson's pick: Opening of "Indigenous Genius" and "Fleet for Abby" at Art League

Steven says: "The adventurous potential of summertime is captured in the works of local artist Catherine Colangelo. For this Art League exhibition of gouache paintings on Japanese Okawara paper, Colangelo was inspired by the modern Magellan figure of Abby Sunderland, who attempted to circumnavigate the globe alone in 2010." Friday at 6 p.m.

Arts contributor and Dancehunter Nancy Wozny's pick: Catastrophic Theatre's The United States of Tamarie: An All-American Revue (Made in China)

Nancy says: "Houston, she's back, that's is Tamarie Cooper, who for a decade delivered delicious summer time entertainment. Cooper has dreamed up The United States of Tamarie: An All American Review (Made in China) for some summer theater fun running Friday through Aug. 20 at DiverseWorks.

"Written by Patrick Reynolds and Tamarie Cooper with original music and lyrics by Tamarie Cooper, John Duboise, Joe Folladori, DeWitt Gravink and Patrick Reynolds it's bound to tide us over until next summer. Tamarie, don't make us wait this long again!"

Photo editor and design junkie Barbara Kuntz's pick: Family Art Workshop at Rienzi

Barbara says: "My children are in college now, but they grew up loving trips to museums and now, as adults, are quite comfortable with any exhibition space. For a walk down memory lane, I'm observing at least one of Rienzi's Summer Family programs on Sunday ... and may just offer to volunteer as families join in creative endeavors together.

"As a former children's docent at The McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, I know this for sure: Children ask the BEST questions." Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.