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Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events — rock star party included

On deck this week are a wine plus art gathering, a 1950s fear-inducing musical, a leather tooling workshop, one rowdy young professionals carouse and a film about a young gal who, despite all odds, became a voice for women's liberation.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Wine Tasting and Art Seminar: "Mendoza & Maule"

Coupling art and wine isn't anything new. But learning about art by tasting wine? I'm in.

Part of a series at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, "Mendoza & Maule: Wines of Chile" pairs the exhibition Intersecting Modernities: Latin American Art from The Brillembourg Capriles Collection with a chat and wine samplings led by James King of the Texas Wine School, an English chap who's known for his humor and wit.

The skinny: Thursday, 6 p.m.; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; $60 general public, $50 MFAH members.

MJR Theatricals/Music Box Musicals presents Little Shop of Horrors

It's an oldie but goodie. The rhythm-and-blues tunes that comprise Little Shop of Horrors never go out of style. Some critics call this a horror musical, though let's be honest: Can there ever be such a thing as terror and trepidation through song and dance?

This MJR Theatricals/Music Box Musicals production casts a coterie of locals including Michael J. Ross as Seymour, Kristina Sullivan as Audrey and Luke Wrobel as Orin, among other lively thespian personalities.

The skinny: Thursday through Aug. 21; Music Box Theater; tickets are $35 - $45.

Myth & Symbol Workshop: Leather Tooling

Commercially produced stuff is out, handmade is so in. Shoppers aren't into perfection but instead look for goods that tell a story through their materials and manufacturing process. That's the gist behind Austin's Canoe Goods.

The crafty gal that founded the company, Natalie Davis, will lead a hands-on workshop that pores over the basics of working with leather. By the end of the evening, you'll have your own personalized leather keychain — hopefully just the beginning of your journey with this time-honored craft.

The skinny: Friday, 6 p.m.; Myth & Symbol; $75.

Planned Parenthood Young Leaders' "Party Like a Rock Star 2013"

Costume parties are a dime a dozen these days, but let me assure you that none of them are like this yearly carouse hosted by Planned Parenthood Young Leaders. The throng of young professionals are known for pulling out all the stops for this rave that summons the inner mega rock star of its guests (check out last year's video here).

Bagheera and Dem Damn Dames burlesque have been hired for the entertainment with food courtesy of Sparrow Bar + Cookshop, Corkscrew, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., El Gran Malo, Pondicheri, Sorrel Urban Bistro, Butter & Company Catering and food trucks Chocolat d'Arte and Bernie's Burger Bus.

The party continues until the wee hours of the morning at Dirt Bar on Caroline Street.

The skinny: Saturday, 8 p.m.; House of Dereon Media Center; $40 general admission, $150 VIP.

Film screening: Salma at 14 Pews

From filmmaker Kim Longinotto comes this true story of a Muslim woman who at the age of 13 was locked up in a barred, dimly lit room by her husband's family for 25 years. Rajathi Salma managed to secretly pen poetry on scraps of paper, her words later finding themselves in the hands of a publisher 20 years into her "imprisonment." After her works were made public, Salma's story became widely known. Some even say she's the most famous Tamil poet of her generation.

The documentary follows Salma as she readjusts to freedom and as she returns to her home village to face her past — including her oppressors.

The skinny: Sunday, 6:30 p.m.; 14 Pews; tickets are $10, free for 14 Pews members.

Arts smarty pants and in-the-loop happy gal Nancy Wozny's pick: Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company presents Myths and Hymns

Nancy says: "Last summer, a group of performing arts majors from Southwestern University and New York University, all HSPVA alum as well, started Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company, which produced Sartre's No Exit and First Lady Suite. The upstart troupe, comprising Erin Cressy, Emma Martinsen and Wiley DeWeese, won best new theater company from the Houston Press after garnering strong reviews.

"Keeping up the tradition of performing rarely seen gems, they are back with Adam Guettel's Myths and Hymns."

The skinny: Thursday through Aug. 13; HSPVA's Black Box Theater; tickets are $15 - $20.

Natalie Davis of Austin's Canoe Goods will lead a hands-on workshop that pores over the basics of working with leather.

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stadium switcheroo

Houston's NRG Stadium returns to reliable original name

Courtesy of NRG

NRG Stadium will return to its original name this fall.

Everything old is new again, they say. That’s about to be particularly true for a much-loved Houston venue.

NRG announced today that NRG Stadium and the surrounding buildings that make up NRG Park will be renamed Reliant Stadium and Reliant Park. The change takes effect this August, coinciding with the Houston Texans’ – and the stadium’s – 25th anniversary.

The change has already been approved by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation.

“Houston is Reliant’s home, and a name Texans know and trust,” said Brad Bentley, head of NRG Consumer and Reliant. “For more than two decades, Reliant has powered the moments that bring our community together—from the Texans’ first game and hosting two Super Bowls to every unforgettable RodeoHouston performance in between. Fans have told us what this place means to them. For many, it’s always been Reliant Stadium. We heard them loud and clear. Reliant Stadium is back.”

Those fans have been particularly vocal. Recent survey results show 90 percent of Houston-area customers support the return to the Reliant Stadium name. When the arena made its debut in 2002, it carried the name Reliant Stadium. It was renamed NRG in 2014 following that company’s acquisition of Reliant’s consumer business.

Current NRG signage is already coming down, as the city prepares to transition to “Houston Stadium” ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Prior to the August renaming, several of the stadium’s partners are cheering the move.

"As a founding partner of the team, Reliant has been a part of our Houston Texans family from the very beginning," said Mike Tomon, Houston Texans president. "Reliant Stadium has been our home since our first game in 2002 and we can't wait to celebrate 25 seasons of Texans football back where it all began."

Tomon noted that the team’s connection to the Houston community is deeper and more extensive than its home turf in the stadium. The Texas are responsible for a variety of community initiatives, including the Scholarships for Champions Program, which has recognized and awarded scholarships to deserving student-athletes across the greater Houston area over the last two decades.

Another scholarship-granting organization, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is also synonymous with Reliant Park.

"For more than two decades, Reliant Stadium, Reliant Center, and Reliant Arena have been at the heart of everything we do, serving as the home of our livestock and horse events and the heartbeat of RodeoHouston,” said Chris Boleman, president and CEO, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "These venues are more than just a name; they represent a feeling, a tradition, and a shared experience we’re incredibly proud to call home.”

NRG Stadium isn't the only Houston sports arena to get a rebrand. Last year, the Houston Astros changed the name of Minute Maid Park to Daikin Park, thank to a naming rights agreement with HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

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