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Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events

Hunter Gorham opens his gallery to the public for the first time for ParadiseFound: Cuba Unveiled + Beauty from Around the World, where art lovers can meetthis zestful creative, enjoy sweets, cocktails and music by DJ Sun.
Photo by Hunter Gorham
Preservation Houston offers a look back at what life may have been in theHeights East Historic District, established in 1892. By learning about Victorianhouses, quaint cottages and Craftsmen style bungalows, guests will be able totrace the development of residential architecture.
Photo by David Bush
Still from the film, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

On tap this week, I bring you a diverse cross section of what's nifty about this city, which often feels like a town where everyone knows your name. Read on to learn how to partake in agility demos at the Rothko Chapel, shorts from emerging playwrights, exotic travels captured in photography, a lewd costume fete, historic architecture tour, delicious barbecue and a film about a renegade artist.

Here's what you should do. Click on the hot link below each event. There, you will find a new page with a cool feature to download the information to your electronic calendar, and listings for bars, restaurants and attractions to get the most out of day/night out on the town.

Summer Sounds Concert: Brazilian Arts Foundation

It's easy to mistake the tenor of all programs at the Rothko Chapel as being serious, somber, quiet. After all, Mark Rothko's intense panels evoke a sense of reverence for the unknown while the ambience of the interiors fosters stillness and inner contemplation. But the chapel also advocates for action, and many of the activities that take place around Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk are joyful, lively and, best of all, interactive.

The Summer Sound concert series closes with the Brazilian Arts Foundation in a family-friendly demonstration of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts practice that mingles dance, discipline and live drumming in a circle formation.

If the weather doesn't cool off by 7 p.m., look for Fat Cat Creamery, which will be on site selling its homemade ice cream.

The deets: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Rothko Chapel; $10 suggested donation.

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company presents Museum of Dysfunction V

From more than 200 submissions, the brains behind Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company have curated a collection of shorts from new writers itching to break into the scene. The fifth of the indie troupe's Museum of Dysfunction, it has now become an important forum to discover trends in theater and performing arts — and is best for art lovers with short attention spans.

The show runs over two weekends, and each weekend will present a completely different set of playwrights. Yes, there are some adult situations and naughty language — because it's Jennifer Decker's group — but it's cool to bring high school kids to this one. Rated PG-13.

The deets: Thursday through Aug. 18; Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios; tickets are pay-what-you-can.

Art Opening Reception: Paradise Found: Cuba Unveiled + Beauty from Around the World

Fine art photographer Hunter Gorham one day decided to leave his career in finance to pursue a passion, one which he never envisioned. He was deeply committed to journey from his days as a Rice MBA student to "slaying" it in New York City. But as they say, his life was busy making other plans.

During travels to Figure 8 Island in North Carolina, New Mexico, the islands of Ibiza, Cuba, Guatemala and many other destinations where he came onto pristine landscapes, Gorham found energy in capturing what he saw and how he felt (take a look and listen to this audio photo essay interview with Gorham).

Gorham opens his gallery to the public for the first time for Paradise Found: Cuba Unveiled + Beauty from Around the World, where art lovers can meet this zestful creative, enjoy sweets, cocktails and music by DJ Sun.

The deets: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Hunter Gorham Gallery; free event.

Planned Parenthood's "Party Like a Rock Star"

Party like you've always wanted to — but do it responsibly with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. This yearly costume fete is where you can unleash your inner megastar and get the attention you deserve, either by emulating your favorite celeb or creating your own badass persona.

That this carouse is hosted by Planned Parenthood Young Leaders and chairs Lauren and Michael Reeder means you will surely have a good time.

The deets: Saturday, 8 p.m.; House of Dereon Media Center; tickets start at $40.

Preservation Houston's Heights Walking Tour

We have a bad habit in Houston of demolishing old buildings to erect new ones, though some pockets here and there have managed to safeguard the charm of when they were originally planned. One of them is the Heights East Historic District, established in 1892.

Preservation Houston offers a look back at what life may have been during the area's formative beginnings. By learning about Victorian houses, quaint cottages and Craftsmen style bungalows, guests will be able to trace the development of residential architecture. Who knows, perhaps somewhere in all that information is the reason why we think bigger is always better?

The deets: Sunday, 5:30 p.m.; meet at Cohen Plaza; tickets are $10, $7 for members.

Associate editor and CultureMap's resident gourmand Sarah Rufca's pick: Foodways Texas' "Low and Slow: An Evening of Smoked Food & Film"

Sarah says: "There's nothing like some classic Texas barbecue on a hot Texas evening. Scratch that: There's nothing like eating barbecue while watching short films about Texas barbecue traditions and enjoying craft beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Co. and bites from Haven, Hugo's, Reef, Revival Market and more.

"That's the draw on Aug. 9 for Foodways Texas' "Low and Slow: An Evening of Smoked Food & Film" at Saint Arnold's. Tickets are $50 and go to support Foodways Texas' mission of chronicling and promoting Texas' unique food culture."

The deets: Thursday, 7-10 p.m.; Saint Arnold Brewing Co.; tickets are $50.

Staff writer and most adorbs Houston explorer Whitney Radley's pick: Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks

Whitney says: "Rod Stewart! Stevie Nicks! Need more be said? Why on earth would you miss it?"

The deets: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.; Toyota Center; tickets start at $49.50.

Staff writer, architecture savant and all around awesome guy Tyler Rudick's pick: Space City Con

Tyler says: "On the heels of Comicpalooza's successful run in May, Space City Con is looking to bring a more Texas-centric geek fest this weekend. The comic convention has scheduled appearances from area celebs, like Power Ranger-turned-martial-artist Jason David Frank and Robin Shelby, who actually played Slimer in Ghostbusters 2.

The star of this year's Space City Con is the legendary Nichelle Nichols, best known for her breakout role as Uhura in the first Star Trek series and its subsequent films. Check the festival website for details and scheduling.

The deets: Friday through Sunday; Westin Galleria; tickets start at $25.

Arts smarty pants and in-the-loop dance maven Nancy Wozny's pick: Screening of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry

Nancy says: "The Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads may have left Hermann Park, but we can still continue to be graced by Ai Weiwei's presence. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, directed by Alison Klayman is playing at Sundance Cinemas now.

"The film chronicles China's most famous international artist and outspoken critic. A victim of censorship and a brutal legal system, Ai tells his compelling story. First time director Klayman gives a nuanced portrait of one of the world's leading artists and activists.

The deets: Exclusive engagement at Sundance Cinemas; tickets are $7.50-10.50.

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a bright flame

Houston's game-changing free arts academy breaks ground in the East End

Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA) exterior

Rendering courtesy of OMA

A rendering of the exterior of the Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA)'s exterior. The new school broke ground in the East End last week.

Houston’s newest school for arts and music broke ground last week in the city’s historic East End. The Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA), a tuition-free charter school, will welcome students in pre-K through 8th grade next August.

Members of the Liu family, the school’s founding board members, elected officials, and East End community partners gathered at Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s historic Turkey Bend development for the official groundbreaking ceremony on October 8, which kicked off with a performance by the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts’ Mariachi group.

The new school is on a portion of the former Folgers Coffee Plant, located at 235 N. Norwood St. OMA, an international architectural firm known for its approach to urbanism, cultural projects, and adaptive reuse, is transforming the 1930s plant into a state-of-the-art educational facility.

“We’re excited to celebrate this milestone for FLAMA and look forward to seeing the transformation of the historic Folgers plant into a new home for music and arts education,” said Jason Long, one of the firm’s partners. “Like fine-tuning an instrument, our design recalibrates the existing industrial structure into an open, connected, and expressive environment for learning. FLAMA will be a new learning environment that builds on the character of the existing building while giving it new life for the community.”

Unfolding across three stories, the school draws inspiration from Montessori education principles, which prioritize openness, independence, and collective learning through shared “neighborhoods.”

It all begins when students, families and guests enter through a private courtyard. The welcoming space will change the building’s original industrial facade into a brightly colored, kid-friendly spot, complete with yellow and green blocks spelling out the school’s name. The original windows will be restored to preserve the building’s historic character and upgraded to meet contemporary energy standards. Similarly, all of the school’s classrooms are located around the building’s perimeter, providing an abundance of natural light.

Inside, FLAMA’s three stories are divided so that younger students will find their classrooms at the school’s base, and they will move upward through the school as they progress through grade levels. The ground level has a common area for younger kids that could host drum circles, movement classes or “breakout play.”

Children in first and second grade have their own, larger open space, with an eye-catching staircase, that's inspired by the curve of a French horn. The space lends itself to everything from small gatherings to performances by the school’s early musicians.

As students progress through grades three and higher, they’ll find FLAMA’s upper floors created to meet their growing artistic and intellectual needs. One example is the open library, a shared spot for students in third through fifth grades. It has flexible furniture that can transform the space into a place for group study and project work, as well as one that can host after-school activities. Directly above this library is a second common room for middle schoolers where students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades can study.

These two libraries are connected by an F-shaped floor opening that references both the F-hole of a string instrument and the forte symbol. Musicians know this curly f as a note indicating them to play a passage with strength. That could easily be a metaphor for the school itself, which will combine high-quality education with rigorous academics. This visual cue emphasizes FLAMA’s desire for music and art instruction to amplify learning across reading, writing, math, and science.

“This will be a place where children can discover their talents, families can find opportunities close to home, and music and art can open the doors to a stronger education,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, who attended the groundbreaking. “I know how much it matters when someone brings opportunity within the reach of a child.”

Dr. R. Scott Allen, FLAMA’s founding superintendent and former principal of Kinder HSPVA, spoke about the school’s vision to pair a rigorous, engaging academic opportunity with deep immersion in music and visual arts.

Congressman Christian Menefee, State Senator Carol Alvarado, and Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo also delivered remarks at the ceremony, speaking about the school’s power to not only transform Houston’s Second, Third, and Fifth Ward communities, but also bring incredible education opportunities to students. Former Mayor Annise Parker, former State Board of Education Member Staci Childs, State Representative Christina Morales, and Houston City Councilmembers Joaquin Martinez and Sallie Alcorn also attended the event.

“In this city, known for our undeniable contributions to music and arts, the gap has never been ability or talent; it has always been opportunity, and opportunity can be built,” said Kirby Liu, who spoke at the groundbreaking, memorializing his late brother’s vision of arts education for the youngest Houstonians. “When it comes to opportunity being foreclosed on our children, we will try like hell to bust those damned doors down.”

The Frank Liu Jr. Foundation has pledged $20 million in financial support during FLAMA’s first years of operation.

Applications are now open for kindergarten and first-grade students for the 2027-2028 school year.

Rendering courtesy of OMA

A rendering of the exterior of the Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts (FLAMA)'s exterior. The new school broke ground in the East End last week.

flama frank liu jr academy for music and arts east end performing-arts education anderson