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    weekend event planner

    Here are the top 9 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig Lindsey
    Jan 9, 2020 | 6:00 am
    Rainbow in Ice
    Rainbow on Ice, the Houston-themed LGBTQ celebration/ultimate dance party, returns this weekend.
    Photo courtesy of Discovery Green

    David Bowie was born on January 8 (and so was Elvis). He died on January 10. Why don't you do yourself a solid and listen to some Bowie this weekend? May we suggest Young Americans, his 1975 "plastic soul" album, where he went to Philadelphia and got together with a bunch of musicians (including a young Luther Vandross) and made an album full of blue-eyed soul.

    And while you're listening to that, check out these events:

    Thursday, January 9

    100 Boats at Landmark River Oaks
    In 100 Boats, which will have its premiere this weekend, director Syed Hasan captured the integrity of the Houston community during its time of crisis in 2017 as Hurricane Harvey devastated the city. As everyday heroes came to the rescue of those in despair, the city became “Houston Strong.” This movie was developed to pay homage to the incredible generosity of the individuals from near and far whose contributions made the difference between life and death. 7 pm.

    Hamlet at Main Street Theater
    We didn't know there was a partnership between the Main Street Theater and the Prague Shakespeare Company. But, since both parties will be giving us one heck of a production this weekend, we're glad they're in bed together. In his tour-de-force one-man presentation, PSC artistic director Guy Roberts presents unique insights, using only the Bard's words in a conflated text that incorporates the First Folio, into the mind of Shakespeare’s greatest and most famous creation. Runs through January 19. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, January 10

    Rainbow on Ice at Discovery Green
    Anybody looking to get their ice-skate on may want to swing over to Discovery Green this weekend, as this Houston-themed LGBTQ celebration/ultimate dance party returns for the ninth time. The evening features music by DJ Joe Ross and a performance by H-Town’s R&B Princess JaeRene. Also featured: electrifying drag performances such as Blackberri as Lizzo and a fashion show with designs by Yahaira DeHill. Admission is free, but skating fees may apply. 7-10 pm.

    Varda by Agnes at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
    Before she passed away in March of last year at the age of 90, French New Wave filmmaker Agnes Varda rounded up all the footage she shot to give an on-camera masterclass in filmmaking. She unspools clips from her filmography: Cleo from 5 to 7, Vagabond, The Gleaners and I, her most recent, Oscar-nominated Faces Places. More importantly, Varda lets everyone know that if you’re going to create cinema that you know will either challenge or infuriate viewers, you better have a good time while doing it. 7 pm (5 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, January 11

    4th Annual Hops N' Hot Sauce Festival at SpindleTap Brewery
    Things will get spicy as hell at this festival, which will feature samples from over 65 vendors of hot sauces, salsas, jams and jellies, seasonings, jerky, spicy pickles and more. Don't forget about the 4th Annual Hot Pepper Eating Contest and the 2nd Annual Pizza de Muerte Eating Challenge with Mikey V and Texzas - Wood Fired Pizza. The indoor, kid-friendly event will also feature bounce houses and games — and it's all benefitting Addi’s Faith Foundation. 11 am.

    Fried Chicken and Chicken Fried Steak Pop-Up at Killen's
    We're not sure when Ronnie Killen's long-awaited, new restaurant in The Heights will officially open up. But, until that happens, Killen will be holding some pop-ups before it happens. Get a taste of what he'll be serving with the pop-up going on this weekend. There will be buckets of fried chicken and rolls, chicken fried steak, brisket, sides, bread pudding, and free Lone Star Beer. 11 am-3 pm.

    Houston Lion Kings at AMC Metropark Square 10
    The Metropark Square lawn will host the Houston Lion Kings, a group of performers that dance and play as lions and dragons to the beating of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The performance will celebrate the Chinese New Year and will serve as the kickoff to Metropark Square's monthly events. The Kings perform traditional Chinese Dragon and Lion dances during the Lunar New Year season to bring good luck, happiness, and prosperity for all. Children will enjoy dancing with dragons and lions during this performance. Noon.

    Sunday, January 12

    Fern Bernstein at Evelyn Rubinstein Jewish Community Center
    Have you ever wanted to know more about mahjong, the game older women from any race, nationality, or color can just get down and play? You might wanna check out this appearance from Fern Bernstein, who will be promoting her debut memoir For the Love of Mah Jongg. Bernstein will take the audience on her personal journey around her Mah Jongg table, where she found support, strength and formed enduring friendships. Following the presentation, guests can enjoy brunch, sip on a mimosa, and play — yes! — mahjong. 11 am.

    Booze Can Sundays at Riel
    This will be the latest installment of a monthly event where food, art and cocktails collide — with guest chef Scott Vivian and live art by local artist Tyler Kay. Vivian, whose Toronto restaurant Beast is famous for its biscuit sandwiches, was on the the 2019 season of Iron Chef Canada and featured in a 2012 episode of Anthony Bourdain's The Layover. Taking place on the second Sunday of every month, this is named after the Canadian slang for a nightclub or bar. 3 pm.

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    Movie Review

    Avatar: Fire and Ash returns to Pandora with big action and bold visuals

    Alex Bentley
    Dec 18, 2025 | 5:00 pm
    Oona Chaplin in Avatar: Fire and Ash
    Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios
    Oona Chaplin in Avatar: Fire and Ash.

    For a series whose first two films made over $5 billion combined worldwide, Avatar has a curious lack of widespread cultural impact. The films seem to exist in a sort of vacuum, popping up for their run in theaters and then almost as quickly disappearing from the larger movie landscape. The third of five planned movies, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is finally being released three years after its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water.

    The new film finds the main duo, human-turned-Na’vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his native Na’vi wife, Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), still living with the water-loving Metkayina clan led by Ronal (Kate Winslet) and Tonowari (Cliff Curtis). While Jake and Neytiri still play a big part, the focus shifts significantly to their two surviving children, Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), as well as two they’ve essentially adopted, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver) and Spider (Jack Champion).

    Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who lives on in a fabricated Na’vi body, is still looking for revenge on Jake, and he finds help in the form of the Mangkwan Clan (aka the Ash People), led by Varang (Oona Chaplin). Quaritch’s access to human weapons and the Mangkwan’s desire for more power on the moon known as Pandora make them a nice match, and they team up to try to dominate the other tribes.

    Aside from the story, the main point of making the films for writer/director James Cameron is showing off his considerable technical filmmaking prowess, and that is on full display right from the start. The characters zoom around both the air and sea on various creatures with which they’ve bonded, providing Cameron and his team with plenty of opportunities to put the audience right there with them. Cameron’s preferred viewing method of 3D makes the experience even more immersive, even if the high frame rate he uses makes some scenes look too realistic for their own good.

    The story, as it has been in the first two films, is a mixed bag. Cameron and co-writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver start off well, having Jake, Neytiri, and their kids continue mourning the death of Neteyam (Jamie Flatters) in the previous film. The struggle for power provides an interesting setup, but Cameron and his team seem to drag out the conflict for much too long. This is the longest Avatar film yet, and you really start to feel it in the back half as the filmmakers add on a bunch of unnecessary elements.

    Worse than the elongated story, though, is the hackneyed dialogue that Cameron, Jaffa, and Silver have come up with. Almost every main character is forced to spout lines that diminish the importance of the events around them. The writers seemingly couldn’t resist trying to throw in jokes despite them clashing with the tone of the scenes in which they’re said. Combined with the somewhat goofy nature of the Na’vi themselves (not to mention talking whales), the eye-rolling words detract from any excitement or emotion the story builds up.

    A pre-movie behind-the-scenes short film shows how the actors act out every scene in performance capture suits, lending an authenticity to their performances. Still, some performers are better than others, with Saldaña, Worthington, and Lang standing out. It’s more than a little weird having Weaver play a 14-year-old girl, but it works relatively well. Those who actually get to show their real faces are collectively fine, but none of them elevate the film overall.

    There are undoubtedly some Avatar superfans for which Fire and Ash will move the larger story forward in significant ways. For anyone else, though, the film is a demonstration of both the good and bad sides of Cameron. As he’s proven for 40 years, his visuals are (almost) beyond reproach, but the lack of a story that sticks with you long after you’ve left the theater keeps the film from being truly memorable.

    ---

    Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in theaters on December 19.

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