Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 11 things to do in Houston this weekend

January is shaping up to be a busy month in Houston, and this weekend is no different. Eclectic happenings include breathtaking breakdancing, several concerts, wine tasting from the Basque region of Spain, and a Southern Sunday Supper.

Here are 11 of the top events happenings around the city this weekend, but you can check out the full list of events on your CultureMap Events Calendar.

Thursday, January 19

Camerata presents ¡TXOTX! Basque Weekend

This weekend-long event celebrates the ciders and wines that are native to the Basque region of Spain with a pouring competition and educational seminars Wine lovers will also enjoy the opportunity to sample wines paired with traditional small snacks (pintxos) from Camerata. The celebration continues at Public Services and 13º Celsius.

The Johns

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company's production of Mary Bonnett's play offers an eye-opening look at human trafficking and its continuing prevalence in today’s society. The locale has been change from the Chicago area to The Woodlands, but the theme remains topical as since Houston has one of the highest rates of sex trafficking in the nation. The play continues on weekends through February 4.

What a Joke Comedy Fest

In response to the President-elect’s repeated threats on human rights, comedians in over 20 cities are coordinating shows to raise money for the ACLU on Inauguration Day Weekend with the What a Joke Comedy Fest, organized and produced by New York comedians Jenn Welch and Emily Winter.

Friday, January 20

Red Bull Flying Bach

The Flying Steps take over The Hobby Center this weekend to perform to a genre-bending mix of classical, hip hop and electronic music as they bring their internationally successful tour stateside for an extended run of dates across the country. Their theatrical modern adaptation of Johannes Sebastian Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" combines classical musical with break dance.

Yaga's Chili Quest & Beer Fest

The Galveston Strand is ground central for the 8th Annual Yaga's Chili Quest & Beer Fest this weekend. A night party on Friday kicks off the celebration at Yaga's Cafe. It continues on Saturday with live music, a cook off, a 5k run, and many more fun activities. The Ronald McDonald House of Galveston is the beneficiary.

Romero Britto Exhibition

Art enthusiasts and fans of the Brazilian neo-pop artist, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor will delight in the opportunity to see and acquire collections of his work on exhibit at Off the Wall Gallery. Britto combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work, using vibrant colors and bold patterns as a visual expression of hope and happiness. The exhibit also features a series of live artist appearances throughout the weekend.

Pancakes & Booze Art Show

Houston's largest underground art show features more than 100 emerging local artists, live body painting, a free pancake bar, live audio performances, and live art battles. The event at Warehouse Live is only for those 18 and over.

Saturday, January 21

Kane Brown in Concert

The 23-year-old country music singer, who shot to fame thanks to videos on social media, stops by the House of Blues as a part of his Ain't No Stopping Us Now Tour. Brown will perform songs from his self-titled debut album, including "Thunder in the Rain" and "Hometown."

Mahalia

The life and music of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson is celebrated in this regional premiere from the Ensemble Theatre. Standing at the side of her close friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jackson became the musical voice of the civil rights movement. This harmonious tribute includes music by various gospel composers as well as hymns and spirituals made famous by Jackson. The production continues through February 26.

Sunday, January 22

Miranda Sings

YouTube sensation-turned-Netflix star Colleen (Haters Back oFF) Ballinger brings her comedy tour, "Miranda Sings Live...You're Welcome," to Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston. The 80-minute show features Ballinger’s signature blend of live comedy, songs, and countless applications of her signature lipstick.

Southern Sunday Supper at Lucille's

Celebrate National Southern Food Day at Lucille's for a Southern Sunday Supper featuring off-the-menu items such as a whole Cajachina roasted local hog, paired with classic Southern cocktails. This family-style dinner benefits the Recipe for Success Foundation.

Red Bull Flying Bach takes over The Hobby Center this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Red Bull Flying Bach

Red Bull Flying Bach takes over The Hobby Center this weekend.

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Movie Review

Comedic horror movie Y2K takes nostalgic trip with mayhem twist

Photo courtesy of A24

Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison in Y2K.

Movies that rely on nostalgia can be successful if they’re timed right. Generally, 25-30 years seems about the right amount of time to try to take advantage of people’s fond feelings for a certain era, which is why movies/TV shows about the ‘80s have been prevalent for much of the 21st century, and ‘90s-set films started to pop up in the last 10 years.

Y2K, a horror comedy that plays on the fears of technological mayhem many people thought would happen at the turn of the century, is right on the cusp of that rule, taking place 24 years after its timeline. It centers on two teenage boys, Eli (Jaeden Martell) and Danny (Julian Dennison), who are opposite in demeanor but have an unshakeable bond. Eli likes a popular girl, Laura (Rachel Zegler), and Danny convinces him to crash a New Year’s Eve party where she’ll be.

As the clock strikes midnight and the year moves from 1999 to 2000, everything that uses an electrical current goes haywire, with many of them combining forces to attack the humans around them. Eli and Danny find themselves on the run with Laura, as well as two stoners, Ash (Lachlan Watson) and CJ (Daniel Zolghadri), with each of them trying to use their unique skillset to help defeat a growing robot army.

Directed by Kyle Mooney and written by Mooney and Evan Winter, the film lands some solid jokes about the era in its opening 20 minutes or so, whether it’s the extreme slowness of dial-up internet, the goofy user names from AOL Messenger, or the various high school cliques of the time. However, many of them seem to echo ones told in 1999’s American Pie, a weird kind of art-imitating-art moment instead of commenting on real life.

The jolt of the machines attacking partygoers seems to promise a fun — if bloody — romp, but Mooney and Winter don’t seem to know where to take the story. They establish the computer bona fides of Eli and Laura early on, but when it comes time for them to put their talents in action, it feels like two actors going through the motions instead of real people who know what they’re doing. Almost none of the characters are believable or entertaining, and the few that rise above are dispatched way too early.

And because the filmmakers don’t make you care about the main group, nothing they face is that interesting, either. The villainous robots are made up of a bunch of disparate parts, which would seem to offer the opportunity for funny sight gags. Mooney and his team fumble most of their chances, though, leaving that side of the story stuck in limbo where it’s not absurd enough to be hilarious or scary enough to really count as horror.

Martell, Dennison, and Zegler are each rising stars who have their individual charms, but only Dennison is able to make much of an impact. Zegler, who starred in West Side Story and will soon be Snow White, is especially misused. They try to shoehorn in a cameo by Limp Biskit lead singer Fred Durst, but his appearance makes little sense and adds almost nothing to the story.

Filmmakers who want to mine nostalgia, especially in a comedy, need to really commit to the bit instead of throwing in a few references and needle drops. Mooney, who’s making his directorial debut, demonstrates little feel for timing, and so most of the film is like a car spinning its wheels, going nowhere.

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Y2K opens in theaters on December 6.

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Comedic horror movie Y2K takes nostalgic trip with mayhem twist