Weekend Event Planner

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

You’ve been working hard all week, so let loose this weekend with our picks for the best things to do in Houston. Hit up some amazing concerts and exhibits, or enjoy the great outdoors and head to a farm just outside of town. Read on for 11 can’t-miss happenings going on Thursday through Sunday. For other options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Get ready to rodeo
Thursday, March 9: RodeoHouston welcomes country performer Chris Stapleton to the stage (6:45 pm; tickets: standing room only at $16 per person). The singer’s 2015 debut solo album, Traveller, earned four Grammy Award nominations and the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart. Stapleton’s hits songs include "Tennessee Whiskey," Fire Away,” “Whiskey and You,” and "Outlaw State of Mind." (NRG Stadium; 3 NRG Pkwy)

Stop and smell the Azaleas
Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12: The 82nd annual Azalea Trail kicks off Friday, giving visitors access to some of the city’s most impressive residences and gardens. The trail starts at Bayou Bend Gardens (11 am-5 pm; tickets: $10-$25 per person) and includes stops at Rienzi, the Forum of Civics Building, and four River Oaks residences. (2940 Lazy Lane; 713-523-2483)

Dinosaur adventure
Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12: Jurassic Quest at Lone Star Convention and Expo Center boasts big fun for the entire family (3 pm; tickets: $15-$24 per person) with a display of over 80 life-size dinosaurs, plus dinosaur-themed inflatable mazes, face painting, crafts, and more. (9055 Airport Rd., Conroe; 936-588-3332)

Girl on fire
Friday, March 10: Singing sensation Alicia Keys heats things up at RodeoHouston with a performance at NRG Stadium (6:45 pm; tickets: $16-$300 per person). Hit songs by the talented musician and singer, currently a coach on the popular singing competition series, The Voice, include “If I Ain’t Got You,” “In Common,” “Un-thinkable,” “Fallin’,” and “No One.” (NRG Stadium; 3 NRG Pkwy)

Paddle away
Saturday, March 11: Take part in Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race, the 45th annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta (7 am; tickets $55 per person). Paddlers ages 12 and up will compete in the 15-mile competition that runs along the scenic Buffalo Bayou and ends at downtown’s Sesquicentennial Park. (7700 San Felipe Rd.; 713-752-0314)

Bikes in the Heights
Saturday, March 11: From Houston’s first mixed-use community-slash-home to several nationally registered historic spots, go for a spin around the neighborhood (10 am; tickets: $5-$10 per person) on the Houston Heights Bicycle Tour. (1302 Heights Blvd.; 713-520-0155)

Strawberry fields
Saturday, March 11 through Monday, March 13: Grab the kids and go strawberry picking at Blessington Farms’ Spring Break Spectacular in Simonton (10 am-12 pm; tickets: $15 per person). The fun also includes hay rides, pedal cars, and barrel trains. Did we mention giant slides and tube races? Get your tickets now. (510 Chisholm Rd.; Simonton; 832-444-8717)

‘Cue up — Updated
Saturday, March 11: Load up on brisket, ribs, smoked boudin and more ($8 per item) by Blood Bros. Barbecue at Glitter Karaoke (12-5 pm). Cool down with ice-cold brews ($5-$8) and tap your feet to beats by DJ Seek (2621 Milam; 713-526-4900).

Country boy
Saturday, March 11: Country singer Alan Jackson makes his 23rd appearance at RodeoHouston (3:45 pm; tickets: standing room only $16 per person). Throughout his career, Jackson has earned more than 150 music industry awards and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. Among his chart-topping singles are "Don't Rock the Jukebox," "Chattahoochee,” and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere,” a duet with Jimmy Buffett. (NRG Stadium; 3 NRG Pkwy)

Art car sneak peek
Saturday, March 11: Score a preview of the cars in the 2017 Art Car Parade (4 pm; tickets: free), as well as music, games, and insider scoop on the parade, slotted for April 8, via a Q&A session with several in-the-know panelists and a special screening of "Art Car: The Movie" (7 pm) at Market Square Park. (301 Milam St.; 713-650-3022)

Smokin’ good time
Sunday, March 12: Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, otherwise known as The Chainsmokers, amp things up at RodeoHouston (3:45 pm; tickets: $16-$300 per person) as the high-energy DJ duo, who performed recently in Houston at Club Nomadic during Super Bowl LI, take center stage at NRG Stadium. Hits by the 2017 Grammy Award winners include "Don't Let Me Down," "Closer" and "#Selfie.” (NRG Stadium; 3 NRG Pkwy)

Looking for more than these 11 hip happenings? Not to worry, our CultureMap Events Calendar has you covered.

Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, otherwise known as The Chainsmokers, amp things up at RodeoHouston.

Courtesy photo

Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, otherwise known as The Chainsmokers, amp things up at RodeoHouston.

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Movie Review

New thriller Crime 101 majors in cool with Hemsworth at the wheel

Photo courtesy of Amazon Content Services

Chris Hemsworth in Crime 101.

The career of actor Chris Hemsworth is a curious one, as it feels like he’s a huge star (mostly from playing Thor in Marvel movies) and not at the same time, with most of the non-MCU movies featuring him in a lead role failing to become big successes. But he still has a certain presence about him, which is why he’s being given another chance to prove his star power in the new thriller, Crime 101.

Hemsworth plays Davis, a talented thief who knows how to get what he wants without resorting to violence. When a job early in the movie turns slightly sideways, it makes him think twice about working with his handler (Nick Nolte), who seems to prefer someone with a stronger touch, like the up-and-coming Ormon (Barry Keoghan).

Davis is the main character, but two others who come into his orbit get their own subplots. Lou (Mark Ruffalo) is a slightly schlubby LAPD detective who’s convinced he knows the pattern of an unknown thief that likes to hit places close to Highway 101. Sharon (Halle Berry) works for a high-end insurance agency known for working with ultra-wealthy clients, the types who might be a great target for a thief like Davis.

Written and directed by Bart Layton, the film has a decent propulsion to it that comes with most crime thrillers. Davis and Ormon represent the yin and the yang of criminal approaches, and and it’s interesting to see the juxtaposition between the two as their simmering rivalry heats up over the course of the film. When the film commits to actually showing its crimes, it has an excitement that’s worth watching.

Unfortunately, Layton displays a real lack of focus, taking the audience into subplots with each of the three main characters that prove unnecessarily distracting. Lou’s marriage problems may explain his disheveled appearance, but there’s no need to see him deal with them with wife Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Sharon’s troubles with her male-dominated company prove slightly pivotal, but still don’t merit the time put into exploring them.

The most baffling subplot is Davis pursuing a relationship with Maya (Monica Barbaro), a woman he randomly meets. At different points in the movie, including many of his interactions with Maya, Davis seems like the most uncomfortable, antisocial person in the world. And yet he somehow morphs into a suave smooth-talker who’s able to convince anyone to do what he wants at other key points, making it unclear exactly what kind of person he really is.

Hemsworth does relatively well in the lead role, but he’s still missing that certain something to make his character, and therefore the movie, truly compelling. The rest of the cast is fine, too, but each of them seem to be putting in just the minimal amount of effort to make the film watchable. Ruffalo and Barbaro come off the best, but with the talent in the cast (11 Oscar nominations and one win), they could have been used better.

Crime 101 has most of the ingredients to be another great entry in the genre, and it succeeds when it actually decides to deliver on its promise. But too much of the film is spent on things that have no real bearing on plot or character development, leaving the movie in the middle of the pack.

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Crime 101 is now playing in the theaters.

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