weekend event planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

Uncovers clues at a true-crime walking show in downtown.

Photo courtesy of SPA/Art Heist

Expect a green ol’ time this weekend, as various spots around the city celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Enjoy a scavenger hunt, an art heist, a shamrock shindig, and an Irish stew-off. Film buffs, don’t forget to check out a movie at the endangered Landmark River Oaks Theatre while you’re at it.

Here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, March 11

Rothko in Jazz with Maris Briežkalns Quintet
Get ready for this virtual livestream, courtesy of The Rothko Chapel. In honor of Mark Rothko’s Latvian heritage, Latvian jazz ensemble the Māris Briežkalns Quintet commissioned ten Latvian composers to each create an original jazz composition, arranged and performed by the Quintet. Each composition is created to illustrate the moods and atmosphere evoked by an iconic Rothko painting selected by the composer. 6 pm.

Aaron Lewis at Bayou Music Center
Don’t act like you weren’t chilling in your bedroom back in the day listening to Staind, that hella emo-rock band discovered by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst that gave us such moody classics as “It’s Been Awhile” and “Outside?” Lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis is out here doing his own thing, performing country tunes he’s been dropping for the past decade. Face coverings are mandatory and must be worn at all times except while eating and drinking. 7 pm.

Friday, March 12

The Hunt at CITYCENTRE
Throughout this 10-day scavenger hunt, beginning Friday through Sunday, March 21, participants will be asked to complete tasks as they venture throughout CITYCENTRE and its retailers, to earn points using the Scavify app. The first 500 participants will receive a free tumbler. At the end of the event, the top 10 participants will receive an extra gift card prize from their choice of retailers. All participants must download the Scavify app in order to join. 9 am.

Society for the Performing Arts presents Art Heist
Based on a true story of the world’s biggest art caper, this is a true-crime walking show where socially distanced groups will walk to multiple locations to gather clues. Actors, through conversation, will reveal clues to the detective audience — but then again, a red herring or two might present itself. Shows will depart every 30 minutes. It will run through Sunday, March 28. 6 pm (2 and 5:30 pm Saturday and Sunday).

Saturday, March 13

Abu Omar Halal Signature Grand Opening
Abu Omar Halal will present the grand opening of their new brick & mortar location, where visitors can enjoy a free dessert, side salad or fresh juice with purchase of any meal. Guests can experience the new signature menu with rotating traditional favorites like Mansaf with Lamb Shank, Kabseh, Chicken Musakhan and more. They are also showcasing a new fresh juice, smoothie and salad menu, along with favorites like shawarma, gyro, and falafel options. 11 am.

St. Patrick’s Brunch & Crawfish Boil at B.B. Lemon
It’s time to don some green attire and join B.B. Lemon for a festive St. Patrick's brunch and crawfish boil. Enjoy tunes by DJ G-Funk along with Irish-inspired food and drink specials. Also, Berg Hospitality Group's very own New Orleans native, Jeff Baron, will be cookin' up mudbugs with his special recipe. Reservations are recommended. Complimentary valet and street parking will be available. 11 am.

Sunday, March 14

Sugar Land Town Square presents Shake Your Shamrock Shindig
The Shake Your Shamrock Shindig will include food and drink specials, extended brunches, live music, raffles, and more. Visitors can check-in at Bar Louie, where they will present their ticket to receive a themed punch card. They will then spend the next couple of hours getting jolly and green at Baker Street, Bar Louie, Fish City Grill, Flying Saucer, The Rouxpour, and Sweet Paris. Proceeds will benefit East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry. Noon.

Irish Stew-Off at Penny Whistle Pub
Penny Whistle Pub will be opening up early for a St. Patrick’s Day-themed cookoff. Cash prizes will be awarded to the judge’s choice and people’s choice winners. For $5, you can sample unlimited amounts of stews and vote on your favorite one. The proceeds from the $5 will go to help victims from Winter Storm Uri. There will be bagpipers and live music by Ruckus Music. Green beers and jello shots will be available along with specials on Irish drinks. 1 pm.

event-planner

Movie Review

Timothée Chalamet cements star status in new movie Marty Supreme

Courtesy

Timothée Chalamet

In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).

Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.

Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.

Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.

Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.

Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.

Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.

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Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

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