weekend event planner
Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo will be wrapping up on Sunday, March 17, with Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and returning champion George Strait closing things out at NRG Stadium.
To celebrate Strait’s return, Lupe Tortilla has concocted a trio of cocktails, including the Platinum Margarita (which features Strait’s favorite tequila — Código 1530 Blanco), and will donate $1 per cocktail to the HLS&R Educational Fund.
Aside from rodeo fun, here are some fun activities you can look forward to this weekend.
Thursday, March 14
Kiese Laymon at Project Row Houses
Kiese Laymon is an Andrew Carnegie Medal-winning author and essayist best known for his satirical time-travel novel Long Division and his collection of autobiographical essays How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. He'll be in town speaking on/signing copies of his 2018 memoir Heavy, where he writes about, among other things, his difficult relationship with his mother, his early experiences of sexual violence and growing up as a black man. 7 pm.
Monet X Change at Rich's Houston
We're sure we have fans of RuPaul's Drag Race around here. If so, Monet X Change, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 4, will be in town to do a live performance. She is known for competing on the show's tenth season, on which she placed sixth and won Miss Congeniality. Monet will have her first performance before the airing of RuPaul's Drag Race 11 at 8, do a Q&A session during commercial breaks and close things out with a final performance following the episode. 7 pm.
Friday, March 15
Back to the Future at Greenway Plaza
Can we all agree that the time-traveling, sci-fi comedy Back to the Future is one of the more classic, blockbuster movies to come out of the '80s? If you think so, a free screening will be going down at Greenway Plaza, on the courtyard between buildings 9 and 11. Before the movie, DJ Ramalama will begin play hits from the '50s and '80s at 5 pm. And, yes, a DeLorean will be on-site for photo opportunities beginning at 6 pm. 7:30 pm.
Madea's Farewell Play Tour at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Tyler Perry has built a nice entertainment empire out of dressing up in drag and assuming the role of a no-nonsense, Southern sista named Madea. Hell, you can currently see Madea on the big screen once again with A Madea Family Funeral. But Perry/Madea is back where it all started: on the stage. Perry is touring the country, bringing Madea live and unleashed to audiences for the final time with this farewell play. 8 pm (Fri. and Sat.); 3 pm (Sat. and Sun.).
Saturday, March 16
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut Movie Party
South Park is right up there with The Simpsons in the category of long-running, continuously subversive, animated comedies. But this year marks the 20th anniversary of when Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny went to the big screen with a full-length movie musical that was actually nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar. (The name of the song: "Blame Canada.") The Alamo is having a movie party for it this Saturday, where we're sure the audience will be encouraged to sing along. 10 pm.
Disrupt with Alexkid at Bauhaus
Disrupt is a new monthly night of music focusing on bringing quality underground minimal sounds in all forms. Kicking things off on this inaugural evening is special guest headliner Alexkid, a DJ/producer, multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer who is credited as an early protagonist of '90s Parisian underground culture. Hector Moran, Memo Sepulveda, and Gabo will also be spinning as the resident DJs. 10 pm-4 am.
Sunday, March 17
2019 AMAB Award Ceremony at Bisong Art Gallery
AMAB (better known as Autism Moms Are Beautiful) is an outfit whose mission statement is to encourage and uplift mothers raising children on the autism spectrum with positive expressions, motivational outings and weekly giveaways. They will be handing out awards at this second annual ceremony, where moms, dads, and community supporters will be honored. There will also be guest speakers, like Dina Alsaid, an autism mom who is also Ms. Elegance International 2019. 5-7 pm.
Doc Loc and the Swangers at the Preston Theater
You ever wanted to hear a swinging, big-band version of Paul Wall's iconic rap song "Sittin' Sidewayz"? Well, Doc Loc and the Swangers is a 15-piece outfit here to provide you with big-band ditties of your favorite, Houston hip-hop bangers. Led by veteran multi-instrumentalist/jazzman Henry Darragh, this group will be performing a lot of them this Sunday at the release party for the band's self-titled, debut album. 7 pm.