• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    weekend event planner

    Here are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig Lindsey
    Apr 21, 2022 | 6:00 am
    prince concert
    Celebrate Prince's purple reign this weekend at Lucille's.
    Prince/Facebook

    Prince fans, it's time to go crazy at party paying tribute to the purple one's reign this weekend. Also, a hilarious comedian comes to town, while a familiar character actor visits to discuss his road to recovery. And speaking of celebs, the Houston Symphony will celebrate the Queen of Soul.

    Those who grew up going to AstroWorld should check out an art show themed around the beloved theme park, while mort artsy fun is popping up in Sugar Land.

    Here, then, are your best bets for the weekend.

    Thursday, April 21

    FIRST 2022 Championship
    Thousands of students will pack the George R. Brown Convention Center, getting their robotics on. Hosted by FIRST headquarters, this championship is a culminating, international event for FIRST's youth robotics competition season. It's an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), preparing young people for the future. Qualification and advancement to participate in FIRST Championship varies by program. 10 am (1:30 pm Saturday).

    The Council on Recovery presents 37th Annual Spring Luncheon with Danny Trejo
    The Council on Recovery will welcome Danny Trejo as the keynote speaker for its 37th Annual Spring Luncheon. Trejo is an actor, activist, author and restauranteur, best known for roles in Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn, Breaking Bad, King of the Hill, and Sons of Anarchy. Having been in recovery from substance abuse for more than five decades, Trejo will tell his story of recovery and redemption. Proceeds will benefit The Council’s programs and services that help individuals and families impacted by addiction. Noon.

    WorldFest Houston
    The mission of WorldFest Houston is to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in film, to validate brilliant abilities, to promote cultural tourism for Houston, to educate young people in the cinematic arts, to develop film production in the region, and to add to the rich cultural fabric of the city of Houston. The expanded mini-fest will include 30 feature premieres and 60 international short film premieres. For a full schedule, visit the festival website. 7 pm (1 pm Saturday and Sunday).

    Friday, April 22

    Rothko Chapel presents Ocean Music Concert for Earth Day featuring The Knights
    The Rothko Chapel and Ocean Music Action, a new nonprofit led by Houston Symphony principal harp Megan Conley, will perform chamber music, dance and visual art as the sun sets upon the Rothko Chapel reflecting pool. A quartet of musicians from the Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra The Knights will perform music of Debussy, Takemitsu, and Villa-Lobos, alongside dancer Maile Okamura. Artwork by local marine conservation artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee will be on display. 6:30 pm.

    Bikes on the Bayou at Eleanor Tinsley Park
    Downtown streets will roar to life during this three-day, all-inclusive festival/celebration of two-wheeled transportation, which will include motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters as well as music, activities, shopping, and community gatherings. Allen Parkway will be lined with vendors, stunt riders from Team Yahama, X-Games BMX medalists on halfpipes and ramps, and special events like a Hooter’s wing eating contest, an invitational bikini competition, and the Ball of Death. 7 pm. (11:30 am Saturday and Sunday).

    Tig Notaro: Hello Again
    Tig Notaro is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian, writer, radio contributor, and actor, having appeared in Star Trek: Discovery and Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead. But her best work has to be the YouTube show Under the Rock with Tig Notaro, where Notaro has to interview well-known celebs she's never heard of — and she's never heard of a lot of people. She'll be doing stand-up in Houston this weekend in what should be a hilarious show. 7 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents Aretha: Queen of Soul
    Aretha Franklin captured our hearts with her powerhouse voice and soulful refrains about love, pain, and triumph. Capathia Jenkins, Ryan Shaw, and the Houston Symphony will hail the Queen of Soul, who demanded the world’s —well, you know, performing showstoppers like “Chain of Fools,” “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” and, of course, “Respect.” The Saturday performance will be available to livestream. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, April 23

    Sugar Land Arts Fest
    The Sugar Land Arts Fest features contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, glass art, mixed-media art, woodworking, and jewelry designed and created by local and foreign artists. There will be a VIP section with complimentary food & drinks, more than 75 artist booths, a beer garden, a live mural painting contest, a variety of food trucks, a wine garden, and live music. The festival takes place in the plaza outside of Smart Financial Centre. 10 am (11 am Sunday).

    The AstroWorld Art Show
    Celebrating one of Houston's most iconic memories — the real AstroWorld — this two-day show (presented by Super Happy Incredible Toys and War'Hous Visual Art Studio) will be an indoor art gallery, exhibition and outdoor market showcasing Houston's very own local artistic talent and artisan crafts makers. There will be a gallery of AstroWorld-inspired and themed art, a market with AstroWorld themed merchandise, and a mini-AstroWorld museum. 11 am.

    Let's Go Crazy: A Prince Patio Party
    Closing out Lucille's Annual Prince Week (which made its return after a COVID hiatus) is this finale fiesta. DJ/ethnomusicologist Flash Gordon Parks will set the night’s Prince soundtrack, followed by a live cover band headlined by popular Prince performer Antonio Eyez. The night will also include a food spread of yardbird, baked mac & cheese, braised collard greens, and shrimp creole with white rice, alongside two drink tickets for Prince-themed cocktails. 5 pm.

    Houston Chamber Choir presents All-Night Vigil
    Houston Chamber Choir was on the eve of presenting Rachmaninoff’s greatest work, an a cappella choral composition consisting of settings of texts taken from the Russian Orthodox, all-night vigil ceremony, in March 2020 when the world abruptly shut down. They will return to unfinished business as they offer the masterpiece within the warm acoustics of the Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ, at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. 7:30 pm (3:30 pm Sunday).

    Sunday, April 24

    Great Age Movement presents 4th Annual Jazz Brunch
    Great Age Movement will present this special celebration of Houston's dynamic and active seniors. The event will benefit the Movement's campaign to install a second senior playground in a high-density area of Houston, as well as their wellness programs for seniors online and at The Health Museum. This year's Great Age Movement Award recipient is Irma Galvan, self-made entrepreneur and owner of Irma's Original Restaurant. 10:30 am.

    Truluck's Covenant House Charity Brunch
    Wanna get some fancy seafood that'll go towards a good cause? For 30 years, Truluck's has served some of the freshest and finest seafood and crab in Houston. In celebration of their 30th anniversary this year, Truluck's will host a brunch with 100 percent of the funds going towards the purchase of a van to strengthen the Covenant House's Outreach Program, which is an essential part of how Covenant House connects with Houston’s homeless youth. 11 am.

    Wooster's 7th Anniversary
    Wooster's Garden will be turning seven this weekend, and the spot is looking for guys and gals to celebrate with them disco-style. (It's time to break out those platforms!) Wooster's is celebrating by turning up with a parking lot market featuring music from Wonky Power Records, your favorite local artisans sourced by Plant Market Sunday, and cocktails from Campari USA & Still Austin. BTW, the first 100 guests will get a Wooster’s Garden disco ball mug. 1 pm.

    event-planner
    news/entertainment
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    Movie Review

    How to Train Your Dragon remake puts a fresh twist on the original

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 12, 2025 | 4:14 pm
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon
    Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon.

    Let’s get it out of the way right at the top: The new live-action How to Train Your Dragon, coming a mere 15 years after the original animated film, serves no real purpose other than to make more money for Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures. However, unlike Disney’s approach toward remaking their animated movies, this attempt manages to succeed on its own merits instead of being a half-baked vessel for nostalgia.

    As fans will remember, Hiccup (Mason Thames) lives in Berk, a town on a remote island populated by Vikings who constantly have to defend themselves against rampaging dragons. Hiccup’s dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is the community’s vaunted leader, with a legacy that seems impossible for Hiccup to measure up to, especially since he’s stuck in the armory alongside Gobber (Nick Frost).

    But Hiccup has a knack for inventions, and his use of one new weapon during a dragon attack takes down a feared Night Fury. Finding the wounded dragon deep in the forest, Hiccup decides against killing it, leading to an unexpected bond between the two of them. Most of the film shows Hiccup trying to prove himself to his townspeople, including the fierce Astrid (Nico Parker), while also nursing the dragon he dubs Toothless back to health with the help of another one of his ingenious creations.

    Written and directed by Dean DeBlois (who’s had the same roles on all four HTTYD films), the film is most notable for how engaging it is despite it retelling a story many already know and love. The biggest reason for this is a pivot away from telling a story mainly for kids toward one that feels like an extremely light version of Game of Thrones. Almost right away, there are real stakes for the people in the film, and the way DeBlois and his team stage the scenes, the danger can be felt by the audience.

    This sense of “realness” comes through especially well in the scenes between Hiccup and Toothless. The design of Toothless is faithful to the original, but the CGI makes the dragon feel amazingly believable. And when they start flying, the film literally and metaphorically takes off. At multiple points, the camera seems to have trouble keeping them in frame, a smart move toward verisimilitude when the filmmakers clearly could have made it an overly smooth watching experience.

    Even though it’s more serious than the original, the film still has plenty of fun to offer. Characters like Gobber (who replaces his two missing limbs with odd contraptions) and the ragtag group of teenagers who come to be in awe of Hiccup’s skills at taming dragons provide more than a few laughs. Hiccup isn’t quite as goofy as he was when voiced by Jay Baruchel, which turns out to be a good thing as his sense of purpose amps up the drama of the story.

    Thames’ performance gets better and better as the film goes along, as Hiccup goes from town whipping boy toward hero. He really shines in the last act when he’s given a few scenes that show off his acting range. Parker is equally good, demonstrating the girl power needed for the role, but also the softness of a potential love interest. Butler, the only actor reprising their voice role, is a great presence who sells the outsized personality of Stoick.

    Against the odds, this new version of How to Train Your Dragon is equal to the success of the first film, accomplishing the goal of making it feel like you’re watching the story for the first time. If live-action remakes are going to continue to come out, future filmmakers should study this film for how to respect both the history of the franchise and the audience paying good money to be entertained.

    ---

    How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters on June 13.

    moviesfilm
    news/entertainment

    most read posts

    Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks

    Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list

    'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations

    Loading...