weekend event planner

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

woman with candy lollipop selfie Houston

Have some candy, snap a selfie at the Candy Factory pop-up.

Photo by Getty Images

It's Memorial Day Weekend, which means summer has officially started. But while some may venture to your nearest waterpark, others may just wanna stay as dry as your favorite wine.

Luckily, Saturday is National Wine Day and The Union Kitchen is offering half-off all wine glasses and deep discounts on high-end bottles including Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($60), Prisoner Red Blend ($40) and Director’s Cut ($25), at all its locations.

Here's what else is happening this weekend:

Thursday, May 23

William Forsythe: Choreographic Objects at the MFAH
There are two famous William Forsythes: One is the popular character actor who has played heavies and bad guys in everything from Dick Tracy to The Devil's Rejects to Boardwalk Empire. The other is an acclaimed choreographer who has created this new exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Blurring the lines between performance, sculpture, video and installation, this exhibit invites you to connect to the organizing principles of choreography. It will run through September 15. 10 am.

Office Space at Greenway Plaza
There is one major reason why Houstonians should be proud of Office Space, Mike Judge's workplace satire/cult classic that is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year (and will have an outdoor screening at Greenway Plaza). While it was mostly shot in Judge's Austin homebase, the movie has a gangsta-rap soundtrack that mostly features tracks from legendary H-Town rappers Scarface and The Geto Boys. So, props to Judge for giving local gangsta-rap icons some on-screen love. 5 pm.

Friday, May 24

A Trip to the Candy Factory at Calhoun RoofTop Bar & Grill
Who doesn't love candy? Sure, they're little pieces of sugar-filled temptation you feel guilty eating afterwards, but they're still fun, edible delights. The Pop Up Connoisseurs are hoping a lot of people with sweet teeth will attend this pop-up that runs through Monday. It's an interactive, Insta-worthy, Willy-Wonka-themed experience that will feature specialized drinks, small tapas, 3D photo booth, souvenirs, a candy wall, swag bags, and more. Noon.

Juvenile and Mystikal at Arena Theatre
Once upon a time, New Orleans MCs Juvenile and Mystikal were the toasts of Southern hip-hop. Back in the day, Juvenile was the star of the Cash Money Records crew (a crew that included a young Lil Wayne), turning out bangers like "Back That Azz Up." Meanwhile, the aggressively fast-talking Mystikal was one of No Limit's soldiers, dropping hits like "Shake Ya Ass." They now have joined forces for a tour, certain to make audiences do things with their posteriors. 8:30 pm.

Saturday, May 25

Kickin' Kombucha Taproom and Tea Shop Grand Opening
Locally based health-drink brewery Kickin' Kombucha will celebrate the grand opening of its recently redesigned taproom and tea shop. Eighth Wonder Brewery, Cruiser Coffee, and Highway Vodka will be there providing drinks, while Mr. Donut will have donuts and kolaches in the morning, and Food Music Life Food Truck will be there for lunch. There will also be a raffle where you can win free kombucha for a year, a case of your very own custom flavor, and other prizes. 9:30 am to 3 pm.

How Rednecks Saved Hollywood: An Evening with Joe Bob Briggs at Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra
It's always fun when Joe Bob Briggs, America's foremost drive-in movie critic, shows up around these parts. The last time he was here, he hosted a holiday-themed, horror double feature. Now, he's back to show how much rednecks are a part of Hollywood history. He'll host a two-hour clip show that basically reviews the history of rednecks in America, as told through the classics of both grindhouse and mainstream movies. 7:30 pm.

Sunday, May 26

Ultimate Kolache Pop Up at Pearl Bar Houston
What is it about kolaches that Houstonians can't get enough of? If you're a kolache fiend, Sinfull Bakery, Yeti Sunshine Shaved Ice and Pearl Bar Houston are joined forces for a brunch-time, kolache feast that will benefit Hatch Montrose Center's Rapid Re-Housing program for LGBTQ homeless youth. 11 am to 4 pm.

Trippin tha Love Family Reunion at The Secret Group
Two decades ago, Trippin tha Love was a weekly dance party for grown-up rave kids who still crave some house grooves. It brought out the best DJs, both locally and nationally. But, after two years of business, the party unfortunately came to an end. This weekend, the party is returning for a special reunion extravaganza. All of the city's heaviest hitters — from Kung Fu Pimp to Brotha Jibril to dance vocalist Karina Nistal — will get back together to keep the party going all day long. 3 pm to 3 am.

event-planner holidays

Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

---

Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

movies film