weekend event planner

Here are the top 10 things to do in Houston this weekend

Valentina J’Adore hosts a night of boozy burlesque and sexy, sparkly fun on Saturday.

Saturday is National Rosé Day, which means that you gotta get your sip on somewhere in town. May we suggest B&B Butchers Restaurant, which will be hosting a festive, “Rosé All Day” brunch to unveil five new rosés that will be on the menu all summer long.

Kendra Scott & Market Street will also be hosting an afternoon of rosé tastings, Instagram-worthy photo ops, kid-friendly activities, live music and more.

Plenty of more activities are vying for your attention. Here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, June 10

Kin Dee One-Year Anniversary Party
Heights-based, Thai cuisine hotspot Kin Dee, which amazingly opened its doors during the pandemic, will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a good ol' party. Festivities will include an overdue ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially commemorate the restaurant’s opening, samplings of the restaurant's delicious dishes and cocktails, live entertainment such as traditional Thai dance performances & Muay Thai matches and live music from a Thai Classical Symphony. 6 pm.

The Proper Art Social Hosted by Phill Wade
It appears that musician/comedian/actor Phill Wade has been doing a weekly, social gathering over at House of Blues's Foundation Room, and he's been inviting local performers to come in and entertain the swanky crowd. This week's musical guests are hip-hop/soul trio The Hue, with DJ Donnie Houston providing grooves throughout the evening. The no-cover show is 21 and up and the Foundation Room lounge menu is available until 11 pm. 8 pm.

Friday, June 11

University of St. Thomas presents Two Saints and a Taco Tasting
This friendly, taco-tasting competition (celebrating its 10th anniversary) will have taco entries from a number of well-known, Houston restaurants, an online auction and entertainment. The main attraction of the event is a friendly, yet competitive, taco-tasting contest between local restaurants, which will support the University of St. Thomas by donating, preparing and serving a strategically selected, signature taco while vying for the coveted Judges’ Choice and People's Choice trophies. 6:30 pm.

The Secret Group presents Tin Foil Comedy Live with Sam Tripoli & Eddie Bravo
Sam Tripoli, host of the popular, conspiracy-themed podcast Tin Foil Hat, is bringing his provocative worldview to the stage in a special night of stand-up comedy and far-out theories. Joined for this two-night, limited engagement by fellow status quo provocateur and Joe Rogan Experience regular Eddie Bravo, Tripoli will turn conventional thinking and historically accepted accounts on its collective ear. 7 and 9 pm.

The Downtown District presents Movies at Market Square Park
Market Square Park kicks off its free, outdoor movie series with a screening of the 1953 film Roman Holiday, featuring Audrey Hepburn as a touring, European princess who takes off for a night in Rome and meets an American reporter (Gregory Peck). Lawn chairs and blankets are highly recommended. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome. Outside alcohol is not allowed to be brought into the park, but beer and wine are sold at Niko Niko's. 8:30 pm.

Saturday, June 12

Lost Restaurants of Galveston's African American Community Book Signing and Release
From Gus Allen’s business savvy to Eliza Gipson’s oxtail artistry, Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee has gathered together the stories and recipes that preserve this culinary history in a new book, for the enjoyment and enrichment of generations -- and kitchens -- to come. Join the authors for this book signing, which will take place at the 1892 Bishop's Palace. 10 am.

East End Backyard First Annual Pride Gala
Brian Ching's East End Backyard will host this inaugural gala, which will be a drag show complete with lip-syncing and dancing from such divas as Shy Ann, Amanda Ann Houston, Angela Mercy, Ashleey Houston, and Marcia Mink. The event will benefit PWA Holiday Charities, which assists people living with HIV/AIDS. East End will feature a special beer on tap, Great Heights Brewing's “Haze not Hate," with $1 from every pint sold benefiting PWA. 8 pm.

The 8th Wonder Follies at 8th Wonder Distillery
Valentina J’Adore and 8th Wonder Distillery are hosting a night of boozy burlesque and sexy, sparkly fun. This 21-and-up show promises a thrilling evening of intimate, elegant performances and rowdy fun, featuring classic acts from Houston’s best burlesque artists. Hosts will guide you through the show with humor and wit. Attendees should prepare to be delighted by feather fans, old Hollywood glamour and delicious cocktails. 10 pm.

Sunday, June 13

Flea at Silver Street: Summer Flea 2021
On Saturday and Sunday, this Silver Street Studios-based flea market will feature local artists, designers and craftsmen. Summer Flea is a curated market of one-of-a-kind collectibles, jewelry, vintage, art, mid-century modern furniture, original designs and more artisan products. There will also be a full bar and food trucks on hand. General admission is $5. Kids 12 and under can get in free. Pets are welcome, but they must be well-behaved and put on a leash. 10 am.

Houston Best Friends Day Adoption Event
Best Friends Animal Society will be taking over a retail space at MKT Heights retail center (suite 100) and joining them for their Good Clean Fun Sunday Funday event, where they will have vendors and activities celebrating all things wellness. There will be adoptable cats and dogs on site, as well as adoptable dogs and cats from Fort Bend County Animal Services and City of Baytown Animal Services. Noon.

event-planner

Movie Review

Daniel Craig shines in Queer, an unapologetic tale of love and loss

Photo courtesy of A24

Drew Starkey and Daniel Craig in Queer.

As recently as the late 2010s, if a movie was made about an LGBTQ+ character, it was more than likely about their coming out experience. Romance, if it existed, was typically chaste, and actual sex was almost completely out of the question. Things have changed dramatically in the 2020s, to the point that a major movie star has no issue starring in a film called Queer.

Based on the 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs, the film features William Lee (Daniel Craig), whom everyone calls just Lee, a writer living in 1950s-era Mexico City who spends most of his time haunting local bars with friends like fellow writer Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman) and hitting on younger men. His early interactions in the film seem to indicate that Lee has a bad reputation within the local gay community, as multiple people avoid him or give him odd looks.

Lee senses an opportunity when he encounters a newcomer, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). Despite some awkward interactions, the two of them start spending time together, although Lee has much more invested in the relationship than Eugene does. Their hit-and-miss bond continues until Lee, who’s starting to get into drugs in addition to the booze, convinces Eugene to accompany him on a trip to South America.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes (making their second straight film together after Challengers), early on the film seems to be mostly about the divide between an older person who’s grown comfortable in his ways and a younger person who’s living a relatively carefree life. The introduction of drugs into the plot changes things, though, with Lee searching out more ways to open his eyes to what the world has to offer.

Guadagnino and his team use some interesting visual storytelling techniques to introduce ideas that may not be present in the actual script. The most successful, demonstrated in multiple scenes, is the superimposition of movements by Lee over what’s actually taking place in the scene. The subtle overlay gives the audience insight into Lee’s true feelings, showing what he can’t or won’t say out loud.

Music also plays a big part in how the plot is perceived, with the use of anachronistic songs from Nirvana and Prince serving to heighten certain moments. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is not as in-your-face as the one they did for Challengers, but it complements the film well, especially when the plot starts to get trippy in its final half hour.

Craig, who appears sweaty and disheveled for much of the film, is about as far from the suaveness of James Bond as you can get in this role. He takes multiple risks with his performance and almost all of them pay off. Starkey’s character is subdued by comparison, but still comes off well. Schwartzman and Lesley Manville are given showy roles, with both using altered appearances that make them nearly unrecognizable to deliver memorable performances.

Queer is not as accessible as Challengers was storytelling-wise, but the fact that it tells a story about gay men living their lives as they see fit with no interference or questions shows how far the film world has come in a short period of time. It also continues Guadagnino’s streak of making audacious films in a way that few other filmmakers are willing or able to approach.

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Queer is now playing in theaters.

movies film