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    stream these now

    6 best movies, podcasts, and TV shows to stream in Houston this weekend

    Craig Lindsey
    Jul 16, 2020 | 4:25 pm
    Cursed Katherine Langford Netflix
    Katherine Langford stars in Cursed on Netflix.
    Photo courtesy of Netflix

    America is still in the thick of this astounding nightmare that is the Great American Pandemic of 2020. We may be facing new lockdowns and stay-home orders. What to do? Stream, of course.

    This week, look for a romantic tear-jerker, a Lin-Manuel Miranda vehicle that isn't Hamilton, and a fun fantasy series. Here are your best weekend streaming picks.

    MOVIES

    Dirt Music (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
    If you're in the mood for some good ol', romantic-tearjerker stuff, here comes this film from director Gregor Jordan (Ned Kelly), based on Tim Winton's novel. Scottish-born actress Kelly Macdonald plays an Australian woman stuck in a loveless relationship who has an affair with an Aussie poacher (American actor Garrett Hedlund) — and things get kinda messed up from there. We're talking getting chased through the outback and all that stuff. (Available to rent or buy)

    We Are Freestyle Love Supreme (Hulu)
    Hulu could've let Disney+ have all the Lin-Manuel Miranda glory this month with its Hamilton movie. But the streaming-TV house postponed the June premiere of this documentary to show they got some Lin-Manuel love over there too. This doc — which premiered at Sundance this year — actually tells the story of Freestyle Love Supreme, the off-Broadway, improv-rap collective where Miranda was a member before he became a Broadway wunderkind. (Premieres on Friday)

    PODCASTS

    Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds (iHeartRadio)
    Man, beefs in the record industry are a dime a dozen. You never know which recording artist is gonna get in a tete-a-tete with someone. Thankfully, this show breaks down some of the most memorable rivalries that ever happened in popular music. We're talking Simon vs. Garfunkel, Backstreet Boys vs. 'NSYNC, Michael Jackson vs. Prince, Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West, Taylor Swift vs. Katy Perry, Taylor Swift vs. — let's just say Tay Tay is covered on this show.

    Small Doses with Amanda Seales (Starburns Audio)
    For those of y'all still upset that Insecure is gone until next season, you can check out one of their regular castmates on her very own podcast. Amanda Seales, best known as sidditty galpal Tiffany (not to mention one of the former hosts of the daily The View ripoff The Real) hosts this podcast, which has the same name as her 2019 book. It's on this show where she discusses racism, sexism, police brutality and whatever the hell else is on her mind.

    TELEVISION

    The Alienist: Angel of Darkness (TNT)
    You wanna see a police procedural filmed on the gritty streets of New York City — but set in the late 19th-century? Well, the cable channel that Knows Drama is coming with another season of the show based on Caleb Carr's historical crime novels. In this adaptation of his 1997 follow-up, Daniel Bruhl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning return as the crew who comes together to track down a serial killer who is murdering street children. (Premieres on Sunday at 8 pm)

    Cursed (Netflix)
    For those who are still a bit miffed that 13 Reasons Why dropped its fourth and final season recently — which means you won't get any more of that sweet Hannah Baker action — don't despair. Australian Katherine Langford stars in this Arthurian fantasy-drama based on the Frank Miller/Tom Wheeler illustrated novel. Langford plays Nimue, a young heroine with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the Lady of the Lake (Premieres on Friday)

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    bigger and stronger

    Winner of Ren Fest lawsuit plans to keep the event mostly unchanged

    Jef Rouner
    May 14, 2025 | 2:34 pm
    Texas Renaissance Festival
    Photo courtesy of Texas Renaissance Festival
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    The Texas Renaissance Festival will soon be under new ownership, but will remain much the same as it has been for the last half century, attorney Anthony Laporte of Houston law firm Hanszen Laporte tells CultureMap.

    "All of the vendor contracts are in place for 2025," says Laporte. "Everyone who was already there will be there this year. Maybe one Dippin' Dots guy here and there will be swapped out with another, but we're sticking with what works. Even when the litigation was ongoing, they're having entertainment auditions. Both the old owners and the new ones are planning to give visitors a great time."

    Founder George Coulam has owned the Texas Renaissance Festivals since 1974. Now in his late 80s, Coulam has teased selling the festival multiple times, a process chronicled in a recent HBO docuseries. After pulling out of the latest sales agreement, the prospective buyer sued Coulam for breach of contract. Grimes County Judge Gary W. Chaney ruled against Coulam on May 7, paving the way for the sale to finally go through.

    The identity of the new owner was a mystery for some time. Court documents listed only the corporate entities RW Lands, Texas Stargate, and Royal Campgrounds. The prospective new owner is Meril Rivard, a real estate investor with no prior festival experience who sought to purchase the fair for $60 million. However, Rivard's son is married to the daughter of Geoff Wilson, owner of several Greek food establishments in the festival. Wilson's clan, referred to as "The Greeks" in the HBO documentary, were one of the groups featured in the show trying to buy the fair.

    "This is a family business now," says Laporte. "He has family that lives it, works it, and is part of it."

    According to Laporte, an appeal by Coulam and his counsel seems unlikely. He reports that all parties mostly feel relief that the case is over, though until the judgment is finalized in the next couple of months there is still the possibility that Coulam will try one last time to remain king of the festival.

    The rough final sales price of the Texas Renaissance Festivals is $60 million, Laporte says. This includes the intellectual property rights, some physical property owned by the festival but not strictly part of its grounds, and other assets. The festival is also partially owned by some of the larger business owners. The recently-settled lawsuit does not change those arrangements.

    "It's hard to say what will happen [to the partial owners]," Laporte says. "This judgment does not affect them, per se, but there will be ripple effects. However, no one wants the festival to fail."

    Coulam will no longer have an official role in the running of Texas Renaissance Festival, though he may advise in an unofficial capacity. Laporte did say there will be no more parades in his honor. Coulam has repeatedly been accused of sexual harassment by former employees.

    Until the judgement is finalized, no official date for the transfer of ownership will be set. In addition to the money changing hands for the sale, Coulam owes Rovard and the other plaintiffs $22 million in damages and another $1 million in attorney fees, the judge ruled. None of this is projected to impact the October opening of the festival in any way.

    "Everyone is ready to make Ren Fest bigger and stronger," says Laporte.

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