Pick Five (Plus)

Your weekly guide to Houston: Guerilla gardening, Julydoscope, rock starpartying and a Berry kids benefit

Scorpio Rising
I couldn't resist the opportunity to get all Rambo and pretty up Houston's urbanlandscape.
It's time to let your hair down and party into oblivion. While doing so, why nothelp Planned Parenthood?
Beat the summer heat by eating light, fresh and healthy. Whole Foods MarketMontrose has the class just to help you do that.
Photo by Steven Thomson
I W Marks Jewelers is hosting a silent auction to benefit the Berry children,who tragically lost their parent in a car accident.
Photo via Joshua and Robin Berry Children’s Trust/Facebook
Scorpio Rising

Had a good week? I'd say I did last week. Throw in naughty stories, a tribal bacchanal and some local vocal talent and you have the blueprint for a fab week courtesy of Houston happenings.

Don't you just love a good story? BooTown's Grown-up Storytime "The Return" was a reminder that one is never too old to be entertained by the simple (and hilarious) act of storytelling. With tales filled with sex, booze, embarrassing moments and senseless thoughts, the monthly happening rocked — in part due to the grungy ambiance and good beer, not to mention the zany corps of actors/comedians enacting audience stories.

That's right. You submit your writing and they perform it.

At Idol of the Heights, Houstonians showed up with ridiculous talent. A bit of country, some rock and roll, plenty of sass and good tunes filled the air at Taps on Washington, where 20 hopefuls exercised their vocal chords before an eager panel of judges — myself included. Judging wasn't easy, and it came down to just one point between the 10 contestants moving on to the next round.

How could I pass up an opportunity to go all Rambo and happy-bomb unfortunate, ignored lots?

There is much to love about every one of the singers. If you are curious to catch the finals — where I will judge again — make plans to be at the Grand Finale at the 2011 Heights Community Expo Wednesday night. I guarantee a good time.

Fashionistas showed their spirit at Hotel Sorella's Fashiontini. CultureMap's first young professionals happy hour featured Women of Wardrobe (the YP arm of Dress for Success) at Hotel ZaZa. And Workshop Houston's Ice Bike Baby social raised money to continue to help Houston's youth.

Next week, we turn to events that help ourselves, our friends and our city.

Silent Auction Benefiting the Family of Robin and Joshua Berry at I W Marks Jewelers

After the tragic loss of their parents, Robin and Joshua Berry's kids — 9-year-old Peter, 8-year-old Aaron and 6-year-old Willa — continue their recovery. The Houston community has responded with overwhelming support and love, offering a helping hand whenever an opportunity emerges.

And here is one: I W Marks is hosting a silent auction where all donations and proceeds will benefit the Berry Family Fund. Monies raised will offset the children's medical costs and care. To donate auction items or make a monetary donation, please contact Tracey Cleckler at 713-880-3387. Thursday at 6 p.m.

Cooking Class: Vegan Dishes for the Summer at Whole Foods Market Montrose

Summer is all about eating light, fresh foods with lots of sass and flavor, words that can easily describe vegan cuisine — if you know what you are doing. For those that need a little help getting started, Whole Foods Montrose has just the class for you. Plus, mom always told you to eat your veggies.

For $15, pupils will learn how to craft fruit salad with cashew cream sauce, collard green veggie wraps, traditional kale salad and sundried tomato and basil hummus. My mouth is watering already. Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

One Green Street's Mission Possible I: Guerilla Gardening at t'afia

How could I pass up an opportunity to go all Rambo and happy-bomb unfortunate, ignored lots? I couldn't. One Green Street, in collaboration with t'afia, REV Eco-Shuttle and Greenaid, is putting together one bad-ass, not-so-secret green resistance army in an effort to beautify abandoned and neglected parcels of land.

Hop on the REV, grab your seedbomb grenades to attack and "destroy" enemy territory — and afterwards enjoy nibbles courtesy of t'afia. At $25 a pop, it's an eco-conscious way to wine, dine and contribute. Friday at 7 p.m. Camo attire.

Julydoscope at Discovery Green

What better way to wave adieu to July than with an art fete filled with Houston's favorite bands and performing art troupes. Think of Julydoscope as a colorful evening, a cornucopia of local talent where favorites like Tyagaraja, Musiqa, Suchu Dance and Stages Repertory Theatre combine their talents into an evening of free summer fun.

When groups like Houston Cinema Arts Society, QFest, Fresh Arts Coalition, Spacetaker, Theater Under the Stars and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston all come together, you know it's going to be a fab affair. Saturday beginning at 6 p.m.

If you are the shopping type, grab some goodies at the art walk. Following the live performances, catch the screening of Xanadu, starring the timeless Olivia Newton-John, at 8:20 p.m.

"Party Like a Rock Star" Planned Parenthood Benefit at House of Dereon Media Center

In the mood to get dolled up in rock star attire and party into oblivion? Well, this event is for you, and it'll make you feel good about letting your hair down. Chaired by Planned Parenthood Young Leaders and co-chairs Jenn Char and Erin and Adrian Patterson, the party will include drinks and nibbles by Melange Catering, Oh My! Pocket Pies, 42 Below Vodka, Bacardi, Bud Light, Silver Eagle and Patrick Bertolino.

For VIP guests, the Breakfast Klub, Pondicheri, Antidote, Dacapo's and Canopy will up the fun. Individual tickets begin at $50; VIP admission starts at $150. Saturday at 8 p.m.

Find my colleagues at these Houston happenings:

Assistant editor and nightlife expert Caroline Gallay's pick: Harvest at Messina Hof Winery & Resort

Caroline says: "I was lucky enough to make the trip (in a party bus, don't feel too bad for me) for last Friday's Moonlit Harvest, and had (almost) too much fun picking grapes on my hunt for a Big Kahuna cluster, stamping grapes and of course, guzzling wine. The Friday night event includes a three-course meal in the cellar room. Yum!"

Arts Contributor and Dancehunter Nancy Wozny's pick: QFest

Nancy says: "It's QFest time, people, as in The Houston GLBTQ International Film Festival, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary celebration with 'Queerceañera.' We are talking 14 film screenings, Thursday through Monday, at the MFAH Brown Auditorium Theater, Rice Media Center and Discovery Green.

"The big highlights include a 20th anniversary revival of Poison, the 1991 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner by acclaimed director Todd Haynes; two shorts programs in collaboration with Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival; and a two-film tribute to the late, great Elizabeth Taylor. For a complete schedule, click here."

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Movie review

New movie Eddington confronts the chaos of early pandemic life

Photo courtesy of A24

Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal in Eddington.

The coronavirus pandemic had a profound impact on the entire world, one that has been shown in various ways by movies and TV shows. However, even though a number of productions have attempted to show what life was like during the early days of the pandemic, few have tried to truly reckon with the way lockdowns and restrictions changed people.

Filmmaker provocateur Ari Aster does just that in Eddington, set in a fictional small town in New Mexico in early 2020 that proves to be a microcosm of the debates taking place worldwide at that time. Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) is not a fan of mask mandates or other restrictions imposed by the government, while mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) tries to lead by example in an effort to keep his community safe.

The men butt heads not just on how to deal with the pandemic, but also over a personal history involving Joe’s wife, Louise (Emma Stone). When news of the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota makes its way to town, it starts a slow simmer among the town’s youth population, putting even more stress on Joe and his small department. Conspiracy theories, white guilt, partisan politics, cults, and more combine to make the community into a powder keg that threatens to explode at the slightest provocation.

Aster (Midsommar, Beau is Afraid) takes aim at all sides in a film that’s part satire and part thriller. No matter how each viewer reacted to the pandemic, the film offers at least a character or two that will come close to representing their viewpoint. Although opinions may differ, it seems clear that Aster is not portraying one side as “right” or more righteous than the other. What he is doing is demonstrating just how much was happening in a short period of time, and how those things could negatively affect anyone.

On the flip side, the film also challenges viewers with viewpoints that may not match their own, which can make for an uncomfortable experience at times. The reactions various characters have to certain events range from rational to wholly unexpected, and Aster seems to delight in keeping the audience on their toes the entire time. This is especially true when violence rears its ugly head, resulting in some intense and upsetting scenes.

Not everything in the film lands, though. A subplot involving Louise and Vernon (Austin Butler), a cult leader who preys on her fears, feels tacked on, with no relation to the film as a whole. In fact, the character of Louise is a misfire in general, one whose purpose makes little sense. Aster also lets (asks?) some actors speak in almost inaudible tones at various points in the film, a frustrating experience in a film as dialogue-heavy as this one.

Phoenix loves to dig into off-kilter characters, and this one ranks high on that scale. Even if you don’t enjoy what his character does, it’s hard to fault the performance that brings him to life. Most of Pascal’s scenes are with Phoenix, and while he matches Phoenix’s energy, the lower key nature of his character leaves him overshadowed. The nature of the film means few others make an impact, although Deidre O’Connell as Joe’s passive-aggressive mother-in-law and William Belleau as Officer Jiminiz Butterfly stand out in their scenes.

Few of us would volunteer to go back to the baffling days of early 2020, but Eddington does a great job of examining what was happening at the time and how events united some and divided others. It’s not a feel-good film, but it is one that will make viewers re-examine their reactions at the time and how those influenced the current reality.

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Eddington is now playing in theaters.

coronavirus pandemic film movies