weekend event planner

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

Chow down on Bun B's new Trillburgers at his tasty pop-up this Sunday.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

While the Olympics are in full swing, locals can still find plenty of diversions this weekend. Dabble in art — and wine, check out some classic tunes, or roll to an anime fest.

Or, support Black-owned businesses at a thriving market, heckle some comedians at a fun show — and get away with it, celebrate an unofficial white linen night party, imbibe at an 8.8 Day celebration, or meet and chow down with Houston's rap legend with his new line of burgers.

Here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, August 5

Russian Cultural Center presents Art and Wine Evening
This art and wine evening will focus on the history of Matryoshka, a famous, Russian nesting doll. With mixed media, guests will paint this symbol of Russian folk art. For inspiration, guests can visit the Russian Cultural Center gift shop and check out a collection of unique, Russian nesting dolls. New Jersey artist/art educator Tangerine Summer will be around to brief you on the main ideas of the movement and will guide you through the creation of your own art piece. 7 pm.

Swearingen & Kelli: The Music of Simon & Garfunkel at Main Street Crossing
This concert will be a nostalgic night of the music of Simon & Garfunkel, performed by folk duo Swearingen & Kelli. They'll deliver a true tribute to the sound of those 1960s Greenwich Village, coffeehouse performances of the iconic folk-rock duo. AJ Swearingen has been performing this music for 20 years, with mastery of Paul Simon's intricate guitar playing. His baritone blends perfectly with Kelli's vocals, which invoke a true sound in the spirit of Art Garfunkel. 8 pm.

Friday, August 6

Anime Houston 2021 at Hyatt Regency Houston Intercontinental Airport
For all those CultureMap readers who heads over to Crunchyroll on the regular, join your fellow anime fans for a three-day convention in talking about your favorite anime and cosplays. Come together and learn about anime, video games and more. Get your tickets for $20 and have a great weekend with your fellow anime fans. Shop from a bunch of vendors selling anime stuff. Find plushies, DVDs, wall scrolls and other officially licensed anime merchandise in our awesome vendor room. 2 pm (9 am Saturday and Sunday).

BLCK Market Houston
Go ahead and spend some of this weekend showing you're an ally by supporting some fine, local, Black-owned businesses. BLCK Market Houston features the largest gathering of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs every first Friday and second Saturday. Guests can buy from over 50 vendors, with products from clothes, candles, skincare products, books and more. If you're down with The Struggle, let the brothas and sistas know by buying their stuff. 6 pm.

The Riot Comedy Show presents Off Script
Over at Rudyard's, The Riot Comedy Show will present this unique comedy experience, where the audience is encouraged to speak to the comics during their sets and talk to the host. Arielle Isaac Norman will be presiding over the certain-to-be-raucous festivities, along with a featured lineup that includes Mikey Swenson, Heather Keith, Radu Bondar, and Tre Tutson. Guests get to be the best friend or worst enemy of a comedian in this interactive comedy show. 7:30 and 10 pm.

Saturday, August 7

"Margaret Miller: Respite" all-day opening at Archway Gallery
This exhibition of oil paintings by Margaret Miller represents her artistic journey through the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller got a great sense of relief from painting during the pandemic. This exhibition contains Miller’s response to the turbulent times of 2020-21, with feelings of loneliness, thoughtfulness, whimsy, and hopefulness. Some of the paintings are moody, while others are rich with the sheer appreciation of being alive. Through Thursday, September 2. 10 am.

White Oak Linen Night at Bobcat Teddy's
The annual Bobcat Teddy's White Oak Linen Night Party is back with plenty of entertainment upon its return. Lone Star, Miller Lite and Deep Eddy are setting up a special VIP tent on the lot. There will also be live music, great food from Chapman House Smoked Meats, VIP tent opportunities, fun giveaways, activations from various sponsors and plenty of white linen. VIP passes are limited and will include a private bar, bathroom, seating, a close view of the live music and AC. 6 pm.

First Saturday Arts Market
First Saturday Arts Market returns this weekend for its final summer-evening market of the year. The artists that attend this market are the same that fill 19th Street for White Linen Night in The Heights (which has been postponed to 2022). The artists (about 3 dozen) will be set up in the usual monthly space, and art patrons can still don their best white linen attire and visit the artists. Houston Winery and Houston Cider Co. will have wine and cider on deck, and a food truck will be on site. 6 pm.

Sunday, August 8

8.8 Day at 8th Wonder Brewery
Eighth Wonder Brewery is throwing a party, which will serve as the Wonder Water Herbal Seltzer Official Launch Party (featuring non-alcoholic, zero-calorie, reverse-osmosis sparkling waters Delta-8 Wonder Water and CBD Wonder Water) and feature the debut of its latest beer, Hard 8 Pale Ale. There will be a stacked, live music lineup (including Fat Tony, psych-rock outfit Howard & the Nosebleeds, hip-hop phenom Sea Sic and good vibes guru DJ Trillanoise) and no cover charge. Noon.

Official Trill Burgers Pop-Up at Sticky's Chicken
Trill Burgers, a new smashed burger concept from local rap legend Bun B, Andy Nguyen, and siblings Patsy and Benson Vivares, will host its first pop-up at Sticky’s Chicken. The menu will include an “OG Classic” burger and a Grilled Onion Smashburger — featuring thin, crispy-edged smashburgers, available to customers first-come, first-served. Bun B and partners will be on site to serve and interact with customers. The first 50 guests will receive a Trill Burgers giveaway. Noon.

event-planner

Movie Review

Timothée Chalamet cements star status in new movie Marty Supreme

Courtesy

Timothée Chalamet

In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).

Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.

Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.

Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.

Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.

Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.

Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.

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Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

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