weekend event planner

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

The Houston Zoo is all about that bubbly.

Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo

Friday is National Rum Day, and we're sure a lot of places in Houston will be celebrating in the most over-the-top way they can. El Big Bad will have an event that includes specials on rums, a classic rum-inspired cocktail menu, drinks in fresh whole coconuts, patio games, rum samplings, leis, and music. The margarita bar has also partnered with The New Black for a speed-dating-with-rum spectacle called Sugar and Spice is the New Black.

If a rum party isn't your speed, here are some other fun options for your weekend.

Thursday, August 15

Understory Grand Opening
Get ready for a brand-new experience in downtown Houston. Understory is a new dynamic, experience-based destination that brings the community together through culture, commerce, and cuisine. It features 35,000 square feet of engaging public space, including a 9,000-square-foot culinary market with seven chef-driven concepts and a cocktail bar. The grand opening will feature food and drink specials, live entertainment, games, and more. 7 am (8 am Saturday and Sunday).

All About the Bubbly at Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is making people tipsy once again. For those who always enjoy when the zoo brings in some alcoholic beverages for people to partake in while animal browsing, get ready for an evening full of lovely, sparkling wine time. Guests will enjoy their favorite champagne or Prosecco while relaxing at the Houston Zoo's beautiful Reflection Pool. Activities include a live ice carving show, photo booth fun, and opportunities to see animals up close. 6 pm.

Friday, August 16

Halo: Outpost Discovery at George R. Brown Convention Center
People still play Halo, right? (Full disclosure: CultureMap isn't swarming with gamers.) For those of you who still do, 343 Industries & Herschend Live present this innovative, new touring fan experience for all ages, which brings the Halo video game universe to life like never before. This weekend-long event lets people step into Halo’s vast and epic world, with enthralling themed attractions, interactive in-universe encounters, the latest playable game releases, and more. 1 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

D.L. Hughley at Improv Houston
D.L. Hughley really, really, really isn't afraid to tell it like it is. One of the Original Kings of Comedy (alongside Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and the late Bernie Mac), the Def Comedy Jam vet and former sitcom star is mostly known these days as an outspoken satirist, making fun of anything and anybody in the news. He does it on the regular over on his radio show (which can be seen nightly on TV One), and you can see him do it this weekend at the Improv. 7:30 pm and 9:45 pm (7 pm and 9:30 pm Saturday; 7:30 pm Sunday).

Saturday, August 17

Saint Arnold Hawaiian Heights Pub Crawl
The Saint Arnold Brewing Company's "world-famous" pub crawl is heading back to the Heights — and the theme is Hawaiian. Cedar Creek Bar & Grill, The Boot, Bungalow Heights, and Shady Acres Saloon are just a few spots that'll be part of this evening crawl. (You're welcome to start at any of the first seven stops.) At 9 pm, everybody will gather at the final stop, and the prize for making all the stops will be a special, Saint Arnold Hawaiian Heights pint glass. 5-9 pm.

The Iron Giant Movie Party at Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra
This year marks the 20th anniversary of one of the best animated films you've probably never seen. Before he went over to Pixar and wowed audiences with Ratatouille and The Incredibles movies, Brad Bird made this sci-fi charmer, which Warner Bros. unfortunately threw out there without a lot of fanfare. Based on Ted Hughes' children's story, this film is about a kid who befriends a giant alien robot (voiced by Vin Diesel), who crash-lands in 1950s America. 6 pm.

Sunday, August 18

Artists for Artists Canvas Grab at Spring Street Studios
Spring Street Studios is hosting a canvas grab, sponsored by Jerry's Artarama. All canvases available are Gallery Wrap Paramount Canvas, with sizes ranging from 20x20 inches to 72x60 inches — and various sizes in between. There's a suggested donation of 10 percent of retail value (a $100 canvas would be $10 donation) of each canvas. The donations will help Artists for Artists continue to help artists in and around Houston during times of crisis. Noon to 5 pm.

Punk Rock Garage Sale at Deep End Records
We know you punk rockers are still around, secretly listening to The Misfits or X on your way to work. And we know you miss those punk-rock garage sales that used to happen over at the now-defunct Walter's on Washington. That's why Deep End Records is still keeping the tradition alive. About 20 individual vendors will be offering up music equipment, toys, zines, DVDs and VHS tapes, albums and cassettes, clothing, art, and all kinds of weird stuff. 1-5 pm.

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Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer visits Houston in new Christmas movie Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

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