Most viewed Stories of the week
Angelika closure, Mariner fire & Jim Parsons' Emmy top CultureMap's busiest weekyet
Who knows the effects of dispersants?Photo by Katie Oxford
Angelika closurePhoto By Nic Phillips
Photo exclusive to CultureMap
Jim ParsonsPhoto by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Although it's been an unusually busy summer, things tend to heat up in Houston in September. And that has certainly been the case at CultureMap, where you flocked to the site to follow news of the closing of the Angelika Film Center, glimpse one of the first photos of the Mariner energy platform fire off the Louisiana Gulf Coast and revel in the Emmy victory of hometown boy, Jim Parsons.
All this news and more made it the busiest week in CultureMap's brief history.
The sudden, unexpected closure of the Angelika Film Center, which CultureMap was one of the first to report, was by far the week's dominant story. Readers remain shocked that the famed art house chain left town so abruptly, leaving the nation's fourth largest city with one for-profit movie house exclusively showing art and independent films. (Thank you River Oaks Theatre.)
Our stories provoked lots of discussion, with a nasty landlord-tenant dispute, parking issues and the inability of Houston to support a large art cineplex cited as reasons for the closure. I still believe Houston can support a large well-run art house in the right location, so here's hoping that a major chain agrees.
Editor-at-large Shelby Hodge has lots of connections in unexpected places. So when a source sent her one of the first photos taken of the Mariner fire, we quickly posted it and shared it with nearly all of the major Houston television stations, the Web site Gawker and international news organizations. We're excited to be looked up as a go-to place for news and information in only our 10th month of operation.
We were also thrilled when Parsons, who plays a brilliant but socially awkward scientist on the hit comedy series The Big Bang Theory, won his first Emmy. Hollywood sources believe the Houston native should have been awarded the top prize last year for his comic portrayal and I agree.
Parson's friends at Catastrophic Theatre were ecstatic over the win. When the actor was in Houston a few month ago for the theatre's annual gala, he showed that success had not gone to his head. He was down-to-earth, friendly and approachable. Which is what you would expect of a Houstonian.
CultureMap columnist Katie Oxford filed her 11th report from the Louisiana Gulf Coast, with a look at how dispersants used to contain the BP oil spill may wreak as much damage as the spill itself. Katie has been fearless in documenting stories of everyday people affected by the spill and look forward to her columns on this and other important topics.
We also ended our month-long look at the Houston arts scene, but we're not done covering the vibrant work of the city's artists and the many fall art happenings. Look for lots more about the fall arts season — and fall fashion too.
Most viewed stories Aug. 29-Sept. 4
1. The Angelika suddenly closes: Houston loses its downtown center
2. First picture of the Mariner Energy oil rig fire
4. Geeks rejoice! Houston's Jim Parsons wins Emmy for Big Bang Theory
5. Houston hunks have pivotal role in Drop Dead Diva season finale
Editors' Picks:
1. The real story of dispersant in the Gulf and its magic trick of horrors
2. Educating young musicians: in Houston, art organizations step in where cash-strapped schools cannot
3. The Angelika dilemma: Will Houston support a a downtown art house?
4. Dressing like an oil spill: My night rockin' with Tar Balls
5. On first anniversary, RDG + Bar Annie celebrates with cafe society glitterati
