weekend event planner

Here are the top 13 things to do in Houston this weekend

It's time to fall into a fun pool party.

It's a little hard to celebrate our good weather with a monstrous hurricane threatening the eastern seaboard. But cooler temps here mean it's easier to get out and about this weekend. Look for wine events, retro music, and even a Harry Potter Saturday. All said, it's a chill weekend ahead.

Thursday, October 11

Two Houston artists shine at this joint exhibit
The Barbara Davis Gallery will have an artist reception for not one, but two artists whose work will be showcased there throughout the fall: Paul Fleming's "Carefully Wrapped" and Joe Mancuso's "Not Obvious as Songs." Both based in Houston, these two artists are having their solo exhibitions shown together for the viewer to contemplate and consider shared affinities that arise between their artistic practices. The exhibit will run through November 10. 6-8:30 pm.

Celebrate Houston's diversity (and grub) at United We Dine
Houston's rich culinary and cultural traditions will be celebrated at the second annual United We Dine fundraising event. Hosted by The Alliance, proceeds from the evening will go towards programs that provide services to refugees, immigrants and undeserved communities in the city. Firefly Sushi, The Cookie Chic, Kim Son Restaurant, and Busy Boy Grill are a few of the restaurants who'll be taking part. 6:30-9:30 pm.

Get a lifetime of Simpsons anecdotes from longtime staff writer Mike Reiss
Chances are every local fan of The Simpsons will be at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center on Thursday night. That's where longtime writer Mike Reiss will be, talking about his history with the show and promoting his book Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets and and Outright Lies from a Lifetime of Writing for The Simpsons. This will be a sneak preview for the upcoming Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival. 7:30 pm.

Friday, October 12

The MFAH launches the Turkish Film Festival
Six films will aptly be screened at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's sixth annual Turkish Film Festival this weekend. The dark dramedy Butterflies (Kelebekler), winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival, will screen on Saturday. Filmmakers will also be in attendance to introduce their work, like Su Baloglu and Merve Bozcu, the directors of the opening-night film Her First (Onun Filmi). 7 pm (Friday only).

Meet M.I.A. in the new documentary Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.
If there are M.I.A fans around here, there's a new documentary that shows how your favorite, British/Sri-Lankan, provocative pop star came to be. Titled Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., the film is culled from over 20 years of footage, mostly shot by M.I.A. herself. It takes you from her younger years of wanting to be an aspiring filmmaker to her mid-to-late-aughts prime as a critically-acclaimed, freedom-fighting, global superstar. 7 pm.

The Improv welcomes the newly slim (but still funny) Lavell Crawford
At one point, comedian Lavell Crawford was a very hefty comedian, once clocking in at 475 pounds. But a couple of years ago, the veteran comic (Def Comedy Jam) and actor (Breaking Bad) had a gastric sleeve operation that made him shed 120 pounds. But even though he's many pounds lighter, Crawford still hasn't lost his knack for keeping audiences giggling all through his shows, which he'll be doing several of this weekend. 7:30 pm and 9:45 (Friday only).

Saturday, October 13

Get creative at The Houston Maker Faire
The 2018 Houston Maker Faire is being described as "part science fair, part county fair and part something entirely new." This two-day celebration of invention will have many people, from tech enthusiasts to hobbyists to crafters to plain ol' tinkerers, showing off their creations. It's all in the tradition of showcasing makers across all spectrums of science, engineering, art, performance, craft, and explorers of new forms and technologies. 10 am-6 pm.

Project Row Houses unveils art installations and a block party
For the past few weeks, seven artists from all over the country have been up at Project Row Houses working their magic, creating installations related to identity, politics and activism. These pieces will be unveiled at the block party for PRH's Round 48: Beyond Social Practice opening. Headlining the festivities will be rapper, DJ and former Cash Money Millionaire Mannie Fresh. All of this will be on display until February 17. Noon-7 pm.

Sample all the vino at this seasonal wine festival
In what is becoming a tradition in this column, here is the spot to go to this weekend if you want to guzzle a lot of wine. Brenner on the Bayou's Fall Wine Fest will have beautiful scenery, cuisine from Houston's top chefs and award-winning wines from Moet Hennessy and Caymus Vineyards. There will also be live music from all-male ultimate variety band Pop Rebels Men, who will perform at Brenner's new Blue Bar. 3-6 pm.

Make a splash with the Marquis monthly pool party series
Just because we're officially into the fall season doesn't mean you still can't bust out your swimwear and take a dip somewhere. The Marriott Marquis Houston believes you can, which is why the hotel is opening up its Texas-shaped lazy river for its "Second Saturdays" pool-party series. The first 200 people who show up will get in free. (You must be 21 to enter though.) The other parties will be on November 10 and December 8. 4:30-6:30 pm.

Party like Harry Potter at Wizard Fest
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is now pushing 30 and has moved to the stage. But that hasn't stopped Potter fans from living that Hogwarts life. Houston Potter people can check out two Potter flicks at Alamo Draft House. Later in the day, head to Scout Bar for Wizard Fest, a bash that will include trivia, drink specials, magicians, music and cosplay. The best dressed will also have a chance to enter into the Costume Contest for cash and prizes. Try your skills at a special Quidditch Pong Tournament that promises cash and prizes. Special themed potions should help you introduce yourself to that cute Ron or Hermione. 7 pm.

Catch former New Edition members in their new supergroup
For virtually over the past 20 years, members of the iconic '80s boy band New Edition have went out on tour either as a group or some reconfigured union. Remember when lead vocalists Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, and Johnny Gill hit the road as Heads of State? Well, Brown is at it again, this time with members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe (aka Bell Biv DeVoe), as they tour together as RBRM — as in Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike. 8 pm.

Sunday, October 14

Celebrate three years of Deep End Records
It was just a few years ago that music retail shop Deep End Records sold new and used vinyl (and even some cassettes) inside Walter's Downtown. Unfortunately, Walter's is no longer around, but Deep End is still going strong, doing its business inside Insomnia Gallery. The LP haven will be celebrating three years of business with an anniversary party, complete with live performances from Young Mammals, Space Kiddettes, and DJ Roy Mata. 7-11 pm.

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Movie Review

Daniel Craig shines in Queer, an unapologetic tale of love and loss

Photo courtesy of A24

Drew Starkey and Daniel Craig in Queer.

As recently as the late 2010s, if a movie was made about an LGBTQ+ character, it was more than likely about their coming out experience. Romance, if it existed, was typically chaste, and actual sex was almost completely out of the question. Things have changed dramatically in the 2020s, to the point that a major movie star has no issue starring in a film called Queer.

Based on the 1985 novella by William S. Burroughs, the film features William Lee (Daniel Craig), whom everyone calls just Lee, a writer living in 1950s-era Mexico City who spends most of his time haunting local bars with friends like fellow writer Joe Guidry (Jason Schwartzman) and hitting on younger men. His early interactions in the film seem to indicate that Lee has a bad reputation within the local gay community, as multiple people avoid him or give him odd looks.

Lee senses an opportunity when he encounters a newcomer, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). Despite some awkward interactions, the two of them start spending time together, although Lee has much more invested in the relationship than Eugene does. Their hit-and-miss bond continues until Lee, who’s starting to get into drugs in addition to the booze, convinces Eugene to accompany him on a trip to South America.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes (making their second straight film together after Challengers), early on the film seems to be mostly about the divide between an older person who’s grown comfortable in his ways and a younger person who’s living a relatively carefree life. The introduction of drugs into the plot changes things, though, with Lee searching out more ways to open his eyes to what the world has to offer.

Guadagnino and his team use some interesting visual storytelling techniques to introduce ideas that may not be present in the actual script. The most successful, demonstrated in multiple scenes, is the superimposition of movements by Lee over what’s actually taking place in the scene. The subtle overlay gives the audience insight into Lee’s true feelings, showing what he can’t or won’t say out loud.

Music also plays a big part in how the plot is perceived, with the use of anachronistic songs from Nirvana and Prince serving to heighten certain moments. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is not as in-your-face as the one they did for Challengers, but it complements the film well, especially when the plot starts to get trippy in its final half hour.

Craig, who appears sweaty and disheveled for much of the film, is about as far from the suaveness of James Bond as you can get in this role. He takes multiple risks with his performance and almost all of them pay off. Starkey’s character is subdued by comparison, but still comes off well. Schwartzman and Lesley Manville are given showy roles, with both using altered appearances that make them nearly unrecognizable to deliver memorable performances.

Queer is not as accessible as Challengers was storytelling-wise, but the fact that it tells a story about gay men living their lives as they see fit with no interference or questions shows how far the film world has come in a short period of time. It also continues Guadagnino’s streak of making audacious films in a way that few other filmmakers are willing or able to approach.

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Queer is now playing in theaters.

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