weekend event planner

Here are the top 12 things to do in Houston this weekend

Butcher's Ball Ashley Tyler Horne CROPPED

Feeling peckish? Don't miss the Butcher's Ball.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

The big show this week is Kevin Hart's Irresponsible Tour performance, which will be happening at Toyota Center on Saturday night. (He was scheduled to do a show the night before, but that had to be cancelled.) As a movie-star comedian who can officially fill stadiums, it's very possible that everyone and their momma will be at this show.

But there is plenty more happening around town this weekend.

Thursday, October 18

Get your thrills at The Haunted Penthouse
They call it The Haunted Penthouse, which makes it sound like one of those late '80s, softcore thrillers that used to come on Showtime at two-three o'clock in the morning. Nevertheless, the University of Houston's annual haunted attraction returns to the third floor of the Campus Recreation building. So, get ready for some freshmen to pop up in front of you and try to make scream bloody murder. 5-8 pm.

Have a mad time with hilarious comic Anjelah Johnson
Anjelah Johnson is one of the first comics who got famous thanks to the Internet. When she briefly was a cast member on Mad TV in the mid-aughts, she did a sketch where she played a ghetto, fast-food employee named Bon Qui Qui. When the sketch hit YouTube in 2007, it became a viral sensation. (As of this writing, it has amassed 75 million views.) See her do more urban, working-class shtick for the next two weekends. 7 and 9:30 pm.

Friday, October 19

Take in amazing sculptures at Arts District Month
Since kicking off two weekends ago, several art spots have been making sure people know about their visual attractions. And since we're also in the middle of Sculpture Month Houston, such places as SITE Gallery, Art Inside Out at Meek Studio and TANK Space at Spring Street Studios have some fascinating sculptures to show off. 6 pm.

Shop 'til you drop at the Asia Society Texas Center's Night Market
If you enjoy looking for some good deals after dark, the Asia Society Texas Center has got its annual Night Market all ready for you to browse and peruse. This market will include two new exhibitions, live music, a Japanese-style carnival, a curated selection of food, goods, art, and a lot of other, exotic stuff. So, get your reusable shopping bag and go nuts. 6 pm.

Laugh it up with Chappelle comic Neal Brennan
Most people know Neal Brennan as that white dude who co-wrote and co-created Chappelle's Show with Dave Chappelle. But Brennan has became an impressive comic in his own right. Last year, he dropped the Netflix special Neal Brennan: 3 Mics, where he was bouncing between a trio of microphones telling topical material, quick one-liners and truly revealing anecdotes. Let's see if he rocks more than one mike at this show. 6:30 pm.

Saturday, October 20

Nurture your future scientists at the Energy Day Festival
After bringing in more than 30,000 people last year, the Energy Day Festival — now in its eighth year — is back to give people a fun, free fest filled with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This year, over $22,000 in academic awards will be given as part of the Energy Day Academic Program (EDAP). Overall, this event is out to motivate young minds into getting their STEM on. 11 am-4 pm.

Carve some time to find the perfect Halloween pumpkin
Halloween is fast approaching, which means some of y'all need to go and find the right pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern out of. But picking a pumpkin isn't just something you can do all willy-nilly. Just like when Lucy went pumpkin-selecting in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, it takes time, skill and patience. For all those Lucys out there, Memorial City will have a benefit pumpkin patch for your picking pleasure. 11 am-3pm.

Fight breast cancer at not one but two brunch parties
There appears to be two Pink Party Brunches this weekend, both serving as fundraisers for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The first one is over at Oakmont Beer Garden, where the brunch is a benefit for local community leader Lucia Cordua, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The other one is a Mean Girls-themed brunch put on by The Brunch Society. No matter which one you go to, it'll be for a good cause. 11 am.

Halloween and fall fun await at the Downtown Aquarium
It's the fall, and Downtown Aquarium wants to make sure that you're having some fun this season. And this is why the aquarium will be having a bunch of fun activities for people to do on Saturday and Sunday. There will be fall-themed activities, pumpkin picking, pumpkin decorating and photo opportunities with an "ambassador animal." 11:30 am-3 pm.

Sunday, October 21

Bosscat and 8th Wonder host a bourbon and beer soiree
Are there two more wonderful things in this world besides bourbon and beer? When Bosscat announced a bourbon and beer function would be at its establishment, we got a little giddy. Then, we learned that 8th Wonder Brewery, home to many fine ales inspired by local rappers (what up, People's Champ!), will provide the suds and we damn near got moist. This will definitely be a great day. Noon.

Join Houston's top chefs at The Butcher's Ball
Feel like a little road trip? Head to Brenham, where over 50 of Texas's top chefs, butchers, and ranchers will gather to celebrate sustainable ranching practices with a day of demonstrations, discussions, food, drinks, and music. Participants include Graham Laborde (Killen's Restaurants), Ryan Lachaine (Riel), Dallas' John Tesar (Knife), Bobby Matos (State of Grace), Erin Smith and Patrick Feges (Feges BBQ), and more. Did we mention Kinky Freedman is the emcee? No wonder CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler calls it "one of fall's can't-miss food events. (Be sure to say hi to Sandler.) 1 pm

Mick Garris stars at this year's Horrorthon 4
Horrorthon 4 is happening this weekend, a chance to check out some campy, scary movies and also donating food, toys, or even blood for a good cause. This year, the annual fright fest will bring in special guest Mick Garris, who has written and directed many works of terror, including several Stephen King adaptations. He will screen three episodes of his Masters of Horror anthology show, along with his cult flick Critters 2. 4 pm.

Sing along with America's Got Talent semifinalist Christina Wells
Christina Wells is a local singer who came with the fury when she performed on America's Got Talent this past season. Even though she was eliminated during the semifinals, this shapely songstress was an inspiration to those who thought they couldn't achieve their dreams of performing because they didn't have the ideal look. This weekend, she's heading back to her hometown for a homecoming concert. 5:30 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.

movies film