Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 9 things to do in Houston this weekend that aren't Halloween related

It's Halloween weekend, but there are a lot of other events going on around town that have nothing to do with goblins, witches or scary pumpkins. Concerts, festivals, and home tours are a few of the many activities that Houstonians can partake in without an overt Halloween theme.

Here's a roundup of nine events that are definitely worth adding to your weekend plans. For a full list of all that's happening around town, check out the CultureMap Events Calendar. And check back on CultureMap Friday for our Procrastinator's Guide to Halloween Parties and Happenings.

Friday, October 28

The Council on Recovery 2016 Fall Luncheon with Lynda Carter

The original Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, makes her way to Houston (sans invisible plane) to tackle a different type of villain than her superhero character. Her "powers" are now aimed at championing charitable causes. She will join The Council on Recovery as the speaker for their 2016 Fall Luncheon. The goal of The Council is to help overcome the epidemic of addiction in Houston and provide support to all in need; quite a great initiative for Wonder Woman to be a part of.

Society for the Performing Arts presents Underwater Bubble Show

A favorite childhood pastime is running around with a bubble wand trying to make the most awesome bubble creations (and the biggest). The Society for the Performing Arts is presenting an interactive experience that all the family will enjoy. The Underwater Bubble Show uses cutting-edge laser technology, optical illusions, theatrical fog, and soap bubble tornadoes to create an experience like no other. What a fun way to embrace your inner child!

Asia Society Texas Center presents Indian Film Festival of Houston

IFFH 2016 kicks off Friday with a cocktail reception, entertainment, and film screenings. The festival showcases documentaries, shorts and feature films, along with Q&A sessions with directors and actors. The closing night program on Saturday includes screenings with Q&A sessions, award distribution, and a cultural entertainment program.

Saturday, October 29

MECA presents Dia de los Muertos Festival

The Washington Avenue Arts District plays host to MECA's annual festival. It reflects the traditional customs and practices around Dia de los Muertos through live performances, customary face painting, Texas & Latin American delicacies, and artisan goods. It takes place Saturday and Sunday.

AIA Houston presents 2016 Home Tour

The annual AIA Houston Home Tour highlights nine homes selected by industry experts that showcase the best in new architecture. Selected based upon design, quality and craftsmanship, innovative design solutions and materials, and sustainability, these homes are sure to inspire awe and aaah's. Join the tour on Saturday or Sunday.

Something Wicked Music Festival

Prepare to fist bump and party into the night at the festival headlined by popular DJ's Diplo and Hardwell as attendees jam to body-moving electronic hits on Saturday and Sunday. Revel in the moments as more than 40 bands take the the stage and deliver hauntingly good performances.

Stevie Nicks & The Pretenders

24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault is the latest work from the legendary singer who kicked off this tour a few nights ago in Phoenix. Nicks will be joined by The Pretenders as she takes the stage at the Toyota Center to perform.

Sunday, October 30

Tamale Fest III

Tamales and beer are a match made in food heaven; at least it's a match that I can get behind. Live music, a costume contest, $3/pint brews, and ALL YOU CAN EAT tamales are definitely worth the drive to Katy. We are responsible for the Tamale coma you may experience afterward. No Label Brewing and the Texas Tamale Co are the hosts.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown - Houston Watch Party

No Reservations (see what I did there) are needed for the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown - Houston watch party. Axelrad Beer Garden will host as viewers watch Bourdain showcases what makes the Bayou City special. Himalaya (appears in the episode), Harlem Road Texas BBQ, and Plant It Forward Farms are featured and will be dishing out bites. Since no party in complete without music, JeReeCe and Sherita Perez will provide live entertainment.

Enjoy these events and we would love to hear about your experiences!

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown-Houston watch party will be held at Axelrad Sunday.

Anthony Bourdain/Facebook

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown-Houston watch party will be held at Axelrad Sunday.

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Movie Review

28 Years Later revives zombie franchise for new generation

Photo by Miya Mizuno

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later.

The 2000s brought two of the best zombie movies ever made in 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. Both films, despite being made by different filmmakers, featured intense action with fast-moving zombies, harrowing sequences, and real emotional connections with their main characters. Now the original director and writer — Danny Boyle and Alex Garland — have returned with the first of a possible three sequels, 28 Years Later.

The rage virus from the first two films that turns humans into insatiable monsters has successfully been contained to the United Kingdom, and one group of survivors has managed to band together on a small island off the coast of England. We’re introduced to the group through Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), his wife, Isla (Jodie Comer), and his son, Spike (Alfie Williams).

Isla is sick with an unknown illness, while Jamie is set to take the 12-year-old Spike on his first trip to the mainland to hunt zombies. That trip not only gives Spike an education as to the different types of feral zombies that now populate England, but also a clue that other people have survived there. When he discovers that one of them may be a doctor, he makes plans to take his mother there in hopes of finding a cure for whatever ails her.

While the first two films were notable for their brisk pace that kept the potency of the stories high, Boyle and Garland almost go in the opposite direction for much of this film. The first 90 minutes are relatively slow, with only a couple of sequences that raise the blood pressure. The final half hour or so go a long way toward filling that void, so it’s clear that the filmmakers were biding their time for the story to come in the sequel. A bit more balance in this film would have served them well, though.

What they do show involves some weird, wild stuff that is objectively upsetting, even for fans of the genre. The zombies have evolved in strange ways, giving them a variety of body shapes and abilities to suit the environment in which they live. These storytelling choices may thrill some and have others scratching their heads. Another human character living on his own (played by Ralph Fiennes), appears to have gone the way of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now, with a revelation that is bone-chilling.

Boyle, who’s directed everything from Trainspotting to Slumdog Millionaire, doesn’t have a signature style, and he makes some choices in this film that test your patience. He occasionally employs an odd technique in which the film stutters, for a lack of better term. It’s a bit jarring, especially since it doesn’t seem to improve the storytelling. He also inserts scenes from older films involving medieval warfare that emulate the bow-and-arrow weaponry used by characters in this film, but the exact connection he’s trying to make is unclear.

The young Williams has a lot put on his shoulders in the film, and he proves to be up to the task of carrying the story. He isn’t precocious or annoying, instead reacting almost exactly like you’d expect a boy of his age to do when faced with extreme situations. Taylor-Johnson and Comer are good complements for him, drawing him out with their polar opposite characters. Fiennes makes a huge impression in the final act of the film, while Jack O’Connell makes a very brief appearance, teasing a bigger role to come.

It’s difficult to fully judge 28 Years Later because it’s designed to only give you part of the story; part 2, The Bone Temple, is due in 2026, while a third film will follow if the first two do well. This film has its moments and winds up on the positive side of the ledger, but it’s also a frustrating experience that could have used a more stand-alone story.

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28 Years Later is now playing in theaters.

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