weekend event planner
Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend
If you haven't heard from your teenage kids yet, Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival will be back at NRG Park on Saturday.
Yes, the festival created and curated by the superstar Houston rapper, which was a smashing success when it debuted last year, will go down once again near the land where AstroWorld once stood.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of other offerings for what promises to be a gorgeous weekend.
Thursday, November 7
Houstonia Burger Bash at CityCentre
Now in its fifth year, a dozen of the city's top restaurants and chefs (from B & B Butchers, Buffburger, Bosscat Kitchen, etc.) go head-to-head to take home the coveted Best Burger title. There will also be beer, cocktails, cars on display, live entertainment, and a huge raffle benefitting Kids Meals, Inc. 6-9 pm.
An Evening with Gloria Steinem at Congregation Emanu El
As one of America's most iconic, contemporary, feminist crusaders, Gloria Steinem can still give the patriarchal powers that be hell — even at the age of 85. She'll be in Houston this weekend to promote her latest book, aptly titled The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off. It's a collection of Steinem’s lifetime of quotes — powerful and wise, funny and outrageous — complete with an introduction and essays by the feminist writer and activist herself. 7 pm.
Friday, November 8
Archival Screening Night: The Roadshow at MFAH
For the first time, the Association of Moving Images Archivists (AMIA) is touring a compilation that samples films restored by film archives around the world. Featuring some 20 films, in genres spanning jazz, animation, comedy, history, ethnography, dance, and more, this program shows that the efforts of the preservationists are a cause for celebration. Sandra Yates, who manages the preservation and access to the Texas Medical Center Library's special collections, will introduce the collection. 7 pm.
David Spade at Improv Houston
David Spade has made a nice living for himself by being a smart-ass. After making a snarky splash on Saturday Night Live, usually roasting celebs on his "Hollywood Minute" segment, he went on to do buddy comedies with the late, fellow SNL-er Chris Farley and steal every moment as the sarcastic receptionist on Just Shoot Me. He's back to dragging the rich and famous on his nightly Comedy Central show Lights Out with David Spade. But you can catch more of that snarkiness this weekend at the Improv. 7:30 pm (7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).
Saturday, November 9
Freddy Cruz at Barnes & Noble Baybrook
KRBE 104.1 personality Freddy Cruz has just recently added novelist to his list of titles. He recently released When America Fell Silent, his debut work of fiction. It's a dystopian, political thriller about a retired Navy SEAL who will do anything to defend his country and restore the nation’s freedom. And that also includes going after her ex, who stages a coup and takes control of the U.S. government after her presidential parents are assassinated. Cruz will be signing copies of his book over at Baybrook this weekend. 1 pm.
A Woman's Life: The Diary of Virginia Woolf at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Da Camera continues its 2019–20 season with this performance of two exquisite song cycles depicting radically different views of a woman’s life — a century apart — featuring Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and Da Camera artistic director Sarah Rothenberg. The program juxtaposes Robert Schumann's Fraunliebe und Leben, a romantic vision of wife and mother; and Dominick Argento's From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, musings of a literary genius struggling to find her voice and place in the world. 7:30 pm.
Sunday, November 10
Foamhenge Music Fest at Karbach Brewing Co.
Hard rock and great beer — that's really all you need in life (besides money, food and shelter, of course). You'll get both things at this third-annual music festival, where the headliners will be Ace Frehley, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and KISS guitarist, and German heavy metal legends Accept. High on Fire, Pat Travers, Narcotic Wasteland, and Dallas thrash band Power Trip will also be on the bill. Karbach will have a wide array of its craft beers available, including a new release of its barrel-aged Hellfighter series. 12:30-10 pm.
Oxtail Mash Up at Project Row Houses
This celebration of competitive international flavor and festivity is returning for its second year. This event has some of Houston’s most well-known and highly respected chefs going head-to-head in making this traditional dish rooted in rich and vast, cultural flavors. Guests will also enjoy an open bar of craft beer, cocktails, and Hot Toddies, while DJ Big Reeks and DJ Sun will provide music. This also benefits Texas Children’s Hospital’s Sickle Cell Program. 7 pm.
