Weekend events planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

Why not make the most of your weekend break by planning ahead of time and saving yourself the last-minute scramble? Below are eight can’t-miss events, from a tree lighting spectacular to concert fun. For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Holiday favorite
Friday, November 30-Saturday, December 30
A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas, returns to the Alley Theatre in the first production at the downtown space since Hurricane Harvey damaged the building. The story, written by Charles Dickens, is about Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey with the three ghostly spirits who visit him on Christmas Eve. The play runs through December 30. (various times; tickets: $26-$71 per person)
615 Texas St.; 713-220-5700

Bright lights
Friday, December 1
Ring in the season with the Mayor's Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at Hermann Square at Houston City Hall. The holiday tradition of music, Santa, fireworks, and family fun features a towering holiday tree with LED lights, shimmering ornaments and a stunning star topper. Houston-based singer, songwriter, and producer Cheryl Fortune, as well as Houstonian Kechi Okwuchi, a finalist in 2017’s America’s Got Talent, perform. (6-8 pm rain or shine; tickets: admission is free)
901 Bagby Street

Christmas carols
Friday, December 1-Sunday, December 3
The Houston Symphony and Megan Hilty of NBC’s Smash and Broadway’s Wicked, present "A Very Merry Pops" at Jones Hall. Hilty, conductor Steven Reineke, the orchestra, and chorus perform holiday classics, from “Jingle Bells,” to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to “Jingle Bell Rock.” (various times; tickets: $40-$150 per person)
615 Louisiana St.; 713-227-3974

Tasty ‘cue
Saturday, December 2
Gearing up to open Feges BBQ restaurant in early 2018, chef Patrick Feges fires up his smoker at Holler Brewing Co., offering delicious dishes including turkey meatballs and gravy ($12), Gochujang pork ribs with cucumber salad ($8), and Dr. Pepper-glazed brisket burnt ends with pimento grits and chicharrones ($10). (Noon until sold out; admission is free)
2206 Edwards Street

Cable TV guys
Saturday, December 2
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper head to Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land for an evening of unscripted, uncensored, and unforgettable conversation. Longtime friends, Cohen, Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer of Watch What Happens, and Cooper, Emmy award-winning CNN anchor and correspondent for CBS’ 60 Minutes, interview each other and take questions from the audience. A portion of the proceeds benefit Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. (8 pm; tickets: $70-$355 per person)
18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

CultureMap Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Sunday, December 3
Shop your heart out at the CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop at Silver Street Studios, presented by Infiniti. The curated holiday boutique features 25 locally-owned retailers for men, women, kids, pets, jewelry, gifts, home, and gourmet food and beverages. What’s more, expect sips, fare, festive music, photos with Santa, and an onsite barbershop for the guys. (11 am-4 pm; tickets: admission is free with registration)
2000 Edwards St.

Foodie pop-up
Sunday, December 3
Join Cuc Lam as she takes over the kitchen at Wooster’s Garden, serving up a taste of her upcoming restaurant, Sing. Dig into a dan dan noodle bowl with pork, Szechuan spices, noodles, and fresh herbs ($12), grilled lemongrass pepper riblets with jasmine rice ($8), satay with turmeric chicken, beef, and lemongrass prawn ($9), and more. (4-10 pm; tickets: free admission)
3315 Milam St.

Mother monster
Sunday, December 3
Lady Gaga hits the stage at Toyota Center as part of her Joanne World Tour. Her latest release, Joanne, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Singles from the album include "Perfect Illusion" and "Million Reasons.” (7:30 pm; tickets: $251 per person)
1510 Polk St.; 713-758-7200

Lady Gaga hits the stage at Toyota Center.

Houston, Lady Gaga's Super Sunday, Super Bowl LI, Feb 2017, Lady Gaga onstage at Super Bowl LI

Lady Gaga/Facebook

Lady Gaga hits the stage at Toyota Center.

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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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Movie Review

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