Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 11 things to in Houston this weekend

This weekend's events are full of fun for anyone with eclectic tastes and income levels. Whether enjoying a $3,000 per couple dinner featuring the world's best cognac at The Federal Grill, brunching for a cause at Izakaya, catching a performance of the incomparable Andrea Bocelli, or taking in a free talk about the Astrodome, you're sure to have a great time in the city. And if you missed the annual Dickens on the Strand in Galveston last weekend because of the heavy rains, organizers have added another weekend of activities.

These are 11 events to add to your calendar, but be sure to check out our CultureMap Events Calendar for more events happening around the city.

Thursday, December 8

Architecture Center Houston presents The Eighth Wonder of the World: The Life of Houston Astrodome book talk

For the last 50 years, the Houston Astrodome has been regarded as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" locally and around the nation. Authors Robert C. Trumphour and Kenneth Womack discuss their book that explores how the Astrodome has played a role in Houston's development and also its emotional connection to the city.

Louis XIII Experience

The Federal Grill hosts an opportunity for diners to splurge with a meal featuring Louis XIII, the world's most famous cognac, with brand ambassador Matthew Springate. At $3,000 per couple, the three-course tasting menu is steep, but the opportunity to taste other Remy Martin spirits during the dinner, a bottle of Louis XIII for each couple and a special pair of the brand's signature fleur de lis cufflinks is priceless.

Friday, December 9

43rd Annual Dickens on The Strand Festival

Due to the record breaking rainfall of last weekend, Galveston Historical Foundation is adding an unprecedented second weekend of the 43rd Annual Dickens on The Strand Festival on Friday night and Saturday. First weekend ticket holders will have their admissions honored the second weekend. The annual holiday Galveston street festival, based on 19th-century Victorian London, features parades, non-stop entertainment on seven stages, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a host of other entertainers.

East End Table

The Historic Fire Station #2 in East End is the backdrop for a meal prepared by Chef German Mosquera as a part of the East End Foundation's East End Table. This dining experience aims to highlight local creative talent and notable chefs while enjoying a meal in unexpected settings. Proceeds benefit the East End Cultural District.

Couture for a Cause

Salon A Studio combines fashion and fundraising at this Couture for a Cause. Designer Viktor Luna from Project Runway season nine and Project Runway: All Stars season one winner Mondo Guerra will be on hand to show their fashion looks and help Out for Education celebrate nearly two decades of supporting higher education.

Josh Garrels in Concert

Independent singer/songwriter Josh Garrels performs at the recently refurbished Heights Theater s a part of his "The Light Came Down Christmas" tour. Garrels' music ranged from punk to hip hop, indie-funk, and Christian as he gives his listeners a look into his life through his personal lyrics.

Saturday, December 10

Towers to Trees

Discovery Green, The Houston Center, Hermann Square and other points of distinction in downtown will be visited on AIA Houston's Tower and Trees tour. This tour will explore the changing scenery of downtown Houston and give attendees the opportunity to see the city from a different point of view.

Saint Arnold Pub Crawl

Join revelers for the Saint Arnold Pub Crawl as it kicks off at Under the Volcano and continues to five other popular bars. Get your punch card stamped at each stop, grab a drink, and have a fun day crawling from bar to bar with other beer and cocktail lovers.

6th Annual Ho Ho Ho Down

Help out a good cause and hear some great music from Buxton, Blue Healer, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, and special DJ sets from Houston rapper Fat Tony. A portion of this year's proceeds will benefit the music program at Northside High School (formerly Jefferson Davis High).

Sunday, December 11

Izakaya Second Sunday Charity Brunch

Diners at the December Sunday Charity Brunch at Izakaya can savor a special $8 cocktail; $5 from each one sold will be donated to Texas Children's Hospital. Brunch for a good cause and a bring new, unwrapped toy that will be distributed to children at the hospital.

Andrea Bocelli in concert with Houston Symphony, Katherine McPhee, and Ana Maria Martinez

The renowned Italian tenor presents a stunning new production based on his latest album Cinema, which includes epic theme songs from films such as Scent of a Woman, The Godfather, Love Story, and Life is Beautiful. This special performance also features Bocelli’s beloved repertoire of soaring arias and crossover hits. Guest artists include former American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee and soprano Ana Maria Martinez.

Join other revelers at the 6th Annual Saint Arnold Pub Crawl.

Photo courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Co.

Join other revelers at the 6th Annual Saint Arnold Pub Crawl.

event-planner

Movie Review

Reminders of Him taps into grief, grace, and the power of moving on

Photo by Michelle Faye / Universal Pictures

Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in Reminders of HIm.

Texas author Colleen Hoover has gone from being a popular writer to a full-on celebrity in the 2020s. The new film Reminders of Him marks the third adaptation of her books in just 19 months (a fourth, Verity, is scheduled for release in October 2026). All of her books that have been adapted so far — most notably It Ends With Us — are female-led stories that feature elements of romance and trauma, catnip for studios looking to appeal to the underserved demographic of women.

Leading the way in this film is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who returns to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming after spending years in prison for killing her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow), in a car accident. That relationship resulted in a daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom Kenna gave birth to while imprisoned and is now being raised by her grandparents, Patrick (Bradley Whitford) and Grace (Lauren Graham).

Yearning to be a part of Diem’s life, Kenna tries to reconnect with Patrick and Grace, only to be rebuffed by Scotty’s best friend, Ledger (Tyriq Withers), a former NFL player who now owns a local bar. In running interference, Ledger starts to become closer to Kenna, discovering that her tragic mistake shouldn’t be the only thing that defines her.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill and written by Lauren Levine, the film features mostly surface level examinations of its themes and average performances, yet it winds up being effective thanks to a willingness not to rush through its storytelling beats. The filmmakers take the slow and steady approach toward the coupling of Kenna and Ledger, setting up their bond through a series of heart-to-heart conversations that makes any romance feel earned.

The majority of the focus is on Kenna reclaiming her place in the world, and on Ledger coming to terms with the fact that the person who killed his best friend is not inherently a bad person. The film definitely could have gone deeper in its explorations of grief and anger, but the sheer amount of time it takes in addressing the characters’ doubts and fears turns out to be sufficient for a film that’s not aiming to be considered a dramatic masterpiece.

It also helps that Caswill and Levine do a solid job of establishing the variety of characters that inhabit the film. Kenna and Ledger don’t always feel like fully-formed people, but they become so through their interactions with each other and the other townspeople. Lady Diana (Monika Myers), a girl with Down syndrome who lives in Kenna’s apartment complex, and Roman (Nicholas Duvernay), Ledger’s co-worker at his bar, help to broaden the appeal of the two leads.

Monroe has, to this point, been best known for starring roles in horror films like It Follows and Longlegs. While she does somewhat well in this role, her delivery is often more flat than you’d expect for a character going through what she does. Withers thankfully doesn’t remind viewers of his recent bomb Him, demonstrating a crossover appeal that should serve him well in the future. Whitford and Graham don’t get to do much, but their combined experience gives their roles exactly what is needed.

It may sound like damning with faint praise, but Reminders of Him is a competently made film that knows how to serve its core audience without insulting anyone who may not automatically be all-in for such a story. The filmmakers don’t try to force any of the key moments down the audience’s throat, and that stands out in a genre that’s not always known for its subtlety.

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Reminders of Him opens in theaters on March 13.

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