new year's eve parties

The 12 best ways to party on New Year's Eve in Houston

Look for belly dancers and drag queens at Boheme.

Photo courtesy of Boheme

Rest assured that, on the night of December 31, Houston will be swarming with New Year's Eve parties. Here's a rundown of festive gatherings, which include desserts, disco, drag queens, and even a sober party.

Stay safe — and feel free to party hop. The parties are listed in order of start time, so you can plan your night and your ride sharing.

Children's Museum of Houston's "Rockin' New Year's Noon"
For those who have kids who want to celebrate New Year's Eve too (but can't stay up for it), the museum will have its annual "Rockin' New Year's Noon." There will be festive hats and noisemakers, a countdown, two simultaneous ball drops and parade featuring a New Orleans-style brass band. (A pre-show kicks off at 10:45 am.) Noon.

Belly dancers and drag queens at Boheme
Start your New Year's Eve early over at this cocktail hangout. The popular bar will have an extravaganza featuring a drag show by beloved drag queens Chloe Knox, Cyn City, Angelina, and Chloe Crawford. Exotic belly dancers will perform in-between sets and around the bar. (Entertainment starts at 9 pm.) 4 pm.

"Dancing & Desserts: NYE" at Heights Theater
What's been missing at New Year's Eve parties? Desserts! Thankfully, this theater will be offering up a self-serve dessert buffet if you buy a ticket to "Dancing & Desserts: NYE," which will feature a live set from Boomtown Brass Band. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight. 7 pm-1 am.

Arnaldo Richards' Picos "Dine and Disco New Year's"
You ever wish you could've hung out with Andy, Liza, Bianca and the gang at Studio 54 back in the day? This restaurant will be fulfilling your wish with "Dine and Disco New Year's." Guests can enjoy a fabulous four-course dinner, with an open premium bar and specialty cocktails. After that, you can boogie the new year away! 8 pm.

Conservatory's Asian-style market
Instead of throwing another NYE soiree, our favorite, underground beer and grub spot will be hosting an Asian-style night market. Among the vendors that will be ready to celebrate: Beer Garden, Noble Rot Wine Bar, aRTe Pizzeria, El Burro & the Bull Restaurant, Treacherous Leches, and others. 8 pm-2 am.

Finca Tres Robles "Farm & Firelight: A Sustainable New Year's Celebration"
If you're in the mood for an all-natural, outdoorsy, New Year's Eve party, here we have "Farm & Firelight: A Sustainable New Year's Celebration." Guests can cozy up around bonfires whose ashes go into the farm's compost to help feed the East End, roast marshmallows and drink hot toddies & craft beer from Sigma Brewing Co. 8 pm-1 am.

"Totally Awesome '90s New Year's Eve Party" at MKT Bar
The bar will have a "Totally Awesome '90s New Year's Eve Party," complete with a champagne menu, food specials and dance-off prizes. Kay Allah and Mohawk Steve will be spinning the music, and we're sure they'll be playing tunes that'll have people doing such '90s dance crazes as the Macarena, the Humpty Dance, and even the Bartman. 8 pm-2 am.

"New Year's Comedy Jam" with Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley
Wouldn't you like to leave 2018 with a good laugh? Check out a top-notch collection of comedians ready to make you chuckle over at the "New Year's Comedy Jam." Expect two Original Kings of Comedy — Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley — along with Arnez J and Nephew Tommy. 8 pm.

New Year's Eve at the Crystal Ballroom at Rice Lofts
The ballroom and Lawless Spirits and Kitchen will be joining forces for one, big, blowout NYE bash. General admission tickets will get guests into the ultimate and all-inclusive party at the ballroom. Guests can upgrade their tickets with a pass into the adjoining, intimate and glamorous Lawless. 9 pm.

"Year of the Bo$$ 2K19 NYE Celebration" with Slim Thug
Welcome in the new year with Slim Thug and his crew, as they will be the headliners for the "Year of the Bo$$ 2K19 NYE Celebration." You can head in early for happy hour, from 5 to 7 pm. There will also be a chef-created, á la carte dining menu, available until 8pm. (The lounge menu will be available until 11pm.) 9 pm.

Sober Eve 2018 at The Story Houston
If you would like to ring in the new year with a clear head, this spot will have "Sober Eve 2018." The shindig will have all the familiar accoutrements of a NYE party — music, flashing lights, confetti dropping at midnight — except there won't be any drugs or alcohol. It's perfect for people who want to drive home safely. 9 pm-1 am.

Fireworks at CityCentre
What New Year's Eve isn't complete without fireworks? This event will have a countdown to midnight that will be capped off with confetti and a 60-second, rooftop fireworks show, which we're sure will be a spectacular sight. There'll also be a live performance in the plaza from five-piece, variety dance band A Sure Thing. 9:30 pm.

nightlife holidays

Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

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Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

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