NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES

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

Look for a bubbly hotel party, David Bowie tributes, and tiki fun this New Year's Eve.

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel

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 a bubbly hotel party, David Bowie tributes, and tiki fun.

Stay safe — and feel free to party hop and plan your night and your ride sharing.

Belvedere Uptown Park
Courvoisier will present this party, which will have a band on the heated patio and the world-famous DJ Lowdown heating up the upscale lounge. And don't forget about the midnight toast, complete with party favors. 9 pm.

Darwin's Pub
It seems this watering hole is throwing a "Beenies and Bikinis New Year's Eve Party," as people are advised to show up in their swimwear gear since this place will also have hot tubs to lounge in. There will also be $2 Tecate and margaritas and a champagne toast at midnight. 7 pm.

El Big Bad
This spot will be doing its fifth-annual NYE party as part of a neighborhood block party, taking place in downtown Houston’s entertainment district. Come by and have their Unicorn Margarita, made by combining fresh squeezed limes, lemons, agave nectar and 100 percent Blue Weber Tequila and then dropping in a split of Korbel champagne. 8 pm.

Etro Lounge
Ring in the New Year by taking it back all the way to the 1980s with this party. DJ Rice Cube will be spinning all the Reagan-era jams in a special, mega-mix style. If you wanna show up wearing leg warmers, Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, or that jacket Michael Jackson wore in the 'Beat It" video — well, that's up to you. 9 pm.

Five Central
Head over to River Oaks and celebrate New Year's Eve at this location, which has five different venues. The built-in sound system ensures you’ll hear the live DJs' mix of year-ending hits and bangers loud and clear. A full dinner buffet will be ready to serve, and the bar will be open. 8 pm.

Four Seasons Houston
The swanky hotel will host a bubbly party sponsored by Moet & Chandon. Guests are invited to gather in the lobby of "Houston's Living Room" for a complimentary midnight toast, live DJ, music, food and drink specials (including craft cocktails), and specially priced bottles of Moët Imperial Brut for $110. 8 pm.

House of Blues Houston
'Lectric Eye, Houston's premier, David Bowie tribute band, will get in on the NYE shenanigans with a night of glam-rock music. These cats will be performing everything by the British legend, from his Ziggy Stardust days to his Thin White Duke era, right up to when we get to a brand new year. 8 pm.

Lei Low Bar
This spot will be having a "Nectar of the Gods" NYE party, where it will also be paying tribute to beloved, Los Angeles tiki bar Tiki Ti. There will also be a special menu paying tribute to Ray Buhen, the original god of tropical drinks. There is no cover and no reservations, but aloha attire is definitely recommended. 8 pm.

Pour Behavior
This new, cleverly named Midtown venue will have savory complimentary bites from the scratch kitchen and cocktails specially concocted for the occasion. Right before the clock strikes midnight, join in an exciting, live-video wall countdown complete with a complimentary champagne toast, a huge balloon drop, and confetti cannons. 8 pm.

The Houstonian
For an elegant, classic New Year's Eve party, head to The Houstonian for dinner at the upscale restaurant, TRIBUTE. Here you'll find them serving up Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non-Vintage Champagne, a hotel favorite that was also served at the reception following the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales to Ms. Meghan Markle last year. Dine on specialty items including roasted Maine lobster, grilled Wagyu New York strip, and tri-layer vanilla vodka panna cotta.

The Westin at the Woodlands
The dress code is 1920s cocktail attire for this Roaring '20s extravaganza, complete with live music, small plates, a seafood bar, and a champagne toast at midnight. Start the night in Sorriso Italian Kitchen with bites and pairings, then head upstairs to Como Social Club for rooftop views of the Waterway and a cash bar to welcome in the New Year. 9 pm.

The Woodlands Resort
All you 007 fans might want to check this one out. Place your bets at blackjack, roulette, craps, and Texas Hold ‘Em for your chance to win prizes including a James Bond Blu Ray collection, a 3rd Generation Amazon Echo, a 43-inch 4K TV, Apple Air Pods, a Fire HD Tablet, a Yeti Cooler, and much more. 9 pm.

nightlife drinks

Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners, relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

movies film

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTIES

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

Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

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