• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Houston First
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    The High-Tech Texan®

    10 years of technological wonder — batteries not included

    Michael Garfield
    Dec 28, 2009 | 4:17 pm
    • Facebook (www.facebook.com)....Facebook and Twitter are kings now. If you can’tsay it in 140 words or less then it must not be worth saying, right? So manypeople use these services today that if Facebook was its own country it would bethe fourth most populous entity in the world. Now if they would only stopchanging its privacy policy I would stop thinking about defecting.
      Facebook
    • iPhone with CultureMap app.....Could we have imagined that phones would be“smart” back then? Every phone on the market today is so sophisticated I nowrefer to those old bricks as dumb phones. Apple’s iPhone was the game changer in2007 and no one is looking back. Can you imagine a phone today that doesn’t havea camera, music player, Web browser, map and a makeup remover? Yep, there willbe an app for that one day.
      Photo by Rachel Hanley
    • Twitter (www.twitter.com)......The 2000’s may be remembered for not having anickname but I will remember these ten years as a time that most all generationstook a giant leap forward into the future. Just don’t forget the batteries.

    Had I written this column in 2000, I may have used a pen and paper or perhaps the Notepad tool on my eight-pound laptop. I then may have printed it out at Kinko’s and mailed it to the editors with a 33-cent stamp.

    With one week left in this decade, I formulated my thoughts for this piece through a voice recognition program on my smartphone which then transcribed them to a Word document. The program spell-checked it and a touch of a button immediately sent it across the Internet. Oh how these past ten years have come and gone…

    I launched “The High-Tech Texan®” brand back in 2000 and remember explaining to TV viewers how Wi-Fi may one day be ubiquitous and cell phones could possibly be smaller and lighter in our lifetime. Call me Kreskin.

    Could we have imagined that phones would be “smart” back then? Every phone on the market today is so sophisticated I now refer to those old bricks as dumb phones. Apple’s iPhone was the game changer in 2007 and no one is looking back. Can you imagine a phone today that doesn’t have a camera, music player, Web browser, map and a makeup remover? Yep, there will be an app for that one day.

    Speaking of music…gather ‘round the campfire, kids, while I tell you a story of how I used to buy vinyl records and cassette tapes at Cactus Music. Forget about it—that would take too long. Downloading music from the Internet started out as an illegal way to listen to your fave tunes early in the decade. Apple, once again, figured out a simple way for people to immediately put songs on your computer while satisfying record labels and artists.

    If only they could figure out how to reach a deal with the Beatles. (If John and George were still alive I would bet Steve Jobs could get the Fab Four back together.)

    Technology grew leaps and bounds these past ten years. Probably no more so than the way we now watch TV. A big screen monitor in the early '00s meant having a TV set the size of a Prius and almost costing as much. Japan figured out how to make screens look like art and—true to form —hang them on the wall as such. It is almost impossible to find a TV monitor nowadays that is not flat.

    But the big jump happened just earlier this year. The FCC finally put its foot down and mandated all TV stations switch from their great grandfather-like analog signals to bright, crisp digital pixels. High-definition TV is now standard while standard TV is a dinosaur. Most everyone has been ecstatic at this upgrade; save for Barbara Walters and other aging personalities that show the real person with real wrinkles. All-around winners here: TV make-up artists.

    Had someone used the word “blog” back in 2000, my best guess would have been the description of his previous night’s drinking binge (or technically the purge). Blogs, as we now know, are public diaries that every man, woman, child, pet goldfish and alien use to tell the universe what they had for breakfast, how government sucks and who should bat cleanup for the Astros.

    My nine-year-old son has a blog. I’m serious. He can hardly type but he must keep everyone updated with his high score on Madden '09.

    Technically blogs are so yesterday (but don’t tell my son). As the ’10s approach, social networking sites are now the way to post your thoughts, views, who you are dating and the latest Tiger Woods rumors. The big trend early this decade was MySpace. By the end of the decade MySpace became the pocket protector of social networking sites.

    Facebook and Twitter are kings now. If you can’t say it in 140 words or less then it must not be worth saying, right? So many people use these services today that if Facebook were its own country it would be the fourth most populous entity in the world. Now if they would only stop changing its privacy policy I would stop thinking about defecting.

    Back in the 1980s, I remember when video killed the radio star. Twenty years later YouTube killed videos—or at least the way we watched them. Rock stars were now not the only people who could become stars by watching them sing. Made-up songs like “Chocolate Rain” made worldwide sensations out of everyday people. Finally, it was America’s Funniest Home Videos gone mad.

    And like the dot-com boom in the very early '00s, YouTube proved to be a hit to the tune of $1.65 billion in stock when Google bought it in 2006. Guess who is singing now?

    Though these past ten years may seem to have flown by fast, the world of technology has grown faster. Yes, there have been many duds like the Segway, Palm, Microsoft Vista, HD-DVD and the Zune. But developments like hybrid engines outshine a two-wheeled, gyroscopic scooter. And hybrid cars now go pretty fast, too. It is almost impossible to purchase a plane ticket or book a hotel room without advances this decade in e-commerce. Not to mention books on Amazon and everything else, including body lint, on eBay.

    And no one now needs to worry about folding a map when GPS is built into cars and a cool website shows you what’s best in a city.

    The 2000s may be remembered for not having a nickname, but I will remember these ten years as a time that most all generations took a giant leap forward into the future. Just don’t forget the batteries.

    If you haven't seen "Chocolate Rain," see it below:

    Listen to Michael Garfield live on 950 KPRC weekdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    unspecified
    news/entertainment
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.

    weekend event planner

    These are the top 14 things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Mar 18, 2026 | 6:30 pm
    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
    Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership
    The 51st regatta is back with an new start and finish line.

    This weekend will be a heavily musical one – and we’re not just talking about the listening parties for the new BTS album happening here, here, here, here, and here.

    We’re talking about a three-day metal fest at White Oak Music Hall, an intimate performance from George Ducas at Hotel Saint Augustine, a bit of Beethoven at Houston Symphony, a kids’ day of music at the Heights, a Women’s History Month concert thrown by the Community Music Center of Houston, and, of course, Cody Johnson's closing night concert at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo.

    And don’t forget about seeing the Fab Four on the big screen again.

    Thursday, March 19

    Hell's Heroes
    The three-day metal free-for-all known as Hell’s Heroes VIII will feature exclusive sets from Blood Fire Death (featuring current and former members of European metal bands Watain, Emperor, Mayhem, Aura Noir, and more); Japanese heavy metal ensemble Loudness; German metal legend Doro Pesch (performing the 1987 LP Triumph and Agony, by her former band Warlock); Norwegian black metal legends Enslaved (performing its 1987 debut LP Vikingligr Veldi); and Canadian avant-garde greats Voivod. Noon.

    Houston Latino Film Festival
    Over at the Houston Latino Film Festival, audiences can expect special guest filmmaker Q&As, industry conversations, and community-centered events that celebrate a decade legacy while spotlighting the next generation of Latino filmmakers and creatives. Highlights will include a 45th anniversary screening of Zoot Suit with actor Daniel Valdez in attendance; Take It Away: The Rise and Fall of Tejano Hollywood; and closing night film The Dog, My Father and Us. 5 pm (2 pm Friday; 10 am Saturday; 11:30 am Sunday).

    Hotel Saint Augustine presents “Rodeo Rendezvous: The Lyric Hour – Songs & Storytelling with George Ducas”
    Grammy-nominated recording artist and multi-platinum songwriter George Ducas will return to his hometown for a special acoustic performance at Hotel Saint Augustine, as part of the property’s 2026 Rodeo programming. Known for his distinctive blend of classic honky-tonk and modern country storytelling, Ducas will present an intimate songwriter-style performance featuring songs from across his recording and writing career, along with the stories behind them. 6 pm.

    UH Cougars Watch Party at The Plaza at Avenida Houston
    The No. 2-seeded Cougars will take on No. 15 Idaho Vandals in the first round of the NCAA Division | Men’s Basketball Tournament. While the game is in Oklahoma City, fans can cheer on the team at this official watch party, which will feature the game on a massive 20-foot LED screen as well as on multiple 80-inch monitors. A DJ, selfie stations, and games with prizes round out the experience. 7:40 pm (tip-off at 9 pm).

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
    Photo courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership

    The Buffalo Bayou Regatta is back.

    Friday, March 20

    The Ensemble Theatre presents Choir Boy
    The Ensemble Theatre continues its Rooted in Destiny season with the coming-of-age production Choir Boy. Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney (who penned the play the Oscar-winning Moonlight was based on), it follows a group of young, Black students at Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, as they navigate issues of identity and sexuality. Choir Boy landed among the bright lights of Broadway’s 2019 season, eventually becoming a 2019 Tony nominee for Best Play. Through Sunday, March 12. 7:30 pm (2 & 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    The Horizon Theatre presents Dear Evan Hansen
    Dear Evan Hansen is a musical about life and the way we live it. The production will officially kick off The Horizon Theatre's brand-new Immersive Theater Series, featuring one production each season in a non-traditional theater space. By moving out of the traditional theatre setting and into the multi-sensory environment of Seismique, Horizon is inviting the audience to step directly into Evan’s world. This isn't just a show; it's an experience that blurs the line between the stage and the audience. Through Sunday, March 29. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Houston Ballet presents Broken Wings
    Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings is a narrative ballet inspired by Frida Kahlo’s life and art. The ballet highlights Kahlo’s transformation of personal pain into art, focusing on her unapologetic personality and deep connection to her Mexican roots. Diego Rivera, Kahlo’s husband and creative partner, plays a central role in her life and work. Through Broken Wings, Lopez Ochoa celebrates Kahlo’s resilience and the indigenous influences in her art, offering a powerful portrayal of her legacy. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Houston Symphony presents "Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony + Timpani World Premiere"
    The most famous four notes in history launch a towering masterpiece for the ages in Beethoven’s legendary Fifth Symphony. Award-winning composer Andy Akiho is known for bold, immersive music that shatters preconceptions, and the Symphony will present the world premiere of his Timpani Concerto, written especially for principal timpanist Leonardo Soto. The concert will be conducted by music director Juraj Valčuha. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, March 21

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
    The annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas. This tradition brings together hundreds of paddlers for a scenic and spirited race through the heart of the city - all while supporting Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s ongoing work to create and steward parks, trails, and unique destinations along the bayou. Please note participants are required to bring or reserve their own boats.Minimum entry age is 12. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 8 am.

    Heights Kids' Day of Music
    The annual Heights Kids' Day of Music connects children and families directly with Houston arts organizations, showcasing local musicians. The festival features live performances, hands-on musical exploration in the Instrument Petting Zoo and Joy of Drumming tent, interactive arts activities, and opportunities to engage with more than 30 local arts organizations such as Houston Ballet, HITS Theatre, and Houston Youth Symphony. 10 am.

    Discovery Green presents Girls on the Green
    Discovery Green celebrates Women’s History Month with the third annual Girls on the Green. The event kicks off with DJ Gracie Chavez and a reading from Houston’s Youth Poet Laureate, Kaviya Dhir. There will also be live music from Houston’s own Garbage Girlfriend, followed by a panel featuring women leaders who encourage girls of all ages to reach for their goals. Enjoy themed photo ops, explore a curated flea market filled with women makers and bakers, and end the evening with a special outdoor screening of Wonder Woman. 4 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Movie Night at Bayou Bend | A Hard Day’s Night
    Just one month after the Beatles exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. That movie became the 1964 musical comedy classic A Hard Day’s Night, which the MFAH and Bayou Bend will be showing this weekend. The screening takes place in the Diana Garden tent. Light refreshments are available. 7 pm.

    Sunday, March 22

    Agnes and Sherman x Food Mahjong Club
    Agnes and Sherman will be collaborating with Food Mahjong Club for a one-night-only ticketed event celebrating food, culture, and community. Chef/co-owner Nick Wong will serve a selection of bites that showcase his signature culinary approach, and beverage director David Perez will complement the menu with a playful cocktail program sponsored by D’USSÉ. The evening will begin with open mahjong play, followed by an amateur tournament, with a winner announced at the end of the night. 5 pm.

    Community Music Center of Houston presents CMCH Women’s History Month Concert
    The CMCH Women's History Month Concert is a lively in-person event showcasing the power and creativity of women in music. Hosted by former ABC13 news anchor Melanie Lawson, the concert features guest artists from across the country: Steinway Hall of Fame pianist Donna Weng Friedman, critically acclaimed composer Stefania de Kenessey, and master double bassist Dr. Jacqueline Pickett. It will be led by Dr. Anne Lundy, the first Black woman to conduct the Houston Symphony Orchestra, with the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra, 5 pm.

    DACAMERA at the Eldorado: Rising Jazz Stars - Sarah Hanahan
    Based in New York, Sarah Hanahan was named Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in Downbeat’s 2025 Critics Poll. She has performed with renowned musicians such as Jeff “Tain” Watts, Nat Reeves, Peter Martin, Steve Davis, Billy Hart, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jason Moran, Marc Cary, Joseph Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Nicholas Payton. She regularly leads her own group at iconic New York venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Birdland, and Zinc Bar. 5 & 7 pm.

    things to dobtshoustonevent-plannerweekend events
    news/entertainment

    most read posts

    Southwestern-inspired Houston restaurant will close after 28 years

    Street corn shines at Houston's truffle-powered chef competition

    DIY paradise VEVOR opens first global flagship store in Houston

    Loading...