weekend event planner

These are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

Despite Houston experiencing one last winter blast, this weekend offers plenty of fun things to do. We got a lot of festivals, from food to rodeo. There will also be some stage productions, a Star Wars classic with a full symphony, a super-sized circus, and Marilyn Monroe – twice!

Thursday, February 20

University of Houston-Downtown present vitalvoices: 200,000 African Americans: The Great Migration to Houston
Between 1900 and 1950, an estimated 50,000 African Americans relocated to Houston to escape rural poverty and social depravity. The city’s economy, largely thanks to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and historic discovery at the Spindletop Oilfield in 1900 and 1901, provided unprecedented prospects and enjoyments for African Americans compared to most African Americans and African-descent groups in the United States in the early 20th century. Dr. Bernadette Pruitt will share the early history of African American life in Houston. 11:30 am.

Garden Bros. Nuclear Circus
The Garden Bros. Nuclear Circus features over 60 performers from around the world in five rings. Performances include special effects, concert-style lighting, the Human Cannonball, Wheel of Death, motorcycles in the Sphere of Fear, Human Slingshot, comedy, girls hanging by their hair, the Olate Performing Dogs, Cossack Riders, and more. Attendees can come early and meet the circus stars, get their faces painted, ride the Monster Slide or play on a moon bounce, eat snacks, and more. 4:30 and 7:30 pm (1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 pm; 1, 4 and 7 pm Sunday).

Mildred's Umbrella Theater presents The Wanderers
Mildred's Umbrella Theater closes its season with the Houston premiere of The Wanderers by Anna Ziegler. Two marriages have seemingly little in common: Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews navigating defined rules and roles, while Sophie and Abe are secular and free to make their own choices. But both couples are growing apart as they strive to balance their individual identities with the families they've created. This funny, moving, and thoughtful play asks if following one's truth is worth it, no matter the cost. 7:30 pm (8 pm Saturday; 2 pm Sunday).

Friday, February 21

Houston Symphony presents Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
When it comes to the original Star Wars trilogy, it’s universally acknowledged that The Empire Strikes Back is the best one. After all, it’s the one where Luke Skywalker trains with Master Yoda and learns a shocking truth about Darth Vader. (For the ladies, we also get Billy Dee Williams as that smooth rascal Lando Calrissian.) The action unfolds on the giant screen at Jones Hall, with audiences experiencing every note of John Williams’ masterful score live. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday).

Alley Theatre presents The Glass Menagerie
The Glass Menagerie is an American classic that follows a family trapped in dreams and delusion. Amanda, a faded Southern belle, yearns for a better life for her children. However, Laura would rather spend time alone with her collection of delicate glass animals, while her restless son, Tom, longs to escape the monotony of his current life. The timeless masterpiece asks audiences to explore themes of memory, escape, and the delicate nature of human connections. Through March 16. 8 pm (8 pm Saturday; 2 and 7 pm Sunday).

The Houston Rockets present HBCU Night
It’s Black History Month, and the Houston Rockets will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves and honor Historically Black Colleges and Universities with its HBCU Night. Tickets start at $50 and include admission, a special pre-game art gallery, and one beverage. The gallery opens at 5 pm in the VIP Banquet Room. The gallery will feature several of Houston’s finest Black artists, including Henry Agim, Lee Carrier, Robert Leroy Hodge, NELXART, Jaylen Pigford, and John H, Duncan. 8:30 pm.

Improv Houston presents Luenell
Luenell is a force of nature. Best known as the “hooker with the heart of gold” from Borat, the sleepy-eyed, bottle-blonde comedienne is recognized by both mainstream and urban sectors of the population. We particularly enjoyed how she managed to crack up David Letterman and Bill Hader on John Mulaney’s Everybody’s in LA talk show last year. She’ll be spending a couple nights in Houston, making ‘em laugh over at the Improv. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 pm Saturday).

Saturday, February 22

Mardi Gras Galveston
Oleander City will be getting knee deep in Fat Tuesday festivities this weekend with its annual Mardi Gras Galveston celebration. On Saturday alone, things will kick off with the Jolly Jester Jaunt (aka a 5k fun run). As for parades, we have the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Festival, the 14th Annual Zaniest Golf Cart Parade, the Krewe D’iHart Media Art Car & Jeep Parade, and the Krewe of Gambrinus Parade. The Corona Extra Stage will have a headlining performance of Poison frontman (and ex-reality TV star) Bret Michaels. 11 am.

Houston Farmers Market presents Rodeo Festival
The Houston Farmers Market presents its annual Rodeo Festival, kicking off Rodeo season with a special event featuring live music, tasty bites (from R-C Ranch, Alamo Tamales, and Underbelly Burger), and family-friendly fun. Parents can bring their little wranglers to festive activations with The Texas Bubblers and Toddler Towns, the destination's newest tenant. Guests can explore offerings from small businesses and local artisans at a special Shop Local Market pop-up, test their prowess on a mechanical bull, enjoy a petting zoo, and more. 11 am.

Karbach Brewing Co. presents Diaspora Food Festival
Guests can experience the vibrant flavors of African-influenced food (as well as sample such Karbach ales as Crawford Bock and Hopadillo IPA) at the Diaspora Food Festival. The event will include food, vendors, live music, drinks, and other entertainment. Savor a diverse selection of African-inspired dishes from curated food vendors and shop from local merchants while enjoying the lively atmosphere. Don’t miss this celebration of culture, community, and cuisine. 11 am.

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation presents National Margarita Day
[Update: This event has been rescheduled to March 1.] The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation is partnering with Boo’s Burgers on National Margarita Day for a collaborative burger pop-up, complete with margaritas and more. Customers will have the opportunity to enjoy the Boo’s OG x The Original Ninfa’s Fiesta Burger for a limited time. Made with fresh ground beef and Chihuahua cheese nestled in a buttery challah bun, the burger is served alongside a refreshing ensalada de nopales and savory esquites with a kick of salsa macha. 2 pm.

Dirty Dancing In Concert
See the '80s classic on the big screen while a live band and singers performing the film’s iconic songs. After the movie, the band and singers will throw an encore party where the audience can sing and dance along to their favorite Dirty Dancing songs. 7 pm.

Sunday, February 23

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Winter Festival
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Winter Festival celebrates 2025, aka the Year of the Snake. The festival will feature music and dance performances and food from a variety of Asian cultures. Families can engage in art-making activities with museum artists and community organizations like the Japan America Society of Houston. Visitors can also explore the Museum’s galleries throughout the afternoon for free and follow the scavenger hunt, Objects of Renewal, to the Arts of Asia and Indonesian Gold galleries. 1 pm.

River Oaks Theatre presents Old School: The Seven Year Itch
If you’re a fan of Marilyn Monroe, you’ll get two lovely chances to see her on the big screen this weekend. You can see her live it up with Jane Russell in the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which will be shown (in glorious 35mm!) at the MFAH on Friday night. Or catch a Sunday matinee screening of this delightful 1955 comedy, where she plays the tempting upstairs neighbor of a man (Tom Ewell) whose wife and son are gone for the summer. 3 pm.

Kash Doll in Concert
Apparently, there are a lot of “doll” rappers out there in the world: Cuban Doll, Asian Doll, etc. But, this weekend, Detroit rap princess Kash Doll will be in H-Town to let y’all know she’s the original doll. She said so on a recent Club Shay Shay podcast, claiming all those other dolls copied her. Whether that’s true or not, the Motor City diva comes to Warehouse Live in support of her new album, The Last Doll. 7 pm.

Photo courtesy of Garden Bros. Nuclear Circus

Garden Bros. Nuclear Circus is in Houston this weekend.

event-planner

Movie Review

Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Emma Mackey in Ella McCay.

The impact that writer/director/producer James L. Brooks has made on Hollywood cannot be understated. The 85-year-old created The Mary Tyler Moore Show, personally won three Oscars for Terms of Endearment, and was one of the driving forces behind The Simpsons, among many other credits. Now, 15 years after his last movie, he’s back in the directing chair with Ella McCay.

The similarly-named Emma Mackey plays Ella, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed state in 2008 who’s on the verge of becoming governor when Governor Bill (Albert Brooks) gets picked to be a member of the president’s Cabinet. What should be a happy time is sullied by her needy husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden), her agoraphobic brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), and her perpetually-cheating father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson).

Despite the trio of men competing to bring her down, Ella remains an unapologetic optimist, an attitude bolstered by her aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), her assistant Estelle (Julie Kavner), and her police escort, Trooper Nash (Kumail Nanjiani). The film follows her over a few days as she navigates the perils of governing, the distractions her family brings, and the expectations being thrust upon her by many different people.

Brooks, who wrote and directed the film, is all over the place with his storytelling. What at first seems to be a straightforward story about Ella and her various issues soon starts meandering into areas that, while related to Ella, don’t make the film better. Prime among them are her brother and father, who are given a relatively small amount of screentime in comparison to the importance they have in her life. This is compounded by a confounding subplot in which Casey tries to win back his girlfriend, Susan (Ayo Edebiri).

Then there’s the whole political side of the story, which never finds its focus and is stuck in the past. Though it’s never stated explicitly, Ella and Governor Bill appear to be Democrats, especially given a signature program Ella pushes to help mothers in need. But if Brooks was trying to provide an antidote to the current real world politics, he doesn’t succeed, as Ella’s full goals are never clear. He also inexplicably shows her boring her fellow lawmakers to tears, a strange trait to give the person for whom the audience is supposed to be rooting.

What saves the movie from being an all-out train wreck is the performances of Mackey and Curtis. Mackey, best known for the Netflix show Sex Education, has an assured confidence to her that keeps the character interesting and likable even when the story goes downhill. Curtis, who has tended to go over-the-top with her roles in recent years, tones it down, offering a warm place of comfort for Ella to turn to when she needs it. The two complement each other very well and are the best parts of the movie by far.

Brooks puts much more effort into his female actors, including Kavner, who, even though she serves as an unnecessary narrator, gets most of the best laugh lines in the film. Harrelson is capable of playing a great cad, but his character here isn’t fleshed out enough. Fearn is super annoying in his role, and Lowden isn’t much better, although that could be mostly due to what his character is called to do. Were it not for the always-great Brooks and Nanjiani, the movie might be devoid of good male performances.

Brooks has made many great TV shows and movies in his 60+ year career, but Ella McCay is a far cry from his best. The only positive that comes out of it is the boosting of Mackey, who proves herself capable of not only leading a film, but also elevating one that would otherwise be a slog to get through.

---

Ella McCay opens in theaters on December 12.

movies film