weekend event planner

These are the 14 best things to do in Houston on Memorial Day weekend

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, and Houstonians have many ways to enjoy it besides just grilling in the backyard with the fam.

Theater Under the Stars is performing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical. Hear local musicians celebrate Motown at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Float in Marriott Marquis Houston’s Texas-shaped lazy river. Or get tipsy with friends at Pearland Wine Fest. Just don’t forget to drink responsibly.

Thursday, May 22

Alyssa Edwards: Crowned
From the small town of Mesquite, Texas to the worldwide stage, hear how Justin Johnson (better known as Alyssa Edwards) went from a shy boy to the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars. Packed with Alyssa's signature humor and wit, she’ll share the outrageous, side-splitting tales of her rise to fame — broken heels, chipped nails, and all — delivered as only she can. Head over to House of Blues this weekend to take in all the fabulousness. 7 pm.

Theatre Under the Stars presents In the Heights
For the final show of their season, Theatre Under The Stars will present Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first musical, In The Heights. The New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights is a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s here that a bodega owner named Usnavi and his friends dream, hope, and work for a brighter future. Through Sunday, June 1. 7:30 pm (8 pm Friday; 2 and 8 pm Saturday; 2 and 7:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, May 23

Marriott Marquis Houston presents Summer Elevated
This Memorial Day Weekend, Marriott Marquis Houston is kicking off summer with the return of Summer Elevated. Running through Labor Day, this rooftop poolside series turns the hotel –– home to the iconic Texas-shaped lazy river and an infinity pool with sweeping views of downtown –– into an urban resort. Summer Elevated is complimentary for Houstonians enjoying a staycation at the hotel this summer, and locals who want to spend a day at the hotel can join in on the fun thanks to Resort Pass. 7 am.

ARTECHOUSE presents Blooming Wonders
Building upon ARTECHOUSE’s recent announcement of the Houston debut of Rolling Stone Presents: AMPLIFIED, the organization has announced that it will launch a companion exhibition for the summer. Originally produced by ARTECHOUSE Studio for its Washington, D.C. location, the exhibition creatively reimagines the beauty of nature through a seamless blend of art and science, highlighting the delicate relationship between the environment and the shifting climate. Noon.

Hotel King David Supperclub presents Well Done: A Black Steakhouse
Join chefs Dominic Lee (the forthcoming Augustine's) and Tristen Epps (a favorite to win the current season of Top Chef) for a vision of steakhouse cuisine that's inspired by Afro-Caribbean and Southern flavors. That includes dishes such as Creole crawfish bisque (instead of lobster), a twist on the classic wedge salad, and more — all set at a communal table in the Third Ward's Hotel King David. Tickets, priced at $195 plus tax, service fee, and optional beverage pairings, are available on Tock. 5:15 and 8 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Kinetic Ensemble presents Deep Rooted: Celebrating Ten Years of Music-Making in Houston
Kinetic Ensemble closes out its milestone 10th season with a program tracing and celebrating its Houston roots. The evening features no less than three premieres: a new work by composer Mason Bynes (who hails from Sugar Land, and is now based in New York) that expands upon her school-age hobby of composing musical telegrams for friends and classmates; the Texas premiere of In Light of Sound by genre-defying artist Evan Ziporyn; and a short fanfare by founding member, violinist-composer Giancarlo Latta. 7:30 pm.

Bacement Foundation for the Arts presents Motown & More Revue
We love the old-school R&B around the parts, so we’re definitely psyched about Bacement Foundation for the Arts presenting an R&B-packed weekend showcasing the city’s hottest talent. It will be a journey down memory lane with the biggest soul, funk, and R&B classics of all time, including songs by The Temptations, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, The Isley Brothers, and more, including a brand-new Frankie Beverly Forever tribute. 8:15 pm.

Saturday, May 24

The RIver Oaks Theatre presents Essentials: Rushmore
Before his latest film The Phoenician Scheme hits theaters, check out the 1998 movie that put filmmaker/proud Houstonian Wes Anderson on the map. When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia WIlliams) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of ambitious teenager Max Fischer (Jason Schwarzman), who quickly falls in love with her. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max's new friend Herman Blume (Bill Murray) becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention. 3:30 pm.

Pearland Wine Fest
Pearland Wine Fest will showcase a selection of wines from top-tier wine brands alongside local vendors offering unique goods, artisanal treats, and gourmet pairings. Sample an impressive selection of wines from renowned brands and hidden gems, perfect for every palate — from bold reds to crisp whites and everything in between. The event will also feature live music, activities, and more. 5 pm.

Monterroso Gallery presents “JJ Baker: Closer Than They Appear” opening reception
JJ Baker’s first solo exhibition has everyday objects transformed through his use of oil paint on found materials. By reimagining items often overlooked or discarded, Baker invites us to reconsider how we assign value and to notice beauty in unexpected places, shifting how we see the ordinary. Originally from Cincinnati, JJ Baker spent five years in Houston as a high school art teacher and artist before pursuing his MFA through the Alfred-Düsseldorf Painting Program. Through Saturday, July 5. 6 pm.

Art Club at POST Houston Presents DJ Night – Sofia Kourtesis
Peruvian-born, Berlin-based producer and DJ Sofia Kourtesis brings her deeply personal and globally resonant sound to Art Club. Known for blending Latin American rhythms, Berlin house, and field recordings from her travels, Kourtesis creates emotional landscapes that pulse with activism, memory, and movement. Her debut album Madres — named one of Pitchfork’s Best Albums of 2023 — showcases her unique ability to turn personal narratives into dancefloor anthems. 10 pm.

Sunday, May 25

Maven at Sawyer Yards presents Beats, Brews, and Barks
As part of its popular Beats & Brews series, Maven at Sawyer Yards is hosting this special edition. In partnership with the LMJ Foundation, this event highlights animal welfare and pet adoption. Guests are encouraged to bring their own dogs to enjoy the festivities, including a pop-up from Lucky Dog Mobile Groomers, who will be offering complimentary nail trims for four-legged attendees. 11:15 am.

Wooster’s Garden presents Kitchen Takeover
Wooster’s Garden is hosting a one-night-only Kitchen Takeover, featuring celebrated chef Javier Becerra. Guests can expect fun Mexican dishes such as prime ribeye tacos with caramelized onions and salsa roja, a crudo flight, and pork belly pastor tacos with grilled pineapple, all served until they are sold out. This no-cover event will also have a live DJ and a lineup of craft cocktails from the bar. 4 pm.

Project Row Houses 3rd Ward House Party: The Writers Bench Edition
It’s the last hurrah for Project Row Houses’ Third Ward House Party, which will have its last community "jump-off" this weekend. It's The Writers Bench Edition, so come through and mingle/create with fellow hip-hop culture lovers. DJs Comp 1 and BBC will be providing the grooves, and barbecue will be served all day. Kiddie hip-hop artist Classic Kiki will also be shooting a music video at the party. Noon.

Photo by Arturo Olmos

Exerperience chef Tristen Epps' take on a steakhouse.

event-planner weekend events

Movie review

Will Arnett shines in Bradley Cooper’s divorce drama Is This Thing On?

Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Jason McDonald

Will Arnett in Is This Thing On?.

With 12 Oscar nominations in the past 12 years in multiple categories, Bradley Cooper has turned into not only an acclaimed actor, but also a touted filmmaker. Given that pedigree, it might be difficult to remember that he first gained recognition as a comedy star in movies like Wedding Crashers, Yes Man, and The Hangover series. For his latest directorial effort, he has married comedy with drama in Is This Thing On?.

Unlike the previous two films he directed, Cooper only has a supporting role, ceding the lead to Will Arnett. He plays Alex Novak, who, as the film begins, is starting the process of divorce from his wife of 20 years, Tess (Laura Dern). Forced to move to a depressing apartment in New York City and only getting limited time with his two kids, Alex finds the unexpected outlet of stand up comedy when he signs up for open mic night at the famous Comedy Cellar.

The film follows Alex as he continues to pursue comedy while still having to see Tess on a regular basis, thanks to a shared custody agreement and get-togethers with friends like Balls and Christine (Cooper and Andra Day) and Stephen and Geoffrey (real life couple Sean Hayes and Scott Icenogle). While the comedy serves as a form of counseling for Alex, truly moving on proves more difficult than expected.

The film, co-written by Cooper with Arnett and Mark Chappell, is loosely based on the real-life story of British comedian John Bishop, so one of the biggest things they needed to get right was the comedy itself. Alex’s marital situation lends his comedy more of a confessional style than actual jokes, and his evolution in that space is done well. Shooting in the actual Comedy Cellar and populating the club with real comedians like Amy Sedaris, Jordan Jensen, Reggie Conquest, and more gives those scenes an extra dose of realism.

As if to underscore the personal and emotional nature of the story, Cooper and cinematographer Matthew Libatique make liberal use of closeups with handheld cameras. The camera is constantly moving around and often seems to be right in the actors’ faces, something that is most noticeable when Alex is performing. As if the stories Alex was telling weren’t intimate enough, having Arnett's entire face fill the frame forces the audience to pay attention to what his character is saying.

If there is something to knock about the film, it’s a lack of dramatic stakes. While there’s natural tension between Alex and Tess due to the divorce, it’s way less than in a movie like, say, Marriage Story. There’s also a sneaking suspicion that Cooper was just looking to have fun with the film, casting himself as the comic sidekick and working with good friends like Arnett and Hayes. If ever there was a good hang divorce movie, this is it.

Arnett rarely gets to be in movies, much less as the lead, but he ably embodies this somewhat dramatic part. It helps that he’s given a great scene partner like Dern, who knows when to dial her acting up or down for a particular situation. Cooper and Day are also good despite their story being slightly superfluous, and Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds as Alex’s parents lend the film some extra gravitas.

Is This Thing On? is a much different type of film from Cooper’s first two directorial efforts, A Star is Born and Maestro, and it’s nice to see the filmmaker offer something new. It has a relatable story for anyone who has ever been married while offering an element of uniqueness with someone discovering an undiscovered skill late in life.

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Is This Thing On? opens wide in theaters on January 9.