weekend event planner

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

This Mother’s Day weekend will certainly be a musical one. The Houston Grand Opera will present a new opera. Sugar Land will get all jazzy with its annual Jazz Fest. Lizz Wright and The War and Treaty will perform live. There’s also Bach, Bolero, and even a hip-hop day party,

We also have an evening of Asian American fashion, a celebration of Lebanese food and culture, and an opportunity to watch Faye Dunaway chew scene after scene as uber-bad mom Joan Crawford.

If you're trying to decide where to take mom for brunch on Sunday, consider our article with more than 20 suggestions

Thursday, May 8

Asia Society Texas presents Runway to Asia
Runway to Asia is a new initiative from Asia Society Texas that honors Asian and Asian American innovators on the global fashion scene while showcasing fashion designers from Texas. The inaugural event will spotlight the visionary talents of international designer Zang Toi and Houston’s own Danny Nguyen. Guests will enjoy a lunch and a fashion experience blending cutting-edge designs with a celebration of artistry, passion, and incredible journeys. 11:15 am.

Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation presents Fashion for the Cure
The Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation will present a night of fashion, philanthropy, and fun at the 5th Annual Fashion for the Cure, going down at Tootsies. Visitors can enjoy a runway-inspired trunk show, live DJ music, signature cocktails and light bites, exclusive shopping perks, and raffle prizes. One hundred percent of ticket and raffle sales will be donated to cancer research and a portion of Tootsies sales will be donated to the foundation, with extended donation opportunities available throughout the weekend. 5:30 pm.

Houston Grand Opera presents Tannhäuser
Wagner’s Tannhäuser receives a new staging from director Francesca Zambello. Lust and love do battle within the title character’s psyche as the story unfolds. Tannhäuser has abandoned his life as a poet who sings of courtly love in favor of the carnal delights of the goddess Venus, spending a rapture-filled year on her magic mountain in the sky. Seeking something more, he renounces her, hoping to find redemption - and a union back home in Germany with his spiritual love Elisabeth. But his epic journey to salvation has been cursed. 7 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Friday, May 9

Sugar Land Jazz Fest
Sugar Land will get into the rhythmic swing of things with this two-day jazz fest. The fest will feature artists, food, and a weekend filled with music, culture, and fun. Day one will feature performances from Brian Culbertson, Sheila E. & E Train and Adam Hawley. Things get a bit funky on day two, which will include a headlining performance from The Commodores. Bob James, Jackiem Hoyner and Nicholas Cole will round out the rest of the day. 3 pm.

Alton Brown Live: Last Bite
Fresh from giving fans his spin on the classic bologna sandwich, Alton Brown comes to Sugar Land as part of his Last Bite tour. The famed foodist and Food Network superstar (he was host and creator of Good Eats for 16 seasons!) will reflect on his decades in food media, present several of his favorite culinary mega-hacks, and sing some of his funny food songs as part of the culinary variety show. 7:30 pm.

Houston Symphony presents "Trumpet Brilliance & Boléro"
Who’s ready for an evening of sensuous sounds, showstopping brilliance, and irresistible rhythms? Venezuelan trumpet virtuoso Pacho Flores will play not one but two crowd-pleasing concertos, both composed specifically for him: Arturo Márquez’s fiery Concierto de Otoño, followed by Paquito D’Rivera’s jazzy Venezuelan Concerto. Domingo Hindoyan leads the orchestra through an array of music inspired by Spain, ending with Ravel’s sultry and hypnotic Boléro. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

DACAMERA presents Lizz Wright
DACAMERA ends its 2024-25 Jazz Series with someone we’ve been down with since she came on the scene with her Verve debut Salt in 2003. Through an inimitable voice that The New York Times touts as “a smooth, dark alto possessed of qualities you might associate with barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather,” vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright’s singing is a reflection of the cultural fabric of America. Wright is one of the great modern American singers, with a career transcending social divides with her offer of love and a deep sense of humanity. 8 pm.

Saturday, May 10

Bach Society Houston presents “Solo Cantatas: Renée Rybolt & Drew Santini”
Bach Society Houston presents “Solo Cantatas: Renée Rybolt & Drew Santini,” a rare opportunity to hear J.S. Bach’s sacred music in a soaring acoustic space. Houston-based soprano Renée Rybolt and internationally acclaimed baritone Drew Santini will perform three of Bach’s most beloved vocal works - Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (BWV 51), Ich habe genug (BWV 82), and Der Friede sei mit dir (BWV 158) - with instrumental accompaniment. 3 pm.

The Spot EaDo presents Paid in Full – The Taurus & Gemini Jam
DJ NIMBUS, DJ Burb, and Mista GoodBar return to join forces and bring you that “rawthentic” hip hop like no one else. Paid In Full is a community of underground hip hop lovers who celebrate the five elements of hip hop, and these gents run back the jams of yesterday to the latest underground gems of today. And, with NIMBUS and GoodBar both turning a year older this month, this day party will also serve as a one helluva birthday soiree. 4 pm.

Craft Pita X Winnie's Habibi Night 2.0
Mediterranean restaurant Craft Pita will team up with Midtown bar Winnie’s for its second annual celebration of Lebanese culture. This year’s offerings include pomegranate molasses barbecue wings served with labneh ranch and chopped boudin spring roll hummus. They will also be featuring a Lebanese take on Winnie’s sandwiches, including a Lebanese Philly, a lamb meatball grinder, and a za’atar fried chicken sandwich. There will also be Arak cocktails, along with Arabic Afro house music from Dr. House and a full hookah experience. 6 pm.

Nigerian-American Multicultural Council presents 11th Annual Fundraising Gala and Awards
The Nigerian-American Multicultural Council will present their 11th Annual Fundraising Gala and Awards, celebrating the achievements of individuals who have made significant contributions to society while fostering multicultural collaboration. Guests will enjoy a red carpet reception, cultural performances, dinner, and the recognition of outstanding community leaders. Proceeds support NAMC's initiatives, including youth mentorship, cultural programs, and community development efforts. 7 pm.

Sunday, May 11

Stages presents Das Barbecü
A foot-stompin’, knee-slappin’ musical comedy, Das Barbecü reimagines Wagner’s epic Ring cycle as a hilarious Texas hootenanny. In a whirlwind of comedic antics, five actors transform into over 30 outrageous characters, all vying for a powerful ring. Expect a musical mashup of Broadway standards and twangy country, with show-stopping numbers like “Hog-Tie Your Man,” “Barbecue for Two,” and “Makin’ Guacamole.” Through Sunday, June 1. 2 pm.

The River Oaks Theatre presents Cinemaniacs: Mommie Dearest
Spend Mother’s Day watching the story of one big, bad mother. This outrageous 1981 biopic follows legendary movie star Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) as she struggles for her career and battles the inner demons of her private life. This torment was manifested in her relationships with her adopted children, Christina (Diana Scarwid) and Christopher (Xander Berkeley). Based on Christina’s 1978 autobiography of the same name, this notorious campfest will have you glad your mom never got on you about wire hangers. 6 pm.

The War and Treaty in concert
Husband and wife duo Michael and Tanya Trotter have an incredibly inspiring story. Michael is a US Veteran who served in Iraq and learned to play piano while overseas (on Saddam Hussein's piano), and returned from war with severe PTSD and faced homelessness. Creating music with his now-wife Tanya helped him heal and ultimately launched their award-winning band. They're currently on a 30-plus city headline tour in support of their new album Plus One. Cali country singer Madeline Edwards opens. 8 pm.

Photo courtesy of Alton Brown

Alton Brown performs in Sugar Land on Friday.

event-planner weekend events

RIP, Chuck

Actor Chuck Norris, star of 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' dies at 86

Courtesy photo

Chuck Norris, star of "Walker, Texas Ranger," has died at 86.

Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and other television shows and movies made him an iconic tough guy — sparking internet parodies and adoration from presidents — has died at 86.

Norris died Thursday, in what his family described as a “sudden passing.”

“While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace,” the family said in a statement posted to social media.

Before he would become a star in movies and on TV, Norris was wildly successful in competitive martial arts. He was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion. He also founded his own Korean-based American hard style of karate, known sometimes as Chun Kuk Do, and the United Fighting Arts Federation, which has awarded more than 3,300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide. Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honor.

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, he grew up poor. At age 12, he moved with his family to Torrance, California, and joined the U.S. Air Force after high school, in 1958. It was during a deployment to Korea that he started training in martial arts, including judo and Tang Soo Do.

“I went out for gymnastics and football at North Torrance high,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I played some football, but I also spent a lot of time on the bench. I was never really athletic until I was in the service in Korea.”

After he was honorably discharged in 1962, he worked as a file clerk for Northrop Aircraft and applied to be a police officer, but was put on a waitlist. Meanwhile, he opened a martial arts studio, which expanded to a chain, with students including such stars as Bob Barker, Priscilla Presley, Donnie and Marie Osmond, and Steve McQueen, whom he later credited with encouraging him to get into acting.

From one studio to another
Norris made his film debut as an uncredited bodyguard in the 1968 movie “The Wrecking Crew,” which included a fight with Dean Martin. He had also crossed paths with Bruce Lee in martial arts circles. Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceoff in the 1972 movie “Return of the Dragon,” in which Lee fights and kills Norris' character in Rome's Colosseum.

He went on to act in more than 20 movies, such as “Missing in Action,” “The Delta Force” and “Sidekicks.”

“I wanted to project a certain image on the screen of a hero. I had seen a lot of anti-hero movies in which the lead was neither good nor bad. There was no one to root for,” Norris said in 1982.

In 1993, he took on his most famed role, as a crime-fighting lawman in TV's “Walker, Texas Ranger.” The show ran for nine seasons, and in 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry awarded him the title of honorary Texas Ranger. The Texas Senate later named him an honorary Texan.

“It’s not violence for violence’s sake, with no moral structure,” Norris told the AP in 1996, speaking about the show. “You try to portray the proper meaning of what it’s about — fighting injustice with justice, good vs. bad. … It’s entertaining for the whole family.”

Norris also made a surprise comedic appearance as a decisive judge in the final match of the 2004 movie “Dodgeball.” He only on occasion has taken acting roles in recent years, including 2012's “The Expendables 2” and the 2024 sci-fi action movie “Agent Recon.” He's due to appear in “Zombie Plane,” an upcoming film starring Vanilla Ice.

Chuck Norris: the man, the meme, the legend
It was around the time of “Dodgeball” that his toughman image became the stuff of legend, literally: “Chuck Norris Facts” went viral online with such wildly hyperbolic statements as, “Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the sun -- and won,” and, “They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore, but the granite wasn’t tough enough for his beard.”

Norris ultimately embraced the absurdity of the meme craze, putting together “The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book,” which combined his favorites with supposedly true stories and the codes he aimed to live by. He would also write books on martial arts instruction, a memoir, political takes, Civil War-era historical fiction and more.

“To some who know little of my martial arts or film careers but perhaps grew up with 'Walker, Texas Ranger,' it seems that I have become a somewhat mythical superhero icon,” Norris wrote in the forward to the fact book. “I am flattered and humbled.”

That book raised money for a nonprofit he founded with President George H.W. Bush that promoted martial arts instruction for kids.

The intentionally outlandish statements featured in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, when Norris endorsed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and shot an ad playing on the “Chuck Norris facts.”

President Donald Trump's supporters later promoted Trump Facts in the same vein, and political pundits tried it as well, describing the commander-in-chief's decision to seize Venezuela's sitting president, Nicolas Maduro, as a “Chuck Norris Moment,” and its initial effect on oil prices a “Chuck Norris Premium.”

Norris was outspoken about his Christian beliefs and his support for gun rights, and backed political candidates for years — he even went skydiving with Bush for the former president's 80th birthday. As for Trump, Norris endorsed him in the 2016 general election and wrote guest columns praising him without explicitly endorsing him the in the days before the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Norris has five surviving children: stunt performers Mike and Eric with his late ex-wife Dianne Holechek, twins Dakota and Danilee with his wife Gena Norris, and Dina, the result of an early 1960s “one-night stand” revealed in his autobiography.

Norris celebrated his birthday just over a week before his death, posting a sparring video on Instagram.

“I don't age. I level up,” he wrote.

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