weekend event planner

15 top things to do in Houston this weekend: Star Wars, a Potter party, and more

Star Wars: A New Hope

Photo via StarWars.com

This weekend, our hometown heroes and bearded legends ZZ Top come home for a classic rock showcase. A local brewery serves up some Harry Potter fun, while Star Wars fans can blast off to a live symphony performance of A New Hope while watching the epic summer blockbuster.

NobleMotion Dance puts on a powerful performance, UH puts on some stirring Shakespeare, and a gamer/cosplay con hits west Houston.

Enjoy; here are you best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, July 27

Sawyer Yards presents Alison Donaldson: "Paper Trail" opening reception

In her first-ever solo exhibition, Alison Donaldson explores her love of deconstructing original artwork and piecing it back together into intuitively created works that are hybrids of collage and abstract expressionism. Each piece is made with torn or cut pieces of original, mixed-media artwork. Donaldson is a mixed media artist with a love of color and exploring modern ways to reimagine working with deconstructed artwork. Through Saturday, September 9. 6 pm.

Friends of River Oaks Theatre presents Blue Velvet (4K Restoration) and Raquel Cepeda Live

David Lynch's psychosexual 1986 masterpiece, starring Dennis Hopper, Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan (who will be a guest on a future Friends on Film podcast episode) will screen and be accompanied by a live performance by Raquel Cepeda Duo at Friends of River Oaks Theatre’s July event. As an homage to the music of the film and enigmatic nightclub singer played by Rossellini, let Raquel Cepeda stir you with her sultry jazz vocals before the screening. The film will be screened using the latest 4K restoration. 7 pm.

The University of Houston presents Houston Shakespeare Festival: Macbeth

The Houston Shakespeare Festival opens their 49th season with Shakespeare’s “Scottish play,” as it’s usually referred to by superstitious theater folk. A Scottish general and his wife are plunged into a murderous quest by the prophecy of three mysterious witches. Consumed by brutal ambition, the couple’s bloodbath delivers the crown of Scotland to Macbeth. After unthinkable acts of betrayal, a price must be paid. Guilt, madness, and tyranny reign in a world where “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Through Friday, August 4. 8:15 pm.

Friday, July 28

Urban South presents Houston Potterfest

Urban South HTX will host a Potterfest celebration in honor of Harry Potter’s birthday. Urban South’s Butterbeer draft and slush will be available in regular and non-alcoholic pours. Throughout the festival, attendees will enjoy a movie marathon, a Potter playlist, a costume contest, wand decorating, and a Diagon Alley vendor market. Compete in the costume Contest on Saturday, where they will award prizes for Most Creative Costume, Best Student/Professor Costume and Best Dressed Potter Pup. 7 pm (1 pm Saturday).

The Houston Symphony presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

The Houston Symphony will perform John Williams’ epic score for Star Wars: A New Hope in concert. The symphony will screen the iconic 1977 film by award-winning director George Lucas, bringing its soundtrack to life. Regarded as one of the most important films in the history of cinema, this blockbuster commenced the start of the movie’s franchise, launched the careers of its young stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, and revolutionized motion pictures. 7:30 pm (2:30 and 7:30 pm Saturday).

NobleMotion Dance presents PowerPlay

NobleMotion kickstarts its 15th season with a radical evening of dance. Section 6 immerses the audience in a simulated A.I. training program, as dancers invite participants into the action-packed performance. Sidelined playfully looks at power dynamics as it creates an absurd world where baseball umpires define the rules of the workplace. And Half-told Stories reveals a pivotal moment in the life of four women and features a collaboration with composer/multimedia artist Badie Khaleghian. 8 pm (4 pm Sunday).

White Oak Music Hall presents Blondshell – My Home is Your Playground Summer Tour

Indie-rock breakout star Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) is embarking on her first-ever, U.S headline tour, which will be making a stop in Houston this weekend. She'll be joined by rock trio Hello Mary. Blondshell's debut, self-titled album dropped earlier this April, while Hello Mary released their self-titled debut album the month before. Teitelbaum began teasing Blondshell in 2022, capturing the attention of music critics and fans along the way who were quick to latch onto her ability to layer her wry sense of humor atop weighty topics. 8 pm.

Saturday, July 29

Christmas in July at I W Marks Jewelers

One of Houston's oldest and most beloved jewelers is throwing a big Christmas In July event at its Bellaire location (3841 Bellaire Blvd.). Visitors can stroll the aisles and enjoy complimentary Jojo Burgers, live entertainment, score gift cards and more. Spread the pre-holiday cheer with a huge back-to-school drive benefiting the charity BEAR. (No holiday sweater required — it's July in Houston.) 10 am-5 pm.

Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show

Bluey's Big Play, the Emmy-winning animated preschool series, is taking the show on the road to theaters all across the country. Fans of all ages will get to see Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, and Chilli as they’ve never seen them before, as the Heelers embark on their very first live theater show in the U.S., featuring puppetry, live actors, and iconic sets. Based on an original new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, the stage show also contains new music by composer Joff Bush. 11 am, 2 and 5 pm (1 and 4 pm Sunday).

Buffalo Soldier National Museum presents Buffalo Soldiers Community Day

Please join The Buffalo Soldier National Museum, as they commemorate 157 years since the formation of the first Army regiments, which consisted of African-American soldiers. The community celebration will include activities like a DJ, a live artist, a bounce house, face painting, food trucks, artifact demonstration, and self-guided tours. RSVP for free admission. Noon.

I, Ruby: Vol 1 Art Exhibition Closing Ceremony

This collaborative effort between renowned Houston artist Jeanne Jones and Megan Olivia Ebel, the founder of Ruby Projects, will close this weekend with a closing ceremony celebration. The exhibition aims to celebrate a diverse group of emerging artists contributing to the ongoing dialogue of change and challenge in the contemporary art world. The exhibition encourages viewers to engage in meaningful conversations and explore fresh ways of perceiving and existing in the art world. Noon.

Karlous Miller: At the End of the Day...

As a comedian/actor, Karlous Miller is most known for being a veteran cast member on Nick Cannon’s hip-hop/improv funhouse Wild ‘N Out. Miller also hosts the popular 85 South Show podcast, along with Wild ‘N Out castmates DC Young Fly and Chico Bean. All three of them usually go on tour together as the Ghetto Legends (they recently dropped a Netflix special from one of those shows). But, this time, Miller is on his own, ready to do some hilarious damage at Cullen Performance Hall. 7 pm.

Sunday, July 30

Sing-A-Long Sundaze: Best of the 90s & On R&B Brunch

Head over to the ASM Boutique and Venue in Dickinson and grab a mimosa or a breakfast shot for the liquid courage you need to sing along to the greatest R&B hits from the ‘90s and early 2000s. Admission includes a breakfast buffet and an interactive experience with one of the best local DJs around, DJ Cidney Ray. A full bar will be provided along with mimosa specials. Come dressed to impress. Prizes will be given away for the best male, female and group costumes. 10 am.

VibeCon: A West Houston Expo

Come to Katy Vibes for the first-ever VibeCon, an afternoon of comics, cosplay and games. We'll be having vendors selling your favorite merch, a photo booth with a backdrop, game tournaments such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, a cosplay runway show with prizes, and a live Q&A with Houston pro wrestler Savage King. DJ Old Skool will be in the mix later in the evening. 4 pm.

ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert

American classic rock band ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd come to The Woodlands as part of their first co-headlining tour, The Sharp Dressed Simple Man. The tour combines the name of two of the bands' most popular hits, ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." ZZ Top has released 15 albums in their career, most recently 2012's La Futura, while Lynyrd Skynyrd has released 14 albums in their career, most recently 2012's Last of a Dyin' Breed. They'll be joined by special guest Uncle Kracker. 6:30 pm.

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film — which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century — has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples — the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis — turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights — and occasional bawdiness — make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

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The Invite is now playing in theaters.

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