weekend event planner

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

Permission Whiskey & Service Co. Kentucky Derby

Get down and Derby at Permission Whiskey.

Permission Whiskey & Service Co./Instagram

Houston's weekend is jam-packed, what with Kentucky Derby parties, coronation of King Charles III events, festivals, and more.

Foodies can dig into some pop-ups and specials events, an Elvis-themed drag musical brings burnin' love to town, and Asia Society celebrates incredible India.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, May 4

The Menil Collection presents In Conversation: Art Spiegelman on Si Lewen and Graphic Novels

Art Spiegelman, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for his masterful Holocaust narrative Maus, will discuss Si Lewen’s art and the history of graphic novels with Rebecca Rabinow, director of the Menil Collection. A public reception will follow at the Menil Drawing Institute. The exhibition "Si Lewen: The Parade" will be open to attendees. As always, Menil programs are free and open to all. 4 pm.

Gulf Coast Comics Comicbook Co. presents Underneath: Children of the Sun

Celebrate Star Wars Day with a free movie screening (presented by Gulf Coast Cosmos Comicbook Co.) at University of Houston-Downtown’s New Sciences & Technology building. An ultra-powerful alien artifact passes through generations of bloody fingers and inheritors here on Earth, including the present, and ultimately leads to an epic battle for control. Filmmaker David Kirkman in person for the event. 7:30 pm.

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company presents Tooth & Tail

Mildred’s Umbrella Theater presents the world premiere of Tooth & Tail, their postponed production by Elizabeth A.M. Keel. Jam-packed with princesses, dragons, pirates and more, the play is part fairy-tale, part rescue mission, part love story, and all adventure. The play has been developed and workshopped through support of Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company, and their ongoing commitment to the empowerment of female artists and their stories. Through Saturday, May 13. (8 pm Friday; 2:30 and 8 pm Saturday; 2:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, May 5

DACAMERA Gala 2023: Music Salons and Jazz Supper Club

DACAMERA's 2023 gala, Music Salons and Jazz Supper Club, will welcome guests for an evening featuring a lively cocktail hour, a wine pull, and a gourmet seated dinner with a selection of curated wines. Jazz vocalist Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, winner of the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition will treat guests to a performance. Tickets are $550, while tables are $5,000. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents Broadway Hits Go to Hollywood

From Singin’ in the Rain to La La Land, Hollywood has a flair for movie musicals, and the Houston Symphony will salute some of the very best this weekend. Audiences will hear favorite songs from My Fair Lady, The Music Man, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Les Misérables, The Wiz, Cabaret, Funny Girl, The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, and more, sung by Broadway stars Nikki Renée Daniels and Hugh Panaro. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Joyland

Named Best International Feature at the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Saim Sadiq’s film is set in Pakistan’s patriarchal society. Haider, the youngest son in a traditional family, secretly becomes a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque. He falls for the lead performer, who is transgender. Once discovered, their relationship has a profound effect on Haider’s family. Since premiering at Cannes, this groundbreaking film has earned multiple honors at international film festivals. 7 pm (5 pm Sunday).

Stages presents The Legend of Georgia McBride

Casey is desperate to be the best Elvis impersonator, complete with his flashy sequin jumpsuit. But his audiences lose interest and his act is replaced by the new drag show in town. With rent overdue and a baby on the way, “The King” takes the plunge and transforms into an all-out queen. With snappy zingers and dance-worthy numbers, this wildly entertaining story challenges our perceptions of identity and classic gender roles with extraordinary humor and depth. Through Sunday, July 2. 7 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Saturday, May 6

Bridgeland presents Nature Fest

Bridgeland will host the 15th annual Nature Fest, headlined by Jeff Musial, a renowned animal rescuer and wildlife expert who has garnered national recognition educating the public on various daytime and late-night talk shows. Children and adults alike can have fun learning about the joys of nature through pony rides, a petting zoo, nature exhibitions and other roaming entertainment. Kids can enjoy a creative experience through arts and crafts, face painting and balloon art; or get wild in the inflatable zone, or through laser tag. 10 am.

Permission Whiskey presents Derby Day

Permission Whiskey will host its third annual Kentucky Derby party. This year’s Derby celebration will feature a broadcast of the race, live music, a trumpet player, Derby-themed roses, a festive hat contest and other surprises to truly capture the experience of the Kentucky Derby. Fresh mint julep cocktails will be flowing, and Maker’s Mark will be on site giving away branded swag to encourage guests to celebrate the Derby with the iconic brand. Noon.

Archway Gallery presents Becky Soria: "Gaia’s Oracle" opening reception

For some years now, Becky Soria’s work has focused on human and animal figures. In those works, Soria re-constructed female and animal forms from within, though not in any literal sense of depicting internal organs and such. In this new group of works, Soria has moved her penetrating gaze from those figures into the external world they inhabit. This is the dwelling place of Gaia - Mother Earth. “I feel this urge, as an artist, to respond to the urgent call of Mother Earth,” quotes Soria. Through Thursday, May 1. 5 pm

Echoes Cafe Grand Opening Party

Echoes Cafe, a Greek and Mexican kitchen, will officially open this weekend with a grand opening party. The Kazilas family curated the menu with chefs Armando Ramirez and Ana Stanciu. Ramirez, an understudy of Hugo Ortega, was formerly a chef at Hugo's, Backstreet Cafe, BCN, Da Marco, and Vic & Anthony's. The party will feature live music from Curley Cormier and the Gladiators, the legendary rhythm and blues band from the Silver Slipper. 5 pm.

Sunday, May 7

b’Tween Sandwich Co. Pop-Up Event

b’Tween Sandwich Co., helmed by chef Michelle Wallace, is bringing their dynamic and flavorful bites to brand new event space Fareview. The pop up event will feature five menu items the chef has become known for. Customers can also look forward to the inclusion of Devin Strahan of Devin’s Spiked Root Beer, who will be serving sip-worthy samples of his spiked root beer, and spiked root beer floats. Noon.

Houston Area Parkinson Society presents Blues, Brews and BBQ

Houston Area Parkinson Society’s Blues, Brews and BBQ includes live blues music, barbecue, a raffle, games, and more. Live music will be provided by Steve Krase Band (with guest vocalist Allie Rae), Bluestown Shakedown, Staggolee, and Vin Mott Blues Band. The barbecue will be provided by 2Guys1Pit. Proceeds from this event will help fund the free programs and services Houston Area Parkinson Society provides to those living with Parkinson’s disease. Noon.

Asia Society Texas and the Consulate General of India in Houston present Celebrating Incredible India!

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence with an evening of fashion, dance, and food. Hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Rekha Muddaraj, this event will feature a fashion show, performances by Anjali Center for Performing Arts and Rhythm India, mixing from DJ Rocky of South Asian and Bollywood hits from the ‘70s to today, and a reception catered by Daawat Catering. 4 pm.

Movie Review

Pop star Charli XCX seizes 'The Moment' in new mockumentary

Photo courtesy of A24

Charli XCX in The Moment.

There have been plenty of music documentaries and biopics that show how the life of a music star can be a trying one, with fans, record label executives, and hangers-on all wanting a piece of a certain singer or band. Charli XCX knows the pressures as well as anyone thanks to back-to-back hit albums, but instead of addressing her life with a self-aggrandizing promo film, she’s gone the unexpected route with the mockumentary, The Moment.

The singer plays a fictionalized version of herself who’s coming off of “Brat Summer,” a cultural phenomenon that followed the release of her 2024 album, Brat. In addition to a planned tour, she and her team are trying to come up with other ways to capitalize on the moment, ideas that sometimes include her input and sometimes don’t. The one that becomes the driving force of the story is a concert film that will be directed by the in-demand filmmaker Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård).

Even though Charli XCX had already planned out the visuals, props, and other elements of the tour with good friend Celeste (Hailey Gates), Johannes slowly but surely pushes his ideas to be used instead. As that part of her life starts to slip from her grasp, she starts to lose it in general, agreeing to endorse a Brat-themed credit card, taking an ill-advised spa trip to Ibiza, and more.

Written and directed by Aidan Zamiri (who’s directed two Charli XCX music videos) and co-written by Bertie Brandes, the film should in no way, shape, or form be interpreted as giving viewers an accurate idea of who the singer really is. Aside from the presence of well-known actors like Skarsgård and Rosanna Arquette and comedic actors like Kate Berlant and Jamie Demetriou, everything in the film is heightened sufficiently to understand it shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Still, it’s clear that fans of Charli XCX or those who participated in Brat Summer will be more invested in the film than others. Knowing that Rachel Sennott’s cameo likely stems from their friendship following Charli XCX doing the score for Sennott’s film, Bottoms, or that she enjoyed early fame from the inclusion of her song, “Boom Clap,” in “a movie about two kids with cancer,” as her character puts it, adds some depth to the film.

One of the funniest things about the film is the lack of a showcase of Charli XCX’s music. She doesn’t sing a single note in the entire film, and any songs of hers that are heard are incidental to the story. There is, however, a ton of oppressive flashing titles and frenetic imagery during the various transitions in the film. If you are even slightly affected by rapid lights and/or movement, it might be best to avoid the film entirely.

As George Clooney can attest from Jay Kelly, it’s more difficult to play a version of yourself than you might think, and Charli XCX deserves credit for playing into rumors of her “bitchiness” in this film. Upcoming roles in other films will prove whether she’s truly a good actress or not, but she has a presence that serves this movie well. Skarsgård, who seems to be having a moment of his own in the real world, is the clear winner for best supporting actor of the film, scoring in almost every scene he’s in.

The Moment may not be as effective a mockumentary as something like This is Spinal Tap, but it still has enough memorable moments to make it worth seeing for both fans and non-fans alike. If that’s not enough Charli XCX for you, she’s also created the soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which will be in theaters on February 13.

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The Moment opens wide in theaters on February 6.

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