This weekend, we usher the holiday in with the Frostival party in Discovery Green — think ice skating, music, and more. Some big movies get their due — hometown hero Wes Anderson gets the scholarly treatment at his alma mater — and heartthrobs Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull take over Toyota Center.
Thursday, November 16
Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown presents Barbie vs. Ken Movie + Silent Disco
Rooftop CInema Club Uptown is celebrating the biggest movie of 2023 in the best way with a Barbie vs. Ken Movie + Silent Disco. Guests can arrive when doors open to enjoy all the rooftop offers with a bar, games, and stunning views. Capture the moment with your favorite Barbies and Kens, then sit back, relax and watch Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit Barbie. After the film, experience the Kenergy and bop along to dueling DJs: one Barbie-themed set with pop princess hits and the other a Ken-inspired set with rocking boy bands. 6:30 pm.
Miller Theatre Advisory Board presents Les Grandes Dames: A Centennial Celebration
Miller Theatre Advisory Board will host Les Grandes Dames: A Centennial Celebration with special guest Rita Moreno, in celebration of Miller Outdoor Theatre’s Centennial Celebration and honoring outgoing managing director Cissy Segall Davis. Funds raised from the gala will contribute to the current $12.5 capital campaign underway to provide renovations and improvements that will greet future Miller visitors, providing the next generation of theatergoers with an incredible, more-modern, and state-of-the art theater experience. 8 pm.
Friday, November 17
Sharpen those skating skills and head to Discovery Green’s 12-acre park to ice skate outdoors at Green Mountain Energy Ice. Make snow angels in the Snow Zone, take pictures with Santa Claus, Houston’s own Pancho Claus, and Black Santa, enjoy hip-hop dance performances from J-Dance Company, and check out spectacular art cars from The Orange Show. The evening continues through 10 pm with a chill DJ set from DJ Mohawk Steve featuring nostalgic hip-hop and H-Town favorites. The fun kicks off at 5 pm, with free ice skating for the first 50 people and Forever Green Members (Discovery Green) until 7 pm. Performances begin at 6 pm. Ice skating continues throughout the season. Tickets start at $15.
Foto Relevance presents David Reinfeld: "Composite Realities" opening reception
Foto Relevance presents "Composite Realities," a solo show by gallery artist David Reinfeld. Known in Houston for his quantum-physics inspired images of the natural world, Reinfeld presents new work exploring the urban dimension of life, traversing the architectural monuments of mankind and the moments of connection which lie within. This exhibit takes us on a tour through shadows and structures, archaeological strata embedded in paper, and visions of wind dancing through the streets. Through Friday, December 22. 6 pm.
Houston Cinema Arts Festival presents Rushmore 25th Anniversary Screening
In partnership with Friends of River Oaks Theatre, the Houston Cinema Arts Festival will have a 25th anniversary screening of Wes Anderson’s 1998 classic Rushmore as a centerpiece selection this weekend. To celebrate this milestone and its connection to Houston, the event will be held at the Lowe Theater in St. John's school – the main shooting location for Rushmore. The audience will enjoy a special video introduction from Anderson and a post-show panel sharing stories on the making of the film. 7:30 pm.
Memorial Hermann Broadway at Hobby Center presents MJ the Musical
The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time is featured in MJ, the Tony-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The production goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. 8 pm (2 and 8 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).
Saturday, November 18
Le Diner en Blanc Houston All-White Luxury Dinner Party
Le Diner en Blanc is so much more than an event. It’s a unique cultural movement that empowers friends of friends to gather and celebrate their shared passions for life, food, fashion, and community. Elegantly dressed all in white, guests arrive at a secret location for a chic picnic en masse. Over the course of the evening, guests from all backgrounds eat, dance, reconnect with the finer things in life, and make new traditions, as they appreciate their city’s beauty and the night’s magical experience. 6 pm.
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz with special guest The Hamiltones
The historic Eldorado Ballroom proudly presents two-time Grammy winner Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, featuring a special performance by North Carolina’s Grammy-nominated R&B duo The Hamiltones. General Admission tickets start at $35 and include access to the event and a cash bar. VIP tickets are on sale for $150, which provide private seating, early access to the Highway Vodka VIP bar, dinner by Lucille's, an open Highway Vodka bar, entry to the Hogan Brown Gallery meet and greet afterparty, and bottle service after 8 pm. 7 pm.
Patricia Williams (aka Ms. Pat) is a comedian, author, podcaster, and actress who brings a raw, in-your-face, hilarious perspective to her work. She has appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening, Netflix’s Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy, TV Guide Network’s Standup in Stilettos, Nickelodeon’s Mom’s Night Out, and was featured in the second season of the Netflix stand-up series The Degenerates. She even has her own sitcom, The Ms. Pat Show, on BET+. 7 pm.
Enhrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull in concert
Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull take over Toyota Center.Photo courtesy of Enrique Iglesias
Who’s ready to go back to 1999 this weekend? All those gals who went ga-ga over Latin-music heartthrobs Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin back in the day will be happy to know that they will be in Houston, performing as part of The Trilogy Tour. They will also be joined by reggaeton rap god Pitbull. The megastars will deliver a mix of their biggest career-spanning hits with influences of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic music. 7 pm.
Sunday, November 19
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence" opening day
"Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence" showcases Wiley’s new, monumental body of work created against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. The works in "Silence" stand as elegies and monuments, underscoring the fraught terms in which Black people are rendered visible, especially at the hands of systemic violence. Through Monday, May 27. 12:30 pm.
Kirk Franklin presents The Reunion Tour
Who’s ready to make a joyful noise this weekend? Fort Worth’s very own gospel superstar Kirk Franklin will bring The Reunion Tour to Houston. After collaborating with Maverick City Music on 2022’s Kingdom Book One. he’s hitting the road with former gospel crews The Family and God’s Property. (We’re assuming the One Nation Crew couldn’t make this tour due to prior plans.) Christian Latin rap duo New Breed are also scheduled to perform. 7 pm.
