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    weekend event planner

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

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Aug 3, 2023 | 5:00 am
    ​Nacho Sanchez and Paty Ramirez-Sanchez bring PAPEL to life.

    Nacho Sanchez and Paty Ramirez-Sanchez bring PAPEL to life.

    Photo by Suzy Villarruel

    Scorching August days call for cold beer — heck, a whole month of beer. Fortunately, a few local breweries are stepping up with fun events, from a specialty dinner to an Art Car Day and even a hip-hop flea market.

    Pizza fans can nosh on pies at a new opening, giant dinosaurs stomp into town, and a new hotel pool party makes a splash.

    Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

    Thursday, August 3

    Saint Arnold Beer Dinner at Radio Milano

    Indulge in a four-course beer dinner at The Moran CITYCENTRE’s Radio Milano, featuring a variety of Saint Arnold beers paired with courses from executive chef Christian Cardenas. Brewski lovers can enjoy meticulously crafted beers accompanied by an exceptional culinary experience from the kitchen. The evening doesn’t have to end after dinner! Book a room at The Moran CITYCENTRE and take advantage of all the hotel and CITYCENTRE have to offer. 6 pm.

    Gold Tooth Tony’s Detroit Pizza Pre-Launch Party

    Three Houston Heights businesses come together for a pre-launch pizza party debuting Gold Tooth Tony’s Detroit Pizza. Anthony Calleo, creator of Pi Pizza and chef of Montrose’s Rudyard’s and 6’s and 7’s, brings his love for all things pizza back to Houston. 100 individual slices of pizza, treats from Fluff Bake Bar (provided by pastry chef Rebecca Masson), and beer and wine by the glass from Dodie’s Beer and Wine Shoppe will be available to purchase on a first come, first served basis. 6:30 pm.

    Killer Mike in concert

    Killer Mike will be in town this weekend, as part of his High & Holy Tour. While he’s often viewed as a political rapper, Mike has done something different for his new album MIchael, He presents an autobiographical deep dive, as refracted through his upbringing in southern Black culture. In charting the journey from childhood to rap stardom, Mike taps into the sounds of the church and multiple eras of ATL rap. On tour, he’ll bring that to life while backed up by a small choir (aka the Midnight Revival). 7 pm.

    Friday, August 4

    The Menil Collection presents "The Iconic Portrait Strand by Nestor Topchy" opening day

    The Menil Collection presents the first museum exhibition of Houston-based artist Nestor Topchy’s contemporary portraits (b.1963). Following the traditional techniques and materials of religious icons used by the Ukrainian Eastern Orthodox Church for the last 800 years, Topchy’s portraits will include a selection of more than one hundred paintings made over the last 15 years, depicting the artist’s circle of friends and colleagues. Through Sunday, January 21. 11 am.

    Jurassic World Live Tour

    Jurassic World comes to life against a backdrop of scenery where dinosaurs from the iconic franchise. The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-sized dinosaurs, with scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers. Fans of the popular Netflix animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will also recognize Bumpy, the friendly and food-motivated dinosaur, as she goes from baby to adult fairly quickly. 11 am and 7 pm (11 am, 3 and 7 pm Saturday; 1 and 5 pm Sunday).

    HITS Theatre presents Carrie the Musical

    This musical adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel explores themes of bullying, isolation, and the power of fear. The story follows Carrie White, a young girl who is constantly tormented by her classmates at school and abused by her overbearing, religious mother at home. As her powers grow stronger, Carrie becomes a ticking time bomb, leading to a prom night that ends in tragedy. Through Saturday, August 12. 7 pm (3 pm Sunday).

    House of Blues Houston presents Riki Rachtman: One Foot in the Gutter

    Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV’s Headbangers Ball and co-owner of the iconic Hollywood rock club Cathouse, is hitting the road on the final stretch of dates for his critically acclaimed one-man show. Get ready for Rachtman to share previously unheard stories and unseen photos and video footage from his experience being at the epicenter of the most decadent era of rock & roll history, throughout the late 80’s & early 90’s. 7:30 pm.

    Saturday, August 5

    Ninja Turtles Turmoil at Children’s Museum Houston

    Since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem will be hitting theaters this weekend, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo will take a break from outsmarting villains to visit Children’s Museum Houston during a themed celebration. Prepare for mutant mania as these watchmen rumble and tumble their way into the hearts of Houston’s coolest TMNT fans. Don’t forget your camera for selfies with the pizza-loving heroes and city protectors. TMNT costumes are encouraged. 10 am.

    CURVchella Plus-Size Shopping Expo

    CURVchella, the premier shopping expo dedicated to curves, launches this weekend at The Ranch Office Memorial. This expo was birthed by Kimberly Williams, who has spent years developing a successful business that focused on celebrity styling and closet sales, primarily for plus-size women. Williams has stated that "Sizes 0 -12 are celebrated every day in each department store, and sizes 12 and up, or large and up don't really get the attention that they deserve.” With CURVchella, sizes large and up will get that attention. 10 am.

    Archway Gallery presents "Are We There Yet?" opening reception

    Archway Gallery presents this new exhibition featuring paintings by Cookie Wells and wood furniture by Tom Wells. The show profiles a journey of renewal of creativity, as well as the reinvention and metamorphosis of an artist. Through this series of paintings, Cookie Wells reveals her journey on paper. People will also find finely crafted wood furniture created by Thomas Wells. Some of these pieces continue the theme of integrating dark and light, linear and whimsy, form and function. Through Thursday, August 31. 5 pm.

    Mid Main Gallery presents “PAPEL” opening reception

    Artists Nacho Sanchez and Paty Ramirez-Sanchez explore the boundless expressive potential of paper in this thought-provoking showcase. As devoted art educators and parents, Sanchez breathes new life into discarded newspapers and pulp, challenging traditional notions of paper, while Ramirez-Sanchez's captivating portrait photography immortalizes moments of wonder and sainthood, urging viewers to ponder the hidden narratives within each frame. Through Thursday, September 7. 6 pm.

    Sunday, August 6

    Saint Arnold Art Car IPA Day

    Head over to Saint Arnold Brewing Company this weekend, where they will have a whole day saluting their popular ale, inspired by Houston’s, artful, automotive Art Car Museum. This incredible celebration will feature special beers, a live DJ pumping up the vibes, and talented artists creating mesmerizing works of art in real-time. You can also embrace the local community spirit with Shop Local Market, offering unique finds and goodies. Noon.

    The Laura Hotel presents Summer Splash Pool Party Series

    Did you know that The Laura Hotel has been doing a weekly pool party? Enjoy Live DJ music, irresistible drink specials, and a vibrant atmosphere that will keep you dancing all day long. Reserve the exclusive Pool Cabana package for two, including a chilled champagne bottle, priced at $250. General admission tickets are available for non-hotel guests at $40, while hotel guests enjoy complimentary entry. 1 pm.

    Hip Hop Vintage Flea Market at Bad Astronaut Brewing

    With the 50th anniversary of hip-hop just around the corner, Hip Hop Vintage Flea Market will be going all out this weekend. There will be a concert featuring special guest Large Professor. Local graffiti legends skeez181 and Article will also be on hand doing some live bombing. Over 65 booths will be available, as well as DJ scratch sessions, breakdancing battles, open cyphers, and a Houston mural reveal. 4 pm.

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    Movie Review

    Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay

    Alex Bentley
    Dec 12, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    Emma Mackey in Ella McCay
    Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios
    Emma Mackey in Ella McCay.

    The impact that writer/director/producer James L. Brooks has made on Hollywood cannot be understated. The 85-year-old created The Mary Tyler Moore Show, personally won three Oscars for Terms of Endearment, and was one of the driving forces behind The Simpsons, among many other credits. Now, 15 years after his last movie, he’s back in the directing chair with Ella McCay.

    The similarly-named Emma Mackey plays Ella, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed state in 2008 who’s on the verge of becoming governor when Governor Bill (Albert Brooks) gets picked to be a member of the president’s Cabinet. What should be a happy time is sullied by her needy husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden), her agoraphobic brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), and her perpetually-cheating father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson).

    Despite the trio of men competing to bring her down, Ella remains an unapologetic optimist, an attitude bolstered by her aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), her assistant Estelle (Julie Kavner), and her police escort, Trooper Nash (Kumail Nanjiani). The film follows her over a few days as she navigates the perils of governing, the distractions her family brings, and the expectations being thrust upon her by many different people.

    Brooks, who wrote and directed the film, is all over the place with his storytelling. What at first seems to be a straightforward story about Ella and her various issues soon starts meandering into areas that, while related to Ella, don’t make the film better. Prime among them are her brother and father, who are given a relatively small amount of screentime in comparison to the importance they have in her life. This is compounded by a confounding subplot in which Casey tries to win back his girlfriend, Susan (Ayo Edebiri).

    Then there’s the whole political side of the story, which never finds its focus and is stuck in the past. Though it’s never stated explicitly, Ella and Governor Bill appear to be Democrats, especially given a signature program Ella pushes to help mothers in need. But if Brooks was trying to provide an antidote to the current real world politics, he doesn’t succeed, as Ella’s full goals are never clear. He also inexplicably shows her boring her fellow lawmakers to tears, a strange trait to give the person for whom the audience is supposed to be rooting.

    What saves the movie from being an all-out train wreck is the performances of Mackey and Curtis. Mackey, best known for the Netflix show Sex Education, has an assured confidence to her that keeps the character interesting and likable even when the story goes downhill. Curtis, who has tended to go over-the-top with her roles in recent years, tones it down, offering a warm place of comfort for Ella to turn to when she needs it. The two complement each other very well and are the best parts of the movie by far.

    Brooks puts much more effort into his female actors, including Kavner, who, even though she serves as an unnecessary narrator, gets most of the best laugh lines in the film. Harrelson is capable of playing a great cad, but his character here isn’t fleshed out enough. Fearn is super annoying in his role, and Lowden isn’t much better, although that could be mostly due to what his character is called to do. Were it not for the always-great Brooks and Nanjiani, the movie might be devoid of good male performances.

    Brooks has made many great TV shows and movies in his 60+ year career, but Ella McCay is a far cry from his best. The only positive that comes out of it is the boosting of Mackey, who proves herself capable of not only leading a film, but also elevating one that would otherwise be a slog to get through.

    ---

    Ella McCay opens in theaters on December 12.

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