weekend event planner

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

This weekend offers plenty of events that promise a good friggin’ time. Several festivals – African, Polish, dance – will be going down. At the Houston Zoo, Houstonians can eat and drink alongside the zoo’s wildest animals. Billy Idol will rock audiences with his whiplash smile and throwback hits. And don’t be surprised if Steve-O inflicts some bodily harm to himself during his stand-up set.

Thursday, May 1

Mid Main Houston presents First Thursday Block Party
Let’s see what’s popping off at Mid Main’s First Thursday Block Party this month. There will be performances from Sam Houston Mariachi Band, Little Outfit, and Greg Koch. Carlos Mendoza will show off some new work at Mid Main Gallery, while Mark “$RapDaddy” Bradford will have sculptures on Winbern St. Visitors can check in at 3550 Main St. to make a $10 donation to the monthly nonprofit partner (this month, it’s Plant It Forward) for an all-access wristband to the festivities. 6 pm.

Photo courtesy of Billy Idol

Billy Idol returns to Houston this weekend.

Dance Source Houston presents Barnstorm Dance Fest
Barnstorm Dance Fest will feature 15 live performance works, six dance films, three artist panels, and a class series that offers Houstonians a deep dive into the rich world of dance from the city, region, and beyond. Performance works and dance films are split across three unique programs, allowing audiences to experience a range of dance forms within each program. The lineup includes Bharatanatyam, contemporary, dance on film, flamenco, modern, and more. 7:30 pm (5:30 and 7:30 pm Saturday)

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center presents The Wiz
This all-new production of the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical returns “home” to stages in an all-new pre-Broadway tour, the first one in 40 years. The groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway - from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping '70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).

Friday, May 2

Houston African Art Festival
Houston African Art Festival will be a tribute to the artistry and vibrancy of African culture that has long enriched the neighborhood in which it takes place. There will be a live performance by DJ Towii, art exhibitions, culinary delights, and more, celebrating the richness of African culture. Featured artists will include Landess Walker and Makala McCoy. The three-day event will take place at a newly renovated venue at 2509 Alabama, nestled in the historic Third Ward. 10 am.

Houston Polish Festival
The Houston Polish Festival brings Polish culture, cuisine, and family fun to the heart of Texas. Highlights include authentic Polish food like pierogi, kielbasa, and potato pancakes; locally brewed Polish-style beer, wine, and other drinks; traditional Polish folk dancing and live music; family-friendly activities; a silent auction with hand-painted Bolesławiec pottery and more; and unique local vendors and handmade goods. 4 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Houston Zoo presents Feast with the Beasts
Get ready for Houston’s wildest foodie night out! Feast with the Beasts is back at the Houston Zoo, serving up a one-of-a-kind evening filled with delicious food, refreshing drinks, live music, and unforgettable animal encounters — all after hours, and without the kids. Your ticket Includes Houston Zoo admission, food from more than 40 of Houston’s top restaurants, two complimentary drinks, unique animal experiences, live music, and more. 6:30 pm.

Improv Houston presents Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed
Get ready for some fabulous, fierce stuff as the flamboyant-as-hell Jonathan Van Ness will be in town this weekend, as part of his Hot and Healed tour. Van Ness is an Emmy-nominated television personality, two-time New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, and comedian best known for his role on Netflix’s Emmy-winning reboot series Queer Eye, where he shines as the hair guru and self-care advocate. 7:30 and 9:45 pm (7 pm Saturday).

Saturday, May 3

East End Cultural District presents East End Street Fest
The 2025 East End Street Fest will feature headlining performances by Del Castillo and Sunny Sauceda. The celebration continues with Cumbia Nights by Wonky Power, circus arts by Cirque La Vie, and high-flying lucha libre matches presented by Coliseo Houston. Festivalgoers can explore more than 30 local food and art vendors, witness traditional dance performances, and experience family-friendly fun at multiple themed plazas. 3 pm.

Christopher Seymore in concert
Christopher Seymore is a hillbilly poet from upstate South Carolina making down-home honky-tonk music in Houston, TX. Steeped in outlaw tradition and rooted in Appalachian old time, Seymore brings a genuine authenticity that’s undeniable. On his anticipated debut album King of Nothing, produced by Kevin Skrla, Seymore offers a snapshot of the community he’s built, night after night. He also proves that razor-sharp lyricism and heartbreaking storytelling still have a home in honky tonk. 7 pm

Billy Idol in concert
At 69, Billy Idol is still out there hitting audiences with his “Rebel Yell.” Back in the ‘80s, he was the resident pinup bad boy, churning out post-punk, new-wave ditties as “White Wedding,” “Flesh for Fantasy” and “Eyes Without a Face.” Idol comes to The Woodlands, in support of his new 2025 album Dream Into It, as part of his It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again!. He'll be joined by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. 7:30 pm.

Stageworks Theatre presents The Odd Couple, Female Version
The Odd Couple, Female Version is a new and refreshing take on Neil Simon's much-loved hilarious play. It follows unlikely roommates, neurotic neat freak Florence Unger, and unkept, messy Olive Madison, as they attempt to inhabit the same apartment without killing each other. Tensions escalate when Olive arranges a double date, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and uproarious moments. 7:30 pm (3 pm Sunday).

Sunday, May 4

Marriott City Place presents Seasons of Love – A South Asian Wedding Showcase
Marriott City Place invites future brides and their entourages to the Seasons of Love wedding showcase—a complimentary afternoon event spotlighting the beauty and richness of South Asian wedding traditions. The immersive experience will spotlight moments of a South Asian wedding—from the ceremony to the reception—while featuring some of the region’s top wedding professionals. Attendees can explore the hotel and grounds while visiting with designers, caterers, bakers, photographers, DJs, florists, musicians, and more. 1 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Floating World: A.A.Murakami" opening day
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents its annual Summer Immersive, a project by Tokyo- and London-based artist duo A.A.Murakami. Melding science, art and nature to create unique environments, a series of four sensory landscapes will unfold across the galleries of the MFAH, immersing visitors in environments of light, fog, plasma and sound. In their presentation for Houston, the duo brings together four distinct immersive spaces. Custom-designed for the MFAH, the exhibition is their largest to date. Through Sunday, September 21. 12:30 pm.

Bad Astronaut Brewing presents Steve-O
Steve-O was willing to do whatever it took to become famous, even if it meant stapling his ball sack to his leg. But it was his relentless attention whoring that ultimately led to working with Johnny Knoxville on the stunt-based reality show Jackass. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, he's had continued success as both a New York Times best-selling author and a stand-up comic. Steve-O regularly produces content for his YouTube channel and he also hosts the Wild Ride with Steve-O podcast. 7 pm.

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Movie Review

Supergirl fails to take flight in a movie weighed down by grief

Photo courtesy of DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures

Milly Alcock in Supergirl.

Last year's Superman reboot brought a renewed sense of optimism for, if not the concept of the comic book movie, then at least the DC Comics universe. After more than a decade of DC films that felt mostly creatively bankrupt, the leadership of James Gunn gave the story a sense of fun. That included the brief introduction of Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, who’s now getting her own showcase in, naturally, Supergirl.

When we first met her in Superman, Supergirl was in rough shape, arriving at the Fortress of Solitude visibly inebriated. Nothing has changed at the beginning of this film, save for her aimlessly traveling around the universe with her rambunctious dog, Krypto. One of her random stops puts her in the same bar as Ruthye (Eve Ridley), who is looking for help tracking down Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts) and a group known as the Brigands after they brutally murdered her family.

Kara is initially loath to offer aid, but when Krem shoots a poison dart into Krypto while escaping, her motivation goes way up, especially since Krem holds the antidote. Kara, with Ruthye doggedly following her, uses every means available to her to find Krem, a journey that is hampered by galaxies having different colored suns than the one that gives her powers, the yellow sun.

Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the film is a big step back in the fun category, not least because Supergirl is deep in her feelings for much of the film. Her personal trauma, which is detailed in occasional flashbacks, gives a reason for her depression, but fails to land fully. The story seems to want everyone to be sad, as it includes a child trafficking ring and multiple instances of families being murdered.

Milly Alcock and Krypto in Supergirl.Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

To try to counteract that downer material, the filmmakers give Supergirl many opportunities to show off her fighting skills. While still CGI-heavy, the action scenes contain enough of a semblance of reality that they feel exciting. Unfortunately, this is undercut by the inclusion of several slow-motion sequences, giving the impression that the filmmakers didn’t trust the actors to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.

Superman (David Corenswet) makes a handful of appearances in the film, and while his presence is welcome given how well the character came across in the previous movie, it also doesn’t allow Supergirl to become her own person. Almost everything she does is colored by either her cousin or her parents, and since her powers are identical to those of Superman, there is very little that makes her story unique aside from how she’s dealing with the fallout.

Alcock (House of the Dragon, Sirens) gives an appealing performance despite her character being drunk and/or moody most of the time. She definitely sells what Supergirl is going through, so if given a better story in a future film, she’s proven her capability. Schoenaerts makes for a pretty good villain, although he’s aided by a look that includes a face full of studs. Jason Momoa has a memorable supporting role as the bounty hunter Lobo, even if his character doesn’t add much to the story.

While not a full-on disaster, Supergirl does not continue the momentum that Superman started. With a story that’s more concerned with showing audiences death scenes than a hero saving people, the film doesn’t seem to understand the appeal of a character like Supergirl or how to make her someone audiences will return to over and over again.

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Supergirl is now playing in theaters.

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