weekend event planner

Here are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Get those H's up Saturday.

Photo via Houston Texans

Catch CultureMap's weekend events segment with editor Steven Devadanam and ABC13'a Brittaney Wilmore live at 8:45 am Thursdays on ABC13's livestream and on ABC13 all weekend.

This weekend, Houston thaws off from an icy week. While the weekend forecasts predict chilly weather, plenty of options indoor await.

Posh and palatial Indian palace Musaafer will fire up a new “High Society” dining series that's sure to be a real buzz, Funnyman Hasan Minhaj comes to town for one night only, while Houston native and TV star Renée Elise Goldsberry comes home for a must-see performance.

The high-flying Cirque Italia makes a big splash at Katy Mills, and Texans fans can scream for the team as our guys take on the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at a free fan fest/watch party.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, January 18

Musaafer presents “High Society” Dinner Series

Upscale Galleria eatery Musaafer will host a dinner that is the first of its kind in Houston. A THC dining series, aptly titled “High Society,” will debut its first of four dinner experiences. The dinner will feature an 8-course meal accompanied with mocktails and cocktails, which will also be infused with THC. Guests are given the choice of a low-dose option and high-dose option. Ticket holders will be greeted with a choice of THC seltzer Lil Bit, Wonder Water, HOWDY, or Beach Break as a welcome drink before being seated. 5:30 and 8:30 pm.

Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino presents Fanny Sanín: "Eyes Wide Open" opening reception

Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino will present "Eyes Wide Open," the gallery's second solo exhibition featuring the work of Fanny Sanín in their main gallery. The exhibition features a selection of the artist's work from her early oil paintings of the 1960s through her current production, providing an expansive understanding of the development of her oeuvre from gestural abstraction to hard-edge concrete abstraction while tracing the common threads underlying the progression. Through Thursday, March 14. 6 pm.

Cirque Italia

Aquatic Spectacular Cirque Italia Acrobats and contortionists perform over a 35,000-gallon water tank during Cirque Italia Aquatic Spectacular. Photo courtesy of Cirque Italia

Cirque Italia will present their new production, a story that begins with ringmaster “Clown Rafinha” fishing when he unexpectedly catches a bottle with a treasure map stuffed inside. His ensuing journey takes the audience through storms on the high seas, dreams of angelic aerialists, pirate fights, and more. Guests will see swashbucklers balancing upside down on a rum barrel, juggling knives, and even one having a run-in with a mermaid. Through Sunday, January 28. 7:30 pm (1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 4:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, January 19

Houston Grand Opera presents Parsifal

Wagnerites from around the world will descend upon Houston when HGO presents Parsifal, the composer’s final opera. The revered masterpiece takes audiences on a mystical journey through a realm where time has no meaning and a group of knights are trying to protect the Holy Grail and their wounded king, Amfortas. He can only be healed by an innocent fool - the titular protagonist - but first Parsifal must undertake a quest to reclaim the Holy Spear, enduring tests including an attempted seduction by a bevy of gorgeous women. 6 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Discovery Green and Villa Albertine in Houston present Cinema Luminaire

Dive into the extraordinary world of groundbreaking French filmmaker/illusionist Georges Méliès in a silent film with live music from French violinist Kami Ghavi Helm. The director’s A Trip to the Moon (1902, 13 min) will be followed by a selection of his short films introduced by Keith Houk, professor at University of Houston. Cinema Luminaire is presented in partnership between Discovery Green and Villa Albertine in Houston. 7 pm.

Hasan Minhaj: Off With His Head

Hasan Minhaj will perform twice on January 19 at Smart Financial Centre. Photo courtesy of Hasan Minhaj

Hasan Minhaj continues to take on challenging themes like politics, parenting, and therapy with irreverent wit and insight. Minhaj is a two-time Peabody Award-winning comedian best known for his breakout (and somewhat fact-based) Netflix specials Homecoming King & The King’s Jester and his political satire show, Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, also for Netflix. Minhaj was also senior correspondent at Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and headlined the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 7 pm.

Performing Arts Houston presents New/Now

New/Now is a mixtape of genres & all-new works by Houston artists. Supporting new multi-genre works by the artists of the city, it is an evening alive with dreams made real - a variety of influences, backgrounds, and Houston stories waiting to be heard. The two-night performance will feature world premieres by Group Acorde, The Suffers frontlady Kam Franklin, and ShaWanna Renee Rivon. 7:30 pm.

Saturday, January 20

Autism Speaks Houston 8K/5K/1K Race

At Autism Speaks' Houston 8K/5K/1K Race, participants can run or walk at Sugar Land Town Square or wherever they are to show their support for people with autism. Participants' fundraising efforts will empower the work to promote solutions for the needs of people with autism and their families — including those in urgent need of resources right now — and fuel the continued commitment to create a kinder, more inclusive world for people with autism. 7:15 am.

Houston Texans official watch party at Avenida Houston

As our Houston Texans face off with the Baltimore Ravens in a huge AFC Divisional playoff matchup, Visit Houston will host a free, official downtown watch party at Avenida Houston in The Plaza (Avenida de las Americas). The fun begins at 1:30 pm with a fan fest featuring appearances by Houston Texans Legends; Houston Texans cheerleaders; beloved mascot, TORO; the game day emcees, former Texans wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and Keisha Nicole; the official game day DJ, Vanilla Trill, and more. At 3:30 pm, all eyes will be on the giant LED screens and TVs. As this is a non-ticketed event, walk-ups are encouraged, but fans can also RSVP here. Those planning to attend are advised to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and warm clothing options as the day progresses.

Cactus Music presents The Hates

The Hates has been called "Houston's first and last punk band” and, with over 45 years of blood, sweat, and that familiar mohawk, those words may be more true than their author ever knew. From his very first live show in 1978, Christian Kidd (aka, Christian Arnheiter, Christian Anarchy, Christian Oppression, and The Scooter Guy) has steered this legendary band through decades of disco, pop, new wave, hair bands, hip-hop, crossover country, and tribute bands to keep punk rock alive. 3 pm.

Monster Jam

At Monster Jam, world champion athletes and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world. 6 pm (3 pm Sunday).

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presents Beyond Broadway: Renée Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry comes home for a big show. Photo courtesy of Renee Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry is an actress and singer who has delivered award-winning performances on Broadway and on the screen. She is perhaps best known for her role as Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon Hamilton. Renée’s performance earned her a Tony, a Grammy, and a Drama Desk Award. She was also nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in the Disney+ film adaptation and accepted the Emmy for Best Variety Special on behalf of her company in 2021. 8 pm.

Sunday, January 21

The Divine Darlings presents The Burly Soirée

The Burly Soirée: Feathered Follies celebrates classic burlesque and showgirl-style performances with acts from headliners Peter Pecker, a Houston burlesque dancer, singer and host; and Mara Ballerina, a Houston-based burlesque performer, pole dancing champion and former professional ballerina. Divine Darlings Sadie Mercedes & Holly GoSpankMe, special guest Fantasia Black Diamond, and Soirée host/producer Lady AnnaBelle will also perform. 2 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros

Houston native Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016) was one of the most important musical minds of her time. She pioneered electronic music, accessibility to music-making, and, most importantly, Deep Listening (a philosophy and practice that encompasses all of her work). Her influence on music, the experimental arts, and creative communities continues to be felt worldwide. This new documentary combines rare archival footage, live performances, and unreleased music with appearances by groundbreaking artists. 5 pm.

Lucinda Williams in concert

Revered alt-country singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams is bringing her acclaimed live show to The Heights Theater this weekend. The three-time Grammy winner is embarking on her “Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets: The Story Of A Life in Songs” tour. The multi-media music and storytelling experience features Williams performing some of her most beloved songs, while sharing backstories with her audience about their inspirations and origins. Fans will experience a truly intimate evening with Williams unlike anything she has done in the past. 8 pm.

Movie Review

Dakota Fanning-led The Sun Never Sets needs more direction

Photo courtesy of Independent Film Company

Dakota Fanning in The Sun Never Sets.

The movies of writer/director Joe Swanberg have always been an acquired taste, as he prefers to give his actors a loose framework of a story and let them improvise most of their lines to give the films a more natural feel. Sometimes that approach can yield great results, and sometimes — as in The Sun Never Sets — it can result in addled and maddening storytelling.

Wendy (Dakota Fanning) is in her early 30s and at a crossroads in her life. When a friend announces she’s pregnant, she starts to re-evaluate what she wants, including her two-year relationship with the older Jack (Jake Johnson). Although they love each other, their disagreements on having more children and extracurricular activities call their long-term viability into question.

Jack, not wanting Wendy to settle, encourages her to explore her options where they live — Anchorage, Alaska — telling her he’ll be waiting should she strike out. What he doesn’t expect is that Wendy’s ex-boyfriend, Chuck (Cory Michael Smith), has returned to the city, giving her an attractive alternative. The three engage in a love triangle that proves frustrating and confusing for both the participants and the viewers.

What works best about the film is its location in Alaska, which rarely gets showcased in movies, and even more rarely in the way it is here. The story takes place in warmer months, and Swanberg gives his characters multiple opportunities to be outside, showing off Anchorage’s harbor, surrounding mountains, and seemingly vibrant city life. The subtle but effective way Swanberg frames various scenes makes the landscape enormously appealing.

It’s too bad, then, that the story never measures up to its surroundings. Too often Fanning, Johnson, Smith, and others seem to be grasping for their next line, unsure of what they want their character to do or say next. That lets their scenes mimic real conversations, but you might not realize how much you want scripted dialogue until you see actors trying to come up with their own in the moment.

The larger issue is that there’s no consistency from scene to scene about where the plot is heading. The characters of Wendy, Jack, and Chuck are extremely wishy-washy about their desires, with each of them vacillating back-and-forth in just how much they want to be with each other. Depending on your experience, this may or may not be true to life, but watching it is excruciating and not enjoyable or romantic in the slightest.

As actors, Fanning, Johnson, and Smith are talented and interesting, with each capable of connecting with viewers in different ways. But working in improvisation is a different beast, and only Johnson — who has worked with Swanberg multiple times — seems truly at home. A few others, like Debby Ryan and Anna Konkle, do well in the format and maybe deserved bigger parts.

Swanberg has proven in the past that his method of filmmaking can be insightful and entertaining, but that is not the case here. In The Sun Never Sets, his hands-off approach is a detriment to the flow of the film and the story as a whole, resulting in an experience that is far from what most viewers will want to go through.

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The Sun Never Sets is now playing in select theaters.

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