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    weekend event planner

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

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Apr 13, 2023 | 6:00 am
    2022 Tastemaker Awards Silver Street Studios

    CultureMap hosts the biggest food event in Houston on Thursday.

    Photo by Daniel Ortiz

    Thursday night, more than a thousand food fans will pack Silver Street Studios in the Heights for the Tastemaker Awards. The biggest, hottest food event of the year sees the city's best in the restaurant and bar world vie for awards. Oh, and the bites and sips are amazing. Tickets are gone, but plan ahead for next year.

    Meanwhile, a new hat store will be christened by People's Champ Paul Wall, folks will race for The Dome, and beer-based fun awaits around town.

    Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

    Thursday, April 13

    National Peach Cobbler Day at Any Mini Dessert Cakes

    Any Mini Dessert Cakes, a family-owned, premium Houston dessert bar known for their cakes and cobblers, is celebrating National Peach Cobbler Day Thursday with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on their delicious, homemade mini peach cobblers. Peach cobbler lovers will be able to pick up a mini version of the popular Southern staple for just $5 per cup and get a second mini cobbler free. Their cobbler is made from a family recipe handed down and perfected through generations, with sweet, juicy peaches and creamy, fluffy, cakey deliciousness served in perfectly portioned “mini” individual cups. Noon.

    CultureMap Tastemaker Awards

    The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards is the annual celebration of Houston's top restaurant and bar talent, as selected by their peers. The mission is to shine a spotlight on the people making the local restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity. The Tastemaker Awards features a signature tasting event and awards ceremony. Guests can celebrate all of the nominees while sampling bites and sipping specialty drinks along the way. 7 pm.

    Moores Opera Center presents Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears)

    Through the memories of actress and muse Margarita Xirgu, Ainadamar (the Spanish pronunciation of the Arabic name “Ayn al-dam,” meaning “The Fountain of Tears”) explores the life and work of playwright and poet Federico García Lorca, whose anti-fascist stance and open homosexuality led to his death in 1936 at the hands of Franco’s Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. The new production combines classical singing with flamenco dance and song. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Friday, April 14

    Lids Hat Drop Houston Grand Opening

    Starting this Friday, the Lids Hat Drop store will officially open to the public and release a limited quantity of new exclusive hats each Friday. Lids will be hosting a grand opening event to welcome the newly opened, retail store. Rapper and Houston native Paul Wall will also be in attendance. Located at the Galleria, the store is 1,318 sq. ft. and will feature digital screens showcasing Lids’ own content, including new hat drops, dedicated spaces for drops, and an area for apparel and merchandise. 11 am.

    Caress Dreamland Pop Up at POST Houston

    Caress, the leading brand of indulgent, affordable shower products, is launching an immersive experience in Houston this weekend. Packed with vibrant, playful stations that delight smell, taste and more, Houstonites can participate in the three-day, scent-sational soiree free of cost and explore the brand’s refreshed packaging and three newest fragrances: Rejuvenating Mango & Almond Oil, Soothing Aloe Vera & White Poppy Body Wash, and Refreshing Raspberry & Pink Pepper Body Wash. Noon.

    Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents "Ripple Effect:" A Collective Exhibition

    This collective exhibition is organized by local artist Anna Hazel and benefiting Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Works inspired by Buffalo Bayou from over 25 artists will be on display for one night only, and a percentage of sales from every piece sold will support BBP and their mission to create and steward welcoming parks, trails, and unique spaces along the city’s most significant natural waterway. BBP Members will receive 10 percent off food and beverage, and a special block print by Hazel. 4 pm.

    Eureka Heights Brew Co. presents 713 Pils-a-Palooza Weekend

    Eureka Heights Brew Co. is kicking off the release of 713 Pilsner, its newest year-round brew, with one heck of a weekend. It starts on Friday night with a free concert from country punk legends Holy Hell. Suplex yourself into Saturday with the hysterical, high-flying Doomsday Wrestling. And, finally, laugh away the Sunday scaries with Pils and Punchlines, featuring Houston comics Bob Biggerstaff, Andy Huggins, Andrew Youngblood, Neal Rosen, Keisha Hunt, and more. 8 pm (8:30 pm Saturday; 2 pm Sunday).

    Saturday, April 15

    The Astrodome Conservancy presents 3rd Annual Race for the Dome

    The Astrodome Conservancy will host the 3rd annual Race for the Dome. Participants will race around the iconic Astrodome with hundreds of Dome-lovers and fans, in support of a bright future for the Eighth Wonder of the World. Participants can come dressed in vintage gear or their best Dome wear, and stay around to party after the race to celebrate the Astrodome’s 58th birthday. Awards are given for the top three male and female overall competitors, and the top three kids finishers. Proceeds benefit the Astrodome Conservancy. 8 am.

    The Candlelighters’ Young Professional Group presents 15th Annual Margarita Taste-Off

    Grab some friends to come sip, sample and vote on top-notch margs from some of Houston’s best restaurants. The event will feature a tequila tasting station, a DJ and a silent auction. Light bites and drink tickets for beer and wine are included with purchase of tickets. All proceeds benefit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance, a local organization that provides emotional, educational and practical support to children with cancer and their families receiving treatment at the Texas Medical Center. 1 pm.

    Karbach Brewing presents Love Street Music Fest

    Love Street Music Fest is back! Spoon, Jukebox the Ghost, and Mind Shrine will rock the biergarten and it will be a show you won't want to miss. VIP tickets include a separate VIP entrance, a VIP area with optimal view, indoor restrooms, three beers of your choice, access to special beer tasting, and buffet by Karbach Restaurant + Patio. Tickets are not needed for children under age 12 when accompanied by a parent with a ticket. Please, no pets. 5 pm.

    Sawyer Yards and Spring Street Studios presents "Art Tells a Story" opening reception

    Sawyer Yards and Spring Street Studios present this group exhibition of select Spring Street artists. All art tells a story. Literature is the most obvious example of art that tells a story whether through a book, a short story or a poem. Music also tells a story through its lyrics or the music itself - like the invocation of nature in Beethoven’s Pastoral. Linger with each work in the exhibition. Does it pull you in? Why? What is the story (or stories) you can imagine here? Is it something that will still intrigue you next year and the years after? Through Saturday, July 8. 6 pm.

    Sunday, April 16

    No Kid Hungry presents Taste of the Nation

    Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry returns to Houston this weekend. Join them for a must-attend afternoon featuring exceptional food, craft cocktails, and delectable desserts from the city’s top culinary talents and renowned No Kid Hungry chef supporters from across the country. Guests will enjoy bite-sized fare, entertainment, and more. 100 percent of event proceeds benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in Texas and across the U.S. 1 pm.

    Citywide Yom HaShoah Observance

    Join the Yom HaShoah Steering Committee and Holocaust Museum Houston in observance of Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance for the six million Jewish people who lost their lives during the Holocaust. During this annual commemoration, they will mourn the loss of all who perished, honor those who survived and come together as a community to remember and reflect. You can also livestream the event. 3 pm.

    Wooster's Garden presents 8 year Anniversary Celebration

    Wooster’s will celebrate their 8-year anniversary with live music by Brittani Washington, DJ Brandon Airlines and various vendors showcasing their unique products. Local vendors will nclude Crescent Therapeutic Massage, Brazos Soap Supply, Enclave Jewelry, Bonbon Jewelry, Raises Plants & Home Decor, Nissa Crafts, Gold Plated Jewelry, Enchant Madison Candles, The Plant Project Boutique, and Bodhi Love plant-based skincare. There will be giveaways and more surprises throughout the night. 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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