weekend event planner

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

Funnyman/songman/pitchman/doorman Craig Robinson brings the laughs this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Craig Robinson/IMPROV Houston

Houston is still recovering from last week’s epic College Football Championship weekend and Monday night game, but plenty of fun awaits this weekend.

Funnyman/songman/pitchman/doorman Craig Robinson heads to town for some laffs and can’t-miss stories. Holocaust Museum of Houston unveils a groundbreaking showcase of contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to the present — just in time for MLK Day. And MATCH brings a weekend of fun ranging from cocktails (adults) to bounce houses (kids).

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, January 11

Nicole Longnecker Gallery presents Todd Williamson & Andreas Somogyi Artist Meet and Greet

“Track and Soul: the Intersection of Velocity and Introspection,” the dual exhibit for Todd Williamson and Andreas Somogyi, closes with an artist meet and greet. "Track and Soul" is an exploration of contrasts and harmonies. It questions the boundaries between the silent strength that Williamson's abstract pieces exude and the roaring momentum in Somogyi's artworks. It's an invitation for viewers to move between moments of quiet contemplation and pulsating narratives. 6 pm.

Improv Houston presents Craig Robinson

Craig Robinson is arguably best known for his role as acerbic Dunder-Mifflin employee Darryl Philbin on NBC’s Emmy-winning The Office. (Personally, we know him as that big guy who shows up in a Judd Apatow or Seth Rogen movie and steals whatever scene he’s in.) Regardless of what you know him from, he is definitely a world away from his original career intentions. The former K-8 teacher is now a veteran in the comedy scene, killing it either onstage or in movies. 7:30 pm (7:30 & 9:45 Friday; 7 & 9:30 pm Saturday; 7:30 pm Sunday).

The Lone Bellow in concert

Coming straight outta Nashville, The Lone Bellow is a trio known for their transcendent harmonies, serious musicianship, and live performances. They'll celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut self-titled album. Their most recent release is 2022's Love Songs for Losers. Recorded at the possibly haunted former home of the legendary Roy Orbison, the result is an intimate meditation on the pain and joy and ineffable wonder of being human, at turns heartbreaking, irreverent, and sublimely transcendent. 8 pm.

Friday, January 12

Holocaust Museum Houston presents "The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection" opening day

Holocaust Museum Houston presents "The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection," celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black Americans from 1595 to the present.

The exhibition will feature over 100 of the shared treasures amassed by Bernard and Shirley Kinsey during their five decades of marriage. The collection includes masterful paintings and sculptures, photographs, rare books, letters, manuscripts, and more, including several new and yet-to-be seen pieces in the collection. Through Sunday, June 23. 10 am.

Box13 ArtSpace presents Raul Rene Gonzalez: "So Many Styles, I Am A Group Show" opening reception

To kick off 2024, Box13 Artspace’s Front Box Gallery will debut "So Many Styles, I Am A Group Show," a solo exhibition by multi-faceted artist Raul Rene Gonzalez. The exhibition features a selection of new works in painting, sculpture, drawing, and performance, largely influenced by the artist’s interests in work, play, family, music, and Houston. Through Saturday, February 10. 6 pm.

Houston Symphony presents "Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony + Yoonshin Song"

When composer Felix Mendelssohn toured Scotland at the age of 20, his experiences inspired a shining jewel of a memento in the joyful and invigorating Symphony No. 3 (aka the Scottish). One of the great concertos of the 20th century, Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2 will spotlight the talents of concertmaster Yoonshin Song. The concert, conducted by Juraj Valčuha, will also feature A. Clyne's Color Field. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Smart Financial Centre presents Ron White

Out of all the comics who went on those popular Blue Collar Comedy Tours back in the day, you have to admit that Ron White was the least blue-collar of all of them. The Texas native usually comes out onstage in a sharp suit, smoking a cigar, sipping whiskey, and riffing on everything from politics to his upbringing to stupid people. If anything, the guy is more like the Southern version of Alan King. Anyway, check out his show this weekend. 8 pm.

Saturday, January 13

National Rubber Ducky Day at Dig World

Get ready for a quacking good time as Dig World celebrates National Rubber Ducky Day. 20 rubber duckies have been hidden throughout the park. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find one of the duckies and turn it in for a fabulous prize. It's a fantastic opportunity to make your visit even more memorable and add a touch of excitement to your National Rubber Ducky Day celebration. Whether you're visiting with family or friends, this playful activity is sure to bring joy and laughter to your day. 9 am.

Ars Lyrica Houston presents "Fugal Games"

Going down at Rice Duncan Recital Hall, "Fugal Games" celebrates the release of artistic director Matthew Dirst’s latest book on Bach’s Art of Fugue and Musical Offering, with a program featuring excerpts from both works. Dirst will be joined by an intimate instrumental ensemble, including violinists Elizabeth Blumenstock & Stephen Redfield and traverso player Colin St-Martin on this quintessentially Baroque program. 4 pm.

The Kyle Blue presents Give Me My Flowers Anniversary Show

Dynamic storyteller The Kyle Blue spends most days giving "flowers" to others while truly wanting flowers in return. Nothing makes him happier than bringing smiles to others with entertainment. In this one-man show that’s a mixture of comedy, poetry, hip-hop, theater, and improv, he’ll discuss the ups and downs of life, share stories, and provide a spark. Various artists will also perform. Hosted by The Legendary Black Snow. 7 pm.

Keith Sweat in concert with Dru Hill, Johnny Gill, and LeVelle

It’s time to break out the Hennessy and Crown Royal, because Keith Sweat is coming to town! The ’90s R&B icon will be performing all his new-jack classics and quiet-storm ditties to an audience of people who probably did the Running Man to his songs back in the day. But he’s also bringing with him fellow Clinton-era soul stars Dru Hill and Johnny Gill. Rising R&B singer LeVelle will open this throwback extravaganza. 7 pm.

Sunday, January 14

MATCH presents Mix-MATCH: A Mixed Arts Festival and Family Fun Day (Saturday and Sunday)

On Saturday, MATCH-Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston presents the first-ever Mix-MATCH: A Mixed Arts Festival along with Friends of River Oaks Theatre. The one-of-a-kind celebration of the creative spirit of Houston's small to mid-sized arts organizations, from theater to dance, from visual arts to community engagement. Look for brunch bites and cocktails before the shows. Tickets are $25. 10 am.

Sunday sees the 7th annual MATCH Family Fun Day, featuring an entire city block filled with performances and activities. Live performances will include Main Street Theater, concerts from Prelude Music, and Open Dance Project. There will also be bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, stilt walkers, chalk artists, and more. Free. 1 pm.

Chefs for Paws

Chefs for Paws is back to celebrate another year of saving lives. You are invited to join them for a cocktail hour, followed by an exquisite, multi-course dinner prepared by some of Houston’s finest chefs and restaurants. All proceeds from this event will directly support Rescued Pets Movement’s life-saving mission, which has saved more than 84,000 homeless pets over the past decade. There will also be a silent auction featuring a variety of fantastic items and experiences, including jewelry, trips, sports memorabilia, gift cards, and more. 5 pm.

A Musical Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join Community Music Center Houston and St. Mary of the Purification R.C. Church for a delightful, free and family-friendly concert featuring a diverse range of musical genres, including African American spirituals, classical compositions, as well as a hip-hop orchestra fusion. The "Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra," led by music director Dr. Anne Lundy, will be performing. Donations are warmly appreciated to support their mission. 5 pm.

Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer visits Houston in new Christmas movie Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

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