weekend event planner

Here are the top 16 things to do in Houston this weekend

The Lunar New Year Festival + Night Market is a beast of a party.

Photo by Lee's Golden Dragon/Courtesy of Downtown Houston

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 Sunday, football fans, Swifties, and people who hate Taylor Swift — but are willing to bet on or against her — will catch the big game. But what to do before? How about rolling out to the Discovery Green roller skating rink. A Queso Bowl is cheesy fun; the party continues at Mardi Gras! Galveston, and Lunar New Yearboasts monster parties everywhere.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, February 8

SIlver Street Studios present Nathan Lindstrom: On Set / Off Set opening reception

Immerse yourself in the captivating narrative of On Set / Off Set, an extraordinary photographic exhibition by Nathan Lindstrom that explores the juxtaposition between art created for commercial endeavors and his personal, fine art exploration. On Set / Off Set serves as a visual dialogue between two distinct worlds, prompting reflection on the intersections and divergences between commercial and artistic realms. Through Monday, February 12. 5 pm.

Julia Child Foundation presents Julia Child Award 10th Anniversary

The Julia Child Award, created by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, will commemorate a decade of honoring those who foster profound change in the way America cooks, eats, and drinks. The series will kick-off in Houston with an event featuring a menu curated by chefs Aaron Bludorn, Chris Shepherd, and Chris Williams. The series raises critical funds for The Smithsonian Food History Project at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., home to Julia Child’s kitchen. 6 pm.

Houston Symphony presents "Perlman Conducts Tchaikovsky 5"

No composer mines the depths of the human experience more fearlessly or wholeheartedly than Tchaikovsky, and his beloved Fifth Symphony surges with unbridled passion, candid emotion, and balletic grace on its journey from darkness to light. Houston Symphony artistic partner Itzhak Perlman leads these performances, which also feature treasured music from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and George Walker’s deeply moving Lyric for Strings. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, February 9

Discovery Green presents The Rink Opening Night

Discovery Green will celebrate the opening night of The Rink, Houston’s only outdoor roller rink. Daisies and Pancakes’s skate community and instructors will showcase their talent with music by DJ Yung Chris. The first 50 skaters in line will skate for free. Forever Green members skate for free from 5-7 pm. Proceeds support Discovery Green Conservancy’s mission, park maintenance and free cultural programs. Tickets must be purchased online. Through Sunday, March 31. 5 pm.

Houston Grand Opera presents Madame Butterfly

Puccini’s beloved Madame Butterfly, with its soaring score and unforgettable tragic story, returns in a revival of Tony-winning director Michael Grandage’s acclaimed production. The opera’s diverse cast will be led by internationally sought-after soprano Ailyn Perez, who returns to Houston as Cio-Cio-San, the young Japanese girl who marries American naval lieutenant Pinkerton, performed by tenor Yongzhao Yu in his role debut. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Art Factory presents On Broadway: A Musical Celebration of Show Business

Art Factory begins their 2024 Bronze Anniversary Season with On Broadway: A Musical Celebration of Show Business. Vocalists will perform numbers from Broadway’s most popular and beloved musicals. This limited engagement takes the audience from the Golden Era all the way to the musicals that are currently running in New York City today, including Guys and Dolls, Dear Evan Hansen, The Color Purple, The Music Man, and more. 8 pm (5 pm Sunday)

Galentine's Day at The Plant Project

Join founder Bree Iman Clarke at her popular plant shop at Montrose Collective for a blooming good, Galentine's Day floral workshop. Grab the gals and take in the beauty of flowers, create stunning floral arrangements, share laughs, and celebrate friendship in full bloom. Consider this the perfect way to spend quality time with your favorite ladies and spread love and joy on this special day. Light bites and sips come courtesy of Fiora’s Bottle Shop. 6:30 pm.

Professional Bull Riders presents Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour

For the fourth straight year, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will return to Cedar Park. The bull-riding action begins with Round 1 on Friday, followed by Round 2 and the championship round on Saturday. All 40 competing bull riders will get on one bull each in Round 1. The Top 36 riders from Round 1 will advance to Round 2 Saturday evening. The riders’ individual two-round scores will be totaled, with the Top 10 advancing to the championship round for one more out and a chance at the event title. 8 pm (7 pm Saturday).

Saturday, February 10

Eureka Heights Queso Bowl 2024

For the 4th year in a row, Eureka Heights is gathering teams from around the neighborhood to see who can make the best queso. If you have the cheese to compete, follow this link. For those who just want to eat queso, It's free to attend. All you have to do is show up. You'll be the trusty judges and the decider of the Queso Bowl Champion. Please note that it is first come, first served. Once the queso is gone, that’s when they start handing out awards. 1 pm.

BLCK Market and Top 3! Games present Live Show

Top 3! Games is partnering with BLCK Market to present an exciting experience. This live game show aims to bring entertainment, engagement, and a sense of community as a way to celebrate Black History Month, a Black-owned game and Black music creators. There will be a total of nine contestants (three players per round), three regular rounds and a championship round composed of the winners from the regular rounds. The championship round winner will go home with the largest prize and be deemed Houston's Top 3! Champion. 3 pm.

The Museum of FIne Arts, Houston presents I Went to the Dance (J’ai été au bal)

SInce we’re right in the middle of Mardi Gras season, get in the Fat Tuesday spirit with the definitive 1989 film on the history of the toe-tapping, foot-stomping music of French Southwest Louisiana, directed by the legendary Les Blank with Chris Strachwitz. I Went to the Dance features Cajun and Zydeco greats including Michael Doucet & BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Marc & Ann Savoy, D.L. Menard, and many others. 7 pm (5 pm Sunday).

Urban Souls Dance Company presents Souls of Black Houston

Urban Souls Dance Company presents Souls of Black Houston, a dance concert dedicated to honoring Black history. This performance marks the company’s 20th anniversary season and pays tribute to two decades of sharing the powerful stories of the African American experience. Highlighting the program is “Colored Carnegie” (originally commissioned by Performing Arts Houston in 2021). Inspired by the history of the segregated Houston Colored Carnegie Library, this piece is a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength of the Black community. 7:30 pm.

Sunday, February 11

Tidbits Rodeo Market at Armadillo Palace

Houston Tidbits has teamed up with local, independent brands for a shopping market at Armadillo Palace with a Texas twist. Bring the crew and stroll the indoor vendor stalls to shop custom hats, boots, bandanas, bolos, apparel, permanent jewelry, vintage Western wear, custom denim, art, turquoise, Valentine's treats and gifts from a host premium retailers and brands. $5-$22. 11 am-3 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway" opening day

"Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway" explores the art of the Bergen silversmiths from the 16th to early 20th centuries, and examines the evolution of the craft against the backdrop of greater political, social, and economic change in Norway and other parts of the world. Some 200 objects – from spoons, tankards, sugar bowls and salt cellars to elaborate ceremonial wedding crowns and fantastical vessels – are on exclusive loan to the U.S. from public and private Norwegian collections. Through Sunday, May 5. 12:30 pm.

Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown presents Big Game Watch Party

Rooftop Cinema Club Uptown invites you to elevate your game day experience at their Big Game Watch Party, featuring the biggest football event of the year on a spectacular 24-foot, state-of-the-art LED screen. Pregame festivities kick off with a live DJ setting the tone for the evening, and a thrilling Usher lip-syncing contest to get everyone hyped for the halftime performance. Attendees can settle in, grab some delicious bites and refreshing drinks from the bar, and enjoy the electric atmosphere as the game unfolds. 5:30 pm.

The Secret Group presents “Unbelievable Stories”

Step into a world of side-splitting humor and jaw-dropping tales with 'Unbelievable Stories,' the live, weekly, storytelling comedy show that will leave you laughing, gasping, and clutching your sides. Join host Ku Egenti and other charismatic storytellers as they regale you with the most absurd, outrageous, and utterly hilarious real-life experiences. From epic misadventures to laugh-out-loud encounters, 'Unbelievable Stories' brings you a night of pure, unfiltered laughter. 8 pm.

Movie Review

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg deliver comedy with depth in A Real Pain

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in A Real Pain.

Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners, relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.

Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.

The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.

Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.

But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.

The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.

Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.

The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.

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A Real Pain opens in theaters on November 15.

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