weekend event planner

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

Houstonians have numerous entertainment options this weekend. Certified rock and roll legends will take the stage at NRG Stadium, and one of country music’s rising stars is performing at Toyota Center.

Sugar Land celebrates the art, and the Houston SPCA will celebrate a big birthday. On the food front, taco lovers will be heading downtown to devour bites from some of Houston’s best restaurants, and mudbug fans can make the trek to Tomball for a Cajun celebration.

Read on for details of these happenings and all of this weekend’s other best bets.

Thursday, April 25

U.S. Coins and Jewelry presents National Coin Week
U.S. Coins and Jewelry will be celebrating 2024 National Coin Week by bringing in some iconic sports talent. Several sports legends will appear at the store for autograph signings, including three-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman (and U.S. coin ambassador) Nick Allegretti of the Washington Commanders. Also appearing will be Rockets two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, former Astros pitcher & 7-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, and former Astros first baseman & Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell. Noon (11 am Friday and Saturday).

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents 17th Annual Latin Wave: New Films from Latin America
The MFAH presents the 17th annual Latin Wave: New Films from Latin America. The line-up includes 10 recent releases from Latin America, including Felipe Gálvez Haberle’s The Settlers, María Alché and Benjamín Naishtat's Puan, and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Pictures of Ghosts. Attending in person are Chilean filmmaker Matias Bize (The Punishment), Paraguayan filmmaker Sebastián Peña Escobar (The Last Ones) and Colombian filmmaker Juan Sebastián Quebrada (The Other Son). 5:30 pm (7 pm Friday; 1 pm Saturday & 1:30 pm Sunday.)

DiningOut presents Top Taco Festival
At Top Taco, festival-goers will sample unlimited taco tastes and signature tequila cocktails from some of the best restaurants in Houston, voting for their favorites to crown four categories of awards: Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco, and Top Cocktail. The event features two stages of live music and entertainment, creative tequila lounge areas, mezcal tasting, and some of the best chefs and mixologists in the city. Top Taco is a 21+ and over event only. 7 pm.

Friday, April 26

The Menil Collection presents "Abstraction after Modernism: Recent Acquisitions" opening day
The Menil Collection will present "Abstraction after Modernism: Recent Acquisitions," which highlights work made by artists who have forged new paths in their approaches to non-representational art. The Menil has actively grown its collection acquiring significant works by women and artists of color. The display includes work by Agnes Denes, Suzan Frecon, Sam Gilliam, Leslie Hewitt, Dorothy Hood, Ellsworth Kelly, Rick Lowe, and Richard Serra, among others. Through August 25. 11 am.

The Happening at the Orange Show
Sound, movement, words, noise, poetry, puppetry, inventions, installations, shapes---Houston's most creative minds are highlighted each month during The Happening, with the Orange Show's sprawling campus as their stage. Curated by artist Alexandra Lechin, no two Happenings are ever the same, and audiences will never know what they'll experience. Anyone interested in presenting a piece of work or engaging audiences in an activity is invited to submit a proposal to be part of an upcoming Happening. 6 pm.

Houston Ballet presents Academy Spring Showcase
The Academy Spring Showcase will feature the Houston Ballet Academy students who represent the future of ballet, with over 60 percent of the company coming through the Academy. The showcase gives students the stage to shine – whether it's performing works from the company repertoire or ballets created specifically for them. This year’s performance includes a world premiere by former Houston Ballet soloist Ilya Kozadayev entitled Echoes. 7 pm (11 am & 4 pm Saturday).

MuXer HTX presents 19th Annual Frida Festival
MuXer HTX’s 19th Annual Frida Festival kicks off with a Frida en Primavera VIP Reception, where guests can indulge in lite bites and drinks at the open bar while enjoying live entertainment, featuring Shame on Me and a Frida pinup-inspired fashion show. At the main event the next day, guests can immerse themselves in the beauty and creativity of Frida's world. The family-friendly event will feature an arts market, entertainment, and more to honor the legacy of the iconic Frida Kahlo. 7 pm (11 am Saturday).

Saturday, April 27

Disability Comic Con
Disability Comic Con is back, and this year's theme is "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." Get ready for a day filled with super heroic fun, where everyone is welcome to embrace their inner caped crusader. Immerse yourself in a variety of engaging activities, including panel discussions, workshops, and cosplay contests. Meet some comic book creators, discover unique merchandise, and explore the vibrant artist alley. Don't forget to bring your own cosplay or create one on-site to truly feel like a part of this extraordinary universe. 10 am.

Houston SPCA presents 100th Birthday Bash
The Houston SPCA, the city’s oldest and largest animal rescue and protection organization, is hosting a 100th Birthday Bash for the community that will be a day filled with fun, including prizes and giveaways, live equine demonstrations in the Equine Rescue Center, a chance to meet wildlife ambassadors, Art Cars on display, free sampling at a beer garden, a coffee and lemonade bar, a live band, the Whatcha Cravin' food truck, free balloon animals and face painting, live feedings in the kitten nursery, pet adoptions, and more. 11 am.

Rails and Tails Mudbug Festival
The Rails & Tails Mudbug Festival will feature food, games, and live music. Guests can enjoy spicy boiled crawfish and other Cajun treats, along with a variety of festival foods and drinks. Vendors will be selling curated crafts and merchandise. There will even be even a “Cajun Kids’ Zone” with bouncy fun for the little ones. There will also be performances by Bayou City Brass Band, Platinum Players Zydeco Band, and The Stringbenders. 11 am.

Houston SaberCats presents UH Night
Calling all Cougars! The Houston SabreCats will extend a warm welcome to the spirited students, alumni, and supporters of the University of Houston for a thrilling evening of rugby action. Show your Cougar pride as they come together in solidarity, painting the stands red and white with fervent cheers and unwavering support for the Houston SaberCats. Make it a night to remember as they unite as one powerhouse community. 7 pm.

Kane Brown in concert
Known for number No. 1 country singles, such “What Ifs,” “Thank God,” “Heaven,” and “I Can Feel It,” the two-time RodeoHouston headliner comes to Toyota Center to support his 2022 album Different Man. He will be joined by Tyler Hubbard and Parmalee. 7 pm.

Sunday, April 28

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation presents Sugar Land Arts Fest
Sunday is the last chance to catch the Sugar Land Arts Fest, a two-day festival that highlights the cultural and artistic diversity of Sugar Land and beyond. Now in its third year, the event features a wide variety of art, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, glass art, woodworking, and jewelry. Attendees can also enjoy a wine and beer garden, cuisine from local restaurants, and live music during the festivities. Proceeds benefit the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation. 10 am.

Houston Toy Museum presents Local Author Book Fair
Meet and greet local children's book authors in a nostalgic setting right out of a ‘90s elementary school book fair! Join the Houston Toy Museum as they welcome 10 local authors (including Zariah Cherry, Zoe Cherry, Natrix, Professor J and others) offering a variety of books for kids of all ages. They will have read-alouds from each author at different times throughout the day, plus fun activities for your children. Museum entry is just $5 and kids ages 5 and under get in for free. 11 am.

The Rolling Stones in concert
Yes, folks, it’s time for some satisfaction. You can close the weekend out by seeing the one-and-only Rolling Stones at NRG Stadium. Charlie Watts, the band’s sharp-dressed drummer, may no longer be with them (and us). But Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ron Wood are still out there, rocking-and-rolling it up. They’re on tour promoting their latest album Hackney Diamonds, which features appearances from Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, and, yes, their dearly departed drummer. 8 pm.

Photo courtesy of Kane Brown

Country star Kane Brown headlines Toyota Center on April 27.

event-planner

Movie Review

Summer camp drama The Plague proves middle school is still pure horror

Photo courtesy of IFC

Everett Blunck in The Plague.

Anybody who’s attended elementary school in the last 100 years knows the concept of “cooties,” a fictional affliction that is typically caught when touched by a member of the opposite sex. A more updated version of the same idea is featured in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this time called the “Cheese Touch,” making anyone who touches a moldy piece of cheese on the school’s basketball court an outcast.

A much more menacing version of this “disease” is on display in The Plague, which takes place at a summer water polo camp for tweens. The film focuses on Ben (Everett Blunck), a slightly awkward boy who struggles to fit in with the “cool” crowd led by Jake (Kayo Martin). That group has no problems making fun of others that they deem to be different, especially Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), who has been ostracized because of a rash he has that the kids call “the plague.”

Ben wants to be part of the main group, but his natural empathy leads him to reach out to Eli on more than one occasion despite Eli engaging in some uncomfortable behavior. With the camp’s coach (Joel Edgerton) not much help when it comes to the bullying tactics by Jake and others, especially those that take place at night, Ben is left to fend for himself. His vacillations between wanting to be accepted and wanting to do what’s right continue until his hand is forced.

Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Charlie Polinger, the film has all the feel of a horror movie without actually being a horror. The staging used by Polinger gives the film a claustrophobic feel as Ben can’t seem to escape the psychological torture inflicted by Jake and others no matter where he goes. He also employs a jarring score by Johan Lenox to great effect, one that’s designed to keep viewers on edge even when nothing bad is happening.

No matter how far removed you are from middle school, the film will likely bring up feelings you thought you had left behind. Much like with Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, Polinger finds a way to tap into something universal in his depiction of tweens, an age when everyone is still discovering who they really are. Some go along to get along, others don’t even attempt to fit in, but no one truly feels settled.

Whether the plague is real or not in the world of the film is up for debate. While most of the time it comes off as something made up to underscore the feeling of otherness felt by Ben, Polinger does literalize it to a degree. He even tiptoes up to the line of body horror before wisely retreating, although what he does show will still make some viewers squeamish. However, because he seems to be leaning one way before pulling back, there’s the possibility that some will be disappointed by the tease of something more intense.

The film’s biggest success is in its casting. Finding good child actors is notoriously tough, and yet Polinger and casting director Rebecca Dealy found a bunch who sell the story for all it’s worth. Blunck, Martin, and Rasmussen get the most play, but everyone else complements them well. Edgerton is the only well-known actor in the film, but he’s used sparingly and isn’t asked to do much, leaving the kids to carry the story on their shoulders.

Fitting in as a tween is hard enough without others actively trying to find ways to cast someone out. The Plague is an effective demonstration of the dynamics that can play out in a competitive environment that also includes a group that has yet to develop into fully-rounded people. It features discomfort on multiple levels, marking an auspicious debut for Polinger.

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The Plague is now playing in theaters.

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