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, those who aren't feeling the love can commiserate at an anti-Valentine's Day party at posh spot Albi. Rodeo-ready locals can get their kicks as Texas bootmaker City Boots hosts a grand opening party for its first Houston boutique.
For some cheeky fun, Poppy Tart Burlesque will dazzle at Henke & Pillot, and TV phenom Wheel of Fortune Live puts a spin on the favorite game show.
Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.
Thursday, February 15
Lawndale Art Center presents Deangelo McMahon Jr.: "Hi-Speed Channel Surfing" opening reception
"Hi-Speed Channel Surfing" presents new work by Houston-based artist Deangelo McMahon Jr. Through still images that emulate classic television, this exhibition explores mass media, shared memory, and censorship. In the featured paintings, McMahon creates visual white noise with gestures such as cross-hatching and pointillism. In the words of McMahon, this exhibition reflects “the ever-increasing role of technology in present-day life, and seeks to remind the viewer of one’s own humanity amidst it all.” Through Saturday, April 6. 5 pm.
Houston Christian Theatreworks presents Les Misérables
Houston Christian Theatreworks' winter musical will be the sweeping, oh-so-iconic tale of characters amidst the backdrop of post-revolutionary France. Jean Valjean’s journey from a paroled ex-convict to a transformed man seeking redemption sets the stage for a narrative rich in societal critique, personal struggle, and the enduring power of love. This production is a celebration of the arts, a testament to the power of community, and an opportunity for Houston Christian theater students to showcase their talent. 7 pm (7:30 pm Sunday).
The Menil Collection presents Prudence Peiffer: The Slip
Writer, editor, and art historian Prudence Peiffer discusses her first book, The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever and how the Coenties Slip played a role in shaping the artistic journeys of renowned American artists that affected the landscape of modern art. The book is a group biography of a collection of luminous American artists including Chryssa, Agnes Martin, Robert Indiana, etc. All of them happened to live in the same place: a collection of former sail-making warehouses on the dead-end Manhattan street. 7 pm.
Friday, February 16
Beloved Texas boot brand City Boots will open its doors in Houston this weekend, bringing a stylish, brick-and-mortar storefront to Autry Park. The Texas-based handmade, premier boot brand is designed for the modern cowgirl, city slicker and everyone in between. To celebrate the grand opening, the store will have like-minded brands on-site to get you ready for the rodeo, including handmade silver goods from Clint Orms, luxury furs from C+B Collections, and silk scarves perfect for adding a touch of color to your cowgirl look from Sister the Brand. 11 am.
Albi Houston Presents DETOX: The Ultimate Anti-Valentine's Day Party for Singles
Feel the self love at Albi's anti-Valentine's Day party.Photo via Albi
Albi Houston invites all singles to revel in self-love and embrace the joy of being unattached at DETOX, the ultimate anti-Valentine's Day party. Leave traditional romance behind and celebrate a night dedicated to you, complete with cocktails, mocktails, shop specials, photo props, live entertainment, and exclusive off-menu dinner features. The performers will include guitarist Amin Safari, belly dancer Guzel Kandemir, and DJ Omar Zhari. 5 pm.
The legendary rock band Eagles will come back to Houston as part of their The Long Goodbye tour. While the band has had members who’ve passed away (Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner) and members they don’t really talk about (Don Felder, Bernie Leadon), Don Henley, Joe Walsh & Timothy B. Schmit will be joined by Vince Gill and Glenn's son Deacon Frey to play all of the Eagles' greatest hits. The Eagles’ long-time contemporaries/fellow Hall of Famers Steely Dan will be joining these historic shows and commemorating their own 50+ year career. 7:30 pm.
DACAMERA presents Danish String Quartet
The Danish String Quartet is known for musicianship, artistry and, above all, an ability to play as one. Their wide-ranging program moves from Benjamin Britten’s expressive arrangement of Baroque composer Purcell’s lively Chaconne; to Haydn’s spirited Quartet No. 3 from Opus 20; to Schubert’s beloved “Death and the Maiden”; and into the 1960s with an introspective quartet Shostakovich dedicated to his late wife. 8 pm.
Saturday, February 17
Houston Bar Association 39th Annual Eikenburg 8K Fun Run
The annual HBA Eikenburg Law Week Fun Run features an 8K run, including an 8K wheelchair division, a 1K non-competitive children’s run, and a non-competitive, one-mile family walk. Proceeds from the 39th Annual Eikenburg 8K Fun Run benefit The Center for Pursuit, a Houston nonprofit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. The event has raised over $1.7 million for The Center since 1986. 8 am.
The 11th annual Wags & Whiskers Brunch at Hotel ZaZa – Museum District
This beloved event is in the running for most adorable fashion show in Houston each year. A celebration of stylish dogs and cats (oh, and their humans), the Wags & Whiskers Brunch and celebrity pet fashion show — produced by super stylist Todd Ramos — features impossibly cute fur models stylishly decked out — this year in "Bow Wow West," rodeo-themed attire (!). Admission proceeds assist Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s Animeals program, which provides pet food, toys and preventative vet care supplies to over 1,300 pets of homebound seniors in its Meals on Wheels program. Favorite Houston personality Casey Curry emcees; seats for a scrumptious brunch — for a worthy cause — are available here.
Fresh Arts presents The Wonder Ball
Fresh Arts presents its annual gala, The Wonder Ball, which combines an immersive atmosphere, over-the-top outfits, creative cocktails, arts entertainment, and a silent art auction. The 2024 Ball also includes a new event, the Wonder Ball Dinner Party, which will be open to underwriters, sponsors and Dinner Party ticket holders. Proceeds from the annual gala will benefit Fresh Arts’ programs and operations, raising key funding that strengthens Houston’s arts community by championing the vibrant creatives who make it all possible. 6:30 pm.
With a blend of harsh realism and aching humanity, Héctor Babenco’s international 1980 breakout Pixote offers an electrifying look at youth fighting to survive on the bottom rung of Brazilian society, and a stinging indictment of the country’s military dictatorship and police. In a heartbreaking performance, Fernando Ramos da Silva plays a young boy who escapes a nightmarish reformatory only to resort to a life of violent crime, even as he forms a makeshift family with some fellow outcasts. 7 pm.
Poppy Tart Productions presents Truly Madly Dazzly: A Romantic Burlesque
Beneath feather fans and satin garters of desire, flirty moves unravel a scandalous ballet of love's ecstasy and tease - a burlesque where passion burns as fiercely as rhinestones, and every feather tells a forbidden tale. Poppy Tart Productions is known for putting on fine burlesque shows and bringing performers from all over the country and beyond. The cast for this show will include Ruby Joule (Austin), Vixie St. Clair (Dallas), Mz. Juno (New Orleans), and Poppy Tart herself, hosted by Peter Pecker (Houston). 7 and 10 pm.
Sunday, February 18
Karbach Brewing Co. presents ZiegFest Music Festival
After a five-year hiatus, the iconic ZiegFest Music Festival has returned, presented by Karbach Brewing Co. and 100.3 FM The Bull. The festival will feature performances by Muscadine Bloodline, Treaty Oak Revival, and Grant Gilbert. The festival will include a vendor village, food trucks, and Karbach beers for 21+ guests to enjoy. A general admission ticket gets you admittance to the fest and access to the Karbach Biergarten, while a VIP ticket gets you unlimited VIP access with dedicated VIP bars, among other things. 4 pm.
ReelAbilities Houston presents ReelFilm: Upside Down
ReelAbilities Houston will host the opening night of ReelFilm, featuring a screening of Upside Down. Paolo, a 19-year-old with Down syndrome, meets Armando, a tough but kindhearted boxing trainer at the local gym. Constantly underestimated by the world around him, Paolo decides to train with Armando, much to the dismay of his protective father. Paolo steps into the ring against all odds, hoping to find his confidence and a sense of belonging. 7 pm.
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presents Wheel of Fortune Live
Wheel of Fortune Live spins into Hobby Center.Photo by Terry Farmer
AEG will present Wheel of Fortune Live, an all-new theatrical experience that is the one-and-only way fans can experience the popular game show in person outside of Sony Pictures Studios. At Wheel of Fortune Live, guests can try out to go on stage with the chance to spin a replica of the iconic Wheel and solve the puzzles on the tour’s puzzleboard to win fantastic prizes, including up to $10,000 in cash, a trip to Paris, Hawaii and more at every show. 7:30 pm.
Emilia's Havana offers a retro spin on the holiday bar, with the 1950s-inspired speakeasy decked out in tinsel and trees. Photo by Hasan Yousef 