weekend event planner

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

The Rodeo may be over, but Houston has reached the time of year when our weather is so good that memories of help sustain us in July and August. No wonder this weekend is loaded with festivals, celebrations, and markets.

Elsewhere, a Midtown bar and restaurant will take Houstoians to a Beirut disco, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will showcase a truly charming film classic. Keep reading for everything else that will make this weekend fun.

Thursday, March 21

Memorial Green presents Spring Live Music Series
Cheers to the return of warmer weather with the Live Music Series at Memorial Green. Head over there for a captivating evening of live music from Michael Flores at the unique wine bar, shop, and bistro VinSanto. The series of local artist performances will continue on the third Thursday of April and May on the Dish Society patio. Whether you are a fan of acoustic melodies, smooth jazz or toe-tapping rhythms, the Live Music Series will deliver captivating performances for all music enthusiasts. 5 pm.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Project Row Houses, and Hobby Center for Public Affairs at the University of Houston present Samora Pinderhughes: "The Healing Project"
Vocalist, pianist, artist and filmmaker Samora Pinderhughes creates large, multi-disciplinary projects, which invite audiences to examine what is visible and what is hidden in our daily lives, and how to make social change. His latest work, The Healing Project, a recipient of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant, is a searing examination of the prison industrial complex in the United States, amplifying the testimonials of those affected by incarceration, policing, violence and detention through original music and film. 7:30 pm.

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts presents Beyond Broadway: Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes
Some of you may know Patti LuPone as the mom from Life Goes On. But the veteran actress is also a stage legend who will embarrass the hell out of you if you mess with her performance. In Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes, the three-time Tony Award winner (Company, Gypsy, Evita) performs a musical touchstone of her life, singing songs that affected her as a young girl growing up on Long Island, experiencing her first love, finding freedom in Manhattan, career, true love, and family. 7:30 pm.

Friday, March 22

Bisong Art Gallery presents "Electrafine Art"
"Electrafine Art," the collaboration between contemporary fine artist Deborah Argyropoulos and classic neon artist KC Loveless, both originally from Maryland but meeting in Austin after half a century, promises to be a unique and innovative fusion of artistic styles. They have bonded over their shared love of art & creativity, and are set to launch their first collaboration. Their collaboration will explore the interplay between neon light and traditional painting elements, resulting in thought-provoking compositions. Through Saturday, April 20. 5 pm.

ART IS BOND. and FotoFest present PRESENCE opening reception
ART IS BOND will be giving us PRESENCE, a participating show in FotoFest Biennial 2024. PRESENCE captures the essence of our surroundings through a compelling array of photo-based art, delving into the intricate relationship between geography and the lingering imprint of human presence. Participating artists include Antonia Zennaro, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, L.A. Reno, Marc Furi, Sadie Woods, and others. Through Sunday, May 19. 6 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Meet Me in St. Louis
Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien star in Vincente Minnelli’s heartwarming 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis, set in the time leading to the 1904 World’s Fair. The story concerns a colorful, early-20th-century St. Louis family and their emotional experience when they learn their father has been transferred — and they must move to New York. Songs include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Since this is a “Movies Houstonians Love” presentation, it will be introduced by Khori Dastoor, general director & CEO at Houston Grand Opera. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents "Mozart + Beethoven’s Eroica"
The force of Beethoven’s genius is a palpable presence throughout his groundbreaking Eroica Symphony, commanding attention from the dramatic opening chords to the triumphant conclusion. The grace and unparalleled technique of pianist Emanuel Ax shines bright in Mozart’s exquisite Piano Concerto No. 25. Dedicated to her late father, Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds in Us offers a powerful meditation on memory, grief, and joy. The concert will be conducted by Juraj Valčuha. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Saturday, March 23

Urban Harvest Farmers Market 20th Anniversary Celebration
One of Houston’s largest farmers markets is celebrating its 20th anniversary in style. Urban Harvest will mark the occasion with face painting, plant giveaways, and free tote bags for the first 200 shoppers. In addition, James Beard Award winner Benchawan Painter of Street to Kitchen will showcase the Thai omelet that made her a market favorite long before she became Houston’s newest culinary superstar. More than 100 vendors will be on-site selling fruits, vegetables, meat, prepared items, and more. 8 am.

11th Annual Lyons Ave Renaissance Festival
At the 11th Annual Lyons Ave Renaissance Festival, festival-goers can immerse themselves in an eclectic mix of live entertainment with four stages showcasing a diverse lineup of performances, featuring LeToya Luckett as the headliner. This year’s theme is Homecoming, with the fest celebrating the history, art, culture, and current revitalization of Houston’s historic 5th Ward. Beyond the music, the festival streets will include local food vendors, artisans and merchants selling their wares, and a kids' zone. Noon.

Bayou City Art Festival Spring Downtown Art Festival
Bayou City Art Festival, produced by Art Colony Association (ACA), will transform downtown Houston into a lively outdoor gallery and interactive art event with more art, entertainment, and an intimate culinary art and tasting experience with some of Houston’s top chefs for the annual Bayou City Art Festival Downtown. The two-day fest will also celebrate culinary arts with the returning Chef’s Table. Each chef will demonstrate a signature recipe and pass out samples to attendees after each demonstration. Noon.

Community Artists' Collective presents "Third Ward Unity in Faith: Backbone of Our Souls" opening reception
Early African American settlers in Houston’s Third Ward area established small worship places, reminiscent of the praise houses attended during slavery in the Jim Crow era. Images of the still-standing small houses of worship, captured by art photographers Earlie Hudnall, Ray Carrington and Tamirah Collins, will be shared at the exhibition “Third Ward Unity in Faith: Backbone of Our Souls”. Kathleen Coleman, a fourth-generation, Third Ward resident, curated the exhibition. Through Saturday, May 18. 2 pm.

Craft Pita X Winnie's Habibi Night
Craft Pita is teaming up with well-known bar and grill Winnie’s for a special one-night event celebrating Lebanese culture. Craft Pita chef Rafael Nasr and Winnie’s owners Graham Laborde and Benjy Mason are blending flavors from both restaurants, creating an innovative twist on some of their iconic dishes. The night will also feature an Arabic Afro-house set from Dr. House, Arak cocktails, and hookah. 6 pm.

Sunday, March 24

Super Happy Incredible Toy Show and Art Market
Super Happy Incredible Toys, the premier vintage toy store in Houston, presents the return of the Super Happy Toy Show and Art Market. Held at St. Arnold Brewery, this all-ages, pet-friendly event will combine the amusement of a toy show and creativity of an art market with the opportunity to purchase many examples of both. If that wasn't enough, it'll all be dressed up as one of the year's best Easter parties with a special pre Easter egg hunt and maybe even an appearance by the Easter Bunny himself. Noon.

93’ Til and L.O.U.D. Muzik present Beats & Bourbon
93' Til is hosting a special Beats & Bourbon event sponsored by Makers Mark. The event, hosted by L.O.U.D Muzik, will be an unforgettable night with Dallas artist, actor, producer, and songwriter Fat Pimp. It will be an evening full of music, insight, bites from 93' Til, and the finest bourbon. Dive into the world of music, witness beat breakdowns, and connect intimately with Fat Pimp's creative process. 6 pm.

The Music Box Theater presents Damaged Divas of the Decades
The Music Box Theater presents Damaged Divas of the Decades, an all-new production that is a lighthearted musical exploration of some of their most popular divas (and divos) and the songs and scandals that helped shape them. Song selections include “Proud Mary” (Tina Turner), “Walking after Midnight” (Patsy Cline), “I Have Nothing” (Whitney Houston), “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John), “You Know I’m No Good” (Amy Winehouse), “Killer Queen” (Queen), and more. Through Saturday, April 27. 7:30 pm.

Photo courtesy of Bayou City Arts Festival

The Bayou City Art Festival returns to downtown.

event-planner

Movie Review

Reminders of Him taps into grief, grace, and the power of moving on

Photo by Michelle Faye / Universal Pictures

Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in Reminders of HIm.

Texas author Colleen Hoover has gone from being a popular writer to a full-on celebrity in the 2020s. The new film Reminders of Him marks the third adaptation of her books in just 19 months (a fourth, Verity, is scheduled for release in October 2026). All of her books that have been adapted so far — most notably It Ends With Us — are female-led stories that feature elements of romance and trauma, catnip for studios looking to appeal to the underserved demographic of women.

Leading the way in this film is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who returns to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming after spending years in prison for killing her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow), in a car accident. That relationship resulted in a daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom Kenna gave birth to while imprisoned and is now being raised by her grandparents, Patrick (Bradley Whitford) and Grace (Lauren Graham).

Yearning to be a part of Diem’s life, Kenna tries to reconnect with Patrick and Grace, only to be rebuffed by Scotty’s best friend, Ledger (Tyriq Withers), a former NFL player who now owns a local bar. In running interference, Ledger starts to become closer to Kenna, discovering that her tragic mistake shouldn’t be the only thing that defines her.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill and written by Lauren Levine, the film features mostly surface level examinations of its themes and average performances, yet it winds up being effective thanks to a willingness not to rush through its storytelling beats. The filmmakers take the slow and steady approach toward the coupling of Kenna and Ledger, setting up their bond through a series of heart-to-heart conversations that makes any romance feel earned.

The majority of the focus is on Kenna reclaiming her place in the world, and on Ledger coming to terms with the fact that the person who killed his best friend is not inherently a bad person. The film definitely could have gone deeper in its explorations of grief and anger, but the sheer amount of time it takes in addressing the characters’ doubts and fears turns out to be sufficient for a film that’s not aiming to be considered a dramatic masterpiece.

It also helps that Caswill and Levine do a solid job of establishing the variety of characters that inhabit the film. Kenna and Ledger don’t always feel like fully-formed people, but they become so through their interactions with each other and the other townspeople. Lady Diana (Monika Myers), a girl with Down syndrome who lives in Kenna’s apartment complex, and Roman (Nicholas Duvernay), Ledger’s co-worker at his bar, help to broaden the appeal of the two leads.

Monroe has, to this point, been best known for starring roles in horror films like It Follows and Longlegs. While she does somewhat well in this role, her delivery is often more flat than you’d expect for a character going through what she does. Withers thankfully doesn’t remind viewers of his recent bomb Him, demonstrating a crossover appeal that should serve him well in the future. Whitford and Graham don’t get to do much, but their combined experience gives their roles exactly what is needed.

It may sound like damning with faint praise, but Reminders of Him is a competently made film that knows how to serve its core audience without insulting anyone who may not automatically be all-in for such a story. The filmmakers don’t try to force any of the key moments down the audience’s throat, and that stands out in a genre that’s not always known for its subtlety.

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Reminders of Him opens in theaters on March 13.

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