weekend event planner

These are the 14 best things to do in Houston this weekend

This weekend brings many things that’ll calm and satisfy Houstonians. Listen to music while playing chess, or look for vinyl records in Pasadena. Laugh with Kevin Hart make or get into the grooving sounds of Sofi Tukker or Chromeo and The Midnight. Gorge on smoked meats at a barbecue festival or celebrate a restaurant’s five-year anniversary with some delicious Tex-Mex.

And, if none of that holds any appeal, a Therapy Gecko will be here to help you out.

Thursday, September 19

Echoes presents Vinyl and Chess Night
Echoes and The List are hosting a vinyl and chess night, featuring all forms of Afro-Diaspora/African American music and Instrumentation. Patrons can play chess while listening to DJ sets.

In partnership with Live Nation, Echoes will also be giving away a pair of tickets to the upcoming André 3000 concert next week via a raffle ($5 per ticket). Proceeds will benefit Project Row Houses and the Community Music Center of Houston. 5 pm.

Avondale House presents 5th Annual Bingo Bash
Avondale House is a beacon of hope and empowerment for individuals with autism, providing them with the essential resources, education, and training they need to reach their fullest potential. They’re also doing some good stuff with its 5th Annual Bingo Bash. Chaired by Emily and George Craft, it will be a night bursting with games and prizes, all while supporting a good cause. Adding a unique dash of competition, sponsors can select their own table themes and dress accordingly. 5:30 pm.

Stages presents The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote
Professor Paola Aguilar needs money for some things. So when the political party offers her a paycheck to help them understand the Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine vote, she begrudgingly takes the job. Can Paola navigate a room full of clueless strategists and save the election, or will her journey lead to a bigger victory? This laugh-out-loud satire from Houston-raised playwright Bernardo Cubría explores identity, community, and the hilarious absurdity of the political machine. Through Sunday, October 6. 7 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Friday, September 20

Candente’s Five-Year Anniversary Weekend
To celebrate five years of serving Houston with delicious, high-quality Tex-Mex, Candente welcomes the community to enjoy a weekend of festivities with friends and family. The celebration will take place in both the dining room and on the expansive patio, with vibrant decor, tequila tastings from Herradura and Socorro, and traditional mariachi appearances. There will also be $5 margaritas all day. 11 am (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Hopera presents Boleros & Arias
Hopera will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with this season opener. This pint-sized performance will feature music from Latin American composers such as María Grever, Consuelo Velázquez, Agustín Lara, and more, performed by mezzo-soprano Luisana Rivas and bass-baritone Fernando Grimaldo. Hopera empowers local artists and craft businesses by putting on casual performances where Houstonians love to drink. They collaborate with the local craft beverage community to create original concerts and operas. 7 pm.

Kevin Hart: Acting My Age Tour
Kevin Hart will be all over Houston this weekend. First, he comes to Sugar Land as part of his Acting My Age stand-up tour. Hart was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he launched his career as a comedian during an amateur night at a local comedy club. Over the years, Hart has become a Hollywood powerhouse, opening 11 films at No. 1 at the box office and grossing more than $4.23 billion global revenue. Hart will also perform at Bayou Music Center on Sunday. 8 pm (7 pm Sunday).

Sofi Tukker in concert
New York EDM/house duo Sofi Tukker appears to be here for people who are into dancing and having a good cup of coffee. This weekend, they’ll be in town in support of their new album, Bread. Then, next Sunday (aka National Coffee Day), they’ll be partnering with Starbucks for “At Home with Sofi Tukker.” Audiences are invited to enjoy a Sunday morning with the pair – perhaps while sipping a pumpkin spice latte during the stream. 7:30 pm.

Saturday, September 21

Vinyl Record Show of Houston
Calling all cratediggers and vinyl snobs! If you’re a serious record collector, this weekend’s convention is can’t-miss. The Vinyl Record Show will feature vinyl enthusiasts as they gather to celebrate the timeless charm of analog sound. With over 25 vendors from Texas and surrounding states, there will be a selection spread across 70 tables. 8 am.

Comic Indie Con
Fanboys who are more into Image and Dark Horse than DC or Marvel may dig this celebration of independent media culture, exploring the world of indie comics, board games, arts and crafts, and more. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of independent comics and discover unique stories that push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Throughout the day, there will be panel discussions featuring industry professionals, artists, and writers, who will share their insights and experiences. 10 am.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Japhet Creek Park Opening Celebration
Buffalo Bayou Partnership will present an opening celebration for Japhet Creek Park. The newly completed neighborhood park is on Japhet Creek, a historic Buffalo Bayou tributary in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and family and friends to enjoy a day in the park with performances from local musicians, including Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, food and drinks, face-painting, community organizations and vendors, and fun activities for all. 11 am.

Therapy Gecko Live: The Lizard Agenda Tour
If you need some help figuring out problems in life, don’t worry – Therapy Gecko is coming! Internet sensation Lyle Forever will bring his beloved Therapy Gecko live show to Houston. Fans will get the chance to converse with Lyle live on stage as they share their hopes, dreams, and anything else in the recesses of their mind with the internet’s favorite gecko and unlicensed therapist. It will be an interactive, unpredictable evening as the audience journeys with a gecko into the unknown. 8 pm.

Sunday, September 22

Houston BBQ Throwdown Fall ‘24!
The Houston Barbecue Festival and Saint Arnold Brewing Company announce the 8th annual Houston BBQ Throwdown. Featuring 14 of Houston’s best barbecue restaurants competing to create the next great barbecue that represents Houston-style barbecue. Each ticket includes entry and unlimited samples from each of the competition entries. Saint Arnold will provide beer at no additional charge. General admission is $75, while VIP admission costs $130. 1 pm.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Close Your Eyes (Cerrar los ojos)
More than three decades after the release of his previous film, Spanish auteur Víctor Erice (The Spirit of the Beehive) returns with a meditation on memory, absence, and the enduring resonance of the moving image. An aging Spanish filmmaker is asked to recount his memories of working on his final, still-unfinished film. During its production, the lead actor disappeared. Decades later, an investigative TV program has the filmmaker reconnecting with the film’s crew, seeking closure for the actor’s disappearance and its lasting effect on their lives. 2 pm.

Chromeo and The Midnight in concert
Chromeo and The Midnight will co-headline the Chrome Nights tour. Funky white boys Chromeo is touring in support of their new album, Adult Contemporary. Synthwave duo The Midnight, who will have a graphic novel (titled Shadows) dropping via Dark Horse Comics next month, has released five albums in their career, most recently Heroes in 2022. They will be joined by special guests Ruth Radelet and Girl Ultra. 6 pm.

Photo by Rob Woodcox

Sofi Tukker perform at Bayou Music Center this weekend.

Movie Review

Supergirl fails to take flight in a movie weighed down by grief

Photo courtesy of DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures

Milly Alcock in Supergirl.

Last year's Superman reboot brought a renewed sense of optimism for, if not the concept of the comic book movie, then at least the DC Comics universe. After more than a decade of DC films that felt mostly creatively bankrupt, the leadership of James Gunn gave the story a sense of fun. That included the brief introduction of Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, who’s now getting her own showcase in, naturally, Supergirl.

When we first met her in Superman, Supergirl was in rough shape, arriving at the Fortress of Solitude visibly inebriated. Nothing has changed at the beginning of this film, save for her aimlessly traveling around the universe with her rambunctious dog, Krypto. One of her random stops puts her in the same bar as Ruthye (Eve Ridley), who is looking for help tracking down Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts) and a group known as the Brigands after they brutally murdered her family.

Kara is initially loath to offer aid, but when Krem shoots a poison dart into Krypto while escaping, her motivation goes way up, especially since Krem holds the antidote. Kara, with Ruthye doggedly following her, uses every means available to her to find Krem, a journey that is hampered by galaxies having different colored suns than the one that gives her powers, the yellow sun.

Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the film is a big step back in the fun category, not least because Supergirl is deep in her feelings for much of the film. Her personal trauma, which is detailed in occasional flashbacks, gives a reason for her depression, but fails to land fully. The story seems to want everyone to be sad, as it includes a child trafficking ring and multiple instances of families being murdered.

Milly Alcock and Krypto in Supergirl.Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

To try to counteract that downer material, the filmmakers give Supergirl many opportunities to show off her fighting skills. While still CGI-heavy, the action scenes contain enough of a semblance of reality that they feel exciting. Unfortunately, this is undercut by the inclusion of several slow-motion sequences, giving the impression that the filmmakers didn’t trust the actors to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.

Superman (David Corenswet) makes a handful of appearances in the film, and while his presence is welcome given how well the character came across in the previous movie, it also doesn’t allow Supergirl to become her own person. Almost everything she does is colored by either her cousin or her parents, and since her powers are identical to those of Superman, there is very little that makes her story unique aside from how she’s dealing with the fallout.

Alcock (House of the Dragon, Sirens) gives an appealing performance despite her character being drunk and/or moody most of the time. She definitely sells what Supergirl is going through, so if given a better story in a future film, she’s proven her capability. Schoenaerts makes for a pretty good villain, although he’s aided by a look that includes a face full of studs. Jason Momoa has a memorable supporting role as the bounty hunter Lobo, even if his character doesn’t add much to the story.

While not a full-on disaster, Supergirl does not continue the momentum that Superman started. With a story that’s more concerned with showing audiences death scenes than a hero saving people, the film doesn’t seem to understand the appeal of a character like Supergirl or how to make her someone audiences will return to over and over again.

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Supergirl is now playing in theaters.

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