weekend event planner

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

An approaching quinceañera sparks a wild journey in Stages' Panto Alicia in Wonderland.

Photo by Melissa Taylor Photography

This weekend gets into the holiday fun with everyone's favorite Elf, Buddy, in concert. Stages' vivid vision of Panto Alicia in Wonderland shakes up the classic tale with a a quinceañera, Shakira, and J-Lo, and more.

Anita Baker brings the grooves, plenty of markets await, and Sunday offers a very Merry Plantmas, full of shopping, sips, and plants, of course.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, December 14

Hope Stone Dance and the Moody Center for the Arts present horse latitudes

Hope Stone Dance presents its final performance, horse latitudes, a work that explores how and whether we can collectively heal over time. horse latitudes is a 30-minute film choreographed and directed by Jane Weiner, artistic director of Hope Stone Dance, and created with director of photography Ben Doyle of BEND Productions, composer Ran Bagno, editor Ari Feldman, and the nine company dancers featured in the film. 7 and 9 pm.

Stages presents Panto Alicia in Wonderland

Stages’ Panto tradition gives the Lewis Carroll classic a fresh, new Houston spin. As her quinceañera approaches, Alice (not Alicia) questions the tradition and pushes away her culture. But once she falls down the rabbit hole, the magical world around her celebrates all that makes her Alicia. Created by Houston’s own TEATRX — and studded with parodies of Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and more — Panto Alicia in Wonderland topples headfirst into wonder and fun. Through Sunday, December 31. 7 pm (2 and 7 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday).

Friday, December 15

Deutsch Fine Jewelry Trunk Shows

Deutsch Fine Jewelry’s final trunk shows of the season are here. Join them on Friday and Saturday to meet representatives from enchanting designers Lauren K and Armenta. Known for organic shapes, colorful gemstones, and one-of-a-kind natural stone designs, Lauren K effortlessly marries luxury and nature, while Armenta is a women-owned, local Houstonian gem that matches elegant designs with edgy colors and patterns, culminating in a unique take on luxury jewelry. 10 am.

13th Floor Houston presents Krampus: The Fright Before Christmas

For those of you who are still missing Halloween this holiday season, there’s still a place where you can get your scare on this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, 13th Floor Houston has transformed the beloved haunted house into a Christmas wonderland, although it won’t be all glitter and snowflakes. Horrifying Christmas characters will haunt all those who enter, trading Christmas cheers for Christmas fears. 7 pm.

Smart Financial Centre presents Elf in Concert

In Elf, Will Ferrell’s Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. Audiences can relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s score is played live to picture in Elf in Concert. 7:30 pm.

Anita Baker in concert

R&B/soul singer Anita Baker is one of the great ones. Her classic hit “Sweet Love,” from her Grammy-winning 1986 album Rapture, is one of the staples of adult-contemporary R&B radio. And while she may have trouble sharing the spotlight (just ask Babyface), she can still bring beautiful soul stylings onstage. This weekend, she comes to Houston to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut solo album The Songstress. 8 pm.

Saturday, December 16

DACAMERA presents Beethoven for All: Piano Sonatas Part IV, V and VI

DACAMERA’s Beethoven for All series, performed by leading Houston pianists, will include 20 sonatas spanning Beethoven’s lifetime. In celebration of Beethoven’s birthday on December 16, the music series will culminate in an afternoon marathon at Rothko Chapel. Pianist Timothy Hester begins the day with the sonatas nicknamed “Pathetique” and “Waldstein.” Pianist Tali Morgulis will take to the stage to perform the second concert. And artistic director Sarah Rothenberg will perform Beethoven’s final sonatas. 1 pm.

Andrew Durham Gallery presents "In Remembrance of Frank X. Tolbert 2" opening reception

Andrew Durham Gallery will present an exhibition celebrating the life and work of the late, great artist. The exhibition will feature a diverse range of artwork, including paintings, drawings, and ephemera. Each piece has been carefully selected to represent different phases in Tolbert's artistic development. From his early explorations to his most recent works, the collection provides a glimpse into the artist's creative process, inspirations, and the development of his distinctive style. Through Saturday, January 27. 6 pm.

Saint Arnold Brewery presents Yule Solstice Festival

Visitors can celebrate the beginning of the Winter season at the Yule Solstice Festival. There will be potions & brews, dozens of local occult vendors and artists, holiday shopping with local handcrafted artisans, food, tarot readings, and more. We’re talking about almost fifty local artisan vendors, tarot readers, curated music, and delicious dishes and brews from the Saint Arnold Biergarten and restaurant. 6 pm.

Mighty Hhife presents Live from Houston Texas

Houston hip-hop gadfly Craig “BBoyCraig” Long is throwing one heck of a hip-hop party this weekend. Not only is it an album release party for The MIghty D-Risha’s latest, Escape from HTX, but D-Risha will do his final live performance. Kyle Hubbard will also perform, with assistance from Fullmetal and DJ Discipline, along with Dirty N Nasty and George Young. Long will host the whole shebang, with DJ Flat Pat on the ones and twos. 8 pm.

Sunday, December 17

Merry Plantmas The Plant Project The Plant Project welcomes all to celebrate a Merry Plantmas.Photo courtesy of The Plant Project

Craft Pita Holiday Fundraiser with Plant it Forward

Craft Pita, the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, is hosting a fundraising lunch at its West U location (5172 Buffalo Spdwy). A portion of proceeds from any meal during lunch service will benefit the non-profit Plant it Forward, an organization that empowers refugees to develop sustainable urban farming businesses that produce fresh, healthy food for the community. Craft Pita diners can also make in-person donations. 11 am.

Breakfast with Santa at Ostia

Get ready to kick off the holiday cheer with a delightful brunch with Santa at Ostia. Indulge in a limited menu available family-style or a la carte, featuring scrumptious, holiday-inspired French toast, soft eggs, and more. And guess who's making a special appearance? Santa himself is dropping by to spread some magical joy! This merry affair is perfect for the entire family, priced at $42 per person and kids under 5 eat for free. Bring in a toy for Toys for Tots, and for each donation, savor a free dessert or a glass of bubbly prosecco from Ostia. 11 am.

The Plant Project Houston presents Merry Plantmas

Bree Iman Clarke, Houston’s pioneering (read about her here) empress of plants and owner of The Plant Project lush oasis of all things plants and community, invites plants lovers and everyone, really, to a Plantmas celebration. This holiday version of her popular Plants & Prosecco series features a mini wreath bar, delicious bites, plenty of sips, and holiday-themed snowflake and Nutcracker crafting. While at the Plant Project, stroll through the forest of plant offerings for that perfect holiday gift (poinsettias, anyone?) and more. Noon.

The Divine Darlings presents The Burly Soirée

Houston’s premiere burlesque troupe The Divine Darlings will have a special holiday edition of The Burly Soirée at 8th Wonder Distillery. Attendees can look forward to performances that sleigh from headliner Peter Pecker, a Houston burlesque dancer and singer; Divine Darlings Foxy Tocin, Ivy Divine and Sin Pellegrina; special guests Devilish Damia and Flip Oliver; and the Soirée's host and producer, Lady AnnaBelle. Multiple vendors will be selling handcrafted items, so event-goers can purchase their own burlesque and beyond accessories. 2 pm.

Harvey Bott ROBOTT Opera Revisited

The Harvey Bott ROBOTT Opera Revisited is the culmination of a two-day workshop that brings together sculpture, drama, conservation, and robotics in a tribute to one of Houston’s most beloved and longstanding visionary artists. Inspired by H.J. “Harvey” Bott’s experiments with remote-controlled art robots in the late 1970s and early ’80s, the performance will include a series of hand-made robots, projected video, and live musical accompaniment. 4 pm.

Movie Review

Timothée Chalamet cements star status in new movie Marty Supreme

Courtesy

Timothée Chalamet

In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).

Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.

Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.

Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.

Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.

Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.

Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.

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Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

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