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Concert Review: Duran Duran at Verizon Wireless

"We couldn't get on a plane for San Antonio. We couldn't get on a plane for Dallas. But we got on a plane for fucking Houston!"

And as Simon Le Bon delivered that poignant shoutout to our fair city last night, it became instantly clear that Duran Duran hadn't lost an ounce of that swagger and endearing churlishness that defined the band throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

The members of Duran Duran took the stage like extremely well-dressed soliders, lining up precisely behind the drum kit, the keyboards, with their basses and guitars, all standing sharply at attention in anticipation of Le Bon's entrance. And when Le Bon calmly and salaciously strutted out in a three piece suit, every iota of charisma still intact after all these years, the screams from the fully-packed house at the Verizon Wireless Theater were deafening.

The band's affection for one another and for their craft was evident in every song, every little dance, every nuance. It was hard to tell who was having a better time last night: John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon, or the audience (which was surprisingly comprised of an even number of men and women, although the women definitely leaned towards the cougarrific side of the spectrum). John Taylor swaggered lithely up and down the stage, happily obliging photographers, while Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes seemed to hum like tuning forks as they played with the kind of intensity rarely seen in bands that have been playing for as long as Duran Duran have. At several points in the show, Le Bon came to the edge of the stage and stretched his hands and fingers seductively towards the female audience members and then coyly pulled away, like a long, slow, teasing buildup to something much greater.

The band opened with a song from their brand new album, Red Carpet Massacre, "The Valley." The song was surprisingly energizing and had people on their feet well before the next two songs, "Planet Earth" and the much-loved "Hungry Like the Wolf." We could barely hear the band at certain points during "Hungry Like the Wolf" -- not because of the sound system, which is fantastic at Verizon -- but because the entire audience was singing along so loudly during the chorus.

Throughout the show, we marvelled at the way that Duran Duran held court on stage, in the way that only truly divalicious British rockers seem to be able to do, in the vein of Morrissey or the Gallagher brothers. And while one would expect one of the most successful New Wave bands to still look slick, sharp and oh-so-sexy, we were still starkly reminded of how that look -- the self-assured, cocky, consummate professionals in charge of their audience -- has fallen out of favor in recent years as petulant kids with too much eyeliner and bad haircuts mope, eyes closed and likely terrified to be on a stage in the fist place. Call us nostalgic, but we prefer our rock bands to look and act hot.

As Duran Duran romped through their catalogue of hits -- "Notorious," "Save a Prayer," "A View to a Kill," "The Chaffeur," "Come Undone," "Ordinary World" -- we couldn't help but reflect upon how integral the band was to the musical fabric of the 1980s. It's easy to dismiss them as just another New Wave band until you're listening to their incredible variety of hits, rattled off one by one -- and sounding every bit as glorious as they did in 1982 -- and you remember every single one of them as clearly as the first time you heard them on the radio.

The songs that Duran Duran played off their new album were received last night about as well as the album itself was received, with an interest level varying from lukewarm ("RCM") to hot ("Nite-Runner"). The audience -- and the band itself -- was fully in the zone, however, on songs like "Wild Boys" and "Reflex." "Come Undone," unlike the other classics they played last night, was slightly redone with a very well-received heavy guitar distortion and faster, harder beat. It sounded like a very finely crafted remix and had people on their feet from the second that initial, iconic guitar riff rang out.

A rousing, rocking double encore of the highly-charged "Girls on Film" and their ultimately defining hit, "Rio," closed out the show. And as we left, we couldn't help thinking to ourselves that while so many bands from the 1980s haven't aged well at all, the bloom is definitely not off Duran Duran's rose yet. No, they're still fully in bloom.

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Photos by Groovehouse.

One Pho the Money, Two Pho the Show

Disclaimer: Houstonist knows that pho isn't pronounced "fo," and so should you.

Every year when Houston experiences its first "cold snap" of "winter," Houstonist starts to get wild cravings for a hot, hearty, fragrant bowl of pho.

In a multicultural city like Houston, pho ranks up there in the comfort food echelon alongside cheese enchiladas and chicken fried steak, no matter who you are or where you came from. A bowl of pho will cure what ails you, warm your bones and allow you to linger over a meal with friends. With that in mind, Houstonist set out to try two new pho restaurants this week, with spectacular -- if different -- results at each.

Pho 24 is a brand-new restaurant in a middle-aged shopping center off Bellaire Boulevard, smack dab in the heart of "new" Chinatown. When we stepped inside last Tuesday, they were setting up a Christmas tree amidst the still-lingering debris of slate tiles that were being grouted onto to a fountain near the front door. The restaurant was long and low-slung, cozy and quiet. Two things immediately struck us as good signs: first, the restaurant was almost completely full of Vietnamese diners, most with their entire family in tow. And second, the menu listed every type of pho we'd ever heard of and then some, but practically nothing else.

We've learned from experience that -- for the most part -- you only want to order pho in a restaurant that serves pho exclusively. It's not that pho in Vietnamese restaurants that also serve bun and com dia is bad, per se. It's just that the pho from places that specialize in pho is so much better that you don't want to muck around with average pho if you don't have to.At Pho 24, we ordered a bowl of pho bo vien (meatballs) and pho tai (lean eye round steak). And, as expected, they didn't disappoint. In traditional southern Vietnamese fashion, the plate of "fixin's" that arrived (ahem, garnishes, sorry) was piled high with fresh, vibrantly green cilantro, culantro, basil, sliced jalapenos and limes, along with the requisite crunchy bean sprouts. And the pho itself was wonderful: the light brown broth glistened with the fat that had been cooked off the bones while the onion and ginger shone brightly through in each bite. The tai was extremely lean yet flavorful, while the bo vien were plump and savory.

The only disappointment came in the form of the ca phe sua da, or iced Vietnamese coffee made with sweetened condensed milk. The strong chicory coffee came out neatly enough in the standard drip filter over a cup, alongside a small jigger of milk. To our surprise, it wasn't sweetened condensed milk; it was PET Milk: plain, sugarless evaporated milk. Needless to say, the iced coffee wasn't quite the same, and we left without that all-important sugar rush at the end of our meal.

The next week, we found ourselves at Pho Huy on the recommendation of a friend who claimed that there was great pho to be found outside of Chinatown. Like every good Vietnamese restaurant (and, truthfully, like almost everything in Houston), Pho Huy is also tucked into an unassuming strip center, this time in the shabby heart of Spring Branch at Gessner and Hammerly.

Like its counterpart, Pho Huy is also brand-new and features the same ubiquitous slate tiles and modern Asian art lining the walls. However, its tall ceilings and long, communal-style tables give it a much livelier, upbeat feeling than Pho 24. The highly diverse clientele is similarly cheerful and -- given the food -- who could blame them? The service is a bit more disjointed -- you can tell they're still working out some kinks -- but once you get your food, all is forgotten.

On our first visit, we tried the bun thit nuong -- still holding somewhat stubbornly to our "too much variety, no pho" rule -- from their small yet potent menu of traditional Vietnamese dishes like com dia, bun and banh mi. The bun was unexpectedly amazing: the heaps of thit nuong (slices of charbroiled pork) piled atop the vermicelli and vegetables was smoky, succulent and utterly delicious. Hoisin sauce and Sri Racha were entirely unnecessary, the pork being juicy enough on its own.

Their ca phe sua da was also divine: the strong, woodsy coffee was perfectly balanced by the thick, creamy sweetness of the condensed milk. Apparently, Pho Huy also feels that their coffee is unparallelled; bright yellow posters in several areas of the restaurant commanded customers: "YOU TRY IT!" and "YOU LIKE IT!" We did, on both counts.

The next day, we felt compelled to go back and try their pho. After all, their bun had been wonderful; why not their pho?

It turns out that Pho Huy is now the official mascot for the term "exception to the rule." Even though their menu is full of all manner of other dishes, their pho is hands-down the best that we've ever had in Houston. We ordered the pho tai nam gau gan sach bo vien (you can just say "number 32"), which is just a fancy way of saying, "Hey, why don't you throw all that meat you have in the kitchen into the bowl?" We also got an order of com dia thit nuong, just to round things out.

Perhaps owing to the sheer volume of meat in the bowl, the pho broth was a deep mahogany -- unusual, to say the least. But when we tasted it, it became clear that it wasn't because of the meat (which is thrown in at the last minute, anyway). The broth tasted as if it had been cooked with thick beef stock and bones rich with marrow. The pure sheen on the top seemed to corroborate our tastebuds.

Much like the bun, this dish needed nothing extra in the way of sauce -- it stood on its own. The bo vien were perfectly chewy -- not too much cartilege -- and the additional meats, the tendon in particular, lent a pleasing variety of textures to indulge in. The com dia thit nuong should have been an afterthought in the face of the pho, but it held its own against the other dishes, the thit nuong (pork) with the same moist toothsomeness it held the day before in the bun.

We left Pho Huy ecstatic and full that day, but also grateful. We are grateful that we live in a city that not only provides us with the means to learn about pho and the culture and history behind it, but one which allows us to experience a different bowl of pho every single day -- like meeting a new friend each day -- and to slowly eat our way through the great tapestry of Houston.

Pho 24
9750 Bellaire Boulevard, #108
713.271.6500

Pho Huy
2420 Gessner Drive, Suite D
713.827.2899

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - IMG_5330_is_this_parthenon

IMG_5330_is_this_parthenon
by lodidadee2007

You can almost feel the dew of the early morning fog in this image. Is that a Parthenon replica? Does anyone know where this photo was taken and if that is a replica of the Partenon?

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If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining a whole bunch of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group. Each day, Houstonist chooses a Photo of the Day and if Houstonist uses your photo, submit it here.

For more great Houston photography, check out the Houston Photobloggers.

Houstonist iMix: December (Holiday edition)

Now that it’s the first week of December, we’re officially firmly planted in the holiday season. Of course, compared to others, we’re way behind the time on Christmas music (which its annual kick-off has seemed to creep into October now). Still, with Thanksgiving and Black Friday fresh on our minds, you can’t blame us for getting into the holiday spirit a little bit. We promise, we’ll be as sick of it as you are in two weeks.

So, to open our second annual Houstonist Holiday iMix, we have a classic from the only singer on our iMix that may have been black listed as a communist at one time, Burl Ives. Other classics include Elvis’ version of “Winter Wonderland” (which has recently been re-released on a new “Duets” album), a rather racy (by 1949 standards) version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” an instrumental version of “O Tannenbaum” from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the odd 1977 pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie, and The Monkees covering a 16th century Spanish traditional tune.

A holiday album isn’t complete with only songs sung by dead people, so we also included some artists that are still with us. Alexi Murdoch brings a calm, acoustic touch to “Silent Night,” George Michael (with Wham!) is represented with their own composition from 1985 (“Last Christmas”), English glam-rockers Slade’s 1973 “Merry Xmas Everybody” is included, along with Sufjan Stevens' version of a classic hymn, Sarah McLachlan’s cover of Joni Mitchell, and the iMix is rounded out with The Pretenders 80’s update of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

If you have iTunes on your computer, you can now download our iMix, or, if you want to pick and choose, you can download the tracks individually. Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Setback what? Where?

It's no secret that Weingarten Realty has given a big F-you to its Houston market with the much protested redevelopment of the River Oaks Shopping Center, but it just keeps getting better. A group named Stop Shepherd Noise was organized to bring to light issues concerning the River Oaks Shopping Center, and is described as a "group of concerned neighbors who want to preserve the integrity and quality of life of the neighborhoods surrounding River Oaks Shopping Center."

The latest antics by Weingarten include playing dumb about obvious mandatory property setbacks and posting a new rendering of the development on its web site (old rendering here). According to Stop Shepherd Noise:

Weingarten Realty Investors, who own the River Oaks Shopping Center and demolished the southern half of the center last year in order to replace it with a larger new center, have secretly and significantly altered the design shown last year to the neighbors and the community in order to build an even larger and taller structure that will tower over River Oaks and Shepherd Drive. They have started construction and are trying to finish as quickly as possible, although the construction has been halted due to a violation of city setback ordinances. Weingarten is not only violating the law, they are violating the promises they made to the community to honor the original design, and you can stop them by signing our petition.

In 2007, after loud and protracted public protests, Weingarten specifically promised that the new center "would honor the original curved design, but be two stories tall instead of one." That was the specific promise given to the neighbors, The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, and The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. In early October 2008, however, Weingarten began erecting steel beams to a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DESIGN. Without the knowledge of any of the parties they had talked to for their support, Weingarten simply changed the design, submitted it to the City for approval, and started construction. No one outside the City Planning Department had any idea of the changes until the steel beams started going up.

It really does pay to be a trazillion-dollar company with financial incentives for the Planning Department - Weingarten gets to retroactively request a variance for their ignorance of the setback requirement (the city has apparently even tried to take the blame for the "misunderstanding"), they were granted a hearing just a few days later (the 18th), and unless a new precedence is started, the hearing on the 18th will probably pass the variance.

Stop Shepherd Noise is encouraging folks to attend the variance hearing at the City Hall Annex (901 Bagby St.) on December 18 at 2:30 pm and to also sign the petition.

Free Snow, Christians Only Need Apply

By now, we've all seen the TV ads for Second Baptist Church's legion services at Christmas, in which Pastor Ed Young slyly promises that there will be snow for all the children afterwards. Whether this is just at the main Woodway campus or at all five campuses was not disclosed in the slightly creepy commercial. But this makes Houstonist wonder: what other products and enticements should megachurches begin offering to encourage wayward Christians (and their pocketbooks) to attend their services? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

What You Need to Know Before Ice Skating at Disco Green

Last week we told you about the fantastic ice skating venue being constructed in Discovery Green. Well, brothers and sisters, we got our skate on last night. Here's what you need to know before you skate your heart out and release your inner Chazz Michael Michaels.

Wear tall socks, kid, or bring them with you. The rental skates are in great shape, but they'll still chap your cankles if you're planning to rely on your fishnets for protection. Fortunately, our skate coach reminded us to ditch the fishnets before we arrived. Don't forget to lace up your skates as tight as possible for better stability on the rink.

Skating lessons are available if you can't bring your own coach (they better have lived outside the loop for a more than a few years - preferably on the north side). Lessons are $20 for 20 minutes of tutelage by Lena Gottschall of Ice Rink Events. Gottschall, a lifetime ice skater, also offers group lessons for kids and parents. However, there is no guarantee that you will glide across the ice as gracefully as she does upon completion.

In fact, you will fall. So, remove your cell phone, camera, car keys and anything else not made out of Nerf from your pockets. You don't want anything but your jeans between your butt and the ice when you slam into it. Wait for the skate guards (life guards on skates, duh) to come to your aid before attempting get up.

No, you will not be allowed to drive the Zamboni no matter how many times you ask. It's not because you lack the skill, but Ice Rink Events is trying to keep the operation as green as possible, which means limiting the use of petrol-powered equipment. The Ice at Discovery Green is relying "natural resurfacing" according to Gottschall. Essentially the ice will be refreshed, i.e. smoothed by the natural precipitation. In addition, the remaining portion of Kinder Lake - the rink sits in the drained sailboat pond - actually serves as a condenser for the cooling coils that run under the ice. Using the lake in this way allows IRE to remove a generator powered cooling tower from cooling cycling yet still cools the ice enough to create a rink with a core temperature of 22 degrees.

What would Brian Boitano do? "He'd make a plan, and he'd follow through. That's what Brian Boitano'd do." He may also schedule a preemptive foot massage for post skating relief from sore arches.

The Ice at Discovery Green
$10 per person
Open daily through January 19, 2009
713-434-7465

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Photo by Flickr user KitAy

Houston, Past and Present

Ever since LIFE opened its archive of mostly unpublished photographs from 1750 onward, Houstonist has been obsessed with searching through old pictures of Houston (among many other things, of course). Pictures of Judge Roy Hofheinz's apartment in the Astrodome? Check. An eerily barren River Oaks Boulevard? Check. Shudde Brothers before the surrounding neighborhood went downhill and came back up again? Check. Buzz Aldrin glumly sitting in a Tilt-A-Whirl at Astroworld? Check. Houston revelling in its redneck glory at the erstwhile Frontier Festival? Check.

What we've learned from the pictures shouldn't be surprising to any Houstonians, whether they've lived here their whole lives or are brand-new transplants: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Below are some of our favorite images from the past alongside some of our favorite images from the present (courtesy of our wonderful contributors to the Houstonist Flickr photo pool).

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Identical, boxy houses outside of downtown Houston in 1946. Identical, boxy houses outside of downtown Houston in 2008. Only the skyline has changed.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user mlsnp.

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Believe it or not, back in 1956, Houston had a monorail system (which we did not purchase from Lyle Lanley). Granted, it only operated for a little under a year, ran in a very limited geographic area and had a maximum capacity of 55 people, but look at all the progress we've made in public transportation since then! ...oh, wait.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user J-a-x.

More trips down memory lane...after the jump!
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Chance pictures of Houston's finest goofing off span the years. At least their uniforms are no longer made of wool (whose bright idea was that?). Below, an HPD officer videotapes President Eisenhower boarding a plane in 1952. And in 2007, officers reluctantly pose with a capricious-looking Santa Claus.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Delta Niner.

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A LIFE photographer was sent to Houston in 1955 to capture the building boom of churches that was happening at the time. Over 50 years later, religious structures are still a big business in Houston -- from brand-new churches like St. Martin's (below) that painfully mimic old-world cathedrals to churches in sports arenas and churches with five campuses.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user baldheretic.

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Thanks to revitalization efforts after the oil bust in the 1980s, Main Street in downtown is once again as bustling and vibrant as it was here in 1946.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user J-a-x.

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When the Port of Houston was established in 1842, the Houston Ship Channel was little more than a narrow canal that led to Buffalo Bayou. By the time this picture was taken in 1946, nine oil refineries operated along its banks and it had become the third largest port in the nation (in terms of gross tonnage). Today, the 50 mile Ship Channel is the second largest port in the nation (and the first largest in terms of foreign tonnage) and generates $118 billion in revenue each year.

Photo courtesy of LIFE.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user espngo.

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Take a spin through the archives for yourselves, readers, and let us know your favorite pictures from Houston's past in the comments section below. Houstonist's Tip o' the Day: make sure to include -Whitney in your search to exclude the baffling amount of Whitney Houston pictures in the archive.

Is Biggio a Rangers Fan?

This afternoon Houstonist was parked on at a patio enjoying a tasty burger when we spied Craig Biggio rolling through the drive through. As he pulled forward, we noticed what looked to be a Texas Rangers "T" stuck on the back window of his SUV.

We were terribly vexed and have been ever since. Why would a Houston Astros legend have a Rangers logo on his ride?

It was really a University of Tennessee "T"
He was driving Nolan Ryan's car
The stands for "Threethousandhits" not the Texas in Texas Rangers

Readers, let us know if you have the answer to the Biggio T Mystery. Thanks.

Texans Beat Titans, Life Is Beautiful

Well, that felt good. After years of futility against the ertswhile Oilers, the Texans smacked down Bud Adams' boys on Sunday in a game where the 13-12 final score didn't do justice to the dominant performance by the Texans offense.

Andre Johnson once again proved that he may not (mathematically speaking) be from this planet. How do 207 receiving yards sound? Inhuman? Exactly. Matt Shaub was firing bullets all day, and if it hadn't been for some questionable play-calls in the red zone, this would've been a hefty blowout. As is, the Texans had to rely heavily on Kris Brown's FG capability, and save for one chip-shot miss, Brown came through.

The other main story on Sunday was a questionable coaching decision by Tennessee's Jeff Fisher. Facing 4th and 3 while solidly in Texans territory in the fourth quarter, Fisher elected to go for it, rather than taking a 49 yard field goal and a possible lead. Kerry Collins blundered a pass downfield, thus turning the ball over to the Texans who were able to run out the clock for the win.

Whether Fisher's mustache-powered hubris or a strong offensive performance was the deciding factor, a win is a win. The Texans now stand at 7-7, with the very real possibility of winning their two remaining games on the road against the Bears and the Raiders. A 9-7 season would be the best record in team history, and set the stage for a productive 2009 season. Texans fans are reacting with joy and more than a little gloating over the hillbilly-traitors from Nashville and their reprobate owner.

A cocky Texans team? Who woulda thunk it. But it has a nice ring to it.
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photo: Flickr user mrp1001

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Wheels

Wheels
by SMercury98

"I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it." --Syd Barrett

________________________________________________________________
If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining a whole bunch of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group. If Houstonist uses your photo for Photo Of The Day, submit it here and for more great Houston photography, check out the Houston Photobloggers.

Houstonist, RSS & You

It has come to our attention that a few of you are reading Houstonist by hitting refresh on your browser every so often to check for new content. People, that is so 1999. Allow us to coach you into the 2000s with a quick lesson on RSS.

RSS, or Real Simple Syndication if you're not into the whole brevity thing, allows internet users to subscribe to content published by their favorite web sites, news channels, bloggers, etc. The content ends up consolidated in one place called a feed reader for consumers to check out at their leisure. Cool, right? Duh. But that's not the best part.

It's uber simple to set-up subscriptions to RSS feeds. You can use a computer-based application, but we prefer a web-based app (like Google Reader) so you can read your feeds on the fly. Once you've got a reader account set-up, just surf around your favorite sites. Look for in your browser's address bar. Click it. Voila. Google Reader (if you've chosen to go that route) will prompt you to add the feed to subscription list. Done.

Go forth and feed us (http://feeds.gothamistllc.com/houstonist). Follow us on Twitter as well while your at it. You can find us here: http://twitter.com/Houstonist

Houston, Air Force Set for Armed Forces Bowl

Houston, here we go again. It's UH v. Air Force for the second time this year except it will be played in Ft. Worth instead of Dallas.

In the first meeting, a 31-28 Air Force win, was supposed to be played at Robertson Stadium but it was moved at the last minute to Gerald J. Ford Stadium on SMU's campus because of Hurricane Ike.

Now, the Houston team will be looking for a bit of revenge as the Cougars and head coach Kevin Sumlin will be looking to bring a bowl win back to the Bayou City since the 1980 Garden State Bowl.

"For us, none of our players were even born when UH had its last bowl win," said Sumlin. "Each team is different and for our seniors that is important. Our legacy is important and our seniors still have something to accomplish. If there is something for them to accomplish and be known for, it is as a group to start a few things, like ending the bowl drought and going undefeated at home."

UH's Case Keenum, the nation's leading passer with 4,768 yards, will be looking for a bit of personal goals as he seeks a bowl win. Keenum has 5,000 passing yards on his radar and the UH single-season passing record which is 5,140 yards set by David Klingler in 1990.

Houston v. Air Force
Armon G.Carter Stadium
Fort Worth, Texas
December 31 at 11 a.m.
TV: ESPN

H-Town Rock

For the Weekend of December 4th – 7th, 2008

Well, well, well… It seems that we’re inching ever more precipitously towards the end of calendar year 2008. It has been a fine year so far, filled with all manner of exciting events in and around our fair city (and we’re not just talking about Hurricane Ike). What we here at H-Town Rock want to stress as the city enters into a slowdown period in terms of show quantities (and quality) is that whenever you’re out and about around town with the various holiday parties (whether they be for work, family, or friends), please enjoy yourself responsibly at all times. This feature’s primary mission is to educate the people of Space City regarding where they should be listening to great live music and having a great time doing so, but we would be quite remiss if we didn’t encourage you to do so while keeping your safety (and that of others) in mind also. There we go: the PSA is complete – let’s get into the music!

Thursday, December 4th
August Burns Red, This or The Apocalypse, Brother Von Doom, and The Last Starfighter at Javajazz Coffee House
Spain Colored Orange and Airon Paul Dugas (with Paris Falls) at The Continental Club
The Toasters, Los Skarnales, Flatfoot 56, and The Failed Attempt at Fitzgerald's
Ziegfest: Featuring Bob Schneider & more at Sam Houston Race Park

Friday, December 5th
We thought about refraining from making any tacky jokes about Aqua Net and eyeliner, but we chose the low road. Yes, that’s right – presenting the band who caked on eyeliner before Jared Leto and Pete Wentz made it popular in this decade: Duran Duran! Simon and the boys are out touring again, because everyone loves to see a band perform their greatest hits from 20 years ago (even though they haven’t released any credible material in the mean time). For those of you who aren’t interested in reliving your teenage years with the music you can hear most days on 106.9 FM (The Point!), we would encourage you to make your way over to House of Blues to hear the legendary Buddy Guy perform. One more thing: don’t let us catch any of you (yes, all 11 of our readers) going to see Buckcherry on this night – we just might have to disown you.

Amplified Heat, The Big Green Machine, and The Bexar County Bastards at Rudyard's
Buckcherry, Drowning Pool, and In This Moment at Warehouse Live
Buddy Guy and Tom Hambridge at House of Blues
Carolyn Wonderland at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Duran Duran and Your Vegas at Verizon Wireless Theater
Electric Attitude, The Gold Sounds, Studemont, and Alkari at Walter's on Washington
Ladyheat, A.U.X., and Flowers to Hide at The Mink

Saturday, December 6th
Whew! This is a much better music night around town. Personally, we’re going to be at The Meridian enjoying Andy Rourke and his friends spin records late into the night. Just don’t judge us when our dance moves take a turn for the worse around Midnight or so. But if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, might we recommend the folk stylings of Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison? Better yet, for you more adventurous people, H-Town Rock favorites Tambersauro will be wreaking art-prog havoc over at Walter’s. However, we do hear word that the News on the March EP Release Show at Rudyard’s is going to be quite interesting. Just do something, will ya?

Andy Rourke, Fredster, Damon Allen, Les Boom, and Shoe at The Meridian
Dreaming of June, Flawless Escape, Better Luck, and Last Great Assault at Fitzgerald's
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
News on the March EP Release Show: Featuring The Unbearables, Elaine Greer, and Phillip Foshée at Rudyard's
The Paper Chase, Astronautalis, and Tambersauro at Walter's on Washington

Sunday, December 7th
Worst. Night. Ever. All apologies to soulful crooner Anthony Hamilton (we loved your guest vocals on the most recent Al Green record), but we’re not sure when the last time Houston has played host to a more motley assortment of nationally prominent acts. First of all, it should be a given that our crazy roommate will be at Warehouse Live for GWAR (and all of their gross, raunchy, post-Gallagher glory). But Hinder and Trapt? Really? That people like such bands is a constant source of amazement to us. The real awesome part of this evening is that our favorite barista will be flexing his photography skills shooting KRBE’s Jingle Jam at the Toyota Center. Who wouldn’t want to see Rihanna and David Archuleta belt out Christmas carols all night long? Moreover, rumor has it that Nick Lachey (yes, THAT guy) will be making an appearance at the event – we wonder what sappy song he’ll be singing.

Anthony Hamilton at House of Blues
GWAR, Toxic Holocaust, and Kingdom of Sorrow at Warehouse Live
Hinder, Trapt, and Revelation Theory at Verizon Wireless Theater
KRBE Jingle Jam: Featuring Rihanna, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, and David Archuleta at Toyota Center

Morning Roundup

No, a cocaine truck did not blow up in your neighborhood last night. That white stuff on your car and lawn was snow. It's been four years since we last got flakes. Hopefully you got a chance to enjoy it.

There was a higher number of traffic accidents last night and this morning due to the snow fall. Go figure.

Could the snowfall be related to Hurricane Ike?

A team from Rice has won the Recycle Ike Contest for their proposal to turn hurricane debris into charcoal

Speaking of hurricanes - the first look at 2009's hurricane season has been released

HISD employees continue to be arrested on drug related charges. Perhaps drug screening should be implemented as a pre-hire screen.

Green lights will get greener after the City Council has approved a plan to use more efficient bulbs in traffic signals

Governor Perry threw a gauntlet at other US governors in the form of a fitness challenge designed to fight childhood obesity

Former Rocket Cuttino Mobley is retiring after a physical revealed a heart issue following his trade to the Knicks. Houstonist would also have a heart problem if we were scheduled to take the court for the beleaguer Big Apple ball club.

The CONCACAF quarterfinal pairings are out. The Dynamo will play Atlante, the Mexican football club pounded by the men in orange this summer - four to zip

Some pitcher in the designated hitter league signed an outrageous contract. Gentleman pitcher Roy O. says he's willing to restructure his contract if it will help the Astros free up some dollars to get the talent to win a World Series

Today's weather: In a word: chilly. High: 54. Low: 36. Potential for more light snow tonight. Cross your fingers for Snowman 2: Frosty Get Nuts.

Sunday is Global Orgasm Day

Sunday is the 3rd Annual Global Orgasm for Peace Day. The event is sponsored by Baring Witness and is designed to raise awareness around peace initiatives - particularly focused on "countries with weapons of mass destruction and places where violence is used in place of mediation." This year's event celebrates the election of President Obama and the change many think his inauguration will bring to the United States, our foreign policy and global consciousness.

The science behind the project suggests that synchronized, focused positive energy by many individuals will change the world.

[Human] consciousness can be measured to have a global effect on matter and energy during widely-watched events such as the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, large antiwar protests, natural catastrophes, acts of war and mass meditations...Our minds influence Matter and Quantum Energy fields, so by concentrating our thoughts during and after The Big O on peace and partnership, the combination of high orgasmic energy combined with mindful intention for peace could reduce global levels of violence, hatred and fear.

Houstonist is not necessarily sold on the science of the effort, but we do not want to stand in the way of peace on Earth. Grab a partner and join us as we get it on tomorrow morning to give peace a chance.

3rd Annual Global Orgasm for Peace Day
December 21st from 5 to 7 AM CST
http://www.globalorgasm.org/

Snow!

Flickr photo by: Deji_01

Were you dreaming of a white fortnight before Christmas? Houstonist sure was and we got our wish. Lo and behold, snow fell from the heavens above yesterday.

Most reports of snow started in the late afternoon around 4 pm. The snow would come and go, be mixed with sleet but eventually by nightfall it would pick up and we would have full on flurries.

But of course, it didn't stick for very long, with the ground temperature being warmer than the air temperature, the snow would eventually melt.

But fear not faithful eleven readers, if you missed it, slept through it or ignored it, we have photos to share!

Please enjoy The Great Snow Photos of December 2008!

He Must Be Cold Without a Coat

Flickr photo by: cybertoad

Houston, Texas Snow 2008

Flickr photo by: Red Rooster

Bike

Flickr photo by: baldheretic

More great photos from our Flickr Photo Group after the jump
Let It Snow

Flickr photo by: Jeff Balke

Untitled

Flickr photo by: mlsnp

snow in houston!

Flickr photo by: slipshot snapshots

Apartment Office

Flickr photo by: laanba

Ella Thinks She's A Husky

Flickr photo by: gwenturnerjuarez

Sam with Snow

Flickr photo by: valeriep

It's snowing in Houston right now!

Flickr photo by: pixeltopia

Snow Tire

Flickr photo by: reitredNpoor

2008 Houstonist Holiday Gift Guide

Those gift giving holidays are right around the corner, which means you're likely at the height of your procrastination habit. If you're not, we are. In fact, we don't even start to consider shopping until we put together the following list of kickassery that we call the the 2008 Houstonist Holiday Gift Guide. Any item from our eclectic selection of loot will make the perfect gift for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Feel free to try out a gift on us if you're worried your honey baby won't dig it. Plus, if they don't like, they'll just sell it on eBay.

>> Can't spell delicious without O-I-L: There's nothing that can't be enhanced by the deft application of white truffle salt or truffle oil. From scrambled eggs to pate de foie gras, truffles make everything tastier, richer and more decadent. Sure, these two items seem a little expensive at first, but when you consider the sheer breadth of their uses and the minute amount required to affect the taste of a dish (therefore ensuring that the salt, at least, will last almost indefinitely), it's actually a bargain. — Katharine Shilcutt Gleave

>> Get Up for the Down Stroke: George Clinton parked the mothership on the Houston Summit on Halloween 1976. He and the funkateers tore the roof off of what would later become Lakewood Church. Their performance is now available on Parliament Funkadelic - The Mothership Connection Live 1976. Performance highlights include Comin' Round the Mountain, Mothership Connection, P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) and Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker). This DVD is sure to please the most discerning afronaut on your gift list. — Jason Bargas

>> Deez nuts: There's nothing better on a cold holiday evening then to head to the warmth of the laundry room, grab a handful of nuts and start the washing machine. SoapNuts are the latest green detergent to hit the US market. Produced in southern Asia, SoapNuts are actually the fruit of a tree that has been de-nutted and dried. Just toss the nuts into a muslin baggie, add a bit of scent oil and launder in an eco-friendly way until you just can't launder no more. Available online at LaundryTree.com - a locally run web site. — Monica Danna

More giftables after the jump.>> "You are the bouncer, and I am the cooler:" Spare a thought this Christmas for proud Houstonian Patrick Swayze. He's had a rough year--diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March, and now fighting rumors of his imminent death. Houstonist, like other members of the Houston media, believes Swayze has long been underappreciated, and we're pretty sure you agree. C'mon now -- when you're flipping channels and stumble upon "Road House," you know you're settling in for a couple hours. How about a Patrick Swayze DVD gift pack? We'll make it easy for you: "Road House," "Point Break," and the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians." It's true, the latter film doesn't feature Patrick Swayze, but it does include the best yuletide song of all time, "Let's Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas." If we had our druthers, every Christmas would be a Patrick Swayze Christmas. — Matthew Dresden

>> Portable axe: Take the show on the road with a portable version of every ten-year-old's (and every thirty-year-old's inner ten-year old's) favorite game: Guitar Hero. This pocket-sized Guitar Hero Carabiner Keychain has ten songs to play along to, clips to your keychain, backpack or messenger bag, and provides minutes...er...hours of amusement when stuck in a waiting room, dressing room or bus station. Hope you've got nimble fingers -- the buttons are about as large as a speck of dust. — Katharine Shilcutt Gleave

>> Art-O-Mat(ic) for the People: Low on funds? Need a cheap, but cool gift for someone but don't want to spend more than five bucks? Head over to Diverse Works, trade in that five dollar bill for a token and drop it in the Art-O-Mat to receive an original work of art! So what is an Art-O-Mat? It's a retired cigarette vending machine that has been converted to vend art! There are 82 machines across the U.S. and Houston has it's very own at Diverse Works. — Eric Sauseda

>> Handmade handicrafts: Etailer Etsy.com is a portal featuring handmade wares from craftsmen around the planet. One of our favorites is Gami Works that features "a contemporary collection of Japanese chiyogami inspired gifts and accessories." The products range from jewelry to salt-and-pepper shakers to candle sets to stylish tins. All products are designed with a deft eye by Houstonian gamigirl and would be sure to please anyone on your list. — Monica Danna

>> Plan on being hip: What about the anal-retentive zinester anarchist in your life? Try the 2009 Slingshot Organizer. Compiled by the volunteer collective in Berkeley that publishes the radical quarterly zine Slingshot, the organizer includes week-at-a-glace pages with historical notes on each day commemorating activists, equality-seekers, history-makers and significant dates. Did you know, for example, that on May 16, 1923 Upton Sinclair was arrested in Los Angeles for holding a political meeting? The organizer also includes moon phases, a menstrual chart, short essays and articles, helpful conversion charts, an address section and pages for notes in the back. More than 20,000 of the books, which are hand-illustrated and hand-compiled, are sold each year, and you can buy yours at Corazon (2318 Waugh Drive). Corazon sells both sizes of the planner: a 4x5"-ish book-bound pocket size for $6, and a 8.5x6" spiral-bound size for $12. Come to think of it, Corazon is a great place for all kinds of free-trade gifts, from handmade jewelry to interesting art books. — Brittanie Shey

>> Get cheesy: Be the envy of all your hipster friends with your very own Holga camera, direct from China. This kit comes with the camera itself, batteries, a roll of 35mm film (remember film, kids?) and a book on how to create ironically low-quality pictures with one of the cheapest cameras ever made. Available from Camera Co-op (801 Durham Dr.) for the non-cheesy. Or hit up Urban Outfitters for the truly cheesy. — Katharine Shilcutt Gleave

>> You'll get nothing and like it: During the holidays, nothing quite says "you suck" like a lump of coal. Although as a rule Houstonist prefers to support local industry, we're not sure we want to plug coal mining. Then again, we'd rather see lignite used as a paperweight than as fuel for one of those humongous new power plants. We contacted Westmoreland Coal Company, owner of the Jewett Mine (largest mine in Texas!), but were told that they only sold coal "by the trainload." And according to the dozen or so building supply/feed and tack/farm supply companies we contacted, coal is simply not sold in Texas. Mined and burned like crazy, but not sold. So unless you fancy a drive out to Jewett for some roadside prospecting, it's the Internet for you. Just Google or eBay "lump of coal." — Matthew Dresden

>> You mentioned everything buscept: ________________. Fill in the blank by leaving us a comment with your super neato gift idea — You

Houstonist One Shot: 1500'

Photo by Adam Baker

Did you know the Space Shuttle Endeavour made a flyover Houston yesterday as it was headed to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida? Roughly between 11:45am and 12:45pm the shuttle passed over Johnson Space Center and Adam Baker got a great shot! We'd like to share this one shot with you.

Houston, Rice Players Earn C-USA Honors

C-USA has named their top players for the year and UH and Rice represented the Bayou City well by placing four players on the team.

Rice quarterback Chase Clement was named C-USA MVP. After leading his team to a 9-3 record and to their second bowl game since the 2006 New Orleans Bowl, Clement put up impressive numbers behind head coach David Baliff's offense. Clement's 3,812 passing yards is sixth best in the nation and he compliments that with 41touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Clement will leave Rice as a holder of six CUSA records, some which include most career passing touchdowns (96) and total touchdowns (120).

Houston quarterback Case Keenum was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year. Keenum, who is only a sophomore, currently leads the nation in passing (4,768) and total yards per game (397.3). Keenum has also passed for 300 or more yards in 13 consecutive games dating back to last year's Texas Bowl against TCU. Keenum has also completed 67% of his passes to go along with 43 touchdowns.

Houston defensive end Phillip Hunt was awarded Defensive Player of the Year. Hunt's 12 sacks are tops in C-USA and that ranks fourth best in the nation. Hunt has also 40 tackles on the year and leads all Cougars with three forced fumbles. Hunt has also made 16.5 tackles for a loss.

Houston freshman running back Bryce Beall was named Freshman of the Year. Beall's 1,112 rushing yards rank fourth in C-USA and he became the first freshman Cougar to break the 1,000 yard rushing plateau. Beall also lead C-USA with 12 rushing touchdowns and his 16 total touchdowns is good for third place in C-USA.

Rice will play Western Michigan at the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. and Houston will play Air Force at the Armed Forces Bowl in Ft. Worth on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m.

Houston's Missed Connections: Car Love

Each week Houstonist checks out the Missed Connections on Craiglist. Here's a few that we found interesting.

crown victoria car you are so hot. - m4w (nw)

wow you are so hot.. i hardly talked to you..i cant get you out of my mind.

Say this. It'll work. We promise. "Oh, baby, your trunk is so big and captivating. I enjoy putting my bike in it. I can't wait to sink into your split bench seat. Your naugahyde interior is so supple I could ride around in it for hours."

You Test drove the Mustang - m4w - 45 (Memorial)

I have my Raccoon Mask, and ready when you are.. no need to worry about returning any favors... but doing you is more than enough for me.. :-) Don't worry, your ID will always be locked in my vault, safe and sound.

you can bring a friend..

you know who.. JM

Overheard at the Ford dealership: "Bullwinkle to the Service Desk. Bullwinkle to the Service Desk."

Kennealy's Irish Pub Last Night - m4w - 30 (Houston)

You were totally wasted off cider and were wearing these sweet scrunchy boots.
Red, shoulder length hair and cheese pizza...

I'd love to do you in a library sometime.

We've heard that red-headed cheese pizza eaters have a thing for Dewey decimals but only in libraries with an actual card catalog.

pearland texas walmart parking lot yellow motorcycle - m4w - 24 (nebraska)

i was on a yellow crotch rocket and my friend was on a red one. at wal mart parking lot in pearland texas about a week after katrina hit. i was on vacations in clute out for a ride. you were waiting with another friend in a car to be picked up by some other people. i took you for a ride around the parking lot on my bike... do u remember me???

You should see a doctor stat if your crotch rocket is yellow.

Geology and wyoming - w4m - 23 (North)

Nobody gets hurt.
I like you.

Mmmm...nothing says love like some hot mud logging while drilling.

---
Photo: flickr user fd.

Houston Flashmob at the Movies

flash mob - noun: A group of people who appear from out of nowhere, to perfom predetermined actions, designed to amuse and confuse surrounding people. The group performs these actions for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing. Flash mobs are often organised through email and/or newsgroup postings. --- UrbanDictionary.com

Houston Flashmob is heading to the movies to celebrate The Day the Earth Stood Still by freezing (watch the video) in the Edwards IMAX theater lobby. The showtime has yet to be chosen. But, the plan is to meet up in the parking lot behind Cafe Adobe to strategize before entering the theater.

Houston Flashmob: The Day We All Stood Still
Saturday, December 20th @ 7 PM
Edwards IMAX Theater

Check the event page on Facebook to get the latest details.

Rice Accepts Texas Bowl Bid

For the second time since John F. Kennedy was in office, the Rice Owls are bowl bound and this year they will travel a mere three miles to Reliant Stadium as they await to find out who their opponent will be at this year's Texas Bowl which will be played on December 30 at 7 p.m.

Rice, who is coming off a convincing 56-42 win over rival UH, features and explosive offense which is fifth in the nation in passing and C-USA record setting receiver James Casey who has 104 receptions to along with 1,217 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Casey will be joined by fellow teammates Chase Clement and Jarrett Dillard who set the all-time NCAA touchdown record from quarterback to wide receiver back in September at 41. So whoever their opponent is, they will their hands full trying to stop the Owls' potent trio.

As Rice awaits their opponent to be named, Notre Dame could be a possibility and despite the Irsih's 6-6 record, there is no doubt Reliant would be a sell out because of the Irish's nationwide following. UH and TCU had a paid attendance of 62,097 at last year's Texas Bowl.

Notes: The Owls and head coach David Baliff will be looking for Rice's first bowl win since the 1953 Cotton Bowl.

Photo courtesy of www.TexasBowl.org

Calculate Your BAC Before You Get Behind the Wheel

Tis the season for holiday parties, which means you'll likely be exhibiting some poor judgment at some point like drinking bourbon way too fast at your company holiday party, biting cheeks or trying to use "Do you know you look very elegant?" as a pick-up line. Any of the aforementioned behavior should tip off your friends that you probably are not the best choice of wheelman to get you and yours back home in one piece.

However, convincing them, or yourself, of that fact can be a chore - particularly if you've just kicked everyone's ass at Dave & Buster's NASCAR game. That's where B4U Drink's Blood Alcohol Concentration projection tool comes in handy.

The website is designed with mobile devices in mind and is easy to use.

Navigate to the site: http://www.b4udrink.mobi. Pro tip: do that now while you're sober and can actually type effectively into your iPhone.
Click through the introduction & Terms of Service
Enter your gender and weight
Enter the quantity and type of drinks you consumed (or plan to consume)
Enter the duration of your bender
Start dialing the cab company as you read your score

For example, Jim Bob Tacklebox entered his personal info, the number of grape vodka & sodas that he consumed (8), bender duration and clicked the magic button to reveal a .09. Sorry, JBT. Leave your dually parked on the mailbox and cab it home.

Be safe, Houston. When in doubt, cab it out. That way you have to cab it home.