Houstonist keeps reading about Vijay Iyer (among the “new stars of jazz” by U.S. News & World Report and one of “today’s most important pianists” by The New Yorker). Vijay and his quartet make their Houston debut thanks to the ever-on-top-of-it folks at Da Camera. They play Saturday, April 26th at 8:00 PM in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham. And here's your chance to win tickets. Rollicking with an ever-morphing rhythm, Iyer's music......

:: Exiles in Paris Concert by Da Camera :: At the turn of the twentieth century, musicians, choreographers, writers and painters from all over the world converged in Paris and began sharing their work and ideas with each other with the goal of revolutionizing their artistic disciplines. (We at Houstonist are expecting the same thing to happen here at any moment.) Da Camera made a series of two concerts highlights the work of these......

::Edward Grigassy Trio - Gypsy Anthems:: We just love Da Camera. And we especially love the free lunchtime concerts. Pack your own and take in some beautiful music at lunch today -- so much better than killing time on the internets. Guitarist Edward Grigassy plays throughout central and east Texas, as well as teaches guitar at Bellaire High School. He has studied classical guitar at UT Austin and received his masters from the New......

Tonight, Da Camera has put together an incredible line-up of twentieth century musical works, all of which were inspired by works of art -- namely, works of art by artists represented in the Menil Collection. This is going to be a knock-out concert. John Zorn *and* Arvo Pärt! Paul Klee *and* Joseph Cornell! Houstonist is a little giddy at the thought. Here's the program: Paul Dessau ~ Guernica (after Picasso) Stefan Wolpe ~ To Anna......

Remember when you were a little bitty Houstonist and someone would read to you at night and you could just lose yourself in the story, abandoning all other thoughts of the day? Well you can still do it now, you know. In fact, you might be all the more eager to shed your quotidian annoyances now that you're grown. Here are a few places to hear some stellar writers read from their work: Friday......

Houston's Theater District is having an Open House this Sunday, August 26th from noon to 5PM, while also hosting Taste of Downtown, meaning there's lots to sample for free, free, free! Besides about 40 million performances, there will also be backstage tours, sneak previews of the 2007-2008 Theater District seasons, Q&A's with performers, activities for the kids such as costume trunks and an instrument petting zoo, free refreshments, season ticket information booths and lots......

Many of Houston's top theaters and arts venues have announced their 2007-2008 season schedules, and if you get your tix now, you not only get better seats and better prices (5-20% discounts), you get something to look forward to after the summer's imminent heat wave. Each venue offers different deals and packages; follow the links to get the full scoop. The Society for the Performing Arts Highlights: Lily Tomlin, David Sedaris, the Shaolin Warriors,......

Tonight marks the final and farewell visit to Houston of renowned Polish poet Adam Zagajewski at The Menil Collection, aptly titled Without End: A Celebration in Words and Music of Adam Zagajewksi. Beginning in 1988, Zagajewski began teaching each spring in the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. This reading both honors his eighteen years of teaching in Houston and bids him farewell. On the agenda this evening, an appreciation by poet Edward Hirsch, a......

Saturday, Feb 10 + Sunday, Feb 11 VISUAL ARTS Exhibits Opening this week: Justice for All: Artists reflect on the Death Penalty M2 Gallery, 325 West 19th Street, Saturday, Opening Reception @ 7pm Bringing Hope to Houston Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Reading the Movies: Photoplay Editions from the Collection of Stuart Kane Museum of Printing History February 5-April 30, 2007 Exhibits Closing this weekend: Christian Renonciat: The Way of Wood | Gremillion &......

Call us inspired by this week's arrival of the MET's French Masterpieces exhibit at the MFA, but this week we sought out some of the many art & theather events, performances, and exhibitions going on in the city. Hey, we're hip! Monday, Feb 5 MFA's Hitchock's Blondes Film Series: To Catch a Theif This film series complements the Alley Theatre´s production of Hitchcock Blonde (February 23—March 18), a cinematic mystery that combines theater and......

Hello, Houstonians. Its that time of year again: the time when the Astros make idiots out of all of those who gave up on them. In-between yelling at the TV during games, though, here's some stuff to get you out of the house (so you can show off your Astros apparel, of course!) Friday, September 29 the Cultural Arts Series of the University of Houston - Clear Lake joins the UHCL Film & History Club......