Tonight, Houston will host the U.S. debut of the first Western-style interpretation of the classic Chinese opera, Farewell My Concubine. With performances only today and tomorrow at the Wortham, this is a rare opportunity. The original Chinese opera will be performed by a Chinese cast and sung in Mandarin. Chinese opera has come to the United States so very infrequently that if you have any interest in Chinese music, art, opera or culture, you should......

Need to know just a little bit about something? Ask a dilettante. The Chinese obviously hate us: First, they tried to poison our dogs, then our teeth, and now they're after our kids. Does this mean we should be keeping a closer eye on Yao Ming? Or ChineseElvis? --Red Ballsworth, Houston Now that Yao Ming has entered wedded bliss, I don't think he has the time to plot our downfall. Plus, he's been living in......

Chinese New Year Spectacular Houstonist was struck with an odd idea earlier today. Why not do something on a Friday night that isn't free, doesn't involve beer, and will be a cultural road trip for the eyes and ears? Yes, we sometimes have deep thoughts, especially when we get inspired by the idea to replace said beer with some kind of multi cultural drink like saki. Of course, we know saki is more of a......

Hidden away next to a copy place and a Hollywood Video, Mo Mong (1201 Westheimer) serves tasty Vietnamese (and other, not-so-successful Asian food). The primary thing about Mo Mong, however, is not the food but the decor: the place is a trendy-looking haven of laquered dark wood, and even with a lot of people there, the noise level is usually manageable. (Although, look out for Monday and Wednesday — $2 martinis make it a great......

Phillyist notes a fistfight between local pols that leaves one man down for the count. Jehovah's Witnesses get a Philly contributor out of bed, things get a little geeky with a film festival and geeky gets taken to a whole new galaxy when they talk with the Dragon Queen of the Dark Kingdom. Shanghaiist gets all excited this week over a new nightclub in the city unfortunately named "Snatch" and Mike Tyson is scheduled to......