Local News

Calendar: November 2008

Day-By-Day Events, Performance, Performance for Young People, Radio, Art/Photography, HIV Testing.

By Sheri Taylor Bockelman

November Day-By-Day Planning AheadPerforming Arts Performing Arts for Young PeopleRadioArt/PhotographyHIV Testing

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HOT TICKET:
SUNUVA

BitchandThe
Bitch and The Exciting Conclusion perform at Chances Nov. 11.

Bitch tours Texas with Girl

The artist whose name is just as intense as her music returns to Houston this month, with some special guests. Fiery indie-rockers Bitch and The Exciting Conclusion are currently touring with Girl in a Coma, a Texas band recently signed to Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records. The two bands play Chances, 1100 Westheimer, on Nov. 11.

Bitch’s Montrose gig is just one of several back-to-back Texas stops on this tour. B+TEC also plays Sue Ellen’s Vixen Lounge in Dallas (Nov. 8), Mohawk Club in Austin (Nov. 9), House of Rock in Corpus Christi (Nov. 12), Smokin’ Aces in Mission (Nov. 13), Triple Crown in San Marcos (Nov. 14), and Sam’s Burger Joint in San Antonio (Nov. 15). Bitchin’. Nancy Ford

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HOT TICKET:

KellyFaltermeyer
Kelly Faltermeyer creates a pastel chalk tiger at Via Colori.

Houston Via Colori

This year’s featured artist at Via Colori—Houston’s annual celebration of sidewalk chalk art—is Houston gay artist Kelly Faltermeyer, who focuses his work each year on animals. In past years he has created chalk images of frogs and tigers. This year he will create mandrills—baboon-like primates with colorful faces which live in tropical rainforests. • Faltermeyer is a native of El Salvador, South America. He immigrated to the United States in 1980 as a teenager and was offered admission to The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He became a naturalized citizen in 1986, and lives with his partner Russ Gobel. His style is fantasy portraiture. His work is intricate and rich with color. • 175 other artists will join Faltermeyer at Via Colori, creating artwork from pastel chalks on the concrete sidewalks of Sam Houston Park. Visitors can watch the artists at work, and admire their completed pieces. —Brandon Wolf

Nov. 22 & 23
Sam Houston Park at Allen Parkway & Bagby
Free Admission
Details: www.houstonviacolori.com

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HOT TICKET:
THE SURGE DIDN’T WORK
Despite Ike, Dickens on the Strand returns to Galveston

Never mind that mere weeks ago, parts of Galveston’s historic Strand District lay submerged beneath 12 feet of Hurricane Ike’s storm surge. It takes more than a high category 2 hurricane to dissuade islanders from celebrating one of the city’s most popular traditions.

Now in its 35th year, the Dickens on the Strand holiday festival once again invites guests to experience the Victorian era of author Charles Dickens.

“Now more than ever we need our Dickens on the Strand festival to take place,” said Dwayne Jones, executive director of Galveston Historical Foundation, which produces the event. “People who love Galveston can come visit and check on our progress and help us raise money we need to continue our restoration efforts.”

Festivities include reenactments from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, as well as a traditional Olde English feast, concerts, tours, the Dickens Ball, and a visit from the author’s great-great grandson, Henry Dickens Hawksley. December 5–7, Downtown Galveston, on The Strand. Details: www.dickensonthestrand.com. —N.F.

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HOT TICKET:

Madame
Madame, the manic marionette

BLOW BACK

Not one (or, more accurately, two) to be dissuaded by a little thing like inclement weather, Madame storms back into town after having her September appearance cancelled by Hurricane Ike. Celebrate Thanksgiving evening with the manic marionette and her new handler, Rick Skye. November 27, 8 and 10 p.m. No cover. Meteor, 2306 Genesee • Details: 713/521-0123 •www.meteorhouston.com.

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NOVEMBER DAY BY DAY

6 (Thurs.)

LGBT Adoption Seminar, hosted by the Houston Public Library as part of National Adoption Month. Learn about the resources available to help navigate through the “red tape” to give a safe, loving home to an adoptive child. Representatives from adoption agencies, Children’s Protective Services, and the legal profession will provide information on adoption in the LGBT community. Facilitated by LGBT adoptive parents who have been through the process, each panel member will present a brief overview, followed by an open-forum session to take questions. Panelists will function as resources for people who may be considering adoption, but who so far may have concerns or are unsure about how to start, and what to expect. 7–9 pm. 4th floor meeting room, Central Library Downtown, 500 McKinney.

7 & 8 (Fri. & Sat.)

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Productions by two contemporary choreographers: Didy Veldman’s TooT is a brilliantly theatrical circus, with dancers who fling themselves into falls and acrobatic phrases; and Stijn Celis’s Noces is a radical restaging of Nijinska’s historic ballet, set to Stravinsky’s riveting score, featuring 24 dancers who strut, pose, and brutally challenge each other at a Balkan peasant wedding. Tickets start at $17. 8 pm. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. Info: www.houstonballet.org or 713/227-ARTS.

8 (Sat.)

Forty Arty. Art Square Studios, with over 40 Houston artists in their working studios, is having their 8th annual open house. This is an opportunity for you to view and/or purchase the works of talented artists. Noon–5 pm at Art Square Studios, 2711 Main Street at Dennis (at the McGowan stop on the Metro Train). Free parking. Info: 713/652-5028.

Damaged Romanticism, a Continuation of Musical Wanderers: Exiles and Immigrants. Projections of paintings and photographs create a compelling dialogue between music and visual art as Da Camera brings together an all-star international group of musicians from Holland, France, New York, and Houston to perform music from the U.S., Germany, and Russia. $22–$38; seniors/students w/I.D. half-price. Moores Opera Center, 120 School of Music Bldg., University of Houston, entrance 16. Info: www.dacamera.com or 713/524-5050.

6th Annual Houston Book Fair. Browse through the treasury of moderately priced used books to rare and collectible volumes, in a wide variety of titles and genre for gift-giving or personal enjoyment. Guest lecture by Houston author Marks Hinton, with a discussion of his recent book, Historic Houston Streets: The Stories Behind the Names, 2 pm. Book Fair open to the public, 10 am–5 pm. Museum of Printing History, 1324 West Clay St. Info: www.printingmuseum.org or 713/522-4652.

14 (Fri.)

Music of the Eagles. This tribute to one of America’s most beloved bands combines the Houston Symphony, singer Randy Jackson from Zebra, the power of a full rock band, and enhanced lighting effects for an unforgettable evening. Hear timeless music that has delighted fans for decades, including “Hotel California,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Desperado,” and “New Kid in Town.” Tickets start at $25. 7:30 pm. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. Info: www.houstonsymphony.org or 713/224-7575.

15 (Sat.)

Art for the Cure. In celebration of its one-year anniversary, 18 Hands Gallery presents an evening of “Art for the Cure,” benefiting The Univ. of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Lung Cancer Research Program. This collaboration between 18 Hands and M. D. Anderson began with co-chair Albert Goldreich’s 192-mile walk across England to benefit M. D. Anderson—Goldreich delivered the check himself. Along with the other 18 Hands owners and several affiliated artists, he is also creating new work especially for the event’s Silent Auction, where 100% of sales benefit M. D. Anderson. In addition, 10%  from gallery sales on this special evening will also be donated. 6–9 pm. 18 Hands Gallery, 249B West 19th St., in the Heights Info: www.18handsgallery.com or 713/869-3099.

Jazz with a Latin Twist: Miguel Zenón Quartet. Saxophonist Miguel Zenón is described as “a strong force in both contemporary jazz and Latin music,” and he skillfully manages to blur the lines between the two without sacrificing the power of either. $26.50–$45. 8 pm. Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. at Smith. Info: www.dacamera.com or 713/524-5050 or the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard.

18 (Tues.)

Hommage à Max Ernst: A Musical Collage is another unique concert event for The Menil Collection Series by Da Camera artistic director Sarah Rothenberg. The exhibition Max Ernst: In the Garden of Nymph Ancolie, which includes works by the German Dadaist and Surrealist painter and sculptor, inspired this program, which follows the artist from his native roots to pre-war Paris and his American years. The concert includes works by Schumann, Schoenberg, Erik Satie, John Cage, and others. $30; seniors/students half-price w/valid I.D. 7:30 pm. The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross. Info: www.dacamera.com or 713/524-5050 or the Da Camera Music Center, 1427 Branard.

What’s Up, Doc? Texas Children’s Hospital hosts their 14th annual dinner, combining the best pediatric talent in Texas with today’s hottest medical topics, ensuring an unforgettable evening of intimate dialogue and education. Surgeons, pediatricians, physician specialists, and nurses share their medical insights with those who can most benefit from their wisdom, in an informal, one-on-one, question-and-answer style. “Reserve” a physician for an evening and fill your table with family and friends. Reserved tables start at $5,000. 6:30–9:30 pm. River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd. Info: http://waystogive.texaschildrens.org; click on “Events Calendar” then “What’s Up, Doc?”

27 (Thurs.)

59th Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade in downtown Houston, Thanksgiving Day. Floats, marching bands, colorful characters, and the jolly old man himself—Santa! 9 am. General admission to the parade is free; reserve-seat tickets on sale through Nov. 17. Info: http://www.hebparade.com/tickets/tickets.html.

29 & 30 (Sat. & Sun.)

Audition for Opera in the Heights, in all voice categories. Repertoire over the next two seasons will include Il Tabarro/Pag, Manon (French), Ballo in Maschera, La Boheme, Tales of Hoffman, Die Fledermaus, Ernani, and The Pearl Fishers. An accompanist is provided. There are eight performances of each production. The rehearsal period is approximately 14–16 days. All performances are with orchestra in the original language. The company is a showcase for the development of young singers who demonstrate strong potential for a professional career, thus the standards are quite high. There is a $30 audition fee. Opera in the Heights, Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. Info: Sean Boyd, auditions coordinator, Opera in the Heights, e-mail: [email protected] or 713/861-5303.

Weekly (Mondays)
TG Support Group. The transgender support group, “HTGA,” is open to any transgender-identifying individual, friend, or family member. Free. 7–9 pm at the Haven’s Center, 1827 W. Alabama. More info: 713/526-0555 x 228 (ask for Cristan) or www.transhouston.com.

Weekly (Thursdays)
TG Potluck Social. The “Transgender Potluck Social” offers friendship, support, fellowship, and a hot meal to transgender-identifying individuals, friends, and family. Please remember to bring food to share. Free. 7–9 pm, at the GLBT Community Center, 3400 Montrose, Ste. 207. More info: 713/526-0555 x 228 (ask for Cristan) or www.transhouston.com.

Weekly (Thursdays)
Depression & Bipolar Support Group. Don’t let depression or bipolar disorder dig its bleak claws into what little hope you’ve managed to hide from the shadows. Bering Support Network helps those in need to connect with others. You are not alone and can benefit from the experience of others. GLBT friendly. Free. Groups meet at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold, Room 232, 7:15–8:30 pm. Info: 713/526-1018.

Weekly (Sun., Wed., Sat.)
Love and Rackets. Tennis players and enthusiasts of all levels are invited to join the Houston Tennis Club at Memorial Park tennis center. The club gathers Sundays from 9 am–noon, Wednesdays from 7:30–9 pm, and offers clinics every Saturday from 9–10:30 am. There are also social activities throughout the year. Annual membership $30, court fees $3 per session. More info: www.houstontennisclub.org

Monthly (Every 2nd Tuesday)
Free Legal Consultations for Anyone with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. (AFH, www.aidshelp.org ) and Katine & Nechman L.L.P. have partnered to provide 30 minutes of free legal consultation on any legal issue to anyone with HIV. If any action is recommended, an attorney will take steps when applicable or make referrals to appropriate legal aid offices.  Consultations are held at the offices of Katine & Nechman, located at 1111 North Loop West, Suite 180. To schedule an appointment, clients should call the law office at 713/808-1000 or use the contact box on the firm’s website (which has more info on the consultations): www.lawkn.com.

Monthly (Every 4th Saturday)
FTM TG Support Group. The Female-To-Male transgender support group, “STAG,” welcomes all female-to-male transgender-identifying individuals, friends, and family members. All new attendees must first contact Georges prior to attending. Free. 5–6 pm. More information (including location): 713/526-0555 x 228 (ask for Georges) or www.transhouston.com.

Monthly (Every 4th Saturday)
TG Support Group. TS Support Group. The transsexual support group, “TATS,” welcomes all transsexual-identifying individuals, friends, and family members. All new attendees must first contact the Cristan prior to attending. Free. 4 to 5 pm. More information (including location): 713/526-0555 x 228 (ask for Cristan) or www.transhouston.com.

Monthly (Saturdays)
Second Saturdays at Winter St. Studios. It’s open-door policy at Winter St. Studios every second Saturday of the month. This is a great way to meet and hang with the varied artists working in many different media and styles in their studios. Participating artists have a large red dot on or near the door of their studio. All are welcome between 1 and 6 pm. Winter St. Studios, 2101 Winter St. More info: 713/862-0082 or www.winterstreetstudios.net.

Monthly (Sundays)
Read On. Want to spend at least one afternoon each month sharing with other titillating women like yourself? The Exchange meets the first Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. at Baba Yega Restaurant. Bring your favorite nonfiction and/or fiction to this new book club to ruminate, and even cogitate, in public. Details: [email protected].

Monthly (Tuesdays)
The Houston SPCA Pet Loss Support Group provides a professionally facilitated, supportive, and safe environment for people to grieve the loss of a beloved companion. Free. First Tuesday of the month, 7 pm, at the Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Dr. Info: 713/869-7722, ext. 127, or www.houstonspca.org.

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PLANNING AHEAD

December 3 (Wed.)

Bring Lunch and Enjoy “A Little Day Music,” held on the first Wednesday of every month, featuring free live music and drawings for tickets to Da Camera’s events. Continuing the 2008/2009 season is a performance by The Fischer Duo, and a chance to win tickets for an upcoming Da Camera concert. Noon. Grand Foyer, Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas at Smith. Info: Info: www.dacamera.com or 713/524-5050.

December 5 & 6 (Fri. & Sat.)

Historic Houston Heights 2008 Holiday Home Tour. Themed “Enchantment,” this year’s tour charms visitors with six extraordinary homes decked out for the season. Featuring three historic homes—a 1908 Texas farmhouse, a 1920 brick Craftsman bungalow, and a 1912 American Foursquare—and three stunning, recently constructed homes reflecting traditional Heights architecture, docents will be at each location to point out its rich history, architecture, and unique features and decorations. Advance tickets, $17; $20 on tour days; $5 per home. Fri. 6–9 pm, Sat. 3–9 pm. Info: www.houstonheights.org or 713/861-4002, ext. 7.

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PERFORMING ARTS

. . . and L.A. Is Burning. Set against the backdrop of the Rodney King trial and subsequent riots, three individuals each have a different view of the world in which they live. Haddie, a white, middle-aged government worker; Alvin, her African-American co-worker; and Sylvia, a journalist from the East Coast. Playwright Y York examines the terrain of the modern workplace, on which well-intentioned liberalism, racism, the news, reality itself, and the Cosby Show intersect. $20–$36. Through Nov. 9. Main Street Theater, Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Info: www.mainstreettheater.com or 713/524-6706.

Beatrice and Benedict. Based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, two stubborn people use verbal jousting to mask their true feelings for each other. HGO Studio alums Joyce DiDonato and Norman Reinhardt are the recalcitrant lovers in HGO’s first-ever staging of this comical and poignant work. Michael Hofstetter conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Tickets start at $20. Through Nov. 14. Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater, 501 Texas Ave. at Smith St. Info: www.houstongrandopera.org or 713/228-OPERA.

But Not Goodbye. From the screenwriter and director of Miracle on 34th Street, this comedic version by George Seaton is set in the summer of 1910. Unbeknownst to him, Sam Griggs is not long for this world—if he had known he was going to die today, he might have made an effort to clean up the mess he’d made of the family finances. As he “sees” the devastating results of his recklessness, the spirit of the newly deceased Sam wants to try to repair the damage he left behind, but the spirit of Benjamin, his father, who died at 36 in a tavern brawl, arrives to help him “move along,” showing him that things will work out in the end. $20–$36; previews, $10; discounts for seniors 65+ and students w/valid I.D. Nov.28–Dec.28. Main Street Theater, Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. Info: www.mainstreettheater.com or 713/524-6706

Electile Dysfunction. Laugh out loud at what is, and is not, presidential “hopefuls” in this zany look at national politics, in the land of Precious Trees (Houston’s most planned planned community). When Spy Eye News turns the divided family into local celebrities, and a popular Houston minister gets involved, things spin even more hilariously out of control. $22. Through Nov. 15. Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. Info: www.radiomusictheatre.com or 713/522-7722.

A Fertle Holiday. Twenty-four years and counting. Once again, the Fertles are home for the holidays. Grab your butter pie and make your reservations early. This one sells out fast. $22. Nov. 20, 2008–Jan. 10, 2009. Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt. Info: www.radiomusictheatre.com or 713/522-7722.

Menopause The Musical was so hot in April, Houston audiences get a second chance to see the smash hit for one week only! While in Bloomingdale’s, four women drawn together by a black lace bra discover that each of them are experiencing various stages of “The Change”—25 tunes from the ’60s and ’70s with rewritten lyrics describes the often comical, but perfectly normal, symptoms of menopause. $20–$50. Nov. 11–16. Sarofim Hall, The Hobby Center, 800 Bagby St. Info: www.thehobbycenter.org or www.ticketmaster.com or 713/629-3700.

The Music Man. Winner of six Tony Awards, this fun-filled musical follows the exploits of fast-talking salesman Harold Hill, as he cons the good people of River City, Iowa, into forming a youth band, despite the fact that he knows nothing about musical instruments. Just as he is about to make off with the town’s cash, his attraction to the town librarian leads him to new plans. Meredith Wilson’s score features many popular standards including “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Shipoopi” and “Till There Was You.” Tickets start at $36.25. Nov. 20–30. Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center, 800 Bagby St. Info: www.masqueradetheatre.com or 713/861-7045.

Mystery of Irma Vep is a satire of several theatrical and film genres, including Victorian melodrama and the Alfred Hitchcock film Rebecca (1940). The name Irma Vep is an anagram for “vampire.” The play, despite featuring eight characters, is performed by only two actors, playing roles in both genders. The technical production of the show involves a whirlwind of sound cues, props, special effects, and lightning-quick costume changes. The premise of Irma Vep seems silly, and it is, but it is also carefully crafted lunacy from the brilliant mind of the late Charles Ludlum. $25–$45. Through Nov.16. Texas Repertory Theatre Company, Northwoods Plaza, 14243 Stuebner Airline Rd. Info: www.texreptheatre.org or 281/583-7573.

Secret Order. Fueled by pharmaceutical money, personal ambition, and media frenzy, Bob Clyman’s provocative play focuses on a brilliant young research biologist who, while working in an obscure university lab, discovers a possible cure for cancer. The dynamic director of New York’s leading cancer institute becomes his mentor and champion, and that could lead directly to the Nobel Prize. But the halls of science twist and turn in surprising ways, and the young doctor is suddenly thrust into the high-stakes world of medicine, money, and power. Recommended for mature audiences. Tickets start at $40. Through Nov. 23. Neuhaus Stage, Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Info: www.alleytheatre.org or 713/220-5700.

Times Square Angel is an affectionate homage to the holiday/fantasy films of the 1940s, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishop’s Wife, and The Big Street. Charles Busch’s Christmas opus offers the mix of fun camp, fast talk, and top-flight production values we’ve come to expect from him, with an overlay of Yuletide sentiment worthy of the best Hollywood dream machines—funny and full of wisecracks. Irish O’Flanagan, hilariously played off-Broadway by the author, is quite a dame. A product of Depression-era Hell’s Kitchen, she has spunk, talent, and fabulous clothes. She lifts herself out of the slums and into a career as a nightclub singer, finally becoming so decadent that only a guardian angel can save her from herself. $12. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm. Nov. 7–22. Country Playhouse, 12802 Queensbury Lane. Info: www.countryplayhouse.org or 713/467-4497.

Two Faces of Donizetti. Enjoy two helpings of Donizetti’s most delicious music in one evening: both comedy and tragedy are served with the magic of melody as only a master of bel canto can. Act 1 of Lucia di Lammermoor will be presented in concert form, and then Don Pasquale will be fully staged in its entirety. $35–$45. Nov. 6–22. Opera in the Heights, Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Blvd. Info: www.operaintheheights.org or 713/861-5303.

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PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Disney-On-Ice Presents: A Disneyland Adventure. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse host this original adventure where everyone’s favorite super family, the Incredibles, take a fun-filled vacation to Disneyland. Kids of all ages will swing to the beat with Baloo through the Jungle Cruise, fly like a space ranger through Space Mountain with Buzz Lightyear, and spin wildly through the Mad Tea Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter. All the popular Disneyland attractions like the Haunted Mansion, “it’s a small world,” and Pirates of the Caribbean are part of this ice spectacular. $16–$85. Nov. 12–16. Reliant Stadium, One Reliant Park. Info: www.disneyonice.com or Ticketmaster.com or 713/629-3700.

A Little House Christmas is based on the classic book, Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Ingalls family hosts their neighbors for an early Christmas dinner to thank them for welcoming them to the area. They awaken on Christmas Day to find themselves stranded by bad weather, and it seems all is lost for any hope of Santa’s arrival!  Join Mary and Laura in this holiday classic as they learn the true meaning of friendship and the Christmas spirit! Best enjoyed by children aged five and older. $12/adult; $10/senior 65+; $8 child/student. Children less than 3 years old are not permitted in theater. Performances at 1 and 4 pm, Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13. Main Street Theater Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. Info: www.mainstreettheater.com or 713/524-6706.

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RADIO

After Hours. Sunday mornings, 1-4 am. Featuring the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. KPFT 90.1 FM, 713/526-5738.

Queer Voices. Mondays, 8-10 pm. Features, news, music, interviews, reviews, and commentary. KPFT 90.1 FM, 713/526-4000.

Reach Out in the Darkness. Houston’s only transgender radio host and her partner present selected music from the ’60s, played like it was in the ’60s, exclusively from vinyl pressings. Every Wednesday morning, 3-6 am, KPFT Pacifica radio (90.1 FM).

World of Opera. Houston Grand Opera returns to the airwaves for its 8th season beginning Oct. 14 with highlights from last season’s performances. Saturdays, 12:30 pm on 88.7 FM, KUHF. Info/radio guides: 800/62-OPERA or www.npr.org.

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ART/PHOTOGRAPHY

Body Worlds 2 & The Brain: Our Three-Pound Gem. A vivid display of the latest neuroscience findings on brain development and function, brain disease and disorders, and brain performance and improvement, this is the original exhibition, now debuting in Houston. In keeping with their mission of educating lay people, Dr. Gunther von Hagens and his wife, Dr. Angelina Whalley, have created a holistic meditation on the brain that merges anatomy, neuroscience, and philosophy that resonates with everyone. Also see 200 other real human body specimens, including more than 20 full-body specimens in life-like, dramatic poses; healthy and unhealthy organs; body parts and slices. $17–$25. Through Feb. 22. The Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Dr. Info: www.hmns.org or 713/639-4629.

Cinema Remixed & Reloaded: Black Women Artists and the Moving Image Since 1970 is a groundbreaking exhibition of almost 50 works chronicling the contributions that black women have made and continue to make to video art. Examples: Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry’s emotionally charged self-portrait Cut (2006); and Kara Walker’s Testimony: Narrative of a Negress Burdened by Good Intentions (2004), which uses cut-paper silhouettes, drawing, painting, performance, and video to examine the antebellum South’s legacy of slavery. Also included is Houston-based artist Carroll Parrott Blue, whose 2003 memoir about her relationship with her mother, Dawn at My Back: Memoir of a Texas Upbringing, An Interactive Cultural History, combines music, technology, prose, and visual imagery in a rich narrative that spans 35 years, beginning in Houston during segregation. Free. Through Jan. 4, 2009. Brown Foundation Gallery, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. Info: www.camh.org or 713/284-8250.

First Saturday Arts Market (formerly Yale Street Arts Market). Local artists display and sell original works of art, and local musicians entertain. First Saturday Arts Market is held the 1st Saturday of every month at 548 West 19th at Wind Water Gallery’s parking lot. Free. The fall/winter/spring hours are 11 am–6 pm. Info: www.yalestreetmarket.com. Stop by The Artful Corner at 3423 White Oak Blvd., 713/426-4ART.

Holocaust Museum Houston presents “Dr. Seuss Wants You!” Theodor Seuss Geisel is best known for his children’s books written under the “Dr.  Seuss” pen name, but he was a life-long cartoonist who also drafted newspaper and magazine editorial cartoons expressing his concern and opinions in the early years of World War II. The exhibit includes a variety of his illustrations from 1940s newspapers, including those with such provocative captions as “When the Sucker Season Opens, Don’t You Bite,” a challenge to Adolf Hitler’s offer of what Geisel called “peace  bait” to the rest of the world. Free. Through Feb. 1. Central Gallery. Holocaust Museum Houston’s Morgan Family Center,  5401 Caroline St. Info: www.hmh.org or 713/942-8000.

Mexican Artists with Down Syndrome: Colors of the Wind. An inspiring exhibit of more than 40 oil paintings, engravings, and lithographs by exceptional artists from the Mexican School of Down Art at the John Langdon Down Foundation in Mexico City. The school’s artwork—more than 200 valuable pieces—has been exhibited in Mexico, the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Down Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development, occurs in approximately one in every 800 live births. Free. Through Nov. 21. Fulbright Tower, 1301 McKinney, main lobby (mezzanine level).

One-Man Army. Eleanor Roosevelt once described cartoonist Arthur Szyk as a “one-man army,” because he used his art as a weapon to garner support for the social and political issues in which he believed, crafting illustrations to draw the public’s attention to the murder of European Jews in Nazi Germany during World War II. He portrayed Jewish people as strong, patriotic, and heroic, while creating many powerful anti-Nazi and anti-axis cartoons. He produced illustrated books, commercial art for posters, stamps, and political cartoons, making his work important in 20th-century political propaganda. Free. Through Feb. 8, 2009. Mincberg Gallery, Holocaust Museum Houston’s Morgan Family Center, 5401 Caroline St.  Info: www.hmh.org or 713/942-8000.

Perspectives 163: Every Sound You Can Imagine. This group exhibition samples the wide array of notational strategies and explores the cross-fertilization between musicians and visual artists, revealing the vital connections between experimental sound art and cutting-edge visual art. It displays the first wave of experimental notation in the 1950s through its resurgence in the late 1990s, when musical notation sprang off the page and into video, photography, sculpture, and new media. Free. Through Dec. 7.  Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. Info: www.camh.org or 713/284-8250.

What’s Cookin’? Two Centuries of American Foodways. More than just fuel for our bodies, how we choose, prepare, serve, and eat food largely depends upon our family traditions, ethnic heritage, and regional customs. Whom we choose to eat with defines our circle of family and friends. This  exhibit encompasses all of these and more. Examine artifacts such as a turn-of-the-20th-century ice cream mold, a fruit jar wrench patented in 1903, and much more. See photographs of vintage Houston grocery stores and restaurants, menus and uniforms from favorite local eateries, and a collection of Houston cookbooks. Free. Through Jan. 4, 2009. The Heritage Society Museum, 1100 Bagby, Sam Houston Park. Info: www.heritagesociety.org or 713/655-1912.

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HIV TESTING

Thomas Street Clinic is offering HIV testing free to the public, Mon.-Fri. 9 am-1 pm. There is no need to establish eligibility (“gold-card”), no donation will be asked of the person seeking testing, and the test is free. Thomas Street Clinic, 2015 Thomas, 713/873-4157 or 713/873-4026.

The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing at these locations:

Decades, 1205 Richmond, 713/521-2224, Mon. 6-10pm (Dennis);
EJ’s, 2517 Ralph, 713/527-9071, Wed. & Fri. 10pm-1am (Rhonda & Lourdes);
Mary’s, Naturally, 1022 Westheimer, 713/527-9669, Wed. 4-8pm (Jack);
Midtown Spa, 3100 Fannin, 713/522-2379, Tues. 9pm-1am (Carlos), Wed. 10pm-1am (Juan), Fri. 10pm-1am (Quincy);
Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 713/521-2792, Wed. 9pm-12am (Matthew);
Inergy/Mango Lounge, 5750 Chimney Rock, 713/660-7310, Mon. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
1415 Bar & Grill, 1415 California,   713/522-7066, Thurs. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
611 Hyde Park Pub, 611 Hyde Park, 713/526-7070, Tues. 3-7pm & Sun. 2-6pm (Matthew);
All Star News and Video Emporium, 3415 Katy Freeway & Studewood, 713/869-7878, Mon. & Thurs. 4-8pm (Jack);
Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, 713/528-9192, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Matthew);
Cousin’s, 817 Fairview, 713/528-9204, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Jack);
Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 713/659-4998, Tues. 8pm-12am (Dennis). For more info: 713/830-3000.

Planned Parenthood offers free anonymous or confidential testing at clinic locations throughout the area. To speak with an HIV counselor: 1-800-230-PLAN, Dickinson: 281/337-7725, Fannin: 713/831-6543, FM1960: 281/587-8081, Greenspoint: 281/445-4553, Huntsville: 936/295-6396, Lufkin: 936/634-8446 x223, Rosenberg: 281/342-3950, Stafford: 281/494-9848.

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Info needed for your event listing: a few lines of info about your event; date/time; cost; location/address; organization name; and two phone numbers—one for OutSmart to reach you for questions and one for OutSmart readers to get more info on your event (can be the same number). Mail info to: OutSmart Magazine, 3406 Audubon Place, Houston 77006.

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