The last Casting Couch of this season’s Dominc Walsh Dance Theater is this Friday, May 1st. If you haven’t read my post on my first DWDT experience, get on it.  You’ll see why I’m desperately in love with this modern dance troupe.

Casting Couch is the unique opportunity to experience the latest DWDT performance, followed by a chance to join the dancers on the stage for conversation, music, drinks and food.  This weekend’s Casting Couch will feature pizza from Angelo’s downtown, and wine from SoVino.  After the Casting Couch, we’ll be headed to SoVino for POP! a party with Pop Rocks, pop music, popcorn and we will be poppin’ the top off of Pommeroy Pops.  Party goes from 9:30p – close and the special drink of the night will be Pop Rock-rimmed Pommeroy champagne.

Click here for your Casting Couch Tickets

Read more below about this weekend’s performance.

The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
April 30-May 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall

Dominic Walsh and the DWDT company members were in Sarasota for the Florida premiere of Walsh’s Mozart Trilogy this past weekend. The Trilogy features Wolfgang for Webb performed by Sarasota Ballet, Amadeus for Anita performed by DWDT, and Mozart performed by dancers from both companies. The two companies are travelling to Houston for our presentation of this thrilling homage, with stunning scenic design by Houston artist Libbie Masterson and distinctive costumes by Domenico Luciano.

Sarasota Ballet has enjoyed much success since Iain Webb took over as Artistic Director in 2007, including glowing critical and public reviews. Last year, Webb graciously invited Walsh to choreograph a new work for the company and the result was Wolfgang for Webb. Now, Sarasota Ballet and Dominic Walsh Dance Theater join forces to bring Walsh’s complete Mozart Trilogy to audiences in Sarasota and Houston.

To read more about The Trilogy, please click on the links below.

Herald Tribune | Pelican Press | Bradenton Herald

Do not miss this opportunity to see these award-winning contemporary ballets set to the celebrated piano sonatas, operatic works, and symphonies of Mozart.

Mozart
2008 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship

Amadeus for Anita
2007 Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography

Click here for tickets or call the Box Office at 713-315-2525.

Yep, it had finally come. The dreaded 3-0. Thing was, I wasn’t dreading it at all. Every year of my life had been getting better and better, and I didn’t see any reason for that to not continue. I had become excited about turning 30, about being taking more seriously professionally, about getting past some of the train wrecks of my 20′s, and about coming into my own. It was around then that I began the idea for the book I’ve been writing. I had an incredible 10 years in my 20′s, and I wanted a way to document those stories. So the book is in the process! Stay tuned.

Every year I make a pretty big deal about my birthday. I figure it’s the one time of the year that’s it’s OK to celebrate yourself. :-) So when it came time for deciding on a location for this year’s bash, it was pretty much a no-brainer.  In 2006 I had teamed up with Dave Wrangler for Vinyl Ranch at Leon’s Lounge in Houston, and the party was a huge success.  And i figured, if it ain’t broke…

Vinyl Ranch + 30th Birthday Bash – Leon's Lounge

So, we headed back to Leon’s for the second installment of the Cosmopolitician B-Day Bash + Vinyl Ranch. The night was proceed by the Schipul 11th anniversary party, which laid ground for the perfect amount of toasty Schipulites in attendance. I seem to always get teased for having made such random acquaintances over the years, and I LOVE my birthday each year because it is a time to get all the randoms under one roof. This year’s party was followed by an impromptu after-party at my place, where a few of us (Katie + Michelle I owe you big for the thievery!) continued the party into the wee hours of the night, where Andrew played the guitar, Paul took some pics, and Michelle, Wod Wod, Nadnuk, and Sean screamed sang in unison. It was the perfect way to ring in the new decade. With friends and music. And alcohol. Stolen alcohol.

Phil, Katie, Ed – Image: Carlos Meltzer

The next morning, after just hours of sleep, Miggy rallied me out of bed for a day long drinking session at Brian O’Neill’s, where we sipped mimosas, chomped on fish and chips, chugged Blue Moons, met some crazy characters, and may have walked home. (Michelle, do you remember?) Following that, we somehow persuaded Susan and Mandy to bring us MORE beer and held a Reba Karaoke Fest. In my dining room. What more can a girl ask for on her 30th?

View party pics from Carlos Meltzer & PureAmber.

More bad health news came in October. I contracted Salmonella poisoning, along with 4 other friends who all attended an event. And let me tell you, it. ain’t. pretty. I’ll spare you the ugly details. Stomach. cramps. aren’t. fun. For. reals. As I got over the Salmonella, I swear my digestive track still isn’t the same, I learned during a Lasik eye consultation that I had several holes in the lattice of my retina. Of. course. i. did. This year, nothing surprised me. SO after 3 eye surgeries to repair the holes, I could finally be a candidate for Lasik.  I scheduled it for later in November. The better to see you with, my dear.

Ryan Adams – Verizon Wireless – October 14, 2008

The rest of October was a whirlwind of events.  From the debates at Caroline to a 2 week stretch of incredible concerts: Ryan Adams + The Cardinals (i heart you Neal Casal), Girl Talk, Portugal. The Man (thank you, Paul!), The Ton Tons, Ray Lamontagne (2nd row, baby!) and ending the month-o-music with Kings of Leon.

Bandcamp at Caroline (the brainchild of Matt and Philip of  KTRU’s Revelry Report rounded off the end of October, an awesome sidelines visit to the Texans Game with Broadway Bankmann (see goofy video below from Michelle); And finally ending the month with Halloween at 13 Celsius with Migs and Foofers.

Whew! What. a. month!

Did you miss a recap? Check out Jan-September here.

BTW, i STILL need a costume.  Send ideas, please. Kthxbai. (nothing with sexy before or after. or during. ok, maybe after.)

Nightmare on Alabama Street
West Alabama Ice House | 1919 W. Alabama
6pm-2am
FREE

A costume contest, live music by Human and Runaway Sun, and more than 50 lit pumpkins handcrafted by visitors the night before in a pumpkin-carving contest.

Steel Lounge Underground
Contemporary Arts Museum | 5216 Montrose
8-11pm
FREE

Josh Zulu & DJ Pooks present the next edition of “Steel Lounge Underground” Halloween Night at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston! This will be the last Steel Lounge Underground for 2008. Fat Tony, Kam Franklin feat. members of Free Radicals, Seth Jones, “Little” Martin.

13 on the 31st
13 Celsius | 3000 Caroline
7:30 pm to 1 am

Admission: $31 at the door and $5 discount if you bring a photo.
13 Celsius will once again be creating the altar of ‘things come and gone’. Bring a photo for the altar that we will be building in the courtyard. Serving food from “My beautiful Huetamo” the taqueria on wheels. Quesadillas al pastor lovingly topped off w/ sour cream, avocado and cilantro w/ a foil pouch full of radishes and marinated onions. Music from Miguel “Mano” Grillo, Esteban Torres & DJ Pooks. Video imagery will include larger than life surreal, cultural and iconic imagery projected on the multistory building next door.
*Admission includes 13′s famous Sangria and Michelada’s Spanish Red and White

Boo! EL & 002 Magazine Halloween Party at the Alden Hotel
Alden Hotel Houston, a+ | 1117 Prarie
8 pm – 2 am
FREE

Join the Emerging Leaders and 002 Magazine at a+ bar. No tricks, just treats for the best dressed. Costume contest judging at 10 pm. No cover, cash bar and bites available in the Alden Lobby. The Alden Hotel is calling all goblins and ghouls for an 8 p.m. scary soiree that starts on their ah-mazing veranda and creeps down to a+ bar late night. Get in for free by donning a costume, catch classic horrors on the big screen and nab a best-dressed prize. You can extend the mayhem by booking a room for a special $155 rate.

Halloween w/ Listen Listen, BooTown, and Scatter!
Caroline Collective | 4820 Caroline
6pm
$5 admission at the door

Let Caroline help you start your Halloween night off right with improv, scary stories, and local music. The October installment of Caroline Collective’s Final Fridays series will be an early Halloween party featuring a set by Houston band Listen Listen, Scary Storytime with BooTown, and a costume contest with improv group Scatter! Doors open at 6pm, and the Improv and Costume Contest set begins at 7. The show is open to all ages, and admission is $5. There will be free St. Arnold’s at the event for those 21+, as well as soda and water. The event ends at 9:45pm so that we will all have time to experience the other great events that Houston has to offer on Halloween night. www.carolinecollective.cc

Westheimer Halloween Pub Crawl
Brasil, Poison Girl , Boondocks, Etro Lounge, Catbirds, Slick Willie’s
starts at Brasil at 6:30pm
FREE

Ditch reality & join the 2nd Annual Montrose Crawl this Halloween Night, October 31st. First get your costume on, then get your drink on as The Crawl starts at Brasil and then goes from bar to bar between Dunlavy & Montrose on Westheimer. No covers, no tickets, plus drink specials all night long. And prizes will be awarded for the best outfits, so get into the spirit before you get into the spirits. More info: www.montrosecrawl.com

Where are YOU gonna be at?

Join the newest branch of Houston AIA, Houston ArCHitypes, Friday night at the Architecture Center in Downtown Houston.

Friday, October 10th, 2008
Architecture Center Houston
315 Capitol
6pm

cocktails and light bites provided
free and open to the public

Architecture Center Houston (ArCH) occupies approximately 5,000 SF carved from the old Albert Thomas Convention Center in Phase II of the Bayou Place renovation developed by The Cordish Company. ArCH houses offices of the American Institute of Architecture, Houston Chapter, the Houston Architecture Foundation, a gallery for rotating architecture-related exhibitions, meeting rooms, and a terrace overlooking Buffalo Bayou.  Click here for a map and directions.

“Sleek, Sexy & Sophisticated”

When: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 6-9pm
What: Yummy bites and cocktail from A+ Lounge
Where: Alden Hotel | 1117 Prairie
RSVP: misty.rockwell@wheremagazine.com

This season Houstonist quickly tired of eating over-priced, cayenne-coated crawfish that didn’t quite meet our expectations. So, we decided to have our own little boil and share some with you readers while we’re at it.

We’ve got 500 pounds of mud bugs teed up for this Saturday at Volcano. You might be asking yourself, “Where did Houstonist get 500 pounds of crawfish?” To which we reply, “Shhhh. Don’t worry your pretty little head.”

The crawfish will be boiled Louisiana style, i.e. with the seasoning actually in the water instead of sprinkled on top of the crawfish. Don’t worry about your taste buds heating up too much. You can always douse the flames with a frozen screwdriver or other Volcano creations that you fancy.

We’ll also have a fresh batch of Houstonist shirts and other schwag on hand. You’ll look much cooler on the stroll wearing some of our sweet threads instead of one with crawfish juice all over the front of it.

Think you can make it? Sweet. All you need to do is show up on Saturday with your entourage. There is no need to call the bar, but feel free to drop us a comment and let us know you’re coming.

Houstonist Crawfish Boil
Saturday, June 28th
First batch will be ready at 6PM
All you can eat for 5 bucks

Volcano
2349 Bissonnet St
(713) 526-5282

If you enjoyed the Green Drinks Station at the CC opening party, come by Beaver’s each Wednesday as they support new entrepreneurial projects.

%25 of this Wedesday’s profits will support Caroline.

Hope to see all of you there!