It’s that time of year again for the fall Westheimer Block Party to be held at the same time and locations in the Montrose-area of Houston.  In case you are a newcomer to the weekend event, 90% of admission is free -which is what I’m all about.  And about the only things you will need money for are beer (if you’re of legal age), vendor loot, band merch, and evening shows (which are less than $20).

The event is going to happen both Saturday and Sunday beginning at 12:00pm.  It’s recommended that you carpool, pedal, or walk to the event.  If you are an artist or a vendor, bring your stuff and setup an area at the event.  They have an almost no-holds barred set of rules.  You can also bring your kids too.

The weather is going to be great, so come out and say hello if you see us.

Now to make a confession – if you’re looking for a place with greasy tabletops and a waitress named Barb who’ll call you “hun” and “sweetie”  - this isn’t the place for you.  It’s a place that hints at the idea of an diner but is modern, open, and bright.  

You walk in, pushing a door that looks like the door of a telelphone booth. No waiters or waitresses here – it’s all counter service.  Head up to the register, where you take a look at the menu and place your order. The menu has breakfast, lunch, sandwich, and dinner options – all available all-day.  I am a big fan of places where  I can order breakfast all day. I’m a firm believer in the “breakfast” for dinner meals. I decided to go with the Breakfast Lola – even if it was noon – eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, and a choice of hash, potatoes, or grits. They have a number of diner-type items along with some more bistro type fare.  There was a “day after thanksgiving” sandwich that intrigued me along with a meat loaf dish I’ll have to come back and try.

You’re given a number and off you go to find a seat. There’s a number of booths, tables, and outdoor seating. Condiments, utensils, napkins – it’s all found at what I’ll call the “you pick what you need” station.

The food was delivered to my table a mere 5 minutes later. Behold – the Breakfast Lola.

It was a LOT of food and yes, I ate the whole thing.  I found it all quite tasty. The bacon was cooked exactly how I liked it – not too soggy but not too crispy.  A firm, crisp bite of delish bacon.  I ordered the parmesan grits – only the second time in my life I’ve eaten grits. I’m still not convinced on whether I’m a fan or not. These grits were extremely rich in flavor – as in quite buttery. Whether or not this is normal, I couldn’t say. Someone with more grit expertise will have to let me know.

Lola’s is clean, bright, open, and a lovely little place to grab a bite to eat, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. Rumor is it offers a BYOB option which should increase the evening crowds.

Tucked away in Houston’s north side lies an unassuming brown building that reminds us of mortality. No, I am not talking about Greenspoint Mall, I am talking about The National Museum of Funeral History. After doing hours of research on kitschy Halloween related activities in this city, I came across this morbidly wonderful place on the internet by accident. I was totally surprised that Houston even had a place like NMFH, a living tomb of funerary artifacts.  

Upon entering the building, you are greeted by a marble floor and a registry to sign your John Hancock. To be honest, it had the eerie impression of entering a funeral home. As we walked through the gift shop and paid our admittance fee, we couldn’t help but noticing the interesting merchandise they had for sale. Everything from sarcophagi key chains to casket shaped wooden boxes and something called a wine coffin. We knew that the wares advertised were just a glimpse of the delightfully macabre experience on which we were about to embark.

The museum wasn’t exactly what you could call sprawling. As a matter of fact, I was rather disappointed in the size of the place. However, after seeing many of the interesting exhibits that are housed there, I was intrigued by the layout. It seems despite it’s size, NMFH has a very striking collection. There were old cast iron caskets from the early 1800s, mourning dresses from the Victorian era, a scene of an old embalming laboratory, an early casket making factory, and hearses and funeral wagons as far as the eye could see. They had a papal funerary exhibit, a colorful observation of Day of the Dead,or, Dios de los Muertos, an exhibit on Egyptian burial practices, a virtual plethora of interesting modern caskets, and some novelty caskets from Africa. They pretty much cover the entire spectrum of international burial as far back from Egyptian times to today. Did you know that George Washington’s funeral costs added up to $11.25? Did you know that Lincoln had a dream of his own funeral shortly before his assassination? The historical aspect of the museum was probably the most engaging thing about NMFH. Needless to say I was like a kid in candy store, I couldn’t get enough of all the wonderful history that NMFH had to offer.

With all the caskets and hearses, you kind of get the bizarre feeling that you shouldn’t be there, but to me it seems that would be a normal human reaction. Maybe it was just the fact that I knew these items were probably employed for interment at one point or another. Whatever the case may be, I wouldn’t want to be the night security guard at NMFH, no sir/madam. The place does radiate a weird vibe, but it’s not scary. Patrons were scarce when we were there, but it let us get the most out of our visit We found it to be entertaining and educational.

One point of interest is a Japanese hearse on display. The interior of the hearse is quite impressive, with dragons and lotus flowers decorating the area where the casket is carried. I was quite taken with the beauty and majesty of the vehicle.

The main focal point of the museum is the hearses and buggies. It is almost like a car show, and I was truly impressed by some of the refurbishing on the older buggies and hearses. Some of them seem like they are brand new, and I just wanted to climb into every one I came across. Off to the sides and to the back are the other displays, and the papal funeral exhibit is by far the fanciest. It has a beautiful marble floor, a life like reconstruction of the John Paul the II viewing at the Vatican, and a real pope-mobile! The Dios de los Muertos, exhibit was interesting, I had no idea the tradition of honoring dead relatives was so colorful.

The best thing about NMFH is how casual and quiet it is. We had the place completely to ourselves, as there were no tour guides on duty. The observation that we were alone added to the creepy ambiance and we walked around like we owned the place. No one bothered us, and we were able to take in the exhibits in peace. The Victorian Era exhibit is, without a doubt, the most frightening display. There are antique mourning dresses on mannequins in a corner and a multi colored “mourning quilt hanging on the wall. Underneath the quilt is some “mourning jewelry”, made from real hair from the deceased. The exhibit also had a lifelike replica of a viewing in a parlor of a Victorian home.

The novelty casket exhibit was not the most impressive, but it was the most fascinating. They had coffins shaped like a crab, a chicken, a Mercedes Benz, a shallot, and a fish, among other pieces. It was exciting to ponder being laid to rest in a chicken or a Mercedes Benz. They were hand made in Ghana by a very talented craftsman named Kane Quaye. In Ghana it is believed that a person who dies should be laid to rest in a way that is symbolic of their lives whether it be a personality trait, occupation, or skill. I envied the craftsmanship of these caskets, and decided that if I am to be buried, I hope my family selects something like one of these art pieces. As someone who is drawn to anything creative, I felt like these caskets were true art pieces and I felt the same enthusiasm about the Day of the Dead alters in another corner of the room. Brightly lit and vibrant, the Day of the Dead exhibit is definitely intriguing. You are greeted by an inside look at a home in Mexico, a friendly looking elderly female mannequin taking an offering to an alter in her great room. Around this window in to another culture are the alters that have been constructed for honoring deceased progenitors. The offerings in themselves are unique, everything from a pack of Marlboro to a can of diet soda, bottles of liquor, food, rosaries, and flowers. Both of these exhibits were a touching reminder of cultures that honor the lives and deaths of their families in a truly engrossing way.

I would highly recommend this museum as it is family friendly, fun, and educational.  I would also recommend NMFH anyone who is a fan of anything weird and/or bizarre.

The National Museum of Funeral History is located on the corner of Ella Boulevard and Barren Springs off I-45. Admission is $10.00 for adults, $9.00 for seniors/veterans, $7.00 for children 12 and under. Children 3 and under are admitted for free.

This is the last and best of the Indie Bash interviews.  I am floored that I had the opportunity to sit down with Spain Colored Orange.  I first heard/saw these guys at the Mechanical Boy & Spain Colored Orange show at Fitzgerald’s earlier in the year and couldn’t help but buy all of their albums.  If you were there, you know how much fun it was.  Many of us, were drunk or otherwise having a spiritual experience.  

Spain Colored Orange is just one of Houston’s jewels on the music scene.  The loud and dirty trumpeting mixed with the pop-influenced ivories and guitar make for really, really catchy music. It’s so catchy, in fact, that I often find myself singing to one of their songs while I am in the shower, much to the chagrin of anyone in earshot, because my vocal stylings are akin to the sweet sounds of cats making love in the night.

But I really had a great time sitting down with these guys before their set.   There were few times during the interview where I wasn’t laughing, as they are always cracking jokes and ripping on each other.

It’s obvious that they are natural entertainers, and that spirit translates well into their performance.  Spain Colored Orange was all over the stage during their set, making them the best performance I witnessed at Indie Bash.  Even Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears lacked the kind of passion these guys brought.

How did Spain Colored Orange come to be?
Eric began, It was 1978, I was 4.  Gil was 16 (Everyone laughs).  In all seriousness… it was 2001 and we had started the band.  We really needed a bass player though, so we asked this guy who we used to buy weed from at the Pick-n-Pack if he wanted to join, because we knew he played.

So what are some of your favorite local haunts?
Probably Boondocks, Rudyard’s, The Mink, and Lucky’s.  Lucky’s is a yuppie sports bar with a killer happy hour.

Who are your major influences?
We’re all over the place, because everyone is into different stuff.  Tom Waits, Drive by Yahoo, and ABBA.

What’s in store for the fans in 2010?
We’re working on a new album right now that is going to blow the last one out of the water.  It’s the first time all five of us feel proud of it, and we’re aiming to release it sometime in February.  (They stopped to discuss whether they were sure they wanted to commit to February)  Yep.  Sometime in February.

So, driving up here we noticed a lot of Buc-ee’s billboards, which one is your favorite?
Definitely, “Don’t stare, it’s just a beaver.”  (Raucous laughter)

What else happened on the way up here?
We were driving through Gerth, Texas, and we passed the Gerth Meat Market.  We don’t know what’s going on in Gerth, but you probably don’t want to go to jail there.  (Laughter erupts again).

If you’re new to Buttercup, you can read all about this San Antonio band at their website and even download a tune or two.  They have the entire “The Weather Here,” album online for you to preview, and I think that once you hear their melodic, at times, suicidally serious lyrics, it will be love at first listen.  

I had the pleasure of a spontaneous interview with Joe Reyes, guitarist and vocalist for the band while I was hanging out at Indie Bash.  He is a charming guy with an earful of history regarding his past and current projects.  He said that their story all began many years ago, when he was in a Band called Lara and Reyes, which was nominated for several Latin Grammys.  Somewhere along the progression of the band, Lara and Reyes ended, and he discovered his now band-mates.

“After seeing them in 2002, I said  you guys have to let me join your band,” Joe explained.

And they did.  After performing as “Odie,” which had a regular art-like performance called Grackle Mundys, where they performed one song per person, they eventually arrived at at their current nomenclature, “Buttercup.”

Q: So what are some of you favorite San Antonio hang outs?

A: Probably La Tuna Grill and this beergarten called Beethoven Maennerchor.  There is also this bar in a basement called Club Cohiba.

Q: What is your most memorable tour experience?

We had gone on these scarcely attended shows in the midwest in places like Omaha and Champaign, Illinois.  I had lost my cell phone in Champaign and didn’t realize it until we were already on the road.  We went back to the venue and got it.  The midwest was really cold during that time, and I remember we had ducked into an Imax, because we it was freezing. There was also this time where Eric drove us off the road in the snow.  Thankfully we had a small entourage with us to help push us out.

Though the main focus of our trip to San Antonio was to cover the Indie Bash at the Brewery, I was excited about staying in the Fairmount Hotel.  It’s not only pet friendly but has a resident dog, named Luke,  with his own business cards.  Because of this, we had to bring Achiever – BCBs mascot – along for the journey to get her take on the suite life. 

It’s an all-around consensus, we would definitely consider staying there again.  It has the elegance of a four star hotel with the personalized, familial service of a bed and breakfast.  Achiever certainly liked it a lot.  Especially the sitting area with its own tv.  And, the location is prime. It’s across the street from Hemisfair Park and La Villita.  Not to mention that almost everything you could want to see in the downtown area is a leisurely stroll from your hotel room, including the Alamo.

After we got Achiever settled into the room, we moseyed on down to the old Lone Star Brewery, which is slated to become a residential community as soon as they pre-sell 75%.  They are currently at 50%.  For more information, check out this link.

Indie Bash felt like a a snazzy backyard bash with 500 acquaintences. It was an intimate backyard BBQ with great weather and great music.  At one point there was two-stepping and best of all, all proceeds went to benefit the Texas Music Project.  But enough talk, here are some shots of the event:

Be sure to check back later for the interviews/reviews of Buttercup and Spain Colored Orange.

]]> http://bayoucitybeat1.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/the-suite-life-of-indie-bash/feed/ 3 bayoucitybeat1 The Fairmount Hotel Swanky! Chillaxin on her favorite spot. Mmmm, I smell Cheeseburgers Lone Star Tower His and Herinals Buttercup Dancing Girls at Indie Bash Black Joe Lewis Crowd at the Beer Garden Spain Colored Orange http://bayoucitybeat1.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/upcoming-events-for-october-23-31/ http://bayoucitybeat1.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/upcoming-events-for-october-23-31/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:53:30 +0000 bayoucitybeat1 http://bayoucitybeat.org/?p=1064 ]]>

• 10/23, The Devil’s Backbone, River Oaks Theatre, 11:55 PM
• 10/23, Fall Dinner Party Cooking Class, Greenway Plaza
• 10/24, The Tragically Hip, House of Blues
• 10/24, Zombie Walk Houston, W. Alabama & Shepherd, FREE
• 10/24, Houston Vision Walk, Discovery Green
• 10/24, 3rd Annual Galveston Pride 2009, Saengerfest Park
• 10/24, Drawing Fundamentals Class, Art League Houston
• 10/25, Star Wars: The Concert featuring Anthony Daniels, Toyota Center
• 10/25, Fresh Fest, Discovery Green Conservancy, FREE
• 10/25, Hiking In Houston, FREE
• 10/26, Suspiria, Domy Books, FREE
• 10/26, Halloween Makeup 101, Houston GLBT Community Center, FREE
• 10/26, Watercolor Class, Art League Houston, classes offered until 12/07
• 10/27, Blind Pilot & The Low Anthem, House of Blues
• 10/27, Strike Anywhere, Ruiner Crime in Stereo & Polar Bear Club, Walter’s on Washington
• 10/27, Houston Music Roundtable, Under The Volcano, FREE
• 10/27 Writer’s Group: The Writer’s Block, Barnes and Noble Copperfield, FREE
• 10/28, Traves Hedemann: Young At Heart Art, Dean’s, FREE
• 10/28, Martini’s and Manicures, La Strada
• 10/28, ArtReach Expressive Arts, Agave Road
• 10/29, Digital Leather, The Energy, & Room 101, The Mink
• 10/29, Dios De Los Muertos/Papel Picado Workshop, Lawndale Art Center
• 10/31, Bay-Fest Farmers & Holistic Lifestyles Market, offered every Saturday, FREE
• 10/31, 14th Annual Underground Vampire Ball, Numbers
• 10/31,  Discoween, Continental Club
• 10/31, Halloween With The Fab 5 (Beatles Tribute), Sullivan Steak House
• 10/31, Halloween Night Costume Contest, Guava Lamp
• 10/31, Spooky Haunted Fright Lair, Super Happy Fun Land
• 10/31, TUTS Hip-Hop Classes, Hobby Center
• 10/31, Spooktacular At The Galleria, Nordstrom Wing, FREE
• 10/31, Halloween Masquerade Ball, Magnolia Ball Room
• 10/31, Montrose Pub Crawl, FREE

Good morning and happy Thursday to you! Lone Star Beer has provided us with a dozen tickets to giveaway for their upcoming event.

If you would like to see some great bands for free, follow the clues because, it’s a treasure hunt and we’ve got the booty.  Find us and win a pair of tickets to the brewery in San Antonio, Texas to see: Ben Kweller, Charlie Robinson, Jonathan Tyler, Micky and the Motor Cars, Dale Watson, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Spain Colored Orange, Buttercup, Luke Olson, and The Texas Tornados. 

Okay, so how do I find the clues?

Shhhh!  It’s a secret.  Get really close to your monitor and I will tell you.  All you have to do is either follow us on Twitter or become our fan on Facebook.  This way you can see the pictures and hints of where we will be at each day to increase your chances of winning.

The treasure hunt starts tonight after 6pm somewhere in the Heights.  Limit two tickets per winner.  Hotel and transportation is not provided, but we can make some recommendations.  You must be 21. We can’t wait to meet you!

Welcome to Pinot and Picasso –  a painting class where a little wine along with your creative expression is highly encouraged.  Led by local Houston artists, Pinot and Picasso is a painting class with a BYOB option. The studio, located off of Taft and Fairview, hosts a number of different classes with a “theme” painting as well as private parties and classes for those seeking a little more one-on-one instruction. 

Walking in, you are greeting by one of the instructors and set up at your station with your own easel, canvas, brushes, and paint.  You are then pointed to an area to set up your snacks and liquid refreshments. They provide plates, napkins, utensils, wine glasses, water, and ice buckets for those who prefer a crisp riesling when focusing on creating highlights on a flower.

Once settled in, class begins. An instructor gives step-by-step instructions with ample painting time in between each step for those falling behind or looking to perfect that last paint stroke.  I sometimes felt a little lost since I was all the way in the back trying to figure out what paint stroke she was doing but another instructor walks around, more than willing to help you out if you’re confused about what’s going on.

Three hours later, you have a finished and dry painting ready for you to take home and show-off.

I highly recommend this painting class if you’re interested in doing something artsy with friends who may have no artistic leanings.  It’s fun, relatively easy-to-follow, and entertaining.  New classes are posted every month on their website and prices range from $35 two hour classes to $45 three hour classes, price per painter.

• Tickets for Austin City Music Festival 2010 go on sale 10/13/09 at 10:00am
• Cinemad Almanac 2009 DVD Release Party, Boheme Cafe, 10/15/09, 6:00 PM
• Come See My Dead Person, Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, Galveston, Texas 10/16/09
• “They Live” River Oaks Theater, 10/16/09 – 10/17/09
• Immersed In Ink Tattoo and Arts Festival, Marriot Westchase Houston, 10/16/09 – 10/18/09
• Fitz’s Sunday School of Rock, Fitzgerald’s, 10/18/2009
• The Adobo Hoedown 10/18/09
• Dios de los Muertos at the Lawndale Art Center (FREE) 10/19/09 – 11/07/09
• Haunted Galveston Tours, Fridays & Saturdays through October
• The Lone Star Beer Indie Bash at the Brewery 10/24/09
• Theatrical Seance, La Carafe, 10/25/2009
• The Montrose Crawl 10/31/09
• Via Colori street painting festival 11/21/09 – 11/22/09