Houston cultural icon Marvin Zindler passed away today after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A local legend, a father, husband, journalist, and all around great guy… Mr. Zindler will be missed by the many he touched.

If you would like to leave a message for his family, KTRK has set up a forum.

• Featuring over 50 of Houston’s best local bands all in one evening for only $10!
• Beginning at 4pm at Bayou Place &
  Downtown Venues
• Your $10 wristband is your admission to every venue, and is available NOW at Catwalk (1431 Westheimer 11am-7pm Mon-Sat & 11am-5pm Sunday) OR at all showcase venues the day of the event. SPECIAL CATWALK ADVANCE PURCHASE OFFER: 2 FOR $15!
• For more info, call 713.280.2448

Vote here

*Funky alien art courtesy of Houston Press

The Texas Copperheads wrap up their inaugural arena football season with a home game against the top-ranked Rio Grand Valley Dorados, Saturday, July 28 at 7PM. The Copperheads play their home games at the amazing Berry Center in Cypress (Northwest Houston.)

It has been a rough opening season as the expansion team has had trouble stringing together anything resembling a win streak, but that doesn’t stop them from putting on one heck of a great show. For the final game, Lone Star Gridiron and the Texas Copperheads are teaming up to give away FREE tickets to the first 25 to email lonestargridiron@gmail.com. Simply include your name as it appears on your identification and if you are one of the first 25, the tickets will be waiting at the Will Call window.

I have personally attended all of their home games and several road games as I do their podcast, and I can assure you there is no better sports value in town (even if you do have to pay for your own tickets.)

In addition to the free tickets from Lone Star Gridiron, season ticket holders will be able to exchange any unused ’07 season tickets for a complimentary seat at the team’s final game of the 2007 campaign.

Wow, this story over at the Chronicle is incredible. An inmate was erroneously released and proceeded to find the person he shot in the head….to say “I’m sorry”. Makes me wonder about the real effect of serving time. Should there be more of an emphasis on rehabilitation versus just locking up the bad guys? I think so. Not necessarily every convict can be rehabilitated. But it seems this guy was temporarily released and wanted to make amends. Large cities like Houston would seem to benefit from more rehabilitative programs and more effort in that direction. Is this guy an example of how “correctional facilities” really are correcting behavior? I doubt it. Seems like this guy is more of an exception. What do you think?

WHO: Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows, hosted by:
Houston Combined Specialty Association (Thursday, July 19)
Houston Kennel Club (Friday, July 20)
Beaumont Kennel Club (Saturday, July 21)
Galveston County Kennel Club (Sunday, July 22)

WHAT: The 30th annual Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows, America’s premier canine extravaganza and one of the largest events of its kind, with 12,000 dogs entered and 40,000 visitors and participants.

WHEN: Thursday, July 19, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday, July 20, 8:00 a.m. to 7: 00 p.m.
Saturday, July 21, 8:00 a.m. to 7: 00 p.m.
Sunday, July 22, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Reliant Center, 8400 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX, Parking: $8/day. Take the Holly Hall entrance from Fannin, or ride Metro Rail to avoid parking fees.

photo courtesy of AKC

St. Arnold’s Brewery has shipped a special batch of Christmas Ale, to help you get in the holiday spirit a wee bit early.

It’s certainly one of my favorite brews, and according to their Web site has many other fans as well:

Christmas Ale, with its 8% alcohol, has interesting effects on people. Many of these people have been compelled to share these exploits with us. Why? We’re not really sure. Several have involved public nudity. One of the best was a voicemail left the evening after a tour that included Christmas Ale. The lady called to say, “I don’t know what you put in your Christmas Ale, but after the tour, my husband and I went home and made love all afternoon long.”

UPDATE from St. Arnold’s!! :

Dear St. Arnold’s Army:

A few establishments in Houston will be celebrating Christmas in July over the next week, so dress in your best Santa outfit (actually, that could cause heat stroke, so maybe not) and go out and enjoy the one keg of Christmas Ale each place received. Of course, we can’t tell you where these will be, but some hints now follow:

Wednesday (7/18): Look for ducks on Norfolk.
Thursday (7/19): Hang with PhD’s and feast with Odin at Rice.
Tuesday (7/24): Christmas Ale downtown with aliens.
Wednesday (7/25): Rice Village at a really old pub (well, 22 is old in Houston)

At unspecified times, Christmas Ale can also be found in the Shepherd Plaza area (perhaps as soon as today) and in the Bissonnet/Morningside region, an area not otherwise known for volcanic activity.

There are still a few cases of our Christmas Ale out in the market. Those of you in Garden Oaks will feel like a 5 year old on Christmas morning if you go by 43rd and Ella.

I’m very eager to see this new FREE show at the old Jefferson Davis Hospital on Saturday, July 21, from 6-10 PM. 40 Artists from all edges of the Greater Houston Area will be displaying One work each. The artists include: Marie Weichman, Dan Mitchell Allison, Sorange Castillo, Anila Quayyum Agha, Nathaniel Donnett, Ray Phillips, John Mercado, Max Boyd Harrison, Lilibeth Andre, Aimi Dunn, Allan Rodewald, David A. Brown, Sergio Santos, Bridgett Vallery, Dune-Micheli Patten, Lacey Crawford, Van McFarland, Keith J. R. Hollingsworth, Mitch Cohen, Lorena Fernandez, Shelley Shanks, Cintia Rico, Alex Wilhite, MaryAnn Lucas, Richard Varela, Jerrie Glidden, Susan Goettsche, Stäcy Smith, Sarah Hazel, Julie Zarate, Xsemaj, Christian Perkins, Solomon Kane, Victoria Lewelling, William Panzer, Alissa Fereday, Dune Tencer, Heidi Powell-Prera, David Weaver, Matt Adams and Martin de Vore.

For more information, including directions, please visit: http://www.elderstreetartist.com/

Be sure and let me know if you plan on attending ;-)

Friday, July 13 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm – Opening Reception
Exhibition runs until August 18.

More info: http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org/

If you like Graffiti & Street Art and haven’t heard about the Bomit website then I highly recommend taking a visit. Created by fellow Houstonian, Z! There’s lots of great images which feature not only local artists but others around the nation as well. Make sure you check out the Call For Entries for their upcoming Bandanna show.

http://bomit.com/

This looks like a great movie. It’s being screened for free tonight for anyone who’s looking for something to do. Unfortunately I can’t make it because I’ll be at home packing for my move this weekend.

From SpaceTaker:

The Houston Peace Forum’s Summer Time Movie Series continues with this film. Based on Norman Solomon’s book, “War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death,” it exposes a 50-year pattern of deception that has dragged the U. S. into one war after another. Narrated by Sean Penn, “War Made Easy” is a powerful indictment of the current U.S. warfare state and a call to action.

Discussion follows. Refreshments served. 7:30 p.m. in Rm. 302,
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin. For more
information, contact Pat Nichols, 713/681-6267, nicholspat@awesomenet.net.