With Poetry and Rap Mixed In, Aperio Presents Innovative Concert of New and Reimagined Music
Jun. 5, 2023
DJ Sun
ON SATURDAY, JUNE 10, Houston’s intrepid new music ensemble Aperio, Music of the Americas, led by artistic director Michael Zuraw, takes the stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre to present Loveletter & Radio Rewrite, a program of groovy, post-minimalist compositions by Steve Reich (Radio Rewrite and Duet) and Michael Torke (Blue Pacific).
The outfit offers a full-length, orchestral performance of DJ Sun’s 2022 album Loveletter, with special guests poet Outspoken Bean, rapper Fat Tony, and vocalist Krystal Hardwick. Loveletter’s hypnotic collage of sampled vinyl has been transcribed for chamber instrumentation by Henry Darragh, Tim Ruiz, Ken Easton, and Marlon Chen, who will conduct the piece. Far from being the outlier on the program, Loveletter in its orchestral incarnation offers a provocative spin on Reich and Torke’s respective musical languages and will no doubt reel in audiences unfamiliar with modern 20th and 21st century composition. For those who missed Loveletter’spremiere last year at Moores Opera House, this is a great opportunity to check it out live.
Reich’s Radio Rewrite was inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer meeting and hitting it off with Radiohead guitarist and composer, Jonny Greenwood. Buried within the five-movement work is musical material pulled from two Radiohead songs: “Everything in its Right Place” from Kid A, an experimental left turn the band took after the success of OK Computer, and “Jigsaw Falling into Place,” a harmonic puzzle from their 2007 masterpiece In Rainbows.
Reich’s Duet for two violins and small string orchestra is a short, canonic work featuring soloists ChloéTrevor and Chavdar Parashkevov. Rounding out the program is Torke’s Blue Pacific, a luminous, virtuosic piece originally composed for solo piano, now newly arranged for piano and string orchestra. The music shimmers and grooves like song in search of a singer. It’s got a good beat, and it’s easy to dance to, as American Bandstand may have observed.
Aperio performing at Miller Outdoor Theatre (Photo by Lynn Lane)
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Gong Cha's Pride Lemon Ai Love Yu bubble tea (photo by Jayna Kropas)
HOUSTON RESTAURANTS, BARS and other venues are getting in on the month of fun with specials and donation opportunities in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. From glittering rainbow cake to eye-popping cocktails and rooftop movies, check out these local spots.
Bagel Shop Bakery
Bagel Shop Bakery (photo by Becca Wright)
For guests observing Pride Month, the classic, plain-flavored Rainbow Bagel ($2.50) is a festive menu option or colorful surprise for friends and loved ones you want to treat. Bagel Shop Bakery is closed on Saturday.
Common Bond
Common Bond
With its flagship location situated in the heart of Montrose, Common Bond is giving back to the supportive LGBTQ community that helped grow the restaurant group. This month, the bakery-café will donate a portion of proceeds from Pride themed desserts to the Montrose Center. Desserts include Rainbow Pride Cake: an 8-inch diameter vanilla layered cake filled with vanilla buttercream and topped with white chocolate ganache drip and rainbow sprinkles (available at Bistro Locations, sold whole and by the slice). There’s also a Pride Mini Loaf Cake (available at On-The-Go locations), and Fruity Pebbles Macarons (all locations).
Dessert Gallery
Dessert Gallery
Dessert Gallery is proud to announce that 20 percent of all purchases from this menu will be donated to community partner, Allies in Hope (formerly known as AIDS Foundation of Houston.) This year’s Pride Month menu includes Pride cake (9-inch) or by the slice, Pride hand-decorated butter cookies, chocolate petit fours, and chocolate and vanilla cupcakes.
Hilton Americas-Houston
Hilton Americas
All month long, buzzy lobby bar and rooftop lounge R24 will offer the Citrus Rainbow Fizz, a refreshing cocktail made with sparkling wine, Kettle One Botanical Rose, grapefruit juice and pamplemousse liqueur ($16). Layered rainbow cake is also on offer by the slice ($12).
Arnaldo Richards' Picos
Guests of the authentic Mexican restaurant can choose a donation table when making reservations via resy.com and 20 percent of their dinner tab will be donated to Montrose Grace Place in support of the organization’s ongoing efforts to provide youth experiencing homelessness of all sexualities and genders. The featured cocktail of the month is the Bacardi Mojito Bucket, a combo of Bacardi Superior, lime, mint and Topo Chico ($15).
Rooftop Cinema Club
Rooftop Cinema
Craving the great outdoors while the weather is still mild? Catch a flick on the spacious rooftop at this Uptown club. This month’s Pride series will include titles such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, She’s the Man, Set it Off, Jennifer’s Body and more. For every ticket sold, Rooftop Cinema Club will donate $1 to Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization.
POST Houston
Post Houston Skylawn
Throughout the month of June, POST will display rainbow lighting on the exterior of its sprawling building. On June 3, grab a yoga mat and a friend for Pride Yoga on the Skylawn with Black Swan Yoga at 11am. It’s free!
Postino
Postino
Celebrate Pride with everyday happy hour: $6 glasses of wine and pitchers of beer until 5pm. Previously the Montrose Mining Co., the Postino Montrose location was also formerly home to other safe havens such as Uncle Charlie’s, Pacific Street Station, and the Tattooed Lady.
The Original Ninfa's
The Original Ninfas
Throughout the month of June, both The Original Ninfa’s locations will offer a juicy Watermelon Mojito (white rum, watermelon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves) for $13. One dollar of each beverage sold will be donated to GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Gong Cha
Gong Cha's Pride Lemon Ai Love Yu bubble tea (photo by Jayna Kropas)
Specializing in bubble tea, Gong Cha now has four stores in the Greater Houston area. This month, a portion of every purchase of its special Lemon Ai Love Yu bubble tea will directly benefit the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) in name of #Equalitea. The Pride drink is a sweet and tart bubble tea with white pearls and edible glitter for some extra festive sparkle.
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