Holiday 2016: On Location
Welcome back for round two! Here's your intimate behind-the-scenes look at the sophomore issue of the most exciting new magazine in Houston.
Nov. 21, 2016
CHAPMAN & KIRBY, THE premier event destination in Houston’s East Village, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Spring Music Series, kicking off on Friday, April 12. Chapman & Kirby has become synonymous with top-tier events and unforgettable experiences, many attended by celebrities both local and worldwide. With concert ticket prices soaring to hundreds and even thousands of dollars in the last year, this eight-week music series promises to be a welcomed opportunity to engage with live music for free, showcasing an eclectic lineup of talented acts.
"At Chapman & Kirby, we are dedicated to curating exceptional experiences for our guests beyond great food and drinks. The Spring Music Series is a testament to our commitment to hospitality from every angle, and we’re excited to show off incredible talent" said Mazen Baltagi, co-owner of Chapman & Kirby.
In partnership with Gulf Coast Entertainment, the Spring Music Series lineup will feature a diverse array of musical talents. Each Friday night will offer a unique, interactive experience for guests, via music, food & beverage and local vendor pop-ups. Doors will open at 6pm, with performances starting promptly at 7pm. Purchase tickets here. The schedule includes:
Photo from kacheontheweb.com
Photo from juniorgordonband.com
Photo from Facebook
Photo from @hybrid7music on Instagram
Photo from dannyrayatlanticstreetband.com
ADVERTISED AS THREE days of "bands, brisket and beers," the Big As Texas music and food festival debuts at Montgomery County Fairgrounds in less than two weeks. Set for Mother's Day Weekend, the event is co-produced by the country-music experts at Dosey Doe, and funds will benefit organizations with a mission of suicide prevention.
The three-day festival features headliners Thomas Rhett, Dierks Bentley and Billy Strings; other performers include Clay Walker, Dwight Yoakum, Maddie & Tae, Los Lobos and Midland, in addition to dozens of other regional musicians. Visual artists scheduled to attend and display their work for purchase include muralist Whitney, caricaturist Steven Simon, Autumn Vann and Tyler Darling. With bounce houses, pig racing, Ferris wheels, face-painting and other only-in-Texas activities — chainsaw carvings and custom hats, anyone? — the event promises to be unique and family-friendly.
As for the food, expect tons of barbecue, as advertised — but also refreshing goodness from Frios Gourmet Pops and Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice and Ice Cream, along with festival-food vendors like Sasha's Corny Cob, Nacho Birria and Pizza Nova. Activations from various whiskeys will pop up throughout the grounds as well.
More than 40 local nonprofits will also be in attendance, making Big As Texas an inclusive and community-forward initiative. The sprawling grounds offer plenty of room for the barrel racing, car show and carnival games — plus RV parking, campsites and more for those who want to post up for the whole weekend!
GOODBYE CRISP AIR, hello humidity. Before things get really unbearable weather-wise in Houston, we can enjoy at least a few weeks of warmer, sunnier weather — perfect for outdoor gatherings and concerts.
On Sunday, May 5, Houston Botanic Garden continues its Music in the Garden Concert Series with Ndadie Begue, a celebration of West African culture with Houston-based, Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist Seyba Diouf. If you haven’t made it out to the sprawling gardens, located near the UH campus and featuring tons of walking trails and year-round exhibits, now’s a great time to check it out.
Loosely translated “fun meeting” from the Wolof language, Ndadie Begue will feature Diouf in performance with other musicians from Senegal, complementing the Garden’s current ZimSculpt exhibition of hundreds of hand-carved stone sculptures by Zimbabwean artists.
Diouf has toured internationally as a singer and instrumentalist; in addition to guitar and harmonica, he plays African percussion, including djembe, talking drum, and sabar, and xalam or ngoni — which can be described as a traditional West African lute.
Here in Houston, Diouf has made it his mission to represent the culture and beauty of Senegal. He has worked with students at both Houston Community College and Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he has taught talking drum workshops and accompanied West African Dance classes taught in both the dance and theatre departments. He was also integral in the restaging of the musical Fela(inspired by the life of Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti) at HSPVA in February 2019, by working with the students on the Afro Beat and polyrhythmic percussive style.
The ZimSculpt exhibition, which runs through June 2, features works by Zimbabwean sculptors practicing the Shona sculpture tradition — named for the nation’s largest tribe. Since the 1960s, artists from various tribes in Zimbabwe and beyond, have transformed locally sourced serpentine stone into smooth, highly polished contemporary works of art. Visitors to ZimSculpt can observe sculptors creating these works in real time, using handheld tools including chisels, hammers, and files. There’s also an on-site, one-of-a-kind marketplace of fine African art — don’t forget, Mother’s Day is coming up fast!