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| 2016-08-26T13:06:43 | null | 2016-08-26T09:58:47 | A jealous dad burgled his estranged partner’s home and cut up every item of her clothing after finding out she was seeing someone else. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fjealous-burglar-cut-up-clothing-and-stole-passport-1-8090235.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090234.1472201911!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Jealous burglar cut up clothing and stole passport | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | A jealous dad burgled his estranged partner’s home and cut up every item of her clothing after finding out she was seeing someone else.
A court heard Grant Barrett made a point of deliberately cutting the crotch of every single item of her underwear and also stole her passport so she could not go on holiday.
Barrett, 29, then sent his former partner a text message demanding that she meet him or he would set fire to her car.
A judge who jailed Barrett for 30 months said: “This was a bid to cause her as much misery as possible.”
Leeds Crown Court heard Barrett managed to obtain a key to the victim’s home without her knowledge and let himself into the house while she was out on June 10 this year.
Barrett, of England Lane, Knottingley, removed £3,000 worth of property and cash including two television sets.
He also cut all of her clothing and placed it in the bath before destroying her make-up and smashing her hair straighteners.
The court heard many of the clothes had been taken from a suitcase which she had packed ready to go on holiday.
Barrett sent the victim a text the next day which read: “If you do not talk to me I will come down and burn your car out. Just see what I do.”
Barrett also rang the woman’s mobile phone 132 times.
The court heard Barrett had previously been in a relationship with the victim for 11 years and they have a son together.
Barrett pleaded guilty to burglary and sending a malicious communication.
He has previous convictions for violence and drink-related offences.
Abbi Whelan, mitigating, said Barrett committed the offences as he struggled to cope with the breakdown of the relationship and found out his former partner was seeing some else.
Ms Whelan said Barrett had been drinking at the time.
She added: “While he clearly still loves the complainant, he realises that it is not healthy for anybody.”
Jailing Barrett, judge Christopher Batty said: “You are a controlling individual who simply could not bear it when you discovered that the complainant was seeing someone else. You decided to take some kind of revenge upon her. “She was clearly going on holiday in the near future and you decided to sabotage her plans.
“You took her passport and you set about damaging each and every item of clothing so she had no way of taking any item with her, including disfiguring her underwear.
“This was a very, very unpleasant offence.”
The judge continued: “Whatever your true intentions were, this must have been terrifying for her.”
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Jealous burglar cut up clothing and stole passport Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/jealous-burglar-cut-up-clothing-and-stole-passport-1-8090235 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/cbc525f203156be90424e02e4ab8909251ec90b41c1beb0c56a504b4129dbf08.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:57:15 | null | 2016-08-26T05:24:31 | “THE greatest cricket festival in the whole of the world,” proclaimed Colin Graves of Scarborough during a lunchtime speech in the Festival marquee. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fyorkshire-v-nottinghamshire-day-three-gary-ballance-hoping-weather-stays-kind-to-boost-defending-champions-title-defence-1-8089838.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8089836.1472162499!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day three): Gary Ballance hoping weather stays kind to boost defending champions’ title defence | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | “THE greatest cricket festival in the whole of the world,” proclaimed Colin Graves of Scarborough during a lunchtime speech in the Festival marquee.
The England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, who is also president of Scarborough CC, described it as “top of my heart list” and promised that the ECB would retain the Scarborough and Cheltenham Festivals amid an ever-changing cricketing climate.
“Scarborough is a passion for me,” added Graves. “The wicket is the best outside the international venues.
“I got that from Steven Finn, who played here for Middlesex this year. He said that Scarborough is the best wicket he played on, which is a credit to Scarborough Cricket Club.”
Graves, the former Yorkshire chairman, thus gave a timely thumbs-up to a ground close to where he used to work as an ice-cream waiter.
With the number of Championship games being reduced from next summer, it is comforting to know that Scarborough retains his personal backing, and also that of the ECB board.
GOOD TOUCH: Stand-in captain Gary Ballance celebrates his second innings century for Yorkshire against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams.
“I had some fantastic times when I worked in Scarborough, but we won’t go into that,” quipped Graves, who used to work at Jaconelli’s just down the road. “It’s always been a special place.”
Graves, who will be Scarborough CC president again next year, was speaking before a gathering of dignitaries and invited guests at a ground where Yorkshire are looking to close the gap on leaders Middlesex.
The champions would reduce that gap to five points with four games left with a win here, which looks a formality weather-permitting.
Notts, the bottom club, go into the final day on 61-3 in their second innings, trailing by 390.
But it is a formality only if Yorkshire can get on the field for long enough, with heavy rain permitting only 35.2 overs yesterday, although much better weather is forecast today.
Yorkshire, who declined to enforce the follow-on despite a lead of 188, will kick themselves from here all the way back to Headingley if the elements enable a Notts’ escape.
They will hope that the inquests prove unnecessary, though, after another commanding display yesterday before bad light, closely followed by heavy rain, prevented play from 2.50.
In gloomy conditions, which explained why the crowd of 2,634 was down from the 5,000 gates on the first two days, Yorkshire resumed on 200-4 in their second innings.
Stand-in captain Gary Ballance had 75 to his name, while Tim Bresnan had yet to score.
After rain delayed the start by 40 minutes, the pair added 62 in 12.2 overs before Ballance declared the innings at 263-4, 25 minutes before lunch, setting Notts a notional 452 to win.
He did so with 101 against his own name, his 29th first-class hundred, and his second Championship century of the season at Scarborough. He faced 164 balls and hit 14 fours, thus taking a big step in his quest to finish the season strongly on a personal level.
Criticism of his international displays have been over-the-top, and his game appears in pretty good order. Ditto Bresnan, who practically comes with the guarantee of runs.
He had made 35 of them from 59 balls with five fours and a straight six off Samit Patel when Ballance called a halt, leaving Yorkshire five overs at their opponents before lunch.
It took only nine balls for Notts to lose their first wicket in pursuit of what would be their second-highest total to win a Championship match, behind the 461-3 achieved at Worcester in 2001.
Jack Brooks, bowling from the Trafalgar Square end, had Steven Mullaney caught at third slip by Jack Leaning as the visitors dined on 4-1.
After Brooks bowled seven overs for 17 either side of lunch, he was replaced by Bresnan, who struck with the first and last balls of his first over to leave Notts rocking on 34-3. Jake Libby played back and was caught at fourth slip by Jake Lehmann, moving smartly to his left, and Michael Lumb was adjudged caught behind.
Lumb, the former Yorkshire batsman, who thus completed a pair, clearly did not think he had hit the ball, and it appeared to be an interesting decision.
In the newspaper, however, it reads: ‘MJ Lumb c Hodd b Bresnan 0’, just as it says ‘TJ Moores not out 41’, the 19-year-old’s innings his highest for Notts, and a performance of great skill and maturity. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/yorkshire-v-nottinghamshire-day-three-gary-ballance-hoping-weather-stays-kind-to-boost-defending-champions-title-defence-1-8089838 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/b02aed940f73b2a2c249a4acd11b59279b7cc2695ec01763ea814714d9377648.json |
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| 2016-08-27T12:50:15 | null | 2016-08-27T12:09:38 | THREE Wakefield Wildcats rugby league players are in hospital after have being injured in a traffic accident when a car was in collision with a tree. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2Fupdated-three-wakefield-wildcats-players-injured-in-traffic-accident-1-8092301.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8092304.1472298895!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Updated: Three Wakefield Wildcats players injured in traffic accident | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | THREE Wakefield Wildcats rugby league players are in hospital after have being injured in a traffic accident when a car was in collision with a tree.
The club said that Chris Annakin, Danny Kirmond, and Richard Owen were involved in the incident.
None of the injuries are said to be life threatening.
The accident was said to have happened in the Heath Common Area, near Wakefield at 4pm on Friday, August 26.
The Wakefield Wildcats said in a statement: “The club are aware of a road traffic accident that occurred at approximately 4pm in the Heath Common area yesterday.
“Three players, Chris Annakin, Danny Kirmond, and Richard Owen were involved in the accident, and all remained overnight in hospital with various injuries, although none are life threatening.
“Police and ambulance staff attended the scene, and the club are liaising with them to ascertain exactly what occurred.
“We hope everyone will wish the players a speedy recovery and respect their privacy at this time.
“There will be further information released as and when appropriate.”
West Yorkshire Police said they received a call reporting that a black Subaru Forester estate appeared to have been in collision with a tree on Black Road in Heath.
A force spokesman said: “A 26-year-old male suffered a neck injury and was taken to hospital, a 30-year-old male also attended hospital for cuts to his arms and legs and a 25-year-old male was later found to have suffered a dislocated hip.”
Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, including a cyclist who is believed to have been on the road at the time. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/crime/updated-three-wakefield-wildcats-players-injured-in-traffic-accident-1-8092301 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/7c7fc642b7ecf7f8805bb22e1a9055b67f49ca8d2a2de718e15e946887687ec8.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:09:22 | null | 2016-08-05T08:28:42 | Further Leeds Festival additions have been announced with news on who is providing the late night entertainment on the Alternative Stage for the summer bank holiday spectacular at Bramham Park. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-entertainment%2Ftransgressive-late-night-takeover-added-to-leeds-festival-line-up-1-8049834.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8049832.1470252587!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Transgressive late night takeover added to Leeds Festival line-up | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Further Leeds Festival additions have been announced with news on who is providing the late night entertainment on the Alternative Stage for the summer bank holiday spectacular at Bramham Park.
Returning to conquer after-hours on the Alternative Stage for the ninth consecutive year, heavyweight independent heroes Transgressive Records will be bringing their biggest and boldest line-up yet to ensure the festivities continue long after the headliners have finished.
Hijacking Reading Festival on Friday, and Leeds on Saturday and Sunday night, the stage runs from 9.30pm until late, bringing a wealth of boundary-pushing, brilliant acts in a series of unmissable exclusive appearances.
This year, the inimitable Fat White Family – one of the country’s finest live acts – will be gracing the Alternative Stage at Leeds on the Sunday night of the festival.
They will be joined by fast-rising hip-hop star Loyle Carner and sets from Bless DJs and the Transgressive Sound System DJs.
Progressive pop specialist Joe Mount will be playing a special Metronomy Summer ‘08 DJ set on the Saturday night, promising Metronomy classics alongside hits from across the decades.
The late night party at Leeds will continue with soul-tinged synth pop duo Honne and a special appearance from Peep Show favourite Super Hans, who will be making his Leeds Festival debut at Bramham Park and carrying the party on until 3am.
Toby L, co-founder of Transgressive, commented: “Every year the Transgressive Takeover at Reading and Leeds gets bigger and bigger and it’s such a joy to return once again in 2016.
“Last year the legendary Mike Skinner and Jackmaster killed it, whilst prior to that the likes of Kelis, London Grammar, Disclosure, Two Door Cinema Club, SBTRKT and so many more have always ensured true variety and class.
“This time, we cannot wait to welcome Loyle Carner - one of the most important new artists on the planet right now - to the stage, plus Fat White Family, Honne and all our guest DJs, not least a very welcome return from Metronomy. Meanwhile, God only knows what Super-Hans has in store for us; his first ever Glastonbury appearance this summer is already the stuff of legend.
“After the headliners finish, come and pay us a visit - we’ll be expecting you.”
Weekend Leeds Festival tickets cost £205 + £8 booking fee while day tickets are £59.50 + £7 booking fee with early entry permits £20. All are still available from http://www.leedsfestival.com/tickets | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/transgressive-late-night-takeover-added-to-leeds-festival-line-up-1-8049834 | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/580532421fad922e2f18a3ee95638960076495d554aeefd7b234b12125d01f42.json |
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| 2016-08-26T16:49:46 | null | 2016-08-26T16:31:37 | The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fbritain-s-most-popular-pet-names-revealed-1-8091508.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8091507.1472225480!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Britain’s most popular pet names revealed | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home.
Pets at Home surveyed more than 800,000 pet owners through its My VIP club and has found the top 50 most popular names for each pet type. Whether the pet is a bird, cat, dog, fish, horse, reptile or small animal, Charlie was the clear winner with almost 34,000 of British pet owners choosing this name for their animal friend, topping the list of most common names for birds, cats and horses.
Poppy also proved to be a popular choice for many pets, particularly canines and felines, ranking at number one for dogs and number two for cats. Other common selections include Alfie, Bella, Billy and Molly.
George also ranked highly across all species with almost 10,000 of those taking part choosing this name within the top 50, again regardless of pet type, suggesting the young Prince’s influence may not end with toddler fashion and toys.
The world of entertainment, particularly children’s cartoons, appear to have had an effect on the names owners select. Bird based film Rio saw the film’s title rank in tenth place for birds, while classic cartoon character name Tweety came in at number 32.
Bestselling book A Cat Called Alfie may have inspired cat owners, with Alfie being the eighth most popular name for cats. Winnie the Pooh fans are meanwhile drawn to Tigger, which ranked at 11 in cat names. Demonstrating that classic films can still influence our decisions, Thumper, who appeared in the 1942 film Bambi, is still the seventh most chosen name for rabbits. Nemo, is the second most popular name for the nation’s fish following Goldie in first.
Gavin Hawthorn, Group CRM Director, said: “It’s interesting to see that just as popular culture and famous faces influence what we name our children, likewise, these trends can help the nation’s pet owners select a name for their animals. It seems likely that children being allowed to name their first animal friend forms a big part of the naming process, particularly among the film and TV inspired monikers.
“However, it also seems that books and even the Royal family are also helping Brits to decide on what to call their pet. Meanwhile Charlie and Poppy scored highly across species, suggesting that cute, traditional names will always appeal when it comes to naming our pets.”
Top 10 names for dogs:
1.Poppy
2.Alfie
3.Bella
4.Charlie
5.Molly
6.Max
7.Daisy
8.Bailey
9.Ruby
10.Lola
Top 10 names for cats:
1.Charlie
2.Poppy
3.Molly
4.Bella
5.Oscar
6.Daisy
7.Tilly
8.Alfie
9.Millie
10.Smudge
Top 10 names for small animals:
1.Daisy
2.Fudge
3.Nibbles
4.Poppy
5.Rosie
6.Charlie
7.Thumper
8.Fluffy
9.George
10.Harry
Top 10 names for reptiles:
1.Spike
2.George
3.Rex
4.Charlie
5.Sid
6.Monty
7.Bob
8.Leo
9.Rango
10.Sheldon
Top 10 names for fish:
1.Goldie
2.Nemo
3.Bob
4.Bubbles
5.Fishy
6.George
7.Fred
8.Jaws
9.Dave
10.Tom
Top 10 names for horses:
1.Charlie
2.Jack
3.Rosie
4.Molly
5.Harry
6.Alfie
7.Billy
8.Poppy
9.Murphy
10.Lady
Top 10 names for birds:
1.Charlie
2.Joey
3.Billy
4.Bobby
5.George
6.Blue
7.Alfie
8.Rosie
9.Sky
10.Rio | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/britain-s-most-popular-pet-names-revealed-1-8091508 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/f89006bfb79308a667e34d00ced3ad2cd06a1066b6490e6d92735fbbdb518ab3.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T12:53:59 | null | 2016-08-24T14:37:40 | Dewsbury-born footballer Tyler Denton has spoken about his dream debut for Leeds United when he scored the only goal of the game with a stunning strike to knock Luton Town out of the EFL Cup. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fdewsbury-lad-tyler-makes-dream-leeds-united-debut-1-8086241.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8086240.1472046921!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Dewsbury lad Tyler makes dream Leeds United debut | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Dewsbury-born footballer Tyler Denton has spoken about his dream debut for Leeds United when he scored the only goal of the game with a stunning strike to knock Luton Town out of the EFL Cup.
The 20-year-old left-back, has been on the bench several times this season, but was given his chance in a much-changed United line-up at Luton and took it with both hands, earning the man of the match with many observers.
After the game he said: “Words cannot describe how I’m feeling right now.
“I grew up as a kid with my parents bringing me to games week in, week out so it’s great to repay them.
“It couldn’t have gone any better.
“All the lads said play simple first 10 ease your way into it, but to do that is a dream come true really.
“I felt after that I just relaxed and got more and more into the game.
“I didn’t expect to play. But I was prepared, I think you’ve got to be prepared and didn’t pass up on the chance.
“It’s just a start. Hopefully I will be around in the next few weeks and months, and we will take it into the international break.”
Head coach Garry Monk was delighted with the contribution of former Mirfield Free Grammar School student Denton, who has been with Leeds since the age of six.
He said: “What a great goal that is. That’s one debut goal you’ll never forget.
“He’s been great in pre-season and he’s a typical example of what they do at Leeds with young players.
“He deserved his chance and he was always going to be one of my changes. It was a great finish and to be a winning goal was even better.”
Monk would not commit himself on whether Denton could replace regular left-back Charlie Taylor, who is still the subject of transfer speculation.
He added: “Come on, he’s only played one game.
“It was a fantastic debut but he’s still growing. Given time he’ll be a very good player. He’s an exciting prospect but at this moment he’s still learning.” | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/dewsbury-lad-tyler-makes-dream-leeds-united-debut-1-8086241 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/701730d49f58449a62058e495e25b0e7e1662b50ccd4d6b9d0109f45f66f7d6b.json |
[
"Andrew Gale"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:54:29 | null | 2016-08-20T09:00:24 | AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fandrew-gale-lord-s-showdown-is-looming-and-we-re-really-beginning-to-hit-our-straps-1-8079356.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8079355.1471682760!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.
From the outside, you cannot help but look at the last game of the season versus Middlesex at Lord’s, although there is still a lot of cricket to be played up until then and Middlesex got over the line in good fashion this week and are playing some good cricket.
When you get to this stage of the season, you talk about holding your nerve and we have been there before.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
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For us, Leesy is coming into some form and Lythy is and me now as well and, hopefully, we can use that to really start hitting our straps.
I was happy to contribute with 83 in the Roses game at Old Trafford. I wanted three figures and was desperate to get there, but I did occupy the crease for a long period of time and in the context of the game, it was an important knock and I was pleased to get runs.
Coming to the business end of the season, I had said before that we can get our players in form, then it sets us up nicely.
I was pleased to contribute. In the context of the game, there was a lot of rubbish flying around on the field and it was nice to shut up a few of their lads.
We needed 219 from 30 overs at tea on the last day, but decided that the target was just too much and shook hands on the draw.
You have to trust the batsmen out there, I guess, and their decision and the pitch was deteriorating.
There was quite a lot of spin and with our left-handers in the top-order, it was probably a bridge too far. And I think that it was a good statement with us being none down as well.
The last thing we wanted to do was be holding out for a draw, seven or eight wickets down or something like that and it was a decent statement from us, even though we didn’t play our best cricket at times. We came out with our heads held high.
If we had been chasing 150 or 160 going into that last 18 to 20 overs, then it would have given us a good chance. We just felt it was too many to chase.
I don’t think that Lancashire would have gone for it either, to be honest.
Overall, it was a solid draw, although I was a bit disappointed with the way we bowled on the morning of day two as I thought we were exceptional on day one and held our lines and lengths and were patient.
All that hard work was undone by poor bowling on the second morning and it really put us behind the eight-ball.
But the encouraging thing is we got past the follow-on and got back into the game.
Azeem Rafiq, Jack Leaning and David Willey all got their Yorkshire caps before the game and it was a fantastic moment.
The best part of my job is to give caps out like that and see what it means to the lads.
In particular, you could see it for the two lads who have come right through the age groups. To eventually get a Yorkshire cap; you could see the emotion in their faces when they received them.
It was good for David, too. He is starting to win games for us now in the short-ball format, although he probably has not played as many red-ball games as he would have liked and has had a few injury niggles and going into that Old Trafford game, he had a hamstring injury.
But he is starting to win games of cricket and that is why we signed him; for us to be in the hunt – in the white-ball Twenty20 and 50-over competition.
It’s finals day today in the T20 and I am looking forward to it and am going down there and will be in and around the squad.
It is a big day for the club and we want to keep our name in the hat for all three formats and trophies.
Obviously, I would have been liked to have been a part of the white-ball stuff. But when you look down the team sheet when all the international players come back, it is a bloody tough side to get into! | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/andrew-gale-lord-s-showdown-is-looming-and-we-re-really-beginning-to-hit-our-straps-1-8079356 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/bac40e402cfcd79d24c3cbf1a4a00f8c07d0aa482c714f2a6281754c17c63bf7.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:08:11 | null | 2016-08-03T18:50:42 | Fresh from playing numerous festivals Bristol soul-pop duo Meadowlark are set to embark on a UK headline tour throughout September and October - stopping at Headrow House, in Leeds on Monday, September 26. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fmusic%2Finspired-meadowlark-announce-leeds-gig-1-8049727.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8049726.1470246610!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Inspired Meadowlark announce Leeds gig | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Fresh from playing numerous festivals Bristol soul-pop duo Meadowlark are set to embark on a UK headline tour throughout September and October - stopping at Headrow House, in Leeds on Monday, September 26.
Kate McGill and Dan Broadley have just released a captivating new single, ‘Quicksand’, which was inspired by a story posted on Humans of New York.
The emotive song - which can be found at https://youtu.be/ldtGfLbCE0w - was written after they were deeply moved by a story about a family working in a brick kiln in Pakistan. The pair weren’t the only ones moved by the words and photos of the HONY post, within mere days the story went on to fundraise more than $2 million for the charity working with families trapped in this situation.
McGill explains: “We were so heartbroken reading these stories. We get so swept up in our lives and forget how lucky we are on a daily basis.
“We wanted to acknowledge these incredibly brave people and all those who devote their lives to helping them.”
Released as a standalone single, ‘Quicksand’ swiftly follows the duo’s recent EP, ‘Paraffin’ and looks set to win Meadowlark more acclaim ahead of their forthcoming tour. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/music/inspired-meadowlark-announce-leeds-gig-1-8049727 | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/47684503b1b9e3532ab8e43dfc22288073558981551693f2867847b32a4cb993.json |
[
"Chris Waters"
]
| 2016-08-26T22:48:46 | null | 2016-08-19T00:15:16 | FOR much of the night, a group of individuals beneath the lime tree at the St Lawrence ground taunted the Yorkshire pace bowler Liam Plunkett. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fliam-plunkett-silences-abusive-spectators-by-leading-yorkshire-to-royal-london-semi-finals-1-8077697.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8077694.1471562798!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Liam Plunkett silences abusive spectators by leading Yorkshire to Royal London semi-finals | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | FOR much of the night, a group of individuals beneath the lime tree at the St Lawrence ground taunted the Yorkshire pace bowler Liam Plunkett.
Their witless chanting echoed around the stands in a manner that reflected poorly on Kent and their stewarding operation, such as it was.
Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett celebrates his caught and bowled of Kent's Will Gidman at The Spitfire Ground. Picture: Adam Davy/PA.
It is not known what prompted the abuse, or why Kent did nothing to eject these people.
Plunkett simply responded in the best way possible.
For a second year running, he produced a match-winning performance at the quarter-final stage, earning Yorkshire an 11-run win and a semi-final against Surrey at Headingley on August 28.
Last year, it was Essex who felt the force of Plunkett’s power in the quarter-finals, the all-rounder scoring an unbeaten 49 from 32 balls to lead them to an unlikely par total at Chelmsford.
Yorkshire's Adam Lyth led the way with the bat for Yorkshire at Kent on Thursday. Picture: Adam Davy/PA.
He followed that up with his side’s best figures of 3-58 as Yorkshire won by 20 runs.
Last night, after Yorkshire scored 256-9 from their 50 overs, Adam Lyth top-scoring with 88 and England vice-captain Joe Root contributing 45, Plunkett returned 4-52 from 10 overs in another decisive intervention.
He began with the wicket of Sam Northeast, caught at mid-wicket to end a dangerous stand of 50 with Joe Denly for the second wicket after David Willey trapped Daniel Bell-Drummond in the second over of Kent’s reply.
After Steve Patterson got Sam Billings lbw, Plunkett followed up by removing Denly, who skied to Willey in the mid-wicket region.
Darren Stevens, playing his 500th match for Kent, and Alex Blake added 86 in a fifth-wicket stand that looked to be putting the hosts on course for victory before Willey had Blake caught behind for 50.
But the key moment of the night came with the total on 180-5 in the 37th over when Plunkett produced a remarkable catch, diving one-handed to his left, to remove Stevens for 54 off his own bowling.
Plunkett took a simpler caught-and-bowled to dismiss Will Gidman before Adil Rashid and Willey closed out the match.
Victory kept Yorkshire on course for an historic treble of County Championship, Royal London Cup and NatWest T20 Blast and delighted their one-day captain, Alex Lees.
“We knew this was going to be a real tough game,” he said.
“Kent had a home quarter-final for a reason, and I thought Adam and Joe played brilliantly with the bat. We battled really hard to get a good score, and our bowling was exceptional. The match-winning performance was Liam’s. He was brilliant.”
Before a near-capacity crowd of 6,000, who watched in glorious weather, Lyth got Yorkshire off to a flier after the visitors lost the toss.
Lyth flicked former Yorkshire pace bowler Mitch Claydon to the mid-wicket boundary and square-drove his next ball to the backward-point rope.
He also lofted Claydon for six over long-off and Lees hammered him for a straight boundary before the captain was first out to the final ball of the fifth over.
Claydon dropped short and Lees pulled down the throat of Blake on the mid-wicket rope.
Lyth and Root ticked along in seemingly effortless manner, scoring at just under five an over without the hint of risk.
Root worked the ball around unfussily and it came as a surprise when he was second out with the score on 117 in the 24th over, the victim of another catch at deep mid-wicket by Blake, this time off Charlie Hartley.
Hartley, a 22-year-old right-arm pace bowler, was playing only his fourth List A game. He completed a notable double when he followed the wicket of Root with that of Bairstow, who went for nine when he chipped to Bell-Drummond at mid-on.
Lyth looked set for his third century in the competition but flirted at one outside off stump from Coles and was caught behind.
Yorkshire lost two wickets with the score on 191 in the 39th over, bowled by Will Gidman, when Tim Bresnan picked out cover and Willey was strangled for a golden duck.
Plunkett sliced Coles to cover, Gary Ballance was run-out for 37 after a mix-up with Rashid when considering a third run, and Azeem Rafiq was bowled by Coles, who ended with 3-39.
Rashid hit a six and a four in the last over, bowled by Claydon, as Yorkshire achieved an advance of four on the total of 252-9 they made in last year’s quarter-final.
Even after Stevens’s departure, Yorkshire could never feel that they had the match won.
Coles swung productively before being smartly stumped by Bairstow off Rashid, who took the ninth wicket to have Hartley lbw.
Willey ended things by pinning James Tredwell, much to the frustration of the individuals beneath the lime tree. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/liam-plunkett-silences-abusive-spectators-by-leading-yorkshire-to-royal-london-semi-finals-1-8077697 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/f0604d3a205b94945f481194e7f1b177c0bbe3fbf6cca581bbd2323558a7d9d7.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T14:50:19 | null | 2016-08-26T14:49:55 | A charity fundraising event is taking place on Saturday to raise money for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ffamily-lead-forget-me-not-event-1-8091180.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8091179.1472219377!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Family lead Forget Me Not event | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | A charity fundraising event is taking place on Saturday to raise money for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
It will be held at the Outwood Memorial Hall on Leeds Road and will start at 2pm and run until 4.30pm.
Rebecca Keith and her 11-year-old daughter Lucy organised the event after the death of one of Lucy’s close friends who was cared for the hospice in Huddersfield.
Mrs Keith, 37, said: “The event should be a fabulous afternoon with something for everyone. There will be a variety of stalls selling quality handmade crafts and unique gifts, a teddy tombola and a raffle.
“There will be some brilliant prizes that have been kindly donated by local businesses such as Wakefield Cineworld, Lazerzone and Haribo.”
The mum said there is also plenty for younger visitors to enjoy, such as face painting, glitter tattoos and a sweet stall. Plenty of delicious cakes will be on offer as well as afternoon tea being served. Any budding bakers out there are welcome to take along their brilliant bakes and enter the bake off competition, with the chance of winning a fantastic prize.
Local trio, Swing-fix, will be on hand to entertain the guests with live music at the event.
Forget Me Not helps to care and support families with children who have life limiting or life shortening conditions.
They have helped over 200 children and their families across the Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield districts.
It relies on community support as they need to raise £3.8 million per year to stay open.
Rebecca added: “It is a charity that we are passionate about supporting as they do such amazing work and make such a difference to so many people’s lives.”
“Over the past year, myself and Lucy have been making handmade crafts and selling them to try to help raise funds.”
The hospice suffered a fire at their Russell House premises earlier this year, which also inspired Mrs Keith and Lucy to organise the event.
Mrs Keith added: “After the fire, we decided that we really wanted to do more to help, so we decided to arrange the fundraising event and we are really hoping it will be a success. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support shown to us so far and we are really hoping that this will be a great event that the whole community can enjoy, while also raising funds.” | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/family-lead-forget-me-not-event-1-8091180 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/8486550d8a0820369db024ca6117b48ecc44ece6bc0e6cb75a1e6d9d13b78736.json |
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| 2016-08-30T14:51:24 | null | 2016-08-30T11:29:29 | Road closures on the A1(M) in South Yorkshire have been lifted following two accidents this morning. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Fa1-motorway-delays-cleared-after-earlier-crashses-1-8095563.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8095561.1472553581!/image/image.jpg | en | null | A1 motorway delays cleared after earlier crashses | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Road closures on the A1(M) in South Yorkshire have been lifted following two accidents this morning.
Drivers face four-mile queues on the motorway today as emergency services respond to the incidents.
The first accident at the junction 35 northbound sliproad, at around 10.20am, prompted the closure of the northbound carriageway between junctions 35 and 36, near Doncaster.
And a single lane of the southbound carriageway was closed between junctions 36 and 37 following a second collision involving a lorry and a motorcycle soon after.
Highways England said the carriageways had now reopened and traffic was returning to normal.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story A1 motorway delays cleared after earlier crashses Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/business/business-news/a1-motorway-delays-cleared-after-earlier-crashses-1-8095563 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/4687155d7cccceeee6ef0223b6e88510e81c87dd29844d30adef2c8c53168894.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:05:28 | null | 2016-08-26T08:00:00 | The lake at Pugneys will remain closed to the public over the Bank Holiday weekend because of green algae. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fpugneys-lake-to-remain-closed-after-green-algae-warning-1-8089426.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8089425.1472141466!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Pugneys lake to remain closed after green algae warning | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | The lake at Pugneys will remain closed to the public over the Bank Holiday weekend because of green algae.
A notice put up outside the lake last week urged visitors to keep themselves and their pets out of it because “green algae can be harmful to humans and animals.”
And a spokeswoman for Wakefield Council yesterday said that the feature would stay closed through the weekend. It will be early next week before any more is known about when it will re-open, she added.
The notice warned: “Green algae can be harmful to humans and animals.
“We expect this issue to resolve itself naturally, however please keep yourself and animals under your control out of the water.”
All water sport courses until Friday, September 2, are cancelled and will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
The rest of the park is still open to the public.
For any updates about the closure, visit http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/sport-and-leisure/pugneys-watersports-centre-and-country-park | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/pugneys-lake-to-remain-closed-after-green-algae-warning-1-8089426 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/72b71678600cee8de97bfbad57fe8d02af7ea396d93fc74552960ee82c33f50e.json |
[]
| 2016-08-30T10:50:21 | null | 2016-08-30T05:43:02 | JASON GILLESPIE’s departure as Yorkshire’s first-team coach, after five years in charge of the county champions, had been on the cards for some time. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fvideo-chris-waters-time-is-right-for-jason-gillespie-to-bid-farewell-to-yorkshire-ccc-1-8094958.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8094947.1472548777!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Video - Chris Waters: Time is right for Jason Gillespie to bid farewell to Yorkshire CCC | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
JASON GILLESPIE’s departure as Yorkshire’s first-team coach, after five years in charge of the county champions, had been on the cards for some time.
Earlier this summer, Gillespie’s wife, Anna, and their four children moved back to Adelaide in Australia.
HEADING OUT: Yorkshire first-team coach, pictured at Headingley in November last year. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
It would be a strange marriage that could survive for several months apart on opposite sides of the world, although, on second thoughts, some couples would probably relish that thought.
Flippancy aside, Yorkshire had hoped to get at least one more year out of Gillespie, whose future had been the subject of regular speculation since he took the job in 2011.
Since then, the former Australia fast bowler has helped the club to one County Championship promotion and to back-to-back Championship titles, with the prospect of a hat-trick to follow next month.
Under Gillespie, Yorkshire have also twice reached NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day and successive Royal London Cup semi-finals, although, after 14 years without a one-day trophy, they have yet to crack limited-overs cricket in quite the same way.
IT'S OURS: Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and coach Jason Gillespie celebrate with the County Championship trophy at Trent Bridge back in 2014. Pictures: SWpix.
Gillespie’s track record, however, speaks for itself (Yorkshire have lost only five of 76 Championship games since his arrival), and he has been linked with practically more international coaching positions than there are jobs vacant.
There are many observers –this correspondent included –who thought that he should have got the England job last year, an opinion that has not been altered by progress under Trevor Bayliss.
Gillespie has also been linked with international positions back home, where his great friend and former team-mate Darren Lehmann is in charge of the Australia side.
Gillespie already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers, and potential moves for him now could include international cricket/the Indian Premier League.
CHEERS, I'LL BE OFF THEN: Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will leave the club after five years at the end of this season.
Although Yorkshire will be sad to see him go, it was a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’, Gillespie left.
The time would seem right for him not only from a family perspective, but also, one suspects, from a cricketing point of view.
Gillespie has probably taken Yorkshire as far as he can; their performances in the Championship this summer have actually tailed off a touch, although they have been more affected by injuries than in recent seasons, and they go into the final four matches just five points behind leaders Middlesex.
But it has not been the dominant campaign that many had hoped, although the end result is all that counts, and the players will be doubly determined to give Gillespie a successful send-off.
THRILLED: Jason Gillespie watches from the Lords balcony as the County Championship title is retained, despite the triumph being accompanied by defeat against hosts Middlesex.
Yorkshire’s magnificent pace attack is not getting any younger, and although there is no reason to suspect that the current side cannot aim to stretch their run of titles to at least four or five in a row, Yorkshire must soon face such unpalatable questions as: “Exactly how do you replace Ryan Sidebottom?”
Sport moves in cycles, and Gillespie has been part of a golden cycle at Yorkshire. He will leave with the thanks of the club’s supporters, who already respected him for what he achieved as a player.
As a key member of the great Australia side of the Nineties and Noughties, Gillespie took 402 international wickets. As a coach, it is noticeable that he never speaks about that success, or indeed seeks credit for Yorkshire’s recent triumphs.
He appreciates that it is players who win silverware first and foremost, and that support staff, in a nutshell, are exactly what that term would imply.
Gillespie’s coaching methods would seem quite simple: he does not over-complicate the game, but encourages his players to perform with freedom and to try to take the positive option.
He recognises the importance of making sure that the players believe that the coach believes in them, and his style is more arm-around-the-shoulder than ranter-and-raver.
Like all in sport, however, he hides a tough streak, although never quite to the extent that it masks a cheerful personality for too long.
At heart, he is a thoroughly decent chap: friendly, personable, and with time for all.
Even his infamous comments about the dairy industry, which he suggested earlier this summer should be closed down as it does not tie in with his vegan views, betrayed that decency and caring disposition, even if they were not shared by everyone – not least the Yorkshire sponsors, Wensleydale Cheese.
Yorkshire will not replace him easily, but a team of talented cricketers will cope.
Gillespie himself has seen to it, by helping to create a culture that will not be broken just because the time has come for him to say goodbye. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/video-chris-waters-time-is-right-for-jason-gillespie-to-bid-farewell-to-yorkshire-ccc-1-8094958 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/f8caf7668f918a12ad10890c370910d4866b751cd585ac0ea135ef495991e3bc.json |
[
"Laura Drysdale"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:03:18 | null | 2016-08-25T15:15:55 | Worried business owners are calling for action after a series of break ins on industrial estates in Kinsley and Fitzwilliam. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcall-for-action-after-thieves-target-industrial-estates-1-8088944.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8088943.1472134538!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Call for action after thieves target industrial estates | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Worried business owners are calling for action after a series of break ins on industrial estates in Kinsley and Fitzwilliam.
Police confirmed several commercial burglaries had been reported to them over the last few weeks.
Stephen Marshall of JW Autos at New Street, Kinsley said his MOT centre had been hit last month. Mr Marshall, who has had the company at the site since 1994, said something was happening at the industrial estates “almost every weekend” and businesses could not sustain it.
He said: “People are coming into the estates willy nilly whenever they want and are just stealing off hard working people and it is just not on.”
He called for action to make the industrial area more secure, suggesting surveillance or an unmarked police presence.
He said: “When people who have nothing to do with this estate can drive on to it and do as they like to people’s businesses, it’s just not right.”
Dan Nicholson of Priory Vehicle Engineers, based at Priory Business Park in Fitzwilliam agreed. He said: “More police presence would help and make you feel like something was being done”
Mr Nicholson said his business was “turned over” in February, leaving him questioning whether to continue operating.
“We don’t need it,” he said. “It is almost like this is a hazard of having a business these days.”
One business owner at the Ashmount Industrial Park in Kinsley said “around seven” of the businesses on the park had been hit in the last few months.
The man, who hasn’t directly been affected but requested to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said: “All the businesses are worried.
“We come in thinking who is next? There’s a lot of businesses which have spent a fortune on alarm and camera systems.” | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/call-for-action-after-thieves-target-industrial-estates-1-8088944 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/b4aa56fd88ab5cffcb9308720a9a854755416bfa877ae778b616095d304f6a15.json |
[
"Chris Waters"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:59:46 | null | 2016-08-23T10:54:35 | TIM BRESNAN claimed only the eighth five-wicket haul of his first-class career as champions Yorkshire closed in on victory against Notts at Scarborough. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fyorkshire-v-nottinghamshire-day-four-lunch-tim-bresnan-strikes-to-put-white-rose-on-verge-of-victory-1-8083613.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090940.1472215279!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day four, lunch): Tim Bresnan strikes to put White Rose on verge of victory | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | TIM BRESNAN claimed only the eighth five-wicket haul of his first-class career as champions Yorkshire closed in on victory against Notts at Scarborough.
The former England pace bowler has 5-36 as Notts reached lunch on 129-6 on day four, trailing by 323.
Bresnan bowled the first eight overs of the morning from the Trafalgar Square end, and he took 3-9 in the space of 31 balls after capturing his first two wickets the previous evening.
Brendan Taylor has batted through the session to advance from three to 37, with Brett Hutton (20) also unbeaten at the break.
In sunny conditions at North Marine Road, where Yorkshire brought over their “Blotter” from Headingley to dry the outfield after overnight rain, Notts lost a wicket to the day’s fourth ball when Bresnan had Tom Moores caught at second slip by Adam Lyth.
Moores had not added to his overnight score of 41, and Notts slipped to 77-5 when Bresnan had Samit Patel caught behind for five.
Tim Bresnan celebrates the wicket of Nottinghamshire's Jake Libby at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams
Patel briefly stood his ground in echoes of Michael Lumb’s dismissal on the third evening, when he, too, had been given out caught behind by umpire Neil Mallender.
Bresnan then bagged his fifth wicket when he had Chris Read caught at fourth slip by Jake Lehmann for one, leaving the visitors 83-6.
But Notts dug in as Taylor and Hutton battled for 80 minutes before the break in front of a 2,500 crowd. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/yorkshire-v-nottinghamshire-day-four-lunch-tim-bresnan-strikes-to-put-white-rose-on-verge-of-victory-1-8083613 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/be6b9a259e86bf07b5396db93b306f983bcaf6a14a9aaeb2fe08ffb028ec1569.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T14:50:14 | null | 2016-08-26T14:45:27 | Householders in the city are being urged to be on the lookout for rogue traders and not to buy on their doorstep. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fdon-t-fall-prey-to-criminals-on-your-doorstep-1-8091151.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8091150.1472219109!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Don’t fall prey to criminals on your doorstep | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Householders in the city are being urged to be on the lookout for rogue traders and not to buy on their doorstep.
West Yorkshire Trading Standards is also urging communities to keep an eye on the elderly and vulnerable to ensure that they are not taken advantage of by bogus workmen.
David Lodge, Head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said “We advise anyone not to buy from their doorstep or from anyone stopping you on the street. Once goods or services have been provided it is often difficult for householders to trace the perpetrator if anything goes wrong.”
Rogue traders take advantage of vulnerable consumers by targeting them for household repairs and jobs, such as roofing work and garden clearance services.
Tactics can include scaring consumers into having work carried out and finding further jobs that need urgent attention, leading to escalating prices.
Another con is trying to get into the house under the guise of needing the toilet or wanting to get a drink. Once inside and having caused a distraction, a burglary is likely to take place. Coun Ros Lund, Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards, said: “We all need to be aware of the different methods rogue traders use and to look out for those who are vulnerable. In order to take a stand against rogues, we need to report them and seek help if we ever fall for one of their tricks.”
People are being urged to call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454040506 if they witness see any suspicious activity. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/don-t-fall-prey-to-criminals-on-your-doorstep-1-8091151 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/5e6448f72c04d924c1cfac43e17c0c7ef244b245a5a3e0d0bad05a9b74ab9574.json |
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"Graham.Walker Jpress.Co.Uk"
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| 2016-08-29T08:50:46 | null | 2016-08-28T19:44:12 | Yorkshire | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fvideo-sheffield-s-the-sherlocks-camp-in-mud-with-fans-after-wowing-leeds-festival-1-8093618.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8093613.1472410116!/image/image.jpg | en | null | VIDEO: Sheffield's The Sherlocks camp in mud with fans after wowing Leeds Festival | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
Yorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks had a muddy great time at Leeds Festival - they drew a crowd of more than 6,000 fans then camped out with them.
The Sheffield indie four piece turned down a five star hotel and proved they are a real band of the people.
After packing out the Festival Republic stage they decided to pitched a tent in one of the muddy camp sites.
Frontan Kiaran Crook, aged 20, revealed: "We played our set then decided to camp through the night. We had an option to go into a five star hotel, with a jacuzzi and everything, but we decided to camp.
"We just love it."
He then joked: "We ended up camping next to the Red Hot Chili Peppers- I could hear Anthony snoring.
"But no, seriously, we love it. We love a bit of mud. We just thought, we might as well have the full festival experience."
Melvin Benn, Reading and Leeds Festival boss, said: "I didn't know The Sherlocks went and pitched up in the camp site. It doesn't surprise me. It's what my kids do. They want to be in the public camp site. Anybody who thinks the VIP area is the place to be, I can tell you it's a bit more boring."
Other Yorkshire bands who played at Leeds over the weekend included Sheffield's The Wired, Liberty Ship, Bang Bang Romeo, Leeds band Dusk, Fighting Caravans, York based Faux Pas and many more.
The Sherlocks, also featuring Kiaran's brother, drummer Brandon, 23, guitarist Josh Davidson, 22, and his brother and bassist Andy, 17, recently played the biggest music festival in the world, SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The Sherlocks played to over 6,000 people then camped out with fans in muddy fields at Leeds Festival.
They also played at Reading Festival at the weekend but said Leeds, their Yorkshire homecoming, was the highlight of their year.
Kiaran added: "Leeds Festival is really important to us. It's given us a chance to pick up new fans. We had a blast. The tent was packed. It exceeded what we thought it would be.We're going on tour next month, starting in Brighton and finishing in Stockton, with a sold out gig in Leeds.
"It would be nice to do the NME/Radio 1 stage next year, I think that's where we are heading."
Brandon added: "We are at home when playing Leeds festival. Now we need to get an album out while we've got momentum behind us."
The Sherlocks, who will record their debut album later this year, begin a 16-date UK headline tour later this week, including a sold out show at The Wardrobe in Leeds, on Tuesday, September 20.
The Sherlocks at Leeds Festival
For full dates and tickets visit thesherlocksmusic.co.uk
The Sherlocks on stage at Leeds Festival
Reading and Leeds Festival boss Melvin Benn
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story VIDEO: Sheffield's The Sherlocks camp in mud with fans after wowing Leeds Festival Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/video-sheffield-s-the-sherlocks-camp-in-mud-with-fans-after-wowing-leeds-festival-1-8093618 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/11f5f04215064279ebe6530944e60013d518184d36696316558b9b221299d042.json |
[]
| 2016-08-28T16:49:32 | null | 2016-08-28T17:10:22 | Yorkshire take on Surrey in the semi-final of the Royal London One Day Cup at Headingley. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Flive-royal-london-cup-yorkshire-v-surrey-middle-order-collapse-leaves-yorkshire-facing-uphill-battle-in-bid-for-lord-s-final-1-8093417.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8093414.1472400968!/image/image.jpg | en | null | LIVE - Royal London Cup: Yorkshire v Surrey - Middle order collapse leaves Yorkshire facing uphill battle in bid for Lord’s final | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Yorkshire take on Surrey in the semi-final of the Royal London One Day Cup at Headingley.
Follow our live updates here ....
Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan (second left) is congratulated by Jack Brooks (second right) and Jonny Bairstow (right) after taking the wicket of Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
44 overs: Yorkshire 202-6 - Bresnan 47 no; Rhodes 21 no - 54 needed off 36 balls
43 overs: Yorkshire 193-6 - Bresnan 44 no; Rhodes 15 no - 63 off 41 needed
42 overs: Yorkshire 188-6 - Bresnan 42 no; Rhodes 12 no- 68 needed off 48 balls
41 overs: Yorkshire 179-6 - Bresnan 37 no; Rhodes 10 no - 77 needed
40 overs: Yorkshire 173-6 - Bresnan 36 no; Rhodes 4no - 83 runs needed
37.1 overs: Waite out for an 38 off 60 balls - caught by Gareth Batty off the bowling of Sam Curran. Yorkshire up against it now.
THE loss of three quick wickets saw Yorkshire up against it as they took on Surrey at Headingley in the semi-final of the Royal London One Day Cup.
After restricting the visitors to 255-7 from their 50 overs – Matthew Waite leading the way with 3-48 – Yorkshire found themselves in a decent position at 75-2.
But, in the 19th over, Jonny Bairstow - cleared to play in the game by England - was caught by Dominic Sibley for 13 off the bowling of Stuart Meaker.
Just ten balls later, Bairstow’s England colleague, Gary Ballance, followed him back to the pavillion when he was caught behind by Ben Foakes for 32, handing Meaker his second victim.
Four balls later, the hosts were reeling when Jack Leaning chopped onto his stumps having scored just three.
Tim Bresnan was then joined by 20-year-old Waite with the score at 81.
The pair then batted sensibly to take their team’s score to 150-5 with 15 overs remaining.
Earlier, Steven Davies was the star of the show for the visitors, scoring a well-paced 104 off 143 balls with 10 fours and a six before becoming one of Waites’s three victims when he was caught by Will Rhodes.
Most of the damage was done in a fourth-wicket partnership between Davies and Foakes (90), the par putting on 130 before Davies exited in the 38th over.
Kumar Sangakkara, often seen as Surrey’s biggest threat, was sent on his way for just 4 when Azeem Rafiq took a catch off the bowling of Bresnan.
At the start of Yorkshire’s reply, Adam Lyth was dismissed at the start of the third overwhen caught by Sibley off the bowling of J\ake Dernbach.
Alex Lees put on 44 with Gary Ballance before shouldering arms to one off former Yorkshire player Gareth Batty that clean bowled him for 26. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/live-royal-london-cup-yorkshire-v-surrey-middle-order-collapse-leaves-yorkshire-facing-uphill-battle-in-bid-for-lord-s-final-1-8093417 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/b89cd600fe9a5bcd8f3d3e6cdf9ffcd3104ffdc187fee8105b9e67dea5b9059c.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:08:35 | null | 2016-08-17T18:23:38 | Acclaimed indie guitar rockers Sundara Karma are set to give their Leeds fans a double chance to catch their exciting live show in the next few weeks. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-entertainment%2Fit-s-double-karma-for-leeds-1-8074805.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8074803.1471454609!/image/image.jpg | en | null | It’s double Karma for Leeds | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Acclaimed indie guitar rockers Sundara Karma are set to give their Leeds fans a double chance to catch their exciting live show in the next few weeks.
The Reading band are building their fanbase with their ability to build arena sized, widescreen rock songs and are about to release new single ‘She Said’.
Previous single ‘Loveblood’ was an explosive guitar driven anthem that was Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record In The World’ on Radio 1 while their ‘In New Music We Trust’ playlisted single ‘A Young Understanding’ also won them plenty of fans.
Led by charismatic frontman Oscar Lulu, Sundara Karma are crafting bright, panoramic indie rock whose bruised-heart lyrics deal with young romance and a yearning to escape small town mundanity.
They have been compared to early Bruce Springsteen and with their intense live shows are building a dedicated cult teenage fan base.
Leeds music fans can find out for themselves what all the fuss is about as Sundara Karma are heading out on an eagerly anticipated tour, which includes a headline date at the Brudenell Social Club, in Leeds, on Monday, September 26 and an appearance at the Leeds Festival, at Bramham Park on Sunday, August 28. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/it-s-double-karma-for-leeds-1-8074805 | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/1b388a3f10be9fe07beba7cc07815552b8201f4783ea5f2b2ad55cd706898616.json |
[
"Chris Waters"
]
| 2016-08-27T10:48:52 | null | 2016-08-27T10:30:10 | JASON GILLESPIE believes there has been clear progress in Yorkshire’s one-day cricket this year, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s semi-final. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fyorkshire-v-surrey-white-ball-progress-gives-jason-gillespie-grounds-for-optimism-as-prize-of-lord-s-final-awaits-1-8092007.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8092004.1472248055!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Yorkshire v Surrey: White-ball progress gives Jason Gillespie grounds for optimism as prize of Lord’s final awaits | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | JASON GILLESPIE believes there has been clear progress in Yorkshire’s one-day cricket this year, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s semi-final.
Yorkshire are aiming to reach their first Lord’s final since 2002 when they take on Surrey at Headingley (11am start).
THREAT: Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara
It is the second successive season that Yorkshire have reached the Royal London semis, with the club going down by eight wickets to eventual champions Gloucestershire at Headingley last year.
Surrey, last season’s runners-up, will pose another stiff test, but Gillespie has been encouraged by Yorkshire’s white-ball performances, with the club having also reached the semi-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast before losing to Durham.
“We’ve seen clear progress in white-ball cricket this year,” said Gillespie. “We’re not the finished article, but we’ve definitely seen improvements overall in both of the comps.
“We should have chased down the runs against Durham in the T20 semi, even though Mark Wood bowled very well against us.
“But that’s gone now, and I’m pleased overall with how the lads have gone about their work in one-day cricket.”
To get past Surrey, Yorkshire must overcome a semi-final hoodoo in List A cricket. Their defeat to Gloucestershire last season was their 16th in 19 one-day cup semis.
“That stat isn’t in our minds,” said Gillespie. “It hasn’t even been discussed. Sunday is a new day, and the fact is that we’ve played some good cricket in the 50-over comp.
“We know Surrey are a quality team and that people will see them as favourites, which is okay with us.
“We just need to go out there and play the best cricket we can and focus on that.”
On paper, the biggest danger to Yorkshire is Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka batsman/wicketkeeper. Sangakkara, 38, scored an unbeaten 130 to help Surrey to a dramatic one-wicket win off the last ball of their quarter-final at Northants.
“Sangakkara is clearly an extremely dangerous player,” said Gillespie, whose side booked their semi-final place with an 11-run win over Kent at Canterbury.
“He has a proven track record, and he is capable of winning games single-handed.
“At the same time, we will do our homework against him and encourage our bowlers and everyone to do their research.
“Phil Dicks (the Yorkshire analyst) puts a lot of stuff together, and the players have iPads where they can look at all the relevant footage – ie, where Sangakkara scores his runs, his wagon wheels, and potentially where he could be vulnerable, which is what we do with all our opponents.”
Yorkshire’s attention to detail in this regard has increased markedly in recent times.
Dicks is an important member of the backroom operation, equipping players with all the necessary stats and info.
“Phil has been brilliant,” said Gillespie. “He’s an important cog in the support staff at Yorkshire.
Yorkshire (from): Ballance, Bresnan, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Hodd, Leaning, Lees (capt), Lyth, Patterson, Rafiq, Rhodes, Waite. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/yorkshire-v-surrey-white-ball-progress-gives-jason-gillespie-grounds-for-optimism-as-prize-of-lord-s-final-awaits-1-8092007 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/635be75752201091fe26d23f78f2c7b2335b696a759846c84d2297d8cca5ce61.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:01:32 | null | 2016-08-26T13:30:56 | Yorkshire’s marine life is overwhelmed by plastic and alarming research shows particles are passing into the human food chain. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fmp-calls-for-microbead-ban-to-protect-marine-life-1-8090911.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090910.1472214636!/image/image.jpg | en | null | MP calls for microbead ban to protect marine life | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Yorkshire’s marine life is overwhelmed by plastic and alarming research shows particles are passing into the human food chain.
Microbeads commonly found in hundreds of bathroom products including shower gel and toothpaste are finding their way into the country’s most loved seafood, including crab, mussels and lobster.
Shocking evidence presented to MPs, who are calling for a ban on microbeads, shows that a plate of six oysters contains on average 50 ingested plastic particles and there are 36 particles per 100g portion of North Sea mussels.
Puffins and other birds at Bempton Cliffs in the East Riding are also mistaking the small beads as fish eggs and some seabirds have been found to have so much plastic in their gut that it accounts for 10 per cent of their body weight.
Environmental Audit Committee Chair and Wakefield MP Mary Creagh said: “Microbeads have been used in products since the 1990s and this year 68 tonnes of them went into the sea.
“Consumers are revolted by the idea we are polluting the marine environment and are horrified that labelling isn’t more clear.
“The microbeads in scrubs, shower gels and toothpastes are an avoidable part of this plastic pollution problem.
“A single shower can result in 100,000 plastic particles entering the ocean.
“We need a full legal ban, preferably at an international level as pollution does not respect borders.
“If this isn’t possible after our vote to leave the EU, then the Government should introduce a national ban.
“The best way to reduce this pollution is to prevent plastic being flushed into the sea in the first place.”
So far large cosmetics companies have made voluntary commitments to phase out microbeads by 2020.
However, the committee found that a legislative ban would send a stronger message.
And Ms Creagh, who has chaired the committee since 2015, said she would like to see a national ban on microbeads by the end of 2017. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-calls-for-microbead-ban-to-protect-marine-life-1-8090911 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/6df1f340259da3f26635169992fe0cb5ee6f408e33afd4e3b700b541d994d2ed.json |
[
"Chris Waters"
]
| 2016-08-29T08:49:48 | null | 2016-08-29T09:01:30 | JASON GILLESPIE has resigned as Yorkshire’s first team coach. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fjason-gillespie-to-stand-down-as-yorkshire-ccc-coach-at-end-of-2016-season-1-8093941.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8093938.1472457699!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Jason Gillespie to stand down as Yorkshire CCC coach at end of 2016 season | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Australian heading back home after five years of success at Headingley
JASON GILLESPIE has resigned as Yorkshire’s first team coach.
The former Australia fast bowler is to leave the club at the end of the season.
Jason Gillespie with Martyn Moxon at Headingley back in 2012.
The news is a body blow to the county champions, whom Gillespie has led to back-to-back Championships.
READ/WATCH MORE - Timeline and slideshow of Jason Gillespie’s time at Yorkshire
READ MORE - Royal London Cup: Semi-final misery continues for Yorkshire as they come up short against Surrey
However, it is not entirely unexpected, with Gillespie’s wife and four children having recently returned to Australia, and with his future having been a regular source of speculation.
Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season Yorkshire CCC statement
Gillespie has been linked with a number of international coaching jobs during his five seasons in charge, and he already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers.
Yorkshire had hoped that he would stay for at least another year, but after the club lost to Surrey in the Royal London Cup semi-final yesterday, Gillespie communicated his decision to the Yorkshire board.
Yorkshire say they will start the search for a new head coach at the end of the season, who will work under director of cricket Martyn Moxon.
In a statement issued today, the club said: “Yorkshire County Cricket Club can confirm that Jason Gillespie will leave his position as head coach at the end of the 2016 season.
Yorkshire's head coach, Jason Gillespie, pictured with Jonny Bairstow during Sunday's Royal London Cup semi-final defeat at Headingley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Jason, who led Yorkshire from the Second Division to consecutive Championship titles, along the way suffering just five defeats in 76 Championship fixtures since his appointment in November 2011.
“His wife Anna and their four children have recently returned to Australia and, with the 41-year-old’s existing commitments to coaching the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash, Jason feels the close season is an appropriate time to part company.
“Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season, and the club will provide further updates when the time is appropriate.”
Gillespie has the chance to go out on a high, with the club well-placed to secure a hat-trick of Championships.
Yorkshire go into Wednesday’s match against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in second place in Division One, five points behind leaders Middlesex with four games to play. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/jason-gillespie-to-stand-down-as-yorkshire-ccc-coach-at-end-of-2016-season-1-8093941 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/10b6e18ed79e2a2ee66e4cd83af017276242f7948350be967ca90dae8a4319b9.json |
[
"Chris Waters"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:00:15 | null | 2016-08-20T06:00:11 | NO-ONE is better qualified than David Willey when it comes to the T20 Finals Day experience. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Ft20-finals-day-david-willey-is-aiming-to-give-yorkshire-the-edge-1-8079713.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8079712.1471684026!/image/image.jpg | en | null | T20 Finals Day: David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | NO-ONE is better qualified than David Willey when it comes to the T20 Finals Day experience.
Yorkshire have been there only once, but this will be Willey’s fourth appearance, having made it three times with previous club Northants.
In 2009, Willey was part of the side that lost by seven wickets to Sussex in the semi-final.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
READ MORE - Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum, says Lees
READ MORE - Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
He was just 19 years old and had an unremarkable match; he did not bat as Northants totalled 136-6, and then he bowled two wicketless overs for 16 runs.
In 2013, Willey had the antithesis of an unremarkable match when Northants beat Surrey by 102 runs in the final.
He opened the batting and scored 60 from 27 balls with six fours and four sixes, and then he took 4-9 from 2.3 overs, finishing the match with a hat-trick when he dismissed Zafar Ansari, Jon Lewis and Chris Tremlett.
Willey was on the losing side last year when Lancashire beat Northants in the final by 13 runs.
He took 2-21 from four overs as Lancs scored 166-7, and then he hit 24 from 21 balls as Northants replied with 153-6.
As no other Yorkshire player has been to Finals Day more than once, his experience will be invaluable as Yorkshire seek to win the competition for the first time.
“I guess so,” said Willey, who left Wantage Road for Headingley during the close season.
“My primary role with regards to the move to Yorkshire was to try and help improve the club’s one-day cricket, and, hopefully, we are starting to make improvements.
“There will be expectation on me to perform (at Finals Day), but that’s the case with any one-day game.
“It’s a big day out and a great day out, particularly if you’re part of the team that lifts the trophy.”
Willey, one of four Yorkshire players who appeared in the World T20 final against the West Indies in April, along with Joe Root, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid, has made a habit of performing on the big stage.
He did it again when helping Yorkshire book their place at Edgbaston with a 90-run win over Glamorgan in the quarter-final in Cardiff, thumping 79 from 38 balls with seven fours and six sixes.
“I like to perform on the big occasions,” he said.
“Against Glamorgan, I didn’t really have a plan; I just tried to give myself a chance to clear the ropes, and a couple of loose deliveries gave me a platform.
“We’re all looking forward to Finals Day, and fingers-crossed we can win a couple more games and get the trophy.
“We’ve got all our England lads back, which will make it a massive headache for the coaches to pick 11 players.”
The man with the headache is first-team coach Jason Gillespie, who has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
But you can bet that one of the first names on his team sheet will be Willey, who has a proven record for lighting up Finals Day.
“Dave’s the type of player who can change a game,” said Gillespie, whose side take on Durham in the second semi-final, with the winner playing Northants or Notts in the final.
“We’ve seen what he’s done for Northants in the past, and he can pick up wickets early and swing the ball, score quick runs and he’s always in the game.
“That’s what I really like about him, and he’s brought a lot to our team.
“We’re delighted to have him because he’s such a positive guy, happy to challenge his team-mates – which is really healthy – and very competitive, too.”
Willey’s all-round ability gives Gillespie flexibility.
He is effectively three players in one – good with the bat, ball and in the field.
“To have someone who’s great in the field, who whacks them like he does, and who opens the bowling gives us so many extra options,” said Gillespie.
“It allows us to play an extra batsman as well.
“The start he gives us with the bat is fantastic, and it’s something we probably haven’t had in T20 for a while.
“It showed with his performance at Cardiff, when people could see why we were so keen to secure his services.”
Gillespie encourages all of his players to speak in the dressing room and Willey will address the team prior to Finals Day.
Yorkshire are keen to tap into his knowledge and know-how in an effort to gain an extra edge.
“Some of our lads haven’t been to Finals Day before, and it will be good to get Dave’s thoughts in the team meeting,” said Gillespie.
“His knowledge of it will be important, and something that we can draw on, and Dave’s the type of player who steps up when needed, and hopefully he can show everyone how good he is again.
“We’ve got a lot of match-winners in our side, and it’s going to be fantastic
“There was a lot of drive and ambition from everyone at the club to get this far in the competition after everyone had written us off – that was a really good motivating tool for us – and we’re just pleased as punch to be in with a shout.”
Ben Duckett hopes Northants can sneak under the radar again, having been part of the Steelbacks side which defied the odds to win the tournament in 2013 and fell at the final hurdle against Lancashire 12 months ago.
Northants face Notts Outlaws in the first semi-final today and are the only side involved in Finals Day who have previously won the competition.
Left-hander Duckett says confidence will be high despite their lack of high-profile players.
“We haven’t got any international stars. Finals Day will be interesting to see who is talked about – Yorkshire,” said the 21-year-old Duckett.
“We just keep going under the radar but smost of our guys love the pressure. We just go out and enjoy ourselves.” | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/t20-finals-day-david-willey-is-aiming-to-give-yorkshire-the-edge-1-8079713 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/09d052ba08ce809855c6353a853e83b6d2bd06b663dd3184e11167d4cd775d5d.json |
[
"Georgina Morris",
"Georgina.Morris Jpress.Co.Uk"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:51:23 | null | 2016-08-30T11:29:29 | Closures are in place on the A1(M) in South Yorkshire following two accidents. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fbusiness-news%2Ffour-mile-queues-on-a1-motorway-after-two-accidents-1-8095563.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8095561.1472553581!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Four mile queues on A1 motorway after two accidents | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Closures are in place on the A1(M) in South Yorkshire following two accidents.
Drivers are being warned to expect long delays as emergency services respond to the incidents.
The first accident at the junction 35 northbound sliproad, at around 10.20am, prompted the closure of the northbound carriageway between junctions 35 and 36, near Doncaster.
And a single lane of the southbound carriageway has also been closed between junctions 36 and 37 following a second collision involving a lorry and a motorcycle.
Highways England said there were approximately four miles of slow traffic on the approach to junction 35.
It said teams were working to free cars stuck between the junction and the crash site.
An air ambulance had been dispatched to the scene of the first crash, landing at the site at around 10.30am.
Highways England is currently predicting the delays on the northbound carriageway will be cleared by 12.45am-1pm and on the southbound by 2pm-2.15pm.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Four mile queues on A1 motorway after two accidents Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/business/business-news/four-mile-queues-on-a1-motorway-after-two-accidents-1-8095563 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/24553842720464c61fb948e8a069debf8c39cde06008fb4f4e536033600cf678.json |
[
"Peter Smith"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:49:41 | null | 2016-08-23T06:15:00 | WAKEFIELD TRINITY Wildcats plan to contest a grade B high tackle charge issued to forward David Fifita, coach Chris Chester says. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fwakefield-wildcats%2Fwakefield-wildcats-news%2Fwakefield-wildcats-wildcats-ready-to-fight-fifita-s-tackle-charge-1-8082881.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8082880.1471883997!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Wakefield Wildcats: Wildcats ready to fight Fifita’s tackle charge | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | WAKEFIELD TRINITY Wildcats plan to contest a grade B high tackle charge issued to forward David Fifita, coach Chris Chester says.
Fifita faces a ban of up to two matches, which would be halved if he submitted an early guilty plea.
The charge relates to a tackle on Rhys Hanbury in the 38th minute of Trinity’s 40-8 defeat at Widnes Vikings two days ago and Chester said: “We will go and fight it.”
Chester is hopeful up to six players could return from injury when Wakefield resume their First Utility Super-8s campaign away to Castleford Tigers on Sunday, September 4.
The coach confirmed Ben Harrison, who is on loan from Warrington Wolves, but has been sidelined by a knee problem, will make his debut and Tom Johnstone, Scott Anderson, Matty Ashurst, Anthony Tupou and “potentially” Mickael Simon could all return to the side.
“If we had been anywhere else [other than on Widnes’ synthetic pitch] Ben would have played at the weekend,” Chester said.
“We are led by Warrington, we are happy to follow their lead.
“He has been in training a couple of weeks and also spends a day over at Warrington and has been going really well.”
Ashurst, who is recovering from a broken jaw, is due for an x-ray a week tomorrow and Chester is hopeful he will be given the all-clear.
The coach admitted his team will benefit from having no game this weekend. He said: “We needed a break three or four weeks ago.
“We have played 32 weeks of consecutive football and for the last four or five we have not been able to rotate anybody because of all the injuries we’ve had. The guys need a rest.”
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Wakefield Wildcats: Wildcats ready to fight Fifita’s tackle charge Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/wakefield-wildcats/wakefield-wildcats-news/wakefield-wildcats-wildcats-ready-to-fight-fifita-s-tackle-charge-1-8082881 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/9a0b4a246e76e84b7e870c65e9c8c920a573683966be724749d147dd07f77df4.json |
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"Laura Butler"
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| 2016-08-26T13:05:48 | null | 2016-08-25T15:53:17 | An inspiring little girl won two gold medals at the transplant games a year after her mum gave her the gift of life. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Finspirational-winner-holly-is-a-double-gold-medallist-1-8089101.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8089099.1472136778!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Inspirational winner Holly is a double gold medallist | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | An inspiring little girl won two gold medals at the transplant games a year after her mum gave her the gift of life.
Five-year-old Holly Wilson was born with a rare disorder called congenital nephrotic syndrome which causes her kidneys to leak protein.
And last year her mum Natalie Wilson donated her kidney to her daughter and saved her life.
But Holly quickly bounced back from the operation, and represented the Leeds Children’s Transplant Team and competed in the 0-5 years category last month at the games in Liverpool.
She went on to win two golds, one in the 25m sprint and one in the long jump. She also won a silver in the ball throw event.
Her mum said: “Holly’s going to do it again next year and she can’t wait.”
The games allow transplant patients to take part in sporting events and encourages them to become active after their treatment.
Mrs Wilson, raised all the funds to allow Holly and her family to travel to the event. She set up a raffle in the salon that she owns, The Beauty Box in Castleford.
Mrs Wilson said: “It’s definitely given Holly a lot more confidence by taking part in the games.”
One of the main purposes of the event is to raise awareness of organ transplants and encourage people to sign the organ donor register. One organ donor can save the lives of up to nine people.
Mrs Wilson added: “It’s definitely been hard to cope with something like this but the transplant games have really helped Holly.
“Because of the fundraising, my family were able to attend the games to support Holly.
“It was fantastic to have family support and I wish to thank everyone who helped.”
In 2012, Holly’s parents, Natalie and Chris Wilson, raised more than £1,600 for Leeds General Infirmary where Holly received treatment for her rare kidney condition.
The British Transplant Games take place every year at a different venue. In 2017 they will take place in North Larnarkshire.
To find out more about the games or to get involved next year visit: www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/inspirational-winner-holly-is-a-double-gold-medallist-1-8089101 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/1abbdd2ce790c90bea04149ddbd2afc6a4421b465f7ec3a032ed733545e999cc.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:10:26 | null | 2016-07-29T21:14:49 | Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates is a new romantic comedy out later this month but we are giving you the chance to see it first and free. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fwin-mike-and-dave-need-wedding-dates-preview-tickets-at-vue-sheffield-1-8041971.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8041970.1469823440!/image/image.jpg | en | null | WIN: Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates preview tickets at Vue Sheffield | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates is a new romantic comedy out later this month but we are giving you the chance to see it first and free.
We have 10 pairs of tickets to be won to an exclusive advance screening at Vue cinema, Meadowhall, Sheffield, on Tuesday, August 2, at 6.30pm.
Our winners will get to see it more than a week before anyone else - it opens in UK cinemas on August 10.
Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates (15 certificate) is based on real life events when hard-partying brothers Mike (Adam Devine) and Dave (Zac Efron) place an online ad to find the perfect dates (Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza) for their sister's Hawaiian wedding.
Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves outsmarted and out-partied by the uncontrollable duo.
WIN PREVIEW TICKETS:
Enter our free draw - by Twitter or email - for a chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to an exclusive advance screening of Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates at Vue cinema, Meadowhall, Sheffield, on Tuesday, August 2, at 6.30pm.
Simply follow @GW1962 on Twitter and retweet any of his #JPCompMADNWD tweets, or email your full name, age, address, telephone nuners and email details, with #JPCompMADNWD in the subject field, to graham,[email protected]. Deadline is Monday, August 1, 10am.
Tickets cannot be swapped or exchanged for other venues, film screenings, dates or times - so only enter if you can attend. Only one email entry per person. Usual Johnston Press terms and conditions apply see www.johnstonpress.co.uk/competition
Follow Fox UK on Twitter @20CenturyFoxUK
WATCH TRAILERS FOR OTHER 20TH CENTURY FOX FILMS - CLICK ON THE TITLES
OUT NOW: Absolutely Fabulous The Movie
OUT NOW: Ice Age: Collision Course
Coming Soon:
AUGUST 10: Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates
SEPTEMBER 30: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
OCTOBER 21: Trolls
DTBC: Morgan
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story WIN: Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates preview tickets at Vue Sheffield Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/win-mike-and-dave-need-wedding-dates-preview-tickets-at-vue-sheffield-1-8041971 | en | 2016-07-29T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/a82bfef845a2fdbfa44b793fa2c2ba2d87a3aad34ee9bad93b652be7af0e17e2.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:07:43 | null | 2016-08-25T16:22:21 | British Transport Police are urging parents to reinforce warning about the dangers of the railway after six children were seen on the tracks in Wakefield. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwarning-after-children-found-playing-on-wakefield-railway-tracks-1-8089194.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8089193.1472138991!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Warning after children found playing on Wakefield railway tracks | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | British Transport Police are urging parents to reinforce warning about the dangers of the railway after six children were seen on the tracks in Wakefield.
The group were seen on the tracks near Healey Mills Depot in Ossett, near to Engine Lane, at around 3pm on Sunday.
About one hour later the driver of the 3.05pm Bradford to Kings Cross service reported striking a wooden sleeper which had been placed across the tracks in the same location.
Luckily the no-one was injured and no damage was caused to the train.
When an officer attended they discovered a number of items, including the sleeper, had been placed on the tracks and there was damage to parked vehicle nearby.
Following the worrying incident BTP reminding youngsters, and their parents, of the dangers that can be posed by the railway and trespassing on or near the tracks.
Longer evenings, coupled with school holidays, spell danger for Britain’s youth as statistics show young people are twice as likely to trespass at this time of year as in the winter.
In the last year there has been a 25 per cent rise in the number of reports of trespass over the summer in the Yorkshire region.
In response to this incident, BTP have stepping up patrols in the area.
Insp Caroline Farrow said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone’s door to tell a parent their child has been killed or seriously injured as a result of messing about on the railway.
“The railway environment is extremely dangerous and trains, which can be silent, travel through this area at speeds of over 90mph.
”Please make sure your children are aware that the railway is an incredibly dangerous environment and remind them to stay away from the rail network, it’s not a playground.
“Those children seen trespassing may believe they can place things on the tracks before a train comes, however trains travel extremely fast and all it takes is for them to slip or trip and they will not be able to get out of the way in time. Children need to understand that what may seem to them as a fun or a game can be deadly to them and others.”
“We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so. However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone.
“That is why we are urging parents and young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life consequences.”
Vicki Beadle, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “The railway is not a playground and mindless acts like this could have life threatening consequences not just for those who are trespassing on the railway, but for the passengers traveling on board trains. I am urging parents to know where there children are, especially during the final days of the school holidays, and to make sure they know the dangers of playing on the railway.”
Anyone with any information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or by text on 61016 quoting reference 296 of 21/8. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/warning-after-children-found-playing-on-wakefield-railway-tracks-1-8089194 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/63ecd6bffb5fce7479be8a2976a426bf011b4b00a39c9b1f5b98bf55049b040a.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:08:46 | null | 2016-08-11T11:12:39 | Having risen through the ranks of the UK indie world, championed by pop stars and indie icons and collaborated with Suede legend Bernard Butler on her 2013 self-titled album, Natalie McCool returns with brand new album ‘The Great Unknown’ and a tour that includes a date in Leeds. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-entertainment%2Fnatalie-mccool-brings-great-unknown-to-leeds-1-8063349.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8063348.1470910317!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Natalie McCool brings ‘Great Unknown’ to Leeds | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Having risen through the ranks of the UK indie world, championed by pop stars and indie icons and collaborated with Suede legend Bernard Butler on her 2013 self-titled album, Natalie McCool returns with brand new album ‘The Great Unknown’ and a tour that includes a date in Leeds.
McCool’s breed of slick alternative pop has won her acclaim from the like of Huw Stephens and Alice Levine, while BBC Introducing described the edgy artist as“one of the finest emerging songwriters around”.
The singer-songwriter’s debut was built on a foundation of deliciously dark, gloomy indie-pop, but follow-up ‘The Great Unknown’ - available through Pledge Music exclusively from September 9 - is an awakening – emerging from the shadows with a number of prickly pop tunes.
Fans can hear the new material for themselves when the BBC Radio 1 play-listed McCool embarks on ‘The Great Unknown’ tour next month and will be in Leeds at the Brudenell Social Club on Sunday, September 18. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/natalie-mccool-brings-great-unknown-to-leeds-1-8063349 | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/4516610cbdf0668c6b9e63e5708bfc7fb348b75bb91b5cf2c0f1c20a310357bb.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T14:49:21 | null | 2016-08-26T14:03:30 | During the last waltz at a Unity Hall dance in 1950, Michael and June Morgan arranged to meet again the next week – and married the year after. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fmichael-and-june-celebrate-65-years-together-after-a-unity-hall-dance-1-8091009.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8091008.1472216592!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Michael and June celebrate 65 years together after a Unity Hall dance | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | During the last waltz at a Unity Hall dance in 1950, Michael and June Morgan arranged to meet again the next week – and married the year after.
Yesterday the Durkar-based couple celebrated 65 years since they wed at Wakefield’s registry office.
Former miner Mr Morgan, 85, said: “We used to go dancing and we’ve been dancing most of our life.”
But he admits that the moves do not come as easily to the pair these days.
“It’s a long time isn’t it? It seems like a really long time since we met.”
During their early lives Mr Morgan worked at various pits, including the Walton and Prince of Wales collieries, taking early retirement in his 50s.
And June worked in mills before becoming a member of office staff for BHS and a plumbing firm in Dewsbury.
Between 1952 to 1965 the couple had four children: Andrea, Linda, Julie and David.
Six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren were later born.
The pair have enjoyed various holidays to Spanish islands but their favourite destination is Yorkshire’s own Whitby – where they like to stay in the Royal Hotel.
But the couple have lived in their Ledgard Drive home for the last 55 years after moving from Shafton.
Celebration plans for their milestone have been kept under wraps by the family.
Mrs Morgan, 84, said: “We don’t plan – the gang plans for us.” | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/michael-and-june-celebrate-65-years-together-after-a-unity-hall-dance-1-8091009 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/5a546cd95f7bdd575e70d96333f509af484f677db2393343f1433c7b55233b37.json |
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| 2016-08-27T10:50:00 | null | 2016-08-27T10:22:27 | The sun shone, but there was plenty of mud as well on the opening day of the 2016 Leeds Festival as the annual three-day spectacular got off to a fantastic, if messy start yesterday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ffall-out-boy-light-up-first-day-at-muddy-leeds-festival-1-8092199.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8092198.1472289731!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Fall Out Boy light up first day at muddy Leeds Festival | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | The sun shone, but there was plenty of mud as well on the opening day of the 2016 Leeds Festival as the annual three-day spectacular got off to a fantastic, if messy start yesterday.
Heavy rain the day before, lasting well into the night, had left parts of Bramham Park ankle deep in mud from the outset and made walking between stages a bit of a nightmare - but it could not dampen spirits of the thousands who flocked to the venue for the 18th year of the north’s biggest music event.
Some fans were unhappy after the late cry off of main stage act A$AP Rocky, who came up with a poor excuse of traffic difficulties for a non-appearance announced just minutes before he was due to appear.
But, though this left an awkward long gap between bands it did not spoil a superb end to the evening’s entertainment on the main stage.
The Vaccines proved a perfect warm-up with their wonderful sing-along songs before joint headliners Fall Out Boy and Biffy Clyro lived up to their billing in some style.
If it was a competition, honours went to Fall Out Boy for the spectacular show they put on, complete with huge and frequent pyrotechnics and dancing girls twirling fiery batons. Oh and the songs were not too shabby either as they performed just about all their best known songs.
Biffy Clyro ended with some big fireworks too, but in contrast their show was all about the music as they produced a polished display that highlighted what a great band they are these days.
Earlier on the main stage, State Champs had opened proceedings while Coheed & Cambria and Five Finger Death Punch had entertained in their own inimitable style.
The NME/ BBC Radio 1 Stage was headlined by trendy band The 1975, who drew a predictable big crowd and here saw good shows too from The Wombats, Cage The Elephant and Tonight Alive.
Over on the Lock Up Stage The King Blues entertained with their brand of ska punk and the likes of Waterparks, Roam and the splendidly named Leeds band Fighting Caravans proved good new additions to the festival roster.
Headliners here were American pop punkers Good Charlotte, who were returning to the event after many years away, and attracted a big crowd.
The Dance Stage and BBC 1 Extra Stage offered different fare with their dance beats, rappers and DJs pulling decent crowds throughout the day and evening. DJ EZ and Kano were the headline acts on these two stages.
There were plenty of top names over at the Alternative Stage where festival regular Russell Kane proved the pick of the stand-ups with a hilarious set that got huge laughs and plenty of applause.
Irish comic Andrew Maxwell was first on and started with a small crowd, but the audience built throughout his set with the crowd warming to his ad-libbing and occasional filthy, but funny references. Mark Watson followed and was very different to the opener, but went down just as well while Holly Walsh and Jamali Maddix provided plenty of laughs later in the afternoon.
Final act of the afternoon Kurrupt FM provided a very different act for the Alternative Stage with their full-on rap show playing to a packed tent.
The BBC Introducing Stage has no tent and suffered as it was a quagmire for fans to stand on if they wanted to watch the latest up and comers.
But it is this stage that plays hosts to the stars of tomorrow with the likes of Super Glu, Muses, Night Owls and Lawrence Taylor getting their opportunity to shine this year.
The Leeds Festival continues today with Disclosure and Foals the big attractions on the main stage, Jack U and Twenty One Pilots on the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage and Maximo Park and Leeds’ Pulled Apart By Horses on the Festival Republic Stage.
One act who will not be appearing is Fetty Wap with the American hip hop artist pulling out of his scheduled NME/ BBC Radio 1 Stage appearance because he is ill. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/fall-out-boy-light-up-first-day-at-muddy-leeds-festival-1-8092199 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/686ea5f1e86f701b69ea789d0093f406b8065894c6081b49523fc32fb02970e6.json |
[]
| 2016-08-30T16:50:31 | null | 2016-08-30T16:56:52 | AFTER five successful years at the helm, Yorkshire’s first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, this week revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of this season. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fcrickettalk-end-of-an-era-as-jason-gillespie-prepares-to-exit-yorkshire-ccc-1-8096457.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8096453.1472572584!/image/image.jpg | en | null | CricketTalk: End of an era as Jason Gillespie prepares to exit Yorkshire CCC | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | AFTER five successful years at the helm, Yorkshire’s first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, this week revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of this season.
During his time at Headingley, he has overseen a period of tremendous success for the club, inheriting a team that had been relegated to Division Two of the County Championship before transforming them into an outfit capable of earning promotion back to the top tier at the first time of asking.
HHEADING HOME: Yorkshire first-team coach, Jason Gillespie. Picture: Simon Hulme
After finishing second in their first year back in Division One - pipped to the title they hadn’t won since in 2001 by Durham – they returned to the top of the tree two years in succession.
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Now, with four games remaining Yorkshire are still well-placed to make it three titles in a row and send Gillespie back home to South Australia on a perfect high.
The YP’s Chris Waters joins host Phil Harrison to discuss Gillespie’s departure, as well as reflecting on his time at the club and how his exit on Yorkshire CCC will impact on the club going forward. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/crickettalk-end-of-an-era-as-jason-gillespie-prepares-to-exit-yorkshire-ccc-1-8096457 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/4371efabbd8078efbf5f111fab2f5fc7362196e90a761d3839e65ab8ea156879.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:06:24 | null | 2016-08-26T11:47:56 | A plaque has been unveiled in memory of a man for his dedication to improving the area and the community close to Fall Ings Lock. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Frecognition-for-geoff-s-work-in-the-community-1-8090597.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090596.1472208459!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Recognition for Geoff’s work in the community | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | A plaque has been unveiled in memory of a man for his dedication to improving the area and the community close to Fall Ings Lock.
Geoff Smethurst died last year after losing his battle with cancer at the age of 80 and his community commemorated his life with the dedication last month.
Belle Vue Community Association Secretary Neil Phillips described the hard work Mr Smethurst did to improve the area he loved to walk family dog, Jay, and fish in.
He said:”Fall Ings was his passion and he did his best for it.
“When he saw littering he really did care, he helped arrange litter pick ups and bins being put in.”
Mr Smethurst also started a campaign to protest the lack of consultation over a plan for a cycle path running along the side of Fall Ings Lock.
When he became too ill to continue working on the upkeep of the area residents were touched to see friends and others from outside the community stepping in to continue his work.
The plaque in unveiled during the ceremony is only temporary.
But plans are in place to create a more permanent one which will eventually be placed on one of the bins Mr Smethurst managed to have put in place.
Mr Phillips said that Mr Smethurst would appreciate the sentiment of his memory being honoured in this way.
His family were able to attend the dedication with brother Johnny, son Barry and daughter in law Samantha all present. Mr Bellamy’s grandaughter Leah also attended the ceremony.
Funding for the plaque was provided by the WDH, Wakefield Council, Belle Vue Community Association and the Canal and Rivers Trust who Mr Smethurst spent one summer working with. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/recognition-for-geoff-s-work-in-the-community-1-8090597 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/b70cbfbce9ccd8c8794415ebbf85c0bca01017fd01b745bb1f35d1d05c2699ea.json |
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"Tony.Harber Jpress.Co.Uk"
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| 2016-08-28T10:49:23 | null | 2016-08-28T10:52:37 | Leeds United boss Garry Monk rued his side’s defending at corners as it proved costly in their 3-1 Championship defeat at Nottingham Forest. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fsoft-goals-prove-undoing-of-leeds-united-at-forest-1-8092991.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8092990.1472377937!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Soft goals prove undoing of Leeds United at Forest | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Leeds United boss Garry Monk rued his side’s defending at corners as it proved costly in their 3-1 Championship defeat at Nottingham Forest.
The Whites had previously conceded a number of goals from set pieces this season, but looked to have tightened up in the area in recent matches until they were undone by two corners at the City Ground.
Unhappy head coach Monk said: “We gifted them two soft goals, which made it difficult,
“We have the international break now and some time for us to work on things, to drill a few things into the players.
“We need to cut out the sloppiness and the individual errors. We have the squad to address this.
“We conceded soft goals and Forest did nothing in general play otherwise. If not for the goals we conceded we would have won the game, definitely.”
Leeds, showing 10 changes from the side that beat Luton in the EFL Cup in midweek and one from the team that won at Sheffield Wednesday, started well enough with Pablo Hernandez looking lively on the left wing and putting an early effort off target.
But it was Forest who took the lead on 16 minutes when a corner was flicked on at the near post and turned it at the far by Pajtim Kasami as he caught Charlie Taylor napping.
United almost replied when Hadi Sacko’s cross almost caught home keeper Stephen Henderson out.
Neither side created much in the opening half, although Rob Green had to make a save from Kasami’s free-kick and at the other end Marcus Antonsson saw his shot blocked.
A better chance fell to Antonsson in injury time, but he was denied by a fine Henderson save.
United started the second half well with some pressure on the home goal ended when Chris Wood fired over and Hernandez slipped when well placed.
Ben Osborn hit a shot wide for Forest before Sacko was off target with a shot from distance for Leeds.
The crucial second goal went to the hosts as they won another corner and Damien Perquis beat Liam Cooper to head the ball into the net.
To United’s credit, they tried to battle back as Wood sent a header off target from a Hernandez cross.
They did make it 2-1 seven minutes from time when substitute Kalvin Phillips beat keeper Henderson with a well struck curling free-kick from 20 yards out.
Leeds went looking for an equaliser with defender Kyle Bartley heading wide from a corner and Antonsson once more again denied by Henderson.
But it was Forest who wrapped up the points in the fourth minute of added time as Oliver Burke got away from Luke Ayling and Cooper in the box then beat Green at his near post to make it 3-1.
Match facts
Nottingham Forest 3
(Kasami 16, Perquis 71, Burke 90+4)
Leeds United 1
(Phillips 83)
Saturday, August 27, 2016
EFL Championship
Attendance: 20,995
Forest: Henderson, Pereira, Mancienne, Perquis (Mills 77), Lichaj, Cohen, Burke, Lansbury, Kasami, Osborn, Vellios (Cash 83).
Leeds: Green, Ayling, Cooper, Bartley, Taylor, Bridcutt, Vieira (Phillips 66), Hernandez (Mowatt 81), Sacko (Roofe 71), Antonsson, Wood.
Referee: Geoff Eltringham. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/soft-goals-prove-undoing-of-leeds-united-at-forest-1-8092991 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/302647e41ad6b7b2ac3351ee71f9fc780e58b8e1f3806759d2b37c8d50bfdee0.json |
[
"Peter Smith"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:59:23 | null | 2016-08-20T06:00:27 | ASSISTANT-COACH STUART Dickens says Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are determined to end the season on a high. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fwakefield-wildcats%2Fwakefield-wildcats-news%2Fwakefield-wildcats-let-s-finish-the-season-on-a-high-dickens-1-8079482.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8079481.1471634047!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Wakefield Wildcats: Let’s finish the season on a high - Dickens | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | ASSISTANT-COACH STUART Dickens says Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are determined to end the season on a high.
Trinity will aim to break their duck in the First Utility Super-8s – and climb a place to seventh – when they visit Widnes Vikings tomorrow.
They have lost all three league games since securing their spot in the top-eight, but Dickens insisted: “We still want to finish as high as we can.”
He stressed: “We are happy we’ve made the top-eight and progressed from last season, but we’re not happy to sit back and rest on our laurels.
“There’s still seventh place to compete for. We are still looking up and we’re looking to finish on a real high.
“We don’t want to let the hard work we’ve done through the season fritter away. We want to finish on a positive so we can go away and enjoy the off-season and come back thinking we’ve finished the season well.
“It’s not just how we see ourselves, it’s how people perceive you as well.
“We are trying to change people’s perceptions. We don’t just want to be competitive, we will be trying really hard to pick a couple of wins up before the season finishes.
Widnes are also out of the hunt for a semi-final spot, but Dickens warned: “They are a good side and they are really, really tough to beat over there. In the time I’ve been here there’s never been an easy game against Widnes and we’re expecting nothing different this week.”
Wildcats’ injury situation is beginning to ease and Dickens said that has helped keep morale in the camp high going into tomorrow’s game. “We are pretty positive again this week,” he added.
“We’ve hopefully got a couple of bodies back which is always a bit refreshing.
“If you get a few more bodies on the training field it gives the rest of the boys a lift as well.”
Meanwhile, Dickens admitted prop Scott Anderson’s back injury has left the player and coaching staff equally frustrated.
The Aussie has not played since the end of June and Dickens said: “He has got a bulging disc problem.
“We have to be led by his symptoms. He has been getting treatment, he has been to see a specialist, but it is one of those things – he can get up one day and feel all right.
“He has done a little bit of running, but then a couple of days after it seems like we’ve gone back another three or four steps.
“It is purely on a daily basis with him. He has not trained with the team for a fair while now so it’s obviously frustrating for him as well, but fingers crossed he might get back before the end of the season.”
Wakefield have hooker Scott Moore and centre Bill Tupou back from injury and are set to give a debut to Warrington forward Ben Harrison in place of Jordan Crowther.
Widnes are boosted by the return of full-back Rhys Hanbury and centres Stefan Marsh and Chris Dean after missing last week’s defeat by Hull through concussion while second rower Setaimata Sa is poised to make his comeback after being out through injury since June.
Widnes Vikings: from Ah Van, Brown, Buchanan, Burke, Cahill, J Chapelhow, Dean, Dudscon, Farrell, Gilmore, Hanbury, Heremaia, Houston, Marsh, Mellor, Sa, Thompson, White, Whitley.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: from Arona, Arundel, Batchelor, Fifita, Finn, Hall, Harrison, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, Lyne, Mazive, Miller, Molloy, Moore, Scruton, Sio, B Tupou, Walton, Yates.
Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven).
Kick-off: Tomorrow, 3pm. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/wakefield-wildcats/wakefield-wildcats-news/wakefield-wildcats-let-s-finish-the-season-on-a-high-dickens-1-8079482 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/30272c13a2964d3fe6ddcf04c42365db5696a537d56ef31ef091941bc65e7a4d.json |
[
"Graham Walker",
"Graham.Walker Jpress.Co.Uk"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:10:55 | null | 2016-07-29T17:34:00 | To celebrate the release of Suicide Squad - in cinemas August 5 - Warner Bros Pictures and Cineworld Sheffield have teamed up with us to offer you the chance to win film merchandise and tickets. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fwin-suicide-squad-film-merchandise-and-cineworld-sheffield-tickets-1-8041730.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8041728.1469810202!/image/image.jpg | en | null | WIN: Suicide Squad film merchandise and Cineworld Sheffield tickets | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | To celebrate the release of Suicide Squad - in cinemas August 5 - Warner Bros Pictures and Cineworld Sheffield have teamed up with us to offer you the chance to win film merchandise and tickets.
Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated super villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.
US intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.
However, once they realise they weren’t picked to succeed, but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?
Hot on the heels of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes the third film in the DC Comics movie universe.
An all-star cast including Will Smith as ace assassin Deadshot, Margot Robbie as the deranged Harley Quinn, Cara Delevingne as the mysterious Enchantress and Jared Leto as the Joker help bring this legendary comic book series to the big screen. Look out for a cameo from Ben Affleck’s Batman.
Cineworld Sheffield will be screening this 15 cert film - only suitable for people aged 15 and older - in IMAX 3D, 4DX, VIP and normal 2D, with special midnight launch screenings. Full details at www.cineworld.co.uk/films/suicide-squad
WIN PRIZES:
We have some amazing prizes to be won including exclusive replicas of the cane used in the film by The Joker.
Our three first prize winners each get one of the canes plus a pair of tickets to see Suicide Squad on the Imax 3D screen at Cineworld Sheffield.
Three runners up each get a film merchandise bag and a pair of tickets to see the film at the cinema in 4DX.
Five other other runner up get a pair of tickets to a general screening at Cineworld Sheffield.
For a chance to win simply FOLLOW Graham Walker on Twitter @GW1962 and retweet any of his tweets featuring the hashtag #JPCompSS16 or email him - one email per person - with your full name, age, address, phone numbers and email details, with #JPCompSS16 in the subject field, at [email protected]
Deadline is Friday, August 5, 2016, 10am.
Tickets will be for screenings at Cineworld Sheffield and from Monday, August 8, 2016, subject to availability, during this original theatre release period only. Film certification rules apply. This is a 15 certificate film. Usual Johnston Press terms and conditions apply see www.johnstonpress.co.uk/competition
* For official film social media news and more check out the hashtag #SuicideSquad on Facebook at facebook.com/suicidesquaduk, Twitter @SuicideSquadWB and Instagram at @suicidesquadmovie
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story WIN: Suicide Squad film merchandise and Cineworld Sheffield tickets Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/win-suicide-squad-film-merchandise-and-cineworld-sheffield-tickets-1-8041730 | en | 2016-07-29T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/e9fab7c0b7ffb9914fda768cf924ae6acc791a8f23dca526d26852089b17a399.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:02:29 | null | 2016-08-26T12:51:53 | Buildings formerly used as Wakefield Theatre Club and a Superbowl complex have been demolished. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwakefield-theatre-club-demolished-1-8090783.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090782.1472212300!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Wakefield Theatre Club demolished | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Buildings formerly used as Wakefield Theatre Club and a Superbowl complex have been demolished.
Applicant Keith Brown Properties (Hull) Ltd submitted an application to Wakefield Council to knock down all buildings at the site on Doncaster Road in 2014.
The council said no prior approval was needed for the demolition to take place. But no further application has been submitted.
The venue was formerly Wakefield Theatre Club and played host to some of the biggest musicians and acts of the 1960s and 70s.
It then became the Pussycat club.
And from 1989 it was run as a bowling centre with a bowling alley and Wimpey restaurant. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/wakefield-theatre-club-demolished-1-8090783 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/cab078e88f63e101c95c92d3284925286fa3f5094bc782930a51a72398e5c648.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T12:58:10 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:06 | THE day was sunny and very warm, made bearable by a cooling breeze blowing from the Trafalgar Square end. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fyorkshire-are-left-indebted-to-andrew-hodd-and-azeem-rafiq-1-8085039.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8085038.1471983042!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Yorkshire are left indebted to Andrew Hodd and Azeem Rafiq | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | THE day was sunny and very warm, made bearable by a cooling breeze blowing from the Trafalgar Square end.
Thunder flies clung to the skin until they were swept away with sweaty hands or else flicked off – Subbuteo-like – with sticky fingers.
Spectators sat in shirt-sleeves and sun hats, occasionally raising a drink to their lips or slurping at ice creams, while seagulls squawked and circled the ground, looking for remnants of discarded food.
For much of the long and lazy afternoon, the pin-striped deckchairs in front of the West Stand marquee were vacant as important people enjoyed an extended lunch, occasionally popping their heads outside to check the scoreboard on the popular bank.
All the sights and sounds of Scarborough were present for the start of the 130th Festival, just as they have always been, and the cricket itself was of compelling character.
After half-an-hour’s play, Yorkshire were 21-0 after Notts, the bottom club, took up the right of the visiting side to field first.
Half-an-hour before lunch, Yorkshire, the second-placed club, had sunk to 51-6 after insipid batting and inspired work from medium-pacer Steven Mullaney had nipped out three of the wickets and effected a run-out.
A seventh-wicket stand of 132 in 34 overs between Andrew Hodd (96no) and Azeem Rafiq (74) stopped the bleeding, and even inspired a recovery back to rude health as both made their highest scores of the season, Hodd also making his highest score for Yorkshire.
The wicketkeeper deserved a century, but was left stranded when the hosts were dismissed for 282 deep into the evening session, Notts reaching stumps on 38-2.
On a day when 4,979 spectators gathered in glorious sunshine, it was pertinent to ponder initially who was not playing as much as who was.
Yorkshire were without Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and David Willey due to international calls, while captain Andrew Gale failed a fitness test on a sore back, with Gary Ballance leading the club for the first time in the Championship.
Gale, who has struggled for runs, therefore missed out at a ground where he has scored 1,372 of them in 19 first-class games at 49, including a career-best 272 when these sides last met in the Championship here in 2013.
For their part, Notts were without pace bowlers Stuart Broad (ankle), Jake Ball (international duty) and Harry Gurney (hip), with the visitors handing a debut to 19-year-old batsman Tom Moores, son of former England head coach Peter Moores, the Notts’ coaching consultant.
Despite their depleted bowling resources, Notts could hardly have wished for a better morning session.
There was a strong element of luck about the first wicket, Adam Lyth run-out at the non-striker’s end when Mullaney deflected a drive from Alex Lees on to the stumps.
But there was nothing fortuitous thereafter as Lees pushed at one from Mullaney and was caught at third slip, Jake Lehmann was caught at second slip driving at Mullaney, and Ballance went lbw to Luke Fletcher playing across his pads.
When Tim Bresnan padded up to Mullaney and Jack Leaning followed a wide delivery from Brett Hutton and was caught at third slip, Yorkshire were 51-6 and in disarray.
But Hodd and Rafiq added 46 in seven overs before lunch, and then they frustrated the visitors in the afternoon, Notts failing to build on their earlier good work.
Rafiq, who has a first-class hundred to his name, gradually grew in confidence to the extent that he contemptuously thumped Hutton for four over mid-on towards the Peasholm Park end.
When he chipped the next ball for four just over a leaping Fletcher at mid-on, Rafiq had his third first-class fifty from 75 balls with eight boundaries, a fitting way to mark a day when he was officially re-presented with his county cap – along with Leaning – by the Yorkshire president, John Hampshire.
It took an apparently controversial decision from Neil Mallender to send him on his way, the umpire adjudging him lbw to Samit Patel, a wicket swiftly followed by that of Steve Patterson, who went lbw to Imran Tahir.
Hodd breezed past his previous best for Yorkshire of 68 not out against Somerset at Taunton three years ago, and he added 88 for the ninth-wicket in 21 overs with Jack Brooks, who contributed 48 from 66 balls with seven fours and a six, Brooks chopping on to Hutton.
When Ryan Sidebottom was lbw to Hutton nine balls later, Hodd was left agonisingly short of a fifth first-class hundred, having faced 185 balls and struck 10 fours.
Notts lost a wicket to the seventh ball of their reply when Brooks pinned Jake Libby lbw, and they would have been 1-2 had Leaning taken a low chance at third slip offered by Moores off Sidebottom.
But Bresnan had Moores caught at second slip by Lyth in the final over as Yorkshire completed a fine fightback.
Scoreboard: Page 22. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/yorkshire-are-left-indebted-to-andrew-hodd-and-azeem-rafiq-1-8085039 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/d78d1ab2c1d51dce0883c33c0ab0729d72767288bc91ed194b4e55a25f83d568.json |
[
"Tony Harber",
"Tony.Harber Jpress.Co.Uk"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:55:53 | null | 2016-08-20T15:49:15 | Second half goals from strikers Marcus Antonsson and Chris Wood earned Garry Monk his first win as Leeds United boss as the Whites emerged with a 2-0 success over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fmonk-enjoys-first-win-as-leeds-united-boss-1-8080056.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8080055.1471706349!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Monk enjoys first win as Leeds United boss | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Second half goals from strikers Marcus Antonsson and Chris Wood earned Garry Monk his first win as Leeds United boss as the Whites emerged with a 2-0 success over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
After a tight first half a superb move saw Leeds break the deadlock just after the hour mark when Antonsson finished off a length of the field break after Alex Mowatt had made a block in his own box.
Wood then sealed the points five minutes from time as he put away Kemar Roofe’s cross.
Head coach Monk made four changes from the side that drew with Fulham in midweek, bringing Liam Bridcutt into midfield after his transfer from Sunderland and replacing Pablo Hernandez, Kalvin Phillips and Stuart Dallas with Ronaldo Vieira, Hadi Sacko and Mowatt.
Leeds began brightly, but it was Rob Green forced to make the first save to deny Ross Wallace, who shot from the edge of the box.
Fernando Forestieri shot wide from distance before Jack Hunt’s cross was headed wide by Alemen Abdi.
A mix-up between Liam Cooper and Charlie Taylor presented another opportunity to the hosts only for Forestieri to drag his shot wide.
Forestieri then raced clear and rounded Green, but his shot was headed off the line by Cooper.
United came more into the game and Wood was free in the box, but headed wide from Mowatt’s cross.
The Whites then missed a great chance soon after when Vieira’s terrific pass set Sacko away. He rounded keeper Kieren Westwood only to lose control of the ball as it ran out of play.
Leeds were enjoying a good spell and Antonsson went close with a shot from outside the area before Wood saw a volley blocked following a good run and cross by Sacko.
Wednesday came within a whisker of taking the lead, though, just before half-time as Abdi’s free-kick hit the crossbar.
Leeds started the second half well as Wood’s shot was deflected just wide.
Sacko hit a shot over before the deadlock was finally broken when Mowatt’s block led to Taylor racing out of defence. He found Wood, who played in Sacko with Luke Ayling bursting alongside on the overlap. The duo played a lovely one-two and Sacko’s cross was perfect for Antonsson to put the ball in the net for a goal of high quality.
Wednesday almost equalised within a minute as Green had to save from close range to deny Gary Hooper.
They put some pressure on in a bid to level, but Hooper hit a shot over from outside the area and Green saved at two attempts from Forestieri.
Hooper fired wide again after, but United were still a threat as sub Souleymane Doukara went close with a shot.
It was Leeds who scored a second when another of the subs, Roofe, crossed well for Wood to produce a calm finish for his third goal of the season.
This was the game breaker and it was United who went closest to another goal as Sacko fired wide and Taylor’s curling shot was off target.
Match facts
Sheffield Wednesday 0
Leeds United 2
(Antonsson 63, Wood 85)
Saturday, August 20, 2016
EFL Championship
Attendance: 29,075.
Wednesday: Westwood, Pudil, Lees, Hutchinson, Lee, Abdi (Hooper 45), Hunt (Buckley 72), Wallace (Jones 64), Bannan, Forestieri, Fletcher.
Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Cooper, Taylor, Bridcutt, Vieira, Mowatt (Roofe 77), Sacko (Phillips 87), Antonsson (Doukara 69), Wood.
Referee: Simon Hooper. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/monk-enjoys-first-win-as-leeds-united-boss-1-8080056 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/fcfc75cf37141cae61869ded2d377f11fe62a15d8fc0bd73b42773b226b1a504.json |
[
"Alex Beard"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:07:30 | null | 2016-08-26T11:06:15 | The sound of a Spitfire could be heard in the city’s skies as it performed a flypast to honour a Second World War pilot. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fspitfire-flyover-was-the-last-wish-of-wwii-pilot-1-8090446.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8090441.1472205955!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Spitfire flyover was the last wish of WWII pilot | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | The sound of a Spitfire could be heard in the city’s skies as it performed a flypast to honour a Second World War pilot.
The flypast took place at the end of flight Lieutenant Kenneth Bellamy’s funeral on Wednesday.
Spitfire flypast at the funeral of Flt Lieutenant Kenneth Bellamy at St Michael's Church in Wakefield. Picture Scott Merrylees
Mr Bellamy died on Friday, 12 August and his family wished to honour his service, fighting against Imperial Japanese pilots to defend Australia.
His daughter Karen Hewitt said the service, at St Michael’s Church , was exactly what her dad had always wanted.
She said:”It was always one of his wishes that a Spitfire fly over his funeral, we always laughed and said that he wouldn’t see it though.
“But a lot of people have gone to a lot of trouble to organise this for him.”
The Spitfire made around four circuits of the city before flying in above the church on its final approach.
Born in Lincoln in 1923 Mr Bellamy Joined the RAF in 1942 at the age of 17, soon becoming a commissioned officer.
After completing his training in the United States and Canada he was dispatched with other pilots as part of RAF squadron 54 in 1943.
The relocation was ordered by the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill as part of efforts to strengthen air defences at Darwin in Northern Australia.
Fears mounted as the Empire of Japan rapidly expanded from 1937 onwards, occupying large areas of China and the far eastern colonial holdings of Britain, France and Holland.
Only the previous year the largest attack ever mounted against mainland Australia was carried out, with areas such as Darwin heavily bombed.
After serving in Australia Mr Bellamy was eventually demobbed in 1946.
And he returned home the same year and met his wife Peggy. The couple had two children Anthony Bellamy and Karen Hewitt.
As a civilian Mr Bellamy found work with high street retailer Burton.
Eventually working his way up to the position of area manager he relocated to Wakefield, later moving to Co-op menswear, where he worked until retiring in 1988.
In his spare time he was a volunteer helping organisations including Wakefield Hospice and Meals on Wheels.
The funeral took place at St Michael’s Church with family and members of the 54 RAF squadron, including Air Marshall Sir Roger Austin. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/spitfire-flyover-was-the-last-wish-of-wwii-pilot-1-8090446 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/922c605138ff9aec091ccdc63f692f68e9eee9a589fdfa3efe772e18cdec22a8.json |
[]
| 2016-08-26T13:06:08 | null | 2016-08-25T17:08:37 | It’s the news Happy Valley fans have been waiting for - the gritty police drama WILL return for a third series. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fhappy-valley-will-return-for-a-third-series-says-sally-wainwright-1-8089422.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8089420.1472142091!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Happy Valley WILL return for a third series, says Sally Wainwright | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | It’s the news Happy Valley fans have been waiting for - the gritty police drama WILL return for a third series.
Sally Wainwright said the show – which is filmed and set in Calderdale and stars Sarah Lancashire as Sergeant Catherine Cawood – will grace our screens again, but not immediately.
Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival, Wainwright was asked by former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies if the drama would come back.
She said: “It will happen but it will be a little while. I have got some good ideas.”
Wainwright had previously declined to confirm whether there would be a third series, saying that she needed to work out where the story would go next. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/happy-valley-will-return-for-a-third-series-says-sally-wainwright-1-8089422 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/9ff1e58a32b65914de7d58df1939fa5c29d9b920b3a4385468342d731664b72a.json |
[
"Graham Walker",
"Graham.Walker Jpress.Co.Uk"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:09:45 | null | 2016-08-24T18:40:19 | Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Faudio-i-don-t-know-if-we-can-take-control-of-wild-leeds-festival-crowd-jokes-punk-stars-slaves-1-8086864.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8086863.1472060502!/image/image.jpg | en | null | AUDIO: 'I don't know if we can Take Control of wild Leeds Festival crowd', jokes punk stars Slaves | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the 'wild' Leeds Festival crowd this weekend.
Drummer vocalist Isaac Holman and band mate Laurie Vincent, on guitar and vocals, play Leeds Festival main stage on Sunday after Reading Festival on Saturday.
And they say northern fans are often more wild than anywhere else in the country.
"I don't know if we can take control of the Leeds crowd but I'll give it a good old go," laughed Isaac, promising fans 'blood, sweat and laughs'.
AUDIO: Listen to Slaves star Isaac Holman's exclusive chat with Graham Walker - CLICK HERE.
"We are a southern band so we did a bit better down south at first. But the northern crowds are even more wild for us now than down south sometimes. I think Leeds is going to go off.
"It's completely what I live for. I love playing live. It's the only time my mind goes quiet and I feel comfortable when I step out on stage. The more people there the merrier."
GET LEEDS AND READING FESTIVAL APP: Daily set times for Reading and Leeds Festivals are now live on the R&L App - iTunes and Android.
Slaves are on the same bill as Red Hot Chili Peppers. Imagine Dragons and Courteeners.
Other superstar bands playing this weekends include Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Foals, Disclosure, The Vaccines and Chvrches - along with rising local stars, such as South Yorkshire's own Radio 1 hitmakers The Sherlocks. Leeds Festival is set to attract around 80,000 people.
Isaac, who also revealed they still get starstruck, said it will be a highlight of their year which also includes a 15 date UK headline tour in November and the release of next album Take Control on September 30.
Isaac added: "Sometimes you get starstruck. Me and Laurie definitely do fanboy some people we meet. But the more you get into the scene you realise everyone is just a person and it becomes a little bit more normal.
"We've worked our way up through the stages. Being main stage is like another level - Leeds and Reading were the festivals we went to when we were younger and I don't think we ever imagined we would be on the bill let alone on the main stage. It's brilliant."
Slaves, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, will be laying waste to venues across the country as they launch into a full UK tour in November. Yorkshire dates include Leeds O2 Academy on Tuesday, November 15 and Sheffield O2 Academy, on Friday, November 25.
See full tour, ticket details and album download links links below.
Slaves earned a reputation for themselves as one of the UK’s fiercest live acts with their constant touring and festival appearances off the back of last year's debut album, Are you Satisfied?
Their next hit album in waiting was part recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio in Santa Monica, California.
Take Control was produced by one of the legends of early hip hop and New York punk, Mike D who, says Laurie, “Became like another member of our band – we can safely call him our friend, which is just surreal!”
The album finds the young pair sharpening up their skills, both in songwriting and in execution and sounding heavier in places.
Several tracks on the album were recorded on vintage equipment used by the Beastie Boys on their classic records, Including STD’s PhD’s, Angelica and Consume Or Be Consumed.
Recorded back home in London, Steer Clear was a collaboration with another hero, Baxter Dury, who lent his distinctive vocals to a duet with Isaac.
Slaves first emerged in 2012, working their way up through the local toilet-venue circuit to become one of the success stories of 2015.
The band’s debut album Are You Satisfied? smashed in to the UK top 10 and earned the band huge critical acclaim. Thanks to their charismatic mash-up of punky urgency and silly humour, they bagged Kerrang!’s Spirit Of Punk award and NME’s Best Video award (for Cheer Up London), while also securing nominations for the Mercury Music Prize, and for Best New Band at Q and NME.
Along the way, they’ve won the hearts of The Streets’ Mike Skinner, stolen the show on last year’s NME tour, had Skepta join them on stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and toured with Jamie T and Wolf Alice – the latter in America in March, after which Wolf Alice’s drummer Joel Amey bunked off to California to play on new track People That You Meet.
Pre-order new the album now to get a free download of Spit It Out, first single from the album, at youareallslaves.com - you can also order at iTunes, Amazon or Google Play.
VIDEO: Check out Spit It Out, the first single off the album - a snapshot of their manic daily lives in Tunbridge Wells and New Cross - CLICK HERE.
Leeds Festival Ticket Information
Weekend tickets are £205 + £8 booking fee = £213 total Day tickets are £59.50 + £7 booking fee Early entry permits - £20 (No booking fee) Campervan permits - £75 (No booking fee) Lockers - £16 (No booking fee)
Slaves 2016 UK Tour dates (All shows 14 +)
Thu 10 Nov 2016 – Bexhill - De La Warr Pavillion - UK
Fri 11 Nov 2016 – Truro - Hall for Cornwall - UK
Sun 13 Nov 2016 – Cardiff - University Great Hall - UK
Mon 14 Nov 2016 – Cambridge - Corn Exchange - UK
Tue 15 Nov 2016 – Leeds – O2 Academy - UK
Thu 17 Nov 2016 – Newcastle – O2 Academy - UK
Fri 18 Nov 2016 - Glasgow – Barrowland - UK
Sat 19 Nov 2016 – Birmingham – O2 Academy - UK
Mon 21 Nov 2016 – Bristol – O2 Academy - UK
Tue 22 Nov 2016 – Leicester - O2 Academy - UK
Wed 23 Nov 2016 – Nottingham - Rock City - UK
Fri 25 Nov 2016 – Sheffield – O2 Academy - UK
Sat 26 Nov 2016 – Manchester - Albert Hall - UK
Tue 29 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
Wed 30 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
MORE:
VIDEO & 360 PHOTO: Biffy Clyro intimate gig for lucky Leeds Festival fans
VIDEO: Leeds Festival preview
AUDIO: Take plenty of wet wipes, says 'Mr Leeds Festival' Frank Turner
Leeds Festival 2016: What we know so far about this year’s line-up | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/audio-i-don-t-know-if-we-can-take-control-of-wild-leeds-festival-crowd-jokes-punk-stars-slaves-1-8086864 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/c7d416ec510450c4bb0d3436946bf4cb441c05bd04cbe32c4cdb93bdad602f3d.json |
[
"Graham Walker",
"Graham.Walker Jpress.Co.Uk"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:08:23 | null | 2016-07-28T00:25:19 | What is the number on Herbie | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fvideo-cineworld-sheffield-disney-quiz-champions-can-you-do-better-1-8037820.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8037817.1469662056!/image/image.jpg | en | null | VIDEO: Cineworld Sheffield Disney Quiz champions - can you do better? | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
What is the number on Herbie's car bonnet in the Disney film The Love Bug?
It's 53 of course.
And if you knew that, you might have been in with a chance against Team Goofy, the newly crowned Disney Quiz Cineworld Sheffield champions - IT worker John Youle, 33, primary school assistant Abigail Screaton, 32, sales assistants Deborah Vaughan, 29, and Sarah Youle, 32.
They won books, bags, T-shirts, hats and more, including tickets to see Frozen, the live action Disney On Ice production coming to Sheffield Arena in December.
Team Goofy also won a Cineworld star-shaped logo trophy and they each got a miniature Oscar.
The free entry event promoted this Friday's UK release of Finding Dory, the long-awaited Walt Disney and Pixar Animation sequel to their 2003 masterpiece, Finding Nemo..
Cineworld Sheffield Disney Quiz champs 2016 - John Youle, 33; primary school assistantAbigail Screaton, 32, sales assistants Deborah Vaughan, 29, and Sarah Youle, 32.
It follows a sci-fi and a Marvel quiz night, much like a pub quiz, which were also hosted in the innovative cinema's bar area, on the first floor of the building at Valley Centertainment.
Cineworld's next film quiz, with the theme of Page To Screen, will test fans' knowledge of films like Harry Potter on Tuesday, August 16, at 7pm.
Team Goofy's Abigail Screaton, of Rotherham, said: "It's only the third time we've done one of these quizzes, So it's fantastic to win.
"It's just a different sort of environment from a usual pub quiz. Lots of people get dressed up. It's nice to do something a bit different with your friends. I really enjoyed it."
Quiz master Dave Vaughan, Cineworld Sheffield's Operations Manager, said: "Pub quizzes have been going on for years. At Cineworld we do something a little bit different.
"We are doing this for free, for people to come here not for a night at the movies but a night in our bar, having fun and showing their skills of movie knowledge out.
"We've had a sci-fi quiz, a Marvel quiz and next we're having a Page To Screen quiz. So it's something for everyone. Some of the audience and our staff even dressed up for it.
"The space is bookable, we have had private events in the past, where people have hired the bar out with food for parties. Anything is a possibility in the new Cineworld Sheffield."
Team Goofy answered 100 questions, including video and audio sections, getting around 81 per cent right,
Below we have 10 of the question. Without using Google, go on, be honest...how many can you answer?
CINEWORLD SHEFFIELD DISNEY QUIZ 2016
1. What was the name of the snake in Robin Hood?
2. Who wrote Peter Pan?
3. The Blue fairy appears in which Disney Classic first?
4. What fairy tale is Tangled based on?
5. What's the name of the crab in little mermaid?
6. Put these Disney classics in order of release - Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 101 Dalmatians and Winnie the Pooh. ]
7. What is the name of Merlin’s owl in the Sword in the Stone.
8. What happened to Bambi’s mum?
9. Night at Bald Mountain come from what Disney classic.
10. Name the seven dwarfs.
ANSWERS
1. Sir hiss
2. J M Barrie
3. Pinocchio.
4. Rapunsel
5. Sebastian.
6. Alice, 1951; 101 Dalmatians, 1961; Robin Hood, 1973; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 1977; Winnie the Pooh, 2011.
7. Archimedes
8. She is shot.
9. Fantasia
10. Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy and Grumpy.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story VIDEO: Cineworld Sheffield Disney Quiz champions - can you do better? Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area... | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/video-cineworld-sheffield-disney-quiz-champions-can-you-do-better-1-8037820 | en | 2016-07-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/f660e71376a76651d3d5f458d83008379dd220650f49ce10244dabd26f60319d.json |
[]
| 2016-08-30T16:51:18 | null | 2016-08-28T14:53:40 | THERE was no music, no introduction, no commentary and no adverts... so why did the two-hour TV special of a bus trip through the Yorkshire Dales prove so popular? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-entertainment%2Fcountry-bus-how-a-two-hour-bus-trip-tour-of-the-yorkshire-dales-caused-a-social-media-stir-1-8093239.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8093238.1472393708!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Country Bus: How a two-hour bus trip tour of the Yorkshire Dales caused a social media stir | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | THERE was no music, no introduction, no commentary and no adverts... so why did the two-hour TV special of a bus trip through the Yorkshire Dales prove so popular?
Early figures indicate that almost a million viewers tuned in on Bank Holiday Monday evening to watch the Northern Dalesman service wind its way through the splendid Yorkshire countryside.
But it was on Twitter where news of the show really started to cause a stir as #CountryBus started trending and proud Yorkshire folk started to wax lyrical about the splendour of their wonderful county.
Special cameras were fitted to the bus, displaying its route - stretching from Richmond to Ingleton - in real time, capturing the road ahead, the passing scenery and the occasional chatter of the regular passengers.
The BBC Four show, All Aboard! The Country Bus, is the latest in a series of ‘slow’ programmes, following the success of The Sleigh Ride and Slow Week.
The ‘Dalesman’s 40-mile route includes a blossoming river valley, ancient meadows, agricultural pastures and ancient mining villages, and passes over high open heathland, before a final stretch across the hilly Dales past Ribbleshead viaduct.
The programme featured captions integrated into the landscape to provide details about the dramatic countryside through which the bus was passing - from aspects of the geographical or geological environment, to specific highlights of Britain’s agricultural or industrial heritage, from the ancient stone hay barns that dot the landscape to the scars left behind by the lead mining of previous centuries.
The Twitter reaction was, on the whole, positive with those watching it transfixed with the scenery and those who were unable to watch it desperate to know when and how they could watch a repeat!
The praise was headed by @Yorkshire_Life which tweeted: “What wonderful television the #CountryBus is - no dialogue or narration. Just lets the beautiful #YorkshireDales speak for itself”
Ed Jennings (@Ed_Jennings) added: “If you aren’t watching BBC4 right now, I have no idea what you’re doing with your life. #CountryBus” while _DNCN(@DNCN_MCR) wrote “I’ve slept on it now and i’m still convinced #CountryBus is the best thing ‘ve ever seen on British TV.”
The support went on... here are some of the best tweets in support of the show.
itsallaboutcake (@Itsallaboutcake)
#CountryBus is what the BBC is for. No other broadcaster in the world would do this.
Jo (@Jodelle08)
Thank you @BBCFOUR for 2 hours of sublime TV last night. #CountryBus. More please.
Jacqui Wicks (@OssettObserver)
Whoever commissioned #CountryBus is in my opinion a broadcasting genius!
Tim Schofield (@jonesonenil)
@BBCFOUR I’d love everyone to see this, particularly those who have never ventured any further north than Watford. Gorgeous TV. #CountryBus
Kate Chapman (@surreykate)
Wow I want to go on this bus #CountryBus
smudgesmam (@lynnebroom)
Feeling all emotional since the beauty that was #CountryBus on #BBC4 fantastic two hours!
lucy lawson (@amypoops)
How awesome was #CountryBus and how lucky am I to live there !! #FeelingBlessed #YorkshireDales
Chris Crispy McLaren (@crispy_180)
#CountryBus Love the way this is trending, and the way it has caught people’s imagination as well! Watched all 2 hours of it as well!!
Nicola Paton Art (@nikki_paton)
Can’t believe how much I enjoyed #CountryBus :)
ANDY URRY (@IRONONTHEUP)
#bbc4 #countrybus only in the uk could you see such fabulous TV footage, Well done Bbc4 more please !
Jane Roberts (@JaneElRoberts)
Can I go on #CountryBus The Return? Peaceful, relaxing, stunning Yorkshire Dales scenery & silence but for an occasional baaing sheep. Bliss
Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four says: “I’m delighted that Slow television has struck such a chord with BBC Four viewers. This programme offered another very special treat; an opportunity to sit back and appreciate the sights and sounds of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in a rich and absorbing antidote to the frenetic pace of modern life.”
All Aboard! The Country Bus was aired on BBC Four on Monday, August 29 but is now available to download on the BBC iPlayer. | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/country-bus-how-a-two-hour-bus-trip-tour-of-the-yorkshire-dales-caused-a-social-media-stir-1-8093239 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/067c405c5140ebcff1bff43bd29ef1b66b02c8e132ff337dc230432eb9d3005b.json |
[]
| 2016-08-28T18:49:33 | null | 2016-08-28T17:10:22 | Three wickets in nine balls at a cost of two runs for Stuart Meaker tore the heart out of Yorkshire’s batting at Headingley and sent Surrey through to the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup at Lord’s. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wakefieldexpress.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Froyal-london-cup-yorkshire-v-surrey-misery-for-yorkshire-as-they-miss-out-on-lord-s-final-yet-again-in-headingley-defeat-1-8093417.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/webimage/1.8093574.1472409030!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Royal London Cup: Yorkshire v Surrey - Misery for Yorkshire as they miss out on Lord’s final yet again in Headingley defeat | null | null | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk | Three wickets in nine balls at a cost of two runs for Stuart Meaker tore the heart out of Yorkshire’s batting at Headingley and sent Surrey through to the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup at Lord’s.
A century for man-of-the-match Steven Davies and 90 from Ben Foakes left Yorkshire Vikings chasing a 256 target and although they recovered well after Meaker’s dramatic intervention, thanks to a brave 68 from Tim Bresnan, the task was just beyond them and they were bowled out for 236 to lose by 19 runs with seven balls remaining.
Yorkshire captain Alex Lees is bowled out by Surrey's Gareth Batty for 26. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA.
Surrey now have the chance to avenge last season’s final defeat by Gloucestershire but for Yorkshire it was the second consecutive year that they have stumbled at the last-four stage.
It also continued a depressing run of semi-final reverses in List A cricket for Yorkshire, who have now lost 17 times out of 20 on such occasions since 1979.
Captain Alex Lees admitted - combined with defeat in last week’s T20 Blast semi-final to Durham Jets - Yorkshire hadn’t been good enough to progress in either game.
“I think we are all gutted to lose because we have played some great white ball cricket this season,” said Lees. “But when it has mattered in two semi-finals over the past week we have not been good enough.
Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan (second left) is congratulated by Jack Brooks (second right) and Jonny Bairstow (right) after taking the wicket of Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
“I thought it was a reachable target and we needed some contributions from the top five and this didn’t happen. All credit to the Surrey bowlers who kept going.”
Lees was also quick to praise the efforts of Bresnan, adding: “He has won three or four games single-handed for us and has been exceptional both with the bat and ball. His big contribution almost got us there. When we look back it will have been a positive season but you still don’t want to lose two semi-finals.”
Yorkshire lost Adam Lyth to Jade Dernbach in their third over and after skipper, Alex Lees, had played some solid strokes in reaching 26 he was bowled driving at his opposite number, Gareth Batty.
At 74-2 in 19 overs, however, Yorkshire were still handily placed until Meaker, bowling from the football end, began his lethal burst.
Jonny Bairstow, released by England for the match, drove gently to Dominic Sibley at mid-wicket; Gary Ballance was caught behind trying to flick over the top of the slips and Jack Leaning dragged into his leg-stump.
The slide to 81-5 was halted by Bresnan and 20-year-old all-rounder, Matthew Waite, who enjoyed a fine match in which he earlier captured three wickets and then scored 38 in an enterprising stand of 80 in 16 overs with his senior partner.
Waite survived a confident appeal for a catch off Batty’s bowling but in the next over from Sam Curran he drove into Batty’s hands at mid-on. Bresnan and Will Rhodes kept the hopes of the 4,836 crowd alive with a busy stand of 46 which ended at 207 in the 45th over when Rhodes played to backward point and set off for a single but was beaten by Tom Curran’s direct hit on the stumps at the bowler’s end.
Bresnan and Azeem Rafiq continued to battle hard, but when Tom Curran sent back both Rafiq and Steven Patterson in the 48th over to make it 236-9 the task was just beyond Yorkshire and the match ended when Bresnan drove Dernbach to Sibley at long-off, his 68 coming off 82 balls with two fours and a six.
Put in to bat, Surrey found themselves on eight for two by the third over, with Kumar Sangakkara one of the wickets to fall, but the early setbacks did not unsettle Davies whose 104 followed consecutive Championship scores of 117, 52 and 56 against Yorkshire this season.
Jack Brooks, in his first List A match of the summer, struck in the day’s second over as Dibley shaped to play to leg but missed and was lbw. Sangakkara was quick of the mark, cutting Bresnan for four, but in the same over the Sri Lankan drove loosely to Rafiq in the covers.
Davies, however, made smooth progress with some splendidly timed shots through the covers, taking boundaries off consecutive balls from Brooks, and he hit 34 of the first 48 runs scored.
But at 61-2 in 14 overs, Waite joined the attack and his first delivery was flicked casually to long leg by Burns for Patterson to hold a good catch dropping to his knees.
It should have been an even more memorable over for Waite but three balls later Davies, on 43, drove back past the bowler’s hands and the chance went begging.
Had Davies gone then, Surrey would have been in big trouble but they were rescued by Davies’ and Foakes’ partnership of 130, the visitors’ highest for the fourth wicket in List A cricket against Yorkshire and beating the 110 by Monty Lynch and Andrew Needham at Bradford in 1985.
Davies, having reached his half-century from 57 deliveries, continued to time the ball to perfection, hooking Bresnan for four and on-driving Rafiq for six while Foakes moved smartly to his own 50 from 51 balls, the stand entering three figures in 21 overs.
A single to Davies off Patterson took him to his century off 112 balls with ten fours and a six, but four runs later he hit a low full toss from Waite straight to Rhodes on the mid-wicket boundary.
Surrey were 191-4 in the 39th over and they lost much of their momentum in the last dozen overs or so, Sam Curran going for 16 when he was bowled by Waite in a futile and ungainly attempt to scoop the ball round the corner.
Waite’s figures of three for 48 were Yorkshire’s best of the day and at the end of his stint he received warm and prolonged applause from the appreciative crowd.
Foakes struck Bresnan high over long on for six but was denied a century when a ramp shot went wrong and he was caught by Brooks for 90 from 100 balls with seven fours to go alongside his big hit.
Surrey debutant, Ollie Pope, was run out for 20 off the last ball of an innings which never quite blossomed as much as it might of done, although it may never have bloomed at all but for Davies and Foakes.
As it happened (the last 10 overs) ...
49.5 overs - WICKET - GAME OVER - Bresnan hits high full tos down the throat of Sibley at long-off from the bowling of Jake Dernbach - Bresnan dismissed for 68. Surrey win by 19 runs
48 overs: WICKET - Yorkshire 234-9 - Steve Patterson goes first ball, ball stopped on him and he just looped a catch up to Sangakarra at mid on.
47. 3 overs: WICKET - Yorkshire 231-8 - Rafiq hits full toss down to long on where he is caught by Burns off Tom Curran - Steven Patterson joins Bresnan who is 64 no
47 overs: Yorkshire 229-7 - Another good over Yorkshire, good running once again - Bresnan 64 no; Rafiq 5 no. 27 needed off 18 balls
46 overs: Yorkshire 222 -7 - Good over for Yorkshire, 143 runs including big six over long on from Bresnan and some cracking running between the wickets; Bresnan 62 no; Rafiq 2 no
45 overs: Yorkshire 209- 7 - Two runs off the last ball brings up 50 for Bresnan, who is joined at the crease by Azeem Rafiq - Bresnan, 51 no; Rafiq 0 no 44.5 overs: WICKET Yorkshire 207-7 - Rhodes run out from direct hit by ???? at backward point. Rhodes hesitated slightly before setting off and it proved costly
44 overs: Yorkshire 202-6 - Bresnan 47 no; Rhodes 21 no - 54 needed off 36 balls. Surrey bowling nice and tight, making it difficult for both Bresnan and Rhodes to get them away.
43 overs: Yorkshire 193-6 - Bresnan 44 no; Rhodes 15 no - 63 off 41 needed
42 overs: Yorkshire 188-6 - Bresnan 42 no; Rhodes 12 no- 68 needed off 48 balls
41 overs: Yorkshire 179-6 - Bresnan 37 no; Rhodes 10 no - 77 needed
40 overs: Yorkshire 173-6 - Bresnan 36 no; Rhodes 4no - 83 runs needed | http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/cricket/royal-london-cup-yorkshire-v-surrey-misery-for-yorkshire-as-they-miss-out-on-lord-s-final-yet-again-in-headingley-defeat-1-8093417 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/1ed3ab625b98f6cd90a31688e5264d3753e3a30c547d4e6f91b813afe9370574.json |
[
"Margaret Downing"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:46:59 | null | 2016-08-31T07:00:00 | Nicholas DeGruccio will be directing for the first time in Houston when he helms the Theatre Under the Stars production of In the Heights. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fin-the-heights-takes-us-along-for-three-days-in-washington-heights-with-music-8712553.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8720711/intheheightssmall.jpg | en | null | Preview: In the Heights for Theatre Under The Stars | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Nicholas DeGruccio and new TUTS Artistic Advisor Sheldon Epps Photo courtesy of TUTS
It was Lin-Manuel Miranda's (Hamilton) first show and a Tony Award winner. Spend three bittersweet days with family and friends in the Washington Heights area of New York City who are trying to figure out what home means to them.
“I love the fact that everyone will do anything for everyone else in this musical. There's really no evil characters. It's truly about 'what does home mean to you?'” says Nicholas DeGruccio, who'll be making his Houston directing debut with In the Heights for Theatre Under the Stars. DeGruccio was hired by TUTS Artistic Advisor Sheldon Epps — the two have worked together in California.
DeGruccio says he'll be working with the cast to create a sense of family and history, as well as to get across “the Latin flavor” of the show. “These people have lived together for a long time. They've grown up together in this community. They know which buttons to push. They are very upfront about their feelings.”
Added to that is the music. “The music has a Latin flare; we've got salsa, hip hop, rap and then some beautiful contemporary musical theater ballads,” says DeGruccio, who has done most of his directing work in Southern California.
Performances are scheduled for September 13-25 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Hobby Center. 800 Bagby. For information call 713- 558-8887 or visit tuts.com. $46.50 - $135. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/in-the-heights-takes-us-along-for-three-days-in-washington-heights-with-music-8712553 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/0f2bf42529ef321ea663ff5ab8ebe3283d5882701312e7e58c1f01cbf81a4cb3.json |
[
"Sean Pendergast"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:47:09 | null | 2016-08-31T07:00:00 | This might be the greatest opening weekend in college football history. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fcollege-football-week-1-this-weekends-best-bets-8714611.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8719854/gambling_sign_joel_kramer_via_flickr_creative_commons_.jpg | en | null | Best Bets For College Football's Opening Weekend | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The beginning of football season is also the beginning of gambling season. Joel Kramer via Flickr creative commons
Finally, it's almost here... yeah, I know we've already had one game played in Australia, and that we have games on Thursday and Friday this week, but on Saturday it's, like, REALLY here. That's the first Saturday of the 2016 college football season!
Indeed after 235 days since the College Football Playoff championship game, our long national nightmare — the world without big time college football — will finally end this Saturday. Well, every end is a new beginning, and Saturday may be the greatest opening weekend to a college football season that we've seen in the television era.
It's important to use television as the backdrop for this weekend, because finally, someone in the executive boardroom making the big decisions had some common sense. Instead of cramming all of the marquee games into prime time, forcing us to try to watch the bets match-ups on five different televisions and/or mobile devices, the TV gods decided to stack the games in a logical, delicious sequence.
Indeed, it almost has the feeling of a Wrestlemania card, from the "dark match" in Dublin, Ireland early Saturday morning, all the way to the co-main events on Saturday and Sunday night, with four of the winningest programs in the history of college football involved.
I say it every year, and will say it again here — the start of college football means the start of college football betting, so how about we lay out the card here and give out some (hopefully winning) picks for this weekend, shall we? I even picked six games that allow you to gamble from 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, have a short break for breakfast around 10 a.m., and then get back on the horse through well into Saturday night, with a Sunday night "hair of the dog" chaser.
Hell, in the spirit of Wrestlemania, I'll even give a wrestling doppelgänger for each of these games! Because that's what I do!
So let's go 6-0....
6:30 a.m.
Georgia Tech/Boston College UNDER 44 (at Dublin, Ireland)
A nice Bloody Mary game after you roll out of bed... well, nice if you like very little scoring. Boston College set offense back decades last season, and Georgia Tech runs Paul Johnson's option offense with decidedly average efficiency. Add in several hours of jet lag and nights in strange beds, and this feels like a 16-13 kind of game, well under the total of 44.
WWE Matchup: Heath Slater vs. Kalisto ... jabroni with little offense against jabroni with unorthodox offense.
11:00 a.m.
Oklahoma -11.5 over Houston (at NRG Stadium)
The temptation is to take Houston and the points, what with it being a double digit spread and all, but usually when Vegas does that, that's exactly the bear trap into which they're trying to pull us. This game is in Houston, but it's not a home game for the Coogs. Houston is sneaking up on no one this season, nor are they catching a Power Five team with dissimilar motivation level (like the Peach Bowl, no disrespect meant, Coogs). Oklahoma has designs on returning to the playoff, and this is the first step. Houston has designs on joining the Big XII, and this will be a fun gauge on how things could go if they get there.
WWE Matchup: John Cena vs. Finn Balor ... long time staple against high flying nouveau chic performer trying to make the jump to the next level.
2:30 p.m.
TEXAS A&M -3 over UCLA
I was honestly thinking of taking UCLA in this game... and then two things happened. First, I checked my weather app for this weekend. Ninety degrees at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon. The Bruins might melt. Second, I saw this tweet...
"After about 50k people, it all sounds about the same," UCLA QB Josh Rosen says about anticipating crowd noise at Kyle Field. — Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 30, 2016
Ok, a) 100,000 is twice as loud as 50,000, that's just dumb, Josh, and b) I'm guessing that 100,000 jilted Aggies sound even louder than 100,000 normal, Pac-12 type folk. It's dumb stuff like this that actually increases motivation levels. College football, man.
WWE Matchup: JBL vs. The Miz ... somewhat obnoxious, Southern cattle farmer against faux Hollywood hipster
4:30 p.m.
Georgia -3 over North Carolina (at Georgia Dome)
Early season SEC team in a semi-home game against an ACC team that opened last season with a loss to South Carolina? Um, yes please.
WWE Matchup: Chris Jericho vs A.J. Styles ... big name, upper mid card player against intriguing, dangerous threat (with a Southern accent, to boot!)
7:00 p.m.
Alabama -11.5 over USC (at AT&T Stadium)
When we last discussed USC, their bookstore was selling t-shirts that read "Roll Tears". Nick Saban is roughly 134-0 in season openers when he has like eight months to prepare. Max Browne, USC's quarterback, will be starting his first collegiate game... they should all feel easier after this one.
WWE Matchup: Brock Lesnar vs. Ric Flair ... beast incarnate versus big bark, little bite Hollywood celeb.
Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
Notre Dame -3 over Texas
This is the beginning of the journey for Charlie Strong to try and keep his job. Whether the number to do that is eight wins or nine wins or whatever (if there even is a benchmark number), this is a pretty tough putt right out of the gate, even at home. Notre Dame has two capable quarterbacks (Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer) both of whom will play, a situation that many coaches would botch seven ways to Sunday, but one that ND coach Brian Kelly actually can handle somewhat comfortably.
WWE Matchup: Triple H vs. Sting ... independent billionaire who makes their own rules against wounded perennial staple who really doesn't scare anyone anymore.
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SeanTPendergast and like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SeanTPendergast. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/college-football-week-1-this-weekends-best-bets-8714611 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/fe027e136b875c4c8c2edb69f992c8536a082dc03c3bc8242e48b3ffcb14cb32.json |
[
"Jamie Alvear"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:46:46 | null | 2016-08-31T08:00:00 | Midtown's first brewery, Under the Radar, celebrated its grand opening on August 27. Three home brewers saw their dream become a reality as about... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Ffirst-look-at-under-the-radar-brewery-in-midtown-8715023.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715027/utr-dirty_blonde.jpg | en | null | First look at Under the Radar Brewery in Midtown | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Under the Radar Brewery's Radar Love (left) and Midtown Bock (right). Photo by Jamie Alvear
Located in Midtown and just minutes from the Museum District, you will find Under the Radar Brewery, 1506 Truxillo. After having a soft opening for the past month, Under the Radar welcomed about 2,000 people throughout the day for their official grand opening on August 27.
Under the Radar is the brainchild of three friends and home brewers, Herb Garcia, Ned Davis and Mike Norfleet. The story may sound the same as other local breweries that have recently opened, but the vibe here is definitely different. Imagine tailgating with your friends or barbecuing in the backyard sharing your favorite brews. That's what it's like at Under the Radar.
EXPAND Two of Under the Radar's owners, Ned Davis (left) and Herb Garcia (right). Not pictured is Mike Norfleet. Photo by Jamie Alvear
The tap room is small and the staff are friendly. The biergarden consists of a large yard furnished with picnic tables, outside fans, and a sizable tree that provides a canopy of shade. According to Davis, the lot was in pretty bad shape when they took over the space. They have transformed the overgrown lot into something he hopes the whole neighborhood can be proud of and feel welcome. Davis lives less than a mile away from the brewery and has enjoyed cleaning up the area and building a place he hopes will become an integral part of the community.
Under the Radar currently produces 60 barrels of beer a month and expansion is already in the works. They started out with five standard beers that they feel at least one of which will appeal to every beer drinker. Garcia, Davis and Norfleet perfected these recipes over the years by brewing for family and friends. The five styles on tap are Dirty Blonde (an American style blonde ale), Mid Frequency IPA (an IPA made with American, British and German malt), Midtown Bock (a hoppy ale style bock), Porter Authority (a porter with a light touch of hops) and Radar Love (a light hefeweizen). In addition to these five brews, small batch seasonal beers will also pop up throughout the year.
EXPAND Bartender Brian Fritz pours a Dirty Blonde for a customer. Photo by Jamie Alvear
As for the name , Davis says "We started in on what to call ourselves and Herb, without missing a beat, said "Under the Radar". It's not just a clever name, it really does fit our personalities and style. We are a pretty easy going bunch, we are understated and relaxed." With the successful opening of the brewery and having their beers on tap at local spots like Axelrad, The Conservatory, Onion Creek and Hay Merchant, they won't be able to stay under the radar for too long.
Under the Radar is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Beers are $5 for one or three for $15 which includes a free keepsake glass. A flight of all five beers is available for $10. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/first-look-at-under-the-radar-brewery-in-midtown-8715023 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8700773a2d4a552c0388241a7a749bd8b7cb8f13fd7fc6312b1cf9b43a9ceb8e.json |
[
"Phaedra Cook"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:46:37 | null | 2016-08-30T09:45:00 | The downtown location of Flying Saucer announced that it is canceling Glass Night and some customers aren't happy about it. The final one is on... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fflying-saucer-s-cancels-wednesday-glass-night-to-make-way-for-flight-night-8717071.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8717077/beer_glasses_flyingsaucer_joshuajustice.jpg | en | null | Don't Panic: Glass Night Isn't Entirely Going Away At Flying Saucer | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Flying Saucer downtown location manager Joshua Justice says Glass Night is being discontinued as a regular weekly event because demand for regular pint glasses has waned. It's being replaced with Flight Night. Photo by Joshua Justice
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in downtown Houston has decided to discontinue their Wednesday Glass Nights and some customers are unhappy about that. Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31, is the final one and it’s called The Great Glass Swap. Collectors are encouraged to bring their unwanted glassware to trade with other customers and Flying Saucer will be selling off its own giant collection of specialty snifters and stemware for $1 each.
The weekly events featured opportunities for customers to receive or purchase promotional and collectible beer glasses for various brands. The announcement on Facebook that it is being canceled drew customer comments like “No!” and “That stinks.”
However, the news isn’t as bad as it seems for glass collectors—or beer lovers in general.
Manager Joshua Justice says Glass Night is being discontinued simply because demand has waned. He says there are giant shelves full of “a couple of thousand” leftover glasses at the Flying Saucer. “If you’re that attached to it, come in [on Wednesday] and go nuts!”
However, it’s not all glass nights that are going away. The special ones that are still popular will continue.
Flying Saucer downtown will continue glass nights for truly special, interesting ones, like custom-designed glasses. Justice says, "The boring, plain old pint glasses is what we’re killing." Photo by Joshua Justice
“The stuff that we do in-house like 420 day and Texas Independence Day still sell out instantaneously, but the day-to-day ‘Here’s a logo glass from this brewery you’ve known for ten years,” the demand’s not there. The Sugar Land [location] still sells out in an hour but downtown is just not what it used to be,” Justice explained. “We’re not fully killing Glass Night. If Dogfish Head comes and says, ‘Hey, we redid the IPA glass and it’s Spiegelau glassware,’ I’m totally picking that up and I’m totally going to sell that, because it’s something that’s cool. The boring, plain old pint glasses is what we’re killing.”
So, there will still be opportunities to get collectible glasses. Best of all, though is what is replacing Glass Night. Justice says discontinuing that makes way for a new program on Wednesday nights called Flight Night. The company’s Facebook page says, “Think cheese pairings, cocktail pairings, guest speakers and more.”
The first Flight Night is September 7 at 7 p.m. and will feature Japanese beer Hitachino White paired with Kiuchi no Shizuku, a gin-like spirit that’s also from Japan, as well as Hitachino cocktails | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/flying-saucer-s-cancels-wednesday-glass-night-to-make-way-for-flight-night-8717071 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/0e03a6248fae1fdc86f3dbed6f89c92c47391ce9ac4b432d212cc1f580199bf3.json |
[
"Pete Vonder Haar"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:59:37 | null | 2016-08-25T20:00:00 | Children’s programming is actually the new refuge for old people who prefer TV like it used to be and have been driven away from prime time. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Fwhat-disneys-horrible-tween-shows-taught-me-about-parenting-and-todays-tv-comedy-8696564.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7290023/bellaandthebulldogs.jpg | en | null | What Disney's Horrible Tween Shows Taught Me About Parenting - and Today's TV Comedy | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Courtesy of Disney
It's hard out there for a TV comedy fan.
That's the case for network television, at least. Before All in the Family altered the TV comedy landscape, most sitcoms hewed closely to the formula of solving minor annoyances in 22 minutes (with the occasional “OMG Vincent Price in Hawaii” curveball). AitF dared to tackle issues like racism and sexism, and while the game didn’t change immediately, it opened the door a crack for other comedies to tackle weightier issues. That door is now the proverbial one attached to the barn, as the growth of original content on pay networks and elsewhere has exploded.
The Big Four’s feeble response to the threat posed by cable networks and streaming providers appears to begin and end with Melissa McCarthy and Jim Parsons making coy references to STDs and oral sex on prime time. Problem is, that still can’t compete with the likes of FCC-free HBO and Showtime. It also has the added drawback of driving away older audiences, increasingly the Big Four’s core demographic.
Meanwhile, kids these days (note to self: trademark that phrase) are reveling in a cornucopia of choices undreamed of by those who grew up on airwaves strangled by the Hanna-Barbera industrial-entertainment complex. With nearly a dozen cable options, not to mention On Demand and the aforementioned online streaming services, today’s children can glut themselves 24 hours a day on shows specifically programmed for them. This is a far cry from the hellscape of Saturday-morning-only cartoons, AKA Generation X’s Vietnam.
As a father of grade-school children, I adopted a brave and time-honored parental strategy to confront this reality: utter capitulation. Rather than forbid my kids from watching any TV and thereby turning them into Amish weirdos in the eyes of their peers, I elected to “get involved” — i.e. sit down and watch some of their favorite shows with them. As it turns out, I wasn’t careful and learned something before I was done. Namely, that children’s programming is actually the new refuge for old people who prefer TV like it used to be and have been driven away from prime time by Chuck Lorre and Kat Dennings’ bosoms.
The first exhibit in our traveling roadshow of parental defeat was Jessie, a Disney Channel offering that tells the story of a Texas girl who flees to the big city (New York) and — instead of becoming the subject of a Poison song — ends up hired as a nanny for the wealthy Ross family. The Ross children are four stereotypically multicultural kids whose mostly adoptive parents are mostly absent. There’s also a butler, who provides excellent joke fodder because he’s overweight, and a monitor lizard. The lizard belongs to Ravi, the boy adopted from India, and is named “Mr. Kipling,” presumably because the showrunners decided “Mr. Gandhi” was too on the nose.
Courtesy of Disney
There’s another adopted child, a girl named Zuri who comes from Uganda. Her skin color is the only thing setting her apart from the natural Ross children, which would seem to be a cultural slight, unless Disney is proposing all African children behave like the Cosbys.
Jessie was a bit of an outlier in my study, as the episode we watched was an almost note-perfect remake of the original Ghostbusters, the events of which turned out to be a nightmare brought about by Jessie eating all the kids’ Halloween candy and not, thankfully, a “men’s rights” answer to that Paul Feig movie.
Next up was Bella and the Bulldogs on Nickelodeon. Bella Dawson (Brec Bassinger) is a Texas middle-school cheerleader who becomes the quarterback for the football team. This kicks off (heh) two seasons of mildly sexist quandaries and dawning horror as the rest of the nation realizes they let 11-year-olds be cheerleaders and play football in Texas.
And although they’re fairly different shows, Bella and Jessie's mutual use of the Lone Star State was amusing (to me, as someone who lives there). For Jessie, it makes sense — few states set up the fish-out-of-water-in-NYC angle like Texas, while Nickelodeon undoubtedly figured using it as the background for a football-based TV show was a no-brainer. I mean, sports are big in California too, but you’d never set Bella and the Bulldogs there because hippies like Marcia Brady obviously can't catch a football properly.
Both shows are also fond of extended-length episodes, which are problematic when you tell your 7-year-olds they can watch “one more show” and they then proceed to lawyerball you by starting the 85-minute ep in which Jessie returns to Texas to make peace with her hard-ass military father.
More surprising than the overall banality of the shows in question was the almost complete lack of “very special” episodes. With almost no exception, no one in these programs ever deals with quandaries more challenging than an inability to connect with the opposite sex or easily circumvented school-district prohibitions against girls playing football. Routine problems like this also offer another reason for some to abandon prime-time TV and its insistence on acknowledging human ugliness.
Finally there was Bunk’d, because there are still summer-camp-comedy depths left unplumbed by Meatballs III. We watched this for five minutes before I realized I’d been had: It’s a Jessie spin-off, with three of the four Ross kids going to “Camp Kikiwaka” in Maine for further adventures in upper-class banality and laugh-track abuse. Mr. Kipling is gone and replaced by Tiffany, a Chinese-American girl who’s super neurotic about her grades and appeasing her overbearing mother. The eldest Ross child (Emma) is also forced to compete for the affections of the camp hunk with the head counselor (Hazel, as in “Witch”). These are all things that would’ve been rejected in the writers’ room of The Love Boat for being “too cliché.”
This is when I realized the solution to the Big Four’s sitcom problem is right here under their noses. In each of these shows, Disney and Nickelodeon have managed the insidious trick of reverting to a 1950s mindset by effectively leapfrogging the intervening decades and arriving in what older whiter audiences assume to be post-racial America. Three of the kids in Jessie’s charge are adopted from places like Uganda and India, but their problems are just as banal as any Wally and Eddie Haskell faced in Leave it to Beaver.
Obviously, these are children’s shows, and the closest they’ll get to real-world issues is the kind of arm's’ length you see when a boy and girl enjoy their first slow dance at the junior-high social. But isn’t that what the Big Four’s audiences want? Don’t the same folks who keep Blue Bloods and NCIS: Walmart (or whatever) in the Nielsen top 20 prefer their conflicts to be neatly wrapped up before the Mega Millions drawing?
It was an educational experience in other ways, as well. My daughters learned that people will always conform to comforting cultural stereotypes, rural Texas is very accommodating when it comes to equal rights for women and fat people are almost (but not quite!) worthy of human dignity. As for me, I came to realize those fears of my kids running off to the big city are wholly unfounded, that Jessie’s gluttony was probably a statement about America’s stance on resource consumption and that I should immediately drop my television from the top of the nearest football stadium. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/what-disneys-horrible-tween-shows-taught-me-about-parenting-and-todays-tv-comedy-8696564 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8ea0d31e5475aba2cfbf12e9d51a95ec025e412f0209816f366b8e7902f8f336.json |
[
"Clint Hale"
]
| 2016-08-30T10:46:46 | null | 2016-08-30T05:00:00 | Band members don’t necessarily need to be best friends to successfully coexist as a unit. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fbands-neednt-be-best-friends-to-make-it-big-8704833.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715043/dinojr._leviwalton-aug30.jpg | en | null | Bands Needn't Be Best Friends to Make It Big | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | You're Living All Over Me: Dinosaur Jr., recently Levi Walton/Courtesy of Jagjaguar Records
Dinosaur Jr. ranks among the influential indie-rock bands of the '80s. The band’s catalog, particularly 1987’s You’re Living All Over Me, set the tone for numerous imitators and copycats to follow. Even the trio’s reformation a decade ago — which some initially viewed as a cash grab — has yielded plenty of great musical output, so much so that Dinosaur Jr. will likely play before a packed downstairs crowd at Houston's White Oak Music Hall on September 15.
Even if the vibe within the band can safely be described as frosty.
“[Front man J. Mascis] makes me laugh. He’s incredibly dry and has a pretty harsh sense of humor that I enjoy. But we’re not chatting,” Dinosaur Jr. bassist/vocalist Lou Barlow told Bandcamp Daily last month.
There’s history here; Mascis and Barlow have been somewhat estranged since Mascis booted Barlow from the band in 1989. Emotions cooled over time, and Barlow went on to found acclaimed lo-fi rockers Sebadoh before rejoining a reformed Dinosaur Jr. in 2005. Two years later, the original trio released its first album since 1988 – Beyond, a highlight of the band's catalog. With three more records and numerous tours to its credit, Dinosaur Jr. is proof that band members don’t necessarily need to be best friends to successfully coexist as a unit.
But they're hardly the only ones. Rock and roll is littered with bands who didn’t get along but managed to push on as a solid musical entity...at least for a while.
THE BEATLES
What began as four young guys from the U.K. melting young women’s’ hearts around the globe later transitioned into a group of seasoned musicians cranking out some of the best pop-rock songs the world has ever heard. Along the way, ego and in-fighting overcame what many consider to the greatest rock band of all time, and particularly led to friction between its two lead dogs — John Lennon and Paul McCartney. By the time the former married Yoko Ono in 1969 — since then, perhaps a bit unfairly, any woman who comes between two men has taken on said name — the band was as good as done.
BLINK-182
Turns out one of the most fun-loving bands of the past 20 years wasn’t quite so fun-loving behind the scenes. Of course, to spread the blame equally among the three members would be unfair; simply put, former co-front man Tom DeLonge is a weird cat, and bandmates Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker finally had enough of him. It all began in 2005, when the band went on “indefinite hiatus” (they broke up) because DeLonge demanded more time away from the band than Hoppus and Barker felt necessary. The trio eventually patched things up and recorded 2011’s comeback album, Neighborhoods, which wound up both a critical and commercial disappointment. Tensions finally boiled over last year, when DeLonge left the band and was permanently replaced by Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba. The result was California, Blink’s best album since 1999’s Enema of the State.
FLEETWOOD MAC
Some bands weather personal hardships and push on, albeit to middling results. Fleetwood Mac, meanwhile, used its personal struggles as the catalysts for recording an all-time classic. In short, bandmates Christine and John McVie divorced just before recording was scheduled to begin, while fellow members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were embroiled in a relationship that yielded its fair share of drama. And poor drummer Mick Fleetwood - well, his wife was sleeping with his best friend. Nicks often said that the band produced its best music when its members were at its worst, and Rumours certainly confirmed that. Recorded amidst in-fighting, expensive production over-runs and drug abuse, Rumours is about as personal as an album can get. The music-buying public certainly agreed; the album was showered with critical praise, and since its release in 1977, ranks among the Top 10-selling albums of all time.
METALLICA
Um, have you seen Some Kind of Monster? Here’s Metallica – legends of hard rock, musical pioneers, Grade-A badasses – resorting to couple’s therapy between front man James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich in helping them complete their long-awaited album, St. Anger. And here was poor guitarist Kirk Hammett, by far the documentary’s most sympathetic figure, trying to serve as the voice of reason between Hetfield (fresh off a stint in rehab) and the volatile Ulrich. The result was an underwhelming album (seriously, St. Anger is terrible) but a band that still sells out arenas around the world.
OASIS
Could we really end with any other band? While the groups above certainly had their issues, at least they had the tact to try and work it out, to be somewhat discreet about it, or at the very least, to channel that tension into music. Not Oasis. These blokes didn’t like one another and made no secret of it. The worst part? The guiltiest parties were brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.
Noel, on Liam: “He’s rude, arrogant, intimidating and lazy. He’s the angriest man you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup."
Liam, on Noel: “Noel Gallagher can be a little bitch.”
Noel, on Liam: “I do all the work so it’s only right that I should get the most money. Plus, I am the most handsome.”
Liam, on Noel: “Shitbag.”
How these two managed to stay together for 15 years and sell more than 70 million records is a fucking miracle. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/bands-neednt-be-best-friends-to-make-it-big-8704833 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/b2a1cf4707549e7dd12df80d4ed28dbf467fec8874d395908aea76e9b097a886.json |
[
"Houston Press"
]
| 2016-08-29T08:46:17 | null | 2016-08-29T03:30:00 | These admirable small Houston businesses have managed to remain solvent in today’s unforgiving climate for consumer goods often — but mistakenly —... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fhoustons-10-best-record-stores-8707758.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713388/hou_mus_20160828_recordstores1_franciscomontes-1-2.jpg | en | null | Houston's 10 Best Record Stores | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Screwed Up Records & Tapes is one of the few authentic landmarks Houston has ever produced. Francisco Montes
Despite the best efforts of the world’s leading entertainment corporations — which in their higher echelons often have very little to do with anything entertaining at all — to convince the public otherwise, music and the players who make it remain unpredictable, unruly, incorrigible, indefatigable, hungry. Therefore the multinationals will never quite be able to package and sell audio recordings quite as fluidly as they can trash bags, wrapping paper, mop heads, school supplies, and other assorted dry goods. Which is not to say they haven’t tried; consider the all but complete disappearance of record stores from malls, unless said shopping center happens to contain an Urban Outfitters. But even as artists and retailers alike struggle to convince a skeptical generation that music is indeed worth paying for, the destabilization of the music industry has been a somewhat unexpected boon for those independent merchants who (unlike shops such as New York’s legendary Other Music, sadly) have managed to remain solvent in today’s unforgiving climate for consumer goods often marketed as disposable but that are, in fact, essential. In other words, here are Houston’s ten best record stores.
Francisco Montes
10. BLACK DOG RECORDS
Black Dog Records has been open for 18 years now, and the current location in Bellaire is more spacious and less cramped than their previous spot; Black Dog is well organized, neat and the aisles are wide enough so you won’t bump into fellow customers when you visit. The place has an impressive selection of music, much of it of the classic rock variety, yet you can find interesting stuff no matter what your favorite genre is. Black Dog carries new, popular releases as well as pre-owned vinyl in excellent shape; the store has a VPI Record Cleaning Machine it uses on all of their purchases. When the owners are not playing some of their favorite records, including the “Album of the Day” they post on Facebook, Black Dog sometimes hosts live music for your listening pleasure while shopping. 4900 Bissonnet #102, Bellaire, facebook.com/blackdogrecordstx
Jack Gorman
9. SOUNDWAVES
This Montrose mainstay has been a part of the community for decades, and while it's combination of surf & skate-themed clothing with CDs may not be as relevant today as it might have been ten years ago, Soundwaves still boasts one of the more impressive collections in town. They were a little late to catch on with the vinyl resurgence, but when it comes to CDs, they have the city's second-most thorough selection just behind Cactus. What they can boast is not just breadth, but depth, as a browse through their dance section might reveal European imports, and going through their rap section you may find racks of discs from Houston legends like DJ Screw or Z-Ro. With mixtapes pressed on CDs and a decent amount of chopped and screwed CDs, Soundwaves has a selection a bit unlike most of the more rock-focused vinyl shops in town. People may buy CDs much less these days, but Soundwaves remains a staple to browse through and find that gem. 3509 Montrose, soundwaves.com
David Rozycki
8. SWEET SPOT AUDIO & RECORDS
Nigel Harrison and his wife Cathy opened Sweet Spot Audio & Records back in 2010 after retiring; their current location in Webster has been open for more than a year, and is bigger, nicer and more inviting than the store’s two previous locations. Harrison is a big fan of vintage vinyl, and Sweet Spot currently carries everything from classical, jazz and R&B to punk, classic rock, metal and more; Sweet Spot sells mostly pre-owned vinyl with a limited amount of new releases. Sweet Spot is unique among Houston record stores in that it sells new and pre-owned audio equipment along with the records; here you can find plenty of turntables and some stuff you don’t see every day, like an old Sears 8-track car stereo that has never been used, reel-to-reel players, cassette decks, and the occasional jukebox among an ever-changing inventory of items. Sweet Spot Audio is the kind of place where you can hang out for a bit, take a seat and talk with fellow customers and Harrison about records and music; it’s not the type of place where you just run in, make your purchases and leave, which is refreshing. This is definitely not a corporate retail place, and that’s a good thing. 16960 Hwy. 3 N., Webster, facebook.com/Sweet-Spot-Audio-and-Records-362043995464/
Jack Gorman
7. HEIGHTS VINYL
Fact: consumers are willing to pay 10 percent more for a product if it is sold with good customer service. Heights Vinyl might have an ambiguous and slightly inflated pricing policy, but there is no question that interactions with store staff are consistently delightful. Whether getting a player fixed or searching for a specific album, the super helpful and always patient Heights Vinyl staff genuinely want to give Houston music lovers an awesome experience. Additionally, the store's 99 cent bins are packed with some great finds for fans less concerned with pristine quality, and serve as a great place to kick-start a collection. In the often-pretentious world of vinyl collection, service with a smile is a rare gem. 3122 White Oak, heightsvinyl.com
Francisco Montes
6. DEEP END RECORDS
Of course a club should house a record store. The idea is so natural and fitting that it could have eluded us forever had not John Baldwin and Chris Unclebach finally thrown a net over the shadow of the obvious, and set up camp in the front room of Walters Downtown. Deep End isn’t just a good idea in general, the place is filled with well-picked selections of indie rock, punk, weird psych, and metal. So far, it has a slightly smaller breadth of collections than a full brick and mortar store has to carry to make rent, but all the fat’s been cut off, too. Each album in each rack seems to whisper, “Hey, dog, check out my friend over here, too.” And that — well, that and the posters on the wall — is the abiding attraction of a real live record store, and fundamentally what the Internet has yet to better. Deep End is the kind of store that has records you want, but much more importantly, that has records you didn’t know you wanted. 1120 Naylor, deependhtx.com
Jack Gorman
5. SOUND EXCHANGE
Sound Exchange is one of those little places in Montrose that reminds us that this neighborhood used to be much weirder, grosser and funkier than its current incarnation. Holding fast against the incursion of townhouses, mattress shops, and self-storage monoliths, this little house on Richmond certainly looks dingy and unassuming from the outside. But inside, music lovers will find a thick collection of vinyl geared more toward long-haired collector types than bike-riding hipsters. Vintage stuff, underground punk and metal, and local releases are the main draw, with a nice selection of CDs hanging out off to one side and some restored turntables available, too. Sound Exchange has also played host to some pretty cool live-music experiments, including freaky local noise artists. A beyond-jam-packed show there in July by mostly-defunct Houston grindcore legends Insect Warfare was a fire marshal’s waking nightmare. 1846 Richmond, soundexchangehouston.com | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/houstons-10-best-record-stores-8707758 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/320ba5e354d1df60844eb898019544f882a5b57d8b4e6c527d99a2f496ce4987.json |
[
"Brandon Caldwell"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:46:19 | null | 2016-08-29T09:36:00 | History was made at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. Beyoncé officially became the most awarded artist ever, Rihanna accepted her Video Vanguard award... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fbeyonc-kanye-rescue-a-less-than-iconic-vmas-8713436.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713788/key-peele-mtv-vmas.jpg | en | null | Beyoncé, Kanye Rescue a Less Than Iconic VMAs | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The 31st MTV Video Music Awards were last night and somehow I told myself, “We’re going to sit down and watch the entire thing. We’re not going to edit any of our thoughts, we’re just going to go ahead and punch this out old school style. It has to be interesting though. I mean, Beyoncé is performing tonight so that should automatically be a win. And supposedly Rihanna is performing multiple times. Britney Spears is here! Kanye West is doing … something. Alright fine, the VMAs got me. Let’s finish this episode of Teen Mom OG and get to the nitty gritty.
The pre-show is taped as shit. Saved everyone from live drunken moments. How blatant is the difference between segments? There’s light in certain segments and complete darkness in others.
7:01 p.m.: Alessia Cara is performing. There are tons of confused faces in the crowd. Not for Cara, because we’re generally sweet to Canadians but for this lanky dude with dreamboat eyes. Oh, his name is Troye Sivan. Dammit, the camera panned to a woman who told her friend, “I don’t know who that is.” That freaking sucks.
7:05 p.m.: CHAAAAANCE. He tells us that Coloring Book is out for free and pre-show host DJ Khaled side-eyes him because it can’t really be for free. Chance laughs and tells him, it is. Sure. “Are Chance The Rapper and DJ Khaled going to make a record together?” Khaled asks. “Oh yeah, that’s a major key!” Chance responds. Khaled, the soothsayer.
7:07 p.m.: Can we get 2 Chainz to run for president? Charlemagne Tha God asks him if he knows what Kanye’s gonna do. “I know he don’t have no notes. He might drop a song, a beat, a new shoe, something.”
I kind of want somebody to try and play Kanye in Connect 4 for the hell of it.
7:08 p.m.: Beyonce Sighting No. 1; Blue Ivy accompanying her. Along with the cast of Lemonade. And the Mother’s of the Movement. Not pictured, the trail of edges she’s snatched since “No No No."
7:10 p.m.: Why the hell is Lil Dicky in a commercial for Trojan condoms?
7:12 p.m.: DJ Khaled’s interviewing his own artist in Kent Jones. Khaled is probably going to ask everybody he interviews for a track for that next album. Sidenote, this may be the first time anybody has ever seen what Kent Jones looks like.
7:15 p.m.: R&B act and “WHERE’S THE ALBUM” casualty Tinashe is here to tell us she’s been stanning for Britney Spears since she was five. How does she think the MTV VMAs will be? “Iconic.”
Expect this word to be overused, plenty.
7:16 p.m.: Ariana Grande and that goddamn ponytail are here. At least Charlemagne tells her not to lick any pastries. And she’s dating Mac Miller. Wait, she’s dating Mac Miller?
7:19 p.m.: STRANGER THINGS!
7:21 p.m.: DJ Khaled gives awkward laughs to Nick Jonas about his “Bacon” track. Jonas out here name dropping about being in Canada with Abel (The Weekend) and Ed (Sheeran). “Tell Ed I said what’s up, that’s my guy!” Jesus Khaled will hype you up over pyro possibly being in a Nick Jonas performance.
7:23 p.m.: Halsey has a flower tattooed on her collarbone/shoulder. Why the hell isn’t it finished. Also, her biggest inspiration is Rihanna. Er … well alright.
7:24 p.m.: SONG OF THE SUMMER WINNER - Fifth Harmony for “All In My Head (Flex)” Oh, it samples Mad Cobra’s “Flex”! Mind you, that song may be older than every single member of Fifth Harmony.
7:28 p.m.: Khaled brought his Snapchat to the VMAs via rotating Air Jordan XXXIs. Damn that man won’t let us live like normal plebeians.
7:31 p.m.: Oh God, Jidenna has the death spot when you’re performing an actual fun song and everyone is awkwardly standing around looking at each other waiting for it to end. I hate it had to be him.
7:33 p.m.: PUFF. (In a Kimono and gold chains). Then Khaled interjects with another check he’s getting for Mango Ciroc. HE. DOESN’T. STOP. WORKING.
7:37 p.m.: Desiigner talks in literal mumble. And adlibs. Happy as shit to be here, though, and that’s wonderful.
7:40 p.m.: Khaled is back...next to a woman named Steak. I’m not making that shit up. A woman who looks a bit like Iggy Azalea without any of the enhancements is named Steak. Thank you MTV, never change.
7:42 p.m.: Time out, Joe Jonas has a new group called DNCE …And some dude looks like a bad Enzo Amore reject. Joe Jonas obviously went through a time warp to get guys from Black Crowes, the German dudes from “I’m So Sexy” and 1995 Gwen Stefani and said, “I need you all for a mission to create music in the future. Come with me if you want to life.”
7:44 p.m.: DJ Khaled will forever be here to be happy for someone else’s success and mere appearance at the VMAs.
7:50 p.m.: The Chainsmokers have the No. 1 song in the country. And look exactly like 2009 douche bros.
7:53 p.m.: Nobody sips Pepsi like it's goddamn wine. Pepsi selling lies and deceit upon the public.
7:57 p.m.: Lukas Graham, our favorite Danish import of recent memory, really should have been on Stranger Things. “7 Years” is dope, and probably the one song my 66-year-old father will try to put on to tell me he’s hip. “Mama Said”? Quite terrible.
Well … that was a “fun” pre-show. Time to get to the live show.
8:00 p.m.: LIIIIIVE FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, it's the VMAS! Rihanna is here to do her Vanguard performance. In a pink Hood By Air shirt and she’s singing her absolute heart out for “Only Girl In The World." Didn’t know that song needed all that emotion to it, but all right. There’s an absolute ton of pink and I’m left staring at Rihanna in what may be cut-up pants and chaps.
Oh well, that was performance one. She’s performing three more times; hopefully they’ll be far more energetic than the this first one.
Key & Peele Screenshot / MTV
8:05 p.m.: Key & Peele are “quasi-hosting” right now. I miss when the VMAs had actual hosts. We’ve gone from Key & Peele to Nicole Byer to Jay Pharaoh doing impersonations in the stands of Madison Square Garden. Kevin Hart couldn’t be called? Kevin Hart doesn’t turn down gigs; why did NOBODY call him?
Just don’t call Miley Cyrus.
Wait, Key & Peele are the hosts? Oh goddamnit.
8:10 p.m.: Puff Daddy is here to reveal the winner for Best Hip-Hop Video while also promote the Bad Boy Family Reunion tour, Ciroc, his career, his other name changes, the people from Bad Boy that never made it beyond a first album, etc. And Drake wins for “Hotline Bling”. “Come get this award Drake!” Drake’s not here and that’s shady on so many levels. Cause Meek Mill is at the VMAs. And virtually every Drake “enemy” is there too.
Puff really came to the VMAs dressed like the leader of Kobra Kai, and now I want him and Drake to square off one-on-one.
8:14 p.m.: “Bryson Tiller is here. His music is great for when you go through a mutual breakup. Ain’t nothing like a cool Diet Drake with Lime.” Well, shit, Key & Peele, you’ve got ONE funny joke out of the night.
8:21 p.m.: Sigh, Chance The Rapper could have actually performed here. Instead he’s introducing Ariana Grande (her drawstring ponytail) and Nicki Minaj’s performance.
Soul cycling, Ariana looking like she stayed up and watched Mariah Carey’s “Honey” video a thousand times. Nicki Minaj pink leotard with the cakes out and...what may be her laziest performance ever. And it ends with, two buff guys simulating giving Ariana and Nicki oral sex. We’re really on a bad wave so far with the VMAs.
8:26 p.m.: Key & Peele try to drop a “C-U-N-T” before commercial break. Yeah, this is has to stop.
8:27 p.m.: DJ Khaled, more Jordan promo. These are gems: “They said man wasn’t meant to fly. They fired that scientist! He was a liar! Gravity’s trying to hold us down! We reject gravity! They don’t want you to fly! You can either be the passenger, or the pilot!”
I officially nominate myself to transcribe all DJ Khaled quotes for his motivational book.
8:32 p.m.: God, what did we do to endure Key & Peele all night? Even if their final season was great television, this...is terrible.
8:34 p.m.: Alicia Keys, Woke Orator, reminds us that today is the 53rd anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech. Then decides to give us a poem. Don’t si...shit, she’s singing. All of that to introduce Best Male Video. The winner? Calvin Harris & Rihanna’s “This Is What You Came For."
Shade Taylor Swift Calvin, please. No? You won’t? Don’t thank the director, shade Taylor. SHADE TAYLOR.
8:38 p.m.: Michael Phelps is here with the greatest quote in history, “There is no rapper today more inspiring than Future.” Also, Future’s “Stick Talk” caused Michael Phelps to hulk out in Rio. See kids? Your weed smoking heroes give us so much glory.
8:39 p.m.: Future is performing “Commas” with a live band. Zaytoven, piano boy of all the world is absolutely killing the keys. Future’s shoes literally are made of old Moonmen. The guitarist is killing this. And much like a man who we didn’t deserve, Future goes under the giant LED projection to disappear. We need more of you, Future. Desiigner Screenshot / VH1
His son, Designer, was quite shocked to see his father on this particular platform.
8:49 p.m.: Kanye time. That four uninterrupted minutes? He came here to premiere his new video - and talk. His brain literally wants to come up with the most important thing of his life but then he just talks about the “Famous” video. And explain he called Taylor out of love. And compares himself to a ton of “artist merchants” in Henry Ford & Howard Hughes. Oh Kanye, we proclaim you a genius because you can never get to a point when speaking in public.
That being said, his video for “Fade” is 2016 “Let’s Get Physical” with Teyana Taylor as Olivia Newton-John mixed with Rosie Perez’ opening number from Do The Right Thing and it’s absolutely insane.
Wait, Iman Shumpert is here. And they’re basically have a sex scene in the shower. Oh, there’s baby Iman in the manger! Well, it wouldn’t be a Kanye video if there wasn’t aspects of porn, spirituality and sexuality in there. Plus during commercial breaks, people are getting out of their seats to go meet Kanye. That’s right, straight out of The Godfather.
9:01 p.m.: Rihanna back for her second of four performances. All the island songs coming now. “Work”, “Rude Boy”, “What’s My Name”. Far more energetic than the first go round. Also, have you ever been to a dancehall party? It’s basically Alley Kat on Thursday nights.
9:06 p.m.: *Immediately heads to Tidal to re-watch the “Fade” video.*
9:12 p.m.: As a bacon enthusiast, I would have never predicted that Nick Jonas would a) make a song called “Bacon” or b) perform at the VMAs inside of a diner with his brother and his band of rebound friends. Oh, and Odell Beckham Jr. is somewhere inside said diner dancing. Along with Joanne Prada aka Joanne “The Scammer.” On a night where everybody is doing too much, Nick Jonas may have won most elaborate performance.
But that’s only until …
9:21 p.m.: Serena Williams is here to introduce us to BEYONCE TIME. “Pray You Catch Me." Oh God, is Beyonce the white Undertaker? Is she a white walker? Wait, how did the dancers emerge from the smoke? Why are they getting shot down? What is going on? OMG. OMG. Okay, no — the dancers are angels. And they’re all getting shot down. And now Beyonce herself is getting resurrected in the dark to completely destroy us all. Interpretive dance leading into the song with “Hold Up”.
Yes, the bat came to play and destroy things to. “Ashes to ashes, death to side chicks.” And boom, “Sorry” with blue and red police sirens contrasting off her face. This may be the concert, but goddamn, Beyoncé is once more setting the damn bar for VMA performances.
I have no edges. My edges no longer have edges. Your edges no longer have edges. “Don’t Hurt Yourself” then “Formation” before a wide shot of all the dancers falling into the feminist logo. It’s over. It’s a wrap. Beyoncé is now king, queen and emperor of all VMA performances.
And then Key & Peele sum it up with the best reaction of all. “I’d give you the eulogy but I’m already dead. And who has to follow that, Britney Spears?!”
Wait, holy shit, Britney Spears DOES have to follow that. Dear God, MTV, did that poor woman no favors. And she was their STAR 15 years ago.
9:44 p.m.: Beyonce has won awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Direction & more for Formation. There will be no Taylor Swift to deny her Video of the Year either.
9:47 p.m.: Fifth Harmony wins Best Collaboration for “Work From Home,” which...wait, THAT happened?! Over Kendrick & Beyoncé?! I DEMAND A RECOUNT.
9:49 p.m.: Well Britney Spears, here you go. This is your 3-0 deficit in the Finals since Beyoncé has already performed. You’re doing this with the gold sequins and all the old school sex moves but … it, it’s not working. It’s not working. Britney ventured back into the mid-00s in a 2016 world where everybody around her is moving in fast-forward. Dated, old, washed.
This is such a Good Job, Good Effort performance. And G-Eazy is getting the greatest look of his life. Cool, great. Can we get Beyoncé back out to perform “Freedom” and “Sandcastles”? Or Madonna to kiss Britney or something? No? We’re just going to leave her out here to struggle? Who at MTV thought it was cool to do this to Britney Spears?
9:59 p.m.: “We just saw G-Eazy, representing real hip-hop right there!” I swear Key & Peele are batting the Mendoza line with the jokes. One hot one for 22 terrible ones.
10:02 p.m.: Holy shit, we still have 45 minutes of this. Final Five are out to reveal Best Female Video and of course Beyoncé wins for “Hold Up." I now have the magical glimpse of Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast who ever lived hugging Beyoncé, who is literally magic. Thank You Based God.
10:04 p.m.: Rihanna performance No. 3 equals we’re getting ALL the great Rihanna strip club songs. “Needed Me” and “Throw It Up”...and that one high note from “Needed Me” that gets one very terrible live note from Rihanna. The kind of note you hit when you cut on a shower and you get instantaneous hot water. I think Desiigner had the perfect reaction to it.
10:15 p.m.: Khaled is still wearing a pair of Bred Jordans on his neck. And thankfully, Fifth Harmony is here to give DNCE the award for Best New Artist. Which, is a cheat because JOE JONAS IS NOT A NEW ARTIST. “We’ve been all doing this individually for 10 years…” Oh shut up Joe Jonas.
THANK YOU TO EVERY DNCE FAN AROUND THE WORLD WE LOVE YOU!!!! pic.twitter.com/6ENQtdH7SG — J O E J O N A S (@joejonas) August 29, 2016
10:21 p.m.: The Joe Jonas train of Lies & Deceit lead us to The Chainsmokers’ struggle vocals and Halsey’s half finished rose tattoo to perform what’s apparently the Number 1 song in the country. This entire show has gone left ever since Beyoncé got off stage to perform.
And then Jay Pharaoh gets reduced to doing a Jay Z impersonation while waiting for the bathroom. Jay really did deserve better than getting fired from Saturday Night Live to be put in these positions.
10:30 p.m.: Fifteen minutes left. Home stretch! Jimmy Fallon’s here to give us the Video of the Year Award winner … dressed as Ryan Lochte. Yes, it includes all the lying jokes you can imagine. “I couldn’t tell you who the winner was, even if there was a gun to my head.”
And yes, Beyoncé won for “Formation”. And Christ she’s in ANOTHER gown, this one giving me “renew my wedding vows”. “I dedicate this award to the people of New Orleans.” Yes. dope. Awesome. Wait, we still have one more Rihanna performance. And apparently Drake’s at the VMAs in a tux. Or something.
10:41 p.m.: Mary J. Blige being here means we’re eventually getting that fire breakup album that has been missing for a decade or so. Rihanna’s final performance has her with her hair down for “Stay” and “Diamond”. We’re in big song ballad territory now. “Love On The Brain”, effectively the best ballad from ANTI.
And then … wait, Drake shows up to be the most affectionate damn boyfriend in the history of the world to present her with the Vanguard Award. And a speech where he tells us he’s loved her since he was 22. And Nicki Minaj since he was 24. And Courtney From Hooters on Peachrtree when he was 23. And Serena Williams just LAST YEAR. And leaned in for a kiss but got curved. Slightly. Typical Drake. At least he got his kiss off camera so yeah, they’re a legit thing now.
And at 10:53, we’re officially done with this. A disjointed, haphazardly organized event that still felt interesting and fun. Beyoncé gave us the Formation World Tour, Rihanna gave us the Anti World Tour, Kanye said nothing and yet gave us a video with everything. Plus … only few of the actual singers can … sing. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/beyonc-kanye-rescue-a-less-than-iconic-vmas-8713436 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/d7b534b39eed617a4af41b449bf3770f8283ff65b04212b317156846f6ea9c8a.json |
[
"Bob Ruggiero"
]
| 2016-08-30T10:46:40 | null | 2016-08-30T04:00:00 | An expanded, updated bio on the "lost blues hero" of the '60 and '70s. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fthe-blues-in-real-life-the-magic-tragic-odyssey-of-michael-bloomfield-8707248.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8707256/michael_bloomfield.jpg | en | null | Updated Mike Bloomfield Bio Sings the Tragic Jewish White-Boy Blues | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero
By Ed Ward
Chicago Review Press, 272 pp., $27.99
There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the life and work of Chicago-bred blues guitarist Mike Bloomfield, who died in 1981 at the age of 37. A career-spanning box set, From His Head to His Heart to His Hands, was released in 2014, also including the full-length documentary Sweet Blues.
Now comes this book, heavily revised and updated from its 1983 edition by longtime music journo, co-founder of SXSW, and Austin resident Ed Ward. And while the circumstances of Bloomfield’s death are unclear — the troubled substance abuser was found slumped over in a car, his body jacked with drugs — his musical journey is much clearer.
Michael Bloomfield wasn’t the type you’d think would haunt gritty southside Chicago blues clubs late at night. But there he was beginning at age 15, sitting in with performers like Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams and Howlin’ Wolf. Bloomfield was first seen as a novelty, but audience and performers soon warmed to the white, upper-middle-class, Jewish teen who talked a mile a minute and never seemed to sleep (Bloomfield suffered from insomnia all his life).
As word spread about his stinging and inventive guitar work, his star soon began to rise. That’s him on Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” and backing Dylan at the storied 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he “went electric.”
Then Bloomfield served as a member of the seminal Paul Butterfield Blues Band for their first two releases, appeared on the Super Session record with Al Kooper and Stephen Stills, and then ruled as the leader of the Electric Flag. Later, Bloomfield ran helter-skelter through a solo career, guest shots, and with various pickup bands in the ‘70s.
Ward gathers firsthand accounts from friends, family, and musical collaborators, as well as revisiting his own extensive talks with the performer while he was alive. As Bloomfield's increasing drug abuse derailed his career — combined with his inattention to business matters, hygiene, and lack of ambition — one can’t help but think the overall theme is one of unfulfilled potential.
And while Bloomfield would have realistically never reached the success level of, say, contemporaries like Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green, or Texan Johnny Winter, his work could certainly stand with any of the three.
Bloomfield’s last major appearance was guesting at a 1980 show with Bob Dylan. Though rattily dressed and acting erratic, he provided plenty of fire for his turns on “Like a Rolling Stone” and “The Groom’s Still Waiting at the Altar.” His last gig ever was a solo acoustic show at a small college venue, almost bringing him full circle.
As to the tired question of whether “white men can play the blues,” if Bloomfield’s work was enough to impress Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and the irascible Miles Davis, then it should be good enough for anyone. Ward’s book makes that crystal clear.
“You just get vibrations from black people that are swingier than from white," Davis once said. "That’s why when Mike Bloomfield plays before a black audience, his shit’s gonna come out black. You could put Mike Bloomfield with James Brown, and he’d be a motherfucker.” | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/the-blues-in-real-life-the-magic-tragic-odyssey-of-michael-bloomfield-8707248 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/f5f85b5e80a51b689af0bc59eacd2203b5f2d71f0282f105972be593b6cffbcb.json |
[
"Phaedra Cook"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:47:27 | null | 2016-08-31T06:00:00 | Houston-area restaurant owners say that Yelp presents false or manipulated information to consumers, including hiding their restaurant's reviews from... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fhouston-area-restaurateurs-struggle-with-yelps-business-practices-8718263.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8719853/hou_food_160803_myt_7350467.jpg | en | null | Houston Area Restaurateurs Struggle With Yelp's Business Practices | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | When Myth Kafe moved from their original location to food hall, Conservatory, Yelp marked the new business address as "closed." (They've since reopened in the original spot). Myth Kafe's owner claims it was due to an delinquent advertising invoice. Yelp says it was just an error. Photo by Phaedra Cook
Yelp proved a long time ago to be a successful outlet for consumers to speak their minds about restaurants and other kinds of businesses. However, the consumer reviews displayed on a Yelp page is sometimes a skewed by the “Yelp Sort” algorithm. Even basic facts, like whether a business is open or closed, aren’t necessarily correct.
If a business is marked as “closed” when it is not, potential customers who see that status on Yelp likely won’t visit. If enough people believe a restaurant is closed, that can do serious financial and reputational harm.
John Virden is accusing Yelp of marking Myth Kafe’s location at the Conservatory, a food hall at 1010 Prairie that houses four other restaurants, as closed in response to an unpaid advertising invoice. Virden claims a Yelp sales representative told him that marking a business as closed when there were outstanding invoices was a standard practice. (Virden says by this past May, checks had been mailed to Yelp’s collection agency for all outstanding invoices but that one of them was never cashed.)
However, a Yelp statement received by public relations representative Katrina Hafford says, “We want to make it clear that the business page closing had nothing to do with a missed payment. Instead, it was based on a user’s report, and we did not catch the error due to the presence of multiple businesses with different names at the same address. We’ve been in touch with the business owner and have corrected the issue.”
The fact that businesses are marked as closed exclusively based on any Yelp user’s say-so is a problem. Yelp does not necessarily contact restaurant owners to verify that the business is closed. Hafford wrote, “Yelp receives thousands of closure requests every day from its users, which limits our ability to confirm closures with business owners. Depending on how confident we are in the suggestions, we may or may not confirm the closure with the business.”
Virden says he never received a phone call or email from any Yelp representative to ask about the status of his restaurant.
EXPAND Tejas Chocolate Craftory co-owner Scott Moore Jr. (far right) says that after he says "no" to pushy Yelp and Yelp Eat24 salespeople, a few positive reviews move to the "not currently recommended" section. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
That’s only one issue that restaurant owners are having with Yelp. Scott Moore Jr. of Tejas Chocolate Craftory is tired of the aggressive sales techniques, not only for Yelp business services (which lets owners administer their own restaurant page, among other things) but also for Eat24, Yelp’s food delivery service.
Moore says that despite repeated attempts to explain why he doesn’t want to use either Yelp or Eat 24, salespeople just keep calling. Furthermore, he claims that when he declines, positive consumer reviews are moved to “not recommended” on the Yelp web site. “[The Eat24] model cannot possibly work for our establishment. Am I going to take an Internet order that cuts in line right in front of the people waiting inside our joint? We can't possibly manage that. The sales guy couldn't wrap his brain around that reality for us. I am sure it works for several types of places, but we said no. Four 5-star reviews are suddenly buried hidden from users.”
Those “buried” reviews are subtly hidden at the bottom of restaurant Yelp pages and labeled, “not currently recommended.” We took a look at the page for Tejas Chocolate Craftory and found six four- and five-star reviews that were hidden. Furthermore, a note above all those good reviews reads, “The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.” That means Tejas is essentially not getting credit for six good reviews in its overall star rating (which is currently still a very good four-and-a-half out of five stars).
A look at the "not currently recommended" reviews for Tejas Chocolate Craftory revealed six 4- and 5-star reviews. The reviews are ignored when it comes to a restaurants overall rating on Yelp. Screenshot of Yelp web site by Phaedra Cook
The most visible review at the top of the page was from July 20 but the most actual recent review was actually a five-star one from just a few days ago: August 27. That’s because consumers who visit Yelp pages to get an idea as to the quality of the restaurant have to purposefully sort by “most recent” in order to read consumer comments listed in chronological order. Otherwise, what they’ll first see is the “Yelp Sort.”
A copy of Yelp’s advertising contract that we received gives some insight into what the “Yelp Sort” is. A section of the contract states, “The Site employs automated software in an effort to showcase the most reliable and useful reviews while displaying other reviews less prominently. Client understands that while Yelp uses such automated software to identify potentially less helpful reviews, the software may sometimes suppress legitimate reviews or fail to detect illegitimate reviews”
The reviews deemed “reliable” and “useful” that show up at the top are often from users deemed part of the “Yelp Elite Squad, a group of consumers that are very active on the site. According to the Yelp web site, consumers are selected for the Elite Squad based on, “well-written reviews, high quality tips, a detailed personal profile, an active voting and complimenting record, and a history of playing well with others.” Anyone can nominate himself or herself and Elite Yelpers are rewarded for their prolific tips and reviews with special parties at restaurants and bars with free food, drinks and entertainment.
None of this means that Elite Yelpers are more knowledgeable about food or drink than anyone else who contributes comments. One-off reviews are often hidden in the “not recommended” section. Under Yelp’s system, an Elite review that’s months old and may not reflect the restaurant’s current performance is often the top comment.
Gary Wise owns catering company Simpleton’s and says, "All my reviews are five stars but their 'algorithm' hides three of them because the customer only did one review. They were from legit clients who joined just to give me a good review."
Nichole Buckman of CorkScrew BBQ related a similar experience. “Yelp is a scam to business owners. People have no idea how much businesses loathe them. [Yelp salespeople] used to call us once a week. We'd tell them ‘no thank you’ on advertising and all of a sudden three 5-star ratings would be gone, then three more every time we said ‘no’.”
Yelp might be used ubiquitously but it is, at best, seriously flawed. At worst, it’s a tool used by aggressive sales reps to bully restaurant owners into buying advertising.
As the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Yelp needs to be more responsible to restaurant owners and consumers alike and present real reviews in the order received, not an manipulated version of it that’s been warped by algorithms, sales tactics and egos. Until the system is fixed, restaurant owners will continue to correlate disappearing and hidden good reviews with their refusal to give Yelp money. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/houston-area-restaurateurs-struggle-with-yelps-business-practices-8718263 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/56fc2f568488c2fb2aa26b02a41ea1efcc748a78b53e07a69b5f3f9e5f84d9b2.json |
[
"Kristy Loye"
]
| 2016-08-31T08:46:37 | null | 2016-08-31T03:30:00 | The L.A.-based promoter behind Houston's biggest new festival hopes to land with a big splash at NRG Park next month, but some Houston musicians... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fhouston-open-air-hopes-its-rising-tide-lifts-all-bands-8707770.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8718265/rockville-aug30.jpg | en | null | Houston Open Air Hopes Its Rising Tide Lifts All Bands | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The producers of Houston Open Air hope to draw the kind of crowd seen here at Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville, Fla. Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents
Since its announcement last spring, the Houston Open Air festival has been one of the most intriguing and hotly debated items in local metal circles. And relatively speaking, it is huge news. For the first time in our city’s history, the Danny Wimmer Presents franchise has bestowed a destination rock show on Houston, scheduled for September 24 and 25 at NRG Park. Whether you’re a metal fan or not, that’s immensely important for our music scene.
That being said, the festival itself seeks to combine two art forms Houstonians love: music and cuisine. Not only is the musical lineup a sampling of national heavy-metal acts, but HOA is also offering top-shelf eats, which the festival has dubbed “gourmet man food.”
"The days of propping up a couple of stages and giving fans stale beer and corn dogs are over," says HOA's Vice President of Production, Gary Spivack.
Despite its dubiously male-oriented labeling (come on — women eat food too) this is a grand idea, although how many people will want to eat anything in the oppressive Houston heat and humidity after baking all day on the NRG asphalt remains to be seen. Keep in mind Chicago Open Air, Rock Allegiance, Welcome to Rockville and other DWP festivals also have a “gourmet man food” component, although Spivack notes “what we [call] ‘gourmet man food’ would be really localized, regional Texas barbecue.”
It begs the question, if we’re celebrating local cuisine — such hometown eateries as Coreanos, Texas Taco Depot, Hugs and Donuts, the Waffle Bus, and (full disclosure) a reprise of the Houston Press' Tacolandia buffet, among others — what about local musical talent? Of the 37 announced acts performing over HOA's two days, names including Anthrax, Slayer, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Ministry, The Cult, Pierce the Veil and Chevelle, not one is from Houston.
Some local musicians say they've been wondering about that themselves, and think the festival has some explaining to do. One, who asked to remain anonymous, put it bluntly: “Where are the street teams? Where is the local involvement? Why aren’t they trying to stimulate the community they’re trying to reach? If this thing fails, it fucks with our tour routing and the legitimacy of our scene.”
HOA's website says it’s currently seeking volunteers to staff the festival's Access Center and Info Booth. When asked about publicity, Spivack says, “We’re going to all media — to The Buzz, to sports radio, to [Houston Press], social media — to spread the word that Houston Open Air festival is here.”
The festival is now less than a month away. As we draw nearer to the date, HOA is making strides in activating that local scene to get people involved. Even better, according to Gary Busch, VP of Marketing and Brand Partnerships for Danny Wimmer Presents, the festival and ReverbNation are sponsoring an online Battle of the Bands for local metal musicians, with a pretty sweet prize.
The winner will receive, Busch says, “a 30-minute set…kicking off the festival as the first band to ever play Houston Open Air.” Not a bad gig. It’s free to enter and the deadline is approaching quickly.
When asked what exactly they’re looking for in terms of a winner, Busch offers, “Just the best of the best — Best song, best look, best sound. The best of what hasn’t been discovered in Houston yet.”
While that may be an admirable way of reaching out to Houston's music community, some musicians and promoters here want more. They want their own local side stage. Unfortunately, HOA officials say an exclusively local stage is not something HOA is in the business of promoting. And to be fair, DWP has not historically supported such a showcase. It may be unrealistic to ask them to make an exception, especially in the festival's inaugural year.
“We’re not one for [a local showcase], in all honesty.” Spivack says, “We just want to put on the best rock and roll music. If 100 percent of the bands happened to be from Houston, then great. But we’re not really…we just don’t do that. We just want to put on the best rock and roll possible.”
From our conversation, it was clear that HOA is not meant to promote the scene already here in Houston, but wants to offer Houstonians a destination rock show featuring a cross-section of chart-topping, radio-familiar performers.
“We wanted to cast this great rock and roll net and have some of these iconic bands like Slayer, Ministry, [and] The Cult,” Spivack elaborates. “[We have] some right down the middle like Chevelle and Deftones and Alice In Chains and then, some on for the youth like Pierce The Veil, Amity Affliction. We feel we’ve really covered the bases from left to middle to right.”
Yet, Spivack cautions, that doesn’t mean HOA is not open to the idea of booking a Houston band on the bill if said act is of national caliber, or what he calls “Rock with a capital R.”
The festival's booking philosophy, he explains, is to “search under every rock and search under every stone to find the best regional, local, Texas talent...we’re open to [local acts], it’s just that when we devised this lineup, this is what we felt best served what we wanted to get across.”
To be sure, HOA does feature a handful of Texas bands: Texas Hippie Coalition from North Texas, Sons of Texas from McAllen, Nothing More from San Antonio and Mothership from Dallas. Some members of Houston's metal community take offense to even that, scoffing at HOA importing metal talent from anywhere outside the city limits, but these kind of festivals are not booked according to the proximity of where its artists live.
Even so, what about our nationally known bands who do deserve to share the stage? HOA is booked and designed months in advance, and while booking Houston acts may make sense to locals, it's just not in HOA’s business model unless those acts already have a national profile.
But of course, in order for an act to become nationally recognized, performing on a major platform like HOA would present a huge opportunity to do so. Such is the frustrating conundrum of many local musicians who might like a crack at a festival like this. And because live events of this scale can be a boon for the local economy, HOA could be essential in establishing a nationwide awareness of Houston as a rock destination. So whatever fate befalls the festival, success or failure, is significant.
That fact alone means HOA deserves our support. When the tide comes in, we all rise with it. This festival's kind of national presence gives Houston's own scene a boost toward the legitimacy it’s already created, just on a grander scale. Consider other cities that have similar offerings: Chicago, Orlando, Columbus, Sacramento, Jacksonville — all also cities in the nation's Top 50 media markets, many of them significantly smaller than we are.
But a successful festival of this size can only help grow our scene, which we desperately want to do. Considering Houston's size, scope, population and media saturation, it's remarkable that this is the city's first multi-day destination festival of this magnitude put on by a major outside promoter. The fact is, we deserved one long ago, and even if it’s overdue, the potential success of HOA could mean even more festivals making their home here.
And would be good news for everybody.
Enter Houston Open Air and ReverbNation's Battle of the Bands contest at this link. Get ticket information and more at houstonopenair. com. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/houston-open-air-hopes-its-rising-tide-lifts-all-bands-8707770 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/9fc576320873fea952827a7715e909d071fe3db415cdd4cdcd611a16b5c758c2.json |
[
"Abbey Bender"
]
| 2016-08-31T04:46:47 | null | 2016-08-30T23:00:00 | White Girl's heroine is a bad seed, and writer/director Elizabeth Wood won't ever let us forget it. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Fblame-fatale-white-girl-suggests-its-heroines-suffering-is-all-her-own-fault-8706474.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7306679/white-girl-1-credit-filmrise.jpg | en | null | Blame Fatale: White Girl Suggests Its Heroine's Suffering Is All Her Own Fault | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Courtesy of FilmRise
It’s hard to watch White Girl without experiencing a creeping sense of anxiety. Loosely based on the adolescent life of writer/director Elizabeth Wood, the film follows Leah (Morgan Saylor), a college student who parties all night and snorts prodigious amounts of cocaine. She and her roommate, Katie (India Menuez), live in Ridgewood, Queens as members of the hipster gentrification class. Early on Leah meets Blue (Brian Marc), a drug dealer hanging outside her apartment, and the two begin the tumultuous relationship that drives the narrative as they party, fuck and push the product.
It’s dispiriting that the first nonwhite people Leah encounters are dealers, but a scene in which she and Blue mark up their drug prices while partying with a white crowd winks at this racial divide. Blue doesn’t seem too much like the usual movie cliché of a hustler (though plenty of stereotypes can be found in his orbit) — he has a delicate quality, with long lashes and fine bone structure, and is less wild than his girlfriend. He ends up getting busted by an undercover cop just after promising to take Leah out for a fancy dinner. His moment of earnest sweetness, hoping to impress Leah with a romantic gesture, is shut down by a system that's convinced he's a threat.
In order to get Blue out of jail, Leah enlists a lawyer, George Fratelli (Chris Noth), who is too expensive but plies her with his understanding of discrimination in a world of police who inordinately punish nonwhite men for drug possession. The relationship between Leah and the older, slightly sleazy Fratelli ultimately moves in a disturbing sexual direction that viewers with an inherent distrust of powerful men might not find surprising. The frustration of White Girl lies in this predictable bleakness. Wood is attuned to the ways America's power dynamics of power work against young women, yet scenes in which Leah gets money stolen and faces sexual violence feel strangely like some kind of punishment.
You might hope that a film directed by a woman in which an attractive college student constantly uses drugs would identify more with the protagonist than the leering men around her. But Leah is a bad seed, and White Girl won’t ever let us forget it. Wood makes us feel the crowded, pulsing haze of the nightclub, the claustrophobia and the adrenaline, but then Leah takes off her shirt and snorts coke off her internship boss’ dick. This is one of those films that merits a long cold shower afterwards. That might actually be a compliment — Wood wants to provoke.
The glimpses White Girl offers of the relationship between Leah and Katie suggest that the film could have something more to say about female friendship and intimacy. While Katie partakes in many of the same indulgences as Leah, there are moments when she expresses concern for her roommate, and in one of the more affecting scenes, they huddle close in the shower after Leah has a particularly traumatic experience. Saylor and Menuez both have the perfect looks for their roles: Saylor’s baby face and fluffy blonde curls impart an angelic quality at obvious odds with her actions, while Menuez has the calm countenance and long red hair of a Pre-Raphaelite maiden. There’s an unspoken bond between these girls. It’s a shame Wood’s film spends so much time on the sleazy forces that might destroy it. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/blame-fatale-white-girl-suggests-its-heroines-suffering-is-all-her-own-fault-8706474 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/59189e260fef1b90eba078e202fc7dafd6d92b6d6beff78123e536d295373eb6.json |
[
"Meagan Flynn"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:49:56 | null | 2016-08-26T06:00:00 | Mayor Sylvester Turner is buddy-buddy with Yellow Cab's lobbyist. Does that have anything to do with his refusal to deregulate Uber? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fdid-a-donor-persuade-mayor-turner-to-refuse-ubers-wishes-8705304.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8705390/26094517575_879c67ab66_z.jpg | en | null | Did a Donor Persuade Mayor Turner to Refuse Uber's Wishes? | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | On Thursday, Houston bar owner Bobby Heugel blasted out a photo of Mayor Sylvester Turner and Yellow Cab lobbyist and spokeswoman Cindy Clifford on social media, with this message: "This picture tells the story of why Houston won't adjust regulations for ride-sharing companies like Uber. It's about campaign finances."
Like many bar owners, Heugel, who owns Anvil Bar & Refuge, has praised Uber as a solution to reducing drunk driving — and thus bringing more people out to the bars on rainy Friday evenings and getting them home safely, when perhaps without the smartphone-hailed ride they would have stayed home.
But after Uber left Austin earlier this spring, when the city refused to deregulate the ride-share service and get rid of fingerprint background checks, Uber threatened to leave Houston, too. Nearly identical regulations exist here, rules that Uber has claimed are too onerous, expensive and lead to a shortage of drivers because, apparently, thousands do not want to go through the city's process in order to legally drive.
Uber has consistently called on Houston to deregulate the industry and stop making its drivers have to go through the same requirements as cabbies. The city has refused to comply with Uber's wishes — and Heugel claims the core reason is because of Mayor Sylvester Turner's personal and financial relationship with Yellow Cab's Cindy Clifford.
"It's Mayor Turner's first year, and he clearly is being guided by money on this issue," Heugel wrote. "Do we have a Mayor that sacrifices progressive transportation solutions and lower DUI rates so he can maintain his fundraising connections? That's a pretty disturbing preview about what type of leadership will exist under the Turner administration."
A person does not have to dig very far to notice the close ties between Turner and Clifford. According to Turner's campaign finance reports from January 2015 until he was elected in December, Clifford donated $10,000 to him. An associate of hers at her PR firm, The Clifford Group, donated another $1,700. Clifford was also on Turner's campaign finance committee, and once he was elected, Clifford was the chair of his inauguration committee. Her close relationship with the mayor's office also extends to Mayor Annise Parker, who threw Clifford an elaborate birthday party at Parker's house just two days before bids were due for a highly sought, multi-million-dollar contract with the airport system (a contract that Clifford's business partner, Houston 8, managed to win). Turner was at that birthday bash, too.
The mayor's office and Clifford denied their close relationship has influenced the debate over deregulating Uber.
"I think Mayor Turner cares deeply about the safety of citizens, and I don't think that's influenced at all by his friendships," Clifford said. "He has to represent the entire city, and I have full faith in his determination of [permitting] processes [for drivers]."
Janice Evans, spokeswoman for Turner, says that Turner's decision to hold Uber to the same standards as taxis—requiring drivers to undergo a drug test, physical, and comprehensive fingerprint background check—is exclusively tied to public safety. And from the sounds of it, Turner is never going to budge on those regulations—even if Uber starts up again with its threats.
"This is about public safety. The mayor is not willing to compromise on that," Evans said in an email. "He has said he wants Uber in Houston. That has not changed. However, he has also said that if he has to choose between public safety and Uber leaving, it will not be a close call."
The buddy-buddy relationships between Turner and the cab industry may exist, but that doesn't mean this public safety argument is full of air: Last year, an Uber driver accused of raping a woman passed Uber's background check — one that the city claims is not thorough enough — but had never gone through the city's fingerprint background check, which is linked to an FBI database. Turns out, the guy had spent 14 years in federal prison on felony drug charges. (He was no-billed for the rape charge.)
Still, Uber continues to insist its own background check is sufficient, and therefore the city's intervention is unnecessary. An Uber spokesman, who declined to be named per company policy, claims that these regulations are so onerous that more than 20,000 people have decided against becoming drivers because they didn't want to go through the city's process, pay the $39 fee for the background check, or potentially more if insurance doesn't cover the physical.
Uber would not tell us how many drivers it has, saying it's proprietary information, but did tell us that this 20,000 figure, representing those who quit, is more than half of the drivers who are even on the road.
So let's do some math: That would mean Uber may have more than 40,000 drivers in Houston — yet claims that because of these regulations, thousands more are barred from entering the market, limiting the supply of rides and causing pesky surge prices, thus limiting Uber's growth in the Houston market.
By comparison, Clifford said that there are 1,600 cabs on the road, 900 of which are Yellow Cabs.
"Our business has taken a hit. [Uber] has definitely created a competitive market," Clifford said. "We are all for a competitive market. We're not against competition — what we're against is unfair competition."
As to Uber's claims that the city's process is so complicated that it takes drivers months to complete, the city's Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department provided the Houston Press data from an internal audit as well as survey results from drivers who were asked how long it took to get the license. According to the audit, which covered the period from November 2014, when Uber became city-regulated, to August 2016, the average time it took for someone to get a license was eight days. According to the driver survey, nearly half of drivers received their license in less than a week. The sample size couldn't be disclosed because Uber sued the city to prevent it from releasing its "proprietary information."
"The idea that the city's background check process is onerous or takes a long time for drivers to get in the system, that's just simply not what we're seeing on our end," said Lara Cottingham, deputy assistant director of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department. "Is it possible that many drivers go on Uber's website and don't make it through the entire application process? We have no way of verifying that— but what we can say is that the number of drivers coming in to get licensed with the City of Houston is growing. It continues to grow every month."
As the Super Bowl approaches, nobody — not the out-of-towners who rely on Uber or the Houstonians who hate driving and especially drunk driving — wants to see Uber leave. From the perspective of bartenders like Heugel, who see drunk twenty-somethings leaving the bar every weekend in Ubers, it simply spells disaster.
Turner's political buddy-buddy associations aside, the available data begs the question: Would Uber really leave the fourth-largest city in the country over an eight-day process it dislikes that is in place specifically for rider safety?
Maybe if they think the mayor has already made up his mind against the company. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/did-a-donor-persuade-mayor-turner-to-refuse-ubers-wishes-8705304 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/6761c5bfc63a3d5603c3fbbcd7397357cf0bdea4538f91cb24a71fd91045cc93.json |
[
"Phaedra Cook"
]
| 2016-08-29T12:46:53 | null | 2016-08-29T06:00:00 | A roundup of frozen cocktails in Houston that go way beyond the margarita. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fthe-10-frozen-cocktails-in-houston-for-the-last-blistering-days-of-summer-8713013.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713015/bellini_damicos_paulamurphy.jpg | en | null | Combat Humid Houston Days With These Icy Delights | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The Blue Hawaiian at The Nightingale Room Photo by Julie Soefer
In Houston, when it gets to be the end of August cooler temperatures aren't necessarily just around the corner. The sun might very well continue to beat down mercilessly on residents through the end of September (when there aren’t thunderstorms and floods, that is). Fall might come in October if we’re lucky, but pool parties in December aren’t necessarily out of the question.
Is there a more fun way to combat these final unpredictable days of summer than with frozen cocktails? If Houston had an official city drink, it might be the frozen margarita. However, there are more inventive libations worth seeking out. Here are 10 frozen cocktails that go far beyond Houston’s favorite tequila, orange, lime and sugar drink.
Blue Hawaiian at The Nightingale Room, 308 Main. The days of eschewing blue drinks are over—well, at least some of them. The blue hue in this combination of blended white rum, coconut, pineapple and lemon is thanks to liqueur made from the peel of the lahara, a type of citrus fruit found on the island of Curaçao.
The "frosé" at Canard, with a float of Quinta do Noval Black Port. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
Frosé at Canard, 4721 North Main. Americans are resuming their love affair with rose wine—this time drier versions, not the sickly sweet ones from the ‘70s. That makes Frosé, or frozen rosé, the most fashionable drink of the year. Canard’s version includes Dolin Chamberyzette Strawberry Aperitif (a blend of blanc and dry vermouth flavored with wild strawberry juice). There are a variety of liqueurs to float on top, but the contrast of the Quinta do Noval Black Port is quite dramatic and lovely.
Rainbow Lodge's version of a frosé, accented with a strawberry and Luxardo maraschino cherry on top. Photo by Marc Borel
Frosé at Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella. Beverage director and sommelier, Marc Borel, just thought he was having fun with the folks at Canard when he joked on social media that he was going to put his own frosé on the drink list at Rainbow Lodge. That was before he received a message from his boss, Donette Hansen, telling him he should do it. Anyone who knows Borel is aware of his deep love of rosé wine from Bandol (and he'll tell anyone willing to listen about it), so his version includes that from Domaine Souviou, as well as strawberry cordial and fino sherry, which gives it a slightly earthy character. It's made to order in a blender, not in a frozen drink machine.
The new frozen bellini at D'Amico's sounds like a peachy way to say goodbye to these final days in Houston of temperatures in the 90s. Photo by Paula Murphy
Frozen Bellini at D’Amico’s Italian Market Café, 5510 Morningside #140. This frozen twist on the elegant combination of peach pureé and prosecco is a brand-new addition to a longtime home of casual Italian cuisine in the Rice Village.
Frozen sake sounds perfectly cooling and it's available at Rico's Morning + Noon + Night, or Rico's MNN for short. Photo by Patrick Boylan
Frozen Sake at Rico's Morning + Noon + Night, 401 Gray. Cold sake can be immensely refreshing, so it's kind of odd that it's not winding up in frozen form more often. This rendition is available at Rico's Morning + Noon + Night, though. It's blended with coconut, ginger beer, pineapple and one other fresh fruit—whatever is in season at the time.
The frozen strawberry daiquiri at Cyclone Anaya's Photo by Patrick Boylan
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri at Cyclone Anaya's, various locations. What could be better than a strawberry daiquiri? A frozen one, of course. Cyclone Anaya's blend of rum, strawberry purée, grenadine and ice comes all dressed up with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
The Half & Half at D&T Drive Inn is a mix of both the frozen shandy and the sangria. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
The Half & Half at D&T Drive Inn, 1307 Enid. The Half & Half is the perfect solution for people who don't want to have to choose between the frozen shandy and the sangria at D&T Drive Inn. It's also a great option for people who want a gentle alcoholic beverage rather than one with a hard liquor base.
The Purple Drank at Eight Row Flint is a complex, intriguing riff on frozen sangria. Photo by Carla Gomez
Purple Drank at Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale. Eight Row Flint is very serious about its frozen drink game. The Purple Drank is only one from a menu of cold concoctions that includes a frozen Gin & Tonic and a Lone Star shandy dressed up with Aperol and pisco. As for the former: it is a frozen sangria at heart, but certainly not like one most have had before. The base is made of pretty standard sangria ingredients—Tempranillo, brandy, strawberries and fresh lime juice—but it’s amped up from there with complementary floral, fruity and spicy additions: violet, lime oleosaccrum (citrus oil extracted into sugar), orange flower water, vanilla, black pepper and Thai basil.
At the Woodlands and Post Oak Berryhill Baja Grill locations, guests can get a Blue Moon beer presented upside down in the frozen screwdrivers. Photo courtesy of Berryhill Baja Grill
Screw the Moon at Berryhill Baja Grill, 1717 Post Oak and 9595 Six Pines, Suite 25. These are only available at the Post Oak and Woodlands locations but might be worth driving for. It’s a frozen screwdriver (a very simple combination of orange juice and vodka) with a Blue Moon beer inverted into it.
The Slippin' Into Darkness at tiki bar Lei Low features papaya and blackstrap rum, along with molasses, tropical fruit syrup and spices. Photo by Russell Thoede
Slippin' Into Darkness at Lei Low, 6412 North Main. Bartender and Lei Low co-owner Russell Thoede says he loves both papayas during the summer months, so this frozen drink features the bright, orange-fleshed fruits. Each Slippin' Into Darkness are blended to order and includes Cruzan blackstrap rum, Galliano, fresh papaya and our housemade Fassionola, a tropical fruit syrup. Thoede says part of the appeal is because, "It's a like a lava color and packed with fruit flavor backed by molasses and anise."
Bonus Pick: Watermelon Fresca at La Grange, 2517 Ralph. The brand-new frozen cocktail at La Grange sounds perfect for enjoying on La Grange’s extensive patio or upper deck area. It’s an icy blend of watermelon juice, Aperol, lemon, tequila and agave syrup. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/the-10-frozen-cocktails-in-houston-for-the-last-blistering-days-of-summer-8713013 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/64701ad052fa78ccac501bd78669cb34f6e9279abacb4cc8acea0a351ef19fd1.json |
[
"Rolando Rodriguez"
]
| 2016-08-31T10:46:38 | null | 2016-08-31T05:00:00 | The Houston rapper, who has testified on Capitol Hill, calls it like he sees it: "God put me on this earth for many reasons, and it’s not just to make... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fpeople-s-champ-paul-wall-defends-qb-colin-kaepernick-despite-controversy-8718282.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8719847/pwall-aug31.jpg | en | null | Paul Wall Stands Up For What He Thinks Is Right | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The People's Champ holds it down for the troops during a 2012 USO-sponsored tour of the Middle East. The USO via Flickr Commons
I’m on the phone with Paul Wall, and he has lots to say about the world he lives in.
I originally called the People's Champ to speak to him about the free grill pieces he and his partner Johnny Dang have offered Olympic gold medalists to congratulate them on their success in Rio, but there’s something bigger at play.
Paul is still only hours removed from a rash of fan comments he says have attacked his family and questioned his patriotism for supporting San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem protest through an Instagram post. It’s a protest that has divided the nation.
If you’re an artist with half a million followers, like Paul, it’ll divide your fans as well.
Regardless of where you sit, it’s difficult to make the argument that Paul doesn’t love his country and the military service members who fight for the U.S. Paul has made seven trips to dangerous war zones and done dozens of free shows for the troops (like the one in 2012 shown above), performances he says he refused payment for. The USO's per diem checks remain uncashed.
Paul Wall and his business partner Johnny Dang plan on giving American Olympic gold medalists free grills now and in the future, as long as the business can sustain it. Instagram, @tvjohnny
“My way of supporting military is going to Afghanistan and [doing] 100 free shows for the troops,” Paul says. “When I left a week later, the same place I performed at was bombed and is no longer there. The week I was there was the deadliest month for American soldiers since the start of the war. That’s my way of being patriotic. My way of being patriotic is going over there to the actual war zone and giving back, encouraging troops, talking to the troops, talking to the troops’ families. That’s my way of giving back.”
Another form of patriotism is giving expensive grill pieces to Team USA's gold medalists at no cost to them. Some may say it’s a publicity stunt to generate more business, but Paul won’t give me any names of Olympic athletes who have taken him up on his offer, though gymnast Simone Biles has publically expressed that she wants one. There are no obligations by the recipients to take any promotional Instagram pictures with piece grill in hand or mouth.
“We appreciate the publicity, but the purpose, really, is to congratulate the winners and celebrate with them,” he says.
The exchange of grill piece from Paul to athlete is to remain private, unless the Olympian says otherwise. So far, there’s no otherwise.
Paul told me he’s not trying to create controversy for the athletes, like when his customer Ryan Lochte wore one on the medal stand in 2012 despite being advised not to, setting off a firestorm of opinions on whether grills belong in a medals ceremony. Wall just wants to congratulate them and create a sincere gesture that becomes tradition in the same light that teams who win championships visit the White House.
“Some of [the medalists] are minors or in college and some have certain NCAA regulations [to consider],” the rapper says. “The last thing we want is any harm to come to their image. So far, we’ve had a great response. We plan on doing this for the next Olympics and the Olympics after that. As long as we’ve got good business going on where we can afford to do this and give back, we plan on doing it.”
You can disagree with Paul about Colin Kaepernick, but calling him unpatriotic seems far-fetched.
When you look at the people who support Kaepernick and those who don’t, the visuals the media offers of people making a stand on the issue are of white men on one side of the argument and black men on the other. That doesn’t mean that observation is representative of reality, but if it does, Paul breaks the mold.
The post that caused a firestorm of debate, racial attacks and disagreement among Paul Wall's fan base. Instagram, @paulwallbaby
He’s a transcendent figure in hip-hop and in life, who brings a unique dynamic to the divisiveness we’re seeing. As a Texas hip-hop legend who is synonymous with the slang and culture that has bled into the mainstream hip-hop of today, Wall's relationships span a broad range of people of different races, social statuses, economic standings, and political preferences.
He’s also a white male who speaks with ownership over the fight for equal rights, which introduces a dynamic that’s thought provoking in a time when it just feels like the color of one’s skin can predict a stance on someone like Kaepernick.
“You feel a sense of burden to make a change,” he says. “Am I going to turn the other way and let this happen? Or am I going to say something about this oppression [happening] on a daily basis? Or am I going to speak out even if that means it may cost me some financial burden, loss of sponsorship or loss of fans or sales. It’s a burden God put on my heart to where I can’t turn the other cheek. I got to speak out.”
They call Paul the “People’s Champ,” which becomes evident in our conversation: He cares about a lot more than himself. His observation about why people support the Black Lives Matter movement or not is that it comes down to proximity. If you’re close to police violence toward the black community and see it every day, then you understand Kaepernick’s protest. If you aren’t, then you don’t.
“Our country is so misinformed,” he says. “Our country is so misled. It can get you down to be constantly battling people just for equal rights. I accept the challenge and the role. God put me on this earth for many reasons, and it’s not just to make music.”
“The Black Lives Matter movement is an equal rights movement,” he continues. “Black Lives Matter is not anti-police at all. It’s anti-police brutality, which everyone should support, including the police. It’s a call for change in our system.”
Paul Wall is no stranger to politics, visiting Capitol Hill earlier this year. Instagram, @paulwallbaby
Paul is taking the charge to deliver the call at the request of Houston mayor Sylvester Turner, he says. A few months ago, Paul and Houston’s most influential rappers opened bank accounts at Texas’ only black-owned bank, Unity, making national headlines. Prior to that event, he sat down with the mayor in a roundtable discussion who asked him and his fellow rappers to serve as leaders of the community and to help bridge the divide between police and the people of Houston.
“He called on us to be leaders to the youth, to send messages of peace and to make a change,” Paul said. “What we call on him to do is to hold the police accountable.”
Accountability. It’s a word we use loosely and at our convenience, isn’t it? We hold our celebrities accountable when we want them to speak up on social issues and when they don’t, we hold them accountable. It depends on whether they agree with us, doesn’t it? Kaepernick is experiencing that, and so is Paul by supporting him.
He made a fascinating analysis of his fan base, saying you can’t choose your fans. He recalled making the first pitch at a Houston Astros game recently. He said that by attending that game he may have sat next to racist people, but they are all there because they support the same team for different reasons, whether that be the players or hometown pride.
It’s the same with his fan base. Some like him because he’s white, he says, or because of his Vietnamese business partner, Johnny Dang, or his Hispanic road manager “Gu,” or because they like his cars or music, but none of that is necessarily tied to his belief system.
When the belief system comes to the forefront, as it did with his Instagram post, and disagreement ensues, the reasons fans originally followed him take a backseat. While some disagree through civil discourse, it’s mostly uncivil. Everything that can be disrespectful and inhumane about people finds a way to rear its ugly head.
We’re living in a racially charged time and whether you are a business owner with a 1,000 Facebook friends or a musician with half a million, you run the risk of losing business, friends or fans because of your political views – even if you’re sitting on the side of an issue that has historically won or been deemed right.
That takes courage. Paul has that. It’s undisputed. He’s the “People’s Champ,” and no one’s taking the belt away from him.
Paul Wall and The Suffers perform a free concert from 6-9 p.m. Friday, September 2 at Midtown's Bagby Park (415 Gray) to celebrate Saturday's UH-Oklahoma matchup in the 2016 AdvoCare Texas Kickoff. The game is 11 a.m. Saturday at NRG Stadium; see advocaretexaskickoff.com for more details. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/people-s-champ-paul-wall-defends-qb-colin-kaepernick-despite-controversy-8718282 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/f9744e2a9c5daa6d3e729c04656bb08c5e0864a776f9b816b6f95dd8254c0b4a.json |
[
"Ashley Kinard"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:47:15 | null | 2016-08-31T07:00:00 | There is a treasure trove of wonderful sweet treats to be found in The Woodlands, if you know where to look. From chocolate to classic candy favorites,... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fthe-5-best-dessert-shops-in-the-woodlands-8688750.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8689125/unnamed.png | en | null | The 5 Best Dessert Shops in The Woodlands | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND A gift basket filled with delectable sweets at Schakolad. Photo by Ashley Kinard
When the sweet tooth comes calling, there are numerous places in The Woodlands ready to satisfy that siren song. There are bake shops, chocolatiers, ice cream and other enticing options. Throw your diet out the door for a day, shove that pesky guilt aside and check out these five sweet indulgences. The waistline may not thank you for it later, but your certainly mouth will.
Schakolad Chocolate Factory, 1500 Research Forest Drive
Hand-crafted chocolate is Schakolad's specialty. It sells truffles, dark and milk chocolates and the ganache chocolates are quite popular, too. Other noteworthy delicacies include Italian Amaretto truffles, champagne ganache truffles, chocolate-covered Nutter Butter cookies and an array of chocolate-covered fruits. The chocolate-covered cherries are first dipped in a Jamaican rum fondant before coated in dark, milk or white chocolate. Nuts are always roasted ahead of use in each recipe, giving items, such as the popular dark chocolate almond bark, a nuttier, flavorful taste. The chocolate truly shines with a sinfully-smooth texture and mouthfeel, as Schakolad does not use paraffin or wax in their recipe. The dark chocolate is bold but not too strong. No dairy ingredients are used, which not only enhances the cocoa flavor but also means these are fine for vegans.
Schakolad also offers chocolate-making classes and shop tours for adults and children, which provides an interactive, hands-on experience in the art of crafting chocolate.
EXPAND The delightfully colorful Gummy Bear wall at Lolli & Pops. Photo by Ashley Kinard
Lolli and Pops, 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
Let the inner child go wild here—no one will judge. At Lolli and Pops there is an incredible assortment of confectionery greats, including childhood favorites and the classics, as well as imports from across the globe. Jelly beans, chocolate-covered fruit and nuts, truffles, macarons, lollipops, popcorn and even "old time" sodas can all be found in the boutique. Customers can even try before they buy, as Lolli and Pops encourages sampling of the goods to ensure satisfied customers. The bulk bin chocolates and candies are sold by weight, which allows for stocking up on just about anything at a single price-per-pound. Check out the wall of gummy candies and the huge golden gummy bear while here: the variety of flavors, from basics such as cherry or apple to mature "premium" flavors like white champagne or anise, is worth the visit alone.
EXPAND A great way to beat the humid Houston summers. Photo by Ashley Kinard
Yogurt Worx!, 525 Sawdust Road
While frozen yogurt is in abundance in The Woodlands, what really sets Yogurt Worx! apart from the rest is the commitment to quality. Locally owned, it is clean and bright with friendly and extremely helpful staff, and fresh, quality ingredients. The yogurt is light, refreshing and makes for an escape from the humid Texas heat. At any given time there are twelve flavors on hand and different ones are featured in the rotation at various times. At least nine mainstays are always available, such as strawberry, cake batter and chocolate, but go for the bold. Pistachio, dulce de leche and Irish cream are a few of the fun rotational offerings worth sampling. Other yogurt options include sugar-free, sorbet and gelato-style flavors. Good luck trying to select toppings: here there is a plentiful spread, nuts, cereal, fresh fruits and candies, as well as warmed drizzling sauces including Nutella, warm hot chocolate and marshmallow cream.
EXPAND One of Lou Lou's freshly made traditional beignets. Photo by Ashley Kinard
Lou Lou's Beignets, 8000 Research Forest Drive
There’s no need to drive over the Louisiana state line for delicious beignets: Lou Lou’s serves them up fresh and made to order, whether a customer wants one or a whole dozen. The traditional beignets are done to perfection, meeting and possibly exceeding the high bar set by the likes of Café du Monde. Each is perfectly crisp and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and powdered generously in confectioner’s sugar. There’s more here than just the traditional: other variations include donut hole-style beignet "bites" and French toast stick-like "dippers,” which come served with a choice of lemon, chocolate, caramel or strawberry dipping sauce.
If in the mood for something to sate a savory appetite, the ham and cheese-stuffed beignet is a good bet, and comes with a light dusting of sugar and a side of strawberry sauce. Lou Lou's also serves Louisiana-inspired coffees, such as the frozen café au lait and a chicory-flavored or vanilla-bourbon latte—great complements to a fresh beignet.
EXPAND Maple-bacon cupcakes. Photo by Ashley Kinard
Sweet Revenge Bake Shoppe, 3091 College Park Drive
Located in a strip center off College Park Drive is a great hidden gem: Sweet Revenge Bake Shoppe. Here the customer service is top-notch, there are no rules to bake by, and anything goes: they will personalize any dessert you like, including petit fours, tarts, cakes and cupcakes. Sweet Revenge utilizes ingredients such as spicy Chai in a decadent fudge bar or pumpkin in thick cheesecake bars that could easily be on the table of a Thanksgiving spread. Cupcake offerings rotate regularly, and include greats like Maple Bacon, Italian Cream, Lemon Drop, Red Velvet and Samoas.
Other items include traditional-style or pecan cinnamon rolls, a "Louisiana lush cake," and homemade Oreo cookies. However, the "not to be missed, go try this right now" item is the Bourbon-glazed bread pudding. Liberally drizzled in a light, caramel-like Bourbon sauce, the bread pudding a fantastic balance of moist with light, crispy bites of perfectly-toasted bread that makes for an intensely satisfying treat. The size of the slice you get is huge and easily shared—if you can bring yourself to do so, that is. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/the-5-best-dessert-shops-in-the-woodlands-8688750 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8e213d320b54709644b351f66062b5598d8d4532b3b52547a20bdaae6225d2e2.json |
[
"Amy Mccarthy"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:53:38 | null | 2016-08-26T04:00:00 | After the release of their 2014 critically acclaimed album Early Morning Shakes, the expectations were remarkably high for Whiskey Myers. Hailed as the... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fwhiskey-myers-is-poised-to-become-texas-country-s-next-breakout-band-8705404.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8705409/whiskey-myers-stone-mud-premiere.jpg | en | null | Whiskey Myers Is Texas Country's Next Big Breakout Band | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Whiskey Myers is more than a 21st-century Lynyrd Skynyrd Courtesy Shorefire Media
After the release of their 2014 critically acclaimed album Early Morning Shakes, the expectations were remarkably high for Whiskey Myers. Hailed as the latest in a string of country-music classicists, the five-piece from Palestine, Texas certainly don’t disappoint with Mud, the followup to Shakes that will almost undoubtedly propel these hard-rocking country boys into broader national recognition.
It is worth noting that Whiskey Myers is a band that has, in the past, been pretty damn hit or miss for me. The band’s most notable song, “Ballad of a Southern Man,” with its references to family heirloom guns and Skynyrd and moonshine is a sort of alt-country companion to the grocery list of Southern tropes that pepper music from country entertainers (note: not artists) that are decidedly less authentic than an act like Whiskey Myers. It also doesn’t help that this track offers a tacit endorsement of flying the “Southern flag,” a.k.a. the battle flag of the Confederacy, otherwise known as the most common visual representation of Southern racism.
But Mud is a much more lyrically sophisticated follow-up for Whiskey Myers, one that is a testament to how much they’ve grown as musicians and songwriters. Lead singer Cody Cannon’s country-fried voice has grown steelier, his lyrics more sophisticated and vivid. And production from “musical genius” Dave Cobb adds a much-needed dose of aesthetic polish to the twangy, Skynyrd-influenced take on Texas Country.
“On the River” provides a unique entry point to an album that almost defies a genre-based description. The track kicks off with these gorgeous, nearly haunting Celtic rhythms that give way to a heavy chorus with a catchy, toe-tapping thumper of a beat. The result is this seamless blend of all styles from which Americana and country and Southern rock all find their genesis. Toward the end, the tempo intensifies, the guitars get harder; by the end, you’re ready to tear shit up. It’s a pretty damn remarkable journey for a three and a half minute song. And then you lurch right into the album’s title track, a working man’s ballad that does an incredible job of conveying the struggles of small-town farmers who “owe the bankerman” to the point of plotting his demise, and are worried about the creek rising too high. This is the song that “Ballad Of A Southern Man” really should have been, weaving salient commentary on the state of the rural middle class, family history, and some pretty incredible scene-setting.
A couple tracks later comes “Stone,” and Whiskey Myers turns everything that you thought this album was going to be right on its head. The themes are the same, but sonically “Stone” is unlike anything else Whiskey Myers has ever really done. A solid piano lead-in lays down the foundation for this quintessential heartbreak song, and you’re almost thinking that the iTunes playlist flipped to the wrong artist. But then the last minute of the track crescendos right into those killer guitar riffs you’ve come to expect from Whiskey Myers.
When you’re listening through an album like this, it’s almost easy to forget that a superstar producer like Dave Cobb was even involved. With as much credit as Cobb has (deservedly) gotten for his work with artists like Jason Isbell and Bonnie Bishop and Chris Stapleton, here it appears that he just took the solid identity that Whiskey Myers had cultivated before they even stepped into his studio and made it all a little more cohesive. To be sure, this is an effort that is 100 percent, all the way, thoroughly a Whiskey Myers album. Here, their identity shines, not the influence of a kingmaking producer.
Ultimately, this record is just stone solid all the way through. You won’t find any throwaway tracks or basic-ass attempts at pandering to a broader audience. Mud is gritty, mature, well-rounded, and already a serious contender for one of the year’s best country albums.
And all of that –– this impeccable album, the fact that they’ve managed to maintain what made Whiskey Myers great in the first place –– is exactly why you shouldn’t be surprised to see the band have some real breakout success after the release of Mud. They’ve already been touring with rock bands like Shinedown and Bocephus and Eric Church, and now it looks as if the band is going to finally take its place on the national stage.
That’s something that Texas country fans should be uniquely proud of. Whiskey Myers came up and built their sound in this scene, and while you probably won’t hear them a whole lot on country radio, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that they’re going to be alt-country’s hottest new act.
Considering that most of the artists that ditch the Texas country scene for Nashville make a deliberate effort to shine up their edges in order to make their sound more “universally appealing,” it is abundantly clear that Whiskey Myers has no plans to ditch their hard-won identities or make any compromises when it comes to their heavy, decidedly edgy sound. In this case, it appears that, in the words of Bocephus, these country boys are gonna survive. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/whiskey-myers-is-poised-to-become-texas-country-s-next-breakout-band-8705404 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/804f8823eb43be854e5e827939e38ec59570b36669ce4efd4dbfeefe840aeff4.json |
[
"Zach Despart"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:45:56 | null | 2016-08-26T12:30:00 | The family of a driver killed by an off-duty Houston police officer — who prosecutors say was driving drunk — has sued the officer and a South Houston... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Ffamily-of-driver-killed-in-crash-with-former-hpd-officer-sues-cop-strip-club-8707293.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8707326/combsmughpd.jpg | en | null | Family of Driver Killed in Crash Sues Cop, Strip Club | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Former Houston police officer James Combs Courtesy Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office
The family of a driver killed by an off-duty Houston police officer — who prosecutors say was driving drunk — has sued the officer and a South Houston strip club they allege the officer was on his way home from.
The parents of Brian Manring, a 36-year-old single father, argue in court documents that James Combs is responsible for their son's death and that Show Palace, the strip club, served Combs alcohol when he was already drunk. The Manrings are seeking damages, but did not disclose a sum in their court filing.
Around 6:30 a.m. on August 12, Combs swerved into oncoming traffic near Beechnut and Westmoor and smashed his SUV into the Corvette driven by Manring, killing him, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies said Combs refused to take a field sobriety test at the scene. Police later drew blood from Combs at the hospital and determined he had a blood alcohol content of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit.
In the lawsuit, Manring's parents claim employees at Show Palace continued to serve Combs alcohol when he "was intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others." The crash that killed Manring, his family asserts, was the result of "Show Palace's indifference to human life in over-serving James Combs and allowing him to drive away drunk."
Randy Sorrels, the family's attorney, said in a statement that Manring has an eight-year-old daughter. Show Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In addition to the civil suit brought by the Manring family, Combs faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter in Fort Bend County criminal court.
Combs, a six-year veteran, has been relieved of duty since the accident, Houston Police Department spokesman Victor Senties said. Interim Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters on August 18 she intends to fire Combs.
"We are doing what we can do to terminate him, as quickly as possible," Montalvo said. "With a charge like intoxication manslaughter, the least of his worries is worrying about his job."
Montalvo said Combs had failed a drug test several years ago and was fired, but succeeded in getting his job back on appeal. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/family-of-driver-killed-in-crash-with-former-hpd-officer-sues-cop-strip-club-8707293 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/0cbedbea388f06158b2fba9841b7f399abe1e3b630544f380f2fbb87c040c9d4.json |
[
"Margaret Downing"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:46:49 | null | 2016-08-30T08:00:00 | A group of teenagers dedicated their summer to making jewelry to raise money for Houston charities. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fteens-tap-into-fashion-jewelry-to-raise-money-for-worthy-causes-in-houston-8712979.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8712981/trio800.jpg | en | null | Designing Fashion Jewelry for Houston Charities | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Payton Migit, Emma Nesbitt and Claire Nesbitt spent a lot of their summer vacation making jewelry to sell and donate to needy social agencies Photo by Margaret Downing
Claire Nesbitt was volunteering at the Nehemiah Center for at-risk kids when she came face to face with how much need there is in Houston. So like a lot of good-hearted teens, she wanted to do something about it. Her sister Emma, volunteering at the Lighthouse of Houston, readily agreed.
Unlike most of their peers, though, it didn't stop there. Claire, now a sophomore at St. Agnes High School, decided they were going raise money and donate it to certain charities, but they weren't going to be satisfied with small amounts.
Claire decided jewelry was the way to go — a good choice because she had an expert right on hand. That would be her mom, Mary Nesbitt, who as Claire puts it "is an avid jewelry collector." But they weren't just going to buy it and resell it. They would actually design it, order materials from overseas including pearls and silk and make it. They would even develop their own business plan.
They enlisted some of their friends to help out, established Hope Thrives for Houston and took over the dining room table and other areas of their parents (Paul and Mary) home in Bellaire for the duration. This past weekend they were out in front of Bering's Hardware on Bissonnet and sales were brisk. It seems pearls are in this year and the girls' price points fell within most shoppers' range.
According to the mission statement for Hope Thrives: "100 percent of all proceeds from the sale of all jewelry will be donated to established, credible Houston non-profit charities who currently provide outstanding services to meet the high needs of Houston’s special children and special communities."
"I worked at the Nehemiah Center. There are some absolutely amazing kids there. I found so much potential there, I wanted to help them," Claire said while working at their booth this past weekend. Payton Migit said she was invited to help by fellow Xavier High classmate Emma.
The girls just started a GoFundMe - Hope Thrives For Houston - campaign to help with inventory and start-up costs such as a website, insurance, and filing fees. They will be back at Bering's on October 15 and at Elaine Turner in October and December at the Rice Village University location.
Each event will help these charities:
The Nehemiah Center
The Ronald McDonald House
Meals on Wheels
The Lighthouse of Housron
Next up: On October 1 they plan to go live with a website hopethrives.org. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/teens-tap-into-fashion-jewelry-to-raise-money-for-worthy-causes-in-houston-8712979 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/46da373fb78fc3e5924742b3c532cc99ac1c0ea7925320f8eb64ae778167e8e3.json |
[
"Zach Despart"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:46:54 | null | 2016-08-29T08:00:00 | The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects this to be the most active hurricane season since 2012, with 12-17 named storms. But that... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fas-peak-hurricane-season-arrives-record-gulf-of-mexico-drought-continues-8708151.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8708153/hurricane_8_26_16.jpg | en | null | Texas is Due for a Hurricane | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Screencap/National Hurricane Center
Texas is long overdue for a hurricane, but continues to enjoy an unprecedented quiet period, even as peak hurricane season arrives.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects this to be the most active hurricane season since 2012, with 12-17 named storms. But that bold prediction stands in contrast to the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is experiencing a record hurricane drought.
Jonathan Belles, a Weather Channel meteorologist, reported that the Gulf of Mexico has not seen a hurricane in more than 1,000 days, since Hurricane Ingrid made landfall in Mexico in September 2013. That's the longest period without a hurricane in the gulf since 1886 — when scientists first kept regular records of Atlantic weather patterns.
Forecasters urge Gulf Coast residents against getting complacent, though. Earlier this summer, a National Hurricane Center spokesman described the fact that the United States hasn't been struck by a Category 3-or-higher storm since 2005 as "largely luck."
Several tropical storms have formed in the gulf in the past three years, but none strengthened into a hurricane, defined by sustained winds in excess of 74 mph.
The drought follows an extremely active period for gulf hurricanes, when 12 formed between 2004 and 2008. Those storms included some of the most damaging in U.S. history, including Charley (2004), Katrina (2005) and Houston's own Ike (2008).
Late last week, a low pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean threatened to develop into a stronger storm. But forecasters predict the system, now called Tropical Depression #9, will dump buckets of rain on the Florida Panhandle before dissipating.
To date, just three hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic (Alex, Earl and Gaston) but only Earl made landfall, in Mexico and Belize. But we are just entering peak hurricane season, which runs from late August through September. The next named storm will be Hermine. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/as-peak-hurricane-season-arrives-record-gulf-of-mexico-drought-continues-8708151 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/9d886141ee13cff5ae9dc00d7517c23b6956103639152520810b78b839c3da87.json |
[
"Kristy Loye"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:52:37 | null | 2016-08-26T05:00:00 | In celebration of Marilyn Manson's return to Houston, we offer a ranking of all of their studio albums to date. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fall-nine-marilyn-manson-albums-ranked-8704848.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8704854/3810227607_49f8b24e93_b.jpg | en | null | Ranking Marilyn Manson's Nine Albums | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Marilyn Manson performs tonight at Cynthia Woods Pavilon with co-headliner SlipKnot. Victoria Morse
Say what you will about America’s favorite Satanist, but it can’t be denied that Marilyn Manson will always be an important thread in America's rock and roll fabric. So, in celebration of the shock-rocker/boundary-pushing gender-bender's arrival at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this evening with co-headliner Slipknot, we offer this ranking of the goth lord’s musical repertoire. Whether you’re a fan or not — Manson is a divider, people either love or hate him — his cultural impact and musical history is fascinating. To follow his story is to follow the evolution of American popular culture and our reaction to one of its most extreme voices.
Retrospectively, his antics of yesteryear appear tame when compared to today’s standards, and for that, you can thank him and his band. Art, without pushing its boundaries, remains stagnant. If ever there was a performer who capsized the proverbial boat in the stagnant waters of modern rock, it's Manson.
9. EAT ME, DRINK ME (2007)
A sequel to the 2003's The Golden Age of Grotesque (see below) four years earlier, Manson and KMFDM's Tim Skold wrote another interesting album, but one that lacks anything original or new and just feels like a facsimile of its predecessor. Yet it still had some interesting arrangements, including the noteworthy “Mutilation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery” and “You, Me and the Devil Makes 3.”
8. THE GOLDEN AGE OF GROTESQUE (2003)
By 2003, Manson was a veteran in exposing the hypocritical nature of our culture and a soothsayer for America's obsession with religion. The exit of bassist/principal songwriter Twiggy Ramirez and the addition of Skold began an obvious shift in musical direction, a time that also seemed to mark the beginning of the end of the relationship with keyboardist Madonna Wayne Gacy. But as the core members seemed to unravel, Manson kept it bound together. The track “mOBSCENE” met with a Grammy nomination, but lost out to Metallica’s “St. Anger.” And, let’s be realistic, anything that loses to St. Anger can’t be all that good, now can it?
7. BORN VILLIAN (2012)
With the departure of drummer Ginger Fish and severing ties with Interscope Records, fans who followed Manson knew things were either about to get really awful or really great. Thankfully, they weren’t really the former. More songs written by Twiggy and the drum work of Nine Inch Nails’ Chris Vrenna (who also co-wrote most of the songs) made for a sonically interesting album. Yet nothing on Born Villain comes close to haunting the subconscious like Manson covering Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.” Whether an attempt at another disturbing cover or a playful nod to his own personality, Manson was still delivering dark themes and flith like few others ever dared.
6. THE HIGH END OF LOW (2009)
Finally, with the return of Twiggy (who had been sidelined with noteworthy projects like A Perfect Circle and Josh Homme's Desert Sessions; plus Goon Moon, his project with producer Chris Goss), Manson came full circle post-divorce to prove that he still had musical cred. Not that proving anything was necessary, but the followup world tour with Twiggy on board was enough to reactivate the fan base that had followed them for so long.
5. HOLY WOOD (IN THE SHADOW OF THE VALLEY OF DEATH) (2000)
Written in response to the overwhelming accusatory criticism Manson received after the Columbine massacre, Holy Wood continued to explore the themes of religion, media and celebrity — all as if he wasn’t deeply influencing all three of these topics simultaneously himself. Yet as per usual, Manson had a way of looking at culture through a different, albeit objective and critical, lens. This is the album that really cemented the band as more than just shock-rockers, but true musical mavericks with an intelligent perspective on social issues. While some saw self-aggrandizement in the cover art (which depicts Manson crucified on a cross) it really is a statement on celebrity. If you hadn’t expected him to portray himself as a Christ-like celebrity, you weren’t really paying attention.
4. THE PALE EMPEROR (2015)
Like a surprise left hook out of the shadows, Manson’s most recent release is a stunner after a decade of releases that struggled to reach above average. Here, he takes on new territory and again proves fearless when it comes to collaborations. The culminating tour with Smashing Pumpkins confirmed (again) the band's worthiness as a headliner, with live shows that were superior entertainment packages. Pale Emperor's best tracks include “Deep Six” and “Mephistopheles of Los Angeles.”
3. MECHANICAL ANIMALS (1998)
By the late '90s, Manson and other industrial acts represented an alternative (pun unintentional) to grunge. And while grunge was certainly important, outside of goth there wasn’t much to raise the spirits of rock fans looking for something besides pop-punk and a bumper crop of one-hit wonders. The music industry sought to bleed every band of its talent, focus and money in one song, making Mechanical Animals a brave and significant concept album that contains some of Manson's greatest hits: “Rock is Dead,” “The Dope Show,” and “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me).”
2. ANTICHRIST SUPERSTAR (1996)
The title of this album really says it all. Manson and his influence had taken over the musical world. Every corner of the Earth seemed to either embrace the band or become vehemently opposed to them — even leading Utah and South Carolina to band the group from playing on state property. Eventually, the ACLU took up the fight against the tide of pitchforked do-gooders who couldn’t handle artists who might express ideas that didn’t promote traditional family values, and Manson prevailed in the name of free speech.
1. PORTRAIT OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY (1994)
This album's impact on music at the time of release cannot really be underestimated, nor can it be accurately described in a short blurb. Like it or not, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids gave rock the dark shot in the arm that was needed at the time when music had given itself completely over to the bland and self-indulgent emotional ballads of alt-rock kings like Pearl Jam. Music needed a balance of dark and light and Manson brought the darkness like few were doing at the time when suddenly metal was barely breathing. Songs like “Lunchbox” and “Cake and Sodomy” brought a fresh level of cultural examination to rock and roll that had been missing under the heteronormative machismo metal days of the '80s. Manson’s level of shock and interrogation of acceptable performance hadn’t been seen since the glam/punk heyday of '70s-era Iggy Pop and David Bowie. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/all-nine-marilyn-manson-albums-ranked-8704848 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/63a65f177cfcc7bc3fff6c316db976eb30799ef7fc9ded187abb762603794a78.json |
[
"Pete Vonder Haar"
]
| 2016-08-31T02:46:36 | null | 2016-08-30T21:00:00 | Kevin Smith's Yoga Hosers may very well be the film that finally convinces audiences the emperor has no hockey jersey.g | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Fyoga-hosers-finds-kevin-smith-barely-making-a-movie-8707716.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7307573/yoga_hosers.jpg | en | null | Yoga Hosers Finds Kevin Smith Barely Making a Movie | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND "My love for you is like a truck, berserker..." Courtesy of Invincible Pictures
Were we wrong to root for Kevin Smith?
When he burst onto the scene in 1994, it was the most improbable of rags-to-riches movie narratives: bankrolling Clerks by selling his comic book collection and running up thousands of dollars in credit card debt. Almost overnight, he joined the likes of Rodriguez and Tarantino as indie film royalty. Unlike them, however, Smith seemed like a regular dude with mainstream tastes — an everyman in a hockey sweater — and audiences were eager to see what he’d come up with next.
It seems appropriate this year to frame everything in the context of the election, which is why I'm going to compare Kevin Smith to Donald Trump. No, Smith’s not a sentient collection of racist gas spores, but as with Trump and the Republican nomination, Smith after Sundance seemed wholly unprepared once his initial efforts to succeed actually worked — and he appeared unwilling to accept the subsequent responsibilities. In any event, Smith’s post-Clerks career comes across, at best, like a great deal of unrealized potential.
Which brings us to Yoga Hosers, the second in Smith’s promised (threatened?) “True North” trilogy of movies set in Canada for no apparent reason other than that he appears to find the accents hilarious. (The first was the walrus-themed horror film Tusk.) Lily-Rose Depp and Smith’s daughter Harley Quinn play the hosers, both named Colleen. The pair works at the “Eh-2-Zed” convenience store when not holding band practice or peering obsessively into their smartphones. What might sound like fairly typical teen-movie fare eventually morphs into something more sinister involving Canadian Nazis, mutant sodomizing bratwursts and the return of Tusk’s Quebecois man-hunter Guy Lapointe (Johnny Depp).
Depp, nearly unrecognizable under bushy eyebrows and a beret (of course), and almost unintelligible thanks to a Monty Python–esque French accent, serves to move along what there is of the plot. The film meanders for nearly half its scant running time before getting to something resembling conflict. Along the way, there’s an entirely unnecessary subplot involving high school Satanists and interludes with Justin Long playing a yoga guru named “Yogi Bayer” (yes) and Tony Hale as the father of one of the Colleens. And then there are the Canadian jokes.
Then again, “jokes” implies something entertainingly humorous, whereas that lone selfie those hikers shot with Justin Trudeau was a better Canadian chuckle than Yoga Hosers’ death by a thousand “aboots.” Smith’s obsession with the Great White North is almost as puzzling as his inability to wrest anything remotely funny from the surroundings. The convenience store boasts the “world’s largest collection of artisanal maple syrups,” because it’s Canada, and everybody’s weapon of choice is a hockey stick. Because it’s Canada. There are even two minutes over the end credits of Smith and co-host Scott Mosier’s “Smodcast” of the two men cracking each other up over their Canuck impressions.
This is probably the most honest part of the film, because at its core, Yoga Hosers isn’t a movie: It’s a podcast riff given material form; a bong rip visualized; an SCTV sketch devoid of laughs. It struggles to fill an hour and a half, with most of the cast serving little purpose beyond padding things out a few more minutes. The Colleens sing two songs (Anthrax’s “I’m the Man” and Styx’s “Babe”), and the villain, Arcane (Ralph Garman), explains his evil scheme while impersonating — among others — Arnold Schwarzenegger and Al Pacino, the better to squeeze the last remaining guffaws from “Whoo-ah!” (reminder: Scent of a Woman was released 24 years ago).
Perhaps more significant is how Yoga Hosers shows Smith’s continued devolution as a filmmaker. Flawed as movies like Dogma and Clerks II were, there was always a scene or two upon which to pin future hopes. Here, only the reliably up-for-anything Long and a surprisingly game performance by Sasheer Zamata (as the girls’ school principal) are worth noting. Everything else is either rehashed material from Smith’s previous works (clerk Colleen M. is “not even supposed to be here today,” while Arcane’s riffs are reminiscent of Tracy Morgan’s quote-a-thon in Cop Out), poorly developed concepts (the Colleens’ dialogue is almost a parody of how teens actually talk) and an apparently honest desire to kill his critics.
Smith has repeatedly reminded the world that his movies “aren’t for critics,” and he has embarked on distribution schemes to support this assertion. And yet, in Yoga Hosers, he resurrects his need to get even with his detractors, a need he's expressed since Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Many characters, including Arcane, express their hatred of “haters.” Arcane's evil creation is even specifically designed to seek out and murder critics, who it turns out were responsible for his ultimate turn to evil. It’s very Shyamalan-esque (or, at least, Lady in the Water–esque), which is interesting considering the two directors once feuded. Nothing like a shared interest to bring people together.
Yoga Hosers is lazy, unfunny and self-indulgent. It should have been binned the second the (literal) smoke cleared, and while it’s been clear for some time that Smith is either incapable of making a good movie or simply doesn’t care to, Yoga Hosers may very well be the film that finally convinces audiences the emperor has no hockey jersey. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/yoga-hosers-finds-kevin-smith-barely-making-a-movie-8707716 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/00642ec586f454eb1d8baf406710ca3f45244b580494148de64e84c541a48cf0.json |
[
"Phaedra Cook"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:46:52 | null | 2016-08-31T09:00:00 | Phaedra Cook will no longer be Food Editor for the Houston Press as of September 2. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fa-letter-from-food-editor-phaedra-cook-to-our-readers-8717193.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8717196/phaedra.jpg | en | null | A Letter From Food Editor Phaedra Cook To Our Readers | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Phaedra Cook, the soon-to-be-former Houston Press food editor. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
Dear Readers:
This note is to inform you that as of September 2, I will no longer be food editor for the Houston Press.
I realize this news is probably surprising and disappointing. For that, I am sorry. It has been my joy and privilege to serve you. I can say unabashedly that I love being a writer and discovered that I love working with a team, even before I took the food editor position.
Some will say, “You’re leaving already?!” but they aren’t remembering that I’ve written for the Houston Press on and off for the past five years and started being the lead restaurant critic and food writer back in September 2014. This has not been a short-term relationship. In fact, my very first professional article was published at the Houston Press.
I owe editor-in-chief Margaret Downing absolute credit for honing me into a better writer, teaching me what real journalism means and giving me every opportunity to shine.
I wish that more people understood how brilliant and ethical the writers at the Houston Press are and how much they sacrifice to bring you the news every day. They deserve your loyalty and respect. They’re good people.
Furthermore, it would be not only premature—but incorrect—to assume my relationship with the Houston Press isn’t going to continue in some capacity. In fact, I already am on another major assignment.
That leaves the question of why I have resigned.
I am leaving for personal reasons. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail on that because it’s, you know, personal. There are threads of my life that need to be knit back together. My world needs maintenance: an engine rebuild, not an oil change and that will take some time.
I have some ideas about the future—many, actually, but I am giving myself the gift of not worrying about it for the next few weeks so I have the peace of mind to address other issues.
I have one favor to ask of you: stay tuned. Surely you don’t think I’ve worked so hard over the past five years to accumulate all of this knowledge just to throw it all away?
Also, stay tuned to the team of freelance writers I’ve helped build for the food section of the Houston Press. Each has unique, specialized knowledge to offer. It’s been a real joy to see each writer blossom and find his or her voice.
Until my replacement has been found, editor-in-chief Margaret Downing will take over food editor duties. Restaurant and bar news should be sent to [email protected]. Those interested in either the food editor position or freelance food writing should email résumés and writing samples to [email protected].
Thank you for your support and readership. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/a-letter-from-food-editor-phaedra-cook-to-our-readers-8717193 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/29a638d54fdc98b0e7ade6d7059ee382ddb8d21cd05fa38ceb6c9da1bfd65652.json |
[
"Sean Pendergast"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:46:41 | null | 2016-08-30T06:00:00 | Amid all the noise, Coach Tom Herman and the Coogs tackle their sophomore year together. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Famid-the-noise-herman-and-the-coogs-tackle-their-sophomore-year-together-8715534.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715542/houston-press-uh-jack-gorman.jpg | en | null | Year 2: Coach Tom Herman and the UH Cougars | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND UH head coach Tom Herman has Cougar football fans dreaming about accomplishments that weren’t even on the radar a year ago. Jack Gorman
On a steamy August morning, hip hop music blares loudly from gigantic speakers, and blends in seamlessly with the constant cracking of plastic on plastic, plastic on flesh. With Houston’s hardscrabble Third Ward as the backdrop and the hope for an even brighter future in a Power Five conference as the shadow, Year Two of the Tom Herman Era has begun for the University of Houston football program.
In an NFL city where most of the fans and media have been weaned on Houston Texans’ summer practices — essentially glorified two-hand touch football — the hitting and the realism of a Herman practice are the difference between mono and surround sound. Just watch ten minutes of this version of the Cougars practice, and it’s readily evident that everything with Herman is about speed — speed of process, speed of execution, speed of comprehension.
There’s nothing Herman can do to slow down the calendar. Between now and September 3, and perhaps the most important game in the program’s history at NRG Stadium against Oklahoma in the Advocare Texas Kickoff, there is much work to be done. All that hitting is part of Herman’s process to find out, essentially, who’s in and who’s out.
“Beat ’em down, teach ’em how to run through the wall, how to not get run over by the wall,” Herman describes this phase of training camp, in a raspy voice ravaged by the camp’s first two weeks. “After that, for the next two weeks, we’ll worry about getting them fresh for September 3rd.”
Just 20 months ago, Herman was taking over a program with ample talent, but one that had settled into a mistake-laden, stagnant malaise under former head coach Tony Levine. The school’s leadership, including Landry’s Restaurants’ CEO and UH Board of Regents chair Tilman Fertitta, had the foresight to make a hard left turn, jettison Levine, and bring in Herman. That decision has made all the difference.
This time last year, though, Herman was still educating everyone in the program (and, quite frankly, at the school and in the city) on what his culture was all about. That was a time-consuming process that he no longer has to do on his own, top down. The existing players know it, live it, and can help teach it. This opens up far more time to prepare to, well, actually play football.
“From last year to this year, it’s like night and day,” says Herman. “We’re not teaching culture, or teaching just how to practice — we’re teaching football. That’s how you know you’ve taken the next step as a program, when the culture is so engrained that it’s not a constant time-taker-upper, if that’s a word. We get to teach fundamentals and technique, rather than basic things like ‘Finish through the whistle.’”
Thankfully, for Herman, his 2015 group was full of quick studies, quick enough to navigate the schedule with a 13-1 record, an American Athletic Conference championship, and a 38-24 rout of Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. This wasn’t the first time the Cougars had gone 13-1. In fact, they did it just four seasons before under Kevin Sumlin. However, this iteration of Houston football did it against a harder schedule of opponents and with more sizzle than the Case Keenum-led group of 2011. The hashtag #HTownTakeover became the slogan for a brand embodied by sideline appearances from local celebs like James Harden and Bun B, and social media welcome videos to recruits from the likes of J.J. Watt and Paul Wall.
Which brings us to September 3, the season opener against third-ranked Oklahoma that is the gateway to so much for so many. From a football standpoint, an upset of the Sooners will trigger rampant conversations about the possibility of the Cougars’ becoming the first non-Power Five school to crash the four-team College Football Playoff. With each subsequent win, the drum will beat louder.
Bigger picture, though, a University of Houston win over the Sooners will embolden the school’s yearslong campaign for membership in the Big XII, a door that reopened over the summer when the leaders of the Big XII voted unanimously to explore expansion. The potential tenfold increase in television revenue aside, membership in the Big XII would presumably give the program a better chance to retain Herman long-term, as he has become, far and away, the hottest name when big-time coaching jobs open up.
For his part, Herman’s greatest skill, among his many superb skills, is his ability to insulate his players from the noise and himself from the speculation. If you ask him about things like the College Football Playoff, Herman points you back to his frequently spoken goal for the program — simply to win the American Athletic Conference.
“Our goal is exactly the same as it was last season,” Herman says, matter of factly. “It’s to win the American Conference, and the beauty of it is that the AAC has separated itself from other conferences outside the Power Five[, so] that, barring a miracle season from some other team, if you win the American, you’re going to a New Year’s Six bowl game.”
If you ask Herman about Big XII membership, he defers vertically to those in a “pay grade above” his (an ironically worded deferral, given his nearly $3 million annual salary after a massive, well deserved 2015 raise). If you ask him about other schools’ coming after him, he defers horizontally, saying that he can’t control what others in the media or on the Internet say, and he spins the attention on him personally as an overall positive for the program.
Honestly, it’s a program flush with positives right now, including perhaps the most talented freshman class in school history, a celebrity buzz that has a Hall of Famer like Jerome Bettis gladly willing to come speak to the team during training camp, and a quarterback in Greg Ward who is not only a dark horse Heisman candidate, but also Herman’s on-field eyes and ears.
“Greg’s done a fantastic job just talking, cheering on his teammates, getting on them when they need to hear a firm voice, but also knowing when to encourage them,” Herman says, smiling. “He is light-years ahead of where he was last year.“
So while, for the rest of us, it all comes back to mentally putting all of our 2016 Cougar eggs in the September 3 basket and the Oklahoma game, Herman will have none of it. In an interview with the Tulsa World, Herman cited a conversation he had with Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson at a golf event prior to the Peach Bowl.
“[Johnson] said he had this big game, a national game, rivalry game once,” Herman recalled in the interview. “Basically, from the January after the previous season throughout spring ball, they were doing one extra jumping jack for this opponent or one extra pushup for this opponent, and everything was centered around that game. Well, they lost, and he said it was a good month before he had his team back because they were crushed. They had spent upwards of nine months getting ready for this one game. And they lost it and they didn’t know what to do.
“That’s not gonna happen here.”
Indeed, that won’t be the Cougars, Herman insists. They will focus on what they can control, not the substantial magnitude of what’s happening and could potentially happen around them. “We will focus on going as hard as humanly possible every snap we’re on the field,” Herman says. “How hard do you go, how much do you love it, how much do you love the guy next to you, and are you willing to give everything for him? That’s our focus.”
Herman’s ability to simplify the complex, to boil things down to the basic tenets of love, trust, and commitment might be his greatest skill. Those are languages everyone can and must speak in order to be a brick in the Cougar wall. Simply put, Herman has a process. Follow it. Do the little things.
For the head coach of the Cougars, after that thunder dome of a practice, it’s off to that day’s next little thing for him in his continued efforts to sell the program. It’s move-in day for the rest of the student body, and Herman is quickly whisked off from the post-practice media session to go push dollies and hand trucks with incoming freshmen.
It’s an act of manual labor that would be beneath most college head football coaches, that utterly belies a walking tour de force like Herman, on whose shoulders rest the future of an entire athletics program. For the Cougars, though, the blue collar, hard work of Herman and many others is what’s put them on the cusp of so many special things.
So, from that standpoint, Herman literally pushing those dollies, helping young Cougars into their next phase of life, is metaphorically appropriate. Quite frankly, it’s perfect.
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Also follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanCablinasian or email him at [email protected]. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/amid-the-noise-herman-and-the-coogs-tackle-their-sophomore-year-together-8715534 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/f8ed79d89678d399cee8d70121dde4c771351fec03c04f1de026b127df7b3ed4.json |
[
"Jessica Goldman"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:47:03 | null | 2016-08-30T07:00:00 | Hand to God hits and misses with high and low comedy and a masterful evil puppet performance. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fhand-to-god-proves-puppet-sex-is-still-funny-8715548.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715552/houston-press-hand-of-god.jpg | en | null | Review: Hand to God at Alley Theatre | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Steve Pacek as Jason in the Alley Theatre’s production of Hand to God. Lynn Lane
Lest there be any doubt, raunchy puppet sex is still remarkably funny. It was funny in the 2003 Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q, it was funny in the action comedy movie Team America: World Police; and it is once again terrifically amusing in the Alley Theatre’s production of Robert Askins’s Tony-nominated play Hand to God. But unlike Avenue Q’s graphic, but still sweet sex between smitten newbie lovers and the hilarious shock factor of the explicit triple X-rated sex in Team America, the puppet sex in Hand to God is more of a welcome break. A terribly humorous respite from a show about a boy in emotional distress that at times feels sophomoric, without wit and motivationally indulgent.
Way before the sex though, there is simply the puppet Tyrone, a rudimentary flame-red haired, google-eyed sock creature with movable spindly arm-like appendages. We meet him in all his foulmouthed, cynical glory (think a cross between Oscar the Grouch and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) during an opening monologue where he lays out his version of the origins of the world we live in. A world where humans once roamed free and happy until they organized into societies and religions, delineating between right and wrong, bad or good. A -reality where any behavior not deemed acceptable by the group was labeled evil. Where devils are created to scare people away from doing whatever they please.
At least that’s what we think Tyrone was trying to tell us. It was a strange opening for sure. Lines were repeated, threads seemed to be lost, possible improvisation was happening and an abrupt yelling of “cut” by Tyrone himself seemed to be his way to put the monologue out of its misery. At intermission there was much discussion from those that had previously seen the show as to whether this opening scene was a rewrite or a bona fide screwup.
Either way, the show must go on, and so it did, onward to Jason (the inexhaustible and comically agile Steve Pacek), the undisputed star of the show. Jason is hurting. His father has just died of a heart attack, leaving him alone with his mother Margery (Elizabeth Bunch delivering an overly acty performance), who seems more interested in making sure Jason participates in her Christian puppet group than tending to his emotional needs. Socially Jason is also a mess. His sweet, nerdy, quiet ways aren’t winning him any points with his fellow puppeteer and crush, Jessica (Emily Trask showing great straight man prowess). He should be able to turn to Pastor Greg (a solid Michael Brusasco) for help, but it was under the minister’s care that Jason’s father let his health deteriorate. Worse still, the delinquent bully in the puppet group, Timothy (Jay Sullivan playing cool but dumb in perfect tune) torments him incessantly, reducing his already battered sense of self.
And that’s where Tyrone steps in. Unable to vent his pent up anger, Jason, with Tyrone literally on hand in a superlative physical performance, tells everyone exactly how full of shit he thinks they are. With his expletive-filled and no-holds-barred assaults, Tyrone becomes the devil Jason needs but can’t bring himself to be. Or perhaps Tyrone isn’t simply a projection of Jason’s unspeakable inner anger. Could it be that the nefarious sock puppet is in fact truly the devil himself? After all, Tyrone is just as tyrannical and cruel to Jason is he is to everyone around him. For every time Tyrone calls Margery a bitch or comments on Timothy’s small dick personality, he also reminds Jason that he’s weak and a loser in an effort to goad him into action. And then there’s that pesky problem where every time Jason tries to remove Tyrone from his hand, the puppet attacks visciously making it impossible to render him inanimate.
Related Stories The Evil Puppet Tyrone and Hand to God at the Alley Theatre
And so goes the conceit of Askins’s play. Man vs. puppet, our need to express difficult emotion vs. what others expect from us and yes, lots and lots of very comedic bad behavior in the process. It’s a great premise that works only some of the time.
Let’s start with the positive. Without a doubt, the greatest joy of this show is watching Pacek, under Mark Shanahan’s physically robust direction, commandeer and give voice to Tyrone. With only a mouth to operate and two sticks to move arms, Pacek brings Tyrone to life so acrobatically that it’s impossible not to believe man and hand puppet aren’t two distinctly individual characters. Even when Tyrone is at his degenerate worst, all we need to see is his puppet self, wrapped around Jason’s head, manipulatively stroking his hair pre-attack and we can’t help but laugh in the face of certain doom.
An unexpected and squirm-inducingly funny scene between Margery and Timothy is also a slam dunk win under Shanahan’s direction. This one needs to be left a surprise for all that see the show, but suffice it to say that the refrain “koo koo kachoo Mrs. Robinson” may have a new meaning. And yes, the aforementioned puppet sex has us rolling in the aisles. However, far more interesting (and frankly less derivative) are the few more serious moments in Askins’s narrative. Possessed or projecting, Jason is a wounded soul. This is a kid begging for someone to understand his pain. So when we’re given a quiet and intelligent front row to these emotions, as when Pastor Greg refuses to speak to Tyrone and insists on grilling Jason about his lack of happiness, Askins’s messages hit home in far more meaningful ways.
Unfortunately these few home-run scenes and eloquent moments are overshadowed by predominantly puerile humor and disappointingly low-hanging-fruit comedy for much of the play. This is a show where uttering the words bitch and boner, or phrases like milky vagina and candy ass are considered the utmost in comic genius as though we’ve never heard the words spoken aloud before. In fairness, it may be that lack of prudishness makes me immune to the tee-hee value in this kind of dialogue, but c’mon folks, it’s 2016, are we that sheltered? Haven’t we all watched at least one cable show?
Complicating things further is the distinct sense that Askins has written this play first, foremost and predominantly for his own purpose and agenda without consideration of what truly works in the show. It’s no secret that Hand to God was written to mirror Askins’s own life growing up near Houston. His father died when he was a teenager, his mom was involved in her own ministry and Askins struggled with a way to deal with his anger. But what really comes through in this play is his religious derision. Well, it comes through in segmented moments that don’t really feel germane to the play as a whole.
We encounter the religious contempt in the opening monologue and again in an epilogue that reinforces Askins’s distaste for our reliance on saviors and saintliness. But little to nothing is said about Godly belief during the play itself. Jason is not rebelling against church doctrine or discipline; he is rebelling against an absent mom, a bully and his inability to share his anger. In fact, no one (save the pastor) seems committed at all to Christ in the show. Even when Margery vandalizes church property in two distinct ways, we aren’t that fussed as we never believe it matters to her in the first place.
Raging against the Church and raging against your anger may have felt like the same thing to Askins growing up in the environment he did, but for us watching his work, it seems like he’s squished two differently motivated shows into one play and we wind up confounded as to why they need to be joined at the hip. Jason creating an evil alter ego hand puppet (who may be the devil) to deal with his pain would have had just as much impact as one that half-heartedly embodies heresy.
Yet in the end, there’s great puppet sex. Like really good. Can all be forgiven for a chance to see and laugh hysterically at perky naked puppet breasts fondled live on stage? Is a puppet hand job worth sitting through too many juvenile erection jokes and oddly superimposed religious dissent? Can we move past the bawdy humor and shock value to truly appreciate the important lesson of knowing how to speak your own truth no matter how unfaithful it may be?
Maybe yes, maybe no. In the end, perhaps your appetite for this show comes down to your relationship between you and your God, or lack thereof, and the devil you already know. No matter what you believe, it’s probably advisable to leave all knee socks at home, just in case.
Hand to God
Through September 18 at Alley Theatre, 615 Texas, 713-220-5700, alleytheatre.org. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/hand-to-god-proves-puppet-sex-is-still-funny-8715548 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/2a81f04a1bb5cee2d0b63817f0c7c5d1c3d26a30ffba4dedc6603fa8fbc6cc8e.json |
[
"Chris Gray"
]
| 2016-08-29T10:46:17 | null | 2016-08-29T04:00:00 | The livest music in the Bayou City for the fourth week of August and into September 2016. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fshows-of-the-week-the-natural-heir-to-musics-two-great-bobs-8708132.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8708136/benharper-aug29.jpg | en | null | Houston's Shows of the Week: 8/29-9/2/2016 | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals Photo by Danny Clinch/Courtesy of Concord Records
BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS
House of Blues, August 29
Ben Harper can never be accused of being idle. The 46-year-old musician is a polymath of folk, reggae, soul, blues and rock, infusing his unique style with a keen sense of social justice that makes him a natural heir to music’s two great Bobs, Dylan and Marley. If Harper isn’t quite as well-known as either of those icons (or even Dave Matthews), his catalog stacks up favorably against his peers and he truly shines onstage. His bands the Innocent Criminals and Relentless7 routinely appear high on the bills of festivals like ACL and FPSF, and rarely does a year pass without a new record bearing Harper’s name. Released this past spring, his first album with the Criminals since 2007, Call It What It Is (Stax), is firmly in Harper’s wheelhouse, balancing Stones-y rockers “When Sex Was Dirty” and “Pink Balloon”; a pointed title track spotlighting police brutality; and a lovely closing ballad, “Goodbye to You,” tailor-made for smartphone-illuminated festival encores. With The Jack Move.
TAB BENOIT
Dosey Doe, September 2
Tab Benoit’s name should be central to any conversation about underappreciated modern bluesmen, with one important condition: blues lovers around the world are well aware of his talents. Although a real breakthough to mainstream audiences has eluded him, the 48-year-old Benoit has been honored eight times by the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards (formerly the W.C. Handy Awards), including twice as B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. Easily one of the most respected musicians in the New Orleans area, Benoit has collaborated with other A-list NOLA names like Dr. John, George Porter Jr., the late Allen Toussaint and Anders Osborne, co-producer of Benoit’s most recent album, 2011’s Medicine. Benoit’s work as an activist for environmental conservation foundation Voice of the Wetlands (also the title of his 2005 album), helped him earn the 2010 Governor’s Award from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
NIKKI HILL
Continental Club, September 2
Those fortunate enough to be present when Nikki Hill made her Houston debut at the Continental a few years back already know, but the rest of the world is just now waking up to her explosive talent thanks to new album Heavy Hearts Raised Fist. The North Carolina-raised singer turned quite a few heads with 2014’s Here’s Nikki Hill, but Heavy Hearts ups the ante even further with a potently mixed cocktail of R&B shimmer and rock and roll swagger; Tina Turner comparisons should never be tossed around lightly, but if the platform shoe fits, you might as well kick something with it. (Exhibit A: the double shot of AC/DC above.) Hill is already headed back this way to play Discovery Green’s Fall Concert Series on October 13 with with Houston’s Annika Chambers, but there’s absolutely no reason to wait that long.
DRAKE, FUTURE
Toyota Center, September 3 & 4
Rationally you have to believe that the day will come when Drake stumbles. Hip-hop has always been a young man's game, which means Drake can't make hit singles, records and mixtapes forever, right? But if there were one man who might just buck that trend, you'd be wise to put your money on the 6 God. He has consistently crushed things for the past two years, from If You're Reading This It's Too Late to What a Time to Be Alive with “Summer Sixteen” tour partner Future to Views, his multiplatinum smash from earlier this year, and you can't escape him on the airwaves. As of this writing, six tracks that he's on are in the Billboard Hot 100. So a visit by Drake is something to get excited about no matter where you live, but this is Houston, a city that Drake loves almost as his beloved Toronto, so you know a Drake show — or shows, as in this case — is going to be something special. Who knows who will take the stage with him when he arrives in town, but odds are good the man gave Houston its own appreciation weekend won't let Space City down. CORY GARCIA
CAMERA CULT
Satellite Bar, September 3
Yet another young synth-powered act catching on quickly with local fans, Camera Cult wants to be the soundtrack to your next party. Founded in 2014, David Gonzalez and Ricky J. Vazquez have steadily raised their profile around town, appearing at this spring’s Madness On Main festival and opening for the likes of Children of Pop and Catch Fever. As with nationally known names like Chromeo, the elements of Camera Cult’s shamelessly retro sound — classic disco, “Pop Life”-era Prince, millennial boy bands — have been seamlessly rearranged to hit all the right notes with younger fans. Saturday’s show is a 7-inch release party for the songs “Heart Brakes,” which has already been picked up by Houston’s KPFT, and “Don’t Hang Out.” With Vas Deferens, Us, Rex Hudson and the Dimaggios.
DYLAN CAMERON
Walters Downtown, September 3
Dylan Cameron’s brand-new LP Infinite Floor may help you help yourself. The good news is in about Special K, which may be the future of depression treatments (taken in trustworthy company), and Cameron’s wobbly ear candy is tailor-made for the rabbit hole. It’s new music, part house and part techno, built on the chassis of mass-produced electronica to slow-ride through the big cistern of the endless night in a Ford Focus kind of four-on-the-floor beat, indifferent to the bonehead horsepower of EDM. It’s as psychedelic and funky as its forebears but moodier, scratched in fine strokes and close detail, astringent enough for openminded rockers. Which is really no wonder: Cameron is of a dynastic Austin music family; he was born between the notes. For this LP release party, he’ll be joined by a few of Houston’s own nubeat stunt drivers, none of them genre-bound. Like the name suggests, Acid Jeep is an acid-house killer into techno-funk and the big beat, but with a penchant for cruising into the neighborhoods of jungle, drum & bass, and IDM, too. Pfaffenberg’s kind of live modular synthesis is less beatdriven and more improvisational, prone to weaving patch cords through an intricate and endless net of sound and texture. With Acid Jeep, Funeral Parlor, Pfaffenberg and Neil Ebbflo. TEX KERSCHEN
CASH’D OUT
Continental Club, September 3
Touring tribute bands have an especially tough row to hoe: if other places are anything like Houston, there’s already one on every third stage in town, it seems like. But San Diego’s Cash’d Out has made it work for more than a decade, combining a repertoire that spans more than 150 songs and the authentic booming baritone of front man Douglas Benson, whose Man In Black is quite a bit better than merely passable. Cash’d Out was the first tribute act to be endorsed by johnnycash.com; and has likewise impressed members of the Man In Black’s extended family like ex-Tennessee Three drummer W.S. Holland, who has sat in with them, and Cash’s former manager Lou Robin, who has called their show “like going back in time.” Drawing heavily from Cash’s Sun years and the Live at San Quentin and Live at Folsom Prison albums, Cash’d Out will loop back around by Scout Bar next Thursday (September 8), in addition to Saturday’s date at Houston’s rockabilly central. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/shows-of-the-week-the-natural-heir-to-musics-two-great-bobs-8708132 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/cf9203560f06c9dc94f16ad91d102469b68e9590e223ccda7a9377f87878333f.json |
[
"Meagan Flynn"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:52:07 | null | 2016-08-26T05:00:00 | The Harris County clerk says he will investigate everyone who lacks a voter ID when casting a ballot to ensure they are not lying. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fharris-county-clerk-will-vet-voters-who-claim-to-lack-photo-id-8704744.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8704797/noper.jpg | en | null | Harris County Clerk Will Vet Voters Who Claim to Lack Photo ID | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Illustration by Monica Fuentes
Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said he's expecting the largest voter turnout ever in the county with 1.4 million voters expected to cast ballots this election season. And after the state's restrictive voter photo ID law was struck down by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in July, the replacement law makes room for an estimated 600,000 voters statewide who may lack a photo ID to finally exercise their right to vote for the first time since 2011, when legislators adopted the photo ID law.
Under that law, which was considered among the most restrictive of its kind in the United States, voters were turned away if they lacked a government-issued ID. The appeals court ruled the law had a disproportionate effect on minority voters, who may lack drivers' licenses. Now, any voter without photo ID can bring a utility bill, bank statement, voter registration card or any government document displaying their name and address. They will also have to sign a sworn statement that says why they lack the photo ID.
Stanart says he will investigate everyone who signs that form to assure they are not lying.
"If I suspect someone has fraudulently signed a form saying they don't have that ID, then I think that's an issue," he said. "You can't skip around the photo ID requirement. It's an oath that people are signing. Whether anything happens, that's up to the [Harris County District Attorney's Office]."
Election workers, who will undergo training before the election, are not allowed to question the validity of the sworn statement at the polls. But after the votes are counted and the election ends, Stanart said his office will be checking to see whether a person who signed the sworn statement has a Texas Department of Public Safety-issued ID through the DPS database. If, for whatever reason, a person who actually has a license but decided to go through the trouble of lying under oath that he didn't, the voter is in trouble. Stanart says it is to ensure no one is voting fraudulently—a problem that doesn't actually exist, according to a recent analysis—but says his office won't look into the issue any further than the DPS check. (And if they really are a fraudulent voter, then Stanart says their vote will still count, criminal charges or not.)
"We will always lean to the benefit of the voter—we don't want people to fall into a trap," Stanart said. "But we do want people to understand, if they have an existing photo ID, they must bring it."
With early voting only two months away, the Texas Secretary of State's Office has launched a court-mandated $2.5 million education campaign to make sure all Texans are aware of the changes in the law before election time. Alicia Pierce, spokeswoman for the secretary of state, says it will include a vast array of TV, radio, print and social media advertisements.
"It is a big mission that we have ahead of us, but we've been preparing for it since January, knowing there could be a change in the law," Pierce said. "We want to meet voters in a surround-sound approach."
Early voting begins October 24 and ends November 4, while Election Day is November 8. The deadline to register to vote is October 11. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/harris-county-clerk-will-vet-voters-who-claim-to-lack-photo-id-8704744 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/174d64247561ccbe6f4b776ba131513865588f8313bf4c4e68a546c0bad2e6ad.json |
[
"Zach Despart"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:46:31 | null | 2016-08-30T10:52:00 | An armored truck driver was ambushed in killed in northwest Houston on Monday afternoon, Houston police said. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Farmored-truck-driver-shot-killed-in-northwest-houston-8717211.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8717233/armoredcar22222.jpg | en | null | Armored Truck Driver Killed in Houston | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | An armored truck driver was ambushed in killed in northwest Houston on Monday afternoon, Houston police report.
Just before 6 p.m., police said the driver was servicing a Wells Fargo ATM in the parking lot of 13201 Northwest Freeway when the driver was shot and robbed. He died at the scene.
Witnesses saw an unidentified man flee the area in a blue Toyota Camry, police said. The authorities did not identify the man who was killed nor the company he worked for.
Houston police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Just last year, the Associated Press ranked Houston the most popular city for armored car and bank robberies. Thieves robbed 11 armored cars in 2013 and eight in 2014 — accounting for a fifth of all armored car robberies in the United States during that period, the AP said. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/armored-truck-driver-shot-killed-in-northwest-houston-8717211 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8e7e1a85c86a6c96f810029b9996e20f061085e80fb27008c1e6c34236cae7a7.json |
[
"Aaron Hillis"
]
| 2016-08-31T04:46:42 | null | 2016-08-30T22:00:00 | Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World is an unsurprisingly wry, quizzical documentary survey on life inside the virtual world. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Fherzog-logs-on-the-inquisitive-filmmaker-contemplates-the-mysteries-of-our-digital-existence-8663374.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7251065/lo-and-behold-1-credit-magnolia_pictures.jpg | en | null | Herzog Logs On: The Inquisitive Filmmaker Contemplates the Mysteries of Our Digital Existence | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Late in Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, his unsurprisingly wry, quizzical documentary survey on life inside and beside the virtual world, Werner Herzog stumps two brain researchers with a lyrical question in that instantly recognizable (and often parodied) German accent: “Does the internet dream of itself?”
An ever-adventurous and acutely observational storyteller who has cinematically explored live volcanoes, Antarctica and the menacing company of Klaus Kinski, Herzog is also a highly self-aware creature, as evidenced by his self-satirizing participation in the 2004 mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness and his later stunt casting as a villain in Jack Reacher. He seems to intend this question to be grandiose, absurd and sobering all at once. As a neophyte whose only admitted online usage is email and the occasional Google Maps inquiry, Herzog may also be the perfect outsider to explore the awesome potential and terrifying possibilities we have exposed ourselves to ever since, back in 1969, an oversized, boxy appliance at UCLA first “talked” to a computer at the Stanford Research Institute.
It might seem like 98 minutes would barely scratch the surface of how the digital world has affected our lives, which is partly true, but in this 10-chapter, thesis-less tale — from “The Early Days” to the “Future,” with many morally, philosophically and emotionally confrontational stops in between — Herzog smartly takes a broad, bird's-eye perspective of our early techno-evolution. The film is largely built on talking-head interviews with scientific experts. (That's a seemingly necessary evil when delving into this heady subject, though the aesthetic flatness offers a critical remove). Still, Herzog’s typically expressive cinematography and eye for quietly eccentric moments aren't absent: A recovering internet addict is introduced while clumsily running across a playground bridge; a hermetic community living in a cell-tower-free zone celebrates together on banjos and fiddles; cows run across a field in slow motion while a rocket launches behind them; monks stand around staring at their smartphones.
An entire generation of adults has now experienced broadband in its earliest memories, so what more is there to say about our interconnectivity that couldn’t be answered by any of us, with everyday savvy and common sense? Herzog shows no interest in social media, instead aiming his curiosities toward more illuminating topics that we likely take for granted: how a multiplayer game about biomolecules was able to crowdsource scientific discoveries, or how an autonomous-car engineer must deal with the ramifications of A.I. not understanding the values of human society. (Will a car be liable for making a mistake, or causing an accident?) In a brief yet chilling chapter titled “The Dark Side,” an affluent family whose young daughter was killed in a Porsche crash discusses how they were trolled online in the most heinous ways imaginable, before staring into the camera for an uncomfortably silent tableau.
Herzog’s thought-provoking skepticism sweeps further still. He has hackers and security analysts debate anonymity and accountability. Astronomers contend that solar flares could trigger an online blackout and force us to answer another striking question, this one catastrophic: Would our over-reliant society recover from the End of the Internet? (Herzog thankfully keeps the glib jokes coming, at one point volunteering to be a first-wave colonizer on Mars.)
The questions get bigger still in the final chapters, which concern the nature of being human and the idea that, just how the science-fiction writers of yesteryear couldn’t predict this modern world, we don't know if people, sentient robots and unforeseeable next-gen tech will play nicely together. The next time you’re elbowing Pokémon Go players out of the way because they can’t courteously walk while catching Snorlax, maybe you’ll notice that augmented reality is the wave of the future, or maybe you’ll moan that everything’s gone to Hell ... before refreshing your Instagram feed. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/herzog-logs-on-the-inquisitive-filmmaker-contemplates-the-mysteries-of-our-digital-existence-8663374 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/033448f120ee3fd4cd7f8be492ebccfed4efd3a995e29d6313b129a0fd72e1ce.json |
[
"Brandon Caldwell"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:48:58 | null | 2016-08-26T06:00:00 | Beyonce may perform, Kanye's getting four minutes of uninterrupted time, Adele is up for all the awards. The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards may actually... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2F31-years-later-were-still-watching-the-vmas-8705323.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8705391/britney2-aug26.jpg | en | null | 31 Years Later, We're Still Watching the VMAs | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The older you get, the more you begin to ask questions about whether or not things matter. Someone asked over the weekend if people still watch wrestling (yes). I’m sure someone is going to ask within the coming weeks whether or not people still watch The Simpsons religiously. And someone is going to ask you this weekend whether or not people watch MTV; in particular, whether or not the MTV Video Music Awards are still important.
As long as MTV has existed, so have music videos. The television part of its platform has long since shifted to a slate dominated by reality TV and original programming. But MTV has also opened the floodgates for smarter writing about music, about people and (quaintly) about the people who make said music. Thanks to being under the Viacom umbrella, the most genius stroke they’ve done in years involved making VH1 Classic into MTV Classic. Old episodes of Road Rules? Yes. The Real World back when it was the greatest reality TV show imaginable? On it. Yo! MTV Raps, MTV Jams, etc? Perfect.
The VMAs come this weekend at an odd time and in an even odder position. It used to be a prime-time, middle-of-the-week staple. For one Thursday night every September, MTV dominated our attention spans. Now the show is being wholly underpromoted on a Sunday night, the last Sunday before college football returns to wreck our Saturday plans and two weeks before our sports heroin, the National Football League, returns for 20 consecutive Sundays.
"Do we even care?" is the question?
Well, I’ll give you an analogy. The Olympics just ended. The Men’s Basketball portion of Team USA happened to be missing some obvious stars — LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, the list goes on. We ended up sending a virtual B-Team to Rio with a few A-Players on it, and won the gold medal going away. Now, would it have been more fun if we rolled out the same Death Machine we used in London? Of course.
Did we still watch Team USA bludgeon Serbia by 30, in the name of patriotism? Of course we did. And that’s what the VMAs have become, part of our yearly mass watch cycle. The prestigious aspect of the show has died in recent years but still, its the MTV award show that means something. The original alternative to the Grammys has now existed for 31 years. And there’s far more maladroit in saying, “I won this award but lost a MTV VMA.”
Thanks to Twitter, something is going to happen that we’ll consider interesting. Maybe Drake is going to get onstage and say something. Maybe he’ll gyrate on Rihanna while she’s accepting her Video Vanguard award and look sheepish about it. Maybe Beyoncé will perform for an entire hour and MTV will merely move away from the production buttons and let her work. Apparently they’re giving Kanye West four uninterrupted minutes to do whatever he pleases. That’s dangerous in itself. Not because Kanye is dangerous, but because Kanye could re-create the “Famous” video live onstage and creep us out. And the big hanger to let you even consider watching if you’re not a Kanye or Beyoncé fan? Britney Spears is performing for the first time since 2007.
Wrestling, much like pop culture, has been riding this wave of “anything can happen." The VMAs have held this theory to the fire for years now. It gave us Robin Thicke’s career crashing like the Hindenburg while grinding on Miley Cyrus in a Zoot Suit. It also gave us Miley Cyrus purposefully flashing the audience before a commercial break. Britney Spears and Madonna kissing happened. Diana Ross lifting Lil’ Kim’s breast in 1999 happened. Taylor Swift becoming America’s Victim for the next seven years happened. Ol’ Dirty Bastard telling the world, “Wu-Tang Is For the Children” didn’t happen at the VMAs but you thought it did, didn’t you?
Thing is, all of the super interesting about this year’s VMAs will have already been removed and erased. Taylor Swift probably won’t come since it’ll put her in a room with the Wests for the first time since July’s "Kim Exposed Taylor"party happened over “Famous." Katy Perry won’t be there. Since Adele isn’t performing, I doubt she will either. An Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj performance won’t move the needle, nor will Nick Jonas performing “Bacon."
Look, all of the nominees and categories all scream “smart” choices and obvious winners. Beyoncé is going to win the Breakthrough Long Form Video award for Lemonade and Best Collaboration Video for “Freedom." Nobody knows why Bryson Tiller is up for Best Hip-Hop Video for “Don’t,” but Drake’s “Hotline Bling” will probably win that one. The categories that serve up the best arguments? Anyone where Adele and Beyoncé are going up against one another. That means Best Pop Video, Best Female Video and Video of the Year. Rihanna may not win a single one of those awards yet she’s getting the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is such a cold game.
Know what I’ll be doing Sunday night? Probably watching and live-tweeting the VMAs. Why? Because it’s become programmed in my brain to do so. You don’t miss award-show television because award show television usually gives us the absolute best (and worst) of social media. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/31-years-later-were-still-watching-the-vmas-8705323 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/93d557910f2e11df899193d2218afa83a3fbf3c29426bb01ac28842b5295192b.json |
[
"Zach Despart"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:46:40 | null | 2016-08-31T09:00:00 | A Houston police officer faces several charges after police say he threatened to kill his wife at least twice — most recently after surprising her at... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fhouston-police-officer-accused-of-threatening-wife-with-gun-8717818.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8718272/gonzalezhpdmug.jpg | en | null | HPD Officer Threatens To Shoot Up Wife's Workplace | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Screenshot/KPRC
A Houston police officer faces several charges after police say he threatened to kill his wife at least twice — most recently after surprising her at her workplace.
Police said Pedro Gonzalez, 45, showed up at his wife's work on August 25 and told her he would kill her and "shoot up the whole building and turn the place into a 'meat market.'" His wife said Gonzalez then lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a tactical vest with two semi-automatic handguns and several magazines of ammunition, court papers state.
Gonzalez's wife also told police that in March, Gonzalez assaulted her while he was drunk and the pair argued at their apartment. According to court documents, his wife said Gonzalez would not let her leave the apartment and threw her against a desk. She also told police Gonzalez put a gun in her mouth and threatened to kill her and her family.
Gonzalez faces two felony aggravated assault of a family member charges from the two incidents. He was originally charged with misdemeanor deadly conduct for confronting his wife at her job, but a judge later dismissed that count in favor of the more serious felony charge. A judge also granted a protective order against Gonzalez, ordering him not to have any contact with his wife.
Gonzalez has been relieved of duty from the Houston Police Department since July 24, after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said. Gonzalez, a 15-year veteran assigned to the vehicular crimes division, will remain suspended pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.
Gonzalez is the second Houston Police Department officer to face criminal charges in the past two weeks.
James Combs, a six-year veteran of the force, was charged on August 16 with intoxication manslaughter after he slammed his SUV head-on into a Corvette, killing the driver. Police say his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit to drive.
Interim Police Chief Martha Montalvo later told reporters she intends to fire Combs. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-police-officer-accused-of-threatening-wife-with-gun-8717818 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/09855fe292ae55b0f13ebabe717e0378274dc60e85a7f8005df65eb38ccd1e2e.json |
[
"Dianna Wray"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:00:01 | null | 2016-08-25T09:00:00 | Astronaut Jeff Williams just broke retired Astronaut Scott Kelly's space endurance record. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fastronaut-jeff-williams-just-broke-scott-kellys-space-endurance-record-8699949.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8699990/williamsiss.jpg | en | null | Astronaut Jeff Williams Just Broke Scott Kelly's Space Endurance Record | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Astronaut Jeff Williams, commander of the International Space Station, just broke Scott Kelly's space endurance record Photo from NASA
Well that was quick.
It's only been about six months since now-retired astronaut Scott Kelly cracked the U.S. astronaut most-time-spent-in-space record, but another astronaut has already surpassed him.
On Wednesday astronaut Jeff Williams surpassed Kelly's 520-day record of U.S. space travel as he spent his 521st day in space. This makes Williams the 17th most experienced astronaut or cosmonaut in the world, but he's still got a long way to go to become a real contender.. Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka holds the world record for space travel after logging 878 days over the course of five missions.
But either way, Williams has now trumped Kelly's record for time spent in space. Kelly took his dethroning as most experienced U.S. space traveler in stride. He radioed Williams on the International Space Station on Wednesday congratulating him for setting the new mark. “It’s great to see another record broken," Kelly told Williams, according to CBS. "But I do have one question for you. And my question is, do you have another 190 days in you?”
Kelly had recorded just under a year in space by the time he returned from the ISS back in March. While Williams had surpassed Kelly for most total days in space, Kelly referred to 190 days to point out that Williams will have to really buckle down if he wants to get anywhere near touching Kelly's time spent on a single flight.
Williams laughed when Kelly mentioned 190 days. "That's not a question for me, that's for my wife!"
Williams, Soyuz TMA-20M commander Alexey Ovchinin and flight engineer Oleg Skripochka were launched to the ISS on March 18. They're slated to return on September 6, landing in Kazakhstan and ending a 172-day mission. By then, Williams will have done 534 days in space, making him the fourteenth on the space endurance record list.
However, Williams won't hold the record for long. Astronaut Peggy Whitson is scheduled to start a six-month stint on the ISS in November. With 377 days already under her belt — the most time a female astronaut has spent off planet — she'll surpass 534 days in a little over five months. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/astronaut-jeff-williams-just-broke-scott-kellys-space-endurance-record-8699949 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/f5344bc7f404a9a62f5ea317a8cb31d3f42d96fea03e7827948ce0f5ce794d07.json |
[
"Phaedra Cook"
]
| 2016-08-30T20:46:33 | null | 2016-08-30T09:45:00 | The downtown location of Flying Saucer announced that it is canceling Glass Night and some customers aren't happy about it. The final one is on... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fflying-saucer-cancels-wednesday-glass-night-to-make-way-for-flight-night-8717071.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8717077/beer_glasses_flyingsaucer_joshuajustice.jpg | en | null | Don't Panic: Glass Night Isn't Entirely Going Away At Flying Saucer | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Flying Saucer downtown location manager Joshua Justice says Glass Night is being discontinued as a regular weekly event because demand for regular pint glasses has waned. It's being replaced with Flight Night. Photo by Joshua Justice
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in downtown Houston has decided to discontinue its Wednesday Glass Nights, and some customers are unhappy about that. Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 31, is the final one and it’s called The Great Glass Swap. Collectors are encouraged to bring their unwanted glassware to trade with other customers, and Flying Saucer will be selling off its own giant collection of specialty snifters and stemware for $1 each.
The weekly events featured opportunities for customers to receive or purchase promotional and collectible beer glasses for various brands. The announcement on Facebook that it's being canceled drew customer comments like “No!” and “That stinks.”
However, the news isn’t as bad as it seems for glass collectors — or beer lovers in general.
Manager Joshua Justice says Glass Night is being discontinued simply because demand has waned. He says there are giant shelves full of “a couple of thousand” leftover glasses at the Flying Saucer. “If you’re that attached to it, come in [on Wednesday] and go nuts!”
However, it’s not all glass nights that are going away. The special ones that are still popular will continue.
Flying Saucer downtown will continue glass nights for truly special, interesting ones, like custom-designed glasses. Justice says, "The boring, plain old pint glasses is what we’re killing." Photo by Joshua Justice
“The stuff that we do in-house, like 420 day and Texas Independence Day, still sells out instantaneously, but the day-to-day ‘Here’s a logo glass from this brewery you’ve known for ten years,” the demand’s not there. The Sugar Land [location] still sells out in an hour, but downtown is just not what it used to be,” Justice explained. “We’re not fully killing Glass Night. If Dogfish Head comes and says, ‘Hey, we redid the IPA glass and it’s Spiegelau glassware,’ I’m totally picking that up and I’m totally going to sell that, because it’s something that’s cool. The boring, plain old pint glasses is what we’re killing.”
So, there will still be opportunities to get collectible glasses. Best of all, though, is what's replacing Glass Night. Justice says discontinuing that makes way for a new program on Wednesday nights called Flight Night. The company’s Facebook page says, “Think cheese pairings, cocktail pairings, guest speakers and more.”
The first Flight Night is September 7 at 7 p.m. and will feature the Japanese beer Hitachino White paired with Kiuchi no Shizuku, a gin-like spirit that’s also from Japan, as well as Hitachino cocktails | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/flying-saucer-cancels-wednesday-glass-night-to-make-way-for-flight-night-8717071 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8933e80ba386432399cf02f713d54372d702a6d82f1322ec8bcd24ee927e94fc.json |
[
"Herbert Fuego"
]
| 2016-08-29T04:46:27 | null | 2016-08-28T22:16:00 | A reader wants to know about Thai stick, and our Ask a Stoner columnist has the answers. Find out more at Westword.com. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fdear-stoner-what-is-thai-stick-8708166.json | http://images1.westword.com/imager/u/original/7633095/ask_a_stoner.jpg | en | null | Dear Stoner: What Is Thai Stick? | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Dear Stoner: What is Thai stick? Is it just an old strain of chronic from the ’70s?
The Berg
Dear Berg: Be ready to take notes if an old-timer ever tells you about the time he smoked a Thai stick, because it was probably crazier than any blunt you’ve ever had. Not to be confused with Thai or other mind-bending sativa strains that come from Southeast Asia, Thai sticks were like an early version of the caviar joints you find in dispensaries today. By taking some premium, seedless buds (which were virtually unheard of in North America in the ’60s and ’70s), skewering them on stems and tightly wrapping the natural doob with fibers from the marijuana plant — and then apparently dipping the sticks in opium — the Thai people created one trippy invention.
Like a few other fads from that time, America’s love for Thai sticks started after U.S. troops in Thailand and Vietnam got a taste of that premium herb (and opium, of course) and brought their findings back home. Because of the influx of potent flower and concentrates and new, more convenient ways to consume pot in the U.S., Thai sticks lost their luster sometime in the ’80s. Although they’re becoming endangered with time, you can still find online videos and tutorials on how to make your own, but if you’re going to dip that stick in anything, please use hash oil instead of opium. Nobody wants to experience a sequel to The Deer Hunter.
Dear Stoner: Seems like smoke shops have 100 options for joint papers nowadays. Got any recommendations, or should I stick with Zig-Zags?
Ivan
Dear Ivan: I feel your frustration. Choosing rolling papers has become almost as hard for us potheads as choosing which box of cereal to buy during a 10 p.m. run to the grocery store — and no purchase under $2 should make us think that hard. One easy tip: Always stay away from the gimmick papers — anything flavored, covered in colorful art or “invisible.” There’s no need to glitter up premium pot.
It’s tough for some people to stray from Tops or Zig-Zag because they grew up on those brands — but if you’re presented with options at a smoke shop or dispensary, always go the unbleached route. There’s a reason that brands like Element and Raw are sponsoring so many weed events: Stoners love them. Made with rice, Element papers are the traditional white without bleach; Raw’s papers are composed of hemp, leaving them an au naturel brown. Unless you’re at a gas station and desperate, pay the extra 75 cents for papers that are pure.
Send questions to [email protected] or call the potline at 303-293-2222. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/dear-stoner-what-is-thai-stick-8708166 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/fb18584eb28a2ecf4ebf6766879cd3a592218d9b4acc7774ac1bc63128759d99.json |
[
"Susie Tommaney"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:48:33 | null | 2016-08-26T06:25:00 | It's a great weekend in Houston for the music of Marvin Gaye,, an evil sock puppet, brilliant choreography and the annual Theater District Open House. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fthe-five-best-things-to-do-in-houston-this-weekend-evil-puppet-supernova-and-more-8699991.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8704322/hou_arts_alley_theatre_hand_of_god_31_edited_photo_by_lynn_lane_tn.jpg | en | null | It's a Great Weekend in Houston for Evil Puppet & More | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Steve Pacek as Jason in Alley Theatre’s production of Hand to God. Photo by Lynn Lane
We honored a few musical greats last weekend in Houston, and the reverence continues with a salute to the music of Marvin Gaye this Friday on the hill, while that evil sock puppet, Tyrone, wreaks havoc over at the Alley. On both Friday and Saturday, NobleMotion is bringing illuminated choreography to the stage with Supernova. This Sunday afternoon, nine performing arts organizations are throwing their doors wide open with backstage tours and workshops, and you're invited. Even though the Pokéstops are gone from Discovery Green, the trainers will be out in full force Sunday night at Station Theater.
A foul-mouthed, evil sock puppet takes over the arm of the kid who assembled him, spewing forth lewd and lascivious language. Not exactly what the church youth group and its leader had in mind, but Tyrone has arrived. The Tony-nominated Broadway play Hand to God comes to the Alley Theatre, and among its many amazing aspects is that it was written by playwright Robert Askins, a Baylor University graduate. Askins’s play was performed on and off Broadway in New York and toured the Midwest, and is ongoing on the West End in London, but this is the first time it returns to its roots: Askins grew up in Cypress and has placed his play there. In some ways, Hand to God mirrors his own life; his father died when he was 16, and his mother had a public ministry. In the play, Jason’s father has died and his mother, Margery, is the youth leader. Like the playwright, his character Jason is having trouble handling his father’s death. “I had a lot of difficulty dealing with that grief. I had a lot of authority issues. All of those things swirled together to create a devil puppet that expresses a young child’s grief.” Why puppets? “Puppet’s funny. Puppet’s weird. Puppet’s a puppet,” he replies. “There’s something great about Tyrone’s hyper-masculine bullshit and his dark version of the world. By shrinking it into a puppet, it becomes a little funnier.” The play, which shifts between tragedy and comedy, is in two acts with a prologue and an epilogue. “We tried to take the epilogue out at one point, and it didn’t work. You wanted Tyrone back again,” Askins says. “I love the theater, but a lot of the times I would see some things and think that’s enough dinner parties in Brooklyn. How do you do something that picks ’em up and makes them laugh and makes them cry and makes them gasp? How do we really yell it? And I think people listen to that. I think a lot of the time, people come to the theater to hear somebody scream. Plus it’s a story about family. Who doesn’t love a family story?” He makes a good point, and there's a lot of buzz around this one, so we're making it one of our recommendations for Friday night drama.
8 p.m. Friday. Continuing 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 615 Texas. Through September 18. For information, call 713-220-5700 or visit alleytheatre.org. $35 to $68.
EXPAND Brian Owens brings What’s Going On: The Marvin Gaye Experience to Miller Outdoor Theatre. Photo by Scott Smith
Rolling Stone named Marvin Gaye’s 1971 studio album What’s Going On “Album of the Year.” With songs about war, anger, violence, injustice and the need for more love, his story remains almost prophetic about the troubles of modern-day society. Ferguson, Missouri, resident and singer Brian Owens, inspired by the recent events in his hometown, celebrates the life, legacy and importance of Gaye’s music through his show, What’s Going On: The Marvin Gaye Experience, making this our other pick for Friday night on the hill. “He’s an American treasure. This show puts a spotlight on the genius of Marvin Gaye as a social artist and his ability to capture that late-’50s to early ’70s social construct,” says Owens. Hear all the great hits: “Can I Get A Witness,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “You’re All I Need To Get By,” “Let’s Get It On” and “Got To Give It Up,” all backed with a full band and guest singers. Expect tons of audience interaction, as this is not just a performance but also a full re-creation of what it would have been like to sit in the crowd at one of Gaye’s concerts.
8 p.m. Friday. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive. For information, call 281-373-3386 or visit milleroutdoortheatre.com. Free.
EXPAND Dancer Seth McPhail in Spitting Ether, part pf NobleMotion Dance Company's Supernova. Photo by Lynn Lane
A lighthearted conversation between lighting artist David Deveau and NobleMotion Dance Company co-artistic director Andy Noble sparked a lightbulb moment that, in turn, led to Supernova, a dance work whose star shines so bright that dancers wear tinted goggles for the show’s explosive ending. The luminous piece premieres along with another NobleMotion creation, Pentimento, for which designer Liz Freese has created a set of hanging tulle. “We project the dancer back upon themselves through the tulle,” says Noble. “You’re looking at a ghostly projection with an actual physical body.” In essence, says Noble, the dancer is in a duet with herself. Named Best Dance Company in 2015 by the Houston Press, NobleMotion reprises several audience favorites including the metaphysical Spitting Ether, the atmospheric Lorelai’s whisper and the filial-themed dance work Quietly on my father’s back. We're looking forward to Supernova this Saturday night, and they’re handing out sunglasses to the audience for this one.
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-315-2525 or visit thehobbycenter.org. $27 to $37.
EXPAND Nine resident performing arts organizations are offering programs, tours and workshops at this Sunday's 23rd Annual TransCanada Theater District Open House. Photo by Daniel Ortiz
Before Houston’s 2016-2017 arts and culture season cannonballs into a local theater, concert hall or art museum, Theater District Houston takes its opening plunge. Kathryn McNiel, the district’s chief executive officer, says that the 23rd Annual TransCanada Theater District Open House is much more interactive than ever before. “Guests can learn how to conduct with the Houston Symphony, attend an introductory ballet class, try a tango with Susana Tango or practice stage combat with the Alley Theatre.” And everything is free. In total, nine resident performing arts organizations are offering programs, tours and workshops that range from pop-up street performances to Houston Ballet’s onstage rehearsal of The Sleeping Beauty. The event acts as a teaser for the upcoming arts season for the district, which includes Houston Grand Opera’s Faust, the Houston Ballet’s Jubilee of Dance and Da Camera’s presentation of Cecile McLorin Salvant. “[It’s] a chance for anyone to spend an hour or an afternoon experiencing the magic of performance art,” says McNiel. This season opener is fun for all ages, putting it on our "must see and do" list for Sunday afternoon.
Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Alley Theatre, 615 Texas; The Hobby Center, 800 Bagby; Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana; Revention Music Center, 520 Texas; Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas. For information, call 713-658-8938 or visit theaterdistrictopenhouse.com. Free.
Cagematch: THE GYM — Improv Comedy Meets Pokemón Go is held Sundays through September 4 at Station Theater. Photo by Jessica Brown
For your average Pokémon trainer, catching ’em all is a full-time job. There’s no room in your poké-packed life for a family (they’ll just slow you down), friends (who just don’t “get it”) or, least of all, improv comedy. Despite this, Station Theater might have found the exception. “We’ve done Cagematch before,” says owner Jessica Brown. “But we thought, what if the teams were related to Pokémon Go? It just snowballed from there.” The chart-topping augmented reality game, which has amassed an estimated 100 million downloads since its launch, has been a game-changer for the 20-year-old anime franchise. “As soon as the game came out, I knew instantly there were a lot of cool possibilities for what we could do with it,” says Brown. At the start of each Cagematch: THE GYM — Improv Comedy Meets Pokemón Go, the team that’s in control of the gym (Mystic, Valor or Instinct) gets to decide the rundown of that night’s events. “We actually encourage people in the audience to play Pokémon Go during the show, because if the gym switches hands between sets, teams could potentially gain or lose improvisers,” she says. Let's get the most out of this weekend, and close out Sunday by catching 'em all, comedy-style.
7 to 8:30 p.m. Sundays. Through September 4. 1230 Houston. For information, call 832-786-0413 or visit stationtheater.com. Pay what you wish.
Sam Byrd, Margaret Downing, Katricia Lang, Steve Jansen and Vic Shuttee contributed to this post. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/the-five-best-things-to-do-in-houston-this-weekend-evil-puppet-supernova-and-more-8699991 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/c5a2987e0f0ebdc1f6001040c7dd4f12c203a215a195f4cbf9b17f81607d1cff.json |
[
"Sean Pendergast"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:53:07 | null | 2016-08-26T07:00:00 | The Texans will get the best gauge they can possibly get as to where they are as a team on Sunday, when they take on the Cardinals. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-four-things-to-watch-for-in-cardinals-vs-texans-in-preseason-week-3-8687984.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8703940/hou_news_20160820_nfltexansvssaints_ericsauseda_029-1.jpg | en | null | Preseason Week 3: Cardinals vs Texans - Four Things To Watch For | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Clowney's 14 yard sack of Drew Brees rekindled excitement for his 2016 season. Eric Sauseda
During the regular season in the NFL, as a team and as a head coach, you do whatever you can to win games, health of players be damned. Tape it up, rub some dirt on it and go. Conversely, in the preseason, you don't really care about wins, the primary goal is just keeping everyone healthy.
So in a weird way, the fact that the Texans are 2-0 in the preseason, but ravaged with injuries on the offensive line and to their best player (one Justin James Watt) is so very appropriate for the Houston Texans and what they've been over the last, say, five to seven years — a lot of good things happening, but just not properly timed or synched up just right.
This Sunday, we will get a good feel for just where this group is, as the Arizona Cardinals, a team on most experts' short lists to get to the Super Bowl in February, come to town for the ALL-IMPORTANT third preseason game. (And yes, I put that in CAPS because it feels like everyone uses that adjective for the third preseason game.)
So let's take a quick look at some things to watch for this Sunday.....
4. Stepping up in weight class
Yes, the Texans tore the buttocks out of San Francisco's third and fourth stringers, and made the New Orleans Saints look fairly foolish at times on Saturday, but who DOESN'T do those things? This will be a fun test for the Texans on Saturday, as they will get a look at a team with playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Cardinals' receiving corps is dangerous with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, and David Johnson is one of the top running backs heading into the season. Defensively, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu are a deadly secondary combination, but it remains to be seen how much Mathieu plays as he just returned to the practice field from an ACL tear sustained last season. Either way, if the Texans come away Sunday having outplayed the Cardinals starters, then we have some cause for excitement.
3. Covington and Reader
Among the position groups where the Texans have been looking for answers, defensive line is probably at the top of the list, and that's even before J.J. Watt had back surgery a month or so ago. The good news is that there is cause for optimism with a couple of later-round draft picks from the last two drafts. Christian Covington (who flashed last preseason, too) has shown some solid playmaking ability, and rookie D.J. Reader was a beast against the Saints. Covington, in particular, has a chance to nail down a starting spot heading into the regular season on Sunday and the following Thursday against Dallas in the final preseason game.
2. Return game
It would appear that the coaching staff really wants rookie Tyler Ervin to win the starting return man gig, on kickoffs and punts. Like REALLY wants him to, as in "they had everyone wondering on Saturday when the hell someone else would get a shot." Ervin looked indecisive and tentative returning kicks against the Saints (one 14 yard kickoff return, three punt returns for a 3.0 yard average), so it will be interesting to see if he's the first guy out there in return game, or if a guy like Wendell Williams, who frankly needs to return kicks to make the team (unlike Ervin), gets a chance.
1. Clowney, back to back
On the heels of a game where Jadeveon Clowney sacked Drew Brees for a 14 yard loss and was generally disruptive in a variety of ways on Saturday, it's safe to say that this is the most optimistic the fan base has felt about Clowney since the Atlanta preseason game during his rookie year. Even last season when he had a couple sacks against the Patriots, it was on a night that the team was getting smoked and it was toward the end of a full season where Clowney was up and down. The preseason, almost by definition, engenders optimism, and right now there is a guarded optimism surrounding Clowney. Another big game Saturday is almost necessary to keep that feeling alive.
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SeanTPendergast and like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SeanTPendergast. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-four-things-to-watch-for-in-cardinals-vs-texans-in-preseason-week-3-8687984 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/71698e11aa42f2f308dc9ca5561f0e72de2dbf21831d592a97a99538d94b15c9.json |
[
"Carter Sherman"
]
| 2016-08-31T10:46:48 | null | 2016-08-31T05:00:00 | Former governor Rick Perry evidently had a lot of free time on his hands, as he plans to join this upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fformer-governor-rick-perry-to-get-down-on-this-season-of-dancing-with-the-stars-8718274.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8718277/unnamed.png | en | null | Rick Perry Joins Upcoming Season of Dancing with the Stars | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Then-governor Rick Perry in 2010, right before having to dance in public. Screengrab/Governor Perry
Rick Perry once hoped to spend this fall winning the hearts and votes of Americans across the county. And, in a way, he still will be – but instead of campaigning as a presidential candidate, Perry will join the upcoming 23rd season of ABC's reality show Dancing with the Stars, he announced Tuesday.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Each week on Dancing with the Stars, celebrities compete in choreographed dances in tandem with a professional dancer. Judges score contestants and eliminate those with the lowest scores at the end of the week. In past seasons, viewers can also cast votes for the best dance by calling their votes in or balloting online with ABC's website or Facebook app. So if you really miss voting for Perry – Texas's longest-serving governor – in actual elections, this is as close as you can get for now.
If you're wondering why or how Perry, who left office last year, is competing on the show, you're not alone. (One E! News headline about the announcement reads simply, “Why is Rick Perry Doing Dancing With The Stars?”) Since participating in reality TV clearly worked for one of our current presidential candidates, perhaps Perry hopes that some of that reality show stardom will rub off on him if he chooses to again run for president.
However, according to Perry's Twitter, joining Dancing With The Stars is about a cause far loftier than political ambition: “I'm dedicated to helping #veterans whenever possible, and I'm going to use @dancingabc as a stage to do that,” Perry tweeted Tuesday, with the obligatory hashtag “#DWTS” and a photo of the governor mean-mugging the camera. It's still unclear how Perry's learning to tango will exactly help American veterans – for example, he wouldn't be able to donate his prize if he won the competition, as contestants are compensated for each episode they compete in.
Perry also tweeted his doubts about his dancing abilities, writing that his partner Emma Slater “is a great teacher but she's got her work cut out for her.” Perry told the Washington Post that he's only danced in public four times: at George W. Bush's presidential inaugural ball, and at each of his own three gubernatorial inaugural balls. But that's not strictly true. As we wrote in 2011, as governor, Perry also once danced around a menorah with a group of Orthodox rabbis. Afterward, one of the rabbis even joked, “That's the real Dancing with the Stars.” “That is the real Dancing with the Stars, very true,” Perry agreed. (Considering that Perry looks pretty uncomfortable throughout the dancing, this might be an ominous sign for his chances on the show.)
Yet Perry's probably smart to set expectations low, since he's more known for his Republican reforms than his ability to get down, and the competition this season will be stiff. Disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Amber Rose – Kanye West's former girlfriend and current talk show host – are also among the “stars” set to samba their way across the dance floor this season.
Dancing with the Stars premieres September 12, at 7 p.m., on ABC. We'll definitely be watching. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/former-governor-rick-perry-to-get-down-on-this-season-of-dancing-with-the-stars-8718274 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/fe0816817558734cd2007749334b67de38ba0335698dbf3c1aeda4471f2ca1a4.json |
[
"Nicholas L. Hall"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:46:30 | null | 2016-08-30T08:00:00 | A few brunch-inspired musings on the empathetic lessons of parenting. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fdefcon-dining-powdered-sugar-and-electronic-parenting-at-state-of-grace-8692670.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8714950/joshvideosog.jpg | en | null | Brunch-Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Brunch-Judged | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND The cinnamon roll that brought us to SoG, and the salmon that nearly proved disastrous. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
Dining out with children is an exercise in situational awareness. Each experience is unique, with different variables leading to different possible outcomes, DEFCON-like in their escalating threat levels. Keen observation, forward planning and prior experience are critical in determining the proper strategy. Here at DEFCON Dining, we do the grunt work for you. It ain't always pretty.
People often say that having kids changes your perspective on things. This is true. It is true in the same way that any major life event (birth, death, marriage, powering through Infinite Jest or finally beating Battletoads in two-player mode) changes your perspective on things, but it is also true in some very ßspecific ways. For me, one of the most important shifts has been in empathy.
As a parent, you are constantly forced to deal with difficult circumstances only partially within your control, thrown at you with all the pointless fury of a hurricane by a much smaller being whose inability to grok basic logic makes the situation even more infuriating, even while it absolves him or her of blame. Over time, you find yourself dealing with situations you never even imagined and managing them in ways you'd have scoffed at previously. It's the ultimate object lesson in you don't know until you're there.
For many of us, our pre-parent years are filled with "I'd never do that" judgements of those who walk the path before us, doing the best they can to deal with a life that is suddenly and constantly defined by chaos. "I'd never let my child eat a tub of gravy for dinner," or "I'd never let my kid make a tortilla Leatherface mask in the middle of a restaurant." You know how it goes. We all have a list, updated with every new opportunity to judge a struggling parent. I still do it. I'm trying not to.
EXPAND Yes, 2005 me is rolling over in his grave. I say let him. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
Just as I'm constantly finding new temptations for passing judgement on the lives of others, I'm constantly handed humility in a to-go bag, to eat quietly after the kids go to bed, hunched over the kitchen sink. I find myself doing things I know a past version of myself would have found worthy of scorn, but which my current self sees as the only available port in a quickly gathering storm. I open boxes of cereal in the grocery store, so the kid in the basket who won't stop whining will be busy enough shoving Cheerios in his mouth that I don't accidentally forget the dish soap. I bribe my daughter with ice cream so that she'll eat whichever vegetable I've cooked for dinner, and which has suddenly and with no precedent appeared at the top of her BANNED FOODS list. Most recently, I let my two-year-old watch an episode of Curious George on an iPhone, in its entirety, with the volume on, in the middle of a somewhat swanky dining room during a busy Sunday brunch service.
We were at State of Grace, 3258 Westheimer, a venue chosen after conducting a scientific poll of my Facebook friends who assured us that a DEFCON brunch there wouldn't be a suicide mission. Our older daughter was still at a friend's house, having spent the night, and we were attempting to placate the younger one, who'd spent her sister's entire absence complaining about the unfairness of it all. A fancy brunch makes anyone feel better, I think, whether your mood enhancer of choice is a cocktail or a cinnamon roll the size of your head.
"I definitely want that. That's what I'm having for brunch," declared our youngest when I announced the cinnamon roll while rattling off the menu in a pre-brunch strategy session. It was the second item listed. It was the first thing we ordered when we sat down, the rest of our meal coalescing around it in a wave of gravy and syrup and monkey sounds.
Over the years, we've developed a few instinctive moves when first sitting down at a table. First among these is "move everything out of arm's reach of the baby." This includes salt and pepper shakers, menu card holders, floral arrangements and those little boxes of sweetener packets. This time around, two-year-old Joshua became utterly fixated on a small pitcher of salt and the small wooden spoon resting in it. He's obsessed with miniature versions of everyday things, which give him a sense of ownership, as if they are part of a world created with him in mind. That's how he accidentally wound up taking a small sip of rye whiskey one night, but that's a story for another time.
Sometimes, of course, it's better to make strategic concessions, allowing access to the battery-powered votive "candles" or stacking a few packets of Splenda in front of a kid as decoys, which secures a few extra minutes of calm for your table and everyone else's. This time, we conceded the salt cellar. Joshua spent the better part of the meal trying to spoon all the salt onto his plate and back into the pitcher and we spent the better part of the meal trying to keep him from spooning all of the salt onto the floor. We were mostly successful.
We figured we'd be fine once the food arrived. He's a pretty good eater, and we can usually count on him to focus on the task at hand. This was happened when the complimentary beignets arrived. Josh forgot about the salt and set about the engrossing task of denuding his beignet of powdered sugar. He was quite thorough. Underneath their snowy mantles, the beignets were light and delicate with a delightful yeasty bloom and a restrained sweetness.
EXPAND The Dutch Baby at State of Grace. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
We figured my wife's Dutch Baby—a brown and undulating landscape of oven-puffed pancake—would find similar favor with the kiddo (he usually treats our meals like his own baby tapas buffet) and it did. He ate every buttery bite we offered him, though the few strawberries my wife placed on his plate drew inexplicable tears.
EXPAND Light and lovely fried okra with white bbq sauce at State of Grace. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
His favorite dish of the day was a side order of fried okra. He stripped them of their breading and eschewed the white barbecue sauce, which was a mistake. These were among the loveliest fried okra I have ever had, the cornmeal crust not much more than a sheathing of tempura cooked just long enough to set and crisp. I was leery of the white bbq sauce, but its balance of vinegar tang, suave creaminess and assertive mustard pop won me over.
EXPAND Chicken fried chicken with sausage gravy at State of Grace. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
The bigger kid got her cinnamon roll, though we all agreed it was a bit tougher than we'd have liked, even if the cream cheese frosting was excellent. My chicken fried chicken was delicious and dependable, though I immediately wished I'd ordered differently, if for no other reason than to try something I couldn't get just as easily elsewhere; the blue crab omelette, perhaps. I consoled myself with a couple of corn and gulf crab hushpuppies, well-balanced despite the waitstaff's warnings of sweetness. They are sweet, certainly, but it serves to amplify the roasty qualities of the corn and the delicacy of the crab meat. Joshua only wanted the powdered sugar dusted on top.
Few DEFCON experiences are complete without at least one near-catastrophe. This one came not on account of my son, who had moved on from the salt cellar and the powdered sugar to the aforementioned iPhone video session (he'd made some moves in the direction of playing an unsolicited game of catch with the next table over and all other efforts to distract him had proven futile), but on account of my wife, who does not like smoked salmon. At all. Not even a little bit. And who mistook the salmon rosette on our daughter's Toad in a Hole plate for a tomato rose. And who stole the entire thing before I could answer her question that no, it was not a tomato. And who panicked, slightly, on the realization of her error. She powered through and we avoided embarrassment, but only just. For the record, I tried a bite of the salmon that she missed. It was delicious. On the plus side, she hasn't pilfered from anyone's plate since.
EXPAND Sandia Party (left) and Freestone Sour at State of Grace. Photo by Nicholas L. Hall
We had a couple of cocktails, too. Mine was a peach and rye sour that wanted more peach and more sour, but the thrum of cardamom was quite nice. My wife's was a watermelon and rum riff that was similarly muted. They were good drinks but, in a city where the baseline of good cocktails has risen dramatically, these weren't quite as good as I'd hoped.
The check came just as "Monkey George" was safely piloting his rocket ship back to earth. There was a bit of salt on the table, and Josh had used that tiny spoon to eat his meal. We gave our apologies to the waitstaff, who had to reset more of the table than they might have expected. We tidied up some (always a bit of good form for DEFCON Dining), retrieving one apparently inexcusable slice of strawberry that had wound up on the floor without our knowledge.
On the way home, we added another item to the list of things we'd never have done ten years ago and yet would do again in a heartbeat. We chastened ourselves, but only just a bit. If you see us out at a restaurant and our kid is engrossed in some form of electronic surrogate parenting or other, try not to judge us. We've probably already tried everything else and, really, we're just trying to get through dinner. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/defcon-dining-powdered-sugar-and-electronic-parenting-at-state-of-grace-8692670 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/62a7a2f2bcd208dbf17e48717a4c9519b9c4830ee4e80afdf0ed3c3ca7be210b.json |
[
"Brooke Viggiano"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:46:37 | null | 2016-08-29T09:00:00 | We take a look at the background of pesto and share a recipe for how to make your own at home. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fdish-of-the-week-pistachio-pesto-8707701.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8707760/pestopistachio_2_-1.jpg | en | null | How to make Pistachio Pesto | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND This classic Italian sauce works on anything from pasta to chicken and grilled vegetables. Photo by foodmoods.net
From classic comfort foods to regional standouts and desserts, we'll be sharing a new recipe with you each week. Find other dishes of the week here.
This week, we’re sharing a spin on a classic recipe that is the perfect way to use your summer basil: pistachio pesto.
Pesto, known by its full name as pesto alla genovese, is an Italian sauce originating in Genoa. The sauce is most commonly made using fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and garlic that and Italian cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino. The name is derived from the Italian word pestare, meaning “to pound” or “to crush.” As such, the ingredients are pounded or crushed together. This was traditionally accomplished by using a mortar and pestle, but these days many people utilize a food processor or blender.
The origin of pesto is thought to date back to the Roman age, when ancient Romans made moretum, a similar paste of cheese, garlic, herbs, vinegar and olive oil. During the Middle Ages, a blend of garlic and walnuts called agliata was also popular. The introduction of basil wasn’t documented until 1863, when gastronomist Giovanni Battista Ratto published a description in his book La Cuciniera Genovese.
Today, pesto comes in many forms, with variations including pesto alla siciliana, which uses almonds instead of pine nuts and includes tomato, plus non-traditional iterations like walnut pesto, beet pesto and today’s star, pistachio pesto.
This recipe from Saveur incorporates pistachios, basil and cilantro, which makes a rich, slightly sweet sauce that is perfect for roasted vegetables or pasta. Lemon zest is added for brightness.
Pesto di Pistacchio
Ingredients makes 1 -1/4 cups
1-1/2 cups packed basil
1 cup olive oil
1 cup dry-roasted, unsalted pistachios
1/2 cups packed cilantro
1/4 cups finely grated parmesan
1 tsp lemon zest
3 cloves garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Blend basil, oil, pistachios, cilantro, parmesan, zest and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped; season with salt and pepper to taste. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/dish-of-the-week-pistachio-pesto-8707701 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/42992959c72405313a440c581ec1448ce2a03c3dcf0bbf1e72f74f7da64c5e08.json |
[
"Meagan Flynn"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:56:54 | null | 2016-08-25T10:00:00 | Houston B-Cycle is undergoing a huge expansion. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fhouston-b-cycle-to-undergo-huge-expansion-8704308.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8704311/11487976415_e3cfe1f44b_z.jpg | en | null | Houston B-Cycle To Triple Its Size | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Houston's bike-share program, B-Cycle, is about to undergo a huge expansion, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday.
Thanks to a $3.5 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration, B-Cycle will triple in size over the next two years, adding 71 new stations in addition to its existing 31 stations and 568 bikes to its current 225. By the time the expansion is finished, B-Cycle will be one of the largest bike-share programs in the country.
“The expansion of the B-cycle system will bring bike sharing into new neighborhoods and to new users,” Mayor Turner said in a statement. “As I’ve said, we need a paradigm shift in transportation away from single-occupancy motor vehicles. Making cycling more accessible by building a strong bike-sharing system is a critical component of that change.”
B-Cycle has been in Houston since 2012, and roughly 300,000 Houstonians have taken advantage of the bike-sharing program since then, with more trips every year. Riders can buy membership online that lasts either 24 hours, a week or a year, and riders can take a bike for an unlimited amount of trips as long as they return it to one of the B-Cycle stations at the end of the day. Or, without membership, anyone can take a B-Cycle for free if the trip is shorter than an hour, costing $2 for every half-hour after that.
This year alone, Houstonians have made 73,577 B-Cycle trips and have traveled 508,044 miles. By choosing to bike instead of drive, riders have offset 481,272 pounds of carbon—saving more than 24,000 gallons of gas — and have collectively burned 20,256,294 calories, the equivalent of more than 4,500 gallons of ice cream and more than 67,600 hamburgers, according to data from the city.
EXPAND A B-Cycle station. Courtesy B-Cycle Houston
Carter Stern, CEO of Houston B-Cycle, said the expansion will allow the firm to cover a diverse range of areas in the city, a main focus of B-Cycle. Fourteen of the new stations and 107 bikes will be in the Texas Medical Center, which currently has none, and another 21 stations and 248 bikes will be on or surrounding various college campuses, including Texas Southern University, University of Houston Main Campus, UH-Downtown and Rice University.
"If we're truly going to be an equitable transportation option, we need to touch all communities," Stern said. "We have an opportunity, because we have no zoning. When we have old historic neighborhoods pressed up against condos, pressed up against park space, and all different ethnic communities jumbled together all within the range of one B-Cycle trip, you begin to incrementally have a lot more diverse ridership."
Stern said the stereotype of B-Cycle has often been that it's only for young, well-educated Millennials. But on a Sunday a few weeks ago, he hung out at the Sabine Street Bridge B-Cycle station for four or five hours, trying to see if that held true. He greeted every rider, and he said maybe only about 30 percent were white.
"You heard Spanish and you heard Chinese and you saw old people. You saw students from the University of Houston. That's what's exciting to me," Stern said. "I want to shake that stereotype about bike share, because I really think if we're doing our job right, bike share is for everybody. It's part of the fabric of the city." | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-b-cycle-to-undergo-huge-expansion-8704308 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/583ba986e5bdc0fc45c0fa5f928d88c641d2896b58077bce64b4d60465443964.json |
[
"Alan Scherstuhl"
]
| 2016-08-31T04:46:36 | null | 2016-08-30T22:00:00 | Howards End remains an enticing, elegant pleasure, alive with light and talk. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Fdont-miss-a-visit-to-howards-end-a-film-that-remains-the-best-of-its-kind-8706477.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7279380/howards-ends-1-credit-cohen_media_group.jpg | en | null | Don't Miss a Visit to Howards End, a Film That Remains the Best of Its Kind | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Courtesy of Cohen Media Group
Like the rambling fixer-upper at its heart, Merchant Ivory's Howards End has aged quite well, and not just because of the brightened-up 4K restoration from Cohen Media Group. It's brisk and funny, prim but open-minded, testy about pomposity even as it exemplifies what once was the most pompous of all movie genres. (Who would have thought that superhero films, now so groaningly self-important, would in this regard surpass Brit-lit adaptations?) This unabashedly middlebrow costume drama might stand now as a more impressive achievement than when it first racked up raves and awards in '92. That's partly due to the way the studios have decayed in the years since. When is the last time that Hollywood assembled a cast this strong to act out a story this adult and this thoughtful, then staged and shot it with such urgent confidence? And good lord, behold all those sumptuous early ‘90s curls!
For all its class-studies seriousness and third-act melodramatics, the film — the third E.M. Forster adaptation from director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant — is first of all a charmer. The sublime epigrammatic chatter of its heroines (“One wouldn't want to keep bumping into Wilcoxes!”) is an unpoisoned precedent for Love & Friendship's Lady Susan, and somehow, back at the dawn of the first Clinton era, the thought of two progressive sisters being the center of a top-shelf awards-season prestige picture didn't seem like a brave step forward, as it might today. Neither did the moment when Helena Bonham Carter's Helen, a brilliantly unreasonable young woman who comes to take each of the world's injustices personally, shuts down Anthony Hopkins' stuffed-shirt patriarch just as his mansplaining starts. “Word of advice,” his Henry Wilcox says, more toward her than to her, but Helen is already snapping back: “I need no word of advice!” The way her extravagant brows knit up, you'd hush, too, even if she weren’t already hauling herself out of earshot. In '92 it was possible, I guess, to expect that such stories and such moments would not continue to be Hollywood's exceptions.
Ivory only occasionally indulges in the production-value pageantry that’s so often characteristic of the genre. An early scene set in a garage has Bonham Carter and Joseph Bennett calling off their characters' love affair while posing about a gleaming antique roadster, as if some exec vowed, "If we're not giving American men nudity, we must at least give them cars." But there's little leaden or parade-like, here.
The superior first half is given over to lively incident rather than plot, with Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's script — adapted from Forster’s 1910 novel — reeling through gently comic episodes and never quite making clear just who its protagonist is until the second act. First, in the country, a middle-class young woman (Bonham Carter) falls for the scion of the Wilcoxes, a haughty, somewhat constipated land-owning family, the sort of swells who always look as if they smell a stink people poorer than them can't. Then, a little embarrassed, Bonham Carter's Helen just calls the whole thing off. Months later, in London, she accidentally makes off with a broke clerk's umbrella, which results in much amusing to-do, and the clerk — Leonard Bast (Samuel West) — demurs an invitation to tea after being “swamped by screaming women.”
These are the Schlegels, played by Emma Thompson — the elder sister, and the one who wryly speaks that swamped line — and Bonham Carter. Thompson's Margaret stars in the next vignette, a tender idyll: When the Wilcoxes move into London for the season, occupying a flat just across the way, Margaret strikes up a surprising friendship with Ruth (Vanessa Redgrave), the family's ailing grand dame and the wife of Hopkins' Henry, representing in Forster's scheme an idea of how women used to be before the minor liberations of the Edwardian age. Margaret slows her talk down when alone with Ruth, but she never tempers herself — and she's much too nice to object when Ruth admits, at a lively luncheon, “I am only too thankful not to have the vote myself.”
Redgrave's performance is a slow heartbreaker — Ruth yearns for simpler times, but only finds true kinship with someone unrelated to and unlike her. Thompson beams at Redgrave, her Margaret touched and troubled but also stirred. All Ruth's talk of domesticity — of the empty, unfashionable family home Howards End — awakens a longing in Margaret, a subtly revealed certainty that Helen's life of London lectures and discussion societies isn't all that she wants. (Thompson won an Oscar for her role.)
EXPAND Courtesy of Cohen Media Group
If you've not seen the film or read the novel, you might be jolted, several scenes after Ruth's death, at widower Henry Wilcox's awkward, out-of-nowhere marriage proposal to Margaret — and at her stunned acceptance. Rather than say yes, she tells him to write to her and backs slowly down the staircase away from him. Then, when he's gotten the wrong idea, she lets him approach and mushes her face to his for one of cinema's most strained smooches. The question of whether she loves him is never quite answered in the film, although the cautious warmth in later scenes between Thompson and Hopkins suggests that Margaret is getting more from the arrangement than wealth and stability.
Thompson is brilliant in some third-act confrontations with Hopkins, showing us how Margaret struggles to be the Schlegel she was and the Wilcox she's becoming — and how she has learned to anticipate and manage his moods and upper-class prejudices. She reveals, with the faintest hint of desperation, what Margaret has lost, but also that she hasn't sacrificed her strength, conviction, or even her independence.
Helen, meanwhile, evolves offscreen, mostly, and we're not privy to her moment-to-moment thinking the way we are to Margaret's. Helen grows ever more rash and angry, lashing out at Henry in ways viewers might find satisfying. But she's stuck with the mother of all do-gooding naïf storylines, first advising that poor clerk to quit his job based on a tip from Henry, and then, when that advice proves terrible, dragging the clerk (and the older woman, played by Nicola Duffett, whom he charitably passes off as his wife) around England with her as she demands that Henry, soon to be her brother-in-law, make some kind of amends.
Just like real-life poor folks, Bast and his lady friend are not doing better than they were in '92. An early scene between them is straight-up terrible: She's the kind of fallen woman who, 30 years before Forster was writing, Victorian novelists would have packed off to Australia. In her first appearance, she tries to entice Leonard to bed with her, but the romantic young man — smitten with Helen, whom he just met via the umbrella imbroglio — insists on reading instead, as he's committed to improving herself. Eventually she prevails, but Ivory plays this capitulation as somehow tragic. One of the story’s most moving aspects is Margaret's ahead-of-her-time understanding that a sexual history doesn't damn a person. The most dated — and disappointing — failing of this Howards End is that every coupling it depicts or alludes to seems to strike the filmmakers as evidence of weakness rather than passion.
Still, though: The film remains an enticing, elegant pleasure, alive with light and talk. A recurring image throughout it is that of a lonely person gazing through a window, inside or out, at people on the other side enjoying fellowship and warmth — that's what watching this often feels like, especially in those rich, loose early episodes. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/dont-miss-a-visit-to-howards-end-a-film-that-remains-the-best-of-its-kind-8706477 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/5df9abf45f85070668131e5509984e28eb3c929d8c7b338afd3b728cef33fe88.json |
[
"Randy Tibbits"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:46:57 | null | 2016-08-31T08:00:00 | Andy Warhol's film Sunset has more to it than might be expected. Now showing at the Menil in Houston. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fandy-warhol-s-sunset-discovering-poetry-in-little-motion-8715555.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715557/houston-press-andy-warhol-sunset.jpg | en | null | Review: Andy Warhol: Sunset | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Film still from Andy Warhol, Sunset, 1967. © 2016 The Andy Warhol Museum
The sun sets slowly into the Pacific. Gorgeous pink and orange deepen to lush purple and black. Diagonals from upper left to lower right emphasize the sinking sun and the deepening color. An unsexed voice – that of the singer Nico – drones a mesmerizing (nearly annoying) strain:
He walks alone.
He walks upon the sea.
The sea is black.
It is black.
It is, it is,
And it burns, and it burns,
It burns his white skin.
You may be either disappointed or delighted to hear that Andy Warhol’s film Sunset, which is being screened at The Menil Collection at sunset (or, to be more precise, 6 p.m.) every day the museum is open until January 8, 2017, is only 33 minutes long. Those who find his Empire – “eight hours and five minutes of continuous slow motion footage of the Empire State Building in New York City” – and his Sleep – “consisting of long take footage of John Giorno, his close friend at the time, sleeping for five hours and 20 minutes” – riveting will be among the disappointed. Though in Andy’s defense, it should be noted that Sunset is unfinished. He never captured a sunset that quite satisfied him.
Those who found that they longed to throw themselves from the observation deck of the Empire State Building or that they were asleep themselves, well before the midpoint of either Empire or Sleep, will be delighted. Either way they will have some reaction. It’s those few who are completely indifferent to the 33-minutes news – sort of like the undecideds in the current presidential election – that I may influence by what follows, if they haven’t fallen asleep already.
Sunset was commissioned by John and Dominique de Menil back in the 1960s. The couple, who became major collectors of Warhol’s work, asked him – a fellow Roman Catholic who is reported to have been a devout believer – to make a film with “spiritual significance.” They intended to include it in an exhibition of contemporary art in an ecumenical chapel sponsored by the Catholic Church (is that a non sequitur?) at HemisFair ’68 in San Antonio. The chapel didn’t happen and the film was never finished (no cause and effect connection that I know of), but conceptually the project was in some respects a prelude to the Rothko Chapel.
Even to a non-Catholic, the Catholic influence seems clear:
You are the light.
You are always right.
Death wants to be here at all times.
I’ve been around long enough to remember when Sleep (1963) and Empire (1964) were relatively new. I remember hearing them talked about a few years after they were made. I wasn’t in New York, so it took a while for the news to filter west, though even in New York acceptance wasn’t immediate, even among the nine cutting-edge cinephiles who attended the premiere of Sleep, two of whom left during the first hour (paraphrased from Wikipedia). No word on how many fell asleep.
Though they didn’t create quite the buzz of his oh so risqué Chelsea Girls a couple of years later – my, how “risqué” has changed – they still got talked about by the insiders of the long-haired, artsy set of which I aspired to become a part. “Apart” being the operative word – aspiration never realized.
Houston socialite and art-and-society-world insider Lynn Wyatt attended the press screening of Sunset at the Menil recently. She was, of course, the best-dressed person in attendance. And she had the best posture sitting for a long stretch that I’ve ever seen. Watching her watching made me want to sit up straight (and lose weight). Yes, I admit that my eye wandered from the screen at times – just as my mind wandered from the constant drip of the poetry.
Drone, drone.
Drone, drone,? drone, drone.
Eavesdropping on Wyatt’s pre-screening conversation with another, unrecognized attendee was a little fascinating:
Unrecognized: Did you know Warhol?
LW, with a surprisingly Texas drawl: Yes, he was my boyfriend. [Note: I’m sure Oscar had no reason to worry.] He was so shy. You’d say something and he’d say “Oh, gee.”
Unrecognized: He did your portrait?
LW: Yes, four. But for him it was two were one. There’s one in Geneva … yes, Geneva, and the other in New York, but they really belong together.
Which brought to mind Warhol’s other portraits of Houston women: Caroline Wiess Law, whose four-panel portrait is on view right now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – to which she left it, along with other art and half a billion dollars, when she died in 2004; Jermayne MacAgy, art curator extraordinaire who deserves to be better known, the portrait of whom was commissioned by Dominique de Menil in 1968, after MacAgy’s early death; and, of course, that of Dominique herself. As we now know, in the 1960s Warhol quickly became a major sensation, and he has remained one. That’s one reason Sunset in Houston, a Warhol film that’s hardly been seen before, is big. [Full disclosure: I have a collection, gathered decades ago from used book stores, of books in jackets designed by Warhol back in his pre-fame, ad-man days of the 1950s.]
And now for a few words on the action of Sunset. There are two jets that streak across the horizon. I’m not exactly sure when. Maybe at minutes 13 and 22. Only a guess. This provides the human presence, according to Menil curator Michelle White. Once the camera wobbles and the shot jumps straight up into the sky. And there’s a black filament in the print in the upper right – a flaw that persists throughout the film – which I could hardly stop looking at.
But the real action comes with the flashes of white flecks across the bottom – more flaws that make the experience of watching old-timey real. This is not a restored digital remastering. This is film going through a projector. It comes on reels; it requires a projectionist; it makes noise as it plays. This is as old-and-new as vinyl on a turntable, and the Menil is spending a lot of space and money to show it the way it should be shown. For that, if for nothing else, we have to thank them.
But in fact there may be more than that to thank them for. You may have guessed that I was a skeptic when the lights dimmed, and for many minutes thereafter. Thank God for that black filament and the jet planes. But as the film and the voice droned on, I began to have a sense of freedom that became disarmingly calming. I can’t claim that I ever got to “spiritual,” but I haven’t had a lot of experience with that, so maybe.
And then at 33 minutes the lights went up and they served drinks. I noticed that they didn’t do that before the screening. We had to earn our liquor, as Orwell’s tramps earned their tea in Down and Out in Paris and London, by enduring the sermon first. (Would you guess that I’ve just been reading Orwell?) But when it was over, I found that it hadn’t been such an ordeal. I don’t know how I’d have felt if it had gone on to minute 34. Maybe I would have murmured – as another viewer did – “Genius, profound.” Or maybe I would have bolted for the door, drinks be damned.
Probably not. In my experience, even visual art comes in poetry and prose, and I incline toward the prose kind. But by the end of Sunset I was sort of into poetry. Not to the “profound” level, but at least as far as “maybe this isn’t entirely airy fairy bullshit crap.”
I’m still thinking about it 12 hours later; smiling a little as I think; thinking I may want to go back. Not right away; maybe later on, when the sunset gets a little earlier – though I suppose even then this one won’t sink into the Pacific any faster.
And I may have to put my fingers in my ears for some of it:
Death – wants – to – be – here.
Death – wants – to – be – you.
That’s hitting a little too close to home at my age.
“Andy Warhol: Sunset”
Through January 8, 2017, The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross, 713-525-9400, menil.org. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/andy-warhol-s-sunset-discovering-poetry-in-little-motion-8715555 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/7072f9148dc1731249546d8df5d31b92058a562ab366ca58aea3df93ad848a38.json |
[
"Amy Mccarthy"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:47:20 | null | 2016-08-31T06:00:00 | This isn’t music you want to share with your mama, unless she works at a truck stop or has done a little time in the pen. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fbirdcloud-the-most-dangerous-group-in-country-music-8716297.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8719849/birdcloud-aug31.jpg | en | null | Birdcloud: The Most Dangerous Group In Nashville | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Birdcloud's lyrics punch up every single time. Photo by Tom Griscom/Courtesy of Birdcloud
Country music and satire have always been bizarre bedfellows. Ranging from the doomsday predictions of George Strait & Alan Jackson's “Murder On Music Row” to the Dixie Chicks' playful, upbeat “Goodbye Earl,” there’s no shortage of country artists tackling tough topics in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way. But there hasn’t ever really been an act that does it in quite the way that Birdcloud, a raunchy duo of Nashville women, is doing.
Earlier this summer, the duo hit Houston as they toured alongside Wheeler Walker Jr. With songs like “Warshin’ My Big Ol’ Pussy” and “Saving Myself For Jesus,” the two acts seem like a pretty solid match if you’re judging them on sheer volume of profanity and genital references. The fundamental difference, though, is that (unlike Wheeler) Birdcloud is actually doing a pretty damn remarkable job of skewering Southern stereotypes.
On “Indianer,” the two present a common refrain in the South, especially in Texas: boasting about one’s Native American heritage. Considering that folks whose closest connection to Native culture is a pair of once-fashionable beaded moccasins are frequently happy to connect their heritage to various Native American tribes, this song is goddamn brilliant. A similar thread is found in “Black Guys,” a song about that girl we all knew in high school who dated people of color to piss off their racist parents.
The latter example landed Birdcloud in some hot water in their hometown of Knoxville, where a local musician and “hater” attempted to launch a nationwide boycott of the band based on perceived racism in “Black Guys.” If the objective was to prove Birdcloud’s point, their detractors really couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate song to be pissed off about.
There is racism in these tracks, to be sure, but it isn’t coming from Birdcloud. It — the fetishization of black men by white women, appropriating Native American culture — comes from a broader culture of white supremacy that is blissfully happy in stealing up everything from music to slang from people of color without bothering to consider the oppression they face. It’s a trend that emerges every time your 13-year-old cousin named Kyle calls his friends the n-word in “jest,” or less insidiously, when Florida-Georgia Line adds appeal to their shitty lyrics with a hip-hop beat. As milky white and uptight as country music is, it’s impossible to deny that the sacred cows that Birdcloud skewers actually exist. There are young women all across this country that firmly believe they are worthless unless they are virgins until they are married, and there are others that know that the fastest way to piss off their racist Republican fathers is to start dating someone with brown skin. There are people who claim a non-existent “Indian” heritage, and even more who talk about “spirit animals” and wear fake Navajo prints.
More than that, these are ideals that occupy a pretty damn big pedestal in these parts — unexamined racism and the obsession with female purity are as Southern as sweet tea. If Birdcloud isn’t around to poke fun at the sheer absurdity of it all, who’s going to do it? It’s not going to be those guys on the radio, or the brooding artistic types. They’re out there criticizing the state of country music, sure, but they aren’t tackling its deeper cultural issues. Nope, it’s two equally goofy and fearless young women from Tennessee who have finally (and blessedly) come along to deliver us all from how bleak it’s been to be a country fan over the past few years.
The rub occurs when people listen to Birdcloud sing about liking “other-color skin men” and take it at face value. There are plenty of people in this world who fundamentally misunderstand how satire works, the folks who thought that Stephen Colbert was serious. They’re the ones who focused on giggling at “Rick James, bitch!” instead of paying attention to the searing political criticisms dished out by Dave Chappelle every week on Chappelle's Show. Hell, there are people who believe that The Onion publishes real news — I’d wager you’ve got a few trolling around in your Facebook feed. What makes Birdcloud such a crucial voice for country music is a guy like Wheeler Walker Jr., who has a great deal of respect for his tourmates but perhaps fails to realize that they are fundamentally different. Whereas Walker offers basic-ass breakup songs peppered with ugly words and a whole lot of solid production, Birdcloud skewers sacred cows in a remarkably incisive way. There ain’t nothing revolutionary about “fuck you bitch,” but a couple of innocent-looking country girls warbling about stinky pussy are decidedly breaking new ground.
This isn’t to say that Birdcloud couldn’t — or hasn’t — ventured into problematic territory. But you sure can’t say that they’re not doing it right. You’d probably never get a serious word out of either one of them about their writing process, but it’s clear that they’re carefully crafting these lyrics to deliver blows that punch up every single time.
It’s obvious that Birdcloud isn’t for everyone. This isn’t music you want to share with your mama, unless she works at a truck stop or has done a little time in the pen. You might not want to listen to these always raunchy, often uncomfortable songs in your regular rotation, but there’s no denying the crucial place that they (and songs like them) have in this genre. And honestly, if dirty words and girls singing raunchy-like about sex is offensive to you, that doesn’t have anything to do with Birdcloud. That’s on you. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/birdcloud-the-most-dangerous-group-in-country-music-8716297 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/09e9e3fd937a62eadc0e9b3b0c980b1b9451b2e36f61caa474f65c8cd0cc68c1.json |
[
"John Royal"
]
| 2016-08-29T12:46:59 | null | 2016-08-29T07:00:00 | This is one man's attempt at establishing the All-Time Houston Astros pitching staff. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fhere-are-the-aces-who-should-make-up-the-all-time-astros-pitching-staff-8712193.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713437/hou_news_20150625_astrosvsyankees_marcotorres_0016.jpg | en | null | All-Time Astros Pitching Staff | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Astros Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel. Marco Torres
A couple of weeks ago, former Astros beat writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz tweeted out what he considered to be his all-time starting rotation of a combined Astros/Cardinals pitching staff (he’s now a columnist in St. Louis, thus adding in the Cardinals). And that got me to thinking about what I would consider for that rotation, minus the Cardinals.
My criteria are simple: the pitcher should primarily be thought of as a Astro, or his tenure with the Astros has to have been longer than his tenure with any other team. So that took away Randy Johnson, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. Still, I think most people will be pleased by the result.
The first three pitchers I’ll discuss as one unit, primarily because it was thought, at the time, that they would be together as a dominant unit for a long time. I’m talking of course of J.R. Richard, Joe Niekro and Nolan Ryan, in that order. Richard was already the most dominating righthander in the NL when Ryan was signed to the then-largest free agent contract in history and Niekro was coming off of a 20-win season. And the rotation order for 1980 was Richard as the ace, Niekro was number two and Ryan number three, the idea being that the knuckleballer pitching between two fireballers would never allow opposing batters to adjust. Of course this rotation only lasted for just half of the 1980 season before disaster struck.
Here are the stats: Richard finished his career with a 107-71 won-loss record and 1,493 strikeouts. He was the first National League right-handed starter to get 300 strikeouts in a season, and he did it twice, in 1978 and 1979. He won 20 games in 1976, and from 1977 through 1979, he won 18 games each year. He was 10-4 with 119 strikeouts in 1980 before suffering a stroke that nearly killed him. He attempted a comeback, but didn’t succeed.
Joe Niekro had a been a bit of a journeyman before landing with the Astros, and though he spent 11 seasons with the team, he didn’t become a full-time starter until the 1978 season. He was one of the preeminent knuckleballers of his time, second only to his brother Phil Niekro who was the ace of the Braves staff. Niekro owns the Astros all-time win record, and his all-time record with the Astros was 144-116. He was the first Astros pitcher with consecutive 20-win seasons, achieving the feat in 1979 and 1980.
There’s probably not much to be said about Nolan Ryan that’s not known by Houstonians. There’s the 300-plus career wins. And he holds the record for most no-hitters and most career strikeouts. In his nine seasons with the Astros, he won 106 games, pitched his fifth no-hitter, and got 1,866 of his 5,714 career strikeouts.
The fourth starter of this rotation would be Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is second only to Niekro with most wins by a Houston pitcher, and in his 10 seasons with the Astros he went 143-82 with 1,593 strikeouts. He was 4-0 in eight postseason starts for the team and was the 2005 NLCS MVP, going 2-0 agains the Cardinals with a 1.29 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 14 innings.
The fifth starter would be Mike Scott, the man who threw perhaps the most famous game in Astros history, a 1986 no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants that clinched for the Astros the NL West title. Scott was 110-81 in his nine season with the Astros, including that 1986 season where he was 18-10, got 306 strikeouts, won the Cy Young Award and so befuddled the Mets in the NLCS (2-0, 0.50 ERA, 19 strikeouts in 18 innings) that he was named the series MVP despite the Astros losing.
Every team, of course, needs a bullpen, including this one. The closer would be Billy Wagner, who owns the team record with 225 saves while racking up 694 strikeouts. Backing him up in the bullpen would be Dave Smith, second in team history with 199 saves and Brad Lidge, who had 123 saves. Both Smith and Lidge worked in set-up roles before becoming full-time closers, so they’re perfect to go with Wagner.
And to close out the pitching staff would be Larry Dierker (132-117, 1,487 strikeouts in 13 seasons) who would be a spot starter and innings-eater, Darryl Kile (71-65 with 973 strikeouts in seven Astros seasons), and Dallas Keuchel (49-47, 663 strikeouts, and one Cy Young in five seasons with the Astros).
I’m sure there are disagreements, but personally, I think this is a pretty damn good pitching staff. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/here-are-the-aces-who-should-make-up-the-all-time-astros-pitching-staff-8712193 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/d821a5c530d4f30467f611a245c5278555da254745df18014a4bda47a9d3b331.json |
[
"Dianna Wray"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:46:52 | null | 2016-08-30T07:00:00 | State Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton has a lot of issues, and he's been busy doing all kinds of official AG stuff that just happens to distract from those... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fken-paxtons-artful-distraction-draws-attention-from-his-legal-problems-8704884.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8705339/paxton_mugshot.jpg | en | null | Ken Paxton's Artful Distraction Draws Attention From His Issues | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Ken Paxton seems to be working hard to keep people distracted from the fact that this mugshot exists. Collin County District Clerk
Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton knows how to distract his audience. While everyone is watching him pull a far-right leaning conservative legal rabbit out of his hat, so to speak — suing over allowing doctors the right to refuse treatment to transgender people, and then stating he won't change his mind but will be happy to dine with a trans boy and the boy's family in North Texas, for example — the audience misses all the other quandries he's been grappling with. It's an impressive trick.
In other words, Paxton is holding true to form, taking every opportunity to be in the news cycle for stories that are completely unrelated to his own personal legal issues.
After all, why would he do otherwise? The fact that Paxton is the state attorney general in the first place proves that his approach of diverting attention, delaying and avoiding discussion of his various legal tangles and missteps — the state securities violations, the three felony indictments, the Securities and Exchange Commission probe he's been tied to, all of it — can work.
Paxton has been on the political scene for years but was generally only known as a mild-mannered member of the state Legislature who flew under the media radar until he adopted the more extreme views of the Tea Party, a move that made him the darling of the far right conservative faction of Texas Republican politics. He was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2003 and he held his spot representing District 70 (think suburban Dallas-adjacent towns like Frisco and Allen) until 2012 and he followed that stint with a successful bid for the Texas Senate.
From there, he took aim for his first statewide elected office in 2014, as the state attorney general. Paxton's decision to get into the race was, shall we say, interesting. For one thing, he was running to be the state's top lawyer even though he'd already admitted that April to violating state securities law. (It started only two years after he was elected to the state Legislature. From 2004 to 2012 he was funneling clients to his friend, Frederick Mowery, a securities investor and getting kickbacks for his trouble without registering with the state, as we've previously reported.)
Some might have concluded that subsequently running to become the state's top legal mind — the one who decides what cases the state pursues and what government information is required to be made public — is a terrible idea, but not Paxton. Instead of dropping out of the race, he just stopped campaigning in front of the media, waging what the San Antonio Express-News then described as a “shadow campaign” for the office and was elected by a landslide in November 2014.
The guy made quite a splash during his first year in office. After being sworn in on January 5, 2015, Paxton proceeded to become a national political figure by encouraging state employees to openly defy the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. He was also booked on three felony counts in August 2015, making Paxton the first sitting attorney general in 30 years to face criminal indictments in Texas.
Now, he's once again demonstrated how politics is as much about slight of hand and misdirection as any magic act that ever hit the vaudeville circuit. Over the past few months, Paxton has continued to deal with his looming court case, while also popping up in several stories that might have destroyed a politician's career, and has emerged essentially unscathed.
In addition to the felony charges, in April Paxton was accused by federal regulators of defrauding investors in a McKinney tech company while he was a member of the Texas Legislature.
In June, the Associated Press revealed Paxton accepted a $100,000 donation for his criminal defense from the head of a medical imaging provider, Dallas-based Preferred Imaging LLC, while his office investigated the company for Medicaid fraud. The company settled its case with the AG's office and Paxton has denied any wrongdoing in accepting the donation, but it still smacks of impropriety, at the very least.
And just this month, the Dallas Morning News reported a top lawyer in Paxton’s office was fired but kept on the payroll for almost six months to keep quiet about a grievance where she raised concerns the office was violating federal rules on a multi-million-dollar child support contract with private tech giant Accenture.
Meanwhile, Paxton and his lawyers have been doing just about everything possible to avoid going to trial over the allegations that he misled (that's fancy parlance for "lied") investigators about his dealings with Servergy, as we've previously reported. Prosecutors claim that while he was a state representative, Paxton allegedly persuaded two clients (one of them also a state representative) to buy more than $100,000 of stock in the company, Servergy, failing to disclose to his clients or the state securities commission that he was being paid for these referrals, as is required by law. At the beginning of August, his attorneys filed an appeal with the highest criminal court in the state, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in a last-ditch bid to dismiss the case before it goes to trial.
But Paxton hasn't let the focus stay locked on the various stories that make him look legally and ethically questionable at best. Instead, Paxton has been keeping his name in the headlines of late by taking the unbending conservative approach to a ton of issues near and dear to Texas conservative hearts.
Shortly after filing with the Court of Criminal Appeals, Paxton's lawsuit against the Obama administration's guidance advising schools to allow trans students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity had a hearing. Then he followed up by hitting back on other trans issues.
Last week, he sued to allow doctors the right to refuse to treat transgender people, filing the lawsuit on behalf of the Franciscan Alliance, a religious hospital network, against the Obama administration and the federal Department of Health and Human Services in an attempt to block the government from defining sex within the Affordable Care Act. The suit is Paxton's 13th against the Obama administration since taking office 19 months ago.
He also grabbed headlines for agreeing to dine at the home of a transgender boy and his mother shortly after a federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked President Obama's directions on how public schools should handle transgender students. Paxton responded to the dinner invitation publicly, saying he'd be "happy to do that," according to the DMN.
At the same time, Paxton has been pushing back on the state's voter ID law, requesting the federal judge assigned to the case delay her hearing until August 2017 to give the state Legislature time to adjust the law. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi did not go for that proposal, announcing last Thursday the hearing will be held in January.
Meanwhile, Paxton has been sounding off on prayer in the courtroom. Earlier this month his office issued his legal opinion on the matter, affirming the constitutionality of opening courtroom sessions with prayer, because of course he did.
All of this legal posturing is an interesting tactic, but it's really a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It's just like the dinner. Of course Paxton has agreed to dine with a trans kid and his family. He sacrifices nothing by showing up and it's more padding to protect against his biggest problem — the stories that are actually about him. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/ken-paxtons-artful-distraction-draws-attention-from-his-legal-problems-8704884 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/29b6637dca2e63ce34c447e5fa9ef7802e9a795128157efb8a8e86f6d5b23fea.json |
[
"Clint Hale"
]
| 2016-08-29T10:46:24 | null | 2016-08-29T05:00:00 | Breaking down the myriad personae of hip-hop's biggest chameleon. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fdrake-s-catalog-resides-in-a-glass-case-of-emotion-8697732.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713375/drake-aug29.jpg | en | null | Drake’s Catalog: A Glass Case of Emotion | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Early Drake: At Philadelphia's Made In America festival, 2012 Photo by Marco Torres
To call Drake emotional is a bit of an understatement. It’s akin to saying J.J. Watt is strong. Or that the Red Hot Chili Peppers kinda like singing songs about California. It’s technically true, but those statements don’t do their subjects near enough justice. Drake has run the gamut of emotions since Thank Me Later dropped more than six years ago. That emotional journey only intensified this year with the release of the unfairly criticized Views.
A trip through his catalog yields any number of personas for hip-hop’s biggest chameleon. There’s sad Drake; Drake the lover; pissed-off Drake; Drake the club banger. With Drake and Future scheduled to play Toyota Center September 3-4, here’s a look at some of Drake’s most emotionally-charged tracks.
SAD DRAKE
"Marvin’s Room"
Ah yes, the drunken booty call. We’ve all been there, including rich, talented, handsome types such as Drake. You know the deal – you come home late after a night of drinking, and you reach for the phone. You know it’s not a good idea, and you know you shouldn’t make that call, but you do it anyway. “Marvin’s Room” is basically six minutes of Drake doing just that to a former flame, one who has moved on with someone else. For anyone who’s ever let “the one” get away, it’s a painful reminder that life goes on.
"Look What You’ve Done"
Give Drake credit: his deepest tracks come from a place of genuine emotion. That’s particularly true for “Look What You’ve Done,” an ode to his grandmother. The song was released in 2011 as Evelyn Sher’s health was failing, and retraces her and Drake’s history — both good and bad. The song, which even features a voicemail recording from Drake’s grandmother, had to hit him particularly hard on Thanksgiving of the following year, when Sher passed away.
ANGRY DRAKE
"Started From the Bottom"
Drake has been tabbed as soft by those who cite his child-actor background, as well as his pop-friendly raps. Well, even Drake has a boiling point, as evidenced by this track, a giant “fuck you” to the haters. Drake charts his upbringing – which wasn’t nearly as picturesque as some portray – and blasts those who doubt his hunger and struggle. This is Drake the rapper at his finest.
"Energy"
No one is spared on this track from last year’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late mixtape. Detractors. Women. Peers. Hell, even the Internet and social media aren’t spared from Drake’s vitriol. The man has enemies, and they’re trying to drain him of his energy. Judging by the sheer amount of Drake’s musical output over the past decade, those enemies may want to try a little harder.
PARTY DRAKE
"Houstatlantavegas"
Drake has made no secret of his love for strip clubs, nor has he made a secret of his love for our fair city. So he went ahead and combined the two on this track from 2009’s So Far Gone mixtape, which makes sense, considering Houston — along with Atlanta and Las Vegas — ranks among the strip-club capitals of America. Of course, it’s not a total club banger; Drake uses “Houstatlantavegas” as a way to detail the life of a love-gone-wrong, one who can’t or simply doesn’t want to leave the nightlife behind.
"One Dance"
The song of Summer Sixteen is a rarity — a dance-club track that’s actually about dancing. There’s not much else to say about “One Dance” that hasn’t already been covered, save for its status as a nearly perfect pop song. It’s got a catchy beat, nice hook and clocks in at just under three minutes. No wonder it became Drake’s first No. 1 radio single as a lead artist.
LOVER DRAKE
"Hold On, We’re Going Home"
Drake’s love songs are often coated in sadness but “Hold On, We’re Going Home” – despite being a breakup track – is of the more optimistic variety. Drake regrets that their time together didn’t work out, and “it’s hard to do these things alone.” Plus, he sees untapped potential in his lady and wants that potential to shine through. This has to rank among the most popular tracks when trying to woo a former flame back into the fold.
"Best I Ever Had"
“You the fuckin best/ Best I ever had.” Drake doesn’t hold back on this track, arguably his best straight-up love song. Yeah, he’s been with other girls before, but they pale in comparison to his current partner. It takes a special type of talent to vacillate between sappy love songs like “Best I Ever Had” and hard-ass raps like “Forever” and “Energy.” That crossover appeal is the primary reason Drake will play before two sold-out crowds in Houston over Labor Day weekend. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/drake-s-catalog-resides-in-a-glass-case-of-emotion-8697732 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/5d5f907706e2da066fcfb71082b8fb0937353ab0137d35a0f022a3ff652bdfbc.json |
[
"Brandon Caldwell"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:51:36 | null | 2016-08-26T07:00:00 | The most viral of the #SoGoneChallenge videos didn't come from a rapper, or an actor or ball player. It came from a wildly underrated Houston rapper... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fmusic%2Fhow-houston-rap-dominated-the-sogonechallenge-8704882.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8705312/bigg-fatts-jutland-road-flows.jpg | en | null | Houston Dominates The #SoGoneChallenge | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Bigg Fatts Screenshot/YouTube
Somewhere in 2003, Monica and Missy Elliott made the most defining record from her second decade in music. Built around The Whispers’ “You Are Number One," the 2003 update was a woman dictating to her man that she was walking out of their relationship. Fed up. “So Gone” effectively became the anthem of the lasting part of my freshman year of high school. The beat was too smooth, too hard to ignore and the video, in which Monica looked as beautiful if not stronger than “The Boy Is Mine” some five years earlier, was memorable. It was a fun record of the time, and thankfully it won’t ever die.
Last week, the world found time to appreciate “So Gone” again thanks to the saccharine ways of Chance The Rapper. It wasn’t the first “So Gone” remix; the distinction for that belongs to Snoop Dogg’s 213 group with Nate Dogg and Warren G. But it was sugary enough in premise to spawn a bunch of challenges. Soon you had men admitting their love for women in creative ways, wannabe rappers jumping in on the action and more. The worldwide interest showed to “So Gone” caused it to surge back up the Billboard charts the same way Ghost Town DJs “My Boo” became a Top 10 hit again almost 21 years after its initial release. Viral fame and challenges coupled with this generation’s tendency to get nostalgic became a winning formula. The Running Man challenge was more of a standing shuffle, the Harlem Shake was a switch-flip from calmness to centralized anarchy. The #SoGoneChallenge? A new age game of pass the mike.
If the absolute best “So Gone” challenge came from a man proposing to his girlfriend using the track, then the most viral of #SoGoneChallenges belongs to Bigg Fatts, a guy who is as underrated as they come. On name alone, Bigg Fatts is the perfect throwback to a day when you appreciated big-man rappers. Most of his tracks have been plays upon food for comic relief but the content is anything but funny. There’s some humor, some sarcasm and a built-in bullshit meter just from growing up in Houston. Fatts has made certain on several releases, Snackin’ 4 Beats especially, that his main calling card in life is to out-rap you to death.
It’s been that way as long as he’s been around. Last year he released 19 tracks under the Snackin’4 Beats umbrella that was 70 percent freestyles. He cracked jokes about Paul George’s then-broken leg for Team USA in 2014. There were weaving switches of flows and multiple moments where high velocity raps were necessary. Fatts’ voice is already a throaty roar that borders on poetry. It gets high and thundering when he wants to punctuate something. It gets gravelly and backfires like a Mustang warming up when he’s starting to stack lines. He laughs at himself; excited and looser than anyone in the room.
How did we get to a #SoGoneChallenge being the new high point for Bigg Fatts? Well, he’s a rapper who enjoys testing the waters. Flexing bars for the sake of flexing them. Given how much he loves battle rapping in particular, Fatts chose his #SoGoneChallenge as a nod and wink to everything that tends to turn heads — social injustice, Black Lives Matter, the policing in his neighborhood and surrounding areas. All of it. It lasts only a minute or so but in that minute, everything swells up and rolls in a familiar cadence. “In the USA you innocent until you proven black/ Can we survive the tactics, hunted down by the masses/ I see everybody talkin’, who talkin’ bout action?”
It continues from there, lambasting Jesse Jackson, questioning the need for black leaders when we still have a black president and more. The video has been viewed nearly 950,000 times since its debut on August 13. It’s been commented and tagged over 2,000 times and shared over 34,000 more. It’s made everyone else in the city run in their own lanes with the song. Lyric Michelle handled it with a sense of poetry, Kane Brock took it to task twice, with the second video being mostly punchline-related. Rob Gullatte, a rapper who keeps swearing he’s retired, stretched his for two minutes. Gullatte may have the best line of them all, a man who’s battled health issues galore saying he’s “sick enough to kill an antibody.”
The #SoGoneChallenge wasn’t going to lead to a momentous shift in how Houston decided to rap for the rest of the year. On the contrary, it just dared our rappers to have a little fun for a change.
UNDERGRAVITY, Space Age Funk, Vol. 1: The Crash Landing
Fun for Undergravity is living in the past. Not in the traditional sense where one looks backwards and preens with happiness at the good times. Nope, Undergravity lives in a world of nostalgia. They plug into a world fit for 1998 Nintendo 64 graphics and a swampy Houston rap atmosphere and settle there. They’re so stuck on being part of the funk that they’ve verbally sparred with other groups about who is true to rap's nature. The type of grandstanding that was standard in the ‘90s and early aughts, where name and a rep was all a man had. Z-Ro is cut from this same cloth and on Drankin’ N’ Drivin’ he proceeded to marry that aesthetic with 2016 rap tendencies to craft arguably his second- or third best album ever. Under gravity has played around with these fleshed-out, candy-painted colors forever. On their latest album, their fun explodes into a kaleidoscope of bluesy, elbow-wide country rap tunes.
The up-and-down squelches that live on “I Don’t Need Ya” are right from the circus that Mr. Lee worked within. Even OneHunnidt chips in with an uncredited poem afterwards and most of it is dismissive rap towards one “can’t get right” woman. Adam Bomb & M.A.C. have tinkered with their idea of the funk, ‘70s washed out synths and glistening drums for years. The drums don’t approach subwoofer breaking territory but they’re enough to rattle and shake your door panel when you step out. They chop up Luther Vandross’ “Bad Boys” for “The Come Up”; sweep up bottom-out drums for a Yellowstone ode in “Scott St.”; drink in the hues of Tela’s “Sho Nuff” for “Bad”; and even flipping a little Aaliyah for “Run Tell That." No era is safe for repurposing when it comes to Undergravity, especially when wanting to marry their views with.
Crash Landing is a taste of Houston past not wanting to completely grow up. Cal Wayne, Big Pokey(!), Mike D., Doughbeezy, Mr. Wired Up, Dante Higgins and others all play a part in it. It places Undergravity in a rather unique position. While the rest of the city’s emerging neighborhood stars are touching this repetitive trap sludge born out of a mix from Memphis, Suave House and Atlanta, they’re still in their one position. “Now everybody wanna bite our style and I can’t believe it,” M.A.C. raps on “Southern Ways." He’s right. And stubborn as he and Adam Bomb may be, their block hasn’t changed. The world around them may be changing and moving away from a clear definition. It’s fine with them. At least they’ll never compromise to fit in with anybody.
Houston rap’s idea of fun sometimes is just rapping for sport. Jay-Von decided it was perfect not to drop one mixtape over classic instrumentals; he doubled down by dropping a second one over today’s radio playlist. Mark Drew issued out a quick strike true to his nature as a jokester and capable songwriter with his SeasonsEP. Rob Jay & Hollywood FLOSS carried the T.H.E.M flag into two separate EPs that played to their strengths: Rob as a pure rapper, FLOSS as an artist forever with a chip on his shoulder. Everybody’s just waiting for the next step or time to have fun while rapping.
SONGS OF THE WEEK
LYRIC MICHELLE, “Timothy”
Start any “Tiimmy Turner” freestyle with Chloe & Halle’s version and you have a winner. The strings and cutting gloom that make up the original is a perfect template for Lyric to get, well...darker.
WES BLANCO, “Work”
Wes Blanco may not even know anybody named Chachie, but rapping about his own ghosts works. “Work” puts him in a void where his only satisfaction is found watching everybody around him win, legally or illegally.
WOLFE de MÇHLS, “Mother Don’t Mind”
Soon the Mo City producer/musician is going to emerge from the dark shadows that made him create “Mother Don’t Mind” and speak. When he was Ricquo Jones, he crafted airy, night-enveloping records (“Paper Moon,” anyone?)
ROCKY BANKS, “Funny Guy”
Either you’re going trap or you’re going isolated chimes and horror-movie soundtrack. Rocky Banks isn’t channeling Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, he's asserting his will over 8-bit synths and spooky electronica.
TRILL SAMMY & DICE SOHO, “No Reason”
Tour all summer, drink all summer. Both Sammy & Dice Soho locally get the same type of disdain collected by a large chunk of the XXL's Freshman Class, merely because of rap patterns and simply being nowhere near 22. Yet them basically bathing in youthful spoils thanks to Cardo Got Wings? Perfect riding music. | http://www.houstonpress.com/music/how-houston-rap-dominated-the-sogonechallenge-8704882 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/3fcb9cba236dd186d5040d6d151718c61c54663438a5a18ff7c69c6d4f6d9465.json |
[
"Bilge Ebiri"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:58:51 | null | 2016-08-25T20:00:00 | Ira Sachs discuss how he and his films have changed, his artistic influences and his genuinely collaborative filmmaking process. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Ffilm%2Flittle-mens-ira-sachs-on-the-creation-of-his-new-york-stories-8684047.json | http://images1.laweekly.com/imager/u/original/7277876/film_08032016_ebiri_littlemen2_magnolia_pictures.jpg | en | null | Little Men's Ira Sachs on the Creation of His New York Stories | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Ira Sachs Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Ira Sachs has become one of our great American filmmakers. His newest, Little Men, about two teenage boys (Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri) who become best friends even as their parents face off over the fate of a small dress shop in the ground floor of a Brooklyn home, is just the latest of his explorations of individuals fighting for their identities in a changing city. The director sat down with us to discuss how he and his films have changed, his artistic influences and his genuinely collaborative filmmaking process.
What was it like re-watching your work during the recent MoMA retrospective?
I hadn't seen these films in a bunch of years. There are different narratives at work here. I can see how my own life has changed, and I can see how the work itself has changed. But there's also a pretty clear continuity when you watch the films in a row. I came to a conclusion about how the changes in my life are reflected in the films — not in the topics, but in their texture. The films are happier now. They're also now very specifically about the conflict between a unified couple and society, whereas the earlier films were often about internal conflicts, usually about a protagonist trying to figure out who the hell he or she is.
At the same time, there’s something essentially emotional about the films that I feel is really rich and separate from me. Partially, it has to do with performance — and I feel I enable the performances, so I can take some credit. But this time, for example, I was really moved by Dina Korzun in Forty Shades of Blue. It’s kind of like a Greta Garbo performance — so expressive. I think there are a lot of similarities, actually, between Dina’s performance in that film and Paulina García’s in Little Men. They’re both totally naturalistic and totally constructed at the same time. They’re methodical, and theatrical.
With Dina Korzun’s character, I love the fact that she’s a Russian woman in Memphis, and yet that element of her character doesn’t really figure into the plot. The movie isn’t about her Russian-ness. It’s a grace note that enhances the character and her inner life, and that’s it.
I will say that when I showed another film, Keep the Lights On, in Poland, Polish women really responded to it. So I don’t know. I’m half–Eastern European, and there’s a certain comfortable relationship to sadness in those films, which is very different from these newer ones. I’m not as intimate with sadness right now, so my films aren’t either.
The last couple of films really feel like they're about community.
Maybe because I'm more evolved internally now, that gives me a certain kind of ability to be broader in my empathies. A transition occurred in my 30s, which is sort of what Keep the Lights On is about. I began to be a community organizer, and more externally directed.
But it’s a complex idea of community. Often, it causes some of the problems we’re witnessing. In Little Men, Greg Kinnear’s father was so generous and open-hearted that he never finalized the legal situation with Paulina García’s shop — and when he drops dead, he leaves a mess behind. In Love Is Strange, the two married men are forced to live with different family members because everybody wants to keep them in New York — so they wind up with this bizarre living arrangement.
Everything is imperfect. Freedom is a luxury in a certain way — a luxury you hope to have. But what choices do you make when you’re not free, when you’re put in a corner? Like Paulina García’s character in Little Men, and Greg Kinnear’s character: What do you do when the options are fewer, and how do those choices reflect your morality? There’s a scene in The Delta where the kid has set off some fireworks in a field in Mississippi, and a cop comes and says, “You can’t do that. Did you set them off?” And the kid says, “Wasn’t me.” Immediately denies it. That’s a very autobiographical moment, based on a time when I stole some French books from my high school, and I was asked whether I stole the books and I said, “No, I borrowed them.” But I “borrowed,” like, 20 books.
Wait, that’s actually in Love Is Strange, too.
Yeah! I clearly feel a lot of guilt about the fact that when push came to shove, I wasn’t honest.
Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
I like the uncertainty at the end of this film. With Tony [Taplitz]'s character — he's at LaGuardia High School, finally, and studying to be an artist. But he'll probably wind up like his dad, who's a struggling actor who never achieved his dreams. It's somehow both open-ended and a vicious circle.
For me, particularly the ends of films, I want to be both open and clear. It's not all questions, but a sense that the film has been handed back to you, the viewer, and you're satisfied. That's also why the ends often take the most work, in terms of editing, in order to get that impact.
In that sense, I love the little detail near the end when Paulina García's character puts up a "Help Wanted" sign in her store even though Greg Kinnear and his family are trying to kick her out. To them, it's confrontational. But for her, it's probably just a sign of trying to persevere as much and as long as she can.
That comes from when we started sitting down with [screenwriter] Mauricio [Zacharias] and talking about movies and talking about life. Mauricio's family is in Rio and his parents owned a shop, and the shopkeeper hadn't been paying rent for several years, and they were trying to get her out. Each time Mauricio and I would get together he'd tell me a different episode of the story; this was a two-year process. They were actually in court when she put the "Help Wanted" sign up. That was fascinating to me. I thought: a) There's two sides to this story, obviously, and he's sensitive enough to understand that as well. And b) It's really, really dramatic. This is a very small story that's actually as grand as any, about trying to hold on to the land and property and home.
You have these long musical passages of the kids on their skateboards, just discovering the city around them — which is stylistically unlike you, in some ways.
With Little Men, I wanted to use all the tools of cinema in a very spare and modern way, but not be shy of a score or dolly shots. Particularly around the kids. I think what you feel in Little Men is this opposition between the fluidity of their world and the stillness and claustrophobia of the adult world. But those scenes are a good example of collaboration. I’m the director, and I plan a lot. But I also plan to be inspired by the people I work with. So that partially came from working with Oscar Duran, my cinematographer, and starting to see those shots. And then working with my composer, Dickon Hinchliffe. Once the music came in, we added four shots, because we wanted to give the music room and space.
You’ve worked with Dickon Hinchliffe on a number of films. I remember his incredible music for Claire Denis’s Friday Night and Trouble Every Day.
God, Claire Denis, the hero of our time — so important for my filmmaking generation. When we were doing the temp editing for Forty Shades of Blue, we used Dickon’s score for Trouble Every Day as our temp. And then we said, “Why don’t we call that guy?” And I’ve now been working with him for 15 years. And I have to say, looking at these films again in a row, the music tends to be the most emotional element, without being too manipulative.
How does collaboration work for you?
With Mauricio, we usually start by getting together for six-day weeks and talking about movies and life. That generates a set of characters for us. He writes the first draft of the film, and we go back and forth on subsequent drafts. After we start casting I usually do a final draft. Because I rarely ask an actor to transform. For example, in Little Men, one of the boys was supposed to do capoeira. But Michael Barbieri was not going to do capoeira. He was studying to be an actor, and so we made him an aspiring actor. And that was his real acting teacher playing the acting teacher in the film. I had to be receptive to what the world was showing me in the process. | http://www.houstonpress.com/film/little-mens-ira-sachs-on-the-creation-of-his-new-york-stories-8684047 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/c5451666f40fa43dc7e43e0c83a4ad6a24b1c9f0a2a26b57c5a19353c562e2ad.json |
[
"Brooke Viggiano"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:46:25 | null | 2016-08-29T08:00:00 | We bring you a list of the best food and drink events happening in Houston this week. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fthis-week-in-houston-food-events-last-call-for-houston-restaurant-weeks-8699529.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8707772/hou_food_20160326elyseblechman_chuckcook_007.jpg | en | null | Upcoming Food & Drink Events in Houston This Week | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND Bernadine's cochon de lait au presse, or pressed suckling pig, makes an appearance on the HRW menu. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
From an Izakaya Pop-Up at Eight Row Flint to a Saint Arnold Boiler Room Bonanza, here's a look at this week's hottest culinary happenings:
All Week
Houston Restaurant Weeks Continue
It's the last week for the Houston Food Bank’s biggest and most delicious fundraiser, an all-star lineup of reasonably priced, multi-course meals. Need help choosing where to dine? We’ve put together a few guides to help diners navigate their way through HRW, including top picks, new restaurants participating for the first time, surprising vegetarian menus and restaurants to visit before it's too late.
Master mixologist Elyse Blechman is teaming up with another badass bartender, Bridget Paliwoda, to bring Mumbai to Bramble. Photo by Chuck Cook Photography
Monday through Tuesday
Mumbai Bar Pop-Up at Bramble
Bramble, 2231 South Voss, will host Elyse Blechman of Bad News Bar and Bridget Paliwoda, formerly of Oxheart, as they present Bar Mumbai. From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., the talented mixologists will experiment with flavors from Mumbai's past and present them in cocktail form. Chef Randy Rucker will provide the eats to pair alongside. Guests can expect cocktails like the Sweet Neem Swizzle, with gin, lime, ginger, curry leaf and basil, plus bites including wood-grilled shrimp, duck sloppy Joes and fried Brussels sprouts with wildflower honey and Deep Ellum blue cheese.
Monday through Wednesday
SaltAir Chef Series: France at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen
The 12-week, travel-inspired chef series (ending Wednesday, October 5) continues at SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, 3029 Kirby. This week's passport takes diners to France. The tasting menu is available for $50 per person, with a beverage pairing at additional cost. For reservations (highly recommended), call 713-521-3333.
Tuesday, August 30
Izakaya Night at Eight Row Flint
Enjoy an Izakaya Night with Japanese whiskies and food by Revival Market sous chef Todd Patterson at Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale. Inspired by Japanese cooking traditions and late-night izakayas, Patterson will be offering items such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) or musubi (grilled sausage and rice wrapped in seaweed). Beverage director Morgan Weber has selected a few of his favorite Japanese whiskies to pair with the food. Food service begins at 5 p.m. and will continue until they sell out. The regular menu will be available as well.
Tuesday through Wednesday
Fundraiser For Writers in Schools at Cuchara
Spend $35 on any food and drink at Cuchara, 214 Fairview, and it will generate a donation of $5 for Writers in Schools, a local Houston-area nonprofit and literary leader in education.
EXPAND It's a Boiler Room Bonanza at Saint Arnold Brewery. Photo by femme run
Wednesday, August 31
Boiler Room Bonanza at Saint Arnold Brewery
The brewers at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons, have been hard at work crafting thirst-quenching variants of Boiler Room Berliner Weisse. Now you can enjoy them all during the Boiler Room Bonanza, held from 6 to 9 p.m. The team at Saint A's will be tapping seven creations, several of which are being served for the very first time. Along with beer, the $25 admission includes a special Boiler Room glass and a hot Slow Dough pretzel.
“Hard Knocks” Round Table Dinner at the Houstonian
NFL Writer John McClain will be talking football at a series of Wednesday night “Hard Knocks” Dinners, held in the Hearth Room at The Houstonian, 111 N Post Oak, on August 31 and September 7. At the round-table dinners, guests will have an intimate, all-access pass to McClain and his take on draft picks, position battles, rookies and their adjustments to the team, coaches decisions, players lives, jokes and pranks. The dinner is $125 per guest and includes a family-style meal along with beer, wine and valet parking. Dinners begin at 7 p.m. and are limited to 24 guests to ensure exclusive interaction with McClain. For reservations, call 713-685-6713.
Thursday, September 1
The 8th Wonder Brew Tap Takeover at Hot Toppings Pizza
Kick September off with an all-day 8th Wonder Brewery Tap Takeover, including hard-to-score brews like Rocket Fuel on Nitro, at Hot Toppings Pizza, 7705 Westheimer. Guests can expect pizza and swag as well.
Expected Friday, September 2
Grand Opening at Pi Pizza
Cherry Pie Hospitality’s Pi Pizza, 181 Heights, is readying to open its doors to hungry pizza patrons. Though the opening was expected Monday, August 29, equipment delays due to the weather have pushed back the opening a bit. Pi Pizza is now expected to open by the end of the week, with a hopeful push for this Friday. Follow Pi's social media for updates, but know that when it does open, chef and partner Anthony Calleo will feature 20 of his favorite pizzas on the menu, plus the late Sandy Witch sandwiches and soon-to-be favorites like Mac n Cheese Balls and Cheesesteak Stromboli. Guests can also expect craft cocktails from Cherry Pie’s beverage director, Laurie Harvey, and desserts from Petite Sweets and Lee’s Creamery. The restaurant will be open for counter-service dining from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Friday through Sunday
BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival at The Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center
Head to The Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center, 7 Hope Lane, for a weekend of craft beer featuring over 400 brews and events like the BrewHaHa Grand Tasting and Brew-B-Que with pitmaster Patrick Feges of Feges Barbecue and Southern Goods. Tickets for the various events range in price from $25 to $85 and can be purchased at brewmastersbeerfest.com.
Saturday, September 3
Edible Wild Plants Class at the Houston Arboretum
Discover the delicious side of nature at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, as Dr. Mark Vorderbruggen instructs a class on where to find, how to identify and how to properly prepare a seasonal selection of edible plants. The class will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. and is $40 for members and $70 for nonmembers. Ages 12 and up.
Afternoon Tea at Ouisie’s Table
In honor of the 223rd birthday of the founder of Afternoon Tea, Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe, is hosting a tea party on the porch from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Guests can sit and talk about the day’s business, sit and avoid talking about the day’s business or a little of both. The repast includes more than a half dozen teas, plus tea sandwiches like slow-cooked chicken salad, pimento and cheese; and cucumber, dill and cream cheese. There will also be smoked salmon canapes, deviled eggs, slices of lemon tart and house-made "catheads" (large, Southern-style biscuits). The cost is $25 per person plus tax and gratuity. For an additional $5 per glass, guests may order port or wine, and for an additional $7 per glass, Champagne will be served. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Visit ouisiestable.com or call 713-528-2264. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/this-week-in-houston-food-events-last-call-for-houston-restaurant-weeks-8699529 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/07d5f605ad169158cbc90e3fc132126af2eadd293e1f6614600e349435798f88.json |
[
"Sean Pendergast"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:46:36 | null | 2016-08-30T08:00:00 | It's down to nut cutting time for a lot of players in Texans training camp. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fhouston-texans-53-man-roster-prediction-version-40-8712195.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8714568/hou_news_20160828_nfltexansvscardinals_ericsauseda_042.jpg | en | null | Houston Texans 53-Man Roster Prediction, Version 4.0 | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The development of Fuller and other rookies has made this a potentially deep Texans roster. Eric Sauseda
In a Texans preseason that's been brimming with the most anticipation of any of the three involving Bill O'Brien thus far, in large part because the team appears to have finally found a franchise quarterback, the third year head coach's evaluation has remained very measured and conservative, citing a few of the good things, yet acknowledging that there's still more work to do.
When asked his thoughts on evaluating this group after the win over Arizona on Sunday, O'Brien stated matter-of-factly:
“You definitely like to win no matter if it counts or not. You want to go out there in between the lines and try to win the game and 3 and 0 is certainly better than 0 and 3. Obviously, you guys know better than me, you can go back through the history of this league, 4 and 0 in the preseason doesn’t necessarily always translate to great records in the regular season. What I just told the team there, one day at a time. Let’s correct the film when we get you guys back in here. Let’s correct the mistakes. Let’s think about the things we’re doing well and let’s move on to the next phase of basically preseason. We’ve got to cut the team down to 75 and then after Dallas, we’ve got a 53 cut. Just one day at a time. Let’s not put too much into it than what it is.”
Oh, Bill... that's what we do in the media! We put way too much into way too many things! So if you'll indulge me, Coach, we are skipping right past that "cut to 75," and heading straight to 53, with the latest version of Roster-ology, our fourth version of the 53-man roster prediction.
Here we go, starting with the locks, which lost one to injury (may lose another), and added three names....
THE LOCKS (38) .. * denotes rookie, new "locks" are in CAPS
QUARTERBACK (2) — Brock Osweiler, Tom Savage
RUNNING BACK (2) — Lamar Miller,* Tyler Ervin
WIDE RECEIVER (4) — DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong,* Will Fuller,* Braxton Miller
TIGHT END (3) — C.J. Fiedorowicz, Ryan Griffin, * STEPHEN ANDERSON
OFFENSIVE LINE (8) — Duane Brown (T), Xavier Su'a-Filo (G), Jeff Allen (G), Derek Newton (T), Chris Clark (T), Tony Bergstrom (G/C), Greg Mancz (G/C), Kendall Lamm (T)
DEFENSIVE LINE (4) — J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Christian Covington, * D.J. Reader
LINEBACKER (5) — Brian Cushing, Bernardrick McKinney, Whitney Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, John Simon
CORNERBACK (4) — Kareem Jackson, Jonathan Joseph, Kevin Johnson, A.J. Bouye
SAFETY (3) — Quintin Demps, Andre Hal, * K.J. DILLON
SPECIALISTS (3) — Jon Weeks, Shane Lechler, NICK NOVAK
So the additions this week to the "LOCKS" list (along with a short blurb on each) are the following:
* ANDERSON: He's been in on a bunch of third down packages offensively, and has shown enough ability catching the football to make the 53-man, in part because the coaching staff just seems to have forgotten about fortifying this position, sticking with C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin and not really bringing anybody else in. Anderson, an intriguing prospect, makes it almost by default.
* DILLON: Led the team in tackles against Arizona and has steadily gotten better and better throughout camp, and right now, with the safety spots kind of a jumble after the first two guys, it's hard to see Dillon's performance and status as a drafted rookie not being enough to get him onto the squad.
* NOVAK: Has been steady placekicking throughout camp, and honestly, the new kickoff rules putting touchbacks at the 25 yard line, may wind up helping some of the weaker-legged kickers as pooch kicks and attempts to kick off to right at the goal line may become more of the norm rather than booming kicks out of the end zone.
* NOTE: Nick Martin has been removed from the "Locks" with the expectation that he will go on injured reserve after ankle surgery. Also, Duane Brown is still on the roster, but there is a strong possibility he winds up on the PUP list for the first six weeks. For now, I'll keep Brown on here and pray.
So let's try to put together the rest of the roster...
FILLING IT IN..... (15)
39. Alfred Blue, RB
40. Akeem Hunt, RB
41. Jay Prosch, FB
Yes, I totally wussed out and removed Kenny Hilliard and put Alfred Blue back in. To be clear, it's not because I'm a fan of Blue. However, this is a prediction of what the coaches will do, and for some reason they seem to be HUGE fans of the completely pedestrian style with which he gets his two yards on seemingly every carry. I still think Hunt's juice as a speedster gets him on the roster, and I'll keep Prosch on here, but truth be told, I feel good about the safety of none of these guys. You could make a case for keeping or cutting all three of them, as well as Hilliard and Jonathan Grimes.
42. Keith Mumphrey, WR
Switching up this one, too. Cecil Shorts seems to be behind Mumphrey right now, and Mumphrey's ability on special teams gives him the slight edge as the fifth wide receiver. Shorts has already taken a pay cut this offseason, so we can kind of see what they think of him already.
43. Jeff Adams, T/G
44. Okay Aboushi, G
Hanging onto these two, but you could see at least one, maybe two more names added on the offensive line, depending on how they handle Brown's injury and how good they feel about their depth, especially with Derek Newton out right now, too.
45. Brandon Dunn, DT/DE
46. Devon Still, DE
Joel Heath is pushing hard for one of these two spots, and may get it.
47. Brian Peters, LB
48. Max Bullough, LB
These two hang onto their spots because of special teams play (Peters) and overall improvement for the last few years (Bullough), respectively. I think Akeem Dent gets cut, and Rashard Cliett will be on the practice squad.
49. * Brennan Scarlett, OLB
The star of the second half of the Arizona game, Scarlett got a late start on training camp because of injury, but is making the most of his opportunities now. His stat line against Arizona was positively Watt-ian (six tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, two tackles for loss). Reminds me of Bryan Braman's successful bid to make the team back in 2011.
50. Charles James, CB
I am not making him a lock, only because he would never make himself a lock, but James is making the team. There's no superior physical specimen like Jumal Rolle (sarcasm font, Texan fans get it) around to take James' gig this time.
51. Eddie Pleasant, S
52. Antonio Allen, S
I honestly have no idea which safeties they like. This is as guess-y as guessing gets.
53. Brandon Weeden, QB
Tom Savage has reverted back a bit to being Tom Savage again. I think O'Brien is going to keep that backup gig competitive for a while.
FELL OFF LIST: Kenny Hilliard, RB; Cecil Shorts, WR; Tony Washington, Jr., OLB
MOST "IN JEOPARDY": All of the running backs, Still, both safeties, Weeden
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SeanTPendergast and like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SeanTPendergast. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-texans-53-man-roster-prediction-version-40-8712195 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/d2c361b86e4bbbb0f3b6127045fba5fdaa645b051df2ff9ef109f3ea3e9230dd.json |
[
"Nick Hall"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:46:36 | null | 2016-08-30T07:00:00 | The Conservatory offers the convenience of several offerings in one downtown setting, but they might want to change the mix. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fconservatory-might-need-to-rethink-its-mix-8715543.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8715701/houston-press-samurai-noodle-spicy-garlic-shouyu-ramen-chuck-cook.jpg | en | null | Conservatory Might Need to Rethink Its Mix | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | The Garlic Shouyu ramen at Samurai Noodle came topped with bean sprouts, a halved boiled egg and rolled pork belly. Chuck Cook
It’s entirely possible that the best thing I had at Conservatory was a glass of agua fresca, owing at least partially to the fact that the underground “food hall” is best reached by portage, trekking overland among the skyscrapers. Conservatory is only tunnel-adjacent; you can’t get there by navigating subterranean trenches filled with cool, recycled air. A few blocks in the swelter of a Houston summer and an ice cold agua fresca is a self-contained oasis.
I ordered it while waiting for a crepe from Melange Creperie, one of four food vendors serving lunch, dinner and late night fare at Conservatory. The agua fresca was made from a local yellow-fleshed watermelon, available for only a brief snippet. Melange owner Sean Carroll, who focuses heavily on local and seasonal produce, had snapped up all he could get and I’m glad he did. It was mild, nuanced and only lightly sweet, with a delicately floral perfume that left me wishing I’d ordered two. The crepe I had that day paled, somewhat, in comparison.
I watched the woman behind the griddles make three crepes ahead of my Jian Bing, all of which flopped a bit more than I’ve grown accustomed to. I missed the finely-tuned and crispy browning that has long been a hallmark of Melange. I also missed the showmanship that usually informs the MC experience. You’re bound to lose some of that with a more volume-oriented model, but it’s a trade-off I’m not entirely sure I like.
The jian bing crepe at Melange is rich with egg, green onion and sweet chile. Chuck Cook
Though the crepe came out a bit softer than I’d like, the sheaf of wonton wafer inserted last minute helped return a bit of assertive crunch. Inside, it was rich with egg, a sedimentary layer of delicate scramble with nary a clump in sight. The bite of green onion came on before sweet chile, all of it cleared out by sriracha heat, just enough to notice. A bit more of the laser focus typical of Melange could turn this into a perfect, light-ish midday meal for an office worker returning to spreadsheets and miscellaneous drudgery.
For a bit more oomph that won’t find you slumped over your keyboard by 2 o’clock, you might try the Spicy Garlic Shouyu Ramen on offer at Samurai Noodle. My bowl came topped with a handful of bean sprouts, a halved boiled egg and a thin slice of rolled pork belly, still bearing a cladding of skin, blessedly tender and yielding with a good mix of meat and fat. Pungent garlic wafted up at me. The broth was nutty and rich, round and deep, yet with a clean edge and a good balance of salt. It was satisfying, but also refreshing in its simplicity.
Garlic and chile oil insinuated themselves via a surface slick. The garlic had abandoned its fresh bite, mellowing to just a bit of pungent edge. The chile oil brought fire and a slight fruitiness. The wavy noodles underneath were delightfully chewy, retaining their resilience to the bottom of the bowl. The broth seemed to get strangely blander over time, though, the ozone crunch of raw bean sprouts holding more and more sway.
Conservatory offers a concentrated collection of dining options until at least midnight every day of the week. Chuck Cook
The takoyaki that showed up after my ramen came topped with a drizzle of Kewpie mayo, a sweet and savory glaze, green onions and a scattering of heat-waving bonito flakes. The shaved fish added a smoky intrigue against the sweet-ish sauce, pricks of green onion and the creamy tang of mayo providing bass and top notes. The outsides were finely, uniformly crisped, while the interior remained creamy and pudding like. The quarter-inch nubs of octopus in each ball were a bit on the chewy side, but the texture was almost nice against the crispy and creamy elements.
Where I found Melange Creperie and Samurai Noodle to be turning out pretty good versions of the product they’ve offered in other locations, I can’t say the same about newcomer El Burro & the Bull. Chef and owner John Avila brings some pedigree with him, having put in time with famed pitmaster Aaron Franklin. I had high hopes for the three-meat plate I brought back to my desk after my lunch visit. Even weighing in the Styrofoam trek back to my office, El Burro & the Bull was disappointing.
For starters, they’d gotten my order wrong. Pulled pork was subbed for the pork ribs I requested, and coleslaw stood in for creamed corn. I’m sure had I dined in and pointed out the error, the staff would have corrected it with a smile. They could not have corrected the lackluster food, however. My order of brisket was incredibly fatty and, while the meat was cooked well and the fat properly rendered, it bore only a surface level smokiness that rang sharp and sour. The meat recalled roast beef more than barbecue, despite the Central Texas standard salt and pepper-rubbed bark. The cut was telling too, the meat hacked carelessly with the grain.
Smoked boudin tilted in the opposite direction, with a strong, acrid smoke character like a brush fire with jerky kindling.
The pulled pork proved the best meat of the day, even if that’s damning with faint praise. It came finely chopped, spreading the stinging smoky notes around a bit more. For that, though, the meat was still oddly bland. No post-chop soak of hot sauce and vinegar, it even needed salt. The chop also left it mushy, but dryly so.
The chicken pita at Myth was topped with tomatoes and red onion and drizzled with tzatziki. Chuck Cook
While it’s no surprise to see Conservatory packed at lunch, filled with a somewhat captive audience of cubicle dwellers, the place was nearly as full late on a weekend evening. Downtown is a few years into a resurgence of sorts, and Conservatory is one more draw, offering a concentrated collection of dining options until at least midnight every day of the week.
As my family waited in one of the booths tucked into a corner across from the stairwell, I grabbed a few beers from the well-appointed tap wall. With a good range of options and reasonable prices, the beer garden certainly represents one of Conservatory’s finer points. I set the beers down, checked on the crepes I had coming up and placed an order at Samurai Noodle: Tonkotsu ramen, gyoza and an order of karaage, which appeared before the crepes.
The ramen was creamy, rich and sweetly porky. It was simple and comforting, with a nice resilient chew to the noodles. The pork belly chashu was slick and lip coating, while slivers of wood-ear mushrooms added a nice snappy texture. It wasn’t as deep or assured of flavor as other versions around town, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
The karaage and gyoza both suffered from technical problems. The fried chicken turned leathery in a few spots not shielded by crunchy coating. Inside the meat was moist and flavorful, if a bit over-salted. The gyoza were thin-skinned and delicate, their filling speaking both of rich pork and sweet vegetables, but were left to fry a bit too long on bottom, the shattering crunch turning spotted black and bitter.
I retrieved my crepes between bites of gyoza and slurps of noodles. A savory and spicy saag paneer crepe had a good base of spicy, nuanced flavor, but wanted a lifting hit of herbs or a spritz of acid at the end. Dragged through the zippy Kewpie mayo from the karaage, it popped a bit more assertively.
As for a crepe filled with fig, goat cheese and honey, it’s the only Melange crepe I’ve ever not finished, its domineering smear of goat cheese taking on unappetizing gastric notes. I’m not sure what happened here, as this combination of simple, seasonal flavors seems like it would have been classic MC stuff.
I’ve heard from a couple of people that Myth Kafe, directly across from Melange, frequently runs out of menu items. I attempted to order a side of Mystic Potatoes with my Orpheus and Arnaki pita sandwiches, only to be told that they only had enough potatoes to offer them alongside their marinated roast chicken plate. I made do with a side of hummus, though the creamy dip bore no trace of anything aside from the requisite chickpeas.
The Arnaki sounded swell on the menu, filled with roasted lamb and all the usuals. Unfortunately, the lamb came out both dry and still riddled with tough connective tissue, giving it a distracting texture. The tzatziki drizzled on top was okay, but not quite the fresh pop of herbs that I’d hoped for. It helped in lubricating the meat, though the sandwich needed more of it.
The chicken pita surprised me, its juicy breast meat given a run across the flat-top for some well-executed char. Packed into a soft, griddled pita and topped with juicy tomatoes, snappy red onion with a good bit of bite and drizzled with tzatziki, it made for a tasty package. It’s not going to win an award, but I could see this really hitting the spot after a night of downtown drinking.
I don’t think even a belly full of beer or bourbon could redeem the barbecue tacos we had at El Burro & the Bull that evening, though. The brisket taco came topped with watery pico, an ungainly blob of sour cream and a casual scattering of shredded cheese sitting listlessly on top, un-melted and unapologetic. The dry, mushy beef had no more character in taco form. The pork taco had better flavor, but was chokingly dry. A spritz of lime and scattering of cilantro added appropriate counterpoints, the acid in particular helping to lift the other flavors. The cotija tossed on top seemed like it came from a green canister, deposited in a tiny, desiccant rubble. Barbecue tacos are hard to nail down, and the hammer strikes far from true here.
Ultimately, Conservatory is a bit of a mixed bag. It feels hip and urban in a way Houston rarely does and there is certainly some good food on offer. Some of it, though, suffers from growing pains or slight execution wobbles that could work themselves out over time with some attention to detail. Some of it just suffers. Finding the right mix of vendors for a venture like Conservatory is key. I like that the space offers a broad range of options, but breadth is no substitution for quality. Perhaps Conservatory needs to rethink its mix. At the very least, its vendors need to re-focus on getting the details (and sometimes the basics) right.
Conservatory Underground Beer Garden and Food Hall
1010 Prairie, 832-919-8382, conservatoryhtx.com. Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays
Agua fresca $3
Saag paneer crepe $7
Fig, goat cheese and honey crepe $7
Jian bing crepe $6
Gyoza $5.25
Karaage $5.25
Takoyaki $4.95
Tonkotsu ramen $9.25
Spicy Garlic Shouyu ramen $10.75
Three-meat barbecue plate $17.95
Mixed taco combo $10.50
Side hummus $3.25
Arnaki (marinated lamb) pita $11.25
Orpheus (marinated chicken) pita $9.50 | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/conservatory-might-need-to-rethink-its-mix-8715543 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/73b94021e46e21933d0c8c18ce1ac0ddd39483a17eaeef71d0d750f4f1bfb2b9.json |
[
"Sean Pendergast"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:46:48 | null | 2016-08-29T09:00:00 | On Sunday, the Texans finally got a 2016 preseason win that means something. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Fnews%2Fnfl-preseason-week-3-cardinals-texans-4-winners-4-losers-8710228.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8713432/hou_news_20160820_nfltexansvssaints_ericsauseda_024.jpg | en | null | NFL Preseason Week 3: Cardinals-Texans - 4 Winners, 4 Losers | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Brock Osweiler had another stellar outing on Sunday night. Eric Sauseda
For the Houston Texans, beating the San Francisco 49ers on the road and the New Orleans Saints at home in Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason was nice and all, but if we are to buy into Week 3 of the preseason being the most meaningful of the preseason weeks, then what happened in NRG Stadium on Sunday afternoon was something altogether different.
The Texans beat the Arizona Cardinals, one of about a half dozen teams on the short list of Super Bowl favorites for 2016, 34-24, but perhaps the score that mattered even more was 31-10 — that was the halftime score. Thirty minutes of football, largely with 1's against 1's, and the Texans were leading by 21, despite a complete inability to run the football.
I have no idea if the optimism coming out of Sunday translates into similar achievement beginning two weeks from now, but things sure are getting fun to think about. Let's see who won and lost the little battles on Sunday...
WINNERS
4. John Simon
While everyone sort of waits to anoint a healthy Jadeveon Clowney as the starting outside linebacker for this time, Simon continues to make plays this preseason. Of course, he scored the Texans first touchdown of the preseason two weeks ago in San Francisco, and on Sunday, his interception and score off of Carson Palmer was slightly reminiscent of J.J. Watt's pick and score against Andy Dalton in the 2011 playoffs. It's clear the coaching staff still sees Simon as a working part of this defense.
3. DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins isn't really listed here for anything he did in the game on Sunday, although his two catches were both for first downs, and the first one in particular showed off a shiftiness in tight space that I don't recall seeing in Hopkins last season. No, Hopkins is listed here because the top wide receiver in his draft class, Tavon Austin of the Rams, got paid this weekend. Here are the details on Austin's deal and the comparison between him and Hopkins:
TAVON AUSTIN (2013-2015):
123 catches, 1133 yds, 9 TDs
DeANDRE HOPKINS (2015 ALONE):
111 catches, 1521 yds, 11 TDs https://t.co/7iC6NgUXmX — Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) August 27, 2016
Man., Hopkins's next deal, whether here or somewhere else in two years, just keeps growing and growing.
2. Dak Prescott
My putting Prescott here has become a weekly tradition, my one non-Texans related nugget, and if he would just stop being so awesome, then maybe I could find another non-Texans topic to talk about. However, not only was Prescott decent against the Seahawks (17-23, 116 yards, 1 touchdown pass), but he will now need to be pretty damn good in the regular season with Tony Romo out with a fracture in his back for six to ten weeks. As I've mentioned many times, Prescott is who I wanted for the Texans. How painful it will be if he turns into something four hours to the north. That said...
1. Brock Osweiler
.....the guy the Texans wound up with was pretty damn good for a second straight game. On Sunday, Osweiler was 11 for 13 for 146 yards and a gorgeous touchdown to Will Fuller. In fact, Osweiler and Fuller seem to have found a nice rhythm working with one another. I'm not sure what led to Osweiler's 26.7 percent completion percentage on deep balls in Denver last season, but I'll be damned if it looks like he's fixed whatever it was. Also, Osweiler has shown solid poise over the last two games. In particular, on the fourth and three call in the first series, he felt pressure, slid up, and completed a pass to Braxton Miller. Osweiler looks ready to make John Elway regret his decision to roll with Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian at QB this season.
LOSERS
4. Running game
All of that said about Osweiler, the Texans are going to need to run the football consistently at some point. It's one thing to blame underperformance in the run game on the herky jerky nature of the preseason, but it's another thing to rush for 48 yards on 23 carries. I mean, it's bad enough when a null set like Alfred Blue is your leading rusher, but it's even worse when he rushes for 17 yards on six carries, and that's enough to get that done.
3. Random outside linebackers
We all know the first three outside linebackers on this team — Whitney Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, and John Simon, in some order. After that, it's been a bunch of random (largely undrafted) names over the last three seasons. (Where have you gone, Kourtnei Brown?) One of those random names has been guaranteed a spot the last few years because most teams carry more than three outside linebackers. Well, go ahead and shut down the competition for the fourth OLB spot now... sorry, Eric Lee, Carlos Thompson, and Tony Washington. Brennan Scarlett nailed down that spot on Sunday with six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. It reminded me of Bryan Braman making the team in 2011 with a multi-sack game against the Jets in the preseason.
2. Cecil Shorts
In a battle for the fifth wide receiver spot, Keith Humphrey made a big 31-yard catch down the field with the second unit, and Shorts had one catch for seven yards. I'm just starting to get the sneaking suspicion that the Texans are going to roll into the season with Hopkins as their most experienced WR heading into his fourth season... and I think they're fine with this.
1. Matt Barkley
Yeah, yeah, Barkley threw two touchdown passes to get Arizona back into the game. He also had two interceptions and lost a fumble. Remember that time USC held a celebratory press conference when Barkley announced he was returning for his senior year? That was pretty funny. Oh, also, remember that time Barkley's personal QB coach, Steve Clarkson, compared him to a combination of Tom Brady and Joe Montana? Even funnier. But not as funny as the time Clarkson compared Jimmy Clausen to LeBron James.
Now, THAT'S comedy.
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SeanTPendergast and like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SeanTPendergast. | http://www.houstonpress.com/news/nfl-preseason-week-3-cardinals-texans-4-winners-4-losers-8710228 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/8f93eb795d2a64d70e70be6f019ea5adb9d66a10f60aed5db98a695be9a18b3c.json |
[
"Margaret Downing"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:46:42 | null | 2016-08-30T09:00:00 | We preview the upcoming studio showcase at Houston Grand Opera designed to show off its student artists' skills. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Fhouston-grand-operas-studio-showcase-offers-a-glimpse-of-the-future-8712549.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8712551/meganstudioshowcase800.jpg | en | null | Preview: Houston Grand Opera's Studio Showcase for Fall 2016 | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Megan Mikailovna Samarin in yellow at last year's Studio Showcase Photo by Lynn Lane
Growing up in California, Megan Mikailovna Samarin played piano and sang in her grandmother's Russian church. But it wasn't until she joined a middle school choir that she fell in love with classical music.
Going on to the Manhattan School of Music — and New York City was very different from California, she says — Samarin caught the eye of the folks with Houston Grand Opera. She is now starting her third year as one of the studio artists in a program designed to develop future professional opera singers and help them launch their careers.
Samarin and other HGO studio artists will have a chance to show everything they've got in the upcoming two performances of the HGO Studio Showcase which will include selections from Faust, La boheme, Lucia di Lammermoor and Carmen.
“This year I will do a scene as Romeo – it's a pants role. I'll also be Concepcion in L'heure espagnole by Ravel, this seductive woman has multiple lovers she hides from each other and her husband. I'll be a gypsy in Carmen and a nun,” says Samarin, laughing.
“As a mezzo soprano I am often asked to sing pants roles – the role of a young boy that can be played by a woman. I find this interesting that I get to inhabit a body that’s so different from mine.”
Samarin adds that the showcase benefits all participants because “it gives us insight into what roles are in our future.”
Performances are scheduled for September 11 and 13 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Tuesday. Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas. For information call 713-228-6737 or visit houstongrandopera.org. $20 mezzanine tickets remaining. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/houston-grand-operas-studio-showcase-offers-a-glimpse-of-the-future-8712549 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/a1e9de49b0e58ac9487a63d98d8d40896c2bc30e9d27e3c4a1d344e3d4e46931.json |
[
"Pete Vonder Haar"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:48:05 | null | 2016-08-26T07:00:00 | A review (of the easily distracted variety) of Fede Alvarez's tense follow-up to 2013's Evil Dead | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Farts%2Freviews-for-the-easily-distracted-dont-breathe-8699011.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8706057/hou_art_20160826_dontbreathe_header.jpg | en | null | Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Don't Breathe | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | Title: Don't Breathe
Describe This Movie In One Simpsons Quote:
Chief Wiggum: Book him, boys.
Eddie: Hold on, Chief. It might be medicinal.
Mr. Mirchell: Uh, yeah, medicinal! Without it, I could, uh, go even blinder!
Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Four Cujos out of five.
Brief Plot Synopsis:
Tagline: "This house looked like an easy target. Until they found what was inside."
Better Tagline: "See no evil?" "The eyes have it?" Blind puns are so iffy
Not So Brief Plot Synopsis: Rocky (Jane Levy) is a burglar. Together with her boyfriend "Money" (Daniel Zovatto) and platonic bestie Alex (Dylan Minnette), they break into Detroit houses "protected" by Alex's dad's security service. The stakes are low, as are the risks, until the trio learn about a man (Stephen Lang) living in a nearly deserted part of town who just received a huge settlement in the accidental death of his daughter. This is the big score they've waited for, and the guy also happens to be blind, which will make things much easier, right?
"Critical" Analysis: Fede Alvarez went for all the marbles in his 2013 directorial debut by helming a remake of the horror classic Evil Dead. While abandoning most of the original's humor, it was nonetheless an impressive effort, drenched in blood and relying much more heavily on pure terror, and it cemented both Alvarez and Levy as talents to watch.
Don't Breathe dials back the gore factor but arguably goes even longer on the dread. Alvarez has a real talent for building tension and, in the young Levy, may have found the perfect acting foil for his particular brand of atmospheric horror. It helps that Rocky is no mere scream queen, operating with pragmatic and occasionally ruthless efficiency in spite of the circumstances.
About those circumstances...let's not sugarcoat things here; Rocky, Alex, and Money are not good people. First, they target this guy because he obtained a six-figure settlement following the death of his young daughter, and then, when they find out he's blind, decide to go ahead with the robbery. On the surface, you won't find a more deserving group of murder victims this side of I Know What You Did Last Summer.
To his credit, Alvarez does try make a few of the perpetrators sympathetic. For example, Rocky is from a broken home and wants to rescue her younger sister from their terrible mother, which is certainly a noble endeavor. Alex, on the other hand, seems like a nice kid but ultimately goes along because he's in love with Rocky. And Money is merely a scumbag. Just in case you didn't pick that up from the name "Money."
Some of the more far-fetched elements are addressed adequately (the omnipresent horror movie cell phone conundrum), others not so much (why do they assume the money is just sitting around in fat stacks?). And to Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues' credit, the movie also features one of the more unpleasant reveals in recent memory, one that almost immediately goes over the line, in every bellowing Walter Sobchak sense of the word.
There's also some economic commentary crammed in there, mostly to justify the Blind Man's actions. I'm not saying anything forgives what the dude subsequently does, but let's just say it appears the Castle Doctrine covers a lot more than just putting a bullet in an intruder's head. Lang gives his unnamed character grim purpose, and undercoats it with genuine menace.
Don't Breathe does great until the third act, where it starts stretching credibility juuust a bit in search of resolution. Even in spite of that, it's a fine horror film: claustrophobic, gripping, and refreshingly self-contained. And if it makes people think twice about picking on the disabled — or voting for those who do — so much the better. | http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/reviews-for-the-easily-distracted-dont-breathe-8699011 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/fc1d4f47c1d0b26729cf67371ab127ffba2ccb0def988c3d52a0697678c3a441.json |
[
"Cuc Lam"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:46:58 | null | 2016-08-30T06:00:00 | Houston Press does their own recipe testing of the Chicago Tribune's list of KFC's 11 Herbs & Spices. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonpress.com%2Frestaurants%2Fdid-the-chicago-tribune-really-find-kfcs-secret-fried-chicken-recipe-8714564.json | http://images1.houstonpress.com/imager/u/original/8714967/houfood_160828_kfcbucket_cuclam.jpg | en | null | Did The Chicago Tribune Really Find KFC's Secret Fried Chicken Recipe? | null | null | www.houstonpress.com | EXPAND A bucket of the famous KFC Original Recipe fried chicken. Photo by Cuc Lam
A recent Chicago Tribune article proclaimed that they believe they've discovered one of the most legendary secrets in the culinary world: the eleven herbs and spices used in the batter of KFC's famous Original Recipe fried chicken. We decided to test the recipe for ourselves to see if it's the real deal.
The Tribune obtained the recipe from Joe Ledington, the nephew of colonel Harland Sanders, who was the iconic founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Ledington says he used to blend the spices for his uncle and told a reporter that the recipe is authentic.
The Tribune tested it and made some determinations, like that the capital "T" in the handwritten recipe measurements meant "Tablespoon." One ingredient wasn't in the list, though: MSG. When Accent, a brand of MSG, was sprinkled onto a piece of chicken by a reporter, the flavor puzzle fell into place. A KFC spokesperson was asked whether or not the Original Recipe chicken includes MSG and that fact was confirmed.
EXPAND The 11 herbs and spices from left to right, from the back: MSG, all-purpose flour, white pepper, salt, ground ginger, garlic salt, paprika, dried basil, celery salt, dried oregano, black pepper, dried thyme and ground mustard Photo by Cuc Lam
Here is the list of spices to mix with two cups of all-purpose flour, as adjusted by Joe Gray of the Chicago Tribune:
2/3 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1/3 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried mustard
4 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons garlic salt
1 tablespoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons ground white pepper
EXPAND Taste-testers Tricia Miller and Belinda Grivas taking their task seriously in the first trial run. Photo by Cuc Lam
With six hungry volunteers, the Press performed a taste comparison between fried chicken made from the list in the Tribune's article and Original Recipe fried chicken purchased from KFC at 12499 Westheimer. Each taster was given two pieces of chicken, one labeled "A" and the other labeled "B." They were also given cards to keep notes about each sample.
Tasters found sample "A" to be "more traditional, tender and golden in color." One of the volunteers, Ryan Fernandez, commented that sample "A" tasted like "college, because we ate a lot of fried chicken at school!" The tasters commented that the sample "B" chicken was "darker in color, more greasy, 'homey,' moist and flavorful."
EXPAND For trial one, the chicken was bathed in buttermilk for 48 hours and cooked at 350 to 375 degrees, resulting in a darker color. Photo by Cuc Lam
After questions about appearance, texture, smell and taste were asked, each person was asked to pick his or her favorite. Overwhelmingly, "B" was picked as the favorite (by a five-to-one vote). Of course, it was the home-cooked version. There were actually a few tweaks made to the Chicago Tribune recipe for this trial run. All of the eleven spices were used, but the chicken was soaked in a buttermilk bath for 48 hours before cooking. Rather than sprinkle on the MSG, a half of a tablespoon was added to the flour mixture.
The longer soak time in buttermilk actually seemed to improve the recipe. However, in the Tribune's test, the chicken was fried at 350 degrees and our inconsistent temperature, which ranged between that and 375 degrees, resulted in the darker crust. So, another run was made at it, this time holding the temperature steady at 350 degrees.
EXPAND For trial two, with exception to the MSG step, the recipe and cooking instructions were followed exactly with astonishing results. Photo by Cuc Lam
The results were dramatic. It was hard to fathom having to sprinkle raw MSG on food so we still blended it into the flour and spice mixture. This time, the home-cooked version matched the real KFC chicken in both texture and flavor, but still appeared a bit darker than the real KFC fried chicken. Cooking instructions can be found in the Tribune's article.
So here's the verdict: if the Chicago Tribune's Kentucky Fried Chicken Original Recipe isn't exact, it is very, very close. If he was still alive today, the Colonel may not be very happy with his nephew for spilling the beans about his secret recipe, but he can rest assured that people still love his fried chicken.
Thanks to the discovery, a home-cooked version is only a fry away; all that's missing is the bucket. | http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/did-the-chicago-tribune-really-find-kfcs-secret-fried-chicken-recipe-8714564 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.houstonpress.com/6c48599e7b8870f08e3da2d0755b1ab69fd0a0d9d90812a4f183b39d6a8f8890.json |
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