For Houstonians looking to find something to do this weekend, May 17-19, options include artist talks at local museums, a Ukrainian cooking class and a new show debuting at Main Street Theater in Rice Village.
'Madame Butterfly': The Houston Grand Opera gives two performances of the work by Giocomo Puccini, directed by Michael Grandage. The show will be sung in Italian with a projection of English subtitles.
Views from Levy Park Artist Meet & Greet: The Houston Center for Photography partners with Levy Park on an event that allows visitors to meet the artists behind the fifth installation of the park's View from Levy Park exhibition. The year-long program allows students to learn about photography, and then showcases their work, which will be on display through June 16.
'Taking Steps': Main Street Theater in Rice Village puts on a performance of the farcical Alan Ayckbourn play about a man overseeing the sale of a house that used to serve as a brothel and is possibly haunted. The play opens on May 18 and runs through June 16.
3DTX Artist Talk: The Heidi Vaughan Fine Art gallery presents an artist talk related to its 3DTX exhibition, which features sculptural works of art from nine Texas artists. The talk features artists Susan Budge, Ernesto Marenco, Karin Broker, Bob Card, McKay Otto, and Michelle O'Michael. The exhibition itself runs through June 22.
Toy designer Stefanie Eskander at Houston Toy Museum: Stefenie Eskander—a toy designer who has worked on toy lines including Rainbow Brite, Cabbage Patch Kids and Jem, among others—makes an appearance at the Houston Toy Museum. Eskander will conduct a meet and greet and will tell stories from her time as a toy designer.
- May 18, 3 p.m.
- Cost of museum entrance: $14 for adults, children pay their age
- 321 West 19th St., Ste. C, Houston
- www.houstontoymuseum.com
In Conversation—Theaster Gates: Artist Theaster Gates along with Ryan Dennis, Charonda Johnson and Hesse McGraw join the Contemporary Art Museum Houston to talk about Gates' exhibition, "Theaster Gates: The Gift and The Renege," which debuts May 17. Gates will discuss his artistic process, how he amplifies Black spaces and how art can catalyze urban transformation. The exhibition features large-scale tar paintings, sculptures and installations the highlight the "unseen dynamics of Freedmen's Town" in Houston.
- May 18, 3:30-5 p.m.
- Free (RSVP required)
- Brown Foundation Gallery, 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston
- www.camh.org
Treble Choir of Houston annual Spring Concert: The Treble Choir of Houston, under the direction of founder and artistic director Marianna Parnas-Simpson, presents its annual Spring Concert. This concert features songs from the 2023-24 repertoire as well as vocal and instrumental solos.
- May 18, 2 p.m.
- Free
- Trinity Downtown Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Ave., Houston
- www.treblechoir.com
A Night of Stargazing: Officials with Memorial Park host a stargazing event at Clay Family Eastern Glades. Astronomers with Houston Astronomical Society will be on site to guide guests through a viewing of constellations, planets and other celestial objects, and guests can bring telescopes and binoculars.
In Baba's Kitchen: As part of the Ukraine Project, Archaeology Now presents a cooking class and tasting event led by Ukrainian husband-and-wife chefs Bek Mamat and Irina Mamataliyev, alongside Czechoslovakian-born chef Monica Pope. Chefs will teach participants how to make borsch and pierogi, and the proper way to drink vodka. Houston businessman Steven Givot also gives a presentation about his experience of cooking with World Central Kitchen at the Polish-Ukrainian border shortly after the war started in 2022.
Houston’s Funniest Comedy Showcase: This comedy show will feature Houston comedians who have headlined performances in Rudyard’s. The club serves food, beer, wine and cocktails.
- May 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
- $10 (general admission), $30-$75 (two-, four-top tables and VIP)
- Rudyard’s, 2010 Waugh Drive, Houston
- www.theriothtx.com
