Lots of great stuff going on in and around Houston this week. Movie screenings, short films, music from local bands, and poker games.

Last week was the Houston Beer Fest (11-M06-1). I had fully intended to put it on the Weekly LOVIEE in addition to the Monthly LOVIEE where it was originally featured. In retrospect, its accidental omission is just as well; I will be making a longer commentary post about the aftermath of this event later in the week.

Ongoing

Snowman Poker League hosts free Texas Hold’em poker tournaments at bars and pubs across the greater Houston area. Featured games this week: Griff’s, 3416 Roseland, Wed 7pm & 10pm; Barney’s #5, 217 FM 1960 Road West, Sun 1pm & 4pm; Mezzanine Lounge, 2200 Southwest Freeway #150, Thu/Sun/Mon 7:30pm & 10:30pm; Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant (new venue), 9330 Broadway (Pearland), Mon 7pm & 10pm. Z-SMP

Wednesday 06-15

Dinner and a Movie: Pump Up The Volume, Sedition Books, 910 Richmond, 7:30pm, $5 suggested donation. The story of a teenager’s one-man war against boredom, fought with the help of his pirate radio station. A great chance to watch this movie if you’ve never seen it before (or even if you have and you want to see it again). 11-W24-1

Thursday 06-16

Two Spirits (part of Rice Cinema), Rice University, 6100 Main, 7pm, free. An openly gay Native American teen is murdered, and his mother breaks a long-standing Navaho tradition not to speak of the dead in order to tell his story as one of the youngest victims of a hate crime in recent memory. 11-W24-2

Friday 06-17

Extremely Shorts Film Festival, Molly Gochman’s Studio, 2442 Bartlett Street, $10 (free for Aurora Picture Show members) + $15 (or $10 for APS members) for picnic, 8pm-?. A showcase of short films from local cinematographers. 11-W24-3

Chase Hamblin as Guest DJ, Leon’s Lounge, 1006 McGowen, 9pm-?, no cover. “Primarily ’60s and ’70s pop, rock, R&B, glam, garage, country, blues, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc.” My interest is piqued already. 11-W24-4

Saturday 06-18

Acadia, 3939 FM 1960 West, doors 8pm, 18+, $8. Three great local bands: OSIRUS at 9:30pm; Shadow Code at 10:30pm; Adamantium at 11:45pm. 11-W24-5

Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd, doors 8pm, 18+, $5 (21+)/$10 (18-20). Four great local bands: Moria Red, 20/20, Melovine, and Saturate. Also featuring DJ Inzi in the Green Room. 11-W24-6

Carter Beckworth CD release party, Continental Club, 3700 Main, 8pm. Also featuring Collapsing Horse. 11-W24-7

Long days, warm weather, that “head to the beach” vibe, rock and roll, crawfish boils, and a few art exhibits. Add them all up, and you have summer time in Houston.

Continuing This Week

Round 34: Matter of FOOD, Project Row Houses, 2505-2517 Holman St., Wed-Sun noon-5pm. An exhibit addressing the issues of nutrition, accessibility, and sustainable urban farming practices, and celebrating food traditions. Exhibition continues through June 19. (My apologies for leaving this off of the LOVIEEs after its initial mention; it should have been included at least once again before now.) 11-R34MOF

Wednesday 06-08

Folk Punk show featuring The Wild, Sedition Books, 901 Richmond, 7:30pm. The Wild hails from Atlanta, and are on tour with Run, Forever from Pittsburgh. Local acts Days N Daze, RadioFlyer, U not I, and Marissa will also be performing. 11-W23-1

Dick Dale, Continental Club, 3700 Main, 7pm. “The King of Surf Guitar” makes an appearance in Houston. Also featuring Laramie Dean and Paul Ramirez. 11-W23-2

Opening Thursday 06-09

Kana Harada: Tears of Light, Koelsch Gallery, 703 Yale Street, 6-9pm (opening reception). Kana is a Dallas-based artist who hand-cuts intricate, plant-like forms from sheets of white foam. She describes her work as “the joy and adventure of going back to the basics of the soul and finding nirvana.” 11-KHTOL

Friday 06-10

Screening of This Is It, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:30pm. Documentary about the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. 11-W23-3

Ars Lyrica presents Forbidden Pleasures, Hobby Center, $30 (use code “HYPA” at checkout for this price), 7:30pm. This finale to Ars Lyrica’s 2010-11 season includes works by Alessandro Scarlatti written during the prohibition of opera in Rome. 11-W23-4

Saturday 06-11

Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin IV, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 8:15pm. Musicians recreate the album as well as a selection of other hits by the rock legends. 11-W23-5

Sunday 06-12

Phillip’s Crawfish Boil, Mezzanine Lounge, 2200 Southwest Freeway #150, $18, 2pm until supply is exhausted. I had been meaning to feature one of these for a while, and almost ran out of chances; this is the last crawfish boil of the season, and a great reason to swing by “The Mezz” if you’ve never been before. If the mood strikes you, stick around for two rounds of Snowman Poker starting at 7:30pm and 10:30pm. 11-W23-6

June marks the official beginning of summer for most of us. Everything this week is an outdoor event. I didn’t plan it that way, it just sort of happened.

Also, I left off the introduction from last week’s Weekly LOVIEE. I guess that goes to show even the best of us make mistakes from time to time. I’ll try not to do that again. And now, on with the list…

Thursday 06-02

Raul Malo Concert at Discovery Green, 6:30pm, free admission. Shannon Whitworth is the opening act; Raul goes on at around 7pm. For those unfamiliar with Discovery Green: food, beer, and wine are available at the Lake House (expect to spend about $11-12 for a burger & a soda); blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics are okay, but no glass containers or outside alcohol. 11-W22-1

Friday 06-03

Sizzling Summer Dance by the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Miller Outdoor Theater, 8:30pm, free admission. “The Met” celebrates the finale of their 15th season with a free show at “the Miller.” 11-W22-2

Saturday 06-04 and Sunday 06-05

Free Press Summer Fest III, Eleanor Tinsley Park, $45+ (free for kids 5 and under). Featuring too many acts to try to list here, most notably the nationally known Weezer and local favorites Hayes Carll, Buxton, Tyagaraja, Finnegan, The Tontons, and The Watermarks. 11-M06-2

Sunday 06-05

Shellee Coley/Folk Family Revival (formerly Mason Lankford and the…), Bernhardt Winery, 9043 County Road 204 (Plantersville), 6:30pm-?, $7. Both of these great musicial acts representing the greater Houston area head north to the Bernhardt Winery in Plantersville. This will be a great show if you’re willing to make the trek. (This location is about 5 miles north of the Texas Renaissance Festival grounds in Todd Mission, and roughly 2 miles from downtown Plantersville.) 11-W22-3