This week is ridiculous. It took way too long to write I don’t even have time to add pictures and artist links right now. Houston doesn’t get much better than this. Go to everything. freshDarkfest will be awesome. Also, Round 44: Shattering the Concrete: Artists, Activists, and Instigators at Project Row Houses closes on Sunday so if you haven’t yet gone, get there!

Thursday, June 16: Saint Heron is hosting a free album release party for INGRID at Walter’s Downtown starting at 6pm. She has a writing credit on Beyonce’s latest album and signed to her label last year. Black Women in Science & Engineering are holding a free networking event: Cocktails, Careers and Conversations with Nathelyne Kennedy, 2016 Houston Engineer of the Year. The event begins at 6pm at Elaine Turner Boutique. The Houston Maker Meetup is gathering all the local artists, fabricators, developers, and engineers over free beer at Winter Street Studios beginning at 7pm. The Fade to Black Play Festival, a showcase of the work of black playwrights from across the country, runs through Saturday. 

Friday, June 17: Comicpalooza runs through the weekend and features a big lineup of stars in the comic and pop culture worlds including famed wrestler Ric Flair at George R. Brown Convention Center for $30. Pop Shop Houston is holding their free annual Mister Man event at Buffalo Bayou starting at 5pm with all kinds of wares geared toward men in preparation for Father’s Day. There’ll be live music, a burlesque performance, and a mustache contest. Also starting at 5pm singer Chrisette Michele is having a CD pre-sale and Meet & Greet at Serious Sounds Record Store. Artist Sondra Perry is performing A Party With No Agenda in conjunction with a larger collaborative exhibit at DiverseWorks where at 7pm she’ll explore the visualization of various concepts through popular culture, including the Simpsons! The Houston Museum of Natural Science is bringing back Mixers & Elixirs with music, drinks, and food trucks starting at 7pm for $25. The MFAH is continuing their Jazz on Film series with The Case of the Three-Sided Dream, and special guests are expected to attend this screening beginning at 7pm! The State of the Caribbean Summit takes place with a panel discussion at TSU beginning at 7pm. Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights (by Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton) opens at Playhouse 1960 through June 25 for $18. Trap Karaoke comes to Houston at Warehouse Live. It’s free and begins at 8pm. Should be a good time.

Saturday, June 18: Lowbrow is having a LGBT Pride kick-off drag brunch starting at noon. The Houston Caribbean Film Festival opens beginning at 2pm at TSU. freshDark Festival kicks off with a whole slew of local acts and an impressive Friday headliner with Los Angeles group j*davey who I hope performs my favorite track Queen of Wonderland. The Station Museum of Contemporary Art, who produced one of my favorite exhibits last year Corpocracy, is opening their new Parallel Kingdom exhibit which features contemporary art from Saudi Arabia kicking off at 7pm. I’ll probably be running there immediately after freshDark ends.

Sunday, June 19: Happy Juneteenth and happy Father’s Day! freshDark continues with its second day culminating with Elaquent that evening. Weather permitting you should head to Raven Tower for Black Swan Yoga at 10am. I had to yell at the DJ last time because the music was a little too good and had me distracted while in my warrior 1 pose. Miller Outdoor Theatre has a Juneteenth Celebration with saxophonist Maceo Parker that’s free as always and begins at 7:30pm.

Monday, June 20: The Ensemble Theatre is holding a staged reading of George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum at 6pm for only $10.

Tuesday, June 21: The Houston Museum of African American Culture is holding a wine tasting with South Africa’s first black woman winemaker Ntsiki Biyela at 6pm for $15. Rudyard’s British Pub is hosting another Grown-up Storytime with a best-of edition featuring the best selections of the past season for $7.

Wednesday, June 22: The monthly Houston Startup Demo Day at START Houston begins at 6pm. Get there early because it gets crowded and they run out of pizza and beer quickly. Private Excitement with Ill Faded and Fat Tony is at Nightingale Room with doors at 7pm for free. If you’re into great music and willing to pay, Anderson .Paak is coming to Houston for the first time at the House of Blues with openers Pomo and rap phenom Little Simz performing songs off his excellent Malibu solo debut. If that weren’t enough, The Foreign Exchange is back in Houston but at Walter’s which should add even more excitement to what’s already one of my favorite live acts for $25. Whichever concert you decide to attend, I’m sure everyone will be headed to Alley Kat afterward to review.

Thursday, June 23: Coworking space Headquarters is having a party to celebrate their building demolition (and subsequent new construction) at 3302 Canal with food, (free?) drinks, and indoor paintball. A bunch of local musicians are coming together for The Untitled Experience: Volume 1 at Chymistry Bar & Lounge. I can’t tell you exactly what’s going to happen, but the intriguing event is only $5 in advance and starts at 8pm. The local activist group connected to Black Lives Matter, BLMHTX, is having a general meeting at St. John’s Downtown focusing on Connecting Communities in/for Action. Lake Street Dive, led by the stunning voice of Rachael Price, is performing at the House of Blues. Discounted tickets are about $20.

RSVP now: I’m in a bit of a rush so I’ll add these later.

Clearly a HUGE week. As always, check out Merlex Picks for even more events!