Third meeting of the Afrofuturism Book Club! Also I finally saw the Station Museum of Contemporary Art’s latest exhibit. It’s called Parallel Kingdom and features work by Saudi Arabian artists. Soooo good and it closes October 2. I also made it to the Kusama exhibit at the MFAH (shout out to LVM for accompanying me!) which was beautiful. Also In The Heights (by LinManuel Miranda aka the guy who wrote Hamilton) opens on Tuesday so I’m excited to see it again! LOTS to do this week but you may not see me (lol who am I kidding) because I’m getting ready to launch MindRemind on Monday!

Thursday, September 8

Suya and Wine Networking Event by the Nigerian American Multicultural Council at the Houston Museum of African American Culture at 6pm. That was a mouthful (handful?), but I have fun at NAMC events and always meet interesting people even though I’m not Nigerian (DNA results pending…). You’d be surprised at how much programming they do throughout the city. Tickets are $5 in advance and that includes suya and wine as promised.  Coworking space START Houston is having its monthly happy hour with free beer and food at 6pm. National Black MBA Houston is holding Investing in Yourself: Lessons from Entrepreneurs at the United Way at 6:30pm. Rapper Dee-1 of Sallie Mae fame is coming to Walter’s Downtown at 7pm with tickets a measly $12. Pretty much everyone I know can relate to the student loan debt struggle so hooray for topical music!

Parallel Kingdom at Station Museum of Contemporary Art

Friday, September 9

The MFAH is having a screening of award-winning international film Sonita (8/10 on IMDB) at 7pm with another screening on Saturday. Local hip hop group Rosewood Thievz are having their EP release party at Walter’s at 8pm.

Saturday, September 10

The free inaugural Houston African Arts Festival kicks off today through Sunday at Jones Plaza at 11am. Join nearly 100 yoga enthusiasts in Hermann Park for a free yoga class at 8:15am. All you need is your mat, towel, and water. If you eat pork head to the BBQ Pork Bun Eating Contest at Fung’s Kitchen at 11:30am. $20 benefiting the Houston Food Bank, and all the deliciousness you can eat. If that wasn’t enough to follow up Restaurant Weeks the Houston Jerk Fest is at India House kicking off at noon and Reggae artist Mr. Vegas will be performing! Tickets are $20. Rise Above: A Story of Hope is The TRUTH Project’s examination of sexual assault through multidisciplinary art starting at 3:30pm at MATCH. Unapologetic, an exhibit exploring race, gender, and activism at Community Artists’ Collective, has an opening starting at 6pm. I’ll absolutely be there. The No Diggity monthly R&B jam at Fox Hollow continues at 9pm. Go and bring back the nayhoo. Also check out the monthly Offline at Alley Kat starting at 9pm as well.

Sunday, September 11

Check out the Houston African Arts Festival if you didn’t on Saturday. I had a great time at The Waxaholics brunch at Bar 5015 and the food was delicious. DJ Red Soda played all the right music. Get there early (noonish) if you want a seat. I’m also hearing that Cafe 4212 and Scrappy Brown’s have their own brunches happening if 5015 is too crowded.

Monday, September 12

??? Go to Station Museum of Contemporary art or Kusama!

Tuesday, September 13

The Greater Houston Black Chamber continues their monthly luncheons with a focus on Franchising for Black Businesses at 11:30am at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Beyonce’s artist Ingrid is back rapping at House of Blues Houston for her residency starting at 7pm for only $10. Sounds of Houston: Discovery Discussions is a continuation of the popular discussion series at Discovery Green brings Matthew Knowles (aka Beyonce’s dad and former manager), Asli Omar of the Tontons, and Mario Rodriguez of Wonky Power Records together for a panel.

Wednesday, September 14

This is kinda intense but really important. “Mapping the Margins” Again: Intimate Partner Violence against Black Women in Jim Crow Houston is a lecture being given at Rice at 6:30pm by a CERCL Scholar-in-Residence.

Thursday, September 15

Join startup founders, techies, investors, and other entrepreneurial-minded people at this monthly meetup at local startup hub Station Houston for the OpenCoffee Houston Meetup at 8am. The coffee, kolaches, and conversation are all free! Lunch & Learn: Generating Leads for your Business using Twitter Advertising is also at Station Houston with a free session on lead generation at 11:30am. Trap Thursday at Scrappy Brown’s at 7pm. To be honest I’m mainly just putting this here for the TRAP PLATE which consists of the Scrappy Burger, a Fried Lobster Tail, and Truffle Fries for $25. Aside from that and happy hour from 5-7 pm, any other detail is superfluous. ZIN & Folklore Films presents, Porch Stories is a a documentary that focuses on the life experiences of elders living in the famous Third Ward, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Houston. This screening has special importance because it continues the work of the late ZIN, a beloved figure in the community. The Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour is coming to the Toyota Center. Need I say more? Lyric Michelle is hosting #SIPANDDRIP2 “Art w/ a Soundtrack”  at Sharespace at 8pm. Advance tickets are only $6 for the event that includes free drinks.

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