Here are this week’s cultural, music, and startup events around Houston in a curated list! Congratulations to Tracy for winning my Persian cooking class giveaway! Subscribe to my emails here to get these messages directly in your inbox.

Make sure you’re caught up on this quarter’s featured events, upcoming concerts, cheap tech, and date ideas!

CHASING PERFECTION EXHIBIT OPENING
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A reception for the opening of our latest exhibit, Chasing Perfection, showcased at the Julia Ideson Building and the African American Library at the Gregory School. John Chase became the first licensed African American architect in Texas and is considered one of the most important African American architects of the 20th century. Learn more here. 

EDU-DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: PAPER TIGERS
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Set within and around the campus of Lincoln Alternative High School in the rural community of Walla Walla, Washington, the teens of Paper Tigers offer raw but valuable insight into the hearts and minds of teens pushing back against the specter of a hard childhood. Against the harsh reality of truancy, poor grades, emotional pain, and physical violence, answers begin to emerge. Learn more here. 

POETRY FIX: JULIANE TRAN & JASMINNE MÉNDEZ
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A twice-monthly (I think) open mic featuring Houston poets at Fix Coffeebar in Montrose. And you can pre-order Jasminne’s book of poetry now so ask her when you go! Learn more here. 

KINDER URBAN READS: DR. KYLE SHELTON
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Shelton will offer remarks and sign his new book Power Moves: Transportation, Politics, and Development in Houston. Shelton offers an important new chapter to the history of postwar metropolitan development and investigates how struggles over transportation systems have defined both the physical and political landscapes of Houston. Learn more here. 

HOUSTON STARTUP DEMO DAY
Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Top tier mentors, local investors, and personalized pitch feedback for participating startups — nothing’s changed but the address. Whether you’re a serial entrepreneur or just looking to get involved in the community, this event is for YOU. Learn more here. 

REBECCA SOLNIT LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING
Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Hear renowned writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit speak about her current projects and her essay in the exhibition catalogue for “Mona Hatoum: Terra Infirma.” Solnit has written extensively on such themes as feminism, western and indigenous history, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, and hope and disaster. Learn more here. 

OBSIDIAN THEATER: FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE OPENS
Thursday, January 25, 2018 -February 17, 2018
This groundbreaking “choreopoem” is a spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women. Capturing the brutal, tender and dramatic lives of contemporary Black women, For Colored Girls… offers a transformative, riveting evening of provocative dance, music and poetry. Learn more here. 

A CARRIER BAG THEORY FOR DIGITAL HUMANITIES JEREMY BOGGS
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This public lecture will apply Donna Haraway’s “Carrier bag” theory to the Digital Humanities and considers how to transform digital archival work into social justice. The speakers series and workshops on Digital Humanities & Social Justice with explore the ethical concerns involved when creating digital projects and minority archives and how digital scholarship can be a site of social justice and activism. Learn more here. 

GRAY/WAWRO LECTURE SERIES: SUSAN STRYKER – “WHAT TRANSPIRES NOW: TRANSGENDER HISTORY AND THE FUTURE WE NEED”
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Susan Stryker examines the trans-temporal dimensions of what gets labeled “transgender” today. She invites us to see the stakes of this labeling more deeply – as about the more general capacity for life to exceed whatever current configurations it might have. Learn more here. 

GHBC 83RD ANNUAL MEETING & BUY BLACK 2ND EDITION KICK OFF
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join the Greater Houston Black Chamber for the GHBC Board Installation & Buy Black 2nd Edition Kick Off! This is a guide to black-owned businesses in the Houston area. The event takes place at the Ballroom at Bayou Place in downtown Houston. Learn more here. 

ASIA SOCIETY: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ASIA POLICY: FIRST YEAR AND THE ROAD AHEAD
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
How will the U.S. continue to lead in the Asia-Pacific? What role will U.S. bilateral and multilateral collaboration play in the near future? What can the U.S. learn from Asia and vice versa? Join Asia Society for an engaging discussion on these topics with U.S. Congressman Joaquín Castro. Learn more here. 

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF EDUCATION COMMUNITY MEETING – THIRD WARD
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join Director of Education Juliet Katherine Stipeche and our host University of Houston for an Education Community Meeting on Thursday, January 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, 3611 Ennis St., Houston, TX 77004. Learn more here. 

HOUSTON 2036 – EQUALITY: THE OUTCOME
Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Hear from a diverse panel of guest speakers and community members followed by audience Q & A that addresses unanswered calls for social, economic, and civic advancement. With a special focus on Houston’s “Bicentennial Child” – born in 2018 and set to graduate from high school as our city turns 200 – this series highlights the future of our common humanity as affected by contemporary urban education issues. Learn more here. 

OPENING: MUSCLE PANIC OBJECTS BY HAZEL MEYER
Friday, January 26, 2018, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
A site-specific installation by Toronto-based interdisciplinary artist Hazel Meyer. The exhibition is part of the artist’s ongoing, multifaceted project Muscle Panic, which explores the relationship between artistic and athletic practices. It features an immersive installation comprising of archival research, textile, sculpture, and performance conceived by the artist to recover the queer aesthetics, politics, and bodies often effaced within histories of sports and recreation. Learn more here. 

BIG BOI: DADDY FAT SAXXX TOUR, SACK 2 WITH THE COOL KIDS
Friday, January 26, 2018, 7:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Big Boi is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo Outkast alongside Andre 3000. He went solo in 2010 with Sir Lucious Left Foot:.The Son of Chico Dusty. The Cool Kids have proven to be both an Internet and live show phenomenon. Fast forward to 2017 and The Cool Kids are back after a hiatus. $30. Learn more here. 

HOUSTONARY 2018: “SCIENCE OF CREATIVE”
Friday, January 26, 2018, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Ode to the “Science of Creative” where an inspired fashion runway show, performance inspired short-film screenings, art exhibits, dj’s, dancing, live “MUSIK” talkshow broadcast, pop-up retail shops, and musical performances all fill an evening themed to compliment The Health Museum’s newest addition of the traveling exhibition “BIORHYTHM: Music and the Body” created by Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, pioneers of the science global network. Learn more here. 

SOCA PASSION “HELLO 2018”
Friday, January 26, 2018, 10:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
In the midst of our darkest moments, remember with love we can be made whole again. Time to celebrate our differences. Time to celebrate our care for each other. Dance the night away on the last Friday & make some everlasting memories in your “Paparazzi Perfect.” $16. Learn more here. 

WHAT’S THE NEW NEWS TOUR
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join artist Nathaniel Donnett and participating artists as they give a walking tour of the newsstand locations placed in valued locations in Third Ward for his Project/Site commission “What’s The New News.” Donnett will be accompanied by writers and artists involved in the project who will discuss their work as it relates to the history, culture, and situation of this community. Learn more here. 

YOUNG AFRICAN PROFESSIONALS GENERAL BODY MEETING/MIXER
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join us YAP for the first General Body Meeting and Mixer of the year. Speaker: How to be a #GoalDigger with Kitor Fofung. As usual, networking, making new friends and letting you all know what’s coming up with YAP. Learn more here. 

THE BEAUTY OF THE BLACK WOMAN: ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
In recognition of his support of local artists, the Houston Museum of African American Culture has dedicated a gallery in Bert Long’s name to allow the museum to annually exhibit the work of four artists working in the greater Houston area. From Aesha Lee: “All of my portraits have titles which reflect some of the things that black women are told on a daily basis.” Learn more here. 

AMERICANA: BBQ TACOS SOLO EXHIBITION
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Welcome to Americana, the inaugural published collection by Houston-based artist BBQ Tacos. As well as a live DJ, food truck, and complimentary alcohol, the artist will be present with a series of limited edition prints available for sale along with other merchandise. Learn more here. 

INDIVISIBLE HOUSTON JANUARY GENERAL MEETING: GROUND GAME
Sunday, January 28, 2018, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
This meeting features several presenters with first-hand experience leading high-performance ground game efforts that sealed the deal for election day victories in Houston and beyond. They will also feature short pitches from several progressive canvassing organizations. Learn more here. 

KEVIN DAPREE PRESENTS HEART&SOUL VOL. 99, ART, LIFE, & LOVE
Sunday, January 28, 2018, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join heART&SOUL as artists come together to celebrate a new year and share their experiences with Art, Life, & Love. This experience will feature a mixture of Singers, Visual Artist, Dancers & Spoken Word Artist utilizing their artistic expression and bringing Storytelling to the stage! $10. Learn more here.