Culture / Entertainment

Drake Parties in Houston and Another Famous Rapper Takes Over Discovery Green: These Are the Best Events of the Weekend — the Guru Tells All

BY // 07.22.17

Houston’s weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s Weekend Guru Matthew Ramirez cuts through the clutter to give you the best options in this weekly series.

I Know That Place Like I Come From It
Drake kicked off his third Houston Appreciation Weekend (or HAW) Thursday, with a celebrity barbecue at the newly renovated Emancipation Park before hitting the Manchester United + Manchester City matchup at NRG. He’s often credited Houston for jumpstarting his career back in 2009 (“backstage at Warehouse in ’09 like is Bun coming?” he rapped on 2013’s “Too Much”) and has repeatedly paid homage to Houston’s trademark chopped and screwed sound in his music. He continues the weekend with events running through Sunday.

Between a hookah party at the Galleria’s Prospect Park, a pool party at Cle, and a private party at the Engine Room, perhaps HAW’s biggest two events to see (and be seen) are at his Ballet pop up club (which resides at Mercy Nightclub – the same spot that hosted several Super Bowl parties) Friday night with Lil Wayne hosting, and the closing party Sunday night at Spire, hosted by the man himself. I’m told dress codes will be strictly enforced, so dress to impress. Click here for the full rundown.

Slow Loud and Bangin’
Not to be outdone, local legend Trae tha Truth – in a weird coincidence – is hosting his tenth annual Trae Day celebration this weekend, which is a slight misnomer; Trae Day is a three-day celebration of the infamous Houston rapper (who was once inexplicably banned from the radio station 97.9 The Box) giving back to the community. He’ll host families at the Children’s Museum Friday, participate in a scholarship giveaway Sunday morning at the Houston Public Library, as well as host a bevy of listening parties for his new album, after-parties, and club nights all weekend.

But the centerpiece of the weekend is the Trae Day afternoon bash at Discovery Green, where families are welcome to pick up school supplies, receive immunizations, play games, go on animal rides, among other wholesome activities, featuring guests and other local musicians TBA. Trae Day is free; click here for more info.

‘Twas Beauty That Killed the Beast
The second installment of the Downtown Summer Movie Series at Main Street Square gets underway this Saturday, July 22 with a screening of the original 1933 version of King Kong. The movie is free with street parking available, as well – the movie is projected on a jumbo LED screen for the cleanest possible outdoor projection. Food trucks and drinks will be available too. It all gets started Saturday at 8 pm.

The Hazy Sea
New York rockers Cymbals Eat Guitars crashed the indie rock scene in 2009, at the tail-end of a decade whose bands spent a lot of time endlessly referencing artists like Velvet Underground, Stooges, Pixies, Modest Mouse, and other various entry-level mainstream-adjacent rock bands.

But in 2017, with that moment having firmly passed, Cymbals Eat Guitars keep the tradition alive – there was always an exciting danger in their music, some fear that singer Joseph D’Agastino’s vocals would slip away from the melody, the drums would lose time, the guitars would de-tune – they brought careful carelessness to a staid sound, and their debut record Why There Are Mountains is a bonafide ’00s indie rock classic. With a slightly refreshed look (think somewhere between Springsteen and modern emo like Brand New) they hit the upstairs room at White Oak Music Hall Sunday, July 23, touring behind their solid 2016 release Pretty Years. Tickets start at $12; doors at 7 pm.

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