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Events we missed but definitely worthy of a mention:

Saturday, October 31 | 11a-1p | Opening: Dario Robleto: Some Longings Survive Death. Robleto presents a major new body of work — the artist’s most ambitious to date.  The eight large-scale works on view were developed for two unique, site inspired exhibitions: Human/Nature: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet (Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; and Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley, CA) and (Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA). Presented together for the first time, the sculptures trace the limits of mortality and extinction.  Robleto proposes regenrative narratives, mixing natural history and tokens of desire into remedies for the inevitable losses of time. p.s.  Don’t miss the artist’s talk at 12 noon.  Free.  Inman Gallery, 3901 Main Street.  www.inmangallery.com.

Tuesday, November 3 | 6:30p | Night of Stars with Fashion Group International + Celebrity Guest Designer Cesar Galindo.  At The Junior League of Houston.  Tickets $75, tables of ten $700.  For more info visit www.houston.fgi.org.

Thursday, November 5 | 6-9p | Artful Justice: Art Exhibition and Charity Auction Featuring Original Oil Paintings by Hanh Tran.  In conjunction with Houston Young Lawyer’s Association and benefiting Justice for Children, a non-profit organization that advocates for the safety and protection of criminally abused children when the system designed to protect them fails to do so.  Free.  Complimentary valet and hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Mixed Emotions Fine Art, 95 Tuam @ Taft.

Thursday, November 5 | 7 pm | Li Cunxin Speaks at WITS 25th Anniversary Celebration.  Li Cunxin (former principal dancer at Houston Ballet and acclaimed author of Mao’s Last Dancer) is the featured speaker at Writers in the Schools.  Limited edition tickets at $150.  www.witshouston.org.

Friday, November 6 | 6-8p | Opening: David Aylsworth: Marie Antoinette With or Without Napoleon + Beth Secor: Riffing on Langer’s Lines at Inman Gallery.

Don’t Miss HYPA’s Upcoming Events for Members + Non-Members including

Cocktails + Culture Crawl - Thursday, September 24, 6-9p, Houston Pavilions - open to the public, more information here.

Red Light Winter with Horse Head Theatre Co., Saturday, September 26 - HYPA members receive $10 tickets, more information here.

An Evening at Barbara Davis Gallery - Tuesday, September 29, 7-8:30p, more information here.

Culture Collision IV - Tuesday, October 13, 6-8 pm, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, info coming soon.

September 18, 19, 23 | Out of the Dark: Bobbindoctrin Nightclub Acts. Bobbindoctrin Puppet Theatre proudly returns to its rowdy roots with a collection of old and new short shows built specifically for nightclub venues.  www.bobbindoctrin.org for showtimes.  Super Happy Fun Land, 3801 Polk. $10, Friday & Saturday.  Wednesday is Pay-What-You-Wish. No reservations. Super Happy Fun Land, 3801 Polk.

Wednesday, September 23, 5:30 p | Opera in the Heights Presents Ann Thompson.  One of Houston’s most popular opera lecturer since 1975, Ann Thompson wants everyone to enjoy his/her visit to the opera.  She’ll tell you about love and sexual intrigue, myster and murder and guarantee you enjoy your trip to the opera. Free. Music. Fun. Wine. Networking.  Houston Piano Company, 1518 W. 13th Street.  Visit here for more information.

Thursday, September 24 - COCKTAILS + CULTURE CRAWL WITH FRESH ARTS.  Featuring performances by Opera in the Heights, Main Street Theater, Matthew Manalo of Via Colori, Aurora Picture Show, art cars from the Orange Show, and winding down with a live show by Runaway Sun at House of Blues.  5 different drinks, 5 different restaurants. $30 all inclusive w/ valet parking.  www.downtownhouston.org for tickets!  Houston Pavilions, 1201 Fannin.

September 25 - November 7 | Second Seating - a visual arts installation of fanciful chandeliers and elegant dinner tables made with found objects and recycled products from Houston’s East End industry.  Created by Mary Margaret Hansen with participating artists Teodora Estrada, Agnes Welch Eyster, Mercedes Fernandez, Gonzo247, Victor Rodriguez, Jesse Sifuentes, Jose Solis and Catarina Williams.  Open M-F, 9:30a-4p; Sat, 11a-5p.  20 N. Chenevert.

September 25-27 | Strange Fruit at Discovery Green.  Strange Fruit, an aerial performance troupe, makes is Texas premiere this weekend.  A fusion of theatre, dance and circus in a elevated medium.  Visit www.discoverygreen.com for specific performance times.

September 25-26 | A Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance.  Performances include American Repertory Ensemble of Austin, Amy Ell and CORE Performance Company, Paola Georgudis and Lindsey McGill, Freneticore, HIStory Dance Company, Jane Weiner with Hope Stone Dance, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, REDDance, Urban Souls Dance Company.  For schedules, visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com.  FREE.

Saturday, September 26 | Aurora Picture Show Garden Party - an evening of film, food and flowers.  Bring your blankets and chairs to a night under teh stars in Mandell Park feat. short films about gardening and nature.  Free.  Mandell Park, corner of Richmond and Mandell.  www.aurorapictureshow.org.

Saturday, September 26 | Dinner + Dancing in Schulenberg at Sengelmann Hall.  Houston artists Dana Harper and Hana Hillerova bought and renovated Sengelmann Hall to its original 1880’s saloon elegance.  There is a Czech restaurant and dance hall with live music every weekend.  Ticket: $100 incl. bus, dinner and dancing. E-mail lookatart@aol.com for more information.  Read about the renovation here or www.sengelmannhall.com.

Saturday, September 26, 7:30pm | Opera Under the Stars at Bayou Bend.  Bayou Bend and Opera Vista team up for their third opera.  Enjoy a memorable evening of music and beauty under the stars on the Diana Lawn outside the MFAH’s stunning house museum.  A Fiddler’s Tale by Wynton Marsalis will be performed.  www.mfah.org/bayoubend. 

Wednesday, October 1 | UH Red Block Bash - Arts Open House.  Celebrate and experience UH arts and get a sneak peek of upcoming fall events.  Evening incl. on-site screen printing with the School of Art, performances from the School of Theatre & Dance, Blaffer Gallery’s Red Block Bash activities, live music, free food and drink and more.  Free.  UH Arts Quadrangle at Entrance 16 off Cullen Blvd.  www.mitchellcenterforarts.org.

Thursday, August 20

6-8 pm | Houston magazine Summer Cocktail Tour at The Grove with artists Katy Anderson + Patrick Medrano + The Fodice Foundation.  The Grove, 1611 Lamar.  Open to the public, free.

8-12 midnight | The Fodice Foundation After Party.

HYPA members attend the after party for free or make a $35 donation to The Fodice Foundation.  Invitation below.

Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22 

7 pm | Performance: Pianist Jade Simmons presents Scriabin and Kandinsky: Hearing Color, Seeing Sound - a multimedia performance.  Witness Jade’s latest innovative performance project alongside the projected artwork of Kandinsky.  Only 50 seats per concert.  $10, advance tickets required, www.jademedia.org.  Wade Wilson Art, 4411 Montrose.

8 pm | Play | Mildred’s Umbrella: Alice and the Underground.  March 6, 1970, three characters from the classic children’s story find themselves at a defining moment in the Weather Underground movement.  A part of the Frenetic Fringe Festival.  Tickets $18 or if purchased on-line, $15.  www.freneticore.net.   www.mildredsumbrella.com.

Saturday, August 22

6-9 pm | Gallery Opening | Deborah Colton Gallery - Maripol “Little Red Riding Hood” and Luis Arsenio Gonzalez “Dreams of a Diva.”  Two artists who were part of the downtown early 80’s New York art scene who continue to create fashion, art and design reflecting this early influence.  Exhibition runs through September 12.  2445 North Blvd.  www.deborahcoltongallery.com.

August 21, 22, 28 & 29

8 pm | Play: North Blvd - A One Woman Show.  Written and performed by native Houstonian Amy Esacove.  North Blvd. is an autobiographic story written and performed by native Houstonian Amy Esacove.  It’s a story about adoption, abuse, survival and subsequent journey towards the discovery of her birth parents.  This rare and special performance of North Blvd. in its raw and original form, serves as a fund-raising endeavor in which all proceeds will go towards producing the show in Los Angeles on a larger scale in the hopes of generating buzz around the feature-length screenplay which the show has been converted into.  Tickets for opening wknd are $20. $40 all other shows.  August 29 includes post-performance party and silent auction for $50.  Tickets and information at www.littlegirlproductions.com.

August 21 through August 30

Film | 4th Annual Italian Retrospective - Signore e Signore:  Leading Ladies of Italian Cinema.  Postwar Italian cinema is enshrined in film history books for its neorealist movement but it produced another phemonenon: the arrival of a new generation of Italian actresses who revolutionized the image of women on screen like Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani.  Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.  www.mfah.org/film

Sunday, August 23

9 pm | Frenetic Fringe Festival | Anything Goes Night + Closing Party.  Performances by Eric Fensler and Jay Rajeck’s band TRS-80 (from Los Angeles) and food and drinks. $15 when purchased online.  www.freneticore.net.

Thursday, August 27

6-8 pm | The Heritage Society | Connect to Houston + Miles and Miles of Texas: The Lone Star State Through the Eyes of Buck Schiwetz.  Join members of Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Houston Downtown Alliance, Leadership Houston and Rice University for this exhibition mixer.  Enjoy light refreshments and entertainment.  $5.  RSVP: 713-655-1912, ext. 113.  The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby.  www.heritagesociety.org.

6 pm | Opening: Lawndale from 1979 | James Surls.  Lawndale Art Center’s 30th anniversary with founder James Surls presenting a talk on the origins of Lawndale and its unique place in Houston’s art community and its relevance today.  Reception follows at Barbara Davis Gallery where James Surls’ From 2009 is on view through August 29.  Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street.  www.lawndaleartcenter.org.

Friday, August 7 | 8 pm - 10 pm | Film Screening: Honoring Merce Cunningham + Robert Rauschenberg. 

Free, outdoor event will present newly-available filmed performances of Merce Cunningham Dance Company dancing the works Split Sides (2003) and Interscape (2000).  In a working relationship of almost two decades, Cunningham and Rauschenberg—together, and separately—continually renewed themselves as artists. Pioneers, their work stretched the definitions of painting, or dance. Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross.  www.menil.org.  Sponsored by Society for the Performing Arts, www.spahouston.org.

Now Through August 29.  The Tamarie Cooper Show: Journey to the Center of My Brain (in 3D!).  Cooper’s new show takes the audience on a journey to the center of her brain  (enter at your own risk!).  Singing neurotransmitters, brainfarts, raging hormones, Tamarie’s inner child, id, and super-ego are just some of the characters featured in this journey of self-discovery, science-style! In this world premiere musical extravaganza, Tamarie plays herself and she shares the stage with Catastrophic favorites Kyle Sturdivant as her Self-Control, Walt Zipprian as Dopamine, Noel Bowers as a blues-singing brainfart as well as Daniel Adame, Julie Boneau, Jeremy Carlson, Sara Jo Dunstan, Rebecca Randall Feit, DeWitt Gravink, Christian Holmes, Sean Patrick Judge, Richard Lyders, and Karina Pal-Montano Bowers. Tickets: to The Tamarie Cooper Show: Journey To The Center Of My Brain (In 3D!) are PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN.  Suggested ticket price is $25 but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.  For tickets, call the Stages Repertory box office at 713-527-8243 or visit www.stagestheatre.com. www.catastrophictheatre.com.  3201 Allen Parkway.

Through August 15 | 8 pm | Last Easter presented by Mildred’s Umbrella Theater.  Regional premiere of play by Bryony Lavery.  June has a terrible secret. Gash has an outrageous plan. Leah is open to possibilities. And Joy is drinking to forget. When June’s best friends unravel her mystery, they whisk her from London to Lourdes where she is thoroughly dunked in the reputedly healing waters.  The four friends’ lunatic pilgrimage is filled with laughing, singing, a drag act and several bottles of good red wine. Last Easter is a funny, moving, and provocative play about the true nature of friendship. Tickets: $10 general admission; Mondays are Pay-As-You-Like.  Gremillion Art Gallery, 2501 Sunset. www.mildredsumbrella.com.

Saturday & Sunday, August 8 & 9 |  Free Press Summer Fest.  40+ national and local musical performers, visual arts and more.  Confirmed to headline are Broken Social Scene, Of Montreal, Explosions in the Sky, The Sword, Devin the Dude, Octopus Project, Young Mammals, The Watermarks, The Small Sounds, The Manichean and more. 2 stages, dozens of local artist booths, craft beer garden and a misting tent to keep you even cooler.  Portion of proceeds benefit Project Row Houses.  Tickets $7/day.  www.freepresssummerfest.com.
 
Through August 8 | Disgruntled Developments at Anya Tish Gallery.  A three person show curated by Houston based artist and critic Garland Fielder, bringing together three emerging artists whose work explores the conspiring yet complex nature between urban dissatisfaction and current events. The international dialogue between the richly layered multi-media works by Indian-American, New York based Baseera Khan, the homegrown graffiti and publicly sprawled works of Chicago based Jeff Mueller, and the locally sourced assemblages of abandoned Hurricane Ike signage by Houston artist Kevin Curry, produce an excitingly global and visual frenzy of fantastical and political sensibilities. Together they question the fundamental need for the personal versus the homogenized public, alongside a desire for Constructivist aesthetics over consumerist pathologies.  Free.  4411 Montrose Blvd.  www.anyatishgallery.com. 

Through August 8 | Kelli Vance: What You Do To Me.  “As Michael Duncan, curator of the Texas Biennial (which featured a solo show of Vance’s work in 2009), has noted ‘In her astounding, larger-than-life figurative paintings, Houston artist Kelli Vance puts us front and center at the scene of the crime. Evoking a kind of repulsed fascination, the meticulously crafted works depict weird sex acts, revenge, humiliation, and physical collapse in crystalline photorealist detail. Vance’s investigations focus on injured female parties - but don’t call them victims. Their expressions of complacency, ecstasy, contemplation, and titillation complicate any easy sense of morality.’” Free.  McClain Gallery, 2242 Richmond.  www.mcclaingallery.com.

Through August 11 | Henrique Oliveira: Tapumes.  Oliveira uses tapumes, which in Portuguese can mean “fencing,” “boarding,” or “enclosure,” as a title for many of his large-scale installations. The term makes reference to the temporary wooden construction fences seen throughout the city of São Paulo where Oliveira lives. It also refers to the weathered wood Oliveira uses as the primary material in his installations.  Oliveira’s installations, which he refers to as “tridimensionals,” have evolved into massive, spatial constructions that combine painting, architecture, and sculpture. www.ricegallery.org.

Through August 15 | Freebird at Hello-Lucky.  Works by Elaine Bradford, Rene Cruz, Jay Giroux, Lisa Marie Godfrey, Frances Trotter and Christine West.  Free.  1025 Studewood. www.hello-lucky.com.