Monica Pope Out chef Monica Pope is accustomed to leading a symphony of flavors...

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Film • Performing Arts • Performing Arts for Young People • Radio • Art/Photography • June Day-By-Day • HIV Testing
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HOT TICKET
STRIKE UP THE BAND
Local celebrities vie for the podium at Texas Music Festival

What could a local AM radio talk show host, a top chef, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, a television news reporter, a three-time Grammy-Award nominee singer, and a Houston Culinary Awards “Chef of the Year” possibly all have in common with each other?

A baton.

This month, all of the Houstonians compete against each other for the chance to conduct the 95-member Texas Music Festival orchestra as participants in the Festival’s inaugural “Be a Conductor” contest.

Now in its 21st season, the Texas Music Festival, conducted by Stefan Sanderling, is a summer music residency program at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. “It’s such a thrill to stand on the podium, face a concert stage filled with incredible musicians and conduct the symphony orchestra,” says TMF’s general director, Alan Austin. “We wanted to give local celebrities outside the classical music realm that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s ‘Conducting with the Stars,’ if you will.”

Local celebrities vying for the baton are Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle editorial cartoonist; Brent Clanton, host of CNN 650 AM Radio Morning Show; Scott Gertner, musician and owner of Scott Gertner’s SkyBar; Hugo Ortega, executive chef of Hugo’s Mexican Restaurant and Backstreet Café; Monica Pope, chef/owner of t’afia restaurant and recent Top Chef Masters participant; and Miya Shay, reporter for KTRK-TV, ABC 13.

The contest is being conducted (no pun intended) on the Texas Music Festival Facebook fan page. The contestant who generates the greatest number of votes on this site by the June 9 midnight deadline conducts the orchestra in “The Star Spangled Banner.” (One vote per person, please.) The program also includes Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Franck’s The Accursed Huntsman, Ravel’s Bolero, and other selections.

PHOTO CAPTION: Is that a spatula in your chef’s apron or are you just happy to see me?: as owner of t’afia and Beaver’s restaurants, out chef Monica Pope is accustomed to leading a symphony of flavors, like she did earlier this year competing on Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. This month she joins five other Houston celebs vying to lead the Texas Music Festival orchestra.

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FILM

Dolphins and Whales in IMAX. Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. • hmns.org • 713/639-4629.

Hubble 3D. Leonardo DiCaprio narrates the documentary including never-before-seen 3D flights through Hubble Space Telescope. Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. • hmns.org • 713/639-4629.

Swingtime, the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers feel-good film. June 11, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • milleroutdoortheatre.com • 281/373-3386.

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PERFORMING ARTS

The Designated Mourner by Wallace Shawn explores class, culture and identity. Through June 5. Catastrophic Theatre, 1540 Sul Ross St. catastrophictheatre.com ï 713/522-2723.

Romantic Comedy, Bernard Slade’s breezy comedy. Through June 5. Island ETC, 2317 Mechanic St., Galveston.

Arcadia, Tom Stoppard’s Gothic masterpiece. Through June 6. Main Street Theater–Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd. • main streettheater.com • 713/524-6706.

Pecos, a mixed repertory program. Through June 6. Houston Ballet, Wortham Center’s Brown Theater, 501 Texas Ave. • houston ballet.org, 713/227-2787 • islandetc.org, 409/762-3556.

Young Frankenstein, musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ classic comedy. Through June 6. Broadway Across America. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Sarofim Hall, 800 Bagby St. • broadwayacrossamerica.com • 713/315-2500.

Funny Money, a comedy by Ray Cooney. Through June 12. Company OnStage, 536 Westbury Square • companyonstage .org • 713/726-1219.

A Piece of My Heart. Six women recall the Vietnam War. Through June 12. Stage Door Inc., 284 Pasadena Town Square, Pasadena • stagedoorinc.com.  

Intelligence-Slave, the world premiere of Kenneth Lin’s set during the World War II holocaust. Through June 20. Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. • alleytheatre.org • 713/228-8421.

Fear of Ducks returns to the shaded oasis of Precious Trees. Through Aug. 28. Radio Music Theatre, 2623 Colquitt St. • radiomusictheatre.com • 713/522-7722.

Magic: The Science of Wonder. Artifacts and performances reveal how science and magic are intertwined. Through Sept. 6. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Herman Circle Dr. • hmns.org • 713/639-4629.

The Complete History of America (abridged). 600 years of history in 6000 seconds. June 2–27. Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Pkwy. • stagestheatre.com • 713/527-0123.

MKUltra. FrenetiCore presents experimental drug testing as art. June 3–5, 10–12, 18–19. Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd. • freneticore.net • 832/426-4624.

Always, Patsy Cline, the life of the country-western singing star. June 3–27. Texas Repertory Theatre Co., 14243 Stuebner Airline Rd. • texreptheatre.org • 281/583-7573.

Sizzling Summer Dance. Houston Metropolitan Dance Company presents dance favorites from the past season and two premieres by Houston Met Too Youth Company. June 4, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr., Hermann Park • houstonmetdance.org.

Panic. Houston premiere of the suspense thriller by Joseph Goodrich. June 4–July 3. Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Dr. • theatresuburbia.com • 713/682-3525.

Immanuel & Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival Summer Concerts feature orchestral, chamber, jazz, classical music performed by aspiring music stars from the world’s top music school. June 7–July 3. University of Houston’s Moores Opera House & Dudley Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building (713/743-3313), Texas A&M University’s Presidential Conference Center in College Station (979/845-1234), and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands (713/629-3700).

Boeing-Boeing, Marc Camoletti’s non-stop comedy. June 9–27. Alley Theatre. 615 Texas Ave. • alleytheatre.org • 713/220-5700.

La Fille mal gardée, the classic cross-dressing farce. June 10–20. Houston Ballet. Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. • houstonballet.org • 713/227-ARTS.

Tomfoolery, a satirical musical by Tom Lehrer. June 11–27. Main Street Theater–Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd. • mainstreettheater.com • 713/524-6706.

9th Annual Gospel by the Sea Benefit Concert features NuFocus from Dallas and local church and gospel groups. June 12, 6pm. Moody Gardens Convention Center, 1 Hope Blvd. Galveston • stvhope.org • 409/683-4186.

Jane Weiner Knows Stuff. The local dance celebrity and activist rants. June 13, 7pm. Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd. • freneticore.net • 832/426-4624.

Bernstein and Ravel. Brett Mitchell conducts the Houston Symphony. June 17, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr., Hermann Park • houstonsymphony.org • 713/224-7575.

Harbison, Bruch, and Mendelssohn. Robert Franz conducts the Houston Symphony. June 18, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr., Hermann Park • houstonsymphony .org • 713/224-7575.

Father’s Day Matches. Improvisational comedy with ComedySportz. June 18–19, 8pm. ComedySportz Arena, 901 Town & Country Blvd. • comedysportzhouston.com • 713/868-1444.

A Gulf Coast Juneteenth. Houston Institute for Culture celebrates African-American musical traditions, including blues, zydeco, jazz, and gospel. June 19, 7pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • milleroutdoortheatre.com • 281/373-3386.

Five Guys Named Moe features Louis Jordan’s greatest hits. June 19–July 25. Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main St. • ensemble houston.com • 713/520-0055.

Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Diego Matheuz conducts the Houston Symphony. June 25, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr., Hermann Park • houstonsymphony.org • 713/224-7575.

Beethoven and Dvorak. Krzysztof Urbanski conducts the Houston Symphony. June 26, 8:30pm. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Dr., Hermann Park • houstonsymphony.org • 713/224-7575.

Wicked. Broadway Across America presents the award-winning musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz. June 30–July 25. Hobby Center, 800 Bagby St.• broadwayacrossamerica.com • 800/982-ARTS.

Two One-acts: Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie and David Mamet’s Life in the Theatre. June 11–26. The Country Playhouse, 12802 Queensbury Ln. • countryplayhouse.org • 713/467-4497.

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PERFORMING ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Jack and the Beanstalk. Through July 31. Express Theatre, 446 Northwest Mall • expresstheatre.com • 713/682-5044.

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RADIO

After Hours: Queer Radio with Attitude features the QMZ (Queer Music Zone) with Jimmy Carper. Sunday mornings, 1–4 am. KPFT 90.1 FM. kpft.org • 713/526-5738.

Queer Voices. Features, news, music, interviews, reviews, and commentary. Monday nights, 9–11 pm. KPFT 90.1 FM. kpft.org • 713/526-4000.

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ART/PHOTOGRAPHY

Keep It Slick: Infiltrating Capitalism with The Yes Men. Costumes, videos, PowerPoint presentations, props, and more from Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bobano, considered among the most important political artists of the last decade. Through June 5, DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway • diverseworks.org • 713/335-3445.

Alice Neel: Painted Truths. Seven decades of portraits of Manhattanites. Through June 13. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. • mfah.org • 713/639-7300.

Lane Hagood: Old Book Smell. Drawings reflecting the escape of books. Through June 19. Gallery 1724, 1724 Bissonnet St. • 713/582-1198.

Sarah G. Sharp: Family Crests for the Disenfranchised imagines heraldic imagery. Through June 19. Gallery 1724, 1724 Bissonnet St. • 713/582-1198.

Additional Support features works by Hagit Barkai, Kelley Devine, and Jessica Jacobi. Through June 19. Spacetaker ARC, Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter St. • spacetaker.org.

Anatomies. Works by Darren Waterston. Through June 19. Inman Gallery, 3901 Main • inmangallery.com • 713/526-7800.

NAP (Napping Affects Performance), a participation and performance project by Emily Sloan. Through June 25. Art League Houston, 1953 Montrose Blvd. • artleaguehouston.org • 713/523-9530.

The Allure of Nature: 19th-Century Landscape Drawings. Through June 30. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. • mfah.org • 713/639-7300.

Michael Peterson: Evolution/Revolution features wood sculptures. Through July 2. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main St. • crafthouston.org • 713/529-4848.

A Tejano Son of Texas presents the legendary Jose Policarpio “Polly” Rodriguez’s life, family, and legacy. Through July 3. Heritage Society Museum, 1100 Bagby St. • heritagesociety.org • 713/655-1912.

Letitia Huckaby: LA 19 (Daughters of God). Quilting and photographic works. Through July 4. Galveston Arts Center, 2501 Market St. • galvestonartscenter.org • 409/763-2403.

Perspectives 170: Cruz Ortiz. The artist repurposes a siege tower on the front lawn. Through July 11. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. • camh.org • 713/284-8250.

Liquid Lines: Exploring the Language of Contemporary Metal features furniture, jewelry, hollowware, and sculpture. Through July 18. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 5601 Main St. • mfah.org • 713/639-7300, 713/639-7379 (Spanish).

Underground in H-Town, an exhibit of local 20th century minority and alternative publications. Through July 24, with Development of Independent Filmmaking in Texas discussion, July 15, 6:30pm. Museum of Printing History, 1324 W. Clay St. • printingmuseum.org • 713/522-4652.

Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars features more than just jeweled eggs. Through July 25. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Herman Circle Drive • hmns.org • 713/639-4629.

Tomás Saraceno: Lighter than Air and First Take: Jacco Olivier. Through Aug. 7. Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston’s Fine Arts Building • blaffergallery.org • 713/743-9971.

Leaps into the Void: Documents of Nouveau Realist Performance explores the radical gestures of this avant-garde movement. Through Aug. 8. The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross St. • menil.org • 713/525-9400.

Magnificent Seven features an outdoor sculpture installation by James Surls. Through August. Rice University, 6100 Main St. • rice.edu.

Archaeopteryx: Icon of Evolution, through Sept. 6. Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Dr. • www .hmns.org • 713/639-4629.

Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America through Galveston Island chronicles immigration through the Port of Galveston, a major gateway to American immigration. Through Sept. 11. Moody Gardens, One Hope Blvd. in Galveston • moodygardens.org • 800/582-4673.

Bernar Venet Exhibition. Eight cor-ten steel towers dot Hermann Park. Through Sept. 30. Golf Course Dr. • hermannpark .org • 713/524-5876.

The White Album. Works by Lucinda Cobley, Joseph Cohen, Danielle Frankenthal, Joseph Marioni, Jill Moser, and Mark Williams. June 4–30; artists’ reception, June 4, 6pm. Wade Wilson Art, 4411 Montrose Blvd., Suite 200 • wadewilsonart .com • 713/521-2977.

The Paper Runway celebrates fashion and contemporary craft. June 5–Sept. 4. Opening reception, June 4, 5:30pm. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, 4848 Main St. • crafthouston .org • 713/529-4848.

Luck of the Draw 9: The Musical. DiverseWorks’ 2010 Summer Auction offers works by local and national artists and music by the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Choir. June 16, 6:30pm. 1117 E. Frwy. Benefits DiverseWorks Art Space • diverseworks.org • 713/335-3445.

Masterworks of Charles M. Russell: A Retrospective of Paintings and Sculpture. June 6–Aug. 29. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. • mfah.org • 713/639-7300.

Katsura: Picturing Modernism in Japanese Architecture, Photographs by Ishimoto Yasuhiro explores the impact of Japanese tradition on Modernism in Japan. June 20–Sept. 12. Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St. • mfah.org • 713-639-7300.

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JUNE DAY-BY-DAY • WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • MONTHLY

JUNE 10

A Feast of Faiths, a Cross-Cultural Culinary Experience, prepared by five local chefs, with music of the United Nations Association Houston Choir. Presented by Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance. 7pm. Houston City Club , One City Club Dr. Benefits the Boniuk Center. boniuk.rice.edu.

JUNE 13

2010 PCOS Symposium, a day of education, prizes, food, and more, focusing on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, an endocrine disorder that affects 10 pecent of women. 10am–3pm. Hilton Houston Post Oak, 2001 Post Oak Blvd. pcosfoundation.org

JUNE 17

Outdoor Portrait Photography with photographer David Vu. 7pm. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center in Memorial Park, 4501 Woodway Dr.• houstonarboretum.org • 713/681-8433.

JUNE 19

Summer Solstice Wine & Cheese Celebration features a Tai Chi class and a tasting of local honeys and mead. 7pm. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center in Memorial Park, 4501 Woodway Dr. • houstonarboretum.org • 713/681-8433.
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Weekly (Sundays)

The Women’s Group, a feminist group for all women. 10:15am. First Unitarian Universalist Churchís Sojourner Truth Room, 5200 Fannin St. • 713/529-8571.

Urban Harvest Farmers Market, presented by Central City Co-op. Noon–4pm. Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St. • discoverygreen.com • 713/400-7336.

Weekly (Mondays)

TG Support Group. Helping TransGenders Anonymous is a facilitated support group for all transgenders, supporters, family, and significant others. 7–9pm. 604 Pacific St. • tgctr.org.

Fathers First. Houston’s original gay fathers group supports gay dads who are dealing with coming-out issues and family challenges of life after being married to a woman. First three Mondays of each month, 7:30–9pm. Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold St., room 230 • fathersfirstof houston.com.

Gay Dads’ Support Group helps gay men who are or were previously married to a woman and who had children within that relationship. 7:30–9pm. Grace Lutheran Church’s parlor, 2515 Waugh Dr. • 281/608-8134.

Weekly (Wednesdays)

Introductory Tai Chi in the nature sanctuary. 5:45pm. Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Dr. • houstonarboretum .org • 713-681-8433.

Weekly (Thursdays)

GLBT-Friendly Depression & Bipolar Support Group. 7:15–8:30pm. Eclessia Church, 2015 Taft St, 7pm. Free. 713/526-1018.

Weekly (Sun., Wed., Sat.)

Love and Rackets. Houston Tennis Club welcomes players and enthusiasts of all skill levels. Sundays, 9am–noon; Wednesdays, 7:30–9pm; clinics, every Saturday 9–10:30am. Memorial Park Tennis Center, 1500 Memorial Loop. Annual membership, $30; court fees, $3 per session. houstontennisclub.org.

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Monthly (1st Sun.)

Free Legal Consultations for PWAs. AIDS Foundation Houston and Katine & Nechman L.L.P. offer 30 minutes of free legal consultation on any legal issue to persons with HIV and AIDS, by appointment. Katine & Nechman, 1111 North Loop West, Suite 180 • lawkn.com • 713/808-1000.

Monthly (1st Fri.)

First Friday Happy Hour. Northwest Corner, a social and civic LGBT organization for Houstonians living northwest of Loop 610, meets. Time and location TBA. NWCorner.org.

Monthly (1st Sat.)

First Saturday Arts Market. Local artists display and sell original works of art, and local musicians entertain. 11am–6pm. Wind Water Gallery, 548 W. 19th St. Free. yalestreetmarket .com.

Monthly (2nd Sat.)

AssistHers helps lesbians coping with life-threatening illnesses by providing non-medical assistance. Volunteers meet for fellowship and education followed by lunch at a local restaurant. 9:30am–noon. Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, 1440 Harold St. • assisthers.org • 713/521-4628

Second Saturdays at Winter St. Studios. Meet and hang with artists in the studios marked by a large red dot on or near the door. 6–10pm. Winter St. Studios, 2101 Winter St. • winter streetstudios.net • 713/862-0082.

Monthly (2nd Tues.)

Community Center Dinner Night, presented by Houston GLBT Community Center. Participants pay for their own meals. 6:30pm. W. Gray Café, 415 W. Gray St. • houstonglbtcommunity center.org • 713/524-3818.

Monthly (3rd Sun.)

LOAF Meet and Greet. Lesbians Over Age Fifty meet for munchies and fellowship; bring some of both. 2pm. 1034 West 17th St.

Monthly (3rd Wed.)

Bingo with the Divas, hosted by An’ Marie Gill & Jessica Van Shelton. 8–10pm. Benefits Bering Omega Foundation. Tony’s Corner Pocket, 817 W. Dallas St.

Monthly (3rd Thurs.)

Share with PFLAG Houston in a safe, confidential setting. 7:30pm. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s Chatham Room, 1805 Alabama St. • pflaghouston.org.

Monthly (4th Sun.)

Share with the Clear Lake satellite of PFLAG Houston in a safe, confidential setting. 2–4pm. Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Hall, 17503 El Camino Real, Clear Lake • pflaghouston.org

Monthly (4th Wed.)

Lesbian Dinner Group. Single and coupled women come for a meal but stay for the camaraderie. 7:30pm. Cafe Express, 1422 W. Gray St. • lesbian.dinner.group@gmail.com.

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HIV TESTING

Thomas Street Clinic is offering HIV testing free to the public, Mon.-Fri. 9 am-1 pm. There is no need to establish eligibility ("gold-card"), no donation will be asked of the person seeking testing, and the test is free. Thomas Street Clinic, 2015 Thomas, 713/873-4157 or 713/873-4026.

The Montrose Clinic offers free confidential HIV testing at these locations:

Decades, 1205 Richmond, 713/521-2224, Mon. 6-10pm (Dennis);
EJ's, 2517 Ralph, 713/527-9071, Wed. & Fri. 10pm-1am (Rhonda & Lourdes);
Mary's, Naturally, 1022 Westheimer, 713/527-9669, Wed. 4-8pm (Jack);
Midtown Spa, 3100 Fannin, 713/522-2379, Tues. 9pm-1am (Carlos), Wed. 10pm-1am (Juan), Fri. 10pm-1am (Quincy);
Ripcord, 715 Fairview, 713/521-2792, Wed. 9pm-12am (Matthew);
Inergy/Mango Lounge, 5750 Chimney Rock, 713/660-7310, Mon. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
1415 Bar & Grill, 1415 California, 713/522-7066, Thurs. 9pm-12am (Carlos);
611 Hyde Park Pub, 611 Hyde Park, 713/526-7070, Tues. 3-7pm & Sun. 2-6pm (Matthew);
All Star News and Video Emporium, 3415 Katy Freeway & Studewood, 713/869-7878, Mon. & Thurs. 4-8pm (Jack);
Brazos River Bottom, 2400 Brazos, 713/528-9192, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Matthew);
Cousin's, 817 Fairview, 713/528-9204, Thurs. 8pm-12am (Jack);
Club Houston, 2205 Fannin, 713/659-4998, Tues. 8pm-12am (Dennis). For more info: 713/830-3000.

Planned Parenthood offers free anonymous or confidential testing at clinic locations throughout the area. To speak with an HIV counselor: 1-800-230-PLAN, Dickinson: 281/337-7725, Fannin: 713/831-6543, FM1960: 281/587-8081, Greenspoint: 281/445-4553, Huntsville: 936/295-6396, Lufkin: 936/634-8446 x223, Rosenberg: 281/342-3950, Stafford: 281/494-9848.

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