No, it’s not a Hallmark Christmas original, but it is another week in Houston and another edition of the Hidden Agenda. The week ahead is packed with sound experiments, art talks, and spaces for building, plus a holiday market or two to remind you that capitalism never sleeps. Grab a coffee, buy something rad, see some weird movies, and call it all self-care.

Monday, 12/08

They, Who Sound | 7:00 PM

Lawndale Art Center | 4912 Main St

Roll back into Lawndale this Monday for any edition of They, Who Sound, presented by Nameless Sound. This iteration features the return of Jessica Medrano Fuquay as she graces Houston’s art scene once again with electric compositions. Fuquay is followed by the trio of Andrew Baker on sax, Lisa Cameron on percussion, and Justin Rodriguez-Jones on vocals and various.

Tuesday, 12/09

Diverse Discourse: Louise Martoranos | 6:30 PM
MATCH | 3400 Main St

DiverseWorks & Lawndale collaborate to present Louise Martoranos’ talk, It’s Not Out of Reach, centering the challenges artists face when it comes to economic stability, financial security, and dependable infrastructure. If you’re struggling to build a sustainable career as an artist, well, this is a good time to hear some thoughts and engage in your community.

Wednesday, 12/10

Tsedaye Makonnen. Photo by Nakeya Brown, courtesy of the artist.

Glassell Lecture: Tsedaye Makonnen | 6:00 PM

Glassell School of Art | 5101 Montrose Blvd

Speaking of lectures, the Glassell School at the MFAH has another banger in store for you as Tsedaye Makonnen presents on and discusses her practice, which spans media and has carried her from The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Venice Biennial, and the Library of Congress.

Thursday, 12/11

Final Days of Beautiful Princess Disorder | Varying Times
MATCH | 3400 Main St

All you BPD princesses out there still have a chance to catch Catastrophic Theatre’s presentation of Beautiful Princess Disorder, written by kathy Ng. Everyone’s talking about it, and you should probably go see why!

Opening: Photography from The Menil Collection: Curated by Wendy Watriss | 6:00 PM

Menil Collection | 1533 Sul Ross St

Get your celebration of Fotofest’s 40th Anniversary Biennial started early with this exhibition of documentary-style photography curated by Wendy Watriss, an award-winning photojournalist and key figure of Fotofest’s history! The Menil knows how to throw an opening, so you can enjoy drinks and live music in the lobby before you wander through Watriss’s selections.

Friday, 12/12

Jandek | 6:00 PM
Orange Show Monument | 2401 Munger

Renovations have been underway at the Orange Show, and they’re bursting at the seams to re-open! What better way to celebrate than with a performance by Jandek?? Tickets are $30 general, doors at 6 with the show starting at 7.

Saturday, 12/13

Drawing Workshop: Manual Glitches of Drawing | 11:00 AM
Menil Drawing Institute | 1412 W Main St
Kick off your Saturday with a drawing workshop led by Stephan Hillerbrand (of Hillerbrand+Magsamen), exploring the visual logic and residue of broadcast media. “Participants investigate how signal interference, glitch aesthetics, and analog systems thinking can be transformed into layered drawings.”

Craftidote | Noon - 5:00 PM
Antidote Coffee | 729 Studemont St

Houston is rife with markets these days as the holidays kick up, and chief among them is Craftidote! This annual market features all sorts of fine handmade goods, so you can shop local while keeping your gifts unique (or hoarding goods for yourself).

Meet You at the Block Party | 6-9:00 PM
Art League Houston | 1953 Montrose Blvd

It’s the final Block Party of 2025, and it’s quite a banger! These semi-regular block parties have become a staple in Montrose and a great chance to catch up on the exhibitions at Art League. Peep the full vendor list online, but check some highlights: K.LLAGES, Maureen Lax, FLATS, Rising Tide Projects. There’ll be food by Umbrella Fellas and tunes by Ice House Radio as well. Come for the crafts, stay for the viiiiiiibes.

Joe Bob’s Indoor Drive-In Geek-Out – Cult of the Rock Star Night | 7:00 PM

River Oaks Theatre | 2009 W Gray St
End your Saturday with a double feature presented by Joe Bob and Darcy the Mail Girl of Last Drive In fame! They’ll be screening Bubba Ho-Tep (2003) and Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979). I went to one of these last year, and it ruled, and Joe Bob was lovely. Highly recommend!

Sunday, 12/14

Town Meeting 1978-2028: Planning Meeting | 6:00 PM
MATCH | 3400 Main St

Hang out with my beautiful sons at Rendezvous Center for Art and the good folk of DiverseWorks for a gathering and planning meeting for the 50th Anniversary of Town Meeting I in 2028. This is growing out of a symposium conducted by Rendezvous in conjunction with their exhibition at Art League, which dove into the history of Town Meeting I, ultimately leading to some critical organizations for Houston and its LGBTQIA+ community. Dinner will be provided by Rendezvous, and Spanish/English language interpretation will be available.

Handmade Holiday