Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • The Leo Trio/*The Haymakers/The Mighty Orq – rock | 9 p.m. at Rudyard's • Dead Meadow/*Sharks and Sailors/Southern Bellugosi – indie | 9 p.m.at The Mink Thursday • Bob Schneider/Mothers Anthem/Jake Andrews – pop/rock | 8 p.m.at Warehouse Live • Jimmy LaFave – folk/Americana | 7 p.m. at Mucky Duck • *Backbeat......

Turns out it might not be such a bad thing that the old Warwick Hotel is no more: According to government documents recently released to the UK National Archives, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spent some time locked in her bathroom at the hotel during a visit to Houston in 1977. Details of the trip, which took place two years before Thatcher became prime minister, were released under a law that allows top-secret government papers......

Good morning, Houston. Hey, guess who's having a birthday today? Well, OK, it's technically not Houstonist — our second birthday was back on Nov. 20, but we figured that if the queen can have two birthdays, so can we. And so we're throwing ourselves a little birthday party tonight, and you're all invited. It starts at 6 p.m. at Monsoon Wok, Lamar at San Jacinto (yes, street parking is free downtown after 6). Six......

December always brings some good mini-festivals, and this week is a good example. It starts tonight with the KILT 10-Man Jam, featuring many popular country radio stars. Tomorrow night, the husband/wife team of Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis come into town for their annual Christmas show. Saturday, Chron.com showcases some of the best local talent in their concert at Warehouse Live. Finally, KRBE's annual Jingle Jam brings pop radio's favorite to the Toyota Center......

We've already told about the concerts we're most excited about this week: Peter Bjorn and John at Warehouse Live and local artist Ethan Durelle at Fitzgerald's, both this Friday night. We also told you about Tori Amos' visit to Jones Hall this Sunday. If that's not enough for you, a lot of local acts are leaving their parent's dinner table early and playing some great shows all throughout the holiday weekend. Maybe you should......

If you are looking for someway to enjoy the outdoors this weekend, check out the 2007 Ballunar Festival in Clear Lake at the Johnson Space Center. The festival started in 1993, when Steve Lombardi (head balloon pilot for RE/MAX) wanted to celebrate the 200th anniversary of man’s first flight at the location of today’s most technologically advanced flight operations. 14 years later the Ballunar Festival is still going strong, with over 60 Balloons registered......

We're moving the weekly Live Music Calendar to Wednesdays to make room for our new weekly New CD Releases feature on Tuesday. OK, let's pretend you have a five-day date with some wannabe Sirius radio DJ and you have to wade through everything the city has to offer this week. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Well, good thing you listen to everything we have to say! May we recommend that you start off in familiar territory......

Plenty of good music in town this week to..uh...wet your musical whistle - if you will. Tonight you may want to check out some alternative hiphop at Warehouse Live with Del the Funky Homosapien or relive the 90's at Verizon Wireless with Live and Collective Soul. Later in the week the wild and whacky Blue Man Group is playing at Toyota Center -or- you could see Rilo Kiley at Warehouse Live -or- release your......

Houston is getting some great leftovers from ACL Fest this week. Yesterday was Arctic Monkeys & Queens of the Stone Age. It is disappointing to note that the Kaiser Chiefs show for Wednesday has been cancelled. However, on Thursday we recommend going to check out Midlake at Numbers. A lot of great music on Friday – anywhere from local favorite Today Castillo to indie band Deerhoof opening for Bloc Party. Nothing better than curing a......

Good morning, Houston. As you might have noticed, we passed the night sans Humberto — but our friends in the Beaumont area weren't so lucky. The sudden hurricane made landfall early this morning and battered Beaumont with winds up to 62 mph and Orange with gusts of up to 85 mph, the Chron's Eric Berger reports. From across Southeast Texas came reports of knee-deep water, downed power lines and damaged buildings, including an apartment......

On the heels of last week's performance on David Letterman, Atlanta-based indie-rock outfit Manchester Orchestra arrives at Warehouse Live tomorrow night. If you'd like to hear a man with a fantastic voice, check out former Mavericks lead vocalist Raul Malo Thursday night (also at Warehouse Live). Friday night, check out some local indie rock -- .belville at Rudyard's. Saturday is a tough call: The Killers with Louis XIV are at Reliant Arena and Reverend......

For once, this week's music calendar is light on local acts, heavy on touring acts. Tonight, catch classic crooner Tony Bennett (who turns 80 this year) at Jones Hall. Tomorrow night, we recommend California indie rock band Rocco Deluca & the Burden at Warehouse Live. Mix things up a little bit Wednesday night and catch Austin's Belleville Outfit at the Duck, combining jazz, swing and Americana. Houston's own R&B legend Archie Bell will "tighten......

> There are a lot of great acts in town this week with something for everyone's musical taste. The "big radio" shows include Rush, Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Korn, and Evanescence all of which take place outdoors at the Woodlands pavillion. Please remember it is still very hot...even at night. For those not wanting to face the night sweats, check out Texas indie rockers Centro-Matic on Wednesday and Eisley on Thursday. But to really get......

A couple of concerts original scheduled this week were either canceled or postponed. The "Smooth Groove Tour," featuring Cameo, Morris Day and others has been postponed. If you have tickets, check the Reliant Arena website soon for the new date. If you had tickets to see American Idol Taylor Hicks, you can get a refund, but you won't get a chance to see the premature gray-haired Idol. His show was canceled due to bad......

This weekend, the Chronicle took a look at the political donation patterns of different areas of Houston — and though there weren't really any surprises, it's interesting to see exactly who's giving how much to whom. The most money, as you might expect, is coming from the neighborhood with the most money: Residents of the 77019 ZIP code, in River Oaks, gave the most political donations of anyone in the Houston area in the first......

This week is a musical Smorgasbord of live acts in town. Early in the week some good regional musicians (Carol Fran or The Troubadours for example) play around town. If you like Bob Schneider, you have two opportunities to catch him live (Friday and Saturday). Also, later in the week the once brit-pop giants Travis will be performing at the Verizon Wireless Theater along with Alabama’s John Paul White. Or if you feel like......

Tonight, rock fans will enjoy the Godsmack show at Verizon Wireless, but if you want something different, check out the eclectic Moodafaruka at the Mucky Duck. Tomorrow night, we highly recommend indie-pop/rock band The Format at The Meridian. The Proletariat is hosting a happy hour show with Get Him Eat Him. Saturday night gives you many Texas country/folk choices – Roger Creager after the horse races, Ray Wylie Hubbard at the Mucky Duck, and......

Today’s Photo of the Day comes from flickr user and Houstonist photo contributor bunnyville. Orange and lavender skies make for a beautiful photograph, just ask bunnyville, who took this amazing shot near Clear Lake. Thanks for sharing. If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining over 320 of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group. If Houstonist uses your photo for Photo Of The Day, submit it here. For......

With a holiday in the middle of the week, celebrations of the musical variety are happening all over the city. Houston’s official Independence Day celebration, the 2007 Chevy's Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell (yes that is really the full name of it) takes place in Eleanor Tinsley Park from 4pm – 10pm with headliner Montgomery Gentry. However, if you are like us and don’t enjoy pushing your way through the expected......

Good morning, Houston. So, did you hear about the calf that ran loose along the Gulf Freeway feeder road near Clear Lake City Boulevard yesterday? As if there aren't enough things causing traffic on our freeways, you know? The calf apparently got loose through a hole in a fence, and it wandered along the feeder for nearly an hour and a half, eluding its would-be captors until it slipped back through the hole where......

Back in January, B.B. King had to cancel two shows at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston at the last minute while he was rushed to UTMB for flu symptoms. We're glad to have him back: his make-up shows are this Thursday and Friday night in Galveston. John Mayer and Ben Folds play a double bill in The Woodlands on Saturday. Australian rock band Wolfmother hits Warehouse Live on Sunday. The best bet......

We talked last week about Jeff Blessing, the man who crashed while riding his motorcycle up the Gulf Freeway last month and was likely saved from being run over by a mystery trucker who used his vehicle to block traffic from the lane where Blessing lay, unconscious. Last week, Blessing was looking for that trucker, who left the scene before anyone got his name — and yesterday, the two men finally met. The good Samaritan's......

Alright folks...get your funmeter ready. You told, we compiled. Here y'are- Houstonist Top 10ist Outdoor Experiences: 1. An evening concert at Miller Outdoor Theater (and) Hermann Park and the reflecting pool 2. Drinking Lonestar at the West Alabama Ice House 3. Biking on the Memorial Park trails 4. Lounging in Menil Park 5. Open stadium games at Minute Maid Park 6. Rice University running track 7. The backyard at Hans' Bierhouse 8. The patio at......

Tonight, Norah Jones plays in a very suitable place, Jones Hall. The show is sold out, but with M. Ward opening, it’s one that may be worth getting tickets for. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club returns to Houston on Thursday. Rock legend Dave Mason hits The Meridian Friday night, while former Rock Star: Supernova contestant and Austin native Patrice Pike visits Fitzgeralds. Another great double bill comes to us on Sunday night – The Black......

Not too long after having a minor heart attack, Frank Piazza drove down Bissonett to eat some healthy food at Cleburne's, heeding the advice of the cardiologist who fixed him up. On his way there, at the intersection of Wakeforest, he eyed an available corner suite in a strip center that used to house a Philly Cheesesteak Connection. The space, with its prominent location, long profile, and spacious windows, immediately caught Frank's eye. Already......

Four-day work weeks screw us up, too -- which is why you're seeing the concert calendar on Wednesday. It doesn't matter though, there are still plenty of good shows left to see this week. Two really good shows to choose from tomorrow night: Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. will hit Warehouse Live, while local favorites The Scattered Pages will provide your coffee sipping entertainment at Brasil. Friday night, hit one of the best intimate......

Similar to last week, the calendar is full of local and regional acts. Some exceptions include singer/songwriters Steve Poltz (at the Mucky Duck tonight) and the eclectic Laura Veirs (at Walter's on Friday night). If you're more of a jazz fan, Tower of Power (who has been around for almost 40 years) will hit Verizon Wireless Friday night. You have a couple of chances to catch Houston's Tody Castillo this week; Friday night at......

A former golf pro in Kingwood and Clear Lake was stabbed to death while on a business assignment in Florida on Thursday — and his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend have been charged in the murder. It happened at an apartment complex in South Lakeland, Fla., where 31-year-old Colin Zieler had been living for a month; the former girlfriend, 26-year-old Heizel Beatriz Gonzalez-Martinez, is charged with being an accessory to murder and her boyfriend, 25-year-old......

Good morning, Houston. Thanks to everyone who joined us at Kay's last night for the happy hour — and those of you who missed it, we expect to see you next time. Now, go read some news, Our head hurts. >> Turns out it wasn't a foolproof plan after all: Police are on the lookout for Continental Express flight attendant Vivian Fragoza and her husband after Fragoza allegedly used Continental "buddy miles" to fly......