Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916
Monday, August 18, 2025 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment

A&E 8/2/25 10:37am

Review: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in Concert with Houston Symphony

By Wenshi Chen

I was too young to catch the Harry Potter films in theaters when they first came out, but I still remember my earliest encounter with the series. After racing through the books in second grade, I ran straight to the library to check out the DVDs, clutching them like they were sacred artifacts. Even on a small screen, they felt magical, like the world was opening a secret door just for me.

A&E 8/2/25 10:35am

A Texan’s Lollapalooza survival guide 2025

By Arman Saxena

Unfamiliar with public transit or walkable streets? Terrified of skyscrapers taller than any medical center building? Fear not. This lifelong (for all intents and purposes) Texan was technically born in the Chicago area and is here to keep you alive, hydrated and — ideally — in possession of all your belongings during Lollapalooza. Grant Park opens its gates July 31 through Aug. 3 for Lollapalooza’s annual marathon of music, heat and inevitable port-a-potty searching. Pack your reusable bottle, channel some “Culture of Care” and hit the rail.

A&E 8/2/25 10:34am

7 lesser-known artists to check out at Lollapalooza!

By Arman Saxena

Grant Park’s headliners will draw the masses, but the real bragging rights come from catching tomorrow’s favorites before your roommate has added them to the group Spotify. There are so many great artists performing, and if you float from stage to stage, you just may find your next musical obsession. Here are some possible contenders: 

A&E 7/20/25 2:57pm

Summer indie staples serenade House of Blues on Peach Pit and Briston Maroney’s “Long Hair, Long Life” tour.

By Muna Nnamani

A crowd gathered at House of Blues Houston on June 18 to hear the upbeat bedroom pop that got many of them through high school. Titled the “Long Hair, Long Life” tour (see the band members), this collaboration between Peach Pit and Briston Maroney felt like a time capsule to 2017: a setlist teeming with both original songs and music from their latest albums, “Magpie” and “JIMMY”, and an unspoken dress code of cargo shorts, graphic T-Shirts and backward caps.

A&E 7/16/25 9:42pm

Summer indie staples serenade House of Blues on Peach Pit and Briston Maroney’s “Long Hair, Long Life” tour.

By Arman Saxena

A crowd gathered at House of Blues Houston on June 18 to hear the upbeat bedroom pop that got many of them through high school. Titled the “Long Hair, Long Life” tour (see the band members), this collaboration between Peach Pit and Briston Maroney felt like a time capsule to 2017: a setlist teeming with both original songs and music from their latest albums, “Magpie” and “JIMMY”, and an unspoken dress code of cargo shorts, graphic T-Shirts and backward caps.

A&E 7/10/25 10:33pm

Worth the wait: Andrew Thomas Huang practices patience

By Hongtao Hu

Andrew Thomas Huang says that patience is essential to being an artist. His proof? A film that has spent a decade in production, a career shaped by years in the music industry and a lifelong commitment to exploring queer identity and environmental themes — the kinds of stories, he said, that take time to tell right.

A&E 6/19/25 9:32pm

Review: 'Adults' couldn’t have matured better

By Ridhi Dondeti

Sitcoms are back, and they’re actually funny. FX’s “Adults” is an original comedy following a friend group navigating New York and what it means to be an “actual adult.” From ever-mounting medical bills to chaotic dinner parties, the group attempts to tackle this new stage of life together, only to be met with varying levels of success. 

A&E 6/19/25 9:29pm

Review: HAAPI Fest showcases Texas filmmakers

By Hongtao Hu

On a hot and hazy Texas day, the Houston Asian American and Pacific Islander Festival devoted an entire block of time towards Texas filmmakers. This June 7 showcase was but a small slice of the two weekends where HAAPI Fest centered Asian artists in film and other mediums, capping its final day with a comedy show. 

A&E 6/19/25 9:25pm

Top 10 songs of the summer so far

By Arman Saxena

Finals have wrapped, campus has emptied out and our playlists have exploded with fresh releases. From 10‑minute punk epics to sun‑drenched disco revivals, the early‑summer drop has been generous. Here are 10 tracks — in alphabetical order — that have ruled my headphones since the last textbook closed.

A&E 4/22/25 11:11pm

Rob Kimbro returns to Rice, focusing on ‘stories that matter’

By Charlie Cruz

When Rob Kimbro graduated from Rice University in 1995, he said he envisioned a career in the United States Foreign Service. Now, nearly three decades later, he returns as a full-time lecturer in the theatre program having established himself in Houston’s theater community and as a mentor to Rice students.

A&E 4/22/25 11:10pm

Review: “Sinners” is Hollywood filmmaking at its finest

By Jay Collura

Oftentimes, film critics (myself very much included) exaggerate the death of cinema as we groan about the dominance of intellectual property, when in actuality, many good, unique films constantly surround us. 2025 has been an excellent reminder of this; for every “Captain America,” there’s a “Black Bag.”

A&E 4/22/25 11:09pm

Choose your own adventure for summer reading

By Sarah Motteler

The summer, that much-needed three-month stretch of time between spring and fall semester, can be spent in many ways. If you’d like to brush up on your reading skills to stay prepared for your upcoming classes but don’t know where to start, consider the following five books and series, sorted based on summer plans for your convenience.

A&E 4/22/25 11:07pm

2025 Albums of the Summer

By Arman Saxena

From long‑rumored comeback records to underground favorites ready for a breakout, this summer is stacked with new music that could soundtrack every pool day, road trip and late‑night study session you have planned. Here are nine projects we’ll be spinning the moment they drop.

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