School’s back in session and that means a lot of arts organizations are kicking off their season this fall. And all that jazz… I barely had time to post the first event here to Twitter, so I have no time to write something tremedously witty or insightful like I usually do. I’ll do better next week, I promise…

Continuing This Week

3rd Annual Houston Fringe Festival, FrenetiCore/Frenetic Theater, Thu-Sat (except 09-09), doors 7:30pm, show 8pm, $17 (adv.)/$20 (at door). Annual performing arts festival offering independent film, theatre, music, dance, and visual arts. Each week is a different program; the final week is “Anything Goes.” 10-HFF

Wednesday 08-25

Ballet Barre Kick-off Party, RDG + Bar Annie, 1728 Post Oak Boulevard, 6:30-9pm. Ballet Barre is a young professionals’ (20-40) club for the Houston Ballet; see website for more info. 10-W34-1

Thursday 08-26

Capital One Bank Culture Collision V. TD, Architecture Center Houston (ArCH), 315 Capitol #120, 6-8 pm. The 2010-2011 Theater District season kicks off with a happy hour alongside an exhibition entitled Ready, Set, Go showcasing the work of Houston stage designers. 10-W34-2

The Sideshow Tramps/Roky Moon & Bolt/Electric Attitude, Walter’s on Washington, 4215 Washington, 8pm, $8. This is a benefit show for Mareshah, the sister of Electric Attitude lead singer Blake Shepard, who was hit by a suspected drunk driver while trying to cross Washington Avenue near Pearl Bar on July 23. 10-W34-3

Friday 08-27

Hollywood Black CD Release Show, Walter’s on Washington, 4215 Washington, 8pm-1am, $10. Also featuring Female Demand and The Ride Home. Includes free CD for everyone, and free beer for 21+. 10-M08-4

Spin6: Spin On Summer, Houston Center for Photography, 1441 West Alabama, 8-11pm, $10 advance/$15 at door. A summer-themed party to celebrate the end of summer. 10-W34-4

Saturday 08-28

pending

Sunday 08-29

17th Annual Capital One Bank Theater District Open House, various venues (see website), noon-4pm. A free, family-friendly day of performances and chances to meet the artists. 10-W34-5

This may be a bit on the short side. I will admit I had little time to get this together. I may add to this if I find I missed something major, but for now this is it.

Thursday 08-19 through Saturday 08-21 and Continuing

3rd Annual Houston Fringe Festival, FrenetiCore/Frenetic Theater, doors 7:30pm, show 8pm, $17 (adv.)/$20 (at door). Annual performing arts festival offering independent film, theatre, music, dance, and visual arts. Each week is a different program; the final week is “Anything Goes.” 10-HFF

Thursday 08-19

Ragged Hearts, Continental Club, 3700 Main, 10pm. Preceded by Beetle as usual on Thursday nights. 10-W33-1

Friday 08-20

A Fistful of Soul, The Mink, 3718 Main, 9pm. All-vinyl soul, R&B, ska, and reggae dance extravaganza. 10-W33-2

Kashmeere Reunion Stage Band, Miller Outdoor Theater, 8pm. Big band, R&B, funk, soul. 10-W33-3

Saturday 08-21

Houston Warfare, Mango’s, 403 Westheimer, 9pm-1am, free (21+)/$7 (under 21). With Kyle Hubbard, Danny Watts, John Black, Skepticynic, and Dj Kruxx. 10-W33-4

Welcome to the beginning of the end of summer.

I realize I’m posting an event happening tonight, that actually hasn’t been posted until after the start time. I did tweet this earlier; if you’re not following the Twitter account now’s a great time to do so because I’ll be doing this more often as I find out about events at the last minute.

Wednesday 08-11

Beatles Open Mic Night, Bohemeos, 708 Telephone, 9pm. 10-W32-1

Thursday 08-12

The Mighty Orq, McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 7:30pm, $15. This is Orq’s homecoming after a European tour; let’s welcome a true treasure of Houston rock and roll back to their hometown! All ages. 10-W32-2

Friday 08-13

Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils/Buttercup, Continental Club, 3700 Main, doors 9pm, $20, 21+. 10-W32-3

Fired for Walking/The Unzipped, Rudyard’s, 2010 Waugh. 10-W32-4

Saturday 08-14

Video Game Armageddon, Numbers, 300 Westheimer, 7pm-2am, $10. Featuring Jonny Nero, Sievert, Jus Coz, Shoelace, MC Router, and Dr. Awkward, as well as part of a video game tournament and live art. Proceeds to benefit Extra Life and the Texas Children’s Hopsital. 18+. 10-M08-3

August marks the beginning of the end of summer. In Houston, that’s actually a good thing, as hot as it has gotten in recent days. They tell me it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. Yet that’s part of Houston’s charm, I suppose. (Yes, I say this as I sit in a house with a malfunctioning air conditioner.)

Anyway, on with my picks for the week.

Ongoing

Perspectives 171: Jennifer West, Contemporary Arts Museum, 5216 Montrose, Tue,Wed,Fri,Sat 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Sun noon-5pm, free admission. These five works by Jennifer West are an odd cross between filmmaking and painting. West treats the developed film as both a medium to record and a surface to be manipulated (with items that include makeup, fruit juice, skateboard wheels, and candy), with surprising, bizarre, hypnotic, and unique results that must be seen to be believed and appreciated. On display through September 26. Generously supported and commissioned by the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. 10-CAMJWEST

ArtHouston, numerous local art galleries (see website for details), all day, free admission. Exhibitions include a wide range of work including abstract paintings, mixed media, sculptures, photography, and collage. Exhibitions continue through August 31. 10-ARTHOUSTON

Closing Saturday 08-07

The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street. 10-LACBIG

Friday 08-06

Winter Wallace CD Release Party, Gallery M Squared, 339 W. 19th, 7pm, $? (pre-sale)/$12 (at door). The long awaited CD release is finally here and this is the party for it. 10-M08-1

Saturday 08-07

WordCamp Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, 8:30am-4pm; WordLab + mixer (afterparty) at Caroline Collective, 4820 Caroline, 4pm-8pm. Houston’s first ever conference about all things WordPress, with keynote by Matt Mullenweg, and presentations by several other WordPress experts. (Note: this is a sold out event, listed here primarily in anticipation of a future recap.) 10-M08-2

Ground Zero/The Distracted/Finding Reason/Insert Name Here, Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak, doors 8pm, $8 advance/$10 at door, all ages. 10-W31-1

White Linen Night in the Heights, Heights area (see website for locations), 6-9pm. After last year’s success, it’s back again this year. An event about art, culture, and community, featuring special deals from area merchants as well as a pie eating contest and fashion show. 10-W31-2