We’re no stranger to speakeasies around these parts.

The ideal speakeasy transports you elsewhere. It makes you temporarily forget about the bummers of the outside world. A great theme can carry the mood of the night and leave you wanting more. Endless Bummer, a new speakeasy next door to Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, gives its own distinct dark spin on the tiki speakeasy theme.

I arrived about an hour early ahead of my reservation so I pulled into Betelgeuse first. The order consisted of a pickletini (my current favorite drink in town) and an ursa major pizza to pass the hour. When it was time, I exited Betelgeuse and walked about twelve steps towards an unassuming, lit up door with a dark hidden skull outline embossed on it. 

It’s hard to say what first caught my eye about Endless Bummer: knickknacks inside diorama scenes, artificial plants that take up as much wall space as possible, or two skeleton lovers in embrace. Nothing feels empty, yet at the same time, nothing feels too overwhelming. 

Neon Thrash (Brian Dibala) is a Houston-based artist who designed Endless Bummer. We had the pleasure of interviewing him about the design process. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Kathrina Maribao: What’s your favorite object in the room?

Neon Thrash: It's pretty hard to pick my favorite item in Endless Bummer! I think I would have to say "Pete", a rambunctious boar with a love of eating everything. It was an old taxidermy boar that I restored and gave the full neon thrash treatment. A close second are the blacklight lamps made by David Lowbrow pilgrim.

KM: Upon reading the menu I believe it said that the theme was “gothic purgatory.” I’m curious what came first: the name Endless Bummer, or the theme.

NT: The name came first. When building out one of the Betelgeuse's Chris, the owner, found a lighter that was hand engraved with a surfing reaper that read "endless bummer." He held onto that vibe/name for years until we started working on this project. We discussed a couple of different concepts for the space before we decided on this one, but the name was set from the beginning.

KM: When you were designing Endless Bummer, were you more focused on telling a story with the space, or just making something fun and surprising to discover?

NT: Honestly, I was focused on both. I knew starting with a story to discover would make the concept even more fun! So I started the story and I worked backwards from there when designing the space. I tried to write the concept with multiple narratives so it has more to play with. This place exists in a multidimensional limbo, between vacation and death, so there's a lot of area to explore with that. Each artist created included lore for how their pieces ended up here or what they signify.

KM: The table we sat at had art on it that appeared to look like two small figures going out the dark void. Also, the lamp was a very interesting, intricate piece that was fun to look at. Were these done by different artists and if so, what was the biggest challenge in curating and collaborating with other artists?

NT: I worked with several artists to bring things together and add a different twist to everything I could. I built the tables out of old antique doors and each one is painted by a different artist! The lamp sculptures are all done by the same artist. Honestly the biggest struggle was not being able to bring in every artist I could think of! I really wanted to work with as many people as possible. Everyone was great though and their contributions made this space way more magical than I could have on my own. The website will have all of the bios and information soon. We also aren't done! I will be working with new artists to keep adding things to Endless Bummer!

KM: A lot of tiki bars lean into kitsch, laid back, or nostalgia, but this one has more of a surreal, gothic vibe while still being light. How did you find that balance between humor and darker themes?

NT: I'll be honest I feel like I didn't have to try too hard because it felt so natural to do. I think this theme is a direct representation of most of my work and vibe, bright and wild and kind of scary, like a nightmare that takes place in an 80's cartoon.

KM: Describe Endless Bummer in just 3 words.

NT: Immersive, surreal, tropical.

This week’s drinks are on us! That means three readers will win a $20 gift card to Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Montrose. All you have to do is click on this link and you’ll be entered in the giveaway.

Winners will be randomly selected and emailed tomorrow morning.

Want to sponsor a future issue and treat readers to a local spot on you? Hit reply.

LATELY IN HOUSTON

Tariffs are hitting our fav sushi spots. With a 15% tariff on Japan, our beloved sushi restaurants like Uchi, Neo, and Kira are getting hit with rising costs as they heavily rely on imported fish. The result of all this? An eight piece nigiri at Kaisen used to cost $18.99. Now it’s $34.99. Boo. 

“She’s a teenager trapped in a grandmother’s body.” That’s the premise of Kimberly Akimbo, a Tony award winning musical about a 16 year old girl with a disease that makes her age faster than normal. A twist on a coming-of-age plot, it follows Kimberly’s life and high school dynamics without leaning too hard (or not hard enough) into her medical illness. This show is playing at Hobby Center through September 20th.

Untitled Art Fair chooses Houston for its next big stage! This weekend the Miami-born event Untitled Art Fair will be held at George R. Brown Convention Center for the first time in Houston featuring 88 exhibitors from around the world. Houston was partly chosen for how “broad and deep the cultural infrastructure of the city” is and for its thriving art scene. We can attest to that.

WEEKEND EVENTS

All Weekend

• Untitled Art Fair

• Omakase by Art Club Supper Club

• Coffee Sip and Paint

• Gem Mint Cardshow 

• Last chance for Floating World: A.A. Murakami at MFAH!

Thursday, 9/18

6pm, Bingo | Blanket Bingo at Market Square Park. “Bring your blanket, lawn chairs or snag one of the tables at the park for a night of fun, music and great prizes!” $10 for nine games and $1 for daubers. Bingo starts at 7pm.

6pm-10pm, Opening Reception | Rapt in Wonder and Surface Opening Reception at Houston Center for Photography. “Whimsy, delight, and the sublime—each exhibition draws on these emotional and aesthetic threads, bringing together artists who stage reality in order to construct photographic images evocative of our universal capacity for awe.”

Friday, 9/19

6pm, Art Workshop | Paint & Sip at Segundo Coffee Lab. “Your ticket comes with: ✨ A coffee painting lesson (yes, coffee is the paint!) ☕ A FREE signature drink 🎟 All the supplies you need” $27.

6pm-10pm, Arts & Crafts | Paint & Pop That Fan! “Sip, design, dance! Customize your own fan, enjoy drinks, and master a few line dances. The vibes you didn't know you needed!”

7pm-9pm, Art Event | Sip & Stroll at Winter Street Studios.  “Enjoy complimentary wine, light bites, and a live musician as you stroll through the halls from one studio to the next, connecting with fellow art-lovers and engaging with the talented artists at work.” $25. 

Saturday, 9/20

10am-5pm, Car Show | Wings and Wheels at Air Terminal Museum. “Wings and Wheels is our quarterly open house day. Enjoy an exciting day checking out planes parked on the airport ramp and vehicles from local car clubs, learn about Houston’s aviation history with a guided tour, or catch a presentation by a local historian.” $12.

11am-1pm, Plants | Plant Swap at Earth to Mars. “Green Plants and Sustainable Vibes at Earth to Mars Cafe.” Free if you bring a plant.

2pm-6pm, Market | In My Book Era Market by Divine Market! “Whether you’re looking to discover your next favorite read, connect with a community of fellow readers, or simply enjoy a relaxing girl’s day out — this event is packed with charm, books, and fall cozy vibes!🥰” Free.

2pm-6pm, Market | Houston Record Swap hosted by Good Junk Vintage at Axelrad. “Live DJ, all ages, all dogs, free.”

7:30pm, Concert | Laufey at Toyota Center. $150 and up.

8pm, Live Music | Houston Jazz Festival: Mark Gross & Veronica Swift at Miller Outdoor Theatre.

8pm, Live Music | Pride Chorus Houston & Coro Gay Ciudad de México: Mi Familia. “Coro Gay Ciudad de México is Mexico City’s LGBTQ+ choir, known for lavish, thrilling, and poignant productions. For the first time, they will sing alongside Pride Chorus Houston, Houston’s LGBTQ+ community chorus for over 45 years, in a new production, Mi Familia.” $28 and up.

*9pm-2am, Nightlife | Vibration Station presents R&B Rave Edition at Room 8o8! “Imagine the soul of R&B colliding with the high-energy pulse of a rave: deep cuts, nostalgic anthems, and remixes that transform love songs into pure dance-floor release. 💜”

Sunday, 9/21

1pm, Art Workshop | Girls Gone Mild Night at Rooftop Cinema Club. $50. Sold Out.

7pm, Concert | The Crooner & The Cowboy: Leon Bridges with Charley Crockett at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. $48 and up.

*Sponsored. We only include events we think you’ll love.

ON THE HOU(S)E Concierge

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