Mcallen’s Manichaus (manic house) is a great alternative art space that all serious RGV art lovers should visit. On June 6, Manichaus will premiere “Non-Composition,” a new show by artist Kris Ohlinger. The show will kick off with a reception at 7 p.m. on June 6 and will continue through June 27. Check out the flyer below and the press release right here.

 Hottest Bar Staffer Contest. So far, we’ve been to Brownsville’s the Loft, Shenanigan’s, South Padre Island’s Coral Reef, The Radisson, Louie’s Backyard and Club Pelican West. Where should we go next? Drop a comment and let us know. Make sure to check out photos from all the clubs mentioned above right here.

Those looking to view some of the finest local art in the upper Rio Grande Valley will get the chance on Friday, Feb. 1 at the McAllen First Friday Art Walk. A number of pieces will be on display at galleries and art spaces in downtown McAllen. Here’s a list of participating venues:

Nuevo Santander Gallery; 717 N Main St
Jac-Lin

I just received a press release about a new art exhibition in Brownsville called “Strange.” Read all about it below …

Strange’, an exhibition of paintings, drawings, and ceramicsby Rio Grande Valley artists Puente, Chris Leonard,Oscar Alvarez and Philip Field opens with a reception for the artists on 24 January from 6 to 9 pm. The exhibition will run until 29 February.

Strange’ an exhibition of paintings,drawings, ceramics and computer enhanced graphis images by four Rio Grande Valley artists, will open with a reception for the artists at 6:00 pm on Thursday, the 24th of January at Galeria 409 at 409 East 13th Street in historic downtown Brownsville.

Self taught Brownsville natives Oscar Alvarez and ‘Puente’ will exhibit works alongside UTPA art professors Phillip Field and Chris Leonard from McAllen.

Gallery owner Mark Clark proudly boasts that these four are undoubtly the strangest artists currently working in South Texas and challenges anybody to produce an artist inside or outside of an insane asylum) with a body of work that is stronger or stranger than the one that he
has assembled here. “You gotta see it to belive it”, says Clark.

Oscar Alvarez paints large oils from his imagination to deal with the stress of his day job in a mortuary. Puente was forbidden to draw at age six by her parents because she negelected her school work and now depicts an imaginary story book work that resembles Hansel and Gretel on peyote. Chris Leonard creates animals in oil paint and clay that personify Walt Disney’s worst nightmares while Phillip Field depicts mundane scenes from his home life in digital technicolor. In his dream world, Field’s wife is a skinny, hairless red rat. The exhibition runs from January 24th to March 2nd. Gallery hours are from 12 to 5 Wednesday through Saturday and admission is always free. For information or directions phone 455 3599.

2008 is here and Spring Break is fast approaching. Louie’s Backyard has announced a few of the big acts music fans can look forward to catching on South Padre Island this Spring Break.

According to WhosYourPadre.com, Paul Wall, Cartel, Rooney, The Crash Moderns, All Time Low and Forever the Sickest Kids will hit Louie’s in March. Not a bad start, but it’s pretty heavy on the indie/teenemo side. I hope we’ll see some more decent hip-hop acts hit local stages come March.

Check out the list here for more info on the bands and check out Rooney’s video for “When did Your Heart Go Missing?’ below.

A post on Flyleaf’s MySpace page tells us that the alt-metal band will visit the Valley on March 21. Flyleaf will headline a show at Dodge Arena after it ends a long tour through Europe supporting Korn.

The Belton, Texas band has toured with Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed , Stonesour and they played the main stage at the 2006 Family Values Tour. Their music has appeared in the recent movies “Live Free or Die Hard” and “Resident Evil: Extinction.” The band members, who say they are all of Christian faith, donated proceeds from sales of their “Music as a Weapon” EP to the international Christian relief organization World Vision.

Click here for Dodge Arena ticket info and check out Flyleaf’s video for “I’m So Sick” below.

Valley artists and art lovers take note. I just got a message in my inbox about a new art space in McAllen. It’s called Manichaus (pronounced “manic house”), and there will be a Christmas art sale happening there Saturday Dec. 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The space is located at 1301-B N. Main Street in McAllen. The local artists who sent me the message say the space is “completely devoted to promoting and representing fine arts in a variety of forms.” Manichaus also has a shop that sells books and comics as well as locally-produced art. I might make it out there on Saturday while I’m doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. You should too. Support local art.

Christmas is nearing, but there are still a few good concerts to catch this week in the Rio Grande Valley. Check out this quick list of some of the concerts showing up on my radar. Make sure to check out our events calendar to find out about more local events.

- There will be a benefit show for the RGV Food Bank at the Border Theater in Mission on Dec. 20 (that’s the flyer posted to the right) featuring some great acts, including The Apple in the Tree, They Mean Us, Melissa Carver and The Final Stretch.

- Amarillo country singer Kevin Fowler returns to the Valley on Dec. 20 at Graham Central Station.

- Graham Central Station also has Los Palominos performing on Dec. 21.

- Brownsville’s Chapa’s Bar hosts an indie dance night with Houston’s The Factory Party, Cosmogirl, The Citys and a new band from Austin called Trains to Holland on Dec. 21.

Tonight, McAllen’s Cine EL Rey will hold a celebration “in honor of the Virgin Mary” starting at 7 p.m. featuring local acts GoLightly Project, Brandon Garcia plus Brandy Bee Serrata, he daughter of tejano legend Jessy Serrata, and more.

The event will also feature dramatic plays and dancing. It’s only $10. Get more info on the event here.