Woof. This is going to be a long one. Shall we?
Friday
I saw the show Flesh World last weekend, and while I didn’t love it (nor did I appreciate the Dead White Zombie’s taking half my event listing and half of Christopher Mosley’s description in last week’s Weekender and Frankensteining the two together to have a really positive-sounding write up on their website), the site-specific, peripatetic aspect of it is worth a look. The installations, spread out over an old welding warehouse in West Dallas, are pretty great, and highly detailed. Much ado has been made about Sleep No More in New York, a bloody chase tangentially inspired by Macbeth, and I for one am glad of a similar-ish attempt here, even though it didn’t quite work for me. Only 30 people are allowed per performance, so snag a ticket online before you go.
Also this evening, the Dallas Symphony and famed composer Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line, Ordinary People) join forces for the Armed Forces Salute Memorial Day weekend program. It starts tonight and goes through Sunday, so you have plenty of chances to catch Hamlisch conduct the DSO and chorus through uplifting film and show tunes, including a George M. Cohen medley and the wordless “Hymn for the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, as well as other patriotic classics.
Saturday
Head to Main Street Garden for the Homegrown Festival, where North Texas-bred musicians (such as the Octopus Project, Centro-Matic, and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears) will play, and local artists will show off their work. It’s safe to assume that there will be plenty of options for food and drink all day long, and it’s pet friendly. Fido loves music, too. And if you haven’t, check out Peter Simek’s thoughtful article on the festival that ran in the May issue of D.
Saturday night options also include the premiere of Kaguya-Hime, Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet’s first original full-length piece, at the Bishop Arts Theater. It’s based on a 10th-century Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, in which the moon princess Kaguya-Hime is sent to Earth as a baby, and the Wood Cutter adopts her as his own. She grows into a very beautiful woman, and the neighboring princes and even the emperor take notice. But none of these suitors can win her heart, since it belongs to the moon. The performance will also feature a guest appearance by DGDG (Danielle Georgiou Dance Group). Georgiou is just about everywhere these days.
Sunday
This should be a seriously Sunday Funday, what with the holiday on Monday. The thing that will make it the most fun is the gallon’s worth of margaritas you’ll consume at the annual Margarita Meltdown in Bishop Arts. (Take a cab, obviously.) Top cocktail shakers from The Chesterfield, Standard Pour, The Windmill, Iron Cactus, Nova, Tillman’s, Veracruz Cafe, Sfuzzi, and Hacienda On Henderson will mix up guaranteed-to-make-you-woozy margaritas. You will sample, liberally. And then you will vote on who makes the best tasting marg in town. There’s an afterparty at Nova immediately following the end of the contest. If you’re tired of margaritas, order Nova’s Moscow Mule.
In other drinking news, the Double Wide is throwing one of its signature parking lot pool parties. You know that scene in The Sandlot where Michael “Squints” Palledorous pretended to drown so hot lifeguard Wendy would give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? I don’t recommend that, but maybe the clip will help get you in the mood to lotion up and hit the kiddie pool. The $3 You-Call-Its make turning your Enticed shaved ice (the truck will be parked nearby) into adult Enticed shaved ice a whole lot cheaper. Graceland Ninjaz will play inside, while DJ Biehler spins outside.
Monday
It’s Memorial Day, so do take moment to remember the true meaning of the holiday–honoring the men and women in uniform who died serving our country. And okay, yes, celebrate that you don’t have to go to work. With a few 97 degree days, I’d say we’re officially in summer, but Del Frisco’s Grille in Uptown is hosting a welcome back party for Beelzebub’s favorite season. You don’t really need an excuse to hang out on an awesome patio, but a little extra incentive never hurt anyone. The Grille is offering half-priced specialty cocktails and appetizers, plus live music from band The Brew.
For a more sedate celebration of Memorial Day (at least, until the fireworks start going off), check out the DSO’s outdoor community concert at Flagpole Hill. Associate conductor Rei Hotoda will lead the orchestra in a program of stirring patriotic music capped off by a colorful fireworks display. If for some reason it rains, head to the Meyerson.
Thanks for sticking with me. As always, you can find more to do with your four-day weekend right here.
