You still have two whole days to drink unofficial margaritas before Cinco de Mayo, plus a brand new amusement park not located in the Park Cities.
Friday
Beginning this evening, you can catch a sight you haven’t seen around here since 1993. I’d make a joke there, but I absolutely cannot think of anything right now. So. TITAS gifts us with the powerhouse talent of New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and they’ll have three shows, one tonight and two tomorrow, at the Winspear. You don’t really want to miss this.
Meanwhile, one of our hometown companies, Texas Ballet Theater, kicks off their weekend of performances. Their program is Lambarena and Voluntaries, two disparate pieces, at the Wyly. First they’ll take on the challenging Lambarena, choreographed by the always-eclectic Val Caniparoli and premiered by the San Francisco Ballet in 1995. His piece blends traditional African tribal rhythms and music, from which it derives its name, with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The program is complete with Glen Tetly’s Voluntaries.
Saturday
Remember that new theme park that they were building in Fair Park? Summer Adventures in here, and open officially as of Saturday. There’s water rides and some insanely tall tower ride called the “Top o’ Texas Tower Ride.” This doesn’t make me think about that time at the State Fair last year when two dozen people got stuck dangling 200 feet above the ground, for two hours. Not at all.
Quite a few places are celebrating Cinco de Mayo early, and if you are looking for a guaranteed-packed party, that’s Urban Taco in Uptown. They pull out all the stops every year with five different $5 drink selections, street tacos, and a mariachi band.
Competing for party dominance, however, is the Kentucky Derby. Both Victor Tangos and Sissy’s Southern Kitchen are throwing a version of a gentle living shindig that might quickly devolve into typical Dallas debauchery, give or take the amount of bourbon. Sissy’s Jockeys and Juleps bash encourages attendees to wear her (or his) prettiest, floppiest hat for a sunny afternoon of derby-inspired cocktails. The race will be on the television behind the bar, and there’s a prize for best derby dress.
Also, there’s a vegan bake sale at Beauty Bar. There are, supposedly, black bean brownies for purchase. I’m intrigued.
Sunday
Real Cinco de Mayo! May the cervezas be ever in your favor, since Mattito’s has gone bonkers this year with a Skyy vodka branded zip line. Do you take the zip line to the tequila, or do you take the tequila before you hop on the zip line? I’ve just answered my own questions. You do both. Anyway, they’re celebrating in true Mexican restaurant fashion with mariachis, live bands, free tequila tastings, mechanical bull rides, games, and prizes. And duh, drink specials and food.
Switching gears almost entirely, the Fort Worth Opera Festival starts to wind down over at the stately Bass Hall in Fort Worth. But tonight’s the night you can catch The Daughter of the Regiment, Gaetano Donizetti’s romantic comedy our FrontRow critic Wayne Lee Gay absolutely raved about. He’s especially taken with talented, TCU-trained soprano Ava Pine. Read his full review, then get thee to Fort Worth.
For more to do this weekend, go here.
