It’s hard to imagine that there will be a more ridiculously momentous entertainment week in Dallas this year than what we’re currently experiencing. I can’t imagine a better week to start as your advisor on such matters, and it’s been as fun as it is challenging to try to summarize all this activity. Conan may have already bid farewell, but we’re just getting started. Where to begin? Between the NCAA’s massive presence, a film festival, a beer festival, and the beginning of Dallas Arts Week, you have a lot to consider. And it only builds to a Sunday night climax, rather than fizzling to a close, so do try to pace yourselves.
The Dallas International Film Festival will be at the forefront of the local cinema conversation for the next week or so, and as it has been suggested around the office, going to the event is almost as enjoyable as actually watching the movies. While there is a daunting list of choices between feature-length, short films, and documentaries, we have a comprehensive list featuring two-dozen of our critic’s reviews over at FrontRow.
While the Final Four won’t be actually be whittling down to the remaining contenders until Saturday evening, the NCAA March Madness Music Festival actually begins on Friday afternoon. Gates open at 3 pm at Reunion Park, with Jack Ingram starting off at 3:30, followed by The Wild Feathers at 5 pm. It’s first come, first serve, so try to plan accordingly. If I wasn’t happily committed to this arranged marriage with my desk, I would already be making my way down in the next couple of hours or so. I should also remind you that there are several AT&T/Cowboys Stadium-esque rules of which you should be aware, so behold the following Tweets (from the official NCAA Music Festival account):
No bottles, cans, liquid containers or coolers are allowed at #MMMFest but there will be plenty of refreshments inside!
— NCAA Music Festival (@MMMusicFestival) April 4, 2014
Just a heads up: Bags, purses and backpacks larger than 11 inches by 17 inches are not permitted inside #MMMFest.
— NCAA Music Festival (@MMMusicFestival) April 4, 2014
As it’s been mentioned, it’s as busy in the Design District as it just about everywhere else in town this weekend. MTV Redefine is now in its third altruistic year, and D‘s Peter Simek has actually taken the time to pick ten of the most notable pieces from the auction.
Saturday
Obviously the Final Four itself will have an eclipse-like effect on Saturday’s proceedings, and I can’t remember this much talk over a basketball event that isn’t the Finals since the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. That also took place at the same venue, and I have to say that there is something extremely novel about watching basketball inside of a football stadium. Count yourself lucky if you’re one of the 80,000 plus fans.
The 2nd annual Dallas Arts Week starts today, per the initiative of Mayor Rawlings. The week begins somewhat quietly with a child-friendly event at NorthPark called Artspark, which is presented by NorthPark Center and the Business Council for the Arts. It has been suggested that Arts Week participants use the hashtag #DallasArtsWeek, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes of that, as I know firsthand how mischievous the Dallas art community can be. Speaking of which, CentralTrak is hosting its own George W. Bush art show, if you weren’t able to attend the real event that took place at the The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum earlier this morning. Billed as “The Paintings of George W Bush,” with an asterisk, a variety of local artists did their own interpretation of the former leader of the free world’s controversial work, and the previews I’ve seen have been impressively accurate.
The Big Texas Beer Festival takes place in Fair Park and I think that means we have pretty much covered most of the major entertainment districts this weekend. Parking will be a bit rough, so in the context of a beer fest, please be careful out there.
Sunday
Finally, Bruce Springsteen is playing a free show in downtown Dallas on Sunday evening to close out the March Madness Music Festival. That’s pretty much what you need to know about Sunday. I’m personally wondering how different Springsteen at Reunion Park will be from, say, Springsteen at Central Park, circa 1982. He was protesting nukes at the time, and though he probably won’t be protesting much at this celebratory event, you just never know with Bruce. He’s kind of wheels-off when it comes to running his mouth, and that really makes it hard not to like him.
For more things to do in Dallas this weekend, go here.