Things To Do In Dallas

Hand Lettering by Wildflower Art Studio

Class: $55 | Kit: $65

This dreamy art studio in Denton has sold 50,000 of their beloved creative kits to date; now, they’re offering online classes to accompany them. Once you register for this hand lettering course, you’ll have lifetime access to online resources like video demos and written guides.

Beginner Watercolor by Oil and Cotton

Class and Kit (Local Pick-Up): $55 | Class and Kit (Shipped): $65

Oil and Cotton’s approachable art classes will help you master the basics of watercolor technique. Each workshop has a different project; you might paint a rose garden, a Mediterranean landscape, or a Monstera leaf, to name a few. Have your kit shipped or pick it up at Oil and Cotton’s Oak Cliff location.

Flower Power Hour with RAOFACTOR

Class and Supplies (Free Delivery): $100

Luxury floral designer RAOFACTOR is now offering intimate virtual courses for just 10 students at a time. You’ll receive 30 stems of bright blossoms and greenery to craft an avant-garde arrangement in real time over Zoom.

Intro to Gouache Painting by Wildflower Art Studio

Class: $45 | Kit: $45

Gouache (rhymes with squash, if you were wondering) is like a combination of watercolor and acrylic, and Wildflower Art Studio says it’s a great medium for beginners. For your first project, you’ll paint a monarch butterfly that will be pretty enough to frame, whether you’re a painting newbie or seasoned crafter.

Wine and Design Workshops by The Iman Project

Class and Supplies (Local Pickup): $75+

The Iman Project’s workshops were created to give everyone a seat at the table, and though the events are now virtual, founder Bree Clarke still manages to foster a sense of community via video call. Sign up for a Wine and Design class to receive everything you need to design a bold bouquet, as well as a bottle of Texas-made Boca Chica Wine. Keep an eye out for The Iman Project’s new national workshops. The supplies–including the live flowers–can be mailed, so the class makes a great gift for far-away family members.

Candle Kits by M.A.D Candle Co.

Kit: $40+

Craft your own soy wax candle with these DIY candle kits. Choose from several types of vessels, from matte to metallic, then select an essential oil blend to add fragrance. Want to take your DIY-ing to the next level? The company also offers a deluxe starter kit with 12 vessels, 5 scents, and 5 pounds of wax.

We will say this over and over and over: wear a mask in public, stay six feet from others, and avoid anywhere you can’t. Outdoors is safer than indoors. There is no such thing as a risk-free public outing and Dallas County is still advising you to stay home, stay safe. We have had a full week of daily increases of 1,000 or more coronavirus cases.

And yet things are starting to open in North Texas. Be careful and take precautions. Here is how some of the early risers are opening up.

Editor’s note: These event listings are taken from our Things To Do page, which also includes a number of things to do at home while practicing social distancing. See the full list here. 

Thursday, June 11 

Sandaga 813 celebrates its grand reopening this weekend, starting with Soul Jazz Thursday featuring Natural Change. Doors open at 8 p.m. and there’s a $10 cover.

The rooftop pool at Canvas Dallas is open to the public again. You can stop by for cocktails and skyline views from noon to 11 p.m. Pool passes are $20 for weekdays.

The Rustic is celebrating the end of the school year with Parent Appreciation Night this Thursday from 3-10 p.m. There will be $5 frozen drinks all day and tunes from Field Day Records starting at 6 p.m.

The Architecture and Design Exchange is hosting Buck Johnston and Camp Bosworth of Marfa’s Wrong Store for a conversation about the beloved west Texas arts hub. The event will be streamed on the ADEX Facebook page at 4:30 p.m.

Friday, June 12

Charles Smith II and other local creatives are coming together to present Freedom Part 2, a fashion show, visual demonstration, and protest. The event will unfold at the JFK Memorial at 8 p.m.

Interactive art gallery Sweet Tooth Hotel is reopening with Intangible, an exhibition featuring the textural work of fiber artists from Dallas (Molly Sydnor, Niki Dionne, Alli Koch, Jackie Lawrence) and beyond. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the museum is no longer allowing visitors to touch the art, and no more than 10 people can enter at a time. Choose a time slot and buy tickets here.

Dallas TRHT (Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation) is hosting a Facebook Live conversation, Dallas Community Against Racism, at 10 a.m. Watch it here.

David Bowie cover band the Thin White Dukes plays Lee Harvey’s on Friday night around 9 p.m. There’s no cover.

There’s a protest rally and march starting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Friday at 3 p.m. Find details here.

Saturday, June 13

The Boho Market is back at the Dallas Farmers Market this weekend starting at 10 a.m. The pet-friendly event has live music and no cover charge.

There’s a protest, Standing Up For Black Lives, at Reverchon Park starting at 1 p.m. From 3-6 p.m., a variety of Black-owned food vendors and grassroots organizations will join others at the park for the Potluck Protest, which you can read about here.

The Dallas Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression is hosting a protest, Dallas Day of Action to Stop Police Crimes, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Santos Rodriguez Park. 

It’ll Do Club is reopening on Saturday night with Red Eye DJing. Doors open at 9 p.m., masks are encouraged, and tickets must be purchased in advance (they’re $5).

Sunday, June 14

Erin Cluley Gallery is hosting an open house for its new exhibition, Bugged Plant Drawings, by Nic Nicosia. The artist will be present for a meet-and-greet from 2-5 p.m. RSVP through Facebook messenger or email [email protected]. Masks are required and capacity will be limited.

United Justice League is hosting a march and rally, We Will Breathe, starting at Klyde Warren Park at 2 p.m.

Acoustic pop duo Danni and Kris are performing with a full band at Deep Ellum Brewing Company on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

Editor’s note: This list is taken from our Things To Do page. For the full weekend schedule, click here. 

If you’re going to get out there this weekend, do it for a worthy cause. There are protests against systemic racism and police brutality happening across DFW throughout the weekend. The locations and times of these gatherings are subject to change, so check this Instagram page for up-to-date info before you go. Here are some tips for staying safe at protests. Remember to wear a mask, eye protection, and gloves to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and to protect you from tear gas.

Friday, June 5

Friday brings a Blue for Black Lives Matter protest at the Jack Evans Headquarters at 11 a.m. There will be a Youth Unified Rally at Dallas City Hall at 12 p.m. In Fort Worth, protestors are gathering at 100 E Weatherford Street at 6 p.m. There’s a march to Garland City Hall from Garland High School at 6 p.m. There’s a gathering at the Richardson Public Library at 5 p.m. 

Saturday, June 6

PrayingTogether has a peaceful protest at Klyde Warren Park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Dallas Cyclist Community will be going on a silent group ride protest from Dallas City Hall at 11 a.m. Later that afternoon, the Dallas Stand Up For Justice event will take place in Belo Garden Park from 2-4:30 p.m. Fort Worth has an art protest on West 7th street from 3-8 p.m. There’s also a Black Lives Matter protest at the Arlington Police Department at 5 p.m. 

Sunday, June 7

Sunday at 11 a.m., there is a Praise and Worship gathering in Downtown Dallas at 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. At the same time, there will be a National Injustice Peaceful Rally at the Jack Evans Headquarters. There will be a Dance Protest on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at the JFK Memorial Plaza organized by DFW Dance Club.

There are protests in the Denton Downtown Square each day at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

If you’re not able to attend a protest, you can still make a difference at home. Demand justice for Breonna Taylor. There’s a virtual Dallas City Council meeting on Friday at 2 p.m.–you can sign up to speak here. Support the new campaign 8 Can’t Wait, which asks local police departments to enforce eight basic policies, which could reduce police violence by up to 72 percent. The Dallas Police Department only uses four of the eight currently. You can read about that and get in contact with Mayor Eric Johnson here–just click ‘Dallas’ on the drop-down list.

Social distancing doesn’t have to mean missing out on springtime. Digital Dallas Blooms, the Dallas Arboretum’s new virtual tours, are offsetting the self-quarantine blues by bringing bright blooms into the homes of North Texas residents.

Dave Forehand, VP of Gardens at the Arboretum, is hosting the virtual series, leading viewers through all 66 acres of the Arboretum’s grounds.

As Forehand walks through each garden, he highlights specific trees, flowers, and plants, like the Siberian Iris and its myriad colorful petals or the bur oak tree that can also be planted in viewers’ own yards.

In the Paseo de Flores, colorful tulips have begun to blossom, and Forehand explains why tulips don’t all bloom at the same time. During the Lay Family Garden tour, a beautiful waterfall provides calming background noise, ideal for some at-home meditation or quiet reflection time.

The Arboretum has also expanded its educational resources. Daily STEM lesson plans are perfect for kiddos who are curious about plants and animals, and the corresponding activity sheets are helpful for parents-turned-teachers. And while Rory Meyer’s Children Adventure Gardens is closed, a series of instructional videos show parents how to recreate its lessons from the comfort of a home or backyard garden.

Learn more about the Dallas Arboretum’s virtual tours here.