Have you ever wanted to see People Newspapers’ Bradford Pearson work his interview magic live? You can. Tonight. On a stage right outside the Magnolia. 6:30 pm. Be there, or be sorely uninformed about the movies at the Dallas International Film Festival. There will be chairs set up, but you could also commandeer one of Union Bear’s outdoor tables and have beer while you listen. If it’s not pouring, that is. And if it is, this whole thing will be moved inside Union Bear anyway.
Friday
The Internet is having a field day over the fact that some kids apparently didn’t know that the sinking of the Titanic was a real event and not just a plot point in a soppy James Cameron movie (or, more importantly, the reason Matthew Crawley becomes Lord Grantham’s heir). Resist the urge to lament the state of American education and head to the Hotel St. Germain for their commemorative Titanic At Sea “happy hour”. Choose either cocktails and hors d’oeuvres or dessert and champagne, then peruse the exhibit of photos, memorabilia, restored films, and documentaries.
Something else that may or may not get rained out is the Deep Ellum Food Truck Rally. Main Street between Malcolm X and Crowdus will be closed for the event, so plan to drive and park accordingly. Carpooling! It is so much fun. There will be live music from My Wooden Leg and Hares On a Mountain (as opposed to Hares In A Quesadilla or Hares In A Stew), plus a wide variety of stuff you might like to eat.
Saturday
So many festivals, so few days in the weekend. The Dallas Art Fair, which kicks off Friday, continues through Sunday. To help you navigate the sheer size of the thing, Ben Lima has thoughtfully put together a beginner’s guide over on FrontRow. Print that out. Take it with you. And enjoy. One specific gallery exhibition I might suggest is the Fountainhead. No Howard Roark found here, just a whole slew of local and international artists who put their own spin on Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain. The altered images have been compiled in an outsized book that will be exhibited alongside art objects that explore themes of authorship, receptivity, deception and manipulation.
If you prefer two wheels to four, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff hosts Ciclovia de Dallas. It starts at 9 am, ends at 3 pm. Automobiles have been ousted from the viaduct, so you can feel free to ride, perambulate, or skate from downtown to Oak Cliff and back again. Other activities include pop-up markets, kite-flying, and yoga. Sounds like great fun for kids and families.
Sunday
No need to go all the way to Kentucky to sip mint juleps and wear a crazy amazing hat. You’ll find horses, fascinators, and booze as close as Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Proceeds from this particular derby, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo, benefit the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s educational programs.
You can also catch a matinee performance of the Dallas Opera’s La Traviata. Why? For one thing, it’s TDO’s first foray into Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s popular opera since the company been housed in the Winspear. Greek soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu makes her American debut as Violetta Valéry, the lovely and respected courtesan whose life takes a tragic turn when she risks everything for love.
For more to do this weekend, go here.
