May Events OPENERS

OPERATIC OVERTURES



For the past four decades, May has signaled an appearance of the Met for Dallas music lovers. With brief interludes for the remodeling of Fair Park Music Hall and for World War II, America’s most famous opera company has made Dallas a regular stop on its spring tours since the early Forties.

The Met’s performances have provided local audiences with the opportunity to measure the progress (or decline) of performance standards of the Dallas Opera. Although the Met’s appearances in years past have occasionally featured duplications of operas presented the same year by the Dallas Opera, the closes thing to a head-on-head this time is the chance to compare Dallas’ Verdi in Ernann (from last December) with the Met’s Verdi in Rigoletto Two of the four performances this year will feature new productions (Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville) while the final evening will include what opera groupies may regard as the biggest plum of all: Renata Scotto in the title role of Bellini’s Norma.

Tales of Hoffmann will be presented May 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Rigoletto, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.; The Barber of Seville, May 15 at 1:30 p.m.; and Norma, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. All performances are at Fair Park Music Hall. Tickets $100-$ 10 for Rigoletto, $34-$8 for the others. 661-9750.



CUBIST

KING



It is hard to believe that the May 19 exhibit opening at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts will be the first major retrospective of the works of Fernand L坢ger in 20 years. More than Picasso or Chagall, L坢ger epitomizes the School of Paris as it existed in the halcyon days before World War II.

Although he was not a cubist, strictly speaking, L坢ger is the artist many art lovers associate with cubism. The familiar figures, landscapes and still lifes constructed of cubes, cones and cylinders resembling vast piles of tin cans precariously stacked together were his invention. But, never one to let some abstract theory hobble his sense of invention, L坢ger quickly moved on to paint works that were flattering, more colorful, more exuberant -works inspired by the modern industrial landscape of factories, pipes, I-beams and machines.

“Fernand L坢ger,” organized by the Albright-Knox Gallery of Buffalo, New York, spans the artist’s career from a 1905 landscape, Corsican Village at Sunset, to the colorful Two Women with Flowers, painted in 1954, the year before he died. More than half of the 70 works in the show come from museums and private collections in Europe and have seldom been seen in this country. But two are familiar to Dallas audiences: Still Life with a Lamp (1914) and Divers, Red and Black (1922). The exhibit will be on display May 19 through July 4. The Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Fair Park. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. 421-4188.



LIGHTS,

CAMERA. . .



Attention autograph hounds and fledgling paparazzi: The I2th-annual USA Film Festival is coming to town, and the schedule of events has been expanded to include not only more films, but also more of the people who make them.

At this writing, no premieres have been announced, but festival organizers have done a great service to Dallas celebrity watchers by having two Great Director Retrospectives. Peter Bogdano-vich will show seven of his films, including The Last Picture Show and his first film, Targets, through May 2. After premiere week, May 3 through 7, the festival will honor director Frank Perry with a retrospective, May 8 and 9. Perry is the director of such films as David and Lisa and Mommie Dearest. Bob Hope Theatre, Owen Arts Center, SMU campus. 760-8575.

NIGHTLIFE



Abernathy’s. This is the most successful of four sjccessful restaurants (the others are Shaw’s, Bluebonnet’s and Bogart’s) owned by Fort Worth native David Shaw. When it opened four years ago, Abernathy’s was the first of the good basic fern bars in Fort Worth. Consistently good burgers, nachos and salads, as well as just-right drinks, keep the TCU and young business crowds satisfied. (2859 W Berry, Fort Worth. (817) 923-0941. Mon-Thur 11 am-rnidnight, Fri & Sat 11 am-2 am. MC, V.)

Adair’s. This place has got class: torn U.S., British and Texas flags pinned to a wall; two-tone harvest gold-and-beige vinyl booths; thousands of spitwads clinging for dear life to the ceiling; miscellaneous graffiti covering several walls; gobs of gimme hats tacked to the wall behind the bar; Roy Rogers’ “Happy Trails” on the jukebox. Just about everybody is welcome here; Adair’s is for good, clean hell-raising with friends you haven’t necessarily met yet. (3903 Cedar Springs. 526-9379. Tue-Sat 10 am-2 am, Sun 6 pm-midnight. Closed Mon. No credit cards.)

Andrew’s. Folksingers and strong specialty drinks n an exposed brick/wood ambience give this Scottish pub-like bar a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Andrew’s can be a great place to enjoy an after-work drink; and the courtyard is perfect for savoring those balmy, star-filled summer nights. As for the food, the blue cheese burger and the mushroom burger, each served with red beans and rice, can’t be beat, and the artichoke nibbles or the nachos make for tasty appetizers. (3301 McKinney. 521-6535. Daily 11:15am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 2-7. AE, DC, MC. V.)

Bagatelle. If you’re tired of your rowdy friends and would like to slip into a plush, dark booth for a smooth drink and a little intimate conversation, this is the perfect place. What you’ll find at Bagatelle is good food and great jazz. Karen Edwards sings and plays the piano Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights; the Paul Guerrero Jazz Quartet performs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. (4925 Green ville. 692-8224. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am. Sat 6 pm-2 am: Sun brunch 10:30-2. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4:30-7. All credit cards.)

Balboa Caf坢. Not intending to be uncomplimentary, we find this place a bit like an old shoe: nothing we haven’t stepped into a hundred times before, but often a comfortable and form-fitting relief. It’s more cafe than bar, with good sandwiches, plentiful servings and beer-batter onion rings. The Greenville Avenue location includes a patio for balmy nights, but has only a small bar. (7015 Greenville. 369-7027. Daily 11 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7 and Sun-Thur midnight-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

Bar Tejas. We thoroughly enjoyed our last stumble down Greenville Avenue, which concluded with mar-garitas at Bar Tejas. The acoustical problem is all but resolved now that they’ve added bouncy beige carpet to the outer room. This is an excellent place to go for a quick meal and a series of drinks after work. On weekends, the tone is laid-back and cheery. Be forewarned: The rooms are spacious and the tables are set wide apart, so if your hand is on the knee of someone next to you, it’s easy tor the people across the bar to see. Public displays of affection work better in congested, crowded bars. (2100 Greenville. 828-2131. Daily 11:30 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE.)

Belle Starr. Not quite in the same league as Cowboy or Diamond Jim’s, Belle Starr has become a real haven for semi-urban blue-collar cowboys and cowgirls who just love to two-step and polka (this place is equipped with a huge dance floor). (7724 N Central near Southwestern. 750-4787. Tue-Sat 7 pm-2 am. Sun 4 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. All credit cards.)

Biff’s. Biff’s belongs in the middle of an 8-foot snowbank with a fire blazing in its fireplace, icicles clinging to the windowsills and red-faced people bustling about in fur-lined parkas and apr?s-ski boots. But even if you aren’t at home on the slopes, you’ll love Biff’s. Ignore the mingling singles at the bar and concentrate on Biff’s burgers, nachos and good, stiff drinks. (7402 Greenville. 696-1952. Daily 11 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE, MC, V.)

Billy Bob’s Texas. It was only a matter of time before someone built a c/w nightclub bigger than Gilley’s; it’s perfectly logical that it was built in Fort Worth. Billy Bob’s has 42 bar stations, six shops, two restaurants, a seating capacity of 6,0X30. real cow-boys riding real bulls in a stockyard arena, and some of the biggest names in country music. (2520 N Commerce, Fort Worth. (817)625-6491. Mon-Sat 10 am-2 am; Sun 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour daily 4 7:30 pm. V, MC. AE)

Caf坢 Dallas. If you’re out to pick up someone and you can’t do it here, there must be something wrong. This place is literally overflowing with eager young (well, maybe not quite so young) swingles in all shapes and sizes. Anything is “in” here; as long as you act like you belong, you will. And Cafe Dallas has one of the best sound systems in Dallas. So, if you like to dance (anything from disco to New Wave to rock) and don’t mind a few indecent proposals. Cafe Dallas is for you. (5500 Greenville. 987-0066. Mon-Fri 3 pm-2 am, Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. AE, MC, V.)

Cardinal Puff’s. We could really learn to love Puff’s; it’s comfortable (especially the beer garden outside), soothing (perfect if you need to unwind after a tough day) and extremely cozy (decidedly dark and intimate after the sun goes down). And Puff’s has raised its minimum age to 21, a true plus for this place. (4615 Greenville. 369-1969. Daily 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. MC, AE, V.)

Chelsea Corner. Here you can get a mug of Heineken for $2 and a varied assortment of wild-sounding grogs that are likely to put you under the table. One, the Over Under Indian Leg Breaker, includes tequila, rum, sour mix and grenadine. Normally a rather complacent place, things liven considerably when one of the numerous local bands takes to Chelsea’s small stage. The only problem with this establishment is parking. We had to circle the block twice, which can get kind of messy with one-way streets and all. (4830 McKinney. 522-3501. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am. Sat & Sun noon 2 am. All credit cards.)

Comedy Comer. This isn’t such a bad place to catch semi-big-name comedy acts if you don’t mind a lot of smoke, a $5 cover, a two-drink minimum and a waitress who automatically assumes that your change is her tip. Rows of comedians in their own rights fill the audience while comedy acts of varying quality take the stage for short sets of stand-up humor. (8202 Park Lane. 361-7461. Sets begin Wed. Thur & Sun at 8:30 pm: Fri 8:30 & 10:30: Sat 8 & 10:30. Tue audition night 8 30. AE. MC. V.)

Cowboy. This is no place for the closet claustrophobic-hundreds of rhinestone cowboys lookin’ for love swarm here like bees to honey. Consequently, breathing room (much less dancing room) is almost impossible to find, and mingling-desired or otherwise-is inevitable. Expect long lines outside, too. (5208 Greenville. 369 6969. Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am. Supper buffet: 5-9 pm. Sat & Sun 8 pm-2 am. MC. V, AE. DC.)

The Den. Located in the Stoneleigh Hotel, this is the essence of what a bar is expected to be: very small, very dark and very red, with very strong drinks. (2927 Maple Ave. 742-7111. Mon-Fri 11 am-midnight. Happy hour all day Mon-Fri. All credit cards.)

Diamond Jim’s. What a great place to get picked up! It’s not too pretentious, it’s not overdone, and it has the essential c/w elements to offer its patrons: pseudo-Western surroundings, lots of floor space to two-step or swing dance on and oodles of available singles. We especially like the windowsills that line one wall; they’re perfect perches for people-watching, which can be quite entertaining in itself. (5601 Greenville. 691-2411. Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am, Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-8 pm. MC, V. AE.)

Eight-O. It’s amazing what a little honest promotion :an do for a place. When the Eight-O first opened, it was plugged as the “in” place for struggling artists, aohemians, punk rockers and any other social misfits who happened to stumble in. It was a great place for people-watching, listening to one of the best jukeboxes in Dallas and discussing the meaning of life and other such esoteric trivialities. Then an entire army of preppies decided that Eight-0 was The Ultimate, and things went downhill from there. (The Quadrangle. 2800 Routh, suite 145. 741-0817. Daily 11:30 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. MC, AE. V.)

坢lan. In case you didn’t know (and are therefore extremely bourgeois) that is a little e, I-a-n. Ay-Ion, for all you native Texans. This is the spot in Dallas to drink, dance, mingle, play backgammon or just generally stand around looking beautiful, exotic, vogue and yes, rich. This is probably as close to Hollywood as Dallas will ever get-at least, we certainly hope it is. (5111 Greenville. 692-9855. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2 am. Sat 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. Sun brunch 11-2. All credit cards.)

Four Seasons Ballroom. Big-band music for ball-room dancing. A strict dress code is enforced- dresses for the ladies, and coats and ties for the gentlemen. Only setups, beer and soft drinks are served, except on Fridays, when food is available. Cover varies. Free dance lessons are offered. (4930 Military Pkwy. 349-0390 or 381-9072. Wed 8:45 pm-12:15am, Fri 9 pm-12:30 am & first Sat of each month 9 pm-1 am.)

Gordo’s. This is categorically, unequivocally and completely the best bar in Dallas for watching the Cowboys games. For some reason, no one has discovered that Gordo’s offers a perfect Sunday afternoon combo: cold beer, hot pizza and a great television set. Doubtless now that we’ve told the world about it, Gordo’s won’t be the best bar for television watching anymore, because there will be a crowd in front of the tube. So don’t go there. (4528 Cole. 521-3813. Mon-Thur 11-10:30, Fri&Sat till midnight, Sun noon-10 pm. All credit cards.)

Greenville Avenue Country Club. Oh, what warm and wonderful memories we associate with the GACC. When it first opened several summers ago, we loved lounging beside the backyard swimming pool on sunny Sunday afternoons, sipping beer and scanning the most recent copy of The New York Times. But GACC’s well-publicized success has caused us to love the country club life a little less; the clientele seems to have turned from low-key to luridly uptown. (3619 Greenville. 826-5650. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE, MC, V.)

Greenville Bar & Grill. Closet claustrophobics take heed: This place is always packed. It’s billed as Dallas’ oldest bar, and from the size of the crowds, everybody’s been here since the place opened. Although you may feel sort of like an outsider at first, it’s only a matter of time before you’re old hat. But if you have a particular aversion to standing elbow to elbow in a crowded room for hours, this probably isn’t the place for you. (2821 Greenville. 823-6691. Mon-Sat 11:30am-2am, Sunnoon-2am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. AE.)

The Hop. The Hop, a longtime Fort Worth institution, has pizza, spaghetti and all kinds of music, ranging from a new rock group that sounds promising (the Blue Cats) to country-folk songwriters such as B.W. Stevenson and Steve Fromholz. The atmosphere is low-key and comfortable. (2905 W Berry, Fort Worth. (817) 923-7281. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 4 pm-1 am. Happy hour Mon-Sat 2-7. all day Wed, Sun 4-7. All credit cards.)

Hot Klub. Dallas’ premier punk showplace is frequented by a mean bunch whose idea of a good time is “slam dancing,” a rough-and-tumble exercise based on two moves: push and shove. A trip to the bathroom is an adventure in itself. And whatever you do here, don’t touch the floors. (4350 Maple. 526-9432.)

Joe Miller’s. If your criterion for judging the worth of a bar is determined by the strength of its drinks, Joe Miller’s will be your choice for the best bar in Dallas. Drinking one of Joe’s vodka tonics is like getting shot with a sedative gun used to drop elephants in the wilds of Africa: Three drinks and you qualify as legally dead. Joe’s is an insider’s bar; for years it has been the favorite media hangout. (3531 McKinney. 521-2261. Mon-Fri noon-2 am. AE, MC, V.)

Knox Street Pub. A Dallas bar tradition, this is where we were taken by our hosts when we first arrived in Dallas several years ago. We liked it then and we still like it. It’s a no-pretense establishment with an old-wood and fern atmosphere and help who immediately make you feel at home. (3230 Knox. 526-9476. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. Closed Sun. No credit cards.)

Lakewood Yacht Club. Don’t be fooled by the name of this friendly neighborhood bar. (There’s no yacht-sized body of water within miles.) The drinks are consistently good and strong; and if you’re stumped for conversation with your date, you can always feign interest in the hundreds of press photos that cover the walls. (2009 Abrams. 824-1390. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am. Sat & Sun noon-2 am. AE. MC, V.)

Les Saisons. A captivating cityscape of downtown Dallas makes this bar special. You can gather around the cozy fireplace, sip an icy drink and still have enough quiet to carry on a conversation. Cheery, classy decor-like a French garden room. (165 Turtle Creek Village. 528-1102. Daily 11:30 am-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. All credit cards.)

Lillie Langtry’s Saloon. Shirt-sleeve comfortable. Lillie’s probably comes closest to the kind of neighborhood bar suitable for the flannel-shirt-and-plain-old-blue-jeans (as opposed to designer jeans) crowd than anything else in the Village area. There’s a wide jukebox selection, too. (6932 Greenville. 368-6367. Daily noon-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

Longhorn Ballroom. So what if it’s crowded, smoky, the cover’s too high, the tourists are too many: This is Bob Wills’ Longhorn Ballroom, the place for kicker dancin’. beer drinkin’ and hell raisin’. You’ll fit in whether you can dance or not. and you might as well plan on coming home with bruised toenails (those rhinestone cowboys can be real oafs). No one should live in Dallas and not go to the Longhorn at least once: It’s a Texas tradition. (216 Corinth at Industrial. 428-3128. Wed & Thur 7 pm-12:30 am, Fri & Sat 7 pm-2 am. Sun 5 pm-mid-night All credit cards.)

NFL. This is a true Irish pub, but you’ll like the NFL (Nick Farrelley’s Lounge) whether you’re a preppy, a goat roper, a longhair or just sort of an average Joe. It’s a friendly neighborhood spot that’s known to get a little rowdy at times-perfect for drinking a few beers, dancing to some old Irish folk songs or playing a game or two of darts or pool. (3520 Oak Lawn. 559-4890. Mon-Fri 4 pm-2 am. Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. No credit cards.)

Nick’s Uptown. Nick’s is the ideal place to cut loose and have a wild time. The club is reminiscent of a huge rec room (it used to be a grocery store) with a stage tucked away in one corner and a bar running along the opposite wall. And if you feel the need to get up and move, there’s plenty of room to dance. (3606 Greenville. 827-4802. Mon-Sun 8 pm-2 am. AE. MC, V.)

Old Church. When The Old Church was first The Old Church it was an old church. It was quite a hotspot; then popularity waned, and Prufrock Inc. stepped in and tried to turn the old church into a California-style wine bar (Hollywood and Vine). To the corporation’s dismay, the remaining customers kind of liked the place the way it was. Now The Old Church is the new Old Church and the world is at peace again. Although the interior is a little too clean and new-looking lor our tastes, this Old Church is really quite a lovely place to enioy a drink. (4501 Cole. 526-0480. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11-5. All credit cards.)

The Palm Bar. A beautiful place to have an extended series of drinks after work if your job’s downtown. As hotel bars go. it is the most upscale around here. The walk through the lobby of the redecorated Adolphus is worth the excursion, and if you prefer open spaces, you can have a drink served right there. (Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce. 742-8200. Mon-Fri 11-8. All credit cards.)

Peabody’s. An oasis in the jungle that the Oak Lawn area has become. Peabody’s is a cozy bar, especially popular with the on-the-way-up Volvo-driving crowd. Lots of plants, overstuffed furniture and spirited drinks make for an easy, neighborhood atmosphere. And the nachos aren’t bad either. (4216 Oak Lawn. 559-3160. Mon-Thur 11 am-1 am, Fri 11 am-2 am. Sat 11:30-2, Sun noon-midnight. Happy hour daily 4-7. AE, V, MC.)

Piaf’s. This place is simply dripping in mood, from the gentle music playing over the sound system to the dimmed lights overhead to the fluffy chairs scattered around the courtyard. But the effect can be spoiled if the kitchen gets too busy; hectic waiters and noisy bartenders just shouldn’t figure into the picture. (4527 Travis at Knox. 526-3730. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am. Sun 11:30am-midnight. Happy hour daily 4-7 pm & 11 pm-closing. Kitchen open till 1:30 am Thur-Sat, Sun-Wed till midnight. All credit cards.)

PJ’s. Although PJ’s caters mostly to a lunch and supper crowd, it happens to house one of Dallas’ better bartenders: Joe Benitez. Formerly with Cafe Pacific, the Anatole and 10 years as beverage manager at Los Angeles’ Biltmore Hotel, Joe can fix a drink that could tempt even a teetotaler. He’s already known in Dallas for his coffee drinks, and with the arrival of his foreign-made espresso coffee-maker, his kava drinks are the best. (5410 E. Mockingbird. 824-1490. Mon-Thur 5-10:30. Fri & Sat till midnight. Sun 5-10. MC, V, AE.)

Poor David’s Pub. It’s easy to bypass this grimy little bar on your way to somewhere else; but if you’re looking for decent live music, that may be a mistake. Sure, Poor David’s is tiny, grungy and has absolutely no stage. All the better to concentrate on the music, which more often than not, is worth hearing. (2900 McKinney. 821-9891 Mon, Wed-Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour 4-8 pm weekdays. Closed Sun and Tue. Kitchen open till 1 am. No credit cards.)

Popsicle Toes. This place has just enough sleaze to be taken seriously as a jazz bar, but not so much that one must shower after leaving it. House bands include Buster Brown, a fusion unit, and Phyrework, which can do credible knock-offs of everyone from Boz Scaggs to George Benson. (5627 Dyer. 368-9706. Tue-Sun 8 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. TGIF Fri 4-7 pm. MC, V, AS.)

The Quiet Man. A great little unobtrusive neighborhood bar. the Quiet Man is especially popular with the blue jeans and work shirt set. It’s about the size of the men’s rooms at D/FW and is dimly lit, but the crowd is friendly. The Quiet Man is an ideal place to talk (except outdoors during rush hour) and nurse a cheap drink. (3120 Knox. 526-6180. Tue-Sat noon-2 am, Sun & Mon 4 pm-midnight. No credit cards.)

The Railhead. From the size of the crowds, you would think this was the only bar in Dallas to offer live entertainment without a cover charge. The place begins to fill up by 8 p.m., sometimes earlier (depending on who’s playing), and is almost always standing room only. The Railhead usually features good local talent; primarily comedians and popular music copy artists. But no cover also means expensive drinks and mediocre service. (6919 Twin Hills. 369-8700. Sun & Mon 5:30 pm-1 am, Tue-Sat 5:3C pm-2 am. Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-7. All credit cards.)

San Francisco Rose. A bright, laid-back place, adorned with greenery, a few couches and wing-back chairs. Salads, sandwiches and soups are pretty ordinary. (3024 Greenville. 826-2020. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. AE, MC. V.)

6051 Club. This is still the place in Dallas for jazz, from the real thing to the fusion efforts of some of the younger groups. The drinks are substantial and reasonable, the atmosphere is cozy (if a bit too Formica-Fifties), and the music is generally exciting. (6057 Forest Lane. 661-3393. Thur-Sat 9 pm-2 am. MC, V.)

The Sock Hop. This place obviously originated as a Fifties nostalgia bar in which the girls wore poodle skirts and white bobby socks and the guys had greasy hair and wore black-leather jackets. What it has turned out to be is a pleasant, blue-collar singles bar with music provided by the likes of the Neon Glowboys, a rhythm and blues band with a Boz Scaggs-style sound. (2946 W Northwest Hwy. 352-6856. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am. Sat & Sun A pm-2 am.)

St. Martin’s. We’ve yet to find a more romantic bar than St. Martin’s: it’s small, dark, candle-lit and cozy. Music is frequently provided by a three- or four-piece chamber music ensemble. And even if you don’t have a main squeeze, St. Martin’s is worth a visit for the food alone. (3020 Greenville. 826-0940. Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm; Mon-Thur 5 pm-11 pm; Fri 5 pm-1 am; Sat 11 am-1 am; Sun noon-3 pm, 5-11 pm. All credit cards.)

Stoneleigh P. What can be said about the Stone-leigh P. that hasn’t been uttered already? Suffice it to say that more advertising campaigns, radio jingles, magazine articles, films, poems and paintings have been planned in this L-shaped room than in any other public or private Dallas chamber. The P. breaks all the rules-the beer is sometimes less than teeth-cracking cold, the drinks are too small- and yet people continue to be seduced by the low-key intelligence of the place. (2926 Maple. 741-0824. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun noon-midnight. Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7. No credit cards.)

Strictly Ta-Bu. The Ta-Bu has an easy, no-problem intimacy that can only happen with time and the right crowd (the kind of atmosphere that new bars spend big bucks trying to buy, only to discover that they’ve wasted their money). You’ll find the best pizza in town here, although the other food entries are only occasionally noteworthy and the drinks are average. Sometimes the music (jazz) gets in the way, depending on who is playing. (4111 Lomo Alto. 522-8101- Food served Mon-Thur 11 am-2:30pm & 5 pmmidnight, Fri 11 am-2:30 pm & 5 pm-1 am, Sat & Sun 6 pm-mldnight. Bar open until 2 am Mon-Sat. MC, V.)

Texas Tea House. The Tea House is a friendly, rowdy, trendless c/w spot to drink beer and enjoy the harmony-lacking but good-natured Will Barnes Band. The beer is cold, the crowd is always rowdy and the bleachers (this is strictly a beer garden) aren’t too bad, unless the night is chilly. (3400 Kings Road. 526-9171. Tue-Sat 8 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Whiskey River. A rowdy honky-tonk of a place. Top-notch entertainment ranges from Sixties rock ’n’ roll to c/w. Cover varies. (5421 Greenville. 369-9221. Nightly 8 pm-2 am. AE, MC, V.)

The White Elephant Saloon. In 1887, Luke Short, then the owner of the White Elephant, shot it out with a former U.S. marshal. Now the Elephant has c/w music six nights a week and a lot of tourists trying desperately to learn to two-step on a small dance floor. (106 E Exchange, Fort Worth. (817) 624-1887. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Closed Sun. MC, AE, V.)

The Wine Press. Obviously, The Wine Press is a great place to sample wine (the wine list consists of page after page of Californian, French, Italian and German wines). But unlike many other wine bars, The Wine Press also serves a full range of cocktails. There’s also a great secluded second-story loft. (4217 Oak Lawn. 522-8720. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am.

Sun noon-2 am. No reservations. MC. V, AE.)



FILM SERIES



Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. The DM FA’s series of films dealing with medieval myths and fairy tales concludes with four screenings this month. May 2: “Beauty and the Beast”-Jean Cocteau’s lavish rendering of the French fairy tale. May 9: “The Adventures of Robin Hood”-Errol Flynn swaggers through Sherwood Forest in this 1938 Technicolor romp. May 16: “Robin and Marian”-Sean Connery plays an aging Robin; Audrey Hepburn is his maid, Marian. May 23: “A Walk with Love and Death”- John Huston’s story of young love during the Hundred Years War. Screenings at 2 pm in the DMFA auditorium, Fair Park. Free. 421-4187.

The Granada Theater will feature three area premieres as part of its May schedule. May 5 & 6: The Italian tarce “I Hate Blondes” brings a possibly predictable but certainly hysterical concoction of mistaken identities, misunderstandings and outrageous coincidences to the screen. May 26 & 27: Two documentaries, “El Salvador, Another Vietnam” and “The Uprising” show not only the brutalities in that war-torn Central American nation, but the parallels between our present involvement there and our early intervention in Vietnam. The Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville. For feature and ticket information, call 823-9610.

University of Texas at Dallas. May 5. “Seven Beauties”. May 12: “A Brief Vacation”, May 14,“The Cameraman” and “The General”. May 21: “Dinner at Eight”, May 26: “Children of Paradise”, May 28: “Whiskey Galore”-At last! A seldom seen and truly fabulous comedy makes it to the Dallas area repertory circuit. The cream of Britain’s Ealing Studios portrays the inhabitants of a small Hebridean island who entertain the shipwrecked crew of a vessel loaded with whiskey. Set during World War II, filmed in 1948, this gem is well worth the trek to UTD. Showings are in the Founders North Auditorium, UTD campus, Richardson. Tickets $2; under 18 or over 64, $1; UTD students with ID, 50. 690-2945.



THEATER



The Amorous Flea. What happens when a rich old man raises a young girl to be his wife? That’s the subject of this musical adapted by Jerry Devine from Moliere’s great comedy, “The School for Wives.” Christopher Owens is the director, with choreography by the inventive Deborah Friedman. Through May 2 at the Margo Jones Theatre, Owen Arts Center, SMU campus. Tue-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2:15 pm. Tickets $5. 692-2573.

Black Coffee. Agatha Christie’s mystery plays are becoming very popular around the country. This one is among her less familiar works, involving the eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and the usual collection of suspects. May 18-June 26 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas Theater Center, 3636 Turtle Creek. Mon, May 17 (preview) at 8 pm, Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm, Sat at 5 pm. Tickets $18 & $16 Tue opening: $12 & $10.50 Fri & Sat; $11 & $9.50 Sat matinee; $10 & $8.50 Tue-Thur. $7 Mon preview. 526-8857.

Candide. Voltaire’s novel satirizing the notion that this is the best of all possible worlds becomes a serious musical comedy in this adaptation by Hugh Wheeler. Leonard Bernstein wrote the charming score. Among the cast will be former D’Oyly Carte singer Gillian Knight. The show is being produced by SMU’s Music Theatre Company, which may become the most wide-ranging of Dallas’ music theater groups. May 20-30 at the Bob Hope Theatre, Owen Arts Center, SMU campus. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:15 & 8:15 pm. Tickets $10. 692-2839.



Design for Living. From Noel Coward’s vantage point, a good design for living is, as might be expected, rather unorthodox and not to be achieved without much witty squabbling. What he has in mind, to be specific, is a m坢nage ? trois Coward’s plays usually come off very well at this theater. Through May 22 at Theatre Three, The Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm. Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $9.95 Fri & Sat; $7.75 Wed, Thur & Sun matinee; $6.75 Tue & Sun. 748-5191.



Key Exchange. Kevin Wade’s comedy, which opened to high acclaim less than a year ago in New York, is being presented here by an independent production company with the original director (Bar-net Kellman) and a part-local. part-New York cast. It’s about the friendships and love affairs among three young people-a woman and two men-who bicycle together every weekend in Central Park. Through May 22 at the New Arts Theatre Company. 702 Ross Ave at Market. Tue-Thur at 8 pm. Fri at 8:30 pm, Sat at 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $14-$10. 761-9064.



The Lion In Winter. James Goldman’s play involves the struggles between Henry II of England, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their sons concerning the succession to the throne. It’s really a rip-roanng domestic drama, with splendidly rhetorical dialogue and clever plot twists. Through June 5 at Stage West, 821 W Vickery, Fort Worth. Thur-Sat at 8:30 pm, with dinner available from 7 pm. Tickets $6.50 Sat, $6 Fri, $5 Thur. (817) 332-6238.



Loose Ends. Michael Weller, who surveyed the Sixties generation in his play “Moonchildren” and in his script for the film version of “Hair,” steps forward a decade in this play. Between their casual meeting in 1970 and their strained post-divorce get-together in 1979, the man and woman who are Weller’s central characters go through a series of struggles to balance the demands of their independent careers with the demands of their relationship. Jack Clay will direct, with John Rainone and Norma Moore in the leads. Through May 15 at Stage No 1, Greenville Avenue Theatre, 2914 Greenville. Wed-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:15 and 7 pm. Tickets $7.50, $6 students & over 65. 369-5345.



On Golden Pond. Ernest Thompson’s warm and moving play (the basis for the recent film of the same name) follows an elderly couple through one summer at their cottage in Maine. May 14-June 5 at Theatre Arlington, 1130 W Division, Arlington. Fri & Sat at 8:15 pm Tickets $6, $4 students & over 65. 275-7661.



Promenade. Convicts, aristocrats and politicians are all mixed up together in this tarcical-satirical musical, a cross between George Gershwin and Bertolt Brecht. The music, which is a pastiche of numerous styles including operatic, is by Al Car-mines, and the book and lyrics are by Maria Irene Fornes; both of them are familiar names in New York for their innovative theatrical work. Dale Rose is the director, Patty Harrington the choreographer and Ray Allen the music director. May 25-July 3 at the Greenville Avenue Theatre, 2914 Greenville. Tue-Sun at 8:30 pm. Tickets $10 & $7.50. 823-3670.



A Streetcar Named Desire. This is by far one of the most moving and least ponderous of Tennessee Williams’ plays. His subject, as is often the case, is someone who doesn’t fit in; the clash between Blanche duBois and her surroundings, especially Stanley Kowalski, becomes powerful drama in Williams’ hands. Through May 23 at Dallas Repertory Theatre, NorthPark Auditorium, NorthPark. Thur-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets $7.50, $6 students & over 65 Fri & Sat; $7, $5.50 students & over 65 Thur & Sun. 369-8966.

MUSIC



BL Lacerta. Dallas’ improvisatory quartet plays at Tiferet. the old synagogue at 2312 Grand Ave. May 30 at 3 pm & May 31 at 8 pm. Tickets $5. 421-9650.

Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. The museum’s free recital series continues May 1 with a chamber concert by cellist Nancy Roberts, violinist Ruth Burton and pianist Elizabeth Geyer. May 8: soprano Martha Range; May 15: the Dallas Baroque Ensemble; May 22: pianist Ronda Hilton Gay; and May 29: the Harp Society. All concerts are at 3 pm in the DMFA auditorium. Fair Park. Free.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Kyung-Wha Chung joins the orchestra for Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto under guest conductor Sixten Ehrling on a program also featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1. May 1 at 8:15 pm. Eduardo Mata conducts Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” and the American premiere of Luciano Berio’s Sequenza for Violin, Strings and Two French Horns, with Carlo Chiarappa, violin, May 6 & Sat 8:15 pm. All performances at Fair Park Music Hall. Tickets $14-$5. 692-0203.

Fort Worth Civic Orchestra. Music director Yves L’Helgoual’ch directs the combined forces of the Irving Symphony and the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra in Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” and Mahler’s First Symphony. May 22 at 8:15 pm at Landreth Auditorium. TCU campus, University at W Cantey. Fort Worth. Tickets $5. (817) 738-6509.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The Texas Boys Choir, choirs from Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan College, Southwest Theological Seminary and the University of Texas at Arlington join the orchestra under music director John Giordano for Benjamin Britten’s monumental “War Requiem.” Soloists include soprano Eleanor Bergquist, tenor Jerry Jennings and baritone William Walker. May 8 at 8 pm & May 9 at 3 pm at Tarrant County Convention Centre Theatre. 1111 Houston Street, Fort Worth. Tickets $14-$3. (817) 921-2676.

Meadows School of the Arts. Lloyd Pfautscf directs the SMU Choir and Mustang Chorale May 2 at 4 pm. Free. 692-2628. The Voices of Change, resi dent new music ensemble, appears with jazz guitarist Jim Hall in a “Taste of Texas.” May 5 a 8:15 pm. $6. 692-3189. B’nai Brith’s annual SML Scholarship Benefit features Leonard Bernstein and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra May 15 at 8:15 pm at McFarlin Auditorium. Tickets $30-$10 692-2643. The SMU Music Theatre Company pre sents Bernstein’s “Candide.” May 20-23 j. 27-30 at 8:15 pm with matinees May 23 & 30 at 2:15 pm in the Bob Hope Theatre. Tickets $10. 692-2628.

Texas Christian University. George Del Gobbc conducts the University Symphony Orchestra in a concert featuring Mozart’s Overture to “The Im-pressario,” Haydn’s Symphony No. 83 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with faculty artist Andreas Klein, May 3 at 8 pm at Landreth Auditorium, TCU campus, University at W Cantey, Fort Worth. The Bach 111 Series concludes with Concerti for One, Two. Three and Four Harpsichords. May 4 at 7:30 pm at the Kimbell Art Museum, 1101 Will Rogers Road, Fort Worth. Both events are free. (817) 921-7811.

University of Dallas. Barbara Schulz and Deirdre Happe present an evening of music for flute and voice May 3 at 8 pm at the Haggar Center, UTD campus, Irving. Free. 579-5079.

Van Cliburn Foundation Concerts. The foundation presents the first appearance of the Dallas Symphony in Fort Worth since 1950 in a benefit concert featuring conductor Eduardo Mata performing Copland’s “Quiet City.” Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” and Rachmaninoff’s “Paganini Rhapsody,” with Panayis Lyras, pianist. May 5 at 7:30 pm at Lan-dreth Auditorium, TCU campus, University at W Cantey, Fort Worth. Tickets $15-$7.50. $100 for sponsors. 429-1181, (817) 738-6509.



DANCE



Dancers Unlimited. In two years of ambitious performances around Dallas, this group of ex-SMU modern dancers has become one of the most interesting dance attractions, modern or otherwise, to arrive on the scene. With a downtown studio for rehearsals and performances, a repertory that includes winning, eclectic, original choreography, and a substantial performance schedule, Dancers Unlimited, along with Dallas Ballet, can lay claim to being one of Dallas’ two major dance companies. New works on their May program include “By The Grace of the Fates,” choreographed by Rodwic Fukino. formerly a dancer with Dallas Ballet, to original music by Fukino and Ken Kennedy. There’s also a new piece by SMU professor and choreographer Bob Beard. From the repertory, Dancers Unlimited also presents “Fast Dissolve, ’ choreographed by John Hofsas to music of Stravinsky in honor of his centenary; “They Owe Me An Inch” by Debbie Paul-son, now with Bill Evans Company; as well as two other works. May 27-29 at 8; 15 pm & May 30 at 2:15 pm. New Arts Theatre Company, 702 Ross Ave at Market. Tickets $6. 742-7821.

Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse of Dallas. A couple of Dallas’ more ambitious ballet schools manage to put on annual programs for the public that sometimes turn out to be of more than passing interest. This month, Krassovska Ballet Jeunesse will perform “Raymonda Variations,” “Pas de Quatre,” “Snowflakes” from The Nutcracker, “Dying Swan,” and a new work by Rick Brame, “A Dedication”; a guest artist may join the proceedings. May 1 at 8 pm at McFarlin Auditorium, SMU campus. Tickets $8-$4. 821-4160.



ART



Cast and Recast: The Sculpture of Frederic Remington. There were the early bronzes and the late bronzes the bronzes cast with his family’s Permission after his death, the bronzes cast with no one’s permission and the outright fakes. Can anyone tell them apart? Yes, indeed, as this fascinating exhibit demonstrates with displays of molds, tools, photographs and Remingtons both real and unreal. Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. May 7-July 4. Tue-Sat 10-5. Sun 1-5. (817) 738-1933.

Focus: Ed Blackburn. A veteran Fort Worth artist selects images from movie stills and gossip magazines and recreates them in large-scale paintings that have the nervous, unsettling presence of pictures on a slightly out-of-whack TV set. Then he displays these paintings against arrangements of real furniture to produce wry commentaries on just what is real and unreal in our media-crazed civilization. Fort Worth Art Museum. 1309 Montgomery Street. Through June 6. Tue 10-9, Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5.(817)738-9215.

Santa Fe Images. Two Fort Worth galleries that share a restored building team up to present a joint exhibit of craft objects, paintings and sculpture by 22 artists currently active in one of the country’s oldest artist’s colonies. Sundance Gallery, 310 Main Street. Hall Galleries, 312 Main Street, Fort Worth. Through May 30. Mon-Sat 10-5:30. (817) 870-1001.

West “81” Art and the Law. This traveling exhibition, sponsored by an important publisher of law books, draws its works from an annual competition in which artists were asked to create works interpreting some aspect of the law, and also from such well-known American artists as Red Grooms, Robert Indiana. Jack Levine. Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol, all of whom were invited to submit works. Underwood Law Library. SMU campus. Through May 23. Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 2-6. 692-3258. Yaacov Agam. Patterns seem to flutter, switch colors and even spin in the works of this internationally known Israeli artist who, apparently as restless as one of his own Agamagraphs, flits from prints to sculpture to jewelry. Circle Gallery, Ltd, 2064 Prestonwood Town Center, 5301 Belt Line Road. May 16-June 13. Mon-Sat 10-9. 233-9458.



ENLIGHTENMENT

SEMINARS, EVENTS, ETC.

Artiest. Over 250 artists from across the country will display their arts and crafts, including paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry and weaving. Continuous entertainment will include the Dallas Symphony, Dallas Ballet and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The children’s stage will feature Mr. Peppermint, Ronald McDonald, Crazy Ray and the Arts Magnet Mime Troupe. Auctions will be held each afternoon for special art items. Proceeds from Art-fest will be distributed to the Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Three, the USA Film Festival, the Dallas Opera, KERA/Channel 13. the New Arts Theatre Company and other art organizations in the city. May 29-30. Sat 10 am-8 pm, Sun 11 am-6 pm. Espanalde, Fair Park. $1.50 in advance. $2.50 at the gate. Children under 4, free. 750-6318.

Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament. The fifth-annual tournament, sponsored by the Dallas Professionals Golf Assistants, will benefit the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. May 17 at 7 am at Las Colinas Country Club. $5; 12 years and under, free. 661-3077.

Mayfest. Drawings, paintings, jewelry, pottery and much more will be on display for both browsers and buyers at this annual Fort Worth festival. Live entertainment such as the Fort Worth Symphony (backed with fireworks and cannons), disco, country and jazz will be on hand. Children’s entertainment will include races, puppet shows, face painting and arts and crafts demonstrations. Foods ranging from ice cream to cold beer to quiche to barbecue will be Of-fered. May 6-9. Thurs & Fri 3-9 pm, Sat noon-9 pm, Sun noon-7 pm. Trinity Park, Fort Worth. $2. children 6 and under, free. (817)642-7192.

Springtime Weekend. A celebration of spring will be held at White Rock Lake, with traditional Maypole dances, craft demonstrations and sales, children’s storytelling, music, refreshments and much more. May 15-16 from noon-5 pm at the Bath House Cultural Center, White Rock Lake. Free. 328-8427.

Swiss Avenue Homes Tour. The Swiss Avenue Historic District celebrates its 10th-annual tour of homes. Six stately early 20th-century residences will be on tour May 7-9, with special events throughout the weekend. Friday, May 7 from 7-9 pm, there will be a candlelight tour of the six homes. Saturday, May 8 will feature a neighborhood parade at 1 pm, and two one-hour performances of the Strictly Barbershop 40-man chorus, with home tours from noon to 6 pm. Sunday, May 9, KRLD’s Neil Sperry will host a horticulture discussion from 1:30-4:30 pm. Refreshments, beer and wine will be sold. May 7-9. Tickets $4.50 in advance, $5 at the door. 651-8833.

Run For The Children Of Tomorrow. Tom Landry will be firing the starting gun at the second annual 10 kilometer run benefiting the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, North Central Texas Chapter. All participants are welcome, and observers will be greatly appreciated. May 8 at 9 am. Start and finish at Texas Stadium. Entry fee, $9. 620-9779.

Two-Step Contest. Winners of the district roundup contests for two-step dancing will meet in Fort Worth to compete for the national championship. All observers are welcome to step right up and enjoy the fun. May 1 at 7 pm at Billy Bob’s Texas. 2520 N Commerce, Fort Worth. $10. (817) 429-5979.