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June Events 0PENERS

By D Magazine |

FIRST BOW FOR PUBLIC OPERA

A new operatic venture takes a bow this month when the Public Opera of Dallas debuts. Under the leadership of general manager Kurt Daw and artistic director John Burrows, the company has set for itself the lofty goals of presenting Dallas with opera performed in English and of providing a forum for promising young American singers. Until now, professional opera in Dallas has consisted mostly of lavish productions in large auditoriums for runs of four or fewer performances. Public Opera of Dallas will take a somewhat different approach, presenting intimate productions for longer runs in the relatively small Plaza Theatre.

For its opening season, the Public Opera has scheduled three well-known comic operas from the 19th century: Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (The Bat), Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. Die Fledermaus, a frothy holiday confection filled with waltz-like melodies, leads the series. It features sopranos Joniva Kaplan and Hillary Hight, mezzo-soprano Deborah Milsom, baritone Daniel Neff and bass Tom Hammons, with Daniel Dib-bern in the non-singing role of Frosch. Burrows will conduct the new production, directed by Daw, with sets by Roger Farkash, costumes by Linda Perry Cooper and lighting by Dan Vilter.

June 20-23 & 27-30 at 8 p.m., June 24 & July 1 at 2:30 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre, 6719 Snider Plaza. Tickets $20. 231-6566, 231-8337.

-Wayne Lee Gay



MASTERFUL FORMS BY MATISSE

Henri Matisse stands alongside Pablo Picasso as one of the great masters of 20th-century art. But while Picasso’s work has been exhaustively exhibited and studied, Matisse’s accomplishments have gone relatively unexamined. Henri Matisse, Sculptor/Painter, organized by the Kimbell Art Museum and on exhibit there through Sept. 2, is not only the first exhibit of this artist’s work in Texas, but also the first exhibit anywhere to probe the subtle and shifting relationship between Matisse’s sculptures and his paintings, drawings and collages.

Among the 57 works borrowed from public and private collections all over the world, virtually all of the artist’s major bronzes are represented. Included in the exhibit are the four monumental Backs, which were created by the artist between 1909 and 1931 and which serve as a record of his evolution. (The works were recently acquired for Fort Worth’s Tandy Park.) There are also some 20 paintings, beginning with the Nude Study in Blue (done in 1900) from London’s Tate Gallery.

In all of these works, Matisse is revealed as the modern master of the human form par excellence, and the figure was central to Matisse’s thought and work. Whenever he was faced with a new problem in painting the figure, he returned to sculpture to work out the solution.

Through Sept. 2 at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 332-8451.

-Ken Barrow



THEATRE THREE’S NEW DIRECTIONS

Within less than a year, the theater scene in and around Dallas has exploded. Between the bravely revamped Dallas Theater Center, the interesting work at the new Plaza Theatre, the continued success at Stage #1 and a more than healthy smattering of small and innovative companies both here and in Fort Worth, theatergoers are finding it impossible to see everything they’d like to see in the course of a month. More importantly, quantity is being matched with quality- at least most of the time. And the theaters that are pushing Dallas into a new theater era-such as Stage #1-seem to be pulling some of the others along.

Theatre Three has long given its audience a fair mix of the fluffy and the provocative, but it has rarely strayed into the realm of the weird. But a progressive Theatre Three has emerged of late, heralded by such unlikely productions as last season’s underrated The Quality of Mercy and the current production of the incensing Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, both of which are far cries from your standard “community” fare. This month, Theatre Three presents A Day in Hollywood, a Night in the Ukraine, a musical comedy so strange that its place on the season lineup looked like a clerical error. It’s not controversial, there are no dirty words, and it’s not even philosophical. It’s just, well, funky. And very funny.

Picture this: a tribute to the movies… sort of. The first act, A Day in Hollywood, is a musical review that includes a sarcastic but still sopranic Jeannette McDonald singing to a cardboard cutout of Nelson Eddy about how dull he is. Then, a group of tap-dancing ushers sing The Production Code, which delineates Hollywood’s old censorship rules -like how in a bedroom scene an actor must leave at least one foot on the floor at all times.

The second act, A Night in the Ukraine, is a twisted version of Chekhov’s play, The Bear, performed by the Marx Brothers. The whole show is wacky, wholesome fun that should please lovers of old movies, lovers of Chekhov or lovers of sheer madness. It’s more fresh air at Theatre Three.

June 12-July 15 at Theatre Three, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $13.50 Fri & Sat; $11 Tue-Thur & Sun. 871-3300.

-Tim Allis



D’s Openers include this month’s theater, music, film, sports, art, dance, enlightenment and recreation events, as well as a list of the top nightlife establishments in Dallas. These listings are updated and supplemented each month. They have nothing whatsoever to do with paid advertising.

All events listings should be addressed to the Openers editor and must be received at least two months before publication.

Credit card notations: MC/MasterCard, V/Visa, AE/Arnerican Express, DC/Diners Club, CB/Carte Blanche. “All credit cards” indicates that all five cards are accepted.



ART



American Glass Masters 1984. Unlike “hot* glass objects, which are blown and molded into spontaneous shapes, these objects, made by the relatively rare “cold” glass technique, have been slowly and painstakingly constructed. Through June 2 at HumanArts, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Suite 150. Mon-Sat 10-5:30. 748-3948.



Woven Works

Is Magdalena Abakanowicz a weaver who can sculpt or a sculptor who knows how to weave? Whichever, it’s clear that this Polish artist, whose work goes on display this month in the Dallas Museum of Art, is no ordinary fiber artist. Making use of sisal, burlap, string, rope and even birch branches, she fashions forms that have an unmistakable human presence and cast a deep and lasting emotional spell. June 22-Aug. 26 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Har-wood. Tue, Fri & Sat 10-5, Thur 10-10, Sun noon-5. 922-0220.



Bruce Barnbaum. Working with a large-format view camera, this photographer has discovered geology in English cathedrals and architecture in Arizona canyons. Through July 3 at Afterimage, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh, Suite 151. Mon-Sat 10-5:30. 748-2521.

Deborah Remington. The immaculate surfaces of these abstract paintings are like fragments of a broken mirror, reflecting glowingly luminous colors from another world. Through June 23 at Adams-Middleton Gallery, 3000 Maple. Tue-Fri 10-6. Sat 11-5. 742-3682.

First Juried Show. Bucking the trend against competitive shows, one of Dallas’ best galleries has attracted more than 350 entries from five states and has produced an exhibit of surprising quality. Through June 19 at DW Gallery, 3200 Main. Tue-Sat 11 -5. 939-0045.

Olivia Parker. Mundane objects collected and arranged by the photographer are transformed into poetic still-life compositions in color and black and white. Through June 24 at Allen Street Gallery, 4101 Commerce. Wed-Fri noon-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 1-5. 821-8260.

Peter Foeller. A young German artist, whose paintings and silkscreens depict fantasy landscapes in a very realistic manner, receives his debut show in the area. Through June 20 at Contemporary Gallery, Sakowitz Village, 5100 Belt Line, Suite 544. Mon-Sat 10:30-5. 934-2323.

Sid Richardson Collection. Here’s a prime collection of Remingtons and Russells full of rip-roaring action showcased in a prime location: amid the restored 19th-century splendor of Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Continuing show. Sid Richardson Collection, 309 Main, Fort Worth. Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-6, Sun 1-5.(817)332-6554.



Sixties Pop

The artists of the Sixties who discovered the modern pleasures of the comic strip and the soup can also rediscovered the ancient satisfactions of the lithograph and the silkscreen print. Pop artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg raised printmaking to new levels of technical brilliance and popular appeal. In The Pop An Print, the Fort Worth Art Museum shows off 140 of these works from its very considerable collection. Through June 17 at the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery, Fort Worth. Tue 10-9, Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 738-9215.



Three Documentary Photographers. The museum shows off a recent gift: Morns Engel’s photographic essay on one family’s life in a small Texas town, Robert Frank’s pictures of cowboys at the annual Madison Square Garden rodeo, and Depression-era photos made by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration- Through July 29 at Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5:30.(817)738-1933.

Views of a Vanishing Frontier. In 1832, Swiss land-scapist Karl Bodmer accompanied Prince Maximilian of Wied on an expedition into the American wilderness. This show presents more than 100 of the watercolors painted during that |ourney. Through July 29 at Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5:30 (817) 738-1933.

Who’s Watching Big Brother? There are as many answers to this perplexing question as there are artists in this lively, sprawling and frankly political exhibit. June 2-24 at 500X Gallery, 500 Exposition. Wed 6-9, Thur-Sun 1-5.828-1111.

Works by Women. The late Bette C. Graham, inventor of Liquid Paper correction fluid, assembled this fine little collection of works by women artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Helen Frankenthaler and Mary Cas-satt. Through June 15 in the Community Showcase, Central Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young. Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4. 749-4100.



THEATER



Dallas Summer Musicals. May 29-June 3: Liberace. June 5-17: “Evita.” June 19-July 1: “Camelot” starring Richard Harris. All performances at the Music Hall, Fair Park. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sat & Sun matinees at 2:30 pm. Tickets $29-$5; available at Rainbow-Ticketmaster outlets. Metro 369-9000.

Neutral Countries. During the German occupation of Belgium in 1915, a family discovers that there are more than two sides to war. Barbara Field’s play, a find from Louisville’s acclaimed New American Plays Festival, examines the politics of neutrality and the option to live an uncommitted life. Through June 3 at Stage #1, Greenville Avenue Theatre, 2914 Greenville. Wed-Fri at 8:15 pm, Sat at 5:30 & 9 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Tickets $10 Fri & Sat; $8.50 Wed, Thur & Sun. 824-2552.

The Pirates of Penzance. Dallas Repertory Theatre has chosen this rousing Gilbert and Sullivan operetta to celebrate the opening of its new NorthPark facility. Frederic, the good pirate who got in with the wrong crowd, will be in attendance, as will the lovely Mabel and her father, the very model of a modern major general. DRT’s production will employ the same staging used in the highly successful New York Shakespeare Festival production. June 26-July 22 at Dallas Repertory Theatre, NorthPark Center (near Joske’s), Park Lane at N Central Expwy Wed-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Tickets $10 Fri & Sat; $9 Wed & Thur. 369-8966.

Seven Keys to Baldpate. To win a wager, a writer of mystery stories goes to a deserted summer resort in the dead of winter to prove that he can compose a thriller in only 24 hours. He thinks he has the only key to the house, but he’s wrong. Written by George M. Cohen, this is one of the first plays of the modem mystery genre. Through June 10 at the Arts District Theater, 2401 Flora at Fairmount. TueThur at 8 pm, Fri at 8:30 pm, Sat at 4 & 8:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $14.50 & $13 Fri & Sat evening; $12.50 & $11 Tue-Thur, Sat matinee & Sun. 526-8857.

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You. Chris-topher Durang has bones to pick, and one of his biggest is with the Catholic Church. In this scathingly funny play, he leaves the meat on his victims and the audience on the floor as Sister Mary teaches her own version of the catechism to a pupil who is too young to catch the joke. Through June 3 at Theatre Three, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:30 and 7 pm. Tickets $13.50 Fri & Sat; $11 Tue-Thur &Sun. 871-3300.

Wild Oats. This 18th-century farce is about a troupe of really awful Shakespearean actors and a father in pursuit of his son. No one is who he seems to be, everyone seems to be confused, and why can’t that actor get his Shakespeare quotations straight? This play may be old, but it’s not a bit musty. Through June 16 at New Arts Theatre, 702 Ross at Market. Wed & Thur at 8 pm, Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7:30 pm. Tickets $10.50 Fri & Sat; $7.50 Wed, Thur & Sun. 761-9064.



MUSIC



Dallas Symphony Discovery Series. June 21: Alexander Schneider conducts Mendelssohn’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” overture, Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, Mozart’s Serenade No. 9 in D (“Posthorn”) and Strauss’ “Voices of Spring.” with violinist J. Patrick Rafferty appearing as soloist in Beethoven’s Romance in F and Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capric-cioso. June 28: Hungarian pianist-conductor Tamas Vasary conducts Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D (with soloist Yuri Anshelevich) and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor (“Scotch”) and appears as soloist in Mozart’s Rondo in D and Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise. All concerts at 8:15 pm at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Tickets $11 -$6. 692-0203.

Dallas Symphony Startest at Park Central. June 23: Conductor-arranger Louis Clark presents “Hooked on Classics” with the Dallas Symphony. June 24: Gladys Knight and the Pips, B.B. King and the Dallas Symphony. June 29: Spyro Gyra. June 30: Rita Coolidge, the Kingston Trio and the Dallas Symphony. All concerts are at 8:15 pm at Park Central, LBJ Frwy at Coit; grounds open at 7 pm. Tickets $20 for box seats, $12 for lawn admission (children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult); group rates and subscriptions available. 692-0203. 565-1059.



Summer Conservatory

Each June, the SMU Summer Conservatory provides a busy schedule of classes, lessons and performing experiences for gifted musicians from elementary through college age under the leadership of Arkady Fomin, the conservatory’s director. The Summer Conservatory also enlivens the June musical scene in Dallas with concerts virtually every night. The concerts feature local professionals, conservatory faculty and students and prominent guest artists in performances of chamber and orchestral music. Most of the concerts are free, with an inexpensive subscription series offering nine special events for $30 as well as discounts for couples, families and students. Through June 30 at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. (See music listings for a complete list of concerts.) 692-3680.

SMU Summer Conservatory. June 4: Anshel Bru-silow conducts the Festival Orchestra in Rossini’s Overture to “The Barber of Seville,” Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D (with soloist David Kim) and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A (“Italian”). Free. June 5: Chamber music by Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Schubert and Dvorak. Free. June 6: Chamber music by Mendelssohn, Schubert-Piatigorsky and Dvorak, featuring guest artists from Juilliard. Tickets $6; $3 for students and senior citizens. June 7: Chamber music by Marcello, Dvorak and Schubert. Free. June 8: Lionello Forzanti conducts the Chamber Virtuosi Ensemble in an all-Italian program including music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Tartini and Rossini, highlighted by Respighi’s “II tramonto” for soprano and orchestra with soloist Linda Anderson Baer. Free. June 9: Chamber music by Beethoven, Stravinsky, Paganini and Bazzini featuring guest artists from Juilliard. Tickets $6. June 10: Kirk Trevor conducts the Concert Orchestra in Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor (with soloist Sarn Oliver) and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G, at 4:30 pm. Free. June 11: Chamber music by Vivaldi, Respighi and Mendelssohn features faculty artist Erick Friedman. Free. June 13: Pianist David Korevaar performs music by Soler, Rachmaninoff. Schubert and Liszt in a program also featuring Schubert’s String Quintet. Tickets $6. June 14: Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and pianist Sandra Rivers perform music by Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and Bartok. Tickets $6. June 15: Kirk Trevor conducts the Chamber Virtuosi Ensemble in Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”), Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in D minor (with soloist Motoi Takeda), Wolf-Ferrari’s Serenade in E flat and Rossini’s Variazioni di clarinetto (with soloist Stephen Girko). Free. June 16: Chamber music by Beethoven. Brahms and Schubert with pianist Yefim Bronfman, cellist Yuri Anshelevich and violinist Arkady Fomin. Tickets $6. June 17: Anshel Brusilow conducts the Concert Orchestra in an all-Beethoven concert featuring the Fifth Symphony and the Triple Concerto in C (with violinist Kurt Nikkanen, cellist Peter Wyrick and pianist Sandra Rivers), at 4:30 pm. Free. June 18: Chamber music by Moszkowski, Dohnanyi and Schumann features violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Tickets $6. June 19: Pianist Yefim Bronfman performs sonatas by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Brahms. Tickets $6. June 20: Chamber music by Dvorak, Paganini, Boccherini, Wranitzky and Beethoven. Tickets $6. June 21: Conservatory students in concert at 7 pm. Free. June 22: The Mendelssohn String Quartet performs music by Haydn, Janacek and Dvorak. Tickets $6. June 23: The Concert Orchestra performs with Student Concerto Competition winners. Free. June 24: Charles Evans conducts the Chamber Virtuosi Ensemble in Rossini’s Overture to “L’ltaliana in Algeri,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor (with soloist Susumu Aoyagi) and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B flat, at 4:30 pm. Free. June 25: Anshel Brusilow conducts the Festival Orchestra in Verdi’s Overture to “La Forza del Destino,” Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (with soloist Tedd Joselson) and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”). Free. June 26: Chamber music by Schubert, Paganini, Tartini and Mendelssohn. Free. June 27-30: Conservatory students in concert at 7 pm. Free. All concerts are at 8:15 pm unless otherwise noted and are in Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Discount subscriptions available. 692-3680.



FILM



Granada Theatre. June 1 & 2: “Blade Runner” at 7:15 pm (Sat at 2:30 pm) and “A Clockwork Orange” at 9:30 pm (Sat at 4:45 pm). June 3 & 4: Special engagement-“A Star is Born” (1954) at 5 & 8:15 pm (Sun at 1:45 pm). June 5 & 6: “Sabotage” at 5:45 pm, “The Lady Vanishes” at 7:15 pm and “The 39 Steps” at 9:15 pm. June 7: “1900” at 7:15 pm. June 8 & 9: “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” at 7:15 pm (Sat at 2:15 pm) and “The Ruling Class” at 9:15 pm (Sat at 4:15 pm). June 10 & 11: “The Wizard of Oz” at 5:15 & 9:30 pm (Sun at 1 pm) and “Broadway Melody of 1938” at 7:15 pm (Sun at 3 pm) June 12 & 13: “Rebecca” at 5 & 9:30 pm and “Spellbound” at 7:15 pm. June 14: “Rumble Fish” at 5:15 & 9:15pm and “The Outsiders” at 7:15 pm. June 15 & 16: “Zelig” at 5:30 & 9:30 pm (Sat at 1:30 pm) and “Local Hero” at 7:15 pm (Sat at 3:15 pm). June 17 & 18: “Oklahoma” at 5:30 & 8:15 pm (Sun at 2:45 pm). June 19 & 20: Special engagement-“Burroughs: A Portrait of William S. Burroughs” at 5:30. 7:15 & 9 pm. June 21: “We Were One Man” at 5:30 & 9 pm and “A Very Natural Thing” at 7:15 pm. June 22 & 23: “Pink Flamingos” at 5:15 & 9 pm (Sat at 1:30 pm) and “Polyester” at 7:15 pm (Sat at 3:30 pm). June 24 & 25: “Another Thin Man” at 5:15 & 9 pm (Sun at 1:30 pm) and “Song of the Thin Man” at 7:15 pm (Sun at 3:30 pm). June 26 & 27: “Testament” at 5:15 & 9:30 pm and “Daniel” at 7 pm. June 28: “The Return of Martin Guerre” at 5 & 9 pm and The Wild Child” at 7:15 pm June 29 & 30: “Broadway Danny Rose” at 5:30 & 9:15 pm (Sat at 1:45 pm) and “To Be or Not To Be” at 7:15 pm (Sat at 3:30 pm). Granada Theatre. 3524 Greenville. Tickets $3 50 for adults. $2 50 for persons under 12 or 62 and over. $2 for Mon-Fri shows prior to 6 pm, $4 for special engagements. 823-9610.



ENLIGHTENMENT



The Dallas Institute. The Institute and Texas Media Arts Center combine to bring Texas artist James Surls to Dallas for a discussion. June 17 at 7:30 pm at the Dallas Insitute for Humanities and Culture. 2719 Routh. Free. 698-9090.

Morris L. Hite Memorial Speaker Series. Ambassador Arkady Shevchenko. the series’ second speaker, presents a lunchtime lecture entitled “America Viewed from the Kremlin.” Shevchenko, a former Soviet ambassador and undersecretary general to the United Nations, defected from the Soviet Union in 1978. The Dallas Advertising League sponsors the series. June 12 at noon at the Loews Anatole Hotel. Stemmons Frwy Call 386-8767 for ticket prices and information.



RECREATION



Chishoim Trail Roundup. The annual three day celebration of the Chisholm Trail and the development of the cattle industry in Fort Worth includes such events as an all-girl rodeo, a bucking bull rodeo, street dances with country/western bands, the Cowtown-CASI Chili Cookoff, a barbecue cookoff, cowboy Olympics and celebration of frontier life in the Old West. June 8-10 at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Exchange Avenue. Free. Paul McCallum or Carolyn Spitzer. (817) 336-8791.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Bronc riding, calf roping, bull riding and steer wrestling are a few of the featured events at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Weekends through Sept. 30 at the Mesauite Rodeo’s covered arena. I-635 at Military Pkwy. Fri & Sat at 8:30 pm. General admission tickets $4 50 for adults, $2.50 for children; reserved box seats $6. 285-8777.

Scarborough Faire. Step back in time at the fourth annual Scarborough Faire. a Texas re-creation of a springtime English Renaissance festival featuring jousting, crafts, games and musicians along with Old English food and drink. Through June 10 near Wax-ahachie. 1.6 miles west of I-35E, exit 399A. Tickets $7.50 for adults, $3 75 for children 5-12; free for children under 5. Tickets available at Ticketron and Rainbow-Ticketmaster outlets or at the gate. 1-937-6130.



SPORTS



Texas Rangers. Arlington Stadium. Arlington. Reserved seat tickets $8-$4.50; general admission tickets $3 50 for adults, $2 for children 13 and under; available at Arlington Stadium ticket office, Rainbow-Ticket-master outlets and all major Sears stores. Home games start at 7:35 pm. Metro 273-5100.

June 1-3 vs Seattle

8-11 vs Oakland

12-14 vs Minnesota

25-27 vs California



NIGHTLIFE

ENTERTAINMENT/DANCING



Boardwalk Beach Club. This place is a pleasant (if fast-paced) mixture of opposites. The club’s drawing card is Fifties and Sixties music, but patrons are mostly under-30 singles Space has been cleared for a dance floor next to the South Seas mural on one wall, but strangely enough, hardly anyone dances. Drinks are pretty solid here, but the snail-like service may hamper your enjoyment of them. (6332 La Vista. 823-5340. Mon-Sat 5 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC, V, AE.)

Calm Eddy’s Comedy Club. If the fun goes out of routine bar hopping, hop on over to Calm Eddy’s, located in the rebudding Deep Ellum district near downtown. This innovative comedy club features- a comedy show a la “Saturday Night Live” performed by the house troupe, the Pezz, and live jazz is performed by Palladium every Friday and Saturday night. Call for information about other weekly performers. (2612 Commerce. 747-1131 Tue-Thur 7:30-11 pm, Fri & Sat 7.30 pm-midmght, Sun 7:30-11 pm. Closed Mon. MC. V.)

Diamond Jim’s. Although this is really a country/ western disco, rock ’n’ roll frequently prevails. Tight quarters make for close encounters between patrons, both on and off the rather small dance floor. (5601 Greenville. 691-2411. Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am. Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 5-8 pm, Thur 5-9 pm. MC, V, AE.)

In Cahoots. Like a randy phoenix rising from the remains of the old Papagayo’s, this multilevel, chromed-out fleshpot is Babylon revisited in NorthPark East. What has the Me Generation come to? The obligatory video here is a mix of cartoons, rock and Selfdance -you can watch your celluloid self writhing on the dance floor, in case there’s any doubt about your reality. The waitresses are scantily clad, the drinks are strong and the happy hour buffet ranks with the best in Dallas. (NorthPark East. 8796 N Central Expwy. 692-5412. Mon-Fri 4:30 pm-2 am. Sat & Sun 6:30 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 430-8:30 pm, Sat & Sun 6:30-8:30 pm. MC, V, AE.)

Jazba at Ratcllffe’s. If we mention this place too loudly, will we have trouble getting a table when we want one? This small, elegant jazz bar in Ratcliffe’s seafood restaurant has what we like: clean lines, smooth music and Southern comfort Food, too! (1901 McKmney 748- 7480. Sun- Thur 5 pm-1 am. Fri & Sat 5 pm-2 am: live music beginning at 8 pm. MC, V. AE.)

Longhorn Ballroom. The Longhorn hasn’t changed much since the last time you were there. It still offers only beer and setups and one of the best country/ western dance floors in Dallas. Owner Dewey Groom has made his place synonymous with country music and a lasting source of local pride. (216 Corinth at Industrial. 428-3128. Wed & Thur 7 pm-1 am, Fri&Sat 7 pm-2 am. Sun 5-11:30 pm. All credit cards)

Mistral. This very lavish dance and supper club is the product of a search across Europe to find all of the elements of the perfect nightclub. The results: extravagant lighting, an enormous video screen, a state-of-the-art sound system, a Japanese chef and very prominent entertainers who appear about once a month. (Loews Anatole Hotel. 2201 Stemmons Frwy. 760-9000 Mon-Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC. V, AE.)

Packard’s. This Old Town dance club, which takes its name from the classic automobile, is flashy, large and swingles-soaked. Packard’s features a wide-open dance floor, lots of fluorescent colors and pop music mixed with Fifties and Sixties tunes. (Old Town, Greenville at Lovers Lane, Suite 403. 361-9517. Mon-Thur4 pm-2 am, Fri 4 pm-3 am, Sat 7 pm-3 am, Sun 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4:30-9 pm. Sat 7-9 pm. Weekend cover: S3. MC, V, AE.)

Poor David’s Pub. After considerable deliberation, Poor David moved his hole-in-the-wall folk music establishment from its longtime McKinney Avenue location to the lights of Lower Greenville. But he didn’t leave behind his commitment to solid live music: Kerrville Folk Festival regulars, including legendary folk singers Odetta and Tom Paxton, appear often, as do local country rockers Steve Fromholz, Shake Russell and John Vandiver. We miss the coffeehouse look of mismatched tables and dinette chairs, but the new version still retains much of Poor David’s old flair. (1924 Greenville. 821-9891. Mon & Wed-Sat 4 pm-2 am. Closed Sun & Tue. Cover varies. No credit cards.)

Popsicle Toes. Go here to listen to the live and lively jazz, funk and rock ’n’ roll, not just to hear it. Granted, you’ll have trouble hearing anything else, but that’s okay, because the music is great. Don’t be disappointed, though; Popsicle Toes isn’t a place to be “seen,” although this jazz-oriented club attracts a spirited, sincere-looking dance crowd. (5627 Dyer. 368-9706. Tue-Sun 8 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. Happy hour: Fri 4-7 pm. MC, V, AE.)

The Prohibition Room. This rustic tavern and live jazz and pop music showroom in the basement of the Brewery really was a speakeasy at one time. It still looks much as it did then, with large concrete pillars and mortar-crusted brick. Very casual. (The Brewery, 703 McKinney beside Woodall Rogers Frwy. 954-4407. Mon-Thur 4 pm-1 am, Fri4pm-2am, Sat5pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC, V, AE.)

Ravel’s. This cavernous singles bar may remind you of a bad 1967 sci-fi movie version of “The Future.” Track lights cut through the smoky blackness, beaming down like searchlights from a spaceship. Music video screens are everywhere. The well drinks are expensive, and the service can be slow, even when the room is mostly empty. Ravel’s is also part restaurant, offering a limited and pricey menu. (The Registry Hotel, 15201 Dallas Pkwy. 386-6000 Mon-Fri 5 pm-2 am, Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 5-8 pm. Weekend cover: $5. All credit cards.)

Studebaker’s. This latest offering in nostalgic dance bars with car themes gets its name from the bright red Studebaker at one end of the dance floor. The disc jockey favors hits from the fabulous Fifties and Sixties (Studebaker’s doesn’t play any music recorded after 1969), and the waitresses wear poodle skirts and saddle oxfords. It all makes for a boppin’ good time. (NorthPark East, 8788 N Central Expwy. 696-2475. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour: daily 4-8 pm. Dress code after 4 pm. MC, V, AE.)

Texas Tea House. While looking for a good place to go dancing, we were tempted to pass up this historical establishment simply because of its appearance. But the Tea House is a friendly, trendless country/western spot where you can drink beer and enjoy the disharmonious but good-natured Will Barnes Band. The beer (longnecks only) is cold, the crowd is always rowdy, and the outdoor bleachers (this is strictly a beer garden) aren’t too bad, unless the night is chilly. (3400 Kings Road. 526-9171. Wed-Sat 8 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Tim Ballard’s. Dallasites are missing out on a good thing if they pass up this jazz bar on the Lemmon Avenue strip. It’s perfect for a late-afternoon chat over drinks. Perfect, that is, until the band heats up around 9 o’clock. Then it’s time to sit back, cut the chatter and enjoy the jazz that is the club’s drawing card. On the minus side, the service is haphazard and the drinks are expensive. (3524 Inwood at Lemmon. 559-3050. Tue-Fri 4 pm-2 am. Sat 6 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Tue-Fri 4-8 pm, Sat 6-8 pm. Weekend cover: $3. MC, V, AE.)

Top of the Dome. This revolving bar atop Reunion Tower affords guests a panoramic view of the city as well as live entertainment and a small dance floor. But the drink prices are as high as the bar. (Reunion Tower. 741-3663. Mon-Fri 2 pm-2 am, Sat noon-2 am, Sun noon-midnight. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 5-7 pm. All credit cards.)



NIGHTLIFE

DRINKING



Cardinal Puff’s. Mostly we love the atmosphere here: open rooms filled with gentle breezes, plants, garden furniture and an occasional wandering cat. The large beer garden is great for conversation and relaxation over cold pitchers of beer and loaded nachos. (4615 Greenville. 369-1969 Daily 11.30 am-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-7 pm. MC. V, AE, DC)

The Den. Located in the Stoneleigh Hotel, this small, dark and very red bar caters to people in pursuit of serious drink and conversation. It’s a bar more reminiscent of New York than of Dallas. (The Stoneleigh Hotel. 2927 Maple. 871-7111. Mon-Sat 11 am-midmght, Sun noon-10 pm. Happy hour: all day Mon-Fri. All credit cards)

Greenville Avenue Country Club. Take one step inside the door of this low-key, easygoing place, and the name “country club” takes on a new meaning. Drinks are served inside the “clubhouse,’ where the surroundings are warm and comfortable. But the only big shots at this country club are the ones poured into your glass. (3619 Greenville. 826-5650 Mon-Sat 11 am-2am, Sun noon-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

La Cave. When you’re in the mood to linger over a bottle of good wine, La Cave is a great place to go. The bistro atmosphere is relaxed, unhurried and conducive to conversation. Appetizers and light meals are offered, but the real value is the selection of foreign and domestic wines found in the walk-in wine cellar. (2926 N Henderson. 826-2190. Wineshop:Mon-Thur 10 am-11 pm, Fri 10 am-11:30 pm, Sat noon-11.30 pm. Bistro: Mon- Thur 11:30 am-2 pm & 5:30-11 pm, Fri 11:30 am-2 pm & 5:30-11:30 pm, Sat noon-11:30 pm. Closed Sun. All credit cards.)

Mariano’s. If nachos and frozen margantas are your passion, this is the place for you. Mariano’s remodeled bar is a bright, airy place to enjoy some of the best TexMex muncnies in town. The chips and hot sauce are exemplary, and the margantas are so famous that the mix is available for sale. (Old Town, 5500 Greenville. 691-3888. Sun-Thur 11:30 am-11 pm. Fri & Sat 11:30 am-midnight. Happy hour: daily 4-7pm. MC, V, AE.)

Mimi’s. This is a simple, unpretentious bar that also serves light food, but its forte is its selection of 100 brands of beer from 22 countries. The friendly bartenders won’t mind if you make a request from their vintage album collection. A true hangout. (5500 Greenville. 696-1993. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 6 pm-2 am. MC, V. AE)

Monopoly’s Park Place. With the coming of Monopoly (in the former Agora Ballroom), we may have reached the ultimate in cutesy theme bars. The name of the game here is Monopoly, of course. The dance floor is a huge game board checkered with old standbys like Vermont Avenue and Reading Railroad, with a few new additions, including Lowest Greenville, Old Town and European Crossroads (which rents for nothing). The staff seems earnest and eager to please, but our drinks had Boardwalk prices and Baltic quality. (6532 E Northwest Hwy. 696-3720 Mon-Thur 5 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-4 am, Sat 7 pm-4 am, Sun 7 pm-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

On the Air. Video addicts, reioice! Death to conversationalists! Here you can sip your favorite drink and gawk at both the New Wave videos and the back of your companion (who has twisted around in his seat to see the big screen, too) The late-night Thai snacks – namely, the egg rolls and the stuffed chicken wings-are a giant step above bland bar eats, but don’t order the rubbery spicy noodles. (2114 Greenville. 827-6800. Sun- Thur 7 pm-2 am, Fri & Sat 7 pm-3 am. AE.)

The Palm Bar. This is a beautiful place for downtown workers to have an extended series of drinks. As hotel bars go. it’s the most upscale in Dallas. Although you can’t reach the bar through the hotel, a walk through the Adolphus is worth the excursion. Or, if you prefer open spaces, have a drink in the lobby. (Adolphus Hotel. 1321 Commerce. 742-8200. Mon-Fri 11 am-7 pm. All credit cards.)

SRO. As in “standing room only,” which is becoming the case at this ever-so-black, ever-so-chichi nightclub trimmed in (did you guess?) pink neon. There’s a wide assortment of drinks, an unusual assortment of food and the standard assortment of 30ish trendies who are doing more following than setting. (2900 McKinney. 748-5014. Daily 11 am-2 am. MC, V, AE, DC.)

St. Martin’s. What could be better for an intimate late-night rendezvous than sharing a good bottle of wine and a cheese-and-fruit or pat坢 board in this quiet, relaxing Lower Greenville Avenue bistro? The atmosphere is romantic, with uncrowded candle-lit tables, fresh red carnations, crisp white tablecloths and soft classical music; the service is pleasant. (3020 Greenville. 826-0940. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11-3, Sat 11-5; dinner: Mon-Thur 5-11. Fri & Sat 5 pm-1 am, Sun 5-11 pm; Sun brunch: 11-3. All credit cards.)

Stonelelgh P. This is an artist’s bar. And a businessman’s bar. And a construction worker’s bar. And a housewife’s night-out-on-the-town bar. And just about anyone’s bar. There are no pretenses here, just a lot of open space with room to “do your own thing.” There’s a great jukebox, a varied selection of magazines and always an interesting assortment of people. (2926 Maple. 741-0824. Mon-Fri 9 am-2 am, Sat & Sun 10 am-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7 pm. AE.)

The Wine Press. This is the perfect place to go on a rainy night-or any time you’re looking for romance, intimacy and spirits. The Wine Press is decorated with wine bottles from floor to ceiling on almost every wall. The atmosphere is low-key and elegantly casual; the service, friendly but not hovering; the wine selection, extensive-to say the least. (4217 Oak Lawn. 522-8720. Daily 11 am-2 am. All credit cards.)

Zanzibar. A fresh face on the burger-spattered strip of Lower Greenville, Zanzibar offers drinks and good deli food in a colorful cafe setting. The decor- neon, glass bricks and pink-and-green walls- is odd enough to work. (2912 Greenville. 828-2250. Tue-Sun 11:30 am-2 am; Sun brunch: 10-2. Closed Mon. MC, V, AE.)



FORT WORTH NIGHTLIFE



Cheers. Don’t expect Ted Danson or Shelley Long to be in this club’s crowd: This Confetti-like dancery is a far cry from the sophisticated wit of TV’s Boston bar. Female bartenders wear flesh-colored Danskin tights, skimpy leotards and baseball hats, and there’s enough paper confetti around to make you want to save a tree. By the looks of the crowd on the Tuesday night we visited, this is a good place for single women: The ratio of guys to gals was about 10 to 1, (6773 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. (817) 735-8814. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am. Sat & Sun 4 pm-2 am. All credit cards.)

The Blue Bird. Even when the band’s not playing, you’ll feel like dancing at The Blue Bird: The jukebox is the best in Fort Worth. But then, the patrons of this near-Southside club don’t want that to get around; they know a good thing when they’ve found it. The club is packed nearly every weekend, with regulars dancing to the infectious rhythm of Robert Ealey and the Bluesblasters. This is rhythm and blues at its finest, but sssshhh! (5636 Wellesley. (817) 732-6243. Fri & Sat 7 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Spencer’s Beverly Hills. If you’ve been nostalgic for disco, don’t worry: Saturday night fever is alive and well and living in Fort Worth. The disco-crazed crowd gathers here almost every night to shake their booties and to watch wide-screen movies such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” The drinks are heavy-handed – as are some of the regulars-but most of the patrons don’t seem to mind. (1724 S University. (817) 332-5651. Daily 4 pm-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

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