October Events OPENERS

THREE FROM NEW YORK



The Dallas Ballet’s 1984-85 season debuts with an all-New York City Ballet (NYCB) program. The NYCB is renowned for its repertoire of classical ballet. The program will begin with Concerto Barocco, three charming classical dances set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The ballet’s choreographer, the legendary George Balanchine, once said that the plot is the music. “The only preparation possible for this ballet is a knowledge of music… The ballet tries to interest the audience only by its dancing, its treatment of the music.”

The second ballet, Delibes Divertissement, is a suite of dances performed to excerpts from Leo Delibes’ Sylvia, a score from 1876. Choreographed by Peter Martins, NYCB ballet master-in-chief, Delibes Divertissement was first performed in May 1982. (Martins, incidentally, is a former student of Dallas Ballet Artistic Director Flemming Flindt.)



Balanchine also choreographed the third production in the program, Prodigal Son, which is set to the vibrant music of Prokofiev. The emotional, dramatic ballet is taken from the biblical story of a loving father and his wandering son.



Oct. 18-21 at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Thur-Sat at 8 p.m., Sun at 2 & 8 p.m. Tickets $25-$5; available at the Dallas Ballet box office at the Majestic and at Ticketron outlets. 744-4430.

-Cathee Crain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BACH



Some things just get better with age. Next March marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, and as the big day approaches, his music is as meaningful and beloved as ever, and his popularity as a composer is at an all-time high. In Dallas and countless other locales around the world, musicians are preparing to celebrate the anniversary with special events and concerts. One local or

ganization that’s always in the business of celebrating the works of J.S. Bach is the Dallas Bach Society. Under the leadership of its artistic director, Paul Riedo, the Bach Society has accumulated an impressive record for its presentation of vital, informed performances of Bach’s music at the annual New Year’s Eve concert and during the summer Bach Festival, which completed its second successful season last July.

This month, the Bach Society leads the local Bach anniversary events with a concert featuring selections from two of Bach’s most important areas of endeavor: orchestral music and choral music for church. Conducting baroque-style from the harpsichord, Riedo will lead the Dallas Bach Choir and the Dallas Bach Orchestra in a performance including Cantata 34 (O ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung derLiebe), Cantata 11 (Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen) and the Violin Concerto in E. Oct. 28 at 8:15 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 6306 Kenwood at Abrams. Free. 821-3450.

-Wayne Lee Gay



FRANK STELLA: ART IN RELIEF



Frank Stella is one of the wonders of contemporary art. As anyone who saw the Stella retrospective exhibit at the Fort Worth Art Museum a few years ago knows, the progress of Stella’s work is marked by regular shifts in direction. These changes are always utterly unpredictable before the fact, and yet once they happen, they seem to be a completely logical and natural outcome of what preceded them.

The current exhibit of 15 of the artist’s Swan Engravings documents the latest of these twists and turns. Unlike Stella’s previous series of prints, which have always been directly related to groups of his paintings, the Swan Engravings are an independent body of work. Named for the engraving company where Stella had the plates engraved for his metal relief paintings, they first took shape when the artist began arranging leftover scraps of metal and templates used by the company to print lace patterns on plastic tablecloths. Fitted together i fixed to a plywood backing, the fragments were further engraved. Then they were inked and printed, producing a series of intaglio and relief prints.

The resulting works are big and spectacular, almost 5 feet long on a side. And yet, printed in dazzling black and white with occasional touches of one other color, they have a weight and formality that has been missing from Stella’s work for a long time. The forms are fragmented, the space appears layered, and the surfaces are boldly textured. All in all, it’s a virtuoso performance.

Swan Engravings is the first exhibit organized by the Fort Worth Art Museum’s new director, E. A. Carmean Jr., and it suggests the direction that the museum will be taking under his lead-toward mainstream modernist work, with an emphasis on modern masters.

Oct. 14-Dec. 2 at the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery at Camp Bowie. Tue 10-9, Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 738-9215.

-Ken Barrow

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..

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ART



Carol Wilder. By scoring, peeling, painting and collag-ing on laminated ragboard, Wilder produces abstractions with an almost geological richness of texture and color. Through Oct 6 at Clifford Gallery, 6610 Snider Plaza. Tue-Sat 10-5:30. 363-8223.

Dale Chlhuly. A master of blown-glass sculpture for the past decade, Chihuly has crossed over from the decorative to the fine arts to produce structures of pure light and color that have the diaphanous beauty of exotic sea creatures. Through Nov 18 at the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery, Fort Worth. Tue 10-9, Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 738-9215.

David Merkel. Whimsical yet ominous, Merkel’s constructions of charred timbers, painted wooden poles and lead suggest both monuments and barricades for the atomic age. Through Oct 31 at Foster Goldstrom, 2722 Fairmount. Sat 10:30-5:30. 744-0711.

Magic Carpets



A rug is a rug, but in much of Asia, the carpet is an art form. Weavers, Merchants and Kings at the Kimbell Art Museum is an exhibit of some 60 extravagantly patterned and colored carpets from Armenia. Created between the 18th and 20th centuries, they include several masterpieces bearing pictures, heraldic devices, dates and inscriptions in the Armenian script. While the exhibit offers experts an opportunity to sort out some of the relationships between these and other Asian carpets, to the layman it’s simply a feast for the eyes, an opportunity to get acquainted with an exotic and lavish art. Oct. 6-Dec. 30 at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. (817) 332-8451.



Gary Komarln. Cups, pencils, money, books and other everyday objects jostle each other for elbow room and for attention in these droll, colorful still lifes by a Dallas artist who studied under the great Phillip Guston and teaches at SMU. Through Oct 14 at Edith Baker Gallery, 5950 Royal Lane. Tue-Sat 10-5. 361-8336.

The Gates of Hell. This 8-ton. 21-foot monumental bronze sculpture incorporates 180 individual figures and is usually considered to be Auguste Rodin’s greatest masterpiece. Through Oct 28 at the Dallas Museum of Art, Ross Avenue Plaza, 1717 N Harwood. Tue. Wed, Fri & Sat 10-5; Thur 10-10; Sun noon-5. 922-0220.

Masterpieces from the Collection. A museum once known mainly for its rip-roaring Remingtons and Rus-sells puts a century and a half of American art on display, from the gentle landscapes of the Hudson River School to the desert-purified visions of Georgia O’Keeffe. Through Nov 4 at the Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5:30. (817) 738-1933.

Paul Rotterdam. An artist previously known for his austere abstractions in monochromatic encaustic gives in to expressive and romantic promptings. Through Oct 12 at Adams-Middleton Gallery, 3000 Maple. Tue-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-5. 742-3682.

Pierre Bonnard. For all their perceptual distortions and shimmering fields of incandescent color, Bonnard’s late landscapes and intimate interiors remain rooted in the sunny, bourgeois pleasures of the late 19th century. Through Nov 11 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood. Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10-5; Thur 10-10; Sun noon-5. Tickets $3 for adults, $1 for children. 922-0220.

Pre-Columbian Art. This exhibit samples the private collection of art from ancient Costa Rica owned by UTD social science professor Dr. John W. Sommer. Oct 1-31 at Eugene McDermott Library, University of Texas at Dallas, Floyd at Campbell, Richardson. Mon-Thur9-6, Fri 9-5. 690-2570.

Robert Rauschenberg. The darling of the avant-garde, who, during the Sixties, turned anything from a stuffed goat to a newspaper picture into art, is still at it. In this exhibit, he has recycled photographic images in a series of 13 large aluminum totemiike works from his “Photem Series .” Through Oct 14 at Allen Street Gallery, 4101 Commerce. Wed-Fri noon-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 1-5.821-8260.

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



THEATER



Angry Housewives. Four housewives who are hard up for money enter a punk rock amateur contest, calling their group the “Angry Housewives,” and win. The son of one of the women -a punk rocker himself-is chagrined; the local music promoter, Lude Fingers, is delighted (and takes a fancy to one of the women); and the Angry Housewives hit the big time with a vengeance. This wacky new musical was found in Seattle, where it ran for more than a year. Through Oct 14 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.

Betrayal. This is Harold Pinter’s anatomy of a love affair, dissected chronologically backwards. The seven-year romance between a woman and her husband’s best friend is made particularly interesting, as all three characters are well-sketched and no easy judgments can be made. Oct 25-Nov 24 at New Arts Theatre, 702 Ross at Market. Wed-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 5 & 9 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $12.50 Sat at 9; $10.50 Fri & Sat at 5; $8.50 Wed, Thur & Sun. 761 -9064.

Curse of the Starving Class. Considered one of Sam Shepard’s “family plays” and one of his strongest works, “Curse” portrays a poor Texas farm family stifled by corruption within and without. But as in other Shepard plays, his peculiar, monotone domestic scenes give way to the concerns of lost American innocence and corrupted dreams of a more universal scale. Through Oct 28 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 $12.50 Fri & Sat at 9; $10 Wed, Thur, Sat at 5:30 & Sun. 760-9542.

Down an Allay Filled with Cats. This mystery/thriller by Australian playwright Warwick Moss is about the proprietor of an old bookstore and the young opportunist who comes to his shop in search of a clue. Each man has something the other wants. The play is billed as something of an Agatha Christie/Maltese Falcon’/ “Sleuth” hybrid, with the audience never being quite sure which way is up. It’s directed by the distinguished Robert Alan Ackerman, who directed “Bent” on Broadway. Through Oct 28 at the Plaza Theatre, 6719 Snider Plaza. Tue-Fri at 8:15 pm, Sat & Sun at 2:30 & 8:15 pm. Tickets $18 & $16 Fri & Sat evenings; $15 & $13 Tue-Thur; $12 & $10 Sat matinee & Sun performances. 363-7000.

Misalliance. Mr. Charleton is a proper British prag-matist. His daughter, Hypatia, is a properly stubborn dreamer. Mr. Charleton believes that Hypatia should marry the wimpish Bentley. but Hypatia believes that someone perfect should drop from the sky. In this irresistible comedy by George Bernard Shaw, filled with arguments and unlikelihoods, is it any surprise that the hero really does? Oct 9-Nov 4 at the Dallas Theater Center, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tue-Thur at 8 pm, Fri at 8:30 pm, Sat at 4 & 8:30 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7:30 pm. Tickets $15 & $14 Fri & Sat evening; $12.50 & $11 Tue-Thur, Sat & Sun matinees. 526-8857.

The Odd Couple. Oscar and Felix become Olive and Florence in this brand-new rewrite by Neil Simon of his famous hit, wherein two mismatched working girls-played by Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno-find living together a maelstrom of colliding tendencies. This premiere marks the beginning of a pre-Broadway national tour. Oct 4-13 at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Tue-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2:30 & 8 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7:30 pm. Tickets $26.50-$21.50 Fri & Sat; $21.50-$19.50 Sun-Thur & Sat matinee. Tickets available at Ticketron outlets. 265-2646.

On the Razzle. This 19th-century farce by Austrian playwright Johann Nestroy, recently adapted by Tom Stoppard, was the basis for Thorton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker,” which was the basis for the musical ’Hello Dolly!” Instead of Yonkers, New York, the setting is a village outside Vienna, where two shopboys take advantage of their boss’s departure to the city by going there themselves, getting into more than a bit of trouble on the way. Nationally admired comedic director Jeff Steitzer directs this bawdy, clever romp, which ran successfully at Britain’s National Theatre in 1982/Through Oct 13 at New Arts Theatre, 702 Ross at Market. Wed-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 5 & 9 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $10.50 Fri & Sat; $8.50 Wed, Thur & Sun, 761-9064.

Outside Waco. Three middle-aged sisters find themselves back in Central Texas, upon their mother’s death, fighting over who’ll get stuck with their dotty father. This is a touching comedy, revived from its brief run last spring at Theatre Three’s Festival of New Playwrights. Oct 23-Nov 18 at Theatre Three, the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. No evening show Nov 18. Tickets $13.50 Fri & Sat; $11 Tue-Thur & Sun. 871-3300.

Sugar Babies. The State Fair Musicals presents Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney in their bawdy, tacky and popular vaudeville extravaganza that ran for some time on Broadway. Oct 3-21 at the Music Hall, Fair Park. Tue-Fri at 8:15 pm,Sat & Sun at 2:30 & 8:15 pm.Tickets $29-$6; available at Rainbow-Ticketmaster outlets (369-9000) or at the State Fair Musicals box office, 6031 Berkshire (691-7200).

West Side Waltz. A very warm and amusing, sometimes guffaw-inducing encounter with one Mary Margaret Elderdice, a 73-year-old former concert pianist who steers her friends and neighbors with the same firm hand she uses to steer her own destiny. It was written by Ernest Thompson, author of “On Golden Pond.” Oct 4-28 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 $12.50-$11 Fri & Sat; $9.50-$8 Wed & Thur; $11-$9.50 Sun. 369-8966.



MUSIC



American Guild of Organists. Anthony Newman performs on organ and harpsichord Oct 8 at 8:15 pm at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd. Tickets $6. 821-3450.

Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Series I continues with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (with violinist Ronald Neal), Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, and J.C. Bach’s Concerto in E flat for piano and harpsichord (with pianist Jo Boatwright and harpsichordist Paul Riedo), Oct 14 at 7 pm at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Series II opens with the same works by Elgar and Vivaldi as well as Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 (with soloist Eugene List), Oct 19 at 8:15 pm at the Church of the Transfiguration, 14115 Hillcrest. Tickets for each concert $9; $5 for students. 826-6974.

Dallas Opera. The “Opera on the Go” Ensemble makes several appearances this month. Oct 6: Galleria, LBJ Frwy at Dallas Pkwy, 2 & 3:30 pm. Oct 9. Citifest, First United Methodist Church, Ross at Harwood, noon; Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce, 4 pm. Oct 13: Galleria, 2 & 3:30 pm. Free. In preparation for the subscription season, Opera Insights opens with a panel discussion of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” Oct 31 at 7:30 pm at Gooch Auditorium, University of Texas Health-Science Center, Butler at Harry Hines. Tickets $3. 747-8600.

Fort Worth Symphony. Oct 2: Pianist Andras Schiff joins the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra under conductor John Giordano to perform Mozart’s Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, in a program also including Vivaldi’s Concerto for four violins and Bizet’s Symphony No. 1 in C. Oct 17: Klaus Tennstedt conducts a special appearance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Oct 23: Violinist and conductor Jose-Luis Garcia appears with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra in Handel’s Concerto Grosso in A, Bach’s Concerto for two violins and Schubert’s Rondo for violin and strings in A and Symphony No. 5 in B flat. Oct 2 & 23 performances at Ed Landreth Auditorium, University at Cantey, Fort Worth; Oct 17 performance at 7:30 pm at Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston, Fort Worth. Performances at 8 pm unless otherwise noted. Tickets $12-$8 for Oct 2 & 23; $25-$9 for Oct 17. (817) 926-8831,429-1181.



Aria of Expertise

Having specialized in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach for more than four decades, the Bach Aria Group ranks as one of the oldest and most respected chamber groups in America. This month, the four singers and five instrumentalists who currently make up the New York-based ensemble will open the Dallas Civic Music Association’s 1984-85 season. They will perform the Trio Sonata in C for oboe, violin and con-tinuo; Cantata 100 (Was Gotttut, das ist wohlgetan); and arias, choruses and duets from other cantatas, all by J.S. Bach. Oct. 9 at 8:15 p.m. at McFarlin Auditorium, SMU. Tickets $25-$4. 526-6870.



Meadows School of the Arts. Oct 3: Howard Dunn conducts the SMU Wind Ensemble. Oct 6: Faculty organist Larry Palmer and visiting professor Guy Bovet conduct a seminar on Spanish organ music at the Meadows Museum at 2 pm. Oct 8: Faculty clarinetist Stephan Girko appears in recital. Oct 10: Anshel Brusilow conducts the SMU Symphony Orchestra in an all-Tchaikovsky concert featuring the Serenade for strings, the “Romeo and Juliet” Overture and the Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat (with soloist David Karp). Oct 18: Lloyd Pfautsch conducts the Mustang Chorale and the SMU Choir. Oct21: Music in the Meadows Museum at 4 pm. Oct 23: The SMU Trumpet Ensemble performs under Thomas Booth. Oct28: Barbara Moore appears in a faculty voice recital. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts are at 8:15 pm at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Free. 692-3510.

Schola Cantorum. The Fort Worth chorus performs English church music. Oct 16 at 7:30 pm at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tickets $8.(817)737-5788.

Texas Baroque Ensemble. Works from the recently rediscovered Tattershall Manuscript (Mexico, circa 1690) are featured in a program that also includes Spanish works for two organs as guest organist Guy Bovet joins the members of this historical instrument ensemble. Oct 5 at 8:15 pm at St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 2520 Oates Dr, Mesquite. Tickets $8; $4 for students and senior citizens. 278-2458.



DANCE



Dallas Black Dance Theatre. The OBT presents a Cyclorama State Presentation Oct 19 at the State Fair of Texas. “Dancin’ for Dallas,” a city tour of 10 free dance performances by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, will continue Oct 27 with a performance at 7:30 pm at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, 11881 Schroeder. 371-1170.

The International Theatrical Arts Society. The Twyla Tharp Dance Company makes its Dallas debut this month in a presentation of The International Theatrical Arts Society (TITAS). The nationally known modern dance troupe will perform romantic dances to nine Frank Sinatra classics (in costumes by Oscar de la Renta), “Sue’s Leg” to the jazz music of Fats Waller, and a dance to Georg Philipp Telemann’s Concerto in E Major. Oct 26 & 27 at 8 pm in McFarlin Auditorium, SMU, 528-5273.

Texas Woman’s University. TWU’s department of dance presents the International Fall Folk Festival and Food Fair. Oct 27 at 6:30 pm at the Student Center, TWU. Denton. Free. 383-1573.



ENLIGHTENMENT



Charleston Trust Visit. This month, Dallas hosts a unique series of artistic, literary and social functions focusing on the work and lives of the Bloomsbury group, a clique of avant-garde British writers and artists of the early 1900s. The event is being held under the auspices of the Charleston Trust to establish and fund Charleston Farmhouse, the only surviving home of the Bloomsbury group. Literary lectures by Margaret Drabble, Michael Holroyd and Nigel Nicolson will be presented Oct 26 & 27 from 11 am-12:15 pm & 2-4 pm at Caruth Auditorium, SMU. The Charleston Symposium, Oct 27 from 10 am-12:30 pm & 2-4:45 pm, will feature lectures by Drabble, Angelica Garnett, Holroyd and Richard Shone, as well as a film, “Duncan Grant at Charleston.” Tickets $40 for adults; $20 for students. In addition, the Charleston Artists Exhibition, a collection of paintings by Bloomsbury artists Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Dora Carrington, will run Oct 28-Dec 9 at the Meadows Gallery, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Free. 692-2511.

Dallas Cowboys Anniversary Exhibit. The Dallas Public Library hosts an exhibit of Cowboys memorabilia, including photographs and Super Bowl trophies, as part of the team’s 25th anniversary celebration. Several Cowboys are scheduled to appear during the exhibit, which runs through Nov 16. Community Showcase, Central Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young. Free. 749-4100.

The Dallas Institute. The Institute’s fall schedule includes four six-week courses and two weekend seminars on everything from alchemy to technology. Gail Thomas will conduct “The Female Body,” which meets each Monday beginning Oct 1. The course will address characteristics of the female body within a cultural background. Tom Moore conducts “Dream Work in the Helping Professions,” which meets every Tuesday beginning Oct 2. The course is an approach to dreams that takes them seriously, seeing them against similar images in mythology and art. John Bruce Moore conducts “Justifying Punishment,” which meets every Thursday beginning Oct 4. This course looks at punishment and the implications in our practice, of the idea that crime deserves punishment. The fourth course, “Kan-dinsky: The Spirit in the Image,” meets every Wednesday beginning Oct 24. Conducted by Mary Vernon, it is a study of Wassily Kandinsky, a brilliant painter who, inspired by music, poetry and transcendentalism, wrote eloquently on the expressive power of visual form. Tuition for courses is $60; all classes meet at 7:30 pm. A weekend seminar on “Alchemy as Psychology: The Art of Working on Human Nature,” led by Dr. James Hill-man, will be held Oct 6 & 7 from 9:30 am-4 pm daily; tuition $100. “Making Things Work: The Technological Imagination,” the second seminar, will be held Oct 26-28 (Fri 7:30-9 pm, Sat & Sun 9:30-4); tuition $60. Four advocates of both technology and imagination will conduct the seminar: Dr. Joseph Weizenbaum, professor of computer science at MIT; Donald Cowan, professor of physics and former president of the University of Dallas; Linda Sexson, author of “Ordinarily Sacred”; and Michael Sexson, professor of literature at Montana State University. All programs are held at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, 2719 Routh. 698-9090.

Dallas Museum of Natural History. “Inside Out: A Look at Skeletons’ compares the skeletons of animals of differing habits and demonstrates the engineering principles of the bones in an animal’s body. The exhibit will include snakes, birds, mammals, fish and insects. Oct 5-Dec 2 at the Dallas Museum of Natural History, Fair Park. Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun noon-5. Free. 421-2169.

Distinguished Lecture Series. Carl Sagan. scientist, author and Emmy Award-winning host of “Cosmos,” will be the first speaker in a lecture series that includes talks by Jonas Salk, Jane Bryant Quinn and Eric Sevareid. Sagan speaks Oct 23 at 8 pm in McFarlin Auditorium, SMU. Tickets for the four-speaker series are $125 for center-circle seats, $45 for general admission. 692-2339.

English Study Tour. Explore the lives and writings of great English authors, then travel to their homeland in a study tour taught by Jack Johnson at the University of Dallas. Classes will meet Thursdays, Oct 18-Nov 1, from 7-9 pm. The group will depart Nov 8 for a 13-day trip to London, Cambridge and Bath Spa. Tuition for the class only is $35; fee for the class and study tour is $395 (not including airfare and evening meal). Registration at the Office of Community Education, University of Dallas, Irving. 721-5225.

Japan 1984. This month. Bloomingdale’s begins an eight-week salute to contemporary Japanese culture, featuring cultural exhibits and events, apparel, home furnishings, food and cosmetics. Exhibits include a 21st-century kimono, Japanese architecture, robots and traditional Japanese wigs. Through Nov 3 at Bloomingdale’s, Valley View Center. LBJ Frwy at Mont-fort. Mon-Sat 10-9:30. 450-2233.

Shakespeare Lecture. Maurice Daniels, former development administrator for the Royal Shakespeare Company, will lecture on ’Giving the Show Away.” Oct 29 at 8 pm at Lynch Hall, University of Dallas, Irving. Free. 721-5225.

University Lecture Series. Dedman College University Lecture Series presents distinguished SMU professors speaking on a wide range of topics. “England in Transition: From Suez to the Falklands,” an in-depth study of British politics and culture, will be led by Dr. James Hopkins, SMU professor of history. “Masters of Modern Literature,” a discussion of four authors who decisively altered the development of modern literature, will be led by four different professors: Dostoyevsky will be taught by Russian literature professor Gary Cox; Hemingway, by English professor Marshall Terry; James Joyce, by professor John Paul Riquelme; Proust, by foreign language professor Philip Solomon. “Contemporary Issues” examines the four important questions facing the American public in 1984: “Thinking Our Way Through the Nuclear Age,” led by James Hopkins; “The U.S. and Central America,” led by Richard Rubottom; “The State of the Economy,” led by Alan B. Coleman; and “The Meaning of the 1984 Election,” by Philip Seib. “England”-Oct 4-Nov 15, Thursdays at 11 am; tuition $95. “Masters’- Oct 22-Nov 12, Mondays at 11 am at SMU Alumni Center; tuition $56. “Issues” -Oct 22-Nov 12, Mondays at 1 pm at SMU Alumni Center; tuition $40. 692-2352.



FILM



Dallas Public Library. “Celebrating Britain” is the theme of this month’s noontime film series at the library. Oct 3: “London: Flowers of Cities All” and “The Lake District-Wordsworth Country.” Oct 10: “Gardens of Britain” and The Yorkshire of the Bronte Sisters.” Oct 17: “Josiah Wedgwood and the English Potteries” and “Curtain Up! On London Theatre” Oct 24: “Britain’s Royal Heritage” and “Royal Britain.” Oct 31.“Washington Trail” and “Dorset – Thomas Hardy Country.” All showings are at 12:10 pm Wednesdays at the Central Dallas Public Library, 1515 Young. Free. 749-4404.

University of Texas at Dallas. Oct 3: “Le Beau Serge” at 7:30& 9:30 pm. Oct5:”Diner”at 7:30&9:30 pm. Oct 10: “True Glory” at 7:30 & 9:30 pm. Oct 12: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” at 7 & 9:30 pm. Oct 17: The Man Who Knew Too Much’ at 7:30 & 9 pm. Oct 19: “Henry V at 7:30 pm. Oct 24: The Red Shoes” at 7:30 pm. Oct 26: The Life of Brian.” Oct31: “The 400 Blows” at 7:30 & 9:15 pm. Showings at Kusch Auditorium, Founders North Building, UTD, Richardson. Tickets $2; $1 for persons under 18 or 65 and older; 50 cents for UTD students. 690-2293.



RECREATION

Les Femmes du Monde Sale. The Dallas Council on World Affairs will hold its annual clothes and boutique sale Oct 12-15. The program will include former Gov. Bill Clements. Gov. Mark White, United Nations ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and the queen of Jordan speaking on a wide range of topics. Oct 12-15 at Market Hall, 2200 Stemmons Frwy. Fri 9-9, Sat 9 am-6 pm, Sun 2-6 pm, Mon 9 am-1 pm. Free. 827-7960.

Oktoberfest. The Fort Worth Symphony League holds its 15th annual German festival, featuring performances by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra, as well as a bazaar, food and games. Oct 6 & 7 at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth. Sat noon-midnight, Sun 1-8 pm. Tickets $2; children under 6 free. (817) 921-2676.

Piano Heritage Day Fair. The Seventh Annual Piano Heritage Day Fair will feature historic tours, activities for children, arts and crafts booths and demonstrations, an antique sale and live music and dancing. There will also be a 10K and a 1 -mile fun run. Oct 6, 10 am-5 pm, at the Farrell-Wilson Farmstead Museum, 1900 W 15th St, Piano. Tickets $2 for adults; $1 for children 6-18; 50 cents for children under 6. 424-7874.

Post Oak Chill Cookoff. The sixth annual Post Oak Chili Cookoff, co-sponsored by the Lake Tawakoni local charities, will follow Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and Tolbert rules. Oct 20 at Rains County Park, at the east end of Two-Mile Bridge, Lake Tawakoni. Entry fee $15. (214) 447-2607.

State Fair of Texas. ’Octoberbesf is the theme of this year’s State Fair, which has been extended from its traditional 17-day run to 24 days. The Broadway hit “Sugar Babies,’ starring Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller, kicks off the fair festivities on Oct 3. Other events include championship rodeo performances, Oct 6-14 in the Coliseum; the National Finals Truck and Tractor Pull, Oct 18-21 in the Coliseum; the Junior Livestock Show, Oct 22-27; and the sold-out Texas-Oklahoma football game, Oct 13 in the Cotton Bowl. Traditional attractions such as a parade, a three-ring circus, a fireworks show and live country/western music on three outdoor stages will be offered, as well as the Pan American Livestock Exposition, the Automobile Show and special museum shows at the park. And, of course, there’s the midway. Oct 5-28 at Fair Park. General admission tickets $3; $1 for children 5-11; children under 5 free; senior citizens free every Tue. 421-8716.



Women on the Run

Local women have a chance to run for research in the Race for the Cure, a 5-kilometer run for women to be held Oct. 20. The race, which will start and end at the Galleria, is sponsored by Marshall Field’s, The Dallas Morning News, the University Club of Dallas and Phidip-pides. All proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization dedicated to research in breast cancer. Starting time is 9 a.m., and same-day registration starts at 7:45 a.m. Entry fee $7 before Oct. 20; $9 the day of the race. Entry forms are available at most Tom Thumb stores and at Phidippides stores. 239-4949.



Theta Designer Showhouse. The work of 15 of Dallas’ leading interior designers is featured in the 1984 Kappa Alpha Theta Designer Showhouse, the Austin-stone mansion featured as Pam Ewing’s home on the “Dallas” TV series. Each room in the showhouse will be decorated by a different designer to give visitors a taste of each designer’s style. Proceeds benefit the Dallas Society of Crippled Children, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. The show-house, located at 4930 Park Lane, is open Oct 26-Nov 4. Mon-Fri 10-4, Sat 11-5, Sun 1 -5. Tickets $5 in advance, $6 at the door; available from Kappa Alpha Theta members and from Henry S. Miller real estate offices. 521-4410.

SPORTS



Dallas Cowboys. Texas Stadium, Irving. Reserved seat tickets $18; available at the Dallas Cowboys Ticket Office, 6116 N Central Expwy. Home games at noon unless otherwise indicated. 369-8000.

Oct 7 vs St. Louis

21 at 8 pm vs New Orleans

28 vs Baltimore

SMU. Texas Stadium, Irving. Individual home game tickets $14; upper deck end zone tickets $7. Single-game pass $4. Tickets available at SMU ticket office, Moody Coliseum, or at Rainbow-Ticketmaster outlets. 792-2902.

Oct 20 at 2 pm vs Houston

TCU. Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth. Tickets $13 for armchair and box seats; $12 for reserved seats; $6 for end zone seats; $3 for students high school age and under. 921-7969.

Oct 13 at 7:30 pmvs Rice

20 at 2 pm vs NTSU

27 at 2 pm vs Baylor (homecoming)

Texas Prison Rodeo. The wildest rodeo behind bars returns to Huntsville every Sunday in October with bareback bronc riding, bull riding, wild horse races, chariot races, hard money events and big-name country entertainment. Guest stars include David Frizzell and Shelley West (Oct 7), Mel Tillis (Oct 14), Janie Fricke (Oct 21) and John Conlee (Oct 28). The midway opens at 8:30 am every Sunday at the prison, 815 11th St., Huntsville, with pre-show entertainment at 12:30 pm; the rodeo begins at 2 pm. Tickets $7-$5; available at the Texas Prison Rodeo box office and at all Teletron outlets. (409) 295-6371.



NIGHTLIFE

ENTERTAINMENT/DANCING



Belle Starr. The famous lady outlaw herself would have felt in good company at this country/western hangout. An extensive bar from which beer flows copiously, a large dance floor and live country music keep the cowboys and cowgirls that frequent this club satisfied (the place is packed on weekends). Round up some visiting Yankees and take them to Belle Starr for some good, two-steppin’, honky-tonkin’ Texas nightlife. (7724 N Central Expwy near Southwestern. 750-4787. Tue-Sat 7 pm-2 am, Sun 4 pm-2 am, Mon 8 pm-2 am. All credit cards.)

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. (6332La Vista. 823-5340. Tue-Sat 5 pm-2 am. Closed Sun & Mon. MC, V, AE.)

Café Dallas. Café Dallas sports ceiling fans, slick art posters, obligatory potted plants and smiling waitresses bedecked in slinky red dresses. The club’s circular, casinolike layout seems conducive to just about any sort of bar behavior, from frenzied dancing on the split-level dance floor to intimate whispering on the cushioned couches that line the walls. But all you beautiful people partial to sweatsuit chic, beware: Sneakers-however expensive they might be-are not allowed. (5500 Greenville. 987-0066. Mon-Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 8 pm-2 am, Sun 4 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-9 pm. MC, V, AE.)

Calm Eddy’s Comedy Club. If the fun has gone out of routine bar hopping, hop on over to Calm Eddy’s. 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 performers appearing during the week. (7015 Greenville, Suite 300. 691-6124. Sun & Tue-Thur 4 pm-midnight, Fri & Sat 4 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. MC, V, AE.)

Comedy Corner. This isn’t such a bad place to catch semi-big-name comedy acts. Comedians in their own right fill the audience, while performers of varying quality take the stage for short sets of stand-up humor. (8202 Park Lane at Greenville. 361-7461. Sets begin Sun-Thurat9pm, Fri & Sat at 8:45 & 10:45 pm. Reservations recommended on weekends. MC, V, AE.)

Confetti. One man’s eclecticism is another man’s clutter, and this may be the most eclectic bar in Dallas. Dangling bicycles, zigzag neon and poster-plastered walls reveal a theme bar that couldn’t decide on a theme. If you can dig your way through the crowd, you’ll discover two flashy dance floors, several well-manned bars-maybe even Mr. or Ms. Right. Music ranges from Fifties doo-wah to Eighties do-whatever. (5201 Matilda off Lovers Lane. 369-6969 or 369-6977 Mon- Thur 5 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-4 am, Sat 7 pm-4 am, Sun 7 pm-2 am. Weekend cover: $3. All credit cards.)

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.)

4500 McKlnney. This intimate, elegant showroom spotlights first-class cabaret performers, many of whom have won national acclaim. Two shows are presented each night (at 9 and 11 pm), and dinner is served before each show. (4500 McKinney. 522-5818. Tue-Sun 7 pm-midnight. Show prices: $ 15 Fri-Sun; $10 Tue-Thur. All credit cards.)

Four Seasons Ballroom. This place offers big-band music for ballroom 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, and free dance lessons are offered. (4930 Military Pkwy. 349-0390. Wed 8:45-11:45 pm, Fri 9 pm-12:30 am. No credit cards.)

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- Thur 4:30 pm-2 am, Fri & Sat 6:30 pm-3 am, Sun 6:30 pm-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4:30-8 pm, Sat& Sun 6:30-8 pm. MC, V, AE.)



Jazba at Ratcliffe’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. There’s food, too! (1901 McKin-ney. 748-7480. Tue-Sat 6:30 pm-1:30 am; live music beginning at 9 pm. Weekend cover: $5. 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 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. Daily 5 pm-2 am. MC, V, AE, DC.)

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. 361-9517. Mon-Thur 4:30 pm-2 am, Fri 4:30 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: $3. NIC, V, AE.)

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 was once a speak-easy. It still looks much as it did then, with large concrete pillars and mortar-crusted brick. (The Brewery, 703 McKinney beside Woodall Rogers Frwy. 954-4407. Mon-Thur 4 pm-1 am, Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 5 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. AE, DC.)

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: daily 5-8 pm. All 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



Elght-O. This still gets our vote for the most original bar in town. The sanitarium-green walls don’t seem quite as shocking now as when the Eight-0 first opened its New Wave doors, but the atmosphere is still spirited; the clientele, fascinating; and the jukebox, bitchin’. (The Quadrangle, 2800 Routh, Suite 125. 871-1180. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun 8 pm-2 am. Live jazz at lunch Wed-Sat. Happy hour: Mon-Sat 4-8 pm: all night Sun. MC, V, AE.)

500 Cafe. It’s not that there aren’t any people in this obscure corner of Deep Ellum next to the 500X Gallery. They’re just hidden behind crusty warehouse fronts doing mostly artistic things. This funky, casual cafe with a neon-lit patio (which resembles a drained swimming pool, only prettier) is a fitting place for artists and others to mingle. This place serves beer and wine only and has a chalkboard menu. (408 Exposition off Main Street, near Fair Park. 821-4623. Mon-Wed 11:30am-midnight. Thur-Sat 11:30 am-2 am. Sun 5 pm-mid-mght. AE.)

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-2 am, Sun noon-2am. MC, V, AE.)

Greenville Bar & Grill. Dallas’ oldest bar (or so its owners claim) now has a quieter adjoining room that somewhat alleviates the overcrowding. You may be more comfortable in the annex, especially if you want to carry on a conversation, but the real GB&G is still out in the boisterous main room. The drinks are straight-up and strong, and the entertainment is eccentric and erratic. (2821 Greenville. 823-6.691. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7pm.AE.)

Joe Miller’s. This is a perfect late-afternoon bar for friendly conversation: It’s easy on the background music, soft on the lights and hard on the sledgehammer drinks that, along with the media crowd, have helped build Joe’s substantial reputation. But watch that third drink. (3531 McKinney. 521-2261. Mon-Fri noon-2 am, Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC. V. AE.)

Knox Street Pub. Over the years, this neighborhood bar has worn verv. very well. It’s a slice of the Sixties (popular with Woodstock veterans and the work shirt-and-jeans set), but it attracts other folks as well. And although Knox Street has its cadre of regulars, there’s no cliquish spirit here. The menu is limited, but the fare is reasonably priced and substantial. (3230 Knox. 526-9476. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 4 pm-midnight. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7 pm, all day Sun. No credit cards.)

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; 2019 N Lamar, 871-2072. Wine shop: Mon-Fri 10 am-11 pm, Sat noon-11:30 pm. Bistro: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-midnight, Sat 6 pm-midnight; Sun brunch: 11-3. All credit cards.)

The Lounge. This semi-art deco, semi-high-tech retreat in the lobby of the Inwood Theatre is separated from the movies and moviegoers by a wall of water and its own outside door. But the Lounge is sans ceiling, which allows patrons to share the view of the ocean-motif mural that floats high above the theater lobby. (5460 WLovers Lane. 350-7834. Sun-Thur 5 pm-1 am, Fri& Sat5pm-2am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 5-7 pm. AE, DC, CB.)

Mariano’s. If nachos and frozen margaritas are your passion, this is the place for you. Mariano’s remodeled bar is a bright, airy place to enjoy some of the best Tex-Mex munchies in town. The chips and hot sauce are exemplary, and the margaritas 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 10:30 am-midnight. Happy hour: daily 4-7pm. MC, V, AE.)

Miml’s. This is a simple, unpretentious bar that also offers a light menu, but Mimi’s 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. This is a true hangout. (5111 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’s, 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, along with a few new additions, such as Lowest Greenville, Old Town and Europaan 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. Sun-Thur5pm-2am, Fri5pm-4 am, Sat 7 pm-4 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 5-9 pm, Sat & Sun 7-9 pm. All credit cards.)

Nostromo. Before venturing to Nostromo, it’s advisable to have one or all of the following: (1) the looks of a New York model, (2) the clothes of a New York designer, (3) the blase countenance of a New York socialite or (4) an entourage If the above applies, welcome to Nostromo. Nostromo offers the jet set and the would-be jet set strong drinks, good service and a stark, well-lit place to spread their feathers. (4515 Travis. 528-8880. Tue-Fri 5 pm-2 am, Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun & Mon. Reservations recommended after 6 pm. MC, V, AE.)

On the Air. Video addicts, rejoice! 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. Daily 8 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. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7 pm. All credit cards.)

Peabody’s. Big bars, we’ve come to realize, are usually loud and impersonal. And institutional drinking can leave a patron feeling like little more than another Miller Lite along the wall or a faceless Seven and Seven at table 33. Peabody’s, while fairly roomy, is not of that genre. We spent a lengthy lunch chatting to our heart’s content at a corner table, and our friendly waitress never faltered in bringing our ice-cold beers. The comfortable couches and tables lend a relaxing ambiance in the evening as well. (4216 Oak Lawn. 559-3160. Mon-Thur 11 am-1 am, Fri & Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-midnight. MC, V, AE, DC.)

San Francisco Rose. When you’re relaxing at San Francisco Rose, it’s easy to feel as though you’re in someone’s living room rather than in a Lower Greenville Avenue bar. Seating consists of cozy groupings of easy chairs and overstuffed Victorian sofas. Whether you’re alone or with a group, this arrangement lends itself to the cause. But if you’re looking for a place for an intimate conversation with a companion, you may be out of luck. (3024 Greenville. 826-2020. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7 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 paté 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. Mon-Thur 11 am-3 pm & 5-11 pm.Fri 11 am-3 pm & 5 pm-1 am, Sat 11 am-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-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11 am-midnight. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-7 pm. AE.)

Vickery Feed Store. This deli/bar has an odd but appealing mixture of country and class. Wooden walls, a wooden floor and a hometown atmosphere are combined with burgundy vinyl booths and slick black table-tops in what turns out to be a very pleasant watering hole. Vickery has good drinks, great deli/snack food and some of the friendliest service in town. (6918 Greenville. 363-9198 Mon 6 am-midnight, Tue-Fri 6 am-2 am, Sat 8 am-2 am. Sun 8 am-midnight. Happy hour: daily 3-7pm. MC, V, 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 Avenue, 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-Sat 11:30 am-2 am. Sun 11:30 am-midnight: Sun brunch: 10:30-2 Closed Mon. AE, DC.)



FORT WORTH NIGHTLIFE



Billy Bob’s Texas. This novelty club has a lot going for it: two restaurants, 42 bar stations, a real bull-riding arena and several shops. It’s bigger than Gilley’s, more urban than the Longhorn Ballroom and is a “must-see” if you’re in Fort Worth. (2520 N Commerce in the stockyards. Metro 429-5979. Mon-Sat 9:30 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. Reduced cover charge Mon-Sat 4-8 pm. MC. V, AE.)

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.)

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 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 Hop. In three words, The Hop is warm, woody and wonderful. It has the air of a typical college hangout (ifs located just one block from TCU), but it lacks the cutesy crowd or trendy atmosphere. A stage tucked in the corner features national and local bands, with music ranging from folk to reggae, rock to country. The food is good, but nothing could surpass the pizza. (2905 W Berry. (817) 923-7281. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 4 pm-1 am. All credit cards.)

Spencer’s Beverly Hills. If you’ve been nostalgic for disco, don’t worry: Saturday night fever is alive and well 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.)

The White Elephant Saloon. In 1887, Luke Short, then the owner of the White Elephant, shot it out with a former U.S. marshal Today, the Elephant has country/ western music six nights a week and lots of tourists trying desperately to learn the two-step on a small dance floor. (106 E Exchange. (817) 624-8273. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am. Closed Sun. MC, V, AE.)