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November Events OPENERS

By D Magazine |

DECORATIVE ARTS WING OPENS



Art lovers will get their first chance to examine the fabled treasures of the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection when the Dallas Museum of Art opens the doors of its new Decorative Arts Wing on November 29.

It will be “just like opening a new museum,” says museum director Harry Parker. Parker and his staff have been getting ready since the day in late 1983 when the Marshall-born Wendy Reves, a former New York fashion model, promised the museum the art collection assembled by herself and her late husband, publisher and author Emery Reves. Her only conditions: The museum must display the collection in a replica of La Pausa, the Reves’ villa in the South of France, and it cannot mingle works from the Reves’ collection with its regular holdings.

Regardless of what one thinks of the conditions surrounding the gift or the way in which it is displayed, this is one of the largest and most magnificent collections ever presented to an art museum. The collection has five Renoirs; four Bonnards; three paintings each by Cezanne, Manet and Pissarro; two by Gauguin; and one work each by Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Monet. The collection also includes a major Degas pastel, dozens of other works on paper, hundreds of glass objects and a king’s ransom in rare porcelain, silver, ironwork, rugs and textiles. Some of the decorative objects date back to the Renaissance. As if all this were not enough, there is an entire library of books and a collection of Winston Churchill memorabilia. (Emery Reves was one of Churchill’s publishers.)

Because most of the works are displayed in room-like settings where space is limited, and because advance interest is so high, the museum will require visitors to the collection to make advance reservations. There is a $3 charge for tickets (students and senior citizens get in for $1 and museum members pay nothing). The Reves Collection will be permanently displayed in the Decorative Wing, located above the museum’s education galleries and bookshop. The Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood. Tue, Fri, Sat 10-5; Thur 10-10; Sun noon-5. 922-0220.

-Ken Barrow



BALANCHINE AT DALLAS BALLET



It is a good time of year for Balanchine fans. After last month’s premiere performances by the new Fort Worth Ballet of the master’s works, Dallas Ballet is offering a New York City Ballet evening, November 21 to 24. Two great masterpieces will appear on the bill, Balanchine’s first American work, Serenade, set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C, and a signature piece in Balanchine’s oeuvre; and Four Temperaments, to Paul Hindemith’s commissioned score. Both ballets are also primers of dance technique: the famous opening pose of Serenade announces a classroom scene, although the girls are dressed in romantic garb and bathed in soft light, and when they move as a corps into first position we see a dramatic symbol of Balanchine’s commitment to the traditions of Russian classical ballet.

If American ballet began with Serenade in 1935, it continued and changed with Four Ts 13 years later, which is now a major staple of NYCB’s repertoire. Some think this is the greatest of all Balanchine ballets, with its spare costuming and angular movements and its symbolic development of musical, balletic and dramatic motifs. It tests the clarity and poise of all the dancers, corps members as well as soloists. Peter Martins’ Delibes Divertissements rounds out the program. At the Majestic, 1925 Elm. Nov 21, 22 and 23 at 8 pm, and Nov 24 at 2 pm. Tickets $28-$5. 744-4396.

Willard Spiegelman



ONE O’CLOCK LAB BAND

On the American collegiate jazz scene, the department at North Texas State University in Denton stands out like a Rolls-Royce in a parking lot full of Chevies. And jazz aficionados around the country speak highly of the crown jewel of the NTSU jazz program, the renowned One O’Clock Lab Band.

Twice nominated for Grammy Awards, twice sent overseas on official U.S. State Department tours, the One O’Clock Lab Band (which is one of nine lab bands at NTSU) performs its 26th annual fell concert this month, an event that regularly draws jazz buffs from all over. Jazz trombonist Rob McConnell will be the guest artist for the concert, which will be directed by Neil Slater. Nov 26 at 8 pm at the Main Auditorium at NTSU in Denton. Tickets $3.50 in advance from NTSU Union Information Center or Rainbow Ticketmaster outlets, $5 the day of the concert. (817) 565-3805.

-Wayne Lee Gay



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/American Express, DC/Diners Club, CB/Carte Blanche. “All credit cards” indicates that all five cards are accepted.



ART



Richard Avedon. Over the past five years, cowboys and convicts, waitresses and roughnecks have stood in front of the photographer’s 8x 10 Deardorf camera, leaving these stark and unsettling images. Through Nov 17 at the Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5:30. (817) 738-1933.

Michael Board. Another new Dallas gallery makes its debut, this one with the large, brilliantly colored canvases and charcoal drawings of a young Houston artist. Through Nov 30 at Barry Whistler Gallery, 2708 Commerce. Tue-Sat 10-5:30. 939-0242.

Agustin V. Casasola. Many came to photograph the battles, faces and anguish of the Mexican Revolution, but none captured it with the keen perceptions and deep feelings of this artist, one of Mexico’s earliest and greatest photographers. Through Nov 3 in the Renner School, second floor, Old City Park, 1717 Gano, Tue-Fri 10-4, Sat & Sun 1-4. 421-5141.

Chinese Art. Some 50 of the best porcelains, bronzes and jades from the superb collection of the British Rail Pension Fund. Continuing at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood. Tue, Fri, Sat 10-5; Thur 10-9; Sun noon-5. 9220220.

Hans Hofmann. Not one. but two concurrent exhibitions present expressive drawings and radiant oils by a painter’s painter who taught a whole generation of American abstract artists. Through Nov 17 at the Fort Worth Art Museum. 1309 Montgomery St. Tue 10-9; Wed-Sat 10-5. (817) 738-9215.

Naum Gabo. The geometric planes of cubism snap into dynamic, three-dimensional life in the torsos and towers by this pioneer, avant-garde Russian sculptor. Through Nov 17 at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood. Tue, Fri, Sat 10-5; Thur 10-9; Sun noon-5, 922-0220.

Motherwell in FW



The Dallas Museum of Art is not the only area museum to add a large group of works to its permanent collection lately. By purchase and gift, the Fort Worth Art Museum has acquired a major Robert Motherwell painting, “Stephen’s Iron Crown,” and nine related works in various media. The entire series has been put on display, giving visitors a rare opportunity to look over an artist’s shoulder as he goes about his work, almost painting by painting. A member of the post-war generation of abstract artists, Motherwell mastered a kind of methodical improvisation, and these works, stained deeply into canvas and paper, mark a high point in his career. Through Nov 17 at the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery St. Tue 10-9; Wed-Sat 10-5. (817) 738-9215.



Indonesian Textiles. A new Dallas gallery specializing in ethnic and folk art exhibits the jewel-like splendors of batik and ikat, two age-old dye techniques. Through Nov 30 at Patagonia, 2818 Elm. Tue-Sat 10:30-5:30.939-0226.

Madonna Project. What happens when Dallas artists are invited to create paintings, sculptures, costumes and performances based on the theme of the Madonna? Almost anything. Through Nov 9 at Theatre Gallery, 2808 Commerce. Mon-Sat noon-6. 939-0533.

Mary Ellen Mark. Pictures by an internationally known photojournalist are marked by a restless conscience, a relentless eye and an uncanny ability to burrow beneath society’s skin. Through Dec 1 at Allen Street Gallery, 4101 Commerce St. Wed-Fri noon-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 1-5. 821-8260.

Modern and Contemporary Masters. From Chagall to Sam Francis, these 37 paintings are drawn from the splendid collection of modern art in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Through Jan 26 at the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1309 Montgomery St. Tue 10-9; Wed-Sat 10-5. (817) 738-9215.

Beverly Pepper. An internationally known sculptor draws upon a world of influences-from Brancusi to Ashanti art-and a wealth of materials-ebony, bronze and painted steel-to fashion these thin, erect and mysterious totems. This is the artist’s first major show in Dallas. Through Nov 30 at Adams-Middleton Gallery, 3000 Maple Ave. Tue-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-5. 871-7080.

Praise Poems. The late Katherine White assembled one of the most discriminating private collections of African art and, when she died, left It to the Seattle Art Museum; now it’s on the road. Through Nov 24 in the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5. (817)332-8451.

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



Haberle Works



John Haberle, who lived from 1856 to 1933, was a Connecticut-born artist who excelled at trompe l’oeil paintings, those super-realistic works in which paper money and postcards, coins and keys look as if they could be plucked right off the canvas. Such works were popular with our 19th-century ancestors and they have lost none of their odd appeal. In fact, scholars lately have been restudying and revising their views of Haberle’s work, and one result is “Master of Illusion,” the exhibit opening Nov 29 at Fort Worth’s Amon Carter Museum. Through Jan 19 at the Amon Carter, 3501 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tue-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5:30.(817)738-1933.

A Celebration of Contemporary Art. NorthPark Shopping Center has opened a six-month celebration of its 20th anniversary with a sculpture exhibition of internationally acclaimed artists. The show includes 33 major works by 24 leading artists such as Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Roy Lichtenstein. Andy Warhol, Jonathan Borofsky, Anthony Caro, Frank Stella, Kim Dine and Willem De Kooning. Through December in the mall at NorthPark Center.



Michi Susan. The paintings of this Japanese-born artist combine the handmade rice paper, a calligraphic line and vigorous brushwork from the artist’s native Japan, but the strong feeling for folk art is strictly American, and southern American at that. Nov 2-Dec 7 at Mattingly Baker Gallery, 3004 McKinney. Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 10-5.526-0031.



THEATER



Broken Eggs. A comedy, but one that gets serious, about the wedding day of the daughter of a rich Cuban couple who have been cut off from their roots by Castro’s regime. What can go wrong does go wrong. The play, by Eduardo Machado, is a Southwest premiere. Through Nov 24 at Stage #1, Greenville Avenue Theater, 2914 Greenville. Tue- Fri at 8:15 pm; Sat at 5:30 & 9 pm; Sun at 7 pm. Tickets $15 Fri & Sat at 9; $12.50 Tue-Thur, Sat at 5:30 & Sun. 824-2552.

Clouds. An American premiere, by British playwright Michael Frayn, who won just acclaim for his hilarious and smart comedy Noises Off. Here, two British journalists in Cuba, writing for rival newspapers, each try to scoop the other but fall victims to a witless interpreter and other complications. Through Nov 24 at New Arts Theater, 702 Ross at Market in the West End Warehouse District. Wed-Fri at 8 pm; Sat at 5 & 9 pm; Sun at 2:30 pm. Tickets $14.25 Sat at 9 and Fri; $10.75 all other performances. 761-9064.

Evita. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s glamorous, glitzy musical about Argentina’s infamous Eva Peron. chronicling her rise to power and the political turmoil that made her the subject of bitter controversy. Through Nov 10 at Dallas Repertory Theatre, NorthPark Center (outside Joske’s), Park Lane at N Central Expwy. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm; Sun at 3 pm & 7:30 pm. Tickets $14 Fri & Sat; $12.50 Sun; $11 Tue-Thur. 369-8966.

Home Front. A play by former Dallasite James Duff, set in Dallas in the early Seventies, about a young Vietnam veteran and the alienation he feels toward his family when he comes home from the war. Nov 5-Dec 1 at Theatre Three in the Quadrangle, 2800 Routh. Tue-Fri at 8:15 pm; Sat at 3:30 & 8:15 pm. Tickets $14.50 Fri & Sat at 8:15; $12 50 Tue-Thur; $9 Sat at 3:30. 871-3300.

Noises Off. Michael Frayn’s very funny farce about a second-rate British theater troupe, rehearsing and then performing a bad sex comedy called Nothing On. We see the first act of On three times: from the audience side of the stage during the desperate final rehearsal; then from backstage during a performance; and finally as the audience would see it on closing night. The comedy of errors builds as we learn more and more and as the hapless actors act less and less. Through Nov 10 at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Tue-Fri at 8 pm; Sat at 2:30 & 8 pm; Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $26.50-$21 50 Fri & Sat evenings; $21 50-$19.50 Tue-Thur. Sat matinee and Sun; available at Rainbow Tick-etmaster outlets. 787-2000.

The Skin of Our Teeth. In 1942 Thornton Wilder won his third Pulitzer Prize for this surreal allegorical comedy about George Antrobus and his family, of Excelsior, N.J., who first face a creeping wall of ice, then a long war, each time barely escaping annihilation. George manages to hold his family together and to save them because of his belief in beginning again and rebuilding. Nov 14-Dec 15 at the Dallas Theater Center’s Frank Lloyd Wright Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tue & Thur at 8 pm; Wed at 8 pm; Fri at 8:30 pm; Sat at 4 & 8:30 pm; Sun at 2:30 & 7:30 pm. Tickets $22 Fri & Sat at 8:30; $16 Tue, Wed at 8, Thur; $13 Sat at 4 & Sun. 526-8857.

A Woman of Independent Means. Dallas matriarch Bess Steed Garner is the woman Dallas author Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey imagines her own grandmother, Bess Jones, to have been. In this two-act monologue, which Hailey based on her own best-selling book, Bess reads aloud letters she has written to family and friends, dating from when she was 25 to her death at 78. Veteran film actress Barbara Rush recreates the role of Bess, which she originated on Broadway last year. Continuing indefinitely at the Plaza Theatre. 6719 Snider Plaza. Tue-Sat at 8:15 pm; Sun at 2:30 & 7 pm. Tickets $19 & $17 Fri & Sat; $16 & $14 Tue-Thur; $13 & $11 Sun. 363-7000.



MUSIC



American Guild of Organists. The Dallas Chapter presents organist Cherry Rhodes in recital, performing music of Bach, Liszt, King and Handel, Nov 8 at 8:15 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 6306 Kenwood Ave. at Abrams Road. Tickets $8. 821 -3450.

BL Lacerta. The improvisatory chamber ensemble presents “The Radio Show,” with percussionist David Anderson and trombonist Kim Corbett, Nov 14 at 8 pm at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake. Tickets $3. 328-8427.



Cliburn Foundation. Pianist Hugh Tinney appears in recital, performing Beethoven’s Sonata in D, op. 10, no. 3, Albeniz’a Iberia, Scriabin’s Sonata no. 5 and the complete Chopin Preludes. Nov 12 at 8 pm at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. Tickets $15.(817)738-6533,



Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Nov 3: Cellist Gayane Manasjan performs Boccherini’s Concerto in B flat major in a concert also including Handel’s Entrance of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon and J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos 1 and 3. Nov 17: Guest artist David Golub appears with the orchestra for Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 14 on a concert also featuring Bar-tok’s Rumanian Folk Dances, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 5, and Handel’s Water Music. All concerts at 7 pm at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Tickets $10. 826-6974 or 787-2000.

Dallas Classic Guitar Society. Spanish guitarist Jose Luis Rodrigo performs music of Sor, Bach, Villa-Lobos, Marco, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Sainz de la Maza and Rodrigo. Nov 4 at 8:15 pm at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm. Tickets $11-$6.50. 343-3709.

Dallas Opera. Oct 31 & Nov 3, 5 & 9: Nicola Rescigno conducts Verdi’s Otello, directed by John Houseman with tenor Ermanno Mauro as Otello, soprano Rosalind Plowright as Desdemona and baritone Sesto Bruscan-tini as lago. Nov 14, 17, 19 & 23: Rescigno conducts Puccini’s La Boheme, with soprano Maria Spacagna as Mimi, tenor Alberto Cupido as Rodolpho, soprano Elizabeth Hynes as Musetta and baritone Gino Quilico as Marcello. Nov 27& Dec 1.4 & 7: Berislav Klobucar conducts Wagner’s Gotterdammerung, directed by Roberto Oswald with tenor Wolfgang Neumann as Siegfried, soprano Johanna Meier as Brünnhilde, baritone Victor Braun as Gunther and bass William Wilderman as Hagen. All performances are at Fair Park Music Hall and are sung in the original language with English captions. Curtain time for Otello and Boheme is 2 pm on Sundays and 8 pm all other days; for Gdt-terdammerung, 12:30 pm on Sunday and 6:30 pm all other days. Tickets $75-$4. 871-0090.

Fort Worth Opera. Mezzo-soprano Rosalind Elias joins Kathy Hegierski and Karen Hunt in a new production of Humperdincks Hansel and Gretel, conducted by John Balme and staged by Christopher Allen. Nov 22 at 8:30 pm & Nov 24 at 2:30 pm, with an alternate cast of young American singers performing Nov 23 at 2:30 pm. All performances at Tarrant County Convention Center Theater, 1101 Houston, Fort Worth. Tickets $35$5. 429-1181 or (817) 731-0833.

Cliburn Medalist



French pianist Philippe Bianconi took second place and the Silver Medal at the 1985 Van Cliburn Competition. Lots of people in the audience expected him to come in first. Dallasites can find out why when he appears on the Dallas Civic Music Subscription series this month, performing Haydn’s Sonata in C (Hob. XVI/50), Ravel’s Miroirs, Prokofiev’s Third Sonata and Chopin’s C minor Nocturne, G minor Ballade and C sharp minor Scherzo. Nov 18 at 8:15 pm at McFarlin Auditorium, SMU. Tickets $25-$4. 526-6870.



Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Nov 9 & 10. John Giordano conducts a concert featuring pianist Claudio Arrau in Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 1 in D minor and Schumann’s Symphony no. 3 in E flat (“Rhenish”), Sat at 8 pm & Sun at 3 pm. Tickets $15-$5. Nov 29 & 30: Pianist-composer Michel Legrand performs with the Fort Worth Symphony Pops Orchestra at 8 pm. Tickets $18.50-$10.50. All performances at Tarrant County Convention Center Theater, 1101 Houston, Fort Worth. 429-1181 or (817) 335-9000.

Meadows School of the Arts. Nov 5: SMU Choral Union. Nov 8: Recital featuring six members of the SMU voice faculty. Nov 12 & 14: Bach specialist Christoph Wolff presents lectures. Tue at 3:30 pm and Fri at 8:15 pm. 692-3793. Nov 13: SMU Chamber Orchestra. Nov 15: Violinist Erick Friedman and Friends present chamber music. Nov 18: Composers Forum. Nov 20: SMU Wind Ensemble. Nov 25: SMU Percussion Ensemble. Nov 26: SMU Brass/Woodwind Choir Concert. All events at 8:15 pm (unless otherwise noted) at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Free. 692-3510.

North Texas State University. Nov 7: Guest artist soprano Karen Hunt appears in recital at 8:15 pm in the NTSU Concert Hall. Tickets $5. (817) 565-3815. Nov 8, 9& 10: Dennis Wakeling directs and Serge Zehnacker conducts an opera theater production of Verdi’s Luisa Miller in English at 8 pm at the NTSU Main Auditorium. Tickets TBA. (817) 565-2791. Nov 12: Opera and musical satirist Anna Russell performs at 8:15 pm at the NTSU Main Auditorium. Tickets $6. (817) 565-3815. Nov 26: The One O’Clock Lab Band performs with guest artist jazz trombonist Rob McConnell at 8 pm at the Main Auditorium. Tickets $3.50 in advance, $5 day of the concert. (817) 565-3805. All concerts at the NTSU campus in Denton.

Richardson Symphony Orchestra. Pianist Adam Wodnicki performs Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto in a concert also featuring Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and an orchestrated Toccata and Fugue in D minor of J.S. Bach, with Chris Xeros conducting, Nov 16 at 8 pm at Richardson High School Auditorium, Belt Line near Colt, Richardson, Tickets $13-$8.50. (50 percent off for senior citizens and students with I.D.) 234-4195.

Texas Christian University. Nov 4: TCU Concert Chorale, Nov 11: Faculty violinist Jeffrey Cox in recital. Nov 15: TCU Percussion Ensemble. Nov 18: Faculty soprano Sheila Marie Allen in recital. Nov 25: TCU Chamber Winds Ensemble. All performances at 8 pm at Ed Landreth Auditorium, University at Cantey. TCU, Fort Worth. (817) 921-7810.



Voices of Change. An ail-American concert features American Revolutionary marches, selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Copland’s Piano Quartet. Nov 4 at 8:15 pm at Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center, SMU. Tickets $6. 692-3189.



FILM



Fitzcarraldo. The next installment in the DMA’s series of major film works, this Werner Herzog epic is an amazing fantasy about the fantastic dreams of an Irish adventurer who tries to build an opera house in the Amazonian rain forest. Nov 21 at 6:30 pm at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N Harwood. 922-0220. Tickets $2 for members & $3 for non-members.



DANCE



Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. This group makes its Texas debut, under the sponsorship of The International Theatrical Arts Society (TITAS) in McFarlin Auditorium at SMU, in two performances of Carmina Burana choreographed by Fernand Nault. Also on the program are Balanchine’s Serenade and James Kudelka’s In Paradisum, set to an original score by Michael J Baker. At McFarlin Auditorium, Nov 22 & 23. 8 pm. Tickets: $5 to $25. 528-5576 or (metro) 429-1181.



ENLIGHTENMENT



The Dallas Institute of Humanities & Culture. This fall the Institute offers seminars and courses featuring programs designed to study contemporary culture. Nov 16 & 17: “Animating the World Through Art and Craft,” by Dr. Tom Moore; Nov 23 & 24: “Alfred Adler and the Social World,” by Randolph Severson. All seminars $60 at The Dallas Institute of Humanities & Culture, 2719 Routh. 871-2440.

Halley’s Comet: The Long-Haired Visitor. This show explores some of the notable passages of Halley’s Comet in the past as well as explaining what comets are and how they behave. Now showing at The Science Place at Fair Park, the show uses the planetarium “sky” and offers observing tips and infor-mation that will help you get the most out of the 1986 passage of Halley’s Comet. Through Nov 3 at The Science Place at Fair Park. Admission includes entrance fee to the Museum of Natural History, $2 for adults and $1 for children 5-11 and senior citizens. 428-8351.

The Simplifed Art of Faux Finishing. Artist and interior designer Adam St. John presents a unique opportunity for interested individuals to learn the basics of faux finishing. During a half-day seminar, St. John will share many of the techniques that he has developed and perfected over the last five years. Far simpler than standard textbook techniques, they can be easily understood and learned through a few visual demonstrations. Participants will see how to achieve basic wood-graining, marbling, faux tortoise, granite, malachite, lapis, faux goatskin, glazed antiquing and wall glazing (to create a fresco effect). Nov 2 at the Dallas Infomart. 742-6329.



RECREATION



Chi Omega Christmas. The eighth annual Chi Omega Christmas will offer an exceptional collection of specialty merchandise from all over the country with one-stop, one-of-a-kind shopping. All of the profits directly benefit Dallas community charities. Thur, Nov 7 from 1 pm-8 pm, Fri. Nov 8 from 10 am-5 pm and Sat, Nov 9 from 10 am-5 pm. NorthPark Inn Convention Center Tickets $5 in advance, $6 at the door. 363-2431.

Crank It Up. Annual car stereo competition pitting over 200 car audio systems against each other. All day Nov 2 & 3 at Dallas Convention Center. Free. 392-1574.

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden. The Garden now offers free admission to garden visitors every Tuesday. In addition, 5,000 complimentary tickets will be available at all Dallas Park & Recreation Centers for admission to the gardens during special events. The Arboretum is located on the shores of White Rock Lake on the grounds of the historic DeGolyer and Camp estates. Tue-Sun 10 am-5 pm. Closed Mon. 8525 Garland Road. 327-8263.

The Eighth Annual Incarnation Chill Cookoff. This family affair will feature live country music, local celebrities, adult contests, a children’s game area and a supervised nursery. This is a Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) sanctioned event and offers contestants the opportunity to earn points toward the 1986 World Championship Chili Cookoff at Terlingua. Trophies and ribbons will be awarded for the top ten places. Net proceeds will benefit the Church of the Incarnation’s Neighborhood Ministry Program. Nov 16, 1 -5 pm on the main parking lot of the Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney. For registration information call 385-7122 after 6 pm.

Holiday Magic. This will signal the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in Arlington. Over 60 merchants from across the country will fill the Arlington Convention Center with holiday gifts for the entire family. When visitors step through the door they will enter Toyland complete with holiday demonstrations, musical entertainment and refreshments. Thur, Nov 7 through Sun, Nov 10 at the Arlington Convention Center. 1200 Stadium Drive East, Arlington. (817) 460-2351 or (817) 451-0592.



SPORTS



Dallas Cowboys. Texas Stadium, Irving. Reserved seat tickets $19; available at the Dallas Cowboys Ticket Office, 6116 N Central Expwy. Home games at noon unless otherwise indicated. 369-3211.

Nov 17 vs Chicago Bears

24 vs Philadelphia Eagles

28 vs St. Louis Cardinals

Dallas Mavericks. Reunion Arena. Dallas. Home game tickets $7 & $5; available at Rainbow-Ticket-master outlets or at Reunion Arena box office. All games start at 7:30 pm. 988-0117.

Nov 2 Sacramento

6 Portland

9 Houston

15 New Jersey

19 Phoenix

23 Indiana

26 Washington

29 Sacramento

30 Los Angel

SMU. All home games played at Texas Stadium, Irving. For ticket information, contact the SMU Athletic Ticket Office, Moody Coliseum, SMU. 692-2902.

Nov 9 vs Rice

16 vs Tech



NIGHTLIFE

ENTERTAINMENT/DANCING



Amnizia. A perfect name for its location, because who can remember how many nightclubs have come and gone along here? This latest addition, with its Madonna-like dance music bouncing off the fluorescent painted walls, is going for the young 20ish singles crowd. You won’t find the chic types who hang around Upper Greenville, but the music is the same. And the dance floor is just as crowded. (2829 W. Northwest Hwy. 351-1262. Nightly 7 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Boardwalk Beach Club. You thought preppies were dying out? Head over in your BMW to Boardwalk and you will find them, hiding out from the real world. More than 1,000 of the prep set, from college kids to holdovers in their early 30s, jam the place every weekend night. The disc jockey plays good beach music, if you can hear it above the noise of the preppy talk. Dress is essential to a successful bar evening here, so button down tight. (6332 La Vista. 823-5340. Wed-Sat 7 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-2am. Closed Sun-Tue. MC, V, AE.)

Bowley & Wilson’s. If you’re looking for a place to have your church social, don’t come here. Not for the faint of heart or timid of ear, Bowley and Wilson dish out hysterical music and humor that landed them in jail on one occasion. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced, humor-filled evening, Bowley & Wilson and the Blue Bathroom Humor Band are for you. Light food, including pizza, is prepared by their Peruvian chef, Juan Ortega. You can win free drinks by being a good sport when they ask you to join in the act. Win free Kamikazies by successfully singing, “Old Ben Lucas” in front of the audience. (4714 Greenville. 692-6470. Tue-Sat 7:30 pm-2 am. Show starts at 9:45.)

Café Dallas. The club that was at one time the hottest disco in town (a title Cafe Dallas held back in 1980) has overhauled its image to bring back clientele. But Cafe Dallas has stuck with its dark decor and driving dance music and same drink specials-and amazingly has staged a sort of popular comeback on the always-changing Greenville strip. (5500 Greenville in Old Town Shopping Village. 987-0066. Mon-Fri 4 pm-2 am. Sat 8 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC. V. AE.)

Callaghan’s. Ah, the sweet mysteries of Dallas nightlife. At Callaghan’s, part of the West End live music renaissance, you used to get pure Irish music. Now you never know what will be coming out of the loudspeakers. The little Irish bands play sporadically, and there’s jazz on Sundays, and the rest of the week could be anything. When we went, there was a Top 40 group early in the week, then a flat-out rock ’n’ roll group by the weekend. But it’s still worth the gamble. (1701 Market at Ross. 761-9355. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat noon-2 am, Sun 4 pm-2 am. AE, DC. CB.)

Confetti. Look what’s happened to Dallas’ meat market: It went upscale. No more wild-looking waitresses in nasty outfits. No more best-body contests. No more teenager-looking types. Now sleekly redesigned for the young office crowd, the club still throws a good party. (5201 Matilda off Lovers Lane. 369-6969, 369-6977. Mon-Thur 5 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-4 am, Sat 7 pm-4 am, Sun 6 pm-2 am. Cover: $2 Mon after 7 & Tue-Thur after 9, $3 Fri & Sat. $2 Sun. All credit cards.)

Court Five. This place could be one of your great discoveries. A hole in the wall hidden among the North Dallas apartment complexes, this little bar attracts non-swingle-style partiers who have a roaring great time dancing to such decent little rock ’n’ roll bands as the Vinyl Tops and Silent Partners. There’s a large outdoor patio, hilarious photos on the wall of the owner with his friends and even bad pool tables in the back. (7108 Holly Hill. 363-0174. Tue-Fri 5 pm-2 am, Sat & Sun 7 pm-2 am. MC. V, AE.)

Dick’s Last Resort. The charm of this newest nightspot in downtowns West End district comes from the owner himself. In this charmingly hectic, casual atmosphere, where everyone sits at long tables, presides loud-mouthed Dick – he teases you, roars happily at you from across the bar and puts together a terrific combination of drinks with a hefty chicken-ribs-crab menu. Dixieland jazz groups nightly. (1701 N Market, at the corner of Ross and Record. 747-0001. Mon-Thur 11:30 am-midnight, Fri & Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun 5 pm-midnight. MC, V, AE, DC.)

Fast and Cool. This Greenville Avenue creation, located in the old Nick’s Uptown building, is a dance club with naked light bulbs hanging down from the ceiling and female dancers in cages. The diverse dance tunes include everything from the Animals to the Eurythmics to Motown hits. (3606 Greenville. 827-5544. Sun-Thur 7 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-4 am, Sat 7-4. Cover: $3 Thur-Sat. MC, V, AE.)

Figaro’s. Another shot has been fired in the Addison nightclub wars. On the Addison strip off Belt Line, this high-tech bar presents live music from dance bands each night, along with large-screen TVs, cool-looking people and serious cover charges. The clientele averages in the early 30s. (5290 Belt Line, Suite 150. 960-1856. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11:30 am-2 am. All credit cards.)

500 Cafe.Everyone likes to think they’re part of the eclectic crowd, but you can find the real thing at the 500 Cafe. A combination of the city’s intelligentsia. New Wavers and Deep Ellumites, this little bar near Fair Park offers live entertainment Thursday through Saturday and such unusual delights as poetry readings and short films during the week. (408 Exposition Ave. 821-4623. Tue-Fri 11 am-2am. Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun & Mon. AE only.)

Gershwin’s Bar & Grill. No one can discover a nightspot faster than the North Dallas single. This new Upper Greenville restaurant features two bars -and both are constantly packed. If you don’t like the bar closest to the door, you can simply work your way over to the one beside a grand piano that appears to be built on top of a scaffolding. Most of the crowd is at the bar waiting for a table, so if you’re going to hustle someone, you’d better hurry. (8442 Walnut Hill at Greenville. 373-7171. Sun-Thur 11:30 am-midnight. Fri & Sat 11:30 am-1 am. No cover. MC, V, AE, DC.)

In Cahoots. All of us serious North Dallas nightclub watchers are starting to wonder. Is In Cahoots going to beat the trend and last? Almost every Greenville club that plays off contemporary dance music has a hot period and then fades, but the parking lot at NorthPark East is still packed. Great laser show, sophisticated decor, blackjack tables-but most important, they have hot, sweaty, single dancing bodies. (NorthPark East, 8222 N Central Expwy. 692-5412. Mon-Thur 5 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-3:30 am, Sat 7:30 pm-3:30 am; cover on weekends. MC, V, AE, DC.)

Jazz City. There are nightclubs galore that offer a sprinkling of jazz, but until now, none has tried so diligently to recreate New Orleans’ French Quarter atmosphere. Here, on far Lower Greenville, you’ll find a place that serves New Orleans food and drinks, and it plays pure, straight jazz. Every major jazz group in the area comes through, so you can get a taste of just about all Dallas has to offer. (1518 Greenville, south of Ross. 823-7474. Mon-Thur 11 am-midnight. Fri 11-2, Sat 4 pm-2. Live music Thur-Sat. Cover varies depending on act. MC, V. AE.)



Nairobi Room. Are you adrift from reality, are you in touch with your true self, or are you just sticking safety pins through your ears because everyone else is doing it? Find out here, at the most well-known New Wave and punk bar in the city. Sometimes the Nairobi Room is a parody of itself: A lot of people there try exceedingly hard to make themselves look too cool. During the day, no doubt, they wear business suits. Dress any way you want and they’ll let you in. (Beer and wine only. BYOB. 2914 Harry Mines, in the Town House Motor Lodge. 748-9567. Open 7 days a week, 7 pm-2am. Bands and cover charge are sporadic. No credit cards.)



Poor David’s Pub. In a city where live music clubs close quicker than real estate deals, Poor David’s has been hanging on for eight years. It’s still the leader in blues artists, progressive-country singers and touring folk singers. (1924 Greenville. 821-9891. Mon-Sat 7 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. Cover varies. No credit cards.)



Popsicle Toes. After taking one look at the seamy exterior, people have been afraid of walking in here, which is a mistake. Featuring rhythm and blues and funk bands like Phyrework and Buster Brown, Popsicle Toes brings together a lively group from every social strata. This is one of the best places to dance you’ll find. (5627 Dyer. 368-9706. Tue-Thur & Sat 8 pm-2 am; Fri 4 pm-2 am; Sun 7:30 pm-midnight. MC, V, AE.)



Prohibition Room. Too long regarded as the place in the basement next door to the Starck Club, the Prohibition Room has developed an aura of its own, not the least because it has begun to regularly draw some of the top local bands, like Robert Lee Kolb. When you enter, you think it’s another pool-and-shuffleboard bar, but when you run out of quarters, go to the back by the stage and listen to an evening’s worth of fine music. (703 McKinney in the Brewery. 954-4407. Mon-Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 7 pm-2 am. MC, V, AE.)



Razz Ma Tazz. The nightclub assault continues in the West End district of downtown Dallas. The latest, Razz Ma Tazz, offers one of the most intriguing interiors we’ve seen in a while: a combination of a Havana show room from the Fifties and a plain old Sixties rock ’n’ roll hangout. The live music you get, though, ranges from rock to R&B to dance-styled pop. Good local bands, ornate bar; restaurant menu also available. (1714 Market. 748-7112. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sun. MC, V,AE,DC.)



Rick’s Casablanca. At first glance, you may think you’ve come to one of those old-fashioned tropical bars ? (with perhaps the best ceiling fans in Dallas). But Rick’s is quickly becoming one of the best small clubs in which to hear good bands, from reggae to rhythm and blues. The place is often crowded early in the week, since Robert Lee Kolb and Local Heroes perform Monday through Wednesday nights. (1919 Greenville. 824-6509. Daily 8 pm-2 am. Cover varies. MC, V. AE.)



Rusty Pelican. The large bar in this restaurant can best be described as having a California surf motif: lots of plants, wood and surfing pictures. There’s dancing to pop-music bands every night except Monday and mind-boggling beach drinks. (14655 Dallas Pkwy. 980-8950. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-1:30 am, Sat 4:30 pm-1:30 am, Sun 4:30 pm-midnight. MC. V,AE, DC.)



Starck Club. You waited three years for the high-tech, beautiful-people’s bar to open, and now you want to go there. Here’s what you should know. First: the $10 weekend cover – and that’s only if they let you inside. Second: the most decadent bathroom lounges in town. Third: the sunken dance floor, down a flight of stairs. Fourth: the variety of people, from gays to straights to Nuevo Wavo to models to just normal Joe Blows (the place is huge enough to accommodate all types). Best time: Saturday night, it becomes incredibly packed. Despite the hype, it’s still the hottest chichi nightclub in the city. (703 McKinney in the Brewery. 720-0130. Thur 5 pm-2 am, Fri 5 pm-4 am, Sat 9 pm-4 am. Sun 9 pm-2 am. Closed Mon-Wed. Cover: $5 Thur & Sun alter 9 pm; $10 Fri after 9 pm & Sat. MC, V. AE, DC.)

Strictly TaBu. One of the longest-lasting jazz clubs in Dallas (with the best pizza you’ll ever find at a jazz club), Strictly TaBu continues to present, in its dark, badly decorated interior, some of the best contemporary jazz in town. Groups play every night, the most regular being Jeanette Brantley and Clockwork, which plays with such a unique style that it often takes a survey in the middle of a performance asking people what they think they’re listening to. (4111 Lomo Alto, Lemmon at the Tollway. 528-5200. Tue-Sun 6 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. MC, V, AE.)

Studebakers. Can this good-times emporium be slipping so soon into senescence? Say it ain’t so, Elvis. Actually, news of Studebaker’s demise may be greatly exaggerated. The passion for nostalgia seems undying, so aging rock lovers still gather at such shrines to bop and stroll. The non-stop mix of Motown, cutesie rock (“Hand Jive,” “Hokey-Pokey.” etc.) and the old gold of various Frankies and Bobbies can still pack ’em in. And don’t forget the generous happy hour buffet. (NorthPark East, 8788 N Central Expwy. 696-2475. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat&Sun 7pm-2am. Dress code after 4 pm. MC, V, AE.)

Studio E. When you’re ready for a change of pace in live jazz music, you have got to make it to Studio E. You aren’t going to get the snobbery that goes with some jazz clubs. This is a strictly BYOB affair (setups are available). By day, it’s a music store that sells amplifiers, band instruments, etc. But at night, local jazz groups come in and try out their new material on willing audiences. It’s a chance to see what may become tomorrow’s headliner groups. (919 N Haskell. 824-8483. Fri-Sun 9 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Studio 67. The hottest disco in South Dallas, Studio 67 is regularly packed, with everyone wanting to dance. Dance music is new, not filled with the old disc jockey favorites. Membership required to buy liquor. (3939 S Polk. 374-1200. Wed-Fri 5 pm-2 am. Sat 8 pm-3 am. Sun 8 pm-2 am. No credit cards.)

Top of the Dome. If you want to meet the tourist who comes to Dallas, come here. All the wide-eyed visitors, from small-town vacationers to conventioneers and traveling businessmen, mingle up here in the ball. Spectrum, a top 40 group, plays six nights a week. There’s a small dance floor, and the windows provide the best view of downtown. (Hyatt Regency’s Reunion Tower on Reunion Blvd. 651-1234. Mon-Fri 2 pm-2 am, Sat noon-2 am, Sun noon-midnight. All credit cards.)

Venetian Room. The old king of the Dallas showroom supper clubs, the Venetian Room still consistently brings in the most recognizable names in pop-jazz-comedy acts. The posh, elegant place, with its frescoes on the walls and tuxedoed waiters, might be intimidating to some, but the dress code has been loosened (you can get by without tie or fancy dress), the cover charge ranges from $12-$20, and you don’t have to buy the full-course dinner (which starts at $20) to come to the show. (Fairmont Hotel, Ross and Akard. 720-2020. Mon-Sat, two shows nightly at 9 pm and 11 pm. MC, V. AE, DC.)

Village Country Club. Pull out all the old jokes about the people from the Village Apartments, and you’ve got the makeup of this club, right? Wrong. Local bands appear here, and the crowd doesn’t trade business cards or astrological signs. They just hang loose and appreciate the music. (8308 Southwestern. 361-9866. Mon-Wed 4 pm-midnight, Thur& Fri 4 pm-2 am, Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 11 am-midnight. Live music Thur-Sat. MC. V, AE.)



NIGHTLIFE

DRINKING



Andrew’s. Why mess around with a successful formula? Andrew’s still features obscure folk singers on the guitar, it keeps serving its well-regarded hamburgers, and it keeps offering its strong specialty drinks with ridiculous names. Although there are now four Andrew’s locations in Dallas, only the McKinney location offers live music. It’s still a kick to see the Yuppie crowd that packs this comfortable nightspot listening to the old Joan Baez tunes. (3301 McKinney. 521-6535. 14930 Midway, 385-1613; 7557 Greenville, 363-1910; 10723 Composite, 351-4804. Mon-Sat 11:15 am-2 am; Sun 10:30 am-2 am. All credit cards.)

Arthur’s. The ideal spot for you to meet that rich middle-aged man, Arthur’s has for years been the sophisticated gathering place for the single upper-class crowd in their 40s and up who don’t believe that wearing a thick gold chain around your neck is the way to show your charm. (1000 Campbell Center. 361-8833. Mon-Fri 11:30 am-1:30 am; Sat 6 pm-1:30 am. All credit cards.)

Biff’s. If you’ve lived in Dallas longer than five years, you’ll recognize the unique thing about Biffs. It’s the only Greenville club north of Park Lane that has not changed its name. Since 1978, Biffs has provided mingling at the bar, a menu of about any food you can name and upscale clientele. Now it adds another popular feature, an outdoor verandah looking upon a grove of trees, not a parking lot. (7402 Greenville. 696-1952. Sun-Tue 11 am-midnight, Wed & Thur 11 am-1 am, Fri & Sat 11 am-2 am. MC, V, AE.)

Chelsea Corner. In the block where upper McKinney Avenue runs into Highland Park, there is the perfect club to blend the two cultures. A quiet, candle-on-the-table place, with little sandwich or quiche dinners and all kinds of colorful fruit drinks, and a guitarist playing folk-pop songs on an elevated stage, Chelsea Corner is great for a peaceful moment before you hit the fast lane, or a way to unwind if you’re coming off it. (4830 McKinney. 522-3501. Mon-Sat 11:15am-2am. Sun 5 pm-2 am. Live music Tue-Sat MC, V, AE, DC.)

The Den. The great all-time dark bar of Dallas is the place to go for your after-work liaison. You can barely see past your own table, and the bartender pours doubles all night at single-drink prices. (The Stoneleigh Hotel, 2927 Maple. 871-7111. Mon-Sat 11 am-midnight, Sun noon-11 pm. MC, V, AE, DC.)

Greenville Bar & Grill. This no-frills bar still remains the centerpiece of the Lower Greenville crowd. After you hit all the funky nightspots on the strip, you always seem to head back over to the Bar & Grill for one last drink or hamburger. Hal Baker’s Gloomchasers continue with Dixieland music on Sundays and Thursdays. (2821 Greenville. 823-6691. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2am, Sun noon-2 am. AE only.)

Joe Miller’s. Why does Joe Miller’s get more press than any other bar in the city? Because it’s the hangout of the middle-aged news media crowd. Walk through the door and wait two minutes until your eyes adjust to the darkness. Sit on those simulated leather couches. Listen to John Anders and Blackie Sherrod talk about the good old days. Listen to Joe Miller tell 100 jokes in a half-hour. Actually, the bar is far from exclusive. The bartenders and waitresses make everyone feel welcome, even if you didn’t just finish a story on deadline. (3531 McKinney. 521-2261. Mon-Fri noon-2 am, Sat 6 pm-2 am. Closed Sunday. MC, V, AE.)

Knox Street Pub. Here, across the street from such Yuppie delights as On the Border and Hoffbrau, is a bar still fighting to be laid back. And what is laid back these days? How about a varied jukebox with rock ’n’ roll, English New Wave, country/western and Sixties pop? How about terrible restrooms and old pool tables? How about a vast array of clientele? The pub is a classic neighborhood bar, a vanishing species. (3230 Knox. 526-9476. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 5 pm-2 am. 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 meals are offered, but the real value is the selection of foreign and domestic wines found in the walk-in wine cellar. (2019 N Lamar, 871-2072. Mon-Thur 11:30 am-10:30 pm, Fri & Sat 11:30 am-midnight. Closed Sun. All credit cards.)

The Lounge. What’s that, you old coot? Want to throw down a beer with young intelligentsia? Here’s what you do: First, dress chic, but don’t let it look elegantly chic. Casual chic is the style here (unless you’re in the New Wave crowd and you come in so everyone can have a look at what they’ve been told is “gloriously outrageous” fashion). Then, you’d better see one of those foreign movies playing next door at the Inwood Theater so you’ll have something to talk about at the bar. And you’d better show a little poise. This is as close as Dallas gets to one of those sophisticated, high-tech upper West Side bars in New York where you wish you could eavesdrop on the conversation at every table. (5458 Lovers Lane. 350-7834. Sun-Wed 5 pm-1 am, Thur-Sat 5 pm-2 am. AE, DC, CB.)

Mimi’s. This is the perfect spot for European beer lovers. Also Asian beer lovers, Caribbean beer lovers and, if you must be boring. American beer lovers. At this quiet spot, in the heart of the noise-blasting Greenville clubs, you can play a game called “Around the World,” where you drink beer from dozens of countries -more than 130 brands. Mimi’s also has fine sandwiches and snacks. Bartender plays albums (not singles) and is open to any request. (5111 Greenville. 696-1993. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat & Sun noon-2 am. MC, V. AE, DC.)

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 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. Tue-Thur 7 pm-2 am. Fri 5 pm-3 am. Sat 7 pm-3 am. Sun 7 pm-2 am. Closed Mon. All credit cards.)

Nana. It’s hard to imagine a hotel bar that’s romantic, but elevator up to the 27th floor of the Anatole. In one of his racier moves, Trammell Crow had a huge painting of a nude woman named Nana put behind the green marble-topped bar. You’d probably look more at the painting, but the view of Dallas through the huge windows is better. Fine jazz trio plays Thursday through Sunday. (Loews Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Fwy. 748-1200. Mon-Fri 11 am-2 am, Sat & Sun 6 pm-2 am. All credit cards.)

The Palm Bar. If you’re downtown, few places are as nice as this for a drink after work, if you’re not downtown, it’s worth the trip. The decor is elegant but not pompous, the drinks are excellent and reasonably priced, and the service is flawless. If you work late, beware-this place closes at 7 pm. (Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce. 742-8200. Mon-Fri 11 am-7 pm. Closed Sat & Sun. All credit cards.)

San Francisco Rose. The continued success of Dallas’ oldest fern bar defies rational analysis. The inside seating is some of the worst in town; the food ranges from so-so to no-no; the service can be forgetful; and the al fresco scene outside is only for those who like their drinks with carbon monoxide. The one strong point we can discover is the drink list: Some of Rose’s concoctions blend imagination with hefty shots to produce a reduced level of critical awareness. Hey, maybe that’s the answer. (3024 Greenville. 826-2020. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun noon-2 am. All credit cards.)

SRO. What would the yuppie downtown business crowd do if they couldn’t have an after work drink at SRO (which should stand for Smashingly Resplendent-ly Ordinary)? Here, you may tap your manicured fingernails against the sleek bar and wonder who that handsome man is in the Armani suit, or what kind of soul lurks beneath that Neiman-Marcus mannequin looka-like who is sipping wine by herself. Everyone looks good in the track lighting of SRO. That, of course, doesn’t help the food, and you better be ready to talk banking or real estate principles if you want to last here. (2900 McKinney. 748-5014. Mon-Sat 11 am-2 am, Sun 5 pm-2 am. All credit cards.)

St. Martin’s. What could be better for an intimate late-night rendezvous than sharing a bottle of good wine and a cheese-and-fruit or paté board in this quiet, relaxing Lower Greenville Avenue bistro? The atmosphere is romantic, with uncrowded candlelit tables, fresh red carnations, crisp white tablecloths and soft classical music; the service is pleasant. (3020 Greenville. 826-0940. Mon- Thur 11 am-2:30 pm & 5-11 pm, Fri 11 am-3 pm & 5 pm-1 am, Sat 5 pm-1 am, Sun 5-11 pm, Sun brunch: 11-3. All credit cards.)

Steak Pit. In the midst of hectic Harry Hines, here is a country/western bar that should be located in a small town. It’s the country bar for people who can never get enough country. The bar opens at 11 am, and the drinks flow till 2 am. Lonnie Dean and Silvercreek, which plays there most nights, is one of the most venerable country bands in Dallas, and there’s a great talent contest on Tuesdays where truckers, housewives and a few guys who’ve had a little too much to drink prove that it ain’t how well you sing that makes a song good, but whether you know all the lyrics. The restaurant, which has great steak, is open 24 hours. (8121 Harry Hines, 631-8225. daily 11 am-2 am. V.)

TGI Friday’s. Remember how this was “the” singles place in the mid-Seventies? TGI Friday’s got a lot of national attention then, and the management hasn’t messed with the formula. This is practically the training school for all singles bar patrons in Dallas. Like clockwork, one group of singles replaces another: Whoever you saw hanging around the bar (still packed three-deep) six months ago probably won’t be there tonight. When you’re exhausted, you can take a table in the dining room where the sandwich food remains supreme. (5500 Greenville in Old Town Shopping Village, with locations in Addison and Piano. 363-5353. Mon-Sat 11:30 am-2 am, Sun 11 am-2 am. MC. V. AE, DC.)



FORT WORTH NIGHTLIFE



Billy Bob’s Texas. This huge country/western club in the Fort Worth Stockyards 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 citified 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. 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-South Side 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 music 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.)

The Pickin’ Parlour. Just up the road from the popular White Elephant Saloon is a club that is unusually devoid of the hordes of Yankees who invade this touristy area each weekend. The reason? They take their beer drink-in and two-steppin’ seriously here, folks. Those who can’t get their feet to move to the one-two, one-two-three beat get lost in the shuffle. There’s no room on the dance floor for lessons, either. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll never go back to rock ’n’ roll. (103 W Exchange in the Stockyards. (817) 624-2592. Tue-Sat 6 pm-1.30 am. Closed Sun & Mon. No credit cards.)

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. Sun noon-midnight. Happy hour: Mon-Fri 11 am-7 pm. MC, V, AE.)

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