OPENERS

Theater

The Fantasticks. Theatre Three presents its annual holiday musical, Tom Jones’ and Harvey Schmidt’s evergreen work that underscores the fragility and folly of young love, age, and human nature. Through January 7. Tuesday-Friday, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Theatre Three (in the Quadrangle Courtyard), 3800 Routh St. Tickets: 214-871-3300.

Miss Julie. The Kitchen Dog Theatre stages Strindberg’s disturbing examination of the issues of sex and class. January 11-31. Opening night show at 8 p.m.; regular performances are Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 McKinney Ave. Tickets: 214-520-ARTS.

Tobacco Road. Theatre Three performers re-enact Erskine Caldwell’s story of life during the Depression. Set in Georgia, the play depicts the hard-scrabble life of impoverished Southerners who manage to wring laughter from their daily existence. January 13-February 11. Tuesday-Friday, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Theatre Three (in the Quadrangle Courtyard), 3800 Routh St. Tickets: 214-871-3300

The Sternheim Project: The Unmentionables & The Snob. The Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of an adaptation of playwright Carl Sternheim’s racy comedy about the rise of an upwardly mobile family dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of dinette sets and power lunches. January 11-February 4. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8p.m.; Saturday,2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Dallas Theater Center, Kalita Humphreys Theatre, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. Tickets: 214-522-TIXX.

An Inspector Calls. The award-winning thriller about a mysterious police inspector who, while investigating the apparent suicide of a young girl, begins to cast suspicion on an upper-class family. Presented by The American Express Broadway Contemporary Series. January 23-28. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. The Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Tickets through Telecharge: 212-239-6200.

CATS. JFK Theatre starts the new year with the Tony Award-winning musical of the funny and heroic antics of its feline stars as they sing and dance through the alleyways of life. January 30-February 4. Tuesday-Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. JFK Theatre, Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St., Fort Worth. Information: 817-332-2272.

Marvin’s Room. Theatre Arlington brings to life the emotionally-charged comedy of one woman’s commitment to loving others even as she faces her own mortality. January 12-February 11, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 8:15 p.m.; Sunday matinees on Febru-ary4 & 11,2:15 p.m. Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St., Arlington. Information: 817-261 -9628.

Dance

A Dallas Dance Gathering. This dance series is a groundbreaking event for local, national, and international freelance dancers and choreographers with diverse talents in ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, and ethnic dance. January 18-20, 8 p.m. Dance Studio Theatre, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 2501 Flora St. Information; 214-720-7313.

Music

The Colberts/JCC Seriea. In a unique performance, up-and-coming Russian violinists Dmitri Ratush and Yevgenia Pikovsky, who are both studying at SMU, will perform the works of Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Bloch, and Saint Saens. “From Russia to Israel to Texas” is part of the Jewish Community Center’s 1995-96 concert series. January 21, 7:30 p.m. Zale Auditorium, 7900NorthavenRd.Information:214-739-2737.

Elektra. The Dallas Opera stages Richard Strauss’ one-act dramatic saga of a homicidal mother, a live-in lover, and children obsessed with revenge. January 11, 17 & 20, 7:30 p.m.; January 14, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Fair Park Music Hall, First Avenue at Parry Avenue, Fair Park. Information: 214-443-1000.

Musical Benefit. Nuclear Polka enthusiasts, Brave Combo, helps die Dallas Video Festival celebrate its opening night with a performance in Deep Ellum benefiting the Video Association of Dallas, January 4, 10 p.m. Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St. Information: 214-823-8909.

Robert Guillaume. The Piano Chamber Orchestra joins the Emmy award-winning performer in a salute to Broadway. January 20, 8:15 p.m. Fellowship Bible Church North, 850 Lexington Ave,, Piano. Information: 214-985-1983.

Frank Zappa’s Music. T1TAS presents “The Dangerous Kitchen.” Capturing the fusion of jazz, classical music, and rock ’n roll, the program serves as a retrospective of Zappa’s career as performed by the electro-acoustic ensemble ACREQ. January 20, 8 p.m. McFarlin Auditorium, SMU Campus. Information: 214-528-5576.

The Barber of Seville. The Fort Worth Opera stages Rossini’s classic in Italian with English titles projected over the stage. January 12, 7:30 p.m.; January 14, 2 p.m. Tarrant County Convention Center Theater, 1111 Houston St., Fort Worth. Information: 800-654-9545.

Memorial Concert. In memory of Eduardo Mata, who died in January 1995, the modern chamber music group Voices of Change performs a tribute to the music of Mata’s homeland as part of the DMAs Classical Music Concert season. Selected performances include “Romancero” and “Pueblo Mulato.” January 13,3 p.m. Dallas Museum of Art, Horchow Auditorium, 1717 N. Harwood St. Information: 214-922-1229.

Classical Guitarist. The Dallas Classical Guitar Society hosts local performer Michael Quantz. January 20, 3 p.m. Dallas Museum of Art, Horchow Auditorium, 1717 N. Harwood St. Information: 214-922-1229.

Vienna in 3/4 Time. As part of the JCPenney SuperPops series, conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson brings to life the waltzes, polkas, and operetta excerpts from such great Viennese composers as Strauss and Lehar. January 5 & 6, 8:15 p.m. Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Information: 214-692-0203. Cliburn Concert. Russian pianist, Evgeny Kisscn returns for an encore performance exhibiting the talent that has garnered him a Grammy Award nomination. January 25, 8 p.m. Ed Landreth Auditorium, TCU Campus, Fort Worth. Information: 817-335-9000.

Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Guitarist Douglas James will perform Castelnuova-Tedesco’s Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with the LCSO under the baton of Robert Carter. The concert will open with the orchestra playing Symphony No. 1 in G Major as written by Prussian Emperor Frederick the Great. Irving Ans Center, Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. Information: 214-580-1566.

Art & Artifacts

African American Museum. Contained and Uncontained. An exhibition showing the progression of a clay sculpture from start to finish in the creative process. The works of Syd Carpenter. Magdalene Odundo, JamesWatkins, and Martha Jackson-Jarvis will be on display. Through March 17. Connections: African Vision In African American Art. Within the con text of an American system of values and customs, this exhibit explores the influence of the African belief system on African American art depicting religion, social life, and other secular themes. Through July 28. Memory Painters from the Lone Star State: Ruth Mae McCrane and “Doc” Spellmon. Though both academically trained, McCraneand Spellmon exhibit a folk-like style reflected in Spellmon’s scenes of pre- and post-Civil War eras and McCrane’s recreations of rural and urban activities from her youth. Through January 7. Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave., Fair Park. Information: 214-565-9026.

Amon Carter Museum. The Ties That Bind: Views of Community on the American Frontier. An exhibit featuring more than 60 lithographs and photographs documenting the rise of the American frontier from 1850 to 1900. Through February 11. Masterworks of the Photography Collection. In conjunction with the centennial celebration of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, the exhibit features various prints of cowboys herding, ranching, and starring in the rodeo from the 1870s to the present. Through March 24. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Amon Carter Museum, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd.. Fort Worth. Information; 817-738-1933.

Arlington Museum of Art. Texas Realism. A down-home exhibit featuring paintings and drawings of landscapes, still life, and the figure by Texas artists. Through January 6. Retro 19%, An invitational fund-raising exhibit composed of 30 artists’ interpretations of the ’20s and ’30s. The exhibit culminates with an auction of the displayed works on February 10. January 19-February 10. Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Arlington Museum of An, 201 W. Main St., Arlington. Information: 817-275-4600.

Biblical Arts Center. The First Noel: The First Christmas Seen Through the Eyes of Metroplex Children. Original two- and three-dimensional children’s art work depicting the first Christmas. Through January 14. Genesis: Works by Margaret Hogstrom Dunlop will open January 17 and run through March 3. Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. The Biblical Ans Center, 7500 Park Ln. Information; 214-691-4661.

Dallas Museum of Art. Impressions from the Riviera. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Wendy and Emery Reves gift collection, many of the couple’s Impressionist paintings, drawings, sculptures, and decorative arts have been moved from their third-floor location to the J.E.R. Chilton Galleries. The exhibit, now on the first floor, allows a more intimate tour through the works of Cezanne, van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. The collection features landscapes and ciryscapes with a variety of colors and moods depicting different times of the day and year, still lires, anil riveting portraits, including two of Renoir’s model Lise Trehot and two of Pissarro. Through February 4. Tuesday. Wednesday & Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 6 Sunday, 11 a.m,-5 p.m. The museum will be closed New Year’s Day. Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St. Information: 214-922- 1200.

Dallas Museum of Natural History. Two Eagles/ Dos Aguilas: A Natural History of the Mexican-U.S. Borderlands. A color photo exhibit celebrating the diversity and beauty of the borderlands revealing a natural world obscured by political boundaries. Through January 21. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Dallas Museum of Natural History, 3535 Grand Ave., Fair Park. Information: 214-421 -DINO.

Dallas Public Library. Built to Last: Photographs of Dallas Buildings from the Acme Brick Company Collection. From the Adolphus Hotel and Union Station to the old Oak Cliff Interurban Station, this exhibit showcases various residential and commercial landmarks built throughout Dallas’ history with Acme bricks. Through January 15. A Stanley Marcus Christmas Book Collection. The legendary entrepreneur opens his private collection of Christmas books to be enjoyed by all. Through January 31. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. J. Erik Jonsson Library 1515 Young St. Information: 214-670-1400.

Dallas Visual Art Center. Dallas artist Ann Cusbing Gantz will celebrate her 40-year career with a retrospective of her work. Approximately 80 paintings from die span of her career will be on display. Gantz is also a teacher of art and Dallasites from a variety of careers have taken her classes in painting and printmaking at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. In 1967, Gantz opened her studio, but closed it to the public in 1979, using the space to continue her own work. Opening reception, January 12, 8 p.m. The exhibit runs January 13-February 16. Dallas Visual An Center, 2917 Swiss Ave. Information: 2M-821-2522.

Jewish Community Center. The works of mother and daughter artists Esther Ritz and Jennifer A. ’ipshy will be featured in the Nine Jewish Artists from Dallas series. Ritz, who has studied art in France, has been painting most of her life, concentrating on watercolor, but recently has been working on several collages. Lipshy is a photographer in New York City, where she works as an editor for Spy, Psychology Today, and Mother Earth News. She studied for two years with renowned photographer William Wegman and traveled throughout Asia and Israel, all of which have influenced her work. Through the use of words, objects, and photo images, she creates one-of-a-kind portraits. Opening recpetion, January 23,7 p.m. Exhibit runs through February 5. Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Rd. Information: 214-739-2737.

Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters. The Dallas Fort Worth Black Living Legends is a photographic exhibit highlighting those African-Americans of the DFW area who have made significant contributions in any one of 18 categories ranging from politics to community involvement. The exhibit has an opening reception immediately after the 13th Annual Black Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert held at the Meyerson Symphony Centeron January 14 at 7 p.m. Patrons are invited to travel from the Meyerson to the James E. Kemp Gallery to view the exhibit. January 14-March 1.6. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Junior Black Academy. James E. Kemp Gallery, 650 S. Griffin St. Information; 214-658-7144.

Irving Arts Center. The third annual Trees, Toys, and Tradition: The Arts in Irving Celebrate a Texas Christmas will wind down this month. Because 1995 was the sesquicentennial of Texas statehood, die exhibit of a wide variety of arts has taken on a Texas flair. Holiday decorations made by several Irving cultural organizations that bedeck Christmas trees in the event’s tree competition reflect state pride in Texas heritage. Artwork by Irving school children will also be a pan of the display. Through January 2. Chinese brush painting and the Japanese art of flower arranging called Ikebana are the highlights of the Ninth Annual Exhibit of Asian Arts and Flowers. A reception for the event will be held January 7 from 2 p.m.-4-3Q p.m. An ikebana demons! rat ion will be held January 13 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and a calligraphy demonstration will be held January 14 at 2 p.m. The exhibit runs January 7-20. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. Information: 214-252-ARTS.

Kimbell Art Museum. Art and Empire: Treasures from Assyria. This exhibition of 250 artifacts, the majority of which were excavated by British archeologists in the 1840s and in 1949, is the most substantial loan in the history of the British Museum and stops only twice in die U.S.-at the Met in New York and here at the Kimbell. Immense stone reliefs carved with scenes depicting the lives of kings, royal statuary, metalwork, ivories, jewelry, and cuneiform tablets taken from royal palaces, temples, and storerooms give us a glimpse of life in the first millennium B.C. in the steppe plains of Mesopotamia. Through February 4, The Art of Louis-Leopold Boilly: Modern Life in Napoleonic Fiance. The first comprehensive exhibit outside France devoted to the artist whose work represents one of the most radical transformations of art; Boilly’s works were die first to be inspired by everyday events rather than literary, religious, or mythological images. From scenes of Parisian leisure to caricatures, nil aspects of Boilly’s work are represented. Through January 14. Tuesday-Thursday, 10a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Kimbell Art Museum, 5333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. Information: 817-332-8451.

The Meadows Museum at SMU. If you love theater and want to get a closer look at what goes on in creating the scenes or some of the most popular theatrical productions, take a trip to the SMU campus to see On & Off Broadway: Theatre Designs by William and Jean Eckart. Drawings, paintings, models of stage sets, and costumes from throughout the Eckarts’ careers (including their student works from Yale) are on display. The Eckarts were among the leading stage designers in New York in the 1950s and 1960s, creating the sets, costumes, and lighting for more than 40 shows. They included Damn Yankees,OnceUpon a Mattress, Fiorello!, and Mame. The Eckarts moved to Dallas in 1971 to join the theater faculty at SMU. Through February 4. Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Meadows Museum, Bishop Boulevard and Binkley Street. Information: 214-768-2516.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Arshile Gorky: The Breakthrough Years. An in-depth presentation of 1940s paintings and drawings featuring the artist’s mature works and innovative drawings. January 13-March 17. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1309 Montgomery St., Fort Worth. Information: 817-738-9215.

Pinocchio Pipenose Householddilemma. The McKinney Avenue Contemporary hosts a video installation by Paul McCarthy that requires viewers to don Pinocchio garb before entering the CineMac. Through January 28. McKinney Avenue Contemporary? 3120 McKinney Ave. Information: 214-953-1212.

The McKinney Avenue Contemporary. An exhibition of Texas abstract painting features the works of 14 painters from around the state and showcases their interpretation of the Lone Star State. January 5-mid-March. Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 McKinney Ave. Information: 214-953-1212.

BEST BET FOR THE WEEKEND OF JANUARY 5-7

Dallas Video Festival and KIDVID

KIDS WATCHING VIDEOS. IF THE thought conjures up images of entranced junior zombies, you haven’t been to the Dallas Video Festival’s KTDVID. Geared to kids 8 and up with emphasis placed on “videos made by kids for kids,” the packed weekend schedule offers hands-on workshops designed to put young people in the director’s chair. No couch-potato kinder here; instead, future Tarantinos will learn how to make their own videos, and finished films will be screened.

KIDVID is but a small portion of the ninth annual Dallas Video Festival which, as one of the largest video festivals in the United States, is a videoholic’s dream come true.

Featuring technology demonstrations and screenings of more than 250 videos from around the world, plus an appearance by show-biz polymath Steve Allen, who will talk about his days with “The Tonight Show,” the festival sprawls over several rooms of the Dallas Museum of Art. In effect, the viewer is the human remote; to change a channel, just get up and walk to another room. It’s one more proof that this is a show with legs.

The Dallas Video Festival will be held January 4-7. Hours are Thursday & Friday, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, noon-11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-9:30 p.m. KID-VID will be held Saturday, noon-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-3:30 p.m. A festival pass for events is $25- Day passes are $8 on Thursday and Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday; KIDVID programs are free,

Tickets are available at the Dallas Museum of Art or at Crossroads Market, 3930 Cedar Springs Blvd. Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St. Information: 214-823-8909 or on the web site: http: BEST BET FOR THE WEEKEND OF JANUARY 12-14

13th Annual Black Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert

MORE THAN 200 VOICES WILL BE RAIS-ed in song as the Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. In what has become an annual tradition, the JBAAL concert choir will be featured in the Black Music and Civil Rights Movement Concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center on January 14.

The group will perform songs from the civil rights era with gospel artist Tramaine Hawkins. Hawkins, who started singing at the age of 10, was a member of the Edwin Hawkins singers in 1969 when the group’s song Oh Happy Day became an international hit. In 1988, her album The Joy That Floods My Soul was nominated for a Grammy. Music has been of monumental importance to African Americans in their struggle for freedom and civil rights; this concert celebrates that heritage and spirit.

The concert will be held at 7 p,m. in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Tickets are $15 and $25, and can be purchased through the Junior Black Academy by calling 214-658-7147 or Ticketmaster at 214-373-8000, For more information, call 214-658-7144.

BEST BET FOR THE WEEKEND OF JANUARY 19-21

Lone Star Dinosaurs

AS MICHAEL CRICHTON CAN ATTEST, our hunger for dinosaurs seems insatiable. If your family is among the dinofanatics, you’d better not miss the last two weekends of Lone Star Dinosaurs at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The exhibit, which was created in conjunction with die release of SMU professor Dr. Louis Jacobs’ book of the same name, features 1,500 square feet of dinosaur mystique.

From real fossils and fossil casts to films and paintings, the educational and entertaining exhibit will connect the worlds of science, art, and history. You can marvel at a clutch of dinosaur eggs or the bones from Acrocanthosaurus, Tenontosaurus, Tyran-nosaurus rex, and many other species. Information from research going on in Texas, including that of Dr. Jacobs (who worked with Richard Leakey at the National Museum of Kenya) and SMU’s Shuler Museum of Paleontology, is a focus of the event-Texas fossils, Texas scientists, and Texas locations will connect the dinosaurs’ world to our backyard.

The original artwork that was created by Karen Carr for Dr. Jacob’s book will be on display. Although she specializes in wildlife and natural history, Carr’s new series for the book, depicts how dinosaurs and the Texas landscape around them may have looked more than 100 million years ago.

Lone Star Dinosaurs will run through February 2 before it travels around Texas. It will not return to Dallas until October 1996, when the Dallas Museum of Natural History will host the exhibit for the State Fair.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1501 Montgomery St., is open Monday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-8 p.m. For more information, call metro 817-654-1356.

Film

First Monday Classics. TheUSA Film Festival presents a monthly series dedicated to preserving the experience of seeing classic films on the big screen. “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” will be show on January 1 at 7:30 p.m. AMC Glen Lakes Theatres, 9450 N. Central Expy. at Walnut Hill. Information: 214-821-NEWS. ’

Omni Theater. Yellowstone. From geysers to bison, this film explores the flora, fauna, and geologic wonders of a national treasure through zoom shots, fly-over panoramic views, and a never-before-seen inside look down the mouth of Old Faithful. Through February 29. Film shown every 60 minutes on the half-hour. Monday, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 1:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. ; Friday. 1:30p.m. -9:30p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-9:30p.m.;Sunday, 12:30p.m.-8:30p.m.Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1501 Montgomery St., Fort Worth. Information: 817-732-1631 or metro 817-654-1356.

Independent Showcase. The USA Film Festival presents “Grosse Fatigue.” Directed by Michel Blanc, the French comedy spoofs the art of movie making with a cast of French stars playing themselves. January 15, 7:30 p.m. AMC Glen Lakes Theatres, 9450 N. Central Expy. at Walnut Hill. Information: 214-821-NEWS.

Best of Dallas Video Festival. The CineMac screens the most popular tapes from, this year’s festival. January 14,1 p.m.-5 p.m. The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, I120 McKinney Ave. Information: 214-953-1212.

Lectures

American Musical Theatre in the ’50s and ’60s. Dr. Dale Mollit, an associate professor at SMU, will offer a lecture that coincides with the exhibit of set and costume designs by William and Jean Eckart. January 19, 12:15 p.m.-l p.m. Meadows Museum, Bishop Boulevard and Binkley Street Information: 214-768-2516.

Artists Talk. Texas artists skilled in various mediums conduct weekly talks in the McKinney Avenue Contemporary. Lillian Garcia-Roig, painter, January 10; Art Shirer, sculptor, January 17;Kathy Webster, sculptor, January 24; Jim Woodson, painter, January 31. All lectures begin at 7 p.m. The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 McKinney Ave. Information: 214-953-1212.

Second Saturday Series. In conjunction with SMU’s Meadows School of the Ans, the MAC hosts visual and performing artists in a free afternoon event. January 13, 2 p.m. The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 McKinney Ave. Information: 214-953-1212

Whitley streiber. The Eclectic Viewpoint hosts the best-selling UFO author of “Communion” as he speaks on his continuing relationship with die “visitors” and presents new information from his latest book. January 13,7:30 p.m. Unity Church of Dallas, 6525 Forest Ln. Information: 214-601-7687.

Ruth Sharp Altshuler. One of Dallas’ busiest and most entertaining raconteurs takes part in Julia Sweeney’s New Tuesday Talk series. The globetrotting Ms. Altshuler tells about her adventures including the time she was a guest at the former Prime Minister of England’s birthday bash. January 23. Registration, 11:45 a.m.; talk, noon; lunch, 1 p.m. Dallas Country Club, 4100 Beverly Dr. Reservations: 214-520-0206.

Traditions in Design. In conjunction with the On & Off Broadway exhibit in the Meadows Museum that features set designs and costumes from the careers of William and Jean Eckart, Chris Barreca, a SMU assistant professor in the theatre division, will give a lecture about designing in the theater industry. January 12,12:15 p.m.- 1 p.m. Meadows Museum, Bishop Boulevard and Binkley Street. Information: 214-768-2516.

Home & Garden

Trees Please Weekend. The Dallas Arboretum celebrates the beginning of the arbor season with fret; admission to the grounds and a give-away of 2-gallon Chinese pistachio, sawtooth oak, or bald cypress saplings to the first 500 visitors. Experts are available to give planting demonstrations and advice on how to care for the selected trees. January 27 & 28. Free trees are available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the DeGolyer House. Regular hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd. Information: 214-327-8263.

How to Choose the Right Trees. The Dallas Arbor etum sponsors a lecture by Howard Spiegel, owner of Preservation: Tree and Landscape Consultation. Mr. Spiegel will talk about selecting the appropriate tree for the yard, planting it properly, and maintaining it. January 27, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd. Information: 214-327-8263. Do-it-Youtsell Landscaping. The Dallas Arboretum hosts Dr. Steve George, landscape horticulturist for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, for a day-long demonstration on how to create a professional yard with a limited budget and no prior plant knowledge. January 13,9 a.m. -2 p.m.; January 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd. Information: 214- 327-8263.

Country Club Lawns. Regional turf expert Jim McAffee explains which grasses do best during brutal Dallas summers and how to get the “Country Club” look without employing 12 greens-keepers. January 18, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd. Information: 214-327-8263.

BEST BET FOR THE WEEKEND OF JANUARY 26-28

Monarca: Butterfly Beyond Boundaries

BIRDS AREN’T THE ONLY CREATURES who take flight south of the border to wait out Mother Nature’s chilly mood swings, Butterflies- monarchs, to be specific-also rack up more frequent-flyer miles than Warren Christopher. The orange and black butterfly, which happens to be the state butterfly of Texas, makes the longest annual voyage of any insect. In Monarca: Butterfly Beyond Boundaries, visitors can learn more about this beautiful insect by strolling through a little part of Mexico, the winter resting grounds of the monarch, recreated amid the marble hallways and gothic columns of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. In a town square complete with a fountain and brightly decorated market stalls, this 3,500-square-foot recreation of a Mexican village features interactive multimedia tools in three languages (French, Spanish, and English) and several butterfly displays that open up the world of the monarch to humans. Through hands-on computer terminals and large-screen monitors butterfly lovers of all ages can witness a monarch’s transformation from a cocoon to an adult and learn how to grow Texas flowers that produce nectar, which is vital to the monarch’s survival along its migratory path.

The exhibit will be open January 27-May 27 at the Dallas Museum of Natural History in Fair Park. Museum hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. For more information, call 214-421-3466.

Kidstuff

KidFilm Festival. Showcasing an international array of children’s films and videos for and about children, the festival includes a special tribute to the creators of the educational children’s series, “Schoolhouse Rock. ” Call the hotline number for a schedule listing of film tides, show times, and special guest appearances. January 20 & 21. AMC Glen Lakes Theatres, 9450 N. Central Expy. Information: 214-821-NEWS.

The Science Place. Star Trek: Federation Science. Roam the bridge of die Enterprise, visit the transporter room and watch yourself “beam down” to an alien planet. See genuine “artifacts” such as phasers, costumes, tricorders, life-size alien models, and scenes from favorite episodes through an exhibit that shows how science relates to different areas of the Starship Enterprise. Through January 1. Monday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The Science Place, 1318 Second Ave., Fair Park. Information: 214-428-5555, ext. 343 or 344.

Lyie Hie Crocodile. Children ages 3 and up will enjoy the Dallas Children’s Theater tale of a caviar-eating crocodile who charms New York City with his reptilian charisma. January 19-February 11. Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m. El Centro College Theater, Market and Main streets. Tickets: 214-978-0110.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Bears: Imagination and Reality. From soft and cuddly to real stuffed specimens to folk art renditions, this exhibit explores society’s fascination with the four-footed, furry creature. The various displays include an 8-foot-tall teddy bear couch and a bear station of make-and-take crafts for bear-lovers of all ages. Through January 2. Museum hours are Monday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1501 Montgomery St., Fort Worth. Information: metro 817-654-1356.

Galleria Wonderland Express. A toy train exhibit with 23 trains pulling more than 350 cars and running simultaneously through a landscape of mountains, open plains, and the city of Dallas will excite children of all ages. The exhibit also features a giant, walk-through, holiday storybook. The annual event benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Through January 7. The Dollhouse: A Galleria-size Victorian dollbouse complete with rooms fashioned after the holiday classic ’Twas the Night Before Christmas will be on display through January 7. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. The Galleria, third level near Marshall Field’s, Dallas Parkway at LBJ Freeway. Information: 214-480-5312.

Fairs & Fiest

100th Anniversary of the Livestock Show & Rodeo. A month-long salute commemorating the nation’s oldest livestock show includes an all-western parade, a Hispanic Fiesta Night, a daily rodeo, and a GMC truck show. January 19-February 4. Parade: January 20, 10 a.m. Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3400 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. Tickets: 214-373-8000.

Dallas Boat Show. The latest in boating equipment and supplies drops anchor at Market Hall for the 41st annual event. From nautical equipment and electronics to marine hardware and fishing, camping, and hunting gear, the six-day event also includes daily seminars on sailing, skiing, a trout tank, and water safety. A highlight of the show will be the debut of the 1996 boat models. January 26-February 4. Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Market Hall, 2100 N. Stemmons Fwy. Information: 214-550 1052.

Sports

Dallas Stars. The Stars seem to have kicked the injury bugs, which should help them against some tough competition at home this month. Home games:

January 1 Toronto 1 p.m.

January 5 Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.

January 8 Los Angeles 7:30 p.m.

January 10 Detroit 7:30 p.m.

January 12 Florida 7:30 p.m.

January 17 Edmonton 7:30 p.m.

January 29 Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.

January 31 NY Rangers 7:30 p.m.

Reunion Arena, 777 Sports St. Ticket information: 214-GO-STARS.

Dallas Mavericks. They jumped from the basement back to respectability in one season, but the Dallas Mavericks have a lot more to prove this year. Home games:

January 2 Utah 7:30 p.m.

January 9 Indiana 7:30 p.m.

January 13 Charlotte 7:30 p.m.

January 15 Orlando 7:30 p.m.

January 19 Boston 7:30 p.m.

January 25 Detroit 7:30 p.m.

January 27 Portland 7:30 p.m.

January 30 L,A. Clippers 7:30 p.m.

Reunion Arena, 777 Sports St. Ticket information: 214-939-2800.

Dino Dash. The list of activities for this third annual event benefiting the Science Place stretches longer than a bronrosaurus’ tail. In addition to the 5K run/walk, 10K run, and IK run/walk for children four and up (which no one is calling a Raptor Run), participants will be treated to musical entertainment, free food, a silent auction, prize drawings every 30 minutes, a book fair featuring an autograph session with SMU paleontologist and author of Lone Star Dinosaurs, Dr. Louis Jacobs, a dinosaur costume contest, and programs for pre-registered children ages 3-12. January 27. Late registration, 7 a.m.; 5K, 8:30 a.m.; silent auction, 8:30 a.m.; 10K, 9 a.m.; IK, 9:30 a.m.; dinosaur costume contest, 11 a.m. Race packets can be picked up at Luke’s, 3607 Oak Lawn Ave. or at the Science Place in Fair Park. Information: 214-428-5555, ext. 260.

Motorcycle Expo. Everything under one roof for motorcycle aficionados of all ages. Featuring the latest in equipment, vehicles, fashions, and accessories, the eighth annual expo includes a swap meet. January 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Arlington Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington. Information: 214-216-5520.

Openers lists selected events of interest to D readers. Organizations wishing to submit information about upcoming events should send a full description to: D Magazine, Openers, 1700 Commerce, 18th floor, Dallas, Texas 75201. The deadline is the first Friday of the month two months before publication. Information must include the event’s title, address, phone number, date(s), hours, admission fees, a description, plus the phone number of the person to be contacted for additional details. No information will be taken over the phone.