Events for the week

Blisskrieg: From virtual reality showcases to a Disneyfied version of American history, the great brains in American theme entertainment are always kicking ideas around to provide ticketbuyers with a simulated experience, a world unto itself. Thus far, one of the more notable undertakings has been spearheaded by David Hanson, an artist whose Rhode Island School of Design installation, "The Primordial Ooze," caught the attention of MTV and CNN earlier this year. Hanson wants to recreate the sights, sounds, and sensations of hallucinogenic drugs without having to ingest any health-threatening chemicals. Of course, Hanson was influenced by more than just a great trip when he designed Blisskrieg, his latest installation, that's really more of a theme park-pagan organ with its water slide, Tiki Grotto, gnomes (we're not sure what that meansm but vertically challenged activists take note); outdoor swamp environment, bubbling foam chamber, and psychoacoustic music. Hanson cites Max Fleischer, Christian feasts, the Dada art movement, and other stylistic phenomena. The location is 3815 Benson off Commerce, just blocks from Exposition Park. For time and admission call 827-9330 or 720-0700.

The Major's Music and Word Festival: In case you haven't been informed, the Major Theatre in East Dallas, which labored for two years to bring Dallas movies that we never would have had otherwise, now strives to bring us music and live entertainment that we never would have had otherwise. For a couple months now they've played host to local and national touring bands; last Saturday they hosted renaissance man of arcane knowledge Robert Anton Wilson; and tonight, they present a combination of spoken-word performers,theatrical groups, and musicians. The word "eclectic" doesn't begin to describe a bill that included hip-hoppers Shabazz 3 (profiled by Robert Wilonsky in this issue's "Street Beat" column); Dallas dabbler-in-everything Jeff Liles, who'll perform spoken word under the sobriquet Cottonmouth, Texas; musician and poet Roxy Gordon, who finds contemporary relevance in traditional American Indian mysticism; performance art group Soul Nation; storyteller Kelly Higgins; and juggler-storyteller Logan Daffron. Doors open at 8 p.m. at 2830 Samuell Blvd. across from Samuell Grand Park. Tickets are $5. For information call 821-3456 or 821-5602.

Clearview's Tenth Anniversary: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the crowd-packed, wall-painted, labyrinthine charm that Club Clearview exudes like no one else. A decade anniversary is really more like a centennial in club years, as anyone who's ever tried to keep a dance-live music-performance space open and thriving will tell you. Clearview has a weekend of special nights planned, all of them terrifically affordable. Thursdays are normally hosted by Buzzmonger, the local music 'zine, but August 24 has been transformed into Concubine's Sexmonger Night, at which the recommended dress is rubber pants and entertainment is provided by Guy 2000, Pimpadelic, and Goddog; August 25 features a dizzying musical dalliance with Reverend Horton Heat, Southern Culture on the Skids, Little Jack Melody, Tablet, and others; August 26 features live music by Dash Rip Rock, Funland, and Beef Jerky, but the real coup was landing Wigstock Festival organizer Lady Bunny to perform and M.C. the midnight "Miss Fabu Pageant," also featuring a celebrity panel of judges that includes Wings actor Thomas Hauden Church, Dallas Morning News Club Scout Kendall Morgan, and Todd Oldham's brother Brad. All events happen at Club Clearview, 2806 Elm. Tickets are $4 for Thursday and $10 for Friday and Saturday each. Call 283-5358.

Visions: The Women's Expo: For six years, The Women's Expo has had a mission to "inform, inspire, and educate women," but each time you persuse the long schedule of events and guest speakers, the same question pops into your head - "which women?" In the lineup this year are cowboy-hatted follicle engineer Jose Eber; singer and faded TV actress Jasmine Guy (the snooty one from A Different World), who'll be delivering a keynote address with the rather obtuse title "Making Our Own Way ... Together"; and tons of cooking demonstrations, advice for career professionals, and fashion shows. You're tempted to rename the event "The Women Who Make More Than Fifty Grand a Year Expo," although topics that cut across economic lines, like breast cancer, or a talk by five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair, broaden the interest a bit. Women's Issue Network kicks off Saturday morning with a celebration of the 75th anniversary of women's suffrage, but one suspects the spirit of those salty, stalwart female rabble-rousers of the early 20th century won't be invoked. August 26, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; August 27, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Infomart, 1950 Stemmons. Admission is $5-$6. Call 523-0650.

sunday
august 27
Psychic Fair: They don't call it Dallas' oldest and largest Psychic fair for nothing. There's a sizable contingent of regulars who flock every month to this gathering of more than 40 psychic professionals who deal in such disciplines as tarot, astrology, palmistry, crystal ball, past life experiences, and more. Unfortunately, there was a bit of disharmony at last month's harmonic convergence when this writer switched two figures and made the faithful think they were suddenly getting more for less. To verify, the Fair doesn't charge you $15 for each eight-minute reading by a professional, but $8 for each 15-minute reading, as it has been for a while and will be in the foreseeable future (and these are folks who know their future). The Fair happens noon - 6 p.m. at the Dallas North Ballroom of the Dallas Park Central Hotel, LBJ & Coit. Admission is $6. Call 241-4876.