Events for the week

thursday
august 1
Fredrik Noren: You can't get much whiter than Sweden, which makes the idea of a Swedish ensemble playing jazz--a premiere African-American musical form--an easy target for snickers. So if you're a jazz fan and the idea of listening to Basie and Bird played by men with names like Magnus Broo and Torbjorn Gulz makes you wince, then move on. If, on the other hand, you want to catch a cool Swedish sound, check out The Fredrik Noren Band. This 18-year-old quintet has made it a mission to spread the music it loves to all corners of the globe, and it has succeeded in nabbing ecstatic critical notices from places like India, Singapore, and Lithuania. The concert kicks off at 6 p.m. in the Atrium of the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood. It's free. Call 922-1229.

One Hundred Years of the American Newspaper Comic Strip: The world, it seems, is divided into two camps--people who find "Dilbert" funny, and those who don't want to escape the drudgery of their jobs by being confronted daily with a three-paneled sight gag that confirms the drudgery of their jobs. "Dilbert" certainly upholds an American comic strip tradition--the monotony of the workaday world--and has been awarded with a slot atop The New York Times bestseller list. You can trace the development of America's personal obsessions--those that have changed, and those that remain--in One Hundred Years of the American Newspaper Comic Strip, an exhibition at the Arlington Museum of Art. Over 100 cartoons and 30 acrylic characters representative of comic strip fashions since the form's New York inception in 1895 are included. The show runs through August 10 at the Arlington Museum of Art, 201 W. Main in Arlington. It's free. Call (817) 275-4600.

friday
august 2
George Wallace: Just a few short weeks ago, George Wallace's name and face graced the Dallas Observer Calendar page, and the S.O.B. showed his gratitude by postponing that performance. We risk getting stung twice (and, in the process, stinging Constant Reader again) by printing a blurb about Mr. Wallace's follow-up show. It's just that we happen to believe George is one of the funniest people on the face of the earth and a ray of hope for that ailing pop cult patient known as stand-up comedy. Affectionately (and in some quarters bitterly) known among his peers as "the guy who can roll the room over if it's dead," Mr. Wallace takes that most cliche of stand-up inspirations--everyday life--and gives it the twist that reminds us the word "ordinary" fits neatly inside the description "extraordinary." Now show up! Wallace appears at 8 p.m. in the Bruton Theatre of the Dallas Convention Center. For ticket information call 373-8000.

Jennifer Pena: With LeAnn Rimes signed to the national label Curb and now Jennifer Pena touted as the hottest Tex-Mex creation since jalapeno jam, we are reminded that adolescence and aimlessness are not synonymous. The 13-year-old Pena showed a steady, soulful hand as she fired an arrow into the hearts of 32,000 Houston fans who'd gathered to remember the late Selena. That performance is well-nigh legendary in South Texas. April 1996 saw the release of her debut CD, Dulzura, and her handlers are promoting Pena hot and heavy with appearances at Tejano venues throughout the Southwest. She appears in a Dallas concert that will benefit Teatro Dallas, the city's indispensable Latino-Anglo theater. The show happens at Tejano Rodeo (formerly Cowboys), 7331 Gaston Ave. Tickets are $7-$10. Call 741-1135.

Sex & Politics '96: Dallas improv sketch troupe 4 Out of 5 Doctors has proven that sex and laughter do mix (although a sudden outburst during the dirty deed does a lot to spoil the mood). Dallas ticket buyers rewarded the recipe by busting the troupe's box-office records with last year's Three Hours of Sex show. The group is now throwing a third ingredient into the blender--political humor--and serving us Sex & Politics '96: Either Way You're Screwed. Press material is explicit about inviting campaign season targets like Bob Dole, Janet Reno, and Ross Perot, but where exactly the sex part comes in is somewhat more mysterious. We're inclined to pause here and hope that any onstage depiction of Dole, Reno, or Perot's sex life will be preceded by the distribution of vomit bags to ticket buyers. Otherwise, you go, boys and girls! The show happens Friday and Saturday at 11 p.m. through September 7 at the Pocket Sandwich Theatre, 5400 E. Mockingbird Lane. Call 821-1860.

saturday
august 3
Collector's Day: The next time a friend or significant other chastises you about the pile of soda cans and empty retail sacks at the bottom of your car, simply reply that you are a collector. If this doesn't shut 'em up, it'll at least cause some confusion and buy you a little temporary peace and quiet. Invest the time by attending Collector's Day at Dallas Museum of Natural History, a Family Festival Day dedicated to folks who gather baseball cards, Elvis dolls, seashells, and more. You'll experience displays of those collections along with a tour of the museum's own storage areas. The event happens 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Dallas Museum of Natural History in Fair Park. Admission is $2-$3. Call 421-3466.