A Dallasite walks into a bar ... paints a glass and still has a full week of affordable and wide-ranging events to keep the entertainment level at top-gauge. That’s no joke. Choose from a look into theology, emotional theater, a Bavarian blowout and a day when parks take over downtown. Or do each and every one.
Let’s Get Smashed Pumpkin Wine Glass Painting Party
6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12
Times Ten Cellars
6324 Prospect Ave.
It’s mid-September and yet it’s already begun: Last week we saw the first of the pumpkin spice latte (PSL) appearances, and now we’re in the pumpkin spice marathon to Thanksgiving. But Clinkers DFW is changing things up a bit. Monday night, they want you to put good, old-fashioned, grape-made wine in your face, while you put the pumpkins on the glass. For just $31, they’ll provide you all the supplies to go full gourd-on-glass, plus a 15 percent discount off your purchase at Lakewood’s beloved Times Ten Cellars. And, of course, with this creative outburst, you’re now officially released to decorate for Halloween, and you simply can’t put a price on that before Oct. 1. Before you head to Times Ten, visit eventbrite.com to purchase a ticket. Clinkers requests you bring your confirmation along with your autumnal artistry.
Maverick Speaking Series: Reza Aslan
7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13
Texas Hall, University of Texas at Arlington
701 W. Nedderman Drive, Arlington
$5 to $35
Reza Aslan is a household name thanks to an interview with Fox News’ Lauren Green, and her now-famous inability to understand how a scholar of a different religion from his own could possibly conduct un-biased research. Specifically, Green could not grasp that Aslan, a Muslim writer, producer (consulting producer of HBO’s The Leftovers) and religious scholar wrote, without an agenda, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. What Aslan rightfully went viral for was his amazingly even-keeled responses to Green (and Bill Maher, if we’re keeping track), but what should keep him viral is his consistently thoughtful commentary on social issues as related to religion — his co-authored “An Open Letter to American Muslims on Same-Sex Marriage” last year is a piece most humans, regardless of devotion, would do well to read. Apparently, theologians go on tour, and the Maverick Speaking Series is bringing Aslan to UTA’s Texas Hall in Arlington, for a stop at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. General admission is $5, but $35 gets preferred seating and reserved parking. Have dinner with Aslan before the event (tickets included) for a mere $500. Just don’t ask him, “But you’re a Muslim, right?” Visit rezaaslan.com.
so go the ghosts of méxico, part one
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14
Undermain Theatre
3200 Main St.
$15 to $40
Undermain Theatre and its co-founders Katherine Owens and Bruce DuBose have never shied away from controversial, emotionally charged or even historically traumatic works (thinking back on Profanity or Abraham Zobell’s Home Movie: Final Reel or We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia Formerly Known as South-West Africa From the German Sudwestafrika Between the Years 1884-1915). Below 3200 Main St., and amongst the thick support columns about which no normal director would dream of staging a play, raw theatrical guts get their time in the perfectly planned spotlight, this time premiering 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Matthew Paul Olmos’ so go the ghosts of méxico, part one is inspired by Marisol Valles Garcia, a woman who filled the unwanted position of police chief after her town’s previous one was decapitated. Drug cartels ensured the effort was thankless and short-lived, but in Olmos’ play, history isn’t all nightmares. Some dreams become real and some who didn’t survive the drug wars are given back their voices. Tickets are $15 to $40. Visit undermain.org for showtimes and tickets Wednesdays through Saturdays through Oct. 8.
Addison Oktoberfest
6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15
Addison Circle Park
4970 Addison Circle, Addison
Tickets $5 to $10
Don’t think you’ll go to Oktoberfest Thursday night and hear some Alpenmusikanten, have some beer and call it done. Opening night is just a taste of what’s to come for three more full days, but it’s necessary practice. You’re going to want to familiarize yourself with the layout of German food vendors and plan if you’re going with schnitzel Saturday and spätzle on Sunday, or just doing straight brats and latkes forevs. You need to find your German dictionary from high school so you know what the hell they’re spouting during the German spelling bee on Friday. Some lunges and warm-ups are probably very necessary before the weekend’s bier barrel bowling. But this isn’t just fun and games, it’s critically acclaimed fun and games with beer and delicious food: Forbes and USA Today have called Addison’s Oktoberfest “one of the country’s most authentic” of its kind. And yes, there’s a dachshund parade and dash, so visit addisonoktoberfest.com to find out when to get into wiener-rooting position.
PARK(ing) Day Dallas
11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16
Main Street
Free
Leave the car keys on the counter and hop on the bike this Friday. Buses, trains and carpools are also good options, because it’s PARK(ing) Day and Night in Downtown Dallas. Rather than spending a typical day housing cars, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. metered spaces along Main Street between Field and Harwood streets will be transformed into small park “installations” for use by the public. You know, people. Not machines. Perhaps you’ll find a small garden in which to grab a few zen moments. Maybe the kids can cop a squat for a story time. Surely, lunch will be enhanced with free art and live entertainment. More than 35 participants are slated for this year’s event, and this year, PARK(ing) Day has expanded into the evening hours. From 6 p.m.-midnight, spaces on Main Street between Crowdus and Pryor streets are also getting the park makeover. The event is free to enjoy, but many installations are sponsored by charities, so bring cash for worthy donations and the occasional purchase. Visit parkingdaydallas.org for more info.