Cheap and Free Things to Do in Dallas This Week

Tuesday

At Three Links, CoLab has a daunting weekly task: perform an improvisational hip-hop show. The Dallas collective combines funk, soul, R&B and hip-hop to create an unexpected fusion sound with its talented arsenal of musicians. But above all else, it prides itself on the “ass-shakin’” effects of its music, which should be all the reason you need to show everyone that them hips don’t lie. With Friday's Foolery, 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, Three Links, 2704 Elm St., threelinksdeepellum.com, free. Matt Wood

Thursday

W. Marvin Dulaney, author, former college professor and authority on African American studies, will speak on "Civil Rights — Dallas in the Time of MLK" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Margaret and Al Hill Lecture Hall at the Hall of State, 3939 Grand Ave. in Fair Park, is the place for the Dallas Historical Society event, which recalls the transition of Dallas from a conservative and segregated city to what it is today. The exhibit and lecture trace the birth of the civil rights movement in Texas and its relation to the nationwide movement in the '60s. The lecture is free for society members and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, visit dallashistory.org or call 214-421-4500. Reba Liner

Even after a lengthy 2013 feature by LA Weekly unearthed the origins of RiFF RAFF, the man born Horst Simco remains one of the most enigmatic and interesting figures in hip-hop — for better or worse. Nothing is ordinary about Jody HiGHROLLER, from his often braided, brightly colored hair to his unorthodox Houston-inspired rap delivery. He’s always reinventing the wheel, keeping things fresh, and that’s why he’s stayed relevant for nearly a decade. A man of his character was born for the social media age, and nearly every day, he provides his audience with hilarious content and off-the-wall captions. No matter how you look at it, The Freestyle Scientist is entertaining, and he’s back on the road for his Neon Black Tour in promotion of his latest album. It's guaranteed to be a spectacle.9 p.m. Thursday, March 22, Lizard Lounge, 2424 Swiss Ave., 214-826-4768 or thelizardlounge.com, $12.50-$250. Mikel Galicia

Friday

What's a water circus, you ask? Well, dummy, first off, it's a "cirque," not a circus, which means it's European, which means no elephants but lots of acrobats, contortionists jugglers, etc. The water part means the show has a stage that includes 35,000 gallons of water that jets up in time with the performers doing their acts above it. Frankly, if it included a little clown drowning, we'd be down, but then we're cruel. For you normal people, Cirque Italia brings its fountains and performers to Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway in Grapevine. The wet fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with more shows through April 1. See the full schedule and buy tickets, $10 to $40, at cirqueitalia.com. Patrick Williams

Saturday

Enjoy the spring weather, put on your comfy shoes and pay homage to our state flower with a free Saturday bluebonnet tour led by a docent at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, 2943 SMU Blvd. Tours start at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., run about 30 to 40 minutes and continue Saturdays through June 2. Space is limited so it's first come, first served. You may also choose a self-guided tour. Besides the bluebonnets, the 14-acre park features wildflowers, native Texas grassses, and habitats for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Visitors may explore Texas environments such as blackland prairie, post oak savannah and cross timbers forest. If you're booking a large group, call 214-346-1650 or email [email protected]. Remember, this is a federal facility, so leave your weapons in the car. Reba Liner

Everything’s coming up golden at this weekend’s sweetest Easter treat. The Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at NorthBark Dog Park, 4899 Gramercy Oaks Drive. Dogs of all breeds and their humans are welcome to join this egg hunt that benefits GRRNT’s rescue efforts. Friendly pups can frolic, hunt for goodies and enjoy plenty of bunny bounty, and their human companions can get in on the fun, too. Admission is $10. For more information about the event and the adoption program, visit goldenretrievers.org. Jennifer Davis-Lamm

Before settling in for what should be a very fun night of raucous glam-rock from Mississippi hell-raisers The Weeks, check into Club Dada early for the opening set by Caroline Rose. The 11 tracks on Rose's recent album, I Will Not Be Afraid, transition through a variety of genres and styles. Self-described as "postcards I've picked up from along the road," the tunes at times shimmer with '70s-era disco-funk-infused beats that slyly force the listener into tapping along in rhythm. Elsewhere, there are snippets of Timberlake-esque pop, girl-group syncopated chants and even some country-tinged wailing thrown in for good measure. Punctuating it all are Rose's sharp and cutting sense of humor and penchant for observing the nuances and subtleties of daily existence. It's one of the year's sharpest listens so far and should make for a fascinating live performance. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $12-$15. Jeff Strowe