We are impressed with all the good things people had to say about comic hypnotist Flip Orley. Things like, "I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life." "But wait a minute," we thought. "This guy's a hypnotist. He tricks people into believing things." Once we realized that, it was obvious that these people were tricked into saying such nice things. Then again, if he was good enough to trick these people, then he must have some kind of hypnotic abilities. His Web site even features some clips of Orley in action, making people forget their names when they raised their hand or making them believe they were great dancers. He also sells self-help CDs that assist people in quitting smoking. At least (sometimes) he's using his powers for good. But, if we had his powers, we'd make people get us a sandwich. With fries. Orley performs Thursday through Sunday, May 22 to June 1, at the Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road. Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 972-404-8501. --David Wilson
5/23
Artfest vs. Sobfest
Admit it, the idea of driving for hours with crying kids this Memorial Day weekend sounds terrible, doesn't it? Stick around Dallas for the 33rd Annual Artfest then. Festival organizers say they expect 225 artisans to be exhibiting at the kid-friendly festival. Artfest is set for May 23 to May 25 at Fair Park. Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 in advance at Tom Thumb stores and $6 at the gate. Call 214-565-0200. --Charles Siderius
5/24
A Ride in a Relic
Slinging into the sky in 1940, the F4U Corsair was the world's first single-engine fighter capable of speeds of more than 400 mph. The P-40 Warhawk was a crucial link in "The Flying Tigers." The FM-2 Wildcat had the distinction of being the first all-metal, carrier-launched, monoplane fighter in the U.S. armed forces. Grab a ride on one of these Saturday and Sunday at The Cavanaugh Flight Museum, at the Addison Airport, 4572 Claire Chenault. Flights last 30 minutes and must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Call 972-380-8800. --Mark Stuertz
5/23
Temper Tantra
A night of extended learning
Hey, kids! Are you sick of Mom shoving you in front of the tube while she and your pops head out to Zippers every Tuesday night? Or perhaps the frequent family trips to Discovery Zone have grown a bit tedious? In any case, your family could use a good, wholesome boost of excitement, so make a trip (with your parents' permission, of course) to Swami Virato's Three-Day Theatre Tantra getaway this weekend. What is tantra, you ask? Virato attempts to answer this in his press packet with a full-page discussion about spirituality, Chi, yoga and a "spring flower freeing itself from the frozen snow," but we didn't quite get it. So we popped in some old Sex and the City DVDs and found out that tantra is basically sex with extended, uh, release. As if this wasn't bizarre enough to comprehend, we also learned that Virato, a former corporate family man, claims to have met ancient spirits that arose as plasma from a plant in his office. The plant advised him to teach tantra to the masses, though we at the Dallas Observer are familiar with much less confident advice from such "plants." Twelve years later, 64-year-old Virato married a 22-year-old named Dhijara, whose listed "traits" include a magically healing touch and the power to talk to birds and insects. Captain Planet references aside, if learning about tantric sex during a workshop Friday through Sunday around a bunch of strangers for $395 a person or $595 a couple sounds like your bag, call 817-300-1432. Just make sure to leave the kids behind, or Virato might try to marry them. --Sam Machkovech
