5 Things to Do, June 13-17: Find Nemo, Then Dory, And Picnic at Samuell Grand Park

Oh, Dallas. We know you. Now that the temperatures are finally inching toward summer, you’re planning your escape out of town. But not so fast … there are still plenty of air-conditioned getaways at your disposal, firmly within the city limits. Conserve those vacation days for late July when the temps really bust up the mercury, and keep yourself cool with one of these hot picks.

North Texas Black Restaurant Week
Monday, June 13
Various Locations

This weeklong affair gives you a chance to duck into restaurants all over the Metroplex and support diverse tastes and perspectives in DFW’s dining scene. The first-time event shines a light on African American-owned restaurants, kitchens, caterers and food trucks with specials that continue through Sunday, June 19. Start out with a cool-down at Roots on Tap, a juice bar in Expo Park, with a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal all week long. Next, sample something off the grill at the highly touted Eva’s House of Barbeque on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. Top things off with cookies from Kessler Baking Studio, where you’ll get a free half-dozen with the purchase of a dozen. Find out more about participating vendors and events on Facebook.

Dreamgirls
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14
Wyly Theatre
2400 Flora St.
$18-$85

Need a supreme musical pick-me-up? Look no further than Dallas Theater Center’s production of Dreamgirls, the much-loved Motown musical that pays tribute to powerhouse girl groups that changed the landscape of pop music in the 1960s. The story is drawn loosely from the stormy but productive relationship between the Supremes and Berry Gordy, but it also throws in a little love for Aretha Franklin and Etta James and the entire era of glittery, girly vocal triumph. Dreamgirls lays on the sequins, songs and bright lights during its run through Sunday, July 24. Tickets are available at tickets.attpac.org.

She Stoops To Conquer
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15
Samuell Grand Amphitheatre
1500 Tenison Parkway
$10 to $15

OK, we lied. This is not air conditioned at all. You’re confused, right? And this isn’t Shakespeare. But it is a quintessentially summer activity, and it’s not that hot yet. She Stoops to Conquer is a throwback to 18th century England and a farce that calls on the romantic traditions of A Midsummer Nights Dream but takes a decidedly less supernatural road to true love. Oliver Goldsmith’s comedy of manners is all period costumes and classist hilarity — a perfect counterpart to the theatrical conventions you’d expect at any Shakespeare Dallas production. Bring a picnic and enjoy the evening; you’ll find more at shakespearedallas.org.

Finding Nemo/Finding Dory Double Feature
9 p.m. Thursday, June 16
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson
100 S. Central Expressway
$15

You don’t have to be a kid to be excited about Pixar’s new Finding Dory feature, especially since the 13-year lag between it and its prequel pretty much guarantees that if you saw the original in the theater, you aren’t a kid anymore at all. But if you’ve still got a soft spot for the spacey tang fish that stole the show in Finding Nemo, this event has double the Dory: You’ll see the original fish-seeking film at 9 p.m., followed by the premiere of the new flick. Ticketholders will also receive special swag; visit Alamo Drafthouse's site to purchase tickets.

SIX
8 p.m. Friday, June 17
Dallas City Performance Hall
2520 Flora St.
$25 to $100

Six years in, the Bruce Wood Dance Project has dealt with its share of hurdles. The young dance company suffered a huge blow when its charismatic founder and choreographer died in 2014, but what’s been left in the wake of his death is an overtly physical and fierce creative force. In SIX, their sixth anniversary celebration, Bruce Wood Dance Project combines three performances under the direction of Kimi Nikaidoh. Woods’ own “Anything Goes" celebrates the life of Cole Porter, while Joy Bollinger’s “Carved in Stone” shares a personal reflection on motherhood. Rounding out the production is a world premiere from Houston’s NobleMotion Dance: “Glass” transforms light design and imagery into motion. The show serves both as a nod to the roots of the Bruce Wood Dance Project as well as a glimpse into its future. Learn more at brucewooddance.org.