Weekends aren't enough fun anymore. You asked for weekday events and we heard you. This week, ignore those storm clouds. Life outside your cubicle is beckoning you this week and you should probably show up. If you're looking for the best concerts this week, head to the music blog. We like to keep our weeks shorter than our weekends, so check back in Thursday for our weekend recommendations.
Monday, May 12
Tony & Cleo Scandal. War. Tragedy. This is Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. See it as part of The Complete Works series at the AT&T Performing Arts Center tonight (Monday). Head to the Winspear Opera House's Hamon Hall at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults. If you've got your old student id and minimal gray hairs, you can snag two free tickets. For more information, visit attpac.org.
American Craft Beer Week Local brewers deserve a brewski and a pat on a back. They've been there for us at life's highs and lows, offering solace and celebration with that perfect ice-cold brew. They've helped us through breakups and then been right there helping us work up the nerve to talk to that guy (or girl) across the bar. During American Craft Beer Week, raise one to the good people who facilitate some of the best nights of your life. Scope out the various beer events around town and then support your favorites, like Deep Ellum Brewing Company, Community Beer Company and Lakewood Brewing Company. To start off your week, Peticolas Brewing Company (2026 Farrington St.) hosts a tour at 6 p.m. Monday. Tickets are $20 and available at peticolasbrewing.com.
Tuesday, May 13
Book Reading at The Wild Detectives, 7:30 p.m. Everybody's favorite new bookstore, The Wild Detectives, hosts a book reading of new work by SMU professors and award-winning writers, novelist David Haynes and poet Greg Brownderville. Grab a brewski or latte from the bar and kick back for a literary adventure. The reading is free, but you will pay for the beer.
See Also: The Wild Detectives, a New Book Store in Oak Cliff, Opened Over the Weekend
Tuesday Night Laughs Everybody needs a good laugh on a Tuesday night. Alternative Comedy Theater is here to help. Catch acts from The Band Wreckers, The Victims, and the newest troupe, Stranger Danger. Tickets are $12 and you'll also be coerced into buying a beer, with the Pocket Sandwich Theatre's one-item minimum. But when was the last time we complained about required drinking? The show is rated "R" and intended for very immature adults. Call 214-821-1860 for tickets and more information.
Ruth Riechl at DMA The dream of any gastronome is to be Ruth Reichl. She spent decades as a restaurant critic and food writer in New York City, dining at some of the world's best restaurants and dishing out her opinion on their merits. She wrote for The New York Times, created a talk show on PBS dedicated to culinary topics, spent a decade at Gourmet and now has written a book about -- what else? -- food. She will discuss her new book, Delicious, at the Dallas Museum of Art as part of the Arts & Letters Live series. The topic of the evening is foodie fiction and tickets start at $35. The talk takes place in the DMA's Horchow Auditorium, 1717 N. Harwood St., at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, visit dallasmuseumofart.org.
Piano Man Irish pianist Barry Douglas took home a bronze medal at the 1985 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and has since had a successful international career as both a pianist and conductor. The Cliburn welcomes Douglas back to the Bass Hall stage on May 13 for a solo recital featuring music by Brahms and Schubert. This is the last Cliburn Foundation recital of the season. Tickets available at www.cliburn.org. -Katie Womack
Wednesday, May 14
Venus in Fur Theater gets sexy with David Ives' Venus in Fur, the newest play at WaterTower Theatre, a play about mythology, humanity and the artistic process, starring the attractive, real-life couple, Chris Hury and Allison Pistorious. This is your last week to catch this one. See it at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets available at watertowertheatre.org. Review here.
Sherlock Holmes Another, slightly less sexy, play to catch this week is the Dallas Theater Center's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. The world's most famous detective is on a new case, that may be his last. Tickets available at dallastheatercenter.org.
