To those of us who remember the Camelot days when John F. Kennedy was emerging as a powerful political leader, it will be a nostalgic journey that predates the evil and highly publicized event that occurred in Dealey Plaza 40 years ago. For those too young to recall the assassinated president's political career, it will be a shining and visual lesson in American history. On display at the Sixth Floor Museum through June 6 will be remarkable photos of JFK taken by Jacque Lowe. Kennedy's personal photographer during the ex-president's political rise and tenure in the Oval Office, Lowe was able to print only a small portion of the almost 40,000 negatives in his possession before the rest were forever lost on the tragic day New York's World Trade Center was attacked. At the time, Lowe's priceless negatives were being stored there in a J.P. Morgan Chase Bank vault. Still, what remains is a dazzling, haunting biography of Kennedy as he served as a young senator, intimate photos from his presidential campaign, a record of those tense hours on election night and, finally, the high-energy White House days shared with first lady Jacqueline. Remembering Jack: Intimate and Unseen Photographs of the Kennedys is a moving, must-see exhibit that brings back to life a young president shot down in his prime. In the wake of so much retelling of the dark day in Dallas when Kennedy was shot, Lowe's photographs provide a sweet and gentle breath of fresh air. Also on display will be artifacts such as Lowe's cameras and personal papers. Call 214-747-6660 or visit www.jfk.org. --Carlton Stowers
Trading Spaces
Ongoing
We know you want to make a difference this time of year, so we reluctantly recommend the Home Sweet Gingerbread Home silent auction running at NorthPark Center (next to Neiman Marcus) through Sunday. Why the hesitation? Well, besides our preferred plan of dumping some graham crackers, frosting and sprinkles into a blender (call it a Gingerbread Trailer Park), we also think some guilt could arise from bidding on an edible house to support the homeless. With every nibble you take from your decadently prepared, Hansel-drool-worthy candy mansion, donated by one of many area chefs, you'll just wind up thinking about the other homeless who don't benefit from your donation. Let's hope there's a Gingerbread Overpass auction sometime soon. Call 214-821-8510. --Sam Machkovech
Folding Time
12/6
Sometimes, when we're nervous, we like to fold things. We fold and fold for hours--avoiding eye contact, feigning great interest in whatever object we happen to be folding (a beer label)--but in the end, all we have is a crinkly mess. A xylophone maybe. So we could learn a few things from the folks at the Dallas Museum of Natural History, who decorate their Christmas tree each year with more than a thousand pieces of intricate origami. These aren't your run-of-the-mill cranes, mind you. We're talking origami frogs, butterflies, elephants. We're talking origami dinosaurs. The free exhibit opens December 6 and runs through January 7, and visitors get the chance to contribute their own creation. We wonder if they could use a, umm, sloth? Well, it's worth a visit, anyway. The DMNH is located at 3535 Grand Ave. Call 214-421-3466. --Sarah Hepola
Rhino Romp
It's not all black and white at Fossil Rim
12/6
Ever look at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center's population of 18 rhinos and wonder why some are called "white" rhinos and some black? Turns out--in the case of the whites--it's a misunderstanding of the Afrikaans word "weit," which means "wide-lipped," a characteristic of that threatened species. Then some bright English-speaking soul simply dubbed the other South African rhino species "black." Truth is, both critters look pretty much the same except for their mouths. You can get up close to the white rhinos at a birthday party for two 1-year-old white rhino calves from noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, which is hosting a celebration for the 600-pound "babies." If the weather's warm, you'll be able to walk up and congratulate baby boys Emmitt and Fireball. "Rhino Express" van tours are available for $10, and Fossil Rim will offer cake, punch, face painting and a "touch table" for the little Homo sapiens. Call 254-897-2960. --Julie Lyons
Horse Around
Dallas is tree and lights
and red all over
12/4
Holidays from the Heart, downtown Dallas' tree-lighting extravaganza, kicks off the holiday season with Mayor Laura Miller's lighting of a 35-foot tree adorned with 200 red glossy balls. And it seems that Pegasus is the theme. A red Pegasus featuring 350 mini-lights tops the tree, and the base, a gi-normous toy drum, is surrounded by Pegasus cutouts. A fitting motif? Maybe. In mythology, the winged horse Pegasus was created from the blood of Medusa, a lady monster commonly represented as having snakes for hair, brazen claws and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone. Could there be a deeper meaning to this holiday theme? A blood relation to our fair mayor, perhaps? Ohhh...the celebration takes place at Pegasus Plaza. That's why all the flying horses. OK, we get it. Holidays from the Heart is Thursday from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the southeast corner of Main and Akard streets. Call 214-744-4819. --Rhonda Reinhart
