Dallas could explode this weekend, there's that much going on. Crazy Halloween parties are cropping up at all of your favorite bars, there's a theater performance in a wrestling ring, poster art in a movie theater and auditions for MasterChef.
To help you with your highly refined party strategizing, I've whipped up two lists. This one focuses on all of the great stuff happening around town that isn't Halloween related, and THIS ONE is a list of 20 Great Halloween Parties. Use 'em to assemble the Best Weekend Ever.
Go ahead and click on the event titles for more information and share these lists with your adventure gang. I'll see you out there. (I'll be the one in a figure-four leg lock.)
See Also: Dallas' 20 Best Halloween Parties of 2012
Thursday 10.25 Sarah Jaffe and DJ Empty Cylinder at Patio Sessions -- The Arts District is a full-frontal assault of freebie fun this weekend, and this Jaffe performance is the icing on the cake.
NYLO Plano at Legacy Shows Pretty in Pink -- In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the NYLO Plano has been doing Thursday night outdoor screenings. This week you get a dose of nostalgia and a whole lotta Ducky when they show Pretty in Pink at sunset. The movie is free, and $2 from each pink cocktail purchased goes to the Bridge Breast Network.
Friday 10.26
Elegant Ghost and The Scar Opening Night -- As you age, your perception of Halloween shifts. You see things more philosophically, and it's in that exploration of death's abyss that your fears are triggered. What if you couldn't cross over? It's a terrifying concept being explored in two, back-to-back stage performances at Teatro Dallas. The first is Elegant Ghost, a dance production by the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group which focuses on a handful of tortured spirits, roughed up in their transition to the next realm. The next is The Scar, which weaves a surface tale of friendship and deceit under the Pinochet regime.
Found Magazine Event at UT Arlington -- While it's rad that this is going on at UT Arlington on Friday, if you can't make it due to last minute costume designing, work and/or general laziness, don't worry. Davy and Peter Rothbart are scheduled to do a much bigger show at Texas Theatre next month, and we'll keep you posted on that. Saturday 10.27
Cat Fancier's Association All Breed and Domestic Cat Show -- Ever been to a cat show? I have. People put make-up on their cats. You might need to see that.
Get Free Tickets For The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity! -- This new production by DTC takes professional wrestling to center stage. They've converted the Wyly into massive arena, complete with a wrestling ring in the middle, a confetti cannon and jumbotrons. It's going to be great, and in connection with the Klyde Warren Park opening, any unsold tickets to the 2:00 p.m. matinee performances on Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 will be available for free beginning each day at the Wyly Theatre at 1:00 p.m. There's even a post-show chat with the artists after each performance. That's awesome. Let's camp out like it's 1994.
See Also: Dallas' 20 Best Halloween Parties of 2012
Nevada Hill Art Opening At Texas Theatre -- We don't get to see much of Nevada's artwork in Dallas proper -- it usually hangs on walls in Denton, where this talented artist of zines, posters and general visual creativity resides. Schedule in a trip to Texas Theatre on your already over-packed Saturday night and see what he's been up to.
MasterChef Auditions -- Do you have a culinary skill set worthy of television stardom? MasterChef wants you. We do too -- having a local horse in the race makes everything more fun. We're giving away a few a few passes to jump ahead in line on our food blog, and you can snag those quick cut passes on Thursday night at the Quarter Bar's reality television party.
Klyde Warren Park Opening Weekend -- This is a two-day, in-yo-face, culturepalooza. Dog training? Check. Polyphonic Spree concert? Check. Robot Chess?! Yeah. That too. Sunday 10.28
The Last Day To See Lucian Freud: Portraits at the Modern -- If you haven't gotten to the Modern to see this exhibition, here's your last call warning. It's the best show this year and this is its only United States stop, so do yourself a favor and don't miss out. Oh, and splurge $2 on the guide book.
Halloween nights at the Dallas Zoo -- This event begins on Thursday and wraps up on Sunday. It's a chance for families to get a little more mileage out of their costumes while partying with monkeys, after hours.
Costume Party for Dogs at Lee Harvey's -- You'll be hungover. Your dog will be perky. Put a tie on him and take your little fur child to Lee Harvey's for the Doggie Halloween party benefiting the Humane Society of Dallas. As a deadbeat single mother, I can promise my dog's "scary ghost" costume will not beat your best efforts. But he will win the "bobbing for weenies" competition.
Aida -- While the opera season kicks off on Friday evening, tickets to the fancy First Night have sold out. Sunday is the second, and much more reasonably priced performance. There are only four more showings after Sunday.
