Alamo shows your favorite cartoons -- with a cereal sidecar -- on Saturday morning.
That's not all. We've got a Dallas-centric rock doc tonight at the Kessler. A riot grrrl party at Texas Theatre on Friday, where the awesomely named Girls Rock Camp band Sparkle Revolution open for the new Kathleen Hanna documentary, The Punk Singer. There's an outdoor art gallery in Vickery Meadow; a stage play called Christmas n' Da Hood; a female illusionist musical revue and a walk-through camera obscura in Oak Cliff.
Now, let's do a thing. Share this list with your crew and click on the event titles for more information. I'll see you out there. (I'll be the one inappropriately instigating a pit during an otherwise calm screening of The Punk Singer.)
Thursday 12.19 When Dallas Rocked at the Kessler -- This new documentary shows Dallas during its renegade boom, a good 40 years back when our city was the South's musical hub. (Suck it, A-town.) Kirby Franklin's newest tale had its first offering at Texas Theatre; tonight it gets one more viewing at the Kessler. Go learn a little something, and support local film to boot.
Ugly Xmas Sweater Party at Cosmo's -- Will acrylic fibers save the world? In the case of this party, it's possible. Gather around your favorite bar fireplace in the name of cheesy sweater do-gooding, because ticket sales go to New Friends New Life, a life-changing nonprofit that assists women and girls who are being sexually exploited or are caught in trafficking rings. So you're saying that food, drinks and weird clothes could bring women out of poverty and provide them with an education? Sign me up.
Friday 12.20 Obscura/Obscure -- Oil and Cotton transforms into a walk-through camera obscura for a day, meaning the exterior neighborhood's image will project onto the gallery's interior walls, thanks to artist Rachel Rushing. There's participatory programming from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., so swing by and visit O&C's gesture stations, journaling nooks, readings and more. It's free.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch -- Have you forgotten how good this off-off-Broadway play turned big-screen hit, really is? I guarantee it holds up. The End Theater Productions brings Hedwig back to the stage for a two-weekend run, beginning Friday at the Bath House. So put on your makeup, turn on the tape deck and put the wig back on your head.
The Punk Singer at Texas Theatre with Sparkle Revolution -- I'd like to be responsible for a sparkle revolution, but this Girl's Rock Camp band has beaten me to it. They'll open Friday's screening of the Kathleen Hanna documentary The Punk Singer at Texas Theatre with a live set, so prepare to be inspired. Then plop down and get cinematically rowdy with Bikini Kill frontwoman/shero, Kathleen Hanna. Grrrls, to the front.
Mischief & Mistletoe -- The Lollie Bombs monthly burlesque show goes all-holiday on Friday night. What does that mean to you? Tinsel tassels, natch.
Christmas n' Da Hood -- It's a comedic play about a "buppity" family from Hollywood that returns to its hood roots to discover the true meaning of Christmas. What's not to love? It's happening at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters all weekend.
Saturday 12.21 Regress With Cereal and Cartoons at the Alamo -- As an adult you can't leave bed before noon on Saturdays, but for kid you, those early mornings were missions. Your favorite cartoons are visitable again this Saturday as Alamo offers everything from Animaniacs (Weren't those after school and not Saturday morning? Whatever: I'll take it.) to Ren & Stimpy. Bonus: all-you-can-eat cereal. Double bonus: This week features all holiday specials.
A Very Turtle Christmas II: Liza's Wish List -- Don't go to just any seasonal musical revue show; that's the kind of poor decision-making that causes folks to snap and set fire to the tree. Try something less played-out, like an Adam's apple buried beneath a stew of cosmetics. This weekend the Turtle Creek Chorale brings a less conventional take on carols to its show A Very Turtle Christmas, where "Liza Minnelli" hosts a diva tribute of holiday hits, sung by drag Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Patsy Cline.
Nearly Naked Nutcracker -- It isn't Christmas without aerial acrobatics, a fact proven Saturday by Broads and Panties Burlesque. The whole gang's there, along with touring guest acts Red Snapper and Mr. Snapper, in from Los Angeles. Go get your halls decked.
White Cube Vickery Meadow -- The ongoing social art Nasher Xchange project in Vickery Meadow has a public offering on Saturday. They've just built some new outdoor gallery cubes, so the art created by folks living in the neighborhood will be displayed in the honorable way it deserves. Check out the grand reveal from 1 to 4 p.m.
Sunday 12.22
Visit Santa at Reunion Tower -- You can see Santa anywhere right now, but if you're just going to ask him for an investment banker boyfriend, skip Valley View Mall and visit Reunion Tower on Sunday. Your entry fee to the GeoDeck gets you cocoa, cookies, mingling, That View and a photo with the Big Guy himself.
Sorolla and America at Meadows -- The Meadow's newest exhibition is quite a "get." You think about pre-Picasso era Spanish art and you think Sorolla. He got down and dirty with his beauty and quite a bit of his work wound up in -- or had ties to -- America. This new show explores that union.
White Christmas in Fair Park -- Dallas Summer Musicals brings this classic story of his/his and her/her tagteam do-gooding to the stage for an appropriately seasonal run. Soak up that Bing Crosby hit and satisfy your inclement holiday weather needs through song and dance.
