17 Awesome Things to Do This Weekend, June 19- 22

The Oak Cliff Film Festival happens this weekend. Allow me to offer a few reasons you should care: Movies, drinks, bike rides, dance parties, and croquet. If you need more convincing, head over to Jamie Laughlin's preview of how it all happens this weekend. If you're like me, the above still from Micheal Gondry's Mood Indigo is all the motivation you need to pick up your pass for four days of awesome at oakclifffilmfestival.com.

Of course, there's a lot more awesome this weekend.

Thursday, June 19

Shen Wei If this is your first time visiting the Mixmaster blog, let me point out that we do some pretty kickass coverage of the Dallas arts scene, thanks to our knowledgable, interested, and sometimes hilarious writers. Danielle Georgiou, for example, spent some time talking to and about the legendary choreographer, Shen Wei, last week. Let me first direct you to her interview with the man himself about his dance show which happens at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Winspear Opera House and then direct you to her preview of his art exhibition taking place at the Crow Collection of Asian Art through September 28.

Brew & View If you're looking for a different movie experience, that's, well, free... head to The Design District Market's Brew & View. The evening starts at 6 p.m. Thursday with a screening of the classic 1953 film, The Wild One, which stars a young Marlon Brando. Plus, Meddlesome Moth's "beer sommeliers"will be pairing craft brews with the film. It takes place in the heart of the design district on Hi Line Drive between Turtle Creek & The Trinity Strand Trail (1900 Hi Line Drive). Bring a blanket and a friend. More info at designdistrictmarket.com.

Man as Machine Three things we love on this blog: art, fashion and parties. This is why we've got high hopes for Dallas Fashion Art's Man as Machine fundraiser tomorrow night. We're not really sure what to expect but the photos make it look like a robot fashion show, which sounds pretty badass. The party happens at 7 p.m. Thursday at Three Three Three First Avenue. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. DallasFashionArt.com.

:Pure Duration: This weekend Jeff Gibbons and Gregory Ruppe continue their three-week experimental film series. These piece are only viewable at night from the streets of Expo Park at Beefhaus (885 Exposition Ave). Stop by from 9 - 11:55 p.m. Here's the artist statement: " : the hallucinations of bugs makes it hard to concentrate / flying all around my head and disappearing where my clothes meet my skin / i swat at them and people think i'm insane / i probably smell like fruit : "

Friday, June 20

Dallas Indie Fest You know what word gets a lot of play? "Indie." There was a time when that was merely the nickname of the world's sexiest archeology professor, Indiana Jones. Now we shorten and then overuse every word in the English language, until our vocabulary melts into oblivion. But it's like totes NBD. Besides, the Dallas Indie Fest at the Bath House Cultural Center (521 E. Lawther Drive) looks rad, IMO. The weekend of activities includes film screenings, live music, local artisans and food trucks. Best of all, it takes place IRL at one of the most beautiful venues in the city. So, those Instagram photos will make your friends totes jelly. Festival passes start at $10 for events that take place at various times Friday-Sunday. The full schedule is available at dallasindiefestival.com.

Game of Thrones, Jr. Fun House Theatre and Film had preteens play Stalin. It cast kids in a play by Neil LaBute. They spoofed potty-mouth playwright David Mamet. It's all been good, clean fun. But we wonder about this Game of Thrones, Junior show opening at Fun House (1301 Custer Road., Plano) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. What could Jeff Swearingen possibly mine from George R.R. Martin's lewd, violent book series? Pie fights, for one. And lots of laughs, for another. Apparently Junior strays from the original in healthy ways, though we hope the kiddo playing Joffrey didn't do much original research into his role. See it through June 28. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Want to know more about these theater peeps? Check out Elaine Liner's feature on the company.

Summer Block Party Once a season all the museums in the arts district coordinate, shut down the streets and offer free admission. Head over to the Crow Collection of Asian Art for the Shen Check out the Shen Wei exhibition. Then check out the Mark Grotjahn sculpture exhibition at the Nasher and stick around for a concert with Larry G(ee) at 7 p.m. and a screening of The Way, Way Back at 9 p.m. Plus, the Dallas Museum of Art stays open late. And there will be food trucks and beer for sale.

Social Sciences You know what will make your childhood dreams come true? Drinking with your friends at the science museum. At 7 p.m. Friday night, the Perot Museum hosts a late-night, adults only party called Social Sciences, with the theme "Superstitions." Get your hand read, learn about Tarot cards and maybe scientifically disprove theories about broken mirrors and black cats. Plus, The Fox and the Bird is the night's concert. Tickets are $18 for the general public and $13 for museum members; visit perotmuseum.org for purchase.

Saturday, June 21

Deep Ellum Outdoor Market Recently, we gave a little bit of blog love to Deep Ellum Outdoor Market's founder Brandon Castillo, who is helping the neighborhood evolve, one project at a time. Head down to the neighborhood for the market from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday. More info at deepellummarket.com.

Dirk Nowitzki's 2014 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game Everybody loves Dirk. Including other athletes. That's why he's the perfect face to slap on a charity. This weekend, he invites his famous friends to join him in a friendly game of catch at Dirk Nowitzki's 2014 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game. The proceeds benefit his nonprofit organization that offers sports training and competition to children and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. The game takes place at the Dr Pepper Ballpark (7300 Rough Riders, Frisco) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $8 and are available at ticketmaster.com. More information can be found at heroesbb.com.

Brandeloquence Local artist Patirck Romeo debuts a series of sculptural works with found objects and illumination methods such as electroluminescent wire, shaped corona discharge filaments, programmed LED, fluorescent, and SMD LED strips. Head to Two Bronze Doors (5732 Richmond Ave) from 7-10 p.m. Saturday for the exhibition opening.

Mockbusters: Space Jam This Saturday, the Granada Theater debuts its new Summer Mockbusters series, during which local comedians and the rest of us plebeians can tweet jokes that will appear on a live Tweet screen running next to the film. They're stacking the Tweet deck by inviting the funny guys and gals from Dallas Comedy House. It kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday with Space Jam and continues monthly with Con Air (July 11) and Armageddon (August 9). Charge your phone and grab a beer from the bar. Entry is free.

Matsuri! Four reasons you should go to this Samurai festival: Sarah Jaffe, Air Review, Free admission to the Kimbell Art Museum, and well, Samurais. Head to Fort Worth from 1- 10 p.m. Saturday.

Activating Vacancy From 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, the Show Hill Biz Market showcases vendors from the Tenth Street Historic District and surrounding Oak Cliff areas. It's part of larger movement that draws attention to The Tenth Street Historic District, one of the few remaining intact freedmanstowns, which was once a self-sufficient place, with a thriving micro-economy that supplied the community with jobs and goods. There will be vendors, music and good people. It all takes place at 1401 E Eighth St. More info at bcworkshop.org/activatingvacancy.

Sunday, June 22

Juneteenth Blues & Jazz Festival Before you correct me with your endless knowledge of American history, no, this is not a typo: The Juneteenth Blues & Jazz Festival is happening on from 3-9 p.m. on Sunday, June 22. The African American Museum's annual celebration may be a few days late, but it's worth the wait. Head to the Fair Park Band Shell (1465 1st Ave) for an evening of jazz and blues music in celebration of June 19th, the day we commemorate the end of slavery in Texas. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling 214-565-9026 or $15 at the gate.

World Cup Watch Party Leave your vuvuzelas at home and head to Klyde Warren Park (2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy) for the next stop on the FC Dallas World Cup watching party tour. The Latin House Krew djs and the FC Dallas girls will be on site for the fun afternoon. Entry is free. More info at klydewarrenpark.org.

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