9/30
When it comes to popularity contests, cows sweep in India and Texas. Of course in India, they are adorned with garlands of flowers and believed to be sacred. In Texas, they are served medium rare with baked potato, salad and bread. But make no mistake, Texans are seriously devoted to bovines, as indicated by incidents such as the Beef Cattleman's Association suing Oprah, the cult status of Bob's Steak and Chop House and events such as the Great Steak of Texas Festival in Frisco this weekend. Great Steak celebrates the importance of the beef industry on this booming suburb, named after the rail line that brought droves of cattle through the area in the 1880s. On Friday night, the festival offers a chuck wagon steak dinner at 7:30 p.m. Two hours later, country stars Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison will perform on the main stage. Saturday, head over to the park at 10 a.m. for a traditional bed race and a cattle drive. The festival area will include children's entertainment, pony rides, a blacksmith and musical performances. Try some vittles from the chuck wagon or sample after the big event of the day, the steak cook-off from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Professional, amateur and corporate contestants will vie for bragging rights as their steaks are judged. Call it a celebration of Western spirit or the cult of the cow; just tell 'em how you like it cooked. Frisco's Central Park is located at 3155 Parkwood Blvd. Friday's night gala dinner and concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $85 per person. Saturday the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and admission is $3 at the gate; ages 5 and under are admitted free. Visit www.greatsteakoftexas.com or call 972-335-9522. --Leah Shafer
Many MINIs
10/2
Tea time is a wonderful tradition but something that only the British have been able to master--just like the accent, which, when Americans try, always becomes some convoluted mix of Australian, Irish and Scottish. To satisfy a craving for British culture--without learning to brew a proper cuppa or imitate the Cockney--visit the British Emporium, 140 N. Main St. in Grapevine, during the British Autumn Classic Car and Motorcycle Meet. From noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, everybody can bask (for free) in the glow of polished vehicles--all of the British sort, of course. And what's more, the show doubles as a canned food drive for GRACE. Give the British Emporium a ring at 817-421-2311. --Kelsey Guy
Eagles Scout
10/1
Former Eagles frontman Don Henley will get to the heart of the matter about his work with the Caddo Lake Institute during a talk at the University of North Texas as a part of the school's distinguished lecturer series. Were it not for the worthy cause, we'd be tempted to describe any night spent enduring the prickly Henley pontificate about the environment as the truly last worthless evening you could ever spend, but the Caddo Lake Institute has been a worthy champion of one of Texas' few natural lakes. Over the years, ravenous developers have sought to build condos along the waterfront, but the institute has, one might say, stabbed them with their steely knives. Henley himself has bought nearly 170 acres and spent nearly $2 million. You can catch the Hotel California's most famous guest at UNT on Saturday. Call 817-267-0651. --Matt Pulle
Sneak Peek
9/29
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is good news for the art world, as it's known for bringing cutting-edge art to D/FW. Now, for the second year, it mixes that cutting-edge with another kind--film--to produce Modern Cinema 2005. This year's selections include Mardi Gras: Made in China, 10th District Court, Pride and Prejudice and The Squid and the Whale. Modern Cinema 2005: Great Movies You Haven't Heard of...Yet screens movies from September 29 to October 2 at the Modern, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. Admission is $5.50 to $7.50. Call 817-738-9215 or visit www.themodern.org. --S. Anne Durham
