Best Things To Do in Dallas, July 30 – Aug. 5

In a city this big, there's something to do every single day of the week. How could there not be? Dallas is a destination for festivals, traveling art exhibitions, stand-up comedy circuits and literally everything in between. This list is by no means exhaustively comprehensive, but it is a stacked, weekly guide of top picks you don't want to miss.

And the ways to fill your schedule don't stop here — check out our full events calendar for even more ways to get through the week in North Texas. Herrera Dance Project returns with a well-choreographed statement on grief, gun violence and how the two are connected in our country, with special attention to 2022’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. The company combines contemporary dance with storytelling through every piece. But even the title is a story, referencing the 77 minutes law enforcement waited to respond to the shooting. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, and Saturday, Aug. 2, before shows begin at 7:15 p.m. at the Latino Cultural Center (2600 Live Oak St.). Admission is free. Learn more about Herrera Dance Project online.
William Shatner “Wrath of Khan” Tour at Majestic Theatre
A screening of Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan would be enough of a draw. But to follow that up with some quality time with the James T. Kirk himself, William Shatner, goes beyond. Warp to the Majestic Theatre (1925 Elm St.) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, for a night of Starfleet, the Genesis Device and Shatner stories straight from the icon himself. Enjoy behind the scenes tales and an audience Q&A. Tickets are available online.

Underground Comedy Night at Bourbon & Banter
Nobody said comedy had to happen on the stereotypical date nights. Bourbon & Banter (1914 Commerce St.) hosts a night of craft cocktails and a nice line-up of stand-up talent starting at 7:30 p.m.. Representing NYC, headliner Bill Prinsell has been named one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch. Supporting comics include Breck Gordon, Jamie Gravitt and Dallas’ Reese Jefferies. And the whole thing is hosted by Garcetta Garci, aka G Baby. Tickets are $15, available via Eventbrite.

Thursday, July 31

Christmas in July at Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection
Who needs Hallmark when we’ve had Hotel Vin (215 E. Dallas St., Grapevine) at Harvest Hall for Christmas in July. Don’t miss the last two days to experience the most joyous way to pretend it’s not a gazillion degrees outside. Wednesday and Thursday offer an escape into the Holly Jolly Bar for themed cocktails, but Thursday has the best buzz with the final competition in the Espresso Martini Showdown. Guests can not only taste, but judge bartenders’ creations. Find out more online.
Kyle Mooney at Club Dada
We're not sure which we should laud the accomplishments of more: comedian Kyle Mooney or the critically acclaimed musician Kyle M. and his recent and intensely biographically adjacent album of instant hits, The Real Me. He’s the star of Saturday Night Live’s best sketch ever and the creator of the most sincere movie ever, Brigsby Bear, but then he’s also an intrepid man-on-the-street interviewer, pro dancer, questionable roommate and guy behind Y2K. Of all those Kyles, we’re not sure who’s showing up for The Real Me/Fake Me Tour at Club Dada (2720 Elm St.), but the night promises to be perfectly awkward, cute and purified. Grab tickets via Spune.

Friday, Aug. 1

The Heart Sellers at Amphibian Stage
The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 changed the face of immigration in America. The demographics of those who immigrated to the United States diversified, and did so with a focus on skills, established relationships with American citizens and other criteria. Its impact is much more complex than can be summarized in a couple of sentences, but it did inspire many, including Lloyd Suh’s play, The Heart Sellers. Amphibian Stage (120 S. Main St., Fort Worth) hosts the story of two women, one Filipino and one Korean, who bond over shared wine and shared experience. As immigrants whose husbands work long hospital shifts, the two become fast friends in the face of unfamiliar life lessons. She show opens Friday, Aug. 1 and runs through Aug. 17. Find tickets online.

Saturday, Aug. 2

Murder at the Orient Burlesque at Cox Playhouse
In 2020, Rover Dramawerks planned a restaging Murder at the Orient Burlesque, but COVID shutdowns had other ideas. Now, the company continues its 25th anniversary season with the comedy by the group's own Carol M. Rice. Russian princess Katherina Anastasia Faberge Antoinette joins the cast of a burlesque show and is quickly found murdered. Like, murdered-murdered — shot, stabbed, poisoned and so many other ways one could be murdered. So who did it? And how? And why, when she was already murdered other ways? Find out Thursdays through Saturdays at the Cox Playhouse (1517 H Ave., Plano) through Aug. 16. Tickets are available online.

Monday, Aug. 4

The Big Book Project at Interabang Books
Lori Feathers, co-owner of and buyer for Interabang Books (5600 W. Lovers Lane) launched the Big Book Project this year, tickling the interests of those who love to read “long, rich and complex novels.” Of course, there’s an element of fear as well when one embarks on a long literary journey, especially if one didn’t select the book. Are you a “finish no matter what” reader? It matters. Fortunately, Feathers has consistently picked solid selections. The next BBP kicks off Monday, Aug. 4, with a two-for-one: Foreign Bodies by Cythia Ozick and The Ambassadors by Henry James, meant to be read successively. Purchase the books at Interabang or any indie bookstore, then hop over to Substack to find reading schedules and to share throughout the adventure. This isn’t a physical event at Interabang, but we’ve never visited without a great book chat, so all the more reason to shop in person.

DFW Restaurant Week returns
Dinners, lunches and brunches are looking a lot more delicious and adventurous with the return of DFW Restaurant Week this Monday, Aug. 4. (It’s the first of four weeks, as DFW Restaurant Week is really every week in August.) Support two non-profits, the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope, with each special prix-fixe menu. Participating restaurants run the gamut of cuisines and include Mercat Bistro, Elephant East, Ocean Prime, El Carlos Elegante, Rise No. 3 and No. 6 and many, many others. This is both first date magic and date night prime. There are ideal options for girls’ night and guys’ night, and there just might be something in the mix to make up for forgetting to text some back for three months. Peep menus and make reservations on the Restaurant Week website.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall at The Wild Detectives

Civil rights attorney and legal scholar Gloria J. Browne-Marshall also claims author among her impressive roster of expertise. Her incredible research and varied references make A Protest History of the United States so enthralling. The study of 500 years of resistance reads like a narrative, sometimes so dramatic one might think these are fictional accounts. Sadly, they aren’t. Whether touching on Indigenous fights, government protests, gender and civil rights, or the movement to save the planet, Browne-Marshall creates within her pages an opportunity for inspiration, anger, motivation, uprising and change that's as relevant now as in centuries past. She’ll discuss the book in more detail at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at The Wild Detectives (314 W. Eighth St.). Visit the shop online.

Continuing Events

Everybody's Talking About Jamie at The Kalita Humphreys Theater, through Aug. 3
The Kalita Humphreys Theater (3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.) is staging the southwest premiere of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, a feel-good, coming-of-age-musical that celebrates "the joy of self-expression and the power of unconditional love." The story follows Jamie, a teenager who dreams of becoming a drag queen, and his journey in overcoming bigotry and bullying with the help of his supportive mother and his friends at school and in his local drag scene. The show will run through August 3 and tickets start at $35. Details can be found online.

Viva la Revolution at Kettle Art Gallery, through Aug. 24
It’s been a crazy, weird month. While you may have missed the opening celebration of the latest invitational art exhibition at Kettle Art (2650 Main St.), Viva la Revolution. Owner Frank Campagna said via email that the Kettle team had “been reflecting on the connection between past revolutions and the unrest of today,” and that “true freedom is rarely tidy.” Indeed. Combining the urgency of the moment with the inability to stay silent, these artists are addressing the call for change and courage. The show runs through August 24 and features the likes of Jackdaw, Greg Metz, Mariell Guzman, Justin Clumpner, Hatziel Flores, Melissa Hennings, Jason Janik, Viktor Ortiz, Danny Hurley and others. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays. Check Facebook for current hours in case of a special event.

Saya Woolfalk: Floating World of the Quilted Cloud at the Crow Museum of Asian Art, through Sept. 7
Throughout her two-decade career, Woolfalk has used her art to build a world with a fictional race of women-plant hybrids known as Empathics who live in the Empathic Universe. This new exhibition debuting at the Crow Museum of Asian Art (2010 Flora St.) on Saturday will immerse visitors in Woolfalk’s world with a collection of collages and quilted pieces. More information can be found on the Crow’s website.

Return to Infinity: Yayoi Kusama at the Dallas Museum of Art, through Jan. 18
“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins,” one of Yayoi Kusama’s iconic “infinity room” installations, will be displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood St.) for the first time since 2018, starting Wednesday. The immersive exhibition at the DMA envelopes the viewer in a trippy, tangible display of art history. Kusama hails from the mythic '60s art scene. “Pumpkins,” created in 1991, incorporates many themes characteristic of the legendary artist’s work: infinity, the sublime, and obsessive repetition. And, of course, pumpkins — so many pumpkins. To book your appointment to honor these pumpkins, visit the DMA’s website.