I remember clearly the day my sister was relieved of baby-sitting duties. It was rainy, and Mom was out for the afternoon. Instead of watching me, my sister was totally watching Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon and Michael Caine in Deathtrap…and so was I. After that initial viewing, I think it’s…

As funny as we all often think we are, there’s no way in hell that we’d have enough quality material to comprise a stand-up routine. Unless, maybe, we ventured into what stand-up queen Wanda Sykes calls a “goldmine”: our current administration. “This administration has given us so much. [They] should…

Your basic art exhibit finds people doing the requisite mill-and-pose in front of various works, mumbling about the pieces or nodding in agreement until they casually leave to go make fun of other attendees’ clothing. It’s all rather chichi and typically anticlimactic. Not so with Bytes and Pieces, an electronic…

Nick Di Paolo’s Web site boasts, “In this day of watered-down comedy, Nick Di Paolo’s brutally honest performances stick out like a Catholic priest at the Little League World Series.” Hmm, nice, tasteful and not exactly a great comparison. In fact, there’s nothing that makes me laugh harder or entices…

Here’s the thing that sucks when you have to write about someone legendarily funny: There’s not enough time or space to cover everything, and you’ll never truly do the subject justice. Take Lily Tomlin, for example. She’s giving a solo performance, An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin, at the Meyerson…

There is no shame in avoiding the crowds munching in the name of love on Valentine’s Day. In fact, the best, most romantic Valentine-y celebrations I’ve personally been privy to have taken place before the “holiday”…thanks to scheduling issues and subsequent massive groveling. So Aqua Italian Bistro and Bar wins…

So I’m doing a little research for this here Tzedakah Box Competition and Exhibition, and I ask a Jewish Co-worker (who shall remain unnamed) what a tzedakah box is. “Oh, that’s the box where you put the charity—the donations,” J.C. says. I jot down these notes next to “highly collectible”…

Never mind our beliefs, sometimes an icon simply inspires us. This paper’s own Jesse Hyde researched such an example when countless believers flocked to see the Virgen de Guadalupe in an Oak Cliff tree (“Do You See What I See?,” December 29, 2005). Chicana artist Santa Barraza presents mythic figures…

Recently, a friend stated that he flat-out didn’t like horror movies. It wasn’t the gore, it wasn’t the creepy “ch-ch-ha-ha” soundtracks or even the idea of monsters coming to get relatively innocent people that made him go ix-nay on the genre. The doozy for him was the build-up and anxiety…

Were I a judge in Saturday’s Ugly Teapot Competition at the British Emporium, 140 N. Main St. in Grapevine, I would do a horrible job. I adore ugly teapots. Give me a globby, blobby, flowered mess in putrescent hues any day. I do, however, draw the line at one particular…

How could I have been so blind? I look back now—after highlighted, chain-walleted, soul-patched Greg Behrendt showed me the light—and realize what a stupid girl I was. See, the super-groomed metrosexual comedian with muscles is one of the brilliant minds behind He’s Just Not That Into You (and its follow-up…

When we turn 103, we hope we can still stay up late like the DMA can. The museum celebrates triple digits the third Friday of each month with Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art, presented by Starbucks, featuring a smattering of activities from 6 p.m. clear on through…

The Three Little Pigs has to be one of the most terrifying tales a child can hear. Think about it: Despite the fact that you live amongst family, you have little to no protection against this evil creature that wants to eat you. If you build a quick house, the…

This is amazing to me: According to the Bill Gaither Homecoming press release, Pollstar declared Gaither’s 2004 gospel tour outsold concerts by Rod Stewart, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac. Seriously? OK, now Rod Stewart we could see (we could go the rest of our lives never hearing “Maggie May” again)…

Living in East Dallas, the plight of the historical structure is of great interest to me. I see these beautiful homes—or perhaps I should say they were once beautiful—slated for a coldcock by a new development company’s wrecking ball, and I get choked up. Then I come to work and…

Imagine this: You’re watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and as Lee Marvin and the Duke cross paths, a doo-wop melody kicks in, they turn and begin a choreographed number. It all turns into a jovial scene in which Marvin’s character is never a violent demon-spawn and Wayne’s never…

In all of our opera experience, we’ve found a guarantee. As you nestle into your Music Hall at Fair Park seat, even if you know nothing of the production you’re about to see, you can expect one of two types of opera: a gut-wrenching drama (death is optional, love is…

Thursday, November 10 Perhaps you’ve just read the two novels (Since You’re Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash and new release My Heart May Be Broken, But My Hair Still Looks Great) by Dixie Cash, never having bothered to read the flap about the author or look at www.dixie-cash.com. If…

Any guitarist proud of their calluses and pasty complexion will correct you in a heartbeat should you mispronounce this name: Yngwie Malmsteen. Since performing with Steeler in 1981, the Swedish “neo-classical” guitarist has thrilled guitar geeks with his arpeggio-ridden, largely instrumental works. Now that’s great and all, but I’m no…

Thursday, October 27 From London in 1920 to later-in-life Vegas shows, Noel Coward was quite the life of the partyor at least his plays were often about the life of the party. The playwright, songwriter and performer and his often-upbeat works have been a huge influence on modern theater. Theatre…