Arts & Entertainment

Nestled in a small shopping center not far from Central Expressway in Richardson, Sultan Café is a Mediterranean grill best known for its hookah. Open since 2006, the café doesn’t look like much, situated near a barbershop and a South Asian supermarket, but it offers some of the best hookah, or argileh in Arabic, for your dollar in the Dallas area. Find the standard hookah tobacco brands like Al-Fakher and Starbuzz, and flavors running the gamut of fruits and mints as well as spicier combinations such as Code 69 and Margarita. You might want to try smoking a bowl in a head carved from a pineapple or an apple.

If you like to sing karaoke, drink cold beer, scarf down some grub and listen to honky-tonk tunes all while pretending to be a cowboy for the night, then boy do we have the place for you. The Neon Cowboy, which regularly hosts country acts, is the perfect spot to get your urban cowboy on in Dallas. The place has a dance floor, a music stage, a restaurant and a full-service bar. There are also regularly held karaoke nights, so dust off your spurs, warm up your vocal cords and try to remember the lyrics to that one Garth Brooks song that you swore you never liked when you were a kid.

As it becomes increasingly clear that the home of music is in the digital sphere, good old-fashioned radio has sought to keep up with the times. To that end, North Texas’ beloved independent radio station, 89.3 KNON, launched an entirely online expansion of its already diverse roster of shows called KNON NOW. Among those new shows is ’80s New Wave, hosted by concert promoter and ubiquitous Deep Ellum figure DJ Crash. Starting at 6 p.m. every Wednesday, DJ Crash and a special guest from the North Texas music scene spin two hours of music either originating from or inspired by ’80s new wave music.

It takes a lot of planning and work to pull off a really epic prank that doesn’t cause a felony level of mischief and damage. Sky Elements Drone Shows and marketing maven Jared Guynes, the Jared behind the annual Jared’s Epic Blaster Battle at AT&T Stadium, came up with a great way to catch an entire city’s attention at just the right time to pull one giant rug out from under everyone at once. Guynes had the idea to flash a giant QR code in the nighttime sky on April Fools’ Day. The lighted drones formed the QR code in the sky, and it led people to the music video for Rick Astley’s immortal classic “Never Gonna Give You Up.” They “Rick-rolled” an entire city. The stunt caught on locally and then got picked up by every major news outlet as one of the year’s most impressive pranks. They made us all, as the kids say, look.

Back in May, the Observer took its hard-hitting journalism to new heights when we reported on arguably the most important story of the year: the phallus of North Dallas. City Council member Cara Mendelsohn broke the news of an uncomfortably detailed penis graffiti drawing on a portable toilet in North Dallas. She believed that the john and its johnson may have been placed there by Dallas Area Rapid Transit because of certain residents’ opposition to a rail line. In addition to the drawing, it looks like someone also wrote, “right up the butt.” Just like the city’s Leaning Tower in 2020, the Phallus of North Dallas will forever remain in our hearts. You say you don’t remember the Leaning Tower? Exactly.

The art of political impersonation has been sullied thanks to a certain president with a certain head of hair that looks like a cat coughed up a half-digested gerbil. This person is already such a caricature that impersonations on the mainstream level have to be even cartoonier. That’s why it was so refreshing to see comedian and actor Carl Merritt bring an adaptation of a major political influencer, businessman and philanthropist to the stage that focuses on more than just his memorable voice or choice of hairstyle. His performance as H. Ross Perot in the Coppell Arts Center’s production of Perot! American Patriot, written by playwright Dave Lieber, offered a measured, honest, unflinching and uncanny portrayal of a man most people probably know more from his imitators on Saturday Night Live. There’s more to Merritt’s performance of the independent presidential candidate than the attention he paid to Perot’s mannerisms and voice. Merritt also captured Perot’s entrepreneurial spirit and drive that fueled a career, a campaign and a city to its highest potential.

The Electric Shuffle isn’t locally owned, but it’s hands down the best place to get your drunk on and pound your friends in shuffleboard. In fact, the whole concept behind the business, which also has locations in Austin and London, is to “save shuffleboard from the back of bars,” according to its website. Open till midnight Sunday through Thursday and till 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Electric Shuffle offers a host of cocktails and a massive menu with full-course meals to serve your party.

Nestled in a small shopping center not far from Central Expressway in Richardson, Sultan Café is a Mediterranean grill best known for its hookah. Open since 2006, the café doesn’t look like much, situated near a barbershop and a South Asian supermarket, but it offers some of the best hookah, or argileh in Arabic, for your dollar in the Dallas area. Find the standard hookah tobacco brands like Al-Fakher and Starbuzz, and flavors running the gamut of fruits and mints as well as spicier combinations such as Code 69 and Margarita. You might want to try smoking a bowl in a head carved from a pineapple or an apple.

Located in a refurbished home in the Bishop Arts District, Wild Detectives has been selling beers and books since 2014. When it opened, the owners hoped the bookstore-bar combo would inspire meaningful conversations about literature and culture as well as serve as a gathering place for folks who love books. Plus, there are well over a dozen signature and seasonal cocktails, wine, cold brew on tap and a handful of canned beers. Pop in, grab a drink or a bite to eat and peruse the literary selection: The walls are lined with books, including selections in Spanish.

Charlie’s Star Lounge is a colorful heaven. Whether you’re drunk-singing karaoke, bumming a cig from a fellow rock lover or chatting it up at the bar with resident bartender Big Fun, Charlie’s feels like home. So step up to the mic, belt out those vocals and don’t be afraid to bust a move or two. Or, if you’re not too keen on performing, you can play one of the bar’s several classic arcade games. As Nirvana would say, this place is very much “Come As You Are,” so be sure to wear your most festive outfit.

DFW has an Olympic-sized pool of standout photographers for every occasion: concert, cityscapes, photojournalists, bridal, boudoir, you name it. But we love an artistic photographer and especially love the work of Hannah Dimmit, whose motel-colored palette of glossy kitsch shines like the plastic on a newly shipped Barbie. The North Texas photographer works on commercial commissions and brings her candied vision to the still-life advertising of food products. But it’s her Instagram work that makes us want to follow her high-pigment rainbow to wherever it leads. Dimmit’s images conjure a playful world starring women, wrapped in Lily Allen’s brand of trailer-chic, disco, technicolor glitz.

America has its fair share of uber-rich dudes, and Texas has even attracted a couple of recent arrivals (see: Elon Musk). But not everyone who’s disgustingly wealthy shares the love as well as Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner who’s worth an estimated $4.7 billion. Earlier this year, he launched an online pharmacy to provide medication at a fraction of the usual price. One drug that treats leukemia, for instance, often has a monthly cost of $9,500. Under Cuban’s pharmacy, it drops to a mere $47. Thank you very much, Mark, for making our existence in this late-stage capitalistic hellhole slightly more palatable.

One of Hulu’s most binge-worthy shows this year takes place in the Dallas suburb of Wylie. Candy is based on the true-crime tale of Candy Montgomery, who was arrested, charged and later acquitted of the 1980 ax murder of her neighbor and friend. Executive producer Jessica Biel also stars in the miniseries, even doing a decent job of adopting a Texas drawl. She shines as the titular character, acting the part of a busy mom, suburban housewife, devout churchgoer and alleged murderer. There are scores of Hollywood renditions of small-town Texas, but Candy is one of the few that actually gets it right.

There are plenty of local spots in Dallas where skaters can pay to get in and do their thing: busting their asses or landing cool tricks. But the city has always lacked a substantial public skate park, something neighboring cities like Lewisville, Plano, Frisco, The Colony and others have had for some time now. The one public skatepark in the city, St. Francis in East Dallas, isn’t big enough or decked out enough to serve the city’s skateboarding needs. But, a new spot is in the works. Approved by Dallas voters in 2017, the city is throwing some $4 million into a public skate park near DART’s Bachman Station at Bachman Lake. Latest estimates put the park at between 30,000 and 75,000 square feet. It could open as early as this year.

It’ll Do has found a spot in our Best Of Dallas issues a few times, but the club just keeps demanding our attention. For one, it’s sort of a timeless space where the decor and light-up dance floor transport you to another era, while the club music keeps you well in the present day. Think of everything you hate about modern clubs: the velvet-roped douchiness, the showy bottle service and the guy at the door assessing your worth through a full body scan. You won’t find that at It’ll Do. You will get dance music with touring big-name DJs and local favorites such as resident DJ Red Eye. But it’s the crowd that most makes us want to move uncontrollably. The place seems to attract the most welcoming crowd of clubgoers, who actually make you happy to be among people. A miracle.

Each of Axios Dallas’ newsletter writers is a force to be reckoned with. Using the signature Axios smart brevity style, they deliver the latest North Texas news in a personable, easy-to-digest way. In the newsletter’s bullet point format, the trio of writers strikes a happy balance of too-big-to-miss headlines and under-the-radar stories. They even give the Observer an occasional shout-out in their coverage, for which we’re always grateful. Be sure to read until the very end to catch Mike, Tasha and Naheed’s picks, which may include book and margarita recommendations, depending on the day.

It seems it was just yesterday that JD Beck was a 13-year-old drummer running around Deep Ellum, sitting in as the city’s most seasoned players took him under their wings. A couple of years later, Beck met his musical match in fellow savant DOMI, a French-born pianist three years his senior. After meeting at a show, she flew to Dallas to play an Erykah Badu concert with Beck. That’s when the wunderkindred spirits formed an instrumental duo that caught the attention of Anderson .Paak. After making a tsunami of a splash online, the two finally released Not Tight, an actually tight jazz record that is not easy-listening. This is for the music nerds, for the obsessive listeners who want to deconstruct the rhythmic, mathematical journey taken by a collection of notes, and for those who want to ponder the mastery of Beck’s time. It also includes vocals by .Paak himself. It’s a showing of virtuosity that’s inspired by video games, funk and a mutual respect among high players.

Mutual aid group Say It With Your Chest DTX isn’t wishing for change. It’s on the frontlines demanding it. Led by Black women, Say It With Your Chest is tirelessly putting in the work to change the political and social climate in Dallas by developing relationships with the homeless, providing them laundry services and gathering bodies to hinder the city from sweeping away encampments. For a year, Say It With Your Chest has built a community and rapport with the houseless. Through grassroots efforts, the group has fed the hungry, provided water to those living in record heat and advocated for the houseless when policies have displaced the vulnerable.

We have strong opinions about the best vodka in the Lone Star State, and no, it’s not Tito’s. Duckworth Vodka is located in Dallas, where each hand-crafted small batch is made with the utmost care. Duckworth is so good that you can actually sip it, which isn’t what most people have in mind when they think of vodka. Interestingly enough, Duckworth is overseen by an accomplished winemaker-turned-distiller whose attention to detail manifests in each batch’s balanced taste. The Premium Sipping Vodka is great for nursing neat or on the rocks, and the earthy Truffle Vodka is a show-stopping delight. Martini-lovers rejoice.

When southern Dallas needed access to fresh foods, For Oak Cliff organized a monthly farmer’s market. When residents there needed air conditioners to combat the scorching heat, For Oak Cliff partnered with TXU to provide free window units and fans. When students needed school supplies, For Oak Cliff provided more than 4,000 students with backpacks, supplies and resources. Since its 2015 founding by Taylor Toynes, For Oak Cliff has become a beacon for southern Dallas residents and its impact has been profound. The organization meets emergency needs while developing a community culture that combats the cycle of poverty through education, advocacy and resources. Its work spans generations to ensure social mobility is accessible and quality of life is enhanced for all. With seven years under its belt, For Oak Cliff is just getting started.

Atwater Alley is a side-hustle of Henry’s Majestic. There’s no sign or advertising, so you have to know about it to find it. (If you’re facing Henry’s, go left to the end of the sidewalk, then take a right down the alley. Look for a guy sitting in a chair.) Inside is a two-story bar. On slow nights you’ll find everyone upstairs in a dim room filled with booths and deep chairs. There’s no cocktail menu here, just chat with the bartenders and they’ll get you what you need, maybe even suggest something new. It fills up late at night. It’s not necessarily a nightcap place, but something like that.

For the past couple of years, Dr. Michael Phillips has emerged as one of North Texas’ foremost free speech advocates. The former Collin College history professor is one of several educators who say they were fired for speaking out about alleged rights violations at the school. Since then, Phillips has worked with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a First Amendment watchdog, to stress the importance of academic freedom. He’s also a lauded author who’s researching the history of eugenics in Texas.

Unless you’ve spent time attempting to become a sommelier, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at wine bars. At Times Ten Cellars, the friendly, knowledgeable staff will help guide you to find your perfect wine fit. This Dallas gem works with vineyards located in the Lone Star State and California to deliver a chic-yet-accessible wine collection. Feeling adventurous? Order a tasting flight so you can sample 2-ounce pours of three different wines. Those who start to feel a little peckish can also choose from Times Ten Cellars’ food menu, which features delectable cheese boards and flatbreads.

Raul Reyes Jr.’s roots are in West Dallas. His parents, Raul and Juanita, immigrated to Dallas in the ’60s. In 1979, they bought a home in West Dallas, eventually purchasing several other properties in the area. Today, Reyes Jr. is bringing up his kids in the same community. Over the years, he’s organized political battles in the community, like its long-running efforts to run a shingle manufacturer out of town. That effort continues today. Another he’s helped spearhead is a proposed neighborhood-led plan for his corner of the city. West Dallas has grown substantially over the years. With property taxes on the rise, some in the community are worried they’ll be priced out of their own neighborhoods. As long as Reyes is around, someone will be fighting on their behalf.

The Observer has long promoted the talents of WFAA’s Pete Delkus. But another, more under-the-radar forecaster from the same channel is ready for his time in the sun: Jesse Hawila. A Texas native, Hawila grew up wanting to be a weatherman, and he’s also passionate about many types of music, particularly metal. His consistent social media updates on North Texas weather are often infused with a comforting sense of humor, whether it be stormy or hot as hell. Hopefully, Hawila’s weather wizardry can help to deliver mild winters and cool summers from here on out.

Just as grandmas did while playing bingo at the VFW in the ’80s, groups of players stake out territory at Four Corners to play loteria on Thursday nights. The game moves fast, and it’s actually kind of intense for short stretches of time, but once someone wins, you’ll have a few minutes to get back to your drinking, smack talk and those ginormous fried fajita balls. This brewery in the Cedars has a fun tap room and the person leading the loteria doubles as a DJ. You might even learn some new Spanish words (like ladder: escalera). Pay attention and don’t be shy. This is a great experience if you’re looking for a way to entertain out-of-towners too — and get them drunk. Or get them to shut up for a bit.

Virtual reality isn’t a fantasy about how the future might look. It’s the present. It’s available in our homes. It’s available on our computers. It’s available on our phones and can be used with something as simple as a carefully cut-out piece of cardboard. VR venues have to go the extra mile to top something so accessible and easy to use. Zero Latency’s games can set up virtual walls and hallways and create challenges that aren’t like anything you can play on an Oculus Quest. They range from zombie survival shooters to cooperative puzzle-solving worlds, and you get to hold weapons and objects that mimic what you see in the virtual world. They’ve even added a triple AAA game title from the popular FarCry franchise of videogames. Zero Latency in Addison offers games that you can play at home only if you demolish all the walls on one floor of your house, and it offers technology that feels like something used to train military personnel.

This summer, Texas teen activist Olivia Julianna got even with far-right Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz after he body-shamed her on social media. Julianna, the political strategist for Gen-Z for Change, soon launched a fundraiser for abortion rights, a move that garnered her national headlines. It took only around a week for the 19-year-old to generate more than $2 million in donations. Those contributions are getting evenly distributed to 50 abortion funds nationwide to help safeguard reproductive health care access. Even though abortion is now illegal in Texas and other red states, activists like Julianna have continued to fight.

The Basic Blogger Bitch, Alexandria Ashraf, struck TikTok gold when she managed to piss off every $30,000 millionaire in DFW by simply stating the facts: Dallas is a dating dumpster. Truth hurts, fellas. But TikTok after Tiktok, Ashraf continues to enthrall followers with her ability to be unforgivably herself, and luckily, she brings Dallasites along for the ride. Ashraf is the TikTok BFF everyone needs. With the support of 22,900 followers and over two million likes, Ashraf has been able to cover a broad range of topics from Pakistani representation to her Taylor Swift fandom seamlessly. She is the perfect balance, relatable to both millennials and Gen-Zers. Dallas and beyond is hitting the red follow button to join in on her shenanigans.

It’s been a tough time for many in Texas, with a conservative-majority Legislature penning legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights. But the state Capitol may soon gain its first openly gay Black lawmaker living with HIV in Dallas Democrat Venton Jones, who’s running for House District 100. Community advocate Jones is endorsed by the Victory Fund, a pro-LGBTQ+ political action committee. He’s long worked toward ending the HIV epidemic and is an advocate for public education, fixing the power grid and civil rights. Jones, who was born and raised in HD 100, is also a licensed Realtor and serves as CEO of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network.

Dallas summers are hellishly hot, but luckily, there’s a tropical getaway waiting for you right on Lower Greenville: Swizzle. Since it opened in 2020, Swizzle has earned accolades for being Dallas’ only true-blue tiki bar to crop up in more than a decade. Its stunning interior sports tons of tiki art and transports patrons to a sandy beach far, far away. Swizzle’s phenomenal rum-based cocktails will help you escape the soul-crushing pain of another grueling workweek, and its Polynesian food is just as sure to please. Surf on over for an extraordinarily refreshing experience.

For 36 years, Pegasus Theatre has given DFW theater fans the novelty and unique marvel of their signature stage productions made entirely in black and white, achieving the look of old films through expert makeup and stage design. And there’s also RadioVizion, a series in which they emulate old-time radio tapings. The not-for-profit group, which got its start in Deep Ellum in the mid-’80s, is still delighting audiences with original productions in their style of vintage, zany, murder-y comedy that we’ve long loved.

You might be wondering why we have a category for “Best Starbucks” when the cafe can be found in nearly every city in America. It’s because the good baristas at Mockingbird Station’s Starbucks have joined in the nationwide push to unionize. Earlier this year, nine workers wrote the coffee company’s CEO to tell him they intended to unionize. Although the road to forge a union has faced some hurdles, Mockingbird Station’s baristas recently announced that they were victorious in their efforts.

To watch Hailey Summers dance is to dive into an exploration of the psyche. From dance battles to showcases, Summers’ dance technique has enlivened stages. Summers is a two-time World of Dance Dallas champion. Her most recent win took the audience’s breath away on May 21 at South Side ballroom to Flying Lotus’ “Land of Honey.” Through movement, Summers evokes and expresses raw emotion beyond what the voice could communicate. Grief, love, resilience and triumph flow from each limb as Summers embarks on experimental dance movement. Music of all genres guide her inner exploration. Her movement embodies her spiritual journey and draws audiences in with a gentle invitation to join her. Through her dance community Discovery Movement, Summers invites dancers to embark on their own explorative dance journey through classes and events.

When AT&T recently expanded its headquarters space with a public plaza known as AT&T Discovery District, Downtown Dallas gained the kind of exciting, urban high-tech spot you’d sooner find in an Asian city. The new destination area offers visitors innovative art installations, a large media wall that displays trippy digital art and a food hall with endless options. This summer, they added musical performances to the mix, with a Juneteenth show by Keite Young and a Fourth of July event with Old 97’s. We’ve come to find that this is the perfect spot to watch a live show. It’s outdoors but mostly contained away from traffic; it’s family-friendly and picnic-friendly as the ground is covered by comfortable artificial grass. And you’re just a few minutes from Deep Ellum if you want to keep the party going afterward.

It’s times like these, when there’s talk of teaching “opposing perspectives” of the Holocaust, that it’s so essential to visit museums like this one. Those who spend time at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum will learn the true story behind one of history’s darkest hours, as well as about human and civil rights on a national and global scale. The museum has the mission of combating indifference, prejudice and hatred, and it underscores the strength and resilience of those faced with the unthinkable. With both permanent and special exhibitions, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a valuable Big D cultural institution.

Paul Ridley was no stranger to Dallas City Hall when he was voted into the District 14 council seat last June. He had served as the district’s plan commissioner for eight years. Before that, he spent four years representing the district on the landmark commission. He’s lived in the area for about 27 years, practicing construction law and commercial litigation, occasionally stepping away to serve the city. He’s devoted to serving Dallas residents, and his attention to detail can make for some interesting mic-drop moments around the council’s horseshoe.

Bring only your smartest friends because you’ll be trapped in a room with only an hour to get out at Escape the Room Dallas. Escape the Room has locations across the country, including several in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With most allowing up to 10 people, there are several rooms to pick from, one of the funniest being from the creators of South Park. In this creation, you enter “the most diabolical and evil place ever invented: SKOOOOL! There, you’ll see cartoon violence, comic mischief,” as the website describes it, and everything else that makes South Park great, all in a cleverly designed escape room. Other rooms include The Agency, where 10 players become secret agents taking part in a classified mission; the Western Bank Heist, where 10 players rob a bank and have to make it out alive with their loot; and several others.

When Texas’ hysteria over so-called “critical race theory” erupted last year, certain Black educators were falsely accused of teaching the academic framework to public school students. Unfortunately, Dr. James Whitfield, who served as Colleyville Heritage High School’s first Black principal, was also driven from his district amid the furor. But Whitfield hasn’t let that keep him down. Since then, the education advocate has continued to inspire. Whitfield has opened up about what it’s like to teach about race in the West and has spoken to Congress about the nationwide spike in school censorship efforts. Texas needs more educators like Whitfield.

Queen Bleach is putting in the work. She’s been in overdrive in 2022, and Dallas is living for it. Bleach has naturally stepped into her celebrity status in Dallas as a style icon and top-of-the-line entertainer. Bleach transforms from the likes of Gwen Stefani to Peggy Bundy flawlessly. Her Kim Kardashian 2021 Met Gala take is top tier, but what keeps Dallas infatuated with Bleach is her ability to host a damn good time. If Bleach is on the mic, be prepared for an interactive experience. The queen does what it takes to make sure everyone has the time of their life, even if that means a Disney princess orgasm-mimicking contest. It’s no wonder Bleach became the queen of Dallas pride this year. From events at Fair Park to Double Wide, Bleach hit every stage and made Pride 2022 one for the books.

Rent, gas and food prices are skyrocketing, making meeting up for happy hour tougher on the ol’ pocketbook. But great deals aren’t the only thing that make Three Links’ happy hour outshine the competition. Happy hour-goers can escape the heat upon entry into the dark cavernous space. The Deep Ellum spot is a dive bar institution, with band stickers plastered everywhere and cryptic occult imagery. Stick around long enough and you might catch soundcheck for whatever punk, metal or otherwise underground band is featured on that night’s bill. Before you go, grab some mouthwatering bar food to help soak up that tallboy.

If cheap and easy is how you roll, welcome home. While so much has changed around it, Lakewood Landing has literally held steady for decades. It offers a simple menu of affordable bar food. Try the pork tenderloin sandwich with a side of thinly sliced onion rings, a seasonal specialty. If you go late, get the house-battered and fried corn dog made with Rudolph’s sausage. The jukebox has some strange juju, too, bouncing from Dwight Yoakam to Duke Ellington like that’s how music is supposed to go. A dark beer in a dark bar never felt so right.

There are many excellent ambassadors for the Deep Ellum neighborhood. This award goes to one who needs some recognition: Geoff Lloyd. Lloyd has been in Dallas for 27 years and a Deep Ellum resident for 16. You’ve seen him as the sound engineer of RBC. You’ve surely come across him sitting at the bar of your favorite neighborhood spot. Today, he’s a partner at Club Dada and Off the Record, both on Elm Street. He’s an expert in sound with a passion for good, live music. We all know Deep Ellum has less of the live instrument pulse these days. But ask Lloyd what’s coming up at Dada: He’ll list off shows with enthusiasm, and that night you’ll hear the energy that only live music can offer.

Being called the best comedy club is even more impressive when the club in question does only improv. Four Day Weekend, however, is not just a place where people who’ve never done comedy take a class and get shoved on stage at the end of the term. Four Day Weekend is a Dallas and Fort Worth comedy institution with costumes, interactive media and some very talented people who helped the theater reach its 25th year in 2022. The on-the-spot comedy troupe was one of the first to bring professional, improvised comedy to DFW, starting in Fort Worth and later Dallas. Founding members David Wilk, Frank Ford, David Ahearn and Troy Grant opened their show with a run at the Casa Mañana theater before moving to a massive, underutilized space on Fort Worth’s Sundance Square and opening a second location in Dallas across from the Truck Yard in Lowest Greenville. The foursome and other cast members created characters in their shows, film shorts, TV pilots and outdoor spectacles that are now staples of the core cast’s weekend performances. Both theaters still attract loud, responsive and entertained crowds who sell out the place almost every night.

In a party-loving city such as Dallas, there is hardly a shortage of great DJs keeping the nightlife lit. Ursa Minor stands out as one of the city’s most popular party leaders, known for “playing to the Black girl in the room.” Ursa’s turntable skills are in high demand from clients such as Netflix and at events such as SXSW. But you can find her setting the tone all over town, whether it’s a Sadie Hawkins dance at Charlie’s Star Lounge, a pride event or the free PNC Patio Sessions at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

During the pandemic, the DJ started a successful side business as a cookie maker with brand The Butter Fairy, but her beats will always be the way to our hearts.

It began as a “fan/community page” for the city of Garland and grew into a group of 18,700. It’s a space where members can share job postings and offer free items, but it’s also like a hyper-localized version of website Nextdoor, full of random posts that give you a good sense of the kind of people who live among you. There are people asking for “unwashed eggs” and some others seeking general advice over family conundrums. The same way older people use Facebook like it’s Reddit or even Google, often posting questions they should ask on specific forums or even to Siri, the Garland group is one of the most beautiful Boomer groups in all of the internet, where you’ll find lost neighbors asking “Is Dancing With the Stars on tonight? What channel is it?”

Over the years, Dallas residents haven’t been too sure where to take their environmental issues. Now, there’s a body at City Hall meant to ensure Dallas is implementing its Climate Action Plan and that residents’ opinions are being heard. The commission is chaired by Kathryn Bazan, a local environmentalist and former employee of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The local commission has already seen some of its work come to fruition since the first meeting this year as Dallas rolled out new regulations for cement batch plants in the city. Members are also working to help draft restrictions on another big polluter, gas-powered lawn equipment. Under the commission’s watch, the city may get a little greener.

Three years in the making with a full rewrite, over eight reshoots and hundreds of hours of editing, Oak Cliff film collective Raw Lemon has given Dallas a masterpiece with its debut feature film We Start a Series. Director and writer Bryan Sabillon, co-writer Eric Sosa and their Raw Lemon team of actors Daniel “Busta” Campos, Guadalupe Reveles, Sigifredo Flores, Louis Clifton, Victor Hernandez and Oscar Sanchez created comedy gold. The comedy is a satirical, fictional narrative of the film crew’s failures at finding YouTube stardom. Think American Pie meets Jackass with Dallas flair. Sprinkle that with timeless and nostalgic parodies and We Start a Series is hands down a must-see. After the “We Start a Porno” segment of the film took home a win for best comedy at the Austin After Dark Film Festival, the film debuted at the Angelika to a sold-out audience. The feature film has since begun releasing in weekly episode format on YouTube and “We Start a Porno” has been selected to showcase at Miami’s The Citrus Circuit Film Festival.

Parker Twomey is not a newcomer to the scene. The singer-songwriter first stepped onto Deep Ellum’s stages at age 10 with his musician father. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he began working odd jobs at Modern Electric Studios, meeting the right crowd and eventually joining country star Paul Cauthen’s band on keys. This year, Twomey breaks out with his debut album All This Life, as an eager new voice recounting the leather-worn tales of a young man with a worldview beyond his years. The album travels a road between indie-folk and country, pulling from the traditions of Gram Parsons and Kris Kristofferson to build Twomey’s own legend.

Texas GOP politicians have been ban-happy when it comes to books in recent days, a fact that isn’t keeping the authors of Forget the Alamo down. Penned by three Texas-based writers, Forget the Alamo was released to critical acclaim last year and has survived “cancellation” attempts by the state’s far-right. Expertly written and highly engaging, the book exposes the not-so-pretty underbelly of Texas’ most famous landmark. Forget the Alamo details the state’s push to preserve slavery and reminds us to think critically about what the writers have dubbed the “Heroic Anglo Narrative of Texas history.” Thank you, Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford, for your unwavering commitment to truth-telling.

Labretta Suede & The Motel 6 moved to Dallas from New Zealand at the start of 2021, taking residency at Three Links and establishing itself as a new act to contend with in North Texas. Over the course of two solid years playing every venue it could, the band has built a reputation for putting on a racy show. Part garage-punk powerhouse and part burlesque show, the band defies you to not take notice when it hits the stage. Labretta Suede & The Motel 6 released its new 7-inch single release of the song “Teenagers” earlier this year on hot pink vinyl. You can pick it up at the band’s shows or online.

Conduit has been holding down the Design District as the town’s gallery central for nearly 20 years now, and owner Nancy Whitenack shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. You can count on a mix of aesthetics ranging from serious to whimsical, and the space’s project room has an entertaining mix of quirky work curated by director Danette Dufilho. Want to pick up a soft sculpture of sardines in a can by Barbara Glazer Rosenblatt or a trippy painting of Marie Antoinette by Jennie Ottinger? This is the place to do it.

Playas gonna play. Pabst Blue Ribbons and a pocket full of quarters. Just like old times. Barcadia has good grub, such as massive fried cheese sticks and burgers, but there are also salads and lighter dishes. The beer selection has the standards, and several local brews on draft, which is bonus play. The game lineup includes old school retro favorites like Ms Pac-Man, Galaga and Donkey Kong, plus Skee-Ball, if that’s how you roll. Wednesdays are free play all day, and their everyday happy-hour specials might be the best deal there is along this busy strip of restaurants and bars.

Whenever you’re heading into downtown Dallas, you just might pass Dealey Plaza, the spot where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The area in the city’s West End Historic District has long been a magnet for tourists from around the world. Now, it’s witnessing a strange resurgence thanks to the QAnon conspiracy theory, which posits that a satanic cabal of elites is running an international child sex trafficking ring. In Q lore, Dealey Plaza is where followers believe that JFK’s son, who died more than two decades ago, will reappear. QAnon acolytes still show up there from time to time.

Leela’s Wine Bar is a Pinterest board come to life. Since 2018, the wine bar has been a trendsetter by raising the standard for a well-executed design concept. Located in the former Crown and Harp, the industrial building has been transformed into an aesthetically pleasing backdrop for Dallasites to enjoy a well-crafted espresso martini while getting Insta-worthy snapshots. When it comes to a theme, no one does it better. Tastefully, Leela’s has made Christmas, Valentine’s Day and even Bachelor Mondays an experience to remember with theme-specific. visually appealing cocktails and decor. For its sixth decor pop-up, Leela’s is teaming up with The Planting Hand to present “Summer House.” Charge your camera battery and get there early. It is a guarantee that Dallas will be lined up out the door. The wait can be up to three hours on a weekend night, but it’s well worth the exquisite vibes.

Dallas actor Brian Gonzales has strived to get to Broadway. Around a decade ago, in the Broadway rendition of One Man, Two Guvnors, he served as the understudy for James Corden, who later won a Tony for best actor in a play. Gonzales has performed in the stage version of Disney’s Aladdin since then, and more recently appeared in Billy Crystal’s Mr. Saturday Night, which itself was up for five Tony Awards this year. Gonzales attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy. He’s also credited Big D’s theater scene with helping pave the way for his Big Apple success.

North Texas is known for its excellent metal scene, thanks in large part to mammoth acts like Power Trip and Creeping Death. So, merge those two powerhouses together and you’ve got yourself the region’s best new metal supergroup: Fugitive. With a different tuning and Motörhead-esque tempo, Power Trip guitarist Blake Ibanez tapped into a new sound with this latest venture. In addition to Creeping Death drummer Lincoln Mullins, Fugitive’s live lineup includes members of Skourge, ANS and Impalers. Look out for the band’s EP, which promises to include a cover of Bathory’s “Raise the Dead.” This group is destined for metal greatness.

A magician doesn’t become a master by fooling his audience. A magician becomes a master by fooling other magicians. Dallas magician Zak Mirz did just that to two of the world’s most knowledgeable magicians. Mirz appeared on The CW magic series Penn & Teller: Fool Us in which the famed Las Vegas magic duo watch original magic tricks performed by illusionists from every corner of the world. Then they try to figure out how the trick is done using Teller’s storied knowledge of magic secrets and techniques and Penn’s booming voice and expressive vocabulary without revealing how the trick is done to those who don’t know the lingo. Mirz, a native of Iran who used magic from a very young age to cope with the tragic loss of his father, performed a card trick with host Alyson Hannigan using a deck of cards and a very sharp knife that she used to cut to the predicted card. Penn & Teller thought they had the trick figured out, but Mirz told them they were wrong, earning him two dropped jaws of shock, a cloud of stage confetti and the show’s fabled “Fool Us” trophy with the “F” and “U” in big, red capital letters.

If you want some context on what’s going on in Dallas politics and local government, you’ll want to tune in to Loserville, a podcast currently hosted by former City Council member Philip Kingston and former Greencastle, Indiana, City Council member (now Dallas resident) Tyler Wade. The podcast has had a few different names and gone through several iterations. Radio personality TC Fleming started it as a solo interview podcast called All Dallas Politics Is Local. This was a spinoff of another podcast called It’s Just Banter. Fleming asked Kingston to temporarily take over All Dallas Politics. After the 2019 City Council election, Kingston and Fleming decided to work together on Loserville. It would usually include Kingston and Fleming discussing the Dallas news of the day and would occasionally include guests. Fleming took a step back from the podcast when other commitments came up, and Wade was his replacement. If the city manager seems like he’s on the verge of losing his job, or there’s some zoning case drumming up local controversy, you’ll likely hear about it in detail on Loserville.

Get your groove on over at Havana, where DJs spin the latest in reggaeton, bachata and Latin and Spanish hip-hop. With fairly inexpensive cocktails and a large dance floor, Havana is a transcendental experience, where it’s easy to get lost in the rhythm. Plus, Havana regularly brings in Latinx and Hispanic drag queens and musical performers. You may want to get to there early, as the line to get in is usually wrapped around the block on weekends. But after a night out of dancing and partaking in pure, joyful festivities, you will quickly realize why.

Some of us will never be asked to be onstage, and that’s OK, though it might be the reason we pay for expensive weddings full of people we don’t really know. We want attention and a spotlight, no matter how brief. Karaoke allows everyone to seize the spotlight, and there’s no better place to do karaoke than at a gay bar. If drag queens aren’t cheering us on, we’re just not interested. Barb’s, the Oak Cliff dive bar, is still the best spot for karaoke. Because that’s what Saturdays are made for, to butcher Mariah Carey just for the joy of loosening our vocals. The neighborhood bar has a mod look and a Cheers-like ambiance, where you can show off your excellent or terrible singing among friends who won’t judge too harshly.

Want a chill time where you can relax and watch the sunset or some birds? This is not your place. Go here when you’re ramping up for an evening. The employees always seem happy to be there, the patrons as well. The food is big and grandiose, like foot-long fried cheese sticks. And even when this place is packed before a game or show, the bartenders push drinks out quickly. The rooftop just brings all these things together with a view. Happy times.

Prominently displayed on the wall of a building at Pearl and Elm streets is a colorful homage to three of pop music’s biggest stars: Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Billie Eilish. The lifelike mural close to Dallas’ Deep Ellum entertainment district is sure to grab the attention of even the most jaded of city-dwellers. The artist, Adrian Torres, told the Observer in April that he’d created the massive triple-portrait as part of 42 Murals, a project that helps elevate local artists’ profiles by giving them a space to display their gifts. Hopefully, life will imitate art someday and the three pop stars will unleash a collaboration.

This non-collecting art museum has built a reputation for its edgy, engaging programming (up now: Shephard Fairey’s first-ever solo Texas show). Under the leadership of executive director Carolina Alvarez Mathies, the Contemporary has also become the place to take a sound bath, shop local artisans, catch a live DJ set and even get a mini tattoo. The DC Summer Series of events has been a wild success among the young and cultured, so here’s hoping there are more artful parties on the fall calendar to keep those weekends interesting.

The stunning music video for “Bones / Dust” by Dallas musician and artist extraordinaire Nicole Marxen looks like how grief feels. The song, taken from 2021’s goth-industrial masterwork Tether EP, features Marxen’s lovely, haunting vocals and lush production reminiscent of Chelsea Wolfe. The video for “Bones / Dust” was directed by Richard Krause, who created a black-and-white world of death and decay to breathe life into Marxen’s evocative, soul-wrenching lyrics. Marxen’s long been an Observer fave thanks to her stellar work with hometown heroes Midnight Opera. We’re excited to see her star climb ever-higher with this important, innovative solo endeavor.

Gallerists Hilary and Hannah Fagadau have brought their sibling revelry to 12.26 Gallery in the Design District since 2019. The sisters grew up in an art-loving family, so they’re adept at holding the hand of a beginning collector. Focusing on mid-career artists from Texas and beyond, the Fagadaus recently launched a West Coast outpost run by Hilary, allowing them to keep their fingers on the pulse in at least two towns.

Your money’s no good over at Hidden Door. Well, that is, if it comes in the form of a plastic card. Only cash is accepted at this little dive bar. But you won’t have to worry about – literally – emptying your wallet or breaking the bank. Drinks are relatively inexpensive here, perfect for drinking on either of the bar’s two patios or by the pool tables. Plus, early risers can come in and start drinking as early as 7 a.m. – yes, even on Sundays.

If you’re looking at art as an investment, pop by to see what’s on view at Talley Dunn. Located in a former antique car storage facility just off the Knox-Henderson area, the light-filled space is full of names that’ll be hanging in a museum someday (if they aren’t already). Dunn’s stable includes such luminaries as Anila Quayyum Agha, Natasha Bowdoin, Gabriel Dawe, Joseph Havel, Robyn O’Neill and Sedrick and Letitia Huckaby, so you’re almost guaranteed to find a piece that’ll stand the test of time.

The Texas Theatre’s annual film gathering was one of the first to welcome non-virtual audiences back to screening rooms. This year’s Oak Cliff Film Festival offered a more inspired and enthralling list of films and programming in one weekend than most local theaters offer in an entire year. The festival’s success started with its theme of “Cure Your Movie Loneliness,” a perfect expression and tone for the movies that drew us out of our streaming loneliness. Then it rolled out a packed calendar of 58 films from documentaries to student shorts that took daring risks to explore the human condition in ways mainstream films would never dare. It also gave the Dallas film community its first glimpses of future classics such as James Morosini’s dark comedy I Love You Dad, the documentary journey The Pez Outlaw and the comedy doc Chop & Steele, which is more about a deep friendship than about one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever filed by a media organization.

The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts celebrated its centennial year as a thriving institution in an area of study that other public school districts often overlook. The school started in 1922 as a segregated high school for African Americans and turned into a “technical” school in 1952 before reopening in 1976 as an arts magnet under the development and vision of renowned theater teacher and Dallas Theater Center founder Dr. Paul Baker. The school is DFW’s own Hollywood High, producing famous and influential names such as Grammy-winning musicians Erykah Badu and Norah Jones, artist Chris Arnold and writers Noah Fleisher and Wendy Calhoun. The school has also led to the creation of local artistic institutions like the Soul Rep Theatre, founded by graduate Anyika McMillan-Herod, and trained future movers and shakers for a variety of national and global industries, proving that arts education isn’t just about making the next generation of dancers, writers and painters. It’s about creating a generation of creative, innovative and well-rounded contributors to our world.

For Carne Asada Fest, the glow up was real. The inaugural 2021 festival was a shoutout to Latinx culture, but in 2022 founder Sonia Kilo made strides in production and execution of the event without jeopardizing authenticity. The event is an ode to the Latin tradition of la carne asada. Carne Asada Fest embodied the essence of the familial pastime by highlighting food and music. Over 25 food vendors gathered at Gilley’s to provide Dallas with tacos, pupusas, elotes, agua frescas and micheladas. Nina Sky, DJ Kane, Paul Wall, Big Tuck and Slim Thug took Dallas back to the 2000s with nostalgic hits while Steve Garcia, Michael Sanchez, Nategawd, Rayburger and others invigorated the crowd with homegrown hits. DJs Uneeq, Madd and Albert G kept the party going between sets. With Up2Something Media hosting, it was a family affair.

Even before you step foot in this Deep Ellum lounge, you know that it’s going to be special. A neon pink light shaped in the contour of a cat entices happy hour-goers to enter. And as soon as you do venture inside, Neon Kitten’s staff greet you with shouts of “Welcome!” It only gets better from there. Each of the lounge’s unique cocktails is handcrafted with care. Case in point: the delightful snowcone-esque Osaka is served in a groovy Hello Kitty ceramic cup. Happy hour-goers should also make sure to check out Neon Kitten’s Japanese-inspired dinner menu, including delicious dumplings and gyoza.