Soundtrack for a Sexy, Spanish Weekend

Spain beats all other European destinations in the romantic flair category. Great Britain is hospitable and lovely, to be sure; Italy has monuments that awe; and France has pastries to make a man weak in the knees. But Spain has a devil-may-care appeal that sets it apart from its neighbors…

Wayne Brady

If CNN reports tomorrow that Wayne Brady is actually a robot designed solely for entertainment — and you know they would break into a Presidential address to report such a thing — it shouldn’t surprise anyone. The star of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and host of Let’s Make a…

Drumming Up Some Fun

During a performance of Kodo One Earth, you’re treated to an array of sights and sounds. The word kodo means two things in Japanese: “heartbeat” and “children of the drum.” The heartbeat is the primary source of all rhythm, and the drums are played simply during the show, like the…

Pope of Trash Returns to Dallas

When you’re asked to name a great American storyteller in an opinion-based parlor game or meaningless survey, old fogies like Mark Twain, Garrison Keillor and Ernest Hemingway spring to mind. But director John Waters should be the first person you think of. The easily offended deem him and his artistic…

All the Prettiest Songs

While some of us prefer our tales of romance a little more ride-off-into-the-sunset-y, there’s no denying that the gold standard of love stories is a rather depressing account of teen suicide. For 400 years, Romeo and Juliet has been inspiring us to seek a love worth dying for — whether…

Brahms!

Dallas Symphony Orchestra, in something of a reverse sequel to last year’s performance of his Piano Concerto No. 2, presents Brahms’ grand Piano Concerto No. 1. Undoubtedly, the composition deserves a mighty player, and in the robust Yefim Bronfman the work finds a fitting suitor. Beautiful and subtle one moment,…

Chefs Spicing Up the Menu

Chef Mat McCallister’s design district spot FT33 is as sizzling hot as it has ever been, which says a lot given the oft-fickle nature of foodie culture. The brash, inked-up McCallister knows that veggies can be more culinarily interesting than the proteins we worship in Texas, and he’s not afraid…

Shoes Off in the Kitchen

Ina Garten, otherwise known as the Barefoot Contessa, is the queen of getting the culinary dirty work in any recipe done ahead of time. To hear her tell it, you’re actually supposed to enjoy cooking and entertaining! Whether it’s chicken matzoh-ball soup or sophisticated party plates you’re after, Her Food…

It’s the End of the World As We Know It

Two of theater’s most talented performers are Taylor Mac and Mandy Patinkin. In my opinion, there aren’t many people who hold a candle to these two. Throw director and choreographer Susan Stroman into the equation and you’ve got a dream team of contemporary American theater stars. On the value of…

A Play With Any Other Ending Might be Nicer

If we’re honest, no one wants their love affair to play out like Romeo and Juliet’s. I mean, they both end up with eyelids closed, arms crossed, six feet underground. But the ill-fated, star-crossed romance is certainly a thing of legend. It’s performed everywhere, but almost always acted by people…

Podcast: Fifty Shades of Grey, Starring Sex Batman

Fifty Shades of Grey is opening is nationwide, and in New York, Village Voice film editor Alan Scherstuhl connects via the magic of the Internet with LA Weekly film critic Amy Nicholson discuss the hotly anticipated movie starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, adapted from the E. L. James novel…

11 Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Dallas

Here at Mixmaster we don’t do things the normal way. You can wine and dine us all night on Valentine’s Day and we’ll still be waiting for the good stuff. You know, the creative stuff. We’ve compiled a list of activities that might make acceptable celebrations of Valentine’s Day. Maybe…

5 Films to Catch at the Thin Line Film and Music Festival in Denton

By Stanton Brasher One of DFW’s longest-running festivals, The Thin Line Film and Music Festival, returns this month with a mouth-watering slate of international selections. From the Rangerettes of Kilgore, TX (“Sweethearts of the Gridiron”) to the inner thoughts of children all over the world (“I am Eleven”), Thin Line…

Best Craigslist Missed Connections in Dallas

Paris has the Pont de l’Archevêché, a bridge where couples attach notes signifying their everlasting love. Verona has Casa di Giulietta, the supposed home of Shakespeare’s Juliet, where lovelorn supplicants flock to offer their prayers. Dallas, well, Dallas doesn’t have a grand, romantic locale of that order. But let’s be…