There’s nothing more American that grilling burgers, lighting things on fire and passing out drunk in a bedazzled flag shirt. That’s right: It’s time to celebrate our independence and what better way than to catch a screening of an American classic in which the Motor City descends into hell where…
For some July 4th weekend pure happiness: The Dallas Comedy House flash-mobbed Half Price Books, and there’s smile-inducing video to prove it. Comedy House mob leader Clay Barton has confirmed the DCH performed the number this month at Half Price Books on Northwest highway. We’re certain this needs to happen…
Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the death of one of literature’s manliest men: Ernest Hemingway. About a month ago, author Marty Beckerman released his latest book, The Heming Way. I figured it might be a tribute until I read the subhead, How to Unleash the Booze-Inhaling, Animal-Slaughtering, War-Glorifying, Hairy-Chested,…
For obvious reasons, last decade saw a deluge of Texans descending onto Capitol Hill in the form of congressional interns, staffers, lobbyists and journalists. Today many of these “expats” are back Lone Star State-side and, impossible to rehabilitate, have since gone to law school, gotten MBAs or continued writing fervently…
There’s something quaint and elegant about seeing Shakespeare Dallas’ summer shows on the grassy lawn of the outdoor amphitheater at Tenison Park. Even if you’re wearing cut-offs and flip-flops, and picnicking on Slim Jims and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, it still counts as high culture. Goodness knows, in our crass, Snooki-fied…
My friend Kelly and I have been taking Boot Camp with Will from Power 212 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 a.m. for the past three weeks. And we’ve lived to tell about it. First of all, it’s a small miracle I can even type after Boot Camp. Ninety…
Last night, some of the state’s most fashionable people descended on the Design District to celebrate original Texas fashion — yes, it does exist. It was the fourth annual Texas Next Top Designer Announcement Gala at eM the Venue with a runway show featuring 20 designers from around the state…
Last week I interviewed stand-up comedian/actor Ahmed Ahmed, who’s currently touring the U.S. to promote his directorial debut, the wonderful documentary Just Like Us. In the film, out on screens for a week now here in Dallas, Ahmed takes us and his stand-up routine around the world, showing a diversity…
Though now into her second year of producing Viva Dallas Burlesque, Shoshana Portnoy still finds that the best way of filling seats is walking up to people and asking if they’ve ever been to burlesque show before. Despite the word-of-mouth marketing strategy, Portnoy and her show have legitimatized burlesque as…
Like fireworks and fire ants, Shakespeare in the park is part of the summer landscape. Shakespeare Dallas, now in its 40th season, is already under way, with two classics in production. For the first time, they’ve strayed from the words of the Bard to put another author’s work on the…
For a movie called Larry Crowne, it sure is tough to get a solid read on the character of Larry Crowne. Directed, co-written by and starring Tom Hanks in that title role, the film seems to want to be some kind of post-recessional pick-me-up, an “It Gets Better” video for…
The two hours and 34 minutes of Transformers: Dark of the Moon are loaded with unimaginable violence, but only one spasm left the audience speechless at the theater where I watched it. They cheered the robot-on-robot slugfests, rendered in terabyte-straining slow motion and splashing Decepticon blood (oil?). The destruction of…
What the hell is the Village at Fairview trying to pull? They’re screening family-friendly movies for free on the first Saturday of the month throughout the summer and, get this, inviting families to come watch them. Together. We’re a little bit suspicious, as frankly, the idea of watching a movie…
The comedy scene is a three-ring circus, so it makes sense, that one of its greats is a former ringmaster. Paul Mooney started his career cracking jokes during his stint with the Gatti-Charles Circus, went on to write for Richard Pryor and Redd Fox’s Sanford and Son, and acted in…
Corn dogs are so inherently American that whenever someone says something is “as American as apple pie,” I mentally substitute the pie with “corn dogs.” It has been a long time since baking from scratch a pastry with fresh fruit was a significant part of the American cultural landscape. A…
There are two kinds of people in this world: Those that celebrate their country’s independence by guzzling beer and grilling bratwursts, and those that celebrate by going on an EIGHT THOUSAND meter run around East Dallas. If you belong to the latter group, then this Fourth of July, you won’t…
Frank Deford, arguably the best sportswriter in America, once told me that everyone’s fascination with soccer is as if the whole world likes bad movies. I get it. It’s slow, overly dramatic and you can watch for hours without seeing a point. But, it’s also a great way to show…
With Hollywood turning out flops when it comes to the world of horror, thrill seekers and gore fanatics alike have given up hope on producers making a piss-your-pants-flick. Why wait around for a true horror-crazed director, when the West End has the biggest rush for any terror junkie. The Fatal…
Be forewarned, we don’t know anything about gambling on sporting events. We’re aware there is a home-field advantage in every sport, and baseball recognizes home as a special place more than any other. We fans “root, root for the home team” in a sport that brought us home plate, the…
Although Ol’ Blue Eyes has been gone for more than a decade, there is probably no better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than dancing the night away to a collection of the 20th Century’s most popular Big Band favorites . The Garland Opry will present a Las Vegas-inspired Frank…
A trip to Central Market is a treat unto itself. With their majestic bakery, delicious deli, never-ending cheese selection, and over 350 varieties of beer (!!!), it’s far more than just a grocery store–it’s a godsent haven for all North Texas foodies. On top of their killer grocery selection, the…
When I was little, the fireworks in my hometown were shot up over the roof of the local Target store and half the fun was watching the store manager race maniacally back and forth on the rooftop, stomping out embers. These days, as parts of this state continue to experience…
