Work Your Puzzling Wizard Magic in The Wizard of Blox 2

Welcome to another edition of Geek-Offs, where you’ll find the perfect distractions to help you muddle your way through hump day each week. Forget about square pegs in round holes and all that mumbo jumbo. Instead, you’re going to have to abracadabra your way through disappearing shapes in this week’s…

The People of Artopia and More From a Nutcrackingly Good Night

First let me say: it was a pleasure cracking nuts with you at the Dallas Contemporary. Lots and lots going on last night to talk about–from the installation pieces (curated by Brian Gibb of the Public Trust) to the fashion show–but the night certainly kept-on with the bright rock-pop of…

Picture Show: The Winners of the 2011 MasterMinds Awards

It’s on the stands and on-the-webs now: the finalists of our second annual art awards (the MasterMinds). That’s right, we’ve named ’em, and it’s all a big ol’ countdown to our fancy pants Artopia party on Saturday at the Dallas Contemporary. If you’re not going to that, shame on you…

The MasterMinds Finalists: Part Three

Winnowing down Dallas’ growing, dynamic community of artists to three MasterMinds involved some tough choices. The process was like lining up at a vast buffet prepared by an outstanding chef: too many wonderful selections and too little room on our plates. On the way to naming the winners, our judges…

The MasterMinds Finalists: Part Two

Winnowing down Dallas’ growing, dynamic community of artists to three MasterMinds involved some tough choices. The process was like lining up at a vast buffet prepared by an outstanding chef: too many wonderful selections and too little room on our plates. On the way to naming the winners, our judges…

Seek, Find, Snap, Post: Win Tickets with the Artopia Box Hunt

You’re probably so used to seeing those red Observer boxes that you don’t really see them anymore. That’s why local artists Taro-Kun, Magnificent Beard, Lunch Buddies, Fur Face Boy & Sleepy Dan, Kyle Confehr & Favio Moreno wrapped some chosen dispensers with their incredible creativity. All that work (and so…

A Gathering Gathers Momentum at Rehearsal

If the run-through Monday night is any indication of the breadth of talent taking part in the December 6 benefit event called A Gathering, the real thing is going to be quite a show. In the ninth floor studio at the Wyly Theatre, actors, singers, musicians and dancers rehearsed their…

The MasterMinds Finalists: Part One

Winnowing down Dallas’ growing, dynamic community of artists to three MasterMinds involved some tough choices. The process was like lining up at a vast buffet prepared by an outstanding chef: too many wonderful selections and too little room on our plates. On the way to naming the winners, our judges…

So, Black Friday at the Walmart in Mesquite Got Nuts

You knew there’d be at least one insane-ass Black Friday video. Over on Unfair Park, Robert hat-tipped to a story of a Los Angeles woman who hosed down some shoppers with pepper spray (sorta totally like this dude!). Well, you just knew it was coming: our sister paper the Denver…

Gratitude: These Local Artists Are Giving Thanks

Pamela and Dylan, Dowdy Studio We are so very thankful for all the great holiday foods we’re about to pig out on, and also thankful that the menu won’t be including cat sandwiches, because they’re really tricky to prepare and would probably taste like fur balls…

Zone Out from Holiday Stress with Klick Tock’s ZONR

Welcome to another edition of Geek-Offs, where you’ll find the perfect distractions to help you muddle your way through hump day each week. Are you ready for tomorrow’s festivities? Chances are you’ve already prepared yourself for the barrage of questions from the out-of-towners who want to know why you’re not…

Cedars Open Studios Exposed the Day-to-day of Local Artists

On Saturday, as a part of the 9th annual Cedars Open Studios, more than 60 artists provided the opportunity to share a little insight into their own creativity by opening up their studios to the public. Complete with food, music, and of course, wine, most studios were at capacity with…

School Yourself in the Ways of Sneaky in Sticky Ninja Academy

Welcome to another edition of Geek-Offs, where you’ll find the perfect distractions to help you muddle your way through hump day each week. We love ninjas. Big time. And what’s not to love? Those little dudes can do everything – the high flying, shuriken throwing, super sneaky shinobi have been…

Partying for a Cause: Black Tie Dinner at Sheraton Dallas

“Who are you wearing?” was the first thing I heard as I stepped into the pre-dinner reception at the Sheraton Dallas. “Betsey Johnson,” I said to the inquirer. I love events full of gay men. The annual Black Tie Dinner is certainly one of those events. Not that there isn’t…

While in Dallas, Jean Paul Gaultier Shops Dolly Python

After seeing this snapshot of Dolly Python’s lovely Gretchen Bell with the legendary Jean Paul Gaultier pop up on the store’s Facebook page, we had to call the store. Mixmaster: “Is he still there?” Dolly Python’s Brian Green, without so much as a pause: “No, he left about 15 minutes…

DFW Stage Talent Give It the Old Holidazzle on Charity CD

Get a bunch of local musical theater stars together and there will be singing. Plus some gratuitous kissy-face, lots of hugs and a little gossip about who’s got what role where. Monday night at Kalita Humphreys Theater, dozens of DFW’s busiest professional actors mingled with family and friends at a…

DSO’s van Zweden Named Musical America‘s Conductor of the Year

Musical America thinks what’s been conducted is fantastic, but let’s be honest, it’s focusing on what’s going to be conducted and who will be waving a special Super Conductor baton for the next year. 2012, y’all. The performing arts news organization named Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Jaap van Zweden Conductor of…