Best Things To Do in Dallas This Weekend

Friday

Turtle Creek Chorale has chosen anthems of past and present "to help bring peace and harmony to our chaotic humanity" in its program at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St. "We Shall Overcome" and the premiere of a new commissioned piece, "Peacekeeper," will be among the selections, says Sean Baugh, artistic director. The chorale, founded in 1980, will present Peacemaker awards to three people chosen for their roles in uniting the community — Dale Hansen, sports anchor, WFAA-TV; Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings; and board chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Matrice Ellis-Kirk. For tickets ($25 to $65) and more information, call 214-526-3214 or visit turtlecreekchorale.com. Reba Liner

It takes some guts to play the role of Patsy Cline in a show originating at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. It's sort of like premiering Jesus Christ Superstar at St. Peter's Basilica. That didn't stop singer Mandy Barnett from successfully originating the role of Cline in the theatrical production Always … Patsy Cline at the Ryman. Did Barnett pull it off? Well, there'll always be only one Patsy Cline, but you can see how close Barnett comes as she performs Sweet Dreams: The Music of Patsy Cline at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday the Bank of America Theatre at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson. Tickets for Friday's show are nearly sold out, but you can see what's left or book tickets for Thursday at eisemanncenter.com. They cost $40. Patrick Williams

What's a water circus, you ask? Well, dummy, first off, it's a "cirque," not a circus, which means it's European, which means no elephants but lots of acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, etc. The water part means the show has a stage that includes 35,000 gallons of water that jets up in time with the performers doing their acts above it. Frankly, if it included a little clown drowning, we'd be down, but then we're cruel. For you normal people, Cirque Italia brings its fountains and performers to Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway in Grapevine. The wet fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with more shows through April 1. See the full schedule and buy tickets, $10 to $40, at cirqueitalia.com. Patrick Williams

Led Zeppelin II is a Chicago-based tribute act to Led Zeppelin. The members look the part and sound the part, as you'd expect them to. The four-piece will play the House of Blues, which welcomes tribute acts year-round. Highly lauded for its near-replication of how Zeppelin was live, the band gives a looseness to the sound. If you've always wanted to experience something like The Song Remains the Same, give this a chance. 8 p.m. Friday, March 23, House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., houseofblues.com, $15-$35. Eric Grubbs

Beck has gone from sneering, genre-busting rap-rocker to today’s polished poptimist in a career arc both surprising and somehow sadly predictable. It’s the usual route, really: Rock star goes from ambitious, caustic youngster to restrained elder statesman. But for some reason, with Beck, it never seemed like it would shake out like this. Still, if you’re a fan of meticulously crafted pop with a few eccentric curly-cues added in for good measure, Beck’s still your man. He’s still mixing genres, too, more or less. There’s a raplike rhythm to his sleepy delivery, a slight experimental bent to his choice of instrumentation and the way he pieces it all together. Jazz, blues, new wave, college rock — they’re all in there, too. Beck might not be pushing boundaries anymore, but he’s matured into a writer who’s more or less freewheeling it with the conventions of the Great American Songbook. And like Bob Dylan before him, he might just find some fresh ideas in there yet. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 23, Toyota Music Factory, 316 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, livenation.com, $59 and up. Jonathan Patrick

Saturday

Yes, burgers and sandwiches are delicious, but have you ever tried mini burgers or sandwiches? Some call them sliders, and three sliders are better than one burger or sandwich because even though it’s the same amount of food, mini is just cuter. And better. Just believe us. To celebrate all things cute and delicious, the Dallas Observer is hosting Between the Buns, an unlimited slider sample fest where 30 restaurants from all over DFW will have their best sliders. The event is in the late afternoon until dinner time, so maybe take a date. Or a friend. Or your mom who has never seen such cute little sandwiches before. Oh, and did we mention alcohol will be there, too? Have fun. It's from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at Dallas Farmers Market, 920 S. Harwood St., and tickets start at $25. For more information, visit betweenthebunsdallas.com. Paige Skinner

Enjoy the spring weather, put on your comfy shoes and pay homage to our state flower with a free Saturday bluebonnet tour led by a docent at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, 2943 SMU Blvd. Tours start at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., run about 30 to 40 minutes and continue Saturdays through June 2. Space is limited so it's first come, first served. You may also choose a self-guided tour. Besides the bluebonnets, the 14-acre park features wildflowers, native Texas grassses, and habitats for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Visitors may explore Texas environments such as blackland prairie, post oak savannah and cross timbers forest. If you're booking a large group, call 214-346-1650 or email [email protected]. Remember, this is a federal facility, so leave your weapons in the car. Reba Liner

Everything’s coming up golden at this weekend’s sweetest Easter treat. The Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at NorthBark Dog Park, 4899 Gramercy Oaks Drive. Dogs of all breeds and their humans are welcome to join this egg hunt that benefits GRRNT’s rescue efforts. Friendly pups can frolic, hunt for goodies and enjoy plenty of bunny bounty, and their human companions can get in on the fun, too. Admission is $10. For more information about the event and the adoption program, visit goldenretrievers.org. Jennifer Davis-Lamm

Before settling in for what should be a very fun night of raucous glam-rock from Mississippi hell-raisers The Weeks, check into Club Dada early for the opening set by Caroline Rose. The 11 tracks on Rose's recent album, I Will Not Be Afraid, transition through a variety of genres and styles. Self-described as "postcards I've picked up from along the road," the tunes at times shimmer with '70s-era disco-funk-infused beats that slyly force the listener into tapping along in rhythm. Elsewhere, there are snippets of Timberlake-esque pop, girl-group syncopated chants and even some country-tinged wailing thrown in for good measure. Punctuating it all are Rose's sharp and cutting sense of humor and penchant for observing the nuances and subtleties of daily existence. It's one of the year's sharpest listens so far and should make for a fascinating live performance. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $12-$15. Jeff Strowe

Sunday

Running on a treadmill is for the weak. Well, we don’t know that because we’ve never actually tried, but running on a treadmill looks weak. You’re better off running outside in the good ol’ nature, surrounded by thousands of like-minded people (who don't include us). Throw in some live bands, too, and maybe some cheer teams to really keep you motivated. And if you really want to be over the top and, well, nice, then run for charity. When you run, charities gain awareness and money to keep saving the world. Rock ’N’ Roll Dallas, the city’s largest half-marathon, starts at 8 a.m. Sunday at Reunion Lawn, 692 Sports St. If you can’t handle that, run Saturday's 5K instead. Registration starts at $49.99 at runrocknroll.com/dallas. Paige Skinner