Kill Boredom With These Five Free & Cheap Culture Events This Week

Somehow, even with all of the things to do in our very large city, we find ourselves bored. There’s nothing to do, you say, as you start that next episode of Seinfeld and wallow in ennui. You may not be cool enough to get invited to parties on the weeknight, but there is plenty to do this week that doesn’t involve sitting at home in your pajamas and complaining about how hot it is.

It’s easy to get caught up in just how much you’d like to be a couch potato, but you’ve gotta force yourself outdoors occasionally. Try any one of these five free and cheap culture events this week, and even if you hate it, it won’t cost you more than $10. You don’t really have an excuse to stay inside when you could be drinking beer with birds, celebrating the start of the French Revolution, or hanging out at a museum at night instead.

Bastille On Bishop
Tuesday, July 14
Bishop Arts District
Free-$25

Believe it or not, another country has an important holiday in July. Bastille Day is a celebration of the beginning of the French Revolution, and in the United States it’s basically just a good excuse to drink and eat crepes. The annual Bishop Arts festival is the best way to spend your day feeling totally French as you browse the boutiques with a glass of wine and macarons. Reserve your wine glass in advance and receive two tokens for free food or wine pours. Don’t forget to play a rowdy game of pentaque on the new court before you leave!

Downtown Night Of Style
Thursday, July 16
Dallas Fort Work
Free-$25

According to Dallas Fort Work, a Downtown event space, our city’s hub is in the midst of a revitalization, evidenced by the number of boutiques and retail spaces popping up across the neighborhood. In celebration of Downtown Dallas’ on-trend newcomers, the venue will host the inaugural Downtown Night Of Style, featuring fashion that reflects the city’s casual and chic start-up culture. Admission is free, but a $25 VIP pass entitles you to a free swag bag, snacks from Spice In The City Catering, and a model meet-and-greet.

Birds & Brew
Thursday, July 16
Trinity Audubon Center
$6

If you ever feel like you need to spend a little more time in nature, the Trinity Audubon Center is the place to do it. Even though temperatures are scorching right now, the evenings aren’t so bad, making them a perfect time to stroll through the center’s beautifully maintained landscape and hang out with some cool-ass birds of prey. You can explore the trails at sunset, hang out in the air-conditioned inside exhibits, and drink plenty of beer from local breweries while patting yourself on the back for finally getting outside for a damn change.

Til’ Midnight
Friday, July 17
Nasher Sculpture Center
Free

The Nasher’s ‘til Midnight series continues to be one of the best ways to spend a Friday night without spending more than a couple of bucks, and this week is no exception. In addition to live music from Fort Worth’s AYA and Dallas’ Valise, the Nasher will screen Tim Burton’s Big Fish, a 2014 film about pop artist Margaret Keane, known for her signature big eyes in paintings and drawings. You can also pre-order a picnic dinner and just generally enjoy hanging out in the Nasher’s always-gorgeous sculpture garden until midnight.

Dallas Comic Book Show
Saturday, July 18
Doubletree Hotel - Market Center
$10

If you’ve got a passion for comic books, gather with your nerdy brethren at the Dallas Comic Book Show this weekend. Plenty of celebrities of varying fame, including writers, creators and actors from popular comic book films, will be on hand, and you could even meet the dude who played Captain Apollo in Battlestar Galactica. Bring extra cash for browsing through the thousands of comic books, toys and other geeky memorabilia, and prepare your best cosplay. The annual cosplay contest by the pool is a crowd-pleasing favorite.