Weekend Event Planner

The Marvel Experience at Fair Park headlines best weekend events in Dallas

For the next three weeks, the world of Marvel Comics takes over Dallas-Fort Worth with two massive events. But if superheroes aren't your thing, there are still plenty of other options on the docket, including a Disney musical, the continuation of Dallas Medianale and a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, January 15

The Marvel Experience: The World's First Hyper-Reality Tour
If you thought seeing Iron Man, Captain America or The Avengers was a spectacle, just wait until you get to virtually experience the world yourself. This unique event features multiple activities in seven domes, a life-size Avengers Quinjet, a 4-D motion ride and more, all located at Fair Park through January 31.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast
When national theater productions come to the area, Dallas and Fort Worth generally get them back-to-back. But it took a solid nine months for Disney's Beauty and the Beast to make its way from Winspear Opera House in Dallas to Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The tale is worth the wait, and it runs through Sunday.

Friday, January 16

Rhythm in Fusion Festival
The Rhythm in Fusion Festival is a chance for lovers of tap dance to immerse themselves in the art form. Over four days, top national dancers, choreographers and industry professionals take part in classes and workshops at the Majestic Theatre to teach locals the ins and outs of tap. The festival culminates with a showcase on Sunday night.

Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx (POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL 23)
Singer Dennis DeYoung, one of the founding members of the rock group Styx, hasn't been an official member of the group since a split in 1999. But the man responsible for such classic songs as "Lady," "Come Sail Away" and "Mr. Roboto" hasn't let that stop him, and he carries on the group's legacy with this concert at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.

Saturday, January 17

Video Association of Dallas presents Dallas Medianale
The Video Association of Dallas is presenting this experimental film festival at McKinney Avenue Contemporary through February 28. As part of that event, they open an exhibition titled "Call and Response" on Saturday, featuring works by artists like Bruce Nauman, Joe Sola, Francis Alys, Gary Hill and Owen Kydd.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Cameron Carpenter
You don't usually picture energy and showmanship when it comes to classical music, but that's exactly what organist Cameron Carpenter brings to the table. He shows off his considerable skills on the Meyerson Symphony Center's Fisk Opus 100 organ at this special, one-night-only concert.

2015 Artopia
The annual Artopia, put on by the Dallas Observer at Centennial Hall at Fair Park, blends culture, fashion, art, music and food for an unforgettable night. Not only is it an opportunity to see some of the best of the Dallas-Fort Worth arts world, it's a way to help the arts flourish, as proceeds go toward grants for local artists.

Sunday, January 18

Travis Tritt in concert
Travis Tritt is one of those country singers who can live forever on his best work. Despite not having any hit songs since the early 2000s, Tritt and his fans can still bring themselves back to his heyday thanks to songs like "I'm Gonna Be Somebody," "Here's a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" and "Foolish Pride." He regales the crowd at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts with songs new and old.

Anjelah Johnson in concert
You may not immediately recognize the name of comedian Anjelah Johnson, but chances are that you know her face. She was a featured performer on MADtv and she's starred in commercials for Taco Cabana since 2011. Johnson gets back to her stand-up roots with this show at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

The 32nd Annual Black Music & Civil Rights Movement Concert and Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
This year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Monday, January 19, is more high-profile than usual with the release of the Oscar-worthy film Selma. This event at Meyerson Symphony Center features a variety of presentations honoring the civil rights leader's legacy, including film, music, narration and dance features.

The Marvel Experience brings the world of Marvel comic books and films to life at Cotton Bowl Stadium through February 1.

Photo courtesy of Marvel Experience

The Marvel Experience brings the world of Marvel comic books and films to life at Cotton Bowl Stadium through February 1.

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RIP Mark

Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65

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Mark Ridlen RIP

A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65.

From his appearance in Ron Howard’s 1978 directorial debut, Cotton Candy, to his groups Quad Pi, Lithium X-mas, and a plethora of side projects with scores of DFW musicians, to his full-time job as a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

He surfed pretty much every musical wave: from Dallas' epochal dance music scene in the early 80s, to punk rock to his role as one of Dallas' top DJs — the guy you called when you wanted your event to be cool and fun.

Ridlen had been quietly battling kidney and lung cancer for the past three years. Over the summer, he had his second kidney removed, which meant he was on dialysis treatment a couple times a week.

He remained upbeat, but according to friends of the family, two more tumors were recently found in his brain. His family and friends decided to forego further treatment and were by his side when he died.

He remained in demand until his passing. In May, he DJed a party at the Kessler Theater, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Starck Club, the legendary '80s dance music club designed by Philippe Starck, which had a huge influence on Dallas, and which Ridlen was part of.

He was invited to DJ at the Starck Club when it opened in 1984 and remained in that role until the club closed in 1989.

Reid mark ridlen Mark Ridlen (right) with close friend Reid RobiinsonFacebook

From there, he migrated to Expo Park, the underground neighborhood across from Fair Park where art and music ruled. His stints at XPO Lounge, Double Wide, and other neighborhood venues made him a staple in the community.

At the same time, he was a member of Lithium Xmas, a psychedelic art-rock band which he formed with acclaimed musicians Chris Merlick and Greg Synodis.

He was also a pop culture savant with a comprehensive knowledge of music, who balanced a low-key charm with a vibrant sense of style, whether it was a vivid pop-art tunic or a flashy sequinned jacket, he did it all with originality and panache.

In late August, a large circle of musicians and friends rallied to participate in a benefit for Ridlen, to help pay for his medical costs — a sweet indication of the high regard in which he was held.

“I do want people to know that I am not being slowed down by cancer,” Ridlen said at the time. “I'm ready to continue working. I have more-or-less a clean bill of health for the moment, and hopefully that doesn't change.”

Survivors include his mother Nancy and his brother David. A memorial service is in the works with details still to be announced.

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