Weekend Event Planner

Kenny Chesney and Dallas Music District Festival top best weekend events

UPDATE: The St. Vincent concert has been moved indoors, to the Winspear Opera House.

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It's another jam-packed weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth, and hopefully the weather will cooperate to let us enjoy it. There are no fewer than five high-profile concerts, three big festivals and, lest you forget, the return of our annual Tastemaker Awards.

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, May 14

CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards
We've been revealing the nominees for weeks, and now you can finally see who has come out on top at the Tastemaker Awards at the Empire Room. Restaurants like American Food and Beverage, Cane Rosso, Luscher's Red Hots and Public School 214 dole out samples; Bartender of the Year candidates serve Herradura specialty cocktails; and two DJs ensure that the music doesn't stop.

New Kids on the Block in concert with TLC and Nelly
Folks, brace yourself: It's now been more than 30 years since New Kids on the Block officially got their start, which raises the question of whether you can still be called a boy band if you're pushing 50. You can judge for yourself if NKOTB still has it when they perform at American Airlines Center, along with opening acts TLC and Nelly.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in concert
No matter what Noel Gallagher does the rest of his life, he'll always have the shadow of Oasis hanging over him. The acrimonious break-up with his brother Liam in 2009 continues to linger despite the fact that Noel has released two albums with his solo outfit, High Flying Birds. He plays at the Majestic Theatre in support of his 2015 album, somewhat interestingly named Chasing Yesterday.

Friday, May 15

2015 Main Street Fest
Coinciding with National Craft Beer Week, the annual Main Street Fest in Grapevine once again centers on craft brew tasting experiences. But if beer is not your thing — or if you're not of age — there are plenty of great things to enjoy, including live music on five stages, a special kids zone and a carnival midway. The festival lasts through Sunday.

2015 Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
Over the years, the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival has slowly but surely become a player when it comes to drawing big-name bands. In addition to being a showcase for artists, it welcomes, among others, Minus the Bear, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Leon Russell, Fuel, Kansas, Everclear, and Wynonna and the Big Noise. The festival takes place at Galatyn Park in Richardson through Sunday.

Dave Matthews Band in concert
Dave Matthews Band is giving fans their money's worth these days. During both their 2014 and 2015 tours, the band, which performs at Gexa Energy Pavilion, has played two full sets – one acoustic and one electric — ensuring that each and every fan goes home happy.

Saturday, May 16

Dallas Music District Festival
Due to the weather, the inaugural Dallas Music District Festival won't be at its original location, but it should still be a great time for anyone interested in local and regional music. Now taking place in 410 Bedford St. in Trinity Groves on Saturday and Sunday, it features 20 bands, including Jessie Frye, Jonathan Tyler, Somebody's Darling, MOTHXR, Donald Cumming and Ishi.

Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean in concert
Last we saw country superstars Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean, they were both receiving trophies at the 50th annual ACM Awards at AT&T Stadium. They return to the scene of their triumphs to show exactly why they were deserving of the plaudits, with Chesney supporting his 2014 album, The Big Revival, and Aldean supporting his 2014 album, Old Boots, New Dirt. They are joined by Brantley Gilbert, Cole Swindell and Old Dominion.

Sunday, May 17

2015 Uptown Ciclovia
If any event is hoping for good weather on Sunday, it's this one. The second annual Uptown Ciclovia shuts down streets between Klyde Warren Park and Katy Trail so that cyclists, pedestrians, roller skaters and other non-motorized modes of transportation can enjoy a car-free area. There are loads of booths and activities, and if you want to do some shopping or eating at the stores and restaurants along the strip, all the better.

Soluna Festival: St. Vincent
The Soluna Festival continues for another week, but this concert is arguably one of the biggest highlights. Local girl made good St. Vincent returns home to play a special concert with several Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians. Originally it was scheduled for Annette Strauss Square, but it has been moved indoors to the Winspear Opera House due to weather.

Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean perform at AT&T Stadium on May 16.

0012, RodeoHouston, Kenny Chesney concert, March 2013

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean perform at AT&T Stadium on May 16.

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Movie Review

Revived Coyote vs. Acme shows Looney Tunes’ enduring appeal

Photo courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment

Wile E. Coyote in Coyote vs. Acme.

No movie studio has gone through more ups and downs in the past few years than Warner Bros. In 2022, they oddly shelved two mostly-completed movies, Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. But the next few years brought major movies like Barbie, Dune Part Two, Sinners, Superman, Weapons, and One Battle After Another, giving them a huge boost. Strangely, that led directly into a proposed sale to Paramount that is now going through legal battles.

Another previously-shelved Warner Bros. movie, Coyote vs. Acme, is now seeing the light of day thanks to a deal with a small company called Ketchup Entertainment. Taking its cue from the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, the film creates a world in which Wile E. Coyote - sick of constantly being thwarted in his pursuit of Road Runner by faulty Acme products - decides to sue the company.

To do so, he approaches the law firm of Avery, Jones & Maltese, led by Kevin Avery (Will Forte). The firm typically takes on small cases that are easy to settle, but - with a little subterfuge from Wile E. Coyote - they are soon presenting Acme and its lead attorney, Buddy Crane (John Cena), with a lawsuit that could be worth millions of dollars. Naturally, the big corporation won’t give in without a fight, leading to all sorts of shenanigans on both sides.

Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, the film is a fun mixture of nostalgia and clever storytelling. Most of Looney Tunes’ classic characters make an appearance in the film, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Sylvester. The two, other than Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, who get the most play are Tweety, who appears in some of the movie’s funniest scenes, and Foghorn Leghorn, reimagined as the CEO of Acme.

The blend of live action and animation is not quite on the level of something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but it is still effective. It also affords the film plenty of opportunities to employ Looney Tunes’ signature brand of cartoon violence that doesn’t actually leave lasting damage. The gags are very familiar for those who grew up on the studio’s short films, but combined with the inventive ways in which they’re used and the pointed jabs at corporate culture, they become somewhat fresh again.

Naturally, there are plenty of references in the film, starting with the name of the law firm, which pays homage to legendary directors Chuck Avery and Chuck Jones, as well as writer/animator Michael Maltese. Sly jokes that could turn the film from PG to PG-13 sneak their way in, although they steer clear of elements that haven’t aged well (documented in a recent viral comedy clip). But the film is at its best when it leans into the well-earned traits of its favorite characters and just lets them cook.

Forte is a great scene partner for Wile E. Coyote, as he can turn even minor slights into comedy gold. His deadpan reactions are the ideal way to counter the insanity going on around him. Cena has proven in other films that he has great comic timing, and he demonstrates that skill well here, too, especially in a fantastic scene opposite Tweety. The voice talent does a good job with the iconic characters, although the legendary Mel Blanc remains the gold standard.

Coyote vs. Acme is not a world-changing movie by any means, but it is a fun twist on the characters many know and love that deserved to be seen by moviegoers. Wile E. Coyote may never actually catch Road Runner, but this movie shows that his unceasing attempts remain entertaining after all these years.

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Coyote vs. Acme is now playing in theaters.

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