Weekend Event Planner

These are the 9 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Mid-October brings a music-heavy weekend to the Dallas area, including the symphony, a comedian/singer, two country music icons, a Latin superstar, and one of the hottest rappers around. As if that's not enough, you can also get up close and personal with movie and TV celebrities.

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, October 13

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Tchaikovsky 4"
For their latest concert, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is playing to audiences both inside and outside. For the Thursday, Friday, and Sunday performances, they are performing a full concert at Meyerson Symphony Center, with guest violinist August Hadelich. On Saturday, they are performing a free condensed concert (only Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4) in the CenterPark Garden at NorthPark Center.

Bridget Everett in concert
Hot off the heels of her Comedy Central special Gynecological Wonder, her recurring appearances on Inside Amy Schumer, and a jaw-dropping appearance in the blockbuster film Trainwreck, comedian and singer Bridget Everett hits the stage at House of Blues Dallas armed with a bottle (or two) of Chardonnay, as well as the songs and stories from her unique brand of comedy cabaret.

Friday, October 14

Dallas Comic Con Fan Days
As little as three months ago, the idea that a 12-year-old British girl would be the big star at Dallas Comic Con Fan Days would have been laughable. But then Stranger Things premiered on Netflix, and Millie Bobby Brown became the toast of Hollywood. She, along with the likes of Karl Urban, Christian Slater, Ian Ziering, Adam West, and Burt Ward, are appearing at the pop culture convention, taking place at the Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas through Sunday.

Improv Addison presents Nikki Glaser
Nikki Glaser is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young comedians, as she is the creator, executive producer, and star of the Comedy Central series Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, where some of comedy’s funniest voices — including Bridgett Everett — joke, learn, and share their personal stories about sex, relationships, and other taboo topics. Glaser brings that energy to Improv Addison for four sets through Saturday.

Keith Urban in concert with Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris
Now that American Idol has taken its final bow, country superstar Keith Urban can focus full-time on his own music career. He's coming back to Dallas for the first time in three years in support of his new album, Ripcord. He's joined at American Airlines Center by opening act Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris.

Kris Kristofferson in concert
In the latest example of appreciating music legends while you can, Texas' own Kris Kristofferson is playing a concert at Annette Strauss Square in support of his new album, Cedar Creek Sessions. The 80-year-old singer has been active in the industry for 50 years, becoming one of the most-respected and awarded musicians in the industry along the way.

Saturday, October 15

The Shops at Park Lane present Parktoberfest
The Park, a landscaped lawn located in the heart of the Shops at Park Lane, is being transformed into a tasting garden where revelers can enjoy multiple beer tents featuring some of Texas’ best craft breweries, along with multiple food options. There's also continuous live local music, fun games, giveaways, a photo booth, and more throughout the day.

Marc Anthony in concert
Singer Marc Anthony has gone through multiple waves in his 25-year career. He hit big highs with 1999's Marc Anthony and 2002's Mended, but his laudable effort to stay true to his roots with Spanish-only albums, while still popular, have not been met with the same level of enthusiasm. He's playing at American Airlines Center as part of his 2016 U.S. tour, Marc Anthony Live!

Sunday, October 16

Chance the Rapper in concert with Francis & the Lights
Aside from superstars like Kanye West or Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper may be the most popular hip-hop artist on the planet right now. He's collaborated with people across the musical and entertainment spectrum, from West to Stephen Colbert, despite having only released a series of mixtapes, including 2016's Coloring Book. He's performing a sold-out show at the Bomb Factory with Francis & the Lights, although you can still find tickets on the secondary market.

Chance the Rapper performs at the Bomb Factory on October 16.

Austin City Limits Festival ACL 2015 Weekend Two Chance the Rapper

Photo by Shelley Neuman

Chance the Rapper performs at the Bomb Factory on October 16.

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Movie Review

New Superman film honors the past while forging into the future

Photo by Jessica Miglio

David Corenswet in Superman.

When the character of Superman was invented in 1938, it was perhaps easier to see the world in good and bad terms. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and the idea of an all-powerful superhero who stood up for people in need was a welcome one. In the nearly 90 years since, though, the world and the character have undergone multiple evolutions, and the thought of someone who is purely good is often met with cynicism or worse.

The new Superman, written and directed by James Gunn, puts the superhero (or metahuman, as the film calls him and similar creatures) squarely in the midst of the modern world, with geopolitical conflicts, mega-corporations, and social media all combining to make the altruism of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) questionable. That skepticism even extends to his coworker/girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), whose knowledge of his exploits puts her in a tricky position personally and professionally.

Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to dominate the world and take down Superman, with his eponymous corporation and vast group of underlings dedicated to doing both. Superman is generally a one-man fighting crew, but he’s occasionally aided by a group calling themselves the Justice Gang, comprised of heroes many have never heard of like Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), a version of Green Lantern; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a flying metahuman; and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who knows all kinds of technology.

One of the best things about this new version of Superman is that it mostly dispenses with introductions, putting the audience in a world where Superman is already a well-known quantity who’s adored by many and hated by some. Gunn has used his new position as co-CEO of DC Studios to honor the past of the hero and take him into the future. With the 1978 John Williams theme song echoing throughout and Corenswet giving off Christopher Reeve vibes, it’s clear Gunn wants audiences to feel nostalgia while still getting something new.

He also appears to want viewers to fight against the negativity that the modern world can bring. The plot involves manipulation of the public, usually at the hands of Luthor, through bombastic talk shows, political theater, and social media, the latter of which - in a great joke - comes to involve hundreds of typing monkeys. The film could be read as a rebuttal of many real-world ills as, despite Luthor’s machinations, many choose to continue to believe in the goodness of Superman.

There is a lot going on in the film, but somehow it never comes off as overly complicated. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane and Luthor’s attempts at taking him down are given the most prominence, with everything else supporting those two main things. The Justice Gang is a fun addition, with Mr. Terrific becoming the breakout hero of the group. The addition of the (CGI) dog Krypto provides levity, poignant moments, and unexpectedly great action scenes. The only part that gets somewhat short shrift is the crew of The Daily Planet, with everyone besides Lois and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) getting little more than face time.

Being the new Superman is a lot to live up to, but Corenswet is completely up to the job. He, like Reeve, plays the character as someone who is earnest but not naive, a quality that comes through even when he’s in the middle of fight scenes. Brosnahan is also fantastic, providing a nice balance to the relationship while also proving the character’s own worth. Hoult makes for a great new version of Luthor, and Gathegi nearly makes the case that Mr. Terrific should get a starring film of his own.

Just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn has shown that success can be found through making characters people want to see. Not everyone in this Superman will be familiar to viewers, but in the end a group of people working together toward a goal that serves the common good is one worth watching and cheering for.

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Superman is now playing in theaters.

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