Weekend Event Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

It's going to be a throwback kind of weekend in Dallas, as there will be multiple concerts headlined by singers or bands who got their start decades ago. You can jump in a musical time machine or be part of a film festival, a big stand-up comedy event, a storytelling event headlined by a former Fox News anchor, a car-free bike ride around the city, an early holiday celebration, and more.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time Thursday through Monday. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, November 2

Toad the Wet Sprocket in concert
For those who came of age in the 1990s, the band Toad the Wet Sprocket still brings back fond memories. They had a peak of around four years thanks to hits like "All I Want," "Walk on the Ocean," "Something's Always Wrong," and "Good Intentions." They'll look back on their career, which includes 2013's New Constellation, with this special concert at House of Blues Dallas.

Dallas VideoFest 30 presents Alternative Fiction Fest
Dallas VideoFest 30 presents the final series of films in its fall season, Alternative Fiction Fest, featuring dozens of narrative features, TV-focused special events, and shorts over the course of four days. The narratives that make up the majority of AltFiction Fest explore this moment in time at the intersection between media and how cinema artists can create original work in this new world. The festival will take place at Angelika Film Center Dallas.

Bill Engvall in concert
Comedian Bill Engvall is a Texas original who got his start in the stand-up scene in Dallas. He went on to become a successful actor/comedian thanks to his multi-platinum comedy album, Here's Your Sign, and his collaboration with Jeff Foxworthy on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. While his work in the 21st century has been mostly acting, he'll get back to his first love with this performance at Winspear Opera House.

Friday, November 3

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band in concert
With only two remaining living Beatles, it's best to stand up and take notice when one of them comes to town. Ringo Starr comes to town with his All Starr Band, a band that includes Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Warren Ham, and Gregg Bissonette. This line-up first came together in 2012 and has been touring together since. They'll play at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in support of Starr's new album, Give More Love.

Oral Fixation presents Jump Off a Cliff
The season opener for Oral Fixation, Jump Off a Cliff, will be one to remember, as it's headlined by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. Carlson, who sued Fox CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment, will draw from her new book, Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. The book highlights how she completely transformed her life by jumping off a cliff in her career, a transformation so impactful it inspired Oral Fixation to assemble this special show, featuring an all-female cast. The performance will be at Hamon Hall inside Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, November 4

Dallas Bike Ride
Dallas Bike Ride is a celebration of bicycling in Big D. It’s the only day you can adventure around the city by bike with no cars. Bicyclists of all ages (3 and up) and all riding abilities are invited to participate. The ride, starting at Dallas City Hall, will go for 20 miles on car-free, safe streets, offering beautiful skyline views.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Holiday at the Arboretum
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will present Holiday at the Arboretum, with several new nighttime events to get everyone in the holiday spirit. The new exhibition in the historic DeGolyer House is "The Nutcracker Suite," a collection of more than 800 nutcrackers on display in various rooms lavishly decorated to resemble scenes from the ballet. Back again is "The 12 Days of Christmas" exhibit, which will be viewable both during the day and on select nights. Holiday at the Arboretum will run through January 7.

University Crossing presents Mockingbird Bridge and Trail Community Event
The long-anticipated Mockingbird Bridge, which will provide an easy and safe way for walkers and bicyclists to get from Mockingbird Station to the start of the Katy Trail at Glencoe Park, will finally open. This special community event will include food, fun, and remarks by bridge champion Angela Hunt and "Bike Czar" Jared White. The event will take place from 9-11 am at Glencoe Park and 10 am-1 pm at Mockingbird Station. All are encouraged to walk, bike, or use DART to get to the event.

2017 Festival at the Switchyard
Toadies and Everclear will headline the entertainment for the 2017 Festival at the Switchyard, taking place in Historic Downtown Carrollton. In addition to free concerts by the headliners and others, the festival will have a full day of fun with live entertainment, free rides and games, and free activities for children of all ages including bungee trampolines, a zip line, face painting, and more.

2017 Dallas Summer Musicals Gala: An Evening with Brian Stokes Mitchell & Katharine McPhee
Bernadette Peters was supposed to headline Dallas Summer Musicals' annual gala, but thanks to her taking over the lead role in Hello, Dolly, guests at this event will instead be treated to performances by Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell and former American Idol contestant and current Scorpion star, Katharine McPhee. The fundraising event will take place at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Sunday, November 5

The Jesus and Mary Chain in concert
It seems these days that everything old is new again, and the return of The Jesus and Mary Chain goes right along with that idea. The Scottish group resurfaced a couple of years ago to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album. Now they're back again, playing in support of their first new album in almost 20 years, Damage and Joy. They'll play at the Bomb Factory.

Dallas Arboretum will open the annual Holiday at the Arboretum on November 4.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Dallas Arboretum will open the annual Holiday at the Arboretum on November 4.

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Movie Review

Glen Powell bumps off rich family in How to Make a Killing

Photo courtesy of A24

Glen Powell in How to Make a Killing.

Becoming a star in Hollywood and maintaining that stardom are two very difficult things to achieve, but Glen Powell has been adept at doing so over the past few years. A key supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick led to lead parts in films like Hit Man, Anyone But You, Twisters, and The Running Man. Powell is looking to keep his star power shining in the new dark comedy/thriller, How to Make a Killing.

He plays Beckett, an outcast member of the ultra-wealthy Redfellow clan. Struggling to get by in a menial job in New York City while still living in New Jersey, Beckett’s only smidgen of hope is that he remains an heir to the vast Redfellow fortune. The only trick? Every other remaining family member must die before he’ll see a dime of that money. When even that menial job goes away, Beckett indulges the fantasy of bumping off his familial competition.

Among those standing in his way are cousins Taylor (Raff Law), a finance bro, Noah (Zach Woods), a pretentious artist, and Steven (Topher Grace), a celebrity pastor; Uncle Warren (Bill Camp) and Aunt Cassandra (Bianca Amato); and grandfather Whitelaw (Ed Harris). Complicating matters, however, are an old childhood friend, Julia (Margaret Qualley), who starts asking more of Beckett than he can give; and new flame Ruth (Jessica Henwick), who happens to be dating Noah when he meets her.

Written and directed by John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal), the film is a tale of two halves. Narrated by Beckett in the form of telling his story to a prison chaplain, the story plays with audience expectations on multiple occasions. As Beckett ramps up to detailing exactly how he got started down the road toward being a serial killer, the film has a fun-if-macabre vibe.

Under normal circumstances Beckett would be someone to despise, but since he’s an underprivileged person who’s taking aim at people who (mostly) don’t seem to appreciate their good luck, it feels okay to cheer for him. This follows a recent trend in “eat the rich” films, one that’s been influenced by a turn against real-life billionaires. Ford plays heavily into the theme and it works for a good portion of the film.

However, things get a little murky in the second half of the movie. A few of the planned killings get less attention than others, making their - pardon the pun - execution less interesting/fun than the others. Also, Ford does a poor job of indicating just how much weight should be put on Beckett’s relationship with Julia, someone with whom he only has occasional interactions for the bulk of the film.

It’s difficult to know the exact right way to showcase Powell, but this film doesn’t seem to be the best fit. Whether it’s the odd hairstyle/wig he’s given, or the varying degrees of confidence his character shows, his performance is up and down. Qualley’s acting style is over-the-top, and she needed to dial it down in this particular role. Henwick and Camp are the grounding forces in the film, keeping the story somewhat tethered to reality while almost everyone else makes a meal of their scenes.

How to Make a Killing is serviceable entertainment that gives viewers a decent number of laughs and thrills. But Ford can’t find a way to make the story work all the way through, and a so-so performance by Powell keeps the film from rising above its mediocre station.

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How to Make a Killing opens in theaters on February 20.

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