Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

As we approach Christmas Day, the number of new events starts to slow down. There's still plenty to do — but most of it is stuff taking place throughout the holidays. That said, there are several new events this week, including five holiday shows, a Shakespearean reading, and a concert from a legendary singer.

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, December 15

Avant Chamber Ballet presents A Ballet Christmas Carol
For the holiday season, Avant Chamber Ballet premieres a completely new full-length holiday production, A Ballet Christmas Carol. The show, taking place at Dallas City Performance Hall on Thursday and Friday, features the twist of a female Scrooge and the whole story takes place in the dance world: classes, rehearsals, and on stage.

American Aquarium in concert with The O's and Blue Apollo
Alt-country lovers are going to be in heaven at this concert at the Granada Theater. North Carolina band American Aquarium, touring in support of their 2015 album, Wolves, headlines the show. They are supported by Dallas favorite The O's, who just put out a new album, Honeycomb, and up-and-coming Dallas band Blue Apollo.

Friday, December 16

Neiman Marcus presents Lightwire Theater
Neiman Marcus Downtown has partnered with Lightwire Theater to present a unique and interactive window display. Each evening through December 23, Lightwire Theater performs an exclusive mini performance of A Very Electric Christmas in the Neiman Marcus Main Street window. A complete full-length performance of A Very Electric Christmas is being presented at Winspear Opera House on January 1.

Granada Theater presents Ricki Derek's Merry Little Christmas Show
Ricki Derek’s annual Merry Little Christmas show is a little bit Rat Pack with a tinge of Bing Crosby backed up by a big-band orchestra that’s reminiscent of Sinatra’s glory days. The Dallas crooner gets the audience at the Granada Theater in the holiday spirit with his smooth voice and a variety of holiday classics.

Nearly Naked Nutcracker
International burlesque performer Vivienne Vermuth and the cast of Broads and Panties Burlesque present their annual holiday production, Nearly Naked Nutcracker, at Viva's Lounge. The show brings the sexier side of Dallas nightlife to the forefront, featuring top-notch talent from across the country, including a few prima ballerinas to boot.

Saturday, December 17

Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular
Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular is a family holiday event featuring the cast of Cirque Musica together with all-time favorite holiday songs performed by a live orchestra. Taking place at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, it's a high-flying adventure with acrobats, aerialists, and hilarious hijinks that blends the spell-binding grace and daredevil athleticism of circus performers with the greatest holiday music of all time.

Sunday, December 18

The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Pericles
Shakespeare Dallas and AT&T Performing Arts Center are in the midst of presenting staged readings of every single one of Williams Shakespeare's works over five years. The 34th in the series is Pericles, in which Pericles, Prince of Tyre, is forced to flee his own kingdom and wander the world. His life takes several other dramatic turns as he tries to find a new home. The reading takes place in Hamon Hall inside Winspear Opera House on Sunday and Monday.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in concert
The original Jersey boy himself, Frankie Valli is a true American legend. His incredible career with the Four Seasons, as well as his solo success, has spawned countless hit singles like "Sherry," "Grease,” "Rag Doll," "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," and more. He and the Four Seasons play at Winspear Opera House.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons perform at Winspear Opera House on December 18.

Photo courtesy of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons perform at Winspear Opera House on December 18.

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Listen up

Underground hi-fi 'listening bar' Shyboy opens in downtown Dallas

Photo courtesy of Shyboy

Shyboy lounge is new on Main Street in downtown Dallas.

A new lounge is turning up the volume beneath the streets of downtown Dallas: Shyboy, billed as Dallas' first "hi fi bar," will debut at 1313 Main St., in the subterranean level of The Drakestone building.

According to a release, opening weekend events will take place March 4-7.

The new nightlife concept comes from The Headington Companies, the folks behind the Joule hotel and other Main Street developments.

"Inspired by hi-fi listening bars around the world, with roots in Tokyo’s post-WWII 'jazz kissas,' Shyboy offers a social and listening experience unlike any other nightlife space, with progressive, genre-bending programming, signature hi-balls and cocktails, and two state-of-the-art OJAS sound systems, designed by Devon Turnbull," says the release. (Turnbull's speakers have been used in projects with Mark Ronson, Public Records in Brooklyn, and more.)

Jazz kissas are cafes that specialize in the playing of and listening to recorded jazz music; here, jazz is played for active listening rather than as background serenade.

Piggybacking on that idea, Shyboy will offer "an immersive environment where design, lighting, and atmosphere are treated as essential elements of the performance, inviting guests into a unique experience that blurs the line between listener and participant," they say.

The 3,000-square-foot underground space, once a bank vault in the historic Davis Building (renovated and rebranded as The Drakestone residential building in 2017), will house one of the most advanced sound systems in the city within its historic concrete "bones." Interiors were designed by acclaimed Dallas-based 5G Studio Collaborative.

The venue includes two distinct spaces. The main room functions as a social listening environment, where towering speakers double as sculptural focal points beneath curved underground ceilings.

A second chamber, called The Vault, is designed as a more intimate lounge for private events, sound classes, performances, and art exhibitions. The Vault’s entrance features an installation from artist Lachlan Turczan’s Optical Resonance series, which uses water and light to visibly respond to sound waves, the release says. The room also includes a newly commissioned reflective sculpture by Florentine artist Duccio Maria Gambi.

Shyboy’s inaugural month will include a lineup spanning house, deep grooves, soul, and global dance sounds. Opening weekend, March 4-7, will welcome talent like JT Donaldson (Shyboy music director), Dallas legend Red Eye, Sound Advice Vol. 1, Skeme Richards, Patrice Scott + Brandon Epocha, and Wamono Nights.

The calendar later in the year will feature appearances by celebrated DJs and producers such as Theo Parrish, Derrick Carter, Eli Escobar, Kai Alcé, and the Los Angeles-based listening collective In Sheep’s Clothing.

Shyboy’s cocktail menu starts at $13, and the bar will serve soft-serve ice cream.

Throughout March, there will be no cover charge for entry; for more information, visit the venue's website.

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