Call it a post-New Year's hangover, but with New Year's Day coming in the middle of the week this year, there are relatively few new events happening this weekend. But if one of your New Year's resolutions was to get more culture, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to start 2014 the right way.
Below are your 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 2
Shen Yun 2014
This is the second year in a row that Dallas audiences have gotten to start off the new year with performances from the Chinese performing arts troupe Shen Yun. Using dance, drums and singers to illustrate 5,000 years of Chinese history, it's definitely a unique experience. The troupe will put on four performances at Winspear Opera House through Saturday.
Friday, January 3
2014 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Missouri vs. Oklahoma State
The Cotton Bowl Classic has been a staple in the Dallas area since 1937, whether at the actual Cotton Bowl or its new home of AT&T Stadium. Its 78th edition will feature two former Big 12 combatants, Missouri and Oklahoma State, facing off for the first time since Missouri joined the SEC in 2012. There are still a limited number of tickets left, so grab 'em while you can.
Chamber Music International presents Augustin Hadelich and Joyce Yang
You can experience concerts from Chamber Music International all year long in a variety of settings, but they'll start off 2014 with a performance at Dallas City Performance Hall from two of the best young musicians playing today, violinist Augustin Hadelich and pianist Joyce Yang. The recital will feature selections from Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and more.
Saturday, January 4
Dallas Opera Titus Art Song Recital Series: Ian Bostridge
The Dallas Opera starts off 2014 with a new program, the Titus Art Song Recital Series. Taking place at Dallas City Performance Hall, the first iteration will feature English tenor Ian Bostridge, who will perform a program alongside Canadian pianist Wenwen Du with selections from Franz Schubert, Benjamin Britten, Charles Ives, Noel Coward and Cole Porter.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Sci-Fi Spectacular
George Takei has captured a whole new generation of fans thanks to his droll Facebook posts, and the audience at Bass Performance Hall will get to experience that humor in person as he narrates this concert by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. They'll play selections from a variety of sci-fi movies, including Star Trek, Star Wars, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more.
Sunday, January 5
Last chance for holiday shows
The holiday season technically ended on January 1, but you can still enjoy experiences like Holiday Lights at the Chinese Lantern Festival at Fair Park, the Gift of Lights & Snow at Texas Motor Speedway and The Trains at NorthPark through Sunday. After that you'll have to put away your holiday cheer for, oh, 10 months or so.
The Dallas Opera will welcome in English tenor Ian Bostridge at Dallas City Performance Hall on January 4.
Figure skater Mariah Bell. Getty Images