Weekend Event Planner

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

As April gives way to May, there are quite a few eclectic events on tap. Among them are a farewell to a legend; the return of an iconic humorist; three big events celebrating great art, music, and movies; and a living legend performing perhaps his best work.

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, April 28

Purple Rain Tribute Screenings
The death of Prince on April 21 left a hole in many of his fans' lives, one that can only be filled honor the amazing artist he was. All Studio Movie Grill locations in Dallas-Fort Worth will help in the grieving process by showing Prince's 1984 film Purple Rain, a film that spawned monster hits like "Let's Go Crazy" and the title song, on Thursday. In addition, both Alamo Drafthouse locations will screen the film on Saturday night.

Theatre Three presents Memphis
The latest from Theatre Three is its production of the 2010 Tony Award-winning musical Memphis. It’s the 1950s and an up-and-coming DJ at a white radio station starts to play records coming out of the black underground music scene in Memphis, Tennessee. The joyously raucous musical is about breaking down barriers and singing the song of your soul. It will run through May 22.

Arts & Letters Live: David Sedaris
It's never a bad time to welcome back the renowned humorist David Sedaris, who slays whether you're reading his many books, listening to him on NPR, or seeing him live. For this Arts & Letters Live event, he appears at Dallas City Performance Hall for three straight nights (starting on April 27), reading new and unpublished material.

Diana Sheehan Sings: The Jerome Kern Songbook
Singer Diana Sheehan is a local treasure who usually only gets to showcase her voice in small venues around the area. That will change on Thursday when she takes the stage at Winspear Opera House to sing songs by Jerome Kern, who helped write classics like "All the Things You Are," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "A Fine Romance," and "The Way You Look Tonight."

Friday, April 29

2016 Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
The annual Denton Arts & Jazz Festival is a three-day event celebrating the arts, with more than 3,000 professional and amateur performers on seven stages showcasing the best in jazz, pop, rhythm and blues, and full orchestra music. Taking place at Quakertown Park, it also features a wide variety of dance, choral, storytelling, and theater performances, as well as visual artists.

2016 Texas Frightmare Weekend
If you're a horror movie fan, there's no better event to attend than Texas Frightmare Weekend, the Southwest’s premier horror convention. Featuring celebrity appearances, autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties, and horror memorabilia vendors, this year's event, primarily taking place at Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, will include Robert Englund, George A. Romero, Rose McGowan, Peter Criss, James Remar, John Carroll Lynch, Lance Henriksen, and many others. The event will go through Sunday.

Saturday, April 30

Edgefest 2016
Toyota Stadium in Frisco seems to be the new go-to place for music festivals, as it hosted the Off the Rails Country Music Fest last weekend and now Edgefest on Saturday. This year's Edgefest will feature performances from Cage The Elephant, The 1975, Bastille, Silversun Pickups, Chrvches, Foals, The Struts, The Joy Formidable, Good Charlotte, Blue October, XAmbassadors, JR JR, Nothing But Thieves, and The Strumbellas.

Taco Libre Dallas 2016
The second annual Taco Libre will include an expanded event site at Main Street Garden and food from 21 taquerias around the state, but this event is about much more than just tacos. The music lineup will feature Mariachi El Bronx, Grupo Fantasma, Larry G(ee), and Mayta. And all of that will be competing with the unique sight of a ring full of lucha libre wrestlers.

Sunday, May 1

Brian Wilson in concert
Just as we lament the loss of one music legend gone too soon, you can also celebrate the seminal work of another musician who's still with us. Brian Wilson will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys' iconic 1966 album, Pet Sounds, by playing it in its entirety for the very last time. He'll be joined by special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Brian Wilson will sing The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in its entirety in a special concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on May 1.

Brian Wilson The Beach Boys solo tour 2015

Brian Wilson/Facebook

Brian Wilson will sing The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in its entirety in a special concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on May 1.

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Oak Lawn News

Cosmic Cafe space on Dallas' Oak Lawn is officially on the market

Cosmic Cafe

The price is "subject to offer." Hey, let's offer $5.

The two buildings that housed the former Cosmic Café in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood are officially for sale.

The restaurant closed in October 2021, but the property had been on the market in a very passive "listed online" manner for a couple of years.

Now it's being marketed by CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. Those people don't fool around. CBRE’s Sierra Uselton and Arien Ramsire will represent building owner Praveen Sachdev.

The site, located at 2912 Oak Lawn Ave. consists of two buildings totaling 3,786 sq. ft. on 0.2 acres. The property is over 100 years old and is in a sought-after location with few vacancies, especially on Oak Lawn Avenue.

Originally called the Cosmic Cup, the café was founded by the late character actor Kumar Pallana, who became famous after appearing in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. Sachdev bought it and renamed it Cosmic Café in 1999.

When he closed the restaurant, Sachdev's plan was to to keep it open to host yoga classes, organized by his friend Jim Hunt, owner of Sun Yoga Center in Richardson. At the time, Hunt said that Praveen wanted to close the restaurant but still wanted to have something in the space.

"He doesn't want to make money out of it, neither do I. We're both doing this to offer something to the community," Hunt said at the time.

That was back in the throes of the pandemic. Not as many buyers. We're in boom times now.

There's no asking price. According to a CBRE spokesperson, the listing price is "subject to offer." OK hey let's offer $50. Here it is online: https://retailproperties.cbre.us/p/retail-real-estate-listings/Dallas-TX-75219/2912oaklawn#highlights

"CBRE is honored to market such an iconic Dallas property that has been a staple property along Oak Lawn Avenue for over 100 years,” Uselton, an associate with CBRE’s retail group, says. “The future of this historical site is highly anticipated by many who have come to know and love the restaurant during its tenure, and we are excited to be a part of the next phase of the Cosmic Cafe."

closings home-for-sale

Music Notes

11 must-see artists at ACL Fest 2022 — from Texas and beyond

Photo by Olivia Wolf

11 must-see artists at ACL

It’s game time for two weekends of good times by way of Austin City Limits Music Festival. Since you certainly already have a must-see list comprised of the bigger artists on the lineup if you're making the trip there, here are some choice acts — from Texas and beyond.

Must-see acts from Austin

Spoon
No one really needs to be told to see one of Austin's best bands of all-time. However, just in case you were thinking about skipping them, be sure to note that their 2022 release, Lucifer on the Sofa, plays great in a live setting. You can see them both weekends of the fest on Saturday at 4 pm on the Honda stage.

Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos
Adrian Quesada (of Black Pumas) recently put out a solo album, Boleros Psicodélicos, and you’ll be able to check out all of its Latin America-inspired psych ballads during weekend one of ACL. Catch his set on Saturday, October 8, at 2:15 pm on the Honda stage.

Darkbird
Vet rockers Darkbird were supposed to play ACL in 2021, but a weather delay nixed their set. Expect the band, which is fronted by the always-spirted Kelly Barnes, to take full advantage of the do-over. Their only appearance at the fest will be Sunday, October 9 at 1:15 pm on the BMI stage.

Eric Tessmer
After a couple decades of dutiful shredding around Austin, guitar great Eric Tessmer has finally found his way onto an ACL lineup. His sure-to-be explosive turn at the fest is a weekend one only experience – see it on Sunday, October 9, at 5 pm on the BMI stage.

Good Looks
Indie rock act Good Looks are responsible for Bummer Year, one of the better albums to come out of Austin in 2022, so of course you should have them on your ACL radar. Catch this weekend two-only band on Saturday, October 15, at 1pm on the Tito’s stage.

Urban Heat
Get your new wave/post punk fix via Urban Heat during weekend two of ACL. The buzzy act, who recently put out an EP titled Wellness, will perform on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the BMI stage.

Other must-see acts

Muna
LA’s own Muna, who are signed to Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory imprint, head into ACL on a wave of acclaim for their 2022 self-titled album. The pop act has just a weekend one set on Sunday, October 9, at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage.

Dehd
Dehd’s Blue Skies is loaded with some of the catchiest indie rock tracks you’ll find on any album in 2022, and that’s reason enough to catch them at ACL. The Chicagoans play both weekends – look for them each Sunday at 1:15 pm on the T-Mobile stage.

Magdalena Bay
Synthpop act Magdalena Bay recently dropped a deluxe edition of their hit 2021 album, Mercurial World, and now they’ll put it on display at ACL. Catch the LA-based act both weekends of the fest on Sunday at 4 pm on the Tito’s stage.

Wet Leg
Wet Leg had quite a bit of buzz heading into this year’s SXSW and the fervor surrounding the British indie rockers has only increased with the release of their self-titled debut album, which includes the infectious single “Chaise Longue.” The band is a weekend two-only play, and their set is Friday, October 14 at 2:30 pm on the Honda stage.

Faye Webster
The dreamy, gentle sounds of singer/songwriter Faye Webster will be a treat in the middle of the afternoon at Zilker Park. Be sure to catch the Atlanta-based artist during her weekend two-only appearance on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage. By the way, don’t be surprised if Webster and her bandmates engage in some sweet yo-yo action.

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Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey Garage merch store revs up for Dallas taco party

Courtesy photo

Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey cap

It may not be the Grassy Knoll, but Dallas has one tourist destination that draws visitors from around the world: the Gas Monkey Garage Merch Store, part of the Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey Garage empire, located in northwest Dallas at 2330 Merrell Rd.

The store sits next to Gas Monkey Garage, the shop Rawlings launched in 2002 customizing classic and hot-rod cars for customers worldwide. The garage became the centerpiece of the Discovery Channel's Fast N' Loud, with Rawlings' charisma leading to follow-up shows such as Garage Rehab. He also opened a restaurant, Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill, and live music venue, Gas Monkey Live, both now closed, although he has two new venues in the works.

The merchandise store, which opened in 2012 — "it used to be out of a Ford Econoline van," Rawlings says — features the T-shirts and ballcaps you might expect, but it's all rendered with the same kind of rock 'n roll edge and obsessive perfectionism that Rawlings applies to cars — some of which are on display inside the store.

It's half memorabilia store — half car museum, with the cherry on the sundae for Rawlings fans being that the man himself drops into the shop a few times a day to talk cars and whatever else is on your mind with whoever shows up.

"We get thousands of visitors — this morning alone, we had people from The Netherlands and Australia," Rawlings says. "Fast N' Loud has appeared in 100 countries and been translated into 20 languages, and now we have a big presence on YouTube, so they make Gas Monkey a destination."

"I'm usually here, so I try to come over and say hello," he says.

The store boasts 50-or-so unique T-shirt designs, plus hoodies, books, sunglasses, retro license plates, koozies, Gas Monkey Garage onesies for your baby, plus automative gear including wheels and car-detailing supplies.

There's a chill lounge area with a massive comfortably-worn leather couch, loveseats, and side tables featuring chrome fender lights.

"We make those tabletops — everything in the store, we fabricate ourselves," he says. That includes a wild Game of Thrones-style iron throne, made from dozens of wrenches.

There are always vehicles on display — motorcycles and vintage cars they've restored.

"Right now, we have a 1930 Model A, a '68 Coronet, and a '65 Mustang fastback, but we rotate those in and out," he says.

Behind the store there's an outdoor patio bar available for weddings — yes, people want to get married here — and private events. It's outfitted with a collection of beautifully restored vintage signs Rawlings has accumulated over the years, including a 20-foot-tall vintage gas price sign with a kooky lit arrow.

"I like old motor memorabilia," he says. "I saw that in Minnesota, I passed it when I was up there buying a car. It took me four years to talk the guy into selling it. What's cool about it is that the price of gas it displays is 23.9 cents a gallon."

On Saturday October 8, they'll be hosting an event called Tacos N' Tires, that's open to the public where they'll unveil Gas Monkey Garage's latest build: a 1952 Chevy Fleetline with some sentimental value.

"It's the first car we ever built, back in 2003," Rawlings says. "I think this is the fifth time I bought it back, we brought it from California, it had been just for decoration but we'll put it back on the road."

They'll be serving tacos from Primo's Gas Monkey Cantina, the limited-edition concept Rawlings is opening at the Boardwalk at Mercer Crossing this fall — a preview of his massive restaurant and live music venue, Gas Monkey Bar & Grill, which will open two locations in Lewisville and Farmers Branch in 2023.

Courtesy photo

Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey cap

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Weekend Event Planner

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

Brian Wilson will sing The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in its entirety in a special concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on May 1.

Dallas leads the U.S. for number of new hotels underway, says new report

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Trendy pop-up igloo bubble bars return to Grapevine hotel for holiday

Oak Lawn News

Cosmic Cafe space on Dallas' Oak Lawn is officially on the market

Dallas leads the U.S. for number of new hotels underway, says new report

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Trendy pop-up igloo bubble bars return to Grapevine hotel for holiday

Music Notes

11 must-see artists at ACL Fest 2022 — from Texas and beyond

Dallas leads the U.S. for number of new hotels underway, says new report

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Trendy pop-up igloo bubble bars return to Grapevine hotel for holiday

Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey Garage merch store revs up for Dallas taco party

Dallas leads the U.S. for number of new hotels underway, says new report

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Trendy pop-up igloo bubble bars return to Grapevine hotel for holiday

Weekend Event Planner

Brian Wilson will sing The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in its entirety in a special concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on May 1.

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Oak Lawn News

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Music Notes

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

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