Addison's Kaboom Town, taking place Wednesday, July 3, is the biggest Fourth of July celebration in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, annually drawing more than half a million people for its spectacular fireworks display.
As you can imagine, that number of people in such a small area can cause a few headaches, so Addison is taking steps toward crowd control.
Attendance at Addison Circle Park, the largest open area closest to the fireworks display, will be limited for the first time in the event's history. Officials estimate that as many as 50,000 people packed the park in past years, so in order to make things more comfortable, they're going to start denying entry once the crowd reaches 30,000 or so.
Consequently, visitors are encouraged to arrive as early as possible to ensure a spot. Gates will open at noon, with entertainment starting at 5 pm. Also, even though bags and coolers are allowed, visitors are encouraged not to bring them to expedite entry into the park. All bags and coolers will all be searched, meaning those who arrive without will be able to get into the park much more quickly.
If you'd rather not battle the mass of humanity at the celebration's hub, there will be a number of watch parties around Addison. Among others, restaurants like BJ's Brewhouse and McFadden's will have their own party atmosphere, while the nearby Intercontinental Hotel offers a higher-up look at the show.
The free Kaboom Town also features an air show at Addison Airport, which is also where the fireworks are launched. There are a variety of entertainment options for the lucky ones who are able to get into Addison Circle Park, including music from Dallas Wind Symphony and Emerald City Band.
The fireworks show at Kaboom Town is rated as one of the best in the country.
Photo courtesy of Town of Addison
The fireworks show at Kaboom Town is rated as one of the best in the country.
In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also got nominated for an Oscar for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.
Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).
Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.
Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.
Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.
Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.
Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.
Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.
