Calendars Out

Start planning now for Uptown Dallas Inc.'s roster of fall festivities

With Uptown Dallas Inc. turning 25 this year, of course it's time to party. In addition to all the community events that the public improvement district (or PID) plans throughout the year, there are a few special soirees coming up later in 2018 — mercifully when the weather cools down enough to enjoy being outside.

Pack up your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets each Thursday night in September and head to Griggs Park, where UDI is hosting Movies in the Park. Marvel at the vibrant downtown Dallas skyline while you watch a flick, all for free. Though the film doesn't start until 8 pm, you'll want to arrive a little early to stake your claim on a good spot —roughly 300-500 people attend these popular screenings.

Take the highway to the danger zone on September 6 with Top Gun and break out the blue sweater on September 13 for The Devil Wears Prada. Warm up your voice to shout "Wakanda forever!" on September 20 when Black Panther is screened, and pack a meringue pie on September 27 in honor of Mrs. Doubtfire. On Halloween, Uptown Dallas Inc. is showing a special feature of Hocus Pocus, as it too is celebrating its 25th year.

Another outing is the Uptown Kiddo's Carnival, celebrating back-to-school time for its third year on September 15 from 9 am to noon in Griggs Park. Kids can go wild with carnival games, train rides, magic demonstrations, live music, face painting, balloon artists, snacks for purchase, and more. It's the largest kid-focused event in Uptown, and you won't want to miss out.

Though Uptown has been around for about 130 years, the area has only been benefitting from the care and attention of UDI for the past 25. It's this nonprofit management group that plants the neighborhood's 30,000 blooming flowers, maintains the 4.5 miles of McKinney Avenue Trolley track, installs public art, secures off-duty police officers to patrol the area, and takes care of Uptown's 58 acres of green space.

On June 19, the first property owner and managers breakfast was held at the new Canopy by Hilton, and thanks to its success another will be held on October 4. Seating and tickets will be limited, so follow Uptown Dallas Inc. on social media and be sure to sign up for its bi-monthly newsletters to make sure you secure your spot.

It's no surprise, then, that this year's Uptown Block Party is going to be the biggest yet. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, UDI has secured rock band Bowling for Soup for the free concert on October 18 in Griggs Park, which will be surrounded by food trucks, bevvies, and plenty of dancing.

Cyclists, get ready for the second annual Dallas Bike Ride, of which UDI is a founding partner. Registration is now open, and participants can pick up their packets November 1-2 in Uptown's West Village.

For a more intimate celebration, consider chowing down at the Uptown Signature Dinner on November 8 from 6-10 pm. Held at One McKinney Plaza, this formal event will include dinner, cocktails, and live entertainment, along with a keynote speech from millennial expert Matt Britton, CEO of Suzy and author of the best-selling book YouthNation. Seating is limited and tickets will go on sale at the end of September, so stay tuned to be one of the first to snag those tix.

For a full list of events in the Uptown district, go to uptowndallas.net/events.

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Stay up to date with events and all things Uptown year-round by visiting UDI's website, signing up for its newsletter, and following on social media.

This year's Uptown Block Party is going to be huge.

Photo courtesy of Uptown Dallas Inc.

This year's Uptown Block Party is going to be huge.

music families promoted dinner nature concerts movies uptown kids parks chefs

Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife