It's a rare weekend when national touring acts don't overshadow local events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but this is one such weekend. The absence of stars will allow you more time to enjoy things like celebrating local fashion, blues musicians, storytellers, theater and more.
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, August 13
Front Door Fashion 2 Year Anniversary Event
Fashion can be a tough business, and Front Door Fashion has tried to differentiate itself over the past two years by delivering specialized fashion boxes overseen by expert stylists. They'll throw a second anniversary party at their Design District studio with commentary from their stylists, a denim fit clinic, food, drinks, entertainment and more.
Arts & Letters Live: Liza Klaussmann
For its latest Arts & Letters Live event, the Dallas Museum of Art will welcome bestselling author Liza Klaussmann. Klaussmann's new book, Villa America, is kind of a meta-story, as it's based on the lives of Sara and Gerald Murphy, the real-life inspirations for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night, who rubbed elbows with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter and others.
Friday, August 14
Encore Park presents Robert Johnson Blues Revue
The new Encore Park in downtown Dallas is hosting the Robert Johnson Blues Revue, a two-day event honoring the blues legend. A VIP reception will be held at the new amphitheater on Friday, followed by a performance by Robert Johnson’s grandson Steven Johnson, special guest guitarist Holland K. Smith and the Dallas Street Choir. There will also be a public concert on Saturday.
Jill Scott in concert with BJ the Chicago Kid
There's no hotter artist in the R&B world than Jill Scott. Both of her past two albums, including the just-released Woman, went straight to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and U.S. R&B charts. Scott will perform at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, with support from opening act BJ the Chicago Kid.
Saturday, August 15
Frontiers of Flight Museum presents Spirit of '45 Weekend
August 15 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, as VJ Day quickly followed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To commemorate the historical day, the Frontiers of Flight Museum will present a variety of activities over two days, including Rosie the Riveter lookalikes, a chance to recreate the famous Times Square kiss, 1940s music by singer Norma Valles and more.
Oral Fixation presents Best of Season 4
Anyone who's seen one of Oral Fixation's productions knows that their stories of real life can be just as entertaining as any fictional tale. In advance of its fifth season, the best of Season 4 is coming back, choosing one story from each of the seven productions, in this special event at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Sunday, August 16
ATTPAC Sunset Screenings: The Maltese Falcon
Back in the days when we actually got rain in Dallas, the AT&T Performing Arts Center was forced to postpone its Sunset Screenings series because of the inclement weather. Starting this week, the scheduled films will be presented once a week on Sundays for three weeks at Dallas City Performance Hall, because actually holding them outdoors in August is tantamount to torture.
Fun House Theatre and Film presents A School Bus Named Desire
Fun House Theatre and Film's A School Bus Named Desire is reminiscent of the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire, except it unfolds in a classroom where imaginative play and the real goings-on blend to tell the tale of kindergartners Blanche, Stella and Stanley. It will run at Plano Children's Theatre through August 22.
Front Door Fashion stylist Carson Carney will be among the people celebrating FDF's second anniversary on August 13.
Cowboys fans were out in full force.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Tailgating is all about the food.Photo by Ashley Gongora
An array of beverages ensured guests had fun all night.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Buffalo shrimp and blue cheese grits from McRae's American Bistro & Cocktails won the best dish of the night.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The silent auction inspired competitive bidding.Photo by Ashley Gongora