Event Planner

Backstreet Boys headline the best weekend events in Dallas

Believe it or not, Labor Day weekend is upon us, which means it's time for football season and hopefully the start of cooler temperatures. But the Dallas weekend event scene is still hot, with the Backstreet Boys and a huge conference featuring none other than Oprah leading the way.

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 29

2013 MegaFest
Bishop T.D. Jakes is the leader of Dallas megachurch The Potter's House, which boast some 30,000 members. But that only hints at the size of the appropriately named MegaFest. Taking place mostly at Dallas Convention Center Thursday through Saturday, it's a religious-themed event filled with motivational speakers, music, comedy, movies and more. It contains offshoots like the International Faith & Family Film Festival and the Women of Purpose Concert on Saturday at American Airlines Center, which features Jennifer Hudson, Babyface and other bold-faced names.

2013 MegaFest: T.D. Jakes Presents Oprah's Life Class
But the biggest name of all, even bigger than Jakes himself, is Oprah Winfrey, who puts on two of her Life Classes at American Airlines Center. Many have come to trust Oprah on a variety of topics — not because she knows all, but because she surrounds herself with people like Jakes who impart expert wisdom.

Friday, August 30

Tiger Fan Jam with The Molly Ringwalds, Geaux DJ and special guests
With the Cowboys Classic pitting LSU against TCU set for Saturday at AT&T Stadium, LSU fans can descend on the South Side Ballroom to get the party started early. English '80s cover band The Molly Ringwalds headline the event, and other entertainment is sure to please any Louisianian. Horned Frog fans aren't forbidden, but it says something that this event is in Dallas and not Fort Worth.

2013 Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
Every Labor Day weekend, the City of Bedford takes time out to celebrate two things that just seem to go well together: barbecue and blues music. Expect barbecue competitions galore all weekend long, and blues legends like Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan headline the slate of concerts set to take place on two stages over the three-day event.

Backstreet Boys in concert with Jesse McCartney and DJ Pauly D
As the over-hyped "reunion" of 'N Sync at the MTV Video Music Awards show, people still can't get enough of '90s boy bands. The Backstreet Boys bring the summer of the boy band to a close with this concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie. They are joined by one-man boy band Jesse McCartney and, of all people, DJ Pauly D of Jersey Shore fame.

Saturday, August 31

Steely Dan in concert
Steely Dan may sound like the name of one hard-nosed rocker, but it's actually the moniker taken on by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen when they started the band in the early '70s. After the usual ups-and-downs of a band, Becker and Fagen are all that remain, and they play selections from their 40-year history at this concert at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Somebody's Darling in concert with Quaker City Night Hawks and Goodnight Ned
With all the out-of-town acts performing, it can be easy to forget that there are tons of local bands that deserve some attention. One such concert takes place at the Granada Theater, where you can enjoy a night of roots rock with Dallas' Somebody's Darling, Fort Worth's Quaker City Night Hawks and Dallas' Goodnight Ned.

Sunday, September 1

Alamo Drafthouse presents Master Pancake Theater: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1
With the opening now a few weeks behind us, it can be easy to forget that Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson offers unique, cool things pretty much every night of the week. The latest is the importing of Austin's Master Pancake Theater, which rightfully mocks the penultimate film in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, Part 1, in two separate screenings.

The Cult in concert
English band The Cult is aptly named. Even though they gained modest fame in the '80s and early '90s, they never truly broke out of their cult band status. Their 1987 album, Electric, is viewed as a rock classic, and on their latest tour, which stops at House of Blues Dallas Sunday night, they play it in its entirety.

The Backstreet Boys play songs from their new album at their show at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on August 30.

Photo courtesy of Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys play songs from their new album at their show at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on August 30.

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Vending Machine News

Vending machine cafe with artsy collectible toys debuts in Lewisville

Velcrokid

Toys from Velcroikid

There’s a quirky new shop in Lewisville that combines toy store and cafe: Called Velcrokid, it's a place with coffee and snacks, plus designer collectible toys, now open in a former convenience store at 1298 Justin Rd.

Velcrokid is the brainchild of art director Eric Bowman, who's had a graphic design business under the name Velcrokid for the past 10 years.

The shop stocks all kinds of art: murals, paintings, poetry, music, photography, filmmaking, and adorable, colorful, designer toys.

"We wanted a physical space that was a beacon for the arts and a place for people to gather, be inspired, challenged, and connect," Bowman says. “We set up the shop like a coffee shop but we curate everything like an art gallery, whether it's the designer toys or the various food and drink options."

The various food and drink options include coffee, pastries, and imported packaged sweets, but here's the thing: Everything is sold from a row of vending machines that run along one wall, from hot coffee to Japanese packaged pastries to pies from local purveyor Emporium Pies, who package up a single slice that can be purchased, like everything else, through the vending machines. They have a huge selection of exotic beverages from around the world like UCC Coffee with milk, a ready-to-drink sold in a can. Prices range from $3 to $20.

The store is spacious with polished concrete floors and colorful mod chairs and tables. Walls are lined with art from local artists, with a separate retail section for toys too big to fit in the machines. Items for sale include plushies and stuffed toys from brands like Pop Mart.

Bowman previously owned the creative workspace Mill Street House in Lewisville, which is now a wedding and event space. He became entranced with the idea of vending machine cafes after seeing them in Japan, where vending machines are a major trend and are also adored by Millennials and Gen Z.

Beyond the fun bells and whistles, Bowman wanted to bring something innovative to Lewisville.

“Our spot is kind of a unique hub for art and community,” Bowman says. “My wife and I lived in the Lewisville area for a little over 18 years and just always had a longing to have a place like this in the area where people could gather and be inspired through the arts.”

kids coffee openings