Beer News

Prost! to the Dallas restaurants and bars celebrating Oktoberfest 2021

It may say "Oktoberfest" but the festivities begin in mid-September.

Photo courtesy of Trinity Vision Authority

People who've been to Munich know first-hand that the name Oktoberfest is misleading: This annual beer celebration begins in late September. (Although in 2021, there will be no Oktoberfest in Munich at all, because of the pandemic. They have more common sense than we do in Texas.)

We may not have the German smarts but Dallas is rich with German heritage, and that makes it our duty to go all in on Oktoberfest, to raise a glass and do the event proud. Besides, all Oktoberfest events in DFW are outdoors. Take that, Deutschland.

The majority of Oktoberfest events in DFW begin in mid-September, but a few early birds are beginning celebrating this week.

Here's a list of all the Oktoberfest events being held in DFW, from bar celebrations to city events, in chronological order:

September 10

Oktoberfest celebration at Watters Creek. Presented by The Lion & Crown Pub, this is the fourth annual occurrence of this craft beer festival, and they're getting an early jump. The event features live music, traditional German dancing, stein hoisting, and an artisan market, all part of the excitement. There are stein hoistings, an introductory keg tapping, and a craft area for kids. Where: Village Green. When: Friday September 10 from 5-11 pm, Saturday September 11 from 11 am-11 pm, Sunday September 12 from 12-5 pm. on Sunday, September 12. Admission: Free.

September 16-19

Addison Oktoberfest. The town of Addison's annual Oktoberfest celebration has been named one of the country's most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations by Forbes and USA Today. Four days of family-oriented entertainment draw more than 50,000 fans, with German food and the same Paulaner Bier served in Bavaria. Dozens of polka bands and other traditional entertainers from around the country perform on multiple stages, including one at the Partyhalle, a 30,000-square-foot open-air tent with seating for 1,500. Contests include bier barrel rolling, a German Idol yodeling contest, activities for kids, unique shopping, and an opportunity to wear your dirndl and lederhosen. Where: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Cir. When: Thursday September 16, 6-11pm, Friday September 17 6 pm–midnight, Saturday September 18 12 pm–midnight, Sunday September 19 12-5 pm. Admission: $10 for single-day on Friday and Saturday; Thursday and Sunday are free. Tickets are online.

September 18-19

Trucktoberfest. Truck Yard Dallas and Truck Yard The Colony, known for their offbeat programming, will host their inaugural Trucktoberfest, featuring a lively lineup of adult, kid, and dog-friendly activities such as a Stein Holding Contest, Wiener Dog Race, Yodeling Competition, and Pretzel-Eating Contest. Revelers are encouraged to don the traditional Lederhosen and Dirndl. Brew Boss Dennis Wehrmann will tap his great grandfather's 200-year-old keg of Truck Yard's Trucktoberfest brew. Where: Truck Yard Dallas, 5624 Sears St. and Truck Yard The Colony. When: September 18-19 11 am-11:45 pm. Admission: Free.

September 18

Oktoberfest at Manhattan Project Beer Co. Dallas Farmers Market brewpub will serve its own brewed Oktoberfest beer plus Doppelbock, Altbier, Fallout, and Helles. Chef T. Ball will do a pig roast, pork sausage, and sides. Alex Lambert from American Idol will play the beer garden at 4 pm. Lucas Kelm will perform at 7 pm. They open at 10 am, the party kicks off at 3 pm, and the pig will be ready at 5 pm. Where: Dallas Farmers Market. When September 18. Admission: Free.

September 18-October 3

Oktoberfest at Meddlesome Moth. Design District pub celebrates Oktoberfest for two weeks, beginning September 18, with special Oktoberfest tappings by beer director Matt Quenette. Dozens of Oktoberfest beers make appearances for the annual celebration including offerings from Real Ale, Saint Arnold, Firestone Walker, Great Raft, and Ayinger. Chef Joshua Boneé complements the beer experience with Beef Bangers and Mash, smoked onion jus, potato aligot, and caramelized cipollini onions as well as a Cacio de Pepe Spaetzle with house guanciale, pink peppercorn, and parmesan. Where: Meddlesome Moth. When: September 18-October 3.

September 23-25

Oktoberfest Fort Worth. The city's event is a family-friendly affair featuring authentic German food, music, dancing, games, shopping, and biergartens. Have fun watching the fur fly at the Dachshund Dash; shop for clothing, treats, and souvenirs in the marktsraße; or catch a thrill ride in the midway. Bier lovers can look forward to Spaten and other delicious fall and Oktoberfest biers from all around the country. If you buy your ticket online by September 22 at 11:59 pm, you get a free 2021 stein; a limited number of free steins will be available to those who buy tickets at the gate. Where: Panther Island Pavilion. When: Thursday September 23 and Friday September 24 from 5-11 pm, Saturday September 25 from 11 am-midnight. Admission: $5 for Thursday, $10 for Friday, and $10 for Saturday, or get a 3-day pass for $15. 12 and under is free.

September 24-26

Oktoberfest Downtown McKinney. The German is strong in McKinney, which has been hosting an Oktoberfest event since 2008. Three-day weekend of German-themed fun includes authentic German food, domestic and imported beer, live music, and games. The full schedule is online. Where: 200 W. Virginia St. When: Friday September 24 from 4 pm-midnight, Saturday September 25 from 10 am-midnight, Sunday September 26 from 12-5 pm. Admission: Free.

September 26

"Lake-toberfest" at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. The Saucer celebrates Oktoberfest with its annual Lake-toberfest celebration, featuring tastings from a bevy of traditional, local, and national Oktoberfest brews. Tasting cards can be purchased at the restaurant on Sunday for $25 and include 12 four-ounce pours. The annual stein hoisting competition begins at 2 pm. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged for a costume contest at 3 pm. German fare specials and commemorative Oktoberfest glassware is available for purchase. Where: 4821 Bass Pro Dr. on Lake Ray Hubbard. When: September 26 at 11 am.

October 2

10th Annual Oktoberfest Dallas. Profits from this popular annual charitable event go to the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands which returns the proceeds to the community in a variety of ways. They canceled 2020 but now it's back with all day entertainment for the entire family including outdoor fun for the kids, local food, ice cream, beverages, and an amazing lineup of live music including Americana band Son Volt, as well as Taylor Dunn, Vandoliers, the Lake Highlands School of Music, and DeeJay CeePee/Christopher Todd Penn. Where: Flag Pole Hill at White Rock Lake. When: October 2 from 10 am-10 pm. Admission: $15 per wristband, purchase tickets online.

October 2-3

Frisco Oktoberfest. The city of Frisco joins the Oktoberfest fun with a weekend event at Frisco Square with fun and festivities, delicious Bier, German cuisine, and two stages with live entertainment. The festivities kick off with the opening ceremony at 11am on Saturday with a traditional keg tapping. The first attendees to arrive will receive a free beer until the keg is tapped out. Where: Frisco Square. When: October 2 from 11 am-10 pm, October 3 from 12-5 pm. Admission: $20 per sheet of 20 tickets; all food and beverage at the festival requires tickets. $100 for VIP Biergarten includes access to VIP tent and exclusive food and beverages. Purchase tickets online.

craft-beer holidays

Movie Review

Chris Pratt plays one man against the AI machine in thriller Mercy

Photo courtesy Amazon Content Services

Chris Pratt in Mercy.

It seems like every other movie set in modern times being released these days includes either a reference to or a plot revolving around artificial intelligence. In the real world, the benefits of the technology compete with its downsides, but when it comes to movies A.I. is almost always seen as a threat, including in the new film Mercy.

The audience is thrown headlong into the slightly futuristic story involving LAPD Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), who finds himself strapped in a chair in a sparse room, being told that he is on trial for killing his wife. Turns out he’s in a court dubbed “Mercy,” which is overseen by an AI judge named Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson). By the rules of the court, Raven has 90 minutes to provide reasonable doubt of his guilt, or he will be executed on the spot.

Raven is in a multi-pronged quandary: Not only does he believe he’s innocent despite a trove of evidence pointing to his guilt, but he’s also the poster boy for the law enforcement side of the equation, having arrested the first man who went to Mercy. Anger and disbelief for Raven turn into acceptance, which then turns into him tapping into his detective skills, scrutinizing every shred of evidence the court provides him in a desperate attempt to save his own life.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Marco van Belle, the film is a relatively propulsive thriller despite having a so-so story and even worse acting. The film is told in real time (with a few fudges here and there), so the concept alone of a man trying to prove his innocence in a short amount of time provides good intrigue. Bekmambetov’s use of digital elements as Raven scrolls through files or calls potentially exculpatory witnesses like his partner, Jaq Diallo (Kali Reis), keeps the film visually interesting.

On the other hand, the swift viewing of videos and documents by Raven, not to mention the high degree of cooperation by Judge Maddox, opens up more than a few plot holes. The filmmakers try to explain away a few leaps in logic by having Raven falling off the sobriety wagon the night before, but they can only use that excuse for so long. They also have the AI judge experience technical glitches along the way, errors that seem to point toward a wider conspiracy until they’re completely forgotten.

More than anything, it’s difficult to get over the wooden acting of Pratt and the misuse of other usually reliable actors. Pratt has no real presence, especially when he’s confined to a chair, so any emotion he tries to conjure up comes off as contrived. Ferguson is done no favors by a role that shows only her upper body and has her alternating between robotic and oddly sympathetic. Reis earned an Emmy nomination for True Detective: Night Country, but has little to do here, a fate that also takes out Chris Sullivan as Raven’s AA sponsor.

If you’re okay with turning off your brain for a little while, Mercy can be an enjoyable watch. But if you find yourself scrutinizing why characters make the odd decisions they do, or the wishy-washy way the film approaches AI in general, then you’re likely to find the whole thing lacking.

---

Mercy is now playing in theaters.

movies film