Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

This weekend offers events both big and small. On the larger side are an Oktoberfest celebration, a fandom convention, several big concerts, and a well-known comedian. You can go more intimate with several local theater productions, a symphony performance, and a dance production. Also, fall will be on full display at one of the area's best nature venues.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

Thursday, September 16

Addison Oktoberfest
Addison Oktoberfest features four days of family-oriented entertainment, including German entertainers in authentic costumes performing traditional Bavarian folk dances, schuhplatten, oompah music, sing-a-longs, yodels and more. A special “Oktoberfest” Paulaner Bier is served along with several types of German sausage, sauerkraut, strudel, giant pretzels and more. There are carnival rides, midway games, and children’s entertainment. The event takes place through Sunday at Addison Circle Park. (For more local Oktoberfests, go here.)

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Copland & Brahms"
Featuring resident organist Bradley Hunter Welch under the direction of Fabio Luisi, this concert will feature selections including Frederick Converse's The Mystic Trumpeter, Aaron Copland's Organ Symphony, and Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1. The concert will take place at the Meyerson Symphony Center through Sunday.

Undermain Theatre presents Stronger Than Arms
Undermain Theatre will present the newest work by the Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, Stronger Than Arms, a new adaptation of the classic Greek play Seven Against Thebes by Danielle Georgiou and Justin Locklear. The production will dive into the spiritual and political burdens placed on the chorus of Theban citizens, and the story points to the power of humanity’s worst enemy, unconquerable fear, and reveals that there could be something stronger — the willingness to change. Following the live performances of the show, running through October 2, the production will be available to stream at any time, October 3-17.

Flexible Grey Theatre Company presents Bridges: Sisters of Salem
Bridges: Sisters of Salem is the third iteration of Flexible Grey’s interview play series, Bridges. Sisters of Salem will focus on women in power and how opinions could sometimes lead to being burned at the stake, sharing stories from modern day women in power and comparing their stories to past women who were persecuted for using their own voice. This production, part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, will run through Saturday at Sammons Park.

Friday, September 17

Fan Expo Dallas
The largest comic, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming event in Texas continues their tradition of bringing some of Hollywood’s biggest names to the Lone Star State at the 19th Annual Fan Expo Dallas. Celebrity guests will include Zachary Quinto, Zachary Levi, William Shatner, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Carl Weathers, Ray Fisher, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Ron Perlman, and more. The convention takes place through Sunday at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Counting Crows in concert
Some bands take time to build up their fan base, and some get shot out of a cannon. Counting Crows belongs in the latter category, blasting off with their first two albums in 1993 and 1996, which featured such hits as "Mr. Jones," "Round Here," and "A Long December." It's been seven years since they've released new music, but they'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of their new EP, Butter Miracle, Suite One.

Kings of Leon in concert with Cold War Kids
Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon are the opposite of Counting Crows, barely making a dent with their first three albums before shooting up to No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts with 2008's Only by the Night. Strangely, despite their popularity, it took them another three albums to reach No. 1 with 2016's Walls. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of their new album, When You See Yourself, joined by opening act Cold War Kids.

Echo Theatre presents It's My Party!
Based on real historical figures, It's My Party! delves into the turbulent backstory of the fight to pass the 19th Amendment. Facing an uphill battle in Washington, young suffragists employed increasingly radical tactics to make their voices heard, leading to bitter rivalries and a generational split that threatened to tear the suffragists’ movement apart from the inside. The production runs through October 9 at Bath House Cultural Center.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents Momix: Alice
In timely fashion, TITAS/Dance Unbound will start their season walking through the Looking Glass. MOMIX, celebrating their 40th Anniversary, brings their fantastical Alice to Dallas. MOMIX director Moses Pendleton’s latest work takes the audience on a fun adventure with Lewis Carroll’s most beloved character, Alice. The production will play on Friday and Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Saturday, September 18

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Autumn at the Arboretum
The 16th annual Autumn at the Arboretum returns with more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash throughout the garden. New this year is the location of the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village, behind the Jonsson Color Garden, transformed into the theme "Bugtopia." The signature display comes alive with larger-than-life insect topiaries, bugged-out pumpkin houses, and a maze for younger visitors. The event will take place through October 31.

Whiskey Myers in concert
Texas band Whiskey Myers is five albums deep into their career and just starting to hit their stride. Each of their successive albums has made it higher on Billboard Country charts than the last, culminating with 2019's self-titled album, which went all the way to No. 1. The southern rock/country band will play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, with support from Bones Owens and Kolby Cooper.

Iliza Shlesinger: The Back in Action Tour
Iliza Shlesinger, a Dallas-raised comedian, is the only female and youngest person to hold the title of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Shlesinger has five Netflix specials to her credit, including 2019's Unveiled. In recent years she's been in demand as an actress, starring in such films as Instant Family, Pieces of a Woman, and Good on Paper. She'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Autumn at the Arboretum runs September 18-October 31 at the Dallas Arboretum.

Photo by Dallas Arboretum

Autumn at the Arboretum runs September 18-October 31 at the Dallas Arboretum.

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Movie Review

Marty Supreme cements Timothée Chalamet as his generation's movie star

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Timothée Chalamet

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.

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Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

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