Movie Review

Lucas Hedges brings soul to struggle of shamed gay teen in Boy Erased

There are many times in the history of Hollywood where rival studios make competing versions of the same type of film. But if one had to guess a topic that would be least likely to produce two different movies of the same ilk, gay conversion therapy would be near the top of that list.

And yet, just a few months after the release of The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Boy Erased is here to try to rack up a few award nominations. Whereas the first film was based on a novel, this movie is based on the memoir of Garrard Conley, lending it a true-to-life gravitas that makes all the difference in the world.

Lucas Hedges plays a fictionalized version of Conley named Jared Eamons, the only child of Marshall (Russell Crowe), a car dealer/pastor, and Nancy (Nicole Kidman). After he confesses to having romantic feelings toward men, Marshall and Nancy quickly send him to a gay conversion program that uses all sorts of tactics to convince its participants to renounce their feelings.

It’s a mostly faith-based approach with little room for disagreement. At first, Jared goes along with the teachings, even telling his mom that he’s enjoying it. But the true nature of the program, led by Victor Sykes (Joel Edgerton), slowly comes to light, revealing itself to be unnecessarily denigrating and occasionally brutal.

The film, written and directed by Edgerton, employs a back-and-forth style that alternates between scenes of Jared in therapy and ones showing the times in his life that have led to this point. With his life so ingrained in the church, Jared can’t trust even himself, leading to a variety of confusing and sometimes harmful situations.

For the majority of viewers, the ignorance and insensitivity displayed by those in charge of the program will likely be infuriating. Edgerton gets triple credit on this front, as his deft writing and directing allow the emotions to build, and his role as the program’s leader sets him up as the bad guy who takes the brunt of that emotion.

Hedges, after earning an Oscar nomination for Manchester by the Sea, is absolutely everywhere this year, including the recently released Mid90s and the soon-to-be-released Ben is Back. It’s no secret why he’s so in demand, as he has a soulfulness that can be applied to a variety of roles. He’s as good as ever here, and with the double dip of Ben is Back, it’s difficult to imagine him not being up for at least one major award this year.

He is supported by a wealth of great actors, including Kidman, Crowe, Edgerton, and Troye Sivan. Kidman is especially effective, as she gets to play a woman who is much more than she seems on the surface.

One hopes that the world soon reaches a point where stories like the one in Boy Erased no longer have to be told. Until that time, though, we can take some solace in the fact that the stories allow for the creation of great art.

Theodore Pellerin and Lucas Hedges in Boy Erased.

Theodore Pellerin and Lucas Hedges in Boy Erased

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Theodore Pellerin and Lucas Hedges in Boy Erased.

Opening News

Stunning Latin restaurant El Carlos Elegante makes Dallas Design District debut

El Carlos Elegante

El Carlos Elegante

Pretty and eclectic plateware is one of the many beautiful design elements.

The latest super-chic restaurant from Dallas-based Duro Hospitality has arrived. Called El Carlos Elegante, it's their Mexican-inspired restaurant in the Dallas Design District, at 1400 N. Rivertfront Blvd., just a tortilla toss from its sibling restaurant The Charles.

According to a press release, El Carlos aims to capture the essence of Latin culture, in food, cocktails, and interior design.

Diners can expect large cuts of Argentinian-style wood-fired meats and fish, crudo, house-made tortillas, traditional masa-based dishes, seasonal craft cocktails, and a standout Mezcal program, including no-additive natural Mezcals for true enthusiasts, as well as a global list of wines and champagnes.

Menu highlights include:

Surf & Turf One-Hitter: A5 Wagyu, Ostera Caviar, Crispy Shell
Beef Aguachile: Charred Onion, Soy, Fresno
Mole Negro Masa: Ricotta Tamale
Chorizo Molotes: Refried Beans, Salsa Roja
Mayan Hummus: Sikil Pak, Baby Carrots, Pepitas
Pork al Pastor: Pork Blade Chop, Pineapple, Adobo
Osso Bucco Carnitas: Veal Shank, Costeño Rojo
Whole Fish: Mint Mojo, Fennel, Herbs

Duro Hospitality Group has become one of the hottest entities in Dallas restaurants right now, with a portfolio that includes The Charles, Bar Charles, Sister, Café Duro, and Casa Duro.

Duro's Benji Homsey says in a statement that on this one, they "colored outside of the lines."

"Each one of our concepts possesses unique personalities, and El Carlos represents a new character in our portfolio, whose story is told throughout the design of the space as well as represented on the menu," Homsey says. "The entire experience at El Carlos is unlike any other in Dallas, and we hope everyone loves it just as much as we do."

The space is designed to feel multi-generational and cozy.El Carlos Elegante

Rendered by Corbin and Ross See of Sees Design, the inspiration for the restaurant's design came from the idea of a Mexican hacienda handed down through multiple generations. Decorative elements include midcentury modern pieces, unexpected color combinations, eclectic textiles, and furniture sourced almost exclusively from Mexico.

A front courtyard contains an oversized fireplace and retractable roof, while the interior features a second fireplace, plus colorful custom wallpapers, ironwork, and a tableau of El Carlos "Family Portraits."

A private dining room houses a custom Pierre Frey mural and opens to the back courtyard, which also includes a retractable roof.

Ross See says they started with four walls and built from there: front and back courtyards, fireplaces, and fountains. Corbin See says their vision was similar to Sister in some regards.

"We wanted it to feel multigenerational and cozy," Corbin says. "The space has a residential feel, and we aimed for the pieces to feel collected and added over time. The dishes, for example, aren’t all matching. It’s an eclectic mix so it feels replaced over time."

Check it out at dinner: El Carlos is open Sunday-Thursday from 5-10 pm and Friday–Saturday from 5-11 pm.

This week in gluttony

These are the 10 best food & drink events in Dallas this week

Four Seasons holiday tea

Four Seasons/Facebook

The Four Seasons in Las Colinas will launch holiday afternoon tea this weekend.

Tacos and margaritas come with a motorcoach-led Christmas light tour this week, but tickets are going fast. Also on the menu is a whiskey pairing dinner, release of a popular bourbon barrel-aged beer, the launch of holiday afternoon tea service at a five-star hotel, and one of those silly but festive Christmas-themed bar crawls. But don’t sleep on the mezcal pairing dinner happening Monday.

Monday, November 28

Meet and Greet with Pastry Chef Molly Wilkinson at Bisous Bisous Pâtisserie
Mentioned on NBC Today as "Instagram's answer to Julia Child," Molly Wilkinson is a Dallas native and pastry chef currently based in Versailles who's been published in the Wall Street Journal and other media. She was one of the very first employees at Bisous Bisous, the award-winning bakery known for its macarons, cruffins, croissants, tarts, eclairs, and custom cakes. Wilkinson will be selling and signing her 2021 cookbook, called French Pastry Made Simple, from 5-7 pm.

The Pinky Cole Experience: Eat Plants B*tch Tour at Echo Lounge
Aisha "Pinky" Cole is the celebrated owner and operator of Slutty Vegan, a plant-based burger restaurant chain based in Atlanta, with a big following among non-vegans as well as vegans. She's launched an extremely limited five-city tour in celebration of her first cookbook, called Eat Plants, B*tch, which includes a stop at Echo Lounge (owned by the very vegan-friendly Mark Cuban). The show includes celebrity moderators, DJs, chefs, and Slutty Vegan food trucks. Tickets are $70. Doors are at 6 pm and the all-ages show begins at 7 pm.

Tuesday, November 29

Central Market Feast of Sharing at Fair Park
Central Market/H-E-B brings back its annual Feast of Sharing after a two-year hiatus. This free holiday celebration typically serves 10-15,000 residents with a traditional holiday meal paired alongside a celebration with live music, kids' zone, and Santa & Mrs. Claus. The event takes place in the Automobile Building at Fair Park, at 1010 1st. Ave. It runs from 3-7 pm and is open to all.

WhistlePig Pairing Dinner at Whiskey Cake Plano
Indulge in blue cheese fondue with tortellini, cream of mushroom soup with crispy pancetta, pot roast with gristmill polenta, and more during this five-course whiskey pairing dinner featuring WhistlePig whiskey. Save room for bacon cannoli with butter pecan filling. Dinner is $100, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.

Friday, December 2

Lakewood Brewing Co. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Temptress X Release Party
Lakewood Brewing will release the 2022 edition of Bourbon Barrel-Aged Temptress during an exclusive VIP Party. The brew is the 10th iteration of Lakewood’s annual barreling project. Tickets are $65 and include an eight-beer sample card, box of the brew, limited-edition glass and knit beanie, and private brewery access with samples of past editions. There’ll also be live music, and the event begins at 6 pm.

Tacos, Margarita, and Christmas Lights Tour
See the radiant Christmas lights of Park Cities and other posh Dallas neighborhoods during this motorcoach tour that starts with tacos and a marg. Guests will get a taco dinner and margarita at Desperados Mexican Restaurant then board the bus to a secret dessert stop before embarking on the light tour. Tickets are $86 and the event will run from 6:30-10 pm.

Saturday, December 3

Holiday Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas
The Las Colinas hotel and golf resort will begin its weekend holiday tea service starting Saturday. Guests can enjoy fine hot teas paired with sweet and savory bites at the hotel restaurant LAW while overlooking the resort pool and manicured grounds. Reservations are $50, plus tax and gratuity, and tea service will run on Saturdays and Sundays through December 18, and on Thursday and Friday, December 22-23. Also, Santa will make appearances during breakfast on Saturdays through December 17 and Sunday, December 11 from 8-11 am.

Fifth Annual 12 Bars of Christmas Crawl
Holiday onsies, Santa suits, ugly sweaters, and elf costumes are encouraged for this Christmas-themed bar crawl, which will guide participants to Dallas bars for drink specials and holiday cheer. The $18 ticket ($16 each for a group of four or more) includes a color-changing Santa stadium cup, Christmas light necklace for the first 50 at registration, Santa hat while supplies last, and a wristband good for free entry and drink specials at participating bars. Start at Playground Uptown – registration is from 12-2 pm and all specials run through 8 pm.

Monday, December 5

Del Maguey Mezcal Dinner at Te Deseo
The downtown Dallas Mexican restaurant will showcase mezcal during this prix-fixe dinner from chef Ryan York. Dinner will be paired with Del Maguey mezcal cocktails. Dinner is $140 and will run from 6-9 pm.

Repeal Day Prohibition Party at Bourbon & Banter
The Statler’s underground speakeasy celebrates the day the 21^st Amendment was ratified – December 5, 1933 – with a big party. Guests are encouraged to don flapper garb and zoot suits to enjoy traditional Prohibition-era cocktails (Pisco Sours, Harvey Wallbangers, Sidecars) for $10 all night, plus Osadia Tequila specials from 7-9 pm. The party starts at 4 pm; reserve here.

dinner holidays craft-beer news-you-can-eat

Silent nights

Texas parks beckon throughout 2022 holidays with festive events and peaceful escapes

camping holidays state parks

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife

Campers are encouraged to decorate their sites at parks this season.

If roasting s'mores and hiking in the great outdoors sounds fun, pack up your family and visit one of Texas’ state parks this holiday season.

Texas state parks and historic sites are ringing in the holidays with a number of festive events. There are drive-thru light tours, special holiday hikes, arts and crafts for the kiddos, and more.

Reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to visit an individual park's website before you head out. And check the Holidays in the Parks page for many more fun options, pricing information, and more information.

Dallas-Fort Worth-area parks

Tyler State Park
Enjoy Reading Ranger Campfire Stories around a cozy campfire at 3 pm December 3. Head back December 9-10 for A Pineywoods Christmas, when you can stroll or drive through the Lakeview and Big Pine campgrounds to take in campers' elaborately decorated sites and take a Winter Wonderland Hike.

Lake Tawakoni State Park
Drive through or stay at the park and decorate your campsite with your favorite Christmas decorations to receive your second night of camping free during your stay. There will be a decorating contest, complete with awards, as well as a reading of The Night before Christmas — all part of Twinkle Tour 2022, 5-8 pm December 3.

Daingerfield State Park
Drive through the park lit up like Santa Land during the 10th annual Christmas in the Park drive thru lights tour December 14-17 (times vary). Marvel at the decorated campsites and lights, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while waiting for a chance to visit with Santa.

Eisenhower State Park
Help those in need and spread holiday cheer — and as a bonus, get free entry to the park — by bringing one unwrapped donation item to the park’s Holiday Donation Drive through December 19. Visit December 9-10 to visit the Light Up the Park drive-thru lights event, featuring milk and cookies with Santa. This year, the park is taking unwrapped toys to donate instead of collecting entrance fees for the event.

Cleburne State Park
Enjoy Pancakes With Santa and make pinecone bird feeders 9-11 am December 10.

Cedar Hill State Park
Search for birds taking their winter break at the park during their Winter Birding Walk, which takes place 7:30-8:30 am December 13. Explore Christmas on Penn Farm on December 17: Learn about the history and pioneers of the Penn Family and the farm they built 150 years ago.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Experience Christmas, cowboy style, at Cross Timbers Cowboy Christmas, December 3. Park ranger and cowboy poet David Owens will gather guests around a campfire at the Lone Star Amphitheater for an evening of cowboy culture through songs, stories and poems.

Dinosaur Valley State Park
In partnership with Toys for Tots, the park is hosting Christmas in the Valley, a full day of ranger-led events, programs, family friendly activities, arts and crafts, food and more. Bring a new and unwrapped toy for free admission for the whole family. The event takes place 1-4 pm December 17.

Austin/San Antonio-area parks

Bastrop State Park
Follow ornaments with clues through the park every day in December during the annual Fa La La Through The Forest Scavenger Hunt. Enjoy the Lost Pines Christmas Parade, a collaborative event with Bastrop and Buescher Parks, at 6 pm December 10. Tour the inside of the historic Refectory and see how the Civilian Conservation Corps celebrated Christmas away from home during A Lost Pines CCC Christmas 9 am-12 pm December 17.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
Visit the popular attraction during December to learn how the farm staff get ready for das Weihnachten (Christmas). Return to the park at 5:30 pm December 18 for the 53rd Annual Tree Lighting, a holiday tradition started by President and Mrs. Johnson.

Garner State Park
Join the Buffalo Soldiers program and friends as they stop into Garner State Park before leaving for Christmas break during the Marching Towards Christmas event 10 am-2 pm December 10. Christmas activities will include hand-dipped candles, frontier Christmas painting, Christmas-themed hard tack in Dutch ovens, and stories of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Buescher State Park
On the Fa La La in the Forest Scavenger Hunt, you can follow ornaments with clues through the park to secure a prize at the end, December 1 to January 1. Enjoy the Smithville Festival of Lights and Lighted Parade, a collaborative effort between Buescher and Bastrop parks, on December 3.

Hill Country State Natural Area
See how art, history and state parks are connected; learn some basic watercolor techniques and paint a card or two to take home during the Watercolor Christmas Cards event 2:30-4 pm December 3. Come back for Horses in History & Ornament Craft from 2:30-4 pm December 22 and learn how horses played important roles in the lives of vaqueros, native people, ranchers and more. Then, play a round of horseshoes and paint a horse ornament to take with you.

South Llano River State Park
At Christmas at the Ranch, 2-5 pm December 3, guests can warm up with hot chocolate and cider, listen to live entertainment, enjoy crafts and cookie decorating, and anticipate Santa's visit while taking in the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations at the historic Ranch House that now serves as Park Headquarters.

Houston and Gulf Coast-area parks

Brazos Bend State Park
Holiday in the Park is an all-day affair on December 10. Events include a self-guided "Elf Hike," Christmas crafts, "Pup Parade," s'mores, and more.

Goose Island State Park
See the park in lights, enjoy holiday activities, and camp for free when you decorate your campsite during Christmas in the Park on December 17. Guests are invited to "Santa's Village" at the CCC Recreation Hall for holiday crafts, games, hot chocolate around the campfire, and to drop off letters to Santa in the North Pole Mailbox.

Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Get in the holiday spirit with the second annual Holiday Light Drive Thru, 6-9 pm December 10. Visitors can enter the park for a drive through the lighted areas of Javelina and Opossum Bend camping loops, plus the Old Pavilion.

West Texas and the Panhandle-area parks

Franklin Mountains State Park
On December 3, make ornaments and holiday cards with recycled materials as part of the Art in the Parks series. During Cookies and Cocoa, you can decorate and take home your own Christmas treat while sipping on a cup of hot chocolate 2-4 pm December 23. Come back on Christmas Eve for a guided, two-mile Santa Hike at 11 am.

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
Bring your family out for Home for the Holidays guided family hike on December 10 and moderate hike on December 17.

San Angelo State Park
Enjoy a drive-thru tour of lights and optional pictures with Santa and Smokey Bear during Holly-Days in the Park, 6-8 pm December 10.

holidays texas vacation parks