You won't have to travel very far if you want to catch most of this weekend's best events, as six of the nine we've chosen take place in just two different venues. But the quality of those six is so high that you won't mind seeing the same places over and over again.
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, November 14
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Letters to Jackie screening
Just eight days remain until the official 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the latest tie-in event is the screening of a documentary about letters of sympathy and grief sent to Jackie Kennedy in the days and weeks following JFK's death. The screening at Winspear Opera House includes a Q&A with director Bill Couturié.
Dallas Opera presents Composing Conversation with Mark Adamo
Mark Adamo is a heavyweight in the opera world, having composed one classic, Little Women, and two other acclaimed operas, including 2013's The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Dallas Opera general director and CEO Keith Cerny leads the conversation, which also includes opera critic Gregory Sullivan Isaacs, at Nasher Sculpture Center.
Friday, November 15
Pearl Jam in concert
It's 20 years later and Pearl Jam still hasn't lost any of its power to captivate, as the band's 10th album, Lightning Bolt, debuted at No. 1 when it was released in October. They kick off the second leg of their North American tour with this concert at American Airlines Center, their only stop in Texas and the band's first appearance in Dallas in 10 years.
Harry Connick Jr. in concert
Just a couple of miles down the road from the AAC, the Winspear Opera House hosts its second big event in as many days, bringing jazz/big band enthusiast Harry Connick Jr. to entertain the masses. It's been a busy year for Connick, as he's released not one but two new albums, in addition to becoming the newest judge on American Idol.
Saturday, November 16
Dallas City Lights 2013
Thanksgiving may still be two weeks away, but downtown Dallas gets the holiday season started early with Dallas City Lights all along Main Street. There will be loads of holiday-themed activities, performances by the Invisible Czars at Belo Garden, the opening of the crawl tubes at Neiman Marcus and the tree lighting at Main Street Garden.
Nick Offerman in concert
One day before he tastes the best meat Dallas has to offer, actor/comedian Nick Offerman from NBC's Parks & Recreation comes to the House of Blues Dallas to do another thing he does best: Make people laugh. Pick up Offerman's book, Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living, before you go or he will look down on you in disdain as only he can.
Pink in concert
If you're thinking that Pink was just here, that's pretty close to the truth. The pop star makes her second appearance at American Airlines Center in 2013, having played there on the first leg of her The Truth About Love tour back in February. The singer has got to be dragging by this point, with 117 shows around the world under her belt this year, but something tells us she'll have enough energy to bring the goods once again.
Sunday, November 17
The Complete Works of Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice
The 11th installment in Shakespeare Dallas' ambitious project to put on every single one of William Shakespeare's works also comes during a busy weekend at Winspear Opera House. But this staged reading of the classic The Merchant of Venice takes place in Hamon Hall at the Winspear, giving event planners the tiniest of breaks.
An Evening with Bill Maher
That is until Sunday night, when comedian Bill Maher invades the Winspear Opera House. Maher just finished the 11th season of his acclaimed HBO series, Real Time with Bill Maher, so you can bet that some of the world or political issues that have been at the forefront this week will work their way into his show.
Pearl Jam plays Dallas for the first time in 10 years when they take the stage at American Airlines Center on November 15.
The Callback Bar.Photo by Anna Dolmany
