Red River Rivalry deals

Gear up for the TX-OU rivalry in Dallas with these dining specials

This cake ensures a sweet victory for both sides.

Photo courtesy of JD's Chippery

More than 100,000 people travel to the State Fair of Texas to see the Red River Rivalry between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners, which has been happening since 1929.

If you're so ready for the legendary showdown on October 11 that you're already prepping your burnt orange and crimson, we have found a few new ways to get excited for the big game.

Game day cookie from JD's Chippery
Satisfy both sides with this 10-inch cookie cake, now available to order for just $35. Feeding more people? Get the 12-inch size for just $5 more. A 48-hour advance notice is required, so orders must be placed by October 9 at 9 am online here or by calling either Dallas location.

Free concert at Galleria Dallas
In what has become a Galleria Dallas tradition, choral groups from both universities will perform a free concert for fans at Galleria Dallas on Friday, October 10.

12 pm: The Longhorn Singers from the University of Texas
12:20 pm: The OU Men’s Glee Club from the University of Oklahoma

Texas-OU Weekend at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar
Pete’s is turning up the competition at both its Frisco and Fort Worth locations with two signature drinks: the Burnt Orange Old Fashion and the Maroon & Cream Shot, each just $13.95. Every order counts — literally. Each drink purchased scores a point for your team, fueling the ultimate showdown between Longhorns and Sooners. Whoever has gained more points will be announced victorious on October 11.

Bash Before the Clash and Pep Rally at The Exchange Bar
Bash Before the Clash is an annual celebration for Longhorns fans that takes place on the eve of the Red River Rivalry football game. On Friday October 10 from 7-10 pm, show your Texas pride and get game-day ready with fellow Longhorn fans at The Exchange Bar for an exclusive VIP pep rally party before the big showdown. Tickets start at $12 with access to the Hook'em Hangout and a commemorative gift, and max out at $160 for Earl Campbell VIP package which includes access to VIP area, two super premium alcohol drink tickets and buffet. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Lobby Tailgate Pop-up at Joule Dallas
On Saturday, October 11 from 10:30 am–2:30 pm, the Joule will host a Lobby Tailgate Pop-Up with TX and OU-inspired specialty cocktails from Lalo Tequila at the Lobby Bar, snag exclusive co-branded keepsakes from The Joule and AB.Lino, including bandanas and polaroid photo inserts, and soak in the pre-game atmosphere before heading to the Cotton Bowl.

Red River Showdown at AT&T Discovery District
On Saturday, October 11 from 2:30-9:30 pm, catch every play of the Red River Showdown at a free outdoor watch party with the game broadcast on the Discovery District's Media Wall with your fellow Oklahoma & Texas fans. Bring your game face, jersey, lawn chairs, blankets, friends, and family. Discovery District vendors will be open. Outside coolers, outside alcohol, noise devices, and tents are NOT permitted.

Red River Rivalry watch party at Happiest Hour
Doors will open at 9 am on Saturday, October 11 with more than 40 large-screen TVs, three 40-foot LED screens, state-of-the-art sound system, and DJs.

9 am-12 pm: Tailgate with 818 Tequila, featuring tailgate games and giveaways. Tickets are limited, first-come, first-served. Must be 21+ to attend.
2:30 pm: Watch Party with choice of table reservations for $75 per guest food and beverage minimum, with a minimum of four guests per table; or general admission for $25 with access to the outdoor patio and lawn. Game-day menu features XL-loaded cheddar fries, a nacho tower, foot-long mozzarella logs and a selection of more than 30 beers on tap. Specialty team cocktails, large enough for eight to 10 guests, will also be available.

Watch party + free concert at Toyota Music Factory
Catch the October 11 TX/OU showdown on the Big Screen at 2:30 pm with Deejay Mike B, then stick around for live music featuring Seth Van Dover at 7:15 pm and Texas’ own Bart Crow at 9 pm. Enjoy free admission, first-come, first-serve seating, complimentary garage parking with restaurant or bar validation, and bites and beverages for purchase from the Outdoor Cantina Bar by Jaxon.

Texas vs. Oklahoma Rooftop Poolside Watch Party with 105.3 The Fan at The Highland Dallas
Relax in cabanas, watch the game on the big screen, and enjoy a top-shelf tailgate barbecue buffet (available for purchase), plus Tito’s Handmade Vodka drink specials and activations. Guests can also score raffle prizes and exclusive 105.3 The Fan G-Bag Nation Flagtober flags. There's also complimentary valet for party patrons!

DoorDash National Tailgate Tour at Nimitz Terrace
Starting at 10 am on Friday, October 10, and Saturday October 11, DoorDash will take over Nimitz Terrace (near the State Fair of Texas fairgrounds) with a high-energy tailgate pop-up, just in time for the Oklahoma vs. Texas showdown. Fans can expect giveaways and custom merch stations offering limited-edition gear personalized on the spot, immersive photo booths, and classic tailgate bites to fuel up before kickoff. Even fans watching from home can join in through DoorDash Streaks, the brand’s Saturday rewards program offering up to 80% off game day orders and a shot at $100 in bonus credits.

Tailgate with CultureMap
Fans of Texas, OU, local sports teams, or local food can get in the gameday spirit the weekend before the Red River Rivalry at CultureMap's Tailgate. Taking place at The Empire Room on Sunday, October 5 (aka the day the Cowboys take on the New York Jets), the party will include tailgate-inspired cuisine from local restaurants, premium cocktails, a chance to meet former Rangers star pitcher Derek Holland, a silent auction of sports memorabilia, giveaways, games, and the big reveal of Dallas' top taco (vote for your favorite here).

Tickets are just $50. Read more about The Tailgate here and nab tickets here before they run out. With sponsors like FLIGHT by Yuengling, Sportsmo, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Antone's Famous Po' Boys, NXL LVL Events, and more, this party will score big with everyone. You don't want to stay on the bench.

college football ut longhorns oklahoma sooners dueling pete's piano bar toyota music factory cookie cake cotton bowl state fair of texas texas ou game texas ou weekend red river rivalry tailgate

Movie Review

The End of Oak Street can't live up to its Spielberg inspirations

Photo by Daniel McFadden

Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway in The End of Oak Street.

Steven Spielberg is the iconic director of the last 50 years, so it’s no surprise that many other filmmakers have borrowed from his classic films. But most of the time those come in the form of references or homages, not straight up theft, which is what it feels like watching The End of Oak Street play out in front of your eyes.

Set in the early 1980s in an idyllic suburban neighborhood of an unnamed city, Denise (Anne Hathaway) and Greg (Ewan McGregor) are parents to two teenagers, Audrey (Maisy Stella) and Brian (Christian Convery). They’re also possibly heading toward divorce, as Audrey is secretly writing a novel with a thinly-veiled plot about their life, and Brian is cagey about having to earn extra money with a pizza delivery job.

That all gets put on the backburner when a mysterious event takes their entire neighborhood back to the time of dinosaurs. Armed with little more than a shotgun and sledgehammer, Audrey and Brian do their best to keep the family safe in their house. But the longer the ordeal goes on, circumstances force them out onto the streets and into the increasing danger that’s all around them.

Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, the film tries immensely hard to be like the Spielberg movies its filmmaker clearly adores, but fails at almost every turn. It never earns the broken family in ‘80s suburbia vibes that were prevalent in E.T., going all in right away in the opening scene with a neighborhood block party that feels forced. Other elements like a bully who has it out for Brian, the family dog that disappears, and an angry neighbor come across as the tropes they are and not as organic parts of the plot.

When it finally gets to its dinosaur sequences, they pale in comparison to those found in Jurassic Park. The strange manner in which the dinosaurs appear is a big part of that, but the action involving them forgoes ominous moments that could build tension for those that play up gore in an unexpected way for a PG-13 movie. Many of the attacks have so little emotional meaning that they come off as comical, which is entertaining but in a hollow way.

As if those weren’t enough, Mitchell - perhaps at the behest of producer J.J. Abrams (who made his own Spielbergian film, Super 8) - tries to honor Spielberg in other ways. Just like in Jaws, he employs the use of a split diopter lens, which keeps characters in both the foreground and background in focus. But instead of using it judiciously, it’s brought out in three separate scenes, including a laughable one with the four family members where it turns into overkill.

Hathaway, coming off of a role in The Odyssey that could earn her an Oscar nomination, is the best part of this film. But even her evident skills are dragged down by the ridiculousness of the story, which requires hysterics that even she can’t sell. McGregor can normally be counted on for a good performance, but he gives several line readings with strange cadences that make his already-underwritten character come off worse. Stella and Convery are okay, but their roles are unmemorable overall.

Mitchell and his team can never settle on exactly what type of film they were trying to make, and so even though The End of Oak Street has a few moments that work, they’re surrounded by many others that don’t. In trying to emulate Spielberg - there’s even a blatant Back to the Future (produced by Spielberg) rip-off towards the end - all Mitchell has done is show how difficult it is to be the master.

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The End of Oak Street opens in theaters on August 14.