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Cowboys, capuchins and a carnival
8/19
The rodeo–the terminus for country-western thrills–is coming to Denton, and the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo, running from August 19 through August 27, happens to be one of the good ones. It’s no secret that the rodeo is enjoying a return to the spotlight, attracting big corporate sponsors such as Miller Lite, Bud Lite and Coca-Cola while socialites from Los Angeles to New York snap up high-crowned straw hats and Tony Lama boots. But the western carnival is more than just a John Ford movie. While the “cowboy way” is still alive and well among the nexus of young men and women risking their necks to ride a bull or rope a calf, the fair is also a place where the community showcases achievements in art, food, photography and beauty. There’s the midway where the simple pleasure of an adrenaline rush from a Power Booster or a Thunderbolt will never quite loosen its grip on our imagination as it easily terrifies us into extreme glee with a stomach-lurching drop toward unforgiving pavement. And there are concerts, too, with a night under the stars listening to marquee entertainment–Kevin Fowler (Beer, Bait and Ammo and High on the Hog), Deryl Dodd (One Ride in Vegas) and Rick Trevino (In My Dreams)–that exerts an irresistible pull on those ever-ready with a blanket, a cold beer and a lighter for that special song. It certainly wouldn’t be a fair without the freaks, er, novelty attractions. Thank goodness for Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, a 17-year-old capuchin monkey who will herd sheep on his trusty steed, a Border collie imported from Scotland. The fairgrounds are at Carroll Boulevard at West University Drive behind Kroger’s. Call 940-387-2632 or visit www.northtexasstatefair.com. —Emily Jacobs
African Adventure
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8/19
Up Late with Gordon Parks
8/19 Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the collective sense of pride and triumph among African Americans when one of us succeeds. Without writing a dissertation on the psychology of black consciousness, I’ll simply say I guess there’s an innate sense of connectedness that is usually reserved for blood relatives. Whatever it is, it explains the pride I feel when I hear the name Gordon Parks. Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., celebrates the artistry of the living legend with Gordon Parks, Half Past Autumn: Selections from the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which includes 130 photographs from 1940 to 1997 and strikes a beautiful balance between social and aesthetic concerns. The event, featuring talks, movies, music and kids’ events, is 6 p.m. to midnight Friday. Admission is $10. Call 214-922-1200. –Stephanie Morris
The Gonzo Show
8/19
8/20
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