Arts & Entertainment

The Best Club DJ in 2016, and the Readers’ Choice Best Club DJ in 2017, 2019 and 2020, Red Eye — whose real name is Scottie Canfield — has more than earned the awards and recognition as one of the most skilled and knowledgeable house and techno DJs in Dallas. Resident DJ at It’ll Do Club — Dallas’ premier destination for house, techno, EDM, dubstep and everything in between, where he recently played back to back with mushroom jazz pioneer Mark Farina — Red Eye has more than two decades of experience under his belt, going all the way back to Club One and Beauty Bar. The size of his vinyl record collection is notorious, as is the scope of his knowledge of classic house and techno tracks.

One of the biggest losses of 2021 actually didn’t have anything to do with the viral shutdown but it still stung just as hard. The Knox Street staple Wild About Harry’s announced that it would close up shop because the building’s owners wanted to put something in its place that would make the neighborhood look like every other gentrified restaurant district in the country. The 25-year-old establishment has served the tastiest custard treat in the city. Harry’s final weekend let customers come in and empty the freezers and pantries during the July 4th weekend and the response was magnificent. People stood for hours in lines that lasted as long as the weekend itself to get one last taste of its signature iced treat.

The For God & Country Patriot Roundup, a privately funded QAnon convention, was a treat for Facebook meme believers, conspiracy spreaders and anti-vaxxing virus carriers. The event attracted a veritable “What The Hell?” of speakers, among them Texas GOP Chairman Allen West, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who went on to say during his set that America needed its own Myanmar-style coup. The only bright spot in this gathering of gullibles was when Gilley’s Dallas dropped them as a venue before the con was scheduled to start. They left the organizers scrambling to relocate the majority of their events in one location. It was not only a delightful moment of failure for the saner of us to enjoy, but the schadenfreude didn’t require the event turning into a Sturgis-grade superspreader event (we hope).

Film festivals are starting to make a comeback now that it’s kinda OK to go outside again and see a movie in an actual theater. The Oak Cliff Film Festival run by the founders and operators of the Texas Theatre found a way to grow its annual celebration of cinema even under the weight of a pandemic. The 2021 edition of the Oak Clif Film Festival made a comeback from its digital version the previous year with an impressive roster of films that made their premiere in Texas. Some of the starring screenings included the Summer of Soul documentary directed by The Roots’ Questlove, which recapped the musical and cultural influence of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival; Mogul Mowgli starring Academy Award nominee Riz Ahmed in his first performance since the inspiring Sound of Metal; and the hilarious and touching Swan Song that included a live appearance with legendary actor Udo Kier.

Dallas’ hottest jazz club is Revelers Hall, where one can hear anything from trad jazz to prewar blues, Latin or Balkan music seven nights a week. Legends such as saxophonist Shelley Carrol, who’s played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Pink Floyd and Sheryl Crow, perform there on the reg. On weekend afternoons, the Revelers Hall Band, the venue’s eponymous house band, performs New Orleans-style jazz for matinee crowds eager to dance and sing along. Revelers is a serious jazz venue dedicated to serious jazz highlighting the cream of the local jazz music scene. Naturally, the venue is also dedicated to serving seriously strong drinks.

Josh and Amanda Smith, the founders of the Banjos to Beats concert production group, have turned Facebook’s power to connect communities into something positive and informative with their popular DFW Corona Connection group. The Smiths started with the basics like daily updates on infection totals and locations for vaccinations, but they built a popular, stylish forum that allows for deep discussions. The pair do an excellent job of keeping the group on topic even when politics intrudes into the conversation.

With superheroes invading every area of pop culture, it was only a matter of time before a Dallas actor slipped into the role of Gotham’s famous detective. Fresh off of the conclusion of Supernatural, Jensen Ackles stepped into the role of Bruce Wayne for the two-part animated film Batman: The Long Halloween. The noir story followed the triumvirate of Batman, Commissioner Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent as they search for the culprit behind a series of murders tied to holidays. A signature adult story (Part Two was even rated R), The Long Halloween was a refreshing change of pace thanks to Ackles’ nuanced depiction of Batman’s tortured soul.

Since reopening in 2019, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios has become a creative space for more than just musicians. The venue, which sits just off the train tracks in Denton’s industrial district, underwent major cosmetic changes and added more areas to accommodate artists of all stripes. With two inside stages and one, sizable outdoor stage, a single night at Gloves could include karaoke, a DJ set, a comedy show and a rock concert. And while music will always be RGRS’s bread and butter, they’ve had major success with performance art events, photography and art exhibitions, bazaars and more. It’s a true testament to the longtime DIY nature of the venue, which originally opened over two decades ago. And, of course, its namesake rehearsal studios still offer musicians a place to create.

One of the icons of classic cinema was honored with an extensive Fort Worth exhibition that featured some of the most iconic props and memorabilia from his filmography. Displaying items from classic Westerns like The Searchers, Stagecoach, Red River, Rio Bravo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Shootist, the John Wayne Museum walks attendees through four decades of “The Duke’s” career. It’s not just film highlights though, as the experience provides intimate details about Wayne’s challenging childhood and features segments of his acclaimed original poetry. The 10,000-square-foot exhibit ion includes exclusive merchandise such as Wayne’s signature bourbon. Adjacent to the Fort Worth Stockyards, it’s a truly unique Texan experience.

“As you wish,” indeed! Films are best enjoyed among the company of a large crowd, and the Meadow Museum in Dallas screened Rob Reiner’s classic fantasy adventure The Princess Bride in a refreshing outdoor experience. The epic romance of star-crossed lovers Wesley and Buttercup (and the commentary of a cynical adolescent boy and his grandfather) is a story that’s passed between generations, and the family screening allowed parents to share a true classic with the next generation. Drive-ins became popular within the last year, but the outdoor experience of a pre-summer breeze came as a welcome change of pace.

Yes, it’s Monday night. Yes, it’s in Fort Worth. Yes, drinks are expensive. But if you want to enjoy classic house and techno performed by talented local DJs with the best possible vibes, drop what you’re doing and run don’t walk to Curfew Bar near Sundance Square. Curated by DJ offparole alongside resident DJs boyblk and C.B. Smoove, the music’s bumping from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. every Monday night. Lasers by Michael Moore strobe, anime plays behind the booth and everybody dances the night away. The top Texan techno talent — think Pro Ghost, J. Harcrow, IAMYU, Bout, Rami and American Matthew — performs here on the reg. All are welcome at this raging techno party that intentionally harkens back to the Detroit house scene created by people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

One of the most beloved independent films in recent memory came from the unique perspective of a 23-year-old Dallas filmmaker. Cooper Raiff had hastily put together a 55-minute experimental project called Madeline & Cooper inspired by his own romantic relationship, which he sent to independent film titan Jay Duplass. So impressed with the young director’s ambition, Duplass helped Raiff produce his directorial debut Shithouse, a coming-of-age dramedy that Raiff also starred in. Shithouse tells the story of Alex, an insecure college freshman who struggles to adjust after moving from his home in Dallas to California; he struggles to connect with friends and frequently calls home to his mother and younger sister. Alex gradually grows out of his shell after a magical night introduces romance into his lonely life. Earning comparisons to indie classics like Kicking and Screaming and Before Sunrise, Shithouse took home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the SXSW Film Festival.

You’d be hard pressed to determine which is more delightful and venerable, the Kimbell Art Museum’s permanent collection or the museum buildings themselves. Designed by Louis Khan and opened to the public in 1972, the Kimbell’s original building is a masterpiece of modern architecture; across the lawn, the newer, airy, glass pavilion designed by Renzo Piano represents a similar achievement for postmodern architecture. The artwork inside more than meets the high bar set by its buildings. Miró, Matisse, Léger, Mondrian, Picasso, Monet, Braque, Caravaggio, Munch, Cézanne, Ensor, Gaugin, Sisley, Caillebote and even a rare di Buoninsegna grace the walls. Only the best traveling exhibitions roll through the Kimbell — think masterworks from the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Galleries of Scotland or the Musée d’Orsay; or exhibitions delving into the works of Renoir, Balenciaga and Monet both early and late. A trip to the Kimbell, no matter how many times you’ve been, is always an insightful and refreshing experience.

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, head to It’ll Do Club to enjoy some jams spun by the best house and techno artists in the world — we’re talking Green Velvet, Justin Martin, VNSSA, John Summit, Moon Boots, Dom Dolla and Mark Farina just this past summer. But on Sundays, the scene changes. Don your most Satanist clothes — your leather and camouflage, your eyeliner and black eyeshadow, your Moloch necklace and spiky collar — and gird your loins for The Church, a vodka Red Bull-fueled night of industrial and emo music. You can wear anything, or practically nothing, and you’ll fit right in. But the more Satanic and evil it is the better. It’s not exactly God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost that’s worshipped at this church.

We may have learned (or at least were taught) to say no to drugs long ago, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to trip the hell out sometimes. That’s why we follow Dallas band Helium Queens, a trio made up of Poppy Xander, Chelsey Danielle and Sharla Franklin, which performs in all-neon and takes us to another galaxy through the band’s fantastical backstories. The Queens have brought a psych edge to many stages in the past few years since coming together, but their recent three-night sold-out Space Opera truly took us to an otherworldly dimension. At art space Arstillery, audiences were mesmerized by the glow-up production, the epic story of moon royalty battling a ruler played by Sarah Ruth. The space opera also brought together the highest of local talent — such as singer Nicole Marxen, artist Shamsy, designer Teddy Waggy and choreographer Danielle Georgiou — in a collaborative effort.

Want to own a coffee shop or create an impressive latte? Texas Coffee School’s three-day course leads people through the labyrinth of developing a business plan, choosing a location, negotiating a lease, crunching numbers and making coffee. The java academy’s hands-on training method also covers everyday essentials like consistency and quality. Texas Coffee School, located in Arlington, was founded by Tom Vincent a decade ago. In addition to the school’s three-day business course, people can learn how to hone their expresso and milk skills. Other subjects include coffee brewing, manager and barista training, plus there’s a 4-hour class dedicated solely to creating some bad-ass latte art.

You may be a 30k millionaire, but Dallas is rampant with the real thing, so get yourself one. Let the gold-digging begin where X marks the spot at the Rosewood Mansion, a restaurant and bar in the luxury Uptown hotel that’s as sophisticated as your taste and pleasantly laid back, just like your ambitions. If you’re on a Monroe/Grable/Bacall quest to marry a millionaire and want to meet your future benefactor, erm, spouse, without the aid of online dating sites, then meet-cute them spontaneously at the Turtle Creek hotel. And if your hunt yields no prey, you can always stick around for a chill jazz show and really good food.

A lot is expected of musicians these days. They need to deliver sonically and have a hypnotic stage presence while finding us online. Medicine Man Revival frontman Keite Young happens to be great at all those things. The soul-rock singer’s exuberant onstage star power translates well to the still portraiture displayed on Instagram. Young’s photo layouts are as exciting as his projects — collaborations with seemingly everyone from Leon Bridges, John Mayer and Bobby Sessions. As a style icon, Young inspires us to look our best, but his strongest influence lies in his activism. Young uses his blessed vocals for good as an advocate for social causes such as Black Lives Matter, often posting truth bombs to his stories that’ll shatter anyone’s deep-seated ignorance.

Let us accept our fate as millennials, that as the brokest generation it’s unlikely we’ll ever earn a million non-inflation-adjusted dollars in our whole lives. But just because we aren’t (and again, probably will never be, sorry) millionaires, that doesn’t mean we can’t live like one. Or at least, that seems a prevalent new school of thought among decidedly non-economists. Thanks to the generously complicated world of credit debt, you too can float along living large and paying the minimum and letting future you deal with the aftermath. If you’re looking for like-minded ilk with whom to flex your last purchases and talk brand names, the Tower Club is simply climbing with the sort. The Downtown Dallas club is on a 48th floor, so let the stunning city views make your debts seem but a small blur beneath who you really are at heart: a man or woman of wealth and taste.

This question applies to many things in life, we know, but why play regular basketball when you can play (wait for it) drunk basketball? Nothing brings out our inner heroes like drinking into a magical, sweet delusion when we believe ourselves capable of things we couldn’t even manage at our most soberly coordinated — like dancing or talking to others. The Grapevine is an ideal spot to drink (and/or) attempt to conquer an outdoors basketball hoop, or simply to make new friends. It’s an equal parts quaint and lively dive bar with a massive patio with large picnic tables perfect to keep socially distant (even in non-pandemic times). Nothing beats the bar’s friendly atmosphere, where your enthusiasm for athleticism will likely be met if not with cheers, at least with no booing.

Founded by DJ Blake Ward, Disco, TX is an escape from the douchey frat bros who lurk around Dallas dance floors and an adventure to a world of magic, dance, art and sexual fluidity. Performing across various venues throughout Dallas, including Double Wide, Bowlskis and InterSkate, Ward hardly ever does the same theme twice, allowing for each Disco, TX event to make for an experience of a lifetime. Plus, Ward always makes sure to show love to local creatives by showcasing a variety of bands, drag queens and food trucks.

When The Circle returned for a second season, Lee Swift, 58, played the game and played it well. Catfishing as a 24-year-old named River, Swift had to update his lexicon to match that of someone less than half his age. Taking lessons from his niece, he was able to pull off the Gen Z act long enough to land himself in fourth place. But it was his kindness, sense of humor and iconic outfits that won our hearts over. Not to mention, his loyalty to his fellow Dallasites Terilisha and Khat.

A longtime staple in downtown Richardson, the Palestinian-owned Jasmine Café is the spot to smoke hookah, whether you prefer to get your tokes in during the day or late at night. With more than 50 flavors ranging from classics like double apple to outliers like sex panther or skittles, you can mix and match to find the exact taste you want. If you get hungry, they have a variety of Mediterranean dishes you can enjoy while you smoke the hours away: hummus, shish kabob, falafel and shawarma, among other delicious bites. If you get tired, you can top your hookah off with a powerful cup of Arabic coffee.

The last person we wanted to give a “Best Of” to in any category is Jenna Ryan, the Frisco realtor charged for her role in the riot on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. But fair is fair, and Jenna Ryan has been very good to the Dallas Observer this year. She tweets. We write about it. Ka-ching! Page view gold. She denied any wrongdoing and dug her heels even further with hateful replies to critics on Twitter about how she’ll never go to jail because (and we quote) “I have blond hair white skin a great job a great future” [sic]. Ka-ching! Then she released a song on YouTube, a real song that she wrote, performed and recorded herself called “My Falling Heart.” If she hadn’t filmed herself in the grounds of the biggest political hissy fit in American history, it would be just another spiritual ballad with redundant platitudes that probably came from hand stitched throw pillows. However, when you listen to it while imagining her legal predicament, you can’t help but wonder if the cries of “I know that He’s there” and “I know somebody loves me” are directed toward someone who claims to be King of Israel but isn’t, not at all.

The vocal duo of Dan Bowman and Tarun Krishnan spent their pandemic downtime in virtual writing and jam sessions that led to their first album, Pendulum, with Mimo Morreale on bass, Aaron Stanfield on drums, Jacob Metcalf on electric guitar and Ben Fisher on accordion. The songs are three stories that explore “how we all deal with the balance between wanting love and actually discovering it.” The album may only have three tracks, but they make quite an emotional impact with a moving mix of folk and pop and the power of their dual vocals.

Social media communities like TikTok are filled with people who think they have musical talent but are entertaining for reasons that go far beyond musicality. Singer Christi Lux found a spotlight on TikTok, but unlike 99 percent of the music makers on the short video platform, she has scads of talent and a luxurious singing voice. Lux’s song “BEBE” uses a reggaeton sound to express what she describes as a feeling “like when you have a crush on somebody and you talk to that special person, but for some reason, neither of you have the courage to tell each other your true feelings” in her profile feature. The track went viral and brought attention to her impressive body of expressive and moving love songs that’s also helping her line up new shows and make connections in the industry.

The breakup of the punk group duo It Hurts to Be Dead started in 2019 fueled by one bad day in a recording studio with tense conversations and an unrelated but still annoying broken pickup truck window. Then as the vaccine rollout started to make it look like things might be improving, singer/guitarist Sean Snyder and drummer Kevin Gilmore worked out their differences and announced the band was back together again. They have a new project in the works called Dystopian Graffiti to celebrate IHTBD’s glorious return from, well, the dead.

Who would have thought that some of the hippest new music would come from a burgeoning label in McKinney? Katie Scott started Red Zeppelin Records as a music store on McKinney’s downtown square for hardcore crate diggers; this past year, it also started producing its own indie artist releases. They are fairly new, but they’ve already produced a really slick release with local musician Juno Uno and the unique pop sound from his new track “Sides.” Red Zeppelin also released a new 5-track EP from Bayleigh Creek called Immortals that offers its own unique mix of haunting and mesmerizing. It’s a very encouraging start for a label that has nowhere to go up from here.

Even though we’re in the 21st century, we still haven’t gotten stuff like flying cars and jetpacks. The upside is we’ve got a futuristic soundtrack that would be awesome to play from our jet car’s cosmo-blaster. Rapper Mallo the Great, an “avid Dallas repper,” according to his Instagram, developed one of the most unusual stylings of the year with his brand of hip-hop and cosmic backgrounds. Mallo took advantage of the quarantine to advance his freestyle talents and experiment with all sorts of alluring sounds and instruments to produce rap tracks backed with beautiful backgrounds that do more than just make noise. They elevate the drama and passion of the stories in his songs that feel like something on the same level as a passionate aria from an opera. The rhymes he spills can be just as furious as any rap standard, but there’s something very passionate and beautiful in Mallo’s works.

We live in angry times, giving punk another chance to raise its angry fist and maybe a certain finger at authority. Just because Donald Trump is no longer resident doesn’t mean stupidity and authoritarianism left with him. The Denton punk group Noogy teamed up with Austin’s MDC to produce something appropriate during the downtime we all suddenly had in (what we hope will be) the end of the COVID pandemic with Bye Bye Donny, a raucous FU to everything that made life suck in the last few years. It feels like an echo of the thesis statements of legends like Black Flag and The Dead Kennedys. It’s also a very personal piece of work for the Denton band. Noogy drummer Nick Helm died in 2020 as his depression and the isolation from not touring overtook him. It’s sad but out of it comes something inspiring as the rest of the band picks up Helm’s sound and style to make sure they didn’t go with him. It’s living proof that nothing can kill great punk rock.

Some of the best things to come out of music are the things you didn’t know you wanted. That’s how emerging Dallas musician Cameron McCloud built a following for his group Cure for Paranoia’s ambitious second album BAMN (By Any Means Necessary). McCloud, producer Jay Analog and engineer Tomahawk Jones put together the self-effacing, open and catchy eight-track album and first released the EP on Soundcloud as a secret gift for a monetary donation. Songs like “99” and “Dolla Dolla Bill Y’all” take mainstream rap sounds and themes and turn them on their ear to create something complex, heady and funny as hell. The only thing McCloud and his crew take seriously is the production to record and mix awesome songs that aren’t so serious. The result produced sounds that are thought-provoking, clever and cool.

Situated right off the highway, I-30 Bingo may not get you totally rich, per se, but you still have the chance to win some serious cash at this frills-free little bingo hall. Open Wednesday through Thursday, I-30 pays out $5,000 in cold cash each day. On Thursdays, you might just win yourself a brand new television. On Sundays, you could even win a computer. Plus, it’s open late on the weekdays and weekends, so it’s the perfect spot for wholesome fun in Dallas after you’ve wrapped up a night of drinking and general debauchery.

Open every day from 11:30 a.m. until 1 in the morning, Sharky’s is a North Dallas sports bar where you can get hammered and practice your forehand, your backhand and your top spin all at that same time. In between drunken rounds of ping pong, you can chow down on jalapeno poppers, a burger or anything else from their full-service kitchen. (We recommend eating light if you’ve got a tough match ahead of you.) Even better, the “happy hour” lasts from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., so you’re sure to get sloshed while you smack the ball across the table at your opponent.

Who would’ve guessed we’d find a natural waterfall in Frisco? Or a house made entirely of pink decor in Dallas? Or a coffee shop devoted to Harry Potter? TikTok user @mycurlyadventures has an eye for must-go spots all throughout Texas. She’s even put together a guide to 50 different trips you can take throughout the state, all of which are under $50. Traveling may be difficult right now, given we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, but @mycurlyadventures’ feed shows us that some of the best spots are just a quick drive away.

KUZU is a low-powered FM nonprofit community radio station broadcasting in a limited three-to-five-mile radius at 92.9 FM from a tower in Denton, but the station also streams online to a worldwide listening audience at kuzu.fm. Assuming you love to be exposed to new music and expand your musical tastes, the only complaint one could possibly have about KUZU is that to a new listener the programming may seem scattershot, as the wide variety of weekly, biweekly and monthly programming transitions from host to host and genre to genre, moving from new wave or post punk one hour to polka or honky tonk tracks the next. Once the station’s schedule is consulted at kuzu.fm, listeners easily learn when to tune into their favorites of the more than 50 hosts’ programs.

After a few ups and downs in the last year, the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, the oldest in the state, is reopening its doors. Opened in 1936, the aquarium operated at a loss for some time, and when the pandemic struck, plans were announced to shut it down for good. About 135,000 guests visited the aquarium annually before it closed. Thanks to funding from the city and new managers ZoOceanarium, the aquarium is getting a second life.

When Junior Players was founded in 1955, its focus was on presenting traditional children’s theater productions performed exclusively by children and teenagers. In 1989, the organization shifted its focus to providing free programming to children and teenagers across North Texas. Junior Players has put on many productions in that time, including their five-year-long series Transformation Project, which dove into issues facing teens today, from gun violence and immigration to bullying and sexual abuse. They fought to stay afloat during the pandemic and now they’re dancing harder than ever.

Since 2005, Kettle Art has been a home and a launching pad for local artists. The owner of the gallery, Frank Campagna, is often called the “Godfather of Deep Ellum,” and we wouldn’t dare to challenge that title. Between Campagna and his gallery, they’ve been there for it all. They’re staples of the local scene’s history and help keep it alive today. If you haven’t been to Kettle Art yet, first ask yourself what you’ve been doing with your life, then head on out to rub shoulders with local art connoisseurs and up-and-comers.

The African American Museum of Dallas has one of the largest folk art collections in the nation. Since opening in 1974, the museum in Fair Park has explored the African-American experience and history through lectures, displays and exhibitions like Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth, which came to Dallas from the Smithsonian Institution for a stint at the museum. The exhibit profiled Black icons and the impact they have on the country’s historical and cultural landscape. The African American Museum of Dallas houses more than 60 archival collections, 200 African artifacts and 150 paintings and sculptures.

Street art is everywhere you look throughout many of Dallas’ trendy neighborhoods, but it didn’t start that way. In the late ’60s early ’70s, street art, graffiti and murals began popping up in the urban landscapes of New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. It didn’t hit Dallas until the late ’80s and early ’90s but was restricted to the hipster neighborhood of Deep Ellum. Now, this is no longer true and in Trinity Groves, The Design District and Bishop Arts you can find lots of great street art, and Bishop Arts has the best. All along Jefferson Boulevard, West Davis Street and Bishop Avenue, you will see Oak Cliff’s wonderful art scene. There are two murals, one on Bishop Avenue of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the Queen of Tejano music. Also, murals of two Oak Cliff icons, Yvonne Craig aka Adam West’s Batgirl next to Emporium Pies and the OG rebel couple Bonnie and Clyde on Davis Street. There is a great black and white piece called “CACTEX” on West Davis Street as a tribute to the area’s and Texas’ Tex-Mex scene and culture. The Cultural Icon Graveyard is on Commerce Street and features famous Dallasites and Texans. If you just want to let people know where you are, head to Jefferson Boulevard to take a picture in front of the “Dallas, Where You At?” mural on the side of the Boost Mobile building. If you post to social media, don’t forget to @ the artists, many of whom have their social media handler name on their work.

Uniting the Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who universes under one room, the Lewisville geek gathering was the place to be for North Texas comic book enthusiasts. Aimed at both casual readers and hard core collectors, the Dallas Comic Show inspired expressive Dallasites to show up in costume as their favorite characters. Featuring an eclectic group of signers, including famous Green Lantern writer Alex Saviuk and Spider-Man author Steven Butler, Dallas Comic Show was a welcome reminder of where the popularity of superhero movies originated. Thankfully, the family-friendly event opened the door for younger readers to participate as well.

Breakout star Sasha Lane introduced herself to audiences back in 2017 in the award-winning indie drama American Honey, but she had a banner year thanks to several key high profile television projects. Lane showed up in a memorable guest role in an episode of Steven Spielberg’s rebooted anthology series Amazing Stories as a troubled teenager who discovers inter-dimensional beings in her hometown. She later played one of the leads in the subversive comic book adaptation Utopia on Amazon Prime. Capping off her standout year with an entry into the Marvel Universe, Lane joined fellow Dallas actors Owen Wilson and Jonathan Majors in Loki. She’s set to headline the adaptation of the bestselling Irish romance novel Conversations With Friends next year.

Virtually no one in Hollywood had a bigger year than Dallas actor Jonathan Majors. Majors kicked off his breakthrough with a performance in Spike Lee’s acclaimed war epic Da 5 Bloods as the loving son of a Vietnam veteran who has turned to hatred. Majors followed that up with a lead role in the acclaimed science fiction horror series Lovecraft Country. While HBO pulled the plug on the series, he earned nominations at the Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Recently popping up as the enigmatic villain Kang the Conqueror in the season finale of the Disney+ series Loki, Majors will return to the Marvel universe in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania. He’ll also show up later this year in the all-black action western The Harder They Fall alongside Regina King, Delroy Lindo and Idris Elba.

Dallas director David Lowery can’t be pinned to just one genre. After a romantic crime thriller (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints), a meditative art film (A Ghost Story), a Disney live-action fairy tale (Pete’s Dragon) and an old-fashioned caper (The Old Man and the Gun), Lowery delivered his best film to date with the epic R-rated Arthurian adventure The Green Knight. Dev Patel led the re-imaging as King Arthur’s naive nephew Gawain, who embarks on a quest to find the titular Green Knight who threatens Camelot. The gorgeous medieval world is recreated in immaculate detail as Gawain grows into maturity over the course of his mission, facing giants, witches, seductive temptresses and bloodthirsty thieves. While it was shot in Ireland, Lowery teased that at least four shots were captured in his favorite city Dallas.

There’s nothing that gets us in the Christmas spirit like spending a couple of hours with the inhabitants of Tuna, the “third-smallest town” in Texas. The satirical 1989 play A Tuna Christmas features two actors playing over 20 colorful characters, from Tasty-Creme waitresses and radio disc jockeys to UFOlogists. Theoretically the story is about a Christmas yard display contest and the hijinks that ensue, but there are too many subplots to count. Really, the fun is in the dialogue and the gymnastics the actors perform as they switch in and out of characters. (All of whom are both completely absurd and instantly recognizable if you’ve spent any time in rural Texas.) When it debuted, A Tuna Christmas was so instantly beloved that it made its way to the White House, where the writers and original cast performed it for President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. And because it’s easy to produce, it’s been a staple of community theaters in the South ever since.

Yoda is spotted at White Rock Lake. A guy goes to Texas Roadhouse and takes a scale to make sure his steak is actually 6 ounces. A few couches are for lease in Oak Cliff. Ross Street floods and a few ill-begotten Dallasites go tubing in the turbid — and indubitably bacteria-infested — water. Eighty-one people are arrested at takeover events across the city. Northwest Highway floods. A Dallas Police Department officer makes a TikTok. A fight breaks out at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in Fort Worth. You’ll read — or, rather, watch — all this and more on Dallas Texas TV, whose primary mediums are Instagram and Twitter. So smash those follow buttons and stay alert for the weirdest shit that’s going down in Big D.

The owners weren’t wrong when they said walking into Yellow Rosa is like traveling to the beaches of Tulum and cantinas of San Miguel de Allende. The drink menu is stacked with their takes on classics like the Paper Plane and the French 75. On Saturdays and Sundays between frozen margaritas, you’ll want to make time to chow down on something from their brunch menu. Order some chips and salsa just to get started. Then go all in with the bistek y huevos (chargrilled picanha steak, chimichurri, papas y chorizo with two sunny side up eggs) or the carnitas sope (two sopes with pork topped with pork carnitas, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, crema and black beans). Just bring a designated driver. You’re going to need it.

When you need to recharge but you’re short on time, head to nearby Waxahachie. It’s vastly underrated as a getaway, and it’s home to one of DFW’s best bed-and-breakfasts, the English Merchant’s Inn. The home was built in 1915 by an English cotton merchant, and it’s furnished with traditional English antiques plus a touch of color and whimsy. Rooms are affordable, comfortable and spacious and offer charming amenities like clawfoot tubs. Our personal favorite is the collection of china cups and saucers that you can use to serve yourself a cup of tea. Stay in the winter and you can enjoy it by a fire — one of the inn’s owners will build it for you. If you’re unsure about the prospect of socializing with other guests, you’ll be happy to know that breakfast is a private affair, served down the street at White Rhino Coffee. It’s the perfect way to begin a day of browsing the antique stores and gift shops on the square.

With its bookstore located in Deep Ellum, Deep Vellum’s publishing arm has quickly become a powerhouse in the Dallas literary scene. Launched as a nonprofit in 2013, the operation is headed by founder Will Evans, who later opened the little bookstore in 2016. Each year, Deep Vellum publishes several original titles and new translations of foreign literary works from around the world. In recent years, they’ve also put a focus on publishing Dallas-based authors and supporting the local literary community. If you get a chance to pop into their bookstore, you’ll find their own titles and plenty more, and you can enjoy some of the best coffee in town.

We know, performance art isn’t for everyone. But if your cup of tea spilleth over for the bizarre and avant-garde, then keep up with Odyssey Studios. The small warehouse space holds nothing in it but performers and spectators can watch inside or outdoors. One recent show featured Gibson Regester on a series called Amygdala Hijack consisting of three different nights highlighting abuse within queer relationships. In the first, the artist put on pink boxing gloves and beat themselves up with pink paint. For the last show, they ate a bar of soap. In June, the brilliant Colton White’s performance showed the artist trapped in a translucent box, summing up the helpless sequestering experience of quarantine.

When you think of cat cafés, you might assume something along the line of Fleabag‘s guinea pig themed café, not an eatery actually populated by cats. But that’s what you get at The Casual Cat. Crazy cat ladies and gents with a love of felines greater than the Tiger King’s can make the drive to Richland Hills to cuddle with cats for just $11 an hour for a refreshment garnished with a bit of fur ball. All the cats are up for adoption. The cat lover haven also sells cat merchandise and offers activities such as yoga with cats, crafts with cats and painting with cats.

When nobody was looking, McKinney became cool. Not to be mixed up (by Dallasites who rarely venture beyond city limits) with McKinney Avenue, the northern suburb has always had its charm: an old prison that once housed Jesse James’ brother and a Charles Manson follower, antique shops, boutiques and mom-and-pop restaurants. But now it’s actually cool. McKinney has a female-owned record store with Red Zeppelin, a comic book store and a spot called Mom and Popcorn. The city’s square is now also surrounded by far more bars than we remember and has specialized shops selling guitars, pies or tobacco — all under strings of lights that sparkle in the night time.

Shepard Fairey, the street artist best known for his red and blue “Hope” poster of former President Barack Obama, has a long history with Dallas as the spot where he began a career as a street artist. Through his collective Obey Giant, Fairey left a gift to the city this year in the form of a mural on a water tower in Deep Ellum. The work, called “Cultivate Harmony,” includes that phrase along with the words “Eyes open, minds open,” and “Rise above” with a design that includes a peace sign and a giant eye, which must be Dallas’ thing now.

Some people are really into Halloween, but spending thousands of dollars on yard decorations doesn’t necessarily make the displays any more creative. Dads, take some notes from artist Steven Novak, whose elaborate Halloween decorations terrified neighbors who called the police over what they believed to be a bloodbath taking place in his East Dallas front yard. The story on Novak’s home (which, to brag, we reported first) was covered worldwide, from Newsweek and People to publications in France, Italy, Brazil and Singapore.

The Dallas Mavericks joined with Dallas’ music scene this year to do their part in the fight against racism. Truth to Power is a project started by Jeff “Skin” Wade, commentator for the Mavericks, and Josey Records co-owner Luke Sardello, with whom Wade owns record label Eastwood Records. Along with the Mavericks, the pair recruited every stellar connection in the music scene (including Leon Bridges, Sarah Jaffe and Black Pumas, as well as several local studios) for an album called Truth To Power Project, pressed on a special triple-album vinyl by Hand Drawn Pressing. Sales from the album go to four nonprofits — For Oak Cliff, the Music Forward Foundation, Joppy Momma’s Farm, and Young Leaders, Strong City — that work to counter systemic racism.

In early August, a West African banded cobra saw an opportunity to explore the great outdoors when his cage was left unlocked. Since leaving his Grand Prairie home, the highly poisonous reptile has outsmarted animal control time and time again and evaded the 100 traps they put up to catch the fugitive snake. The outlaw is just trying to live its life and stay incognito hiding its 6-foot body from the bad guys trying to lock him up in the suburbs. Meanwhile, he’s become an Internet hero with support from many North Texans rooting for his freedom through personal Grand Prairie Cobra accounts created on social media and his thousands of followers on Twitter.

With the influx of new residents in North Texas, it feels like renters are willing to settle for any old closet where we can fit if not a bed, at least our phone chargers. But we still remember the good days of yore when rentals had generous floor plans, and we know a good living space when we see it. Harvest Lofts and its neighboring complex Taylor Lofts are across the street from the Dallas Farmers Market, giving residents an opportunity to shop for fresh produce and local honey on the weekends and an ideal walking distance from Deep Ellum. The complexes have excellent management and customer service. The units offer high ceilings, kitchen islands and amenities such a resident club house with a pool table, a two-story gym and an enormous, luxurious pool with lounge chairs that go into the water and three private cabanas. It may feel like a resort, but the complex is reasonably priced, pet-friendly and quiet.

She may be new to the Capitol, but state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a sharp and skilled orator who is doing Dallas proud through her bold, uncompromising leadership style. Along with dozens of her Democratic colleagues, Crockett fled the state for Washington earlier this summer to block a GOP-backed voting bill. As a civil rights attorney, she wields cold, hard facts and data to support her legislative arguments.

OK, we admit it: We were a bit skeptical when we learned the Grapevine-raised “White Iverson” rapper Post Malone dabbled in country. But our boy pleasantly surprised us when he played a couple of tunes during a March virtual concert hosted by Texas actor Matthew McConaughey. In the livestream, Malone positively nails two covers: “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” by Brad Paisley and Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have the Crown.” Honestly, the dude’s as gifted a country crooner as he is a rapper, and he’s a badass guitarist, too. Posty better giddy-up and record a country album.

Almost one year after announcing their closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Free Play Denton rises again, this time at a much better location (though not necessarily so for parking). The bar/arcade takes the place of the old Abbey Inn building on Denton’s downtown square. An opening date has not been set as of press time, but owner Corey Hyden has updated fans of the extensive building renovations underway and what folks can expect, including the addition of a kitchen. Having one of the best beer and arcade game selections in town, Free Play Denton’s reopening gives gamers something to look forward to.

After a 14-month closure, Alexandre’s returned in May, kicking off Derby Day with refreshing mint juleps. These are just one of many craft cocktails on a robust menu curated by owner Lee Daugherty. Music videos from the ’80s, ’90s, the aughts and today play on multiple television screens, and guests can chat at lowly lit, intimate booths or at the long bar. Alexandre’s has weekly series of live music, karaoke, and watch parties for sporting and political events. Soon, guests can enjoy food as Alexandre’s expands into the abandoned doughnut shop next door. This semi-hidden gem of a watering hole truly encapsulates the inclusive spirit of the LGBTQ+ community.

Headbangers rejoice. Since opening in 2013, Three Links has cemented itself as a straight-up Deep Ellum institution and one of the best places around to catch live music of all kinds. Whether you’re taking in the blistering sounds of a local metal group or a national hardcore band, Three Links stands ready to deliver brutal, quality tunes. It’s the kind of venue where the heavier the music and the louder the show, the happier the customer. Plus, fans of the occult will get a kick out of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows symbolism around the joint, including in the venue’s name itself.

When the neon moon rises and the work week is over, The Rustic is open and ready to boogie. This spot isn’t your typical rough ‘n’ rowdy honky-tonk, but it’s the perfect place for an urban cowboy to sport his finest alligator boots. Live music lovers are sure to catch some of their favorite country acts gracing The Rustic’s incredible outdoor stage. To top it all off, the spot boasts an upscale American-style food menu and an impressive selection of beers on tap brewed in the Lone Star State.

Dallas Hope Charities is a godsend. Many LGBTQIA+ youths come from less-than-accepting families, forcing them to leave home and/or driving up their risk of self-harm. Through its programs and support, Dallas Hope Charities provides a safe space for the city’s most vulnerable. Its Meals of Hope program serves food to hard-hit North Texans, and Dallas Hope’s Transitional Living Center provides shelter to at-risk LGBTQIA+ youth. Collective Hope Coalition is another invaluable effort geared toward ending the hopelessness that leads LGBTQIA+ people to suicide. If you’re in need, know that Dallas Hope Charities is there to help.

The end of the world never sounded so good. Dallas death metal deities Creeping Death are set to unleash their latest release in October, but in the meantime, they’ve graced us mortals with a most excellent music video. The perfect soundtrack to a dying, plague-ridden planet, title track “The Edge of Existence” looks like it was filmed after the fall of humankind. Viewers will unlock a vortex to hell while headbanging to this punishing single, which is packed with uber-heavy, technical riffs executed with machinelike precision. Buckle up, y’all: Creeping Death are hurtling headlong into the metal hall of fame.

For a little slice of New York right in the middle of Richardson, visit Backdoor Comedy Club. They offer three shows on weekends, a Thursday night open mic, and a workshop if you want to try your hand at this iconic American art form. Once you pay the $15 cover, you’ll enter an intimate room with small, circular two-tops arranged around the stage. There’s a two-item minimum, and food, drink and service are provided by the neighboring bar and grill. The food isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s good enough, and the pours are strong and they keep coming. Thankfully, we didn’t need to be wasted to have a good time at a recent Friday night showcase. Of the 10-plus comics we heard — a mixture of local and touring ones — a majority earned guffaws from the audience. They worked the crowd like pros and the intimate setting created a sense of camaraderie. It’s an entertaining, two-hour escape that more Dallasites should have in their back pocket.

If you grew up in North Texas in the ’90s, watching Cruel Summer probably smacked you with a heavy hit of deja vu. The excellent Freeform series was filmed in several North Texas institutions, including AllGood Cafe, One Nostalgia Tavern and Lewisville’s Music City Mall (formerly Vista Ridge). Produced by actress Jessica Biel, Cruel Summer boasts stunning sets and a suspenseful script packed with twists. Each episode keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats, leaving them guessing until the very last scene. If you haven’t already seen Cruel Summer, stop what you’re doing and turn on the dang TV.

It’s hard to sit out a festival when tacos are the main attraction. Merging bold flavors with brash lucha libre wrestling, Dallas’ Taco Libre Festival is the most fun you’ll have all year. With a wide array of offerings from the best taquerias around, festival-goers can expect to stuff their gourds with savory food. And to sweeten the deal, Taco Libre hosts top-notch live music. Unfortunately, the festival had to be postponed because of the pandemic, but it’s great to know they’re taking attendees’ health seriously. We’ll be dreaming of masked wrestlers and tasty tacos until we meet again, Taco Libre.

After the pandemic hit North Texas, everything ground to a halt. But with his keyboard and loop machine, Marc Rebillet helped lighten the mood with a gargantuan dose of absurdist comedy. The Dallas native produces the ultimate one-man livestream show often while wearing nothing but boxers and a robe. We don’t know how anyone can write a song — on the spot — that’s both catchy and gut-achingly funny. Rebillet’s gift may be one of life’s great mysteries, but his singular showmanship keeps us afloat during dark times.

It takes work to have great hair. Even something as frowned-upon as the classic mullet requires dedication to maintain the business in the front and the party in the back. Jaxon “Hot Rod” Crossland of Celeste is so dedicated to maintaining his Camaro accessory that he won the 2020 USA Kids Mullet Championship and $500 in cash. The 8-year-old’s ‘do was so stunning it made him an Internet and social media celebrity and even scored him some recognition in the real world.

The majority of 2021 may have been spent indoors but that didn’t prevent the Karens of the world from making venues feel cornered by their petty problems and complaints about nothing. The Haltom theater in Haltom City faced just such a situation over a song performed by Auntie AJ, who was opening for rapper Mike Jones. AJ’s set included his song “Fuck White People,” an obvious jokey jab. (On SoundCloud, AJ urgess the viewer, “Don’t take this song to heart.”) Of course, that didn’t stop someone in the crowd from just posting a video of AJ chanting the song’s chorus in a TikTok style video with the caption tagging FOX 4 and asking, “Why don’t y’all report on this. [sic] #racism”. The venue’s owner issued a statement apologizing to any offended patrons, promising them a refund and a permanent ban for Auntie AJ. The owner also vowed to “act faster to cut the audio if an act crosses the line.” Good to know, especially for adults who’d rather not have a theater owner acting as nanny at a hip-hop show. They can go elsewhere.

Sons of Hermann Hall was built in 1910, and DFW music lovers have found a home at the venue, which is the oldest free-standing wood structure in Dallas. The Deep Ellum mainstay was originally built by a fraternity of German immigrants who identified themselves as the Sons of Hermann, and it attracts an older clientele these days. Ray Wylie Hubbard, the Chicks and the Old 97’s are just a few on the list of impressive names who have rocked the stage. And that list keeps getting longer.

It seems unthinkable that in the trend of pop-up theme bars, it took this long for someone to attempt a Simpsons concept. The Whippersnapper on McMillian Avenue already did pop-up homages to The Office, Harry Potter and Breaking Bad, but the place really stepped up its game with its version of Springfield’s favorite watering hole. The place did more than just paint its façade to look like Moe’s Tavern. The staff dressed up as some of the show’s most beloved characters, and they created some tasty Springfield-ian creations that dove deep into the canon like a bourbon and black tea mix called The Simpsons & Sons Revitalizing Tonic, a fruity mixture called Lil Lisa’s Slurry and the classic Frozen Squishee from the Kwik-E-Mart. The décor celebrated some of the show’s most iconic moments like Homer’s immortal declaration “To alcohol! The cause and solution to all of life’s problems.”

You know you’re an icon when you can take one of your body’s natural functions and turn it into a product strictly for your fans’ smelling needs. Badu did just that with her newest incense fragrance, Badu Pussy, which re-creates the smell of her beloved kitty Mr. Sniffles. (If you believe that, then we suggest you stop reading right now and move on. No? Alrighty then. You were warned, granny.) Her Badu World Market website in fact says these limited edition incense sticks were made with pure resin, essential oils and herbs and “the ashes of Badu’s underwear.” Each order of 20 sticks comes in a box with art by noted album cover artist Donald Ely. Some fans thought Badu was just making a joke when she first announced it but most realized she was super serious and the vagina-scented incense sold out fast.

If someone asks you, “Hey, do you want to go see Tyler the Creator perform at a show no one knows about?” The correct answer is “Yes, yes I do.” In July, the Odd Future co-founder hit Trees Deep Ellum with a set so exclusive that it was his only Texas tour stop for the year and only a handful of fans knew ahead of time. Those two facts didn’t stop Dallas from packing the place for the rapper’s appearance. He didn’t just do his hits. His main reason for being there was to try out some new songs for live crowds, so the audience got to see one of the pre-eminent musicians of our time trying out tracks that could be global hits. Then as if the evening couldn’t be more unbelievable, Dallas’ Queen of Music Erykah Badu made a cameo at the end of Tyler’s set just to say hi to her hometown fans.

Candy shop in the front, speakeasy in the back. If you want a refreshing spin on your nights out in Deep Ellum, Truth & Alibi is your best bet. Take the time to track down the secret password online (hint: check Facebook), and you’re all set to enter Truth & Alibi’s backroom. There you’ll find a Prohibition-style lounge replete with early ’20s art and dramatically low lighting. You’re there for the underground (and slightly gaudy) vibe, to be sure, but there’s still a strong roster of classic cocktails to choose from, plus several absinthe-infused and house-specialty drinks.

Take heed, Dave & Busters: With 140-plus games and unlimited daily play for only $10 a person, Cidercade is hard to beat. Located in the Design District, Cidercade stays family-friendly until 8 p.m. and only serves ciders, hard seltzers, and wines they make themselves. Cidercade is “BYOF,” or Bring Your Own Food, and invites customers to have food delivered or check out the rotating cast of food trucks that line the parking lot. The arcade is outfitted to please vintage-gaming purists and casual gamers alike. Inside, you’ll find all the classics like Street Fighter, Pacman and Donkey Kong, and the newer sports and first-person shooter games.

If you’re looking for somewhere to witness diehard sports fandom but can’t handle another round at a Cowboys bar, this is your spot. This North Texas chain operates several locations around DFW and still manages to generate the sort of fervor only found in British pubs on Premier League game days. With at least 15 beers on tap and dozens available by bottle, your excursion is sure to be well-oiled. If soccer and beer aren’t your thing, The Londoner has a generous spread of deliciously greasy pub fare you don’t want to miss. Think unruly portions of fish and chips, or shepherd’s pie as big as your face.

Though it’s one of Uptown’s oldest buildings and a state historical landmark, Bowen House has earned its place as Dallas’ go-to for fancy dates with its menu of exquisite cocktails and high-class speakeasy ambience. Dallasites looking to impress someone special are sure to love the dark interiors and deft service (the menu encourages patrons, in all caps, to ask for “suggestions from the bar”). Bowen House is focused on its drinks, but their highbrow eats–from the truffle-showered steak tartare to the veal katsu–are still made to perfection. If you’re looking for a more exclusive setting, get in line early: Bowen House’s Back Room is one of the harder reservations in town to secure.

Had enough of swiping? Of sick, half-hearted text conversations with strangers? Jaxon Beer Garden hosts a series of speed dating events that’ll break you out of your online dating funk. Participants pay $25 a ticket to chat with someone new every 5 minutes or so while enjoying Jaxon’s craft beers and cocktails. Nestled in the heart of Downtown, Jaxon is a relaxed, open-air space with the perfect vibe for some low-pressure chats with fellow singles. When you’ve decided whom you want to see again, organizers collect your submission and email everyone their requested matches a few days after. The series includes events exclusively for the LGBTQ+ community as well.

The Granada Theater has always offered decent drinks and food, but they take a backseat to the venue’s concerts. Granada owner Mike Schoder wanted food and drinks to take the spotlight at Sundown at Granada, a beer garden and restaurant located next door to the theater. After extensive renovations transformed the spot that once belonged to seedy dance clubs, the space is now a warm, welcoming space with killer views of Dallas from the rooftop. Craft cocktails like Sundown’s modest mule, the seasonal ‘rita, or anytime old fashioned will help you raise the roof while you’re on the roof.

Musicians and venues have had to be more than creative throughout the pandemic. The show must go on, after all, and it certainly has for the singer-songwriters tuning in for Poor David’s Pub’s virtual open mic night. Host Rob Case has helped keep it all going. Musicians sign up throughout the week, and then it’s lights, camera, action on Monday nights. Viewers can catch it live on Facebook and, if they choose, make donations to help the folks at Poor David’s keep doing their thing.

Coffee grinding, people talking and music playing over the PA fill Opening Bell Coffee Shop as you enter. Big things have come out of this small, intimate Dallas coffee shop. Over 20 contestants from The Voice have performed at Opening Bell in the last few years. Acts like Leon Bridges, Sarah Jaffe and Charley Crockett have also graced the stage. Local singer-songwriters come through every week for the shop’s open mic night. Regulars can go on to play five-song featured sets on open mic night or get booked for full-on gigs at this Dallas staple.

Bright neon lights illuminate this Deep Ellum treasure’s name: Adair’s Saloon. The venue’s raw wooden walls are covered with stickers, and the floor is well-worn from late-night shuffles and line dances. This honky-tonk might is a local music landmark. It’s one of the oldest bars in Dallas. S.L. and Ann Adair opened the first iteration of the venue in the early ’60s on Cedar Springs. Adair’s moved to Deep Ellum on Commerce Street about 20 years later where it stands today. The country music watering hole has seen the likes of Jack Ingram, Deryl Dodd and members of The Chicks. Adair’s keeps kicking, churning out local country talent like it’s nothing.

In the dictionary entry for dive bar, there should be a picture of O’Riley’s in Dallas. Though there hasn’t been smoking inside the club for a while, the musty smell of years of tobacco smacks you in the face as soon as you step inside. And that’s not a bad thing. It reminds us of simpler times, when you could smoke a stogie without any consideration for nonsmoking patrons. On any given night, you might hear live rock, metal or blues shooting from O’Riley’s stage monitors as you shoot pool, throw darts and drown your sorrows in alcohol.

If you’re not ready for some face-shredding rock ‘n’ roll, just keep walking when you come upon Reno’s Chop Shop on Crowdus Street. Whether it’s bigger national acts or smaller local ones, you can catch it at Reno’s. Denton’s Wee-Beasties, Plano psych-rock band Chrome and Dallas’ Brave Days are just a few that have rocked the chop shop’s stage. Everyone’s a comrade at Reno’s, even if you’re not wearing your darkest clothes and sporting the blackest hair dye and makeup. So just walk in, grab a drink and kiss your ear drums goodbye.

It’s been proven: You can start singing at your local karaoke night and go on to become a star. Robert Olivas knows this all too well. He makes his money onstage as a karaoke host at bars all across DFW, including at The Cottage Lounge every Monday. He says karaoke is an art form. Faces come and go from karaoke nights he hosts. But sometimes, they go from entertaining friends on the stage at The Cottage Lounge to competing on the global stage in the Karaoke World Championship. With a pro by your side like Olivas at The Cottage Lounge, you could become a karaoke star.

HG Sply Co opened its rooftop patio bar on St. Patrick’s Day in 2014, and we’ve been grateful ever since. If it gets too chilly, you can sit by the fireplace. Too hot and you can grab a covered spot and a frosty drink. Whatever the case, grab a seat and get comfortable because the view of downtown takes center stage on the rooftop. With a view like that, a drink in hand and one of HG Sply Co’s healthy entrees in front of you, what in the world do you have to complain about?