Meet the Struggles sounds like a recession-inspired installment in the Meet the Parents series, in which Gaylord/Greg and Pam Focker get laid off and make ends meet in comical fashion–perhaps Greg will really have to milk a cat. But it’s actually an art exhibit. Too bad, because my idea sounds…
I had a hard time with the whole “Santa doesn’t exist’ idea; I pretty much forced myself to believe my parents weren’t sneaking Santa presents under the tree until my junior year in high school. Director B.J. Cleveland explores this very subject as he brings Kringle’s Window to Theatre Arlington…
There are some movies that just could not be made in today’s politically correct climate. Blazing Saddles is near the top of that list. There are some jokes in this film that are funny and offensive at the same time, so some viewers will laugh and then feel guilty about…
Times are rough, and every week seems to last a little longer than the one before. I’ve definitely got a case of the recession blues, but luckily I also have the cure. Every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Cretia’s on McKinney (4900 McKinney Ave.) will be offering a…
It’s hard to believe, but South Pacific was the Rent of its day, chock full of social commentary and catchy songs. Even if you’re not up to thinking about the complications of love, war and racism, it’s still worth the price of a ticket to go hear songs like “I’m…
The Christmas season is barely underway, and already the television lineup looks like Hallmark exploded all over it. There are dogs named Christmas, a plethora of people home for the holidays, and plucky heroines who can inspire their rustic small towns to understand the “true meaning of Christmas,” find love…
Not since the ’80s have Day-Glo and black looked so good together, as artist Eric Sall brings this color combination back full throttle with his latest exhibition, Obstacles. The large-scale oil series shows just what can happen when you take a South Dakota boy and plop him down in the…
The Crystal City walkout of 1969 was one of the defining moments of the Chicano movement, as students from the small South Texas town walked out of school in protest of the school district’s poor treatment of the Mexican-American community. The students’ struggle even earned the attention of lawmakers in…
The work of two young local artists, Timothy Harding and Jennifer Jones, will explore deconstructivist ideas relating to architecture as well as personal reflection at The mod.shop Gallery on Alpha Road. Harding’s deconstructive projects interact with the contrast of constructed environments they occupy while Jones’ pick apart the emotions and…
Every year as Christmas rolls around, I amuse myself by taking out dog-sized Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Then I chase my two dogs around the house, put the hat and antlers on them, and laugh really hard. This year I’m upping the stakes–they’re going to see Santa, and I’ll…
There’s just no way that Greg Mortenson had any idea that when he fell ill trying to climb K2, he–as just one man–could make such an impact on Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since that fateful time, he’s endeavored to make education and literacy the driving force to achieve peace in Middle…
Come on, Christmas only comes around one day every year; why not celebrate it for as long as possible? You can’t celebrate it after it’s already passed–that would be weird. So after Thanksgiving, attend as many events, festivals and tree lightings as possible. MetroPCS Fair Park Holiday is one of…
Some folks treat weight loss as a private matter, quietly undertaken with the help of a personal chef or a diet book and a low-profile scale that neatly tucks into a bathroom cabinet between weight checks. Others need the accountability of a group, complete with motivational speeches, calorie calculators and…
Some of the best weekends I spent with my granny involved a kid’s meal at Burger King, late night Lifetime movies and a long afternoon at the McKinney Flea Market. Nothing really beat a few new Mr. Potato Head pieces and a giant, sugar-coated funnel cake. Now downtown is taking…
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right…through downtown Dallas? Dallas is pretty far from the North Pole, but on Saturday the streets of downtown Dallas will resemble it a bit more closely. The Capital One Bank Adolphus Children’s Parade Benefiting Children’s Medical Center (try working that line into…
Do you remember when you made those cheesy Christmas ornaments for your mom in art class? You know, the ones that she still, after all these years, puts up on her tree while smiling at them because they remind her of your younger days. She just put up the one…
Everybody has their own way of doing the holidays, and if your way includes handmade jewelry and burlesque, then you have a great one-stop shop at the Gifts and Garters event on Saturday. The early evening sale and show will include holiday shopping from local indie and vintage businesses, and…
According to kids, Santa Claus has always been a kind and jolly fat man. He’s the guy whose tummy jiggles like a bowl full of jelly. Well, what about what Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen think? Maybe Santa isn’t as friendly as we all thought. What…
The Nutcracker, although obviously a holiday classic, is always so deadly serious. You don’t see the Jones family chit-chatting in their seats during the ballet performance. No one laughs at Clara or her eccentric godfather. And no one dares to make a comment about the costumes until intermission. But what…
The name of the MADI movement, which is the force behind the Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, 3109 Carlisle St., doesn’t have definite origins. Some say it comes from the founder’s name, CarMelo ArDen QuIn, but that looks a little too much like a 14-year-old’s MySpace page for my…
I feel old. I find myself scratching my head and thinking, “These kids today with their apps and their GPS tracking devices and their digital everythings.” It’s mind-boggling sometimes that people announce where they are and post updates, etc. But one digital application I can get behind is the artistic…
Fact: Bacon is the best food in the world. This is not up for debate. Bacon could easily beat tofu in a street fight, hands down. Unfortunately bacon gets a bad rap sometimes–blame the Canadians and their ham in disguise, or those meager little strips that fry into a piece…
