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closeWednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
The Dirty Dozen: A good weekend for nerds, kids and Billy Crystal
From the Gaylord Texan's crystalline grace to Billy Crystal's shtick, a week of cool options.
By RICK PRESS
Gaylord Texan
A family watches children on a slide at the Grinch ICE! Exhibit at the Gaylord Texan as part of Lone Star Christmas.
Billy Crystal will perform his autobiographical show, 700 Sundays, at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, through Sunday.
Texas collectors at the Kimbell
Ever wanna peek inside the homes of some of the wealthiest Texans and see what’s on the walls? The Kimbell’s new exhibition, "From the Private Collections of Texas: European Art, Ancient to Modern," lets us do just that. They’ve got van Goghs, Monets, Renoirs, even a Felix the Cat wall clock. (Hey, that’s mine!)
When: Opens Sunday (opening lecture Saturday 10 a.m.). Runs through March 21, 2010.
Where: Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
Cost: $10-$14 (half-price on Tuesdays and Friday evenings)
Info:www.kimbellart.org
The Spazmatics
We’ve missed these New Wave nerds, who rock harder than any four guys in bowties and a neck brace have any right to. They used to play the 8.0 patio, like, every other weekend, but lately they’ve been taking their ’80s show on the road — which makes this Dallas gig a must-see. Grab your pocket protector and go.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Loft at Palladium Ballroom, Dallas
Cost: $15
Info:www.ticketmaster.com
YuleCon
And speaking of nerds (kidding!), point your compass this weekend toward the Radisson-Fossil Creek, where gamers and anime addicts will be gathering for their annual holiday convention. YuleCon features demonstrations, discussions and gaming tournaments. It’s also a great place to pick up chicks.
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Radisson, 2540 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth
Cost: $40 for a weekend badge
Info:www.yulecon.com
Bob Saget He’s crude and juvenile, and that’s exactly why any self-respecting man-child should be in the audience to see Bob Saget, star of Full House and former host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, who’s stand-up act is legendarily vile. Consider yourself warned. With Ryan Stout.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: House of Blues, Dallas
Cost: $26.50-$37.50
Info:www.houseofblues.com
Turkey of the Year glass
Who’s the biggest turkey of 2009? Drum roll, please . . . IT’S BERNIE MADOFF!!! So says the head swiller at the Flying Saucer, who is inviting you to come out, get all beered up and raise a commemorative glass to BM.
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Flying Saucer locations in Fort Worth, Addison and Garland
Cost: There’s a small fee (Isn’t that what Bernie said?)
Info:www.beerknurd.com
'Pirate Radio’ Drowned out by 2012’s destruction of the world last Friday, this sweet comedy from the maker of Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral slipped into theaters. It stars PSH (that’s Philip Seymour Hoffman for the uninitiated), Bill Nighy and a cast of a thousand kooks with British accents who take to the high seas to save rock ’n’ roll in the ’60s. You’ll laugh, you’ll groove in your chair and nothing blows up.
When: In theaters now
Where: Rave at North East Mall, AMC The Parks at Arlington, Grapevine Mills, among others
Cost: About $10, plus at least $37.50 for concessions
Info:www.filminfocus.com
Belmont Hotel’s birthday bash If you ask us, the Belmont doesn’t look a day over 50, but on Thursday night, the trendy boutique hotel in Oak Cliff will celebrate its 63rd birthday in 1940s style. Pull on your zoot suit or vintage duds and enjoy classic tunes, classic cars and classic cocktails. Best news of all: If you throw back too many drinks (or meet the femme fatale of your dreams), you can get a classic room for $63.
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Bar Belmont, 901 Fort Worth Ave., Dallas
Cost: Free, but you’ll probably need two bits or more for libations.
Blues Chapel
Bow down to the goddesses of the blues in Denton, where the Gough Gallery will be transformed into a chapel for this funky exhibition by South Carolina artist Susan Lenz. Her mixed-media installations of legendary singers like Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington are a sight to behold.
When: Tuesday-Jan. 8, 2010; Lenz speaks 2 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Gough Gallery, Center for Visual Arts, 400 E. Hickory St., Denton
Cost: Free
Info:www.dentonarts.com
Ice!
Our first ice storm doesn’t usually arrive until January, but Ice!, the annual extravaganza at the Gaylord Texan, is so much fun that we’re glad it comes early. This year’s holiday ice house comes complete with giant sculptures and slides and the Grinch. Plus, you get to wear a parka while it’s still 70 degrees outside.
When: Through Jan. 3
Where: Gaylord Texan, Grapevine
Cost: $20 adults; $10 children 4-12
'Tinsel’ book signing
There are not many books set in Frisco and not many writers as good as Hank Stuever of The Washington Post. So take advantage of the chance to encounter both when Stuever signs Tinsel: A Search for America’s Christmas Present on Thursday at the TCU Barnes & Noble Bookstore. The book offers snapshots of Frisco’s obsession with having a merry commercial Christmas. (And here we thought the only reason to go to Frisco was IKEA.)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: TCU Barnes & Noble, corner of University Drive and Berry Street
Cost: $24 for the book; $0 for the autograph
Info:www.hankstuever.com
'Curious George Live!’ He’s a naughty little monkey that gets away with murder, which is why kids love Curious George. If you wanna be the cool aunt or uncle, make a play date to see CG live and find out how he mucks up the quest for the Golden Meatball.
When: 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie
Cost: $12-$34
Info: www.nokiatheatredfw.com
Billy Crystal, '700 Sundays’
Billy bashing has become a sport among critics, but how many guys do you know who have succeeded in stand-up, TV, movies and hosting the Oscars? (OK, I’ll give you Steve Martin.) Now Crystal has a Broadway hit with 700 Sundays, an autobiographical show. He’s at the beautiful new Winspear Opera House in Dallas all week. And besides, we love him because he’s a die-hard Yankees fan. So there.
When: 8 p.m. shows through Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Winspear Opera House, 2100 Ross Ave., Dallas
Cost: $37.50-$207.50
Info: 214-880-0202; www.attpac.org
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