Gretchen Wilson
Dang, this redneck woman gives good title. Wilson broke free of the Sony Music Nashville label to fly solo with her own label, Redneck Records. And the name of her new album (due March 30) reflects her ballsy move: I Got Your Country Right Here. When she wheels into Billy Bob's this weekend, be there for the party.
When: 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth
Cost: $15 general admission; $35 reserved
Info: www.billybobstexas.com; www.ticketmaster.com
Fort Worth Zoo's Museum of Living Art
The zoo's brand new Museum of Living Art is a 30,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor herpetarium, which puts you up close and personal with some of the world's most exotic and endangered species. The $19 million exhibit features 5,000 reptiles, amphibians and more. Among the many cool creatures at the MOLA: tree frogs, rattlesnakes, macaws, sloths, giant salamanders and Komodo dragons.
When: 10 a.m-5 p.m. daily
Where: Fort Worth Zoo
Cost: adults $12; children 3-12 $9; half-price admission Wednesdays; parking $5
Info: www.fortworthzoo.org
Funky Finds Spring Fling Clothing, jewelry, art, home goods and all kinds of goodies abound at this indie arts and crafts fair, a marketplace for local artists and designers. A $1 raffle ticket gives you a chance to win items donated by the artisans. The raffle proceeds benefit CASA of Tarrant County and the Humane Society of North Texas, who will be on-site doing pet adoptions.
When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth
Cost: Free
Info: www.funkyfinds.us/springfling/2010
'Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles' Rain's through-the-years Beatles costume changes are mere cosmetics compared with the music: a 2 1/2-hour show of about 30 of the Fab Four's songs, done live, note-for-note, with no pre-recorded enhancement. They tackle some of the band's more complex songs -- stuff not even the Beatles would touch live.
When: Tuesday-March 21 (evening shows at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.)
Where: Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
Cost: $15-$71
Info: 214-631-2787; www.dallassummermusicals.org
Celebrity Purple
Ping Pong We love the idea of fighting pancreatic cancer with a celebrity ping-pong tournament. Among the celebs slated for the event: Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and coach Rick Carlisle, as well as Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Nastia Liukin. The event, which aims to raise awareness and funding for a cure for the disease, is presented by DFW's branch of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and coach Carlisle.
When: 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Moody Coliseum, Southern Methodist University, Dallas
Cost: $5-$10
Info: www.pancan.org/pingpong
'Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family'
Most people know Perry and his Madea from the silver screen, but the character actually got her start on stage. And now, Madea is barreling toward the Metroplex in Perry's new musical. A fusion of drama, broad comedy and church revival, the show stars Perry as Madea and Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley as Joyce. Attention would-be actors: Two of the touring show's cast members were discovered on YouTube.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie
Cost: $47-$57
Info: www.nokiatheatredfw.com
'I Don't Care About Your Band,' by Julie Klausner You know what you're in for with the full title of TV writer/performer Klausner's first book: I Don't Care About Your Band: What I Learned From Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Felons, Faux-Sensitive Hipsters, and Other Guys I've Dated. The tome gets kudos from comedian Patton Oswalt, who says Klausner "takes the heartbreak of romantic failure and turns it into hilarious defeat. I'd love for her to get her hands on depression and apathy, and turn them into a sheet of peanut brittle."
Where: In bookstores now
Cost: $15
Info: julieklausner.tumblr.com
A St. Paddy's toast To celebrate on Wednesday, check out our St. Patrick's Day club guide. Then, wherever you go, hoist a pint of Guinness to these Irish celebs: Bono and the boys in U2, because they've kept us rocking since the '80s; Dolores O'Riordan, because she's one cool Cranberry; Daniel Day-Lewis and Pierce Brosnan, because they're such great actors that we've already managed to forgive them for Nine and Mamma Mia!; Sinead O'Connor and Colin Farrell, because what better day to celebrate Irish troublemakers; Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, because he's just freakin' hot; and finally, Enya, because she helps our insomnia.
When: Wednesday
Where: See our club guide for details.
'Avatar' in IMAX Whether you've seen Avatar or are coming late to the party, this is the way to see it: immersed in gorgeous, crystal-clear images that wrap around your head, and laser-aligned digital sound. Thanks to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and its IMAX Omni Theater, we're preparing to have our minds blown.
When: 4:25 and 7:40 p.m. Friday, 4:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:25 p.m. weeknights through April 22
Where: Omni Theater, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1600 Gendy St.
Cost: $10-$12; $3 discount for museum members
Info: 817-255-9540; fortworthmuseum.org
Dolly Johnson Antique & Art Show Rifle through 75 booths packed with furniture, art, jewelry and other treasures. This year's special exhibit (benefitting Mayfest) is "Flower Power: Floral Antiques from Mayflower to Mid-Century Modern." (And that Mayflower refers to a trunk from the Mayflower. Like, from 1620!)
When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday (happy hour party 4-7 p.m.); 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth
Cost: $7
Info: www.dollyjohnsonantiqueandartshow.com
Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight Cowboys Stadium and sanctioned pugilism -- what a team! It's the World Boxing Organization's welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey. It's the first fight at the Arlington stadium, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hopes it's the first of many high-profile matches.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington
Cost: $50-$700
Info: stadium.dallascowboys.com
Karl Rove
You love him or you hate him -- your dog might even have a squeaky chew-toy replica of his head. Either way, the architect of George W. Bush's presidency is headed to the Metroplex for a luncheon, lecture and book-signing to promote his new memoir, Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight. So, go see him in Dallas or Fort Worth, or pull out your left-wing protest placards. Just know that The Architect is in the heezy fo' sheezy.
When: Monday in Dallas; Tuesday in Fort Worth (both events start at noon; registration and platinum ticket reception begin at 11:15 a.m.)
Where: Hyatt Regency Dallas; Fort Worth Club, 306 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth
Cost: $55 for club members; $70 for nonmembers; $200 platinum individual ticket
Info: www.dfwworld.org
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