Canstruction 2010
Remember when you used to build things from Lincoln Logs and entered the pinewood derby every year? Folks are so much more creative these days, such as at this annual event, in which teams build fantastic creations from cans of food. You can watch the building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and they'll stay on exhibit through Oct. 17. You can vote on the best, and guest judges will select winners. The money raised goes to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
When: Sunday through. Oct 17
Where: North East Mall, Hurst
Cost: Free
Info: www.tafb.org
Hitchcocktoberfest
2Alfred Hitchcock is one of the few film directors whose name deserves to be an adjective. "Hitchcockian," like "Felliniesque," is something many strive for but few achieve. And of course, nobody does Hitchcockian like the Master of Suspense himself. Eight of his films screen this month at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas and Plano, with the Dallas ones happening in a pavilion at Mockingbird Station. At Dallas, the films are The Birds (Oct. 7), Rear Window (Oct. 14), Strangers on a Train (Oct. 21) and North by Northwest (Oct. 28). In Plano, the remaining ones are Shadow of a Doubt (Oct. 12), Notorious (Oct. 19) and The Man Who Knew Too Much (Oct. 26).
When: Every Tuesday in October in Plano, and every Thursday in Dallas
Where: Angelika Film Center Plano, 7205 Bishop Road, Suite E6; Angelika Film Center Dallas, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 230
Cost: Free in Dallas, $5 in Plano
Info: www.angelikafilmcenter.com
Godfrey
3Here's the rare case of a talent being discovered on a reality show in which the winner has the goods to back up his success. The comedian, who was discovered on The It Factor, is one of the sharpest wits on the comedy circuit. Don't miss him when he plays the Arlington Improv this week.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 & 10:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Arlington Improv, 309 Curtis Mathes Way, Suite 147, Arlington
Cost: $15-$17
Info: www.improv.com
On the Origins of the Specifics
4Great title alert. This original musical by John Carlisle Moore and frequent Jubilee Theatre music director Joe Rogers is a takeoff on Charles Darwin's famous book On the Origin of Species, and uses a pair of 'possums (one of the oldest creatures still in existence) to explain everything that happened after the big bang, including Stephen Hawking and Lady Gaga. Whuh?
When: 8:15 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Oct. 31
Where: Hip Pocket Theatre, 1950 Silver Creek Road, Fort Worth
Cost: $10-$15
Info: www.hippocket.org
Joel McHale
This host of E!'s The Soup is by far the funniest guy to have held that gig (take that, Greg Kinnear and Hal Sparks!), and his profile has only gotten bigger thanks to the success of NBC's Community. Expect him to do some celebrity dishing when he takes the stage at Grand Prairie, especially to the fauxlebrities who most deserve the ribbing. Talking 'bout you, Snooki.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Verizon Theatre, Grand Prairie
Cost: $45.75-$64.75
Info: www.ticketmaster.com
MusicArte de
Fort Worth
6This two-day outdoor festival, spanning six blocks in downtown, celebrates Latino culture, and it's free. Go there for the food and culture, stay for music performances by Poncho Sanchez and Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox.
When: Noon-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Sundance Square, Fort Worth
Cost: Free
Info: www.musicartefw.com
Badlands
7Fort Worth artist Vernon Fisher, whose retrospective "K-Mart Conceptualism" is making waves at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, has cited the random cutaways to nature in Terrence Malick's 1973 film Badlands as an influence on his work. The Modern will screen the movie for free this weekend, though even if there were an admission, it'd be worth it. Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen are chilling as young lovers on the run in a story loosely based on a real-life killing spree in the 1950s.
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Cost: Free
Info: www.themodern.org
Liza Minnelli
8Oh, Liza, she who's perennially parodied for that unmistakable voice, sparkly showbiz flamboyancy and penchant for marrying the wrong dudes. We still love you. Catch her as she does a concert of American standards for two nights in Dallas.
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Meyerson Symphony Center
Cost: $45-$122
Info: www.dallassymphony.com
Richard Thompson Band
9Thompson, a brilliant singer, songwriter and guitarist, has been making fantastic music for so long that it's easy to forget that the guy's still touring and releasing records. And his talent has rubbed off on everyone around him, including ex-wife Linda (they had one of the best records of the '80s, Shoot Out the Lights) and his talented singer-songwriter son, Teddy. Don't miss this "An Evening With" event.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway, Dallas
Cost: $24-$34.50
Info: www.lakewoodtheater.com
Don't Rhyme for the Sake
of Riddlin': The Authorized Story
of Public Enemy
10Russell Myrie's biography of the most important hip-hop group ever (yeah, we stand by that) hits the stands in paperback Tuesday. That statement is hard to believe considering that one of reality TV's biggest clowns, Flavor Flav, was part of this influential outfit. But hey, everyone's gotta stay in the spotlight. For its socially conscious lyrics and excellent rhymes, Public Enemy deserves every bit of glow.
When: Released Tuesday
Where: Online and in bookstores
Cost: $15
Info: www.amazon.com
Celebración de los Mayas
11The Kimbell Art Museum celebrates its "Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea" exhibit with this family festival, which features kids activities, films and performances by Ballet Folklorico de Fort Worth, Grupo Pakal and Latin Express.
When: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
Cost: Free
Info: www.kimbellart.org
Taste of the
NFL Wine Dinner
12Though this event boils down to wine, good food and charity, it's cool to see the NFL teaming with hunger-relief organizations to help tackle hunger in local communities. At Simply Fondue restaurants throughout DFW, a five-course dinner is paired with a tasting of five Gallo wines. Each case sold during the promotion translates to 30 meals to the hungry. So, down, set, hut, people. Get out there and drink!
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 14
Where: Simply Fondue restaurants in Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas; call your location for reservations
Cost: $70 per person
Info: www.simplyfondue.com;
Fort Worth restaurant, 817-348-0633
Hey there. or join DFW.com. Your account. Log out.
