Tag Archives: things to do in dallas

The Greatest Show On Earth Hits the Hottest State in the South

26 Jul


Each year around the hottest part of the summer Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey, pack up their trucks and come down to North Texas to put on what has been long since deemed “The Greatest Show on Earth”. If you’re under 4 ft tall it’s highly recommended that you attend, although some of the circus people will be around your height. The Barnum 200, aka Blue Tour, is scheduled to be at the American Airlines Center Wednesday, July 27th!

Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey are in North Texas July 27 - Aug 14


For you adults who have never been to the circus and don’t have some kind of related fear of clowns, this is a good starting place; and the good news is that this is also an Air Conditioned Event! Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey has been around forever! About 100 years! Created by James Anthony Bailey and P.T. Barnum, it merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus who purchased them in 1907, and ran the shows separately until 1917. If you thought the show’s name is long now, check out its past names it went under as new investors joined.

All kinds of Excitement under the Big Top

So what makes “The Greatest Show on Earth” so great? Well for one, the amazing animals! For some reason little kids are fascinated with wildlife, and they bring all kinds with them. You’ll see awesome elephants, various breeds of horses, big cats, llamas, goats and more! What’s important is that this circus takes care of their furry coworkers which you can read about here. I know, cause I’ve always wondered “Did they really choose this lifestyle?” and I know they probably didn’t. What elephant raises his trunk and says “Hey let me jump in your truck, sleep in a cage, and tour all year being forced to train and do tricks for screaming kids I’ve never met.” Unless he’s cool with Dr. DoLittle; But enough with the sarcasm, ……the family will love it! Just rest assured that Verbal or physical abuse and the withholding of food or water are strictly prohibited and you can read more on Animal Care at the site.

See the Human Canon!

When I was a lot shorter (around that “too short to ride” age) with a chipmunk pitched voice, I got the chance to go see “The Greatest Show On Earth” and I’m guessing it was at Reunion Arena (now a pile of dust and Maverick memories). There’s just something about the circus you don’t forget. All the things you’re told not to do at home, these people are getting paid to do in front of you but with higher heights, smaller ropes and a net to catch them at the bottom. Kids, don’t try this at home, unless you have a safety net, which I’m almost positive most of you don’t.

Some of the special offers going on now for Ringling Brothers Circus is Babys First Circus, Preferred Customer Offers and Free Commemorative Certificate. Also see your local grocer for possible coupons. Now that Sade & John Legend are gone we can turn the AAC into an indoor zoo that fills the arena & Mavs locker room with a mixture of aromas even Dirk Nowitzki & Cuban could stand for ONLY so long. Check out the schedule below for the Blue Tour. That’s it after August 7th! If you miss them that week drive over to Ft. Worth where they’ll be performing for only 4 days (8/10 – 8/14). Then the gang heads down to Austin! Don’t miss The Greatest Show on Earth! But if you must miss it this year, and you’re a circus fiend you’ve got other options: Cirque du Soleil & UniverSOUL Circus.

Click here for tickets to see the Ringling Brothers and their entourage!

AAC, home of the NBA Champs, hosts the Circus

TOUR DATES FOR BARNUM 200 (BLUE TOUR)

DALLAS – American Airlines Center

Wed, July 27……………………..7:30pm
Thur, July 28..………10:30am, 7:30pm
Fri, July 29………..10:30am, 7:30pm
Sat, July 30…….11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sun, July 31…….10:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm
Tues, Aug 2………………………7:30pm
Wed, Aug 3…………………….…7:30pm
Thur, Aug 4…………………….…7:30pm
Fri, Aug 5……………………..….7:30pm
Sat, Aug 6………11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sun, Aug 7………10:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm

FT. WORTH – Ft. Worth Convention Center

Wed, Aug 10……7:30pm
Thur, Aug 11……7:30pm
Fri, Aug 12…….10:30am, 7:30pm
Sat, Aug 13…….11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Sun, Aug 14……..2:30pm

Whew! Talk about a tour! See you under the “big top”.

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Cedar Hill Walk the Light Art Festival

25 Jul

When was the last time you got excited about walking through the street light? I believe mine all came after seeing this…


(Anybody remember this? It was the moment all us 80s-born Sesame Street watching kids found a new way to walk..myself included) Well you’ll get another chance this Saturday night. Cedar Hill hosts the Walk the Light Art Festival July 30th from 4-10pm in their historic downtown. It’s not far from 1382, right around the corner from the Cinemark Theatre and only a minute drive from Uptown Village.

If you’re a fan of art don’t miss this Free outdoor event displaying all art genres. Artists will display or perform their craft around in Pioneer Park, inside downtown Cedar Hill businesses and on the streets as Walk the Light Arts Festival paints the town all sorts of colors. If you’re an artist yourself and interested in participating, visit www.walkthelight.org to register. Walk the Light is devoted to celebrating artists and art of all forms by providing a unique venue for it to be enjoyed, and what better place than out in the street? Cedar Hill may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of looking at artwork but they just might change your mind this weekend once you’ve stepped into the outdoor gallery they’ve created. All you newbies to the art world can use this opportunity to expose yourself to the different forms of art and participate in the creative process through various performances, exhibits and art installations. Again, it’s Saturday 7/30 and Admission is Free! So what do you have to lose? Especially if you don’t have any other plans. Add a splash of color to your weekend and try something a little different.

This little piggy went to the Walk the Light Art Festival. That little piggy stayed home. This little piggy was glad she went, while the other got closer to becoming labeled a “bore”. (yeah, definitely not the wild kind)

Join Pigasso this weekend at the Art Festival

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Broadway’s Guys & Dolls at Fair Park | Dallas Summer Musical of July

24 Jul

From July 19 – July 31 catch Guys & Dolls at Fair Park’s Music Hall! Guys and Dolls is presented by Dallas Summer Musicals and is appropriate for all ages! Guys and Dolls is based on two short stories by Damon Runyon- “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” and “Blood Pressure” and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

Guys and Dolls is a romantic musical comedy set in New York City. The vivid cast of characters brings the story to life on stage with fun and catchy songs, lyrics by Frank Loesser, that bring the spirit of Broadway right into the heart of Dallas!

The organizer of the oldest permanent floating crap game, Nathan Detroit, makes an interesting bet with Sky Masterson who is traveling alone to Havana and believes he could get any woman he wants to company him. Nathan makes an interesting Bet with Sky that he’s sure he’ll win. Nathan proposes that Sky take a ‘doll’ chosen by Nathan to dinner in Havana. He bets that Sky can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him. Turns out the lucky contestant happens to be Miss Sarah Brown of the Save-a-Soul Mission. As soon as Nathan chooses virginal Sergeant Sarah Brown, Sky’s confidence fades. Meanwhile, Nate’s ‘doll’ (Miss Adelaide), who is the main attraction at the Hot Box nightclub, only has marriage on her mind after lying to her mother for about 14 years about being married with kids. She is suffering from a psychosomatic cold after dealing with the long overdue engagement. Nathan is in need of $1000 and relies on winning this bet to rent out Gilmore’s Garage in order to maintain the “Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York”. Find out if Sky gets the girl or if Nathan gets the garage when you go see Guys and Dolls this week!

Guys and Dolls is showing at The Music Hall at Fair Park

The Broadway musical first premiered in 1950 at 46th Street Theatre directed by George S. Kaufman with 1200 performances. After the first year the Broadway musical received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1951. Guys and Dolls has received multiple Tony Awards in 1951, ‘65, ‘77, ‘92 and 2009. The musical has had many Broadway revivals and West End productions.

SHOW SCHEDULE

Tue, Jul 19………..8PM
Wed, July 20……….8PM
Thu, July 21……….8PM
Fri, July 22……….8PM
Sat, July 23……….2PM & 8PM
Sun, July 24……….2PM & 8PM
Tue, July 26……….8PM
Wed, July 27……….8PM
Thu, July 28……….2PM & 8PM
Fri, July 29……….8PM
Sat, July 30……….2PM & 8PM
Sun, July 31……….2PM



Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com ranging from $20 to $85. Prices vary based on showtimes, dates and seating levels.
Click here for directions and additional information on The Musical Hall at Fair Park.

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JAM to Give | Braxton Family Values

15 Jul

The 8-week concert series of Cedar Hill Uptown Village continues this week as DFW saxophonist Tom Braxton returns to the stage. Last year he filled the Village Green with smooth jazzy sax sounds that had the crowd dancing and tapping their heels, and this year will be no different. Believe it or not, he taught my brother to play the saxophone when we were younger, so I know he’s a talented musician! With his new album, Endless Highway, now available in stores, Braxton instills those family values by giving to a charitable cause through his music. As it may not be the same exact values as Toni Braxton and her sisters, Tom Braxton (no relation to the VH1 reality stars) has managed to make a name for himself across the U.S. and most importantly the DFW Metroplex. By supporting the local non-profit Hope Mansion, Braxton can help you support a worthy cause and cool off at the end of the week with some quality live music.

Dallas Saxophonist Tom Braxon plays July 15

Found just last November, the Hope Mansion is a faith-based community partnership organization aimed at providing a support system for women in crisis with unplanned/unwanted pregnancies. Located right in Cedar Hill, Hope Mansion provides women support facilities for women in the metroplex should they choose to keep their child or place them up for adoption with limited availability in the entire metroplex as Elizabeth Homes and Grace Home were both recently closed. You can be a part of supporting the non-profit’s mission of practical support for mothers’ and their babies during a time of crisis by bringing toiletry items to Friday’s evening concert (July 15). Whether it’s toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, lotion, whatever, help make a difference in someone else’s life by providing just a small simple contribution. We, as a community, can make a difference and JAM to Give helps us do just that on a weekly basis. Join us at the Village Green once again for a live saxophone performance by one of Dallas’ best jazz musicians and support this concert for a cause that benefits the Hope Mansion.

The concert will be from 7-9pm so you have a little time to change and unwind after work. The kids can bring their swimsuits and beat the heat playing at the fountain in the meantime. This is the second to last concert of the Summer hosted by Uptown Village so catch it before July 22nd comes!

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Taste of Dallas 2011: The Big D Celebrates 25 Years

6 Jul

From July 8th-10th the best North Texas chefs, restaurants, bands and artists will gather at Fair Park for one of Dallas’ largest summer events. Starting last year Taste of Dallas moved their location to Fair Park after 24 years in West End. The new location provides expansion of all the activities that take place at the annual festival adding 150,000 square feet of indoor space so you have a chance to escape the heat when you want. TOD benefits the American Heart Association. Each year some of Dallas’ finest or tastiest restaurants come together for this rapidly growing event.

No More West End but Much More on the Menu

The festival is a three-day event so you have a full weekend to choose from when you would like to go. TOD will be going on come rain or shine! You’ll be given the opportunity to taste food from restaurants you’ve always wanted to try and maybe even ones you’ve never heard of! The Culinary Marketplace will be full of all your kitchen needs and unique specialty food products from homemade jellies/jams to olive oils, sauces, and salsas. A list of Dallas’ top chefs will display their skills live each day!

What’s a food party without some great music! A number of talented local and regional musicians will compliment that tasty cuisine on Gilley’s Music Stage as well as visiting celebrities. Come celebrate the best of Dallas’ music scene with local bands Friday through Sunday. To compliment the food and music will also be some artwork. You’ll find a wide range of artwork from some of Dallas’ well known to new emerging talent.

While inside the festival you can enjoy tastings each priced at $1 to $3. You’ll have lots to choose from so prepare your palate!

TOD Hours:

Friday, 7/8: 4:00pm to 11:00pm

Saturday, 7/9: 11:00am to 11:00pm

Sunday, 7/10: 11:00am to 6:00pm

Parking is available on the fairgrounds for $12. Trams run from parking lots right up to the entrance of Taste of Dallas. DART’s Green Line stops at the front door to Taste of Dallas. No parking required!

The one-day admission fee for this event is $8.00. You can get tickets at Albertson’s for only $5 and Children under 12 are free.

For more information on the Taste of Dallas visit the official website.

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