Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: March 17

Today, I’m wearing the only green shirt I own. It’s hunter, not kelly. But considering how rarely I wear actual colors outside the #000000-#FFFFFF range, I’m going to consider phase one of Operation Faking Ridiculous Holiday Spirit a rousing success.

Something else that might help with phase two: hundreds of watermelon Jell-O shots. Yikes. Raya, purveyor of all things nightlife, has kindly put together a list of bars and pubs hosting St. Patrick’s day festivities. A few places are going all out with bagpipes and traditional Irish dancing — efforts for which I happily give my seal of approval despite unfortunate college memories of men in kilts. Just be careful. I’ve heard tell of at least one person who managed to break a limb after an unfortunate altercation with a porta-potty during last Saturday’s parade. Apparently those things are extra dangerous now that they’re on wheels.

Also on my radar tonight is a screening of the always-excellent To Kill a Mockingbird, hosted by former WFAA film critic Gary Gogill as part of the Horton Foote Festival. Foote won an Oscar in 1962 for the screenplay he adapted from Harper Lee’s novel. And if this whole thing wasn’t taking place at the Studio Movie Grill, I’d be in film nerd heaven.

For a musical option that (hopefully) doesn’t involve bagpipes, Liz Phair is performing at the Granada. I have an obnoxious habit of not liking the occasional artist until their music is used really well in a movie. Such was the case with Phair. Her song “Why Can’t I” works so perfectly in Thirteen Going on 30 that I couldn’t help jumping on her fan bus. Here’s a secret. That movie is actually one of my all-time favorites. Anyway, there are still quite a few general admission tickets left, but most of the seated sections are sold out save a few areas of the balcony.

For more ways to spend your St. Patty’s Day, click here. May the luck of the Irish be with you.