Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Aug. 26-28

Lots of talk about natural disaster coming out of the East Coast this week. Is Most Eligible Dallas worse than a (mild) earthquake? Apparently, yes. And then there’s this recent hurricane-prep message from a Texan-turned-Brooklynite: “**** Poland Spring. I’m buying cases of Perrier. I’ve also got some canned tuna.” Just guessing, but it should be a fun weekend for everyone. Most especially me, because not to brag or anything, I’ve got a friend in town from Oxford and there’s Mexican food and cheeseball musicals on my horizon. Oh, and also, the Childrens Hospital Party Down cameo aired last night. You’re so welcome.

Friday

Xanadu, presented by Level Ground Arts, heads into its final days at the KD Studio Theatre. I’m not about to let something so campy close without seeing it. If you know what’s good for you and you’re not entirely unsmiling, you won’t either. Obviously, Xanadu, the 1980 movie musical starring Olivia Newton-Revolting (my dad’s name for her, not mine, after he got sick of me watching Grease over and over), was actually crap on wheels. I can’t even really get behind the big budget Broadway production. However, I do have a fondness for small theater companies making the best of what they’ve got. Read Lance Lusk’s review on FrontRow before you go.

Saturday

It’s the time of the year when normal people start buying sweaters. But there’s no need to make up excuses to go shopping, which you can do a great deal of during the last day of the Fashion Industry Gallery’s big annual sale. ShopTalk favorites like Hemline and V.O.D. will be there.

A liquor (okay, fine wine and spirits) store is not usually a dinner destination. But Sigel’s is nonetheless the place to eat Saturday evening, what with their big food truck festival. A total of nine trucks will be parked around their Greenville Avenue locale, waiting for you, your dollars, and your stomach. SideDish contributor George Lewis, our food truck expert, has your definitive guide to what to eat and how to sample as much as possible without admitting defeat or rupturing something. The only downside, he reports, is that you can’t buy a six pack to drink outdoors. You can, however, taste beer and wine inside. I’m particularly excited about this Rockefeller Reuben from Gandolfo’s NY Deli. Hurricanes be darned, right?

Sunday

Ahead of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra pays homage to America and three great American composers. Sunday’s bill includes Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and three dance episodes from Leonard Bernstein’s On The Town. Wayne Lee Gay has put together a fascinating, informative preview of the concert series on FrontRow, which is worth reading even if you can’t make it out.

For more to do this weekend, including a day devoted to chocolate, go here.