Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Feb. 2

Here’s the thing. If you see me coming and don’t hold the elevator for me even though I’m close enough to punch the button, force open the doors, and still join you on your descent into the bowels of hell Hall Arts Parking Garage, I will make that elevator ride as uncomfortable for you as possible. I will glare at you until you stammer out an apology about how you “honestly didn’t see me.” And then you will get in your obnoxious black SUV and drive away. All of this is exactly what happened on Tuesday, and it’s not exactly a rare occurrence. Who parks in Hall Arts, besides D staffers? PwC employees? Bankers? Get some manners.

Now that I’ve opened up the complaint department, we can move on to your plans for the evening. If you’ve seen some dude trolling West Dallas with buckets of paint, don’t worry. It’s sanctioned, and the dude is street artist Shepard Fairey, best know for this little painting. What a stud. Fairey’s here at the behest of the Dallas Contemporary, creating a series of murals. (Update: Our wonderful photographer, Elizabeth Lavin, caught him in action.) Head to the Design District this evening to catch a free conversation with the artist, led by Pedro Alonzo, adjunct curator of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. If you haven’t tried it yet, maybe drop by Oak for dinner or a drink. One of my oldest friends is just beginning to try his hand at cooking, and these folks were kind enough to give him a shot in the kitchen. You can read Nancy’s first take on the restaurant here.

Also happening tonight is a Tempranillo tasting over at Fuqua Wineries. It’s one of their 2010 wines, produced from Texas hill country grapes, and pairs well with wild game and cheese boards, the latter of which I feel I should just go ahead and make one of my official food groups. Anyway, I recommend stopping by and trying it out.

For more to do tonight, go here.