Central Track Contributor
Be All About That Brass.
According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, people are most creative when their BAC hits .075 percent — or just under the legal limit. Finally, science backs up an argument we've been having with our boss now for months: We really should be drinking on the clock!
Also, according to some writers at one of Dallas' leading culture publications, the consumption of alcohol off the clock can make otherwise dull family gatherings and nightlife activities loads more bearable. — Cory Graves
Merry Tuba Christmas at Thanksgiving Square
The tuba section is definitely the Rodney Dangerfield of the marching band, but when dozens of the suckers get low, low, low, low, low this afternoon at Thanksgiving Square for this holiday tradition, you better believe it'll be all about that bass. — CG
Die Hard at Alamo Drafthouse
In a lengthy but poignant essay for Movie Fone, film critic Drew Taylor argues that Die Hard is, hands down, the greatest Christmas flick ever made. He reasons that, like Home Alone, another contender for the title, Die Hard is full of scenes of bad guys getting their asses kicked. In this case, though, there's 100 percent more F-bombs, boobs and cocaine. Yippee ki-yay motherfuckers. — CG
Once: The Musical at Wyly Theatre
The Tony-winning Broadway play, Once is currently in the middle of an eleven-day run in Dallas. The thing that really sets this one apart from most other staged works, is that the play tells the story of street musicians, and the actors portraying them play all their own instruments live during the shows. That's some next level ish. — CG
Santa House in University Park
Before he became the State Fair's iconic figurehead, Big Tex got his start as the world's tallest paper mache Santa in Kerens, TX. It's only fitting then, that the head of the original Big Tex — the predecessor to the one that burned down a couple years back — lives on as part of a massive private Christmas display in University Park. His new owners have even gone as far as to craft him an XXXXXXXXXXL Santa cap, too. Visit the legend and several dozen other vintage plastic Santas as part of Dallas' creepiest/most awesome Christmas display. You'll find him off Southwestern Blvd., between Hillcrest and Preston. — CG
Sparkle! at Hilton Anatole
Once again this year, the gigantic hotel is decorated from floor to ceiling with holiday lights, trees, ornaments and awesome activities. But the main attraction here, of course, is the indoor ice-skating rink to get you in the winter spirit despite our continuing warmer temperatures. After getting chilly on the ice, grab a hot chocolate and a sample from the Nothing Bundt Cakes table (gingerbread cake is offered this season, yum!) and head to the light show offered every half hour. The entire space is filled with over 1.2 million lights. If that's not enough, there's also a Velcro jump wall, live holiday entertainment, food trucks, face painting and crafts available every day. You might also get to meet Santa while you're there — unless you've been naughty of course. Pro tip: Parking prices may appear ridiculous, but if you are there to attend the event they give you a voucher to wave the parking fee when you leave. — Melanie Shafranek
It's a Wonderful Life at Angelika Film Center
Does the impending arrival of Christmas make you suicidal? Don't worry, you're not alone. Folks have been struggling with the true meaning of Christmas since the Depression era, when retailers like Montgomery Ward were busy inventing marketing gimmicks like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We could all stand to take a step back and reevaluate our lives from time to time, though, just as George Bailey is forced to do in this classic Christmas flick. Catch it on the big screen tonight — especially if a lack of funds this time of year has you questioning whether you are, in fact, the richest person on earth. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
