Top things to do, March 22-28
Wednesday 22nd March
Usama Siddiquee at the Addison Improv
Bengali-American comedian Usama Siddiquee rose to fame America’s Got talent, impressing the celebrity judges with her self-effacing wit and charm. She called herself “Usama Bin Laughin”, and that says it all. Clearly Siddiquee isn’t afraid to tackle difficult topics. He has also appeared in the FX series Better thingsComedy Central Nora of Queens and Netflix Invent Anna. Meet him for one night only at 7:30pm on March 22 at the Addison Improv (4980 Belt Line Road). Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the box office or online at improvtx.com/addison.
Upstander Funk Family speaker series with Masih Alienjad Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad became an international icon when she took off her hijab and posted the photo on a Facebook page in violation of national law. Her bold and bold statement ignited the My Stealthy Freedom movement in 2014 which sparked a wave of civil challenge to Iran’s laws against women. She fled to New York and received the United Nations Observatory’s International Women’s Rights Award for her continued work in the fight against the Iranian regime. She hears her story at 6:30 pm March 22 at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum (300 N. Houston St.). In-person tickets have sold out, but guests can still reserve a seat for a virtual viewing option on the museum’s website.
Thursday 23 March
Celebrity Memoir Club podcasts at the Addison ImprovMany people have turned to books for entertainment during lockdown. Comedians Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker did the same thing, but found themselves engulfed in the specific literary world of celebrity memoirs. They Celebrity Memoir Club podcast analyzes these books and pokes fun at the bad ones written by stuffed shirts who are too full of themselves to notice how silly they sound. They also call out the best and worst (usually the worst) of these star-studded memories. The hosts will record a live episode of the podcast at 8:00 pm March 23 at the Addison Improv (4980 Belt Line Road). Tickets range from $27 to $216 depending on available seats, VIP sections, and the number of people in your party. Shop online at improvtx.com/addison.
Friday 24 March
Texas Pinball Festival at the Frisco Hotel and Convention Center
These kids may have their own fancy home consoles and top-notch VR gear today, but nothing can replace the thrill of a good old-fashioned pinball game. You’re not fighting pixels on a screen. You’re dueling with the cold hand of gravity itself as you aim your shots to score the highest score possible in a session. The annual Texas Pinball Festival brings collectors and makers from around the country to the Frisco Hotel and Convention Center (7600 John Q. Hammons Drive), where guests can play new and classic machines until their fingers go numb. This three-day meeting runs from 5pm to 1am on Friday, March 24 ($35 for adults and $25 for children); Saturday, March 25 from 10am to midnight ($45 for adults and $35 for children); and 9am to 2:30pm, Sunday, March 26 ($25 for adults and $15 for children). You can purchase your tickets during the event or purchase them online at texaspinball.com.
Paul Varghese at the Echo Lounge & Music HallOne of Dallas’ most popular stand-up comedians was born in the days when Dallas didn’t even have a comedy scene. He now returns to his grounds for a special one night show at the Echo Lounge & Music Hall (1323 N. Stemmons Freeway). Varghese won the Funniest Comic in Dallas contest in 2009 and has continued to open for Jerry Seinfeld and Russell Peters across the country. He has also appeared at the HBO Comedy Festival, Toronto’s Just for Laughs and NBC Last cartoon standing. He will be performing live from 7pm on Friday 24th March. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at LiveNation.com.
Saturday 25 March
Be My Neighbor Day at Klyde Warren Park
The world would be a scary place without Mister Rogers. Well, yeah, it’s still scary, but we meant scarier. Though Mister Rogers has passed away, his legacy and characters continue to inspire children to be their best, and KERA celebrates his work with the annual Be My Neighbor Day at Klyde Warren Park (2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway ). The celebration will see Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat perform a live interactive show along with special crafts and other activities. Be My Neighbor Day runs from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 25th March. The event is free, and families can register for a seat on KERA’s website.
America’s Big Bounce at Lone Star Park Remember when you were a kid and someone’s rich parents rented a giant bouncy house for their birthday party? Imagine if it was 10 times that size. Now you can take your kids to just such a place when The Big Bounce America traveling bounce park comes to town for the weekend at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie (1000 Lone Star Parkway). The Big Bounce America experience has four giant bounce houses including a “Sports Slam” house where kids can pretend they’re LeBron while dunking from above; the “Air Space” slide and jump experience that will take children out of this world; “The Giant” dark course consisting of four long rows of inflated structures; and “The World’s Largest Bounce House”. The Big Bounce will be in town Friday March 24th through Sunday March 26th and children of all ages are welcome. Tickets are $41 for bouncers 16 and older, $35 for “older kids” 15 and older, and $22 for children 3 and older. All children require a parent or guardian to accompany them. Tickets are available online at thebigbounceamerica.com.
Sunday 26 March
True genius Brunch at the Alamo Drafthouse DFW Take a day off and indulge in a decadent brunch and one of Val Kilmer’s most underrated classics. Four Alamo Drafthouse theaters will screen the ’80s comedy True genius Sunday, March 26 at noon in Las Colinas (320 W. Las Colinas Blvd.), 12:05 in Richardson (100 S. Central Expressway), 12:20 in Cedars (1005 Botham Jean Blvd.), and 12:25:00 in Denton (3220 Town Center Trail). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the box office or online at drafthouse.com/dfw.
Marvel at the masterful balance of the Beijing Acrobats on Monday.
Courtesy of IAI Presentations
Monday 27 March
The Beijing Acrobats at the Granville Arts Center The circus may be an outdated form of entertainment, but performers who dedicate their lives to performing incredible feats of strength, balance, and skill are still on the theater circuit. The Peking Acrobats have been touring the world for 30 years, performing some of the most dangerous and delicate high-flying acrobatics and balancing act for the most enthusiastic fans. Each show uses live musical performances with traditional Chinese instruments as acrobats move to the music in perfect harmony. The Peking Acrobats will perform at 6:30 pm on Monday, March 27 at the Granville Arts Center in Garland (300 N. Fifth St.). Tickets ($22–$37) can be purchased at Prekindle.com.
Tuesday 28 March
Jaws at the Bath House Cultural Centre
The only way Steven Spielberg’s classic film Jaws it might be scarier if you were looking at it across a lake. The Bath House Cultural Center (521 E. Lawther Drive) on White Rock Lake will show the film on an outdoor screen as part of its Lakeside Cinema series with the Texas Theater. The event starts at 6:45pm and the movie starts at 7:45pm (or sunset, just to make it even scarier). The screening is free, and guests can use the seating provided by the venues or bring blankets and patio chairs.
