Valentine's Dinner at Home Thanks to Civello's

Want to surprise your sweetheart with a homemade Valentine's Dinner rather than fighting the overpriced restaurant crowds, but you don't know how to cook? Do you know how to boil water? If so, Civello's Ravioli has you covered with their adorable heart-shaped stuffed pastas that have been tinted using red beets(just the tint, not beet flavored). They've got four different fillings, so whether your Sig-O prefers cheese or something more exciting, they have your dinner taken care of. Prices range from $10-$20 a dozen (lobster is more expensive then cheese, obviously).

Call 214-827-2989 for the current selections, visit them at http://civellosraviolismo.com/  or swing by the shop on Peak Street. Since you're saving all that money by staying in for dinner, go splurge on a good bottle of Italian wine at Jimmy's Food Store, just up the street.

Restaurant Week Report: Canary By Gorgi

I have to share that we had the most delightful dinner at Canary By Gorgi on Saturday night. We hadn’t been there before, but after looking at Chef Gorgi’s RW menu, and knowing we could cross another off on our quest to eat at all 100 of the D Magazine Top 100 restaurants (we’re at 84 thank-you-very-much), we happily pointed our car north to Addison.

The 4^th course was actually the 1^st course, and was a poached shrimp on a grilled avocado with a puttanesca sauce. The warm tomato sauce and shrimp came together so well with the cooled avocado. We knew that if the rest of dinner was like this, we were certainly in for a treat.

I then had the seared sea scallops, which had a delightful gazpacho salad with them. What a welcome change to have a gazpacho salad rather than the usual, and often not done well, gazpacho soup. The Sig-O loved the escargot. Again, a welcome change being served in a Mediterranean pomodoro sauce rather than the usual garlic butter.

While I’m normally not a steak during RW person, the side of gnocchi with valdeon cream sauce convinced me to try the filet. So glad I did, as this is one of the places in town you can count on to cook your steak to the perfect temperature. When you ask for medium rare, that truly is what comes out, not the more medium pink that many places pass off as MR. The Sig-O was quite pleased with the lamb T-bone and grilled quail, “Wait, I get both.” Yes, it was quite the plate, and proof that Chef Gorgi knows how to treat RW diners right. When the table gets suddenly quiet after the entrees are brought, that is generally a good sign. We both agreed that this was one of the better RW menus we experienced.

But wait, there’s more! Desserts were the chocolate liqueur cake and the date and Turkish kefir butterfly. What a wonderful flavor juxtaposition we had with those two – chocolate cake was dark deep chocolate with a sweeter icing, while the butterfly was beautifully tart and well complemented by the sweeter date. Chocolate and kefir, what an interesting finish to our meal.

After so many years of RW and countless delicious meals, it’s so refreshing to see Chef Gorgi still embracing Restaurant Week and the cause behind it. More importantly, with his charming demeanor and delicious food, he’s enticed new customers to come back to his lovely little Addison gem. I know we’ve already decided to go back for our anniversary this fall, if not sooner.

Decks in The Park This Thursday at Klyde Warren Park

For all the details, check out www.DecksInThePark.com 

Planning Your Next Picnic Date

You know how it goes. She(or maybe he) wants to go on a picnic at the Lake or the park because it's romantic. You kind of agree, assuming you can get past the sitting on the ground, bugs crawling around, and the bikers whizzing past you. But grocery bags aren't sexy, not even the ones from Central Market. So what's a girl or guy to do if you don't have your own cute picnic basket? The smart folks over at Scardello have you covered.

Scardello has picnic baskets available for rent. Inside the basket you'll find everything you need for the perfect picnic, packed with artisan cheeses, sliced baguette and wine along with glasses, plates, and all of the other service items you need to make your picnic a fantastic success! The best part is that they handle all the unfun parts of the picnic - packing, dishes and cleanup. And you're in the know about cheese or wine? That's ok too since you can customize to your hearts content and they'll provide the basket. Prices start at $49.95 and include the cheese and wine. Here's the rest of the deets from Scardello.

And just think, if it happens to be one of those very, very special picnics and you get a "yes," you can always register for your own picnic basket.

Spring Break Block Party in the Dallas Arts District!

On March 14th (Friday!), Dallas Arts District is helping you celebrate Spring Break by closing down Flora and Harwood streets to throw an EPIC Arts Block Party!

Starting at 6:00 pm, the Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Collection of Asian Art, and Nasher Sculpture Center are hosting this free family event. Grab dinner or dessert from gourmet food trucks lining the streets as you enjoy all three museums and participate in special activities, live concerts, guided tours, films, and more!

Click here for all the artsy details.

Texas-Sized Yoga Session on The Bridge this Weekend

It's Thursday afternoon, so you're no doubt planning your weekend as you read this. How many times have you thought to yourself while driving over the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, "Ugh, if I could just get out of my car and do yoga on the bridge, my life would be so much better." Well, Saturday, you'll get your chance thanks to the Trinity Commons Foundation. See the details below, or check out their site.

WHAT
Yoga on the Bridge is a Texas-sized yoga session that will be held in the middle of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, directly below the center white arch.

WHEN
Saturday, March 1, 1 p.m.

CLASSES

A one-hour open level yoga class will run side-by-side with a 45-minute family yoga class. Open level yoga is designed for adults who are new to yoga as well as for experienced practitioners. Instructors and assistants will ensure you have a satisfying experience. The family yoga class is designed for adults and children.

COST
Adults may participate for a minimum $5 donation per person. Your tax-deductible donation supports the non-profit Trinity Commons Foundation and its goal to turn the Trinity River Corridor into Dallas' Central Park. Children may participate for free but must be accompanied by an adult.

LOCATION
Yoga on the Bridge will take place in the middle of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, TX. Access will be from the west end of the bridge (Singleton Blvd. at North Beckley Ave.). Parking will be available in Trinity Groves and on nearby streets. Some street closures will be in place for other All Out Trinity events. Please consult the map found here.

SPONSORS
Presented by the Trinity Commons Foundation as part of All Out Trinity, the second-annual Yoga on the Bridge is sponsored by SYNC Yoga & Wellbeing and Clairevista Vitality Club.

INSTRUCTORS
Yoga instructors include Jennifer Lawson, Mike Luckock, Julie Wright and Stephanie Spett.

Make Scary St. Patty's Plans

Sure, St. Patty's Day weekend will likely involve some green beer, green shirts, green beads, and green partying. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, the Witches of Coven Manor at Dark Hour Haunted House have also decided to go green that weekend. Grab your Lady Luck, Leprechaun or someone you want to get lucky with for a scaringly fun St. Patrick's Slay Weekend.

Dark Hour Haunted House is undoubtedly one of the best haunted houses in town. Checked it out with the Sig-O in October and it's not to be missed. (Here's that write up) The St. Patty's Slay show is all new, so if you've been before, it's still worth the trip and a little green. Get you tickets and all the deets at www.darkhourhauntedhouse.com 

Take Your Pup to Paws on the Prairie at Trinity River Audubon Center

Join Trinity River Audubon Center for the 2nd annual Paws on the Prairie on February 8th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.. Normally they're bird-watching and tracking wildlife, so this is the one day a year that domestic pets are allowed on their 120 acres and 5 miles of trails.  Learn how you and your dog can help the environment. Exercise mind and body with a fun dog agility course. Don't have a pet? They've got you covered too since you can take home a new friend through their pet adoption partners. Free Family Fun! Great food and doggie giveaways too. Free admission with a $5 parking suggested donation. Click here for all the details

Junior Associates of the DMA are throwing a FREE Party!

The Junior Associates of the DMA are bringing the party to the Dallas Museum of Art for their annual and highly anticipated event, Curators' Choice. Junior Associates are encouraged to bring their friends for a fun cocktail party, complete with tunes by DJ Mark, and a photo booth from CultureMap Dallas, followed by brief tours where you have the chance to hear curators and local artists talk about their favorite piece in the collection. It's free for anyone to come, click here to RSVP.

WHEN Friday, January 24 6:30 - 9 pm WHERE Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N. Harwood St. Dallas, TX 75201

Plano Just Got A Lot Scarier . . . . With Dark Hour Haunted House

It’s that time of year again – the one where you watch the scary movie you come across while channel surfing, buy all the orange and black candy at Target, and carefully plan who will be the friend or date you cling to for dear life as you go through a haunted house. So, of course I grabbed the Sig-O and we headed off to check out haunted houses. While the Sig-O certainly enjoys a good haunted house, the real entertainment is apparently my own screaming more than the children who are in the tour behind us. I also have a tendency to teach them new words if they're following too closely.

We've seen a number of the haunts around to, there’s a new kid on the haunted house block that’s well worth your trip to Plano and your haunted house dollars – Dark Hour Haunted House.

While I won’t ruin your haunted house experience by giving you the room by room fright breakdown, I will say that the folks behind Dark Hour have spared no expense and it shows. This is not your neighborhood haunted house for the kiddos and this is definitely not the same old guy with a hockey mask chasing you with a chainsaw. Dark Hour Haunted House provides a full experience that will likely show up in your dreams and nightmares for a week. The lighting, sound system and special effects are worth the trip, even if you pretend to be one of those who doesn't scare.

Halloween is almost here, so you’re worried about those dreaded lines this weekend. While Dark Hour’s line moves well, you’ll be happy to stand in line a few extra minutes to watch the Dark Hour dancers do their dances to (what else?) Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Once you enter, the route takes you through three areas – Dominion of the Dead, Coven Manner and Voodoo Vengeance. Again, we won’t ruin your experience with the details, but as you go through , don’t forget to notice all the details they've included in the haunt – bricks that were cut by hand, reclaimed wood on houses and decoration that’s been done with a careful eye to intrigue and frighten you at the same time.

As one of the only haunted houses in the area to hire professional actors, Dark Hour has elevated the level of our local haunts. They know just when to jump out or look alive to get that perfect scare. Their elaborate sets and lighting have been designed to intensify the fright you’ll get. It’s rather remarkable given that they've been in the building just under eight weeks and built all the sets from the ground up (the 30,000 square foot space used to be a Sports Authority). You’ve still got a few weeks to check out Dark Hour and they’re open Friday-Sunday through November 2^nd (as well as the Thursday of Halloween, of course).

Click here for more details, tickets and directions for Dark Hour Haunted House

State Fair of Texas Ticket Deals!

Nobody should pay full price for tickets to the State Fair, which opens Friday. Here's a round up of the ticket deals (Thanks to the fabulous people at CultureMap):

North Texas Food Bank deals: On opening day, anyone who brings in a full 20 ounce Coca-Cola product or Dasani water will get into the fair for $6. Also, NTFB has teamed up with Kroger for a special deal every Wednesday, where everybody who brings in at least three cans of food gets in for $3. That means 3 cans for each person. Don’t try to get in a crowd on 3 cans.

It's good to be a senior: Sure, seniors — anyone 60 and over — already get a $4 discount from the regular price, but every Thursday during the State Fair is Senior Day, where those lucky folks can get in absolutely free.

McDonald's coupons: Eat at any area McDonald's, and you're likely to get a coupon for $3 off general admission, good for any day at the fair. They also have a coupon where a child can get in for half price when an adult pays full price, a discount of $6.50.

Dr Pepper deals: Make sure to save up those empty Dr Pepper cans, as each one is good for $5 admission on Tuesdays or $8 admission any day after 5 pm.

Coca-Cola Thursdays: In addition to the opening-day deal, every Thursday is Coca-Cola Thursday, where an empty 20-ounce bottle is good for $6 admission.

Dickies Day: Forget the Coke bottles on Thursday, October 3 — just make sure to wear any piece of clothing with a Dickies logoon it, and you'll get in for free.

Cinemark Thursdays: Movie lovers can trade one piece of entertainment for another on any Thursday, as a ticket stub from any Cinemark theater gets you in for free.

KISS-FM Fridays: Go to the KISS-FM site and print the coupon for $5 off general admission on any Friday. Make sure to print a coupon for every person in your group.

Discount on Midway rides: Saving on ticket prices is one thing, but everyone knows it's the rides and the food that really drive up the cost. If you go on any Tuesday, though, all rides except for thrill rides and the Texas Star are only six coupons, a savings of anywhere between two to six coupons (or $1-$3) per ride.

See Bon Jovi at American Airlines Center for Half Price!

From the cut-and-paste via Travelzoo division, we've got tickets to see Bon Jovi for half price!

The following seats are available for the Wednesday, Oct. 16, concert at 7:30 p.m.:

• Upper Bowl Sections 308-314 and 322-238 (Upper Rows) … $15 (reg. $29.50)
• Upper Bowl Sections 308-314 and 322-328 (Lower Rows) … $23.50 (reg. $49.50)
• Lower Bowl Sections 108-117 … $48.75 (reg. $99.50)
• Lower Bowl Sections 105-107 and 118-120 … $89.50 (reg. $185)

The concert will showcase Bon Jovi's huge arsenal of hits and new music from the recently released album "What About Now." The group's 12th studio album features its trademark mix of anthemic rock songs ("Because We Can," "What About Now") and lyrically introspective songs ("Amen," "The Fighter").

Book by Sept. 29. Click here for the details. 

 

Friday Night Date Night Plan - 'Til Midnight at the Nasher

It's Wednesday, you've got a date set up for Friday, but you have no idea what to do. Dinner and a movie seems so cliche. No worries, we've got it handled for you with a free concert and movie at the Nasher. Oh, and the art, don't forget to look around while you're enjoying the concert and movie so you can check out the incredible sculpture at the Nasher, and we're not just talking about your date.

Dallas Theater Center Introduces All-You-Can-Watch Stage Pass

Introducing DTC Stage Pass!

For the lover of live entertainment, the on-a-whim decision-maker and the life-of-the-party friend. Dallas Theater Center has a brand new way to see theater — DTC Stage Pass. 

DTC Stage Pass is like a gym membership for on-stage entertainment. For $25 per month, you can attend as many DTC performances as you'd like. And you don't have to make any real plans. Just show up to the theater an hour or so before show time and get the best available ticket for that performance. If your friends tag along, you can get them 15% off the regular ticket price. They'll think you're awesome. With DTC Stage Pass, you can binge-watch your favorite shows for just $25 per month*! 
Click here for all the details

Dallas Arboretum Dollar Days Start Thursday!

The Dallas Arboretum is offering up the chance to explore its grounds for just $1 next month. The August Dollar Days program allows guests of all ages to enter the Arboretum in exchange for pocket change from 9 am to 5 pm. The $1 admission excludes parking. Sounds like a great time to take the kids, visiting guests, or even your Sig-O to the Arboretum.

Why You Have to Go See Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The Sig-O and I were fortunate enough to go see Dallas Summer Musical's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert last night, and I've got to be honest, I'm checking our calendar to see if we might be able to go see it again. It was that much fun.

Was it the fabulous costumes that made us want to up our Halloween game? Maybe. Was it the fun music that had us singing along and will undoubtedly leave us singing "It's Raining Men!" for days? Yes.  Was it the cast of drag queens and more that was entertaining, interactive and spot-on? Hell yes. I'm not going to lie, I was a Priscilla virgin before last night. I was too young when the original movie came out and just never got around to seeing it, but now I've already told the Sig-O to put it at the top of the Netflix queue. It's likely the gayest musical you'll ever see, but that's the point. And everyone, gay, straight, young-ish and older, was having a great time. Go get your tickets ASAP because Priscilla is wheel's up on May 26: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_priscilla.shtm

 

Dallas Symphony Free Community Summer Concerts Announced!

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra announced its 2013 Community Concerts Series starting on Monday, May 27, with the popular Memorial Day Concert & Fireworks Display at Flagpole Hill. The series includes four outdoor concerts in different Dallas parks and neighborhoods.

The 2013 Dallas Symphony Orchestra Community Concerts Series Schedule:

Monday, May 27, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.

Memorial Day Concert & Fireworks Display at Flagpole Hill

Tuesday, June 4, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.

Exall Park

Wednesday, June 5, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.

Kidd Springs Park

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 8:00 p.m.

Paul Quinn College

Click here to get all the details.

Big Texas Beer Fest is Coming!

Looking for Saturday afternoon day drinking plans? We've got the perfect plan - The Big Texas Beer Fest. 

The Big Texas Beer Fest 2013 is North Texas’ second-annual 100 percent craftbeer inspired festival. Last year’s festival featured approximately 80 breweries, and they're planning on topping 100 this year. That means we're talking about 400+ beers. That's a lot of beer. Some of the participating breweries have even promised exclusive kegs, rare beers and other specials just for the lager lovers, hopheads and other beer fans. 
The Big Texas Beer Fest runs at the Automobile Building at Fair Park 2-6:30 p.m. (starts at 1 p.m. for VIPs, but you didn't get your tickets early enough.) See you there!

If you don't have your tickets yet, you won't get to be a VIP(they sold out), but you can still get your general admission tickets here for $35. (IF they happen to have still have tickets at the door, the price jumps to $50, so just buy yours now) Your ticket will get you in the door, a cool sampling cup, and 12 samplings throughout the festival. (You can buy more, something about silly TABC rules.)

See Barry Manilow for Under $10!

Barry Manilow will be here in May and this is your chance to go to a concert even cheaper than a movie! Tickets to see him in Grand Prairie start at $9.99.

Tickets to some of Manilow's other concerts start at $50, so seeing him for as little as $9.99 is a rare treat. This one-night-only performance is Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. at Verizon Theatre.

Click here to book online at Barry Manilow

1. Click "Select Tickets."
2. Select a quantity of tickets and a seating level, then click "Find Tickets."
3. Review order, then click "Next." (At this point, pricing will be listed as $9.23 when booking from a computer, without some of the additional fees added in.)
4. Select a delivery method, then click "Next" to book.

Avenue Q is Coming Back to Theatre Three!

Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! Tell everyone! Avenue Q returns to Theatre Three on March 28. Princeton and the whole gang living on Avenue Q are back and ready to tackle life after college. This hilarious critically acclaimed, award-winning musical is full of grown-up fun with a playful twist. It's a great way to introduce friends to Theatre Three.

A SPECIAL OFFER:

See it again before all of the tickets are gone! If you order tickets online with the discount code AVEQ13, you can get your tickets online for $5 off at www.theatre3dallas.com. The show begins March 28 and this discount is only available for online purchases.