Weekend Plans: April 22-24

Weekends are made to play! Here are a few of my favorite fun things happening in the metroplex. Click on the yellow text for direct links to each event. 

FREE

Cinderella and the Glass Flipper 

April 22, 5:00

Visit the Fort Worth Community Arts Center for a fun twist on the classic Cinderella fairy tale. Please note that only the 5:00 Friday show is free and is first come, first served so get there early. 

Fam Fest

April 23rd

Music, art and great food (for purchase) make this family friendly event a sure winner! Bonus: be sure to check out the 100/100 Art Show which features 100 pieces for $100 each.

North Dallas Artist Studio Tour

April 23rd and 24th at 10:00 AM

Ever wanted to peak inside an artist studio and learn about their process? This event is for you!

Dallas Earth Day Festival 

April 22-24

This incredible festival brings together environmental organizations, businesses, scholars, speakers, interactive programming, live music, outdoor experiences and family events to celebrate living green. Wanna take it to the next level? Ride the TRE/DART to Fair Park and save the commuter cars for Monday. 

BUDGET FRIENDLY 

Wayne Toups at Billy Bob's 

April 22nd, 6:00 

$14-22 

If you like cajun music (or in my husband's case married a cajun) the name Wayne Toups should ring a bell. Toups is incredible live and puts on a fun show at Billy Bobs! You just might see me there jitterbugging. 

FW Youth Orchestra Concert

April 22, 7:00 

Donations Suggested

The FW Youth Orchestra is incredible on their own, but this show is a rare opportunity to also hear two winners of the Hong Kong International Music Festival. All proceeds benefit the next FWYO International Tour. 

BLOW-OUT WORTHY

TITAS presents Kidd Pivot

April 21st and 22nd at 8:00

$22-75

TITAS is knows for it's presentation of innovative, high-quality dance and I'm betting that Kidd Pivot fits that bill. This show is a hybrid of theater and dance, fusing classical elements with structured improvisation. Check out a sample video on the event site. 

Chris Botti with Dallas Symphony Orchestra

April 22-24

Variety of Prices

Jazz and symphony lovers alike are sure to appreciate Botti's Grammy winning musical stylings.

Have a fun weekend ya'll!
-DBC

#MondayMotivation: Being an inspiration.

A dad named Philippe started classes called the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory 101. 

Classes are held all over the country and give dad's the opportunity to learn how to do their daughter's hair, bond with them and build a community with other dads. 

Their Facebook Page has 18,000+ likes and almost as many darling pictures of dads engaging with their daughters in a meaningful way. 

When asked why he started the classes he says he saw a need and wanted to make an impact. That's all it takes to change lives folks. 

This guy totally wins in my book.

-DBC

Fresh Art Friday: Dori's Main Street Highlights

Y'all! Main Street is SO good this year. With more than 200 really amazing artists showing there is plenty of great work to see, but a few artists are clear standouts for me. Check them out below: 

Steve Noggle

Booth 422

Steve works with the natural wood grain shaping each piece into a sumptuous sculptural piece. I literally want to pick up and feel each and every one of them.

Cali Hobgood

Booth 425

***Sigh*** I could just stare at Cali's work all day. Her award-winning photographs are sublimely simple and printed in stunning color. Crossing my fingers that I can own one of her pieces one day. 

Luke Proctor

Booth 706

Luke uses traditional forging methods to create incredible contemporary furniture pieces. These stunners are clean, sturdy and sure to be that statement piece you were looking for. 

Jennifer Ivory

Booth 420

Every time I see Jennifer's booth I stopped in my tracks. These incredible pieces are not actual bugs but you would NEVER know it. Jennifer's creations are so bright, colorful and fun they are sure to make you smile. And can you get over that talent?!

Fritz Olsen 

Booth 552

Fritz' sculpture pieces somehow manage to be both striking and warm at the same time. He works mostly in stone and his mastery of the craft is evident by the fluid lines of his pieces. 

Michael Kuseske

Booth 729

Michael's large scale paintings are absolutely lovely. He photographs each flower in full sunlight and then paints them in an almost photo-realistic manner.  They are definitely a statement piece that would be wonderful in a dining or living space. 

Hilary Hachey

Booth 525

One of my favorite Main Street categories is always jewelry. Hilary's work drew me in because of it's clean lines and imaginative shapes. If you're looking for a well-made, unique piece look no further. 

Rey D'Alfonso

Booth 720

Rey's work is so vibrant and engaging that it's shocking to learn that his pieces reference the 19th century Cuban poet Jose Marti, whose forced exile continues to give a voice to immigrants around the world. If you're looking for a piece that is gorgeous and also has a compelling 'story' be sure to stop by Rey's booth to learn more. 

Main Street Arts Festival run's through Sunday, April 17th and is definitely worth the trip! 

Happy Main Street-ing!

-DBC

Weekend Plans: April 15-17

This weekend there is really only 1 event you need to be at in the Metroplex: 

Main Street Arts Festival

Why am I so confident that you'll have a great time? Let me tell you my top 10 reasons: 

1. It's free (well, not the funnel cakes but all other entertainment). 

2. View and purchase world class art from over 200 artists. 

3. All B-Cycle stations are 50% off with coupon code 76102 and you can park your bike with the free Bike Valet at the festival. 

4. Funnel Cake. 

5. Free water stations to fill your reusable bottle sponsored by TRWD. 

6. Free, live music on 4 different stages and throughout the street. 

7. The Times Ten Cellar's Wine Experience Tent. 

8. Kids activities abound at the Main Street Creates!

9. Support school aged artists at the Young People's Art Fair.

10. Get out and enjoy your community. 

Check back on Friday to see some of my favorite art at the Festival. 

#MondayMotivation: Online social media classes

Let's face it, EVERYTHING revolves around marketing. 

You wanna run a successful business? Marketing. 

Need to boost turnout for your next charity gala? Marketing. 

Want to make the high school mean girls super jealous just in time for your 10 year class reunion? Marketing. 

Lucky for you there are a slew of free or reasonably priced online marketing classes. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

The Nectar Collectives Social Media Superhero Class

$37 

Learn how to hustle effectively with this 1 hour class + access to a recorded Q&A, online workbook and presentation slides. 

Constant Contacts Social Media 101 

Free!

Quickstart guide to 9 different social media platforms including Instagram and Snapchat. 

Prefer to listen to your tips?

Social Media Marketing Happy Hour helps entrepreneurs in 15 minute podcasts. 

Get out there and do something special today!

-DBC

Weekend Plans: April 8-10th

Lots of fun happening around the metroplex this weekend! Here are a few of my suggestions: 

All Weekend

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 

April 8-10, various times

Tickets start at $35

Join the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for a fun show featuring the music of Bugs Bunny and friends. 

Black Dallas Dance Theatre's Spring Fiesta 

4/8 at 7:30, 4/9 at 7:00

Tickets $27

DCDT II team of dancers will perform three world premiers of contemporary dance.  

Friday

Friday on the Green

4/8, 6-10 PM 

Free!

Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy local bands Reagan James, the Hendersons and Cut Throat Finches for the Southside's family friendly signature event series. Food and drink vendors are on site. 

Arts and Letters Live: Padma Lakshmi

4/8 at 7:30

Tickets $15-165

Join celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi for an evening of stories about how we eat, love, comfort and forge a sense of home. 

Saturday 

Live! In the Park Health and Wellness Fair 

4/9 at 1:00 PM, Klyde Warren Park

Free!

Join the United Way of Metro Dallas for an afternoon of fun, health activities and music in the park. Learn how to stay fit as a family, enjoy face paintings, crafts, music and fitness activities. 

Park Cities Historic Home Tour 

4/9 at 10:00 AM

Tickets $20 

Visit 4 of Dallas' most architecturally and historically significant Park Cities homes. Proceeds benefit the Highland Park High School scholarship fund for students studying history or preservation. 

Skip Spring Stroll 

April 9, 9-11 AM

$10-15

Support the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History with their one mile fun run/walk. Science and history themed activity stations, face painting, raffle and light refreshments. Entry includes a t-shirt. 

Have fun out there!

-DBC 

#MondayMotivation: Exceptional Women Roll Models

For this week's #MondayMotivation I'd like to introduce you to to 5 exceptional female roll models: 

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan 

Dr. Sullivan is the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As a former astronaut Dr. Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space!

Michelle Howard

Admiral Howard is the first woman to be promoted to admiral in the Navy and the highest ranking African American woman in the military. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Justice Ginsburg is the second woman to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court and a champion for the fair treatment of women. She's also an incredible example of civility.

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland has been making waves long before she became the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal ballerina with American Ballet Theatre. She has been an advocate for classical ballet, an ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club and has inspired countless youth of color to chase their dreams. 

Emma Watson 

Emma Watson is perhaps best known for her work in films, but she's been killing it lately as the UN Women Ambassador for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.  She even started a virtual feminist book club called Our Shared Shelf that 'meets' monthly. 

Now go out there and do something amazing!

-DBC 

Fresh Art Friday: Nathaniel Mary Quinn

Nathaniel Mary Quinn is an American artist working in large-scale, mixed-media drawing and paintings that often reference fragmented figures. 

Of his work, Mary Quinn says "I hope to convey a sense of how our experiences, both good and bad, operate to construct our identities I also want to portray a mutual relationship between the acceptable and the unacceptable, the grotesque and what is aesthetically pleasing."   

                        Peanut Head, 2015

 Junebug, 2015 

 Erica with the Pearl Earring, 2015

                    First and Fifteenth, 2016 

In addition to being an amazing artist, Mary Quinn is an all around inspirational human.
Nathaniel Mary Quinn is represented by M+B Art. 

Fresh Art Friday posts are intended for the sole purpose of promoting excellence in the arts community and inspiring readers to find a love of art. Almond Milk & Honey is honored to share interesting, innovative and high quality art with readers. The author in no way intends to deprive the originating artist of his or her copyright status and readers are encouraged to respect the copyright status of all works posted.