If you're feeling like enjoying the great outdoors this balmy evening, get thee to the Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff, where its popular poolside movie night kicks off at 7:30 p.m. The movie's free, just bring along your blankie (no lawn chairs or coolers allowed!) as the film cranks up at sunset. Valet is free, and cocktails and food will be available for purchase.
In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, tonight's flick is the Jack Black laffer Nacho Libre. Ole!
This week's question: Gordon, what's your cure for the rainy-day blues?
My cure for the rainy-day blues is the same for my sunny-day blues. I guess I just like beer.
Also, after I get a few in me, I like to call family members and say things like, "I know we've had our differences, but can I borrow $4300? These guys I owe, they don't mess around. Plus, I kinda told them where you live. Anyway, what's up?"
Rain is a great way to water your lawn, but a horrible way to wash your ancient document collection. Found that out the hard way.
When I was little, my dad told me that rain was God crying and thunder was God getting mad. Isn't that silly? Like God could ever get mad! Then my dad made up this ridiculous story about God getting so mad one time that he cried real hard to flood the world in order to kill everyone except some guy named Noah that he wanted to put in the Bible. It was the craziest story. There was even a zoo boat and an inbreeding element to the story which I can't remember right now.
Anyways, I guess I'm not making much sense. I'm still drinking beer, 'cause it's raining somewhere.
Our columnist Jenny Block saw opening night of Rent at Fair Park Music Hall last night. Here's her report:
I've seen it a number of times before, but it never seems to get old. Rent had the crowd rapt from scene one. It's a really cool tour to catch, because two of the original cast members, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (as Roger and Mark), are in the show. It's amazing to me how fresh and real their performances still are after having done the show what must be a zillion times by now.
The acoustics at the Music Hall generally leave me feeling grumpy. But this time around, it didn't seem to matter a bit. The music sounded really good, and I caught nearly every word the cast sang. (OK, I do know a few of the songs by heart. But still.) The singing (not to mention the music and dancing) just blew me away. There was some serious lung power on that stage. The stand-outs of the evening for me were Nicolette Hart as Maureen and Justin Johnston as Angel. Wow.
If you don't know the story, it's a "modern" take on La Boheme, about a group of young artists living (and dying) in NYC in an abandoned building. At the crux of the story is the AIDS crisis, which makes it interesting to see the show 13 years after it opened. The story of love and life and art somehow seems to evade the issue of time altogether. Definitely worth the trip. It continues through Sunday. Ticket info is here.
I hate when somebody comes by with their new CD, they are smart, funny and enjoyable to talk to, and then I pop in the CD later and don't like the music. That's happened a few times before, and it's broken my heart a little every time. I'm happy to say that it didn't happen with Iris Leu, a local piano teacher by day and pop singer by night.
She stopped by the office a few weeks ago to give me a copy of her new CD Hushaboo, which came out in February. Great girl, super friendly, and as it turns out, one hell of an artist. Having come to enjoy the songs of Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan and Tori Amos back in college, I immediately took to Leu's lush piano playing and warm singing voice.
I apparently wasn't the only one who'd liked her on first listen -- she was nominated by other panelists for the Next Big Thing category in our Quick's Big Thing awards (VOTE HERE).
I sent Iris a few questions by e-mail last night. After the jump, you'll find her answers.
The Pulitzer-winning musical Rent, about starving artistes trying to make their way in New York City, welcomes back Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, who originated the roles of roomies Mark and Roger, so this should be a hotter ticket than usual. Don't wait 525,600 minutes to get one. 8 p.m. Fair Park Music Hall, 909 1st Ave. $20-$80. 214-373-8000 or ticketmaster.com.
Catch the family-friendly musical adaptation of Sarah, Plain and Tall, the classic, Newbery Award-winning novel by Patricia MacLachlan. It's about a woman who answers a man's ad looking for someone to be his wife and help raise his children. 7:30 p.m. Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. $23-$46. 214-522-8499 or dallastheatercenter.org.
Los Angeles DJ Andy Caldwell, Johnny 5 and Willie Trimmer spin house, trance and mash-ups at I Heart Wednesday at Plush. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. $10. 214-606-1203. plushdallas.com.
DJ Francisco spins electro-house and dance at Hotel Capri. $3 shot specials and $4 wells. 6 p.m. 2020 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-9944. thehotelcapri.com.
DJ Aiden spins dance and hip-hop at Wild Wednesday at M Street Bar. $3 kamikazes and Washington apples. 6 p.m. 3520 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-5500. mstreetbar.com.
Girls Night Out at the Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan. Random Axis performs dance tunes. 8 p.m. 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. Free cover for ladies all night, $8 for guys. 817-778-2800. glasscactusnightclub.com.
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