DAD intern Michele Loftus gives you her “Must See, Must Hear, Must Taste” list for this Friday’s Summer Block Party.
Summer already feels like it’s here so you know what that means…it’s time for the Arts District Summer Block Party! Join us this Friday night (June 17th) in the Dallas Arts District from 6pm-midnight. I’m giving you the goods some of the evening’s highlights, including where to eat, what to see, what to do, and some great deals that are not to be missed.
1. Food trucks?
Yes, after a lengthy process, the City Council has approved food trucks in the Arts District for good, and you’ll start seeing them more around the neighborhood soon. Get a taste Friday night as we bring in some new choices and returning flavors for you.
Fresh on the scene:
Nammi- Vietnamese Fusion
Ssaham- Korean BBQ (see video on Kimchee fries, definitely have to try!)
Gandolfo’s- NY Deli
Trailercakes- Cupcakes
Old favs:
City Street Grill- wraps
Yum Yum- burritos, tacos
If you can’t find something you like out of these choices or you’re hungry for more, each of the District’s museums will offer their own refreshments too:
Crow: Chill Bubble Tea from 6pm-8pm (free samples!)
DMA Seventeen Seventeen: Late Night Tapas & half price bottles of wine from 6pm-9:30pm
Nasher Cafe: Picnics and Snack Bites by Wolfgang Puck from 6pm-9:30pm
2. Concert to check out
At 9pm, Dallas-based choral symphonic pop rock outfit The Polyphonic Spree takes the stage at Ross Ave. Plaza–definitely one of the bigger acts to perform outdoors in the Arts District to date. If you’re not a fan, you may at least be familiar with The Spree from a few movies, TV shows, and commercials (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, Scrubs, and a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle campaign just to name a few). They’re a little extravagant (the band features over 20 members), but they put on an enlightening show worth experiencing. Check out the video for one of their more popular songs “Light And Day” to decide for yourself. If this performance draws a crowd like the DMA’s Jazz Under the Stars series (which it surely will), you might want get there early to save your spot.
The DMA has also set up a couple Polyphonic Spree related events, including a screening of the Mike Mills’ film THUMBSUCKER at 7pm for which the band provided the soundtrack.
Spree member Luna Matto will be serenading the District with her sultry solo project at 10pm at Flora St. Plaza. Ft. Worth-based folk rock outfit Calhoun will also play at the Flora St. Plaza prior to Luna Matto at 9:15pm.
Not your scene? Head over the Nasher lawn at 9pm. They’re showing The Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? complete with a performance by the Milo Deering Bluegrass Band.
3. Art work, of course
Naturally, being in the Arts District, you’re going to be surrounded by our fabulous museums and at some point, you’ll probably need to get out of the heat and make you way inside to cool off with some cool art. If you want to be exposed everything, check out the progressive museum tour, starting at the Nasher admissions desk at 8pm. It will take you through the highlights of each of the museum’s collections.
If you’re planning on being out and about in the streets for most of the night, you might be looking for an opportunity to chill out towards the end of the evening. Luckily, we’ve got two intriguing options that will help you make it to midnight and round out a great block party.
-Head over to the Nasher at 11 pm for their Countdown to Midnight in James Turrell’s skyspace Tending Blue (that room at the north end of the sculpture garden with an opening in the ceiling). Sitting in there on a normal day can be pretty calming. Add in subtly changing lights and the night sky and you’re set.
-Also at 11pm is the EnLIGHTenment Tour in the Jade Room at the Crow Collection. Relax in the dark and see the art like never before. In the dark? Yes, the twist on this tour is that it’s presented with flashlights. Wind down your night and learn a thing or two about the collections the Crow’s “After Dark” way.
4. Sweet deals
All night: Get half-price general admission ($5) at the Nasher and DMA by showing your ticket from any ATTPAC performance from this week to the admissions desk.
7-8pm: Tweet into the night with the Nasher, DMA and Crow Collection to win memberships to the museums through their Museum Art Challenge on Twitter. Here’s the deets:
How well do you know the three art museums? One tweet every thirty minutes (three tweets total) with the hashtag #ArtHunt will provide a clue to where to find a work of art. Grab a token at each work; be the first to find all three works of art and you could win a membership to all three Museums.
Admission to both the Nasher and the DMA is required; Joint tickets are $16 or less.
7:00 p.m. @DallasMuseumArt
7:30 p.m. @NasherSculpture
8:00 p.m. @Crow_Collection
Hashtag #ArtHunt
10:30pm: Complimentary beer sipping at the Crow for After Dark Karaoke with DJ Mark Ridlen (gotta be 21).
So these are just a few things to look forward to at our Summer Block Party. Get all the details on our website and find a full schedule here. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter all night to stay updated on what’s going on around here. And be sure to throw in the hash tag #SummerArt!
