Somehow it’s September already. I’m a big podcast listener. Last week on one of Gretchin Rubin’s Happier episodes, she suggested that we should treat Back to School / Labor Day as a second New Year. A great chance for a fresh start, a time to set new goals, or hey even revisit your New Year’s resolutions. What do you think?
First things first, we have some Genpink team updates. In case you aren’t aware we have several regular contributors on the Genpink team. In the last month, two of them moved away from Dallas area. Nelli , who works in PR by day, and has managed both Genpink + Dallas Food Nerd for YEARS took a new job and moved to Pittsburgh. And Natalie, our team admin moved to Houston. So, what does that mean for you dear readers? We are pretty seriously considering adding event updates for both, and maybe more, metros! Do you know any bloggers/friends we should connect within either area?
For this month we are sticking with DFW. So let’s get to it!
Happening in DFW in September:
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Trashy Fashion Show Saturday, September 7
$1,000 Prize for Winning Fashion Creation
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie’s popular “Ripley’s Trashy Fashion Show” returns this Saturday, September 7 to showcase the best and brightest designers who will take trash and turn it into fashion.
Budding designers in the Dallas – Ft. Worth area will parade down the catwalk displaying their talent by transforming everyday items into wearable art. Previous contestants have used newspaper, shower curtains, coffee filters, and even paintbrushes to create their original, wearable garment. All winners will become a “Ripley’s Feature,” and appear on Ripley’s social media and popular blog. The event is free and open to the public.
Autumn at the Arboretum Fall Festival Highlights “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” Theme Festival
runs from September 21 to October 31
For the 14th year, Autumn at the Arboretum, presented by Rogers-O’Brien, highlights the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village featuring pumpkin houses and creative displays utilizing more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash. The festival opens on September 21 and runs through October 31. With the theme, “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the Dallas Arboretum’s favorite fall festival features a ‘Great Pumpkin’ covered in marigolds; topiary characters such as Linus, Sally and Franklin looking through the pumpkin patch; Snoopy and Woodstock topiaries are atop his dog house; Lucy gives garden advice at her advice booth; and Schroeder stands near his giant topiary piano. Guests can snap selfies with Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie behind the iconic brick wall, get lost with Pig Pen in the hay bale maze, and see the Peanuts Gang at their gourd decorated schoolhouse for their autumn carnival. Named one of “The Best Pumpkin Festivals to Visit This Fall,” by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, the festival features breathtaking colors of fall including 150,000 autumn flowers accented by pumpkins, gourds and squash.
Daily Activities
Mommy & Me Mondays
Tiny Tots Tuesdays
Wine Down Wednesday
Tricks & Treats Thursdays
“The Great Pumpkin” Fridays
Live Music & Performances Every Weekend
Enjoy live music at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn every Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.
Free with paid garden admission
*time change for live music indicated below
September 21-Mix Tape Band
September 22-Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra & The Lake Highlands Wildcat Wranglers (performance in Entry Plaza)
September 28*-Party Machine, an Emerald City Band & Brookhaven Vivace Madrigals (performance at Entry Plaza) Noon
September 29-Swinganova Big Band
National Comic Book Day
September 25
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, Entry Plaza
Celebrate National Comic Book Day with Peanuts comic strip coloring pages, a caricature artist doing complimentary sketches (10 a.m.-noon), and a Peanuts costume contest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (for children 12 years old and under). Please refer to the costume guidelines for the garden on the website. The winner receives four tickets to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.
Dallas Film Announces First 15 Films for First-Ever North Texas Film Festival
Dallas Film today announced the first 15 films for the first-ever North Texas Film Festival (NTXFF) powered by Capital One. The full lineup will consist of more than 20 curated films for categories pertaining to sports, family, date night, horror, Best of DIFF 2019 (popular films from the 2019 Dallas International Film Festival), veteran films, early access sneak peeks, shorts, and Oscar-contending films. In addition, two of the shorts are Texas and world premieres. This will be the first festival to represent North Texas, and it will be held September 26 – 29, 2019, at Cinemark West Plano and XD (3800 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093). Reserved seating for each screening will be available to the public through Atom Tickets starting August 26. A festival lounge will be located within the theater with special perks for festivalgoers to indulge in.
The Peter Max Retrospective 1960-2019: Celebrating Sports, Music and All Things Dallas
A Retrospective collection, with a significant nod to the City of Dallas: sports, music, the arts and the legacy of the Pop Art genre from the studio of artist legend, Peter Max, will be on exhibition and available for acquisition in a limited engagement presentation by Road Show Company, the industry leader in traveling Fine Art presentation at the International Design Center -150 Turtle Creek Blvd. #1048. The exhibition opens with an evening preview event on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 6-8 pm, and the Exhibition extends through Sunday, October 6, 2019 with three limited engagement, not-to-be-missed event receptions for the public: Saturday October 5 from 1 to 3 pm and 6 to 8 pm and Sunday, October 6 from 1 to 3 pm. All artworks are on exhibition and available for acquisition. All events are complimentary and open to the public however RSVP’s are required: 866-900-6699 or dallas@roadshowcompany.com. Visit www.roadshowcompany.com for more info.
Happening in DFW in October & November:
HISTORY ® is teaming up with Mischief Management for the wildly popular ALIENCON, October 4-6 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
This is the first time AlienCon will be in Dallas after nearly & sold out cons in Santa Clara, Pasadena, Baltimore & Los Angeles! Longtime fans of HISTORY ®’s Ancient Aliens (now in their 14th season), as well as curious newcomers, sci-fi buffs, truth-seekers and pop culture enthusiasts can come down to AlienCon to meet/get autographs & photographs with some of their favorite sci-fi celebrities, authors, scientists, filmmakers, engineers, archaeologists and other experts. In addition, the Ancient Aliens folks, including Lead Contributor Giorgio A. Tsoukalos & other contributors such as Nick Pope, Travis Taylor, Jason Martell & David Childress will be on-hand to discuss the sometimes controversial theory that extraterrestrials have visited Earth for millions of years.
There will also be several Ancient Aliens events, more than 150 interactive panel discussions, cool artifacts/merchandise and interesting exhibits. There is also a Saturday night costume contest! Past celebrity attendees include William Shatner, David Duchovny, Mary McDonnell, Sean Astin, Jenna Coleman, Michael Dorn, Mitch Pileggi, and Bill Mumy.
Tickets are on sale now. It’s definitely out-of-this-world & educational fun for all ages.
Dallas Summer Musicals: CATS WILL PLAY DALLAS’ MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK FROM NOVEMBER 5 TO NOVEMBER 17
One of the biggest hits in theatrical history, CATS will come to Dallas November 5-17, 2019 presented by Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) and Broadway Across America (BAA), as part of a multi-season North American tour. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 23, 2019.
Single tickets for CATS start at $25 (pricing subject to change) and are available at DallasSummerMusicals.org or by phone at 800-982-2787. They can also be purchased in person at the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling (214) 426-4768 or emailing Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the record-breaking musical spectacular has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America! Featuring new sound design, direction, and choreography for a new generation — experience CATS for the first time as it begins a new life, or let it thrill you all over again!