Free Stuff To Do in Dallas

Here's a smattering of free stuff to do in Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding area for Oct 16-22:

Thu, Oct 16

• 7 p.m., local poets show their stuff at “An Evening of Spoken Word” at the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 South Fitzhugh). This is a monthly event. Poets who wish to participate should contact Michael Guinn at (817) 412-3964.
• 8 p.m.-10 p.m., enjoy the view from the twenty-second floor of One Arts Plaza (1722 Routh Street) in downtown Dallas, along with a free glass of wine at their Thursday Night Lights.
• 9 p.m., dance your frustrations away at “Let Go! A Diasporic Dance Experience” at the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 South Fitzhugh). From Caribbean Salsa to American Swing Out to African HiLife, the music will reflect the multiplicity of styles that make up the music of the African Diaspora.

Fri, Oct 17

• 6 p.m., 7 p.m., & 8 p.m., kids can throw on their Halloween costume or favorite dress-up outfit and participate in a fashion show at Club Libby Lu at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.
• midnight, join North Texas jazz musicians for Jammin' At The Center at the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 South Fitzhugh).

Sat, Oct 18

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m., gather yer pirate mateys and head for The Colony for Pirate Days at Stewart Creek Park (3700 Sparks Road). Dress up like a pirate (or not) and enjoy live music all day, a kids' pirate pageant, a sword-fighting comedy troupe, and many more piratical activities.
• 1 p.m.-3 p.m., participate in the Dallas Opera's subscription drive at Bachendorf's in the Plaza at Preston Center in conjunction with a live a broadcast by WRR 101.1 FM. It's free, whether or not you subscribe. Special guests will be present and there will be goody giveaways.
• 1 p.m., watch the film “All on a Mardi Gras Day” at the South Dallas Cultural Center (3400 South Fitzhugh). Artist Chuck Siler will provide commentary in a post-screening discussion.
• 2 p.m.-10 p.m., the Main Street Live Festival continues at Pegasus Plaza (1500 Main Street at the corner of Akard Street in downtown Dallas) with Phil Pritchett (2 p.m.), The Drams (3:20 p.m.), Record Hop (4:40 p.m.), Vallejo (6 p.m.), The Riverboat Gamblers (7:30 p.m.), and Reverend Horton Heat (9:15 p.m.). Admission is free before 5 p.m. After 5 p.m., tickets cost $7.50.
• 2 p.m., watch “El Topo” (with English subtitles) at the Latino Cultural Center (2600 Live Oak) in Dallas. “El Topo” is a film about a gunfighter and his son. It is NR and parental discretion is advised.
• 2 p.m., take the kids to NorthPark Center for some not-so-scary Halloween stories, told by Dorayne Breedlove.

Sun, Oct 19

• 10 a.m.-6 p.m., gather yer pirate mateys and head for The Colony for Pirate Days at Stewart Creek Park (3700 Sparks Road). Dress up like a pirate (or not) and enjoy live music all day, a salty dog contest, a sword-fighting comedy troupe, and many more piratical activities.
• noon, the Dallas Cowboys play the St. Louis Rams on the big screens at the Granada Theater (3524 Greenville Avenue) in Dallas. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Arrive twenty minutes before kickoff and the first beer is free. Parking is free on Sundays.

Mon, Oct 20

• 1 p.m.-2 p.m., join Suzanne Calvin as she introduces and discusses the chosen book for the opera “The Italian Girl in Algiers”: Seafaring Women: Adventures of Pirate Queens, Female Stowaways, and Sailors’ Wives by David Cordingly. The discussion will be held at the Barnes & Noble at Prestonwood Center (5301 Beltline Road) in Dallas.
• 7:30 p.m., watch Elvis in “Harum Scarum” at the Inwood Theatre (5458 West Lovers Lane at Inwood) in Dallas. The viewing is sponsored by the Dallas Opera.

Tue, Oct 21

• 7 p.m., listen to Michael Auping, curator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, talk about pairing art with space at the museum. Free tickets can be picked up at the front desk starting at 5 p.m. Snacks and drinks are available from Cafe Modern before the talk, but those are not free.
• 7 p.m., Kim St. Andre discusses what it's like to be a psychic medium at the J. Erik Jonsson branch of the Dallas Public Library (1515 Young Street in downtown Dallas, across from City Hall).
• 7 p.m., Jack Bishop (The Cook's Country Cookbook from Cook's Illustrated) will be at the Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Park (7700 West Northwest Highway) in Dallas.
• 7:30 p.m., watch the live play "Going to See the Elephant" at the Bath House Cultural Center (521 E. Lawther Drive) in Dallas.

Wed, Oct 22

• 10:30 a.m., preschoolers will enjoy magic and songs by Patchy the Funny Fall Scarecrow at NorthPark Center.
• 8 p.m.-10 p.m., listen to St. Paul's Jazz Band at One Arts Plaza (1722 Routh Street) in downtown Dallas.