Out & About

July 2015

JULY 1

Sing-along

Musician and author Jim Gill performs his silly and lively songs, including “The Sneezing Song,” starting at 10:30 a.m. Bookmarks at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central, 214.671.1381, free.

JULY 8

Experiment with color

The Dallas Museum of Art brings the works by Japanese artists Kazuo Shiraga and Sadamasa Motonaga to the library as a study of color. Afterward, children will experiment with their own artwork. Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal, 214.670.7128, dallaslibrary.org, free

July 4

Fourth of July Parade

The Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association and the Kramer Elementary PTA host their annual Fourth of July parade, filling the streets with patriotic fire trucks, convertibles, bicycles, strollers and costumed pets. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and proceeds down Midbury between St. Michaels and St. Jude. A carnival follows, including balloon animals, ice pops and giveaways for pets and children.

Kramer Elementary School, 7121 Midbury, hillcrestforest.org, free

JULY 8

Dinosaurs and fossils

The Perot Museum comes to the library to ask kids to play paleontologist in a guided investigation of bones and fossils, for kids in grades 3-8. Park Forest Library, 3421 Forest, 214.670.6333, dallaslibrary.org, free

JULY 10-11

Midnight madness

Pee-Wee Herman finds out, harshly, there’s no basement at the Alamo. Director Tim Burton’s 1985 classic “PeeWee’s Big Adventure” starts at 12:05 a.m. Inwood Theatre, 5458 W. Lovers, 214.352.5085, landmarktheatres.com, $8-$11

JULY 11, 18 AND 25

Farmers market

The Saint Michael’s Farmers Market, from 8 a.m.-noon, features products from farmers and growers who practice natural, sustainable and organic farming. 8011 Douglas, saintmichaelsmarket.com, free

JULY 17

Jimmy LaFave

The Texan singer-songwriter, who grew up in the Dallas area and has lived in Austin for 20 years, performs at 8 p.m. Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, 9555 N. Central, 214.363.0044, unclecalvins.org, $8-$16

JULY 18

Moon day

The Frontiers of Flight Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas offer this day of learning about modern space travel, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Attendees can speak live to a crew currently on the International Space Station as well as space tourist Anousheh Ansari. The event also offers 22 classes and lectures, as well as a rocket-building workshop and art projects.

The Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon, 214.350.3600, flightmuseum.com, $7-$10

July 20-26

Parade of Playhouses

Dallas CASA celebrates its 20thannual Parade of Playhouses. The event at NorthPark features a magnificent display of custom-built children’s playhouses, which are entered in a raffle. Raffle tickets cost $5-$20.

NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central, 214.363.7441, dallascasa.org, free

·

Bar Louie

8166 Park Lane

469.248.1760 barlouieamerica.com

AMBIANCE: CASUAL

PRICE RANGE: $6-$18 FOR FOOD

HOURS:

11 A.M.- 2 A.M. MON.-SUN.

DID YOU KNOW?

BAR LOUIE WAS FOUNDED IN CHICAGO

25 YEARS AGO AND NOW HAS MORE THAN 90 LOCATIONS, 10 OF THEM IN TEXAS

Ifyou are looking for a place where everyone knows your name, head to Bar Louie.

“It’s a great place to meet up with old friends and make new friends,” kitchen manager Jessica Carolyn says of the Shops at Park Lane hangout. “We are kind of like the new ‘Cheers.’ ”

The restaurant opened in December of last year and serves traditional bar food. You will find familiar items like chicken wings and nachos on the menu, but Bar Louie also has options for more adventurous palettes. Panko sesame fish skewers, crispy calamari, and blackened chicken covered in the restaurant’s special “voodoo” sauce all make the cut.

Carolyn says that from time to time Bar Louie tests out new dishes to see how they go over. Right now, the kitchen is experimenting with pig and pepper sliders. Customers are encouraged to offer feedback so she can pass it along to company headquarters in Addison.

Bar Louie also hopes to establish itself as a neighborhood happy hour destination. Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. draft beer is $3.25, wine is $4.25, and signature martinis are $5.25. This is a great time to try out a flatbread because they are all half price. With a large indoor bar and sizable terrace patio, you’ll be sure to find a seat. The restaurant has a lot going on, including a Blues & Brews event every Thursday night, but its motto is as simple as its casual vibe — “Eat. Drink. Be happy.”

—Elizabeth Barbee