out&about IN

07.16.10-08.07.10

Festival Of Independent Theaters

$12-$69 In what has become the longest-running theatrical event in North Texas, the Festival of Independent Theaters is back for its 12th year, featuring productions from eight different companies. From the whimsical recount of “Alice in Wonderland” to the musical styles of cabaret performer Denise Lee, there’s something for everyone. Plus, the monthlong festival highlights four world premieres and five regional debuts. The lineup includes: “Alice in Wonderland” by White Rock Pollution; “Bible Women” by Echo Theatre; “Feeding the Moonfish” by WingSpan Theatre Company; “Georgie Gets a Facelift” by Churchmouse Productions; “The Muse” by The Drama Club; “Once More, With Feeling” by Second Thought Theatre; “Purgatory, a Bedroom Farce” by The McClarey Players; and “The Turquoise Pontiac” by One Thirty Production. Shows are under an hour and run Thursdays through Saturdays at the Bath House Cultural Center, 512 E. Lawther. Two-week passes are $49, four-week passes are $69, and individual tickets for Friday and Saturday evenings are $16. Otherwise, each showing is $12. For showtimes and other details, visit dallasculture.org.

—EMILY TOMAN

THROUGH 07.18 DREAMGIRLS

$20-$75 Next up for Dallas Summer Musicals comes the famous rags-to-riches story of a few Chicago girls trying to make it as soul singers. The show ran on Broadway during the 1980s and features the same Academy Awardwinning music. There are evening and matinee performances at the Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 First Ave. For tickets and showtimes, visit dallassummermusicals.org.

07.01, 07.08, 07.15, 07.22 & 07.25

COOL THURSDAYS $8-$16 This month’s lineup for the Dallas Arboretum’s Cool Thursdays Concert Series begins with disco band Le Freak. Then comes Key West The Band, Professor D, 4 Way Street and Fast Lane. The shows start at 7:30 each night. 8525 Garland, 214.515.6518, dallasarboretum.org.

07.02 OPEN MIC

READING FREE Join poets and listeners as they gather for an open mic night at 7 p.m. at Half Price Books, 5803 E. Northwest Highway. Look for the event on the first Friday of each month.

07.03 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

FREE The Little Forest Hills Neighborhood Association will have its annual Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m., featuring drum corps bands, dancing, fire engines and a visit from Uncle Sam. The parade begins at the corner of Diceman and Old Gate and ends at Casa Linda Park with watermelon, drinks and prizes. For details, call Sylvia Williams at 214.232.4046 or email her at sylw3@swbell.net.

07.14 SUMMER READING PROGRAM

FREE Kids can find out all about the art and history of flamenco music while learning some easy dance steps. Daniel de Cordoba will demonstrate during a presentation at 10:30 a.m. at the Lakewood Library, 6121 Worth, 214.670.1376.

07.18 TOO HOT TO HANDLE 5K &15K

$35-$50 If you can brave the 100-plus degree heat to participant in this run, you’ll receive a free T-shirt and other goodies. Plus, the registration fee supports the Protective Animal League. Both the 5k and 15k begin at 7:30 a.m. at White Rock Lake’s Norbuck Park near Buckner and Mockingbird. To register, visit runontexas.com.

07.30 THE KILLDARES $12-$20 The local Celtic rock band will perform at 8 p.m. at Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville, for the group’s live DVD shoot. Lead singer Tim Smith is a Lakewood resident. Buy tickets at granadatheater.com.

07.31

FASCINATING WORLD OF BUTTERFLIES

$25-$30

Dale Clark, founder of the Dallas County Lepidopterist Society, will lead a class on butterflies 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. He’ll take participants on a field trip to a butterfly farm south of Dallas. For details, call 214.428.7476 or visit texasdiscoverygardens.org.

Caf Kiddos

IF YOU ’ RE LOO KING FO R S OMETHING BESIDES A G RILLED CHEESE S ANDWICH and French fries to satisfy your child’s appetite, Café Lago has lots of options. Its most popular: the noodles. They come with homemade marinara sauce and a choice of grilled chicken or salmon. “That’s when you can tell the kids are really developing a palate,” owner Gabriela Kovacic says. The menu also includes Kiddie Kold Kuts, a simple and easy choice for toddlers. It has turkey, ham, cheddar, pickles and tomato slices served finger-food style. There’s also a dog menu and dog-friendly patio, so the kids don’t have to leave their furry companions at home. Also, when you order from the kids’ menu, you’re helping feed a hungry child.

Fifteen percent of proceeds benefit the North Texas Food Bank’s Food 4 Kids program, which provides a backpack full of food for children while they’re not in school.

At

—EMILY TOMAN

CAFÉ LAGO

GARLAND & BUCKNER

214.320.0726

CAFÉ-LAGO.COM

Pictured: chicken pasta

Three more kid-friendly spots

For

214.327.9983

2 PINKBERRY

GREENVILLE & SOUTHWESTERN

PINKBERRY.COM

3 QUESA-D-YA’S

If you’re tired of ordering in pizza for a quick family dinner, try quesadillas instead. You can get them any way you want, and you can order online.

GREENVILLE & GOODWIN

214.823.3927

QUESADYAS.COM

FOOD