Mochitsuki
Mochi — a sweet rice cake with a consistency similar to marshmallows or gummies — is the culinary star of this 20th annual traditional New Year’s party by the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth. Celebrate the Year of the Rat with mochitsuki, where participants use mallets to pound rice into cake form, plus kakizome (calligraphy), ikebana (flower arranging) and dressing up in kimonos. There will also be games for children and performances by drum, singing and dance groups.
Jan. 12 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Fujitsu Network Communications, 2801 Telecom Parkway, Richardson. $10, $3 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and younger. jasdfw.org.
Lunar New Year Festival
FREE Count down to the Year of the Rat Southeast Asian style at a Lunar New Year celebration that spans three weekends. During the first two weekends, there will be nonstop entertainment including dragon and lion dances, performances by cultural groups, K-pop, games and fun activities for kids. Visitors can browse the flower market, shop with artisans and vendors and sample Asian street food and tasty festival treats. On the final weekend, a firecracker show with lion dancing begins at noon on both days.
Jan. 10-12, 17-19, 25-26, on Fridays from 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 11 p.m. at Asia Times Square, 2625 W. Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie. Free admission. facebook.com (search “Asia Times Square”).
International Gem and Jewelry Show
If your eyes glitter at the sight of rubies, sapphires and diamonds, you’ll take a shine to this three-day, direct-to- consumer shopping experience. Billed as the “largest exhibition of gems, minerals and jewelry in the world,” the convention produces shows in more than 35 U.S. cities each year. Shop for gemstones, pearls, engagement rings and watches in a “competitive atmosphere [that] drives prices to rock bottom,” organizers say. Those interested in creating their own designs can try a hands-on beading workshop and purchase accessories and professional cleaning kits.
Jan. 10 from noon to 6 p.m., Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fair Park’s Food and Fiber Pavilion, 3809 Grand Ave., Dallas. $6 online or $8 cash only at the door, free admission for military members with ID, free for pre-registered teachers and wholesalers. For ages 10 and up. www.intergem.com.
Las Colinas Bridal Show
If you rang in the new year with an engagement ring — December is the most popular time to propose, says lifestyle magazine Harper’s Bazaar — the excitement has just begun. Meet representatives from more than 100 wedding and honeymoon businesses including cake designers, florists, DJs, dressmakers and other purveyors.
Jan. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving. $10, $5 for children 3-14, free for ages 2 and younger. bridalshowsinc.com.
Hamiltunes
Passionate Hamilton fans scrambled to score seats when the Broadway sensation finally toured through Dallas last year. While seeing professional actors belt it out onstage was a thrill for thousands, some would like to step into the spotlight themselves, and this singalong allows dreamers to “shoot their shot” by performing the entire three-hour show in character. Those who purchase a $10 ticket can choose which songs they’d like to sing (the sign-up list will be sent out Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.). Reservations fill up quickly, organizers say.
Jan. 15 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Deep Ellum Art Co., 3200 Commerce St., Dallas. $10 to perform, free for spectators. facebook.com/hamiltunesdallas.
Found Footage Festival: ‘VCR Party’
Were the ’80s and ’90s as wild to live through as they are to revisit? Find out through unintentionally funny local commercials, “foul-mouthed outtakes” from Richard Simmons exercise tapes, a bowling hypnosis tutorial and infamous footage of Wilford Brimley discussing diabetes. This “one-of-a-kind celebration of the videos that time forgot, dredged up in dusty thrift stores and estate sales throughout North America” stops in Denton with new material, trivia and prizes. Hosts are Joe Pickett (The Onion) and Nick Prueher (The Colbert Report).
Jan. 11 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Denton, 3220 Town Center Trail, Denton. $15. drafthouse.com.
Dallas Safari Club Convention and Sporting Expo
You won’t find much big game in Big D, but this annual exhibition for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts brings vendors and experts to the concrete jungle. Bid on hunting trips and safari experiences in the auction; shop from a variety of taxidermists, outfitters and artists; and attend seminars on topics such as field medicine and rescue, how to sharpen a knife, and conservation and ethics.
Jan. 10-11 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin St., Dallas. $25 for single-day tickets, free for active military with ID and children 14 and under. biggame.org/convention.
Chocolate and Art Show
Why is this art show for ages 21 and up, and how does chocolate factor into it? If those queries pique your interest, read on: An underground movement from Los Angeles, this two-night event provides a platform outside of mainstream gallery exhibition for local artists to showcase works that may include controversial subject matter or expression. Live body painting (likely including nudity), plus chocolate fondue fountains, music and dance performances combine in an atmosphere that utilizes an array of media “all happening at once to stimulate every creative mood.”
Jan. 16-17 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Lofty Spaces, 816 Montgomery St., Dallas. $20; free parking. For ages 21 and up. facebook.com/chocolateandartshowdallas.
Kids Movie Saturday Series
FREE Lava Cantina may sound like a spicy venue, but in addition to concerts and other events best suited for grown-ups, the massive restaurant and bar offers family-friendly programming, such as this ongoing Saturday afternoon movie series. Through January, arrive early for arts and crafts, playtime on the patio and $2 off kids’ meals. Movies start at 1 p.m. and include Over the Hedge on Jan. 11, Maleficent 2 on Jan. 18 and the 2019 CGI-animated version of The Addams Family on Jan. 25.
Through January on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at Lava Cantina, 5805 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony. Free admission. Menu prices vary; kids’ meals are $2 off during the movie. facebook.com/lavacantinatc/events.
Elvis Month
Elvis has left the terrestrial building, but every January and August, you can rely on his triumphant return to El Ranchito restaurant. These biannual Elvis Months celebrate the birth and untimely passing of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, with tribute artists performing hits from his extensive catalog while guests enjoy the Tex-Mex restaurant’s delicious food and margaritas. Like Elvis himself, these events are wildly popular; reserve a table before you go.
Through Jan. 29 on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at El Ranchito Oak Cliff, 610 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas. Reservations recommended. $5 cover, or $10 for front-row seat; menu and bar prices vary. facebook.com/elranchitodallas.
$5 admission at the Dallas Arboretum
The weather outside is, well, up and down — this is Texas, after all — but admission to the Dallas Arboretum is at a steadfast discount during the first months of 2020. If your New Year’s resolution involves getting more active or more centered, achieve both on a meditative stroll through the arboretum’s gardens. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden will be closed through Feb. 28 for annual winterization, but the arboretum will offer ongoing family programming such as self-guided STEM walks through more than a dozen beautiful landscapes.
Through Feb. 28, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. $5 for general admission, free for ages younger than 2. $15 for parking, $10 if purchased online in advance. dallasarboretum.org.
Penguin Days at the Dallas Zoo
If turning over a new leaf also means resolving to have more fun, start by watching silly birds with tuxedo-like feathers perform aquatic antics at the Dallas Zoo. Though the zoo’s deal is named in their honor, the Penguin Days promotion isn’t just about this flightless flock. Discounted admission — around half off regular price — grants access to the entire zoological complex, including indoor learning areas such as the herpetarium, where you will find reptiles and amphibians. They’re smart indoor stops on days when the Texas weather actually feels wintry.
Through Feb. 29, daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas. $8 for general admission, free for children 2 and under; $10 for parking. dallaszoo.com.
Panther Island Ice
Located at the Coyote Drive-In in Fort Worth, Panther Island Ice offers skating seven days a week through Jan. 20. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase from the Coyote Canteen. In addition to a military discount, the rink offers half-price admission on Tuesdays and a $2 discount on Wednesdays with the donation of two canned goods to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
Daily through Jan. 20, times vary, at Panther Island Ice, 223 NE Fourth St., Fort Worth. $13, includes skate rental. pantherislandice.com.
The Modern Lights
FREE The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and its tree-dotted grounds are illuminated for the season. Most days, the museum closes before dark, but it’s open Tuesdays until 7 p.m. and Fridays until 8 p.m. Gallery admission is free on Fridays and on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Cafe Modern, which has dining room views of the display, is open on Tuesdays through Jan. 21 until 7 p.m. for “Lights, Flights and Bites” and on Fridays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for “Dinner With Lights.” For reservations, call 817-840-2157.
Through Feb. 16, nightly from 5 to midnight at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. Free gardens admission; prices vary for gallery admission and dinners. themodern.org.
