82 September 19 - 25, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CONTENTS | READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | SPORTS & RECREATION parties where a young harmonica-playing, wild-haired unknown named Bob Dylan channeled Woody Guthrie as an androgy- nous Patti Smith observed deeply from her seat, check out Zounds Sounds B-Sides. Though the new Dallas venue (which is next door to the excellent Zounds Sounds School of Music) is well organized, it still feels truly DIY, spontaneous and indie in the best ways as the perfect spot to soak up all that I-saw-them-first, really-first, atmosphere. But they aren’t all up-and- comers on the roster. From classical pianist Bobby Orozco, to a live painter onstage and a private chef serving audience members a plated dinner sample, and artists ranging from punk to jazz, there are a whole lot of reasons to check out B-Sides. 10050 Shoreview Road instagram.com/zoundssoundsbside/ Best Lepidoptera Hang Out Fort Worth Botanic Butterfly Garden There’s just something magical about standing in a butterfly exhibit as hundreds of colorful butterflies flutter around. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden used to do its “Butterflies In The Garden” exhibi- tion every other year, but it became so popular that it’s now a yearly addition to the spring calendar. Every March and April, check out the exhibit and marvel at lepidoptera from the Americas, Africa and Asia. Plus, since you’re already there, you can wander the sprawling botanic gardens. We especially recommend the Japanese garden. 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth 817-463-4160, fwbg.org/events/butter- flies-2024/ Best Barbie-vibe Venue XOXO Dining Room & Garden After Barbie’s ubiquitous, militantly monochrome color palette flooded movie theaters, Halloween parties and red car- pets for what felt like 46 months in 2023, it’s understandable that many of us never want to see the color pink again. But if you’re still in the “think pink” mindset, you’ll find an absolute pink paradise in XOXO, the uber-Instagrammable, shame- lessly girly, every-day-is-Valentine’s Dallas restaurant. This place was way ahead of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, serv- ing highly aesthetic desserts and decor for years. The food is as good as it looks, and the service is just as sweet. XOXO is not all lipstick and influencers, though: Erykah Badu has been spotted there (and showed up 15 minutes before closing, of course) and it sometimes has DJ nights with non-pink-wearing guests. 3121 Ross Ave. 469-397-4226, xoxodallas.com Best Speaker Series The Dallas Museum of Art’s Arts and Letters Live The Dallas Museum of Art does an outstanding job of keeping us coming through special events and deals, summer camps, classes and exhibitions ranging from the Impressionists to Frida — and this year’s excellent showing of contem- porary female artists in He Said/She Said. One of the museum’s most accomplished efforts is its annual Arts and Letters Live program. For over 30 years, the speakers series has brought in performers and au- thors such as David Sedaris (who returned again this year for his 11th consecutive ap- pearance), Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood and John Grisham. This is a great opportunity to impress (or, re- alistically, to bore) your future grandkids with your old-timey tales of seeing these classic authors in the flesh — assuming writers haven’t been entirely replaced then by AI and “content creators.” If that sounds grim, keep the arts and let- ters alive by attending and getting a book signed, if you’re lucky. Best Pop-Up Event Starck Club at The Kessler The legend has long lingered in Dal- las, where you can still hear the sound of glitzy partying echoing through the dancefloor dust left from the Starck Club’s closing. Dallas’ version of Studio 54 be- came an iconic 1980s hub for the era’s decadence, rich with celebrity sightings, ecstasy and carefree, all-night dancing. For the Starck’s 40th anniversary on May 12, Oak Cliff venue The Kessler brought the club back to life through a well- curated, one-night-only pop-up event. Cameron Emadi Fort Worth Botanic Butterfly Garden // BEST LEPIDOPTERA HANG OUT W I N GW E E K DA L L A S . C O M
