First Fridays at the Modern, Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.
Fort Worth's Brian Sharp and his cronies in Saint Frinatra update classic jazz for patrons at The Modern's cocktail-themed monthly. The mostly locavore Café Modern, usually a popular spot for lunch or Sunday brunch, offers its only public dinner seating of the month with hometown chef Dena Peterson at the helm. A docent-led spotlight tour is open for members and Star-Telegram Press Pass holders only at 6:30 p.m.
After Hours at the Kimbell, Saturday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Each second Saturday, the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth offers docent-led tours for nine-to-fivers while a band plays. Hear the Mark Goodwin Trio at this installment. A monthly cocktail is paired with the current exhibition -- August brings the Blood Orange, named for the spicy Philip Haas film "The Blood Oranges" in step with Butchers, Dragons, Gods and Skeletons: Film Installations by Philip Haas Inspired by Works in the Permanent Collection. Admission is $10 for nonmembers, free for the rest.
Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art, Aug. 21, 6 p.m. to midnight
The energy of the DMA's once-a-month block parties has spread to the neighboring Crow Collection of Asian Art and Nasher Sculpture Center, where admission comes free with a $10 ticket to the Late Night event (kids younger than 12 and DMA members are admitted for free). Versatility in the programming ensures you'll make memories under the gallery's high ceilings no matter what time you can make it to the Arts District. Come with your family to take on the Creativity Challenges, where visitors build their own works of art inspired by the galleries' contents. Take a date to hear Bruce Jenkins of the Art Institute of Chicago lecture on cinema's impact in the visual art world before catching an art house film at the nearby Magnolia or the Angelika. And if you belt out your favorite movie soundtrack song during karaoke with DJ Mark Ridlen, you get a coupon for 20 percent off a yearly membership to the DMA, Crow and Nasher. Watch this space for an updated schedule that always includes exuberant street performances, trivia, world-wise music and live demonstrations.
