The 40th Annual ARTFEST will be held at Fair Park this weekend, May 22-24, 2009.

Tickets for ARTFEST 2009 are $5 in advance and are available at Tom Thumb stores. Tickets are $6 at the gate.

Saturday, May 23rd 10am – 7pm
Sunday, May 24th 10am – 6pm

A “WineStroll” Preview Party & Wine Tasting event is Friday from 6pm-9pm. Tickets for the Friday evening Winestroll are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate.

THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE DALLAS presents the first French Festival of short films beginning Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 7pm. www.afnorthtexas.org

Where: McKinney Avenue Contemporary, 3120 Mckinney Ave
(214) 953-1622
www.the-mac.org

Tickets: Non-member $10
Member $7

The 8th Annual White Rock East Garden & Artisans Tour is tomorrow, May 17th, from 11:00 to 5:00. Sunday’s forecast is projected to be clear and sunny! So leave your umbrella at home and walk around 9 unique gardens in East Dallas.

Proceeds from the plant sale (1718 Whittier) and donations are used to beautify these three neighborhoods. Talk about smart and hard working women!

http://eastdallasartgardens.blogspot.com/

El Ten Eleven is a two piece instrumental band out of Los Angeles, CA. Bassist and composer Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty have been playing together since 2003 and was a showcase artist at SXSW in 2006.

I first heard El Ten Eleven on the soundtrack of Helvetica, an independent documentary released in 2007. I was hooked on the entire soundtrack for a couple of months.

If you’re looking for a laid back, low key scene this Saturday, I would recommend making your way to Double Wide around 10:30pm and listening to this duo live at 11.

Classic movie night at The Belmont Hotel would be perfect for a date night or even going without one. Alright, perhaps this is an event that yields better with company, so bring a friend and a big blanket. BarBelmont will be serving food and alcohol, so don’t bring your beer cooler. Doors will open at 7:30pm and the movie will begin at sundown. Running late? Don’t worry. Valet parking is provided, and admission is free.

The Dallas Institute will host a conference on the psychology of money with Institute fellows and guest speakers on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16th. (I just love a good conference that stimulates the brain. Don’t you?)

Speakers and participants will explore various aspects of money, including how the power of money influences thought and behavior, why money plays so dominant a role in our lives, and what its future might be.

Looking for something free to do this Sunday? Lakewoodstock invites you to shop, eat, drink and learn about greener living. Enjoy live music from local acts on two main stages, plus there will be a singer/songwriter stage on the patio at Whole Foods. The neighborhood festival is from 2-8pm this Sunday, May 17th.

Tonight at the Lakewood Theater is The Found Footage Festival, a celebration of odd and hilarious found videos.

2 guys, Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, have been collecting found videos since 1991. From garage sales, thrift store, warehouses, and dumpsters, the FFF has become this one-of-a-kind event that showcases the hilarious footage from these videos. Joe and Nick host the show in-person and provide their own observations and commentary.

The preview for FFF is very entertaining and gives you an idea for how absurd the 80’s were.

This weekend come see the last formal show at And/Or with our Austin favorite, Chad Hopper. His comical and peculiar work in every medium has had considerable influenced on my own artistic practice. This is Chad’s first solo show at the gallery, and we will have his sculpture, painting, college, and video work, in addition to some special archival prints.

7 bands and a silent auction featuring orginal Dallas artwork was good enough for me.

Couple that with a vintage photo booth and silk screening and I will share with my friends.

Then say proceeds support research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis and I’m telling all of Dallas.

Saturday, May 9th is the 3rd annual Ultraviolet Rock Show and Art Auction at Club Dada in Deep Ellum.