While many events in and around Fort Worth have either been postponed or canceled during the coronavirus pandemic, organizations have pivoted to virtual or socially-distanced events to continue offering the masses some entertainment while we need it the most.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. While not every event is out of the house, they all promise to provide a nice distraction from the everyday life.
Thursday, January 28
Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents Virtual Experts Talk on the Carter: The Art of Nature
For the first virtual Experts Talk on the Carter lecture of 2021, the museum is inspired by their immersive installation In the Night Garden by Natasha Bowdoin. Viewers can hear about the art of caring for and protecting nature, even when it goes awry, from Tiana Rehman, collections manager of the Philecology Herbarium at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, and Rob Denkhaus, director of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge.
Friday, January 29
Magnolia at the Modern: Our Friend
Our Friend tells the inspiring true story of the Teague family — journalist Matt (Casey Affleck), his wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson), and their two young daughters — and how their lives are upended by Nicole's diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt's responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple's best friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, and the impact of this life-altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined. The film will screen five times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts presents Jaston Williams: I Saw the Lights
Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame is back with I Saw the Lights, a new darkly funny solo performance. When mysterious lights appeared over Lubbock, Texas in 1951, people wondered aloud whether they were part of some government plot, an invasion by the Russians or just seeing space aliens out to abduct Francine Whitharrel’s Persian cat. The virtual performance will stream for one night only.
Improv Arlington presents Shawn Wayans
The Wayans family is filled with talented members, so there is no surprise that the second youngest brother, Shawn, continues to have success. He has starred in such films as I'm Gonna Get You Sucka andDon't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood, as well as in the cast of In Living Color. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Improv Arlington.
Hyena's presents Kevin Farley
Comedian Kevin Farley lives in the shadow of his late brother Chris, but he's forged his own career over the past 20-30 years. A regular at numerous comedy clubs across the country, he's also scored parts in a variety of films and TV shows. He'll perform at Hyena's four times over two days on Friday and Saturday.
Cas Haley in concert
Paris, Texas native Cas Haley's reggae-inflected music first got national notice when he appeared on Season 2 of America's Got Talent in 2007. Since then, he's released five albums and has a sixth, All the Right People, that is set to be released in 2021. He'll play at Tulips FTW.
Randall King in concert
A throwback to classic country, Randall King formed an Americana group in college called the Randall King Band, which released an album called Old Dirt Road before splitting. He then debuted as a solo artist in 2016 with the EP Another Bullet. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his first, self-titled, solo album.
Saturday, January 30
Keith & Margo’s Murder Mystery Texas presents It's Virtually Murder
It's Virtually Murder is a live interactive experience where guests can solve a virtual modern-day classic homicide case online via Zoom. The experience includes a live detective heading the investigation, live suspects to question, crime scenes to explore, the discovery of physical clues along the way, a plot which unfolds like a real homicide investigation with plenty of twists and turns, and a chance to play with and compete against players from all over Texas.
Mike Ryan in concert
San Antonio native Mike Ryan got his start performing publicly as a singer while he was a student at the University of North Texas. Since then, he released an EP, The First One in 2010, followed by three albums — 2012's Night Comes Falling, 2014's Bad Reputation, and 2017's Blink You'll Miss It. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Sunday, January 31
Claws Out Comedy presents Sunday Night Spotlight
Comedy will come to the new venue Tulips FTW with the Claws Out Comedy Sunday Night Spotlight. The evening will feature performances by a bevy of local comedians, including Angelia Walker, Liz Splatt, Nic Hawk, Steve Gammill, and Malori Davis.
Our Friend, starring Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson, screens five times through Sunday at the Modern.
