WED ▪ 19
More than 400 pieces of needlepoint will be on display this week at Thistle Hill as part of A Needlepoint Love Story. (That’s a lot of thread.) Showcasing works by more than 50 artists, the exhibit is for the benefit of Historic Fort Worth Inc. Seeing these works will undoubtedly be more interesting than seeing them being made. The show runs Wed-Sun at 1509 Pennsylvania Av, FW. Tickets are $10-75. Call 817-336-2344.
THU ▪ 20
How could we ignore The Drunken Botanist? That’s what Amy Stewart calls herself, her blog, and her book, all devoted to introducing us to the world of botany through the plants that produce our alcoholic beverages. She comes to BRIT this evening for a lecture that’s sure to be informative and fun. You can pick up tips on growing your own hops vine (watch out for thorns!), and the price of the lecture includes a free copy of her book. The talk is at 6:30pm at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, FW. Admission is $25-30. Call 817-332-4441.
FRI ▪ 21
There’s no great mystery behind the renown of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. His works deal with issues of Christian faith and are often set to Latin texts, but they’re composed in a blood-pumping, visceral idiom that many Hollywood composers would recognize. Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performs his mystical abstract string piece Psalom, as well as Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah, with Ava Pine among the soloists. The concerts are Fri-Sun at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $12-80. Call 817-665-6000.
SAT ▪ 22
The winners of the Southwest Playwriting Competition get their turn in the spotlight this weekend at Stage West’s New Play Festival 2014, which will host dramatic readings of their works. These include Tom Horan’s work about Mary Mallon, a.k.a. Typhoid Mary, Tess Light and Harold Smith’s explorations of relationships, and Kevin Kautzman’s fantastical play about an elderly couple, which won the top prize. The plays will be performed Thu-Sun at 821 W Vickery St, FW. Admission is free-$10. Call 817-784-9378.
SUN ▪ 23
It may not have the star power and sharp look of Tim Burton’s 2007 movie, but UNT Opera Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will have trained operatic voices on its side, as well as much more of Stephen Sondheim’s music than the film had. This tale of revenge and cannibalism runs Feb 21-Mar 2 at Murchison Performing Arts Center, 801 N Texas Blvd, Denton. Tickets are $15-35. Call 940-369-7802.
MON ▪ 24
Amid a dance-heavy season of programming at TITAS, composer Philip Glass provides something different with a program of chamber music, along with violinist Tim Fain, one of the few soloists for whom Glass has composed material. No word yet on which pieces of music will be played here, but the recital starts at 8pm at AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2400 Flora St, Dallas. Tickets are $12.50-125. Call 214-528-5576.
TUE ▪ 25
Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher has an album of music by Edvard Grieg coming out, but he won’t be playing anything from it when he drops by Grapevine Public Library today. Instead, he’ll perform music by Bach, Mozart, Albéniz, and a selection of more recent works, including his own transcription of Paganini’s spectacular Caprice No. 24, at 7pm at 1201 Municipal Way, Grapevine. Admission is free. Call 817-410-3100.
