WED ▪ 31
If you’d rather avoid all the New Year’s Eve stuff (see sidebar) going on today, your best bet is probably Panther Island Ice. Fort Worth’s only outdoor skating rink has been brought back for another holiday season, so make sure your blades are sharp. The rink is open 11am-8pm at Coyote Drive-In, 223 NE 4th St, FW. Admission is $9-11. Call 817-698-0700.
THU ▪ 1
It’s time once again for Manly Men and Wild Women Hike the Hills, the sixth annual walk around the perimeter of Tandy Hills Natural Area, an event designed to help you lose that weight that you gained from all your Christmas eating. Depending on the weather, this will be invigorating or hellacious. The stroll begins at 10am at 3400 View St, FW. Admission is free. Call 817-731-2787.
FRI ▪ 2
Football fans might hear “Houston vs. Pittsburgh” and think “Texans vs. Steelers,” but it will be the University of Houston vs. the University of Pittsburgh in the Armed Forces Bowl this morning. Observers will be watching Pitt running back and ACC Player of the Year James Conner take on the Cougars’ strong defense. Kickoff is at 11am at Amon Carter Stadium, 2850 S University Dr, FW. Tickets are $30-150. Call 817-810-0012.
SAT ▪ 3
The former frontman for the 1990s rock outfit Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds has now become a classical composer who premiered his Piano Concerto last March. Tonight at 7:30pm, for one evening only, he’ll take the stage with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra to perform that work for the first time in North Texas, along with other pieces, at Bass Performance Hall, 555 Commerce St, FW. Tickets are $50-105. Call 817-665-6000.
SUN ▪ 4
Before the season, many football experts picked the Dallas Cowboys to finish last in the NFC East. Now they’re the division champions, and this afternoon they’ll host a playoff game against the Detroit Lions, who bring in one of the league’s best run defenses to face DeMarco Murray. The home team should watch out for being stepped on by the Lions’ linemen; they seem to like doing that. Kickoff is at 3:30pm at AT&T Stadium, 1 Legends Way, Arlington. Tickets are $90-530. Call 800-745-3000.
MON ▪ 5
What would have been Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday falls next week, and to mark the occasion, Artisan Center Theater is putting on All Shook Up. Joe DiPietro’s musical revue built on the songs that the King made famous, including “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Jailhouse Rock,” runs Fri thru Jan 31 at Belaire Theater, 420 E Pipeline Rd, Hurst. Tickets are $11-20. Call 817-284-1200.
TUE ▪ 6
ESPN College GameDay started this college football season at Sundance Square last August, and this week they’ll end it here as well. The popular program broadcasts a full week of shows from there as part of the runup to the College Football Playoff championship game to be played at AT&T Stadium. The broadcasts are Mon thru Jan 12 at 4th & Main sts, FW. Admission is free. Call 817-255-5700.
