This section is all about people doing things in Dallas, Texas, with articles and event announcements on local lectures, art/literary/business panels, and Q&A sessions with prominent authors, lecturers, and academics. This section is also home to the “Fascinating People from Dallas, Texas” series, which is a bi-monthly bio, and interview with a person from or living in Dallas bringing value to our city. Subscribe to our RSS or get updates directly via email using our subscribe page to learn about people from Dallas, Texas, doing cool things!

It’s his second year back for the DMA’s Arts & Letters Live Series and we are thrilled!

David Sedaris will be telling personal stories and sharing life’s observations with us at SMU’s McFarlin Memorial Auditorium in April 2010. Tickets are still available to see the ever so witty and hilarious author.

The National Center for Public Analysis will be hosting a luncheon and lecture featuring the former US Comptroller, David M. Walker. The lecture is part of the Hatton W. Sumner Distinguished Lecture Series – a popular series dedicated to providing “nationally and internationally renowned speakers and free-market economists a forum to present important issues to business leaders, college students and the general public.”

State of the Arts will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Museum’s Horchow Auditorium on four different evenings. Each lecture will present a pair of arts leaders and will be moderated by KERA’s Jeff Whittington. The lectures are free with general admission to the Museum, but reservations are encouraged. To reserve tickets, call 214-922-1826 or visit www.tickets.DallasMuseumofArt.org.

The Monuments Men is art history but with a John Wayne twist. It’s the greatest adventure story you have probably never heard about.

Wikipedia “Robert Edsel” and see two words that will make anyone’s left eyebrow perk up: Art Detective.

ILiveinDallas had the opportunity to interview Mr. Edsel on his work exploring these heroic figures and discusses his upcoming lecture at the DMA.

Old monitors and VHS tapes collecting dust in your garage? Do yourself (and the environment) a favor and drop them off for recycling at the Lakewood Green Living store this Saturday, November 7th, 2009 between 12 and 5pm.

If any of you know me, you know I’m always wearing TOMS shoes. My first pair has the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi written all over it, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” TOMS is inspiring and it’s the kind of change I wish to be a part of – even if I am just wearing the shoes for now.

The founder of TOMS shoes, Blake Mycoskie, is coming back to his home roots and speaking at the Dallas County Young Democrats for the “Living Our Values” Speaker Series and Reception.

This is a bit of a late notice but had heard about the lecture only this morning via KERA’s Think program. I caught just the last part of the interview with Dr. Elders and had one of those driveway moments when I reached my destination but stayed in the car to hear the rest of the interview. She is informative and frank on controversial issues like thelegalization of marijuana and condom distribution in schools. Tonight she will speak at SMU for the 2009 Raggio Lecture series and she will address the present and future state of women’s healthcare in America.

Nationally known environmental historian Dr. James McWilliams, winner of the 2009 Hiett Prize in the Humanities, will lead the Fall Symposium of the Institute’s Environmental Forum. Appearing with Dr. McWilliams will be spokespersons from a variety of environmental fields.

McWilliams will explore questions on eating responsibly, ethical implications and the consequences that affect our environment and more specifically the lives of other people.

Artist Guillermo Kuitca will join Noah Simblist, Associate Professor of Art at SMU, and Charles Wylie, the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art, for a discussion of his work.

Mr. Kuitca is the designer of the Winspear Opera House permanent stage curtain that was done in collaboration with the center’s architects, Foster & Partners.

About a year ago, the Dallas Institute started a new group, Au Courant. The group, originally inspired by The Institute’s vision, brings together Dallas’ young creative up-and-coming leaders with Dallas’ prominent and established leaders. This semester begins a series called “Local/Global.”

Don’t miss their first event highlighting the global bounty of our local scene. It starts with the French