Get Your Tickets Today for "Crafting the Future," A Downtown Celebration

Join DAMC for their annual celebration of vitality, creativity, innovation… and this year, the launch of a first-ever Downtown craft beer collaboration

The 2018 annual meeting of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation may be taking place in September as in years past, but this year’s agenda is far from meeting-like. Instead, the re-imagined event is taking on a festive tone because, according to DAMC President & CEO Aldo Fritz, there’s so much to celebrate.

“The last year has been an incredible one for Downtown Arlington,” said Fritz, “and we want to invite the entire community to celebrate with us.”

“We welcomed several new businesses this past year including 4 Kahunas Tiki Bar, Urban Alchemy Coffee + Wine Bar, The Tipsy Oak, and Growl,” Fritz continued, “and Sugar Bee Sweets was featured on the Food Network’s Dallas Cakes. The City opened the incredible new Downtown Library and Council Chamber space and began work on the re-imaging of Abram Street. UT Arlington continues to transform with new centers for learning and living. In fact, more people live in Downtown than ever before. And thanks to our cultural partners and the new Downtown Arlington Urban Art Movement, there are so many more ways for people to experience Downtown, have fun and make memories.”

Crafting the Future

The theme of this year’s event is Crafting the Future: A Celebration of Vitality, Creativity and Innovation.

“We chose the theme ‘Crafting the Future’ because we think it really encapsulates what’s happening in Downtown right now,” said Fritz. “It takes craftsmanship to create art, cook an amazing meal, brew great beer, make music, invent something new, start a business, and build a community.”

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 8 at the Arlington Museum of Art with a farm-to-table dining experience, entertainment, art exhibitions, and a brief program which will include the presentation of the 2018 Dream Builder Award by Texas Trust Credit Union. At 7:30 p.m., guests will move to their VIP seating area at the nearby Levitt Pavilion for a live musical performance by Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis. Tickets are available now at downtownarlington.org/tickets.

Farm-to-Table and Hops-to-Mug

The theme of craftsmanship will run deeply throughout the event, starting with the cuisine.

The farm-to-table dinner will come from the creative mind of renowned chef and native Texan Justin Box, who is known for focusing on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Chef Box has worked for some of the hottest spots in Dallas including Stephan Pyles Catering, Restaurant Ava and Bolsa. One of his latest endeavors, an elotes food cart called “Rise Above,” is hitting the streets of Deep Ellum later this month.

While we don’t want to give away too much, the program will also include an exclusive launch of a new craft beer collaboration that will make fans of the Downtown Arlington craft beer scene stand up and cheer. If you’re more of a wine lover, don’t worry. DAMC has you covered, too.

Art Moves Us

In keeping with the recent launch of the Urban Art Movement, DAMC promises that the space will come alive with art of all kinds. In addition to interactive art demonstrations, guests can view the Museum’s current exhibitions.

Big Empty Head, a collection of works by artist and UT Arlington associate professor Marilyn Jolly, was in part inspired by her strong connection to the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi. Wabi Sabi is described as an appreciation of beauty that is imperfect, transient and incomplete. Adam Fung, artist and assistant professor at Texas Christian University, drew inspiration for his exhibition nature and film the uncommon from his participation in the 2016 Arctic Circle Artist Residency and Expedition.

Performing live at the event will be Texas native Steve Helms. A life-long country music singer-songwriter, Steve’s big-hearted style garnered world-wide attention with his release of Nowhere But Texas ten years ago and again with his band’s 2018 album, Can I Buy You A Country Song.

Get Your Tickets Today

Crafting the Future + VIP Seating at the Levitt Pavilion

Saturday, September 8, 2018

5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

CRAFTING THE FUTURE: A Celebration of Vitality, Creativity and Innovation

Join DAMC for a farm-to-market dining experience, live music, art exhibition, live demonstrations, presentation of the Dream Builders award, and an exclusive launch of a new craft beer collaboration

Arlington Museum of Art

8:00 – 9:30 p.m.

VIP Seating at the Levitt Pavilion

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, the reigning king and queen of Americana music

Levitt Pavilion Arlington

Free parking. Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased in advance. Click here for tickets and sponsorship opportunities.

Getting Around Downtown

By March 2020, the transformation of Abram Street will be complete. In the meantime, Abram St. is open for business! Track #myAbram on social media and visit myAbram.com for the latest information about traffic routing and construction milestones. Download Waze for free to see real-time traffic, find optimal routes and avoid road closures, or leave your car at home and hail Via Arlington Ride Share for only $3.

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About Downtown Arlington

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate.