Free jazz, park after 5 p.m. at DMA

Want to impress your date (while saving money)?

There is a great opportunity every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Dallas Museum of Art.

The entrance fee is waived after 5 p.m., and it is usually $5 with a student ID or $10 without. You can park on the streets around the downtown museum at no charge after 5 p.m., or park in the underground museum lot for $5 for the entire evening.

The Atrium Café near the entrance by Woodall Rogers Freeway has good snacks, sandwiches and soups for under $10. Or bring a picnic and eat under the trees in the Sculpture Garden to the sound of running water by the outdoor fountain.

But keep your picnic basket on the small side, because large backpacks have to be checked at the door.

At 7 p.m., you have several choices:

• First choice is the free jazz performances while you sit in the Café sipping your drink. You can be sure the jazz group will be excellent.

• There is Sketching in the Galleries, led by a local artist, and includes free instruction. All you need is your paper and pencil.

• If you would like to have a tour of the permanent collection highlights, that also begins at 7 p.m., and is led by a trained docent. This gives you a great introduction to the museum, and lots of conversation opportunities with your date.

Of course, you can sketch or tour for an hour, then join the jazz performance until 9 p.m. when the museum closes. No matter what you choose, you will have a fun, impressive and inexpensive date.

For more information or directions to the Dallas Museum of Art, visit www.dallasmuseumofart.org.

—Melodee Ramirez is a professor of Art at NLC. She can be reached at 972-273-3077.