It seems as if everyone's pinching pennies nowadays, so we've found some ways to help you get more for your entertainment dollar. We've roundedup a sampling of deals that are both high-quality and wallet-friendly.
Of course, we don't have room to list every option here, and you may know about some that we don't have on our radar. Tell us and your fellow readers about your favorites online at GuideLive.com/overthetop.
1. Late Nights at the Dallas Museum of Art
If you want a one-stop shopping approach to a night out, this might just be your event. You can view works of art, eat, drink, listen to live music and catch a movie at the museum's monthly event. This month's installment is tonight, and there'll be guided twilight tours of the pre-Columbian galleries and the exhibit "Either Side of Grey." Plenty of children's activities are scheduled, too. For some Texas flair, check out a screening of the 1963 movie Hud, which was based on Larry McMurtry's novel Horseman, Pass By. The music lineup salutes the Lone Star State as well, with performers including fiddle player Milo Deering and steel guitarist Albert Talley. If all that activity makes you hungry, the Atrium Cafe serves food until 11 p.m., with bar service until 11:30 p.m.
Mike Stone/ Special to DMN
John McBride of Dallas and Stephanie Sanless of Carrollton participate in a free yoga class for children and adults at the Nasher Sculpture Center.
Nancy Moore
•The third Friday of each month from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Dallas Museum of Art.
•$10 for adults, free for children 12 and younger. Museum membership starts at $75.
2. Target First Saturdays at the Nasher Sculpture Center
On the first Saturday of every month, parents can mentor children into appreciating art – with a little help from the Nasher Sculpture Center. The kiddies will keep busy with an art activity, sculpture demos, story time and a scavenger hunt. There'll also be yoga for adults and little ones. But the best part is – free admission.
Mario Tarradell
•The next installment in the series is May 3. Programs run the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nasher Sculpture Center.
•Free admission.
3. Tuesdays at the Modern
For a weeknight treat, check out the Tuesday Evenings at the Modern lecture series. This Tuesday, catch a talk by San Francisco-based artist Dean Byington, known for his visually packed narrative landscape paintings. Seating is limited in the auditorium, but a live broadcast of the lecture will be shown in the Cafe Modern restaurant, which serves refreshments from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free, but tickets are required (pick them up at the museum's admission desk beginning at 5 p.m. on the day of the event). This month's lecture is the last in the current series, but lectures are scheduled to start again in the fall.
Nancy Moore
•Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. (seating begins at 6:30); food service in the the cafe continues until 7 p.m. At the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
• Lecture is free, but tickets are required. To see the current exhibits, it's $10, $4 for seniors and students.
4. Bancroft Family Concerts
Soprano Elizabeth Racheva and Dallas Symphony Orchestra trumpeter Russell Campbell are in recital in April’s installment of the free monthly series presented by the Fine Arts Chamber Players. Running through June, the Saturday-afternoon concerts feature outstanding area musicians, up to and including chamber orchestras.
Scott Cantrell
•Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m. in Horchow Auditorium at the Dallas Museum of Art. Other upcoming concerts are May 17 and June 7 at the same time and location. fineartschamberplayers.org.
•Free.
5. Good Record in-store performances
Good’s free mini-concerts range from obscure local bands to well-regarded national acts like Of Montreal and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Groups typically perform for 15 to 20 minutes on the store’s green-carpeted stage; afterward, you can browse the store’s offbeat collection of CDs, DVDs, posters and magazines. Also, this Saturday, Good will host a daylong eighth birthday party, featuring Baptist Generals, the Theater Fire and more than a dozen other acts. On Sunday, Blackheart Society and Salim Nourallah will perform.
Thor Christensen
•At Good Records on Greenville Avenue
—Birthday party: Saturday April 19at 11 a.m.
—Blackheart Society and Salim Nourallah: Sunday April 20 at 3 p.m.
•Free.
Local jazz magnate Shelley Carrol may impress as the leader of the house band at this jam, but you may be surprised at the hidden talents of some musicians who show up to sit in. All jazz musicians are welcome; bring your own instrument to the South Dallas Cultural Center tonight. Don’t play? Don’t worry. It’s just as much fun to sit and listen to the free show.
Nancy Moore
•Friday, April 18, from midnight to 3 a.m. (for future dates, check the Web site) at South Dallas Cultural Center.
•Free.
7. 'Richard III' at Kitchen Dog Theater
This stimulating production of one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays offers a fine performance of the title role by René Moreno and admirable support from the other actors, especially Christina Vela and Tina Parker. Wednesday and Thursday performances are pay-what-you-can for the first 25 patrons nightly.
Lawson Taitte
•April 24, April 30 and May 1 at 8 p.m. at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary.
•Paywhat you can for the first 25 patrons for these performances (regular tickets $15 to $20).
8. Target Saturdays at Dallas Children's Theater
You can see some of the best children’s theater in town for less at a Target Saturday show. That means a ticket for Dallas Children’s Theater’s summer musicals costs $11.50 rather than $23 at select times. But hurry, because these performances sell out fast.
Nancy Churnin
•Both Target Saturday shows this summer will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts.
—If You Give A Pig A Party: May 17
—A Year With Frog and Toad: June 28.
•$11.50.
9. Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf eel? Some consider wolf eels to be among the ugliest sea creatures, and the Dallas Aquarium's breeding program has raised two of them. They went on display just a couple of days ago. Current aquarium highlights include a shark tank, sea horses, jellyfish, native Texas species, one very funky alligator snapping turtle with moss growing on its back, and many more exotic creatures. And a visit costs less than $5.
Nancy Moore
•Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the aquarium in Fair Park (near the Texas Star Ferris wheel).
•$4 ages 12 and over, $3 ages 3-11, free for ages 2 and under. Free parking.
10. Family Funday and Art in the Garden
Occasionally throughout the year, the Irving Arts Center hosts this free program with activities sparked by current exhibits. This month, children can get inspired by the show "Robert Sabuda: Travels in Time and Space" and then create a book to take home (supplies provided). Artists will display and sell their works at the Art in the Garden market in the sculpture garden. The four galleries inside the arts center also will be open for browsing.
Nancy Moore
•April 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Irving Arts Center.
•Free.
11. Kids Club at Dallas Summer Musicals
Youngsters with tickets to any performance of a kid-friendly show at Dallas Summer Musicals can take part in some extra free fun. Kids Club events are held on one day during a show's run and usually involve music, games, munchies and autographs. Upcoming productions include Cats, Stomp and the ever-popular touring version of High School Musical.
Nancy Churnin
•Kids Club celebrations run from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Fair Park Music Hall. www.dallassummermusicals.org.
—Cats: May 31
— Stomp: June 21
—High School Musical on Tour: July 5
•Free with ticket stub to any performance of these shows.
The Latino Cultural Center's family-friendly monthly series features dance workshops, a children's theater performance, craft activities and Spanish-language films. And it all costs you nada.
Nancy Moore
•The next installment is May 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Latino Cultural Center. Programs run on the second Saturday of each month.
•Free.
13. Twofer Tuesdays at Premiere Video
Sam Wade started offering two-for-one Tuesday rentals when he opened Premiere Video in 1984. "And I never wised up," he says. It helps that Premiere has a ridiculous selection of films, including a massive wall of foreign titles and a deep roster of documentaries. And it's nice that it does special orders and provides a personal touch that you can't get through mail-order rental services. But two for one? That's a reel steal.
Chris Vognar
•5400 E. Mockingbird Lane. 214-827-8969.
•Rent one for $3.50, get one free every Tuesday.
More budget entertainment: 
