Some kids who dreamed of growing up to be Jedis and Siths ended up as brewers and restaurateurs — and that means several places around town will celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with events for fellow fans. Here are seven ways to toast the seventh movie with the enthusiasm of a child but with the privileges of an adult. Suit up, drink up and may the puns be with you.
Alamo Drafthouse
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Through Sunday, the Richardson theater's lobby will have professional costumed characters and life-size props, including a Millennium Falcon cockpit, for all of those selfie needs.
DJ Darth Fader will spin on Thursday during a party with video-game demonstrations and a pop-up toy shop, and the Richardson Symphony Orchestra will play selections from the score Saturday and Sunday.
The in-theater menus will include a rum cocktail called Jakku Sunset for $9 and a tequila drink called Gold Membrosia for $10, as well as food items, including loaded mashed-potato bites called BB-8 Balls and a fried-chicken wrap called Admiral Snackbar's It's a Wrap. For dessert, there will be Wookiee Cookies and Blue Milk Shakes.
Grapevine Craft Brewery
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Taste two Star Wars-inspired beers — the Apprentice, a blackberry English porter, and the Master, an imperial coffee stout — during a party at the taproom on Saturday.
There will be a costume contest hosted by cosplay model Taffeta Darling.
And a fully functional R2-D2 droid will visit for photos.
Food trucks will be on-site for lunch and dinner.
House of Blues
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After seeing the movie on Thursday, head to the Dallas concert venue, which will host a late-night party benefiting Toys for Tots throughout the building.
The event will include cosplay model Krystle Starr, vintage toys and new merchandise, an art show and more than a dozen DJs, including Willie Trimmer, Redeye, Titan and Souljah.
Dress to impress as there will be a costume contest with a $1,000 cash prize.
$20 per person. A dinner buffet will be $15 per person.
Panther Island Ice
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Can a Wookiee do a waltz jump? This may be your chance to see Chewbacca on ice. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, the outdoor ice skating rink at Coyote Drive-In will offer half-price admission, which includes skate rentals, to those in costume. (Regular admission is $11 per person.)
There will be a 7:15 p.m. fireworks show featuring parts of the Star Wars soundtracks and Christmas music.
In addition, Coyote Drive-In will show Star Wars: The Force Awakens at 7:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $6 per person.
Go early to skate, then stay for fireworks and a movie — for just $11 per person.
Studio Movie Grill
All locations of the dine-in theater chain will have two Star Wars-themed menus available through Jan. 3. "May the Thirst Be With You" features three cocktails -- the Yoda-Rita, the Millennium Falcon and the TIE Fighter -- for $9 each, plus $6 domestic brews nicknamed Beer2-D2s for the occasion. The brunch menu, which is available daily at any movie starting before 2 p.m., has six dishes, including Princess Leia Buns, which are mini cinnamon rolls, and C3PO-Melette Pizza, which has scrambled eggs and ham, plus Death Star Bloody Marys and Tatooine Mimosas. Locations in Arlington, Colleyville, Lewisville, Dallas, Plano and The Colony.
The Theodore
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This swank and innovative restaurant and cocktail bar in NorthPark Center is no Mos Eisley cantina. It's not a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Droids will be allowed inside, and they can even compete in a costume contest with prizes.
All in costume will receive a 10 percent discount on food and drinks.
The party will also include Star Wars-themed cocktails from ex-Bolsa bartender Kyle Hilla.
The Vessel Run: A Star Wars Pub Crawl
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No Label Brewing Co., which makes a beer inspired by Star Wars called Hop Solo, will host a Friday night pub crawl visiting five bars near the Denton square, including Harvest House and Oak St. Drafthouse.
That's a distance much closer than 12 parsecs.
Hop Solo glassware will be given away, and there will be prizes for costumes. Friday starting at 6 p.m.
No Label will also have several release parties and pint nights in North Texas.
