Things to Do in Arlington

Though she’s clad in her finest tiara and dress, the princess does not, in all the excitement, notice that there is icing on her nose. However, this potential party faux-pas goes unnoticed by her fellow princesses, as they’re all occupied with contributing to the symphony of giggles and jubilant chatter reverberating off the tea room’s pale pink walls. Despite their attire, this royal crew is not based in a fairy tale but rather partaking in one of Chelsea's Tea Room & Boutique’s glamorous princess dress-up parties. Dedicated to fostering magical moments such as these, the tearoom’s staffers help youngsters let their imaginations run wild via well-planned parties and events.

Amid the elegant tearoom, staffers gild the faces of partygoers in makeup and festoon their nails in fairy dust before unleashing them upon the wardrobe of dress-up clothes. Wee guests hop into the finery of their choice, solidifying their official princess status during a regal strut across the stage and down the runway. Newly minted sovereigns then sip giggle tea and snack on treats such as scones, teapot cookies, and chocolate truffles. Trained in the art of make-believe, staffers remain on hand throughout parties to entertain crowds with riveting stories and etiquette sessions that teach skills, such as table manners and the importance of saying "please" and "thank you."

Along with glitzy parties, Chelsea's Tea Room & Boutique also hosts Princess Summer Glamour Camps designed to promote values such as self-respect, spoken and written communication skills, and confidence among its campers. Its shelves brimming with vibrant decor and sparkly togs, the on-site boutique enables guests to stock up on all things girly during pre- or post-party shopping sessions.

Since 1980, the Irving Arts Center Dallas has beckoned families and performers to its arts-focused grounds sprawled across 10 verdant acres. A quartet of galleries exhibits rotating collections of multihued magnum opuses, and a sculpture garden flourishes with innovative fountains and towering clay installation pieces that switch places when no one is looking. More than just a feast for the eyes, the arts center also educates youngsters and their familial units with summer camps and programs such as story time throughout the year.

For the guests of Maximum Sports Connection, a Dallas Cowboys game actually starts three hours before kickoff. For both home and away games, the company hosts all-inclusive tailgate parties—with or without tickets to the game itself—that keep revelers sustained with burgers, brats, drinks, and raffles for Cowboys merchandise. Customers can dress the part with apparel from the online store to show off their fandom or eerie resemblance to Troy Aikman to current and former players during private autograph sessions.

In addition to game-day events, Maximum Sports Connection also hosts Saturday-night dinner parties where fans come together to break bread as sportswriter Mickey Spagnola and former Cowboy Nate Newton broadcast their weekly radio program, Radio Road Show. Stadium tours the day before or after a game enable fans to guide themselves throughout Cowboys Stadium, while off-season trips such as a weekend in the Bahamas give fans the chance to draw up defensive plays in the sand with current and former Cowboys.

Fleet-footed dance instructors Acenio and Lara will release the dance-floor cowboy within you through patience, clear instructions, and encouraging personal support. Even in a group setting, they pace each swish, dip, tap, and jig to the abilities of their clients. Both those accustomed to spinning their partners through the air and those born with two left feet and a tail that has toes are equally welcome. Learn the intimate, sassy swing of the Dominican merengue or the slower, more traditional elegance of the waltz. You can also bring your darts teammate along as a tango partner and entwine your passions in much the same way you accidentally entwined your braces with plastic six-pack rings. More than anything, though, you can have fun dancing and erasing all the self-consciousness that holds you back.

Wings & Slicks' professional instructors pass on heart-pumping tutelage during stunt-driving and formula-car-racing experiences in the United States and Canada. The pro drivers impart pupils with the skills needed to execute a variety of as-seen-on-TV stunts, including slalom-course runs and reverse 180-degree spins, or to navigate the track in a Formula 2000 car capable of going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds. Each once-in-a-lifetime adventure revs up adrenalin levels while prioritizing safety; every experience begins with a lesson and includes protective equipment. Wings & Slicks, which was recently featured in a The Globe and Mail story, also baits competitive edges with timed events that pit drivers head-to-head in a test of dexterity, skill, and not closing one’s eyes during the hard parts.

The art connoisseurs at Creative Hands guide patrons of all ages through the artistic process with a cache of ready-to-paint plaster and ceramic items. Equipped with provided paints and glazes, budding Picassos can transform bare figurines, plates, bowls, and goblets into masterpieces as personalized as the Mona Lisa's thumbprint. Guests can tote away freshly decorated plaster pieces after a 30- to 45-minute glazing-and-drying process or enlist the warming powers of a kiln to seal in a ceramic creation's luster and then pick up the fired work of art a week later. Creative Hands' roomy studio fosters a suitable space for large groups or birthday parties and houses a ladies' night on the first Thursday of every month.