Enjoying the cooler temperatures? With milder climates seeping into our daily routines, we couldn't help but find artsy and social affairs that took advantage of the more mannerly elements.

You may have been asking, "Where are the ribs?" if you happened to consort with the classy crowd at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's "Champagne & Ribs" last week. But one taste of the concoction courtesy of Zilla Street Eats and Relish!, smoothed by a hefty Pura Vida Paloma, and guests washed away their pretend sorrows with lively chit chat enhanced by genteel grooves by the Robert Glasper Trio.

A gentle cooling breeze was the backdrop of the yearly al fresco social, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Mother Nature could not have been more cooperative.

But would she behave for Two Star Symphony's gig at the Orange Show?

It was the screening of the German expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Kaligari, with live music via the classical ensemble — turned to the dark side. The original score was composed for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and is now part of a yearly tradition with the more mischievous nonprofit.

For the 200 or so in attendance, the rain and wind that added to the technical mayhem — the screen flew away and the equipment decided it wasn't going to work —bringing a sinister ambiance that intensified the experience. Think of menacing clouds and gusts of wine that kept the whirly gigs spinning.

Rumors say it was the spirit of Jeff McKissack that calmed the forces of nature — and David Garcia's emergency last-minute equipment — that saved the eve.

Ballet Barre got bubbly, SchipulCon came and went, Shepherd School of Music had its big bang concert and Bayou City Art Festival Downtown was greeted by buckets of rain.

What's on tap for this week? Read on.

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater Performance at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

The former Houston Ballet principal is a household name in Houston. You loved how he set the music of Mozart, Debussy and Stravinsky, adding an unexpected non-linear narrative layer to masterpieces like Firebird and Afternoon of a Faun.

This untitled performance traces his artistic journey from the company's inaugural season in 2003 to winning the most audience votes in Ballet Austin's 2010 New American Talent/Dance Competition. It includes the American premiere of duets from Mauro Bigonzetti’s Certe Notti and Come Un Respiro ballets. Of course, no DWDT — or any ballet — performance is complete without a dying swan.

One of Walsh's and Houston's favorite ballerinas promises not to disappoint.

Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

SPECTRUM Art Show 2011 at Crossbridge Gallery, Sugar Land

AMPLIFY | Sugar Land is behind this cultural bacchanal, where 17 local artist will showcase their creative best. Set in a gallery just steps away from the Old Imperial Sugar Mill, an installation by Richmond-native Joey Garcia helms the show.

Working the oil fields of the Texas plains, Garcia — otherwise the cool diesel-driving good ol' boy with the beer — has a natural eye for capturing the sublime from the banality of the everyday. Using just his iPhone and digital filters, Garcia's images evoke a pseudo-impressionistic aura where light awakens the architecture and composition of his subjects. There's a nostalgic story in each of his images that's unlocked by the onlooker. That would be you.

His installation explores images of the Sugar Mill, proving that beauty and perspective is in the eye of the beholder. It's a one-night show, so if you snooze, you lose. Friday at 6 p.m.

Barkitecture Houston 2011, Benefiting Pup Squad Animal Rescue at Houston Pavilions

Dog lovers and architecture professionals mix and mingle in this fabulous yearly fur-friendly fundraiser. Proving that everyone's talents can be used towards the greater good, a throng of designers, builders and artists come together to craft pooch-approved digs to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

All of the proceeds go towards helping orphaned street puppies and kitties find a loving fur-ever home. Barkitecture begins with a Yappy Hour set for 5 p.m. Friday, followed by shopping and the silent auction from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.

16th Annual Eastwood Historic Home Tour

Houston gets a bad rep for being a relatively new city filled with large cookie-cutter McMansions. It's true, we have plenty of those. The Heights often comes to the rescue as the inner-Loop hood that displays plenty of period architecture, but it certainly isn't the only one.

Meet Eastwood, a hop and a skip across Interstate 45 from the University of Houston. The community was established in 1913 by William A. Wilson, who also built Woodland Heights. With paved streets and cement curbs, this pedestrian neighborhood was planned to highlight Craftsman, Arts and Crafts, Foursquare and Mission architecture. Today, it stands relatively intact.

Tour run Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Bach Society Houston Abendmusik Concert: 30th Anniversary Celebration at Christ the King Lutheran Church

If there were such a thing as a BachFestPaloozaExtravaganza in Houston, this would be it. And appropriately, it's put on by the Bach Society Houston, the nonprofit that knows the ins and outs of classical music's godfather.

Yes, Bach worked in a church in Leipzig for most of his life, yet not all his music is sacred. His secular cantatas are quirky and full of humor. You just have to be witty enough to listen for his sass.

Basses Matthias Weichert and bass Dirk Schmidt are coming all the way from Leipzig for this special musicale. They will be joined by Lauren Snouffer, Sonja Bruzauskas, Martin Petzold, Randall Umstead and Randolph Lacy. Albert LeDoux steps up to the podium to wave his baton and lead the Bach Choir and Mercury Baroque, which just finished its own Bach-tanica concert.

Are you Bach-curious? Head to Christ the King Lutheran Church at 6 p.m. Sunday, or at 5:15 p.m. if you'd like to get some listening tips from Illuminations, the pre-concert lecture and discussion series. Following the concert, Houston-Leipzig is having an all out Oktoberfest in Parish Hall and courtyard.

Assistant editor and nightlife expert Caroline Gallay's pick: Neighborhood Night at Hotel ZaZa

Caroline says: "I'll be at Neighborhood Night at Hotel ZaZa this Thursday to enjoy the weekly special — $5 beer, wine, well drinks and apps — but especially to see the lovely Yvonne Washington perform." Thursday 8 to 11 p.m.

Arts contributor and Dancehunter Nancy Wozny's pick: Screening of Douglas Newman's The Reconstruction of Asa Carter at Rice University

Nancy says: "People are not always who they seem to be. Doug Newman, Laura Browder and Marco Ricci's film The Reconstruction of Asa Carter reveals the unbelievable story of best-selling author Forrest Carter, most known for his autobiography, The Education of Little Tree, who was really Asa Carter, a Ku Klux Klansman and Alabama Governor George Wallace's speech writer.

"He's the voice behind Wallace's famous 1963 inaugural address, 'Segregation Now! Segregation Tomorrow! Segregation Forever!' It's one amazing story and a compelling documentary. The film screens at Rice University on Thursday at 4 p.m., and is presented by the Kinder Institute of Urban Research as part of the Race Scholars Film Series.

"A panel discussion featuring the film's producer and Tyler and Alice Haynes, Professor of American Studies at the University of Richmond, Laura Browder, professor of United States History at the University of Oklahoma, Fay Yorbough, Rice University professor of History, Alexander Byrd follows the film. It's free."

New staff writer Tyler Rudick's pick: Premiere Screening of Film Socialisme at MFAH

Tyler says: "After waiting patiently all summer, it's great to see Jean Luc-Godard's Film Socialisme finally make it to town at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This certainly has not been the most well-received of Godard's work, garnering a relatively 'luc-warm' (yikes, sorry about that) reception at Cannes. At 80 years old, the famed auteur still manages to surprise and befuddle: Images are chopped and blurry, subtitles are written in a cryptic noun-driven language Godard calls 'Navajo,' and there's even an odd cameo from Patti Smith.

"And what does this try to evoke? New York Times critic A.O Scott answers: 'Europe, for the most part, meaning a repository of grand traditions and unspeakable horrors and also a vortex of cultural meaning and political conflict.' Should be an interesting time — can't wait!" Friday through Sunday.