For $6, today's side deal gets you two adult general-admission tickets to the 54th Annual Greek Food Festival of Dallas (a $12 value), which takes place at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Friday, September 24, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., through Saturday, September 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Cooking demonstrations, live bouzouki music and dancers, and a dazzling array of Hellenic treats from local gastronomes highlight the Mediterranean merriment of the 54th Greek Food Festival, a weekend celebration of all things Aegean. Mountains of classic Greek cuisine compete for the grabby mitts of attendees alongside carefully crafted goods—including jewelry, pottery, and worry beads—found in the Agora shopping area. Local melody makers The Unexpected Boys will soundtrack the festivities with the lilting croons and harmonies of The Four Seasons (three shows over the weekend), providing patrons and their Hellenic honeys an opportunity to steal a nostalgic promenade while the kids (ages 12 and under get free admission) keep occupied with sand art, caricature artists, and face painting in the children's area. Whether you wish to learn about your Greek heritage or challenge a bust of Socrates to a rousing one-sided debate, the festival is a fine way to explore the roots of Western culture without eating hemlock.

Reviews

The Greek Food Festival of Dallas has been featured on Examiner.com both this year and last year, as well as in D magazine in 2009.

• Try their Chicken Oreganato, Keftethes (Greek meatballs), Spanakopita (spinach in filo), Tiropita (cheese in filo), and rice pilaf, a salad with feta, olives and pita bread. Or if you prefer get the Greek Sausage, Gyro topped with Tzatziki, Pork Souvlaki and Dolmas. The wine and beer is fab along with their absolutely delicious dinners. Their desserts are made for the gods. Visitors can buy them by the dozen to take home. – Marilee Vergati, Examiner.com