Casper’s human family members are Steve and Wendy Reiner. (Photo: Alana Harrison)

Be they four legged, finned, feathery, or scaly, pets are part of the family. Pose with your pet or send us your favorite snapshot by tomorrow for the chance to be featured in our Pet People section, which premieres next Friday. This section will cover news and information for all pet lovers, including community pet-friendly establishments, local animal organizations and services, and your cutest pet pics. Email your pet family portraits to pets@peoplenewspapers.com with your contact info, your neighborhood, and a brief bio today!

At 5:20 a.m. on May 14, a thief stole two Gain laundry detergent products with a combined value of $12, two toothbrushes with a combined value of $6.98, two Dawn dish soap products with a combined value of $4.62, and a $3.99 bottle of Pinesol from 7-Eleven in the 2000 block of Fort Worth Avenue before fleeing in a black 1995 Nissan sedan.

Between 9 a.m. and noon on May 15, a burglar broke into a house in the 1800 block of West Illinois Avenue and stole two 23-inch flat-screen TVs with a combined value of $1,600, $1,000 worth of jewelry, a $600 Playstation 360, a $500 laptop, a $400 Playstation 2, a $350 Smith & Wesson pistol, and 10 CDs with a combined value of $200.

At around 11:40 p.m. on May 15, the manager of an apartment complex in the 500 block of North Marsalis Avenue saw a miscreant hammering on a Pepsi machine in the complex’s courtyard. When the miscreant realized he was being watched, he grabbed a black-and-blue duffle bag before fleeing in a red 1996 Chevy coupe. Upon closer inspection, the manager discovered that the machine had been cut with a torch, with $2,500 worth of damage caused.

Keep reading for more crimes.

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Joan Osborne (Photo: Brian Blauser)

 Texas Theatre is showing Star Trek Into Darkness at both 7:45 and 9 p.m. tonight.

Glen Farris and Ryan Thomas Becker will take the stage at Bar Belmont tonight at 8 p.m.

Blues singer Joan Osborne, she of the voice the New York Times dubbed “angelic ecstasy and sexual abandon,” will perform at the Kessler tonight at 8 p.m. Sara Hickman opens.

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Between 11 p.m. on May 6 and 12:20 a.m. on May 7, burglars broke into Canales Furniture in the 2600 block of West Davis Street and stole two LG TVs with a combined value of $3,100. The TVs were later found behind an apartment complex.

At 8:46 a.m. on May 7, police confiscated two crackpipes from a miscreant sleeping in the 800 block of Comal Street.411

Between 5:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on May 7, a thief entered an apartment in the 2500 block of Alpaca Pass through the unlocked sliding-glass door and stole two jewelry items with a combined value of $1,260, 15 Nintendo Wii games with a combined value of $600, a $450 32-inch Emerson TV, 14 Playstation games with a combined value of $280, a $250 Playstation 2, and a $199 Nintendo Wii.

At 5:21 p.m. on May 9, police found a stolen white 1995 Chevrolet van in the 800 block of North Ewing Avenue. Inside, they discovered four plastic baggies containing a powdery white residue.

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BoDeans playing SXSW 2008 (Photo: BoDeans)

Despite today’s gloomy outlook, the weekend is supposed to be at least partially sunny, which should make for some nice patio-sippin’ weather. Here’s a look at your best options.

At 3 p.m. today at Oil and Cotton, there will be a reception for an exhibition of local students’ work. Entitled “Course Over Ground,” the artists range from toddlers to adults enrolled in the studio’s “creative exchange” program.

Sunset High School is hosting a dance concert at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

When my boss, Dan Koller, found out that I had never seen Star Trek (or Star Wars, or any other sci-fi film for that matter) before, I know he seriously, seriously questioned his judgement in hiring me. I don’t blame him for that. You’d think I would have made a beeline for the nearest Blockbuster (yes, there’s still a few left) to rent the saga, but alas…I have yet to do so (please don’t fire me for this, boss!). Texas Theatre is showing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at 7 p.m. tonight, so I really have no excuse not to catch up and go. The Source Family follows at 9:15 p.m.

BoDeans is playing The Kessler tonight at 8 p.m., with special guest Shannon Whitworth opening.

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Giraffes and elephants can now cohabit peacefully in the Giants of the Savanna exhibit, along with zebras, giraffes, impalas, ostriches, and guinea fowl (not pictured). (Photo: Cathy Burkey)

This morning, the Dallas Zoo became the first zoo in the country (and just the second in the world!) to mix elephants with hoofed animals. If you’re there, you can catch the elephants commingling with giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and guinea fowl — just like in the wild.

If you can’t make it by today, the gates will be opened for the animals to interact again on Saturday.

In other animal news, we’re working on the premiere of our “Pet People” special section, which debuts on the 31st of this month. Have you sent us a snapshot of your pet yet? You’ve still got time — we’re accepting applications through May 24. Email your pet family portraits to pets@peoplenewspapers.com, for a chance to see your “baby” in our pages.

Here’s a look at some of the crimes that happened in your ‘hood last week.

At 9:20 p.m. on May 1, police heard a loud banging noise coming from the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Fort Worth Avenue. Upon investigation, they found an intoxicated miscreant trying to break into a pickup truck. When police asked him if they could search his pockets, he replied, “I don’t give a s***.” Officers found a crack pipe in his pocket and promptly arrested him, but he began to complain about an oncoming heart attack and had to be transported to Parkland.

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Bob Schneider (Photo: Bob Schneider)

Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday, and since the weekend’s forecast looks sunny and warm(er), I’d suggest planting yourself on a patio with a margarita in each hand. Or that’s what I would do, if I drank. (Sidenote: who makes a good virgin margarita? Leave suggestions below, please!) Have one or five for me, but I’d skip the frozen ‘ritas, as it may still be a bit chilly for those. Here’s a look at the other events going on in your ‘hood.

It’s undeniable that some of the city’s most talented youth study at Greiner Academy, so it’s probably safe to bet that their talent show will be pretty impressive. If you’re interested in attending, it happens at 3:15 p.m. today, followed by a carnival at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. tonight, Oil and Cotton is hosting a closing reception for INNATE: Fibers Work, a show featuring the work of four senior undergraduate fiber arts students from UNT.

Austin’s Bob Schneider is performing two sets at The Kessler tonight, at both 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Keep reading for more weekend fun! Read More…