THE YEAR IN VISUAL ARTS: With the year almost over, we’re just about done with the year-end lists. But sneaking in there just under the gun is dfw.com’s list of the best art and museum events of 2012. What may surprise you is that the top spot on the list isn’t some blockbuster show that passed through one of our major museums. It’s Fort Worth Contemporary Art’s January exhibition of drawings by Houston artist Michael Bise.

ON TO THE NEXT ONE: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is ringing in the new year tonight with a trip to eastern Europe. It’s program, “From Budapest to Vienna,” will feature solo violinist Chee-Yun Kim playing Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen [Gypsy Airs] for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 20. And she tells theaterjones.com that the violin staple holds a special place in her heart. “It is one of my parent’s very favorite pieces and they are traveling here to be at the concert.”

A NOTABLE DEATH: Dallas actor and singer Jeff Kinman died Friday after a long illness. He was 47. He was a regular performer with Uptown Players and made appearances with Theatre Three, Lyric Stage and elsewhere. More on his life and contribution can be found at dallasvoice.com and theaterjones.com.