tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12668987234724535982024-03-21T04:14:09.605-05:00Real DallasJames and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-23494818449546939302011-08-08T14:12:00.009-05:002011-08-08T15:48:45.854-05:00Cooling off in Dallas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ZX3wUCn12cp9g03XTY8i55WQ2lWy7CYBd7u6kAX0YVKvB9PHyTvxGdOCWgcW17G5UtHxrSYjlvGpS3doVq0_5Omdxq7t-nPqJnTLg8lIwm0kGOK9ywCiRtY-fNifEiL-O8RW78SuI6O/s1600/002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97ZX3wUCn12cp9g03XTY8i55WQ2lWy7CYBd7u6kAX0YVKvB9PHyTvxGdOCWgcW17G5UtHxrSYjlvGpS3doVq0_5Omdxq7t-nPqJnTLg8lIwm0kGOK9ywCiRtY-fNifEiL-O8RW78SuI6O/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638580669192397938" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">(By James Kille)</span>
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<br />Splashing in a swimming pool to cool off used to be easy. My apartment complex had three to choose from. That was years ago; now I own a house, and we forgot to put in a pool. During this record heat wave, having a pool would really help.
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<br />We saw a small listing in our newspaper about free outdoor movies, and one was Dive In at the Fairmont. The Fairmont Hotel sits in downtown Dallas and is pretty fancy. They show a free movie at their rooftop pool every Friday night during the summer. We decided to check it out since it was free.
<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrDMeupMJhwmPGk7ik3XhpzlJ9BdZRwNzPMgIOpS90e42MqO6scbMoFTWcCOu5aJp26ljCLrxFpkerY6XhUQIkI8GC1WAFFc8KsOh88NHxoNyM0iJkK1ZhFDjpXSR6hYLr2jGCyfR0fij/s320/Obama+and+pool+041.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWmyFKHScGpbYlMZfht97mNeGQcAkDrxD7E1UK__HAZZH_LhivmtwdhD4mNiUrvtEaOIbzn25hYg_3vMKwg8EiXO3Ol26IGHrUg68fFwt_79vYsd07RlVGYlOPdXEK1uhpz7G475bblWq/s1600/Obama+and+pool+050.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWmyFKHScGpbYlMZfht97mNeGQcAkDrxD7E1UK__HAZZH_LhivmtwdhD4mNiUrvtEaOIbzn25hYg_3vMKwg8EiXO3Ol26IGHrUg68fFwt_79vYsd07RlVGYlOPdXEK1uhpz7G475bblWq/s320/Obama+and+pool+050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638580663207042834" /></a> After walking through the long, fancy lobby, we took the elevator to the Terrace level and found the pool. It wasn't crowded yet; just a few kids splashing and playing. We found the complimentary towel stand and picked out two empty lounge chairs. It actually felt cooler by the pool than the sizzling 105 degrees it was supposed to be, but we didn't want to spend all our time lounging in the sun. We pushed little kids out of the way as we jumped into the shallow end, and then took their inflatables to float on. Actually, no kids were in our way, and there were several abandoned floating devices in the pool. We splashed around and swam to the deep end, where we were all alone. You can't hear the downtown traffic, but you are surrounded by skyscrapers, so you can't really forget where you are. The biggest noise is when the huge A/C fans for the building close by start blasting. The first time I heard it I thought a helicopter was flying by.
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<br />We made sure to get there early so we could have lots of time in the pool, and of course claim some good seats. The tech guy wheeled out the DVD projector about 8 pm, and then it started getting crowded. Some people just wanted a table and something to eat. A couple next to us got a whole meal with drinks brought out. Sodas are 5 dollars, and drinks from the bar start at 10 dollars. Glad I brought my water bottle.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q0QZT4RJJKg9no_utqbesCHZy4WxqfxmpMkyEkPiQ1md7L8kNELqxVPbZWjOV4w3g7EptcNKnXbUh0Oum0d_QGWvhEaayVuZgru8LwWuYLZh9sSp-FO7zkd6pEtltDJVQzDKifaUUsZ9/s1600/Obama+and+pool+048.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q0QZT4RJJKg9no_utqbesCHZy4WxqfxmpMkyEkPiQ1md7L8kNELqxVPbZWjOV4w3g7EptcNKnXbUh0Oum0d_QGWvhEaayVuZgru8LwWuYLZh9sSp-FO7zkd6pEtltDJVQzDKifaUUsZ9/s320/Obama+and+pool+048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638580675957021170" /></a> The guy was still taping down the power cord as more families showed up. Kids with floaties were everywhere. Squealing led to screaming. I took one last dip in the deep end to cool off and get away from the noise. As I dripped dry on the lounge chair, the movie began and people started sitting at the edge of the pool for a good seat. Linda and I had a perfect view from our lounge chairs. The movie was Top Gun, and it brought back lots of memories of when I had first seen it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gpbOOEOh81XtdBJETT-2AreU7KKWAtA_umMqp-4imEDS5_qWVlONl3v-5-feHvAEx64a646n5fabOruVBWi-_5z0j6FyU-OboyKNmY0IQNSujLXE1KFsffACg2hK55SE-Mp5RvkYyF_f/s1600/Obama+and+pool+049.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gpbOOEOh81XtdBJETT-2AreU7KKWAtA_umMqp-4imEDS5_qWVlONl3v-5-feHvAEx64a646n5fabOruVBWi-_5z0j6FyU-OboyKNmY0IQNSujLXE1KFsffACg2hK55SE-Mp5RvkYyF_f/s320/Obama+and+pool+049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638580680449163762" /></a>The best part of the experience was the swimming. It's a very nice pool and all are welcome (not just hotel guests). We left the hotel that evening feeling like we had gone to a big pool party. It is definitely worth the drive to enjoy the atmosphere and cool water.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-71118074392173821732011-06-28T19:01:00.005-05:002011-06-28T20:21:29.167-05:00"Gasland" event/screening at Texas TheaterAll the news lately about <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/06/epa_to_study_whether_hydraulic.php">hydraulic fracturing</a> makes us wish some comedy show would do a parody of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Beverly Hillbillies</span> in modern times. Until <span style="font-style:italic;">Saturday Night Live</span> thinks of it, imagine this opening theme song...<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Come and listen to a story 'bout a guy named Jed<br />He didn't strike oil, but he found some gas instead<br />He sold his mineral rights and got a little money<br />And now his tap water's actin' kinda funny.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Cut to Jed, setting tap water on fire):<br /><br /></span><br /> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XMS8VsG2LSY&start=5&end=8"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XMS8VsG2LSY&start=5&end=8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Jed: "Weeellll doggy!</span>"</blockquote>But seriously, folks, the frackers are coming to Dallas. They've already applied for permits to drill near residential neighborhoods and the usual "pro-business" types are ready to welcome them with open arms. It's time to get educated and ask some questions before they start drilling near you!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WHAT</span>: Screening of <span style="font-style:italic;">Gasland</span> followed by Q & A with film director Josh Fox (by Skype), Robert Wilonsky of the Dallas Observer and local activists.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WHEN</span>: Wednesday, June 29th, doors open at 7:00 with screening at 7:30.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WHERE</span>: <a href="http://thetexastheatre.com/">Texas Theater</a>, 231 West Jefferson, Dallas<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">HOW MUCH</span> $8.50/$7.50 senior. Enter to win free screening tickets at <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/events/the-oocl-present-gasland-a-film-by-josh-fox-2223531/">Dallas Observer event page</a>James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-66263002585200242011-06-22T19:00:00.007-05:002011-06-25T18:16:25.994-05:00Norma's Cafe Turns 55<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsiLhp-QQeGNuDWgB-erjzi6BNQbEpobqoOdNq-li-NX0jLsvP88AQHxvL7VFk3-AnwPaa5TX2eKfkstZw5oYssFi6BsNXldwlVUaJRgcu3BL4cMpYrG4Bw6YgZCuC-7uoTPzKPJLRKUz/s1600/Norma%2527s+and+house+006.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsiLhp-QQeGNuDWgB-erjzi6BNQbEpobqoOdNq-li-NX0jLsvP88AQHxvL7VFk3-AnwPaa5TX2eKfkstZw5oYssFi6BsNXldwlVUaJRgcu3BL4cMpYrG4Bw6YgZCuC-7uoTPzKPJLRKUz/s320/Norma%2527s+and+house+006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622286014221504226" /></a><br />This week in restaurant news, all the buzz surrounded the <a href="http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Traffic-Delays-Expected-for-Grand-Opening-of-New-Restaurant-124378889.html">opening of a new In-N-Out Burger</a>, the first one in Dallas. "In and Out" is an appropriate name for a restaurant in Dallas--most come and go faster than we can get out to try them. In fact, the location of In-N-Out at North Central and Caruth is the former home of another burger place, Steak 'n Shake, which opened to similar hype a few years ago. We actually got to go there a couple of times before it went "out." The burgers were great--but c'mon, really. How hard is it to make a good hamburger? A burger's a burger--all the rest is marketing.<br /><br />Yesterday, we went out for lunch to a restaurant with real staying power, <a href="http://youtu.be/rDFZnZqYz_c">Norma's Cafe</a>, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYyn4PLoseZe2n_F4hanU3TALoTVr9SaWYcQxXjxavf6OoNXuu_0TKcHslw5LkyqvybQDS3vfHgSCO40dWHkTc7BUgL-lsTfLBjyXYGwbEe0hAoCGUEYVmtjNOtcGp4JfgAMo7d3NH5tW/s1600/Norma%2527s+and+house+011.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYyn4PLoseZe2n_F4hanU3TALoTVr9SaWYcQxXjxavf6OoNXuu_0TKcHslw5LkyqvybQDS3vfHgSCO40dWHkTc7BUgL-lsTfLBjyXYGwbEe0hAoCGUEYVmtjNOtcGp4JfgAMo7d3NH5tW/s320/Norma%2527s+and+house+011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622290252987159282" /></a>which celebrated its 55th birthday by giving customers a good meal at 1956 prices. We went with friends, who suggested skipping breakfast and heading out to Norma's at 10:15. What a good idea that was! The place was already packed when we got there, so while we waited for a table we entertained ourselves by watching a news crew setting up to interview Ed Murphy, who's owned the restaurant since 1986.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ZgO4-M0VJCv26LhNJs4Ls3kDHGLtzuKpyxVC1PGx0zUsF0xxR3aQLcKOIjQwJYHzBR_rr6OE_6wW4d4IVN54GjtoJPAN_W0-qDRZ0wTWhr387vuZW6MVzi3fns3pViMLDdKITV7R-es/s1600/Norma%2527s+and+house+005.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6ZgO4-M0VJCv26LhNJs4Ls3kDHGLtzuKpyxVC1PGx0zUsF0xxR3aQLcKOIjQwJYHzBR_rr6OE_6wW4d4IVN54GjtoJPAN_W0-qDRZ0wTWhr387vuZW6MVzi3fns3pViMLDdKITV7R-es/s320/Norma%2527s+and+house+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622292178871194210" /></a>As we were seated, we watched the line grow outside the window. Not quite the traffic jam expected for In-n-Out, but this event wasn't widely publicized, either. You have to be "in the know" to get in on this good deal. We got pretty good service for a crowded day; the efficient wait staff was there to take our order within minutes of our being seated. James ordered the chicken and dressing plate, Linda decided on the meatloaf, and our friends both got Norma's famous chicken fried steak. To be honest, the meal wasn't the most incredible food we'd ever eaten, but it was good enough, especially at $1.79 a plate (which included generous portion of meat with 2 sides, and a huge basket of cornbread and rolls).<br /><br />If you like good home cooked food at a restaurant that's here to stay, check out the original Norma's next time you're in the 'Cliff. (There are two other area locations, one in Farmer's Branch and one on Dallas Parkway in North Dallas). When you visit, be sure to get on the email list for an exclusive invitation to next year's birthday bash, as well as the celebrations of "National Pie Day" and other food related events throughout the year.<br /><br />For a video of Norma's birthday bash, check out this report from TXA 21 News: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDFZnZqYz_c">Norma's Cafe on TXA 21</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE</span>: For an eyewitness account of the traffic jam at In-N-Out, check out this story by reporter Michael Samples at Dallas Business Journal: <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/2011/06/kicked-out-of-line-at-the-in-n-out.html">Kicked out of line at the In-N-Out</a>.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-54658019201789238622011-06-19T07:21:00.006-05:002011-06-19T09:16:47.707-05:00Big Money, Small Turnout Wins Another Election<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD84fz53s9cP22NiOd4hc_RiF30O_8yVKNy1e1D6rWGd3sDYjqZorquVNqjq-gBp_XTJm_VWA9uyGKeyhqzPpf8WE1nhyLygKIITYbRDV8BGCbx91HaNe6JmKUSijJKHMoMkTLumRGDz5y/s1600/Mike+Rawlings+061811.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD84fz53s9cP22NiOd4hc_RiF30O_8yVKNy1e1D6rWGd3sDYjqZorquVNqjq-gBp_XTJm_VWA9uyGKeyhqzPpf8WE1nhyLygKIITYbRDV8BGCbx91HaNe6JmKUSijJKHMoMkTLumRGDz5y/s320/Mike+Rawlings+061811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619905194586194290" /></a>We were hoping it would turn out differently this time, but at the end of the day big money won another Dallas election. The percentages look remarkably similar to other elections where big money was a factor, like the <a href="http://www.dallasvoice.com/the-toll-road-stays-in-whats-next-1023372.html">2007 Trinity Toll Road vote</a>. Big money candidate Mike Rawlings, who outspent David Kunkle 10-1, raising an estimated 2.2 million, <a href="http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/Dallas/31640/45435/en/summary.html">won 55 percent of the vote to Kunkle's 44</a>.<br /><br />Part of the money, apparently, went toward putting up signs in every vacant lot in the city. Looks like that strategy worked.<br /><br />Of the 543,458 registered voters in the city of Dallas, only 55,694 cast votes, just a little better than 10 percent. Compared to Dallas County, that's good news--at least we polled in double-digits. Countywide, there are 742,434 registered voters and only 71,981 voted, a voter turnout percentage of 9.70%.<br /><br />We're always on the 44% end of the 55-44 split, so naturally we have a theory about it. We think 44 percent of voters get their news from Dallas Observer and actually think everything through about how certain issues and candidates will affect life in our city. The 55 percenters, in our opinion, are impressed by <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/274110/">big shiny things</a>, follow the recommendations of Dallas Morning News, and pretty much follow the crowd. Our theory was proved by comments about the candidates in this Dallas Morning News article (subscription required): <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/local-politics/20110617-dallas-voters-list-menu-of-reasons-for-favorites-in-mayoral-runoff.ece?action=reregister">Dallas voters list menu of reasons for favorites in mayoral runoff</a>:<blockquote>"Kunkle is largely responsible for Dallas being a safer city," said Karen Newton, a retiree who ate breakfast recently at Barbec's near White Rock Lake. "A safe city will attract businesses. There will be economic growth and people will want to live in Dallas..."<br /><br />...Lynne Gauss, A DISD substitute teacher agreed...Gauss' son, Steven, who is also a teacher, agreed..."Kunkle wants to focus on the basics."</blockquote>The Rawlings supporters mostly parroted what they'd read in Dallas Morning News about Rawlings being good for business, and were strangely personality-driven:<blockquote>"He's a bright businessman, and that's what the city of Dallas needs right now," retired Lakewood resident Lyle Noah said. "He wants to put people back to work. If you put people back to work, you won't have the problems we're having in Dallas."</blockquote>What th--? We've had a "bright businessman," Tom Leppert, in the mayor's office since 2007! Just about every mayor we've had was supported by the big business community. If we're having problems in Dallas, maybe it's time to go in a different direction, right? Nope. Not according to these folks. And, it seems, personal associations trump ideas, anyway:<blockquote>Mike Hartnett, a salesman from Dallas, said Rawlings is not a politician..."Plus, he's supported by Roger Staubach."...Roger Hubbard [said] "I never liked Laura Miller. She helped us lose the Cowboys; now she supports Kunkle."</blockquote>So we predict more of the same from our new mayor, a continuation of the Leppert years, big-business as usual.<br /><br />We predict that within the next year, our mayor will be mentioned in the national news, <a href="http://lakewood.bubblelife.com/v/35102/4QE8I/Mike_Rawlings-Helmed_Company_Sued_for_Alleged_Tip_Pocketing.html">but not in a good way</a> and that he'll back off from supporting the Trinity Toll Road after <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2011-06-09/news/hey-mike-rawlings-pick-up-a-damn-paper-will-you/">finally finding the facts he's been looking for</a>.<br /><br />We really do wish him all the best, and we hope he'll make good on his campaign promise to support neighborhood projects as well as big-ticket items. We live here, after all, and it's no fun at all to see mayor after mayor make the same expensive mistakes while we stand by on the sidelines yelling, "We tried to warn y'all!"<br /><br />And, we hope the first order of business for our mayor-elect is picking up all those damned signs!James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-66965180485134958142011-06-16T17:00:00.003-05:002011-06-17T15:28:11.559-05:00Dallas celebrates its winning teamWe're not all that into sports--in fact, we were watching the Tony Awards on Sunday when the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=310612014">Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat</a>. But we had been tuning into the last few minutes of the playoff off games leading up to the winning game, and have to admit that it was fun to see a real Dallas team make it to the top.<br /><br />Trivia question for you out-of-town readers: how many nationally-recognized teams do we have in Dallas? The answer is two. The Dallas Stars (hockey) and the Dallas Mavericks.<br /><br />If you guessed the Cowboys, you've been fooled by their name into thinking they play here. They don't. The DINO (Dallas-in-name-only) Cowboys play in Arlington, as do the Texas Rangers.<br /><br />A lot of sports pundits have analyzed the Mavericks' win, pointing to teamwork and coaching to explain it, but we think plain old-fashioned karma had something to do with it, too. The Mavericks deserve to win because their owner, Mark Cuban, hasn't begged the taxpayers for <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2004-11-02-dallas-stadium_x.htm">corporate welfare</a> like Cowboys' owners did in Irving and Arlington. <a href="http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/30005272">Mark Cuban is even picking up the tab for today's parade</a> saying<blockquote>"I'll pay for it because I don't think it's right for the city to have to pay for it. And let's just have some fun."</blockquote>No one who lived in Dallas in the 1990s will forget the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1993-02-10/sports/sp-1262_1_dallas-cowboy">disastrous parade celebrating the Cowboys' 1993 Super Bowl win</a>. (A trivia question for you--in what city did the Dallas Cowboys play when they last won the Super Bowl? Answer: Irving.) Today's parade went smoothly, with fans staying well-behaved--for the most part. <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2011/jun/16/dallas-mavericks-victory-parade-over-arrests-dart/">Three people were arrested</a>, some citations were given for selling unofficial merchandise, and 145 were treated for heat exhaustion, but otherwise things went very smoothly. Even the trash was picked up in a timely manner, with city workers picking up trash as it fell instead of letting it accumulate. Well done!<br /><br />We also appreciated Mark Cuban sharing the spotlight with <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4679670/title-is-close-for-former-mavericks-owner">former Mavs owner Don Carter</a>. There's only one word for that--<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/news/Sports_Minute/25532682">classy</a>. Mark Cuban has shed his image as basketball's richest brat, keeping his mouth shut throughout the finals. We think he gets it--good karma leads to big wins.<br /><br />Over a decade ago, it looked like the Mavericks were headed down the same "bad karma" road as the Cowboys, when Ross Perot, Jr. bought the team from Don Carter and started demanding corporate welfare for a new stadium. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reunion_Arena">Reunion Arena</a> wasn't good enough, he said, and he wanted a new one. Well, in true big-money Dallas fashion, when the billionaire made demands, the city poobahs fell all over each other to support it. The deal to put tax dollars into building a new arena had to be brought before voters, and the pro-arena boosters outspent the frugal anti-side (us) by <a href="http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/mavs-win-and-dallas-is-ready-t.html">20-1</a>. Our side argued that we already had a perfectly good arena which could be remodeled to keep up with whatever sports enthusiasts were demanding as far as seating and big screen TV displays. The deal passed, of course, but by only 1,600 votes. Still, the pro-arena side rubbed opposition noses in the dirt by calling the new project "Victory Park," a name that still rankles opponents of the deal.<br /><br />Then, naming rights were sold to <a href="http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/DallasMavericks/newindex.htm">American Airlines</a>, jumping on the <a href="http://www.newsoptimist.ca/article/20101202/BATTLEFORD0302/312029986/-1/battleford/naming-game-getting-goofy">goofy bandwagon of naming venues for products</a>. (Reunion Arena was named for <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/uel01">La Réunion</a>, a community of 18th century French settlers).<br /><br />Ross Perot, Jr. realized over time that he really didn't know that much about basketball and sold the team to Mark Cuban.<br /><br />Mark Cuban was a breath of fresh air in sports ownership. Sure, he cussed, made inappropriate comments about players, yelled rude things during games, but what the heck? He's a sports enthusiast, and that's how they act. You wouldn't expect that kind of behavior at the <a href="http://www.dallassymphony.com/History.aspx">DSO</a>, but sports fans act like that, so why not the owner? Among a field usually dominated by old pasty-white good ol' boys with beer bellies and comb-overs, Mark Cuban was an immediate standout, which--in our opinion, anyway--was good publicity for our city.<br /><br />Like we said, we're not sports fans, but it was cool seeing "our" team on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtemXPzD2Y">David Letterman</a> last night reading the Top Ten.<br /><br />And we also enjoyed seeing our mayor riding in the parade today. Another quick trivia question for readers looking at this in years to come: Who was Mayor of Dallas when the Mavericks won the NBA Championship? Answer: <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4679804/dwaine-carraway-not-getting-carried-away-yet">Dwaine Caraway</a>. Former Mayor <a href="http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/in-resignation-speech-mayor-to.html">Tom Leppert stepped down in February</a> to pursue a run for the U.S. Senate, leaving the job to Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway. Caraway got off to a bumpy start to his interim term, with questions over <a href="http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/02/bar-the-door-dw.html">why he gave a key to the city to Michael Vick</a> and what exactly went on <a href="http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2011/01/12/dwaine-caraway-changes-story-about-incident/">when he called the cops late one night</a>. But now, with Election Day on the horizon, his term days away from being done, there was our mayor, Dwaine Caraway, riding in the Mavericks' victory parade, being quoted in <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4679824/mavericks-fans-we-did-it">national blogs</a>.<br /><br />Congratulations, Mayor Caraway, for finishing your last days on the job on a positive note.<br /><br />All the TV news stations ran coverage of the parade non-stop, and they estimate that 200,000 fans lined the parade route. Wish we could get everybody this excited about voting.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Research material used in this blog post:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/1998-01-15/culture/mavs-held-hostage/">Mavs Held Hostage</a>, Robert Wilonsky, <span style="font-style:italic;">Dallas Observer</span>, January 15, 1998.<br /><a href="http://amarillo.com/stories/012100/spo_LS0517.001.shtml">Perot sells Mavs to Internet Mogul</a>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Associated Press</span>, January 21, 2000.<br /><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/164310/20110616/mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks.htm">Mark Cuban's Millions in Fines</a>, International Business Times, June 16, 2011.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-12882747246882865612011-06-07T12:43:00.005-05:002011-06-13T08:59:06.628-05:00Great minds think alike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzvAt7rHdGyCr_YNo3VdrYLmWla-zq160DjVKW7XkN7Z7Fiucg4M7n-TO7c68ExUzpAIObbm2jO9PJ__vTiZ-IPTQlcYii04s0FYNc7lz029X9K8RzS55qeRCwUcDohMRiAJICnGisjM/s1600/Kessler+061111.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyzvAt7rHdGyCr_YNo3VdrYLmWla-zq160DjVKW7XkN7Z7Fiucg4M7n-TO7c68ExUzpAIObbm2jO9PJ__vTiZ-IPTQlcYii04s0FYNc7lz029X9K8RzS55qeRCwUcDohMRiAJICnGisjM/s320/Kessler+061111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617703196136076162" /></a>In today's Dallas Morning News, we were surprised to see the words "Real Dallas" on the Viewpoints page. The writer, Ben Fountain, highlighted Oak Cliff in his article, featuring the newly remodeled Kessler Theater.<br /><br />The Dallas Morning News has its article behind subscription firewall, and those with subscriptions can see the article at this link: <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/north-south-dallas-project/viewpoints/20110606-ben-fountain-forget-the-ewings-kessler-theater-is-a-real-dallas-treasure.ece?action=reregister">Forget the Ewings — Kessler Theater is a real Dallas treasure</a> (the headline in the print edition, which caught our attention, said "The Real Dallas").<br /><br />If you don't have a subscription to Dallas Morning News, you can read the article in its entirety without a firewall at The New York Times: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/opinion/05fountain.html">Not J.R.’s Kind of Town</a>.<br /><br />Thank you, Ben Fountain, for carrying the Real Dallas message to the world!James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-8254077291075817692011-06-06T09:46:00.004-05:002011-06-06T11:43:07.854-05:00Nice guys finish last (and first)Early voting starts today for the runoff election for the mayor's race, and voters have a choice between two nice guys, Mike Rawlings and <a href="http://realdallas.blogspot.com/2011/03/davd-kunkle-mayor-for-real-dallas.html">David Kunkle</a> (who has earned Real Dallas' endorsement). Over the weekend, Gromer Jeffers of Dallas Morning News wrote that the election was a "dud" because the candidates are so friendly to each other in debates, but we think the decorum of the debates is a model for the country. The two candidates have differences of opinion on the direction of the city, but they've been able to express those differences with intelligence and humor, without resorting to the ugliness we've seen at the national level.<br /><br />At one point in a debate at <a href="http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/peace-love-and-understanding-m.html">Cathedral of Hope</a>, for instance, the debate was about to turn nasty over an audience question to Mike Rawlings, asking why the gay community has issued a warning about his stand on civil rights. According to reports, Rawlings seemed "unbalanced" by the question. Most candidates we've seen at the national level would smell blood in the water and go in for the kill if an opponent faltered on such a question, but not David Kunkle:<blockquote> At that point, Kunkle asked to respond and defended his opponent as a decent man.<br /><br />"I've had the opportunity to be with Mr. Rawlings 60 to 70 times and one of the venues we went to was at the Stewpot. There wasn't single vote to be had in that room. We each did it because we thought it was the noble thing to do...I think Mr. Rawlings is a very noble, honorable man," he said.<br /><br />The cathedral broke out in applause.<br /><br />When it quieted down, Rawlings joked, "I'm voting for Kunkle."</blockquote>That demonstrates one of the qualities we like about David Kunkle, his ability to smooth over differences and build a consensus among opposing sides.<br /><br />Over the weekend, the two candidates worked the crowd at a "<a href="http://www.dallassouthnews.org/2011/06/02/dallas-mayoral-candidates-to-participate-in-beer-poll-at-katy-trail-ice-house/">beer poll</a>" designed to get younger voters interested in casting actual votes on Election Day. At Real Dallas, we don't think that kind of candidate interaction is dull, we find it as refreshing as a Blue Moon (Kunkle's favorite beer) on a hot summer day!<br /><br />On Saturday, <a href="http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/kunkle-small-bu.html">Linda's letter endorsing David Kunkle</a> was published:<blockquote>Whenever a mayoral candidate claims to be "pro-business," I think of all my friends who've started businesses in Dallas and have had to jump through hoops to follow the city's conflicting Certificate of Occupancy requirements, vague parking ordinances and rules that do not apply to their particular business.<br /><br />A chocolatier in Oak Cliff, for instance, was told she would have to install a grease trap in her kitchen to make chocolate on site, even though no grease is produced in the process of making chocolate. She ended up renting an off-site commercial kitchen just to satisfy the city, even though her on-site kitchen is perfectly suitable.<br /><br />David Kunkle gets my vote, because he's actually been a customer of many of Dallas' small businesses close to residential areas. Kunkle seems more likely than his opponent to be friendly to all of the city's businesses, not just the ones with the deepest pockets.</blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFCuLoqoVuNAt05GF6P2z4kYu7e5KXRdBIhPVNjKxbL3uBqLOsYh2chfxjTSeevQ-7ewb49ckzn445MAzcM-dVpEMrfVkhTxgKd9wFRicKwfHLVXHvHzZolWyy_VrPJHq1GCIdONXXEo7/s1600/Cocandre.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFCuLoqoVuNAt05GF6P2z4kYu7e5KXRdBIhPVNjKxbL3uBqLOsYh2chfxjTSeevQ-7ewb49ckzn445MAzcM-dVpEMrfVkhTxgKd9wFRicKwfHLVXHvHzZolWyy_VrPJHq1GCIdONXXEo7/s320/Cocandre.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615148007595538546" /></a>The business Linda referred to is <a href="http://cocoandre.com/">Cocoandre</a> on Davis Street; we talked to the owner shortly after the business opened and she told us all about commercial kitchens, grease traps, and the making of chocolate. The same night, we talked to the owner of <a href="http://www.fromtheendsoftheearth.com/">From the Ends of the Earth</a> about her problems getting the city to approve her move to a larger space two doors down from her first location. She had to go through the parking ordinance paperwork all over again, even though she was moving to a different location in the same strip shopping center!<br /><br />Small businesses create jobs, when they're allowed to flourish, and we want a mayor who understands that and will take time to hear from everybody, not just the richest corporations wanting to relocate headquarters to Dallas.<br /><br />In our opinion, David Kunkle is best suited for the job. But they're both nice guys, so whoever you like best, get out and cast your vote!<br /><br />Early voting runs Monday, June 6 through Tuesday, June 14. For a list of early voting dates, times and locations, go to <a href="http://dalcoelections.org/june182011/EVLocations.htm">Dallas County Elections</a>.<br /><br />Election Day is Saturday, June 18. For a list of Election Day polling locations, go to this link: <a href="http://dalcoelections.org/june182011/votinglocations.asp">Dallas County Elections--Election Day polling locations</a>.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-4845167969203891842011-05-16T10:20:00.009-05:002011-05-17T11:34:48.968-05:00Some "Real Dallas" wins, and a runoffOur city council representative, <a href="http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/CityCouncil/District1/index.html">Delia Jasso</a>, has done such a fine job on the Council that she had no opponent in our recent election. (Last time, there were a slew of opponents campaigning for the open seat left when Elba Garcia was term-limited; Delia ended up winning her seat in a runoff election). Delia grew up in what would become her city council district, and knows the needs of our community better than anyone. She always votes to support funding for "Real Dallas" issues like schools and local arts groups. So with her victory "in the bag," we concentrated on getting David Kunkle elected.<br /><br /><a href="http://davidkunkle.com/">David Kunkle</a> ended up in a runoff with Mike Rawlings, so it's back to work helping him get over the finish line on June 18. Watch for us in our Kunkle shirts, coming soon to your neighborhood to ask for your vote!<br /><br />Besides our own Delia Jasso, our favorite council member is <a href="http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/CityCouncil/District14/index.html">Angela Hunt</a>, who researches everything the council votes on, making sure the taxpayers aren't going to get stuck for some expensive boondoggle. Supposedly, she's for "raising taxes," which isn't true (ask James to explain the math--since our property values went down, the latest "tax increase" wasn't really an increase, it just kept our tax payments the same. Plus, <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20100905-At-Dallas-town-hall-meetings-8915.ece">the people asked for a tax increase</a> at one town hall after another, begging council to let us pay a few pennies more per year to keep the libraries, rec centers and pools open!)<br /><br />This year, Angela Hunt faced four challengers, but won with 67% of the vote! Because of term limits, this will be Angela's final term on the Council, and we wish her all the best in her continual quest to protect Dallasite from <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2011-03-24/news/maybe-city-council-should-have-asked-some-questions-before-taking-drillers-money/">gas drilling</a>, <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-10-18/news/gunfight-at-the-trinity/">toll roads</a> and <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/02/no_honeymoon_suite_for_these_t.php">expensive things taxpayers shouldn't be paying for</a>.<br /><br />And last, but certainly not least, there's <a href="http://griggsfordallas.com/">Scott Griggs</a>, a Real Dallas hero, who surprised everybody by beating incumbent <a href="http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/CityCouncil/District3/index.html">Dave Neumann</a>, taking 58% of the vote.<br /><br />When we think of Scott Griggs, we think of dumpster diving--if the dumpster has been scraped clean, lined with a protective sheet, and filled with cool clean water on a hot summer day. I hadn't heard of <a href="http://wn.com/oakcliffmag">dumpster pools</a> until a local magazine ran an article about it, so I thought Scott Griggs invented the <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2010-08-19/news/greener-acres/">unique solution to beating the summer heat in underserved communities</a>. Not so! Turns out, it's a national trend, and <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/park-avenue-dumpster-diving-york-dumpsters-summer-swimming/story?id=11360622">dumpster pools can even be found lining Park Avenue</a> in New York City! So while it's not unique to Dallas, the dumpster pool trend is certainly the kind of "Real Dallas" solution we're looking for, especially as the city seems hellbent on closing all the recreation centers and pools every summer. We welcome Scott Griggs, problem solver and pragmatist, to the Dallas City Council, and wish him a long, productive tenure on the Council.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-31476835145372524162011-03-31T21:38:00.007-05:002011-05-17T10:20:33.166-05:00David Kunkle: A Mayor for Real Dallas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_12AnJWqZaM6YJrlZkAU0h3ew0V713pj53bZMnt5TASpjK3TpaRQOxIVzpgSTT6zpgS2mEcymLYVKFgJJS70SKXnwPneZTIRC8RSTakme0NsaGZBunsgl8sek6fN1KrdxMARi5_5D4qV/s1600/March+2011+Rocky%252C+David+Kunkle+014.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_12AnJWqZaM6YJrlZkAU0h3ew0V713pj53bZMnt5TASpjK3TpaRQOxIVzpgSTT6zpgS2mEcymLYVKFgJJS70SKXnwPneZTIRC8RSTakme0NsaGZBunsgl8sek6fN1KrdxMARi5_5D4qV/s320/March+2011+Rocky%252C+David+Kunkle+014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590439377660379186" /></a>(<span style="font-style:italic;">by Linda Coleman</span>) When James and I started this on-again-off-again blog, it was our intention to highlight the "real" parts of Dallas, like the funky art galleries, cool independently owned shops, and diverse neighborhoods that you didn't see on a certain TV show of the same name. Now, we finally have a mayoral candidate who embodies the sprit of "real" Dallas. When David Kunkle first announced he was running, James and I decided to vote for him, even before we'd heard a single campaign speech because he's one of us--an advocate for neighborhoods, homegrown businesses, good schools and pothole-free streets.<br /><br />Ours is not an impetuous sight-unseen endorsement. We first met David Kunkle in 2004 when he became Police Chief and actually made the rounds to all the neighborhood crime watch groups. He was patient with even the most long-winded and pushy crime watch activists, taking time to hear from everybody without making up excuses for a hasty exit. David even managed to navigate the turbulent, toxic political waters of our city and come out of it unscathed, a remarkable achievement highlighted in this article by Tanya Eiserer at Dallas Morning News: <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20100430-Outgoing-Dallas-Police-Chief-David-Kunkle-9836.ece">Outgoing Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle reflects on a long ride</a>.<br /><br />Tonight, we attended a dinner in David Kunkle's home for the Democratic Party Precinct Chairs (a similar function was held for Republican Precinct Chairs last week). His East Dallas home, just off Lower Greenville Avenue, reflects the kind of person he is. It's a new home, but not one of those horrid "McMansions," rather a Tudor-style house that looks amazingly like the original houses in the neighborhood; from the outside, it's hard to tell the difference between his house and the original 1920s era home next door. This care for neighborhood aesthetics is a quality we look for in city leadership.<br /><br />David was introduced by former State Representative and Swiss Avenue resident Harryette Ehrhardt, who--without naming names--compared David with his opponents in the mayoral race. One of them, she said, has promised to spend his time as Mayor contacting CEOs, asking for their input in running our city. David, she said, will spend time contacting us--which, of course, he spent six years doing as police chief, going to neighborhood meetings, listening to the concerns of real people who live in Dallas.<br /><br />David began by enumerating a few reasons he decided to run for mayor: the way the <a href="http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-10-18/news/gunfight-at-the-trinity/">Trinity River toll road</a> was misrepresented to the public, how the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/10/06/daily48.html">Convention Center hotel </a>threatened to put taxpayers at risk, and tax abatements for corporations for which there are few benefits to the citizens of Dallas.<br /><br />Then, there's the issue of <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20101112-Editorial-Mr-Mayor-3332.ece">former mayor Leppert's hyper-partisanship</a>. As we've already seen from David Kunkle's demeanor as Police Chief, partisanship is not his thing. "I believe the mayor should be non-partisan and reach out to every voter's group," he said, citing his enjoyment as Police Chief representing every kind of group from Stonewall Democrats to the Republican Women's Club.<br /><br />David Kunkle likes to poke fun at himself for his reputation as being "socially awkward," but enjoys talking about being featured in the documentary "<a href="http://www.beattheoddsinstitute.org/news/releases/2006-12-documentary.php">Good to Great</a>," which cited his non-charismatic personality as the mark of leader who genuinely cares about people.<br /><br />"I've never been motivated by money as a primary driver," said Kunkle, distinguishing himself from his opponents who are definitely driven by profit at the expense of everything else. Which brings up another point--money. The other candidates have it, and David Kunkle doesn't. So what he needs is word of mouth advertising. The other candidates will be stuffing your mailbox with oversized glossy postcards, David Kunkle will be relying upon all of us to put up yard signs, talk to neighbors, and help turn out the vote for Early Voting and Election Day. For more information on helping David Kunkle's campaign, visit his website, <a href="http://www.davidkunkle.com/">Kunkle for Mayor</a>; for information about Early Voting and Election Day polling times and locations, visit <a href="http://www.dalcoelections.org/may142011/index.asp">Dallas County Elections</a>.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-37373713569637801522010-07-26T11:27:00.025-05:002010-07-26T12:53:48.169-05:00Know your stripes and spots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd5ZO4x-vlkkWh8q0FLZAKxBKqpJOtRHKeZi79Uy4tGhAZDikdetZSpD_jeyEinrcL_zVaB_CaPh8yYVa9aj41qj1Q71O0eZ67h_trWdNyFNoUvvSfF8MNdx4Esa3jfPJ1jaNekZmh4KG/s1600/tiger-info0.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDd5ZO4x-vlkkWh8q0FLZAKxBKqpJOtRHKeZi79Uy4tGhAZDikdetZSpD_jeyEinrcL_zVaB_CaPh8yYVa9aj41qj1Q71O0eZ67h_trWdNyFNoUvvSfF8MNdx4Esa3jfPJ1jaNekZmh4KG/s320/tiger-info0.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498264544150501730" /></a>One morning last week, we were watching the news and saw an interesting item; several DART riders called 911 in a panic, saying that they'd see <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072110dnmetunionstationtigers.75c8f.html" target="blank">tigers walking the streets in downtown Dallas</a>. So police ordered one of their helicopters to scope out the area with a spotlight, and the news showed several police cars out there, along with some patrol officers on foot with flashlights.<br /><br />Our conversation in front of the TV went something like this:<br /><br />James: "Why didn't they just call the zoo and find out if anybody's missing?"<br /><br />Linda: "So how much did it cost to send out a helicopter?"<br /><br />James: "I'll bet they're bobcats."<br /><br />Linda: "Probably, but they don't look anything like tigers. If I was the 911 operator, I'd say, 'are you sure you know what a tiger looks like'?"<br /><br />Then we started doing the Monty Python routine where <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOmB1q8W4Y" target="blank">Michael Palin wants to be a lion tamer</a> until John Cleese points out that what he's calling a lion is actually an anteater.<br /><br />Linda: "Call the zoo and see if they're missing an anteater!"<br /><br />Well, someone finally called the zoo, and no, there were no tigers--or any other animals--missing. Turns out, <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/07/yeah_about_that_tiger_sighting.php" target="blank">the cats walking down the street were bobcats</a>.<br /><br />Then, also last week, we were at a party where a man was talking about a woman across the room wearing "a leopard printed shirt."<br /><br />The shirt was white with black zebra stripes.<br /><br />C'mon, people, get your stripes and spots straight, will ya? You're going to drive the police crazy and waste tax dollars that we don't have if you keep calling in reports about tigers on the loose in the city.<br /><br />We have bobcats in Dallas. They live here, and they were here first. According to this article, <a href="http://www.helium.com/items/1902491-bobcats-in-urban-areas" target="blank">bobcats invade urban areas</a>, but it's actually the other way 'round. We've invaded bobcat territory, and put up parking garages and tall buildings where bobcats live. Mostly, they stay hidden like any other cat, but sometimes we see them. When you see one, please don't call 911 saying you saw a tiger, okay?<br /><br />After that guy called a woman's shirt "leopard print," we decided to do a public service piece called "Know your stripes and spots," to keep the lines clear for real emergencies.<br /><br />If you think you've seen a tiger walking around downtown Dallas, take a look at the picture at the top of this blog post. That's a tiger.<br /><br />This is a bobcat:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbXvBQS4cvKSWqnNcZ8N-159kjc6jqiATTkQgk9ya7ruYwJdwxeSw7zpUd_-IP1IiToWQiUGZCTj2w-_HI2ReJXrHFALOJMUEkDlUzsiNMasKY-2NDlrI3R_UeTLceG1htMPlkzM_Xzem/s1600/tiger-info0.gif"></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG_E3HILFnMo5s7c0YmE5ASafWb-wRor35cGOrVxjnZmMzceDNKGjE71-wpIWEUh7qP13FSVzv4ffG8DdooOGXYQsHBNpZY9cRHh4qshvTvXCcH6lYp0w_1xAxtwz846jR6fLKMIObfV1/s320/bobcat_1.jpg" /><br /><br />And, just for the record, women's leopard print tops look something like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrg1fqoSElnBWL92MaxMAbYYQohccw3J4co6HclvTaNQJiYfZ0oAddX5fzxEN_oU1dYHdQiSrbABTTOgnOUym7K6Fn7LfiKIUaVFbeZGqMnKqGDz_S28GMxTQprXXvslVCCbCStu-pYd7/s1600/leopard+print.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 88px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrg1fqoSElnBWL92MaxMAbYYQohccw3J4co6HclvTaNQJiYfZ0oAddX5fzxEN_oU1dYHdQiSrbABTTOgnOUym7K6Fn7LfiKIUaVFbeZGqMnKqGDz_S28GMxTQprXXvslVCCbCStu-pYd7/s320/leopard+print.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265438417408866" /></a><br />Zebras are striped like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-9BEs4JlbLwZjsYYPaikRsOJACk1AcnzLpw0EDymS5oqppOd60vYOoYXCRckeFPFSGZZNMytYO363b9eE-9AJ_XYcPBgaSRTarY6vxAi4hXxodwMfqZruIHTv1LrCZ1VDMvUHxcjNVVe/s1600/zebra.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-9BEs4JlbLwZjsYYPaikRsOJACk1AcnzLpw0EDymS5oqppOd60vYOoYXCRckeFPFSGZZNMytYO363b9eE-9AJ_XYcPBgaSRTarY6vxAi4hXxodwMfqZruIHTv1LrCZ1VDMvUHxcjNVVe/s320/zebra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498269414515371522" /></a><br />So before calling 911, or attempting to describe a woman's shirt after having consumed quite a few drinks, compare your sighting to the images on this blog. Always glad to help out.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-64637598977574785062010-06-23T09:59:00.005-05:002010-06-23T10:29:21.119-05:00Icehouse Art Gallery re-opens July 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fHbo_P8sb3QR1gHaVIX7rtIL53PDKqc-NTSHuPXrl67VbfUndUve5_tpZSeyUQq3ybfIdmrrfZXcjCOVHZIvOBsHoXNHDf5yGODSzA71-CAYdUWovv0mmd_iGs19KQfgMRxu9eaawKl5/s1600/Randy+Gonzales+%233.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fHbo_P8sb3QR1gHaVIX7rtIL53PDKqc-NTSHuPXrl67VbfUndUve5_tpZSeyUQq3ybfIdmrrfZXcjCOVHZIvOBsHoXNHDf5yGODSzA71-CAYdUWovv0mmd_iGs19KQfgMRxu9eaawKl5/s320/Randy+Gonzales+%233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485985851439319986" /></a>Good news, North Oak Cliff art lovers--the Icehouse Art Gallery<br />is re-opening July 1!<br /><br />In September, 2009, we were told by the <a href="http://www.dallasculture.org/iceHouseCulturalCenter/">Office of Cultural Affairs</a> that Icehouse was closing to "prepare for our transition to the new Oak Cliff Cultural Center in the second half of 2010."<br /><br />"Gee whiz," we thought at the time, "How come our cool neighborhood gallery has to close just because we're getting a cultural center?" Don't know the particulars yet on how this venue was rescued, but Icehouse is back!<br /><br />The grand re-opening will be July 1, from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm, in conjunction with Bishop Arts' First Thursday, and will feature the works of artist and gallery director Randy Gonzales (pictured above, showing his work at an August 2009 show at Daniel Padilla gallery). Icehouse Art Gallery is located at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=1000+page+st+dallas+texas&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=1000+W+Page+Ave,+Dallas,+TX+75208&gl=us&ei=LCciTIimHIKclgfOtbyPAQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA">1000 W. Page St</a>., Dallas, TX 75208. For more information, call (214) 901-3090, or read more about it at <a href="http://listings.guidelive.com/dallas-tx/events/show/125662245-the-icehouse-art-gallery-grand-reopening">GuideLive</a>.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-45617389812035243672010-06-14T21:01:00.002-05:002011-04-03T17:16:53.582-05:00Good Guys, Bad Directions(<span style="font-style:italic;">by James Kille</span>) If you have tuned into the new Fox cop show called "The Good Guys," you can be happy that another Hollywood television production has taken advantage of local tax incentives and chosen Dallas as the setting for its action series. Much like the long-running "Walker" series, the writing has much to be desired, but it's fun to see Dallas used as a backdrop for a television show, even if the writer doesn't know how to use a Mapsco.<br /><br />From the two episodes (the pilot and the "Bait & Switch" episode) that I have have seen, there is much to like about this energetic and unconventional cop show, most notably the performance by Bradley Whitford, who seems to have loads of fun shaking off the remnants of his (award winning) role in "The West Wing," now a piece of television history. However,as a Dallas resident, I am continually puzzled by the locations and directions given to further the action.<br /><br />Most notably, Dan Stark (Whitford's character) lives in a trailer under the shadow of the "Texas Star," the iconic Ferris Wheel in Fair Park. It was featured in both episodes, and it is unmistakeable that Stark's humble trailer is within spitting distance of the famous Star, and the top of the Cotton Bowl is seen in some of the shots of his trashy trailer. To any Dallas resident, it is obvious that Stark's "home" is inside the confines of <a href="http://www.fairpark.org/"TARGET="_blank">Fair Park</a>, a National Historic Landmark, 277 acres owned and controlled by the City of Dallas, which does not have and would not allow a private residence, let alone a trashy trailer to exist within its confines. Furthermore, it is a fairly established fact that <a href="http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2010/05/dallas-police-spokesman-to-city-drop-dead/"TARGET="_blank">most Dallas Police Officers live in suburbs, not Dallas proper</a>. Even Jack Bailey, (Hank's character) tells a villain in "Bait & Switch," "not far," when asked, "how far away do you live." They were at a swanky, fictitious 'romantic' restaurant, which would be somewhere in central Dallas. Does Jack Bailey live in a Highland Park apartment? Possibly an Uptown overpriced highrise, or possibly an East Dallas duplex? In any case, he could not live 'minutes away' in Garland, or Grand Prairie, or Desoto, or Richardson, or Plano, or any of the other suburbs that true Dallas Police officers populate. <br /><br />Even if Stark and Bailey truly worked in Dallas, they would need a Mapsco to navigate the streets and find the bad guys. In the opening shots of "Bait & Switch," the director unfortunately gives us a street sign in the shot, where I saw the street name, "Fulton." <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=dallas%20fulton%20st&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl"TARGET="_blank">Fulton St.</a> is a mile-long stretch of quaint East-Dallas residential real estate, so it is hard to mistake where it is. The good guys then supposedly use an ingenious plan to find the bad guy's hideaway, a warehouse that is actually the Centennial Building once again at Fair Park, (south of Downtown) one mile away from the Fulton St. area. This is supposedly a remote warehouse that "no one else knows about," far away from the action of Central Dallas. This "warehouse" is recognizable by the singular arched windows, part of the design of the Art Deco building that millions of Dallas residents have visited.<br /><br />Our bad guy (Nigel) wants to ship his stolen cars to Baton Rouge by train, and the director places his "train" scene in front of the 50-100 year-old trains of the <a href="http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com/"TARGET="_blank">Museum of the American Railroad</a>, another resident of Fair Park. These trains haven't run the rails for 50 years; they're museum pieces. It's laughable to Dallas residents that a criminal would think he could load his vintage stolen goods onto a train that is not connected to any working rail line, much less try to get that 50-year-old train to move its dead ass more than an inch towards Baton Rouge.<br /><br />While we're in Fair Park, why doesn't Stark (a detective with good instincts) realize that this 'warehouse' is several hundred yards from his trashy trailer, also in Fair Park? <br /><br />Also laughable to Dallas residents is the direction to "go south on McKinney" when the good guys are trying to find Stark's snitch, Julius. They end up at an underpass near Fair Park, which would be logical if the bad guys had their hideaway at the Centennial Building. Unfortunately, McKinney does not go south, but hits downtown Dallas, only to curve west, and end as it merges into Woodall Rogers. Our good guys would have been looking for Julius in the 'Victory Park' area of western Downtown Dallas, a good two miles away from where the true action was.<br /><br />When Stark uses his snitch, Julius, again to hunt down the bad guys, he ends up in Deep Ellum (with Downtown Dallas in the background), yelling at the laptop computer that it's "go time," and threatening to shoot it if it doesn't tell him where Jack is. Julius figures out how a laptop works, and tells him to "go east on 30 to Westmoreland," to find Sammy's Metalworks (the new hideout). Unfortunately, Westmoreland is positively WEST of downtown Dallas. If these idiots went east on 30 from downtown, they would end up in Mesquite, miles from where they needed to be.<br /><br />We also see our heroes constantly crossing the Trinity River using the Houston and Jefferson Viaducts, as if these are the major arteries in and out of Downtown Dallas. In fact, these viaducts do not even connect with the major highway, I-30. If Stark was so concerned about getting to his partner in time, he would have used any one of the streets or highways that connect with I-30 to take him WEST to Westmoreland and the warehouse area there. Once there, of course he uses the obligatory car-smashing-through-a-large-window action sequence, plus a shoot-the-propane-tanks-instead-of-the-bad-guys-to-make-a-large-explosion to bring this preposterous plot to its conclusion. <br /><br />Mayor Tom Leppert recently welcomed the cast of "The Good Guys" to Dallas, hopefully encouraging them to stay a long time and spend lots of money. He should have included a Mapsco in his welcome gift. Apparently, they need to learn their way around Dallas.<br /><br />If you watch "The Good Guys" to see a few snatches of recognizable Dallas scenery and a few entertaining moments, be sure to have a tall Long Island Iced Tea sitting within reach. As you watch the comedy ensue, make a drinking game of it. Take a swig every time you see Fair Park in the shot, or double gulps when bad directions are given. "The Good Guys" airs Monday at 8:00 pm, KDFW, Fox, channel 4, repeated Friday, 8:00 p.m.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-43352763073122583482010-06-06T17:29:00.013-05:002011-04-03T17:17:27.073-05:00Not Dead Yet(<span style="font-style:italic;">by Linda Coleman</span>) Yeah, I know. We told everybody about our blog, got y'all to look, then promptly abandoned the project. Every now and then, as we're traveling around this city, making snarky comments about the state of things, we say, "Hey, we should write that hilarious comment on our blog." Then, we forget to do it. Call it TBTB--Too Busy To Blog.<br /><br />Well, last night, we were at a party and ran into a friend who asked what happened to the blog. "Didn't you used to have a blog about Dallas?" the friend asked. "I really enjoyed reading that."<br /><br />Wow! We actually have a fan! Maybe more than one. So that encounter was enough to encourage us to re-re-launch the blog. For now, anyway.<br /><br />The title of this blog post comes from a bad experience at one of our favorite restaurants. I'm not going to say which one, because we usually get really, really great service there. Today, though, we got such lousy service that we started doubting our very existence.<br /><br />"I'm a ghost," James told me, as I returned from the restroom. By that time, we had been ready to leave for about 15 minutes, but the waitress hadn't been by with our check.<br /><br />"Maybe we're dead," I ventured.<br /><br />"Right," James said. "If we tried to leave without paying, we'd find out we're not dead."<br /><br />Several more minutes went by, as we watched our waitress walk right by without seeing us time after time. She was all kissy-face with the people sitting across the aisle from us, chatty with a table behind us (8 minutes of chatty--James timed her), but she walked right by us, as if we were...<br /><br />"Dead," I said. We're probably dead."<br /><br />And we discussed every movie we'd seen, where some character is dead and doesn't know it. I was pretty sure we weren't dead, despite the waitress constantly walking by as if we didn't exist. I was pretty sure we did exist. I was pretty sure I existed, anyway. I'd just been to the bathroom, and I'm pretty sure dead people don't do that. Also, my stomach was awfully full from the omelet, grits and two slices of toast I'd just eaten. I'm no expert on existence beyond the grave, but I'm pretty sure you can't eat and wouldn't feel full if you did.<br /><br />Besides, we were definitely alive when we walked in. We were shown to a table, and the waitress was attentive then. If we were dead, the transition between this world and the next would have happened while we were at the restaurant. So, if we were dead, there would be an ambulance, a flurry of activity, maybe a TV crew and a health inspector trying to figure out why we suddenly dropped dead after a meal of omelets, grits and toast.<br /><br />Then, after about half an hour, the waitress finally noticed us.<br /><br />"How's everything going?"<br /><br />I felt like saying, "Oh, yay, we're not dead!" but I didn't. James told her we were ready for our check and she gave it to us.<br /><br />James left her a ghost of a tip, and we headed out to the grand opening of <a href="http://www.twelvehills.org/">Twelve Hills Nature Center</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2T492JdQ5_vTRncZBqkpSwwH-ottc0WLjpdtYwoWncV6Vo4ZVdPy3vDGlnl8_npt4vwWo1P2WjdSMx7epmMXFPHE0eJVW9imivup8oN214T8A8dqj-hlq0dBzzawXOrApUJoB2Zqm7S7/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2T492JdQ5_vTRncZBqkpSwwH-ottc0WLjpdtYwoWncV6Vo4ZVdPy3vDGlnl8_npt4vwWo1P2WjdSMx7epmMXFPHE0eJVW9imivup8oN214T8A8dqj-hlq0dBzzawXOrApUJoB2Zqm7S7/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479822980092208082" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Twelve Hills Nature Center</span><br />This afternoon was the grand opening of Twelve Hills Nature Center, described on their website as "an urban preserve located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas". It's really nice out there, and we plan to go back and hike the trails when it's not so blazing hot. It was a nice opening, attended by such local luminaries as city council member Dave Neumann and state representative Rafael Anchia. If I were in a really snarky mood, I'd title this section "Twelve Hills is for the birds!" because that's kind of what Dave Neumann said, calling attention to the variety of bird calls that filled the air. But, of course, he meant it in the nicest way, encouraging us us to take ownership of the place, helping keep it pristine for the benefit birds and the people who watch them. We lasted out there about 20 minutes before heading home to the comfort of our air conditioned house, but we'll definitely be back soon--maybe earlier in the day, or in the cool of the evening. Twelve Hills is located near Rosemont Elementary School, about three blocks north of Davis on Mary Cliff.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-68197210564144320072009-10-19T10:43:00.029-05:002010-08-15T18:48:46.507-05:00Our tour of the new performing arts center<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6s_LP7D13J-y68t4NqDoPMB6TuCIC18mDbruGCLj-TSkM9yiFvmTikfnjuTsLPkkIKAOT0xABoUdyew-zS596PrWAFO0EJCyzM3jwFNBDxC-XMdHsM1M7hQrAg2dM0nBcDLROUNs0-tK/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6s_LP7D13J-y68t4NqDoPMB6TuCIC18mDbruGCLj-TSkM9yiFvmTikfnjuTsLPkkIKAOT0xABoUdyew-zS596PrWAFO0EJCyzM3jwFNBDxC-XMdHsM1M7hQrAg2dM0nBcDLROUNs0-tK/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394357268930628578" /></a><i>(by Linda Coleman) </i> Yesterday, we went to the biggest art opening of the year, the grand opening of the <a href="http://www.attpac.org/">AT&T Performing Arts Center</a>. Yes, our new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts is named for a product, following in the tradition of American Airlines Center, Smirnoff Music Center, Nokia Theatre and others who make big bucks by selling naming rights. (One notable Dallas exception is the <a href="http://www.dallasculture.org/latinoCulturalCenter/">Latino Cultural Center</a>, which passed up the money offered to them by Cuervo for naming rights. Our admiration and thanks goes to them for taking a stand for integrity and dignity, and giving the city a facility that has their name on it instead of an advertisement for booze).<div><br /></div><div>Dallas artists have been promised an arts center since at least 1992, when James and I were part of a company that did an independent production of Brendan Behan's <i>The Hostage</i>. We were looking for a donated space as a performance venue, and someone suggested contacting Arts District Friends, boosters of Dallas' "arts district." At the time, the "arts district" was a bulldozed pile of rubble, which, the Friends insisted, would be a good place to put an outdoor stage. We passed on that offer, in favor of <a href="http://poordavidspub.com/">Poor David's Pub</a>, then located on Greenville Ave., generously offered by David Card. It turned out to be the perfect venue for our production.<br /><br />Waiting in line for half an hour for the promised backstage tour of the Winspear Opera House, I had time to think back over all the productions we've done in "found spaces" rented for little or no money, and how many times tourists from New York have found our little hole-in-the-wall spaces to enjoy an intimate, thought-provoking evening of theatre "just like the off-off Broadway spaces back home." To the true arts patron, the best stuff is often found in off-the-beaten-path venues, just like it is for food connoisseurs who insist the best food in town is in some dive of a place the rest of us would be afraid to go into.<br /><br />In New York, future Broadway plays are fomented in basements and warehouses all over the city, and arts supporters understand that; in Dallas, there's a disconnect between artists and the people with the money and power to boost the arts, kind of like the disconnect between what I call "real Dallas" and the powerbrokers who run the place.<br /><br />When I was president of our neighborhood association, I had my shot at trying to explain it to then-mayor Laura Miller. At a city-wide meeting of neighborhood organizers, she asked for suggestions about what to do to revitalize downtown and get businesses into abandoned buildings.<br /><br />When it was my turn to make a suggestion, I talked about turning boarded up buildings into "incubator spaces" for the arts, donating them to our local playwrights and theatre companies until they could find a paying renter. I told her about our small, but loyal, local arts patrons who prefer hole-in-the wall theatre to the larger theatre venues, and tourists I'd met from New York who'd rather seek out a unique theatrical experience than go to big splashy musical that they've seen already on Broadway.<br /><br />While I was speaking, I noticed that Laura Miller was staring at me uncomprehendingly, as if I'd suddenly started speaking Farsi. I tried talking slower, but it didn't help. I launched into an account of the times James and I had appeared in critically acclaimed productions in some out-of-the way place, only to have our "found" space discovered by developers, who then kicked out the artists to build expensive loft apartments. I figured it would probably work the same way with the abandoned buildings downtown; put some theatre in there, make it "cool," and buyers will flock to the place. And, of course, I pitched my idea for a corporate culture that would create a space for the arts when the places were fully rented. She did pull out her notebook and pen, but I'm convinced to this day that she was just pretending to take note of my comments.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vVzge0bphINIO3Rv3RVZ6PuSvmShDNCMzI4SQH_Py3tAXkGCOOX7TRWYnSs13Q1553kLpO8w9K0fEpUwvd3XtV5XtHr3_nmQbrVHtPQi0ld1JBXip7r5oVnkyiSu_1WviDAQRbVZMgYq/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vVzge0bphINIO3Rv3RVZ6PuSvmShDNCMzI4SQH_Py3tAXkGCOOX7TRWYnSs13Q1553kLpO8w9K0fEpUwvd3XtV5XtHr3_nmQbrVHtPQi0ld1JBXip7r5oVnkyiSu_1WviDAQRbVZMgYq/s320/020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394349186005130562" /></a><br /><br />As I stood in line pondering my encounter with Laura Miller, I was reminded of about another mayor who didn't quite "get it," since we were lined up in the plaza named for her: Annette Strauss Artist Plaza. She's known as an arts booster because she was so good promoting the arts and raising money for big shiny buildings to house the arts. But I didn't vote for her. When she was running for mayor and it was time to make campaign ads, there was no casting call for actors to portray Dallas voters, 'cause she went to New York to make that ad. I can't remember the name of the guy I voted for in that race--was it Max Wells? Or maybe Half-Price co-founder Ken Gjemre? Or did Ken Gjemre just support Max Wells without running himself? Can't remember, but the guy I voted for hired a local production company to do his ad, with local actors playing Dallas voters. That's what I call supporting the arts--local hiring. Staring at the picture of Annette Strauss, I realized that she's the best face for the disconnect I'm trying to describe between boosters of "the arts" and the artists who try to make a living in this city doing what they love. Very appropriate that they named the plaza in her honor. An inspiration for some, a cautionary tale for others. Well done!</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, the tour of the opera house wasn't worth waiting for. The promised "backstage tour" was just a guided walk through the lobby, through a stage door, across the stage, out the other stage door back into the lobby. That's it. All the way, our tour guide told us how big and expensive everything was. (Our guide told us that Margaret Winspear wrote a check for the first $30 million, which is why her name's on the building, and I tried to calculate how many small arts groups that would fund for how many decades). We were then invited to explore the place on our own, which we could have done without the tour. If I hadn't thought up this blog post along the way, the wait in line would have been a complete waste of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>We didn't even try touring the Wyly Center, the other venue where Dallas Theatre Center will perform. The line for free tours wrapped around the building, and we weren't interested in spending any more time standing around doing nothing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zCq9LP69t3fgzVSzoyhRF_856D9StELr44pSlarRwap68egsGjDhVl6q9ukCWuVOZCYnysGdmyYt2ZZzhGkSHoM_cqOQveBqU6Wu-oMByFI3uh0IxdDYGYyAkrzg7AX4Ddk7AIXyul-J/s1600-h/033.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zCq9LP69t3fgzVSzoyhRF_856D9StELr44pSlarRwap68egsGjDhVl6q9ukCWuVOZCYnysGdmyYt2ZZzhGkSHoM_cqOQveBqU6Wu-oMByFI3uh0IxdDYGYyAkrzg7AX4Ddk7AIXyul-J/s320/033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394366316740873458" /></a><br /><br />So we went to the <a href="http://www.crowcollection.org/">Crow Collection of Asia Art</a>, where they served tea on the outdoor plaza; inside, we watched Tibetan Buddhist monks <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCC8Nj03hvtmg_ncDHB0_mf2pbb3nvI0EEOVZ0wV9WduTxKZr9xm0rOYtuppv8H3PKvF2nO8uiCkC5JwDkNBlj3A2Qcwc0tnPdu2Ym-FtsMoOdFN3Ky0a8bhX_HSZ9EU0_B42NNTvUEdE/s1600-h/044.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCC8Nj03hvtmg_ncDHB0_mf2pbb3nvI0EEOVZ0wV9WduTxKZr9xm0rOYtuppv8H3PKvF2nO8uiCkC5JwDkNBlj3A2Qcwc0tnPdu2Ym-FtsMoOdFN3Ky0a8bhX_HSZ9EU0_B42NNTvUEdE/s320/044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394373977787326962" /></a>from the <a href="http://www.loselingmonastery.org/index.php">Drepung Loseling Monestary</a> create a mandala with grains of colored sand. We both agreed that was the best part of the grand opening celebration.<br /><br />After days and days of rain, it was perfect weather for the mostly outdoor event, too. The sun was out and there was a slight crisp coolness in the air, which added an element of excitement and expectation, even during the boring half hour we spent standing in line.</div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, I've got more photos at my Flickr Album. For a slideshow of the whole collection, plus a short video of one of the monks creating the mandala, visit this link: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29673434@N08/sets/72157622495894989/show/">Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Grand Opening</a>.</div>James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-38250055752361176492009-10-19T09:34:00.011-05:002009-10-19T21:35:59.470-05:00Days of Art and Politics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1TIZw_fQZnc19JG4198xt59IjZUdz1cR9i3LAyWmOG8CcuJaU2coqCMEklJB6bRqCwpI7fELAI9qp7-11IgAOmT3k5NSu2dTopGuhuatOelQq_thovCQTokcw0LyR18vUXoJ1bP1jJL1/s1600-h/Peace+Festival+092009+023.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1TIZw_fQZnc19JG4198xt59IjZUdz1cR9i3LAyWmOG8CcuJaU2coqCMEklJB6bRqCwpI7fELAI9qp7-11IgAOmT3k5NSu2dTopGuhuatOelQq_thovCQTokcw0LyR18vUXoJ1bP1jJL1/s320/Peace+Festival+092009+023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394328520329972178" /></a>(by Linda)<div><br /></div><div>I don't know how people have a life and a blog at the same time. It's not that we haven't been up to anything blog-worthy since July, we just haven't had the time or inclination to write about it at the end of a long day. We talk about blogging--in the car from one event to another, we'll talk about how we'd blog the day, if we were blogging it, but then we get home, turn on the TV to wind down, and forget about blogging.</div><div><br /></div><div>But we're still committed to doing a blog about the "real" Dallas we know and love, so here's some catch-up from the summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we look back at the summer of 2009, we'll remember it as our summer of art and politics.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our summer days were full of health care rallies for Move On and Organizing for America; health care reform is something I've been pushing for ever since I handed over a rent-sized premium to an insurance company and wondered why we have such an inefficient middleman between us and our doctors. Since then, I've been asking people why we can't pay for health care collectively, like we pay for utilities and other things we use--like streets and the fire department.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we've been going to rallies, and have actually met some of the angry teabaggers on the other side of the argument. Individually, they're not bad people, they just don't have the facts, so I feel kind of sorry for them. I wrote a funny account of one event for Daily Kos, but you'll have to email me for the link, 'cause I wrote it under a "<i>nom de blog"</i> and I don't share my pseudonynms with just anybody! If you want to read it, and if I know who you are, I'll send the link. It's long, like most things I write. For those short on time, I'll share an LOLCat that I created to illustrate the moment when James lost his patience with one of the teabaggers: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZChMCe00DT2IVKqVN-3j8aPeTKwAC0oYbd8Ajb1tYuS0jdQQLetLxZLom_QljCjaxKwJbmDuA8KU7112pDYIXIBfLwH0VKSll1eg3SEW47ZQtVCf0CQStFPfdwclwnRdHAA2xVVuhb49-/s1600-h/cat+fighting-2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZChMCe00DT2IVKqVN-3j8aPeTKwAC0oYbd8Ajb1tYuS0jdQQLetLxZLom_QljCjaxKwJbmDuA8KU7112pDYIXIBfLwH0VKSll1eg3SEW47ZQtVCf0CQStFPfdwclwnRdHAA2xVVuhb49-/s320/cat+fighting-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394323460060317922" /></a><br /><br />(Of course, James didn't really call anybody names, just got kind of loud while explaining how insurance companies hire marketing firms to come up with scary terms like "death panel," which are filtered through right-wing talk radio and TV to the general public).<br /><br />Our summer nights were filled with parties for all the judicial candidates we supported in 2006, who are up for re-election in 2010; to clear our heads from politics, we enjoyed art openings at <a href="http://www.marytomas.com/studiogallery/">Mary Tomás Studio Gallery</a>, <a href="http://www.danielpadilla.com/">Daniel Padilla Gallery</a>, <a href="http://www.artspiritdallas.com/">Art Spirit</a> and others. We celebrated the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29673434@N08/sets/72157622453223276/">International Day of Peace in Bishop Arts</a> (link goes to my photo album on Flickr).<br /><br />The highlight of my summer of art and politics was <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/performingarts/stories/DN-petermax_0910gd.ART.State.Edition1.4bf7908.html">meeting Peter Max at an opening of his work at Samuel Lynne Gallery</a>. I don't have a picture of us together, 'cause he doesn't let anyone but his own photographer take pictures of him, and I was too shy to ask the photographer to take a picture of me with Peter Max. But I did get his autograph, and I had the chance to tell him how much I enjoy his work, and delivered a statement I'd been rehearsing in my head ever since I heard he was coming to town. It went something like this: "I just wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your work over the years; my elementary school had a great art program and we studied pop art, and we all wanted to be Peter Max. Your style is so vibrant and positive with bold primary colors, and it pointed to a hopeful future. I really thought I would grow up in a world without all the problems we have today. The artists had it right, and the politicians got it wrong."</div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhere in the middle of this statement, he reached out and stroked my cheek! It was a rainy day, and I thought, "Gee, I must have gotten a rain drop on my face, and he's probably fixing my makeup!" I naturally thought that he, being an artist, was trying to smooth out some imperfection he saw. But when I told James about it later, he said that Peter Max stroked his cheek, too! James said it was probably his non-verbal way of saying "thank you." How cool is that?</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I couldn't take any pictures inside the gallery, I commemorated the event by taking this picture of the advertising poster through the gallery window, where you can see the drops of rain. The picture looks especially cool if you click to enlarge it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaxwS4McRtdlo-xTYEgzmJuVcROvaxUnQhpwgNt4igCmorAt0dDICURLObs0sbMfPzvUVxRWCcUmBsNnU4QBtT-LagELtZ-pDdxrPs3-Lub3xG99g7ZvXjf6W_02Y8GcYbxBv9HmTPK67/s1600-h/Peter+Max+etc+002.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaxwS4McRtdlo-xTYEgzmJuVcROvaxUnQhpwgNt4igCmorAt0dDICURLObs0sbMfPzvUVxRWCcUmBsNnU4QBtT-LagELtZ-pDdxrPs3-Lub3xG99g7ZvXjf6W_02Y8GcYbxBv9HmTPK67/s320/Peter+Max+etc+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394334868780760626" /></a></div>Before we knew it, summer was blending into autumn, and we realized how much time had passed by looking at our old blog posts and thinking, "Has it really been three months since we entered a blog post." Time flies, as they say, when you're having fun, and we certainly do have fun wherever we go and whatever we do.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-19723327924437297382009-07-20T19:33:00.007-05:002009-07-21T17:26:58.782-05:00Linda's photos featured in United Methodist ReporterWe're still not done with the business of closing down Munger Place United Methodist Church. James still has a couple of final financial transactions to manage in the handing over of assets to Highland Park and Linda spent last week exchanging emails and phone calls with a writer from United Methodist Reporter, who saw her photos of the final services on Flickr. UMR asked permission to use some of her photos in an article about churches like ours in the process of "resurrection and transformation," and the writer interviewed Linda about Munger Place, covering most of the points Linda wrote about in <a href="http://realdallas.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html">our first blog post</a>.<div><br /></div><div>The article came out Friday on the web, and the hard copy is in the mail this week to subscribers. It's called <a href="http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=5624">Passing the mantle: Facing reality is the first step to rebirth for dying churches</a>, and highlights several churches around the country facing hard times and declining membership. Munger Place is mentioned near the end of the article, and includes a nice description of our "passing the mantle" final service.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a worthwhile read, both for friends and members of Munger Place, and for those interested in the challenges facing mainstream denominations in our mega-church culture.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">UPDATE: We just got our copy of United Methodist Reporter in today's mail; if you're a member of Munger Place and don't subscribe to this paper, beg, borrow, steal (well, maybe not steal), or call United Methodist Reporter for a reprint of this paper; the photos are much more vibrant in the print edition, and there are more--the print edition used 11 of Linda's pics. There are full color photos of Elizabeth & Gail, Louis, the Falcos, Christy, the Alexanders, Donna, Donald--and, of course, the Jesus window. The article "Passing the Mantle" is on the cover, and pics of our church members grace the centerfold! Grab a copy any way you can, or call UMR for reprints via email news@umr.org.</span></div>James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-32675502097651636592009-07-20T12:26:00.016-05:002009-07-24T11:42:06.898-05:00Calendar: July 20-26<span style="font-style:italic;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b>Tuesday, July 21</b>: 6:30 - 8:30, Discussion of Employee Free Choice Act, Progressive Center of Texas, South Side on Lamar, 1409 Lamar Street :</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><blockquote>Many in Dallas hold multiple jobs yet still must rely on food and clothing pantries. Better wages and healthcare would increase family security and improve quality of life. Mr. Lantz and Reverend Doctor Joerge Reiger discuss this current bill and invite a lively dialogue. Gene Lantz is proudest of his title of "organizer" for North Texas Jobs with Justice, among his many other credentials. Reverend Doctor Joerg Rieger is a professor at the Perkins School of Theology at SMU and an internationally known theologian and author.<br /><br />Sign up at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/FreeChoiceJuly21" style="text-decoration: none;">Progressive Center of Texas</a></blockquote><b><div>Wednesday, July 22<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Free general admission to the <a href="http://dallasmuseumofart.org/index.htm">Dallas Museum of Art</a>, 1717 N. Harwood.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>Friday, July 24</b>: 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m., Erotic Art Show at Soda Gallery--by invitation only. For more information and to request an invitation, visit <a href="http://www.thesodagallery.com/blog/index.php">The Soda Gallery blog</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b>Saturday, July 25</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.northparkcenter.com/events/eventscalendar.html">North Park Center</a>: Free Yoga, 9:30 a.m:<blockquote>July 25, 2009<br />You are invited to NorthPark's beautiful 1.4-acre landscaped garden for FREE, hour-long yoga sessions on Saturday mornings during the summer. Starting at 9:30 am, these traditional yoga classes will be led by instructors from the nationally renowned Cooper Fitness Center and will emphasize stress reduction, relaxation and flexible strength training techniques. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and to bring a yoga mat or towel. Please R.S.V.P. by contacting "rsvpyoga@northparkcntr.com". In case of inclement weather, classes will be cancelled.</blockquote></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.thesodagallery.com/">Soda Gallery</a>, 7:00 p.m. Opening reception of pinup art "Between a Real Blonde and a Fake," featuring the work of Erik Jones and Jonathon Kimbrell.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Gallery</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "> night in the Design District, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. featuring:</span></span><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.thecamerongallery.com/index2.php">The Cameron Gallery</a>, 1414 Dragon Street, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m."Pieces of Me," Texas debut of Laura Di Nello's latest work</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.conduitgallery.com/">Conduit Gallery</a> 25th Anniversary Celebration and Party. 1626-C Hi Line, 5:30 - 8: 30 p.m.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.craigheadgreen.com/home.htm">Craighead-Green Gallery</a> 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 16th annual New Texas Talent exhibit, 1011 Dragon Street</span></li><li><a href="www.hcggallery.com">HCG Gallery</a> 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Summer Selections, 1130 Dragon St., #190</li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.martywalkergallery.com/">Marty Walker Gallery</a> 2135 Farrington St., 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. "Frontroom/Backroom" exhibit by gallery artists</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.artandseek.org/event.php?id=11583">Mary Tomás Studio Gallery</a>, 1110 Dragon Street, "Chaos and Order," featuring Don Bristow, Stephen Arruda, Roger Moore, James Edgar Crowe and Mary Tomás. <b>Music performance at 8:00 p.m</b>. by composer Jeffrey Gascon, who will perform original music inspired by the works of Mary Tomás.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.panamericanart.com/">PanAmerican Arts Project</a>, 1615 Dragon Street, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Exhibition of gallery artists.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.thornwoodgallery.com/">Thornwood Gallery</a>, 1605 Dragon Street, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Exhibition of gallery artists.</span></li></ul><div><b>Sunday, July 26</b>: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Health care panel discussion, <a href="http://www.greenlandhills.org/">Greenland Hills United Methodist Church</a>, 5835 Penrose Ave. Sponsored by Park Cities Democrats:</div><div><blockquote>Dr. Winfred Parnell, Regional Director for Doctors for America will lead a discussion about the health care reforms that are winding through Congress. Please come to find out what this important legislation looks like and how you can help affect the outcome.</blockquote>RSVP at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/july26townhall" style="text-decoration: none;">Organizing for America</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>If you know of a free or dirt cheap event happening this week, send an email to lindacoleman@netzero.net, with Real Dallas Event in the subject line.</i></span></div></div>James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-52635775735442396532009-07-17T10:06:00.015-05:002009-07-21T17:31:20.577-05:00Friendship caravan comes to Dallas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZALhDNghJEWLjSctdVPaSGt1UuzAvKDqSmj4JpT2czofbO10ZVX1yuRiFHofLPlP1MeGsFsyQglIceIDPTwTwd13s2kCV8NlZ7mbsak_WZKCSOaujju6StxVPFxkBJDLEiX6xsz1XiumY/s1600-h/Friendship+Caravan+July+16+2009+001.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360189887458860882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZALhDNghJEWLjSctdVPaSGt1UuzAvKDqSmj4JpT2czofbO10ZVX1yuRiFHofLPlP1MeGsFsyQglIceIDPTwTwd13s2kCV8NlZ7mbsak_WZKCSOaujju6StxVPFxkBJDLEiX6xsz1XiumY/s320/Friendship+Caravan+July+16+2009+001.JPG" /></a>Here's a bit of trivia we learned on our travels--there's a four-letter word that starts with "C." If you write this word in the memo line on a check, you and the recipient will get into huge trouble with the U.S. government.<br /><br />Guess what the word is?<br /><br />It's Cuba. Write that word on a check and you'll get into much more trouble than you will if you write...you know, that other word you were probably thinking of when you read "a four-letter word that starts with C."<br /><br />So if, after reading this blog post, you're moved to give to the Friendship Caravan, put <a href="http://www.ifconews.org/">Pastors for Peace</a> into the memo line, or IFCO (for the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization), because if you put that other word, your check will be "flagged" by your bank, and who knows what kind of trouble you'll get into with the IRS, the Secret Service, the FBI--just one of the many consequences of our country's bizarre relationship with our nearest island nation neighbor.<br /><br />Last night, we went to a pot luck dinner and celebration of Pastors for Peace's 20th anniversary Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. Every year, volunteer "caravanistas" travel from 130 U.S. and Canadian cities to Mexico, via 15 different routes, one of which comes through Dallas every year. From Mexico, they take medical, educational and cultural supplies to Cuba, where they stay for 9 days, visting organic farms, attending cultural events, and, basically, establishing person-to-person friendship with the people of Cuba.<br /><br />Last night's event featured spoken word by <a href="http://www.mikeguinn.com/mikespoetryevents.html">Mike Guinn</a> and the talented poetry slammers of South Dallas Cultural Center, as well as progress reports on the IFCO project. Reverend Tom Smith, of Pastors for Peace, gave an overview of the friendshipment program, and Ellen Bernstein <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp5TjJt33faxqhhBA2F9znT7DPKLvdnFYXXwSF5XZ9bXoswWcPrP30p8tfSXyvCftyCB9chK1HjW_kllIm9LMhmrMwhNl3DZNNgVsNOusJ3zcc-r2vCYd9nIB5oSvL41ZIk5Ew7ursabY/s1600-h/Friendship+Caravan+July+16+2009+012.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp5TjJt33faxqhhBA2F9znT7DPKLvdnFYXXwSF5XZ9bXoswWcPrP30p8tfSXyvCftyCB9chK1HjW_kllIm9LMhmrMwhNl3DZNNgVsNOusJ3zcc-r2vCYd9nIB5oSvL41ZIk5Ew7ursabY/s320/Friendship+Caravan+July+16+2009+012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360201058590034994" /></a><br />reported on the Latin American School of Medicine, which offers 500 full medical school scholarships every year to students willing to serve in impoverished areas of the world, including the United States. While our government will not allow humanitarian aide from Cuba (we ignored the offer of aide to areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, even though Cuban relief workers were mobilized and ready to go), our students can accept scholarships to the medical school if they agree to practice in underserved areas.<br /><br />We also received information on several bills in Congress to end our blockade against Cuba.<br /><br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.2272:">H.R. 2272</a> and <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1530:">H.R. 1530</a> are bills to end the embargo and lift all restrictions to trade with Cuba.<br /><br /><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1531:">H.R. 1531</a>, <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1737:">H.R. 1737</a> and <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.01089:">S1089</a> are bills to ease restrictions on sales of food and medicine to Cuba.<br /><br />If you want to help out, ask our Senators and your member of Congress to sign on as co-sponsors of these bills. After all, it's the people who are being hurt--why should people suffer just because our government is mad that Castro is still in power?<br /><br />And, of course, you can always help out by donating money to <a href="http://www.ifconews.org/">Pastors for Peace</a>. You can donate online with a credit card or you can send a check--just don't write the C-word in the memo line and you'll be okay.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-88006567476075984692009-07-13T13:52:00.007-05:002009-07-15T19:50:21.159-05:00Calendar: July 13-19<strong>Thursday, July 16</strong>: 5:00 - 8:00 pm, Contemporary Art Dealers Association launch party showcasing the works of recent MFA graduates. CADD studio is located at 1608-C Main Street; call 214.741.1075 for more information or visit CADD on the web at this link: <a href="http://www.caddallas.net/">Contemporary Art Dealers Association</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday, July 16</strong>: 6:30 - 9:30 pm, Pastors for Peace 20th Cuba Friendship Caravan celebrates with an Evening of Spoken Word at <a href="http://www.dallasculture.org/southDallasCulturalCenter.cfm">South Dallas Cultural Center</a>, 3400 Fitzhugh. Admission: FREE. Features a community feast of covered dishes, poetry, and collection of humanitarian aid for the people of Cuba. For more information, contact Ernest McMillan 214-824-2433.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday, July 16</strong>: 7:30 pm, FREE screening of Food, Inc., sponsored by <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/#/flash/fwi_food-inc">Chipotle Gourmet Burritos and Tacos</a>. Magnolia Theater, 3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100.<br /><a href="http://www.caddallas.net/"></a><br /><strong>Friday, July 17</strong>: From <a href="http://thrifttown.com/">Thrift Town</a>:<br /><blockquote>Recycled fashion is hip, cool and totally you. <br />Why pay outrageous prices for a few outfits, when you can <br />buy an entire "green" wardrobe for a lot less?<br /><br />Take 50% Off Clothing<br />Friday, July 17<br />Valid at all stores except Salt Lake City.<br />Not valid on color tag items already 50% Off.</blockquote><strong>Saturday, July 18</strong>: Free outdoor yoga at North Park Center, 9:30 a.m. From the <a href="http://www.northparkcenter.com/events/eventscalendar.html">North Park website</a>:<br /><blockquote>July 18, 2009<br /><br />You are invited to NorthPark's beautiful 1.4-acre landscaped garden for FREE, hour-long yoga sessions on Saturday mornings during the summer. Starting at 9:30 am, these traditional yoga classes will be led by instructors from the nationally renowned Cooper Fitness Center and will emphasize stress reduction, relaxation and flexible strength training techniques. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and to bring a yoga mat or towel. In case of inclement weather, classes will be cancelled.</blockquote><strong>Saturday, July 18</strong>: 12:00 pm - 5:30 pm, opening reception at <a href="http://www.norwoodflynngallery.com/">Norwood Flynn Gallery</a>, featuring photography by Johannes Wunner and paintings by Sallie McIlheran. Norwood Flyn Gallery is located at 3318 Shorecrest Drive. For more information, call 214 351-3318.<br /><br /><em>If you know of a free or dirt cheap event happening this week, send an email to lindacoleman@netzero.net, with Real Dallas Event in the subject line.</em>James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-75890754965071721702009-07-13T10:25:00.008-05:002009-07-13T11:06:10.290-05:00Will Work for Food<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_XhvgLe22oOMW4PpTv_tIfFift2q_-kaA3IWskbeFSIo39E19LEZubKHkYkks8P32J8nhK53ejiWMf68VfjIHDU_VadGwX6ybgtI1WYrvq_oCw8l6cIjzSQ8fv_Obzxixpr0AlWL_Ytv/s1600-h/Community+Garden+004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_XhvgLe22oOMW4PpTv_tIfFift2q_-kaA3IWskbeFSIo39E19LEZubKHkYkks8P32J8nhK53ejiWMf68VfjIHDU_VadGwX6ybgtI1WYrvq_oCw8l6cIjzSQ8fv_Obzxixpr0AlWL_Ytv/s320/Community+Garden+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357966787496665586" /></a> (<em>photo: Pastor Connie Millsap, Southwood United Methodist Church</em>)<br /><br />Looking for a great upper body workout that doesn't require expensive equipment or a gym membership? How about a real social networking site that doesn't require computer access? Try community gardening!<br /><br />James and I spent Saturday morning working in a community garden near us, at a space donated by Southwood United Methodist Church. Some plots are for the church's mission project, other plots will be leased out to anyone who wants to plant a garden. James and I help out every now and then, just to learn more about gardening, and to maybe trade labor for a few veggies at harvest time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguliwULaY4z0Drmb04UnSa5V7dQt6PMBm7TIbin_7NdqZT56Zgdd0ThOcpdYRX4LddlAxNl4IFQOJlRc2fcTQ8jaipa5LcKaeJQYlZjKrGV0WqevLHaTM4kFUUonH59kVhpZ8wg1sbXHfI/s1600-h/Community+Garden+002.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguliwULaY4z0Drmb04UnSa5V7dQt6PMBm7TIbin_7NdqZT56Zgdd0ThOcpdYRX4LddlAxNl4IFQOJlRc2fcTQ8jaipa5LcKaeJQYlZjKrGV0WqevLHaTM4kFUUonH59kVhpZ8wg1sbXHfI/s320/Community+Garden+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357971268176871698" /></a><br />On Saturday, we built paths between the garden plots. The paths are several inches lower than the plots, for proper drainage; paths also allow a gardener to walk around the plants without stepping on the root system.<br /><br />Before the heat of the day set in, we spent a couple of hours swinging a hoe, shoveling out dirt, laying down newspaper and cardbord, and covering the paths with mulch. It was a satisfying "workout" that also provided some good conversation with people who really know something about gardening.<br /><br />If you want to get involved in community gardening, just about every neighborhood in Dallas has one nearby. To find a garden near you, contact <a href="http://gardendallas.org/">Gardeners In Community Development</a> or contact the coordinator of the Southwood UMC plot, Van Johnson, at <a href="http://www.jmbp.org/">Jefferson Median Beautification Project</a>.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-25680418673577596002009-07-10T15:42:00.001-05:002009-07-13T13:49:11.696-05:00NBC 5 responds to James' emailJames emailed NBC 5 yesterday, taking them to task for the story on Soda Gallery, complaining that the media only mentions Oak Cliff if they have something bad to report.<br /><br />Today, he received the following response:<blockquote><em>Thank you for emailing nbcdfw.com. <br /><br />As a Cliff Dweller myself, I understand your point. I shared the email with Ellen (the reporter) as well as the producers. I'm sorry for the oversight. <br /><br />Shannon Hammel <br />Managing Editor <br />NBC5, Dallas Fort Worth</em></blockquote>So there you go, Cliff Dwellers! If you see this bias on TV or in the paper, take the time to phone or email. Maybe, one day, they'll get it right.James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-20605545412834046392009-07-09T08:13:00.001-05:002009-07-13T13:49:51.894-05:00Soda Gallery featured on NBC 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSuKS3wzbPpSrTS78VddDqCtq1QZS_9wdR-lMKS9HplFiRMudVq2URz0K5lUBcKJtAimDEMRpJx40jGUJhpm5d4_gI8_QDdbX4TDlT7dK3EXmc4E3jUxhtj-5Ciixqnpy3RmE8k9396Kg/s1600-h/Soda+Gallery.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSuKS3wzbPpSrTS78VddDqCtq1QZS_9wdR-lMKS9HplFiRMudVq2URz0K5lUBcKJtAimDEMRpJx40jGUJhpm5d4_gI8_QDdbX4TDlT7dK3EXmc4E3jUxhtj-5Ciixqnpy3RmE8k9396Kg/s320/Soda+Gallery.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356450409080611570" /></a>Last night, NBC 5 ran a piece on one of our favorite places, <a href="http://www.thesodagallery.com/store-information.shtml">Soda Gallery</a> in the Bishop Arts District. If you're looking for a specialty soda, like real ginger ale that doesn't wimp out on ginger, or that special soda that "they just don't make anymore," check out Soda Gallery. If it's still around, Tony Font can track it down and get it for you.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/around_town/the_scene/Soda-Fans-Say-Sugar-Is-the-Sweetest-Thing.html">NBC 5 report on Soda Gallery</a> highlighted the sodas with real sugar, which consumers are seeking out, now that we're getting educated about avoiding high fructose corn syrup. Soda connoisseurs claim that real sugar tastes better, too, giving the soda a cleaner taste than the heavy corn syrup--and don't even get them started on artificial sweetner! Real soda, real sugar, 28 kinds of Root Beer, and real <a href="http://www.dublindrpepper.com/">Dublin Dr. Pepper</a> can all be found at Soda Gallery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITw0eywAZQjcjyvBO2vwpkgGZ8VxDbEd92JOmbuGM_xKj26wtMN42ifzHBe8UUKnuemiKS3YnLIbL0_oVG1xrjKBtNffSt1dCiUkt7IRF1K65x2AhRMVyd7Z32T_tYdej3QZTNNbZOmvl/s1600-h/Soda+Gallery+life+drawing.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITw0eywAZQjcjyvBO2vwpkgGZ8VxDbEd92JOmbuGM_xKj26wtMN42ifzHBe8UUKnuemiKS3YnLIbL0_oVG1xrjKBtNffSt1dCiUkt7IRF1K65x2AhRMVyd7Z32T_tYdej3QZTNNbZOmvl/s320/Soda+Gallery+life+drawing.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356457671788710130" /></a>Soda Gallery also features comic books and art, hence the "gallery" part of its name. On the first Thursday of every month, Soda Gallery hosts <a href="http://www.thesodagallery.com/blog/index.php">Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School mini drawing session</a>. Artists are invited to bring their sketch pads and try some cartoon art, and anyone is welcome to watch the art being created.<br /><br />The only thing that ticked us off NBC 5's report is that they didn't give credit to Oak Cliff for having such a cool store. Several times during the report, they called it "Dallas." This is a huge pet peeve of ours, as well as other residents of Oak Cliff--we never get credit for the good stuff. The only time they mention Oak Cliff on the news is anytime something bad happens south of I-30. Then, they call it "Oak Cliff," even when the incident happens miles from here. The news is always announcing that some horrible thing happened in "Oak Cliff," and we fall for it every time, running to the TV to see the gunman, robber, child snatcher, or whatever, who's loose in our neighborhood. Then, we see the name of the street where the horrible thing happened, and it's some street we've never heard of before. We get out the map, find out it's someplace far away, like near the border of Duncanville, and call the media again. "That's South Dallas," we explain to the geographically challenged media, "Not Oak Cliff." But it does no good.<br /><br />My joke about that type of reporting is that at least it keeps out the riff-raff--developers who want to fill every street corner with big box retail stores and chain restaurants. Oak Cliff is safe haven for artists, entrepreneurs, and cool independent retail stores like Soda Gallery, just as long as we can keep convincing the "slash and burn" developers that Oak Cliff is too dangerous and they shouldn't come here!James and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07218500299320351426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-66606296336890064712009-07-06T10:21:00.003-05:002009-07-21T17:30:51.601-05:00Calendar: July 6-12<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355368307492627266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzEd2c7GUEfwDDuQ_v4DsBtcYmVVlbyaMz-lWoxrU_PIK4oVqfQfTxvhz20r7JkihaoLqfQq2a-GzF8sun2hThojnntARgQ-hB0I79I4CCK87pdnLubxi9HvB5u95pvpUsxwtL13ujKo/s320/Mary+Tom%C3%A1s+Gallery.JPG" />This is the closing week for Organica, at <a href="http://www.artandseek.org/organization.php?id=2068">Mary Tomás Studio Gallery</a>, featuring the works of Mary Tomás, Fannie Brito, Adriana Cobo-Frenkel, Lisa Ehrich, Cecilia Feld, and Adrienne T. Roserbrg. The studio is located at 1110 Dragon St., and is open Monday - Friday 9-5, and Saturday 12-4. <strong>Closing day is listed as Sunday, July 12</strong>. For more information, call 214-727-5101. (Photo is from Opening Reception, Saturday, June 13. More pictures from the opening reception at my Flickr page: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29673434@N08/sets/72157621094689596/">Mary Tomás Studio Gallery</a>).<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday, July 7</strong>: 7:00 p.m. Free screening of<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=83929199693">Peaceable Kingdom</a> at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff, 3839 W. Kiest Blvd. Dallas, TX 75233. The event is co-sponsored by Dallas Peace Center and Spiral Diner. For more information, call 214.337.2429.<br /><br /><strong>Saturday, July 11</strong>: Free outdoor yoga at North Park Center, 9:30 a.m. From the <a href="http://www.northparkcenter.com/events/eventscalendar.html">North Park website</a>:<br /><blockquote>July 11, 2009<br /><br />You are invited to NorthPark's beautiful 1.4-acre landscaped garden for FREE, hour-long yoga sessions on Saturday mornings during the summer. Starting at 9:30 am, these traditional yoga classes will be led by instructors from the nationally renowned Cooper Fitness Center and will emphasize stress reduction, relaxation and flexible strength training techniques. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and to bring a yoga mat or towel. In case of inclement weather, classes will be cancelled.</blockquote><em>If you know of a free or dirt cheap event happening this week, send an email to lindacoleman@netzero.net, with Real Dallas Event in the subject line</em>.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29673434@N08/sets/72157621094689596/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29673434@N08/sets/72157621094689596/"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-20551998503372580432009-07-04T10:36:00.001-05:002009-07-13T13:50:53.929-05:00Sheriff Lupe Valdez attends White House reception<a href="http://www.randomplayground.net/image-codes/meta/HclJDoQgEEDRq1TYt1AlEFh4FkNjtdAOGCGuPHwPu5_3w9oGEdccF0h8MrQCMzdoiSGWiSHsE9QUfiflCnkLMwt4lnPicxAo7r9UrbtXaUvuYtnkhaY38killSpJElpPTpLVzlgnexytVt4RfouMJyI1osNeKT_ujyt372P-AA,," ><img src="http://www.randomplayground.net/image-codes/img/images44.fotki.com/v1535/photos/2/216928/2648568/31_640982131_2592220_1813009_n-vi.jpg" HEIGHT=240 WIDTH=320alt="click here to get the code and share this image" border="1" /></a><br />This is last week's news, but we just got an email today about it--that's our Sheriff and friend Lupe Valdez with President Obama at a reception in honor of Gay Pride Month and the <a href="http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/06/29/sheriff-valdez-attending-white-house-reception-for-lgbt-community-leaders/">40th anniversary of Stonewall</a>. (Our apologies to our gay friends and fellow straight allies for missing the Stonewall anniversary march last week; we were wrapped up in <a href="http://realdallas.blogspot.com/2009/06/munger-place-umc-closes.html">Munger Place's closing weekend</a> and didn't remember about the other significant event of the day until we heard on the news about <a href="http://cbs11tv.com/local/Gay.Bar.Raid.2.1066472.html">that gay bar in Fort Worth getting raided</a>).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266898723472453598.post-53358098556687778592009-07-04T09:39:00.001-05:002009-07-13T13:48:49.645-05:00Real Dallas Events: Fair Park fireworks, Bolsa 1st Sunday<strong>Saturday, July 4</strong>: If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive Independence Day celebration, head out to <a href="http://www.fairpark.org/component/eventlist/details/98-fair-park-fourth.html">Fair Park</a> this afternoon. The park opens at 4:30 pm, and there's free admission to all the museums, except for the aquarium and planetarium, which are closed today. There's a charge for parking and concessions; information from Fair Park website says:<blockquote><strong>What gates are open for parking?</strong><br />Parking is available through gates 5, 6, 13 and 14.<br />Sponsor/reserved parking is accessible through gates 2 and 4.<br />Handicap parking is available at gates 5 and 6.<br /><strong>Parking is $8 per car.</strong><br /><br /><strong>Can I bring my own food/drink into the park?</strong><br />Yes. We welcome picnics in the park. However, no coolers or glass bottles will be permitted in the Cotton Bowl stadium. Concessions are available on the Plaza and in the stadium.</blockquote>The fireworks display, synchronized with classical music, starts at 9:30 pm, and will be broadcast on <a href="http://www.wrr101.com/?id=1">WRR 101.1</a>. (For those who want to avoid the crowds, Real Dallas recommends going to any high point in Dallas with a good view of Downtown, and listening to the broadcast on the radio. One of our Oak Cliff neighbors recommends the parking lot of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS310US310&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=oak+cliff+el+rio+grande&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=5124486819966635369&ei=dG1PSsW_I8rDtweNlbSiBA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=result&resnum=1">El Rio Grande</a> grocery store; friends in Lakewood recommend any place around <a href="http://www.lakewoodtheater.com/">Lakewood Theater</a>. Enjoy a late meal or dessert at <a href="http://www.alibabacafe.com/">Ali Baba Restaurant</a>, <a href="http://maps.yahoo.com/map?q1=6400%2BGaston%2BAvenue%20Dallas%2BTX%2B75214&mag=5&ard=1#mvt=m&lat=32.813875&lon=-96.752732&mag=5&zoom=14&q1=6400%2520Gaston%2520Avenue%2520Dallas%2520TX%252075214&gid1=18702697">Dixie House</a>, or any of the area restaurants, and enjoy the fireworks display from the parking lot.<br /><br />Or, if you really want to stay cool this Fourth of July, stay home and watch <a href="http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/">A Capitol Fourth</a> on PBS at 7:00, followed by the movie "Waking Ned Devine" at 8:30. We're not quite sure how "Waking Ned Devine" ties in to Independence Day, but it's a fun movie!<br /><br /><strong>Sunday, July 5</strong>: First Sunday Farmer's Market at <a href="http://www.bolsadallas.com/main_2.html">Bolsa</a> will be at 7:00 pm this month instead of at their usual time in the afternoon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0