Archive for June, 2007

Today is officially the last day of June and I’m watching a light shower out my window. It will be interesting to see what the final totals are for the month as I can’t recall the last day where we didn’t have rain and the Dallas Morning News has a good slide show showing the extent of flooding.

Yes, it keeps me off the bike a lot but the past two summers I’ve ridden past lakes where docks were in the middle of dry land and tree stumps were several feet above the water line.

Now, I think all the major lakes are ABOVE the normal levels and that means few worries for the fires and droughts we’ve had the past two years and the greenery is absolutely thriving.

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USA Today has announced the “Top 25 Eureka Moments Since 1982″. These moments were chosen for the way they have changed and/or improved our lives. Dallas was singled out for the 1989 introduction of the TollTag. What are now commonplace for so many cities that have toll roads, were initially developed and launched in the city that is also the birthplace of the semiconductor and microchips.

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In other Tollway news, the bridge for Cedar Springs Road is now open again for two-way traffic. This is really going to help with the congestion that has been plaguing that area for several months as the Tollway is making major improvements and widening lanes.

When it comes to Texas music, so many people just assume that all the action is in Austin.

Well the truth is, great music is found all over the state and Dallas has a particularly rich talent pool. If someone should doubt that, just point out that legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was a Dallas boy, Dixie Chicks got their start singing on the streets of Deep Ellum, Don Henley of The Eagles calls the Big D home and yes, I could easily go on, but for this posting, we are out to support one of our own yet again and this time it is Mister Troll.

Troll is one of the coolest people you will ever meet with his long white beard and his motorcycle. You can often find him playing everywhere from Opening Bell at South Side on Lamar to Sons of Herman Hall.

Check out his latest endeavour at OurStage.com.

There is a very big fire just south of downtown and behind the South Side on Lamar complex.   A large warehouse that was being prepped for demolition caught fire when a spark ignited the debris on the floor.

I took this photo a few moments ago.

There are some fantastic concerts happening tonight in Dallas.

John Mayer with Ben Folds is performing at Smirnoff Music Center in Fair Park. Take a tarp as things might be a little wet as you enjoy these amazing artists.

The Polyphonic Spree, which is the brainchild of former Former Tripping Daisy member Tim DeLaughter, makes it’s presence known at the Granada Theater on Lower Greenville. Check out the Spree’s new look and sound - but take note, they’ve ditched their robes!

If you aren’t in the mood for a concert, head down to Deep Ellum and check out Crustacean’s. I can honestly say that it’s more “N’awlins” than New Orleans is right now. Yes, I know of what I speak as I was down in Gulfport and New Orleans last week doing fact finding for a possible upcoming project. As cameraman Roman Pena and I drove in on I-10 from Gulfport, we were stunned by the massive amount of destruction still so evident almost 2 years after Katrina. We made our way to the French Quarter and were shocked to find shops and restaurants closing up by 9pm. The only thing that seemed the same was Cafe du Monde but beignets and cafe au lait only fulfill a small portion of the creole craving.

So, we in Dallas are indeed fortunate to have the wonderful people from Crustaceans to fill that culinary void. Displaced due to Katrina, Chef Ronald Honore’ and his wife Judy were assisted by the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association with rent, furniture, kitchen equipment and other supplies so the Chef and his wife could re-establish themselves. You may visit Crustaceans once to support the Honore’s and their crew but you will happily return again and again.

The corn-and-crab bisque is a true taste delight and though it is thinner than in other restaurants it is fat with flavor. From there, it is a must to move on to the stuffed bell peppers which are chock full of minced shrimp, crabmeat and crawfish with a bread base rather than the typical rice. The seasonings are sheer perfection and it’s easy to have this appetizer as your main dish.

And speaking of main dishes, there is no shortage of pastas, blackened, fried and grilled shrimp, fish and chicken entrees.

The Facts on Crustaceans:

• 2711 Elm Street (at Crowdus)
• Dallas 75226
• 214-747-0900
• Monday - Saturday 11am - 10pm
• AE/V/MC
• Average Meal: $10 - $25

How refreshing that in a world of teens inundated with video games there are still programs catering to the creative literacy of tomorrow’s great writers!

The Writer’s Garret is having a 3-week Teen Creative Writing Camp (Mon - Fri., July 16 - August 3 from 9:15am - 12:15pm). This fun and engaging camp will provide students with a safe and supportive environment filled with other like-minded young people and caring, brilliant instructors. Together, students and teachers will build a special community of trust and creativity where every participant will be challenged and supported in the development of his or her story-telling and poetic gifts.

Instructors include:

• ALAN GANN is a poet and writers whose works have appeared in Above Us Only Sky, Other Testaments, North Texas Review, Red River Review, Pedestal Magazine, Borderlands, and others. As a Writers-in-the-Schools and Young Audience instructor, he’s proved skilled at working with teens to develop their creativity, style, character development, and techniques. All of this while instilling a love of reading, writing and literature.

• LESLEY TELLEZ is a Staff Writer for Quick, the Dallas Morning News‘ free newspaper aimed at young readers. Lesley covers nightlife, arts, and entertainment. Former lead reporter at Conexion, a bilingual weekly newspaper in San Antonio, Lesley has also taught in The Writer’s Garret Writers-in-the-Schools program where she’s helped elementary-aged and teen students develop their creativity and love of literature.

This camp is open to rising seventh graders up through rising twelfth graders.

Upstairs at Paperbacks Plus
6115 La Vista Dr. Dallas, TX 75214

• $365 for Members & their teens / $410 Others
• $10 Early Bird Discount for Members if registered by 6 pm, Thurs. July 5th.
• Phone registrations only! Call 214-828-1715 today!
• Deadline for registrations is Wed. July 11th.

If you have kids that enjoy the CSI shows, this Sunday will be a treat for the whole family!

The Sixth Floor Museum will sponsor an afternoon of forensic science for kids and have actor Rex Linn, who plays Det. Frank Tripp on CSI: Miami, as part of the event. Kids will learn about the various types of evidence and how it can be utilized to solve crimes. The Oklahoma City Police and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations - wh0 were actively involved in investigating the Oklahoma City Bombing - will be hosting hands on activities and demonstrations.

The event runs from 12:00pm - 5:00pm.

Dallas is really beginning to heat up for the summer months so check out this fantastic way to cool off:

LynxxDFW is offering a last call for attendees to their 70′ Catamaran party which is limited to 100 partiers on Saturday, 21 July 07 at Lake Lewisville. Pricing is $55 for members and women / $75 for men.

Transportation from Mockingbird Station for an additional $20 is provided.

Adult beverages will be available all day, lunch, swimming, tubing, DJ, dancing and door prizes!

A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas.

Come check out some hot fun with one of the best social networking groups in Dallas.