Archive for July, 2007

Tomorrow, Wednesday 18 July 07, is the annual Ride to Work Day.

• Texas is the 2nd largest motorcycle owning state in the U.S.
• Dallas/Ft Worth is the 6th largest motorcycle owning metropolitan market in the U.S.

These stats translate to: There are a A LOT of motorcycles on our streets every day. Speaking as a biker, the biggest challenges I have are dealing with people in cars with their windows up, radio on and yapping on the cell phone. They don’t have any senses available to be aware of me coming down the road.

A lot of people complain about the noise of bikes but sometimes it is that very noise that makes someone aware of our presence.

So tomorrow, be courteous to bikers you see on the road. The vast majority of us are professional, educated and really enjoy life….in other words, very similar to you!

Click here to learn more about the perks to riding a motorcycle: www.ridetowork.org

Sushi Samba is a visually dynamic restaurant (located on the west side of the Galleria Mall next to the Westin Hotel) featuring cuisine blending a mix of Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese. Dallas is new to the lineup with companion locations in Chicago, New York, Miami and Tel Aviv.

My dining companion and I visited Sushi Samba to sample the Sunday brunch menu and started with Batidas ($5.50) which is a combination of up to three fruit juices and on this trip we selected Asian Pear, Mango and Blueberry and the Mangolini ($6.50) which is a blend of sparkling wine, fresh mango and peach. Both drinks were an excellent beginning to the dining experience.

As a massive sushi enthusiast, I withheld from ordering from that section of the menu and instead focused on the Family Style Brunch which at $15 per person ($8 for under 12) is an astonishing value for the amount of food you receive.

We began our brunch with the Smoked Fish Platter ($13.00) which was a selection of smoked white fish, salmon and trout with homemade bagel chips along with capers, thin strips of red onion, tomatoes and creme fraiche. We initially began by placing selected items onto the large chips; however, the chips are so light and crisp that they weren’t practical to eat from in this way without crumbling at the first bite. We opted to use cutlery and just snack from the chips (we noticed another table experiencing the same thing). An excellent job was done on the smoked white fish and everything on the dish was fresh and tantalizing.

We then received the Eggs Benedict ($13.00) with aji panca hollandaise and smoked salmon served on a large slice of brioche bread - which was the perfect lightweight accompaniment. The aji panca hollandaise was a welcome change and the eggs were prepared perfectly.

The third dish was the Doce de Leite French Toast ($10) with seasonal fruit and powdered sugar. As someone who is not a big fan of French Toast, I was very surprised by the lightness of the bread and accompanying sauces and fruit garnishes of strawberries and blueberries.

The final dish was South American Frittata ($9.00) which was comprised of lingia, asparagus, heart of palm and manchego cheese. This was served in a small cast iron skillet and seemed a bit overcooked. The lingia added a nice amount of spice to the dish.

The Sunday brunch attracted a good crowd and our server was the best I’ve experienced in almost 10 months (I’m notorious for receiving terrible service). The pace in which the dishes were served was relaxed so we didn’t feel the need to rush before the new dish got cold though on one occasion the support staff took a dish before my companion had finished.

Dallas can be a fickle market when it comes to new dining options as we have such a wide variety to choose from and our standards can be more exacting than in many other cities. However, with a few minor adjustments, it appears that Sushi Samba will be able find their perfect niche.

We look forward to sampling the evening version of Sushi Samba in the near future and giving you the details.

The Facts on Sushi Samba:

• 13270 Dallas Parkway (Galleria)
• Dallas 75240
• 214-866-014
• www.sushisamba.com
• AE/V/MC/D
• Average Meal: $30 - $75
• Hours:
  Sun-Mon: 11a - 10p
  Tue: 11a - 11p
  Wed - Thu: 11a - midnight
  Fri - Sat:  11a - 1a

Today is Bastille Day - which roughly translates to France’s Independence Day. It’s the anniversary of when the ruffians revolted against the monarchy. Say what you will about the politics of France, but they do have excellent cuisine, culture and language.

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Last night I checked out Taste of Dallas and had a great time. Got to catch the gig by Woodbelly which was excellent.

It was amazing that it’s the middle of July and it felt so fantastic outside with a great breeze. We also ate like hero’s and sampled everything from amazing, melt-in-your-mouth brisket, gooey cinnamon rolls, decadent lasagna, ice cream, etc. I’m still stuffed!

If you are going out to the Taste tonite, remember that Reverend Horton Heat hits the main stage at 11pm.

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For those of you groupies that salivate over the Best Of Dallas each year from the Dallas Observer, get yourselves down to the Lakewood Theater tonite at 7:30pm as they unveil who the nominees are for the best bands, vocalists, guitarists, etc.

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Like to play with your balls? Then head over to Park Cities Yoga where they have an afternoon of fun in store for you juggling fiends.

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This Friday the 13th is action packed, so let’s jump right into the festivities:

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The West End is the place to be for food from some of Dallas’ finest restaurants as they participate in Taste of Dallas. The fun begins today at 11am and runs through Sunday at 8pm. The weather should be wonderfully moderate (for July in Texas it’s amazing!)

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Beyonce‘ bounces into the American Airlines Center tonite and the tix are available via Ticketmaster. Price: $49.75 to $89.75.

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If you are craving a mosh pit, grab your tickets today because tomorrow the Van’s Warped Tour will be at the Smirnoff Music Center in Fair Park for a full, action packed day.

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If Vespa’s make your world go round, then tomorrow night near the corner of Elm & Good-Latimer in Deep Ellum, there is supposed to be an impromptu gathering of the little putters. In theory, it’s to begin around 9pm’ish.

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Memories of Mayhem

Jeffrey “Mayhem” Thompson was a Renaissance fair enthusiast, a television actor, a radio personality, a musician, a bouncer, a personal bodyguard and the head of security for the band Damageplan. It was the security gig that led him to the fateful night when he, guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and two others were killed in a December 8, 2004, club shooting. “A Night of ‘Mayhem’ in Dallas: Benefit Concert and Book Signing,” remembers the man and the tragedy. It will feature music by six bands, special guests including Officer James Niggemeyer, the first responding police officer who shot and killed the attacker, and author and photographer Chris A., who will sign his book, A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa. 7 p.m. Friday at the Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway. Tickets are $10 at the door. Books will be sold for $16. To learn more visit mjspublications.com.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams came from Ireland to Texas to deliver the keynote speech at the International Women’s Peace Conference on Wednesday night. During the speech, Ms. Williams said to a crowd of about 1,000 that, “Right now, I could kill George Bush,” she said at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, “No, I don’t mean that. How could you nonviolently kill somebody? I would love to be able to do that.“

I don’t know what the requirements are for winning the Nobel Peace Prize but this gives pause for thought. You can read the full story here.

If you are a homeowner in Dallas County, you might be eligible for a tax refund.

More than TEN THOUSAND Dallas County taxpayers have paid double the tax they owed in the past few years. It appears that in 2005, the County began sending tax bills to both the mortgage companies and property owners. Many owners didn’t realize this was a duplicate bill and paid it.

Find out if you over payed by calling the Dallas County Tax Office at 214.653.7811. There are six people on staff handling nothing but refunds.

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If you are a fan of Dallas native Stevie Ray Vaughan and have experience in Photoshop, the Memorial Ride can use your help on a volunteer basis. Contact Shon via the site at: www.srvrideandconcert.org for more details.

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Gladys Swan with Scott Pierce and Karen X at The Writer’s Garret
Friday, 13 July 07 at 7:30pm

Kick back and relax after your hectic workweek with wine, cheese, poetry and prose! The readers are coming from near and far, so don’t miss out as Gladys Swan of the Taos Writing Salon, Austin’s Scott Pierce and Dallas’ own Karen X provide readings of their most recent works.

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Never let it be said that we aren’t equal opportunity offenders…

You can always get a bit of the wild side out — but I caution you, you need a motorcycle. Preferably American made.

The Scorpions M/C will be having their 39th anniversary party at their clubhouse this Saturday night on July 14th. Band is Jimmy Jewel, free food and the festivities should begin around 7pm.

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Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. is celebrating its 80th birthday with free Slurpees for all.

Throughout the day, customers at all U.S. locations can get a free 7.11-ounce Slurpee in a special cup commemorating the chain’s humble beginnings.

According to company lore, the Southland Ice Co. in Dallas was facing stiff competition with the advent of mechanical refrigeration. But in the summer of 1927, an enterprising ice dock manager added milk, bread and eggs for sale at his stand, and the convenience store was born.

The chain now operates, franchises or licenses more than 7,200 stores in North America and more than 23,400 stores worldwide. In 2005, the company was bought out by its largest investor, Seven & I Holding Inc. of Japan, but its headquarters remain in Dallas.

While 80 may be a milestone, it’s certainly not the first time 7-Eleven has thrown a birthday bash for itself. Just two years ago, the chain celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Slurpee (technically, marking 40 years of its selling the drink), and just a year before that, it celebrated the big 77 with a similar free Slurpee deal.

“The changes the company has made over the decades have been amazing, yet our stores continue to play a relevant role in the lives of busy people,” 7-Eleven president and chief executive Joe DePinto said in a statement.