Archive for the ‘Fort Worth’ Category

We make it a point to keep news positive on this site; however, every now and again we need to address a serious note. In this case, the increase in domestic violence.

Due to the recent economic downturns, some relationships that had been strained to begin with are now facing serious challenges that affect the safety and well-being of others. Domestic violence is not just a situation that affects women and children - there many instances where a man is the recepient of abuse and we need to all be aware and accepting of this.

If you or someone you care about is in a situation of domestic violence, please take the necessary steps to get them out of this situation now. If you think things may be escalating, at least do research and have the names and numbers of the agencies that can help, find out the protocol for securing a protective order from the court, etc.

Dallas County: The Family Place is Dallas County’s largest shelter. They can be reached at 214-941-1991 or go to their website at www.familyplace.org.

Tarrant County: Safe Haven can be reached at 877-701-7233 or visit their site at: http://www.safehaventc.org/.

For the first time since 1997, a space shuttle will be making a brief stop in North Texas.

Because weather in Florida forced the Endeavour astronauts to touch down at an alternate landing site in California Sunday, it is now making its way back to its home base at Cape Canaveral riding piggyback aboard a specially-modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

The odd-looking combo craft took off from Edwards Air Force Base early Wednesday and landed at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso at 11:15.

Weather conditions along the planned route have forced NASA to shift its next intermediate stop to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, where Endeavor is scheduled to arrive at approximately 3:15 p.m.

The spacecraft will remain at the base overnight before continuing its transcontinental journey on Thursday morning.

From WFAA.com:

Larry Hagman was reluctant to be on a new TV show called “Dallas” when he first read the script in the late 1970s, figuring there wouldn’t be any money in it.

But his wife persuaded him to give the role of conniving oil baron and cattle rancher J.R. Ewing a shot, saying they could “renegotiate” and that the job might pay off.

It did, eventually earning Hagman a reported $100,000 or more per episode. And now fans from across the world are paying as much as $1,000 apiece to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut of what became one of the most popular prime-time soap operas in TV history.

“People are crazy,” Hagman said Thursday. “I guess it’s a TV show people identify with.”

On Nov. 8, J.R., Bobby, Sue Ellen and other Ewing kin will mark the anniversary with a reunion and barbecue at Southfork Ranch. Viewed panoramically in the show’s introduction, the ranch is in the Dallas suburb of Parker, about 25 miles north of the flashy downtown skyscrapers also featured in the opening scenes.

Fans from Japan, Australia, Europe and across the United States have plunked down anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for the tickets. The more one pays, the greater one gains access to cast members including Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy.

“This thing is going to be a lot of fun,” said the 77-year-old Hagman, seated in the formal living room of the Southfork mansion, a trademark cowboy hat on his head. “It’s the first one we’ve ever done with fans. They’re coming from everywhere.”

Along with the barbecue, there will be country music, dancing, fireworks and a laser light show.

“This is a chance to live like and be a Ewing for a day,” said Jason Hardison, the event’s executive producer. “We’re going to celebrate the excess and success of the 1980s, at least the oil boom, and the money that surrounded Dallas.”

Given the various story lines and characters in each hourlong episode, Hagman said he saw Dallas as more of a cartoon and “had fun with it.”

Hagman, who grew up in Weatherford, west of Fort Worth, said he patterned J.R.’s twang, persona and family views after a businessman he worked for in high school who supplied oil drilling equipment.

But those close to Hagman say he’s the antithesis of the scheming, arrogant head of the wealthy but dysfunctional Ewing clan.

Hagman, a former vegetarian and outspoken nonsmoker who gave up alcohol after his 1995 liver transplant, is now an avocado farmer. He and Maj (pronounced MY), his wife of nearly 54 years, rise with the sun and are often asleep by 7:30 p.m.

Their 44-acre spread in Ojai, Calif., is all-organic. Their home runs on solar power, which Hagman said knocked their electric bill from $40,000 a year to $13.

He remains close to a few “Dallas” cast members, hunting and fishing with Duffy, aka brother Bobby, each month. And he and Maj often dine with Gray, who played his trophy wife on the show.

Maj Hagman recalled that when her husband first got the “Dallas” script, he was out of work. The couple were in New York, where Hagman’s mom, actress Mary Martin, was doing a show with Ethel Merman.

He was busy reading a script for a half-hour comedy while Maj reviewed the “Dallas” proposal.

“Woo! Larry, this is it!” she shouted. “There’s not one redeeming character in the whole show.”

She said it was right down his alley.

“But Maj,” he replied. “The money is terrible.”

She said: “We’ll renegotiate.”

After the “Who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger that concluded the 1980 season, when it was unclear whether J.R. would live, Hagman bargained hard with producers and landed a huge raise.

“That’s chutzpah,” Hagman said, explaining that the writers could have easily killed off his character. “But I made millions and they made billions. Everybody did well.”

Today, Hagman said the question people most often ask him as a conversation opener is, “Who shot you, J.R.?”

When he tells them it was Bing Crosby’s daughter, Mary, who played his sister-in-law and pregnant mistress on the show, they say, who is Bing Crosby?

“It’s a different generation,” Hagman said.

Parker County Peach Festival
Saturday, July 12, 2008
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Historic Downtown Square
Weatherford, Texas

Weatherford hosts the 2008 Annual Peach Festival on Saturday, July 12th. This year’s festival features more than 200 arts and crafts vendors. Come to the Peach Festival in Weatherford’s historic downtown, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

You will find a children’s area, a food court, non-stop entertainment, and of course sweet, juicy Parker County Peaches.

Beat the heat with Peachy treats of all kinds - Peach ice cream, Peach juleps, Peach smoothies, Peach cobbler, Peach jams, and just plain ol’ Peaches to bite and let the juice run down your chin.

Admission is $5 for adults and FREE for children 12 and under. There will be free parking from the Ninth Grade Center (1007 S. Main St.) Exit 408, Weatherford College (225 College Park Dr) Exit 409, and the First Monday Grounds (100 Block Santa Fe) Exit 409. Free Shuttle services are available from these sites as well. Free handicap parking and handicap shuttle from Weatherford Ninth Grade Center.

The Peach Pedal Bike Ride is on July 14th. Visit www.peachpedal.com for more information. Call the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce for more information: Toll Free 1-888-594-3801.

Miley Cyrus and her alter ego, Hannah Montana, perform tonite at the Ft. Worth Convention Center.

It is the first sell-out concert at the Center since 2000 and the FW Police are ramping up to prepare with the onslaught of people hitting downtown just as rush hour is happening.

While there is a parking garage adjacent to the Center, it only has 700 spaces which is about one-tenth of what is needed! Downtown will be flooded with people trying to find parking spaces (for those heading there be cautious where you park as the tow trucks will be out in force). If you are driving, leave early so you have ample time to get yourself situated.

The best idea is to take the train as there are 2 stops close to the Center.

For those picking up tix at Will Call, the box opens only 2 hours beforehand so be prepared for lines for that as well.

There’s a new email list for the Dallas GLBT community at www.GayListDaily.com.

Here is the posting from today’s blast:

Weekend Calendar

Twilight of the Golds
Opens Friday, September 28
If your parents knew everything about you before you were born, would you be here? Uptown Players lend their award-winning talents to this tear-jerker about what might happen if genetic testing can predict the sexual orientation of an unborn child.
KD Studio Theatre, Tickets $22-25
www.uptownplayers.org

Ten Tenors
Saturday, September 29
Ten gorgeous voices singing as one. If the 1-in-10 rule holds true, the man of our dreams may be singing sweetly to us!
Nokia Theatre, Tickets $29-49
www.nokialivedfw.com

Lone Star AIDS Ride
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 29-30
Break out your “Biker short butts drive me nuts” t-shirt and cheer on hundreds of Spandex-clad hotties as they ride off into the sunset, all in support of North Texas AIDS charities.
Check out LoneStarRide.org for details

Southwest Invitation DanceSport Championships
Friday – Sunday, Sept 28-30
Can’t get enough “Dancing with the Stars?” Neither can we. We’re absolutely giddy for the fabulously tacky Britney-on-a-bad-day frocks and grinded-teeth permasmiles…and the skin-tight pants and pelvic gyrations are enough to make us swoon!
Hilton Dallas Lincoln Center, Tickets $10-40
www.southwesterninvitational.com

The Lion King
Begins Sunday, September 28
Calling all queens, the king is here. If you missed gay pride, you can still get tickets to see this pride of lions and other Tony-award winning beasties as they strut their stuff at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Musical Hall at Fair Park, Tickets $29-72
www.dallassummermusicals.org

Bill Cosby @ Bass Hall
Sunday, September 30
Paging Dr. Huxtable, we have a fashion fatality – someone is wearing one of your 80’s Christmas sweaters. Everybody’s favorite sitcom father figure comes to Fort Worth for a one-night gig. Sorry, Jell-O pudding pops not included in ticket price.
Bass Hall in Fort Worth, Tickets $40-60
www.basshall.com

Several several years after Dallas set the example, today the Fort Worth City Council approved extending restrictions on public smoking.

However, council members cut some slack for bars and bingo parlors.

This vote ends a year-long discussion with debate and study which gave the members the ability to further water down the ordinance or to completely ban smoking in all public places.