What: Prairie Lights (Christmas light display)
Where:
Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake
5700 Lake Ridge Pkwy
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
When:
Nov 22-Dec 31 Sun-Thu 6-9 pm Fri-Sat 6-10 pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 6-10 pm
Cost:
Mondays through Thursdays: $12 per car
Fridays through Sundays: $15 per car
Prices vary for larger vehicles such as limos and small buses
10-minute holiday theater light show: $2 for adults, $1 for kids
Contact: 972-237-4569
From DallasNews.com:
Illuminated drive-through theme park features two miles of holiday exhibits with 3 million lights. Make a stop at the holiday village for refreshments, souvenirs and a 10-minute holiday theater light show (for an extra charge).
http://www.prairielights.org/
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Rockin' Christmas Party
Who: WaterTower Theatre
What: Revue of R&B Christmas songs of the 40s, 60s, 70s, and 80s
When: November 29 - December 23
Where: 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001
For more info: http://www.watertowertheatre.org/mainstage.asp#1
I'm not going to lie to you, the only reason I'm posting this is because one of my classmates from high school, the lovely and talented Chimberly Carter, is one of the performers.
From their website:
You asked for it. You begged for it. And now it’s back! After a three year hiatus, Rockin’ Christmas Party returns to the WaterTower stage. Six of the hippest performers in town and a swingin’ live band “rock around the Christmas tree" as they groove to the Top 40 hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Grab your hairspray, platform shoes, and Santa hat – and let the cast of Rockin’ Christmas Party “sock it to ya!" Rockin' Christmas Party is supported in part by Atmos Energy and Town North Bank. -Dave Steakley
What: Revue of R&B Christmas songs of the 40s, 60s, 70s, and 80s
When: November 29 - December 23
Where: 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001
For more info: http://www.watertowertheatre.org/mainstage.asp#1
I'm not going to lie to you, the only reason I'm posting this is because one of my classmates from high school, the lovely and talented Chimberly Carter, is one of the performers.
From their website:
You asked for it. You begged for it. And now it’s back! After a three year hiatus, Rockin’ Christmas Party returns to the WaterTower stage. Six of the hippest performers in town and a swingin’ live band “rock around the Christmas tree" as they groove to the Top 40 hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Grab your hairspray, platform shoes, and Santa hat – and let the cast of Rockin’ Christmas Party “sock it to ya!" Rockin' Christmas Party is supported in part by Atmos Energy and Town North Bank. -Dave Steakley
Cheap Date Alert #7
What: The NOTcracker (modern dance performance)
When: December 8, 2007 @ 3pm
Where: Dallas Museum of Art (Atrium Cafe), 1717 N. Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE (but you may still have to pay museum admission $10/person; call ahead to verify)
Contact: 214.922.1200
From DallasNews.com:
No snow falls on the Barefoot Brigade's NOTcracker, and no mice invade, either. Resolutely opposed to anything remotely like The Nutcracker, these modern dance companies celebrate the season in their own style. Kimberly Bland from Chiaroscuro Dance Company, for example, performs To the Sea: Metamorphosis of an Ice Sculpture, described as the "odyssey of an ice sculpture as she melts, evaporates into the atmosphere, and rains down into the ocean." Muscle Memory Dance Theatre goes in for "abstract tutus" in Embellish. Other groups include Armstrong/Bergeron Dance Company, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, BecklesDancing Company, Dallas Dance Company, 3/A Modern Dance Company and Phase 2 Dance Ensemble. The performance takes place at the DMA's Atrium Cafe. – MARGARET PUTNAM / Special Contributor
When: December 8, 2007 @ 3pm
Where: Dallas Museum of Art (Atrium Cafe), 1717 N. Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE (but you may still have to pay museum admission $10/person; call ahead to verify)
Contact: 214.922.1200
From DallasNews.com:
No snow falls on the Barefoot Brigade's NOTcracker, and no mice invade, either. Resolutely opposed to anything remotely like The Nutcracker, these modern dance companies celebrate the season in their own style. Kimberly Bland from Chiaroscuro Dance Company, for example, performs To the Sea: Metamorphosis of an Ice Sculpture, described as the "odyssey of an ice sculpture as she melts, evaporates into the atmosphere, and rains down into the ocean." Muscle Memory Dance Theatre goes in for "abstract tutus" in Embellish. Other groups include Armstrong/Bergeron Dance Company, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, BecklesDancing Company, Dallas Dance Company, 3/A Modern Dance Company and Phase 2 Dance Ensemble. The performance takes place at the DMA's Atrium Cafe. – MARGARET PUTNAM / Special Contributor
Pardon My Absence
I can't believe that it's been three months since I posted to the blog. Please forgive my absence. Between work, school, and travel, I haven't been still long enough to post anything. Fortunately, school is on hiatus and I have obliterated my vacation leave at work, so for the next few weeks, I ought to be back to normal. I may not be able to vouch for all these events, but at least I can keep you "in the know."
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Update: Amuse Restaurant and Lounge
1326 South Lamar
Dallas, TX
214.428.7300
Restaurants in Dallas’s “southern sector” (please read between those lines) are pretty routine and predictable. You’ve got your classic fish, chicken, and BBQ joints. You’ve got a few chain restaurants, fast food places, cafeteria style restaurants, Chinese buffets, and a seemingly endless supply of taquerias. Residents of Dallas’s south side often travel to northern Dallas in search of something fresh and new. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Exhibit A: Amuse Restaurant and Lounge.
Amuse is located just south of downtown Dallas across the street from the South Side on Lamar Lofts. I will admit, this location isn’t truly South Dallas but it’s a heck of a lot closer than Addison or Plano. Though the building itself is nondescript (a blue one-story building on a somewhat lonely street corner), the interior is alive with prompt, friendly waitstaff, an open kitchen, comfy, bronze-colored booths, and dark, distressed floors offset by sparkling wine glasses on every table. It’s definitely more than you might expect.
I popped in one Friday evening thinking I would choose something light from the dinner menu (like a salad) and was pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to its lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, Amuse has a tapas menu as well. I tried the hummus (delicious) and the cheese plate (tasty), but the hit of the evening was the FREE (that’s right, FREE) seasoned pita bread (or is it flatbread?) that they provide. The bread is served fresh from the oven with some kind of pizza/marinara style dipping sauce. I have no idea what the recipe is; I just know that the pita bread is positively scrumptious. My companion and I had no shame in asking for basket after basket. Each subsequent basket was delivered with the same promptness and cheery smile as the first.
Amuse definitely gets my approval. I will have to go back for lunch/dinner to get the full experience, and I’m already excited by the variety of options on the menu. The only drawback is that Amuse is kind of pricey. The median entrée price for dinner is $17 (unless you’re ordering a sandwich or salad). BUT remember, the pita bread is free. So order something from the tapas menu and tell’em to keep the bread coming.
Update: I have now enjoyed the full dining experience at Amuse: endive salad with walnuts and blue cheese, shrimp cakes as my entree, vanilla bean crème brulee for dessert, and a cocktail in between. I can’t remember the last time I sent an empty plate back to the kitchen, but that’s exactly what I did Friday night. I would describe my dining experience as “controlled decadence” – decadent enough to feel self-indulgent, but not decadent enough to feel guilty about it.
Don’t Forget: There is a lounge and small bar located in the front of the restaurant. The cushy seating in the lounge invites you to linger over your cocktails making Amuse a nice place to grab a drink (or more if you have a designated driver) before a night on the town.
Tip: Try the Red Apple Martini. It’s perfection!
http://www.amusedallas.com/
Dallas, TX
214.428.7300
Restaurants in Dallas’s “southern sector” (please read between those lines) are pretty routine and predictable. You’ve got your classic fish, chicken, and BBQ joints. You’ve got a few chain restaurants, fast food places, cafeteria style restaurants, Chinese buffets, and a seemingly endless supply of taquerias. Residents of Dallas’s south side often travel to northern Dallas in search of something fresh and new. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Exhibit A: Amuse Restaurant and Lounge.
Amuse is located just south of downtown Dallas across the street from the South Side on Lamar Lofts. I will admit, this location isn’t truly South Dallas but it’s a heck of a lot closer than Addison or Plano. Though the building itself is nondescript (a blue one-story building on a somewhat lonely street corner), the interior is alive with prompt, friendly waitstaff, an open kitchen, comfy, bronze-colored booths, and dark, distressed floors offset by sparkling wine glasses on every table. It’s definitely more than you might expect.
I popped in one Friday evening thinking I would choose something light from the dinner menu (like a salad) and was pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to its lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, Amuse has a tapas menu as well. I tried the hummus (delicious) and the cheese plate (tasty), but the hit of the evening was the FREE (that’s right, FREE) seasoned pita bread (or is it flatbread?) that they provide. The bread is served fresh from the oven with some kind of pizza/marinara style dipping sauce. I have no idea what the recipe is; I just know that the pita bread is positively scrumptious. My companion and I had no shame in asking for basket after basket. Each subsequent basket was delivered with the same promptness and cheery smile as the first.
Amuse definitely gets my approval. I will have to go back for lunch/dinner to get the full experience, and I’m already excited by the variety of options on the menu. The only drawback is that Amuse is kind of pricey. The median entrée price for dinner is $17 (unless you’re ordering a sandwich or salad). BUT remember, the pita bread is free. So order something from the tapas menu and tell’em to keep the bread coming.
Update: I have now enjoyed the full dining experience at Amuse: endive salad with walnuts and blue cheese, shrimp cakes as my entree, vanilla bean crème brulee for dessert, and a cocktail in between. I can’t remember the last time I sent an empty plate back to the kitchen, but that’s exactly what I did Friday night. I would describe my dining experience as “controlled decadence” – decadent enough to feel self-indulgent, but not decadent enough to feel guilty about it.
Don’t Forget: There is a lounge and small bar located in the front of the restaurant. The cushy seating in the lounge invites you to linger over your cocktails making Amuse a nice place to grab a drink (or more if you have a designated driver) before a night on the town.
Tip: Try the Red Apple Martini. It’s perfection!
http://www.amusedallas.com/
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tulisoma 2007: South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival
African-American Museum
3536 Grand Avenue – Fair Park
Dallas, TX
August 24-26
From the website:
Tulisoma, Swahili for "we read", is a community-based literary festival promoting literacy and the arts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area. Founded in 2003, by former City Councilman Leo V. Chaney, Jr., and Dr. Harry Robinson, President and CEO of the African American Museum, the goal of Tulisoma is to create a dynamic event tailored to engage local families, avid readers, aspiring writers and visitors to the city.
For more information: http://www.tulisoma.com/index.htm
3536 Grand Avenue – Fair Park
Dallas, TX
August 24-26
From the website:
Tulisoma, Swahili for "we read", is a community-based literary festival promoting literacy and the arts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area. Founded in 2003, by former City Councilman Leo V. Chaney, Jr., and Dr. Harry Robinson, President and CEO of the African American Museum, the goal of Tulisoma is to create a dynamic event tailored to engage local families, avid readers, aspiring writers and visitors to the city.
For more information: http://www.tulisoma.com/index.htm
Monday, August 20, 2007
6th Annual Asian Film Festival of Dallas
August 23 – 30, 2007
Landmark Magnolia Theatre
3699 McKinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
For more information regarding features, show times, and ticketing:
http://affd.org/2007/index.html
As an African-American, I am often bothered by the lack of variety in the images/stories of African-Americans on screen. I am often lamenting to my friends, “Are there no other African/African-American stories to be told besides inner-city violence, overcoming bigotry and hatred, and your good old-fashioned minstrel shows?” If you were to judge by Hollywood’s standards, you would determine that these are, in fact, the only stories we have to tell. Of course, this isn’t true.
It is because of this chasm between what is real and what is portrayed, that I have a kindred appreciation for Dallas’s 6th Annual Asian Film Festival. Though the three images that Hollywood may have of America’s Asian community (martial arts masters, math/science whizzes, and Korean grocers or nail salon technicians) may differ from those it holds of the African-American community, the images are no less limiting and, quite frankly, insulting. Consequently, I am encouraging you to give your support to the Asian Film Festival where you can be introduced to 25+ stories beyond the Hollywood norm.
Of particular interest (at least to me) is the film, “And Thereafter II.” The film “explores the reasons why Korean women continue to marry American GIs despite the fact that it turns the brides into outcasts in their own country…” (http://affd.org/2007/filmindex.html#l4s)
If this film doesn’t “float your boat” there are plenty of others to choose from: romance, intrigue, suspense, etc. That’s the beauty of this film festival (and others like it). All the pesky limitations are gone.
Landmark Magnolia Theatre
3699 McKinney Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
For more information regarding features, show times, and ticketing:
http://affd.org/2007/index.html
As an African-American, I am often bothered by the lack of variety in the images/stories of African-Americans on screen. I am often lamenting to my friends, “Are there no other African/African-American stories to be told besides inner-city violence, overcoming bigotry and hatred, and your good old-fashioned minstrel shows?” If you were to judge by Hollywood’s standards, you would determine that these are, in fact, the only stories we have to tell. Of course, this isn’t true.
It is because of this chasm between what is real and what is portrayed, that I have a kindred appreciation for Dallas’s 6th Annual Asian Film Festival. Though the three images that Hollywood may have of America’s Asian community (martial arts masters, math/science whizzes, and Korean grocers or nail salon technicians) may differ from those it holds of the African-American community, the images are no less limiting and, quite frankly, insulting. Consequently, I am encouraging you to give your support to the Asian Film Festival where you can be introduced to 25+ stories beyond the Hollywood norm.
Of particular interest (at least to me) is the film, “And Thereafter II.” The film “explores the reasons why Korean women continue to marry American GIs despite the fact that it turns the brides into outcasts in their own country…” (http://affd.org/2007/filmindex.html#l4s)
If this film doesn’t “float your boat” there are plenty of others to choose from: romance, intrigue, suspense, etc. That’s the beauty of this film festival (and others like it). All the pesky limitations are gone.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Brooklyn Jazz Cafe
1701 South Lamar St.
Dallas, TX 75215
214.428.0025
http://www.brooklynjazzcafe.com/default.php
Dallas, TX 75215
214.428.0025
I’m surprised that it has taken me so long to write this review given the number of times I’ve been to Brooklyn’s. Perhaps it’s because I’ve had a long-standing love/hate relationship with the venue and have been conflicted over whether to give it a positive review or a negative one. Perhaps I keep hoping it will get better with time. It’s a tough decision to make; there are so many things to consider. Therefore, in true Libra fashion, I choose not to decide. Instead, I will list Brooklyn’s pros and cons (as I understand them) and let you, my dear readers, weigh them for yourselves.
PROS:
Location – Located on Lamar St. just south of downtown Dallas, Brooklyn’s is convenient for those African-Americans who live in Southern Dallas and Dallas’s southern suburbs.
Crowd – Brooklyn’s is definitely for a mature, predominately African-American crowd. Late twenty-somethings, thiry-somethings, and even a few forty-somethings are the most common patrons. There is no DJ - only live music - and I can’t recall ever seeing a “white tee.”
Entertainment Value – A well-stocked bar, a full dinner menu (and Sunday brunch), and live jazz nightly.
Parking – There’s plenty of it – valet and street parking.
Patio – During the cooler months, it’s nice to sit on the patio. It’s quite large, and there are speakers and monitors so you can enjoy the live music being played inside.
CONS:
Food – I’ve been to Brooklyn’s for brunch, happy hour, dinner, and dessert and I have yet to enjoy any of my meals. The food is mediocre at best; and given the prices on the menu, I expect better.
Patio – Apparently, word has gotten out that the patio can be reserved for large parties and special events. Therefore, the patio isn’t always available to enjoy.
Layout – This is probably my biggest problem with the venue. Let’s be honest, though Brooklyn’s may have been envisioned as a supper club from the days of old, the reality is that Brooklyn’s is where the “mature” crowd goes “hunting” for new acquaintances (if you get my drift). As such, the layout is not very mingle-friendly. In essence, you’re faced with two options upon entering:
[if you get there early enough] sit at one of the tables positioned so closely together that it’s too much trouble to get up again once you’ve been seated (mostly women), or
stand at the bar which can only comfortably accommodate about 15 people, but instead is usually surrounded by 35+ people (mostly men) not including the waitstaff who have to walk back and forth to the bar to serve those who are seated.
It’s a hassle and it creates a situation such that one can only “mingle” if one loiters at the bar which isn’t nearly large enough to accommodate the traffic.
Music – Some of the bands are better than others, but all of the bands are too loud. If you’re seated inside Brooklyn’s you can barely hear yourself think, let alone hear the person sitting/standing next to you. I know that jazz is the main attraction, but so is the “hunt” remember?
So, you tell me. Is Brooklyn’s a hit or a miss? Speak on it in the comments section.
http://www.brooklynjazzcafe.com/default.php
Monday, August 13, 2007
Amuse Restaurant and Lounge
1326 South Lamar
Dallas, TX
214.428.7300
Restaurants in Dallas’s “southern sector” (please read between those lines) are pretty routine and predictable. You’ve got your classic fish, chicken, and BBQ joints. You’ve got a few chain restaurants, fast food places, cafeteria style restaurants, Chinese buffets, and a seemingly endless supply of taquerias. Residents of Dallas’s south side often travel to northern Dallas in search of something fresh and new. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Exhibit A: Amuse Restaurant and Lounge.
Amuse is located just south of downtown Dallas across the street from the South Side on Lamar Lofts. I will admit, this location isn’t truly South Dallas but it’s a heck of a lot closer than Addison or Plano. Though the building itself is somewhat nondescript, the interior is alive with prompt, friendly waitstaff, comfy booths, dark woods, and sparkling wine glasses on every table. It’s definitely more than you might expect.
I popped in one Friday evening thinking I would choose something light from the dinner menu (like a salad) and was pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to its lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, Amuse has a tapas menu as well. I tried the hummus (delicious) and the cheese plate (tasty), but the hit of the evening was the FREE (that’s right, FREE) seasoned pita bread (or is it flatbread?) that they provide. You’ve got to try this stuff. The bread is served fresh from the oven with some kind of pizza/marinara sauce. I have no idea what the recipe is; I just know that the pita bread is positively scrumptious. My companion and I had no shame in asking for basket after basket. Each subsequent basket was delivered with the same promptness and cheery smile as the first.
Amuse definitely gets my approval. I will have to go back for lunch/dinner to get the full experience, and I’m already excited by the variety of options on their menus. The only drawback is that Amuse is kind of pricey. The median entrée price for dinner is $17 (unless you’re ordering a sandwich or salad). BUT remember, the pita bread is free. So order something from the tapas menu and tell’em to keep the bread coming.
Dallas, TX
214.428.7300
Restaurants in Dallas’s “southern sector” (please read between those lines) are pretty routine and predictable. You’ve got your classic fish, chicken, and BBQ joints. You’ve got a few chain restaurants, fast food places, cafeteria style restaurants, Chinese buffets, and a seemingly endless supply of taquerias. Residents of Dallas’s south side often travel to northern Dallas in search of something fresh and new. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Exhibit A: Amuse Restaurant and Lounge.
Amuse is located just south of downtown Dallas across the street from the South Side on Lamar Lofts. I will admit, this location isn’t truly South Dallas but it’s a heck of a lot closer than Addison or Plano. Though the building itself is somewhat nondescript, the interior is alive with prompt, friendly waitstaff, comfy booths, dark woods, and sparkling wine glasses on every table. It’s definitely more than you might expect.
I popped in one Friday evening thinking I would choose something light from the dinner menu (like a salad) and was pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to its lunch, dinner, and brunch menus, Amuse has a tapas menu as well. I tried the hummus (delicious) and the cheese plate (tasty), but the hit of the evening was the FREE (that’s right, FREE) seasoned pita bread (or is it flatbread?) that they provide. You’ve got to try this stuff. The bread is served fresh from the oven with some kind of pizza/marinara sauce. I have no idea what the recipe is; I just know that the pita bread is positively scrumptious. My companion and I had no shame in asking for basket after basket. Each subsequent basket was delivered with the same promptness and cheery smile as the first.
Amuse definitely gets my approval. I will have to go back for lunch/dinner to get the full experience, and I’m already excited by the variety of options on their menus. The only drawback is that Amuse is kind of pricey. The median entrée price for dinner is $17 (unless you’re ordering a sandwich or salad). BUT remember, the pita bread is free. So order something from the tapas menu and tell’em to keep the bread coming.
Petrus Lounge
1217 Main Street
Dallas, TX
214.760.9000
I will admit it. On more than one occasion I’ve fantasized about living a perfectly glamorous, cosmopolitan life (a la Sheila E) filled with gallery openings, trendy eateries, and swanky lounges. Imagine my excitement when a friend of mine tipped me off to Petrus Lounge. Let me set the scene: located at the corner of Main and Field in downtown Dallas, Petrus Lounge offers its patrons four levels of glamour – an art gallery on level 1, a high-end restaurant called Luqa on level 2, a sexy club/lounge with plush couches and dark corners on level 3, and a rooftop deck/garden - complete with elevated “catwalk” and wishing fountain flowing beneath it - on level 4. This review concerns itself primarily with the restaurant on level 2 as the bulk of my time at Petrus Lounge was spent there.
At first glance, Luca has everything a hip, new upscale restaurant should have – good location, ambient lighting, covered tables with full place settings, waitstaff with European accents, and seating along glass walls so that you can be entertained by the goings on of the street below (and simultaneously be the envy of all who see you in return). Then, you open the menu and that’s where all the trouble begins and ends.
I went there for dinner Saturday evening. As with any good meal, I started with an appetizer – fried green tomatoes, a southern favorite. My appetizer arrived artfully arranged on a black marble tile – not a plate, not a tray, but a black marble tile not much unlike what you would find at a home improvement store. I immediately could have judged the restaurant to be pompous and unnecessarily pretentious, but instead, I reasoned that the restaurant was simply maintaining the artistic values of the gallery on the first floor. I took my first bite and it was all downhill from there. My fried green tomatoes were bland (to put it mildly). I tried to sop up (yes, I said sop up; it is a southern dish) as much of the hollandaise sauce as I could, but when you consider there was approximately ½ a teaspoon of hollandaise on the entire plate, excuse me, tile, that was easier said than done. The only things tasty were the marinated cherry tomatoes that were used to garnish the fried green tomatoes.
My entrée, California Artichoke Ravioli, was unremarkable as well, but more bothersome than the lack of flavor was the lack of variety in the selection. In essence, there were seven entrees to choose from: fish, chicken, lamb, a meatless option, pork, steak, and lobster (unavailable the night that I was there). Considering that I eat neither pork nor red meat, the only options I had were fish, chicken, and the meatless option. Since I eat chicken all the time, and the butterfish on the menu was replaced with salmon for the night (which I didn’t have a taste for), the only option I had left was the California Artichoke Ravioli – another pretty presentation, another unsatisfying dish.
Finally, I get to the best part of the meal – dessert. I chose the Mascarpone Cream. It ended up being the highlight of my meal. Mascarpone is basically the Italian version of American cream cheese. My dessert tasted not much unlike cheesecake filling. Again, I was bothered by the poor selection. In addition to my choice, there were approximately 4 ice cream based offerings, and a cheese plate. WTH? Ice cream? Give me a break. I can buy a tub of great ice cream (Blue Bell, anyone?) for $5 at my local Kroger. And more importantly, what kind of upscale restaurant doesn’t have Crème Brule on the dessert menu? Isn’t that the first rule of the upscale restaurant handbook?
My bottom line is this: no matter how many bells and whistles you place on a restaurant, no matter how many glamorous accoutrements you attach to it, its merit is determined by one thing and one thing only - its food. I have no problem paying $124 for a meal (2 people + 1 bottle of wine) as long as I can walk away with a full stomach and a satisfied grin. I got neither of those from Luqa. Still, if the restaurant isn’t your cup of tea, you need not give up on your fantasies of a glamorous life. Remember, you’ve got three other levels of glamour to choose from.
Tip: Don’t be fooled by the menu posted on the website. What you see isn’t necessarily what you’re going to get. http://petruslounge.com/
Dallas, TX
214.760.9000
I will admit it. On more than one occasion I’ve fantasized about living a perfectly glamorous, cosmopolitan life (a la Sheila E) filled with gallery openings, trendy eateries, and swanky lounges. Imagine my excitement when a friend of mine tipped me off to Petrus Lounge. Let me set the scene: located at the corner of Main and Field in downtown Dallas, Petrus Lounge offers its patrons four levels of glamour – an art gallery on level 1, a high-end restaurant called Luqa on level 2, a sexy club/lounge with plush couches and dark corners on level 3, and a rooftop deck/garden - complete with elevated “catwalk” and wishing fountain flowing beneath it - on level 4. This review concerns itself primarily with the restaurant on level 2 as the bulk of my time at Petrus Lounge was spent there.
At first glance, Luca has everything a hip, new upscale restaurant should have – good location, ambient lighting, covered tables with full place settings, waitstaff with European accents, and seating along glass walls so that you can be entertained by the goings on of the street below (and simultaneously be the envy of all who see you in return). Then, you open the menu and that’s where all the trouble begins and ends.
I went there for dinner Saturday evening. As with any good meal, I started with an appetizer – fried green tomatoes, a southern favorite. My appetizer arrived artfully arranged on a black marble tile – not a plate, not a tray, but a black marble tile not much unlike what you would find at a home improvement store. I immediately could have judged the restaurant to be pompous and unnecessarily pretentious, but instead, I reasoned that the restaurant was simply maintaining the artistic values of the gallery on the first floor. I took my first bite and it was all downhill from there. My fried green tomatoes were bland (to put it mildly). I tried to sop up (yes, I said sop up; it is a southern dish) as much of the hollandaise sauce as I could, but when you consider there was approximately ½ a teaspoon of hollandaise on the entire plate, excuse me, tile, that was easier said than done. The only things tasty were the marinated cherry tomatoes that were used to garnish the fried green tomatoes.
My entrée, California Artichoke Ravioli, was unremarkable as well, but more bothersome than the lack of flavor was the lack of variety in the selection. In essence, there were seven entrees to choose from: fish, chicken, lamb, a meatless option, pork, steak, and lobster (unavailable the night that I was there). Considering that I eat neither pork nor red meat, the only options I had were fish, chicken, and the meatless option. Since I eat chicken all the time, and the butterfish on the menu was replaced with salmon for the night (which I didn’t have a taste for), the only option I had left was the California Artichoke Ravioli – another pretty presentation, another unsatisfying dish.
Finally, I get to the best part of the meal – dessert. I chose the Mascarpone Cream. It ended up being the highlight of my meal. Mascarpone is basically the Italian version of American cream cheese. My dessert tasted not much unlike cheesecake filling. Again, I was bothered by the poor selection. In addition to my choice, there were approximately 4 ice cream based offerings, and a cheese plate. WTH? Ice cream? Give me a break. I can buy a tub of great ice cream (Blue Bell, anyone?) for $5 at my local Kroger. And more importantly, what kind of upscale restaurant doesn’t have Crème Brule on the dessert menu? Isn’t that the first rule of the upscale restaurant handbook?
My bottom line is this: no matter how many bells and whistles you place on a restaurant, no matter how many glamorous accoutrements you attach to it, its merit is determined by one thing and one thing only - its food. I have no problem paying $124 for a meal (2 people + 1 bottle of wine) as long as I can walk away with a full stomach and a satisfied grin. I got neither of those from Luqa. Still, if the restaurant isn’t your cup of tea, you need not give up on your fantasies of a glamorous life. Remember, you’ve got three other levels of glamour to choose from.
Tip: Don’t be fooled by the menu posted on the website. What you see isn’t necessarily what you’re going to get. http://petruslounge.com/
Ten Sports Grill
1302 Main Street
214.748.1010
Ten Sports Grill is not much unlike your local, dive bar – small, dark, and unremarkable. The bar can hold (including standing room) maybe 150 people. There aren’t 100 TVs showing every sporting event known to man. Instead, there is one large jumbo-screen and about eight other TVs posted throughout the bar. I counted only three different sporting matches being shown while I was there: Cowboys vs Colts (pre-season), a soccer match showcasing the uber-handsome (yet only moderately skilled) David Beckham, and something else that I can’t remember because clearly I didn’t find it relevant to my life. There are 3 or 4 large banquet tables in the center of the room, and various two and four-person tables scattered around them (all have seen better days). The chairs reminded me of those that were present in the banquet hall of my old Baptist church some twenty years ago – vinyl with really thin padding.
Located in downtown Dallas at the corner of Field and Main, the bar’s patrons were an interesting mix of downtown workers and “urbanites” that live on the south side of town. The crowd was loud and enthusiastic – most seemed to be serious sports fans. You could feel the pain in their groans at every incomplete pass, and revel in their cheers at every touchdown. Ten Sports Grill is not where you go to see and be seen; and perhaps that’s why it was voted as “best place to watch a game with a Maverick or a Cowboy” on citysearch.com. Professional athletes (and regular Joes and Janes) can go there and not be bothered with the pomp and circumstance of some other sports bars. I especially appreciated that, as a non-smoker in a room full of smokers, the air quality/ventilation was most excellent all things considered.
So if you’re a serious sports fan and for some reason your HD flat panel, big screen TV has died, then Ten Sports Grill is a fine substitute.
Tip: Thursday nights there are happy-hour drink specials all night long and all appetizers are 2 for $10.
http://www.tensportsgrill.com/
214.748.1010
Ten Sports Grill is not much unlike your local, dive bar – small, dark, and unremarkable. The bar can hold (including standing room) maybe 150 people. There aren’t 100 TVs showing every sporting event known to man. Instead, there is one large jumbo-screen and about eight other TVs posted throughout the bar. I counted only three different sporting matches being shown while I was there: Cowboys vs Colts (pre-season), a soccer match showcasing the uber-handsome (yet only moderately skilled) David Beckham, and something else that I can’t remember because clearly I didn’t find it relevant to my life. There are 3 or 4 large banquet tables in the center of the room, and various two and four-person tables scattered around them (all have seen better days). The chairs reminded me of those that were present in the banquet hall of my old Baptist church some twenty years ago – vinyl with really thin padding.
Located in downtown Dallas at the corner of Field and Main, the bar’s patrons were an interesting mix of downtown workers and “urbanites” that live on the south side of town. The crowd was loud and enthusiastic – most seemed to be serious sports fans. You could feel the pain in their groans at every incomplete pass, and revel in their cheers at every touchdown. Ten Sports Grill is not where you go to see and be seen; and perhaps that’s why it was voted as “best place to watch a game with a Maverick or a Cowboy” on citysearch.com. Professional athletes (and regular Joes and Janes) can go there and not be bothered with the pomp and circumstance of some other sports bars. I especially appreciated that, as a non-smoker in a room full of smokers, the air quality/ventilation was most excellent all things considered.
So if you’re a serious sports fan and for some reason your HD flat panel, big screen TV has died, then Ten Sports Grill is a fine substitute.
Tip: Thursday nights there are happy-hour drink specials all night long and all appetizers are 2 for $10.
http://www.tensportsgrill.com/
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
A Brief History of White Music [a musical]
I will admit, I am completely biased about this posting because one of the stars of the musical is an old high school classmate of mine, Ms. Chimberly "Coco" Carter. I'm really proud of her for following her dreams.
A Brief History of White Music
By Dee Dee Thomas & David Tweedy
What if a trio of African-Amercian singers reinterpreted the music of the Andrews Sisters, Buddy Holly, Elvis, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles?
Hip and moving, A Brief History of White Music sings the songs you grew up loving…as they’ve never been sung before! A Brief History of White Music features musical favorites such as:
That'll Be The Day-
Walk Like A Man-
Who Put The Bomp-
Love Potion #9-
Blue Suede Shoes-
California Dreamin'-
Do Wah Diddy-
I Wanna Hold Your Hand-
These Boots Are Made For Walking-
Son Of A Preacher Man
And much more!
For more info and to see pictures of the cast: http://www.watertowertheatre.org/studio.asp#1
Show runs August 2 - 26, 2007.
A Brief History of White Music
By Dee Dee Thomas & David Tweedy
What if a trio of African-Amercian singers reinterpreted the music of the Andrews Sisters, Buddy Holly, Elvis, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles?
Hip and moving, A Brief History of White Music sings the songs you grew up loving…as they’ve never been sung before! A Brief History of White Music features musical favorites such as:
That'll Be The Day-
Walk Like A Man-
Who Put The Bomp-
Love Potion #9-
Blue Suede Shoes-
California Dreamin'-
Do Wah Diddy-
I Wanna Hold Your Hand-
These Boots Are Made For Walking-
Son Of A Preacher Man
And much more!
For more info and to see pictures of the cast: http://www.watertowertheatre.org/studio.asp#1
Show runs August 2 - 26, 2007.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Cheap Date Alert #6
FREE concerts, oh how I love you. Let me count the ways...
Symphonic Saturdays (8pm - 10pm)
Esplanade Park
5044 Addison Circle Drive
Addison, Texas
Picnic in the park or dine in at one of Addison Circle's many great eateries as you enjoy soothing symphonic music from the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Wind Symphony.
DATES:
August 4 - Richardson Symphony Orchestra
August 11 - Dallas Wind Symphony
August 18 - Richardson Symphony Orchestra
August 25 - Dallas Wind Symphony
COST: Free
Symphonic Saturdays (8pm - 10pm)
Esplanade Park
5044 Addison Circle Drive
Addison, Texas
Picnic in the park or dine in at one of Addison Circle's many great eateries as you enjoy soothing symphonic music from the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Wind Symphony.
DATES:
August 4 - Richardson Symphony Orchestra
August 11 - Dallas Wind Symphony
August 18 - Richardson Symphony Orchestra
August 25 - Dallas Wind Symphony
COST: Free
CONGRATULATIONS
I'm sending a special shout out to the koolest of kats: Joseph E. Coleman (my pops).
For the first time in 23 years, the USPS formally recognized the innumerable contributions he's made on the job.
It's about DAMN TIME!!!!
For the first time in 23 years, the USPS formally recognized the innumerable contributions he's made on the job.
It's about DAMN TIME!!!!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Dallas Black Film Festival
Date(s): July 27-29
Time: Fri 8pm-midnight; Sat 10am - 10pm; Sun 12pm - 6pm
Place: Magnolia Lounge, 1121 First Ave, Dallas, TX 75226
Cost: $10, $25 for weeekend pass, $5 eighteen years old and younger, $2 for seniors (65+)
From DallasNews.com:
The fifth annual Dallas Black Film Festival, presented by People With a Message Production Filmworks & Etc., is a three-day affair packing screenings of children's movies and feature films made by independent black filmmakers, as well as foreign and classic films. One of the highlights of the festival is a tribute to Tupac Shakur as an actor. The homage to Mr. Shakur, who died in 1996, will feature poetry readings and screenings of his films. The festival will also feature videos and memorabilia (such as posters and signed, framed photographs) related to independent black filmmaking. First-, second- and third-place winners of a movie trivia contest on Sunday will get trophies. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Time: Fri 8pm-midnight; Sat 10am - 10pm; Sun 12pm - 6pm
Place: Magnolia Lounge, 1121 First Ave, Dallas, TX 75226
Cost: $10, $25 for weeekend pass, $5 eighteen years old and younger, $2 for seniors (65+)
From DallasNews.com:
The fifth annual Dallas Black Film Festival, presented by People With a Message Production Filmworks & Etc., is a three-day affair packing screenings of children's movies and feature films made by independent black filmmakers, as well as foreign and classic films. One of the highlights of the festival is a tribute to Tupac Shakur as an actor. The homage to Mr. Shakur, who died in 1996, will feature poetry readings and screenings of his films. The festival will also feature videos and memorabilia (such as posters and signed, framed photographs) related to independent black filmmaking. First-, second- and third-place winners of a movie trivia contest on Sunday will get trophies. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Friday, July 13, 2007
Don't Sleep on Independent Film Part 2
By now I'm hoping you've heard the buzz about Don Cheadle's new film: Talk to Me.
Based on a true story, Cheadle plays Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, Jr., an ex-con turned radio DJ whose voice takes Washington, DC by storm during the turbulent 1960s. The film is full of emotion, laughter, and best of all the phenomenal talent that is Don Cheadle and his supporting cast of Cedric the Entertainer and British import, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The film has been released in limited cities and thankfully, Dallas is one of those cities.
BUT here's the kicker. Talk to Me is not being shown at the local AMC or Cinemark. Instead, it is being shown at the independent film theatre: Angelika Film Center (5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Sation, Dallas) proving once again, that you should not sleep on independent film.
Talk to Me opens on funky, Friday, July 13, 2007.
I'm going tonight. I hope to see you there.
Cheers!
Based on a true story, Cheadle plays Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene, Jr., an ex-con turned radio DJ whose voice takes Washington, DC by storm during the turbulent 1960s. The film is full of emotion, laughter, and best of all the phenomenal talent that is Don Cheadle and his supporting cast of Cedric the Entertainer and British import, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The film has been released in limited cities and thankfully, Dallas is one of those cities.
BUT here's the kicker. Talk to Me is not being shown at the local AMC or Cinemark. Instead, it is being shown at the independent film theatre: Angelika Film Center (5321 East Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Sation, Dallas) proving once again, that you should not sleep on independent film.
Talk to Me opens on funky, Friday, July 13, 2007.
I'm going tonight. I hope to see you there.
Cheers!
Cheap Date Alert #5: Weekly Wine Events at Grand Tastings LLC
What: Weekly Wine Tastings
Where: Grand Tastings, 4430 McKinney Ave, Ste , Dallas, TX 75205
When: Daily (as well as a calendar full of special events)
Time: 10am - 10pm Fri; 10am - 11pm Sat; 2pm - 7pm Sun
Cost: varies $12-$30/person depending on the event
http://www.grandtastings.com/
I've already waxed on poetic about the virtues of a wine tasting as a cheap date, particularly a first date. Here's the quick version: it's cheap, it's impressive (all those crystal glasses and wine swirlings), and the consumption of wine helps loosen everybody up for conversation. What I like particularly about Grand Tastings is that they host a variety of wine events in their store - Champagne Fridays, Wine and Chocolate Pairings, and etc. Plus, they have a very light menu of nibbles to accompany the day's wines. I participated in a tasting on a Saturday afternoon and the day's menu (things like fruit and cheese, desert samplers, and finger sandwiches) ranged in price from $8 to $15.
What I like almost as much as the food and wine is the fact that Grand Tastings has its own parking lot which makes parking positively painless.
Give me Grand Tastings a try and tell them that the Lady of Leisure sent you. Be forewarned, however, that they will look at you with puzzlement and confusion as they have no idea who I am.
Cheers!
Where: Grand Tastings, 4430 McKinney Ave, Ste , Dallas, TX 75205
When: Daily (as well as a calendar full of special events)
Time: 10am - 10pm Fri; 10am - 11pm Sat; 2pm - 7pm Sun
Cost: varies $12-$30/person depending on the event
http://www.grandtastings.com/
I've already waxed on poetic about the virtues of a wine tasting as a cheap date, particularly a first date. Here's the quick version: it's cheap, it's impressive (all those crystal glasses and wine swirlings), and the consumption of wine helps loosen everybody up for conversation. What I like particularly about Grand Tastings is that they host a variety of wine events in their store - Champagne Fridays, Wine and Chocolate Pairings, and etc. Plus, they have a very light menu of nibbles to accompany the day's wines. I participated in a tasting on a Saturday afternoon and the day's menu (things like fruit and cheese, desert samplers, and finger sandwiches) ranged in price from $8 to $15.
What I like almost as much as the food and wine is the fact that Grand Tastings has its own parking lot which makes parking positively painless.
Give me Grand Tastings a try and tell them that the Lady of Leisure sent you. Be forewarned, however, that they will look at you with puzzlement and confusion as they have no idea who I am.
Cheers!
Cheap Date Alert #4: Taste of Dallas 2007
July 13-15, 2007
West End Historic District
Fri - 11am - midnight
Saturday - 11am - 1am
Sunday - Noon - 8pm
Admission: absolutely FREE !!!
From DallasNews.com:
With an anticipated attendance of more than 300,000 people, the 21st annual Taste of Dallas might live up to its billing as Texas' largest free festival. The three-day celebration showcases the area's culinary prowess with fare from about 40 area restaurants. There'll also be children's activities, as well as a live entertainment lineup that covers folk rock, blues, country and other genres. Friday night's highlights include a recipe contest featuring finalists in four categories (appetizer, entree, sides, dessert). One of the judges is Taylor Parks, who plays Little Inez in the movie Hairspray, opening July 20. Good to know: Food samples at the event, presented by West End Events LLC, generally cost about $2 to $4 each. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
West End Historic District
Fri - 11am - midnight
Saturday - 11am - 1am
Sunday - Noon - 8pm
Admission: absolutely FREE !!!
From DallasNews.com:
With an anticipated attendance of more than 300,000 people, the 21st annual Taste of Dallas might live up to its billing as Texas' largest free festival. The three-day celebration showcases the area's culinary prowess with fare from about 40 area restaurants. There'll also be children's activities, as well as a live entertainment lineup that covers folk rock, blues, country and other genres. Friday night's highlights include a recipe contest featuring finalists in four categories (appetizer, entree, sides, dessert). One of the judges is Taylor Parks, who plays Little Inez in the movie Hairspray, opening July 20. Good to know: Food samples at the event, presented by West End Events LLC, generally cost about $2 to $4 each. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
My Apologies
I have been completely derelict in my reporting duties. I wish that I had a decent excuse, but alas, I do not. Instead, I will humbly request your forgiveness and pick up where I left off. I hope the next couple of posts will help to make up for my absence.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Sambuca Restaurant - Uptown (intersection of McKinney and Pearl)
The old becomes new again.
Sambuca opened its first restaurant in Dallas in 1991. Since then owners, Kim and Holly Forsythe, have added restaurants in Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, and Denver. All provide an upscale dining experience of live jazz, great cocktails, and a full dinner menu. Sambuca is an old-school supper club brought to life.
The unfortunate reality about restaurants like Sambuca is that after a while you take them for granted. In general, people are “addicted to novelty”* – always on the lookout for the next “it” spot. I am no different. I used to frequent Sambuca in Houston during my undergraduate days. So that I don’t date myself too much, I’ll just say that was more than five and less than ten years ago (wink). Sambuca in Houston had a good run as the place to be for happy hour (and beyond) on Friday nights. Soon, however, another venue took its place at the top of the upscale, jazz restaurant/bar pyramid. Sambuca, though no less attractive and inviting, got traded in for a “younger and firmer” model.
I am pleased to discover that despite my “not so brief” hiatus, Sambuca (Uptown Dallas) is still doing what it does best: serving good cocktails, good food, and good jazz in an upscale, yet somehow unpretentious environment. I won’t bore you with detailed descriptions of the lighting and décor. Instead, I will offer you the website and encourage you to check out the photo gallery.
http://www.sambucarestaurant.com/
I was there Saturday night to meet some friends for drinks so I spent my time at the bar which easily seats 25 and could accommodate 40-50 standing room only. The bar, with its cushioned seats, plush benches and throw pillows along the wall, invites you to get comfortable with friends (or lovers) for as long as you desire (a big plus in my book). The bar is full-service (just request a dinner menu) and the waitstaff are friendly and attentive.
I’m about to date myself again. Remember the movie “Love Jones” and its fictitious poetry café “Sanctuary?” Remember thinking to yourself, “Man, I wish there was a place where my friends could get together, post up at a booth, and just chill over a little food and drink like in the movie?” Just replace the poetry with live jazz and Sambuca is a little bit of fantasy brought to life.
TIP: If you’re planning on having dinner and/or want to be seated on the main floor, call ahead and make reservations.
*Thanks to Jackie for this lovely turn of phrase.
Sambuca opened its first restaurant in Dallas in 1991. Since then owners, Kim and Holly Forsythe, have added restaurants in Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, and Denver. All provide an upscale dining experience of live jazz, great cocktails, and a full dinner menu. Sambuca is an old-school supper club brought to life.
The unfortunate reality about restaurants like Sambuca is that after a while you take them for granted. In general, people are “addicted to novelty”* – always on the lookout for the next “it” spot. I am no different. I used to frequent Sambuca in Houston during my undergraduate days. So that I don’t date myself too much, I’ll just say that was more than five and less than ten years ago (wink). Sambuca in Houston had a good run as the place to be for happy hour (and beyond) on Friday nights. Soon, however, another venue took its place at the top of the upscale, jazz restaurant/bar pyramid. Sambuca, though no less attractive and inviting, got traded in for a “younger and firmer” model.
I am pleased to discover that despite my “not so brief” hiatus, Sambuca (Uptown Dallas) is still doing what it does best: serving good cocktails, good food, and good jazz in an upscale, yet somehow unpretentious environment. I won’t bore you with detailed descriptions of the lighting and décor. Instead, I will offer you the website and encourage you to check out the photo gallery.
http://www.sambucarestaurant.com/
I was there Saturday night to meet some friends for drinks so I spent my time at the bar which easily seats 25 and could accommodate 40-50 standing room only. The bar, with its cushioned seats, plush benches and throw pillows along the wall, invites you to get comfortable with friends (or lovers) for as long as you desire (a big plus in my book). The bar is full-service (just request a dinner menu) and the waitstaff are friendly and attentive.
I’m about to date myself again. Remember the movie “Love Jones” and its fictitious poetry café “Sanctuary?” Remember thinking to yourself, “Man, I wish there was a place where my friends could get together, post up at a booth, and just chill over a little food and drink like in the movie?” Just replace the poetry with live jazz and Sambuca is a little bit of fantasy brought to life.
TIP: If you’re planning on having dinner and/or want to be seated on the main floor, call ahead and make reservations.
*Thanks to Jackie for this lovely turn of phrase.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Cheap Date Alert #3: Choco-Late Nights
NOTE: The men who read this blog should absolutely LOVE me at this point. I know the courtship process can get expensive; it's my pleasure to offer up some events that won't break your banks.
CAUTION: I have not attended this event and I don't see myself doing so in the near future. I don't eat a lot of sweets and when I do, I'm pretty particular about it. Thus, even at the low, low price of $10/person, I still wouldn't get my money's worth. For those of you who do enjoy the decadence of chocolate and more, keep reading.
What: Choco-Late Nights
Where: Xocolatl Room, 2817 Howell Street, Dallas, TX 75204
When: Fridays, April 13 - June 29
Time: 8pm - 10pm
Cost: $10/person
Sample a variety of desserts such as petit fours, chocolate apricot cream cake, cappuccino cake, mousse cake and chocolate cheesecake every Friday through June. From what I understand, the samples are unlimited (but don't hold me to that).
CAUTION: I have not attended this event and I don't see myself doing so in the near future. I don't eat a lot of sweets and when I do, I'm pretty particular about it. Thus, even at the low, low price of $10/person, I still wouldn't get my money's worth. For those of you who do enjoy the decadence of chocolate and more, keep reading.
What: Choco-Late Nights
Where: Xocolatl Room, 2817 Howell Street, Dallas, TX 75204
When: Fridays, April 13 - June 29
Time: 8pm - 10pm
Cost: $10/person
Sample a variety of desserts such as petit fours, chocolate apricot cream cake, cappuccino cake, mousse cake and chocolate cheesecake every Friday through June. From what I understand, the samples are unlimited (but don't hold me to that).
AT&T Out to Lunch Concert Series
Oh how I wish I worked downtown...I used to go to a similar event when I lived in Atlanta. It was such a nice little break during the workday.
Where: Pegasus Plaza, Main Street
When: Fridays, May 25 - October 26
Time: Noon
Cost: ABSOLUTELY FREE!
From DallasNews.com:
Take a break from the workday and head to the series that runs in May, June, September and October. There's a range of music to suit any fancy. DowntownDallas, a nonprofit advocacy group for the downtown area, is presenting the series in partnership with AT&T. Concerts are Fridays through June 22 at noon at Pegasus Plaza (Main and Akard). There's also a concert June 28 at noon at Dallas City Hall. The series runs again on Fridays Sept. 7-21 and Oct. 5-26 at Pegasus Plaza. See the Web site for a detailed lineup (pdf format). – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Where: Pegasus Plaza, Main Street
When: Fridays, May 25 - October 26
Time: Noon
Cost: ABSOLUTELY FREE!
From DallasNews.com:
Take a break from the workday and head to the series that runs in May, June, September and October. There's a range of music to suit any fancy. DowntownDallas, a nonprofit advocacy group for the downtown area, is presenting the series in partnership with AT&T. Concerts are Fridays through June 22 at noon at Pegasus Plaza (Main and Akard). There's also a concert June 28 at noon at Dallas City Hall. The series runs again on Fridays Sept. 7-21 and Oct. 5-26 at Pegasus Plaza. See the Web site for a detailed lineup (pdf format). – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Celebrating Juneteenth (Freedom Day)
Juneteenth has a special place in my heart because its origins are rooted in Galveston, TX.
Though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, and though Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865 (ending the Civil War), word of the freeing of the slaves did not reach Galveston until June 19, 1865. June 19 (Juneteenth) has since become known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. What started out as a regional holiday (Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) has become a national day of celebration and remembrance.
For general information about Juneteenth check out:
http://www.juneteenth.com/
Upcoming Events…
Juneteenth Celebration at Valley Ridge Park
June 16, 2007
4pm – 10pm
Valley Ridge Park
2850 Park Ridge Drive
Cedar Hill, TX
The cities of Lancaster, DeSoto, Cedar Hill and Duncanville have joined together for the 4th Annual Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration. There will be food, vendor booths, children’s activities, gospel and general entertainment for adults, and much more. FREE admission.
For more information call 972.230.9651. or visit
http://www.duncanville.com/juneteenth/
Real Men Cook for Charity
June 17, 2007
3pm
Gilley’s of Dallas
1135 South Lamar
Dallas, TX 75215
$20/adult; $10/child
From DallasBlack.com:
A fun-filled, all you can eat food tasting event! A celebration of men, fathers and families. Celebrities will include 2005 Host Darius McCrary “Eddie Winslow”-Family Matters; 2005 Host Darrin Henson-Soul Food; Rockman Dunbar-Soul Food, Prison Break & Girlfriends; Hill Harper–NY CSI. Real Men Cook is committed to the positive promotion and support of men in the community.There will be on-site kids activities to provide children with a hands-on opportunity to showcase mentoring and the dispensation of smiles for their fathers or the real men in their lives. Sponsors: Real Men Cook for Charity, Bounty and Southwest Airlines Contact Information
http://www.realmencook.com/
realmencookdallas@ yahoo.com Terry Allen, Dallas Event Manager, 214.376.6530 Info Line 214.231.5671
Celebration of African and African-American Art
June 19, 2007
6pm - 9pm
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
3120 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
214.953.1212
Suggested donation: $10 or $15
This event is not explicitly intended to commemorate Juneteenth but it does celebrate the freedom of artistic expression which we now enjoy.
From the DallasNews.com:
An opening reception June 19 at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary for "Art & Culture for Seeds: A Celebration of African and African American Art" celebrates the works of eight artists, including Radcliffe Bailey and Sherlock Artis. The reception also benefits nonprofit organization SEEDS (Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal) and includes live music and refreshments from the Cape restaurant. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Juneteenth Celebration - City of Plano
June 23, 2007
8am – 10 pm
Douglass Community Center
1111 H Avenue
Plano, TX
The City of Plano Douglass Community Center will host the 2007 Juneteenth Celebration. Join in the observance and enjoy a day of community service, family fun and games, live music, celebraty sporting event, a carnival atmosphere and food vendors. For more information contact the Center at 972-941-7174.
Though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, and though Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865 (ending the Civil War), word of the freeing of the slaves did not reach Galveston until June 19, 1865. June 19 (Juneteenth) has since become known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. What started out as a regional holiday (Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) has become a national day of celebration and remembrance.
For general information about Juneteenth check out:
http://www.juneteenth.com/
Upcoming Events…
Juneteenth Celebration at Valley Ridge Park
June 16, 2007
4pm – 10pm
Valley Ridge Park
2850 Park Ridge Drive
Cedar Hill, TX
The cities of Lancaster, DeSoto, Cedar Hill and Duncanville have joined together for the 4th Annual Best Southwest Juneteenth Celebration. There will be food, vendor booths, children’s activities, gospel and general entertainment for adults, and much more. FREE admission.
For more information call 972.230.9651. or visit
http://www.duncanville.com/juneteenth/
Real Men Cook for Charity
June 17, 2007
3pm
Gilley’s of Dallas
1135 South Lamar
Dallas, TX 75215
$20/adult; $10/child
From DallasBlack.com:
A fun-filled, all you can eat food tasting event! A celebration of men, fathers and families. Celebrities will include 2005 Host Darius McCrary “Eddie Winslow”-Family Matters; 2005 Host Darrin Henson-Soul Food; Rockman Dunbar-Soul Food, Prison Break & Girlfriends; Hill Harper–NY CSI. Real Men Cook is committed to the positive promotion and support of men in the community.There will be on-site kids activities to provide children with a hands-on opportunity to showcase mentoring and the dispensation of smiles for their fathers or the real men in their lives. Sponsors: Real Men Cook for Charity, Bounty and Southwest Airlines Contact Information
http://www.realmencook.com/
realmencookdallas@ yahoo.com Terry Allen, Dallas Event Manager, 214.376.6530 Info Line 214.231.5671
Celebration of African and African-American Art
June 19, 2007
6pm - 9pm
McKinney Avenue Contemporary
3120 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
214.953.1212
Suggested donation: $10 or $15
This event is not explicitly intended to commemorate Juneteenth but it does celebrate the freedom of artistic expression which we now enjoy.
From the DallasNews.com:
An opening reception June 19 at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary for "Art & Culture for Seeds: A Celebration of African and African American Art" celebrates the works of eight artists, including Radcliffe Bailey and Sherlock Artis. The reception also benefits nonprofit organization SEEDS (Sports for Education and Economic Development in Senegal) and includes live music and refreshments from the Cape restaurant. – BINDU VARGHESE / Staff Writer
Juneteenth Celebration - City of Plano
June 23, 2007
8am – 10 pm
Douglass Community Center
1111 H Avenue
Plano, TX
The City of Plano Douglass Community Center will host the 2007 Juneteenth Celebration. Join in the observance and enjoy a day of community service, family fun and games, live music, celebraty sporting event, a carnival atmosphere and food vendors. For more information contact the Center at 972-941-7174.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Don't Sleep on Independent Film
One of my goals in this blog is to challenge people to do and see things in the city that they may not normally do and see. One example of that is supporting independent film.
There are two independent film theatres in Dallas, the Angelika Film Center (Mockingbird Station – 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane) and the Landmark Magnolia (3699 McKinney Ave). These are the places where you can find independent films that aren’t going to be advertised during your favorite sitcoms or primetime dramas. These are the films that get advertised by word of mouth on internet blogs (not much unlike this one) and in passing conversation.
Think all independent films are weird, obscure, artsy films? Think again. Independent films offer all the drama, suspense, and romance of their big budget counterparts. How about a suspense thriller in which a 14 year old girl entraps a 32 year old pedophile on the internet, gets invited to his house, and spends the day torturing him as payback (even convincing him at one point that she’s about to castrate him)? Sounds interesting right? It’s a little, independent film called "Hard Candy" (now out on DVD). It played the Angelika a few months ago.
OR
How about another suspense thriller in which a 60 year old lesbian tries to “seduce” a 30-something, married schoolteacher who is dealing with the guilt/and sinful satisfaction of carrying on an illicit affair with one of her students? Sounds interesting again, doesn’t it? This one is a little independent film called "Notes on a Scandal" starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. It played at the Landmark Magnolia a few months ago as well.
My point is the city is full of newness and freshness (even in routine tasks like going to the movies) if you just go out there and look for it.
So kids, your lesson for today is: Don’t Sleep on Independent Films.
Cheers!
There are two independent film theatres in Dallas, the Angelika Film Center (Mockingbird Station – 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane) and the Landmark Magnolia (3699 McKinney Ave). These are the places where you can find independent films that aren’t going to be advertised during your favorite sitcoms or primetime dramas. These are the films that get advertised by word of mouth on internet blogs (not much unlike this one) and in passing conversation.
Think all independent films are weird, obscure, artsy films? Think again. Independent films offer all the drama, suspense, and romance of their big budget counterparts. How about a suspense thriller in which a 14 year old girl entraps a 32 year old pedophile on the internet, gets invited to his house, and spends the day torturing him as payback (even convincing him at one point that she’s about to castrate him)? Sounds interesting right? It’s a little, independent film called "Hard Candy" (now out on DVD). It played the Angelika a few months ago.
OR
How about another suspense thriller in which a 60 year old lesbian tries to “seduce” a 30-something, married schoolteacher who is dealing with the guilt/and sinful satisfaction of carrying on an illicit affair with one of her students? Sounds interesting again, doesn’t it? This one is a little independent film called "Notes on a Scandal" starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. It played at the Landmark Magnolia a few months ago as well.
My point is the city is full of newness and freshness (even in routine tasks like going to the movies) if you just go out there and look for it.
So kids, your lesson for today is: Don’t Sleep on Independent Films.
Cheers!
Cheap Date Alert #2
Chase presents Jazz Under the Stars
Bring your captain's chairs, your coolers, and the entire family for an evening of music under the stars in downtown Dallas.
What I liked best about this event: it's absolutely FREE! It's casual, no need to dress up. It's just as fun for a couple (I saw one couple with a small table set up with candles and wine, how romantic is that?) , a group of friends (I saw a spades game going on - gotta love that), or the entire family (and don't forget the family pooch).
TIP: If you're early, you're on time and if you're on time, you're late. Show begins at 8pm but people start arriving as early as 7pm to get a spot in the grass. No worries though, I was camped out on the sidewalk and it was just as nice.
Hurry, there's only one more concert left in the series, June 14, 2007. For more info:
http://dallasmuseumofart.org/Dallas_Museum_of_Art/Experience/Special_Events/SecondaryPage_Special_Events?useSecondary=true
Cheers!
Bring your captain's chairs, your coolers, and the entire family for an evening of music under the stars in downtown Dallas.
What I liked best about this event: it's absolutely FREE! It's casual, no need to dress up. It's just as fun for a couple (I saw one couple with a small table set up with candles and wine, how romantic is that?) , a group of friends (I saw a spades game going on - gotta love that), or the entire family (and don't forget the family pooch).
TIP: If you're early, you're on time and if you're on time, you're late. Show begins at 8pm but people start arriving as early as 7pm to get a spot in the grass. No worries though, I was camped out on the sidewalk and it was just as nice.
Hurry, there's only one more concert left in the series, June 14, 2007. For more info:
http://dallasmuseumofart.org/Dallas_Museum_of_Art/Experience/Special_Events/SecondaryPage_Special_Events?useSecondary=true
Cheers!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Cheap Date Alert!!!
Saturday Wine Tastings at Crush Wine Shop (formerly known as Best Cellars) on Knox St.
I read about this event on dallasnews.com. According to dallasnews.com the event is free, but according to my experience on Saturday, June 2nd, the event is $10/person. In defense of dallasnews.com, a gentleman that I met at the event informed me that this had been the first weekend that the owners charged for the event. Still, even at $10/person it’s a cheap date.
$10 gets you samples of the wines they are showcasing that day, a full glass of the wine you most enjoyed, and a food sample from the day’s featured chef (emphasis on the word sample; don’t plan on getting full). Each week the culinary work of a different chef is showcased. Last week it was the head chef of York Street restaurant. That’s all. Nothing more and nothing less.
Crush Wine Shop is a quaint little wine shop with a good amount of seating given its size. You can stop in for a glass or a bottle depending on your desires and you are invited to linger for as long as you like as you savor your purchase(s). It’s perfect for a first date. It’s a low pressure environment. You can make it last as long or as short as you desire; and there’s a little (or a lot) of wine to help put everyone at ease.
Before you automatically choose Starbucks as your informal first date headquarters, give Crush Wine Shop a chance.
Crush Wine Shop (formerly Best Cellars)
3205 Knox Street (at Cole)
Dallas, TX 75205
214.252.9463
By the by, I feel compelled to say that I am not affiliated with any of the places that I review and/or support in this blog. I don't get any kickbacks (i.e. money), no free food/drinks, nada, zip, zilch.
I read about this event on dallasnews.com. According to dallasnews.com the event is free, but according to my experience on Saturday, June 2nd, the event is $10/person. In defense of dallasnews.com, a gentleman that I met at the event informed me that this had been the first weekend that the owners charged for the event. Still, even at $10/person it’s a cheap date.
$10 gets you samples of the wines they are showcasing that day, a full glass of the wine you most enjoyed, and a food sample from the day’s featured chef (emphasis on the word sample; don’t plan on getting full). Each week the culinary work of a different chef is showcased. Last week it was the head chef of York Street restaurant. That’s all. Nothing more and nothing less.
Crush Wine Shop is a quaint little wine shop with a good amount of seating given its size. You can stop in for a glass or a bottle depending on your desires and you are invited to linger for as long as you like as you savor your purchase(s). It’s perfect for a first date. It’s a low pressure environment. You can make it last as long or as short as you desire; and there’s a little (or a lot) of wine to help put everyone at ease.
Before you automatically choose Starbucks as your informal first date headquarters, give Crush Wine Shop a chance.
Crush Wine Shop (formerly Best Cellars)
3205 Knox Street (at Cole)
Dallas, TX 75205
214.252.9463
By the by, I feel compelled to say that I am not affiliated with any of the places that I review and/or support in this blog. I don't get any kickbacks (i.e. money), no free food/drinks, nada, zip, zilch.
First Fridays by the Onyx Society
www.myspace.com/onyxsocietyfirstfridays
June 1, 2007
9pm – 2am
Cityplace
$20 admission
Cash bar
First Fridays. Remember the concept? The first Friday of every month there was a networking/social event for African-American professionals in most major cities. I think the concept originated in Chicago; if I’m wrong let me know in the comments section. Eventually they became more social event than networking event; and eventually patrons included professionals and non-professionals alike. The events were popular about 10 years ago but eventually attendance began to wane and the events died a slow death. Imagine my surprise when I learned that First Fridays had risen from the grave here in Dallas. But maybe the afterlife is where these events should stay.
June’s First Friday was sponsored by the Onyx Society. After extensive research (or an attempt at extensive research) I still don’t know what the Onyx Society is, how you gain membership, or why you would want to be a member. Thankfully, I didn’t need any of the answers to those questions in order to attend the event. The modus operandi of First Fridays hasn’t changed much. There were four party rooms – a steppers room, an old school room, a rap/hip-hop room (one day I’m going to figure out exactly what “hip-hop” means – is it a genre of music, a culture unto itself, a little bit of both?), and a VIP room. Consequently, party goers ranged in age from 23 to 60. Big spread huh? Most of the older guests spent their time in the steppers room. The youngest patrons spent their time in the rap/hip-hop room. The VIP room seemed to be a haven for 30 somethings and 40 somethings who were somehow affiliated with the Onxy Society. Oddly enough, the Old School room remained empty for most of the evening.
Despite its attempt at providing something for everyone, the event was not well attended. I was there for roughly three hours and at its pinnacle, perhaps there were 200 people scattered throughout three of the four rooms. I still don’t understand why the old school room was so unpopular. Perhaps it was the location. You had to search for it a little. The two rooms that were most popular (steppers and rap/hip-hop) were on the third and fourth floors respectively and the floors were connected by a convenient set of stairs making it easy to move back and forth between the two. Speaking of the steppers room…if I knew how to step (some of you may know it as swing dancing), I am sure I would have had a BALL. There was no shortage of dance partners and it looked like so much fun. Note to self, call your uncle and get him to teach you to step ASAP.
In the final analysis – First Friday was a disappointment. It had its good points – great music, lots of free parking, a convenient location, and plenty of sitting areas in case you met someone you wanted to get to know better. But none of those things matter when you’ve got no one to dance with and no one to talk to. Still, I would be willing to give it a second chance. It may be at the bottom of my list of fun ways to spend a Friday night, but at least it’s on the list.
June 1, 2007
9pm – 2am
Cityplace
$20 admission
Cash bar
First Fridays. Remember the concept? The first Friday of every month there was a networking/social event for African-American professionals in most major cities. I think the concept originated in Chicago; if I’m wrong let me know in the comments section. Eventually they became more social event than networking event; and eventually patrons included professionals and non-professionals alike. The events were popular about 10 years ago but eventually attendance began to wane and the events died a slow death. Imagine my surprise when I learned that First Fridays had risen from the grave here in Dallas. But maybe the afterlife is where these events should stay.
June’s First Friday was sponsored by the Onyx Society. After extensive research (or an attempt at extensive research) I still don’t know what the Onyx Society is, how you gain membership, or why you would want to be a member. Thankfully, I didn’t need any of the answers to those questions in order to attend the event. The modus operandi of First Fridays hasn’t changed much. There were four party rooms – a steppers room, an old school room, a rap/hip-hop room (one day I’m going to figure out exactly what “hip-hop” means – is it a genre of music, a culture unto itself, a little bit of both?), and a VIP room. Consequently, party goers ranged in age from 23 to 60. Big spread huh? Most of the older guests spent their time in the steppers room. The youngest patrons spent their time in the rap/hip-hop room. The VIP room seemed to be a haven for 30 somethings and 40 somethings who were somehow affiliated with the Onxy Society. Oddly enough, the Old School room remained empty for most of the evening.
Despite its attempt at providing something for everyone, the event was not well attended. I was there for roughly three hours and at its pinnacle, perhaps there were 200 people scattered throughout three of the four rooms. I still don’t understand why the old school room was so unpopular. Perhaps it was the location. You had to search for it a little. The two rooms that were most popular (steppers and rap/hip-hop) were on the third and fourth floors respectively and the floors were connected by a convenient set of stairs making it easy to move back and forth between the two. Speaking of the steppers room…if I knew how to step (some of you may know it as swing dancing), I am sure I would have had a BALL. There was no shortage of dance partners and it looked like so much fun. Note to self, call your uncle and get him to teach you to step ASAP.
In the final analysis – First Friday was a disappointment. It had its good points – great music, lots of free parking, a convenient location, and plenty of sitting areas in case you met someone you wanted to get to know better. But none of those things matter when you’ve got no one to dance with and no one to talk to. Still, I would be willing to give it a second chance. It may be at the bottom of my list of fun ways to spend a Friday night, but at least it’s on the list.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
May 26, 2007 The Afternoon Set at Zen in Austin Ranch
Today’s event was the “Afternoon Set” at Zen Restaurant/Bar so named because its hours were 2pm – 6pm. Though advertisements for the event list a Dallas address (6910 Windhaven Pkwy, Dallas, Texas), Zen is actually located in Denton County. On that point, let me digress for a minute.
My vision for this blog is to explore all the nightlife options that Dallas has to offer within its city limits (literally). When I first moved back to Dallas, I couldn’t get over how far away much of the nightlife seemed to be from the city. I spent my first six months living in Desoto, a city just south of Dallas. I observed that many of the area’s nightlife options were located in Addison and/or Plano (north of Dallas). Traveling to Plano from Desoto could easily require 45 minutes driving (one way) and easily $2.50 in toll fees (one way). Granted, one could argue that $5 in tolls, another $5 in gas, and 90 minutes of drive time are a small price to pay for a good time. But why am I driving past an entire city full of nightlife to do so?
Think about that for a second. I’m bypassing hundreds of restaurants, lounges, clubs, bars, and events to get to another city offering the exact same thing albeit newer, cleaner, and generally prettier. I don’t know how this came to be. I can only surmise that somehow during my 10-year absence, Dallas dropped the ball (or lost its allure) and my peers began flocking to the new yuppie/buppie havens of Plano and Collin County. I’m not suggesting the relocation/migration is a bad thing. I’m merely making an observation.
Sorry about the digression; but I can’t promise that there won’t be more. Back to the “Afternoon Set…”
Zen is a full-service restaurant and bar and today’s event is sponsored by The Legacy Group. The restaurant has the look of a converted warehouse in that the lighting, electric, and HVAC are all exposed. The interior design is pretty dark with deep, rich reds, golds, and greens, but to its credit the bar is HUGE and one of the walls is made entirely of windows. It does a good job of letting in light and lifting the mood during the day. At night I imagine it to be a place where lights are dim, drinks are flowing, and patrons come to make new acquaintances or to catch up with old ones. NOTE: Zen is not the permanent home of the Afternoon Set. It’s simply today’s choice of venue.
I arrive ten minutes before the “set” is about to start and the place is empty except for the DJ and company. Around 2:15pm people start to trickle in. If I had to guess, I would judge the patrons to be late 20s to late 30s professionals desiring a relaxed, low-key social event. Over the course of six hours, people will be coming and going all day. Event promoters expect 200+ people to come through. The DJ is playing a nice mix of current R&B/Rap and on occasion takes the playlist back to the 90s. The music is loud enough to make you want to dance, but not so loud that you can’t hold a conversation with the person sitting next to you (as evidenced by a lengthy conversation I had with the person seated next to me). CONFESSION: it’s a patio party, but I’m posted up at the bar. The patio is huge and there is plenty of seating, but it’s hot and humid outside and it keeps threatening to rain. Still, gray clouds and all, the Afternoon Set was worth braving the elements for.
What’s good about this event is that I don’t have to try too hard. You don’t have to look “glam” as if you were going to a club and/or one of the ubiquitous establishments that describes itself as “the alternative to the club.” Blue jeans are welcome. Ladies, flat shoes/sandals are perfectly fine. And if the humidity outside dictates that today’s “do” is going to look a little less “done” then it’s not the end of the world. What most impressed me about the Afternoon Set is that it was markedly “adult” – not 18 and up, not 21 and up, and not 25 and up. It was an event for adults who stopped getting “carded” a while ago.
Final Grade: B+ The Afternoon Set was a great event and I would definitely return in the future.
My vision for this blog is to explore all the nightlife options that Dallas has to offer within its city limits (literally). When I first moved back to Dallas, I couldn’t get over how far away much of the nightlife seemed to be from the city. I spent my first six months living in Desoto, a city just south of Dallas. I observed that many of the area’s nightlife options were located in Addison and/or Plano (north of Dallas). Traveling to Plano from Desoto could easily require 45 minutes driving (one way) and easily $2.50 in toll fees (one way). Granted, one could argue that $5 in tolls, another $5 in gas, and 90 minutes of drive time are a small price to pay for a good time. But why am I driving past an entire city full of nightlife to do so?
Think about that for a second. I’m bypassing hundreds of restaurants, lounges, clubs, bars, and events to get to another city offering the exact same thing albeit newer, cleaner, and generally prettier. I don’t know how this came to be. I can only surmise that somehow during my 10-year absence, Dallas dropped the ball (or lost its allure) and my peers began flocking to the new yuppie/buppie havens of Plano and Collin County. I’m not suggesting the relocation/migration is a bad thing. I’m merely making an observation.
Sorry about the digression; but I can’t promise that there won’t be more. Back to the “Afternoon Set…”
Zen is a full-service restaurant and bar and today’s event is sponsored by The Legacy Group. The restaurant has the look of a converted warehouse in that the lighting, electric, and HVAC are all exposed. The interior design is pretty dark with deep, rich reds, golds, and greens, but to its credit the bar is HUGE and one of the walls is made entirely of windows. It does a good job of letting in light and lifting the mood during the day. At night I imagine it to be a place where lights are dim, drinks are flowing, and patrons come to make new acquaintances or to catch up with old ones. NOTE: Zen is not the permanent home of the Afternoon Set. It’s simply today’s choice of venue.
I arrive ten minutes before the “set” is about to start and the place is empty except for the DJ and company. Around 2:15pm people start to trickle in. If I had to guess, I would judge the patrons to be late 20s to late 30s professionals desiring a relaxed, low-key social event. Over the course of six hours, people will be coming and going all day. Event promoters expect 200+ people to come through. The DJ is playing a nice mix of current R&B/Rap and on occasion takes the playlist back to the 90s. The music is loud enough to make you want to dance, but not so loud that you can’t hold a conversation with the person sitting next to you (as evidenced by a lengthy conversation I had with the person seated next to me). CONFESSION: it’s a patio party, but I’m posted up at the bar. The patio is huge and there is plenty of seating, but it’s hot and humid outside and it keeps threatening to rain. Still, gray clouds and all, the Afternoon Set was worth braving the elements for.
What’s good about this event is that I don’t have to try too hard. You don’t have to look “glam” as if you were going to a club and/or one of the ubiquitous establishments that describes itself as “the alternative to the club.” Blue jeans are welcome. Ladies, flat shoes/sandals are perfectly fine. And if the humidity outside dictates that today’s “do” is going to look a little less “done” then it’s not the end of the world. What most impressed me about the Afternoon Set is that it was markedly “adult” – not 18 and up, not 21 and up, and not 25 and up. It was an event for adults who stopped getting “carded” a while ago.
Final Grade: B+ The Afternoon Set was a great event and I would definitely return in the future.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Introduction
This is a new medium for me and I'm feeling kind of weird about it. Though it was practically effortless to create, I wonder if anyone will visit and/or if anyone will be interested in what I have to say (or think it's worthwhile). But hey, what's the worst that could happen? Nobody visits and nobody thinks it's interesting. Won't be the first time.
Enough of all this wishy-washy, "do I?" or "don't I?" talk. Here's the deal. I'm an African American Dallas native. I moved away for college in 1995 and just returned in 2006. Now as a full-fledged, single adult woman, I am rediscovering the city of my youth, and desperately searching for new and interesting things to do besides go to the same "grown and sexy" (God, I really hate that expression) clubs and bars; and I am willing to bet money that I'm not alone in my search hence the creation of this blog.
Every week I hope to be able to post my thoughts, ideas, and experiences of Dallas's arts, culture, and nightlife scenes in hopes of 1) helping you to discover some of the city's best kept secrets, and 2) inspiring you to think outside of your "social scene box."
I can't wait to get started! It should be tons of fun.
Cheers!
Enough of all this wishy-washy, "do I?" or "don't I?" talk. Here's the deal. I'm an African American Dallas native. I moved away for college in 1995 and just returned in 2006. Now as a full-fledged, single adult woman, I am rediscovering the city of my youth, and desperately searching for new and interesting things to do besides go to the same "grown and sexy" (God, I really hate that expression) clubs and bars; and I am willing to bet money that I'm not alone in my search hence the creation of this blog.
Every week I hope to be able to post my thoughts, ideas, and experiences of Dallas's arts, culture, and nightlife scenes in hopes of 1) helping you to discover some of the city's best kept secrets, and 2) inspiring you to think outside of your "social scene box."
I can't wait to get started! It should be tons of fun.
Cheers!
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