Election Night Watch Parties

Dallas County Democratic Party will be gathering at a street festival on N. Bishop Ave tonight beginning at 6pm. Visit http://www.pegasusnews.com/events/2008/nov/04/121114/ for more info.

Friendship-West Baptist Church and Dallas South will be gathering at 7pm for an all out election party tonight. Visit http://dallassouthblog.com/2008/10/15/friendship-westdallas-south-election-watch-party-adds-fred-hammond-geno-young-don-diego-added-to/ for more info.

Texas Democrats will be gathering at 7pm at Clipso Sports Bar &Grill (Dallas, TX)
7307 S Westmoreland Road Dallas, TX 75237.

A random group of Obama Supporters are gathering at Gilley's at 7pm. Visit http://www.dallasobserver.com/events/obama-dallas-election-party-1134536/ for more info.

Republicans will gather at 5pm at the Radisson, 6060 N. Central Expressway in Dallas.

Old Republic 2922 N Hall St, Dallas, TX has election-inspired drink specials all night.

Iron Cactus is hosting Democrats tonight. 1520 Main St, Dallas, TX

NOTE: Please don't think that I am intentionally biased towards the Democratic party. The truth is I did a google search for "Dallas election watch party" and I found only one event for Republicans. If you know of other Republican watch parties, please tell me and I will post straight away.

It's Game Day

Remember, you can only vote at your official polling location. Visit the website below to find your polling location. You must enter the address that appears on your current voter registration card. If you don't have your card, enter the address you used the last time you registered to vote. If you arrive at the polls and are told you are in the wrong place, the volunteers/staff present should be able to direct you to the appropriate location. Don't be deterred and don't delay. Voting is your right and your responsibility.

http://www.dalcoelections.org/findprecinct.asp

Everything Must Go: Circuit City Liquidation Sale

The Circuit City at Hwy 75N and Meadow is going out of business. Everything must go by December 31, 2008. The liquidation sale begins on Wednesday, November 5th.
I suspect the good stuff won't last long given that Christmas is just around the corner and we're all pinching pennies this year. If you get there before I do, grab a Canon PowerShot digital camera for me and hide it in the washer/dryer section of the store.

Hattie's Restaurant

418 Bishop Avenue
Dallas, TX 75208

214.942.7499

http://hatties.net/index.html

If you are a member of Gen X or earlier, then you remember the TV sitcom “Cheers” and its theme song which said, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and you’re always glad you came.” The beer at Cheers was not any colder than anywhere else and the nuts were not any fresher, but none of that was the point. They went there because they wanted to feel a certain way – comfortable and familiar.

That is sort of how I felt after dining at Hattie’s in the Bishop Arts District this past Saturday. The food was just average but the restaurant itself was so full of light and air and simple elegance that I did not want to leave. Hattie’s serves up “fancified” versions of country favorites like catfish and fried chicken. I had pecan-crusted catfish with lemon butter sauce, mashed potatoes, and a veggie medley ($12.95). I ordered low country shrimp with bacon tobasco sauce on a grits cake for my mother ($13.50 I think). Neither of us was impressed with her meal; it was just dressed up country cooking. Still, I would go back because I felt good while I was there. The table cloths and cloth napkins made the experience feel like an indulgence in a world filled with “casual dining” restaurant chains and their booths and paper napkins (I’m looking at you Chili’s).

I know the place seems empty in the pictures, but they were about to close; lunch ends at 2:30pm.

Bob Schieffer's Mother Was Right!

Texas native, Bob Schieffer, ended the last of the 2008 presidential debates with this quotation from his mother, "Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."

I just left my early voting location and that's exactly how I feel. I didn't have to wait in line, but there was a steady stream of voters in and out of the library and the voting booths stayed full. It's an exhilarating feeling to exercise the rights that my people fought so hard for. It is both humbling and empowering. I hope I never lose this feeling.

You can vote early through October 31, 2008. For a list of early voting locations click here.

Election day is November 4, 2008.

BE A PART OF THE PROCESS!!!

Update: TX Conference for Women - Houston, TX

My experience with this year's Texas Conference for Women was comme ci comme ca. There were some good seminars (A Brand New, Brand You; Networking - Making Relationships Click). There were some bad seminars (Kicking Your Career Into Gear: An Action Plan for Creating a Worklife that Thrills).

I appreciated that continental breakfast and lunch were included with registration, but was disappointed that there wasn't a vegetarian alternative for lunch. Lunch was a grilled chicken salad with bacon (insensitive on multiple levels).

I liked most of the keynote speakers but didn't like the parade of hosts, sponsors, and city dignitaries I had to suffer through before being able to hear the keynote speakers.

That's what I mean by comme ci comme ca. There was good and bad all day long. Still, if the conference ever comes to my hometown, and all I have to do is wake up and drive to the convention center, then I will be there.

Yes We Can Have the Audacity to Hope that Our Faithful Fathers Put Country First! (or something like that)

No matter how politically conscious I think I am, I am always brought down a peg or two when I step up to the election booth. I start out strong. President/VP, check. U.S. Senator, check. U.S. Congressman (or woman), check. State Representative, check. Then I discover that there are not less than 10 local/state elections that I knew nothing about. Never heard of the offices; never heard of the candidates; don’t know what they are supposed to do in office.

I am trying to do better this year, but learning about all the myriad political offices up for grabs in my state is a daunting task. Fortunately, the Dallas Morning News website makes it easier. I found this lovely page that allows you to enter your address and it shows you all the races for your voting district. It even allows you to compare the positions of the candidates running in each race. Some of the information is incomplete but it is a wonderful place to start your research if you are so inclined.

Tip: Get started soon. If memory serves me correctly, there will be 27 races on the ballot November 4th.