Taste Addison 2009

A weekend culinary event May 8-10, 2009.

For more information:
http://www.addisontexas.net/events/TasteAddison/

Dallas Wine and Food Festival

From Dallas Morning News...


The five-day gustatory celebration begins April 22 with Cinematic Feast, featuring a multicourse wine dinner (prepared by chef Richard Chamberlain), followed by a screening of the movie Waitress. Other highlights include the Texas Salute, a Western-themed evening highlighting showcasing Texas wine and food; food and wine tastings; and the Taste of the World finale, featuring cuisine from the area's top restaurants and award-winning wines.


Schedule, prices and location:

• Cinematic Feast: – April 22 at Angelika Film Center; dinner (limited seating) at 6:30 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. – $65 for dinner and movie, $9 for movie only



• Rising Star Chefs' Dinner: – April 23 at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek; reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. – $100



• Texas Salute: – April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eddie Deen's Ranch – $35



• Entertaining With Style and a series of demos, seminars and tastings: – April 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Shops at Legacy (see the full schedule here) – $20 to $35 per event

• Taste of the World: – April 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Union Station – $75

Fundraiser Benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ft. Worth

From the Dallas Morning News:

Big Brothers Big Sisters benefits from this night of food and drinks from Fort Worth restaurants, including Bonnell's, Daddy Jack's, Del Frisco's, Eddie V's, Grace, Lambert's, Piranha's, Reata, Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Covey and more.

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2009

Location:The Hilton Fort Worth Hotel815 Main St., Fort Worth


Be advised, this event is pretty pricey, tickets start at $85 but it's for a wonderful cause.

For detailed information visit: http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.esJQK5PFJnH/b.1641085/k.68B0/Big_Taste_of_Fort_Worth.htm

Not Quite a Movie Review

Some time last year I rented a foreign language film (French) called "Mon Meilleur Ami" (My Best Friend). It is the story of a 40+ year old divorced man in search of a best friend and one of my favorite movies. It was touching to watch (and funny) as we have all been lonely at one time or another and we have all felt some discomfort, especially as adults, in trying to make new friends. After watching the film, I remembered thinking to myself, "What a charming movie. Too bad it would never work in the U.S."

I am not one of those people who worships all things European, but I am an avid movie watcher (perhaps I should get out more?) and as such have observed much about mainstream U.S. cinema. "Buddy flicks" in the U.S. are much more likely to involve crude humor and slapstick comedy, not mature exploration of the dynamics of friendship. Case in point the newly released "I Love You, Man." I saw it over the weekend because 1) I wanted to laugh, and 2) I wanted to compare it to "My Best Friend."

In essence, they are the same movie. In "I Love You, Man" a 30+ year old newly engaged man is in search of a substantive, male friendship (and possible "best man") as his wedding day approaches. There was drunkenness, vomiting, homophobic humor, and references to masturbation - all the usual crude humor necessary to make the "buddy flick" formula work. There were also some comedic moments which showed just how hard it is as an adult to reach out to another person with the hand of friendship. What will he think of me? What will I say? How do I avoid looking like a total loser for admitting that I find someone interesting and want to be his/her friend?

In the end, I didn't leave the theatre with the same warm and fuzzy feeling that I had after after watching "My Best Friend." That doesn't mean that "I Love You, Man" is a bad movie and this isn't quite a movie review anyway. Instead, this is one of those poignant moments when I wish I had a friend to talk about this with. Unfortunately, none of my friends have seen both movies.

Wait for "I Love You, Man" to come out on DVD, and compare them for yourselves. When you do, tell me all about it.

Cheers.

Daylight Savings Time

It's that time of year again. Don't forget to spring forward (set your clocks ahead one hour) before you go to sleep tonight.

Welcome back Spring! Oh how I've missed you....

Mardi Gras in Dallas

Can't make it to New Orleans this year for Mardi Gras?

Never fear, the spirit of Mardi Gras lives on right here in Big D. It's nothing as elaborate as New Orleans-style Mardis Gras, but it promises to be a fun event nonetheless.

The organizers have been putting on this even for a few years now, but this year's event seems to be on a much smaller scale. What do you expect? We're in a recession.

For more info on how you can celebrate Mardi Gras on a budget here in Dallas, visit:

http://www.quickdfw.com/mystiqal/festivities.html

Winter Recycling Roundup

The City of Dallas has organized a 2-day recycling event. This is your chance to recycle all kinds of things including:

televisions
toys
clothing
books
scrap metal
paper
tires (limit 3)
plastics (1-7)
glass
video games
cell phones
furniture
appliances
bubble and shrink wrap
and MORE

Haven't you always wished you could just dump all the stuff you no longer want in one place and be done with it? Well now you can.

Dates: February 20th and 21st
Time: 10AM - 4PM
Where: Dallas Farmers Market, Foster Elementary School, Hampton Illinois Branch Library, and Fretz Park Library

NO HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS ALLOWED!

For more information: http://www.greendallas.net/

E. Lynn Harris Book Signing

If you enjoy reading novels that make you paranoid about the sexual preferences of your mate, then you may be interested to know that E. Lynn Harris will be signing copies of his latest novel at the Barnes and Noble on Northwest Hwy on Thursday, February 5th. The event begins at 7pm.

Enjoy!

It's All About the Kids (and it's all FREE)

There are various kid-friendly activities going on Saturday, January 31st. From the Dallas Morning News website...

• Dale Oliver, 1992 world yo-yo champion, will give a yo-yo demonstration at Bookmarks at NorthPark Center. 2pm
• African-American Read-In: The Dallas County Community College District's 10th annual gathering will feature readings of black literature by writers, celebrities, storytellers and performers. Author and motivational speaker Lisa Nichols and actress Irma P. Hall are scheduled to appear. Also, Dallas Black Dance Theatre will perform. Costumed character Lyndale the Literary Lion will be on hand to entertain kids at the celebration, which is geared toward ages 8 and older. Organizers recommend arriving early. 2-4pm
• Comedy magician Magic Mike will perform his interactive show. Showtime Saturdays are presented by Galleria Dallas and Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse, near the Play Place at Galleria Dallas (Level 3). 11:30am

New Year’s Book Recommendation: One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer

Judging by the date of this post it is a good thing that ending procrastination was not one of my New Year’s resolutions…or is it?

I asked several people what their New Year’s resolutions were this year. Many of them said that they did not make resolutions. As a whole, they generally gave two reasons:

1. People just break them anyway.


2. Why is January 1 a "magic" day? One should strive to improve oneself year round.
   

Both of these reasons are valid arguments against making resolutions, but they are also helpful hints of how to make resolutions more effective in the future.

1. People just break them anyway.
There is no point in making resolutions that you are not motivated to achieve. Sure, we all want to be thinner, healthier, less stressed, more fiscally responsible, less foul-mouthed individuals, but it doesn’t mean we’re all motivated to do those things. Instead of creating a laundry list of all the possible positive changes you could make in your life, focus on only the one (or two, no more than three) changes that you are truly motivated to pursue.

2. The Magic of January 1st
There is no magic in January 1st but it is an enduring symbol of newness and freshness. Of course we don’t wake up on that day magically prepared to be different people. Change, particularly change in personal behavior, takes time. A person isn’t born $8000 in credit card debt. It takes time to dig a hole that deep, just as it will take time to change the behaviors necessary to climb out. For this reason, I give myself the entire year to achieve my new year’s resolutions - 365 days to make the changes that I have identified. Maybe I’ll fall off the wagon a few times, but the wagon always stops long enough for me to get back on.

For a little help in the “how do I make a lasting change?” department, consider reading Robert Maurer’s “One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way.” In just 192 brief pages, Robert articulates the beauty of small, incremental changes, over the big, sweeping changes that people tend to associate with New Year’s resolutions. Yes, his “baby steps” approach takes longer to reach the goal, but it helps you to develop rock solid new habits (which aren’t easily broken) along the way.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/One-Small-Step-Can-Change-Your-Life/Robert-Maurer/e/9780761129233/?itm=1

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!

FREE Party in the Street for New Year's Eve!!!!

All is not lost if you have not solidified New Year's Eve plans for tonight.

Hillwood Real Estate Company and WFAA (among others) are sponsoring the annual Big D/NYE event at Victory Park tonight. The long and the short of it is this:

It's FREE (most important).
There will be several live bands performing.
There will be live media coverage (Hi Mom!)
A ball will drop.
Fireworks will go off.
A good time will be had by all.

For all the specifics, click the link below.

http://www.wfaa.com/bigdnye/

Jump Start Your New Year's Resolution to Exercise More!

Have you been curious about those Boot Camp Fitness Classes, but have been scared off by the expensive price tags and the early start times? If yes, you have the opportunity to try a single Boot Camp Fitness Class for the low, low price of 5 canned goods. That's right. You can jump start your 2009 exercise regime and help out the North Texas Food Bank at the same time.

The program is called Exercise Kindness and the Dallas event is sponsored by Transformation Boot Camp and Brinker International (the corporation behind several restaurant chains including Chili's, Maggiano's, and On the Border).

The event begins at 9am on Saturday, January 3rd on the campus of Brinker International located at Hillcrest and LBJ. Please note you have to pre-register online before participating. For additional information and to register, visit the website below.

http://www.transformationbootcamp.com/home

"This Christmas"

I just listened to "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway. The Christmas season doesn't begin for me until I hear it. It always makes me smile and makes me want to "shake a hand, shake a hand now."

My 2nd favorite Christmas tune: Little Drummer Boy. I love everything about it: the drums, the message, everything. I think I'll play it now.

What song gets you in the Christmas spirit? Leave it in the comments!

KwanzaaFest 2008

Kwanzaa is an often misunderstood holiday-celebration-week of atonement.

Here's your (and my) opportunity to learn more about it.

KwanzaaFest is on Saturday, December 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.and Sunday, December 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Automobile Building at Fair Park. Estimated attendees for both days exceeded 50,000 in 2007.

From http://www.dallasnews.com/ :

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price will present the annual community festival on Saturday and Sunday at Fair Park. It will feature performances by R&B artists, gospel singers, dancers, jazz ensembles, drummers and more. The lineup will include Jazmine Sullivan, Plies, Baby Bash, Play N Skillz and Mary Mary. Other activities will include a health fair with screenings and information booths, a high school debate competition and a vendor fair. – NANCY MOORE / Staff Writer

This year's KwanzaaFest is noteworthy because a new event has been added to the festival. Inspired by the movie "The Great Debaters," debate teams from Carter and Roosevelt high schools will battle it out Sunday, December 14th at 2pm on the main stage.

http://www.johnwileyprice.com/kwanzaa-main.html

Salvation Army Angel Tree - It's Not Too Late

The Salvation Army is an AWESOME charitable organization that serves individuals and families 365 days/year. While we know (or should know) that Christmas isn't about gifts or money, your donation to the Salvation Army can help bring a little Christmas cheer to hundreds (thousands?) of people in North Texas.

You can drop your spare change in the red bucket, make a contribution online (or via USPS), but my personal favorite is the Angel Tree. Visit one of the many Angel Trees throughout the metroplex and adopt one or more "Angels" from the tree (I always go to Northpark Mall). These "Angels" represent individuals in need. Each card displays just two items that the person would like for Christmas: an item they need and an item they want. I know we're in a recession, but it's just two gifts and often the "Angels" ask so little of us.

My sister and I adopted 5 "Angels" this year. One "Angel" is a 66 year old woman who needs a coat and wants a knit hat. Another of our "Angels" is a 7 year old boy who needs a jacket and wants a hand held game. You see? No one's asking you to break the bank; but I am asking you to consider opening your heart and adopting an "Angel" today.

For complete details on the Angel tree, click below. Hurry! All "Angel" gifts are due back at the designated drop-off location (the same place where you adopted your Angel) by December 15, 2008. Don't delay!

http://www.salvationarmydfw.org/

Life Happens..

Rather than attempt to explain my absence over the last couple of weeks, I'll just share a few pictures and let you weave together a story. It's more fun that way.

Feeling Charitable? Wine, Women & Shoes event November 20-21, 2008

Wine, Women & Shoes is a charity event benefiting The Women’s Museum at Fair Park. Wine, Women & Shoes is comprised of three separate events that range in price from $45 - $275 depending on seating and whether you’re a member of the museum.

Rather than give you all the details, I will whet your appetite (pun included) with the names of the separate events and encourage you to visit the website for more information. This event is too rich for my blood (recession remember?) but I would love to hear about your experience if you go and would be grateful for any pictures.

Sip, Savor, and Learn
November 20th 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Sip & Shop
November 21st 11:30am – 1:30pm

Sip & Dine
November 21st 7pm

TIP: If you can afford to attend, I suspect this is going to be an excellent networking opportunity for any young (or not), ambitious woman. You never know who might be sitting on your left/right.

For more info:

http://www.winewomenandshoes.com/dallas.html

Cheap Date Alert #10: CityLights! Downtown Dallas November 14, 2008

Generally, I think that Christmas is a holiday for kids – the thoughtfulness of making a list, the preparation of cookies and milk to win the favor of the imaginary fat guy, the uncontrollable excitement that still is not enough to keep you from falling asleep on December 24th, and the ultimate rush of tearing through wrapping paper to see what the mystical fat man left under your tree (or leaning against the wall with a bow on it when I got the Pogo stick that year). Unfortunately, my sister and I are on track to becoming old maids so there are not any little people running around our homes necessitating that we decorate with wreaths, trees, and garland, and pipe endless Christmas music and the smells of vanilla and nutmeg through the air.

BUT this year I’m going to reclaim the holiday season for myself by attending CityLights! in Downtown Dallas Friday, November 14th at 6:30pm. I always cringe when people use New York City as their point of reference for an event/activity. I haven’t sipped the “NYC is the best city on Earth Kool-Aid.” However, in this case, it’s just easier. CityLights! is similar to all the festivities surrounding the lighting of the Christmas tree in NYC’s Rockefeller Center each year. During this year’s CityLights! event there will be live music, street performers, face painting, and other revelry in the immediate vicinity of Neiman Marcus on Main Street.

6:30PM – Festivities begin.

7:00PM – Lighting of Neiman Marcus store and unveiling of Neiman Marcus Christmas tree and holiday displays

7:30PM – Lighting of official downtown holiday tree at Pegasus Plaza

Area retailers and restaurants will keep their doors open later with holiday specials and other persuasive offers. Just because it’s still 73 degrees outside doesn’t mean that the holidays aren’t here. Hope to see you there.


TIP: The three Main Street District CityPark garages are offering $2 FLAT parking for the event.

Want to Buy a Piece of History?

The Dallas Morning News is selling a picture (in various sizes) shot by one of its staff of the new "First Family" of the United States during the victory celebration at Grant Park in Chicago Tuesday night. Click the link below to see the picture and to place your order. If for some reason the link doesn't work, just cut and paste into your browser.

AND/OR

You can buy a reprint of the front page of today's Dallas Morning News which includes the pic from above and all the accompanying headlines. You can also choose to have your item professionally framed.

http://www.pictopia.com/perl/ptp/dallasmn?photo_name=2008/11/081104_NPO_04OBAMAbarack4.jpg&embedded=y&thumbnail_url=www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/pt/photos/2008/11/081104_NPO_04OBAMAbarack4.jpg&title=&pps=dmnpt&time=1225915152502
I'll be placing my order tonight.

If you're feeling the pinch of the recession, fear not. There will be a special commemorative section in Sunday's edition of Dallas Morning News. And you can always cut things out of the paper and frame them yourself.

UPDATE: Beware of shipping charges. I ordered a framed reprint of the front page and the shipping cost was $37.95. That's waaaaay steep.

CONGRATULATIONS President-Elect BARACK OBAMA !!!