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!

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

Cheap Date Alert #9: FREE Theatre Tickets

If you have spent any time on this blog, then you know that Cheap Dates are one of my favorite things. I like to think of my “cheap date alerts” as my little way of encouraging men to practice the art of wooing women. The art of romance need not require a lot of money. It just takes a little research, a little creativity, and frequent visits to this blog if you live in Dallas.

This year Dallas is participating in Free Night of Theatre 2008. In 2005 Free Night of Theatre started its national campaign to attract new audiences to live theatre and to make theatre accessible to all by offering free tickets to the public. Over 600 theatres are participating throughout the country. Today in Dallas, more than 3000 (absolutely FREE) tickets were made available for reservation at 26 participating theatres throughout the metroplex. Tickets are available for shows October 16 – November 10, 2008. For a complete listing of participating theatres and show times please visit:

http://www.freenightoftheater.net/shows/

Update:
I have failed you, my dear readers. Though I learned of Dallas' Free Night of Theatre days ago, I did not alert you until just now. I thought nothing of this delay as tickets were not made available until 12noon, October 1st (today); however, I just checked the website to reserve my own tickets only to discover that ALL of the shows in Dallas were already "sold out." Apparently, good news travels fast.

Texas Black Film Festival 2008

What: Texas Black Film Festival
When: January 31 - February 2; 10am - Midnight
Where: Studio Movie Grill - Addison (5405 Beltline Road, Dallas, TX 75248)

It's not Sundance, Toronto, or the National Black Film Festival; it is something better - a film festival that showcases not just national talent, but homegrown Texas talent as well. In addition to documentaries, feature films, and film shorts, there are educational workshops and networking opportunities for actors and filmmakers.

I think we can all agree that small film festivals like this one are a vital platform for fledgling filmmakers to let their artistic voices be heard and to receive invaluable feedback from audience members and experts in the industry, but the only way to ensure that these festivals remain financially viable is to support them with our dollars. At the Texas Black Film Festival your $8 ticket will do more than just line the pockets of a big-budget studio in LA. It will open doors and possibilities for an entire generation of African-American filmmakers.

For more information about film schedule, ticket prices, and the history of the festival, check out
http://www.texasblackfilmfestival.com/.

Cheap Date Alert #8: Arts District Walking Tour

Learn more about Dallas's Arts District.

From http://www.artsdistrict.org/stroll/ :

Take the Arts District Stroll! Join us for the Arts District Stroll, your private guided tour of the history and architecture of Dallas' Arts District. Bring your friends, family and coworkers on a leisurely walk through the largest downtown area (19 blocks and over 68.4 acres) dedicated to the arts in the United States. Trained docents lead the hour-long, easy walk pointing out the architecture, the tradition, and the history of this unique neighborhood. While at the same time, they will be sharing with you the latest on Arts District entertainment, dining possibilities, and nightlife.

For more information:



http://www.artsdistrict.org/stroll/index.asp

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

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

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/

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

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.

Brooklyn Jazz Cafe

1701 South Lamar St.
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:

1. 
   [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
2. 
   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

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.

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/

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

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.