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/

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/

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

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

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

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

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!