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

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 #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.

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/.

Mardis Gras comes to Dallas!!!

Get ready for Mardi Gras 2008 in Victory Park! The city seems to be committed to making Dallas the "NYC" of the South. 1st it was New Year's in Victory Park and now this. I'll be there. What about you???

From the website: http://www.quickdfw.com/mystiqal/

MystiQal is all about the true New Orleans Mardi Gras with a Quick twist in Victory Park.

MystiQal will be a night parade with beads and baubles featuring pre- and post-parties along the parade route, live music and loads of fun activities with food and drink that celebrate everything that is Mardi Gras.

All activities will kick off at 5pm with the opening of the street festival, located on High Market between Victory and Houston Streets, in the heart of Victory Park. The Mardi Gras Run will begin at Houston Street and Continental. The Grand Parade will begin at 7:30pm, so pick your spot behind the barricades, anywhere along Victory and Houston Streets, and get ready to catch beads and baubles. Live entertainment on the stage and street festival activities will continue until 11pm.

We are not planning any children's activities as MystiQal will be an authentic Mardi Gras experience in Dallas on Saturday, February 2, 2008. Now is the time to book your babysitter and join us at MystiQal.

All content contained on this website is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice, so please check back for updates.

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.

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

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.