Lake Cliff Park Serenades You

Come join the fun at the North Oak Cliff Music Festival, tomorrow, at 11:30 a.m.

Eighties songstress Edie Brickell will be there. I am told she will bring some new bohemians.

Have a great Friday.

Big Tex Will Go Into Hiding Soon!

You have one day, I repeat, 1 day! to visit the State Fair of Texas. That means the icon known as 'Big Tex' will no longer make public appearances.

While a "Texas bunch" of money-spending opportunities await you at the fair, nothing could be better than seeing the world's smallest turtle.

I take that back... you can always eat a funnel cake, which one cooking goddess describes as a "melt-in-your-mouth" treat. Or wolf down a Fried Bluebonnet.

Seeing is believing.


Simply Divine!

Article on Lally's Oddity show, which contains the "world's smallest turtle."

Have a good weekend!

Made in Texas.

Use Your Index Finger To Point To Your Favorite Sentence, And Sammons Park

Anxious for live ditties? Try Sammons Park, in front of the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, TX. It all starts at 6:30 p.m., during the month of October. On a Thursday. The best part is, the live performers are people I've actually heard of.

Check out the Roomsounds on October 2.

The Index festival will be in Dallas this weekend. Article here.
Use your index finger to point to your favorite band,
Alice

Ovarian Cancer Awareness. It's Cool. And, I Mean Really Cool! ... On October 29, Don't Monkey Around

Don't Forget: September is ovarian cancer awareness month.
Become Oh-so-aware.

You were just thinking, where can I take a class on staying motivated at work?
Check out Southern Methodist University's offerings for non-official book learnin'.
I say it in the spirit of 'Back To School,' however, that season has ended.

It will be a chilly night on Oct. 29 as the Arctic Monkeys grace the stage in Grand Prairie, TX.
Official site of the touring mammals.

the end.

Bracelets in honor of ovarian cancer awareness

Stay focused!

Remember the Alamo and When Dallas Rocked

I knew you were just thinking, "when will there be a documentary about the Dallas music scene airing on PBS?"

It just so happens, you can check out When Dallas Rocked (click for an article talking about a previously released version) tomorrow at 8 p.m. on Dallas' PBS station, which is KERA. Through your tube, you too can experience when Dallas was actually cool.

For your next flick feel free to try the Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson, Texas.
Brief Synopsis:
Good marks for: good service, interesting decor. Not good marks for: while it's fun to eat dinner while you're watching a movie, it's hard to eat in the dark, AND, very hot weather (not the theater's fault).


Roll credits, please, or in other words, have a great week.

Seeing Stars

See stars on August 23 until 10:00 p.m. at the Shores Park in Rockwall, TX. Located at 2358 Shores Blvd, there will be members of the Texas Astronomical Society on hand, to explain things to little old you.
Two addendums: it is held the fourth Saturday of every month, and goes until 10:00 pm. You can find more information on the Texas astronomical society site, and the Calendar tab will help those who love calendars.

The stargazers themselves call the park one of the "nicest neighborhood public parks" in Rockwall, TX, but you can decide for yourself and give them a review, after you go!

Read more about this great physicist who had much to do with discovering our universe. 1643... those were the days!

The 'KXT' Summer Cut festival is on August 15, and commences at 4:30 p.m. Tickets.
The End.
The heat is still haunting!

Polka Is The New Black, I Mean Polka Is The New...Fill In The Blank --Anyway, You Catch The Drift

Got you covered with polka, pre-packaged pop and Pan-African items!

Tonight catch Brave Combo at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, Texas. The doors blast open at 7:30 p.m. Not much notice, I know...but you never know! Brave combo is known as a polka band, but it may be worth a Dallas outing. Grab your brave combo.
They are from Denton, TX.

Katy Perry will be heading to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX on October 2. She will appear magically and prismatically the next day at the same location. Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Pan-African Connection is your place for unique cards, significantly large jewelry, and a multitude of other items.

From the store

Head over to 828 Fourth Avenue in Dallas, TX, and you will also see sculptures and carvings, some of which is art, for sale.

You are not dreaming, and I did mention polka.
Have a restful weekend.

Beware of Cool Cones. And, Was That a Jalapeno-hot Movie, Or a Jalapeno-hot Concert?

Got you covered with cones, music and a movie:

Delicious ice cream is only a few steps away at Beth Marie's old fashioned Ice Cream.

Reminder: you're not a Texan until you've tried Frito Pie (online, the price is 4.45).

Phox.. phox, are they a fox? What do they do, you ask?
They sing!!!
In particular, if you go to 2704 Elm St. in Dallas, Texas tomorrow night (June 28 at precisely 10 pm), you will hear them sing. They hail from mid or mid-Southern Wisconsin and have used their small town background to inspire their thoughtful gaggle of tunes.

The movie Hellion is gracing the texas theatre (historic texas theatre). Now. You are free to watch over the weekend.

The Jalapeno Half is tomorrow. I know this is a good run for you if you like jalapenos. Or if you like anything jalapeno-flavored.
Or, have ever seen a jalapeno in the store.

May you have a great weekend. (And great Fourth of July!)

Summer Book You Cannot Put Down, Trinity Groves, And The Oklahoma Redneck

You've been waiting, hoping for that summer book that will light up your life!!!
Reflections, by Anne Seebaldt, is that VERY book. A talented writer has poured her energies into the book of poetry, with at least one poem dating back to 1982. Go read.

I know you can make toast, but sooner or later you'll need to go to a restaurant. Why not try Trinity Groves?
Branded for a while as the "cool, new" place to go... I am being forced to mention it by incessant articles. You can even make a reservation for apparently any one of six restaurants at the above web site.
1,2,3... pay homage to Margaret Hunt Hill. (Restaurants are in the shadow of the margaret hunt hill bridge).

Got country on your mind? Perfect solution: the Gexa Energy Pavilion will host Blake Shelton, "Oklahoma Redneck" on June 21. It is at 7 p.m. Pickup truck required.

The heat is haunting! Stay cool.
The end.

Tubing, The Gexa Energy Pavilion, And... Fried Kentucky Fried Chicken?

So you want some June activities?
Haven't you been wondering, "where is a good place to canoe?" Go to Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday June 8.
You can canoe to your heart's content, while having a Sunday Funday.

Tomorrow is National running day.

Ok. Since the above events are the ONLY things happening in June. Here is one in July, and one in August!
In the Huh? I just wanted to dress like the Statue of Liberty category: Run the 7 kilometer or 4 kilometer course at Fair Park in Dallas, TX. After, attend a "festive celebration" in historic Fair Park while drinking as many beers as possible and dreaming of the fried Kentucky fried chicken (well, really... fried everything!) you can eat when the State Fair of Texas opens. The run takes place when? July 4.

The KXT Summer Cut musical show is happening August 15 at Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas TX. If you are a big fan of The Oh Hello's you can buy tickets tomorrow at 10:00 am. Get your mouse in gear.

Stay cool.

Good Stuff! I Am Planning Your May Schedule

You don't have to whine that you missed out this year.
The Suburbia music festival goes on tomorrow! It is at the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Plano, Texas. Start punching into your planner: The Unlikely Candidates (a Fort Worth band) at 1:25 p.m., and Blue October at 5:40 p.m.

On May 10, you may run a 5k or half marathon at the Chisholm Trail Parkway run.
You may also ride your bike. Cattle call: You will be running/ biking on an actual old cattle drive route.

This might interfere with...
The Homegrown Music Fest, at 11 a.m., Main Street Garden Park in Dallas, TX. You may go to a food truck, or actually listen to a real Dallas-area band.

Feelin' vampy? Go See only Lovers Left Alive. Currently showing.

Luckily for you... I have your whole May planned! (See above). Because I will be gone for approximately one month.

Thank you for the patience.
Thank you for reading.

Stay inspired,
Alice

Where can you drink a margarita while getting your nails done? Castle Nails Spa in Addison, TX.

Get Rid Of Your Shoes And Help! The Earth Will Send You A Thank You Note

Looking to get rid of old sneakers or running shoes?
A local scout troop (girl scouts) will be collecting shoes this weekend. It will be at the Earth Day Texas event at Fair Park in Dallas, TX (April 26 & 27). Just stop by the booth called, For The Love of The Lake, Texas Stream Team, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The shoes are turned in to Nike and then, they become playgrounds and other useful things!
(The Polyphonic spree will also be at the event. They are from Dallas, TX).

Stay curious. Stay earthy!
Alice

City Council-palooza

I am taking a break from my regular summary of events and concerts, because I think the following is important.

Keep in mind, I don't like to get political on the blog, nor do I like to use it as a forum for "hashing" or re-hashing complaints.

Just the facts:
I attended a city council "briefing" today. (The Dallas city council alternates between "briefings" and meetings every other week).
This is a public meeting, open to all.
I waited a total of about 50 minutes before I was allowed into the meeting. When I arrived, there was a large group of people outside, waiting to be let in. The police officers stationed outside told those in attendance, "there are no chairs left."
(A side note is that the officers I saw were not very good at people management. One of the officers complained about the citizens waiting being too "feisty" with him).

At one point, these two women

Susybelle, of the League of Women Voters

Marjorie, a citizen

went and protested in the City Secretary's office about what was going on. At which point, the assistant city secretary allowed the three of us into the meeting.
When we got inside, I counted 17 free chairs.

While I'm sure it was a complex situation, I felt this was important enough to write about because:
It shows poor planning on behalf of the Dallas city council. Yes, the briefing was held in the smaller "briefing room," not the larger council chambers. However, city councils have been gathering for decades. The fact is that the public is allowed to attend. Therefore, the city council should make adjustments and be ready to let as many citizens as possible be present for their meetings. It is disturbing for people to feel they are 'locked out' of the meetings, which is the sentiment I felt from some.

(And another side note: I believe a council member was texting during the meeting. Shouldn't their attention be focused fully on the meeting?)

The End.
Thanks for reading & stay curious,
Alice

The Boss Is In Town... Combine That With An Ode To Cesar Chavez

Whoa, enough of the March Madness... Thank goodness it's April.
Dallas works itself into a tizzy whenever a big sporting event comes to town, such as the NCAA tournament.
However, truly spectacular is the fact that Bruce Springsteen... and the E Street Band... will be giving a concert Sunday, April 6. The start time of the event is at 2 p.m. The location is at "Reunion Park" which is allegedly next to the Convention Center (Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention center). For an article that contains a hodgepodge of gossip by the Dallas Morning News, click here.

Your movie news:
The new Cesar Chavez movie is a delayed event. The director is Diego Luna.
But, if the movie spreads the word about the hard-working leader's legacy, I'm all for it.
Here is Wikipedia's take on Cesar Chavez.

The End.
Shoot those hoops,
Alice

South By ... Better Hurry Up! And, Warm Up Those Handlebars... Plus, Why Be In A Stitch Fix?

A neat-o bike ride on March 29 will help raise money for Ataxia research.
Ataxia is a serious condition which affects the nervous system. Rides are from 6 to 50 miles. Just wear your spandex shorts to Denton, TX.

Dilemma...You want a music fix and you don't know where to go? Honestly??
You can still visit South By Southwest. There are shows going on until Sunday March 16. In case you DON'T know, it takes place in Austin, TX.
For more information on the tragedy that occurred, look here. It does contain graphic video.



Other items:

Check this out... if you love style! (It's better than being in a fix.)

I did not want to mention this event, however, in case you're dying to go... St. Patrick's day parade tomorrow! There is also a 5k!

Stay green,
Alice

Beer Brouhaha. And, Make Your Running Useful

Try all the delectable beer you want, for one day only, on April 5, 2014. I'm not sure if beer can be delectable, but the people in the pictures looked really happy!
That must be how everyone is at the Big Texas Beer Fest.

Don't forget... the Oklahoma City Marathon is a very useful marathon. Useful because it is for a good cause.

The End!
Alice

Yoga Can Be Simply Stunning And Lead With The Beads

What's better than yoga? Yoga on the bridge. All Out Trinity! (See the link!) will be hosting an event this Saturday, which includes this very feat. The potpourri of events starts at 8 a.m.

While in a Trinity-esque mood, why not do the Trinity River Levee Run?

Don't forget about the Dash For The Beads tomorrow (The 5k is at 10 a.m.!) A breathtaking run where you can lead with the beads.

Go, all out.
The End. Thanks, mighty fine thanks! for reading.
Alice

A Film And Music Fest. And, Skate At A Park Named For A Very Wealthy Boy

The Thin Line Film Fest, now incorporating music, is going on through Sunday. It would be in Denton, TX. I visited last year, and saw a surprising movie called Swingman.
This year, you can watch A2-B-C, (I recommend you do!). You can also hear a lady who calls herself Snow Tha Product. More on Ms. Snow.
Next:
Don't forget about the FREE ice skating rink at Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, TX. Go if you're the next Nancy Kerrigan, or just feel like a good 'ole skate.
Stay snowy.
Alice, tha blogger

Ideas From The Cutting Room Floor... Well, My Floor

Here are some ideas that hit the cutting room floor (i.e., did not make it into the blog!)

1. A video of me commenting on news articles, things from magazines, and the like.
REASON it was cut: Really I am a teenage mutant ninja turtle.

2. A companion blog called, South Dallas Apartment Girl. REASON it was cut: Believe it or not, it would actually be too expensive.

3. Silly Things People Complain About post. REASON: It would just be too long.

Major decorating news!!
If you are interested in interior decorating, giving a boost to your lame garden, or even storm shelters! (who isn't?) then visit this link.

Stay hungry, stay foolish, stay warm!
Alice

Thank you to all my talented interns. Your check will come in the form of a Pizza party.

Disclose Yourself.. And, Are You Sure It's The Same Trailer?

Disclosure will be at the House Of Blues in Dallas tomorrow. This is sold out, (according to the Dallas Morning News!) but if you disclose a large amount of cash, I'm sure you can still go.
I listened to a couple (yes, a whopping 2!) songs online, and the verdict from me is: the dance-y duo is very mediocre. Nothing special, except for song #2, which was "You and Me."

And, on to greener pastures:

I recently learned about this artist: you've gotta admire someone who calls her album, Same Trailer, Different Park.
More on the trailer inhabiter. She is from outside of Dallas.

Got plans for July 17? Bring your poker face to this show. Maybe it'll be gyroscope day. More here.

Stay in your trailer if it's too cold.
Alice

A Socially Acceptable Run. And, A Party You Might Want To Miss

Don't forget the run on April 17 at 6:00 p.m., called "Run Together."
It is billed as a social experiment by the organizers.

February 22 is when Jared graces us with his Epic Party. It will swoop into South Side Music Hall in Dallas.
Nothing against epic parties, but 75.00 to see Vanilla Ice and Coolio? A slight silver lining is that Rob Base will be there.

I think Jared has lost his mind.

Happy MLK day in advance.
Alice

Tennis Anyone?

The group Tennis will be in Dallas on January 16. Please bring your racquets to Club Dada. Please be ready before 9 p.m. For your info, my first impression was that Tennis sounds like Aimee Mann mixed with music from the decade of the 1950s. Just a thought.

If 80s heartthrobs are more your style, forget Tennis and see Rick Springfield (Jan 15 AND 16) at the Wyly Theater in Dallas. Begin shaking your stuff at 8 p.m. More on Rick.


The End,
Thanks for stopping by,
Alice

A Sitcom That Is Actually Worth Your Time! And Gloria Trevi Graces Us With Her Crazy Makeup

Looking for something to watch on your Super Fun Wednesday night? When I stumbled upon this show, I thought the lead characters were somewhat stereotypical.
But..
They all reminded me of someone I know or could have known. Simply put: the makers of the show deserve credit for their realistic touch that made me laugh.

Next:
Don't miss Gloria Trevi at the Verizon theater in Grand Prairie, TX. For only 80.00, you will get to see "the Mexican Madonna."

Stay frigid (Get a big ole pair of long johns),
Alice

More about Gloria Trevi