The collection consists of 900 e-books by or about African Americans, as well as e-readers.  Comerica’s donation follows its gift last year of $50,000 for the purchase of financial literacy materials for those libraries.

The e-books will be available for download by any Dallas Public Library patron.  This partnership between business and education should enhance Oak Cliff and allow more of its residents access to adult literature by such prominent authors as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Serita Ann Jakes (who read an excerpt from her latest novel at the donation event last week) and, my favorites, James Baldwin and Zora Neale Thurston.

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Now until Feb 25

The Latino Cultural Center (LCC) is showing “White Steel, Blue Skies: A New Icon for Dallas’ Skyline.” The center invited Latino photographers from North Texas to photograph their takes on the bridge’s architecture to commemorate its opening. The winning submission of the third annual Trinity River Corridor Photography Contest also will be exhibited.

Thursday, March 1

Jim Lake Companies and the Dallas Design District Blog are hosting a kick-off celebration for the opening weekend of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The International on Turtle Creek. Drinks will be complementary, and fare from the Easy Slider Truck will be on the menu.  Roberto Verastegui and his jazz trio will perform while attendees partake in photos of West Dallas and the new bridge by photographer by Dave Kozlowski, Harman’s prints of historic Dallas neighborhoods taken by David Anthony, and other works from Galerie Zuger. Stay tuned for updates on food and entertainment.

The Haley-Henman Gallery will feature an art show, “Focus on the Bridge.” The installment features photographs taken by David Clanton, Cecelia Feld, Bob Johnson, Michael Lyon and Alan Robertson. An opening reception for is March 1 at 6:30 p.m., and the show runs Feb. 29- March 5.

Friday, March 2

The weekend kicks off with the a $200-per-ticket party on the bridge at 7 p.m. Lyle Lovett and his band are the evening’s headliners, followed by DJ Lucy Wrubel and Sing-Off runners up Street Corner Symphony. Local cuisine and specialty drinks will be served by Trinity Groves. We’re interested to see the 14-foot Calatrava-inspired costumed performers. Fireworks will end the evening.

Saturday, March 3

The eight annual Trinity River Levee Run 5k and 10k races begin at 8 a.m., this year from the west side of the Margaret Hill Hunt Bridge. Runners will cross the bridge, then run through the Design District and back. Contact the Dallas Running Club for more information. Preregistration is $30, and $40 on race day.

Following the race is a free street fair at noon, which will be one of the few times during the weekend when pedestrians can walk across the bridge. Food vendors, dancers, radio personalities, local bands and musicians, and sidewalk artist Douglas Rouse will be there, and artwork from the Trinity River Photo Contest and the Trinity River Art Contest will be exhibited. The “Parade of Builders” will honor those who had a hand in building the bridge, including Santiago Calatrava, and interactive booths will chronicle the work of those who are key to the Trinity River Corridor Project. Fireworks will end the street fair at 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 4

A sunrise blessing and ribbon cutting begins at 7:15 Sunday morning and is open to the public. The National Anthem will be performed by Street Corner Symphony, and the Orchestra of New Spain will sing in honor of the Spanish naming of the Trinity River.

At 1:30 p.m. Bike Friendly Oak Cliff  leads a free bike tour chronicling the major historic moments of the Trinity. The ride will navigate several of the adjacent downtown bridges that span the river. As it turns out, the Houston Street Viaduct turns 100 this year.

Urban Emergence, a seminar that showcases up-and-coming neighborhoods worldwide for their strides to become popular destinations, will begin at 2 p.m. Held in Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Hitt Auditorium “technology, urban innovation and futurism converge” as city planners, historians and architects alike discuss what makes these neighborhoods the gems of their communities then and now. This event will be in partnership with the Dallas CityDesign Studio.

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Post tags: Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Boy Scout Troops of America, Dallas CityDesign Studio, Dallas Design District Blog, Dave Kozlowski, David Anthony, Douglas Rouse, Fort Worth Avenue Development Group, Frances James, Girl Scouts Troops of America, Haley-Henman Gallery, Jim Lake Companies, Latino Cultural Center, margaret hunt hill bridge, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Orchestra of New Spain, Roberto Verastegui, Street Corner Symphony, The International on Turtle Creek, The Trinity Trust, Trinity Commons Foundation, Trinity River, Trinity River Art Contest, Trinity River Photo Contest, Urban Emergence, Western Heights Cemetery

Roberts Tweeted last week: “Exploring a run for Congress. With redistricting up in the air, it’s going to be an incredibly short campaign for the primary.”

Much of our neighborhood currently falls in the district of Rep. Pete Sessions, and a small part falls into Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson’s district. But congressional redistricting could put north Oak Cliff in Rep. Joe Barton’s district, or it could put our neighborhood in a new district, District 33. If either of those things happen, Roberts says, he will run for the seat.

Barton is a Republican who lives in Ennis. He’s a rural dweller with an anti-homosexual voting record who sponsored legislation to repeal a law that banned energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs. But you may remember Barton best as the guy who apologized to BP, accusing President Obama of a “$20-billion shakedown” after the oil titan spilled 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 men and causing irreparable damage to the environment.

Could that person fairly represent our neighborhood? Roberts asks. Someone should run against him if that happens, Roberts thinks, and he is not the type of guy to wait for someone else to act.

Roberts also feels spurred into political action because the House is proposing to eliminate funding to grant programs that pay for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, which would “put us back 20 years,” Roberts says.

Because of redistricting, the primary will be shortened to 30-50 days, which would make running for Congress a lot cheaper. A congressional primary of six months would cost at least $1 million, Roberts says. And if our neighborhood winds up in a new district with an open seat, Roberts thinks his chances of winning could increase.

“There won’t be a lot of time,” he says. “We’ve got to pinpoint the message and get it out there.”

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“I would like to start off by saying thanks for all the support you have shown me with the new restaurant. Unfortunately, I am no longer the chef at 303 Bar and Grill, due to a constant concept battle between the owner and myself. I am now no longer affiliated with the food that comes out of its kitchen, other than them using the menu that I designed and created. I will be on to bigger and better things soon, and I hope to have yalls support with my next venture. Thanks! Talk to you all soon!”

For some reason, another post on the 303 facebook page asks fans to add a different page. This is why people hire social media managers.

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After a car struck and seriously injured a cyclist on the Jefferson Viaduct last month, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff sprang into action, calling on city hall to help make the bridge safer.

They garnered the attention of City Manager Mary Suhm, who has taken the lead.

So far, Suhm and BFOC are considering turning the left-hand lane of the Jefferson Viaduct into a two-way bike lane, for north and southbound bicycle traffic. Ideally, physical barriers would separate the bike lane from motor traffic.

The Jefferson bridge was one of a handful of “early implementation” projects outlined in the Dallas Bike Plan, but the plan has stalled because it is not included in the city’s annual budget.

Suhm and city staff are figuring what the best plan for Jefferson would be; how to get cyclists onto the bridge from Zang and how much the whole project would cost. Then they will work with community volunteers to figure out how to pay for it.

Bike Friendly Oak Cliff is planning to stage a cyclovía in honor of the Houston Street Viaduct’s 100th birthday this spring. Perhaps some bike-lane fundraising could take place there. A recent fundraiser for another injured cyclist reportedly raised $3,000 to help with her medical bills.

Marissa Torres, whose husband, Dallas, is the cyclist who was injured on the bridge, has an interesting suggestion for the city. A police report shows the unlicensed driver didn’t hit his brakes until after he hit Dallas, which means he couldn’t have been watching the road, and he might have been speeding. Marissa says Dallas Police ought to write speeding tickets on the bridges and donate all the revenues for a bike lane.

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The race also is a costume contest, and it’s pet friendly. Register your dog for $5. Also, children 12 and younger can register for $15.

The Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball is Feb. 18, and tickets start at $25. The parade starts at 4 p.m. Feb. 19.

Chef Michelle Carpenter is hosting a craw fish boil in the Bishop Arts District again this year. Carpenter’s Cajun kin are coming from Louisiana to cook more than 700 pounds of live craw fish, Sunday, Feb. 19.

From the media release: “Because last year’s Craw fish Boil was a smashing success, Michelle’s Uncle Wayne will be showcasing his brand new, custom-built Craw fish Trailer with three cookers and a wash station, designed to steam up to 3,000 pounds of mud bugs an hour.”

Craw fish with corn and potatoes will cost $15 a pound, and there will be no pre-sale tickets this year. Carpenter and family also will serve gumbo ($7) and king cake ($5).

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The organic farm at Paul Quinn College has purple-top white-globe turnips for sale.  I like to cook the greens and make baked turnip fries.

Turnip Greens

3-5 pound of turnip greens

2 teaspoons olive oil

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 slices of bacon, chopped

1. Fill a large pot with one inch of water.
2. Add olive oil, sea salt, and bacon.
3. Add turnip greens.
4. Turn on the burner to medium heat and cover.  The water will start to steam to the top.
5. Cook the turnip greens for about 5-10 minutes; most of the water will be gone.  Serve with Baked Turnip Fries.

Baked Turnip Fries

3 pounds turnip bottoms

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
2. Cut the turnips into french fry size pieces and place in a bowl.
3. Toss the turnip pieces with the oil, garlic powder, and salt.
4. Place turnip pieces in a single layer on the cookie sheet and put in the oven.
5. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Serve with Turnip Greens.

What to plant this week:

Radishes – reduce sinus ailments and hay fever
Beets – natural blood purifiers, cleanse the intestines, liver, gallbladder and kidneys
Collards – nutritional powerhouse with anti-cancer properties
Spinach – be strong like Popeye; spinach is full of vitamins and minerals
Turnips – high in fiber and vitamin B6
Oregano – is said to help control cholesterol
Strawberries – sweet vitamin C packet
Broccoli – dietary fiber and vitamin C
Cabbage – healthy bones from its vitamin K
Cauliflower – antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Arugula – a spicy leafy green with anti-viral properties
Mustards – eating regularly is said to prevent arthritis

Garden Lady’s green dates to remember:

Feb. 12 Rainbow Garden Club Dallas Garden Talk at Repotted
Feb. 18,  8:30 a.m., Small Scale Urban Agriculture class at the TOFGA Conference.
Feb. 17-19 Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Conference at the Mesquite Convention Center

© Andrea Bithell for Advocate Magazine, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Unfortunately, Salvation Army has decided not to reopen the West Jefferson store; the 10,000-square-foot building is for sale. It is listed, as is, for $480,000. C.J. Dunn Commercial already is is negotiating with a potential buyer, says Patrick Patey, a Salvation Army spokesman for the Dallas area.

Salvation Army decided to make the thrift store on Village Fair its “anchor” in Oak Cliff.

“That was our smallest store,” Patey says. “So it was a good time to go ahead and let the other one be the anchor store in Oak Cliff.”

© Rachel Stone for Advocate Magazine, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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White wines from France’s Rhone region aren’t particularly well known and, at least in this country, don’t get all that much respect. You don’t see many of them on store shelves or restaurant wine lists, and you don’t see many of them reviewed, for that matter.

Which is a shame, given that white Rhones are usually different and interesting, and that’s something I’m always looking for. The Belleruche ($12, purchased, available at Spec’s), from one of the Rhone’s largest producers, has always been one of my favorite wines for just that reason. When I can find it, of course.

This is a previous vintage, and the extra year of bottle age has given the wine, a blend of grenache blanc, clairette and bourboulenc, a little more character. There is lots of white pepper, some oiliness and just a hint of a green fruit, like lime or apple. This is a not a white wine for people who need something fruit forward, like sauvignon blanc or chardonnay, but it’s not supposed to be.

And don’t worry that you haven’t heard of the grapes used to make it — almost no one who isn’t in the wine business has heard of them, either. Which is another reason why the wine is so interesting, and that’s three more grapes for your Wine Century Club effort. Chill this and drink it on its own or with something like goat cheese; roast pork with apples would be terrific, too.

© Jeff Siegel for Advocate Magazine, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chapoutier, French wine, Rhone wines, white wine, wine of the week, wine reviews

“Up here in North Dallas land, where I live, no one has heard of Greiner,” Ordinario says.

That’s a problem. Last year, DISD nearly closed Greiner’s Exploratory Arts Academy, which is known for its music program. Parents rallied to save it, but it is just funded. The academy’s budget includes teacher salaries and nothing else.

“There’s no budget for costumes, instruments … I don’t think the pianos have been tuned in years,” Ordinario says. “There’s just no money.”

Ordinario started thinking about how Booker T. Washington School for the Performing Arts is so successful. What is their “secret?” she wondered. So she met with the PTA president there and found that much of Booker T.’s fundraising and publicity is due to its advisory committee.

So Ordinario is putting together an advisory committee for Greiner. Goals for the committee are not in writing yet, but they will include fundraising, applying for grants, gaining publicity and securing public performances for Greiner Arts Academy students.

Two women have committed to serve on the board so far. One is an education lawyer who has experience with grant writing, and the other is Adrienne Jackson, a lawyer who is the wife of Sylvan|Thirty developer Brent Jackson.

Anyone interested in serving on the board should contact Ordinario: rordinario@me.com or 214.418.9043.

By the way, Ordinario’s son, Cameron, is the kid who last year was inspired to write the song “Please Save Greiner”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

© Rachel Stone for Advocate Magazine, 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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