G.R.i.D. (Get Rich in Dallas)

Just a quick thanks to Zach Marcovic, budding photographer, friend and former SDGM for my new profile photo. You can see more of his stuff on his myspace page. Just disregard the drunk pics of him in fishnet hose.

Their official grand opening is tonight. At least per this email Gricelda, who works in the spa there sent me. I cant’ decide if I should go there or here.

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We are so excited to announce that the Hotel Palomar will be holding
their grand opening party Thursday October 19 from 7:00 - 10:00pm.  It
is going to be a palate of art in motion with Bandaloop in front of
the hotel, a sampling of 214s signature cuisine, dance, art, fashion,
music, and of course the transformational Exhale Spa.  We will be
offering:

-Polish changes
-Paraffin hand dips
-Neck / Shoulder massages
-Body Enlightening demos
-Skin Analysis
-Vibrational therapy
-Acupuncture demos
-essential oils sampling
-nutrition consults

We will be holding regularly scheduled classes and in addition we will
be holding the following classes:

Core Fusion  8:30pm to 9:30pm

Yoga  7:45pm to 8:45pm and 9:00pm to 10:00

These additional classes will be complementary to friends and family
we are also looking for volunteers from friends and family to act as
models for therapies.  We want to make sure these classes are full and
enthusiasm is high please spread the word.

If you have people who are interested in attending please make sure
they call and get their name on the list for class as well as to be
models for therapies.  214-370-5800

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I would have liked to post a pic of Palomar but interestingly enough, they don’t really showcase the exteriors as much as the interiors. With good reason. The building is a boring update of the Hiltop Inn that was there previously. But here’s a tiny rendition.

 

Last night , Troy and I ventured into downtown for some midweek drinks. While making our way to the Thomas and Leggett Tavern, the empty insides led me to believe this place had closed down. Where was I when this happened? And exactly what did happen? The place looked pretty awesome and with it being in that little strip of hip on Stone Street, I figured it to be a surefire hit.

Just up the street however was City Tavern and thankfully next to that Ten Sports Grill. Both of which had significance to me. City Tavern was on my list of places to visit for work They have live music most nights which I go and check out every week. We walked in and the long dark bar was inviting but semi-interesting. A decent crowd was at the bar and the four or so booths on the left were subtly occupied. The bartenders were extremely friendly and chatty. And not in that stupid way. And our drinks were fairly cheap. My wine and his bottle of Shiner were only 7.75 compared to the glass of wine I had at Balcony Club earlier for eight bucks! I was fairly endeared to the place by this point. The bartender told me that live music played upstairs which I hadn’t noticed. Up we went. Mo Robson and some chick were playing their acoustic set to a fairly rowdy and fuller crowd upstairs. People playing pool, after office drinkers and drinkers believing they were in a cooler place than they thought all filled the second floor while Robson played on.

I always feel bad for musicians who play to crowds not paying attention to them. And these people weren’t by speaking loudly to be heard over the music. Ouch. However, I was getting wrangled with boredom. Robson’s songs were uninteresting although he is now a contender for this week’s Seven Day G-Man) but not so much as the crowd was. Going back downstairs, all seats were taken but it still wasn’t too crowded. I was bored and it was off to Ten.

Ten was just named in our Best of Dallas issue which is great and all. I’m all for small tiny places getting their attention and if they are doing soething right, then even more kudos. But I wasn’t feeling it here either. I’m not much of a sports bar person but by no means am I opposed to them. I expected the same sort of layout as City Tavern but this was more spread out with tables and the bar on the far right. Plasma screens adorned the place with various sporting events on air and the slight crowd was a little ore subdued. Another white wine and beer cost us 11 bucks but Troy had to have his fancy shmancy Blue Moon. My white wine was ok.

The place itself is fairly average and I’m not sure what attracts the athletes here as opposed to going home and having a beer in front of their probably bigger screens but it apparently does. The overall environment is dark and quaint that evokes feelings of not wanting to be found (I just wish I could find the same sort of place but with some light jazz. I’m hoping and thinking that may be Pearl). The best i could say is that I didn’t NOT like the place. Maybe a Nowitzki or Owens sighting would have given it more cred, but when the Pocket Protectors Convention crowd walked in, I knew it was time to leave.

After that, we headed to Deep Ellum for Bob Marley night at Club Dada. In one word, brah: jumpin’.