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

Lord Byron gave me some lowdown on tomorrow’s first (in a long time) Christmas Tree lighting in Deep Ellum. The DEEP peeps put up the tree last night but to see it in all its glory, they’ve planned a special event for Sunday. Read on:

---

“A Not So Silent Night” Tree Lighting Event
All of the Deep Ellum organizations are coming together to celebrate our community and the holidays with a tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. This event plans to show the strength and solidarity in this neighborhood. The tree lighting is an old Deep Ellum tradition that was stopped years ago due to lack of funding, but when Deep Ellum Enrichment Project (DEEP) members approached the Deep Ellum Foundation with the idea of resurrecting the tree, the funds were quickly granted.

About the event:

The community of Deep Ellum will be celebrating the holiday season with “A Not So Silent Night” Saturday, Dec. 8 on the corner of Main and Good Lattimer. The holiday celebration begins with a tree lighting featuring a 35-foot metal tree designed by local sculptor Santiago Pena with ornaments created by local metal artist George Fowler. After the tree lighting, local businesses will celebrate this event with specials on food, drinks, etc. This event celebrates the rich cultural legacy of Deep Ellum and shines a positive light on its rebirth. Musicians, artists, business owners, locals, and residents are coming together to celebrate our community and we would love to see you there.

Every so often I feel the need to express my road rage by taking my camera phone and snapping the car that bum rushed my show and then put it on here. Haven’t done it in a while and what sucks more is that I HAVE A FEW IN MY PHONE! But Park Cities People’s blog heard about it. Kind of invigorated my need to keep it up.

I’m thrilled and yet deflated. They thought I was a girl. :-

So in getting back into the spirit of things, I’m recalling last week’s incident where I was at the odd intersection of Oak Lawn @ Congress. It’s an odd streetlight because Congress is rather minor. My light turns green, I’m on Congress turning left on eastbound Oak Lawn. Well, this little maroon Altima decided that the red light didn’t apply to her at all. Coming from my right, she barreled on through. What’s worse is she didn’t even change speed. She must have not seen it somehow but I figure the car pulling out opposite me and swerving to get out of her way would be a slight indication. Apparently not.

My only regret is that darn license plate got a lot of sun on it. Can barely make out the whole tag. I do know it’s 45?-RB? at least. That’s enough for me.

I know there are lots of options for Christmas entertainment out there bu seeing the Turtle Creek Chorale and their annual concert might just convince you they are one of the better ones to see. I’m hoping to catch both holiday shows they are putting on but they start tomorrow at the Majestic with Children Will Listen. And I really really hope you go. Trust me on this one. But I must confess, if I make only one, it will be the Meyerson show. Tradition…hard thing to change.

Bar of Soap owner Charlie Gilder wants to reassure everybody of one thing.

“We are not closing down.”

With buzz going about the bar not filing for an SUP and simply needing scratch, rumors, according to Gilder, began to stir that the 21 year-old Expo Park staple was shutting its doors. Not the case despite a slump of business in the past few months. The Fair didn’t bring in as much money as usual and business stayed slow after the Fair’s run. “People aren’t just coming down,” he said but assures that after Thanksgiving, business seems to be picking up gradually.

But they are short in the wallet hence last weekend’s fundraiser show and art auction. It wasn’t that Gilder didn’t file for an SUP, he just didn’t have the money to do it and according to him, he needs $1175 to do so. “The problem is money,” he said after explaining some of his goals for the bar itself with some remodeling and touch-ups desperately needed. But ultimately, he says, “We’re gonna be OK.”

Despite his feelings about the whole SUP business.

While he’s confident he’ll pass and willing to go through the steps, he calls the whole situation unfair. “I fail to see how it’s even legal. Looks to me like the legal precedent, is once your there and operational that they can’t come and kick you out arbitrarily. I’m confused about this. It’s completely unjust. It’s tyranny,” he vents, “I didn’t think this is the way the United States works. However, I’m not disappointed in the direction the area is going.” He figures with new condos going up that it’s just going to help the business.

So if you missed all the action last weekend, Gilder probably wouldn’t mind you stopping by this weekend to see Darlington tomorrow and The Deadites on Saturday. At they very least, Bar of Soap has their groove on.