Man, with all this heat lately, I was entertaining the idea of finding a pool to take a dip in. After seeing this on Good Morning America today about pool parasites hanging out in public swimming pools, I’ve officially changed my mind. Besides, since pools are closing down around town anyway, I guess it’s a moot point.

Still. Yuk.

Annnd, did you know that Cheesecake Factory is the place to go to partake in the national holiday. Yep, for cheap, they are offering slices of cake for a buck fifty. But only one per slice as it says on their site. I’m stil debating going being fat and lactose intolerant and all but damn, cheesecake is good. Here’s the word from the Cheesecake Factory:

The Cheesecake Factory Serves Up a Delicious 30th Anniversary Celebration!

Celebrating “30 Delicious Years,” The Cheesecake Factory is serving up several sweet initiatives throughout 2008.

To kick-off the anniversary celebration and in commemoration of National Cheesecake Day on July 30th, 2008, The Cheesecake Factory restaurants will offer every delicious slice of its more than 30 varieties of cheesecake with a dollop of nostalgia by featuring all cheesecakes at $1.50 per slice, limit one per guest, dine in only, on that day—as they were when the restaurant first opened in 1978.

In addition, a special, limited edition cheesecake, the 30th Anniversary Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, will be introduced on July 30th with $0.25 from the sale of each slice sold this year benefiting the national hunger-relief organization, America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. Additional activities will be announced throughout the year.

Instead of Date Night it’s going to be Art Night at Kettle. And tell Frank to grow back his goatee…cuz it’s totally hot.

Deep Ellum Good Buy is going on and for some decent scratch you too can have a piece of Deep Ellum History. But it’s better said here by Kettle Art:

Deep Ellum Good Buy is an exhibit of Deep Ellum memorabilia from the mid 1980’s through the early 2000’s. Items from venues past such as Gypsy Tea Room, Club Clearview, Trees, Club Dada and the Green Room are all part of this major collection. Framed and autographed photos, posters and artwork by luminaries such as The Old 97’s, Jack Ingram, Course of Empire, Doosu, Buck Jones, Patti Griffin, Son Volt, Sarah Hickman, Ben Folds Five, Junior Brown, The Grande Street Cryers, Guster, Galatic, El Vez, Little Sister, Mojo Nixon, Mathew Sweet, Tripping Daisy, The Derailers and many more are all part of this show.

Very rare collectible posters for Victor Dada (Club Dada founders) or a 1970 Janis Joplin original poster will also be for sale as well as one of a kind artworks by artists Greg Metz, Dwayne Carter and Frank Campagna.

We are located at
2714 Elm, Deep Ellum

Open Friday & Saturday
7:00-10:00 pm

for more info call 214 573-7622
and leave a message…
or visit
www.kettleart.com

Oh like, can you believe? Like, if I lived in Westlake the Jonas Brothers would SO be my new neighbors! Isnt’ that hawwwt?

And isn’t it so cute that it says here that their mom needs to buy for them?? OH MY GAWWWWWD!!!!

This past week’s issue of the Dallas Voice was journalistic gold for me. And mostly because of this article where Crews Inn owner, David Moore has banned drag queens from his club on Trashy Tuesdays. Now, David Moore is clearly an idiot. As owner, he may have the right to discriminate against people that don’t satisfy his standards. It’s all so White Drinking Fountain Colored Drinking Fountain. But if people are stirring up trouble in his club, then kick them out. Don’t ban people. If I was in a drunken stupor at Crews Inn then I’d totally be ruining it for all future Hispanics wanting to hit the club. He argues that if people don’t match their ID, then he has a right to refuse service, however, they do seem to turn a blind eye to fake IDs and all the young chicken that makes it in. Heck, way back when, CI was one of the places I could waltz in without being carded.

Anyways, read the piece. Briscoe did a great job and has given me one of my favorite quotes of all time. Not by what it said but more by seeing it in print:

“It’s kind of like I’m a positive role model in the community,” (Ivana) Tramp said.

Oh gosh, that still makes me laugh. Sweetie, I’m sure you are but you might want to rethink quoting your righteousness outside of your drag persona.

It seems like the Query of the Week is getting funnier each time. Lately at least one person’s answer is basically “huh??” And I don’t know what makes me chuckle more, their ignorance (which happens, I get that) or the fact that it’s being printed in lieu of maybe someone else giving a viable answer. If I see Ben Briscoe heading my way with a notepad, I’m jumping on my laptop with Google Search handy for whatever he’s going to ask about. My fave responses to this week query of How important is it for out-of-state couples may be able to marry in Massachusetts were:

I didn’t know anything about that. So not important.”

Matt Fieldsman

Banker

“You mean we couldn’t get married there before? I always thought we could. Big, I guess.”

Gary Martin

Bartender

Interestingly enough, the site doesn’t print the question, just the answers. But if it ever gets as funny as these, then I’ll actually buy a subscription to the paper.

Moving on. So, I’m fairly impressed with the Voice’s music coverage. It’s not as extensive as I think it could be but the fact that they go beyond the Oak Lawn scene (ahem, is there one?) and even the obvious (Yaz, George Michael) is a nice comfort. I mean, honestly, a few years ago I’d have been stunned to see the Moaners being mentioned in the Voice. Their show at Lola’s was blurbed this week.

However, I was a little surprised to see George Michael’s review in the print edition a week after the show. I mean, isnt’ that what blogs are for? It just seemed a little pandering as if the gays needed that story and big pic in print. Sure, it was the biggest gay concert of the year next to True Colors but a review a week later just seemed, well, weak. But maybe I’m being a bit biased because my review came out the next day. Yay, me!

Oh and despite it being after the fact, I had to chuckle at the headline - Yaz Tues at Granada and mentioned the venue again in the blurb only to have the actual info under reveal its true show last night was at the Lakewood. However, I was at the Granada last night for this kick-ass event. Mistakes happen but and when you’re in the biz and get to see them, they always cause a smirk.

OK, so I’m done picking on the Voice this week. It was a good issue but it gave me some uninentional smirks. And I can’t wait to read about the Crews Inn fallout. Oh and by the way, I plan never to go there again. I can’t support someone with attitudes like that. I hope you’ll consider the same.

It’s gonna be hot. No, I mean, literally, it’s friggin’ hot out there so wear yer extra strength deodorant. But the music, the bars and the price is too cool to pass up. So getcher arse over to Lowest Greenville tonight for a slew of bands and sweat armpits.

Besides, if yer not here tonight, yer nowhere.

Oh yeah, he totally did Sunday night at his concert. But you can read about it here. I’m too tired from screaming and dancing that night up to right now as I listen to his CD’s to write up anymore about it.

But damn it was a hot concert. Check out the Freedom 90 encore:

You know I love me some Dan Paul, Dallas’ local renaissance man. Just missed his live music show couple weeks ago by this much but not gonna miss tonight’s art show. Seems like Starbucks @ West Village wants to get it on some of the local art and music action so, according to Paul, “this is the launch of a new series of live music, local art and spoken word events at Dallas’ largest Starbucks–located in the heart of Uptown.”

So, I suggest you get yer caffeine on and head over there tonight. Of course, I’m secretly hoping for frappuccino samples!

I just wanted to say thanks to the Almighty above for answering my prayers by giving me the following headline.

DeSagna Diop returns to Dallas Mavericks six months after trade

This isn’t new news but I forgot to give grace to God for bringing back what the Mavs need. I’m sure Cuban had something to do with it too but seriously, this is all His doing. Totally.

Although a little weird to see the headline above from The Canadian Press. I much prefer to read Richie’s take on it here.