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

Wow. I’m wondering if Santa stopped in Garland this year.

A six-year old girl won tickets to a Hannah Montana concert by entering an essay contest sponsored by Club Libby Lu. Cute, right? And how could she lose if her opening line was “My daddy died this year in Iraq.”

Unbeatable.

But it wasn’t so cute when people found out that it was all a lie. And then it was like “dannnnnng!”

Yesterday, store officials hooked the girl up with a Montana makeover and tickets and airfare to the concert next month in New York. But after some research by NBC, no name of Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar had come up at all in a catalog of troops overseas. Oh snaps! The name was given by cheater chick’s mom, Priscilla Ceballos, who later admitted that, “We did whatever we could do to win” after having her daughter say that pops was killed in a roadside explosion.

“We regret that the original intent of the contest, which was to make a little girl’s holiday extra special, has not been realized in the way we anticipated,” said Mary Drolet, the CEO of Club Libby Lu. (quote from Yahoo News).

They regretted it so much they snatched those tix away after careful consideration and awarded it to another winner. Apparently the new winner’s mother is a survivor of 9/11.

OK, that was a joke. If only Lynne Spears’ parenting book had been released, Ceballos might have made a better decision. Or be a grandmother.

By the way, that store looks like the most annoying place on Earth.

In at the last second. Mother- ______ of the Year 2007.

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.

Come to my part of town. In fact, after looking at this “vid” of the Marquis at Gaston, I’m starting to want to move. But I’m too lazy and actually kinda dig my digs.

I’m totally into that pool and lobby though. Dayum!

I’m not really sure what a big read grant is but the National Endowment for the Arts gave one to the Latino Cultural Center that’s right down the street for me. So I say that’s good news.

So to be a little more serious, The Big Read is aiming to be the biggest federal reading program in the history of this country. And the LCC is is one of 127 sites nationally to receive the honor and host a celebration. Anything for a party, right? If I’m reading this right, January through June 08, the celebration of a classic novel will be held and LCC will be representing Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. You read that, right? Usually lots of ‘em at Half Price. Here’s some more info:

The latest Big Read grantees represent 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The NEA inaugurated the Big Read as a pilot project with ten communities in 2006. By 2009, approximately 400 communities in the U.S. will have hosted a Big Read since the program’s launch.

The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read for the first half of 2008 will receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. Participating cities and towns also receive reader’s guides and teacher’s guides for each novel, audio guides that also can be used as radio programming, publicity materials, an online organizer’s guide for running a successful Big Read program, and access to a comprehensive Big Read Web site. Each local program will include events, such as read-a-thons, book discussions, film screenings, and library and museum exhibits, aimed at avid and lapsed or reluctant readers alike.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

So, yeah, this is a pretty big deal for the LCC and for Dallas. Good going!

I had no idea we were one of these neighborhoods. First I notice the Mother’s Day Home Tours, then the Fall Festivals at Halloween and now, the Junius Heights Arts and Crafts Fair. Tomorrow morning at 11, you can go to Junius @ Henderson to commence the fair/home tour.

 And no homey arts fair is without its raffle and food sales. I just gotta win that macrame tablecloth.Besides, it’s supposed to help local artists. That’s the neighborly thing to do. But what I’m most curious about is the fact that they have live music and dj’s planned “providing unique entertainment” along the way. Okaaay. Not sure what that means but I’m fascinated. 

Now, this isn’t my thing but I went for a run/walk down that way and these homes are NIIIIICE. I mean, like NI-ICE. Old school architecture and just grandiose in nature. And it took everything in me to not go roll around on their lawns. Sooo, I must admit, I’m considering it. If only to see the insides of these mansions. Maybe I’ll see ya there. I’ll be the guy doing grass angels on their lawns.

When : Sunday Nov. 11th 11am - 5pm

Where: Munger Park (Junius @ N. Henderson )

UPDATE - Double-Wide approved too.

UPDATE - Club Dada got approved for five years.

Congrats guys!

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From Misty who corraled a bunch of great info and pleas:

EXPO PARK / DEEP ELLUM NEEDS YOUR HELP
See my blog if any of this is unreadable

I’ve posted about this before, and there is a lot of information going around on the web, but because so many people are extremely upset when they post I think they start from the assumption that everybody knows what they are talking about which is just not the case. I don’t think this has been explained or publicized enough – so to rehash:

The City of Dallas has made new zoning SUP requirements for bars, clubs and tattoo parlours in Deep Ellum / Expo Park district. Their apparent goal, working hand in hand with the Deep Ellum Association and the local landowners, is to shut small business down, to empty and then bulldoze Deep Ellum, destroy its history, and turn it into a homogenous new construction like Uptown and the West Village. A picture of their plans:

http://www.ciphernull.com/Content/DEEP/DeepUptown/Img/DeepUptownLarge.jpg

Expo Park falls in the same zoning district, and is thus required to follow the same new (and under-publicized rules). I have watched the fringes of Expo filling up with new loft constructions. I’m not opposed to new lofts per se, especially when they don’t take the place of historic buildings. It’s just that having a tiny, vastly overpriced McLoft will never be my dream OR my folly. I feel that business and bars are what *made* Deep Ellum / Expo Park attractive to both to residents and to customers who come to patronize these places. Unique business and old buildings ad something special to the city, they give the place character and dignity, and if you take them away you have nothing left. There is no character in the West Village. It’s a temple of commerce, pure and simple. New, crowded, and generic. If you like that, go there, now. Please.

Expo Park on the other hand has a neighborhood feel. I have a small business there, and my husband and I have lived in Expo Park for years. The Gibson lofts http://www.thegibsonco.com which make up the bulk of the area are sensitive conversions of the old pre-existing buildings, and the opposite side of the street is the same store front row that was there at the turn of the century.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~jwheat/expopark.html

This are is still filled with small, independently owned businesses – the kind of places you want to hang out it - and we need to keep it that way.

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This is what the opponents of some of the businesses who were in the first day of hearings said:

“We feel strongly that this type of business [tattoo studios] is inconsistent with the future of Deep Ellum….we’re spending over fifty million dollars in the neighborhood…if the city approves SUP applications for undesirable uses, such as new tattoo parlors and dance clubs, the city is only perpetuating the negative perception of Deep Ellum….The Deep Ellum neighborhood is an untapped goldmine….only after the city denies the application will landlords attempting to rent to these types of businesses get the message that Deep Ellum is closed undesirable uses.”

–Brandon Henry

“I am here representing two partnerships which own 150,000 feet of land and 75,000 feet of buildings…At some point enough is enough with the kind of uses that are dominating the night, creating fear, traffic congestion, and enormous expenses for the police….The previous speaker [Brandon Henry] is the future of Deep Ellum….”

–John Tatum

“I am a representative for a major landowner in Deep Ellum. We have about 120,000 square feet of retail buildings and apartments in that area. We are trying to turn Deep Ellum into a 24/7, pedestrian oriented, chic, urban neighborhood….we needed a plan to accomplish that goal and that is what the PD [Planning District/SUP] was for….”

–John Hetzler

THESE ARE THE VENUES GOING UP FOR APPROVAL THURSDAY:

MONKEY BAR
Z067-333(RB)
CONTACT - info@dallasmonkeybar.com
408 S Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX 75226
214-827-1129

Didn’t pass.

Monkey Bar in particular is in jeopardy because some residents in the new lofts complained at their first council hearing, and they were not prepared with supporters on their side. PLEASE take a moment to at least write something on their behalf. It simply is not fair to build a loft adjacent to a bar location (that has continuously housed a bar for 10+ years) and then to complain about the aforementioned bar.

THE AMSTERDAM BAR
Z067-334(RB)
CONTACT: Mike — amsterdam@theamsterdambar.com — 469-233-6591
831 Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX 75226
214-827-3433

MINC LOUNGE
Z067-332(RB)
CONTACT: Julie — Julie@mincdallas.com
813 Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX 75226
214-370-4077

Are under advisement.

FALLOUT LOUNGE
Z067-340(RB)
CONTACT: Unknown – Take a letter to them!
835 Exposition Ave
Dallas, TX 75226
214-823-0675

DOUBLE WIDE
Z067-348(RB)
CONTACT: Kim — kim@thedoublewidebar.com / sheltonator@gmail.com
3510 Commerce St
Dallas, TX 75226
214-887-6510

DARKSIDE LOUNGE / ELM ST. BAR
Z067-343(JH) / Z067-344(JH)
CONTACT: Wes — darksidelounge@yahoo.com
Elm St. Bar - 2812 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214-653-1668

CLUB DADA
Z067-347(RB)
CONTACT: Unknown – Take a letter to them!
2720 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214-744-3232

THE BONE
Z067-336(JH)
CONTACT: Unknown – Take a letter to them!
2724 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75226
214-744-2663

Check The Sub-Rosa for more information -

Deep Ellum Enrichment Project – Read their blog!
DEEP has a listing of who the City Council killed last week

Do something NOW.

But I don’t know where the affordable part comes in. With all new way-too-expensive condos and apartments filling up space everywhere, sooner or later the cheapest places in town will also be the skurriest. But it’s nice that Dallas is on a good list. We made the top ten of Forbes Ten Most Affordable Places to Live. This is what they say:

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7. Dallas

Like Houston, Dallas is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, with domestic migrants leading the pack. The city itself is a bit more centralized than Houston, has better air quality and better access to public transportation via its DART train. It trails Houston slightly when it comes to cultural institutions like museums, libraries, parks, sports, theaters and universities, according to Sperling’s Best Places. Cost of living is slightly higher in Dallas, which was the main reason it landed behind Houston.

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Now why hey used that old expired West End as the Dallas spot is beyond me since all the others look appealing. West Village maybe? For the rest of the list, go here.

Like I said, they are rolling out too fast. Here’s the Amsterdam Bar’s take on the goings on as they prep for their council hearing:

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Hey Neighbors… Little help

This Thursday we go before the City Planning Commission to get a specific use permit for our bar. I’m going to skip the full explanation and get to the point. We could use some support from neighbors on the block & residents of PD269. We would like to get a group of residents, preferably on the block or Gibson tenants who will be able to address the CPC panel and let them know we are good neighbors, don’t invite a troublesome crowd to the neighborhood, and are an asset to the neighborhood in which you reside. Though we are not anticipating any opposition to our request to the CPC, It would be better to be prepared than not should opposition arise.

Case in point, Monkey Bar. Gerald underestimated the potential for opposition, and ran across some with his neighbors behind him. They had several letters & speakers opposing his SUP request. Gerald had nothing, as he did not think this was going to be a problem. The CPC gave him a week to see if there could be any compromise made, if not he’s likely gone. The lesson I take from that is one of preparedness.

If you’d be interested in speaking on our behalf, email me at amsterdam@theamsterdambar.com Fallout Lounge & Minc will also have their CPC meeting on that date. I’m sure they’d like some support from their neighbors as well.,This Thursday we go before the City Planning Commission to get a specific use permit for our bar. I’m going to skip the full explanation and get to the point. We could use some support from neighbors on the block & residents of PD269. We would like to get a group of residents, preferably on the block or Gibson tenants who will be able to address the CPC panel and let them know we are good neighbors, don’t invite a troublesome crowd to the neighborhood, and are an asset to the neighborhood in which you reside. Though we are not anticipating any opposition to our request to the CPC, It would be better to be prepared than not should opposition arise.

Case in point, Monkey Bar. Gerald underestimated the potential for opposition, and ran across some with his neighbors behind him. They had several letters & speakers opposing his SUP request. Gerald had nothing, as he did not think this was going to be a problem. The CPC gave him a week to see if there could be any compromise made, if not he’s likely gone. The lesson I take from that is one of preparedness.

If you’d be interested in speaking on our behalf, email me at amsterdam@theamsterdambar.com Fallout Lounge & Minc will also have their CPC meeting on that date. I’m sure they’d like some support from their neighbors as well.

All this SUP stuff is affecting all the bars and clubs in Deep Ellum and Expo Park. Yet nary a peep from other entertainment districts…hmmm. So, The Monkey Bar, which is one of the more funky charming bars in Expo Park, is asking for some help. This stuff is rolling out fast so I’m better at letting them explain the dire straits:

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To All Monkey Bar Supporters and Neighbors, please help us!!

We are in the process of going through a rezoning faze with the city. All appeared well, and we were given a letter stating that the city was recomending we receive out rezoning (special use permit). Well there seems to be 1 or 2 people in the neighborhood who wish that Monkey Bar was not there. So we need your help! If you could please write a letter stating your name, and address if you live near the bar, and if not, please write a letter anyway showing your support. The letter should encompass why you love the monkey bar, and what it means to you. We are unfairly accused of being a “Dive Bar” with less than desirable clientel. Now I think our clientel is great, our bar is great, and you wont find a better patio in dallas. We are also probably one of the safest bars in Dallas. The actual building that the Monkey is in, has been a bar / lounge for well over 10 years, and was there WAY before the residential building started to occur. So please help us out, and write us a letter. You can email the letter to info@dallasmonkeybar.com or bring it by the bar anytime this week after 5:30pm (408 Exposition, Dallas Tx. 75226). Our next meeting with the city council is on Thursday, and with enough support we will be able to keep our bar open. I will keep you posted on when the meeting on thursday is, so maybe all of you can come down there with us, and show unity.

Sincerely,
Dallas Monkey Bar

I’m reposting D.E.E.P.’s blog about the latest goings-on with certain establishments and City Hall. Hearings are happening to determine the fate of some DE staples and by the looks of these notes, we may be saying bye to Tomcats Deep Ellum, although it’s not a given. And I hope not. I’ve yet to visit that place. Read on:

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Zoning Commission Results for 11/01/2007 (rough)

As I mentioned in a bulletin previously, today was the day for six Deep Ellum establishments to go before the Dallas City Zoning Commission. The Commission was to to decide if the applicants would be fowarded to Dallas City Council to have their SUP (Specific Use Permit) reviewed. In this new cilimate in Deep Ellum, bars and clubs must have an SUP and if it gets denied it means their existence as a bar will cease.

Those who were denied today will not be allowed to exist in the capacity of a bar or dance club. Those who did get recommended for the City Council today are not out of the woods yet. Final approval is up to City Council’s discretion.

The Zoning Commission has a member of staff review alll SUP applications before meeting about them. It is interesting to note, all venues received a staff recommended review, but the Zoning Commission did not approve them all. So, here are the results:

Curtain Club/Liquid

Asked for an extension and was granted one.

Monkey Bar

It was almost denied; its fate still hangs in the balance. One of the commission members motioned for an extension to allow the owner to collect more information and that motion was granted. There were four residents from the town homes behind it that spoke in opposition. The main complaint: noise. The building where the Monkey Bar existh has a history of being a bar that far predates the existence of those town homes: it was the Expo Lounge, once-upon-a-time.

Adair’s

Approved with no opposition and people did speak on their behalf.

TomCat’s

TomCat’s was denied. A couple of people spoke in opposition, a couple of people on behalf, including members of DEEP. Many negative things were said about it with little facts behind it: allegations of drug, guns, violence and loud rock music–not to mention the unsavory characters (sounds like a fun place to me). Oh, did I mention they said it didn’t look pretty? And we can’t forget the crying elderly woman that presented herself at the podium–difficult to beat that. The funny thing is: it only had eight incidents reported to the police in five years. I am not sure if they will appeal–I encourage them to do so.

Red Blood Club

Approved to go before the Dallas City Council with no opposition. Many spoke on their behalf; several affiliated with DEEP did too, including Frank Campagna and his daughter Amber. Frank has been a member of the Deep Ellum community since 1982. He is owner (along with Kirk) and proprietor of Kettle Art. He and crew were responsible for the “TunnelVision” artwork that perished this year with the tunnel (which the city approved, of course)

Red Blood still has to be approved by the Council. There is no guarantee they will, but it seems likely. And if they get approved, they will have to renew it in a year or two. I wouldn’t get too comfortable; there are bigger plans at work here–I’ll talk more on that later….

Club One

Shelley had two hearings in front of two different commissions. First was her after hours dance hall permit (allows her to stay open til 4 AM). The second hearing was what everyone else there was seeking: approval to go to before the City Council to have their SUP (Specific Use Permit) reviewed.

The after hours permit was denied and I believe that takes effect almost immediately (not tonight though). She was also denied to go before the City Council for approval to remain a bar/dance club. Many people spoke on her behalf; four or five, most of them affiliated with DEEP. Lord Byron, who spawned Panoptikon and spins on that night, spoke on her behalf too. He has been very supportive of Deep Ellum for a long time. He also supports DEEP and attends our meetings as his heavy travel schedule allows.

At this point, it is not really clear when Club One’s SUP denial takes effect. She is going to appeal and she thinks she will be allowed to stay open until then, but it is unclear. If you love you some Panoptikon, best go see her tonight.

Close to twelve people affiliated with DEEP attended the Zoning Commission. We thank everyone for coming out–it was a very long meeting. Thanks to Benny for coming out too. He manages several of the parking lots here and is owner of Benny’s Food Mart on Main (make sure and check him out).

I have much more to say on all this and the “new vision” of Deep Ellum, including those quotes I promised last Dallas City Council meeting (and audio to back them up). It will have to be this weekend though; I am headed to Panoptikon.

Scott