My eye is on the blackbird

I took a trip to Austin a few weeks ago.

Outside of Blackbird Austin

There's something about this city that ignites an excitement in me. It could be its "mom and pop" type of feel (People own businesses everywhere there. And according to local sources, the best places to eat are right in the middle of the city where people sell scrumptious goodies out of mobile trailors. Ever heard of the saying, "the shadiest looking dives are always the best places to eat?" It's true, people.)

 While I was there, I wanted to check out a few of these locally own places.

And so with my fabulous, female sidekick and her handy, dandy copy of Eat.Shop.Austin, I headed to Blackbird, a fairly new clothing and jewelry boutique, to scope out the scene.

The doll photographs are for sale and often sell out quickly

Located on the North Loop, Blackbird Austin has an artistic yet Gothic feeling. The upstairs windows make for a beautiful and mysterious photograph. They call you inside, beckoning your curiosity, and the design on the outside of the building was crafted by the owners themselves.( Nothing says "we can do it" and "we can do it creatively" quite like a DIY project.)

It's not a big place but definitely has a personality to it. Steampunk hats, handmade jewelry, and a cabinet completely refurnished for display decorate the inside.  And yes, the doll portraits are creepy but not in a bad way. It's hard to take your eyes off them, a sign that interesting art was definitely created.

The $20 fab find

My favorite things about this place?
1. Its affordability (My necklace I bought only cost $20)
2. Its owners.(Juliana had no problem with me taking photos inside of her store,)
3. The store won the Best of Austin 2011 Reader's Poll (When I was there, they had just reached 500 "likes" on Facebook.)

Yes, my eye is on Blackbird Austin.
Maybe yours should be too.



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DIY Halloween Goodies

If you’re like me, you’ve been pretty damn busy during this time of year. Between graduate school, work, and oh yeah, just taking care of me, there hasn’t been much time for mellowing out like a marshmallow (Ok, marshmallows don’t really “mellow out”). But hey now, being busy isn’t going to stop me from celebrating The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. (Some like to call it All Hallow’s Eve. I call it Halloween.)

I love my staff so I decided I wanted to do something easy but fun for them to celebrate the holiday. Here’s my little DIY for Halloween gifts, goodies and greetings.

Enjoy!

Arts and crafts supplies:

Cardboard gift boxes

Wooden clothes pins

Your own Halloween Photo

Photoshop

Baking Supplies:

Muffin tin

Cupcake liners

Mixer

Mixing bowls

Ingredients for chocolate cupcakes:

Cupcake batter:

2 cups all-purpose flower

1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temp.

1 ½ cups sugar

2 large eggs

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled

1½ cups buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream cheese frosting:

1 package cream cheese (I use fat free Weight Watchers)

¾ stick of unsalted butter

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

(This cupcake recipe is from the best bake sale ever cookbook by Barbara Grunes)

The How To:

1.       Find out how many staff members you are baking for (This seems like a logical step, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to miscount)

2.        Pick out the type of gift box you want to put your fall goodies (I went to Michaels and found these cute, little Peanuts boxes. Good for recycling later on, right?)

3.       Make sure you have wooden clothespins (You’ll be using these later on.)

4.       Pick out a cool, vintage or retro image you’ve taken (I found a photo I took of a Halloween sign way back in the day.)

5.       Use your Photoshop program to add your staff members names onto the photos. (You’ll need to save each one as a separate image. You’re creating a Halloween tag for their gift box. You can add whatever greeting or message you want.)

6.       Print out the personalized photos and cut them out to make them look like a tag

7.       Attach the “tags”, using the clothespins, to the gift boxes

(How ya doin’? You’re almost there. Now comes the baking part)

8.       It’s time to bake the goodies.

Prepare the cake:

·         Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your muffin pan with the cupcake liners (Thank you, Martha for “loaning” me some of yours)

·         Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside

·         In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until smooth and well blended. Mix in the vanilla.

·         Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way. Bake in center of oven for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool.

Prepare frosting:

·         Cream the cream cheese and butter with the vanilla.

·         On low speed, slowly add the confectioners’ sugar, beating until creamy

·         Once cupcakes have cooled frost them and add sprinkles, if desired

9.       Place cupcakes in the fridge for safe keeping. When you’re ready to take your goodies into work, put the cupcakes and any other treats you wish to give out in their individual gift boxes and attach the Halloween tag

Happy Halloween!

Awww Yeah...It's the VERY GREEN SOCIAL

Are you an Organivore, Locavore, or even a Vintage Whore? Check out luri and wilma's VERY GREEN SOCIAL July 21.

Manic Monday

 You're probably thinking I'm going to be posting "Manic Monday" right about now.
PSYCHE. I didn't really feel much like reminding everyone the weekend is over. So instead of grunting about the week to come, watch the vid and remember no matter what, you always have a VOICE.

AND by the way..Happy Manic Monday!

Things We're Diggin'

It's been a whirlwind of artsy, orgasmic pleasure the past two weeks. Here's a list of what we can't live without:

 Breakfast at Tiffany's
I just recently rummaged through that cruddy basket at the back of Wal-Mart, you know the one with all the cheap movies you've never heard of, and found this classic film for $5. Since I honestly didn't like watching Casablanca, I was a little afraid of this one putting me in a similar situation. (It's disappointing to watch something so infamous only to feel like it's not worth all the hype.) However, I must say that I was far from disappointed in this movie. Not only did it keep me guessing but Miss GoLightly's wardrobe was enough to make me drool all over the television. That pink dress! And that orange coat! Maybe I should walk around with a cigarette in my hand while I call everyone "Darling". And the overhead shot of Audrey Hepburn lying on the bed amongst all the flying feathers and broken glass? Just simply beautiful.

Randy Blair's "Little Bit of Nonsense"

Events 
Fair Park's CityArts Festival
Despite melting like the Wicked Witch of the West in the 99 degree heat, I was captivated by the art cars. I could have stood there for hours trying to find new detail on those things. Here's the link to my Dallas Observer blog post on the event: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2011/05/cityarts_was_one_hot_fest.php
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
luri & wilma Very Green Social                                          
Don't miss the chance to do some hobnobbing and social networking at luri & wilma magazine's pre-launch celebration. We'll provide the wining and dining. You just have to provide the schmoozing. Help us celebrate the launch of something green, something smart and something fabulously indie. The event is June 24 at 8 p.m. at Lure Salon. Be on the lookout for more info.

Etsy Artists
Carlynn Field and her CreekyMonkey jewelry: http://www.wix.com/carlynnfield/about#!resume

Sarah Zamora's mixed media work: http://originalyouth.com/

Sarah Zamora's work

Darien Orr's Out and About in Denton card collection:http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignCoDenton

Yup, It's All Good at AllGood Cafe

Food. Food is delicious, delectable, yummy, scrumptious and just plain 'ole fing good.

I started doing food reviews when I was a junior in college. I guess you could call me a food snob. (In fact, please do. I consider it a compliment and not an insult. Afterall, that's what the column at the newspaper was called: Food Snobs.)

I'm always thinking about trying new places to eat. I love food, I love taking pictures of food and I like writing about food because if you think about it, food represents a hell of a lot more than just taste buds, tongues and happy stomachs. It is often an art form and food from different cultures tastes like, looks like and smells like its very own personality. (I'm partial to Thai and Sushi...oh, and I have an addiction to the Mexican drink Horchata..mmmm.)

It is also a social symbol. I mean think about it. When you and your friends are sitting around bored or want to plan some kind of event or party, what do you usually do? You probably end up going to eat at your fave local dive or grabbing some yummy cocktails at the downtown bar during Happy Hour. (It's OK if you've memorized their drink specials. No one is going to judge you. You like what you like, and there's nothing wrong with local loyalty. )

So with this love for what I like to call "Comida Culture", I decided this past weekend that I wanted to try a place in Deep Ellum called AllGood.

Now OK, I want to be completely honest with anyone who might be reading this and say I had never been to the Deep Ellum area and because I have no sense of direction, I had to turn around a few times before I found the cafe off the corner of Walton and Main. ( In my defense there are way too many one way streets and merges. It's not the most obvious location if you've never been to that part of the city.)

But if you're like me and you totally appreciate Mom and Pop type businesses, AllGood is the place to go. It's very quaint and ornate. A bunch of paper origami hangs from the ceiling. There's a candle at each table (Ours had Jesus on it.), a bunch of Christmas lights twinkle in the front window and a 90s CD player stacked with old CDs sits on top of the dessert display case towards the back of the place. (Although I think my favorite part of the decor was the stage area that had a shelf full of random tea cups and trinkets. If you look closely you can see a Winnie the Pooh on the shelf some where. How very A.A. Milne of them!)

 It was around 11 a.m. when we got there so I decided to go for their short stack of blueberry pancakes, which was absolutely delicious and extremely filling. (I can't even imagine how big the tall stack would've been) It's a decently priced place, and the staff seems to be hip and young. (Our waitress even confessed to accidentally walking in on someone while they were in the bathroom because she didn't think anyone was in there. Hey, it happens and makes you human. Maybe whoever was in there should've locked the door!)

AllGood, you are delicious all day everyday. This Food Snob wishes she lived close by because if she did, she'd be all good all the time.

Link to their webpage: http://www.allgoodcafe.com/index.php

Bridesmaids And A Breakfast

You know what movies do for me? They not only occupy my time and keep me busy, but I watch them for the same reason everyone else does: they make me feel good. I went and saw the new Bridesmaids movie yesterday afternoon. ($3 matinee because no one goes to a movie on a Wednesday in the middle of the day? Priceless) Not only did I fall in love with the hunky cop (It must have been the uniform and the accent), but I laughed. I laughed really really hard. Some of it was a little too gross for my taste (showing vomiting women in a bathroom together is a little too much for me), but I think over all it was just one of those feel good things to see.

Needless to say I went ahead and continued my film obsession this week by purchasing Breakfast at Tiffany's, She's All That, The King's Speech and Fried Green Tomatoes (What?! I like chick flicks. Sue me!)

Hopefully they'll all make me feel good too. Afterall, $5 a movie is enough to make you pee your pants with happiness.

Cheers!

Today's Word of Mouth:

Check out the Dallas CityArts Fest this weekend: http://www.dallasobserver.com/2011-05-26/calendar/cityarts-is-the-best-in-sensory-overload/ (Looks like they like to have breakfast at Tiffany's too)

The Man With The Plastic Bags

I went for a walk by myself on Sunday. It was peaceful. There weren't many people around as Sunday is supposed to be "The Day of Rest". (Personally I think it's more of a "I'm hungover from the weekend and I'm craving fried chicken" kind of day. At least in my town it is.) The thing about this walk was the fact that it gave me a chance to just be alone with my thoughts and observations, and I started to realize something.

How many of us actually take a moment everyday to really pay attention to what's going on around us? Seriously, do you even look at someone long enough,whether they're a significant other or a co-worker or even just a friend, to remember what they're wearing or how they're feeling or if they smiled at something you said yesterday?

I'm a writer so I'm supposed to pay attention to all the details around me. It's kind of like having a sixth sense. You're just supposed to be naturally nosey because if you're not, well, you aren't going to find anything juicy to write about, damnit. (And I refuse to go all Shattered Glass. Beyond unethical, He was just plain deceiving and in simpler terms a big, fat liar.) But I admit I'm a human too and sometimes we just get so caught up in what we are doing, we forget to actually pay attention when we don't have to.

So on my Sunday evening walk, I decided to take time out to pay attention.

As I was walking down one of the hills by where I live, I noticed a man. There was nothing unordinary or scary about him. He was quiet. He wasn't bothering anyone, but it was the way he looked at me when I finally got closer to him that made me do a double take. He was digging through the dumpster outside of one of the apartment complexes. He looked at me like he was ashamed of what he was doing. He seemed sad yet it appeared to me as if he was used to the digging, like it was a normal routine. As I got closer to him, I nodded and smiled shyly. I felt as if I had unintentionally intruded on someone's private moment for right after he looked at me, he moved away from the dumpster. I noticed his bike had a bunch of plastic bags hanging on the handle bar and in that moment, I knew the man with the plastic bags had a story to tell.

It was only after he got on his bike and rode away down the hill that I realized I had made a connection with a complete stranger without really doing or saying anything. There were a million questions I could come up with to figure out who he was. Was he looking for food? Was he looking for furniture? Did he live in the area? How often did he use his bike? Did he have a family to support?

 Although I won't ever see the man again, he certainly got me thinking about what it means to pay attention to others.

 And just think of all the stories people could write if they paid attention more often. (I'd probably be out of job.)

(P.S. The photo of all the plastic bags is enough to make you want to recycle every piece of plastic you ever owned.)

Little Bit of Heart and Soul

Usually I rant and rave about some kind of artistic wonder and don't worry I'll get there at some point during this specific entry, (theatre, movie, and restaurant included) but I want to ramble about something else first.

I sat in peace yesterday. I sat in a simple, wooden chair amongst peaceful people in a quiet atmosphere (Ok, I kind of embarrassed myself by forgetting I was about to enter a chapel and paused midsentence upon the realization I was supposed to be quiet. God, I know you have a sense of humor so I have no doubt you'll forgive me for describing my friend's new apartment upon entering your dwelling place yesterday. I shut up immediately I promise.) I'm not an extremely religious person, but I do have faith and it was one of the first times in probably over a year that I took a moment to just feel a spiritual presence. Sometimes when everything else around you is uncertain your faith, whatever you may believe, wraps you in a blanket and gives you a sense of solitude. I felt safe in that chapel yesterday.

So why the sudden ramble about a religious experience? Well, in case anyone has been living under a rock (Or maybe you'd just rather catch up on being a 90s kid by watching too much Full House or Boy Meets World instead of soaking yourself in nothing but negative news) the world is a scary place. A lot of times I can just sit and start thinking about other people's stories and what they're going through, how it's affecting their day-to-day life. Rebels in Libya fighting for their freedom. Young American men going off to fight wars in foreign countries after college graduation unsure of when they'll be back and what they'll feel like when they do. Teachers loosing jobs because of budget cuts. Artists fighting for money to keep their companies going after over 30 years of struggle. Mergers and foreclosures. Bankrupt corporations. Restaurants selling out to hotels when they've been around for decades. Living paycheck to paycheck. Hunting down the man who beat up your husband and invaded your home while you were sleeping with your new born baby.

Overwhelming isn't it? Yes, and so that moment of faith can really help you keep moving forward. I don't know what the future is going to bring. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't fearful, but I do know I will always have something to say and a voice to say it with.

Here's to all the bravery, all the stories of those who've stood up and had something to say. Here's to those who've told me their stories and those who have yet to have that window of opportunity to say much of anything. Bravery is hard to find these days, but somehow, as one of my favorite people says, you cannot have expectations but be hopeful instead that things will happen as they should.

Cheesy Velveeta enough for you? Good. Moving on to other things. I've got some dos and don't for you to do this weekend:

1. DON'T go to Mi Cocina, people. In all honesty it's not legit and the food isn't very good (And really over priced) The queso tasted cheap. THE END.

2. DO go see Jane Eyre. I haven't read the book (Although after seeing this film I have every intention of doing so), but the film had me hooked the entire two hours. Nothing holds my interest quite like a smart, independent woman and a seemingly "haunted" living space. The sexual tension helped a little too. (Ok, a lot. What?! I'm human! What woman wouldn't want an attractive, intelligent, commanding man no matter how stubborn and self-sufficient she may be.) There was even one point where I literally "gasped" out loud at a surprising image and plot change. And you think I'm joking. Just go see it.
http://angelikafilmcenter.com/angelika_film.asp?hID=7915&ID=24748c8.65133722728043i897.57

3. DO see Teatro Dallas' presentation of The Maiden of the Used Books. A national premiere, Maiden demonstrates the ability of comic relief. Sometimes when life gets too serious you just have to laugh. This sarcastic play pokes fun at international dictatorships, something everyone has learned about, read about, and even experienced at some point. Opening April 22. Buy tickets here: http://www.teatrodallas.org/Home/New.html

photo by Leticia Alaniz (L to R (standing) Edgar Estrada (sitting) Armando Monsivais Lydia Enriquez JP Cano (standing) Sergio Rodriguez (sitting) Marti Etheridge 

What's Up With Me?... What's Up With You?

I've recently found myself to be in one of those retreating stages. It's that kind of stage where you would rather sit in bed without any makeup on and read a sarcastic and witty memoir like Bitter Is The New Black (I've laughed out loud several times already, and I'm not even halfway through. Just hilarious. Thank you, God!) or watch reruns of your favorite 90s television show. (Boy Meets World, oh how I long for you.) What can I say. It's the grandma in me.Or maybe it's the girl in me? Or my childlike qualities coming out from the woodworks? Who knows. I don't but then again do I really even care why? Nope.

February was rough but somehow I managed to squeeze in some fun time while stuck at my friends place during that artic blizzard the entire nation seemed to be dealing with and spent time with a few I haven't seen in awhile (I had the pleasure of tasting the most delicious Quiche made by a truly delightful companion of mine. Mmmm...cheese, mushrooms, and a thick, delicious crust)

But it's a new month, and the next couple are going to be swamped with things to do. So here are a few things I'm looking forward to. Catch you on the flip side. (What does that even mean?)

1. Le Peep...is Le Wonderful
I had never been to Le Peep until last week. The most vivacious woman with a teeny, tiny waist greeted us with the widest smile I'd ever seen. The Zues Salad...well, to play off the pun, is a salad of the gods. I was starving and not to be too dramatic, but it felt like an orgasm in my mouth. All that feta cheese and tender chicken breast...mmm. You might think about going on Tuesdays in the afternoon. They'll knock a few dollars off your ticket.
http://lepeeptexas.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-menu.cgi?d=lepeep-restaurants-of-texas&id=1073


2. Luri and Wilma Magazine
You're gonna wanna take notes on this one, ladies. We're getting ready to launch this hip new up-and-coming eco-friendly, green fashionista magazine for all your feel good needs.
Porsha is genius and also kind enough to let me be a part of her creative endeavors by granting me permission to do the editing for the mag. You might also find me heading up some of L and W's restaurant reviews. Projected launch of the first issue is set for some time this summer so stay tuned. Until then, check out the beginnings of the website. http://www.lwmagonline.com/

3. Dallas Theater Center's 2011 and 2012 Season

In case you didn't know before, I'm a theater geek, and when I read the new season for Dallas Theater Center I seriously wanted to click my sparkly heels together three times and say "There's no place like home". Yup, there's no place like the Dallas Theater either. Check it out. From classic novels, to historic Hollywood icons, to even William Shakespeare, DTC has it all.
.http://www.dallastheatercenter.org/next_season.php



That's all for now, Folks. Happy Monday!
 (photo from DTC)

Will You Be My....Blue Valentine?

Everyone has their guilty pleasures, and if one's enjoying life, you love to feel, taste, touch, smell, and see such things. They're guilty because you lust after them even when maybe you shouldn't. You desire them. They make you feel better. They inspire you. They might even bring you a sense of spirituality and love for yourself.

And as of lately, I've thrown myself into my own guilty ways. I've consumed myself with music and film and craft. Without these things I'm not sure I would have an outlet, a way of releasing all my stress and energy. These pleasures that I speak of, you know, the art, the film, and the crafts, they are my best friend. They're there for me everyday. They flow through my ear and in front of my eyes. I can run my hands over my handwritten notes and my photos and fall in love with them all over again. They can never hurt me nor do they ever leave. They are there to stay, and I have the power to share them with the world. Sounds like some weird love affair, doesn't it? I guess it is and one of the most passionate nonetheless.

So what, you may ask, am I metaphorically sleeping with? Here's a list just to name a few:

1. Florence and the Machine: Lungs
This album could become dangerously addicting to any woman. It's very difficult to find a true singer who can really make lyrics punch. What I like about songs like "Kiss With a Fist" and "I'm Not Calling You A Liar" is they're just like poetry. They flow and sound beautiful together but if you listen more closely, you find the harsh realities beneath those pretty sounds. The words make you think and exercise your thoughts. Her website is also crazy creepy artsy: http://www.florenceandthemachine.net (Check out the creepy moving eyes on the doll head and the teddy bear. Whoa!)

2. Blue Valentine
I just saw this film a few days ago. I'll admit that one of my guilty pleasures as a teenager was watching Dawson's Creek so I've always enjoyed watching Michelle Williams act. However, I don't recommend watching this indie film over and over again. While the performances from both Williams and Ryan Gosling are well done and the old age makeup, which includes a stellar receding hair line, is fascinating, at times the closeups and camera angles made me a bit nauseous. It's also the story of a dying marriage, which is never something that ends well or makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Realistic, unfortunately but not very entertaining. I beg you not to see it on your Valentine's date this weekend. It'll kill your romantic buzz. Well, maybe not the intense sex scenes.

3. Candle Holders
This past week I made one of my most sophisticated crafts yet: Candle Holders. Let's just say jars, scrapbook paper, and candles are the new red.

 Since I'm in such a hot and heavy affair with the arts, they might just be considered the ultimate Valentine's gift to myself. But they definitely won't be the blue kind. Red is a better color anyway. 

The Long Drive Home

I'm old school when it comes to the small things, the pleasures in life that make us giggle or guffaw out loud. I like writing down notes on a clean sheet of notebook paper. I'd send you a love letter in the mail with a stamp if I thought you'd appreciate it.

I hate technology and nothing anyone can do or say would make me want to trade in sunshine, shade, and a paperback book for the dark depths of an ugly room with no sunlight and an expensive computer screen. I hate it when people pay more attention to their Blackberry than the person that's sitting right in front of them. It's all so impersonable and cold. It leaves me with a sense of emptiness and longing all that technology bullshit.

 I stick to my own old ways and ignore the contemporary when I can. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't use technology. I have a Facebook, I text message other people, and obviously I have my own blog, but it's because I have to in order to keep up with the times. I have to be a well-rounded person with well-rounded skills. I'd never be able to write again if I totally tried to deny the larger than life evolution that is technology and internet. But I still prefer staring into the face of another person when I'm talking to them to see their reactions to certain words. I'd rather kiss you than text you, and nothing makes me feel more warm and fuzzy inside than that blank sheet of notebook paper and a pretty pen. Again, I'm old school, which brings me back to my original thought about the simple pleasures in life.

 I took the long way home today. I drove for no reason at all. I had my window down with the heat on. The strange combination of the cold wind blowing in from outside and the warm air from my car's interior made me feel safe. There's just something about being in my car that creates this pensive mood. Songs on the radio evoke all sorts of feelings and thoughts. I start thinking about my past, the one that got away, the one that should've never let me go, my favorite quotes, my future, my goals. My car is the epitome of a thinking tank. It's a safe haven.

And today my safe haven gave me a much needed moment to myself. We're all always running around without ever really taking a moment to enjoy the simple things in life. We get to a point where we have to tell ourselves to slow down and just take a breath. So here's my breath and my reminder. Here is everyone's reminder to remember what makes you happy and soak it in as much as you can. Find your simple, old school pleasure and embrace it.

Maybe I'll take the long way home more often.

Pear Pie and Whipped Cream With a Side of Auditions

Today's Word of Mouth: CKB Arts and Communications brings you local audition notices for:
1.Teatro Dallas's American premiere of Arístides Vargas's "The Maiden of the Used Books"
http://www.teatrodallas.org/Home/Auditions.html
2.UNT's advanced film class.
 (look underneath the heading that reads: Short Film Open Casting Calls)
http://www.theaterjones.com/auditions/

You could smell the pie I made from miles away. The juicy filling. The cinnamon. The rugged crust. The carefully placed whipped cream from a can on top. It was utterly sinful.

Pies are an intimidating culinary task to tackle and getting just the right consistency between the filling and the crust is an art form in itself.

My own personal latest tweet tooth venture was an absolutely delectable dish from a little magazine company called Edible Dallas/Ft. Worth. A branch of the nationally known Edible magazine, this publication knows how to get your mouth watering with its appealing pictures and sophisticated layout. It covers everything from seasonal recipes to farming to people making a difference in the culinary art world.

 Delicious and environmentally self-conscious. We like that.

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=23920543#!/group.php?gid=124682125563

Belly Dancing and Other Art Forms

Today's Word of Mouth: Teatro Dallas presents its February showcase: Domingos Fantásticos. All through the month of February enjoy international dance, music, and theater that transcends all culture and language barriers. Dance and music acts will take place on Saturdays and a production of Leona Vicario will run on Sundays. Opening night is February 6th. Tickets are $8-20. You can purchase tickets at http://www.teatrodallas.org/Home/New.html. (Photo is courtesy of Teatro Dallas)

Here is the listing of the official lineup: 
Sundays:
February 5, 13, 20, and 27 at 3pm 
Leona Vicario by Tomás Urtusástegui
An independent woman struggles for love and freedom during the fight for Mexican independence
(the play is presented in Spanish with English synopsis)
Saturdays:
February 12 and 19 at 8:15 p.m.
The Danielle Georgiou Dance Group presents: Love and Vices
A mixed media of dance, video, and theater about love, sex, and women in World War II.
Saturday:
February 26 at 8:15 p.m.
Jamal, Alia Mohamed and Jonathan Jones present: The Dark Magnolia of Your Womb
An Arabic-Spanish show of music, belly dancing, and Garcia Lorca poetry.

Don't Go the Distance...Unless You're Driving to the Art and Music Show

Today's Word of Mouth: Art is pleasurable. Music is pleasurable. And of course, we all know drinks help stimulate our feel good senses. So where can you go to combine all three? To the Art and Music show, duh! Check out all the local artwork, listen to some groovy beats, and enjoy drink specials all night long at Estoerica Studios, 941 Foch St. in Fort Worth on January 16. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $5.

 It's about time you get off your bum and start celebrating the new year and a new cause.

On a less positive note, I warn all you Drew Barrymore fans to steer clear of Going the Distance. To spare you some time and a few boring grunts I'll just break it down plain and simple: the long distance relationship movie is way over played and even the stupidest of romantic saps won't find it cute or entertaining.There's no plot.You'll feel like you're sitting in front of the television watching your everyday life play out in front of you over and over again with no off switch to speak of. Not exciting. If you need a Drew fix I suggest watching some of her older films like Ever After and 50 First Dates just to name a few.

White Russians and Monogrammed Mugs

All I can really think of to say to reunite myself with my blog is well, it's been a while....remember that song all you Nickelback fans? Ok, bad joke I know, but you're smiling on the inside. Don't you deny it.

Happy New Year, Everyone. While you all were getting jiggy and roasting and toasting I too was wishing for a better and stronger year to come with 12 celebratory grapes, 3 monogrammed mugs (See photo. Aren't they cute?) and a few White Russians (Got Milk? Or better yet, got Kahlua?).

2010 was often at times one giant headache. I graduated from college and without fail hurled myself into the deep, dark depths of the unknown adult world. I worked two jobs, struggled to pay bills, searched high and low for a chance to share my writing, and eventually started working a full-time night shift job. Let's not forget moving into an apartment in 105 degree heat and the overflowing bathtub and broken toilet that came with it. Oh, did I also mention pay cuts and a car accident? I went through interview after interview and faced rejection after rejection, and in the words of a friend of mine, I just kept on truckin'.

But with the bad comes good too, and I certainly cannot forget the more positive opportunities I was given this year. From Avenue Q to the celebration of the first Dallas Observer Artopia party to the discovery of the delicious and ever classy Bronx Cafe to The Breath of Death, I've certainly been blessed with the opportunity to continuously culture and educate myself.

So here's to a new year, a new outlook, and new opportunities. It's going to be a doozy.