Back Talk Lake Highlands

Productivity killer: Conan's St. Patty's in Chinatown

Christina Hughes Babb — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:35:50 GMT

Do you miss the world's funniest Irishman, Conan O'Brien on late night? Well, you could see him this spring at SMU, but the tickets are pretty pricey. While you're thinking about it, spend a few moments with Conan on his 2009 St. Patrick's Day stroll through Chinatown.

Restaurant talk: off-the-beaten-path restaurants in Lake Highlands

Christina Hughes Babb — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:44:33 GMT

This week, I didn't eat out in Lake Highlands (nowhere I haven't written about recently, that is), but if you want to read about my vegan Kalachandji's experience, check out our East Dallas blog.

As for our neighborhood, I recently re-read a 2008 Advocate story about off-the-beaten-path restaurants and was happy to realize that even with all the restaurant closings in the past two years, most of the mom 'n' pop LH eateries we visited for the story have remained in business. Sadly, Grill & Deli Stop on Plano Road closed last year, but Kereje, Michelle's, Mexicali, Kazy's and Taj Mahal (all of which you can read about here) are still open.

Your child can be an LH batboy at Rangers Ballpark

Keith Whitmire — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:34:56 GMT

Want to see your child on the field at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington? Enter The Advocate's contest to be a Lake Highlands batboy (or batgirl) at the Wildcats' game next Wednesday at the home of the Texas Rangers.

The game is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 17 against Rockwall-Heath at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Admission is free.

To enter, send an e-mail to: lhsports@advocatemag.com with your child's name and age and all your contact information. For safety reasons, the contest is limited to children between 7 and 13 years of age. The winner will need to sign a waiver to be on the field.

Deadline for entering is 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. We will have a drawing to determine the winner, who will then be contacted with all the details. Good luck!

LHHS' Melanie Trostel visits with President Bush

Carol Toler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:29:38 GMT

LHHS senior Melanie Trostel needn’t worry about having an unexcused absence on her school record – President George W. Bush wrote her a note. The two visited Tuesday in his Dallas office after she was quoted in the newspaper saying she’d like to meet him. She brought along her parents, Mike and Tami, and the four had a lovely chat.

“He was funny,” Melanie said. “He told me his daughters didn’t want him to be president – they didn’t want Secret Service agents following them around.”

“He’s a proud dad,” Melanie added. “He talked to us about his daughter, Jenna, and her work as a correspondent on the Today show.” Dad, Mike, says he looks forward to visiting the presidential library at SMU once construction is completed, after hearing President Bush describe it for them. “It’s gonna be great,” Mike said.

January sales tax hits budget

Jeff Siegel — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:08:20 GMT

That's pretty good news, all things considered. The city expected to take in $15.2 million in sales tax revenue in January, and it did. Still, it's only the second time in the past two years that the budget forecasts have been correct. And, for the year, we're off budget projections by 7.5 percent.

Does this mean that sales tax collections have turned the corner? Your guess is as good as mine. Next month's numbers should help answer that.

Here is our handy clip and save sales tax chart for the 2009-10 fiscal year. The basics: The sales tax accounts for abut 22 percent of the city general budget; another 43 percent comes from property tax receipts. The official figures are on the state comptroller Web site. The months listed on that site are, for accounting purposes, about two months ahead, so the March result listed is for January.

2010-2011 Wildcat Varsity Cheerleaders announced

Carol Toler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:49:56 GMT

LHHS cheerleaders for next year were announced today after school. Members of the 2010-2011 varsity cheer squad are: Kelsey Kinney, Avery Voigt, Brianna Gerber, Katey Rush, Janie Tekell, Madison Wood, Rosie Center, Lauren Villanueva, Kali Kopf, Blair Dotson, Sydney Dawson, Haley Smith, Sarah Phillips, Dymond Crook and Alexandra Burgin. Next year’s mascot will be Caroline Adams. Congratulations, girls!

Video: Drum roll for respect

Can Turkyilmaz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:01:46 GMT

It certainly is a guilty pleasure watching grown up man in suits go bunkers and dance around like five year olds. This is exactly what Council members Dwaine Caraway, Jerry Allen and Tennell Atkins did while hosting a drum line face-off in front of City Hall. Bands from Lake Highlands, Skyline, Adamson and Townview put on quite a show to bring attention to the March for Respect, a walk through the West End on March 27 to show support for Texans with developmental disabilities.

Click here for the slide show

Will wet-dry election actually turn all of Dallas wet?

Jeff Siegel — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:39:18 GMT

What happens if the city schedules a wet-dry election, but state law makes the result moot for part of the city? That's what we may find out if the group gathering signatures for a November vote gets on the ballot.

That's because a section of Texas' Alcoholic Beverage Code doesn't allow a city-wide election to change the wet-dry status of an area if that area has already voted on the issue and if the area is "wholly contained" within the city. And Oak Cliff seems to fit that definition, even if the dry parts of Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, and Far North Dallas don't.

Sound confusing? That's because it is; so confusing, in fact, that several attorneys told me that the city could be sued for even scheduling an election, let alone over what the results mean. More, after the jump:

Moss Haven raises $5,000+ for Haiti

Christina Hughes Babb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:40:35 GMT

A group of Moss Haven students and staff set a goal of raising $1500 for the Haitian Relief fund following the earthquake and — thanks in part to these stylish little handmade bracelets — brought in a whopping $5462.04, which they delivered yesterday to Brandy Dail, the area director for World Vision.

After the jump, Jodi Stewart tells us how it all went down:

Season's first White Rock Local market is Saturday

Rachel Stone — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:18:40 GMT

White Rock Local's first market of the season is Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

This year, White Rock Local is planning on two markets each month, on the second and fourth Saturdays. On the first Saturday of the month, the market will include all kinds of fresh produce, natural meat and cheeses, artisan bread, pasta, preserves, tamales, cookies, honey and spices. Plus non-food items like flowers, plants, gardening supplies, clothing, ceramics, candles, body products jewelry and pet supplies.

The market that's on the fourth Saturday of the month — March 27 this month — will feature only food.

A full list of this weekend's vendors is available here. And a map locating the market is here.

Pack your Advocate for spring break travels

Keri Mitchell — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:31:41 GMT

If you're heading somewhere exotic or picturesque for spring break, make sure to take an Advocate with you, and snap a pic of you and your family or friends with the magazine at a scenic locale. If you send us the photo, along with a description of who and what is in the picture, you may find yourself in an upcoming edition of the Advocate.

If you don't have an Advocate lying around at home, you may be able to pick up a copy of March's issue at one of our neighborhood rack locations. And if you're not traveling during spring break (like the many of us who no longer get a "spring break"), no worries — just pack your Advocate the next time you go on a trip, and send us whatever you come up with.

This weekend: play, piano, parade and run

Christina Hughes Babb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:30:02 GMT

Through March 27 — Volume of Smoke at the Bath House Cultural Center. The play tells the tale of the infamous Richmond Theatre fire. When the theater burned to the ground in the 1800s, it held a standing-room-only crowd of 600, and more than 70 people died. Clay McLeod Chapman’s play pieces together the story based on interviews with survivors. Tickets are $10-$15.

Friday, March 12 — Piano concert fundraiser at the Meyerson Symphony Center benefits the Vickery Meadow Learning Center and features world-renowned pianist Wendy Chen, the youngest ever winner of the National Chopin Competition.

Saturday, March 13 — Shamrock ‘n’ Roll at the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade — speaking of parades, have you ever wondered whether they are worth all the trouble? We think this one is! The procession begins at 11 a.m. (Park to Mockingbird) followed by an official after party at Granada and, I suppose, unofficial parties throughout the rest of the neighborhood. And if you're worried about the mess, here's one way to lessen the impact.

Sunday, March 14 — The inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll ½ Marathon kicks off at City Hall at 8 a.m., winds through some nearby neighborhoods, and finishes up at Fair Park — if you hate runners clogging the streets, don’t cry! There’s a 4-hour time limit so it’ll be all clear by noon. Relay and half-marathon entry is still available at the race expo tomorrow, and I hear they could still use a few volunteers too. The event benefits Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure.

Sunday, March 14 — Celebrity Purple Ping Pong fundraisier (see Carol Toler's post below).

Have an event you want featured? Submit it on the lower right of this page.

Shooting suspect is an LHHS grad

Christina Hughes Babb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:14:26 GMT

The man suspected of shooting father and son financial advisers earlier this week before shooting himself was reportedly a graduate of both Lake Highlands High School and SMU Law. According to this News story, Robert Mustard, who was known as 'Ace' by his LHHS classmates, was disbared 20 years ago following an attempt to unlawfully dismiss some clients' cases, spent some time in prison, and lived for years an anti-social lifestyle in a small North Dallas apartment — it's a depressing yet interesting read. As of today, both Mustard and the victims are still alive and hospitalized.

UPDATE 3.11 Robert Mustard has died.

Celebrity Purple Ping Pong this Sunday at SMU

Carol Toler — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:40:43 GMT

This Sunday, you’re invited to “Celebrity Purple Ping Pong,” a fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Sixteen celebrity teams and 12 nationally ranked table tennis players will compete, including Coach Carlisle, Dirk Nowitzke, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Donnie Nelson of the Dallas Mavericks. Olympic champions Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson will also play, as will a few Dallas Cowboys other local celebrities.

The event will be held March 14 at SMU’s Moody Coliseum, and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Doors open at noon and play begins at 1 pm.

“The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure,” said LH’s Susan Bruck, PanCan’s Dallas Affiliate Coordinator. Sponsorships to play with a celebrity team are still available, and you can visit their website or email Susan for more information.

Fire destroys home of LHHS' Karen Clardy

Carol Toler — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:13:41 GMT

Anyone who’s spent much time volunteering at Lake Highlands High School knows it isn’t really the principal who runs the show in that building (sorry, Mr. Kelly), it’s Karen Clardy. She serves as his executive assistant and she was right-hand-man for Dr. Bob Iden before him. Karen’s Lake Highlands home burned down Tuesday night. Karen and husband, Floyd, are fine.

The PTA is scrambling to find a way to help, and the mommy email network is trying to help locate an LH place to rent until she’s back in her home on Bill Browne near Forest Meadow Junior High.

The fire is under investigation, but initial indications point to a faulty electrical box. The Federal Pacific Stab-Lok box is installed in many homes in the area and is the same model which apparently caused the fire in the nearby house on Windy Crest in the fall. That fire killed three people.

Neighbors all around the much-loved Clardys are concerned about them, but concern is also growing about their own homes. They’re wondering if replacing the box is necessary to keeping their own families safe. When details become available from fire department investigators, we’ll share them with you here in the blog.

Video: Andrea Davis lays down canvases on her therapy couch

Can Turkyilmaz — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:12:06 GMT

I met Andrea coming out of an elevator. She was pulling boxes of art supply out. I thought she was too clean and neatly dressed to be an artist and i was right. She is a licensed professional counselor and those supplies are for her clients. She told me all about it. You can reach her by email at adavisart@gmail.com

Brumley's Open House coming soon

Christina Hughes Babb — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:41:04 GMT

Country music singer Jolie Holliday will be belting out the tunes on a (we hope) gorgeous spring day at Brumley Gardens open house Saturday March 14 from noon-5 p.m. And that's just the beginning — there will be garden and food demonstrations throughout the day, and local artists and animal adoptions on site. Get there early because the first 100 get a free plant.

More on the DHS-Methodist church service uproar

Rick Wamre — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:58:57 GMT

Last week on the blog, we discussed the Dallas Housing Authority's intended termination of worship services provided by Lake Highlands Methodist Church at one of DHA's public housing projects; as you know, the termination was later rescinded after city councilman Jerry Allen and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling became involved. Today's DMN features a column by James Ragland talking with Russ about the flawed decision-making process, among other things. Spoiler alert: There's no smoking gun, unless you include the one Russ points at herself.

Evening of Jazz set for 7 p.m. Thursday

Carol Toler — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:59:26 GMT

The Lake Highlands Area Band Club will present “Evening of Jazz” at 7 p.m. Thursday for a one-night-only performance showcasing emerging jazz talent from within the award-winning Lake Highlands band program. LHHS’ Jazz One ensemble will be the featured band, and they’ll be joined by the Jazz Two ensemble and guest artist Drenda Barnett, a local jazz vocalist. We have photos.

Evening of Jazz is a popular spring show with an informal coffee house feel, and coffee, soft drinks, desserts and snacks will be available for purchase. The event will be the first major community concert held in the new Community Hall at Wilshire Baptist Church – a space recently transformed and expanded through a $3 million renovation.

Guest artist Drenda Barnett is a veteran of the local jazz scene. "This powerhouse knows when to belt out a song and when to keep her voice soft and whispery,” according to the Dallas Observer. “She's at her best when warbling jazzy, upbeat tunes. Somehow you can't help but feel lighter on this planet when you listen to her sing."

The LH jazz bands are directed by Mark Lara, a local jazz saxophonist himself and a graduate of the University of North Texas and Texas Christian University's jazz programs. Advance tickets may be purchased by emailing band dad Chuck Barrineau or via the band website. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $12 for reserved seating and $7 for students.

Wine review: Villa Maria Riesling Private Bin 2008

Jeff Siegel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:18:53 GMT

New Zealand is best known for it sauvignon blanc, and deservedly so, for they are among the best in the world. What the Kiwis get much less attention for is riesling -- which is too bad, since they make some very, very nice ones.

The Villa Maria riesling (about $14, purchased, widely available) is a lovely wine, with riesling oiliness (which is a very good thing), some lime zest citrus, stone fruit, and a long finish. Also, it's not especially sweet considering how much residual sugar is in the wine. In this, it's a finely crafted effort, in which the winmaker aimed at balance between the various components -- fruit, sweetness, and acid. Would that more winemakers tried to do this. And, of course, it has a screwcap.

The only drawback to this wine is that it's kind of picky with food. In this, it's a good example of why some wine is better with some food -- though everyone is free to drink whatever wine with whatever food they like, of course. If you're not going to drink the Villa Maria on its own, it really does need to be paired with a dish that complements it. Think salads or a lighter style seafood. I drank it with potato pancakes and braised red cabbage, and that didn't do much for the wine.