Picking up the garbage

My magazine column next month is about garbage -- the changes that begin March 1 and what they might mean to how residents see the city. Because, as I learned a long time ago, the only thing that really motivates voters is whether their garbage gets picked up.

Turns out this is going to be an even bigger story than I thought. City councilwoman Angela Hunt notes that parts of Lakewood and East Dallas will switch from alley to curb pickup, which should no doubt irritate quite a few people. Including me, since I'm apparently part of the affected group. It was nice of the city to let me know. How long would my garbage have sat in the alley before I figured it out?

You can download this map to see if you're affected (though it's not easy to read -- I think that if your street has a dot, you need to move the cans.) And Hunt's colleague, Lakewood's Sheffie Kadane, is already taking some heat about the change. Turns out some of the alleys in our neighborhoods aren't wide enough for the new trucks the city bought to do once-a-week-pickup.

• Posted by Jeff Siegel on Feb 9, 2010 at 08:01 AM in City Hall, Siegel, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Tal Morrison fund awards $12,000 to high school runners

Running legend Tal Morrison was at White Rock Lake Saturday hosting the Tal Morrison Classic 15K and 5K. Morrison founded the Cross Country Club of Dallas in 1969. Today it’s called the Dallas Running Club and has 4,000+ members. He also founded the Dallas White Rock Marathon, which still runs through East Dallas and Lake Highlands each December, and The Half, a half-marathon held each November at White Rock Lake.

Funds raised each year at The Half (now called The DRC Half), as well as other Dallas Running Club events and through private donations, go toward the Tal Morrison scholarship fund for DISD students who run high school cross country, running club board member Chris Stratton says.

Saturday, Morrison, 89, presented $12,000 worth of scholarships: $3,000 each to Jonathan Maldonado from Thomas Jefferson High and Andrea Melendez from Hillcrest; $2,000 each to Jose Puentes from North Dallas High and Selene Salina from Samuell High; and $1,000 each to Jesus Estebane from Sunset High and Sharvell Davis from A. Maceo Smith High.

The highlight of my morning (aside from crossing the 15K finish line) was spending a few minutes chatting with Mr. Morrison who told me about his experience running the Boston marathon when he was in his 50s. He says that as he was running, he remembers asking a group of spectators—college kids—how far it was until to the infamous Heartbreak Hill, and “they told me I’d already run over it,” he laughs. He finished that marathon in 3 hours, 15 minutes — not too shabby. 

And … this just in: The Dallas Running Club was selected best running club in Texas and the DRC Half Marathon was selected best half marathon in Texas for 2009 by Competitor magazine. Kudos!

• Posted by Christina Hughes Babb on Feb 8, 2010 at 07:24 PM in Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Advocate radio: where to get V-day goodies

Valentine's Day is near and that means one thing is on everyone's mind, right? No, not love ... chocolate.

Where in our neighborhood are you likely find the most delicious and creative edible gifts? Advocate editor's dish about it in this week's "What's Up With That?" podcast.  

• Posted by Christina Hughes Babb on Feb 8, 2010 at 09:55 AM in Food and Drink, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Woodrow debate teams qualify for state tournament

Four Woodrow Wilson High School debaters overwhelmed other District 4A teams this weekend at Townview, qualifying for the UIL State Debate Competition in Austin. Information passed along by Woodrow super-alum Kyle Rains indicates that Magdalena Ramirez, Frances Desmond, Jasmine McEwen and Wesley Bustamante are the state tournament-bound debaters, and the team is led by U.S. history teacher Bob Hearne.

• Posted by Rick Wamre on Feb 8, 2010 at 09:46 AM in DISD, Education, Wamre, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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In case you need somewhere to go to lunch

The news that Potbelly is opening a sandwich shop in Old Town sheds new light on the status of retail development in the neighborhood. Which, if you want sandwich shops, is pretty good.

The Potbelly will be the sixth sandwich shop in a three- or four-block stretch of Greenville, joining a Subway and Baker Bros. in Old Town, a Jersey Mike's and Schlotzky's on the west side of the street, and the Great Outdoors at Greenville and Park Lane. And, if you count the Arby's, there are seven.

• Posted by Jeff Siegel on Feb 8, 2010 at 07:12 AM in Business, Food and Drink, Siegel, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Productivity Killer: E-Trade’s talking babies

OK, so our team didn’t make it to the big game this year, but it’s still shaping up to be a good faceoff — or so I’m told, because I really don’t know anything about football. But hey, at least we still get an excuse to pig out on wings and pizza, and watch all those multi-million dollar commercial bits. This year’s line up has some pretty funny ones, which you can get a sneak peak at here.

E-Trade’s commercials with the talking baby have become especially popular, though honestly, I find them kind of creepy. Equally creepy yet more amusing is their create-your-own talking baby on the company’s website. You pick your baby, pick your voice, and then record a message. You can record your voice via your computer mic, or by calling a number and leaving a voice mail. Once you’re done, you can email it to your friends, so they can enjoy.

• Posted by Marlena Chavira Medford on Feb 5, 2010 at 02:12 PM in Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Restaurant Talk: Zaguan

It’s hard to find good South American food in Dallas, mostly because there aren’t many options. If you’re on the hunt for authentic Venezuelan, Colombian and Argentine food, look no further than Zaguan. This small café is half bakery, half restaurant, and all delicious.

The real draw here, in my opinion, are the cachapas. These sweet corn turnovers are stuffed with your choice of meat and cheese. I recommend something hearty, like the shredded beef and cheese—but you can go for prosciutto or tuna with avocado if you’re feeling adventurous. What arrives is a crispy, sweet crust filled with a savory, ooey-gooey inside. Also, order a side of the plantain chips, which are made in house.

The empanadas are also a signature item here. They offer two varieties: Agrentine, which are made with wheat flour, and Venezuelan, which are made with corn flour. Breakfast is served all day, there’s a coffee bar that offers all sorts of coffee drinks (including some hard-to-find Latin varieties, like Mexican hot coco, and a cortado), and there’s a juice bar where you can all sorts of fresh-squeezed goodness.

But it just wouldn’t be right if you left this place without trying the alfajores, a cookie sandwich that’s made with vanilla cookies bathed in powdered sugar — and filled with your pick of dulce de leche, chocolate, or guava paste. These things are melt in your mouth good, and you can buy packages of them take home, which you’ll want to do. There’s also all sort of cakes, pastries, fresh breads, cookies, and muffins.

• Posted by Marlena Chavira Medford on Feb 5, 2010 at 01:52 PM in Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Retailer We Are 1976 offers workshops

We Are 1976, the new store on North Henderson that specializes in unusual gift items and handmade objects from Dallas and around the world, is now offering occasional workshops on topics such as bookbinding, calligraphy and how to make a zine.

The next workshop is Feb. 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Calligraphers Marcy Feldmand and Emily Kieta from Ink Pen Inc. will offer a lesson. The workshop is $90, and more information is available here.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 5, 2010 at 12:51 PM in Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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Woodrow JV basektball team loses to Hillcrest

The game was close but the result was a four-point loss to Hillcrest, 55-51, for the Woodrow JV boys team. Woodrow teacher Russ Kelemen attended the game and shot these photos of the players and crowd.

• Posted by Rick Wamre on Feb 4, 2010 at 11:17 PM in Sports, Wamre, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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This weekend: Tal Morrison Classic

Saturday, Feb. 6 — The Tal Morrison Classic 5K and 15K raises funds for scholarships for high school seniors, and you can sign up race day beginning at 7 a.m. at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake. It's only $10 (and free if you belong to the Dallas Running Club).

• Posted by Christina Hughes Babb on Feb 4, 2010 at 10:42 PM in Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
  
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