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 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 07:29 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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Advocate slideshow: Mardi Gras Oak Cliff parade

The Mardi Gras Oak Cliff parade Sunday included more than 50 groups, and hundreds of people turned out to watch the parade, catch beads and candy and meet their neighbors. Cold? Drizzle? P'shaw. The atmosphere was all sunshine.

Here is a slideshow from Advocate photo editor Can Türkyilmaz aka Turk.

Watch video for “Advocate slideshow: Mardi Gras Oak Cliff parade”

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 8, 2010 at 11:19 AM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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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 09:58 AM in Food and Drink, Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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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 02:17 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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Judge orders mediation in Oak Cliff Christian Church case, resets hearing

Judge Martin Hoffman this morning ordered the Dallas school district into mediation with the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League so that the parties might "find a common ground" regarding use of the Oak Cliff Christian Church.

DISD wants to demolish the 95-year-old building on 10th Street near Crawford to build tennis courts for the planned new Adamson High School. Hoffman said he didn't want to pressure DISD, but "this is obviously a beautiful building," he said, and asked whether it would be possible for DISD to incorporate the building into its plans for a new school.

DISD attorney Robert E. Luna said: "There's nothing here to mediate," adding that the buildling must be torn down.

So Hoffman ordered the two sides to meet with a mediator before a hearing that's set for Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m.

Conservation league attorney John McCall said there's no reason for DISD to be acting with urgency to build tennis courts in a neighborhood where the school district has not yet purchased the surrounding properties to build the actual school.

"They have a hard argument why [tennis courts have to] go there and why the building has to be destroyed." he said after the hearing. "Mediation is always good."

At the hearing in two weeks, McCall is expected to argue that putting tennis courts in place of the church would be a public nuissance, along with his original argument, which contends that DISD cannot use federal funds to destroy a historic structure.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 5, 2010 at 12:04 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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OCarnivale tickets are gone

We gave away all of our OCarnivale tickets this morning. But you can still buy tickets at the door for $40. Otherwise, we'll see you at the parade at 2 p.m. Sunday.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 5, 2010 at 09:23 AM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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OCarnivale tickets, round two

We have two more pairs of tickets to OCarnivale, the Mardi Gras masquerade ball in the Bishop Arts District Saturday night. The first two people to email us at rstone@advocatemag.com win them.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 5, 2010 at 07:59 AM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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This weekend: Mardi Gras Oak Cliff, grand reopening, burlesque

Mardi Gras Oak Cliff starts Saturday night with OCarnivale, a masquerade ball featuring the Rebel Alliance Jazz Band. Tickets are $40.

Don't party too hard, though, because the inaugural Dash for the Beads 5K starts at 9 a.m. Sunday in the Bishop Arts District.

This year's Mardi Gras parade starts at 2 p.m., and it's bigger and better than last year.

What could be hotter than Mardi Gras? The Dallas Burlesque Festival hits the Texas Theatre for 9 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $15.

From the Ends of the Earth has moved to a new retail space on Davis. Their grand reopening from 4-8 p.m. includes chair massages, Afircan cooking demonstrations, flamenco dancers, food and beverages.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 4, 2010 at 10:00 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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OCarnivale tickets are gone

Our OCarnivale tickets were snapped up pronto, but we'll give away two more pairs of tickets tomorrow. Otherwise, you can buy tickets here. Thanks to everyone who responded!

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 4, 2010 at 03:25 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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Email us for free tickets to OCarnivale Saturday night

Want a couple of tickets to OCarnivale masquerade ball in the Bishop Arts District Saturday night? The first two people to email me at rstone@advocatemag.com will win two free tickets.

• Posted by Rachel Stone on Feb 4, 2010 at 02:54 PM in Advocate Mag, Oak Cliff
  
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