Back Talk Preston Hollow

Tal Morrison fund awards $12,000 to high school runners

Christina Hughes Babb — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:27:22 GMT

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!

Friends of Northaven Trail in the works

Marlena Chavira Medford — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:14:24 GMT

Last March, I first told you about the Northaven Trail — and the community support group that would likely follow. Well, that time’s arrived. Dallas park board member Lee Kleinman is heading up the new group, which is having its first meeting Tuesday night at 7:30 at the Cindi’s off N. Central Expressway.

During the meeting, Kleinman will discuss the group’s primary role: to maintain and beautify the trail. It will also be a chance for interested neighbors to get themselves organized, as board members and officers will be needed. The meeting is open to anyone in the neighborhood who is interested, no RSVP required.

The group will operate much like the Friends of the Katy Trail and the Friends of the Prestonridge Trail. Both of these groups have helped groom these otherwise ho-hum trails into crown jewels, more like vertical parks really. During a recent podcast, my co-editors and I recently discussed the impact these groups can have. Here’s a link, incase you missed it.

Popolos Café closed

Marlena Chavira Medford — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:55:55 GMT

After more than 15 years at Preston and Royal, Popolos Café closed late last month after their lease expired, according to the restaurant’s website.

Not only was this one of the few neighborhood spots to offer great live jazz, the food was also consistently good. We featured Popolos’ in our December magazine, which is when I officially became hooked on their pan-roast salmon topped with goat cheese. In the meantime, I’ll have to get my fix over at Preston’s, Popolos sister restaurant where most of the staff got transferred to. Owners are now looking for a new permanent location for Popolos, so I’ll keep you posted on if and when that happens.

Advocate radio: where to get V-day goodies

Christina Hughes Babb — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:56:38 GMT

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.

Productivity Killer: E-Trade’s talking babies

Marlena Chavira Medford — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:14:54 GMT

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.

Restaurant Talk: Zaguan

Marlena Chavira Medford — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:07:16 GMT

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.

This weekend: Broadway, shopping, and opera

Marlena Chavira Medford — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:02:38 GMT

If you’re in the mood for a little Broadway, the talented kids at Providence Christian School will be performing “Annie Jr.” this weekend. The adorable cast, seen here, has been preparing for this since show since August. Show times are Friday night at 7 and Saturday afternoon at 3. Tickets to both shows are $5.

Swing by West Village and take advantage of the weekend-long sidewalk sale there. Several shops will be clearing out their winter inventory, with some merchandise discounted up to 75 percent off.

Over at SMU, the Meadows Opera Theatre will be present Mozart’s classic Il re pastore. This opera, which is sung in Italian and has English subtitles, tells the story of Alexander the Great who conquers the city of Sidon. Once he’s disposed of the ruling tyrant, he discovers that the true heir to the throne is simple shepherd boy. Tickets are $13, and show times are Friday and Saturday night at 8, and Sunday afternoon at 2 inside the Bob Hope Theatre in the Owen Arts Center. You can call 214.768.2787 for more information.

OCarnivale tickets are gone

Rachel Stone — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:28:49 GMT

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!

Email us for free tickets to OCarnivale Saturday night

Rachel Stone — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:00:14 GMT

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.

Hillcrest and WT White students sign letters of intent today

Marlena Chavira Medford — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:43:56 GMT

Several neighborhood athletes signed letters of intent today. After the jump you’ll find a breakdown of where several of our Longhorns and Panthers are heading after graduation -- and congratulations to all these rising stars, and all the people who helped them make it this far.

WT White students helping Haitians

Marlena Chavira Medford — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:35:54 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about some WT White kids who were collecting jeans to send to Haiti. Their original goal was 100 pairs. But the community response has been so overwhelming, that they’ve now gathered more than 1,500 pairs. A good chunk of those donations came from the kids at Marsh Middle School, I might add. The group is now shooting for 2,000 pairs of jeans. If you’d like to make a donation, jeans are being collected at the WT White library through Friday.

Wine review: Vignerons de Caractere 2007

Jeff Siegel — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:22:47 GMT

The Caractere (about $7, purchased, available at Central Market) is cheap French wine the way I remember it -- interesting and inexpensive, and not tasting in any way like California wine. In fact, if it had a screwcap, the Caractere would be close to perfect.

It's a red blend of syrah and grenache from southern France that doesn't have much fruit (plums, perhaps?), but does have lots of earthiness and enough tannins and finish to make it pleasant to drink. Serve this with any wintery stew or beef dish, or use it to make coq a vin.

Highly recommended and a candidate for the 2011 Hall of Fame (hint, hint to the Texas wine business, which produces some quality syrah and grenache).

Crime alert: Northpark, Galleria

Christina Hughes Babb — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:49:10 GMT

Three incidents of armed robbery have occurred at the Galleria and Northpark malls according to an alert (by way of the Lakewood Neighborhood Association) from Edward Daley, general manager of the Galleria.

Two black males approach a person walking to or from a car parked in the parking garage, show a gun and quietly demand the victim’s wallet — this has been the MO in one case at the Galleria and two cases at Northpark in the past week. In the Galleria case, the victim was parked fairly close to the valet stand, yet the robbery went unnoticed, according to the alert. Mall personnel hope to prevent a trend by increasing public awareness of these sorts of crimes.

Jesuit joins WT White football district

Marlena Chavira Medford — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:06:29 GMT

The UIL districts were recently realigned, and in our neighborhood, the headline is that Jesuit has joined WT White’s football district. While both schools have been and remain in a 5A district, they had previously played different schools. Do I sense a Rangers-Longhorn rivalry brewing? In addition to Jesuit, WT White's district also picked up Samuell, but lost Molina and Carrollton Creekview, which both dropped to a 4-A size. You can see a complete list of all the schools in this football district — as well as neighboring districts — here after the jump. Game schedules should be finalized by April.

New entrances open on Katy Trail

Marlena Chavira Medford — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:47:06 GMT

Two new entrances to the Katy Trail are open. Beasley Entrance at Hall Street (seen here) is a staircase that lets you walk directly onto the trail, so you don’t have to climb the hill like before. That new access point is a gift from the Theodore and Beulah Beasley Foundation.

The Tao of Warren is on the west side of the trail at Armstrong. This dual staircase wraps around a small seating wall and plaza. Neighbors Sarah and Jim Hutcheson with their son Nathan made the naming gift in the memory of their son Warren, who was killed at 19 in a car accident.

Another new entrance at Blackburn is still under construction, which will connect to the West Village-area. Dallas Park and Recreation Department is supervising this project, with input from Friends of the Katy Trail.

City seeks bicycle-planning committee members

Rachel Stone — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:37:45 GMT

The city's new bicycle coordinator is looking for 15 people to make a plan for the city's bicycle traffic. Dallas is updating its 25-year-old bike plan under the guidance of Max Kalhammer, an urban planner the city hired to come up with better bike routes.

He is seeking people to fill 15 seats on the Bicycle Advisory Committee, and they must have the following qualifications:

*Consistent interest in issues related to bicycling as a form of exercise and alternative transportation for people of all ages and abilities.

*Experience as an advisor on strategic planning or transportation planning projects, especially for bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

*Experience on a city sponsored citizen or stakeholder advisory committeee, or other involvement with a city project or initiative.

The last day to apply for the committee is Feb. 15. Application are available here. Email applications to max.kalhammer@dallascityhall.com.

Fireworks over Forest Lane

Christina Hughes Babb — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:15:38 GMT

Don’t be alarmed when the sky lights up over Forest Lane and surrounding areas tonight at about 7 tonight. Filmmakers will be working with pyrotechnics and squibs at a home near Forest and Preston, according to a notice from the City of Dallas Office of Special Events.

Warnings have been issued through neighborhood associations concerning traffic interruptions (onlookers, you know), but Dallas Fire and Rescue personnel have reportedly approved the explosives for safety.

Mr. Hillcrest competition this week

Marlena Chavira Medford — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:29:54 GMT

Mr. Hillcrest, our neighborhood’s top male pageant will be this Wednesday night at 7. That’s when 11 guys will duke it out for the title via talent competitions, Q&A portions with a panel of judges, and a modeling of formal attire. Tickets to the show inside the Hillcrest auditorium are $5 for students, and $8 for adults. Not only is this a great way to help the school raise some money, it also makes for some great comic relief, thanks to the colorful contestants who always have a few surprises up their sleeves.

Advocate video: Nelleke Keller

Marlena Chavira Medford — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:17:16 GMT

In this month’s cover story, which should hopefully be on your doorstep now, we shined a light on our ‘capeless crusaders,’ those people whose small selfless deeds make our community a better place. One such neighbor is Sparkman resident Nelleke Keller. She took it upon herself to start a cat rescue out of her home, funding the entire $500-per-month-operation out of her own pocket. It’s a labor of love, indeed. And after you see some of these cute little critters in this video after the jump, you might understand why Keller has made this her passion.

Advocate radio: Advocate in the Facebook age

Christina Hughes Babb — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:22:29 GMT

There was a time when the Advocate was just a magazine, but over the past few years we’ve embraced all sorts of new and confusing technology in order to better communicate with you. First, we launched our website and blog, and more recently we’ve been working to create a Facebook and Twitter presence. If you're one of those who hates this stuff, you’re not alone. The Advocate staff is having a little trouble getting used to it too. LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION HERE.

Oh, and if you’d care to join us in this journey to the strange world of social media, here are the links:

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AdvocateMagazines

Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/Advocate_PH — Preston Hollow