A Maritime Museum for Dallas is in the works

Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano  

PRESS RELEASE: Noting it will boost tourism, inspire patriotism and serve as an economic catalyst for Southern Dallas and the Trinity Corridor area, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other local leaders unveiled plans last Friday to build the Dallas Maritime Museum, which will feature U.S. Navy and other vessels that may have borne the name Dallas in active maritime service or have a connection to the North Texas region.

Is it just me or is it strange to want to build a Maritime museum when the largest body of water we have in Dallas is Whiterock Lake? Just sayin'. 

The proposed $80 million museum will feature a 30,000 square foot museum facility, theater and event plaza along with three berths to house maritime vessels, which will be installed along the Trinity River. Plans are in the works for the U.S.S. Dallas submarine to occupy the first berth. It will be the first and only modern-attack nuclear submarine to be viewed out of the water by the general public “The U.S.S. Dallas is the Navy's second ship of that name, and the first to be named for the city of Dallas,” said Rollie Stevens, Captain, USN (Retired) and president of the Dallas Maritime Museum Foundation. “It’s a great honor that Dallas will be the final resting place for the our city’s namesake vessel.”

3d Annual Dallas Margarita Meltdown is coming May 26

The 3d Annual Dallas Margarita Meltdown 2013 will take place on Sunday, May 26th from 5-10pm.  40 years ago, Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine in Dallas and forever changed the way people around the world drink margaritas. So we take this shiz seriously! This event is a competition between some of the best restaurants and bars in the Dallas area. Competitors will concoct their finest margarita and offer samples to the public in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, TX.

The full list of restaurants competing in this year’s Margarita Meltdown includes: Asador, El Fenix, Meso Maya, Veracruz Cafe, Ten Bells Tavern, Oak Cliff Social Club, Outpost, Victoria's, Mesa, Espumoso Caffe, El Ranchito, La Calle Doce, Iron Cactus, The Standard Pour, The People’s Last Stand, Urban Taco and last year’s winner Whiskey Cake will return to defend their title. New to the mix this year will be Bowl & Barrel, La Duni, Pozo Mercado, DeLat, Sunset Lounge, Lark in the Park, The Rustic, Boulevardier, Mutts Canine Cantina, 303 Bar & Grill all from Dallas, La Margarita from Irving and The Ranch in Las Colinas.

All attendees will have the opportunity to sample each ‘rita and vote on their favorite one via text message. Tickets for the event are $20 and part of the proceeds benefit La Voz del Anciano (The Voice of the Elderly), a local non-profit that helps serve the needs of the elderly Latino population. Vendor opportunities are still available. For more information, visit www.dallasmargaritameltdown.com.

Twitter Titter: Pat Smith

When I saw this tweet from Pat Smith, my first thought was, "Aw! My two favorite bitches!" Pat is such a lady, she probably would give me a very disapproving look for making such a bawdy remark. But it's funny! Look! They are even color coordinated! Pat ran into this yappy style-setter at a Dancing With the Stars taping with husband (and former DWTS champion) Emmitt Smith.

PS: It's Giggy, Pat. Not Gigi. 

Dirk Nowitzki's Celebrity Baseball Game 2013 Attracts Heavy Hitters

The NBA champion and 11-time NBA All-Star returns for Dirk Nowitzki’s 2013 Celebrity Baseball Game presented by Baylor Medical Center at Frisco on Saturday, June 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco (7300 RoughRiders Trl). For the 12th year, two baseball teams, each made up of celebrity players and amateurs, will slug it out for nine innings of hard-charging, umpires-umpping, trash-talking, uniform-wearing, base-stealing, home run-hitting, authentic baseball!

A fleet of famous faces, sport stars and local luminaries will include Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks MVP and 2011 NBA champion), Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner and shark investor on TV series Shark Tank), Brian Cardinal (former Dallas Mavericks forward and 2011 NBA champion), Devin Harris (Atlanta Hawks guard and former Dallas Maverick), Eduardo Najera (Texas Legends coach and former Dallas Mavericks and OU standout), Terrell Owens (former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver), Seneca Williams (New Orleans Saints quarterback), Michael Turner (former Atlanta Falcons running back), Michael Finley (former Dallas Mavericks All-Star) and Donnie Nelson (Dallas Mavericks president and GM) and more. Goose Gossage (MLB Hall of Fame pitcher and nine-time All-Star) and David Justice (former MLB outfielder and three-time All-Star) will be the team managers.

One Night Only! Flashback to the 80s with the return of Kempi's

Ah, the 1980's. When greed was good, ecstasy was legal and the only thing bigger than your shoulder pads was your hair. Those were the days!  The InterContinental Dallas is excited to announce its 30th anniversary and will celebrate on May 30th with a one-night-only return of the famed Kempi’s Nightclub. During the ‘80s, Kempi’s was the place to see and be seen, hosting athletes, celebrities and the Dallas elite for elaborate evenings of dancing and drinks. So it seems appropriate to bring Kempi’s back for a trip down memory lane as they celebrate the hotel’s anniversary.

In honor of the special occasion, the InterContinental Dallas is inviting guests to celebrate its 30th anniversary with an “80s Throwback” party at Kempi’s Nightclub. Party attendees can expect a DJ playing the ‘80s most popular songs while the bar will serve ‘80s-era cocktails like Kamakazis, wine coolers, Long Island Ice Tea and Sex on the Beach, all for just $5 each. Festivities begin May 30th at 8pm and go until midnight. There’s no charge to enter the event, but attendees wishing to book a room for the night can do so at a special rate of $83.

The InterContinental Hotel is located at 15201 Dallas Parkway in Addison. For more information, or to make a reservation, please call 972-386-6000 or visit http://www.icdallas.com.

Wunderblock debuts on June 1 at the Nasher Sculpture Center

The Nasher Sculpture Center will debut a new exhibit called WUNDERBLOCK created by artist Katharina Grosse that will run from June 1 to September 1, 2013.  So, what the heck is a Wunderblock you ask? It's the German term for an old-fashioned children’s toy, known in English as a mystic writing pad or magic slate, which allows users to write on its surface, then “erase” the writing by lifting its cover. In 1925, Sigmund Freud wrote an important essay called “Notes on the Wunderblock,” in which he compared the operation of memory and the nature of the unconscious to the layered construction of this toy. We have all learned something today...

For more than two decades, Grosse has been making large installations consisting of brightly colored acrylic paints sprayed onto walls, ceilings, piles of dirt, and sculpted styrofoam and fiberglass shapes. Taking inspiration from frescoes, plein-air painting, Abstract Expressionism, and urban graffiti, Grosse explores how painting can “appear in space” – in the realm of sculpture and architecture – by giving color extreme and palpable form.

Get great landscape tips on the Water-Wise Landscape Tour 2013

It's that time of year again. Chances are, you've already made a trek or three to Home Depot to buy flats of flowers for your front yard or garden. But it won't be too long before you start to hear the weather man bemoan our lack of rain and water restriction go into affect. Learn how you can plant smart this year during the 19th annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour.  Dallas County Master Gardeners will be conducting free 30-minute talks on Water-Wise gardening every hour on the hour at each of the tour headquarters. Dallas County Master Gardener volunteers will also be assisting homeowners and helping answer questions about the plants and landscapes on the tour. The first 100 visitors at each of the three tour headquarters will receive a free hose nozzle. Whoo hoo!

For more information, visit SaveDallasWater.com or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (214) 670-3155 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Maps for the self-driving tour are available at SaveDallasWater.com and at all tour headquarters.

Tour Headquarters Central: Bath House Cultural Center - 512 E. Lawther Dr., Dallas, TX 75218 (NOTE: NEW LOCATION FOR CENTRAL TOUR HQ) North: Les Lacs Linear Park - 3901 Beltway Dr., Addison, TX 75001 South: Lake Cliff Park - E. Colorado Blvd. at N. Zang Blvd., Dallas, TX 75203

D Magazine throws a foodie feast to celebrate the 100 Best Restaurants in Dallas

If you love to eat, this will be the par-tay of the year for you! Nancy Nichols, Food Editor for D Magazine, is throwing a fun soiree to celebrate the publication of the June 2013 issue which contains The 100 Best Restaurants in Dallas. The Best Restaurants event will take place on Wednesday, May 22 from 6 to 8 pm at 3015 Trinity Groves and will feature food from the top chefs in Dallas. The fare will feature an eclectic mix of haute cuisine, off-the-beaten-path barbecue joints, and a variety of dishes from ethnic restaurants. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to mingle with an unprecedented gathering of chefs and restaurateurs from the top restaurants in Dallas. Along with the food tastings, there will be cocktails by Brugal Rum, beer by Trumer Pilsner, DJ Jose Guevara, Land Rovers on display and a See's Candy buffet.

Nichols says,"If you don’t like my picks, you can throw a pie at me. I’ll be right outside the front door waiting for you. It will cost you $20 and the money collected will go to the North Texas Food Bank." Oh... I am so there Nancy and I got a big, fat pie with your name on it! :)

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at http://dmagazinebestrestaurants.eventbrite.com/#

Carry the Load this Memorial Weekend

Carry the Load Walk will be held on Memorial Weekend, May 26-27. The idea is to do something positive, patriotic and challenging as a family.  Navy Seal Clint Bruce, co-founder of Carry the Load, has a simple message: Let's bring back the true meaning of Memorial Day. U.S. military veterans carry the memories of their buddies who never came home. It is very personal and very deep. And they want Americans to pause and acknowledge the loss.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 at Reverchon Park. Several thousand participants will walk up and down the Katie Trail for 20 hours and 13 minutes. It doesn't matter how far you go, just walk longer than you think you can. That can be one mile, 10 miles or more. Many of the military veterans who participate walk the entire 20 hours and 13 minutes.

Do you have someone in your family who has served in the military or who has served as police, firefighters or EMTs? You can walk in their honor or "carry" their memory. Hint: Walk as far as you can on Sunday evening, then come back Monday and walk the last leg at the event's emotional conclusion at noon. Registration is free. Participants raising $200 or more will receive a t-shirt, parking pass & 3 meal tickets for the day of the event.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1047584

Peace, Hope, & Butterflies 2013

Miracle Players Foundation will be hosting its third annual Peace, Hope, & Butterflies family fun and music festival on June 1 from 2-6pm.

The event will feature great activities for kids (and the young at heart) including a petting zoo, obstacle course, pirate ship, arts and crafts, giant slide, and more. The day will also feature local art vendors, as well as several delicious food trucks. You'll also enjoy live music from Five Times August, Fox and the Bird, August and J, and Dovetail.

The event will culminate in the release of 500 butterflies by Dallas area childhood cancer warriors.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 13 and younger and can be purchased online.