For several years now, Clebo Rainey has been called “poet emeritus of Dallas” or “the father of Dallas poetry” or–most recently in these pages–“the Papa Bear of North Texas poetry.” From hosting poetry nights at Club Clearview, the Dark Room, and the McKinney Avenue Contemporary to organizing virtually every reading…
The hail you say Buzz is periodically amused by the fumblings of clueless journalists who arrive in town and try to strut their stuff. (Like the New York Times reporter who came to Texas several years back and wrote about being served a mysterious local dish, an “unidentified breaded cutlet”…
For years, Irma Janicek knew little more about Greenwood Cemetery than that her ancestors–many of them powerful businessmen from Dallas’ earliest days–were buried there in a neat family plot. Occasionally she visited the cemetery, at the intersection of McKinney and Oak Grove avenues in the Uptown neighborhood. And each year,…
Rocky Mountain sigh I just wanted to say I left Dallas for Denver in 1990. I have missed the Dallas Observer terribly. It is wonderful being able to get on the Internet and read it weekly. Keep up the wonderful work (and quality). Very comparable to our Denver Westword, but…
When I first saw Dalton James, he was eating the entrails of a dead baby. It was July 1996. The Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park played host to the Open Stage production of New York playwright Nicky Silver’s Fat Men in Skirts, the first and possibly best of three Silver…
At 10 o’clock on a Friday morning, Jesse Enloe is downing his usual breakfast—three eggs, sausage, biscuits with extra gravy–at his customary spot, JoJos in southwest Fort Worth. Amidst clanking dishes and shouted pancake orders, the 50-year-old vice president of the Republic of Texas is talking affairs of state. It’s…
When Paul Fielding stepped down from the Dallas City Council, abandoned his reelection bid, and pleaded guilty to federal charges of extortion and mail fraud, his abrupt departure seemed to bleed away what little drama existed in this year’s council elections. But councilwoman Charlotte Mayes, who won reelection Saturday, at…
The Anti-Mary Remember when sleazy politicians and unscrupulous businessmen–not to mention Dallas Cowpersons–quaked when Marty was near? (That’s Marty Griffin for readers out there who have already forgotten last year’s journalistic outrage, and its star.) To refresh your memories: After scooping the rest of the media with the now-infamous Cowboy…
Our pleasure Thanks for the mention in your “Buzz” column [April 17]. I must confess to not being a regular reader of the Dallas Observer, save those occasions when a friend points out a rare item of casual or passing interest (as was the case with this brief piece). So…
Twelve bleary-eyed jurors filed into Judge Hal Gaither’s courtroom on the afternoon of April 14 and dutifully took their assigned seats. The seven women and five men had met for the first time two weeks earlier, plucked from a jury pool of more than 60 to serve in Dallas County’s…
Ron Price readily admits that he has some learning to do. “I’m a rookie at this,” says the 30-year-old South Dallas youth organizer. He is making his first run for elected office this year, seeking a seat on the Dallas Independent School District Board. Perhaps it takes youthful naivete to…
A sudden burst of democratic fervor appears to have gripped the homeless population of Dallas, some of whom felt an urge this past weekend to rush to the polls and cast ballots in the contentious District 2 city council race between businesswoman Brenda Reyes and Dallas lawyer John Loza. Most…
Alcorn’s ignorance I recently read your article by Ann Zimmerman, “It’s Our Turn To Be Heard” [April 17]. I extol the efforts of the Mexican-American community. I applaud the stand that Yvonne Gonzalez, Alfred Carrizales, Adelfa Callejo, and their colleagues have taken. The aggressive position they have seized to represent…
They’re raiments an Aztec priest would envy, a bit faded with age but still arresting in their brilliance.MOne suit is blood red; with black patterns that race up and down its sleeves, it almost seems to breathe as country music legend Hank Thompson drapes it across the barstool in his…
When Aurelio Castillo was elected constable, it was like dressing a little kid in a grown man’s uniform. At 34, Castillo was energetic, proud, and completely unqualified for the post granted him by the voters of Precinct 6. As elected officials with full law-enforcement powers, constables answer to virtually no…
With the myriad species of thug life that hung out there, the fast food shop at the corner of Commerce and Griffin streets developed a nickname all its own: CrackDonald’s. This very urban Mickey D’s was Exhibit A in the average person’s case against ever setting foot in downtown again–ground…
Free the weasel Hey, the Dallas Observer really called that Paul Fielding thing right, huh? If you’ll remember, and we’re sure you do, columnist Laura Miller, in a lengthy investigation into former councilman Paul’s business dealings, found him to be unethical and basically a weasel, but innocent of any real…
Cheers for Larry Now that you have printed Holly Mullen’s article [“Feeling the burn,” April 3], allow me to tell you about the real Larry North. She interviewed him for a few hours. I have known him for 15 years. In July of 1995, I was struck by a devastating…
Yvonne Gonzalez’s eyes were brimming with tears. To the small group assembled at her office conference table, it was clear that she was moved; it was clear she was sharing a lot of pain. Which, considering Gonzalez’s typically tough-as-nails reputation as the newly appointed superintendent of the eighth largest school…
Dukes of de Kooning In the eternal grudge match between Dallas and every other city in the ‘Plex, the little guys came out swinging this spring with a one-two punch that sent Big D sprawling. Wham! Tarrant County’s magnificent Texas Motor Speedway opened in all its NASCAR glory. And, bam!,…
Just as the sun was setting, about 20 members of the Mill Creek Homeowners Association gathered two weeks ago in Laura Carr’s merlot-colored living room, which was aglow from the subtle flickers of three white candles on the dining room table. Three Dallas city council hopefuls had come to Swiss…
Betty in charge I read with absolute delight the aptly entitled article “Betty’s in charge” [March 27]. Frankly, I got a kick out of “hearing” Betty again. You see, I was once one of her trusted mid-level managers until I ran afoul of Betty and found myself on the outside…
