Dear Mexican: I have a Mexican friend at work, and we happened to get in a discussion that started off fine — but I believe that I offended her as the discussion progressed. We were talking about an upcoming celebration, and I asked if she knew the true meaning behind…
Dallas is two months shy of its commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the murder of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Dealey Plaza, which probably will come off somewhere midway between tragedy and comedy. For more than two years, The Sixth Floor Museum, the city’s official assassination museum in the…
Superintendent Mike Miles didn’t write the letter. Mike Miles didn’t tell Kevin Smelker to write the letter. Mike Miles didn’t edit the letter. The narrative painted by Paul Coggins in his recent investigative report to the Dallas school board is a fiction. Last week former U.S. Attorney Coggins gave the…
A couple weeks ago, we introduced you to some of the best live sound engineers in Dallas. Those people voluntarily run complicated circuits late at night in rooms full of beer and idiots. Our hats are off to them. Alan Ayo, who wrote that post, asked each of them what…
Lloyd Banks runs Rockin’ Rodeo in Denton, but he’s been perched up north doing live music venues for a decade and a half: national touring acts mixed with local and regional bands, not only as opening acts, but also plenty as standalone showcase acts. He’s managed a band or two…
Dallas is talking about a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags. And I’m all for it. Because plastic bags are lazy. They break right when you need them. They refuse to hold as much as a paper bag. They make your cool bathroom trash can look dumb. They float around…
Last weekend I went to Raleigh, North Carolina for Hopscotch Music Festival. It was cool, and before I go on I want to acknowledge that there was plenty of cool to be found in Dallas/Fort Worth/Etc. music last weekend as well. There was a growing beer/music music festival featuring cool…
Naughty little secret I will share with you from my own craft, the news business. In my line of work it is by no means unheard of for a reporter who is about to get sacked to suddenly invent an untrue story to the effect of, “They’re trying to silence…
We’re divided into two distinct groups: those whose parents prepared Hamburger Helper on occasion and those whose parents adamantly refused to. Kids who received the occasional beef, noodle and maltodextrin sautée most likely thought it was just another salty meal. But the children who were denied the boxed delicacy were…
Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…
For the better part of four decades, Lucinda Williams has been one of Texas’ best and most dependable songwriters and performers. Over the course of ten albums, Williams has moved from earthy blues and folk to jangly country/pop and has even dabbled in more contemporary sounds. What has remained consistent…
More than just today, maybe every day this week we need to talk here about the Dallas school superintendent and school reform, mainly because this may all be over by the end of the week. The school board will meet later this week, and the anti-reform wing of the board…
Police have arrested somebody they hope will turn out to be perpetrator of nine or more serial rapes in the area around Fair Park in South Dallas. Those rapes have sparked an important conversation about law enforcement in the city. Let’s get down to brass tacks. The community in the…
Hey, guys. Can I talk to you about something? Every year when this time rolls around we try to send you into your fall festing season with some proper tips. Usually, this is our not-so-subtle way to share with you the ways to make new friends or sneak, um, stuff…
Football season has returned, and with it we are reminded of the ridiculous lengths some players will go to garner national attention. From recording songs, to appearing in commercials, to crafting signature end zone dances for when they score, players on all levels do their best to raise their Q-score…
You get a lot of dumb and dumber news here, so I figure I owe it to you to mention when things might be trending the other way. It’s just possible the county’s efforts to control West Nile disease could be headed in that other uncustomary direction. Smarter. Believe it…
Story in The New York Times today talks about the Bush dynasty reclaiming its influence in the Republican Party by championing immigration reform. I have another idea for them, based on their legacy in Dallas: school reform. But this is grudging, man. Why do I want the Bushes to reclaim…
It’s been a spell since we’ve touched base with Lance Yocom, the ever-busy man at the head of Spune. Lance has been in this column before , and shortly thereafter, gave us all a start when he fell seriously ill while in Arizona, and spent over two weeks in a…
Hey, sorry, I didn’t want you to think I was falling down on the job with the “New York Times discovers Wendy Davis” story-story. Remember I did catch you up Friday. See also: Wendy Davis Is Sort of a Laura Miller Candidate. So How Did that Work Out? I reminded…
Every week, when we examine our proofs at the Observer — big sheets of paper with the article laid out as it will appear in print — I’m treated to another drool-worthy photo of a dish I’ve selected because I think it will resonate with my review. See also: This…
Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…
The New York Times today contains what apparently is going to be a regular feature on how cool Wendy Davis is. Today’s installment is called “Democrats see value in Texas in candidacy for governor.” The one two weeks ago was, “Democrats see hope in Texas star.” The one three days…
