Welcome to Local Music ‘Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth music. Jason Whitbeck’s come a long way since his earliest days in Deep Ellum, as a street rep slinging free Camel cigarettes. He’s become quite a successful video director, shooting for notable…
In his speech last week endorsing a new highway in the Trinity River flood zone, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings threw down a gauntlet. It was sort of a buried line. I guess not everybody heard it. I did. He said at one point, “I’m a regionalist,” and then he said…
Another tiresome food trend to add to the Valhalla-like halls of the Museum of Annoying Food Trends: the Taste of Whatever City/Country. Japan McDonald’s Big America campaign, which attempted to surmise the taste of entire American locale between the crusty buns of a meatburger, did roughly the same. Now comes…
Dear Mexican: I am a 20-year-old tall, slender, blonde Jewish Russian-American. He is a 24-year-old short, muscular Mexican. At face value, you would never think we would work well, but we do. He is never down, always smiling and positive while I worry. However, I noticed he is the most…
Eminent domain, the principle that allows government to force a landowner to sell, is usually thought of as serving public purposes, like building new highways. But in the last two years Dallas County’s public hospital district has been adventuring in a new version — eminent domain for profit. Acting on…
Dear Athena Hohenberg, I’m sorry to address you in such an adversarial tone, but I see no way around it. Your recent class action lawsuit filed against Ferrero, the company that manufactures the deliciously chocolate-like, hazelnut spread Nutella, is the saddest case of consumer idiocy I’ve seen in a while…
Welcome to Local Music ‘Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes. In 1984, Linda Septien was performing opera in Italy. Inspired, she flew to Nashville to do her own recordings. “You suck,” the producer told her. “You have no feeling at all.” She put the brakes…
Dallas has opinions about pools, whether you fancy an East-side dip at the F.O.E. or have already reserved your summer cabana at Revive. Tips to get past doormen, knowing Power Property codes and finding the side entrances for high-rise elevators are all components in the conversational arsenal to defend your…
Wonderful story for an old Detroit homeboy in today’s New York Times chronicling the incredible comeback and stunning success of Chrysler. Since emerging from bankruptcy and repaying all of its government loans, Chrysler Group LLC has leaped ahead of global competitors, according to the Times: “On Thursday, Chrysler reported that…
When I reviewed the Chesterfield, and wrote about drinks the color of Skittles, I was referring to those bight blue drinks you see bopping around inside clubs. Red drinks, too, a vibrant crimson, often containing little alcohol and sometimes shuttled around in test tubes. What I wasn’t thinking about was…
Whenever the immigration issue comes up, as it has now with the ongoing Supreme Court review of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law, so does Joe Arpaio. The famous Phoenix sheriff is in the national news again this week over a recording surfaced by The Associated Press in which Arpaio can be heard…
Dear Mexican: How come there are a bunch of fair-skinned European-looking guys running Mexico? When I am in Mexico, I see them having power lunches in fine restaurants, driving Beemers and escorting absolutely breathtaking women with long legs and high cheekbones around town. Who are these guys? How can I…
Dear D Magazine: Thank you so much for nominating me for “best columnist.” I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be in the running. I am determined to win this thing. Thank you for sending me instructions on how to get votes for myself. In a recent email,…
This city looks a little different under the gaze of a lazy Sunday. Gone are the razzle dazzle details of a typical Dallas weekend and, if you’re lucky, you get to see the Big D for who she really is. Platform heels tossed to the side, that little black dress…
OK, look, just see if you can follow me here, because I need to know if I am following myself. You tell me. Michael Morris, a regional transportation official who gets quoted, has always said we need to build a new super-highway along the Trinity River, walling it off from…
Welcome to Local Music ‘Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth music. The Local Yokel Show podcast was meant to be a fun gathering of friends who play local music, but it ended up providing a perk to those artists: in-studio video. It’s…
Off on vacation for a week, so great to be back here on the lawn, but really, you know, I was never gone. Thanks to my colleagues over on Frontburner, the D Magazine blog, my presence did not fade. Last Friday D Editor Tom Rogers penned a long item he…
BUY TACO USA! Gentle cabrones: My much-promised Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America has finally hit bookstores! Place your order with your favorite local bookstore, your finer online retailers, your craftier piratas. And stay tuned for book signing info! Why do Mexicans with lowriders have murals on their hoods…
Yesterday The Dallas Morning News reported that food trucks serving the Arts District had received notices of violations. They were operating in a public right of way and that’s no good. The trucks responded by moving from where they were — a plaza across from the AT&T Performing Arts Center…
First, a little back story: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has fired off round after round of press release material lately. The company is intoxicated with its expansion at every gas station and mall food court across the land, and its public relations firm mainlines Red Bull in order to make sure…
This past weekend in Dallas, you couldn’t turn a corner without hitting a valet stand or a liquor sponsor. Between the Dallas Art Fair, the Dallas International Film Festival, and the ongoing calendar of concerts, weeklies and openings, I hope you found yourself at the open bar of at least…
Tami BrittainWalker, in a moment of contemplationWelcome to Local Music ‘Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth local music. David Walker is a common sight at local festival shows, one of those guys entrusted to hold things together at Deep Ellum Arts Fest…
