TRAVEL HERE: POP INTO THE DMA FOR BRILLO PADS AND PLASTIC RAINCOATS

Pop Art is not my thing, but a recent invitation to the opening  celebration of International Pop suggested there might be some fun to be had at the DMA.  I am really into fun – big time.  So, I made my RSVP and marked the date on the calendar.  I know this is supposed to be At Home in Heath day, but with so many exciting things going on, you’ll have to travel across the lake with me and go to Downtown Dallas.

ATTIRE – neon to throwback!

Ah the Sixties!  Fishnet hose and go-go boots!  And if you really wanted to look cool,  you wore two pair of fishnets at the same time.  My closet didn’t have any fishnet hose in it or go-go boots, for that matter, but I did have this psychedelic purple top.  For the rest I just channeled my Inner Hippie.

Inner Hippies Abound

Apparently, I’m not the only one with an Inner Hippie lurking at the edges of my psyche.  Arriving at the museum I was surprised by the number of blue-headed grandmotherly sorts who’d shown up for this celebration and those grandma’s were sporting some signs of the times.  Headbands, fishnet hose, round sun glasses and peace signs abounded.

But even the disco lights couldn’t hide the construction zone.  Things are in a mess at the DMA.  Renovations dominate the North Entrance and while you can still get to the parking lot, it’s not very pretty.  They’ve boarded up the ceramic mural and once you’re inside the atrium looks bare without the Chihuly.  On my last visit I had noticed the shrubs needed to be replaced, because they were past their prime, so I’m glad they are sprucing things up.  I’m just sorry to miss two of my favorite pieces of art.

Inside the crowd had obviously embraced the suggestion to adjust their attire for the occasion, but some of the ensembles on the younger participants looked more Jean Paul Gautier than Peter Max.  And neon, there was plenty of that, but it wasn’t vintage.  More like H&M or Forever 21.

The invitation also promised food stations and those were a lot of fun:  miniature hot dogs, french fries in paper cones, grilled finger sandwiches and popsicles.  The hot dogs were actually quite good and I was glad to see sweet potato fries as a choice, but that wasn’t something we embraced in the fifties and sixties.  Cash bars were churning out drinks and dueling DJ’s were spinning the hits, but the music was a little loud.  It sang more of the 80’s & 90’s than 50’s & 60’s, but most of the crowd was too young to realize.

Clearance Sale in the Gift Shop

The Atrium was filling fast, so we escaped to the gift shop.  The whole back half of the shop is given over to a clearance sale.  If there’s any t-shirts or posters that you wished you’d purchased from a previous exhibit, now is the time to get them.  I noticed items dating back to the Tut exhibit and some of the prices were great.

We were killing time, because the exhibition didn’t open to peons like us until 7:45.  They’d saved the first 45 minutes for the real patrons.  We’d popped up there after our mini-hot-dogs and scored a glass of champagne, but the gallery was off limits to the likes of us.

The Exhibition

There is an explanation for the proliferation of plastic raincoats and Brillo Pad cartons currently filling the DMA’s Barrel Vault, but you’ll have to get it from the museum.  They’ll also explain to you why the Jackson Pollack exhibit, which is soon to open, is so important.

Personally, I was sorry the Spirit and Matter exhibition was closed for the evening.  I would have also liked to have seen the Wittgenstein Vitrine which is on exhibit in the Conservation Gallery.  Which just proves the DMA has something for everyone.  Wednesday night I enjoyed the mini-dogs while expanding my horizons into the world of International Pop – something I wouldn’t have done without the invitation.  Next time I’ll wallow around in some art that suits my personal taste a little more, but I like that variety is the spice of the museum.  I’m all about engaging all comers in art.

After taking in the exhibit we enjoyed the perfect Dallas evening over in Klyde Warren Park.  Here’s some photos so you can enjoy the exhibit and the park also.  The exhibit opens Saturday to the general public and will be here until mid-January.

TRAVEL THERE: RICHARDSON HOSTS A GREAT EVENT

I didn’t plan on attending Cottonwood Creek Art Festival both days, but I enjoyed the show so much on Saturday morning, that I convinced Bill to return on Sunday afternoon.  This show just keeps on getting better.  Here’s the best part.  You don’t have to wait until next fall for it to come back.  Look for it in the spring.

A Few of My Favorites

PamelaBlaies – If money were no object, I’d have a new painting on my walls this morning by Pamela Blaies.  Having just built this house, art is a little outside my budget right now.  Pamela is a local artist and I love her style.  It’s very realistic, with a subtle smudging, reminiscent of Impressionism, but different.  The effect is soft and tranquil.

My home is French and the color scheme is blue and yellow.  I loved all of Pamela’s paintings, but I particularly wanted one featuring lemons with a cobalt blue goblet.  The link above will take you right to it.  Pamela is also a very nice lady and I would love to be among her patrons.

Peaceful Prairie Mosaics

Word to the wise!  She who hesitates at Cottonwood Creek Art Festival  is also lost.  On Saturday, my friend Deborah particularly liked a mosaic  in the Peaceful Prairie Pottery booth, because she felt the quote in it described our friendship to a tee.  I could have bought it on Saturday and should have bought it on Saturday because on Sunday when I would have bought it, it was gone.

The craftsmanship in Peaceful Prairie Mosaics is stellar and the heart behind it all must be pure gold.  I can only imagine the time it must take to find all the quotes they incorporate into their beautiful works of art.  The finished works are not only beautiful, they tug at your heartstrings with each glance.  I am a fan!

Betty Robbins

Something else I loved were the creations of Betty Robbins.  She turns anyone’s life into a masterpiece!  Deborah and I have been friends for more than three decades.  We imagined our journey together in a painting – meeting in Lord & Taylor’s NorthPark, cruising the Bahamas, exploring Eureka Springs and just doing life together along the way.  Betty would have to make duplicates.

Something else Deb and I admired was a quartet of paintings of the same scene in four seasons.  Betty said that in her own home she rotates the paintings according to the season, but to me they looked pretty wonderful hanging on the wall together.  On Saturday there had been a Texas themed quartet.  By Sunday it was gone (sold) and had been replaced by a scene with trains.

If Betty did a painting of my twenty plus years with my husband, she’d be covering real estate from the Dallas Museum of Art where we met, to Hawaii where we honeymooned, to Egypt where Bill was born.  Then I imagined a painting telling the story of my Mom and Dad, because they put in a lot of windshield time during road trips.  There is no end to the possibilities.

Gary Moser

So how gorgeous would a lady like this be next to my pond?  I completely agree with you.  This particular piece is 31 inches tall, but her big sister was about my height.

Gary Moser works out of the Welded Donkey studio in Scottsdale, AZ.  In addition to his beautiful work, one of the things I like about Gary is that like me, he discovered his passion later in life.  To quote his promotional postcard, “Steel just kind of grabbed me by the collar, and it has led me on an amazing journey.”  Words have kind of grabbed me by the collar too and I’m interested to see where we’ll go.

Since I wasn’t able to bring home one of Pamela Blaies’ lovely works, it’s not hard for you to guess that I wouldn’t be able to afford a life-sized sculpture for my pond, but God willing and the creek don’t rise, that pond isn’t going anywhere and there is always tomorrow.

Parker Parker

Here’s what I noticed at this show, photography is changing the face of art.  I have always loved the art of photography, but this digital age is blurring the lines between between painting and photography, because nowadays computers can add painterly qualities to photographs.

The works of James W. Parker are a perfect example.  His photographs were taken across this great nation of ours. They capture wide empty places and abandoned homes of a disappearing landscape.  The haunting images inspired questions for me, like “who lived here,” “what happened that made them leave,” and “where is this, I want to go see it.”

Parker Parker doesn’t just take great photos, he uses technology to make what he photographs even more beautiful.  I loved his work.  Visit his website and you will too.

Lots More to Love

Well, this could go on forever, because I loved, loved, loved so many of the wonderful artists at the show, but I don’t want to wear our my welcome.  There are so many gorgeous works of art that you could spend all your time visiting the artists’ booths, but when you visit the Cottonwood Creek Art Festival, you shouldn’t stop there.

During my visits my companions and I enjoyed hot chocolate, latte, gyros, craft beer, a pretzel and a buffalo sausage on a bun.  There are talented musicians you’ll love to listen to.  There’s even an activity area for kids.  We thoroughly enjoyed the dog parade, also.  That’s not an official part of the festival, but so many people showed up parading so many breeds of dogs that they should add it to their marketing.

I’ll leave you with these postcards and business cards I picked up along the way.  I’ve tried to identify the artists so you can get in touch with them if intrigued, but don’t hesitate to contact me if you can’t get the info you want.  I’ll be glad to share.

TRAVEL HERE: PEROT MUSEUM INTRODUCES TECH TRUCK

The TECH Truck is building up STEAM and heading out on adventures many museums never dare.  Thanks to generous donations from Dell, Perot Museum will be able to take their message on the road.  According to the Museum’s press release, the truck will be going into “economically disadvantaged neighborhoods” to spark the imaginations of young people who – “for a variety of reasons – do not or cannot engage with the Museum at its physical location.“

The Acronyms 

Allow me to share what I’ve discovered about the alphabet soup of this project.  TECH stands for “Tinker, Engineer, Create and Hack” and STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  Our educational system is not currently producing enough qualified candidates to fill the available STEM jobs, so the Perot is sending the TECH Truck to change lives.  By inspiring kids to have an interest in STEM,they can be encouraged to enter these fields of study not only to get them out of their underprivileged neighborhoods, but to help our economy as a whole.  That’s a tall order.

I was particularly interested when they added “A” to their STEM acronym  to get STEAM.  The “A” inserts Art between Engineering and Math, because Art will be on the menu for the Perot/Dell TECH Truck.  Art is my passion and I’m glad it will be a part of the experience.  Little in my life has brought me as much joy as my love of the arts.  I’m all for encouraging kids and helping the economy, but I also want to keep art alive and meaningful.

The Media Unveiling and Ribbon Cutting

The Perot launched their new toy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday morning.  The bright shiny truck was set up behind the Perot on a special permits parking lot.  Oh, and there were cookies!

On hand were Colleen Walker, the Perot’s CEO, Teresa Lenling, Perot’s Director of Public Programs and Mona Charif a VP of Dell.  Each of the dignitaries expressed their enthusiasm for the project and then Ms. Walker was joined by students of the the Village Tech Schools for the actual ribbon cutting.

I might add that the scissors for the ceremony were created by the 3D printer which is part of the TECH Truck’s equipment list.  The tables were also decorated with objects created by the printer and the media contingency was fascinated by the colorful objects which ranged from attractive vases to miniature dinosaurs.

The doors of the truck were opened and the Village Tech kids eagerly swarmed in.  No technology was left un-handled. Photographers and videographers crowded around.  It was an exciting moment.

Outside the truck, tables were set up to share some of the kinds of experiences which will be available when the truck visits.  The tables featured wooden blocks for building, an electronic musical instrument and some great little gadgets called Little Bits that did all kinds of electronic tricks.

All Aboard for Knowledge

The TECH truck will accomplish its lofty goals with a two-pronged approach.    The vehicle will head into the neighborhoods for drop-in sessions to set off STEAM sparks in some of the casual experimenters, hoping to transform them into interested participants.  The students who show a curiosity and an aptitude for the casual drop-in sessions will then be channeled into multiple-session mini-camps which will follow the same theme as the drop-in sessions.  The Museum’s  existing relationships with organizations like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Boys & Girls Clubs will assist them in their efforts.

So, I wish happy trails to the Dell/Perot TECH truck and leave you with these photos.

AT HOME IN HEATH: NOW I’M A COSTCO PRO

Yes, you’ve heard me whine about the grocery shopping in Heath – as in we have no grocery stores in Heath.  I have to go over to Rockwall just to get carton of milk.  I know I was spoiled back in Dallas, but I’ve had to up my game.  For produce, I’ve found the Farmers Market.  My other secret weapon is Costco. 

Joining the Dark Side

Y’all know I’m not a Walmart Shopper.  I once had a membership to Sam’s, but about all they had that made any sense for me to buy, in the quantities they offered it, was a few paper goods.  There was no Sam’s out on the Central Coast and we didn’t catch Costco fever when it came to town.  After six years we were back in Dallas and never had any particular reason to join either Sam’s or Costco, once we returned.  Then we moved to Heath and I started cooking most of our meals at home.  Suddenly, grocery shopping took on a whole new meaning.

We also met Omar and Nohelly.  They really know how to entertain.  My husband loved everything they put out for us to eat and drink and when he’d compliment them, they’d point him towards Costco.  Between my grocery store whining and all the delicious things at our friends’ house, Bill decided we needed to become Costco Members. Oh yes, and there was the cheap gas thing, too.

Our First Visit

So one afternoon on a weekend, we joined Costco and took a stroll through the store.  I was initially overwhelmed by the size of the things they sold and dismayed to discover that many of things I buy the most of they didn’t carry at all. Sugar-free, fat-free and low-salt are barely in Costco’s vocabulary, but my beloved South Beach Diet demands them.  Still, our bill was somewhere in the neighborhood of $200, so something must have seemed tempting.

The Hard-Boiled Eggs Did It

One item we picked up on that maiden voyage was a package of twenty-four hard-boiled eggs.  I was buying them six at a time for somewhere in the 3-4 dollar range.  The 24 pack was five something.  Bill and I had a difference of opinion.  He thought buying six at a time was wasting money. I thought buying 24 at a time would mean wasting food.  We bought the package of 24 eggs.

The twenty-four egg package was divided up into four smaller packs of six, but I just knew we weren’t going to eat 24 eggs before some spoiled.  Well, I was just wrong.  They’ve got some special super-duper technology that helps keep the eggs fresh AND we eat a whole lot more hard-boiled eggs than I realized.  Maybe there was something to this Costco thing after all.

I Kept Going Back

Over the next few weeks I kept going back.  As we ran out of things I usually bought at Kroger, I’d go see if Costco offered them and how they were packaged.

My first big haul was from the frozen food department.  South Beach has a lot of fish recipes and hauling in the fish du jour was taking up a lot of time.  I discovered that much of the stuff in Kroger’s seafood case wasn’t actually fresh fish.  It was just de-frosted fish.  I got to thinking that perhaps I could de-frost my own fish and what I saw in Costco’s freezer beat what was in Kroger’s freezer all to heck.  Costco had Wild-Caught Sockeye Salmon, Halibut, Ahi Tuna, Pacific Cod, Mahi Mahi, Tilapia, Raw Shrimp and Boiled Shrimp.  So I got a bag of each and moved it to my freezer.

South Beach also has a lot of chicken recipes.  So when I ran out of chicken I got a bag of breasts and a bag of thighs from Costco.  Bless their hearts.  The pieces came individually wrapped, just like the seafood.  I’d been buying the bargain packs at Kroger and then repackaging them in dinner-sized portions for the freezer.  Suddenly, no more chicken slime to clean off my counters.

Not everything worked for us.  Take the huge packages of rotisserie chicken, for instance.  It tasted heavenly, but try as we might, Bill and I could not eat it up fast enough.  So, then I discovered grilled chicken strips in Costco’s freezer.  Now we have it in our freezer.

The Cupboard is Full

So now, my little freezer is stuffed to the gills with everything from broccoli florets to ground beef individually wrapped in 1 pound packages.  I’m proud of those raw ingredients.  I used to keep frozen entrees and breakfast items in there.

My pantry has gi-normous Splenda, Coffee-Mate, Raw Walnuts and other great big packages.  I wrote the date I opened them on the outside.  I think it will be some time next year before we actually use up the entire bulk package of Splenda.  The Raw Walnuts move pretty fast around here, though.

I’m also giving canned goods a try.  First, it was Chicken Broth.  After all, they did have the low-salt variety.  Then it was canned tomatoes.  Back in my pre-Costco days, I’d buy tomatoes that already had Italian seasonings on them AND they were low salt.  Costco’s are low-salt, but no seasonings.  Next to my 12-pack of canned tomatoes is a 12 pack of tomato paste.  Then I broke down and got a 6-pack of canned salmon and a 6 pack tuna – water-packed, of course.

Paper-goods?  A no-brainer!  Cleaning supplies?  Yep! Sodas?  Diet Dr. Pepper in 36-packs and ICE flavored sparkling waters!  And I love the big bottles of Pellegrino. Kalamata olives?  Sure! A tub of tzatziki?  Why not!  And there’s some Prosecco in the wine department that’s very impressive.

I Still Need Kroger

Though Kroger’s weekly sales figures must have plummeted since I discovered Costco, they need not fear.  I’ll be in weekly.  Costco doesn’t sell Pinot Grigio in a box.  They don’t have Bill’s flavor of Kashi Cookies or Cinnamon Pecan Special K. Blueberry-muffin flavored yogurt?  Only at Kroger’s.  And Ricotta for my nightly South Beach Diet dessert.  M-M-M-M-M!  The list goes on.

But if I ever need to make Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits, I know where to go.

TRAVEL HERE:   RICHARDSON’S COTTONWOOD ART FESTIVAL RETURNS TO COTTONWOOD PARK

It’s back.  Though I haven’t mentioned it lately, I try to make it to the Cottonwood Art Festival every time I can. Here’s  the last time a wrote about it, but I think I’ve been at least once a year to this lovely semi-annual event.  You can imagine how excited I was to find an email from them in my inbox.  I thought I’d share the information with you. 

What it is

The official press release from the City of Richardson describes it this way, “The City of Richardson’s festival features museum-quality art from 240 artists, as well as live music, craft beer, food, and a hands-on art experience for kids.”  I can testify to the “museum quality” part.  That’s the reason, no matter the weather or what else is going on (like building a house) I try to go.  I also like the food.  Last time I went I enjoyed some scrumptious candied nut stuff and a hot pretzel.  Not exactly healthy, but both were worth the calories, carbs and sugar.

More Amazing Things 

Forty six years!  That’s how long this festival has been going on.  I remember my Mom raving about it and I think I even went with her at some point, but it was just a few pop-up awnings in a park in those days and I thought I was way too cool for craft fairs.  My but this little festival has grown.

When I went again a few years ago, I was blown away with the quality of the art, the setting and the signage.  OK, I’m a sucker for good signage.  It’s all those years of marketing I have under my belt, but it started when I was a kid reading roadside billboards.  I remember nearly falling over my luggage at the Paris airport in the seventies.  They’d beaten us to the punch with electronic advertising and I was enthralled with it.  The Cottonwood Art Festival isn’t exactly the Charles De Gaulle, but the attractive banners do set it apart from your average art in the park sort of event and they keep you from getting lost

And FREE!!  What’s free anymore?  Well, I admit that a lot of stuff claims to be free, but that’s usually just a come-on to get you to sign up for a monthly service.  The Cottonwood Art Festival is free.  I’m warning you that you will be tempted to empty out your pockets and max out your credit card, but it is perfectly possible to park in the school parking lot across from the festival, spend some time strolling through the shady aisles of artists and not spend a cent.

Have I Mentioned the Art?

The press release also says, “The free event held in Richardson’s scenic Cottonwood Park will exhibit work from 240 artists. These top artists are chosen from more than 800 applicants. Categories include mixed media, ceramics, drawings/pastel, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, and much more.”  I say, “Get ready to have your socks blown off.”

There’s a lot more at the festival, music, kid’s activities and food.  (Did I mention “Murphy’s Roasted Nuts”?  Watch out for the nuts.  They are right at the entrance and the smell is heavenly.)  However, there is no question about it.  The art is the thing.  And it’s not all college-fund threatening.  The cute little bag in the photo was very affordable.

“This is the perfect place to shop for exclusive art that will make an impact in your home or office,” said Serri Ayers, director of the Cottonwood Art Festival. “While you are here, you may enjoy live music from some of the top local bands, while sipping a cocktail and enjoying a meal in our relaxing courtyard.”

If you’re interested in going, and you should be, then here’s the deets:

• www.CottonwoodArtFestival.com
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodArtFestival
• Twitter www.twitter.com/CAFRichardson.

Oh, and come back here next week.  I’ll remind you of something delicious!

AT HOME IN HEATH: DALLAS KEEPS LURING ME ACROSS THE LAKE

I may have moved across the lake from my hometown, but I’m still very much the Dallasite.  I recently got an email blast from Stephanie Faulk (sfaulk@dallascvb.com) Public Relations /Outreach Manager for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.  The correspondence spelled out some of my favorite things to do around Dallas. Allow me to share a few.

The State Fair of Texas – Today – October 18

You had me at Fletcher’s Corny Dogs!  I have always loved the fair.  I go every year.  My husband is not as fascinated with it as I am, so it’s a good thing my bestie is.  We make a day of it.

First order of business is a corny dog – then I repeat whenever the opportunity presents itself.  That means I don’t eat much else.  The fair is famous for fried things, but I don’t want to waste my calories.  I know I’m not going to like anything as much as I do the corny dogs and I have to get enough of them to last me all year.

Part of my love for the fair is nostalgia.  I go through each building as if it were required by some divinely assigned task.  I look at the new cars, test drive recliners, listen to pitches for gadgets, gawk at handicrafts, admire photographs, smell livestock, listen to music, sample goodies, walk down the Midway and sometimes even ride something.

Fair day is one of my favorite days of the whole year.  Don’t miss your fair day!

Autumn at the Arboretum – Now until November 25

I may go to the fair one day every year, but I go to the Arboretum much more frequently.  Not as often as I’d like, but that’s life.  I’ve been during the best days of Autumn in the Arboretum and Blooms, but I’also been there on chilly days in February.  I don’t think there is a bad day to visit the arboretum.  Even if it is pouring rain there’s a tram to deliver you to the DeGolyer House for a tour.

Ms. Faulk reported that folks voted Autumn at the Arboretum one of “America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals” in  Fodor’s Travel 2014.  With more the 75000 pumpkins dressing the garden up for fall, who can blame them.  Kids of all ages love to see the spectacular fall display and gorgeous gardens.  Put it on your calendar.

Meadows Museum Hosts Treasures from the House of Alba – until January 3rd 

I’m ashamed to admit how infrequently I visit the Meadows Museum on the SMU campus.  With so many attractions and events to distract me it’s not hard to understand why the quiet little Spanish Museum gets forgotten.  However, the museum itself is a wonder of architecture with its grand staircase and the works of art it holds are gorgeous.

If like me you’ve been neglecting the Meadows, now is the time to rectify that.  One hundred and thirty works from three spectacular palaces will be on hand, including works by Van Gogh, Goya and Renoir – to name just a few.  This will be the first time this private collection will be leaving Spain.  What a marvelous opportunity to see these masterworks of decorative arts and painting.

Other Exciting Opportunities

These wonderful events barely scratch the surface of things to do this fall in Dallas.  A survey of Jackson Pollack‘s works will be at the Dallas Museum of Art beginning in November and staying through March.  And speaking of modern art, on October 16, downtown Dallas will be turned into a wonderland of light, video, sound, performance and projection by some of the world’s best contemporary interactive artists in an extravaganza called Aurora.  Following this man-made light show, the Perot Museum will be showing off some of Mother Natures most amazing creations in Creatures of Light: Natures Bioluminescence.

If Dallas is your hometown, please take advantage of these wonderful opportunities.  If you don’t live here, then it’s time for you to come visit.

TRAVEL HERE:  IT’S PUMPKIN TIME AT DALLAS ARBORETUM, AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM 2015

Friday I got a sneak peek at the Dallas Arboretum all dressed up in its Fall finery.  Autumn at the Arboretum started Saturday and will continue until November 25.  You don’t want to miss this one.

It’s All About the Pumpkins

The Fall Festival at our Dallas Arboretum is something special, but you don’t have to believe me.  Ask Fodor’s Travel.  They say it’s one of “America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals.”  Or go and check it out yourself.  It won’t take you long to know why Dallasites and visitors alike flock to DABS this time of year.

This year’s theme is “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” so they’ve recreated an Old Texas Town in Pecan Grove, but they built it with pumpkins.  You can visit the General Store, the Post Office, the Blacksmith and the Jail.  There’s a covered wagon and a Cinderella Carriage.  There’s even a creek for gold mining.

Supplementing the pumpkin count this year are squash and gourds.  All told there are 75000 in 52 varieties.One of my favorite things in Pecan Grove is an area where they have put out samples of each variety and put up signs with their names.  When it comes to corn there are 1500 ears of corn and 1200 corn stalks.  Throughout the garden you’ll find 150,000 blooming flowers and plants.

Plenty to Do for Kids of All Ages

Kids are going to love the Pecan Grove.  You can let them loose to wander,imagine and play.  However, during the festival there are activities for everyone.  Here’s a sampling:

• Harvest Teas – 11AM & 2 PM, Mondays – Fridays Restaurant DeGolyer
• Mommy & Me Mondays & Tiny Tot Tuesdays with petting zoo, nature crafts and more
• Oktoberfest Garten – at Cafe’ on the Green
• Live Music – Piano Melodies by Keith Schmorr( daily 11-2), Garden Melodies (Weekends 10-4), Spanish Guitar (Sats noon-4 & Suns 1-4), Cool Thursday Concerts
• and more and more and more

Ways to Save

General admission to the garden is $15, but there are discounts galore:

• $1 off tickets at Tom Thumb
• BOGO Wednesdays
• Senior Thursdays ($11 senior tickets & 20% discount gift shop
• State Fair Ticket Discount during fair  ($2 off with 2015 State Fair admission stub)
• Red River Shoot Out on Texas-OU Weekend  ($5 off with UT or OU gear)
• Family Fun Oct 24-25 (Adults in costumes pay kids price)
• Dallas Food Bank Nov 2-6 ($1 off for cans of food up to $5)
• Veterans Day Nov 11( Veterans, Active Duty Military & first Responders, free with ID)
• Teachers & Educators (Complimentary admission with ID)

Absolutely Gorgeous

Bottom Line?  The gardens are gorgeous during Autumn at the Arboretum and you need to go to this visual feast.   A picture being worth a thousand words, imagine the economy of showing you all of these photos. I hope you enjoy them.  Come back next week to get the scoop on Richardson’s Cottonwood Arts Festival in Cottonwood Park.

TRAVEL HERE: PRIMO’S PERFECT PATIO ON LAKE RAY HUBBARD

If there’s one thing the Lakeplex has, it’s plenty of Tex-Mex restaurants.  The list of popular Tex-Mex chains with a location out here and is pretty long.  Some of my favorites still haven’t found their way to the Lake Ray Hubbard area, but it’s not like I could suffer enchilada withdrawal.  The patio at Primo’s Tex-Mex makes it one of my favorite Tex-Mex emporiums.

The Bass Pro Exit Again 

Last week I told you about a recent visit to the Flying Saucer, which is in the same row of restaurants as Primo’s, so you can go here to read about my new-found appreciation for this spit of land, sticking out into the lake, on the Garland side of the long bridge.  What I didn’t mention is the pier.  Boating on Lake Ray Hubbard and feeling that taco inclination?  Just point your boat towards Bass Pro and dock on the pier.  You can keep an eye on your boat from the Primo patio while you sip heavenly margaritas.

Let me warn you, parking can be a challenge, especially when the weather is good, and it’s going to get worse.  They are building a Hooter’s.  You won’t have to worry about seeing a review of that restaurant here on my blog, but plenty of other people seem to like it.

Oh, THAT Primo’s

I may be an old married lady now, who usually has happy hour on my own patio, drinking my own wine, while watching the wildlife on my own pond, but it wasn’t always that way.  You millennials hanging out in Uptown may think you are cool, but I was hanging out in uptown before there even was an Uptown.  Even back in my day McKinney Avenue was a mecca for food and fun.

What is now the Uptown Breadwinners, used to Andrew’s and Andrew’s is one of my favorite places that no longer exists.  In fact, there was another Andrew’s up in Addison and it’s on the same list.  The McKinney Andrew’s had a definite New Orleans vibe – brick courtyard with wrought iron furniture, that sort of thing.  But I digress, we were talking about Primo’s.  Well, Primo’s was just a few doors down from Andrew’s.  One of the most difficult decisions in my young life, and I faced it frequently, was whether to go to Primo’s or Andrew’s.  That dilemma was usually solved by looking at my watch.  If it was mealtime, I went to Primo’s, but it’s not there anymore, either.

Primo’s Patio Perfection

Let me begin by saying it’s food that carries any restaurant.  When it’s good folks will put up with any parking challenge, ignore bad service and pay whatever is asked.  So, the food at Primo’s has always been good.  My old favorite was their chicken flautas plate, but it’s not on the menu anymore.  On this latest visit, I had the Chicken Verde platter and it was delicious.  All the goodness of a chicken enchilada in a little healthier format – that is if you can resist the rice and re-fried beans.

However, Primo’s just has the whole patio thing figured out.  Oh, the hours I spent on their minuscule McKinney Avenue patio.  You had to show up early if you expected to sit out there, but when you scored a table, you were the envy of every diner who passed you and since the patio was at the entry that was a lot of diners.  While on that patio I was imbued with a sense of entitlement I’ve rarely felt in other places.  The gorgeous thing was that in spite of the demand for the coveted tables, no one hurried you.  You could make an entire night of it, right there, watching all the world going by.  Oh, and you did that while drinking some of the best margaritas anywhere.

OK, so move the marvelous margaritas and delicious food to a bigger patio with a lake view.  Yep, you’re getting the vibe.  Some of the old entitlement aura is gone, but with a view like that, who cares?  The no-rush atmosphere is the same   This is my new go-to patio.  Mr. Bill likes the nachos and beer over at the Saucer, but give me margaritas at Primo’s any day of the week.

So, in these last days of al fresco weather, put Primo’s by the lake on your list and come on out here!  Then come back and visit me next week for another reason to travel here.

TRAVEL HERE: ANDREW GORLIZKI’S VARIABLE DIMENSIONS DELIVERS WHIMSY TO DALLAS’ CROW COLLECTION OF ASIAN ARTS

A new exhibit opens today at the Crow Collection.  I had the privilege of attending a media preview yesterday.  You are going to love the art of Andrew Gorlizki,  The exhibit, titled “Variable Dimensions” will transport you to a world of whimsy and wonder.

Not Your Usual Kimonos and Jade

I love the Crow Collection.  It’s a peaceful little haven of The East out here in the Wild West.  I don’t go as often as I wish I did, but every time I do my spirit releases a sigh of relief.  So, I was thrilled when they sent me an invitation to a media preview for a new exhibit.  I’ll confess I wasn’t really concerned about what the exhibit would be.  It was was art and it would be at the Crow.  I was in.

Then I read the “Media Advisory” and I wondered what I’d signed up for. Some guy named Gorlizki with a studio in New York was going to have a multi-media exhibition in a Dallas Asian arts museum.  How was that going to pan out?  Multi-media is one of those words that makes the hair stand out on the back of my neck.  It sounds like I am going to be in a room full of what looks like trash, with a light show flashing, while various unrelated movies play on the walls.  Usually those movies are of scenes I would pay not to see, so I don’t get very excited about multi-media.  Give me a nice little decorative arts show any day of the week.

A Pleasant Surprise

I won’t bore you with the details of my day yesterday, but suffice to say, I was lucky that I only arrived a few minutes late to the media preview.  Mr. Gorlizki had just begun his talk when I walked in and I was totally frazzled.  I desperately wanted to hear what he had to say, but among other frustrations, I needed the ladies room in the worst way.  I gave in to the call of nature and when I returned to the gallery I realized that I loved what I was looking at.  I just couldn’t figure out what all these odd pieces had to do with one another.  “Variable Dimensions” was certainly a good name for this show.

You enter the space through a very angular doorway with a sort of pop-art design on it.  The floor is covered with a psychedelic rug and one wall sports a collection of colorful, but odd statuettes.  Mr. Gorlizki was standing in front of a painting talking about a knitted bicycle.  On the rug was a tableaux featuring a large cloth book.  Next to it was a table with gold sunglasses, gold flipflops and a turquoise figurine of multiple phallic symbols.  Then there was the telephone table with a self-propelled Rolodex.  I didn’t quite understand what was going on, but it was making me smile.  It had to be good.

Out of the Fog 

I made myself focus on what the artist was saying and tried to align it with what I’d read in the Media Advisory.  Basically, all of the wonderful, amazing bits of whimsy my brain was trying to embrace erupted out of the mind of this mild-mannered man, who was talking about the “spellbindingly accurate” work his craftsmen in India had to incorporate to execute his designs.  And that’s how Mr. Gorlizki and his “Variable Dimensions” ended up at an Asian Museum.  His primary studio might be in New York, but the inspiration for his work and the execution of it are all about India, a place he fell in love with in his early teens.  He also has a studio in Jaipur.

It’s a good thing I majored in Performing Arts at UTD or I would have still been confused.  Before I had the benefit of my university education, I sort of thought “the artist” was the guy who actually executed the art piece and I had a pretty solid idea of what constituted a piece of art.  Then I learned that many of the works of art we all love were created in the studio of the artists and that all those angel heads were not necessarily painted by the main guy.  What’s more, I also learned that art didn’t necessarily have to be executed to be art.  Just the mere development of a concept by an artist was a work of art.  That wonderful room with the psychedelic rug, turquoise phallic symbols and self-propelled Rolodex was the manifestation of several days of discussion in my Photography 101 class.

Please understand, however, that you don’t need to understand all of this to appreciate the exhibit.  In fact, I found myself zoning out on all the art theory clap trap being thrown about and enjoying the use of commercially available egg cups holding the painstakingly executed animal prints painted onto marble eggs.  I plan to visit this exhibit frequently and seriously think about some of the concepts they presented, but I don’t want you to think you need to be versed in art to enjoy the exhibit.

Go See This Exhibit

Long story short, “Alexander Gorlizki: Variable Dimensions” will delight and amaze you.  Your brain will still be whirling long after you’ve decided what your favorite pieces are.  Go into the exhibit with an open mind and you will find you have a happy heart.

As you enjoy the wonderful, charming objects keep these things in mind.  Those miniature paintings on the wall?  They were painted with a brush with a single hair.  Then look for connections.  You will see motifs and colors repeated through out the exhibit.  A tiny pattern used in the background of a painting can be found in various dimensions throughout the pieces.  Look for anomalies.  At first glance you’ll see a row of brass hooks.  Then you’ll realize one of the hooks is quite a bit larger than the others.  Then you’ll turn and see a huge hook of the same style on a different wall.

More to Come

Believe it or not, I still have more to say about this exhibit.  I have some marvelous material from the museum I want to pass on to you, but I’m sitting in a hotel room in Oklahoma City, not my office.  That’s all part of the story I didn’t share with you when I told you I wouldn’t bore you with the details of my day.  This collection of whimsical miracles will be at the Crow until March, so there is plenty of time for me to regale you with the hysteria of my day and the wonders of the exhibit.  Come back next week and see what I have up my sleeve.

TRAVEL HERE: FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM AT LAKE RAY HUBBARD

The Flying Saucer chain has been hovering around the Metroplex for about twenty years, but I’ve only been sighted there a few times.  It’s not that I didn’t like their slightly wacky flavor of food and beverage service, it’s that the saucer seemed to fly a different schedule.  But that was before I moved to Heath, now I fly a different schedule.

The Bass Pro Exit

Before we started building a home on the eastern edge of the Metroplex, the Bass Pro Shops development (on a spit of land on the Garland side of Lake Ray Hubbard) wasn’t on my radar.  I lived in Far North Dallas.  Addison was around the corner.  If I was in the mood for a beer, the choices were multitudinous and the Flying Saucer crowd seemed to be from a different demographic.

Now I live in the Lakeplex.  There are still plenty of choices, just not quite as many.  What was true of a restaurant or bar in Dallas isn’t necessarily so out here.  Suddenly the strip of restaurants next to the Bass Pro Shop seemed much more interesting than previously and I’ve been exploring them.  So far I’d established that Primo’s Tex Mex Grill was a winner and Texas Land and Cattle Steak House was a loser.  It was time to check out the local Saucer on the Lake.

A Need to Escape

Our lives have changed a lot with the move to Heath.  Some of that is by choice, like the decision to focus on home-cooked meals.  Some of those changes have come about because this is a new house with the need to establish a lawn.  Also, the focus on building this house has caused us to get behind in other areas of life.

On a recent Sunday I was in my office hammering away at my to do list, while Bill worked in the yard, clearing the brush around the pond.  We desperately needed to get away from the house before the work week started again.  So we took a bit of a Sunday drive, exploring parts of Heath we hadn’t visited yet.  One thing led to another and we decided to visit the Flying Saucer.

It Looks Like a Dump

To me, the exterior decor of the Flying Saucer looks like one of the abandoned sardine canneries on Cannery Row in Monterrey Bay, CA.  I’m not sure if that was the intention of the architectural committee or not, but Bill thought it looked more like a dump.  In fact, he didn’t call it “The Flying Saucer,” he called it “that dumpy bar by Bass Pro.”  So that was his frame of reference.

Bill cataloged the broken down equipment and rusty accouterments as we walked towards the entrance.  Shabby is not chic in his book.  However, as soon as we got inside, the gleaming wood and shiny brass told a different story.  Bill was relieved that the exterior had not been a precursor of the interior.  Still we hurried through the dark, clubby atmosphere of the inside section and headed out to the extensive patio.

But it’s No Dump

We opted for a tall table right next to the railing of the patio.  The seating offered in this section is backless stools.  Another section was full of tall chairs with backs.  Other people might have moved to the other section, but Bill just exchanged the furniture.

By the time we’d ordered a couple of beers and some nachos,Bill had developed a new mindset.  This wasn’t a dumpy bar next to Bass Pro Shops, it was his new favorite place.  He opined that living out by the lake was a great life and his view of the lake on the Saucer’s patio was better than many resorts he’d been to.

Go for the Views and the Brews

All in all, Bill and I had a wonderful afternoon at the Saucer on the Lake.  The patio is large with  amazing views in all directions.  The demographics are all over the place.  In fact, the population on the patio pretty much covered every option, which was part of the charm.

The beer list is extensive – probably more like exhaustive.  We chose light beers, because we are watching our figures, but it was tempting to be adventurous.The have wine and mixed drinks aplenty also.  The nachos weren’t anything to write home about, but they were OK.  The food seems fairly secondary to the whole purpose of the establishment.

I can tell you this, we’ll be back to the Flying Saucer and I’ll be back next week with another review.

TRAVEL HERE: FLYING SAUCER DRAUGHT EMPORIUM AT LAKE RAY HUBBARD

The Flying Saucer chain has been hovering around the Metroplex for about twenty years, but I’ve only been sighted there a few times.  It’s not that I didn’t like their slightly wacky flavor of food and beverage service, it’s that the saucer seemed to fly a different schedule.  But that was before I moved to Heath, now I fly a different schedule.

The Bass Pro Exit

Before we started building a home on the eastern edge of the Metroplex, the Bass Pro Shops development (on a spit of land on the Garland side of Lake Ray Hubbard) wasn’t on my radar.  I lived in Far North Dallas.  Addison was around the corner.  If I was in the mood for a beer, the choices were multitudinous and the Flying Saucer crowd seemed to be from a different demographic.

Now I live in the Lakeplex.  There are still plenty of choices, just not quite as many.  What was true of a restaurant or bar in Dallas isn’t necessarily so out here.  Suddenly the strip of restaurants next to the Bass Pro Shop seemed much more interesting than previously and I’ve been exploring them.  So far I’d established that Primo’s Tex Mex Grill was a winner and Texas Land and Cattle Steak House was a loser.  It was time to check out the local Saucer on the Lake.

A Need to Escape

Our lives have changed a lot with the move to Heath.  Some of that is by choice, like the decision to focus on home-cooked meals.  Some of those changes have come about because this is a new house with the need to establish a lawn.  Also, the focus on building this house has caused us to get behind in other areas of life.

On a recent Sunday I was in my office hammering away at my to do list, while Bill worked in the yard, clearing the brush around the pond.  We desperately needed to get away from the house before the work week started again.  So we took a bit of a Sunday drive, exploring parts of Heath we hadn’t visited yet.  One thing led to another and we decided to visit the Flying Saucer.

It Looks Like a Dump

To me, the exterior decor of the Flying Saucer looks like one of the abandoned sardine canneries on Cannery Row in Monterrey Bay, CA.  I’m not sure if that was the intention of the architectural committee or not, but Bill thought it looked more like a dump.  In fact, he didn’t call it “The Flying Saucer,” he called it “that dumpy bar by Bass Pro.”  So that was his frame of reference.

Bill cataloged the broken down equipment and rusty accouterments as we walked towards the entrance.  Shabby is not chic in his book.  However, as soon as we got inside, the gleaming wood and shiny brass told a different story.  Bill was relieved that the exterior had not been a precursor of the interior.  Still we hurried through the dark, clubby atmosphere of the inside section and headed out to the extensive patio.

But it’s No Dump

We opted for a tall table right next to the railing of the patio.  The seating offered in this section is backless stools.  Another section was full of tall chairs with backs.  Other people might have moved to the other section, but Bill just exchanged the furniture.

By the time we’d ordered a couple of beers and some nachos,Bill had developed a new mindset.  This wasn’t a dumpy bar next to Bass Pro Shops, it was his new favorite place.  He opined that living out by the lake was a great life and his view of the lake on the Saucer’s patio was better than many resorts he’d been to.

Go for the Views and the Brews

All in all, Bill and I had a wonderful afternoon at the Saucer on the Lake.  The patio is large with  amazing views in all directions.  The demographics are all over the place.  In fact, the population on the patio pretty much covered every option, which was part of the charm.

The beer list is extensive – probably more like exhaustive.  We chose light beers, because we are watching our figures, but it was tempting to be adventurous.The have wine and mixed drinks aplenty also.  The nachos weren’t anything to write home about, but they were OK.  The food seems fairly secondary to the whole purpose of the establishment.

I can tell you this, we’ll be back to the Flying Saucer and I’ll be back next week with another review.