Get Outta the House Tonight!

Stop by the coffeehouse for a delicious Iced-Blended Coffee Drink, then walk on over to Hal’s to blow your artistic mind!

Come join Samples’ Gallery to take a peek at “Peep Show”, a look into the lives of Mike Arreaga and Andrew Tolentino. Peep Show is a collaborative exhibition of photographer, Arreaga and mixed media artist, Tolentino. In an interactive showing of mixed-media work, photographs, and installations.

Through a walk-in video installation and other collaborative efforts, “Peep Show” translates monotonous every day terrains in to beauty as perceived by the two artists. Viewers are encouraged to interact with some of the work, peering through holes, not just looking but feeling texture and pulling off elements to put them where they see fit.

The exhibition will open with a reception on May 1st from 7P.M. to 10P.M. Free refreshments will be available to guests. Hal Samples’ Gallery located at 2814 Main street, Dallas TX, open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 P.M, and free of charge.

Happy Birthday Gus-Gus

Sometimes I can hardly bear how much I miss the girl-child and the grand-dog-baby.

It hurts…lots…

She’s going to France for a semester in a couple of weeks and the grand-dog-baby will reside with me while she’s gone. Why-o-why can’t I have them both with me for a semester?

Mom stuff is hard…it hurts…lots…

Deep Ellum Earth Day Clean-Up Extravaganza

It’s a Grind along with fellow Deep Ellum Community Association members, and the ever-fabby Jeff Kiec (our organizer) will meet at the Deep Ellum Foundation offices tomorrow evening for a stroll and clean-up through Deep Ellum.

Those of us who live and work in Deep Ellum are wanting to bring an even bigger sense of community to our little neighborhood. One way to do it, is to get out on foot, clean up messes along the way, get to know the streets and get to know each other better.

Please join us!

Goin’ Deep

AFTER you come over to It’s a Grind for something really delectable, there’s lots to do ’round Deep Ellum this weekend – and you don’t even need your car!

Tonight you can enjoy a delish-dish at AllGood Cafe, and stick around for Texas Country songsters, Adam Carroll and Owen Temple.

Friday night, you simply must check out Justin Clemons’ amazing exhibit over at Hal Samples’ Gallery. It’s stunning and really touching. Proceeds go to the Orphan Rescue and Relief. Friday, April 17th is the last night, so chop-chop.

More good Friday night creamy Deep goodness…

Club Dada – Eastwood / Elkhart / The Atoms – great indie/Americana/alt.everything music from all 3 bands. You’ll have yourself a time.

Sons of Hermann – Gary Louris & Mark Olson (of the Jayhawks) / The O’s – Are you kidding? Sons never fails to put on the best shows.

The Double Wide – Skyrocket (Austin) / Boogie Woogie Dance Party – I just like to say “boogie woogie”

The Lounge – Represent Austin Presents: Drawn by Jaymz / The Hearts and Minds / Jack with One Eye – this show is a MUST! I’ve been dying to see Drawn by Jaymz live, so I might just have to venture out past my bedtime.

The Prophet Bar/The Door – Big room – Fair to Midland / Dead Twins / House of Harkonnen / Bronze Whaler – in the Prophet Bar – Dovetail / Jack County / April Geesbreght / Hoyotoho

Sankofa – The Chocolate Mix

Saturday, April 18th

Well, I gotta give the Good Records Birthday Bash a shout-out. This will be my 5th year attending, and although I can’t get there until the afternoon, I’ll get there and me’n’Hunter will bring back some great video footage. Click on the poster above for details.

Bokeh opens on Saturday night at Kettle Art Gallery and should be especially divine.

Then of course you can move on to all 25 galleries on the DADA/DEEP Spring Gallery Art Walk. You’ll find It’s a Grind set-up at the Continental Lofts Gallery.

Think about heading out early and catching the fabulous Shoot Low Sheriff gang at AllGood Cafe. It’s a happy hour show, so you’ll have plenty of time to do everything else.
7:00 PM

More good Saturday night creamy Deep goodness…

Sons of Hermann – SoupMobile Fundraiser with the Backsliders

Sankofa – Unplugged Open Mic Night – this is always a great time!

The Lounge – LoneStarHipHop.com Fresh Air with Kev Brown, CY Younge, Playdough and Rob Viktum

Sunday, April 19th

Mo Robson Band is throwin’ down a new album and a crawfish boil got involved! Hit up Adair’s on Sunday for some great Texas Country music, fab food and good times! The fun starts at 2:00 PM.

It’s that time’o'month again. No. Not THAT time of month. Malcolm’s Back Alley Swap Meet time of month!

On the corner of Indiana and Malcolm X, you’ll find treasures galore on Sunday. Add in tunes spun by the brilliant EZ Eddie D and you gotsda making of one great afternoon! 11 AM – 3 PM

Shop Much?

There are some truly fabby places to pitch pennies, including the divine Sunshine Store. Ms. Ruth makes gorgeous handmade jewelry, and the shop is full of other goodies like chimes, rare knick-knacks and more.
Location: 2714-B Elm Street (around the corner from Kettle Art Gallery)

If you are looking for some primo vinyl, or your favorite dance music, Remix Records is the spot for you.
Location: 2639 Elm Street

The Deep Ellum Postal Center is another great place to find quirky, one-of-a-kind finds. Then you can mail your granny a birthday card.
Location: 3100 Main Street

Don’t forget your java-fix! If you come on over to It’s a Grind anytime this weekend and say the phrase “grab your beans,” that’ll getcha a 1/2 price drink!

Get the Boot

Since I had to drop $100.00 to get a co-worker’s car unbooted not long ago, I’m all over this meeting. You should too.

N O T I C E

PUBLIC MEETING

Proposal to Regulate Vehicle Booting on Private Parking Lots

A public meeting has been scheduled for April 20, 2009, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla, L1/F/North Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, to discuss and take comments on a proposal to regulate vehicle immobilization, or booting, on private parking lots in the City of Dallas. Public Works and Transportation seeks input from citizens, business representatives, booting and parking companies.

Hello everyone,
The aggressive action of certain parking companies through the booting of cars will be on display very soon at city hall .

This booting action caused anger and anxiety with many neighborhood tenants, restaurants , including the West End and Downtown , Deep Ellum. Only those interested in Urban development and progress will have interest as outlying neighborhoods rarely have to deal with the reluctant partnership between the tenants and the commercial parking lots .

At present it is $100 to remove a boot with no recourse or arbitration,mediation ( it cost 2-5$ to park ). In other words if you paid and cant prove it , you get booted. If you pay at 1100 am and dont get back to your car by 600pm you get booted . Pay your $100 or stay booted as some have had to when they couldnt pay.
SEND BACK COMMENTS. I would like to forward on to the council members as they decide the proper course of action.

Barry Annino

D.A.D.A. Spring Gallery Walk Time Again!

Click above silly.

Deep Ellum Weekender…well…last weekend

Spent a fun-filled, wicked-awesome, kick-ass weekend in the D.E.E.P./Deep Ellum Community Association tent this past weekend. ‘Twas quite the fabby time. Above is some video I shot in the tent, as well as local artists, galleries and bands.

Sunday I had the honor of being a judge for the Deep Ellum Foundation Pet Parade. It was absolutely divine in every aspect. Above captures some of the festivities.

Deep Ellum Weekender…well…last weekend

I spent the weekend in the D.E.E.P./Deep Ellum Community Association tent at this year’s Deep Ellum Arts Festival. To say that I had a totally, rad, amazing, fantastic, wicked-awesome blast would be an understatement.

Above is some video of the DEAC and D.E.E.P. doin’s, as well as some of the local artists and bands participating.

Earth Hour 2009 at It’s a Grind

The Earth Hour Party at It’s a Grind was smashing. We had a packed house, and even in the cold and wind, most folks strolled out on the patio to watch the lights go down in Downtown Dallas.

Clay Pendergrass was on the vinyl and we had ourselves a time!

Girl-Child-Art

The girl child’s self-photo in my bedroom just after moving in…I love her dearly.

Cafe Concert Series – Jayson Wortham

The amazing Jayson Wortham performed at It’s a Grind on Saturday night. ‘Twas magic.

Get Blitzed

I, very politically incorrectly, rode the Vespa over to Blitz, a new retailer in Deep Ellum, on Main. They sell electric scoots. Nice fella, the owner that is, and quite informative. Still, dude couldn’t talk me into giving up my gas-guzzling (95 mpg – $2.35 to fill’er up) Vespa. Ain’t now way, no how.

However, I’d like to encourage you folks to go on over and take a look-see. They are extremely affordable and help the earth and all that crap.

Blitz
2924 Main
Deep Ellum

Can I Get a HELL YEAH!

Luck has landed on my door step, and I’ve invited ‘er in for coffee. My darling gal-pal, Chelsea Callahan has managed to talk Jayson Wortham (yes, Jayson of Dove Hunter fame) into doing a solo performance at It’s a Grind. I’m so excited I may need to don my Depends.

You would be foolish to miss this performance. You don’t want to be foolish, now do you? I thought not.

Friday, March 27th
It’s a Grind – Deep Ellum
Jayson Wortham
8:30 PM
Free!
IAG is located at 2901 Indiana inside the Ambrose Loft Building. It’s west of Elm, east of Gaston and there’s a free parking garage off of Malcolm X.

Let’s Face it…

Animation by Colin S

I got a little lost on Facebook this afternoon. Somehow I ran across someone I went to high school with, which led me to tons of people from my class.

…I only gots one thang to say…

DAMN we are old as sh*t….

Gus

The girl-child also snapped this beauty of her baby, my grandbaby, at her digs in Austin. Gawd I miss those two…

Can’t Believe She Came Outta Me…

The girl-child went camping at Barton Springs during Spring Break. Just took a little break from going on dates with Cody Kasch and moshin’ at the Japanther show at SXSW. The girl’s havin’ a good time.

Anyway, she shot the above photograph during said camp-out. Brilliant.

Poopin’ in the Mornin’, Poopin’ in the Evenin’, Poopin’ all the damn time…

…what the hell? I’ve lived in one suburb or another for like the last 20 or so years. People had dogs. People had yards. People who had yards and dogs still took them out for walks. But I’ve never, EVER seen poop on sidewalks and mailroom floors, and hallways and elevators and…and…it’s freakin’ everywhere.

The new dig’s chock full of canine, which is fine by me, but what I don’t understand is why those furry friends are allowed to run free, pooping inside the building outside the building (grass is fine, but the sidewalks???) in the elevators, in the residence hallways….help, I’ve poopin’ and I can’t get up!

Is this what urban life is like? I will admit that my pooch is only about an 8-pounder, and quite frankly, I’ve never even seen his poop. I just figured he’d found a clever way to rid of it when nobody was looking. Seriously, never seen it…until now…and I bend over with the little plastic baggie and pick it up. Thankfully, they are small in size and not particularly pungent. However, trying to swerve and leap and stop short of the ginormous mounds of giant dog-doo, EVERYWHERE, makes for interesting walks.

What kind of people allow their dogs to poop and pee all over an elevator? Or a hallway? Or the sidewalk just outside the mailroom door? Or the mailroom floor? Or the parking garage?

My poop runneth over…

EllumUpdate

I freakin’ love living in Deep Ellum. Talk about somewhat of a bubble…it’s like a magical amazing little bubble.

I love it every night when I pull the shades down a bit that I can still see the lights of Deep Ellum, and actually the highways going towards, who knows where.

I love pulling the shades up in the morning to see the same life, energy and possibilities still going on.

The main thing that’s weighing me down, other than my fat-ass, is the crap still filling the Richardson rent house. Oy..VAY!

I was recently voted on to the board of the Deep Ellum Association and last night was my first meeting. Good folks trying to do good things.

The only thing I’m finding a tad odd, are the people who live in my building. They are incredibly unfriendly, to the point that elevator rides have become excruciatingly awkward. It’s been a long time since I lived the urban lifestyle, so perhaps it’s just the way things are…or are not.

Dog-walking at 3 am in the rain and cold has been absolutely delightful these past couple of days. Nothing like a nice walk in the pouring rain, begging your dog to go poo-poo, at 3 in the morning….sigh.

Just Walkin’ & Talkin’

Today Bud Melton came by the store. He’s doing some really interesting things with his company Bowman-Melton (bicycle and pedestrian planners). He and his partner, Annie, drove home my decision to walk absolutely as much as possible in Deep Ellum. Course, the scooter always lures me to her seat, but she’ll just have to understand.

Check out all the exciting things Bud & Annie are doing. And fercrissakes get off yo’ can and go take a walk! In fact, walk on over to It’s a Grind!

FLL = Music/Art – LOtB = Stupid Personal Crap

I’m still tweaking, cleaning-up, dusting-off and adding finishing touches to The Fine Line, but for the most part, it’s a relaunch.

FLL will house anything I want to blather on about pertaining to art, music, photography, culture and all things…ya know…creative that goes on in this town and beyond.

Here at LOtB you’ll find boring babble about living life in Deep Ellum, the boy/girl-child antics, the dog, the Vespa…basically what I started this blog to do…vent.

So there you have it….

Special thanks to Lance and TFG for their help with logos and html and all the other crap I asked of you and will continue to ask of you.