DallasSite Recommendation – Performing Arts Center

There is something to be said about a 70 degree Texas day. As I sit here, I am excited to see the activity in the new AT&T Performing Arts District. Ladies clad in nice suits, smiling, chatting as they stroll from building to building. I must say at first I was a skeptic. One of those people who said Dallas doesn’t need any more parks, sitting areas, or places to stroll. Thank you Mayor Leppert and Council Woman Angela Hunt for not listening to me.  For years, the Meyerson and DMA (Dallas museum of Art) seemed a lonely pair across from the Cathedral and down the street from each other. But with the addition of the new performing arts center, it’s all a site to behold.

White metal benches (like the one I’m blogging from) surround several trees from where I can I can catch a glimpse of the Windspear Opera House.  Though I still have to wonder if the square hole up top is going to be closed at some point.

It takes away from the ambiance of the entire building.

 Dallas needed an opera house. We are a city of overly cultured, dress up, compete with the likes of large cultured cities like New York.  I for one cannot wait until I attend my first opera there (already have the outfit picked).

So if you have not been to the PAC (Performing Arts Center), you are sleeping on a little gem of downtown. It has plenty to offer, even if you took away the culture.  For one, there are beautifully painted walls. Several of the pictures look as if the objects are there for you to touch.  There is also a map that will guide you through the areas of interest.

My suggestion is even if you are not into opera, nothing at the Meyerson floats your boat, the DMA is not your speed…atleast take some time out to just walk the area. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.  Needless to say, it will make for a perfect date, a family outing or somewhere to share with your children.

For me, it made a perfect office for me to gather my thoughts. I completed this post. And even began planning my next project.  The unveiling in December.

From my voice to you.

My Letter to Some Parents

I do not have children. I’ve worked with plenty. I’ve participated in community forums, after school programs and teach conflict resolution to youth. It is not the youth who are my frustration, but some parents.

Dear Parent:
If the government or your community center is offering free after school programs for children and all you have to do is to complete an application with your name, address, phone number and DL, why won’t you do it? What is going through your mind at work while your child is at home alone? Why are you the first to complain saying no one is helping me? Why are you singing the “I am single mother, I do what I can” blues? Come on now. Your child deserves better from you. They want to be at the recreation center playing with balloons, getting help with homework, having snack, meeting important community volunteers with their friends – Not smudging up the glass as they look in the window. It only takes one minute. Sign the papers, return them to your community center and thank the center staff for caring about your child.
From a concerned non-profit worker.

On 10/22/09, I moderated a town hall meeting. One of the hot topics was parent involvement. Here is a snippet of the discussion:

Moderstor: What is the age group for the afterschool program?
Center Director: Ages 6-12. 12 years old is a good age to instill principles and morales. They can still be taught. The afterschool program here is funded by a grant, so we mainly promote to that age.

Moderator: How would one go about being a volunteer?
Center Director: The city policy is to go through the Volunteer Center of North Texas.

Moderator: How do your parents feel about the after school program?
Center Director: There needs to be more involvement by the parents. They don’t come in the center to talk to us. Parents need to come complete the paperwork so we can help more youth.

Moderator: How can we help get the word out about the recreation center?
Center Director: Let parents know about us and that any City of Dallas youth can participate in the after school program as long as they qualify for the reduced lunch program.

Moderator:What else would you like to add?
Center Director: Generally taking care of the youth and increasing attendance in the afterschool program is a collective issue. We need parent participation first. Then we will get the youth. In some cases it is a child raising child. We need to show that the child is everyone’s child.

All I can say is it is a parents job to be responsible and find the best opportunities for them to grow. The programs are out there. Don’t complain the next time you see a child on the news being truant, hanging out, stealing or harm done to them – Go find their parent.

Style in Your “Closer to 40 than 30” Season

A couple of days ago, I found myself feverishly surfing Google for a stylish look for the 60 Minutes correspondent, Byron Pitts book signing. I wanted to go for something trendy, professional but stylish. Turning mid thirties earlier in October, had me hating everything in my closet. An hour later, websites of tights, skinny jeans, textured panty hose, layered lace blouses and belted knits stared at me. But nothing called out to me. My fashion motto is if it is meant for you, you will hear it calling your name. I can shop for hours in the Nordstrom shoe department, browsing and slipping into an assortment of black pumps when the only thing that will jump into my bag is any BCBG pump. Nevertheless, this was not a BCBG pump event (yes a Carlos event).

I decided not only to channel my inner diva, but to also summon the help of past fashionistas I’ve always admired – Jackie Kennedy, Aubrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel – women who showed elegance in simplicity and bold accessories. Perhaps I could even pull off the “pants suit” style of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The transformation steps:

1. Hunt for your favorite suit, pants or skirt. Be sure it’s one that brings that womanly smirk of satisfaction when you look in the mirror. For me, it is my off white Tahari.
2. Next, choose your accessories, the earrings and a necklace. Pearls are a popular past trend that has made its new mark. You can opt for a single strand, long double strand and various colors. For this outfit, I went with my favorite broach.
3. Lastly, but definitely not due to least of importance – your shoes. Make them bold. I must confess it is what I’m known for. People are always commenting “where did you get those” or “Wow I like those, they are different.”

Whatever your style and no matter the occasion, find what best suits you. How it turned out for me?

                                           Over all, it was a great evening.

Wasting $500 Mil of Tax-Payer $ on a Dallas Convention Center Hotel

Build it and they will come.  This seems to be the rationale behind the tax-payer owned $500 mil Dallas Convention Center hotel.  I’ve listened to both sides of the argument, yet one question remains. How many people on the committee live downtown?  Downtown Dallas is only vibrant in 2 areas – parts of Main St. and the Victory Park area.  A big hotel with 1,000 convention goers is not going to change the fact there is nothing APPEALING in our downtown. You can only visit ReUnion Tower, skate at the Plaza of the Americas and see the Bulls for one day.  Convention goers will be thrilled with – Counting the empty buildings; Saying “No, I don’t have any change” to the homeless and having few places to eat pass 8:00 p.m. And of course if you are a smoker, you can forget doing that in the 7 bars downtown.  Are the Sheraton, the W Hotel, the Hyatt, the Magnolia, the Fairmont,  the Joule, the Westin and the Adolphus full to capacity? No  – if they were I would not be able to get a hotel downtown for $50 a night at the Hyatt on Priceline.com. Oh and the new Ritz Carlton, it’ll have more people than a convention center hotel because it’s located in a thriving business and “TRENDY” area. And why is it we need the Convention Center hotel? Oh yeah to create jobs for the Southern Sector.  Jobs that will be cut when the hotel isn’t full to capacity.  If the convention center hotel is such a needed and grand investment, and Dallas in line to be a  thriving convention location..why are businesses lined up to do business downtown? Umm where is the Cowboys new stadium again? Why does the Hyatt recommend Terrellis on Greenville or Sherlock’s in Addison instead of Pearl on Commerce or 609 Harwood in Downtown Dallas ? And the West End..well without the House of Blues it would be desilate. As a downtown Dallas resident, all I can say is this ..they built Reunion Arena and the Convention Center, Now look at THEM; they built Victory Park and several retailers and restaurants have moved..see a pattern? Once again my tax dollars are going to the legacy of an empty Downtown Dallas building, as opposed to bailing out a crippled DISD or making Downtown Dallas the city it can be.

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