The Rock Runs Through Uptown

Uptown Dallas Today

   The White Rock Marathon is coming on Sunday December 13th. The half marathon and the full marathon will both travel up Mc Kinney Ave from Victory Park. The marathons make a left turn at Hall St. and a right at Turtle Creek. The race begins at 8:00 am and the very fast runners will be at Hall St within less than 10 minutes . Traffic will be blocked along the route all the way to White Rock Lake and back to Downtown and back to Victory Park. The half marathon returns along the Katy Trail and it too will be block for the runners . 

   A 5k fun run is scheduled for Saturday the 12th of December in conjunction with the White Rock Marathon. Called the Mayors Race it will begin at City Hall and cross the Trinity River in to Oak Cliff. This race begins at 9:00 am on Saturday. Again expect traffic delays in Downtown Dallas.  

   The Adolphus Children's Parade will be this Saturday December 5th in Downtown Dallas. The Fair Park Holiday Lights will be Sunday December 6th from 2pm-7pm. Free admission and the Museums will have free afternoon admission. The Dallas Wind Symphony Quintet will also perform. An Antique show , a Holiday Market and Children's Market will also be going on during the event. Of course there will be the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and light show on the Esplanade and introduction of two , replicas of 1936 sculptures,new  sculptures over looking the Esplanade. 

   

   Happy Holidays     

Light Up Lee Park

Uptown Dallas Today

   On Sunday night there will be a Christmas celebration at Lee Park. There will be 500,000 led lights illuminating  the sky along Turtle Creek. Home Alone the movie will be shown from 6pm - 8pm for those of you that like a good Christmas about abandoning children in a high crime neighborhood . Just kidding of course as it could be worse like shooting your eye out with a Red Ryder BB gun. 

   After the movie , at 8pm, the Lee Park Christmas tree will be illuminated and then at 8:30pm the fireworks begin. This is when my ear sensitive cat will go into hiding. Should be a great time had by all. The weather will be winter like and hopefully the rain will hold off. 

   The YMCA in Downtown Dallas is having a food drive for the North Texas Food Bank . Take the elevator to the 3rd floor and drop off non-perishable food. Since you are there check out the new T Boone Pickens YMCA looks great. If you can not drop off food there then try another location around town as many groups are participating during the holidays.

  See you at the movie in the park   

Adolphus Children's Parade Dec 5th

Uptown Dallas Today

   The Adolphus Children's Parade will be in Downtown Dallas on December 5th at 10:00 am. The Children's Parade will proceed down Commerce St. and of course will be seen on television ,too. Selena Gomez will be the featured entertainer for the Children's Parade. Always fun to watch a parade and I am sure there will be many thousands watching this one. 

   On Little Debbie Share-a-Thon will be arriving on December 8th at Mockingbird Station. The little cupcake cars ,as seen on tv, will be there. Free Little Debbie Cupcakes will be given out and you can enter a drawing to win one of the Little Debbie Smart Cars. The cupcakes arrive at 2:00pm in front of Urban outfitters on December 8th. 

   Have a good Thanksgiving and I will see some of you, 33,000 + expected , at the YMCA Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. 

   gobble gobble 

    

Katy Trail Snyders Union

 Uptown Dallas Today 

   The Katy Trail will open Snyders Union officially on Saturday November 28th. The Plaza looks great and has a wonderful view of Turtle Creek and Lee Park. The entrance from Carlisle will be closed for the time being. The new apartment complex is in moving on up mode. They are beginning the 5th, and last, floor. The crane and construction equipment will keep the Carlisle entrance closed . 

   The new entrance from Hall St. is also nearing completion as most of the frame work is completed. The Hall St. entrance will enter from the Turtle Creek side of the Katy Trail. Another stair way and entrance is planned for Blackburn. It may be the next new entrance to the Katy Trail. 

   Lots of stimulus funds were awarded last week for Dallas Trails. The extension of the Katy Trail , connecting to White Rock Trail , may not be to far away. Although several bridges will need to be built and of course that takes time. The good news is that construction should begin early next year.

   The 60 foot tree in Main Street Gardens is fantastic. Supposed to be the tallest tree of its kind in the U. S. If you were not there last night , in the light mist , you missed a good show. A trip to Neiman Marcus should be high on your list. If you have kids in he 4-10 year old range they will really enjoy the science tubes in the Nieman Marcus windows. Today is Music in the  Park , Main Street Gardens ,from 3pm-7pm .   

The Turkey just missed becoming the National Bird.     

Lee Park Brightens the Sky

Uptown Dallas Today

   On November 29th from 6:00 pm till 9:00 pm the sky will glow and for a few minutes fireworks will explode over Turtle Creek. Light Up Lee Park will be having their annual Christmas Tree lighting and music and fireworks. The tree lighting should be around 7:00 pm followed by fireworks. I know where my cat will be during the fireworks , sensitive ears, as she not amused by the loud bangs in the sky. This should get you in the mood  for the holiday season. 

   Tonight the Gardens , in West Village , will team up with Cork Wines to help the North Texas Food Bank and Goodwill. Bring in non-perishable food or a new or slightly used warm winter coat and receive a discount on a purchase. A very good thing to do all year ,but, even more important this time of year. 

   Jazz tonight at the Dallas Museum of Art and Friday night it is Late Nights at the DMA. A busy Friday night downtown and fun will be had by all. Main Street Gardens will have its first Christmas celebration on Friday night,too. Neimans will be open late for your shopping pleasure. Neimans downtown always looks fantastic for the holidays inside and outside the store. If you have never been then now is the time to do so.   

Perot Museum Breaks Ground

Uptown Dallas Today

   The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will break ground today. Across from the El Fenix you can see the giant tent set up for the ground breaking. The Museum construction should begin sometime next year and be completed in early 2013. This will be a wonderful museum for all North Texans to enjoy. 

   City Lights is Friday night in Main Street Gardens and this year there will be a 60 foot tree in the center of the park. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm and continue till 10:00 pm. On Saturday there will be a free music event from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Thrift Store Cowboys and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights will be performing.

   The DMA Jazz in the Atrium is Thursday night from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm and as always it is a free event. On Friday night ,the 20th, it is the DMA Late Nights event. From 6:00 pm till midnight. The Trolley runs late on Friday and Saturday nights , till midnight, and is free . 

   Enjoy the Day !   

Uncommon Market in Uptown

Uptown Dallas Today 

   Uncommon Market located at 2701 Fairmount is having a sale . Over 15,000 square foot of antiques and other neat things. Just in time for the holiday season,too. There are several little shops and gallery's up and down Fairmount and on a nice cool day like today there is nothing better than walking about Uptown. 

   When you do need to warm up a bit try the Crooked Tree Coffeehouse at 2414 Routh. A great little place to rest and get a caffeine fix. They have live music on the weekends so check out the schedule when you visit. 

   The Uptown PID is in the process of greening a spot in front of William Travis School. The Uptown PID provided $20,000 for the new iron fence around the school. The Uptown PID will also pay for the new green space. Should look good for spring.

   Remember to lock your car and hide your valuables do not make your car an easy target. You will notice DPD officers on horseback and on bike patrol in the Uptown Neighborhood. They are there for your protection ,but, you have to do your part too. Try the Trolleylinecrimewatch.blogspot.com for information on the crime information in the neighborhood. 

     

We Need Real Sidewalks

Uptown Dallas Today

   Ok it is time for the Uptown PID to build some real sidewalks in Uptown. How about a project that goes from El Fenix to West Village on both sides of Mc Kinney Ave. A minimum 4 foot wide sidewalk with a 6 foot wide being even better. On both sides of the street and no barriers. That means no trees,bushes,poles,signs,cables,trash cans and anything else that gets in the way of a real pedestrian sidewalk. Four to six feet wide with no barriers. 

   The time is now while the economy is a little slow. The tax money is available ,your public improvement tax money, to spend. This would create that "Best Walking Neighborhood in Dallas" for real not just in words. A mid rise public parking garage might be a good idea too. That would take care of the suburban tourist and their car. We already have the Mc Kinney Ave Trolley to move people up and down the avenue. Now we need a real sidewalk on both sides of Mc Kinney Ave. If you agree then let the Uptown PID and your local leaders know your opinion.

   Ocean Prime located at the corner of Cedar Springs and Pearl opens today. Good luck to a new Uptown Restaurant . Outtakesdallas.org celebrates there 11th season at Magnolia Theater , in West Village , tonight. The City Lights Christmas Tree Lighting is next Friday at Main Street Gardens. 

   FRIDAY The 13TH !

       

Main Street Gardens Friday the 13th

Uptown Dallas Today

   This Friday the 13th Main Street Gardens will have the official dedication and ribbon cutting. 

It will be a private event for all those people that will not use the park . Starts at 5:30pm - 8:00pm and will have a light show after the ribbon cutting . That should be a little after 6:00 pm. 

  On November the 20th from 6:30pm - 10:00 pm City Lights will ring in the Holiday Season. A 60ft Christmas Tree will be tower over Main Street Gardens . On the 21st Main Street Gardens will have the first free concert in the park. From 3:00pm - 7:00pm on Saturday the 21st you can enjoy a free concert. 

  November 16th should be the last day for whats left of Reunion Arena. That day should be the implosion day to bring down the roof . Expect delays on the nearby freeways as traffic will be stopped . 

  If you want to watch the light show at Main Street Gardens you will be able to see everything from the sidewalk in front of the University of North Texas soon to be Law School.    

Vote Today !

Uptown Dallas Today 

   3% of the registered voters will vote today. That is the prediction from election officials. Good thing we fought for the right to vote . Otherwise we would have to set at home and complain about government  doing a poor job, being corrupt and inept . Oh Wait ! That's what 97% of you are doing right now. Go Vote. 

  Kroger wants to sell beer and wine in the front yard of Alex W Spence School and the Dallas Light House for the Blind. Good thing Kroger is a good corporate neighbor and is a good source of political contributions. Kroger wants the Dallas City Council, that means Angela Hunt, to give them a variance to sell beer and wine at the old Lowes Movie Theatre site. The state law is that you can not do that if you are within 300 feet of a school. The City Council can give a variance much like they have for William B Travis School on Mc Kinney Ave. Which was and is a bad idea. A taco joint will be doing that very soon and they are less than 100 feet from William B Travis.  

  My opinion is no. There are more than enough places on Mc Kinney Ave to buy beer and wine . Kroger will not add to the selection or price of either. If they to build a store there then they should have to abide by the rules . With 2 Kroger stores nearby my thought would be that one of them would be closed. My bet would be the Cedar Springs store. Why not build this store where they planned . On Live Oak and Good Latimer where it would do Old East Dallas and Downtown Dallas a lot of good. 

  just my opinion       

Downtown YMCA

Uptown Dallas Today

   The Downtown YMCA will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday November 5th at 11:00 am . T Boone Pickens will be there for the ribbon cutting . Mr Pickens donated 5 million dollars to the Downtown YMCA for the renovation. For the most part the remodel is complete and they did a great job. The 3rd and 4th floors have been completely redone and made much more open. New machines and new rooms for Yoga and Pilate's . Check out the YMCA on Saturday the 7th for an open house from 11:00 am till 2:00 pm . Make sure you check out the outdoor rooftop track. Great views of Downtown Dallas. 

    Get out and Vote Tomorrow  from 7:00 am till 7:00 pm. The William B Travis school at 3001 Mc kinney is one of the places to vote. Check your voting status and where you vote with Dallas County Elections on line at www.dalcoelections.org . To check out the 11 Amendments go to League of Women Voters at www.lwvdallas.org . Democracy in Action it's a wonderful thing !