Multiple Players

Not everyone gets to live in a world with a videogame musical score. If that’s your thing, then I guess I’m one of the lucky ones—my day job keeps me constantly surrounded by the musical accompaniment of animated missions and boss battles. But for those of you who only get…

Homeward Bound

Be it regarding health issues, family life or general social attitudes, everyone thinks that January is a time to initiate some changes. Luckily you don’t have to tackle your home-related New Year’s resolutions on your own, because the Dallas Home Show is here to help. Covering everything from beautification ideas…

Spectacular Rat

Over the past couple of years, I think I’ve schooled you guys appropriately in the fine art of celebrating Chinese New Year. By now you know all about the scrumptious food and the little red envelopes, but what about the performance side of the celebration? With the year of the…

Seven Days

Kwanzaa has always freaked me out a little. It’s hard to grasp the idea of a holiday that my parents predate. I mean, it’s a good idea in theory, but then so are most festivals and celebrations. Since it’s such a new holiday, there’s still a bit of learning and…

Bakery Bells

Everyone knows about the jolly fat man who can fly around the planet in one night, breaking into houses and leaving mysterious gifts for all of the little children of the world. Kids are pretty gullible, and they have no problems believing that a guy in a red suit, fueled…

Saint Pawn

For a moment, let’s just forget that whole Ten Commandments thing about creating false idols and whatnot. Besides, it seems as long as said idols are actually Christian-based icons, then all is well. Hell, some of these icons are even considered to be sacred. Pawn Gallery’s Catholic Iconography will have…

King Ralph

‘Tis the season to watch A Christmas Story over and over again. Even though you’ve always had to watch Ralphie and his friends battle Scut Farkus on the small screen at home every year, your kids don’t have to. Monday nights are Family Nights at Mockingbird Station (5307 E. Mockingbird…

Cold, Cold Love

Who says that fairy tales are only for kids? Just because there aren’t talking mirrors, poisoned apples or pumpkin carriages steered by horse-mice, it doesn’t mean that all magical love stories should be relegated to the nursery. In a story commissioned by the Undermain Theatre (3200 Main St.), poet and…

Light It Up

I’m a little bit out of the Hanukkah/Chanukah loop. The Holiday Armadillo taught me a little, as did Seth Cohen, but I blame my lack of Jewish knowledge on my parents—Buddhist, Catholic and Lutheran parents tend to leave a person accepting of all but relating to few. Regardless, I have…

His Tre-ness

Top Chef fans rejoice—you don’t have to head down to Abacus to see Tre Wilcox in action. After watching him make his way through the first half of Top Chef as the man to beat, he somehow got the ax in the 10th episode, leaving many of us disappointed and…

Shopping Stop-Off

Black Friday. It’s an inevitable, necessary evil we have to deal with every year—the crowds are insane, but the sales are enough to bring people out in droves. Circling in the car for hours to find parking spaces and waiting in mile-long lines for $10 sweaters is what we do…

Sweet Salvation

It’s quite possible that, aside from turducken, my favorite thing about the holiday season is the wonderfulness that is the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Every year I select a couple of Angels and go on a shopping spree on their behalf, getting everything from sweaters and shoes to roller skates…

Soccer, Sushi-style

I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to tell you guys this, but soccer (or football if you’re not from these parts) is where it’s at, and this weekend is a big one in the world of footie. Sunday brings us both the MLS Cup Finals as…

Cussin’ Right at You

Clive Cussler is one of those names that just about everyone is familiar with, whether or not you’re a fan of his work. He has written a few dozen adventure novels, and you’d be hard pressed to walk into any airport newsstand and not find one of his titles beckoning…

Sweet Chile o’ Yours

Remember when Bobby Flay thought it would be a good idea to throw down with a Texas chili-maker on that show of his? Yes, we were disappointed as well, and we’re guessing that the tie he “earned” was probably paid for with Food Network money. We all know that a…

Four-legged Focal Points

Would you rather be a dog, a rat or a weasel? Watch what you pick, because in Raychael Stine’s work, you could be the strong protagonist, a sweet companion along for the ride or something much worse. With her first solo exhibition Dogs, Rats, and Weasels, Stine gives us a…

Symphonic Spells

Sadly, I’m just a muggle, but then again, so are you. We have no magical powers, no Quidditch, and certainly no house elves to do all of our chores—it’s a wonder we make it through the days. The only real magician I’ve seen lately is J.K. Rowling. Her magic seems…

Mind the Protocols

Conspiracy theorists take note: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, everyone’s favorite literary hoax that tells of the Jewish/Masonic plot to take over the world using brainwashing, world wars, materialism and, yes, even pornography, has a lovely little step-child courtesy of Noah Simblist, an assistant professor of art at…

Chin Up for Charity

I have found myself in a bit of a conundrum. I loathe Jay Leno. I don’t just dislike the man, I downright detest him. Him and that chin of his. But the thing is, he’s coming to town, swooping down on our beloved Majestic Theatre (1925 Elm St.) this Saturday…

Bird’s-Eye View

NorthPark can be a confusing place sometimes. It’s a mall, but it’s not called a mall––it’s a center. I know that sounds a little pretentious (though not as arrogant as, say, The Shops) but NorthPark Center (8687 N. Central Expressway) has done a damn fine job of distinguishing itself from…

Blast Off

Fifty years ago the Russians showed the world that they beat us into space, and damned if we didn’t resent it. Sure, we landed on the moon first (all conspiracy theories aside), but October 4, 1957, was the day we threw our asses into gear and joined the great Space…

Blast Off

Fifty years ago the Russians showed the world that they beat us into space, and damned if we didn’t resent it. Sure, we landed on the moon first (all conspiracy theories aside), but October 4, 1957, was the day we threw our asses into gear and joined the great Space…