Whenever the Mavs play the Rockets, we think back on that 40-point beat-down our boys in blue delivered in their game seven, round one match-up in the 2005 playoffs, and how we called our Houston buddy and left obnoxious voice mails on his phone for several hours afterwards. Life has…
We remember the very first Art Conspiracy way back in 2005, when it was held in the Texas Theatre and we were able to land a sweet painting of a grinning bandito for only $20, because no one else could see the value in it (suckers!). Five years later, Art…
500X Expo: College brings together the talents of college students from across the state of Texas for a special exhibition juried by Andrea Karnes, associate curator for the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. If these kids are anything like we were in college, expect to see lots of beer,…
Photographer Carolyn Brown has explored the intersection between faith and art for years, largely by documenting the ancient sacred places of the world, from cathedrals to mosques to temples and everything in between. Dialogues: Where Iberia and the New World Meet, a new exhibit at the Afterimage Gallery, collects her…
Kincaid’s Hamburgers4901 Camp Bowie Blvd.Fort Worth, TexasDude Factor: 9, or Roger Miller, on a scale of 1 (Mark David Chapman) to 10 (Townes Van Zandt)It seems that every time someone does a survey of metroplex burgers (or a statewide survey, for that matter), the name “Kincaid’s” seems to come up,…
The name Stradivari is synonymous with quality for fans of classical instruments, incredible given the fact that the famous Italian luthier died over 250 years ago. Antonio Stradivari’s instruments often sell for millions of dollars at auction, despite the fact that both science and casual listening tests have yet to…
By the time we were old enough to appreciate him, Jerry Jeff Walker was a mere caricature of himself, churning out lame Jimmy Buffet-esque albums (Cowboy Boots & Bathing Suits, anyone?) and dutifully playing his hits for drunk frat boys while working the brand name of whatever beer happened to…
Before Marfa, Texas became famous as a mecca for modern art buffs and high-desert hipsters, it was best known as the location for the shoot of the classic ’56 film Giant, starring Rock Hudson, James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. Strangely, despite the fact that we’ve been to Marfa–and even stayed…
Raising Cane’s (multiple locations) www.raisingcanes.com Dude Factor: 7, or House’s cane, on a scale of 1 (Michael P. Fay) to 10 (Caine). We had never darkened the door at a Raising Cane’s until the new Greenville Avenue location opened, tempting us with its promise of “chicken fingers” on the sign…
The Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic pits the Tigers of Grambling State University against the Panthers of Prairie View A & M in a historic contest that is arguably the biggest event of the year for Dallas’ black community. But seeing as how neither team is really challenging for a…
Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was published way back in 1854, yet it continues to inspire readers, environmentalists and thinkers over 150 years later with its tale of simple living and the beauty of nature. Dallas photographer Scot Miller had the honor of taking photographs of the Walden Woods (located in…
In just a few more months, thousands upon thousands of NFL fans, celebrities, dignitaries and the prostitutes and strippers that serve them will descend upon our fair metroplex for the media zoo that will be Super Bowl XLV. It remains to be seen whether our own Dallas Cowboys will have…
If Esther Ritz paints to “express her freedom of imagination,” then we naturally have the undeniable right to “express our freedom of interpretation” when looking at her colorful, abstract paintings, right? For instance, when we look at Ritz’s “It’s a Long Long Road,” we see a horse trotting through the…
As a countdown to the Dallas Observer’s “Best of Dallas” 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can…
If you’ve ever received a red card for inappropriate gestures during a friendly game of charades, then you might want to try your luck on the stage at Trees this Thursday, where your perversion could be rewarded in the preliminaries for the 2010 Air Sex World Championships. “Air sex” is…
We’re all familiar with the on field spectacle of professional football, but few know the struggles that go on behind the scenes of this beloved-but-brutal sport. All those years of hits and concussions can catch up with a player, which is why benefits and retirement packages have become such a…
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop6465 E. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 380214-370-8226Dude Factor: 9, or Peach Fuzz, on a scale of 1 (Fuzzy Wuzzy) to 10 (Fuzzbox)A lot of people around here seem to think this whole taco thing is getting out of hand–just in the past few months, we’ve seen the opening of…
Considering we could buy some flowers at the store and sit in our own chilly air conditioning for the Arboretum’s usual admission price, we normally wouldn’t pick August as the month to go. But now that the Arboretum’s August Dollar Days are upon us, we’ll have to reconsider, as $1…
Chicken House (Plus?)4839 Gaston Ave.214-370-0800Dude Factor: 9, or Animal House, on a scale of 1, Little House on the Prairie, to 10, the Playboy Mansion. By the time we made it to Chicken House (Plus?) yesterday–Did it test positive for chicken? Does the “plus” refer to pickles? We don’t really…
Lubbock legends The Flatlanders released one quietly revolutionary eight-track in 1972 before scattering to the wind, with Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock all going on to successful solo careers. Rounder’s 1990 reissue of the band’s sole album coincided nicely with the rise of the alternative country movement,…
Burger Spot9090 Skillman St.Dude Factor: 8, or the G-Spot, on a scale of 1 (liver spots) to 10 (Spot)Burger Spot is tucked into a strip mall way up near LBJ, not far from another, well-established burger joint, the highly Dude Food-rated JG’s. But while JG’s is decidedly old school, Burger…
Much like his idol Willie Nelson, whom he covered so eloquently on last year’s To Willie, Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck is that rare musician almost everyone can agree on, whether they’re pretentious indie-rockers or stubbornly twangy Americana fans. The recently released Here’s To Taking It Easy sees Houck settling into a…
