The State Fair of Texas, scheduled for September 27 to October 20, has just announced its 2013 theme will be The One & Only, to coincide with the phoenix-like resurrection of our corn dog guardian, Big Tex. They’ve promised that the 52-foot tall host will return refreshed and accompanied by…
Last week we introduced our 2013 Masterminds, local artists to whom we awarded $1,000 each for their work making Dallas a stranger, more interesting place to live. And on Saturday night, we honored them at our annual Artopia culture jam, featuring art, fashion, food, music, and some seriously shiny low-riders,…
Local entrepreneurs Austin Emmert and Caden Stevens are bringing focus to the “making-people-look-cooler-when-they-party” business. Last year, the former fraternity brothers turned business partners founded the eye wear line, Spectified. The attraction lies in the electroluminescent wire (aka EL wire), that’s built into the frames, causing the shades to light up…
Potty training a toddler isn’t fun. Trying to convince a toddler to crap into a toilet is like trying to convince a drunk person that whatever stupid shit he’s currently doing is a bad idea. Conversations with both the toddler and the drunk will end with the same result: he…
Late last year, as most of the city’s creators went into holiday hibernation, the Observer’s culture editor, Jamie Laughlin, assembled a team of fellow cultural obsessives and went to work, looking for this year’s Masterminds. See also: The Dallas Observer 2011 MasterMinds Awards It’s the third straight year we’ve done…
If you didn’t get a chance to pile into that adorably retrofitted Warby Parker school bus at its welcome party on Saturday, I completely understand. It was slammin’ in there. For slackers like me and possibly you, the Warby Parker bus is pulling the parking break at 2323 Henderson Avenue…
If you’ve ever been to a baby shower, you’ve seen the same gifts over and over again: baby bottles, baby diapers, baby blankets, baby clothes. Sure, people who are expecting to have a baby-type person enter their lives need those things. But there’s a ton of other shit that Babies…
You all know Justin Terveen. If you don’t, he’s the indefatigable photographer who has turned Dallas’ skyline into an iridescent beauty on many, many occasions. This morning, we shot Justin a line to send us over his favorite shots of from 2012. I won’t muck this up any more with…
We all seek regression around the holidays. Presents, apparently, require money to purchase. Shortened work weeks leave you stressing, rather than embracing this period of — what is it? — Joy and togetherness, right. Caffeinate your inner child, then set it loose this evening at the final Adult Crawl Night…
You’re pressing the edge of online shipping, nobody wants to be near the mall and Christmas will be here in five days. We have ideas, or rather the Perot Museum, Nasher and Dallas Museum of Art do. Those gift shops are packed with scores for everyone on your list, and…
If you’re just now looking at a gift guide, congratulations. You waited it out. We knew you would, champ. Your reward for lazy patience? You can ride our holiday shopping coattails to gifting glory because we’ve searched Dallas and the interwebs to find 27 presents that are as affordable as…
Macy’s has announced that many of its stores, including all Dallas area locations, will stay open for the entire 48 hours of the pre-Christmas weekend. It begins at 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21 and ends at midnight on Sunday, Dec. 23. This is great news since I often need a…
In The Parent Crap, Alice Laussade chronicles life as a mom in Dallas. Worried you’re screwing up your kid? Tweet questions to @thecheapbastard and she’ll confirm that, yes, you’re screwing up your kid. It’s Christmastime again, and if you have a toddler at home, that means it’s also probably Elf…
Sifting through photos to learn more of who’s involved with Wigwam, the pop-up shopping experience launching on Thursday in Oak Cliff, has tipped us into a dangerous level of excitement. It’s the type of fervor that makes you rethink the phrase “emergency fund” and question who really needs a 401K,…
Jeremy Turner, owner of the mobile vintage store The Vintagemobile, has a little side project going this Christmas season: selling 3,000 Christmas sweaters. He’s been collecting the festive garments since last January, and now it’s time to spread the itchy holiday cheer. “I started selling Christmas sweaters on The Vintagemobile…
Just hours after feasting with their families and posting unnaturally humble Facebook status updates, they venture out. Fueled by an irrational desire for Black Friday bargains, these shoppers pawn their thankful feelings in exchange for discount electronics. This cell phone video shows it happening again as home dude clings to…
“Almost 4,000 students, faculty and staff participated in this historic, one-take video, showcasing the gifts and spirit of Martin High School in Arlington, Texas.” So says the YouTube description. But it’s right there. See for yourself. H/T Dallas Reddit…
The night was a warm glow. The mood was soft, the venue low-lit like a candle-filled bedroom. Local blues man Lucky Peterson provided the soundtrack on the piano; he played soft jazz with a creative infusion of something nearing the blues. Free chocolate-covered strawberries and wine heightened the intimate mood,…
More than 1,400 gamers competed in Major League Gaming’s Fall Championship at the Dallas Convention Center over the weekend, with thousands of international viewers tuning in via livestream. Hell, even ESPN covered it. ESports and videogame fandom at large can no longer be pigeon-holed as truly esoteric. Now, that’s fine…
Parent Crap’s Alice Laussade is off this week, tending to her beloved Meat Fight. Joe Tone, who became a parent earlier this year, fills in. The house was dark. Most of the street was by then. Porch lights, living-room lights, kitchen lights — every watt visible from the sidewalk was…
If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a profanity-spewing 14-year-old’s headset-enabled tirade, you probably know that some people take video games quite seriously. Seriously enough to start calling video game competitions eSports, and to jump from one continent to the next to face off in person and compete…
In The Parent Crap, Alice Laussade chronicles life as a mom in Dallas. Worried you’re screwing up your kid? Tweet questions to @thecheapbastard and she’ll confirm that, yes, you’re screwing up your kid. Choosing the perfect Halloween candy to pass out to trick-or-treaters is extremely important, if you ever want…
