Best Radio DJ 2007 | Hedkrack | Best of Dallas® 2020 | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Dallas | Dallas Observer
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Best Radio DJ

Hedkrack

While the white-bread DJs come and go, or sometimes stay, and harangue our ears with a diluted version of Howard Stern's shtick or faux-independent rock, Hedkrack keeps it real. A Bronx native, the northerner crossed the Mason-Dixon line to bring DFW a much-needed taste of hip-hop. His show on 97.9 is good, yes, but what lifts Hedkrack above the fray is his talent, community involvement and participation in the music scene. That and, you know, his crazy dreads.

Best Radio Station

KZPS-92.5 FM Lone Star

What does Lone Star, which just switched formats this past year, have going for it? 1) They brought back famed local DJ Redbeard (isn't it gray by now?). 2) They have no freakin' commercials or, at least, "traditional" commercials. Instead they rely on "charter sponsors" like AT&T, Coors and Southwest Airlines. 3) Willie Nelson is the voice of the station. 4) They play the best damn outlaw country/rock/beer-swillin'/rehabbin' music in the state. Local boys Old 97's and Stevie Ray Vaughan butt up against pre-"Legs" ZZ top and the James Gang.

Best Reason to Take DART

Lilliputian parking spaces

Normally, we wouldn't suggest taking public transportation in Dallas. We love the environment and all, but let's face it, unless you have a few hours to spare or you're traveling to the zoo, the Angelika or the American Airlines Center, Big D is way too spread out for the system to work efficiently without some more rail lines (which are on the way). But parking at places like Eatzi's, Lincoln Park, the West Village and Mockingbird Station makes us want to give up driving. What is this—Britain? Why do they paint "compact" parking spots for Mini Coopers when everyone's driving Hummers, Tahoes and F-250s? And if that's you who put all the dings in our doors, just remember: Car karma is a bitch. And next time, we're hopping the train.

Best Reason to Walk

LifeWalk

Why not walk a few miles, raise funds for a worthy organization and have a blast doing it? That's exactly what participants in this annual event say. Now in its 17th year, LifeWalk is the largest fund-raising event for Aids Arms Inc., whose purpose is to assist individuals in accessing the health care, resources and support necessary to successfully manage the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS. Corporations, civic, religious and neighborhood groups and individuals participate in the 5K Fun Run/Walk with funds pledged by teams and individuals (this year on October 14 at Lee Park). Walk the walk, then stick around for the afternoon festival with food, libations, live entertainment, vendors and information booths. This event provides a family- and pet-friendly atmosphere and attracts a multidimensional crowd supportive of community diversity. One hundred percent of the money raised from LifeWalk goes directly to programs supporting HIV-affected individuals and families.

Best Rock Bar

Firewater Bar & Grill

Oh, sure, with its sprawling, asphalt-surrounded strip-mall kinda thing going on, Firewater may provide an apt analogy for the geography of our fair burg, and it ain't gonna win any architectural awards, but the place is friendly and roomy, the beer cheap and cold. The interior has no special qualities other than that it reminds one of the interior of a ship—long galleys and strange twists amidst a generally open interior—but it's Firewater's outdoor stage that really makes it worth a slightly heavy cover charge. Outside is a wooden deck, flanked on one side with a three-headed mini-Bellagio fountain and on the other by a long bar. The deck is fronted by the stage, which holds your usual cast of characters (everyone from KISS cover bands to DOMA winners Mad Mexicans to hard rockers Max Cady), and we defy any club in town to put together a better sound system. Even outside, amidst the soft, maddening, staticky noise of the fountains, your band is gonna sound good. Damn good.

Best Rock Bottom

Winstar

Feeling down on yourself? Need a night out with the crew to blow off some steam? Kill two birds with one stone with a trip to Winstar, the gambling mecca located just across the border in Oklahoma on I-35. Sure, if you're looking for table games, you'll find Winstar somewhat lacking, but if it's video slots and people-watching you desire, look no further. Holiday nights are especially productive since the casino is packed with big hair and bigger dreams—on our last all-night trip we easily lost $100, but then we spotted a woman cradling a baby in the parking lot, patiently waiting in an F-250 as Daddy tried to win some diaper money inside. After that we didn't feel that bad anymore.

Best Scene Stealer

B.J. Cleveland

Theatergoers who know his work smile when they see B.J. Cleveland's name in the program. Something about his moonfaced mug just glows, and when he's really on, he could light up a five-state area. Now in his 25th season as artistic director at Theatre Arlington, Cleveland has acted in 362 roles (by his count) since he started in showbiz at age 6. He's averaged no fewer than six shows a year since and doesn't plan to slow down. Last season's highlight was his romp as Mad King Ludwig in Uptown Players' Valhalla. This season he'll be directing Studs Terkel's Working at TA and then acting in Moonlight and Magnolias. He's played The Music Man and George M! and giggled like a goose in a white wig as Mozart in Amadeus. Happy to play the sad clown, Cleveland is the area's funniest character actor. All those comparisons to Nathan Lane don't even bother him anymore. "Physically I would covet being synonymous with Brad Pitt," he says. "But there's lots of life left for character actors. Take that, Zac Efron!"

Best Scenic Drive

Wood County

Sure, to get there you have to drive an hour and a half through the corrugated tin and abandoned bass boat architecture of un-beautiful Upper East Texas. But you need to think of a search for pretty country near Dallas sort of the same way you might think of escape from Alacatraz. It's not supposed to be easy. When you get to Mineola, keep going a few miles east out of town and then head north on any halfway decent-looking road. You will find yourself in a land of rolling hills, tall pines and glittering lakes. It could be Wisconsin, if you took away the ticks and water moccasins. Well, and the people. It's very pretty country, and it's way less than a plane ride away from Dallas. Bet you didn't know that was possible, eh?

Best School of Rock

Good Records

You already know that Good Records is the best record store in town. OK, maybe it's the only real record store left in this chain store-dominated burg. But it's also the most kid-friendly record store we've ever been to. A few times a year, Good Records has in-store performances especially geared toward young ears. There is no better example than the Gustafer Yellowgold shows. The creation of singer-songwriter-illustrator Morgan Taylor, Gustafer Yellowgold is a fantasy creature with weird friends who seem to have skipped straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. It's a great way to introduce kids to music that's not only fun, but also rocks. And that's just one way the coolest record store in town makes parents feel at home. Check out the plastic bin of toys the store's owners keep on hand to entertain little rockers while you browse. This sort of attention to future record-buyers is music to our ears.

Best Shows With Strings Attached

Kathy Burks' Theatre of Puppetry Arts

Sara Kerens
For almost 35 years Kathy Burks has designed and produced puppet shows that make high art of non-human figures brought to life with strings, rods and hands. From a collection of puppets and marionettes that goes back to the early 1900s, Burks and her expert puppeteers make the characters so real that children in the audience, given the chance for post-show Q&A, will often address the puppets directly, completely ignoring the black-clad actors holding them. Magical shows such as Frog Prince and Velveteen Rabbit, presented at Dallas Children's Theater, home to Burks and her creations for the past decade, appeal to the kid in all of us. This company makes "wooden acting" a good thing.

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