Back Talk Lakewood/East Dallas

Hotslings: An update

You may remember last fall's story about neighbor Kristen DeRocha, creator of Hotslings. The story mentioned that her next line would be Milk Daze, a line of hip nursing tops.

They aren't for sale on the Hotslings website, but I found them online at la stella blu and Due Maternity. The Hotslings website also includes a list of stores where its products are sold — quite a few of them locally. Though I'm not sure if the stores listed sell Hotslings only or Milk Daze tops, too.

Though it's not listed on the store search, Target is selling DeRocha's Hotslings, but both the Medallion Center Target and SuperTarget have been out of stock when I've looked for them. However, you can buy them on Target's website — free shipping, too.

Card and Party Factory, R.I.P.

In what is sure to be related to the sagging economy, Card and Party Factory in Hillside Village is closed.

I would imagine competing against Party City was also a hard road to climb.

That does leave however a large piece of retail strip available. Wonder who might be candidates to take that space?

Dinner and a movie at the Magnolia and Social House

When you think "dinner and a movie", you tend to imagine them separately. More like, "dinner followed by a movie, with a long drive in between."

But starting July 18, Magnolia Theatre will be collaborating with Social House to create a dinner and a movie experience for its customers. The Social House, which is right across from the Magnolia, will be offering a $50 package that includes two entrees and desserts with two movie tickets for any film of your choice. (This dinner for two doesn't include alcoholic beverages or appetizers, but any entree or dessert can be chosen from the restaurant's usual menu.)

No end date is in sight, so you should be able to take advantage for a while. Of course, if you're looking for a dinner and dining experience, you could always hit Studio Movie Grill and even skip the walk from one venue to the next, but the Magnolia and Social House combo seems a little more appropriate if you're looking for a nice night on the town.

Soak up Dallas home trends with Design Sponge

Never know what the latest design trends are? Or where to shop in Dallas for hip furniture and home décor? Me neither. My solution is heading to Design*Sponge.

The website features city guides (not limited to the United States), before and after pictures, do it yourself guides and more. It's also very picture oriented, which enables you to see the design trends and then pick them out somewhere else on your own, or knock off the design and make it your own.

The best feature of the site (in my opinion) is the city design guides. With only 29 city guides so far, Dallas has made its way onto the list, with shops of all kinds featured under categories from furniture to gadgets to fashion.

For example, if you're looking for something contemporary, the guide points to shops like Ligne Roset on McKinney, where "irreverent looks" can be found. To go green, the site includes Lakewood Shopping Center favorite Green Living to find recycled products and home accessories. And the handmade category suggests taking a trip to Make in Oak Cliff, where local designers and artists hand craft items and offer DIY classes.

That's just a taste of what the Design Sponge site has to offer. Explore for yourself.

Big Mango Trading Company: Free yoga classes

Need to relax and unwind? Big Mango Trading Company, owned by neighbors Jaime and Lori Smith, is now offering free hatha yoga every second and fourth Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. (the next one takes place Saturday, July 26).

The low-impact relaxation is taught by Julie Hanson of the Wellness Collective. The yoga classes are small and catered toward everyone (for those of you who have not tried it), and all you have to do is show up with a mat or towel (which everyone has) and eager to relax your mind and body.

Big Mango Trading Company is located at 1130 N. Industrial Blvd. For more information call 214.752.4755 or visit bigmangotrading.com.

Deals and Finds: This neighbor says he can help us get 'em

Looking to purchase a camera, TV, lawn mower ... inflatable waterslide-kiddie pool? If you're like me you research significant purchases online before buying. But it's crowded out there in cyberspace, and tough to tell what's true, what's not, what's advertising, what's not, what's outdated, and so forth, when it comes to seeking product information. One of our Lakewood-area neighbors, Steve Cospolich, along with three of his buddies, started up this site called DeaLoco.com about a year or so ago — I wrote about them when they launched but not in the Advocate, hence, no link — and it's now going strong.

Groceries too expensive? The Farmers Market can help

After recently visiting the grocery store, it became clear that food prices are going up. Not that it surprised me, since everything is more expensive right now (ahem, gas), but I decided that the next time I wanted fruit and vegetables, I would shop at the Dallas Farmers Market  and compare prices.

To my somewhat surprise, I was able to make better purchases and get a lot more for my money at the market than at grocery stores.

The market is the place to get fresh produce and flowers directly from farmers during the summer months. Colorful berries and veggies line the street, all from different vendors, all with different prices. Usually prices for bulk veggies and berries are only a dollar or two apart, but hey, with today’s prices, a dollar is a dollar. Of course, some food costs the same at both the market and the grocery store, but in the long run, the market won my wallet and me over.

Tips: If you don't want to buy in bulk, farmers will usually negotiate a price for one tomato or two potatoes, instead of an entire basket. Or just take a friend and split the bounty. Also, to avoid crowds, visit the market in the afternoons. If you like the crowds, Saturday morning is your cup of tea. The Dallas Farmers Market is open daily from 7 a.m.–6 p.m. and is located downtown at 1010 South Pearl Street.

NorthPark shooters arrested; Crimestoppers program credited

Two men suspected of shooting a Dallas woman in the face at NorthPark Center in May are in police custody charged with the shooting, according to the DMN. Police are saying the shooting appears to have been a random act; the woman was shot in the parking lot outside of Nordstrom while waiting to pick her daughter up after watching a movie. NorthPark says it's in the process of re-evaluating its security measures in the wake of this shooting and several other incidents at the mall. Meanwhile, the two suspected shooters were captured after a tipster called the information into a Crimestoppers telephone number; Crimestoppers is a program run by the North Texas Crime Commission (several neighborhood residents and businesses, along with the Advocate, are members of both the NTCC and the group's Crimestoppers committee). The program is a joint effort between the NTCC and area police departments; it's a tips program designed to encourage those who know something about a crime to report what they know to police anonymously. Typically, tipsters whose information results in an arrest/prosecution are paid between $500-$1,000 for their information. Membership in NTCC is open to any group or individual; contact Neal Devroy at 214-965-9000 for information.

Sunflower Farmers Market coming soon to East Dallas ... and Lake Highlands?

The vacant building on North Henderson North of Ross and west of Greenville that was once a Carnival Food Store will become home to the Colorado-based Sunflower Farmers Market sometime next year. Earlier this year we speculated about a specialty grocery store moving into the new Lake Highlands Town Center ... so will Lake Highlands also be getting a Sunflower? Founder Mike Gilliland told the News he plans to open "five or six stores in the Dallas area over the next 18 months."

He also mentioned he's purposely setting up shop in close proximity to Whole Foods because he says Whole Foods has already educated shoppers, but that he will sell to them at lower prices. Genius.

Neighborhood finds: Vintage, eco-friendly journals at Paperie & Co

If you're looking for a cool gift (of if you're just a budding writer) check out the new journals at Paperie & Co in Mockingbird Station. They're made from old book covers (or "vintage" book covers, if you're hip).
Austin-based designer Freda Hamric makes each of these journals by hand with acid-free paper (that's what makes them eco-friendly). She uses all sorts of books, everything from classics like "Pride and Prejudice" to retro technology books from the 1950s. And the journal actually has some portions of the original pages shuffled into the blank pages, so if you need some inspiration as you write, just turn the page.