Back Talk Lakewood/East Dallas

Local chef to increase celebrity

In September we introduced many East Dallas/ Lakewood Advocate readers to Chef Blythe Beck (Hector's on Henderson) — and those of you who already knew her got to know her just a bit better.

Her acquaintances also know she has an incredibly charismatic personality, thus it comes as no surprise to learn she's part of Oxygen network's new "Live Out Loud" line-up. Her show, The Naughty Kitchen, looks like a hoot. In its quest for strong and successful women who live life loud and proud, the O network struck gold when they discovered Chef Beck!

Doctor's Hospital signs on with White Rock Marathon

Doctor's Hospital at White Rock Lake is getting in on the White Rock Marathon weekend (Dec. 12-14) — they've just signed on as title sponsor for the marathon's two-day health and fitness expo. Organizers are still seeking the top-dog title sponsor for the marathon. Hmmm, I can see it now ... The Advocate Publishing White Rock Marathon ...  what do you think, Mr. Wamre?

While I wait to hear back on that ... the aforementioned fitness expo sounds like a pretty cool deal, with more than 100 vendors demonstrating, peddling and promoting all sorts of stuff — clothing, jewelry, shoes, athletic gear, food and supplements, upcoming events and good-to-know-about services, to name a few. Plus, if you are running the race, you have to go to the expo to pick up your packet so you might as well take it all in while you're there.

I don't know exactly how the Doctors Hospital sponsorship will affect race participants — I don't think very much. But sponsorships, from what event chair Chuck Dannis told me a while back, help absorb costs of putting on such an enormous event and allow organizers to donate a larger sum to the benefiting charity, Scottish Rite.

Also, if you are training to run the marathon and you're getting antsy, you are eager to read anything and everything there is to read about the event. It's just five weeks away and I can't get enough of stuff like this, from the Dallas Morning News Fitness Blog.

Franki's of Casa Linda in trouble, at best

It’s been a turbulent few days for area restaurants. First, neighborhood favorite Brothers Chicken on Gaston shut down — much to the sorrow of many neighbors. La Parrillada and Bailey's bit the dreaded back-tax dust. Then, there were reports that Franki’s Lil Europe in Casa Linda had shuttered. Then there were more reports that Franki’s was going to re-open soon. It’s no surprise that Franki’s was in trouble. In fact, they sent out an e-mail to customers about six weeks ago reaching out for help:

"Times are tough all over; even the major banks need help, so who do the little guys have to turn to.  In talking to several of our regular clients, it was suggested that we should honestly turn to our clientele," wrote owner Jeffrey Batt. “As the economy has hit a rough patch and the Casa Linda area has undergone some dramatic age shifts, our business has diminished to an inoperable pace.  Combine that with the construction project going on and we are in very dire straits.  However, it is our contention that when the renovation of the square is completed and the area stabilizes, our product and concept will shine.”

The letter goes on to say that the restaurant is actively tapping the surrounding community for investors and partners, and that he hopes patrons will respect his decision to lay it all out there — blisters and all. “Sometimes you have to open, honest, and brash if you truly believe that you dreams are worth preservation,” he concludes.

I haven’t been able to reach Batt for details, and I wonder if they’ll be able to hold on through the Casa Linda construction period (no doubt rent has gone up in the past year). I hope they find a way to pull through. Franki’s has been a part of this neighborhood for a long time — I remember going there as a kid and thinking it was sooo fancy with it's birdbath-y waterfall outside and all. It’s been pretty reliably good eatin’ ever since.

Woodrow Mock Trial Team offers Friday night babysitting

Since they're heading to Boston's Harvard University for a mock trial workshop, the Woodrow Wilson High School Mock Trial Team is offering "its impeccable babysitting services," according to the flier, as a fundraiser this Friday night, so that neighborhood parents can attend the Lakewood Candlelight Home Tour and Love Boat Party, Casino and Auction.

It's a full seven hours, 5 p.m.-midnight, for $45 ($25 for the second child in a family and $20 for the third). Parents can drop off their kids (who must be at least 3 and do not require diaper-changing duties) at Northridge Presbyterian Church. Dinner will be provided, and the mock trial team invites parents to bring jammies, pillows and blankets, "in case eyelids get heavy".

Poker tomorrow at Times Ten Cellars

Vegas comes to Lakewood tomorrow night, and what happens in Lakewood ... well, we try to write about it here. Times Ten Cellars, 6324 Prospect, will go casino as the Lakewood Neighborhood Association hosts its annual Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament. Feel lucky? You could win a 42" High Definition TV. Even if you lose, you win, because funds raised benefit neighborhood beautification efforts. Sign up beginning at 6 p.m. Tournament starts at 7 p.m. Get there early — organizers are hoping for a full house! Details here.

This Wednesday: Candlelight Walk on Henderson

I attended the Candlelight Walk last year, and it was one of the most enjoyable holiday events I participated in. All of the merchants — Milton Kent Antiques, Another Time & Place, La Mariposa, ART is ART, Pandemonium, Emeralds to Coconuts, Again & Again and Gypsy Wagon — will stay open late this Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 6-9 p.m. and offer finger foods, beverages and discounts.

The stores are busy but not too crowded, since the event may be Henderson's best kept secret. Last year, Pandemonium had the most amazing seven-layer dip I've ever tasted; Milton Kent Antiques had food catered from The Porch; and Fish City Grill, which hadn't yet opened, was offering gumbo and coupons for free appetizers. So many new restaurants have sprouted since then, I wonder if more will be out Wednesday night to get exposure.

Either way, the shops on Henderson are darling and well worth the time to browse through, so why not a night with free munchies and good deals?

Happy birthday, Marines

Seldom do I get special requests from my dad (which is odd because I'm constantly requesting stuff from him), but last weekend we were visiting and he said to me, "next week on that blog (in a tone suggesting it's not in fact a real word) don't forget to wish all the Marines a 'happy birthday'".

Indeed, today is the 233rd anniversary of the birth of the United States Marine Corps. So, happy birthday and semper fidelis to my dad, my grandpa, the running club Marines I recently wrote about, and all the marines and marine families out there celebrating the day today.

Tomorrow, of course, is Veterans Day, and the big parade will get under way at 11 a.m. at Dallas City Hall.

La Parrillada: Delinquent taxes lead to another restaurant closing

Another one bites the dust, courtesy of the Texas comptroller's office: This time, it's La Parrillada on Gaston near the spillway, as first reported on FrontBurner. The Mexican restaurant, pretty popular for years in the building that once house a Pizza Inn, apparently failed to keep up with payments for either employee payroll or sales taxes, and the state opted to shut it down. This one follows last week's demise of Bailey's 1st & 10 sports bar at Mockingbird and Abrams. The difficult economy is forcing restaurants owners (along with the rest of us) to make some difficult choices, but it appears that skimping on payroll or sales taxes isn't the way to go if you're a business owner looking to cut corners.

Woodrow Wilson High School dessert theater

A $5 ticket to this coming Monday night's show — featuring Variations: The Show Choir, Counterpoint, Woodrow Mixed Choir, Woodrow Girls Choir and Expectations, the show choir from J.L. Long Middle School — also includes a dessert and a raffle ticket. Prizes include front and center reserved seats to Woodrow's spring musical (this year it's "The Secret Garden") and a Woodrow Variations performance at your holiday party, as well as gift certificates to places like Cantina Laredo and Paciugo.

Of course, the bigger prizes require you to enter more raffle tickets, which can be purchased for $5 each. It's all for a good cause — the event is hosted by the Friends of Woodrow Choir. Desserts will be served starting at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

Your Friday productivity killer

Today I bring you Mr. Picassohead (and thanks to Keri Mitchell for recommending it). It's one of those sites where you build your own face. You can see I tried to do it at left, but I don't think I look nearly so, err, scary in real life (though some of my coworkers might disagree). 

There's another fun site where you can South Park yourself. I once South Parked everyone here at work, built a poster and made them all guess who was who, with prizes for the most correct guesses. I highly recommend doing this — it's great for morale. (Again, some of my coworkers might disagree.)