2014 December Oak Cliff

WORTHWHILE WAYS TO SPEND YOUR DOLLARS

HAPPINESS CAN BE HARD

Do not get stuck in a bad mood

My all-time favorite bumper sticker is a simple one: “Life sucks. And then you die.”

It’s not my favorite because I believe it, but because I know a lot of people who do.

That’s not to say I haven’t ever felt that way after a particularly rough patch at home or school or work. But today, and most of the rest of the time, I like to think I’m more optimistic than that.

I bring this up now because I’ve personally found that the holiday season is the easiest time of the year to start feeling sorry for yourself, or to continue feeling sorry for yourself in a more pronounced way if you’re already so inclined.

There’s a good chance someone you know is going to get some spectacular holiday present — maybe it will be a new car or a new computer or just about anything “they” can afford but you can’t — while you’re sucking on lumps of coal this year.

There’s not much we can do about other people’s successes except wish them well and try not to envy them too much. I don’t always do that, even though I know it’s the right thing to do.

But like anything worth doing, sometimes you just have to do it.

That’s the message I read recently in what was intended to be a sales motivation article. The author, nationally known sales trainer Joe Bonura, had a simple message: Do what needs to be done every day if you want to be successful.

“Sometimes I do not want to write these articles, but I do it anyway,” he wrote. “Sometimes I do not feel like making sales calls, but I do it anyway. Sometimes I do not feel like getting out of bed at 5 a.m. and

walking in the morning, but I do it anyway. Sometimes I do not like watching what I eat, but I do it anyway.

“Success comes to those who do the necessary tasks anyway,” he wrote. “I have learned that the actions that make us successful in business and in life are never easy. That explains why so few people succeed and why so many people fail.”

He cites a study showing that out of 100 men and women starting in business at the age of 25, only five will be financially independent by the time they retire. The other 95, he says, will blame their circumstances rather than their own lack of effort for their inability to match the financial success of the other five.

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EDITORIAL

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editors:

The definition of “success” in this case could just as well be “happy” as opposed to money, because even though the author is talking about financial success, it’s my observation that the same percentages apply when assessing how many people are truly happy with their lives.

In fact, finding five “happy” people out of 100 might be more difficult than finding five “successful” people in the same group. And odds are the “happy” and the “successful” people won’t necessarily be the same ones.

Anyway, this year is about over; amid the partying and the presents, we’ll each have a little time to consider whether we’re one of the five or one of the 95. We’ll each have time to consider what we can do to switch groups, too.

It all starts with that bumper sticker, though, and making sure that’s not the code we live by.

RACHEL STONE

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contributors: SEAN CHAFFIN, ERIC FOLKERTH, ANGELA HUNT, GEORGE MASON, KRISTEN MASSAD, WHITNEY THOMPSON

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Rick Wamre is president of Advocate Media. Let him know how we are doing by writing to 6301 Gaston, Suite 820, Dallas 75214; or email rwamre@advocatemag.com.

There’s not much we can do about other people’s successes except wish them well and try not to envy them too much.

Oak Cliff

next 50 years.

good. A discomfort that comes with

—Kevin V. Williams on “Oak Cliff Gateway heads to Plan Commission” (via Facebook)

Launch

community | events | food

Q&A: Merritt Tierce

Merritt Tierce waited tables for a high-end Dallas steakhouse for years before obtaining a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her debut novel, “Love Me Back,” set amid the sordid world of restaurant life, was just published in September and already is a smash in the literary world. The book has received accolades from the New York Times, the New Yorker and celebrities including Carrie Brownstein. Tierce lives in Denton, but she wrote part of the book during the few months she lived near Lake Cliff Park.

Merritt Tierce: Photo by Danny Fulgencio

I was just going through your press, and it’s very impressive. Even Carrie Brownstein recommended your book, which must be the height of coolness.

Yeah, I didn’t know what to expect because this is my first book. You know who St. Vincent is? She even mentioned it in British GQ. That was amazing.

What was your path to becoming a writer?

I was just waiting tables and doing anything I could to make money. Part of that was intentional, and part of that was inertia. I probably could’ve gotten a job doing something that had to do with writing. I don’t know if that would’ve been teaching high school English or trying to get into some kind of journalism or technical writing or what, but I definitely did not want to be any other kind of writer. I just wanted to write what I wanted to write. I didn’t want to write for anyone else. So instead of doing things to make it as a writer, I tried to make money. I’m really glad I did it that way now. I wasn’t writing toward anything for a long time. I just was living, really. I wrote the first story I ever published while I was waiting tables in 2006, and that was just the beginning of it.

That was the story “Suck It”?

Yes, and that is now the middle of this book. It wasn’t with any sort of intention, like ‘OK, now I’m going to work on a book because I have all this great material.’ I just kept writing.

You were accepted to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop?

I decided to get an MFA, not to learn how to write, but just so I could have a couple of years to focus on writing instead of trying to make money. So for two years before I went to grad school, I worked two full-time jobs. It was really, really stressful, and I don’t think I realized until I got to Iowa that I hadn’t been getting enough sleep for about three years. For the first six months, I slept a lot. But then I actually worked at a steakhouse in Iowa City, and I also flew home often, at least once a month, and worked a long weekend at the restaurant here.

How did you get this book published?

I won an award that a lot of agents and publishers pay attention to, so that’s how I got an agent. I had a really anomalous path from then on. I expected to have to send my stuff out to a lot of people and get a lot of rejections, and that wasn’t the experience I had. I had agents contacting me and asking if they could take me to lunch, and that was really great and weird. My route to getting a book published was much different from what most writers expect. My agent sold my manuscript within two weeks. The whole publishing process has been really, really great.

The book is not set in Oak Cliff, but you wrote part of it here?

I lived in Oak Cliff for about three months, but my apartment was broken into, and my computer was stolen, including everything I’d ever written. There was a chapter where [the main character, Marie,] talks about living in Oak Cliff, but my agent didn’t want me to include it in the book because Marie talks about wanting to be a writer and my agent didn’t like that. In the book as it is, you don’t know what she wants. That part was only published online.

You received death threats after saying that you gave part of $4,000 in tips from Rush Limbaugh to a nonprofit that helps women pay for their abortions. What was that like?

When it first started happening, there were a couple of days when I was disturbed by it. The people who are most vehemently anti-abortion are also the same people who are most vehemently pro-gun. And all of these people who are heaving this violent language I would look at their Facebook page, and it would be this white male holding a gun automatic weapons. That’s really frightening. And they have proven repeatedly that they will be violent against people who support abortion. To my knowledge, there hasn’t been an incident of someone who supports abortion rights killing someone who doesn’t.

—Rachel Stone

The Oak Cliff area is one of this city’s real treasures, due to its character, history, and architecture. Our agents are proud to contribute to this outstanding community.

The Foster Team

214-303-1133

Viewfinder: Kessler Park steps

When architects designed Kessler Park in the early 1920s, they left the oldest trees and laid the streets to match the natural landscape. Twenty triangular pocket parks were planned, and stone steps offered pedestrian passageways between hilly streets.

Some of those steps remain open and usable, such as the ones from Belleau Drive up to Windomere.

But at least one set of the original Kessler Park steps became overgrown with brush and bamboo and forgotten for years. These steps, from Kessler Parkway at Edgefield up to Canterbury Court, have become the subject of a neighborhood fight.

214-682-1184

About a year ago, City Councilman Scott Griggs found bond money that could’ve paid to reopen and restore the steps. But some neighbors living closest to the steps, on Canterbury, opposed reopening them. So Griggs instead used the bond funds to extend the Coombs Creek Trail.

Since the steps are on a 30-foot public right of way between homes, a few neighbors took it upon themselves to clear the steps, working with machetes to cut away tall bamboo.

Because there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood, the steps are convenient for pedestrians wishing to walk from Kessler Parkway toward Colorado.

“It can be dangerous to walk on Edgefield,” says Kessler Park resident Don Sanders.

Sanders says neighbors living closest to the steps have shooed people trying to clear the steps and even threatened to call the police, claiming they were trespassing. One neighbor declined to comment. One did not return phone calls. And a third just moved in a few weeks ago.

Neighbors on Canterbury asked the city to close the steps because of safety concerns, so orange barriers block them at Edgefield and Canterbury, even though they’re usable.

—Rachel Stone

Kessler Park: Photo by Danny Fulgencio

PAWS & CLAWS

Four best friends

Jessica Harrington of the Lake Cliff Park area sends this snap of her 7-year-old dachshund mix, Harvey, with his buddies Leroy, Tupelo and Shuggy at Klyde Warren Park.

Out & About

December 2014

THROUGH JAN. 5

Place Pavilion: Sound Booth

Davis Foundry gallery presents this exhibit from artists Joshua M. Nason, Jonathan Essary and Elizabeth Hurtado. Davis Foundry, 509 W. Davis, 214.948.6969

DEC. 2

The Church of Stop Shopping

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff hosts a free screening of “What Would Jesus Buy?” a comedic documentary from Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”). The film, which shows at 7 p.m., explores the commercialization of Christmas.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff, 3839 W. Kiest, firsttuesdayfilms.org

DEC. 5-6

Jingle Bells on Bishop

Every first weekend of December is Jingle Bells on Bishop. Shop local, take pictures with Santa and take advantage of neighborhood specials. Bishop Arts District, Bishop at Seventh, bishopartsdistrict.com

DEC. 5-JAN. 10

Virgin of Guadalupe

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center’s 19th annual Virgen de Guadalupe art exhibit features work from local artists. An artists’ reception is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson, 214.670.3777

Dec. 6

Holiday Home Tour

Six Winnetka Heights homes, all decked out for the holidays, are on this 28th annual tour, which starts at Turner House. Pedicabs will be available to carry participants from home to home. Tickets cost $12 in advance or $15 at the door, and $30 VIP tickets include a champagne reception from noon-1 p.m. and a second glass of champagne and sweets at the “secret seventh house.”

Turner House, 401 N. Rosemont, whhometour.org

Dec. 19

Flaco Jimenez

A living legend of conjunto music comes to the Kessler this month. Flaco Jimenez performs with Max Baca & Los Texmaniacs behind their new album, “Legends & Legacies.”

The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis, 214.272.8346, thekessler.org

DEC. 10

Oral Fixation

This live storytelling event returns to the Texas Theatre for the theme “Outside the Box.” Storytellers include April Swartz-Larson, a lesbian who recently was crowned homecoming queen at McKinney High School. Tickets cost $25.

The Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson, 214.948.1546, oralfixationshow.com

DEC. 11-21

‘Black Nativity’

TeCo Theatrical Productions continues its tradition of producing Langston Hughes’ Christmas story. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Bishop Arts Theatre Center, 215 S. Tyler, 214.948.0716, tecotheater.org

DEC. 19

‘The Shining’

The Texas Theatre shows a winter’s tale to scare the overalls off of you, “The Shining,” with custom beer specials from Deep Ellum Brewery.

The Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson, 214.948.1546, thetexastheatre.com

DEC. 19-20

Holiday mercantile

Oil and Cotton will invite select artisans to sell their wares at this holiday sale. Pick up handmade goods for last-minute gifts.

Oil and Cotton, 837 W. Seventh, 214.942.0474, oilandcotton.com

DEC. 31

Champagne ball

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Turner House from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets cost $65 or $125 per couple and include dessert and savory snacks, party favors and a midnight breakfast buffet. Proceeds benefit the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts and the maintenance of Turner House.

Turner House, 401 N. Rosemont, 214.946.1670, turnerhouse.org

A house is an investment that should pay dividends every day. And no one works harder to match discerning buyers with distinctive homes than the Realtors at David Griffin & Company. If you're looking for a home that will make Monday mornings a lot easier to face, call 214.526.5626, or visit davidgriffin.com.

2223 Kessler Woods Ct $849,500 2031 W. Colorado Blvd $799,000

David Griffin 214.458.7663 David Griffin

E. Canterbury Ct $595,000

Old Orchard Dr $459,900

443 Mayrant Dr SOLD (Buyer Rep)

Diane Sherman 469.767.1823

Diane Sherman 469.767.1823

Lisa Kleypas 214.727.5665

Lisa Kleypas 214.727.5665

2431 Sunset Ave SOLD

BOCCE ITALIAN KITCHEN

244 W. Davis 214.943.1714

bocceoffbishop.com

AMBIANCE: BISTRO

PRICE RANGE: $7-$17

HOURS:

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY, 11 A.M.-3 P.M. AND 5-10 P.M.; THURSDAY-SATURDAY, 11 A.M.-3 P.M. AND 5-11 P.M.; CLOSED SUNDAY

DID YOU KNOW?

BOCCE OFFERS BRUNCH ON SATURDAYS

Bocce opened on West Davis in June, specializing in homestyle Italian food. David Rice is executive chef, and it’s a family business. His dad, Bob, is the restaurant’s general manager, and his mom, Donna, is a partner. Most of the recipes come from Donna’s mom, “Nani.” Bocce makes all its pasta and sauces in-house daily. Popular items include Nani’s Sunday gravy with pasta — meatballs, sausage and pot roast, which are simmered in tomato sauce for six hours. The restaurant, which is BYOB and offers complimentary wine, also offers hero sandwiches, pizza and desserts including a limoncello cheesecake and cannoli. The Rices are planning to add delivery service, particularly for lunchtime, in January. “The Oak Cliff crowd is awesome,” Bob Rice says. “Everyone told me Oak Cliff people would be loyal, and they are.”

—Rachel Stone

Flourless chocolate cake:

Photo by James Coreas

Best Dessert

And the winner is …

Panadería Vera’s (932 W. Davis).

Alfonso Vera worked for the bakery at Neiman Marcus until Frosted Art bought it out. He worked at that bakery for years until he decided to take on baking and cake decorating at home. Business was so good that in 1995, he and his wife, Julia, bought a bakery on West Davis and opened Panadería Vera’s (932 W. Davis).

They bake and decorate cakes for any occasion, and the most popular cake is vanilla with strawberry filling, says daughter Naomi Vera.

“I think it’s because it has fresh-cut strawberries in the middle with whipped frosting,” she says.

The bakery turns out fresh donuts, churros and pan dulce every day.

Other favorites include ojarascas, Mexican cookies made with lard, sugar and cinnamon.

“Those sell out pretty quickly,” Naomi Vera says.

Runner Up: CocoAndré Chocolatier

3rd Place: Emporium Pies

NEXT UP FOR ADVOCATE’S 2014 BEST OF CONTEST: Best pet services. Vote for your favorite at oakcliff.advocatemag.com/bestof

A selection of Vera’s desserts: Photo by James Coreas

EIGHT EDIBLE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With the hustle and bustle that goes on during the holidays, I love the idea of edible gifting. This is an inexpensive way to share a favorite recipe or family tradition with the ones you love. Whether it is homemade or purchased at your favorite neighborhood store, keep it simple and make something special with creative packaging.

1. HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT

One of the most popular ingredients in baking, homemade vanilla extract is a perfect holiday gift. Choose your favorite alcohol: vodka, rum or bourbon along with whole vanilla beans. Give the extract one month to infuse before packaging and gifting for your favorite baker.

2. CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT CARAMEL CORN

Caramel corn is a classic but can only get better when you add a drizzle of white and

dark chocolate, and a sprinkle of peppermint. It will keep you coming back for another bite — the perfect party snack or gift.

3. NUT AND DRIED FRUIT BOXES

A simple and elegant gift mixed with a variety of dried fruit and nuts, this is a great gift that doesn’t get your hands dirty in the kitchen. Check out your local gourmet market and find an assortment of sweet, spicy, and chocolate- or candy-coated nuts and dried fruit. Packaged in a basket or tray,

this pairs perfectly with a bottle of wine.

4. S’MORES KIT

Cold weather, burning fireplaces and roasted marshmallows are the best memories of a busy holiday. Share the love with adults or kids by gifting an adorable s’mores kit. Clear acrylic boxes, graham crackers, large marshmallows and chocolate bars are all you need to create this sweet package from craft blog Twig & Thistle.

5. SEASONAL FLAVORED BUTTER

Edible gifting is not always sweet. Combine your favorite fresh herbs or citrus zest with room-temperature butter. Transfer the chilled log of flavored butter into a layer of plastic wrap and onto parchment paper, rolling it up and tying the ends with kitchen twine or jute. It’s a great foodie gift from gourmet food blog The Fromagette.

6. HERB SALT

Use any dried herbs you have in your kitchen cabinet for this gift idea from The Pretty Blog. Herb salt can be made well in advance with rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley or basil mixed with sea salt for a great addition to any meat, fish or vegetable dish.

7. COOKIE GIFT BOX

If you need the perfect gift for office mates, this is it: a selection of petite cookies sectioned off in small ornament boxes wrapped in cellophane. The recipe from Sweet Paul Magazine requires no baking.

8. ROSEMARY ROASTED ALMONDS

For this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod, whole almonds are seasoned with fresh rosemary, a dash of chili powder and salt, and then roasted in the oven, filling your home with an amazing aroma. The almonds are a great source of protein, packed with flavor, to balance all the sweets being consumed this month.

Kristen Massad writes a monthly column about sweets and baked goods. The professional pastry chef graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City and owned Tart Bakery on Lovers Lane for eight years. She blogs about food and lifestyles at inkfoods.com.

UP IT GiVE

STORY BY Rachel Stone | PHOTOS BY Danny Fulgencio

FOR THESE LIFE-CHANGING CHARITIES

Whether you are a natural giver — one of those noble souls who prefers presenting to receiving gifts — or a more average Joe, for whom a small altruistic gesture just feels good, we’ve listed several charities that make a difference in our neighborhood. Any of them could benefit from a tad of your time or money.

1647 Trailridge Dr. Dallas, 75224 For Sale - $162,500

1516 Driftwood Dr. Dallas, 75224 SOLD

3343 S. Edgefield Ave. Dallas, 75224 Pending

THE MISSION

Oak Cliff-based Promise House supports homeless and at-risk youth in Dallas. The nonprofit, founded by Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in the early 1980s, runs an emergency shelter for homeless, runaway and abandoned kids ages 10-17. Promise House also runs a transitional living program for youths ages 16-24, wherein residents are given time and support to obtain education and learn to be independent, productive adults. A Promise House shelter for otherwise homeless single mothers, their children and pregnant women ages 14-20 offers up to two years of housing, childcare and community support. Promise House has a new shelter under construction, the Street Outreach Shelter, which will be the only shelter in Dallas specifically for ages 18-24.

HOW TO GIVE

Promise House has come up with several creative means of year-end giving. Send them your holiday card list, and they will create cards, address them and mail them for $10 per card. Promise House also accepts gift cards to use as giveaways at fundraising events or to use for residents’ emergency needs. Even if you can’t spend much money, there are fun volunteer opportunities at the shelters — host a cookie-decorating party, show a holiday movie, lead a craft project, teach a music lesson or pitch another idea to help brighten up shelter life.

Here are ways cash donations could work for Promise House:

• $25 buys a holiday gift for a homeless child

• $50 supplies a month of diapers to a newborn baby

• $100 provides a new winter coat to a teen mother and her child

• $250 feeds up to 16 youths for a week

• $500 buys all the school supplies for Promise House youth for one year

• $1,000 gives a homeless youth 14 days of shelter from the streets

• $5,000 buys all the major appliances for the new Street Outreach Shelter

• $10,000 fully furnishes the new Street Outreach Shelter

NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK

THE MISSION

The North Texas Food Bank was founded in 1982 and supplies food through 250 partner agencies in 13 North Texas counties. The food bank provides about 175,000 meals a day to hungry people in our region. About 304,000 children in North Texas are “food insecure,” which means they lack nutrition, experience anxiety about food and often have no grocery stores in their neighborhoods. About a third of food bank clients have someone with diabetes in their households, and more than half report they have unpaid medical bills. The food bank distributed about 62 million meals in 2014, including 12.8 million pounds of fresh produce. The need is growing, and the food bank has set a goal of serving 1 million meals more in 2015.

HOW TO GIVE

Individuals, community organizations, schools and businesses can volunteer boxing food at the food bank on Cockrell Hill or helping out at fundraising events.

At least 93 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to food aid. Here are ways cash donations help the food bank:

• $1 provides three meals

• $5 provides a weekend backpack with food to a chronically hungry child through the Food 4 Kids program. Teachers can enroll children in that program when they have shown signs of chronic hunger, including rushing the lunch lines, hoarding food and exhibiting anxiety. These children receive a backpack filled with shelfstable foods every Friday during the school year.

• $200 supplies a child with a weekend backpack for the entire school year.

THE market

FOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER

The Lodge

2299 County Road 2008 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 254.897.2960

fossilrim.org

Enjoy a relaxing weekend escape at The Lodge at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas. Located in a peaceful corner of the park with incredible views, The Lodge welcomes guests to spacious rooms and includes a hot breakfast and a scenic wildlife drive.

NORTH HAVEN GARDENS

Urban Garden Center 7700 Northaven Rd. Dallas, TX 75230 214-363-5316 www.nhg.com

Your Ultimate Urban Garden Center specializing in garden education, the best quality Christmas tree and plant selection and the most knowledgeable staff committed to your gardening success!

SYNC YOGA & WELLBEING

Yoga for Everyone

611 N. Bishop Avenue Ste 104 Coming to Sylvan | Thirty Soon! 214.946.2224

syncdallas.com

Flow basics, flow yoga, flow & meditation, flow & release, yoga for healing, pre/post natal, yoga for children/families. Private lessons, workshops, experience groups, massage therapy and much more! Call today!

JAMES

Family & Individual Counseling

5310 Harvest Hill Rd Suite # 282 Dallas, TX 75230

214-629-6315

www.therapistdallastx.com

Individual and relationship counseling. Adults and Teens, LGBT, Anxiety, Depression and Trauma. Licensed since 1981. Lifelong Oak Cliff resident, call this number for details about my Oak Cliff location in Kessler Park.

SMALL PLANET eBIKES

Hello Fun, Hello Fitness! www.smallplanetebikes.com Bishop Arts District 330 W Davis Street 972.773.9611

Confused? Frustrated? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky computer. Hardware & software installation, troubleshooting, training, $60/hour — one hour minimum.

The Aids Arms clinic in Oak Cliff also is a clinical research site and participates in the Aids Clinical Trials Group.

AIDS ARMS INC.

351 W. Jefferson 214.521.5191 aidsarms.org

THE MISSION

As many as 20,000 people in the Dallas area live with HIV or AIDS. Oak Cliff-based AIDS Arms Inc. helps deter the spread of these diseases and offers medical and community support to those who have them. The nonprofit runs two health centers, including one in our neighborhood, to treat patients with HIV or AIDS, and they help provide lowcost medications. The nonprofit offers case management and counseling and provides a link between patients and other helpful nonprofits. AIDS Arms also offers free testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C. About 70 percent of AIDS Arms clients live at or below the federal poverty level, meaning they earn less than $12,000 a year.

HOW TO GIVE

HIV patients who consistently take antiretroviral medication are unlikely to spread the virus. But the cost of the medications is so high — between $10,000 and $15,000 a year that HIV patients often live in poverty. AIDS Arms Inc.’s big fundraiser is Life Walk, which takes place every October. So organizing a group to fundraise and participate in the walk is a way for almost anyone to contribute.

Here are ways cash donations can work for AIDS Arms Inc.:

• $25 provides one free HIV test

• $50 pays one prescription co-pay

• $75 provides two hours of HIV prevention education

• $250 provides a homeless HIV or AIDS patient with one week in safe, temporary housing

This CAD

BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

For

Horror and heroes

Every day is Halloween at the Collector’s Crypt, a new boutique at 321 N. Zang at Eighth specializing in the horror genre. Andrea Jennings and Kathy Maloy opened in October after months of renovating a small house that previously had been used by squatters and had suffered a couple of fires. Jennings and Maloy have decades of experience in the resale business. They owned Metro Retro in Lakewood and Pop Logic on Lower Greenville. More recently, the Oak Cliff residents have been collecting horror memorabilia — movie posters, toys, costumes, etc. And they create their own collectible things, including “Nightmare Before Christmas” cake toppers for the goth bride in your life and other handmade crafts. A pop-up comic book and gaming shop also opened about a block away from the Collector’s Crypt. Red Pegasus Games and Comics, 409 N. Zang, is owned by married couple Kenneth Denson and Gabriel Mendez-Denson. The Densons in October signed a two-month lease on the space previously occupied by IndieGenius. They plan to operate there at least until the end of the year and then if things go well, relocate to a permanent space. Along with gam-

ing tournaments and other events, the shop offers Saturday morning cartoons, complete with cereal and milk.

Paris and Tokyo

Joy Macarons opened at 839 W. Davis in November. Owner Liz Lanier started the bakery out of her home last year because, after she and her husband moved to Dallas four years ago, she missed the macaron shop on Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive, where she used to work. Lanier sold her cookies at farmers markets and hosted a pop-up shop in her current storefront during Better Block Quatro in April. That’s not the only Francophile shop in town. Whisk Crêpes Café is the latest addition to the planned restaurant line-up at Sylvan Thirty, 1818 Sylvan. The restaurant is a venture from Julien Eelsen, who is from France. His family has a background in restaurants and hotels in Normandy, according to a media release. Whisk is taking a 645-square-foot space with 20 seats adjacent to where chef Teiichi Sakurai is planning his ramen shop, Ten. The menu will include sweet and savory crepes, as well as sides, wine, beer and cider. Ten ramen, by the way, is expected to open in January.

1 Balanced Oak Massage & Wellness is now open at 1119 N. Bishop. 2 Herrera’s opened a new location at 3311 Sylvan. The location on Illinois at Wright is still open. 3 Noble Rey brewery won’t open in Oak Cliff after all. The startup had leased a space at 1400 E. Jefferson, which has been inaccessible due to construction on the Dallas Horseshoe project. The brewery plans to open in the Design District instead.

The Collector’s Crypt is a boutique on Zang at Eighth specializing in the horror genre. Photo by Danny Fulgencio

THEY SWIPED THE PLANTS .

Elizabeth Kennedy is one of many who have seen their potted plants stolen in Oak Cliff recently. The crimes have been going on since September, and someone stole a plant from Kennedy rather than grow his or her own.

“I had six pots, and they got the biggest and the fullest,” she says. “It was a clay pot, and the flowers were really doing well. I can’t believe they had the guts to do it.”

Kennedy says she has heard of similar petty crimes in recent months and has moved all her plants to her Stevens Park backyard.

Gilda Burleson also was a victim recently. She awoke one morning in September and noticed she had some plants missing. She had watered them the night before and knew where they should’ve been. In total, five large potted plants were missing, including three exotic plants from Hawaii that would be very difficult to replace.

“This is not the first time that I’ve been ripped off on my plants,” she says. “Each time I think that it’s not going to happen again, that it’s leveled off. But I think that it’s someone who’s watching the neighborhood.”

The idea of a strange person coming so close to her home so brazenly late at night makes her nervous, she says.

Sgt. Kay Hughbanks with the Dallas Police Southwest Patrol Division says this is a common problem and one for which residents should keep an eye out.

“Unfortunately this is a crime we have not been able to determine why. Most items that are stolen are sold for quick cash,” she says. “I would say it is just a theft based on convenience — easy to carry the item and hard to prove the property belongs to a specific person.” Sean Chaffin is

If you have been a recent crime victim, email crime@ advocatemag.com.

Pre-k

All Are Welcome!

PK3-8th Grade

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep.org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service. St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency

ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL

St. Elizabeth

Hungary Catholic School est. 1958

4019 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas 75224 214.331.5139 ext. 21 / www.saintspride.com

4019 S. Hampton Rd. Dallas 75224/ 214.331.5139 / www.saintspride. com / PK3-8th Grade. St. Elizabeth of Hungary offers a full day curriculum for PK3-8th Grade, including English Language, Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Religion, Technology, Athletics, Art, Music, Spanish, and Library. Caring teachers enhance curriculum with individualized attention and handson interactive participation. St. Elizabeth is a model of diversity, rich, and reflective of the ethnic and economic composition of the community it serves. Join us for an informational school tour and see for yourself how easy it is to become a Saint! Call 214.331.5139 for information.

December 9, 2014 9:30 a.m.

a freelance writer and author of “Raising the Stakes”, obtainable at raisingthestakesbook.com.

English, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Religion, Technology, Athletics, Art, Music, and Spanish.

BAPTIST

GRACE TEMPLE BAPTIST MULTI-CULTURAL CHURCH

Sunday Worship: English Service 9:30 am / Spanish Service 11:00 am

831 W. Tenth St. / 214.948.7587 / gracetempledallas.org

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

EPISCOPAL

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH / 534 W. Tenth St. / 214.941.0339

Sunday: 8 & 10 am Holy Eucharist, 12:30pm Santa Misa en Español

Sunday School for all ages / Children’s Chapel / christchurchdallas.org

METHODIST

KESSLER PARK UMC / 1215 Turner Ave. / 214.942.0098 / kpumc.org

9:30 am Sunday School / 11:00 Worship / All welcome regardless of creed, color, culture, gender or sexual identity.

OAK CLIFF UMC / 549 E. Jefferson Blvd. / oakcliffumc.org

Young Adult Gathering & Worship “The Cliff” 9:30 am / Contemporary Worship 11:00 am (Bilingual) / facebook.com/oakcliffumc

TYLER STREET UMC / 927 W. 10th Street / 214.946.8106

Sunday Worship at 8:30 am and 10:50 am www.tsumc.org

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

KESSLER COMMUNITY CHURCH / 2100 Leander Dr. at Hampton Rd.

“Your Hometown Church Near the Heart of the City.”

10:30 am Contemporary Service / kesslercommunitychurch.com

PRESBYTERIAN

OAK CLIFF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6000 S. Hampton Road

Sunday Worship at 9:30 am & 11:05 am 214-339-2211 / www.ocpres.com

LIVE (AND GIVE) LARGE

Ol’ Saint Nick, make yourself and those around you happier

The story of Santa Claus begins with Nicolas, born into a wealthy family in the third century on the southern coast of Turkey. His parents died when Nicolas was young, and perhaps turned over in their graves when Nicolas chose to obey Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor” by giving away his entire inheritance to assist the needy, sick and suffering. He eventually became a Catholic bishop and was known for his generous gift-giving and love for children. For centuries people have celebrated his life by likewise giving presents to others, especially on Dec. 6, the anniversary of his death, and of course on Christmas Day, when children await the arrival of Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.

Nicolas left a legacy of generosity. He lived his life as if anything that had been given to him was a potential blessing to give to someone else.

It’s easy to become cynical and forget the power of generosity in a glitzy, consumerdriven holiday haze. We can give and receive gifts almost mechanically, through a sense of “duty” or ritual, which then leaves us more empty than before. But genuine generosity expects no benefit beyond the sheer warmth of knowing that someone’s life has been made better through the gift.

This holiday season, a groundswell of generosity can change Oak Cliff. But how?

First, generosity serves as an antidote to consumerism and narcissism. Most people spend their days thinking about themselves: what they want, what they feel, what they will do. A generous, large-hearted approach to life considers the other before oneself.

Second, acts of generosity remind us that it really is more blessed to give than

to receive. Jesus stated this not as an encouragement to give more, but as a trusted, truthful saying. Recently I was enjoying breakfast with friends at Oddfellows in the Bishop Arts District when I was told that our meal had been paid for. This act of kindness changed my whole day.

Third, when we become generous, we become more whole. It’s ironic that giving something away can make one more com-

plete, but that’s the wonder of generosity.

Generous, magnanimous living makes the world a better place. Many people come to the end of their lives and ask: what did I leave behind? How did I help others? Why did I chase after material things, when what matters the most cannot be bought? Generous people know that what matters most can only be given and received.

St. Nicolas said, “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”

On Dec. 6, I’m planning a day of generosity to honor Saint Nicolas. Join me by tipping a server more than expected, taking a neighbor to lunch, giving your time by singing in Jingle Bells on Bishop, or leaving a gift on someone’s doorstep. They’ll be blessed, and so will you.

Act more like

But genuine generosity expects no benefit beyond the sheer warmth of knowing that someone’s life has been made better through the gift.

Brent McDougal is pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church. The Worship section is a regular feature underwritten by Advocate Publishing and by the neighborhood business people and churches listed on these pages. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

Rock the Cliff

Billy Bates, Jeanne Werner, Sue Young and Warren Rutledge, who all live at Grace Presbyterian Village, participated in the inaugural Rock the Cliff 5k race at Lake Cliff Park in September.

Local Resources

TO ADVERTISE 214.560.4203

CLASSES/TUTORING/ LESSONS

LEARN NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

Beginners intermediates; Rice, TCU, DTS ex; John Cunyus 214-662-5494 www.JohnCunyus.com

PIANO LESSONS All ages & levels. Over 20 years experience. Oak Cliff area. Call Tim at 214-989-7093

EMPLOYMENT

AVIATION MANUFACTURING CAREERS Get Trained As FAA Certified Technician. Financial Aid For Qualified Students. Job Placement Assistance. AIM 866-453-6204

SERVICES FOR YOU

DISH TV RETAILER Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 months) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available)

Save. Ask about Same Day Installation 1-800-615-4064

Local BULLETIN BOARD

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

A WILL? THERE IS A WAY Estate/Probate matters. Free Consultation. 214-802-6768 MaryGlennAttorney.com

FARMERS INSURANCE CALL JOSH JORDAN 214-364-8280. Auto, Home, Life Renters.

JAMES H. DOLAN, MA, L.P.C Therapist, Executive Coach 214-629-6315. Individuals, couples & teens.LGBT

PET SERVICES

DUKE CANINE Certified Behaviorist & Trainer. Board/Train. Indoor kennels. www.dukecanine.com or 214-529-2598

BUY/SELL/TRADE

GROUND FLOOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Unique Opportunity for Residual Income. A Legacy Company Which Affords You and Your Family Guaranteed Income. 401-741-7596 healthandwealthct@gmail.com

TEXAS RANGERS AND DALLAS STARS

front row seats. Share prime, front-row Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars tickets (available in sets of 10 games). Prices start at $105 per ticket (sets of 2 or 4 tickets per game available) Seats are behind the plate and next to the dugouts for the Rangers: seats are on the glass and on the Platinum Level for the Stars. Other great seats available starting at $60 per ticket. Entire season available except for opening game; participants randomly draw numbers prior to the season to determine a draft order fair for everyone. Call 214-560-4212 or rwamre@advocatemag.com

TOP CASH FOR CARS Any Car, Truck. Running or Not. Call for Instant Offer. 1-800-454-6951

ESTATE/GARAGE SALES

ESTATE SALES & LIQUIDATION SERVICES

Moving, Retirement, Downsizing. One Piece or a Houseful. David Turner. 214-908-7688. dave2estates@aol.com

REAL

BOUNCE HOUSES • SLIDES • MARGARITA MACHINES

POPCORN MACHINES • PIÑATAS • CHAIRS • TABLES (214)941-7440 - www.pinatacity.com

1705 W. CLARENDON, DALLAS TX 75208

In-Home Professional Care

Customized to maintain your pet’s routine

In-Home Pet Visits & Daily Walks

“Best of Dallas” D Magazine

Serving the Dallas area since 1994

Bonded & Insured www.societypetsitter.com 214-821-3900

SOUTH OAK CLIFF HOME Renovated, 3488sf, 4 Bed, 4.5 Bath, 3 Car, Golf Course Community. $259k. 972-748-7628

TO ADVERTISE CALL 214.560.4203

AC & HEAT

CONCRETE/ MASONRY/PAVING

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Stamping and Staining Driveways/Patio/Walkways

Pattern/Color available

Free Estimates

972-672-5359 (32 yrs.)

CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable.

Chris 214-770-5001

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ANNA’S ELECTRIC Your Oak Cliff Electrician Since 1978. tecl25513. 214-943-4890

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

JD’S TREE SERVICE Mantels, Headboards, Kitchen Islands, Dining tables. Made from Local Trees. www.jdtreeservice.com 214-946-7138

CARPENTRY & REMODELING

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials!

214-343-4645

JUAN AND ROSCOE 937-304-7950

Showers, Kitchens, Painting/Taping, Sheet rock.

O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For Over 17 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448

RENOVATE DALLAS

renovatedallas.org 214-403-7247

TK Remodeling

Your neighborhood remodeler

•Repair •Remodeling •Restoration

•Complete full service

Name it — We do it

http://dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

Tommy 972-533-2872 INSURED

CLEANING

SERVICES

CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM

Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

CONCRETE/

MASONRY/PAVING

BRICK, BLOCK, Stone, Concrete, Stucco. Gonzalez Masonry. 214-395-1319

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS

Mortar Repair. Call George 214-498-2128

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com Family Owned/Operated. Insd. 214-328-1333

EXPERIENCED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN Insd. Steve. TECL#27297 214-718-9648

GOVER ELECTRIC Back Up Generators. New and Remodel Work. Commercial & Residential. All Service Work. 469-230-7438. TECL2293

LAKEWOOD ELECTRICAL Local. Insured. Lic. #227509 Call Rylan 214-434-8735

TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658

EXTERIOR CLEANING

G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925

FENCING & DECKS

#1 COWBOY FENCE & IRON CO. Est. ‘91. 214-692-1991 www.cowboyfenceandiron.com

4 QUALITY FENCING Call Mike 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood, New or Repair.

HANNAWOODWORKS.COM Decks, Doors, Carpentry, Remodeling 214-435-9574

EST. 1991 #1

COWBOY

FENCE & IRON CO.

214.692.1991

SPECIALIZING IN Wood Fences &Auto Gates

cowboyfenceandiron.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

CLIFTON CARPETS 214-526-7405 www.cliftoncarpets.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

LONGHORN FLOORS LLC 972-768-4372. www.longhornflooring.com

FLOORING & CARPETING

N-HANCE WOOD RENEWAL. No Dust. No Mess. No Odor. nhance.com. 214-321-3012.

WILLEFORD HARDWOOD FLOORS 214-824-1166 • WillefordHardwoodFloors.com

NEED FLOORING?

Carpet • Ceramic • Wood • Luxury Vinyl Call John Roemen 972.989.3533

john.roemen@redicarpet.com

Commercial / Residential

REDI CARPET

Reinventing the Flooring Experience

GARAGE DOORS

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned.214-826-8096

HANDYMAN SERVICES

A R&G HANDYMAN Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Fencing, Roofing, Light Hauling. Ron or Gary 214-861-7569, 469-878-8044

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606

HONEST, SKILLED SERVICE With a Smile. General Repairs/ Maintenance. 214-215-2582

Handy Dan

The Handyman “ToDo’s” Done Right Save $25 on Service Call of $125 or $50 on Service Call of $250 handy-dan.com 214.252.1628

Your Home Repair Specialists

Drywall Doors Senior Safety Carpentry Small & Odd Jobs And More! 972-308-6035 HandymanMatters.com/dallas

Bonded & Insured. Locally owned & operated.

HOLIDAY DECORATING

HOME INSPECTION

ADVOCATE PUBLISHING does not pre-screen, recommend or investigate the advertisements and/or Advertisers published in our magazines. As a result, Advocate Publishing is not responsible for your dealings with any Advertiser. Please ask each Advertiser that you contact to show you the necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform the work you are requesting. Advocate Publishing takes comments and/or complaints about Advertisers seriously, and we do not publish advertisements that we know are inaccurate, misleading and/or do not live up to the standards set by our publications. If you have a legitimate complaint or positive comment about an Advertiser, please contact us at 214-560-4203. Advocate Publishing recommends that you ask for and check references from each Advertiser that you contact, and we recommend that you obtain a written statement of work to be completed, and the price to be charged, prior to approving any work or providing an Advertiser with any deposit for work to be completed.

HOUSE PAINTING

MANNY’S HOME PAINTING & REPAIR Int./Ext. Sheetrock. Manny 214-334-2160

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

INTERIOR DESIGN

WALLPAPER AND MORE

Serving Lakewood For Over 15 Years. Upholstery, Custom Draperies & Shutters. free Consultation. 214-718-7281

KITCHEN/BATH/ TILE/GROUT

ALL SURFACE REFINISHING 214-631-8719. Tub/Tile/Refinishing. allsurfacerefinishing.com

BATHTUB, COUNTERTOP & TILE Resurfacing: Walls, Tub Surrounds, Showers. Glaze or Faux Stone finishes. Affordable Alternative to Replacement! 972-323-8375. PermaGlazeNorthDallas.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Any Tile Anywhere. www.dallastileman.com Back Splash Specials! 214-343-4645

STONE AGE COUNTER TOPS Granite, Marble, Tile, Kitchen/Bath Remodels. 972-276-9943 stoneage.dennis@verizon.net

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

A BETTER TREE COMPANY • JUST TREES Complete tree services. Tree & Landscape Lighting! Mark 214-332-3444

A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 12 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925

GREENSKEEPER Winter Clean Up & Color. Sodding, Fertilization. Lawn Maintenance & Landscape. Res/Com. 214-546-8846

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061

ORTIZ LAWNCARE Complete Yard Care. Service by Felipe. Free Est. 214-215-3599

U R LAWN CARE Maintenance. Landscaping. Oak Cliff resident for over 15 years. uwereisch@yahoo.com 214-886-9202

JD’s Tree Service

ROOFING & GUTTERS

ACE ROOFING Residential/Commercial Roofing & Repair. Call Tom. 972-268-4047

Allstate Homecraft Roofing

• Roofing & Remodel • Additions • Licensed/Insured Over 1,000 Satisfied Customers in the Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow, Park Cities Areas – M ETAL S PECIALIST –• Free Estimates 214-824-0767 allstatehomecraft.com

BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years

• Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards • Free Estimates www.bertroofing.com

SKYLIGHTS

Art and preservation

Artists Scott Shubin and Juli Hulcy-Kessinger won the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group’s Spare Parts public art grant for their “Steam Punk Bird.” The sculpture was installed outside Metro Paws Animal Hospital in October.

The developer building 250 apartments adjacent to the Chicken Scratch on Commerce at Pittman wants to dedicate 30 old-growth trees on the property in honor of tree preservationists. Nominate someone for Wood Partners’ “Pappy’s Tree Grove” at elettore.com/pappystree-grove.

A plan to change how the city preserves historic neighborhoods is headed to City Council this month. The City Plan Commission approved changes to how conservation districts can be formed, which some say will make any new ones nearly impossible.

Trails

PEST CONTROL

A BETTER EARTH PEST CONTROL Keeping the environment, kids, pets in mind. Organic products avail. 972-564-2495

MCDANIEL PEST CONTROL

Prices Start at $85 + Tax For General Treatment.

Average Home-Interior/Exterior & Attached Garage. Quotes For Other Services. 214-328-2847. Lakewood Resident

PLUMBING

ANDREWS PLUMBING • 214-354-8521

# M37740 Insured. Any plumbing issues. plumberiffic69@gmail.com

Sewers • Drains • Bonded 24 Hours/7 Days

*Joe Faz 214-794-7566 - Se Habla Español*

ARRIAGA PLUMBING: General Plumbing

Since the 80’s. Insured. Lic# M- 20754

214-321-0589, 214-738-7116, CC’s accepted.

ARRIAGA PLUMBING Water Heater Installed

$875/Disposal $250. Lic#M-20754. Insd. Since the 80’s. 214-321-0589, 214-738-7116. CC’s accepted.

M&S PLUMBING Quality Work & Prompt Service. Jerry. 214-235-2172. lic.#M-11523

NTX PLUMBING SPEC. LLLP 214-226-0913

Lic. M-40581 Res/Com. Repairs & Leak Location

REPAIRS, Fixtures, General Plumbing, Senior Discounts. Campbell Plumbing. 214-321-5943

UPTOWN PLUMBING. Serving Dallas 40 + Yrs. 214-747-1103. M-13800 uptownplumbing.com

A $3-million grant from the North Texas Council of Governments will connect the Trinity Skyline Trail from Sylvan to the city of Irving. The 4.7-mile extension will be funded with nearly $3 million from the council of governments as well as almost $2.8 million from the city of Dallas. When completed, the skyline trail will reach from the Santa Fe Trestle Trail to Irving’s Campion Trail and is part of the plan to connect Dallas and Fort Worth by 64 miles of trail.

City hall

The Park Board-approved Aquatics Master Plan calls for closing all but one of the city’s existing pools and replacing them with “regional aquatics centers.” The master plan would cost as much as $50 million to implement, and the city doesn’t have the money yet. In our neighborhood, the existing Bahama Beach park would serve as the regional aquatics center. Sites for another two, plus five smaller centers haven’t been selected.

HAVE AN ITEM TO BE FEATURED?

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

A TEAR-DOWN TRADITION

Old church building replaced historic Zang home

A developer is proposing to tear down a 64-year-old church building at Zang and Sixth to build apartments.

It’s not the first old building to be torn down on that site, nor the first apartments there.

Trinity Presbyterian Church bought the home of J.F. Zang in December 1943 with plans to tear it down and build a new church.

Zang built the home in 1906 on the highest point in his Crystal Hill addition. It was a two-and-a-half story white colonial with a view of Downtown. At the time the church bought it, the home had been used as an apartment building for 25 years.

Trinity Presbyterian began as a Sunday school in the 1880s, and it formally organized in 1890 under the Rev. Daniel G. Molloy, who had come from Arkansas in 1850. Molloy’s first services in Dallas were preached from a log cabin courthouse in Downtown. After that was torn down, Molloy held church in a saloon. Molloy started several churches in Dallas before organizing in Oak Cliff with 27 members in the home of J.E. Rogers, who would become superintendant of the Oak Cliff school district in 1910.

According to a Texas historical marker near Zang and Sixth, “Charter members in-

cluded many pioneer Dallas families.”

In 1894, the church took a building at Jefferson and Beckley. That same year, the church bought land at 10th and Cumberland, where they first built a parsonage and then, in 1916, a church building.

The church fell into debt and lost its 10th Street building during the Depression. The Rev. Jasper Manton, a World War I veteran, took a pay cut to move to Dallas from Sherman and helm the church during this time.

The congregation met at Greiner Middle School for several years before buying the Zang house.

The congregation then held church inside the Zang house for seven years before its new building was constructed. A newspaper headline from 1944 announces that the new church would have one step.

“I have found during my ministry so many people unable to climb the flights of stairs to most church buildings that it is our purpose to erect a building just one step above the ground,” the newspaper quoted Manton.

Done in the Spanish modern style, the design of this church was a break from the tradition of grand staircases and pillars that most big churches featured at the time. It cost $100,000 to build and opened in 1950.

In 1957, Trinity Presbyterian had the second-largest congregation in Dallas.

But changing demographics caused membership to dwindle, and by the 2000s, most of the church’s members were seniors.

The church was known for its generosity, offering a food pantry, after-school tutoring

The church was known for its generosity, offering a food pantry, afterschool tutoring and transitional housing for the homeless.

A newspaper clipping from December 1943 announces the church’s plans. Photo courtesy of the Dallas Morning News Historic Archives

and transitional housing for the homeless.

From a 2008 Dallas Morning News story about the church’s closing:

“Trinity has reached out to Hispanics hosting a small Spanish-language congregation called Iglesia Presbiteriana Emmanuel, as well as English language classes — efforts at dual-language worship flopped.”

In the end, expenses outweighed weekly offerings, and members voted to close it.

Developer Randy Primrose is buying the property with a plan to build two three-story apartment buildings with about 70 units. One building would face Zang, and the other would face Elsbeth. The two buildings would connect by a driveway with parking and a pool.

The church, which is owned by Grace Presbytery, has asbestos. The owners plan to save some of the stained-glass windows, but none of it would be reused in the new apartment project.

The old church is within the Oak Cliff Gateway, a 900-acre area that is being rezoned. Primrose is asking that the new zoning match the needs of the apartment project. In the most current Gateway plan, the Zang building can be built, but the Elsbeth building would be infeasible because multifamily housing would not be allowed on that street, Primrose says.

Back in the 1940s, the Zang house was demolished unceremoniously, and no zoning existed at the time.

So some things do change. —Rachel Stone

A developer plans to demolish the 64-year-old church building for apartments. Photo by Danny Fulgencio

Methodist Health has joined forces with Mayo Clinic.

Today at Methodist Health System, our patients are benefiting from the power of two renowned health care systems–and seeing firsthand what our combined experience means for them. As the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network in Texas, Methodist and its physicians are collaborating with the physicians of Mayo Clinic, ensuring world-class diagnostics and treatment. Learn how we’re working together at MethodistHealthSystem.org/Mayo.