buSineSS break DOW n

T HE LOWDOWN ON WHAT ’S u P WITH NEIgHBORHOOD BuSINESSES

oil and cotton expands class offerings

The ladies at o il and c otton c reative e xchange have announced a fall schedule that includes the usual suspects — bookbinding, watercolor painting, photography, silkscreen — as well as a not-so-usual offering: “Preconception and Fertility Optimization” with Dr. Kate Naumes. “There is nothing quite like it available in Dallas,” Oil and Cotton’s Shannon Driscoll says of the class. The seven-week series, which began Sept. 27, is the second time Oil and Cotton has touched on the subject. “We tested the idea this spring with five couples, and it was extremely successful,” Driscoll says. Naumes is a naturopath, midwife and primary care physician with a special interest in women’s and children’s health, and the class is for those interested in learning how to enhance their health in preparation for optimal fertility. Naumes suggested the class to Oil and Cotton with the idea of exploring a question each week through art. “I needed help developing and facilitating the art component of each class and thought, ‘Who better than Oil and Cotton?’ ” Naumes says. She teaches how to protect oneself from exposure to substances in the environment that can decrease fertility and harm a developing baby, and the class is meant to be an opportunity to meet other Oak Cliff and Dallas couples with similar hopes and fears.

• Oil & Cotton, 837 W. Seventh, 214.988.9189, oilandcotton.com

The Tamale Company creates a lard-free alternative Oak Cliff resident Elizabeth Plimmer’s The Tamale Company offers lard-free, gluten free, “boil in bag” tamales. Available at local farmers markets and retail stores such as Ann’s Health Food Store on Zang near I-35, flavors include chicken tomatillo, ancho chili pork, black bean and corn, or bar-b-que beef. Nearly two and a half years ago, Liz’s father, Richard, was searching for his latest culinary venture and stumbled upon the tamale. Plimmer’s family owned some of Dallas’ first hot dog carts in the ’80s and has been involved with a variety of local restaurants through the years. “My dad was searching for a business idea with a simple focus,” Plimmer says. “As he talked to people, he heard that many felt that the tamale tradition was dying with their grandmothers.” Next, Plimmer would like to work her way into large distribution. The Tamale Company now has a tamale cart option, where customers can rent a tamale cart, a “sober worker” and tamales for a party at $50/hour.

• The Tamale Company, 214.233.6392, thetamalecompany.com

PHOTO COuRTESy OF BANK OF TEx AS

Neighborhood businesses participating in 2011 Partners card

Presented by the Bank of Texas, the 2011 Partners Card is currently available for purchase at partnerscard.org. For the $60 purchase, cardholders receive a 20 percent dis-

DO yOu knOWOf a neighbOrhOOD buSine SS renovating, expanding, moving, launching, hosting an event, celebrating an anniversary, offering a special or something else noteworthy? Send the information to livelocal@advocatemag.com or call 214.292.0487.

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Hours: count at more than 750 stores and rants in the DFW area from Oct. 28-Nov. 100 percent of proceeds benefit The Place and its work toward family violence intervention and prevention. Last year, Partners Card fundraising effort brought a record-breaking $1 million. Many Oak businesses are involved, including StreetMarket ; Dude, Sweet Chocolate Hattie’s ; Indigo 1745 ; Zola’sEveryday Vintage and more.

More business buzz

MethodistHealthSystem has announced plans for a major facility expansion to the tune of $135 million. The expansion, which includes changes to MethodistDallasMedical Center , will enhance emergency and critical care. The Tyler-Davis District has launched a new, comprehensive website (tyler-davis.org) that features event listings and store info in the categories of art, music, eat & drink, shop, services, business directory, community and more. Tillman’sRoadhouse recently appeared on the Food Network’s “Sugar High.” The show’s host, Duff Goldman of “Ace of Cakes,” chose to highlight the restaurant’s beloved s’mores. Oak Cliff resident Tom Battles has moved his custom picture-framing store, Tom Battles CustomPictureFraming , to the Tyler-Davis District from its former location in the Dallas Design District.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST www.strongeyecare.net

BRADLEY STRONG, M.D.

Dr. Strong is committed to compassionate, quality eye care. He offers medical and surgical care, including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration, and dry eye syndrome. He also offers routine eye exams and contact lenses. All ages are welcome, from children to seniors. Our office is conveniently located at Central Expressway and Fitzhugh, just one exit south of Knox/Henderson. Board

THETHIEFCOULD BAKE A CAKE — AFTER STEALING KITCHEN UTENSILS.

LucilleCampbell has lived in Oak Cliff for 37 years, and been the victim of crime eight times. In recent years, she added two large dogs to her household to help deter criminals from her property.

Sadly, two weeks ago, the larger dog passed away. The smaller German shepherd was all she had left to bark at any potential criminals.

The Victim: Lucille Campbell

The Crime: Burglary

Date: Saturday, Aug. 20

Time: Between 10 p.m. and 6:15 a.m.

Location: 900 block of Montclair

“This one was a good one,” she says of her most recent brush with crime. “We’ve had it pretty bad over here.”

On the night of the crime, someone apparently tried to pry open her kitchen window just above the sink, where she kept some cups and kitchen utensils.

“My kitchen window must have gotten stuck.They couldn’t get through the window,”Campbell says. “Apparently, they were so fat they couldn’t get through.”

The burglar grabbed the few things she had sitting on the windowsill, including a half-container of dishwashing soap the cups and utensils, including a spatula and whisk.This collection wasn’t the typical break-in loot, but more like items in use in a show on the Food Network.

The burglar may also have been scared away by Campbell’s dog, which barked that night.Campbell remembers coming into the kitchen, but not seeing anyone.

“What they took was just really stupid, but I feel really violated,” she says.

The burglaries have been a frustration forCampbell, but she is glad that the thieves were not able to enter her home and steal anything else or, worse, assault her while she was at home.

Dallas Police Lt. Gil Garza of the Southwest Patrol Division says Campbell’s dog may have indeed saved the day by scaring away the suspect.

“Certainly having a dog can be a plus,” he says. “Large dogs can be an intimidating factor for any suspects casing a particular location. Small dogs can alert residents of intruders. Dog owners will point this out as a positive.”

However, a lazy or uninterested hound may not offer the best security.

“I’ve also heard the opposite, where the dog didn’t do anything,” Garza adds.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and editor of pokertraditions.com. If you have been a recent crime victim, email crime@advocatemag.com.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS OCCURRED AT SEVENTH AND NORTH LANCASTER. 2

BUSINESSES AT DAVIS AND ZANG WERE BURGALIZED. 4

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VEHICLES WERE BURGLARIZED ALONG FORT WORTH AVENUE BETWEEN HAMPTON ANDWESTMORELAND.

Source: Dallas Police Department crime stats for Aug. 13-Sept. 13