2012 July Oak Cliff

The

A couple of months ago at a graduation ceremony, I listened as one of the highranking students addressed the crowd with a remarkably complete view of her future.

Her view was remarkable because the newly minted graduate still has quite a bit to learn about how the world actually works.

But no matter. She said something interesting that I’m still thinking about weeks later.

Quoting her father, she talked about striving to achieve this particular piece of advice: Go where the happy people are.

Turns out that pearl probably is derived from a song by “The Trammps” during the 1970s; the song’s about a lonely homebody who “put my blues on the shelf” and headed to a disco to be where the “happy people go.”

That’s a simple piece of wisdom, and it’s more difficult to achieve than it sounds, primarily because finding “happy people” is more challenging as we venture further and further from high school.

Identifying “happy people” is something I’ve thought quite a lot about lately. I’ve learned over the years that “smiling” people aren’t necessarily “happy”; some of them are just really good at looking the part, even if they hurt a lot beneath the surface.

And I’ve learned that “scowling” people aren’t necessarily “unhappy,” since hard work and relentless pressure tends to bend even the strongest among us, curling the face muscles permanently downward even if the attitude inside isn’t

necessarily that way.

So if hanging with happy people is a goal, yet finding them isn’t easy, what’s the real message?

Something I’ve noticed over the years is that the people who are happiest seem to have discovered a simple fact of life: You’re likely to be happy if you honestly believe you are really good at something.

From what I can tell, you don’t actually have to be good at a specific task to be happy; you just have to believe you are.

As an example, look at our presidents and those who are candidates for the office: Agree with them or not, they always exhibit the confidence that comes with sincerely believing they are the right man or woman for the job. And no matter how well others think they did in office, they seem satisfied with their effort.

Look at athletes, the elite and the beerdrinking alike: They are good because when the game is on the line, they believe they alone should be taking the shot or fielding the ball.

It works the same with teachers, with waitresses, with day-care workers, with truck drivers — those who believe they are best at what they do want to be in the middle of the action and seem most likely to be happy.

It makes sense: If we believe we’re good at something, we have reason to go home at the end of every day satisfied that we’re making a contribution to our neighborhood, to our companies, to our co-workers, to our friends and to ourselves.

And although simply going home each day happy to have made a contribution may not sound that earthshaking, those of us who have been at this awhile know that if it was all that easy, it wouldn’t be so difficult to “go where the happy people are.”

happy people A simple truth about this complicated demographic

Robert Kucharski

Anastasia Semos

Jeff Mitchell

Dori Warner

David Griffin

Robert Kurcharski

Shelby Starr

Diane Sherman

Unwanted development is now at-risk architecture

After the Old Oak Cliff Conservation league presented its 2012 top 10 list of at-risk architecture, editor Rachel Stone noted the irony that neighbors originally didn’t want a few of the buildings they are now fighting to preserve.

No. 1 on the list is the former Humble Oil Service Station at Zang and Beckley. That building faces almost certain demise at the hands of a developer who wants to replace it with a discount beer and wine store.

In 1928 neighbors fought against the Humble station’s development. The league researched the property, and this is what they found:

Plans to turn Beckley into State Hwy. 4 to Lancaster made the spot desirable for such an enterprise, but residents residing within 300 feet of the corner were not having it. Dallas Mayor R.E. Burt vetoed the Humble application on Sept. 28, 1928. Humble filed an injunction and Judge Claude McCallum of the 101st District Court ordered a building permit issued on March 29, 1929. The judge remarked, ‘I did it because it was the law and I could not help myself.’ ”

Cannon’s Village is No. 3 on the list because its main tenant, West Davis Dental, moved to the Bishop Arts District a few years ago. It was built at Davis and Edgefield in 1923, when Winnetka Heights was a purely residential neighborhood, and neighbors did not want commercial encroachment of any kind.

The city denied builder C.S. Mitchell’s development plan, and he filed suit. “The case was largely seen as a test case for Dallas’s building ordinance that restricted the establishment of business buildings in residen-

tial districts,” according to the league. Mitchell eventually won, but he designed and built the shopping center to look as much like a house as possible, and it had only one sign to announce businesses.

“With Cannon’s Village’s lovely English Tudor design, I keep imagining (hoping!) that some Harry Potter entrepreneur will turn it into Hogwarts/ Diagon Alley with a first-rate magic shop complete with classes and shows, costumes store, restaurant, etc.” —Les

“As a kid growing up in OC in the ’60s, I remember my brother Randy and I riding our bikes to Cannon’s hardware store to buy from their large selection of penny candy. The store was one of the old-fashioned hardware stores with supplies from floor to ceiling. Mr. Cannon always kept a close eye on us! Next door was Schindler’s Bakery — full of wonderful delights! Hope the English Village will always remain a part of North Oak Cliff. It really is a cool old building.” —Tina

M.

Find Stone’s full write-up, including the league’s list of at-risk architecture, at oakcliff.advocatemag.com.

Gayla Brooks Kokel writes about the former Schindler’s Bakery in Cannon’s Village in her column this month; read it on page 35.

Photo courtesy of ooccl.org

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managing editor: CHRISTINAHUGHESBABB

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senior editor: KERIMITCHELL

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editors

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RACHELSTONE

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senior art director: JYNNETTE NEAL

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art director: JULIANNEFOWLER

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designers: JEANINE MICHNA-BALES, LARRY OLIVER

contributing editors: JEFF SIEGEL, SALLY WAMRE

contributors: SEANCHAFFIN, GAYLA KOKEL,GEORGEMASON, BLAIRMONIE,ELLENRAFF

photo editor: CAN TÜRKYILMAZ

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photographers: MARK DAVIS, DANNY FULGENCIO, ALISON FECHTEL,LORIBANDI

interns: JASMINE BIBBS, TALLY MCCORMACK, MATT MOZEK, JESSICA PETROCCHI, AMBER PLUMLEY, AMANDA RAMIREZ, KELSEY SAMUELS, LAURI VALERIO, CLARA WITTEN

Launch

community | events | food

Kidd Springs Park

As told to Keri Mitchell by Sally Rodriguez, Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s historian. Photos are courtesy of the Dallas Municipal Archives and curated by Rodriguez. She authored the book “White Rock lake,” available at area bookstores and through arcadiapublishing.com.

<<

Kidd Springs was a private park, just like Lake Cliff, and we acquired it in 1947. So these were private buildings — probably some sort of pool house with arcades and games. Or it might have been an openair pavilion for dancing.

And then here, the buildings are all gone except one, and the lake is drying up. The rec center now sits overlooking the lake. <<

<< Here again is the lake, and this — you can see it dammed — was the swimming pool. It used to be part of the lake.

VISIT OAKCLIFF.ADVOCATEMAG.COM

and search Sally Rodriguez to find more historical photos of neighborhood parks.

Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development

Oak Cliff wine

J.R. Richardson decided to start a winemaking business after many years of drinking wine, studying the business and planning. That was January 2008. “By the time we got to crushing our grapes, we were in a recession,” he says. “It was tough to find a market.” From the start, he and his wife, Maria, knew they were taking a huge risk. Everyone they talked to told them not to make wine, but they went for it anyway. “The saying goes, ‘If you want to make a fortune in the wine business, you better start with a very large one,’ ” Richardson says. “But I just had the passion for it.”

Richardson’s wine education started in graduate school. “Someone got me hooked on German riesling in the early ’80s,” he says. “Then half a decade later, someone got me hooked on Bordeaux, and that was the end of the beginning.” His sister lived in Paris for 15 years, so he took an annual trip, visiting the wine regions and small vintners of France. He considers that his formal wine education. Later, he started visiting California’s Napa Valley regularly. After going in on a barrel of wine with friends, Richardson says, he was hooked on the winemaking idea. He started buying grapes from Madrigal Vineyards in 2008. The first year, Oak Cliff Vineyards bought 12 barrels of pinot noir from Mendocino and released their label in time for the holidays. It wasn’t until fall 2010 that they released bottles from their own grapes.

Richardson’s original business plan was to market and sell the wine online, but because of the economic downturn, that has proved less profitable than expected. So he had to move into retail distribution earlier than planned. “The market is always changing. Consumer demands and tastes are always changing,” he says. “Almost annually, I have to think, ‘Is this the right business plan? Are these the right grapes?’ ” Oak Cliff Vineyards strives to make wine that goes well with food. This year, Richardson is planning “a big, eye-popping, mouthfilling blend,” which will be out in the fall. So far, the wines have received good reviews, although sales could be better, Richardson says. His wine is available at Bolsa Mercado, Nova, Lavendou, Parigi and The Grape, among a few other Dallas restaurants. Eventually, Richardson says he hopes the winery will turn a profit and pay off in later years. “The winery is something I’m doing as a retirement strategy, but it’s not supporting me yet,” he says. “I’m still supporting it. It’s still one of my kids trying to grow up.”

—Rachel Stone

“Someone got me hooked on German riesling in the early ’80s, then half a decade later, someone got me hooked on Bordeaux, and that was the end of the beginning.”

Out & About

July 2012

July 14

Bastille on Bishop

The third annual Bastille on Bishop street festival (from 7–11 p.m.) is a menagerie of all things French: mimes, a pétanque court, cirque performances, accordions, bicycles, crepes, baguettes and more. Events include French maid relays and scooter rallies. As part of Bastille on Bishop, Le Tour de Bastille will kick off at 6 p.m. with a group ride from the Main Street garden. For those seeking competition, the Hot & Sweaty Tandemonium Bike Race begins at 7:30 p.m. Bishop Arts District, N. Bishop at Davis, bastilleonbishop.com, free

OAKCLIFF.ADVOCATEMAG.COM/EVENTS

JULY 18

JULY 12–13

Herbal cocktail workshop

Inspired by the medicinal powers of herbs, herbalmixologist Ashley North Compton is teaching two classes, both 6-9 p.m., on creating fresh and seasonal cocktails from garden-grown ingredients. The July 12 class will focus on infusing liquors and also cocktails with a vodka base, while the July 13 class will discuss making bitters and also cocktails with a gin base. Oil and Cotton, 837 W. Seventh, 214.988.9189, oilandcotton.com, $75 each class

JULY 14–AUG. 24

‘Oak Cliff: In Transit’

The answer to the numerous cultural and economic changes that have taken place in Oak Cliff, this exhibition hopes to spark a discussion among community members. The portrait-themed exhibition features the work of Mathew Barnes, Rosie Lee and Orland Sanchez-Lugo. Tuesday–Friday, 3-9 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson, 817.690.8984, facebook.com/oakcliffintransit, free

‘Storytellers at The Kessler’ with Hot Tuna

The acoustic spinoff of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna emerged as a popular touring act in the 1970s. See the band in an intimate ‘Storytellers’ setting. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m. The Kessler, 1230 W. Davis, 214.272.8346, thekessler.org, $25–$37.50

JULY 19

Dive In Movie: ‘AStreetcar Named Desire’

Lounge poolside at the Belmont Hotel and watch Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh give intense and unforgettable performances in this 1951 classic. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the movie begins at dusk.

Belmont Hotel, 901 Fort Worth, 214.393.2300, belmontdallas.com, free

July 19

Dollar Day at the Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo offers $1 admission all day, as well as dollar deals on select concessions. Explore the Giants of the Savanna, the Wilds of Africa, or play it safe at the children’s zoo. Ages 2 and younger are free.

Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton, 469.554.7500, dallaszoo.com, $1 admission, $7 parking

more local events or submit your own

Delicious

Parent-friendly Chicken

Scratch is one of the hippest new restaurants in Oak Cliff, and it just happens to be a great place for kids. “We didn’t realize how much of a family demographic we’d have,” says manager Nancy Gonzales. The owners of Smoke opened Chicken Scratch in the former Jack’s Backyard space about four months ago with chef Tim Byres at the helm. The large open picnic area with misters makes for a laid-back atmosphere for families. Parents can grab a drink at The Foundry next door, which is 21 and older, while the children play outside in clear view. It self-regulates so both kids and adults can have a good time. “We’re planning on hiring a babysitter, so you can just check your kids in at the door,” Gonzales says. The a la carte menu at Chicken Scratch is pretty universal hormone-free fried chicken, tamales, home-style sides and popsicles for dessert. The only items not prepared from scratch are the ketchup and mustard. Even the sodas are homemade and named after the staff’s children. The imaginative décor almost entirely comes from recycled materials — the milk-crate chandelier, mason jar plant holders and donated furniture. “It’s like playing in your grandmother’s attic.” —Emily Toman

1 Papa Joe’s Backyard BBQ

THREE MORE SPOTSTOTAKE THE KIDS |

2 Country Burger

This underrated, family-run barbecue spot keeps kids busy with an outdoor play area. It’s Oak Cliff’s best-kept secret for fall-offthe-bone ribs.

1233 Newport, 214.941.4092

If you’re not into patio weather in the summertime, try this neighborhood burger institution, equipped with picnic tables and TVs inside.

401S.Hampton, 214.330.4743

3 BEE: Best Enchiladas Ever

Here, you can customize enchiladas, satisfying picky children while also experimenting with diverse flavor combinations.

202 W. Davis, 214.941.1233, bestenchiladasever.com

Fried chicken, collard greens and a biscuit with homemade pickles. Photo by Mark Davis

BEER & WINE N ORTH OAKCLIF F

porch sippin’

Fâmega vinho verde ($7) Portugal

Texas summers are so annoyingly hot that even people who have lived here all their lives never get quite used to it. Right about now, most of us are looking at the thermometer, checking the calendar, and trying to figure out when the first cool day will get here.

Which means it’s time for porch wines. These are lighter wines, red and white, that can be served cool — or even colder and offer relief from the heat. Typically, they’re lower in alcohol, are crisp and fresh tasting, and can even be sweet. Plus, they won’t turn to mush if you add an ice cube.

These wines will get any porch sipping started:

This Spanish sparkling wine was made for the North Texas summer. It’s soft and generous, with sweet lemon fruit and bubbles that won’t quit. It’s a touch sweeter than most bruts (which means dry), but that’s not a problem.

A French red with just enough grapey flavor so that you can tell it’s from Beaujolais, but also lots and lots of character. Had acid and freshness, rare for a Beaujolais, as well as an earthiness and even some dark fruit. The quintessential porch red.

Vinho verde means green wine in Portuguese, and yes, there is a green tint to it (and even a little fizz). But it’s made for hot weather, with low alcohol and sweetish green apple fruit, and it doesn’t require tasting panels or long discussions. You’ll see many different producers, but the wine tastes mostly the same regardless (and can often be the same wine with a different label).

—Jeff Siegel

JEFF SIEGEL’S WEEKLY WINE REVIEWS appear every Wednesday on oakcliff.advocatemag.com

Not your usual black bean and corn salad

This dish’s poor reputation is due to canned vegetables and their lack of flavor. Fortunately, there are ways around that, even if you have to use canned black beans. Use thawed frozen corn if you don’t have fresh, and cherry tomatoes are a vast improvement over the usual grocery store stuff. Serve as part of any picnic with your favorite porch wine.

GROCERY LIST

2 c cooked black beans (well drained if canned)

1 c corn kernels

1 c cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

3-4 Tbsp chopped cilantro

1/4 c diced red onion

1 jalapeño, finely chopped

3-4 Tbsp lime juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

cumin, coriander, salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the black beans and corn, and microwave for 30 seconds or so to heat up.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Serves four as a side dish

Takes about 15 minutes

Ask the wine guy

How many grapes does it take to make a bottle of wine?

About 2 1/2 p ounds, which works

o ut to .0002 5 o f an acre

—Jeff Siegel

LocaL Legends

neighborhood notables open up about life, work and making Oak Cliff their home

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Andy Warhol coined the expression back in 1968, and it rings true today in the age of social media and reality television. These Oak Cliff neighbors, however, have enjoyed more than 15 minutes — and for good reason. They don’t have to wear a cap and sunglasses in public to avoid the inevitable gawking from starstruck passersby. But they have, no doubt, made their mark on popular culture.

s tory by Rachel s tone | Photos by Can Türkyilmaz

Kenny Withro W

Guitar master

Fame came to Kenny Withrow in 1988, when the song he wrote with Edie Brickell, “What I Am,” became a major hit.

A ubiquitous pop song is not exactly what they were going for when they wrote the tune in the three-bedroom Old East Dallas house Withrow shared with five other dudes and six cats. But that’s what they got.

The New Bohemians went from playing shows for a few hundred people at Club Dada to launching their nationwide tour with a performance on “Saturday Night Live.”

“All of a sudden, we were on Y95 locally and power hit radio,” Withrow says. “We were like a Deep Ellum weirdo band, and all of a sudden we were on top-40 radio.”

Withrow now lives in Oak Cliff. He’s a member of The Electro-Magnetics, which just released an album, “Dirty,” with songwriter and frontwoman

Cricket Taylor. He still plays occasionally with Brickell in her improvisational band Heavy Makeup. And he teaches guitar at the Kessler Theater and the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

Even though the New Bohemians headlined a major tour right out of the box, Withrow says the band members weren’t leading a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle at the time.

“It was kind of like being on tour with your little sister,” he says. “We were kind of on our best behavior.”

After that, Withrow joined the popular Deep Ellum jam band Billy Goat.

“It couldn’t have been more opposite than being in New Bohemians,” he says.

Withrow got his first guitar at 11, and his sister’s boyfriend taught him some chords. Since he didn’t know any songs, he started making them up. Withrow, who graduated from Booker T. Washington High

School for the Performing and Visual Arts, has always favored an improvisational style.

He met most of his New Bohemians bandmates as a student at Richland College.

“There wasn’t very much original music in Dallas at all,” he says. “So a very popular band playing original music was a very new thing. It was the first time there was a big scene for music in Dallas.”

In the late ’80s/early ’90s Deep Ellum music scene, most of the musicians knew each other. They could put on last-minute jam sessions any night of the week, and hundreds of people would show up to listen, Withrow says.

Dallas still has a healthy music scene, he says, but it’s no longer concentrated in Deep Ellum.

“It’s diffused. There are things going on in different places,” he says. “I do think there’s a younger generation of musicians who all

know each other, and there is a community.”

Withrow says Oak Cliff reminds him, in a way, of Deep Ellum in its heyday. Instead of clubs and music coming alive, it’s the whole community. Restaurants, shops, the arts and a musical culture are all growing at once here.

The latter is mostly thanks to the Oak Cliff Cultural Center and to Jeff Liles and Edwin Cabaniss of the Kessler Theater, Withrow says. Liles has always had a talent for introducing fans to bands they might not have heard before, he says. He brought different crowds and genres of music together at Deep Ellum’s Theater Gallery, among other venues.

“In a weird way, the Kessler reminds me of the Theater Gallery,” he says. “It has better sound, and the bathrooms are not disgusting, but it is a little bit of a melting pot. It’s getting more and more popular.”

top: the electro-magnetics new album, “Dirty,” was released in may. above: the New Bohemians’ first album was released in 1988.

Eddi E Murphy, aka dJ EZ Eddi E d

Hip- H op radio dJ

EZ Eddie D says he has the second-longest running hip-hop show in the nation, but he might be selling himself short there.

According to the Internet, Jay Smooth of the Underground Railroad at WBAI in New York City claims his show is the oldest. But Smooth founded his show in 1991. Eddie has been on the air in Dallas since ’87. Minus a two-year hiatus to pursue the culinary arts, EZ Eddie D has been the host of Knowledge Dropped Lessons Taught for 23 years. So he has at least a year on Jay Smooth.

The Cincinnati native moved to Dallas in 1982, and he joined KNON two years later.

EZ Eddie D, real name Eddie Murphy, says he never wanted to be a radio personality, but he

knew he wanted to play music after meeting DJ Ushay. He was impressed with how the legendary Dallas club DJ could control the crowd by the music he played.

“I was always shy to ask girls to dance, but I would always be interested in seeing how a song would come on and the reaction between the crowd and the DJ,” he says.

Murphy has lived in Oak Cliff for most of the time he has been in Dallas, and he has worked at Dude Sweet Chocolate in the Bishop Arts District for two years. Aside from his radio show, at 8 p.m. Saturdays, Murphy can also be found deejaying regularly at Lee Harvey’s and at events and parties around Dallas. We asked Murphy a few questions during a break at Dude Sweet Chocolate.

you quit KNON to pursue a culinary career a few years back. Are you still cooking?

I was a chef for two years at Palm Beach Club, and that was my walk through the culinary life. I like cooking, but I don’t like the meanness that goes with working in a kitchen.

What Texas hip-hop artists are you excited about right now?

I get asked that question a lot, and the problem with answering is, I’m going to forget someone. I’m going to leave someone out. But I like Fonz out of Houston. I think he’s extremely fresh. The Co-op out of Dallas. Legendary Fritz. Original Soul. I really am digging him.

Who are your top five emcees of all time?

Grandmaster Caz, Folk & Stress, KRS-One, Chuck D, Rakim.

Do you listen to the radio?

I listen to KXT sometimes. That’s OK. I like to spin music like that when I play music in bars. I don’t stay in one genre. You’ll hear anything during my sets. But radio is a problem. They’ve dumbed it down so much. These kids are force fed this crap, and it’s all they have. They don’t know how to escape from it. They don’t know anything else. It’s like kids in south central L.A. who have never seen the ocean. As big as the world and the Internet are, there are boundaries.

How did you get the name DJ EZ Eddie D?

I thought of this name called Fresh Express. I went home to Cincinnati, and there was this little kid, Percy, and he said, “Why don’t we just call you EZ Eddie D?” The kid was 10 or 11. And that was it. EZ Eddie D.

So the D doesn’t stand for anything? No. It’s just EZ Eddie D.

Do people have a lot of misconceptions about you?

Yeah. That I’m vegetarian. That I’m tall. Some people thought I was Mexican. That I don’t eat pork.

you used to always say, “We’ll be right black,” before cutting to a break.

I still say that sometimes, but I stopped for a while because look, my skin color is brown. Why would I call myself black when I’m not black? Your skin color is not white. It’s some other color, but it’s not white. Being black is not what I am. Don’t define yourself by that.

Why do you like community radio?

I got my start with Nippy Jones, who went on to play at K104. He’s probably what we consider the godfather of hip-hop in Dallas. He gave a lot of people opportunities. That’s where I kind of got my thing of community spirit. People are going come down and bring you their music, and you give them an opportunity to play. If they suck, they’re eventually going to find out they suck; it’s just not going to be from me.

Recently, you lost an hour of airtime because of a lack of pledges. I’ve heard other community radio DJs say that people who listen to hip-hop shows don’t pledge. I don’t even get support from the people who actually get their music played. It’s always been like that. I have to say I’m amazed that I’ve been there this long because of the lack of community support. I believe I made my pledge goal this time, which is cool. But they took an hour away, and I’m trying to get that back. I’m not blaming KNON because it’s hard times. We don’t get any government funding, so it’s just KNON on its own. I don’t know how to reach people to feel the importance of sustaining that.

JoAnn Holt

Newspaper colum N ist, pr mave N

When Jo Ann Holt started writing her arts and entertainment column for the Oak Cliff Tribune in the ’70s, there was so little going on in our neighborhood, they had to call it “Cross Over the Bridge.” In more than 20 years at the Tribune, Holt interviewed Ethel Merman, Rita Moreno, Lana Turner and many other celebrities. And she saw Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald and the Gatlin Brothers, to name a few, perform in the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel downtown.

She still lives in Oak Cliff, where she was born and raised. Minus a decade or so in Denton, she’s been here all her life. Her husband, Durhl Caussey, also wrote a popular slice-oflife column for the now-defunct Tribune

“We still run into people in the streets who say, ‘Oh, we miss your column so much,’ ” Holt says.

Holt and Caussey still write car columns for the Epoch Times, the Daily Commercial Record and other publications. And Holt runs her own public relations and marketing firm, which she started in 1984.

Her biggest client is the Dallas Summer Musicals, and in that 18year relationship, she has rubbed elbows with many a Broadway star. But it hasn’t always been glamorous.

She got her start with the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas. Since she had no experience, she took the job for very little pay, and she did anything the client asked. She planned events, raised money and even cleaned apartments for the out-of-town actors.

“That’s how I learned to do PR,” she says. “And that’s the advice I always give young people. Do whatever you can in the business, even if it doesn’t pay anything, and learn as much as you can.”

Holt is legendary for her mentorships in the PR business. She gave many PR and marketing mavens their start, including Oak Cliff residents Lisa Taylor of Taylor Made Press and Melanie Ferguson of the Trinity Trust.

“I have a little army of former interns all over the place,” she says. “I stay really close with most of them.”

Holt started at the Tribune as a young mother and student at Mountain View College in 1978. As editor of the college paper, she laid out the paper the old-fashioned way, literally cutting and pasting copy onto the

page before bringing it to the Tribune’s press. Publisher Ray Zauber soon hired her as the women’s editor, mostly covering weddings and engagements. It was an opportunity to learn on the job, and eventually she was able to explore her love of theater and the performing arts.

When the 106-year-old Tribune folded in 2009, it was a sad day for Oak Cliff, but it was heartbreaking for Holt. The thing she misses most, she says, “is that daily contact,” the letters, calls and emails from readers.

“The people of Oak Cliff have been really good to me,” she says.

“Do whatever you can in the business, even if it doesn’t pay anything, and learn as much as you can.”

The anti-Disney princess

Created by a Cliffite, she’s about to become a movie star

Princess Lucinda would probably pick a fight with Cinderella or Ariel. She was born in an evil kingdom far away, and all was well until forces of good invaded her family’s evil paradise, and her parents had to send Lucinda and her sister to Earth.

This evil princess is the subject of a comic book series read the world over from Australia to Europe, and created right here in Oak Cliff by Malcolm Harris.

As a kid, Harris’s mother and brother took him to a local comic book store to meet Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, the writer and artist of his favorite series, “The New Teen Titans.”

“I saw them and thought, ‘These are real guys, they are real people,’ ” Harris says. “Once I saw that there were real people behinds these books, I decided, one day I’m going to be that person.”

Harris is not your average comic book writer. For one, his writing approach includes listening to music that fits with his characters

and the story he’s trying to tell. Some days it’s ’80s heavy metal; the next it’s New Age.

Also, Harris says that when fans meet him, many of them are surprised to see that the writer of their favorite series is black.

“At first it was hard because I didn’t know that there were others out there like me, but with the internet, I have connected with a lot of other black writers,” Harris says. “We realized we are not alone.”

His self-publishing approach, instead of going to work for some of the well-known comics brands like Marvel or DC, is another distinction. In 2002 he self-published his first series, “Witch Tales,” centered on Princess Lucinda. He launched Channel-M Publishing in 2010 after deciding to write full-time. Harris enjoys both the freedom to direct his own storylines and working with a small group of people to produce their books.

“As a small writer, it was so hard to get noticed by the big companies,” Harris says. “I wanted to prove that small companies can

go out there and make it big. We are just as valid as they are.”

Now, he has developed more than 1,000 characters and is currently working on three series to be distributed to retailers all over the world via his Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. A short film featuring the story of Princess Lucinda is his next project. Hopefuls have traveled from all over the world to audition for the part of Lucinda, and a campaign recently began to solicit donations for the film. Production will begin this month, whether or not the $10,000 fundraising goal is met, and Harris is excited. A born and raised Cliffite, he wants his new project to showcase his neighborhood.

“I want to show how creative people from Oak Cliff are,” Harris says. “I want to help put Oak Cliff on the map.” —Breajna Dawkins

MALCOLM HARRIS’S BOOKS ARE SOLD at Zeus Comics on Oak Lawn and in the Kindle ebook store.

Malcolm Harris, born and raised in Oak Cliff, intends to make his mark on the world with comic books. Photo by Can Türkyilmaz

BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

Send business news tips to LIVELOCAL@ADVOCATEMAG.COM

Neighborhood design and gift store opens in Bishop Arts

The newest shop to open in Bishop Arts, Neighborhood, offers interior design services along with books, gifts and work from local artists. Husband-and-wife owners Erin and John Paul Hossley are interior designers, and they wanted a storefront that would invite browsers to their design services. Their “design bar” offers a menu of services that includes remodel/renovation consultation ($50/hour) and cabinetry/mill-work design ($75/hour), among many others. “We wanted to do something that was not intimidating,” says Shannon Dwyer, an in-house designer at Neighborhood. “People can sit at our design bar and see what we have to offer.” The studio commissions designs from local furniture makers Gary Buckner, Sean Springer and Dan Phillips. And they carry work from local artists, including Kevin Obregon, Cabe Booth and Taylor McClure. They also carry coffee-table books on design, art and bicycles, as well as stationery, candles and home accessories. “Anything that makes us laugh or we think is cool, we put it out,” Erin says.

A social club and a tavern

Oak Cliff Social Club, a bar and restaurant in the same building as Inforzato’s, opened last month in the Bishop Arts District. Co-owner Peter Saucedo leased two spaces, including the former Eclectic Studioz, and made them into one, extending the new space from Davis to Seventh. Saucedo, co-owner with his wife, Mariah, and his parents, Diane and Leo Saucedo, has done most of the renovations himself. Be-

More business bits

fore the 30-year-old got into the bar and nightlife business with stints at Lotus and Three Sheets, he worked renovating kitchens and bathrooms. He installed Oak Cliff Social Club’s solid granite bar himself, as well as a wood panel design on the wall behind the bar, for example. Saucedo, who lives near White Rock Lake, says he shopped around for about a year looking for the right place to launch his concept. Oak Cliff Social Club will be open seven days a week, serving drinks and pub grub — Inforzato’s is helping with some of the food. A lounge area in the back has soundproofing and is big enough for bands to play there.

Across Seventh, Ten Bells Tavern has been in the works since February. Co-owners Meri Dahlke, Michael Hickey (who are husband and wife) and Greg Matthews will serve fish and chips, bangers and mash, pickled eggs and sandwiches at the British pub concept. They’re planning an outdoor space that is “pure Texas beer garden” with picnic tables, a covered patio and a window that passes through to the bar. Hickey says he has worked in the restaurant and bar business since he was 15 years old. “Since I was a little kid, I’ve always wanted my own place,” he says. “I don’t know why. I was a glutton for punishment, I guess. And now I have it.”

more business buzz every week on

OAKCLIFF.ADVOCATEMAG.COM/BIZ

1 East Kessler resident

Eric Tschetter plans to open a sports bar and grill in the former Luckie’s Smokehouse space at West Davis and Clinton. Tschetter, who owns Pour House Fort Worth, plans to open the new place, PhD (Pour House Dallas), as early as September, in time for football season.

2 Billed as a “friendly neighborhood bar where everyone is welcome,” Bar 305 is a new gay bar that recently opened on Centre, near Barbara’s Pavilion. Manager Jeff Jennings says the bar features a cozy environment with leather couches, pool tables, video games and a large patio. Enjoy karaoke on Fridays and a DJ and live music once a month.

Neighborhood 411 N. BISHOP 214.943.5650

NEIGHBORHOOD-STORE.COM

Oak Cliff Social Club 238 W. DAVIS 214.941.0298

Ten Bells Tavern 232 W. SEVENTH

TENBELLSTAVERN.COM

PhD 1300 W. DAVIS POURHOUSEFW.COM

Bar 305 309CENTRE 214.901.6748

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The Big Idea: How local women turned passions into professions

Very few can say they are passionate about their work, which is why the stories featured in these pages are so inspirand transformed them into successful careers.

her passion came naturally. After growing up watching her mother, Advantage Health Care Systems’ owner Linda Riley, Hannah decided to follow in her footsteps. “I remember many times when I was young, quietly pulling up a chair to watch a chiropractor adjust a client,” Riley says. “When you’re lucky enough to grow up around that — and it’s not a common thing — it motivates you to work hard and be a part of it.”

After working at Advantage Health Care Systems for eight years, Riley branched off and developed Advantage Health

& Beauty. Her medical spa offers cellulite removal, skin tightening, spider vein removal and more. She also sells medical- grade facial products. “I have always been artistic, and I wanted to fuse those skills with my medical background,” says Riley. “Now I am able to help people reach a more creative and beautiful side of themselves.”

One such example was when Riley helped a beautiful a lot of weight and was left with extra skin on her arms. She was told she would need to have surgery, which would leave scars, but we were able to remove eight inches of skin using the VelaShape II machine. Now whenever she’s in town, she runs over here to give me a hug.”

“If you have to work for a living, you might as well work in

PRESENTED BY

DR. KATHRYN SARPONG OF METRO PAWS ANIMAL HOSPITAL

wanted to help with more rescues than they were allowed to when they worked for others.

“We had both done a lot of rescue of animals, saving cats and dogs from the streets. We wanted a practice where that

“We help with the medical care of the injured and sometimes neglected animals coming off the street,” she says.

Although she and Lavender didn’t realize it, having their newborn babies (yes, both doctors had newborns) during

as busy as you are in subsequent years. I never would have planned it that way, but it certainly was the best way it could

her family. “I’m looking forward to the day when I can employ my children,” she says, with no attempt to hide her glee. “They can clean cages and walk dogs!”

Turning passion into a profession takes dedication and hard work. Just ask Dr. Nirmala Marneni, owner of Oak Heights Family Dental and a one-woman dynamo of expertise. In addition to basic dentistry, Dr. Marneni handles implants, orthodontics and additional services that might otherwise require referrals to specialists. “I don’t want my patients to be running here and there, being referred to other dentists,” she says. “We

do most of the procedures here.” Dr. Marneni trained at New York University because, she says, “It is one of the largest dental schools in the world and one of the best.” She takes advantage of additional training through continuing education, to ensure she is giving her patients the best care possible.

For neighborhood resident Nicole Isenberg, her craving for a real Chinese foot rub inspired her to open Ya-Ya Foot Spa. Isenberg, who is originally from Northern China, moved to Oak Cliff because her husband, Ralph, had been a 25-year resident of the neighborhood. “In China we would go every night for a foot rub,” she says. “It takes your stress away and makes you relax.”

here, massage is completely different. She compares it to the difference between Chinese-American food and real Chinese food. “We do the real stuff,” she says. Chinese foot massage your feet connects to another point in your body.”

Ya-Ya can mean foot in Northern China, but Isenberg also has a special affection for the name. When her daughter began school in Oak Cliff, the teacher couldn’t pronounce the little girl’s Chinese name, so the child said, “Just call me Ya-Ya.” Later, Isenberg’s second daughter also decided to rename herself Ya-Ya. “So now I have two Ya-Yas,” Isenberg laughs. (Or three, if you count the business as a brain-child.)

Jennifer Lavender Dr. Shana Robson Dr. Kathryn Sarpong

Success Stories:

Tips for women in business

Many women have toyed with the idea of starting their own businesses, but how do you know when the time is right? And once established, how do you ensure triumph? These local businesswomen have paved the way and share their secrets to success.

Jennifer Slider, owner of JR Slider & Associates, LLC, initially became a Realtor because she didn’t want to “just work a job.” “I wanted to do something that would actually serve people,” Slider says, “to focus on others, instead of myself. That’s exactly what I buying and selling homes. Now she has her own company and

“My family and I recently started rehabing in Oak Cliff,” she says. Unlike others who may only make cosmetic changes to a house, Slider says her goal is to transform distressed properties as a way of improving the neighborhood. “We make it right. If that means completely re-doing the foundation and pulling out the duct work, that’s what we do. We’re in the properties for the long haul.”

For local business owner Lorraine Wire of Hance Paint and after she and her husband relocated to Dallas, Wire unexpectedly found herself a widow and sole owner of the auto shop. “I

didn’t have a choice about being in this career,” Wire says. “This business was doing well at the time, and I knew I could continue doing it.” With the help of her employees and a strong faith, Wire persevered.

“I grew up very underprivileged,” says Wire, who is from North Carolina. “If you really knew my background, and what all I have accomplished and done, it’s an amazing story. But I didn’t do it on my own. Everything I’ve had and done has been by the grace of God.” Wire also credits her employees. “They are good, care of business.”

Another factor in Wire’s success is her strong service ethic. “We always want to and that they want to come back to this shop. You know, everybody needs a doctor and a hairdresser, and so forth. Eventually, most people are going to need a good body shop,” she says, with an optimistic smile.

Johnette Taylor of Roundtree Landscaping operates by the Golden Rule of business. “I treat people the way I want to be treated, and I expect the same in return,” she says. In the early days of her business she took her husband along to help her make a decision about a truck purchase, but was dismayed when

the salesman repeatedly spoke to her husband instead of to her. “My husband kept saying, ‘Talk to her, she’s the one buying the truck.’ The salesman said ‘Yeah, yeah’ and then turned back to my husband.” When somebody treats her that way, Taylor says, she doesn’t do business with them, and she is mindful of the lesson when she interacts with her clients and associates.

For Dr. Nirmala Marneni of Oak Heights Dental, education is the key to success. She advocates that women take continuing education to stay current in says Marneni, who credits her success to diligent planning, discipline and dedication to her dream. “As a result, today I own a business,” she says, and her pride of ownership is evident.

What if you happened to start your business on September 10, 2001, one day before 9/11? Kelly Harris, who owns her Farmers Insurance -

In addition, at that time the insurance industry was trying to survive the turmoil? “We found other areas to focus on,” she says. “A lot of agents didn’t make it through that time. But we looked beyond that.”

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BROKEN BEER BOTTLES LITTERED THE BACK SEATS

Sometimes crime statistics don’t really mean much to us. Property damage crimes go in one ear and out the other. But if it happens to you, it’s personal. Many people are struggling through a rough economy and squeezing every dollar they can. So when someone senselessly vandalizes your property for a few hundred bucks, that unexpected expense can really hurt.

The Victim: Christina Salinas

The Crime: Criminal mischief

Date: Monday, May 28

Time: 4:30 a.m.

Location: 500 block of Marlborough

Christina and her family experienced this firsthand. Someone smashed the rear glass in both of their cars.

“It was a little after 4 o’clock in the morning,” he says. “We don’t know who or why they did it. They just threw beer bottles at them.”

The cost was a hefty $350 to repair. No

|

word on if these beer-drinking vandals favored domestic or imported brew, but their havoc was a big pain and a bite in the budget.

Dallas Police Lt. Gil Garza of the Southwest Patrol Division says that, unfortunately, destruction of property is a crime that investigators see pretty regularly. In this case, the vandals also may have been attempting to burglarize the vehicle, but “the suspects may have been startled,” Garza says. Also, the vandalism may not have been random, he says.

“If someone had a beef with the owners of the vehicles, they could have targeted their vehicles,” he says, adding that “sometimes, random acts of criminal mischief do occur. As property owners, there are always proactive measures we can take to prevent these crimes from occurring.”

Garza says these include: extra lighting (stationary or motion-controlled), alarm systems, the use of exterior security cameras and parking in the garage if at all possible.

CRIME NUMBERS |

Time of day when a man in a motorized wheelchair was hit by a car while crossing the street in the 700 block of West Jefferson; the driver fled the scene, leaving the victim with some cuts and bruises to his head and arms

Block of Thomasson Drive where a woman was cornered by two loose pit bulls while gardening on her front porch June 9; luckily, she sustained only a minor bite to her right hand

Date when a man was shot in the back with a pellet gun by someone in a passing truck while working in his yard in the 400 block of North Willomet

SOURCE: Dallas Police Department

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

Hit the trail

Elmwood park’s new trail opened last month. It was paid for through 2006 bond money, and neighbors have worked to beautify the park and raise money for it.

Seventeen Hundred Seeds

Juan Pablo Segura of Familia Auto Sales provides all the water for Seventeen Hundred Seeds, the farming-as-art installation on West Davis at Van Buren. Segura , at a picnic to celebrate the installation, is pictured here with his wife, Sonia , and their kids Jesus , Marisol and Sonia

to advertise call 214.560.4203

Classes/TuToring/ lessons

THE WHOLE TRUTH & Nothing But The Truth. Everything You Want To Know About The Bible But Are Afraid To Ask. Join Us For A Chronological Study. Wednesdays @ 7pm in 2012. Jefferson Blvd Church Of Christ. 214-339-3191 Or Church@jeffersonblvd.org

TUTORING All Subjects. Elem-middle School. Algebra 1, Dmath. Your Home. 25 + Yrs. Dr. J. 214-535-6594. vsjams@att.net

employmenT

AIRLINE CAREERS Begin Here. Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA Approved. Training. Financial Aid, if qualified. Housing available. Job placement assistance. AIM 866-453-6204

PART-TIME TEACHER Toddlers–3 years. Park Cities Baptist Mother’s Day Out. Early childhood degree or certification preferred. Shannon McGee 214-860-1520 or skmcgee@pcbc.org

Business opporTuniTies

$5,000 SIGNING BONUS. Frac Sand Owner Operators. More Texas Work Than Trucks. Must Have Tractor, Blower & Pneumatic Trailer. 817-926-3535

I’M LOOKING FOR A BILINGUAL BUSINESS PARTNER for expansion of 55-yr.-old start-up co. BJ Ellis 214-226-9875

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CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let A Seasoned Pro Be The Interface Between You & That Pesky Computer. Hardware & Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $60/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 214-660-3733 or stykidan@sbcglobal.net

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DINO LIMO Yours For All Special Occasions,Casino Trips. 40 Yrs Exp. dino-avantilimousines.com. 214-682-9100

DIRECTV 285 + Channels from $29.99/month. Free HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz. 3 Months. Free HD/DVR. Free Installation. Local Installers. Call Now 800-230-7774

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TRANSLATIONS English, Spanish, & French at affordable rates. LenguaTutoringAndTranslation@yahoo.com or 214-331-7200.

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Metro Paws Animal Hospital is NOW OPEN! 1021 Ft. Worth Avenue (next door to the Belmont Hotel) 214.939.1600 Pre-Register Your Pet Today. dallasmetropaws.com

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In-Home Professional Care Customized to maintain your pet’s routine In-Home Pet Visits & Daily Walks

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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 esTaTe

FOR LEASE 1 bedroom/1 bath Duplex. 5424 Alton Ave. Remodeled. 1913 Prairie Style Home, hardwoods,tile, large windows, Frig, W/D. Nice Backyard-backs up to the Santa Fe Trail. Ride your bike from your backyard. Large Attic for Storage. $820/month + Utilities (Avail 7/15)

CARPENTRY & REMODELING

BLAKE CONSTRUCTION CONCEPTS, LLC

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BO HANDYMAN Kitchens, baths, doors, cabinets, custom carpentry, drywall & painting 214-437-9730

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HANDY DAN “The Handyman” To Do’s Done Right! www.handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

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O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Professional Home 214-341-1448 www.obriengroupinc.com

PREVIEW CONSTRUCTION INC.

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CLEANING SERVICES

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

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COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

IQUEUE MEDIA COMPANY 214-478-8644 TV Installation, Computer Repair, Security.

CONCRETE/ MASONRY/PAVING

CAZARES CONCRETE Concrete retaining walls, Patios, Driveways, Removal, Sidewalks. 214-202-8958 Free estimates.

CONCRETE REPAIRS/REPOURS

Demo existing. Driveways/Patio/Walks

Pattern/Color available

972-672-5359 (32 yrs.)

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

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

ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricofdallas.com

Family Owned/Operated. Insd. 214-328-1333

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

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EST. 1991 #1

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FLOORING & CARPETING

CUTTING EDGE FLOORING Hardwoods, Carpet, Tile. New/Repair. 972-822-7501

STAINED & SCORED CONCRETE FLOORS

New/Remodel. Res/Com. Int/Ext. Refin. 15 Yrs. TheConcreteStudio.com 214-321-1575

WORLEY TILE & FLOORING Custom Marble Install. 214-779-3842

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GARAGE DOOR & SPRING REPAIR

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LANDMARK ENERGY SOLUTIONS

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HANDYMAN SERVICES

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

A+ HANDYMAN KARL Home Repairs, Remodels & Restoration. 214-699-8093

BO HANDYMAN Kitchens, baths, doors, cabinets, custom carpentry, drywall & painting 214-437-9730

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TOTAL HOME REPAIR and Renovation. Inside or out, we do it all. Fences & Decks. 214-426-5466

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HANDY DAN “The Handyman” Remodels Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

Pools

LEAFCHASER’S POOL SERVICE

Parts and Service. Chemicals and Repairs.

Jonathan Mossman FREE ESTIMATES

214-729-3311

city hall

• Tubs, Tiles or Sinks

• Cultured Marble

• Kitchen Countertops

214-631-8719

lawns, Gardens & trees

ADVANCED TREE SERVICE

Quality Tree Trimming & Removal. 214-455-2095

IRISH RAIN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Installation & Repair. TXL#2738 214-827-7446

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

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

Castro’s Tree Service

Jeff Castro

214-337-7097

214-725-1171

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Tree Shaping, Cutting and Removal

JD’s Tree Service

RESPONSIBLE TREE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Firewood/Cooking Wood

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locKsmiths & security

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Pest control

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

PlumBinG

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Sewers • Drains • Bonded

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

rooFinG & Gutters

A+ BBB RATED ROOFING CO. Ehlers Roofing. New/Repairs. 214-699-8093. Est. 1960

NATIONWIDE ROOFING,FENCING,GUTTERS

BBB member. 214-882-8719

Allstate Homecraft Roofing

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City manager Mary Suhm’s recommendations for a $600 million bond package include constructing 47 miles of bike lanes. Suhm also recommends upgrading six miles of roadway to make “complete streets” to serve pedestrians, cyclists and motorists equally. Almost $334 million of the package would be spent on flood control improvements, most of that in the Baylor hospital area, which is plagued by flooding problems. About $55 million would go to economic development. City council is expected to vote on the bond package in August. If approved, Dallas residents would vote on the bond package in November’s general election. City council is expected to consider auctioning about 25 properties it no longer uses, including the old fire station No. 26 at Westmoreland and Jefferson built in 1945. The city expects to raise about $3.3 million through the auction.

community

The Kidd Springs Park pool at 711 W. Canty will be open from 1-8 p.m. Friday-Tuesday until Aug. 12. Admission costs $2 for adults and $1 for children. The pool at Martin Wiess recreation center at 3440 W. Clarendon will be open 1-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Sign up for swim lessons at dallasaquatics.org.

education

Fifteen graduating seniors received scholarships totaling $44,000 from the Adamson High School Scholarship Foundation during a May ceremony. The awards include a $6,000 fouryear scholarship and a $2,000 one-year award, which is renewable. The foundation has been awarding scholarships to Adamson students since 1950. Over the decades, it has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships to almost 2,000 students. This year, it gave $72,000 in total to graduating seniors and alumni.

people

Tiffaney Dale Hunter of Oak Cliff was selected as a Collin County Business Press “40 Under 40” honoree for 2012. The award recognizes top innovators and community leaders. Dale owns Tiffaney Dale Agency public relations firm and serves on the board of Southern Methodist University’s Business Associate Program. She also participates in Leadership Dallas Alumni, Leadership Houston Alumni, Junior League, Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and the Community Partners of Dallas Auxiliary Group.

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Icon Ic o ak clI ff, the sequel

The neighborhood landmark tour makes a few more stops

Vintage landmarks in Oak Cliff are a source of pride and remembrance for those who formerly lived here and for those who reside here now. Some remain as standouts on the landscape. Others are fading ghosts.

Certainly one of the most unusual Oak Cliff landmarks is the 1 Merrifield Cemetery — a cemetery that contains a sum total of one tombstone.

The final resting place of family patriarch John Merrifield (1792-1873) and his second wife, Elizabeth (1802-1869), Merrifield came to the Lone Star State from Kentucky and purchased a large farm that included the current burial area. To add to the quirkiness of the situation, the cemetery is, basically, situated on the northwest corner of the Sunset High School campus. Now encased within a tall iron fence and featuring two historical markers, other family members are interred within, but only the graves of Merrifield and Elizabeth are marked.

It’s always interesting to sneak a peak at the single-tombstone “cemetery” every time I drive through the West Jefferson-Hampton intersection, and, like many others, mentally scratch my head. It’s just such an oddity, right there on such a busy corner in the middle of Oak Cliff. And adjacent to Sunset! Perhaps every Dallas high school campus should include a cemetery.

Traveling toward West Dallas, in the area now known as Pinnacle Park (previously Cement City), the former 2 Eagle Ford District 49 School on Chalk Hill Road still stands, vacant and boarded-up. Currently on one of the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League’s list of endangered buildings, this structure holds the rooms and hallways where a notorious gun maul and former FBI target first honed her skills for writing poetry: Miss Bonnie Parker.

The school’s construction reflects the former community’s pride, with its 14- to 16-inch-thick walls tailored with two layers of cement bricks and a 6-inch

layer of cement mortar in between. The 5-inch-thick roof is made of steel-reinforced cement and was, like the bricks and mortar, gleaned from local quarries. The 4,000-square-foot building shows a “boys” entrance on the north and a “girls” entrance on the south, each with its own staircase, and the auditorium behind the entrances. According to the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League, one of Parker’s report cards was discovered in the school’s basement.

Nibbling on the edge of Lake Cliff Park, Frank Reaugh’s former art studio, 3 El Sibil (The Vault), is perched high on the southwest corner of Crawford and East Fifth — the studio where Reaugh would produce many of the pieces that garnered him the title of “Dean of Texas Artists” and

“Painter to the Longhorns.” When Reaugh first settled here, the pastoral landscape of that day provided the horses and cattle Reaugh needed — the “models” for his paintings and sketches. El Sibil signified the early Oak Cliff artist’s commitment to create his paintings right here in the Cliff. Additionally, Reaugh (1860-1945) joined other 1920s citizens in founding the Dallas Art Association, now the Dallas Museum of Art.

Although El Sibil fell into disrepair after Reaugh’s death and eventually burned, the stone structure has been rebuilt and now lives again as an art and photography studio/party rental/music venue while retaining much of its mysterious and shadowy aura.

Our final stop today is the lower floor

Most every boomer kid in Oak Cliff who had a “storebought” birthday cake in the ’50s and ’60s got it from either Jan’s or Schindler’s.

Photos by Amber Plumley

make

OAKCLIFF.ADVOCATEMAG.COM/BACKSTORY

of the Bavarian-themed building on the corner of West Davis and Edgefield, a location that reigned for years as 4 Schindler’s Bakery

Along with Jan’s Bakery in Wynnewood Village, Schindler’s was one of the main spots where Cliffites purchased cookies, pies, cakes and other pastries. Most every boomer kid in Oak Cliff who had a “store-bought” birthday cake in the ’50s and ’60s got it from either Jan’s or Schindler’s. My favorite from Schindler’s were the little chocolate drop cookies, along with the actual trip inside the vintage bakery — enough to transport me back to a bygone time and to remind me of my parents and all their wonderful Depression-era friends. The aging chalet-style building is now partially vacant and looks a bit tired. Quite a change from the bustling days when finding a parking spot in front was always a challenge.

I could use one of those cookies about now. And a big glass of milk. The tour bus is pulling into the depot for this month but will make its final run in August. Until then, I’ll keep the motor running and the Oak Cliff map on my desk. I do see a few more stops on the list.

Longtime Cliffites recount memories and reconnect on oakcliff.advocatemag. com/backstory. Last month, Kokel sparked conversation about Oak Cliff landmarks.

When I was about 5, my Dad had a post-office box at the downtown post office. So when he needed to go pick up his mail we’d make a trip of it. We’d all load up in the family car and head downtown via Zangs. If we had behaved, on the trip back we’d stop at Polar Bear Ice Cream or the orange juice stand next door. I think there was also a watermelon place close by with picnic tables that would sell you a slice of cold melon for a hot summer night. This was before most cars had air conditioning.

—Charlie Goff

I almost forgot about the orange juice place! My hubby has mentioned this several times over the years. When we first got married, we would go by the orange juice place and buy a gallon of it because it was so good, and for a young married couple with no extra money to spend, we could afford this great juice. I remember that they included the peel in the juice. I could not believe that it tasted so good with the peel included. It was like dessert; it was so good and so cold! —Bunnyroom

Gayla Brooks Kokel can date her neighborhood heritage back to 1918, when her father was born in what was then called Eagle Ford. She was born at Methodist Hospital and graduated from Kimball High School. Kokel is one of three co-authors of the recently published book, “Images of America: Oak Cliff,” and writes a monthly history column for the Oak Cliff Advocate Send her feedback and ideas to gkokel@advocatemag.com.

your comments on this column

We gave Coach new knees and lowered his handicap.

When old knee injuries began threatening Bob’s golf game, the retired football coach teamed up with Methodist Health System to devise an offensive strategy. Coach first attended the Methodist Joint Academy, where the game plan was to mentally and physically prepare him for the best possible results and a faster return to the links. He then underwent minimally invasive joint replacement procedures on both knees at Methodist. Immediately following surgery he was back on his feet, and after minor rehabilitation, Coach’s life has been all fairways and greens.

Get the full story at www.MethodistHealthSystem.org / Ortho