out&about IN AUGUST

08.22.10

Heart Of The Neighborhood

$20 Winnetka Heights resident Vicki Fitzgerald has sacrificed countless hours to improve our neighborhood. She is an avid supporter of historical Turner House, a major organizer behind the annual Old Oak Cliff Conservation League home tour, and a sympathetic heart toward stray animals who need love and care — just to name a few. Last year Fitzgerald began battling a deadly cancer, and now the neighborhood she loves so much wants to give back. To lessen the burden of the towering medical bills, neighbors are holding a benefit concert at the Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis. Tickets for the 4-8 p.m. event include two drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and live music from Floramay Holliday, Robin Willis and others. Purchase tickets or donate to the cause at heartoftheneighborhood.org.

—KERI MITCHELL

08.05 DANNY BARNES AND THE O’S $20 The Barefoot at the Belmont summer concert series concludes this month with banjo player Danny Barnes and Dallas acoustic duo The O’s. Barnes performs with a Southern twang, and is an original member of the Austin band, Bad Livers. He has played with Robert Earl Keen and Dave Matthews, who calls Barnes’ record “Pizza Box” one of his favorites. The O’s were listed in Alternative Press as one of the Top 100 Bands of 2009. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Belmont Hotel, 901 Fort Worth Avenue. For more details about the show and to buy tickets, visit kxt.org.

08.12 INAUGURAL EXHIBITION FREE Local artists will showcase their work at the grand opening of the Oak Cliff Cultural Center at 11:30 a.m. at 223 W. Jefferson, next door to the Texas Theatre. The renovated facility will feature an art gallery and dance studio, offering workshops and community events. A reception will follow, from 7-9 p.m. For more details, call 214.670.3688 or visit dallasculture.org.

08.21 PROMISE HOUSE BENEFIT Bowla-Rama Extravaganza tournament will help raise money for Promise House, an Oak Cliff nonprofit that targets teen homelessness. The event begins with registration at 4 p.m. and the tournament is 5-8 p.m. at USA, 10920 Composite Drive. There also will be prizes, food and raffle drawings. Teams can register for $175 at promisehouse.org.

O-SO GOOD

Since O penin G in May 2009, Espumoso Caffe has helped fill a void in the Bishop Arts District. “We thought it was weird that an artsy place like this didn’t have a coffee shop,” owner Tony Hernandez says. Espumoso fights the flames of summer heat with its extensive list of cold treats like the frappé made with coffee and ice cream and topped with whipped cream and caramel. The acai smoothie is packed with fresh berries. Hernandez says his shop stands out because of its South American-infused theme. He uses Illy, the Italian coffee brand that gets its beans from South America. “They say it’s the RollsRoyce of coffee,” he says. And you can’t leave without trying a beef or chicken empanada, his mom’s own Colombian-Venezuelan recipe.

Pictured: acai smoothie

Three more spots to chill

1 FRUTERIA CANO

This dine-in shop offers dozens of frozen treats with a Mexican twist, if you like a little chili or lemon in your sno-cones. Try the iced Diablito for a spicy kick. Z anG & BecKLey 214.943.9677

2 FRUTITAS

These Mexican popsicles come in all kinds of fun flavors like strawberry, coconut, pineapple and chili. JeFFeRSOn & LLe WeLLyn 214.942.1255 paLe Ta SFRUTiTa S.cOM

3 ENO’S PIZZA Finish here with an sundae or root beer float before heading back into the 100-degree weather.

CHUBBY’S $ When looking for a restaurant to have breakfast, lunch or dinner, we all want a place that serves up variety, hearty helpings and even bigger portions of friendliness. The Touris family has developed a recipe that delivers all of the above at a good price. With four locations in the Metroplex, Chubby’s Family Restaurant provides a rustic setting with down home cooking. Catering available.