OAK CLIFF OCTOBER 2023 I ADVOCATEMAG.COM
Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) story is one of movement. It began on Aug. 13, 1983, when more than 100,000 voters in 14 cities and Dallas County cast ballots in favor of regional transportation. The agency’s vision of transporting North Texans efficiently, safely, and costeffectively became a reality after that vote.
DART had a vision for connecting more than just people and places, it wanted to serve as a vehicle to opportunity, progress, and growth. This new transformative transportation would inspire rebirth everywhere it went. From its first bus routes in the 1980s to the construction of the Silver Line today, DART continues to innovate as it adds new chapters to its story.
DART’s Board members, executive staff, riders, and others wanted to see the full potential of a multimodal transit system by ‘building out,’ a mindset that allowed DART to achieve the longest light-rail system in North America at 93 miles.
Since March 2020, a perfect storm of pandemicimposed challenges and infrastructure development delays created a once in a generation opportunity to take DART into a new era. DART’s new leadership pulled together to address challenges and focus on strengthening its rider-centric culture, to fulfill the promise made to city leaders, riders, and the community. As DART continues its journey, it will make safety, security, cleanliness, and reliability a top priority – now part of the agency’s operational DNA and allowing the agency to move forward and find opportunities to surprise and delight its riders.
“DART already had a strong foundation when I joined the organization two years ago,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Nadine S. Lee. “Even so, as a leading transportation provider in North Texas, we will never stop evolving.”
DART is currently investing more than $110 million for a cleaner, safer, and more reliable rider experience. The goal is to provide service that exceeds expectations and to operate a world-class system, powered by world-class employees. Recognized by Forbes as a top employer for four years in a row, DART employs more than 3,700 North Texans, and the organization continues to aggressively add talented, diverse, and passionate people to its workforce.
payment card that makes it easy for customers to ride and save money while doing so. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) bestowed its prestigious Innovation Award to DART in honor of GoPass, the first ticket-purchasing app to integrate multiple regional transit agencies and different forms of transportation onto a single platform. The app boasts two million downloads to date. In 2023, DART also introduced a new GoPass Tap card retail network that greatly expands the number of locations where riders can purchase and reload the fare card.
Perhaps nowhere can DART’s far-reaching impact be seen more clearly than in its transit-oriented development efforts, which embody the phrase, “Where public transportation goes, community grows.” With more than $16 billion in existing, planned, or projected development, DART continues to collaborate with its 13 service area cities to create fantastic spaces that are a draw for economic and social activities.
ABOUT THE COVER
Meanwhile, the organization’s Multimodal Modernization Program will replace aging vehicles, systems, and facilities giving DART a complete makeover in the coming years. DART’s Mobility+ effort is guiding agency improvements for the next decade, while the Silver Line Regional Rail project will span from DFW International Airport to Shiloh Road in Plano. DART anticipates the line will be operational by late 2025 or early 2026.
In addition, the agency continues to innovate with GoPass, its industry-leading application that modernized the rider experience as a reloadable transit
“As an agency, we have a responsibility to ensure we are meeting the mobility needs of the community,” said Lee. “I am proud of how far we have come as an agency and will continue to work hard to meet the needs of today’s, as well as tomorrow’s, riders.”
Over the next 40 years, DART will embark on new initiatives to elevate service quality and provide seamless journeys for riders to maximize the social and economic potential of the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Find
SPONSORED CONTENT
Hampton DART Station honors Elmwood Creek with canopy column illustrating the flora and fauna of fish, trees, and soaring birds. Artist Edwin McGowin’s untitled sculpture suggests a “circle of life.” Lyrics to native son Stevie Ray Vaughan’s song “Tick Tock” are inscribed in the station’s pavers, patterned to suggest a creek bed.
Photography by Lauren Allen.
your DART destination at DART.ORG
“Where public transportation goes, community grows.”
As we look forward to the future of DART, let’s celebrate 40 years of milestones and memories made possible by our riders, employees, and community partners across all our service cities. Fort y Proud. Fort y Forward. Learn
more at DART.org/40th
4 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023 Newsletter: advocatemag.com/newsletter 90 CLASSES PER WEEK 17 AMAZING INSTRUCTORS 13 UNIQUE CLASSES WINNER
page
Photo by Kathy Tran.
The neighborhood chocolatier announced it will close after 15 years in
more on
10 Transforming math FEATURES
CocoAndré closing 12 Building robots
Alex O’aiza COVER 18 Oak Cliff A to Z DINING 22 Eating around the world BACKSTORY 30 Fallout shelters contents OAK CLIFF ADVOCATE VOL. 17 NO. 10
Oranges dipped in chocolate from CocoAndré.
Bishop Arts. Read
8.
PROFILE
6
14
oct 23
A bittersweet farewell
Story by EMMA RUBY
THEIR CHOCOLATE IS AWARDWINNING. Their headquarters’ mint trim is iconic. And their family is known all throughout Oak Cliff.
While the doors of CocoAndré may be closing for good, owner Cindy Pedraza is just getting things started.
Pedraza co-founded CocoAndré with her mother 15 years ago at a time “people were still scared to come to Oak Cliff,” and few thought a gourmet chocolate shop would succeed.
“And we built a whole community,” Pedraza says.
As one of the original small businesses in Bishop Arts, Pedraza has seen the neighborhood develop and customers celebrate all of life’s milestones.
Now, she plans to take the business national.
CocoAndré already distributes to Whole Foods, and Pedraza wants to start providing the high-quality chocolates Cliff dwellers have come to love across the country. And because Pedraza’s family lives in Oak Cliff, and even runs another business down the street (Olmo Market in Elmwood), it doesn’t feel like a complete farewell to the neighborhood that she started out in.
“The next chapter isn’t scary,” Pedraza says. “I feel like no matter what, we’re going to succeed.”
CocoAndré’s closing date isn’t yet finalized. The storefront will close at the end of this year if a buyer is found, or at the end of 2024’s first quarter if it takes a little longer to find the right fit for the shop.
Currently listed for $1.24 million, Pedraza hopes the store goes to a small, family-owned business that will usher in the next wave of Oak Cliffowned businesses in Bishop Arts.
6 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023 $ 30 emium OFF 4-PACK COMBO Valid on new orders only. Not valid on walk-up or daily tickets. Promo code must be applied at the time of purchase. Offer expires 10/22/23. BUY ONLINE & SAVE BIG! in food & midway coupons 4 TICKE TS + $50 BIGTEX.COM 23advocatePACK USE PROMO CODE: sept. 29oct. 22 THRU
Early Learning
Montessori
Dual Language
Fine Arts
STEM/STEAM
Magnet Schools
Transformation Schools
Career Institutes
Collegiate Academy & more!
TRANSFORMING MATH
Monique Marquez Jackson is adding creativity to equation of education
Story by RUSTY GONZALES | Photo by YUVIE STYLES
8 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 9 Prepare for power outages Generac home generator FREE REQUEST A FREE - 0438 Limited Time O erSpecial Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! REQUEST A FREE QUOTE! 866-643-0438 Limited Time Offer - Call for Details Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. PROVEN REAL ESTATE LEADERS @HewittSaucedo 2001 2023 BEST EQUAL HOUSING Call now to put our passion to work for you! 214-752-7070 | HewittSaucedo.com
SOLD 830 N. Bishop Ave. SOLD 400 N. Willomet Ave. SOLD 822 Shady Ln. TEMPS ARE COOLING, BUT REAL ESTATE IS HEATING UP 1123 N. Edgefield Ave. $615,000 1214 N. Winnetka Ave. $1,150,000 2740 W. 10th St. $369,000 6846 Talbot St. $475,000 925 N. Winnetka Ave. $1,195,000 454 W. Greenbriar Ave. $1,450,000 PENDING
Jason Cuccia Neville Crowell Jason SaucedoKathy HewittJeremy MooreSteve Habgood
The ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ah’s’ of amazement at the latest classroom transformation, or rapping about division set to the tune of I’m Different by 2 Chainz, are just some of the daily sounds that can be heard from Monique Marquez Jackson’s third grade classroom at Stevens Park Elementary.
Marquez Jackson began her teaching career virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, but since returning to the classroom has learned to use her creativity to fuel student engagement in her lessons. Last school year, a series of math raps written by Marquez Jackson and sung by her students went viral.
“I’ve been trying since I got here to find ways to connect with my students, and I try to incorporate things that they can relate to, that they’re experiencing and that they understand,” Marquez Jackson says. “I incorporated music and rap songs to create three songs that are based on math vocabulary and math concepts that (the students) need to master in third grade.”
Marquez Jackson’s songs are based on three concepts that she noticed students struggle with most: area and perimeter, division and fractions. The division rap is the most popular because of its catchy nature, she says.
“I have videos of all the third graders, all the bilingual classes, all the general education classes, just blasting it and singing it in the hallway on the last day of school,” Marquez Jackson says. “It just stuck with them. I feel like all the parents knew the song by the end of the year.”
When it comes to writing the songs, Marquez Jackson sits down a week before she plans to begin teaching the new subject. She picks a song she’d like to use for the tune, and makes a list of information she wants the song to cover and compares the original lyrics with that list.
Finally, Marquez Jackson learns the song herself to make sure it sounds good, before recording a video of the
song and accompanying hand motions for her students. The videos are posted online so the students are able to revisit the subject matter as they need it.
“We’ll play it a few times and they usually get the hang of it and they’ll learn it by the next day,” Marquez Jackson says. “During our independent practice time, the students have access to it on Google Classroom and they have headphones so they’ll ask ‘Can we listen to the songs?’ I have a whole playlist of them so I’ll let them jam out while they’re working.”
til 6:30 p.m. the Friday before a new transformation to set it up, and comes in at 6 a.m. the following Monday to put the finishing touches on the decorations.
During the 2022-23 school year, Marquez Jackson transformed her classroom for March Madness by covering the room in orange tissue paper, blowing up two-dozen basketball beach balls and creating basketball-themed review games.
Of Marquez Jackson’s 32 students, 25 were boys who especially enjoyed the basketball-themed week.
“(They) were like ‘Oh my god, it feels like our birthday every day that we come in,’” she says.
After March Madness, Marquez Jackson transformed her classroom into a Starbucks cafe, with posters featuring phrases like ‘Math. Coffee. Repeat.’ and a “coffee menu” lining out the topics for the week. The class learned about problem solving, input and output, money and coins and data during the Starbucks theme.
Another way that Marquez Jackson energizes her students’ classroom experience is by changing up the look of her classroom in what she calls a “classroom transformation” while preparing the students for the STAAR test.
Third grade is the first year students take the state standardized test, so her transformations started as a way to help keep students from becoming too stressed.
“They work extremely hard all year long, and third grade is a really difficult year,” Marquez Jackson says. “The least I can do is reward them by creating a super fun and magical, exciting place for them to come and learn.”
Each room transformation that Marquez Jackson plans lasts for a week. She often stays at school un -
DISD requires elementary students to complete an exit ticket, a short assignment that is handed in at the end of each day, and Marquez Jackson incorporates the exit tickets into the classroom transformations.
“For money systems, I print out dollar bills that have the Starbucks logo on them,” Marquez Jackson says. “If they get up to an 85 (on their exit ticket) they get $5, if they get an 85100 they get $10, and every day before they leave my class they earn prizes.”
Through the classroom transformations, Marquez Jackson has garnered support from parents who donate supplies for each new theme. Other teachers have often asked how she is able to pull off the transformations, and she credits parents for their help.
“They are very, very supportive of all the classroom transformations,” Marquez Jackson says. “I would let them know a week before like ‘Hey this transformation is coming up on
10 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
+/-
“IT JUST STUCK WITH THEM. I FEEL LIKE ALL THE PARENTS KNEW THE SONG BY THE END OF THE YEAR.” +/-
this date.’ I would really try to involve them and they love it.” After her students finish with STAAR, Marquez Jackson focuses on teaching them financial literacy. Students work either by themselves or in teams of two to three to create their own business and product. Last year, the work was shown off at Stevens Park Elementary’s first ever market day, hosted entirely by her class.
During the market day, each group of students had their own booth with a poster and decorations relating to the products they created during class. To advertise the event, students made posters and invitations to hang up around the school.
In the end, 13 classes visited the market.
“Parents and I decorated the entire library like a mercado,” Marquez Jackson says. “It was a huge success. We had our executive directors visit, we had all the staff members visit. It was so awesome to see everything they did themselves.”
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 11
SPECIAL OFFER Waiving All Installation Costs * *Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change and vary by dealer. Ends 9/30/23. CALL NOW 866.753.9521 YOUR BATHROOM. YOUR WAY. IN AS LITTLE AS ONE DAY IT’S BACK, BABY! ALEXANDRA BRADY alexbrady@dpmre.com 817.773.8574 JASON DOYLE SPENCER jds@dpmre.com 210.557.2527 ANN ANDREWS annandrews@dpmre.com 281.639.4254 MELISSA O’BRIEN melissa@dpmre.com 214.616.8343 KATELYN GAST katelyn@dpmre.com 919.306.7021 VICTOR FELIX-DIAZ victorfelixdiaz@dpmre.com 214.500.5754 PROUD SPONSORS OF THE 2023 HERITAGE OAK CLIFF HOME TOUR Because there’s no home like an Oak Cliff home. We are your neighbors, your friends, and your trusted real estate advisors! Collectively, we reside in: East Kessler Park | The Dells District Kings Highway Conservation District | Kessler Plaza
compete at state-level contests and beyond.
And they’re winning. A lot.
In 2016, Winnetka Elementary formed a co-ed, competitive robotics team. The team was instantly a success and won awards at many state competitions. They have since progressed to national and international championships.
In 2019, an all-girls team was created after too many students signed up for the co-ed team. The girls team earned multiple high-ranking awards in its first season, and now, a third team for
Building robots builds up students
Winnetka Elementary’s robotics teams gear up for another successful season
Story by LILITH SWINT
older, co-ed students has joined the Winnetka extracurricular lineup.
The robust student interest is an opportunity for even more students to benefit from the skills robotics teaches, says coach Cassandra
“Robotics does help you teach lifelong skills,” Benavides says. “You’re going to have to learn to communicate with others, work as a team and just be ready for anything.”
Jeremy Williams, a Talented and Gifted teacher at Winnetka, started the robotics program after the idea had been floated around campus for a few years without a sponsor to pick it up.
Once Williams initiated the program, students from third to fifth grade began to meet several times a week after school to work on designs, coding and tasks for
the robots to complete.
During the 2022-23 school year, second graders were allowed to join.
Students who join the robotics team consistently show increases in test scores as well as self-es teem, according to Dallas ISD.
The current coaches of the teams are second grade teach ers Ruby Rosales and Cassandra Benavides. Benavides has been with the teams for several years, and Rosales joined in the 2022-23 school year.
The pair teaches teamwork with an emphasis on building relation ships that strengthen the team.
“You have your strong kids that have that personality who become the leaders of the team, and then you have the ones who might be a little bit in the background,” Be navides says. “You might have one or two shy students on a team,
which is normal, and then they start feeling comfortable practicing together. It was neat to see.”
To be eligible for the team, students must have good grades and few discipline issues. Second graders on the team tend to stick with the program through fifth grade, Benavides says.
All interested students, even veterans, must try out for the team each year. There are many roles on the team — robot programmers, drivers and code writers who take photos — and as students rejoin the team over the years, they are able to switch their roles.
“It’s challenging for the kids, but it’s not anything that they are not willing to learn,” Rosales says. “They accept the challenge, and they go for it.”
During competitions, teams are paired up with each other to collaborate on tasks. The teams, especially at the state and world levels, may not necessarily speak English.
Rosales says the fast-paced and intense nature of the competitions are another benefit to team members.
“The kids have to think on their toes, they think at the moment,” Rosales says. “They have to learn how to communicate and collaborate with the other teams.”
Alex O’aiza found his way to music through the internet and competition shows.
Hits and Heritage
LATIN ARTIST ALEX O’AIZA PUTS THE CULTURE IN POP
Story by SIMON PRUITT |
CARTWRIGHT
ALEX O’AIZA (oh-EYE-zuh) is about two things: hits and heritage, often finding himself at the intersection of both. The pop artist was born in Dallas, but spent his formative years in Morelia, a small Mexican town, before moving back to Texas for grade school.
“I grew up knowing all my neighbors and the little shop owners,” he says. “My first record was a pirated CD from this band called Reik. I just fell in love with it.”
Reik is a Latin pop rock band that was known for strippeddown acoustic ballads. O’aiza’s most popular single, “How Your Love Feels,” draws heavily from that well, with more than 1.1 million streams on Spotify.
O’aiza wasn’t always churning out hit singles. In fact, he was reluctant to start his musical journey in the first place. As a child, he begrudgingly obliged as his mom put a violin in his hands and signed him up for school choir. During his sophomore year of high school, he picked up a guitar for the first time.
“I had a crush on this girl, and if I learned guitar I could impress her,” he jokes. “I learned it pretty fast. I could play songs by the end of the summer.”
Soon after, he began writing songs and posting them online. O’aiza attributes his strongest musical influence to The Maine, an American alternative rock band. Around the end of his high school career, the band was scheduled for a show in Houston. He didn’t have the means to go on his own, but his mom offered to take him — under one condition.
“My mom found out that there were live auditions for this show called La Banda ,” he says.
La Banda is a Latin singing competition show where teenage Latin artists perform in front of a team of judges that eventually selects five finalists to become a
Photography by JULIA
boy band together. Auditioning for it was a bold decision, yet again spurred on by O’aiza’s mother.
“I had to prepare last minute for this audition,” he says. “It was three songs in Spanish and one in English.”
O’aiza made it through multiple preliminary rounds of auditioning, eventually performing in front of a producer that encouraged him to play his own original songs instead of the covers he had rehearsed. Scrambling to choose from his limited work at the time, O’aiza played a nameless song he wrote just two weeks before.
“I just play it, and I look up, and the guy’s bobbing his head,” he recalls. “He looked at my dad and said, ‘Sir, with all due respect, your son needs to focus on music.’ That’s when it clicked with me: I think this is what I need to do. One day, I hope I can see that man again. I hope he’s still out there.”
Given the push he needed, O’aiza began to dedicate all of his time to writing and producing his own music. To
date, he has released 16 singles and a 2020 EP, Out Of My Mind. Recently, he has begun to phase in Spanish songs to his discography, honoring his upbringing with two upbeat tracks titled Eres and Adios Tal Vez
“There’s a lot of pieces of me that come out more whenever I tap into that side of my life,” he says. “I just grew up in that community, and I want to honor it. Going through this journey and showcasing that part of me further emphasizes the importance of those people.”
O’aiza has found that the more he understands his heritage and past, the more he’s able to orient his future. He puts a heavy emphasis on giving back to the people who invested in him before he realized his own potential. No matter how he continues to grow as a person and artistically, he will always be indebted to those who got him here in the first place.
“Amazing things just don’t work without people,” he says. “Being bilingual, I can spread that message.”
16 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
O’aiza opens for Drugstore Cowboy at Ruins in Deep Ellum.
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 17
from A to Z OAK CLIFF
Story by EMMA RUBY
A is for Arts Mission Oak Cliff
Since opening in 2017, Arts Mission Oak Cliff has been an epicenter of creative expression in our community. The Arts Mission building dates back to 1929, and the restoration of the church has made it a space for events, performances and artistic programming.
D is for Downtown Elmwood
Home of Peaberry Coffee, Olmo Market and Elmwoof dog park, the stretch of Edgefield Avenue that runs through Elmwood is a walkable enclave. After years of advocating, neighbors have finally begun an expedited hearing process for a rezoning overlay that could increase walkability, parking permitting and other initiatives to bolster the Downtown development.
B is for Bonnie and Clyde
Our neighborhood’s most notorious duo, gangsters Bonnie and Clyde’s footprints across Oak Cliff and West Dallas are a major tourist draw. But landmarks associated with their upbringing and crimes have slowly disappeared or been demolished, inspiring a wave of preservation activism.
C is for Coombs Creek
The Coombs Creek trail opened in 2009 and traces the Northern border of our neighborhood. The 1.5 mile trail is used by many of Oak Cliff’s hikers, bikers and joggers.
18 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
Photography by Kathy Tran.
Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
E is for Exxir
Exxir Capital is one of the driving forces behind the wave of development in Bishop Arts. From Paradiso to Bishop Flats to Bishop Bazaar, Exxir’s trademark tailored boho aesthetic is always on display. Love them or hate them, their thumbprint covers the Southern half of the District.
F is for the Oak Cliff Film Festival
Established in 2011, one of the leading small film festivals in Texas, the Oak Cliff Film Festival premiered 60 works this past June in its “most successful” year yet, according to organizers. Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
G is for the Golden Bears
The South Oak Cliff football team clinched two state championships in the last two years, and this fall they’re contending for a three-peat.
H is for the Historical District
Our neighborhood is home to a handful of Historical Districts that preserve the architectural foundation of the area. In Lake Cliff, Winnetka Heights, Bishop Court and Tenth Street, neighbors have banded together to preserve what makes their homes unique.
I is for I-35 deck park
The Southern Gateway Park has completed construction of the first deck phase spanning from Ewing Avenue and S. Lancaster Avenue. The five-acre park is still seeking funding for a second phase, but construction on the first phase is expected to start soon.
J is for Jefferson Boulevard
The abundance of sparkle and tulle attract shoppers to Jefferson Boulevard’s many quinceañera dress stores. But lowriders, restaurants and other cultural landmarks make the street a major artery of Oak Cliff.
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 19
The Kessler theater, opened in 1942, sat abandoned for much of the twentieth century. Due to efforts by Edwin Cabaniss, the Davis Street monument reopened in late 2009, hosting intimate shows with neighborhood favorites and up-andcoming artists.
M is for Mardi Gras
The annual Oak Cliff Mardi Gras parade is the biggest fat Tuesday celebration in North Texas. The 2023 parade boasted 50 entries with floats, dance crews and marching bands, and hundreds of thousands of beads thrown, turning the neighborhood into a purple, green and gold colored fest.
L is for La Calle Doce
Seafood, salsa and a wrap-around patio makes La Calle Doce a community gathering place since opening in 1981.
P is for Paleteria
Palatas, elote, aguas frescas and mangonadas can be found in dozens of paleterias in our neighborhood.
Q is for Selena Quintanilla
Her songs play in our stores. Her mural overlooks Jefferson Boulevard. And we even have a festival dedicated in her honor. In 1987, the Queen of Tejano filmed a music video in Martin Weiss park, and in 1994, only six months before her death, she performed at the State Fair of Texas. Selena Quintanilla may not have been from Oak Cliff, but she is part of our neighborhood.
N is for Norma’s Cafe
After 67 years, Norma Cafe’s chicken fried steak platter costs more than the original price of $1.85, but the dedicated fan base remains. The Davis Street location was the original spot founded by Norma herself.
R is for Reveler’s Hall
A home for jazz lovers, Revelers offers craft cocktails, wine and small bites in the intimate venue. While shows are generally not ticketed, a small fee is added to each drink tab to help compensate the musicians.
O is for Oak Cliff Duh.
Photography by Kathy Tran.
Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
K is for the Kessler
Photography by Kathy Tran.
S is for Sunset High School
The purple and white of Sunset High School date back to 1925, and the school is recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. The 1950 football team clinched one of the four state championship wins achieved by a DISD team, and the athletic teams and extracurriculars at Sunset continue to impress to this day.
T is for Texas Theater
The Texas Theater is approaching 100 years in Oak Cliff. The theater rose to national prominence after Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested by 15 police officers just hours after the assassination of JFK. Over the years the theater has survived fires and threats of demolition, and now it’s just a place for cinema lovers.
U is for United Methodist Church
For 100 years, the Oak Cliff United Methodist Church overlooked Jefferson Boulevard before shuttering it’s doors in 2015. Restoration efforts are now underway for the dilapited church and will make it a meaningful neighborhood landmark for another 100 years.
X is for Xaman Cafe
Coffee, ceramics and cuisine sourced straight from Central Mexico, Xaman Cafe is a cozy and delicious love letter to the region.
W is for Wynnewood Village
Y is for Taco Y Vino
V is for the Vaughan brothers
Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan grew up near Kiest Park and attended Kimball High School before becoming breakout stars in the blues and rock world. Jimmie Vaughan remains a neighborhood advocate and 33 years after his death, Stevie Ray’s legacy is still celebrated.
The Wynnewood Village shopping center is set for a facelift. Construction on a 110,000 square foot Target is planned to begin at the end of October, and Brixmor Property Group is set to invest an additional $30 million into Wynnewood Village’s second life. Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
There is no lack of tacos in Oak Cliff, and Taco Y Vino’s are some of the best. Owner Jimmy Contreras has cemented himself as a Bishop Arts restaurateur. Perhaps Taco Y Vino’s most compelling offering is a 6-taco and a bottle of wine deal for just $40.
Z is for Dallas Zoo
Lions, tigers, bears, oh my the zoo has it all. The zoo is a destination for elementary school field trips and moms who need to get the kids out of the house, and the iconic giraffe statue lets I-35 travelers know they’ve hit Oak Cliff. Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 21
Photography by Danny Fulgencio.
Eating around the world
Jamaican. French. Greek. Afghan. Oak Cliff offers an endless array of cuisines from every corner of the world. Here are a few restaurants that will make you feel like you’re jet-setting the globe, without having to leave home.
Story
by
EMMA RUBY
Photography by KELSEY
SHOEMAKER
GREECE: AJ GREEK & GYRO
Hummus and baba ganoush, dolmas and falafel, kebabs and shawarma: AJ Greek & Gyro’s menu serves every Mediterranean staple over a deli-style counter. Tucked into a back corner of Westcliff Plaza on the corner of Hampton and Ledbetter, it’s a humble, hidden gem.
“We’re in an area that may still be invisible,” says owner Liali Abushanab. “But when people do start eating here, they come back for more. And they bring their friends or family members, or they tell their co-workers about us.”
She bought AJ Greek & Gyro from a previous owner in November 2020. At a time restaurants across the country were shutting down because of COVID-19, Abushanab used her background as a corporate operations manager for McDonald’s and Panera Bread to keep the restaurant afloat throughout the changing restrictions of the pandemic.
While Abushanab is Middle Eastern, taking over a Greek restaurant was a natural choice because of the shared emphasis on quality and hospitality between the cultures, she says.
“It comes from the culture. Falafel is the traditional culture, the recipe is from your grandpa, and generations. And we are doing it here from scratch,” Abushanab says. “We actually are providing very tasty food.”
Other signature dishes include the shawarma and gyro platters. Both dishes are available for catering. A chicken shawarma family plate feeds up to five people for $49, or a pound of gyro — served with pita and tzatziki — rings up at $35.
The catering options can be ordered over the phone day of. She also has plans to expand the restaurant’s space in the shopping center to develop a more robust catering system, and to revamp the dining room in the near future.
Abushanab has noticed the wave of development and Dallas’s growing population trickling into South Oak Cliff, and hopes AJ Greek & Gyro will become the comfort restaurant for new residents of Greek or Middle Eastern heritage, or anyone who appreciates the cuisine.
“People need to know we are an affordable restaurant your family can eat at, ” Abushanab says. “For three to four people you can spend $60, and you can have a good meal (that will) fill your stomach with a good taste and the good quality of the food.”
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 23
AJ Greek & Gyro, 2231 W. Ledbetter Dr., ajgreekandgyro.com, 972.707.0688
The chicken shwarma wrap is served with fries.
Sunday dinners were a family affair at Richard Thomas’s childhood home in Spanish Town, Jamaica. A tradition started by his grandmother, his family would gather around the table for his mothers cooking, and anyone from their community who was hungry was invited to join and take a foil wrapped plate to-go.
It was a foundation of generosity and neighborliness that Thomas carried with him when he left Jamaica to pursue bachelors and masters degrees in America, and as he traveled the world while working for McKinsey. But he began to look away from the corporate path after a friend took him to a now-closed Jamaican restaurant for a birthday lunch.
“The experience was lacking. The ambiance wasn’t good, the food wasn’t as rich and flavorful as I’d had, and I felt like this can’t be the best we have to offer,” Thomas says. “So like any entrepreneur, I decided I’m going to do something about it. And in 2010, we opened the first Island Spot in town.”
When he started looking for a neighborhood to build in, he referred to Jamaica’s motto, “Out of Many One People,” which is based on the country’s many multicultural roots.
Oak Cliff’s diverse population and a deeply rooted culture left Thomas sure there would be an “appetite to really appreciate authentic Jamaican food.”
“(Jamaica is) a melting pot of cultures. Our food has a lot of different aspects. Our Escovitch fish
JAMAICA: THE ISLAND SPO T
came from when we were owned by Spanish Conquistadors and we incorporate some of that Spanish style of cooking. Our jerks, you know, we’re descendants of African slaves, so we have a lot of the African flavors in that,” he says.
After finding it difficult to nail down consistent flavors and efficient processes for a perfect menu, Thomas called in the best Jamaican Chef he knew as “any self respecting person” would.
He called his mom.
“We literally took her recipes. (Mama Joyce would) make something and while she was cooking, she’d grab some seasoning and try to throw it in a pot. And (a French chef) would try to catch the seasoning before it got to the pot to measure exactly what she’s putting in,” Thomas says.
The menu can be split into two sides.
The “Straight from the Yawd” category includes recipes that are “deep cultural foods” such as Oxtail — the Island Spot’s best seller — and Ackee and Saltfish, the national dish of Jamaica. For the diner who is less familiar with Jamaican flavors, the Island Spot has developed “Jamericanized” dishes such as the jerk burger, jerk nachos and jerk BBQ baby back ribs.
“Our motto is to share the Jamaican food and culture through our three R’s: Rich foods, Reggae and Rum,” Thomas says. “All three of those, and you are guaranteed to have a fantastic time.”
The Island Spot, 309 Jefferson Blvd., island-spot.com, 972.913.4919
FRANCE: WHISK
When Parisian Julien Eelsen found himself in Dallas running logistics for a French company in 2008, he noticed a distinct lack of French dining options in the city.
Specifically, his cravings for crepes simply could not be satisfied by the Dallas restaurant scene.
“At the end of my contract I went back to France, and I was wondering what I would do next with my life and I remembered that when I was in Dallas, there was no real good crepe shop. Anywhere in the world is supposed to have a good French crepe shop,” Eelsen says. “So I decided to move back to Dallas, and invest my savings in the crepe shop.”
He met with the developers of just forming-Sylvan 30, and enjoyed their vision of propping up independently owned and operated restaurants. He signed a lease with Sylvan 30 and opened Whisk, which has now celebrated its eight year anniversary and has expanded to Plano and Nashville.
The menu was developed by Eelsen, who wanted to combine traditional French crepes whose recipes “could not be played with too much,” and more experimental flavor combinations that pay homage to Dallas cuisine.
A smoked brisket crepe is stuffed with egg, swiss, salsa verde, avocado, jalapeños and smoked brisket. Eelsen, who first found himself missing traditional recipes, says it is one of his favorites.
Other r ecipes are more traditional, like the egg, ham and gruyère crepe. And no explanation other than “classic!” is needed to describe the Nutella crepe. The focus is on fresh, quality ingredients and Eelsen does not believe in cutting corners. Separate batters are made for the sweet and savory crepes, and ingredients are sourced from abroad. Buckwheat flour imported from France is used for the savory batters — “very traditional.”
The restaurant scene has developed significantly since Eelsen first came to Dallas in 2008, and now he says there are more crepe options than when he first came to town. Those shops can be split into two categories, he says.
Around half the crepe shops are Korean and Japanese-inspired crepes, which “don’t have a lot to do with French crepes.” He “really enjoys” the Korean and Japanese-inspired crepes, but when it comes to French recipes, his shop is still the best in town.
“I think there’s three or four shops in Dallas, mine being the best honestly,” Eelsen says. “When it comes to French crepes, that is our goal. To provide the best French crepes you can find in Dallas.”
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 25
Whisk, 1888 Sylvan Ave., whiskdallas.com, 469.407.1899
A Nutella crepe topped with strawberries and cream.
Matt Pikar can’t talk about food without slipping into stories of travel: exploring the Prague countryside to observe where locals eat, biting into raw potatoes in Spain, learning to cook kebabs after coming to the United States as a refugee.
“Food is the bridge to the cultures,” says Pikar, who is relaxed and talkative several hours before his restaurant, Nora, opens for Thursday night dinner service.
Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, he learned how to cook from his mother, who measured in pinches and handfuls rather than teaspoons and cups. He never attended a culinary school and the instinctual approach has stuck with him.
And it’s working.
His first restaurant, Afghan Grill, opened in Washington D.C. at a time when no one knew about Afghan food, but after the 9/11 attacks, the cuisine began gaining attention.
“Some people hated us, some people loved us and were supporters,” Pikar says. “Then after 9/11, the soldiers who were in Afghanistan had a very good experience with food. They tried to learn, they tried to cook it and eat it… (Afghani food) became popular.”
In 2007, he moved to Dallas and opened Afghan Grill on Preston Road, before jumping over to Greenville Avenue in 2012 to open Nora, named after his then three-month-old daughter.
“It was a gift to her,” Pikar says.
In 2019, Nora moved to Bishop Arts, but the jump to Oak Cliff was initially difficult because people were unfamiliar with Afghan cooking. Pikar would roam the dining area to speak with customers who may not be familiar with the flavors on the menu.
He often joked with customers, saying that if they tried a dish and didn’t like it he wouldn’t charge them, but if they tried it and liked it, he would charge them double.
“It’s so hard to go try foreign food and it’s only 5% or 10% (of people) who do. It’s not a burger, it’s not TexMex. People in Texas grow with that kind of food, and for them it’s very
AFGHANISTAN: NORA
26 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
difficult to go sit down at a restaurant from a different nation or different area to try because they are afraid,” he says. “And I can believe it. If I grew up with rice, I don’t want to go eat different rice.”
A Muslim restaurant, there is no pork on the menu. The marinated chicken and yogurt is recommended to anyone who may be unsure how to approach Middle Eastern flavors and ingredients.
Pikar prides himself on his food preparation methods, which he says are becoming a lost art. While the lamb kebab is one of the most popular dishes at Nora, and throughout the Middle East, he finds most people do not know how to properly clean and prepare the meat.
And the saffron rice, cooked with lamb broth, “takes hours” to make properly.
“I could challenge any chef for the right cooking of rice, and the right spices,” Pikar says. “It’s the best rice, (cooked) how it should be done in the world. You go to Dubai, and (the flavors) have become famous.”
Some of the most expensive spices in the world, saffron, cardamon and pine nuts, are staples of the recipes. He wants to show off exactly how special Afghan food can be.
“ An y cuisine could be a high-end and upscale restaurant if you choose the (best) food. It’s shocking for a lot of people,” Pikar says. “They only hear Afghanistan, but when they come to see us they say ‘Wow, I didn’t know it was Afghan restaurant.’ It makes a difference. It makes us feel good.”
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 27
Crawl AT TRINITY GROVES Cocktail 6-9pm Oct 19 CocktailCrawl.co Tickets
Nora, 205 N. Bishop Ave, noradallas.com, 214.828.0095
WHERE CAN I
AC & HEAT
ALEXANDER HOME REPAIR. AC/HEAT
Repair & Install. LIC#28052 469-226-9642
THE HEATING & AC EXPERTS
Installations & Repairs
Emergency Services
24/7 On-Call
100% Satisfaction
Guarantee
ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC Master Electrician. TECL24948 anthonyselectricdfw.com
50 Yrs. Electrical Exp. Insd. 214-328-1333
TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658
EMPLOYMENT
TA CLA67136C 214-710-2515 dallasheatingac.com
APPLIANCE REPAIR
JESSE’S A/C & APPLIANCE SERVICE
TACLB13304C All Makes/Models. 214-660-8898
BUY SELL TRADE
!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar Paid.1-866 -433-8277
CABINETRY & FURNITURE
JD’S TREE SERVICE Mantels, Headboards, Kitchen Islands, Dining tables. Made from Local Trees. www.jdtreeservice.com 214-946-7138
SERNAS & BASS DESIGN-BUILD
We design, build & Install cabinets & tops! (214) 354-3074 • aldo@sernasbass.com
CLEANING SERVICES
CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133
GOLDEN CLEANING, Home Basic Clean,Move in/out. 214-500-6998
WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM
Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134
COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS
CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $100/hr. 1 hr min.
Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net
CONCRETE/MASONRY/PAVING
ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS
Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954
BRICK, BLOCK, Stone, Concrete, Stucco. Gonzalez Masonry. 214-395-1319
BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS
Mortar Repair. Straighten Brick Mailboxes & Columns. Call Cirilo 214-298-7174
CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001
JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530
NEED A FENCING & DECKS PRO?
Look here for local professionals.
BENJAMINS PAINTING Hiring:18-26Yr.olds, Top Pay- Will Train. In Advocate since 2007. 214-725-6768
WANTED: BOOKEEPER
Experienced in Quick books for general construction and home flipping. Send resume or call Ricky:(512) 554-6084 R.Moises.Garza@gmail.com
EXTERIOR CLEANING
G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925
FENCING & DECKS
4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322 Specializing in Wood. YourWoodmaster.com
AMBASSADOR FENCE CO. Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers, Arbors. AmbassadorFenceCo.com 214-621-3217
FENCING, ARBORS, DECKS oldgatefence.com
214-766-6422
GARAGE SERVICES
UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned. 214-251-5428
GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS
PRO WINDOW CLEANING prompt, dependable. Matt 214-766-2183
ROCK GLASS CO Replace, Repair. Single,Double Panes. Showers, Mirrors. 214-837-7829
HANDYMAN SERVICES
DANHANDY.NET Repairs Done Right For A Fair Price. References 214-991-5692
HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628
HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635
HANDYMAN WANTS your Painting,Repairs, To Do Lists. Bob. 214-288-4232. Free Est. 25+yrs exp.
HOME REPAIR Small/Big Jobs. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 33 yrs exp. 214-875-1127
HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606
ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES
Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical.469-658-9163
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Let Us Tackle Your To-Do List!
PEST CONTROL
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
NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC.
Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident 30+ Yrs.exp. 214-827-0090
HOUSE PAINTING
BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work
@reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768
TOP COAT 30 Yrs. Exp. Reliable. Quality Repair/Remodel. Phil @ 214-770-2863
RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513
TEXAS BEST PAINTING LLC Resd,Interiors 30Yrs. 214-527-4168
KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT
FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645
TK REMODELING 972-533-2872
Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
"Keeping Children & Pets in Mind"
Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems
Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic 214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com abetterearth.com
PLUMBING
AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943
ANCHOR PLUMBING Your trusted Oak Cliff plumber for 30+ years. 214-946-1638.
PLUMBING ISSUES ?
972-379-4000 staggsplumbing.co
JIM 972-992-4660
WE REFINISH!
•
www.allsurfacerefinishing.com 214-631-8719
LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES
HOLMAN IRRIGATION
Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061
MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435
MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS
Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060
JD’s Tree Service
RESPONSIBLE TREE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Firewood/Cooking Wood
NOVEMBER DEADLINE
OCTOBER 10
Locally harvested wood!
Full service trimming & planting of native trees. 214.946.7138
POOLS
CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996
REAL ESTATE
ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD?
Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839
NEAR WRLAKE 2/1 DUPLEX. Hdwds, Appl. Yard Serv. CHA, 1/carport. $1,400+Dep. 469879-2977
OFFICE SUBLEASE In Bishop Arts. Cool, Quiet. 1,179 Sq ft. 4 rooms + kit / bath, parking. $2,950 + NNNs. 713.302-7722.
REMODELING
A2H GENERAL CONTRACTING,LLC
Remodeling, Painting, Drywall/Texture, Plumbing, Electrical,Siding, Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels, Tilling, Flooring, Fencing. 469-658-9163. Free Estimates.
A2HGeneralContractingLLC@gmail.com
FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com
KEYS AND GRIM
30 years of experience in residential remodeling. “They are the best…and so nice.” ~ Mom keysandgrim.com 214-952-4490
O’BRIEN GROUP INC. Remodeling Dallas For Over 24 Years www.ObrienGroupInc.com 214-341-1448
28 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
FIND LOCAL
Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com
...?
Master P lumber License M-17697
ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!
the Experts! 30 Years of Excellent Service • Water Heaters • Water Leaks • Sewer Backups • All Plumbing Repairs 24/7 On-Call
We’re
❚ Drywall ❚ Doors ❚ Senior Safety ❚ Carpentry ❚ Small & Odd Jobs ❚ And More! AceHandymanServices.com ❚ 972 308 6035 ©2020 Ace Handyman Services, Inc All rights reserved Locally owned and independently operated Franchise. Licensed & insured.
Tubs, Tiles or Sinks
• Cultured Marble
• Kitchen Countertops
REMODELING
RENOVATE DALLAS
renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247
S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427
TK REMODELING 972-533-2872
Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration.
Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com
ROOFING & GUTTERS
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 214.321.9341
SERVICES FOR YOU
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months!
Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725
BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation,production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide
1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
DENTAL INSURANCE-Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258
DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866859-0405
DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95
High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply.Promo Expires 7/21/21.
1-833-872-2545
WHERE CAN I FIND
SERVICES FOR YOU
DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398
ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373
FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/onetime $20 copay. Free shipping. Maxsip Telecom!
1-833-758-3892
GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353
HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141
SERVICES FOR YOU
INFLATION is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up.CreditCards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote.1-877-592-3616
MOBILE HELP, America's premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you're home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936
SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services
TUTORING/ LESSONS
GARTH ORR - TUTOR Math & Physics grade 8-12. Private Tutoring that works! garthorr.com
For complete terms and conditions, visit advocatemag.com/advertisingterms. TO ADVERTISE CALL 214.292.0493
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 29
LOCAL
Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com Click Marketplace at advocatemag.com
...?
LOOKING FOR A REMODELING PRO? Look here for local professionals. EDUCATION GUIDE 214.560.4203 OR SALES@ADVOCATEMAG.COM TO ADVERTISE Our readers want to know more about exceptional schools in our neighborhood. Get the 4-day guide at lifeschool.net/oc-4day EXPERIENCE THE 4-DAY SCHOOL WEEK You should have more control over your child’s academic success and mental and emotional well-being. Let’s work together so that when it’s time for school, your child is focused and ready to learn. • Reading/Writing Workshop Model • STEM Lab, Art, Music & Library Time • Spanish, PE and Recess Daily • Leadership & Community Service • Middle School - Mandarin, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program • After School Care & Enrichment Programs ACCEPTING NEW STUDENT APPLICATIONS 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR 1215 Turner Ave. | 214.942.2220 | TheKesslerSchool.com Serving Grades PK-8TH
By EMMA RUBY
“You can survive IF …”
During the cold war, many Oak Cliff schools became community fallout shelters
“You can survive IF you…” begins a late ’60s Dallas County pamphlet addressed to residents.
The following pages detail survival procedures in the event of a nuclear attack: maps of public fallout shelters throughout the city, lists of supplies to bring into a shelter and the meaning behind different warning sirens (a three- to five-minute wavering tone indicated an immediate need to find shelter).
As tensions between the United States and Russia mounted throughout the Cold War, so did Dallas County’s efforts to establish public fallout shelters. The Dallas City Council established the City-County Civil Defense and Disaster Commission in 1954 and tasked the group with building fallout shelters throughout the city.
The first public shelter was designated in 1962, and by 1966, more than 300 buildings were retrofitted to accommodate nearly a million residents in the event of a nuclear attack.
“Many of the buildings are permanently stocked with water, food supplies and medical supplies sufficient to sustain about 300,000 people for approximately two weeks,” the Dallas Morning News reported that year.
In Oak Cliff, many public schools were named shelters, including Adamson, Sunset and Kimball High Schools, Greiner Middle School and Rosemont and Stevens Park Elementary Schools.
A form given to parents on the first day
of school outlined options about what a student would do in the event of a blast.
“They had to designate what their children would do in case of a nuclear disaster,” says Kidd Springs resident Patti Erickson. “Remain at school, go outside to a designated spot, where they would pick you up, or be released to walk home. My mama always thought we were safer at school.”
Erickson, who worked for the Adamson High School student paper, toured the school’s fallout shelter in 1975 for a story assignment. She says when she walked through the shelter, boxes of supplies were still being stored, “presumably to be used by survivors.”
While Dallas no longer maintains any public fallout shelters, the city’s Office of Emergency Management still has a website page dedicated to instructions regarding a nuclear blast.
“The Cold War threat of a strategic nuclear strike may have diminished over time; however, there is still a threat,” the website says.
The website lists potential targets of a nuclear blast and protective measures to take before, during and after an attack.
Today, most of the Oak Cliff schools that once had fallout shelters built into them use the rooms for additional storage.
The old Adamson High School building is currently undergoing restoration, and DISD Trustee Ben Mackey says the building’s future is uncertain after structural issues have been found. As discussions about the building’s salvageability begin, it is possible the relic of Cold War concern could be lost for good.
“It boggles the mind now that anyone thought that would be survivable, but it’s what we believed,” Erickson says.
30 oakcliff.advocatemag.com OCTOBER 2023
Images from a Dallas County pamphlet about fallout shelters in the city.
BACK STORY
College preparatory education for girls and boys, grades 6-12
WHERE THE MIND EXPLORES AND THE SPIRIT SOARS
Bishop Dunne Catholic School empowers each student to explore, inquire, lead and serve through a college preparatory education in a joyful community of faith.
3900 Rugged Drive, Dallas, Texas 75224 | 214 339 6561 bdcs.org
OCTOBER 2023 oakcliff.advocatemag.com 31 EDUCATION URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS Learn more by visiting www.ursulinedallas.org/admissions What can Ursuline be for you? All-Girl, Catholic, College Prep, Grades 9-12 4900 Walnut Hill Lane | Dallas, Texas 75229 www.ursulinedallas.org Ursuline Academy does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin.
House Nov. 5
Open
Application Deadline Jan. 5
to
723 Town Creek Drive 4 BED | 3 BATH | 2,180 SQ. FT. | $410,000 Laura Wiswall 214.695.3759 laurawiswall@dpmre.com Bill Farrell 214.643.8500 billfarrell@dpmre.com SOLD, Represented Buyer An
Experience
Price and availability subject to change. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 919 Knott Place 4 BED | 3.1 BATH | 3,210 SQ. FT. | $1,299,000 Andy Steingasser 214.693.2639 andy@dpmre.com 919knott.daveperrymiller.com 508seventh.daveperrymiller.com 508 W. Seventh Street COMMERCIAL SPACE | $1,240,000 Emily Ruth Cannon 415.525.9062 emilyruth@dpmre.com SOLD, Represented Buyer 909 W. Colorado Boulevard 4 BED | 3 BATH | 4,952 SQ. FT. | $1,450,000 Michael Mahon 214.914.5410 mmahon@dpmre.com PENDING 1450 Junior Drive 2 BED | 2.1 BATH | 2,745 SQ. FT. | $1,125,000 Michael Mahon 214.914.5410 mmahon@dpmre.com 634 N. Tyler Avenue 4 BED | 3 BATH | 2,418 SQ. FT. | $599,999 634tyler.daveperrymiller.com Bart Thrasher 469.583.4819 bartthrasher@dpmre.com 2010 Elmwood Boulevard 2 BED | 1 BATH | 1,300 SQ. FT. | PRIVATE SALE SOLD, Represented Seller 1023 N. Plymouth Road 3 BED | 2.1 BATH | 2,240 SQ. FT. | $990,000 1023plymouth.daveperrymiller.com Michael Mahon 214.914.5410 mmahon@dpmre.com 1503 W. 10th Street 5 BED | 3 BATH | 3,552 SQ. FT. | $999,999 Diane Sherman 469.767.1823 dsherman@dpmre.com Vinnie Sherman 214.562.6388 vsherman@dpmre.com 150310th.daveperrymiller.com
End End Real Estate