12-20 -19 - 44 - FINAL

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

Downtown • Uptown • Turtle Creek • Oak Lawn • Arts, Design and Medical Districts • Park Cities • Preston Hollow

Take one!

CRIME WATCH page 2

MOVIE TRAILER page 8

Candys Dirt page 6

Katy Trail Weekly

Vol. 6, No. 44: Section One | Neighborhood News | Community Calendar and Food Guide | Local Arts | Opinions

COMMUNITY NEWS Seasonal punch with punch

CELEBRATING 2020

Party like it’s the end of the decade

Punch Bowl Social at 2600 Main St. features the “Naughty or Spice punch” for the holidays. To make a single serving to replicate their recipe, add 2 oz. of Old Forester Bourbon, 3/4 oz. of Monin Ogreat (an almond syrup), 1/2 oz. of spiced orange syrup, 3/4 oz. of fresh lemon juice and 1/4 oz. of St. Elizabeth Allspice. Or just let Punch Bowl Social make a container full for you and your friends. The bar/restaurant is open on Tuesday, Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and closed on Christmas.

– Victoria Gonzalez

By David Mullen david@katytrailweekly.com It has been 20 years since Prince famously touted that “tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.” Prince is no longer with us and the urge to spend New Year’s Eve with reckless abandon may be gone like an Uber driver. But there are still plenty of events to experience, and even if the need to rejoice is muted this year, we offer a snapshot of the number of dining, drinking and other area options available to welcome in the new decade.

Count down the New Year at The French Room in the Adolphus Hotel at 1321 Commerce St. as they offer two celebrations on New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31. A more traditional meal will begin at 5:30 p.m. and includes a five-course tasting menu from chef Diego Fernandez accompanied by music from a live violinist for $125 per person. The second seating, beginning at 8:30 p.m., is an up-beat Monte Carlo style celebration with a seven-course tasting menu, live jazz band and celebratory champagne toast for $200 per person.

A Dallas favorite, Al Biernat’s at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave. is offering three seatings on New Year’s Eve. The first seating is at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m., the second seating at 7 and 7:30 p.m. and the last seating is from 9 to 11 p.m.

Go to albiernats.com or call 214-2192201 for reservations.

The Knox District has a number of activities including the new restaurant Georgie by Curtis Stone at 4514 Travis St., Suite 132, celebrating New Year’s Eve with a three-course menu for $115 per person. The French restaurant Le Bilboquet at 4514 celebrating cont'd on page 10

Amber Boutwell

Healthy vending soon available

BYTE

Snider Plaza opens care facility

SEBRON SNYDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Bullion, located at 400 S. Record St., will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a fivecourse dinner under a sea of 2,020 colorful balloons.

DALLAS ARBORETUM

Sinai Urgent Care at 3414 Milton Ave., a new urgent care medical facility offering healthcare for adults and children, is open sinai urgent care now in Snider Plaza. Sinai’s state-of-the-art clinic will provide walk-in medical treatment with online booking available. Founded by Preston Hollow residents Zach Nathan and Dr. Nick Karr (above), Sinai has the latest in medical technology including X-ray and a fully functional laboratory onsite.

The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 365 days a year. – Allie Lesiuk

Dirty job blossoms into Southwest's largest floral festival

By Juliette Coulter juliette@coultergroup.com The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden's horticultural staff, with the help of up to 30 additional seasonal gardeners, are laying out and planting more than 500,000 spring-blooming bulbs throughout the 66-acre garden. As one of the city's dirtiest jobs, these gardeners know that their hard work will result in the most spectacular floral festival of the year, Dallas Blooms, themed The Sounds of Spring, which debuts February 29 and runs through April 12, 2020.

Planting bulbs is an integral part of the gardening

In early 2020, Coolgreens will introduce smart fridges that will serve its signature salads, wraps and snacks throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Called “Coolgreens Market,” the machines will offer healthy, chef-inspired food to go. The items will be made fresh daily in an off-site local kitchen and delivered fresh to its smart fridges. Guests will simply swipe their credit card, open the fridge, explore the variety and make a healthy selection.

– Cami Studebaker

cycle, and it takes 65 Arboretum staff members to plant and produce the beautiful floral displays each spring.

The bulbs are ordered from Abbott Ipco and takes roughly 11,560 man-hours to plant them. The horticulture team begins by amending the soil and removing existing mums and other fall plants, adding compost, broadcasting bone meal-bulb fertilizer with a hand spreader, and adding blood meal to keep away squirrels and birds.

"Bulbs need to be chilled in a paper bag stored in a refrigerator for four to six weeks before planting, and soil

2 3 4 5 6 DALLAS ARBORETUM

FLORAL cont'd on page 10

Arboretum already has sights set on spring.

INSIDE Notes from the Editor Bubba Flint The Good Word DISD Environment Opinion Crossword Puzzle Your Stars This Week Historically Speaking Community Calendar Photo of the Week Charity Spotlight Hammer and Nails Uptown Girl

@katytrailweekly

7 8 9 10 11

Automobility Mull It Over

Uncle Barkey's Bites Travel

Dotty Griffith Recipe

Restaurant Guide Sudoku

Scene Around Town

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KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

PAGE 2

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR

‘Do me a favor, open the door and let 'em in’

By David Mullen

more expensive product. Anyway, Lyft just announced its fifth annual “Lyftie Awards,” a program To anyone who would have that recognizes the most popular listened, a month ago I called the destinations in cities across the Time person of the year as Greta country. The winners, in four Thunberg, 16, a Swedish climate categories, for the local recognicrisis activist. I was right, but no tion in 2019 are Most Celebrated one listened. If only I could do Venue: American Airlines Center; so well at picking the outcome Top Transit Stop: Downtown of NFL games … Always on the Dallas Greyhound Bus Terminal cutting edge, I am the last person (not Love Field or DFW Airport?); in America to have the Popeye’s Late Night Neighborhood: spicy chicken Deep Ellum and sandwich. I Most Celebrated didn’t have Restaurant/Bar: to fight like I Round-Up Saloon, a was at Filene’s gay bar at 3912 Cedar Basement, Springs Road … Part didn’t have to of the thrill of relying charge at the on the Dallas County clerk leaping pharmacy to get your through the meds is a trip to the drive-thru waiting area. Recently, window and David Mullen while I was waiting, no firearms two people were arwere involved (as if I have any) rested. It makes an urban tran… Love them or leave them and sit area look like the wait for the despite some negative publicOrient Express. The other thrill ity, Uber, Lyft and other rideis you never know what they are share options have made getting going to charge. On my first visit, around DFW much easier at a they charged me $35 for two prelower price. Taxi companies fell scriptions that were otherwise asleep at the wheel, so to speak, subsidized. Fine. Next time, after thinking they could monopolize the physician had increased the the market with an inferior, much dosage, I was charged $15. Even david@katytrailweekly.com

better. Last time I went to pick up two prescriptions and this is how the conversation went.

“That’ll be 47 cents. Cash or credit?” the pharmacy cashier behind the window asked. “Forty-seven cents?” I said. “I’ll pay cash. Can you break a $100 bill?” “Oh” as she fumbled around in the cash drawer. “Let me see.” “I am just kidding,” I said, and slipped four dimes, a nickel and two pennies in the slot under the bullet-proof glass. When I told my mother the story, she had to one-up me. “I went to the doctor with a stomach ailment and my new doctor prescribed a drug that was not covered by insurance,” she said.

She went to her nearby pharmacy with three initials in its name that I think stand for Costs Very Staggering. She had gotten an 11-day dosage, three pills a day.

“That will be $1,600,” the pharmacist said. “What? I won’t pay that! Thank you,” Mom said. She called her doctor and asked why she would prescribe a medicine that cost $1,600. “Oh, it’s new.

Hold on,” her doctor said. She returned to inform my mom that she had collected enough free samples for an 11-day dosage and they would be waiting for her at the reception desk. Welcome to

What matters most this season By the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata

when my hair fell out.” And all of them noted the kindness they had been shown by others. “’My granny is so kind to me, Jonny As we enter the rush of Christmas, I gave me half his sandwich when I didn’t eat hope we can all remember what matters mine,” and “I like it when that kind nurse is most. For some, this season is explicitly here. She’s gentle. And it hurts less.” religious. Ask a child at my church what Every one of those children was swalChristmas is all about and I expect they lowed up with toys, balloons and treats, yet will say that it’s Jesus’s birthday. That’s when asked what was most important, they a perfectly good answer and one that I’m pointed to people, to the connections they happy to teach to young children. But honhave with others. They literally felt better estly, I don’t think Jesus would be satisfied being near people they cared about and if all we did was celebrate his birthday on who cared for them.

Christmas. I believe Jesus, of all people, It’s so easy to get caught up in the would want us to be inspired to something drama of this Christmas season. Did you bigger than a sacred birthday party. get the right present? Will there be a big Take a moment to answer fight between family members? this simple question: What matWill the food be ready on time? ters most to you? At Christmas, All of these issues are real and we get the chance to consider they matter somewhat, but they that profound, complex and dydon’t matter nearly as much as namic question. For most of us, spending time together. we will have a litany of answers This Christmas, what matthat speak to the complexity of ters most is being with one anthe question, but perhaps the other. If you can spend extra answer can be simple. I recently time with loved ones, do. If you read an article about how termidon’t have loved ones around nally ill children answered this you, find a place where you won’t question, and their answers are Rev. Dr. Girata have to be alone. And if you can profound. spare the gift of time, considDr. Alastair McAlpine is a er sharing yourself – just your physician who works with children who presence – with those who will feel alone. suffer from life-threatening illnesses every Yes, for children, this is the birthday of day. He recently reported that he asked Jesus. But I promise you that Jesus is much many of his patients, all between the ages more interested in how we treat one anothof four and nine years old, what was most er than how we throw his birthday party. important in their life.

So, this year, don’t get distracted by the He reported that many of his patients trappings of the holiday. Instead, actually mentioned their pets. “I love Rufus, his love one another generously and fiercely, funny bark makes me laugh.” Another rebecause when we share love, we experience sponded, “I love when Ginny snuggles up what matters most. to me at night and purrs.” Other patients The Rev. Dr. Chris Girata was called mentioned their parents, often expressing to be the eighth Rector of Saint Michael worry or concern. “Hope mum will be OK. and All Angels in Dallas and started his She seems sad.” Another said, “Dad mustn’t ministry at Saint Michael on Aug. 15, worry. He’ll see me again soon.”

2016. Chris is a native of Florida, a clasMany of the patients went on to report sically trained musician and an amateur what they appreciated most about others cook. He and his wife, Nicole, have three in their lives. “My real friends didn’t care children.

Rector, Saint Michael and All Angels

CRIME WATCH Dec. 13 – 7:23 p.m.

5300 Block, E. Mockingbird Ln. (75206) Theft of Property: Two unknown suspects stole property from the location.

Dec. 13 – 11:53 p.m.

3200 Block, Turtle Creek Blvd. (75219) Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: An unknown suspect entered the complainant’s unlocked vehicle and stole property.

Dec. 14 – 2:42 a.m.

2100 Block, Greenville Ave. (75206) Burglary of a Building: An unknown suspect broke a patio door and entered the location.

Dec. 14 – 5:05 a.m.

healthcare in America … So, there is this late afternoon knock on my door. It took me a moment to turn off the alarm, and I didn't see anyone through the peephole.

“Publisher’s Clearinghouse,” I thought. “I finally won!” Instead, I found a large man in some discomfort. “I am staying across the way at the Airbnb and can’t get hold of my roommate,” he said, before remembering that my complex said they would no longer allow apartments to be used as an Airbnb. It is the holidays after all, so I reluctantly said, “Okay.” I showed him to the spare bathroom and waited and waited. I loaded up 911 on my phone.

I hid my wallet and money clip.

I found my biggest Louisville Slugger. Finally, I banged on the door and told him that I had to get going which I did in about two hours. He exited looking thankful and, shall we say, relieved. We have all been there at one time or another. He asked if he could give me some money. I should have asked for 47 cents. “No, of course not,” I said. Now if I could only find where I hid my wallet … This is the last issue of Katy Trail Weekly in 2019. Have a safe holiday and Happy New Year to all. We’ll be back in 2020, which I can only pray will be better than the past year.

DALLAS ISD TRUSTEE MIGUEL SOLIS, DISTRICT 8

The Good Word

K AT Y TR AIL WEEKLY'S

William "Bubba" Flint — Special Contributor

4500 Block, McKinney Ave. (75205) Burglary of a Building: An unknown suspect used an unknown tool to break into the location.

Dec. 14 – 12:27 p.m.

3400 Block, Lee Pkwy.

(75219) Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: An unknown suspect stole property from the complainant’s vehicle.

Dec. 14 – 10:54 p.m.

1100 Block, McKinney Ave. (75202) Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle: An unknown suspect stole the complainant’s vehicle.

Dec. 15 – 8:16 a.m.

10800 Block, Steppington Dr. (75230) Criminal Mischief: An unknown suspect caused damage to the complainant’s windows.

Dec. 15 – 2:38 p.m.

2300 Block, Glencoe St. (75206) Burglary of a Habitation: An unknown suspect made entry into the complainant’s garage and stole property.

Dec. 16 – 5:34 a.m.

3200 Block, N. Fitzhugh Ave. (75204) Burglary of a Building: Two unknown suspects forced open the door and stole a safe.

Dec. 16 – 10:26 a.m.

4700 Block, Lemmon Ave. (75209) Theft of Property: An unknown suspect stole the complainant’s property.

Dec. 16 – 10:46 p.m.

2300 Block, Victory Ave. (75202) Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle: An unknown suspect stole the complainant’s vehicle.

Kudos for the holidays Special thanks to PNC Bank for their generous $50,000 donation to Burnet Elementary to support their tornado recovery effort.

Burnet’s building was severely damaged Miguel Solis during the October tornado outbreak and campus leaders will use the money to supplement and enhance scholar opportunities.

Congratulations to District 8’s Solar Preparatory School for Girls for being the attendance champion school. These young ladies had a nearly 99 percent attendance rate making them the number one school in District 8. Go Solar!

Choice school bus stops. The district will be adding four additional choice schools for the 2020-2021 school year. This exciting news means adding more students to the choice schools bus riders’ program. As the program grows, adjustments will need to be made to ensure equity throughout the district; acceptable ride times for as many students as possible; quality of educational experience for all students; and responsible stewardship of resources. The district is currently seeking feedback from community in regard to choice school bus stops. More information can be found at dallasisd.org/

transportation.

STEM Expo. Come explore, design, build and create at the largest STEM expo in Texas! The Dallas ISD STEM Expo will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center at 650 S. Griffin St. Register today at dallasisd.org/STEM. Dallas County promise. Dallas ISD seniors at participating high schools are eligible to apply for the Dallas County Promise (DCP) Scholarship.

Through this program, students can earn a last-dollar tuition scholarship to any Dallas County Community College District school and partner university.

A last-dollar tuition scholarship covers any cost of tuition that need-based aid and scholarships do not cover. I encourage all eligible seniors to take the Promise Pledge at dallascountypromise. org. The deadline to take the pledge is Friday, Feb. 7, 2020.

Thank you and Happy Holidays! This holiday season I find myself truly grateful for how our community has stepped up to help students and schools impacted by the October tornados. Thank you, Dallas. I am so proud to call you home. Wishing everyone happy holidays as you celebrate with your loved ones.

There will be no classes starting Friday, Dec. 20 and students will resume classes on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020.

OUR MISSION Katy Trail Weekly is a community-friendly newspaper designed to inform and entertain the people in many diverse demographics who live and/or work in these neighborhoods. Much like the Katy Trail itself, Katy Trail Weekly is designed to help bring together the neighborhoods of Downtown, Uptown, Cedar Springs/Oak Lawn, the Design District, the Medical District and the Park Cities, as well as others. The newspaper is placed in local businesses, and other locations, for free pick-up by their patrons. We support this publication by providing ad space to local businesses who want an effective and affordable way to reach the Katy Trail area readers we attract and serve. We welcome participation in the paper through story and picture submissions, and we hope that you will join us in making this paper the best it can be.

Writers Dr. Jay Burns (cont'd.) Chic DiCiccio Candace Evans Leah Frazier Society Editor Sally Blanton Rev. Dr. Chris Girata Graphic Design Bronwen Roberts Ryann Gordon

Advertising Sales Susie Denardo Dotty Griffith Accounts Mgr. Cindi Cox Becky Bridges Dr. Donald Hohman Online Editors Bronwen Roberts Distribution Paul Omar Redic Jo Ann Holt BethLeermakers Naïma Jeannette Brandt Carroll Naima Montacer Chris Maroni Leigh Richardson Juan Najera Copy Editors Michael Tate Joe Ruzicka Jessica Voss Stephan Sardone Writers Ed Bark Shari Stern David Boldt Publisher

Rex Cumming

Editor in Chief

David Mullen

Editorial William"Bubba" Cartoonist Flint

© 2018 Trail Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Katy Trail Weekly is published weekly and distributed for free. Views expressed in Katy Trail Weekly are not necessarily the opinion of Katy Trail Weekly, its staff or advertisers. Katy Trail Weekly does not knowingly accept false or misleading editorial content or advertising.

Wayne Swearingen Michael Tate Michael Wald Dr. Kim Washington

Katy Trail Weekly

(214) 27-TRAIL (87245) P.O. Box 601685 • Dallas, TX 75360 info@katytrailweekly.com • katytrailweekly.com

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

PAGE 3

ENVIRONMENT

OPINION

Action group on rise

Christmas 'traditions' to lose

By David Kirkpatrick

By Joe Ruzicka

The EarthX Young Professionals group, also known as YPX, is an environmental action group engaging this ever-increasing population of young people in Dallas to make a greater impact in helping the community and planet.

The group grew out of the EarthX Ambassadors program, a networking group with a focus on fundraising, and has since evolved to become more of an environmental action group of young professionals seeking to better the environment in North Texas as well as pursue national and international objectives around environmental issues.

“We are about awareness, action and growing in the community,” said Melinda Garde, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager of EarthX. “In addition to volunteering, our YPX members encourage others to get involved through action, awareness and education. This engagement grows awareness of both EarthX and YPX, and is a measurable impact of both organizations.”

She added that YPX, which is the only young professionals group dedicated to the environment in North Texas, has members from across the area interested in learning more about environmental issues, willing to get involved and take action where needed, and also help tell the EarthX story. Community actions include participating in environmental cleanups, impacting policy at the local government level, and becoming a voice for environmental issues at their companies.

“I wanted to get involved with an environmentally focused organization that was involved in not only local, but national, and international objectives,” said Jesse Bermensolo, vice president of business intelligence, AlixPartners LLP and group member from its days at the EarthX Ambassador program.

“When I started to learn about EarthX,” he explained, “what really drew me to the group was the diverse set of people and organizations that were already doing amazing things. I think if we’re going to take on big complex environmental challenges, we need a diverse group of people with different backgrounds, experiences and professions to think through and implement the solutions.”

Bermensolo said EarthX and YPX has opened his mind to the range of issues facing the planet.

“It’s easy to grab on to plastic straws or car emissions and think you’re making a difference, and you are, but it’s so small,” he said. “Living an eco-conscious life and getting involved with organizations that are working to impact laws and regulations is the best way someone can contribute.”

Word-of-mouth outreach has been a key contributor to the group’s growth. Bermensolo was originally introduced to EarthX via a friend, and Devin Ellis, campaign marketing specialist, Omnitracs, and director of membership, YPX, got involved after asking a friend

Christmas is full of traditions and many are very memorable moments we all love to enjoy.

Picking out and cutting Joe down a Christmas tree at the local tree farm with the entire family is one of my favorites. I also enjoy looking at all of the Christmas lights around town including the tasteful but especially the tacky. Of course the music, church activities, exchanging gifts with family and friend, and watching kids open presents are always a pleasant part of the holiday. But don’t get me wrong, there are several Christmas “traditions” that frankly bug the you know what out of me. Maybe we should look at letting a few of them go.

The first tradition we can lose is that terrible Elf on the Shelf.

This annoying little creature was the brainchild of stay-at-home mom Carol Aebersold and her grown twin daughters, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts. It started from a family tradition of theirs way back in the 1970s. According to an article in HuffPost, the family had an elf at home named Fisbee who would watch them and report back to Santa Claus on their behavior. Today’s toy elf is placed around the house in various locations by overzealous parents to also keep children in line. But Elf on the Shelf becomes weird and annoying. He shows up on Facebook posts in various states of dress (or states of being) with some strange caption that just is not funny. It’s creepy.

Dry and crusty Christmas fruit cakes can also take a hike.

Those brownish shriveled bread loaves with nuts, fruits and dried berries do not taste very good.

According to the New York Times, fruitcake dates back to a food enjoyed by ancient Romans called satura, a mix of barley, pomegranate seeds, nuts, and raisins held

joe.c.ruzicka@gmail.com

EARTHX

active in environmental issues, art and technology how he could become more involved in the environment.

That led to volunteering with EarthXFilm, the annual EarthX Expo and to YPX. “I was invited to an initial YPX meetup and wanted to help launch this group as it solved my own problem of being a young professional and wanting to interact with other professionals with an environmental interest in more of a business setting,” Ellis said.

YPX’s potential to help solve environmental problems both locally and worldwide is a driving reason Ellis joined the group along with networking with other diverse business professionals interested in the environment and sustainability while being part of the solution to these issues. He said it’s also a personally fulfilling way to give back and use his skills to help the world.

The group meets monthly and costs $75 for individuals and $350 for corporations and it is currently outlining membership benefits as it settles into the transition from EarthX Ambassadors to YPX. “When I was asked to head up this group by Trammell (S. Crow, the founder of EarthX),” Garde said, “I initially thought I was not a good fit due to my age. I am not ‘young’ and wasn’t quite sure how I could lend my voice in supporting this group. I was encouraged by everyone’s excitement and eagerness to get this group off the ground and therefore I was never viewed as too ‘old.’ We have people from all walks of life and professional backgrounds that are interested in our group.”

She added that YPX has been contacted by interested people in Mexico, Washington D.C. and Colorado wanting to be involved and a long-term goal of YPX is to have a presence in all 50 states including subgroups of older professionals.

“I think young professionals learn as they spend time out in the world. You get to choose who you associate with, and as your time becomes ever more valuable, it’s important to make those choices wisely,” Bermensolo said. “For me, if you are interested in the environment or the many issues our planet and society face, there is no better group to be a part of than EarthX and our Young Professionals group.”

together with honey.

Now fruitcakes are mass produced and sold by the thousands each Christmas holiday. But like Johnny Carson used to always joke, there really is Ruzicka only one fruit cake, it just gets traded around every year.

Anytime I see a car decorated like a reindeer with fake antlers and red button nose on the hood along with twinkling lights down the side, particularly on something like a Smart Car, I think it looks a little too silly. Did you know that you can buy a Reindeer Car Kit at Party City for only $14.99? You should probably save your money because not only does it look ridiculous, those cute decorations eat away at your gas mileage. According to a study done by General Motors engineers, reindeer antlers and Rudolph’s nose create about a 1-mile-per-gallon decrease in highway fuel efficiency. If you add a bow to your roof, add another 3.5-mpg decrease in highway fuel efficiency. Of course a number of Smart Cars are electric, making these statistics irrelevant. However, Smart Cars are exiting the U.S. market this year and so should any leftover Reindeer Car Kits.

I don’t want to be too much of a Scrooge, so I will stop at naming only three ridiculous Christmas traditions. It’s just that these weird and whimsical holiday traditions sometimes take away from the rest of Christmas. People are focused on the unimportant and trivial parts of the holiday when instead they should be focused on the real traditions of Christmas such as religion, sharing and giving, and most importantly true love. Putting those things first before something artificial will always be what Christmas is about.

Joe Ruzicka is a retired Naval Aviator and F-14 Tomcat RIO. He lives in Lakewood and yearns for the days of Nolan Ryan fastballs.

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PAGE 4

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1. Taj — 6. Cook’s meas.

10. Ore truck 14. Meat skewer 19. Crockett’s last stand 20. Rattler’s defense 22. Column order 24. Sound 25. Declined sharply 26. Stone marker 27. Basketball player 28. Toothy smiles 29. Get even 31. Tip the scales 33. Restaurant handout 34. Crow over 35. Carrier pigeons 37. Novelist Jean — 39. Mark of Zorro 41. Hamm of soccer 42. Cartoon chipmunk 43. Keep after 45. Brains, maybe 47. Not quite dry 51. Kind of bean 53. — — glance 54. Marble streak 55. Not his 59. Military trim 61. Real estate unit 63. — Dame 64. “L’—, c’est moi” 65. Cincinnati football player 66. Subtraction word 67. Craft knife (hyph.)

68. Soprano’s piece

69. Amherst inst.

70. Shaker filler 71. Cut at an angle 72. Very strong 74. Find fault 75. Fruit or bird 76. Well-grounded 77. Third planet 79. Patella 82. Organ’s keyboard 85. Disembarks (2 wds.)

89. Oral Roberts University site 91. Major nuisance 92. Some August people 94. Life story 95. Soothsayer 98. Cereal box remnant 100. Monarch 101. Spud 103. Jeepers!

104. As — — (usually) 105. Competes at an auction 106. Horse 107. Habitual 108. Jagged rocks 109. Location 110. Absorbs 111. Mideast VIP 112. Elevator maker 113. Yank foe 114. Reach across 116. Chair or sofa 117. Not hollowed out 119. Exam option 121. Inspired verse 123. Mr. in Bombay 126. ABC followers

127. Calf’s bellow 128. Measure up (2 wds.)

134. Clammy 136. Egyptian goddess 138. Tour of duty 140. Downhill skiing 141. Not skimpy 142. Short surplice 144. Forelimb bones 146. “Klute” star 147. People 148. Put in the ledger 149. Overcharge 150. Nudged forward 151. Lovers’ meeting 152. Lysol target 153. Delight 154. Very grassy DOWN 1. Lady’s title 2. Up and running 3. The affluent 4. Sunday assents 5. Got stuck 6. Sets 7. In the middle 8. Scornful gaze 9. Make shiny 10. Nervous twitch 11. Wandered 12. Halo wearer 13. Appearance 14. Drooped 15. Fling 16. Expression 17. Red Sea peninsula 18. Plantain lily

Off the mark

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

Solution on page 10 21. Ryan or Tilly 23. Brazilian buck, once 30. Glossy paint 32. Kind of cuisine 36. Surfeit 38. Ms. Merkel 40. Urn homophone 44. Paddle cousins 45. Noxious weed 46. Knife holders 47. Expose, as a fraud 48. Tarzan’s moniker 49. Cope 50. Wrinkle-nosed dogs 52. Irish tongue 54. Sotto — 56. To be, to Balzac 57. Drizzle 58. Sports figure 60. Vegas lead-in 62. Okla. zone 63. Seedless orange 66. Binding rule 67. Element 54 70. Dainty swallows 71. Piano-playing Count 72. U.S. leader 73. Hall-of-Famer Mel — 75. Leafy vegetable 76. Python or cobra 78. Beside oneself 80. Workers with acid 81. — -de-sac 83. Aussie minerals 84. Skips a syllable 86. Dull 87. Baja bash 88. Woodland

90. Very hesitant 93. USN rank 95. Hideous monster 96. Motel vacancy 97. Italian wine city 99. Hauls along 100. First-aid box 101. Follow closely 102. Skippers’ okays 104. Ruse

105. Apron tops 106. Theater 108. Curly-leafed cabbage 109. Puts on the block 110. Pops 113. Blustery 115. Mailing cost 118. Weirdest

119. Speed demon’s cry 120. Conclusion (var.)

122. Gunpowder ingredient 123. Mine passage 124. Gossip 125. Suggest 127. Please, to Fritz 129. Cancel

130. Future fern 131. Hint of color 132. Ceased 133. Set to go 135. Sorts 137. Anthem 139. Pull 143. Provide weapons 145. Get the message

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

History of the celebration

By Dr. James W. Finck

demanding food. jfinck@usao.edu This debauchery at Christmas played a part in America’s founding. The radical religious sect known as the Puritans Christmas is the time of year when wanted to rid the Church of England of everyone seems a little happier and are all things Catholic, including the pagan a little nicer to each other. It is when we look forward to spending time with fam- practices that had crept into the Church. ily and friends enjoying all of our favorite One of those practices was Christmas.

There is no mention of Christmas in Christmas traditions. Yet, historically the Bible and no set date for the birth speaking, this was not always the case. of Jesus. The Catholic Church had set Especially in America, we did not celChristmas during the winter solstice ebrate Christmas until the 1820s with to help convert the Germanic tribes by the publication of a couple of important claiming their religious feasts. novels.

The practice of Christmas was one What was originally called the Feast of many doctrinal differences that led of the Nativity reached England in the the Puritans to the New World to set up sixth century and began being called their “City on the Hill.” With Puritanism Christmas. Don’t think of it as the same being one of the most influential instiholiday as we celebrate today. It was more a drunken party similar to Mardi tutions in American culture, Christmas Gras or Halloween than Christmas. It was not practiced in the colonies. During was gangs of poor going door-to-door and after the Revolutionary War, many demanding gifts. Think of some early British practices, including Christmas, Christmas carols. In “Here We Come were seen as taboo. In fact, Christmas A-Wassaling” there is the line, “We are does not become an official American not daily beggars that beg from door to holiday until 1870.

Christmas as we know it comes in the door; but we are neighbours’ children, 1820s because of two important works whom you have seen before.” In “We of fiction (reading really does change the Wish You a Merry Christmas,” we sing world). America’s first great author was about going house to house basically

Washington Irving. We had many writers at that point, but they mimicked British writing. Irving Dr. James Finck was the first to write something uniquely American. In 1819 he wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent that includes some of his most famous stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. The one entitled Christmas showed an English squire inviting peasants into his home for Christmas. Irving believed Christmas should be a peaceful time where all classes could live in harmony. In his story he invented ancient customs such as family members returning from far away “once more to assemble about the paternal hearth, that rallying-place of affections.”

The second book, of course, was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

This 1843 novel, even more than Irving, shaped our current idea of Christmas.

The message of charity and good will

Your Stars this Week

by Stella Wilder

The coming week is likely to see many individuals working to pull it all together in order to face the coming transition to the new year in a state of calm and confidence. The social, the personal and the professional will all seem conjoined this week, as if the stars have collaborated to bring community and harmony to all those willing to accept that they are part of a larger, broader reality than they can see, hear and touch.

Despite this, every individual’s strengths and weaknesses are bound to be highlighted this week, and for some it may be difficult not to be self-centered and overindulgent. Still, those strengths and weaknesses are only as important as their place in the group dynamic at this time, and the self must take a backseat to communal awareness in almost all things.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) The addition and subtraction of the wanted and the unwanted will go on all week long, and overall effectiveness will be revealed quite late in the game. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) – The decision to move through difficulties this week and focus on those things that are coming together most nicely will surely serve you well. Welcome the communal.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) How things look will take precedence over how they sound this week — but both contribute to the overall effect. Your aesthetic continues to evolve. (Feb. 4-Feb.

18) – What you share this week is likely to come back to you tenfold.

Communication and collaboration will pay off in ways expected and unexpected. A surprise gift is yours.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) A long-standing conflict comes to an end this week as you determine there is no point in looking back when the future is clearly calling to you. (March 6-March 20) – You may think that speaking your mind will derail a community effort, but quite the opposite is true. Everyone is likely to see things your way once you share your views.

ARIES (March 21-April 4) You are tempted to break with tradition this week and put travel on the agenda — but you cannot simply improvise. You must have a concrete plan. (April 5-April 19) – You’re likely to walk into a situation as the week opens that requires you to solve one problem after another — but you’re wellequipped and prepared to do just that.

TAURUS (April 20-May 5) Someone gives you an idea early in the week that has you disguising your efforts and pretending you’re up to nothing at all. The element of surprise is yours! (May 6-May 20) – You may decide to give in to the pressure being exerted and join others in an endeavor you have tried to avoid in the past. You learn what you’ve been missing all this time!

GEMINI (May 21-June 6) You’re almost certain to choose the extraordinary over the ordinary this week, despite the additional effort it will require. This is not a game! (June 7-June 20) – Discussion takes a wild turn this week but is likely to have exactly the overall effect you were hoping for. You’ve assembled a team that can make you look very good!

CANCER (June 21-July 7) As the week opens, you’ll be ready to take on any job assigned to you, but later on you’ll certainly have a preference. Don’t remain quiet; speak up! (July 8-July 22) – Now is no time to remain isolated from those who, if you let them, can add meaning and festivity to your week. It’s a good week to put disagreements behind you for now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) You’ll be able to shed light on an issue this week that many others have had trouble with — despite past efforts. What you offer can be a real game-changer. (Aug. 8-Aug. 22) – Looks can be deceiving, and you’ll want to get to the heart of an issue that has been concealed or disguised for quite some time. Trust in honest emotion all week long.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) You can expect to do more than one or two jobs this week, but none should prove taxing. You’re able to pick up slack later in the week, and a friend approves.

history cont'd on page 9 Copyright 2018 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

(Sept. 8-Sept. 22) – A little fancy footwork gets you exactly what you need this week, and that in turn allows you to give someone else precisely what he or she wants. You’re a hero!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) While you’re willing to tolerate dissenting opinions this week, you’ll want only those who are on the same page to be working with you toward a common goal. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) – You’ll find yourself at the center of something that offers an important lesson to anyone willing to learn this week. You know you have quite a distance yet to go.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) You must take on more than usual this week in order to complete a task that is somewhat overdue.

Once it’s done, the rest of the week is yours to enjoy. (Nov. 8-Nov. 21) – Streamline, simplify and economize this week! You don’t have to overindulge in order to enjoy all that the week has to offer. Family members are ready to make a pact with you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) Though it’s not all fun and games this week, you can certainly promote an atmosphere of celebration — especially for those who are younger than you are. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) – A matter of "official" policy may have to be addressed early in the week in order to free you up to do what others really want you to do. You’re ready to assert yourself.

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

PAGE 5

x

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

Contact us at info@katytrailweekly.com with your Community Calendar Event.

Dec. 20

9200 World Cup Way Frisco, 75034 214-705-6700

Toyota Stadium - One of 41 bowl games this season includes the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl featuring the Utah State Aggies of the Mountain West Conference and the Kent State Golden Flashes of the Mid-American Conference. 6:30 p.m. $40-$125.

Dec. 20

2200 N. Lamar St. Dallas, 75202 214-978-2583

House of Blues Dallas - Hey, Santa dresses up and people wear ugly sweaters. “A Drag Queen Christmas: The Naughty Tour” is a fun evening of holiday performances featuring contestants on display in their biggest holiday costumes with back-up dancers and a full stage production. 7 p.m. $22.50 to $152.50.

Dec. 21

109 Continental Ave. Dallas, 75207 832-974-1690

Ronald Kirk Bridge and Felix Lozada Gateway - RUN 365 will present the inaugural “Jingle All The 5K, 10K, 1K.” A kids 1K kicks off the event and the 5K/10K fun run/walk will follow. Participants receive a bib, performance tech t-shirt, a finisher medal and a jingle bell. Santa will be there, but presumably will not run. 8:30 a.m. $20 to $50.

Dec. 20-22

3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. Dallas, 75201 214-939-2787

South Dallas Cultural Center - The Soul Rep Theatre Company presents “Dot,” a new play about a family grappling with aging parents, midlife crises all in the heart of a West Philly neighborhood. This production is appropriate for audiences 18 years old and up. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. $15 to $22.50.

Dec. 21

5623 Sears St. Dallas, 75206 469-500-0139

Truck Yard - The lower Greenville Avenue fun spot will host a holiday party featuring raffles, drink specials and an eggnog chugging contest. There will be free hot cocoa for the kiddos and snowball fights for kids and adults. 11 a.m. FREE!

Dec. 21

3011 Gulden Lane Dallas, 75212 214-744-0100

Trinity Groves - The row of restaurants and shops will present their inaugural Holiday Cocktail Crawl, where 10 participating restaurants will feature a unique holiday cocktail. Peppermint, mocha, cinnamon, white chocolate and more delicious flavors will be featured in the holiday cocktail creations. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite ugly holiday sweaters. 6 p.m. $5.

Jan. 1, 2020

7600 John Q. Hammonds Drive Frisco, 75034 972-712-7200

Dr Pepper Ballpark Embassy Suites Convention Center - Fireworks, magic acts, bounce houses, live bands and more are a part of Day 1 Dallas benefits the Vogel Alcove, a nonprofit educational and therapeutic center for homeless children and their families in Dallas. 3 to 7 p.m. $5.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

This Week in History

Sons of the Flag, a Dallas-based organization whose mission is to revolutionize burn care and quality of life for veterans, first responders and families, presented a $100,000 burn fellowship grant to UT Southwestern.

Send us a photo on Facebook and it may be featured here!

On December 22, 1989, the division of East and West Germany effectively ends when the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin reopened for the first time in nearly 30 years when West German chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through to be greeted by East German prime minister Hans Modrow.

wikipedia

SONS OF THE FLAG

Charity

Sp

tlight

MAGDALEN HOUSE

A lifesaving, no cost, recovery program for alcoholic women, including 14-day detox and a continuum of care.

By Sally Blanton sallyblanton455@gmail.com

Q What is difficult about your job?

A Women are much less likely to get help

and are twice as likely to die from this disease. Alcoholism is reaching epidemic levels in our country and in our city – there are over 250,000 alcohol-dependent women in the metroplex alone.

As our area experiences exponential growth and services are filled with health insurance hurdles, the need for no-cost recovery services in our community is rapidly increasing.

Each week, Katy Trail Weekly will feature a charity that is doing remarkable work in Dallas, a city known for philanthropy and generosity.

127 YEARS. 20 ACRES. 1 PARK. JOIN THE TURTLE CREEK CONSERVANCY

Q What is your mission or highest

A

CONNECT • CARE • CONSERVE 214.521.2003 | TURTLECREEKCONSERVANCY.ORG/JOIN

Q What is rewarding about your job?

A Witnessing women who come in our

doors completely desperate and hopeless become filled with hope within days.

Q Suppose this nonprofit received a

Q Why are you passionate about

A

Our mission is to care for Turtle Creek Park, connect with those who enjoy it and conserve its historic grounds.

To learn more about the mission, becoming a park supporter, and connecting with others who love the park, contact us today! We can‘t wait to meet you.

purpose?

Since 1987, our mission has been to help women achieve sobriety and sustain recovery from alcoholism at no cost and based on Twelve Step spiritual principles. We want every alcoholic woman, regardless of her resources or circumstances, to have access to recover. To date, we have served thousands of women and their families. helping this charity?

When I recovered from alcoholism 12 years ago, the first thing I set out to do was find other alcoholics to help – something I found on my very first visit to Maggie’s. I was drawn back over and over again by the life-saving work – and the resulting miracles – that happen here, and quickly became involved. I became an active volunteer in 2007, was asked to join the Board of Directors in 2009 and became executive director in 2015.

Q What is the most important

A

thing your nonprofit does for our community?

We are the first and only organization to offer a continuum of care available to any alcoholic woman at any stage of their recovery at absolutely no cost.

Regardless of whether women are clients in our Social Detox Program or participants in our Peer Recovery Program, they are in a homey, warm and inviting environment and surrounded by women.

A

$20,000 donation today … where would it immediately be put to good use?

Because we are 100 percent privately funded and accept no government monies, that $20,000 donation would go directly to the women we serve.

These funds would pay for women to go through our in-house Social Detox Program, while also keeping our doors open to those seeking classes, meetings and workshops through our Peer Recovery Program for those outside our house.

Lisa Kroencke, executive director, answered these questions.

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

PAGE 6

By Candy Evans candace@candysdirt.com I once had a long relationship with a Vendome penthouse. Before you jump to conclusions, it’s not what you think.

I was hired to stage a Vendome penthouse after it was purchased by a client several years ago. Yes, after purchase.

Generally, you stage before you sell a home, but my client was trying to decide if he wanted to keep it. After all, going from a single-family dwelling on the ground to

a penthouse in the sky is an adjustment.

The idea was to stage it and do a test drive of sorts.

That test drive was going to take a couple of years, so I took off my stager hat and donned my decorator heels. I bought furniture for the main rooms and had them painted and re-carpeted, all in five weeks. As you can imagine, I got to know the building and the staff extremely well working in that tight of a time frame. I can tell you there’s not a better staff in town.

I find people move to a high-rise for four reasons: better security, no maintenance, great views and excellent staff. It’s all right here.

When I found out 18C was for sale, I knew it was what candysdirt.com readers want to see this issue. The first thing you need to know is this is a two-story Vendome penthouse. Those don’t come along every day. It’s a wonderful concept if

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

you entertain, as you can maintain privacy on one floor and have the other one function as entertainment and guest space. It’s also helpful if you have children. The playroom, nanny and kids can have the run of one floor and you’ll never see a stray Lego.

There are so many things to love about this four-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-powder-bath Vendome penthouse.

Like the restricted access elevator that opens to both floors, spectacular views in three directions, five terraces, a huge media room and a 2,200-bottle wine room.

The 6,638-square-foot luxury penthouse was originally designed as a Dallas base for the Whittenburg family of Amarillo. If you keep up with notable Texas families, the Whittenburgs have been involved in pretty much everything from ranching and oil to banking and publishing. So, you know, no expense was

spared. After a few other owners, it’s had a recent refresh so it is completely move-in ready. Frankly, I’d make an offer to Blue Sky Living to buy the fabulous furniture they used for staging this home.

“I love the Vendome,” said Allie Beth Allman listing agent Kyle Crews. “The location is wonderful, you cannot beat the quality of construction, and the staff is great. The building is refreshed all the time, and the management is diligent about keeping it pristine.”

You know when Crews and I both rave about something, it’s worth a trip to 3505 Turtle Creek Blvd., whether you live in Frisco or France. Crews has this Vendome penthouse listed for $5.49 million.

CandysDirt.com is the only blog in Dallas for the truly real estate obsessed!

Named by National Association of Real Estate Editors as the BEST Real Estate Blog in the country.

CANDY'S DIRT

This home, located at 3505 Turtle Creek Blvd, is listed for $5.49 million.

UPTOWN GIRL

Hammer and Nails

Gift giving made simple

By Ryann Gordon

ryannbgordon@yahoo.com It’s getting close — the end of the holiday season is just around the corner and, let me guess, you haven’t gotten all (or half) your gifts out of the way. Have you even decided what you’re getting all your family members? Your picky dad, unconcerned brother or what about mom who already has it all?

This time of the year can be tolling for those who have a difficult time picking out gifts.

Especially those who have a surplus of presents to give. But, have no fear, we’ve got the gift guide to lead you and your loved ones into a cheer-worthy holiday, no matter what it is you're celebrating. Whether it’s a Dirty Santa or friends and family who seem impossible to gift, here’s some ideas to knock out all your presents in one day.

“Mommy Dearest.” The most important person to remember (for most) and perhaps the easiest to please. Go for something sentimental with mom. Nothing says “I love you the most” like a heartfelt present that didn’t set you back moneywise.

One thing moms love is photographs. Opt for a moving photo frame, or something of the sort, that’ll flip through mom’s photo albums endlessly. Make it extra special with something interactive, like Google Home or Portal Mini.

This will do more than show off mom’s favorite photos, but connect

with Alexa and other connected home devices, so she can avoid squinting at the phone and speak to it to find her saved recipes, call grandma, etc., etc. What’s better than that?

Man of the house. Dad is one of the trickiest to get gifts for, because despite already having most of his necessities, he’s pickier than the average giftee. It’s got to be top notch, the designer of his choice, cool as crap and so on and so forth.

One thing all men love, though, is technology. Give him something to brag to his friends about. Pick him something that will impress and make life easier. Go for a new smartwatch, some sort of home automation item, like a remote-control garage door opener, smart lights or locks, a toilet warmer or even cameras for him to survey the house from afar, or opt for even something to organize his electronics. Whatever you do, just make sure to consult mom first to make sure he doesn’t already have one.

Girl talk. The most basic of family members — sister, sister.

Luckily for us gifters, sis falls into a common category of Instagramloving social butterflies. Every girl wishes they had a Polaroid camera to snap social media-worthy shots with a vintage twist. Get her a Polaroid and some film, or just an old school camera that she can play around with and gain followers.

If sis already has some of these items, get her something she can enjoy with her friends. Look into

upcoming concerts with artists she loves and get her two tickets to a show, so she can bring along Ryann Gordon one of her girlfriends.

Or, of course, there is the option of the gift card, because you do NOT want to get her something she isn’t a huge fan of or she’ll return it before the check has even cleared.

For the bros. There’s nothing most dudes can agree on more than video games. Whether young or old, a greater majority of guys stay in the gaming phase for life, or at least long enough for a new game to come out. Check out the coolest new games and give him something new to spend hours in front of the TV fawning over.

If you want to give a gift that will have him and all his friends on the brink of an aneurism, there are some new gaming systems that are all the rage these days. The Oculus is a virtual reality gaming system that has taken superiority in the gaming world as of lately. If that’s too expensive though, the Cinemark West Plano and XD has a virtual reality show, The VOID, that is about as cool as it gets, and much less expensive.

Dirty Santa. The game of the season. This can be a difficult gift to pick out, especially for those with “boujee” friends. One thing that makes everyone’s heart flutter though, is something old and unique, but functional all the same. An aged bottle of alcohol of some sort will surely have other players grappling for the first opportunity to steal.

Another great Dirty Santa gift is something foreign, like Cuban cigars.

And more foreign than that, for some, is a night at one of Dallas’ renowned restaurants. Get a gift card to one of Dallas’ unique hotspots, like Five Sixty at Reunion Tower, or highly overpriced and new to the city, like The Charles in Design District.

Everyone needs a reason to go out every once in a while — one of the best gifts you can give.

Is it over yet?

By Stephan Sardone stephan@sardoneconstruction.com The house looks so festive. You are proud of your work and you should be.

Holiday decorating is one of the few chores that everyone appreciates and that the entire family participates in. But don’t celebrate for too long. Your work is far from over. In fact, if you plan carefully and wisely, storing the decorations for next year should begin now and you can do so in a very green way.

Here are a few things to comprehend. Effective immediately, save everything from holiday parties and presents. Not just boxes, but egg cartons, empty water bottles, clothes hangers, dry cleaning bags and anything else you can think of reusing. Store them in the garage or attic for now.

Invest in a portable hanging clothes rod. This might be your only added expense.

Hang wreaths upright on a clothing rod. They will stay fresh, unharmed and will be very easy to locate.

Cover your fake tree in a dry-cleaning bag - it’s almost like shrink-wrapping - and hang it from the rod.

They will get dusty and musty if you return it to the box it came in. And put your ugly Christmas sweaters on a hanger, cover and wait until you reluctantly have to wear it next year.

Use empty egg cartons. Many tree ornaments fit very nicely in an egg carton. People rave about your proprietary egg nog recipe which you make up every year. (They don’t know that a little extra brown spirit will do the trick). Now show them how smart you really are. Organize your ornaments by color and label the cartons. If they can keep eggs from breaking, what about ornaments?

You may have bought wine from the local liquor store. They have prefect dividers to store larger ornaments. And you can use shopping bags to organize the remains so they last another year.

Save small plastic bags, red Solo cups

Stephan Sardone and used water bottles.

Also useful for bigger ornaments, put them in plastic bags and label in a small box that you saved after the presents have been opened.

You can use the plastic drink cups in the same way.

And you can stash beaded garland in an empty water bottle and it won’t tangle and will be easy to identify for next time.

Boxes have many uses. Obviously, you will need empty boxes for storage. But pull out a box cutter or the X-Acto knife you still have from college and carve off pieces of corrugate from unusable cardboard boxes to wrap the lights around as if you might be storing a computer or extension cord.

Don’t throw away coffee cans. They have a versatile number of uses, especially for the “all other” ornaments that might not have been relegated to the tree for three weeks. And it doesn’t matter if the can represents regular or decaf coffee, although used Keurig pods won’t do the trick.

“It’s not easy being green?” Kermit the Frog may feel that way, but you now have the satisfaction of helping the environment, even if you don’t get any help from those that aided in creating the spectacle in the first place.

I know that my day job is as a professional contractor. But I am also a family man and care about the environment. These tips are all easy and virtually no cost to execute. But beware.

Some “disassembly” is required. Season’s Greetings and keep it green all year round!

Sardone Design-BuildRemodel is locally owned and operated. Sardone, his wife and two daughters are Lake Highlands residents.

Page 7

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

Katy Trail

Weekly

Downtown • Uptown • Turtle Creek • Oak Lawn • Arts, Design and Medical Districts • Park Cities • Preston Hollow

Vol. 6, No. 44: Section Two | Sports | Automotive | Entertainment | Travel | Health and Fitness | katytrailweekly.com

MULL IT OVER

Checking the list for local sports teams

Jerry Jones.

A visit from the Ghost of General Managers past.

Maybe it will scare him straight and make him realize the team needs a strong front office decision-maker. No matter what happens, short of a Super Bowl LIV victory, this Cowboys season has been a big lump of coal.

The Dallas Mavericks. A lifetime contract for head coach Rick Carlisle and forward Luka Doncic. What NFL Carlisle has done with this team is incrediJerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. ble, and in embracing the role as the next Dirk Nowitzki,

By David Mullen Doncic has become the best playdavid@katytrailweekly.com er, well, since Dirk Nowitzki.

Doncic isn’t even old enough to Santa has checked the legally enjoy a holiday egg nog.

Christmas list of area teams and The Texas Rangers. A bat, sports personalities. He now has the daunting task of trying to pro- defense and dependable closer to go along with their revide multi-millionaires with gifts vitalized pitching staff. You never that they can’t buy. know what GM Jon Daniels is WikiLeaks released Santa’s thinking in the off-season. This list from Dallas’ local franchiscoming year, it is all about pitches, so while we can’t determine ing. It will take more than just its authenticity, we can run it as pitching, and a hot (fire joke) a public service. Here are the renew stadium, to compete with quests from those already most the Houston Astros, Oakland fortunate.

Athletics, Los Angeles Angels and The Dallas Cowboys. Despite Seattle Mariners in the American a long list of naughty players, the League West this year.

Cowboys are looking for a playThe Dallas Stars. Someone off run. Assuming they make the who can score consistently. playoffs.

They play in a very competitive Jason Garrett. An assistant coach’s job next year and a quick conference and this is one team that will want their packages closure on his Dallas area house.

wrapped, not in a (penalty) box.

The Dallas Renegades. A serious initial XFL season where teams don’t fold up like a new Hot Wheels track. They have a national TV contract with ABC and Fox. The Renegades scored a well-known head coach in former University of Oklahoma leader Bob Stoops. How long will he, and the league, be around?

The Dallas Wings. Respect and awareness. They are in a sound league and the WNBA seems committed to featuring the best in women’s basketball.

But the Wings remain the team that no one knows about. “Quick, where do they play?” Maybe the question will be answered by a trip to Arlington and a couple of tickets in the Christmas stocking. Teams are a big deal in many cities, but the Wings, not far from the DFW Airport, remain flightless.

FC Dallas. A big-name player. This soccer team is pretty good. They have a small but loyal fan base and the league is gaining prominence nationwide. FC Dallas needs to attract new fans so they can see a fun, affordable and family-oriented experience so lacking in professional sports today.

Southern Methodist University football. More golf carts. That will make it easy for fans to actually get off of “The Boulevard,” go to a game and see that exciting college football is being played right in their own backyard, in the shadow of their gin and tonics.

KTCK 1310 The Ticket. Just one hour of dedicated sport MULL cont'd on page 9

AUTOMOBILITY

Mazda3 road warrior in training

By David Boldt boldface2020@gmail.com In January at Daytona, Mazda’s motorsport arm will enter its Mazda3 TCR in the Rolex 24 Hours. TCR cars utilize production-based hatchbacks or sedans, and the resulting race cars must be constructmazda ed using the production The 2020 Mazda3 Hatch. bodyshell and chassis.

The end result is a raceangled windscreen to the bodycar that actually resemwork’s subtle side sculpting, the bles its production counterpart, Mazda3 hatchback is aggressivea concept NASCAR abandoned more than 50 years ago. And while ly – and expressively – removed our test Mazda3 hatch is one com- from VW’s Golf, Ford’s Focus or pelling piece of automotive design, Hyundai’s Elantra GT. In combination with the new the TCR variant absolutely rocks. and decidedly upscale sheet metal Last year, at about the same is a solidity in the Mazda3’s contime as the redesigned Mazda3 struction, and – when opting for hatchback and sedan made their ‘Premium’ trim – an upscale look debut, Mazda embarked on a and feel that easily competes with wholesale update of its retail enviAudi’s A3/A4 and BMW’s 3 Series. ronment. To Mazda’s credit, they However, if Mazda is going to take have more to talk about than simon the big guns in the near-luxply bricks and mortar; the compaury segment, it needs to bring to ny is attempting to extricate itself the table bigger, uh, guns. I get from its entry-level positioning, that the company’s “Zoom-Zoom” which is where you land when you mantra may be too youthful or can’t do Toyota or Honda volume, whimsical for what Mazda now and don’t want to buy that volume wants to be, but you won’t get peolike Nissan. New showrooms acple cross-shopping the Ultimate centuate what Mazda’s product Driving Machine with a drivetrain team is doing with their lineup, that’s ultimately non-descript. i.e., creating cars and crossovers Here, then, is what I’d do in creatthat compare favorably to anying a compelling hatch: thing Asia or Europe might throw First, with all-wheel drive now at them. available in the Mazda3, I’ll keep And what the Mazda product it, but hook it up to roughly 300 team has assembled is compelling. horsepower of turbocharged 2.5 The new-for-’19 Mazda3, as either liter four (an engine available on a sedan or hatch (but especially as both the Mazda6 sedan and CX-5/ a hatch) looks like someone’s idea of a concept. From its distinctive AUTO cont'd on page 9 front fascia to the aggressively

PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY AND JOIN US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AT

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 8 0 1 1 D O U G L A S AV E N U E , D A L L A S, T X 7 5 2 2 5

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP Tuesday, December 24

Make plans now to attend your favorite service!

11a.m. Joy: A Christmas Children’s Service in the Church 1 p.m. Contemporary Eucharist in the Church with Jazz Music 3 p.m. Traditional Eucharist in the Church with Brass, Organ and Choir 3 p.m. Traditional Eucharist in Saint Michael Chapel with Organ 3 p.m. Contemporary Eucharist in the Parish Hall with Band

Sunday, December 22, 5:30 p.m.

Hear the Saint Michael Choristers and Choir offer a rich array of Christmas choral music in our candlelit church! Arrive early to enjoy the prelude, listen to cherished Christmas readings from Scripture, and sing your favorite Christmas carols.

Harp and organ prelude music begins at 5 p.m.

5 p.m. Traditional Eucharist in the Church with Brass, Organ, Choristers, and Incense 5 p.m. Traditional Eucharist in Saint Michael Chapel with Organ 5 p.m. Contemporary Eucharist in the Parish Hall with Band 10:30 p.m. Traditional Festival Eucharist in the Church with Choral Eucharist and Orchestra, Organ, Choir and Incense

saintmichael.org/holidays

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

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Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

movie trailer

New ‘Star Wars’ film starts like a rocket, then fizzles out

Walt Disney Studios Motion PictureS

Daisy Ridley stars in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

By Chic DiCiccio @chiccywood “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” starts out with such promise. It begins with a prologue featuring the most interesting of the new characters, Kylo Ten (Adam Driver), on the hunt for a believed deceased character. It’s done with little to no dialogue and Driver conveys evil determination and drive with nothing more than body language. It’s dark, captivating, and ultimately ominous.

All risk-taking ends there. Whether

due to fan pressure, studio pressure, or the limitations of J.J. Abrams as a director, “Skywalker” goes through the motions and delivers a movie with little to nothing that will challenge a viewer. It’s pleasing eye-candy that yet again relies on nostalgia to get to the finish line.

But “Skywalker” isn’t necessarily bad. It doesn’t go off the rails as much as “The Last Jedi” or seem without purpose like “Solo,” it just feels like it should be so much more. The alleged surprises aren’t earned as much as seeing Han Solo frozen and captured or Darth Vader’s

heel-to-face turn. Instead, everything slots in like a carbon copy of what we’ve already seen.

It doesn’t help that “The Last Jedi” shredded the intrigue surrounding the background of its star, Rey (Daisy Ridley), and “Skywalker” is forced to retcon her background into something of interest. With that, the movie does a great job of re-establishing her as the key figure in this new trilogy.

“Skywalker” also gets the three stars together again and that leads to some fun, if not simple, banter. Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) become a great duo and their bromance provides more chuckles and fun than the previous two movies combined.

The plot is very cat and mouselike as Rey, Finn, and Poe are looking for an item that will lead them to the source of evil in the galaxy. It’s a typical MacGuffin plot device and gets lazier as the movie proceeds, complete with a few “well, actually…” cop outs from presumed doom.

The movie really cooks when Kylo Ren, hot on the trail of our three leads, catches up with them. It leads to several great action sequences and a show stopping, breathtaking battle between Rey

and Ren as massive ocean waves crash down around them, leading to enough hero shots of Rey to get even the most tepid “Star Wars” fans on their feet.

You almost have to feel badly for Abrams. Barring an absolute miracle, these movies will never live up to what has proceeded them (as long as you ignore Episodes 1-3 that is). These will either be seen as copies or failures with very little wiggle room and hitting that sweet spot (see “Rogue One” or “The Mandalorian”) is extremely difficult.

This isn’t an indictment of “Skywalker” and declaring it a time waste. It’s not as poor as some critics will say and it’s not as great as super fans will declare it to be. The problem is that nearly every plot development feels like a foregone conclusion and there’s no real shock to the system on par with “No…I am your father.”

Of course, you could just see “The Rise of Skywalker” and enjoy one last journey with Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2…actually, do that. It’s action packed, much funnier than you’d expect, and even if the end is a teensy bit underwhelming, it’s still a satisfying goodbye to this part of the “Star Wars” world.

Uncle barky's bites

FX’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ so different it comes with spoiler alert

By Ed Bark unclebarky@verizon.net Literature’s most awakened central character found himself amid a darkly “woke” re-imagining of his misdeeds in TV’s latest adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.”

So much so that FX is asking reviewers “for your help in protecting the viewing experience by keeping all pre-broadcast coverage spoiler-free with particular regard to young Scrooge’s time at school and Mary Cratchit’s secret.”

Well, bah humbug to that!

OK, not really. We’ll keep the faith regarding these two cringe-worthy and highly unnecessary departures from Charles Dickens’ 1843 story of the world’s most famous miser, meanie and holiday-hater. Otherwise, here’s the deal: Touted as a “spine-tingling immersion into Ebenezer Scrooge’s dark night of the soul,” this “Christmas Carol” goes on and on for 177 minutes – plus commercials. FX fired it up early at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19, with On Demand options always available. (BBC One in the United Kingdom has chopped the production into three successive

nights with hour-long chapters, starting on Sunday, Dec. 22.)

Whatever the viewing regimen, it’s excessive. In comparison, CBS’ exemplary 1984 version, which starred the late George C. Scott, told the story within a two-hour, ads-included time frame. As did TNT in 1999 (with Patrick Stewart starring) and a 2004 NBC musical version fronted by Kelsey Grammer.

FX offers Guy Pearce as Scrooge in an adaptation written by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight. Pearce mouths the requisite “humbug” on several occasions while also joining some of the supporting characters in dropping f-bombs.

“A Christmas Carol” has never really been for kids, unless one counts The Flintstones,’ Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse or Mr. Magoo versions. But FX has gone “adult” with a vengeance while also challenging grownups to keep their eyes open. This is one hell of a hellish slog toward a redemption that isn’t really earned, given what Ebenezer once did to Bob Cratchit’s desperate wife, a woman of color played by Vinette Robinson.

It all begins with a badly scarred kid peeing on the

Fx

Guy Pearce as Scrooge. deceased Jacob Marley’s gravestone while calling him a “skinflint old bastard.” Marley (Stephen Graham) had been Scrooge’s partner in business crimes until dying at age 47. But there’s no rest for the wicked, meaning the tormented Marley has been unable to stay lifeless.

Cratchit (Joe Alwyn) continues to toil away as Scrooge’s clerk, but is less a milquetoast than in earlier versions.

Even so, it’s his lot to work on Christmas Eve while the boss wonders aloud, “How many ‘Merry Christmases’ are meant?

And how many are lies?”

Scrooge’s ever-friendly nephew Fred as usual drops in

to invite his sour ball uncle to Christmas dinner. He’s again rebuffed, but that’s as far as it goes. Unlike previous adaptations, there’s no climactic reconciliation after Scrooge sees the light.

There is however, Ali Baba (Kayvan Novak), a favorite storybook character from Ebenezer’s childhood. He assists the Ghosts of Past, Present and Future (respectively played

by Andy Serkis, Charlotte Riley and Jason Flemyng) in bringing Scrooge to self-realization.

During this process, two terrible and repressed tragedies, one of them visited upon an 11-year-old Ebenezer, turn this version of “A

Christmas Carol” into the most unsavory of them all – by far.

The Cratchits’ sickly, lovable Tiny Tim (Lenny Rush) remains in the mix, but the poor kid is stripped of his tagline, “God bless us, every one.”

Mercifully, though, he’s also not called on to emit any f-bombs.

The aforementioned Riley doubles as Ebenezer’s heroic sister, Lottie, whom Dickens’ created as “Fan.” Pearce never looks old or weathered enough to be Scrooge through and through, although he plays the part well enough.

But with almost countless versions of “A Christmas Carol” out there, why subject yourself to one that takes forever and a day while also going places that it decidedly shouldn’t have?

Frankly, this Ebenezer Scrooge merits his Christmas goose being cooked behind bars for two very serious crimes against humanity. Instead he ends up being at large while at last finding the gumption to say “Merry Christmas.” Which turns out to be the biggest humbug of all.

Ed Bark, who runs the TV website unclebarky.com, is a past member of the national Peabody awards board.

Travel

Ocotlán Valley area of Mexico is worth weaving into trip

By Michael Wald wald.world@yahoo.com The Ocotlán Valley in the Mexican State of Oaxaca, south of the city of Oaxaca, is filled with many interesting tourist sites. Every street corner in downtown Oaxaca has a tour company offering to take you there. Go. Of particular note, Ocotlán Valley was the inspiration for the popular movie “Coco.” I met the person who was the role model for Mama Elena in the movie working as a cook at one of the most impressive sites in the valley, Jacobo & Maria Angeles, a factory making museum-quality painted wood-carved figures in an indigenous Zapotec style, known as alebrijes. They use only natural colors, cured copal wood, and each piece is hand-painted by a skilled artisan, finished, at times with gold or silver leaf, using a process that protects the wood and painting from deterioration. They

sell mainly to museums and art collectors. Their success has caused a little tourist village to develop surrounding their workshop.

Getting to Jacobo & Maria Angeles would be difficult for a tourist without a guide, because it is way off the beaten path. Don’t be fooled into confusing the “alebrijes” here with the many cheap imitations sold in tourist shops, which are machine made and painted with acrylics on cheap wood.

For more information, visit jacoboymariaangeles. com.

One alternative place to buy less expensive “alebrijes,” but still of nice quality (made with copal, but not painted with natural colors) is Alebrijes Autoctonos. Again, a guide is needed to get there.

A special time to visit Ocotlán is during the Friday market, which fills the main plaza of Ocotlán de Morelos, selling everything from foods, wares,

souvenirs and even washing machines in a large area surrounding an old church on the plaza. The church is beautiful and serves as a place of respite in a very chaotic, hectic market where the noise level often gets uncomfortable and you can easily get lost in the winding pathways.

In this same town, off a quiet street away from the market you find the workshop of Angel Aguilar where with five employees, mostly family, he creates seven very high-quality knives each day. It is anything but mass production. Customers from around the world order his nearly indestructible knives, which last 25 years. Although the knives use no chrome, the workshop’s knives use a home-grown process to get the same sheen as chrome using reclaimed metals. The knife handles are also made from reclaimed materials as diverse as animal bones to scrap hardwood. Again,

only a guide would know how to reach this place.

If you want to go on your own, email angel.cuchilleriaart@hotmail.com in advance. The Aguilars happily give a demonstration about their process that weaves in many cultural values, which is worth a visit to see even if you don’t care about knives.

The Ocotlán artisan site in Santo Tomas Jalieza is the source for some of Mexico’s best traditional woven fabrics.

Displayed in a large covered market in the middle of this small town, it’s a great chance to get up close and personal with the artisans who pass down their skills through generations and demonstrate them for onlookers.

A stop in Ocotlán at a “farm” raising cochinilla makes for another unique experience. Cochinilla is a parasite that grows on cactus in certain parts of the world. It doesn’t grow in the U.S. The main producer of this parasite

MICHAEL WALD

A local weaving demonstration. is Peru. The parasite is raised because it is the primary source of the natural color red, used, for example, in Campari and many other products.

But here it is raised for use in the local artisan works that rely on natural colors. Again, a guide is needed; you won’t find this farm on your own.

For more information visit aztecacolor.com.

These are but a few of the many joys of the Ocotlán Valley not to be missed. Happy journeys.

Michael Wald is a travel specialist with special expertise in Panama adventure travel. He blogs about travel and other musings at www.UntraveledPlaces. com. Follow him @ UntraveledPlace and see where he is off to next.

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

PAGE 9

DOTTY’S TRUE TEXAS CUISINE

recipe of the week

By Dotty Griffith

By Dotty Griffith

Deep Ellum goes with the flow

Shrimp has big flavor

dotty.griffith@yahoo.com The new kid on the block in Deep Ellum has deep roots in the neighborhood.

Trees, the long-running music venue, is part of the Ebb & Flow pedigree. Restaurant, bar and music venue hybrid, Ebb & Flow represents a collaboration between club maestros and bar-restaurateurs.

It is the first combined venture from brothers Dallas Hale and Eric Bradford, along with his wife, Laura, and Whitney Barlow, co-owner of The Bomb Factory, Canton Hall and Trees. Hale comes from Crafted Bar Concepts including Shell Shack, Sushi Marquee and Back9. Bradford has worked the Dallas music scene for a decade, managing iconic venues such as the Bomb Factory and Trees.

With Ebb & Flow, the pros have joined forces on a new concept that blends their talents for food, drinks and music.

At a recent tasting for media, Hale and Bradford showed off their signature dishes. Like their partnership, the dishes contain multiple elements. That doesn’t mean the dishes are overly fancy or unfamiliar. Rather several of the dishes are genre bending, such as Cubano Egg Rolls. The name pretty much says it all. Part Latin, part Asian. All good. Ingredients for a classic Cuban sandwich (roast pork, ham and Swiss cheese) are wrapped in rice paper like an egg roll, then fried. Served with spicy mustard, chipotle barbecue sauce and pickles, the dish gets some Southwestern and Southern touches as well.

The interior is a total redo of the space formerly known as the Parlor on Commerce. Design director Katy Curtis describes the look she created as “your tattooed girlfriend going home to meet your parents.”

Tile work adorns the floors and glittery chandeliers hang over the bar. The extended, glassed-in patio features a garden of ivy and flowers. Soft touches are complemented by edgy accents, such as brass snake

dotty.griffith@yahoo.com The Deep Ellum restaurant Ebb & Flow is a family affair.

Brothers Dallas Hale and Eric Bradford have combined their expertise in the restaurant and club business to create this venue.

Food, fun and music are on the menu. So is this recipe, Shrimp Alfredo Toast. It’s a hearty plate with blackened shrimp on slices of French bread, all slathered with Alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese.

Cubano Egg Rolls.

EBB & FLOW

sconces positioned over red banquettes. Of course, there are six big screen TVs for game and event watching.

The look is part restaurant, part Deep Ellum Bar. Jalapeños stuffed with brisket and pimento cheese were also part of the tasting menu. Wrapped in bacon, the chiles are grilled. What can go wrong with those crave-inducing ingredients? Absolutely nothing.

As you might expect, cocktails here get a lot of attention. Called the Velvet Butterfly, the cocktail with vodka, Velvet Falernum (a brand of clear liqueur laced with aromatics and lime that originated in the Caribbean), lemon and bubbles turns a dramatic dark lavender with the addition of butterfly pea flower.

Adding extract from this flower makes the magic of color-changing cocktails.

From behind the bar, Whitney Roushey created a cocktail menu that is playful and colorful.

Drinks include the Frozen Watermelon Mule, Frozen Prosecco, Garden Margarita and the Coco Loma, a coconut-spiked Paloma. Rosé and nitro cold brew are served on tap alongside 26 draft beers.

Wagyu beef sliders ably satisfy the requirement on virtually every menu in an American restaurant, a burger. These minis are classically dressed with cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and pickle. Along with other dishes on the menu called “Handhelds,” the sliders may be ordered as wraps or lettuce wraps instead of between bread. Hey, I get it. A calorie and a carb saved are a calorie and a carb earned.

Main dish plates offer some spins on recognizable dishes. A boneless skinless chicken breast gets plumped with a spinach and mushroom stuffing.

Topped with a thick Alfredo sauce reminiscent of cream gravy, the dish satisfies a full meal craving.

“In Deep Ellum, we've always been about balance — you know, the fun kind,” said co-owner Hale.

“We're rock and roll refined, with cocktails, conversations and concerts.”

“Ebb & Flow is ultimately a reflection of Deep Ellum, both the old and the new,” added Bradford, one of the other partners.

EBB & FLOW 2651 Commerce St. Dallas, 75226 972-913-2322 ebbandflowtx.com HISTORY cont'd from page 4

to all struck a chord in America. I don’t have room to discuss this here, but childhood had only recently become a thing. Before, children were just small adults. Now with childhood, parents had a day to lavish their children with gifts without appearing to spoil then.

Reading these stories, Americans came to assume this is how Christmas was supposed to be. Christmas quickly became seen as a family holiday, with peace towards all firmly part of the

Shrimp: 20 large shrimp 1/4 cup minced shallots 1/4 cup minced garlic 1/4 cup dried parsley flakes 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste 1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste Toast: 20 slices of a French baguette Soft butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons blackening seasoning or salt and pepper In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream and 2 cups water. Heat almost to boiling. Slowly add Parmesan, whisking constantly.

Ebb & Flow Shrimp Alfredo Toast.

Christmas celebrations.

Being my last article of the year, I want to give a quick thanks to everyone who makes Historically Speaking possible. A huge thank you to my wife, Melissa, and Dr. JC Casey who edits all my stories. I could not do this without them. I now have a student assistant who does all the distribution. So, thank you, Chris Wilson. Thank you to the editors who run these stories. Lastly, thank you to all the readers, especially those who have sent me positive feedback. I put a great deal of time into these stories

CX-9 crossovers). That move would be a credible enhancement over the hatchback’s stock 186 horsepower currently under its hood.

For dynamics, we’ll look to Volkswagen’s Golf R, a more mature take on the hot hatch than offered by Ford’s Focus RS or Honda’s Civic Type R. And for bodywork mods, there will be no fake venting or scooping; rather, we’ll take all of what Mazda crafted for its TCR, minus the rear wing. We’re not, and upscale customers are not ready for takeoff (and not trained to land).

On the road, we wouldn’t get sucked into ultra-large wheel diameters and razor-thin sidewalls. Better, I believe, to stick with something having a real sidewall, so you don’t have to tip-toe over today’s declining infrastructure. This would be a

talk without bathroom humor or a story of how drunk a producer got at Ticketstock.

Other sports radio stations 105.3 FM “The Fan” and ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM. More information on your car radio screen. That way, a listener will know that they are actually not the same station.

The Dallas Morning News. A committed intern. I know as well as anyone about the financial obstacles

Sauce: 2 cups cream 16 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/4 cup all-purpose or instant flour

EBB & FLOW

AUTO cont'd from page 7

MULL cont'd from page 7

SHRIMP ALFREDO TOAST

Stir and cook until cheese is melted and sauce appears smooth. Remove from heat and pour sauce through a chinois or fine strainer into a medium bowl or large measuring cup.

Clean saucepan and return to medium heat. Add 1/4 cup unsalted butter. Stir to melt. Gradually whisk in flour, stirring to make a smooth paste. Cook until bubbly, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not brown.

Gradually stir strained cheese mixture into saucepan, stirring frequently. Cook over low heat for 3 minutes or until sauce thickens. Lower heat and keep sauce warm.

Rinse and dry shrimp. Remove shells, leaving tails on.

In a small skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter.

Stir in shallots and garlic, cook 2 to 3 minutes or until soft. Stir into sauce. Add parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Keep warm.

Spread a thin layer of butter on 1 side of each slice of bread. Toast until golden.

Season shrimp on all sides with blackening seasoning or salt and pepper.

To a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, add olive oil. When oil is hot enough to shimmer, add shrimp and cook just until pink, 2 to 3 minutes.

Shrimp may be grilled.

Remove shrimp from heat and cool slightly. Slice each shrimp down the back, but not all the way through, to “butterfly” the shrimp.

Place one shrimp on each piece of toast. Heavily drizzle with sauce. Garnish with freshly shaved Parmesan and fresh parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

and it makes it worth it knowing so many of you enjoy them.

I hope this season does bring you the happiness that Ebenezer Scrooge and Irving’s English squire found in their lives. From my family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Dr. James Finck is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Chair of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. Follow Historically Speaking at .Historicallyspeaking.blog or Facebook at @jamesWfinck.

hatch for urban mobility, suburban errand running and the occasional track day, so it should have rubber and a ride height appropriate to all three.

With 300 horsepower, a torque figure well north of that, and the security provided by a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system, Mazda would have an Audi S3-like motorcar with the seasoning (and that’s the differentiator) to attract those that can afford it. I think an MSRP of under $40K would be good, while right at $35K would be better.

Hyundai, with its Veloster N, is showing what can be done.

And I’d suggest to Mazda’s execs that you shouldn’t have to go to a Hyundai showroom to see it being done. Over to you, Mazda-san.

David Boldt brings years of experience in automotive retail sales and public relations to his automotive reporting.

More can be found at txGarage.com.

that newspapers face these days. But they will never survive if they don’t provide what the people want. Yes, The Dallas Morning News has an (awkward at best) website that they deem as the news and sports resource of the future. And yes, they have daily production demands. Yes, there are 24-hour sports networks. Yes, the internet is full of sports apps. But can’t someone hang around and provide late scores of games played on the West Coast, especially when the Rangers play numerous road games

in Anaheim, Oakland and Seattle, the Mavs play in Los Angeles and San Francisco and the Stars play in Vancouver, San Jose, Los Angeles and Orange County? The teams are good enough to provide late coverage, even if it is just from an enterprising intern willing to log in a box score after the big names have finished their resumes and turned off their desk lamps.

Wishes may come true, but in this case, that may be too much to wish for. After another season, Seasons Greetings to all.

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

PAGE 10

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

Our Favorite Restaur ants American — Homestyle Beck’s Prime 5931 Forest Ln. 972-661-8681 Bubba’s Cooks Country 6617 Hillcrest 214-373-6527 Mama’s Daughters’ Diner 2014 Irving Blvd.

214-742-8646 Riverside Grill 940 Riverfront Blvd. 214-748-2700 Asian — Japanese — Sushi Blue Sushi Sake Grill 7859 Walnut Hill, #100 972-677-7887 Sushi House 5619 W. Lovers Ln. 214-350-2100 Sushi Kyoto II 6429 Hillcrest Ave. 214-520-9991 Ten Ramen 1818 Sylvan Ave. 972-803-4400 WaiWai Kitchen — Sushi, Noodles 4315 Lemmon Ave. 214-520-8868 Bakery — Desserts — Ice Cream Celebrity Café & Bakery 10720 Preston Rd,#1016 214-373-0783 Crème de la Cookie 6025 Royal Ln. 214-363-4766 6706 Snider Plaza 214-265-5572 Einstein Bros. Bagels 3827 Lemmon Ave. 214-526-5221 6011 Royal Ln. 214-265-1435 6109 Berkshire Ln, #A 214-691-2445 Gigi’s Cupcakes 5450 W. Lovers, #130 214-352-2253 Highland Park Soda Fountain 3229 Knox St. 214-521-2126 Marble Slab Creamery 3001 Knox St., #103 214-219-0300

6130 Berkshire Ln. 214-369-5566 Mojo Donuts 6522 Lemmon Ave. 214-357-5154 Mustang Donuts 6601 Hillcrest Ave. 214-363-4878 The Original Cupcakery 2222 McKinney, #230 214-855-0003 Paciugo 3699 McKinney Ave. 214-219-2665 Pokey O’s 3034 Mockingbird 214-987-1200 Top Pot Doughnuts 8611 Hillcrest, #195 469-232-9911 Yummy Donuts 4355 Lovers Ln. 214-520-7680 Bar-B-Q Aloha Hawaiian Barbecue 5601 Lemmon, A-1 214-521-8868 Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbecue 3125 Inwood Rd. 214-350-9445 Dickey’s Barbecue Pit 2324 McKinney Ave. 469-248-3149 Katy Trail Ice House 3127 Routh St. 214-468-0600 Peggy Sue Bar-B-Q 6600 Snider Plaza 214-987-9188 Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que 1820 W. Mockingbird 214-352-2752 Bars, Pubs & Taverns 6th Street Bar / Uptown 3005 Routh St. 214-965-0962 Big Al’s McKinney Ave. Tavern 2907 McKinney Ave. 214-969-1984 British Beverage Co. 2800 Routh St., #115 214-922-8220 The Corner Bar & Grill 4830 McKinney 214-219-8002

The Ginger Man - Uptown 2718 Boll St. 214-754-8771 The Idle Rich Pub 2614 McKinney Ave. 214-965-9926 Nickel and Rye 2523 McKinney Ave. 214-389-2120 The Quarter Bar 3301 McKinney Ave. 214-754-0106 Time Out Tavern 5101 W. Lovers Ln. 214-956-9522 Uptown Pub & Grill 3605 McKinney 214-522-5100 Windmill Lounge 5320 Maple Ave. 214-443-7818

2525 Inwood Rd., #123 214-350-9445 Original Pancake House 2900 Lemmon Ave. 214-528-7215 4343 W. NW Hwy,#375 214-351-2012 Two Sisters 3111-C Monticello 214-526-1118

4001 Lemmon Ave. 214-521-2070 Hunky’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers 3930 Cedar Springs 214-522-1212 Jake’s Hamburgers 2702 McKinney, #101 214-754-8001 Jersey Mike’s Subs 3001 Knox St. 214-520-7827 5301 W. Lovers Ln. 214-350-7611 8411 Preston Rd., #118 214-691-7827 Mooyah Burger 6713 W. N.W. Hwy. 214-987-2666 Potbelly Sandwich Shop 5921 Forest Ln., #100 972-392-7771 Smashburger 4235 W. NW Hwy, #100 972-220-1222 Snuffer’s 8411 Preston Rd, #112 214-265-9911 Subway — SMU area 6935 Hillcrest 214-444-9068 Village Burger — West Village 3699 McKinney 214-443-9998

Burgers, Deli & Sandwiches Blues Burgers 1820 W. Mockingbird 214-750-9100 BGR — The Burger Joint 3001 Knox St., #108 469-941-4471 Burger House 6913 Hillcrest 214-361-0370 Chip’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers 4530 W. Lovers Ln. 214-691-2447 East Hampton Sandwich Co. 6912 Snider Plaza 214-363-2888 Gazeebo Burgers 5950 Royal Ln. 214-368-3344 Goff’s Hamburgers 6401 Hillcrest 214-520-9133 Great American Hero

Wild About Harry’s — Katy Trail Serving up Harry’s mother's recipe of creamy frozen custard in many flavors made daily, award-winning hot dogs & a friendly atmosphere, Harry's has become the place to eat and relax for everyone. Open: 11 a.m. — 10 p.m., 7 days a week. www.wildaboutharrys.com 4527 Travis St. 214-520-3113 Chinese Howard Wang’s China Grill 3223 Lemmon Ave. 214-954-9558 4343 N.W. Hwy, #345 214-366-1606 Royal China 6025 Royal Ln., #201 214-361-1771

Breakfast and/or Lunch Bailey’s Cafe

SUDOKU

SOLUTION TO THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Wang’s Chinese Café 6033 Luther Ln. 214-265-1688 Coffee & Specialties Drip Coffee Co. 4343 W. Lovers Ln. 214-599-7800 Oak Lawn Coffee 2720 Oak Lawn 214-219-5511 Sip Stir Cafe 3800 McKinney, #180 214-443-9100 Starbucks 2801 Allen St., #180 214-965-9696 3216 Knox St. 214-520-2273 4343 W. NW Hwy. 214-654-0704 Union Coffee Shop 5622 Dyer St. 214-242-9725 Eclectic Angela’s Cafe 7979 Inwood Rd. 214-904-8122 Bread Winners Café & Bakery 3301 McKinney Ave. 214-754-4940 5560 W. Lovers, #260 214-351-3339 Buzzbrews 4334 Lemmon Ave. 972-521-4334 Café Brazil 3847 Cedar Springs. 214-461-8762 Café Express 5600 W. Lovers, #109 214-352-2211 Denny’s 2030 Market Ctr. Blvd.

214-749-6215 Dick’s Last Resort 2211 N. Lamar, #100 214-747-0001 Eden Rest. & Pastries 4416 W. Lovers Ln. 972-267-3336 Henry’s Majestic 4900 McKinney Ave. 469-893-9400 Lucky’s Cafe

CELEBRATING cont'd from page 1

Travis St., Suite 124, offers a three-course, pre-set menu starting at 6:30 p.m. And Up On Knox, the neighborhood American Brasserie at 3230 Knox St., is celebrating with a pre-set New Year’s Eve Dinner for $65 per person and a $45 bottle special of G.H. Mumm “Grand Cordon” champagne.

Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck at 300 Reunion Blvd. E. offers a six-course New Year’s Eve tasting from executive chef Jacob Williamson and seafood offerings from chef Hiroyuki Fugino. Price is $165 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $50.

Say “Au Revoir” to 2019 and “Bonjour” to 2020 at Bullion at 400 S. Record St. on New Year’s Eve with a five-course dinner under a sea of 2,020 colorful balloons. Dishes include king crab with marinated cucumber, a venison loin with red cabbage, quince and sweet and sour sauce and beef filet with bone marrow and bordelaise. Seating starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. The five-course menu is available for $225 per person.

On New Year’s Eve, for $125 per person, Truluck's at 2401 McKinney Ave. has a chef-curated four-course menu, complimentary champagne toast and party favors. Entrées include blackened redfish Pontchartrain with crawfish tails, shrimp, crab, spicy Creole sauce and rice pilaf, miso-glazed seabass, salmon Béarnaise, sweet and spicy Dutch yellowtail crab Alaskan king crab, Australian lobster tail and many beef options.

Elm Street Cask & Kitchen at 1525 Elm St. will offer a special prix fixe dinner menu on New Year’s Eve available from 5 to 10 p.m. The threecourse dinner features a berry spinach quinoa salad to start, the option of roasted pheasant, filet mignon or pan seared scallops for the main course and white chocolate panna cotta for dessert. Dinner is $45 per person and includes a glass of wine with the main course.

Ocean Prime Dallas at 2101 Cedar Springs Road has a special New Year’s Eve menu featuring broiled sea bass over Lobster Risotto and the “Cowboy Ribeye Dynamite Style” served with tempura lobster and spicy mayo. The regular menu will also be available.

On New Year’s Eve from 5:30 to 10 p.m., Nosh Bistro Dallas at 8611 Hillcrest Road will be offering a special menu with unique offerings not available on the regular menu including starters foie gras falafel or butter warm jumbo lump crab, and entrées of prime filet of beef Wellington or roasted Texas quail filled with black winter truffles served with creamy Israeli couscous.

Saint Rocco’s New York Italian at 3011 Gulden Lane in Trinity Groves is hosting a New Year’s Eve party with dinner, dancing, live music and an open bar on its rooftop. Saint Rocco’s owner and chef, Jay Valley, will be serving up an Italian buffet dinner and the evening features the In10City Band. There will be a champagne toast at midnight and a great view of downtown fireworks. Festivities go from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for $150 per person.

3531 Oak Lawn The Rustic 3656 Howell St. Stoneleigh P 2926 Maple Ave. Street's Fine Chicken 3857 Cedar Springs

214-522-3500 214-730-0596 214-871-2346 469-917-7140

Ethiopian Dallul 2515 Inwood Rd, #117 214-353-0805 French Rise No 1 Salon de Souffle 5360 W. Lovers, #220 214-366-9900 Toulouse Café & Bar 3314 Knox St. 214-520-8999 Whisk Crepes Café 1888 Sylvan Ave. 469-353-9718 German Kuby’s Sausage House 6601 Snider Plaza 214-363-2231 Greek Greek Isles 5934 Royal Ln. 214-234-7662 Little Greek 9665 N. Central Exwy.

214-696-1234 Do you have a favorite area restaurant or bar you want to see listed in this Directory? If so, please call: 214-27-TRAIL (214-278-7245)

New and locally owned, 12 Cuts Brazilian Steakhouse at 18010 North Dallas Parkway offers a full Churrasco experience with prime meats and a market fresh organic salad bar for lunch and dinner on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.

Searching for some Japanese fare? Namo at 3699 McKinney Ave. #305 will be serving its Omakase during lunch and dinner service on New Year’s Eve. Lunch is a 14-course Omakase meal for $65 per person with six-people seating at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. and a 21-course Omakase dinner for $150 per person at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Champagne is included.

Nobu Dallas in the Hotel Crescent Court at 400 Crescent Court is also offering an Omakase menu and entertainment from Japanese drummers to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The Omakase menu is $195 per guest and includes one glass of Nobu Grand Cru Champagne.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill at 3220 McKinney Ave., Suite 200, and other area locations offers its happy hour on New Year’s Eve from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Offerings include nearly 50 items from the sushi bar and kitchen, along with specialty pricing on cocktails, beer, wine and sake.

On New Year’s Day, Street’s Fine Chicken at 3857 Cedar Springs Road will offer its brunch menu all day. Guests can indulge in brunch favorites like the show bird and biscuit sliders with $3 mimosas and $5 Bloody Marys.

Area parties include the “Annual Black and White Party” this New Year’s Eve at the Statler Ballroom at 1914 Commerce St. It will be reminiscent of Truman Capote’s famed 1966 “Party Of The Century.”

There will be a blend of various music genres. Doors open at 9 p.m. More information at statlernye.com.

At 2614 McKinney Ave., One Sette will feature sounds by Niro and complimentary tastes from Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon and Belvedere Vodka.

Tables are available and prices vary.

Checkered Past Winery at 1409 S. Lamar St. rings in 2020 with ’80s flashback dance music.

Tickets ($75) includes seating, one drink, a dessert buffet, champagne toast at midnight and party favors. A $100 ticket includes a bottle of bubbly.

Looking to host a New Year’s celebration? Victory Park’s Kotta Sushi Lounge at 2301 N. Akard St. can rent out sections of the restaurants for no cost for large party reservations. Might be a nice idea after the Dallas Stars face the Nashville Predators in the NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park at noon.

Coors Light is partnering with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Andrews Distributing to encourage North Texas residents and visitors to chill responsibly this New Year’s Eve. Coors Light Free Rides will be available on all DART buses, trains, paratransit services and the Trinity Railway Express beginning at 6 p.m.

Lara Baugh, Alyssa Eubank, Ariana Hajibashi, Kate Kutilek, Lindsey Miller, Cynthia Smoot, Leigh Strope, Alison Taylor and Amy Wood contributed to this report.

Forehand added, "Remember that you don't have to fertilize or temperatures need to be 50 degrees water as much in the winter, but or lower when planting the bulbs to will need to more in spring because ensure the tulips don't bloom too as the sun begins to warm and dry, early," said Dave Forehand, vice the bulbs will grow more quickly. president of gardens.

Watering before a freeze insulates The Dallas Arboretum horthe plant and saves it from freezticultural staff plants the bulbs in ing, so always water, if a freeze is predicted. Pansies, kale and THIS WEEK’S SUDOKU SOLUTION poppies survive a freeze so you don't have to cover. The types of spring-blooming bulbs being Advertise in planted include a wide variety of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, in addition to 100,000 pansies, violas and thousands of other spring-blooming annuals and perennials."

The 12 Days of Christmas and the new Arboretum Christmas Village continues at the Dallas Arboretum at 8525 • info@katytrailweekly.com Garland Road through Tuesday, Dec. 31.

FLORAL cont'd from page 1

Katy Trail Weekly 214-27-TRAIL

This is half of Our Favorite Restaurants.

See the full list at our website: KatyTrailWeekly.com

staggered rows, spaced three to six inches apart, depending on the type of bulb. Other spring-blooming annuals and perennials, such as pansies, are planted four inches down from the bulbs so the beds appear fuller and burst with splashes of different colors. The final step in the process is upkeep.

KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019

By Sally Blanton

PAGE 11

SCENE AROUND TOWN

sallyblanton455@gmail.com

Society Editor

Ally’s Wish Boots and Blessings Kick-Off Home of Tony and Tamara Casillas

Danielle Cornett, Jack Philips

Brian McNatt, Melissa Cary, Missy Phipps, Kim Bain

Wesley Rankin Community Center A Taste of West Dallas 3015 Trinity Groves

Tony and Tamara Casillas, LeeAnne and Rich Emberlin

Ross Bolin, Mary Katherine Bolin, Jane Bolin, Pete Bolin, Katrina Bolin, Houston Bolin

Peter and Kay Weeks, Sandy and Steve Watson

Don Epperson, Mari Epperson, Shellie Ross, Kay Fulton, Duncan Fulton

Dallas Arboretum Friend’s Holiday Dinner DeGolyer House

Joan and Alan Walne, Robin Norcross

Dr. Davider Grover, Dr. Tosin Smith

Salvation Army Auxiliary Luncheon and Fashion Show Kick-Off Stanley Korshak

Ellen McStay, Lynn Biggers

Kim Hext, Carol Seay, Major Barbara Rich, Margaret Hancock

A Dallas Institution With A Worldwide Reputation For Every Occasion

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Across from Mockingbird Station near SMU SHOE AND BOOT REPAIR! We repair belts, purses and luggage, too!

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Essential Energy Women’s Networking Group Tootsies

Yvette Feiger, Speaker Nellie Sciutto, Founder Janelle Friedman

Anjulie Ponce, J.J. Ponce, Mayra Munoz, Mario Munoz

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KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM

Dec. 20 - Jan. 2, 2019