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December 12 - 18, 2014 A r t s , D e s i g n a n d M e d i c a l D i s t r i c t s • Pa r k C i t i e s
Mull It Over page 3
Candy’s Dirt page 6
Movie Trailer page 9
Katy Trail Weekly
Vol. 1, No. 42
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Neighborhood News and Views
COMMUNIT Y NEWS
TIME magazine honors locals
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Community Calendar
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Arts and Entertainment
Photo courtesy of TIME magazine
Doctors, nurses and others who fought back against Ebola have been named TIME’s Person of the Year for 2014. They include Kent Brantly, the Fort Worth-trained doctor who contracted Ebola in Liberia, as well as Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, the two Dallas nurses who became infected with Ebola after treating an Ebola patient. The magazine, founded in 1923, announced the news Wednesday morning. — Eric Aasen/KERA News
Katy Trail lit up for the holiday Pegasus Bank, opening a new location on Knox Street in early January, provided support for the Friends of the Katy Trail to install holiday lights for the first time on the trail at Photo courtesy of Friends of Katy Trail David’s Way at Knox Street and Snyder’s Union. From 6 – 8 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 18, Friends of the Katy Trail invites everyone to Snyder’s Union for hot chocolate, holiday entertainment and food. For more information, go to katytraildallas.org. — David Mullen
Village aglow this weekend Begin the holiday season with Texas’ earliest residents and see how holiday traditions were celebrated in the late 1800s on Dec. 13 and 14 from 3 - 9 p.m., at the 43rd Annual Candlelight Celebration at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 South Harwood sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Health. “May Your Candlelight be Photo by Evans Calgage Merry and Bright” will be this This year’s theme will celebrate the songs of the season year’s theme, celebrating songs of the season with performers, with performances, strolling carolers, history and crafts. stories behind these holiday favorites and crafts inspired by these treasured tunes. Take a stroll and experience gleeful carolers, holiday storytelling, hand-weaving, blacksmithing, interpreters in traditional costume and many other festive activities. For more information visit DallasHeritageVillage.org. — Elizabeth Lenart
In This Issue Ackels' Angle...................................................... 3 Along the Green Trail ........................................ 6 Charity Spotlight................................................ 4 Classifieds........................................................... 7 Community Calendar ....................................... 4 Dotty Griffith ..................................................... 7 Fitness on the Trail ............................................ 3 House Call ......................................................... 2 Life on the Trail.................................................. 2 Notes from the Editor......................................... 2 Restaurant Directory ......................................... 9 Restaurant Review.............................................. 7 Scene Around Town........................................... 8 Shop the Trail .................................................... 8 Find us at facebook.com/KTWeekly
katytrailweekly.com
A windy ‘Christmas at the Meyerson’ By Kim Campbell
The various covers of TIME’s Person of the Year issue.
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The spotlight is on world-class local talent as the Dallas Winds prepares for its annual Christmas extravaganza, “Christmas at the Meyerson,” at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Conductor Jerry Junkin and the Dallas Winds — widely hailed as the world’s best concert wind band — will be joined by internationally acclaimed organist Mary Preston in an evening of carols and concert favorites. Preston, who is the resident organist and principal/lay family chair with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, and received rave reviews for her recordings on the Reference, Gothic and Naxos labels. Works by local composers will also be featured on the program. “Minor Alterations #2: Carols From the Dark Side” was written by Dallas Winds’ saxoPhoto courtesy of Dallas Winds phonist David Lovrien, whose “Minor St. Nick takes a swing at the sousaphone. Alterations #1” is a national band
favorite. Two carols, “Angelic Fanfare” and “Christmas Presence,” come from the Dallas Winds’ composer in residence, John Gibson. Local trombone powerhouse, Chuck Mandernach, composed the pre-concert fanfare, and North Texas based composer and arranger John Wasson’s “Festival Fanfare for Christmas” starts the concert off on a celebratory note. “Of course there will be plenty of the traditional favorites our audiences love to hear each year, like ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful,’ ‘Joy To the World,’ and Leroy Anderson’s ‘Sleigh Ride,’” Junkin said. “We get hate mail if we don’t play ‘Sleigh Ride,’ and we want everyone to go home happy.” The program includes a novelty carol by James Stevenson, “BasSOON It Will Be Christmas,” which features the Dallas Winds bassoon section and a traditional Christmas sing-along. Tickets are available through the Dallas Winds website at dallaswinds.org or by calling the Dallas Winds box office at 214-421-2263.
ARTS DISTRICT
Award winning ‘Once’ is second to none
By Shari Goldstein Stern stern.shari@gmail.com
In 2006, a lovely little film out of Ireland called “Once” garnered 10 award wins worldwide, including an Oscar for best achievement in music for its original song, “Falling Slowly,” composed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. The film was recognized with nine additional nominations. Here at home, director/writer John Carney earned the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association’s coveted Russell Smith Award in 2007. Its theme, “Falling Slowly” has become recognized with mainstream radio play. In 2008, the score earned Grammy and Emmy awards for its soundtrack by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Six years after the film debut, “Once” grabbed Broadway attention, winning Tony awards for best musical, best leading actor, best orchestration and 11 more
Photo by Joan Marcus
The ensemble cast of “Once” at the Winspear surprises audiences. Tony wins and nominations. It was named best musical by Drama Desk, also winning and being nominated for a number of other awards. The theatrical production opened in 2012 and is scheduled to close this January. Now on tour, “Once” will be presented at the Winspear Opera House Dec. 17 - 28, and it’s expected to be a hit. The
story is about a modern-day, 30-something Irish street musician and a Czech immigrant, drawn together by their love of music and follows their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story. Starring in the Winspear production
see ONCE on page 5
MUSICAL REVIEW
Humor funnels through 'Trailer Park Christmas'
By Shari Goldstein Stern stern.shari@gmail.com
What’s the first thought running through your mind when you hear the words, “trailer park?” Sure, you can’t help but think, “tornadoes,” but what next? Now, hold onto that image, and you have the population of Armadillo Acres, North Florida’s premier mobile living community dancing in your head. Some of those residents are more into Christmas cheer than others, and that makes for a fun story line in WaterTower Theatre’s (WTT) current production of, “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical.” This is a sequel to WTT’s earlier “The Great American Trailer Park
Photo by Karen Almond Photography
The ensemble cast of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” brings a whole new meaning to “mobile community.” Front row: Sara Shelby-Martin, Cara Statham Serber and Megan Kelly Bates. Back row: Amanda Passanante, Tony Daussat. Musical.” This time, the set includes two “mobile homes,” one with enough tacky Christmas
decorations for Santa to see from the North Pole, while the other is perfectly bare. The
flamboyant residents of the campy vehicle, Betty, Linoleum and Pickles, dash with flash in their thrift shop wardrobe with garish accessories. In the understated vehicle-turned-home, resides the park’s own Scrooge, Darlene, who’s a “bah humbug” away from hateful. She presents naughty to nice in a heartbeat, which can’t be a piece of fruitcake for the actress. After an electrical shock, Darlene is stricken with a quick case of insomnia and morphs into some pleasant, nice and unrecognizable neighbor. Enter Tony Daussat, one of the park’s stereotypical — believably so — rednecks, who develops a thing
see TRAILER on page 5
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KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
HOUSE CALL
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
Violence and vandalism won’t solve social issues
Here’s the skinny of obesity By Dr. Kimberly Washington
work in an office setting where we sit for the majority of the day. Most Americans have no desire for exercise. I was once told, concerning exercise, “God only gives you a Obesity is a major problem in certain number of heartbeats in life. Why American society. Not only does it affect would I want to shorten my life the adult population, it has exercising?” We can’t think this also made its way into the way! Exercising is great for your pediatric population. Based heart, weight and even your on data from the American mood. Heart Association, nearly I won’t deny that there are 78 million American adults flaws in our system of stratifyare obese. Due to the wideing obesity. Concerning BMI, spread impact of obesity the standards which we folon our society and on the low are based on analysis of amount of healthcare reDr. Washington hundreds of Caucasian women sources used each year to many decades ago, however, difmanage the complication, the ferent races have very different builds. For American College of Cardiology and The this reason, the Asian population typically Obesity Society encouraged physicians to runs in the lower BMI, which causes physitreat obesity as a disease — actively workcians to less accurately risk stratify them. ing towards eradicating it. According to the On the other side of that coin, African Center for Disease Control (CDC), the anAmerican women tend to have a heavier nual medical cost of obesity is $147 billion build, resulting in an expectation of higher in the U.S., which calculates to the average percentages of complications, which does yearly cost per person is nearly $1,500 per not totally pan out. There are other obyear higher for obese patients than normal jective measures of excess weight, any of weight patients. which your physician can use to accurately Obesity can be objectively measured, guide weight loss. as should be measured at least once per In my next article, I will discuss year by your primary care physician. It is weight loss surgery. This is a very hot topic measured based on body mass index (BMI). because of how many people suffer from BMI is calculated based on your height and obesity, but it is also a very touchy subject weight only. There are set standards based for various reasons. Ultimately, the way on population measurements and categoI think about weight loss is simple math. ries for which these values fall including What you eat provides positive calories, underweight, normal, overweight, obese what you do subtracts from these positive and morbidly obese. These categories allow calories. Adding those two together either physicians to give patients real statistics results in a positive number (weight gain) concerning their likelihood to develop or a negative number (weight loss). There chronic illnesses due to obesity. There are many factors that predispose are two ways to make that number negative — either eat less calories or exercise to obesity. The two largest factors are more societal than personal choice — lack of fast, more. It works every time, but it is the slow option. I encourage every reader who sufhealthy, cheap food options and sedentary fers from obesity to attempt diet change lifestyle. Although the fast food industry is and exercise for six months. You may be making huge strides to improve the qualsurprised at the new “you!” ity and substance of their food choices, it Dr. Kimberly Washington, a general is still very difficult to find a drive-through surgeon at Highlander Surgical Associates offering baked meat options with fresh in Arlington, maintains an interest in vegetables. To add to the problem, we enjoy health education and advocacy. very sedentary lifestyles — many of us
washington.k@att.net
The 12 ways of relaxation Take five deep breaths. Breathing slowly and deeply from your As we head down the diaphragm takes in home stretch toward the more oxygen and is more holidays, your relaxing stress level than breathmay be off the ing from charts. How your chest. can you take Exhale a break from completely the hustle and through bustle? Here your mouth. are 12 ways Inhale to relax, set through Dr. Beth Leermakers your nose to to the tune of “The 12 Days a count of of Christmas.” Feel free to four. Hold your breath for hum along. four. Exhale through your On the first day of the mouth to a count of six. holidays, my health coach Repeat four times. said to me … Walk around the Be sure to take time block. Any type of physifor yourself. Decompress cal activity — aerobics, and recharge so you have strength training or yoga enough energy to enjoy — reduces stress by dethe festivities. Honor creasing cortisol, producyour need for quiet or ing endorphins (natural alone time. I recharge by painkillers), improving hiking with my big dog sleep and mood and proalong Grapevine Lake on viding a sense of control. Sunday mornings when Aim for at least 30 minthe lake is quiet and utes of moderate-intensity peaceful. Ahhh. activity (the equivalent of [You know how the walking a mile in 15 - 20 rest of the song goes: On minutes), five days per the second day, and so on week or 25 minutes of up to the 12th day.] vigorous-intensity activCall a good friend. ity three times per week. Connecting with loved Breaking your activity up ones is a terrific stress bust- into several short (10 miner. Texting doesn’t count! ute) bouts also provides Laugh out loud. health benefits. You could Laughter reduces stress by take a 10-minute walk decreasing cortisol (stress first thing in the morning hormone), relieving muscle and then again after lunch tension and providing an and dinner. emotional and physical Read a book for fun. release for pent-up feelings. Reading is a terrific disA hearty laugh can relax traction, and it also inyour muscles for up to 45 creases serotonin. minutes. Surround yourListen to music. self with funny people or Listening to slow, quiet watch a humorous video. classical music slows the Spend time outside. heart rate, lowers blood The more sunlight you pressure, reduces stress receive each day, the higher hormones and increases your levels of serotonin (the serotonin. feel-good neurotransmitEnjoy a massage. It’s ter). Be sure to wear sunimpossible to feel stressed screen to protect your skin. when your body is deeply bethleermakersphd.com
By David Mullen
or death to call the firm today for a potential settlement. Death? That is one long distant phone call. Make sure your cell phone I have struggled with takis in the casket ... McDonald’s ing a stand regarding the recent still sells nearly one out of every protests of police actions resulttwo hamburgers sold by fast food ing in the deaths of unarmed restaurants in America. Wendy’s black men in Ferguson, Mo. and is a very distant in New York City at second with more the hands of white than one in 10 hampolice officers. I have burgers sold. But I had two uncles that guess they cornered were lifelong police the square burger officers in the tough market. Seriously, streets of Oakland. no wonder there To my knowledge, in is a wave of new their entire careers, boutique burger they never fired their David Mullen places opening up guns. I also know in Dallas ... One of that they couldn’t my banes is the broadcast news’ wait to retire from the force. The abuse of the term “Breaking pressure on the police, especially News.” It should be held back in urban areas, is unfathomable. for truly breaking news. Instead, Accepting that there are good all local stations are using the cops and bad cops, I come back term “Breaking News” nightly to “what is the end benefit from like Chicken Little used “The these protests?” We have been sky is falling!” Last Thursday, afforded the right to freedom on CBS 11, they led the newsof speech. But these groups are cast with “We have breaking made up by an overwhelming news. Josh Brent will play for number of young adults influthe Cowboys tonight.” Are you enced by social media. What do kidding me? The activation of they hope to prove? Do they a Cowboy’s back-up defensive really have a solution for the lineman who received a reduced cause? Take the race card out. Is sentence when he was convicted it a stand against police abuse of of intoxication manslaughter power? If so, that issue will not in the death of teammate Jerry be solved by blocking freeways Brown is “Breaking News?” or vandalizing and destruct… He was creepy, and he was ing the property of innocent spooky. Ken Weatherwax, who business owners … One has played Pugsley on “The Addams to laugh at the television ad Family” television series died about low testosterone treatthis weekend at 59. A wake will ment now appearing on ESPN. be held at the Munster’s house A thick voiced (compensated) at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. announcer representing a law office encourages men who have Thing had a hand in the plansuffered pain, heart attack, stroke ning … Final episode of “The david@katytrailweekly.com
Newsroom” on HBO is Sunday. Another great series on HBO comes to an end. Unfortunately, there are not enough quality shows to fill the void … Around the neighborhood: I returned on Saturday to the Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill (GBG) and Terilli’s for the first time since the famous Greenville Avenue fire burned down both establishments in 2010. Terilli’s looked much different. Much darker décor and no step up bar. A Grey Goose up with olive was $15.16 with tax. The GBG still looks on the inside like the recently closed Londoner. I was involved in the ownership that redesigned the inside of the GBG in the late 1990s. Only in name (and logo) does it resemble the old GBG. Just opened, so we shall see … I love lists and get them sent to me all of the time. Most are boring. But this one surprised me. Online agency HeyLets.com analyzed social media networks to determine the most braggadocios U.S. states and the most humble states. The study is based mainly on “self-promotional topics such as trips to special locations, attendance at memorable events and work-related good news.” The number one most boastful state comes as no surprise: California. Washington was number two, and New York was number 10. Texas — the “Don’t mess with Texas” state — was ranked a surprising 20. Utah is the most humble state, followed by Oregon. You wouldn’t know that by the University of Oregon football uniforms designed by Oregon-based Nike. They are “braggaduckios.”
AN APPRECIATION
LIFE ON THE TRAIL By Dr. Beth Leermakers
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
relaxed. For the ultimate luxury, have the massage therapist come to your house. Pet your cat or dog. Petting your companion animal reduces blood pressure, and spending time with animals lowers cortisol and increases serotonin. Volunteer at an animal shelter or walk a neighbor’s dog if you can’t have your own. Strike a yoga pose. Often called “meditation in motion,” yoga and tai chi promote relaxation through breathing and focusing on the present. You can’t worry about your daughter’s college applications while you’re busy twisting your body into the bird of paradise pose (seriously!), while breathing properly. Take a bubble bath. The warm water increases serotonin. Add a scented candle or bath oil (try lavender or sandalwood) and soothing music for a home spa experience. Don’t you feel more relaxed already? Happy Holidays! Dr. Beth Leermakers is a clinical psychologist who specializes in stress management and well-being seminars, retreats and coaching. Contact her at 214-923-3766. Her monthly e-newsletter can be found at bethleermakersphd.com.
Dallas celebrates an icon on his birthday By Shari Goldstein Stern stern.shari@gmail.com
A little theatre-in-the-round has been a favorite of Dallas theatre-goers since 1961. And its enthusiasts know that two names are synonymous: Theatre Three (T3) and Jac Alder, T3’s executive producer-director, both joined at the hip. Alder’s late wife and T3 founder, Norma Young shared that strong bond. Now, more than 50 years later, T3 sets the clock forward from the 1860s, during its current run of “A Civil War Christmas” to the Great Depression era in the 1930s, on the occasion of Alder’s recent 80th birthday on Dec. 8. A few of the octogenarian’s many friends, colleagues, students, associates and acquaintances wanted to share the Dallas icon’s birthday: Cathryn Hartt, who, along with her sister Morgan Fairchild, were known as “the McClenny girls” to Alder, Norma and T3 audiences shared, “Jac Alder and his baby, Theatre Three, changed my life forever. I’m grateful for growing up with Jac’s and his wife, Norma Young’s, tutelage.” “Mostly, I remember learning and growing and becoming immersed in his gentle garden,” Hartt continued. “He could do anything ... and because of that attitude, I presumed I could too. He taught me that there are no limits ... the show must go on ... and to honor everyone and everything that you come upon in life.” Michael Jenkins, president and managing director of the Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) said, “Jac Alder has been a wonderful friend to me for more than 40 years ... every time that I am with him, I learn something ... When I think of Jac ... it reminds me of the very last spoken line in ‘Wicked the Musical’ when Glenda says ‘because I knew her, I have been made better’ ... because I know Jac, I have been made better ... Happy Birthday, my friend.” Bill Stone knew Alder from the UTA communications department faculty. “Once, when an office conversation got on a ‘something I'd bet you didn't know about me’ theme, Jac volunteered that as a youngster in Oklahoma, he took up baton
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.
Co-founders Nancy Black Rex Cumming David Mullen Andy Simpson Publisher Rex Cumming Editor in Chief David Mullen Managing Director Nancy Black Graphic Design Amy Moore Bronwen Roberts Art Production Ruth Sanchez Photographer Can Turkyilmaz Accounts Manager
Cindi Cox
Distribution Andy Simpson Manager Copy Editors Jessica Voss Rosa Marinero
Online Editor
Photo courtesy of Theatre Three
Jac Alder was a mere kid under 30 when his future with Theatre Three began. twirling and won a statewide prize in it,” Alder's colleague and friend revealed. Jo Ann Holt, DSM publicist and avid Theatre Three patron said, “Jac Alder is truly a Dallas institution. He has been bringing great productions to all of us for many years. He has been a wonderful mentor to actors, musicians, costume, sound and light designers, stage crews and playwrights, nurturing their talents while educating audiences to better understand the importance of their role in Theatre Three’s performances. Happy birthday, Jac. You have been a delightful gift to the Dallas arts scene.” From another perspective, Alder’s long-time colleague and friend, T3 supporter and high-profile Dallas broadcaster, Jody Dean quipped about his friend, “Jac raised adorable crankiness to an art form.” This November in a column, Alder wrote for Theater Jones’ he said: “When I was young — yes, a while back now — I was drawn to the arts (dance, music, theatre, painting and drawing plus architecture) because I was convinced I had something to say that would reveal this small-town Okie boy was someone who had something to say that everyone should hear.” He went on, “[I discovered that] the learning goes from the audience to me, not the other way around as I had thought in my youthful arrogance. I think I’m a smart enough actor, but the collective intelligence and the life experiences of an audience certainly trumps my own. Now I know my main job — even if I’m playing the lead — is listening.” Denver Sinclair
Society Editor Sally Blanton Writers Chris Ackels Anna Clark Chic DiCiccio Candace Evans Dotty Griffith Beth Leermakers Rob Lord Megan Lyons Naima Montacer Sara Newberry Mary Spencer Shari Stern Susan Strough Wayne Swearingen Kim Washington Advertising Sales Susie Denardo Becky Bridges Teresa Reitz
Distribution Lynsey Boyle Thomas Combs Billy Griffin Benjamin Smedley Lorenzo Ramirez Paul Redic Nicole Reed
Katy Trail Weekly P.O. Box 180457 Dallas, TX 75218 info@katytrailweekly.com katytrailweekly.com (214) 27-TRAIL (87245) © 2014 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.
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
MULL IT OVER
PAGE 3
ACKELS' ANGLE
College Football Playoffs prove buildup beats games By David Mullen
different. “I think this new format will be great for fans,” Gilmore said, “but we'll still have david@katytrailweekly.com controversy.” This weekend culminated in the anIt appeared from the start that only a handnouncement of the first College Football ful of teams would be vying for the top four Playoff final four. Of course, it became a made- spots. “As for the playoff teams, I don't think for-television event, with ESPN creating an the [selection] committee will select two teams entire program out of the inevitable selection from one conference,” Gilmore said in August. of four well known and marketable teams. Fans “I believe there will be five Power Conference and media alike, who loathed the 16-year old champs vying for four spots. Unless something Bowl Championship Series, seemed to feel crazy happens, I believe Florida State University that the new College Football Playoff selecwins the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and tion process system would be more equitable gets in; the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and produce more champ is in; and the excitement. Pac-12 champ is in Ho, hum! also.” Gilmore was Nothing changes. right. It looks and feels Big Ten winner like the same old Ohio State joins SEC NCAA. The 12-perchampion and number son selection comone seed Alabama in mittee didn’t have the Sugar Bowl, which the gumption to has now become a buck the ordinary semi-final playoff and went with game. Undefeated the safest choices. Florida State faces The ten-team Big Pac-12 winner Oregon 12 was allegedly in the Rose Bowl. For left out, because decades the Pac-8 they didn’t have 12 (later 10, and then 12) teams or a conferplayed the Big Ten ence championship champion in the Rose game. They didn’t Bowl and it meant have 12 teams or a something. Like the conference champiSugar Bowl, the Rose onship game before Bowl has also merely the season started. become one of three Did the Big 12 ever playoff games. have a chance? Ohio State’s assent TCU (11-1) to the number four was ranked third seed was the biggest in the College source of controversy. Football Playoff The Buckeyes’ had a Rankings last week. bad loss at home to They won 55-3 Virginia Tech and on Saturday. Yet played in a down they were bounced conference this year. down to sixth in the They ran up the score final rankings. It against Wisconsin in was as if the selecthe Big Ten (actually tion committee 14 teams) championPhoto courtesy of CollegeFootballPlayoff.com ship game. “Ohio said, “That was the greatest date ever. State was clear cut College Football Playoff championship trophy. I never want to see over five and six,” you again.” TCU committee chairman receiver Kolby Listenbee tweeted, “Y’all want Jeff Long said. us to score 100 next time?” No they weren’t. They have Urban Baylor (11-1), fourth in Monday’s Meyer as a head coach, and a face-off against Associated Press poll, won a tough battle on Alabama coach Nick Saban makes for huge Saturday 38-27 against Kansas State in what television ratings and big bucks. TCU and amounted to a conference championship game. Baylor don’t have the name recognition that The Bears leapfrogged TCU to take the fifth Ohio State does. That is the reason. spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, Sunday afternoon, my email was buzzing which amounts to a consolation prize. “We’re with ticket offers. The worst seat available on in a room that feels like we just lost a football Ticketmaster for the College Football Playoff game.” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “That, to championship game in Arlington on Mon., me, is a travesty.” Jan. 12 is $1,050. Oxygen is extra. College football fans and TCU and Baylor The BCS system can be repackaged into fans in particular, should have seen it coming. the College Football Playoffs and one thing Back in late August, I interviewed ESPN colwill always remain the same. The buildup will lege football analyst Rod Gilmore about the be better than the game, because it’s all about prospects of the College Football Playoff being the money.
FITNESS ON THE TRAIL
Is jogging making you fatter? Probably By Rob Lord
would have to add two miles to their weekly mileage anOne of the great myths nually in order to combat the in the fitness world is that expected weight gain. jogging is an The easiest efficient tool to way to underlose weight. Let stand what is me make a small happening is to disclaimer before understand your I bash jogging: body’s ability if long distance to adapt. When running is your you workout, sport of choice, your body adapts great; this article to the stimulus does not apply to slowly over time. Rob Lord Unfortunately, you. This article is for people who we have this are searching for ways to inherent desire to not starve burn the most amount of fat and consequently your body’s in the shortest time possible. adaptation to all this runIn 2006, a study was ning and to slow down the completed with 13,000 of amount of calories your burn, Runner World Magazine’s so you don’t waste away. subscribers. They tracked this Conceptually this is great. group of avid runner’s body The problem is that you want weight over years and found to have a flat stomach and that almost all of them gained enjoy sugary lattes. If this is weight, year after year. This you, jogging won’t get it done. included the long distance Now you might be thinkchamps that were putting in ing of a friend who used to 40 or more miles per week. be overweight, started jogThe authors of the study ging and lost weight. They concluded that the runners lost weight, so you think this
article is hogwash. Hold on! Of course they lost weight, if they were a couch potato before they started jogging. The point is that jogging is not the best way to lose fat fast. For every person you know that lost weight jogging, I probably know 10 people who are super frustrated, because they jog four or more times a week and can’t lose weight. So, what’s the answer? The good news is you can still put on your favorite workout gear and hit the trail. You just have to do more intelligently. You’re training program needs to be two things: progressive and varied. No, not progressive like your local barista. Progressive in the sense that you are always asking your body to do a little more. You can either sprint a little faster or lift a little more weight. The point is that you are always improving. Rob Lord is the owner and head trainer at The AlphaProject.org. He can be reached at 214-557-1588.
Photo courtesy of Fox Sports
TCU QB Trevone Boykin leads the Horned Frogs into the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31.
Don’t forget the other bowls By Chris Ackels
Ch.ackels@gmail.com In all the hubbub about the College Football National Championship and the selection committee’s snubbing of Baylor and TCU, a number of other intriguing bowl matchups have fallen by the wayside. Though only two bowls will feed into the National Championship game, this year’s slate includes a number of marquee matchups worth your watch. We break down 10 other bowl games worth watching this holiday season. Cotton Bowl Classic (Jan. 1) (5) Baylor vs. (8) Michigan State Baylor is out to prove two things: first that they belong in the national title conversation, and second that the Big 12 is indeed a superior conference despite not having a championship game. Michigan State has a prolific offense, and Baylor isn’t exactly known for their defense — this game could be a shootout at AT&T Stadium. Peach Bowl (Dec. 31) (6) TCU vs. (9) Ole Miss Both teams have been in the title conversation this year, and this matchup has conference superiority implications as well. If the Big 12 wins both of these games, we’re in for a longand-hard discussion about whether or not the committee made a mistake. But Ole Miss has undoubtedly had a tougher schedule and will be more battle-tested going into this game. Alamo Bowl (Jan. 2) (11) Kansas State vs. (14) UCLA Kansas State doesn’t have a bad loss this year; their three letdowns were to Baylor, TCU and Auburn. But they also don’t have a particularly impressive win. Given the Wildcats season, UCLA seems like exactly the team that would beat them. Kansas State will have to neutralize quarterback Brett Hundley and keep him in the pocket if they want to compete. Liberty Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas A&M vs. West Virginia West Virginia replaced Texas A&M in the Big 12 when the Aggies jumped ship a few years ago, so this game will likely end with one side saying “I told you so.” These two teams are very similar: they both almost exclusively pass the ball, and they both stumble into their bowl game. A&M has lost five of its last six, and WVU has lost three of its last four in the regular season.
Music City Bowl (Dec. 30) (23) LSU vs. Notre Dame The Irish have a chance to prove themselves after what turned out to be a disappointing second half of the season. This one’s on the list for one very simple reason: high stakes + Les Miles = insanity. Expect the unexpected from the Mad Hatter if this thing’s close. Orange Bowl (Dec. 31) (7) Mississippi St. vs. (12) Georgia Tech This might be the single most interesting matchup because of what it will say about conferences. Just how good was Florida State’s schedule? How might the Seminoles have matched up in a conference with multiple big dogs? Keep in mind that Georgia Tech was Florida State’s best opponent all year — this will be a step down compared to Mississippi State’s November schedule. Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 20) Colorado State vs. Utah Get your pre-Christmas fix with this Mountain West vs. Pac 12 matchup. Colorado State, at 10-2, was potentially a win away from major bowl discussion, but a last second field goal by Air Force knocked them from New Year’s Day to Dec. 20. Utah will try to validate their recent jump up to a major conference by playing little guys again. Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 23) Marshall vs. Northern Illinois Both of these teams — Marshall at 12-1 and NIU at 11-2 — were hoping for a chance to take on a big conference team this year. That won’t happen, but these offenses will surely be fun to watch at your Christmas Eves party. Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1) (16) Missouri vs. (25) Minnesota Both of these teams got lucky from conference alignment — Missouri by being in the SEC East and Minnesota by just being in the Big 10. Neither is as good as their record indicates. But each team has some athletes worth watching, which could create a fun atmosphere. Texas Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Arkansas The old Southwest Conference foes will probably remind us why the old Southwest Conference doesn’t exist anymore. Texas considers it a moral victory just to be in a bowl game, while Arkansas almost surely has the upper hand.
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
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DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
Katy Trail Weekly
calendar artandseek.org
Have a submission for Picture of the Week? Let us know what’s going on in our community: info@katytrailweekly.com
Contact us at info@katytrailweekly.com with your Community Calendar Event. Dec. 12 – 21
2800 Routh St., Suite 168 Dallas, 75201 214-871-3300
Theatre Three, Inc. – See the production of “A Civil War Christmas,” a musical by Paula Vogel. This holiday musical inspiringly weaves together carols and folk songs, beautifully portraying a uniquely moving moment of our American heritage. Show times vary. $10-$50.
Dec. 12
2800 Routh St. Dallas, 75201 12barsofcharity.com
12 Bars of Uptown Pub Crawl – Represent a team and sign up online. Meet at British Beverage Company and begin crawling. The 12 Bars of Uptown was created to help local charities build awareness, attract local members, and raise money for their organizations. Plus you get a t-shirt. 8 p.m. - Midnight. $10 donation.
Dec. 14
5803 E. Northwest Highway Dallas, 75231 whiterocklocalmarket.org
White Rock Local Market Holiday Extravaganza at Half Price Books – Showcasing the best artists, farmers and food artisans, the market is a one-stop shop for holiday gift giving. Live entertainment provided by David Burris Group. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. FREE!
Dec. 14
5100 Ross Ave. Dallas, 75206 214-887-6552
St. Matthew’s Cathedral Arts – The Cathedral Choir and selected readers unfold the Christmas narrative with familiar choral settings and scriptural accounts according to a beloved pattern established by King’s College Chapel in 1918. 5 p.m. FREE!
Dec. 14
6315 Lindsley Ave. Dallas, 75223 469-563-2862
Atma Bhakti Yoga Center – Come to our Holiday Bazaar and Open House! Featuring local business owners and artisans, join us to get some special gifts for your friends, family, or yourself. Also, if you haven't checked out our center yet, it's a great time to come see the space and meet some of the teachers. Noon to 5 p.m. FREE!
Dec. 17
6121 Worth St. Dallas, 75214 214-670-1376
Lakewood Branch Library – Come to Library Live! and see “The Spider’s Christmas Surprise.” Join master puppeteer Sandy Shrout as she and her wonderful puppets reveal the story of Tante, an old lady who decorated the town’s most beautiful tree and invited the townsfolk to enjoy it. 4 p.m. FREE!
Dec. 17
8687 N. Central Expressway Dallas, 75225 214-369-1234
NorthPark Center – Join NorthPark Center and Rabbi Dubrawsky from the Chabad of Dallas to celebrate Chanukah with the lighting of the menorah in the Festival of Lights. Complimentary refreshments will be served after the lights have been kindled. 6:30 p.m. FREE! Fri 12/12
Picture of the Week The 12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum continues through Jan. 4, 2015. Send us a photo on Facebook and it may be featured here!
Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum
Frank Sinatra, b. 1915 Bob Barker, b. 1923 Dionne Warwick, b. 1940 Cathy Rigby, b. 1952 Jennifer Connelly, b. 1970 1800 – Washington, D. C., established as the U. S. capital.
Sat 12/13
Dick Van Dyke, b. 1925 Wendy Malick, b. 1950 Steve Buscemi, b. 1957 Jamie Foxx, b. 1967 Amy Lee, b. 1981 1918 – Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, 1st U.S. President to visit Europe.
Sun 12/14
Nostradamus, b. 1503 “Spike” Jones, b. 1911 Lee Remick, b. 1935 Patty Duke, b. 1946 1911 – Roald Amundsen became 1st man to reach the South Pole.
Mon 12/15
Betty Smith, b. 1896 Alan Freed, b. 1922 Don Johnson, b. 1949 Helen Slater, b. 1963 Adam Brody, b. 1979 1877 – Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.
Tue 12/16
Hanukkah begins at sundown Ludwig von Beethoven, b. 1770 Jane Austen, b. 1775 Philip K. Dick, b. 1928 1773 – The Boston Tea Party – 350 chests of tea into Boston Harbor as tax protest.
Donors and volunteers
Wed 12/17
Arthur Fiedler, b. 1896 Chet Huntley, b. 1911 Eugene Levy, b. 1946 Tracy Byrd, b. 1966 Giovanni Ribisi, b. 1974 1777 – France recognized independence of U. S. A. from Britain.
Thu 12/18
Ossie Davis, b. 1917 Steven Spielberg, b. 1947 Brad Pitt, b. 1963 Katie Holmes, b. 1978 Christina Aguilera, b. 1980 1796 – 1st Sunday newspaper published: The “Monitor” of Baltimore, MD.
show love and care in Dallas EQUEST
500 people with diverse needs are helped each year by Therapeutic Sports Riding Programs
By Sally Blanton Each week, Katy Trail Weekly will feature a charity that is doing remarkable work in Dallas, a city known for philanthropy and generosity.
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What is your mission or highest purpose? Since 1981, it has been to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs using horses to bring hope and healing through equine assisted activities and therapies. Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship was the first therapeutic riding center in Texas with all types of disabilities and learning differences. Our program quickly became an industry leader in North Texas serving thousands of clients with our horses!
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How many clients are served each year? Five hundred riders a year are helped with more than 100 physical, cognitive and emotional diagnoses such as: cerebral palsy, closed head injury, development delays, Down Syndrome, emotional disorders, hearing impairment, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, stroke and vision impairment. The relationship between the riders, instructors, their volunteer team and the horse is the catalyst to miracles. Riders reach beyond the confines of their disabilities.
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What upcoming fundraisers are on the calendar? The Equest Triple Crown Gala on April 25 at the Texas Horse Park.
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Tell us the name of a volunteer who always goes beyond the call of duty? One of our “Larger than Life” Equest volunteers is Chris Rinebarger, a 38 year veteran of the Dallas Police Department.
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What do you think is the most important thing you do for the community? Our clients are achieving what they previously were told was impossible. They are learning to walk, to move, to connect. The benefits from riding and interacting with a horse provides improvement in emotional, physical, and cognitive areas and challenges riders to achieve their maximum potential for independence. We empower, enable and enrich the lives of individuals who struggle with daily challenges using the healing power of the horse. We focus on what people are able to do as opposed to what they are not able to do.
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What percentage amount actually reaches those in need? One hundred percent of all of our riders come to us with a specific need. What are your critical needs now, besides money donations? We are always in need of more passionate volunteers.
What sort of volunteer jobs are available? Our next volunteer training dates are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 25. Please contact Ellie Grant at egrant@equest.org or 972412-1099 extension 211 to learn more. Volunteers assist as side walkers or leaders in therapy sessions. No prior horse experience is necessary.
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What is your facility like? Located in Wylie, Texas (just outside of Dallas) on 48 acres, the center has both indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a specialized treatment facility, a 39-stall barn, two out barns, administration offices, conference room and dormitory housing for our interns and instructor candidates
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What is rewarding about your job? The most rewarding part of my job is getting to see the profound impact that our programs have on our clients and their family’s lives.
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This week’s questions were answered by Erin Seeds, Equest’s Development Manager.
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS 1. Twist violently 6. Dog nail 10. M oss and Lorenz 15. P ub order
20. Not flat 21. Kind of potato? 22. Commandeer 23. “ Thereby hangs — —” 24. Willow shoot
25. Please greatly 26. Not as gregarious 27. Yawning 28. Vole (2 wds.) 30. Riddled 32 . Scrapbook
compilers 33 . Lascivious looks 35 . Edible seaweed 36 . Construct 39 . MD assistants 40. Ike
ONCE cont'd from page 1
TRAILER cont'd from page 1
is Texas native, Erica Swindell. This will be the actress’ first Dallas appearance. While she originates from Amarillo, she has family in Dallas and Austin, in addition to those in her hometown. She has appeared in “Once” on Broadway; “Mary Broome” off-Broadway, and “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Lady Drug Dealer” and “Much Ado about Nothing.” In an interesting connection, Swindell grew up playing violin with her friend, Elizabeth Davis, who would later appear in Broadway’s “Once,” while Swindell understudied for three roles. The actress has played violin her whole life. “I joined the NY cast right after the Tonys,” Swindell said. “It’s a small understated show but resonates with people’s experiences.” The former Texan said she relates to her character, Reza, in that she moved to NY when she was very young and found it incredibly challenging. “Reza is a survivor. She’s been away from home and trying to make a career, while holding on to those she loves. I understand that very well,” Swindell said. “This is not your usual musical. There is the unexpected, like when my character dances on a bar. While it seems to be a simple love story, it can change you in a way you don’t expect. Reza is a little punk, edgy. She’s protective of her family. This show will probably bring tears. Bring your Kleenex.” Swindell said she looks forward to February, when she will sing with her brother at his Austin club, the Red 7, on Austin’s 6th Street. “Once” opens Dec. 17 at the Winspear and will run through Dec. 28. For information and ticketing, visit attpac.org.
for the transformed Darlene. He’s been seen in the off-Broadway productions of “Awesome 80s Prom,” “The Happy Embalmer” and “Minimum Wage” and has a number of other New York credits. He also has an array of directing credits. Amanda Passanante couldn’t be more dead-on as the flakey Darlene, who has the added burden of making her before-and-after believable. She does so seamlessly. The actress previously appeared off-Broadway in the Drama Desk Award-nominated Yiddish language revival of “The Pirates of Penzance, Di Yam Gazlonim!” Other New York credits include “Jekyll & Hyde,” “Sweeney Todd” and more. Her local credits include “West Side Story” at Lyric Stage and many others, along with a full season as resident actor for Casa Mañana’s Children’s Theatre. Rodney Dobbs’ scenic design is appropriately tacky, as is Scott Guenther’s lighting. But the trailer park award goes to costume designer Derek Whitener for his ingenuity in dressing the women in their gaudy, “trash” wardrobe, which makes its own very loud statement. Sara Shelby-Martin, an accomplished name in Dallas theatre, is ideally cast as the riotous Betty. She’s been seen locally at theaters including Uptown Players; Lyric Stage; Pegasus; Theatre Three and others. Cara Statham Serber is a crackup as Linoleum. The recipient of the Critics Forum Award been seen in a number of WTT productions and
By Stella Wilder
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) You'll spot something rather unusual buried beneath that which doesn't usually warrant a close look. An opportunity arises. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) – Something of a mystery is solved when you are not looking. You'll want to catch up very soon!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) You'll be advised to watch and listen to one who seems to know it all. If you do, the benefits will be great. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) – You're not always of a mind to do what you are told, but this week, following instructions is the key to success. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) A challenge is revealed as the week opens, and you'll be required to dig deep if you wish to prove that you have what it takes. (Feb. 4-Feb. 18) – You may feel as though you are drifting on your own, when in fact you and many others are all in the same boat. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) You can gain a great deal of new strength by associating with the right people. It's not a matter of taste, but of need. (March 6-March 20) – You may not fully appreciate or understand your own desires as they pull you in many directions at once. ARIES (March 21-April 4) You may take more time than usual to get started, but once you do, your work will shine and others will give you what you desire. (April 5-April 19) – You think you're after a certain something,
09. Delhi coin 1 110. Sushi fish 111. Opinionated 112 . Loud noise 113 . Ocean, poetically 115 . Muralist Joan — 116 . Bail out 117. Two-finger sign 118 . Where stitching usually appears 120. Elev. 121. Air-pump meas. 123. 1 in. = 2.54 — 124. LP speeds 125. Water, to Pedro 127. — lazuli 129. Decide 131. They may be pulled (2 wds.) 135. Without fear 140. Confucius, e.g. 141. Egg-shaped 142. “Dream Lover” artist 143. Fridge sticks 144. Candlelight 145. — a dull moment 146. Pony’s comment 147. Hair tint 148. Circus employee 149. Rhone tributary 150. Orange veggies 151. Cross the threshold DOWN 1. Oft-misused pronoun 2. Greet the dawn 3 . He directed Marlon 4 . Heavy hammer 5 . Alpine region 6 . Blushes
at Uptown Players; Dallas Children’s Theater and Lyric Stage. The Critics Forum Award recipient has also been seen at Dallas Theater Center; Casa Mañana; Uptown Players; Dallas Children’s Theater and Lyric Stage. As an amusing Jackson Boudreaux, Greg Hullett is a hoot. He has appeared locally at Circle Theatre; Contemporary Theatre of Dallas; Theatre Three and Garland Summer Musicals. But now, the Trailer Park award goes to Megan Kelly Bates, for whom the role of Pickles may as well have been written. She keeps the audience awaiting her next, crazy, zany funny bit. The versatile actress has also been seen on the stages of Casa Mañana, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Theatre Three, Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas and Stage West. All the women put their heart into some entertaining vocals with their powerful pipes. According to WaterTower’s program, “You might live in a Trailer Park at Christmas time if … You leave beer and nuts for Santa instead of milk and cookies; all your plastic, pink flamingo yard ornaments have Santa hats; your outdoor lights are really bug zappers; squirrels still live in your Christmas tree, and you really do ask Santa for your two front teeth.” With music and lyrics by David Nehls, and book by Betsy Kelso and direction from James Paul Lemons, “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” runs through Jan. 4 at the WaterTower Theatre in Addison. For information and tickets, visit watertowertheatre.org, or call the box office at 972-450-6232. The theatre is located at 15650 Addison Road.
YOUR STARS THIS WEEK The coming week is likely to see many taking advantage of the opportunity to lend support to other individuals, organizations, groups or causes. The rewards for such support, even if not immediate, can be quite remarkable; it is certainly worth the effort and sacrifice. Most will have a very real sense that there is much good to come of generosity in all its forms; those who practice this kind of giving on the home front will find it much easier to make a habit of it in other places as well. Some will make a name for themselves as benefactors, enjoying not only recognition but tangible rewards as well. It may be difficult for some to look beyond their own circumstances, and this in turn makes it nearly impossible to see any sort of need in another that can be satisfied in a meaningful way. The lesson? Selfishness can turn on the selfish, whereas generosity can lead to gains that even the selfish can value.
41. — out (relax) 42 . Corn storage 46 . Tempe inst. 47 . Calif. hours 48 . Zoo staffers 51. — nova 53 . Paddle cousin 54 . Gizmo 56 . Dry, in combos 57 . Long shoals 59 . Familiar saying 61 . Toughen 62 . Mother of Perseus 63 . Carryall 64 . Tail, in spy lingo 65 . Oblong nuts 67 . Find a tenant 68 . Duncan or Kurkjian 69 . Basketball hoops 72. NASA counterpart 73. Creepy (2 wds.) 76. Grab the phone 80. Fabric meas. 81 . Begged 82 . Each and every 83. Freud contemporary 85. Pilot’s dir. 86 . Goddess who gave Easter its name 88 . Muddy 92 . Wrap up 93 . Like — — out of ... 94. Barely visible 95 . Bearded flower 96 . Canine neighbor 99 . Themes 102. Hairy animals 103. “Rob Roy” author 104. Vice — 108. Minneapolis exurb
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when in fact you are actually interested in something else. TAURUS (April 20-May 5) You may not be keeping up with those whom you most admire, but that's only because you're starting to head down your own individual path. (May 6-May 20) – You're ready to get to work and prove that you know just how to make the very difficult quite doable for others. GEMINI (May 21-June 6) You've been leaving signs here and there, and others will come upon them and interpret them correctly – or so you hope! (June 7-June 20) – Your domestic routine may be shaken up by someone who doesn't understand your needs, but this can change. CANCER (June 21-July 7) Someone with a great deal of experience will take you under his or her wing and teach you everything you need to know – almost. (July 8-July 22) – Problem-solving is best left to those who have handson experience; if you're a novice, you should steer clear for now. LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) You may be willing to bend the rules
Copyright 2014 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. for some but not for all. This in itself is enough to get you into trouble. (Aug. 8-Aug. 22) – You're able to get more done with few resources than nearly anyone else – and everyone will wonder how you do it! VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) Are you able to keep up with those at the head of the pack? If not, you may want to consider another endeavor. (Sept. 8-Sept. 22) – Even your supporters may not wholly understand what gives you the advantage. You can get more done than expected. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) Others are looking to you for precisely the kind of guidance you received yourself not too long ago. It's time to give back in kind. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) – You trust your own instincts and experience, but you may have to trust in another's technical know-how as well. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) That which would otherwise be routine can become spicy and unusual if you give it a little more attention. (Nov. 8-Nov. 21) – Someone who has been watching you for some time may emerge from the shadows and make his or her desires known. Be ready with an answer.
7 . Feasts with poi 8 . Performs 9 . Early invention 10. Quiet 11 On solid ground 12. Archaeology find 13 . Bring to bay 14 . Agility 15 . Repair-bill item 16 . Kind of energy 17 . Outfit 18 . Gen. Robert — — 19 . Funny Foxx 21 . Sidewalks, mostly 29 . Berlin sausage 31 . Machine teeth 34 . Publishing execs 36 . Astrologers of yore 37 . Cold — — icicle 38 . Striped antelope 41 . Go to the polls 43 . Pothole locale 44 . Desdemona’s foe 45 . Develop, as a storm 47 . Flake off 48 . Hawk 49 . Use Artgum 50 . Bathtub tester 51 . Minute 52 . Exclaiming over 55 . Pate de foie — 56 . Kublai Khan’s place 57 . “— Dallas” (radio soap) 58 . Cornbread 60 . Beaver projects 62 . Capsule, maybe 64 . Waits in line 66 . Free-for-alls 67 . Gets one’s goat 69 . Deli bread 70 . Vow words (2 wds.) 71 . Future bks. 74 . Traveling bag
75 . Bounces 77 . Dew glistener 78 . Alfonso’s queen 79 . Part of AARP 81 . “Instant” house 84 . College credit 87 . Exact duplicate 89 . Frosty 90 . Hudson Bay tribe 91 . More polite 93 . General vicinity 97. — contendere 98 . Roman poet 99 . Pills, briefly 100. Comics pooch 101. Singer — Turner 102. Cousin’s mother 103. Antarctic whale 105. Party-thrower’s plea 106. Look as if 107. Citrus coolers 109. Pasta choice 111. Humped beast 114. Baba au — 115. DI, twice 116. Quantity 119. Bovary’s title 121. Salesman’s line 122. Round object 123. Heads a meeting 124. “— in the Years” 126. Lost cause 127. Say good-bye 128. Like dishwater 129. PC drive (hyph.) 130. Boutique 131. Blow gently 132. Cuba, to Castro 133. Thailand, once 134. Festive nights 136. Zola novel 137. Parking-lot mishap 138. Misplace 139. Belgian river
OFF THE MARK
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
PAGE 6
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
By Candy Evans
wonderland of living from five rolling acres, a creek with a bridge, a barn, greenhouse, Most of the wishing well, tenfolks who live closenis court, guest in will like what you house and a pond are about to read. with a beautiful We love the city spray fountain. and urban noise The main waterfall, but somehouse is pretty times we secretly amazing, too, with yearn for something 9,200 square feet more, well, green. Candace Evans of spacious rooms, Want a total reheavy beams, treat? Want to hear beautifully crafted the wind rustle in the trees woodwork, a double AGA rather than sirens screechstove, and a complete enviing on Central Expressway? ronment that would support This seasoned Tudor revival a multi-generational family compound called Stonebriar arrangement. There are four Manor, at 31 Stonebriar Way, bedrooms, four full and two can give you the pleasures of half baths, a four car garage, living on a farm in the heart exercise room and a laundry of a major metropolitan area. room large enough to hold a It has a Frisco address, yes, pet or two, plus six fireplaces in but so do the Cowboys. All the main house. A screened-in you do is hop on the Dallas porch doubles as a card room. North Tollway and pray for no The dogs have plenty of space traffic. to frolic on five acres, but if I call it a starter home on you need to put them up, there steroids! is a dog run. Feel like raising Once you get north, your own exotic orchids? There pass two tolls, you find a is a hothouse greenhouse. Feel
Candace@CandysDirt.com
Photos courtesy of Private Label Realty
Located at 31 Stonebriar Way, Frisco is listed for $3,900,000. like letting your grown children move back home? Take your choice of an apartment with full kitchen, or a two bedroom, or the two bedroom, two bath guest house with full kitchen just across the pool. Come to think of it, “War of the Roses” may never have happened if Michael Douglas or Kathleen Turner had a guest house! And of course there’s the barn, the pasture, the well-fed pond with fountain, that same well watering all the grounds, nestled into a 65-home subdivision that was built out of the city limits in the late 80s but is now one of the highestprofile gated communities up north. Jay Allison, chairman, president and CEO of Comstock Resources, lives in Stonebriar Creek Estates. The area has also been home to sports icons Mark Aguirre,
Dennis Rodman and Rolando Blackman. First, a little history. Does the name Phil Glasgow ring a bell? He was once a vice president of Mary Kay Cosmetics, then an executive with Network Security Systems. Phil built 31 Stonebriar Way beginning in 1989 and it took almost four years to build! Well, of course it did: there are 9,200 square feet in the main house alone and such intricate, labor-intensive millwork and extras. Rome was certainly not built in a day. There is also a sitting room for the bedrooms, kind of an upstairs living area. Two of the bedrooms are connected like twins, covered in knotty yellow pine wood-wash, and share a bath Jack and Jill style. There are also darling Jack and Jill study desks! The interiors are so pleasantly
rustic: you not only smell the piney woods, but feel as if you have been transposed to a rustic camp house. The heavy but warm Tudor imprint gives this home a complete English feel and flow, from the custom front door to the hand-crafted stained glass transoms in the great room, each one individually designed to replicate English battle shields. Now here is the really heartwarming part of the story: Private Label Agent Judy Collins, the current agent, had this listing 20 years ago. That’s right, she SOLD it to the current owner, who is downsizing. A certain couple is very interested in Stonebriar Manor, and they came by recently with the original brochure that Judy had created back in 1996. Seems the spread has been a gleam in their eye for the last 20 years.
And now, it is available! That would be quite a romance story, wouldn’t it? Stay tuned. I would just caution the young lovers not to dally too long: the Dallas real estate world is a sea world of difference from what it was in 1996, including pricing. But at $3.9 million, I think it’s almost 1996 pricing: where else would you find 9,200 square feet in impeccable shape plus a veritable farm of five-plus acres, a gated estate within a gated community? 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, we celebrate Real Estate every single day! Sign up at CandysDirt. com to get the latest real estate news delivered!
ALONG THE GREEN TRAIL
It’s for the birds if you don’t pull over for wildlife
By Naima Montacer @naimajeannette
If I am ever a passenger in your car, expect me to yell at you to pullover when wildlife catches my eye. This past Sunday, I did that to a nonexpectant driver as we made our way south on Highway 114. I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a super rare bird for the Dallas area and quickly begged the driver to pull over for a closer look. Unfortunately, my relentless pleas went unnoticed, and I missed the opportunity. I’m easily distracted by what wildlife lives around us, especially since this is becoming the perfect time of the year for quality sightings. When the weather turns colder, it becomes easier to
view wildlife. Without leaves out my headphones and pay on the trees, your eyes can attention, the woodpeckers travel farther and notice are hilarious to watch dive slighter color differences. bomb through the trees. The crisp, cool air is a better Next time you’re outsound conductor; side around the giving you a sharpcity, listen in and er ear to hear rustake a second to tles in the grass or see what’s around a birds’ song more you. The city isn’t clear. Sundays just home to rock and the holidays doves (aka piare great days for geons), but we also wildlife viewing, as share our city with animals are more Naima Montacer a healthy variety active when less of bird species just people are. outside your back The trouble is, you have door. The thousands of birds to turn your mind on to look in the area are important for and listen for what’s around our ecosystem as pollinators, us. I can walk the Katy Trail seed dispersers, pest managewith headphones on jamming ment and nature’s recyclers. out to my music and not see a Understanding bird populasingle bird unless it slams me tions across their range moniin the face. But when I take tors biological trends that
Professional - Experienced - Trusted
Randy Elms, MBA REAltoR® (214) 649-2987 randallelms@yahoo.com
support decisions to protect the environment. First we need the data. Scientists can’t be everywhere at the same time and have come up with a solution that involves relying on us to take data for them. That means you in your own backyard can contribute scientific data that helps track abundance and distributions of bird species. It’s called citizen science, and it’s a growing scientific tool that utilizes the general public to identify and record what they see and report it to scientists. There are thousands of projects you as an individual, your child’s class or group can get involved in from a cloud project that helps scientists georeference what they are actually seeing
on their models to a plant bud project, which tracks seasonal changes in plants. One of the founding citizen science projects is Feeder Watch: a project that started in the 1970s in Canada to identify winter ranges of birds. FeederWatch. org has grown to include all of North America and has become a proven tool for monitoring the distribution and abundance of winter bird populations. Feeder Watch 2014-15 began just a few weeks ago and runs through April. You can participate for as few or as many days as you’d like. It’s a great way to force yourself to take a second, take out the headphones and focus on your surroundings. The participant list has several dots
around the DFW area but none in our Katy Trail Weekly area. If you live downtown, don’t think you're out of bird luck, I’ve seen two red tailed hawks hanging out near the convention center overpass. You can find out if they are nesting for us! If you are looking for a little variety in your birds, Chris from dfwurbanwildlife. com suggests hitting some birding hotspots in the area such as, “White Rock Lake, the Village Creek Drying Beds and John Bunker Sands come to mind first as great places to bird in the winter, but rare waterfowl can show up at any lake or pond around the metroplex.” It probably was not the super rare snowy owl that I caught a glimpse of speeding down the highway this past Sunday. You may not find the snowy owl either, but you will begin to marvel at the deep blue hue of the bluebirds, be creatively inspired or help out science! “We never noticed the beauty because we were too busy trying to create it.” — Unknown Naima Montacer is a freelance writer and conservationist. View more at her website EnviroAdventures.com.
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
RESTAURANT REVIEW
DOTTY 'S TRUE TEXAS CUISINE
Offshore's Nextdoor a hidden gem By Sara Newberry There are surprisingly few Cajun restaurants in Dallas, based on our proximity to Louisiana. And while the three you’ve heard of range from Cajun-approved to “have these people ever had Cajun food?” there is another option that seems to go unnoticed. Tucked away in a shopping center off Audelia Road, Offshore’s Nextdoor is easy to miss. And that’s a real shame, because they are serving up quality Cajun food. For some reason, I always want to start with Fried Pickles ($5.75). I love the juxtaposition of the salty pickle and the slightly sweet breading. Sometimes kitchens go overboard with the salt, rendering the pickles so salty you’re instantly thirsty after having one, but they use a light hand at Offshore’s. Jambalaya ($10.95), the paella-derived rice dish, is among my favorite Creole and Cajun dishes, and this version is one of the best I’ve had outside of Louisiana. The word “jambalaya” means a mix or a mashup, and this one honors that with the ingredients distinct, yet still cohesive parts of a whole. Crawfish Étouffée ($11.95) is also treated with respect: the roux is a nutty brown, loaded with crawfish and mildy spicy. Garlic bread is served alongside to sop up
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Photo by Sara Newberry
Offshore's Étouffée. the rich gravy. A seared link of Andouille sausage plunked in the middle of the bowl adds smokiness and a little additional heat. Gumbo also has that lovely Cajun-style heat. It’s not apparent at first taste but hits the back of your throat as you work your way through the bowl. Red beans and rice has clearly reaped the benefits of being cooked all day: the beans are fall-apart tender, redolent with the smoky flavor of ham bones. They are both available as appetizers, as well as, sides for entrees. I’ve tried Cajun Pasta ($11.95) at other places, and it’s usually cream based, like an Alfredo with a little Tabasco sprinkled in. The Cajun Pasta at Offshore’s is more like a vodka sauce, creamy but tomato based. We had ours with blacked shrimp, which added a nice sharp contrast to the mildly sweet pasta sauce.
If fried fish is more your speed, there are several options available. I went for broke and tried the Fried Combo Basket ($15.95), which contains catfish, shrimp, crawfish and calamari. The catfish was perfect: crisp and moist. I was a little disappointed in the ratio of shrimp to calamari: I found three shrimp in the basket. I would have happily foregone half the calamari for even one more shrimp. A Crawfish Po-Boy ($8.95) was fine, as good as I’ve had elsewhere. The jalapeño tartar sauce provided a little heat. Desserts are kind of uninteresting except for the Key Lime Pie ($4.25). It’s a standard ice-box version; a little more sweet than I like but tasty. The atmosphere is more dive-y than the other Cajun restaurants in town, which makes it feel more authentic, somehow. Service is friendly and attentive, which is impressive since on both my visits there was one person manning both the bar and waiting on all of the tables. OFFSHORE’S NEXTDOOR 9660 Audelia Road, Suite 305, 214-503-1012 offshores-nextdoor.com Monday – Friday: 3:30 – 10 p.m.-ish Saturday: 5 – 10 p.m.-ish Closed Sunday
Don't fudge on holiday fudge
By Dotty Griffith
2 to 3 drops peppermint extract, optional 1 1/2 cups peppermint candy Line a 9-inch square pan with foil so that the foil extends over the sides of the A true Texas Christmas pan. Rub foil with butter. dessert spread or a gift of Combine sugar, butter, salt and evapohomemade treats has to rated milk in a 2-quart microwave-safe include chocolate fudge. bowl. A large glass measuring bowl with a Sprinkle some crushed pephandle works particularly well. Microwave permint on top, and you’re a Dotty Griffith on high for 6 to 8 minutes or until the better elf than Will Ferrell. mixture comes to a roll This fudge is so simple ing boil, stirring twice. you’ll want to make several Add marshmalbatches for gifting, as well as, low crème and chocohaving on hand for drop-in late chips; blend until and invited guests. smooth. Stir in pecans, The recipe is from my vanilla and peppermint “Texas Holiday Cookbook,” extract, if desired. Pour a culinary guidebook from into buttered, foil-lined now through New Year’s pan. Allow to cool slightDay, including recipes for ly. Meanwhile, process Hanukkah. It makes a great peppermint in food prohostess or last-minute holicessor to crush. Sprinkle day gift of true Texas cuisine. crushed peppermint Photo by Rick Turner evenly over top of fudge. Chocolate Peppermint Chocolate Peppermint Fudge. Cool to room temFudge perature. Using the tip of 2 1/2 cups sugar a knife, mark the fudge 1/2 cup unsalted butter into 36 squares. Refrigerate until firm. 1/4 teaspoon salt To remove fudge from pan, lift foil from 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk (not sweetpan. Remove foil from sides of fudge. Cut ened condensed milk), about 2/3 cup through the lines to make 36 pieces. Store 1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow crème, about 2 fudge in refrigerator. cups Variation: For white chocolate fudge, sub1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate stitute white chocolate chips for semisweet chips, about 2 cups chocolate chips. Proceed as above. Makes 36 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans pieces. 1 teaspoon vanilla dottykgriffith@gmail.com
Dallas Workout The Gym & Personal Training 214-826-1466 dallasworkout.com 3300 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 100
Directory of Area Places of Worship East Dallas Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
629 N. Peak St., 75246 ……………..…… 214-824-8185 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. — Chapel; Contemporary Service: 9:30 a.m.; Traditional Service: 10:50 a.m. — Sanctuary. Sunday School for all ages: 9:30 a.m. Faith in the City Pub Ministry — Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Deborah Morgan-Stokes, Sr. Minister www.edcc.org
Munger Place Church 5200 Bryan St., 75206 ………………...… 214-823-9929 Worship Sundays: 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. “Expect Great Things.” www.mungerplacechurch.org Oak Lawn United Methodist Church 3014 Oak Lawn Ave., 75219 ……………… 214-521-5197 Sunday Worship: 9 and 11 am; 10 am Discipleship Hour; Noon each Wed. Brown Bag Communion Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler, Senior Pastor www.olumc.org Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Rd., 75214 .......................... 214-824-4531 Worship Service Sunday: 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages: 9:40 a.m. www.wilshirebc.org For inclusion rates & publishing deadlines, call 214-27-TRAIL
HANDY-MAN SERVICE Air Conditioning, Htg. Son of Man Air and Heat Service calls … $39.95 1 lb of Freon … $89.95 2-ton systems as low as $3,195. Call today: 214-351-1132 Tx Lic. # TACLA27258C Jesse’s A/C and Appliance Service Experienced, professional
service for your Washer, Dryer, Oven, Range, Freezer, Refrigerator, Ice Maker, Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Cooktop, etc. Phone: 214-660-8898 Cell: 214-769-2483 Tx Lic. # TAC-LB13304C MIKE'S Handyman Services Experienced Handyman Small jobs Welcome All types of repairs References Available Call Mike…214.413.8224
HELP WANTED BLACK-EYED PEA Now hiring for all positions Apply in person only . 8220 Westchester Dr. Dallas, 75225 in Preston Center: 214-361-5979 Career Opportunity Katy Trail Weekly Seeks one experienced ad sales professional
to help us handle our growing business. Send your resume to: susie@ whiterocklakeweekly. com CNA caregivers wanted Competitive wages and health insurance offered. Need caring and dedicated staff. Please call 972-423-3600
Seeking Choir Director Local area church seeking PT choral director with church experience, call to ministry and keyboard proficiency preferred. Send resume to: employment@ whiterockchurch.info For questions or more info call Pastor Douglas: 214-320-0043 Dog Walkers & Pet Sitters Need mature, responsible,
reliable people for rapidly expanding pet business. Apply online dallaspet.net
andy@ whiterocklakeweekly.com
Start Now! Work from home!! Katy Trail Weekly needs one person to call businesses for classified ads in our newspapers. Work your own schedule. Must be EXPERIENCED in biz-to-biz outbound calling. Must live in this area. Send your resume to:
UPTOWN PLUMBING 214-747-1103 Master Plumber #13800 Repairs / Remodels/
PLUMBING
Drain Cleaning … Residential / Commercial Flat Rate Pricing. 24/7 Service You Can Trust uptownplumbing.com
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
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DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
Scene Around Town By Society Editor Sally Blanton Philanthropy Day
Trains Sneak Peek
Association of Fundraising Professionals Hyatt Regency
Michele Myers, Linda Starns, Lindsey Flowers
Ronald McDonald House Benefit NorthPark Center
Brittney Bannon, Dana Williams, Dr. Kern Wildenthal
Co-Chairs Sarah Elliot and Christina Moore-Salinas
Chi Omega Christmas Market
“Each Moment Matters” Faith Presbyterian Hospice Luncheon Hilton Anatole
Shopping for Charities Centennial Hall at Fair Park
Co-Chair Allison Cox, Party Emcee Shelly Slater
Diane Fullingim, Tia Wynne, Emcee Meridith Land, Jamie Singer, CEO Jill Cumnock
Becky Alost, Shelley Potter, Sarah Beth McDonald, Sarah Cashman
Claire Cheney, Speaker David Hudgins, Godwin Dixon, Barbara Watkins
“Love for the Elisa Project” Tennis Tourney for Eating Disorders Northwood Club
Chair Kim Bannister, Founders Rick and Leslie McCall, Director Kimberly Martinez
Becky Mills, Mandy Click, Angela Calvert, Missy Robinson, Jo Ann Hodges
Robert Hudgins, Meghan and David Hudgins, Cindy Hudgins, Director Milton Key
Gentlemen’s Night Out Park Place introduces Ghost Series II Ritz-Carlton
Jan Osborn, Dorothy Allyn
Eric Shepherd, Heath Strayhan, Roberto van Geenan, Joe Wierda
SHOP THE TRAIL COMMUNITY COUNTS. KEEP IT LOCAL.
LUCAS STREET ANTIQUES AND ART GALLERY
Dallas’ newest antiques and art gallery Stop by and browse over 60 booths of Mid-Century Modern, Urban Contemporary, Industrial, Primitive, Shabby Chic furniture and a great selection of original art, photographs and sculpture. Check out the wonderful selection of rugs, lamps and a large number of African and American large game head mounts. Located at the end of Market Center Blvd. at Harry Hines, directly behind the Holiday Inn Hotel.
SUZANNE ROBERTS GIFTS
www.LucasStreetAntiques.com 2023 Lucas Dr. Dallas, TX 75219 214-559-9806 Mon-Fri: 10-6 Saturday 11-5 Sunday 12-5
6718 Snider Plaza, Dallas, 75205 www.suzannerobertsgifts.com • 214-369-8336 Mon-Fri 10-5
THE ORIGINAL CUPCAKERY
Mention this ad and receive a 10% discount off your entire order! With locations in Uptown and Downtown Ft. Worth the ORIGINAL CUPCAKERY is your one stop shop for exceptional handcrafted cupcakes, cake bites, and cake pops. Our catering department is found at the most exciting social events in DFW serving up the most delectable treats. Drop in and check out our favorites like Red Velvet, Tickle Me Pink, Chocolate Passion, or one of many seasonal flavors we offer, like Pumpkin Surprise, Rosemary Lemon, Peppermint Cream and Old Fashion Rum Cake with Orange Glaze. We offer custom creations for any occasion and our Ft. Worth location does custom cakes for wedding and anniversaries. 2222 McKinney Ave #230 • Uptown Dallas • 214-855-0003 132 E. 4th Street • Downtown Ft. Worth • 817-332-2727
Since 1975 Christmas All Around! See our Christmas merchandise...Mac-Kenzie Childs, The Roundtop Collection, Vietri and much more! For the month of December our shop will be OPEN on Sundays 1-5pm excluding Sunday, the 28th.
To be featured in this section, call: 214-27-TRAIL or email: sales@katytrailweekly.com
AARON BROTHERS FRAMING
New store open in West Village The ultimate framing experience is here! For over 65 years, Aaron Brothers has been committed to leading the industry in design craftsmanship. Every framer is AB Certified in design, and we treat your artwork with the utmost care. It’s part of our White Glove Promise. Our experts can work within your budget to help you create something truly original for your home. 3700 McKinney Ave, Suite 134, Dallas, TX 75204, across from West Village Shopping Center 214-306-6392 • Open daily 11am – 7pm aaronbrothers.com
CHAMBERLAIN STUDIOS
Check DallasKenpo.com for current programs and events Our Kid’s Karate classes incorporate 3-Steps to a Great KidTM, which is a character development and child safety curriculum specifically designed to fit within a martial arts program. Chamberlain Studios has been family owned and operated since 1981! Kids Karate: age appropriate classes starting at 4 years old, M-Th & Sat! Adults Karate: in the evenings, Saturdays and on M, W & Th at noon! Adults Chalkline Fitness: Saturdays at 7:30 AM We also have Karate Birthday parties, Event rentals, Women’s Self Defense programs, private and group lessons, Chalkline Fitness™ cross training and more! 2739 Bachman Drive, Dallas, TX 75220 info@DallasKenpo.com Facebook: Chamberlain Studios of Self Defense DallasKenpo.com • 214-351-5367
LULA B’s West
Unique Gift Ideas Whether you are looking for kitschy Knick Knacks or that perfect Mid-Century piece of furniture, you will find it all at our store. In the heart of the Design District, we offer everything from vintage clothing to collectible toys. Industrial, eclectic, funky or modern, our 80+ dealers will have what you are looking for. *D Magazine’s Readers Choice Award 2014: Vintage Furniture and Clothing*
Open 7 days a week M-Sat. 10-6 Sun Noon-6 1010 N. Riverfront Dallas, TX 75207 • 214-749-1929 (Visit Lula B’s East at 2639 Main St in Deep Ellum) • 214-824-2185
Peter Li Mary Liv
KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014
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Our Favorite Restaurants
MOVIE TRAILER
Reese Witherspoon was born to be in ‘Wild’
By Chic DiCiccio @Chiccywood
Way back in 1994, there weren’t iPhones, personal GPS devices, or texting. There was no instant access to the outside world. This is what makes the 1,100 mile hike, shown with painstaking detail in “Wild,” that much more an act of sheer bravery. It’s almost a miracle that Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) survived this dangerous trek alone. Actually, once Cheryl’s thoughts wander into her past, her 1,100 mile journey pales in comparison. Random sex with multiple partners and intravenous heroin use may have a higher risk factor than potentially turning an ankle while climbing over a large rock. Those are just a handful of the demons that are chasing Cheryl during “Wild,” which is based on the real life memoir of Cheryl Strayed. While there are a few ham-fisted, emotionally manipulative moments, this movie is one of the most inspiring, heart-wrenching stories shown on the big screen this year. “Wild,” adapted for the screen in brilliant fashion by Nick Hornby, shows Cheryl during her planned three month journey while using flashbacks to fill in the mostly brutal details of her life. As you can imagine, many thoughts filter through her
head as she spends most of the movie alone. You learn about her broken marriage to Paul (Thomas Sadoski), her abusive father, her sick mother (Laura Dern), and all the ugly that comes in between. Hornby’s screenplay manages to do this without typical, boring, movie narration; instead the audience hears Cheryl’s thoughts. Burdened by her past and a massive backpack (metaphors are fun) loaded with food and camping equipment, Cheryl comes across many people and “Wild” manages to make you initially dread every single one of them. Thankfully, most of these people are kind-hearted and help her along her way, seemingly able to tell just by looking at her that her trip is designed to heal herself. It’s a big boost to the idea that most people are inherently good, more than willing to help out a fellow human in need. After directing “Dallas Buyers Club,” it’s clear that these types of movies appeal to director Jean-Marc Vallée. Both “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wild” are movies that feature human beings dealing with horrid problems, mostly of their own doing, and how they overcome them with sheer willpower and drive. Vallée has a real eye and voice for this type of subject matter, never flinching from the ugliness surrounding troubled people.
be focusing on her lack of modesty, most notably the uncomfortable nudity, sex scenes, and lack of makeup. Don’t be fooled by that exterior. This is an incredibly nuanced, gritty piece of acting from Witherspoon that should leave anyone paying attention completely floored. There isn’t one moment that screams out “look, she’s acting!” Sure, you’re watching one of the most popular actresses on the planet, but Witherspoon disappears in the role almost immediately. She manages to make you sympathetic for Cheryl, while never pitying her or excusing her self-destructive acts. Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
If “Wild” does falter, it’s during a handful of moments that are particularly forced and cheapens the emotional journey the rest of the movie so easily displays. A young boy sings Cheryl a song that sends her into an emotional tizzy and doesn’t fit in with the rest of the movie in any way, shape, or form. Also, there is little chance that every single song clicked on a stranger’s radio will remind her of her mother, but yet they all seem to do just that. Nearly every single actor is cast to perfection. If there is one performer that becomes grating, it’s Laura Dern.
While Dern is fully capable of showing just how much the mother she is playing loves her children, she goes way overboard on smiles and positivity, becoming far too Pollyanna-like. Perhaps that is why, when life for her kids proves to not always be sunshine and rainbows, her children do not handle it well. When you have “Election” and “Walk the Line” on your resume, one would presume it difficult to put a performance on screen that tops them. Reese Witherspoon not only tops them, it is an all out blowout. Everyone seems to
“Wild” is an incredible journey inside the head of good human being that unfortunately lost her way, made poor decisions, and is doing what she needs to do to overcome them. It’s uplifting, a gut punch, and actually, thanks to the self-loathing writing style of Hornby, quite funny in small bursts. Whether you agree with Cheryl’s assessment of her life at the end of the movie is up to you, but there can be no questioning her drive to be the person that she knows she can be. She’s not interested in your judgment of her past, just her present. Isn’t that all anyone can hope to have?
SOLUTION TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE
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KATYTRAILWEEKLY.COM
DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2014