Weekend Plans - NYE Edition

Here's your weekly dose of what to do in Dallas this weekend - a little early since New Year's Eve is tomorrow.

1. Pretend you are in NYC and head down to Victory Park to ring in 2009. There will be live bands, fireworks and your favorite Channel 8 personalities. Info here.

2. If sports are more your thing, grab a ticket to the Dallas Stars hockey game then head to the Victory Park party.

3. If you want to stay casual and cheap, I say hit the Old Monk. Their doors open at 4pm.

Angela Adams Tunic

Angela Adams is now selling apparel in her online shop. This is a top you could layer with a long sleeve tshirt for the winter months and thenwear it on its own in the spring.

Get your own here.

Picture from www.angelaadams.com

A History of Bauhaus

The architecture movement, not the band. Although, that would be a pretty interesting documentary as well.



Tip of the hat to Grassroots Modern where I first watched the video.

Weekend Plans - Holiday Edition

1. Go see the Santaland Diaries - this is an adaptation of David Sedaris's story about his job as a Macy's elf during the Christmas Season.

2. If Dickens is more your thing, the Dallas Theater Center has A Christmas Carol.

3. Bring your favorite child (human or furry) to the Plaza at Preston Center this Saturday from 11am-4pm and get a picture with Santa.

California Dreaming

This week's miserable weather has got me thinking about sunny California, specifically Palm Springs. So for your viewing pleasure, some shots from my trip to Palm Springs last May. Enjoy!

Visitor's Center designed by Albert Frey












Kaufman House designed by Richard Neutra












Wexler Steel Homes by Donald Wexler

























House of Tomorrow designed by William Krisel












Frey House II designed by Albert Frey












Coachella S&L by E. Stewart Williams












Assorted MCM houses around town.

























Seriously, how cool is that orange wall!

























Swiss Miss A-frames

























And if you want to look at some interior shots of a Palm Springs MCM home, check out this Apartment Therapy home tour here.

Making Dallas more pedestrian and bike friendly

KERA 90.1's lunchtime show Think discussed potential plans for making Dallas more pedestrian and bike friendly. Specifically, recommendations that were recently made to the city to add bike lanes and sidewalks to streets downtown that will ultimately link the Katy Trail downtown to the future Woodall Rodgers park.

Listen to a podcast here.

Weekend Plans

Want an excuse not to go to that office holiday party? Check these out:

1. Polyphonic Spree Christmas Show at the Granada Theater- one set will be all Christmas tunes, the other set will be their hits.

2. City of Dallas Tree Lighting at Fair Park - the Dallas Wind Symphony, lights, and outdoor movies under the stars.

3. Winnetka Heights Home Tour - tour 8 craftsman style homes all dressed up for Christmas.

Modern Gift Giving

Looking for something unique to give to that special someone? Try these websites:

Etsy - Give the gift of handmade. You can find everything from jewelry to dog collars at this online marketplace.

Greener Grass Design - This place is based out of Houston with items from baby to adult.

Delight - A new item on special everyday. Sign up for their mailing list to be the first to know about new items.

Angela Adams - Not just rugs anymore. She now has tableware, pillows, textiles and purses. A girl can always use a new purse!

Hive Modern - Looking to spend big bucks on an iconic piece of modern furniture? This is the place to get it.

20x200 - Want to add to a friend's art collection? Check out 20x200. Limited edition of 200 prints at 20 bucks each.

Happy shopping!

Urban Re:Vision Dallas

Re:Vision Dallas is a new website dedicated to the City of Dallas's efforts to create sustainable urban areas in Dallas.

From the website:

"Re:Vision is a diverse group of people focused on changing the urban landscape by re-imagining all the components that make up a city block. From energy to transportation to commerce to community, we believe that by finding innovative, healthy and sustainable ideas to help revitalize one urban block, we can create a blueprint for better cities everywhere."

More specifically, the City of Dallas will be holding a design competition in January 2009 where architects and designers will be tasked with creating a "fully sustainable city block" in Downtown Dallas. Last Friday there was a design charrette where ideas were gathered to form the basis of the design competition.

Now I love my city Big D, but I am seriously skeptical about whether the city of Dallas would or even could execute a sustainable (green) city block downtown. The city of Dallas has enough problems paying its bills and is now building its own convention center hotel. With other issues facing Dallas, I don't know if it is in the position to take a project like this on.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what some of our local architects come up with in the design competition. Hopefully, the competition will be open for all and allow some of our up and coming architects (some who are my friends) an opportunity to shine. I would hate for the competition to be invite only or hijacked by outsiders.

More info about Urban Re:Vision Dallas here.

Pictures from the Trinity River Audubon Center

The Architect and I recently explored the new Antoine Predock designed Trinity River Audubon Center. The building is designed to look like a bird in flight.

The "head" and "wing" of the bird. The core-ten steel wing houses an exhibit area and creates a covered outdoor space.







One of the "wings."












Detail of the head, body, and wing.











The other wing consists of concrete walls with a relief pattern of leaves.











The other "wing" which houses the cafe, gift shop, offices and meeting spaces.






View from across the pond of the back of the "wing" that houses meeting spaces.






Bird blind for bird watching.

































View of the green roof atop the concrete "wing."







The "tail" of the bird creating another covered outdoor space leading to bridges across a pond and to multiple trails.







This wall of windows overlooks the pond and trails. This wing houses meeting spaces and class rooms.










Detail of the windows overlooking the pond.











Underneath the wings.

Weekend Plans- Trinity River Edition

The Architect and I are going across the River and you should to!

1. Art Conspiracy 4 - 10 bucks gets you music and the opportunity to purchase art from local Dallas artists. I am partial to Hal Samples and Jayme Nourallah. Hal shot our wedding and Jayme shot our engagement pics. Info about Art Conspiracy here.

2. Jingle Bells on Bishop and the Urban Street Bazaar - Head down to the 'Cliff to tour galleries Friday and Saturday nite. Saturday, pick up handmade Christmas gifts at the Urban Street Bazaar. Info here.

3. The Tom and Judy Show - more handmade crafts, here its quilts along with live music.

Shobac Cottages in Nova Scotia

The Shobac Cottages are perfect for the person who wants to get away from it all, but in modern style.

This would be a great Christmas present for that someone special or a great getaway with like minded fans of modern architecture.

Check out pictures and info here.