Weekend Plans

1. Hit up the AFI Film Festival. Listing and times here.

2. If you liked the movie Closer, go see the play it was based on at Enter Stage Left Theater.

3. Sunday grab your bike and head on down to Dealey Plaza where you will begin a bike tour of Dallas as seen through the eyes of Bonnie and Clyde. End your day at the Belmont Hotel sipping a 2 buck Shiner. Info here.

Calatrava in the house

Apparently Santiago Calatrava was in Big D last night (may still be here right now) and met with members of the Trinity Trust Foundation. For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last few years, Calatrava designed the infamous bridges that are supposed to be the centerpiece of the Trinity River Project. You know, the project that might get built sometime before climate change wipes humans off the planet in the next couple hundred years.

The kids over at FrontBurner have all the juicy details here.

More about the Trinity Trust Foundation here.

Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Plaza to benefit from federal stimulus funds

From the press release that popped up in my inbox today:

"The Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation will receive $16.7 million in federal stimulus funds toward constructing a deck plaza over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in downtown Dallas. The Woodall Rodgers deck plaza is a “shovel-ready” transportation enhancement project that will create approximately 1,000 immediate jobs and will stimulate additional economic development and job growth in the future...."

"The additional stimulus funding is expected to accelerate the deck construction which is slated for late summer or early fall 2009."

Your tax dollars at work!

More about the project here.

AFI Film Festival Starts Tomorrow

Be sure to check out the AFI Film Festival this week and next. It starts Thursday, March 26 and runs through Thursday, April 2. All the info here.

New Urbanism Co-Founder to Lecture in Dallas on March 30, 2009

The North Texas Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism presents New Urbanism movement co-founder Andres Duany talking about making our neighborhoods and communities more sustainable. Duany will be speaking at the SMU Hughes-Trigg Ballroom at 7:00pm on March 30, 2009. I have also heard that KERA's Think Show will also have Duany on the show the same day.

Irish Architecure

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, check out the Tuath na Mara House by Irish Architecture firm MacGabhann Architects.

Photos of the house here.

Weekend Plans - St. Patrick's Day Edition

1. Get there early to stake out a spot for the Greenville Ave. parade. Afterwards, go see the Old 97's, the Drams, 1100 Springs and the O's. None of them are Irish, but I guess everyone can be Irish for one day. Parade starts at 11am and concert starts at 1pm.

2. The Tipperary Inn will also be having a St. Patrick's Day Party on Saturday and on Tuesday. Info here.

3. And if you are not hungover from Saturday's revelries, head on down to the West End on Sunday for their 2nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Block Party. Normally, I wouldn't advocate going down there because true Dallasites know only tourists go there. However, in the spirit of world peace it's ok to go this weekend. It will be our little secret! Beer, irish step dancers, and a pooch parade are the big draws here.

Wine Down Wednesdays

The folks over at Times Ten Cellars have a new event the second Wednesday of every month called "Wine Down Wednesdays." Listen to bands while sipping a glass of wine and they will also provide menus from nearby restaurants if you want to have dinner delivered.

More info here.

Better architecture in a downturn?

So says local realtor and architecture buff, Douglas Newby over at his Dallas Architecture Blog. His basic point is that when the market is depressed there is less speculation and people are more inclined to build better homes with a focus on design and long lasting impact, rather than just to make a quick buck. It also helps that lot values decrease and more desirable properties become more affordable. Additionally he says that in a depressed market people will have better access to the best contractors, designers, etc.

Affordability could be a matter of degree. A million dollar-plus lot in Highland Park going for 800,000 is still going to be out of most middle class families budget. What is probably more important is that with less speculation, there are potentially far less teardowns and destruction of older homes of potential architectural significance. Nevertheless, he does point to some very nice houses designed by Antoine Predock and Steven Holl that were built during the last downturn.

Check out the eye candy and his argument here.

Dallas Center for the Performing Arts

The kids over at D magazine's FrontBurner blog took a tour of the construction site for the Dallas Center for Performing Arts. Check out the commentary and pictures here.

Weekend Plans

1. There is really only one place to be this weekend and that is the North Texas Irish Festival at Fair Park. There will be beer, irish dancing, beer, live music, and did we say beer? You should definitely check out the Shandon School of Irish Dance - they will be dancing at 2pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. Full disclosure: the author of this blog will be dancing with the group.

2. For those not wanting to drink beer this weekend, check out Savor Dallas in the Arts District where you can participate in wine tastings and check out food from local Dallas chefs.

3. And for those who want to get all dolled up, join the Junior Associates Circle of the Dallas Museum of Art for Affair of the Art 2009.

Hot or Not - Aalto Bathmat?

The kids over at Apartment Therapy have a post about a DIY bathmat in the shape of Alvar Aalto's iconic Savoy vase. While I always like seeing interesting uses of iconic mid century design, I don't know if I can quite get on board with a bathmat. What next, toliet paper with the Savoy vase image on it? While this is a DIY project, sometimes you have wonder about why the architect (or their family, foundation, etc.) chooses to license an image for a particular product. Aalto ice cubes anyone?

Weekend Plans

1. Hit up the AFI Film Festival. Listings and times here.

2. If you liked the movie Closer, then go see the play it was based on this weekend at Enter Stage Left Theater.

3. Take your bike and head down to Dealey Plaza on Sunday where you can start your bike tour of Dallas as seen through the eyes of Bonnie and Clyde. Your ride ends at the Belmont Hotel sipping a 2 buck Shiner. Info here.