The Daily Update: September 3, 2010

Daily Update: Friday, Sept. 3 from SMUDailyMustang.com on Vimeo.

Check out the Daily Update to learn about the newest catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, the controversy over specialized license plates and the SMU football game at Texas Tech this weekend.

The Daily Update: Monday, April 19

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Campus News Blog: Dallas Film Festival Kicks Off This Week

Posted by Monica Sharma

The stars are coming to town this week for the fourth edition of the Dallas International Film Festival. On Thursday, April 8, over 1,600 people will flock to the Angelika for the opening night of this 11-day movie event.

With over 200 films, there will be something for every taste.

The two centerpiece screenings are the Demi Moore/David Duchovny film, “The Joneses” and a Michael Douglas/Susan Sarandon film, “Solitary Man”.

Along with screenings, there will be galas, family friendly events, panel discussions and an awards program.

While tickets and passes went on sale last month, there are still plenty of opportunities to be a part of this cool event.

There are still tickets available for purchase on the website, or if you are into a more behind-the-scenes aspect, the Dallas Film Society is taking volunteers to help work all aspects of the festival.

This is a great way to network and meet people in the entertainment and film industry.

SMU students—take advantage of living in the great city of Dallas to see good film and meet interesting people.

Dallas Farmer’s Market Provides Something for Everyone

By Natalie Blankenship
nblankensh@smu.edu

Most people head down to Dallas’ Farmer’s Market expecting to see buckets full of brilliantly colored fruits and vegetables while farmers offer up slices of their locally grown pineapple and cantaloupe. Who knew you could also go to the market and pick up a piece of jewelry or walk away with a mosaic mirror just shipped in from Mexico?

Located on 1010 South Pearl Expressway, the farmer’s market has an enclosed shed tucked away near the back for items other than fresh produce or plants. Inside the 26,000-square-foot, newly-remodeled building, shoppers can find just about anything: A counter stocked with silver jewelry imported from Taxco, Mexico; A store with aroma therapy candles, soaps, scrubs and body sprays; An African store with T-shirts, wood products, leather products and oils; A store selling Mexican imported mirrors, paintings and pottery; A counter selling glass products; and even a sausage company.

New vendors are appearing, but old vendors will remain selling their products. Restaurants are being built as the building moves towards hosting more food and food related vendors.

Stephanie Heard, an employee of a soap shop called Abundantly Aromatic, believes that the city is doing a lot to get more customers to the market.

“They’re doing a lot of marketing and getting a lot of new vendors our here to make it grow, so the more people out here, the better the business is,” Heard said.

The idea of enclosing part of the market and adding air conditioning and heat unit happened about three years ago. At first, vendors ranged from soap to silver. The shed is currently about three quarters full, but is growing rapidly. Food vendors and restaurants predominately fill the indoor portion, but vendors like Silver Springs Design have been there for 16 years and are here to stay, said Dallas Farmer’s Market customer service employee Liz Scoggin. Soon, the building will have a Greek restaurant, a Bar-B-Q catering company and other food venues, Scoggin said.

The Dallas Farmer’s Market opened as a city owned and operated market in 1941. It underwent a $15 million renovation in the 1990′s, which included a new resource center and the indoor shed, according to the Dallas Farmer’s Market Friends Web site. The Dallas Farmer’s Market Friends organization works to raise money for development and promotion of the Dallas Farmer’s Market, according to their Facebook page.

Owner of Silver Springs Design, Audrey McGarity has been importing and selling silver jewelry out of the Dallas Farmer’s Market with her husband Johnny McGarity for 16 years. She became interested in selling jewelry after her daughter moved to Taxco, Mexico, otherwise known as the “Silver Town,” to be a silversmith and an artist.

The McGaritys spent nearly 13 years selling silver jewelry out of an open-air shed at the market alongside the fresh produce. They had garage-type pull-down doors with no heating or air conditioning.

“It was kind of rustic in here,” McGarity said.

Some SMU students don’t realize that the farmer’s market is a quick 10 minute drive from campus. Others are unaware that items other than fruits and vegetables are sold. A Plano resident, sophomore Steven Kitt says he went when he was very young but all he remembers seeing are stands with different farmers selling their produce. Kitt was surprised when he learned that artisan items, jewelry and other items non-food related are sold at the farmer’s market.

SMU sophomore Idean Saki says he has never been to the market, but he’s heard from his classmates that it’s a great place to go to pick up cheap locally grown fruits and vegetables.

George Jackson, a sophomore attending  Richland College in Dallas, lives in an apartment building so close to the market that he can actually see it from his window. Jackson said that he goes to the farmer’s market frequently to buy his groceries and to browse the indoor shed. It’s very uncommon for college students to go to the market, Jackson said.

“No one my age goes there,” he said.

When Jackson first stumbled upon the indoor shed, he was drawn in by the local free range meat and the knife sharpeners.

“It reminded me of going to horse shows and going to the exhibits, they have all the same artisan stuff,” he said.

Because the enclosed shed is going to be mostly food related, McGarity is looking on the bright side and hoping the restaurants will bring them more customers as well.

“We’re hoping it’s going to help everybody,” McGarity said. “I think it’s going to get better.”

According to Heard, owner of Abundantly Aromatic, Renee Mitchell makes all of her products in her kitchen and in her garage. She has been at the market for about eight years, but has sold her homemade products out of her home for even longer. Her business has continued to grow with her booth at the farmer’s market, a booth in Coppell and a recent contract to have her merchandise at Central Market, Heard said.

Sometimes it’s difficult for small businesses at the market to advertise. Abundantly Aromatic has both a Web site and a page on Facebook. Not only do they have their business name online, but they also have a more efficient way to bring business in.

“Her products are just repeat customers coming back,” Heard said. “It sells itself, basically.”

Opinion Blog: It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

Posted by Laura Ratliff

Happy hours aren’t just for drinks anymore. In Dallas, a city with more restaurants per capita than New York City, happy hours with impressive food menus have been popping up all over the city.

Not sure where to go? I’ve compiled my top three picks – all restaurants that offer not only cheap drinks, but a chance to sample some delectable food for a fraction of the regular menu price. Whether your preference is sushi or a burger, these picks all offer a varied menu and generous pours at prices that will keep even a college student’s wallet happy.

Kona Grill, located in NorthPark Center, has been considered a happy hour favorite since its conception. In addition to the “regular” happy hour which runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, Kona is also famous for its “reverse happy hour,” which runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 10 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Deeply discounted drinks are only half of the draw for Kona’s faithful happy hour crowd. Where else can you get $3 spicy tuna sushi rolls and $5 calamari? Of course, that’s just a fraction of Kona’s impressive happy hour menu. If you’re not a sushi fan, $5.50 pizzas and a $4.50 ultimate fudge brownie should be enough to get you through the door.

One crucial tip: get there early. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, I was unable to find a table – even the bar area was packed. If you’re particularly lucky, you can enjoy the sunshine at a table on their patio.

While you’re at NorthPark, popular seafood restaurant McCormick & Schmick’s also offers a generous happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. If those times don’t work for you, give them a try on Sunday, when happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

What’s the food like, you ask? In addition to some of the most intensely garlic-flavored hummus I’ve ever had, you can also score a half-pound cheeseburger, complete with french fries, for $2.95. The lump crab nachos for $4.95 were also a standout – crispy tortilla chips piled high with a spicy black bean salsa and plenty of fresh crab meat.

Unfortunately, drink prices are the only downside to McCormick & Schmick’s otherwise lavish happy hour. The cheapest drinks on the menu are $3.95 and consist of Zeigen Bock beer and a Teeny Lemon Tini. They aren’t exaggerating when they say “teeny” – the drink is miniscule. If you want to spend a bit more, $4.95 can get you a glass of their house-made sangria or a LaTerre chardonnay. Apple-Tinis are also $4.95, for a much more generous pour than the Teeny Lemon Tini.

My favorite happy hour is hosted by a relative newcomer. Lumi Empanada and Dumpling Kitchen, located at 3407 McKinney Ave., may not yet be a fixture of the Dallas dining scene, but I predict it soon will be. Luckily for Lumi, its regular menu is priced so affordably that it is a frequent haunt of mine, regardless of the time.

If I happen to stop in during happy hour, which is held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, I can’t resist the jalapeno and pineapple margarita. Normally priced at $8, the $4 happy hour price tag is much easier on the wallet. The Royal Tea – a mixture of Crown Royal and green tea – is another definite winner.

The food menu is tapas-inspired and consists of several different dishes, all for $4. For that price, you might as well order one of everything! However, if you’re not feeling gluttonous the Thai panang curry chicken dumplings and the Ba Noi egg rolls can’t be missed.

Out of my top three, Lumi is also simply the most comfortable. The restaurant is housed in a converted old house and the open, modern feel of the space is nothing short of inviting. The only down side: parking can be a pain. Lumi does have a very small parking lot located off of Hall Street, but if you drive anything bigger than a Mini, be prepared to execute a 10-point turn to get in and out.

While these three are my top picks, an honorable mention is awarded to Steel, located at 3102 Oak Lawn Ave. The swanky restaurant, which serves what it calls Indochine cuisine, hosts Wednesday happy hours from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. that have garnered quite a following. Sip on a Mangotini and nosh on some complimentary sushi – some of the best in the city.

Lula B’s Antique Mall has Quite a History

by Elizabeth Lowe
elowe@smu.edu

At the age of 21, Mary Ann Kaylor bought a one-way ticket to Afghanistan.  Her sister was serving in the Peace Corps there, and on a whim, Kaylor decided it was time to pay her a surprise visit. Without speaking a bit of Farsi, Kaylor left her home in Greensburg, PA to board the trans-continental flight. Upon arriving in the Middle East, Kaylor relied on a few friendly British passengers to help her navigate the airport and track down her sister. In 1977, it was an unforgettable adventure of youth.

“It’s still very surreal…I’m not sure I would be that fearless today,” says Kaylor with a reminiscent grin.

It was with that same leap of faith, and arguably fearlessness, that Kaylor took over a Dallas antique shop she had grown to love. Together with business partner and longtime friend Patrick Springer, Kaylor transformed Lula B’s Antique Mall on Greenville Ave. in Dalla into the kitschy-chic destination it is today.

The business team had their work cut out for them when the previous proprietor, Marshall Bowdin, passed away only a few months into the changeover. Five years later, Lula B’s has two stores in Dallas where those in-the-know continue to shop for unique knick-knacks, one-of-a-kind furniture and groovy clothes. For Kaylor, Lula B’s created her niche in Dallas’ big city scene, a home in a tight-knit neighborhood.

Before taking over the store, Kaylor was a longtime dealer at the antique store, and still is today.

“Do I still sell? Please! Once it gets in your blood…” says Kaylor.

It all began with pottery and glass. As a girl growing up minutes outside of Pittsburgh, Kaylor went antique shopping with her grandmother. She always loved antique stores and collected her own treasures when she set off on her first independent living venture.

Although she scavenged local thrift stores and garage sales for unique furniture, it was the little extras that caught her eye. Dramatic glass vases, intricately designed bowls and lots of lights: luminous balls, hanging lights, and groovy lamps filled her apartment. Her collections grew. Like many who become dealers at antique malls, her booth days began when she decided to weed out pieces of her vast collection of decorative accessories. It was an avenue to unload and a license to shop.

In many ways, it was a series of coincidences that led Kaylor into her business role today.

“Our ownership of Lula B’s just happened. It was really one occurrence after the other,” remembers her business partner and friend, Springer.

In the late 1970s, after finishing an undergraduate degree in History at Seton Hill University, Kaylor followed her sister’s tracks to the Peace Corps. This time, she was on a plane to Costa Rica. Three years in the warm, tropical climate of Latin America was a welcome change from the harsh cold in Greensburg.

“I just wanted to experience different cultures,” says Kaylor.

Other than the Spanish came in handy when she later worked for an immigration attorney (she would eventually spend 15 years as a paralegal for major Dallas law firms), Kaylor did not speak in much detail about her Peace Corps experience. When her service term came to an end, she traveled toward the U.S. stopping in Mexico for a short period. Eventually, she made her way to Texas where her brother was living in Dallas.

“It was so nice and warm, and February! I think I’ll stay,” she remembers.

When Kaylor approached Springer with the proposition to take over and re-build the antique mall they called home, she came into the business venture with a “go with the flow” mentality. Due to the rising rent rates of the nightlife, bar populated Lower Greenville area, the long-time charter store is now moving to Main St. Kaylor met this challenge with the same “on to the next” mentality.

“It won’t be grunge like it used to be, when it was fun,“ says Kaylor, “but it will make a comeback. All I can say is when one door closes the other one opens.” A quick smile cracks, though it’s all very matter of fact.

A customer walks by the table where Kaylor sits and explains Lula B’s upcoming move.

“What will I do when your influence is no longer felt?” says the man with his backpack strapped tight, walking shoes laced, and headphones hung around his neck.

“That’s Richard,” adds Kaylor to the side. The two begin to discuss his recent seizure, weekly doctors appointments, and oh yes, those wild, giant wooden tribal masks new on display on the far left wall.

“She’s the people person,” says Springer. “She takes over the party planning, keeps relationships with customers, and does really well. I’m more numbers and inventory.”

The pair is the perfect business match to keep Lula B’s afloat. They attract more dealers and fill the space with a variety of antiques and collectables. However, the pair decided the newly reformed Lula B’s wouldn’t be your grandmother’s antique shop. Springer and Kaylor work side by side to buy the best mid-century modern pieces around. Their similar tastes have given the store its honed-in demographic and they apply only one rule: if we don’t both like it, we don’t buy it. Their newest location on Riverfront in Downtown houses Lula B’s largest collection of funky, quirky, yet tasteful collection of furniture and home décor.

On many days, Kaylor can be found in the store from open to close, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. At night, she returns home to two dogs, better known as her two mischievous children. To Kaylor, Lula B’s is home and a network of friends.

“See him over there? That’s Gerald, he’s been coming here for years,” says Kaylor as if the loyal customer is a celebrity client. “Oh and you may know Jane,” she says as she nods toward a petite blonde woman in a Habitat for Humanity t-shirt. “She’s an SMU grad; she sells in the large center area.”

Alongside Springer, Kaylor created a neighborhood for herself as well as for her dealers and customers. She keeps her dealers in the store at least twice a month, interacting with customers and constantly re-thinking their booth contents. It is all for the love of treasure hunting. Kaylor makes it very clear that dealers are on a month-to-month lease, with no long-term strings attached.

“Well if you’re here and you want another month, let me take your money!” says Kaylor half-jokingly to a long-time dealer waiting at the counter.

Tatiana Mores, a young Dallasite who just recently downsized her collection upon moving in with her boyfriend, came to Kaylor as a seller just two months ago.

“Mary Ann? Oh she’s interesting. A tough lady, but she’s cool,” says the new tenant.

Back at the counter, Kaylor points out a few of her favorite pieces.

“Brooches, oh I love, love brooches,” says Kaylor.

While working as a paralegal, Kaylor wore a different broche from her collection everyday. Sometimes coworkers would notice the variation of pieces of flare to her ensembles, others simply complimented her style.

“I’m not sure that many people caught on, but I loved it all the same,” she says.

Her appreciation for the small beauties in life and love for the unique and history-rich have driven Kaylor to where she stands today. As Lula B’s begins a new chapter in its story, Kaylor follows her taste and faith into the next adventure.

Dallas Has One of the Nation’s Fastest Growing Markets for Burlesque

by Nicolette Schleisman
nschleisma@smu.edu

Mood lighting and soft, sultry music set the scene as the doors open at Lakewood Theater’s show, “Amour.” The audience members, many with drinks in hand, are an eclectic group, from the buttoned down to the punk rocker. The music transitions to an upbeat swing and raises the energy of both the crowd and the performers: strippers!

Dallas has one of the fastest growing markets for burlesque in the nation, say producers. Since the theater community in Dallas is not as large as it is in some cities like New York, there are many unused venues willing to open their doors to the burlesque community. Some of the most popular include Lakewood Theater, Pocket Sandwich Theater, Excuses, and even the Texas Historic Theater.

Burlesque is a type of comedic variety show, where striptease is the main focus.

On Sat., May 15, Lakewood Theater will hold the Academy Awards of the burlesque world, “Hot Rods and Heels”. “Hot Rods and Heels” is a burlesque festival that always falls in between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. The festival features pin up models showing off the cars during the day. Awards are given out in the evening.

Dallas burlesque producer Shoshana Portnoy was a pin-up photographer before she became a producer. Pin-up photography depicts women dressed usually in lingerie, in provocative stances or positions.

Some of the pin-up girls Portnoy worked with became performers in local burlesque shows. Portnoy knows all of the local dancers and has theater ties enabling her to produce her own shows. Now, her productions can be seen at large venues like Lakewood Theater, which can seat as many as 800 people.

According to Portnoy, Dallas is getting some of the biggest shows. New York may hold a lot of the more popular names in the business, but it has smaller shows that can only seat around 100 people. The larger venues are reserved for Broadway shows.

Las Vegas also has a number of burlesque shows, but Dallas has overcome the West coast, too.

“Dallas recently in the last year got on the map as probably as hands down the fastest growing community in the U.S.,” says Portnoy.

Burlesque in America began during the years of Vaudeville around the 1890s, with girls taking off their clothes to allow time for the other performers to change sets and costumes. These women became the favorite feature of the show, starting competitions among them to see who could receive the best audience reaction. This is when the comedic aspects entered the girls’ acts.

Burlesque disappeared for a while but made a comeback in New York City  in the mid-1990s.  The American form of burlesque was once a mix of satire, performance art, broad comedy and adult entertainment featuring a striptease. Today there are several different types of burlesque: including classic burlesque and neo-burlesque.

SMU senior dance major Kendall Kramer has learned about burlesque in her history of dance class. She said that it is usually a simplification of a larger theatrical piece, focusing on the striptease element. Kramer explained that when people hear the word striptease, they tend to associate it with the word burlesque.

“There are some modern revivals of the satirical, multi-act events, but if you go to a smaller city and hear the word Burlesque, you are most likely not going to find performance art,” says Kramer.

Burlesque is performed in troupes, or a group of performers that put on shows together. For bigger shows, some members of the troupes will join other performers. One of the longest running troupes in Dallas, The Lollie Bombs, performs every other month at the Pocket Sandwich Theater. They produce their own shows and have many dedicated fans.

Michelle Robinet, also known as Miss Malicious, is a part of the Lollie Bomb troupe. She has been performing with the group for two and a half years. She never thought that the Dallas burlesque market was something she could get into.

Some people judge burlesque as a tacky strip show that is not funny or thought provoking without even seeing or knowing what a show entails. Robinet says that everyone should go out and experience a show.

“I’ve met a lot of people that have come to see a show finally that think it’s this sort of blah thing and then they come out and see a show and they are blown away by what they see,” says Robinet.

SMU senior dance major, Vanessa Trevino went to see a modern-day burlesque show last year with a friend hoping to enjoy it. She expected to see great entertainment, but saw what she believed to be nothing more than choreographed stripteases that ended in tassel twirling.

“We were expecting some kind of multi-act show involving entertainments such as dance, music, comedy, and magic, but that was not at all what the show entailed,” says Trevino.

The world of burlesque may be out of the comfort zone of some, but Portnoy insists that you must give it a shot before you judge it.

“No one takes themselves that seriously,” says Portnoy. “There’s no judgment, it’s just a really great scene.”

More Fast Food Restaurants Catering to Vegans

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Campus News Blog: Deadline to Apply for Master of Advertising Program is Rapidly Approaching

Posted by Monica Sharma

Meadows Students, listen up. If you are a senior who will be venturing out into that scary place called the “real world” come May, here’s an opportunity for you.

SMU now offers a Master of Arts in Advertising through the Temerlin Advertising Institute. With the job market still suffering and job searching becoming increasingly more competitive, staying in school for a few more years might be the way to go.

What makes SMU’s program different is that it takes the four core areas of advertising: planning, management, creative, and interactive, and integrates them through a filter of social and corporate responsibility.

After being submersed into these four areas, you will eventually specialize in one of them: Account Planning, Management, Creative, or New Media.

Included in the master’s program is an industry practicum, where a student will enter the workforce for a semester and will be able to sink his or her teeth into real life situations.

Dallas is a great place to be for advertising, and in a top 7 media market, opportunities are endless.

If the master’s program sounds like it might be for you, get on the ball. The deadline for Fall 2010 applications is March 15, which will be here before you can say “spring break”.

Campus News Blog: SMU Creative Advertising Students Win Big At Addy Awards

Posted by Monica Sharma

On Feb. 18, Southern Methodist University’s creative advertising students competed and won in the 2010 Dallas Addy Awards.

Hosted by the Dallas Ad League, SMU Temerlin School of Advertising Method Creatives compeated in the student competition against local rivals University of North Texas and Texas A&M Commerce.

They came out victorious with 15 Addys overall.

SMU senior Randall Kentworthy, a copywriter, won three Addys for his work on First Alert Fire Alarms, Open Skies, and Field & Stream Magazine.

Professors Mark Allen and Glenn Griffin served as nominators and supporters and were the ones who decided what work would be entered.

Thursday’s awards ceremony is a pretty big deal in the Dallas advertising world. In the professional competition, local ad agency Moroch won Best of Show in both print and broadcast.

Other professional competitors included well-known Dallas agencies like The Richard’s Group’s interactive advertising agency Click Here, TracyLocke, and Tribal DDB Dallas.

For the full list of Dallas Addy Winners, click here.

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