Aug 19, 2010 4

ArtAffects Gallery – New Art Gallery on Magnolia

By: Kevin Buchanan

Located in the same building as Cat City Grill, ArtAffects Gallery opened earlier this month in the ground floor of 1208 W. Magnolia in the Near Southside.  A small two-room gallery space, ArtAffects showcases emerging regional artists working in contemporary and abstract styles.

You can’t help but notice the space as you walk or bike the street – the lights stay on until midnight, and with the works being right up on the sidewalk, the impact of the art gets transmitted right out into the public realm.  Currently, ArtAffects is featuring the work of Starr Perry, whose bold and bright artwork has found her clients ranging from Westin and NYLO hotels to Trammell Crow and London’s Heathrow Airport.

ArtAffects is run by central city resident Katie Dillow, who intends for the gallery to become an active part of the Near Southside community and the city’s art scene as a whole, both by participation in events like Arts Goggle and by working with local businesses who want to enhance their own spaces with local art (an example being a recent event at Grace in downtown).

After years of Magnolia storefronts being mainly occupied by restaurants and offices, it’s great to see some variety starting to emerge.  ArtAffects is a cool establishment that splashes art right onto the sidewalks and bike lanes of Magnolia Avenue, and I can’t wait to see it grow and evolve over time.

Check out ArtAffect’s web site for more.  Here are some other photos of the gallery in the evening:

Apr 9, 2010 Comments Off

Modern ‘Til Midnight Tomorrow Night

By: Kevin Buchanan

A reminder from the Department of Cool Things:  Modern ’til Midnight is tomorrow night.  Running from 6:00 PM to midnight (obviously), the Modern will be open for one of their always-fun parties/gallery showings featuring live music, cocktails, extended hours for Cafe Modern, special activities, and more.

This iteration’s live music list is the following:

In the lobby:  DJ Gabriel and DJ Gwendolyn

Outside:
7:00 PM – Monastary
7:50 – Ben Jones
8:50 – The Orbans
9:50 – Seryn
10:50 – Warpaint

At 8:30 PM, the museum will show the film I Shot Andy Warhol.

In addition, there is a costume contest if you’re so inclined:  dress like your favorite ’80s celebrity for a chance to win prizes.

Admission is $15, or free for Modern members.

Mar 26, 2010 2

Amon Carter Museum Library/Archives Spring Open House

By: Kevin Buchanan

Here’s a cool event for next week that you might want to put on your calendar:  this coming Thursday, April 1st, the Amon Carter Museum will be having its Library & Archives Spring Open House.  Guests are encouraged to RSVP by Tuesday.  Here’s some info from the museum:

Many may not know that the Amon Carter Museum library and archives is yet another cultural treasure in Fort Worth, and this spring’s open house is an opportunity for the community to have a special peek at our collections and visit some of the behind-the-scenes areas. Over the years the Carter library and archives has developed a national reputation as a destination for researchers working in the areas of American art, photography, and history of the western U.S. Although the collections offer great depth in these areas, visitors may be surprised to discover a much wider range of subjects. Guests will be able to view a staff-curated selection of material from the collections in the reading room and also browse the stacks, which are normally open to staff only. Refreshments will be served outside the reading room in the atrium. The event is free and open to the public, but we do ask guests to RSVP by Tuesday, March 30 tolibrary@cartermuseum.org or 817.989.5040.

Mar 24, 2010 2

Fort Worth Sings For Haiti – This Saturday In The Near Southside

By: Kevin Buchanan

Don’t forget – one of the biggest musical events to hit Fort Worth is occurring this Saturday in the Near Southside.  Fort Worth Sings For Haiti is a benefit concert for Haitian relief that is drawing some great acts.  Taking place at Magnolia Green Park (the site of the First Friday on the Green concert series as well – on Lipscomb between Magnolia & Rosedale), admission to the event is free and all proceeds from sponsorship, merchandise, and food/drink sales will be going to Doctors Without Borders.

The event starts at 12:00 noon and goes to 10:00 PM.  Here’s the lineup of bands, along with the time they go on:

  • 12:00 – Chatterton
  • 1:00 – Me and My Monkey
  • 2:00 – Jason Eady
  • 3:00 – Joey Green Band
  • 4:00 – Charlie Shafter & The Gnomes
  • 5:00 – Pablo & The Hemphill 7
  • 6:00 – Holy Moly
  • 7:00 – The Burning Hotels
  • 8:00 – The Orbans
  • 9:00 – Josh Weathers & The True+Endeavours

It’s sure to be a great show, and it’s for a great cause.  Come on by the Near Southside (or stick around after the morning’s Joe’s Run) and enjoy.

Mar 12, 2010 Comments Off

Spring Arts Goggle Sign-Up Form Online

By: Kevin Buchanan

Our friends at Fort Worth South, Inc. have got the sign-up form for the Spring Arts Goggle up and running.  If you’re interested in being an artist or a venue, head on over and sign up.  The Spring 2010 Arts Goggle will be held Saturday, May 15, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM in the Near Southside.  Plenty of other details to come, we’re sure.

Mar 11, 2010 Comments Off

Fundraising for James M. Johnston’s new short film, “Knife”

By: Kevin Buchanan

We’ve just noticed that our friend/local indie filmmaker James M. Johnston is conducting fundraising for his new short film, “Knife“.

By stripping away the dialogue and removing any overbearing plot elements Knife strikes at the core of the Southern Gothic mythos without falling into redundancy. Visually, every composition, every bit of lighting, every movement the character makes will be telling you something.

Fundraising is being done via IndieGoGo, and you can donate any amount.  Amounts of $50 and up receive special perks depending on the amount.

Good luck to James and his production team – we hope the level of funding continues to rise.

Feb 22, 2010 Comments Off

Drug Mountain Vinyl Available

By: Kevin Buchanan

Update:  Added the Weekly’s review, plus info that the $15 per record goes through PayPal to addisbritt@yahoo.com.

An FYI for local musicologists interested in the loud and cacophonous – Fort Worth’s own Drug Mountain has their debut release out, a 12″ vinyl out on Mission Co-Op.  The recording was produced by noise rock icon Steve Albini and a grand total of 100 copies were made.  We hear only around 40 copies are left.

The record’s available through Mission Co-Op:

RV-001 is Drug Mountain’s self-titled 12″. Fitted with an excellent design by DFW screen-print guru Nevada Hill, it represents both the band’s and the label’s first release. You can buy it through email here:

Send $15 per record via PayPal to addisbritt@yahoo.com along with your mailing address and we will get the records right out

Here’s a review from Quick:

The LP rigidly defies accurate classification; disarray is the only element that binds. Everything’s a mesmerizing mess. Tracks thrive on jarring juxtapositions; like making a diptych with Francis Bacon and Jackson Pollock. Drug Mountain paints with slippery, grotesque colors, and then basks like hogs in the resulting filth. Atonal and wonderfully cacophonous, the group pits dueling, vulgar saxophones against precise blasts of schizophrenic drumming and taunting, textural guitars like some sick cult ritual. The deathblow bass slides around like a panicking elephant on the deck of the Fitzcarraldo. The buried, blindly angry vocals stumble in to argue, screaming louder and louder just to get their points across. Songs range from mystifying wastelands of pummeling polyrhythms and rude, raving-like-a-drunk saxophones to grinding — oddly danceable — art-punk lash-outs.

Utterly elusive, but unforgettable, the whole record feels like blacking out. The seven — at least I think it’s seven — songs are over before you can taste what just hit you. The silk-screened album art by local artist — and band member — Nevada Hill looks like it could double as a secret portal to Hell. This is the dirty little record you hide and nourish like a closet addiction. Limited to a run of 100, snatch one up quick. Get dirty.

And here’s the Weekly’s take:

Pummelers with an arty sensibility, the four Fort Worthians (led by Britt Robisheaux, late of Nouns Group) combine minimalist guitar grunt with the crash-and-thump from one or two drummers, overlaid with dual-saxophone skree and shrieks/howls/wails of what must surely be the deepest human suffering imaginable.

Sounding at times like a parade of dinosaurs slogging their way to the tar pits of extinction (much like the men from Yeti in their last live performance), at others like industrial machinery with a madman at the controls,Drug Mountain is some heavy ramalama. The sound is the sort of thing that is generally more impactful in live performance, but listen hard and you’ll discover something: What makes Drug Mountain so effective is the ironclad lock between the guitar and drums. Respect the fundamentals.

Feb 2, 2010 Comments Off

Coming Up: “Andy Warhol: The Last Decade” at the Modern

By: Kevin Buchanan

Running from February 14 through May 16, the Modern will be host to a major new exhibit focusing on the later part of Andy Warhol’s output:

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade is the first U.S. museum survey exhibition to explore the work that this seminal American artist produced during the final eight years of his life. Warhol entered a period of renewed vigor and enthusiasm in the 1980s that resulted in what was arguably the most productive period of his career.

The exhibition includes approximately 55 works lent by private collections and institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. Along with an introduction to Warhol, it is divided into thematic sections based on significant Warhol series: abstract works; collaborations (featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat); black-and-white ads; works surrounding death and religion; self-portraits; camouflage patterns; and a concluding section of the artist’s Last Supper series.

The Modern’s blog has an interview up with Andrea Karnes, the Modern’s curator, about the prep work leading up to the new Warhol exhibit.

Jan 29, 2010 1

Haiti Benefit Concert March 27th in Near Southside

By: Kevin Buchanan

There’s going to be a big benefit concert for Haiti in the Near Southside on March 27th.  To be held at Magnolia Green Park, Fort Worth Sings for Haiti will donate 100% of all money raised to Haitian relief efforts via Doctors Without Borders.

The artist lineup is being finalized, and will concentrate on Fort Worth-local talent.  The organizers met yesterday with Fort Worth South, Inc. and Red Oak Realty and have secured the use of Magnolia Green Park, located on Lipscomb between Magnolia and Rosedale in the Near Southside.  Early discussions we’ve heard point to this being a sizable event.

Plenty of details to come – for example, there are some plans for valet bicycle parking for attendees taking advantage of the site’s urban location (we were happy to help get those discussions underway with the promoters).  This ought to turn out to be a cool event for a great cause.

Fort Worth Sings can be contacted via e-mail.  Their web site currently loads a temporary blog while the full site is put together.  The effort is being led by a group of volunteers, led by co-founders Chris Maunder (owner of The Moon bar) and Christopher Lenzini.  Additional details can also be found on the organization’s Facebook page.

Jan 14, 2010 2

Portland: A Passion for Sustainability, Tonight at Urban Green Build

By: Kevin Buchanan

Just a reminder – Urban Green Build at 1244 College Avenue (2nd floor at College & Magnolia, above the police station and Mamma Mia, across the hall from the Salon Upstairs) will be showing Portland:  A Passion for Sustainability, tonight at 7:00 PM.  See how Portland, Oregon has adopted strong frameworks to create a sustainable city.

The film starts at 7:00, and is free.  It’s also BYOB, if you’re so inclined.

Jan 12, 2010 1

A Walk through the Fort Worth Police and Firefighters Memorial

By: Kevin Buchanan

We recently took a stroll through Trinity Park (the part up by 7th Street) and visited the new Fort Worth Police and Firefighters Memorial.  The memorial turned out to be more elaborate than we thought – up near the entrance on Stayton/Museum Way, there is a small plaza and monument (there is also a lot of sidewalk and landscaping work going on up here, as the So7 development looks to be adding in some big, wide brick sidewalks to tie into all this).  Leading away from the entrance is a path lined with tablets featuring the names of fallen officers and firefighters.  This passes near the fountain on 7th and then leads to the statues of a police officer, firefighter, and horse, which are partially encircled by a large memorial wall with the names of police & firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.  It is a lovely and moving setup.

While there, we also noted the fountain on 7th was frozen over but still spraying, and got a few shots of that as well.

Dec 10, 2009 2

Free Showing Of "Food, Inc." Tonight At Urban Green Build

By: Kevin Buchanan

Just a reminder – tonight at 7:00 PM, Urban Green Build will be showing Food, Inc. for free at their offices in the Near Southside. Urban Green Build is located at 1244 College Avenue, the corner of College & Magnolia, on the second floor above the police station and Mamma Mia, across the hall from The Salon Upstairs. The movie is free and is BYOB.

Food, Inc. – “Surprising and shocking truths about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become and where we are going from here.”

Dec 8, 2009 1

Next Movies From Urban Green Build And Conscientious Projector

By: Kevin Buchanan

Our friends at Urban Green Build at Magnolia & College (2nd floor above the police station and Mamma Mia, across from The Salon Upstairs) have been putting on a series of free green-themed movies, and the next two are coming up.

This Thursday, December 10, they’ll be showing Food, Inc. – “Surprising and shocking truths about what we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become and where we are going from here.”

On Thursday, January 14, they’ll be showing Portland: A Passion for Sustainability – See how Portland, Oregon has adopted strong frameworks to create a sustainable city.

The films will be shown at 7:00 PM, are free, and are BYOB.

Also in January, on Wednesday the 13th, Conscientious Projector will be showing The Cove – “The Cove tells the amazing true story of how an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Japan, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The shocking discoveries they incovered were only the tip of the iceberg.”

Conscientious Projector screenings are held at 1919 Hemphill at 8:00 PM and are free. A discussion will be held afterwards.

Dec 4, 2009 Comments Off

Weekend Art Happenings

By: Kevin Buchanan

Here’s a couple of notable weekend art events, one at the Modern, the other at the Landers Machine Shop Gallery:

First, tonight is First Friday at the Modern, featuring live music and cocktails from 5:00 to 8:00. Tonight’s event features Mike Price and Sumter Bruton, and the special cocktail is “Jingle My Bell.” Dinner will be served at Cafe Modern from 5:30 to 8:30 – make your reservations soon.

On Saturday, starting at 8:00 PM, is the Thrift Art Gallery Show and Auction. This event, held at the former Landers Machine Shop (being transformed into an art venue) at 207 East Broadway in the Near Southside’s South Main Village area, features art collected by local artist Chris Blay that he’s collected via thrift, and is auctioning off with prices starting at $0.50. The pieces are given titles and backstories, and the funds go to next year’s event (bring cash). The event is BYOB, and DJ Lo-Rez will be providing the tunes.

Dec 3, 2009 3

Lake Como Documentary Premieres Tonight At Rose Marine Theater

By: Kevin Buchanan

“One Square Mile,” a new documentary about the Lake Como community, premieres tonight at 7:00 PM at the Rose Marine Theater. Below is a bit of info about the documentary taken from its Facebook page:

Struggle shows itself in Lake Como. It defined how the place came to be, and what sustains it now, more than a century later. Unlike other neighborhoods that grow outwards, the story of this community is in it’s containment. An African American community wrapped on all sides by affluent whites, Lake Como is an island.

One Square Mile, Fort Worth is the first film in a series produced by Brazos Film & Video. The Crum’s have already shot part of their second film One Square Mile, Smith Center about the small town of Smith Center, Kansas. For the rest of the series, Brazos Film & Video will be going to rural Alaska, a border town in Arizona, New York City, a New England fishing community and suburban California. Ultimately, the producers hope to get the series of films picked up by a national media outlet.

Husband and wife filmmakers Carl & Betsy Crum moved to Fort Worth in 1999 and founded their production company, Brazos Film & Video. Having met in film school at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, the Crum’s have been producing films together for 13 years. Their work includes numerous documentaries for national parks and museums around the country, as well as national commercial spots and industrial films.

Nov 12, 2009 14

Citizen Theater "Coming Soon"

By: Kevin Buchanan

Amy McNutt and James Johnston, who gave us Spiral Diner, have been kicking about some plans for an independent arthouse movie theater for some time (we first reported on it back in mid-2008). Now, they’re taking their efforts to the next level, launching a teaser web site for the theater and actively searching for investors.

At the site, thecitizentheater.com, there are contact links as well as a look at a cool logo and a bit of info about the Citizen’s goals. Here’s an excerpt:

Your days of driving all the way to Dallas to see good movies are numbered, friends. In a city known for its love of art and world class museums The Citizen will be Fort Worth’s first twin screen art-house theater. In addition to showing amazing new and repertory films we will also serve fresh gourmet concessions from Spiral Diner’s treasure trove of dessert recipes along with a top notch beer and wine selection. At The Citizen we take the film going experience to heart and will show all films with state-of-the-art sound and projection. The theater itself will be designed in an art deco fashion just like the most beautiful classic movie palaces.

We’ve been excited over the prospects of the Citizen for a long time now, and can’t wait to see things moving forward. The creation of the Citizen would be a huge boon for Fort Worth’s art and film scene, as well as further cementing the Near Southside as the home of the city’s independent creative class. Keep an eye on thecitizentheater.com and of course, contact Amy if you’re interested in investing.

Nov 6, 2009 Comments Off

First Friday on the Green and at The Modern Tonight

By: Kevin Buchanan

There’s two First Friday events happening tonight, and they’re both great:

The final First Friday on the Green of 2009 is tonight at 6:00 PM at Magnolia Green Park in the Near Southside. Tonight’s concert features The Orbans, with Luke Wade and No Civilians. Admission is free (donations of Capri Sun drinks and individually wrapped snacks for Fortress Youth Development Center are encouraged). Drinks and food via Chadra Mezza will be available – please, no outside coolers, as drink sales help support the concert series. Head to Magnolia Green Park tonight at 6:00 – located on Lipscomb, between Magnolia & Rosedale, in the Near Southside.

Naturally, tonight is also First Friday at the Modern in the Cultural District, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The musical guest is 3 if by Sea. Dinner at Cafe Modern will be served from 6:30 to 8:30 PM – make sure to make reservations.

Nov 2, 2009 6

The Dashwood Mystery Box

By: Kevin Buchanan

On Dashwood, just off Henderson in a part of the Near Southside that’s pretty sleepy (just south of Trimble Tech), you may have noticed a mysterious wooden box surrounded by a blue construction fence.

Thanks to some architect friends of ours, the mystery has been revealed. This nondescript box actually contains a mock-up of the skylight system that will be a part of the Kimbell Museum expansion designed by Renzo Piano.

An intriguing idea floated by the architect who sent us this bit of info: wouldn’t it be interesting to re-purpose this structure, after it’s finished, into a loft or small office? Add some windows and utilize it instead of tearing it down. Mock-ups and prototypes as infill development that can serve a useful purpose after its original use has ended. Just an interesting piece of food-for-thought.

Oct 5, 2009 8

Unsophisticated, but Enthusiastic – Scenes from Fall Arts Goggle 2009

By: Kevin Buchanan

The title, of course, comes from the now semi-infamous coverage of Arts Goggle by the Star-Telegram’s faux-hip Weekly Wannabe, DFW.com, where Gaile Robinson had this to say about the premiere Near Southside art event:

That’s how the merchants are billing it, and “indie” is an apt description. Whatever the works might lack in sophistication, the event and the artists make up for in enthusiasm.

One suspects that if Arts Goggle were run by a group of wealthy west-side residents and was healthily sponsored by Chesapeake Energy, the DFW.com coverage might have been more supportive, instead of reducing a major community art event with 65 venues and 15+ live bands to the level of an elementary school art fair where everybody gets a “Participant” ribbon. Though, we shouldn’t be too hard on DFW.com – after all, whatever they lack in genuine community enthusiasm, being in-touch with the indie scene, and local event coverage, they more than make up for in their enthusiastic efforts to be a half-baked corporate white-bread second-rate Fort Worth Weekly clone with all the sincerity and sense of local connection removed.

For everybody else, the biggest Arts Goggle yet was a grand time. Despite the off-and-on rain, large crowds circulated through the Near Southside, checking out the various art offerings on hand. We also had a lot of fun providing the narrated tours on Molly the Trolley, which in Fort Worthology’s case wound up running three hours instead of two just because the crowds were strong and we were all having too much fun. A big thanks to Fort Worth South, Inc. and the cadre of volunteers that helped make this an unsophisticated but enthusiastically great event. Now, a selection of photos.

Oct 2, 2009 8

First Friday & Arts Goggle

By: Kevin Buchanan

Don’t forget, this weekend brings two major Near Southside events. First up, it’s First Friday on the Green tonight, featuring The Burning Hotels, The Campaign, and Jimmy from Caroline’s Spine. Music starts at 7:00 at Magnolia Green Park, on Lipscomb between Magnolia and Rosedale. Admission is free, but donations of paper plates, cups, and individually wrapped snacks to the Ronald McDonald House are encouraged. No outside coolers – help keep First Friday going by buying some food & drink from Chadra Mezza at the event. Check the poster for more info.

Then on Saturday, it’s Arts Goggle time once again – from 3:00 to 10:00, come to the Near Southside and browse through 64 venues full of indie art, and listen to the over 15 live bands performing throughout the event. Trolley bus circulators (with tour guides from 5 to 7), bike routes, and pedicabs help get you around without a car. This is the biggest Arts Goggle yet, and it’s a great way to spend an evening in the Near Southside. Check the program for more info.

Sep 28, 2009 6

Fall Arts Goggle This Saturday

By: Kevin Buchanan

The fall Arts Goggle is coming up this weekend. It’s being held on a Saturday this time, to allow the addition of a couple of extra hours to the event. Arts Goggle has gotten so packed with things to see and do, the old 5:00 to 10:00 Friday schedule just wasn’t working out.

So, come to the Near Southside this Saturday, October 3rd, from 3:00 to 10:00 PM for a big indie art & music festival. There are an impressive 64 venues this time around, all across the Near Southside from Magnolia to Park Place to Fairmount to South Main to Vickery and more. Click here to view the Fall Arts Goggle program.

Some new things this time around in terms of transportation: first up, look for more pedicabs this time around. The pedicabs proved popular last time, and there are now more to help move you around.

Next up, Fort Worth South, Inc. and Fort Worthology worked together to draw more bicycle activity to Arts Goggle. As seen on the map above (and visible better in the program), the Arts Goggle map now features a layout of recommended bike routes drawn by Kevin Buchanan of Fort Worthology and Mike Brennan of Fort Worth South. These routes help to let those of you enjoying Arts Goggle on two wheels get around to all your favorite venues. The bike routes are visible on the map as dashed lines.

Finally, we’ve improved the trolley circulator setup for Arts Goggle as well. This time, the circulator trolleys will be provided by The T – that’s right, we’ll be welcoming Molly the Trolley to the Near Southside! Instead of the single large trolley bus from last time, we’ve got two trolley buses to help make the route more efficient and timely. The trolleys will run all night from 3:00 to 10:00, completely free.

What’s more, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, riders of the Arts Goggle trolleys will enjoy live narration in the form of Arts Goggle Trolley Tour Guides. Learn about the history of the Near Southside and about the efforts being made that have led to its revitalization as Fort Worth’s walkable, bikeable, independent neighborhood. Your guides will be:

Paul Paine, President of Fort Worth South, Inc.
Kevin Buchanan, author of Fort Worthology
Fran McCarthy, Near Southside developer

In addition to the 64 venues full of all sorts of art, there will be more than 15 live bands performing throughout the evening. Here’s a sample of the bands playing at Arts Goggle:

Luke Wade
No Class
The Matthew Show
My Wooden Leg
The Orbans
The Dan Family
Guthrie Kennard Band
The Theater Fire
Casey James Band
Sam Anderson & The Thriftstore Troubadours
Whiskey Folk Ramblers
Jerry Markham
Sloan Automatic
James Michael Taylor
…and more!

The list of venus is as follows:

TMA|CHL Architecture
Callahan Engineering
DMS Architects
Letterpress Graphics
Stage West
809 at Vickery
Crockett Firm
Jennings Street Yarn
J. Frank Thompson
T&P Tavern
Fort Construction
Tracy Autem Photography & Lightly Photography
Sawyer Lofts
Robert W. Kelly Architect
Landers Machine Shop Gallery
311 Bryan Lofts
Gallery Art Cafe
Hattie May Inn
Fresnel Technology
Magnolia Avenue Salon
Yucatan Taco Stand
The Salon Upstairs
Urban Green Build
Mamma Mia Italian Grill & Pizza
Flying Carpet Turkish Cafe
Inspector Green
Texana Townhomes
Oleander Place Townhomes
William T. Fitzgerald
1208 W. Magnolia
The Lifeworks Group
Fifth Avenue Eyewear
JJ Robb Real Estate
The Chat Room Pub
Alpha Cleanse
Panther City Bicycles
Lili’s Bistro
Spiral Diner
Sundance Scooters
Hanger Prosthetics
Nonna Tata
The Usual
Courage & Renewal North Texas
Ellerbe Fine Foods
Jo Dufo
Arts Fifth Avenue
The Neighborhood Library
Finn MacCool’s
HHS Gallery
Jason Needham State Farm
Double Exposure
J&N Automotive
The Art Station
Chadra Mezza & Grill
Herringbone Home
Schmedel Custom Furniture
Old Neighborhood Grill
Julie Lazarus Gallery
Quarles Window Center
Esperanza’s
Park Place Pharmacy
Sports Rehab Specialists
Butler’s Antiques
Studio Gallery

This Arts Goggle promises to be the biggest and best yet – bring your family and friends to the Near Southside for an evening of free art exhibitions and live music in the Near Southside.

For more, view the Fall Arts Goggle program.

Sep 25, 2009 1

Weekend Happenings: Michelangelo At The Kimbell

By: Kevin Buchanan

Not intended to be comprehensive, this is just a list of some stuff we’ve noticed for this weekend.

Undoubtedly, the big news is the public unveiling of the biggest news to come out of the Kimbell in some time: Michelangelo’s The Torment of Saint Anthony, the legendary artist’s earliest known painting and widely believed to be the first one he ever did. Created in 1487-88 when he was only 12-13 years old, The Torment of Saint Anthony is one of only four easel paintings by the master known to exist, and one of only two finished ones. It’s the only example of Michelangelo’s work in the Western hemisphere, and it’s now a part of the Kimbell’s permanent collection. This is big, big stuff, folks – get out to the Kimbell and take a look at an incredibly significant piece of history.

And this weekend’s a great time to go, because Saturday is Day in the District, when admission to all the Cultural District’s museums is free. The Modern, the Kimbell, the Carter, the Cowgirl Museum, the Community Arts Center, the Botanic Gardens, and the Log Cabin Village are all free of charge on Saturday.

Don’t forget that Sunday is all-day all-you-can-eat vegan pancakes at Spiral Diner, the best vegan restaurant in the whole universe (and probably the Mirror Universe as well). They’ve also got new Blue Plate specials: the Paul Reuben (thick slice of homemade faux corned beef and a heap of sauerkraut smothered in creamy “Swiss Cheese” Sauce, served on Jewish Rye Bread with Russian dressing, capers, and dijon mustered – with a side of Creamy Pasta Salad and a dill pickle spear), Pasta Salad A-La-Carte (pasta salad featuring organic spiral pasta with red bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, and a creamy-herb dressing), Corn and Potato Chowder, and a Banana Split dessert special (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry I-Scream with a fresh banana, with chocolate, caramel, vegan whipped cream, peanuts, and sprinkles on top). In addition, their next cooking classes are coming up: Holiday Meals Class on October 26th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, and Desserts Class on December 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Prepayment of $40 per person per class is required to hold your spot in the class. The classes fill up quickly, so contact them or go by the Diner to register.

Beginning Saturday, our friends at Galery Art Cafe at Jennings & Pennsylvania welcome new art by Jacque Forsher and April Greenlee.

The T&P Tavern has Happy Hour from 4:00 to 9:00, with all Texas beers $2.75. On Saturday, they’ve got No Class performing from 8:00 to midnight.

Lola’s in the Cultural District has The Good Show Live Music Series at 8:00, featuring The Theater Fire, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, and The Southern Sea.

In the Magnolia at the Modern series, the Modern will be showing “Herb and Dorothy” this weekend: Friday 6 & 8 pm, Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 2 & 4 pm.

Aug 14, 2009 Comments Off

Weekend Happenings

By: Kevin Buchanan

Not intended to be comprehensive, just some things we’ve noticed happening this weekend:

Scat Jazz Lounge has the great Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six tonight at 9:00 PM, an Adonis Rose Cd Release Show Saturday at 9:00 PM, and Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son on Sunday at 8:00 PM.

The T&P Tavern has Friday Happy Hour from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with all Texas Beers just $2.75 (draft or bottled). On Saturday, the T&P has free live music, featuring folk rock band Trinity Dogs this weekend. And on Sunday, there’s summer drink specials and free movie night. $2 Mimosas, $3 Margaritas, $4 Bloody Marys. This Sunday’s movie is the the Coen Brothers’ cult classic “The Big Lebowski,” starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The movie starts at approximately 7:30 PM. Because it wouldn’t be “The Big Lebowski” without them, the T&P will be serving up $3 White Russians on Sunday.

Fred’s has Gravity Feed tonight at 7:00 PM, Kate Hearne tomorrow at 12:00 PM, Electric Mt. Rotten Apple Gang tomorrow at 5:00 PM, Wino Vino tomorrow at 7:00 PM, and a Sunday lineup consisting of Kurt South at 12:00 PM, Garrett Heinrichs Band at 3:00 PM, and Terry Rasor Band at 6:00 PM.

The Omni Theater is showing “The Alps,” about Europe’s greatest mountain range and one man’s quest to climb the infamous North Face of the Eiger. “The Alps” runs today at 1:00 PM, 3:10 PM, 4:15 PM, and 5:20 PM, Saturday at 11:00 AM, 1:05 PM, 3:15 PM, 5:25 PM, and 7:35 PM, and Sunday at 12:00 PM, 3:15 PM, and 5:25 PM.

Arts Fifth Avenue is putting on “You Gotta Laugh” on Friday and Saturday, featuring performances of Steven McGaw’s Baitshop Confidential, Brian Farish’s Dry Gulch Zeal, Rey Debalsa’s Urges, and McGaw and Nicholas Irion’s B&B. Admission is $12, starts at 8:00 PM with pre-show music at 7:30 PM.

Aug 13, 2009 1

La Nouvelle Vague Film Festival Starts Today At The Modern

By: Kevin Buchanan

Starting today and running through the 16th, then picking back up on the 20th through the 23rd, The Modern and the Lone Star Film Society are putting on a film festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of the French New Wave with a tribute to the directors who influenced and emerged from the influential Cahiers du Cinema. Screenings include many of the most famous and pivotal, now classic films, from groundbreaking French filmmakers such as Francois Truffaut, Louis Malle, Claude Chabrol and Jean Luc Godard. Tickets are $8.50; $6.50 for Modern members and Lone Star Film Society members. Advance sales begin two hours prior to each show.

The schedule for this week’s portion of the festival is as follows:

Thursday, August 13th
6:00 PM Cocktail Reception (cash bar); Baguettes and Brie; Live music
6:45 pm Opening remarks: Christopher Kelly, author and film critic, Star Telegram
7:00 pm -
Last Year at Marienbad
L’année derniere à Marienbad
France 1961; Director Alain Resnais, with Giorgio Albertazzi and Delphine Seyrig;
94 min
Not just a defining work of the French New Wave but one of the great, lasting mysteries of modern art, Alain Resnais’ epochal Last Year at Marienbad (L’année dernière à Marienbad) has been puzzling appreciative viewers for decades. Written by radical master of the New Novel Alain Robbe-Grillet, this surreal fever dream, or nightmare, gorgeously fuses the past with the present in telling its ambiguous tale of a man and a woman (Giorgio Albertazzi and Delphine Seyrig) who may or may not have met a year ago, perhaps at the very same cathedral-like, mirror-filled château they now find themselves wandering. Unforgettable in both its confounding details (gilded ceilings, diabolical parlor games, a loaded gun) and haunting scope, Resnais’ investigation into the nature of memory is disturbing, romantic, and maybe even a ghost story.

Friday, August 14th
6:00 pm -
Elevator to the Gallows
Ascenseur pour l’échafaud
France 1957; Director Louis Malle, with Maurice Ronet, Jeanne Moreau, Lino Ventura;
89 min
A taut, free-wheeling thriller with an ingenious plot, sparkling location photography and a fantastic improvised score by the great Miles Davis, this film established Louis Malle as an exciting new voice in French cinema just as the New Wave was about to crash on to the scene. Critics have found the story contrived, but the film, if not an absolute must-view, is certainly an absolute must-listen.
8 pm-
Zazie in the Metro
Zazie dans le métro
France 1960; Director Louis Malle, with Catherine Demongeot, Phillippe Noiret; 88 min
Adapted from a comic novel by Raymond Queneau and occasionally labored in its attempts to find filmic equivalents for Queneau’s extravagant and hilarious wordplay, Zazie dans le metro is a film that succeeds in spite of itself. It is funny in its own right and mordantly perceptive in the way its unflappable and knowing pre-pubescent heroine deflates all attempts to put one over on her.

Saturday, August 15th
5:00 pm
Opening remarks: Charles Dee Mitchell, freelance author and contributing writer to the Dallas Morning News and Art in America.
Breathless
À bout de souffle
France 1960; Director Jean-Luc Goddard, with Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg;
90 min
Godard’s first feature and the film that (perhaps misleadingly) came to define the novelty of the New Wave. Petty crook and poseur Michel Poiccard kills a traffic cop and goes on the run. He takes refuge with American paper-seller and aspirant journalist, Patricia. Godard’s elliptical story-telling and the hero’s seeming amorality were equally puzzling – even shocking – to audiences at the time. Now it is a classic.

Sunday, August 16th
2:00 pm
Pickpocket
French 1959; Director Robert Bresson, with Martin LaSalle, Perreo Leymarie and Marika
Green; 75 min
Robert Bresson’s incomparable tale of crime and redemption follows Michel, a young pickpocket who spends his days working the streets, subway cars, and train stations of Paris. As his compulsion grows, however, so too does his fear that his luck is about to run out. Tautly choreographed and crafted in Bresson’s inimitable style, Pickpocket reveals a master director at the height of his powers.
“Ultimately inexplicable, this concentrated, elliptical, economical movie is an experience that never loses its strangeness.” J. Hoberman, Village Voice.
3:30 pm
Sea Change: How the French New Wave Was Part of a Changing Art World
Panel discussion with guest speakers
Dr. Robert Anderson, filmmaker, producer and professor of film studies at Tarleton State University
Dr. Frances Colpitt , Deedie Potter Rose Chair of Art History at TCU and a specialist in contemporary art, theory and criticism.
John Murphy, Jazz Studies Division Chair and Web Editor, University of North Texas
Dr. David E. Whillock, Dean of the College of Communication, Texas Christian University, and a CINE Golden Eagle award winner in 2007 for his film, My Voyage to Italy.

Aug 10, 2009 2

The Winged Book

By: Kevin Buchanan

Linklog

Browse the Fort Worthology Linklog - interesting and cool urbanism, transit, and bicycle links that aren't necessarily Fort Worth-centric.

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