Dallas, from the four years I’ve lived here, has always had hot summers. Most everyone knows that. But doesn’t it seem to be getting hotter as each summer roasts by? I recall moving here in August 2004 and instead of frying and praying I wouldn’t get a heat stroke, I was actually pleasantly surprised to see the temperature gauge read 81 degrees! It was 4:00pm when I read the temperature. It was truly an amazing, beautiful and not-hot day! Now, I realize, that was an anomaly.

I guess why I feel this hot topic needs to be addressed is because as you’ve read on Culture Feast  before, we have people complaining about high energy costs as well as protecting our environment by conserving energy. But isn’t it really difficult to be green when the temperature is so highly in the red?

As a pro-greener, I decided I’d do some research from the National Weather Service’s website here in DFW. I calculated the high temperature for today (June 28th) for the last 10 years as well as the last 20, 30, and even 60 years. I was expecting a dramatic increase in temperature and, finally, I would be able to PROVE global warming once and for all.

Interestingly, I was surprised with my findings. True, the highest temp for June 28th has occurred today (in regards to my own experiment, with a high of 99F), but it definitely didn’t sound any warnings. The year of 2005 had a high of 98 degrees. One thing worth noting, though small, is the rest of the 2000s had low 90s for June 28th’s high temperature. Maybe we are warming up, degree by degree, as the years pass? If you’d like to see the temperature experiment, click here.

Regardless of global warming, unusual weather trends or the fact that it’s summer in Dallas, one thing we can all agree on is that it is hot outside. What do you do to relieve the heat? Leave your favorite “beat the heat” tips in the comments below!

Keller surprises no one by coming in at #50 in the nation. Yes, the bastion of North Texas public school excellence was still beaten out by 49 other smalltown USA places. Still, considering all the places with better scenery in the country, #50 ain't too shabby. With a population of 35,900 and an average home price of $281,034 (and keep in mind that's for more than 2,000 sq. ft.), Keller is a pretty ideal place to live. It's one city over from North Richland Hills, where I currently live. As mentioned, their public school system is touted as something incredible (though I have no idea what they do so well). In fact, I have a Twitter friend who's just put her two story house on the market in Keller. It's a great deal. Contact me for more info. 

Mansfield comes in at #83. I know it has its charms, but I have a personal grudge against Mansfield. Nothing solid… it's just too far south in the metroplex. It's on the edge of farm country and I never travel down there anymore. Plenty of newer homes there, but the trees are too young and I need some shade in the Texas heat. Still, it IS one of our most popular cities, so I won't dog it too much. 

Grapevine makes an appearance at #97. Population 49,400. Located just minutes away from the 4th largest airport in the country, Grapevine is popular for its Main Street / downtown area and annual festivals. GrapeFest is an awesome event where you can try hundreds of wines from around the world. There's also a festival focused on food and (I believe) one on art as well.

Missing Cities
Southlake, Colleyville, and Frisco are three cities I'm surprised didn't make the list. Real estate is more expensive, but you're surrounded by opulence. That seems like a fair trade. I'd also say that North Richland Hills shouldn't have lost its spot from 2006, since it's one of the only cities in the area still improving and growing drastically. The Home Town edition surrounds the brand new NRH public library, a new elementary school, and the future NRH recreation center. 

Which cities would you rank as DFW's finest and best places to live? 

Of course, the catch is that you have to get there in the next 4 days. Today may have been the first day, so you might only have 3 days left. If I had the money, I'd be there right now. Take my word on this. If Trophy Nissan didn't lie in their commercial, you can get one of best mid-range vehicles for under $12,000. 

Get there early Friday. And then come back here and let us know that you purchased a sweet new car because we mentioned it. 

You can’t have Christmas without a tree, so if you haven’t put yours up yet, you should check out Christmas in the Country in Flower Mound, even if you have a fake tree (like I do some years). This is good family fun and plenty of stuff for the kids to do including sleigh rides and both complimentary hot chocolate and cider.

Shopping

If you can’t stand going to the mall to shop, here are some alternate choices: you can find just about any thing you need at Target, especially if you’re a young family with or without kids. Barnes and Noble, I’ve discovered, is always a good choice if you are shopping for parents, grandparents, and siblings. If you want good deals on CDs, DVDs, and video games, there is a place off of Cooper Street in South Arlington by the Parks Mall called Entertainmart - really good prices. If you are looking for something really special for your wife, you should try Diamond Wholesale Exchange in Addison.

Now this is going to sound really strange: if you want to buy perfume or cologne, a really smart place to shop is Albertsons (the grocery store). They usually carry all the name brands for about half the price. Another good place to shop that has a lot of everything including a wide selection on name brand clothes and isn’t in the mall is Kohl’s.

If you’re a big fan of coffee (which I am not but my wife is), you should try Starbucks Christmas Blend. Starbucks is also an ideal place to buy small gifts for friends and family.

Activities and Events

If you have kids between toddler and teenage, you should try Six Flags Holiday in the Park. I did this when I was a kid and it was a blast! My brother took my kids to Holiday in the Park recently and they had a great time. Tickets are $29.99. Parking is extra. If you want something a little more sophisticated, Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth will have several performances including “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol”. Prices and schedule vary. Casa Manana will also have some exciting shows, including “Frosty the Snowman” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Handel’s “Messiah” will be at the Meyerson Symphony Center December 2nd at 7pm.

Something I am definitely going to do this year is pack up the family, put some hot chocolate in spill-proof containers, get in the truck, listen to 103.7fm (Christmas music) and check out some Christmas lights. For the best Christmas lights communities, visit Grand Prairie, Dallas, and Arlington.

Movies

In theaters this holiday season: Fred Clause, starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti; Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium, starring Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman; Enchanted by Walt Disney, starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey; Thomas Kinkade’s The Christmas Cottage, starring Peter O’ Toole, opens November 30th; Alvin and the Chimpmunks, starring Jason Lee, opens December 15th; The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, is now showing - I was originally excited when I saw the trailer for this film, but am not sure if it’s something I want to endorse. Please be careful if you plan on taking your children to see this, or even if you are seeing it as an adult. Click here to find out more.

Restaurants

Before or after your movie, here’s a list of cozy places I like to visit during the holiday season.

Le Madeline – French Bakery with a fireplace. Great for a date night and a place where you can pick up some small unique gifts. Cracker Barrel – Notthing upscale, of course, but some good ‘ol country cooking. Family environment and another place where you can pick up some unique gifts
Carrabbas- Italian grill. Great food, great ambiance, nice place to eat in December. Perfect for a date night
Simply Fondue - Although time consuming, it makes for a nice dinner in December.

Around the house

Spending time with the family is one of the things I enjoy most about Christmas. Red wine is something I really enjoy while watching Christmas movies and snacking on my favorite foods. Every year I order summer sausage and cheeses from Hickory Farms. If you’re burnt out on the same old Christmas movies (It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story), here are some movies that have become tradition at my hous: Home Alone, starring Mcullay Culkin and Joe Pesci; Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis; Step Mom, starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon; The Family Man, starring Nicolas Cage; The Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks; Narnia; The Nativity Story; Planes Trains and Automobiles, Steve Martin.

Music

Here are some fresh options on Christmas Music:

“Sounds of the Season” by Enya
“Winter Song” by Sara Mclachlan
“Christmas Songs” by Jars of Clay
“A Christmas Celebration” by Celtic Woman

That covers it for now. If you have any other ideas I forgot to mention, feel free to chime in. Part of the fun is sharing our favorite things. Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

Knowing that barbecue is my forte, Daniel asked me to rank the best barbecue dinners in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. The weekend following Thanksgiving, you might be so turkeyed out that you're looking for something else. Look no further. I've got your top 5 BBQ list right here. So here they are, and feel free to add your agreements or disagreements in the comment box. We're starting at #5 and working our way to the top:

5. Shady Creek BBQ - This is more of an upscale (if that’s even possible), corporate place to eat. The restaurant's ambiance is nice. The BBQ sauce is ok. Major downfall is that the meat doesn’t have that smoked flavor that I like.  Their side dishes make up for what the meat lacks. Not the most affordable place, either. Plan to spend about $15 a person.

4. Cokers BBQ - This is a mom and pop BBQ joint located in South Arlington. Pretty good choices. The meat definitely has the smokey taste I like and they give you free beer! Charming place. Affordable.

3. Colters - This is probably the most consistent BBQ joint in town. You always know what you're going to get: the best smoked meat, great baked potatoes, affordable, fast service, and no waiters/waitresses.

2. Red Hot & Blue - Memphis style BBQ. The sauces make this place rock! You gotta try the hootchie cootchie (if your brave), the dry rub ribs, the ambiance, and the great sides like the hush puppies.

1. The Feed Store - The feed store is located in Southlake. Apparently, they started off selling feed and the owner made such good BBQ for his workers that he just started selling it. You'll still find the owner in the store, so stop and say hi. It definitely has the cozy at home feel. The BBQ is great, the sides are great, and its very affordable. Did I mention you get free ice cream with a small donation for a local charity? This joint is #1 in my book.

Encore Azaleas have a nice evergreen leaf and look great even when they're not blooming. When they do bloom in the spring, summer, and fall, they are gorgeous. Encore Azaleas come in about 20 different colors: mostly pinks, reds, oranges, purples and whites. My favorites are the Monarchs and Royalty.

Encore Azaleas are easy to care for. The key to healthy Encore Azaleas is proper soil, environment, watering and fertilizing. When I plant Encores I always use peat moss which retains water well and is ideal for the plant. Azaleas are also an acid loving plant, so they need the proper fertilizer. You can actually buy fertilizers made specifically for Azaleas.

Azaleas can withstand the North Texas heat, but I prefer to plant them in areas that get plenty of shade. They seem to thrive in shaded environments. Encores also need plenty of water, so always plant them in flowerbeds that have an adequate irrigation system*.

The Encore Azalea is definitely a great way to go when planting a new bed. Their vibrant, delicate blooms speak for themselves.

* for more information on how to plant and care for Encore Azaleas, visit Terra Firma Landscaping website.

"The cameras keep the streets safer." Really? Who really believes that? Let's call a spade a spade. The city needs money. They're building a brand new library, to be immediately followed by a new recreation center, both centrally located in the Home Town area. NRH is growing and improving, and red light cameras help pay the bills.

But what happens when you dispute a red light camera photo before a judge? Who testifies on behalf of the camera? Who answers questions about the veracity of the photographs claims?

My concern here is with unmonitored technology. Sure, someone may someday maintenance these cameras to ensure proper functionality. But what constitutes running a red light to this automated camera? Is it crossing the white line after the light has turned red? Or does it expand the definition to include any movement within the intersection once the light has turned red?

Here's my point: to my knowledge, I am breaking no laws if I pass through an intersection as long as the light was yellow when i broke the plane of the intersection. Once I have penetrated the intersection, the light can turn red and I have no fault.

But I've watched that annoying flash bulb light up three or four times within a second to help the camera capture license plates of offending vehicles and some of those vehicles appeared to already be within the intersection before the light turned red.

Let's be fair. I don't care that we should drive defensively. Law is law. If I am not breaking the law in the eyes of a human police officer, then I better not be flagged as a violator by some automated system. The law is the same regardless of who we put in place to enforce it.

If you can shed light on the situation, let's hear from you. Add a comment to this post and weigh in. I have my doubts that anyone can defend the cameras' flawlessness, unless some photos are evaluated elsewhere and not ticketed.  

Only a few short miles from Parks Mall, this new outlet mall will make Interstate 20 the place to go for all your gift shopping needs. Hopefully, the Hwy 161 (George Bush Turnpike) extension will be completed by the time of the outlet mall's grand opening. The southbound side of the turnpike currently ends at Airport Freeway in Irving, but construction has been underway for some time to extend the turnpike through Grand Prairie, intersecting with I-30 and eventually I-20 as well. 

In the mid-cities area, Parks Mall, North East Mall, and Southlake Town Square are currently the three best shopping areas between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Planned store names have not yet been released for the new outlet mall. We'll keep you updated on the construction and other newsworthy items.

As I mentioned in a work blog post, the Las Colinas tram will connect to the DartRail from downtown Dallas in 2011. Dart plans to connect Las Colinas to DFW International Airport as well.

With the current growth and coming public transit, look for Las Colinas to be THE place to be by 2011 or 2012. Dart buses already flow through the area. As more upscale residential buildings are built and filled to capacity with successful business professionals, expect Las Colinas to become a hub for high end restaurants, shopping, and amenities. 

Despite the feared green canal water, Las Colinas is where it's at in the DFW metroplex.  

With KKITM on the brain these days, I instantly thought of JC and Kidd Kraddick’s morning show. Peering into the dark windows, I saw nothing. Ten feet further on was a door with Kidd Kraddick in the Morning printed on the glass. Seriously? How did I not know that Kidd and the gang were this close? I always pictured them out in the middle of nowhere like Denton or Gainesville.

I woke up this morning at 5:30 (radically early for me), and wrote a blog about the Wall Street Journal’s article on reputation management. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I showered and dressed and headed for Las Colinas. I showed up in my infamous yellow long-sleeved shirt. It’s the same shirt I’m wearing in my DanielthePoet photo online.
I was a little surprised to actually see the morning show crew live and right there in the window. Big Al was chillin’ in his plaid shorts and flip flops, lookin’ like he’s ready to hit the beach. Kidd was hopping around the studio because he got his foot butchered at the doctor’s office yesterday. JC looked a little younger than I expected, but he’s got this easy going playful attitude like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He also was the one who looked outside the most, as if to see if we (the people outside) were laughing at the same things. Kelly was a surprise. I expected her mannerisms to be a little bit more stern and motherly. She actually has an endearing cuteness about her that caught me by surprise. Taylor had her back to the window the whole time, and only turned around to wave at two girls in the audience. She seemed down to earth, and less frilly than I expected. Shannon was the biggest surprise of the group. She wasn’t nearly as strange looking as everyone’s comments suggested. She’s a cute girl who could use a little more morning cheerfulness.

Honestly, looking at everyone, they look a little less thrilled than I expected, as though their Starbucks subscription just expired. They looked like they need a caffeine injection, but you couldn’t hear it in their voice. Maybe it’s just what happens when you do a radio show for years. They turn it on when they need to, but they don’t force it.

Good first impression. Maybe I’ll check them out again soon.

That's right. All you wannabe superstars will have your chance to shine. Season 7 of American Idol begins June 25th in San Diego and works its way to Irving's Texas Stadium on Monday, August 6th. Audition information will be posted on the American Idol website soon.

If you're 16 to 28 years old, you are eligible for tryouts. Good luck!

It’s hard to make a dying lawn look good. But even the best Dallas landscaping company will be grateful for the extra help from Mother Nature (and the One who created it). Cool temperatures, green grass, and plenty to mow. I know my yard’s growing like it’s goin’ out of style.

Unfortunately, life has been so busy that Heather and I have missed our annual Shrub Day. This would be disheartening were it not for the fact that Paradise Landscaping has provided excellent service to us this year. They will be adding some greenery and seasonal flowers to the beds soon, and then we’ll really be in business.

For now, let’s all be grateful that this year has begun with such abundant rain. All things considered, it beats the hell out of melting in drought.

The game just ended. Dallas defeated Golden State 118-112 due to two 3 pointers and several free throws by Dirk Nowitski at the end of the game. The most notable player, in my opinion, was DeSagana Diop, the seven foot backbone of the team. Diop had the best scoring game of his career, and his rebounds and defense helped a slow footed Mavericks team stay alive to the end.

I gotta tell you, though, I’m tired. Watching this game wore me out. As each free throw was taken in the last three minutes of the game, I felt that I would somehow jinx the team by wanting it too badly. I know. Still, I tried to distance myself emotionally so that the team stood a chance. I don’t think it worked, even though they won. Sadly, tonight’s game only reinforced the painful truth that I do not affect the Mavericks’ game. They win or lose because they rock or suck. That simple.

I guess the only remaining question is, does anyone really believe the Dallas Mavericks can last two more games to win the series? With the lack of motivation I’ve seen so far, it would seem that they don’t care much until they’re on the brink of extinction. That mentality doesn’t win championships.

Hmm….. yeah…… I’m hungry…..what’s for lunch?

Added at 9:56pm:

Scratch all that warm fuzzy stuff. Some areas of Denton County have received at least 7.4 inches of rain throughout today and tonight. That’s record setting for the past 30 years. Flash flooding in Denton has made it necessary to close roads and evacuate a retirement home.

My wife and I just spent a good ten minutes in the bathroom, keeping her, the baby, and the kitty protected. The sirens are off now. No hail around here this time, though a week or two ago we had larger than golf ball sized hail dent our cars, crack a car windshield and damage our roof.

Winds of 50-60 mph have been reported. Where we live, they announced 50mph+ winds moving in two different directions.

We’re just grateful for no more property damage. Let’s hope that this is a sign that the North Texas drought is over.

The point is that I see more and more car service companies driving people around Dallas, Irving, Addison, and Arlington. Must be nice. More power to them. Heck, if I was ridiculously wealthy, I’d probably hire a Dallas limo service to drive me to and from everywhere. Why drive when you can ride in style? Seriously. I’d give up driving in a second.