The most dedicated and winningest rock climbing gym in Texas held a competition on Friday night, the "Big Tex Bouldering Competition," produced by Summit Climbing gym.

It was a display of super athleticism, and an exhibit of the finest climbers in Texas. Not to mention there were four kegs of beer, burgers and hot dogs, and they kept this nourishment at the bottom of the rocks where I could reach it. So that was nice.

More »

via Flickr

In honor of Valentine's Day -- the Official Holiday of Unmet Expectations -- we asked some of our writers to recount their very worst dates. Our hope is that these tales of failure will cushion the blow when whatever you have planned tonight goes horribly awry.

Enjoy.

Back in college in the early aughts, I went on a couple dates with a friend of a friend. He was sort of an oddball, but I suppose that's why I was attracted to him. After we went back to his place, he interrupted our make-out session to reveal that his mother had recently passed away. Caught by surprise, I attempted to sympathize, because he was obviously in pain, but I'd like to emphasize this was our second date. What follows is my best recollection of our conversation.

More »

Photos by Matthew Lawson

Jr. Roller Derby Girls at their practice in Mesquite.

Roller derby is a game associated these days with violence and irony and beer in cans, whisked beneath the rug of mediocrity because of the half-interested press coverage it receives and the goofy names the players possess.

But if the parents of the young combatants skating in a dimly lit suburban skate barn over the weekend are to believed, this is a great sport for everyone, children included. Children especially.

More »

The Intown You Project is an Uptown outpost of an international public art installation called the "Before I Die" project. Basically, it's a huge outdoor chalkboard that asks, "What do you want to do before you die?"

A little over a month ago we told you about the installation, but now that it's been built, here's a little update for you. I spoke with Rabbi Zvi Drizin of The Intown Chabad about this project and what it means for Uptown.

More »

Among some of his less-remembered acts as governor, George W. Bush declared June 20th an official Texas state holiday back in 1999, honoring Audie Murphy. From meager beginnings as a North Texas plowboy to World War II's most highly-decorated American soldier, Murphy led a life of immense acclaim as a war hero turned Hollywood star, but the demons of combat followed him for the rest of his often tragic, short life which ended in a plane crash in 1971 at the age of 46. The city of Farmersville - one of several small farming communities in North Texas that Murphy called home before enlisting in the Army in 1942 - holds an annual celebration, with festivities this year on June 23.

It's a complicated story with blood, glory and celebrity, set to a country music soundtrack. There are pills, medals and Hollywood scripts, all culminating in a fiery crash. It is the inexplicable story of a simple North Texas boy who ended up "just like the movies."

More »

Arthello Beck, Jr.

"Juneteenth Picnic" oil, 30 in x 24 in

Juneteenth is a complicated holiday here in Texas. While it is a national celebration of emancipation, it is too a solemn reminder not only of one of the most shameful periods of American history, but also the fact that slavery did not end in Texas when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, but more than two years later when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to enforce its mandate. Celebrated since 1890, Juneteenth festivities - like those at Fair Park last Saturday - emphasize cultural, educational and artistic achievement, and you can celebrate today from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center during the city's annual free festival.

In the spirit of Juneteeth's focus and passion, we've started a list of some of the most influential African American Dallasites who forever changed the face of arts and culture in Big D.

More »

Blayre Stiller, Untitled

"I'm inspired by my fears, insecurities, and anxieties which can be both paralyzing and motivating."

Blayre Stiller ignited a lot of traffic here on Monday with our review of her work in Blair Blayre, an exhibition at Cohn Drennan Contemporary. Seems like everyone is feeling fuzzy and can't quite get her work off our minds. Since we were just staring wistfully out our office windows anyway, dreaming of her bold monochromatic drawings and confident feminine subjects, we thought we'd check in with the object of our artistic affection to learn more about the woman behind the charcoal.

A native Texan who, as the daughter of an A&M math professor, grew up predominantly in Bryan, Stiller completes her MFA next month at the University of North Texas. She graciously answered a few of our burning questions about the work we saw on Saturday night, and what we can hope for in the future.

More »

Run your fingers through me. I'm all alone.

Hi, I'm a lonely weave. Maybe you saw me this weekend, laying all by myself on the sidewalk in front of 7-11. I thought the corner of S. Field and Commerce would be a nice place to meet that special someone, but alas, I'm still single with no head-shaped prospects on the horizon.

A little about me: I'm a brassy brown, non-gender specific weave of mid-grade synthetic quality, and I'm looking for someone who won't leave me on a street corner to fend for myself. I want stability.

Turn on's include: heads that don't get too sweaty; not being snatched; wide-tooth combs.

Turn off's include: bodies of water; being snatched (I can't stress that one enough); and windy days.

If you think you're the head for me, please come find me, comb me, and keep me forever.

Photo by Kelly Kitchens

After the rise and fall of "John and Kate plus Eight" and the on-going popularity of "Nineteen Kids and Counting," it shouldn't come as any surprise that a new multiples-themed reality show is slated to kick-off tonight. This one, though, takes place right here in the Lone Star State.

It's called "Texas Multi Mamas," and it's exactly what it sounds like: A show that follows the lives of six Texas moms who've all had multiples. One of those moms is 35 year-old Dallasite Teryn Todd, the mother of a 9-year-old daughter named Taylor, as well as triplets Jake, Tyson, and Zach.

Todd fought the infertility war for several years before having Taylor, having been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Having gone through "tons" of tests and surgeries, Todd and her husband finally decided to go the Invitro Fertilization (IVF) route.

After the first cycle failed and after taking some time off, Todd was thrilled to finally get pregnant with Taylor. Five years later, since she still had two embryos left, she had a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) (along with acupuncture this time around). And, voila, both embryos took and one even split into twins. (Something that Todd's doctor told her had less than ½ of 1% chance of happening.)

We caught up with Todd last week. Check out our Q & A after the jump.

More »

Danielle Bennignus poses as Harvey Stein signs a photograph taken of her on Coney Island

The Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery, located in the Design District, hosted photographer Harvey Stein, who conducted a book signing for his fans this weekend. I sat with Stien at a large table surrounded by 12 photos featured in his book, Coney Island 40 Years.

Stein started the project in 1970 at the direction of his photography instructor, Ben Fernandez, who saw potential in the young artist as a street photographer. "He told me to get a Leica, and a 21mm lens, and go to Coney Island" Stein told me of his instructor. There he captured the image of an old man sitting on a railing like a marionette. The man's feet were comically large, his limbs slack and thin, and his eyes were obscured by thick-lensed glasses and the dark brim of a hat.

That shot was featured in a 1970 issue of Life, giving Stein his first nationally published photo, and fueling his love for the characters and scenery of Coney Island.

More »