Update: The Two Macaws That Blew Away Yesterday Have Been Found

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If you see two birds who look like this, it's probably them.

*** Update: Park officials recieved a call just after noon from a family in the East Dallas neighborhood of Little Forest Hills. Two parrots were perched in a tree in the back yard. Bird handlers were immediately sent out and have confirmed that these are the missing 13-year old macaws, Curly and Joe. They're being reunited with their fellow co-workers.

Original post follows below

Summer Adventures in Fair Park, the new seasonal State Fair offshoot, would like to know if you've seen any unusual parrot activity in the last 22 hours.

Yesterday's 20 mph wind gusts caused an unpredicted scene as two macaws were lifted away, mid-performance, during the one o'clock afternoon edition of Wings of Wonder. They are still at large.


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A Look Into Fair Park's Summer Adventure Series. Unlimited Rides Begin this Weekend.

Categories: Outside

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The Summer Adventure Series in Fair Park launches this weekend, and begins with tonight's pyrotechnic celebration and the unveiling of the Top O' Texas Tower, an observation ride that lifts passengers 500 feet in the air.

After the explosions disintegrate, the lagoon-themed playland opens weekends during May, and then daily from June 7 to August 18. The big allure of Summer Adventure is the inclusion of unlimited rides, plus bonuses like complimentary access to the Children's Aquarium, the butterfly sanctuary at Texas Discovery Gardens and one trip on the Swan Boats -- which you usually just make fun of, but would totally hop in if they were free.

You'll get cooled off by a new Logride, a bodyboard wave-pool attraction called FlowRider and a mysterious device called the Wet Boat. Your favorite Fair staples will also run, including the Texas Star, Wave Swinger, Starship 2000 (you might know it as Gravitron), Rock It (the crazy, hammer-like ride that lifts and spins clusters of humans high in the air), the Pirate Ship, Flipper and more.


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The Nasher will Screen The Three Amigos, Life of Pi and Moonrise Kingdom

Categories: Film, Outside

The Nasher released its Summer/Fall schedule of 'til Midnight events today, and there's some real gems in there. The late night series is a Dallas staple that pairs live bands, great movies and free admission on the third Friday evening of each month. The next six are a strong collection, from Bringing Up Baby to Moonrise Kingdom and Life of Pi, you have a lovely blend of new an old. But on August 16th, things get extra frisky.

That's when the Nasher screens The Three Amigos -- which everyone knows is the greatest film about three silent film actors who mistakenly travel to Mexico to accidentally battle a brutal villain due to an underfunded telegraph message through song and dance that's ever been made.

Mark 9 p.m., August 16th on your calendar and spend an evening under the stars with Lucky Day, Dusty Bottoms and Ned Nederlander as they croon in the desert and sew like the wind. (Go early and hear live music by Calhoun). Maybe, just maybe, someone will let you kiss them on the veranda, even though the lips would be fine.

Here's the entire Summer/Fall music and movie calendar for the Nasher, which all cheapskates should bookmark.

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Dallas is Freaking Out About Twilight Author Stephenie Meyer's Upcoming Appearance

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Is it still "camping" if it's next door to a Cheesecake Factory?
With her vampires put to eternal rest, Twilight author Stephenie Meyer was able to dabble deeper into other science fiction avenues.

In her book-turned-movie The Host, she invades the realm of alien body snatching and sets the stage for Earth's invasion. There, a lone resistance group remains, pocketed away from the Dune-eyed population, until one of its surviving few, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan), gets the touched-by-an-angel treatment. Drama ensues.

The big-screen adaptation gets released by Open Road Films on March 29, and to hype the thing, Meyer is traveling the country in support of her 2008 fiction release and its movie guide companion edition. For added photo bait, she's bringing two of the film's young stars, Jake Abel and Max Irons with her.

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Ticket Giveaway: Two Pairs of Passes to the Dallas Modern Home Tour

Categories: Outside

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House on Clearbook Lane, photo by PJ Torres
Architecture nerds, this one's for you. On Saturday, March 2, we will remove our shoes and pad through seven of Dallas' loveliest modern residences. (See our post about the tour and snoop through a few properties here.)

In the spirit of southern hospitality, the good folks of the Dallas Modern Home Tour have offered up two sets of passes. Winning them is a snap; here's how to snag 'em.

1.) If you haven't liked Mixmaster on Facebook, do that. Then leave a post on our wall that says "I want to go to there." Whoever hits the lucky number gets a pair of tickets. (Easy, and better odds.)

or

2.) If you already like Mixmaster on Facebook, email me, Jamie.Laughlin@dallasobserver.com with the subject line "Let me in."
I'll do a random drawing and announce the winner on Thursday.

This giveaway shuts down on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Good luck!


10 Freaky, Weird and Possibly Sexy Things To Do on Valentine's Day in Dallas

Categories: Outside

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Plan now, and get at least this far on Valentine's Day.
Dear Romantics,
I'd like to apologize in advance for this list of amore-rich dating ideas. You see, I'm an overextended writer who forgot what love was ages ago. My heart is actually made of diamond now, and not the naturally-occurring timelapsed compression of carbon that you're most familiar with -- that would have a certain charm to it. Mine is composed of that synthetically produced variety that scientists create in labs.

You know, the really sterile kind.

So when Valentine's Day rolls around, it's possible that I'm not Cupid's Ace Pick to guide you through all of the standard romantic gestures -- Edible Arrangements deliveries and his/her bearskin bathrobes -- but you know what? I'm all you got. And with that, here's ten freaky, weird and possibly sexy ways to get all seductual with your special someone -- or someones, if you roll like that.

1.) Romance Dinner Rodeo --Medieval Times tips its crown to young lovers on Thursday night with an AMAZING date package. For $99 you get a split of champagne and two commemorative glasses (smuggle in gin and you've got French 75s!), a commemorative scroll, a photo, some flags to cheer on your knight (the Green Knight is of questionable valor, I'd ask to be reseated), and TWO TRIPS TO THE DUNGEON!

Seriously, if things have been shaky in your relationship lately, this is the answer. The best way to make a lady feel like a princess is to take her on a date to a GIANT CASTLE. Make a reservation in advance; if last year is any indication, this night will sell out. Use the totally righteous telephone number 1-800-We-Joust.


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10 Things I Learned About The Medieval Times at Medieval Times

Categories: Outside

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Oh Dallas Castle, how thee doth beckon.
Since returning to North Texas a year ago, I've looked for any excuse to get inside that fortress. Valentine's Day was sold out. New Year's Eve would have been spectacular. But when I finally ventured across the moat and into Medieval Times' glorious and completely accurate facade, it was just an unassuming Thursday night. What can I say? Sometimes a lady needs to feel like a goddam princess. Dinner rodeos are great for that.

It's a strange thing, pulling into the parking lot of Medieval Times. You're immediately surrounded by family crests, formal European landscaping and a massive castle placed surprisingly close to the highway. I knew then that I should have studied up -- aside from an old This American Life segment and a lot of bodice-ripping fantasies, I was unprepared for this grandeur.

I took some notes to guide future visitors on their journey through time and plot. I hope you find them helpful.

1.) Yes, they had Wi-Fi in The Medieval Times
I suppose I should have realized that in advance, but I didn't. There are actually TWO Medieval Times Wi-Fi accounts, and each is set to private -- which makes sense. You can't let some schmuck from another land invade your bandwidth; that's how empires fall. I couldn't crack the password code, but I have determined what it isn't: Excalibur, Falconsrule, Heydudeniceskirt, Ilovedragonz, and Mead!Mead!.

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Where to Watch Super Beyoncé Bowl 2013 in Dallas

Categories: Outside

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Happy Beyonce Bowl, y'all!
There's two kinds of folks in this world: Those who like to throw a Super Bowl house party, and those who don't trust their friends to get wasted anywhere near the new sofa, children and/or dear family pets.

For those with rowdy pals, you're in luck -- Dallas is nothing if not generous with its boozy, liquor-y football offerings. The city's finest bars are ready for you, and most have fortified their menus with drink specials so you'll cheer all the louder. And remember, whether you pick Beyoncé or Puppy Bowl for halftime, everyone wins.

The Granada -- Our favorite party spot will slather on the warpaint and flip the coverage from music to football, then back to music, and again with football. They'll have delicious brisket tacos, nice low-lighting, extra seating, bars full of opportunities, and most importantly: Beyoncé's halftime show, blown up on Granada's 40 foot theater screen. Dance party, anyone? Hold up, it gets better: this party is free to attend. Doors are at 4:30.

The Owner's box -- If you read the Observer, you probably can't afford this spot. Cheapskates will race for free seats on the patio while the well-heeled reserve tables inside. The luxury of indoor dining, far away from the stench of the poor, will cost $50 to $100 apiece. There are also themed menus, which are most likely delicious. But if your favorite Super Bowl food is Rotel and Velveeta, then all this flossin' don't mean a thing.

Bryan Street Tavern -- No matter which team you support, BST's dedicated bartending staff has a shot appropriate to your loyalties. They won't specify what's in 'em (they're vodka-based secret recipes that we're told "taste great"), but they come in both a 49ers and a Ravens model. To help sop it up, you'll find specials on buffalo chicken sliders, chicken flautas and quesadillas. Drink specials? Sure, you'll get a dollar off drafts and wells. If you'd rather take the high rode, Bryan Street's pulling out growlers of Batch 19, a prohibition era brew, and selling them for $19 a pop. Visit bryanstreettavern.com.

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Five Ways to Use Klyde Warren Park

Categories: Outside

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Photos by Matthew Lawson
Until recently, something was missing from the downtown experience -- a central link that would make the Arts District a true district, somewhere the public could go for lunch or a stroll in uninterrupted peace. Between St. Paul Street and Pearl on the doorstep of the DMA now sits Klyde Warren Park, a park that embraces the trunks of nearby skyscrapers and the river of freeway beneath it, and somehow, against all metropolitan odds, delivers grassy silence.

After floating there during its opening weekend, we came up with these five options for making use of the park, in case you're still looking for a way to break it in:

1. Jog it. A romp around the perimeter of the park is a half-mile. The path is well defined, safely lit by lamp, and it meanders through a few different gardens, making for a unique trail that offers nature and skyscraper.

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