For Those Who Like Unwrapping Their Neimans Presents Christmas Eve ...
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| Harry Wilonsky |
| What my 6-year-old saw beneath Neimans' window tarp last Friday night |
| Justin Terveen |
| Keeping Rosa Parks company at the DART West End Station that bears her name |
| That's my grandfather, Harry, on the far right behind the counter of S&W Auto Parts on Elm Street; standing next to him is his brother Eli. |
| Paul Sokal's grand-prize winner in the city's Trinity River Photo Contest |
| From this last week to finished by November 13 -- ka-boom! |
"We're still on track," he said this morning. "They're working really hard this week. Rain returns Sunday and looks like all of next week, so they've got till Saturday to get finished. It'll look pretty much finished to anyone who doesn't know. There will be some punch-list
items stretching on for a couple of months, but it will be open on
November 13. The fences will be down, and there will a new public park
downtown."
According to the committee's agenda, just five days later they'll officially debut David Newton's recreations of Lawrence Tenney Stevens's nine-foot-high Contralto and Countertenor statues, perched at the ends of the overhauled-for-$12-million Fair Park Esplanade. Then, on December 4, the Esplanade Fountain has its formal coming-out party following a sneak preview during the State Fair of Texas: Says Winters, Los Angeles-based Fluidity Design Consultants are presently programming the fountains.
"They've selected two songs," he says, "a rousing rendition of 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' and a more classical piece form the Rodeo suite by Aaron Copland, 'Hoe-down.' And Fair Park has commissioned two more pieces for Christmas, for the Lights in the Park."
NFL Hall of Famer and Fox broadcaster Troy Aikman braved the stiff winds and cool temperatures Thursday night while promoting the kickoff of the inaugural Friends of the Katy Trail membership drive. Joined by his two daughters, 7-year-old Alexa and 8-year-old Jordan, Aikman graciously signed various items carried by the hundreds of Dallas Cowboys fans appearing at David's Way, an entrance to the trail on Knox Street.
Photos by Sam Merten
An avid user of the Katy Trail, the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback engaged most of those on hand in banter, ensuring he connected with any children tagging along or bringing items of their own. Jayson Bales and the Charmers provided the soundtrack to last night's festivities, and the membership drive continues through Sunday. Volunteers recruiting new members can be found on the trail at David's Way, the Thomsen Overlook at Reverchon Park and Snyder's Union, the new plaza being built between Lemmon Avenue and Carlisle Place.
While Aikman's inking duties prohibited us from snagging him for a few questions, we did happen to run into council member Angela Hunt, who said, "Isn't it so cool that Troy is willing to do this?"
More pics after the jump.
| Justin Terveen |
| Justin Terveen |
| Danny Fulgencio |
| Nate Lightfoot placed third in the art competition and offered up his Sharpie so others could tag his ice cream bike's cooler. |
| Danny Fulgencio |
| A close-up from Jack Unruh's Dallas Convention Center piece |
Fair Park saw its last rail service on January 15, 1956, when the 12-Second line was converted to bus operation. This route ran from downtown Dallas through Deep Ellum on Main to Exposition, then past Fair Park in the same path the Green Line will travel. It then turned south on old Second Avenue to Hatcher Street, roughly parallel to the Green Line right of way.For my dad, who grew up on Park Row and whose father's auto parts store moved from Deep Ellum to Second Avenue in 1955, this'll be like watching old home movies. And, as the video's sans sound, I'd recommend clicking here as the film unspools. Because, as always, Tom Waits for no man.
At one time, there were four sets of tracks in front of the Fairgrounds where the DART Fair Park Station is located, and they were all utilized during the State Fair and for the Cotton Bowl.
| Matt Clarkson |
| If you think this one looks nice, check out this much larger version. |
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| Library of Congress via Flickr |
| The late Dallas County Judge Quentin Corley, pictured here in 1916 |
| Courtesy Reel FX Studios |