Vintage finds in the Bishop Arts District

11/20/11 23:35 PM

By Grace Roberts/ Big D Blog groberts@smu.edu The Bishop Arts District is known as one of Dallas’ most unique, up-and-coming neighborhoods, mostly due to its small-town feel and boutiques filled with locally made and one-of-a-kind art—basically, products that can’t be purchased at NorthPark. For those of you that are tired of the every day department store shopping experience and want something that not everyone else has, vintage is the way to go—and the Arts District is there to help.  Introducing Zola’s Everyday Vintage: a boutique filled with men and women’s clothing and accessories dating all the way back to the 1930s and up to the 1980s. Owners Annette Norman and Diedra Sutton have a passion for style and authentic,...

Art Galleries help change the face of Deep Ellum

11/17/11 21:12 PM

By Joe Richardson/ Big D Blog joeyr@smu.edu There is always talk about the music of Deep Ellum. The local flavor of the songs that come out of the area is mostly what people remember. But it is my experience that when two or more musicians gather in one place- painters, sculptors and photographers are there with them. Since music scenes and art scenes go hand in hand, art is an ever-present part of Deep Ellum.  The artistic side of Deep Ellum is one of those factors that are changing the face of the neighborhood. The Kettle Art Gallery is a not-for-profit gallery that opened in 2005. The gallery gives local artists a place to show their work. The Public Trust is a gallery that opened in 2004. The gallery, “primarily exhibits drawings and paintings...

Snider Plaza Ushers in the Holidays

11/17/11 21:11 PM

By Anna Kiappes/Big D akiappes@smu.edu It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Snider Plaza as the shopping center prepares for its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year the family event will be on Sunday November 20th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The ceremony will be lead by Channel 8 News Brad Watson and there will be entertainment provided by such performers as the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet and the Lovers Lane Jazz Band. There will also be appearances by the Highland Park High School Football team and cheerleaders and also the big man himself, Santa Claus. Be sure to check out the different vendors and the food provided by Peggy Sue’s BBQ, Kuby’s, Yumilicious, Bandito’s, Half Shells, and My Fit Foods. Big D is a digital...

The Dreaded Middle Seat

11/17/11 21:08 PM

By: Christine Jonas/ Big D Blog cjonas@smu.edu Thanksgiving break has finally arrived for us Americans. Hallelujah. This year, while my family goes around the table saying what we are all thankful for, I will be proclaiming my thanksgiving for school breaks and a little vacation time. I will not however give any thanks for the means by which I will be traveling. Technological advancements have given airline companies the capability to let their passengers view their seat assignment weeks before their flight. I decided to take advantage of this wonderful feature to pick the best window seat I could find for my trip home for Thanksgiving break. After signing onto their website, I logged in my travel information, and, voila, I had access to my seat assignments....

Top Tablet Computers for the Holidays

11/15/11 09:08 AM

By Laura C. Murphy/Pony Post Blog lmurphy@smu.edu As the holidays draw near, wish lists are on everyone’s mind and companies are competing like crazy to have their gadget be at the top of your list. With the early release of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and the upcoming arrival of Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet later this week, tablet computers are sure to be on many people’s wish lists this year.  But with so many to choose from, many of you may be wondering, “Which tablet is right for me?” ABC News lists the top tablets to consider this holiday season. 1. Apple’s iPad 2. Now with iOS 5 and iCloud, the iPad 2 is a great choice for Apple users. The biggest downside may be the price, starting at $499. 2. Amazon Kindle...

Upcoming Events in the Dallas Media

11/14/11 07:21 AM

  By Katie Tufts / Big D Blog
 ktufts@smu.edu Though this is my last blog post for my Dallas Media blog beat, that doesn’t mean that events going on in the Dallas media are slowing down any time soon. There are several upcoming events in Dallas that no media junkie could miss. The first is the monthly meeting for the SMC Dallas (Social Media Club). On Thursday, Jason Falls of Social Media Explorerwill be speaking at the SMC as a part of his book tour. A popular speaker in the media world, he is sure to be informative and entertaining. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Katie Couric will be speaking at SMU for the Tate Lecture Series. Though the event is already sold out, students can go on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis on the day of the lecture. This is a...

Bishop Arts District hosts the third annual Cliff Fest

11/11/11 16:18 PM

By Grace Roberts/ Big D Blog groberts@smu.edu With local artists, vendors, restaurants and more, the Oak Cliff area is welcoming the Dallas community to the Bishop Arts District for a little “Sunday Fun-day” on Nov. 13.  It’s the third annual Cliff Fest—this year titled, “More Than Just a Taste.” Head to Bishops Avenue to sample foods from the neighborhood’s favorite eateries: ZEN Sushi, Lucia, Bolsa, Mesa, Nova, Lockhart, Hunky’s, and Tillman’s Roadhouse, to name a few.  And, don’t forget about the Chili Cook-Off, which this year is benefitting Well Community, a nonprofit organization that helps adults recovering from serious mental illness obtain love and health once again in their lives.  It only...

Beauty Ads Come Under Fire Again in U.K. as Marc Jacobs Perfume Advertisement is Banned

11/11/11 13:14 PM

By Caroline Foster/ Big D Blog cfoster@smu.edu Beauty advertisements are usually on the tame side. Whether it’s a new mascara or lipstick, typically ads show a close-up a model’s flawless face and little else. But recently perfume ads have been a bit more risqué and controversial. This week it’s a Marc Jacobs advertisement for “Oh, Lola!” perfume that is under fire. The advertisement features Dakota Fanning, a 17 year old actress sitting in a short white dress with a perfume bottle placed provocatively between her legs. In the United Kingdom the Ad Standards Authority banned any use of the advertisement. This decision was made after complaints were placed about Fanning’s age because the ad “Drew attention to her sexuality....

HP Tennis Team Takes No. 13

11/09/11 15:33 PM

By Anna Kiappes/Big D akiappes@smu.edu Looks like Highland Park is home to a new state champs, Highland Park High School tennis team and coach Dan Holden. The Scots took home their 13th state championship last Saturday. This 13th state title is a state record. The state match took place in College Station against Austin Lake Travis. In a statement released through the Highland Park Independent School District website, Holden said, “By winning the program's 13th state team tennis championship, this team put HP tennis at the very top of Texas high school tennis history as the winningest program in the state." Congratulations Scots Tennis! Big D is a digital journalism class blog produced independently of The Daily Campus. ...

Rules for getting through airport security quickly

11/09/11 15:28 PM

By: Christine Jonas cjonas@smu.edu As we make our way into the second week of November many things are clear: the weather is finally starting to consistently feel like fall, school workload’s are getting overwhelmingly heavy and the inside of any large store or shopping center looks like Santa’s workshop has exploded in it. We all know what that means: Holiday’s are on their way! With that comes a crazy time for travel. TSA, make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Even with a downturned economy and sky high ticket prices, people seem just as willing to fork over some extra money at the opportunity to spend the holiday’s with their loved ones. With the airports hustling and bustling, I think it is...