Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas

03/17/2010

Sunnyvale mosaic artist obsessed with garden orbs

BOBBY SANCHEZ / SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

For three years, Barbara Dybala has been swirling mosaic circles onto concrete balls to produce massive bejeweled globes destined to dazzle in the dirt.
Link: More about the artist
Link: Dallas Arboretum Artscape

After slow start, crawfish out in full force

It's finally time for mudbugs! The Saints and Mother Nature put the season off to a slow start. But now, it's time to indulge.

Crawfish Boils 101: Make it a party

03/15/2010

Winning the battle against allergies isn't easy

Duest mites, pollen, molds and substances found on animal dander are the most frequent culprits.

Getty Images

With the promise of some of the worst levels of pollen in the country, springtime for many in the Dallas area is something, indeed, to sneeze at.
More allergies news
More health news
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03/17/2010

In Season: Here comes the asparagus
With Easter and Passover only a few weeks away, it's not too soon to talk about asparagus. It's coming in a steady supply from three growing areas: Peru, Mexico and California. Many stores will have it on special between now and Easter.

Budget-friendly Aldi set to open Thursday
The first 11 of the 27 Aldi stores planned for North Texas this spring open Thursday. Aldi held a sneak peek at the Frankford-Marsh store in Far North Dallas earlier this week, where folks got to look but not buy.

03/12/2010

Dream weavers: Bountiful baskets and trays that look good while doing good

Helping people one basket at a time is a trend emerging into the design spotlight. A win-win for both artisan and residents here, these unique art forms add a sense of history to interiors and revive centuries-old crafts.
Link: Ten Thousand Villages
Link: Women's Peace Collection
More shopping news

03/15/2010

Tweet deals: food, groceries
Subscribe to these local Twitter feeds for insider deals and steals.

Prowl for owls on free Thursdays at Trinity River Audubon Center

My Town: Jen Mango of Frisco shares her favorite spots

Recipe for window cleaner

03/14/2010

Food safety: Forget that 5-second rule
If your family has lived by, or at least survived, the 5-second rule, researchers at San Diego State University say you may be living on borrowed time.

03/13/2010

Catch a rare warehouse sale at Rutherford's
Today is the final day of a rare warehouse sale at style haven Rutherford's.

HOME CALENDAR
HARDWOOD FLOOR CARE: Bona will offer demonstrations on proper care for hardwood floors. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Lowe's stores. Free. www.mybonahome.com.

Consuela home goods evoke a vacation in Mexico
Forget about snow globes or tacky shot glasses. Conni Reed brought a sense of style – and a business plan – back from her frequent trips to Mexican beaches.

03/12/2010

The barbecue chronicles: One day, four pit stops in East Texas

Old signs are still in use at Stanley's Famous Pit Bar-B-Q restaurant in Tyler, Texas Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.

GUY REYNOLDS/DMN

Our barbecue posse, composed of staffers from The Dallas Morning News, took its first tour last November. All of the feedback convinced us there was appetite for more stories from the barbecue trail.
Central Texas barbecue road trip: 5 smokin' meals in 28 hours
Link: Stanley's Famous Pit Bar-B-Q

South Side on Lamar to host Dallas Flea market
The Dallas Flea, 1409 S. Lamar St., www.thedallasflea.com. Major credit cards accepted

Fashion Flash: wearable art, vintage gear, Big D big spenders
{TriRight}You may have been to, or at least read about, West Village's Pop Up 310 temporary art gallery (3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 310, www.popup310.com), but what you may not know is the fashion angle. Open only Friday through Sunday (hours are online), James Cope and Brian Gibb offer a large selection of screen-print tees, some with original (and wacky) prints designed by Gibb. The shirts are $25 each.

03/10/2010

Proper pruning helps protect trees from storm damage

A lot of the damage to trees during the recent snowstorm could have been avoided. Local tree experts explain how consistent, thoughtful pruning makes all the difference.

Prune, but don't commit 'crape murder'

Trees and plants suited to the Dallas area

03/11/2010

Garden Gallery features Dallas Arboretum-inspired works
Photographers' tripods and artists' easels are common sights at the Dallas Arboretum, even on the grayest days of winter. Flower studies, birds, butterflies and other insects along with lake and landscape views are popular subjects that draw artists to the botanical garden.

03/10/2010

Club soda won't kill fire ants, but this recipe will
The information in the e-mail sounds too good to be true: Pouring club soda (carbonated water) onto a fire ant mound will kill the ferocious little ankle-biters.

CPSC to warn on baby slings because of deaths
The government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings — those popular and fashionable infant carriers that parents strap around their chests to give the little ones a cuddle on the move.

03/09/2010

Modern Irish: Artisanal ingredients banish bland stereotypes

Rachel Gaffney is a native Irishwoman, and her mission is to show the world that Irish cooking is more than corned beef and potatoes.

St. Patrick's Day events in the area

Eat and drink like an Irishman -- or as close as you can get in North Texas.

03/10/2010

Dallas-area wineries taking advantage of new law that lets them sell at farmers markets
Thanks to a state law that took effect in September, Texas wineries can pour and sell their wines at farmers markets and festivals, and we can expect to see more wine flowing at such venues across the state.

Beer Buzz: Rahr & Sons Bucking Bock

03/08/2010

'Boot camp' exercise classes have less yelling, more encouragement

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Fitness boot camps have gone soft. Or at least they're getting kinder. The workout is still intense, but area classes now offer a variety of features to help boost morale.

03/09/2010

Kids may pack on pounds under grandparents' care
Grandparents are known for doting on their grandkids, but could their care be linked to making children fat?

Manufacturer expands pet food recall
Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella.

03/05/2010

Nonprofit Dwell with Dignity designs homes to help the poor

EVANS CAGLAGE/DMN

The design-driven charity provides home essentials plus designer furniture and upscale electronics for recipients are enrolled in social-service programs.
Link: Dwell with dignity
Home Tours: See stylish Dallas homes

03/07/2010

True Romance: Matchmakers started the process; they did the rest
Andrea Pilcher went through a phase in 2001 in which she didn't care about a social life.

PawSafe products won't poison your pooch
Sure we love 'em, but there's no denying that our pets can make a mess. Paw prints on tile floors, nose prints on windows.

03/08/2010

How to protect personal financial information and even get taxes done free

Fast Break: A no-commitment chance to try family camping
Does camping sound like fun to you, but you're reluctant to invest in equipment unless you know you'd enjoy campouts?

03/06/2010

Home Calendar
DALLAS HOME AND GARDEN MARKET: Show will feature garden experts, tips and new products. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Dallas Market Hall, 2200 N. Stemmons Freeway. $9. 1-800-654-1480. www.thehomeandgardenmarket.com.

The Green Life: Eco Cleaners in University Park
Sometimes you just have to take your clothes to the dry cleaners. But at one local dry cleaner, you can at least be sure you're not harming the environment for the sake of looking good.

A fresh spin on the Dolly Johnson Antique and Art Show
FORT WORTH – Everything old is new again at the Dolly Johnson Antique and Art Show. The oldest continuous antique show in Texas and throughout the Southwest, "the Dolly Show," as some people still affectionately call it, will be in full bloom Friday and March 13 at Will Rogers Memorial Center.

03/05/2010

Highland Park Market's consignment shop hosts hot sales Friday and Saturday
Savvy shoppers looking for style on a shoestring can expect deals and steals at the new Highland Park Market, a home-furnishings consignment business that opened Friday.

Hillcrest Crossing shops are worth a look
Longtime Dallasites may remember the northwest corner of Hillcrest and Northwest Highway as the spot where Kip's Big Boy once reigned, hamburger held high a la Lady Liberty's torch. (Even older

Gourmet food truck brings healthy fare to Dallas business districts

Bows and Arrows offers whimsical, fresh floral designs

03/03/2010

The garden is a classroom at Dallas elementary schools

Educators say gardens enhance learning while immersing children in the natural world. A Fort Worth-based program is in the national forefront.

03/02/2010

Making candy can be as easy as pie

Forget what you've heard about candy-making being an all-day affair. Here are some recipes that are easy enough for a family project and don't require a lot of specialized techniques.

03/03/2010

Victory Gardens: Plant dill and cilantro now
Fresh herbs at your fingertips may be as good a reason as any to get a garden going. Cilantro and dill, in the parsley family, can be planted now, are fairly easy to grow and have many uses in the kitchen.

In Season: Pecan Lodge Catering to open at Farmers Market
Thursday marks the opening of Pecan Lodge Catering in Shed No. 2 at the Dallas Farmers Market, a catering kitchen with a cute, Hill Country-style counter and façade. Pecan Lodge will serve breakfast and lunch Thursday through Sunday.

03/01/2010

Human brains grow, change and can heal themselves

BRAD LOPER/DMN

Scott Hayner sorts cards by color during a brain-fitness exam with clinician Molly Keebler at the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas.

Scott Hayner of Highland Park says the new thinking – that the brain can heal and learn at all ages – has helped turn his life around after traumatic brain injury. He credits training at the University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth with helping restore abilities he thought were long gone.
Link: UTD Center for BrainHealth
Latest news on brain injury

02/26/2010

Plano potter creates kitchen essentials and sculptures

Innumerable works of clay later, Tom Holman continuously strives to keep his inspiration -- and his pottery -- fresh.

Beware of owner: Fashion-forward force of nature Carla Martinengo

Over the last 30 years, she's introduced some of Europe's most cutting-edge labels to Dallas. But pity the shopper who just wants to look.

03/01/2010

'American Pickers' on the History Channel

'The Vampire Diaries' on the CW

Extra straps with a purse are useful later
Save the extra straps that come with your new purse. Even if you don't like the shoulder strap or you unhook the hand straps, you might be able to use them when the purse needs repairs.

Castle Gap Jewelry founder Maxine Bennett shares her Dallas favorites

What the census takers ask
While the U.S. Census Bureau collects information all the time, it is best known for the decennial recording of every person in the country, happening this year.

02/28/2010

A 'Wicked' experience leads to a magical match
Adrian Disch's life has never been quite the same since meeting Kelsey Humphrey on a high-school trip to the Big Apple.

02/27/2010

Home Calendar
ORGANIZED OFFICE: The Container Store will host Get Your Office Working for You demonstrations. 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through March 28. All Container Store locations. Free. www.thecontainer store.com.

The Green Life: Daffodils are everywhere in McKinney
With a touch of spring in the air, it's time to begin the planting of spring flowers. The folks in McKinney didn't wait, however. Martha Cavazos Fipps, who works in the Office of Environmental Stewardship for the city of McKinney, says that as soon as she announced the Daffodils for Schools Program about a month ago, it was a hit.

02/24/2010

New redbuds dazzle with color, plus better performance and adaptability

Spring's signal gets updated with colorful leaves, such as gold (pictured), and versatile shapes.

Trees and plants suited for the Dallas area

02/25/2010

Raven + Lily's Kirsten Dickerson blends style with substance
Raven + Lily's site has a motto unique to fair-trade organizations: to create well-designed accessories that return 100 percent of proceeds to the maker's community.

Fashion Flash: The Fashionistas have a home
Nicole Richie launches the spring 2010 collection of her new clothing line, Winter Kate, at Neiman Marcus NorthPark on Thursday. The designer will be signing her apparel and just- released Fashion Rules! puzzle at 6:30 p.m. in contemporary sportswear on the second floor.

Carrots and kids are a good gardening match
Carrots tend to enjoy a special popularity with youngsters. I make my 5-year-old eat a bite of everything served for supper – broccoli, Brussels sprouts, whatever – then fill him up with carrots, without complaints. It's a veggie that he actually wants growing in our garden, and seeds ought to be planted by this weekend.

02/23/2010

Wine panel finds matches for classic American meatloaf

Take a comfort-food favorite upscale with six wines that pair perfectly with it.

More meatloaf recipes

More wine news

02/24/2010

Turtle Creek residence appears in ABC's 'The Deep End'
Locals have been buzzing about a certain Moorish-style manor on Turtle Creek Boulevard since construction was completed last year. Now Dallas developer Braden Power's Casa Bellamini (named for his mother, Gloria Albany Belloumini) is getting national exposure as the fictional home of actor Billy Zane in ABC's The Deep End.

In Season: Pastabilities marks 10 years at Dallas Farmers Market and more grocery news
It's hard to believe that Pastabilities is celebrating 10 years at the Dallas Farmers Market. It's the little storefront behind El Mercado Cocina Mexicana and just north of Shed No. 1 that owner Ed Greer shares with Mike Koster and Koster Cattle Co.

Beer Buzz: Estrella Damm Inedit
Estrella Damm Inedit

02/23/2010

Team Move combines exercise, counseling for grief recovery and other mental health needs

STEWART F. HOUSE/Special Contributor

Holly Lockett and counselor Steven Scott created Team Move as part group therapy and part boot camp. It's a way to help people heal from grief, anxiety, depression or other problems by keeping their bodies moving.

02/22/2010

Sprouts offers very low produce prices through manager's specials
Browsing the produce at Sprouts Farmers Market almost always induces a double take. In addition to advertised specials, the supermarket designates spontaneous manager's specials at shockingly low prices.

02/19/2010

Celina resident turns old church into his home

Louis DeLuca/DMN

Nearly a year in the undertaking, and with a hand from mom and dad, Keith Billick has a one-of-a-kind home

02/22/2010

Lands' End launches new line with Canvas
Catalog retailer Lands' End recently expanded its rooted-in-sailing-culture offerings with the launch of a new line of clothing. Lands' End Canvas offers durable, all-American separates that, stylistically, hang at the intersection of J.Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch. But – this is why you care – while an over-washed gingham men's button-down costs $70 at Abercrombie and $59.50 at J.Crew, the Lands' End Canvas Heritage poplin shirt rings up at just $39.50.

On the Radar: 'Light & Delish' and 'The Looking Glass Wars'

My Town: Jennifer Weintraub, portrait photographer

Deals: Groupon lets you buy coupons
For the bargain hunter, Groupon is like opening a treasure chest every morning. Log into your e-mail, and you might find a $25 credit for food and drinks at the Barley House for just $10, or $70 worth of services at Joy of Waxing for $30.

02/21/2010

True Romance: Friends made the match for a blind date, and couple saw the light
He wanted someone who appreciated his sense of humor. She wanted someone who would love her friends, even the tail-wagging variety.

02/20/2010

If you can't clean house, fake it
A friend calls and says she's in your 'hood and wants to stop by for a quick visit. You've got 15 minutes. You:

Method laundry detergent comes in a compact pump container
If a laundry soap can possibly have curb appeal, Method's new detergent has it. It comes in a cute, colorful and compact container with a pump dispenser.

Merry Maps help guests find their way to your event
While most 26-year-olds are far from having life mapped out, Daley Harris is making a business out of mapping out other people's special events.

Home Calendar: Collin County Home and Garden Show
COLLIN COUNTY HOME AND GARDEN SHOW: Event features exhibits, vendors and experts. DIY Network's James Cameron of Man Caves and HGTV's Paul James of Gardening by the Yard also will make appearances. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Allen Events Center, 200 E. Stacy Road, Allen. $9. 877-663-6186. www.show technology.com.

Animal shelters join green effort
A number of buildings in the Dallas area have greened their interiors and exteriors, but one place in Plano has really done it right.

Celina resident turns old church into his home
For Celina resident Keith Billick, his home is his castle, which was a church.

02/17/2010

Dallas retiree saves on plants by rooting cuttings for spring planting

LARA SOLT/DMN

The container gardens at Buddy Polser's home.

Frugality is not the only trait fueling Buddy Polser's time-consuming, late-winter ritual of rooting hundreds of cuttings for spring planting. He takes satisfaction in the self-reliance it represents, too.

Make winter pesto with kale, parsley or black olives

It's not the season for basil, but don't let that stop you if you are a pesto lover. These recipes make creative use of readily available winter greens.

Recipes that use pesto

02/18/2010

Vinyl record sales are surging
Disco? Dead. Mood rings? Obsolete. Vinyl records? Retro-cool and spinning back to life.

02/17/2010

Find Chicago hot dogs and sandwiches in the Dallas area
Two new delis near downtown are each touting Chicago-style sandwiches and hot dogs.

In Season: Get the freshest food at the market
Although we associate lemons with summer, their year-round availability makes them ideal for brightening winter tables. Several of these ideas come from Sunkist.com, the Web site of the California-based citrus cooperative.

Dallas-area food and wine events calendar

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Spotlight

Spotlight

Pruning primer: How and when to prune Dallas' trees
More gardening news

Fitness: Tips for working out in the cold
More fitness news

People: Catch up with Dallas newsmakers and style setters

Dollar Wise: Finding treasures in bulk trash castoffs
How to see potential in castoffs

Spotlight

Pruning primer: How and when to prune Dallas' trees More gardening news

Fitness: Tips for working out in the cold More fitness news

People: Catch up with Dallas newsmakers and style setters

Dollar Wise: Finding treasures in bulk trash castoffs How to see potential in castoffs

Pruning primer: How and when to prune Dallas' trees
More gardening news

Fitness: Tips for working out in the cold
More fitness news

Dollar Wise: Finding treasures in bulk trash castoffs
How to see potential in castoffs