Oak Cliff Earth Day: Green Tastes Good!

Oak Cliff Earth Day was a blast!  

I attended the OCED 2009 festival at Lake Cliff Park last Sunday - along with about 7,500 other earth-loving folks.  What a gorgeous day to celebrate the planet!  In addition to exploring dozens of eco-friendly vendors and exhibits, I munched some tasty treats and met some real characters.  Here are a few highlights from the event: 

1.  First and foremost - the food!  Right inside the stone pavilion which served as the entrance to the festival, several restaurants and food vendors were offering yummy things to eat.  Bolsa, It's a Grind (see smiling faces above), Marble Slab Creamery and Kessler Cookie Company were just a few of the tempting choices...

2.  ...but I only had eyes for Spiral Diner.  This brownie lasted exactly 1/10 of a second after the picture was taken.  It was amazing.  (Thanks for the tip, Eddie!)

3.  Speaking of sweets, I'm sorry to report that these colorful cupcakes were inedible.  You put them in your bath.  Hmph.  Not sure how I feel about the food-themed toiletry craze - but they sure look cute.

4.  Susan and Brandon Pollard of the Texas Honeybee Guild were in full costume for the festival.  These "Urban Beewranglers" offer bee rescue and relocation services, in addition to various products and educational programs.  (Maybe Jason should give them a call.)

5.  There were adorable dogs everywhere you looked (like the blonde cutie above), and lots of pet-centric booths.  I picked up a few samples of Innova holistic pet food for Max at the Green Pet tent.  He liked the cheese puff treats almost as much as I liked that brownie.

What a wonderful, feel-good day.  I'm so glad I made the trip to the OC to see what it was all about, and I've already marked my calendar for next year's event.

C&S

p.s.  Earth Day is coming up tomorrow, and I'll be celebrating at Mockingbird Station.  How 'bout you?

This girl loves wine even more than we do...

Up for an out-of-the-ordinary outing?  

A DallasEats regular sent me some info today on a very intriguing one-woman play called "Still Spinning the Bottle" starring a cheeky chick named Krissi Reeves.  This trustworthy reader assures me that Ms. Reeves' antics are well worth the price of admission, and you've got three performances to choose from this weekend.  Here's a personal message from the star of the show:

"Hi. 

I'll be performing my one-woman comedic play, Spinning the Bottle, this weekend at the DFW Fringe Festival @ The Dallas Hub Theater. In 2008, Spinning the Bottle won '1st Place Producer's Pick' & '3rd Place Audience Award' at DFW Fringe! So, you know, it's pretty dope.

This year, I'm back with more wine, more adventures in absurdity and more mind-numbing inquiries into the human heart. Hiccup. I have three shows this weekend - listed below. And afterwards, we can have cocktails! Come out this weekend - support local theater and definitely support Deep Ellum!"

- Krissi Reeves

DFW FRINGE FESTIVAL @ DALLAS HUB THEATER IN DEEP ELLUM

Friday, April 3rd @ 10 pm
Saturday, April 4th @ 2:30 pm
Sunday, April 5th @ 2:30 pm

Click here for more information on the show and a link to purchase tickets.  Click on the "Fringe Festival" box, then scroll down until you see "Still Spinning the Bottle".

Celebrate Spring Today at Whole Foods!

Whole Foods is celebrating the first day of spring in a 

very C&S-friendly fashion!  

Stop by the Highland Park store today for a free tasting of 20 wines from 4-7 p.m.*!  Yes, that's 20 wines to mark the beginning of patio season and the first blushing buds of the year.  

... And while you're at it, stock up on Castillo Guijosa Tempranillo, now on sale at WF for the low-low price of $6.99.  This red's a little spicy, a little smoky and just right for a March evening with a bit of chill left in the air.  And if you take advantage of the 6-bottle discount, this deal will definitely put a spring in your step.

Have a great weekend!

C&S

* I learned about this event by reading a flyer at WF Highland Park, and I later called them to confirm the details.  The Lakewood store will be hosting a similar tasting, but not until April 1st. 

Savor Dallas: A Delicious Diary

This past weekend was Savor Dallas, our annual two-day, multi-venue food and wine event.  Click the link below to read my full report on Saturday's International Grand Tasting, the centerpiece of this wonderful weekend.  I had an all-access pass, from behind-the-scenes set-up early in the day to an evening filled with chefs, winemakers and lots of amazing dishes and drinks.  

D Magazine's SideDish:  International Grand Tasting Diary

Did you attend any of the Savor Dallas events?  If so, which?  What were your impressions?

C&S

Tuesday Night is Foodie Night at Mockingbird Station

Just a little reminder that this holiday season is full of festivities at Mockingbird Station!  

Our favorite part of the celebration is, of course, Foodie Nights, featuring cooking and cocktail demos from a different restaurant each Tuesday.

Tomorrow, it's Tuna Salsa Rolls at Reikyu at 6 p.m., followed by Espresso Martinis and Saketinis at 8.  Yum!  Click here to read more about Get Gifted at the Station.

C&S

Foodie Nights at Mockingbird Station

I heard some exciting news from a friend last night:  During Mockingbird Station's holiday campaign, Get Gifted at the Station, going on now through the week before Christmas, they're hosting all kinds of events each week, including Foodie Night every Tuesday.  Fun!

Tonight's featured foodie fun is at Rockfish Grill, with demos of their Mexican Shrimp Martini and Spinach Dip starting at 6, followed by Rock-a-Ritas at 8.  This sounds like the perfect excuse to head out for some early holiday shopping - how better to reward our selfless generosity than with a frosty cocktail and a couple of tasty hors d'oeuvres?

Click the links above for more info and to keep track of who's on tap for upcoming Foodie Nights. You can visit the Station's main site at www.mockingbirdstation.com.