Dallas Arts District Fall Block Party

From 2014 09 19 Dallas Arts District

The Dallas Arts District put on another world class Fall Block Party Friday night. The Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art all were open late, with live entertainment (shout out to the Mariachi Los Unicos de Griener Middle School Exploratory Arts Academy), food trucks and more, the activity spilling over into the surrounding streets.

More photos after the jump.

Making Paper at the Paper Discovery Center

From 2014 08 27 Paper Discovery Center

Long before Richardson's Telecom Corridor or even California's Silicon Valley, the Fox River Valley in northeastern Wisconsin was known as Paper Valley. The combination of Wisconsin's vast timber resources and water and power from the Fox River was ideal for making paper. The resulting paper mills created prosperous communities and wealthy paper barons with names like Kimberly and Clark. A hundred years ago, it was said that there were more millionaires per capita in Neenah, Wisconsin, than in any other city in America.

Source: The Wheel.

The Paper Discovery Center is a museum located in a repurposed paper mill on the Fox River in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Besides exhibits showing everything you need to know about making paper, there's a hands-on exhibit that lets you make your own sheet of paper.

More photos after the jump.

Harry Houdini's Boyhood Hometown

From 2014 08 26 Houdini

Harry Houdini grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, living there from age four until age thirteen, when his family moved to New York City. The History Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton (next to Lawrence University) has a hands-on exhibit of Houdini tricks and artifacts.

More after the jump.

Ellen Accepts the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

From 2014 08 25 Appleton

Adrianne, Ellen, Stacy and Mikayla accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. A fun time was had by all.

More photos after the jump.

Bobblehead Day at Miller Park

From 2014 08 24 Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday, August 24, 2014, at Miller Park. It was Jean Segura Bobblehead Day. Attendance was 42,761 (102.1% full, based on regular season capacity). A fun time was had by all.

More photos after the jump.

Late Summer in the Steger Garden (2014)

From Flowers

From Flowers

Berkner 14, Mesquite Poteet 45

From 2014 09 12 Berkner vs Poteet

Ouch! There aren't many highlights to report from this game. The marching bands from both schools were excellent, as usual. The cool weather was welcome, with temperatures in the sixties. The misty rain that fell throughout the game was not. With the loss, Berkner drops to 2-1 with a bye next week and the start of district play September 26 with the annual rivalry game against Lake Highlands.

More photos after the jump.

Chicago Kids

From 2014 08 23 Chicago

More photos after the jump.

Correction: Mayor Maczka's Stand on Tolling Central

At the September 8 city council worksession, Mayor Laura Maczka clarified her statements to the Texas Transportation Commission, denying that she or the mayors of Plano and Allen expressed support for tolling Central Expressway, contrary to an unverified report I quoted from. In the worksession she said the city has not taken a position on tolling. I was wrong to state that she was still silent on where she or the city stands. I regret the error.

The Wheel Award for Excellence in Motion Pictures

Oscar night is six months gone. "12 Years a Slave" was the Academy's pick for "Best Picture." I couldn't say at the time that it was my pick for "best" movie of 2013 because I hadn't seen all of the nominees. In fact, I hadn't yet seen "12 Years a Slave" when it received the golden statue in March. Well, now that it's September, I can finally say I've seen all of the Oscar nominees for "Best Picture" of 2013 and I can pick a winner. Call this the Netflix Oscar.

After the jump, my own pick for "Best Picture".