Valley House Gallery

Valley House Gallery and Sculpture Garden: A hidden gem in North Dallas.

More photos after the jump.

American Hustle (2013)

IMDB

American Hustle (2013): The big con. Plot twists. Unforgettable characters. 1970s clothes and music. Pushes without going over the top. A+

OTBR: A Field of Rapeseed in Ukraine

Latitude: N 49° 19.176
Longitude: E 027° 13.524

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Relatively Speaking at PST

Source: Pocket Sandwich Theater.

Relatively Speaking at PST: 3 one-acts by Coen/May/Allen. Plots and jokes feel dated, but enthusiastic local acting makes up for that. C+

As Richardson Goes, So Goes Plano

Wendy Hundley, of The Dallas Morning News, thinking about the news that Toyota would be building on a 100-acre site in the Legacy business park, notes that Plano's open land is almost gone.

Less than 8 percent of Plano's 72 square miles remains available for residential or commercial development. Of that 8 percent, 6.6 percent -- or 3,052 acres -- is earmarked for commercial development. A mere 1 percent -- or 428 acres -- is left for housing. Plano officials say that leaves plenty of room for business expansion, and future housing may take new forms to accommodate a population that will continue to grow. Buildout, to Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, simply means "a new phase of the city’s life."

Source: The Dallas Morning News.

Sound familiar? After the jump, more echoes of Richardson's experience.