The Goldfinch (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Goldfinch (2019): Museum explosion. Missing painting. Traumatized boy. A coming of age tale that is worthy of the Pulitzer Prize novel. The famous painting is the hook, which eventually is at the heart of a thriller plot. But mostly this is a character study of young Theo. B+

Compare to my review of the novel by Donna Tartt. Spoiler: I liked the movie, but I liked the novel even more.

POTD: Monument Valley Happy Hour

From 2018 09 20 Monument Valley

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Arizona's Monument Valley. Monument Valley likely conjures up old Westerns like John Ford's "Stagecoach," but modern day tourists can enjoy it at leisure from the deck of a hotel and visitors center that offers as spectacular a view of the Old West as you can find anywhere.

POTD: Geronimo

From 2018 09 20 Monument Valley

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Monument Valley along the Arizona/Utah border. This was the location used by Hollywood director John Ford for several classic Westerns, including the 1939 movie that made John Wayne a star, "Stagecoach." In the movie, a U.S. Cavalry Lieutenant warns the stagecoach passengers that "Geronimo and his Apaches are on the warpath." (Yeah, old movies were racist.) It was John Ford movies like Stagecoach that stamped Monument Valley in generations of movie-goers minds as what they think of when they think of the American West.

A Conversation with Jeff Bradford

This article was originally published in "Richardson Living" magazine. Read it on that website or read it here. Or read it in print. In mail boxes now.

A Conversation with Jeff Bradford
Executive Director of Fine Arts, Richardson ISD

In 2019, for the eighth straight year, Richardson ISD was named one of the best communities in the nation for music education by the California-based National Association of Music Merchants. That is just one of many awards for RISD just in music. RISD also offers education in theatre, dance, and the visual arts. Over the years, the RISD has had some illustrious leaders in fine arts. Former directors went on to lead the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), the Texas UIL Music organization, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the University of Oklahoma's "Pride of Oklahoma" marching band. Today, their big shoes are filled by Jeff Bradford as Executive Director of Fine Arts for the Richardson ISD. Richardson Living spoke with Jeff about the state of fine arts in RISD. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Elections Have Consequences, Lesson #214

The Dallas Observer's Jim Schutze is a rabble-rouser. Sometimes his rants are spot on. Sometimes not. But he's always worth reading. Dallas needs him. And if you read him with the right squint in your eyes, you could say Richardson needs him, too. His latest report on a vote by the Dallas City Council on a big zoning case at Northwest Highway and the Dallas North Tollway is a case in point.