In an article I was interviewed for regarding the state of Deep Ellum, the word gentrification was used by the writer to describe my views on what is happening, or needs to happen to revitalize the neighborhood where my gallery is located. Since this article I have noticed this word being used more and more in conversations I have had pertaining to the area. Having minored in cultural anthropology I am very familiar with the word and its meaning, but today I looked it up on Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, so that the official definition can help to illustrate my point. And here is the definition they gave for the word:

gen·tri·fi·ca·tion • jen-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən • noun
the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.

What is happening in Deep Ellum is hardly gentrification. There is no displacing of a lower economic class by affluent people who are capitalizing on low property values for their own financial gain. In fact if you were to shop around the neighborhood you would find that a lot of the property in Deep Ellum is quite expensive. The property owners of Deep Ellum are doing what any good capitalist does, and that is simply getting a return on their investment. There really isn’t a lot that anyone can do to stop someone from selling something that is theirs.

Organizations like the Deep Ellum Association, Deep Ellum Foundation and the Deep Ellum Enrichment Project serve a key purpose of trying to keep the culture of Deep Ellum intact as we move into this new era promising big change. I think the spirit of Deep Ellum is more vital than the physical complexion of the area.

If a few large retailers end up moving into the neighborhood I think that will be really great for the independent businesses that are already here. Large retail, residential communities and restaurants generally come with budgets to advertise. This will ultimately draw new people to the area that might not have come here otherwise. Once they are here they can walk around and discover the O.G. businesses who are foundation of the neighborhood.

This isn’t an after school special where the big developer’s soft spot is touched when he sees the neighborhood kids playing on the playground he is about to tear down for his latest mixed use development, and the climax occurs when he tears up the contract while his investors stand their shaking their heads.

This is commerce not gentrification, and the above scenario will almost certainly never happen. So since this is inevitable at this point, playing ball sounds like a good idea. It is better than the alternative of being confrontational and resistant to change, you’ll get less referrals from your gigantic new neighbors.

If you want to see what gentrification looks like, Oak Cliff is a 10 minute drive from Deep Ellum.

Town2 Magazine is a 5.5″x5.5″ publication that has recently been released in Dallas. Unlike free distribution publications like Envy and Tribeza, who focus on Dallas as a whole, Town2 Mag’s focus is on the Main St. District, South Side, Deep Ellum, Victory Park, The West End and Expo Park. I am the art director and senior designer for this publication, and just going through the content list for the issue I discovered a lot of places in Dallas that I was completely unaware of. Some of them were so good that I have returned many times since my initial visit.

Tourists visiting the area can definitely pick it up at a concierge in any of the covered neighborhoods and get a local’s view of what there is to do in the city. If you are living here, looking to break out of your usual haunts this is a good place to start. It’s scheduled release is the last Thursday of every month, so keep your eyes peeled for this pocket guide to Dallas proper.

He’s back! Big Tex and the State Fair of Texas.

I’m actually excited. This is the first year that the fair is just down the street from me, and I’m looking forward to checking out all the fun that is going to be happening practically in my back yard. The rides, the smell of cattle and fried food, the activity and parades. It all starts tomorrow at noon with a parade through downtown Dallas. Let’s all play hookey from school or work and make it a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off reinactment. You’ll see me syncronized dancing with the crew over on the stairs.

Did you know they are going to have Chinese Acrobats there…and pig races, a cigar rolling demo, a llama show, and a dairy goat milk-off? The list goes on and on. Their website (www.bigtex.com) has a downloadable events calendar so you can print it out and circle your favorites and create your own State Fair expierence. My favorite page on the site is the highlighted events page. Marilyn Monroe is going to be pinned up all over the Women’s Museum, and you can sneek a peek for FREE. You have to pay to get into the fair, but once in, there are a lot of outrageous shows that are free to see.

Also while your are there, go ahead and spare yourself the wait at the ticket counter and purchase your tickets online. You’ll even get a discount if you do. General admission will run you $10.95 online and $13.00 at the fair. Food and ride tickets will cost you another $10.00 for a sheet of 20 tickets.

I’ll be there with my camera, trying and figure out what to take a picture of first. It’s going to be visual overload. Puppets, corndog-eating mullets, cowoys, cattle, flies, families with good kids, families with obnoxious kids, families with grandmas, crying, laughing, screaming…good times.

Love it or hate it, the Observer’s Best of issue is out on the stands. For the second year in a row they have issued a perfect bound edition along with the regular paper. Art Prostitute was named Best Hipster Art Gallery. And apparently goths and gutter punks frequent our openings rubbing elbows with people who wear sunglasses inside at night. I have not seen one of those 3 things ever in our gallery.

The thing that was most disturbing about the Best of Dallas, was that the reader’s picks are not elaborated on a bit. All they list is the name address and phone number. That seems super backwards. In retrospect at least that keeps you safe from their writers. My question is…Why bother with a popular vote, if you aren’t going to give your readers insight on what won?

It is that time again to cast your vote for the Observer’s 26th Annual, “Best of Dallas.” In the current issue there is a ballot, that you can write in your votes, or you can go online to www.dallasobserver.com and vote as well.

The online ballot is on the home page at the top of the side bar.

Just when we thought our parking troubles were over here in Deep Ellum with the meters being free till 6pm, we were soon to find out “the catch.” The parking patrol has a new job. Instead of checking for unpaid meters during the daytime hours, they are running your plates to see if you have any unpaid parking tickets!!! That’s right, you’ll get booted if you have any leftover, unpaid parking tickets…all for just parking at a meter.

I just wanted to give everyone the heads up. If you have any unpaid parking tickets, watch out for the “free” meters in Deep Ellum…you may end up getting your car booted, then end up with the major pain in the ass of having to figure out your way downtown without your car and having to pay your fines on fines, plus the booting fee. You might as well just go ahead and pay the 30 bucks now and save some of the troubles…but somehow I think this is all a bit strange. Is the parking patrol really allowed to run your licence if you are not breaking any laws…say if the meter is free, and you are legaly parked there?

Looks like the bloggers at DallasBlog beat me to the post. Free parking is apparently now officially in effect for Deep Ellum from 6am - 6pm.

I just wish that the press would stop the Deep Ellum harassment though. Come on guys. Quotes like “Deep Ellum has been on a death watch for some time now” really feeds the stereotype of this place. I would more likely say downtown Dallas in general is on a death watch. The forgotten west end, the struggling grocery store, the empty skyscrapers…it’s all dead like Deep Ellum too. The only thing other places in Dallas lack is such a rich undercurrent of cultural history like Deep Ellum. Maybe that is why more people keep poking the stick at a “dying” Deep Ellum, cause that’s the only place in Dallas they really care about.

Boo to the commenter who said “How about getting rid of the low-lifes, criminals and actually showing a police presence. That’s why nobody goes to Deep Ellum.” I live here and I have yet to be accosted by a criminal or low-life. Some homeless people, yes. Some crazy cracked-out street walkers, yes. But that comes with every city. I see maybe one a day, but it’s definitely nothing like other cities I have been in. Santa Monica for example has an outrageous amount of homeless people, but that doesn’t stop people from going there!?

Regardless of the whole “death” thing, my props to Scott Bennett for posting the news and encouraging people to re-visit Deep Ellum. Hurray for free parking…and goodbye damn meter Nazis driving everyone away from their “struggling” businesses.

This past weekend I went to Double Wide for the first time since they re-opened, and it was a good time. What is really great about DW is that you can see a band, have some drinks on a patio or at the bar, as all three are separate areas, which means if you are not feeling the band you don’t have to pay a cover to stay and drink, you can just go to the bar and rock the juke.

Above all it made me realize how those of us who live and work in Dallas have to support places like this if we ever want it our city to reach its full potential. There is always talk about crime and safety issues, but what major city doesn’t have that problem? I for one have found parts of LA and NY far sketchier than Dallas. You just have to be smart when you are out. What really brings out the worst in an area is when there is nothing going on. In those dead parts, where no one is around, is where most crime happens. The more businesses that open and stay open the better. So next time you are out think about that before you leave your hood for greener pastures. The grass maybe a tad brown right now, but it is amazing what a little water can do.

I’m trying to avoid making blanket statements, but have the people in Dallas lost their senses of humor? If one were to use the comments to my recent “Neighborhood” post as the benchmark, the answer would be yes.

My post was SATIRE. It was an attempt to poke fun at something that I have observed over the eleven years that I’ve lived in the DFW area. Not that I’m comparing my piece of crap post to this, but have any of you read A Modest Proposal? Do you really believe that Swift was advocating the eating of Irish babies? No, it was SATIRE.

The nascent idea of the post was a running joke among my friends. I love Williams Chicken. In my opinion, they have the best fried chicken in the industry. However, Williams Chicken stores are (typically) located in really bad areas. Add to that the odd prevalence of liquor stores in low income areas and you get the root of satire magic.

My post was a satirical attempt to highlight the dichotomy of DFW life; really life in any large metropolitan area. There is a HUGE difference between what you find in a low income areas vs middle-class or higher areas.

Here are some typical businesses that you see in large quantities in low income areas: pawn shops, payday loan stores, liquor stores, industrial warehouses, convenience stores.

Do you think that you’ll ever see a convenience store that sells “rock kits” of glass tubes and SOS pads in Frisco? Hell no. They can’t afford the rent. The companies that can afford it are Starbucks, Banks, PF Chang’s, Chipotle, Central Market, and Target.

Do you find it odd that it’s difficult to find a liquor store in the ‘burbs? I’m not talking about beer or wine stores, but stores that actually sell hard liquor. I have to drive twenty minutes from North Garland to get to the closest one. Do you find it odd that it’s difficult to find a pawn shop in Richardson?

Brian from Art Prostitute says in his comment that I’m a racist. I would have liked to believe that someone so involved in the arts would understand that there is more to a piece that just what you see with a quick glance at the surface.

My shit may not be good, but it certainly is art.

And also another quick thought. Are the only posts that people are interested in posts about gallery shows and openings? Lately, it seems that all the new posters are getting shit for posting anything else. I applied here because I’ve been a reader for a while and the posts dried up and I thought I could offer a different perspective.

The Metroplex is growing like crazy from the influx of folks moving here from all over the country. One of the most stressful things about moving from out of the area is figuring out if you’re moving into a good neighborhood.

All of the real estate sites provide information about schools, crime rates, sale comps, but are those statistics really valid?

I think not. So, I’ve devised the following formula to help you find out if you’re moving into a good neighborhood.

It’s a little bit of work, but isn’t your peace of mind worth it?

The formula uses the types of businesses that are within a two mile radius of your prospective home.

It is as follows:

(B+HV) X Sb X (PfC +Ch) X (LS + WC)

In laymen’s terms, take the number of banks and add the number of Hollywood Video stores. Take the result and multiply that by the number of Starbucks. Multiply that by the product of the number of P.F Chang’s and Chipotles in the area.

And finally, multiply that by the number of liquor stores and William’s Chicken locations (not KFC, not Church’s–has to be William’s Chicken).

If your result is over zero, you may want to consider another area.