It goes without saying that MeVs are loyal drinkers of whatever brand of Kool-Aid Chromeo sells. Fortunately for us, their juice flows in the form of hip-thrust inducing harmony and unadulterated love. So naturally, when we heard the duo would be in Austin, we showed up. In Dallas, we showed up. And we danced.

There seems to be an agreed notion that a dichotomy exists between Dallas and other concert attendees. Apparently, Dallas doesn’t dance. Or as The Rapture aptly puts it, “People don’t dance no more, they just stand there like this, they cross their arms and stare you down and drink and moan and diss.”

MeVs would put an end to this canard.

Chromeo made it extremely easy. The crowd pushed towards the stage in anticipation, beer spilled on the ground, sweaty bodies collided, and everyone chanted repeatedly and in unison, “Chromeooo ohhh ohhh!” A sharp-looking Dave 1 and P-Thugg made their entrance on stage and rocked our socks and panties off. “Fancy Footwork” infectiously had the crowd moving their feet in tandem. “100%” probably made a few women (and men) lose their clothes. “Night by Night” from their upcoming album, Business Casual, had us wishing we were getting some one-on-one dance lessons with Dave. Some guys even brought glow sticks and danced their hearts out in the back.

There is no mistake the pair has been friends for ages. The chemistry in their performance and stage presence made us feel all the closer to them. Dave 1′s voice was as sexy as P-Thugg’s talkbox mastery.

So there you have it, needy girls and bonafied lovers, Dallas knows how to have fun. But it’s Chromeo. They could probably make your grandma bust a move.

If Dallas can boast about anything, it’d definitely have to be fine dining. And a three-course prix fixe meal with a $35 price-tag is tempting indeed. MeVersus is looking forward to some calamari from Dakota’s, pasta from Mi Piaci, lobster bisque from Pappa’s Bros, and salmon from Abacus. Will these items be on the Restaurant Week menu? Who knows! But we’re certainly getting hungry.

OpenTable has a list of the participating restaurants.

We’ll see you fine diners out there come the 16th!

Mother nature may be toying with Dallas this week. The one holiday of the year when clear skies are most crucial may bring sparks of a different nature. But cross your fingers and try to catch one of the following exciting festivities:

• Fourth of July Picnic in the Garden at the Dallas Arboretum – Sunday, July 4th 12-4pm
• Patriotic Pops with the Plano Symphony Orchestra at the Eisemann Center – Sunday, July 4th, 3-5pm
• Red, White & Boom in McKinney (parade, entertainment, and fireworks) – Sunday, July 4th  1- 10:30pm
• Fourth of July Jubilation in Denton (gutter boats, horseshoes, hotdog eating,  swimming, and fireworks)
• Family Fourth Celebration in Richardson – Sunday, July 4th 6-10:15pm
• Plano Independence Day Parade – Saturday, July 3rd
• Frisco Freedom Fest (party, music, food, and fireworks) – Saturday, July 3rd
• Kaboom Town in Addison (music, food, and fireworks) – Saturday, July 3rd 5pm-midnight
• Festive Fourth in Farmer’s Branch (Emerald City concert, concession stands, and fireworks)- Saturday, July 3rd 6:30pm-end fireworks
• Star Spangled Spectacular at Firewheel Town Center in Garland (jazz and fireworks) – Saturday, July 3rd, 4-9pm (and stop by Cha & Tea for some delicious!)
• Fair Park July 5th – better late than never (Dallas Wind Symphony, concession, and fireworks) – Monday, July 5th 6-10pm

MeVs wishes everyone an eventful Fourth (third and fifth)!

While most of us associate Happy Hour with martinis and cranberry vodkas, we forget the other benefit of after-work social bliss: appetizers. Soho has the stocked bar, but also an extensive list of enticing tapas. There was fondue, gnocchi, goat cheese tart, chicken with a truffle whip – each item will cause you to salivate more than the last. Put a group of rowdy ladies together, and you got yourself a buffet of good eats and jubilance all around.

Live Music
What makes Soho even better is the promise of “Live Music Every Night.” Tonight, we caught Thanh Morton, an acoustic guitarist with a passion for love songs. She’s a regular at Soho, but exudes a grace as though it’s her first time. The strums were so relaxing and the mood so ambient, we could’ve easily taken a nap in the corner booth.

Food
As mentioned before, the good selection of tapas can surely satisfy anyone, but the five or six course selection is very tempting. Our Mussels were tasty, the tiger prawns with Oaxaca raviolis live up to its majestic name, and the Suckling Pork with black truffle filled the air and the stomach aptly. Even the bread with the cinnamon butter spread was a hit. (Too bad they were scarce.)

Soho has an upscale feel, but concurrently down-to-earth. We can’t wait to go back. Maybe we’ll see you there!

It’s 92°F outside; but we’re Texans, so we inherently enjoy turning up the heat to a level others would consider pure masochism. And what better way to (mis)treat ourselves than an old-fashioned crawfish boil.

Of course, there’s Pappadeaux (mediocre size/taste), Nate’s (bland), Cajun Corner (I don’t need my fortune told today), or Boiling Crab (charge for water), but for optimal taste for the price, make your own.

Ingredients:

• five pounds of live crawfish
• a bag of crawfish seasoning
• bay leaves
• onions
• celery
• oranges
• potatoes
• corn
• sausages

Directions:
Get your pot as spicy as you can handle. Drop the potatoes and corn in first, they take much longer to cook. Add the rest of the ingredients in and cook until satisfied. Slowly steep the crawfish and boil for 10-15 minutes, or until bright red. Top it off with your choice of lemon pepper or garlic butter (or both.) Voila! Deliciousness with a side of burnt lips!

“Valentine’s is a shoddy excuse for super commercialism.”

“Why do I have to spend hundreds of dollars on this day just because someone decided I have to?”

Give me a break! It’s Valentine’s Day. Stop whining and go love somebody.

And on that note, here are some last-minute gift ideas for those less prepared and still indignant.

Chocolates for Valentine’s Cooking Class at Central Market – for $60/person, you and your sweetheart can enjoy making truffles and rochers and eating them too. You don’t even have to leave your room to make reservations.

Make your own bouquet with some fresh flowers from Sam’s Club. I know, Sam’s Club? But don’t dismiss this Walmart conglomerate yet. They always have sprightly blooms that last longer than you’d think possible. Gerbera daisies are definitely under appreciated.

You can either spend $70 for a box of Godiva truffles… OR spend $5 and 20 minutes to make your own chocolate-dipped strawberries that will surely be deemed thoughtful. You can buy Baker’s Dipping Chocolate at almost any grocery store, and strawberries are about $2.50-$4.00 right now.

You really like this chick? Get a record player that fits your budget, plan a date and head to your nearest record store or Half Price Books. Everyone loves music, and vintage is always in. (Thanks for this idea, James Logan!)
(Note: If she doesn’t like it, keep the player and get rid of her. You shouldn’t keep a girl that can’t appreciate your refined taste.)

Lakewood Theater provides the invaluable service of private screenings you probably couldn’t afford at any AMC. You might not get it for Valentine’s Day, but handing someone a “Private Viewing” ticket in any situation screams classssy. $500 and bring any movie you want.

I usually don’t promote things like jewelry, but I guess other girls like that kind of stuff. And if you have one of these, steer away from places like Zales. Anthropologie has a wide selection of unique pieces she’s bound to fall in love with. She might love it more than you. MeVs will not be held liable in such an event.

DO NOT give gift cards, iPods with your favorite play list (this generation’s mixed tape, but was out two years ago; and she probably doesn’t even like your music anyway), love coupons as the only gift, or anything you think her friends could possibly be getting (you’ll get the bitch-face for two whole weeks).

Gifts are such a weird thing. There are so many rules, financial back-breaking, and headaches; but find the perfect one, and the look on the recipient’s face definitely makes it worth it. Happy Valentine’s from all of us at MeVs!

You can’t tell upon a cursory glance, but Galveston has recovered a lot since Hurricane Ike. And even though it’s in the middle of winter, people are still migrating from the north to catch a glimpse of the gulf. Even Schlitterbahn is open with its indoor pool. (I don’t see the appeal, but to each his own.) MeVs was there with three main itinerary items: The Aquarium Pyramid, Festival of Lights/Ice Skating, and Hotel Galvez/Bernardo’s.

We were particularly excited about the aquarium for the penguin population. The one in Dallas has a few scattered here and there, but not enough to satiate our need for cute glacial Aves. I do have to say the the Moody Garden’s landscaping is top-notch. There is something seductive about a line of well kept palm trees. The Rainforest Pyramid was closed for construction, but the exterior view of monoliths took us a second to take in. That is pretty much where the magic ends. The aquarium wasn’t anything too spectacular. Not even the penguins. Birds waddling around in their ennui existence doesn’t exactly scream enchantment.

The Festival of Lights was also anticlimactic. The lights were there, but the festival part was definitely left to be yearned. There were plenty of people walking around the park, but the spirit of Christmas wasn’t. Especially when I overheard a Mom reprimand her child, “Why would I get you that stuffed penguin when I can get it at the dollar store for cheap?” Yes, because holiday cheer is sold at the Dollar Tree. The ice rink was a mid-size party tent with a cramped skating area. The only redeeming exhibition of the night was a fire performer that managed to draw in a vivacious crowd generously exalting oohs and aahs.

Hotel Galvez was an interesting experience for MeVs. We came expecting a Rick’s Café Américain feel, but ended up with more of a “Hotel California” eeriness. Understandably, the hotel wouldn’t be filled with zestful humans in the winter, but the empty halls and restaurant made it hard for MeVs to not feel vacant inside. At 12:00, no bellboy was there to greet incoming patrons, no one manned the counters, not a soul could be seen. Hotel Galvez is without a doubt the antithesis of Caesar’s Palace. (Bernardo’s crab cakes deserve a mention. Nothing but crab. Seriously, no fillers. Perfect!)

The city was definitely not a marvel, but as we drove down the Sea Wall at night, we inadvertently looked up through the sunroof and saw an agglomeration of twinkling stars. It brought everything into perspective: There is beauty everywhere, no matter how simple. And we suppose that is the appeal of Galveston. It’s dirty most of the time, it’s not a city of hustle and bustle, but it’s certainly a charming little place – one we’ll certainly return to time and time again.

Just because times are tough, doesn’t mean you can’t have an elaborate and healthy Thanksgiving dinner. You just have to know where to shop. And please, don’t subject your family to Walmart’s Thanksgiving Dinner for Family of 8 for under $20. That doesn’t even sound remotely appetizing or healthy.

If you’re excited about cooking your own dinner, how about try the fresh produce section at Sprouts, Sunflower or Central Market? If you’re especially diligent, check out some of your local farmers markets. You can easily pick up essentials, such as squash or yams, for a great price! (Dallasnews.com has a pretty exhaustive list of Farmers Markets in the DFW area.)

If you’re too busy to spend hours in the kitchen, Whole Foods always offers a fresh selection of prepared food items all made from organic or natural ingredients. Their mashed potato with gravy is always a hit at home.  They even have a vegetarian/vegan Thanksgiving guide. So now you can invite all your tree-hugging friends.

MeVs wishes everyone a grand Thanksgiving holiday!

We promised a Max costume for cheap, and here it is.

Materials include:

- 2 yards of faux fur (1.5 white, .5 brown) – $10
- 3 big buttons – $3
- zipper – $2.50
- fuzzy sticks for whiskers – $1.50
- paper crown – $.50

I can’t do the math and give you the total, but it’s pretty darn inexpensive. And awesome.

Halloween will be here soon, ladies and gentlemen. Don’t wait til the very last minute, throw on a onesie, some roller skates and call yourself one of the Evian babies. That’s just creepy. No matter where you’ll be or what you’ll be doing this holiday, here are some relatively easy costume ideas that will keep you looking fresh.

Jennifer Check – I haven’t seen the movie, and I probably never will. But if you have even just an inkling of pop cultural knowledge, you’ll know Jennifer’s Body was this year’s marketing frenzy favorite. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and nothing screams evil like a newly possessed teenager. Jennifer offers two outfits for your sadistic fantasy pleasure.

Essentials: a cheerleader-esque outfit or white prom dress, and bitchy hot face

Mad Hatter – Alice and Wonderland doesn’t come out until next year (March 2010), but the buzz has already been afloatin’. Don’t let the name trick you though. We all know the movie’s really about Johnny Depp, err… I mean, the Mad Hatter. Seriously, try and name the actress who plays Alice.

Essentials: a maaaad top hat, jacket, bow-tie/sash, and a teacup.

Max – The imaginative boy from Where the Wild Things Are teaches us how to rediscover our sense of adventure, friendship, and all kinds of monstrous mischief. I’m sure these are things we’re all hoping to find come October 31st. Please don’t be a fool and spend $610 on this costume. MeVs will show you how to make your own for less money and more awesome.

Essentials: Fur jump suit with ears and paper crown.

9 – So the movie didn’t do as well. Rottentomatoes even dubbed it officially “rotten.” But 9 is a newborn rag-doll instilled with the soul of a hero out to save the world from a totalitarian state! That’s pretty bad-ass. Not to mention, if you can pull off making this costume, you’ll be the talk of the night.

Essentials: Denim canvas body suit, ocular device, claws, and giant zipper.

And finally, if you really want to attract men, women, and children, just dress up as a H1N1 vaccine distributor.

Essentials: medical attire, vaccine shots