Lakewood, arguably the most neighborly neighborhood in East Dallas, presented the city with a local festival this past Saturday on what turned out to be a fantastically sunny afternoon (no thanks to the weather forecasts). Though expectations were low, Lakewoodstock attendance was relatively high, providing nearby residents with an unorthodox day activity for the kids and kinfolk.

More carnival than festival
Call me spoiled from the adventures of the past, but my definition of a festival has certainly been altered over the past year. Though it was a valiant effort, Lakewoodstock’s entertainment was quite lackluster. Local businesses and community entities did their best to add to the atmosphere with classic carnival staples such as face painting, ring toss, and a bounce house. Seriously, ring toss?

Venue Architecture
With Abrams Rd. splitting the venue in half, attendees were forced to throw away chug their beverages before walking 5 yards into the other half, back and forth, throughout the day. I suppose the party planning committee wanted to showcase local businesses on both sides of Abrams – that I can understand. Why not shut down that portion of Abrams anyways? I’ll chalk it up to first year rookie mistakes by the planning committee.

Silver Linings
Despite my prejudice and minor gripes, my low expectations were definitely exceeded by the sheer strength of the local community. Yes, the limbo between festival and carnival allowed Lakewoodstock to get away with not having some crucial stereotypical elements of either, but for its worth, I enjoyed myself. From the perspective of a local resident, I can see how this would be an attractive event on a Saturday at the end of spring. Boy scouts, the local fire department, and community businesses all pitched in to make this possible. With more helping hands, a little more foresight, and an absurd amount of more live music, I can definitely see this little local baby-festival growing into it’s own.

Stephanie C., a local teacher and Dallas native, exclaims her distaste for the Deep Ellum disaster and its declining state.

Deep Ellum once considered a hub for bohemian art and culture is, as of late, better known for their assortment of parking woes rather than la vie boheme.

The newest parking nuance nuisance is parking on unapproved surfaces. As if concert goers, art patrons, and the like don’t already have enough to worry about! First, there’s the ever so diligent meter police, where you’ll get ticketed for parking in Deep Ellum when elsewhere in Dallas evenings and weekends are free. Then, there are those parking lots that boot; whose enforcement, incidentally, has yet to come into compliance with the city’s new ordinance (chapter 48c), requiring receipt systems. Now you must make sure that the unmarked piece of land you have parked on is at least six inches of concrete, asphalt, or gravel with a border, per Dallas city code. So along with those tickets to the show, make sure you grab a ruler or a city code handbook to help you find a parking spot that’s legit. Afterall, there’s no app for that… yet. All way too much for someone just trying to enjoy some local flavor. All way too sad for an area that fully vetted, could reclaim its reputation as the artistic and musical hotbed it once was.

Instead, Deep Ellum has become a battle zone: meter mob versus music lover. Take Brandon Hancock for instance, whose story first ran in the Dallas Morning News’ East Dallas Blog. Hancock and another 100 or so attendees received tickets for parking on “unapproved surfaces” while at a show at Sons of Hermann Hall in late April. These particular surfaces, or empty lots rather, are on property deemed as private. Hancock’s questions now as he takes his case to local court are whether the city has the jurisdiction to issue citations on private property, and if so, why are taxpayers funding parking enforcement for private landowners? As of Friday, May 7th Hancock’s ticket has been suspended pending further investigation.

You are apt to find more information on where NOT to park on Dallas mainstay, Sons of Hermann Hall’s, website. That is not only entirely backwards but signals a dilemma of sorts for the many struggling businesses and venues. But, what can one do? Be lame? Complain? Miss out on the goodness that actually is there? It’s not their fault anyways! Next time, do what I will. Bring change, and lots of it. Look for parking lots that offer receipt systems. Get involved! The Deep Ellum Foundation and other local organizations charged with rejuvenating this area are always looking for those that are policitically inclined to help the cause. And if that is just a little too much effort, then just do what’s recommended by some of these local business owners themselves. Try out Dart’s new green line that now serves Deep Ellum. Hopefully, it will prove to offer up a solution and not just more fodder for internet bloggers.

-Stephanie C.

We hear ya, Stephanie. Take a break from the urban music madness, and join us at any of the upcoming summer festivals!

“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!

MeVersus MONOLITH 2009:

Saturday, September 12

sold out emergency ponchos

From the moment we walked onto the grounds of Red Rocks, it was obvious the weather would be the starring attraction for the day. Rather than the intermittent and quickly passing rainstorms that had been described to us by countless Denver natives, the rain remained a constant annoyance from minute one with few breaks from the incessant, spitting drizzle the rest of the day. The gray, hanging clouds robbed the famous surroundings of any color and the temperature was just low enough to affect anyone without a rain poncho – of which there were many.

The Answering Machine

Still, we didn’t fly out to Denver to bitch and moan and they don’t sell hater-aid at Red Rocks. For any newb to Red Rocks, it’s surprising to see how much they’ve built around the natural stage. The impressive guest center and additional stages complimented the festival proceedings well. We first caught the UK’s The Answering Machine at one of the indoor stages and left intrigued by their similarity to an American band, The Ramones.

Our first impression of the famous amphitheatre itself was OK Go at the main stage. They were able to get the crowd moving to their trademark anthem “Here It Goes Again,” but their formal dress stood in stark contrast to the dripping festival goers. Lead singer Damian Kulash admitted as much in saying, “It’s a little sissy ass of me to be under this tent,” after which he jumped from the stage to perform his next song in the rain as well (half jokingly describing a possibility of death by electrocution .)

At the top of the amphitheatre was The Walkmen on the Southern Comfort stage. Hamilton Leithauser’s amazingly sharp voice cut through the gray midday, reaching a crescendo with the churning drums and long wails of the song “The Rat.”  Still, they could muster little out of the crowd, whose initial festival enthusiasm was visibly blunted by the increasing rain and chill wind.

Back on the main stage, M. Ward’s eerie Western folk actually made for a great accompaniment with the day’s melancholy; finger picked twangs of his acoustic guitar sounding especially rich. Perhaps it’s only natural a Portland native could seem so at home in the soaked surroundings.

Doom

We ascended back up to catch Doom, which suffered from technical difficulties and was delayed into half his set. You could tell the audience had a short fuse: catcalls and yells began despite the emcee’s best efforts to please the waiting mob with off-the-cuff freestyles. The crowd noticeably began to thin soon after the show began. Doom himself didn’t help much, stomping around stage doing little to match the mindless bouncing posse around him. Though our noses were stuffed from the cold weather, the stink of predictable generic hip-hop antics still made it through. MeVs has strong suspicion that Doom was lip-syncing the rhymes as well, recalling a SXSW show that sounded nothing like this set.

Greg Gillis and company

Girl Talk then did his best to rally the masses, bringing his signature party atmosphere, toilet paper guns, balloons, confetti, and dance troupe to the amphitheatre stage. He did as good a job as can be expected under the worsening rain: standing next to the main speakers as my body vibrated like a Mexican jumping bean, it was easy to ignore the evening chill as we danced to his lighthearted mixes. Gillis managed to corral a rain soaked mob to sway with his mash-up masterpieces. One might say the drops of moisture added to the chaotic awesome, like confetti at a parade. Still, the Red Rocks stage did come with its drawbacks. Unlike aforementioned venues Lollapalooza and Sasquatch, the main stage had a gaping VIP and media area that created a visible and emotional division between the stage and the crowd, an uncharacteristic distinction for a Gregg Gillis performance.

Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal

The low point of the day came with the Of Montreal set back at the SoCo stage. MeVs was eagerly anticipating this set after being notably blown away by their shows at Norman, Sasquatch, and Houston’s Summer Music Fest. But this entry left much to be desired. Perhaps the stage was still suffering from the sound problems which had plagued Doom, but the music sounded surprisingly flat and droning, and even Kevin Barnes seemed listless. After the show, murmurs of,  “what the hell just happened?” lurked throughout the dissipating crowd.  It seemed the weather had claimed another victim. We hope to see a resurrection at Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Alas, day one would find some redemption. Surprisingly, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were the antithesis of the day’s drawbacks.  Lead singer Karen O seemed hell bent on saving the day with her uninhibited dancing, soulful crooning, and dramatic poses,  re-injecting some electricity into the evening. An especially poignant moment came with recent popular track “Maps” – after she had quietly whispered the lines “They don’t love you like I love you,”  paused a moment, then ran forward to the crowd with an emphatic “I DO!” She could have been speaking about every other act at MONOLITH. There’s no doubt this was the premier act of Day One.

We ended the day grateful for warm showers and dry drying socks.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Kid vs. Wind - Kid ftw

After much needed rest and shelter (Thanks Cassie and Kyle!), MeVs recharged and fueled up in anticipation of the day’s events. Things were going to be much better for the festival’s second installment when seeing first clear sight of Red Rocks, rather than the uniform gray from the day before. Though clouds and intermittent sprinkles did threaten from time to time, the weather was far more agreeable and the sun even made a few bold appearances.  In turn, the festival not only drew more attendees that second day, but also began with a palpable sense of renewed energy in the air.

Cheeky vocals from lead Ami Shalev

And what better way to kick off the events than with our favorite Israeli garage band, The Monotonix. They brought their fist pumping, hair-ridden act to the same Southern Comfort stage that had taken so many casualties the day before. Lead singer Ami Shalev led the crowd through primal choruses of whoops when he wasn’t dousing them with nearby liquids or ass-cheek monologues, sprinkled with classic stints of crowd surfing and instrument tossing. Though, we suspect they were told to turn the crazy down a notch for MONOLITH: the show stopped oddly short and Shalev didn’t climb or launch himself from the stage rafters as he has done at every other opportunity. Still, the show was trademark chaos from start to finish and we left disheveled, sweaty, and bruised.

Due to MSTRKRFT canceling , some shows were reshuffled in the afternoon and the resulting confusion was only increased by the poor communication – a remarkable mistake for such a small festival ground. Still, we were able to catch a couple of groups bringing dance and electronic beats to the afternoon crowd: the trio The Glitch Mob on the main stage, and the French Horn Rebellion in the diminutive MadeLoud.com stage.

Red Man

This dance warm-up was followed fittingly with Method Man and Redman on the Main Stage, who were surprisingly entertaining in a scene not often associated with hip-hop prowess.  The duo incessantly jumped from one end of the stage to another, constantly evoking the crowd’s love of all things 90′s and Wu-Tang.  At one point, Method Man, dressed appropriately in Colorado Rockies merchandise, eagerly ran into the midst of the crowd with an unrestrained and infectious enthusiasm. It did seem as though their entire tour was a brilliant marketing act to reinvigorate viewers for 2001 Emmy award winning How High. I would’ve kindly left this conspiracy at that, until they unveiled their current efforts for upcoming blockbuster,  How High 2… Though it was obvious the group was relying upon cached star power from their glory days, they still managed to channel it into a riotous midday set. Word.

The early evening slot was filled with a pleasant surprise from rising stars Deer Tick, who played on the intimate Woxy.com indoor stage. Their mix of folk, country, and grunge definitely suited the cozy room.  Then a small taste of Passion Pit back at the Southern Comfort Stage, whose spirited electronic rock helped carry us over as we began to wait for a MeVs favorite, Chromeo.

Dave 1 of Chromeo

Coming out to flashing strobes and the wailing chants of “Chromeoooo…” P-Thugg and Dave 1 went through the full line of their greatest hits, taking time in between songs to talk of upcoming plans (Texas tour!!), give props to fans, and spit on the talk box from behind their instantly recognizable stiletto-heeled keyboards. Dave 1 mentioned the release of a song in the coming weeks from a yet-to-be-named new album in development. Finishing the set off with an encore of the tender “100%,” the two even stayed after to sign autographs and take photos with needy girls. As much as Karen O had done the previous night, Chromeo produced some true Bonafide Lovin’ for their devoted fans.

Still dazed and confused from the electricity of the Gangsta duo, we made our way over to see The Mars Volta and were treated to a taste of their high-energy mix of heavy metal, punk, and psychedelic rock. Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s wailing ballads were an oddly serene send off as we got our final view from the Red Rocks amphitheatre, a shrouded downtown Denver glowing in the distance.

Happily dying Chromeo fan

And so ended MONOLITH 2009.  Those who were able to overcome the difficulties of weather visibly demonstrated what separates the average artist from a true performer.

It’s a shame Saturday was so affected by the gloomy conditions, but it’s simply a case of bad festival luck. If anything, a valuable lesson was learned: always pack that emergency rain poncho. Thanks Mom.

More pictures after the jump >>

It was apparent the festival hosts weren’t quite prepared for the uncensored mass of hipsters, hippies, and everyone in between showing up to support their love for indie music. Lines were long, temperatures were high, and event staff was quite rude. (I spent the greater half of Broken Social Scene convincing a gatekeeper I had the proper photo pass. His response: “I’ve never heard of MeVs.” This guy is joking right?)

Though Houston suffered from the inevitable first festival hiccups, their power-packed lineup quelled any complaints this veteran festival goer had. I honestly can’t see how Eleanor Tinsley could possibly handle any significant growth next year. Parking was already scarce and seating will definitely become a problem with reputations rising. Summer Fest should be taking notes from local Okie phenomenon, Norman Music Festival – who, in their second passing, rocked the Southwest with a small budget and free awesome all around.

Keep it up Houston. Your Lollapalooza alternative for the weekend should start quite a stir in the years to come. Also, call Chromeo, they’re due for a Texas tour.

More pictures after the jump >>

MeVs was there to cover the short lived but considerably entertaining explosions in the sky.

With all the hype and press coverage, I would’ve expected the battle grounds of the epic Red River Shootout to host a bigger bang. My mistake. Thanks Dallas. Couple of pics after the jump >> Flickr

As you all know, I am perpetually on the hunt for the perfect cupcake. This weekend, I was introduced to Tart Pastry Boutique & Studio located at the Shops at Legacy. From the looks of the website, I really was expecting to walk into the Willy Wonka of bakeries. I wanted to experience sensory overload. I wanted a selection so vast, I’d have to stand there for an hour just to take it all in.

Instead, I discovered a simple counter with a decent, but very small selection. It took one minute to eye all the pastries. I decided to get only cupcakes: a box of red velvet, strawberry, and chocolate. The final verdict? Better than Society Bakery, but Sprinkles still holds the undefeated title.

We all see the occasional roadkill, are disgusted, but then it’s quickly forgotten. Nothing too out of the ordinary. But lately, we’ve been noticing a spike in fallen birds. Crows in particular. Childhood fears of all avian-related diseases/attacks come rushing back. I’ve contacted the Texas Department of of State Health Services, let’s see what their response will be.

Let us know if you’ve noticed similar occurrences in your area.

UPDATE: A representative contacted me today, both via phone and e-mail. Although she didn’t offer too much helpful information, she was very nice and spoke earnestly. My issue has been relegated to the city of Garland and they probably won’ t do anything to assuage my fears. However, she thanked me for informing them, and if they receive more concerns from the same area, an investigation will be initiated.

Also, it could be the West Nile Virus.

Granada Theater and I recently commenced a relationship; and though it was young, it was full of promises. We planned of late nights, bodies embraced, souls intertwined, and hearts pulsating to my favorite artists. The first time we were together, our bodies swayed to Andrew Bird‘s voice. It was magic.

Last night, I giddily prepared for our second rendezvous. Granada promised me Crystal Castles and I couldn’t refuse. I dressed up, put on my dark eyelids, and braced myself for what I hoped to be a perfect threesome: Me, Alice, and Granada.

The line was long, but I didn’t mind. The wait lasted 2 hours, but I would’ve waited another 2. They announced the technical difficulties and delay, but I was not deterred. I just wanted to step inside, enjoy the music, and dance with my friends, Glowjangles and Deepupyourellum. We somehow finagled our way to the front doors, and anxiously waited to step inside. But alas, Granada broke my heart. It denied me, and sent me home with nothing more than a promise for a refund. No raincheck, no pity hug. A cold-hearted goodbye, and I was off.

As I saunter off dejected, the question arises: Do I give Granada another chance for Fischerspooner?

UPDATE: Granada’s Story and VEGA’s Story (Opening Act)

UPDATE (4.16.09): In addition to a full refund, Granada has offered a free ticket to a future show! I have to say, Granada sure knows how to treat a girl.

So a few days ago, Texas representative Betty Brown gave minorities something exciting to buzz about.

Here’s the quote.

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” Brown said.

Brown later told [Organization of Chinese Americans representative Ramey] Ko: “Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?”

I’m too lazy to watch the video, because I can’t hear her at all anyway… but here’s the visual context of the quote, live from Texas.

Are Asian Americans/Democrats/minori

ties/naysayers making a mountain out of a molehill? Yes and no.

Of course, there are vast political motives for Democrats to oust her, and this slip-up is a great opportunity for them to do so. And yes, it does seem like “such a small thing to get upset about.” So then… why am I?

I keep flip-flopping regarding my reactions to what she said. On the one hand, I get what she’s trying to say. From my preliminary skims through news articles, here’s what she’s upset about. Many Asian-Americans (like myself) have a legal name (Ming-Shing) on their official documents, yet go by a common name (Katherine) that’s used exclusively for social contexts. This leads to huge potential identification issues. So in that sense, sure, I agree a little bit. It would be way the hell “easier” if we were all Katherines and Jennifers rather than Ming-Shings and Mei-Lings.

In addition, a lot of people in America don’t have very much familiarity with ethnic last names. Most proably can’t even spell common Anglo first names correctly – how many variations of “Katherine” have you seen? Let alone names like “Nguyen” or “Gutierrez” or “Krasinski.” All of this combined definitely leads to a lot of anxiety and potential confusion come voting time. The average volunteer in a polling precinct very likely did not sit through “Ethnic Names 101.”

All Betty Brown meant to say was this: “Hey, there’s a lot of potential confusion involved here. Here’s a suggestion to improve matters.” And if she’d phrased it better, I would give her a Facebook “Like.”

But my real beef is with who said it, and how she said it. I expect my state representative to represent ME, Ming-Shing (Katherine) Fan, a Texas resident and a U.S. citizen, when she speaks in political circles on behalf of Texas. Her unfortunate choice of words makes me question that advocacy.

Texas has some of the most diverse communities in the United States. Within the South-East Asian race alone, Texas boasts citizens and residents of Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Cambodian, Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, and Singaporean descent. Some are immigrants, who hold residency status. Some are naturalized citizens. And some, like myself, are citizens by birth.

In addition, not everyone who looks “white” is of Mayflower descent: Desi Americans, Latin Americans, European Americans, and African Americans also call Texas home, as well as the Native Americans who really should be the ones calling the shots if we’re basing “the right to belong” on seniority.

I don’t think it’s impossible for an Anglo-American to properly represent the interests of all these minorities, but I at least expect more sensitivity to the issue of ethnicity. In one fell swoop, Betty Brown lost the respect of millions across the state and nation with her offhand remarks. Her wording forms the bulk of my personal disappointment. Yes, I realize it was a casual comment. Yes, I realize there was no harm or offense intended. …But that is why it is all the more inappropriate.

By using such terms as “you and your citizens,” she’s suggesting that Chinese Americans do not belong in her mental category of “American” – which I’m assuming would be Anglo? Since “Caucasian” is not actually synonymous with “more common names.” Furthermore, she consistently uses the terms “we” and “you” – probably not to represent the state lawmakers vs. the common people… but to distinguish between “the people with names easier to deal with,” and “the people whose names are not easier to deal with.” In essence, this is a thinly veiled echo of colonialism with its overt “Us” and “Them” mentality.

In some Texas communities, some long-term resident families span three generations, all of whom speak English brokenly at best. I hear this happens in places like California Chinatowns and Koreatowns as well. And I don’t like it when Michael makes this comment, but I agree with his point: If you want to live in America, learn the language and adapt the culture. It’s not that difficult to reconcile the culture of your ethnicity with the culture of your citizenship – people manage to grow up cross-culturally all the time. And those who refuse to assimilate at least to a certain degree create a huge strain on the cohesiveness of the country at large.

But there’s a vast difference in dealing with pockets of minority communities that all refuse to learn or speak English, and suggesting that ethnic groups Anglicize their names for the sake of public convenience.

Names are a deeply personal source of individual identity – else why would parents spend months agonizing over their unborn children’s name spellings, name cadences, and name pairings? Why would entire tribes celebrate rites of passage with naming ceremonies? Names reflect family, significance, personality, heritage.

I GET that Betty Brown was not trying to say, “Your kind are invading my land, and the least you could do would be to make it easier for me to identify you.” But it sure feels like it.

I also think her comment demeans the hundreds upon thousands of Anglo Americans who valiantly attempt to learn as much about other cultures as possible. She makes it sound as if learning a few unfamiliar syllables is downright impossible for the Americans whose convenience she champions. I find this personally offensive to a lot of my Caucasian friends, who have always wanted to learn as much about my heritage as possible.

I’m not calling her a racist. I just think she’s an ignoramus. And it’s not OK for my state rep to lack exposure – at the very least, in an intellectual sense – to the minorities within her jurisdiction.

Texas is a state that bears deep pride in its culture. We disgust non-Texans with our constant “Texas > you” jokes. Texas is the only state allowed to fly its flag side-by-side with the Stars and Stripes. We chant “Remember the Alamo!” and mean it, whether or not we had ancestors in that battle. We are passionate about our freedom, and aren’t afraid to fight for it.

I appreciate Betty Brown’s effort to improve the voting process in Texas – all sarcasm aside, I’m sure she had some great ideas and suggestions. And I don’t hold her unintentional ignorance against her in a personal manner. But because of what and who she [did not] represent, I feel that she should no longer hold her position in office.

Catch Katherine Fan and her awesomeness over on facebook.