My friend told me Halloween night at Prestonwood (Baptist Church) previous years, but we never went because my husband feels it’s important to go around our own neighborhood even though not many kids (almost none) go around Trick or Treatin’ around here. She said there are rides and games and it’s really fun for kids. We’re likely going to go for other reasons, but you can check out the website for more info here.

There’s also a site that lists things to do for Halloween around Dallas.

It’s kind of sad because Halloween seem to be so different from what I remember when I was a kid. We use to be able to go out (by ourselves) and just have fun. Now everything has changed and it’s all so scary (not in the Halloween sense) and parents go with the kids and also goes to other neighborhood intead of their own.

So the Texas State Fair is here again. It will be from September 28th - October 21st at Fair Park, Dallas. I’ve been there once. I remember it was HOT. I didn’t mean Big Tex was hot, he was actually a little bit…(I’ll be nice) not so hot looking. This is what I remember about the fair - CORN DOGS!!! Why of course. I also remember animals and corn. We even got a picture of someone with big hair!

The good thing is - there’s so much to do for kids this time of year. The bad thing is - there’s so much to do for kids this time of year. Haha, well it’s tiresome as a parent to take the kids to all the events. It’s worth it of course for the kids to enjoy all these outdoor events rather than staying at home or playing games or watching tv (no tv for our kids…until they are 18 =)

Just check out the site yourself and see what else to expect at the State Fair. I’m still tired from the Plano Balloon Festival.

Ready or not, the pumpkins are already at the Dallas Arboretum. Starting now until October 31th, the Arboretum will have daily activities and also weekend activities. We’ve been there before and kids really enjoy the Pumpkin patch and Hay Maze. I like seeing pumpkins because it does mean Autumn is around the corner and hopefully we won’t have the heat and mosquitos anymore:

DAILY ACTIVITIES

Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkin House
Hay Bale Maze
Hay Rides ($3 per person/ per ride)*
Piano Music on the Pergola
*10:30am - 3:30pm (weather permitting)

EVERY WEEKEND

Costume Parade - 1pm
Pumpkin Decorating Demonstrations - Noon, 2pm and 4pm
Face-painting - Saturdays: 11am - 4pm; Sundays: Noon - 4pm
Crafts - Saturdays: 11am - 4pm; Sundays: Noon - 4pm
Performances on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage: Noon - 4pm

Check out the Dallas Arboretum Website for more information.

This is the first year I actually got to be there at the Plano Balloon Festival. The first time we went, I think we either missed the lift off time or parking was far. The second time we went, we parked somewhere around this empty lot in a neighborhood and saw the balloon go over us. We were not the only ones doing that, there were lots of other people doing the same thing. This year, we time it so we can see the parachutes and off course was late for that (though we still saw it from the parking lot) and we made it right on time and saw the balloons lift off from the field.

I must say, it’s so much better being there. You see the scale of the whole festival, of how many people there were. This was Friday, so I’m sure Saturday would have had more people. I didn’t think I was going to be that excited about balloons lifting off, but I guess when you have kids, you get excited with them!

Here are some pictures:

The above is  the view from the slope if you park at the Collin County College. It doesn’t look like there were a lot of people from this view, but there were people down at the field to the left all around and all along this slope.

Yeah, it’s funny how Hooter has to be everywhere. This was like a family/kids thing and Hooter was there. The funny thing was this boy probably 4-5 was next to us and said oh look at the orange balloon, it’s got eyes on it!

This was during the lift off on Friday night 6:30pm

This was down next to the field and there were a lot of vendors with food from Dickey BBQ to corn dogs. There was also a section that was very kids friendly with lots of kids thing to do.

This was the energizer bunny taking a nap face down before the night light up.

This was before the light up again and the energizer bunny is starting to wake up…slowly…very slowly.

Energizer bunny is up and will keep going and going and going…

Right before the 8pm light up, most of the balloons were up.

This was a little after 8pm when they have the light up. They count down and then all the balloon light up with their flame. If you blink too long, you will miss it. But don’t worry because they will do another count down…and another…and another. I don’t know how many they do because after the 3rd time, we had to leave since it was past the kids bedtime.

What’s a festival without Corn Dogs!!!??

STT Opens 4th Season with The Country Wife
Hilarity in Dallas

Dallas, Texas (September 2007) –Second Thought Theatre is pleased to open its fourth season with a modernized telling of William Wycherly’s The Country Wife.  Ensemble member Kristin McCollum and Executive Ensemble Member and the show’s Director, Allison Tolman, collaborate on the fresh adaptation of the hilarious play.

The Country Wife is a spectacular satire about a man who feigns impotence in order to trick foolish men into leaving him alone with their wives-whom he then promptly seduces. This production takes place in the very Metropolex we know and love and promises to lampoon aspects of our beloved city and have its residents rolling in the aisles.

“It’s amazing how much Dallas in 2007 has in common with London in 1675 when you get down to it.  Kristin and I had a fantastic time updating this script and poking fun at all of Texas.  I am sure that all true-hearted Dallasites and Texans will enjoy watching the show as much as we enjoyed creating it,” explains the show’s Director and Co-Adapter Allison Tolman.

Second Thought Theatre is thrilled to announce that The Country Wife has been generously underwritten through a grant from the Jean Baptiste "Tad" Adoue III Fund of the Dallas Foundation.
"In the three years since the inception of Second Thought Theatre, this excellent ensemble of local actors has received critical acclaim, presenting consistently exceptional productions to an ever-expanding audience in Dallas. The Dallas Foundation is pleased to partner with Second Thought Theatre in presenting its season premiere of The Country Wife. We know that the future of this theatre company holds great promise," writes Laura J. Smith, Director of Community Philanthropy at The Dallas Foundation.
The Country Wife features Dallas actors Bradley Campbell, Stephanie Hall, Andrew Kasten, Ellen Locy, John-Michael Marrs, Thiago Martins, Cindee Mayfield, Allison Pistorius, Sherel Riley, Drew Wall, Derik Webb, Brian Witkowicz, Ted Wold and Laura Yancey.  The stellar design team includes Clare DeVries (Set Designer), Tasia Munoz (Costume Designer), Jason Driggers (Lighting Designer), Allison Tolman and Lindsay Graham (Sound Designer) and Cathy O’Neal (Properties Designer).
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, October 4, 11, 18 @ 7:30 PM
Friday, October 5, 12, 19 @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 6, 13, 20 @ 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 7, 14, 21 @ 2:00 PM
**Added Show Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30 PM with special industry rates
Second Thought Theatre’s 2007-2008 Season will be held at Addison Theatre Centre’s Studio Theater located at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001.  For tickets call 972.450.6232.
About Second Thought Theatre

Second Thought Theatre is an ensemble theatre company comprised of an eclectic group of actors, designers, playwrights, directors, and arts administrators dedicated to providing the Dallas community with a quality of performance that is in keeping with the highest national standards.  Second Thought Theatre seeks to capture the moment of creation between artist and audience.  Dedicated to ensemble productions that explore challenging and dramatic works from the canon of theatrical literature, we strive to enlighten and entertain our audience by pushing the boundaries of human thought and emotion.  Old works done in new ways, new works done in old ways.  Everything is possible when you take a second thought.

Visit Second Thought Theatre website for more information.

The best Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale! Sept. 14-16, 2007 at the Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall

Visit Just Between Friends for more info.

Here are some selected things to do around Dallas metroplex for 4th of July celebration. The addison one is on the 3rd… Usually these events are pretty crowded, so you should plan ahead or be early!

This is an early one for the weekend: July 1st, 2007 Sunday
Dallas Booms!
Free Parking, Free Admission,
Free Museums - The Fair Park museums will offer free admission from 4:00 -7:00 p.m.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will be performing to synchronized fireworks.

Addison Kaboom Town Fireworks
When: Tuesday, July 3 - 4:30 p.m. to Midnight
Where: Addison Circle Park – Bud Light Main Stage, 4970 Addison Circle Drive
Addison, TX
Tickets: This is a FREE event.

Lake Cities 4th of July Celebration (9 am - 10 pm)

Plano Independence Day Parade
July 4th at 9:30am

Richardson’s Family 4th of July Celebration
Event hours are 6:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
Attractions include Uncle Sam, strolling balloon artists, bounce houses, and a climbing wall for the kids!

Frisco Freedom Fest
Hmmm and Clay Aiken in Concert?
Clay Aiken with The Philharmonic Orchestra
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
8:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Pizza Hut Park

From the Alliance Francaise du Nord du Texas with the support of the Cultural Office of the French Embassy and The French Consulate - Fete de la Musique 2007 - First time ever in Dallas.

Free Event:
June 22 - 7:30PM
One Arts Plaza
Downtown Dallas
1722 Routh Street - Dallas TX 75201

Texas Video Artists (5 video artists from UTD) interpret the music of french composers under the direction of Frank Dufour, professor at the University of Texas Dallas.

For more information call: 214-234-0165 or 972-733-0844.