Fair Park is Much More than Elitch Gardens--Maybe.

The Entrance to the Midway for the Summer Opening

Plastiki on display in front of the Hall of State Building

The new Top O'Texas on the left of the Texas Star.Actually, it's behind the Texas Star.

The Cotton Bowl with a crane still in place from my last trip to Fair Park.

One of the many Art Deco Buildings at Fair Park.

Swan paddle boats at Swan Lake on the lagoon.

Fair Park, this Friday night, May 3rd, kicks off something it has never done.It will open the midway for the summer on Saturday, May 4th.. The new ride, Top O' Texas, the 500 foot observatory up and down wheel will give a view of Fair Park and surrounding areas, including downtown Dallas.

It has long been an unanswered question why the City of Dallas has quasi-turned its back on Fair Park in favor of the Trinity River Corridor Project. Sure, they have pumped a few million bucks into Fair Park upgrades, when the place could be drawing in tons of convention dollars nearly year round and  there is so  much more to Fair Park than just the Cotton Bowl. Don't get me wrong. I have etchings on my heart for the Cotton Bowl, the old parades that were a Thanksgiving-- or was it Christmas-- tradition. It was the emerald of the jeweled crown that the city had with Fair Park.

Many years ago, Elitch Gardens  in Denver, was a fun summer place to go. That was, before the original EG moved from its historic home of 38th and Tennyson Street. It was between the old Stapelton Airport and downtown. At approximately 70 acres, the park was a major attraction when you visited Denver. You had not been to Denver unless you went to Elitch Gardens. Long story short, with many ownership changes over the years including an ownership under the Six Flags brand, it has managed to survive with a 20 acre water park but not like the crowds of the old park. By-the-way folks, Elitch Gardens opens its 2013 season on May 4th also.

Yesterday, I walked the entire length of Fair Park's approximately 177 acres down one side and back along the lagoon and IMAX building to the parking area east of gate entrance no.5 which is across from the Texas Discovery Gardens. I'm thinking to myself, Music Hall is full for a performance, a flea market is going on, the Old Mill Restaurant has a good size crowd, people are coming out of the Discovery Gardens. The city ownes water parks. Why don't they have one at Fair Park? Amid all the questions that were left unanswered was the most pressing question: Will Fletcher's be selling their corny dogs,too?

 

Dallas on the World Stage--Again!

SAM 29000 parked at a FBO at Love Field

The fleet of 5 helicopters returns from Waco and West,Texas

A Dallas Policeman prevents well-wishers from getting to the better picture spots this time.

A beast of beauty

Good Bye until Next Trip

The dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, on the campus of Southern Methodist University, was a success for all concerned. With all five living Presidents in attendance and a long and impressive dignitary list, security was tight. The event was by Event Ticket and Invitation only.
Even the protest gallery across Central Expressway from the event had a national television personality in their group.

The activity and security around Love Field was also tighter than in the past when Air Force One or SAM 29000 has been in town. It's never as much fun when security must be tightened but it is still exciting to see the most visible form of our government either arriving,parked or departing the field.

At Love Field, the crowds grew while waiting for the fleet of helicopters to return from Waco and West, Texas. The arrival was a bit late but just short of the seven o'clock hour, the 747's four big engines kicked up dust on the runway as it rotated and lifted off  and began its climb out in the glare of an early springs setting sun.










 

The Bush Center Opens Thursday

The West Side is the entrance to the Bush Institute. The North Side is the entrance to the library.  The tall building to the East and at the south end is the Merrill Lynch building just North of Mockingbird Station  on the East side of Central Expressway.

The landscaping is native Texas wildflowers. To the South there are several acres with winding paths that allow one to walk through the large garden.

From an architectural standpoint, the addition fulfills the general theme of SMU architecture.The red brick and white coping doesn't seem out of place with the construction of several new 5-story dorms across the street.

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Bush Institute open this Thursday on the eastern side of the SMU campus. Security was already tight today and the massive stage for the 15,000 guest only who are forecast to be in attendance were being set up.
It is being reported that there will be all five living US Presidents along with former British PM Tony Blair.The security will be tight and with invitation only for the guest, it's going to be difficult at best to even photograph from  Mockingbird.
Hopefully, later on in late Spring, maybe some images of the  large field of Texas Wildflowers will be able to be photographed.

The public will be admitted beginning May 1,2013.
 

It's Getting To Be That Time of Year Again

A White Rock Wedding by Glendine of Dallas

This is one of my favorite images because it is not only a beautiful setting, but because of the planning and the organizing and the great anticipation of love and joy, and happiness that is represented.

Click on the image for details on ordering this image as a print,framed or wrapped canvas.

In the Fullness of Time

Let There Be Peace On Earth and Let It Begin With Me.

During the course of this week,tragedy in two separate events stuck this Nation. At weeks end the ending of two events while both tragic, did come to a resolution of sorts. For Boston, there are still funerals to be held and a trial. For West,Texas, there will be at least 12 more funerals to be held  and lives to be rebuilt. In Boston, the remaining funerals are for Police. In West, the funerals will be for First Responders.

With Earth Day this weekend, I went in search of a symbol of Peace. This is what I found.

The Last to Go for Buckingham

This is immediately behind the former city of Buckingham marker.

Normally the trees marked to be cut is an orange ribbon. Don't know if the pink means the same--however, all the trees are marked with pink so they will probably all go or all remain. Stay tuned for the update.

The thick brush in front of the truck is next to the Walgreen's. To the right goes toward the Kroger store and the gated soccer fields.

The old Texas city of Buckingham was annexed into the city of Richardson more than a few years ago. The area has developed very well. There are a few empty lots left here and there but one large track of 7 acres was spread out between the Walgreen's and the Kroger store and was always interesting to watch red-tailed hawks and a pair of peregrine falcon feed on the pigeons that hang out in the little shopping center around the Kroger store. It also abuts the actual marker that marked the official city of Buckingham before the annexation.

The brush and the trees that were around when the main part of Buckingham existed were always enjoyable for people to walk their dogs and people who liked to watch the animals and birds that existed. Several weeks ago a sign went up that the track was up for sale and it was only a matter of time before the last large track of land with old generation trees existed in the area would go the way that all the other land had meet the same fate at the hands of developers.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a total tree hugger. I understand development. The overall process, when you put the money factor in a separate basket for discussion, actually is what makes a city grow. It is also one of the freedoms we enjoy and  selling land, for what ever reason, is still one of the great freedoms we enjoy in this country. As an urban photographer, it is of interest to me to document what was before no one remembers what was!

There were two surveyors out today marking trees and sticking flags so work will be starting soon. My concern about that is that my shortcut to the pharmacy and the grocery store will be disrupted for about fourteen months, or so.  

Necessary Work

A worker is seen changing out burned out light bulbs on the top level of a high-rise parking garage in the Dallas High 5 area on a sunny spring afternoon. This worker is about 100 feet above were this photographer was positioned.