McGillicuddy's in Downtown Garland

Many times while in downtown Garland most of the businesses have been closed because it was either a holiday or a Sunday. Today was the first time that a trip has been planned during normal business hours. It was an interesting day about architectural history and to me, it was worth every minute hearing about the history on the west side of the square. Not only was there oral history, there was an amazing image from the early part of the 20th century c1920 with Model T's/A's parked, where today's hybrids and electrics now park. The shop that was the focus of today's visit was an Antique shop. Getting past the front window and a select few items sitting outside the door on the sidewalk was enough to keep me busy talking to the owner of the shop and doing a visual inspection of the architectural elements of the building today with the old image of the building as indicated above. In short. the stock within the shop was picking my attention with such interest for a return trip. It's going to be just an insane walk down history lane. This is one of the finest antique shops that I have seen in the past 15 years. The last one that I browsed a shop that was this fine was on the outskirts of downtown Denton. The collection of antique cloths and artifacts of the same periods was wild. Today, my viewing experience was limited. It just blows my mind with the things that I saw this afternoon from a quick browse from the front of the store.

Being a creative person has run deep in my veins ever since 4th grade. With my interest in fabrics the blue and white pattern outside the shop was enough to draw me in to talk to the owner about the fabric. Immediately, she had me involved in helping to identify an old and small picture of a British Royal Guard. It's just one of those things that draws me into a creative mode that sometimes last for weeks. So, if you are looking for a unique antique shop in the Dallas Metroplex, start out in downtown Garland on the west side of the town square; the shop: McGillicuddy's, and it's well worth the trip to go check it out. You will no doubt want to return many times afterwords. 

I was so geeked up, the two main focal points of todays visit were put into a product that will help you appreciate what excellent inventory is part of their displays inside and out!

Horizontal Greeting Card by sam6372
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Holy 828 Meters Plus, Calatrava

Well, I have been a fan of Santiago Calatrava's designs long before they were appearing here in Dallas as the Margaret Hunt Hill (Maggie 1) and the Margaret McDermott (Maggie 2) bridges. He has created much more famous works throughout the world, frankly. However, it does seem to be more fact than fiction that in some of his most recognizable works do involve bridges or buildings with suspended wings etc.,etc. In short, cables! So, if most haven't figured it out by now, Santiago Calatrava-Valls, although he does hold a PhD from Zurich's Swiss Institute of Technology, from there, he developed that famous mixing of design with visual design which made him world famous.  He is, without doubt, "the cable guy" with a PhD.

No other point can be made to the cable guy moniker than his just announced  $2 billion project by the Dubai developer that has commissioned him to design and construct in Dubai for the 2020 World Expo a structure that will be a "notch" above the world's tallest building as of now, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It will be the trophy for the Hubai Creek Harbour development.

Here's the kicker. In the drawings released to the press, with Santiago standing in front and to the side of the official drawings, the structure is more of a viewing tower with tons of space for restaurants, shops and observations areas. But, as this has been leading up to... cables! big, long, cables that will hold the building to mother earth much like cable stays do his bridge decks. All-in-all, the design is not disappointing in any way. The thing has class. Wait. The thing has Calatrava Class!

Tom Cruse, here's another chance for you to play on the tallest building in the world. The only thing is that it will be next door to the last one you played outdoors on its exterior walls. Considering that the Burj Khalifa is officially 828 meters tall. Using 3.28084 feet to a meter, that's 2,716.53 feet above ground. A little more than a half mile tall. The new building that is scheduled to begin construction in June, does not have an official height, yet. It is just said to be a "notch" higher than the Burj stands today.

Here is a link to the image along with Calatrava.The Cable Guys Latest Design 
In the meanwhile, here is a shot of downtown on Main Street.

Squares! Boxes! More Squares!

Hum. And more squares. And more Squares!

Some how, this is refreshing!!

 

Fresh Fish for Dinner

Over the years of doing this blog, there has been a lot of fish gone into and come out of White Rock Lake. Of course putting the fish into the lake is a job for a Texan driving the tank truck from the Texas State Fish Hatchery. But, catching them is a sport, fun, a way to pass time, or to satisfy that taste for a fresh fish cooked that special way to suit the individual taste buds for anyone. In fact, most of those that have been heard putting down the quality of fish at White Rock has come from those that don't know what goes into testing the quality of the lake and the fish environmentally, or, they don't want everyone bringing their fishing gear to cutting into their favorite fishing hole. ( say what?)

There is a new bench at Dryfuss Club overlooking the lake above where the steps at the end of the stone wall are located. The view is nice, however, a word of caution: the birds sit above you and drop their dirt on you. One got me today hitting the lid of my lunch container squarely in the center. Luckily, I had put the lid over on the other half of the bench and it missed me and my cardio lunch of fruit, sharp cheddar and some other goodies.  While sitting here, because the light was to my advantage, I watched a silk filigree descent from the tree with many, many small caterpillars crawling up and down the filigree string. By the time I finished my lunch and got  the camera over to the area that had produced the sight, there was not many left and it seems that the ones that did reach the ground had become bird food or had made haste to hide. Visible from the new bench was also the black smoke from the 4-alarm apartment fire in Irving.

It was a good day to be outside. By the time it was time to pack it in for the day, the humidity had also arrived. Thickening clouds were evident of that fact. There was also a healthy supply of mosquitoes, also. AARGH!!!
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One of my favorites--the blue iris

See the sting of creatures descending

About a 2 pound white bass-type fish.  Nice!

White Rock Paddle Has A New Dock

Just about six years ago, while making my editorial rounds at White Rock Lake, I noticed a shiny trailer in the parking lot at the foot of Scout and East Lawther section as it comes under the Mockingbird bridge. When I got out and was walking up to the trailer, there was this young lady with a pink baseball cap and her pony tail dropping down through the adjustment strap on the cap. Now, at the beginning of the sixth year at White Rock Lake, Amy, the pony tailed,  pink baseball cap wearing, owner of the White Rock Paddle Company has become a dear proxy friend through her staff, although I don't get to see her as much now. As in today, I missed her by about an hour, but the Paddle Co was operating never-the-less. It was, however, operating at a different location at Big Thicket.

Actually, the new location has much more to offer than the former bank of the parking lot across from the dog park between the pedestrian bridge and the Mockingbird bridge. The new location has a large surface mat that is even and much easier to load and unload. There's a great view of the downtown skyline, a dock, a picnic table with both a water fountain and a spigot for filling bottles or bowls for the dogs. Parking is much more evenly distributed. All-in-all, it's just a paddle around the first boat marina then under the pedestrian bridge for those that like to paddle or kayak up White Rock Creek.  For others, that want to paddle the open lake, you are right there from the get!

Since we are mostly creatures of habit, it's only going to be about one trip from the new location until things begin to settle back into a routine and nothing will seem strange or awkward from then on.  To make it even easier, the White Rock Paddle Company has a sign right next to where they were in the past at the Nautical Area sign. Just turn left and head around the curve toward the Big Thicket Building and the Sailing Boat Marinas (when you pass the first one, get ready to turn in to the old boat dock). There is an orange tent by the trailer to help you zero in on the new digs.
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This is Garrett, one of the staff. He'll be watching for you!

The boats on the new mat launching area, and I hear there are a lot of new boats this year too.

Now, here's the landmark. It's just like being in the old place but much better overall! Enjoy you summer and do some serious boating from White Rock Paddle. Say hello to Garrett, too!

Looking Back Over March

Sometimes, even with good intentions, things get missed. So, this serves as a sweep of things that did get missed. However, outside of the President and Air Force One being here (which are archived on the Live News Feed) the one central topic seemed to be the weather.

In cleaning up March-- as everyone already knows-- it was a windy little end to the first quarter of 2016 with storms, hail, tornadoes (again). Luckily, only about 20,000 were without power at any one given time in the Metroplex. The hail damage was bad--to say the least-- on cars and roofs. Some of those 12,000 new residents that arrive here every month got that old fashioned Texas Spring Hail Storm initiation. Welcome, to Texas!

At the end of the first ten days of the month, a young fisherman calls it quits as the wind and rain move in. A very wise young man, indeed.

Near the end of the month with about a week to go, the wind was still howling. The low-level stratus had lifted to clearing skies,however.

Yep! even the ducks were bobbing on the rolling waves and white caps.

The Unofficial Easter Decoration

When traveling by an area, usually, my eye will catch the unusual, new, or what once was. It goes with being a photographer. Photography does train the eye. It has been noted many times by many experts--of course, today, every one is some kind of expert-- but, usually the meaning is of a professional statue.

Never-the-less, Easter egg rolls may be fun for the kids, but they have been done so many times, it just isn't worth the time or energy. And, with no disrespect to the churches that put out a rugged cross and yoke it in the church calendar linen of red or purple for that period in the liturgical calendar, it is about the same as an Easter egg roll that has been done the same year in and year out. While the meaning of Easter never get old, the thoughtfulness and good taste that draws attention is pretty rare today.

However, this year, my interest was peaked when I drove by Royal Lane Baptist Church this Easter Sunday morning.. In fact, it caught my attention so much, I turned around and came back. Usually, I drive with my camera ready on the passenger seat with the bag on it's side to shield the camera from the sun, heat and  dust. Today, the camera wasn't even unpacked but the display at the corner of Royal Lane and Hillcrest Avenue was worth every bit of the effort to unpack for these images. So, if there was a winner to be judged in any contest of sort, Royal Lane Baptist Church was the winner in many ways. Good job and well done. It was a beautiful display for this Easter morn. Hallelujah!

The cross covered in fresh flowers

Coming down Royal Lane it could not be missed!

University of Central Oklahoma Women's Rowing Images

Currently, the images have rotated to page 3 row 8 and continue throughout the 48-hour cycle to rotate downward until they fall off into archives.

For Live News Feed Images click on anywhere within the black box with the word ALAMY. After new window opens, click anywhere within the black A box again. When the page opens to the search bar, click on all images, and scroll down to the bottom to Live Images and click that on.

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