Hello Big D

If you’ve known me for very long, and were asked to create a list of things that I love the most, there are a few obvious choices that you’d probably be able to nail down:

• my wife
• graphic design
• my 1982 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup truck (yes, they made those)
• my fanboy favorites Brian Eno, Stefan Sagmeister and Teddy Roosevelt

…and, of course, sandwiches. I simply adore a good sandwich.

I’d like to say that I’ve spent years in pursuit of a good sandwich in Dallas, that this delicacy has been the Moby Dick to my Captain Ahab, but if I were to tell you this I would be lying. Actually, I found the perfect sandwich rather quickly, and it can be found at a little place called Deep Ellum Deli.

I was introduced to this fine establishment a couple of years ago during a stint at a design studio down the block from the Deli (capital D intentional) where it was a weekly standard. I think what really launched the tidalwave of adoration for me was the introduction of the whole “oil and vinegar” concept, which quite frankly, blew my mind. The magic to a Deep Ellum Deli sandwich is really the proportion of ingredients, which can only be applied properly by a truly experienced hand. The bread is fresh and non-soggy, the lettuce is crisp and shredded to perfection, the mayo is apparent but not overwhelming, and the meat/cheese ratio is truly inspired.

Deep Ellum Deli is definitely a labor of love and is staffed by an experienced husband and wife duo (I assume they are husband and wife, though I can’t say I’ve confirmed this) who must have gone to some sort of sandwich making school in France or wherever it is that sandwiches were invented (Germany maybe? Where was that Earl of Sandwich fellow from?) and are really great about acknowledging your status as a repeat customer. However, due to the precise standard to which each sandwich is held, the wait can sometimes be quite long. Once lunch time arrives the place tends to fill up pretty quickly, which is not hard because there approximately three tables in the whole place. So, make sure to give yourself plenty of time for lunch on a Deep Ellum Deli day. That’s okay though, because it should be an event. I kind of think it should also be a weekly national holiday.

Also, keep in mind that Deep Ellum Deli is a cash-only establishment. They rock it old school there. However, the prices are extremely reasonable, so a few bucks should fill you up pretty easily.

Now, perhaps some of you nay-sayers out there are questioning my dedication to the Deli. Maybe you’re saying to yourself “Dude, they’re just sandwiches! No one would write a ballad of any sort about a sandwich!” But if you’re saying that, you obviously do not understand my passions. You also apparently never made it to my apartment circa 2007, where in order to get online you would have had to log-in to a network named “Sandwiches” that was protected by the oh-so-appropriate password “Delicious”.

See? I told you I love sandwiches.

Deep Ellum Deli can be found at 3001 Commerce St # 10, which works out to the corner of Commerce and Hall in Deep Ellum.

Family, Food, Mr. Manager, Restaurants | No Comments

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Coffee is awesome. If you disagree, something is the matter with you. Dallas may not be Seattle, but there are some great places to grab a cup of Joe. Two coffee shops come to mind, each with a distinct atmosphere. Coffee Company in the Belmont District of East Dallas and Crooked Tree in Uptown are two very different but excellent places to purchase some jitters.

Coffee Company
6038 La Vista Dr. 75206

Click for directions

This coffee shop has been described as a “hole-in-the-wall,” yet the humble, narrow interior evokes a warm atmosphere. Co-proprietor Danny Furr is ready to serve up delicious coffee by the cup (For just a dollar! Eat it, Starbucks!), or one of dozens of flavors that are freshly roasted and ground on the premises. Organic fruits and vegetables from the Dallas Farmers Market are offered fresh, and in the summer lots of local goodies are available, such as peaches and tomatoes. Don’t forget the wide selection of teas, as well. Pop in for a cup to go, because if your party is larger than two you’ll have to stand as you sip. On a side street off Skillman, Coffee Company can be a challenge to find, but look for the large red lettering and follow your nose.

Crooked Tree CoffeeHouse
2414 Routh St. 75201

Click for directions

If Coffee Company is the perfect spot to enjoy some checkers with your neighbor, Crooked Tree is the perfect spot to enjoy checkers wirelessly with a friend in India. An eclectic young staff and equally interesting furniture have turned this house into a comfortable place to relax and enjoy gourmet, fair-trade coffee. On any given afternoon, you may find trouble finding a seat amongst the devoted regulars, all tapping away on laptops. Offering a good bit of space, the house may seat 25 comfortably. Sandwiches and pastries round out the menu, as well as some specialty drinks. Local art adorns the walls, though some pieces are best left unscrutinized.

If you want to sit and chat for a moment, Crooked Tree is perfect, but for those who prefer to enjoy their java at home, the most diverse, freshest options are to be found at Coffee Company. Either way, be careful, because coffee can be very hot.

Bars, Family, Food, Little Miss Dictator, Uncategorized | No Comments

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In my opinion, the best part about baseball season is the food. I have been to many ballparks with my sports obsessed husband over the years and while my personal favorite is the ballpark fare at AT&T Park in San Francisco, our very own Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has some tasty treats of its own.

For an appetizer, head to the Fry Depot along the 1st or 3rd base line to pick up some garlic fries (the same recipe as the one in San Francisco.) For dinner, try the nachos at the Tex-Mex Express stand behind home plate. (I promise they are different than the nachos they sell at other stands.) Piled high with meat, cheese, salsa and jalapeños, they won’t disappoint. Wash it all down with fresh squeezed lemonade from one of the lemonade stands. Mmmmm, tastes like summer.

Children, Family, Food, Little Miss Dictator, Sporting Events | No Comments

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I usually get buyer’s remorse after buying anything new. Especially new books. It seems like such a waste on something that I will be done with in a week or two and then probably never look at again. That’s why Paperbacks Plus kicks ass. You can set up an account and then just trade in your old books (or CDs, DVDs, LPs, cassettes, 8-tracks, video tapes, comic books, and magazines) for other old books or just build up your store credit (although some cash is required for a portion of the transaction). And the store isn’t huge so it won’t take you long to find what you’re looking for. It’s really inexpensive, too. I bought two books there yesterday and the total was under $5. It’s in East Dallas right off of Skillman. Click here for directions.

We decided to make a desktop background of a photo from Paperbacks Plus. Download them here:

• 800 x 600
• 1024 x 768
• 1280 x 1024
• 1440 x 900
• 1600 x 1024
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200

Books, Children, Family, Junior, Music | 3 Comments

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I love books. Any kind of book. Fiction, non-fiction, history, art, children’s books and especially cookbooks. I once told a doctor when he asked me if I had any vices that I thought I was addicted to books and magazines–no lie. The local library was one of my favorite places when I was little, but I until last week I hadn’t stepped foot in a public library in 18 years.

I first went to the new library that just opened up on the other side of Love Field, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Regardless, I signed up for a library card and decided to try a few other branches before giving up. The next library I checked out was the Preston Royal branch. This definitely felt a little more familiar and they had a bigger selection, but I still wasn’t satisfied. So I headed to the central library downtown last Saturday. It was all I had imagined and more.

It has seven stories of seemingly endless shelves of books to look through. The first floor houses a decent selection of dvds, books on tape, and a general collection of recently published books. The entire second floor is dedicated to kids. The Fine Arts section on the fourth floor has a large, but random selection of cds, and the rows and rows of cookbooks on the fifth floor left me breathless. If you haven’t visited the public library in a while, stop what your doing and head downtown immediately.

The best things about the Dallas Public Library.

1. You can check out up to 250 books at a time. Seriously.
2. You may return checked out items to any Dallas library branch.
3. You can renew your checked out items on-line or over the phone.
4. You can request items from any Dallas library to be sent to the branch closest to you.
5. If you are looking for something specific, you can look it up on the library’s website and see if they have it before you go.
6. It’s free.

Here’s the thing about the Dallas libraries, each branch has something different to offer so you may want to check several out in your area before you find the one that’s right for you. Also, the libraries are not perfect, but if you love books as much as I do you won’t be disappointed.

Get a map of all the Dallas Public library locations here.

Authors, Books, Children, Family, Free, Little Miss Dictator, Movies, Music, Public | 2 Comments

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