Arlington, TX

Julius Jones, starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys, will be making an appearance at the Parks Mall from 6 pm to 8pm on Monday, October 22. He will sign autographs and pose for photos. Fans can bring their own memorabilia to be signed, or may purchase the following that night:

• 8×10 photos
• Mini-helmet
• Replica full size helmet
• Authentic NFL helmet
• Authentic NFL football
• Three panel white football

Jones was the Cowboys’ first round draft pick in 2004. So far in his 37 career games and 35 career starts, he has rushed for 2,896 yards (78.3 yards-per-game), including 2,864 in the 35 starts (81.8 yards-per game). In those 35 career starts he has rushed for over 70 yards 23 times. His 2,896 yards through three seasons put him in eighth place on the club’s all-time rushing list.

My friend KC at Signature Collectables also tells me that 3 young fans from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be at the event to make their wish come true by meeting their football hero. How great of Julius to do this for these extra special fans. He must be quite a guy. Kudos to all who helped put this together!

If you’d like to meet Julius Jones, come on out. The Parks at Arlington Mall is located at 3811 South Cooper Street (Cooper and I-20) in Arlington. Jones’ appearance will take place on the Lower Level in Center Court. For information call The Parks at 817-467-0200 or email Signature Collectables.

Arlington city officials joined the Texas Rangers Baseball Club to break ground on some changes the Dr. Pepper Youth Ballpark last Friday.

Changes include a new 20 foot high retaining wall in left field, which will resemble the famed “Green Monster” in Fenway Park, and greater distances from home plate to the outfield, which will allow the park to accomodate 13 and 14 year olds. The park’s design had previously only been able to host games for players up to 12 years old.

The changes were necessary to make way for new roadways which are part of the Glory Park and Dallas Cowboys Stadium construction.

Rick McLaughlin, vice president of business operations for the Rangers, said work on the outfield will begin in about two weeks and be completed by March. The field will be closed until then. 

What: Gone By Dawn
When: Friday, Sept. 21 @ 9:30pm
Where: Stumpy’s Blues Bar, 2811 W. Division St., 817-275-3231

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What: Inflateable Love Boys
When: Friday, Sept. 21 @ 9:30pm
Where: Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub, 245 Lincoln Square Center, 817-226-2300

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What: Le Freak
When: Friday, Sept. 21 @ 9:30pm
Where: Reflections (Admiral Hotel), 1507 N. Watson Road, 817-640-7712

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What: Little Shop of Horrors
When: Fri.-Sun., Sept. 21-23 @ 8 pm
Where: Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St., 817-275-7661

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Football season is upon us in every way. The Pros have opened their season. College is a couple of weeks into it. High School is as popular as ever. But my favorite is watching the kids play. Here’s a video of the first game of the season for the Arlington Optomist 6th grade Vikings playing against the Bobcats.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Football, Arlington Optomist, Vikings, Bobcats, You Tube

My pick for the weekend is the Mansfield Night on the Town in Town Park on Saturday. Me & My Monkey will perform and there will be food and drinks available. Should be a great family-friendly night (In case of inclement weather the festivities will be moved to the Mansfield Activities Center at 106 S. Wisteria).

What: Author Aziz Shihab
When: Friday, Sept. 7 @ 6-8 pm
Where: George W. Hawkes Library, 101 E. Abram St., (817) 459-6900

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What: Texas Ramblers 
When: Friday, Sept. 7 @ 9:30pm
Where: Stumpy’s Blues Bar, 2811 W. Division St., 817-275-3231

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Here the North Texas Explorer, Geologist Devin Dennie, tours the Legends of the Game Museum at the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers. The Museum hours are:

April-September
Game Days: 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Non Game Days: Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  Sunday, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

October-March
Closed Sunday and Monday
Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Texas Rangers, Legends of the Game Museum, North Texas Explorer, Devin Dennie, You Tube

My friend, Bam Bam, gave me a heads up on an event some of you may be interested in. It’s not in Arlington, but if you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan, you may want to head over to Dallas to check it out.

The Mavs ManiAACs are holding auditions on September 15 for a few good men to join their performance team. If you’re not familiar with the ManiAACs, they are an energetic group of guys who do hip-hop dance routines at Dallas Mavericks home games. You don’t need to be a professional dancer to try out. You just need to love the Mavs, have a lot of energy, and be committed to rehearsing and performing at the games. You don’t even need to be in good shape. In fact, the beefier the better I hear.

Here are the details: (more…)

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This is a great montage featuring the architecture and beauty of the Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers:

Arlington, Arlington TX, Ballpark in Arlington, Texas Rangers, You Tube

If you’re one of those, unlike me, who can’t get enough of the new Cowboys Stadium, you can now get a newsletter all about it.

The Dallas Cowboys and the City of Arlington are publishing Cowboys Stadium Scoreboard, an eight-page newsletter published quarterly, which chronicles the construction progress of the new Cowboys Stadium. The latest edition highlights Stadium construction milestones, expenditures to date, and features a photo gallery, contractor profiles and roadway improvement updates.

You can read the current issue and find archived issues at www.arlingtontx.gov/cowboys.

And if the newsletter isn’t enough, you can actually watch a live webcam of the stadium construction at http://stadium.dallascowboys.com/.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys Stadium, Live Webcam, Newsletter

Ozarka is sponsoring a “Walk in the Park” to benefit the River Legacy Foundation. The Foundation works to preserve and enhance land along the Trinity River in north Arlington. Ozarka is making a $15,000 donation to start things off and walkers may create an online donation page after registering.

Registered walkers will receive a free ticket to the September 9 Rangers baseball game and have the option to participate in an on-field parade to celebrate participants.

The walk take place on September 9 from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. Participants will meet at the Spring Creek Pavilion, Parking Lot B at the Ballpark in Arlington. Participants must pre-register online. For more information, call 817-861-2576 or visit www.texasrangers.com/ozarka.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Texas Rangers, Ballpark in Arlington, Ozarka, Walk in the Park, River Legacy Foundation, Free Rangers Tickets

The Mayor is at the Mall, The Wiggles are at Nokia, our good friends, Me & My Monkey are at Stumpy’s Blue’s Bar, and there are lots of other things happening. Enjoy your last weekend of summer. School starts Monday! 

What: Hearsay in concert
When: Friday, August 24 @ 9:45 pm
Where: Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub, 245 Lincoln Square Center, 817-226-2300

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What: Me & My Monkey
When: Friday, August 24 @ 9:30pm
Where: Stumpy’s Blues Bar, 2811 W. Division St., 817-275-3231

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What: Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners, Fri - Back to School Backpacks; Sat - MercyMe Pregame Concert
When: Fri.-Sun., August 24-26 @ 7:35pm
Where: The Ballpark, 1000 Ballpark Way, 972-RANGERS

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What: Astronaut (11am), Cosmic CSI (2pm)
When: Friday & Saturday, August 24 & 25
Where: UTA Planetarium, 700 Planetarium Place, 817-272-1183

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An Arlington man was among 4 Marines killed last week when their helicopter crashed near the Colorado River in Arizona, according to a U.S. Marine Corps news release. The Marines who lost their lives were Capt. Bradley Walters, 33, a pilot from Arlington; Maj. Cesar Freitas, 35, a pilot from Boulder, Colo.; Sgt. Charles L. Osgood, 27, crew chief from Phoenix; and Petty Officer 2nd Class Brendon O. Sandburg, 25, a Navy hospital corpsman from Stuart, Fla. There was one survivor, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Brian D. Stahlhut.

A construction worker was hit in the back with a sky crane hook while working on the fifth level of the Dallas Cowboy’s stadium yesterday evening. Rescuers had to use a crane to lower the unidentified worker more than 100 feet to the playing field. The man, an employee of stadium subcontractor Capform, was taken by ambulance to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, officials said. He was said to be in good condition last night.

With no takers for their free houses, the city began demolition Monday on four buildings dating to the 1920s and ’30s to make way for expansion of the city’s water department. The city had offered to give the houses and other structures in the 700 and 800 blocks of West Division Street, to anyone who would move them, but there were no applicants.

The city is trying to crack down on illegal game rooms. While reviewing zoning ordinances this year, officials realized that electronic gambling machines, or games of chance, are illegal. The city only allows games of skill, such as those found in video arcades. Starting today, building and fire inspectors will begin visiting 50 to 60 businesses believed to be violating local ordinances. Those found with the machines or in violation of other city ordinances will be given five days to comply or face being shut down.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Marines, Helicopter Crash, Bradley Walters, Cesar Freitas, Charles L. Osgood, Brendon O. Sandburg, Brian D. Stahlhut, Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Construction Worker Injured, Demolition, West Division Street, Illegal Game Rooms, Gambling

It’s a busy weekend around town. We’ve got craft shows, bands, theater, baseball and more!

What: Le Freak in concert
When: Friday, August 10 @ 9:45 pm
Where: Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub, 245 Lincoln Square Center, 817-226-2300

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What: The Party Crashers 
When: Friday, August 10 @ 9:30pm
Where: Reflections (Admiral Hotel), 1507 N. Watson Road, 817-640-7712

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What: Rufus Wainwright, Neko Case & A Fine Frenzy in Concert
When: Friday, August 10 @ 8 pm
Where: Nokia Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie (972-647-5700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/)

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This is Phone Guy’s dream come true! The Rangers now have an all-you-can-eat section! 

That’s right, all the nasty nachos, hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and sodas you can shove down your cake hole before and during the ball game are yours for the taking. (more…)