Go Ahead and Sing Your #%@& Off - Karaoke in Dallas

Here is article #3 for Lit Monthly (November, 2009 issue)...

Go Ahead and Sing Your #%@& Off - Karaoke in Dallas

Do you have the testicular fortitude to stand up in front of a crowd of complete strangers, family, and friends and belt out a version of “Close to You” by the Carpenters? No? Well then have another drink or two and you soon will. Ah, karaoke; it allows us to accrue a few of our fifteen minutes of fame (or shame) and get that adrenaline rush of a live performance. In the comfort of our favorite bar, we’re able to sing and join in on the cheers and jeers of our contemporaries, who usually feel that they could’ve done a better job on that last tune, which was so deftly sent through the abattoir.

Karaoke (amateurs singing along to recorded music through a PA system, with the assistance of scrolling lyrics that are being displayed on a video screen) has been around since the early 1970s. The true origin of this phenom is speculative, but most agree that it can be traced back to Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue, who created a karaoke-type machine back in 1971. Totally embraced by the Japanese, the popularity of the “Big K” quickly spread to East and Southeast Asia during the 1980s, and by the 1990s it was in full swing in the US and remains a popular form of entertainment today. In fact, the movie Duets, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis, centers on the life of a U.S. karaoke hustler.

Karaoke is really all about having a good time, whether you sing well or not. The medium has become so popular that even famous recording artists often use it as a crutch, on stage, relying on a video monitor of scrolling lyrics to keep from looking like a jackass, should they forget a line. Heck, even Elvis “the pelvis” used to use cue cards during live performances. And speaking of live performances, there is a form of karaoke called “Rock Star” karaoke, where a real band, with a list of up to several hundred songs, actually backs you up. You really get to be a rock star for a night!

As the majority of us have a hard enough time just mustering enough courage to vocalize to any crowd, there are a few rules of etiquette that should be followed when performing (or watching) karaoke. Here are a couple of lists that will help make the evening more enjoyable (or at least less painful) for everyone involved.

Some Karaoke Rules of Etiquette

1. Always applaud for every singer, no matter how bad they are. It’s always possible that you’ll suck even worse than them, when your time comes.
2. Conversely, making fun of someone on stage is a big NO-NO. No hissing, booing or derogatory comments from the peanut gallery, please. Unless of course it’s one of your siblings or best friends, and they are actually better than you.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, get up and sing backup or a duet with anyone unless you are specifically asked to! It’s hard enough sounding like crap on my own.
4. While there are tons of songs to choose from, there’s always a chance that someone will request the same song as you, before you. Don’t whine about it. They turned their slip in first and get to sing the song first. Just pick another tune and move on.
5. Always be respectful of the microphone. Don’t swing it around by the cord like Roger Daltry, and certainly don’t lick it, suck it, stick it in your mouth, or in any other bodily orifice. It’s a highly specialized, expensive piece of equipment, and when I sing on that mic, I’m singing with everyone else that that mic has been with.

Follow these simple rules and you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy inside and will probably be invited back to regale the adoring throngs with your smooth vocal stylings. Fail to heed them and the karaoke police may come knocking on your door in the wee hours of the morning, and force you to listen to 37 different renditions of “Feelings.” That being said, here is a short list of “don’t be that guy” songs that you should never inflict upon any karaoke crowd…

1. Songs that are too lengthy – i.e. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “American Pie,” “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights,” “Freebird,” and “Stairway to Heaven.” Why? Life’s just too damn short!
2. Songs that are overly weak, wimpy, or watered down – such as “I Got You Babe,” “The Rose,” or “The Wind Beneath My Wings” (Both by Bette Midler, sorry Bette!), “Delta Dawn,” “Copacabana,” anything by Air Supply, the Carpenters, Neil Diamond, or the like. – No explanation needed here, is there?
3. Tunes by musicians that are not in your vocal range – Journey, Rush, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Minnie Ripperton to name just a few. - Is there a freakin’ Screech Owl in here?
4. Songs that have just been way too overdone – like most anything from the Grease soundtrack, “Ice, Ice, Baby,” “New York, New York,” “My Way,” “Freebird” (again), “Brown-Eyed Girl,” “Strokin’,” “Friends in Low Places,” “Baby Got Back,” “Margaritaville,” “Hotel California” etc. – No, Not Again!! Please!!!
5. Songs that nobody else knows. – You’re going to sing that? Really!?
6. And last but certainly not least… sad, depressing, or breakup songs. – You may have just been through a tough breakup, but my life already sucks and I don’t need to be reminded. Keep your personal issues to yourself!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are a few of my favorite places in the Metroplex to stretch my vocal chords:

1. The Maple Point – 5415 Maple Ave. Dallas, TX (214) 688-5515 (Thurs.)
2. Lone Star Café – 11277 E. NW Highway Suite #124 Dallas, TX (214) 341-3538 (Tues. and Thurs.)
3. Tradewinds – 2843 W. Davis St. Dallas, TX (214) 337-9075 (Sat.)
4. The Stone Elephant – 6750 Abrams Rd. Dallas, TX (214) 342-9200 (Thurs.)
5. Ernie’s of North Dallas – 5100 Belt Line Rd. Suite #502 Dallas, TX (972) 233-8855 (Mon.)
6. The Goat (aka Lota’s Goat) – 7248 Gaston Ave. Dallas, TX (214) 327-8119 (Wed. and Sun.)
7. Knox Street Pub – 4447 McKinney Ave. Dallas, TX (214) 528-5100 (Thurs.)
8. Winedale Tavern – 2110 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX (214) 823-5018 (Thurs.)

You can find Rock Star Karaoke at:

1. Scooter’s – 3427 Trinity Mills Rd. Suite #700 Carrollton, TX (972) 662-9170 (Thurs.)
2. Sherlock’s Pub – 9100 N. Central Expressway Dallas, TX (214)692-1111 (Tues.)

There are tons of places to sing karaoke in Dallas, from little hole-in-the-wall dives to places like Family Karaoke, where you can rent your own private room with a karaoke machine, sing as horribly as you want, and order food and drinks, away from the judging eyes and ears of others. For more DFW karaoke hot spots, check out the website http://www.dfwkaraoke.com/. It’s a phenomenal resource for finding places to sing, on any night of the week. They were also very helpful in writing this article. Now get out there and sing your #%@& off! “Feelings, wo-o-o feelings…”

Stairway to Freebird: An Homage to DFW Tribute Bands and Clubs

Here is the second article that I've written for Lit Monthly. It was written for the October issue. I also penned a little one-page blurb for one of the advertisers, Reno's Grill, in Deep Ellum.

Stairway to Freebird: An Homage to DFW Tribute Bands and Clubs

Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Rush, The Allman Brothers, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd, performing live for only $5 each? You bet! When we can’t see the original band for one reason or another, a tribute to our favorite and sometimes defunct bands fits the bill just fine, and Dallas is at the forefront when it comes to the tribute band scene.

With concert ticket prices reaching the $150 range and old rockers dropping like flies, sometimes a tribute is the only and certainly most cost-effective way of recapturing the youthful rocking that we were once able to experience for under $10. I mean, I remember seeing bands like Boston, Queen and Thin Lizzy at the Dallas Convention Center for only $8.00 each!!!

Webster’s English Dictionary defines “tribute” as: a gift or service showing respect, gratitude, or affection and Wikipedia defines a “tribute act” as a music group, singer, or group of musicians who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act.

The first tributes to emerge appeared in the early to mid-60s and were primarily Elvis and Beatles impersonators, including an early Fab Four-inspired band called the Buggs, from Omaha, Nebraska. Marshall Crenshaw, in fact, got his first big break in 1977, playing for the touring Beatles tribute Beatlemania. A few tributes have even made it to the big time in their own right; Australian Pink Floyd and Dread Zeppelin come to mind. The Oasis tribute, No Way Sis, was once actually asked to play for a sellout crowd in Paris, which the holier-than-thou Oasis had just cancelled. As the tribute genre has grown in stature and quality, a number of big name acts have acquired replacement musicians, from tributes that have emulated their own sound, such as Journey, who found Arnel Pineda on You Tube, singing for a Philippine Journey tribute called “The Zoo,” or Tim “Ripper” Owens, the one-time singer for Judas Priest, who was found fronting a band in 1996 called British Steel, a Priest homage. Incidentally, Owens’ story was the inspiration for the film Rock Star.

Dallas has certainly had its share of tributes and the locals have always shown enough interest to keep them playing at live venues virtually every weekend, for the last decade. Some of the earliest bands to show up on the DFW scene are still in action, including Hard Night’s Day, the Beatles trib who just won the Observer’s 2009 best tribute band and Naked Lunch, the Steely Dan clone (one of my personal faves), recently named the best “Dan” tribute in America. The DFW tribute band tapestry is woven from a tight group of musicians, many of whom play in multiple bands, and fortunately, the quality of musicianship is relatively high with these guys (and gals). So, you can almost always find a really great show somewhere in DFW, on any given weekend.

Here’s a list of a few top local tribute bands and some of the venues in which they can be seen. Please check out each band’s or club’s website for more info and upcoming gigs.

Alcohollica - Metallica
The Almost Brothers -Allman Brothers
Anthem - Rush
Back In Black - AC/DC
Bebe Le Strange - Heart
Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi
Boys Named Sue - Johnny Cash
Briefcase Blues - Blues Brothers
Child O’ Mine - Guns N’ Roses
Destroyer - KISS
Escape - ourney
Fast Lane - Eagles
Hard Nights Day - Beatles
Holy Diver - Van Halen
Judas Rising - Judas Priest
Lizard Larceny - The Doors
Lone Star Floyd - Pink Floyd
Naked Lunch - Steely Dan
Oliver’s Army - Elvis Costello
The One Percent Band - Lynard Skynard
Petty Theft - Tom Petty
Queen for a Day - Queen
Swan Song Led Zeppelin
The Thin White Dukes - David Bowie
Voodoo Blue - Stevie Ray Vaughn

DFW Tribute Band Venues
Bronco’s Sports Bar - 900 Airport Fwy - Hurst, TX 76054 Phone: (817) 498-0600
The Cavern - 914 Lower Greenville Ave - Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: (214) 828-1914
Dan’s Silverleaf - 103 Industrial St - Denton, TX 76201 Phone: (940) 320-2000
Dino’s Bar and Grill - 2707 Race St - Fort Worth, TX 76111 Phone: (817) 222-2608
Flying Pig Roadhouse - 531 S Denton Dr - Lake Dallas, TX 75065 Phone: (940) 497-3240
House of Blues – 2200 N Lamar St – Dallas TX 75202 Phone: (214) 978-2583
Lakewood Bar and Grill – 6340 Gaston Ave – Dallas, TX 75214 Phone: (214) 826-3888
Lee Harvey’s – 1807 Gould St – Dallas, TX 75215 Phone: (214) 428-1555
Lone Star Café and Club – 11277 E Northwest Hwy – Dallas, TX 75238 Phone: (214) 341-3538
O’Riley’s Billiards, Food & Bar – 8989 Forest Ln – Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (972) 235-2781
The Pour House - 209 W 5th St - Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone: (817) 335-2575
Sambuca – 2120 McKinney Ave – Dallas, TX 75201 Phone: (214) 744-0820
Skillman Street Pub – 9220 Skillman St #115 – Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (214) 341-4022
Tolbert’s Restaurant – 423 S Main St – Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone: (817) 421-4888

DFW tribute bands offer a wide variety of musical stylings to suit just about any taste, and can be a buttload of fun to watch and sing along with. So dig out your old concert t-shirts, grab a lighter and some buds (either kind) and go support the next best thing to your favorite old (or not-quite-so-old) band. They’re most likely playing in town, this weekend. Rock on!

“Park” Your Bocce Balls Right Here

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I've been performing with Lone Star Floyd and as many of you know, I am now the Bar and Night Club columnist for Lit Monthly Magazine, writing at least one article a month for them. I'll post each article here, for those of you who can't get the mag in you area. Here is article numero uno...

Hi, my name is Greg Holman and while this column is not about me, I feel that a short introduction is necessary for you to understand why Mr. Mark Beneventi has graciously seen fit to inflict my knowledge of Dallas-area bars, night clubs, and restaurants upon you all.

I’ve lived in Dallas since 1974, and have lived in North Oak Cliff for the past fifteen years. I’m a bartender, DFW foodie, award winning cook and local musician. As a Dallas area musician, I’ve played a wide variety of venues ranging from the old Hot Club, Theatre Gallery, and O’Riley’s, to the Across the Street Bar, Memphis (in Addison), and Starplex (that’s right, I still call it Starplex!). In the early 80s my father was involved with the creation of the Starck Club and I consequently spent a lot of time “Starck Raving” and schlepping at other hot spots of the time like Nostromo, Zubar and Tangos.

I like all styles of music and will be visiting new and forgotten honky-tonks, blues bars, dance clubs, spots where the elite meet and greet, and all places in-between. I’ll be looking at good cheap drinks, cool patios, great bar food and DFW events where drinking, eating and partying is a requirement.

I love patios! Drinking and dining Al Fresco has a certain Je ne sais quoi. Food tastes better, wine is sweeter and vibes are cooler, so to start off the column I thought that I would hit Marc Cassel’s new collision-fusion, bocce ball bastion, “Park” on Henderson, which had its semi-grand opening on July 21st. Before the opening, I was intrigued by the first descriptions that I’d read of their lush patio and couldn’t wait to check it out. I’ve stuck primarily to the bar, patio and drinks for this article.

You may know Marc from his previous stints at Dragonfly in the Hotel Zaza and the always awesome Green Room in Deep Ellum. He’s also worked at the Mansion, Baby Ruth, and Star Canyon. Donald Chick, of La Condesa Comida y Tequila fame, holds the purse strings to this Breck Wolsey-designed, Eames House-inspired urban oasis on Henderson. In addition to the Wolsey interior, there is plenty of eye candy to be seen here, for both boys and girls. This includes the staff (a good looking bunch)! To get the groove going, they have DJs on Fridays and Saturdays and Dallas icon Jeff Liles has been spotted, spinning tunes on occasion. Girls wear everything from jeans and colorful tops to short slinky dresses with heels. Guys are wearing jeans or slacks with collared shirts, but all appear to be dressing to impress.

After getting past the valets and entering the big twin red doors, we were greeted by a jazzy soundtrack playing at a talkable volume and nice ambient lighting from George Nelson bubble lamps. Beverly Hills Hotel inspired banana leaf wallpaper and landscaping by Jason Pautz added a comfortable feel. Marc was very visible, expediting food from the kitchen and assuring that it was up to his specs.

The restaurant/bar is broken up into five different sections that easily flow from one to the other. And despite what you may have read, the bocce ball courts are outdoors and set to open on the third or fourth week of September, as is the new back-room bar which will be available for private parties.

The horseshoe shaped bar is spacious and accommodating and our bartenders Scott and Kevin were very helpful with questions about the menu and restaurant and genuinely seemed to be happy to be there, as did the rest of the staff. Fresh ingredients such as citrus and herbs are stored decoratively throughout the restaurant and fresh garnishes of fruits, herbs and berries fill drinking glasses at the bartender’s stations. The mixologists show a bit of flair while pouring the ‘60s themed specialty drinks ($8.00) with names like Voodoo Child, the Easy Rider, Jagger’s Lips and Pineapple Garcia. There are also twenty draft beers available, ranging from $4 to $6 a pint. They offer a house sangria ($5 a glass, $16 a carafe) that we thought was refreshing, if not a little bland, compared with the likes of Bolsa’s or Gloria’s and wines average $25 to $50, with a few higher-end bottles available, and several are served by the glass.

Park is pretty much as “green” as a Dallas restaurant can be. The kitchen uses sustainable, local and organic ingredients when viable and the interior is constructed with reclaimed wood. Tables, bars and benches are made from local rough-hewn cottonwood trees. They produce their own in-house bottled water, compost all of their biodegradable waste, support an herb garden and bee hives on the roof and have landscaped with hearty indigenous plants. A three trunk Live Oak, transplanted from Wilmer is the centerpiece of the patio, which also sports Japanese maples, and bamboo. Smoking is allowed on the patio.

Being one of the newest additions to one of Dallas’ hottest areas for food and drink, the crowds on the weekends can be a bit daunting, but during the week there seems to be no problem with seating. The drinks are well made and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. I could certainly be happy sitting and sipping on the patio, spending a relaxing evening in the Park.

Park is located at 1921 Henderson Ave. Dallas, TX 75206 Phone: 214.824.3343. The bar opens at 5:00 pm Tuesday through Thursday and at 4:00 pm Friday through Sunday. The Kitchen opens at 6:00. They are closed on Mondays. They will take reservations for parties of 6 or more. They can be found online at http://www.parkhenderson.com/.

You can read more of Greg Holman’s incoherent ramblings at http://eatdallas.blogspot.com/.

Buffalo Wings Make Our Hearts Soar (Sore?)...

Buffalo wings, aka hot wings have won over the hearts and stomachs of most of America and the rest of the World, for that matter. We enjoy them with a childlike fervor, as we tear into the messy wings with our fingers, pulling the tender meat from the bone with our teeth and slathering the spicy, vinegary sauce around our mouths. The endorphins fly as an almost euphoric burning sensation, from the capsaicin in cayenne pepper sauce, hits our lips. I therefore think that it's only fitting that I give a nod, a high five, and a wipe of the brow to these little fiery nuggets of aviary goodness and their origins. At the end of this article I have posted the original Anchor Bar Buffalo Wing recipe that was first published in Ladies Home Journal, August, 1991.

Buffalo, NY is the undisputed king, err... queen of the wing and all four stories of the origination of the hot, tender morsels are from "The Queen City," however, the general consensus is that Teressa Bellisimo of the Anchor Bar created the chicken phenom in 1964. The first story says that Teressa and Frank Bellisimo owned the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY and one Friday night her son Dominic and his friends came into the bar looking for a snack. Preparing to make a batch of stock from some chicken wings, "Mother Teressa" stuck some of the wings under the broiler and then covered them with a sauce that she had thrown together, using a base of butter and Frank's Hot Sauce. She took some celery sticks from one of the antipasto plates, put some of the house dressing, which happened to be blue cheese, in a small bowl, and served them up to the hungry boys and history was made. Later the anchor bar would start frying the wings instead of broiling them. Well, that's the first story...

Teressa and Frank are no longer with us, but Dominic, who took over the restaurant, says that Buffalo wings were actually created one Friday night when his mostly Catholic patrons were consuming copius quantities of beverage. Dominic wanted to do something nice for his regulars, and as they would be able to eat meat again at midnight, had mom throw something together. Either way, Teressa seems to be the one that we owe our undying thanks to.

Yet a third story, told by "Father Frank," says that there was a mis-delivery of wings that were supposed to be backs and necks for the restaurant's spaghetti sauce. With an overload of wings, Frank asked Teressa to "do something with them" and man did she ever do something!

The Anchor Bar has been host to many celebrities from actor John Candy, to musicians Kenny Rogers, Bob Seger, Spyro Gyra, Glen Miller's Band member Dick Gerhart, and a huge number of sports figures. It's also a favorite spot of Fred Smerlas and Alexander Mogilny.

A fourth origin story was reported in 1980, by New Yorker magazine contributor Calvin Trillin, who wrote that a man named John Young, in the early to mid-60s had developed a special "mambo" wing sauce that he cooked on his wings, at his Buffalo, NY restaurant Wings n' Things. Unlike the Anchor Bar, Young's wings were whole, rather than split and tipped, and were breaded, with the sauce covering them, rather than being tossed in the sauce. These wings were his signature dish. Young registered the name of his restaurant, John Young's Wings 'n Things, with the county in 1970. He said that "If the Anchor Bar was selling chicken wings, nobody in Buffalo knew about it then." Local poultry distributor records indicate that both the Bellissimos and Young were purchasing large quantities of wings during this time, but no actual sales records could ever be located. Well into the 1980s they were still serving the "Mambo" wings the original way, at Wings 'n Things and at Young's brother's restaurant, Bird Land.

A Short Timeline of the Hot Wing:

1964: Hot wings are created in Buffalo, NY and slowly spread to the surrounding area. Not much happens on the wing front and virtually no mentions of wings in print until 1975.

1975: Florida snow bird Edmund J. Hauck, originally of Buffalo, starts a restaurant called Wings N' Curls which becomes the first chain to specialize in hot wings. By 1992 the company had grown to 18 restaurants in Florida, Indiana, and California. Their wings were offered with several different sauces although the Buffalo wings were certainly the favorite. Mr. Hauck later sold the chain and only the original location still carries the name.

1983: By this time a good portion of the country had at least heard of Buffalo or hot wings and the time was right for the plucking and the little sports bar that would become the corporate monster Hooters opened it's doors on an unsuspecting public. The first Hooters Restaurant opened in Clearwater, Florida and in 1984 the concept was licensed to Hooters of America.

Late 1980s: An article in Family Circle states that "Buffalo wings have quickly become a favorite across the US." The 1980s was obviously a time of discovery and growth for the wing.

1992: The national pizza chain Domino's introduces the Buffalo wing as an option in their Buffalo, NY locations.

1994: Domino's goes nationwide with their wing promotion and commits to $32 million in advertising during National Football League games on NBC that season.

1995: Pizza Hut follows suit and begins national distribution of wings. Domino's reports that 1/3 of it's customers are ordering wings. Little Caesar's begins selling wings in 200 of it's locations. Wings become a $400 million a year part of the restaurant industry.

Some Wings Facts:

- Opposing athletic teams that come to Buffalo visit the Anchor Bar the night before their game.

- Vice President Mondale had chicken wings delivered to his plane on a visit to Buffalo, as did the former First Lady, Hillary Clinton.

- In 1977, Buffalo Mayor Stan Makowski, proclaimed July 29th as Official Chicken Wing Day.

- Wings cost $.05/lb, in 1964, the year that Buffalo wings were invented.

- One of the largest eating contests in the U.S. is the Wing Bowl. It has been held annually in Philadelphia since 1993.

- Joey Chestnut is the reigning three-time champion and in 2008, set a record by eating 241 wings during the contest.

- True original Buffalo wings are never breaded or battered; they are deep fried, naked, as nature intended.

Where can I get good wings in Dallas?

Here are a few good places to get your burn on. Let me know of any that I have been remiss in listing!

1. Angry Dog (Great wings, only two sauces, regular and burn-your-ass-off, and one of the best burgers in town!)
2726 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 741-4406

2. Plucker’s Wing Factory & Grill

5500 Greenville Ave.

Dallas, TX 75206

(214) 363-9464

3. McKinney Ave. Tavern

2822 McKinney Ave.

Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 969-1984‎

4. Frankie’s Sports Bar

3227 Mckinney Ave. # 102

Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 999-8932

‎
5. City Tavern (they have a good Ruben too!)

1402 Main St.

Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 745-1402‎

6. Lone Star Wings (five locations in Dallas, and one in New York!)

http://www.lswings.com/locations.htm

AND NOW... (drum roll please)

Anchor Bar Buffalo Wings (The Original Recipe!!!)
Source: Ladies Home Journal - August 1991

The Sauce:
6 tablespoons Frank's Louisiana Hot Sauce
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine - not butter
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
Dash of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 to 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

Carrot and celery sticks to garnish
Marie's Bleu Cheese Dressing

This makes enough for about 30 "wingettes."

Mix all the ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat on low until the margarine is completely melted, stirring occasionally.

The Wings:

Fry the wings in a deep fryer set at 375 degrees using vegetable or peanut oil. Fry 15 wings at a time for 12 to 15 minutes. Drain the wings for a few minutes then put them in a bowl.

After all the wings have been fried, pour the sauce over them, cover the bowl, and shake to completely coat the wings.

They can be eaten now, or you can put them on a baking sheet and bake them for a few minutes to get an extra-crispy coating.

Serve with carrot and celery sticks and Marie's Bleu Cheese Dressing and cold beer (Genesee Cream Ale is traditional).

Feel the burn!!!

Greg

Where to Get a Good Burger in Texas

When traveling the massive state of Texas, my home, finding a good burger can be a daunting challenge, so after considerable research I've compiled a list of Texas burger joints. By no means have I been to all of these burger havens (over 250 of them), but I have relied on reviews and the recommendations of friends and burger enthusiasts from all over, to help assemble this list. I've tried to list a burger joint for every city with a population over 50,000. This is not to say that I don't have any small town spots listed. If a joint merits a nod, regardless of city population or price, I've added them to the list as well.

As this site is primarily for the Dallas area, and for brevity, I am only listing the DFW Metroplex burger joints here. For a complete "State of Texas" list, please visit my new sister site, The Burger Hunter: http://burgerhunter.blogspot.com/2009/05/where-to-get-good-burger-in-texas.html.

Do your research and check out the websites. Some of the burgers can get a bit pricey. I certainly look forward to your input on places that I've missed and recommendations or negative comments on the joints that are listed. If I receive several negative comments on one restaurant, I will pull them from the list. Enjoy eating your way across Texas!

Greg

P.S. I have received a number of comments on why I haven't included Twisted Root on this list. I feel that Twisted Root is probably the most over-hyped burger joint in the Metroplex. For more info, see my review at http://eatdallas.blogspot.com/2008/06/getting-to-root-of-twisted-root.html.

The List:

Addison:

Burger House (6 locations)
14248 Marsh Ln.
Addison, TX 75001
Phone (972) 241-1611
http://www.burgerhouse.com/index.php/home/c/home

Jake’s (5 locations)
5505 Beltline Rd.
Addison, TX 75254
Phone (972) 503-5253
http://www.jakesburgers.com/

Shuck-N- Jive (on the Addison Belt Line Strip. Order the mini-burgers, which may not be on the menu)
5000 Belt Line Rd.
Dallas, TX 75254
Phone (972) 386-5151
http://www.memphis-dallas.com/SHUCKANDJIVE.html

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
14910 Midway Rd.
Addison, TX 75001
Phone (972) 991-8811
http://www.snuffers.com/

Allen:

Scotty P’s (7 locations)
109 Central Expy. Suite #501
Allen, TX 75213
Phone (214) 547-9010
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Arlington:

Airways Hamburgers
1106 N. Collins St.
Arlington, TX 76011
Phone (817) 461-1601

Al's
1001 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd. Suite #103
Arlington, TX 76006
Phone (817) 275-8918
http://www.alshamburgers.com/

Buck N’ Loon's
3517 S. Cooper St.
Arlington, TX 76015
Phone (817) 466-2825
http://www.bucknloons.com/

Burger Box
2501 S. Cooper St.
Arlington, TX 76015
Phone (817) 460-8121

Jackson’s Grocery
1821 S. Fielder Rd.
Arlington, TX 76013
Phone (817) 275-8201

Carrollton:

Burger Island
1208 E. Belt Line Rd. Suite #108
Carrollton, TX 75006
Phone (972) 245-4621

Krystal (yes, the chain)
2670 Midway Rd.
Carrollton, TX 75006
Phone (972) 931-5566

Coppell:

Coppell Deli
449 W. Bethel Rd.
Coppell, TX 75019
Phone (972) 462-0101
http://www.coppelldeli.com/

Dallas:

Adair's
2624 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226
Phone (214) 939-9900
http://www.adairssalloon.com/

Angry Dog
2726 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226
Phone (214) 741-4406
http://www.angrydog.com/

Ball’s Hamburgers (3 locations)
3404 Rankin St.
Dallas, TX 75205
Phone (214) 373-1717

Burger House (4 Dallas locations, 2 others)
6913 Hillcrest Ave. (original location)
Dallas, Texas 75205
Phone (214) 361-0370
http://www.burgerhouse.com/index.php/locations/c/locations

Cactus Jack's (a member of the Keller's family)
4341 Lemmon Ave.
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone (214) 559-0607

Chip's
4530 Lovers Ln.
Dallas, TX 75225
Phone (214) 691-2447
http://www.chips-burgers.com/index.htm

Club Schmitz
9661 Denton Dr.
Dallas, TX 75220
Phone (214) 350-3607

Country Burger (6 locations?)
401 S. Hampton Rd.
Dallas, TX 75208
Phone (214) 330-4743

And

‎2951 S. Westmoreland Rd.
Dallas, TX 75211
Phone (214) 331-8378‎

Dairy-ette
9785 Ferguson Rd.
Dallas, TX 75228
Phone (214) 327-9983

JG's Hamburgers
12101 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone (214) 644-8628

The Grape
2808 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone (214) 828-1981
http://www.thegraperestaurant.com/

Hole In The Wall
11654 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75229
Phone (972) 247-2253

Houston's (32 locations nationwide)
8300 Preston Rd. Suite A
Dallas, TX 75225
Phone (214) 691-8991
http://www.hillstone.com/

Jake's (5 locations)
6606 Skillman Rd. (original location)
Dallas, TX‎ 75231
Phone (214) 349-1422‎
http://www.jakesburgers.net/

Keller's Drive Inn (2 Dallas locations)
6537 E. Northwest Hwy. (my favorite location)
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone (214) 368-1209‎

And

10554 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75220
Phone (214) 357-3572‎

Lakewood Landing
5818 Live Oak St.
Dallas, TX 75214
Phone (214) 823-2410
http://www.lakewood-landing.com/

The Loon
3531 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, TX 75204
Phone (214) 559-3059
http://www.theloon.com/

Maple and Motor Burgers and Beer
4810 Maple Ave. Dallas, TX 75219
Phone (214) 522-4400
http://www.mapleandmotor.com/

Midway Point
12801 Midway Rd. Suite #306
Dallas, TX 75244
Phone (972) 484-3470

Northwest Point
2053 W. Northwest Hwy. Suite #100
Dallas, TX 75220
Phone (972) 869-2477

Pappy's Old Fashioned Hamburger
1475 W. Mockingbird Ln.
Dallas, TX 75235
Phone (214) 678-0760

The Porch
2916 N. Henderson Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone (214) 828-2916
http://www.theporchrestaurant.com/

Scotty P’s (7 locations)
11661 Preston Rd. Suite #131
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone (972) 398-6767, Ext. 6
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar (2 Dallas locations, 6 others)
3526 Greenville Ave. (original location)
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone (214) 826-6850
http://www.snuffers.com/

Uptown Bar and Grill
2523 McKinney Ave. Suite A
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone (214) 969-9433
http://www.uptownbarandgrill.com/

Village Burger Bar
3699 McKinney Ave. Suite #325
Dallas, TX 75204
Phone (214) 443-9998
http://www.villageburgerbar.com/

Wingfield's Breakfast and Burger (it’s best to call in your order first, no sit down dining)
2615 S. Beckley Ave.
Dallas, TX 75224
Phone (214) 943-5214

Denton:

Denton County Independent Hamburger Company
113 W. Hickory St.
Denton, TX 76201
Phone (940) 383-1022

Katz's Hamburgers
901 Ave. C Suite A
Denton, TX 76201
Phone (940) 442-6200

Flower Mound:

Burgers and Brats
6100 Long Prairie Rd. Suite #300
Flower Mound, TX 75028
Phone (972) 539-9110‎

Culvers
2709 Flower Mound Rd.
Flower Mound, TX 75022
Phone (972) 355-3787

Ft. Worth:

Dutch's Burgers and Beer
3009 S. University Dr.
Fort Worth, TX 76109
Phone (817) 927-5522
http://www.dutchshamburgers.com/

Fred's
915 Currie St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76107
Phone (817) 332-0083
http://www.fredstexascafe.com/

Jake’s (5 locations)
515 Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone (817) 332-5253
‎http://www.jakesburgers.net/

Kincaid's (2 locations)
4901 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone (817) 732-2881
http://www.kincaidshamburgers.com/

Love Shack
110 E. Exchange
Fort Worth, TX 76164
Phone (817) 740-8812
http://www.shakeyourloveshack.com/

SoDo Grill
911 Houston St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76102
Phone (817) 877-3939

Frisco:

Scotty P’s (2 Frisco locations, 5 others)
4710 Preston Rd. Suite #300
Frisco, TX 75034
Phone (972) 712-6556

And

West Frisco location
5100 Eldorado Pkwy. Suite #300
Frisco, Texas 75034
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Garland:

Burger Island
1250 Northwest Hwy. Suite C
Garland, TX 75041
Phone (972) 686-8880

Scotty P’s (7 locations)
4280 Lavon Dr. Suite #200
Garland, TX 75040
Phone (972) 398-6767, Ext. 5
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Grapevine:

Peace Burger
1208 William D. Tate Ave.
Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone (817) 410-4074‎

Highland Village:

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
4050 Barton Creek Suite #100
Highland Village, TX 75077
Phone (972) 317-9111
http://www.snuffers.com/

Irving:

Burger Island (3 locations)
2500 N. Story Rd.
Irving, TX 75062
Phone (972) 255-0154

Griff's Burger Bar
718 E. Irving Blvd.
Irving, TX 75060
Phone (972) 579-7651

Jacksboro:

Herd's
400 N. Main St.
Jacksboro, TX 76458
(They have no phone!)

Lake Worth:

Bullfrog Grill
6700 Azle Ave.
Lake Worth, TX 76135
Phone (817) 237-9111

Lewisville:

Texas Hamburger Factory
1301 Justin Rd.
Lewisville, TX 75077
Phone (972) 317-3603‎

‎McKinney:

Baker’s Drive-In
1001 S. McDonald St.
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone (972) 542-4050

Herby's Soda Fountain
210 N. Tennessee St.
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone (972) 548-7632

Market Street
6100 Eldorado Pkwy.
McKinney, TX 75070
Phone (972) 548-5140
http://www.marketstreetunited.com/

Pride Burger
103 W. University Dr.
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone (972) 542-6732

Scotty P’s (7 locations)
2950 Craig Dr.
McKinney, TX 75070
Phone (972) 529-9499
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
3270 S. Central Expy.
McKinney, TX 75070
Phone (214) 592-9911
http://www.snuffers.com/

Mesquite:

Burger Style Café
1200 E. Davis St. Suite #116
Mesquite, TX 75149
Phone (972) 329-6000‎

Country Burger (6 locations?)
308 S. Galloway Ave.
Mesquite, TX 75149
Phone (972) 216-9997

‎Jucy's (4 locations)
2103 N. Town East Blvd.
Mesquite, TX 75150
Phone (972) 270-9300

Plano:

Country Burger (6 locations?)
1700 14th St.
Plano, TX 75074
Phone (972) 423-2210

‎And

3115 W. Parker Rd. Suite #500
Plano, TX 75023
Phone (972) 422-5092‎

And

2108 W. 15th St.
Plano, TX 75075
Phone (972) 422-5092‎

Jake’s
701 W. Parker
Plano, TX 75023
Phone (972) 398-9900
http://www.jakesburgers.net/

Jasper's
7161 Bishop Rd. Suite G1
Plano, TX 75024
Phone (469) 229-9111
http://www.jaspers-restaurant.com/

J C's Burger House
8612 Preston Rd.
Plano, TX 75024
Phone (972) 384-1940

‎Scotty P’s (7 locations)
2929 Custer Rd. Suite #300
Plano, TX 75075
Phone (972) 398-9595
http://www.scottyps.com/WebSite/HomePage.aspx

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
2408 Preston Rd. Suite #704 A
Plano, TX 75093
Phone (469) 467-9911
http://www.snuffers.com/

Richardson:

Burger Island (3 locations)
525 W. Arapaho Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
Phone (972) 235-8960

Del's Charcoal Burgers
110 S. McKinney St.
Richardson, TX 75081
Phone (972) 235-9191
http://delsburgers.com/

Rockwall:

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
2901 Village Dr.
Rockwall, TX 75087
Phone (972) 722-9811
http://www.snuffers.com/

Sachse:

Burger Island (3 locations)
5848 Hwy. 78 Suite #116
Sachse, TX 75048
Phone (972) 530-6318‎

Southlake:

Five Guys Burgers and Fries (large east coast chain)
242 State St.
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone (817) 416-9726
http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx

Johnny B's Burgers and Shakes
2704 E. Southlake Blvd.
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone (817) 749-0000
http://johnnybsburgers.com/

Kincaid’s (2 locations)
100 N Kimball Ave.
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone (817) 416-2573
http://www.kincaidshamburgers.com/

Peace Burger (2 locations)
2750 E. Southlake Blvd. Suite #140
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone (817) 410-4074

Snuffer’s (8 locations)
431 Grand Ave. Suite E
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone (817) 410-9811
http://www.snuffers.com/

Watauga:

Tex’s Star Grill
6101 Rufe Snow Dr.
Watauga, TX 76148
Phone (817) 427-8397

NOTES:

I've gotten one unfavorable review of the Burger Island in Mesquite, on Town East Blvd. for...
1. Cleanliness
2. Dry, overcooked patty
3. Bun stale and much bigger than the patty
4. But the fries were good

No Soup For You! (Just the Recipe)…

One of the most memorable characters from Jerry Seinfeld’s sit-com was the infamous Soup Nazi, who sold the best soup in New York, but whose clearly posted ordering rules were so strict, that if you did not precisely abide by them, there would be “no soup for you!” even though you could well have been waiting in line for over two hours.



Portrayed so well on the small screen by actor Larry Thomas, that he was nominated for a 1996 Emmy for the role, the character was based on Al Yeganeh, an actual New York restauranteur. The long lines and his short fuse, at his midtown Manhattan “Soup Kitchen International,” located at 259A West 55th Street, near 8th Avenue, have made him an area institution. The place would close during the summer, with a sign posted outside that simply said that the chef was in "Argentina for the summer." The original location is now closed and Mr. Yeganeh has a 1,000 store franchise is in the works.

If the soups are worthy of the amount of abuse endured by patrons of the Soup Kitchen, then they certainly deserve to be shared with the world. Here are a couple of his coveted recipes…

Soup Nazi Crab Bisque (as deciphered by Todd Wilbur of Top Secret Recipes)


This is the soup that Jerry orders in the show and it’s the most requested Soup Nazi recipe.

Ingredients:
4 pounds snow crab clusters (legs)
4 quarts water (16 cups)
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, quartered
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup fresh chopped Italian parsley
2 teaspoons mustard seed
1 tablespoon chopped pimento
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
2 bay leaves
1/3 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons half and half
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/8 teaspoon basil
1/8 teaspoon marjoram

Directions:
1. Remove all the crab meat from the shells and set it aside.

2. Put half of the shells into a large pot with 4 quarts of water over high heat. Add the onion, 1 stalk of chopped celery, and the garlic, then bring the mixture to a boil. Continue to boil for 1 hour, stirring occasionally (The white part of the shells will start to become transparent), then strain the stock. Discard the shells, onion, celery and garlic, keeping only the stock.

3. Measure 3 quarts (12 cups) of the stock into a large sauce pan or cooking pot. If you don't have enough stock, add enough water to make 3 quarts.

4. Add the potatoes and bring the mixture to a boil, then add 1/2 of the crab and the remaining ingredients to the pot and bring it back to boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 4 hours, until it reduces by about half and starts to thicken. Add the remaining crab and simmer for another hour until the soup is very thick.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Soup Nazi Cream of Sweet Potato Soup


Ingredients:
4 sweet potatoes (about 1 pound each)
8 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons half and half
2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
dash thyme
1 cup cashews (split in half)

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Bake the sweet potatoes for 45 minutes or until they are soft. Cool the potatoes until they can be handled.

2. Peel away the skin, then put the potatoes into a large bowl. Mash for 15-20 seconds, but don't mash them until they are entirely smooth.

3. Spoon the mashed sweet potatoes into a large saucepan over medium/high heat, add the remaining ingredients, and stir to combine.

4. When the soup begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 50-60 minutes. The cashews should be soft. Serve hot and garnish with more cashews, more half and half or sour cream and chives, cilantro, or parsley.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Now, move to the EXTREME left!

Long Time No Write!

Hi all,

So sorry for my absence from the blog the last month or so. I have been dealing with some health issues. Nothing too serious. As many of you know, I had heart surgery a little over four years ago and was diagnosed with Hypertension and Atherosclerosis at the time. These have been well under control and I've been doing great, with some small adjustments in my diet, but a couple of weeks ago I was also told that I have Hypertrigliceridemia. Simply put, my body is not processing carbohydrates and sugars as well as most peoples do. Consequently, a more aggressive diet is in order. Once I get the "trigs" under control, I'll still be able to do my regular reviews and such. In the meantime I am finding new ways to keep my taste buds satiated, with some interesting limitations to my normal diet. I am basically restricted to Phase Three of the South Beach diet from her on out, meaning little or no sugar, potatoes, white bread, white pasta, ketchup, and non-light BEER, among others. Try that for a week!

I am assured that I can still have an occasional pizza and hamburger, within reason, which is good news, as I am in the research stage of writing a book on the history on the hamburger from Genghis Khan to present day! I'll be asking some of you for input on this project as it moves forward, so please send me any photos or good burger images that you come across (who knows, you might get a "shout out" in the book!). I am hoping to have it published by Christmas 2010, so keep your eyes open for it.

I will be posting notes on my trials and tribulations with the "South Beach" process and some of my favorite "Heart-Healthy" recipes, as I develop them, in my effort to create diet specific dishes that would be palatable to the general public.

Think of me any time you're eating a burger, nachos, or a pizza and I'll keep you in mind when I am eating spinach, low fat cottage cheese, and whole grain bread!

Bon appetit!
Greg

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Well, it's been crazy as usual this holiday season and with everyone being fiscally cautious, it's almost seemed a bit more like an old fashioned yuletide. People are concentrating more on family and family values, and giving thanks for what they have, rather than worrying if they've purchased a nice enough present for someone, or if they've spent an equally generous amount on each of the kids. Many people are without jobs this season and the next year looks sketchy at best. This is when Americans really tend to shine. They rise to the occasion and show what they are made of, in adverse conditions. Lisa and I are feeling the pinch just like everyone. Neither of us received Christmas bonuses this year and we are cooking and serving Christmas dinner for 50! We're thrilled that so many of our friends and family chose to spend their Christmas with us. It is going to be a joyous day of love and celebration. We would like to thank everyone who has touched our lives this year and wish only the very best to you and yours. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Love,
Lisa and Greg

P.S. My band Lone Star Floyd will not be performing on December 26th, at Skillman Street Pub, as originally scheduled. We will however, be playing on February 28th at O'Riley's, on Forest Lane. Stay tuned!

A Meal Fit For A "Duke" - John Wayne's Favorite Casserole

John Wayne, a long-time resident of Southern California, was a fan of Southwestern cooking and co-owned a large feed ranch in Arizona. Lauded as his favorite casserole, this recipe appeared in the L. A. Times, back in the '70s and every swingin', fondue-loving family apparently had a copy of it. I know we did, as it was a once-every-other-week meal at our house. The caserole comes out of the oven, looking like a soufle, but then it falls and that's OK, so don't worry. The recipe reportedly came from a cook on a movie catering truck, who used to make this for "The Duke," by request. Whether or not this is true, the recipe is still great today.

Like my Mountain Man quiche recipe, this one is heavily laden with cheese, and will be of questionable edibility for the health-conscious reader, but oh, it's soooo good! Check it out...

JOHN WAYNE CASSEROLE:

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound coarsely grated Jack cheese
1 pound coarsely grated cheddar cheese
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tomatoes, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325°.

Combine cheeses and chiles and spoon into a well-greased 11-by-9-inch or similar-size baking dish.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

In another bowl combine egg yolks, milk, flour, salt and pepper and mix until well blended. Fold beaten egg whites into yolk mixture. Pour egg mixture over cheese in casserole. Using a fork, swirl egg mixture through cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and decorate with sliced tomatoes. Bake 30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let stand a few minutes to set; serve.

Serves 6-8

PER SERVING: 525 calories, 34 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 40 g fat (25 g saturated), 223 mg cholesterol, 880 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.

So, whatcha waitin' for Pilgrim? Oh... great Idea! This would be an excellent side dish for Thanksgiving!

Greg

Baby Doe's Matchless Mine Beer Cheese Soup - Not as Cheesy as it Looks

Baby Doe's Matchless Mine Restaurant, Dallas

Many of you probably remember Baby Doe's Matchless Mine, on Harry Hines, overlooking lovely I-35, behind the famous waterfall billboard. The building is gone now, but the memories remain. The restaurant was named after Baby Doe Tabor, who, through a scandalous marriage, was the wife of Horace Tabor, one of the wealthiest men of the late 19th century. When Horace died penniless, after silver prices dropped as a result of the gold standard, Baby Doe moved into one of their holdings, the Matchless Mine where she eventually died from old age.


Baby Doe Tabor

Back in 1986 I was the DJ down in the mine and became friends with some of the managers. I used to love their beer cheese soup and was able to talk the kitchen manger out of the recipe, but was kind of startled when I saw the ingredients, due to their "cost effectiveness," but you can't argue with great taste. This is a really simple, great Fall/Winter recipe to warm to cockles of your heart.

Here it is...

Amount Ingredient
-------- -----------
8 cups Milk
2 ts Tabasco sauce
4 ts Worcestershire sauce
4 tb Chicken base (powder or granules, I like Knorr)
16 oz Cheez Whiz
6 tb Cornstarch
1/3 cup Warm Water
1 cup Beer (Baby Doe's used to use either Shaefer or Lone Star)
Cayenne pepper to taste

Combine the milk, Tabasco, Worcestershire, and chicken base in a stock pot. Bring it to a boil, stirring frequently.

Add the Cheez Whiz, after warming it up in hot water or in the microwave. Mix in well.

Dissolve the cornstarch completely in the 1/3 cup of warm water. Add it to the soup, which should start to thicken almost immediately. Reduce the heat a bit and stir in the beer.

To serve, ladle into bowls and dust with cayenne pepper and top with some chives. Croutons do quite well in the soup as well.

Greg

I've Finished! "Best Dive Bars in Dallas" is Posted.

Hey all,

It took longer than I thought, but I've just posted the "Best Dive Bars in Dallas" article. When composing articles with this blog software, the date that you begin writing the article is the date that it publishes, so you need to either click on this link http://eatdallas.blogspot.com/2008/06/hot-dive-into-best-dive-bars-in-dallas.html, or look down the page to the June 24th entry. Give me your feedback please! You're looking at the blog, but not contributing. Talk to me!!!!

Greg

I'm Still Here... I Think

Hi all,

I know that it's been a while since my last post, but Saturday will be my first day off since September 20th! I'm really looking forward to it. State Fair, here I come, so do your fried best to take me out! I'm almost finished with my article on Dallas' best dive bars (25 bars and counting). I've had a few late additions and still have a few photos to take, but there are only about four more clubs to write up and then I'll post. I'm currently writing a Burger article as well, so keep checking back. All is well with wife and dogs. Lone Star Floyd is in full rehearsal mode and we hope to be playing by the middle of November. Check out our MySpace page for details. Everyone's getting ready for the Haunted Pirate Halloween party at Dina and Lenny's (I'll be DJ-ing)! And no, I won't tell you what I'm going as. Share the love! Peace.

Must See Sinema

OK, while we're on the subject of movies... a few months ago I was asked, by a friend, to compile a list of "must see" films and, with the help of Dave Tosh and several others we put together this list of films that should be seen. A few of them need to be seen solely for their contribution to the cinematic arts, while others are classics. Some of them are the worst that Hollywood has to offer, and some are just downright funny. Z and B-grade movies, horror, sci-fi, musicals, blockbusters, and virtually unknown independent films comprise the 160 movies on the list, and some are on there just because I like 'em. Enjoy and let me know of any that I have missed. By the way, these are not in any particular order.

1. Dr. Strangelove (1964, Slim Pickins, Peter Sellers, one of the all-time classics)
2. Six-String Samurai (1998, Starring Jeffrey Falcon, post-apocalyptic rock n' roll samurais, Elvis, and Satan's rock band!)
3. Repo Man (1984, Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, A search for decaying aliens in the trunk of a stolen car)
4. Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill (1966, Tura Satana, directed by Russ Meyer, race car driving she-thugs out for laughs)
5. I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968, Peter Sellers, Hippie fun at it's best)
6. This is Spinal-Tap (1984, Rock Band Mockumentary starring Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Bruno Kirby, Harry Schearer, tons of star cameos)
7. Harold and Maude (1971, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort, A suicidal youth falls in love with a septuagenarian, very sweet and funny)
8. Forbidden Zone (1980, Danny Elfman, Hervé Villechaize, Very Weird!)
9. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002, Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Elvis and JFK battle an ancient Egyptian Mummy)
10. 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953, Hans Conreid, based on the Dr. Seuss book, fun and strange)
11. Brazil (1985, Robert DiNero, Jonathan Pryce, Bob Hoskins, Michael Palin, Directed by Terry Gilliam)
12. A Boy and His Dog (1975, Don Johnson, post-apocalyptic talking dog, Jason Robards is the dog's voice)
13. Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988, Directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring John Neville, Oliver Reed, Eric Idle, Uma Thurman, Jonathan Pryce, Robin Williams)
14. Brewster McCloud (1970, Bud Cort, Sally Kellerman, Shelly Duval, Stacy Keach, Directed by Robert Altman)
15. The Warriors (1979, Michael Beck, Futuristic gang wars in N.Y.C.)
16. Escape From New York (1981, Kurt Russel, Donald Pleasance, Harry Dean Stanton, Lee Van Cleef, Isaac Hayes, Adrienne Barbeau)
17. Eraserhead (1977, David Lynch's first film, hard to watch, very creepy)
18. Dazed and Confused (1993, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Afleck, Milla Jovovich)
19. Clerks (1994, Directed by Kevin Smith from Austin, First appearance of Jay and Silent Bob)
20. The Big Lebowski (1998, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, a classic comedy)
21. This Island Earth (1955, classic 50s Sci-Fi, was the subject of the movie "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" which is also really fun)
22. Manos, the Hands of Fate (1966 - one of the worst films ever made)
23. Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959 - another worst film ever made, directed by Ed Wood)
24. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, John and Joan Cusak, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, and Hank Azaria, Dueling Hit Men at a high school reunion)
25. High Fidelity (2000, John Cusak, Jack Black, and Tim Robbins)
26. Barbarella (1968, Jane Fonda, the band Duran Duran got their name from this movie)
27. I Wake Up Screaming (1941, Film Noir starring Victor Mature, Carol Landis, and Betty Grabel)
28. Forbidden Planet (1956, classic Sci-Fi starring Leslie Nielsen in a serious role)
29. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Malcom McDowell, very twisted, bleak, futuristic film, me little droogies)
30. El Topo (1971, Aka The Mole, Mexican surrealistic splatter spaghetti Western)
31. Phantom of the Paradise (1974, Directed by Brian DePalma, starring Paul Williams, modern take on Phantom of the Opera)
32. Tommy (1975, Oliver Reed, Anne Margaret, Jack Nicholson, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltry, The Who, Tina Turner)
33. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
34. Army of Darkness (1992, Aka Evil Dead 3, Bruce Campbell, Directed by Sam Raimi)
35. Groove Tube (1974, Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer, A collection of skits that make fun of 1970s television)
36. Kentucky Fried Movie (1977, Series of short, highly irreverent, and often tasteless skits)
37. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978, scientists band together to save the world from mutated tomatoes that KILL!)
38. Killer Clowns From Outer Space (1988, Aliens clowns from outer space terrorize a small town)
39. Rock 'N' Roll High School (1979, P. J. Soles, rock-loving students, and the Ramones, take over their high school)
40. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984, Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd)
41. Streets of Fire (1984, Michael Pare, Willem Dafoe, Rick Moranis, "A Rock and Roll Fable")
42. Better Off Dead (1985, John Cusak, Curtis Armstrong, David Ogden Stiers)
43. Real Genius (1985, Val Kilmer, Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities at college, while developing a laser)
44. Big Trouble in Little China (1986, Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, A trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown)
45. Amazon Women on the Moon (1987, a number of stars appear, Spoof of 1950's sci-fi movie, interspersed with comedy sketches)
46. House of Games (1987, Joe Mantegna, A look into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men, great twist ending!)
47. Raising Arizona (1987, Nicholas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Childless couple decides to steal one of another family's quintuplets)
48. Three O’clock High (1987, Coming of age comedy, amazing camera work)
49. Akira (1988, one of the best Japanimation films of all time!)
50. Hairspray (1988, Sonny Bono, Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry, Jerry Stiller, Divine)
51. Hard-Boiled (1992, Aka "Lat sau san taam", Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung, Directed by John Woo)
52. The Usual Suspects (1995, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Pollak, Won 2 Oscars)
53. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1988, Mike Nelson and his robot companions watch and give their comments about "This Island Earth")
54. Office Space (1999, company workers who hate their jobs, decide to rebel against their greedy boss)
55. Dark City (1998, William Hurt, Keifer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly)
56. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, Michael Rennie, Classic 50s sci-fi)
57. Carnival of Souls (1962, After a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival)
58. Metropolis (1927, Directed by Fritz Lang, One of the first sci-fi films, a classic!)
59. Head (1968, The Monkees, Jack Nicholson, surrealistic Beatlesesque musical)
60. Death Race 2000 (1975, David Caradine, Sylvester Stalone, brutal futuristic cross-country car race where pedestrians are run down for points)
61. Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, One of the first horror films, "A horror film that surpasses all others")
62. The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997, Bill Murray, spies and mistaken identities, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
63. Real Men (1987, Jim Belushi, John Ritter, spies, espionage, and aliens, great Saturday afternoon fluff)
64. Blackula (1972, Interior decorators buy the coffin of an African prince bitten by Dracula and bring it back to Los Angeles... Great Blaxploitaion)
65. Logan's Run (1976, Michael York, Peter Ustinov, An idyllic sci-fi future has one major drawback: life must end at 30, nominated for 2 Oscars)
66. Westworld (1973, Yul Brenner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin)
67. Night of the Lepus (1972, Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, Deforest Kelly, Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the Southwest!!)
68. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964, Pia Zadora, The Martians kidnap Santa, The Worst!)
69. Shaolin Soccer (2001, Mystical Kung-Fu Soccer action!)
70. Tron (1982, Jeff Bridges, A hacker is literally abducted into the world of a computer and forced into gladiatorial games, very early computer generated effects)
71. Casino Royale (1967, Peter Seller, David Niven, Ursula Andress, Orson Wells, Woody Allen, William Holden, John Huston, an early 007 spy spoof)
72. Mystery Men (1999, Too many amazing stars to list, A group of inept amateur superheroes must take down Casnova Frankenstein aka Geoffrey Rush)
73. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983, Jason Robards, Jonathan Pryce, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on townsfolk)
74. Rollerball (1975, Jame Caan, In a corporate controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball represents the world)
75. Soylent Green (1973, Charlton Heston, Chuck Connors, Edward G. Robinson, Living in an overpopulated future)
76. Fahrenheit 451 (1966, Written by Ray Bradbury, Directed by Francois Truffaut, In the future, A fireman whose job is to destroy all books questions his task)
77. Twelve Monkeys (1995, Directed by Terry Gilliam, Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, In the dying future, a convict is sent back in time to find out about a man-made virus)
78. The Omega Man (1971, Charlton Heston, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons)
79. Donnie Darko (2001, A troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny bringing apocalyptic news)
80. Zachariah (1971, Don Johnson, Joe Walsh, Two gunfighters separate and experience drug induced rock n' roll visions on their journey through the west)
81. Attack of the Mushroom People (1963, aka "Matango," Shipwrecked survivors slowly transform into mushrooms, a bizarre, imaginative, nightmarish fantasy)
82. Flesh Gordon (1974, Candy Samples, Emperor Wang (the Perverted) is leader of the planet Porno and sends his mighty "Sex Ray" towards Earth)
83. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958, An abused wife grows after an alien encounter and aborted murder attempt, then she goes after cheating husband)
84. Wizards (1977, On a post-apocalyptic Earth, A wizard and his faire folk comrades fight an evil wizard who's using technology in his bid for conquest)
85. Fantastic Planet (1973, animated, On a faraway planet, giants rule, and tiny humanoids, kept as pets, must fight for their lives and their equality)
86. 20,000,000 Miles to Earth (1957, classic 50s monster movie, The first spaceship to visit Venus and return, lands in the sea, freeing a small Venusian creature)
87. Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971, Vincent Price, Dr. Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death)
88. Cat People (Both the 1942 and 1982 versions, Both are excellent and stand on their own merit)
89. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976, David Bowie, Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet)
90. The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980, A tribesman in the Kalahari desert encounters technology for the first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle)
91. Brother From Another Planet (1984, A mute alien is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem in this thought-provoking cult classic)
92. My Dinner with Andre (1981, Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant, Known for being filmed almost entirely in one shot)
93. Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, Classic 50s sci-fi about aliens taking over Washington DC)
94. Ed Wood (1994, The mostly true story of the legendary director of awful movies and his strange group of friends and actors)
95. Fist Full of Dollars (1964, Clint Eastwood plays two rival families against each other in a small Mexican town. The first spaghetti Western?, great soundtrack)
96. Freaks (1932, the deformed friends of a side-show performer discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance and mess her up. A classic cult film)
97. The Legend of Drunken Master (1978, Jackie Chan, An undisciplined boy must learn the Drunken Fist style of Kung-Fu in order to stop an assassin, Awesome!)
98. My Name is Nobody (1973, Terrence Hill, Henry Fonda, A young, easygoing gunman (Hill) worships and competes with an old retiring gunfighter - Fonda)
99. THX 1138 (1971, George Lucas's first film, 25th century man and a woman rebel against their rigidly controlled society)
100. Cool Hand Luke (1967, Paul Newman, A man refuses to conform to life in a rural prison)
101. Not of This Earth (1957, An alien agent from planet Davana is sent to earth via a high-tech matter transporter, the two later versions are good as well)
102. I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957, troubled teenager seeks help through hypnotherapy, but his evil doctor uses him for regression experiments)
103. I was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957, Professor Frankenstein steals body parts of dead athletes and builds a monster which goes on a campus killing spree)
104. Curse of the Cat People (1944, mostly unrelated sequel to the 1942 Cat People)
105. The Hunger (1983, David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon, Egyptian vampire subsists on blood from her lovers who don't age)
106. Reefer Madness (1936, features a fictionalized and highly exaggerated take on the use of marijuana)
107. Time Bandits (1981, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelly Duval, Michael Palin, David Warner, A young boy accidentally joins a band of dwarves as they jump from time-period to time-period looking for treasure to steal)
108. Kiss Me Deadly (1955, Ralph Meeker, Cloris Leechman, A doomed female hitchhiker pulls Mike Hammer into a deadly whirlpool of intrigue)
109. An American Werewolf in London (1981, Griffin Dunne, Two American tourists in England are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists)
110. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970, Directed by Russ Meyer, Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs, and sleaze)
111. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001, A dedicated scientist, aided by his clueless wife, rolls up his shirt sleeves and tries to save the world from a radioactive monster. A campy classic!)
112. Invaders From Mars (1953, great campy 50s sci-fi)
113. Shaun of the Dead (2004, After Shaun breaks up with his girlfriend Liz, his world is changing dramatically. One night he is drinking in the pub the next he is saving the human race from blood curdling zombies
114. Hot Fuzz (2007, Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence. A great lampoon of buddy cop films! Good soundtrack)
115. The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961, A defecting Russian scientist is transformed by an atomic test into a hulking monster, Starring Tor Johnson)
116. The Brain from Planet Arous (1957, A powerful criminal brain from the planet Arous, Gor, assumes the body of scientist Steve March)
117. Cherry 2000 (1987, In the future, a man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose and she’s a robot)
118. Braindead (1992, A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors)
119. Fiend Without a Face (1958, A Scientist, experimenting with telekinetic powers enhanced by a nearby nuclear power plant succeeds in creating a new form of life, classic 50s Sci-Fi)
120. Frankenhooker (1990, A medical school dropout loses his fiancée in a tragic lawnmower incident, and decides to bring her back by rebuilding her with body parts from prostitutes)
121. The Giant Claw (1957, Global panic ensues when it is revealed that a mysterious UFO is actually a giant bird that flies at supersonic speed and has no regard for life or architecture)
122. Greaser’s Palace (1972, A very strange Western parable, based on the life of Christ. This ain't your father's Bible story)
123. Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962, A U.N. space expedition to the planet Uranus discovers a bizarre and sexy world, right out of their own heads)
124. The Killer Shrews (1959, On an isolated island, a small group of people is terrorised by giant, voracious shrews (dogs wearing carpet remnants) in the midst of a hurricane)
125. Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974, Count Dracula journeys to a remote Chinese village in the guise of a warlord to support six vampires, Vampire Kung-Fu action)
126. Meet the Feebles (1989, Heidi the Hippo discovers her lover Bletch, The Walrus, is cheating on her, and all of her co-stars must contend with drug addiction, extortion, robbery, disease, drug dealing, and murder. While this is happening Trevor the Rat, wishes to exploit the young hippo starlet for use in his porno movie business, X-Rated Muppets!)
127. Message From Space (1978, Japanese Star Wars rip-off, stars Vic Morrow and Sonny Chiba)
128. Motel Hell (1980, Farmer Vincent kidnaps unsuspecting travelers and buries them in his garden, but unfortunately for his victims, they are not dead. He is fattening them up to make his famous fritters, stars Rory Calhoun and Wolfman Jack)
129. The Monster that Challenged the World (1957, An earthquake in the Salton Sea unleashes a horde of prehistoric mollusk monsters, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
130. Psycho Beach Party (2000, Spoof of 1960's Beach Party/Gidget surfing movies mixed with slasher horror films, very fun to watch)
131. Nude on the Moon (1961, A rich rocket scientist organizes an expedition to the moon, which they discover is inhabited by nude women)
132. Santa Sangre (1989, From the man that brought you El Topo, A colorful, horrifying and hallucinatory masterpiece. Many have compared it to "Psycho", "Freaks" and "Fellini”)
133. Radioactive Dreams (1985, After an atomic war Phillip Hammer and Marlowe Chandler have spent 15 years on their own in a bomb shelter, stuffed with junk from the 40s and old detective novels. Now, 19 years old, they leave their shelter to find a world full of mutants, freaks, cannibals, Disco, and George Kennedy!)
134. Reptilicus (1961, A portion of the tail of a prehistoric snake is discovered in Denmark. It then regenerates into the entire reptile and wreaks havoc)
135. The Resurrected (1992, Charles Dexter Ward's wife enlists the help of a private detective to find out what her husband is up to in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries, Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story)
136. Robot Monster (1953, The Robot Monster has been sent to Earth in advance of an impending alien invasion. Looking remarkably like a gorilla in a diving helmet, he has destroyed all but six people on Earth and spends the entire film trying to finish off these survivors)
137. Santa Claus (1959, With the aid of Merlin, Santa Claus must defeat the evil machinations of the devil, Pitch, to ruin Xmas, a really weird twist on Christmas!)
138. The Shape of Things to Come (1979, Planet Earth is a devastated wasteland, and what's left of humanity has colonized the Moon in domed cities. Humanity's continued survival depends on an anti-radiation drug only available on planet Delta Three, which has been taken over by Omus, aka Jack Palance, amazingly weird film)
139. Phantom Empire (1989, A man-eating cave creature appears with a fortune in diamonds around his neck, so Denae hires adventurers to find the underground source of the gems and they discover a tribe of Amazon women, headed by Sybil Danning, at her bra-busting best, many props from old Sci-Fi films were used)
140. Starcrash (1978, Epic action in outer space when the good guys set out to track the evil Count's secret weapon. The movie lacks any sense of reality, is rife with ridiculous dialog, and filled with special effects that are extraordinarily cheesy)
141. It Conquered the World (1956, An alien from Venus, bent on world domination, is guided to Earth by disgruntled scientist who tells it which humans it should attach mind control devices to, great, campy 50s Sci-Fi)
142. Story of Ricky (A young man with superhuman strength is incarcerated at a prison run by corrupt officials and seeks to use his martial arts to clean up the system, one of the goriest Kung-Fu films ever made!)
143. Tarantula (1955, Starring John Agar, A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants)
144. Terror of Tiny Town (1938, An evil gun-slinging midget comes to terrorize the good little people of Tiny Town, a Western cast entirely with midgets)
145. Comedy of Terrors (1964, An undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced to kill people in order to pay one year's back-rent, stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Basil Rathbone)
146. Monolith Monsters (1957, When a storm exposes fragments of a strange black meteor to water, they grow into skyscraper-sized monoliths which then topple and shatter into thousands of pieces and any humans in the way are crushed or turned into human statues, very cool!)
147. The Tingler (1959, Vincent Price, a pathologist discovers and captures a creature that lives in every vertebrate and grows when fear grips its host, When the film was originally released in theatres, shock devices were installed in some of the seats, to scare the hell out of the moviegoers, hence the name)
148. Uninvited (1988, George Kennedy, A mutated killer cat finds its way on-board a yacht and wreaks havoc)
149. Vampire Men of the Lost Planet (1970, Start with footage of vampires doing their thing in back alleys. Mix with a no-budget science fiction film about a rocketship landing on another planet. Finally, wrap the entire thing with a Filipino caveman film and bake)
150. The Trip (1967, Written by Jack Nicholson, starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Bruce Dern, Paul (Peter Fonda) takes LSD and experiences visions of sex, death, strobe lights, flowers, dancing girls, witches, hooded riders, a torture chamber, and a dwarf, Go with it, man!)
151. Two Thousand Maniacs (1964, Six people are lured into a small Deep South town for a Centennial celebration (of civil war ghosts) where the residents proceed to kill them one by one as revenge for the town's destruction during the Civil War)
152. The Blob (1958, Steve McQueen, An alien life form consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows)
153. Day of the Triffids (1962, A shower of meteorites produces a glow that blinds anyone that looks at it. As most people were watching, 99% of the population goes blind. Space alien plants whose spores have arrived in the meteor shower come to life and start killing people)
154. Night of the Comet (1984, A comet wipes out most of life on Earth, leaving two Valley Girls to fight the evil types who survive)
155. War of the Worlds (1953, The film adaptation of the H.G. Wells story told on radio of the invasion of Earth by Martians, great and classic Sci-Fi)
156. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, An alien and his robot, Gort, land in Washington D.C. and tell the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets, Klatu Barada Nikto)
157. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956, aliens come to Washington DC and schedule a meeting with the leaders of Earth with the intention to invade Earth without panicking the population. A Dr. develops an anti-magnetic weapon that becomes that last hope of human race against the hostile aliens)
158. Valley of Gwangi (1969, Cowboy James Franciscus seeks fame and fortune by capturing a Tyrannosaurus Rex living in the Forbidden Valley and putting it in a Mexican circus)
159. How to Make a Monster (1958, When master monster make-up man Pete is sacked by the new bosses of American International studios he uses his creations to exact revenge)
160. Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957, A teenage couple making out in the woods accidentally run over an alien creature. The creature's hand falls off, but comes alive, and, with an eye growing out of it, begins to stalk the teens. Meanwhile, Joe the town drunk stores the body in his refrigerator, but some of the alien's buddies inject Joe with alcohol and he dies).

Whew, what a list! I hope that you get a chance to check some of these "masterpieces" out. Copies of some of these films are very dificult to find. So, if you find them, share them!

Happy movieing,
Greg