Events in Denton

The 20^th anniversary of Dog Days of Denton is just around the corner. On May 31^st – June 1^st, the dogs are getting let out at Quakertown Park. With a ton of events, free gear and demonstrations, there’s never a dull moment. And each year at Dog Days of Denton a Spokesdog is selected. A Spokesdog must be playful, loving, sweet and cuddle-able and last year Bendito beat out all the rest to be crowned the 2013 Spokesdog of Dog Days! As Dog Days 2014 rapidly approaches, we go to sit down with Bendito during his last few weeks of his reign.

We met up with Bendito at his favorite fire hydrant in Denton. He was looking perky and fresh as he came to meet up with us. After some smelling and petting, we got to talking.

How are you doing today, Bendito?

Great!  I just got home from spreading love among patients and staff at the hospital where I am on the Caring Canines team. I always come home happy and tail wagging!  Sharing my love is fulfilling work!  I’m glad I have more than enough to go around!

That sounds amazing! What a fun day you are having. We know sharing your love is your favorite thing to do on a day off, but what is your favorite treat?

            Do I have to pick just one?  How ‘bout two:  bacon and liverwurst.

Where is your favorite spot to be petted?

            My tiny, but fabulous belly!

(after a few belly rubs we continued..) What is your favorite smell?

Hmmm…another tough one.   So many smells, so little time.  Lately, I’ve really been enjoying the scent of dead earth worms and can’t help but roll around on them (hence, the grass all over me).

Where is your favorite place to play?

            I love zooming around the open spaces in the green belt next to our house.

Who is your best friend?

My Great Dane neighbor Samson.  We have a blast together even though his poops are bigger than me!

On a scale of 1 to a full bag of Milkbones, how excited are you for Dog Days 2013?

            A whole mega bag full – one that would take a little guy like me years to eat!

What are you most looking forward to?

All of it, but I really enjoy all the fun contests – us dogs are incredibly talented and it’s nice to see that appreciated and applauded.  Oh, and all the special new treats to taste!

What was your favorite part about being the Dog Days of Denton Spokesdog? 

I loved participating in several Denton parades – all those people came out just to see me.  A bonus was getting to know more of what the great city of Denton has to offer and meeting some of its fantastic residents!

Now that your reign is coming to an end, what’s the next step in the life of Bendito? 

I will continue fulfilling my calling as a Therapy Dog to bless and heal through love and laughter.  But Mom wants to get me into modeling, too. Ugh.

Besides getting crowned, what was your favorite thing about Dog Days last year? 

It was an olfactory paradise!!!  Lots of wonderful, interesting new smells!  Plus, I made a lot of really good friends that day!

What do you think is the most important quality of the Dog Days Spokesdog? 

The ability to love unconditionally – big dogs, small dogs, and all kinds of people!

You’re a year older, and therefore 7 years wiser. What’s some advice for the 2014 Spokesdog? 

Don’t let fame go to your head:  keep your tail in the air, but all four feet on the ground.

Anything you’d like to add? 

Always remember:  love never fails and laughter never hurts!

Thank you for your time Bendito! We know you have a busy schedule!

Travel and tourism are vital to Denton and to all of Texas!  In honor of Texas Travel and Tourism Week, the Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be celebrating by highlighting our great city.  The week kicks off with the I Am Denton Video Awards on Tuesday May 7^th at the Campus Theatre. The I Am Denton video contest has been going strong with submissions from both the general public and DISD students. Voting for the People’s Choice Award ended April 30^th, and the winning general public and student videos will be announced at this red carpet affair. The CVB believes that the best way to show people what Denton is all about is through the characters of this town who embody the spirit of Denton the most.

Texas Travel and Tourism Week celebrations will continue through Friday May 10, as the Denton CVB joins neighboring communities at the Texas Travel Information Center (TTIC) in Gainesville. Visitors traveling to Texas from Oklahoma and all points north will be greeted in Gainesville with a little more than just Texas charm.  To really entice visitors to discover Denton, the CVB and DentonRadio.com have partnered up to provide the event with Denton local music. Denton is known for its outstanding music scene, and no one highlights it better than DentonRadio.com, providing a source to listen to all-Denton music for free on its online radio station. DentonRadio.com has a variety of local singer-songwriters and bands on their website, and at the event in Gainesville, they will have four musical talents on the lineup: Caleb Coonrod, Ellee Morris, Ellie Meyer, and (caruvana).

Here’s video telling the story of the importance of the travel industry to the Texas economy. Happy Texas Travel and Tourism Week, y’all!

Twilight Tunes is gearing up for its 20^th season of free music on the square. Every Thursday evening May 2- July 4, the Denton Main Street Association puts on a show for Dentonites to enjoy. With the weather so perfect for lounging around, grab a blanket and pick up dinner to-go at one of the many great restaurants around the square. You could always just skip straight to dessert and grab a cold treat to beat the heat from Beth Marie’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream. Banana split, anyone? Once you’re picnic-ready, claim your spot on the Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn and enjoy a nice evening in the sunshine (or under the shade of a tree) with music playing in the background to set the mood. Since these shows are free, you can kick the weekend off early. No matter what your taste in music, you’ll find something to enjoy at Twilight Tunes with everything from Classic Rock to Jazz/Funk/Pop.

Keep these fun Thursday evening concerts in mind when you’re looking for something fun to do around the square with your friends, significant other, or family.  Rain or shine, Twilight Tunes will go on. In the chance of rain, Twilight Tunes will be held at Sweetwater Grill, Dan's Silverleaf or Abbey Inn. Check Downtown Denton-Denton Main Street Association’s Facebook page for updates in the event of rain. See below for a full list of who will be performing at Twilight Tunes.


Playing on West side lawn
May 2- Los Patos Poderosos (Chicha)
May 9- The Poor Kings (Singer/Songwriter/Pop)
May 16- Jeff Glover, Joe Pat Hennen & Brian Houser (Texas Singers/Songwriters)
May 23- A Taste of Herb (Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass Tribute Band)
May 30- Chris Watson (Texas Blues Rock)

Playing on East side lawn
June 6- Charlie Shafter Band (American Roots/Acoustic Rock)
June 13- Gravity Feed (Jazz/Funk/Pop)
June 20- The Fun-Addix (70’s & 80’s Classic Rock)
June 27- Bonnie & Nick Norris Band (Country/Acoustic/Multi-Styles)
July 4- Sol Tax (Folk/Rock) *12:30—2 p.m.

Denton has several annual events which help define it's soul. We recently  experienced 35 Denton, the Redbud Festival just occurred, the Blues Festival was a while back, but this weekend brings the pivotal event of Denton culture......the (23rd Annual) Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.

JazzFest revolves around, and exists because of, music. I look at the music of JazzFest to be the means to an end though........the end being PEOPLE. It's like the music is just background ear candy for seeing, conversing with and being with our fellow Dentonuts.

I guess I should mention that, although I like jazz, a little of it goes a long way. It's in rotation in my music library, yet doesn't take up a lot of space there. BUT, Denton is known for jazz, and JazzFest is the annual Woodstock for jazz aficionados from around North Texas. This year's line-up was pretty impressive. In addition to incredible local artists such as Bonnie and Nick, bass-player  laureate Drew Phelps, Gale and Mario Cruz, Bubba Hernandez, Little Jack Melody & The Young Turks, Le Not So Hot Klub du Denton (Not France), Chris Watson, and the annual JazzFest finale, Brave Combo......Denton was gifted (JF is FREE!!) with performances by David Sanborn and the Original Blues Brothers Band.

All great stuff and worldclass talents, but I'm not a music critic (well, except for ABBA, I don't think what they did/do is music) so, as I said, I consider JazzFest to be more of a people event with awesome music as a backdrop. There are multiple stages at JF, so it is not conducive to being a "plant one's self solely in one place for the weekend" kind of event. It is a good idea to establish a home base and then roam from there. That is what my friends ((yes)) and I do every year. The ideal plan is to find a shady place close to the stage where most of the music you want to hear is being played. From this base, the various members of the group can venture off to the performances of their choice.

JazzFest is populated primarily by Dentonites, although it is a huge draw for people from all over the Texas, and really, the Southern U.S.  With so many Denton residents in such a small area, JF is like a compression of time and space. Wherever you go, you see someone you know and more than likely, someone you haven't seen in X # of years. Mornings and early afternoons are the best time for this pursuit due to the ever-growing crowd throughout the day. The sidewalks and pathways through Quakertown Park are always crowded, and at times, all but impassible. The real crowds converge nightly for the daily feature acts.

For the sake of authenticity, this blog is being written from the semi-comfort of my lawnchair near the main stage at the Denton Arts & Jazz Fest. I have the perfect place to people -watch and Brave Combo will close the Festival before long. The weekend has been perfect in every way, especially weather-wise. With JF occurring in the Spring, weather has been an issue in past years, but the Jazz Gods smiled on Denton this weekend! The NEXT JazzFest is always something to look forward to and it never seems to last long enough. It is what it is and it's always great. I never feel a let down after JazzFest ends, because there's always something else that's just about to happen in Denton. For instance........Twilight Tunes on the Square starts THIS Thursday, May 2 (how good is THAT for timing?) Twilight Tunes happens every Thursday and runs through July 4. It's like a mini-JazzFest, yet features any and all types of music.  Just bring a blanket or lawnchair, food and/or drink if you want and enjoy the people and music of Denton.

Denton is a music town, but it's the people of Denton who both make and listen to the music. In my book, that makes people the most important ingredient. Fortunately, we have lots of great people and lots of great music in the town we call home. We are blessed.......

Has this ever happened to you?  There was a show coming up that you REALLY wanted to see, however, you got caught up doing other things throughout the week and forgot to go.  This happens to me almost weekly, and if it wasn’t for my team calling me to say “WE ARE STAAARTING” I would probably even forget to go to our own DentonRadio.com shows (give me some credit, there are a lot of them)! 

DentonRadio.com is exploding with live events these days; we have about ten to twelve regular gigs a month where we are bringing incredible, all-local, all-Denton acts to different venues.  These shows range from dinner entertainment at Hoochie’s Oyster House, to coffee shop ambiance at Two B’s and a V, to full-band high-energy bar and club shows at Dan’s Silver Leaf (you can see a full list of our shows for the month here: Shows).  We are having a BLAST with these shows and want to let as many people as possible enjoy them!

Given the very often “face-palm-‘wish-I-would-have-remembered-can’t-believe-I-was-watching-Two-Broke-Girls-instead-of-going-to-that’ moments” that we all have, DentonRadio.com has come up with a solution!  We have added a “Subscribe Via Email” button to DentonRadio.com.  By hitting that button and then confirming your email you will receive an email reminder every time we have a show coming; this way no one will ever miss out on the Awesomeness (unless of course you just don’t want to come, but if that is the case, I am not quite sure what is wrong with you)!

You can either hit the button on the hompage of DentonRadio.com, or you can simply click here.  Also, as an added bonus, if you subscribe via email to DentonRadio.com we have a little gifty to say thank you!  When you confirm your email (which is the only way the program will register your email and let us know) we will send you a FREE download of Zach Balch’s song “Heartbreak Remedy” which you can hear here (but be careful, upon listening to this song, you WILL NEED it!).  And (and it bums me out that I have to say this because there are so many scams out there) we will NOT give or sell your email to ANYBODY.  We will only use it ourselves to keep you informed with DentonRadio.com News.

So get your free download and let’s see you at some shows!!!

Festival goers are encouraged to take Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) when attending the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival on April 26 and 27. Passengers who ride transit on Saturday, April 27 can also take advantage of the new Family Fun Pass promotion which allows the family to travel on just one regular Day Pass.

Make plans to attend Denton’s 2013 Annual Arts & Jazz Festival for great music, good food, beautiful art and many activities that are open to anyone. The festival will be held April 26-28 at Denton Quakertown Park located at 321 E. McKinney, Denton TX 76201. Quakertown Park is conveniently located just two blocks NE of the Historical Downtown Denton Square and is also just a short walk or bus ride from the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC). The festival is open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. For more event information, please visit the festival website http://www.dentonjazzfest.com.

To avoid traffic and parking congestion for this highly attended festival, DCTA encourages festival goers to take the A-train and Denton Connect bus service. Denton residents can park at the MedPark Station, take the A-train to Downtown Denton and avoid downtown traffic and parking hassles.

For those traveling from the Dallas area, passengers can ride Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green Line and transfer to the A-train at DART’s Trinity Mills station. Visitors from the Fort Worth area can also make the trip by taking the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), transferring to DART Green Line at Victory Station and then riding the A-train to Downtown Denton. A-train passengers can make a free transfer to Connect bus routes 4 and 5 or walk a few blocks for easy access to the festival from the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC).

Those planning to incorporate transit into their Saturday outing can also take advantage of the Saturday Family Fun Pass promotion. With this promotion, two adults and four children can ride all day on the DCTA local system (A-train and Connect buses) with just one Local System Day Pass for $6.

For regional travelers, a Regional Day Pass can be purchased for $10 from DART, TRE or Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and a family of two adults and four children under the age of 14 can ride all day and all the way to Downtown Denton for the festival.

When using DCTA services to access this weekend’s special event in Denton, passengers should plan their trip using DCTA’s online trip planner and have an understanding of Connect and A-train weekend service hours. Bus service ends earlier than A-train service on Fridays and Saturdays. Those wishing to take later A-train departures should expect a five minute walk from the festival to the Downtown Denton Transit Center to catch the A-train. There are no DCTA services on Sunday.

Visit DCTA.net for detailed route and schedule information or call DCTA Customer Service at 940-243-0077.

Denton is the Redbud capital of Texas. That means this time of year, you can expect to see lots of beautiful pink blooms on the many Redbud trees around town, signaling that spring is here. To celebrate, Keep Denton Beautiful holds the Denton Redbud Festival as Denton’s official Arbor Day event. In its 20^th year now, the Redbud Festival will be this Saturday, April 20^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m in the Civic Center.

Whether you’re a master gardener, a first-time home-owner looking to start your garden, or even if you just want to enjoy the gorgeous whether at a fun festival, you’ll want to come by the Civic Center this weekend. There will be lots of vendor booths for all of your home and gardening needs, so pick up some plants and give them a good home.

It’s going to be my first time to go to the Redbud Festival, and I can’t wait for it to get here already! My fiancé and I are getting our first house next month, and we can’t wait to start growing some vegetables in our new yard. In the meantime, he’s been very busy tending to the plants on our apartment balcony. So we’re looking forward to the Redbud Festival to sit in some workshops to learn about gardening and have those burning questions answered. And while we’re there, of course, we’ll go ahead and pick up what we need from the variety of vendor booths.

Like us, if you’re still in an apartment and don’t have a yard to garden in, you may want to stop by the Community Room from 2 to 4 to learn about container gardening. Plus, if you pre-register for this workshop, you get to take home a FREE container gardening kit. (They had me at “free”). To pre-register, call (940) 349-8737 or send an email to lauren@kdb.org to reserve your spot.

This Saturday will be full of something for everyone, including the kids. The Kid Zone will be complete with a bounce house, face painting, and family-friendly environmental education activities. And of course, there will be festival food, so bring your appetite! While you browse the landscaping and home improvement items around the vendor booths, you’ll also get to enjoy the sound of live music- something we can never get enough of in Denton.

To celebrate Earth Day, there will also be a TRASHion Fashion Show at noon featuring clothing and accessories made from recycled materials- how very green! Clothes, accessories, AND it's good for the environment? Sounds good to me!

Here’s a full list of activities for the Redbud Festival. All-in-all, sounds like the makings of a terrific Saturday downtown. Catch you guys there!



 

The Denton Community Market is a weekly Saturday event from April to November, composed of farmers, artisans, food vendors and other local businesses. It's become a gathering place and an incubator for local business and sustainability efforts. With significant growth over the past three years, the market is expanding season after season, poised to conduct fundraising and obtain grants to create permanent space and infrastructure for its operations.

Denton Community Market’s reason for existence is to strengthen the Denton community by providing economic opportunities for local artists, businesses, food vendors, and food producers to contribute to the vitality and livability of Denton.  We are all about local.  That is why we provide a setting in which community members can purchase local products from local producers. We also want to make sure we provide education opportunities where community members can learn about the products their neighbors have made and grown and discover other resources for community involvement. By connecting food producers and consumers we can promote the local food economy.

We also promote sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship and are forward thinking in helping to reduce barriers for new entrepreneurs and local small businesses.  We believe this will strengthen ties between community members by creating a sense of place.

Every season, more vendors apply and the market continues to grow. There are 18 accepted businesses so far, with more pending. Vendors can join the market for a one-time $90 membership fee and are able to set up shop however many Saturdays they choose at $11 each market day.

New this year:
The market will be open an additional two months from the original six. Ultimately, the Denton Community Market wants to be a year-round staple.

Every first Saturday of the summer months we will have giant inflatable water slides to help us cool off.  

During the winter months we will offer a harvest and holiday market.

We have added LIVE music performances to EVERY first Saturday.

Opening Day 2013:
We look forward to our Opening Day which is April 6^th from 9:00AM to 1:00PM at the Historic Park of Denton County located at Carroll Blvd and Mulberry Street.  If you are out shopping during Denton Main Street’s Open House or attending Denton County’s 167 Birthday Celebration be sure to stop by and check us out!  For event updates, be sure to follow us on our Facebook page www.Facebook.com/DentonCommunityMarket.

"WOW!  DentonRadio.com has broken ground on the Square! Not literally of course, but we had our first event there on a weekend that sampled pretty much all the seasons. Although I am not sure if “event” completely captures it; we had forty-one local Denton acts play over the course of four days!!! DentonRadio.com, along with the Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau, Denton County Historical Commission, and the Denton Office of History and Culture teamed up to create the event called “Denton Radio on the Square.”

I get it.  Thoroughly and completely, I get it. 

My friend Scott Campbell has earned  himself a quasi-celebrity status with his blog, which he calls "Dentoning."  Dentoning is a term he coined himself and to which he ascribed this formal definition:

DENTONING: dentuning (intransitive verb)

1: the experience of enjoying/discovering/exploring all that the great City of Denton, TX has to offer  <we spent all weekend Dentoning>

2: the discussion of pertinent/impertinent/fun/serious/political subjects involving the great City of Denton (or anything else this blogger wants to discuss)  <during a cerebral round of Dentoning, they discovered the meaning of life>

3: an event/occurrence /incident happening in the great City of Denton  <there is a weekly Dentoning, Saturdays on the courthouse lawn called the “Acoustic Lawn Jam”>

My Dentoning epiphany was definition number one.  I talk about Denton all the time.  And I passionately love Denton:  her essence,  people, sense of place.  More than a decade ago, fate shined on me, and my profession since then has been to taut the aura and amenities of this place that is like no other.  Believe me when I say these attributes make our jobs at the Denton CVB incredibly fun and satisfying work.  

But, until last week, my understanding of Dentoning was quite surface-level:  head knowledge, dabbling, and superficial experience.  What I discovered is that Dentoning has depth.  I plunged in and realized Dentoning is more than a moment.  It's kind of intense and, at least for me, a  dawning that has forever changed the "how" of personal experience.  In other words, I have a new standard and it's all about being a part and leaving the status of mere observer to someone else.

Here's my story: Giant indie music festival 35 Denton opened in Downtown Denton March 7-10 calling fans and music media from around the globe.  Knowing this visiting mass was headed our way, our CVB team joined with our friends and partners at DentonRadio.com to "turn on the stereo" in the living room of our community, the Courthouse lawn.  The Denton County Office of History and Culture and the Denton Historical Commission thought this was such a great idea that they all got behind the effort, too, and we set up the ultimate central hangout with 100% Denton, original and independent singers, songwriters, musicians, and bands showcasing to the world what's going on in Denton day in and day out year-round.  It was awesome!  We worked super hard (I think I slept about 18 hours straight and suffered rather severely from "foggy brain" a couple of days after) and introduced some incredible Denton organic up-and-coming talent to the world.  The media coverage since then hit the mark plus some, so we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.

Here's the personally way cool part of it all - I Dentoned all weekend!  I discovered music and talented Dentonites I hadn't known before like Sol Tax, Kelsey Henry, Backwater Opera, Seth Weaver, among many others.  And I listened, really listened to these and many of my favorites like Bone Doggie and Zach Balch and Karyna Micaela and Ellie Meyer and so many others - 41 total in 3 days.  I was immersed in the experience and lived it at a soul level.

Sounds oddly spiritual, doesn't it?  It gets better.  A few days later and I Dentoned even deeper.  Check out my friend Scott's blog.  He tells the story of a firepit and storytelling under the stars and this magical, completely unscripted gathering of random musicians who decided to join their typically polar-different personal styles in an acoustic jam session that was the most amazing impromptu concert I've ever seen.  One in an audience of six, maybe seven, we were the audience only because we are talented listeners.  Every one with musical gifting was playing and singing.   Me?  I, along with Scott and a handful of friends at this undisclosed location (someone's backyard), were deeply Dentoning. 

I totally get it now. Dentoning is a very real, meaningful pursuit. It's not a cutesy tourism term for doing things in Denton. Dentoning is an experience that changes a person and indelibly marks, like a spiritual tatoo, with permanence.

Scott, well done! I'm not sure I could articulate the lasting impact of the first days of March on my heart were it not for your creative vocabulary. Thank you. And now, I close this blog post with haste as, even now, I feel the call: I've got some Dentoning to do.

It's not often you get to hear a record played in public for the first time. The very first time. Before radio stations hear it, before iTunes gets it, before it's even released. But we live in Denton and that presents opportunities available in few other places. The Baptist Generals is a Denton band which has lain fallow for almost 10 years. Their last record was released ten years ago and the band has played live just a handful of times since. The BG's new record is due to be released in May and has been a long time coming. Written primarily by BG founder, Chris Flemmons, the record is a work of love, anger, frustration and perseverance.

The Baptist Generals began working on the record shortly after the release of their critically acclaimed record, "No Gold/No Silver", a first effort. That record brought recognition, a fan base, a tour through the States and parts of Europe.......and some money. "Jackleg Devotional to the Heart" began with surplus material from "No Gold/No Silver" and evolved, grew and matured during the next couple of years. As with any group of people working as a single entity, over time, the Baptist Generals began to drift, shift and lift off into day jobs, families, careers and reality. Sub Pop, the band's label pushed them for material, but a lull had set in that would not be broken until early in 2012. 

In 2008, Flemmons founded the music festival which is now called 35 Denton. 35 Denton, has become a monster Denton event, bringing nationally-known bands, music lovers from all over the world and millions of dollars into Denton. The festival soon consumed Flemmons and further slowed the work of the Baptist Generals. As the creative genius and lead vocalist for the band, Flemmons is the defacto leader. Last year, with the push from Sub Pop to jump start the band's creative juices, work began in ernest to finally complete the record. The responsibilities of the real world threw a new set of complications into the production. What had been a heady, booze-fueled, free flow of creation during the production of "No Gold/No Silver" became another labor of love surrounded by the more complicated lives of 6 individuals with "Jackleg Devotional to the Heart". 

This past weekend brought 35 Denton to Denton, and what better time to debut a record? And other than a live Baptist Generals concert, what better way to hear the record than listening to an original vinyl press of "Jackleg Devotional to the Heart"?  Dan Mojica, owner of Dan's Silverleaf had asked Flemmons if he'd play the record at his place first, and that's what happened at 2 pm on March 8th. The event began with the drop of a needle onto the spinning vinyl on stage. The music many in the packed venue had waited 10 years to hear filled the room. There were back-slaps, rounds bought, dancing danced and tears shed. The entire band was present and submitted to a forum about making the album once the first side was played. After the forum, with questions from the media and the audience, the band was given a standing ovation. The hard work and slippage of time had paid off in an incredible collection of tracks. The music flows with emotion and feeling.

Music is Denton's lifeblood, and being at the premiere of an album of one of her greatest talents was an honor.  The album is due to be released May 21st.

Alright, Denton. Are you ready? We’ve got a big weekend ahead of us. March 7-10 will be full of great events right here in Denton. Right at the top of the list, of course, is 35 Denton (previously known as North by 35 and 35 Confederate). This four-day-long music festival will take place in Downtown Denton, closing down Hickory Street from Locust to Industrial to make way for their two main stages. As people mill around the downtown area, they’ll be able to stop by Square for some tasty bites, enticing drinks, great shopping, and while all this is going on, DentonRadio.com will also be providing everyone with live music by local artists Thursday through Sunday on the Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn. Denton Radio on the Square will enhance all the great music that is already going on during 35 Denton. Denton Radio on the Square will be an all-ages event, so feel free to bring the whole family to see all the great talent that’s here in Denton, any given day of the week. Plus you can catch these awesome Denton artists 24/7 for free at DentonRadio.com.

Hungry for more good old-fashioned family-friendly fun this weekend in Denton? Be sure to check out the 28th annual Tejas Storytelling Festival at the Denton Civic Center. The kids are sure to love this event. The storytelling will start Thursday night and go on all weekend long, ending on Sunday. Nothing captures the attention and imagination of a child quite like the age-old art of storytelling. With stories from the world, highlighting the folklore of Japan (with storyteller Motoko) and Africa (with DeCee Cornish) and more, the Tejas Storytelling Festival has a variety of tales to offer the ears of the curious.

There’s a little bit for everyone at the storytelling festival. Kids and adults alike will want to catch the Liars Contest to watch the best liars compete in a verbal slap down for a chance to win cash, and most importantly, some serious bragging rights. And adults wanting to learn a trick or two from the best should check out the workshops and master class being held this weekend. And there will be plenty of activities for the kids to participate in as well like meeting with the storytellers, and a family concert as well as storytelling workshops for the kids. Make sure to pick up your tickets on their website, and enjoy the family-friendly fun this weekend!

Meet our new CVB staff members:   

Sharon Lynn is the Internet Marketing Coordinator for the DCVB. She began working with the CVB team last fall as an intern while finishing her final semester at UNT. During that last semester, Sharon was writing for Denton Live (the CVB’s magazine and visitor guide to Denton) in the UNT Mayborn School of Journalism’s Magazine Production class.   Upon graduation in December, her love for Denton clearly evident through her writing talent landed Sharon a full-time place in the CVB’s Communications Department.  Sharon’s primary professional focus is marketing Denton through social media and assisting with management of the CVB’s websites.  Hailing from Bedford, Sharon’s academic pursuits brought her to Denton.  Now a 7-year Dentonite, she and fiancé David plan to make Denton their home where they enjoy cooking, gardening, and staying fit. Sharon is also an avid fan of repurposing / up-cycling.  She feeds her creative side and Pinterest addiction by making nifty things from items that would otherwise be tossed.

Jake Laughlin is the founder and CEO of DentonRadio.com, a project born out of his passion to bring Denton musicians of all genres together with audiences hungry for new, original, great music.  The online radio station launched in cyberspace two years ago providing Denton with a resource for all-local music while introducing the entire world to Denton’s rich pool of talent and vibrant music scene.  Jake has been in Denton a little more than a decade and is an ardent follower of local everything:  amazing artists, local food, great businesses.   He created DentonRadio.com with the vision to connect seekers and their treasures here in Denton whether it’s a sound, a taste, or a special interest they chase.  And his vision becomes more real with every day.  In January, Jake teamed up with the CVB in a unique collaboration to utilize the Denton music scene as a marketing tool to attract visitors to Denton.  Jake and his  DentonRadio.com  business partners manage all aspects of the station including vetting music, production, programming, and personalities.  They insure 24-hours-7-days-a-week delivery of fresh and 100% original music by talented Denton singer/songwriters and bands.  The CVB and DentonRadio.com partnership produced their first all local music event in conjunction with 35 Denton this month, March 7-10, 2013:   Denton Radio on the Square.   The event is free and will showcase great Denton music as people are coming and going from 35 Denton. Swing by the Courthouse lawn next weekend to see the great talent Denton is known for and that comprises the heart of DentonRadio.com.

Kristen Bennett also started with the CVB in January as an intern with the UNT School of . Hospitality and management internship for UNT, she works with us as our Sales and Servicing Administrator. With a background in the hospitality industry, Kristen is very knowledgeable and helpful with communicating with hoteliers in the area, and she also helps with event planning. Kristen is from the Austin area, but we decided not to hold that against her. Kristen is the third generation in her family to attend college at UNT. Because of that, a love of her family’s Alma Matter is ingrained in her heart and runs through her veins. She is an avid UNT football fan and has only missed TWO home games in her years at the school. Like Sharon, Kristen is also a vegetarian… We’ve noticed the trend, and we’re starting to wonder if they’re plotting to take over the office.

But don’t worry. This craze doesn’t seem to have caught on yet with our wonderful front desk people. We have two Information Assistants (Sheila and Pat) that tag-team to welcome guests that stop by our lobby.

Pat Hayes has actually been here at the CVB as one of our Information Assistants since 2011. Before joining our team, Pat worked for the State for 24 years. After retiring, she decided to join us for a part-time opportunity. Pat was born and raised in Denton County as were her parents and grandparents. In her spare time, Pat enjoys reading, baking, and gardening. Peaches, potatoes, cucumbers, onions, mint… Pat has a little of everything in her garden, providing her with the freshest food in the kitchen. She also enjoys doing woodworking projects with her husband of 44 years, James. And together, they like to make life fun for their six sweet grandchildren: Thomas (12), Addie (10), Katie (8), Miranda (7), Samuel (18 months), and Hadlee (1).

Sheila Carpenter is our other Information Assistant. She joined us in December last year. Like Pat, Sheila also worked for the State before coming here. She worked for the state for 28 years before retiring and joining the CVB team part time. Sheila and her husband Mike moved to Denton in 1982, so Mike could attend UNT and like many other college students coming to the city, they liked the area so much they decided to make Denton their permanent home. Mike got his music degree from UNT and is a successful (and talented) working musician. Their children Kacie and Brandon are grown, and Brandon and his wife Lauren have one child and another on the way. Sheila says grandchildren are amazing, and her grandson Zachary is the reason she only works part-time, so she can spend more time with him.

Each of our new staffers add exactly what we need and add their special touch to how we shine light on our great city.

Well, March is here and that means Festival Season!   As many of you know 35 Denton is about to kick-off (35 Denton is a very large music festival that takes place here in Denton), and we wanted to make sure we threw our hats into the “Denton Music Mix” of the weekend!  While our friends 35 Denton are putting their festival together, we will be hosting a little show of our own!  We wanted to compliment 35 Denton with an all local, family friendly, completely free show right on the courthouse lawn!  (I think I may have used too many !’s in this paragraph already… but it’s just so exciting!!!!)

This event is called “Denton Radio on the Square” (not the most creative of names, but you get the point).  From Thursday at 4pm until Sunday at 10pm we will be showcasing a HUGE line-up of DentonRadio.com artists!  The goal is to show everyone what is in Denton 365 days a year by showcasing nothing but local Denton musicians, and what better time to show them than 35 Denton weekend (one of the best weekends of the year)!

While I would love to continue typing about the incredible talent ranging absolutely everywhere from children’s bands like Polly Maynard and her Tiny Big Band, the high energy Rock of 11:40, and the calm, eclectic, safe-for-everyone-that-DOESN”T-like wearing-earplugs-and-yelling-“what???”-after-a-concert sounds of Richard Gilbert, I think it is probably best that I let the forty-one different acts speak for themselves!  Check them out, and we will see you next weekend!  (for more information go to DentonRadio.com/OnTheSquare)

Thurs 3/7                            

                4:00 - 4:45            Wise Ruby

                5:00 - 5:45            Akward Customer

                6:00 - 6:45            Mat Grigsby

                7:00 - 7:45            The Future Eyes

                8:00 - 845             Reinventing Jude

                9:00 - 945             Sonar Lights

Fri 3/8                  

                2:00 - 2:25            {caruvana}

                2:30 - 2:55            Ellie Meyer

                3:00 - 3:25            Kelsey Henry

                3:30 - 3:55            Billy Bennett

                4:00 - 4:25            Big Round Spectacles

                4:30 - 4:55            Seth Weaver

                5:00 - 5:45            West and the Grooves

                6:00 - 6:45            Ellee Morris

                7:00 - 7:45            Ashley Gatta & The Free People

                8:00 - 8:45            1140

                9:00 - 9:45            Woody’s Rampage

Sat 3/9                 

                12:00 - 12:45       Polly Maynard Tiny Big Band

                1:00 - 1:25            Richard Gilbert

                1:30 - 1:55            Caleb Coonrod

                2:00 - 2:25            Dave Thomas

                2:30 - 2:55            Jess Dixon

                3:00 - 3:45            Sol Tax

                4:00 - 4:45            Back Water Opera

                5:00 - 5:45            Brave Combo

                6:00 - 6:45            Kerry Davis Band

                7:00 - 7:45            MockingByrd Station

                8:00 - 8:45            Levi Cobb & Big Smoke

                9:00 - 9:45            Bone Doggie & the Hickory Street Hellraisers

Sun 3/10                             

                11:00 - 11:45       Earthshine

                12:00 - 12:25       Mr. Joe

                12:30 - 12:55       Maria Cecilia

                1:00 - 1:45            Jacko Suede

                2:00 - 2:45            Molotov Dogs

                3:00 - 3:45            Baloney Moon

                4:00 - 4:45            Karyna Micaela

                5:00 - 5:45            Zach Balch

                6:00 - 6:45            My Kickdrum Heart

                7:00 - 7:45            The Contingency Clause

                8:00 - 8:45            Boombachs

                9:00 - 945             Star Party

A couple of hundred of us from Denton County are in Austin this week for Denton County Day, an event held every biennium when the Texas Legislature is in session.   We visit and thank our state and federal legislators for the work they do representing us.  It's an important time to share the issues and challenges facing our County and to demonstrate our connectivity, support, and community.

Austin was one of the first places I associated with food trucks.  I remember at one time, there were three or four that would group together in a parking lot on Congress near the 6th Street area.  Not really knowing what I was seeing, I had no appreciation for the trucks or the kind of diners they attracted.  Since then, the gourmet food truck culture has spread well beyond Austin.  We've even had some temporary experiences with them in Denton, like last October when we held Denton's first ever Foodie Truck Festival at the A-train's Downtown Denton Transit Center.  And we've dabbled here and there when a rolling chef serves at UNT for a day, along Fry St., or at the Saturday morning Community Market on Carroll at the Historical Park.  One thing we've all learned is that the food trucks are worth the effort to discuss.  Gourmet fare is no exaggeration!

Since we are here in Austin where the truck movement started for both of us, my colleague Karen Dickson and I decided to check out one of Austin's several permanent food truck parks when we went looking for a local dining option.  Karen is the Vice President of Economic Development.  The nature of our jobs has exposed both of us to the Denton discussion about the topic; so, seeing how Austin's handled the delicate balance of the trucks, their mobile parks, and the brick and mortar restaurants seemed like a tasty research project.

We drove to the once blighted South Congress area where two of the food truck parks are located.  We parked and decided just to walk and soak up the sense of place.  The two parks are tucked into a corridor of Austin personality.  Local shops selling beatnik and hippie chic thread together some of Austin's more popular local eateries, all of which were busting at the seams during the lunch hour with patron lines out the door.  People were milling about everywhere.  We checked out both parks, each with around six foodie trucks peddling gourmet pizza, sandwiches, cupcakes, tacos, sushi, and more.  Community market style vendors complimented the trucks in both parks, as well, featuring handmade purses and jewelry and souvenir shirts and fad items.  We  settled at a picnic table in the shadier of the two parks and decided on a gourmet sandwich and fresh-made chips from the "Hey...You Gonna Eat or What?" truck, renown as Austin's rudest business with the absolute best of the food truck fare.  The chef, formerly well-known among New Orleans' upscale restaurants, is the real deal.  He's comically rude, but believe me - you go for the food.  Wow!

I used to think Austin was one of the coolest cities in Texas.  Then I discovered Denton and learned how deep "cool" can go, how it can permeate and define a community culture and be the fabric of its life.  Because Denton really is that cool.  Austin still has spots of cool - like the food truck parks.  But Denton is wholly cool.  Let's keep it that way.

Oh, and the food trucks?  They won't make or break us in the cool factor.  But, they will absolutely be a very tasty add.

Karen at Big Mike's right next door to the rude guy.

It’s exciting when the legislative session gets underway every other year in Austin.  Our elected officials and lawmakers don’t just gather, stick some laws on the books, and head for the house.  No, a lot is going on down there and we the people get to participate.  Thousands of groups, individuals, passions and priorities converge on the capitol to make their voices heard as lawmakers struggle to best represent their constituencies.  The Texas Travel Industry, a major component of which is represented by convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) like Denton’s, converged last week, on February 12-13. 

When our industry converges, we do it big.  The Texas Travel Industry Association hosts the Unity Dinner at the Austin Convention Center and then the following morning, 800 + professionals from CVBs, hotels, restaurants, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, among many others arrive in tandem and blanket legislator offices with the message that “Travel Matters” - because it does.  In fact, right here in Denton County the travel industry is responsible for 5,580 jobs and a more than $12 million impact on our local tax receipts.  And, most Texans probably have no idea that travel puts $840 into every Texas household.  That’s how it adds up when you distribute the $7.9 billion in state and federal taxes Texas brings in directly from travel spending.  It’s important!

State Representative Myra Crownover and State Senator Craig Estes always participate as part of our Unity Dinner delegation from Denton.  This year, our group of 16 included leaders in City, Chamber, and County plus, for the first time ever, Denton’s music scene.  The Denton CVB sponsored the music for the Unity dinner event and brought two of Denton’s own singer/songwriters to showcase the important role Denton plays as a leader in Texas music.  Zach Balch and Karyna Micaela impressed the 1,000 person dinner crowd that included legislators and leaders from across Texas, becoming the surprise highlight before a fork was even picked up.  Everyone “quasi-gets” that Denton has music.  But hearing it first-hand really drove it home.  DentonRadio.com partnered with the CVB to unveil Denton music in the heart of Austin.  They made us proud, Denton!

And, our music is a major part of how we talk about ourselves in the Texas travel marketplace.  It’s integral to our character, to Denton’s sense of place.  And our music scene is a cornerstone draw for travel’s local tax impact I mentioned above.

It’s a great day in Denton.  Then again, it almost always is.

While Saturday, February 9, offered several feature films plus some short doc sets, I settled on two must-sees I had marked in my dog-earred 80-page program guide to Denton’s 2013 all documentary Thin Line Film Festival.  My first pick was an appalling story told by the very ones who lived it.

Raid of the Rainbow Lounge used interviews to chronicle the events of June 28, 2009, a day of infamy in Fort Worth, Texas.  I remember when this story was unfolding in the news, talking heads debating back and forth on who did what and why.  Forth Worth police officers and Texas Alcohol & Beverage Commission agents made surprise visits to several bars in the vicinity of the Rainbow Lounge that night, their stated mission to keep drunks from hurting themselves or others.  Things went awry in more than one bar, but the fact that the Rainbow Lounge was a new nightclub favored by gays and lesbians brought national attention to the night’s confusing and violent events. 

Regardless of your personal opinion on the GLBT subject, this film is important because it trumpets the power of collective voice.  “We have a voice.  Use it!” is one of the film’s emphatic reminders that democracy only works when we the people speak up.  In this case, it was the GLBT community.  But it could be any group or faith or belief that comes under persecution.  It is all of our responsibility to “watch the watchers” as one interviewee phrased it in the film.  The film never quite resolves whether premeditated intent, malice, misinterpretation or something else entirely led to the night’s sad conclusion.  What is clear is that a lot went wrong on both sides of the Rainbow raid equation.

My takeaway?  Collective voice can affect lasting change.  Something good resulted from something awful.  That’s often the case in our human experience, isn’t it?  Sometimes, wrong happens first and only then right is identified and the world is better because of it. 

Snarky Puppy:  Ground Up was my personal Saturday fave.  Riding along with this Denton band on road trips and sitting in on an absolutely amazing recording session was a remarkably delightful experience.  That’s what this film was for me – an experience.  The Snarky Puppy fellows love what they do.  They enjoy their work, the mutual respect and friendships among the band members, and there is nothing snarky about any of them.  The talent among Snarky Puppy’s 17 members creates big, consuming sound.  It’s beautiful, melodic, musical, and fun.  The dynamics among the group members are lively, merry even.  I had a great time!  Director Andy LaViolette and bandleader Michael League did a masterful job of inviting the audience into the film.  I felt there, like a participant.  In his remarks during the after-film discussion, LaViolette said Snarky Puppy is only just beginning their rise in public awareness, so pay attention!  In the midst of “bird baths for showers,” gigs performed on no sleep, and thousands of miles with 17 men crammed into a 15-passenger van, these guys are “defining a pivoting point for a new direction in jazz.” 

I believe you, Andy.  A fan is born.

A lot more films are yet to come as Thin Line continues this next week.  Check it out at www.thinlinefilmfest.com.  Oh and hey:  Snarky Puppy screens again on Tuesday.  I may just ride along again for the fun of it. 

To enter to win a pair of tickets to the game just place your answer to one of the following questions in the comments section below. 

• What special play would you like to see on the court?
• Which team player would you place as point guard and who would you place as post?
• What team player will most likely be named MVP?

Three winners will be randomly picked Saturday.  Winner will be notified via the email entered to comment.  Tickets are compliments DentonRadio.com!

Winners will be announced Saturday on this blog post as well as on DentonRadio.com’s Facebook page.