Lewisville Fishing Barge

Fishing Barge in Lewisville TX, dedicated to the happiness of mankind. This is not a paid advertisement for the Lewisville Fishing Barge, I just decided to do this article because I remember More »

Metroplex Life Reaches 20,000 Followers!

Thank you DFW Twitter people for following Metroplex Life. We have reached a milestone on Sunday 4/29/12 of having 20,000 twitter followers. Great news considering we’re only one month old. I haven’t More »

Happy Trails To You

Walk, skate or bike, Dallas County has more than 100 miles of trails. During the past 10 years the popularity of trails has increased dramatically.    The city of Dallas considers a trail More »

Jerry Haynes – Mr Peppermint

A look back to a local celebrity, Jerry Haynes. If you lived in the Dallas Fort Worth area during the past 20- 50 years, you probably recognize Jerry Haynes as Mr Peppermint.  More »

Human Rights Student Art Contest

A look at the recent exhibit “In Full Color: A Look At Black History Through Art” at the Texas Visual Arts Association gallery in Dallas, TX. During the exhibit the gallery hosted More »

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Sponsored by Ennis Garden Club 61st Annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, 2012 Attn Vendors: Click here for Festival Vendor Layout! Special Note: The Ennis More »

Three Stooges Movie Review

Three Stooges Movie Review I just got back from seeing the new Three Stooges movie and I wanted to weigh in on my thoughts about the movie, and other reviews that I More »

Indian Restaurants in the DFW Metroplex

Do you like Indian Food?  Do you live in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex? I am a children’s entertainer and I do a lot of Indian birthday parties.  I get a More »

 

Lewisville Fishing Barge

May 10, 2012   Featured Articles, Fishing, Lakes, Outdoors   No comments
Lewisville Fishing Barge

Fishing Barge in Lewisville TX, dedicated to the happiness of mankind.

This is not a paid advertisement for the Lewisville Fishing Barge, I just decided to do this article because I remember how much fun I had growing up in Dallas, and the kinds of things we did.  I was 3 years old when the Lewisville Fishing Barge was built, now I am 58, so you do the math.  My first trip to the Lewisville Fishing Barge was when I was seven, the fishing barge was still new back then, but it was very small. I have watched it grow over the years as the Lewisville Fishing Barge expanded to include a floating boat dock and restaurant. The restaurant closed down after a few years of operation, but the fishing barge is still going strong.

Everything you need for fishing is at the Lewisville Fishing Barge,

Including the fish. You can fish indoors or outdoors, you can even watch TV while you fish, it’s like fishing in your living room.  The Lewisville Fishing Barge never closes,  just like a Las Vegas casino.   The Lewisville Fishing Barge is located at 534 Sandy Beach Road in Lewisville, it’s just off of FM407, you can access it through the Lewisville Lake Park. You can visit their website at Lewisville Fishing Barge

 This is a great place to take your kids fishing.

The cost is low and you can take the entire family fishing for about the same price as you would expect to spend at a fast food restaurant.  Each entry is good for 12 hours of fishing, which is more than enough time.  You will need to have a fishing license if you are over the age of 16. You can rent fishing poles at the Lewisville Fishing Barge, also the barge is heated during the winter, and has air conditioning during the hot months.  If you like to go night fishing, you an even bring your own lights and plug them in for a small fee, (Light attracts fish at night).

This place never gets “Fished Out”

Record Bass caught at the Lewisville Fishing BargeOf course you have your good days and your bad days, but through the years, the fish keep coming in.  In fact, the lake record bass was caught off of the Lewisville fishing barge on Nov 28, 2005 by Jon Babich of Lewisville.  He caught the big 13.63 ponder while fishing for crappies.  Babich’s fish, which became Budweiser ShareLunker No. 392, was caught on a 3/25-inch Fin-S-Shad. It was 24.25 inches long and 21 inches in girth and was the first ShareLunker recorded from Lake Lewisville.  While you probably won’t catch a fish this big, but you will have a lot of fun, and create good memories with your kids.

The best time of the year to catch bass is during the spring when they come close to shore to spawn.   You can also catch catfish, crappie, perch, carp and sand bass at the Lewisville Fishing Barge.

Bring your own food and have a picnic while you fish.

Don’t forget the food.  The Lewisville Fishing Barge restaurant is closed, but you are welcome t bring in your own coolers, or you can even have a pizza delivered while you are fishing, “try that on a boat.”  The Lewisville Fishing Barge has restrooms and running water so you have all the comforts of home.  Don’t bring any alcohol because it’s not allowed.  Also you aren’t allowed to cook on the barge, so do your cooking at home.

What happens if you catch fish?

Make sure you take your cameras.  If you want, you can clean your fish right on the fishing barge before going back home, you can even buy ice at the barge if needed.  If you don’t want to keep your fish, someone will usually take them off your hands, or you can even let them go so you can catch them again!  This is a great way to spend some quality time with your family.  I highly recommend going to the Lewisville Fishing Barge because of the low cost and entertainment value.

When I was a kid:

My mother would drop me off for an all-night fishing trip with my friends at the Lewisville Fishing Barge.  We were about 14 years old, which seems like a million years ago now. We had a blast and always caught fish.  That was back when you could do things like that with your kids, now days, I would stay with them, just consider it a super cheap mini-vacation and have fun.

For more articles like this, visit Metroplex Life

I manage this blog. I am always on the lookout for people who want to write for this blog. If you have an interest, please let me know.

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Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

May 1, 2012   Associations, Dallas, Events, Kids   No comments
Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

The Beeping Easter Egg Hunt is a yearly event for visually impaired children and is organized by the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce.  Here is video of the 2012 event:

Dallas based writer, producer and and documentary filmmaker Todd Kent creates multimedia content that ranges from educational to goofy.

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Metroplex Life Reaches 20,000 Followers!

April 30, 2012   Featured Articles, Local News, News   3 Comments
twitterfollowers

Thank you DFW Twitter people for following Metroplex Life.

We have reached a milestone on Sunday 4/29/12 of having 20,000 twitter followers. Great news considering we’re only one month old. I haven’t had a chance to even start a Facebook page, but one is being developed this week.

Some interesting Twitter facts:

It took 3 years, 2 months and 1 day for Twitter to reach 1,000,000,000 (One billion) tweets.  Now twitter has about a billion tweets each week.  The current record for the most tweets sent in a single second was 6,939, send 4 seconds after midnight in Japan on New Year’s Day.  Twitter is estimated to be worth $8 billion to $10 billion, and several other companies are interested in buying Twitter (Google and Facebook).

 

Thanks for following us!

Our next milestone will be reported at 50,000 followers.

 

 

I manage this blog. I am always on the lookout for people who want to write for this blog. If you have an interest, please let me know.

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International Gem & Jewelry Show in Dallas

April 28, 2012   Art, Dallas, Events   No comments
International Gem & Jewelry Show Dallas TX

The International Gem & Jewelry Show is happening this weekend.  Here’s a quick look at some of the things you can see there:

Dallas based writer, producer and and documentary filmmaker Todd Kent creates multimedia content that ranges from educational to goofy.

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Happy Trails To You

April 23, 2012   Community Resources, Exercise, Featured Articles, Health, Outdoors, Parks, Trails   No comments
Katy Trail - Trails in Dallas County

Walk, skate or bike, Dallas County has more than 100 miles of trails.

During the past 10 years the popularity of trails has increased dramatically.    The city of Dallas considers a trail to be hard paved, a minimum of 8 feet across and at least 1.5 miles long.  More and more people are utilizing the outdoor parks and trails in the Metroplex. Many people enjoy walking in an effort to lose weight. Walking is one of the best ways to lose weight because it’s not too strenuous, which means that you will probably stick with it.  Most trails have mileage markers that allow you to track how far you have gone.  Dallas County has even considered connecting trails from neighborhoods to work places, their goal is to design a system of trails that span from one end of the county to the other (About 30 miles).

More trails are on the way.

During the next 2 years, Dallas County plans to add another 25 miles of trails for you to enjoy.   Katy Trail is one of the most popular trails in Dallas, and they plan to extend it more.  Also Cedar Hill will be receiving it’s first trail soon and another project is an East-West Northaven Trail.  Dallas County plans to connect popular areas together to allow the trails to be used for purposes of transportation, not just exercise.  For example: Las Colinas and the Telecom Corridor, to connect with numerous light rail stations, to enjoy views of White Rock Lake, Bachman Lake, and the Trinity River, to see concerts and NHL/NBA games at the American Airlines Center, to reach SMU or the University of Texas at Dallas, and to travel from beyond the County’s border to downtown Dallas.

 Some advice about using the trails.

Katy Trails in DallasAlways, always, always take your cell phone!  If you are walking / jogging the trails, watch out for bikers.  If you are biking the trails, watch our for walkers/ joggers.  Walk with friends when possible.  There are even groups that meet on a scheduled basis to walk, jog and bike the trails.  There is safety in numbers, don’t go alone.  Take some water to drink, and some sun screen if you plan to be out for a while.  Be careful about listing to your iPod, or MP3 player while on the trails.  It’s OK to listen to music, or anything you want, however, consider that most people are doing the same thing, so watch out!  People run into each other all the time on the trails.  Obey the signs, don’t ride your bike too fast, and if you intend to pass someone, make sure you give plenty of room. People have actually been killed on the trails because of collisions.  Many times a trail will cross a street, so pay attention.

Here is a list of Rules to Obey on the trails:

  • HAVE FUN.
  • BE COURTEOUS to everyone at all times.
  • BE AWARE of your surroundings, the weather, and the trail traffic around you.
  • RIDE AND SKATE AT SAFE SPEEDS depending on the weather, the amount of trail traffic, and other conditions.
  • USE ONLY NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
  • KEEP TO THE RIGHT except when passing.
  • PASS ON THE LEFT.
  • ANNOUNCE WHEN PASSING OR APPROACHING FROM BEHIND.
  • LOOK BOTH WAYS when approaching an intersection with another trail, a sidewalk, a footpath, or a street.
  • OBEY ALL STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS.
  • DON’T STOP AND STAND IN TRAIL.  If you need to pause or stop to rest, please step-off to the right of the trail.
  • DON’T MAKE U-TURNS.  If you need to turn-around, step-off to the right of the trail, wait for an opening, and then safely cross the trail and travel in the opposite direction.
  • WALK NO MORE THAN TWO-ACROSS and be sure to either move further to the right edge of the trail or to walk single-file when someone attempts to pass on the left or when encountering on-coming traffic.
  • RIDE OR SKATE SINGLE-FILE.
  • KEEP DOGS ON A SHORT LEASH.
  • PICK-UP AFTER YOUR DOG.
  • KEEP VOLUME LOW on audio/telecommunications equipment.  You need to be able to hear people approaching you from behind.
  • USE TRASH RECEPTACLES.
  • WEAR A HELMET IF YOU SKATE OR BIKE.
  • FOLLOW OTHER POSTED RULES OR LAWS.

Find a trail that is close to you, and enjoy.

Information about each of the currently existing trails (including maps, distances, photographs, key features, and destination points) is available, Click Here for Dallas County Trails.  What about Tarrant County?  Click Here for Tarrant County Trails!

For more articles like this, visit Metroplex Life

I manage this blog. I am always on the lookout for people who want to write for this blog. If you have an interest, please let me know.

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Jerry Haynes – Mr Peppermint

April 23, 2012   Entertainment, Featured Articles, Kids, Local Celebrities, Local History, TV   No comments
Jerry Haynes as Mr. Peppermint

A look back to a local celebrity, Jerry Haynes.

If you lived in the Dallas Fort Worth area during the past 20- 50 years, you probably recognize Jerry Haynes as Mr Peppermint.  He was a local kids celebrity for many years, working for WFAA 8.  He was on TV for more than 30 years entertaining children with his puppets, and cartoons.  Jerry Haynes was also very active in films, with more than 50 in his career.  Some of the most notable were, “Places in the Heart, Bonnie & Clyde” and “Don’t Look Back.” He also appeared as himself, partly through archive footage, in four documentary films discussing the Kennedy assassination: Rush to Judgment, The Day the Nation Cried, Stalking the President,  A New Look at the Zapruder Film.

 I remember Jerry Haynes while growing up in Dallas.

Jerry Haynes as Mr. PeppermintWhen I was a kid in school, I watched Jerry Haynes (Mr. Peppermint) every morning.  He was like my clock, when his show ended, it was time to start walking to school. Hard to believe, but back then it was actually safe to walk to school.  Jerry Haynes was a local boy, he went to “Woodrow Wilson High School” and graduated in1944.  I remember watching his show during a contest and some kid won a three day supply of peppermints!  I was thinking to myself, “I bet I could eat a thousand peppermints in three days. Just about then, Jerry Haynes (Mr. Peppermint) pulled out three peppermints and gave it to the winner.  Three peppermints!  Jeez, I could shove three peppermints into my mouth at once.  I just couldn’t get that out of my mind.  Jerry actually thought three peppermints equaled a three day supply of peppermints, but then I was only seven years old at the time.

Jerry Haynes was born Jerome Martin Haynes

Born Jan 31st, 1927 , Jerry Haynes was active in television and films from 1961–2009. He passed away on Sep 26, 2011 at the age of 84.  A little known fact about Jerry Haynes;  Early in the run of his show, an accident of fate made Jerry Haynes the first to report the Kennedy assassination on local news, together with his program director, Jay Watson. During lunch on the day of the shooting, the two men watched the Presidential motorcade pass on Main Street, and less than a minute later heard the deadly shots after the limousine turned onto Elm Street. The men quickly located and interviewed eyewitnesses, going on the air shortly later:

Sample Video Introduction to Peppermint Place 1985

 Thank you Jerry Haynes, Mr. Peppermint!

We miss you!

For more articles like this, visit Metroplex Life

I manage this blog. I am always on the lookout for people who want to write for this blog. If you have an interest, please let me know.

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Warning sirens- How they work

April 22, 2012   Disaster, Weather   No comments

Sirens have been a part of our lives Since we can remember, or at least this was the case for me. I never noticed them until they sounded, and when I was younger I feared them. Now I am a siren enthusiast, driven by the need to know how sirens work. When I did some research, I found there were many types of sirens; different catagories, models, uses and brands.

Most Sirens in America today are  for tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, nuclear leaks or just old war sirens  that were never removed. The ones I tend to see the most are called the 2001 sirens. They come in several flavors, but all look similar.2001 Siren test

Federal signal 2001

The 2001 replaced sirens like the Thunderbolt  and  Model 7. The Thunderbolt, 2001 and T-128 sirens are all directional. They spin and blast sound in one direction. The model 7, Sentry 40V2Tand sterling sirens are omni-directional. they are open on all sides and do not spin.

“A mechanical siren uses a rotor and stator to “chop” an air stream, which is forced through the siren by radial vanes in the spinning rotor. An example of this type of siren is The Federal Signal 2T22, which was originally developed during the Cold War and produced from the early 1950s to the late 1980s. This particular design employs dual rotors and stators to sound each pitch. Because the sound power output of this type of siren is the same in every direction at all times, it is described as omnidirectional. The Federal 2T22 was also marketed in a 3-signal configuration known as the Federal 3T22, which had capabilities for a “hi-lo” signal.

While some mechanical sirens produce sound in all directions simultaneously, other designs produce sound in only one direction, while employing a rotator mechanism to turn the siren head throughout 360 degrees. One such siren is the ACA Allertor. This siren also produces two pitches simultaneously in a musical interval, but in this case the rotor and stator incorporate separate sections for producing each pitch.

An example of such a siren being produced today is the Federal Signal Model 2001 series. Introduced in the late 80s, it is capable of battery backup. There are two separate motors in the 2001. One powers the siren rotor, while another powers the rotator mechanism.

One rare type of mechanical siren does not rotate or produce equal sound output in all directions. The Federal Signal RSH-10 “Thunderbeam” siren employs a slowly rotating angled disc below the siren, which directs the siren’s output throughout 360 degrees. This same method, applied differently, produces the distinctive sound character of the Leslie loudspeaker, but the rotation of the disc in the Thunderbeam is far too slow to produce the “warbling” sound associated with the Leslie loudspeaker.”- wikipedia

No matter what kind of siren you have near you, that siren has most likely saved lives before and will do it again the next time a tornado or flood comes to town. Unless of course, you go outside to look for tornadoes which I am guilty for on multiple occaions.

Federal signal 2001

Lindsey Fite

I am a siren enthusiast. I also like to draw, my favorite subjects being Dragons, cats, dogs and sometimes birds… Oh, and monsters. I do those to. My other hobbies are Carving soapstone and other rocks, gaming, taking care of my animals and drinking coffee, if that counts.

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Australian TV Viewers to Get a Dose of North Texas Culture

April 20, 2012   Uncategorized   No comments

North Texas Explorer is a television series and podcast that highlights the science and history of some of the state’s most popular attractions and will begin airing Friday April 27th on Channel 44 Adelaide Television in southern Australia.  The show features iconic Texas locations like the State Fair of Texas and the Fort Worth Stock Yards as well as various zoos, museums and parks in the area.

The show is hosted by geologist and north Texas native Devin Dennie who looks forward to the Aussie reaction to the show.  “One of our previous documentaries, RockHounds: The Movie, had a very successful run in Australia,” Dr. Dennie explained, “so we are happy to, once again, reach out to that area and hopefully teach them a little something about our area.”

Education may be the primary focus of the show but appearances from notable Texans like Robert Earl Keen and Mark Cuban help put Texas culture in context with the landscape’s science and history.  “We try to have a lot of fun with NTE,” said Todd Kent, the Dallas based producer/director of the series, “We always thought of it as a way to provide a little background to some fun locations.”

North Texas Explorer will air at 7:00 PM on Friday nights with replays on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM and Tuesdays at 5:30 PM.  The series was produced by Explorer Multimedia Inc., a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation.  Check out a short clip of Devin visiting the “Cockroach Hall of Fame” in Plano from the show below:

Dallas based writer, producer and and documentary filmmaker Todd Kent creates multimedia content that ranges from educational to goofy.

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Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival

April 20, 2012   Art, Entertainment, Events, Fairs Festivals, Fort Worth, Music   No comments

Main Street 2012 Arts Festival

April 19- 22 Fort Worth Arts Festival

Fort Worth Arts FestivalDon’t miss the largest four day event in the Southwest includes a nationally recognized art showcase, over 60 live performers and fantastic activities.  Going on now until Sunday in Fort Worth.  Expect lots of food, music and of course art.  Best of all, it’s free at attend; however expect to spend money for the food etc.  What kinds of food? Craw-fish, turkey legs, bratwurst, gourmet hamburgers, funnel cakes or ice cream, just to name a few.  All food and beverage service is redeemable by coupon only. Coupons can be purchased at booths located conveniently throughout the arts festival.  This is a family affair, so remember to take the kids!

About the Arts Festival:

This year the Fort Worth Arts Festival will feature ceramics, digital, drawings, pastels, emerging artist, fiber glass, graphics and printmaking, Jewelry, leather, metalwork, mixed media painting, photography, sculpture and wood.

Music On Main celebrating its 27th anniversary:

“MUSIC ON MAIN” is where literally hundreds of performers give it their all on three stages along the streets of downtown, rockin’ and rollin’ for four days at Fort Worth’s largest music festival. Sundance Square, Green Mountain Energy and University of Texas at Arlington are graciously sponsoring our three major stages, bringing you some of the best entertainment from our own local community, as well as from across the country and around the world. you can check the schedule of events by visiting the website.  Visit their website for more information http://www.mainstreetartsfest.org/

About the Arts Festival food:

The Fort Worth Arts Festival will feature twenty-three restaurants providing top-quality, delicious food products served on biodegradable utensils, plates and cups. Award-winning restaurants Reata and Schakolad are complimented by the delicious brats and Bahama Mamas of Schmidt’s German Village all the way from Columbus, Ohio, and the fresh, home-made funnel cakes of McKinney’s.

For more articles like this, visit Metroplex Life

 

I manage this blog. I am always on the lookout for people who want to write for this blog. If you have an interest, please let me know.

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Human Rights Student Art Contest

April 19, 2012   Community Calendar, Contest, Events, Featured Articles, Kids   5 Comments
Black History Art

A look at the recent exhibit “In Full Color: A Look At Black History Through Art” at the Texas Visual Arts Association gallery in Dallas, TX. During the exhibit the gallery hosted a workshop for teachers and kicked off a contest for students to have their work published in an upcoming human rights themed graphic novel.

Contest Deadline May 20, 2012!

Dallas based writer, producer and and documentary filmmaker Todd Kent creates multimedia content that ranges from educational to goofy.

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