A small town like Denton, Texas at first doesn’t seem like a likely candidate for having a killer hip hop scene. But on the contrary Denton has its own hip hop music scene that adds onto the already diverse music scene located here. Thanks to bands like Astronautalis, a Florida born hip hop artist, who frequently plays venues in Denton. Such as Haileys, and Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio. I have been lucky enough to catch Astronautalis twice in my life. Last Wednesday I caught his show at Haileys off the square. He performed with Doomtree, and P.O.S. His is a one man act with just his voice and a Mac laptop. He played songs of all his albums including my favorite song “The Wondersmith and His Sons”. Another entertaining part of his shows is the freestyle. He takes suggestions from the audience about random topics, such as the cowboys stadium, daycare, and plaid shirts. Then he drops a beat and starts flowing. Its amazing to see how his mind works and comes up with songs and verses so quickly. Shows take place every week and every once in a while you get to watch talented acts like Astronautalis grace the stage of your local hangout. Hip hop and dub step are taking over Denton, Texas. Even though we don’t have a huge venue here bands continue to make Denton a big stop on their tours because of the crowd, and music goers that call Denton home.
Spend a weekend getaway enjoying the great outdoors in Denton, Texas. Denton has over 20 diverse parks and trails that are perfect for hiking, biking or walking. View the entire Parks and Trails Listing, there is something for everyone!
Emerge yourself in nature and visit the Clear Creek Trails just a few minutes from Denton’s historic town square. Clear Creek features 10 miles of trails that are a part of the 2700 acre nature preserve. The trails will take you though the prairie land, into flourishing ash, willow, bois d’arc and cottonwood forests alongside the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, through the grasslands into the wetlands area pond then you can follow the Rookery trail and view over 200 species of birds. The rare bottomland habitat of Clear Creek is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Learn about the night’s sky in the unique 100 seat, 40-foot domed Sky Theater on the University of North Texas Campus. The Sky Theater is similar to the Omni Theater in Forth Worth but on a smaller more intimate scale. The theater features a variety of educational and entertaining shows every Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Visit the UNT Astronomy website for details on what’s currently playing.
After you are well rested night in one of Denton’s hotels, get out and enjoy some more fresh air. Get active and go hiking on another beautiful Denton trail but plan to participate in another activity that makes Denton truly unique, The Horse Country Tours. Spend a relaxing day in the rolling farmland of North Texas visiting horse ranches, real cowboys and ranch hands.
North Texas Horse Country is one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the United States. The Denton Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers guided tours in a luxury motor coach four times a year, or you can use driving routes and maps to plan your own self driving tour.
Get on the saddle and ride through the wilderness. Black Mustang Ranch and Twin Star Farms offer horseback riding through the wooded and lakeside scenery around Lake Ray Roberts. Bring your camera as you explore nature because you may run into a few deer, coyotes, and armadillos.
If you don’t get enough time to explore on horseback, you can make a separate trip to spend the day at Lake Ray Roberts. This 30,000-acre lake has two state parks, and is perfect for backpacking, water sports, swimming, boating and fishing. The Ray Roberts Marina has a fishing pier with boat rental. The lake area also features the Greenbelt Corridor – a 20-mile scenic trail that begins at the Ray Roberts Dam and ends at the headwaters of Lake Lewisville. The trail is great for hiking and biking, and canoe and kayak rentals are available by calling 817-228-9496.
While planning to spend some time outdoors in Denton make sure to check the interactive Parks and Recreation Catalog on pages 32 – 33 for other outdoor events that may be going on.
Image Credit: Melanie Gomez
Sarah Jaffe had a goodbye show back in May when she kicked off a tour in support of her new album Suburban Nature. Old fans, friends and family crowded in to wish her good luck in New York. Her band mates Robert Gomez, Jeff Ryan and Backi Howard played with her. The show was held at Dan’s Silverleaf, where she had previously worked as a bartender. The venue reached capacity before the opening band even began.
Since New York, she has been touring the country and making appearances. Songs from her new album can be heard on the radio, and she has a new music video for the single “Clementine.”
The video was directed by Jon Collins. The 6 men in the video are her closest 6 male friends. These men come from some of the most popular Denton bands. Will Johnson is from Centro-matic; Jeremy Buller is from Bosque Brown; Glen Farris plays with Denton musician, Doug Burr, and Trenton Wheeler is from the Denton band Seryn.
The video was filmed in Argyle, which is located just outside of Denton. They wanted to keep everything in the video as close to Denton as possible. Argyle was about 110 degrees the first day they shot the video. Her yellow robe was made of polyester so she was burning up for the entirety of the day. The robe was actually made by a Denton-ite names Rachel Nichelson, one of Jaffe’s good friends. Another local designer, Christina Shoto, designed the men’s costumes. They were inspired by a European photographer.
Fans have been pondering the meaning behind her video. The video features a tug-of-war with the six men, and Jaffe herself is also featured flying, being baptized, and experiencing a nose bleed.
“When Jon and I first met together to discuss topics [of the] video, I knew just a little bit of what I saw vision-wise, but the only thing that I certainly knew was [that] I wanted to fly and later have a nose bleed,” said Jaffe.
The baptism scene was filmed at Hamilton Pool, which is a nature preserve about 30 miles west of Austin.
“There is really no explanation for this nose bleed other than [that] I think they are just really cool looking. I also like to go to the mall. So, I think nose bleeds are cool and I like to go shopping at the mall. That’s me in a nutshell, really deep and complex. No reason at all. I just think they are really visceral looking. My dreams have come true. I get to fly and have a nose bleed,” said Jaffe.
The video is designed to be interpreted different ways for different viewers. Check out the music video and find your own interpretation.
Sarah Jaffe will be returning to Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton on November 21 at 7:30. Get your tickets early and find a seat early because the show fills up and sells out fast!
Image via Wikipedia
On November 17th, former United States President and Texas state governor George W. Bush will be the honored guest and speaker at The University of North Texas Coliseum as part of the universities Distinguished Lectures Series. The highly anticipated event has already sold out of tickets well in advance of Mr. Bush’s lecture.
Lectures becoming crowded or sold out are not uncommon to the university due to the popularity of speakers ranging from former TV host Bill Nye the Science Guy to Mexico’s former president, Vicente Fox. Students were allowed one free ticket, and could have purchased an additional 3 tickets for friends and family at a reduced cost of $15. Faculty and staff could have also purchase reduced cost tickets, and the general public had a fee of up to $30 to attend the lecture.
Unfortunately, tickets are no longer available for any fee, due to a sold out attendance. As with any political gathering, protests to Mr. Bush’s appearance have also been scheduled by the International Socialist Organization and other groups to occur during the former president’s lecture. Many students have joined the protest mainly in disagreement with his lecture fee of $100,000 being too high a cost while UNT experiences a hiring freeze and continues to raise tuition fees.
Worried about beating that holiday bulge? The 28th annual Turkey Roll Bike Rally will give participants a chance to lessen their guilt about any ensuing indulgences of turkey and stuffing.
North Texans will gather on Saturday, November 20 for the bike ride, with multiple courses set up through the hills of Denton and Grayson Counties. The event will begin at 9:00 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
The Turkey Roll will kick off with a spaghetti dinner Friday night from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. The all-inclusive dinner of beverages and unlimited portions will allow riders to fill up on carbs to energize for Saturday morning’s ride.
Prices
- $8 for Adults
- $5 per child (5-12).
- Children under 5 are FREE under 5. All inclusive dinner, beverages, and unlimited portions.
Last year’s routing of the course will be used again. All routes will begin at ICCC.
The 25-mile course (Green Route) will run along Windsor and Sherman Dr, and continue to the southwester edge of Lake Ray Roberts and end to ICCC. There are 2 rest stops on this course.
The 35-mile course (Blue Route) will follow the route of the 25 mile course past the 2nd rest stop. The course will then turn east and cross Lake Ray Roberts Dam. After the dam, riders will go south on 377 through Aubrey to end at ICCC. There are a total of 4 rest stops.
The 47-mile course (Orange Route) will follow the 25 mile course to “Wish Bone Pass.” After Wish Bone Pass, the course will continue north into Cooke County. Near Lone Oak Road, food and beverages will be available at one of the 6 rest stops.
The 63-mile course (Red Route) will cross Lake Ray Roberts 4 times and go north to the city of Valley View. This course will feature the Terrell and Nancy King rest stop. Then, the course will continue to Valley View. There will be another stop here before riders go back to Denton. There will be multiple rest stops on this course.
The price of registration is now $22 ($30 the day of the event). Participants who become a fan of the Denton Convention and Visitor’s Bureau blog and Facebook fan page will receive an exclusive offer to register for the Rally for only $15. (The promo code will then be given for online registration)
T-shirts and goody bags will be given to the first 500 riders. Proceeds from the 28th Annual Turkey Roll Bike Rally will benefit seven local youth organizations, and help to provide school supplies to over 1,000 children in association with the Apple Tree Project.
Each course is designed to ensure the safety of all riders, and port-a-poties will be available at all rest stops. The ride will go on rain or shine, so come out for a bike ride through north Texas before your inevitable turkey coma!
Are you bride-to-be planning your big day in Denton? Think you have to drive 30 minutes south to find all you need to make your fairy tale dreams come true? One of Denton’s best-kept secrets is the loads of wedding services offered right here, within city limits. From florists and bakeries, to bridal boutiques that carry the designer gowns that dreams are made of, a bride-to-be will find all she needs in Denton.
Denton Trade Shows:
The first stop for any future bride, mother-of-the-bride, maid of honor, or anyone else planning an event for that matter, should be the annual Planner’s Zone. The Planner’s Zone is a trade show held each year through a partnership between the University of North Texas Gateway Center, and the Denton Convention and Visitors bureau. The trade show highlights the variety of event facilities, restaurants, catering companies, and even musicians that call Denton home. Las year, the Planner’s Zone hosted more than 50 vendor booths and hundreds of attendees.
Denton Charity Bridal Show
Another must-attend trade show hosted each year is the annual Charity Bridal Fair. The next event will be held the last weekend of February 2011 on the UNT campus- just in time for those planning a spring or summer wedding!
Event Venues in Denton:
The Milestone, an elegant southern mansion located 3 miles west of I-35, is one of Denton’s newest event facilities. The Milestone is located on 14 acres of land, and offers both indoor and outdoor ceremony sites. The venue also has a Grand Ballroom that accommodates up to 300 guests, and their wedding packages include everything from table linens, to a 3-tier wedding cake!
Image Credit: The Milestone
The Buffalo Valley Event Center offers over 13,500 square feet of space to meet the needs of brides with 25 to 1200 guests. The Center features a full size bar, a dance floor, a waterfall, patio, VIP Loft, and mezzanine. They also offer full audio and visual equipment for those touching slideshows that are popular at weddings. Do your out-of-town guests need a place to stay? Look no further! The Buffalo Valley Event Center offers 19 hotel rooms.
Texas Women’s University Little Chapel in the Woods
Brides looking for a small, intimate ceremony with a vintage feel may opt for the Little Chapel in the Woods, located on the TWU campus. The chapel, which seats 110 people, has been a wedding site of choice for Denton brides since 1939. The chapel, which has been designated one of Texas’ 20 most outstanding architectural achievements by the Texas Society of Architects, was built by more than 300 TWU students and faculty members, and was dedicated by Eleanor Roosevelt on November 1, 1939. Follow your chapel wedding with a reception in a ballroom or conference room at the beautiful Hubbard Hall. TWU conference services offers reasonably priced wedding packages for up to 100 guests that include everything from Hors oeuvre to alcohol.
Image Credit: Texas Women's University
Not to be outdone by its neighboring university, UNT offers two unique wedding venues: The Gateway Center and The Silver Eagle Suite. The Gateway Center is one of the newest facilities on campus. When you book your event at a UNT facility, you get experienced on-site staff to help you plan your event, state-of-the-art computers and presentation equipment, and a variety of catering packages to choose from.
The Center for Visual Arts is located at 400 East Hickory Street and can be rented through the Greater Denton Arts Council. The CVA features a sound system, table and chairs and a full kitchen. Using the CVA will allow the bride to be to choose her own catering company, which can often save money. There is also a discount for members of the GDAC. The CVA can accommodate up to 250 guests, and allows beer and wine.
The Wildwood Inn is a fairly new, European style mansion located just ½ mile west of I-35E. The Inn hosts both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, full-service receptions for up to 120 guests, and is also used as a wedding shower and rehearsal dinner site. Catering is provided by the Inn’s 4-star chef and professional coordinators are on hand to help the bride and groom with every step of planning. The Inn features a lush garden, swimming pool, full-glass French doors, a covered patio, and a custom built pergola.
For a more intimate celebration, brides can book a ceremony and reception with The Heritage Inn. The Inn hosts weddings in their gazebo wedding garden, or indoors, fireside in the parlor. Receptions are held at Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant patio garden, which shares a location with the Inn, or in the private dining room. Weddings can be booked in the afternoon or evening, and packages include complete setup and cleanup, 3 hour facility rental, and 3 bridal consultation visits.
The Denton Civic Center features a 9,000-square-foot indoor rotunda and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor, covered plaza. Rental of the facility includes tables and chairs for up to 200 guests, updated lighting and acoustics, a full kitchen, and allows for outside catering and the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Image Credit: The City of Denton
The Denton Women’s Club is a historic building built in 1928. The Women’s Club is fully stocked with dinnerware, silverware, cookware, and serving pieces, along with tables, chairs, and linens. The Club features a fully equipped modern kitchen with a back entrance, convenient for catering staff. The facility, which accommodates up to 200 guests, has a stage with a Steinway grand piano, a speaker’s podium with a sound system, elegant décor and parlor seating, a dressing room, and ample parking for guests.
Fremaux’s Metropolitan Catering
Fremaux’s is a full-service banquet and catering facility that offers three styles of on-site service, including reception-style, plated service, and sit-down buffet service. Fremaux’s amenities include table linens, gold-banded china, polished silver, centerpieces, punch fountains, a dance floor, and a cake by Candy Haven. Fremaux’s can accommodate up to 250 guests for sit-down dinners, and 350 guests for receptions.
Hotel Wedding Facilities
Various hotels in Denton feature wedding reception sites that will meet all of your wedding day needs. These include the Hilton Garden Inn, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites, and the Courtyard by Marriott.
Wedding Day Attire
Brides and grooms don’t need to leave Denton to find the latest bridal style to wear as they tie the knot. Engaged couples will find tuxedos, wedding gowns, and bridesmaids’ dresses at the following locations:
Located at 5800 N I-35, #505, Bridal Co. offers wedding gowns from numerous designers, at prices that will meet every budget. Bridal Co. also carries attire for the entire wedding party, from the flower girl to the groomsmen.
Image Credit: Bridal Co.
Sue’s Bride N Formal
Like Bridal Co., Sue’s offers attire selections for everyone in the bridal party. It is located at 216 W. Oak Street.
Located inside Golden Triangle Mall, Tuxedo Junction is the place to go for the stylish groom-to-be.
Al’s carries a wide variety of tuxedos available to rent, as well as wedding invitations, and more. Al’s is located at 2219 S. Loop 288, across from Golden Triangle Mall.
Various Vendors
Denton has the best to offer when it comes to wedding services. The following list is just a sample of florists, photographers, catering companies, bakeries, and other wedding vendors.
Florists
1636 W. University Dr. Denton, TX. 76201
(940) 383-0584
700 East Sherman Drive Denton, TX 76209
(940) 382-1548
2926 E. University Suite 103 Denton, TX 76209
(940) 387-6191
202 W. McCart St., Ste. A Krum, TX 76249
(940) 482-6093
Photographers
108 N. Locust Street Denton, TX 76201
(940) 368-4918
3805 West University Drive Denton, TX 76207
(940) 566-1888
630 Hillcrest Street Denton, TX 76201
(940) 380-0408
(940) 226-4144
Catering Companies/ Bakeries
821 N. Locust St.
Denton, TX 76201
(940) 381-2712
2126 Hamilton, Suite 430
Denton, TX 76226
(940) 380-8770
1516 Centre Place Dr., Denton, TX 76205
(940) 898-0990
419 S. Elm St. Denton, TX, 76201
(940) 566-5575
520 South Locust Street Denton, TX 76201
(940) 387-6712
301 N Interstate 35, Denton, TX
(940) 565-1474 76205
Image Credit: Candy Haven Denton
Anyone who has ever gone antiquing knows there are just a few things to know before you head out on the search. Here are just a few easy tips for the next time you hunt for those great finds!
Keep an eye out for gifts. Items with initials or dates make great personalized gifts. Scoop up vintage scarves, hand towels or linens as an alternative to wrapping paper. Tiny treasures such as a vintage brooch can be used to top off packages instead of the regular bow or ribbon.
Find new uses for old things. Always think about creative ways to repurpose antiques. For instance, a small silver cup could become a toothbrush holder; a pretty teacup could be used as a votive holder.
Know how much to pay. A simple rule of thumb is to pay what makes you feel comfortable. Also, know that “antique” doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.
Negotiate with good manners. The best way to get a fair price on items you love is to ask the dealer, “This is a really beautiful piece—what’s your best price on this?” That shows you want to negotiate but also gives the dealer a gracious way of saying ‘That is my best price.'” If the seller is willing to negotiate, you will certainly be able to tell with their response.
Become an expert. Know the ins and outs in the field you are interested in. Buy, collect, find great buys, and don’t worry about spending “too much” now and then for something that is a great addition to your collection.
Be prepared. Don’t ride a bike to go antiquing. Bring along boxes, blankets, rope, or whatever you may need to pack up and safely take home that special purchase.
Here are just a few places to put these tips to the test in Denton:
County Seat Antiques 116 North Locust Denton, TX W. Douglas Antiques 109 W Hickory Denton, TX Downtown Mini Mall 118 North Locust Street Denton, TX The Antique Gallery 5800 N-I-35, Suite 400 Denton, TX LINKS http://www.facebook.com/AntiquesRoadshow http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denton-Texas/113407485335936 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Antiques/116766425000593 http://www.goantiques.com/ http://atticrat.blogspot.com/ http://pinkflamingo61.blogspot.com/
Your New Friends in Denton
Denton has always enjoyed the reputation of being a good place for those who love music, but another intriguing aspect of the city is very easily overlooked.
A typical Denton resident is so accustomed to the amount of cultures, religions, and ethnicities of the city that they do not realize that it is spilling over with a dynamic mix of traditions and styles from around the world.
To the Denton resident, this diverse exposure is a part of everyday life in a college town, but from the outside looking in; it is obvious that Denton could be considered a cultural Mecca of North Texas, particularly, near the universities.
International enrollment demographics provided by The University of North Texas (fall 2009):
- 2500 enrolled students from abroad
- 123 countries represented
Here are the top 10 countries that are represented at UNT:
- India
- China
- Korea
- Taiwan
- Japan
- Nepal
- Mexico
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- Thailand
“If you want to meet with other international students, UNT is a good place,” said Ali Almazrou, finance major from Saudi Arabia. “There are so many people from so many different places here, that is why I like it. There are so many different backgrounds and ideas. That’s why I came [to Denton].”
For those out there who are interested in meeting people from all over the world, from all walks of life and making a friend that you may have not met by living in an average suburban town, come visit Denton. Get involved in the variety of global networks, the dynamic social experience and the exchange of ideas from an international perspective that you will have at your fingertips in Denton.
Beyond recreation, government, and business; the experience is enjoyable, the people are pleasant and there are brand new experiences at every corner. Come check it out for yourself, your new friends are waiting.
Early this week, Denton was ranked 13th in America’s fastest growing cities. And looking through the news, it shows.
…progressive solutions reign.
Denton is home to the fourth largest university in the state. The University of North Texas is quickly being regarded as one of the most forward thinking schools of the state. Earlier this week, the school’s Board of Regents unanimously approved construction of three wind turbines near the school’s up-coming football stadium. These turbines would power the new gorgeous stadium with up to 40 percent renewable energy. Combine that with a wind farm in Munster that generates another 40 percent of the energy used by the city of Denton, and you have a very clean location. Forward thinking at its finest! The school’s interim (and permanent candidate finalist as of last week) president, V. Lane Rawlins, has declared his priority to make UNT a Tier 1 school, both academically and athletically.
…ideas get recognition.
This week, a student from the award winning North Texas Daily was graced by having her story and photos run on 3 television spots on NBC5. Sara Jones was out taking photos of a police dog demonstration. Noticing how emaciated a dog was, she snapped off a few photos. She was so disturbed by the images, she was moved to write her first story for the paper where she holds a position as a photographer, designer, and copy assistant. This story made the front page. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the pictures and story got picked up by the local NBC affiliate within 12 hours.
I just happened to be sitting next to Sara in Intro to Poli Sci when she got the call. Huge smile on her face, she bounded out of the large auditorium to receive the news that would make her year, the acknowledgement of a lifetime.
…businesses can thrive.
Earlier this week, Beth Marie’s was named the Best Downtown Business in Texas at the Texas Downtown Association’s President’s Awards Program in El Paso. Beth Marie’s has become a huge part of Denton’s downtown square since its opening in 1998. The restaurant beat out hundreds of other similar businesses from around the state, from San Angelo to Wichita Falls. Beth Marie’s has been such a great addition to the Square.
Denton has truly become a place worth knowing.
Links to seed:
http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=25918118 – America’s fastest growing cities
http://www.ntdaily.com/?p=13696 – UNT Board of regents approve wind turbines
http://www.ntdaily.com/?p=13622&cpage=1#comment-5658 – Vet calls Denton PD K-9 dog “too skinny”
http://www.ntdaily.com/?p=13683&cpage=1#comment-5659 – Developing story – Denton K-9
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Beth_Maries_Award_1114.229e140cc.html – Beth Marie’s earns state recognition
http://www.ntdaily.com/?p=13667 – District lights up area with nightlife, entertainment
http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-Ten-Places-to-Visit-in-Texas
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denton-Arts-Jazz-Festival/57399753239
Many people know about Fry St. and the Courthouse on the Square. Not too well known, though, are three other historical landmarks in the city of Denton which showcase the extensive and important past of Denton.
Denton Historical Park
The Denton Historical Park consists of The Courthouse on the Square Museum, The Bayless-Selby House Museum and The Denton County African American Museum. The Elm Ridge Church, Old No. 14 Firehouse, a Welcome Center, and a 1890’s Outhouse will be added to the park for visitors to enjoy. The Bayless Selby house was designed with the 19th century Victorian Queen Anne architecture style, which complements the Victorian era relics displayed at the museum. The museum features Victorian fashion, culture and hardware. The African American Museum chronicles the history and lives of African American families in Denton County. Museum proceeds benefit the City of Denton. Funding from the museums, as well as donations from various sources, is helping keep the city’s history and beauty alive.
TWU Little Chapel in the Woods:
The Little Chapel in the Woods is located on the TWU campus. The Chapel was designed by well-known architect O’Neil Ford, and was built by more than 300 TWU students and faculty members in 1938 and 1930. The Chapel seats 110 people, including seating in the balcony. The Chapel features eight beautiful, stained glass windows and three panels above the altar that were designed to tell the story of “Women Ministering to Human Needs” through services such as nursing, teaching, music, and motherhood. The first wedding in the Chapel took place in September of 1939 and, a month later, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated the Little Chapel.
The Denton Women’s Club:
The Denton Women’s Club was built in 1928 with funds raised solely by members of the club. The building features an elegant, vintage living room, vaulted and beamed ceilings, and a Garden Room with French doors. The building has been used for club meetings and social gatherings for 82 years, and is also available for events including weddings, family reunions, business meetings, showers, and other social functions.
Voices from Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton 
