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All over North Texas, people are ready for a little TGIF. But Black Agave in Farmers Branch is celebrating by exclaiming "¡Gracias a Dios es viernes!"

Every Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the Mex-Tex destination in Mercer Boardwalk hosts Mariachis and Margaritas. During the weekly fiesta, diners will enjoy a performance from Mariachi Viajero de Germáyn Piña. Plus, margarita lovers can kick off the weekend right with $9.99 margarita flights.

 

While enjoying the festivities, diners might order favorites such as Molcajete Mixto, Picadillo Chile Relleno or Smoked Pork Belly Enchiladas. For more information on Black Agave, visit the restaurant or its website, blackagavetexas.com.

Location

1980 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

Farmers Branch, Texas 75234

469-850-6501

blackagavetexas.com

 

 

About Black Agave

 

Black Agave Cocina y Cantina celebrates a taste of Mexican tradition. Guests will indulge in the vibrant flavors and festive ambience at Black Agave, where every moment becomes a reason to celebrate. From the moment you step through our doors, you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere that captures the essence of Mexican culture, while our authentic and delicious meals take your taste buds on a journey of pure delight. Whether you’re savoring a good day, reconnecting with friends, or bidding farewell to the work week, your perfect celebration starts at our table.

Patricia Chi

Coppell’s Varsity Cross Country teams delivered outstanding performances at the Lubbock XC Invitational, showing that their hard work is paying off. On a hot and challenging course at Mae Simmons Park, the Varsity Girls secured a 2nd place overall finish, while the Varsity Boys dominated with a 1st place team victory. Both teams showed grit and determination, and the experience will be invaluable as they prepare to return to this course in October for an even bigger challenge.  

 

Individual and Team Highlights

The Coppell Varsity Boys team took 1st place out of 8 teams, with standout performances from Pranav Vegiraju, who won the race, followed by Rohit Kalpathy and Grant O'Neal in 2nd and 3rd place. Their collective effort earned the team a commanding victory.

Top Performers for Varsity Boys (6A Boys):

  • Pranav Vegiraju finished 1st with a time of 16:00.4

  • Rohit Kalpathy finished 2nd with a time of 16:33.8

  • Grant O'Neal finished 3rd with a time of 16:37.6

Coach Wren praised “The Varsity Boys' team took home a 1st place finish overall on a tough course and warm afternoon on Saturday. Pranav Vegiraju won the event by over 30 seconds. His teammates Rohit Kalpathy and Grant O'Neal finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Srivanth Rudrangi and Ansh Singhal ran well enough to finish 5th and 6th to help the team to only a total of 17 points just missing out on a perfect team score. We knew we were the favorites going into the meet, but our main focus was to run the course and learn as much about it as possible so that we have that experience when we run on it again in October with hopes of qualifying for State.”



The Coppell Varsity Girls team delivered an outstanding performance at Mae Simmons Park, finishing 2nd out of 7 teams. Leading the charge, Maya Easterwood dominated the field with a 1st place finish, winning by over two minutes. With strong finishes from Mallory Sherrer, Rachel Arrington, and Annie Reeder—placing in the top 11—the team's combined effort secured their spot on the podium.

Top Performers for Varsity Girls (6A Girls 5K):

  • Maya Easterwood finished 1st with a time of 18:05.2

  • Mallory Sherrer finished 7th with a time of 20:47.1

  • Rachel Arrington finished 9th with a time of 21:47.5

  • Annie Reeder finished 11th with a time of 21:51.8

Coach Wren said “The Varsity Girls' team took home a 2nd place overall finish at Mae Simmons Park. Maya Easterwood led the way with a 1st place finish. She won the race by over two minutes. Mallory Sherrer, Rachel Arrington, and Annie Reeder finished 7th, 9th, and 11th respectively. I'm proud of how the girls fought through much warmer temperatures than they are used to running in. I am glad that they got the experience to run on this course because we fully expect to qualify at District and run on it again in October.”

 

In addition to the Varsity team’s strong showing, Coppell's JV athletes also delivered impressive performances on the challenging Lubbock course. Coach Wren was particularly pleased with the efforts of the JV teams, who navigated the tough course with determination and heart. Reflecting on the JV Girls' performance, he remarked, “None of the girls had run on this course before, but they did their best to execute the race plan. Rhea Bala and Shreya Shah both placed in the Top 10, and Carolina Saenz and Khushi Singla finished in the Top 20. I’m seeing growth in these young ladies every time they run.” The JV Girls ultimately secured a strong Top 5 finish as a team.

 

For the JV Boys, Coach Wren added, “Sam Meier won the event, and Rodrick Abrego followed up with a 2nd place finish. Itsuki Pena and Sidharth Kerthipati both earned Top 10 finishes. I loved how hard the boys competed today—they're getting better every week.” The boys’ team finished 2nd overall, continuing their steady progress. 

 

Coach Wren’s Remarks

It was a successful Saturday for our team. We look forward to building on that momentum as we run at the Lovejoy XC Classic next week. We are missing some kids that are injured and sick and we hope to get them back in the fold soon. The kids have bought into what we are doing, and we're starting to see those results. 

 

It was a successful weekend for both the Varsity and JV teams at the Lubbock XC Invitational. With impressive individual performances and strong teamwork, Coppell’s athletes continue to show their growth and resilience on tough courses. As Coach Wren noted, the experience gained from running on the challenging Lubbock course will be invaluable as the season progresses. We're incredibly proud of their efforts and will keep pushing forward until the next race! 

 

Contact Information
For more details or to support the team, please contact:


Patricia Chi
Email: chi.patricia@gmail.com
Phone: (469) 831-3709

 

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This just in! Beloved NBA Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki is gearing up for his annual charity tennis match this Saturday and has added some big names to play alongside -- Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks guard and four-time NBA Champion; Dr. Phil McGraw of the Dr. Phil show; and CoCo Vandeweghe, former World No. 9 in singles, 2018 U.S. Open Doubles Champion and U.S. Olympian.

In its sixth year, the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic – presented by Chime – is set for Saturday (Sept. 14) at 3 p.m. inside the Banner House at T Bar M (6060 Dilbeck Ln, Dallas, TX 75240). Doors will open at 2 p.m. with the T Bar M Academy Junior Teams match up kicking off the fun.

Also joining Dirk on the court are former Dallas Mavericks players Steve Nash, two-time NBA MVP, and J. J. Barea, 2011 NBA Champion, plus Mark Knowles, former World No. 1 tennis player in doubles with 55 ATP doubles titles.

Proceeds will benefit The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education.

Chime is the Presenting Tournament Sponsor, and Lufthansa is the Presenting Dinner Sponsor. Grand Slam Sponsors are Alto, Champions Funding, Cost Plus Drugs, Gene and Jerry Jones and Headington Companies. Challenger Sponsors are Greenberg Traurig, HEB, Labora, Lhoist and Morgan Stanley. Other sponsors include Aaron Enrico, Alden and Janelle Pinell, Children’s Medical Center Foundation and Kasim and Wasan Alfalahi, and in-kind donation sponsors include Lombardi Family Concepts, Nick & Sam’s, Nike, Paciugo, Rollertown Beerworks, Sewell Automotive Companies, The Toy Maven, Tiff’s Treats, Tynan Travel and Which Wich.

Tickets are $65 at universe.com. Limited parking is available. Ride sharing is strongly encouraged. (Use Alto code DFNTENNIS24 to receive $10 off 2 rides at RideAlto.com.)

For details, go to dnfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE DIRK NOWITZKI FOUNDATION. The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation is dedicated to putting children first and assisting them through programs focusing on their wellbeing, health and education. The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation awards grants annually and funds projects to nonprofit organizations which run true to the overall mission of The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation. The Foundation lifts up children who are affected by illness, poverty, abuse and neglect through proper channels of guidance and directs them on a path to success.

ABOUT BANNER HOUSE AT T BAR M. Since its inception in 1972, T Bar M Racquet Club has served as a haven for tennis and racquet sports players in North Texas. With a major transformation of the campus set to debut in late 2024, the new Banner House at T Bar M is where this love for racquet sports meets a passion for social, hospitality, design, art, culture and wellness. The reimagined Club will include 22 hardcourts, 3 red-clay courts, 1 grass court, TK pickleball courts, five padel courts, a spa, resort-style pool, multiple culinary concepts, members-only bars and lounges, kid-friendly zones and much more. T Bar M has one of the best and largest teams of racquet sport professionals in the country and offers a prestigious junior and academy tennis program. Banner House is owned and operated by boutique hospitality concept developer and operator, WoodHouse. Founded by entrepreneur Brady Wood, WoodHouse creates, owns and operates experiential concepts, ranging from private clubs, restaurants and hotels to live music and entertainment venues. For more information, visit tbarmtennis.com.

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This just in! Beloved NBA Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki is gearing up for his annual charity tennis match this Saturday and has added some big names to play alongside -- Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks guard and four-time NBA Champion; Dr. Phil McGraw of the Dr. Phil show; and CoCo Vandeweghe, former World No. 9 in singles, 2018 U.S. Open Doubles Champion and U.S. Olympian.

In its sixth year, the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic – presented by Chime – is set for Saturday (Sept. 14) at 3 p.m. inside the Banner House at T Bar M (6060 Dilbeck Ln, Dallas, TX 75240). Doors will open at 2 p.m. with the T Bar M Academy Junior Teams match up kicking off the fun.

Also joining Dirk on the court are former Dallas Mavericks players Steve Nash, two-time NBA MVP, and J. J. Barea, 2011 NBA Champion, plus Mark Knowles, former World No. 1 tennis player in doubles with 55 ATP doubles titles.

Proceeds will benefit The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education.

Chime is the Presenting Tournament Sponsor, and Lufthansa is the Presenting Dinner Sponsor. Grand Slam Sponsors are Alto, Champions Funding, Cost Plus Drugs, Gene and Jerry Jones and Headington Companies. Challenger Sponsors are Greenberg Traurig, HEB, Labora, Lhoist and Morgan Stanley. Other sponsors include Aaron Enrico, Alden and Janelle Pinell, Children’s Medical Center Foundation and Kasim and Wasan Alfalahi, and in-kind donation sponsors include Lombardi Family Concepts, Nick & Sam’s, Nike, Paciugo, Rollertown Beerworks, Sewell Automotive Companies, The Toy Maven, Tiff’s Treats, Tynan Travel and Which Wich.

Tickets are $65 at universe.com. Limited parking is available. Ride sharing is strongly encouraged. (Use Alto code DFNTENNIS24 to receive $10 off 2 rides at RideAlto.com.)

For details, go to dnfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE DIRK NOWITZKI FOUNDATION. The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation is dedicated to putting children first and assisting them through programs focusing on their wellbeing, health and education. The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation awards grants annually and funds projects to nonprofit organizations which run true to the overall mission of The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation. The Foundation lifts up children who are affected by illness, poverty, abuse and neglect through proper channels of guidance and directs them on a path to success.

ABOUT BANNER HOUSE AT T BAR M. Since its inception in 1972, T Bar M Racquet Club has served as a haven for tennis and racquet sports players in North Texas. With a major transformation of the campus set to debut in late 2024, the new Banner House at T Bar M is where this love for racquet sports meets a passion for social, hospitality, design, art, culture and wellness. The reimagined Club will include 22 hardcourts, 3 red-clay courts, 1 grass court, TK pickleball courts, five padel courts, a spa, resort-style pool, multiple culinary concepts, members-only bars and lounges, kid-friendly zones and much more. T Bar M has one of the best and largest teams of racquet sport professionals in the country and offers a prestigious junior and academy tennis program. Banner House is owned and operated by boutique hospitality concept developer and operator, WoodHouse. Founded by entrepreneur Brady Wood, WoodHouse creates, owns and operates experiential concepts, ranging from private clubs, restaurants and hotels to live music and entertainment venues. For more information, visit tbarmtennis.com.

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Avondale celebrated a successful summer full of surprises program that helped uplift our community by sharing the spirit on which Avondale was founded. Over the past ten weeks, Avondale team members brought surprise and delight to many deserving individuals, with the goal of encouraging everyone in the community to perform acts of kindness whenever possible. 

“Being of service to the community in a variety of ways allows us to spread Avondale’s core value of kindness to everyone, and aims to spread joy and gratitude,” said Hesham Elgaghil, president of Avondale Dealerships.

Throughout the summer, Avondale team members popped up in places around the Metroplex, including a fire department, a memory care center, an elementary school and outside in the summer heat to find people contributing meaningfully in the community and celebrating them. The group decided that the finale of the Avondale Summer of Surprises would help children in need feel supported as they went back to school.

This summer saw Avondale team members:

  • Providing a catered lunch from Mi Dia to teachers and staff at Timberline Elementary School in Grapevine
  • Gathering and donating school supplies to the Community Engagement and Opportunities Council’s “I Got Your Back” initiative to help children in South Dallas feel prepared and confident going into the new school year
  • Surprising nurses and staff at Iris Memory Care of Turtle Creek with flowers and gift cards, offering hugs and gratitude to staff for their commitment to caring for others
  • Bringing lunch and cold drinks to volunteers at Genesis Women’s Shelter, and handing out Starbucks gift cards to Genesis donors
  • Delivering a Yeti cooler filled with ice cream and popsicles to the Southlake Fire Department
  • Bringing ice-cold drinks and snacks to local landscapers working in the summer sun
  • Surprising Avondale Collision & Repair team members with ice cream sandwiches from Pokey O’s and Avondale clients and visitors with an unexpected coffee bar experience
  • Gifting the 5,000th follower of @AvondaleDealerships, a beautiful piece of custom automotive artwork from renowned fine artist Stephen Selzler as a tremendous surprise they will never forget!

“To us, Avondale is as much a spirit as it is a company,” Elgaghil explained, “so taking opportunities like our ‘Summer of Surprises’ to share that spirit of kindness with others is something we truly enjoy. We are blessed to call this community home and are committed to being a partner who gives back.”

Avondale Dealerships is an innovative business led by a team with decades of success and experience in the automotive industry. Avondale is supported by members who have an incredible spirit for delivering an elevated client experience. This SPIRIT of Avondale runs deep and is channeled in multiple ways to care for the local community. Avondale Dealerships operates Mercedes-Benz of Grapevine, Porsche Grapevine, Sprinter Grapevine, Aston Martin Dallas, Bentley Dallas, Koenigsegg Dallas, McLaren Dallas, Maserati Dallas and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas. In addition, the company manages Avondale Collision & Repair, and Avondale Select, offering luxury daily rentals.

 

For more information, visit www.avondale.com. To subscribe to Avondale Group’s YouTube channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi9rXleS3RI7bz4x9ROwe3A

Patricia Chi

While the Varsity team competed at the Lubbock XC Invitational this weekend, the Coppell JV Boys and Girls teams showcased their strength and determination at the Southlake XC Invitational on September 7, 2024. The JV Boys secured an impressive 9th place finish out of 25 teams, while the JV Girls earned a solid 12th place finish out of 22 teams in a competitive field.

With outstanding individual performances and strong teamwork, the Coppell athletes demonstrated their grit and potential on a demanding course, setting the stage for continued success throughout the season.

 

Individual and Team Highlights

 

With 422 runners in the boys' race, our team faced tough competition and battled through muggy, wet running conditions. Despite the challenges, our athletes pushed through with determination, delivering strong performances to secure 9th place overall. 

 

Top Performers for JV Boys:

  • Arya Khanna finished 25th with a time of 18:12.10

  • Farhan Mohammed finished 33rd with a time of 18:28.00

  • Marco Noyola finished 36th with a time of 18:31.50

  • Noah Law finished 51st with a time of 18:47.60

  • Lukas Stumm finished 68th with a time of 19:00.00

 

With 269 runners in the girls' race, our team battled through the same challenging muggy and wet conditions. Despite the tough competition, the girls fought hard and earned a respectable 12th place overall finish.

 

Top Performers for JV Girls:

  • Sutton Rasmussen finished 56th with a time of 23:07.70

  • Addison Hamm finished 83th with a time of 23:42.80

  • Pragna Vykuntam finished 130th with a time of 24:30.90

  • Navya Avvaru finished 184th with a time of 26:03.00

  • Raina Patel finished 207th with a time of 27:07.20 

 

Coach Wren’s Remarks

We ran a Boys JV team and a Girls JV team at the Southlake XC Invitational on Saturday. The boys' team finished 9th overall, and the girls' team finished 12th. Sutton Rasmussen and Addison Hamm led the way for the girls' team, while Arya Khanna and Farhan Mohammed led the boys' team. Overall, we had 35 athletes compete, many of whom ran their fastest times of the year.

 

Even without the Varsity team today, our fresh runners showed remarkable perseverance and determination in the face of tough competition and challenging conditions. Their hard work and unity on the course will drive them forward as they continue to grow stronger with each race. We're incredibly proud of their efforts and will keep pushing forward until the next race!

 

Contact Information
For more details or to support the team, please contact:


Patricia Chi
Email: chi.patricia@gmail.com
Phone: (469) 831-3709

 

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The Prison Dome II: Bitter Pills by Warren Wagner 

Very satisfying return to the South Dakota Penitentiary Dome and its permanent residents. 

Thirty years ago, the state of South Dakota developed the “Prison of the Future’ known as “The Dome,” where the prisoners are thrown into an inescapable wilderness area with no onsite warden or guards. “The Dome” is where society sends the worst of the worst, and in all the years of its existence no one has ever fulfilled their sentence and returned home. 

The Prison Dome II: Bitter Pills is the sequel to author Warren Wagner’s outstanding debut novel, The Prison Dome: Survive or Die Trying, published in 2021. While most characters are familiar faces, a couple of new, strong personalities step into the spotlight and the resulting plot is riveting. 

The Entry Camp has settled into a workable routine with Grant reluctantly agreeing to helm the community and ably assisted by Chuck and Jim. Communication and trade opportunities with the other two established camps, River and Christian, have slowly developed and improved despite the high level of mistrust and suspicion. Still, all the groups exist on the thin edge of failure as food sources, especially larger game, grow scarce, and their agricultural endeavors meet with limited success and are not extensive enough to truly provide what is needed. The author does a great job conveying their fragile existence, always one poor season of crops away from disaster. The tension is heightened by the presence of small, roving bands of prisoners who don’t belong to any of the organized camps and exist by preying on their weaknesses and any perceived opportunities they find. 

While Grant has accepted his role as leader of the Entry Camp, Chuck still has an important voice in decision-making. He has stepped back somewhat, consciously trying to avoid any resemblance to Belinda, the former despot of the camp, who enslaved new prisoners as they came through the portal. New to “The Dome” is Melita Albright, separated from her three young children when she was imprisoned for armed robbery. She is a strong female protagonist and, at least initially, a sympathetic character as she did what she did to provide food for those kids. However, I was a little confused by her sudden plan to prostitute herself and other like-minded female prisoners to get out of daily chores. She never resorted to this before coming to “The Dome,” and I thought it was out of character. She is quickly disabused of the notion by everyone she mentions it to, thankfully, because there is a delicious slow-burn romance with Chuck brewing. 

The plot starts off with a twist when one of the portal guards is shoved into “The Dome” by a malicious prisoner and can’t be released immediately. This puts the entire prisoner population at risk because the prison forces are going to rescue their man no matter the cost, which includes shooting any prisoner on sight. The action sequences of Tony Russo ending up inside were heart-pounding as he frantically worked to escape the gas bomb, machine gun, and the perceived danger from the inhabitants. Even though he’s observed the Entry Camp prisoners save numerous new inmates’ lives when they are first dumped inside “The Dome,” he’s bought into the media-manufactured hype regarding what goes on inside and is absolutely terrified. 

With the threat of the prison forces entering “The Dome,” the unsustainable food resources, and an evil opportunist ready to do anything to bargain his way back outside, THE PRISON DOME II: BITTER PILLS is a fantastic dystopian story and follow-up to the previous novel. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

Michelle Metzger

This week, the Oak Cliff Lions Club hosted Dallas Zoo Chief Executive Officer Lisa New at its weekly club meeting and presented her with a grant for $2,000 to help support the mission of this treasured Oak Cliff icon. 

Presented by President Lion Bobby Allen, New graciously accepted the donation and offered remarks about her experience, as well as how the Dallas Zoo had been a model for her during her time in Knoxville, especially for the Giants of Savannah exhibit.

The Oak Cliff Lions Club meets weekly at or near Methodist Hospital of Dallas on the corner of Beckley and Colorado. For more information about upcoming meetings, membership and other ways to support the club's activities, visit www.oakclifflions.org. 

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The Estate of Ernie Kovacs and Fantagraphics books announced a Dallas in-person event in support of a new career retrospective "Ernie in Kovacsland: Writings, Drawings and Photographs from Television’s Original Genius" at The Wild Detectives bookstore-bar-venue (314 W Eighth St. Dallas, 75208, Oak Cliff) on Monday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Full details on this book event can be found here.

 
Hosted by noted Dallas publicist Kelly Kitchens, the Wild Detectives book event will be a conversation, discussion and Q&A live event for fans of both Kovacs and comedy. It is also an extension of additional live events spearheaded by the Dallas VideoFest who are presenting the Ernie Kovacs Award to Devo’s Gerald Casale in-person at the Texas Theatre the night prior on Sunday, Sept 29. On Saturday, Sept. 28, VideoFest will screen the 2024 Devo music documentary at 7:30 p.m. also at the Texas Theatre. Tickets available for both events can be found here and here.
 
“Ernie Kovacs brilliant “high” meets “low” hijacking of mid-century television programming ignited a spark in my teenage brain and the fire spread fast,” said Devo co-founder Gerald V. Casale. “Could Devo have ever existed without the Nairobi Trio? I think everyone knows the answer.”
 
Since the book’s release in 2023, a renewed interest in the work of Ernie Kovacs has taken hold with a rave review in NPR’s Fresh Air who called the book “…a combination art museum and treasure chest”, the Los Angeles Times, the Saturday Evening Post and more. A UCLA Film & Television Archive in-person event in Los Angeles on July 22 sold out the 285 capacity venue.

The 284-page Ernie in Kovacsland coffee table book celebrates the cockeyed genius and prolific career, life and creative output of never-before-seen material from the Ernie Kovacs archive. Kovacs fans, including entertainer Ann Magnuson and musician Ron Mael of Sparks both contributed new essays for the book. Additional essays from co-authors, Joshua Mills, Ben Model & Pat Thomas round out the book. To purchase the book, click here.

Best known for his wildly imaginative, gleefully absurdist television show in the 1950s, Ernie Kovacs (1919 – 1962) was also a notorious illustrator, novelist, essayist, newspaper columnist, and poet. In celebration of this off-kilter genius and his prolific creative output, Fantagraphics presents a career retrospective featuring never-before-seen photos from Kovacs' archive; excerpts of his magazine articles, columns and books, hand-notated TV scripts: a smattering of his "illustrated profuselies," the wacky improvisational sketches he drew on air; and more. Curated by Josh Mills (son of Edie Adams, Kovacs' wife and a performer on his show), Edie/Ernie archivist Ben Model, and counterculture historian Pat Thomas, the book offers a unique glimpse into the mind of a pioneering comedian.

Ernie Kovacs inspired countless comedians, musicians, humorists, and writers in the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. He is cited as a direct influence by the creators and stars of such innovative comedy series as Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, and Mystery Science Theater 3000. An award in his name has been granted to uproarious humorists like Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy) and Harry Shearer (This is Spinal Tap) at the Dallas VideoFest. A true visionary, Kovac’s iconoclastic approach has forever made its mark on the world of comedy.

Ernie Kovacs was an influential figure for late night entertainers such as Steve Allen, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O'Brien, whose work has been cited appreciatively by Martin Scorsese, Harold Prince, Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Robert Smigel (Saturday TV Funhouse, Triumph: The Insult Comic Dog), Joel Hodgson (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman), Andrea Martin (SCTV), Alec Guinness and author Jonathan Lethem, among others.

A pioneer in early television whose inventive use of the medium inspired countless performers, directors, and video artists, Ernie Kovacs created  indelible characters such as Percy Dovetonsils, Matzoh Hepplewhite, and Uncle Gruesome, Kovacs invented a distinctly modern form of comedy that playfully subverted the television medium. Edie Adams was his on-screen partner as well as his wife. After his death in 1962 Adams was instrumental in not only saving but also preserving Kovacs’ body of work during the 1960s when she bought all existing Kovacs materials - including the masters that the television networks were planning to destroy them due to cost and storage issues. It is through her efforts that this book exists.

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Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc.—the leading producer of larger-than-life lantern festivals in North America and the trailblazers who introduced authentic Chinese lantern traditions to the U.S. and Europe—will make their North Texas debut this winter at the festival grounds of Texas Trust CU Theatre, located at 1001 Texas Trust Way, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

This enchanting event invites visitors to embark on a nighttime adventure following the story of Koda, a 7-year-old boy, as he explores the magical rainforest of Caballococha, Peru. The festival features vibrant displays of plants and animals, infused with elements of magic, inspired by Koda’s dreams and imagination. As guests wander through the dazzling light show, they can piece together Koda’s adventure, capture stunning photographs, uncover clues, and win prizes. The experience includes 19 immersive scenes with larger-than-life lantern sculptures crafted from metal, steel, fabric, and LED lights by skilled artisans.

 “We are thrilled to debut in Dallas this holiday season,” said Huiyuan Liu, event manager at Tianyu Arts & Culture. “The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, with its rich cultural diversity, is the perfect setting for us to showcase our lantern festival in a new, technologically advanced, and visually stunning way.”

This family-friendly event features exquisite artistry and provides the most immersive lantern experience in the metroplex this holiday season. In addition to the spectacular lantern displays, nightly stage performances will feature acrobats and folk performers. Visitors can also enjoy food and beverages and purchase handcrafted souvenirs. The festival will run from November 8, 2024, to January 19, 2025, every Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., covering all major winter holidays. Tickets for the Tianyu Lights Festival range from $16 to $35. From 09/03 to 10/01, enjoy $5 off General Admission tickets with code TIANYU at checkout. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit https://tianyuculture.us/dallas.