The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is providing travelers with an opportunity to experience the “Big D” Easter weekend! Together with the Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, one lucky winner will win a three-night hotel stay in Dallas.

For my friends who live outside of North Texas, this is a great opportunity for you to enter to win a chance to stay in Dallas for free.  For those in North Texas… Hello! Staycation anyone? Oh, and before I hear smack about a Holiday Inn, this isn’t just a regular one you see along I-30.  The Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center is a pretty large hotel with great amenities. It’s free too! What the heck?!

“Easter is a fantastic time to visit Dallas as the city bursts with springtime excitement,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “LGBT travelers will especially enjoy Easter in the Park, which represents the 25 year tradition of one of Dallas’ largest and most diverse outdoor celebrations.”

Easter in the Park attracts thousands of attendees to celebrate the holiday with food, fun, music and a healthy dose of camp. Organized by the Turtle Creek Association, the 25th Annual Easter in the Park celebration will be held on Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be held at Lee Park, located at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue.

Easter in the Park is a popular celebration that features beautiful scenery, priceless entertainment, a live classical music concert by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and fashionista pooches in the Pooch Parade and Costume Contest. Attendees can bring their own picnic items or enjoy the variety of foods offered by vendors. In addition, both local and national organizations will be present with booths and tents for spectators to visit.

The Easter celebration is popular in the local gay community, attracting large groups of friends dressed in colorfully coordinated outfits and elaborately decorated bonnets. Many attendees even set up tents and decorate them with fabulous Easter décor, inviting other attendees to stop by and mingle.

Easter in the Park festivities include a Pooch Parade and Costume Contest, which features more than 150 dogs and their owners vying for awards and prizes. All attendees are welcome to bring their dog, but animals must remain on a leash at all times.

Contestants can enter the parade for a small fee and compete for best-dressed dog, best large dog, best little dog and best owner/pet look-alike. The contest is preceded by an SPCA of Texas parade of adoptable dogs.

In addition, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform live in the park at 3 p.m. The Easter in the Park performance is a wonderful opportunity for patrons to experience the world-renowned Orchestra with a concerto of sound.

Many in the LGBT community continue the celebration at bars and clubs along the Cedar Springs strip in Oak Lawn, where prizes will be awarded for best bonnet. Other festivities include events and services at Cathedral of Hope, the largest LGBT church in the world. Admission to Easter in the Park is free, and street parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, the Dallas CVB has you covered. Visit www.glbtdallas.com March 1-24, 2010 to enter to win a three-night stay in Dallas on Easter weekend. Accommodations are provided by the pet-friendly Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, conveniently located near the Oak Lawn neighborhood.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is providing three individuals with an opportunity to experience the AT&T Performing Arts Center firsthand with tickets to the opening night performance of the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra (URO) at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.

The AT&T Performing Arts Center is a new multi-venue center for theatre, opera, contemporary dance, ballet, music and other events. The Center debuted in October with a week-long grand opening, leading up to an estimated 45,000 people participating in a community open house with events throughout the Dallas Arts District. The inaugural season of the AT&T Performing Arts Center includes more than 500 performances and events.

“We are extremely proud of the value the AT&T Performing Arts Center adds to the Dallas Arts District,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB). “The largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation now has a performing arts center that is comparable to New York’s Lincoln Center; truly an attraction for those interested in performing arts.”

The Dallas CVB is giving three lucky winners an opportunity to experience the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra at the Wyly Theatre. The winners will each receive a pair of passes to the opening night performance on December 29, 2009. Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra is 19 incredible musicians and singers performing songs from the most decadent and glitter-crazed era of rock ‘n’ roll. URO presents the often heard but rarely performed crown jewels of classic rock, including Queen, The Who, David Bowie, The Beatles and more.

The promotion runs now through December 20. To enter the promotion and for official rules, visit the GLBT Dallas Web site at www.glbtdallas.com. To purchase individual or group tickets to the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra, or any other event at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, please visit www.attpac.org or call the box office at 214-880-0202.

Dallas is an affordable destination that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers.  For information and resources for planning a trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

You may recall that earlier this year, I told introduced you a new addition to the Dallas arts and culture scene—the AT&T Performing Arts Center (formally known as the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts). Well, the time has come and the Center has officially opened, bringing a new era of entertainment to Dallas.

The $354 million Center kicked off its grand opening weekend in October with a week-long celebration that included indoor and outdoor festivities, concerts and forums, tours of the facilities, and much more. Opening festivities revolved around the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre and Sammons Park. Capping off the weekend was a spectacular fireworks show that lit up the downtown Dallas skyline (you can checkout a video from the fireworks show below).

The Winspear Opera House is designed in a horseshoe shaped configuration that is encased in a lipstick red outer shell that adds dramatic color to the downtown Dallas skyline. Seating an audience size of 2,200, the opera house was designed to provide the best acoustical environment for a number of different types of performances. The public commons area of the opera house is lined with 60-foot high glass walls that allows passersby to see what’s going on inside. In addition, the facility has a huge canopy that extends from the building into the surrounding park to provide patrons with shaded green space in Sammons Park.

Adjacent is the 12-story Wyly Theatre that is truly the only type of facility of its kind in the world. The “multi-function” stacked theater was designed to provide versatile space to allow performing arts companies to truly customize an experience for their audience. The space literally transforms itself to fit the needs of classical, experimental and any other performances in between for an audience size of 575. The lower level of the building is encased by glass walls where the upper portion is clad in pre-fabricated aluminum panels with random repetitions of vertical venetians, creating a textured effect.

Despite its grand opening, additional work is left to be done in order to complete the entire complex. The Annette Strauss Artist Square is an outdoor performance venue to be located directly against the east side of the Winspear Opera House, capable of hosting an audience of 5,000. Next door to the Wyly Theatre is City Performance Hall, another performance venue capable of seating an audience of up to 575. Both venues are expected to open at a later date.

The Center provides state-of-the-art performance spaces for five resident companies: The Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center, Texas Ballet Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. TITAS, the Dallas presenter of the world’s most highly acclaimed touring music and dance companies, will also present its season at the Center. In addition, the Center will present the Lexus Broadway Series, JAZZ ROOTS, the Brinker International Forum, concerts, lectures, films and many other programs.

The opening of the Center without a doubt has brought international attention to Dallas and its 19-block urban arts district, the largest in the United States. This only underscores Dallas’ placement on the map as a destination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers. For more information on the AT&T Performing Arts Center, check out their Web site at www.attpac.org.

Continuing the 11th season of OUT TAKES Dallas, the lesbian and gay film festival, “The Big Gay Musical” will be screening on November 12, 2009 at The Magnolia Theater in Dallas.  Opening for the film will be the short film “Ogles with Goggles”.  Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a mixer at the nearby retail shop, The Gardens.  Screenings begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. followed by a questions and answers session with Daniel Robinson.

“The Musical has gotten rave reviews from film festivals across the country and OUT TAKES Dallas is excited to be screening the film right here in Dallas,” said Phillip Archer, managing director of OUT TAKES Dallas. “After our board of directors finished watching the film for the first time, we all knew without a doubt that it will be something our community would enjoy viewing.”

“The Big Gay Musical” opens when Paul (Robinson) and Eddie’s (Joey Dudding) off-Broadway musical “Adam and Steve: Just the Way God Made ‘Em” which just so happened to mirror their lives. Paul is fed up with his horrible dating experiences and decides to take a walk on the wild side and live a life of sin, having hook-ups and one night stands like the chorus boys he shares a dressing room with. Meanwhile, Eddie tries to discover himself as he struggles with how his sexuality and faith seem to be conflicting.

OUT TAKES Dallas will be hosting an online promotion where one lucky winner and their guest will receive two priority seating passes to “The Big Gay Musical” screening along with a bar/concession voucher at the theater. Participants may enter by visiting the OUT TAKES Dallas Facebook page (www.facebook.com/outtakesdallas), becoming a fan and posting a comment to the wall saying why they want to see the film. Co-sponsored by The Magnolia Theater, the promotion will begin on October 29 and run through November 9, 2009.

OUT TAKES Dallas continues its 11th season by screening a new film on the second Thursday of each month, known as “Gay Movie Night”.  Films are screened at The Magnolia Theater at West Village in Dallas. This season is sponsored by The UPS Store on Cedar Springs, the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce and Dallas Voice. For detailed film synopses and more information, visit www.outtakesdallas.org.

Founded in 1999, OUT TAKES Dallas is the largest volunteer- operated nonprofit lesbian and gay film festival in the nation.  Recognized locally and nationally, OUT TAKES Dallas continues to provide quality programming that educates and enriches diverse communities about lesbians and gays through the art of film.   Since its inception OUT TAKES Dallas has donated more than $60,000 to local charities and looks forward to continuing to support the community in the future. 

Sue Brown, CEO of Dobson Floors, stands next to a LEED plaque in their new Frisco store.

It’s official! Dobson’s Flooring America announced today that it is now the first retail store in Frisco, Texas to receive LEED certification. Dobson’s has been awarded LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of eco-friendly buildings.

“The value Dobson’s adds to the Frisco community is our commitment to good energy and environmental principles,” said Suzanne Brown, CEO of Dobson’s. “Our recent LEED certification only underscores our continued dedication to the local environment. We hope future construction in our community will soon follow in energy conservation and environmental sustainability.”

Dobson’s Flooring America, who recently opened its Frisco storefront, achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. In this day and age where everybody is concerned with global warming and living a “green lifestyle”, such a move by a new retail store is pretty impressive, especially given the state of our economy.

“Building operations are nearly 40 percent of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like Dobson’s Flooring America are addressing it through local solutions.”

In addition to operating in an efficient manner, customers who walk into the new 9,000-square-foot store will also have options of purchasing eco-friendly products for their home projects. Dobson’s carries a full line of carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic, and vinyl flooring products. The company also offers a selection of stylish countertops.

LEED Certification of Dobson’s Flooring America was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: construction activity pollution prevention, storm water design, water use reduction, green Power use, construction waste management and low emitting material use.

Dobson’s Flooring America is the retail division for Dobson Floors, Inc. and part of the nation’s leading flooring retail group with more than 500 stores. Founded in 1973, the Dallas-based flooring company has locations in Garland and Farmers Branch, Texas as well as a registered Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified retail location in Frisco, Texas. For more information, please visit www.dobsonfloors.com.

National Respiratory Care Week is coming up, October 25-31, and hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation will be ramping up their communications programs to urge their communities to take a closer look at their respiratory health.

National Respiratory Care Week is celebrated on an annual basis during the last full week of October to bring lung health issues to the attention of the public. There are many different kinds of diseases that affect the respiratory system. Lung disease is the number one cancer killer in the U.S. because we often overlook the symptoms and preventative measures. Many healthcare providers promote health awareness weeks, such as this one, because it is important to build awareness about diseases and conditions that adversely affect one of the critical organ systems in our body.

Respiratory complications can be caused by a number of known diseases including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, sleep apnea, and tuberculosis.

Health professionals agree that of all the precautions we can take to help prevent respiratory illnesses, not smoking tops them all. Statistics show that smoking-related healthcare issues continue to skyrocket each year, especially in women. Recent research shows that smoking-related deaths in women now exceed breast cancer and heart disease combined. Symptoms of a respiratory illness include shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent coughing, and difficulty breathing or sleeping, you could be suffering from a respiratory illness.

Referrals are always important, especially in today’s world.  With that said, if you know someone in the healthcare industry who can use assistance with their marketing communications program, please send them my way (214-528-5775).  SRJ Marketing Communications specializes in rural and community healthcare marketing.

As with any industry, continuous and consistent messaging are important to greatly increase the awareness of your brand in the marketplace. Public relations can go a long way, but when combined with an integrated communications program that leverages other tools in the communications toolbox, that’s where progress begins.

P.S. If you smoke, STOP! :o)

Amid much controversy, the OUT TAKES Dallas Lesbian and Gay Film Festival has announced that it will be screening Pornography on Saturday, October 10, at the Inwood Theater in Dallas.

“I admit it. After all these years, of suggesting otherwise, I am telling the world that OUT TAKES Dallas Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will, indeed, be screening Pornography for Season 11 on October 10,” revealed Managing Director Phillip Archer.

Pornography is the high‐tech thriller by first‐time filmmaker David Kittredge. As it sweeps the indie film circuit, awards and reviews are stacking up.

LA Weekly called the film, “(a) … crazily ambitious debut thriller… intelligent and well‐acted… marks Kittredge as filmmaker with a strong mind and a gift for drawing full‐bodied performances from his actors. That’s especially true of (Matthew) Montgomery… .”

Pornography is just one of the featured films in a three‐day festival running from October 8‐10 at the Inwood Theater in Dallas. The festival is bringing to Dallas some of the freshest, most thought‐provoking gay films being created today.

“This is our best festival yet,” raves Archer. “We have some of the most exciting work coming out of the industry this year. It is our privilege to not only bring these films to Dallas but also some of the filmmakers and artists. In conjunction with the screenings, we have planned several receptions, mixers, and Q&A sessions to give the audience a chance to get to know the people behind the films.”

Scheduled to appear at Season 11 “Wanna Watch?” are Cathy DeBuono, Jill Bennett, Cynthia Davies, Ann Hagemann, Thom Fitzgerald, Steven Jay Crabtree, and local filmmaker Robert Camina.

“The Dallas Film Commission congratulates OUT TAKES Dallas Lesbian and Gay Film Festival on its 11th year,” said Janis Burklund, director of the Dallas Film Commission. “We welcome the opportunity for the film industry to showcase its work to Dallas residents and visitors alike. Dallas is building a reputation both nationally and internationally as a destination for filmmakers as well as home to a growing base of local production. This film festival can and will showcase the city and our local talent.”

Season 11 of OUT TAKES Dallas begins on October 8 with a three-day-long film festival. The season will continue by screening a new film on the second Thursday of each month at The Magnolia Theater in Dallas. For more information on OUT TAKES Dallas and for a schedule of film screenings, please visit www.outtakesdallas.org.

Revelers participating in the Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party

On October 24, 2009, Cedar Springs Road comes to life as thousands of Halloween fanatics participate in the annual Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party. One of the top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) events in Dallas, this year is expected to draw an eclectic crowd.

“The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party continues to be one of the most exciting outdoor events in our city. Both residents and visitors alike look forward to this event each year,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Festive by nature, the Street Party is a fantastic example of how Dallas’ LGBT community comes together.”

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party originally began as an unplanned outing by hundreds of costumed party-goers along the Cedar Springs strip. The outing gained popularity and eventually evolved into the annual event known today. Patrons, spectators and participants dress up and mingle along the strip, socializing and showing off their elaborately designed costumes.

The block-long center catwalk is the highlight of the event where an official costume show takes place. Patrons have the opportunity to strut their stuff and display their costumes as they walk down the strip. For party-goers who work up a hunger and thirst, booths line the sidewalk along the Cedar Springs strip selling a variety of food and drinks. Many of the LGBT bars in the area host costume contests of their own and feature drink specials.

The Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party begins at 8 p.m. in the 3900 block of Cedar Springs Road, between Oak Lawn Avenue and Throckmorton Street. The event wraps at 2 a.m. Traffic is cordoned off throughout the evening so that revelers can safely mingle without getting hit by a car. While the imagery will be appropriately fitting, the reality of it is just way too gruesome. Plus, get some blood on a queen’s angelically white outfit and all hell will break loose. haha

On a slightly more serious note, Dallas is truly an affordable destination that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers. True story. We have some of the best gay bars and clubs in the nation and a great shopping scene. For information and resources for planning a trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

Summer is now in full swing, and if you live in North Texas, you are already feeling it! Many people will be spending more time outdoors and under the sun. Often times we forget about protecting ourselves from the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays, leading to heat exhaustion and skin damage.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, there are many precautions we can take to protect ourselves from the harmful UV rays.

People of all ages can protect their skin from the summer sun by applying a liberal amount of sunscreen at least 20 minutes before exposure to the sun. Sunscreen is a simple way to keep your skin looking great and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Always choose sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. If you’re like me, get something like SPF 70. I recently found the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock to be awesome. Check it out and remember to re-apply every couple of hours. See the directions on the product you use for more information.

To further protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, you should cover up exposed skin by seeking shade as much as possible during the late mornings and afternoons. (Or, like me, just stay out of the sun period during these times.) People should also wear light-colored cotton clothing. This covers your skin and allows your body to breathe easier. Hats with large brims can also protect your head, ears and neck.

Remember to wear sunglasses when outdoors. Choose lenses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB type rays. Sunglasses with gray-colored lenses also reduce light intensity and provide a more natural vision.

Long exposure to the sun or extensive activities in the heat can easily lead a person to heat exhaustion. Sweating acts as a coolant system for your body. This system brings your body temperature down, but it also results in the loss of large amounts of body fluids, leading to dehydration. Consuming water or sports drinks can help combat exhaustion and keep your body hydrated.

Water is a better means of hydrating your body when outdoors for small increments of time. Sports drinks work best for longer sessions as they contain ingredients that will both hydrate your body and provide the energy needed to continue your activities.

You should stay away from beverages such as soft drinks, coffee and alcohol. I know, I know… These types of drinks as super awesome, but they can actually cause your body to excrete extra fluids, causing you to dehydrate at a faster rate.

In conclusion, I recommend that people to stay out of the sun and heat as much as possible between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays and the temperature can do the most damage. By promoting safe fun under the sun this summer, we can reduce the risk of skin cancer and heat-related injuries.

Fireworks, food and fun are how many Americans will be celebrating Fourth of July this year. Some may even celebrate by recovering from injuries as the Independence Day holiday ranks second next to New Year’s Eve for alcohol related traffic accidents.

Too many lives are being shattered and lost because people still don’t understand how much alcohol impairs their ability to drive. That is why it’s important for everyone to refrain from drinking and driving this Fourth of July.

Research conducted over the years consistently indicates a higher prevalence of driving under the influence in rural versus urban areas. Nationwide, fatality rates of automobile accidents for both teens and adults were twice as high in rural areas.

The rate of teen vehicle accidents significantly increases during the summer months. Experts cite factors such as distractions from cell phones and mobile devices, excessive speed and failure to fasten seat belts.

A study by the National Highway and Safety Administration revealed 68 percent of drivers and passengers between the ages of 16 and 20 were killed in car crashes at night because seat belts were not buckled.

In a study of the 2006 Fourth of July holiday, 27 percent of all drivers involved in traffic accidents were over the legal blood alcohol concentration limit. Coupled with the higher rate of vehicle accidents in rural communities, the holiday creates a specific concern for local law enforcement officers.

I want people to celebrate Independence Day safely. That is why I am asking everybody to abstain from alcohol and other drugs, use designated drivers or plan for alternative transportation.

Spotting drivers under the influence is easy. Erratic driving, saddling lanes, weaving in and out of traffic, driving without headlights, delayed reactions to traffic signals are all signs of intoxicated drivers. Stay as far away from them as possible and call 911 immediately. By doing so, you could save a life or many.