I have too many blogs

First, I was just posting here and linking from MySpace. This was too much and no one from MySpace cared anyway. Now, my hetero dogg 4 life has decided to alter his content format at www.planetidiot.com. He asked me to contribute, so it was understood that I'd say yes.

Restaurant reviews are boring and no one cares. But maybe I'll keep posting them here. Urban adventures, video game talk, and the meaning of life and the universe has moved over to www.planetidiot.com.

Have a day.

I called hookery on the bummery

After regularly getting preyed upon by the bums at the St. Paul station, folks who wait for you to buy your ticket, then approach you for money, I decided to take action. I called DART. The guy on the phone said they'd send someone out right away. I don't think the guy understood that this was a daily issue, but I guess I can call again.

By the way, headphones do not act as a bum talisman in Dallas.

NYC

I went to New York City last weekend. It is an expensive place. But not a single bum hit me up for change. And there were plenty of people walking around. It was a community. Not like the soulless mish-mash of roadways that makes up Dallas.

I just read the D Magazine article about the Trinity War and Gail Thomas's involvement. I agree that Dallas needs a soul. But the key is not just a vibrant downtown center, but a transportation system that doesn't separate everyone into their individual bubbles, a system that encourages people to interact, or at least be in proximity of one another. Maybe that's why I have problem with the congestion problem being an argument for the toll-road. What about rail?

Okay enough soapbox and back to New York. My friend tipped me off to a great brunch place there. Glass one of unlimited mimosa (or belini, sangria, what-have-you) was normal flute size. Subsequent glasses were large wine-glass size, filled about three-quarters up. Anyway, the place is called the Arte Cafe. It's near Central Park. It's classy and at the same time not snotty.

Other than that, a pub we descended upon featured the Gaffel Koelsch. Wish I could find that in Dallas.

Steve Goes to Court and Makes Six Dollars

I went to Court today! It was a lot of fun. It came with a free bus ticket, but the bus wouldn't take me there when I wanted it to. Then I waited in a line. It took forever! Then I went through Security, just like the airport. I was really sorry when the gate went BEEPBEEPBEEP at me after I walked through it, but the man ignored me. Then I got into a big room with other people. A movie played that talked about why I was there. I felt special. Then a lady told me I could go home. They gave me a certificate and I made $6! Hooray!

JU$TICE

Fried Chicken replacement

William's Fried Chicken downtown at Akard and Elm closed. Big huge frown there. It wasn't a bad walk at all to the fav fried chicken establishment.

But it was a good opportunity to find a replacement. And to that end, I introduce Brother's Fried Chicken in East Dallas. It's at the corner of Gaston and Fitzhugh. The shack features a drive-through and an ordering stand. No seating. And the drive-through was made complicated by the security bars. And the purchase was made complicated by the credit card machine being down. Actually, no. I think it's a good thing I did not try to shove a credit card through those bars.

But daaaaaamn, does their stuff taste good. Nice flavoring in the batter, although my wife says it's too much salt or spice or something. Our family meal came with white bread, and we also ordered fries and okra. Tasty.

I don't know what the heck the Guide is thinking when they rate it a 4-star. That involves a certain level of service and atmosphere. And I would expect the bread to be homemade. But it's good fried chicken.

Compelling Prosticution

This topic is dated a couple weeks, but I feel it must be documented.

So I get this postcard in the mail from the Texas Department of Public Safety, "NOTICE OF HIGH-RISK SEX OFFENDER IN COMMUNITY". Well specifically, my building. It says a dude moved in that is currently on probation. His offense? Compelling prostituion. Age of Victim? 13. He pimped a 13-year old. So much wrong there. 

The next day, each of the residents gets a letter from the building management. Apparently, this guy listed an apartment in the building as his home address, even though he's never lived here. So building management was working with the Dallas Police Department, and a felony arrest warrant was put out for the dude for registering a false address.

It's also nice to know that my building's management would never have rented a place to a sex offender.

I kind of wonder what happened. Hmm. The PD's website only says "Absconded or Disappeared" under his address.

Mignon

Really liked Mignon. Except the location. But Plano just gives me a rash in general. Most folks were dressed business casual, although the few that wore shorts or a t-shirt seemed to feel out of place when they saw the few of us who wore a jacket.

Service was great, including a follow-up by the chef. Our waiter was new, though, so he couldn't dole advice on the whole wine list. Being a full four-stars, I also expected more attention to the flatware (ate my salad with a dinner fork) and the post-course debris.

But who gives a crap. My peppercorn steak was served up medium-rare, according to recommendation, on a bed of spinich-mushroom risotto. I don't normally do the medium-rare, but this worked well. And the risotto's flavor was still in my mind the next day. There was some sort of wine reduction in there. It was nice to be that affected by a flavor.