That poor lake must be feeling pretty crappy about itself right about now, watching helplessly as its marathon name is ditched in favor of the word “Dallas”. The locally-famed White Rock Marathon will now be called the Dallas Marathon … and the new starting line will be downtown.

Similar to its Texas partners, the Austin and Houston Marathons (along with the Boston, Chicago, New York, etc.), the historically-named White Rock Marathon has been reduced to a city name and the word “marathon”. Good thing? Bad thing? You know what they say: deep-seeded marathon name judgment is in the eye of the beholder.

As organizers have stated, the name change was meant to expand the race’s influence and better suit the new route; it certainly does that. No more are the Fair Park days; the nonprofit marathon will now begin and end on the West End side of Main Street.

But wait — since it’s 1971 inception, the marathon has had finish lines at city hall and the AAC, so why did the old “White Rock” moniker remain? Well, it’s pretty clear that the city is making a push for Downtown Dallas’s coming-of-age in terms “walkability”, so the shift makes sense in that respect. In the past couple years alone, we’ve seen the creation of Museum Tower, the Omni Hotel, Klyde Warren Park, and “Large Marge” (as D Magazine commenters would call her). The level of success this master plan will enjoy remains to be seen, but damnit, we’re trying!

Dare I say that I like the change? It may be a history-shunning band-aid, but marathon registration has been rising and “Dallas Marathon” sounds more polished and legitimate, albeit incredibly simple. It wouldn’t surprise me if the 2012 Dallas Marathon maxed out with 25,000 runners, even if namesake souls were sold in the process.

If you want to play with the big boys, I guess you have to sound like them too.

Photo: @dragonsfanatic

If you’re into unworldly phenomena, have an interest in the final frontier, or just want to see something cool, you might be able to catch a glimpse of a solar eclipse this weekend.

This Sunday will mark this region’s first annular eclipse of the sun since 1994 — that’s “annular” as in the moon appearing smaller than the sun, allowing sunlight to form a ring (annulus) around the outer edges. This is opposed to a total eclipse, where the moon appears larger and totally covers the sun.

In the Dallas area, at about 8:21 p.m. (give or take), we’ll be seeing a sunset edition of a partial eclipse, when the moon will block 67 percent of the lower right side of the sun. When any type of eclipse combines with sunset, it can make for some pretty incredible scenery (see above). The Lubbock area will be getting the best eclipse views in Texas, so if you’re reading this from your Texas Tech dorm room, congratulations! You’ve won the geographical eclipse lottery.

Don’t plan on staring at that tiny, striking eclipse for too long though. Those UV rays can slice and dice your retinas, even when you’re not feeling pain. A trick I learned in ’94 was to funnel the sunlight through binoculars and onto a dark piece of paper. That way, you can indirectly witness the eclipse without directly witnessing the untimely, fiery death of your eyeballs. I don’t remember much from my early-90s public schooling, but I sure did remember that. Useful!

I hope the weather is good, or we might be waiting until 2023 to indulge in this kind of eclipse action again.

Courtesy: NASA

The 2012 Byron Nelson field is top-heavy with big names this year, so snagging the purse majority will be no easy task (is it ever in the PGA?). Dallas golf fans are in for a treat this weekend; be on the lookout for the big guns, young guns, and sleeper picks:

Matt Kuchar

Matt’s had a lot to smile about lately: five top ten finishes this season and a fresh Players win at Sawgrass last week. But then again, K.J. Choi notched T40 when he hit the 2011 Nelson shortly after his Players win. If Kuchar can win two weeks in a row though, he’s going to turn even more heads than he already has.

Jason Day

At 24, Jason Day is to TPC Four Seasons what pre-tree-crash Tiger was to Augusta or Bay Hill (exaggeration, but intent intended). He won his first Nelson trip in 2010 and finished fifth last year, so he certainly knows what it takes to place well in Las Colinas.

Phil Mickelson

Phil is going to be an obligatory consideration for any tournament he enters for a while. When Hunter Mahan and Rory McIlroy aren’t playing, he’s really going get consideration. He’s at fourth in the FedEx standings — the highest at the Nelson — and fifth on the money list behind Kuchar.

Keegan Bradley

It’d be downright foolish to snub last year’s champ, especially at the birthplace of his PGA confidence. He’s got a PGA Championship win and a T27 Masters finish under his belt since his last visit to Dallas, so expect Bradley to make a break for the top 10 if he starts getting nostalgic.

Jhonattan Vegas

Vegas is my not-so-risky sleeper pick. He only has one PGA win and he’s definintely a long shot, but he’s coming off of a solid Sawgrass outing and he’s a UT alum (for whatever that’s worth). Like Keegan Bradley, he’s bound to be on his way up. Ah, the beauty of attempted sleeper picks: low risk, high reward. If he wins, I might just look like a genius.

Collective note to Hunter Mahan: I know you don’t like the course that dealt you a 4-over finish in 2010 (+5  in the final round), but we miss you. I mean, you live in Colleyville and went to school in McKinney, you don’t have a choice. And don’t even think about committing to the Crowne Pla—–damn it Hunter!

2011 Byron Nelson winner Keegan Bradley

NOTE: Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for our 2012 Byron Nelson final round live coverage from Las Colinas this Sunday (5/20).

The PGA Tour is in town again, but this year’s Byron Nelson Championship features a few more major winners than the last time around.

Just in time for 2012 — which marks 100 years since the birth of Byron Nelson — golf legends Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Ernie Els will be visiting TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas. All three have won the Byron Nelson in the past (1996, 2003, and 1995 respectively). Mickelson will be making his first Nelson visit in five years.

Three-time major winner Paddy Harrington and 2010 British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen will also be on-hand when seven of the world’s top 25 golfers travel to Dallas. Included is Matt Kuchar, fresh off a Sunday win at THE PLAYERS Championship — long referred-to as golf’s unofficial fifth major.

Stuart Appleby, Anthony Kim, Ben Curtis, Brendon de Jonge, and Fredrik Jacobson had previously committed but withdrew before finalization.

The tourney will take place this Thursday through Sunday (May 17, 18, 19 & 20). For up-to-date tee times, visit hpbnc.org.

The 2012 HP Byron Nelson field:

Rendering by Weiss Architecture

Austin’s beloved dine-and-drink cinema chain, Alamo Drafthouse, is making its way to the Metroplex. The city of Richardson will house the first location in the Richardson Heights Shopping Center at Belt Line and Central. Additional DFW locations are being considered.

The exterior of the cinema will look like the architectural rendering displayed above, with the addition of a front entrance. More impressive to this former Austinite — who used to frequent the modest-by-comparison Alamo Drafthouse Village — is what’s being planned for the interior: seven screens, 100% digital projection, no whiplash-inducing front row seats, and a separate lounge for dining, drinking and hanging out before or after the show.

In addition to showing first run movies, Alamo Drafthouse hosts a variety of cinematic events like “Sing Alongs”, “Quote Alongs”, and “Heckle Vision” (where you can text comments to screen). And hopefully, we’ll be graced by the comedy troupe, Master Pancake, who began a long standing Alamo Drafthouse tradition of mocking movies.

Just a word of warning to those not familiar with the Alamo Drafthouse: do not talk or text during the movie (unless appropriate to the event you are attending). It’s plain rude, and your ass WILL be kicked out! Check out the video below if you don’t believe me.

Not only have well-documented NorthPark scuffles been happening lately, but parents are taking advantage of the mall’s popularity by dropping their kids (and their kids’ friends) off whenever they need a little “away time”. It’s pretty clear that NorthPark is taking the measure to protect their target audience — this isn’t Irving Mall or Collin Creek, but rather the most upscale shopping center in North Texas that caters to some of the region’s wealthiest individuals. I personally don’t shop at Louis Vuitton, but if i did, I probably wouldn’t be in the blogging business.¹

“Ageism” as a form of discrimination has been an argument that I’ve seen floating around, but I don’t really buy it. It’s scientific reality that teens and pre-teens don’t act like adults, hence the terminology. Their brains are wired to make risky, often poor decisions.² Trust me, I’ve been there. On the same note, many teenagers can control themselves just fine and may act (or be) more mature than many adults, but there are always going to be a notorious few that stand out among the harmless bystanders. NorthPark’s decision is targeted toward those notorious few. It’s drastic for sure, but I can understand why they’re doing it. It’s about PPP — Privileged Patron Protection — and they’re willing to risk pissing a few people off to do it.

My humble solution: if you have to enforce a curfew, 17 years old seems a little high. Texans shouldn’t be able to legally drive at 16 and then wait two more years to bypass escort through a shopping mall. Driving seems like it bears more responsibility than walking around a mall after 6. But NorthPark is a private institution and if they want to impose curfews (for age groups, at least) they can.

A quick Google search for “mall curfew” reveals that this isn’t the first teen mall curfew to take effect. Unless a constitutional amendment passes that defines “ageism” as illegal discrimination, they’ll keep being implemented. If you like it, show NorthPark your support with your wallet. If you don’t like it, well, show them your dissent with your wallet. You’re a free market economist and you didn’t even know it!

¹Of course, I’m generalizing — and to be fair, I enjoy NorthPark. But I tend not to buy anything there.
²http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100603132458.htm

The Sidekicks played their inaugural season in 1984 and remain one of the oldest professional soccer clubs in the country. They resided in the now-demolished Reunion Arena and suspended operations in 2004 as the last active sports tenant at the stadium. They will now play in the 7,500-seat Allen Even Center.

Many Sidekicks fans’ (myself included) memories came at the boots of Brazilian forward Antonio Pecorari — known around here as “Tatu”. He was the face of the franchise, the Sidekicks equivalent of Modano or Nowitzki, and has remained a prominent figure in Dallas, even in the team’s absence. He served as a player-coach in 1998 and he’ll now serve as head coach for the “new” Sidekicks.

Indoor soccer has always provided a fast-paced alternative for people who don’t fancy full-pitch soccer and an offseason bonus for those who do. It’s rink-sized field of play and lack of “bounds” allows for a quicker pace similar to ice hockey. Off-the-wall passes are the norm and, like arena football, the score can climb quickly.

Dallas will be joining the Professional Arena Soccer League — PASL (Big D Soccer with the find) — and is scheduled for their first game this November.

In light of past and current economic hardships, there are few U.S. real estate markets that haven’t felt a crunch; however, Dallas — just as in the great depression — has remained strong. Not only is real estate thriving in DFW, the market benefits both buyers and sellers equally well.

House hunters of all budgets can find something to call home in Dallas, Texas. Many of its neighborhoods — with pleasant enjoyments, rich amenities, great cuisine, and outstanding properties — lend truth to the term, “Texan-comfortable” lifestyle.

Texas is an area that has received recognition worldwide, and Dallas, the ninth largest city in the nation, holds special interest to those within the state and around the world. There is something for every lifestyle type, including entertainment, culture, recreation, and sports. The schools are outstanding — many having received the National Exemplary Blue Ribbon School award for excellence. Many of the neighborhoods are below the average crime index, and some have received honors such as the “Best Place in the US to Live” or the “Best Place to Raise a Family”.

What one can expect from Dallas is great opportunity, both in the business sector and in the real estate market. Many areas are highly educated, with higher than average household incomes. Newer neighborhoods tend to include outstanding amenities, such as greenbelts and parks, pools and sports courts, club houses, children’s splash parks, hike and bike trails, and more. It is enticing to young professionals, young families, and retirees alike because of its many urban conveniences and peaceful park escapes. Many desirable neighborhood (with remarkable homes for sale) are available from which to choose. Home buyers can expect to pay anywhere from $100K into the millions for a fine piece of Dallas, Texas real estate.

Dallas real estate offers all types of dwellings. For those who enjoy the luxury comforts of resort-like living, there are exceptional condominiums offering the amenities and services of a five star luxury hotel. Loft-style living — where one can work, shop and dine out close to home — is available for those looking for the faster pace of the city. The peaceful serenity of nature is also available to those who would gladly trade city life for ranch homes, lakefront properties, hill country houses, and other quiet settings. Dallas is an area that features the best and most attractive of both city living and peaceful retreats.

A $5.50 Bacci's lunch special, complete with homebrew Arnold Palmer.

Addison is known for its overwhelming selection of just about every restaurant on the planet within a two-mile stretch of Belt Line Road. I’m not quite sure when Bacci’s Pizza and Pasta opened its doors, but I don’t think it’s been there too long (surely not as long as Magic Time Machine). I didn’t expect much out of a quick lunch visit, but my expectations were a bit off.

For weekday lunch, Bacci’s offers a $5.50 special with a salad, a drink, and a HUGE slice of New York pizza. Don’t let the photo fool you, these things must be a foot long. I’m a sucker for deals, so I may have been subconsciously hooked before I sat down.

My go-to pizza usually features pepperoni as the lone topping, so I can’t vouch for the extras. The pizza itself was outstanding though, with plenty of cheese and a smooth blend of seasoning that had me wanting to trade the salad for another slice. But the salad ended up tasting pretty good too, and I’m usually not too big into salads (who is?). The house Italian dressing was excellent and the Bacci folks made sure there was plenty of it, so speak up if you don’t want too much.

And so, the legend of the Belt Line “food strip” grows — and so does my midsection.

Genki Sushi & Steak’s conveyor belt serves one purpose only: to deliver rolls to those who order the all-you-can-eat buffet. If this type of experience is beneath you, Genki offers an extensive selection of sushi and more off their regular menu.

Included in the buffet price — available for both lunch and dinner — is a salad with ginger dressing and miso soup. Edamame comes around occasionally on the conveyor belt.

Philadelphia roll, veggie roll, spicy tuna roll, and several variations of California roll — all of which come two per plate — are what I remember eating on my last couple of visits. According to a couple of Yelp reviewers (and unconfirmed by me), Genki will serve certain nigiri and sashimi pieces on request at no additional charge.

At the time of this writing, the lunch and dinner buffets are $12.95 and $16.50 respectively. Take your time and enjoy the meal. Try anything that looks interesting. You will be full before you know it.

Genki Sushi & Steak is located at 14902 Preston Rd., Dallas, TX 75254. Their menu is available at http://www.genkisushidallas.com/menu.html.