Well, it’s finally here. Super Bowl week has arrived in North Texas.

The media headquarters for the big game is the Sheraton in downtown Dallas. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from our lovely office.

I thought you’d like to check out this photo from outside the hotel. Pretty cool stuff.

Andrea Pedraza, owner of Coco André Chocolatier, is having a free lecture on the history of chocolate at 7 p.m. Feb.11 at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

“Complimentary samples of Coco André handmade chocolate will be featured along with traditionally made Mexican hot chocolate,” sayeth an event press release forwarded by Kidd Springs Central president Augustino Jalomo.

At 6:30 p.m., the Texas Sculpture Association’s annual membership art show starts at the center, the release stated.

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center is at 223 W.Jefferson Blvd. Reservations are encouraged, and to make ‘em, call 214-670-3777.

State Rep. Robert Alonzo (left) and Steve Salazar visit with Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed.

I get press releases all the time from the office of state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Wynnewood North, but they rarely mention rock ‘n’ roll icons or include pictures of former Playboy models. 

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons and his wife, Shannon Tweed, flew to Dallas on Friday so Alonzo could present Simmons with an honorary Texas flag. (Presumably, the street sign was a gift from Dallas City Council member Steve Salazar.) These gestures were in recognition of Simmons’ work with the Wounded Warrior Project, a Florida-based nonprofit that supports injured members of the military.

“The passion for humanitarian service shown by Gene over the last five years, particularly for our proud military service men and women, is truly an inspiration,” Alonzo said in the release. “His efforts, in concert with the WWP, demonstrate the capacity of individuals to bring about positive change in the lives of those who need us most. While we as a nation may not always collectively agree on certain issues, when it comes to our men and women in uniform, we speak with a single, powerful voice.”

Simmons will return to Dallas this week to host Wednesday’s Angels & Aces event. Proceeds will benefit the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project.

On Wednesday, Jan. 26, one of our very own team members was inducted into the Oak Cliff Lions Club! Congratulations to Halley Homen for being an official Lions Club inductee!

Much to my surprise (and elation), I noticed that today’s Living Social deal is for the Texas Theatre. Just 10 bucks will get you two movie tickets, two popcorns, and two waters (60 percent off!) at the lovely art house theater. Seriously, people!

Want to take a look at what’s playing at the Texas Theatre? Pick up a copy of Oak Cliff People for listings!

Here’s the artwork advertising “Bloodstream,” the Valentine’s Day showing at Studio 109, the new art gallery at 413 N. Tyler Street. Is that strawberry syrup?

The showing, on Feb. 5 from 6 to 10 p.m., features photography, jewelry, ceramics, and painting, wrote co-owner Melody Hay.

“A passionate, and sometimes dark, interpretation by our artists of St.Valentine’s Day,” Hay wrote. “Join us for this fresh perspective and meet the artists.”

We’re trying to find out the origin of the raven statue on top  of Ravens Pharmacy in the 500 block of West Jefferson Boulevard.

Does anyone know who installed it and why? Always helpful, conservation league president Michael Amonett said his uncle  and grandfather built the pharmacy itself, but didn’t know where the original owner, George Raven, found the statue.

Amonett recalled the statue’s eye lit up. Does anyone remember about this?