The Great Wall of China

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Chamber Explorations, invites you to take the trip of a lifetime on an all-inclusive trip to China. On Nov. 4, travelers will set off for a 10-day exploration of Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

You’ll get to check out the world-famous Great Wall of China, soak up ancient Chinese history, and sample exotic Eastern cuisine. In Beijing, you’ll tour notable sites, including the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the ancient royal summer palace, and the mysterious Forbidden City. After exploring the Great Wall, take the scenic route to Hangzhou and enjoy a West Lake boat cruise. In Shanghai, the nation’s largest city, check out the Garden of the Mandarin Yu and ride along the riverside boulevard, known as the Bund. There’s also an optional tour to see the Terracotta Warriors.

The trip is open to anyone (you don’t have to be a chamber member to participate), and the OC chamber will be traveling with chamber members from California and Washington State. Similar tours start at around $3K, but the chamber’s fee is  $2,199 per couple or $2,699 per individuals.

For more information, meet at the chamber conference room Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.

If you have your ear to the ground, you probably heard about the new bar and restaurant headed to the Bishop Arts District. Slated for a spot at Madison and Seventh Street, Ten Bells Tavern promises to offer sophisticated bar food with a distinctly British flavor. The name, which is a tip-o-the-hat to a 300-year-0ld pub in London’s East End, will offer an array of ciders and ales on tap.

Stay tuned for more info.

Come July, Bishop Dunne Catholic School will bid farewell to a familiar face: Principal Patrick O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan, who’s been at the helm of the private, 6th- through 12th-grade campus since 2009 and held various teaching and administrative roles over the years, has (says a press release) taken a position as principal at Christ the King Catholic School in University Park.

We’ll have more details in Friday’s paper.

That is, if they ever get past the eminent domain discussion on the agenda.

According to the City Council’s agenda, this is what they’ll discuss:

Economic Development

Note:  Item Nos. 50 and 51 must be considered collectively

Fort Worth Avenue TIF District

50.  * Authorize  (1) a development agreement with The Park at Kessler, LP and/or its affiliates in an amount not to exceed $7,500,000 payable from future Fort Worth Avenue TIF District funds in consideration of the development of The Collective in Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Fifteen (Fort Worth Avenue TIF District); and  (2) the Fort Worth Avenue TIF District Board of Directors to dedicate up to $7,500,000 from future Fort Worth Avenue TIF revenues in accordance with the development agreement – Not to exceed $7,500,000 - Financing: Fort Worth Avenue TIF District Funds

51.  * A resolution declaring the intent of Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Number Fifteen (Fort Worth Avenue TIF District) to reimburse The Park at Kessler, LP and/or its affiliates for eligible  expenditures pursuant to the development agreement up to $7,500,000 for certain improvements related to the development of The Collective in the Fort Worth Avenue TIF District – Financing: No cost consideration to the City

According to an email from Joseph Hernandez of the Wynnewood North Neighborhood Association, the city has resumed alley garbage pickup in parts of the neighborhood:

As you may recall, several months ago the City of Dallas discontinued the pickup of trash in certain alleys located in Wynnewood North. Since then there have been various inspections and clean ups of alleyways, tree limbs and overgrown brush. At the General Meeting last night, various neighbors mentioned to me that their trash is now being picked up in the alley as well as curbside. I have contacted the appropriate City staff for an update and was informed today that fliers would be passed out informing residents in the affected areas that alley pickup would resume since all the alley’s have been approved by sanitation to resume pick-up.

I’m just wondering if Wynnewood North is the only neighborhood experiencing service changes. Is your garbage being picked up in the alley again after being switched to curb service (couldn’t resist!)?

I don’t have kids, meaning I probably can’t attend Oil and Cotton’s spring break art camps without unsettling a few people. The lineup looks  like a blast, though. (“Lovely Leather Bag Camp,” anyone?)

Anyway. Registration is now open for you and yours.

Tonight’s “Meet Your Mayor” town hall at Kiest Park Recreation Center will be a lot les mayoral now that Dallas’ top official has officially pulled out of the event.

Via Rawlings’ Facebook page:

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank everyone who is planning to attend tomorrow evening’s community meeting for Districts 1 and 3. It is important for residents to have the opportunity to engage in a productive open dialogue with city staff and their elected officials. Due to unexpected circumstances, I will not be present. However, Councilwoman Delia D. Jasso, Councilman Scott Griggs, and city staff will be present to address city services and neighborhood concerns.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. My goal is to maintain open communication with constituents and would like the opportunity to meet with you in a more intimate setting. In order to do this, please feel free to email dates and times to my staff of when your neighborhood association or crime watch group meets.

Again, thank you and I look forward to working with you!

-Mike

The Dallas Observer is claiming that the “unexpected circumstances” to which Mayor Rawlings is referring to includes a protest staged by the LGBT community as a response to Rawlings’ unwillingness to sign a Freedom to Marry pledge.

Are you still planning on going to the event?

It’s been a rough road so far for the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan. The much-heralded outline for making Dallas a more pedestrian-friendly city hit the brakes when city staff informed Dallas City Council members that there wasn’t enough dough to re-stripe roadways and make streets safer for cyclists.

At today’s Transportation Committee meeting, Theresa O’Donnell and Peer Chacko of the Sustainable Development and Construction department will brief officials about getting the bike plan in gear, which will probably involve financing the projects designated for early implementation. That short list included the Central Core Connector route, part of which encompassed the Jefferson Viaduct.

UPDATE: Discussion on the Dallas Bike Plan was postponed as other discussions regarding striping and neighborhood traffic  ran long. Still, Pam Conley and Philip Leven, who were invited by Council member Delia Jasso to speak before the committee, had plenty to say about the city’s strategy when it comes to striping and its impact on public safety. See this week’s Oak Cliff People for details.