The Foundry opens tonight at 5 p.m. No word yet on when Chicken Scratch will debut.

Sometimes Bar Belmont is kinda crowded. If that’s the case tonight, head over to the newly opened Foundry Bar where Jack’s Backyard used to sit. The bar opens tonight at 5 p.m., which is perfect timing for the happy hour set.

Don’t forget to tell us what you thought about the place!

It’s a little wet out there today, folks. Your best bet is to find someplace with some good bites and good beer.

In that vein, Kings Highway Conservation District is having their happy hour tonight at 6 p.m. Head over to 635 N. Montclair Ave. for the festivities.

Also at 6 p.m. this evening, Oak Cliff Cultural Center will open a new exhibit called “Concrete Roses.” See the powerful work of Mark Crow and Violet Gutierrez tonight.

Itching for a case of the heebie jeebies? The Texas Theatre will screen “The Innkeepers” tonight starting at 6 p.m.

Are you planning on writing a love letter to your valentine? Earn extra points with calligraphy. Tonight at 6:30 p.m., Oil and Cotton will show you how to master pen and ink for your loved one.

Do you miss Bar 828? Michael Martensen’s Hid In 2612 opens tonight at 8 p.m. in the lounge space next to Jay Jerrier’s Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum. I know, it’s in Deep Ellum, but Amy Cowan assures me that there will be plenty of Oak Cliff folks headed out. Besides that, it’s only open for four evenings, unless you’re one of the lucky few who booked the spot for a private event.

There’s so much going on this weekend, so let’s just hit the highlights:

“Five Photographers” opens at 6 p.m. Saturday at Haley-Henman Gallery.

Stevens Park Estates Neighborhood Association is hosting their membership party at 1943 W. Colorado Blvd. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

The Kessler will be underwater with great Texas acts, including The O’s, Warren Hood & The Goods, and Gaston Light. Doors open at 6, seats at 7, Show at 8 p.m.

If the Super Bowl’s not your thing, perhaps you should try your hand at crafting felted flowers at Oil and Cotton this at 3 p.m. Sunday.

If the Super Bowl is your thing, the Texas Theatre is showing the game on it’s big screen starting at 5 p.m. Head upstairs for Kimono Club, where they’ll be showing “Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41″ at 8 p.m. There’s plenty of sake and karaoke to go around.

Did we miss your event? Leave a comment!

The Sanchez family has decided to make February a benevolent month. Today through Feb. 29, a portion of the proceeds from specific dishes at La Calle Doce and El Ranchito will be donated to Promise House and Genesis Women’s Shelter. At La Calle Doce, the dish is pescado a la parrilla (grilled whole catfish marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, served with grilled vegetables and rice). At El Ranchito, it’s guiso norteño (beef tenderloin or chicken stew in roasted tomato salsa, topped with cheese and served with refried beans).

Photo: Dallas Observer

City of Ate’s Alice Laussade dumped this box of processed food on Campo Modern Country Bistro chef Matt McCallister and demanded he make an appetizing appetizer worthy of Super Bowl Sunday.

Here’s the gauntlet:

Dearest Chef McCallister,
The Super Bowl is this weekend, right? Right. Howsabout you pretend for a moment that you care about football and create an appetizer (or two) that elevate(s) these ingredients.

You must use every ingredient in the box. (Note: You are also allowed to add ingredients to your dish that are not in the box.)

We’ll see you and your progressive philosophy in two days. Good luck!

P.S. We promise that all of the ingredients in your box were locally sourced. (Target on Abrams.)

Box contents:

Velveeta (brick)
Rotel
Oreo cookies (Double Stuf)
Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers (Fuzzy Navel)
Funyuns
Ruffles (Molten Hot Wings)
Hebrew National Hot Dogs
Ranch Dip powder mix
Archer Farms Multigrain Chips (Fiesta Seven Layer Dip)

I can’t wait to see what the good chef does with this.

Check this out: Bring a printout of this Cafe Brazil blog post to any Cafe Brazil location (I’ll suggest the one in Bishop Arts) today and buy a drink, and you’ll get a free vegetarian entree.

All there is to it.

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.

Don’t forget, today’s free mile-high pie day at Norma’s Cafe (a slice, that is). Get there early while supplies last. And have a chocolate-peanut butter slice for me (my fave).

Norma's famous mile-high lemon meringue pie

Yes, there is actually a National Pie Day — this Monday, Jan. 23. And Norma’s Cafe is celebrating in Texas-size style. For the third consecutive year, Norma’s will dish out a free slice of its famous mile-high cream pie to every customer…that is, as long as supplies hold out. (We suggest you get there early.)

If you’ve been on Mars and have never sampled or scarfed one of Norma’s pies, you can dig your fork into either a coconut, chocolate, lemon, or chocolate-peanut butter slice. Of course, we should mention these sweet delights are loaded with meringue at least half a foot thick. Norma’s also offers mini-pies — pint-portions of the mile-high variety.

Ed Murph, owner of Norma’s, said he and his staff love giving back to their loyal customers.

“What a sweeter gift than a free slice of our famous mile-high cream pies,” Murph said. “We look forward to celebrating this event again this year, because it’s a great reminder of something we like to say around here — ‘Life is Short. Eat dessert first.’”

303 Bar and Grill before the new owners rehabbed the crumbling taqueria.

It probably would’ve been cheaper to just tear down the old decaying taqueria at 303 W. Davis St. instead of rehabbing it. At least that’s what new owner Chris Pope assumed.

However, after rebuilding the inside and outside of what is now the 303 Bar and Grill, the Arts and Crafts home with the wraparound porch is a stunner, and is sure to draw crowds.

Want to find out more about the restaurant? Read my column in this week’s Oak Cliff People. For photos of the finished property, jump!

Read More…

It’s so hard for me to believe that this is January, folks! It’s beautiful outside! Perfect to sip a beer or cocktail on a patio! In that vein, I have the perfect opportunity for you:

Tonight, head over to the soft opening of 303 Bar and Grill at West Davis and Madison Avenue for 25-cent draft beer and $5 food specials from their eclectic menu. And yes, they do have an epic porch. Things get shakin’ at 4 p.m.

After you’ve whetted your whistle, join the Kings Highway Neighborhood Association at Nova tonight. The happy hour starts at 6 p.m..

If you’re musically inclined, The Gourds are playing at the Kessler Theater this evening, with doors opening at 7 p.m. If you’re big on high-energy folk/country, this is your act! The Gourds are a seriously fun band to watch.

This evening, the Texas Theatre has a different kind of event planned, pegged to the screening of Fix — The Ministry Movie. It’s a funeral party, starting at 10:30 p.m., with DJs Keith P and Anthony Stanford promising to spin dark industrial music.

Tomorrow, save your energy (and your glitter!) and head over to the Texas Theatre for Heartbreak on Mars III — a David Bowie/Elvis Presley-inspired karaoke and costume contest. I know you’ve been hanging on to that gold lame jumpsuit and body paint just for this occasion.

Got an event we missed? Comments are open!