Meet Cocoa Puff of the DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue group. She competed in Sunday’s “Mutt Strut” parade and competition at OC Earth Day 2012. Can you guess what she took top honors for?

This weekend is your last opportunity to check out the annual “Dia de los Ninos” art exhibit at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. The works of students from Rosemont, Anson Jones, and George Peabody elementary will be on display.

The students have created works through a variety of mediums — sculpture, paintings, creative masks, to unorthodox “junk” art.

Madelyn Jones, a 10-year-old Rosemont student, is displaying her “Chinese Lady,” completely composed of junk — refashioned items that most would likely pitch.

“I know I want to be an artist when I grow up,” Madelyn said. “It’s a way for me to show what’s on my mind and show people what I’m like. It’s a way for me to express my feelings.”

Rosemont art teacher Kellie Lawson has played an integral role since the show’s inception. “The show is a lot of work, but very much worth it to see the smiles on the children’s faces,” Lawson said.

Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibit, with a reception for the students to be held at 6 p.m. at the Cultural Center at 223 W. Jefferson Blvd.

“Everything Old is New Again,” oh how true. This is the theme for this year’s Methodist Hospitals of Dallas Guild’s annual spring style show and luncheon.

The event is happening this Friday at 11 a.m. at Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Hitt Auditorium. Tickets are by reservation only, so get a move on it. The whole package is $49 per ticket, and VIP tables are available for $500. Pre-paid reservations are only $40 bucks a pop. (Call Sheri Mathis at 214-908-8741 or 214-943-9090, ext. 229 to make your reservations.)

This year’s style show will feature fashions selected from the guild members’ personal collections from the 1920s through the ’90s (how cool is that?). Other runway fashions will include clothing and accessories from Indigo 1745, Zola’s Everyday Vintage Clothing, and Shemara Couture formal-wear.

The guild raises funds to benefit Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Methodist Charlton Medical Center. It’s raised more than $900,000 for items such as neonatal equipment and a mobile mammography bus. This year, the guild will be supporting new emergency medicine facilities and the cardiac center.

Don’t miss out! This event is super fun, and Oak Cliff People will be on the scene.

Looking for a super fab way to enjoy your Saturday and Sunday? Head to the Bishop Arts District for the Urban Street Bazaar (Sat. noon to 8 p.m.; Sun. noon to 4 p.m.). More than 50 local artists will be selling their uber-cool handmade and vintage wares in the streets. The shops and restaurants will be open with special sales and menus. The bazaar will also have pet adoptions and is dog friendly, so bring Fido for a good time, and prepare to load up on handmade goodness!

Head to Sweet 200 on Saturday evening for the Kings Highway Conservation District’s annual silent auction and party (doors open at 6 p.m.). Sponsor Chelsmati’s Wine Market will be hosting a “wine pull” (just in case you’re like me a don’t know what a wine pull is — attendees can buy a cork for $10; the cork will match a $10 bottle of wine or a $20 to $30 bottle). Other goodies up for grabs: Councilman Scott Griggs, Commissioner Elba Garza, and Sheriff Lupe Valdez donated a dinner (or lunch) for two — with them; a night at the Belmont or the Mansion; restaurant bundles, including a sizable donation from Hattie’s; Byron Nelson tickets; and Kings Highway’s own Jonathan Braddick has donated 15 hours of handyman work. The event will help the neighborhood raise money for community projects, including the North Polk Street Beautification endeavor, as well as bicycle infrastructure within Kings Highway.

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A note of importance: If you take a peek at our monthly calendar in tomorrow’s edition of Oak Cliff People, please scratch The First Hundred Years at Eno’s, April 27 at 9 p.m. At press time, Eno’s had the band scheduled for that date.

It has since been changed to City Folk at 9 p.m. on April 27. Sorry if you’re a Hundred Years’ fan. At least City Folk and a few delish slices of Eno’s pizza will cheer you up.

Chuck and I have talked a few times about the growing clout of the acts The Kessler Theater has been bringing in. Alejandro Escovedo and Loudon Wainwright III are coming up, as is an evening with Amy Sedaris. But the one that’s got me weak in the knees is today’s announcement that the Dirty Projectors will be crashing onto Davis Street. For the uninitiated, just watch the above video.

Rosemont fourth-grader Jonah Ortiz shows off his colorful mask to be displayed at the Dia de Los Ninos exhibit at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

Oak Cliff has long-been known as an art-centric community. And lucky for us and future Oak Cliffers, a whole new crop of young aspiring artists are beginning to spread their wings.

Beginning this Saturday, you can get a glimpse of their current masterpieces at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center’s Dia de los Ninos exhibit.

The show encompasses artworks from Rosemont Elementary, as well as from Anson Jones and George Peabody elementaries.

There will be more than 200 pieces of art by Rosemont students on display, from both the Lower and Upper campuses. Works will range in mediums, from paintings to drawings, pottery to papier-mache — event “junk art,” a favorite among many students.

Kellie Lawson, Rosemont’s Upper School art teacher, who has played an integral role in the exhibit for the past 14 years, said when the students come to the show they’re incredibly excited to see their works in the gallery and to show them off to their parents and grandparents.

“The gallery experience is priceless for young artists,” Lawson said. “For them to see their art in a professional venue is rewarding to them.”

The show begins Sat., April 7 and runs through April 21, and it’s free of charge. To read more about the show and the Rosemont students participation, see tomorrow’s edition of Oak Cliff People.

Whether your pooch (or kitty) likes to dress up or not, we’re sure he’d love to participate in East Kessler Park’s Fourth Annual Pet Parade set for this Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

The festivities will commence at Coombs Creek Trail (intersection of Kessler Parkway and Junior Drive), and pets will be judged in the following categories:
Best Dressed
Best Fur-Do
Best Trick
Best Peep & Pet Look-Alike
Biggest Pet
Smallest Pet
Most Congenial Pet

So if your furry pal isn’t so much into the costume-thing, he still has plenty of chances to win a category. (Better brush up on “sit,” “shake,” “roll over,” and “play dead.”)

Burgessa will be on hand dishing out free breakfast tacos (for you or Fido, if you’re into feeding your dog spicy cuisine) and Cafe Brazil has donated coffee and pastries. Plus, there will be a Dallas World Aquarium family membership drawing for all participants.

This year Dog and Kitty City is East Kessler’s adopted no-kill shelter. Participants are encouraged to make a donation to the shelter — either money, pet food, toys, or grooming supplies. Hope to see you there!

Want to be a REALLY good neighbor? After the parade, stick around for the Coombs Creek Clean-up, from 1 to 5 p.m. The clean-up is part of the Loving My Park program put on by the city of Dallas. Neighbors and friends are to meet at Coombs Creek Trail, and are advised to wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and gloves. The bonus? For helping out, EKNA will be providing homemade pecan-smoked brisket and iced tea. Yum.

Meet Bo, Dutchess, and Princess.

If you don’t have lunch plans tomorrow, head over to El Rio Grande Latin Market at 2515 W. Jefferson Blvd. around noon and grab a bite with three Shrine Circus elephants — Bo (the gentleman among the gals), Dutchess, and Princess. On second thought, you might want to have a snack before you go; each elephant will consume about a couple hundred pounds for lunch. While the elephant’s food staple is hay, they apparently love fresh fruits and veggies. And El Rio has graciously donated the tasty offerings.

The event kicks off the 2012 Hella Shrine Circus in Garland and at Fair Park. Experts will be on hand to educate fellow lunchers about the elephants’ diet, care, and upkeep. And if you’re into extreme sports, rides will be available for purchase.

Amanda Tackett, spokesperson for Shrine Circus, said this is about as close as a person can get to the “gentle giants” without actually running away to join the circus.

“There will be trainers on hand to share some educational stuff about the elephants,” Tackett said. “It’s a fun, free, family-friendly event, and it’s also a great way for animal lovers to see how a cruelty-free circus handles elephants.”

Tackett said she’s not sure that El Rio Grande realizes how much the three elephants will eat, but “it’s really cute” to see the elephants eat their lunches. ”They are the sweetest, most gentle animals I’ve ever been around!” she said.

The Shrine Circus will hold performances at Fair Park March 30 – April 1 and in Garland March 23 – March 25. For more info, go to 2012circus.com.

Hayes Carll sings to the crowd at The Kessler on Friday. (Staff photo: Chuck Cox)

In addition to being a huge sports fan, I’m also a huge music fan.

If I’m not at a game, I’m at a concert. And vice versa. It turns out I was at a concert at The Kessler on Friday night. I made it out to see Hayes Carll, one of my favorites.

A little more than midway through the show, Carll announced that he was going to let everybody know who won the raffle for free tickets to future Kessler shows. He called up a lady to the stage. But, shortly thereafter, he stepped back as the lady’s boyfriend made his way to the stage to propose to her. She accepted, and the crowd went wild.

Pretty cool moment. And one I have never witnessed before in the umpteen concerts I’ve been to.