Today, August 9, the Bishop Street Market is celebrating its 15-year anniversary — and it happens to be the longest-running retail business in the Bishop Arts District under the same name and owner.

In 1996, Michael Harrity and partner Paul Kirkpatrick made the bold decision to brighten up the B.A.D. by opening its first retail store — the glam gift boutique, in which you’ll rarely see any merchandise twice.

Harrity said one of the reasons he believes the store has been so successful is because he rotates his products every week, and while he sells high-end merchandise, he keeps his prices low.

BSM specializes in hilarious greeting cards (Harrity calls them the funniest in Dallas), bath and body products, candles, homemade Italian cocktail glasses, Simone Sebbag fine jewelry, handmade purses, Elly Preston jeweled pieces — not to mention a cornucopia of unique home accessories.

So if you’re in the B.A.D. today, stop by the Street Market, wish Harrity and Kirkpatrick well, and, of course, buy something fab!

[READ MORE ABOUT BISHOP STREET MARKET IN THIS FRIDAY'S PAPER.]

Still craving that super-cool, controversial Oswald T from Texas Theatre? Tonight’s the night.

Pan Ector, a screen-print group from Denton, will be at the Theatre from 7:30 to 9:30 this evening to screen print T-shirts, tote bags, and just about anything you want. The crew will be printing the Howard Hughes visage, Zampruder 8mm, and of course, the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald arrest photo. Pan will have shirts on hand, but feel free to bring your own.

A rep from Texas Theatre said they will be selling one more batch of T’s online for non-local fans, but that will be it for a while.

“Well, it has certainly been an interesting roller coaster of controversy and largely supportive, but at the end of the day, we want you to be happy,” said a Texas Theatre spokesperson in a Facebook post. “We’ve been receiving phone calls daily from all of over the nation — and beyond – about the T-shirts.”

Hmm…looks like ole’ Oswald’s a hit?

THURSDAY’S BASTILLE ON BISHOP — wow!

July 2010: 1,500 festival-goers
July 2011: Almost 4,000

It’s an understatement to say that last night’s Bastille on Bishop was the bash of the summer — if not the year. Despite the 100-plus temps, partygoers had quite the party. In fact, it was so jam-packed, I had difficulty lifting up my arms to get some pics.

Many were content to pop-a-squat and people-watch galore; others guzzled French wine; the brave ones competed in a mussel-eating contest, er eh; there were games for the kiddos (FYI: watch for flying metal balls); a game of chess with pieces the size of a Mastiff; you could get your pic taken with a massive French mustache; many a sno-cone were inhaled, as well as delish French food.

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My family and I attended an Oak Cliff girl’s birthday party over the weekend at a bounce house in North Dallas. Several of the Cliff-dwelling parents there decided to show their OC pride before they crossed Trinity. I saw an Oak Cliff Bicycle Co. T-shirt, a khaki cap that simply said “Oak Cliff” on the front, and a “Kessler City Limits” shirt. I regretted not bringing a few of these to sell.

Flash mob? Or catwalk? You be the judge.

If you happened to be strolling around the Bishop Arts District last night — for the Bishop Arts Merchants Association’s “Wine Walk,” or otherwise, you likely witnessed an unorthodox “flash mob.”

I put “flash mob” in quotations, as I feel we should first define the term before examining last night’s spectacle. Good ole’ Wickipedia describes a flash mob as a group of people who assemble suddenly [key word] in a public place, perform an unusual and often seemingly pointless act for a few minutes, and then disperse as if nothing had happened. Flash mobs are most often for mere entertainment or satire. They’re organized via social media or viral emails.

Flash mobs do not apply to organized [another key word] events or performances for the purposes of commercial advertisement or publicity stunts.

This said, we received a tip about a flash mob taking place around 8 last night in the B.A.D. I was there, waiting with bated breath, hauling my notepad and 30-pound camera around.

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A look from the Feb. 2010 Pin Show at Union Station.

Make and Made owner and Indie Genius founder Julie McCullough Kim launched the Pin Show four years ago to help budding independent fashion designers and their collaborators get some exposure. After taking a year-long hiatus, the show is back with a new venue and a new board of directors.

Brian Embry, owner and director of the Ross Akard Gallery inside the Fairmont Hotel, is the show’s new executive director. This year’s show, which will be hosted by the Fairmont Hotel, will have the added dimension of the hotel’s artist in residency program, for which Pin Show designers can apply.

Think you have what it takes to make it on the Pin Show’s runway? The application deadline is Oct. 15. Find out more about the event at the Pin Show’s website.

Indie Genius, the hub of all things handmade, leases out space to artisans and crafters so they can sell their wares in a retail setting. With all of those different mini-storefronts, it can be tricky to track new inventory.

Lucky for you, Julie McCullough Kim and her lovely cohorts are hosting a very happy hour from 5 to 8:30 p.m. tonight so you can peruse the newest items to hit shelves at Indie Genius. You may ask, “Why is it a very happy hour?” I’ll tell you why: While you shop, you can sip free beer and wine AND throw your name in the hat for an Indie Genius gift certificate.

I’m so there.

The Bishop Arts District Merchants Association is looking to put it’s best face forward. There’s $500 up for grabs for the person who captures the personality and charm of Oak Cliff’s most popular place to shop.

The deadline is kind of short (June 30) so you’ll need to get crackin’. Full details after the jump!

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The 2011 Chamber of Commerce Gala was a grand hit! And, as the night wore on, those masks did come off.

Anyone dare to guess whose behind these three masks? If you guess correctly, maybe, just maybe, Ambella Home Collection will offer their secretary cabinet to you at a reduced rate?

If you need clues, I’ll provide some tomorrow!

OK, my favorite OC blog pals…where are your name suggestions for our Friday weekend rundown? I received only ONE suggestion…and a huge thanks to Ms. Debra Witter for her two ideas: “What’s Cookin’ in The Cliff?” or “What’s on in the OC?”

If my calendar serves me right, I believe Friday is the day after tomorrow, so PLEASE let’s get a few more names in the bag, although I do love Wetter’s.

And if you have no clue what I’m talking about, see my post from last Friday, “This Weekend: What’s Shakin’ in The Cliff?”

Thanks to all and I can’t wait to read your ideas!