Looks like we’re in store for a beautiful weekend…which proves ideal for the Bishop Arts District’s fourth-annual Brew Riot, taking place on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. If you’re into beer, this is a must; if you’re not, we think it’s still a must. More than 80 homebrews will be on tap, as the brewers compete for your vote in the “People’s Choice” category for the best homebrew.

Also on the scene with samples of their latest and greatest: Deep Ellum Brewery, Lakewood Brewery, Franconia, Rahr, and the soon-to-open (at Ft. Worth Avenue and Singleton Boulevard) Four Corners Brewery. And as my fellow blogger Brad Pearson posted earlier this week, there will be a 1.1-mile chug-a-run this year, which could get…um…a bit dicey. We’ll be on the scene to cover the excitement (or disaster). Bonus: Lucky Pierre’s and the King Bucks will be performing. You just can’t miss Brew Riot, guys.

On the hunt for other outdoor more family-friendly activities this weekend? The Stevens Park Estates Neighborhood Association is holding its sixth-annual block party from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Chow down on burgers and hot dogs while mingling with your neighbors. For the kiddos: a bounce house, face painting, games, and balloon animals. And the Wynnewood North Neighborhood Association is holding its “Spring Wander” Saturday evening, starting at 6.

And not to leave out the music scene this weekend. Friday evening: John Pedigo plays at Bar Belmont at 7; Paul Thorn and Etta Britt perform at the Kessler at 8; and Tyla Taylor will sing at Eno’s at 9. Saturday: Elizabeth Cook, Amanda Shires, and Brandon Bolin hit the stage at the Kessler at 8 p.m.; The Cush + Menkena perform at The Foundry at 8 p.m. On Sunday Austin Lucas and Glossary will play at The Foundry at 7:30 p.m., and Audio Alchemy will rock out at Kessler Park United Methodist Church at 5:30 p.m.. Trust us — it’s not your average church music.

Fire House No. 15 under construction as it was being transformed into the new Oak Cliff Gloria's Restaurant

A mega congratulations is in order for Oak Cliff for winning FOUR Dallas Preservation Achievement Awards at last night’s awards ceremony at the Majestic Theater, put on by Preservation Dallas. Gloria’s Restaurant, built in the old Fire Station No. 15 building, won for best Commercial or Institutional Rehabilitation/Adaptive use. When Gloria’s relocated just a few blocks down from its original restaurant on Davis, the architects and owners were intent on maintaining the structural integrity of the fire house, including the original brick walls and even the fire pole.

Good Space’s “Cottages of Eighth Street” (collectively 305/312/416 W. Eighth St. and 314 N. Bishop Ave.) also won in the best Commercial or Institutional Rehabilitation/Adaptive use. David Spence was on hand to collect the award.

DART’s police headquarters (formerly the Monroe Shops) won in the Sustainable (or Green) Project award, and a special Stewardship Award was given to the W.H. Adamson High School Alumni Association and DISD board trustee Eric Cowan for their work in ensuring the historic school building was preserved.

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Gary Lynn Floyd, Denise Lee, and George McCullum of Audio Alchemy

If you’re not at Brew Riot on Sunday afternoon (or you go early), check out Audio Alchemy at Kessler Park United Methodist Church at 5:30 in the main sanctuary. Alchemy is the fusion of Dallas-based artists Denise Lee, Gary Lynn Floyd, and George McCullum, as they combine their individual talents into a soulful blend of smooth jazz, R&B, and pop.

Lee is a singer and actress from St. Louis, Mo.; MuCullum is a fifth-generation saxophonist and band leader from New Orleans; and Floyd is a singer, songwriter, and actor from Houston.

“Audio Alchemy brings the best of all their worlds together into a one-of-a-kind mix that will rock your body and lift your soul,” said a spokesman from Kessler Park United Methodist.

This one-hour concert is free and open to the public, and children are welcome. Not your average church music, eh?

Do you know a high school senior who resides in or attends school in Oak Cliff and has the desire to attend college? If so, please nominate that special senior for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Oaks Scholarship.

The scholarship program awards $1,000 to graduating seniors who are either enrolled in an Oak Cliff high school or are OC residents. Recipients will be selected by the Chamber’s Education Committee, and scholarship winners will be notified by May 25.

You still have four days to submit your application for the May 21 deadline at 3 p.m., so don’t wait to take advantage of this opportunity. The scholarships will be awarded on June 1.

Click here to review the applicant qualifications and instructions for applying for the scholarship. If you’re part of an organization that would like to make a contribution to this scholarship fund, donations can be sent to the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce. Simply make you tax-deductible check payable to the Oak Cliff Chamber.

Hat’s off to OC seniors and best of luck!

Lockhart Smokehouse’s Will Fleischman was recently named one of the top pitmasters in America by Southern Living magazine.

“People need to humble themselves to the experience,” he told the magazine. “Success depends on how many mistakes you’re willing to make.”

Fleischman is one of two Texas pitmasters on the list; Aaron Franklin of Austin’s Franklin BBQ is the other. Though the list seems a bit “Hmm, we need a pitmaster from every state across the South, just pick whoever will make a good picture” it’s still nice to see a local face.

In a vote Monday night, the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League voted to oppose hydraulic fracturing. Below is their letter to Mayor Mike Rawlings.

The city drilling task force will make its recommendations to city officials today on the matter. Educate yourself:

OOCCLFracking

Where’s Smokey the Bear when you need him?

Last night, police found two gentlemen on the observation deck of Founders Park in the 500 block of East Colorado Boulevard. This should be a normal place to find anyone, but at 9:30 pm., officers found the two on the deck with laid out sleeping bags and a large burnt spot in the wood between them.

One of the men acknowledged that a green lighter left next to the charred deck was his.

Officers then reported that a thick smoke covered the area, and somewhere down the side of a hill was a shirt ablaze in a grassy area.

Officers: “What was burning?

Possible Firestarter #1: “A shirt was burning!”

The potential pyro then stated that he lit the shirt on fire to “try and keep the mosquitoes from being bad,” but didn’t set the deck on fire.

Officers: “Who set it on fire then?”

Possible Firestarter #1: “I don’t know.”

The men were then frisked and another lighter was found on the man in question. His buddy stated that he saw the burnt deck earlier that day, but did not know who did it.

The man with all the lighters received a citation for open burning.

Friday is Bike to Work Day. Up in my neck of the woods, Bike Friendly Richardson will be enticing cyclists with free coffee and breakfast tacos. (Sold!) Any of you Oak Cliff bikos planning on pedaling to the office that day? (I’ll assume that many of you already do.)

Back in April, we made a passing mention that the hip We Are 1976 store (located on Henderson) would be opening a second store in OC.

According to Michael Amonett and Rick Barton, the rumor is indeed true. The store is tentatively set to open some time in July/August of 2012 in the former Make & Made space at 313 N. Bishop.

“I hope you will all join us in welcoming them to the District,” Amonett said.

Toward the beginning of May, 1976 at last signed the lease for their second locale in the Bishop Arts District.

“We cannot be more excited to be able to expand and to be a part of such a great Dallas neighborhood,” a store spokesman said. “It is our goal to continue to support Dallas’ creative community by bringing thoughtfully designed gifts, art prints, homewares, jewelry, stationary, books, and toys from Dallas and all over the world.”

In addition to the fab goods, the new store will have enough space to create a dedicated “workroom” for printmaking and creative collaboration. Eventually, the store will offer printmaking workshops and custom-design work.

For those on the other side of the Trinity, don’t despair. The Henderson store is there to stay.

This promotional video for Zang Triangle drew rave reviews at yesterday’s meeting of the Oak Cliff Gateway TIF District board of directors. My favorite part came at the 1:30 mark, when I spotted Hilary Kennedy. She’s the gorgeous redhead in the green pants who seems to be saying, “No, no, no, really, I’m totally serious, really, no.” Hilary was the only reason I used to be a regular viewer of Hot on Homes. (Look for her also at the 1:50 mark, when she plops down on a couch to seemingly say, “I want to do something crazy tonight. Who’s in?”)

To read more about Monday’s meeting, where Zang Triangle officials discussed how their apartment building may have inspired a few copycats, pick up the May 25 edition of Oak Cliff People.