Dallas

This is one of the most event-filled weekends for DFW. It's the Byron Nelson (partying, golf, partying). It's the Wildflower Festival (Uncle Kracker, Cowboy Mouth, The Toadies and more).

My money is on Taste Addison.

Never been? You need to check it out. Taste Addison is a festival of food, music and good ole family fun. Yes,  60-ish of Addison's most amazing restaurants will serve up samples of their menus at prices that will rock your world. Get in my belly! I mean this is the perfect place for foodies.

Add to the mix some great music, celebrity chef demonstrations and wine tasting seminars, carnival rides, midway games, cool stuff for the kids to do --  and you have the makings for the perfect weekend. 

Music acts include: Blue October, Sister Hazel, Turnpike Troubadours, Reckless Kelly and more.

When:
Fri., May 17: 6 pm to midnight
Sat., May 18: Noon to midnight
Sun., May 19: Noon to 5 pm

Where: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. The main entrance is located at the corner of Quorum Drive at Addison Circle near the large Blueprints sculpture.

Admission:
Ages 4 and Older
Friday - $15
Saturday - $5 Before 5 pm; $15 After 5 pm
Sunday - $5
Children under 3 are free

What Not to Bring
Please don't bring lawn chairs, coolers or your pets. Do bring a hearty appetite!

Taste: the Competition
I was lucky enough to be a judge in Taste: the Competition. It was the inaugural competition to kick off Taste Addison where 15 restaurants prepared food that's not currently on their menus and the theme was street/carnival food. It was as delicious as it was fun -- and Addison is the perfect place to hang out and have fun whether it's with the kids or your friends. Don't miss it.

By the way, Blue Mesa Grill took first place with their Chimayo Market Corn and it was absolutely amazing. The judges got it right. Second Place went to Genghis Grill for Sweet & Spicy Steak Wrap. (It got my vote for 2nd place). Third place went to Buffalo Wild Wings for Deep Fried Bread Pudding Bites. It was delish -- but I also voted for Blue Goose Cantina's Margarita Pie -- possibly because I caught a buzz after eating two bites.

(Photo of Blue Mesa Grill's Chimayo Market Corn from Taste: the Competition by Angela Patterson).

As many as 10 tornadoes ripped through North Texas including one reported to be a mile wide. The worst damage appears to be in Granbury (outside of Fort Worth) and Cleburne. The cities of Ennis and Milsap also reported a lot of damage caused by the storms.

At this point, it's feared that maybe seven people in Granbury are missing and six deaths (adults) have been reported so far.  This number was confirmed at an 8 a.m. conference on Thursday.

Here is a video of the Granbury tornado from WFAA.

DFW had experienced a fairly mild spring. Do you know what to do in case of a tornado warning? Here's some tornado safety information -- including some DO's and DON'Ts that just might save your life.

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2013 DFW! That's May 5th if your Spanish is not too bueno. Have you made plans to celebrate the holiday yet? 

In the past I've gone to eat and drink margaritas on the patio at Desperado's. Their signature taco is on my list of The Top 10 Tacos in DFW. It's a no-brainer. I highly recommend it. There's a good chance you will agree with me or thank me for this because it's that good.

I'm constantly adding to my list of the Best Margaritas in DFW. When the temperatures heat back up, you'll find me working on the fabulous patios of many great restaurants. Well, maybe not working so much -- but sampling margaritas and posting photos on Instagram from my new mini iPad. (Find me at angelampatterson if you're so inclined).

In case you're still trying to decide, here are some of the parades and events to celebrate Cinco de Mayo 2013 in DFW.

(Taco photo courtesy of Desperado's. Fire 'n Ice Margarita by Angela Patterson).

I guess he stopped loving her today.

Country music legend George Jones, who was born on September 12, 1931 in Saratoga, Texas has died. He was 81.

A self-taught guitarist, Jones lived a difficult life. He grew up the son of an alcoholic. Then he became an alcoholic. Jones had four wives, including Tammy Wynette. If that's not the makings for the perfect country and western song, I don't know what is.

He was known for hits like "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "White Lightening," and "The Race is On." "He Stopped Loving Her Today" has been ranked the Number One country song by many publications. And I'd have to agree. Country music is about telling a story and this song tells a story like none other.

Jones often no-showed to concert events but he was loved by many fans. He was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, honored by the Kennedy Center in 2008 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

And he stopped loving her today.

North Texans are extremely generous and want to help the victims of the explosion in West, Texas. There are several ways that you can help the victims, emergency personnel and relief workers. Here are a few suggestions.

Donate Blood.
Here's where to give the gift of life.

• Carter BloodCare has 26 locations across North and East Texas where you can donate blood.
• American Red Cross and other blood banks are providing blood to area hospitals following the explosion. If you want to give blood, please schedule an appointment.

Donors are being encouraged to call and set an appointment. There is always a need for O-negative.

Donate Money.

• Go to any Metroplex Tom Thumb and donate to the Spirit of Texas American Red Cross Disaster Relife Fund. All donations will go to help our neighbors in West, Texas.
• The Salvation Army is providing food/beverages and emotional and spiritual care to survivors and first responders at several location in and around West. Join in their prayers to bring healing to the families and community in West, Texas. Make donations to SalvationArmyDFW.

Volunteer.

The Ultimate Smoker and Grill and Slavocek Sausage Company are in West to provide food and beverages to victims, relief workers, emergency responders and organizers. The Ultimate Smoker and Grill and The Rib Whisperer, Trace Arnold, will be parked on 35E, across from the Czech Bakery on Friday, Saturday and Sunday cooking up hot food for everyone. At least 20 volunteers will be needed each day to help package and serve food. If you'd like to help, stop by Greg May Chevrolet, 225 T M W Parkway, West, TX 76691 (right across I-35 from the Czech Bakery). For more information.

Donate Household, Pet Items.

Lazy Paw Animal Hospital in Frisco is accepting all donations until 6 p.m. Thursday. Donations will be taken to a transport site early Friday morning so bring any donation to 7380 Stonebrook Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034. 972-712-1300. Donate pet food, pet carriers, bottled water, toiletries, clothes, diapers, pillows, blankets, formula, bottles, toys and more.

Pray for West on Facebook:
There's a facebook page "Pray for West" where you can find out about more donation sites and what's needed.

Follow me on Twitter.  Like me on Facebook.

(Photo by Lauren Ernst).

A fire and horrific explosion took place around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. People for miles around felt the explosion -- with many thinking that an earthquake had occurred or the storms expected to North Texas had hit. It registered 2.1 magnitude on the Richter Scale.

Here is a YouTube video of the explosion -- taken by someone about a quarter mile from the site, according to reports.

The first reports were that 60-70 are dead and hundreds injured (although as of the press conference around 2 a.m., no known numbers are available). A nursing home is the business located nearest to the plant. Evacuations began when the fire was reported -- before the explosion occurred. Residents were moved but there were some fatalities at the nursing home, according to reports. Update: As of noon Thursday, 15 are known dead.

There's nothing I can do to elaborate on the tragic event but I just want to say that my thoughts are with the victims, families and rescue crews tonight. And I encourage you all to give blood if you can.

THE BEST WAY TO HELP: Give blood. Contact Carter Blood Care. You can donate at locations from Addison, Allen, Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Waco and even Weatherford. Here is a link to find where to donate blood in the area.

Not Familiar With West, Texas?
West is about 20 miles north of Waco on I-35 and known for the Little Czech Bakery and Czech Stop. The population of West is about 2,800.

Emergency Resources

• CBSDFW just posted phone numbers for hospitals and places where people may be seeking shelter in the West, Texas area and other resources.
• Safe and well person website from the American Red Cross.

The Original Pancake House is teaming up with Medical City, Carter BloodCare and RunOn! to show support for Boston Marathon victims. Donors will receive a free breakfast from The Original Pancake House and have the opportunity to make or sign cards to send to marathon victims, as well as first-responders and doctors who helped and treated victims and survivors. RunOn! will hand out coupons in honor of runners injured in the Boston Marathon.

When: Thursday, April 18 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

Where: Medical City Children's Hospital, First Floor Atrium, 7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230.

Legendary NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall died in Dallas at the age of 82.

Summerall played 10 NFL seasons (1952-61) with the Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants before becoming the voice behind many Super Bowls and Dallas Cowboys football games.

The thing I remember at Pat is that he coined the phrase "...Nothing' doing" after the Cowboys would fail to pick up any yardage on a play. He used that phrase a lot.

Services are pending at this time.

I'd check in with Dale Hansen on WFAA Channel 8 at 6 and 10 p.m. to see if he has some warm stories about Summerall. I bet he does.

It's going to be another fun weekend in DFW. Here are my top picks for fun the weekend of April 19-21, 2013.

Bluebonnet Trails Festival
Drive through the bluebonnet trails in Ennis. Arts, crafts, live music, and best of all -- it's free. Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flowers will probably bloom until the end of April. Bring your good camera.

North Texas Taco Festival
It's a taco throwdown at Deep Ellum Outdoor Market (located on Main Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Crowdus Street) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. I love tacos so this sounds awesome to me! Come hungry.

Celebrate Earth Day
Celebrate Mother Earth at activities across the Metroplex this weekend. Don't forget to get a free tall coffee at Starbucks on Friday! 

Terrell Heritage Jubilee
Check out the Terrell Heritage Jubilee carnival, bbq cook-off, arts and crafts, 5K run, pig races, car and motorcycle show, pony rides, business expo and ranch rodeo. It's April 19-21, 2013 at Ben Gill Park.

Dallas International Guitar Festival
I like to be able to say that I hang out with a few local rock stars on a regular basis. You can hang out with some cool musicians at the Dallas International Guitar Festival as well as check out the latest and greatest in guitars, amps and all the technical stuff. I would go for the concerts. I know you'll be entertained. Friady/Saturday/Sunday at Dallas Market Hall.
(Photo by Angela Patterson)

The Season 2 finale of Dallas revealed that the only thing that could take down J.R. Ewing, was J.R. himself.

In a heartwarming moment beside J.R.'s grave, Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) finally revealed J.R.'s "Master Plan" to John Ross and Christopher. Apparently J.R. knew he was dying of cancer. He also knew that the dirty rat Cliff Barnes (Ken Kerchival) showed up in Mexico each year for a fishing event. J.R. asked his longtime friend/henchman Bum to shoot him (dead) and make it look like Barnes did it.

Bum tearfully admitted that he carried out the order to kill his fried, J.R. John Ross shook his hand as he walked away.

Yes, I shed a few tears too because this show is as good as it ever was in the 80s.

After making a trip to Zurich, Christopher found out that his mother (Pam Barnes) had gone through several surgeries after a car accident left her disfigured -- and then she developed pancreatic cancer. Pam was hoping to get better to see her little boy but she died without speaking a word to Christopher. She did leave him 1/3 of Barnes Global (not too shabby). Too bad Cliff didn't let Christopher in on that fact for the past 24 years. If you add that to Pamela Barnes' shares, the Ewings are back in control of Barnes Global (since she married John Ross last week).

Poor Cliff
So poor Cliff's stuck in a Mexican prison because it now looks like he shot J.R. in Mexico. He lost his freedom, he lost two-thirds of his company. But don't count him out just yet; he contacted Elena to tell her that J.R. had tricked her Dad out of some oil-rich land years ago. He urged her to check it out and of course get even.

Like Father, Like Son
The show ended with John Ross hopping in bed with *surprise* Emma -- not his wife Pamela -- as "payment" for helping him obtain some information on her dad, the evil Harris Ryland (also in jail). Has he even been married for a week? Oh well, he is a Ewing. And Josh Henderson plays him well. Very well.

Please vote in my poll.