Category Archives: Texas

Top Golf

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There are only a few Top Golf locations situated throughout the world. London, D.C., Chicago and Texas.
What is Top Golf? It’s a driving range, but not any driving range… it’s more like a game. When you arrive, you get a card with your name and balance, kind of like a gift card. Each ball has a computer chip in so it will acknowledge which ball is yours (this is done when you get your bucket of balls out of the machine.) If you hit your ball over the fence and into traffic, they will know it’s yours, beware.
 
This is where it gets interesting. Instead of hitting the ball at a flag as you would at most driving ranges, each flag is surrounded a bigger hole type area. The closer to the flag you hit the ball, the more points you get. Yes I said points. There are various types of games that you can play with your friends to fire up the competition a little bit. The closer to the flag and the farther away the flag is, the more points you get. Every once in a while, the computer will show that you get a bonus ball. If you hit within the inner most circle surrounding the flag, this is considered a hole-in-one and you get a free game. Not too shabby!
Pay no attention to form. Strictly the fact that I hit the hell out of that ball!
At one point we were going there every Sunday morning and calling it “Church”.  Not only would we go to play golf but they also have great food and drinks available. This is a great outing for family, a group of friends, business parties or even just to practice on your swing. It’s pretty cute to see the little kids get out there and practice their swing. The only downside is that it is a little more on the expensive side but it’s definitely worth the fun for any skill level. I had never played golf before Top Golf. Even though I mostly go to just hit the ball hard and far, I really do love it and it helped lead me to actually try out a real game of golf!
I even beat the boys!
Points of Note:
* Pets are welcome, just don’t leave them in your car.
** Free clubs are available to use if you don’t have your own.
***Be sure to sign up on their website to be on their email list – they will occasionally send you free games.
**** The Top Golf in Dallas has three miniature golf courses. They are a lot of fun.
 

I’m Convinced Dwight Yoakam Doesn’t Sweat

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….maybe his band too for that matter.

What do you think when you think of Dwight Yoakam? I think of tight jeans, white cowboy hat, AWESOME country music and Wedding Crashers. I’ve wanted to see him for a couple of years now, even had a chance to see him a year and a half ago but it seems like every time he is around this area I have something going on. I knew I had to grab the opportunity to see him.

Dwight Yoakam was scheduled to play at LoneStarPark, which is a horse racetrack in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was to come on around after the races had finished. The Park has a deal if you get there before , it costs $5 and after it’s $15. Pretty good deal right – I mean where can you see a show for $5 anymore. Bring a chair and a cooler and you are good to go!!

I arrived a little after I park, walk in and start roaming around. I am early. I start seeing people walking around with chairs and there are people sitting in front of the stage in lawn chairs. I didn’t know that you could bring a chair and a cooler – this would’ve been good to know. Crap, I have to go get my chair out of my car. So I convince the people at the front gate to let me go grab my chair out of my car. They kindly tell me I have 10 minutes to get back otherwise I’ll be charged the concert fee of $15. I run to my car, ok I run halfway, I can’t run. Then I walk very quickly back to the building, I can’t run. They let me back in. I am hot, I am sweaty. Have I mentioned it’s about 100 degrees outside? Only two hours to go until showtime!

I wander around inside the building for a minute waiting to cool off then I head outside to find my spot. I have to get a good seat! Three rows back seems pretty good. . A lady next to me happily informs me that this area is for the mega fans. I’m ready to see the man! For the next two hours I rotate between watching the last couple horse races, going inside occasionally to cool off and sitting in my seat.
At 7, I am hot, sweaty and ready to get this show on the road. Finally, the opening band comes out – Whiskey Myers from Tyler, Texas. I would say they are more along the lines of Shooter Jennings type of band. They seemed a little conceded to me. A couple of them consistently had a cigarette in their mouth and another one couldn’t stop playing with his hair. A little high maintenance perhaps. I’m not sure they were exactly the right band to be opening up for Dwight Yoakam but…. They played.

Around , the man finally went on stage. He came on stage in his boots, tight jeans, long sleeve shirt with a jean jacket over it and his signature cowboy hat. The band – all in long sleeve jackets. Check them out.
Ok, let’s hold on a second here – why on earth do you have two long sleeve shirts on? How can you keep those jackets on?! I get they are your stage outfits but it’s 100 plus degrees out here and you are playing on stage, under lights?!  And now I’m going to ask a question we’ve all been wondering…. Mr. Yoakam. I gather that you are in an air conditioned bus which probably helps you get those jeans on that are so darn tight. But we all know wet jeans suck and unless you don’t sweat how the hell do you get them off after a show?! Is this weird to ask?! Do you not sweat?! Yes, odd questions – I know.
How was the concert? The concert itself was AMAZING. I think we all have a tendency of forgetting how many hits an artist has until they start playing them during a show. It’s one after the other and they keep coming. He croons you with his voice, spins around, does a little shuffle to and fro and can play the heck out of his guitar. And on top of it all, I’m pretty sure a lot of the women were ready to throw themselves at him, maybe even some men.
Listen for yourself. (More videos on my YouTube site.)

He played for a little over an hour and then came out and played one song as part of the encore. I actually tried to skip out early so I could avoid some of the traffic and watch the encore from the back (not to mention I just wanted a gallon of water and to get out of the heat) but the ecstatic fan who I met when I first sat down wouldn’t let me leave. I had told her it was my first time seeing him and she said I had to get the full show experience.

If you are a Dwight Yoakam fan, check out one of his shows. He puts on a great show. His band is great to watch and very talented. He’ll play the songs you love, the songs you may have forgotten about and maybe even a couple that are new to you.

As for the real question – Dwight, don’t you get hot?!

Parker County Peach Festival

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Over the weekend, we headed out to Weatherford, Texas to check out the Parker County Peach Festival. Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time it was below 100 degrees, it’s been hot to say the least so we made sure to hit up this Peach Festival early.
The drive out to Weatherford took about an hour from where we live. After getting on highway 20 and once we had driven thru Fort Worth the scenery quickly turned sparse. On the east side of Dallas, there are lots of trees. Once you hit DFW it’s a huge metropolis with lots of homes and on the west side of Fort Worth it’s like you are beginning the grand entrance of the Southwest, lots of nothing.
Soon enough we entered Weatherford. Weatherford is a pretty decent sized town. Each county has a “seat” or in my terms “the capital of the county”. Weatherford is the “capital” of ParkerCounty. Here you will find the County Court House. It’s pretty neat to check these out.
 
The Parker County Peach Festival is actually situated in downtown Weatherford. Surrounding the Court House and adjacent streets. Due to the popularity of this event, the town provides numerous parking sites and free shuttle services. Take advantage of this. The shuttle aka bus takes 5 minutes and there are a lot of people coming so grab a parking spot where you can.
When I envisioned a Peach Festival, I picture everything peach. Various and numerous peach stands, peach ice cream, peach tea, peach cobbler, peach cooking contest, etc. etc. I envisioned more peach related anything than anything else at the festival. Unfortunately, I was wrong. If I have to describe this festival I would say it was more of a craft fair showcase than anything else.  
There were over 100 craft / business tents and booths. There was an area for the kids with a train and games. Free water stations were situated throughout the area which is a great thing – I mean come on it’s July in Texas. Blah! There were also three stages (tents with seating), one stage specifically for Children. We even saw a Miss Peach and a Miss Peach Puddin’!
The craft / business tents were interesting. There was everything and anything.  Here are a few of my favorites that I saw.
 
ALA Unique Metal Birds
A StepBack’NTime – Antiques and Auction Services
Carolyn Denning Bird Feeders



Sons of the Confederates… oh you Southern Boys…. you lost that battle…



I went to this festival for Peaches. This is my disappointment. There were some tents set up specifically for peaches. We did try some Peach Limeade (it was sooo delicious) and peach ice cream, I saw peach cobbler. There didn’t seem to be much variety in the peach department. There was also only one area designated for peach produce consisting of only a couple tables. When it came to food vendors, I think there were more non-peach related booths than peaches.
Personally, if you don’t mind checking out the vendors and tents definitely head out. However, if you are going for peaches…
Parking: Free
Festival Admission: $5 adults; under 12 free.
Advice: Bring Water. Wear Sunscreen.  

Disclaimer – All businesses mentioned in this post do not know me and have no idea who I am. To them, I was just another person walking around looking for peaches.