Oak Cliff Advocate

04/11/2025

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce will be relocating to a new office in the RedBird area.

As the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce continues to grow, so does the need for space.

The Chamber will be relocating to a new office in the RedBird area.

"We have truly appreciated being a tenant of Jim Lake Companies and are grateful for their support during

04/11/2025

Today, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert named Daniel Comeaux as the Dallas Police Department’s next Chief of Police, effective Wednesday, April 23.

Today, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert named Daniel Comeaux as the Dallas Police Department’s next Chief of Police, effective Wednesday, April 23.
Comeaux is a 33-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s...

04/11/2025

Stevens Park Village is in the process of becoming Oak Cliff’s newest conservation district, which would replace the base zoning with zoning tailored specifically for the neighborhood and determined by the neighborhood to promote development or redevelopment compatible with its existing character.⁠
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The neighborhood committee gathered signatures from 106 out of 141 households for the petition, just above 75%. The city only requires 58%.⁠
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https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/03/stevens-park-village-is-becoming-oak-cliffs-newest-conservation-district/

04/10/2025

Today, City of Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert appointed Interim Chief Justin Ball to serve as the next Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), effective on April 23, 2025.

Dallas Fire-Rescue. Photography by Jessica Turner.

Today, City of Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert appointed Interim Chief Justin Ball to serve as the next Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), effective on April 23, 2025.

Thirty-two candidates applied to the position. The list was nar...

04/10/2025

I Spy Butterflies is an enchanting new experience landing at the Dallas Zoo this spring.

Photo courtesy Metro Creative

I Spy Butterflies is an enchanting new experience landing at the Dallas Zoo this spring.

Open April 5 through October 26, this limited-time exhibit immerses guests in a beautifully landscaped garden, filled with native pollinator-friendly plants and hundreds of f...

04/10/2025

The exhibition “Soundings: Texas — Let Your Voice Be Heard” (Soundings), is a collaborative, community-based experimental sound installation that amplifies historically silenced voices in Texas.

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center via Google Maps

The exhibition “Soundings: Texas — Let Your Voice Be Heard” (Soundings), is a collaborative, community-based experimental sound installation that amplifies historically silenced voices in Texas — specifically those of women, non-binary, and q...

04/09/2025

David Henderson and Josephine Thinwa’s home in Winnetka Heights is more than just a place to live — it reflects their identities, values and passions.⁠
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From the moment you walk in, the space tells a story of Black history, civil rights and personal heritage with eclectic touches. With art, books and unique decor that hold deep meaning, including a bust of a Kenyan freedom fighter and shelves filled with banned books, every corner is a testament to the couple’s journey, their commitment to learning and their love for each other. ⁠
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“We’ve learned that our style is eclectic, but ‘eclectic’ doesn’t really even tell you anything ... we like to mix categories involving civil rights, involving Kenya, involving other ethnicities in the United States."⁠
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https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/03/oak-cliff-home-history-and-culture/
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📷️: ⁠

David Henderson and Josephine Thinwa’s home in Winnetka Heights is more than just a place to live — it’s a reflection of their identities, values and passions. From the moment you walk in, the space tells a story of Black history,

04/08/2025

On Friday, April 11th at 3:30 PM, Council Member Chad West, Park Board Vice Chair JR Huerta, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, and North Oak Cliff residents will celebrate the double Coombs Creek Trail Ribbon Cutting.

Coombs Creek (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

On Friday, April 11th at 3:30 PM, Council Member Chad West, Park Board Vice Chair JR Huerta, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, and North Oak Cliff residents will celebrate the double Coombs Creek Trail

04/07/2025

Dallas native Devin Odell got his start as one of the “best kids in Texas.” Before he became a member of the craft alcohol world, Odell was a professional paintball player. His journey is part of Dan Napoli’s 2017 documentary "Best Kids in Texas," which features the story of Odell’s team, the San Antonio X-Factor. ⁠
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As a player, Odell was traveling the world on tour. He wanted to create a product he could travel with and share wherever he went. This was the genesis of Dynasty Spirits, which now operates a distillery and bottling plant in the Dallas Design District. The company has a diverse offering, ranging from tequilas to vodkas to ready-to-drink margaritas and more. ⁠
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Dynasty Spirits’ newest venture, the eighth addition to its portfolio, is Lasso Motel Whiskey. With this lineup of 13 different whiskeys, Odell sought to recreate the essence of Dallas’ iconic Belmont Hotel, where he stayed for over four years. In its heyday, the hotel was frequented by musicians and other creatives, and it is this dedication to the road less traveled that is reflected in the Lasso Motel brand.⁠
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https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/03/devin-odell-whiskey-line/
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📷️: .the.photographer⁠

Dallas native Devin Odell got his start as one of the “best kids in Texas.” Before he became a member of the craft alcohol world, Odell was a professional paintball player. His journey is part of Dan Napoli’s 2017 documentary Best Kids in Texas, which features the story

04/07/2025

A man was found shot to death Friday morning, and a suspect remains at large, Dallas police said.

Photo by Getty Images.

A man was found shot to death Friday morning, and a suspect remains at large, Dallas police said.
On April 4 at about 6:30 a.m., Dallas Police responded to a call for service

04/04/2025

Armando Aguirre is going on five years of doing murals full-time. His goals for the future include being able to paint and travel and continue to grow his portfolio. His “Luka Magic” mural in Trinity Groves features NBA star Luka Dončić, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, devastating Dallas Mavericks fans. Aguirre has created several murals around Dallas and was commissioned to paint a mural in San Diego.⁠
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Aguirre says he remembers driving around Oak Cliff and looking at the murals, dreaming of creating art like that for his city. “I would daydream about this all the time, like I’d be in the back of the car, and I’d be looking at the walls. So to do that now, to drive around Dallas and to see my work, I feel really proud.”⁠
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“It feels cool, because murals just feel like a way to have kind of pushed myself into the scene without ever knowing who I was to begin with. So I kind of feel like I went around it in a different way, and I still established some type of name or recognition for my work.”⁠
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https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/03/armando-aguirre/

.mando .mando

04/04/2025

Spring break has come and gone - catch the latest happening in District 7!

Click here for more:
https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/01/trustee-ben-mackey-onward-and-upward-disd-is-ready-for-new-semester/

Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD Onward and upward - Dallas ISD ready for new semester Welcome back and happy new year! I hope all of you enjoyed some well-deserved rest and rejuvenation this holiday season. As we step into a new year, I’m excited to share

04/03/2025

David Dwyer, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 838 in North Dallas, has chosen to do his Eagle Scout project at Western Heights Cemetery.

The cemetery is divided into 42 sections, A1 through G6, and Dwyer will be directing a project to install signposts at each intersection of gridlines which will demarcate each group of 4 tangent sections.

Photo courtesy Randy Osteen

David Dwyer, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 838 in North Dallas, has chosen to do his Eagle Scout project at Western Heights Cemetery.

Western Heights Cemetery is administered and managed by the non-profit Fort Worth Avenue Development Group, a non-profit orga...

04/02/2025

After years of uncertainty, The Mayor’s House by Selda, a spinoff of Selda Mediterranean on Belt Line Road, has opened in the historic Mayor’s House on Zang. ⁠
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A restaurant was rumored to be opening in the building since early 2017. The building is the former home of 1935-1937 Dallas Mayor George Sergeant. Sergeant is said to have served lemonade on the home’s front porch to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when they were in town for the Texas Centennial. Believed to have been built in 1910, it received a parking variance in 2017 that allowed renovation for restaurant use, but projects fell through.⁠
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Mert Tezkol leased the building with his wife, Becky, and recently opened The Mayor’s House by Selda, which has a Turkish-style Mediterranean menu similar to their North Dallas flagship location. ⁠
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“I’m from Turkey, so when you go there all these places are very historical. So we have this kind of concept in Turkey, like having an old house and turning it into a restaurant,” Tezkol says. ⁠
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https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2025/03/the-mayors-house-by-selda/
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04/02/2025

Nearly 600 guests gathered in support of the Foundation’s mission, helping to raise $300,000 for youth mental health and suicide prevention programs across North Texas.

photo credit: Simon Luna
The Grant Halliburton Foundation hosted its 16th annual Beacon of Hope Community Luncheon on March 25 at the Omni Dallas Hotel.
Nearly 600 guests gathered in support of the Foundation’s mission, helping to raise $300,000 for youth mental

04/02/2025

Jamarion Phillips, a 3-star LB from South Oak Cliff with 29 offers, announced that he has committed to the Baylor Bears.

Jamarion Phillips, a 3-star LB from South Oak Cliff with 29 offers, announced that he has committed to the Baylor Bears.

04/02/2025

Last week, Transportation & Public Works Department staff and the contracted consultants presented the 30% design plans for the Downtown Elmwood Streetscape Improvement project to Elmwood and adjacent neighbors.

Transportation & Public Works Department staff and the contracted consultants presented the 30% design plans for the Downtown Elmwood Streetscape Improvement project.