ASC Book Club

Thursday, October 29th
7:00 P.M.

Hosts: Bill & Andy
Location: 2001 Royalwood Dr., Arlington, 76006 (map)
Call for directions: 817-718-2424

While England Sleeps (by David Leavitt)

Publisher Notes: Set against the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe, While England Sleeps tells the story of a love affair between the aristocratic young British writer Brian Botsford, who thinks homosexuality is something he will outgrow, and Edward Phelan, a sensitive and idealistic working-class employee of the London Underground and a Communist party member. When the strains of class difference, sexual taboo, and Brian's ambivalence impel Edward to volunteer to fight against Franco in Spain, Brian pursues him across Europe and into the violent chaos of war.

1. Get the book from the library or a book store.
2. Read it. (Sorry, getting the book isn't enough!)
3. Sign-in on the comments for this blog entry so we know how much dessert to get.
   
4. Come share dessert, as well as your thoughts and insights on the book.
5. All are welcome!

See you there!

GROUP RATING OF BOOK FOLLOWING DISCUSSION (10=HI, 1=LO): 8.6

DATE/TIME CHANGE: October Supper Gathering

Sunday, October 18th
6:00 PM

Texas Style Burgers & Wings

1831 Brown Blvd, #110, Arlington, TX 76006 Get directions

PH: (817) 275-1125

REVIEW: “The burgers here are the BEST in DFW. It is truly a neighborhood secret. I am never disappointed in the quality and the cost is very inexpensive. The fries are great and so are the onion rings and the blackened chicken sandwiches. This is a great little place.” (Menu: custom burgers, catfish, wings, salad, more.)

So that we can reserve enough seats, please leave your FIRST NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS in the comment section for this posting.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

Saturday, October 10^th

• Caravan from Mariano’s Mexican Cuisine (2614 Majesty Drive) at 1:30pm (Join us for lunch at noon!) OR

• Meet us at Big Tex at 2:15-2:30pm

General Information:

• General admission is $15
• Parking is $10 on Official State Fair lots
• Food, rides, and drinks are purchased with 50 cent coupons (sold at coupon booths located throughout the grounds)
• Directions: Take Interstate 30 East to Dallas. Follow the signs for Interstate 30 East toward Texarkana. After you pass Downtown Dallas, take exit 48B and follow directions to Fair Park.

UPDATE: No takers, so will cancel event. However, I've heard good things about this restaurant, so I'll leave it on the list to try in near future. Enjoy the cool weather!

POOL PARTY!

Saturday, September 26

4:00p-???

Hosts: Don & Yuri

Location: 5204 Wimbledon Ct., Arlington, TX 76017-2785 (map)

Call for directions: (817) 466-2768

Clothing optional

What to bring: towel, sunscreen, potluck dinner item

Dinner Details:

• Potluck dinner to begin at 6:00p
• NO GRILL, so be creative with your potluck choice!
• BYOB (bring your own beverages); ice chest/ice provided
• If attending, please leave your FIRST NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS and POTLUCK ITEM in the comment section for this posting.

BOOK CLUB: Calling all readers!!

A number of guys have been talking at recent parties about the books we're reading, so a book club was suggested. Here's how it works:

1. Get the book from the library or a book store.
2. READ IT! (Sorry, getting the book isn't enough!)
3. Come share dessert, as well as your thoughts and insights on the book... and if you've got bitchy comments, please sit by me!

Let's get started!

Thursday, September 24
7:00 P.M.

Hosts: Bill & Andy
Location: 2001 Royalwood Dr., Arlington, 76006 (map)
Call for directions: 817-718-2424

First up: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

From Publishers Weekly: In his latest collection, Sedaris has found his heart. This is not to suggest that the author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and other bestselling books has lost his edge. The 27 essays here (many previously published in Esquire, G.Q. or the New Yorker, or broadcast on PRI's This American Life) include his best and funniest writing yet. Here is Sedaris's family in all its odd glory. Here is his father dragging his mortified son over to the home of one of the most popular boys in school, a boy possessed of "an uncanny ability to please people," demanding that the boy's parents pay for the root canal that Sedaris underwent after the boy hit him in the mouth with a rock. Here is his oldest sister, Lisa, imploring him to keep her beloved Amazon parrot out of a proposed movie based on his writing. ("'Will I have to be fat in the movie?' she asked.") Here is his mother, his muse, locking the kids out of the house after one snow day too many, playing the wry, brilliant commentator on his life until her untimely death from cancer. His mother emerges as one of the most poignant and original female characters in contemporary literature. She balances bitter and sweet, tart and rich—and so does Sedaris, because this is what life is like. "You should look at yourself," his mother says in one piece, as young Sedaris crams Halloween candy into his mouth rather than share it. He does what she says and then some, and what emerges is the deepest kind of humor, the human comedy.

GROUP RATING OF BOOK FOLLOWING DISCUSSION (10=HI, 1=LO): 7.9

September Dinner Gathering

Saturday, September 19th
7:30 PM

PHO'95

2525 E Arkansas Ln, Arlington, TX 76010 Directions

PH: (817) 543-2295

Cuisine: Vietnamese..... Ambiance: Casual.....

REVIEW (John & Howard): “We went into PHO'95 today for lunch and enjoyed it. There's room enough for our group. Got opinions from a couple others and said they're willing to try it too. It's in the plaza on NW corner of 360 & Arkansas.” (More reviews)

So that we can reserve enough seats, please leave your FIRST NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS in the comment section for this posting.

I look forward to seeing you there!

POOL PARTY!

Saturday, September 12

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER!

:-(

Jazz By The Boulevard Music & Arts Festival

Who?	Headline performances of some of the most acclaimed artists in jazz, plus two stages of continuous jazz performances throughout the weekend. For the most current performance schedule, please go to http://www.fortworthjazz.com/.
When?	Friday, September 11, 2009 : 5:00pm — 11:00pm Saturday, September 12, 2009 : 12:00pm — 11:00pm Sunday, September 13, 2009 : 2:00pm — 8:00pm
Where?	Nestled on the tree-lined lawn of the Will Rogers Memorial Center at 3401 West Lancaster, in Fort Worth’s beautiful Cultural District.
Why?	To preserve and beautify the Camp Bowie district, as well as educate and expose the public to the Cultural District’s historical architecture, eclectic variety of museums, shops, restaurants, and significant points of interest.
How Much?	$5 per person, per day for general festival admission & lawn seating; reserved table seating $35 in advance/$40 the day of the festival.
Highlights	∗ 70 specially selected artisans showcasing professional art and fine crafts ∗ Cooking Carnivalè pavilion with wine seminars, specialty food vendors, cooking demonstrations and samplings ∗ Food and beverage from Camp Bowie’s top restaurants, plus traditional ‘jazz’ fare including barbecue, Cajun, catfish and more. Join Ben at the Jazz Festival! Call 817-451-4443.

SEPT 12: FWADA Fall Gallery Night 2009

Not going to the swim party? Check out FWADA Fall Gallery Night 2009!

The Fort Worth Art Dealer’s Association (FWADA) invites you to take-in the visual arts and our community’s unique cultural richness during Fall Gallery Night on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm. Stroll through participating galleries, museums, retail businesses, and area restaurants, and enjoy the many artists featured during this community event. Gallery Night is free, and open to the public to attend.

If interested, call Ben (817-451-4443) and join him in visiting some of the world-class museums in Fort Worth!

Pool Party / School Supplies Fundraiser!

Saturday, August 29 4p-8p

Hosts: Bill & Andy
Location: 2001 Royalwood Dr., Arlington, 76006 (map)
Call for directions: 817-718-2424

SCHOOL SUPPLY FUNDRAISER FOR SUMMIT INTERNATIONAL PREPARATORY ACADEMY! The greatest need is for secondary (middle-high school) student school supplies. As the TAX-FREE WEEKEND is August 22-23 (and includes school supplies this year), please bring whatever school supplies you can contribute to students in need from the following list:

3" D-ring Binders
Pencil Pouch
8-Subject Dividers
Lined Paper (College Rule)
Composition Journals
Geometry Set (ruler, compass, protractor)
Pocket Dictionary/Thesaurus
3X5 Index Cards
#2 Pencils
Pink Erasers
Blue Pens
Highlighters
Dry Erase Markers
Glue Sticks
Scissors
Map Pencils (colored pencils)
Pencil Sharpener
Small Stapler
Bottle Correction Fluid
Large Clips

What else to bring: suit/towel ("textile" before dinner; your choice - bathing suit/no bathing suit - after dinner), sunscreen, and something for the potluck dinner

Dinner Details:

* Potluck dinner to begin at 6:00p
* Sign-up in the comments section below for the covered dish of your choice
* BYOB (bring your own beverages); ice chest/ice provided

So that we can get a guesstimate of the number of men attending for the food, please leave your FIRST NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS and POTLUCK ITEM in the comment section for this posting.

Thanks, Bill & Andy, for hosting this fundraiser! Summit is a charter school in North Arlington, and is one of the five schools in the Uplift Education organization. One of the schools in Uplift, North Hills Preparatory Academy, was named the 9th Best High School in the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine this past Spring. Last year - in only our second year - Summit moved from "Academically Acceptable" to "Recognized" by the State of Texas, and our goal this year is to move our students to the "Exemplary" ranking. We receive some funding from the state and some from foundations and individuals; however, we have no tax base for additional funds and we are tuition-free to all students. We are considered a Title I School, which means we have a high percentage of poorer students. (About 75% of our students are on a free or reduced-fee lunch program.) These supplies will mean a lot to the students in my school who don't have the resources to get everything they need. Thanks to all for your help! James