Angela Fox Petersen » Dallas

The Art of Nonconformity

Angela — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:15:27 +0000

Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they’ve been told to. – Alan Keightley

Chris Guillebeau, author of the popular website and recently published book The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the WorldThe Art of Nonconformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World (affiliate link), will be visiting Dallas on a promotional book tour this Friday.

Here are the details…

When: Friday, October 22 at 7 pm
Where: Borders at 10720 Preston Rd. (Preston & Royal)
What: Informal gathering. While cupcakes are optional, they’re certainly preferred.

For more information, check out my guest post on iliveindallas.com.

If you’re in the area and you’re committed to finding your own unique path in life while doing remarkable things along the way, then I urge you to check out Chris’ work. I met Chris at SXSW Interactive in Austin earlier this year. He’s a very real, down-to-earth guy who’s work lives up to its hype, and he always seems to bring together a great group of people. In addition, Chris is donating 100% of his book proceeds to Charity: Water for each reader he meets.

A Voice for Nonconformity

Chris has created a writing career and a business (while traveling the world) around the idea that you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to. You can make your life whatever you want it to be, and you can safely ignore anyone who tells you differently.

Whether you’re climbing down off the corporate ladder, giving up the partner track, or challenging yourself to pursue a big dream in another way, the biggest obstacle is often mental, not logistical. Learning to ignore naysayers and giving yourself permission to do the things that really matter to you by giving up the things that don’t is often the first step. Even if those naysayers are mostly in your head. (But, what will “they” say??)

When I first came across Chris’ work, I was in the process of making pretty significant changes in my life. I had cut my spending significantly and was paying down pretty sizable credit card debt, added back calm and quiet to my life by eliminating any unnecessary noise, and even found a wonderful new home for my sweet dog when it became apparent that she needed more than I had to give in the little free time I had. But, even after all that I hadn’t been ready to change the most overwhelming piece of the puzzle – my job.

Chris’ voice was one of the voices that listened to as I gave myself permission to upend the one thing that felt immovable and as I completely rethought how I did my work. As a result, I’m at a new company creating a function entirely new to them – using only the good parts of what I used to do and discarding the others completely.

When you set your mind to making something happen, it’s amazing what ideas and opportunities come to light. Besides, if those things don’t add value to your life, then what’s the point?

Not in Dallas?

Don’t worry. This is no ordinary book tour. From September until the end of the year, Chris will visit all 50 states promoting his book and meeting informally with readers. Then in January 2011, he will visit all 10 provinces in Canada for a grand total of 63 cities on the book tour. It’s an epic itinerary, and it’s probably coming to a city near you. Check out The Unconventional Book Tour for more details.

20 Truly Local Dallas Favorites

Angela — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:18:20 +0000

There’s an ongoing gripe that I hear from time to time about Dallas that inevitably goes something like this: ”Ugh. Dallas is so unexciting, and the people are so superficial. It’s home of the ‘$30,000 millionaire.” You don’t agree? Haven’t you been to Uptown, NorthPark Mall, or Highland Park Village or SMU??” Then, with smug dissatisfaction, the person will inevitably say, “Austin is so much better. Or San Francisco. Or Chicago. Or …”

Having grown up in Dallas, I’ve been to all those places and more. Dallas does not have a monopoly on pretentiousness or even on big hair! In an effort to sing the praises of the wonderful, unique things that Dallas has to offer, I’ve put together a list of 20 of my local Dallas favorites… Each is unique to Dallas. No big box stores or chains here.

1) East Dallas & Henderson Avenue: I have a fondness for all things East of 75/Central Expressway. Everything a little more offbeat and a little less cookie cutter, including the funky snow man (or snow woman) above who appears a few blocks down from my house during our record snow storms this year!

2) The Advocate Magazine: It’s a great magazine and website for local information about East Dallas, full of lots of fun tidbits.

3) White Rock Local Market: This is a relatively new market, but it’s been a blast to attend since they typically have live music. The first spring market has already started, and I highly recommend the beer bread and some of the gluten free baked goods!

4) Nonna: Everything I’ve had at Nonna has been wonderful. It’s very authentic Italian according to an Italian friend I brought here. He was certain that the chef must be Italian; he’s not. Try the homemade focacci and limoncello.

5) Arts & Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art. It brings some amazing authors to Dallas and is considered a premier author’s lecture series. It covers the gamut with respect to genre. I’ve heard Daniel Pink, Ken Robinson, Sarah Dunant, Isabel Allende, and Ira Glass of NPR are still coming this season.

6) North Haven Gardens: They provide quality plants, including great vegetables and herb plants, and they’re seriously knowledgeable and helpful staff can help you determine the source and solution for what is ailing any of your plants!

7) Veritas Wine Room: The inside of this wine bar feels like a comfortable living room. It’s a great place to spend some down time sipping red wine and tasting the cheese plate, the specialty jerky, or Wiseman House chocolates. Try the Ass Kisser Shiraz. Seriously.

8) Jimmy’s Food Store: You might drive past Jimmy’s if you didn’t know better, but it would definitely be your loss. This market has all kinds of great Italian imports, including wine and cheeses. I’m a particular fan of the truffle cheese! We’ve been know to buy their frozen pizza dough, plenty of shredded mozzarella, and their homemade Italian turkey sausage to “make” our own pizza. It’s well worth the trip.

9) Cafe Madrid is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch. The crispy calamari, tortilla espanola with aioli, and sangria are the perfect Spanish trifecta, and they’re all are great at Cafe Madrid.

10) The Pearl Cup Espresso Bar. I love The Pearl Latte, the ambiance, and the free wifi. Next trip I’ll definitely be trying their black and white cookie too!

11) IgniteDallas is a new favorite. I attended the first event, and it was a great time! The second event is planned for today (June 2nd) at the Granada Theater.

12) Dallas Affaires Cake Co. is perfect for birthday, graduation, or wedding celebrations. My family recommends the chocolate cake with amaretto filling.

13) Kozy Kitchen: Feel like you’re among friends, come in your workout wear, and enjoy their challah bread or a veggie omelette from the produce board on weekend mornings. Free wifi too.

14) Dallas Farmers Market is a work in progress, but they are making progress. In addition to the great farmers, I enjoy visiting Savoy Sorbet, Kurry King, and Supernatural Meats!

15) Thomas Ave. Beverage Co. (a.k.a TABC) is one of my favorite bars in the city. It’s patio is the perfect place to enjoy the first sunny days of spring, the first cool days of fall, and many times in between. Also check out the Sunday “manmosas” – a bottomless mimosa in a “man-sized” pint glass.

~~16) York Street: I enjoy everything at York Street. Nothing disappoints~~. –> Update: York street has closed. It was sad news!

17) Aspen Light Photography creates beautiful family portraits and also does wedding photography.

18) SMU’s Tate Lecture Series provides an opportunity to hear amazing leaders in business and politics when they come to Dallas. I’ve been a fan since I was a student usher during undergrad at SMU.

19) Dallas International Film Festival has been a great way to see interesting new movies before they hit mainstream. If you haven’t checked it out, you should.

20) City Craft: Modern Fabric Boutique & Sewing Lounge, located right next to Paper & Chocolate! I’ve jumped the gun a little by including this one, since I haven’t taken one of their classes yet, but every time I visit Paper & Chocolate I at least spend some quality time window shopping at City Craft. It’s on my to do list!

If you’re from Dallas, please feel free to add to the list in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your favorites!

Update: Apparently this post caught the attention of the great people behind I Live in Dallas, and I’ve given them permission to re-post it over there. If you don’t already know about this site, please check it out. It’s one of my favorites!

A Little Piece of Texas

Angela — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:23:10 +0000

This weekend is one of the craziest weekends in Dallas every year. It’s the last weekend of the Texas State Fair and TX-OU weekend – when the fans of the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners descend on Dallas for the Red River Shootout!

For those readers not from the Lone Star State, you’ve probably heard a little about the importance of football in Texas… This weekend is a perfect example. It’s serious business and brings in a significant amount of money to the local economy.

I’ve lived in Dallas for a long time, but as my Dad would say, “I don’t have a dog in that hunt,” so I typically get out of town or lay low avoiding the malls and staying in whatever part of town is likely to be least popular with the tourists!

Here’s a little taste of the State Fair 2009 for those not from around here! :)