Dallas Voice

While we were drinking …

Posted on 02 Jan 2013 at 11:56am

… I mean eating … or rather, sleeping … hell, all those things. 2012 is gone and, as we return to see how it left us, we noticed a few more things disappeared — among them, the fiscal cliff. But also BEE, Monica Greene’s Oak Cliff enchiladeria. Even after her Nueva Cocina closed under still-unknown circumstances, Greene said BEE would continue. That no longer appears to be the case.

Something that will reappear in Dallas is the Bruce Wood Dance Project. Last week, Wood revealed that a third season of his new company would return for two performance arcs (instead of the one that he’d done in 2011 and 2012). There will be an encore of his dance My Brother’s Keeper in March, followed by three world premieres in June. He’ll kick it all off with a salon next week.

We’re also looking forward to the return this Sunday of Downton Abbey, and getting to see evil gay valet Thomas, pictured, stir up more trouble, as Shirley MacLaine joins the cast as Lady Cora’s American mom.

Anyway, there’s a lot more ahead, but welcome to 2013, everyone!

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Monica’s no longer Monica’s

Posted on 12 Dec 2012 at 11:02am

Restaurateur Monica Greene confirmed on Facebook today a rumor I first heard last night: That she is no longer affiliated with the Oak Lawn eatery that bears her name.

We extensively covered the opening of Monica’s Nueva Cocina and Mi Lounge earlier this year, and the food is worth checking out.

Here’s what Greene said on her Facebook page:

Dear Friends:
Whether change is by choice or imposed, negative or positive, personal or professional, it’s always a challenging fact of life. With any major changes there are actions we can take to ease the process. And I have. The rumors were true. I haven’t been a part of Monica’s Nueva Cocina for about a month now.
For the moment the restaurant still carries my name, I hope that changes soon. I believe that the owners of this restaurant still committed to serve great Mexican Food. I wish them the best.
Monica’s have been a dream that I hoped to bring top reality. For me, it was so much more – a chance to return to the Oak Lawn area, and a chance to take an exciting concept to fruition. Since I had to help earn the reality of this dream, I treasured it every day in a unique way. I always gave it “my all.” Even after a tough year as this past one, I look back with the wisdom of hindsight and I have to recognized that I enjoyed help create a good restaurant. To each of you who supported the restaurant and me. Thank you. Monica.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

2 ways to come out in Denton on National Coming Out Day

Posted on 09 Oct 2012 at 2:04pm

Two LGBT events are planned in Denton on National Coming Out Day — Thursday, Oct. 11. A concert with Justin Roth benefits OUTreach Denton, a support and advocacy group for LGBTQA teens, and The Dallas Way — the GLBT History Project presents its third Outrageous Oral storytelling program, the first outside of Oak Lawn.

Outrageous Oral takes place at the Willis Library on the University of North Texas campus in Denton. The school has begun a project archiving the North Texas LGBT community and opened a repository for papers and artifacts. The Phil Johnson Library has moved from Resource Center Dallas to UNT.

The first two Outrageous Oral events took place in the Vixin Lounge at Sue Ellen’s on Cedar Springs Road.

Each edition of Outrageous Oral includes a number of LGBT community members telling their stories. The program in Denton includes pieces by Monica Greene, Bruce Monroe, Penny Krispin, Buddy Molino, Arturo Ortega and Don Maison.

Restaurateur Green tells her story of transitioning in the ’90s. Her story, as she told it at the first Outrageous Oral evening at Sue Ellen’s, is posted below.

Krispin, a nurse, will recount how she offered Pentamidine Mist treatments to prevent a fatal pneumonia at a time when Parkland Hospital was refusing to administer it. Her work was the beginning of what became the Nelson-Tebedo Clinic.

Maison, President and CEO of AIDS Services Dallas, was an attorney and will recount two cases he handled in the ’80s. He represented Dallas Gay Alliance, which sued in 1988 Parkland to eliminate a waiting list for medication and limit the number of beds for persons with AIDS. In another case he litigated, Southwest Airlines was forced to hire men as flight attendants.

Justin Roth concert: Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1111 Cordell St., Denton at 7 p.m. $10.

Outrageous Oral: Willis Library, 1506 Highland Avenue, Denton. Oct. 11. 7–9 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Continue reading “2 ways to come out in Denton on National Coming Out Day” »

— David Taffet

This week’s takeaways: Life+Style

Posted on 03 Aug 2012 at 1:37pm

This week’s edition is The Food Issue, and we cover a lot (check it out), but the big news this week is that Monica Greene has, exactly five years after closing Ciudad, reopened in the gayborhood. Last night was the first service for Monica’s Nueva Cocina, her revision of Aca y Alla now at the ilume. The formal grand opening won’t be for two weeks, but you can get a sneak before then.

Theatre 3‘s new season officially kicks off upstairs on Monday (following previews this weekend) with Present Laughter, a comedy by gay British icon Noel Coward. Avenue Q will continue to play its extended run downstairs until September 16 (although I heard a rumor it will go even longer). Mark-Brian Sonna Productions’ The Importance of Being Lovely continues its successful run at the Stone Cottage in Addison, having just been extended as well to Aug. 18. Across the way, WaterTower Theatre’s Smokey Joe’s Cafe has also been extended, to Aug. 19.

Liz Mikel is also performing an extended run in Joseph as DTC, but you can see her out of one character and into another as she performs the songs of Moms Mabley, Ma Rainey and more on her night off. Her cabaret show will be at the South Side on Lamar Blue Room on Monday night.

On Thursday night, two more Drag Racers come to town to perform at the new I’ll Do Dancing Club on Elm Street, with music from DJ Redeye.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Axiom closes Monday, Monica Greene’s upcoming Tajin to take over space

Posted on 29 Apr 2012 at 2:01pm

Axiom Sushi Lounge at the ilume on Cedar Springs never fully caught on, even after the name change from Fin and despite pretty good sushi. But it will officially close for good April 30. Monica Greene, who has been planning to open her newest restaurant, Tajin, next door to Axiom since last summer, will delay Tajin’s the opening so that she can take over the Axiom space, according to sources.

Tajin, with which Greene will reinterpret Mexican food in Dallas once again, was supposed to open in March. Opening was delayed to “late May or June” earlier this year. The renovation will like delay the opening even further, to July at the earliest.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Rawlins is back!

Posted on 24 Oct 2011 at 9:41am

The 10-hour Rawlins Gilliland fundraising marathon on KERA is underway right now, with Monica Greene as his first co-host of the day. Tune in and for God’s sake, pledge so we can end this insanity!!!!

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Local briefs • 10.14.11

Posted on 13 Oct 2011 at 5:41pm

RCD hosts ‘The 5 Factor’

Resource Center Dallas, in partnership with Dallas Modern Luxury, presents the third annual “The 5 Factor” event on Thursday, Oct. 20, at eM the venue by Marc, 1500 Dragon St. in Dallas.

“The 5 Factor” event recognizes five of Dallas’ finest in areas such as cuisine, fashion, media and literature.

This year’s “5 Factor” honorees are journalist and award-winning author Jenny Block; Emmy Award-winning journalist Ron Corning, who recently joined WFAA Channel 8 as the host of News 8 Daybreak; Dallas restaurant owner Monica Greene of Monica’s Aca Y Alla in Deep Ellum and BEE in Oak Cliff, who recently began providing commentary on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars for WFAA; award-winning fashion designer Prashi Shah who created her own label, Prashe, and recently opened a showroom in Dallas’ Design District; and Bronwen Weber, executive chef and general manager of Frosted Art Bakery and Studio in Dallas who is perhaps best known to many for her appearances on television’s Food Network Challenge programs.

The evening will be hosted by Angela Betasso, with state Rep. Eric L. Johnson and his wife as co-chairs and last year’s honorees serving as the honorary host committee.

General admission is $50 per person, available online at The5Factor.org. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of Resource Center Dallas.

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GLAAD holds ‘Get Amped’ 5K

The local chapter of GLAAD presents Get Amped, a 5K run/walk on the Katy Trail on Thursday, Oct. 20, in conjunction with similar chapter events around the country.
Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center.

The starting gun goes off at 7 p.m. The celebration takes place at the finish line, also at the arena, at 9 p.m.

An after-party takes place at 9:30 p.m. at the Round-Up Saloon.

Each runner has a goal of raising $250. The money raised will benefit the national organization.

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VNA holds Service of Remembrance

The Visiting Nurse Association will host a Service of Remembrance on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Preston Hollow United Methodist Church, 6315 Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas.

The event is open to the public and will feature special music, readings and the opportunity to light a memorial candle.

Attendees of all faiths are welcome to attend the service.

For more information call Sue Rafferty, bereavement coordinator with the Visiting Nurse Association, at 214-689-2922

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 14, 2011.

— Michael Stephens

Monica Greene’s move back to Dallas delayed

Posted on 17 Sep 2010 at 3:57pm

We were getting excited.

Monica Greene, the trans restaurateur who closed Ciudad three years ago to the disappointment of all, had announced this spring that she was moving back to Dallas to start a new restaurant. Then we heard this week that she will actually open two new restaurants — one, called BEA, which is short for the “best enchiladas anywhere.” Then we heard that the timing was perfect: She was set to be in town just in time for Pride.

Best laid plans.

Greene posted on her Facebook page this morning that due to a “small accident” her move from Aspen has been delayed. “WILL BE THERE BY THE END OF THE MONTH!” she said. So, no Monica at Lee Park. But we’ll wait. And look forward to those enchiladas.

— Arnold Wayne Jones

Monica Greene to return to Dallas

Posted on 14 May 2010 at 12:23pm

9-Monica-Greene A year ago this week in our 25th Anniversary Issue, we listed transgender chef and restaurateur Monica Greene as one of our 25 Dallas Notables. Now comes word that Greene, who’s been living in Aspen, Colo., for the last few years, plans to return to Dallas in September to open a new restaurant called Distrito. “I’m very excited,” Greene told D Magazine’s Side Dish. “I can’t transmit how much through the phone line. I’ve been eating at new concepts all over Dallas and I am amazed by the savvy attitude and energy [of the restaurant business] in Dallas. It’s not dull like Denver.”