2026 May Oak Cliff Advocate

DART OUT OF TOWN

Need to get to the airport quickly and conveniently? We serve Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field every day of the week.

DFW AIRPORT

ORANGE LINE to DFW Airport

Terminal A Station

SILVER LINE to DFW Airport

Terminal B Station

DALLAS LOVE FIELD

GREEN OR ORANGE LINE to Inwood/Love

Field Station, and then LOVE FIELD

SHUTTLE (Bus Route 5) to Dallas Love Field

DOWNLOAD THE GOPASS® APP TO BUY PASSES AND PLAN TRIPS.

DISTRIBUTION/ ADVERTISING 214.560.4204

President/Editor-in-Chief: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com

Chief Operating Officer: Alessandra Quintero

786.838.5891 / aquintero@advocatemag.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Frank McClendon

214.560.4215 / fmcclendon@advocatemag.com

Catherine Pate

214.560.4201 / cpate@advocatemag.com

John Lynch jlynch@advocatemag.com

Classified Manager: Prio Berger 214.292.0493 / pberger@advocatemag.com

EDITORS:

Alyssa High ahigh@advocatemag.com

Madelyn Edwards medwards@advocatemag.com

Victoria Hernandez vhernandez@advocatemag.com

Syra Castillo scastillo@advocatemag.com

Digital Editor: Cloi Bryan cbryan@advocatemag.com

Chief Creative Officer: Jynnette Neal jneal@advocatemag.com

Creative Director/Photographer: Lauren Allen lallen@advocatemag.com

Contributors: Patti Vinson, Carol Toler, Sam Gillespie, Lisa Petty, Austin Wood, Hailey Smith, Mallory Baureis, Alexander Kwapis

Contributing photographers: Kathy Tran, Yuvie Styles, Victoria Gomez, Amani Sodiq, Cat Iler, Jenni Cholula, Austin Gibbs, Ethan Good, Tanner Garza, Gabriel Cano, Brandon Gonzalez, Jessica Turner, Justin Schwartz

Advocate (c) 2024 is published monthly in print and daily online by Advocate Media - Dallas Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas and first published in 1991. Contents of this print magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements and sponsorships printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject ay editorial, advertising or sponsorship material in print or online. Opinions set forth in Advocate publications are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Publisher’s viewpoint. More than 180,000 people read Advocate publications in print each month; Advocate online publications receive more than 4 million pageviews monthly. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate print and online publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one print copy per reader. For information about supporting our non-profit mission of providing local news to neighborhood readers, please call 214-5604204 or email jabshiro@advocatemag.com

Mural on the side of a hair salon on the corner of N. Vernon Avenue and W. Davis Street. Photography by Lauren Allen. FOLLOW US:

Talk to us: editor@advocatemag.com Newsletter: advocatemag.com/newsletter

SERVING OAK CLIFF FOR OVER 26 YEARS

For over 26 years, our team has had the privilege of serving Oak Cliff—a community that has given us so much. Our passion goes far beyond real estate; we’re deeply invested in the people, the character, and the stories that make this neighborhood so special. We show up, give back, and stay connected—because being part of Oak Cliff means contributing to its continued growth and spirit. With a deep understanding of its historic homes, evolving market, and unique charm, we’re here to guide, support, and advocate for you every step of the way. Whether you’re buying or selling, our goal is simple: to serve you with integrity, insight, and genuine care—helping you find not just a home, but the right fit for your life.

‘AN INDIAN ED ICON’

Peggy

Larney and her lasting impact for the Dallas Native American community

Story by VICTORIA HERNANDEZ

AT THE END OF JANUARY , Dallas lost an Indigenous educator and advocate. To Oak Cliff neighbor Tana Takes Horse, she was “an Indian Ed icon.”

At the end of January, Dallas lost an Indigenous educator and advocate. To Oak Cliff neighbor Tana Takes Horse, she was “an Indian Ed icon.”

That icon was Peggy Larney. Larney, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, saw the importance of using her voice to support students and extended her work to both the city and state levels.

Through the Dallas ISD American Indian Education Program, she provided “services to support the unique educational and cultural needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students.”

When Larney began the program, she would go to schools to tell stories and would sometimes include dancers. She then moved into more curriculum-based concepts.

She was also a force for change. She led the removal of 10 Native American mascots and logos from Dallas ISD schools over two years. She filed a complaint alongside two co-workers, asking for the mascots to be changed in August 1997.

Larney founded Indian Citizens Against Racial Exploitation (ICARE), to help that cause and educate the wider community about how negative stereotypes in the media and other sources can affect the Native American population.

“Unless you’re an American Indian, it may not be as personal,”

said Larney in a May 1999 article from The Dallas Morning News. “But our school district is 85% ethnic minorities. Here in Dallas, we do not promote stereotyping.”

At the state level, the first ever American Indian Heritage Day in Texas was designated after she formed a committee with the Southwest Jewish Congress and local Native Americans, garnering the assistance of State Rep. Roberto Alonzo to write and introduce the bill.

It passed unanimously through the Texas House and Senate, with the governor signing it into law in May 2013 to mark the last Friday of September as American Indian Heritage Day.

Larney was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1944. She went on to attend Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Her time in Dallas dates back to the Indian Relocation Act of 1956. The law was created with the intention to move Native Americans from reservations to urban areas.

Brian Larney, Peggy’s son, says that she first moved to East Dallas that year because of the act. He says there are both positive and negative outlooks on the act.

“There’s a lot of gaps that happened,” Brian says of the resources available at the time from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

“They weren’t positive, but they survived.”

He recalls that Larney lived with four girls in one room. She went through a couple of different jobs, at one point working for the Dallas Police Department.

“She was there when Kennedy got shot,” he says. “There was another American Indian lady there, and she was interviewing (Lee Harvey Oswald) … I think my mom was interviewing the wife and Lee Harvey’s mom. And even when you see all those pictures, they’re in there, like all the white people with the hats, that’s their bosses.”

Larney and others attending the Woman’s March in Dallas on Jan. 4, 2023. Brian says this started their Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women movement locally with the shirts and branding.

From there, Larney went on to marry his dad, Larry Larney. The couple had two kids, and she attended Mountain View College and El Centro College before earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Upon graduation, she discovered the American Indian Education Program.

“They couldn’t even tell her what tribe they were, and she knew they were Native because they were enrolled in the program,” Takes Horse says. “So she saw the need of educating those Native students on their culture because it had been lost due to the Relocation Act, and now I have students that are grandchildren of the Relocation Act … it’s an ongoing process, and that’s why she started it.”

Takes Horse, who is Crow, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Chippewa and Hidatsa, currently serves as the American Indian Education Program Coordinator for Dallas ISD. When she stepped into the role to revive the program in 2025, she did not know the extent of Larney’s work.

“I want to say when I first met her, I did not realize that she had already had this job, that she had already been the director of the Indian Ed program. I thought she was a community member,” she says.

A lot of today’s iteration of the Indian Ed program comes from the work that Larney had done before.

“I still go visit every single one of my students once a month, and we read

a book, and we discuss it, and we discuss reading curriculum as well as just learning about Native culture,” Takes Horse says.

Larney also supported youth sports, but especially basketball, with help from Leo Wesley.

“I was the son, and he was actually the worker under my mom. He has a good perception of the game, too, but he played coach and knew the parents and the kids, and that was kind of the goal,” Brian says. “It wasn’t basketball. It was more of a start getting the American Indian kids and the parents to start knowing who’s in the DFW area with the district. And how do you get them to intertwine, play and get to know each other and through a sport mechanism?”

Larney’s life and legacy have made a lasting impact in Dallas. Her work continues to inspire today.

Brian has focused much of his activism through art because of what his parents taught him — to show authenticity. He says he wanted to break the mold in advertising because of the racist mascots and the imagery he saw on TV.

“So I tackle a lot of American Indian issues. And it might be for the City of Dallas, might be Fort Worth. It might be tribal or sovereignty-related, or it might be trying to help out American Indian children through different issues, but it’s so broad,” he says. “It requires what you can do to help out American

“I’M AN EDUCATED NATIVE WOMAN, AND I CAN USE MY VOICE TO HELP OTHERS.”

Indians and so even then the other part is that we have causes that are Missing, Murdered, Indigenous relatives that do mean women, transgender and making sure that you help out everybody.”

For Takes Horse, she says that Larney continues to remind her to keep using her voice.

“I think for a long time, I was afraid of what people would think,” she says. “Seeing how she lived her life and how she advocated for Natives, that (shows) that my voice matters and I need to use it. I’m an educated Native woman, and I can use my voice to help others.”

Takes Horse says seeing Larney participate in powwows at City Hall was also impactful.

“Especially because, not too long ago, Natives weren’t even allowed to do their Indian dances,” she says. “They weren’t allowed to have powwows; it was illegal, and to see it there in City Hall in front of everybody was amazing. We’ve come so far, and yet we still have so far to go.”

Correction/Clarification: A previous version of this article, which also appeared in the May print issue, stated that Jodi Voice Yellowfish assisted in writing and introduced the bill for American Indian Heritage Day in Texas. The updated version removes that Jodi Voice Yellowfish assisted in the writing and introduction of the bill. The Oak Cliff Advocate strives for accuracy and clarity in all matters.

CEREAL FOR EVERY MEAL

The Spelled Milk is a spot for cereal-heads and casual consumers alike

WHEN

YOU WALK INTO THE SPELLED MILK on West Davis Street, it’s hard to find one thing to focus on. Not in a cluttered, disorganized, chaotic way, but there’s just so much to see.

The walls are filled with murals, including a mystical wizard lounging with a cereal box in hand, displays of unique worldwide flavors, and the Fruity Pebbles, Frosted Flakes, Reese’s Puffs and Apple Jacks painted restroom entrance at the back corner of the shop.

The local cereal bar and dessert lounge, founded by Michael Goode two years ago, has everything you could imagine. In addition to the murals, there are games on every table, an array of knick-knacks and snacks, a cooler filled with drinks, and a wall of hundreds of cereal options. But there’s more.

“We reach 1,000 cereals this week,” Goode says excitedly during our March interview.

The selection includes cereals, ice creams, milkshakes, coffees, hot cocoas and sweet treats with dairy-free options. In the front of the menu, you’ll find cereal combos with milk and handmade whipped cream ($6.98) for those who can’t decide.

Goode says the most cereals he’s seen in one “build your own” bowl at a time is 32 different types. A cereal flight ($15.99) is also available with four cereal bowls of choice, paired with two scoops of ice cream and served with milk on the side.

Additionally, one section of the menu titled “The Enchanted Brew” lists out options for smoothies, ice cream floats, teas, refreshers, cereal protein shakes and cereal milks.

Some of the most popular items are the milkshakes ($9.98-$12.50).

The Tootie Fruity includes vanilla ice cream, Fruity Pebbles and mallow cream sprinkled with the cereal dust on top of the whipped cream.

The Feelin’ Lucky blends vanilla ice cream, Lucky Charms and mallow cream with cereal marshmallow charms on top.

One of Goode’s personal favorites is The Butter Frog with vanilla ice cream, Honey Smacks cereal and house honey butter finished with

Honey Smacks and The Spelled Milk’s famous honey sauce. Another popular item is the slice of cake (which changes flavors daily) available for $6.

And all this started with a longtime dream, he says.

“I’ve always loved the art on cereal. People assume I eat cereal for every meal, it’s so funny. I really don’t,” he says. “And what’s really funny is I love making ice cream, but I’m not a huge ice cream fan. I’m one of those, take two bites, ‘OK, I’m good.’ But if you told me 10 years ago I’d be making ice cream, I would say, ‘Yeah, right.’ And I love it. I love it.”

Prior to The Spelled Milk, Goode was already working in the restaurant industry. Then, around 2021, he describes an experience that changed his life forever.

Goode was working overnight at a diner at the time, and often, it was just him waiting on about 30 tables. During his last two years working at the location, he was getting sick a lot, but his doctor would just say he had allergies.

One night a service worker had come to install digital screens and was having difficulty. He didn’t mention what the problem was to Goode, but said he would come back the next night.

On his second visit, he asked Goode for assistance to get to the attic. Creating a makeshift ladder out of milk crates and a bar stool, Goode was able to reach it.

“And I’ll never forget it. I lifted up the attic and the whole attic was just full of black goo and white fuzz. And I came back down. Instantly, my eyes were watering and just, ugh. And it was black mold.”

Goode went to a specialist to seek treatment, leaving work for over a year and a half to go through detoxes. As his health began to improve, he caught another snag after relocating in 2023 to a new unit in his Irving apartment complex.

“I woke up the first day at this apartment in the new building. I just felt that feeling again, and I thought, ‘Oh, no, dear God, I can’t with the black mold again,’” he says.

This time, he had his specialist on

“BUT IF YOU TOLD ME 10 YEARS AGO I’D BE MAKING ICE CREAM, I WOULD SAY, ‘YEAH, RIGHT.’ AND I LOVE IT.”

hand, but black mold was ruled out. He went months without answers, getting so weak that friends had to bring meals to his apartment.

“It got to the point where just to go to Walmart, I would literally sit on the edge of my bed for two hours … just going to Walmart, it was like an all-day thing for me,” he says.

When Goode spotted a neighbor moving out quickly after moving in, he finally got his answer: methane gas was leaking into the apartments due to defective pipes.

“I literally was making peace with dying,” he says. “I’m so grateful I’m here today.”

Goode added that he doesn’t share his health troubles as a sob story, but rather highlights that led to him opening The Spelled Milk.

“That’s exactly how I got here, so in a way I’m grateful it happened, but I’m not,” he says. “I’m still paying the toll for it.”

Despite what’s happened, he uses his experiences to help others. As you exit the lounge, four boxes hang by the doorway. There, customers put in a token to a charity of choice. Those charities will receive a portion of The Spelled Milk profits each week, with one always for the causes of black mold or methane gas exposure.

Like the rotation of charities, the menu often switches up as well. About every three months, there’s a new version, and every week, they change the ice cream cookies.

The menu is not the only thing changing in the coming months for The Spelled Milk. Goode will be adding a rare Kellogg’s store display to the West Davis Street location. He also plans to expand with a new location, though where has not been solidified quite yet.

“Our next location will be double-sized and then maybe drive-thru … I’m so excited,” Goode says. “I can’t wait.”

The Spelled Milk, 712 W. Davis St., 214.484.3714, thespelledmilk.com

There’s something special about helping neighbors while showing off everything Oak Cliff has to offer.

STRANGE POWERS PRESS

In between artist residencies, husband and wife Taro Waggoner and Mylan Nguyen added a riso printer to their living room. Around 2015, it was a nearly 400-pound, 5-foot-tall, 2.38-foot-wide RISO MZ790U from Craigslist. By 2019, it was a 258-pound, 2-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide RISO GR 3770 they bought from a church.

The couple are the founders of Strange Powers Press, a risograph press now headquartered at the Bishop Arts shop, WE ARE 1976, with their third printer, a RISO SF 9450. They share the space with Play Nice Press.

The mission of Strange Powers Press is to “promote and publish interesting zines and prints as well as hold workshops on various forms of printmaking and making small publications.”

If you’re not a guru on some of the latest graphic trends, risograph printing (riso) is a technique described as a “digital screen printing” process. First, you scan or upload an image to the machine which makes a stencil, known as the masters, inside. Then, placing a paper onto the feeder tray, it passes through one or two of the ink drums, creating a “digital” stamp based on the image, layering colors together into a finished art print.

“So you have the entire process of how you separate colors and overlay them for different color blending techniques and texture in a lot of the same way that you do with the silk screen, but it’s all contained in the little machine,” Nguyen says.

She says it’s like a screen printing studio inside of a

Xerox machine, having discovered the technique through a printmaking toy called a Print Gocco in college.

Although they started the press in 2019, the couple had been in the Dallas art scene for longer. They met through an art show in 2011 and started dating shortly after that. They got married in 2013 and now have a 3-year-old daughter together.

Nguyen is an Oak Cliff native. She says she went “through the art school funnel” here, attending the W.E. Geiner Exploratory Arts Academy and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Though she focused on theater in her youth, she did take one printmaking class in high school before leaving for Los Angeles, where she studied illustration at the Otis College of Art and Design, later obtaining a master’s from Southern Methodist University.

Waggoner is originally from Herndon, Virginia and relocated to Texas with his family when he was 13. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics, and during that time also worked as a screen printer for Pony Express Printing where he got his foundation for working in graphic design. His artistic background includes illustration, ceramics and comics, even working on T-shirts for Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Spencer’s.

“After we got married and lived in Japan a little bit, we found some studios out there that would let you come in and use their (riso) machines to create your own artwork,” Nguyen says. “And so that was our first exposure, and our first trials in learning riso. And after that, we’re like, ‘How can we get our hands on one of these? How can we get our hands on one of these?’”

Returning to Dallas, they got the opportunity in 2015 from the former director of the artist residency at CentralTrak Heyd Fontenot.

“That funded our first big zine library show that included having a risograph printer in residence at the gallery, and from there, we’ve just kept on learning the machines

and printing for ourselves and friends and opportunities have come up, really lucky ones, to do sort of gallery residencies with the machine,” she says.

Their latest gallery residency was held at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, titled R.I.S.E. for “Riso Inspires Social Empowerment” to create protest posters. Nguyen says Iris Bechtol, the Cultural Programs Coordinator and Curator at the center, approached Strange Powers Press to host the series of workshops with that intentional art.

“I think we’re really busy, and it’s hard right now to what projects to do and say yes to and take on, but when it’s something that feels like it’s important, and it is for a good cause, and it makes space for people to have a voice in a place like Texas, where sometimes it feels scary to stand up for certain viewpoints, I think it was an easy yes, let’s do it,” Nguyen says.

Community engagement and workshops have been a cornerstone of the couple’s art practice, especially through their work with Strange Powers Press.

“I feel like with riso being essentially a printer, it’s really prime for collaboration with other people, too, and it’s exciting to share it because it’s not difficult to learn how to operate the machine. I mean there’s some nuances that you have to get used to, but it’s totally teachable in a workshop,” Waggoner says. “It’s really exciting to get to see people make something cool, and then they might even do some techniques that we didn’t know would look so cool.”

Nguyen added that it’s exciting to see what different voices bring to the table with this medium. She said that hosting a workshop like R.I.S.E. was on her New Year’s resolutions list.

“We’ve had a few projects where the intention was resistance or protest or activism in a few different ways,” Nguyen says. “And it’s something that we do want to keep doing and keep aligning ourselves with.”

Our neighborhood trees lower heat absorption and cool the air, providing comfort in the community.

OAK CLIFF UNDER COVER

How our trees help shape heat, water and neighborhood life

On a 101-degree summer afternoon in many new Texas neighborhoods, the pavement almost glows from the heat. Finding shade isn’t just about comfort; it can feel necessary to make it through the day.

Now, step beneath the mature trees of an Oak Cliff neighborhood, and everything shifts. Sunlight softens as dogs stretch out on cooler grass. Butterflies flutter in the cooler air. The patchwork of tree cover looks like a living roof and is called an urban forest by scientists.

Trees influence how our neighborhoods take in heat, manage rain, provide homes for wildlife and develop their unique character.

THE HEAT STORY

Imagine a nearby strip mall without shade, where the blacktop bakes in the 101-degree Texas heat. By 2050, Dallas could see 457% more days over 101.8 degrees Fahrenheit than in 1990, according to Climate Check.

Lannie McClelen, Southwestern Medical District program director at the Texas Trees Foundation, says, “Dallas has 35% impervious surfaces.”

In other words, more than a third of the city is covered with materials like concrete and asphalt that absorb heat during the day and slowly release it after sunset, intensifying what scientists call “the urban heat island effect.”

McClelen also describes the kind of local testing underway to better understand these conditions.

“We have placed sensors in the Southwestern Medical District measuring air temperature, wind speed, radiant heat, solar radiation and other aspects,” she says.

Now imagine the broad, shaded streets found in neighborhoods like Elmwood, Winnetka Heights and Kessler Park, which form urban forests. The trees lower heat absorption and cool the air through transpiration, which is the process of water vapor through a plant and later evaporating.

“With tree cover, we can reduce the temperature on our body by 15 degrees,” McClelen says.

This makes evening walks cooler, lowers energy use in equipment like air conditioners, and saves you money.

In a Texas summer, that difference is more than just appearance; you can feel it and measure it.

THE WATER STORY

While trees are known for helping with heat, they are just as important during heavy rainstorms. Without plants, rain hits pavement, quickly runs into storm drains and causes more erosion and flooding.

One mature deciduous tree, such as an oak, can capture hundreds of gallons of stormwater each year.

“Instead of water going into the storm drains, which have measurable costs to a city’s storm system, trees

slow rainfall with their leaves and branches, allowing water to seep into the ground and further reducing soil erosion through their roots,” Texas Trees Foundation community greening manager Emily Plauche says.

In our neighborhood, trees do more than give us shade. With Oak Cliff a part of the Trinity River watershed, they help prevent flooding, protect our watershed and lower the costs of managing stormwater.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD STORY

Trees give Oak Cliff another gift you notice as soon as you step outside. Under their branches, life slows down and the neighborhood feels more relaxed.

Shaded sidewalks make walking easier. Porches stay comfortable. Kids can play outside without burning their feet on the pavement. Tree-lined streets feel calmer and more inviting.

“You’ll see it in all of the desirable neighborhoods,” says Emily Ruth Cannon, a realtor with Oak Cliff Real Estate Group at Compass.“Tree-lined streets don’t just beautify a neighborhood; they also increase home values quite a bit. And they improve walkability, which makes people in those communities feel more connected.” The tree canopy shapes daily life and gives our neighborhoods their unique character.

THE STEWARDSHIP STORY

People planted Oak Cliff’s trees because they believed in making the future better for everyone.

Today, these trees cool our streets during record heat, slow down stormwater before it reaches the Trinity, and provide shade that makes summer afternoons bearable for both people and animals.

Honoring that legacy means protecting mature trees, watering them during droughts, using mulch to retain moisture, avoiding root damage, removing invasive species and planting strong native trees. There are many ways to get involved right here in Oak Cliff.

Join a tree group or volunteer for local planting days. Contact the City of Dallas Forestry program to report sick or damaged trees and learn about free tree resources. Even small steps, like adding a native tree to your yard or helping care for a young sapling, can make a difference.

Step outside on your street and notice the shift. That cooler air and slower runoff, the patch of shade where a dog rests, none of it is accidental. It’s the result of care. And it will endure only if we continue that care together.

ALEXANDER KWAPIS lives in Elmwood and is a co-founder of Wild Dirt with Dennis Fiore. Their work has appeared in Forbes, Fast Company, Flow Trip and other publications. Wild Dirt tells stories, supports conservation, and creates well-designed products.

MAY EVENTS

MAY

1 TEPANI’S HEARTWORK: CLOWN RITUAL FOR THE LIVING, THE DYING, AND THE GRIEVING PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERACTIVE CLOWN RITUAL, STARTING AT 7:30 P.M. THE PERFORMANCE INCLUDES ABSURD GAMES AND THEATRICAL CEREMONY THAT BRINGS THE HEALING POWER OF PLAY. OAK CLIFF CULTURAL CENTER, 223 W. JEFFERSON BLVD., FREE

MAY

1-2

BLACK WRITERS WEEKEND

A FULL DAY OF CREATIVITY, CONNECTION AND STORYTELLING WILL INCLUDE AN EXCLUSIVE SCREENING OF DEAR BLACK WRITERS, POWERFUL PANELS AND A CURATED MIXER

APPRENTICE CREATIVE SPACE, 919 MORRELL AVE. #110, TICKETS START AT $18.15

MAY

2 RESTORATION DAY: VOLUNTEER AT ARTS MIS-

SION OAK CLIFF

COME TOGETHER TO VOLUNTEER AND BUILD COMMUNITY FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

THROUGH REFRESHING THE INTERIOR SPACES, BEAUTIFYING THE GROUNDS AND CONTRIBUTING TO A MURAL PROJECT. THE DAY ALSO INCLUDES A CASUAL HAPPY

HOUR AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THIS YEAR’S PROM THEME FOR THE ANNUAL

FUNDRAISING EVENT.

ARTS MISSION OAK CLIFF, 410 S. WINDOMERE AVE., FREE

MAY

3 CINCO DE MAYO STREET FESTIVAL

THE OAK CLIFF COALITION FOR THE ARTS WILL HOST A FESTIVAL PROGRAM WITH DJS,

PERFORMANCES, FOOD TRUCKS, ARTS AND CRAFTS BOOKS, AND FOOD AND DRINK VENDORS ON JEFFERSON BOULEVARD, BEGINNING AT 5 P.M. 500 AND 600 BLOCKS OF W. JEFFERSON BLVD., FREE

MAY

3 LA BANDERA 5K

JOIN OLMO MARKET FOR A MORNING OF MOVEMENT. GRAB SOME COFFEE AND LA BANDERA DRINK, HYDRATION BY SI SE PUEDE, AND BREAKFAST TACOS AND COME TOGETHER FOR THE MUSIC AND COMMUNITY INSPIRED BY THE COLORS OF LA BANDERA. FESTIVITIES START AT 9 A.M. OLMO MARKET, 2111 S. EDGEFIELD EVE., FREE WITH REGISTRATION

MAY

9 HALPERIN PARK OPENING DAY

THE OFFICIAL OPENING DAY CEREMONY AND CELEBRATIONS FOR HALPERIN PARK WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE PARK’S 12TH STREET PROMENADE. THE CELEBRATION WILL FEA-

TURE LIVE PERFORMANCES, FAMILY FUN, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, HEALTH AND FITNESS CLASSES AND AMAZON GIVEAWAYS. HALPERIN PARK, 626 S R.L. THORNTON FREEWAY, I-35E, FREE

MAY

6,13,20,27

STAR POWER

- AN OPEN MIC

WEDNESDAYS FROM 7-9 P.M. LET YOUR STAR POWER SHINE WHETHER YOU’RE TESTING

NEW MATERIAL FROM POETRY AND STAND UP COMEDY TO ACOUSTIC MUSIC PERFORMANCES.

TOP TEN RECORDS, W. JEFFERSON BLVD., FREE WITH REGISTRATION MAY

10

MOMS & MIMOSAS: SIP, SAVOR & CELEBRATE

TEA, MIMOSAS, LITE BITES AND DESSERTS FROM 1-3 P.M.

PARTICIPATE IN A CURATED MOTHER’S DAY EXPERIENCE FEATURING FULL-SERVICE HIGH

HER

BARONS CREEK VINEYARDS TASTING ROOM, 418 N. BISHOP AVE., TICKETS START AT $88.64 MAY JUNE

27 - 7 FLOAT

STARTING AT 4 P.M.

THE BISHOP ARTS THEATRE CENTER PRESENTS FLOAT, A ONE-WOMAN PLAY PERFORMED AND WRITTEN BY MARYUM ALI, THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF MUHAMMAD ALI. PERFORMANCES TAKE PLACE WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY STARTING AT 7 P.M. AND SATURDAY-SUNDAY

BISHOP ARTS THEATRE CENTER, 215 S. TYLER ST., TICKETS START AT $20

AC & HEAT

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

HANDYMAN SERVICES

LAWNS,

GARDENS & TREES

THE HEATING & AC EXPERTS

Installations & Repairs

Emergency Services

24/7 On-Call

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

ALEXANDER HOME REPAIR. AC/HEAT Repair & Install. LIC#28052 469-226-9642 TA CLA67136C 214-710-2515 dallasheatingac.com

ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!

BUY SELL TRADE

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar Paid.1-866 -433-8277

CABINETRY & FURNITURE

JD’S TREE SERVICE Mantels, Headboards, Kitchen Islands, Dining tables. Made from Local Trees. www.jdtreeservice.com 214-946-7138

SQUARE NAIL WOODWORKING

Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 469-585-1588 jhholbert2@att.net

CLEANING SERVICES

ALTOGETHER CLEAN

Relax ...We’ll Clean Your House, It Will Be Your Favorite Day! Bonded & Insurance. Free Estimates. 214-929-8413. www. altogetherclean.net

WINDOW CLEANING POWER WASHING

No Job To Small. 30 Yrs exp. Lwood resd. 214-360-0120

COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

CONFUSED? FRUSTRATED? Let a seasoned pro be the interface between you & that pesky Windows computer. Hardware/Software Installation, Troubleshooting, Training. $100/hr. 1 hr min. Dan 972-639-6413 / stykidan@sbcglobal.net

CONCRETE, MASONRY & PAVING

ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS

Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954

BRICK, BLOCK, Stone, Concrete, Stucco. Gonzalez Masonry. 214-395-1319

BRICK, STONEWORK, FLAGSTONE PATIOS Mortar Repair. Straighten Brick Mailboxes & Columns. Call Cirilo 214-298-7174

CONCRETE DRIVEWAY SPECIALISTS

Repairs,Replacement,Removal. References, Reasonable. Been in Advocate Magazine for 22 yrs.Chris Roberts. 214-770-5001

FLAGSTONE PATIOS, Retaining Walls,BBQ’s Veneer, Flower Bed Edging. All Stone Work. Been in Advocate Magazine for 22 years Chris Roberts, 214-770-5001

JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530

R&M Concrete

Concrete • Driveways

Retaining Walls Stamped Concrete

#1 ANTHONY’S ELECTRIC

Master Electrician. Anthonyselectricofdallas.com

TECL24948 50 Yrs. Electrical Exp. Insd. 214-328-1333

TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658

EMPLOYMENT

BENJAMINS PAINTING Hiring:18-26Yr.olds, Top Pay- Will Train. In Advocate since 2007. 214-725-6768

EXPERIENCED NANNY 2 months-6 Years Great References.15 Years Experience warconie@gmail.com. 469-987-2172

WANTED: BOOKEEPER

Experienced in Quick books for general construction and home flipping. Send resume or call Ricky:(512) 554-6084

R.Moises.Garza@gmail.com

EXTERIOR CLEANING

G&G DEMOLITION Tear downs, Haul. Interior/Exterior. 214-808-8925

FENCING & DECKS

4 QUALITY FENCING • 214-507-9322

Specializing in Wood. YourWoodmaster.com

AMBASSADOR FENCE CO. Automatic Gates, Fences/Decks, Pergolas, Patio Covers, Arbors. AmbassadorFenceCo.com 214-621-3217

FENCING, ARBORS, DECKS oldgatefence.co 214-766-6422

HANNA WOODWORKS

• Decks • Pergolas • Patio Covers Hannawoodworks.com 214-435-9574

GARAGE SERVICES

UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned. 214-251-5428

GLASS, WINDOWS &

DOORS

ROCK GLASS CO Replace, Repair. Single,Double Panes. Showers, Mirrors. 214-837-7829

WINDOW MAN WINDOW CLEANING.COM Residential Specialists. BBB. 214-718-3134

HANDYMAN SERVICES

DANHANDY.NET Repairs Done Right For A Fair Price. References 214-991-5692

HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/ Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HANDYMAN WANTS your Painting,Repairs, To Do Lists. Bob. 214-288-4232. Free Est. 25+yrs exp.

HOME REPAIR Small/Big Jobs. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 33 yrs exp. 214-875-1127

HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606

ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical.469-658-9163

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

HOUSE PAINTING

BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work @reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768

TOP COAT 30 Yrs. Exp. Reliable. Quality Repair/Remodel. Phil @ 214-770-2863

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TEXAS BEST PAINTING LLC Resd,Interiors 30Yrs. 214-527-4168

KITCHEN, BATH, TILE & GROUT

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Remodeling, Restoration. Name It — We do it. Tommy. Insured. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060 Locally harvested wood! JD’s Tree Service

ORGANIZATION

A CHARMING HOME Decluttering + Organizing + Styling acharminghome.co 214-794-6382

PEST CONTROL

RESPONSIBLE TREE CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Firewood/Cooking Wood Full service trimming & planting of native trees. 214.946.7138

NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC. Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident 30+ Yrs.exp.

A2H GENERAL CONTRACTING,LLC

Remodeling, Painting, Drywall/Texture, Plumbing, Electrical,Siding, Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels, Tilling, Flooring, Fencing. 469-658-9163. Free Estimates.

A2HGeneralContractingLLC@gmail.com

FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com

RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427

SERVICES

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation,production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DENTAL INSURANCE-Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258

DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER!

SERVICES FOR YOU

HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141

INFLATION is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up.CreditCards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote.1-877-592-3616

PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777

REPLACE your roof with the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install. (military, health &1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction

New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075 TK REMODELING KITCHEN

and

972 533-2872

AGING ROOF? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing Available.1-888-878-9091.

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 877-543-9189

LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373

GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353

GET DISH SATELLITE TV +INTERNET

Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516

SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services WATER DAMAGE

cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809

TUTORING/ LESSONS

GARTH ORR - TUTOR Math & Physics grade 8-12. Private Tutoring that works! garthorr.com For complete terms and conditions, visit advocatemag.com/advertisingterms

IN HER CONTENT CREATOR ERA

Paola Goné loves showing her support for our neighborhood through her Instagram page @hello_oakcliff

Story by VICTORIA HERNANDEZ

Photography by YUVIE STYLES

Aplace for date night. Cleaning up a local park. What’s coming soon to our streets.

These are the posts you can find from Wynnewood neighbor Paola Goné on her Instagram page @hello_oakcliff, which she launched in November. She became curious about all the hidden gems of our neighborhood after moving here and often found herself answering those questions for friends when they visited.

“You know, if people are already asking me, why not create a space where I can share everything in one place? And everybody (online) was talking about North Dallas, McKinney, Uptown … just highlighting Bishop Arts, but not Oak Cliff,” she says. “So since I live here and I love the neighborhood, I was like, ‘I want to create something, (I) want to create the space for Oak Cliff.’”

Originally from Veracruz, Mexico, Goné says she took the opportunity to move to Texas through a role that opened up in her company.

She started her time in the U.S. working in logistics, and now she works as a project manager for the same turbomachinery company. Day to day, she coordinates with worldwide customers and across departments to upgrade machines that provide electricity to their clients.

When Goné first came to our city, she lived in Uptown and then East Dallas. Once she decided to buy a home, she started looking in North Dallas.

“And then, I kept receiving houses from Oak Cliff, from South Dallas, and I was like, ‘Brand new houses?’” she says. “Wait a minute, I hear that South Dallas, it’s supposed to not be good, but I’m seeing all these houses, right?”

The recommended homes inspired her to come check out our neighborhood for herself. On her drive, she came across new restaurants, historic places and schools that she hadn’t known about before.

“Just to be 10 minutes from Downtown, five minutes away from the zoo, I was like, ‘This is perfect,’” she says. “I mean, this is an investment, and this is where I want to raise my kids, especially because I know that Oak Cliff is very diverse, and that’s what I wanted for my kids, for my family.”

The family settled down in Wynnewood about four years ago. She says her two boys often say, “Mama, we have everything here.”

Going out into the community, whether to dinners or happy hours, is often how her family spends their time.

She says she went into the social media world without any prior experience of content creation or social media management and now works with a coach to help showcase her perspective of the neighborhood.

“I look for strategies because every post that you see in Hello Oak Cliff, it’s from my own experience, from my own creation, because I wanted to be the voice of Oak Cliff in my own words,” she says.

One aspect of her social media strategy is focusing on certain pillars when it comes to her content creation, such as spotlighting “coming soon” developments and hidden gems.

Goné says she has especially enjoyed getting to meet new people through her platform. Not only does she find opportunities to collaborate, but collaborators have now become her friends, helping her to support the community.

“I want to show Dallas … everything that this neighborhood has,” she says. “That it’s not about, ‘Oh, it’s the hood or all the bad reputation.’ It’s just there’s so many good things here, the diversity, the cultural things, the restaurants, and also all the effort that those local businesses, the business owners, are doing to invest here.”

‘MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE MAYOR OF OAK CLIFF’

When Jon Schubert and his family found a home in Oak Cliff, he didn’t know it was a homecoming in a sense. Not until he mentioned the move to his grandmother Kathleen Kelley Schubert.

“She was born in the ’30s. We told her, catching up at Christmas that same year, ‘Hey, we moved to Oak Cliff. We got a house in Winnetka Heights.’ Didn’t even know if she would know where that was because she grew up in West Texas in Spur, Texas,” he says. “And she just randomly said, ‘Oh, Oak Cliff. I know Oak Cliff. My grandfather was the mayor of Oak Cliff.’”

Her mother’s last name was Oliver.

Eighty-two names are listed on the plaque at Founder’s Park. Of the five listed mayors, the first one there is Frank N. Oliver, also known as F.N. Oliver.

When his grandmother came to visit his new home soon after, she brought Schubert the last remaining physical photos and tintypes of F.N. Oliver and two of his sons, Coke and Clifton (“Cliff” for short).

This sparked his journey into researching everything he could find about F.N. Oliver and how he came to lead and leave Oak Cliff.

Here’s what Schubert found.

EARLY YEARS

Francis “Frank” Neander Oliver was born in Florence, Alabama on Feb. 17, 1848, to parents Daniel and Jane (Ross) Oliver.

Daniel was originally from Devonshire, England, having moved to the United States at 8 years old. His wife Jane was “of Scotch parentage,” originating from Hickman County, Tennessee. The couple had 11 children.

How a casual catch up with family led a Winnetka Heights neighbor to learn he has deeper roots in our neighborhood

Story by VICTORIA HERNANDEZ

Daniel graduated from Yale College and was chair of mathematics at the institution for several years, according to History of Dallas County . He also taught at the high school in Florence prior to the establishment of Wesleyan University.

Attending public schools in Florence, Oliver later learned the printing business at a young age.

“He was too young to fight in the Civil War, which I just want to say up front, I don’t know what kind of person he was. Could have been a total asshole, racist. I have no clue,” Schubert says.

“But there is some small evidence that he was in journalism, publishing. Always in a newspaper. He actually got out of Alabama because he and his family, from what I can tell, weren’t close, so he just wanted to come to Texas. At least that’s what my grandmother thinks.”

HIS START IN TEXAS

In 1874, Oliver issued the first daily paper in Denton called the Denton Review.

Nearly a decade later in 1881, he founded the Lewisville Headlight . During that time he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which led him to run a paper and court at the same time for five years.

Eight years later, he resigned from his role at the Headlight and sold the publication, moving to Pilot Point, where he established another paper. After two years, he joined Thomas L. Marsalis on a move to Oak Cliff.

SETTLING IN OAK CLIFF

According to The Hidden City by Bill Minutaglio and Holly Williams, Oliver is known as “the man who bought the first piece of Marsalis’ dream.”

Schubert says that based on his research, Oliver’s house was on 10th and Lancaster.

“It doesn’t exist anymore, the neighborhood part, but that’s where his house would have been, and I think his business was just down the street from his house,” he says.

That business was yet another newspaper. Oliver established the first one in our neighborhood, The Oak Cliff Sunday Weekly , which published through 1891.

It was the first newspaper in Texas ever printed on paper manufactured in the state.

The mill, known as the Texas Paper Mill Company, was located within the new city. The paper was produced Saturday mornings and distributed Saturday afternoons from the office at 11th and Lancaster, according to The Hidden City.

He opened the paper with an issue of 10,000 copies and continued the publication for three and a half years until the city reached a population of 5,000, according to an article from the Lockney Beacon (another paper Oliver started in 1902).

“I really wish that I had access to the old articles that he, I don’t know if he always wrote them, but he at least edited them for The Oak Cliff Sunday Weekly ,” Schubert says.

Along with the first newspaper, he also served as an Oak Cliff mayor. According to an article published in the Lockney Beacon , it was “one of the most hotly contested elections perhaps ever held in the city.”

As mayor, he spoke at the dedication ceremony of the Oak Cliff College for Young Ladies in 1892 and was among the first trustees of the Oak Cliff Public School System. Oliver was one of three appointed by Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross to locate the State Orphan Asylum of Texas in 1887, which was considered “one of the crowning educational charities of Texas” located in Corsicana.

He was a charter member of the Texas National Press Association, where he served on many committees.

Outside of Oliver’s typical work in

papers and politics, his family and the Shelton families began meeting with a circuit-riding preacher named C.G. Shutt. Together, they formed the Oak Cliff Methodist Church in 1887 (originally named St. Mark’s Methodist Church), according to Oak Cliff and the Missing Pieces.

OUT IN WEST TEXAS

Oliver and his family moved to Lockney, Texas in 1901. His wife was Mary E. Cogburn, whom he married in 1868, and together, they had eight children.

In 1902 Oliver started the Lockney Beacon . He ran the paper with Clifton until 1906. That year, he filed on a section of land in Dawson County at the Pride post office.

At some point, it seems Oliver struggled in business.

“I do know my grandmother said that she heard from her mother when they were out in West Texas, they didn’t have a lot of money,” Schubert says. “And they kind of were in an old shack, a dugout she called it.”

This was confirmed in an article from the Lockney Beacon , that Oliver and Clifton moved out to Pride, Texas, and “built a dug-out in which they lived until they could build a one-room on the front of the ‘kitchen’ or dug-out.”

Two hours away from Pride, located in Lockney, Texas, Schubert and his wife found Oliver’s final resting place following his death in March 1927. Written on the stone is the phrase, “Death loves a shining mark.”

Defined by Detail

Luxury

We