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earthenware plates,
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie,
Across the street from Texas Health Hospital on Greenville Avenue, tucked between Goody Goody Liquor and a Taco Bell, lies a neighborhood hidden gem full of surprises.
From the front, Sunshine Miniature Trees is unassuming. A small yellow house at the end of a gravel driveway. If there weren’t signs for the business, one could be forgiven for assuming they were on private property.
But as you walk through its door, shelf after shelf of bonsai trees and exotic plants give the sense that this isn’t just any garden store. It’s one of a tiny number of dedicated bonsai nurseries in North Texas, and has been doing business in north Vickery Meadow since 1969.
“It’s pretty special to take a business that’s had such a great clientele, that has a piece of history, not just in the physical structure, but the clients, and save it,” says owner Anne Palles. “You kind of feel like you’re doing something great for the community.”
Palles and her husband, Ted, bought the store last year from Richard Sunshine, who had owned the business for more than five
decades. She runs the day-today operations of the store, which offers an array of bonsai species and styles.
Bonsai (literally translated to planted in a pot) is the Japanese art of growing and manipulating tree growth through the use of small pots, which restrict root development and in turn, tree growth. Technically, any tree can be a bonsai, but species like jade and juniper tend to be at the forefront, with Sunshine carrying around 10-12 species at any given time.
“Juniper is our number one seller, but we also call it the highest degree of difficulty,” Palles says. “And so you learn kind of when people walk in and say, ‘I’m a newbie, where should I start?’ You send them to a luzon, a jade or something that doesn’t need a lot of TLC, and you try to steer them away from the Juniper. But I’m telling you, so many people are like, ‘I want to try.’” Maintenance for bonsai can be tricky for newcomers. Different species require varying levels of watering, trimming and even sporadic repotting to stave off root rot. The trees are traditionally meant to be kept outside, and Palles says placement is one of the most important things to consider when picking a bonsai.
In addition to bonsai, Sunshine sells an array of house plants and exotics, including citrus. Since taking over the business, Palles
has added a small gift section complete with herbal teas and books on gardening and plant care.
“I’m not going to be competing with any gift stores, but it’s out of a convenience for the clients, especially during the holidays when they’re gift shopping.”
Adding a gift section wasn’t the only change she made as a new owner. Over the years, the property had become increasingly dilapidated. So, the interior of the building was completely gutted by Palles and her husband, who added hardwood floors, additional windows, a new foundation and industrial walls that can easily be washed off after a long day of potting.
Outside, Palles has demolished the sprawling shed that had been Sunshine’s nursery, which she refers to as a “dark cave.” The shed will soon be supplanted by an 800-square-foot L-shaped greenhouse, which Palles says will have an open-air courtyard and exposed patio. She will also put in flowering plants around the outdoors portion of the garden, which is in need of a topsoil upgrade.
“I love flowering plants,” she says. “I’m such a sucker for gardenias.”
Palles plans to begin hosting bonsai classes this spring. Richard Sunshine and his son will both make appearances leading the classes, which will be a welcome sight for many of the store’s longtime customers.
Serving those same longtime customers is Palles’ favorite aspect of running the store. As someone whose mother owned two miniature jade trees, she understands just how much Sunshine’s miniature trees mean to some.
“You want to hold on to your loved ones who aren’t here anymore. And so when I see people that come in and have those stories, it’s nice to be trusted, to be a part of that happy emotion. Tears of joy, yeah? But yeah, that’s probably the best part, and that we saved this little house, and that people still get to come in and feel that presence that they had with their mom or dad or grandparent even, is pretty cool.”
Opposite page: Palles says when she bought the property, its floors had been worn down practically to dirt
“Lauren Valek Farris is the only agent I’ll ever work with! She has helped me buy and sell 5 homes over 15 years, and she is truly the best in all of East Dallas. Compassionate, ethical, intelligent, and easy to work with, Lauren makes what can be a very stressful process a breeze.”
- Happy Repeat Client
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Amy represented the sellers when we bought our M Street home. We were so impressed by her professionalism and market knowledge, that we later hired Amy to list when we were ready to sell, given her broad network and neighborhood expertise.
- G Majoor
NAIL AFTER NAIL
SCRAP AFTER SCRAP BUILDING AFTER BUILDING
When he was in his twenties, around 1970, he found himself graduating from Stanford University and pursuing a secondary teaching certificate at the College of Santa Fe. He studied American history as an undergraduate student but deeply desired to pursue architecture. This delayed dream manifested itself in a new opportunity while he studied in New Mexico.
It was there that he met John Zoltai, a master woodworker. It wasn’t long after that Wincorn decided to work alongside and for him, slowly becoming a craftsman himself.
He worked for Zoltai in the early 1970s for about four years.
That period of time gave Wincorn all the motivation he needed to take on his next step: University of New Mexico’s graduate architecture program.
He spent a year there, getting a more “rounded view of building and construction,” before he came back home to Dallas in 1976 and opened up his own studio.
He was finally in his own space, doing his own work.
That moment of time was almost perfect, but there was just one thing that needed to change. He was located in the basement of a building Downtown, on the corner of Elm and Record Street.
“I just couldn’t stand being in the
basement without good natural light,” Wincorn says.
He was on the hunt for a new space. It took some time, but he found one, nestled directly at the intersection of Cayuga Drive and Stevens Street in Casa Linda. Some may now know it as Blue Goat Studio, but back then it was Richard Wincorn Studio.
Purchased in 1978, the 5,000 square-foot building would become Wincorn’s first large solo endeavor.
He took inspiration from other firms alongside his own preferences, utilizing details from Japanese design in the entryway’s front porch, using a post-and-beam construction method, leaning into mid-century modern elements and sourcing materials from other properties in the area.
He had large 6-by-12 wooden columns made from old cattle pens he found at a stockyard in Downtown Dallas.
He used pieces from the demolished Grand Prairie Naval Air Station building for the building’s wood trusses.
He started to get calls and leads about buildings and places with materials he could source from all around the city.
Story after story. Building after building. Scrap after scrap. Wincorn was assembling his dream studio.
It took two years to build.
“I didn’t have quite enough money to finish, so I had to set it aside for a little while and then get back to it,” he says. “I finished in 1980 and worked there until I decided to retire in 2022.”
Before retiring, Wincorn’s studio served as the home base for several types of projects including tables, chairs, traditional style cabinetry and different style doors.
“Just about anything you can think of that is made out of wood, specialty items that went into homes,” he says.
He also had a rotating cast of 10 staff members while he took on some work for well-known Dallas clients and in popular locations.
Coca Cola Co.’s corporate offices. Highland Park Village. Munger Place Methodist Church. Trammel Crow Co.
Just to name a handful.
Wincorn describes his love for woodworking with one word: intuitive.
Something about it just made sense and everything that led him to it felt “serendipitous.”
The original Lozenge windows, also known as diamond latice windows, were popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sarpongs made a Forest Hills home old and new
Story by AYSIA LANE
Kathryn and Benjamin Sarpong are no strangers to rebuilding and remodeling homes. The East Dallas couple had redone their previous Hollywood Santa Monica home — a pr operty built in the 1920s — alongside a couple of duplex projects. Their current Forest Hills home was no different.
Kathryn toured the home with a friend who was house hunting and ultimately de -
cided the property was too much work. For Kathryn, however, the work was the fun part.
“We kept the original old house and then built around it,” Kathryn says.
Over the course of eight months, the Sarpongs worked with architect Thad Reeves to maintain the home’s original 1935 two-story structure, while making it suitable for the family’s modern lifestyle.
“The house had maybe two or three addi -
tions over the years to the original structure,” Reeves said. “Part of [the question] was ‘What was the original house like? What are the positive qualities we can work with?’”
The home’s front facing side sports red brick – from the original structure – and two more recent additions of a garage and front entrance, both with black finishes.
According to Reeves, the popular styles in the ’30s and ’40s all had some hallmark design features. Most homes were narrow with smaller rooms. Due to being made in pre-air conditioning times, the overall depth of homes were smaller to enhance ventilation. Sticking to the home’s original design and structure was “a huge commitment” in Reeves’ eyes.
“The challenge in all of those things is working within that structure to update it for how people live today,” Reeves says. “That can be challenging at times because you’re working against the structure of the home.”
The challenge was welcomed. After all, the Sarpongs are often hosting family. Having rooms that were distant enough to create some semblance of privacy for the couple, their children and visiting guests was important.
“We have three dogs, and at that time, we had two teenage children. We also had my husband’s parents come and live extended periods of time with us,” Kathryn says. “There’s a lot of traffic in our house and so a modern house, for me, accommodates that chaos.”
The two added on to the back and the sides of the house to create space for an additional primary room, a living and guest suite and a kitchen and living area.
You have two options to enter, either through the original door where the red brick still exists or the new glass door.
Through the modern entrance you can find your way into the spacious kitchen large enough to host their family cooking sessions.
Navigating through the residence, it’s easy to spot the original home’s exposed red brick. It’s seamlessly tied together through both design and decor, making the juxtaposition of the old and the new home complementary to one another.
One feature that the two especially like is the communal nature of the home. You cannot leave a room without passing through the main living space and kitchen.
“So our teenagers cannot avoid us, and our in-laws absolutely cannot avoid us,” Benjamin shares, laughing. “That’s one of the advantages.”
The family-centered design of the home also lends itself to nature. The backyard’s pool and greenery is visible from almost any downstairs room in the house, something Benjamin feels “invites” the outdoors indoors.
The home’s footprint has increased to over 6,000 square feet and it seems the Sarpongs can count this home project as a success.
“We’re really comfortable here,” Kathryn says. “And we really like having our friends and family here. We like having the house full. I’m happiest when every bedroom in this house has someone in it.”
Rifle Paper Co.‘s
After 15 different tests and mixing 10 cans of paint last spring, Jeff Bekavac and Austin Rodgers finally found “Goodwins Green.”
The dark, moody hue adorns the exterior of the pair’s critically acclaimed restaurant, Goodwins, on Greenville, which opened in May after months of anticipation. White molding and marble slabs liven the demure tone, while a large LED sign bearing the restaurant’s name in bright golden letters invites neighbors through its double bistro doors.
Goodwins seems like it’s been in the neighborhood for a while. But then again, that’s the whole point. It’s the sum goal of an intentional effort by Rodgers and Bekavac to give East Dallas a polished yet approachable staple where patrons seem closer to neighbors and menu items read as inside jokes.
“We knew we always wanted to be in a neighborhood spot, a great spot for East Dallas, for Lakewood, Lake Highlands, everywhere in East Dallas, very accessible,” Bekavac says. “We wanted people to be able to use it more than once a week. Three, four, twice; however many times they wanted to use it and be a spot that they could hang out and kind of call their own.”
A location-centric ethos is fitting for the restaurant. Sitting on the corner of Goodwin and Greenville Avenues, its owners’ vision for the concept is a product of its location — not the other way around. Bekavac had always wanted to open a place of his own but didn’t want to rush his moment. But when Rodgers pitched him the idea of a restaurant in the former Blue Goose space, he says he knew the moment had finally arrived.
Neighborhood restaurants, familiar local spots combining eclectic, high-quality fare with a casual yet elevated atmosphere, have been a staple of the Dallas dining scene for decades with venerable institutions like Hillstone becoming increasingly in-fashion in recent years.
“There’s always going to be a need for a neighborhood restaurant. Through the history of dining in
America, people always want to have a good neighborhood spot, and that’s not going to ever die,” Bekavac says.
Bekavac helped to spearhead the movement in his time with mentor Nick Badovinus of Flavor Hook Restaurants. As culinary director, he helped define the technique-driven, protein-forward style Flavor Hook is known for with concepts like Neighborhood Services on Lovers Lane. He’s brought the same ethos with him to Goodwins, saying Neighborhood Services was used as a touch point during his and Rodgers’ brainstorming sessions.
Rodgers handles front-of-the-house operations. He also owns the Alamo Club on Greenville Avenue and previously worked with Bekavac at Flavor Hook in addition to spending time as a general manager at Nick and Sam’s.
“I think we complement each other really well,” Bekavac says. “He takes care of the front-of-the-house piece, and I take care of the back of the house. But we don’t just draw a line in the sand. We talk about the business as a whole all the time, because he’s very knowledgeable. He loves food.”
Rodgers has made Bekavac a partner at the Alamo Club and the pair already have their eyes on their next concept, signalling what may be the beginning of Dallas’ next powerhouse hospitality group. Their next business will likely be in East Dallas, with Bekavac saying plans are close to being finalized.
Bekavac says he “probably wrote 30 versions” of the menu before landing on the final assortment first offered to guests in May. It’s a reflection of his life and career, from his days growing up in Carrollton to his time churning out voodoo sauce and dry-aged steaks with Flavor Hook. Spicy tuna cones ($15), a chopped mix of smashed avocado, Kewpie mayonnaise, ginger, lime, chili crisp and wasabi tobiko, call back to Bekavac’s days as an aspiring culinary student in the Bay Area, where Thomas Keller operated the French Laundry and introduced the world to tuna cones.
Cheese beignets ($12), deep-fried balls of gruyere, white cheddar, Parmesan and chives served with a warm
The cocktail menu is short but references many neighborhood landmarks, and the bartenders regularly create specialty cocktails. The popular Goodwin Martini has either Grey Goose Vodka or Bombay Sapphire Gin. Either way, it’s served with Italian Foro Dry Vermouth Di Torino.
cheese sauce, were inspired by the cheese gougeres at Minetta Tavern in New York City but named for Bekavac’s time working in New Orleans early in his career. Mushroom and potato pierogies ($19), which come in brown butter and paprika cream, are an ode to his family’s Midwestern Polish roots.
“Both of my sisters are vegetarian, and we always eat pierogies on Christmas Eve, and it’s one of their favorite things,” he says. “And I wanted to do a vegetarian dish, I didn’t want it to just be a plate of vegetables or an afterthought. And so it became like, ‘Oh man, let’s do this mushroom pierogi as kind of an homage to my family and as a vegetarian dish too.’”
Other popular starters and light bites include rosemary focaccia ($10) and East Coast oysters on the half shell ($19/33). Bekavac says having a strong raw bar offering was important to him when developing his menu and that he still uses the same seafood supplier out of Boston as Badovinus. It appears to have been a wise decision, especially in lieu of the recent oyster and martini craze, as Goodwins sells over 1,200 oysters a week.
Bekavac’s culinary style is all about keeping center-of-the-plate proteins just that — at the center. That means quality cuts of meat or fish presented in a clean, fun yet still elevated manner.
“The Big Three,” as Goodwins’ steak offering is called, consists of a center cut filet ($52), 12 ounce strip ($56) and a 14 ounce delmonico ribeye ($64), all of which come with potato pave and “fitting sauce.” All red meat at Goodwins is sourced from Allen Brothers.
“A lot of the DNA for me and what I learned was being honest with the food and not trying to present something different than what it was. Listen, if the halibut is from Nova Scotia, here’s exactly where it’s from. It’s a great piece of fish. It’s expensive. We’re not going to mask it. We’re not going to touch it a whole bunch. … Because the fish is kind of the star of the show, or the steak or the scallops, and I think people really appreciate that.”
Aside from steak, proteins offered include a bone-in dry-aged Duroc pork
1, 2025
Please join us for our 18th annual golf tournament at Steven’s Park Golf Course. Funds from the golf tournament are earmarked for our restoration project at historic Winfrey Point. So get a foursome together, sign up for a sponsorship, or send a donation. We’re making a lot of progress at Winfrey Point and we’re committed to completing this renovation as soon as possible.
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions (info@whiterocklakefoundation.org; susan.falvo.sf@gmail.com; 214.725.9300) – let’s have some great weather and some really good golf!
chop ($28), a half chicken ($27), halibut ($36) and grilled Bay of Fundy salmon ($27), which comes with toasted farro, roasted fennel, winter root vegetables and salsa verde.
The GW Burger ($19), served with charred onion, horseradish pickle, American cheese spread and dijonnaise on a brioche bun, rounds out the entrée offering alongside pastas like crab a’l amatriciana ($29) and rigatoni genovese ($24). Fresh pasta is sourced from a local vendor, although Bekavac says Goodwins may make its own pasta in the future.
Goodwins’ wine list is decidedly Old World, with Italian reds, Bordeaux blends and Loire Valley whites featured heavily. Nine wines are available by the glass, and Bekavac says Goodwins is launching a wine club soon.
“We’re gonna call it the Goodwins Wine Society, where people are gonna be able to sign up and buy wine,” he says. “We’re gonna do wine tastings, wine dinners and stuff like that. So that should be coming out here in the next month or so, because we sell a lot of wine.”
Cocktails at Goodwins pay homage to East Dallas and seemingly invite residents in with drinks like Marquita Rita ($12), Goodwin martini ($14) and Bob-O-Link’s Left Hand ($12), which comes with Knob Creek Rye, sweet vermouth, Campari and mole bitters.
Subtle tributes to the community can be found in Goodwins’ interior as well. Hats, representing local businesses like Jimmy’s Food Store, can be found within the space and the sloping archways that border its dark, moody dining room are reminiscent of the craftsman façades found in surrounding streets.
“We wanted to use a lot of wood,” he says. “There’s obviously a lot of brass in here. We wanted to feel kind of like the space has been here for a long time. And we wanted people to feel like it was nice, but also feel a little bit laid back where they were comfortable.”
Comfortability is key, with Bekavac wanting guests to be able to enjoy its atmosphere multiple times a week. Creating that atmosphere entails everything from light-hearted menu names like Lil’ Rippers and Fitting
Sauce, which call back to his days with Badovinus, to encouraging waitstaff to remember neighbors and take notes on their cocktail orders.
“It’s kind of the Cheers theory. You want to go somewhere where you’re recognized,” Bekavac says. “And you feel like, if you’re bringing somebody from out of town or even another part of Dallas, you want to take them to your spot. And you want that spot to be awesome, and you want them to feel that when you’re in here.”
Goodwins will celebrate one year in Lower Greenville this May. It has been pegged as an “instant classic” by area publications and enjoyed popularity since its debut. Bekavac isn’t so quick to declare victory, however.
“It’s rewarding. It’s terrifying. It’s motivating. You know, it feels really good to get. Everybody wants praise. It’s like the like button on Instagram or whatever. Everybody wants to have as many likes as possible. It’s just human nature. But we tell ourselves all the time that this isn’t done. This isn’t a finished idea. This isn’t, ‘OK, put it on cruise control and let the car drive itself.’ The worst thing that you can do is think that you got it.”
Goodwins , 2905 Greenville Ave. 214.272.9677, goodwinsdallas.com
Story by JOHN SLATE
In 2018, Will Maddox reported on the history of Reinhardt Elementary School, viewed through the eyes of a beloved teacher. John Slate, Dallas City Archivist, adds more detail to the story of this former town.
Dallas’ history is intimately connected to railroad history. Several communities now within our city limits once grew around rail stations. Such is the case with the unincorporated village of Reinhardt, which was on the northern border of what’s now the Casa Linda area between Peavy and Gus Thomasson Roads. Renamed from Ola, Reinhardt was a convenient stop on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway railroads, halfway between Dallas and Duck Creek –the future Garland. Like the Missouri-Kansas-Pacific railroad, Santa Fe was a very important link to Midwestern cities.
Maddox described Reinhardt as coming into existence in the early 1870s, primarily a patchwork of cotton farms operated by families now honored with local street names — Chenault, Peavy, Zacha and Goforth to name a few.
Writings about the village usually include a reference to the namesake as being president of the railroad. But was he? Joseph W. Reinhart was a Santa Fe railroad executive from Pittsburgh, serving one disastrous term as president from 1893-94. Because Reinhardt was named before anyone around here knew Reinhart, he’s an unlikely source. A Dallas Morning News article from January 1887 notes, “The post office at Ola, Dallas County, has been removed to the new station on the Santa Fe named Reinhardt in honor of Mr. Reinhardt of Dallas.”
“Mr. Reinhardt” was German-born Isidore Reinhardt (1839-1899), proprietor of two businesses. The first was Reinhardt the Clothier, which operated in the 1880s on Elm Street. When that business declined, he started I. Reinhardt & Son, the earliest fire insurance company based in Dallas.
According to the Handbook of Texas , in the late 1880s Reinhardt had 37 residents, a railway station, telegraph office, and a combination post office/general store. In later years it had a population of 100 and supported two segregated schools, two drugstores, a bank and a cotton gin. A “Reinhardt Pike” briefly existed into the early 1920s. Inevitably, the village fell into decline. A 1937 Dallas TimesHerald article chronicled the last days of the Reinhardt post office, established in 1886. In 1945, the City of Dallas annexed Reinhardt into the city limits. The tiny Reinhardt school district was absorbed into Dallas Independent School District in 1946. All that remains of Reinhardt are a few residences, Reinhardt Elementary School and Reinhardt Bible Church’s building, now occupied by St. Peter Vietnamese Catholic Church on Garland Road.
A glimpse inside one of this year’s Hollywood Santa Monica Home Tour homes
Before Ryan and Sara Lumbley fell in love with their 1931 Hollywood Santa Monica home, they fell in love with the neighborhood. After living in Dallas for over 20 years, the couple never knew the neighborhood existed. They remember driving into Hollywood Santa Monica and immediately feeling a kinship to it.
“We were like, ‘This is adorable – idyllic even,’”
Sara says. “Then, as soon as we walked into the house, we knew it was going to take some work to make it ours, but we loved the bones of the home, and it’s very warm. The house feels super bright, super light, super open.”
The work began with hiring specialists. Sara jokes that there wasn’t a straight line in the house. Everything was a “little quirky
and wonky” and had been created for the previous set of owners, the Moomaws. They had done a full remodel on the property about 30 years prior. The kitchen was yellow and green, the bathrooms had small hand-picked mosaic tiles everywhere and the bathtub was in the middle of the room. Throughout the entire house, there were signs of a different time.
“It was everything that they wanted, everything that they’d loved, and they were also extremely detail oriented.”
“Just like we’ve taken and put our fingerprints on this home, they had put theirs on it,” Ryan says. “It was everything that they wanted, everything that they’d loved, and they were also extremely detail oriented.”
The Lumbleys were also detail-oriented in their approach. The backyard alone took
eight of their family and friends three days to completely gut and start fresh.
“The interior of the home was in a much better position, but it was just not relative to today’s design aesthetics,” Ryan says.
In order to achieve a more up-to-date look, the Lumbleys took
somewhere between six to eight months to transform the interior of the home. But even with all the work on the home’s structure, the modernization of the space was truly solidified in the pair’s interior design choices. As they started trying to formulate what they wanted for interior pieces, a few buzzwords
kept coming up: “warm,” “cozy” and “unique.”
“We didn't have an interior designer. We just kind of trusted what we liked,” Sara says. “It’s fair to say we like things that are big and bright and colorful. We like mixing textures, mixed metals, things like that.”
Between the couple’s ideas, an array of colors, like the deep plum purple of their backyard doors, and “wacky” fixtures, like the LED bars resting on a wall in their living room, started populating the space. In time, the home would become filled with different patterns, textures, shapes and art that made their initial dream for the home finally snap into place.
“We love art, and so when we walked into the house, there was so much space for us to kind of display the art that we’ve collected over the years,” Sara says. “We could kind of focus the aesthetic of the homes around the art we have.”
The pair’s art collection is filled with pieces they’ve collected on their international travels, like their hand-painted longhorn skull from Bali that rests above their fireplace, alongside a healthy dose of local East Dallas pieces to tie everything together.
“I feel like that’s a very East Dallas thing,” Sara says. “You want to support local people and local businesses.”
While the rich colors and modern decorations have certainly given the space a new feel, the couple made sure to keep a few things they felt would integrate into the new design well. One of which was the hardwood flooring in the front
of the house. They kept the original 100-yearold, 1-inch White Oak boards and opted to sand and stain them rather than change them out. They also left one half bathroom completely untouched.
“That bathroom feels like a 1920s speakeasy,” Sara says. “Originally,
the Moomaws had kind of a bar set up, and that half bath was kind of like the guest bath when they were having parties — they entertained quite frequently. And so when we moved in, it’s the one thing we never touched, because it was so insane.”
Despite feeling con -
tent with their home’s transformation, and finding ways to connect the old with the new, the work continues for the Lumbleys. A fix here, an addition there. The two feel that you’re never really done making a house a home. “It’s a labor of love,” Ryan says.
The Advocate’s annual Top Realtor special section recognizes the Top 5% of all active neighborhood Realtors, determined by reported sales volume.*
SCOTT JACKSON
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
NANCY JOHNSON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
SKYLAR CHAMPION
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
AMY SACK
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KATE LOONEY WALTERS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
LEE LAMONT
eXp Realty LLC
MICHAEL HUMPHRIES
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
CHRISTI WEINSTEIN
Agency Dallas Park Cities, LLC
KATIE ASPEN
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
LAUREN LEVI BAKER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KATHERINE BALLARD
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
JOLIE BARRIOS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JASON BATES
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
KYLE BAUGH
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
THOMAS BELLINGER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
NANCY BENDER
Meyer Group Real Estate
ROBERT BLACKMAN
Solvent Realty Group
CATHERINE BLEVENS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
CHASE BRAY
Bray Real Estate Group- Dallas
THANI BURKE
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BEN CABALLERO
HomesUSA.com
ADAM CASE
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
ELIZABETH CHALFANT
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
DAVID BUSH
David Bush Realtors
MELANIE TILL
Meyer Group Real Estate
ALEXANDRA MARLER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KYLE BRINKLEY
Brinkley Property Group LLC
CLIFTON KESSLER
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
RICHARD GRAZIANO
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
MICHELLE HOPSON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
MYSTI NEWBERRY STEWART
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
GIANNA MARTINEZ
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
CHELSEA CHIU
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
SHIRLEY COHN
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
ALESSANDRO COLA
Bray Real Estate Group- Dallas
KAREN CUSKEY
Coldwell Banker Realty
BRIT DANIELS
Monument Realty
AMY DETWILER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
CHASE DURAN
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
AIMEE ELKMAN
eXp Realty LLC LLC
LAUREN FARRIS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
MARY ALICE GARRISON
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
RHONI GOLDEN
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
SUMMER GRAHAM
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BRIDGETTE
HARRINGTON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
EVE HOLDER
eXp Realty LLC
BRIAN PIENCIAK
Brinkley Property Group LLC
CHRIS HICKMAN
Ebby Halliday, Realtors
KALEIGH WALKER
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
HEATHER GUILD
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BETSY SORENSON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JOHN WEBER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JOHN THOMPSON
Thompson Property Group
BRANDON GREENOUGH
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
NADINE KELSALL-MEYER
Meyer Group Real Estate
ANNAMARI LANNON
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
BEN LEE
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
PETER LOUDIS
Ebby Halliday, Realtors
GIA MARSHELLO
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
CATRIONA MCCARTHY
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
CHRISTINE MCKENNY
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
ELIZABETH MELLO
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
COURTNEY MICHALEK
Agency Dallas Park Cities, LLC
JEFFREY MITCHELL
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JACOB MOSS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KJ MURPHY
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
DIANA NELSON
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
NATALIE PATTEN
Patten Realty
DAYLON PEREIRA
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
LEVY PORPINO
Douglas Elliman Real Estate
KASEY POZZI
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
EMILY ROBERTS
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JORDAN ROSEN
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
RAUL RUIZ
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
MINA SHAMSA
Ebby Halliday, Realtors
JAMES SHEEHAN
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BRANDON STEWART
David Griffin & Company
SUSIE THOMPSON
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
KRISTEN THORNHILL
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
MATTHEW TWOMEY
Highlands Real Estate
BRITTNEY WARREN
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
NANCY WILSON
Coldwell Banker Realty
MICHAEL WONG
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l
That’s what it’s feeling like with the others. Brokerages are getting bigger. Their methods are getting standardized. Every house gets the same 1-2-3 selling plan. All the boxes are getting checked — but at what price? We are the contrarians. And we have been for 65 years and counting. That’s right. Since 1960, we’ve treated our sellers and buyers like the people, thinkers and feelers that they are. It’s radical, isn’t it? You are not a commodity at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. You are a client — deserving of the best advisors, guidance, care and coddling. We perform minor miracles every day, one property at a time. And each of those properties gets its own strategy, based on our unique exposure opportunities and our agents’ intuition, not a predetermined and phased plan that starts by keeping a listing hush-hush within a brokerage for quite some time. (Those in-house schemes keep a listing from someone else, too: the majority of eager buyers.) Yes, we match real people with real homes, using real instincts and real intellect. Even better, those caring, coddling advisors are backed not only by a local management team who supports them in every way but also by special tech tools crafted to streamline the most important thing — their time. So that they can spend more of it on you. Radical, indeed. The big-box brokerages are getting bigger. We’re the boutique brokerage and always have been. (The boutique that sold $2.4 billion just last year alone. Ahem.) But the only statistic that really counts with us is 23,725 and climbing. That’s how many days we’ve been open, doing our thing for the great people of North Texas. And just as it has always been with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, you’re not a number. You’re a neighbor.
How a National Geographic lover discovered the world & an interior design career
This space in Charlotte Comer’s home includes a French Provincial mantel, Nigerian Yoruba sculptures (top shelf) and a metal-plated, elephant-shaped Cambodian jewelry box (second shelf). Comer uses gray and various shades of chartreuse to tie the eclectic room together.
SOUTH DAKOTA. INDIA. VIETNAM. TEXAS. If you ask Charlotte Comer, these places played a key role in her development as an interior designer. Each place influenced her design style, processes and excitement about the industry. In her over 50 years of experience, the M Streets neighbor has acquired a strong list of clients both domestically and internationally as well as a strong sense of purpose behind her craft.
WHAT WAS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY ASSOCIATED WITH INTERIOR DESIGN?
I started sewing when I was 5 with my grandmother. I grew up in a textile mill town in North Carolina. We used to go to all the mill outlet stores to buy our fabrics, and I just love fabrics.
WHEN DID YOU START FORMALLY PURSUING A CAREER IN THE INDUSTRY?
I wanted to major in home economics in college. This was in a time frame when women were just nurses, school teachers and secretaries. My mother was a fifth grade school teacher. She told me I couldn’t major in home economics, because there was only one home economics teacher in high schools. They came and got the job, and they stayed until they retired. So, she made me major in elementary education. Later, my husband was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and we went to Guam. I got a job with a drapery, a place that sold window treatments and wallpaper. I worked there for three years. Then we came back to Fort Worth, and I decided I would get a design degree at Texas Christian University.
OVER THE YEARS, WHAT HAVE YOU DECIDED IS THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH A NEW PROJECT?
I go out and see the house, and I take pictures. I wait for them to hire me. The first thing I do is always a to-do list, and it’s by rooms — an outline form so that it tells me all the things that are in the actual space. Then, just at first thought, I add some possible things for them to think about for the space, because I want to know if they’re open to it.
YOU’VE LIVED IN AND TRAVELED TO MANY PLACES. HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED YOUR WORK?
You learn by exposure to people who have and have not. And by travel. Travel became the most influential thing. I had traveled the United States. I knew the history of the United States. I’ve seen all the national parks. But we went to Guam, and we were exposed to other cultures. We went to Japan. We went to Hong Kong. We went to Thailand. We went all these places. I went to India because I had an Indian friend in Guam, and I was so fascinated. I grew up looking at National Geographic , and so all of a sudden I was experiencing things that I had seen in National Geographic.
HAVE YOU MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH CLIENTS YOU MET WHILE LIVING IN DIFFERENT PLACES?
Yes. I have one client from 1977. She lived in Cleburne, and I worked on her house. Now, she lives in Dallas, and she’s still my client. I have lots of clients from the five years that I lived in Rapid City, South Dakota. All somebody has to do is contact me by text or by email or by phone. Or if they’re moving to a new place, and we start the process all over again.
WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF YOUR APPROACH TO A NEW PROJECT/CLIENT?
You have to listen to people and it’s important how you present what they’re going to see — what they’re going to feel when they walk into a room.
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE REACTIONS FROM A CLIENT?
I had a client say ‘I just want you to know that coming into my house makes me smile.’ And no matter who it is, how much money they have or don’t have, it’s all about making that client smile. So, if you have that kind of job, wouldn’t you want to continue? Wouldn’t you want to do that kind of job?
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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WINNER - RICO HILLSIDE SHOE SERVICES
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WINNER - EMILY’S MAIDS OF DALLAS
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WINNER - JESSE SIMMONS
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Adrienne and Preston Pannek, alongside Rickie Tapia, had been running and working in The Lash Loft on Commerce Street for several years, always keeping an eye on the space next door. They knew that one day they wanted to expand and take on a new venture.
When the space finally opened up, the team almost immediately began brainstorming. But they needed to see the lay of the land.
There were rotted out floors with holes, a caved-in ceiling, pipes ducttaped and poking out every which wa and massive amounts of water everywhere. It was a far cry from what the trio of perfectionists imagined.
“The walls were all painted in oil paint. There was hair stuck to it,” Preston says.“So they all had to be sanded down — walls, ceilings, everything.”
This was more than a fixer-upper.
“This was the hardest rebuild I’ve ever done. It was absolutely disgusting here,” Preston says.
They started throwing around some ideas. One of the earliest decisions was the color scheme. Bright purples, teals and emeralds were going to be essential for the final look. They wanted it to feel “overly elegant,” like being “inside of a grandmother’s jewelry box.”
Blowouts & Company.
Nine months of manual labor and design work created a luxury blowout and haircut salon.
Starting at the green door, metal butterflies are used as a fun take on security bars. Upon entry, you’re greeted by forest green seats and couches and large eclectic art. The walls feature wood slabs in a shou-sugi-ba style, a Japanese technique that highlights the grain after a burning, sanding and glazing process. All done by hand.
Everything is accented with gold.
The large mural, which spans over the entirety of the two-story wall, is sentimental for the Panneks.
“My mom calls me and my sisters her ladybugs, so we put three ladybugs in here,” Adrienne says.
The two deep blue figures that juxtapose the rich purple of the mural’s background?
Those are Preston’s little cousins.
Texture was another point of interest for the space, from the greenery-lined walls, the gold flower-lined “Deep Ellum Blow & Co.” wall and the birds and butterfly fixtures you can find flying upstairs.
“We’re really big on textures and keeping your focus, not just sitting but enjoying your space. Everything’s different,” Preston says. “No matter where you look around, you’re gonna find something different to look at and pay attention to.”
One feature you simply can’t miss, from both the upstairs portion of the salon and the entrance, is Moouis Vuitton, the lifestyle cow art piece made with Louis Vuitton print. Of course, his family is with him, the Gucci cow Moocci and their smallest herd member, the Fendi cow Moodi.
“We wanted this to have more of a homey feel, where you can feel comfortable and relaxed. That’s what a hair salon really should be,” Preston says. “Like you’re talking with your family.”
More than 90 years later, the apartment complex is still a Lower Greenville staple
Story by BETSIE BOLGER | Illustration by JYNNETTE NEAL
When Marquita Court celebrated its grand opening in July 1931, it was the largest capacity apartment building built in Dallas in more than two years. Situated just one block off Greenville Avenue at the southwest corner of Matilda Street and Marquita Avenue, it was only the second apartment building ever to be constructed in the neighborhood now collectively known as Lower Greenville.
Over the course of the next 94 years, Marquita Court became a storied and iconic East Dallas landmark. While its history lives on, the building itself has been significantly changed — and some would also say diminished — by its recent renovation following a partial roof collapse in August 2022.
“I am very glad they were able to save enough of the building to at least keep the scale and basic forms of the neighborhood,”
says Norman Alston, an award-winning Dallas architect, FAIA, who specializes in historic preservation. “One of the primary concerns after the collapse was that it would be replaced by a new structure that ignored the local context and character of the older neighborhood.”
At the time it was built, Marquita Court represented a modern multi-family solution to Dallas’ ongoing post-World War I housing shortage. It featured a fashionable Mediterranean Revival influence in its Spanish-style tiled roof, central courtyard entryway with a modest fountain and ornamental vases in arched niches on the facade of each wing. Jalousied roof dormers and double-hung windows added practical and functional architectural interest by providing through ventilation, while innovative underground parking — virtually unheard-of in 1930s Dallas — provided what was advertised as a “fireproof garage” for residents’ motorcars.
One-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with “everything furnished” offered a plethora of amenities: “solid carpeting throughout,” “tub showers,” ceiling fans and Kelvinator electric refrigerators that a Dallas Morning News write-up noted “provide the freezing of ice cubes in less than two hours with an extra-heavy capacity of ice for each apartment.”
No need to skimp on ice for sweet tea or cocktails if you live at Marquita Court.
Operated by the Apartment Service Company, life at 5750 Marquita — bills paid — included janitorial and maid services plus free laundry service. Lucky residents could also take advantage of an adjacent tennis court and children’s playground. Ads for the new building even promised, “We move you.”
Strategically located along the Belmont streetcar line running out from Downtown Dallas to Mockingbird Lane via Matilda, Marquita Court was conveniently close to
the burgeoning Lower Greenville Avenue retail and entertainment district springing up around the Arcadia Theater, which opened in 1927 where Trader Joe’s is today. Neighborhood residents could walk or take the streetcar to catch a 10-cent talkie, then do their shopping or get their hair cut. The nationally recognized Hockaday School for Girls was located nearby at Belmont and Greenville, while brand-new Robert E. Lee Elementary School (now Geneva Heights) stood cattycorner.
Marquita Court and Robert E. Lee Elementary both were part of the second phase of Greenland Hills’ development. This vibrant and growing neighborhood just north of the already well-established Vickery Place area was an early suburb of Downtown Dallas, home to family-oriented middle class professionals attracted to its charming mix of Tudor Revival cottages, Spanish Eclectic architecture and Neoclassical influences.
From the get-go, Greenland Hills was designed to be a cohesive and high-quality residential area, complete with detached garages for automobiles. When it was originally platted, in 1923, ads proclaimed, “Build your home in Greenland Hills, where you are protected from the encroachment of apartments.”
Nonetheless, cities run on mass transit, so the Apartment Service Company went on to build five eight-unit apartment buildings right next door to Marquita Court at a total cost of $150,000. (In the 5700 block of Marquita Avenue, a zoning anomaly allows multifamily residences on the south side of the street while restricting construction to single-family homes on the north side.) All 40 “modern efficiency apartments” survived until the early 1980s, when two of the five buildings were torn down to make way for Marquita Carriage Place condominiums. The other three buildings are well preserved and still thriving today, looking from the outside much as they probably always have.
Meanwhile, Marquita Court soon became home to a lively mix of residents. Among the first were newlyweds W.B. and Dorothy Ramsey, who were “at home” there after August 15 following their honeymoon, an automobile trip to Corpus Christi and San Antonio. The Ramseys were one of numerous couples — a number of whom were raised in the Park Cities — whose wedding announcements in the Morning News gave their future address as simply “Marquita Court.”
Marquita Court also made the Morning News’ s Dallas Social Affairs page for various festivities hosted by residents. In February of
1936, Mrs. A.L. Mallioux and her daughter Jacqueline entertained with a luncheon in honor of their uncle and aunt, Judge and Mrs. J.M. Shinn, of Harrison, Arkansas. A green-and-white color theme was observed in the decorations. (A precursor to St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps?) Such society page mentions reflected the social standing of Marquita Court and its residents.
Later in 1936, during the Texas Centennial State Fair, the Marquita Court and Apartments (5732-5750 Marquita Ave.) and McCommas Apartments (5800-5820 McCommas Ave.) were operated jointly with full hotel services under the consolidated name Marquita Hotel Apartments. A total of 48 twoto four-bedroom apartments were available on Marquita, along with 24 two-bedroom units on McCommas — an early iteration of AirBnB.
In October of 1939, the Morning News ’ Classified Ads for Apartments — Furnished noted that 5750 Marquita, a.k.a. Marquita Court, was under new management, with newly decorated and refurnished one- and two-bedroom apartments for $50 and up, bills paid.
By then, Marquita Court was home to Mrs. T.L. Henrich, who moved to Dallas from Chicago that August to be married. Prior to her marriage, Miss Margaret Loyd (which she retained as her professional name) was a member of the Chicago Civic Opera and soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; she also won first place in the Chicago Musicland Festival. In March 1940, she sang for members of the Dallas Kiwanis Club during their luncheon meeting at the Hotel Adolphus. A year later in April 1941, when Dallas’ Majestic Theater held a contest for “girl musicians,” Miss Floyd was selected as a finalist for a special appearance with Phil Spitalny and his all-girl Hour of Charm Orchestra.
In July 1941, a full decade after its grand opening, Marquita Court was still advertising “attractively furnished one- and two-bedrooms, thru ventilation, $50-$60.” It was flourishing, as was Lower Greenville, which continued to establish itself as a premier retail and entertainment district.
When North Central Expressway came along in 1950, Greenville Avenue was a major artery through Dallas and thus a bustling hot spot for shopping and restaurants, conveniently interspersed among residential neighborhoods for purposes of walkability. But the advent of Central Expressway changed that dynamic, sucking traffic off of Greenville and
Dallas’ 1937 City Directory provides an interesting and fairly comprehensive peek at Marquita Court’s assorted residents, including their occupations:
APT 1 : Frances Donalson (clerk, Universal Credit Co.)
APT 2: Harlan H. & Dora Payne (Assistant Zone Manager, Pontiac Motor Co.)
APT 3: Ann and Janice Landrum,
APT 4: Je an Sauls (clerk, Federal Reserve Bank)
APT 6 : H & Annie Fowler (Manager, Goodrich Silvertown Stores)
APT 7: Marjorie Paynes
APT 9: Geor ge E. Roedick (pilot for Braniff Airways)
APT 10 : R uth Strong
APT 11: Glenn & Jeane Loomis
APT 11: C ora L. Warren (maid)
APT 12: Joe H. Mixon
APT 14A: H.A. Parker
APT 14B : Allen G & Meda Hatle y (salesman)
APT 14B: R uby Bonner (maid)
APT 15: Harold P & Alice Suttle (salesman, CS Hamilton Motor Co.)
APT 19: D D oble & E Bogewold
APT 20: E arl H. & Marguerite Whiatten (salesman, Walter H Allen Co)
APT 21: John A & Betty Straitan
APT 23: A.Y. & Anna J. Aydelotte
onto the highway straight out to the mid-century suburbs of Richardson and Plano.
As a result, the once lively and fashionable neighborhoods just north of Downtown began to wilt and decay. Lower Greenville slid into desuetude; it hung on, but it wasn’t growing like it had been through the 1940s, especially after World War II. Residents were aging in place, letting property maintenance slip, while young families were moving north.
Guitarist Ken Bethea of the Old 97’s remembers those years particularly well, because Marquita Court was (famously) Ground Zero for the band. “It so warms my heart, the fun we had!” he recalls. “There was a bunch of Gen Xers living there, all working at Terilli’s and the Blue Goose. We knew everybody who lived at Marquita Court; there was always somebody to get breakfast with.
“The guys in the right corner were outliers,” he continues. “They were cowboys. Everybody else was an East Dallas liberal. Then there were these total stoner dudes in the back who spent their whole day playing Sega Genesis. People from those days were our first fans. They still come to our shows!”
But … location, location, location.
Gentrification became a thing in the 1970s, with urban pioneers rehabbing beat-up but sturdy older houses that would once have been viewed as only suitable for tearing down. For these hippies and yuppies, Lower Greenville was prime real estate.
Ads for Marquita Court, waxing poetic, reappeared in the Dallas Morning News starting in March 1980. The apartments were described as “luxury,” “old but grand,” “old world charm,“ “redecorated for today,” “built in the days of graceful living.” Notably, between the springs of 1980 and 1982, the price jumped from $255 to $475, bills paid with central heating and air conditioning.
For the next 10 years or so, artists, musicians and other creative types snapped up these funky, quirky living spaces and brought Marquita Court and its surrounding neighborhood back to vivid life and new relevance as a walkable neighborhood full of interesting places to shop, dine and party.
Guitarist Ken Bethea of the Old 97’s remembers those years particularly well, because Marquita Court was (famously) Ground Zero for the band.
“It so warms my heart, the fun we had!” he recalls. “There was a bunch of Gen Xers living there, all working at Terilli’s and the Blue Goose. We knew everybody who lived at Marquita Court. There was always somebody to get breakfast with.
“The guys in the right corner were outliers,” he continues. “They were cowboys. Everybody else was an East Dallas liberal. Then there were these total stoner dudes in the back who spent their whole day playing Sega Genesis. People from those days were our first fans. They still come to our shows!”
The Old 97’s instrumental “Marquita” is a tuneful homage. “We knew it was historic, and we were really into living in a vintage building,” Bethea says. “I always liked the arch between the living room and the breakfast nook. The telephone niche in the hallway, too. And my half of the rent was $280!”
“Living there was just fun, man,” he adds wistfully. “It makes me sad that it’s no longer affordable for musicians. None of Lower Greenville is.”
Marquita Court’s 300-square-foot studio apartments currently rent for $1,500. The arches are still in place in the apartments now comprising Marquita Court, and so is the bathrooms’ original tile work. But the phone niches, built-in ironing boards, and geometric original exterior light fixtures are gone after most of the interior was gutted due to unexpected water damage found during the roof repairs and renovation.
“For its time, the building was simple and straightforward. Interesting architectural details were at a minimum,” Alston says. “The new iteration has really shorn the building of what little character it had.”
“The tile roof contributed substantially. Besides conveying the Spanish influences so popular at the time, that influence, the color and heavy texture have been lost. This disappointment extends to the loss of the small dormers that were originally part of the roof. Those were small but important details, and they’re all gone now.”
According to Seth Bame, CEO of Indio Management, owners of Marquita Court, the roof tiles were cement reproductions, and the dormers had to be ditched because they leaked. As with all older buildings, Bame said, there were surprises — such as heretofore unseen water damage — when they started repairing the roof. However, the symmetrical façade’s signature niches and their urns are still in place.
“Our goal was to make the building relevant for another 100 years,” Bame says.
Historic Marquita Court had character, says Alston, which extended to the area around it. “Neighborhood character is a powerful force in support of quality of life, both aesthetically and financially,” he explains. “It’s one of the reasons we have historic districts, conservation districts and the like. They all protect neighborhood character.
“Historic buildings provide a variety of essential qualities to society,” Alston continues. “Most importantly, they tell a story. Older buildings … paint a picture of life in days past. This provides a sense of place, providing depth and authenticity to our neighborhoods.
“Marquita Court was valuable because it did all of these things,” concludes Alston. “Mostly because it hadn’t been updated much, so you could still perceive the story it had to tell. All of that has been lost.”
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Save the dates Wed., 4/23 thru Sunday, 4/27 for our Annual Spring Sale & Antique FLEA MARKET. Tented Flea market happens Saturday, APRIL 26TH, rain or shine! Over 100 Vendors offering discounts of 20-50% off regular prices. Free hotdogs on Saturday. Don’t Miss!!
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Cabinet Refacing, Built-ins, Entertainment/ Computer Centers. Jim. 469-585-1588 jhholbert2@att.net
ALTOGETHER CLEAN
Relax ...We’ll Clean Your House, It Will Be Your Favorite Day! Bonded & Insurance. Free Estimates. 214-929-8413. www. altogetherclean.net
CINDY’S HOUSE CLEANING 15 yrs exp. Resd/Com. Refs. Dependable. 214-490-0133
WANTED HOUSES TO CLEAN. Organize, De-clutter, pack +more. Dependable, thorough, Honest, Great Refs,15yrs.Exp.Sunny 214-724-2555
WINDOW CLEANING Power washing No Job To Small. 30 Yrs exp. 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
NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER, Smartphone or Smart Home? My Tech Guy Harvey. 214-770-2598. harveymccall@gmail.com.
CONCRETE, MASONRY & PAVING
ADVANCE STONE ART CREATIONS
Decorative Concrete Overlays. 214-705-5954
CONCRETE, Driveway Specialist Repairs, Replacement, Removal, References. Reasonable. Chris 214-770-5001
CONCRETE, RETAINING WALLS 25 yrs exp. T&M Construction, Inc. 214-328-6401
EDMONDSPAVING.COM Asphalt & Concrete Driveway-Sidewalk-Patio-Repair 214-957-3216
Chris Roberts, 20+Yrs Exp. 214-770-5001
JOHNSON PAVING Concrete, Asphalt, Driveways. New or Repair. 214-827-1530
Concrete • Driveways Retaining Walls Stamped Concrete
214-202-8958
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
BRIGHT LIGHT ELECTRIC • 214-553-5333
TECL 31347 Brightening Homes and Businesses
LAKEWOOD ELECTRICAL Local. Insured. Lic. #227509 Call Rylan 214-434-8735
TH ELECTRIC Reasonable Rates. Licensed & Insured. Ted. E257 214-808-3658
WHITE ROCK ELECTRIC All Electrical Services. Lic/Insd.TECL-34002 214-850-4891
Master Electrician
Family Owned · Insured Anthonyselectricofdallas.com 214-328-1333
Tecl #24948.
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
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
LONESTARDECKS.COM 214-357-3975
Trex Decking & Fencing, trex.com All Wood Decks, Arbors & Patio Covers
HANNAH WOODWORKS
• Decks • Pergolas
• Patio Covers
Hannahwoodworks.com
469-427-0058 or 214-435-9574
For complete terms and conditions, visit advocatemag.com/advertisingterms.
HASTINGS FLOORS Epoxy Garage Foors Many colors to choose (flakes optional) Call Nick for bid 214-341-5993 hastingsfloors.com
HARDWOOD INSTALLATIONS Waterproof, hardwood, carpets, tile laminate, & vinyl click. 214-440-6244 . aaa-texas-floors.com
FOR SALE
FOR SALE 6 pc Queen bedroom set (solid wood). Separately or together. Good Condition. $1200 for set. 956-645-1747
FOUNDATION REPAIR • Slabs • Pier & Beam • Mud Jacking • Drainage • Free Estimates
Over 20 Years Exp. 972-288-3797
GARAGE SERVICES
UNITED GARAGE DOORS AND GATES Res/Com. Locally Owned. 214-251-5428
GENERAL CONTACTING
A2H GENERAL CONTRACTING,LLC Remodel, Paint, Drywall/Texture, Plumbing. Electrical, Siding, Bathroom/Kitchen Remodels Tilling, Flooring, Fencing. 469-658-9163. Free Est. A2HGeneralContactingLLC@gmail.com
GLASS, WINDOWS & DOORS
LAKE HIGHLANDS GLASS & MIRROR frameless shower enclosures • store fronts replacement windows • mirrors 214-349-8160
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
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
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 Doors, Trim, Glass. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 35 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
RGC - HOME IMPROVEMENTS 214-477-8977 HOUSE PAINTING
BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work @reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768 HECTOR PEREZ PAINTING Commercial/residential. Intrior/ Exterior. Fair Rates. 214-489-0635
#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists serving Dallas 15 years.Trim, Removals. Tree Health Care services. Insured. Arborwizard.com. Free Est. (972) 803-6313.
A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 18 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925 Lawns, Gardens & Trees
DAVIS LAWN CARE, LLC 580-222-4909 or davislawncare214@yahoo.com
Serving Lake Highlands & Lakewood.
ELEVATED GARDENS - 469.682.5039
Raising the Standard of Outdoor Beauty
HOLMAN IRRIGATION
Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061
MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435
MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060
NEW LEAF TREE, LLC Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528
PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning. RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com
RGC - STORM WATER MANAGEMENT drainage solutions 214-477-8977
TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John
WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER
Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214.321.2387
Lawn service
FOR RENT Little Forest Hills 2/1 Single Family Home w/fence. $1,600mo. $1,600 deposit. Cheryl. 214-235-1399
GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886
OFFICE SUBLEASE In Bishop Arts. Cool, Quiet. 1,179 Sq ft. 4 rooms + kit / bath, parking. $2,950 + NNNs. 713.302-7722.
BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730
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
A CHARMING HOME
Decluttering + Organizing + Styling acharminghome.co 214-794-6382
MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983
Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC.
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: 855761-1725
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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
All types of Pest control. Natureking.com Natureking.com. 5 Star rating on Google 30+yrs. Exp. 214-827-0090. "Keeping Children & Pets in Mind"
Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic 214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com abetterearth.com
PLUMBING
AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943
of
Sewer Backups
All Plumbing Repairs
972-379-4000 staggsplumbing.co ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!
CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES
Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450
Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction
New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075
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! 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
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
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
SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline 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
WANTED: OBOE TEACHER needed for 14 year old student. Call 214–235-7429
PIANO LESSONS 30 years exp. Also voice & composition. Text (469) 708-6151
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
PATTI VINSON
Sometimes, the best side of humanity shows up
“My dad got lost on a walk today…has
Recently, Lakewood Hills resident Laura Jekot posted these gut-wrenching words on neighborhood social media, along with her dad’s last-known location and her phone number.
Spoiler: very happy ending here. East Dallas, you came through for one of your own. Hours after the original, panicked post, Jekot sent this out: “Today I experienced the very best side of humanity and the goodness that can come from social media community.”
Note: To honor the family’s request for privacy, the names of Jekot’s parents are withheld and they are referred to here as Dad and Mom.
On that day, Jekot had just left a physical therapy appointment when her mom called to say Jekot’s dad had vanished during their daily walk in the neighborhood. They had a routine of walking down side streets for several blocks, turning up a block, then heading back home on the next side street. “My dad was behind her when they made the turn to return and since it was just a straight shot home, she didn’t check behind her.”
But when Mom realized he was gone, she decided to rush home for her car to speed up the search. After driving up and down a few streets with no luck, she called her daughter.
“When mom called, my first reaction was shock that this could even happen and it scared me, but I initially thought that he just wandered a block or two off course and between the two of us we would find him,” she remembers. “But after what seemed like hours (it was really less than an hour), the
reality set in that he was very lost, and probably as frightened as we were. My dad starts to get anxious and worried when my mom is out of his sight even for short amounts of time, so he must have been terrified.”
Jekot called a friend and filled her in, who in turn called more friends, all of whom jumped in their cars to help search. Mom returned home in case Dad found his way back.
About an hour had passed when Jekot drove back to her parents’ house and told her mom to call the police. In the meantime, Jekot located a recent photo of Dad and posted her plea for help on neighborhood social media (specific site withheld at Jekot’s request.)
Jekot resumed her search by car, stopping periodically to check responses to her post. She remembers feeling “overwhelmed” by the support she received from the post, with dozens joining the search and offering kind words of hope.
“I was frantic and feeling at a loss for which direction to go and beginning to feel hopeless,” Jekot admits. “I tend to be weepy when I’m stressed or feel overwhelmed, but I remained focused on the task. So, it wasn’t the stress that finally made me break down, it was the outpouring of care and concern from friends, neighbors and complete strangers that brought on the tears!”
About two hours in, as Jekot was scanning Tietze Park for the third or fourth time, her mom called with the news that Dad had been found at Mattress Firm on Mockingbird, near Central Expressway.
“Because of my dad’s dementia, we’ll never know how he ended up in a store a mile and a half away from home in the
complete opposite direction they had been walking, but apparently he walked into the store and seemed lost and confused,” she remembers. “He didn’t remember my mom’s cell phone number but remembered their phone number from the 50-year-old landline that had just been disconnected a few months before. The woman at the store realized that he probably had dementia and called 911.”
Jekot updated her social media post with the good news and was flooded with hundreds of reactions and comments expressing relief. One person suggested that she get an AirTag for her dad, a device to help track his whereabouts. That very evening, she attached a newly-purchased tag to his key chain. He never leaves home without his keys even though he no longer drives.
Jekot’s actions fall in line with advice from the Alzheimer’s Association when a dementia patient is missing: call the police; have a close-up, recent photo of the person handy; get the word out through phone calls and social media. And don’t forget an AirTag.
“It was a grueling experience but having so many people around us who truly care for one another left me feeling more hopeful and optimistic about the future. Often we focus on the division, injustice or cruelty in the world and can forget that we are all in this life together and we are all basically kind and caring people at heart.”
Well done, neighbors.
PATTI VINSON is a guest writer who has lived in East Dallas for more than 20 years. She’s written for the Advocate and Real Simple magazine.
