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The Downtown Arlington Farmers Market

March 17, 2010 by arlingtoninsider

The Downtown Arlington Farmers Market
215 E. Front St (Front St. at Elm St.)
Fridays & Saturdays; 9am-1pm (or until vendors run out of produce/goods)
(817) 633-2332
www.downtownarlingtonfarmersmarket.com

The Downtown Arlington Farmers Market has begun weekend operations and will be open each Friday & Saturday morning beginning at 9am and staying open until the vendors sellout of produce/goods (usually well before 1pm).  The market is  located at 215 E. Front Street  (the corner of E. Front Street & Elm) on the northern edge of downtown Arlington.

The market will feature: farm fresh produce, fruits & vegetables, herbs, unique food products, organic products, Texas olive oil, beef, farm fresh eggs, pastries, breads, sweets pickles, dog biscuits, soaps, honey, coffee, plants and more.  Sometimes the vendors run out of goods.  On a recent visit, the lady selling fresh eggs left at 10:30am because she was already sold out. 

The vendor’s list includes many of the most popular businesses in Arlington including: Biscuit Head Baking Company; The Sanford House; Pierre’s Mardi Gras Café; The Kessler Cookie Company; Round Rock Honey; The Country Store; Homemade Gourmet; Sweet Treats; Carter Farms; Vann Farms; Dread Head Chef; Scott Farms; Coffee Haus; Roberts Relish; Fresh Farms Soap; Texas Olive Oil; Arlington Flower Company; Pure Beef Texas; Busy B’s Market; and Aduro Bean.

There are a couple of vendors which may show up only on Saturday (usually The Sanford House is only there on Saturdays) or maybe just on Friday.  But most vendors are at the market on both Fridays & Saturdays.  Some vendors are set up outside on; others are inside a small building.  Most of the parking is on a dirt field rather than a paved parking lot.

Easy to find in downtown Arlington, the Farmers Market is located at 215 E. Front Street (intersection of Front Street and Elm Street; about a block behind the Arlington Public Library). Front Street run east-west and lies between Division Street and Abram Street. Click here for a Mapquest map to 215 E. Front St: http://downtownarlingtonfarmersmarket.com/contact.html

If you or your company is interested in becoming a vendor at the market, please click here for more info: http://downtownarlingtonfarmersmarket.com/Vendor-Information.html You can also click here for a vendor’s application form: http://downtownarlingtonfarmersmarket.com/Vendor-Application.html

Posted in Shopping | Tagged | 1 Comment »

Texas Rangers: Single-Game Tickets Now On Sale

March 8, 2010 by arlingtoninsider

Texas Rangers: Single Game Tickets
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
(972) RANGERS
www.texasrangers.com

Single-game tickets are now on sale for all Texas Rangers home game at Rangers Ballpark for the 2010 season! Highlights of the 2010 schedule include:  a July 4th home game; a visit from the Chicago Cubs (May 21-23); plus series versus the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox.

During 2010 the Rangers are offering special promotions including: ticket discounts; “Dollar Hot Dog Nights”; fireworks shows after Friday night home games; Dr Pepper Autograph Wednesdays; pregame/postgame concerts; and promotional giveaways. For a complete list of promotions, click here: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=tex&y=2010

When you purchase on-line through the Rangers’ Web site, you can find even greater values through special e-savers promotions. Click here to link to e-savers: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ticketing/specials.jsp#esavers

Some of the money-saving promotions in 2010 include:

*“DR PEPPER HALF PRICE TICKETS in APRIL/MAY”: during April & May (excludes  May 21-23), any Dr Pepper or Diet Dr Pepper can may be redeemed at Rangers Ballpark box office for half-price tickets in Upper Reserved, Upper Box, Lexus Club Terrace, or Lower Reserve. If purchasing on-line, use DRPEPPER as the coupon code.

* “COCA COLA FAMILY TICKETS”: Four Pack includes four game tickets, four jumbo hot dogs, four Coke soft drinks, $20 in Sports Park tokens and one general parking pass. Price for Four-Pack varies by seating areas: $60 for Upper Reserved, $80 for Lower Reserved, and $100 for Corner Box. Additional persons (over minimum of four persons) may be purchased. Excludes the following:  May 21-23 vs Cubs; July 4th vs White Sox; August 10-15 vs Yankees & Red Sox; and Sept 10-12 vs Yankees.

* “FIREWORKS FRIDAYS”: in addition to a postgame fireworks show, tickets are only $10 in select areas (plus parking only $5) for 10 Friday home games. Excludes May 21 vs Cubs; Aug 13 vs Red Sox; and Sept 10 vs Yankees. Enter FIREWORKS as the coupon code when purchasing on-line.

* “MILITARY MONDAYS”: active or retired military ID may be presented at Rangers Ballpark Box Office for one free ticket with each regularly-priced ticket purchase in most seating sections for Monday home games (excludes Opening Day; not valid for ‘All You Can Eat Seats’ or Home Plate Seats).

* “FREE KIDS TUESDAYS”: tickets for kids 13-and-under are free in most seating sections for Tuesday home game; one free child ticket with every full-price adult ticket purchased (subject to availability, excludes August 10th vs Yankees).

* “OZARKA WEB SITE WEDNESDAYS”: half-price tickets in Upper Reserved, Upper Box, Lexus Club, Lower Reserved, Corner Box, and Lexus Club Box sections when purchased on-line. Excludes Aug 11th versus Yankees.

* “ACTIVE SENIORS THURSDAYS”: fans 65-and-up will receive one free ticket with each regularly-priced ticket up to $40 when proof of age is presented at box office. Tickets are good for Corner Box and Lower Reserved seating areas which feature 12 completely shaded sections.

* “ALL YOU CAN EAT SEATS”: located in Upper Home Run Porch high above right field, these seats include all-you-can-eat grilled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn and soft drinks served in the enclosed, air-conditioned Upper Home Run Porch Grill. Beer/alcohol is not included in price. Tickets regularly priced at $34 with premier game at $39. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more.

* “DIAMOND CLUB COMBO”: Enjoy a pregame buffet-style dinner inside the air-conditioned Diamond Club for only $10 extra with the Diamond Club Combo Ticket. Prices start at $35 and go up depending on your seating sections for the game (Lower Reserved, Lexus Club Terrace, Corner Box, Lexus Club Box, Lower Box). Premiere games start at $40. Combo tickets are not available for: Opening Day on April 5th; May 21-23 vs Cubs; July 4th vs White Sox; Aug 10-15 vs Yankees & Red Sox; and Sept 10-12 vs Yankees.

* “RANGERS/SIX FLAGS DOUBLE PLAY”: save 50% when you buy a combo ticket for a Rangers game and single-day ticket to Six Flags Over Texas. Each Double Play Combo includes one Lower Box to a non-premier Rangers game and one adult ticket to Six Flags Over Texas. It’s a $100 value for only $50! Combo can only be purchased on-line or by calling 972-RANGERS. Not available at Rangers Ballpark Box Office or Six Flags box office.

For more info on individual game tickets or special discounts/promotions, call the Rangers at 972 RANGERS. You can purchase tickets by phone at that same number. You can also purchase tickets in-person at the Rangers Ballpark Box Office. The hours for the First Base Box Office (which faces Randol Mill Road) are: (non-gamedays) Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 12pm-4pm. On gamedays, the box office opens at 9am Monday thru Saturday and 12pm on Sundays.

“Mobile Ticket Delivery” is another convenient option when buying tickets. Tickets will be sent directly to your cell phone. The image on the phone will be scanned at the gate! The ticket on your phone will have all the normal info that’s on a regular paper ticket, such as game time & opponent and section/row/seat. You’ll also receive a receipt which you can use as your seat identifier once you are inside the stadium. Click here to learn more about “Mobile Ticket Delivery”: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/mlb/tickets/mobile.jsp?c_id=tex

Posted in Attractions | Tagged | 1 Comment »

MANDOLA’S ITALIAN MARKET

March 2, 2010 by arlingtoninsider

Mandola’s Italian Market
Arlington Highlands Shopping Center
241 I-20 East (northeast corner of intersection of I-20 and Matlock)
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri & Sat 11am-11pm
(817) 468-4444
www.mandolasitalianmarket.com

Mandola’s Italian Market opened at Arlington Highlands Shopping Center in December and is a combination: restaurant (offering varieties of pasta, pizza, panninis, salads, soups); deli (specializing in sausages and cheeses); bakery; coffee/espresso counter; gelato; and market (shelves of pastas, olive oil, tomato sauces, sardines, breads, etc).

So whether you’re planning on creating your own Italian meal at home (yes, you can buy a $29 giant jar of mushrooms), stopping in for a quick coffee & cannoli, or picking up a prepared family meal of lasagna, you’ve found the right place. But don’t miss the opportunity to return for lunch or dinner to try some of the Mandola family recipes.

The building itself is about 75% restaurant and 25% market/deli/gelato/coffee/bakery. When you enter, you walk past shelves of the market to get to a counter where you order your meal. The deli/bakery/coffee counter is opposite the kitchen where you can watch the cooks prepare the meals. You order lunch/dinner at the counter and get your own sodas/tea/water, but servers will bring your meals to you. They will also bring you complimentary foccacia bread.

This is the first Mandola’s in North Texas and if the concept catches on, the company plans to expand through the metroplex.  The other two Mandola’s are in the Austin area.  The restaurant is family-friendly and has a few specially-made smaller tables for kids to sit around.

As for the restaurant menu…The pasta selections include the obvious like Spaghetti Carbonara ($9.99), eggplant parmigiana ($11.99), lasagna ($12.49), ravioli ($9.99 to $12.49), fettucine alfredo ($8.99), and cannelloni ($9.99). But there’s also Gnocchi al Sugo ($9.99) and Tortelloni Moda Mia (pasta stuffed with chicken/pork/ricotta/mortadella/parmigiano in a cream sauce with peas, mushrooms & prosciutto, $11.99).

The spaghetti sauce is Mamma’s Sunday sugo which is tomato puree, pork rib meat, pancetta, ground pork, white wine, onions, garlic & basil.

Panini (sandwiches) are categorized into Freddi (cold) and Caldi (hot). Prices range from $7.99 to $10.99. The bread is especially good. On our most recent visit, my husband enjoyed the Italian Chicken which is served on a fresh ciabatta. For something really light, you can go with the Caprese (tomatos and mozzarella simply servied with basil & olive oil) which is also good when toasted onto the foccacia. One of the family recipes is Mamma’s Post Roast Panino which is top sirloin and includes caramelized onions. I’m trying that on my next trip!

The antipasti (appetizers) range in price from $3.99 (garlic fries) to $12.49 (selection of deli meats) and definitely serve two or more. The Fritto Misto ($7.99) is a sampling ‘mixed fry’ of arancini, mozzarella and zucchini. Yes, there’s definitely bruschetta ($7.49). Salads range from $5.99 to $9.99. The “insalata cotta e cruda” ($9.99) has eggplant, fennel, mushrooms, zucchini, potatoes, red pepper, green beans, and parmigiano).

If you like soups, I hope you try the Minestra Maritata which is traditional Italian wedding soup. There is also a daily soup special (vegetarian, on my most recent visit).

For pizza lovers, these pizzas are the thinner crusts. All are the same size (easily feeds 2 people). The prices range from $8.99 to $10.99, depending on the ingredients. You can go with something normal like Quattro Formaggio (four cheeses, including mozzarella, fontina, romano & asiago) or Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil)…or go with something more exotic like the “Diavola” (hot capicola, hot cherry peppers, caramelized onions, mixed hers, romano & mozzarella cheese) or “Fiorentina” (spinach, artichoke, garlic, asiago & fontina & romano cheeses, balsamella sauce).

I especially liked the “Pugliese” pizza which is sausage, mushroom, thin strips of red onions, and mozzarella.

If you decide to build your own pizza, in addition to the standard toppings (pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, etc,), you can choose among: black olive tapenade, arugula, prosciutto, zucchini, eggplant, artichoke, pancetta, eggplant, etc. The toppings ($1 each) literally range from A to Z: anchovies to zucchini.

I’ve saved the best for last: DESSERT. From the bakery counter, you can choose cookies or cannoli or homemade Italian cakes. But I love ice cream, so that’s why I like the gelato counter. Flavors include hazelnut, pistachio, tiramisu, pineapple, etc. But if you prefer the more American-style flavors like thin mint, there’s also a “gelato of the day” (cookies & cream on my most recent visit).

As for the deli, sausage is the specialty. Some of the family recipe versions of sausage are Sicialian-style fennel sausage and a special spicy sausage. There are many cheeses to choose from, too.

Mandola’s offers family-size “To Go Packs” which includes mixed salad and the fresh foccacia bread. Choices include: spaghetti sugo ($40), spaghetti w/meatballs ($50), rigatoni Bolognese ($55), lasagna Bolognese ($60), and fedelini pachino ($40).

Mandola’s also caters. Whether your party is for 10 people or 1,000 people, you can call the catering coordinator for more information at (817) 468-5353. You can download a PDF of Mandola’s catering menu by clicking here: http://www.mandolasitalianmarket.com/images/images_A7238/Mandolas_Catering_menu.pdf

Located in the Arlington Highlands Shopping Center, look for the big green (with red brick) stand-alone building that faces I-20. The shopping center is on the northeast corner of the intersection of I-20 and Matlock.

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Cowboys Stadium Smashes Attendance Record: 108,713 at NBA All-Star Game

February 15, 2010 by arlingtoninsider

Everything’s bigger in Texas, especially the record crowd attending the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on February 14th. The total of 108,713 fans is the most ever for a basketball game. The new record shattered the previous basketball record by 30,584 fans. The Cowboys Stadium crowd also surpassed the record for an American professional sports event: 105,121 set at Cowboys Stadium last year for the Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants 2009 NFL regular season opener.

“I thought it would be spectacular and amazing, but it’s even more so than I imagined,” said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, co-host of the event in which the East All-Stars barely edged the West, 141-139. “Everybody had a great time. You could just see people’s eye bugging out of their heads. It’s crazy.

“We said we were going to throw the biggest part you’ve ever seen, and that’s exactly what we did.”

“What an honor for the Cowboys and an honor for the stadium,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the record crowd. After the game, Jones told media members that “This might have been beyond something that I could’ve dreamed, but I certainly thought this venue could be a very impressive and different basketball venue. With the stage of the All-Star Game and the national visibility, I’m hopeful that the fans have a positive experience unlike anything that anyone could have imagined.”

The configuration of the venue helped set the attendance record. Over 9,000 floor seats surrounded the court and approximately 15,000 fans took advantage of the ‘standing room only’ baseline passes which sold for only $30. The center-hung digital board, the world’s largest high-def board, was lowered about 30 feet from where it normally hangs for football games. The board, which is 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall was larger than the basketball court itself.

Music superstars shared the venue with the NBA’s best players. Usher performed prior to pregame introductions, Gretchen Wilson performed the national anthem, and the halftime show featured international phenom Shakira as well as Alicia Keys.

The game was also a homecoming for NBA superstars Chris Bosh and Deron Williams who played high school basketball in North Texas. Bosh (Dallas Lincoln High School) scored 23 points and added 10 rebounds for the winning East team, and Deron Williams scored 14 points and grabbed 3 rebounds for the West. Bosh’s two free throws with five seconds remaining in the game provided the winning margin for the East.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks represented the “home” team. Nowitzki scored 22 points including game-tying free throws with 7 seconds remaining in the game. Kidd, an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant, played six minutes but didn’t score.

“I’ll always remember this for the rest of my life, and so will probably the guys,” Nowitzki said after the game.

“This is something we can tell all our kids about for years to come,” said Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat. Wade won the game’s MVP honors by scoring 28 points in the East’s 141-139 win. “It was amazing to be a witness for the largest crowd ever…it felt like you were on stage. We went out to warm up, and you should’ve seen our faces. It was amazing and wild. Like kids, very giddy.”

“The atmosphere was unbelievable, a hundred thousand-plus people,” marveled LeBron James of the Cavaliers. “It was an unbelievable time for myself and the rest of the guys.”

Hosting a huge event like the NBA All-Star Game as well as shattering attendance records certainly demonstrates that the venue and the people who operate the venue can be ready for next year’s Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium.

“It was a test for the city, it was a test for anybody as far as logistics,” noted Jones. “I really think we showed everybody how we’re going to handle this thing…(but) to call the NBA All-Star Game a warm-up does no justice to itself. This is very special in itself.”

Cowboys Stadium is also slated to host the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament in 2014. The NCAA tournament attendance record of 72,456 fans was set last year at Ford Field in Detroit.

Overall, the top five crowds to ever witness a basketball game are:

#1 108,713 at Cowboys Stadium for 2010 NBA All-Star Game (2/14/10)
#2 78,219 Kentucky vs Michigan State at Detroit’s Field (12/12/03)
#3 75,000 Harlem Globetrotters vs Boston Whirlwinds,Berlin’s Olympic Stadium (8/22/51)
#4 72,922 NCAA finals North Carolina vs Michigan State at Ford Field, Detroit (4/6/09)
#5 72,456 NCAA semifinals (Michigan State-UConn; UNC-Villanova), Detroit’s Ford Field (4/4/09)

Posted in Events | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame

January 26, 2010 by arlingtoninsider

International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame
621 Six Flags Drive (two blocks south of I-30)
Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am-5pm (closed Sun & Mon)
Admission: $9.50 adults, $7.50 students ages 5-19
(817) 649-5105
www.bowlingmuseum.com

Arlington is now the Mecca of bowling thanks to the grand opening of the new International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District. The 100,000 square foot International Bowling Campus includes: a kid-friendly hall of fame & museum; a state-of-the-art training and research facility; and the headquarters for the sport’s governing bodies.

As the #1 participatory sport in the United States, an estimated 67,136,000 Americans bowl at least once a year. That’s way ahead of #2 (fishing, 58.49 million) and #3 (jogging/running, 50.02 million). The sport is also big business. Bowling is a $10 billion industry.

Whether you bowl weekly in a league or once every blue moon, the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame invites you to unearth the sports history, then unleash its future. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30am-5pm (closed Sundays & Mondays). The price is $9.50 for adults, $7.50 for students ages 5-19.

The state-of-the-art museum is interactive and allows you to journey back to where bowling began (ancient Egypt). Exhibits include the USBC’s Hall of Fame, a movie theatre, a replica of pre-turn of the century bowling lanes (including pin boys), a look at a 1950’s diner; a look into Joe Thum’s White Elephant where bowling first came to America; and a history timeline of bowling’s journey from Egypt to British monarchs to German immigrants coming to American Shores.

But the campus is not just about the past, it’s about the future. The museum includes “The Future: Comoputerized Coaching, Robotic Simulation and Bowlopolis”. This is the future of the sport.

Next door to the museum is bowling’s International Training & Research Center (IRTC) which includes 14 dedicated training lanes, biomechanical motion tracking, DigiTrax technology, robotics and foot & grip pressure mapping.

Be sure to visit the new Spare Partz gift shop which includes everything from caps & shirts to customized bowling balls. The gift shop is located within the museum.

The museum is also available for group tours, field trips, birthday parties, corporate events, and reserved meeting rooms. Call (817) 649-5105 to ask about special events or parties or group tours. You can also e-mail info@bowlingmuseum.com.

Located in Arlington’s Entertainment District, the International Bowling Campus’s address is 621 Six Flags Drive, two blocks south of I-30 (and just one block south of the entrance to Six Flags theme park).

Posted in Attractions | Tagged | 1 Comment »

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