Does it get any more American than that?!  Of course it does!!!  “America’s Game,” our “National Passtime”….BASEBALL!!!  And it’s almost that time again with spring training games beginning in less than a week!

I can remember my dad taking me to see the Cleveland Indians play when I was a little girl.  I can recall when the Tribe played exactly the way they were portrayed in the movie “Major League.”  The stands were empty, the vendors were drunk and the guy that is famous for beating on that drum out in left field would shout obscenities more frequently than cheers.  They stunk!!  My brother….three years my junior, with two-left feet could play better than these guys on a good day.  But I can also remember those days in the mid-90s when we were going to see game three of the World Series when the Indians played the Atlanta Braves (That’s when I developed a big crush on Chipper Jones)!!!

Good or bad…win or lose…it was about the experience of the ballpark, the seemingly magic place for children and adults of all ages.  Sporting your favorite team’s hat and t-shirt, carrying in your glove and jumping every time a fly ball, draft beer, dollar dogs, programs and crackerjacks!  I still get excited on the way to every game!

We are fortunate to have such a great facility and team right in our own backyard….the Frisco Rough Riders are a minor league team and a great time for anything from a nice evening out with friends, to a date or family outing!!  Playing at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark during the summer months the team plays some great ball, finishing in second place in their division Tex South last season.  With affordable tickets, great snack and brews it’s a great time for all ages to enjoy a little taste of Americana!

 http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t540

It’s the World Adult Kickball Association.  And funny you should ask, because yes…it’s the kind you used to play when you were in elementary school.  Big red ball rubber ball, the plastic bases and all!  I finally broke down and joined a group of my friends to play this season.  Fairly sure there was still a few repressed memories of those mean, cut throat girls that I went to Catholic school with years ago that were out for blood on the kickball field at recess that kept me from joining for so long.  Little terrors in plaid they were!

Now that we’ve all had a chance to take a trip down memory lane and remember our bullies…back to kickball 2010.  WAKA is made up of teams all over the country and are comprised of young, working “professionals.”  Professionals is used lightly as while we all wear either heels or ties to work, (generally not both) but come kickball night…we revert back to the college days and think we can all hang.  Which we can…until the next morning when we have to be back at the office by 8:00 and not sleeping until class starts at 11:00.  The league in Frisco is the Texas Thunder League.

While it’s a great week night out to meet friends, exert a little energy and hit a happy hour WAKA is also involved in a lot of charity work.  Our league hosts a number of fundraising events to support ARC of Dallas and Cystic Fybrosis Foundation.  With events from 5k runs to 80s dress parties <come on, vogue…> all over Frisco and Dallas kickball is a great way to meet friends, relax and spend time helping out folks across North Texas!!

www.kickball.com

While I love, love, love to write, epecially reviews on food and different places that are helpful to other folks…I couldn’t have done a better job reviewing this place is I tried.  Which is why I had to share this review I ran across when looking for a place for dinner tonight.  I have dined at Mariana’s many times and this review hit the nail on the head….and I’m kind of jealous that I didn’t think of it to be honest! 

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When I saw the words “taco shop” and read a review describing the authentic food here, I felt I had to bear the ….. responsibility to verify this for myself.  This is definitely not Fuel City.  Technically it is a restaurant but don’t count on much room to dine in if it gets busy, seating capacity is ~ 20.  There is much more variety on this menu – not all of it could be considered authentic but there are a lot of choices all the same.  
Now the tacos are the reason I showed up here.  However, they are served in trays of 3 and there are no a la carte from what I could tell.  That was alright by me, I didn’t make my way out here to have just a couple.  $3.79 for 3 tacos, not bad.  I went for an order of the pastor and the carne asada.  Both of em had as much tender well-seasoned meat (with the fresh chopped onion and cilantro) that a pair of corn tortillas could hold.  At the salsa bar in addition to good pico they have hot carrots here – similar to El Paisa or so I’m told.  I washed all this down with a good Orchata and Mariana’s puts cinnamon in this one.  Altogether just under $10 bucks for a load of good eatin.

As I looked over the menu I saw tortas, so I’ll have to report later on how good the mexican sammiches are here.  I also noticed this place sells CRUNCHY tacos, the ones with the fried shell …. that can’t be authentic and I’m thinkin the same thing about the refried beans in the pictures – they look like what you’d see at Pancho’s.  So to sum up, some really good true mexican food here and some that looks like it’s more Americanized.  You make the call.

…or NOT!  While I grew up waaaay north in northeast Ohio (about 50 miles south of Lake Erie and a another 57 miles south of Canada which is only accurate if you are crossing the lake) this winter we’ve had here in Frisco has just been insane! 

I’m generally not one to complain about the weather (and I’m probably the only person in the entire state that doesn’t complain when it’s 105 degrees in the summer) but I was really hoping that spring had sprung for good this past week.  It’s time to plant flowers, see the birds, get ready for outdoor sports and activities, etc.  But at this point…I will settle for much simpler things….how about a car wash and not having to wipe my dog’s paws when we come into the house from a walk! 

But I digress from the whining…and will stop spending countless sleepless nights worrying about the polar bears and other arctic critters that don’t seem to have nearly as much of a problem as some would lead you to believe.

Watch out of snow this evening and I will be back tomorrow with an over the top review of the new restaurant I’m trying on what is hopefully the last of this wicked winter 2010!!

NOT BE ONE! This for a long, long time was my feeling about yoga.  I always saw it as something housewives and Californians did in their spare time because some Hollywood lifestyle guru said that’s how Jennifer Anniston and the other starlets got their killer bods.  Moreover, I’ve always have…and still am…a see it, feel it, touch it kind of girl and the whole channeling energy and focusing on your inner flame never really did much for me. 

Now that we have that out of the way….last Saturday my friends convinced me to join them for one of the trial sessions at Sunstone Yoga located on Gaylord Parkway in Frisco.  This two class intro is designed for first time students.  Since I’ve been working out at the Athletic Center…I was ready to kick some yoga behind and put my theories to rest about yoga for good.

I don’t even think a trip to IKEA could have prepared me for what I was about to get myself into.  Recall…I tend not to looking into things before agreeing to join or do them…leaping before looking just always seems like more fun.  I should have learned after I agreed to that Big D clean and something like 1000 steps.  But oh no….not me….

I arrived ready to “pump…<clap, clap>…you up!” We learned about the proper yoga etiquette, took a tour of the studio and then entered into our 90 MINUTE SESSION.  90 MINUTES…yes…the and hour and a half!!!  Oh just wait….but it gets better…it’s an introduction to their most popular series….FIRE series.  Hmmm…fire = heat = hot.  Yep…and that it was 98.6 degrees hot.  I want that to be my body temperature…NOT the temperature of the air around my body. 

When the class was over I was hooked on this amazing workout!! Not only did I sweat myself into my skinny jeans but I think I toned muscles that I didn’t even know I had!!!  I’ve changed my opinion of yoga and am looking forward to joining full time in March!

 http://www.sunstoneyoga.com/

I’m sure most of you that have read some of my posts have come to the conclusion that I do not have any children of my own…thus, I don’t really write about warm and fuzzy family events.  (I do much better with my favorite happy hour, place to get mani/pedi or weekend event).  Hmmm…it’s not that I don’t want kids of my own…I just jumped on the career, travel, go, go, go when I want to band wagon when I graduated high school, and eight years later and through a BA and MBA I still really like the wagon that I’m on and just not quite ready to make the switch.  However…while I still love my wagon…I’m starting to see how events and things would appeal to families and like to share them!

On March 6^th and 7^th the Square in Frisco will be transformed into an “outdoor gallery” with arts and entertainment for all ages!  While I’ve never attended this particular art event…I’ve been to others around the country and it truly is a good time for everyone.  Mom and/or Dad can enjoy the art (other than the finger paintings, macaroni necklaces and chalk drawn family portraits they so proudly display around the house and in the driveway) and the kids can snack on corn dogs and french fries while participating in short drawing classes and having their faces painted. 

I’m looking forward to visiting this year’s event!!  Below is a brief description from the website regarding the quickly approaching Arts in the Square.  For more details, including vendors, volunteer opportunities and musical guests, please visit http://friscosquare.com/AITS.

“Feast your eyes on incredible art, sit and relax by the Simpson Plaza, listen to local bands and also treat yourself to the food and spirits available in a variety of award-winning restaurants on site. A stroll from the Frisco Library, the Heritage Village and Museum and the SciTech Museum. All of these attributes further set Frisco Square apart. Naturally, there is shopping, too! The Market Place at Frisco Square is home to almost 30 unique boutiques offering something for everyone” – quote from the Art in the Square organizers.

Addison….my pride and joy!!  (And yes…I write this today because her almost as regal cousin breed, the Scottish Terrier won Best in Show and the Westminster Show last night).  She’s a petite, almost two year old West Highland White Terrier (Westie).  But don’t let her all white fluffy coat, bubblegum pink tongue and deep set dark doggie eyes fool you for one minute! She’s tenacious, insists on running the show and has an unquenchable thirst for high heels and flip flops.  So…I’ve resorted to running her behind off in the evenings to keep my ever growing (and shrinking) shoe collection safe!

Since we do not have a dog park in Frisco, I and my fellow Friscoians and their furry friends like to make our way to the dog park at Jack Carter park in Plano.  With tongues flappin’, tails waggin’ and fur flyin’ out the window our caravan of mutts roll up from time to time for a fun filled day of canine and people fun!

This off leash park is great for anyone who likes to let their pooch run free and does not have a fence or backyard.  With all the essentials…you little fur ball will think they died and went to heaven.  Open spaces to run (separated sections for large and small dogs), water fountains strategically placed at pup heights and a great group of friends to play with, this park earns two paws up from my little Addie girl!

I was sitting at lunch today munching down on a hamburger that rivals the delectable creations at Kenny’s Burgers…however….this is not more burger banter, I promise.  Just one more thing though about my tasty lunch…it’s a place in Dallas called Balls Hamburgers and they have a bun that will blow your mind.  Coated with butter and toasted to perfection…it could make a hunk of a Goodyear tire taste amazing!!  Check it out if you work in the city.

Anywho…back to the topic of discussion at the lunch table.  G’nosh.  G’nosh, I thought to myself…is it food, a French pastry perhaps…a perfume created my some fancy Italian designer that is sold at the likes of Saks and Bloomingdales…or perhaps a new age pizza, the next in line to claim to be made with only the freshest organic vegetables and mozzarella.  Come to find out as conversation progressed…it’s waaaay cooler than all of those put together and it’s right in our own back yard!!!!

G’nosh is an interactive art studio that is located…go figure….on Preston Road in Frisco.  Each evening at 7:00 pm…with the exception of Sunday…an interactive painting class is taught and you keep your own masterpiece…HOW COOL!!!  Classes are instructed by professional that allow you to relax and release your creative energy on the canvas as they describe it.  Each evening appears to play host to a different design….anything from fruit, to Van Gogh (might be onto something with the name there…), to cocktail glasses and abstract shapes.  Each night’s painting is posted on the website schedule and allows you to choose which painting you want to create.

Looking forward to checking out G’nosh and any feedback…

 http://www.gnosh.com/

While I’m a BIG fan of other people’s (emphasis is placed on OTHER…mine has four-legs and lots of white fur) children….why should the little ones get to have all the fun places to play?  Well entering stage left…Dave and Busters located in Frisco on Preston Road.

It’s just like the Chuckie Cheese that you remember as a kid…minus of course the stink of little feet in the ball pit and the smell of dirty diapers looming around the wack-a-hole game.  And there’s also the addition of a bar with some killer drink specials and food that’s not to shabby (though I did slightly miss the greasy cheese covered cardboard that I became oh so fond at the mouse house.

The D and B in Frisco is a fairly good size…with two levels…bar and dining room up top and games, bar and small tables to eat at downstairs (escaladers, stair and elevators are available).  But it was not just the food and drinks that brought my group of 20-something (YUGH LATE 20-something) friends and I to play this weekend…it was our cut throat sense of competition and the desire to cash in our tickets on cheesy gadgets, shot glasses, coffee mugs and ash trays and the games….ohhh….the games!!!  Ski ball, wack-a-mole, basket ball, air hockey, old school video games among them Pac Man and others!!  

This is a great place to visit with friends and I would say teenage children.  I would be hesitant to bring younger children in the evening on weekends…there can be a few rude folks with language that’s not appropriate for the little ones.  Dave and Busters provides a great weekend out with friends or a fun happy hour if you are looking to step put of the box a little bit and break up your work week.  Either way…with edible food, great drink specials and games that will made you want to tackle your spouse because you’re so angry they beat you shooting hoops by on point at the buzzer, you can’t go wrong!!!

http://www.daveandbusters.com/

Enjoying a Bud Light and some Ms. Pac Man.

Anyone who lives in the DFW area has seen their share of snow in the past 24 hours….Frisco is no different.  Here’s a few images from my day in the snow!!!