By Sharon Wisch-Ray
Last week, we mentioned that Cynthia and Allan Mondell will be honored at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30, with a documentary retrospective at the Dallas Videofest. As the week has progressed, we have learned there are more Dallas connections to the festival, which started its 25th installment yesterday. On the slate for its silver anniversary are two films with Dallasites at their heart.
You may remember our Aug. 9 article on Olivia Harris, daughter of Holly Kuper and the late Hugh Harris, and her role in “The Playroom.” She plays Maggie, the eldest sibling in this tale of a 1970s suburban family. The playroom will screen at 9 p.m., today, Sept. 27, at Dallas Museum of Art’s Horchow Theater, 1717 N. Harwood St.
Olivia received rave reviews from Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times, who wrote, “There are no over-the-top fisticuffs in ‘The Playroom,’ an unnerving look back at the 1970s by Julia Dyer, but it’s jarring in its own quiet way. The film stars Molly Parker and John Hawkes as a suburban couple who embody everything that felt so empty about that decade: she drinks and doesn’t care about her children; he is so overeager to do things a certain way that he can’t see the obvious. The real star, though, is a newcomer named Olivia Harris, who plays their oldest child, Maggie.”
Make sure you stay for the closing credits, and you will hear Olivia’s amazing version of “Up on the Roof.” Another JCC Youtheatre success story? I think so.
Also on the slate is Jared Scheib’s film, “The Mayor,” featuring the “love life” and times of Town Village North resident Sam Berger. If you have ever visited Town Village North and met Sam, it is clear why he has been nicknamed the mayor.
I’ve gotten to know him through volunteering at Town Village with my kids, and Sam’s cup “runneth over” in the charisma and charm department. Whether you are 8 or 88, it is impossible to meet Sam and not be drawn to his engaging personality.
It is well-worth the trip downtown to see “The Mayor” at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Horchow Theater. Incidentally, Jared, who grew up in Dallas and now lives in Los Angeles, is the son of Eileen and Jack Scheib of Dallas.
Tickets for the 25th Dallas Videofest are $50 for an all-festival pass, $20 for an all evening pass (Thursday or Friday) and $25 for all-day and evening passes (Saturday and Sunday). Individual tickets are $6 per show. There are student and senior rates. For information or to purchase tickets, visit, videofest.org.
And the iPad goes to
Congratulations to Bonnie Grossfeld of Dallas. Bonnie won a new iPad courtesy of the TJP in our recent drawing. What a nice way to start off 5773.
Lotsa food trucks
If you haven’t figured out your plans for Sunday, Oct. 7, you might want to consider stopping by Temple Shalom’s Food Truck Palooza, which will benefit the North Texas Food Bank.
The event takes place 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Temple Shalom, 6930 Alpha Road in Dallas.
The event is open to the community. You can sample cuisine from Easy Slider, Good Karma Kitchen, Crazy Fish, Enticed, Butcher’s Son, Cavalli, Gandolfo’s, Nammi, Ruthie’s, Simcha Kosher Catering’s K-Wheelz, Coolhaus, and Potato-Potahto. Rodney Patterson, Vic Duncan, David Welek and Nomad will perform live music throughout the day. This family friendly event also will feature a free kids’ zone with bounce houses and face painting; raffles and other surprises.
Admission is $5 or free for children ages 3 and younger. Food and beverages are sold separately, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the North Texas Food Bank.
For information visit www.dallasfoodtruckpalooza.com/ or call the synagogue at phone 972-661-1810
From the Winn-Dixie file
If you’ve been a longtime TJP subscriber, then you might remember one of our most embarrassing moments. Many years ago, when the grocer Winn-Dixie was a weekly double-truck (newspaper speak for the centerspread of a paper) advertiser, they promoted a special for “kosher pork chops.” No, it wasn’t Purim and, to our chagrin, we didn’t catch the mistake.
What made me recall this was another gastronomical gaffe sent to us by Marvin Migdol. Marv shared that recently he and wife Fay dined at the French Room, the five-star restaurant in the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. The formally attired waiter brought the impressive menu. The Migdols were delighted that Israeli couscous was being served as a side dish. Of course they were a little surprised to see that its featured partner was pork tenderloin. A funny and, I’m certain, innocent pairing.
Do you have an entry for the Winn-Dixie file? I’d sure love to hear it, in addition to any other news you’d like to share. Send it to me at sharonw@texasjewishpost.com or 7920 Belt Line Road, Ste 680, Dallas, TX 75254.
