Underneath a cloud-spotted sky and the downtown courthouse, a small group of dedicated workers toil away on one of the often-overlooked gems of the Square. It was one of those humid January mornings that you’d only get in Texas, but the muggy weather wouldn’t stop a group of local green thumbs from rising early and getting to work.
Read MoreWHAT WE DID: JUNE 2ND 2014
The heat is on, y'all. The kids are all gradually entering into summer break mode - for most this is their last week before freedom. That means the days are longer, the nights are hotter, and the number of times you'll find a random kid hiding behind your recycling bin with a Super Soaker will increase ten-fold. So just get out of the house and go do stuff. Bonus is that some places even have air conditioning. The ones that don't normally have tequila and/or guacamole, though, and that's pretty much the same thing.
Don't forget to tag your pics with #WDDI so they can be added to our weekly round up right here on What We Did!
Howsabout a WDDI-sponsored water balloon fight on the courthouse lawn. Y'all in?
Some call hula hooping the "unofficial sport of Denton." They may be right. Photo by @toole824.
One of the square's many "hoopers." Photo by @elizaldephotography.
High School Ceasar out for a family friendly show at OSDH. Photo by @mkernan.
This takes yard art to a new level. Tree carving spotted by @cookiemomster.
A View From the Top
TWU let's the public into Guinn Hall once a year. The decades-old dorm room is the tallest point between Dallas and Oklahoma City at 24 stories and provides a very unique view of the city which you can see in the photos above.
NITE, one of our favorite local bands, shirts by @sundayprintshop . Maybe new tees for the summer wardrobe?
@melissalaree grabbed a few shots of leather craftsman extraordinaire, Clint Wilkinson of @bellanoak.
Classic shot of Morrison's Corn Kits by @baileygillreath.
The bacon-clad "Stevie" burger at LSA devoured by the one and only @zach_ashcraft.
Cartwright's country fried chicken - all that and a little gravy is a great way to spend a weekend. We're still trying to figure out the best CFS in Denton, though. We're currently thinking Horny Toad Cafe, but we may be wrong. Photo by @xtiffanyyoungbloodx.
A kitchy cute caricature for @fussbudgets.
Better Block had a meeting at the old Piggly Wiggly (soon to be La Azteca Market) on Sherman last Tuesday.
A comfy green couch in a beautiful home - spotted by @jadewintersee.
@annatovar made some friends of the bovine variety.
Everyone loves Waffle Wagon waffles. Photo by @besely.
@sarahanneadams at a sweet looking house show.
How Lil'd centric are you? Prove it with a pic in the Lil'd sculpture outside of OSDH - now complete with an apostrophe!
Woodrow Wilson sent their 4th graders to the North Branch Library for some quality reading time. Photo by @dentonpubliclibrary.
The view at Eureka Park captured by @uccelloraro.
All hail the sushi master. @mkernan had the pleasure of hanging (and eating) at Keiichi.
This is better than flowers. Great eats at Keiichi brought to you by @katiekernan.
Hire a ninja, y'all. Denton has the best graffiti. Photo by @ynzi__ lynzi.
Bagpipes makin' noise at Eastside. Caught by @shainasheaffphoto.
Looks like the perfect Sunday drive - clouds captured by @amnoel__.
Slack line - a courthouse classic. Photo by @thedapperbat.
Public art - photo by @divagirlellie.
The concrete got poured this week. Pumped for this to be on the square and served locally.
A little hang time at OSDH by @baileygillreath.
No tacos to end the post this week. Let's go with tarantulas instead. The dangers of living on Sherman Drive as captured by @joshpiers. This is probably in your backyard right now, Denton. go check! Enjoy having fun outside this summer after looking at this 'gram! Also, that's a five foot wide frisbee if you need scale.
WHAT WE DID: JULY 15TH
While we're currently enjoying the respite from the heat, the weekend wasn't quite as kind. That didn't keep us from enjoying all that was going on in the peaceful Denton summer months. Below, you'll find photos from our adventures at the Denton Community Market, Gentleman Jackson's Benefit and the Campus Theater's production of Square Roots. We even caught a glimpse of Denton art culture at the Dallas Museum of Art. As always, make sure you throw #wddi in your tweets or 'grams and we'll include our favorites in next week's "What We Did."
We spent our Saturday morning checking out Spiderweb Salon's show at the Denton Community Market. We got to see several of our Denton faves including Jordan Batson and Matthew Long (pictured above).
We spotted this representation of the Denton art scene - with a piece from the Good/Bad Art Collective at the DMA.
The Swedish Teens rocked it at the Gentleman Jackson benefit.
A musical about Denton? Sounds a lot like Hair. Someone better call Popo y Lupe!
We're at the point now that we have to have Happy Campers Snow Cones in our sweaty hands when the thermometer reads above 100. It's not even a choice at this point.
THE DEN10: JULY 3
What a magnificent time it is to be an American citizen. As we stare down the 237th observation of our nation's Declaration of Independence, it's important to remember those inalienable rights written down by Jefferson and Adams. That these truths are self evident, that's how it is. Not how we wish it was, but how we have no choice for it to be. Celebrate this however you can: sparklers in the streets, a house show, eating for 'Merica, staying on your couch and watching Wall-E, do it however you see fit. Get to the highest point you can get and watch the burning-magnesium light up the air and fall back to the earth as Souza is blaring from the general direction of Apogee Stadium. It's mesmerizing watching Denton grow, born from of the spark of freedom and democracy. Celebrate that.
Thursday July 4
The Denton Institute Of Phrenology Half-Fast Marching Band | Wells Fargo Lot | 8AM
Bring an instrument and get dressed up for this one. Easily one of the most entertaining ways to spend an early July 4th morning is by being in the marching band in the parade on the square. In keeping with tradition, the marching band will continue marching after the parade route ends straight into Dan's which will be graciously serving bloody mary's. Start your holiday off on the right foot.
Remain In The Light | Dan's | 9PM | $10
Becker, Cripps and Contreras among others take the stage to perform Talking Heads Remain In Light.
¡FIESTA! with Weedeater / ASG/ Terminator 2 | Rubbergloves | 9PM | FREE
Kiwanis Fireworks Show | Apogee Stadium | 6:30PM | FREE
Get as close or far as you need. Get up on a rooftop with a cooler and some friends. This is summertime in full effect.
Friday July 5
Sparkles + Rita's: July First Friday with DIME | DIME Store | 6PM | FREE
Get some local handmade goods and get lit on sparklers and 'ritas.
Spiderweb Salon First Friday Gallery Opening | Jupiter House | 7PM | FREE
Star Party / Black James Franco / Ghost Daddies | Rubbergloves | $10
Saturday July 6
Splash Day At The Market | Denton Community Market | 9AM | FREE
Watching kids come down the water slide comes second to watching kids take out all the other kids when they flub on the top step to get to the water slide. Serious people watching happens weekly at the Community Market and the presence of a water slide really ups the ante. Human Child Bowling is a real thing, y'all.
Possessed By Paul Jame / Delaney Davidson | Dan's | 9PM | $10
You've got to see this one to believe it. Possessed by Paul James drifts between "I'm ready to fight you to the death" to "I'm ready to die for your love" as effortlessly as the Clancy Brothers.
Tuesday July 9
The Reptilian / Innards / Atla / Acidic Tree / Cat People | Macaroni Island | FREE
No Jerks.