WHAT WE DID: JUNE 21st 2014

The polar vortex has come and gone, but wasn't it nice while it was here? We loved having 60 and 70 degree temps in the middle of July - even if it was only for a few days. But now, we're back to steamy days and sunshine all around. We won't complain though, we'll take this over 105 degree days for two months straight. And the thoughts of those days when we were iced in to our homes last December have us doing our best to not complain. But we sure enjoyed being outside and enjoying the cool while it was here. Seems as if y'all did too by the looks of a few photos. 

Click the pics, themselves, to be linked back to the photographer's Instagram account. Remember, keep on taggin' those pics with #wddi and we'll keep posting 'em up right here week after week. 

@everydaymodish knows how to keep cool - a little soft serve from Mr. Frosty's. It almost looks like a painting in this photo. 

@powfinger caught our favorite 'mixologist' away from the bar with his feet up. 

@mulberrystcantia turned 1 last week! Who drank margaritas in celebration? 

A few of @samnoel__'s  favorite things include the city of Denton and the great people it shares. This looks like a good time, so we won't argue. 

The courthouse on a rainy day. Shot by @b_meyerdirk. 

OSDH&CP social run! Get fit Denton! This happens every Wednesday and you should go check it out if you haven't already. Photo by @awroman79. 

Everyone loves to run! Photo by @jeremyandshelly. 

City hall and a few overflow rooms were packed last week for the meeting over a possible fracking ban. The votes of council were cast. They decided (5-2) to not initiate the ban then and there and now we wait until November and our chance to take our voices to the ballots. 

Even cacti love the polar vortex. Especially at the home of @pastranastudio. 

@taylorbunch_ even caught her cat enjoying the open windows and cool breezes. That, or evilly plotting. This does kinda look like an evil cat. Good luck with that, Mrs. bunch. 

@ianharber made sure to snap a shot on a double date of friends enjoying ice cream on the square. 

All kinds of stuff happens on the Tuesday night bike ride... thanks for the photo of the Denton Staged productions, @anthonynajera90! 

Sanger (a small town about ten minutes north of Denton) just recently had a free splash park installed. We went on one of last week's less rainy days and scoped the place out. 

@joshpiers is totally in love with his new b-day gift - a @bellandoak wallet picked out by his amazing wife.

Brutal Juice made it loud and awesome at Dan's. Caught in action by @dearedeker. We aren't still calling these "reunion shows," are we?

What We Did is sponsored in part by Twisted Bodies Pilates on S. Elm near Bet the House BBQ. PIlates and yoga with a twist. 

@rowdybridges contemplates the infinite while watching birds take flight. 

@woolgatherdsgn spend her Sunday Fun-day making awesome stuff for her shop. 

@christianblues keeps spotting all the cool stuff Denton has hidden behind it's corners. 

@thepaigels munches on some Loco Cafe for lunch. 

@kelleylb, we support your need for the chicharron and La Sabrocita does it oh so well. Keep it up! 

MONTH IN REVIEW - JUNE

The new pedestrian bridge over Loop 288 opened up in June. 

We spent a lot of the beginning of the month talking about our friends over at DIME, and with good reason. Not only did they have another of their bi-annual Etsy Denton bazaars at the Greater Denton Arts Council building, but we also got a few words in with co-owner and operator, Shelley Vaughn. While there, we also managed to snag one of Mandy Cave's wonderful watercolor paintings of Denton. You can grab one at the DIME store Monday through Saturday.

Around the beginning of June, we got a visual harbinger that Subway was coming to the square in the way of a neon green and yellow sign on the Texas Building. We showed it to you guys and not only did we find out that our little blog has its fair share of trolls, but also that y’all had a lot to say about corporations and sandwiches. So much so, in fact, that the owners of the building decided to replace the sign. Most of y’all were still pissed by Subway’s mere existence on the square. We’re less than a month away from their planned opening date, so we’ll wait to see everything goes down. 

While y’all were busy yelling about that, we also found out that there’s apparently a class 3 firearms (read: machine guns and silencers) dealer that resides on Hickory St. across from Rusty Taco. While you may see a sign that says, “Storrie Parachute Works,” know that that is only a portion of the business that goes on in that building. So let’s try to keep the people who happen to be really upset about Subway opening on the square off of Hickory St.

That said, Rusty Taco opened in June and was almost immediately packed. Sadly, Rusty Fenton, the creator of Rusty Taco passed away from kidney cancer last week.  

With the help of local economic advisor and avid cranberry juice drinker, Mike Seman, and always-awesome Julie Glover, we also uncovered the mystery behind the “Bear’s Den” sign over by Siam Off the Square. The spot was owned by songwriter Clint Ballard Jr. who died back in 2008. He apparently hung out there and drank beer with his buddies. That’s probably what we would do, too, if we had written hit songs for The Zombies and The Hollies and owned a building.

We heard conflicting rumors about Tim Love’s new Queenie’s steakhouse doing “wonderfully” and that business has been going "very poorly.” While it’s probably still too early to tell, we sure noticed the gigantic red and white “NOW OPEN” sign on the front of the building. We’re also still waiting on Mr. Love to invite us over for that interview we set up with his managers back in March. While we’re on the subject, Love did just close down the TCU location of his Love Shack burger restaurant, leaving one last shack standing.

The pedestrian bridge over Loop 288 finally opened, and we ran 6 miles (3 there and 3 back) to check it out. Have y'all taken the newly extended trail for a spin yet?  

In addition, we checked out a bike safety course for kids, got the inside scoop on the forthcoming Goldmine BBQ, recommended some kid-friendly summer plans, shared some new songs from local bands, got pumped for another new DIY space (this time for musicians), talked to the folks behind Spiderweb Salon, and learned oh-so-much from Shaun Treat about the history of Quakertown Park. 

July should be an interesting month. The 4th of July celebration will be at Apogee Stadium this year, we'll see a couple of new businesses opening up and plenty of good shows abound. What are you looking forward to in July?