WHAT WE DID: JULY 28th

Another week, another set of beautiful pictures. Y'all are gettin' good at VSCO. Summer in Denton is normally when the college kids leave and the town gets a little sleepy. That hasn't really proved true this summer, as we're still exhausted from all of the activity the last seven days had for us and we bet y'all are, too. 

This week doesn't look to be any quieter. Tag your photos this week with #WDDI to get included in next week's What We Did. Click on the photos to be rerouted back to the original photographer's Instagram account. 

@Lynzi et co. spying the courthouse from the rooftop of what looks to be the Texas Building. 

Are people that buy Bell and Oak leather goods just naturally great photogs? 

How long do y'all give this graffitti? 

Pebble #WDDI is the best #WDDI. 

@Mevanecek and some awesome-looking Reuben from Metzler's. 

We scoped out the newly-updated collection in the courthouse museum. More on that later this week, though. 

The Wednesday night Social Run at Oak St. Drafthouse. 

Behind the scenes of the pic at the top. 

Man, we're running a lot of pics from @Lynzi this week. Good shooting, @Lynzi. Here's an empty stage at Rubber Gloves. 

Mmmmm Ravelin. We're partial to the chocolate almond croissants, but will eat just about anything we see. 

More fun street art. This time from @ChristianBlues. @exploredenton is a fun tag to search on Instagram if you haven't already done so. 

Hoochie's had a soft-opening at their new location on Saturday. We stopped by and had some beignets and oysters (pictures).

On our little museum tour we got to check out a storage room with a bunch of antique guns on loan from UNT's collection. 

We already had the white gloves on before going into the museum. 

Flowers from Doves on Gardens purchased at the Community Market by @DentonKate.  

The side of one of our favorite taco places in town. La Estrella has lots of awesome murals at their location on McKinney St. The Dallas Observer actually did a story on La Estrella last week that you can read here. 

FRIDAY VIDEO THREESOME - July 2014

Every Friday that falls on a day that is a prime number when two is subtracted from it, we like to highlight three videos that deal with Denton. Anyway, click through for newest from Denton Staged, a documentary on a interesting housing development from yesteryear, and an interview with a man who claims he was a victim of police brutality in Denton. Enjoy your weekend, Denton. 

The newest from Denton Staged in which Camp David plays an acoustic tune at the corner of Fry and Hickory. 

Whitehawk Valley is a gated development just north of Denton. It was built in the 70's as a "platform to build and market zero energy affordable neighborhoods," and is still around today, but a little different. Preserve Denton recently put the above documentary from the 80's about the community on Youtube and we love it. 

Jason Wayne Bishop (also known as "Pooh") was recently arrested and is now claiming that he is a victim of police brutality. Denton Record Chronicle has the story and it involves a jailer who is currently on leave. Bishop's friends have recently created a FB page called Justice for Jason that recorded the above video interview. 

THE DEN10: JULY 23

We’re headed toward third base as far as this Summer is concerned, and we’ve finally got that 100 degree heat we’ve been waiting for so patiently. This week has it’s mix of house shows and a few things for the kiddos if they’re getting restless and are into Minecraft. Don’t forget to tag your photos and someone PLEASE take pictures of those Minecraft creations.

Questions or comments can be sent to glen@wedentondoit.com

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Wednesday, July 23rd
Minecraft Live | Emily Fowler Central Library | 3PM | FREE
Kids love Minecraft so imagine the obsessive chaos that will ensue when you tell them to build a 3D minecraft world out of paper and art supplies. Had we been born after 9/11, this is something we would totally be into.

Thursday, July 24th
Wedding Jewelry: Jewish Brides | Patterson - Appleton Center for the Visual Arts | 12PM
This is the next installment of the intriguing and apropos lecture series on American Brides.

Donate Denton County Drive | Denton Bible Church 2121 Nottingham Dr | 8AM - 4AM
Serve Denton will be collecting items like dish soap, washcloths, notebook paper, lego sets and small toys to send to the unaccompanied refugee children that have fled the violence in South America. Get more info at donatedentoncounty.com.

Friday, July 25th
Mooney Manor VI: Pick Up Sticks | The Mooney Manor | 9PM
A classic house show featuring  Eerily Similar Beings, The Orcanaut, Vicious Firs and The Infamists.

Saturday, July 26th
House of Quad Saturday Night Fight Club | 222 S Mayhill Rd. | 7PM | $3
Sounds like a good old-fashioned open scrimmage. Go check out some roller derby. 

Layer Cake / Bethan / Mink Coats / Dripping Wet | Rubber Gloves | 9PM | Looks like Layer Cake is releasing an EP Cassette and this will be one of their last shows for a while (possibly ever). Great lineup on what will probably be a scorching summer night.

National Dance Day Party | North Lakes Rec. Center | 9am
So You Think You Can Dance (yes, the TV show) is hosting a national dance party complete with dancing (why not), snacks, music, games and a t-shirt cutting workshop (of course they would). Learn the moves or you’ll get voted out of the city.

Old Warhorse / Dove Hunter / Black James Franco | Dan’s Silverleaf | 9PM | $8

Sunday, July 27th
Paschall Brunch | Paschall Bar | 12:30 
A potato crusted quiche assortment with Scottish eggs, bread and butter cucumber salad and a blubbery breakfast cake for desert is the perfect way to start wrapping up this mid summer week. Smoke free and kid friendly fun at one of Denton's best bars. 

Hickoids / Dim Locator | Dan’s Silverleaf | 5PM | FREE

Monday, July 28th
Greg Cote: Real Life Friends Tour | J&J’s Pizza | 9PM

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Post sponsored in part by the Denton County Museum in the courthouse. 

3 SONGS: JULY 2014

We're chiming in before the month ends with 3 Songs, our monthly column featuring three recently released tunes from local artists that we've been digging lately. Read on to get a quick glimpse into the current state of the Denton music scene for the month of July. Today, we hear from the likes of localites Layer Cake, The Holler Time and Shaheed Floww. Oh, there's some fun videos in this month's column, too. We certainly dig these tunes, and hope y'all do, too. 

There's not much we can say to emphasize how amazing this video directed by Eric Michener of Fishboy is. Let's just say that it features the ladies of Layer Cake getting threatened by the ladies of Slayer Cake with a note proclaiming, "There can only be one cake band." That, plus super powers. Oh, the song is great, too. Layer Cake is playing their last show before an indefinite hiatus this Saturday at Rubber Gloves. More info on that here. 

Alt-country has long been a good fit for Denton and "One Way to Know," by The Holler Time makes us want to grab a beer just as much as any other tune with keys and slide guitar. This is a fun tune with plenty of noodling and good times. 

Lastly, we have a tune called "Gold Wrist" by local up-and-coming rapper, Shaheed Floww. Floww recently graduated from Denton High School and any time there's a reference to a Spongebob Squarepants character in a rap song, we obviously take notice. 

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Post sponsored in part by Crossfit 940. Visit their new location off of I-35 and get fit!

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! 

THE NEAR-FUTURE: WEST OAK COFFEE BAR

Words and Images by Will Milne

Matt Fisher, one of the owners of West Oak Coffee Bar. Photo provided by West Oak Coffee Bar.  

West Oak Coffee Bar is a few months away from being open for business and there's lots about it to be excited about, but we're here to talk about one thing and that one thing is chocolate milk on tap. We went and checked out the the space earlier this week and while there wasn't too much to see yet (aside from an extremely large space filled with some cool old stuff), we did learn quite a few excited things about the coffee shop that have us pretty excited.

Beyond the wood and mural by local artist, Dan Black, that is currently covering the construction going on at West Oak Coffee Bar is a large, two-story space that has a heck of a lot of potential. Anyway, back to the chocolate milk... West Oak Coffee Bar will have many things on tap including craft beers, nitrogenated cold brewed coffee, and most important chocolate milk. 

Plans for the front. 

When we stopped by the space, located next door to McBride's Pawn, we got the tour from Matt Fisher, one of the owners and a Lantana firefighter. Fisher is excited about West Oak Coffee Bar and hopes to have it open in October of this year. The space will be outfitted with a Linea PB espresso machine, a recent update to La Marzocco's top-of-the-line classic espresso machine. Intelligentsia, headquartered out of Chicago, will be the primary roaster featured, but expect to see lots of local roaster Bookish Coffee's beans abounding the through shop. Bookish roaster, Clay Rozell, is also a partial owner of the space. West Oak is a third wave coffee shop, so expect to see all of your favorite, artisanal brewing methods including the Kalita Wave, V60, and Aeropress at their slow bar. Aside from coffee, beer, and wine for your beverage consumption, there will be a full commercial kitchen cranking out plenty of awesome desserts that we hope to hear more about soon. 

As far as the space, itself, goes, the design inspiration for West Oak Coffee bar is actually the very building that envelopes them. The space, which, until recently, was partially used as storage for McBride's Pawn, has seen many businesses come and go through it's doors including a shoe store at one point. West Oak plans to keep as much of the charm of the space as possible during the construction/restoration phase, including part of the original ceiling in a room upstairs and some of the signage from the shoe store. The lighting in the space is all repurposed (save for two fixtures). There will be recessed doors and a nice patio out front where the mural currently resides. 

Aside from all this, Fisher plans on turning a portion of the upstairs into a shared workspace of sorts. Featuring a communal table to facilitate meetings/networking and plenty of amenities to make the spot appealing to creatives. With the demise of the almost-open Trade community workspace last year, this could be a potential boon for Dentonites. 

There's a lot to make us excited about West Oak Coffee Bar. October better get here pretty damned quick. 

West Oak Coffee bar on Facebook | WestOakCoffeeBar.com

THE DEN10: JULY 16

Still recovering after the epic public hearing last night? We are too. So here’s a bunch of music and even a class on building your very own Cigar Box guitar to get your mind off things, you know, if they didn’t go the way you wish they had last night.

Don't forget to tag your pics of all your local-fun-times with #wddi to be included in our Monday post! 

Questions comments and recommendations may be directed toward glen@wedentondoit.com.

Wednesday July 16
Dana Falconberry / Fool’s Reverie / Warren Hearne | 615 Austin St. | 8PM

DDM: Street Gnar / Fungi Girls / Shy Boys / Dripping Wet / Prism Cloud | J&J’s on The Square

Thursday July 17
Narrative Film Race Kick-Off Party | Banter | 9PM   The last film race was pretty inspiring - so we urge all of the local up and coming film makers to join in on the 48 hour fun. 

We Don’t Know: The Best Funk Band in Denton, TX | Dan’s Silverleaf | 8PM | $7  Who doesn't want to get down and get funky? It's summer. 

Friday July 18
Dark Rooms / The Hope Trust / Clay Thrash | Dan’s Silver Leaf | 8PM | $8

Saturday July 19
Spiderweb Salon 2nd Anniversary Extravaganza | 1200 Ridgecrest Circle | 4PM  Supporting and creating local art since 2012. Time to celebrate all those 'zines and great live performances. 

Cigar Box Building Class | Miller Guitarworks | 10AM

Prawn / football, etc. / Two Knights | Macaroni Island | 8PM
No jerks.

Moonbather / Peopleodian / Diamond Age | Dan’s Silverleaf | 10PM | $7

Sunday July 20
DHLF Christmas In July: The Holler Time / The Days / Taste of Herb & The Holiday Lighting Orchestra | Dan’s Silver Leaf | 4PM

REVIEW: WHEN WE WERE ALL BRONCOS

By Shaun Treat 

Members of Denton High School's 1972 football team are shown above in an image from “When We Were All Broncos,” a documentary about Denton High during the era of desegregation. 

Dentonites were abuzz at the Thin Line Film Festival this past February over the debut of the Denton-centric WHEN WE WERE ALL BRONCOS documentary, which chronicles the 1968-1973 school desegregation process alongside the Denton High School football team’s epic race to the ’72-73 state championship. Native son and filmmaker David Barrow, who wowed audiences with a poignant record-breaking premiere, has been honored by our city council who resolved last week that today, July 15th, would be named "David Barrow Day" because of his great work on the film. In honor of the new dubbing this day has received, we're running WDDI contributor Shaun Treat's review of the documentary which you can read below. If you haven't had the chance to check it out yet, you can grab a copy over at Recycled Books. Our town’s story of school desegregation is indeed uniquely remarkable, offering a glimpse into how those racially troubled times played-out a bit differently in Denton back in the day. Read on for more...

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Barrow’s documentary is definitely a labor of love devoted to his hometown, but it is also careful to acknowledge that racial desegregation was neither easy nor immediate. Through interviews with townspeople, his fellow students at Denton High School, and his teammates on the 1972-73 Bronco football team at their 40th reunion, Barrow tries to understand how Denton emerged from the dark days of Jim Crow racial segregation to become the diverse and dynamic center for education, the arts, and multiracial Texas culture it is today. African-American students across Denton County had attended Fred Moore High School in Southeast Denton until the 1968-9 desegregation of Denton High School brought them all under one roof. Although the main narrative traces the amazing state championship bid of its racially integrated football team, When We Were All Broncos also tells the story of the students, educators, and community who rallied around the shared challenges they faced despite – or sometimes because of – their differences. 

In 1954, the same year as the groundbreaking SCOTUS Brown v Board of Education ruling, educator Alfred Tennyson Miller quietly petitioned North Texas State University to enroll in a doctoral course. "It is my conviction that my entrance now would contribute much to the successful, inevitable integration of Negroes into the school," Miller wrote. It wasn’t until a lawsuit the following year by Joe Atkins, who had been denied undergraduate admission, that US District Judge Sheehy issued an injunction prohibiting the school from race-based admission policies. Irma E.L. Sephas became the first African-American undergraduate student at North Texas in 1956, officially initiating racial desegregation. 1956 also saw Abner Hayes and Leon King begin integration of the NTSU football team under the visionary leadership of Head Coach Odus Mitchell and his assistants Fred McCain, Herb Ferrill, and Ken Bahnsen, whose away-games sometimes involved angry mobs pelting their bus with rocks and bottles or refusal to accommodate the team with food or boarding. Such prejudice only brought the team closer together in solidarity, a full 10 years before the Southwest Conference desegregated college football.

UNT students chant "We Shall Overcome" as a quiet crowd of 1,750 students, faculty members, administrators and religious leaders gathered on the Union Building patio to begin a memorial service march for the slain Civil Rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Yet there were also some ugly incidents at home, where African-American students lived in the segregated neighborhoods of Southeast Denton because they were still denied on-campus housing, racial epithets chalked on NTSU sidewalks had to be washed away, and burning crosses appeared not only in front of the administration building but also the house of NTSU President J.C. Matthews. A peaceful 1961 student stand-in at the still-segregated Campus Theatre was also marred by drive-by gunshots, but by then the arc of history was clear to many Dentonites. As racial violence and Civil Rights resistance in other cities became a nightly news item, the Denton City Council in 1963 declared city facilities and programs open to all races, and the integration mavens of the Denton Women’s Christian Interracial Fellowship began their own community movement. 

By the time the Fred Moore High School closed in 1968 to integrate with DHS, the same year that MLK then RFK were tragically assassinated, Barrow’s eighth-grade class had little idea they would be making history. "One of the things I always thought about was how lucky we were,” Barrow marvels; “It was a special time. You think what a small group of people actually straddle that time before and after desegregation, it makes you think. And I wanted to go back and not just kind of reminisce about that team, but also look at the history of Denton.” Barrow has arranged to donate a sizeable portion of profits to the Denton Public School Foundation, with the goal of creating a $10,000 permanent endowment towards an annual scholarship to a deserving DHS senior. When We Were All Broncos tells an incredible story of turbulent times confronted with challenges and change, and a school system that forged a unique path through racial desegregation on its way to its first state football championship showdown in 43 years. While acknowledging the shortcomings and struggle familiar to that era, Barrow’s film nonetheless provides a gripping history wherein it was Denton that eventually emerged as the triumphant winner, thanks to our committed community champions. 

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Shaun Treat is an assistant professor in Communication Studies at the University of North Texas and founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Doc has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Denton’s intriguing past. You can purchase WHEN WE WERE ALL BRONCOS at Recycled Books. 

WHAT WE DID: JULY 14th

The "Polar Vortex" is supposed to be back this week and cool things down a bit. We couldn't be happier. Once those 100+ degree temps reared their ugly heads, it almost had us melting. We forget how hot Denton summers are until they actually show up. Oh, well. At least sno-cones exist, right? 

Below are a bunch of photos that have been tagged with #WDDI on Instagram and the like. Some are from y'all and some are from us. They all show what life has been like in Denton over the past seven days. Click on the photos, themselves, to be linked back to the respective accounts of the original posters. Don't forget to tag your Denton-related photos with #WDDI over the course of this week to be included in next Monday's What We Did! 

West Oak Coffee Bar got some sweet art added to the front and side. The work was done by local artist Dan Black. We actually got a chance to go behind the wood and scope out the space. We'll have more info on that later. Until then, check out this cool pic from @brefkast.  

Bell and Oak and tools. Have y'all replaced your wallet with one from Bell and Oak yet? We love ours. 

Oak St. Drafthouse. The third oldest house in Denton and home of all the beers. Photo by @purovalluco. 

Lost in the rubble of urban exploration. @clint_jay

The hand-drawn phalluses (that's the plural - we checked) at Eastside and Oak St. Drafthouse are better than any placemat you may have at home. We wonder which table has the most... Photo by Sara Button. 

The discussion meeting for the convention center. Join the conversation - post your ideas and let us know what you think should happen with the possible convention center. @WeDentonDoIt. 

@cassiearnoldart experimenting with different textures. 

Macaroni Island's coffee tasting. @thedapperbat was there to catch it all. 

Sean Starr working hard at the soon-to-open Hoochie's. 

Splash Park Fundraiser at Denton Civic Center Pool

There was a fundraiser for the Denton Splash Park at the Civic Center pool last Thursday night with food trucks, live music, swimming and a whole lot of fun. 

In the mood for love? What about a gallery full of historic wedding dresses that will make you want to say 'I do' all over again. Snapped by @carlynjo. 

@thedapperbat thinks that all of those little quirks at Recycled are what makes it great. We agree. #Harrypotterfansunite

@karisa_adams showing off her haul from Cardos Farm Project - looks summery! 

@kimidawn24 and friends also made sure not to miss out on the U-pick day fun! 

Cultivar Coffee will open in Denton this fall alongside Hypnotic Donuts. Until then, they'll be setup inside Recycled on Saturday mornings selling some delicious coffee until they sell out. 

@truxtorm is pumped to be moving forward with the Taylor Farm Project. We dig the preservation fun. 

The United Way Luncheon

United Way kicked off their new video campaign with a bunch of their supporters, some decent cheesecake and excitement for the upcoming year and the opportunity to give, advocate and volunteer. Check out the video here and see how you can be a part of the community. 

Olympian Jordan Malone taught a bunch of kiddos how to get on the ice! @discoverdenton. 

Paul Slavens never fails to entertain us with his $5 wit and melody. Never gets old does it @thebrainybabe? 

@nataliemeansnice got up close and personal with the goodness of the Waffle Wagon. 

A celebratory gaze to acknowledge accomplishments and milestones. @alexsparks

DOUBLE TACO! Jealous that @xtiffanyyoungbloodx gets to work next to La Sabrocita. 

We agree @shainasheaffphoto - tacos for breakfast are awesome.