THE DEN10: OCTOBER 5th

A few tips for people getting to their office at 4:45AM to prepare a top ten event list for a local blog: make sure your office’s alarm is functioning properly. Maybe you triggered some alarm that’s not audible. This is a common occurrence for you but maybe somethings off because of some renovations that were just completed. You might have even put on some headphones and were enjoying some Erik Satie in preparation for UNT On The Square’s event next week commemorating his 150th birthday. Even with headphones on, you noticed the slight shift in the air indicating the side door was just pulled open. At that time you think “This is why I carry this pocketknife." Opening the blade while simultaneously pulling off your headphones you creep around the corner and look up to find yourself looking down the barrel of a couple of .45’s held by body armored Denton Police Officers. You may or may not need to clean your shorts. We are awake. Very, very, very, ridiculously awake. Hashtag your photos #WDDI and be thankful your alive. That’s what this is all about, right?

Questions comments and clean shorts can be sent to glen@wedentondoit.com.

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Thursday October 6
Bootstrap Denton | Stoke | 6:30PM - 9:30PM
Register for the event here. This tech community event is put on by TechMill and is a chance to mix and mingle while organizations startups and individuals are showcased. This years event is held at the brand spanking new co-working space: Stoke.

Parallax Presents: Distance | Cora Stafford Gallery | 5PM - 8PM
This semester’s show gets the opening reception treatment this week and the theme is: Distance. 

Dr. Shaun Treat: A History of Hooch in Denton County | Witherspoon Distillery | 7PM
Here’s a great reason to leave Denton. Witherspoon Distillery is in Lewisville but our favorite doctor of all things interesting is putting on his lecture based on his research on the bootlegging that went on in Denton County.

Friday October 7
Oktoberfest on Walnut | Walnut Street | 5PM - 11PM
Denton Kiwanis Club puts this awesome event on. Typically it’s the best weather weekend you’ll come across so go check it out. This is coupled with First Friday happening downtown, so be prepared for massive amounts of people on the square this Friday evening and make a point to get out in it.

October First Friday | The DIME Store | 6PM - 9PM
Our favorite shop just south of the square is putting on a First Friday event and it looks like Jude Landry of “oh no you Denton” fame will be selling his newest screen print of the most photographed and screen printed building in Denton - the courthouse. We’ll be picking one up for sure.

Day Of The Dance Concert Celebration | Black Box Theatre | 8:30PM - 9:30PM
The Artists Enclave of Denton County & Texas Woman’s University Department of Dance are putting on this short dance concept honoring the Day of The Day traditions. This is put on by TWU students, faculty, alumni and local musicians and is hosted by one of our downtown treasures, the Black Box Theater, inside the Record Chronicle building.

Saturday October 8
Denton Mini Maker Faire | Denton Civic Center | 10AM - 4PM
This promises to be the “Greatest Shot (and Tell) on Earth” and that’s pretty much in a nutshell what the spirit of Denton is. Tech enthusiasts, crafters and tinkerers will all gather under the domed Civic Ceiling roof to show each other what they tinker on. 

Fry Street Oktoberfest & 5k Run! | Fry Street | 10 AM - 7PM
Fry Street gets it’s own Oktoberfest and is throwing in a 5K hosted by our favorites of favorites, Friends With Benefits. This years ‘fest will be benefiting Denton Goal, the Denton Community Food Center and Koan School.

Sunday October 9
Twilight Tunes: Chris Watson Band | Courthouse Lawn | 4:30 PM - 6PM
Twilight Tunes is doing a Fall series which is smart because it’s the prettiest time in Denton. This Sunday evening, check out the hot licks of the Chris Watson Band. 

Tuesday October 11
Movie Night on The Square: The Goonies | 8PM - 11PM
Guys, what a time to be alive! One of our favorite things without a doubt is hosting the bi-annual movies on The Square. Our Fall movie is going to be Goonies. Partially inspired by our love of Stranger Things. Anyways, come out and watch this beloved movie on our front lawn. Enjoy the weather and enjoy being alive.

THE DEN10: SEPTEMBER 29

Is everyone recovered from Oaktopia? You've had a week now. Because believe it or not, there's another insanely awesome week of great things to get into this week. PolaCon2016 is an event that's really close to our hearts and one that we expect to see a TON of hashtags in your Instagram feeds so Will can be overly critical and passive aggressive towards you as he picks shots to be featured in our What We Did post on Monday.

Comments questions and hot tips can be directed at glen@wedentondoit.co

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Thursday September 29

Denton County Honey Tasting | D&L Farm & Home | 6:30PM
Local honey tasting. It’s happening.

2016 Taste of Industrial Street Fundraiser | Dan’s Silver Leaf | 5:30PM
This is a great fundraiser with United Way Denton County. Some of the best people in Denton plan all year to put this event on and it has become a beloved event for those who attend.

Creative Space: Cosplay Headgear Workshop | Greater Denton Arts Council | 6PM
People love to cosplay and that takes some specials skills which will be taught at this evenings event by Regina Panzeca-Raifsnider.

Friday September 30
Vintage Market Days of Denton Fall Event | The New Diamond T Arena | 10AM
This is a great event coming through town this weekend showing off hand crafted goodies from vendors from all over. Also, keep an eye out for the scale model of the courthouse built by our buddies at Serendipity.

PolaCon2016: An Instant Film Convention | Evers Hardware / Denton Camera Exchange | 8am
This i a huge deal. Check out the details here.

Free Movies in The Park | Quakertown Park | 7PM
Inside Out is this week's movie…outside.

Spooky Show | Bearded Monk | 8PM
Here’s a fun Halloween themed show at one of our favorite beer joints.

Movie Night: Finding Dory | TWU Soccer Field | 8:30PM
Everyone loves a free movie night on a lawn, and TWU is showing a Pixar classic! And did we mention FREE?

Saturday October 1
Denton County Hispanic Heritage Month Festival | Courthouse on the Square | 10AM
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and LULAC put on an amazing fiesta of family fun on the Courthouse lawn to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month! Food, music, dancing, and activities a'plenty!

Dog Days of Denton 2016 | North Texas Fairgrounds | 9AM
Things can sometimes get pretty ruff in Denton, and this is the popular event to see the costumed parade of adorable pooches!

Sunday October 2
Twilight Tunes: El Nuevo Mis Son | Courthouse Lawn | 4:30P

BEST SPOTS IN DENTON FOR PHOTOS

From the outside looking in, Denton may not appear to be the most photogenic city. In fact, there are some closed minded individuals that have lived here for years that would argue the same about the entirety of Denton, but those are probably the same people that flock over to Lower Greenville or the Ft. Worth Stockyards every weekend. Little do they know that Denton not only has plenty of nightlife, but also tons of places and backgrounds that make for great photos. 

We get emails every so often that ask questions such as, "What's the best place in Denton for my senior portraits?" Or, "Where is a spot that I can create erotic imagery of my friend Jason that doesn't have too many prying eyeballs around?" Well, we have some answers for that first question (but probably not that second one).

Additionally, this weekend will see tons of photographers headed into town for this weekend's Polaroid Convention on the square. So we figured that now would be a great time to share a few of our favorite places to take some photos in town. Read on to find out some of our favorite photo sites in Denton. 

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The Purple Door

The elusive purple door is one of the most popular portrait spots in downtown Denton. The spot is basically a vibrant door halfway up a concrete wall with a  ladder leading up to it. The color pop against the drab grays makes for very interesting framing so long as your subject is willing to climb a couple feet up a ladder. This spot is located in a little alley/alcove on the south side of McKinney St. between Elm and Locust. In the same location is Dan Black's amazing mural that incorporates the plant-life growing in the otherwise urban environment. This location does have parking for local businesses, so if you plan on shooting here, be aware that you may have to shoot around cars, and make sure you are respectful of the space and the people that work there. Be prepared to wait on other photographers or Instagrammer-shot-seekers to have beat you to this location to finish their shots first. 

A bright yellow wall just north of the square. 

COLORFUL WALLS

Brightly colored walls are an Instagramers dream. Downtown Denton has its fair share of colorful walls, but if you want a bit of privacy and the some bright colors, head North on Locust St. until you get to Congress. There you will find Texas Roof and Fence in a bright red building with a few awnings on the side. Red not your color? Head east by a few yards and you will find a bright yellow wall that is ready and willing to be a blank canvas to your great photos. 

SCRAP Paint Bucket Wall

One of our favorite things about SCRAP's new location (Is it still "new?" They've been there for a while now) is the cheap-as-hell trophies that they have on the first aisle - we like to give them as gifts for when our friends have small victories in life (like when Glen went down a notch in his belt), but our SECOND favorite thing would definitely be the amazing paint bucket wall (that just so happens to be pretty close to the trophies). This colorful wall of circles is a great backdrop for images or just geometric photography in general. Ask nicely, and the director, Kari Meyercord-Westerman may pose for you if you don't have a model on hand. She probably won't as we just made this up, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. SCRAP is located at 420 S. Bell Ave.

The Top of the Courthouse

Forget about taking photos in front of the courthouse. You need to get inside and to the top of it if you want some life-changing photos. Okay, we know this one is tough, but it is possible - and worth it. The top of the courthouse makes for a great spot for getting an aerial viewpoint of the city looking in any direction. 

Several years ago, I went to one of author Chuck Klosterman's readings. I believe it was on the tour for his book Eating the Dinosaur. At the reading, Klosterman responded to a question by saying something along the lines of, "Live your life in a manner in which you can jump up and take on an opportunity if it presents itself." At some point in every Dentonite's life, there will be an opportunity to make your way to the top of the Denton County Courthouse. Just make sure you are ready. If you are, you'll be able to create some great images. Visiting the Courthouse on the Square Museum (which is free, by-the-way), and making friends with some of the employees there, certainly wouldn't hurt your chances of making this happen. 

The Denton County Courthouse is that big building you see in the middle of town. 

Industrial Building in East Denton

The old Austin Baker Sales building on Exposition in East Denton has both rustic textures and pastel colors - two things that are hard to find in the same location. So whether you are looking for a bright background for portraits, colorful geometric lines, or just interesting textures to photograph, this is a great place to check out. Hit it up at the right time, and the awning can provide some nice shade for even lighting on your subjects. 

The Chairy Orchard

If you're looking for something a tad more whimsical, The Chairy Orchard in North Denton is perfect for you. Neighbors Judy Smith and Anne Pearson (the same duo behind the fence with shoes on Sherman and the genius that is Rose Costumes) created this den of chairs and also manage the upkeep of the space. Since its inception last year, they have accumulated many more chairs and every once in a while something even weirder will pop-up (like a giant teddy bear for example). Just don't try to sit on one of the chairs that has been nailed to the trees and you should be okay. 

The Chairy Orchard is located on Churchill Dr. near Avondale Park. If you are in Avondale Park, walk down the trail until you come across the bridge and take a left when you cross the bridge and hit Churchill. A few yards down is The Chairy Orchard. Feel free to bring your own chair as a donation if you have a particularly awesome one that you are willing to part with. 

Little Chapel in the Woods

TWU has plenty of great spots for photography. Aside from the beautiful library and turtle pond, the Little Chapel in the Woods is also on site and is an architectural feat. The building was designed by famed Denton architect O'Neil Ford and was dedicated by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in the late 1930's. The building has tons of stained glass, high ceilings, and some great natural light at certain times of the day. Climb up the spherical stair case to take some photos from a higher vantage point. 

The Little Chapel in the Woods is located at 415 Chapel Dr. on the TWU Campus. We suggest going when class isn't in session so parking won't be an issue. Also, check the marquee outside before walking in to make sure you don't interrupt a wedding or something. 

The tree-filled area outside is probably even better as a backdrop to your photos. Just be prepared to deal with other photographers in the same area, as this is probably the most popular spot in Denton for photos. 

Your Favorite Mural

Eric Mancini's mural on the side of Veronica's Cafe on McKinney St. is one of our favorite murals in Denton. 

Denton is full of murals now. In the last year alone, I can count five murals just off the top of my head (and mural counting isn't even one of my strong suits!). That said, you need to find the mural that speaks to you as an individual. While the square includes quite a few popular murals, we like to venture a little further out to some of the lesser photographed ones. Some of our favorites include the La Estrella mural/dedication, the bright/fruity mural on the side of The Cupboard, Keep Denton Beautiful's street murals, SCRAP's mural from Mick Burson, the American flag mural by David Piper Jr. at Faded Blue on Locust, the mural across Hickory from the UNT English building, the black and white mural at The Bearded Monk, and the brand new mural beside Juicy Pig BBQ. The latter (featured above) is so full of so many different scenes that you are sure to find something that suits your fancy no matter what said fancy may be. Our current favorite is probably Eric Mancini's mural on the side of Veronica's Cafe on McKinney St. Go head over there and get some photos followed by a delicious meal. 

Old Alton Bridge

Old Alton Bridge is a classic Denton photo location, but one that is well-deserved. This spot in south Denton features a red bridge and is easy to create some classic imagery. However, it is oftentimes crowded with other photographers or high school kids "just hangin'." Just watch our for men that are also ghosts and goats. They are the worst type of photo-bombers. 
 

Jim Christal Bridge

If you're up for a short drive (this is closer to downtown than Old Alton, so this drive is pretty short), check out the railroad bridge over Jim Christal Rd. This graffiti-covered bridge has plenty of character and has a great look around golden hour. Time it right, and you can include a shot of a passing train on the bridge. 

Right before this bridge is a "tree tunnel" of sorts where the trees grow over the road to create a very interesting and symmetrical look for your photos. 

Always be careful of cars passing by as this bridge is over an actual road that is in use and one that people tend to speed on. There is a place to park right after you pass the bridge. 

This bridge is just a short ten minute drive down Oak St. after passing under I-35, Oak turns into Jim Christal. Drive past the airport and navigate a few turns and you will find your way to the tree tunnel and bridge area. Even if you aren't interested in taking photos, it is a nice drive. 

The Denton Post Office Windows

This isn't really that hard to find, as we are sure many of you have noticed the greatness that is the Denton post office on McKinney St. We are particularly fond of the large windows with rounded corners on the south facing wall of the building. You can utilize them in all sorts of photographs depending on the look that you are going for. Watch out for your own reflection in the window, though. We love shooting from the inside of the courthouse and having the subject seated in the window with the large Oak tree in the background. 

The Denton Post Office is located at 101 E. McKinney St. 

YOUR FAVORITE TRAIL

Denton has a plenty of great trails for walking and a few of them are great for photos, too. The trails at the back of Wriggly Field Dog Park and South Lakes Park are perfect for your tree-filled photos. Our favorite has to be Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, though. There you can find plenty of cool reflection photos of the body of water in addition to a nice wide-open field ready for large group portraits or couples walking across a grassy hill at sunset. Additionally, there are often interesting things that work as great photo backdrops along the trails at Clear Creek. What's your favorite trail for backdrops in town? Find the locations of our favorite Denton trails here. 

Morrison's Corn-Kits Building

The Morrison's Corn-Kits signage is as iconic to Denton as the courthouse, itself. Heck, we even had it as our logo at one point. However, it can be difficult to feature in a photograph. Over time, we've found that one of the best spots to photograph the famed building is Wye St. in South East Denton. Drive down Wye until you find a small hill that you can climb up. Use a longer (telephoto) lens to compress the background and boom - you've got a portrait of someone right in front of the Morrison's Corn-Kits building. 

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Those are just a few of our favorite places to take photos in Denton and is in ways a definitive list. What are your favorite places to create images in town? Let us know in the comments!