The aerial photos of Fretz Park in March’s magazine were discovered by Sally Rodriguez, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s unofficial historian. Her actual title is coordinator for the department’s planning, design and construction division, but when she took the job 11 years ago, some of her assignments sent her digging into file cabinets and closets, where she unearthed these photos and dozens of others like them that had been stashed away and forgotten.

A Q&A with Rodriguez appeared in March’s magazine for Lake Highlands, where Rodriguez lives, and tells more about her photo finds. Don’t miss future editions of the Far North Dallas Advocate for more of Rodriguez’s discoveries.

Remember the workshop held last fall, introducing neighbors to the idea of Complete Streets? We got to play around with maps and stickers and write our own little notes about what we want to see on Alpha and Meadowcreek – the two Far North Dallas streets identified for the pilot program that aims to make areas safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

The city has gathered all the feedback and presented it here on the Complete Streets website. They’ll use the information to help decide what’s best for our area.

Our March cover story (which is being delivered to homes now) tackles the issue of a bike-friendly city and what that could mean for North Dallas. We also talked to cyclists who are already out there braving our car-clogged streets on two wheels.

So, here’s what a few dozen or so neighbors think a “complete street” should  look like. The results aren’t all that surprising:

On Alpha Road, the biggest concerns (at least for those who attended the November meeting) are lighting at night, feeling safe and maintaining traffic flow. Transit, parks, bike lanes, wide sidewalks, shading and trees – all of the things that arguably make up the essence of a “complete street” – ranked low by comparison.

On Meadowcreek, the results were similar. Residents mostly care about lighting at night and feeling safe as well as calming traffic and expanding sidewalks.

Tell us: How do you think a “complete street” should be defined in Far North Dallas?

A new taco spot is expanding to Far North Dallas, opening a location at the southwest corner of Preston and Belt Line next door to the old Blockbuster space. Taco Del Mar is a fast-casual concept known for its fish tacos and “Mondo Burritos.”

The first restaurant opened in Seattle, Wa., but its roots are in Northern California during the founders’ college surfer days. They were inspired to create a northern version of the fish taco and “mission style” burritos born out of the Latino community in San Fransisco.

The menu also includes taco salads, platters, quesadillas and nachos. No word yet on an opening date, but constructions appears to be under way on the interior.

Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Center opens a new exhibit Michael O’Keefe: Continuum with a reception 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday. O’Keefe is known for his figurative sculptures and drawings.

This is the last weekend to catch JJ Pearce’s performance of “Phantom of the Opera.” The final show is at 2 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium.

The Eisemann Center presents “Tuna’s Greatest Hits” all weekend long. The show celebrates 30 years of the comedic characters created by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard.

If you, a family member or someone you know is a young woman planning a future in business, there’s a neighborhood-based summer internship program that should interest you.

Veritex Community Bank’s Future Women in Business Summer Internship program is now in its 5^th year. It is an extension of the organizations Lakewood Women in Business and North Dallas/Park Cities Women in Business. College sophomore, junior and senior women from these neighborhoods are invited to apply.

Those selected will spend the summer as a paid intern with an active member of one of the aforementioned organizations.

Resumes must be submitted by March 1 to Darlene Ellison, dellison@veritexbank.com.

In late March, qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews and a kick-off reception for interns and their parents will be held in June.

The Richardson High School 5k is next Saturday, March 3, and there’s still time to register in advance. The walk/ run is the annual fundraiser for the RHS Eagle Fund, which supports academic programs for the school. The cost is $25 before Feb. 25 and then increases to $30 after that. Students only pay $15.

You can register on race day when packet pick-up begins at 7:30 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. The course begins and ends at Eagle Mustang Stadium and winds through the neighborhood behind the high school.

Awards will be given out at 10 a.m. and includes two RHS 5k signature Eagle bobblehead trophies.

This weekend, Texas Ballet Theater presents “Dracula” at Bass Hall. Showtimes are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

The 1st person to email “I Love the Advocate” to mriney@advocatemag.com gets four tickets to the Friday, Feb 24th show. The 5th person gets four tickets to Saturday’s show, and the 15th gets four tickets to Sunday’s show. On your mark, get set, GO! …

Like Cinderella and the Handsome Prince, Debutantes and Honor Guards are anxiously awaiting this year’s Richardson Symphony League Ball celebrating the 50th anniversary of the award-winning Richardson Symphony Orchestra. The gala will feature the official debut into society of graduating seniors as they prepare to venture off to college, taking the lessons they’ve learned about service and leadership.

Current and alumni members will be honored at the ball, to be held Saturday, March 31 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Richardson, and the public is invited. The event will feature live music, dancing, casino, seated dinner, champagne reception, live and silent auction, and all funds raised will benefit the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are available here at $110 per person.

Recruitment events will begin in April for future Debs and Honor Guards, including Richardson-area 9-12th graders attending both public and private schools. “These students have earned over 400 hours of community service in the past 6 months,” said Valerie Briscoe, RSL Community Service Advisor and mom to Deb Mattie and Honor Guard Trent. “They graciously greet concert-goers, run the Symphony House at City of Richardson’s Santa’s Village each December, and work as pages at the annual RSO Lennox International Young Artists’ Competition each January. Debs and Honor Guards hold fundraisers for the RSO, enjoy concerts, support area food bands and animal shelters, and even welcome troops home to DFW!”

Young men and women with a parent willing to sponsor them by serving as an active member of the Richardson Symphony League should visit the RSL website here for more info and email advisors here to get on the invitation list.

This wine cost nine bucks. How do the Italians do it? Their economy is in shambles and the euro is killing the dollar. If this was French wine, it would cost $15 or $18. I’m not complaining, of course. I’m just continually and pleasantly surprised by the quality and value so many Italian wines offer.

The Farnese (purchased, available at Jimmy’s) was exactly what I was hoping for when I bought it. There is soft white fruit in the middle (an English critic described it as “gently fragrant,” which is why Engish wine writing is so much fun), low alcohol (12 percent), not a lot of acid, and a kind of stony finish. In this, it’s a wonderful antidote to all the mass-produced, turpentine-like pinot grigio that we’re told we’re supposed to like and that everyone seems to be making these days. Right, Drew B.?

Pair this not only with seafood, but spicy food. That’s what I did (chicken tamales with green sauce), and it worked wonderfully. And, for those of you keeping track of grape varieties, there is apparently a difference between the trebbiano grape and the grape that is called trebbiano in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The former is more or less ugni blanc, one of my old pals, while the latter is something called bombino bianco. Maybe I can get the Italian Wine Guy to explain the difference.

Not all girls can afford an expensive formal gown for the big dance this spring. So, the folks with the Richardson ISD Clothes Closet are calling for neighbors to donate their gently used prom dresses, preferably those that are in style in all sizes and lengths.

You also can donate shoes, purses, jewelry and other accessories. For the past several years, girls from all over the district have been able to come into the Clothes Closet and shop for everything they need for the big night.

Drop items off at the Clothes Closet by April 9.

Shrimp po'boy at The Quarter. Photo by Mark Davis.

The party starts at 11 a.m. today at Quarter Bar & Grill, which is probably the best spot to celebrate Mardi Gras in Far North Dallas. The French Quarter-themed restaurant is owned by two New Orleans natives who know how to serve up authentic Cajun fare. We featured their bar food last August.

Today, they have jambalaya, bread pudding and all the crawfish you can eat. From 11 a.m.-7 p.m., drink specials are $2 domestic pints, $2.25 wells and $3 house wine. From 7 p.m. until close, they have $3 Miller Lite and Coors Lite pints and $3 shots of Skyy vodka.

If you get hungry for something more than crawfish, try the shrimp po’boy. The Quarter has great pizza and burgers, too, for those not digging Cajun. The kitchen stays open until 2 a.m.

They also have a cigar-friendly and pet-friendly patio. Karaoke begins at 9 p.m. And, of course, Mardi Gras beads for everyone!

Wednesday is National Margarita Day. It’s a fine excuse to take off early, no? Especially when you consider this: The Blue Goose Cantina in Addison will celebrate, all day long (11 a.m.-4 p.m.), with $4 house margaritas.

How did the margarita come to be? Here’s how the Blue Goose folks tell it:

“There are many historical claims surrounding the tequila infused cocktail, but our favorite originates in 1948 when the Dallas socialite, Margarita Sames, hosted a pool side holiday party at her vacation home in Acapulco, Mexico. Margarita decided to entertain her guests by getting behind the bar and mixing spirits and then asking her party guests test and rate the results. That evening she mixed tequila with Cointreau and lime juice — the concoction was a complete success and it soon made its way to Dallas and rest is history.”