As the newest member of the hotel management team, I am still reeling from the enthusiastic welcome I have received, despite my arrival during the busy holiday rush. For over eighteen years, I have enjoyed being in the entertainment and hospitality industries and am pleased to now be in Oak Cliff at the Belmont.

You can always count on new jobs being an adventure, but getting to explore a new part of the city has proved to be an added bonus. Oak Cliff is such an eclectic neighborhood with a wide variety of restaurants and retail shops. The Mediterranean cuisine at Kavala has already become one of my new favorite food groups. The menu is constantly changing, so it’s easy to eat there often.

I found a great shop over in the Bishop Arts district called Epiphany. I'll probably regret buying a few gifts for my wife there (she sure think it's an epiphany). They've got everything from apparel and accessories to home décor items… lots of unique treasures. Now my wife's discovered Oak Cliff….

Finally, I have to brag… my wife and have been blessed with our first child. Our little boy, Aden, is thirteen weeks old. He is the joy of my life and the best thing that ever happened to us. I know that he's going to say "Daddy" any day now. You'll know when that happens… I'll be the guy crying at the valet stand.

Happy New Year!

Kader Al-Sharif
Valet Manager

REAL GOOD FOOD... AT THE BELMONT HOTEL

FREE coffee when you order breakfast… drop by the Cliff Cafe for breakfast and tell your waiter that you’re a newsletter reader and the java’s on us.  The Cliff serves breakfast all day, 7 days a week (on Saturday and Sunday we call it brunch).  From homemade granola and pancakes to eggs and oatmeal, you can wake-up to breakfast at the Belmont any time, all day long.

We now serve Heartland breads, a local fav…great tasting toast and sandwiches!

Click here to visit our website and check out the menus.

BELMONT HEALTH CLUB

People greatly overestimate what they can accomplish in a short amount of time. People greatly underestimate what they can accomplish in the long term.
–Brian Buffini

New Years Resolutions That Stick
It is important to break the cycle of making unsuccessful resolutions.  Doing so adds more stress to your life in the form of guilt or failure.  So what is the alternative? 

1. Spend time in the ASSESSMENT phase.  What is it you really need?  More sleep?  Stress reduction?  Better nutrition?  Exercise is not the only need that we have, although it is an important one.
2. Reinforce your MOTIVATION to make life changes.  List at least 50 reasons to make the changes, better yet, 200.  List benefits such as "reduced clothing costs", "less time in the doctor's waiting room" and "less money spent on medical bills." List very mundane and practical reasons.  Make another list of consequences if you do nothing for your health.  This builds both positive and negative incentives.
3. Translate your decision into SPECIFIC, REALISTIC GOALS.  Examples: I will get 20 minutes of cardio-vascular exercise 3 times a week.  I will take my lunch to work twice a week in order to eat healthier food.  I will turn off my TV one hour earlier in order to improve my sleep.
4. Spend time in the PREPLANNING stage.  What kind of clothes and shoes will I need for exercise?   What work-out clothes are appropriate?  When will I shop for healthier food?  How can I make time for preparing lunches?
5. IMPLEMENT your plan.  You've done the preparation work that helps change to become a part of your life.
6. Lastly, expect SETBACKS.  We all have them.  Don't be surprised.  And do not waste energy beating up on yourself.  Simply veer back onto the path you have chosen.  Review your list of motivations.  Renew your schedule.  Shun an "all or nothing" mentality.  Remember that your goal is PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION.

Questions? Email healthclub@belmontdallas.com... or call Chris (214 734-8204) or Daryl (817 821-6424) to set up a consultation and tour.

Art With A View is an ongoing series of rotating art and creative events at the Belmont.

The Belmont is pleased to host CLASSIC BIG BEND: The Photos of Dr. Frank Warnock. From 1941-1947, Dr. Warnock documented the people and the landscapes of Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos and Presidio County as well as Big Bend National Park in black and white photo images.

For those attracted by the artwork of Donald Judd in Marfa, or the scenery near Alpine, these photos will take you back 60 years ago to a time when the Trans-Pecos had far fewer people and roads. Photography in the collection include images of the Nichols Ranch near Alpine, the Prude Ranch in Fort Davis, the Spur Ranch south of Marfa, the Glass Mountains in Pecos County and the newly opened Big Bend National Park. Most of the people in the photos look as if they walked off of the set of Giant, the mythic motion picture shot near Marfa.

CLASSIC BIG BEND:  The Photos of Dr. Frank Warnock will remain on exhibition at the Belmont through January 20, 2008.  For more information about Dr. Warnock, contact his son and curator of the show, Kirby F. Warnock at (214) 942-4905, or via e-mail at kirby@bigbendquarterly.com.

On January 23rd, Art With A View will present City
Lights, works from the HALEY-HENMAN Gallery in Oak Cliff.  The exhibit will include artists, Brad Abrams, Laura Walters Abrams, Amalia Elmasri, Riyad Elmasri, Bob Johnson, Mark Lesser, Beth Mahy, Fred Mauk, Summer Morgan, Karen Piloto, Alice Procter, and Julie Stephenson.
HALEY-HENMAN is a modern art gallery exhibiting art of all media by emerging and established artists, particularly supporting the diversity of our regional artists.  The gallery promotes the dialog among these artists and their collectors, and collaborates with other galleries and institutions.  Located in the Fort Worth Avenue Development District, it is centrally located within three major art areas of the city: the Downtown Art's District, the Bishop Arts District, and the Design District.  The gallery also offers its 3200 square feet for special events.
The opening reception for City Lights will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, from 6 to 9 pm in the BarBelmont Lounge and Terrace.  The collection will remain on exhibition at the Belmont through February 29, 2008.

For further information about HALEY-HENMAN contact John Marcucci 214.749.1277, or check out the gallery's website, http://www.haleyhenman.com/index.html.

Live Music at BarBelmont

Join us every Thursday evening for a cocktail and live music on the BarBelmont patio.  We'll be presenting original acoustic sounds of Doug Burr  (January 17 and 31) and Jeremy Emmert (Jan 10 and 24) – he's got a great acoustic sound with vocals by Tevi Caver.

Epiphany
412 North Bishop Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75208
214.946.4411

Epiphany is a unique lifestyle boutique that focuses on an eclectic mix of apparel, accessories, home décor, and personal products that combine the best of vintage Parisian style with a laid back cool West Coast flair. The business name was chosen because 'epiphany' has no synonyms; rather it is a feeling that comes with a sudden realization of the essence of something.  It is an intuitive perception… a metaphor that beautifully describes the business and its location.  Positioned in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, now home to artisans and locally owned and operated businesses, restaurants, and shops, Epiphany provides a unique retail alternative for consumers.  Listed on the 'National Register of Historic Places the area allows easy walking, creating foot traffic benefiting entrepreneurs in the artsy enclave. Come visit Epiphany in the Bishop Arts District…

Kavala
1417 West Davis Street
Dallas, Texas 75208
214.942.8100

Natural wood blinds shade the large picture windows built by former occupant Dairy Queen. Tablecloths, neutral colors and a small lounge area further soften the fast-food architecture. Starters include mussels steamed in white wine and roasted garlic hummus with warm pita. A selection of meat and seafood dishes includes pistachio-crusted salmon, Greek island fish stew, and lamb souvlakis with herbed new potatoes. A wood burning oven turns out fresh pizzas.  The menu rotates frequently.

Chris Brown and Bow Wow
Sat, Jan 10, 2008, 7:30 pm

Foo Fighters
Wed, Jan 23, 2008, 8 pm

Poor David's Pub
1313 South Lamar Street
Dallas, TX 75215
http://www.poordavidspub.com/

Tim Miller
Thur, Jan 10, 2008, 7 pm

Eleven Fingered Charlie with The Campaign
Fri, Jan 11, 2008

Don Schlitz, Thom Schuyler and Fred Knobloch
Sat, Jan 12, 2008, 8 pm

Shawn Mullins
Sun, Jan 13, 2008, 7 pm

Blacktop Gypsy with Spoiled Royals
Fri, Jan 18, 2008

Bruce Smith Band
Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9 pm

Sara Hickman
Thur, Jan 31, 2008

An Intimate Evening with Shake Russell
with special guest TBA
Fri, Jan 11, 2008, 8 pm

An Intimate Evening with Salim Nourallah
with special guests Vanessa Peters and also Bob Guittard
Sat, Jan 12, 2008, 8 pm

An Intimate Evening with Jimmy LaFave
with special guest TBA
Fri, Jan 18, 2008, 8 pm

An Intimate Evening with Abra Moore
with special guest TBA
Sat, Jan 19, 2008, 8 pm

Dallas | East
The Candleroom
5039 Willis Avenue
Dallas, TX

An Intimate Evening with Adrian Legg
with special guest TBA
Sun, Jan 20, 2008, 8 pm

Swing Dance Lessons
Wed, Jan 9, 2008, 8pm
Wed, Jan 16 2008, 8pm
Wed, Jan 23, 2008, 8pm

Electric Campfire Fun
Thur, Jan 10, 2008, 7pm
Thur, Jan 17, 2008, 7pm
Thur, Jan 24, 2008, 7pm

Ian McLangan & the Bump Band
with The Hundred Inevitables
Fri, Jan 18, 2008

Bend Studio Presents
Bob Schneider with Strings Attached
with special guest TBA
Sat, Jan 26, 2008, 8 pm

Les Savy Fav
with Fatal Flying Guilloteens, MOM
http://www.thepalladiumballroom.com/
eventdetails.php?eventid=16400
Fri, Jan 18, 2008, 8 pm

Eleven Hundred Springs
plus Two Tons of Steel, Tejas Brothers
Fri, Jan 11, 2008,  8 pm

Element Eighty
plus Darby, The Beautiful disaster, Serosia
Sat, Jan 12, 2008,  8 pm

Will Hoge
Jason Isabell and the 400 Unit
plus Jeremy Fisher
Fri, Jan 18, 2008, 8 pm

Reverend Horton Heat
plus Nashville Pussy, Slowride
Sat, Jan 19, 2008, 8 pm

Yeasayer
plus MGMT, Dove Hunter
Mon, Jan 21, 2008, 8 pm

Tiger Army
plus The Dear and Departed, Revolution Mother
Tues, Jan 22, 2008, 8 pm

Phil Pritchett
plus Chuck Prophet
Thurs, Jan 24, 2008, 8 pm

Rocky Athas Group
plus Carolyn Wonderland
Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8 pm

Cory Morrow
plus Ryan James, Miles from Nowhere
Sat, Jan 26, 2008, 8 pm

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
plus Ivan Milev Band
Sun, Jan 27, 2008, 8 pm

Odis, Meridianwest, Kristin Leigh
Fri, Jan 11, 2008, 9 pm

Corey Smith
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 8 pm

Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter
Thur, Jan 17, 2008, 8 pm

Jonathan Clay and Steve Means
with Brad Parsons
Tue, Jan 22, 2008, 8 pm

Lupe Fiasco
Wed, Jan 23, 2008, 8 pm

Keller Williams
Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8 pm

Robin Trower
Tue, Jan 29, 2008, 8 pm

Art Garfunkel
http://www.nokialivedfw.com/event_detail.asp?id=631
Sun, Jan 13, 2008, 8 pm

The Whispers
With Special Guest Stephanie Mills
http://www.nokialivedfw.com/event_detail.asp?id=632
Sun, Jan 20, 2008, 8 pm

Dallas Museum of Art
1717 North Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: 214.922.1200
http://dallasmuseumofart.org/
Dallas_Museum_of_Art/index.htm

Jazz in the Atrium
Enjoy a glass of wine in the Atrium Café and hear live jazz every Thursday.

Dallas Theatre Center
3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: 214.522.8499
http://www.dallastheatercenter.org/

Ella
by Jeffrey Hatcher
Jan 23 - Feb 17, 2008

It's a life lived out loud in this exhilarating new musical about The First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald.  Powerful music and memories mingle in this rich, lively reimagining of her landmark 1967 concert in Nice, France.  At times heartbreaking, but always uplifting, Ella features 14 of her greatest hits including "That Old Black Magic," and "A-Tisket, A-Tasket."

Theatre Three
2800 Routh Street, Suite. 168
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: 214.871.3300
www.theatre3dallas.com

The Goodbye Girl
Book by Neil Simon, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by David Zippel
Through Jan 20, 2008
 
First Simon wrote the movie as a Valentine gift to his actress wife. Then Hamlisch and Zipple worked with him to turn his film script into a smash Broadway hit musical. This gifted trio of contemporary theatre giants created a RARE thing these days, a delightfully funny and romantic musical theatre piece! The single mom, a thirty-something dancer, struggles through New York disappointments, user boyfriends, and then clashes with an upstart intruder who may be just another bad actor - or is he?

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!
By Joe DiPietro & Jimmy Roberts
Jan 17 - Feb 17, 2008
 
It had a huge run in 2000 on the main stage, it moved into Theatre Too that fall and played there for an amazing three years! Since then this amazingly successful musical revue has returned annually for an encore run and manages to find new enthusiasts who pack the place to laugh and cheer.