East Texas Idol

September 15th, 2010

Every year the country starts to talk about talented young singers auditioning to be America’s next super star. American Idol quickly has become one of the most popular reality television shows ever to air. Everyone has heard of David Cook, Kris Allen, and Jordan Sparks, but what about Lindsey Morgan Mitchell? Mitchell is the 2010 winner of East Texas Idol.

At the end of every summer for the last few years Tyler has been the home of East Texas Idol. They have had auditions in the middle of the Broadway square mall, Bergfeld Park, and this year was in the Cascade’s community. What a great way to bring out the talented singers around East Texas, and to bring a reality check to the untalented young kids whose moms reassure their imaginary voices.

The winner of the contest gets to audition in front of the judges of American Idol like hundreds of other people. Unlike the hundreds of people that try out, the winner does not have to wait among the other contestants nor do they have to audition for anyone other than the final judges. In the past the finale judge board was occupied by Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell. Later song writer Kara DioGuardi, and comedian Ellen DeGeneres joined the board. This year’s judge’s panel is not set in stone, as of now the only returning judge is music producer Randy Jackson.

Fox 51 local news covers East Texas Idol. If you are interested in who won this year the KFXK Fox 51 and the KETK NBC websites have video and articles of the event. If you are interested in auditioning for East Texas Idol, every year this contest is held in the beginning of August and you can get information on Fox 51’s website.

Tags: American Idol, Bergfeld Park, broadway square mall, Comedian Ellen Degeneres, David Cook, Dioguardi, East Texas, Ellen Degeneres, Imaginary Voices, Ketk Nbc, Kfxk, Lindsey Morgan, Music Producer, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Reality Television, Set In Stone, Simon Cowell, Song Writer, Talented Singers
Posted in Fun | No Comments »

East Texas State Fair

September 12th, 2010

The crazy drivers, the fried food, the nauseating rides, the biggest cattle around; that is right! The East Texas State Fair is back. So ignore all roads near the Tyler Rose Garden from September 23 until October 3. During the Tyler TX fair times the drivers are so impatient and decide to slam on there breaks right in the middle of the road.

State Fairs are known for the fried food, roller coasters, cattle competitions, and entertainers. East Texas’s fair is no different. The vendors fry anything, including candy bars, ice cream, cakes, and even butter. The idea of frying butter or Snicker bars just sounds really to gross for me. I do not understand the hype about fair food. I just want to go home, take a shower, and brush the coats of grease off of my teeth after eating there. Plus there is something about the kids throwing up all their food after getting off the quick spinning rides that makes me not want to eat ever again.

You may be thinking that I am a prude that just hates fairs. In a way you are right they are dirty, there is a thick cloud of smoke all through the fair grounds, and the most of the shows are cheesy and annoying. Although I love roller coasters, I do not like to ride on roller coasters that break down and gets re-set up. I have been on rides that I got stuck on and rides that broke.

There are things I love about the Tyler fair, like the art shows. It is amazing to see the talent of East Texas. I really love to look at other people’s paintings, drawings and photographs. The fair offers many scholarships for East Texan high school seniors. Many businesses sponsor the fair and also show off their businesses. They have booths to explain their businesses, and some are trying to higher employees and interns. They have many cattle shows and competitions. For all the rules and information for both livestock competitions and junior livestock competitions you can visit their website. Their also is horticulture competitive exhibits, and pasture and wildlife plant identification contest.

Many people have a great time at the Tyler TX fair, and many kids love the animals, rides, cheesy kid’s entertainers, bright lights, and finding the fattest cows and pigs. It is amazing how kids can look through the clouds of smoke, the litter on the ground, the rude people, and the horrible parking; and they just see the games that you five bucks to play and win a two dollar prize, and cool car shows, ice cream, and cotton candy.

The fair has days that you can bring canned food and get in free. I think this is a great way to give back to the community. The East Texas State fair really does offer great opportunities for all different people in Tyler for scholarships and jobs.

Cool Videos from the East Texas State Fair

Sand Sculpture

Fried Foods

Texas Longhorns

Tags: Candy Bars, Cattle Shows, Cloud Of Smoke, Crazy Drivers, Cream Cakes, East Texas, East Texas State, East Texas State Fair, Fair Grounds, Fried Food, High School Seniors, Junior Livestock, Livestock Competitions, Prude, Roller Coasters, Snicker Bars, State Fairs, Texas State Fair, Thick Cloud, Tyler Rose Garden, Tyler Texas Fair, Tyler TX Fair
Posted in Fun | No Comments »

Area 51

September 9th, 2010

Growing up in Tyler sometimes there seems like there is not much for a teenager to do. A group of people felt like they should start a dance club for teens to hang out at and have a good time. The only people allowed in the club are teenagers that are 13-17. The dance club Area 51 is located at the old movie theater off of fifth street across from Brookshire’s and The Scroll Christian book store. The old cinema has been redecorated with colorful lights and a large dance floor.

If you are a worried parent you can ask the staff to meet with you. They are willing to give you a tour of the dance club. They do not allow anyone older than 17 in the club during the nights they are opened and that includes parents. The club has security provided by the Tyler police department. They do not tolerate any drugs, alcohol or tobacco products. The dance club seems to be pretty safe for the most part. They also have a loose dress code, they simply ask that the girls to cover their unmentionables and that they do not have underwear sticking out. They ask that guys will not show their underwear nor wear really baggy pants. The club also asks that people do not wear base ball caps.

The club sells soft drinks, bottled water, and energy drink. The snacks that they sell are chips, cookies, ice cream, and candy. They have all types of the most current music to dance to. If you want to you can put in a special request in to the DJ. They have air hockey, crane machines and a couple pool tables.

There is a place now that teens can go and that is secure for the most part. Area 51 does reserve the right to search bags and person. And if they feel that your actions are inappropriate or if you are dressed inappropriately they can ask you to leave. If you are still concerned you can contact the owners and talk with them.

Tags: Air Hockey, Area 51, Baggy Pants, Bottled Water, Brookshire, Christian Book Store, Colorful Lights, Crane Machines, Current Music, Dance Club, Dress Code, Energy Drink, Fun things to do in Tyler TX, laser tag, Loose Dress, Old Cinema, Pool Tables, Soft Drinks, Special Request, Tobacco Products, Tyler Police Department, tyler texas dances, tyler texas teenager dances, tyler tx laser tag, Unmentionables
Posted in Fun | No Comments »

Chris Tomlin Comes To Tyler

August 24th, 2010

Well the summer is over. Ok not it terms of the calendar, or the heat but school has started and that signifies the end for me. We still have the end of August and September to go, but about mid way through the later, we should start to observe a gradual decline in temperatures. By the time October hits, fall will be ramping up and so will our fall schedules. Well for those who enjoy contemporary Christian worship music, and will by then, be looking for a brisk night out; the Oil Palace is holding an event that should prove to be a significant autumn concert. On Thursday, October seventh, worship music star Chris Tomlin will be appearing in concert.

Tomlin is not a stranger to our area. He hales from Grand Saline, and attended Tyler Junior College (TJC) prior to attending Texas A&M University. His musical career began experiencing commercial success around 2002, and since that time he has been the recipient of numerous music awards for those in the religious genre, including three consecutive Gospel Music Association (GMA) “Dove Awards” for male vocalist of the year. Tomlin is in the middle of a tour that began in July and concludes on November fifth in Vancouver, Canada, at the Passion music festival. Passion is a worldwide outreach to college age youth, with events held in some of the world’s largest cities. The concert follows another oil palace event about which I’m significantly less enthusiastic, namely a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event on October second. The Oil Palace has kept a pretty busy schedule over the six- plus months despite controversy with the local health department. To read more of my take on the Oil Palace flap, look for my article entitled The Oil Palace Under Fire by clicking on the following link: http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/2281/the-oil-palace-under-fire/. To read more on Chris Tomlin and his music, visit his web site at http://www.christomlin.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1. Lastly, to see a list of up- coming events at the Oil Palace, go to their webpage at http://www.oilpalace.com/.

Tags: August And September, Chris Tomlin, Christian Worship Music, Contemporary Christian Worship Music, Dove Awards, Fall Schedules, Gospel Music Association, Grand Saline, Largest Cities, Local Health Department, Male Vocalist Of The Year, Music Star, Musical Career, Oil Palace, Passion Music, Religious Genre, Tyler Junior College, Vancouver Canada, World Wrestling Entertainment, Worldwide Outreach
Posted in Fun | No Comments »

Halloween is Soon Around the Corner

August 24th, 2010

Halloween in Tyler Texas is funny simply because it has changed a lot in the last 20 years. I remember it was much more of the traditional American family holiday but it is now a bit of a nuisance for many neighborhoods and is enough fun for many to just go to your local church.

We usually pop in to our church o a church nearby and play some “Fall Festival” games and grab some candy and go. This is the tradition for many in Tyler Texas which is far different than when I used to walk my neighborhood gong “trick or treat”.

Now when you walk around a neighborhood hardly anybody has candy out or opens their door. It is a bit sad when I think about the happy memories walking around doing the traditional trick or treat thing in my neighborhood.

A few years ago we went with my brother n law on an idea to go try trick r treatin in Holly Tree. This was really funny because we ended up in a big traffic jam as everyone else had this same idea.

I also noticed there were large large mobs of people walking on the streets in Holly Tree and almost all the houses had their lights off and doors securely locked. No one was answering their doors to give out candy and a majority of the people on the street did not have any kids with them.

Holly Tree was covered in obnoxious teenegers either in an emo wolf pack or wearing the catholic school girl outfits and sexy tight shirt and short skirt sex costumes usually reserved for the bedroom.

So now when you go trick or treating in your neighborhood you might just see a bunch of teenagers wearing bedroom costumes walking around like everything is normal.

Last year I remember seeing these girls walking around in these costumes during broad daylight and I nearly sprayed milk out of my nostrils from the hilarity of it all.

So if you are going to do Trick or treating try a trailer park instead of Holly Tree and stop by a local church. You will have much better luck.

Tags: Better Luck, Broad Daylight, Catholic School Girl, Family Holiday, Happy Memories, Hilarity, Holly Tree, Local Church, Mobs, Nostrils, Nuisance, School Girl Outfits, Sex Costumes, Short Skirt, Teenegers, Tight Shirt, Traffic Jam, Trailer Park, Tyler Texas, Tyler Texas Halloween, Tyler TX Halloween Costumes, Wolf Pack
Posted in Fun | No Comments »

Recent Posts