10 great movie endings. Some happy, some sad, all memorable.

1. 'Life of Brian' - "When you're chewing on life's gristle, don't grumble, give a whistle!" Even crucifixion has a silver lining, at least when Monty Python is involved, with the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

2. 'Dr. Strangelove' (above) - Slim Pickens hitches a ride on a warhead, and yee-haws his way to nuclear destruction, while the U.S. war room devolves into complete absurdity.

3. 'The Usual Suspects' - Director Bryan Singer keeps Keyser Soze's identity concealed until the final scene, with an Oscar-winning performance by Kevin Spacey.

4. 'Fight Club' - "You met me at a very strange time in my life," says Edward Norton to Helena Bonham Carter, as they watch buildings fall around them. Wonderful use of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind."

5. 'A Clockwork Orange' - Kubrick's creepy masterpiece ends with reformed criminal Alex relapsing, represented by a bizarre sexual fantasy. (The swift transition to "Singin' in the Rain" as the credits begin is an especially dark touch.)

6. 'It's a Wonderful Life' - To cleanse this list after Clockwork, we'll go with the sweet holiday redemption of George Bailey, a happy ending if there ever was one.

7. 'Jaws' - Robert Shaw becomes shark bait, and Roy Scheider saves the day with his unlikely killing of the beast: "Smile, you son of a [POW]!"

8. 'Reservoir Dogs' - The final clip - Tim Roth gasping "I'm a cop. Larry, I'm sorry" to Harvey Keitel's wounded-dog groans - is excruciating.

9. 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' - A surprise ending, in that it made no sense for the cast to turn it into an elaborate Hair-esque rendition of "Age of Aquarius." But we enjoyed it nonetheless.

10. 'The Shawshank Redemption' - Andy and Red reunite on the beach, and all is right with the world again.

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FIRST WEEKLY COVER: OCT. 30-NOV. 5, 2008 The cover of our first weekly issue will most likely haunt my daydreams for the rest of eternity. When our editor Rob Clark proposed doing an homage to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album artwork, I have to admit I wasn't immediately enthusiastic for a couple of reasons: I wasn't familiar with the album cover in question (I blame it on my -- cough -- tender, young age), and second, I knew this was going to be one monster Photoshop file. Correction: one angry monster Photoshop file. While I'm happy with the final product, personally, this thing gave me more fits than any design project since or probably will ever. It didn't help when a poster-size copy of it went up on a wall in Rob's office about a year ago. Whenever we'd have our weekly meetings there, my eyes would eventually be drawn to it, every single one of the 100+ Photoshop layers singing in a mocking chorus of cartoony voices. Sgt. Pepper, it was an honor. Now it's time to finally, thankfully, say goodbye (to you at least).





FINAL WEEKLY COVER: AUG. 4-10, 2011 It is photographer Jason Janik who's behind all of the local-oriented images seen on our covers and inside pages of Quick over the years, so it's only fitting that one of his photos fronts our final issue. This image, featuring models Gabe Sanchez and Cinthia Mullenix, was originally shot around White Rock Lake for a story about "20 reasons to get out of Dallas," as in attractions outside of Dallas proper. It was to be the cover story for this issue. But the future suddenly came calling and we soon found ourselves instead trying to say goodbye. The image of a fun-loving young couple on an open road still seems fitting for the new theme -- fond farewells, bright horizons and new adventures. (And road rage. Oh wait, no.) Thanks, Jason, for sharing your talents and vision with us and trooping through nearly every bar and club in Dallas to give our readers a glimpse of the "scene." We've always wanted to be sent off in a little red convertible.


Click here for a slideshow of 20 of our favorite and most memorable covers.

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See the final We've Never Met by David Hopkins and Chad Thomas in Quick. It was a great run, guys!


Click on the image above to see the larger version.

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Elton John may think Saturday night's alright for fighting, but Chomsky thought it was a better night for rocking! And rock the Kessler Theater they did, playing several tunes from their past greatness, including 00:15:00 - otherwise known as Fifteen Minutes To Rock, a song that received plenty of airtime on The Edge ten years ago.

Photos by Jason Janik

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In honor of Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, 10 great lyrical moments from the group. Catch the documentary Friday at 8 p.m. at the Angelika. Director Michael Rapaport will attend, and he'll answer audience questions after the film.

1. "Excursions" -- "Back in the days when I was a teenager/Before I had status and before I had a pager/You could find the Abstract listening to hip-hop/My pops used to say it reminded him of be-bop."

2. "Electric Relaxation" -- "Honey, check it out, you got me mesmerized/With your black hair and your fat-ass thighs."

3. "Buggin' Out" -- "Yo, microphone check, one-two, what is this/The 5-foot assassin with the roughneck business/I float like gravity, never had a cavity/Got more rhymes than the Winans got family."

4. "Steve Biko (Stir It Up)" -- "Here we go, you know that I'm the rebel/Throwin' out the wicked like God did the devil/Funky like your grandpa's drawers, don't test me/We in like that, you're dead like Presley."

5. "Check the Rhime" -- "OK, if knowledge is the key then just show me the lock/Got the scrawny legs but I move just like Lou Brock/With speed, I'm agile, plus I'm worth your while/100 percent intelligent black child."

6. "Buddy" (with De La Soul) -- "Close like bosoms, bosoms stay close/If you be my buddy, I will toast/That we're like Ethel Mertz and Lucille McGillicuddy/You can be mine and I can be your buddy."

7. "Bonita Applebum" -- "Satisfaction, I have the right tactics/And if you need 'em, I got crazy prophylactics."

8. "Check the Rhime" -- "Industry rule No. 4,080: Record company people are shady."

9. "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" -- "Needed civilization, some sort of reservation/He said, 'A mile south, there's a fast food station'/'Thanks, señor,' as I started the mo-tor/Ali said, 'Damn, Tip, what'd you drive so far for?'"

10. "Luck of Lucien" -- "Get caught with stolen goods and you will go to jail/If you go to jail, then who will pay the bail?/They'll put you back to France on a ship with a sail/Escargot, Lucien, you eat snails/Hey yo Tip, what's wrong with snails?"

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Were you captured by our cameras last weekend at the Granada Theater for the Gorilla vs. Bear Festival? Click on the picture to see Quick's Club Cam gallery. And check back next Thursday for a new slideshow.

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Get your weekly Liz fix in We've Never Met sy David Hopkins and Chad Thomas, appearing in every issue of Quick.


Click on the image above to see the larger version.

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Text by Jennifer Chininis, photo by Melisa Ambers


We're just going to come right out and say it: you haven't lived until you've eaten A Hot Mess at Pecan Lodge. We'd heard the brouhaha about the barbecue at Diane and Justin Fourton's little stall in shed 2 at the Dallas Farmers Market. We'd also had the distinct pleasure of scarfing down Diane's life-changing fried blueberry pie and banana pudding at a recent dinner party. But we'd never paid them a visit at their four-day-a-week restaurant.


Now we're wondering what took us so long to get there.


We took a peek at the menu online before our adventure, and we honed in on A Hot Mess, a fully loaded sweet potato with chopped brisket, cheese, chives and chipotle cream. Oh, and butter. Think of it as culinary crack. And prepare to get addicted.


Diane says that A Hot Mess is the one truly collaborative item on their menu; the rest is filled with family recipes from both sides. They start with a big-as-your-head sweet potato, rubbed down with sea salt and baked in the convection oven. Once split open, the sweet flesh pulls away from the salt-crusted skin, and, to be honest, this would satisfy on its own.



But hold on. Just wait. Because then they top it with Justin's award-winning, mesquite-smoked, melt-in-your-mouth brisket. Then they hit it with some cheddar and Jack cheeses, chives and a cool drizzle of homemade chipotle cream. The end result is, well, a hot mess of sweet, savory and salty flavors that'll make you rethink your religion.


Thankfully, we had enough smarts to bring a crowd, so we had more than just A Hot Mess on the table. Brisket made another appearance on a plate of two-bite sliders topped with sweet pickles and sliced onion. Also included in our Southern buffet were a few pieces of heartily seasoned fried chicken--the outrageously crunchy skin yielded to delicate, juicy meat underneath--and a few scoops of irresistible green chile-spiked mac and cheese.


We've been known to put down some food, but even we couldn't conquer A Hot Mess--at least not in one sitting. We packed it up and took it home, but we couldn't even wait until the next mealtime to pull it back out of the fridge. We took a few bites every couple of hours until bedtime.


Maybe it's time to start a support group.


Pecan Lodge, open Thurday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 214-2746965. pecanlodge.com.

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By now, you've probably heard of Jonathon's in Oak Cliff. The newish restaurant became an instant breakfast hot spot after its opening in late May. And we can see why, with its tasty-yet-artery-clogging menu items, like biscuits and peppered gravy, Danger Dogs (pancake battered sausage sticks) and the ginormous fried chicken and waffle plate.


We ordered the Sopaipilla Waffles (above), a mound of deep-fried waffles (yes, deep-fried), tossed in cinnamon and sugar and sprinkled with sliced almonds. They really did taste like sopaipillas, only with a crispier outer shell and lots of soft, gooey batter in the middle. Totally delish.



Our date ordered the Jolly Rancher scrambler. (Note: Tastes much better than it looks.) We kept stealing bites of the hearty egg entree, mixed with caramelized onions, sausage, bacon, potatoes and topped with thick gravy and a buttery biscuit. It's definitely the salty dish to order if you can't decide between eggs and biscuits and gravy.


For some odd reason, we ordered the Danger Dogs, too. (As if we didn't have enough food already.) These come with a side of spicy mustard, which, in our opinion made them taste more like corny dogs. We switched to maple syrup and liked that much better.


Jonathon's, open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Monday. 1111 N. Beckley Ave. 214-946-2221. jonathonsoakcliff.com.

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The first Gorilla vs. Bear festival took place at Granada Theater on Saturday. The venue remained pretty full, with crowds moving in and out to check out bands, eat, grab a drink, smoke on the patio and dance to DJ Sober's masterful mixes between live sets.

Sunset put on a solid show, sonically. However, the most entertaining part of their set was watching the drummer as his hair waved and twirled like Old Glory in a hurricane.

Pure X proved to be another good reason to arrive early.

Sleep Over was an accurate name for the next band. Though the music was beautifully layered, it definitely wasn't danceable.

It was obvious that Sleep Over was heavily influenced by groups like Cocteau Twins.

Though Grimes had a legion of followers in the audience, there were just as many waiting for the solo artist to exit the stage. The set was sleepy and sloppy, but the next act would bring the noise, right?

Wrong. Julianna Barwick was a thrill to watch from a technical aspect - She basically sings and loops and sings and loops tracks over and over, until it peaks with what sounds like a million choirs. By this time, many audience members were using Granada's live tweet screen to heckle and taunt the string of quieter acts.

Shabazz Palaces drew a big crowd. Many of the early tweet hecklers stopped posting negative comments about the previous acts just long enough to turn the front of the stage into a dance floor. Everyone was moving to the music and the world was happy again!

Though the setup seemed to take an eternity, it was well worth the wait. The festival, which was already behind schedule, lit up like a giant disco ball... literally! When Preteen Zenith took the stage, it looked like the pearly gates of heaven opened up and there was a rave party in full swing!

Nothing can be said about the Preteen Zenith set except WOW! Tim DeLaughter and crew hit a home run with their debut performance. If you need a mental picture, think The Polyphonic Spree had a one-night stand with The Flaming Lips and got preggers.

All photos by Jason Janik.

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Fans are gathering outside the London home of Grammy-winning singer Amy Winehouse, after reports of her death began circulating this morning. Although no cause of death has been reported at this juncture, most of us probably thought of her very public struggles with drugs and alcohol when we heard the news. I'm much more saddened than shocked by Winehouse's passing, having been moved endlessly by her 2006 album Back to Black. I feel lucky to have seen her perform live at La Zona Rosa during 2007's South by Southwest. We couldn't get close to the action, so I remember very clearly standing on my tip-toes and seeing her emerge from the back of the stage for the first time. Her personal troubles were already enough of an elephant in the proverbial room that I knew it might be a rare opportunity as it happened. How rare it turned out to be. Thoughts go out to her loved ones and fans around the world.

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A pair is yours if you are the first to e-mail me at hhauk (at) quickdfw.com with "Long live Polaroids" in the subject line and the full name of the person picking up the tickets in the body. GO! Update: gone. Thanks for playing!


Check out Quick's preview piece here, and find out fest deets right here.

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THURSDAY:


Eels. Mark Oliver Everett, a.k.a. E, has been one of music's underappreciated talents since the splash of Eels' 1996 head-turner "Novocaine for the Soul." But the heavily bearded singer-songwriter has had a number of charming gems over the years: "Last Stop: This Town," "That Look You Give That Guy," "I Need Some Sleep," "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)" and "Spectacular Girl." With the Submarines and David Slick. 8 p.m. Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. $29. 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com.


Christina Perri. The singer-songwriter got her big break on So You Think You Can Dance, of all places. She was relatively unknown, but got invited to perform her piano ballad "Jar of Hearts" on the show, while two dancers writhed and twirled around her. The song hit the charts, and Perri got a record deal. Her album, Lovestrong, was released in May. Now, if she can just do something about that bright streak in her otherwise dark mane. The Sweeney Todd look is hard to pull off. With Honeyhoney. 7 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $22.74. 1-800-745-3000 or livenation.com.




FRIDAY


Natasha Leggero. It takes guts to start your first Tonight Show appearance with, "It's OK, I don't think women are funny, either." Thankfully, Leggero is funny, with a cutesy delivery that lets her get away with a self-absorbed brand of humor (like a light version of Sarah Silverman). She's scored some memorable clips on Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, Reno 911! and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, along with an album, Coke Money (proceeds of which are advertised as going "to the cocaine shortage Natasha's nose is having"). 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. (also Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m.) Hyena's Comedy Nightclub, 5321 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 220. $12 and $17. 214-823-5233 or hyenascomedynightclub.com.




SATURDAY


Gorilla vs. Bear Festival. With White Denim, Preteen Zenith, Shabazz Palaces, Julianna Barwick, Grimes, Sleep - Over, Pure X, Sunset, Dreamed and DJ Sober. 6 p.m. at the Granada Theater. 3524 Greenville Ave. $27 and $30. First 200 people in the door will get a festival poster. 214-824-9933. granadatheater.com. Read more about it HERE.


Vince Camuto at Dillard's. The footwear visionary is making an appearance at the NorthPark store. Guests get a free Vince Camuto tote, signed headshot and special gift. Women's shoe department, second floor. 8687 N. Central Expy. dilliards.com.


A Perfect Circle. Maynard James Keenan's side project (when he's not with Tool or Puscifer) hasn't released an album since 2004. So, logically, it's time for a big summer tour. A Perfect Circle's recent performances have leaned heavily on that last disc, Emotive, which featured murky, goth covers of protest songs, including Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," Depeche Mode's "People Are People" and Elvis Costello's "Peace, Love and Understanding." 8 p.m. Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie. $32.50-$49.50. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.


Gustafer Yellowgold. Morgan Taylor's lovable yellow character merges sweet pop music and imaginative animation (and is a favorite among the Polyphonic Spree scene). Much like fellow pop-eccentrics They Might Be Giants, Taylor's music is great for kids, but just as good for grownups. A new CD/DVD, Infinity Sock, about Gustafer's search for the toe end of the universe's longest sock, was released in March. See it at this event, dubbed "Gustafer Craft Party," with drawing demonstrations and snacks. Noon. Good Records, 1808 Greenville Ave. Free. 214-752-4663 or goodrecords.com.




SUNDAY


Sade, John Legend. Sade's patient method of music can be frustrating for fans -- she's only released five albums since her breakthrough Diamond Life in 1984. But we can't stay mad at anyone with a voice that lovely. Grab this chance to hear "Smooth Operator," "No Ordinary Love," "By Your Side" and "Hang on to Your Love" live. And give her credit for enlisting a world-class opening act -- soul's most earnest and affable young star, John Legend (left), who is riding high after the success of Wake Up!, his album of socially conscious songs with the Roots. 8 p.m. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. $65.01-$167.66. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.


All Stars Festival. If hardcore metal is your thing, then get to this super-sized variety pack at the Palladium. You'll get a full day's worth, led by Emmure, Alesana, iwrestledabearonce and Norma Jean, plus 15 other bands. Do bring some ear plugs for a lil' protection, mkay? 1 p.m. Palladium Ballroom, 1135 S. Lamar St. $39.23. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.


Space Dracula's Basketball Expo. We'll give credit to a good gimmick. This tour, led by Missouri rock act Ludo, has a revolving theme. Some nights it will be space. Others will have a Dracula or basketball theme. And some will have ... wait for it ... all three. What does that mean? We have no idea, but it sounds fun. With Sparks the Rescue, Tommy & the High Pilots, Stamps and Man Without a Face. 6 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $19.82. 1-800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

Posted by Kyle Kearbey at 1:57 PM | Permalink

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Did you check out Quick's cover story previewing Saturday's Gorilla vs. Bear Festival at the Granada? No? OK, well I will give you a second to right that wrong.


... [Checks watch, impatiently.] ...


In addition to the chat with site founder Chris Cantalini and a band-by-band preview of the lineup, we promised a link to Cantalini's free, festival-themed mix compilation. Here tis; enjoy. The second thing we promised was a ticket giveaway:


If you want two tickets to Saturday's event -- featuring Preteen Zenith, White Denim, Shabazz Palaces, Julianna Barwick and more -- be the first to e-mail me at hhauk (at) quickdfw.com with "You go, gorilla" in the subject line and the full name of the person picking up the tickets in the body. GO!


Update: Tix long gone, but check back tomorrow for another chance.

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Uptown, prepare for another gastro-pub. Matthew Ellis, regional director of Restaurants-America, says we can expect Primebar by mid-to-late August. The new bar/resto is one of a five-part mini-chain, with other homes in Arizona, Florida and Illinois.


Ellis was sort of vague on deets, but he told us it's taking over the old Maguire's M Grill & Tap spot on Cedar Springs (next to Penguin Piano Bar) and will have a "sports-bar-meets-gastro-pub feel, with really, really good food."


He mentioned design, decor and food will be similar to its sister spots (but with Dallas flare), so if it looks anything like THIS and has a menu like THIS, we're in for a treat.

Posted by Kyle Kearbey at 12:48 PM | Permalink

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Were you captured by our cameras last weekend at City Tavern? Click on the picture to see Quick's Club Cam gallery. And check back next Thursday for a new slideshow.

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Get your weekly Liz fix in We've Never Met sy David Hopkins and Chad Thomas, appearing in every issue of Quick.


Click on the image above to see the larger version.

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In case you haven't heard, Chef Dean Max has cooked up a delish menu at Asador, the newish resto at the Renaissance Hotel. The kitchen serves modern-American dishes with Latin flare, such as smoked brisket sandwiches, with sweet onions and black pepper Caciotta cheese; lamb sliders, piled high with pulled leg of lamb, serrano mint sauce and cabbage slaw; oh, and let's not forget the pork belly tacos (Sarah Eveans gave us the scoop on those). There's also a lengthy list of beers, wines and creative hand-crafted cocktails (Mango-peach Margatini, anyone?) to wash it all down with.


If you need another reason to check it out, we've got a $50 gift card for ya. First person to EMAIL US HERE wins.


2222 Stemmons Freeway. 214-267-4816. asadorrestaurant.com.

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We never thought we'd say this, but Dickeys are making a come back. (Wait, were they ever really in style?) Regardless, the fake/half-shirt thing has been sprouting up in the fashion world. Jamie Turquie, founder of CeCe Toppings has taken the old doohickeys (doodickies?) and recreated them, putting a stylish new spin on the old design.


Her "Toppings" come in a variety of patterns (polka-dots, stripes, hexagons, animal prints), collar styles (round, flat, ruffle, bow) and colors, and range from $29.75-$33.75. (Probably cheaper than a real undershirt, right?)



Anyway, with all the fun patterns and styles, we're actually considering incorporating one into our wardrobe. (Another thing we never thought we'd say - I'm buying a Dickey. Weird.)


What are your thoughts? Tell us in the poll below

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