Starting at 9 a.m., Dash for the Beads will take place with proceeds directed to “Light Up Bishop Arts Project.” For your non-beautification types, DftB Steering Committee Member David Sassano explained,

“This beautification project consists of uniformly lighting the Bishop District Arts District merchant roof lines and wrapping the trees lined on Bishop Avenue with white lights that will shine year round providing a beautiful, entertaining, and safe destination for all those who visit our vibrant neighborhood.”

They’ve arranged for a 5K run, as well as a one-mile walk. Love those walks especially when they’re pet friendly! And to add that extra punch that Bishop Arts folks are known for, they’ve even included a costume contest with Shelly Slater and Krystal Summers judging.

They’re expecting 300 participants, so if you’re not Run the Rock caliber, Dash for the Beads is a great opportunity to have fun without being part of a stampede of seasoned runners.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what “beads” have to do with Bishop Arts District, think “Mardi Gras.” FYI: Return to the Bishop Arts District on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the annual “Krewe on Bishop,” the annual Mardi Gras parade.

Oh, and speaking of which, The Mansion is where the Turtle Creek Association held its annual association meeting last night. Most folks hold it in the neighborhood church, school, or clubhouse. The standard is already set. Gear up.

As the jam packed room listened to Ann Switzer discuss the accomplishments and plans for the association, such stellars as Caroline Rose Hunt (that cutie pie) hosted the event, Nelda Pickens (pictured)pretty in pink extolled the virtues of the Creekies, Garrett Boone in bow tie revealed plans for his new digs in the Turtle Creek community (oh, my!!! DallasDirt will have more info), Bev and Terry Heil admitted to loving life in the clouds along Turtle Creek, and Ango Wynne  joined the crowded room.

Meanwhile Mayor Tom  Leppert got a “get-out-of-jail card.” It seems that he was pretty far down on the agenda, but got moved up to second place. Was it due to his good looks, his needing to be at another five-star event, or a pressing issue about the Dallas world? Heck, no! The poor guy was fighting major allergy challenges. We feel your pain, Tom Terrific. Did you get a good whiff of bad stuff at the Mary Kay Nature Explore Classroom groundbreaking at The Family Place earlier in the day? Ah-choo! Bless you and pass the Puffs and hand sanitizers!

Anyhow, Tom did his pat-on-the-back duties despite his heady condition and quickly exited accompanied by political princess Carol Reed. Did you know that she’s agreed to participate in this year’s White Rock Marathon as part of a relay team? To quote Ms. Carol, “I know what you are thinking and you are absolutely right, but the proceeds from our efforts will go to Friends of Fair Park.  As you may know, Fair Park is not only a National Historic Landmark but also my favorite place in Dallas.”  Carol’s relay team Fair Park includes City Manager Mary Suhm, Friends of Fair Park Executive Director Craig Holcomb and The Reeds (Laura, Angela and Carol). They should do well, since they also run the city.

Ah, but then the TCA big surprise came out!  No, silly, not a gift box. Rather, Dr. Jeff Gusky (pictured). Besides being an ER doc in East Texas, he’s a photographer who loves Turtle Creek–not just any photog, but a poetic, photographic artist. Seems Jeff has created a whole series of photos on Turtle Creek. Yup, our little creek that runs through the toniest parts of Dallas and the Park Cities is picture perfect. Besides his photographic talents (pictured) and using some of his incredible buddies in the Dallas photographic community like Marty Perlman, Jeff has created an upcoming exhibition with a book in the offing with proceeds going to the revitalizing and maintaining the magic of Turtle Creek.

Copyright 2007-2009 Jeff Gusky

ADMISSION: I grew up along Turtle Creek before it was high-end. It was a magical place where wildlife thrived and children observed in wonderment at the natural beauty of a creek in an urban setting. We learned to skip rocks, bury  dead robins, and tell the good snakes from the bad. Loved the turtles except when they chomped on the webbed feet of the ducks.

Turtle Creek is no huge, drop-dead project like the Trinity Trust, but it is a gem that Dallas has and the Turtle Creek Association is working to maintain.

The morning’s schedule is

• 6:30 a.m. – Race day registration inside NorthPark Center
• 6:30 a.m. – Survivor breakfast
• 7:30 a.m. – Fun Walk/Fun Run start (line up on Boedeker St. heading north. Translation: Neiman’s heading toward Nordstrom’s*)
• 8 a.m. – 5K Walk/Run start (line up on Park Lane heading west. Translation: Macy’s heading toward Nordstrom’s*)
• 9:30 a.m. – Survivor Celebration and Awards Presentation begins

There’s no rain in the forecast, but there are lots of goodies to collect. Oh, and afterwards, you can go shop at NP or just head home, kick off your sneakers, and watch the Texas-OU game on your widescreen.

* We  know the kind of directions that make sense.

Leave it to the true trendsetting capital of the world. . . . well, okay, of the Park Cities. . . Highland Park Village has come up with a Tory Burch pink vest. Plus 15% of the price goes to Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Hmm, we’re going to have to check the weather and see if it might go with our wardrobe for Saturday’s Race for the Cure. Great excuse to shop and help, don’t you know.

But just as we suspected you never really planned on that. You’re a crafty one, you are. We know you always planned to trot yourself over to NorthPark or Luke’s Locker in Dallas now through Friday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and do some shopping and register.

And for you oh-so tardy trotters, you can even register 6 a.m. on Saturday at NorthPark, if you get up very, very early. You might even beat the crowd looking for a parking spot.

And besides a ton of hardworking volunteers and staff members, the following sponsors are making this legendary event possible:

National Sponsors: American Airlines, Bank of America, Coldwater Creek, Ford, FUZE, Mott’s, New Balance, Quilted Northern Ultra, RE/MAX, Yoplait, and ZETA 

Local Sponsors: Academy Sports and Outdoor, AMN Healthcare, Animato, Atmos Energy, Bank of Texas, Baylor University Medical Center, BBVA Compass, BioLustre Inc., BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chevron, Chris and Cathy Packard, Comerica Bank, Community Coffee, Corner Bakery, Cumulus Radio, Dallas Observer, Emerald City, KDFW Fox 4*KDFI (My 27), Greensheet, Humana, Jackson Walker, Katydid Collection,Kimberly Clark, Kroger, La Madeleine, Lasseter Bus & Mobility, Luke’s Locker, Macy’s, Marc Robins Photography, Massage Envy, McCarthy, McDonalds, McShan Florist, Medical City Hospital, MetroPCS, NAPA,Nordstrom, NorthPark, Northrop Grumman, Paradise Bakery & Café, Pepsi Bottling Group, Perks and Provisions Company, Pfizer Oncology, Presbyterian Hospital (Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas), Sam’s, Skinny Cow, Specialized, Studio Movie Grill, Target, Tetra Pak, The Heights at Park Lane,The HR Consultant, Tom Thumb, Trailblazer Health Enterprises LLC, Two Men and A Truck, TXI, Unicare, VHA (Novation & Provista), and Women’s Imaging Network

Registration for the four-legged walkers is $10 and each pet will receive a LifeBark bandanna. Just in case one of the participants suffers an overpanting episode, vets will be on-site.

Following the leggy activity, a festival will commence in Lee Park complete with music, concessions, vendors, information booths, and a kids area (i.e. bounce house, balloon clown, and face painters).

A program of AIDS Arms Inc., LifeWalk has raised more than $8 million for AIDS services throughout the Dallas community. The goal this year is $400,000.

Here is the timeline:

• Registration starts are noon.
• Walk begins at 1 p.m.
• Festival takes place from noon to 6 p.m.
• Turtle Creek Chorale and The Women’s Chorus perform at 2 p.m.

So get your leashes out and start walking. And don’t forget your pet mitts and leave the cat at home.