SPECIAL INTERESTS

LIBRARIES

One of the biggest bargains around. There are 19 libraries in Dallas, with one in almost every neighborhood. A library card is free to City of Dallas residents; you must show proof of address, such as a driver’s license or even a utility bill, when applying for a card.

Besides housing thousands of books, the library has compiled a reference book you can buy that will be invaluable in acquainting yourself with Dallas. Open Dallas ($11.95) lists, alphabetically, organizations, services and events in the Dallas area. The largest edition ever published will be available in August.

The library has also published Reminis-censes ($25), the story of old East Dallas, and In Beauty It Is Finished ($17.50), about its Navaho blanket collection and Navaho weaving in general.

Want to know how to make won ton soup or who won the World Series in 1958? Call the Central Public Library’s reference service (749-4321); the clerks will be able to answer even the most trivial questions. They also have access to APL/CAT (pronounced “apple cat”), a computer listing of everything you’ll want to know about services, organizations, places and unusual events in Dallas – it’s the data base equivalent of Open Dallas. For example, virtually every bridge club in Dallas is listed, as is every dog psychologist.

The downtown library, located at 1515 Young, also has a collection of every telephone book printed in the United States. Call 749-1919 for help in locating out-of-town addresses.



NEED SOME ART to dress up your new home? Sculptures, framed prints and posters can be checked out just like books. Cassettes, tapes, record albums and films can also be checked out.

The new downtown library and all branches offer free events on a regular basis for both adults and children. “Almanac,” a monthly schedule of events, is available at all libraries. Plays, puppet shows, preschool story hours and reading clubs are available for the kids. The downtown library offers a series of free noontime events, including concerts, lectures, performances, and, on Wednesdays, films. The brown-bag event is held in the library’s auditorium.



RECREATION

Dallas Cowboys football games. Texas Stadium, Irving. Over-the-counter ticket sales for individual games begin July 30. Ticket office is at 6116 N. Central Expressway. 369-8000.

Texas Rangers baseball games. Arlington Stadium. Season ends September 30. Ticket office is at the Texas Rangers Base-ball Club. P.O. Box 1111, Arlington 76010. (Tickets also available at all major Sears stores and Rainbow-Ticketmaster outlets.) Metro (817) 273-5100.

Hot-air ballooning. Several companies offer one-hour balloon flights, some of which come complete with champagne. Scheduling is dependent upon the weather. Fees vary, but are about $250 for two passengers. Departure points are located throughout the city.

AirVenture BalloonPort. 11837 Judd Court, Suite 106A. 231-7983.

Dallas North Balloonport Inc. P.O. Box 894, Piano 75074. 596-2468. Large balloons carry up to seven people at $100 per person.

Paddle boats. Rent them by the hour at both White Rock and Bachman lakes.

Bachman Lake Paddle Boats. 3300 West Northwest Highway. 351-3990. Open daily all summer, from noon-7:30 p.m.; open weekends during the rest of the year. $7 per hour.

Hundley Boat and Recreation Center. 3240 West Lawther. 823-6933. Open daily 10 a.m.- to sundown. $7 per hour.

Polo games. Play throughout the summer at Willow Bend Polo and Hunt Club, Farm Road 544, west of Preston Road. 248-6298. Even though the club itself is limited to members, the games are open to the public. Tickets $5; $2 for children under 12. Games are played Sundays at 6 p.m. Call for schedule.

Bicycling. Many of the city parks have nice paths for bicyclists and joggers. Call 670-4029 for a $2 map showing the city streets most suitable for bicycling. Hundley Boat and Recreation Center (3240 West Lawther, 823-6933) rents bikes for $3.50 per hour.



BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS

Given free at some area fire departments. Call 670-4312 for designated fire stations or the American Heart Association (748-7212) for all locations.



HOME AND GARDEN

Dallas County Extension Service. Home economics, 749-8403; horticulture, 749-8393; 4-H and youth program, 749-8402. These groups offer a variety of free services-hundreds of free publications about home economics, horticulture and agriculture; monthly newsletters on current information and updates in home economics and horticulture. Call the numbers above to be put on the mailing list or write: 601 Elm St., 5th Floor. Dallas 75202. Short courses and programs are also offered. Schedules avail-ble in newsletters or in the garden sections of both Dallas newspapers. Free telephone emergency help for kitchen disasters.

Dallas Garden Center, Fair Park. 428-7476. The garden center has more than 5,500 species of plants-the largest collection in this part of the country-and opens its indoor gardens free from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 12:30 to 5 on Sunday. Outdoor gardens are always open to the public.

A telephone information service is also available to answer any plant-related questions.



SUPPORT GROUPS

Volunteer Organizations for the Dallas Symphony Association. Music Hall at Fair Park, P.O. Box 26207, Dallas 75226. 565-9100. Contact Mrs. Sydney Reid Hedge, director of volunteer services. Four groups (the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, the Junior Group of the DSO’s League, the Innovators and the Men’s Guild) help develop and enhance interest in the symphony. They sponsor fund-raising dinners and luncheons, with lecturers speaking about performers, conductors and aspects of music.

Dallas Zoo Docents. 946-5457. Contact Chris Seifert, volunteer coordinator at the Dallas Zoo. This volunteer organization is devoted primarily to educating the public about the Dallas Zoo and its inhabitants. Docents take a short training course, then conduct zoo tours or offer programs about the zoo throughout the community. Monthly meetings feature speakers on topics such as the zoo environment or specific animals. A weekend docent program is also available for volunteers who work full time during the week. The docents also organize an annual 10K race to benefit the zoo, publish a newsletter called “Tiger Tracks” and sponsor summer classes for adults and children.

Rotogravure Committee. 4722 Shady-wood Lane, Dallas 75209. 351-6602. Mrs. William Hudson, chairman. An arm of the Dallas Opera organization, this committee is responsible for the annual section published at the beginning of each season. Members sell ads to finance publication and help in production.

500, Inc. 8220 Westchester, Suite 6, Dallas 75225. 361-2001. A non-profit organization that has raised almost $3 million for the cultural arts in Dallas during the past nine years. Publishes a newsletter, “Back-stage,” available to members, sponsors and beneficiaries. Holds an auction in the winter, Artfest during Memorial Day week-end and Montage, a demonstration of the arts, in August.

Dallas Symphony Association Inc. P.O. Box 26207, Dallas 75226. 565-9100. Barbara Diles, public relations. Dedicated to the maintenance, operation and management of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and activities such as children’s concerts, pop concerts and park concerts, as well as the orchestra’s regular classical season.

Dallas Dance Council. 622 Bondstone, Dallas 75218. 348-4116. Natalie Skelton, president. Works to support theater dance in the area. Serves as an educational and service program and entertains visiting performers. The group has held various dance workshops, and members are working to gather the dance archives of Dallas. Many area universities are members.

Museum of Art League. 1717 N. Har-wood, Dallas 75201. 922-0220, ext. 249. Jean Coleman, president. An all-volunteer service arm of the museum, the league has close to 600 members, including docents. Activities include an annual fund-raising Beaux Arts Ball, art-related trips, study courses and lectures.

Dallas Summer Musicals Guild. 3510 Gillon, Dallas 75205. 526-8580 or 565-1116. Vicky Weaver, president. A support group for the Summer Musicals. Sponsors luncheon fund-raisers and donation campaigns, as well as parties for casts and guild members.

Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters Inc. P.O. Box 224199, Dallas 75264. 827-6241 or 6242. Curtis L. King, founder and president. Sponsors classes in literary, visual and performing arts. Produces performances in spring, fall and summer that are open to the public. Auditions are open to the public; both professionals and aspiring artists participate.



PROFESSIONAL GROUPS

Dallas Communications Council. P. O. Box 800735, Dallas 75380. 869-7674 or 7605. Lorraine Gress, executive director. Non-profit trade association, encouraging individuals and companies throughout Dallas and the country to engage in communications productions of all kinds.

Dallas/American Society of Landscape Architects. 1345 Plowman, Dallas 75203. 946-4551. Larry O’Flynn, chairman; Tom Pritchett, chairman-elect. An organization of landscape architects promoting interest in the profession, urban growth, land use and comprehensive planning. Individual members volunteer assistance to the Community Design Center, Urban Design Task Force, Treescape Dallas and environmental protection groups.

Dallas Association of Counselors. 3700 Ross Ave., No. 161, Dallas 75204. 824-1620, ext. 455. Kathleen Sapundjieff, president. The city’s independent professional organization of school counselors at all levels of education. Monthly meetings. Professional growth program. Guest speakers.

Dallas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. P.O. Box 50163, Dallas 75250. 946-5468. Nancy Bishop, president. An organization to promote professionalism in the journalism community. Provides educational and legal assistance to journalists. Monthly meetings and semi-annual symposiums. Scholarships provided.

Dallas Building Managers and Owners Association. 1607 Main, Suite 1203, Dallas 75201. 748-5059. W.D. Hill, director. Monthly luncheon meetings with speakers on current problems and solutions in the office building business.

American Institute of Architects. 2800 Routh, Dallas 75201. 748-4264. Loretta Thomas, executive director. Overton Shel-mire, president. Promotes advancement of the profession of architecture. Has active interest in city planning and design and manages a bookstore in the Quadrangle.

Engineers Club of Dallas. 817 Republic Bank Building, Dallas 75201. 880-0090. Allen Tichenor Jr., general manager. Comprised of engineering professionals (including architects, chemists and physical scientists). Provides periodic meetings and serves as host for 36 professional organizations. Catering to members’ business and social needs. Funds college scholarship and other philanthropic programs. Publishes a monthly newsletter.

Pro Musica. 11412 Valley Dale, Dallas 75230. 368-3178. Joanne Merriman, chairman. A performing club for music teachers, professional musicians and experienced amateurs. Provides small group setting for solo performances and chamber music; pro-vides opportunities to try unusual pieces. Also supports concert series and professional performances by attending symphonies and chamber music society events.



SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Historic Preservation League, 2902 Swiss Ave., Dallas 75204. 821-3290. James T. Bratton, executive director. Seeks to protect and rehabilitate Dallas’ historic and architectural resources, to find new uses for old buildings, to preserve neighborhood character and to educate the public on matters of preservation. Offers workshops and seminars on preservation-related activities such as tax incentives and home decorative painting.

Southwest Railroad Historical Society. 13560 Flagstone Lane, Dallas 75240. 239-1676 or 361-6936. J.G. Wildhagenk, president and chairman of the board. Publishes “The Clearance Card Newsletter” bi-monthly. Maintains Age of Steam railroad museum at Fair Park (open Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; tickets $1.50 for adults, 75 cents for children 1 and under). Operates Switch-man’s Corner, a rail artifact shop.

Dallas Chess Club. 8020 Forest Lane, Dallas 75243. 553-9030. Lou Hayes, president. Devoted to the development and promotion of chess. Has junior chess team. Call for information about sessions and tournaments.

Dallas Historical Society. Texas Hall of State, P.O. Box 26038, Dallas 75226. 421-5136. John W. Crain, director. Maintains library, archives and museum of local history. Provides special programs, including films and lectures.

Lone Star Cat Club. 5019 Alcott St., Dallas 75206. 821-5602. Don Thompson, business manager. Affiliated with Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). Sponsors shows. Purpose is to teach the proper care and appreciation of cats. Clearinghouse on how to contact area specialty cat clubs.

The Children’s Arts and Ideas Foundation, 3409 Oak Lawn, Suite 108, Dallas 75219. 528-5860. Provides arts classes for the purpose of developing self-esteem and a community spirit. Offers summer programs in ceramics, painting, sculpture, mime, drama, puppetry and music. Teaches classes at community centers and churches throughout the school year. Scholarships available for all programs.

First Men’s Garden Club of Dallas. 6569 Lafayette Way, Dallas 75230. 239-2250. Charles K. Cone, president. Exchanges ideas on all aspects of gardening. Sponsors quarterly garden judging classes; provides annual horticulture scholarships. Holds garden shows and fund-raiser plant sales. Newsletter, speakers, monthly meetings.

Dallas Philatelic Society. 9537 Tarleton, Dallas 75218. 321-1218. Ed Wolf, president. Promotes knowledge of stamp collecting, cultivates friendliness, holds auctions, swap-and-shop meetings and exhibits. Accepts children as members. The American Philatelic Society is holding its 1984 convention here in August. The Dallas society is sponsoring the children attendants.

Vintage Radio and Phonograph Society. P.O. Box 5345, Irving 75062. 931-6391. Dave Medley, president. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration and collection of radios, phonographs, broadcast equipment and associated items. Publishes a newsletter. Headquarters for national organization.

Train Collectors Association. 9101 Windy Crest Drive, Dallas 75243. 348-3595. Pat Neil, director. For all people interested in the preservation and trading of antique and toy trains. Will also display trains for various organizations (mostly O gauge and standard).

American Star Trek Society. 1832 Highland Drive, Carrollton 75006. 245-8207. Sharon Herndon, chairman. Set up to organize conventions and gatherings for area Star Trek fans. Conventions are designed to allow fans to view the films and to meet the stars.

Texas Region of the Antique Auto Club of America. 9615 Tarleton, Dallas 75218. 328-2688. Jane Davie, original member. Members are interested in the earliest examples of automobiles: those produced at the turn of the century and later years, up to 25 years ago. Annual Texas tour. Participates in parades. Publishes a newsletter.

Bacchus Wine Society. 1827 W. Mock ingbird Lane, Dallas 75235. 630-5000. Hoke Harden, director. Informs and guides members to appreciate wines. Newsletter. Correspondence course offered. Dinners and wine-tasting parties held several times each year.

Herpetological Society of Dallas. P.O. Box 153672. Irving 75015. Kenneth Mag-nuson, president. Meets monthly in the auditorium of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. Program consists of speakers on the subject of reptiles.

Top of Texas (regional branch of the Chili Appreciation Society International). 4544 McKinney, Dallas 75205. Frank X. Tolbert Jr., president. Interested in preserving Texas culture through its food, music and art. Responsible for chili being declared the state dish. Monthly meetings. Members judge in chili cookoff.

Big D, Little Birds Classic Thunderbird Club. P.O. Box A, Little Elm 75608. 292-1946. C.L. Hood, president. This group gathers on Saturday mornings for breakfast and sponsors several social functions throughout the year-dinner theaters, picnics, parades and road trips. Dedicated to preserving and restoring ’55, ’56 and ’57 Thunderbirds.

Businessmen’s Flying Association of Dallas Inc. c/o Schneider, Bernet and Hick-man, 2400 InterFirst Two, Dallas 75270. 761-5222. John Ferguson, president. Founded in 1955 by a group of Dallas businessmen, the group works to promote safe flying and flies a group of crippled children to Kerrville each year to attend the Lions Club camp. Monthly meetings.

Horseless Carriage Club of America, North Texas Regional Group. 6403 Sandra Drive, Dallas 75214. 823-1164. Jim Toler. Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of antique automobiles, (vintage 1900-1941) and special-interest vehicles, manufactured in 1925 or later. The members have international swap meets regularly with other car clubs at the Pate Museum of Transportation. Many of their cars are used in motion pictures.

Quarter Century Wireless Association, Dallas Chapter. 2812 Pritchett, Dallas 75061. 438-8038. Walter Wiederhold, secretary. This group requires that members have their radio operator’s license for 25 years before joining. The international club has 150 members in Dallas. Its members communicate by radio with other operators all over the world. Monthly meetings.

Dallas Radio Control Club. 221 W. Jefferson, Dallas 75208. 946-2414. John Gill, president. This group meets at Bernie’s Hobby House once each month and is interested in building radio-controlled airplanes. Sponsors contests.

Bridge Association, Dallas. 4121 Avon-dale, Apartment 103, Dallas 75219. 522-4534. Dorcas Tayloe, executive secretary. Affiliated with the American Contract Bridge League. 1,800 members in this unit, which stretches from Wichita Falls to Cor-sicana. Small local groups get together to play bridge for points; individuals may join the national league to be rated against members all over the United States. Holds tournaments three times a year. Publishes a magazine. No dues for local association.

Lone Star Checker Club. 2638 Searcy Drive, Dallas 75211. 333-3814. William T. Perdue, secretary. Meets weekly to play checkers and has a couple of tournaments each year. Affiliated with the American Checker Federation. Receives six bulletins annually.

Dog Training Club of Dallas County, P.O. Box 380104, Duncanville 75138. 227-5386 or 941-9796. Linda Minick, registrar. A non-profit organization interested in promoting responsible dog ownership. Members conduct classes for the public in dog obedience for the family pet, including puppy training (starting from 10 weeks old). Also helps people who would like to go into AKC competition, from beginning to “utility” ranking. Holds demonstrations, seminars and monthly “fun matches.”

Quilters Guild of Dallas. 15775 N. Hillcrest, Suite 508, Box 304, Dallas 75248. Joanne Morris, membership chairman. Group meets monthly to hear authors of quilting books lecture and to see demonstrations. Has occasional quilting workshops. Smaller neighborhood groups may meet more often to work on group or individual quilts. Sponsors a quilt show once a year.

Today’s Reviews. 2302 Kessler Parkway, Dallas 75208. 946-7033. Lola Bourland, president. Book review club; has eight reviews yearly, which are presented by outstanding local reviewers on books of general interest. Luncheon meetings are held October through May and are $6 each.

National Association of Investment Clubs, Dallas Area Council. 3310 Fair-mount, Apartment 4F, Dallas 75201. 521-9726. Lee Branch, chairman of the board. Private investment club that gives people with spare cash an opportunity to invest with a group. Members also may discuss personal investment possibilities at monthly meetings.

Dallas Safari Club. 8585 Stemmons Freeway, Twin Towers South, Suite 770, Dallas 75247. 630-1453. John Fortner, executive secretary. Social hunting club that works in conservation and education areas in conjunction with the Dallas Ecological Foundation. For anyone interested in big-game hunting and conservation. About 400 members.

All-Breed Obedience Training Club. 7318 Brennans Drive, Dallas 75214. 821-3327. George Theriot, training director. Members gather on Wednesdays with their dogs to work on AKC obedience-basic commands plus scent discrimination, hand-signal recognition, etc. Any age dog accepted. Another club, Daltex Schutzhund, also directed by George Theriot, meets on Saturdays. Member dogs are taught tracking, obedience, protection and agility.

Dallas Arms Collectors Association, Inc. Route I, Box 282B, De Soto 75115. 331-6257. Meets monthly. Members travel together to gun shows, host speakers during most meetings to talk about their collections and sponsor four shows a year at Market Hall in Dallas.

Dallas Zoological Society, 400 S. Zang, Suite 515, Dallas 75208.943-2771. Margaret Bennett, director. A fund-raising organization for the Dallas Zoo. Several meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Leprechaun Story League, 5835 Martel St., Dallas 75206. 823-7623. Mrs. Thomas J. Insall, contact chairman. Service group of accomplished storytellers. Visits nursing homes, children’s hospitals and church groups to provide entertainment with an assortment of folk tales, humorous stories and Bible stories. Members meet monthly for refreshments and story-swapping; less experienced raconteurs can get advice on techniques.

Texas Model Railroad Club, 2318 Valleywood, Carrollton 75006. 242-3418. Bob Mason, executive secretary. Weekly meetings for ongoing construction of a huge H-0 gauge model railroad. Club also has a mini-convention each year with train movies, slide shows, flea markets, clinics and contests.

Circus Fans Association of America, Dallas Chapter. 500 Kathy Drive, Mesquite 75149. 285-2745. Dr. William Hooper, secretary. Part of the national Circus Fans Association. For lovers of the circus, both performers and spectators. Members visit hospitals and nursing homes to demonstrate wire-walking, unicycle riding, juggling and other circus acts. Club also holds a circus school for children, sees films and has speakers on circus topics and visits every circus that comes to town “en masse.”

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, 8617 Garland Road, Dallas 75218. 327-8263. G. Shannon Smith, president. Both professional and volunteer gardeners are engaged in planning and building a major botanical garden in Dallas, which will include public display gardens, educational programs and eventually some research work. The society has had some open houses and special events, but works most of the time on improving the site of the gardens.

Learning About Me, A Child’s Introduction to the Arts, 7115 Lavendale, Dallas 75230. 691-3093. Pamela Stone Ciac-cio, director. Creative-arts school has creative movement, art, drama and music activities for children ages 3 to 9. Preschool classes available; offers creative arts day camp during the summer and classes on Saturdays through the fall.