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Live & Local
6A Home Delivery: 972-424-9504
A different
kind of golf
After experiencing 20
years of Chicago winters, I
know better than to stay
inside on glorious 70 degree North Texas January
days.
So when my dad’s annual visit for my birthday
landed on a weekend of exceptional weather, there
was no question – we’d
make the most of it.
As a former standout
travel softball player, I love
the competitive nature of
sports. But with my glory
days behind me, my dad
and I have found a new
love: disc golf. We’ve played
countless courses in Illinois, Iowa and Arizona, but
some of our
favorites
are right
here in
North
Texas.
Since
moving to
BRITTANY
Collin
FEAGANS
County two
MARATHON
years ago,
MANIAC
I’ve played
quite a few
disc golf courses. When I
lived in Frisco, I leaned toward McKinney’s Towne
Lake Disc Golf Course,
which was just a straight
shot down U.S. 380 from
my apartment.
Towne Lake is a scenic
course, with steep banks
along a meandering creek
to avoid at all costs. After
witnessing a few wayward
discs get swallowed by the
murky creek water, it’s
easy to wonder how many
discs lay buried in the
creek bed.
This visit, my dad
wanted to try out a few
courses that were new to
us. The first course we
played was Shawnee Park,
located near Barron Elementary School between K
Avenue and Parker Road in
Plano.
As can be expected on
such a beautiful winter
day, we weren’t the only
ones on the course. This
turned out to be a good
thing, as the course layout
is rather confusing to a
first-timer. It appears
Shawnee was originally a
nine-hole course, so the
back nine seemed to overlay the front nine.
Nevertheless, the course
has a great variety of short
holes and long holes, with
varying difficulty and obstacles. We enjoyed the
course so much that we returned the next day. Of
course, it doesn’t hurt that
it’s a few blocks from my
residence.
The second “new”
course we played was
Bethany Lakes in Allen. If
you’ve never been to
Bethany Lakes, here’s two
words to describe it: water
hazards. Everywhere. The
course itself is interesting,
but for novice disc golfers
like my dad and I, it’s a bit
intimidating, especially on
a windy day.
Not wanting to lose any
discs to the watery abyss,
we played it safe by adding
a “stroke” to each par. We
didn’t lose any discs, although I did hit a truck
and almost took out a girl
on a tricycle. Hey, I never
said I was good.
Had we more time (or
daylight), we probably
would have headed up to
Dash’s Track in Frisco,
which is a fairly new
course. The first nine holes
are fairly short par three’s,
with the back nine a bit
more challenging.
All in all, our Tour de
Disc Golf in Collin County
was a success, and I’m excited to have two courses
within five miles of my
apartment.
Now if we could just stop
with these ice storms, I
could get some much
needed practice in, so I
don’t hit anymore vehicles
… or children. Fore!
Plano Star Courier
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Events calendar
Feb. 16
starlocalmedia.com 1 P.M.
Jeff Hopson
With Aubrey Lynn England, Chuck
Ligon.Tavern on Main Street,
115 E. Main St., Richardson.
Smokey Robinson
comes to Dallas
R & B LEGEND HEADLINES
FUNDRAISER AT MEYERSON
TIM GLAZE
tglaze@starlocalmedia.com
Want to go?
What: Smokey Robinson
When: 8 p.m. March 31
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center,
2301 Flora St., Dallas
Cost: $750-$2,500
Info: launchability.org
For one night in March, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas will be filled with the familiar lyrics of
“You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me” and “Ain’t It, Baby” as
rhythm and blues legend Smokey Robinson performs before a
packed house.
Robinson is the headliner for the 13th Annual “A Special
Evening,” hosted by Alliance Data and benefiting the
LaunchAbility program, which works to provide services
for children and adults with disabilities. Officials have reported that the previous 12 events have raised more than
$2 million.
The event begins at 8 p.m. March 31 at the Meyerson,
2301 Flora St., with a live auction and Robinson’s performance.
“If you like Motown music, you’re going to love this
concert,” said Kathryn Parsons, CEO of LaunchAbility.
“Even if you’re not familiar with Smokey’s music, once you
attend the show and listen to his songs, it’s going to take
you back to that era. The great thing about this event is
that it’s always a good show – the venue is intimate, the
music is always great and it helps build independence for
these children and adults [with disabilities].”
Robinson is not the first high-profile entertainer in the
history of LaunchAbility’s event – past events have included names such as Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, The
Doobie Brothers, The Pointer Sisters and Willie Nelson.
Also during evening, event co-chairs Piper and Mike
Wyatt will be presenting Sharon Herrin and Roy Pendergrass with the Milton P. Levy Jr. Outstanding Volunteer
Award.
“Piper and I have been involved with ‘A Special
Evening’ from the beginning, and are honored to have
the opportunity to serve as co-chairs this year,” Mike
Wyatt stated in a release. “We have been so impressed
with the work of LaunchAbility, which helps children
PHOTO COURTESY OF VGS MARKETING GROUP
and adults with developmental disabilities gain the inAmerican R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record
dependence and confidence they need to lead fulfilling
executive William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. will hit the stage at the
lives.”
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center March 31. The performance,
Tickets for the event are available at
hosted by Alliance Data, will benefit the LaunchAbility program, which
works to provide services for children and adults with disabilities.
launchability.org or by calling 1-800-595-4-TIX.
2 P.M.
‘Coriolanus’
Also 7 p.m.Tuesday. Angelika Film
Center –The Shops at Legacy,
7205 Bishop Road, Plano. $20
‘Night and Day’
Jackson’s Dance and Theatre Co.,
6205 N. Coit Road, Plano. $17
‘Little Women’
Plaza Theatre,
521 W. State St., Garland. $10
2:15 P.M.
‘Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Coat’
Heard-Craig
Center for the
Arts, 306 N.
Church St., McKinney. $8-$18
2:30 P.M.
‘We’re Going
on a Bear Hunt’
Eisemann Center,
2351 Performance Drive,
Richardson. $12-$22
6:30 P.M.
Michael Jerome
Also Tuesday.The Pub in Frisco,
3231 Legacy Drive.
Feb. 17
6:30 P.M.
Emerald City
Live Karaoke
The Pub in Frisco.
7:30 P.M.
Demi Lovato
Verizon Theatre, 1001
Performance Place, Grand Prairie.
8 P.M.
Preston Hall
Sundown at Granada,
3520 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
Feb. 18
7:30 P.M.
Austin
Cunningham
Cadillac Pizza
Pub, 112
S. Kentucky St., McKinney.
8 P.M.
‘Godspell’
Through March 2.Winspear
Opera House, 2403 Flora
St., Dallas. $30-$120
Feb. 19
7 P.M.
Leland Williams
Adair’s Saloon,
2624 Commerce St., Dallas.
8 P.M.
History of the Eagles:
Live in Concert
American Airlines Center,
2500 Victory Ave., Dallas.
Brad Good
Taverna Rossa,
4005 Preston Road, Plano.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
The acrobats and performers of Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai” promise a circus of Olympic-sized proportions next week at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco.
There and back again
CIRQUE GOES FOR GOLD WITH GREEK-INSPIRED PERFORMANCE THIS MONTH
pline of the circus arts rarely
seen in today’s contemporary
circus culture, known for its
With the world’s eye fixed
highly choreographed presenon a posh Russian seaside
tation of strength, balance
town and countries rallying
and agility.
behind their best athletes for
“We recruit our talent
gold at the XXII Winter
– VANESSA NAPOLI, SENIOR PUBLICIST, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
from all over the world. On
Olympics in Sochi, the mas‘Varekai’ alone, we have 50
terminds behind Cirque du
performers from 18 different
Varekai, a magical realm lowhere you don’t understand
Soleil aren’t missing out on
nationalities,” Napoli said.
cated deep within a forest
the language but can sense
the action, either.
where fantastical creatures
the emotion and create your “We have an amazing casting
Next week, the Canadian
department that scouts out
reign, and anything is possiown story from it,” she said.
entertainment company
talent from everywhere …
ble. Parachuted into the
“You lose yourself amongst
known for its artistically
gymnastics competitions, varshadows of the forest from
the beauty that is displayed
eclectic circus-like performthe summit of a volcano, a
before your eyes. You realize ious sporting events, circus,
ances will bring the mysterreferrals – the list goes on
young man takes flight in an at the end that you weren’t
ies of the eastern federation
and on.”
watching a show but rather
and the spirit of the Olympics adventure both absurd and
In the spirit of Russian
extraordinary at the edge of
living an experience where
even closer to North Texas.
culture, the Georgian Dance
the impossible suddenly beA critically acclaimed pro- time.
reflects the long tradition of
Written and directed by
comes possible.”
duction that has wowed more
resistance in the Republic of
Dominic Champagne,
The impossible becomes
than 8 million people worldwide since it first premiered “Varekai” pays tribute to a no- possible in stunning displays Georgia, where inhabitants
took to battle with numerous
madic soul, the spirit and art of skill and acrobatics set
in Montreal in 2002,
invaders throughout cenof the circus tradition, and to against music and other“Varekai” has been perturies. The dancers’ moveformed in more than 72 cities those who quest with infinite worldly sets. These players
ments recall the Georgians’
passion along the path that
include, but are not limited
in 20 different countries
struggles against powers that
leads to Varekai, said Vanessa to, aerial hoops and straps
around the world. The word
Napoli, senior publicist for
professionals, hand balancing sought to dominate their
“Varekai” [pronounced
land. To add to the drama,
Cirque du Soleil.
on canes, clowns and jugver·ay·’kie] means “wherthe dancers dart and inter“It’s like entering a dream gling.
ever” in the Romany lanand being transported to anThe Icarian Games is one twine on a specially designed
guage of the gypsies, the
sliding surface, creating an ilother realm where you meet such spectacle that offers a
universal wanderers.
all these intricate characters, glimpse into an ancient disciThe story takes place in
See GOLD, Page 7A
KELLEY CHAMBERS
kchambers@starlocalmedia.com
“We are all extremely passionate about
what we do, whether it be a performer,
a technician, one of our chefs, our
physios … there is no grey area at Cirque.”
Chris Thile
Kessler Theater,
1230 W. David St., Dallas.
Feb. 20
7 P.M.
Marc Broussard
With Mingo Fishtrap.
Kessler Theater.
Royal Ballet: ‘Swan Lake’
Cinemark Frisco Square,
5655 Frisco Square Blvd.
7:30 P.M.
Aubrey Lynn England
With Big Gus & Swampadelic, Abbi
Walker, more. Love and War in Texas
– Plano, 601 E. Plano Parkway. $5
FYI
Hummingbird
training
The John Bunker Sands
Wetland Center in Seagoville
will host a training workshop
for hummingbird enthusiasts
from 9 a.m. to noon March 1
at the center, 655 Martin
Lane. Participants will learn
how to identify hummingbirds and how to plant a garden for hummingbirds.
Cost is $10 and reservations are required. Call
972-474-9100 or email
ldunn@wetlandcenter.com
to reserve a spot.