Open The Eye

Downtown Dallas oligarch okays one-off opening of ocular oeuvre

Will you take a look at this.

Photo courtesy of Joule Dallas

If you've been gazing longingly at the Eye — the big eyeball sculpture that sits inside a gated area in the middle of downtown Dallas — hoping, wishing, dreaming, yearning to get closer, you'll soon get your shot.

On April 6, for just one day, the Joule Dallas will unlock the gates that enclose the 30-foot-tall eyeball, and open the space to the public.

Your eyes do not deceive you. Tim Headington, lord of the Joule and its accompanying portfolio, will open the space, with its kelly-green Astroturfed lawn, to anyone who desires entry.

Downtown Dallas' most generous benefactor will provide momentary proximity to the oversized orb — to frolic, exalt, and selfie at will.

Eye is generally not available because it sits on a lot that is a private outdoor event space used by the hotel. However, they do hold events that are open to the public; for example, VITAL Fitness Studio hosts regular fitness classes at the Eye, the most recent one being a 60-minute HIIT class on March 24.

Anyway, according to a release, gates open at 10:30 am and will close again at 5 pm. You can bring a lunch, blankets, and a super-sized bean bag lounge, but no alcohol or pets.

At 12 noon, the Commissary will dispense free mini-scoops of gelato, one per person, while supplies last.

This relatively rare access is in observance of Dallas Arts Month, a city-wide celebration of Dallas arts designed to build awareness and appreciation for the work of Dallas artists and organizations, and foster creative learning and activity throughout the city.

Eye is by artist Tony Tasset and is said to be an enlarged replica of his very own peeper. When it debuted in 2013, he toldInterview magazine that it was based on a photograph he took of his eye and downplayed its significance, saying that it was really just "a big eyeball."

There will also be giveways including a $100 gift card to Commissary that comes with a behind-the-scenes tour of their bakery, kitchen, and subterranean butcher operation.

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Weed News

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Dallas over decriminalization of marijuana

Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife

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The City of Dallas has been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for its efforts to decriminalize marijuana.

According to a release, Paxton has sued the city for adopting a city charter amendment that would decriminalize marijuana-related offenses and prohibit police from enforcing Texas law.

That amendment was Proposition R, or Dallas Freedom Act, which decriminalizes possession of four ounces of marijuana or less. Voters passed the amendment in the November 5 election, with 67 percent voting in favor.

The lawsuit, filed against the Dallas City Council, alleges that Proposition R is unconstitutional and violates Texas drug laws criminalizing any amount of marijuana.

Paxton says that cities can't "pick and choose which state laws to follow." He's proposing a permanent injunction to stop Proposition R from going into effect.

"The City of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them," says Paxton in a statement. "This is a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas Constitution, and any city that tries to constrain police in this fashion will be met swiftly with a lawsuit by my office.”

Before the recent election, possession of two to four ounces of marijuana could result in a punishment of 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Ground Game Texas, the activist nonprofit that has also helped get marijuana decriminalization on the ballot in elections across Texas, first got the issue on the ballot in July with the necessary 50,000 signatures.

Dallas is not the only city to be sued; Paxton also filed lawsuits against five other cities in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos in January for their ballots and policies decriminalizing marijuana.

Both Austin and San Marcos had a judge overturn their cases, according to a FOX 4 report.

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