Only the lonely

State Fair of Texas smooches Big Tex with 2013 theme, The One & Only

The State Fair of Texas announced its annual theme for 2013: The One & Only. Ta-da. It's meant as a wink, a nod, an homage to Big Tex, the 52-foot icon that burned on the final Friday of the 2012 fair. Sniff sniff.

Fair officials are currently working with a Texas-based company to restore Big Tex and will unveil him on opening day, which is September 27. The fair closes October 20.

You can bet your Dickies britches on a major fanfare surrounding Big Tex's "return."

You can bet your Dickies britches on a major fanfare surrounding Big Tex's "return." Big Tex "coincidentally" flamed out at 10 am on October 19, before the fair's final weekend in 2012.

Ten o'clock on a Friday morning is probably one of the most media-friendly times to have an unfortunate, unexpected fire. "Luckily" for everyone involved, the fire was contained to a small area inside the statue's wire frame. No one was harmed in this accidental fire.

That fire made international news. Facebook support groups formed instantly on that fateful Friday, when thousands of people shirking work mourned the "demise" of a bunch of fabric and a papier-mâché "head."

Anyway, it all worked out in the end, because now there will be a new Big Tex. The release reads, "Without divulging specifics, fair organizers are planning a celebration befitting the gentle giant's return."

This year, there will also be a new ride called The Top o' Texas, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Dallas while traversing a 500-foot tower. The ride will debut during Summer Adventures in Fair Park, a new entertainment offering presented by State Fair of Texas and opening in May. Huh, rides all summer long.

The lineup of concerts isn't ready for release, but this year's musical is The Lion King, with daily performances (except Monday) at the Music Hall at Fair Park from October 2–20.

The old Big Tex. Can he ever be replaced? Sniff.

Photo by Steven Martin

The old Big Tex. Can he ever be replaced? Sniff.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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