4th of July News

The Sound at Cypress Waters in North Dallas throws innovative July 4th

It'll be a 4th of July you can see but don't have to hear.

Three very quiet cheers for The Sound at Cypress Waters, who are taking a new approach to celebrating 4th of July at that every city should follow.

They're calling it a "Sensory Sensitive Independence Day Celebration" — a long way of saying two wonderful words: silent fireworks.

At this North Dallas destination, they're replacing traditional fireworks with a colorful patriotic laser light show at dark.

The celebration will take place on Sunday, July 3, at the Rogers-O’Brien Amphitheater and will provide a fun and safe alternative to people and pets who deal with noise sensitivity.

"For this celebration we have taken detailed consideration to make this event sensory-friendly and accessible to those who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, noise aversions, sensory processing issues, and even our four-legged family members who want to participate with us," their release says.

Finding alternatives to traditional fireworks has not yet become a big trend, but that's only because people are unaware of the repercussions. Some cities on the West Coast and in Europe, as well as animal advocates, have lobbied for their use.

Fireworks are brutal for animals, generating fear and anxiety and an urge to flee. According to the ASPCA, more dogs get lost on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year, making July 5 the busiest day of the year at animal shelters across the U.S.

Recent years have seen an increasing awareness of the effect fireworks can have on people with autism, and combat veterans suffering from PTSD.

Alternatives range from nearly silent displays with sparklers and roman candles to light shows where noise is not a factor.

Lucy Billingsley, Partner at Billingsley Company, says they hope to make it a tradition. Go Lucy!

"We are extremely excited to bring this special event to the DFW Metro, and we hope this starts a tradition of creating a comfortable and festive setting for families and friends who are challenged with these sensitivities," Billingsley says. "With ample green space, reflections of the lake and retail areas for dining, we felt like The Sound at Cypress Waters was the perfect backdrop for this unique event."

The Sound is set on 300-acre North Lake in North Dallas, and has been designed to bring together a multi-faceted neighborhood, including multifamily, commercial, retail and event spaces.

Other elements of the 4th of July celebration will include:

Replacing fireworks with a very patriotic laser light show to celebrate our Independence
Training on best practices being provided to the restaurant staff by The Autism Society of Texas
Creating calming zones for event participants to use for a break from the activities if needed
Distributing sensory friendly items to show patriotic spirit and have fun

The event will start at 6 pm and run until 10 pm, and will include a concert by Chicago tribute band Windy City, animal education from Creature Teacher, picnics on the lawn, face painting, balloon artist, and more.

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Movie Review

Revived Coyote vs. Acme shows Looney Tunes’ enduring appeal

Photo courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment

Wile E. Coyote in Coyote vs. Acme.

No movie studio has gone through more ups and downs in the past few years than Warner Bros. In 2022, they oddly shelved two mostly-completed movies, Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. But the next few years brought major movies like Barbie, Dune Part Two, Sinners, Superman, Weapons, and One Battle After Another, giving them a huge boost. Strangely, that led directly into a proposed sale to Paramount that is now going through legal battles.

Another previously-shelved Warner Bros. movie, Coyote vs. Acme, is now seeing the light of day thanks to a deal with a small company called Ketchup Entertainment. Taking its cue from the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, the film creates a world in which Wile E. Coyote - sick of constantly being thwarted in his pursuit of Road Runner by faulty Acme products - decides to sue the company.

To do so, he approaches the law firm of Avery, Jones & Maltese, led by Kevin Avery (Will Forte). The firm typically takes on small cases that are easy to settle, but - with a little subterfuge from Wile E. Coyote - they are soon presenting Acme and its lead attorney, Buddy Crane (John Cena), with a lawsuit that could be worth millions of dollars. Naturally, the big corporation won’t give in without a fight, leading to all sorts of shenanigans on both sides.

Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, the film is a fun mixture of nostalgia and clever storytelling. Most of Looney Tunes’ classic characters make an appearance in the film, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Sylvester. The two, other than Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, who get the most play are Tweety, who appears in some of the movie’s funniest scenes, and Foghorn Leghorn, reimagined as the CEO of Acme.

The blend of live action and animation is not quite on the level of something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but it is still effective. It also affords the film plenty of opportunities to employ Looney Tunes’ signature brand of cartoon violence that doesn’t actually leave lasting damage. The gags are very familiar for those who grew up on the studio’s short films, but combined with the inventive ways in which they’re used and the pointed jabs at corporate culture, they become somewhat fresh again.

Naturally, there are plenty of references in the film, starting with the name of the law firm, which pays homage to legendary directors Chuck Avery and Chuck Jones, as well as writer/animator Michael Maltese. Sly jokes that could turn the film from PG to PG-13 sneak their way in, although they steer clear of elements that haven’t aged well (documented in a recent viral comedy clip). But the film is at its best when it leans into the well-earned traits of its favorite characters and just lets them cook.

Forte is a great scene partner for Wile E. Coyote, as he can turn even minor slights into comedy gold. His deadpan reactions are the ideal way to counter the insanity going on around him. Cena has proven in other films that he has great comic timing, and he demonstrates that skill well here, too, especially in a fantastic scene opposite Tweety. The voice talent does a good job with the iconic characters, although the legendary Mel Blanc remains the gold standard.

Coyote vs. Acme is not a world-changing movie by any means, but it is a fun twist on the characters many know and love that deserved to be seen by moviegoers. Wile E. Coyote may never actually catch Road Runner, but this movie shows that his unceasing attempts remain entertaining after all these years.

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Coyote vs. Acme is now playing in theaters.

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