Jim Miller, our media liaison and marketing guru sadly lost his fight with cancer this past fall.  He will long be remembered as our dear friend.  He will be sincerely missed as he always brought a sense of dedication and care to our association.  His strength was unyielding and his compassion unmatched.  Jim had been a part of GAABA since 2004 and there will never be anyone to fill his shoes.  He will always be a part of the Greenville Ave. St. Patrick’s Parade, Savor Mexico, GAABA’s College Scholarship Fund as well as our lives.  His influence will live on and his spirit will continue to push us to be better.  Here’s to you Jim.

Dear Neighbor,

The Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (G.A.A.B.A.) is proud to be bringing you our 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 12, 2011. We are equally proud and excited to announce our new Presenting Sponsor, Andrews Distributing. Andrews stepped in very quickly last month to take on this crucial role that allowed the Parade to continue this year. We are also pleased to announce that Quick and the Dallas Morning News are the new print sponsors and the six radio stations of the CBS Radio Group are our radio partners. We will remain the place to be for nearly 100,000 happy St Patrick’s Day fans to celebrate as they have for over thirty years. We have truly become the largest annual Parade in North Texas. 

The Parade is good for all of us The City benefits with our major attraction bringing in thousands of visitors and valuable tax revenue to the city.  And for the third year G.A.A.B.A. is proud to continue its DISD, Scholarship fund for three worthy High School seniors in our area.  In addition, G.A.A.B.A. will continue to contribute Christmas Dinner to those less fortunate in the city.

Key Parade elements and time-lines are listed below:

Saturday, March 12, 2011 –

-          Southbound Greenville Ave from Blackwell to Yale Blvd will be closed at 9:00am

-          Northbound Greenville Ave from Yale Blvd  to Blackwell will be closed at 10:00am

-          Cross Streets that will remain open (police traffic control): Caruth Haven, Southwestern, & University Blvd

-          G.A.A.B.A. will be hiring again MOORE Disposal to provide the street clean-up this year. Prior to the parade, the clean-up crew will do a run-through to collect all trash accumulated. Cardboard bins will be placed throughout the parade route. During the parade, crews will be moving along the route, collecting trash & disposing of it in the dumpsters. Immediately following the parade, the street sweeper as well as the crews, will clean all of the remaining street trash.

-          G.A.A.B.A. is again partnering with recycling companies to promote a “Go Green” atmosphere. The Dallas Sierra Club (www.texas.sierraclub.org/Dallas/) will also be providing volunteers and recycling bins to clean-up along the parade route.

-          G.A.A.B.A. will be placing port-a-lets along the parade route. Having these port-o-lets on your property will help minimize unwanted restroom traffic before, during & after the parade.  If you would like to order additional port-a-lets, please contact: Moore Disposal Inc. 214.357.4357 ext 106 for Darla Brown.

-          All merchants/property owners are responsible for clean-up in their parking lots/property. If you would like to order trash barrels for your property, please contact: Moore Disposal Inc. 214.357.4357 extension 106 for Darla Brown.

According to the City of Dallas Office of Special Events, the following clean-up schedule will be in place for Saturday, March 12, 2010:

10:00A – 4:00 P                   G.A.A.B.A. responsible for cleaning of parade route (sidewalk to sidewalk)

10:00 A – 4:00 P                  Merchant parking lot “cleaning check”

4:00 P                                    G.A.A.B.A. completes parade clean-up provided event begins on time and there are no issues during event

4:00 P                                    Merchants continue responsibility of cleaning their parking-lots

Note:  Merchants are responsible for maintaining trash clean-up in their parking lots and around their property line. Checks will be made by the City of Dallas Code Compliance team every hour. If trash is not being maintained, the merchant will be written a citation.  Trash bins removed from the event site onto private property will become the responsibility of the merchant to maintain. The Code Compliance City Ordinance states:

SEC. 7A-18.     DUTY TO MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE FROM LITTER.                                                                                             

An owner, occupant, or person in control of private premises commits an offense if he places, deposits, or throws; permits to accumulate; or permits or causes to be placed, deposited, or thrown, any litter on the premises or in or on any gutter or parkway adjacent to the premises or on one-half of that portion of an alley adjacent to the premises, unless the litter has been deposited in an authorized private receptacle for collection. (Ord. Nos. 10371; 13804; 20599)

Working with the city and our new sponsors will allow us to continue to make this an even better Parade now and in the future.  And working together as a community will further insure a successful event.  Not only does Greenville Ave. and the surrounding area depend on the success of this event, but thousands of ‘North Texans’ make plans every year to celebrate with us. 

Sincerely Yours,

Jorge Levy

GAABA President

Need to pay off some bills, college tuition, buy a new car, home improvement needs? Rates as low as 3.95% APR up to a 15 year term. Subject to credit and property approval. Call us today at 214-874-7500 and ask for Angela Morris.

On Wednesday, March 31 Dallas was introduced to a new culinary event,
“Savor Mexico”.  Desperados Mexican Restaurant, known by many as a Dallas landmark,  partnered with el Consul dado de Mexico, the Universidad del Valle de Mexico in San Luis Portosi and the Texas Chefs Association to present the next course in Mexican food. Desperados has a longstanding tradition of introducing new and delectable tastes from Mexico to its legions of patrons and was proud to be a part of this cultural event. Over fifteen of the top senior students from the universidad participated in a culinary competition with dishes indigenous to their San Luis Portosi and Hausteca region. The professors, other executive chefs and celebrity judges came together to choose the top three. Over 2o0 invited guests experienced the many unique creations at the Milestone Culinary Arts Center in Dallas. In addition, a portion of the ticket sales and other donations totaled over $5,000  which went to the GAABA Scholarship Fund  

 Savor Mexico Provided

• A delight to the palate of all who attend by presenting award winning regional Mexican cuisine with all the passions associated with the Mexican culture

• Demonstrated the latest flavors and cooking techniques from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico and the GLION Institute of Switzerland

• Provided a cultural exchange between student chefs from Mexico and student chefs from the United States

• Raised money in support of the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association’s (G.A.A.B.A.) College Scholarship Fund

Wrapped Burrito Creation

Savor Mexico Appetizer

Dongkwon Shin, Emmett J. Conrad High School, will major in biomedicine at Texas A&M University; his goal is to become a doctor. Luzmaria Cuevas, North Dallas High School, will attend the University of Texas at Dallas; she plans to become an English as a Second Language teacher. Alicia Santana, Woodrow Wilson High School, will attend the University of Texas at Austin, and plans to study philosophy and journalism.

“Our association is proud to award these scholarships for the second year, providing financial assistance to three deserving high school students in our area,” said Jorge Levy, GAABA president and owner of Desperados Mexican Restaurant. “We have a commitment to higher education and take pride in giving back to the community. We feel it is important to support the Dallas ISD in its efforts to prepare the next generation for success.”

The Greenville Avenue Area Business Association, a non-profit organization comprised of more than 50 merchants, promotes business development in the area and creates general awareness programs for the community. GAABA funds scholarships from proceeds from its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

 This year, profits from the first Savor Mexico student chefs competition rounded out the fund.

GAABA Board members Jake Levy and Angela Morris with Woodrow Wilson HS winner Luzmaria Cuevas (center)

Jake Levy with Woodrow Wilson HS winner Alicia Santana

March 2, 2010

Dear Jorge and G.A.A.B.A.,

I wanted to take the time to thank you again for your generous support of our needy families during the Christmas Season.  They are always appreciative and ask that we thank you for the gift cards which allow them to have a wonderful meal at Christmas.

May God grant you and your family a prosperous year filled with joy and good health.

Sincerely,

Sandra Cortinas

Director of Business Administration

Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe

There’s been a tragedy in our neighborhood today.  A fire roared through Terilli’s, Greenville Ave Bar & Grill, Hurricane and Mick’s Bar.  It devastated a beautifully historic building as well as the lives of the people that were committed to the businesses within.  Fire is relentless and unmerciful and we are all thankful that no one was injured throughout this heartbreak.  But the realities of this catastrophe are just beginning.  We are pulling together as a community and helping the employees and staff of these businesses and we invite you to do the same. 

Please donate to the Restaurant Employees Relief Fund at your local BB&T branch, Branch Banking & Trust.

The Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Parade is as much a Dallas tradition as Neiman Marcus, the Dallas Cowboys and the State Fair.  This parade is over three decades old and is steeped in history and revelry.  As a matter of fact St. Patrick’s Day is more than just a parade on Greenville Ave.; it’s a whole day of fun and festivities.  But I digress.  The parade is why we are here. 

The parade is the life blood behind the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association’s College Scholarship Fund.  Yes I said scholarship fund.  For years our little “neighborhood” parade had been growing, and growing.  Now we are the largest St. Patrick’s Parade in the Southwest and we seriously rival the parades in places such as New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.  But we are in serious trouble.

 The costs have risen to enormous proportions, the police being the major increase.  Our fair city has doubled the number of police in a span of the last five years.  “More people equal more police.”  A reasonable assumption but our boys in blue make up more than half of our TOTAL budget.  This is staggering.  Other costs have risen with the evolution and now we are in need of some help. 

 Come out and help “Save the Parade.”  G.A.A.B.A. has come up with the perfect solution, a Happy Hour!  Every Friday, leading up to the parade, one of the local Greenville Ave. establishments will host a Save the Parade Happy Hour.  Enjoy great drink specials, prizes, games, food and the satisfaction of doing your small part in Saving Your Parade.  We will not give up the fight.  Details in the calendar section of this website and in the Dallas Observer.  Erin Go Bragh!

If you are a member of GAABA, we have created a number of ways for you to benefit from the website. You can blog, add to the calendar and create a member profile. We’ve created a few videos to show you step-by-step how to use the site.

Once you’ve received your log-in and password, you’ll be able to do all of these things.

Set Up Your Profile

Post on the GAABA Blog

Add Events to the GAABA Calendar

Upload Pictures to the GAABA Image Gallery

Crime Report for the Greenville Area of Dallas:
Crime report 09 SECTOR 210

GAABA AREA 2009 Crime Report