When Starbucks has taken enough of your money, and not even returned a little in free wi-fi, check out some of the local coffee shops in your area. What you will get is better coffee, prices, and a unique experience. Plus, you’re supporting local businesses.

Today, Nick and I checked out Opening Bell on South Lamar.

A little on the South side of town, but there are some reasons to go over there once in a while (Lee Harvey’s, Bill’s Records, Palladium Ballroom). Opening Bell didn’t nearly have the crowd I thought it would be, well, because we were the only people there for a while. Turns out the Bell gets busy on Fri. and Sat. night when they have live music on the stage.

To be honest, I liked it the way it was. Good lighting, open seating, music that is playing not on the radio, and fresh, decent coffee (without all the merchandise next to the register when you order.) They also have a wide variety of board games and playing cards, which could be fun for a date, if people still do that anymore.

Oh, and did I mention Free Wi-Fi?

This is just the place to go on a Sunday.

Opening Bell
1409 South Lamar, Basement #012
Dallas, Texas 75215
tel: 214/565-0383
Street side parking and free gated parking on Belleview.

Hours:
Monday-Thursday 7am-10pm
Friday 7am-midnight
Saturday 9am-midnight
Sunday 10am-2pm

Zack de la Rocha (RATM), and Jon Theodore (ex-drummer for The Mars Volta) have been collaborating together on a project titled “One Day As A Lion“. This week they released their single on MySpace, titled “Wild International”, and their EP is set to release via Anti-Records** on July 22nd. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of RATM. Listening to them on the way to school in 1998, and still in 2008. Then I used to sing the words, now I am hearing the words. There’s a message. Your chance to listen. Our time to voice.

“If we don’t take action now, then settle for nothing later.”

About One Day As A Lion:

“One Day As A Lion is both a warning delivered and a promise kept.”

“The name taken from the infamous 1970 black and white, captured by legendary Chicano photographer George Rodriguez featuring a center framed tag on a white wall in an unspecified section of Boyle Heights. It reads: ‘It’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb.’ This record is a stripped down attempt to realize this sentiment in sound.”

** Side note: Anti-records also released the new record by Tim Fite, Fair Ain’t Fair. Download his previous album, “Over The Counter Culture”. Download it without having any expections, and see what the outcome is.

Coldplay is thanking their supporters with a free song, titled “Death Will Never Conquer”. You can download the song on their website by submitting your email address. I haven’t listened to the song yet, but I always appreciate a free song from the artist. Thank you, Coldplay, for all your positive influences in music and social change.

Sigur Ros’ new album releases next Monday. I’m going to their concert in Kansas City this Thursday. I think I’m more excited about the concert.

You can listen to the full album on their website:

http://www.sigurros.com/main/streaming.asp

It’s perfect.

They also have some pretty kick-ass pictures on their website which will be released with their new album.