January 27, 2012
Just How Unpopular is Craig James?
Yesterday we talked about how, needing a serious boost in the polls, Craig James released his tax returns. That boost he needs is even more serious than previously expected. Like, he needs a 28-point jump if he’d like to see the other side of 30 percent. But because he’s running against several opponents, those numbers make it tough to gauge exactly how popular — or unpopular — James might be. But this story, from The Post Game, is much less ambiguous. The headline: “Craig James: The Most Hated Man in West Texas.” There’s even mention of how James is less popular in West Texas than Barack Obama.
Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Jan. 27-29
Don’t laugh, but my actual, real plans this weekend include seeing both Beauty and the Beast in 3D and One For the Money, despite the utter failure of the casting director to get anything right and the fact that Lionsgate didn’t even bother to pre-screen it for press. Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum? Ugh. Debbie Reynolds as the feisty, gun-toting Grandma Mazur? Double ugh. I remember reading the first few of Janet Evanovich’s numbers series during free time in my high school French class, and everyone probably thought I was a lunatic, spluttering and snorting and crying, trying not to laugh too loudly. I hate you, Hollywood, for running these delightfully trashy books through the boring crap blender.
Friday
Other plans include movies with actual artistic merit (not that Beauty and the Beast isn’t awesome, but did we really need to do it in 3D?). The Texas Theatre has an excellent double feature running on 35 mm through Sunday. Thematically, this is awesome, since Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Francois Truffaut’s The Bride Wore Black have two of my favorite things in common: grudge-holding and revenge. Peter talks about the films much better than I ever could over on FrontRow, so go read that first. Stick around this evening for a Bride Wore Black dance party featuring DJ Wild in the Streets.
And since it’s been an unacceptable number of weeks since I’ve had goat cheese tater tots and an 87 Ways, Tillman’s is the only place I can even think about eating right now.
Continue reading "Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Jan. 27-29"
Plano’s J.C. Penney Gets a Makeover: New Logo, Ellen DeGeneres, and Apple-Style Genius Bars?
The new logo. Kind of makes you want to put your hand over your heart and pledge allegiance, no?
When Joseph Guinto wrote about Ron Johnson, the new CEO of Plano-based J.C. Penney, in the September issue of D CEO, he raised a number of questions about what the former Apple and Target executive could do for the department store. On Johnson’s branding expertise:
If an executive from Apple is supposed to know anything, it is what the kids (under 35 counts, right?) want these days. And, anyone at Apple—where products launch with a similar look, feel, and level of hype—should have a solid understanding of branding. But Apple products cost a lot of money. The average price for a women’s blouse at J.C. Penney is $15. And, besides, is it fair to compare a shiny iPod to a pair of cotton underpants?
Well, J.C. Penney unveiled its big makeover plan this week, and it would seem that cotton underpants may be getting something closer to the iPod treatment. Stores will begin sporting a new logo (at right), the company’s third in three years.
They’ve also unveiled new three-tiered, simplified pricing that they’re calling “Fair and Square Pricing,” which is meant to be represented by that subtly patriotic new logo. Ellen DeGeneres has been brought in as a spokesperson to “help bring the new jcpenney experience to life in her own fun-loving, sneaker-wearing, laugh-making way.”
But most remarkable of all? Johnson, the man behind the creation of Apple’s retail cathedrals hipster havens orgasmatrons shops is bringing some of that same philosophy to transform the staid department store design:
Embattled Former Yale Quarterback Did a Swim Through Highland Park
By now perhaps you’ve heard about Patrick Witt. He made headlines last year when he apparently gave up a shot at becoming a Rhodes Scholar so that he could lead Yale on the gridiron against rival Harvard. Except now we’re learning that Witt really didn’t really have such a great shot, seeing as how a classmate accused him of sexual assault, and the Rhodes people aren’t impressed by such behavior. A story in today’s New York Times details the whole affair. The most interesting thing to me is how hellbent his parents were on getting the kid a starting spot on a high school team, moving the entire family across the country when it became necessary. One of their stops was Highland Park. Witt wasn’t good enough to start there, so they moved again, to Wylie.
Update 10:31 – An alert FrontBurnervian points out the other North Texas connection to this story: the Yale coach who was forced to resign, Tom Williams, played his high school football at Trinity Valley, in Fort Worth. Perhaps I forgot to mention this connection because when I tried to tackle Williams several times, he ran over me like I was a kindergartener. Still painful to remember.
Update 10:40 – Huh. I just received a response to the NYT story made on Witt’s behalf by his management and PR firm, Atlas Strategies. They take issue with how the cause-and-effect relationship the NYT laid out concerning the assault allegation and Witt’s decision to forgo the Rhodes Scholarship. Jump for the full statement.
Continue reading "Embattled Former Yale Quarterback Did a Swim Through Highland Park"
Leading Off (1/27/12)
Contentious Cost Saving. The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees voted 6 to 2 last night to shutter 11 elementary schools, lay off 177 full-time employees and extend teacher work days by 45 minutes. The meeting got so contentious that the board retreated to a smaller room at one point to discuss and vote. Who stayed behind? Carla Ranger, who told reporters that, “The board walked out on the community.”
Oh, That Wasn’t a Thing Already? Apparently there are a bunch more roads you can drive 75 mph on in Texas. And – whoa – roads you can drive 80 on. This is good news for me and my swagger wagon, since we frequently rounded up anyway.
Rainy Days Stave Off New Restrictions. If your domicile is within the confines of a municipality that is a customer of the North Texas Municipal Water District, good news: The district voted to hold off on adopting the much more stringent stage four water restrictions. However, officials are quick to warn that the more severe restrictions could be inevitable.
Perry’s Popularity Plummets. By 10 points, according to a survey conducted on behalf of five Texas newspapers. The survey also revealed that more than half of those polled did not want Rick Perry to run for another term as governor.
Chicks, Man. If you want chicken in University Park, you’re pretty much going to have to go to Chik-Fil-A. Because the city council says it’s still verboten to have chickens in your backyard (or anywhere else, I’m guessing). Speaking of, a running-type Frontburnervian told me recently that he was running in the Preston Hollow area and heard a rooster crowing from behind one of the fancypants houses there. Anybody else hearing random roosters?
January 26, 2012
Just How Dallas Is the Dallas Observer?
James Williford is a curious fellow. He’s a member of the new crop of interns that started here this week. James just got a master’s degree in English from Georgetown, where he carried a 4.0 GPA and wrote a thesis titled “The Adultery of Delicate Objects,” which, according to his CV, was “a study of medieval art, objecthood, and ekphrasis.” He’s that kind of guy. Only way I know how to deal with interns that smart is to beat them down with time-wasting tasks in the hopes that they’ll give up their silly dreams of ever making a living in journalism and move on to investment banking. Or ekphrasis.
Anyway, after I saw this week’s cover the Dallas Observer, a profile of Victoria Jackson, I asked James to wade through the paper’s archives and tell me how many of the Dallas Observer’s cover stories in the past year have had nothing to do with Dallas. Including the Jackson story, it looks like 10 (see list, below). I suppose this only bothers me. And, now, James.
Feb 24, 2011 – Pomplamoose, California-based band
Mar 24, 2011 – Flawed sex trafficking study
May 12, 2011 – Sonya Fitzpatrick, British pet psychic
May 19, 2011 – Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips
Jun 9, 2011 – Austin
Jun 30, 2011 – Ashton Kutcher and sex trafficking
Nov 3, 2011 – Underage sex workers (mentions Dallas but isn’t locally focused)
Nov 17, 2011 – Drugs in Lufkin
Dec 15, 2011 – The College Bowl System
Jan 26, 2012 – Victoria Jackson
Update (3:24) – It has come to my attention that the Flaming Lips story was set entirely in Dallas. For this error, James will pay dearly.
Tech Wildcatters Named in Forbes’ List of 10 Hottest Startup Incubators
I’m about two weeks late to this, so I apologize. But Dallas’ own Tech Wildcatters was named on Forbes‘ list of 10 Hottest Startup Incubators. You know Tech Wildcatters and its co-founder Gabriella Draney from this DCEO article. It’s great to see a local tech-based business get some kudos.
A Transplanted Californian’s View of Dallas
David Pinsel
Shortly before moving to Dallas last November, commercial real estate exec David Pinsel participated in a panel discussion in his native California. The topic: “Keeping Businesses From Moving to Texas.” After nearly 90 minutes of spirited dialogue, he came to the conclusion that the problem might take a generation to fix. “Three months later,” says 34-year-old Pinsel, the new head honcho at Colliers International, “I am working in Texas, doing my best to lure corporate business out of California. The irony is not lost on me.”
Pinsel shares his first impressions of DFW’s business culture and climate—along with sports, Mark Cuban, $30k millionaires and other topics—over at RealPoints.
Craig James to Release Tax Returns
Craig James has a press conference scheduled for this afternoon, at which he is expected to release five years worth of tax returns. He’s already called on David Dewhurst, Ted Cruz, and Tom Leppert to release their taxes. I guess this is just what politicians do these days when they are behind in the polls; they show people how much money they make, then ask their opponents to do the same. Probably couldn’t hurt him, unless something truly shocking shows up. James, of course, already needed a boost before news came out about “conflicting statements” in a lawsuit involving former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach.
Dallas Observer Seeks Art Director
If you have what it takes to make Robert Wilonsky and Jim Schutze look even more beautiful in print than they do in person, apply now.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Jan 26
Guys, guess what. Khloé Kardashian Odom is gainfully employed in Dallas, as an afternoon radio personality for Mix 102.9. This station has been messing with my head for months. My theory is that the HR people got their hiring mandate confused with NPR and employed a Brit so stuff like “heinous construction on 114 means you’ll be stuck in traffic for the next 48 hours”* sounds cool and also potentially life-changing. I listen to that accent, and then I just wish I could listen to the BBC instead.
It’s Thursday, which means you are inches away from the weekend, and I am in an unnaturally good mood. I smiled at a dog this morning. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, either, except it was extra cute. Know who else should be in a good mood? Dallas Symphony Orchestra maestro/Musical America’s Conductor of the Year Jaap van Zweden, who is just cleaning up the awards. Plus, the DSO isn’t entirely broke just yet. Celebrations all around. Van Zweden will lead the Mozart and Schubert concert tonight, but before that, Mayor Mike Rawlings will present him with a proclamation from the city. Emmitt Smith will also be there, hopefully with his very beautiful wife. Check out Peter Simek’s interview with van Zweden on FrontRow before you go, and you can still get tickets to the classical concert online.
Two other polar opposite happenings this evening. Raya tells us about wine, cheese, and sale shopping at Lou Lou (yay), but there’s also a bit of a serious thing going on at the Dallas Holocaust Museum. Since today is a day of remembrance, the museum hosts a candlelight vigil that includes the Kaddish prayer and a reading of names of the over six million Jews who perished. It’ll be outside in the garden, so bring a blanket.
For more to do tonight, go here.
*Not an actual quote, okay. But if you’re the type to, you know, saw off your own arm during the very specific amount of time for which you are trapped in one place, it might actually be life-changing.
Lavon Lake Rises 3 Feet in 2 Days
As you can see from the chart (at right) from the North Texas Municipal Water District, Lavon Lake (the most important water source for Collin County and Rockwall County and some of Dallas County) has risen about 3 feet in the last couple days, thanks to the recent deluge. Of course, that’s only up from the disastrous levels it’s been at. It’s still less than 64% full.
Meanwhile, Grapevine Lake (which was down 4.3 feet as of Jan. 5) is at this moment 100 percent full. Can it be a coincidence that Grapevine is the water supply of those One-Percenters in the Park Cities?*
*Yes, it most certainly can be.
Crisis Strategy Advice for Columbia Packing
- Say you didn’t do it.
- If they don’t buy that, blame someone that Bret Shipp hates. That’ll buy you some time. Say a week of stories.
- When they figure out your ruse, again say you did not do that.
- If they still don’t buy it, have a chief executive fall suddenly ill. That’ll buy you some more time.
- Eventually, the chief executive is going to have to die or get better. Decide which is more advantageous. No judgement. This is a crisis.
- OK, they’re probably going to ask about all the pig blood again. This part is tricky so pay close attention: you’re going to have to say it’s zebra blood. Yes. Zebra blood. Suddenly the issue is so much bigger than your plant, you can probably watch from the sidelines as animal rights activists battle it out with each other, taking the spotlight away from you. Plus, zebra blood is so shocking, I’m not sure people would know how to react. Worst case, you buy even more time while they figure out how to react.
- Invasion. It’s time to reveal your pig-blood-fueled clone army, and take over the city. Earlier than you’d planned, but there is no more time.
You’ll find my invoice in your inbox.
Where Did Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, and Rob Kardashian Eat Lunch Yesterday? Do You Care?
"Celebrities" are "people" too.
The restaurant sent over this photo, and the details.
Today Khloe, Kris Jenner and Rob Kardashian ate lunch at Arcodoro & Pomodoro. They loved the carpaccio, pizza, and Khloe’s risotto. Rob had to slip out early in order to catch a beauty treatment. They spent most of the meal trying to teach Rob to be nicer to women. The girls were heading out to go shopping afterward. CHA-CHING.
Later in the day, Khloe shocked the world with this tweet before the Dallas Mavericks game:
My sisters just surprised me in Dallas!!!! @KimKardashian and @KourtneyKardash what what!!!! The game is going to be wild!
Someone give this woman a radio show.
Dallas’ Skyline Glows
Woke up this morning to find my Facebook feed overloaded with this picture by Justin Terveen. I agreed with Patrick when he wrote this column about the Lite-Briting of Dallas. But I don’t mind it so much when the lights are all reflected in a very full Trinity River.
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