Video From Carter Albrecht Tribute Available Now

Good on the folks at Pegasus News for this footage. If you were there, relive some great performances. If you weren’t, see what you missed out on. Either way, watch. And donate: All of the money goes to the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation, which has lofty goals and needs the cash to back them up.

Belo Profits Down…Again

But results would have been flat if not for the expenses incurred in figuring out the newspaper/broadcasting split, according to the company. The rationale for the split is in the numbers:

Newspaper group revenue fell 7.8 percent in the quarter, while television group revenue climbed 1.8 percent.

Lone Star Funds’ Steak Stake

Last year, Dallas’ Lone Star Funds bought Lone Star Steakhouse because they were hungry they already had the stationery they thought it was a sound investment. A financially attuned FrontBurnervian sends along this news that Lone Star Funds has filed for a $100 million I.P.O. for much the steak division, which includes Del Frisco’s and Sullivan’s.

Mmm … Steak.

The Trinity: Optimists Abound

Maybe the conversation with my mother made me too pessimistic. In other quarters, good spirits prevail. Two invitations happened to arrive in the mail today. One came from the Trinity Trust and the Dallas Institute for a “Designing The Trinity” Conference on November 16, and the other for a Trinity Commons reception on November 19. You wouldn’t hold a designing-the-Trinity conference if there were no Trinity to design or a reception if you thought it would be a wake.

It’s Almost Close Enough to the Trinity River Vote That I Honestly Think People May Soon Start Paying Attention

I received a lot of e-mail from readers of our current cover story that said, basically, Hey, Eric, I’m so worn out. Just tell me what to do. Like this one:

I read with interest your article: insightful, certainly thought provoking, and very well written. Since you didn’t draw any conclusions as a result of the research, I was wondering about a couple of points: When you interviewed these four, did you get a sense that any of them have changed their minds on the original stance they took? If they had it to do over again, what would they have changed? How do you feel about the road, and what’s your opinion about voting on the measure?

[My wife] and I are trying to get a sense of what the real impacts are here so that we can make an intelligent decision in time to vote. Clearly, most logical, rational folks would not want a loud toll road winding through the park, but the economics may not work based on how the deal has been structured. Locating the road elsewhere is obviously going to change the dynamics of funding, and that has some impact on the park project. I just wondered in talking to them if you were able to “read between the lines” as to how they think the entire mess could/should have been handled and where it ought to go from here.

See, I think a lot of people are right there. They paid attention best they could, but their b.s. alarm rings when they hear each side speak or write. That’s because they’re smart enough to know that if either side had a perfect case, it wouldn’t be this tough to decide.

Fear not, dear readers. I can show you the way. Next week, to replace Leading Off, I will write a column each morning that I would write were I a daily newspaper columnist. I will tell you what this fight is about, what is known and what is not known, why you should care, and, finally, how you should vote. Because as the vote nears, I’m not wearied by the fight, I’m energized by it. I care about this city. I live in the core. These debates are healthy, and they should be full-throated. Those writers who feel worn down by this discussion can go back to profiling horse trainers and knitting champions. I mean, why in the hell did you get in the business?

The Real Problem With the Whole Anti-Saggy Pants Campaign

A detail-oriented FrontBurnervian has a bone to pick with the “Pullem’ Up” billboards. (If you haven’t seen them yet, you can see them here.) Heck, it’s not even that much of a detail, now that I think about it:

Look, I know advertising takes grammatical license. Believe me, I’m as guilty as the next ad guy. But there’s a limit. I’d like to tell the creators of the “Pullem’ Up” campaign where they should stick their apostrophe. An apostrophe is commonly used to indicate omitted characters. Just what characters did they omit after “em”? It’s not just wrong, it’s embarrassing. If this is an example of their grammar skills, it appears they told some poor English teacher where to stick HER apostrophe a long time ago.

In’deed. For similar transgressions, check out this site. (And Tip o’ the Hat to the kind FrontBurnervian who passed along that link.)

Sneak peek at V.O.D.

Can’t wait for hot shop, V.O.D., to open in Victory Park? It’s not expected to open until the holidays due to delayed construction but that doesn’t mean you can’t shop all the fabulous fashions they have in store. Stop by our favorite shoe shop, Linus Lounge, for a private preview today and tomorrow from 10-4. We hear that Archive Vintage owner, Kerry Bonnell, may have some goodies there as well. See you there.

Re: Non-Partisan Fort Worth Council Race

Trey, there’s something even more ironic about Chuck Silcox and his playing the “straight card.” Follow me here: Silcox points to Chris Turner and tells everyone they should vote for him because he likes women. Everyone laughs. Turner is a political consultant. He has a partner named Craig Murphy. Together they run a firm called Murphy Turner Associates. Murphy ran Ed Oakley’s campaign for Dallas mayor. Ed Oakley likes guys. And in that race, when the Heritage Alliance urged everyone to vote for Tom Leppert because he was straight, Murphy cried foul. To me, that sounds like hypocrisy.

Chris Turner, Craig Murphy, and Chuck Silcox, you’re all on notice, gentlemen.

Comments are on.

Non-Partisan Fort Worth Council Race Gets All Partisan

An ironically named Fort Worth councilman has thrown down the gay gauntlet.

We have two people of opposite partisan politics, opposite philosophical persuasions and opposite sexual orientations.

If Matthew McConaughey romantic comedies have taught us anything, they are so going to hook up before all is said and done. Mazal tov.

Chili’s Memories

Yesterday’s posting of the Greenville Chili’s (the one at Meadow Lane, which was the site of the original Chili’s) brought about many remembrances. I shoulda turned comments on then, but I’ll do so now. First, a fond, wistful, admiring memory, after the jump.

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Hitchhiking Goes Horribly Awry

If you didn’t hear Gordo’s Corner this morning, you might not know the story of James Wayne Evans, a hitchhiker who got picked up by “Angie” on I-30 in Arlington and arrested in Fannin County. Why was Evans arrested? For stabbing “Angie.” Why is “Angie” in quotes? Because “Angie” turned out to be a man. Did Evans know “Angie” was a man? No. He found out when he agreed to get intimate with what he thought was a woman. Ergo, the stabbing. More on the story here.

Things To Do on Halloween

One of my favorite holidays, Halloween, is almost here. Who doesn’t love pumpkins, candy, and dressing slutty (ha ha Mom! Just kidding!) People are sending me a lot of info about things to do, so I thought I would pass it along.

On the 27th: Dress up and stumble around Deep Ellum for a Halloween Pub Crawl, hosted by D.E.E.P. and Town Square Project. Starts at 8pm at the Velvet Hookah.

The 2007 Wicked Masquerade Ball at the Granada Theater features music from Reality Bites and a “very Sultry, Sexy Costume Contest” (their words, swear) with a $1000 prize.

Also on Saturday night, SushiSamba at the Galleria hosts Cosplay, which is apparently contraction of “costume” and “play” and is a Japanese custom where people dress up like characters from manga, anime, video games and movies. The winner gets $1000. There will also be a DJ and dancers.

And at Zubar, the Table Manners Crew will be spinning, and if you come dressed as a hip-hop artist, you’ll get $5 off cover at the door.

On the 28th: Victory Park is hosting a family and pet friendly Fall Harvest from 1-5pm. There will be a bounce house (for the kids, not you), pumpkin painting, treats for dogs from Lucca Bella, and food and drinks from Victory Park restaurants. On Halloween, they’re showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It starts at 11pm, and it’s free.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is performing the music of Harry Potter on the 28th.

On the 31st: The party is at Ghostbar, where Tommie Sunshine will be spinning, and LFT will be hosting a fashion show. Costumes not required, as “Ghostbar will be on sensory overload.” Discuss.

Anyone else? I’ll turn on comments.

Fearing’s: Tim is 80 Percent Right, As Usual

Most of his post is true. However, the crab cakes were $22, I never said they tasted like Red Lobster (I said they were “pretty tasty,” and our dining companion disagreed, saying they were “too salty”), I never said 5150 (only 30 off, Tim) was my fave Van Halen album, I simply said I loved it.

DMN Writer Fails to Disclose Conflict of Interest

Katie Fairbank covers aviation for the Morning News. She has special insight into the industry because her husband is a pilot for American Airlines. All’s well. Except when she covers the airline’s contract negotiations with its pilot union, as she did yesterday. Did I mention her husband is an AA pilot? In my book, that’s not cricket.

I called and e-mailed Fairbank yesterday. I’ve yet to get a response from her.

My One-Woman Focus Group

Not only is the complex project unraveling as the upcoming vote causes partners get cold feet, but there’s even worse news. Last night I took my 93-year-old mother to dinner. When I asked her about the referendum, she told me she had been about to vote for “that woman” but read my op-ed in the News on Sunday and decided not to vote at all. Mind you, she didn’t decide to vote no, she decided not to vote. And that’s my mother. Which tells me that Angela Hunt is going to win. (When my mother finally decides which Republican presidential candidate she supports, I can guarantee you he will lock up the nomination.) Which tells me that 15 years of hard work is about to go down the tubes.

Eric Celeste to Star in iPhone Commercial?

A neighbor friend of mine was approached yesterday at lunch by a woman named Lexi who identified herself as a casting agent. She asked if my neighbor wanted to star in an iPhone commercial. It was an odd question, because my neighbor doesn’t own an iPhone. Lexi said she was staying at the Palomar for a few days as she hunted for iPhone users who had a story to tell about their favorite telephonic gadget.

When I told Eric this story, it got us thinking. Next thing you know, eight D employees were deep into a project yesterday that isn’t exactly going to knock our CFO over with its projected ROI, if you know what I mean. Special thanks to web producer Kyle Kearbey, who edited and scored the video.

Fall Nature Report

Several FrontBurnervian Birders have asked why I’ve stopped posting about birds. Well, here is why: there aren’t any. I mean, nothing too interesting outside the cardinal, blue jay, mockingbird, and grackle stuff. It’s the calm before the storm. And it was a “slow” summer. So instead of focusing on birds this summer, I paid attention to the abundance of bugs we had due to the rains. It has been a stellar season for grasshoppers, wasps, cool spiders (height of spider season is now), bees, dragonflies, and caterpillars. Last weekend I noticed my stable of anoles, those sleek green lizards that pump up a watermelon-colored sack under there chin when they get excited, have multiplied and divided to crevices all over my yard. My alpha female, Vera, lives by my front door. She loves the bees that swarm my hummingbird feeder. I thought you’d like this picture I took of Vera. She’s a feisty anole. Tra la. Goldfinch season is rapidly approaching. List your sightings below.

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Leading Off

1) Adult novelty firm looks to drop pants suit with novel “that’s lingerie, but not sexy lingerie” defense. Yeah, baby.

2) And speaking of pants, at least in Dallas the problem is keeping the back of the pants up. In Frisco… ewwww.

3) Okay, what’s not to love about Craig Watkins?

Fearing’s at the Ritz Looks To Be a Swell Place for Hookers

Last night, Eric and I met some colleagues at Fearing’s Ritz-based Rattlesnake bar for drinks. Nancy will tackle the joint properly in our December issue, but let me horse-collar the thing here with a few words and photos. You don’t mind.

First, the valet area is poorly run and off-putting. I arrived at 9:45, and the place was overwhelmed by seven people leaving and four cars arriving, hoping to get parked. I stepped out of my running car and walked up to the front doors, where I stood for several moments before I could track down someone to take my car. I left shortly after midnight, at which time there appeared to be one valet guy on duty. As I handed my ticket to him, two cars — a Maserati and a convertible Bentley — pulled up. Their drivers got their valet tickets and entered the hotel, leaving their cars with their engines running. Which left me standing alone at the valet lobby, with about $500,000 worth of cars waiting for the taking. I fought the urge and waited for my Audi.

To find out what happened last night inside the joint, you need to jump, pardner.

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