[Sigh] Here’s a Dallas, the Movie, Update

This site is reporting that John Travolta said the script he saw had Dallas based in Dubai (or Saudi Arabia, as a commentor pointed out). Why can’t someone buy the rights to the movie, put ‘em in a crate, and then bury that crate in a stack of 100,000 crates in a forgotten warehouse somewhere. ‘Cause, much like in Indiana Jones, if that movie ever gets made, mark my words: Faces will melt.

Designer Jhane Barnes Headed for DFW

You can hear all sorts of news hanging out in Dick Baker’s Platinum suite at the AAC for a Dallas Stars game. Like, big-deal menswear designer Jhane Barnes is coming to town for a shindig at The Shops at Legacy in Plano. (more…)

Picketers Picket Rosewood

From a FrontBurnervian in the field:

Just drove by the Crescent and saw a 20-foot banner being held up by upset Rosewood workers. It said “Shame on Rosewood Hotels and Resorts” and in the corner it had written “Labor Dispute.” The banner is on the sidewalk, right in front of Stanley Korshak.

Marty Walker Sends Note From Miami

Walker is showing at what is billed at “the most important art show in the United States.” She sends word:

Art Basel Miami is in full swing today. My gallery is showing at Aqua Art Fair in Wynwood. Steve Martin, who is quite an art collector, just came through the booth. He stopped and looked at Tom Orr’s sculpture. This is the first time for us to show our Dallas artists on an international level, so it is exciting to see people responding not only to Orr, but Frances Bagley, Ted Kincaid, Douglas Cartmel, and Kathy Webster. We are having a great time in Miami. Dallas has several CADD galleries present, which is great to see! (Conduit/Pan American at Red Dot, Road Agent at Aqua Hotel, Dunn and Brown at Art Miami.)

Some Dallas Woman Is a Really Big Fan of Tommy Tallarico

I took the current issue of Wired with me to lunch. Read about Bill Baker and his supertall buildings. (There’s no Dallas reference, but it’s still worth a read.) Then I got to the first copy break of this article, “Ode to Joystick.” It’s about concert promoters who’ve taken the music from old-school video games and turned them into symphonic pieces. One such promoter/creator/composer is Video Games Live’s Tommy Tallarico. He’s big-time in that scene. How big?

Video Games Live has been performed more than 40 times over the past two years, in venues as stuffy as Toronto’s Massey Hall, Rio de Janeiro’s Claro Hall, and London’s Royal Festival Hall. At every show, Tallarico says, he’s been met with the same unbridled, uncouth enthusiasm. (In Dallas this year, one fan asked him to autograph her breast. He complied.)

Fess up, Tallarico fan. I know you’re out there. By the way, Tallarico said Dallas was easily one of the Top Three cities to play in, with a special nod to the choir, in an interview around the time of the performance.

Ashlee Simpson, What Do You Want For Christmas?

“Oh my God! Thank you! Thank you for asking me something real. Every single time I go out, those guys from TMZ or whatever just want to know about Pete or Jessica or my dad. Or they want to know if my nose is real — which it totally is, by the way — or what I’m planning on getting worked on next. Gawd! Or they dredge up that stupid Saturday Night Live thing where it looked like I was lip-synching because my drummer hit the wrong button. Or they dredge up that stupid Saturday Night Live thing where it looked like I was lip-synching because my drummer hit the wrong button. Or they dredge up that stupid Saturday Night Live thing where it looked like I was lip-synching because my drummer hit the wrong button…” [awkwardly dances away, as answer continues]

SMU Beat TCU in the “DFW Duel”

I know, I know. Nobody cares. But I stayed up until 1:15 a.m. last night watching the thing. And if I didn’t blog about it, every yawn I’ve yawned this morning would be rendered pointless. Here’s an official recap. Only things worth noting:

1. I’m guessing SMU’s Freshman Forward Papa Dia has a rider in his player’s agreement that he must be called “Papa Dia” on second, third, fourth … fifteenth reference. Or, more likely, the announcers just liked saying “Papa Dia.”

2. Attendance was listed at 3,219; seems high to this television viewer, yet impressive given the 11:00 a.m. p.m. tip-off.

3. If I knew which announcer was which, I’d be able to pinpoint which one called SMU’s mascot “Cooner.” He later corrected himself and correctly identified “Peruna.” But I’m thinking “Cooner” might have staying power. It beats “Pony UP,” after all.

Bold Types Arrives in 2002

Some metro columnist on Bold Types has made a startling discovery — the metrosexual movement. Zac, you’re the wormhole and relativity expert. Any thoughts?

Where You Should Be on Sunday

Jason Roberts, one of the organizers and co-founders of Art Conspiracy, sent along word that Art Conspiracy III takes place at the Door in Deep Ellum this Sunday, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Art Conspiracy, a nonprofit organization, puts on the part rock show, part art auction, and overall cool gathering. Jason was kind enough to pass along some helpful links, like this one to Art Conspiracy’s main site and also this one to a video of last year’s event that took place at the Longhorn Ballroom (soundtrack provided by Roberts’ band, the Happy Bullets). But don’t go to Longhorn on Sunday. Go to the Door. It’ll be kewl.

Project Runway Report: Crazy Seems Sadly Normal These Days

Dear Elisa,

I’m not sure where to start. I’m feeling so sad and confused. When Project Runway began, there was so much promise of good TV, what with the naps, and the grass stain, and the ridiculously flowy dress your model tripped on. Since then, you’ve been so quiet. Despite using your own spit to mark your garment in the Tiki Barber challenge, the resulting menswear look was well-constructed and quite dapper. Not crazy at all.

Elisa, the show is so boring without your “quirks.” Without them, we only have ridiculous non-arguing between Ricky and whats-her-name, Christian, who forces us to cover our ears and sing “la-la-la-la” when he speaks, and Chris, who is very large, but makes small jackets out of our grandmother’s bedspread. Well, we don’t even have that last one anymore, now do we.

We’re begging you–give us something. Otherwise, it’s “Dirty, Sexy Money” next week for sure.

XO,

Your Dallas Fans

Dallas Home Design, R.I.P.

Candy Evans is reporting that Dallas Home Design has folded. Our best wishes go out to those who’ve lost a job.

Just a Wee Disparity in Incarceration Rates. Nothing to See Here. Move Along

The War on Some Drugs creates no end of problems, including clogging the justice system and eroding the Fourth Amendment. Now comes a study that shows we can add unequal justice to the ledger. (As if we didn’t know.) The Justice Policy Institute has documented ridiculous disparities in how Texas counties incarcerate drug offenders based on the color of their skin. Dallas County, which incarcerates nine blacks for every white drug offender, isn’t even the worst. Travis County’s ratio was 31 to one. (Hat tip Grits.)

Speaking of Plano …

A testy FBvian sends this acerbic note in response my post from yesterday about Plano’s Collin Creek Mall:

You write that Collin Creek is “the mall of my youth.”

Think of it: You didn’t grow up in a town, or a city, or out in the country….the three legitimate environments as anyone would admit.

You grew up in a suburb, the netherworld that is none of those other things.

It’s funny. Someone who admits that Collin Creek was the mall of their youth would be sadly dismissed in my world. I suppose I should give you props for honestly admitting such a background.

I don’t know how I live with myself. (Go Wildcats!)

Benny Hinn Doesn’t Wanna Talk to No Stinkin’ Senate

An AP-scanning FrontBurnervian passes along this news that Benny Hinn will not talk to the Senate investigation committee until next year. The committee is taking a closer look at the salaries, perks, and travel of some of the more prominent preachers/televangelists. I’m sure Hinn, whose World Healing Center Church Inc. is based in Grapevine, just needs some extra time so that he can be as diligent and helpful as possible.

Good Guy To Head Texas Parks & Wildlife

Carter Smith, formerly of the Texas Nature Conservancy and, as of yesterday, executive director of TPW, dropped by our offices a couple of weeks ago to brief editors on the huge challenges facing the state in preserving our natural environment. His two biggest worries? Number one is The Fence, imposed on us by a hysterical Congress in Washington that has no concept of the terrain, the fauna, the migration patterns, and the human interaction between Mexico and Texas. Number two is the sudden enthusiasm for windmills and the dangers they create for the natural habitat. Carter reflects the philosophy of the Conservancy, more interested in negotiation than confrontation and eager to enlist the free market in addressing conservation issues. That approach has won Carter a lot of victories in his years with the Conservancy–and a lot of friends. He’s a great choice.

Seen at a Plano Target Last Night

Only two more sets to go and I’ll collect the entire Village People lineup.

Re: Leading Off - Strip Clubs

“Clearly we’re disappointed by the lawsuit; we were really hoping this industry would see this as an opportunity to do something positive for the communities they’re in,” said Annette Burrhus-Clay, executive director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. “We’re going to fight it because we believe in the merits of our position.”

I think it’s great Ms. Burrhus-Clay believes in her cause so much that she’s unhesitant to dig deep into other people’s pockets to pay for it. Excelsior, madam.

Leading Off

1. Strip club owners are fighting a state-mandated $5 cover charge, which would be used for sexual assault prevention. Nearly 75 percent of the Morning News readers are against the idea on its online poll, most saying it would set a bad precedent. I voted for it, because it would be the cheapest such cover charge in town.

2. Two men in pig masks and gray overalls robbed a Frisco jewelry store. Please, people, move to Dallas. So much safer.

3. I think the headline is all we need here: “Judge orders monkey returned to bipolar owner in Fort Worth.”