Gratuitous Tush Shot on the Cover of the Observer, What Do You Want For Christmas?

“Well, obviously, another story that’s important enough to run on the cover of the paper, but not, you know, sexy enough to move any copies and not so serious that a little T&A, or at least a little A, won’t turn off the readers. So, like, maybe if the Observer decides to run a piece on that Cherry Pit place down in Duncanville but decides none of the swingers are attractive enough to entice the folks looking for something to thumb through while scarfing down a half-caf, triple-whipped latte. And OMG, you guys–they totally aren’t! Oh, and another copy of Buns of Steel.”

Celebrity Spotted

An out-and-about FrontBurnervian reports:

Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays “Juliet” on ABC’s Lost was at NorthPark shopping with a friend today!

I don’t watch the show, so I’ll leave it to those who do to discuss if Mitchell’s appearance at the mall was part of some wormhole plot-twist.

‘Gentlemen’s Lunch’ Lures Gentlemen to Dallas Country Club

The barn-sized sign on a big truck parked outside the Dallas Country Club announced that “Barry and Alan” wished everyone happy holidays. That would be beer magnate Barry Andrews and banker Alan White, who hosted their annual “Gentlemen’s Lunch” for the area’s movers and shakers at noon today. Jump for the high-powered details.

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RuinRomo.com Tries To, Um, Ruin Tony Romo

How? It involves a mask of Jessica Simpson and … that’s about it. In other words: someone’s been reading my dream journal again.

Chuck Thompson’s Suggested Mix Tape

Back in June, I wrote of Smile When You’re Lying, a sardonic take on the travel industry in general and travel writing in particular. Its author is Chuck Thompson, also known as a former boss of mine when I worked at American Airlines Publishing on a start-up magazine for Travelocity. The book is out now and getting good reviews — from the NYT, no less. In it, Chuck had some not-so-nice things to say about Dallas, but Dallas shouldn’t take it too hard; Chuck had some not-so-nice things to say about nearly every place. Anyway, reason I post about it again is that I just checked a music blog I check every now and then called Largehearted Boy. One of its semi-regular features is to ask authors to compile a playlist of tunes for each chapter of his or her book. You no doubt know where this is headed: Yesterday, Largehearted Boy asked Chuck to do the honors. He did.

Big Restaurant News About Bob Sambol

On SideDish. We will not go quietly.

Google Drives a Really Dorky Car

The images below were sent in by a very alert FrontBurnervian. As he was driving down Lemmon, near Love Field, he spotted the Google boys at work — in a PT Cruiser. Seriously, Google? Your stock is poised to break $700 a share. Your Gmail is the best thing in the history of everything. You rock so hard that now, if I understand correctly, you’re using clouds to do your computing.

And you drive a PT Cruiser?

[shaking head slowly, considering switching to Yahoo]

Barney’s Concierge Jackson “Makes Magic”

I know, I know. I’m like Kix and the NYT. But also in today’s WSJ is a story about luxury retailers’ concierges, including a mini-profile of Gary Jackson, aka “Jackson,” who sold my wife and me our first couch when he worked at Domestic Bliss. He’s one of the most stylish men in Dallas, so it was no surprise he got a gig at Barney’s, which is a pretty stylish place. Check it out.

Ray Hunt Goes Oil-Hunting in Peru

In case you missed today’s WSJ, there’s a front-page story on Ray Hunt’s latest ticklish project. By “ticklish” I mean, well, I’ll quote the nutgraph of the story:

Hunt’s scrappiness, pedigree, and political savvy have made the company an outsized presence in an oil world dominated by giants. The company’s $3 billion or so in annual revenue is just a few days work for Shell or Exxon Mobil. Because Hunt doesn’t have the cash or technological prowess to compete with the major oil firms for the largest projects, it must troll for profits in regions marked by dicey politics.

Earlier this fall, Iraq was such a region in question. Now, it’s Peru, where Hunt is trying to succeed where Royal Dutch Shell, after 20 years and $450 million, failed.

How Many $1 Million Homes Are Selling in UP?

To find out, check out DallasDirt. That means you. Now.

RE: Local Model Ali Michael Stirs Up Controversy

Ali’s mother, MaryAnn Michael, comments on the issue on the Dallas Morning News Shopping Buzz Blog.

Random Question

Hey Folks, what is the name of the Christmas song played at weddings?

Fishing for Fishiness at Bass Pro Shops

Yesterday, an anonymous FrontBurnervian passed along the following tip:

Bass Pro Shop now owned by the City of Garland. Birdie tells me that’s a tax abatement without calling it that. Weird, too, they own the Sonic next door.

The tipster sent a link along as proof. It did sound odd, but not so scandalous as it turns out. People of Garland who follow such matters know the city entered into an agreement with the developer Harvest/Harbor Point. It was on the agenda and everything. And people in Garland who had insight saw it coming. For instance, here’s what someone named Jim Spence predicted in a forum last November:

I don’t know whether or not you are aware of this but there is a clause in the final agreement between the Bass Pro developer and the City that upon completion of the Bass Pro premises, the developer has at his option, the right to ask the city to buy back all the property on the point, including the Bass Pro shop, that the city doesn’t already own, and then the city must lease it back to the developer. That way the City becomes the owner of all the development on the point and according to the City attorney with whom I went over the contract with and he verified it, would be non-taxable forever, because it would be owned by the City of Garland, which is a tax exempt entity. Look for this to happen because the developer would be crazy not to exercise this option.

Looks like his prediction came to fruition. (Note: If you want to see that final agreement, looks like Jim got permission to post it here.)

Hey, Timmy

Looky here.

Leading Off

1. Southwest CEO says his airline may acquire another at some point in the near future.

2. Horrible scene in Arlington, where a house full of dead or starving pit bulls has been discovered.

3. Great early season game, mostly because the Mavs beat the Suns, and Dirk was Dirk.