Preston Center 24 Hour Fitness: Now Drive-Thru!

An alert, iPhone-wielding FrontBurnervian sends along a picture of an accident that just happened moments ago. No word on injuries.

Lance Armstrong Throws a Tantrum

Lance Armstrong might be the future, as Texas Monthly says on its current cover, but the fast bicycle rider from Plano apparently doesn’t like to be told he can’t take his drink out of a bar. Tsk, tsk.

Angie Harmon’s Hair Is Doing Okay

Angie is in NYC for Fashion Week, too. (She even hired a hair wrangler.) I’m sure, if given the chance, Stephanie will catch up with her and let us know about it.

Deal Or No Deal Is Dumb Or Not Dumb

Deal Or No Deal keeps trying to trick up its format to stay fresh. On Thursday, Jay Hughes (of Dallas) squares off with some Michigan woman in head-to-head, deal-or-no-deal action. Whoever amasses the largest amount wins both prizes — kind of like getting both showcases on The Price Is Right. Hughes’ episode airs Thursday. But here’s what I don’t get: When Howie asks for a contestant to pick a bunch of cases to open, the contestant wants low dollar amounts, right? They want crappy cases. But almost without fail, said contestant will pick cases based on anniversaries and/or loved ones’ birthdays. Like, “Timmy was born on the 18th, so I’m going to go with 18!” Then Ursula or April or some other model opens the case and reveals $250,000, and everyone’s ticked off. Doesn’t make sense to me. They should be happy and reassured. “We love Timmy, so we’re glad his case had lots of money in it.” Those people just haven’t thought it through.

TI Announces New Microchip

This could be big.

The Winner for Give-Up Headline of the Week: The “Mighty Good” Quinn

My wife and I stopped by The Quinn in Oak Cliff late-ish Friday night for dinner and a few drinks. I usually like to separate eating and heavy drinking by an hour or so, but I made an exception. Glad I did, because it has some of the best bar food in town. Also, if you miss the Gypsy Tea Room, go ahead and swing by. You’re likely to see more than a few familiar faces (what up, KP?).

MystiQal: A Success?

Despite the strange name, from where we sat, Saturday night’s MystiQal Mardi Gras party in Victory Park seemed to be a hit. However, we were sitting at Luna de Noche, because the lines were so long for beers and crawfish outside that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. First we tried to go to Medina, but many of the tables were “reserved,” and we were ignored at the bar. We had much more luck at Luna, and we even got a table outside. From there we couldn’t see the parade, but we could hear it, and the people watching was pretty amazing (there were an estimated 35,000 people there).

Obviously they underestimated the amount of vendors they would need for beer and food, and hopefully they will correct that next year. But my other grumble is with the restaurants and bars themselves: I know you didn’t need to give us any drink specials, considering the amount of people in Victory Park. But wouldn’t it have been nice? Half- price margaritas, cheaper beer, something? We loved the energy we felt on Saturday night, but let’s be honest: I’m pretty broke today.

SMU to Keep Kids Sober By Making Them Go to Class Early?

SMU is doing what it can to curb alcohol (and drug) abuse by its students. Toward that end, a task force has made 30 recommendations aimed at keeping its student body drier and safer. One suggestion is a campus pub. At Notre Dame, we had such an on-campus, school-run swillery. Only losers went there. Face it, a bar run by a university — especially a university with the word “Methodist” in its name — is going to be lame. Another suggestion made by the task force: more early classes on Fridays to cut back on Thursday-night partying. Right. Those Friday morning classes will be real popular.

Random Tidbit About Groundhog Day

The movie stars Bill Murray, but Dallas’ Stephen Tobolowsy (”Bing!”) pretty much steals it (unless you count Chris Elliot stealing it). That’s not the random tidbit. No, the tidbit in question is that a resourceful blogger watched it over the weekend, took some notes, did some calculations, and figures Murray lived the same February 2 for about four years. So now you know.

Why Broadcasters Hope Super Tuesday Decides Nothing

It could be a much-needed bonanza for Belo and other multi-station owners in Texas.

Fashion Week ‘08

D Magazine’s Stephanie Quadri is in New York City this week, finding out the latest trends, the biggest buzz, and all other matters fashion-y. How can you find out what she finds out? By checking out D’s fashion page. There, in the upper-right corner, are daily (and more) updates of her travels. See for yourself, if you’re so inclined.

Leading Off

1. The Patriots didn’t have a good time in Arizona, but the 2011 Super Bowl contingent did. Highlight: Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck got to be Matt Leinart’s wingman at the Maxim party.

2. Speaking of, Jerry Jones may have pulled one over on Arlington when he made the stadium deal. “I can’t believe it,” said no one.

3. Unless Tim O’Hare had money on the Pats, this story about tougher laws in other states driving more illegal immigrants into Texas probably gave him the biggest case of crazy head yesterday.