Horrible news.

But jeezus Nancy, don’t you think you should have “confirmed the rumor” before posting? Or maybe just referred to rumors that the “owner of a well-known restaurant chain has shot himself” pending such confirmation? Yes, the rumor turned out to be true but did you consider whether his family had been notified since he apparently only died last night?

Maybe you thought your original sources were impeccable, but more likely, you and the D empire are damn lucky you got it right the first time. Sorry to sound like such a finger-wagger, but this sort of thing happens a lot on Frontburner. You all post that a restaurant has closed or lost its liquor license on the basis of some random email, then you have to take it back. Tim Rogers claims Scott Sams said something nasty and then has to retract it under threat of litigation. But sometimes the rumors you all post turn out to be true, so I guess you think the occasional screw-up or threatening letter are worth the risk.

I know FB is just a blog, but you guys aren’t pajama-wearing kitchen table bloggers. You are journalists so you know the rules and the dangers of publishing based solely on rumor. But even though this rubs me the wrong way, it’s your shop and you can run it as you please.

I want you to know that I am a big fan of Frontburner and a loyal reader. This blog is a lot of fun and I want it to succeed. So I hope you will take this criticism in the constructive spirit in which it is given. Cheers.

The traditional rules of journalism should NOT go out the window…..

Sorry about the typo.

OK, I was too quick to post. I was running out the door and wanted to get the post up. I called the restaurant before I posted but nobody was there yet. Jack is one of the nicest men in the restaurant business and he was a true professional and a lovely person. I am in total shock about all of this and the last thing I would ever want to do is be insensitive. Looking back, I was.

I heard the news this morning from another restaurant owner in the area. I heard that he was found in the lake- maybe on a jet ski. Not sure how accurate that information is. I went by the restaurant to see if it was open today. There was a note on the door that said they were closed for kitchen repairs or something like that. It said they would be open as normal tomorrow. I would be surprised if it was. So tragic.

Well, this one seems to be going unreported… supposedly, it’s been two days and this one-sentence posting is all I’ve found about it.

DMN: What gives?

Sorry, but I just can’t bring myself to call D Magazine writers journalists. 70% is fluff, the rest is Special Advertising Sections. That’s why it’s so easy for them to throw stones at newspapers. They don’t understand journalism.

It’s not a personal attack. It’s just the difference between rumor and reporting.
D stories are what they are. But they do a lot of trade/favors and such for stories. I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t know it for a fact. Journalists are held to higher “ethics”. You can lighten up now.

I heard from another source that there would be some kind of memorial at the addison circle location tonight. I have not been by there today to see if there is anyone there or not. There are lots of different stories about what happened swirling about.

There will be a memorial on easter sunday at Avanti 6pm to 8pm.

Are there any foundations or organizations the family has requested donations go to ?

Obit from the DMN:
http://www.dallasnews.com/shar.....083f4.html

Hopefully this meets ben’s ethics.

I am so upset. I worked with Jack and knew him since ‘76 or ‘77 when I was at Arthurs. I worked with he and Amin at Avanti for years before moving to Lake Tahoe. I have so many wonderful memories. So many “Jackisms”. Thank you for providing me a place to write. I miss him.

I worked Jack and Amin, his partner, for three years. I was at the McKinney Ave. location all that time, but saw Jack and Nahid and interacted with them both frequently. I’ve just heard the news tonight, and wish to extend my deepest condolences to Nahid and to Jack’s children, should any of them run across this blog. I didn’t work closely with Jack, but I knew that he was a man of many talents (he played piano, was an excellent dancer, and of course knew cuisine and wine) and that he was a lover of life. Also he was always polite and kind to me. I know many people cared for him and that he will be missed.

Well, I worked for Jack for a year and he was an sexist ******* and his son was a drug addict. Just shows that money and success do not buy happiness.