New Four-Star Golf Resort to Open on Northwest Highway

I need some help, dear FrontBurnervians. On my way last weekend to secure an Easter ham, I saw the below house under construction on Northwest Highway, just west of Inwood. DCAD and Google street view weren’t much help. Anyone know who is building that monster?

Update: You’ll find the answer in the comments.

Star Wars Geeks, Art Lovers Unite

On Saturday, you should join me at Conduit Gallery. Why? Besides for a chance to make awkward conversation with a scruffy, bearded, awesome guy, you can check out French photographer Cedric Delsaux’s fascinating series Star Wars on Earth. In it, from what I gather, Delsaux takes resin Star Wars statues, places them throughout Paris, and photographs the result (like the one pictured here), creating something that should hit your sweet spot whether you’re a fan of Star Wars, art, or–like me–both. Plus, Conduit will also have exhibits by Vincent Falsetta and Justin Quinn. (The opening reception is on March 29, and starts at 5:30 p.m.)

Design Team Chosen For Center I Didn’t Know Existed

Peter Doncaster of Booziotis & Co. Architects won the Dallas Center for Architecture’s interior design contest, scoring $5,000 and (from what I can make out) the right to design the interior of the building, which will open in the fall.  A couple of notes:

1. There is a better than good chance I will be using the surname “Booziotis” in one of my many aliases in the near future.

2. “Booziotis” is a character from The Andy Griffith Show.

Playwright Larry Herold Moving Back to Dallas

Gene Street says his old buddy’s wife got herself a good job in town, and so Larry Herold will make his return (from NYC) with the missus.

Dallas to Fight Back Against Carsonist

A news conference is scheduled for 3 p.m., at which city officials will discuss their plan to battle the person(s) responsible for setting car fires in southern Dallas. Best guess is they’ll take inspiration from Donald “Shadow” Rimgale, who once said:

[Fire] breathes, it eats, and it hates. The only way to beat it is to think like it. To know that this flame will spread this way across the door and up across the ceiling, not because of the physics of flammable liquids, but because it wants to. Some guys on this job, the fire owns them, makes ‘em fight it on it’s level, but the only way to truly kill it is to love it a little.

Jason Kidd Grips, Grins With Local Journalist

I’m a pretty big sports fan, at least for a chick. I know a thing or two about a thing or two. (Well, sometimes.) So when Tim asked who wanted to attend Friday night’s Tuxes and Tennies Dallas Mavericks charity event, I jumped on the chance. Why? One, because as I’ve revealed before, I’ll pretty much go anywhere for free food and drinks. And two, because the 12-year-old girl in me was dying for the chance to meet Jason Kidd. See, I was a big fan of #5-turned-#2 when he was on the Mavs the first time around. Back in the days of Dick Motta, Jim Jackson, and Popeye Jones (when he played, rather than coached). I had Kidd’s rookie card, I had his jersey, I had a life-size poster of him on my door that I sent away for after buying multiple Coca-Cola products. Did I get to meet him? Well, yeah, the photo at left kind of gives that away. But I did have some other observations that I’ll share after the jump.

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Schuyler’s Monster Tops Local Best-Seller List

Loyal readers of the “print product” will know the name Robert Rummel-Hudson. He wrote a book about his daughter, Schuyler, who has a rare brain deformity that makes it impossible for her to speak. I interviewed Schuyler via IM. (The DMN also did a story on daughter, father, and book.) Well, now Rummel-Hudson has got himself the top-selling nonfiction hardback book, locally. The extrapolation, published yesterday, is based on data from just one store, but still. Rummel-Hudson didn’t know about it till I told him a few moments ago. His response: “There’ll be no living with Schuyler now.”

The Butterscotch Stallion Rides Again

Seems pretty official to me: Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson are back together. OK, celebrity couple name generator (aka you guys in the comments), get to work.

Sandra Crenshaw Files Suit Against D Magazine

Yup, it’s true. Have a look. It’s a little hard to parse. We’re waiting to see if we get served (or pwned). I talked to our attorney, Don Templin, over at Haynes and Boone this morning. He said he was considering filing a response in rhyme.

P.S. No, she didn’t show up at Wick’s house to protest on Saturday. In a note the HP Dept. of Public safety, she wrote: “We have decided to go door to door in Highland Park first asking the consumers of the advertisers in the Magazine to support our cause. This is the safest and most effective way. Further, can you advise me when the next Highland Park city council meeting is. We should reach more people that way.”

Update: Several of you have pointed out to me via e-mail that it’s not technically a suit. Yes, see John’s comment at 12:51 p.m.

2008 James Beard Foundation Awards Nominees Announced

The New York-Las Vegas-Yountville-centric nominees for James Beard Foundation awards just came over the wire. And again most of Dallas’ talent was overlooked. Fearing’s is nominated for Best New Restaurant and York Street’s owner/chef Sharon Hage is nominated for Best Chef in the Southwest. New York design firm Mucca Design is nominated for their work at the recently opened La Condesa at Victory. Fearing’s is up against Anthos (New York), Central Michel Richard (DC), Osteria Mozza (LA), and Osteria (Philly). Here is the whole list. Read it and weep. Winners will be announced on June 8th. Wolfgang Puck, murmur.

FrontBurner Madness Update

Hats off to the basketball genius known as Sweaty Stuff, who has sole possession of first place in the FrontBurner pool (winner gets a $200 gift certificate at Texas de Brazil). So far, in the East, West, and South regions, Sweaty Stuff has only gotten one game wrong in each. That’s a shining moment. In last place, at No. 157, you’ll still find the biggest loosers. [shaking head slowly] By the way, Eric Celeste Has No Shot (aka me) sits tied for No. 31, while Tim Rogers Has No Hair (aka Eric) is tied for No. 117. IJS. Here is your leader board:

1. Sweaty Stuff
2. heelSpurs
2. Old East Dallas
4. Crackbabies 4
5. Show me your hoops
5. DTF
5. Where’s Greggo?
5. Deep Throating Sandies
5. Proudness
10. Shut Up Dick Vitale
10. IDGAF
10. Liberally Lean
10. Skillman Street Rats

Re: Leading Off — FIRE!

A soon-to-be-hitched FBvian has some info on what we will now refer to as “The Carsonist” — well, at least his vehicle.

So one of the cars torched Saturday night was two houses down from me!!! WTF? [Our neighbors] saw a white Ford Explorer stop in front of the house, then about a minute later, it drove off and the bumper of the car in the driveway across the street was on fire. [They] put out the fire and called the cops.

I like The Carsonist. But I could be persuaded to change it to the Dallas Burn.

Leading Off

1. In case you missed it, Sandra Crenshaw jumped on FrontBurner over the weekend to drop some knowledge (scroll down).

2. I’d be pretty freaked out by Dirk Nowitzki’s injury (and another Mavs loss) right now if I wasn’t under such heavy sedation.

3. At what point will someone come up with a nickname for the arsonist (or arsonists) responsible for all the car fires in Oak Cliff, including a Dallas constable’s ride?