Articles for September, 2008
Re: Business Honchos Gather to Salute Sewell
I can share some more tidbits from today’s luncheon. For instance, if you’re wondering what bold-face biz names were there, I’ll tell you:
Signs Of The Times?
This corner of Greenville Avenue and Milton Street, which once boasted The Fare strip club, is now home to a brand-spanking new branch of … Washington Mutual! Er, wait a sec; WaMu was seized by the feds last week–the biggest bank failure in U.S. history–and then taken over by JPMorgan Chase. One possible reason: WaMu specialized in something called “option adjustable-rate mortgages,” which let borrowers hold off making payments on a loan’s interest and principle principal. That’s a pawn shop behind the new bank, by the way. Insert your joke here.
Business Honchos Gather to Salute Sewell, Stock Ticker
While legendary Dallas car dealer Carl Sewell accepted an award from the Texas Association of Business today, many in the crowd periodically glanced westward. There, on the wall, was a stock ticker that showed many companies rebounding from yesterday’s bloodletting. Despite the distraction, Sewell managed to confess that he’d been kicked out of class at St. Mark’s School of Texas 43 times in a single semester. And now, look at him, in front of a room full of high rollers, with a large crystal globe. I guess there’s hope for Eric Celeste after all.
Attention Certified Financial Planners: Vote Today on Which of Your Peers Is the Best
I’m sure all you CFPs have a lot on your plates right now, what with trying to survive the apocalypse. But in the January issue of D Magazine, we will once again name the Best Financial Planners in Dallas — and we need your help to do it. Either go to the homepage, and click the “Attention Certified Financial Planners” button in the left navigation bar, or go directly to the survey, here.
Thanks for your help. And hang in there.
Jonas Brothers at The Joule
I did not attend The Joule grand opening bash, however, Crimson in the City boutique owner, Stefani Shultz forwarded this photo (along with the note below) to me of her daughter and friends with Nick and Kevin Jonas outside the festivities.
My daughter and friends were photographed with Nick and Kevin across from my store, Crimson in the City, as they were leaving the party. They politely approached the girls who are huge fans and went out of their way to meet them and pose for photos. They are undoubtedly the most genuine a celebrity could ever be. I praise their parents for the mannerisms they have instilled in these gentlemen.
CD World Closed
Adam already posted this link in the comments of Leading Off this morning, but a “devastated” FBvian wanted my take on the demise of CD World (both the Greenville and Addison locations). There’s not much I can add that owner Mike Schoeder didn’t cover if you click on through. But I do have some thoughts.
Another Take on The Joule Opening
D Home’s Candy Evans was luckier than me (must be the lack of extra E in her last name). She saw Martin Scorsese on Friday night at The Joule bash. She saw a lot of other folks, too. Click here to read her report.
Advice For Pelosi: Call Angel On Industrial
I really don’t see what all the fuss is about this bailout business. It’s well-known that the bail-bond guys down near Lew Sterrett can get anybody out of trouble. A lot of ‘em take credit cards, too.
Richardson Bicyclist Killed
Sometime D contributor Amanda Tackett sent me this note last night:
I got up this morning and read David Feherty’s story in the current issue about getting run down on his bike. Dropped of my kiddos at school, and set off to do some errands. Coming back on Arapaho at Greenville, total chaos. A crumpled bike, white truck, and myriad police surrounded a white sheet on the median. A pair of Addidas poked out, toe down, blood seeping through. From the DMN story, the guy died. I’ve had the creeps all day. Very compelling story.
If things work out, Feherty will be on KERA’s Think on Thursday talking about the story he wrote for us and the need to take measures to make cycling safer on the streets of North Texas.
Leading Off (9/30/08)
1. DISD trustee Carla Ranger says that the fact she heard from a reporter (and not superintendent Hinojosa) about 63 district employees who were pink-slipped is a “tragic situation.” I think she needs to call those folks who were let go and discuss what is and what is not “tragic.” Getting laid off, tragic. Non-preferred line of communication, irksome. Here to help, Carla.
2. The Dallas Police Department released a video of an officer who fatally shot a hit-and-run suspect who punched the officer while the officer had his gun drawn. Some have criticized the officer and the DPD for the officer’s actions. With all due respect to the victim’s family, when you run from the cops, and then you punch the cops, you will get shot. I think we all know that. And, frankly, I’m comfortable with that.
3. I love folks freaking out that T.O. was upset after the loss to the Redskins. Two things about that: one, this story seems to make a big deal out of his having a private conversation with Tony Romo about the offense, like, maybe, he’s supposed to have those conversations with Bradie James, I guess; and two, he wasn’t as upset as I was–you wanna hear some sweet new made up curse words, you shoulda been at Tim Rogers’ house Sunday evening.
Local Media Acting as Josh Howard’s Finishing School Teachers?
Mike Fisher over on Dallas Basketball is reporting something that I find curious. It’s about Josh Howard, who today apologized for his many screw-ups, including, most recently, saying that he doesn’t cotton to The Star-Spangled Banner because he’s black. Here’s the part of Fish’s report that caught my eye:
Additionally, I have it on good authority that the Mavs PR-coaching efforts here not only included staff higher-ups (including Cuban, Donnie and Carlisle) but also some members of the media, who were asked by the club to hint at the sort of questions their erstwhile All-Star might face.
I read that right? Media types coached Josh Howard in preparation for his news conference today? If any of those media types were people who cover the team, they should be fired immediately. And, Fish, if you know their names, you should publish them. Because that just ain’t right.
On the other hand, if Cuban is hiring media coaches for the team, Eric is available.
Late Monday Afternoon Distraction
To keep your mind off the economy, DISD, and Sarah’s failure to get some face time with Marty Scorsese: on Saturday night, my wife and child slept over at my mother-in-law’s house, giving me a rare bit of freedom. I had the basic framework of a plan (get drunk and make some bad decisions) and a wide-open schedule. Anything and everything was possible. Instead, I stretched out for a moment to watch some pre-revelry TV–and ended up falling asleep at 10:30. And that was that.
Question: giant failure or biggest failure ever?
DISD Layoffs Begin
And … that happened.
Hope Someone at These Local-Based Companies Was in Charge of Holding Onto Hats
Here’s the bad news from the Dallas Business Journal following the market folding like a pair of pants today. The good news in the Crain household: we have no stock in any of those companies. The not-as-good news: we don’t have any stock because we don’t have any money. The maybe-not-relevant-but-not-necessarily-irrelevant news: I’m just as hilarious and handsome as I was yesterday, which is to say, extremely and very. Let that be the rock you cling to in these choppy economic seas.
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