Articles for January 19th, 2009

They Came To Praise Trammell Crow

The largest crowd for a memorial service in the history of Highland Park United Methodist Church gathered today to honor real estate legend Trammell Crow, who died last week. Even Ross Perot Jr. had to stand along one wall. For all his vision and achievement, Harlan Crow told the crowd, his father “knew he was no better than the next guy.” Yet Jim Carreker recalled a New York meeting between Crow and a high-powered lender that was interrupted when a secretary announced a phone call for the Dallas developer. Irritated, the lender asked, “Who’s it from–the White House?” “Actually,” came the answer, “yes.” A little later, Air Force II swooped in to pick Crow up. “We won’t see his like again” is a big cliche, of course. But in Trammell Crow’s case, you got the feeling at the church today that it’s all too true.

posted by Glenn Hunter | January 19th, 2009 3:56pm | filed under Business, Local News, Super Heroes | 2 Comments »

Tearing Down Wall … Homes

Arlington-based home-builder Wall Homes filed for bankruptcy. If the name rings a bell, you likely watch Extreme Makeover: Homes Edition. Or you watch D videos about Extreme Makeover: Homes Edition. Wall Homes rebuilt for the Augustin family in Tarrant County after their domicile was decimated by flood. As the DMN points out, Wall Homes was once the fastest-growing company in Dallas (from 2005 to 2007).

posted by Adam McGill | January 19th, 2009 3:13pm | filed under Business, Hold On To Your Effin Hat | 2 Comments »

Capt. C.B. ‘Sully’ Sullenberger has 383,000 friends fans on Facebook

Yes, the Denison native’s popularity has certainly taken an uptick since the downturn of US Airways Flight 1549. A sad footnote: He still doesn’t have as many friends as Topo Gigio (with 512,000 fans). What does a hero have to do to beat out that darned figment of our imaginations?

posted by Dave Moore | January 19th, 2009 1:25pm | filed under Celebrity, Crime, Super Heroes | 6 Comments »

All This, Just To Sell Sugar Water…

Last we left, I puzzled over how the makers of Dr Pepper thought they could sell Dr Pepper to both the “Frazier” “Frasier” crowd and the “90210″ posse. Now, in the February issue of D CEO, comes Spencer Michlin with his behind-the-scenes story of how Dr Pepper reunited Kelsey Grammer, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and “Frazier” “Frasier” writer Christopher Lloyd for the TV spot. What “doctor” will be featured next by the Pepper People? I’m hoping for this one, who would certainly use the Plano-based soft drink to wash down a handful of prescription whatevers.

posted by Dave Moore | January 19th, 2009 10:49am | filed under Advertising, Business, Drinking, Media | 20 Comments »

Insert Bull Rider Pun Here

The Professional Bull Rider tour makes a stop in Dallas this weekend at the AAC. I was checking out the site, hoping to find a local rider to root for, when I got sidetracked by the Injury Reports. Surprisingly, only a half dozen riders are on it, including Mike White:

Mike White is out with a possible fractured jaw sustained when he was pulled down on the bull’s head during his ride in Fresno. He is undergoing x-rays at home and is questionable for Dallas. He also sustained a lacerated chin that was sutured in the training room.

Ow.

posted by Adam McGill | January 19th, 2009 10:49am | filed under Events, Sports | 3 Comments »

The Canada-cation of Dallas?

Alt Hed: Where You Might Want To Be Tonight

The Trinity Trust has invited Larry Beasely to lecture about the New Urbanism and how it relates to Dallas. Specifically, how it relates to the Trinity River Corridor Project. If you’ve been to Vancouver recently, you’ve seen Beasely’s work. He was the Director of Planning there. He’s now a special advisor to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Tonight’s lecture is open to the public, and the official invite is here.

posted by Adam McGill | January 19th, 2009 9:55am | filed under Events | 2 Comments »

How Likely Is Texas To Go Democratic?

Not very, according to Texas Monthly’s Evan Smith, writing in the current issue of Newsweek. Two interesting statistics:

John McCain beat Obama 74 to 25 percent among white Texas college students, while Obama fought him to a draw elsewhere. In the suburbs, Obama won nationally, but McCain won in Texas 61-37.

posted by Wick Allison | January 19th, 2009 9:30am | filed under Politics | 35 Comments »

Charter To File For Bankruptcy

The cable operation owned by Paul Allen (and founded by Dallasite Jeff Marcus) operates in Highland Park , Rockwall, Duncanville, Mansfield, and Haltom City, among other cities. The company has $20 billion in debt.

posted by Wick Allison | January 19th, 2009 8:41am | filed under Business, Hold On To Your Effin Hat, Media | 1 Comment »

Leading Off (1/19/09)

1. Are you ready for the one of the most expensive, hotly contested city council races ever? That’s rhetorical, because I know you are.

2. Does it make Cowboys fans feel any better that the two teams meeting in the Super Bowl, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, were responsible for two of the team’s most soul-crushing losses? No? Just checking.

3. And finally, you know what’s an in-demand ticket? Obama’s inauguration. You know what’s green? Grass. And water is wet.

posted by Zac Crain | January 19th, 2009 6:31am | filed under Local News | 8 Comments »