D

Super Bowl XLV Workshop Pumps Up Local Business Owners

   That’s Henry Yiu and Katherine Dress of Plano-based Pacific Dynasty International. They were among the more than 800 small business operators who showed up for the first workshop of the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee’s Emerging Business Program at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth this afternoon. Henry and Katherine’s company imports a whole bunch of LED devices. You’ll note the row of lights attached to the bill of Henry’s cap, and the scrolling electronic message sign hanging around Katherine’s neck. The glowing orbs that they’re holding up are LED-toting centerpieces for tables.  They’re hoping to get their products used at Super Bowl-related events.

I also met Barry King, a former creative director with Radio Shack’s in-house ad department, who has spent the last several years selling barbecue sauce made from a recipe he invented 20 years ago. His Fort Worth-based brand is Brothers, and you can find it at Central Market. “If I get my sauce in your mouth, game over,” Barry proclaimed confidently. He’s hoping to get his products into what’s sure to be a host of gift baskets and party favors handed out at events throughout the week leading up to the Feb. 6, 2011, game.

What Barry and Henry and Katherine and what seemed like a sea of PR people on the first couple rows of the big audience heard wasn’t some dry Power Point presentation going over the particulars of the procurement process. This is the North Texas Super Bowl, and it’s clear that our local host committee plans to do everything big. Even its business workshops. (more…)

Department of Material Connections: Milagro Tequila

This post is just to acknowledge to you and to the FTC that we now have a material connection to Milagro tequila. Danny Schneeweiss (my new favorite Mexican Jew, pictured) is here pouring the stuff down our throats. I hereby endorse Milagro. But clearly I’m drunk and conflicted, and I can’t be trusted.

GQ’s Sartorialist Spots Trenchcoat-Wearing Lass in Dallas

You know of GQ’s Sartorialist? He’s on a book tour and came through Dallas, where he spotted this woman on Commerce Street. A striking look. Anyone know who she is?

Crow Collection Gets Its Patio On

Curious about the construction I’ve seen outside the Crow Collection of Asian art, on the corner of Flora and Harwood, I asked the museum’s director, Amy Hofland, what’s going on. Says Hofland:

It’s called Snuff Bottle Court (because of the snuff bottle installation) and will have a wisteria arbor (SHADE!); tables, chairs, wifi; an installation of Hokusai’s Great Wave in plant material on the back wall; lighting and very cool ambiance. We’re inviting Teiichi (Tei An) to come down for events (Late Nights with the DMA, Members’ Previews, etc. and on occasional lunch hours) to serve Japanese hand food and tea. Launches at the Late Night (we call it Zen in the City) on November 20.

Hofland says the space is for programmed events, but they are testing the market to see if maybe the space could work as a regular lunch spot. I say huzzah to that. I walk Flora Street every day to and from work. Now that the Arts District is (mostly) built, it’s time for the next step: street-level spaces that cater to daily life. And while I’m at it, I’m tired of looking at the back of the Belo Mansion, too. (P.S. The Crow has inspired me. My new bar is called Snuff Film Alley.)

First TEDxSMU Video is Up: Turk Pipkin Talks Nobelity Project

Remember when Wick said we’d alert you when videos from the TEDxSMU conference went up? I hope between the headline and that first sentence you see where I’m going. I watched this last night, and even though it’s 18 minutes long, much longer than I normally spend with online video that isn’t a comedy on Hulu, it flew by. And I may have agreed to build a well for an African elementary school. Not sure. Things got fuzzy.

Turk Pipkin at TEDxSMU from tedxsmu on Vimeo.

Kenyan Rides the Bull

While working on putting together the print issue, we’ve come across a rather unexpected photo: a man riding the mechanical bull in traditional African clothing. When I looked up the gentleman’s name, I discovered he’s from Kenya and a member of the Samburu tribe. He and his friend are traveling through America with producers from National Geographic. They’re working on a show titled “Two Kenyan Guys.”

Not only did the gentlemen apparently enjoy a rather interesting evening at Cattle Baron’s, but they also went to an SMU football practice, learned to line dance at Billy Bob’s, and visited a “fainting goat” farm in Bowie. I’m not sure these choices are the best representation of Dallas. I like picturing them at the Cattle Baron’s Ball, but I think a Cowboys game would have been exciting. I also wonder where they went for dinner. Their diet consists of beef, blood, and milk.

Check an upcoming issue of D for the picture of the man. He seems to be having a great time.

DeMarcus Ware’s Big Payday

It has been reported that DeMarcus Ware signed the biggest contract ever for a Cowboy, $78 million for six years. Mike Fisher reveals that it was actually $78,000,001. He reveals, too, that Jerry Jones is grammatically challenged.

George W Makes Debut as a Motivational Speaker

Mary Jordan of the Washington Post was in Fort Worth yesterday for the ex-president’s newest gig.  His rhetorical skills may not have risen to the level of the other speakers, but apparently it didn’t matter. Best line of her review:

He could have said a thesaurus was a big scaly creature that roamed the planet millions of years ago and they would have applauded.

Leading Off (10/27/09)

1. MAVS DAY! MAVS DAY! MAVS DAY!

2. Mayor Leppert is trying to rush through a complicated package of ethics reforms, in the wake of former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill’s corruption conviction. Some council members want to take more time, some don’t think the reforms are needed, and none have answered my e-mails about how they think Erick Dampier will react to his new role occasionally coming off the bench. Where is your fancy talk of transparency now, city hall?

3. Southlake Carroll ISD is ditching its perfect attendance award so sick kids stay home. I, however, am still planning on maintaining perfect attendance at the games on my Dallas Mavericks ticket plan, starting with tonight against the Washington Wizards.