Articles for October, 2009
WSJ Does a Double Whammy on AT&T PAC
D Magazine contributor Willard Spiegelman sure gets around. Today, he can be found in the Journal, where he critiques the architecture and setting of new performing arts center. While Willard looks at the outside, Journal opera critic Hollie Waleson focuses on what’s happening inside.
One nice benefit of having the nation’s major critics in town for the PAC opening is that Dallas opera music director Graeme Jenkins and his orchestra are finally getting the due they deserve after toiling for years in the sound-eating Music Hall. From Waleson’s review:
The most exciting musical experience came from the orchestra, expertly led by Mr. Jenkins. It filled the hall with a rich, full-bodied sound, whipped up the furious opening storm and projected melting, pianissimo tenderness in “Già nella notte.” The glittering antiphonal trumpets that heralded the arrival of the Venetian ambassador in Act III rang out brilliantly, and the plaintive woodwind opening passages of Act IV breathed out into the hall with warmth, definition and character.
Leading Off (10/28/09)
1. What’s up, La Familia FrontBurnervians? It’s been a rough week, hasn’t it? After the nationwide Project Coronado sweep of your cartel that netted 729 pounds of meth and 300 arrests, cops then found an additional 300 pounds of meth in one of your stash houses in Mesquite. My advice: be careful with the rest of your meth! A good real estate agent can help.
2. What would you do if you won $1 million? Willis Willis — a man whose parents either lacked imagination or had an odd sense of humor — says that with his $1 million, he’ll send his daughters to college, get a root canal, and, if there’s anything left, buy a set of golf clubs. Problem is, Willis is the guy whom a convenience store clerk tricked out of his winnings before going on the lam. He’s speaking for the first time about the episode. My advice: be careful with your winning lottery ticket! A good lawyer can help.
3. Today, Dallas County will announce where it will hold its first public vaccination clinic for the virus. My advice: be careful around all humans and wash your hands like a madman. A good doctor can help. Or a good priest. (Wick, I couldn’t find a link to our Best Priests in Dallas issue. I’ll ask the web team about this when I get into the office.)
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.
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.
How to Make Money Off Super Bowl XLV
I previously mentioned that the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee is having its first Emerging Business Program workshop tomorrow at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth.
One correction: While the Emerging Business Program is only for minority- or women-owned businesses, any local business owner or entrepreneur is invited to attend the first workshop. Participants can learn about the procurement process for providing Super Bowl-related services.
With between $300 million and $500 million in local economic impact expected from the big game in 2011, there are lots of pie pieces available.
Bryan Garner Is Fed Up With Bookstores
Loyal readers of the “print product” know Bryan Garner’s name from this profile we ran of him awhile back. As the headline states, he’s the leading lexicographer of our time. There are a couple of us in the office who, shall we say, are big fans of his work. (And, yes, I realize that might sound a bit dorky.) So when Garner sent out a personal appeal last week for help, I was concerned what was wrong. You should be concerned, too.
An Extremely Late, Almost Comically So, Review of Cowboys Stadium
I had already been to the new Cowboys Stadium once, but that was for a U2 show. I wanted to see how it performed during a Cowboys game. So I went yesterday. Here are some observations:
Paul Baker, R.I.P.
Mark Lowry has the obit on Theater Jones (and says he’ll add to the obit throughout the day). The legendary founder of the Dallas Theater Center died yesterday at the age of 98.
Update: Go here to watch a video of Kevin Moriarty talking about his life-changing meeting with Baker.
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