2010 April | FrontBurner

Articles for April, 2010

Pete Sessions Digs Hot Chicks

I could go on here about RNC Chairman Michael Steele and the hot water he’s gotten into for a shindig held a strip joint and how that’s not fair because he didn’t organize the deal and he fired the guy who did. I could remind you about how Pete Sessions has hosted fundraisers at a Las Vegas strip club. But you don’t want to hear about all that. You just want to watch this video, courtesy of the Lone Star Project — except you probably don’t want to watch it at work. Just saying.

Wherein Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes Kinda Calls a Bunch of Officials Liars

Over on the Dallas Morning News Opinion blog, Colleen McCain Nelson points to Rep. Allen Vaught’s assertion that he did not endorse Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes, although Cortes lists him as having endorsed him on a recent mailer. Since then, Rafael Anchia, Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons and council members Dave Neumann and Delia Jasso have also said they did not endorse Cortes, or had endorsed him in the past, but not for this election cycle.

Cortes acknowledged a “misunderstanding” with Vaught, and apologized. But what’s interesting is this quote from an e-mail Cortes sent to Nelson:

“What I’ve learned is that some people are going to stand by their word, and others aren’t,” Cortes said. “Lesson learned.”

So did he just say all those people lied?

The Nightlife Portion of the Best of Big D Readers’ Choice Poll Starts Monday, April 12

You know this drill, because you voted for your favorites in the food and drink portion of Best of Big D Readers’ Choice Poll 2010, right? Of course you did. On Monday, voting begins for our second category: nightlife. Vote hard and vote often. (You can vote once a day, every day, for the length of the poll.) The results of Best of Big D Readers’ Choice Poll (shops and services are coming up) will be published in the August 2010 issue of D Magazine. Make the jump to see what’s on the nightlife list. (more…)

Local Designers “Rock the Runway” Using D Magazines

Model Tina Craig in a design by Oscar Fierro.

Last night there was a little event at f.i.g. called Rock the Runway, thrown by the ladies of the Junior League of Dallas. The idea was to have five local designers–Abi Ferrin, Oscar Fierro, Patti Flowers, Shemara Jeyarajah and Khanh Nguyen–use issues of D Magazine and D Home to construct a dress (they also showed a few looks that were not constructed out of magazines).

Adding to the challenge was the fact that the D designs would be worn by celebrity models, of varying shapes and sizes.

We hope you’ll agree these dresses turned out pretty amazing. Jump for pics and the winner of the evening.

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Tab on Farmers Branch Ordinance Fight Could Total More than $5 Million

So we all know the Farmers Branch story: Town passes ordinance regulating rentals to illegal immigrants in 2006. It is challenged in court, and begins making its way through the appeals process. The last judge to hear it was U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle, who ruled against it.

And today, the Dallas Morning News reports that the town could face a legal bill of more than $5 million before all is said and done. The town has its own legal fees – which are totaling so far around $3 million — and now Bickel & Brewer has submitted a bill for $850,000 in federal court for its share of costs incurred in the latest challenge.

Hazleton, Pa., had already passed a similar ordinance to the one passed in Farmers Branch (Hazleton passed its in July 2006, Farmers Branch in September 2006). Which leads me to this question: Regardless of your feelings regarding immigration, is it fiscally responsible to engage in a fight that is already being waged in another town, when that fight will probably end up before the Supreme Court anyway, and you’ll eventually have a definitive answer?

Mega March Spawns Unimaginatively Titled Sequel, Mega March 2010

Since there still hasn’t been much movement regarding immigration reform, Hispanic activists have decided to march on City Hall again. It’s happening May 1, and they’re expecting a crowd about a third of the size of the 2006 edition. That said, unless you’re actually planning on joining the demonstration, which starts at Santuario de Guadalupe Cathedral and goes on to City Hall, May 1 would be the day to stay out of downtown. But it’s a Saturday so, unfortunately, you were probably already planning to do that. Anyway, now would be a good time to revisit Rod Davis’ story “The Mexican Invasion.”

An Explosion Surrogate, In Case You Can’t See Texas Stadium Go Bye-Bye

You can’t make it out to Irving in the a.m. to see Texas Stadium get ’sploded? No big deal. After the jump, a ton of stuff goes BOOM.

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Cop Eggs Stalker

This is a really strange story out of Carrollton. I can understand taking matters into your own hands when you’ve got a neighbor who is a nuisance and has been accused of stalking. But if you’re a cop, why would you egg the guy’s house? If you wanted to give the guy the business, wouldn’t you arrest him? Or pull him over and r0ugh him up? Or whip out your piece and press the barrel into his forehead, right between his eyes? In other words, do something tough and cop-like?

(Though this does give me an idea for another episode of Rica Y Chato. After the Los Zetas cartel steals a shipment of meth from his La Familia cartel, Rica wants to get even. But on the night when he plans to exact his revenge, he forgets that his wife has book club. It doesn’t matter that she never put it on the Google calender. He should have known: book club is always the first Wednesday night of the month. Which means he’s got parenting duties with his 11-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. He can’t very well take them along on a drive-by shooting. Instead, they all go together and egg the Los Zetas stash house.)

Mount Vernon On and Off the Market — AGAIN!

Looks like yesterday’s excitement about the late H.L. Hunt’s Mount Vernon estate going on the market proved to be a deja vu experience. The listing has been pulled, but nobody is talking about why.

Leading Off (4/9/10)

1. It is universally agreed that the Stars win against the Anaheim Ducks last night was probably Mike Modano’s last. I mean, guys don’t cry at the end of hockey games for any other reason, right? But his mom doesn’t approve of retirement, because “you can only play golf so much.”

2. I have long referred to Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson as my nemesis. I may have once sat near the bullpen for the express purpose of heckling him. But who knew that this season (so far), he’d be the bright spot, and that I’d want to hit Frank Francisco with a bag of hammers? Seven shutout innings Wilson threw yesterday against Toronto, then Francisco took over and gave up three hits.

3. Did you hear? Texas Stadium will get all blowed up on Sunday. At 6 a.m. I’ll be sleeping then, so maybe some other FrontBurner contributor will live blog it. Otherwise, I leave you with what my commentary would sound like, if I did live blog it.

4. I’ve gotta ask: is it actually a fact that Old East Dallas is swarming with pedophiles? And what constitutes a swarm?

5. You know what jobs I don’t want, besides miner and fish gutter? Diamond broker. New business reporter at the Dallas Morning News. Former actor on Dynasty. I think I’ll stick with my current job, which is also the Friday Morning Earworm.

Retail As Art Photography Show Tomorrow: You Should Go

Last night I was chatting with my friend, noted photographer Allison V. Smith. (Actually, we weren’t chatting because two nights ago, my iPhone was stolen right out of my hot little hand. So we were actually e-mailing, but anyway.) She invited me to the Retail as Art event tomorrow night. What is that, you ask? Well, apparently 10 photography students from Booker T. Washington and Emmet J. Conrad submitted a total of 42 photographs “inspired by and representing retail.” Those images were then judged by four fine fine folks including Allison. Tomorrow night’s bash will feature the top 20 photographs, and the three winning images will also be announced. So, now I’m inviting you to drop by Design Within Reach on your way to/from happy hour. The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 8. Can’t make it? No worries. The exhibit runs through April 30th. But I do hope to see you tomorrow! (I’ll be the lady without the cell phone.)

Cesar Chavez Boulevard: City Council Unveils New Name For the Path of Least Resistance

DMN City Hall reporter Rudy Bush brings word this afternoon that Dallas City Councilman Steve Salazar will unveil one of the new Cesar Chavez Boulevard street signs this Friday in downtown Dallas.

It just so happens that I spoke with Salazar for a story covering the whole political kerfuffle that can be found in the April issue of our print product. Here’s an excerpt that includes Salazar’s remarks on the lonely stretch of South Central Expressway that will now pay homage to the civil rights activist:

Though the consensus on the Council is that South Central Expressway is a perfect fit because Chávez founded the United Farm Workers union and the street is home to the city’s farmers market, Councilman Steve Salazar admits that it was the path of least resistance. “Look at the different streets that could be considered,” Salazar says. “This street has the fewest number of homes or businesses that could be impacted.”

The Sheldon GoldStein vs. Stephen Broden Fight

I’m a little surprised this hasn’t popped up yet in the press. But here’s the deal: Sheldon Goldstein is facing Stephen Broden in a runoff election on April 13. The two Republicans both want to represent District 30 in the U.S. Congress. But way back in February, before the primaries, Goldstein and Broden appeared together on a radio show called Life and Liberty, which airs on KSKY (660 AM). On the show, Broden lost his cool — so much so that the Irving PD investigated the incident and have referred it to the case to the city prosecutor. Apparently, the host, a guy named Jim Middleton, had given each candidate (there’s a third candidate in the studio, a fellow named Charles Lingerfelt) a vase as a thank-you gift. Broden went so far as to raise his vase in the air, menacing Goldstein with it. The only reason I can come up with for why the Morning News hasn’t yet reported this is that the whole incident went down on a small AM station and on the weekend to boot. Anyway, you have to listen to the audio. It’s good stuff.

Michael Finley Won’t See This Blog Post

Soon after this story about former Dallas Maverick (and current Boston Celtic) Michael Finley straining his back lifting a suitcase started to make the rounds, a Twitter trending topic was born: #michaelfinleyisold. A few of my favorites:

@kevinwilson16 When the Alamo began, Michael Finley asked to be released so he could play for a winner.

@Aykis16 Michael Finley would like the fans to cheer at a more reasonable volume

@treykerby Michael Finley just found a drawer full of rubberbands in his night stand.

@j_d_hastings Michael Finley will respond to these outrageous insults by writing a letter to Twitter’s editor

@noahwbailey Michael Finley is relieved that Congress finally closed the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole.”

@j_d_hastings It’ll be a cold day in Hell before Michael Finley acknowledges New Mexico’s statehood.

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