Articles for July 6th, 2010
Mike Rawlings to Head Park Board
The former Frito-Lay Pizza Hut CEO will lay down his mantle as Homeless Czar and pick up new responsibilities, including figuring out how Dallas can transition Fair Park into a private-public partnership. In his time as chairman of the homeless alliance, he notes that chronic homelessness is down 57 percent (even during a recession); the Bridge serves 1,000 people a day, has gotten employment for 1,475, and permanent housing for 757.
Rawlings took on a thankless job and turned it into a civic cause celebre. But homelessness apparently was not controversial enough for him. So now Mayor Leppert has talked him into something even more explosive — and just as necessary. Fair Park has the potential of being a crown jewel to match the arts district. Mayor Leppert deserves a lot of credit for recruiting a good man to do the job.
Eleanor Faces Four, Nicky’s Sentencing Postponed
And their former Preston Hollow home now owned by the Feds has been significantly reduced. Even worse: Robert Wilonsky beat my post by two minutes. Oh well, that and lots more happening in real estate news over on DallasDirt.
Terrell Bolton Harrassed By Roving Gang of Motorcycle Toughs
Kind of. I mean, it’s not as dramatic as that headline, but Eric Nicholson has the story over on the Preston Hollow People blog.
Awesome Photograph By Awesome Photographer Allison V. Smith Featured In Communication Arts
Can’t say much more than what appears in the headline, except to add it is in their Photography Annual, which is a big deal. But you can see the photo in question right here.
Justin Bieber in Dallas?
A Frontburnervian just told me he saw Justin Bieber at the Hotel ZaZa pool on Sunday. The Fronburnervian is not a fan of the little celeb, so he didn’t snap a picture. I called the hotel to see what they could tell me, and a spokesperson said this, “He was around in the area. But I’m not sure if he stopped by or not.”
Can anyone confirm the sighting?
The Texas Tribune Experiment: A Review
Jake Batsell profiles the online news service in the summer edition of the Columbia Journalism Review. Two things I found interesting: database searches (government salaries, etc.) comprise a large part of its traffic, and its total traffic numbers for the last six months are only in the 220,000 range per month. Batsell is more interested in the site’s impact than its traffic. By my own count, FrontBurner has cited Tribune stories eighteen times since its inception, which is higher than any source other than the DMN. The sub-hed on Batsell’s story asks, “Will the Texas Tribune transform Texas journalism?” The answer to that is simple: No. Better to task whether it has improved Texas journalism. The answer to that is most definitely Yes.
But the best part of the story has nothing to do with all that high-minded, do-gooder stuff. Rather, it brings us back to the titillating question of Evan Smith’s salary. Read it after the jump:
Filming on St. Paul Street
Lots of action around our building today. An independent film, Seasons of Gray, was being shot outside our front door. The guy I talked to (he’s in white in the picture) said they were on day 12 of 30 of filming, and he’d be sure to send me information about it once they were finished. He didn’t get my name. Or my contact info. Not sure how that info will get to me. But I trust him.
Sorry about the lame photo. Somehow I got stuck behind their truck as they were loading up, thus no cool action shots.
New Special Guest Star on Mad Men: You
There really is no cause for me to link to Mad Men news. The JFK tragedy figured rather prominently last season, but that’s a stretch. Still, I can’t deny you the link to the most amazing thing you will ever see in the next five minutes. You can put yourself in a Mad Men trailer! You can finally realize your dreams of becoming Joan Holloway! You can shoot a rifle as Betty Draper! It’ll have to do until the show starts again on July 25th.
Jessica Simpson Has New Boyfriend, Who Is Apparently Smart?
I don’t know. Says here he went to Yale. So that’s something. Also says he has a “roguish grin and athletic build” — which I can’t believe I actually just typed, or cut-and-pasted, or whatever. Anyway, he’s generically named Eric Johnson and he plays for the San Francisco 49ers. Or he did until he blew out his knee on a routine practice drill three weeks from now. Run away now, fella!
Shawn Marion Busts Out at the World Series of Poker
In a move that mirrored much of his debut season with Your Dallas Mavericks, Shawn Marion made a strong move to the hoop only to ultimately blow it at the rim, bouncing out on the first day of play. I’ll let Tim or the Ghost of Eric Celeste jump on here to debate his poker-playing skills. (H/T: Ball Don’t Lie)
Bed Bugs Leave East Coast for Garland
So, I keep reading about bed bugs. Believe me, I don’t want to. But they keep making cameos in the darndest places. Last month, they took up residence in a New Jersey Goldman Sachs office. Then the SoHo branch of Hollister had to close down for a few days after bed bugs moved in there. And now comes news that they are here. (I’m thinking the much cheaper rent was likely enticing.) Last night, WFAA presented a story even more disturbing than the Jake vs.Vienna nightmare: bed bugs have taken up residence in a Garland apartment building. Maybe watch the video after lunch.
What To Do in Dallas Tonight: July 6, 2010
Shakespeare Dallas opened Cymbeline way back in mid-June. our review on FrontRow says “This script is the closest thing to the Monty Python version of a Shakespeare mash-up.” In other words, it’s totally awesome.
Now that the actors have had a few weeks to work out the kinks, and the forecast doesn’t call for scorching heat, it’s the great time to head out to Samuell-Grand Amphitheater to check it out. A few suggestions for first-timers: bring a picnic basket, $10 (the suggested donation for admission), and hope it doesn’t rain.
If the weather won’t cooperate (or you just don’t feel like Shakespeare on a Tuesday), sing your blues away with a little karaoke at The Alcove from 7 to 10 pm. You might want to start your warm-ups now, lest you pop a vocal chord trying to hit the high notes in “Don’t Stop Believing.” Best of all? If you get cold feet just before your big number, the Alcove has plenty of beer and wine to get you sufficiently sauced before you get onstage.
Want more? It’s all here.
Southlake, One of the Best Dallas Suburbs, Gives Our Intern a Stomachache
It’s only because he overindulged himself at Southlake Town Square that D Magazine online editorial intern Ryan Jones found himself crashing from a mighty sugar high following his visit to the suburb we all love to hate.
He was there because the city is rated No. 4 in our 2010 rankings of the best Dallas suburbs, and he’s continuing his suburban safari.
Read about his visit to Southlake.
Outrage Over Marty B’s Osama Spoof
Martellus Bennett, the irrepressible Dallas Cowboy, was back at it on YouTube, this time wearing a goofy-looking beard lampooning Osama bin Laden. And once again the video was yanked–and some people were predictably “offended.” I say, “Go, Marty B.” Folks really do need to lighten up.
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