Articles for September, 2010
Glassman Gets a Lesson in Mustang Pride
James K. Glassman, head of the new George W. Bush Institute at SMU, admits he’s got a lot to learn about the folkways of Dallas, Texas. The former Washingtonian executive editor and state department official is spending only about a third of his time here (the institute’s grand opening isn’t til 2013). But he’s learning his lessons quickly.
A big one came today, Glassman recalled during a noon talk with staffers at D Magazine, when he showed up dressed in a blue blazer, grey slacks–and purple tie–for a morning dedication event at SMU. Not realizing that purple’s the team color for TCU’s top-ranked Horned Frogs footballers–they take on the Mustangs tonight–Glassman said that SMU President R. Gerald Turner asked him, “Why have you got that tie on?”
Recounted Glassman, laughing: “I didn’t have the slightest idea. So I do make these sorts of mistakes.”
Department of Double Entendres
Dallas Morning News columnist Steve Blow is now a grandfather. A co-worker of Blow’s whose name I won’t divulge sent an e-mail to his colleagues telling them the good news. The subject line read: “Blow a grandfather!”
Hella Shrine Directors Staff Rocks Out in Downtown Dallas
The last float of the State Fair of Texas opening day parade: the Hella Shrine Directors Staff, blasting this rousing tune. Gentlemen, you just made my day.
What to Do in Dallas This Weekend: Sept. 24-26
Have you memorized my State Fair of Texas guide yet? Great! Then you know that this weeks-long celebration begins today. I hope to see you soon at the lunchtime parade in downtown Dallas.
Tonight
Maybe I was inspired by Sarah Reiss’ piece in the October issue of D Magazine, or maybe I’m just going through a phase, but beer has sounded exceptionally good to me this week. What luck, then, that two of Dallas’ upscale grocers are hosting beer-riffic events this weekend. Tonight is Oyster Bar Night at Whole Foods’ Lakewood store. What it entails: oyster shucking and eating, live music, and beer (Shiner and Pabst will be on hand, but I’m eager to try the Fireman’s #4, a blond ale from the Hill Country). You’ll also be able to sample and buy clams, and prepare them at home. Carla at Whole Foods passed along this simple but drool-worthy recipe.
Meanwhile, Brewtopia has sprouted up on Lovers Lane. Tonight’s celebration includes a Beer Roundup and Magic Hat sampling.
If you time it right, you can probably hit both spots before heading south to Oak Cliff for jazz by Jeff Golub and Eric Darius’ at the Bishop Arts Theater Center. True, this isn’t thrashy, head-bangy music—for that you might need to skip the beer and go hear Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—but these guys are talented musicians, and the venue is perfect for a jazz concert.
Bethany’s Diary: Thursday, I Saw Inside Sports in Plano
Last night, I drove up the tollway to Plano, reminding me that whenever I drive the tollway to Plano, I get irrationally angry at Plano.
Why was I going all the way to the Shops at Legacy, you ask? Because I was invited to the red carpet premier of a TV show called Inside Sports: News You Can ALMOST Trust. It’s produced by Mark McClure and Paula Wallem, and hosted by Survivor: Guatemala winner Danni Boatright.
Sigh. The location, Fox Sports Grill, was nice enough. The food was good. But lordy, the execution, and then the show itself? Well, I kept a diary. And whimpered. (more…)
Jay McFarland Leaving KRLD As Station Returns to News Roots
A perfect storm of sorts took place this morning at KRLD-AM (1080). It started with morning talk show host Jay McFarland’s telling his audience that he was leaving Dallas to take a gig in Utah. Without a second’s pause, it was revealed that KRLD will once again be an all-news station weekdays.
Jay’s former partner/KRLD afternoon talk show host Ernie Brown will be chatting it up with Mike Rogers from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays in the future.
Liverpool Fans Give Tom Hicks Digital Hell
A football-loving FrontBurnervian passes along a link to a great WSJ story about how Liverpool fans are making life even more difficult for Tom Hicks. A sample:
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Hicks learned firsthand what it’s like to be the prey in a digital hunt.
Around 3:40 p.m., as Mr. Hicks sat on a sidewalk bench in midtown Manhattan, he was spotted by Liverpool native Paul Wilson. It occurred to Mr. Wilson, a 35-year-old financial consultant, that the offices of Deutsche Bank AG and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. were on the same street. He guessed that Mr. Hicks and his son, Tom Hicks Jr., might be visiting the banks to plead for funds.
So Mr. Wilson whipped out his BlackBerry, snapped some photos, and zapped the images to his wife, Erin McCloskey. Then he trailed Mr. Hicks walking into the lobby of the building that houses Deutsche.
And then guess what happened. It almost makes me feel sorry for the guy.
Somebody Buy Clint Carlson a Drink Today
Clint Carlson runs a hedge fund here in town called Carlson Capital. A money-minded FrontBurnervian points us to news that Carlson has agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million to settle S.E.C. charges of improper trading practices. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Watch out for that pesky Rule 105. And buy Clint Carlson a drink if you see him at the bar this evening. It’s the right thing to do.
The Heights at Park Lane Takes Sides in Mustang-Frogs Tiff
Remember when poster board and Marks-A-Lots powered up Mustang spirit? Looks like the Heights at Park Lane has taken boosterism to a whole new level for this weekend’s football game between SMU and TCU.
Leading Off (9/24/10)
1. So DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has been in Vegas, interviewing for the same job there. Tonight, the DISD board said, “But we love you. Stay. I’ll bring you waffles in bed and I’ll brush your hair while you go to sleep at night.”
2. So yesterday afternoon, Dallas County DA Craig Watkins and his GOP opponent, Danny Clancy, faced off in a debate. It got heated. At one point, Watkins said, “I have a backbone and a brain,” implying Mr. Clancy had neither. But when I first read the story, my tired eyes thought he said he had a backhoe and a brain, which is entirely different but still kind of awesome.
3. I have to stand and clap for the Herald-Democrat, the newspaper of record for the Sherman-Denison area. See, there was a marijuana farm found in Grayson County. So which reporter do they send to cover it? Mary Jane Farmer. (H/T Frontburnervian mm)
4. Rick Perry won’t meet with the editorial boards of Texas newspapers. Maybe because they’re small potatoes.
5. It’s Friday, the start of the weekend. And after the weekend, we get a brand new, shiny week. Let’s be happy today. Yes?
John Cornyn Jumps Aboard Tea Party Express
Here’s a new ad from the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, which our distingushed junior senator heads. A FrontBurnervian points out that five of the candidates featured — Angle, O’Donnell, Paul, Rubio, and Miller — were opposed by Cornyn in the primary. (Yep, he knows how to pick ‘em.) But give the senator credit. The train may have left the station, but somehow he has leapt onto the caboose.
Where Should You Eat Dinner Tonight?
Heck, I don’t know where you live. I can’t possibly tell you where to eat tonight. But this thing can.
Texas Textbooks Rife with “Pro-Islamic” Bias
Forget that barely 50 percent of Texas public school students make it to graduation. Forget that those who managed to graduate ranked 34th out of 50 states on standardized test scores. Forget that the state is broke and that education spending is being cut by 10 percent.
No, the biggest problem — according to members of the Texas State Board of Education – is that we are turning out “pro-Islamic/anti-Christian” students. Who knew? Randy Rives, an Odessa school board member, that’s who:
In interviews, Mr. Rives has likened his concerns about Islam to those he and other Americans once had about communists infiltrating American society.
Yep, we’re now in full Joe McCarthy mode, with no apologies. (And, by the way, the textbook he quotes was last used in Texas in 2003.)
Hungry Thunderducks Get Fleeced
For the past few weeks, I’ve been taking a continuing education course at Richland College. (Conversational Klingon, if you must know.) Because I head there straight from work, I seldom have time to grab dinner. Thus, I hit the vending machines in Thunderduck Hall, which I believe may feature the highest prices in Dallas. Here’s a comparison of the prices there and the prices here at D world headquarters:
| Richland College | D Magazine | |
| Potato chips | $1 | 75 cents |
| Peanut butter crackers | 80 cents | 60 cents |
| Cookies | $1.25 | 75 cents |
| Candy bars | $1 | 65 cents |
| Sodas | $1.25 (20 oz.) | 60 cents (12 oz.) |
Isn’t community college supposed to be affordable? How can the vendor at Richland be charging so much more than the vendor here at the supposedly high-tone publishing empire? Does your building have a similarly out-of-whack vending machine? Comments are on.
Better Block Project Inspires Copycats in Maryland
The Washington Post today brings us a story about a city in Maryland called Mount Rainier that is borrowing a page from our buddies in Oak Cliff. They’re going to try to fire up their own version of the Better Block Project. Kudos to Jason Roberts and his merry band of hipsters.
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