Articles for January, 2011
American Institute of Architects Digs the Wyly Theatre
Rafael Anchia and John Carona To Launch Political Comedy Tour Together
Moments ago, the Dallas Friday Group wrapped up its program at the Venetian Room, whereat State Representative (and D Magazine profile subject) Rafael Anchia (D) and State Senator (and D Magazine cover boy) John Carona (R) gave the packed room a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Seriously, these two guys should take their show on the road. They’re pretty amazing together. For instance, from Carona’s opening remarks: “I came here today to share my thoughts about the upcoming session, yes, but mostly because I heard there would be a sighting of an endangered species. Ladies and gentleman” — gesturing grandly to Anchia at the podium to his right — “the last House Democrat.” The joke killed. Anchia had some good comebacks. When Carona finished breaking down the upcoming session like a fraction and turned the proceedings over to Anchia, the latter began his remarks with: “I want to thank Mayor Carona for leaving some meat on the bone for me.” Again, hearty laughs. Anchia then mumbled something under his breath about seeing Natinsky in the hallway.
Okay, on to the highlights. Following are the five things that Carona sees as being the “showcase issues” of the session. Anchia agreed with the list.
Things to Do in Dallas This Weekend: Jan. 7-9
The weekend is fast approaching, which means you really ought to be out doing things. But how can you do things if you don’t know which things need doing? Luckily, I already thought of that, and I typed up this handy list of things to do just for you. Make the jump to see what’s happening.
Pecan Lodge To Serve Deliciousness at “FrontBurner Live”
You’ve still got time to register for free tickets to our big FrontBurner Live party at the Granada on January 27. Go here for more details about all the good stuff we have in store and to register. I am informed today that in addition to the previous fine restaurants that will be on hand to fill your belly, the fine folks from Pecan Lodge will also join us. Three words for you: the hot mess.
Leading Off (1/7/11)
1. Is it just me, or does this kind of thing happen a lot on I-30?
2. You know what’s cooler than being cool? This weekend and next week, apparently. Oh, and ice cold, of course.
3. So do you have a plane? You won’t be able to fly it around Frisco today, because Vice President Joe Biden will be there for something called the NCAA Football Championship Series. Will you be cheering on the Blue Hens, or the Eagles?
4. Speaking of planes, Fort Worth televangelist Kenneth Copeland attracted some attention from a Senate investigation led by Chuck Grassley because it appears he and his wife used his eponymous ministry’s jet for personal use, among other things. The Senate report does not look favorably on the Copelands, mostly because their lack of cooperation made an actual audit impossible. Hey, I’m sure Jesus likes Hawaii, exotic game ranches in South Texas and ski resorts in Colorado, too.
5. Yesterday, I looked at the calendar and realized that after Martin Luther King Day there are no holidays until Valentine’s Day, unless you count Groundhog Day. And none of those garner a day off, unless you work for a bank, post office or school. But tomorrow is Saturday, so there’s that, right?
Sessions Screws Up Congress, Ctd.
It gets worse. Turns out that Sessions was at a fundraiser when the Oath was given.
Farmers Branch Mayor Tim O’Hare Won’t Run Again
Hi. I’m on deadline, so I’ll make this brief: Farmers Branch Mayor Tim O’Hare, who by all accounts spearheaded the effort to pass a rental ordinance targeting illegal immigrants that is now winding its way through the courts, announced he would not run for re-election, mostly so he can make some babies (that’s what “expand” family means, right?).
So, with O’Hare gone, will the council and new mayor have the same taste for justice, and be willing to continue to spend millions on the case?
Mack Brown Named “Worst-Value Coach”
Dave Player at Huffington Post puts his cost-per-win at $1,020,000.
Pete Sessions Screws Up Congress
Pete Sessions somehow missed his swearing-in and then commenced to casting a number of votes on the House floor, which is against the rules. Which is funny. Because he’s on the Rules Committee. From Jonathan Allen, as quoted over on Politico: “House officials were searching for a precedent to follow but had not yet found a previous instance of members-elect voting without having taken the constitutionally required oath of office.”
Go, Texas!
Now That Jason Garrett is the New Cowboys Head Coach, He Only Needs One Thing
New safeties Complete autonomy Jerry Jones to be caught with, like, 20 keys of coke A mustache A sweet, sweet nickname!
Yes, I’ve heard. Red Ball. Garrett Top. Maybe a couple of others. Pretty decent, sure. Oh, Redheaded Jesus, but I think that’s sort of one of those opposite things, like how we call Tim Rogers “Dr. Sensitive.” But just because a few others got there first doesn’t mean we can’t take it out back to the workshop, no? Kick the tires? Take it out for a spin? Generic cliche? Sky blue paper plate? Any random thing followed by a question mark?
ANYWAY. Garrett’s new nickname. I’ll start. Let’s, oh, I don’t know, jump I guess.
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Jan. 6
The Dallas Safari Club’s annual convention and expo is opening today, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Why’s that, you ask? Because it’s about to get a bit cold around here. So really, why would risk braving Mother Nature’s harsh conditions when you could head to the Dallas Convention Center, stay warm and toasty, and pretend like you’re outside at the same time? While you’re there, you can peruse wildlife exhibits, partake in live and silent auctions, and even pick up one of those sharp-looking safari hats.
Or maybe you’d rather support our local athletic institutions by attending tonight’s contest between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Full disclosure: Dirk’s probably not playing. Caron Butler’s definitely not. But the Mavs are still second-best in the West, and with NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant coming to town, there’s still plenty of reasons to go.
Looking for something else? Find it here.
Jim Schutze Uncovers My Conspiracy to Name the Next Mayor of Dallas
I knew this day would come. For years, I have been seeding the internet with images of myself that make me look like a drunk and a buffoon. You know, someone of no consequence. But it was all a smoke screen. See, I’m actually one of Dallas’ power brokers. I have a standing Friday afternoon tee time at the Dallas Country Club, where members scramble to host me for a round. Between swigs of Johnnie Walker Blue, they tell me how, exactly, they control the city, and I come up with the way to spin their message in the magazine. Till now, the arrangement has worked.
But now Jim Schutze has gone and blown the lid off the whole racket. In his column in the Observer this week, he reveals how the next mayor was chosen by the Dallas Citizens Council and then how that selection was announced in the pages of D Magazine. He’s talking about our January cover story, “20 for 2011,” in which I wrote that Mayor Tom Leppert would not run for reelection and that Councilman Ron Natinsky will win the job. Here’s how Schutze explains it:
How do relatively unknown colorless persons who have never taken notable positions on much of anything suddenly become the excitement, and how does D know about it in advance? But you really don’t need to ask that question, do you?
It’s what makes Dallas Dallas. It is the Dallas way — the way things always have been. Every few years when the current excitement gets worn out from being so exciting, a small coterie of business leaders scans the local horizon to choose someone who can be trusted to fill their new bill. And then D announces the name.
Actually, it’s a lot more democratic than Schutze makes it sound.
Former Dallas Cop Who Sued D Magazine Resigned New Job Over Charges of Sexual Harassment and Racial Slurs
If you’ve been following along at home, you know that four Dallas cops sued D Magazine for libel in 2008. For those who need to catch up, you can read about how the whole deal started right here. Needless to say, we and our fine lawyers and Haynes and Boone believe the suit is without merit. Nonetheless, it drags on. We won a judgment against them. They’ve appealed. It’ll be another six months probably before we get a ruling from the appellate court.
One of the plaintiffs in the suit against us is Jeffrey Nelson, who is now known to the fine folks of Seven Points, Texas, as Police Chief Jack Nelson. Or he was until recently.
Is Texas All That Special? A Debate
It started with Paul Krugman yesterday publishing a chart that showed Texas unemployment trends roughly similar to New York’s. The Economist replied with a chart of its own showing that Krugman’s chart was misleading, but warning that people should not read too much into Texas’ good fortune because the reasons for it are “idiosyncratic.” It concluded, unhelpfully, with this:
Texas is different from other states, but the policy implications of that difference are far muddier than many writers would have you believe.
A commenter said rubbish to that.
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