Dear Mr. Rhyner:
Moments ago on your evening drive-time radio presentation on 1310 The Ticket, you did a roughly 12-minute segment on In-N-Out Burger’s impending arrival in North Texas. I was particularly interested in this topic, as it is the current cover story of the magazine I edit.
Imagine my chagrin when it became apparent that our story was, in fact, the inspiration for your segment, which you launched into with nary a mention of D Magazine. Now imagine my spleen filling with bile as I heard you read whole sections of our story and tell your listeners information about In-N-Out that we discovered — for instance, where In-N-Out’s first distribution center outside of California will be situated — without, again, ever once mentioning your source. Now imagine me texting your producer and co-host for the day, Danny Balis, as I careened through Lake Highlands, forcing other drivers off the road as my rage grew to the white-hot intensity of a coal gassification furnace. (more…)
I love the Statler. I love its history. I love its eerily glooming bottom floor. I love the idea of its potential. And apparently so does developer Leobardo Trevino, of Ricchi Dallas Investments. He just recently bought the hotel from a developer who didn’t do much with the place. Trevino has released some sketches of the proposed renovations, but there aren’t many details beyond that. Regardless, I’m excited.
DMN political writer Gromer Jeffers Jr. is a good guy and a good reporter. But his column this morning (subscription required) about Tom Leppert running for U.S. Senate as a hard-core, anti-earmarks, tea party-style conservative includes some puzzling logic that seems to give the former mayor a huge free ride. Specifically:
Though it seems to some that Leppert is selling out Dallas, what we’re actually seeing is the former mayor embracing his core beliefs.
Being Dallas mayor is a complex job with a simple goal. City Hall is the only part of government that taxpayers, no matter how conservative, want more of. What’s more, campaigning for Dallas mayor forced Leppert to deal with all aspects of the community.
There’s purity in mayoral politics that removes the stench of partisanship and the hypocrisy it often brings.
So, if you’re running for U.S. Senate–an office which represents the entire state–it’s fine to be true to your core beliefs. But if you’re merely representing a city, it’s OK to toss your core beliefs aside and kowtow to everybody and his dog, because there’s no “stench of partisanship” there? This doesn’t make any sense. I think the “authenticity” question will be a major problem for Leppert, especially in the GOP primary in a tea-party year. In a state whose leading Republicans are battling with the EPA, for one example, it will be especially interesting to see whether he defends–or runs away from–his record as one of Dallas’ “greenest” mayors ever.
Christina Aguilera got arrested? Charlie Sheen spouted nonsense? My world has turned upside down, I’m so confused — no, wait, none of this is surprising. After trying Fuzzy’s last night, I’m more interested in who’s winning the Best of Big D taco showdown. And if anything actually important happened this morning, I’m sure I’ll find out eventually.
Two very disparate musical offerings tonight. First up, Ice Cube at the House of Blues. I feel obligated to call attention to this because as of late, the former N.W.A. rapper has devoted most of his attention to his acting career, appearing in highbrow films like XXX: State of the Union and Janky Promotors. But he did release a new solo album just last year, so maybe this heralds a return (at least temporarily) of the Ice Cube of old.
The second act this evening is the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Show at the Loft. Indie, indie, everywhere, so if you’re a fan of Neutral Milk Hotel et al., this is for you. I was confused about what holiday Elephant 6 (the record label) might be referring to until I remembered that today is National Pancake Day. Didn’t this just happen, but with tequila? Whatever, I never need an excuse to do breakfast for lunch. Or dinner, for that matter.
Yes, the IHOP people are totally behind it. The chain is offering a free short stack at participating locations until 10 pm, but don’t limit yourself. Goodbye, virtuous turkey sandwich. This plate of pancakes from Crossroads Diner is practically calling my name. And then there’s always Cafe Brazil’s tasty pancrepes, which count.
And here’s the part where I become entirely predictable (in the best and most helpful sense of the word) and let you know that you can find plenty more things to do tonight right here.
People Newspapers reporter Claire St. Amant is a former Peace Corps volunteer. She contributes this essay about the importance of the organization:
As the Peace Corps turns 50 today, there’s little time to savor the moment. While those inside the organization are celebrating, outsiders are questioning its relevance—if they’re even familiar with it at all.
Dallas is surely home to many a returned volunteer. But you’d never know it.
As the third most charitable city in America (and one with patriotism aplenty) this is an ideal place for Peace Corps advocacy. Dallas ISD should invite returned volunteers to speak in classrooms, and pair with current volunteers in the already established exchange program, World Wise Schools. How is it that Dallas is home to the John F. Kennedy Learning Center and a Peace Corps regional office but lacks any real awareness of the agency?
Kennedy lost his life in our city. His dream for the Peace Corps shouldn’t die here, too. (more…)
The now-former mayor of Dallas sat down with the Texas Tribune* for his first in-depth interview about his time as mayor and his senatorial campaign. It’s after the jump.
With an adult passenger in the front seat and three children in the back seat, this could have gone seriously wrong. A Fort Worth officer was trying to arrest a driver on outstanding warrants when the car took off, dragging the officer with it. The officer drew his weapon and fired, killing the driver.
Angela Hunt Is Up and At Em. Today Councilwoman Hunt will file paperwork for her reelection campaign. A source with very intimate knowledge of the matter informs me that her campaign spokesman will be none other than — wait for it — Eric Celeste. Again, according to my highly placed source, yes, it is that Eric Celeste. So to everyone who gripes about FrontBurner doing nothing but linking to DMN stories, I say the following: boom! Print that, people.
Dwaine Caraway Spruces up Mayor’s Office. Caraway mostly kept things on the down low as he moved into the big office at City Hall. The DMN tailed him for the day (reg. req.). The paper says he hung a framed copy of Barack Obama’s “Yes, We Can” speech in the office. Then he put on some Luther Vandross, poured himself a snifter of Courvoisier, and called the A.G.’s office — again — to see if Greg Abbott had decided yet whether or not to release the infamous “Arthur and Archie” police report.
Weapons Are Flowing Through North Texas. From the Houston Chronicle: “A powerful military-style handgun used in the attack that killed an American federal agent in Mexico and wounded his partner earlier this month had been purchased by a weapons-trafficking ring in the Dallas area.” Let’s be careful out there.