Articles for May 20th, 2011

Nickelson Wooster Out as Neiman Marcus Men’s Fashion Director

Since I noted his hiring, I feel obligated to post that Fashionista is reporting Nickelson Wooster, the mustachioed, heavily tattooed men’s fashion director for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman is out.

Fashionista is most concerned about the fate of the Tumblr devoted to him.

posted by Jason Heid | May 20th, 2011 3:54pm | filed under Business, Fashion, Shopping | (0) Comments »

Elite News Caught Plagiarizing

The Elite News is a paper focused on the black community. It bills itself as “The Official Voice of the Church and Community.” I wonder what Jesus would say about the blatant cut-and-paste job that the paper did on the Morning News. That right there? You’re not supposed to do that.

posted by Tim Rogers | May 20th, 2011 3:53pm | filed under Media | 3 Comments »

Mitt’s the One at Dallas Fundraiser

William Hutchinson of Dunhill Partners, who has long shaggy hair and a laid-back party vibe about him, also has a spectacular mansion on Dallas’ Lakeside Drive. That’s where about 80 people gathered last night for a private fundraiser ($2,500 or $1,000 per head) for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Just three days earlier, the former Massachusetts governor had raised a whopping $10.25 million during a one-day phone-bank drive in Las Vegas.

Standing on a raised platform in Hutchinson’s big backyard, Romney–who was wearing a green tie that once belonged to the late Houston oilman Robert Mosbacher, a gift from the family–told the crowd that President Obama “threw Israel under the bus” with his Mideast speech earlier in the day. Later he noted all the businesspeople in attendance and said, “I don’t think President Obama likes you. I love you.” Then he defended his “Romneycare” health care law, which many conservatives don’t like because it requires people in Massachusetts to buy health insurance.

Out in the crowd were the likes of restaurateur Alberto Lombardi, media/auto mogul Scott Ginsburg, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, and country-western star Randy Travis. Travis had kicked the evening off singing an acoustic version of his hit, “Forever and Ever Amen,” said to be a Romney favorite. Hutchinson, who’d introduced the former governor as the guy who will win the GOP presidential nomination, thanked Romney once his brief talk was finished and urged everyone to stick around and “hang out.” All he wanted out of the evening, the host added with a laugh, was to be named “ambassador to Cancun.”

posted by Glenn Hunter | May 20th, 2011 2:25pm | filed under Business, Celebrity, Local News, Politics | 1 Comment »

Dallas Has the Best Public High Schools in U.S.

Again. Good news for Dallas ISD, from the Washington Post. This is the same list that used to run in Newsweek, which is why it may seem familiar to see the DISD Science/Engineering and Talented and Gifted magnet schools at the top of the list.

The formula is perhaps too simple, since it’s all about AP and IB tests. Regardless, North Texas has No. 1, No. 2., No. 10 (North Hills Prep in Irving), and No. 11 (Peak Prep) on the list.  And Highland Park is ranked No. 35.

posted by Jason Heid | May 20th, 2011 1:28pm | filed under Education, Media | 4 Comments »

Best of Big D Readers’ Choice: Services Voting Continues Through May 29

blog_postWow. We’ve seen an unprecedented number of votes in this year’s Best of Big D Readers’ Choice: Services Poll. Who knew the good people of Dallas were so passionate about where they get their pet grooming done?

Keep it going through May 29. Even when you’re out and about, you can make your figurative voice heard by visiting our website on your smartphone. Our mobile ballot is easy (and fun) to use.

While accessing a more traditional computer, vote here.

posted by Jason Heid | May 20th, 2011 1:15pm | filed under Best of Big D | (0) Comments »

Michael Hinojosa Turns Out To Be a Big Liar, Has Pants on Fire, Ctd.

I’ve had some time to think some more about Hinojosa’s departure. And, of course, now we have two more pieces of information. First, Hinojosa says he really did mean it when he said his name was off the market. He says he turned away other districts that had approached him. Second, Hinojosa says that the birth of his first grandson in Atlanta played a big part in his decision.

Well, okay. He’s not a liar. I take it back. When he said his name wasn’t on the market, he was telling the truth. But then, a couple weeks ago, his name obviously was on the market. Seems like a distinction without a difference.

Now, about this whole grandfather business. We’re supposed to cut the guy some slack because he just wants to do what’s right for his family. For some perspective on that, I’d like to talk to Hinojosa’s son who is headed off to Harvard next year. Presumably the kid has a bunch of friends in Dallas. Have fun coming home to Georgia during the summers, kid!

Listen, if I were in Hinojosa’s shoes, I’d probably do the same thing. Atlanta’s a great town. Babies are great (if you can hand them off when they get cranky). And the money deal is sweet. Who wouldn’t want to get paid twice and make more than $400,000? But I’m not in Hinojosa’s shoes. I’m in mine, in Dallas, where Hinojosa told me his heart was.

Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be ridden out on a rail. But no high-fives either.

posted by Tim Rogers | May 20th, 2011 12:28pm | filed under Local News | 12 Comments »

Things To Do in Dallas This Weekend: May 20-22

I am so excited. And so torn. Hiding beneath the exterior of someone who loves indie bands with pretentiously obscure names is someone who has never graduated from the eighth grade. Musically, I mean. And okay, maybe I’m still holding a grudge against the guy who put me in one of the the giant recycling bins outside of the band hall and left me there to get turned into post-consumer product. Anyway, I’m excited because this weekend features not one, but two, opportunities to indulge my 13-year-old self, and torn because I don’t know how I’m going to decide which musical memory takes precedence. But before I get ahead of myself, let’s start with today.

Friday

It’s the first evening of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s ‘Til Midnight series, and it is so gross outside right now that it’s hard to tell if it’ll clear up. It probably won’t. But the event is happening rain or shine, and here’s one reason why it’s worth at least stopping by on your way to something indoors: you’ll get a discount on single tickets to see the Dallas Theater Center’s upcoming production of The Wiz. Speaking of the DTC, if you wanted to see Cabaret and haven’t yet, I just heard that they’re releasing a limited number of seats for tonight’s performance, which happens to be a special benefit for the Dallas Holocaust Museum. This is pretty much your last chance since the show is closing, and both tomorrow evening and the final Sunday matinee are sold out.

If you’re looking for something a little different, 500X Gallery in Deep Ellum is hosting an art expo that sounds more like a party. They’re bringing in barbecue from nearby Mama Faye’s and DJ Travis Box. Proceeds benefit the visual arts education website Art This Week— it’s their very first fundraiser.

(more…)

posted by Liz Johnstone | May 20th, 2011 11:51am | filed under Things to Do in Dallas | 4 Comments »

Barrett Brown Quits Anonymous

An alert FrontBurnervian points us to this Ars Technica story about Barrett Brown, whom I profiled in our March issue. Brown has quit Anonymous because, he says, he’s tired of dealing with all the yahoos in the online collective. There’s a cynical way and a hopeful way to look at this move.

Cynical: how can you quit a group that you can’t join? Moreover, how can you quit a group that’s not a group? In any case, as the Ars piece points out, some people say he’s being pushed out of Anonymous for being a self-promoting spotlight hog. So there.

Hopeful: Brown is growing up. He’s serious about his work, exposing the plans of government contractors to spy on us using social networks, and he’s eliminating the distractions that keep him from being productive.

I’m going with hopeful.

posted by Tim Rogers | May 20th, 2011 11:44am | filed under Local News | 2 Comments »

Dallas Symphony Taps Former Minnesota Orchestra CEO As Interim President

Glenn’s got the story and interview on FrontRow.

posted by Peter Simek | May 20th, 2011 10:45am | filed under Arts, Music | (0) Comments »

The Image From Last Night That Will Haunt Mavs Fans’ Dreams

DURANTULA

via

posted by Zac Crain | May 20th, 2011 10:31am | filed under Sports, Super Heroes, Super Villains | 12 Comments »

Leading Off (5/20/11)

News About the Team That Is Not the Rangers, the Mavs or the Cowboys. Dallas Morning News hockey scribe Mike Heika gives a brief overview of the coaching search for the Stars, and posits that the team has the best open coaching position available currently.

Git Yer Bits o’ Washington Coffin Tomorrow. Or a doohickey he used for surveying. Or a wine glass. Or his recipe for cement. All are up for sale at Dallas’ Heritage Auctions Saturday.

Noodle On, Young Americans. Among the things you are not allowed to do in Texas, catching fish with your bare hands (or noodling) is right up there with some of the most heinous, vicious crimes out there. Until now. Now there is a bill on the table in the state lege that would make noodling legal. Thank you, Bob Deuell.

Local Station May Move from Historic Digs. Per Bud Kennedy, rumor has it NBC 5 may move from its historic headquarters in Fort Worth.

Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Oh —  and Me.

posted by Bethany Anderson | May 20th, 2011 6:33am | filed under Local News | 1 Comment »