Articles for June 22nd, 2011
Dallas, Jimmy Choo Break Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was in Dallas last week, performing at a private party, when she apparently broke her toe. The 69-year-old legend proceeded to go on to her next engagement, but made a quick pit stop in Indianapolis for treatment.
The Associated Press reported that while packing in a Dallas hotel, Franklin had a mishap with her Jimmy Choo shoe. Greenwichtime.com reports further:
Franklin performed Thursday at the home of a Dallas “oil baron” and was packing her clothing later in a hotel room when she stepped on the shoe, causing the heel to “wrap” around the toe, spokeswoman Tracey Jordan (not, as I pictured, Tracy Jordan)Â told the Associated Press Tuesday.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around that description, but thanks to Alan Peppard, we know that the oil baron in question was Jim Musselman, who threw the party in honor of his late wife, Shelly.
Southwest Pilot Unhappy With Attendants
A Southwest Airlines pilot is in the doghouse because of comments he made while his mic was live and he didn’t know it. His biggest alleged sin: lamenting that his flight crews consisted of “gays, grannies and grandes” (the last apparently referring to overweight people) instead of “cute chicks.” No telling his reaction if he’d had this guy onboard.
Playboys in Dallas Could Only Party Till Midnight
Did you miss the Playboy party last night? Yeah, me, too. But our intern Kelsy McCraw did not. Read her report below.
Jaime Edmondson (Miss January 2010) and Lauren Anderson (Miss July 2002)
Playboy bunnies invaded The Apartment last night to help Seagram’s 7 Crown unveil two new whiskey flavors, Dark Honey and Stone Cherry.
The Dallas party was the third of seven parties the duo is throwing across the country, and apparently Dallas knows how to throw down–well, sort of.
The two hosts, Playboy’s Miss January 2010 Jaime Edmondson and Miss July 2002 Lauren Anderson, said that each party has had its own personality, and Dallas’ played to the tune of the Playboy Club-theme.
“Chicago was a lot of suits, and New York was, well, New York,” Edmondson said. “This one (Dallas) feels the most like a club.”
White Buffalo Born in Greenville
Intern James Bright gives us a glimpse of a white buffalo. To find out why it’s so significant, read on. (Video shot by James Bright; editing by Blaine Mountain)
Most people hold no special reverence for buffalo. That’s not the case with Arby Little Soldier and the mystical white buffalo born on his ranch May 12.
Little Soldier, a descendant of Sitting Bull, says he always expected a white buffalo would be born to him, but now that it has actually happened, it’s like winning the lottery.
“ I should have been getting myself ready a long time ago.”
The white buffalo has special significance to Native American culture. According to a prophecy associated with the tale of the white buffalo calf woman, four white buffalo will be born prior to the woman’s return and the end of the world. There is a set of rules surrounding these animals. The buffalo’s coat must be natural. It cannot be due to a defect such as an albino animal. The calf must be male, and it must be born to a Native American as well. Several buffalo have been born white and free of defect over the years–in fact there is herd of them in the Northwest–but this is only the third animal to fit the bill born to a Native American.
Although Little Soldier’s herd is wild, he says people have actually been jumping his fence in an attempt to touch, or get a glimpse of the animal. This is trespassing and Little Soldier has started urging people to follow protocol for their safety and because of the spirituality surrounding the buffalo.
“It’s not a tourist attraction,” he says. “This is a spiritual awakening and a prophecy.”
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: June 22
Dear somewhat chubby, 50ish male bicyclist wobbling mightily up Hall Street just before McKinney around 8:50 am: thanks for making my morning. I love you for your white crash-dummy helmet, your Daisy Dukes, your otherwise entire lack of clothing, and the fact that, judging from the eight CVS bags looped over your handlebars, you seem to do all your shopping at a pharmacy. Is it too early to declare this guy the winner of my annual Sexy Summer Cyclist contest? I realize it’s still only June.
The Texas Theatre must be feeling the warm fuzzies for our English-speaking friends across the pond. I frequently do. But they’ve gone so far as to import the UK Film Council’s six-movie series, From Britain With Love, that will last through next Monday. It’s all indie flicks that normally wouldn’t make it stateside, and the Texas Theatre is the only place around you can see them. I hear good things. First up tonight is Toast, a coming of age tale adapted from London Observer food columnist Nigel Slater’s memoir of the same name (By the way, when is someone going to buy the rights to Born Round?). Should you desire to make it a veddy British double feature, they’ll also be showing the 1987 black comedy Withnail and I. There’s a character named Uncle Monty, so obviously I’m intrigued. It’s not part of the UK series, just a bonus.Â
Elsewhere in Oak Cliff, the Kessler hosts San Antonio singer/songwriter Vanessa Lively. My mom actually alerted me to Lively’s music because, as a bilingual person often mistaken for a native speaker, she really enjoys artists who sing in both English and Spanish. So do I, for that matter. Pretentious declaration alert: I only listen to Shakira’s Spanish language albums because she’s just that much better in her native tongue. Anyway, I’m down for this tonight because for once the Kessler’s ticket price is conducive to taking a risk on a performance by someone who’s still relatively unknown. If she’s great live, awesome. If not, I’m only out five bucks.
And if you haven’t already, nominate the hottest lady in your life for our 10 Most Beautiful contest. We promise she’ll be flattered– as long as you’re judicious in your photo choice.
For more things to do in Dallas this evening, go here.
Is Our Calatrava Bridge a Copy of Reggio Emilia’s?
If I were part of Margaret Hunt Hill’s family and saw this picture, I’d ask for some of my money back.
Dallas Lawyer Kills Really, Really Big Alligator
Alternate Headline: How to Get Around the Dallas Morning News’ Paywall If You Have a Lot of Time on Your Hands
This guy is Dallas attorney Levi McCathern. When he’s not being an eagle or a shark (depending on your opinion of the legal profession), he likes to hunt all manner of animals. Last week, he managed to kill an 880-pound alligator while hunting in Leon County. With a gun. While it would sound more badass if he had killed it with his bare hands, apparently shooting a moving target in the brain when the target’s brain is the size of a golf ball and is 100 yards away is also pretty hard. So there’s that.
But more interestingly is that the story is behind a paywall on the DMN site. However, I found the whole store, for free, here. If you’re interested, you should probably read fast, because something similar happened over the weekend when Evan Grant wrote a beautiful column about going to a baseball game with his dad. It was behind the paywall, but people soon found it for free on the Star-Telegram’s site, until news of its freeness made the Twitters, and then it was quickly yanked.
So there you go. Quick Google fingers and a giant chunk of time to kill will give you a peeksy behind the paywall.
The Most Beautiful Piece About a Fiberglass Backboard You Will Ever Read
It’s by Bryan Curtis, and it’s up today at ESPN’s new Grantland site. (And it even makes you like Skip Bayless, a little bit, somehow.) The lede:
When I was 11 years old, my dad died – killed himself, in fact, while sitting in a van in our driveway. Our home in Texas filled with sympathy gifts. Mom got flowers and a new microwave. A few months later, an uncle arrived from Albuquerque and built me a basketball hoop on the opposite end of the driveway. The hoop’s backboard was made of fiberglass. There was an NBA logo in the lower left-hand corner. Over the next five years, that fiberglass backboard and I became fabulous teammates, like Ro Blackman and Derek Harper, and partners in a fierce existential struggle. If I’m picking a sports hero from childhood who deserves a profile … Jim Jackson … Alvin Harper … nope, I’ll go with the backboard.
Mark Cuban Totally Punks Ross Perot Jr.
I point you to Unfair Park, whereon you will find a copy of the best legal filing in the history of legal filings. As you may know, Ross Perot Jr., a 5 percent owner of the Dallas Mavericks, sued Mark Cuban awhile back for allegedly mismanaging the team. Cuban’s latest response is about the best thing ever.
Beach Party at White Rock Lake
This weekend, to cap off the lake’s centennial, there will be a beach party at White Rock Lake. Thing is, volunteers are needed. Jump for details.
Leading Off (6/22/11): The Pinch-Hitting for Zac Crain Edition Because His Son “Got Him Up at 4 and Threw Everything Off”
Cops Pee in Car. An apparent prank pulled by micturating police has led to a full-blown investigation, with DNA testing and everything. From the Morning News: “It’s just nasty,” said a police official with knowledge of the investigation. “That kind of stuff is just embarrassing. It’s so juvenile.”
Good News out of DISD. The district announced a 7-percent rise in graduation rate (sub. req.). Contacted at his new Atlanta-area home, former DISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa shot the double birds at everyone in Dallas (this blog included) who bitched about the way he resigned.
Dirk Dishes Deets. Ben and Skin had Dirk on their ESPN 103.3 show yesterday for about 30 minutes. It was a really good interview. Dirk revealed some details about crying in the shower and so forth that he hadn’t talked about till then. You can listen to the interview here and read excerpts here.
DART Apologizes. Finally.
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