Just got off the phone with Michael Precker, the former DMN writer-turned official writer-in-residence at The Lodge, who wanted to let me know that the car wash held at the club this weekend raised nearly $17,000 to benefit Best Friends Animal Society. Among those in attendance (or at least partaking in the Friday-night media dinner) were DMN columnist Gromer Jeffers, Dallas Observer writers Richie Witt and Brantley Hargrove, The Fan’s Sybil Summers, and radio personality and provocateur, Richard Hunter.
The event got some mentions (including on this blog), but Precker pointed out a bit of a double standard when it comes to coverage of strip clubs in Dallas. Whenever there’s trouble, or say, an athlete gets into a fight, the local TV stations are lining up at the door to interview anyone they can, and asking politely to come in and shoot B-roll. “It irks me,” Precker says. “If there’s something unsavory, my phone is lighting up. But if we’re doing something good, as Jon Stewart would say, it doesn’t fit the narrative.”
In case you didn’t see this story over the weekend, I’d like to introduce Kenneth Robinson, opportunistic genius. He just moved into a nice subdivision in Flower Mound after acquiring his new residence for a $16 courthouse filing fee, some research into a little-known Texas law called “adverse possession,” and a perfect storm of confusion over the mortgage. Shockingly enough, the neighbors are less than thrilled, especially since the police can’t really kick him out. It’s a civil matter, not criminal. I think we can all learn something from this man.
First things first. If you are in any way interested in partaking in KRLD Restaurant Week next month, you can make reservations starting today. The popular places and weekend slots go fast, obviously.
Over at the Magnolia Theatre, the Asian Film Festival, which started over the weekend, continues with the fest’s first block of short films and I Am, a fairly personal documentary that examines coming out as lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender in India and the director’s inability to do so to her own mother. The late-night screening, Enemy at the Dead End, is described as “Oldboy set in a hospital room.” Uh, awesome. Sign me up for more 3 AM nightmares.
On a side note: the English-language remake of Oldboy is now a Spike Lee joint. Which just makes me feel totally strange on top of all the squicky feelings that movie already gives me. Anyway, the festival continues through Thursday with a variety of other films, and Art&Seek has a Q&A with SMU alum Alicia Chang, the new executive director. Try West Village’s newest dining addition, Malai Kitchen, for dinner and drinks. It’s excellent.
For more things to do this evening, go here.
Houston Chronicle is reporting that Nolan Ryan experienced chest discomfort at his home in Georgetown Sunday morning. He is hospitalized and set to undergo heart tests.
Thanks to Sarah Blaskovich at Pegasus News for this little piece about Honest Tea. Tomorrow, the promoters behind the tea will be putting it out there for you to try. For a dollar. But no one will be there to take your dollar. So it’s up to you to pay. But there will be cameras tracking whether or not you pay. And there will be a live feed from these cameras. So we’ll know exactly who isn’t paying. Consider this a warning when you come across the tea tomorrow somewhere downtown. (Also, you can go here and vote for the city you think will be most honest. Last year, Bostonites won the title.)
UPDATE: Here’s a link to the live feed.
The answer may be here (behind the paywall). In short, not enough women from soccer-rich Dallas.
People Newspaper columnist Merritt Patterson has a full-blown review of Big Rich Texas (aka Texas Train Wreck of Bleach and Botox) that debuted last night on the Style Network. Someone needs to give a map to the show’s producers. The much-vaunted Woodhaven Country Club that is the “social place of Dallas” is actually in Fort Worth. The worn-out club was purchased last November by longtime member Louis Scoma Jr. At that point it had 433 members and hoped to reach a goal of 600 members and 150 social members.
Warning: We learned last night that club rules forbid profane tattoos to be visible. Heck, at this point they should take anybody who has air in their lungs.
Hundreds Rally In Support of John Wiley Price: Some of the 800 supporters who turned out at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church to rally for County Commissioner John Wiley Price, currently being investigated by the FBI, waved signs calling for justice. Can’t argue with that.
Third Earthquake Hits Ellis Country Since June: Economic pundits say Texas is the new California, but I don’t think this is what they have in mind.
Locked-Out Football Players Continue to Find Creative Ways to Kill Time: Tony Romo came in second over the weekend at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship near Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile, the Colts’ Jerry Hughes and former Cowboy Stephen Hodge, along with fellow TCU alum, Cory Grant, were arrested for public intoxication in downtown Dallas early Sunday morning.
It’s Hot: Which is great for algae growth, if not the taste of tap water. Shorelines are shrinking, and don’t expect anything changing anytime soon. We’re now trapped in a “heat dome.”