Articles for July, 2011
Anatomy of a D Magazine Cover Shoot, Ctd.
One more story about the shoot with Dirk. It is an unwritten rule that during these sorts of interfaces with athletes, journalists are not to ask for personal photos or autographs or anything like that. Not only are journalists supposed to be above that sort of fanboy behavior, but some athletes are put off by such a request. One word to the media relations folks with the teams, and suddenly you don’t get access next time you ask for an interview. So as photographer Billy Surface was at work with Dirk, Zac turns to me and says, “I guess it would be unprofessional to ask to have our picture taken with Dirk.” To which I replied, “Of course that would be unprofessional. And of course we’re going to do it.” I felt like a kid standing next to Dirk — and not just because he’s so tall. Because the last time I admired a player so much, with such pure, light-hearted amazement, was when I was a kid. Anyway, the pic:
Shawn Marion’s July Sock Choices
I follow Shawn Marion (matrix31) on Twitter. A couple months ago, I started noticing his tweets about his socks. I thought, That’s funny. Socks. But then he kept tweeting them. So, today, I bring you a recap of Shawn Marion’s July socks along with his tweets. You’re welcome.
Appeals Court Affirms First Amendment, Slaps Down Hiram Walker Royall
Hiram Walker Royall is a Highland Park developer who doesn’t much like it when journalists write about his business dealings. So when a woman named Carla Main wrote a book called Bulldozed: “Kelo,” Eminent Domain, and the American Lust for Land, about one of Royall’s development deals in Freeport, Texas, Royall sued her (and a whole bunch of other folks) for defamation. Late yesterday, the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals reversed an earlier court’s decision that the book wasn’t protected by the First Amendment. The full release from Main’s camp is after the jump.
This is good news for truth, justice, and the American way.
Cadillac Presents: Heroes for Children Volunteer Program
Caught up on the all the latest trends? Here’s one that never goes out of style: giving back.If you’re looking for a new way to contribute to the community, look no further than Heroes for Children.
The organization has a variety of volunteer opportunities to help you become more engaged and connected with the community and others supporting the cause. Check out HFC Friends Women’s Auxiliary to participate in social assistance programs for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at their partnering children’s hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For the young professional crowd, there is Generation HEROES, a newly-debuted volunteer group that combines philanthropy and fun. Get trendy and give back!
For more information on volunteer programs, visit heroesforchildren.org.
Sponsored Post. Please support our advertisers.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: July 26
In case you hadn’t noticed, the ’90s are officially back. I’m judging this off the sheer number of Facebook statuses (statusi?) hailing last night’s return of Clarissa, Doug, and those guys who starred in the movie about hamburgers and doing the right thing. People Newspapers’ Bradford Pearson and I are holding out for Weinerville.
Speaking of the ’90s, I’ve had surprisingly heartfelt conversations with two separate people in the last week about how awesome Hailey’s in Denton is for reliving this great decade on Tuesday nights. I don’t actually want to be a teenager again, but man, I love that there’s just absolutely nothing complicated about the music. And also the fact that somehow, my brain still knows all the lyrics to “I Want You” by Savage Garden. Feel free to start a train. Instead of giving you the I’m-too-cool face, people will actually join in.
Sticking closer to home? If you haven’t already given Dallas Theatre Center’s The Wiz a whirl (clever, I know), think about stopping by tonight. Much ado has been made about the moveable audience seats, but according to our own Lindsey Wilson, it’s not gimmicky. Instead, she says, it’s theatrical, musical magic, and a great way to spend 90 minutes. That’s even shorter than the movie screening I attended last night, though hopefully the excitable group of ladies next to me will absent themselves.
For those who’re really into this whole song and dance routine, mosey over to FrontRow to enter today’s ticket giveaway for 9 to 5 at the Bass Hall. For more to do with your Tuesday evening, go here.
Anatomy of a D Magazine Cover Shoot
As Billy was clicking away, his strobe lights flashing, I tried to get a smile out of Dirk. “Hey,” I said, “you know this shot is for the cover, right? You gotta lay it all on the court for us, Dirk.”
In that beautiful German accent of his, he replied, “So this time I beat out the pork jowls for the cover? What did I do to deserve that?”
It was a funny line that requires some explanation. Back in December 2009, Zac put together an oral history of a decade of Dirk in Dallas. Dirk sat for an interview and a photograph, which, with some digital magic, we turned into a throwback trading card. I was proud of how the whole thing came together. But each year in December, we publish our selections of the best new restaurants that have opened that year. So the cover in December 2009 was a picture of Bolsa’s Kurobuta pork jowls. Delicious but not Dirk.
I was stunned that he remembered with such detail the dish that, in his mind, had superseded him to land on our cover. This clearly explains why Dirk had to run off the court after Game 6 and cry in the locker room before he could compose himself enough to accept the MVP award. His hard work had finally paid off. After all those extra hours in the gym, after all the summers spent working out with Holger Geschwindner, he’d finally proven himself the equal of those pork jowls.
Dallas Eighth Most Social-Media Savvy City
According to marketing database company NetProspex, Dallas is the eighth most social media-savvy city in the U.S. We are better than Boston, Oakland, Denver, Chicago and Atlanta, but not as good as Seattle; Stamford, Conn.; Austin; Ventura, Calif.; New York; San Jose and San Francisco.
So get on your Tweeters and celebrate!
Former CBS 11 Reporter Now Apparently Dating Monica Gellar’s Ex
So, last time we wrote about former CBS 11 reporter Christina McLarty, she was dumping husband Joe Francis, he of “Girls Gone Wild” fame. We mourned the news.
Now, according to People.com, McLarty has been seen around Los Angeles with David Arquette, who is, of course, the ex of Courtney Cox.
So there you go. I feel itchy. Someone hold me.
Leading Off (7/26/11)
Rangers Destroy Twins. Here’s the lead from the Minnesota StarTribune: “The Twins’ pitching was such a mess on Monday that only two of the six pitchers who appeared in the game put up a goose egg — and one of them just appeared in the All-Star Game as a first baseman.” If, by that, you assume the Rangers won, you’re right. Final score was 20-6.
Enrollment Up at North Texas Private Schools. Want another indicator that we’re special? While the recession sent enrollment at private schools across the country down 7 percent, here that trend has gone the other direction lately (sub. req.). Several folks offer theories as to why. Folks in North Texas value education more than folks in other parts of the country. We were the last to enter the recession, and we didn’t take as big a hit. Okay, yeah, sure. But one theory was overlooked: our public schools don’t cut it. Just a theory. Just saying.
It’s Still Hot. Today we’ll hit 103 or so, marking our 25th straight day in the triple digits. If you’re reading this post from a cooler clime, let us hear from you in the comments. Give us your location and a detailed description of the weather. We’ll read the comments like we used to read the Penthouse Forum. “I never thought this would happen to me. I consider myself fairly fit. I work out at least three times a week. When I opened my apartment door in Oregon this morning, it was 57 outside, and my nipples immediately became erect.”
Local Magazine Editor Pimps Current Issue of Magazine on TV
If you missed it, here’s yours truly on Good Day with the great Tim Ryan. I worked a little blue this morning. Hope that’s okay with you.
Dallas Country Club Sues Appraisal District Over Its $15 Million Valuation
Imagine this bizarre scenario: the Dallas Country Club has itself a membership crisis. Swine flu sweeps through the city this winter and kills off all the older members. The DCC can’t replenish its numbers with enough new members because anyone serious about golf knows that Lakewood, Dallas Athletic Club, and Brook Hollow all have better tracks. Whatever. Just work with me here.
Here’s the question: what would the remaining members get for their 118 acres and the clubhouse and all the rest? Does $15 million sound low to you? That’s the current valuation placed on the club’s property by the Dallas Central Appraisal District — and the DCC thinks that’s too high. Over on Unfair Park, Robert Wilonsky, the 10th-most powerful person in Dallas, has posted a lawsuit filed by the DCC to get that valuation lowered. The members apparently felt the previous valuation of $10 million was more fair.
Two things about this. First, as Wick pointed out a while back (and as Wilonsky was kind enough to link to), treating the DCC’s 118 acres as tax-exempt real property amounts to subsidized racism. That’s no good. But forget the land under the club. Let’s talk about the buildings themselves. The DCC is currently undergoing a huge renovation. I’m told, in fact, that the wrecking ball is scheduled to swing in about a week. This sort of work requires the filing of much official paperwork that should give DCAD a fairly precise gauge of what the structures are worth and will be worth when the project is completed.
I rule in favor of DCAD.
Style Network’s Big Rich Texas, Episode 2 Recap
Cast of Style Network's Big Rich Texas
Did you miss episode 2 of Big Rich Texas, Style Network’s latest jab at the DFW area? The recap is here.
Jerry Jones, Frank DeFord, and a Waitress’ Signed Breasts
A lot of people are moving a little slower today after three days at the Mayborn writer’s conference, held this weekend in Grapevine. There are plenty of entertaining anecdotes from the event, some of which I’ll put up in a later post. (Teaser: A multiple-Pulitzer Prize winner smoking pot, the dark world of reptile smuggling, and one Texas Monthly writer digging glow-sticks out of the trash at 2 a.m.) My favorite tidbit from the weekend though may have come from legendary — and dapper — sports writer (and HBO Real Sports correspondent) Frank DeFord.
It seems some time ago DeFord was in Dallas, working on a story about Jerry Jones. They were out at a bar and Jones was, in the words of DeFord, “going on and on,” when a waitress approached with a request. “She proffered up her breast,” DeFord said, and asked Jones to sign. Jones, agreed, so the story goes, but only if she would let DeFord sign the other. And did he? “Of course I did!” he told the audience after someone posed the question. “A writer doesn’t get a chance like that every day.”
My New Favorite Dallas-Related iPhone App
I love the library. When I was little, the weekly trip to the library in the summer to get more books was the thing I looked forward to almost the most – the most would be the twice-weekly trips to the pool. Our car didn’t have AC, so I always associate libraries with the feel of cool air, the smell of bound print matter, and hushed tones of mothers whispering to their children as they hurried them toward the children’s section.
And now, as a grown up, I enjoy the library in my neighborhood. But as a grown up, sometimes I have issues making it back to the library on time to return a book before it’s due. Or I don’t have time to go look and see if my branch has a particular book. And then I found (and yes, some of you have probably had this app on your phones forever and will duly chastise me for wasting your time) the Dallas Public Library iPhone app. Seriously. If you have a library card, you can use the app to look for books, request books from other branches, and even renew books you have in your possession. It even stores the barcode on your library card, in case you forget it.
And frankly, I find it more user friendly than the library website, which doesn’t remember your card number.
So, besides D Recommends, what are some of your favorite Dallas-related apps?
Want to See Your Home on TNT’s Dallas?
The city’s film commission and the producers of the TNT reboot of Dallas set to air next year have issued a casting call for North Texas locations to be used in the show.
To submit your property, please email dallastv@dallascityhall.com with “Dallas TV Series Locations” in the subject line. Be sure to include your phone number, email and street address, along with photos, a brief description of the property, and why you’d like to participate.
We have some suggestions.
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