There are two things you should know before you read this post about the media tournament that went down yesterday at the Lakes at Castle Hills. First, I did not pay for a lot of stuff. Per Federal Trade Commission rules, it is my duty to inform you that I drank beer, ate sushi and gravlax, cooled my neck with mango-scented iced towels, and played golf without shelling out anything but a few tips for people who deserved to be tipped more than I tipped them. Second, you should know that, as a result of yesterday’s golf action at the Lakes at Castle Hills, Mike Modano and I are now in a fight.
In case you haven’t heard, Park(ing) Day is happening this Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Main Street District (between Field and Ervay), in Deep Ellum (between Good Latimer and Malcom X), and in the Arts District (between Pearl and Olive on Flora). Park(ing) Day was started in San Francisco in 2005. It’s now held throughout the world and in 183 cities. It’s basically a day where groups take over metered spots and turn those 9-by-18-foot spaces into parks (or whatever they dream up). This will be Dallas’ first year. (Actually, I’m wrong. Dallas’ first year was in 2008 and held in Oak Cliff.) Since it’s right down the street and right up our alley, D will be taking over a spot.
We’re teaming up with Dirt, Half Price Books, and JD’s Tree Service to transform a boring area of concrete into a reading room forest. We’ll be on Main Street, right in front of Dirt and across from Iron Cactus. Please bring your gently used books and magazines and swap them for something new (or, at least new to you). Also, bring your kids around 5:30 as we’ll have some storytellers. And be sure to check out the rest of the street. I’ve heard there will be everything from bands and a pumpkin patch to a seesaw and a nature trail.
Oh, and if you’re looking for parking, we’re not taking up all the spots, so there will still be a few available. Or ride your bike.
You remember Nancy Upton, the Dallas actress who, for the American Apparel plus-size model search, submitted photos of herself in various states of undress, wearing various kinds of foods. Once the photos went viral, Upton got more votes than anyone else. Last week she said she didn’t expect to hear from American Apparel. This week she did. She got a letter — CC’d to the media — from the company’s creative director, Iris Alonzo. While it contains plenty of corporate-tastic talk (”Look how many jobs we create!”), the letter is relatively frank…and uses the word “firstly”.
Some highlights include Alonzo’s apology-ish sentiment:
“Firstly, we are very sorry that we offended you. Our only motive was to discover and celebrate the many beautiful XL women around the globe who enjoy our brand, and to promote the recent size additions to our collection. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Some public shaming:
“It’s a shame that your project attempts to discredit the positive intentions of our challenge based on your personal distaste for our use of light-hearted language, and that ‘bootylicous’ was too much for you to handle.”
Some explanations for PR goofs:
“You’re literally witnessing a transparent, sincere, innovative, creative company go through puberty in the spotlight of modern media. It’s not easy!”
And the sad news that, while she did technically win the contest, yeah, that modeling contract isn’t going to happen:
“Oh – and regarding winning the contest, while you were clearly the popular choice, we have decided to award the prizes to other contestants that we feel truly exemplify the idea of beauty inside and out, and whom we will be proud to have representing our company.”
Read the entire letter after the jump.
A bit of sad news today. Chromeo was all set to swing by the House of Blues tonight with one of my favorites, Mayer Hawthorne, on their way to Austin City Limits. Due to the death of producer DJ Mehdi, a friend, they’re postponing the show until late November. I just hope Hawthorne stays on as the opening act. Maybe so, maybe no.
This isn’t necessarily an evening pursuit, but Brewtopia kicks off at Central Market today with an excellent sale (up to 25% off, depending how much you spend) and lots of beer-related events over the next couple weeks. As acting beer mule for my Brooklyn-based friend Michael, I may or may not be driving to San Antonio soon on his behalf to pick up a limited release from Freetail Brewery. But at Central Market, I’m on the hunt for something called Jester King Commercial Suicide, which might not even be available in bottles yet. I live for the impossible. Unfortunately, tonight’s cooking with beer class is sold out, but you can still join the waiting list.
And in things that go well with beer, there’s sports. FC Dallas plays Tauro FC of Panama as part of the club’s first foray into the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. They’ve played two out-of-town games so far (and won them both), and they have home field advantage tonight. Don’t worry; I let Ryan Jones, who is actually knowledgeable about this sort of thing, tell you all about it. Secret fun fact about me, though. I played varsity soccer in high school. I was not terrible. Nor was I very good. The Londoner would do just fine pre or post game. It’s about an eight minute walk away. Meanwhile, here’s midfielder Brek Shea painting, which has almost nothing to do with soccer.
For more to do this evening, go here.
An alert, nature-loving FrontBurnervian points us to a Thomas Friedman op-ed in the Times today. He points to the hell-hot summer we’ve had in Dallas and suggests that Rick Perry might want to reconsider his position on global warming. Yeah, but tomorrow’s high will only be 87. Take that, Thomas Friedman.
Commissioners Get Angry. Yeah. I know. That headline isn’t really news, because it happens often. But this time, it was Commissioner John Wiley Price accusing Commissioner Maurine Dickey of giving more than $300,000 in state grant money to a church friend.
Journalists Do Good. A group of volunteers went out to the house of Macario Martinez and built him a wheelchair ramp so he could leave his house. Last week, Grand Prairie city officials told him that if he didn’t get a $20 permit for his house, then it would give him a $20 fine. He doesn’t have money for either. So while doing the story, WFAA called the city and asked for its side of the story. Officials said they’d waive the fine and fix a bad curb for him. I will tell this story to our interns whose parents wanted them to go to med school and law school, because it proves that in journalism, you can do some good.
HOV Fines Are Reduced. As of October 3, you’ll be able to illegally drive in the HOV lane and be charged only a $50 fine, instead of the now $250 fine. But, I bet if you could come up with a good excuse, you could maybe get out of that fine. Driving a hearse? Technically, there’s another person in the car. I treat my dog as a child. So, if he’s in the car, it’s like my kid’s in there. Pregnant? Technically, there are two people in the car. Hearing voices in your head? Sure, argue that.