Articles for September 19th, 2011
Style Network’s Big Rich Texas, the Episode 8 Recap
Episode 8 of Style Network’s Big Rich Texas has aired and all I can say is, I think I’ve found a project for Tiger Woods and Dr. Ruth. Don’t miss the recap.
In Dallas, Straus Touts the Arts and a Texas President
Dallas-based AT&T has been one of his most stalwart campaign contributors. So maybe it shouldn’t have come 
as a huge surprise when Rep. Joe Straus and his wife, Julie, of San Antonio turned up as honorary chairs of Saturday’s Dallas Symphony Orchestra AT&T Gala at the Meyerson. Asked about his connection to the DSO and the reason for his appearance in Dallas, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives replied, “I was invited by the organizers.”
Between meeting and greeting guests at the cocktail reception, Straus said the arts are playing increasingly “critical roles in economic development,” not only in Dallas but in Houston and San Antonio and the state’s more rural areas. While Texas is still under-appreciated for its arts communities, he added, that’s changing. Asked what’s at the top of his agenda as the Legislature’s interim committees start gearing up, the Bexar County Republican (pictured in photo by Jeanne Prejean) pointed to jobs and the economy and, as his personal priority, “restoring funding” for public and higher education.
Does he have a favorite yet in the GOP presidential primary? “It’s always good to have a president from Texas,” the Speaker answered diplomatically. “Standing here in the home of George W. Bush, I can easily say it’s always good to have a president from Texas.” So, I guess that means you can narrow his choice down to Rick Perry … or Ron Paul?
New Goal in Life: Beat UTA Students at Something, Anything
I thought Park(ing) Day Dallas was a huge success. It was great seeing all the parking spots (51 in all) be transformed into museums, trails, lounges, and soccer fields. A lot of people weren’t really sure what was going on. But, as one guy said, they all seemed to enjoy coming out of their office buildings or apartments and stumbling onto something cool. The coordinators, Noah Jeppson, James Warton, and the crew with Downtown Dallas Inc., did a great job getting everything together in just eight weeks.
There were a lot of great spots that had good ideas. I thought our book swap area, complete with Dirt’s fantastic landscaping (I wanted to take the book tree home with me) and Half Price Book’s storytelling time, was a shoe-in for the win. But I was wrong. The winners of Dallas’ Park(ing) Day competition, judged by the guys from Better Block, went to RE, one of four UTA architecture teams that participated. This is the second time those students have beaten us (the first time was in June during the 72-Hour Challenge). So I emailed Wanda Dye, assistant professor of architecture, and told her that it’s now my goal in life to beat her students at something. She was very nice in her response. “We do have an advantage of having time!” she says. She made Park(ing) Day part of her students’ class work. The winning scheme was called “The Bird’s Nest.” Watch Robbie Curtis’ video, and you’ll see where the inspiration came from.
And for those of you who are against pop-up ideas, saying that it creates no real difference in a community, here’s this: Dustin Bullard, cityscape and urban design manager at Downtown Dallas Inc., says there are some semi-permanent plans in the works. “Based on the success of Park(ing) Day, DDI wold like to work with the city and stakeholders to create longer term installations that could be rotated around downtown.” For example, in San Francisco, they have dumpsters with plants and seating that they rotate throughout their downtown. I hope this happens. Seeing all the people, the parks, and the excitement on Friday demonstrated the great potential downtown Dallas has. I’d like to see this potential realized.
A Brief History of Jesse Holley
If you were watching the game yesterday, wondering who that really fast guy with the awesome hair was — the one who looked like he could be Tony Romo’s new favorite late-game weapon — you’re not alone. He is, of course, the “reality star,” the guy who won Michael Irvin’s show “4th and Long” for a spot at the 2009 training camp. From there he made the practice squad, where he spent a season and a half until getting called up last season. Before yesterday, he had never caught a pass in an NFL game. It’s a pretty sweet story. Even sweeter though, was Holley’s quote after the game, about the 77-yard play he made to set up the winning field goal: “If I drop that pass,” Holley said with a wide smile, “my bag might beat me back to Dallas.”
http://www.spike.com/shows/4th-and-long/
Rob Ryan’s Interesting Play Chart
Careful viewers of yesterday’s (presumably — I don’t have a functional TV at the moment) thrilling Cowboys win may have noticed something on the front of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s play chart: a small photo of a scantily clad woman.
Why? Tim and I assume he does it to screw with the TV cameras, keep them from lingering too long on his play sheet. Also, because why not? It’s the kind of thing Rob and his brother Rex (head coach of the Jets) just do. They are so wheels off on such a regular basis, the only reason they don’t have their own show is probably because they don’t want it. I would pay approximately $150 to watch that show.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Sep. 19
In honor of Coach Taylor–AKA Kyle Chandler AKA the bomb guy from Grey’s Anatomy–and his long-deserved Emmy, let’s all re-watch The Ultimate Coach Taylor Pep Talk. There. Ready to face the week?
First up. If you happen to be a Dallas Opera subscriber, don’t miss the FrontRow-hosted round table this evening. I speak from personal experience that these are not only informative and enlightening, but fun. Editor Peter Simek will moderate a discussion about inter-institutional artistic collaboration between David Devan, the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s general director, Kevin Moriarty, the Dallas Theater Center’s artistic director, and Keith Cerny, TDO’s new general director and CEO.
Meanwhile, Dame Helen Mirren continues her tour of inescapability (no complaints here). She turns up in last year’s remake* of the 1947 film Brighton Rock, which only just now found its way across the pond. The Texas Theatre is screening it tonight for free, so if you spent the weekend having weirdly specific dreams about a movie that tells the tale of mad young murderer who marries a girl who witnessed his crime to keep her quiet, well. Dreams really do come true. Plus, I mentioned the free part, correct?
* The director, Rowan Joffe, claims that since he went back to the 1938 book of the same name that this is not actually a remake. It’s an adaptation. Potato, tomato.
For more to do this evening, go here.
Last Day to Vote for 10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas 2011
The final day of voting has arrived. It’s here. Today’s it. Vote today. Just one vote. That vote could determine the fate of the remaining ladies hoping to make the top ten. The ten women with the most votes at midnight tonight will become the 10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas for 2011, and they’ll be unveiled to you in the December issue of D Magazine in a beautiful photo shoot.
Photographer Helps Dogs Find Homes
CBS Sunday Morning aired a heartwarming piece yesterday about Dallas photographer Teresa Berg, who donates her time and skills to creating beautiful photos of dogs that are up for adoption.
The Guanajuato Connection: How It Began
Peter refers to a News story about the strong ties between Mexican immigrants to Dallas and the tiny Mexican state of Guanajuato. In 1994, Hector Cantu explored for D Magazine how it started and why it is so strong.
Leading Off (9/19/11)
What a 1976 Trial Tells Us About John Wiley Price: The latest investigative brouhaha surrounding County Commissioner John Wiley Price isn’t the first time the politician has been backed into a legal corner. But what does an acquittal in 1976 tell us about how Price will handle the latest trouble? In short, don’t expect him to be eager to cooperate with the prosecution.
North Texas Economy Strengthens Guanajuato Ties: Most urban areas in the United States tend to draw migrants from specific regions of Mexico, and in the case of Dallas, it is the mountainous Guanajuato (which is one reason why someone needs to launch a new MLS team, Club León USA, and stick them in the Cotton Bowl, but that’s besides the point). In the current economy, in which the North Texas economy is outpacing other parts of the country, the labor-pool network remains entrenched and stronger than ever (sub req).
Bush Raises More Than $300 Million for Library: George W. Bush still has some serious fundraising swagger.
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