Articles for March 5th, 2012
A Few Notes From the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
Friday’s soiree on the bridge was a good time. I’m guessing you’ve had your fill of bridge coverage at this point. I’ll be brief. Here are three things I’ll always remember from the night.
1. It was odd to see Ross Perot wandering around the party, unaccompanied. In a black fedora, he sort of pinballed from spot to spot, almost like he was looking for someone. As he passed, people would whisper to one another, “Hey, look! There goes Ross Perot.” A bit surreal.
2. My favorite exchange from the evening was with Lee Jackson. It went like this:
ME: “Hey, Lee! How you doing?”
GARY GRIFFITH: “I’m Gary Griffith.”
ME: “I’m sorry, Gary. But really, I swear, in this light you look a little like Lee Jackson.”
GARY GRIFFITH: “Right. And in this light you look like Wick Allison.”
In my defense, former City Councilman Gary Griffith does bear a passing resemblance to UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson. Doesn’t he? A little bit? I propose that we make this a meme. Whenever you see Gary Griffith, from now on please call out to him, “Hi, Lee!”
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Mar. 5
Radiohead is in town, and you can’t get tickets unless you’re willing to barter a kidney or something. So you’ll just have to be a creep somewhere else tonight.
I can’t think of a better place than the Nasher Sculpture Center, since Lin-Manuel Miranda is the Salon speaker. The musical theater composer joins the ranks of past speakers Spike Lee and John Updike, an inspired bit of forethought on the organizer’s part since the AT&T PAC opens In The Heights, Miranda’s Tony-winning musical, just days after he’ll appear. Miranda didn’t actually grow up in Washington Heights, the rough-and-tumble, ethnically diverse neighborhood that inspired his score, but he did grow up in the similar, less well known neighborhood of Inwood. Washington Heights was a better fit for the stage. He’s smart, he’s young, and he’s an excellent performer (he originated the lead role of Usnavi in In The Heights and he’ll reprise it for the upcoming film adaptation). His Bring It On musical, for which he co-wrote the score, closed at the end of last month. Seriously, why isn’t this sold out yet? If you really need more convincing, please watch this video of Miranda performing “To Life” from Fiddler on the Roof at his wedding and then this video of him rapping about the life and death of Alexander Hamilton at the White House. You’re welcome.
Also tonight, the Texas Theatre presents a gastronomically pleasing documentary double feature. The subjects? Barbecue (Barbecue: A Texas Love Story) and beer (Something’s Brewin’ In Shiner). The theater bar is offering cold Shiner for $3, so arrive thirsty.
For more to do this evening, go here.
When Will Robert Wilonsky Leave Unfair Park?
I think, originally, his last day was supposed to be Friday, March 2. Then it was supposed to be yesterday, March 4. At some point last week, I believe he mentioned that he was going to work through today.
Anyway, you know how these things go. One day becomes two, then a week goes by, then it’s like, OK, I guess we’re still doing this. It’s like failing at quitting smoking or putting off telling loved ones you’re actually alive and you did not, in fact, die when you fell off Reichenbach Falls with Dr. Moriarty. Pretty standard stuff, right? So, in the comments, your guesses as to when Robert will leave Unfair Park, for real.
60 Minutes Features Dallas Mom Critical of ‘Redshirting’ for Kindergarten
Last night CBS’ 60 Minutes reported on an issue I first remember hearing about from Merritt Patterson in Park Cities People a few years ago: holding your 5-year-old back a year from starting kindergarten so that he or she will be among the oldest, rather than the youngest, in the class.
Holly Korbey of Dallas was interviewed for the 60 Minutes report. (You can first see her at about the 2:50 mark in the video embedded above).
Anyone who’s read Outliers by the great Malcolm Gladwell has learned how the month of a child’s birth can confer academic and athletic advantages because of the way we structure our calendars to determine who’s ready to start school, or slot children into age groups for sports leagues. When you’re 5 years old being 7-10 months older than some other kids in your class can mean a huge difference developmentally. Those older kids then tend to get treated like the top students and receive extra attention, and extra coaching, which further compounds the advantage over the years.
GCB Series Premiere Recap
Our own Laura Kostelny breaks down the first episode of GCB for those who missed (and for those who watched it and want to read about it). The show is not exactly getting rave reviews. In the Washington Post, Hank Stuever (who knows Dallas fairly well) calls the show “sparklingly stupid.” I disagree. I think it’s just plain stupid.
Leading Off (3/5/12)
Sex Charges Be Damned, Preacher Launches New Church: A month ago Rev. Tyrone Gordon resigned from St. Luke Community United Methodist Church after allegations of “engaging in sexual acts and relationships” with young men at the church. Now, Gordon has started up a new church, which met Sunday in the Radisson Hotel in North Dallas. Good luck with that.
Collin, Kaufman Counties Drowning In Hog Blood: Figuratively, of course. That’s because in the three months since the Texas Department of Agriculture launched their “Hog Out Challenge,” 12,632 wild hogs have been killed (sub. req), and it probably looked like this.
What To Do With The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge? Drive On: I spent a lot of my weekend trying to cool off about the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, that profane monument to the extortion of civic will. Because, if you want to talk Trinity River Project, the people of Dallas voted for a public space and a desperately needed recreational resource, yet nearly every amenity associated with that project that could be of real public use has been stifled or squandered, while the projects that are most civically offensive — the toll road and the “world’s most expensive knockoff bridge” — are the recipients of elected officials’ and private donors’ care and attention (did I really hear some squeaky speaker giggling about “our two Margarets’ bridges” during Friday’s opening remarks? Gag.) But I’ve lived in Dallas long enough to know that when it comes to certain aspects of this city, you have to partake in a little self-lobotomization. That’s why, after trying to think happy thoughts all weekend, I’m officially adopting Steve Blow’s position on the bridge (sub, natch), which is, ho-hum, some aspects nice, some not so nice, what’s for dinner?
David Stern Out as NBA Chief in Two Years: Report. Leave your fake Mark Cuban reaction quotes in the comments!
Home |
Masthead |
News from D |
About Us |
Contact Us |
Subscribe |
Advertise |
Privacy Policy |
Customer Service |
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index