The campaign between Lupe Valdez and Lowell Cannaday was supposed to be a bellwether race for Dallas County, one that pitted an openly gay Latina Democratic sheriff against a traditional red-meat Republican with outstanding law enforcement credentials. For Democrats, it would measure the power of their incumbency, having to defend…
If you want to know what it’s like to be a veteran in John McCain’s home state, stop by the Justa Center in downtown Phoenix. On a Thursday morning not long ago, a volunteer named Twyla stands in front of a group of clients at Justa, a day program for…
Here’s hoping: On September 11, (“Deep Ellum Lives”) we sneaked a peek at Scott Beck’s plans to revitalize Deep Ellum, which involves his buying at least 14 acres smack in the heart of the entertainment district. For the first time since rumors of Beck’s venture surfaced over the summer, he…
Patrick Michels We’re thinking: T-shirt! In this week’s paper version of Unfair Park, we discuss Mayor Tom’s plans to build the convention center hotel despite what voters may say at the polls in May. And council member Mitchell Rasansky continues to express his disgust regarding Leppert’s tactics, telling Unfair Park…
ReusableBags.com today offers its opinion about Dallas’s decision last week not to tax or ban plastic bags. Which is: Dallas would have joined the likes of Ireland in passing a bag fee — the most successful government initiative to overconsumption of plastic and paper bags. As in Seattle, industry interests…
Andy Hanson Photographer Andy Hanson, with whom Schutze and I had the absolute pleasure of working at the Dallas Times Herald, was a beloved institution in this town — always ready to grab a photo of any quotable notable nearby. That’s evidenced by even the handful of photos currently on…
She’ll be in town this weekend. Plan accordingly. Couple years ago during a rain delay at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York I was chatting in the players’ lounge when I nonchalantly reached for a piece of fruit on the lavish buffet. Simultaneously, and just as casually, Anna…
Consider this today’s unicorn chaser: Bruce Campbell! Because, like, Brisco County hisself will be at the Plano Convention Centre on Saturday as one of the many guests attending Star Wars Fans Days II. Sure, he’ll be signing your Evil Dead collectibles — no doubt, the highlight of his week. But…
Harold Simmons Harold Simmons has managed to beat the hell out of his old running buddy and Swift Boat co-captain T. Boone Pickens. Because while Pickens has lost a billion dollars this year, the man behind the Bill Ayers attack ads has that beat and then some: A Friend of…
Carlos Pena used to be ours. Now he’s in the World Series without us. I know, shocking huh? Your Rangers are in the Fall Classic. Not the whole team, mind you, but a couple of Texas exes. Still can’t believe we’ll be watching the Tampa Bay Rays against the Philadelphia…
Three of them, as a matter of fact — as in, “The World’s Largest Inflatable Beach Balls.” At least, that’s the plan for Sunday, when Carnival Cruise Lines bounces into town in an effort to enter the Guinness Book of World Records (and garner plenty of free pub, well played)…
The Monte Cristo, still delicious Three months after Plano-based Metromedia Restaurant Group shuttered most of its Bennigan’s locations in the middle of the night comes word that the franchise will soldier on under new ownership. New York City- and Atlanta-based Atalaya Capital Management issued a release this morning saying that…
Sam Merten To our surprise, the city council will not be voting this morning on two items related to the now national story of renaming a street for Cesar Chavez. Previously thought to be under consideration: a vote to rename Ross Avenue “Cesar Chavez Boulevard” and another to rename Industrial…
In the final analysis, Roy Williams was a fine person and a great hitter, but only a good player. Roy Williams, who was placed on injured reserve yesterday, has probably surrendered his last long touchdown pass as a Dallas Cowboy. It’s not as shocking as Texas Death Row inmates acquiring…
Asks USA Today this morning, more or less: Why has Dallas County’s color scheme gone from red to purple to kind of blue? “Urban flight, a growing minority population and an influx of Katrina Democrats from Louisiana have contributed to the shifting mood in urban centers such as Dallas, Republican…
An end-of-the-day something special, for those who know what today is. For those who do not, it’s still something special — a personal favorite, so pardon its inclusion on Unfair Park. And there’s more where that came from here. –Robert Wilonsky…
Following “a long, bleak lunch today” — lucky! — the Dallas Morning News’ Crunchy Con hisself just posted to Beliefnet a piece bearing the headline “The mood among Dallas Republicans.” Which is? Aw, c’mon, read it for yourself, then add to the growing list of comments — among them one…
The Texas stage spoof Greater Tuna opened in Austin 27 years ago and has spawned a handful of spin-offs, with actors Jaston Williams and Joe Sears playing the entire cast of characters, and all, until now, based in small-town West Texas. The latest in the Tuna catalog, Tuna Does Vegas,…
Courtesy New York magazine, we get a recap of Sean Avery’s return to Madison Square Garden last night as a member of the Dallas Stars. Below is Avery’s post-game chat with MSG Network’s Stan Fischler — apparently, the only interview Avery gave following the 2-1 win over Avery’s former team…
We’re trying to collect the whole series. Next up: Fair Park Passover. The State Fair of Texas came to an end only two days ago — and it was a glorious finale, if only to see a certain 5-year-old ask that Ford robot, “Do you know C-3PO?” and receive in…
Marchel Ivery and the Soul Seven participated in one of the greatest nights of music Dallas has ever heard — and, finally, seen, thanks to KERA’s doc. It only took 33 years for the album’s release: South Dallas Pop Festival: Live 1970, which still sounds like a blast from day…
Better than the original? Last Sunday marked the 1-year anniversary of Greg Williams’ departure from The Ticket. On Oct. 12, 2007 – as most of you well know – Williams walked away from a Hardline remote and into a 9-month tailspin that I began chronicling with this and this and…
