Your week-ending farewell comes a little earlier than usual this week with good reason: Twenty years ago today, at around this very time, I was sitting at my desk at the Dallas Times Herald writing for the afternoon edition the front-page obituary for Stevie Ray Vaughan, who died in a…
Fifteen days ago, Blockbuster spokesperson Patty Sullivan told Unfair Park: The company’s delay in releasing its what turned out to be dismal second-quarter stats had absolutely nothing to do with a pending prepackaged bankruptcy. “There will be no news announcing that,” she said. Not until late yesterday, anyway, because that’s…
In late June, the Better Block project — which, in April, transformed the dangerous intersection of Kings Highway, W. 7th Street and N. Tyler Street into a pedestrian-friendly plaza — reached the pages of the Houston Chronicle. And, some time after that, it found its way to Anderson Cooper’s producers…
Andy Keller — The Bag Monster, c’mon — called this morning. Wanted to talk about his visit to Dallas tomorrow, part of his nationwide tour to get people off the single-use plastic bag. I asked him, straight off: “So, where exactly are you staging this happening?” He’ll be wearing 500…
Over on City of Ate, Hanna just posted an invite to a Ramadan break-fast tonight, one in a series being sponsored by the Dallas Islamic Center. Last week’s all-you-can eat was at the Unity Church; tonight’s shalom-y’all will be at Congregation Kol-Ami in Flower Mound. Based upon his comments in…
Because an intern’s always up for a free meal, we sent ours to that PETA lunchtime giveaway in front of Dallas City Hall — where, from the looks of things, meatless weenies were quite the draw. Another two looks on the other side, with, no kiddin’, a slide show to…
Local author and historian Rusty Williams took note of my item about Willis Winters’s Fair Park history yesterday and sends word: He’s got his own brand-new look-back on shelves now, Historic Photos of Dallas in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Yes, please.Says Rusty via e-mail, “The book documents a period…
I’ve heard plenty about Champ d’Or over the years — you know, that “mixed-use estate” perched on 256 “developable acres” out in Hickory Creek (that’s Denton County). But I’ve only seen one or two exterior photos of the joint, currently on the market for $69.9 million — a steal, man…
New Orleans native, current Austinite Chris Trew is a crazyperson, and I mean that in the most loving, admiring way possible. I guess you could call him a comedian, or an actor, or a writer, or a musician, or an artist, but none of those really gets at the meat…
Live from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington … 10. News of Vladimir Guerrero’s imminent demise were, in retrospect, premature. His sixth-inning homer to left gave the Rangers their fourth consecutive win – another playoff-esque, 4-3 triumph over the Minnesota Twins – and dwindled their magic number to 29. “We never doubted Vlad,” says…
About two months back, Dallas Independent School District trustee Carla Ranger blasted the district’s no-grade-lower-than-a-50 policy (again), this time by insisting it violated state law. Ranger’s comments followed a ruling by State District Judge Gisela Triana-Doyal, who slapped down 11 Houston-area districts’ similar min-grade requirements. Three years after the district…
Just spent the morning filling out a job application, just in case Ambit Energy’s hiring. Because in case you haven’t seen it yet, Inc. magazine put Jere Thompson Jr.’s company at the very tippy-top of its list of America’s fastest-growing companies. And how’d Thompson — grandson of the 7-Eleven founder,…
Gotta Love it: Here’s a little vocabulary note for city council member Carolyn Davis: One of the definitions of the verb to “swing” is “to influence decisively.” For instance, the “swing vote” is the vote that decides an issue’s outcome. Ergo, you can’t have a 13-0 vote and call one…
As evening falls on southern Mexico, Sarah (not her real name) is shopping at a fruit market a block from her house. It is Friday, and her father, an investigator for the State Judicial Police, is home relaxing on his night off. Wearing blue jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, he…
Perhaps you vaguely recall the press conference during which architect Phillip Johnson stood with Michael Piazza to announce his plans to build upon the Cathedral of Hope grounds a so-called Interfaith Peace Chapel — which Johnson called “the finest job I’ve ever had in my life. … a big civic…
Theresa O’Donnell, director of Sustainable Development and Construction for the city of Dallas, called a little while ago to discuss developers’ concerns over a City Hall proposal to hike building permit fees. She says she was “surprised and disappointed” by the letter several high-ranking members of the North Texas Commercial…
If nothing else, this is proving to be a very good week for cheapskate vegetarians (or, really, people who just like free food). Because, like I said Monday, at week’s end the folks responsible for yesterday’s egg-stremely productive protest at the West Village Albertsons will be back at the DART…
You probably don’t remember, but back in October 2008 there was a very brief discussion at Dallas City Hall that maybe the council mightcouldaoughta ban the single-use plastic bag. Which went nowhere after council member Linda Koop said the city’s not gonna outlaw the bag, but will instead educate “people…
Jay Jay the Jet Plane sat empty, and the gift shop was all locked up, but it was standing room only inside the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s auditorium last night for the latest in the city’s series of town hall meetings over next year’s budget.This one was hosted by Angela…
You can rag on the Dallas Cowboys’ drafts. There have been as many whiffs as hits, no? But before we condemn general manager Jerry Jones and his staff, along the way somebody’s doing something right. Mainly, the team’s scouting department. I know, it’s that same department that has produced some…
Question: Who was the first running back to throw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl history? Answer: The former Dallas Cowboy who on Wednesday afternoon was released from Baylor Medical Center after recovering from a stroke. Robert Newhouse, the “human bowling ball” of a fullback who for 11 seasons opened holes…
Back in June, upon the occasion of the release of City Archivist John Slate’s Historic Dallas Parks, I mentioned yet another history book was forthcoming from Arcadia Publishing: Willis Winters’s Fair Park. At the time there was no release date set, only “closer to the State Fair of Texas,” but…
