Sleuthing The Sleuths

Last evening I stopped by the SPCA's Paws Cause event--not only for the free wine, but also to show support...and glance at silent auction items from afar.One must live in a world other than journalism to bid on, well, pretty much anything--including rusted radiator parts.At one point in the evening...

By Dave Faries

January 26, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Last evening I stopped by the SPCA's Paws Cause event--not only for the free wine, but also to show support...and glance at silent auction items from afar.

One must live in a world other than journalism to bid on, well, pretty much anything--including rusted radiator parts.

At one point in the evening I overheard two PR types gossiping about the Dallas Morning News' incoming food critic, Leslie Brenner. The good news: several restaurateurs are apparently fearful of her tough reputation. Too many dailies have responded to falling revenue by quietly urging their staff to avoid upsetting potential advertisers--so the hiring of a lively and demanding critic is an encouraging sign, if true.

The bad news: one flack told the other a photograph of Brenner was making the rounds and she would make certain to pass it along.

Sometimes there's just no place to hide. Publish a book, they want an dust jacket photo...which ends up online. Go to a party, someone snaps a cell phone image...which ends up online. On the plus side, I always found it difficult to identify people from event the most recent shots (constantly having to ask Penn State's sports info people to point out certain players for post-game interviews...when I covered them every week). Hopefully harried wait staff struggle, as well.

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.