The New York media has spent the past several weeks lamenting the loss of George Steel, who’s due to become the Dallas Opera leader this week; there was a New York whine in August, then this mention in The New York Times two weeks back. In advance of his going…
View Larger Map Speaking of downtown development, about two weeks ago we mentioned that the city had compiled a list of three dozen-plus vacant buildings downtown, the purpose of which was to identify roadblocks to development — at least, as far as Mayor Tom Leppert and the city’s economic development…
Late yesterday, in advance of Thursday’s Economic Development Committee meeting, members of the city council were given a memo called Atmos/Forest City Conveyance. In it, the city details a deal that involves shifting the four-building Atmos Complex, which sits behind the old Statler Hilton Hotel on Commerce, from Forest City…
Mike Schoder, center in the white shirt, and some of CD World’s staff over the years More bad business news today, as we begin the New Year with news of closings. First off, an era ends as CD World goes the way of the 45 single: Over the weekend, owner…
Moments ago, the Dallas Independent School District posted to its Web site a media release announcing the elimination of “at least” 160 central staff positions today — “63 of which had been filled by employees.” Says the release, it’ll save the district “up to $3.6 million for the current 2008-2009…
Forget the bailout that wasn’t. Forget the stock market crash. Forget the blame game. This, from the grand-opening shindig at downtown’s latest happening hotel The Joule on Friday night, is one of the signs of the Apocalypse. You can look it up. –Robert Wilonsky…
The Dallas Business Journal’s done the dirty work of localizing the effects of the bailout bust: The paper’s compiled a list of some dozen Dallas- and Fort Worth-based companies and how far they dropped following the House of Representatives’ vote against the $700-billion bailout bill. Not sure who’s the biggest…
Robert Benton and Paul Newman on the set of Twilight Writer-director Robert Benton turns 76 today, a birthday worth noting for two reasons. One, as we documented in the paper version of Unfair Park five years back, the Oak Cliff-born filmmaker possesses an accomplished and acclaimed résumé: co-creator of Esquire’s…
Rep. Jeb Hensarling By now, you’re no doubt aware that the House voted against the $700-billion bailout, with several prominent Texas Republicans voting against the president. Among those leading the charge: Dallas’ Jeb Hensarling, who, as the debate began on the House floor, called the plan one that would put…
State Rep. Tony Goolsby, former Unfair Park-er Matt Pulle just called you a chicken, because you refuse to debate Democratic challenger Carol Kent. And because you and your people won’t call Matt back — which, when you think about it, “makes sense,” Matt writes. “If you’re afraid to be seen…
In April 2005, an audit off city-owned WRR-FM (101.1) revealed that the station had plenty of problems — chief among them, employees were receiving way too much in commissions; the station wasn’t very good at collecting late payments; and too much money had been doled out to former employees, who…
Yesterday, the Blog Maverick hisself posted a Q&A concerning the “Botox Bailout,” in which Mark Cuban offers his thoughts on the pig currently applying its lipstick in the House of Representatives. Among them: “The bankers who got us into this mess got a reprieve and a few of their jobs…
As Uncle Barky’s site has remained relatively mum since news of his “procedure” last week — save for his Paul Newman obit on Saturday — several Friends of Unfair Park have asked about Ed’s health status. So, this brief update, as the Dean of TV Criticism isn’t one for hogging…
Courtney Clenney After the jump, Intern Courtney’s recap of her visit to Oscar de la Renta in NorthPark Center yesterday, where Tatiana Boncompagni Hoover signed copies of her novel Gilding Lily. But among the photos Courtney returned with was this one of Lisa Garza, the not-Next Food Network Star, who’s…
Angela Hunt just posted to her blog some thoughts on the City Plan Commission’s vote yesterday not to rename Ross Avenue for Cesar Chavez. She wants to make this very clear: No way, no how, no, sir, she does not support renaming one square inch of Ross Avenue, not for…
The auto show’s been a fixture at the Fair since 1904. That’s a fun fact. Free for having. You can look it up. Just made my first-ever pit stop at PickupTruck.com, thanks to the just-posted video available for watching with your eyes after the jump. It’s a review of the…
Meet the Pivnicks of Richardson. Sounds like an ABC sitcom, actually. USA Today and Good Morning America Weekend found two families willing to take part in their joint Frugal Family Challenge — and, of course, one of those families is local (and, so happens, the husband works for a Gannett-owned…
Technically, the 52-year-old pizzeria in Preston Royal (and, now, Plano) is called Pizza by Marco, but ever since he was a boy, my dad’s called it “Marco’s Pizza” — and I’ve called Marco’s Pizza about twice a month since I was a boy, thank you very much. So happens, though,…
A Friend of Unfair Park who teaches government and history in a school district not named “DISD” sends along this article from Milwaukee. Can’t imagine why. –Robert Wilonsky…
Dallas Fed prez Richard Fisher Last night, Richard Fisher, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, spoke in New York City. The subject of his speech: “Responding to Turbulence,” which, surprisingly, was not subtitled, “Everybody must get stoned.” If nothing else, Fisher once more proves…
This morning, at 7:45, Mayor Tom Leppert delivered a State of the City address to the MetroTex Association of Realtors Political Action Committee, meeting at the Westin Hotel Galleria. Our new Web editor, Patrick Michels, got out of bed in the wee small hours to record the entire speech, which…
To deal with the projected $84 million budget shortfall the district is facing, superintendent Michael Hinojosa just laid out what he called “prudent, fiscally responsible, feasible” solutions that are “doable right now.” To which he added, “Despite that, they will be painful.” His solutions, however, total only $77 million. He…
