Saturday, May 4, 2024 May 4, 2024
81° F Dallas, TX
Advertisement

FrontBurner

A Daily Conversation About Dallas

A FrontBurnervian with his glove on points us to this coming Sunday’s NYT Magazine and a story about the Texas Rangers. Says writer Jonathan Mahler:

Ryan purchased the Rangers this past summer, putting an end to one of the more feckless ownership stints in the history of the game. As a business story, the tale of the franchise under Tom Hicks, who bought the Rangers from Bush and his partners in 1998, is a familiar one: billionaire private-equity manager with no sense of his own limitations moves aggressively into an industry that he knows nothing about, leverages his new company to the hilt and goes belly up.

That’s what you call a brushback.

Local News

A Tip for TX/OU Weekend

Tim Rogers
|

drecommendsYour old college buddies are in town. You’re all going to the game. Afterward, because you’re a tosspot, you’ll be carousing all over the city (and taking a cab, because you’re a responsible tosspot (which is a great band name)). And, at some point, you’ll say: “Where should we go next? Is there someplace to eat around here? Someplace where a coupon might save us a few shekels?” Well, sir (or madam), we have what you need. Download the D Recommends app now. It knows where you are. It knows where you should eat and drink.

Check out FrontRow for some notes and a picture of Ross Perot in a funny hat.

Woot's Matt RutledgeEven Woot, the coolly irreverent Internet retailer that pioneered the flash-sale concept, screws up every now and then. Asked yesterday about woot.com‘s worst “daily deal” ever, founder/CEO Matt Rutledge recalled the sale of $150 Dick Tracy wristwatches from Richardson-based Fossil. Woot! tried to hawk the watches for about $99 apiece.

“We sold about 15 of them,” said Rutledge (pictured). “Then we went, ‘Oh yeah; nobody wants to wear a Dick Tracy wristwatch. Guess we should have thought of that.’ Luckily our wholesale distribution [division] cleaned up the mess.”

Spectacular failure is rare at six-year-old, Carrollton-based Woot, which was just snapped up by Amazon.com for a (reported) $110 million in cash. Rutledge and Woot CFO Derek Chapin made a rare appearance last night at a meeting of the DFW chapter of TeXchange, a technology entrepreneurs’ group.

Advertisement
Crime

Money Missing From Collin County Court

Bill Baumbach
|

The Collin County DA and the Plano Police are conducting a criminal investigation concerning about 2 grand missing from a Justice of the Peace Court in Plano. Looks like an employee helped themselves on at least 3 occasions.

As has been reported before, the DA is also investigating the case of the six District Clerk employees who falsified time sheets to repay campaign workers.

And the Collin DA has recused himself from the investigation of a District Judge. That recusal hasn’t stopped Judge Wooten from appointing her own Special Prosecutor to investigate the DA.

Collin County is only 1/3 the size of Dallas, and our John Roach is no Craig Watkins…. but we’re growing up fast!

Local News

I Sat Next to Miles Austin at Dinner Last Night!

Candy Evans
|

Miles AustinThere I was at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood on Oak Lawn, enjoying dinner and conversation with my pals Tim Loecker and Ken Maxwell. Jerry Jones had just been there and left. We notice this handsome, buff young guy dining at the table right next to us in a cute hat: MILES AUSTIN!  No Kim K.  in sight. Several very attractive women stop by his table to say hi. I’m such a dang groupie, I wait until he has finished his dinner, grab my card,  go over to him, and scoot real close. Introduce myself.

(Poor guy, I’m thinking, I would totally hate me.)

Turns out he is so nice, so polite, really one of the most gracious celebs I’ve ever met. Mrs. Austin, may I suggest you write a book about raising successful kids because you did everything right!

We chat about a few things, including where he went to college (Monmouth University), the restaurant,  Sunday’s game, what position my son played when he played football, did he ever get to meet Kalen Thornton, and I meet his dining partner, a handsome man from New Jersey who later tells me he really loves Dallas.

And then I cannot keep it in any longer. I ask him what every woman wants to ask Miles Austin — when can I come over and do a story on your HOME?

Local News

Leading Off (9/30/10)

Krista Nightengale
|

1. As Jeanne mentioned, Hinojosa did not get the job in Las Vegas. And now things are just awkward. He’s all, “It’s not you, it’s me. We can still make this work. I wasn’t going to leave for real.” Do you really believe that, DISD? Really?

2. There’s nothing more heart warming than a story about a man and his wife and her lover and the man’s lover all living together in the same apartment unit with one couple plotting to kill the other. The only thing that makes this story better is the payment promised to the hitman: cash and a TV.

3. I honestly have no idea what this story is about. I believe this quote from the story, however, sums it up perfectly: “I was pretty scared at first,” said sophomore Lizzy Michan. “I didn’t know what was happening because I didn’t know what it was about.”

4. I promised myself I wouldn’t be go overboard and be all, “OU/TX is awesome! Sooners are awesome! Yay, Red River Rivalry!” And, for the most part, I’ve kept that promise. But in preparation for this weekend, I have just one thing to say: Boomer!

Local News

Abraham Salum is Opening Komali Next Door to Salum

Jeanne Prejean
|

DMN’s Leslie Brenner reports that chef Abraham Salum is going to open Komali, a contemporary Mexican-styled restaurant. Totally on board with that report. Abraham had hoped to open his newest restaurant this summer but due to bureaucratic conditions beyond anyone’s control it looks like a December opening is on the drawing board.

Leslie says it’s going to be in Uptown. Well, yeah, sorta. Know that gym that’s next door to Salum? Instead of hot bodies think hot sauce.

Advertisement
Education

DSID Superintendent Michael Hinojosa to Stay Put

Jeanne Prejean
|

Bethany, you can rest easy. It appears that Michael Hinojosa didn’t make the grade for the opening according to the Clark County School District (6-1 vote).

Let’s tie two posts together in one package. Craig Murphy, the political consultant who helped with this, well, he also helped with this. And this.

Local News

Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Sept. 29

Samantha Shaddock
|

It’s roughly midday Wednesday, and though making it this far is a triumph to be proud of, you might need a few near-term pick-me-ups to get you to the weekend. Some of you will benefit from buying new jewelry (if that’s you, check out Raya’s latest finds on the Dallas shopping blog). But you know what helps me? Dog agility shows. And you know where you can see one today at noon, 1, and 2 p.m.? Fair Park. Thank you for the hookup, State Fair of Texas.

Good boy! Or girl!
Good boy! Or girl!

For the sports fans out there, we have a Rangers game and a Hardline broadcast and Cowboys ticket giveaway at the Library Bar. However, in light of this glorious weather, you might be interested in seeing Two Gentlemen of Verona at Samuell-Grand Park.

Two concerts tonight are worth noting: Guided By Voices at Palladium Ballroom and Cocorosie at the Granada. I’m torn here. On the one hand, I can personally vouch for Guided By Voices. They’re amazing live, and though you may be partially deafened for a day or two afterwards, the good vibes you’ll get from the crowd are worth it. On the other hand, CocoRosie sounds a bit like a bee and a mosquito trying to have a conversation–but in a good way. Choices, choices.

We’ve unearthed tons of other things to do in Dallas. Happy hunting, and have a great night.

Local News

Leading Off (9/29/10)

Tim Rogers
|

1. The Wall Street Journal brings us the story of Stephen Brodie, a deaf man wrongfully convicted of a sexual assault 20 years ago. He was set free yesterday thanks to the work of DA Craig Watkins’ Conviction Integrity Unit. You know who found the timing of that release a bit suspicious? Watkins’ opponent, Danny Clancy. He told the WSJ, “I certainly wouldn’t put it past them based on their recent attacks on us to be rolling this out now for their own political gain.” Watkins’ spokesman, Eric Celeste, called Clancy’s remarks “absurd.” Five points off for word choice. That was a perfect opportunity for Celeste to get the word “poppycock” into the WSJ, and he blew it.

2. Speaking of Danny Clancy, yesterday I posted his first campaign commercial. Longtime FrontBurnervian David Burrows noticed that the commercial resembled some others he’s seen on TV recently. Take a look at this bit of genius Photoshop. Ten points for Mr. Burrows for his extracurricular work. Splendid.

3. We should find out today whether DISD Superindentant Michael Hinojosa will take that Vegas job. Yesterday, at a state of the district speech, referring to a three-year contract extension he’s been offered to stay, he said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 24 to 30 hours, but I was very pleased to get the contract extension and, by God, I might just take it. I love this job. I’m very proud to be here. I’m not anxious to leave Texas.” Mark it down: he will take the Vegas job if it’s offered to him. You can wait to see, but I’ll take my 15-point score right now.

4. Oh, and if you haven’t already heard, Fox cancelled Lone Star after just two episodes. I didn’t see either episode, so I’m not prepared to score this one.

Advertisement