STREET TALK

Former mayor Erik Jonsson had a great excuse to take respite from Dallas’ dog days last month. He traveled to Stockholm to receive the “Swedish American of the Year” award.

The award was given by the Vasa Order of America, an organization with 40,000 members scattered across the United States, Canada and Sweden.

Jonsson is the 24th recipient and the only Dallasite to ever win the award.



If you weren’t at NorthPark on Sunday, July 31, you missed it. The first annual D Magazine Chefs Tour was the place to be (if we do say so ourselves).

For the admission price of $15, participants sampled foods from 43 area restaurants. Everything from veal, pasta and black-eyed peas to pastries and Indian bread was available. For the thirsty, samples of wine, beer and mar-garitas also flowed freely.

Entertainment was offered by a classical pianist, Mexican singers and Chinese dancers.

The fire department estimates that 2.000 people attended; proceeds benefited the Shelton School and Evaluation Center for disabled children.



It’s a far cry from Show-Biz Pizza. Carol Brock, wife of Brock Hotel President Robert Brock (the corporation owns the Show-Biz Pizza chain), is starting quite a business endeavor.

She and Jeanne Emerson, wife of advertising agency president Stan Emerson, are opening a boutique specializing in one-of-a-kind designer gowns, cocktail dresses, sportswear and sweaters. The shop, called Rae Jeanne, is scheduled to open next month in Preston Center East.

The two women have already hired eight seamstresses, a doorman and valet parking attendants, plus a Rolls-Royce (complete with driver) to deliver the unique garments.