See You at the Game Tomorrow

The People Newspapers offices will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So blog posts will be few and far until Wednesday.

I will be spending hours in a van with Scott, Jeremy, Curtis, and former PCP sports editor Phil Stephens tomorrow to see the big game in Waco. Ask me about that when I get back.

Otherwise, Merry Christmas to all.

Merritt Loses One

The following letter made its way to my desk today:

I have always enjoyed your paper, but have decided not to renew my subscription because of Merritt Patterson’s column. I don’t know her and have no personal feelings good or bad against her, but what she writes has absolutely no “good” in it. Nothing good can come from humor without heart, so I cannot support the paper that promotes words completely void of worth.

Charlie’s In Charge

An Overheardian sends word that Charlie Palmer at The Joule on Main Street opened this week.   Last night, Charlie Palmer himself was spotted working the room and chatting with patrons.  He also opened Next Vintage, a wine shop adjacent to the restaurant.  http://www.charliepalmer.com/dallas/home.html

Early word on the street is “fantastic” and “great food”.  If you are looking for a new place to enjoy progressive American cuisine, this new spot might include a bonus sighting of the retaurant’s namesake. Then you can meander next door and purchase the wines you enjoyed during dinner. Bon Appetit!   

Garage Proposal for UP

If you’re planning to build a new home in UP, you may want to keep a close eye on a proposal before the City Council that would require new construction to have more enclosed garage parking. The idea is to take parked cars off crowded UP streets, and it may mean homes in the 4,000 to 8,000 square feet range would be required to have three off-street, enclosed parking spaces, and over 8k would require four. The council will continue to discuss the proposal in closed meetings, and a vote is expected next month.

Update: This in from Steve Mace: “A committee comprised of local builders and residents is discussing a number of potential building standards including that one.  The group has opted to hold their discussions in private.  That is well within their rights. Let’s not give those who read the blog the impression that Council is determining policy behind closed doors.”

Duly noted.

Christmas Cheer on Rheims

If you haven’t been by this house on Rheims at night yet, you’re missing the most remarkable sight of this Christmas season. Pictured are just two of the eight jacks-in-the-box portraying members of the Owen family. These photos, taken at dusk, don’t do it justice. And you need to hear the music playing to get the full experience. The heads move up and down on hydraulics. Let me tell you, it’s a little spooky. You can read more about it in this week’s Park Cities People.

For another shot, (more…)

Most Surprising Holiday Card 2007

Posted with permission from this Park Cities family, nothing says merry Christmas quite like your children kneeling next to their dead bobcat in the industrial fridge at the family ranch. The mom had no idea the card would create such buzz so she is really glad she had the pools of blood edited out.