Chevy Cavalier? I Don’t Think So.

So I hate to be picky but the car smasher’s insurance guy tried to put me in a Chevy Cavalier for two weeks while my car is being reconstructed. I called him from the rental place where he had already arranged everything and reminded him that his customer had wacked my comfy sedan with steel reinforced doors for added safety and a Cavalier didn’t feel “comparable.” It took awhile for him to budge but now I’m sportin’ an Altima. That was the upgrade; I won in case you couldn’t tell.

Camp Longhorn Blob is Operational

Term 2 is in full swing at Camp Longhorn and the blob seems to be fully functioning. This photo made my kids want to start packing 13 days in advance.

Seniors Kick A** and Smash Cars Too.

An Overheardian needs help finding the chick who smashed his car and fled the scene.

On Saturday, June 28^th around 5:30pm my Toyota Land Cruiser was parked in front of my house, 7500 block of Colgate Avenue, when I heard a loud thud and a car alarm sound.  By the time I got outside several of my neighbors were gathered around my vehicle.  Someone in a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee had hit my car knocked it 10 to 15ft.backward and over the curb. Instead of doing the right thing and stopping, they sped off.  A jogger passing by got the type and color of the vehicle as well as a description of the person driving (young white female) but no plate numbers.  However, one important piece of information was written on the back windshield; “SKA” [this stands for Seniors Kick Ass].  Those letters identify the vehicle as likely belonging to an upcoming senior at HP high school. 

As of today, no parent has come to me with their daughter to admit guilt and apologize.  This is what bothers me the most. 

Re:Ace Real Estate Editor Austin Kilgore Not Guilty…

I think I need to clarify a few things about today’s court experience.

First off, I wasn’t found not guilty, but the judge did dismiss my case because the prosecutor’s lack of evidence [aka the cop didn't show up]

(more…)

Obsessive Mental Father

Remember that Park Cities father who didn’t want to pay for his son’s college education unless he became a Republican? Well, he’s ready to tell you how to run your life now. “You can no more think and grow rich than you can think and grow tomatoes.” Good stuff:

Don’t Let the Park Cities Become Frisco

Our award-winning editorial board just this week received a response to a recent editorial. Unfortunately, because the writer did not provide a name, it can’t be printed in our newspaper. So I provide it here:

Thank you for your May 23rd article on “Tearing Down Our History.”

We all know change is inevitable and that some is beneficial and some is detrimental. It would seem that it would behoover us to carefully examine change initiatives and if we determine that we are note resisting change because we are just reactionary, we should try to deter detrimental change. (more…)

Hootie vs. STP

I spent part of my weekend listening to live music that made me wax nostalgic for my college days. Late Saturday night in Fort Worth, me and a buddy caught Hootie and the Blowfish at Billy Bob’s. I followed that up with Stone Temple Pilots last night at Nokia.

Both shows were very strong, but I have to say that Hootie gets the nod. The band that was all the rage in 1994 following the release of “Cracked Rear View” was spot on with its hits and added a few fantastic cover songs. Hootie covered David Allen Coe’s “You Never Even Call Me By My Name,” which went over like gangbusters at Billy Bob’s, as one might suspect. They also tackled Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova” and mixed a little of Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down on It” in the middle of set-closer “Only Wanna Be With You.” It was truly a fantastic concert experience.

(more…)

Top This

Was your weekend better than mine? Probably. I went to Amarillo and stayed in a hotel just right around the corner from a Toot ‘n Totem.

Can you top that? I’m waiting…

Ace Real Estate Editor Austin Kilgore Not Guilty…

That’s right, folks. He’s been cleared of charges.

Several months ago while pulling up to work, I noticed a rather familiar Chevy Caprice Classic pulled over in the shops across the street. Turns out, it was Kilgore. Apparently, his inspection/registration/something was out of date.

Well, it’s been a stressful few months as Kilgore has fretted about his fate. But after waiting in court for about two hours, he’s been found not guilty! Let’s all congratulate Kilgore. And maybe encourage him to get a new set of wheels. (PS, that’s not Kilgore’s car, it’s just a picture of a car like his).

Who’s Up For Lunch?

So I went to have a quick lunch at the Nasher Sculpture Center last week, and it was wonderful. For the first time, the Nasher is doing a summer lunch deal that allows free access into the museum to have lunch in Café Nasher by Wolfgang Puck. The food was great (I’ve been craving the warm spinach and goat cheese salad ever since) and nothing beats a relaxing lunch in the garden surrounded by masterpieces.

However, this experience will only be offered until July 31. After that, visitors must pay to enter.

The End is Near

I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s almost July, which means summer is just about half-way finished. I’m working on compiling a list of things to do in your last few days of summer, and I need your help. What’s something that you and your family do locally that few know about? Shoot me an e-mail at krista@peoplenewspapers.com and tell me about it.

Are You Lazy if You Don’t Walk the Escalator?

In his review of Wall-E in Friday’s paper, senior editor Glenn Arbery took aim at able-bodied people (without strollers) who don’t walk up escalators. By my rough count, I’d say this is — oh — 99 percent of everyone. Anyway, we thought he might get some response to his complaints, but we had no idea passions ran so deep, as they apparently do for this reader:

Speaking of pet peeves:

The purpose of an escalator is NOT “to speed up the normal ascent of people climbing a stairway”.  That is to say, getting any one person from point A to point B faster is not the goal.  The goal is to move a group of people from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, without compromising safety.  Speed of individual ascent (even average speed of individual ascent) and efficiency aren’t the same thing.

The most common accident that occurs on an escalator is tripping.  Same as on stairs.  In my experience, people walking escalators typically appear awkward and uncertain. (more…)

West Nile Virus Found in Highland Park

Thanks to an alert Overheardian, this has been brought to our attention. While we work to develop the story, please keep away from pesky mosquitoes.

Stud Muffin

This was too good for me to pass up.

I headed out to Highland Park Village to ask shoppers their favorite Fourth of July traditions (check out the society page in next week’s Park Cities People). After speaking with a few women, I came across Barton, a native Dallasite and big time Dallas Country Club member.

Jump for a photo of Barton The Stud. (more…)

Buyers Coming to the Park Cities?

This just in from the Dallas Morning News.  Maybe the hockey player will find a buyer for his house.

Scots Make All-State Baseball Team

Former Highland Park baseball players Seth Gardner and Joey Hainsfurther both were named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Class 4A All-State Team.

Gardner, who will play for Arkansas next year, earned a spot as a first-team outfielder, while Hainsfurther, a Baylor signee, was named a second-team shortstop.

The Scots broke the school record for wins in a season by finishing 35-8.

If it Weren’t For Bad Luck…

Former Scot Clayton Kershaw has pitched well in most of his seven Major League starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers since being called up from Double-A on May 24.

However, the lefty still doesn’t have a win to show for it. Yesterday in the City of Angels, Kershaw pitched four-plus innings, giving up two runs with four walks and three strikeouts. But the Dodgers were shut out, 2-0, by former Ranger John Danks and the Chicago White Sox.

Kershaw will try again on Tuesday night in Houston when he squares off with Wandy Rodriguez, who beat the Rangers last night.

Hard Times for Hockey Players?

A certain Dallas Stars’ player whose home has been on the market off and on for several years, recently reduced the asking price on his home by $26,000. Any Overheardians interested?   We’d be neighbors!

Re: Someone Bears False Witness

The car smasher couldn’t pull off a last minute victory, not even with a detailed diagram. Merritt won.

Time to Get Jealous

So I told you about this amazing of a find in Lakewood. Welp, the whole story, which is found in this month’s issue of Homes and Estates, is hitting lawns now. Check it out and read about this amazing backyard, incredible area pools, great ideas for outdoor kitchens, and some pretty nifty gardens. And, look for my favorite part of the entire magazine, pages 12 and 13. Kudos to art director Amy Curry and photography Christina Barany for making that happen.

Re: Assault at the U.P. Pool

Here’s what I have about the parties involved in the assault at the U.P. pool:

The suspect is a 43 year old white guy and the victim is a 42 year old white guy with an address in a 5600 block. Is that U.P.?

Anyway, they’re too old to be fighting at the pool.

My Cat, Jingles, is a Star

So, here it is, a link to the now-infamous story from last night’s Channel 5 newscast regarding the brutal home invasion suffered by my family at the paws of local raccoon ruffians, with particular emphasis of my cat’s reaction. Between fielding calls as my cat’s agent for national appearances and responding to complaints from the usual assortment of raccoons rights groups, I’ve barely gotten any work done today. The lovely and talented Lindsay Wilcox is the reporter, and the hard-working cameraman is Juan (sorry, I didn’t catch his last name).

D Mag Throws Real Estate Agent Shindig and I Hear a New Theory on the Bush’s New Home

My D Magazine brethren were gracious enough to invite me to last night’s Best Real Estate Agents of 2008 party to celebrate this year’s list of the best agents in town, (more…)

Re:SMU, You May Want to Call Your Lawyers

The comment-posting Overheardian “Tri Delta Lady” already said this, but the Mustang Realty pony doesn’t face the same way as the SMU one. The SMU mustang faces right. The Ford mustang points left,

And by the way, poster “JC,” you’re wrong about SMU taking the logo from Ford. They took it from us. [Sorry, it's a .pdf, but scroll down or search "Ford Mustang" in the document, you'll get the story]

Also, I don’t think SMU will be putting its lawyer pants on to fight Mustang Realty, they’re a pretty big athletics sponsor at the school.

What Does Your Front Door Say About You?

PR guru (and I hear Wick’s one time girlfriend) Jeanne Prejean has a theory about the front door of your house reflecting who you are.  True or hogwash? I haven’t guessed who owns every door here but I know which one belongs to D CEO’s Glenn Hunter and it so tells everything about him, that his wife is in charge.

The center left door has an arty thing attached to it. Is it a doll? Can we get a clearer photo of the object? 

UPDATE: I’m told that the arty thing is dry cleaning. Looked like a doll to me.