Quincy at the Tate

Few of us are as privileged in life as to have earned the following labels for our efforts: “composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder, multi-media entrepreneur and humanitarian.” But that’s how SMU is describing Quincy Jones before his lecture at 8 p.m. Tuesday at McFarlin Auditorium, as part of the Tate Lecture Series. Excuse me, make that the Omni Hotels Lecture of the Tate Lecture Series.

Maybe we should launch our own lecture series? Austin could discuss NASCAR, Dan can handle comic books (or should we call them graphic novels?), Chuck will tackle high school sports, Tierney has the social scene, Charles could discuss golfing on the finest courses in the world (after our title sponsor has arranged for him to play all of them, of course), and Merritt can find some way to cause trouble, I’m sure. The Overheard Lecture Series, anyone? Excuse me, make that the Wild About Harry’s Overheard Lecture Series…

Re: Alibaster Shows Merritt Some Love

So, the great Alibaster K. Abthernabther kindly replied to my earlier post on the job requirements of being his “beard,” a function he praised Merritt for in a mysterious e-card. AKA writes:

Being my beard entails a great many things; paramount among them: a steady hand and a strong stomach.

I’ve already said too much.  Merritt doesn’t like it when I get “icky.”

Curious…very curious.

Alibaster Shows Merritt Some Love

I just received an e-mail from Merritt’s iPhone, she’s ecstatic (Merritt, not the iPhone) about receiving this e-card from Alibaster K. Abthernabther.

Just one question for AKA: (more…)

Re:Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator

Austin Phillip, if you were born to Sarah Palin, your name would be:

Drill Swollen Palin

This is fun…

Happy Birthday, Merritt

As your 30s draw to a close, I’m pleased to know you have a new iPhone to keep you company.

Veep

I read that Obama has called a bunch of people whom he will not select as his running mate.  I haven’t received a call yet, so I think I’m in!  Keep your fingers crossed.

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard from McCain either!

Kaufman v. Highland Park

Our kind and talented society editor, Tierney Kaufman, just informed me she has to trek to the municipal court of HP at 1:30 p.m. today just because she wants to take defensive driving for a ticket she got going down Armstrong Avenue a few weeks ago.

Is that right? You can only ask HP to let you take defensive driving at an appointed time? You can’t just drop by the old town hall any old time to get permission?

On Retreat

Saddened by the loss of Glenn Arbery, the staff of People Newspapers is on a retreat today. Our offices are closed.

Goodbye to Glenn

In a little while the People Newspapers/D Magazine family will gather to say goodbye to senior editor Glenn Arbery, who has so ably handled our Weekend section since its inception five years ago. For those who haven’t heard, Glenn is returning to academia, taking a two-year appointment to a chair at a college up in Massachusetts.

All of us who have had the privilege of working with Glenn will miss him, and the Dallas arts scene will have one less champion for its cause. Everyone who has had dealings with Glenn comes away impressed by his intelligence, but also his kindness and humility. Here’s a little taste of what I’m talking about.

We’re Winners

The Suburban Newspapers of America have just announced the winners of the 2008 Advertising & Promotions Contest, and we took home three prizes.

Our outstanding design work by Brittani Harrison and photo by Christina Barany were honored with a first-place finish in the Best Cover Design category, for our Retirement section, “Happily Ever After.”

Homes & Estates was again honored as first place for Best Homes Publication or Homes Special Section for the Feb./March 2008 issue on “Amazing Spaces.” It’s our second straight year to win this award. Great work by art director Amy Curry, ad production work by Rebecca Hannon and Craig Jarman, and the outstanding efforts of editor Krista Nightengale made it happen.

And our fabulous ad staff and dearly departed marketing director Julie Dial deserve credit for earning us a second-place finish for Best Media Kit, for our media kit, of course.

I Got Kicked Out of Starbucks

So I was in Oak Cliff this morning working on a story about the closing of its location on Illinois Avenue. It’s one of only three Starbucks in Oak Cliff. When I went in the store to get some reaction from the Starbucks’ staff, they were very nice, but made it clear they didn’t [or couldn't] talk to me, and quickly handed me a phone number for the corporate office as a manager held the door open for me ushering me quickly out the door.

Ah, such is the life of a nosey reporter…

Blog Stats — June

That wasn’t so bad. I had thought that our monster month in May, along with the beginning of the summer vacation season, would result in us seeing a little bit of a drop in our numbers in June. It did, but it still qualifies as our second-biggest month ever in almost all the metrics:

70,866 pageviews, 23,712 visits, 7,273 unique visitors

Our biggest day of the month was June 25, with 3,946 pageviews. The most popular posts that day were Merritt’s battle with a fellow motorist and the mysterious Beverly book club.

To see the top keyword searches and individual posts of the month, (more…)

Someone Bears False Witness to Merritt

From our page 2 columnist:

So someone (a Parkie) picking up an across the street neighbor kid backed out of their driveway after I backed out of mine. . My car was already in the lane and I was starting to move forward. He backs into the side of my car and bashes the crap out of the passenger side front and back doors. I got out and said I’d need his ins info and he said, “what? we were both backing out and just ran into each other.”

No, you don’t smash the side of someone’s car with the back of your car and say we’re both  at fault.

So I got his ins agent info, wrong number. There was an HPISD sticker on his car. I’ll find him.

Game on, brother.

Overheard Where?

See if you can guess where these Overheardian bloggers (Kersten, Charles, and Merritt) ate a power dinner last Friday night? Also present (but not pictured, so as to maintain their innocence) were Kersten’s and Charles’ spouses. Merritt’s spouse said he couldn’t make it, but this is being investigated.

Important blog business was, of course, discussed.

US Open? Not So Much

So, the golf tournament is called the US Open. But how open is it, really, if I wasn’t invited to play in it? Once again.  That’s Tiger, who was invited to play at the US Open.  The other photo is of me, not invited.

Tackett’s Desperate Search

D Home’s Amanda Tackett is in search of super fab outdoor living spaces in her Richardson neighborhood. This is what she came up with. I like the giant head in the bushes. Anyone have some Parkie patio pix so we can show her the difference.

I would photograph mine but the yellow treehouse with cheetah spots isn’t the classy image I had in mind. We need something that screams elegance.

Re: My Namesake Outdoes Me

So, I Googled myself to see if I’d find any issues like Jason did earlier. Number 3 and 4 (the first was Overheard and the second was this old link to sassy Pegasus News) took me to the actress Merritt Patterson. So, my namesake smoked me too. But if I got on reality T.V. I’d surf right past the other Merritt. I’ll start working on that. Anyone know any producers?

My Namesake Outdoes Me

Ego-googling is a well-documented phenomenon of the Internet age. The New York Times had an interesting article about it recently. Just a moment ago I took a moment to Google myself because I was looking at our latest blog statistics and my name has lately had a surge on our top keyword list. I wanted to see what was bringing people to type my name in a search engine.

I was distraught to find this guy when I did it.  There he is, standing there, reminding me of how I chose to remain a Life Scout because at the age of 17 I was way more interested in hanging around with my girlfriend than in planning service projects.

So what do you call it when a namesake achieves something you yourself failed to do?