THE ROOF IS ON FIRE- PALOMAR

At 3PM Park Cities People found out Palomar was on fire from staff photograher Jeremy Chesnutt (good work, scoop!) By 3:15 fire trucks were still en route. And by 3:39, the flames were “pretty much under control,” as JR Parker, driver and engineer for the DFD said. PCP blog has blow-by-blow here but basically, well…jump to find out.
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SCOTT COONER LIGHTS THE WORLD

Not surprising that this Glam Lamp from Prandina comes from Scott + Cooner, because they have the most amazingly edited collection of modern lighting around. And soon you can light up your igloo, tent, or Scandinavian cottage when the whole collection becomes available online at the Scott Cooner Modern Lighting Store Online. Dallas, Austin, the world–you go, girls.

PALOMAR ON FIRE?

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that fire fighters are battling a three-alarm blaze in a residential portion of the Hotel Palomar project. According to the paper, more than 100 people have been evacuated. Details to follow.

LADIES WHO LUNCH

I made a presentation yesterday to the Northwood Women’s Club, showed recent images from the magazine and generally talked about trends and what was interesting about particular images. The ladies could not have been more gracious, and we dined on cucumber sandwich wedges with the crusts cut off. At first, it’s easy to sort of pooh-pooh the LWL as not having much to do. Until you hear about the 30,000 plus hours of volunteer work they contibuted last year, the more than $200,000 they will donate this year, and the $2.6 million dollars they’ve given in their 29 years to such beneficiaries as Dallas Casa and Rainbow Room. Where would these great organizations be without the unselfish giving of time and money from people who are probably a lot busier than I. And how small and petty that original thought feels now.

AT LAST, PEOPLE PAPERS ON THE WEB

Finally, FINALLY, we have a web presence. Please peruse to your heart’s content. We know how you love the local stuff:

PCP Real Estate link

‘UPTOWN’ IS THE NEW ‘TOWN CENTER’

Funny column by Steve Brown of the DMN today. Read it here.

Uptown, he writes, is the hot name. “Station and marketplace are also common designations in today’s real estate game. Back in the 1970s and 1980s everything built was a center. Then the Canadian developers hit town, and it changed to centre.

RE: IS ANIMAL PRINT BACK?

I guess I’m one of those who belives it never went out of style (but remember, a little leopard goes a long, long way.) Proof positive: At the gorgeous new Palomar, hotel guests are given a zebra print robe to lounge in. Love it. You can also buy it online here.

By the way, anyone else obsessed with geographic carpet in Palomar guest rooms? If anyone out there knows where to get it, let me know.

BARNEYS P.S.

Jonathan Adler did ask me about property prices in Dallas. How much, he asked me, would it cost to buy a house in say Highland Park. I gave him a range from a plain bungalowe (rare find, I added) at like $700ish to $1.5 million…more of course if he wanted stately, land, etc.

Why, I asked? He just smiled.

DAVID DILLON UPDATE

I called our (former) architecture critic David Dillon to find out his plans. As you know, he took the buyout, and now he’s back in Massachusetts. What a loss for our city. Though you haven’t heard the last from him yet. He’s taking the fall to finish a book, and he still has a few more stories to finish up for the Morning News. After that, he says he hasn’t made plans yet; he doesn’t want to rush into anything. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

SNIDER PLAZA STORE WITH LAKEWOOD CONNECTION

Check out the upcoming store in Snider Plaza Uptown Country by SMU grad Jenny Grumbles.

Along with original art painted by Grumbles, and home good brands like Pine Cone Hill and Dash and Albert, her mom, Lakewood-native (and former Woodrow Wilson High cheerleader) Fran Holley, sells her refurbished antiques or “Frantiques.” Opens Oct. 2–stay tuned.

ARTIST WATCH: GRACE WALLACE

Recent University of California, Santa Barbara, grad Grace Wallace is back in her hometown as associate director at Marty Walker Gallery. Not news in itself until you consider what she’s doing in her free time. Look around the next time you are at the Lexus dealership or check out her web site to see her beautiful, modern Georgia O’Keefe-esque paintings. “My new work deals with the everyday images that we pass by and do not pay attention to–mostly images of food from grocery store junk mail combined with photographs I have taken of strange occurrences,” she says. And to think, I used to walk to elementary school and carpool to middle school with this talent….

ORANGE IN SEPTEMBER?

Candy, I must have been at the opposite end of the party spectrum last night. No one wore black at my event, and there was a lot of orange attire in the room. Isn’t orange in September like white after August?

BARNEYS OPENING

Barney’s had a fabulous opening tonight at NorthPark, and I was totally surprised to hear Patti LaBelle–see Patti LaBelle in the flesh! She was AWESOME!

“Honey, I’m 63, I’m menopausal and I have diabetes…I’m one mean black woman!”

You go girl! Voulez-vous couchez avec moi, se soi?

Probably one of the best openings I’ve been to. First of all, everyone wore NYC black (except for moi–what was I thinking?) Said Jonathan Adler, the designer and partner of Barneys Creative Director Simon Doonan: “These Dallas gals go all out–I mean their clothes, hair, they look wonderful!”
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CYNTHIA BEARD: BTW, HONEY, I BOUGHT A HOUSE TODAY!

Just got off the phone with her and confirmed she does indeed have a contract on Mary Ellen Bendtsen’s house at 4949 Swiss Ave. It was supposed to close tomorrow, but legal matters may take a bit longer. She has no idea what she will do with the house other than gingerly restore it. I love Cynthia, woman after my own heart: She acted so quickly in buying the house on Swiss she didn’t even tell her husband–he found out when he read the newspaper.

I should try that with Walter Evans!

FURTHER CONFIRMATION…

Peggy’s wearing animal print today.

VIP AT DORIS SANDERS

How’s this for a two-fer? A fabulous pillow in new and vintage fabrics, with a wearable pin attached–I love this one in Chinese silk with a boomerang pin. From Deborah Main Designs at Doris Sanders Ltd. come VIP–very important pillows for very important people. And, yes, Christine, I bet there are some animal prints lurking around–they are never really out. Just ask a leopard.

IS ANIMAL PRINT BACK?

I suspected that the predatory prints were back when I saw them at Anichini, but it wasn’t until the other day when I caught sight of our freelancer Stephanie Stollenwerck’s animal print pumps that I realized I had missed the memo. So I’ve been out on safari, and now I’m all caught up on the trend. Neiman Marcus has a zoo’s worth of animals in jewelry, handbags, shoes, and a cadre of home furnishings. But my favorite animal sighting was at Porthault. Picture this pillow (shown) with white, Frette sheets, a camel throw, or hot pink bedding. See more in your next D Home. Until then, get out there and answer the call of the wild.

RE: BARNEYS

Candy, you’re right, the family got plenty of stock in the buyout, as well as a hefty family discount. I don’t blame Catherine for going to the other side. Neiman’s bores the socks off me, as much as I love the history of the store. But who wants to live in the past? Here’s what’s great about the benefit at Barneys tonight: 100 percent of everything–tickets are $250 a pop–goes to benefit Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, and Big Thought, which manages the Young Audiences programs in Dallas.

THE MONDRIAN: HOME SWEET HELLHOLE

Consider this: If you were paying $10,000 a month in rent, would you want vomit and feces in your hallway? Keep reading. From today’s Park Cities People.
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BARNEYS’ BASH II

Interesting, Rebecca. Tonight’s party is a total sellout and the charity is thrilled–who’s the charity, BTW? I guess Catherine is more interested in philanthropy than an old family business that sold out… but you’ve got to wonder if the family didn’t get to keep just a little stock….

I’ve got news on the Palomar opening this morning, but I have to wrap up some writing first because I know our manager editor is tapping his foot….

BARNEYS NEW YORK PARTY TONIGHT

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it weird that Catherine Rose is co-hosting the big Barneys opening bash tonight? Rose’s maiden name, in case you don’t know, is Marcus. As in Neiman Marcus. In sorority lingo, she’d be called a double legacy. As granddaughter of Stanley Marcus and the daughter of former Neiman’s Chairman Richard Marcus, you’d think she’d be circling the wagons around the family’s former empire, helping Neiman’s toss a counter-party of their own (as they did several years back when Saks at Willowbend opened its mega store with a huge launch party). Loyalty, we see, has its limits.

CERULEAN’S NEW EXHIBIT

Showing art and telling stories. Now through Oct. 30, visit SMU grad Caroline Crockett Pickton’s contemporary Cerulean Gallery and see “Stories Told,” which features work of local artists Libby Beall Goff, Cynthia Collins, Betsy Keith, Liz London, and Haitian artist Burton Chenet. The exhibition benefits the nonprofit Dallas-Haiti Project, which works to provide jobs for Haitian women and improve well-being, health, and education of Haitian people.

This black-and-white, custom hand-printed photograph is “Grandma and Grandson” by University Park artist Libby Beall Goff.

DALLAS ECOBROKERS

Eco what? In keeping with green trends, we now have EcoBrokers. These are certified Realtors with special training in energy and environmental issues. Beth Johnson, arguably the first EcoBroker in Texas, hooks green-leaning buyers up with homes that are energy-efficient and otherwise environmentally friendly. Look her up at BethJohnson.com. If you’ve been skeptical of the emerging green home market, this should convince you it’s becoming real.

MASS. HOME PRICES = SAILS DOWN

Might be a good time to start looking for a home on the Cape.

CURRENT ENERGY: NEW RETAIL CONCEPT ON KNOX

Current Energy, an entirely new concept in retail, has just opened on Knox Street and is touting innovative energy saving products and programs. Energy advisors will evaluate your home energy needs, provide a cost comparison between your current electric provider and other sources as well as sell you everything from solar screens to electric scooters. Check this out. I have never seen anything like it, and believe me, I have been looking. Store management says this is the first of many storefronts slated to open. Rumor has it there are BIG bucks backing this concept–so expect to hear much, much more about it. 3101 Knox St., right next to the Apple Store.