NO BARE TREES

If you are as tired as I am of seeing bare trees against cement colored skies (except today), go check out this show “Painted Woods” by Lilian Garcia-Roig at Valley House Gallery. The images are oil on canvas and show trees of all kinds, in all seasons, in all their glory. Kind of makes you dream of spring.

RE: ALL THE BEST BLOGSPOT

Rebecca, That is an amazing web site (and book). How cool that they are on to our fabulous local designers–and what a gorgeous shot on the opening page!

ALL THE BEST BLOGSPOT

Photo by Pieter Estershon. The Web is a strange and mysterious thing. Somehow, Scotland has gotten ahold of Dallas’ talented decorators and is showing their beautiful work via All the Best. Last week it was Jan Showers, now today it’s Eric Prokesh, whose work has elicited so many estatic comments from All the Best readers, that blog founder Ronda Carman wrote me directly to find out how to get in touch with him.

Ronda, some other top Dallas decorators are Julio Quinones, Paul Garzotto, and Loyd Taylor and Paxton Gremillion of Loyd&Paxton.

Readers, I discovered New York decorator Muriel Brandolini’s amazing rooms on All the Best–check it out if you don’t know her work. Simply the best.

SEND TXU A MESSAGE

According to Clean Air Watch, a Washington-based environmental watchdog, TXU has become public enemy No. 1 in the battle against global warming. While our politicians and TXU are duking it out over the preposterous coal plant plans, we Texas homeowners can consider sending TXU a message of our own. Call Green Mountain and inquire about sustainable energy services and pricing. Last time I checked, through Current Energy, the prices were 7.5 percent lower than TXU for the same amount of energy. You can change your provider online in about 20 seconds. Why are we waiting for oil and gas funded politicians to vote for even dirtier air in our state?

WINE-OH! FRIDAY

Grand Tastings is the place to be this Saturday, Jan. 27 if you’re pinching pennies: $1 tastings on select wines from 4-7 p.m. plus free tasty treats to nibble on. This is a deal no oenophile can pass up.

Chateau Wine Market offers a tour and tasting of French wines–from Cotes du Rhone to Sancerre–also this Saturday from 12-4 p.m. Cost is $25 per person. While you’re there, check out their cash-and-carry special: Cardinale meritage 1992, normally $175 per bottle but only $87.50 for cash paying customers. Robert Parker rated the wine a 93 but buyer beware: This lofty red blend might be past its cellaring prime. Ask questions.

Off the Vine/Into the Glass starts off its first platinum wine tasting of 2007 with some big boys: Flora Springs Wild Boar Cab 1999, Arceno Arcanum Toscana 2003, and Arrowood Reserve Cab 1999 just to name a few. Enjoy the premium sips for $50 per person.

RE: SPRINT + PROP TAXES

Take a look at the report at www.wfaa.com. and look at the bar “most watched videos” on the righthand side. Report is called “New Sprint fee prompts criticism, questions.”