NOTHING’S BETTER THAN KAREN FRY, OUR REAL ESTATE CHANTEUSE!

Karen Fry is going to be a hard act to follow tonight, even though her singing performance of Sweet Charity’s “There’s Got To Be Something Better Than This” will be followed by Michael Bolton–THE Michael Bolton, at Curtain Call 2007: An Intimate Evening With Michael Bolton–a benefit for Dallas Summer Musicals at The Hilton Anatole. (click here.)

Event starts at 7 p.m., tickets are $500, a charitable contribution to Dallas Summer Musicals, of which Karen is a new board member. So how long as she been a chanteuse? Turns out our Dallas real estate whiz was a student at the Dallas Summer Musicals School for the Performing Arts. And I think Karen once told me she sang at Sweetbriar College, (just a few years ago). Singing gives her a multi-dimensional life, she says, and she learned how empowering it is to conquer a challenge from Dallas businessman Dick Bass. He told her that after climbing mountains, he was never again intimidated when sitting in front of a banker asking for loans. (more…)

RE: DESIGN CENTER

In my recent post on happenings in the Design District, I mentioned the absence of the Design Center in the marketing organization. (Do all the Design/Decorative names confuse you?) Please skip below to read the very articulate response from George Nash–and I thought I had written the definitive history of the dec center. Another historical note–the prison next to the Design Center that used to be the hotel was where the Beatles stayed when they came to Dallas. (more…)

RE: RALPH LAUREN’S IN THE GARDEN

Actually, Christine, I like to wear my Speedo to do the gardening so I can suck up as many toxic rays as possible, but I’m open to a hip polo with a popped collar. 

But artificial flowers? Seriously? If you can’t decorate with them, you surely can’t have them anywhere near the garden. 

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FLAVORS FROM AFAR ON THE MOVE

One of our favorite epicurean shops in Dallas is moving to a bigger and better space. But don’t worry: Flavors From Afar is staying put in Snider Plaza. The new spot will feature an expanded tasting area and more space for new product lines, in-store cooking demonstrations, and general tasty goodness. Owners Nancy and Gary Krabill’s new space should be ready in mid-March. We hungrily await the opening.

WINE-OH! FRIDAY

Here it is: the first official wine events listing on our new-and-improved blog. Are you excited? Does your pulse quicken? Good. Me too. Let’s begin.

The Wine Therapist features two events this upcoming week. At its Park Cities location, enjoy the grandaddy of all fine French wines at WT’s Bordeaux primer. The Lakewood Wine Therapist features a tasting of premium California Cabernets. Both events are Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Wine Squared’s previous class on famous wine blends was so popular they’re doing it again. Discover how different grapes create different flavor profiles and sip some choice Bordeaux, Champagne, and Chianti. Five tastes for $15 on Monday, Feb. 26.

Chateau Wine Market hosts a wine fair this Saturday, Feb. 24. Taste 20 wines for $25. No word on what the wines will be but knowing this tony Travis Walk shop, the bottles should be first rate.