YOUR REFRIGERATOR IS RUNNING TIMES TWO

We get the best stuff from my neighborhood patrol. I feel sorry for this family but gosh, goes to show you cheap wine is so bad even the crooks don’t want it…

(A refrigerator) was taken from my (currently being remodeled) house. Someone broke a lock in the back of the house (secluded yard) and rolled the fridge, which was in the garage, out the garage doors, which were locked from the inside, closed them again and went out through the back. They LEFT a boxed wine cooler, which was in a box next to the fridge.

It has happened again. I arrived this morning to find a glass window broken in the back of the house. Several people, I assume, came in, ripped the installed refrigerator from the water line and rolled it out through the garage. Both times, other appliances have been left, so this seems to be a “refrigerator” crime. I now have MAJOR locks on the inside of the garage doors and the security system is working.

AWARD-WINNING INTERIORS

It’s a bit late, but what the hey. Apartment Therapy had a terrific idea, posting their favorite film interiors in celebration of the Academy Awards.

I’d like to add to that the greatness seen in Laurel Canyon, North by Northwest, Diane Keaton’s house in Something’s Gotta Give, and LA Confidential.

HOME IS WHERE YOUR ART IS

Jennifer Culbertson, a Park Cities artist, has been working hard compiling a calendar/engagement book that features the fine art of PC artists, 90 in all. Now Leanne McKinley of Ellen Terry and Patrick McKinley of McKinley Built Homes, the sponsors of the engagement book, have devised a rather brilliant marketing scheme to tap into the book’s good buzz.

Artists that appear in Culbertson’s book will be shown at two of the McKinley’s homes currently on the market (one new, one a re-do), and each room will feature a different PC artist. To celebrate, there will be a combined viewing/artist party on Feb. 27 at the home on 4655 N. Versailles. Realtors and invited guests from 4-6:30 p.m. and artists from 6-8 p.m.

PIERRE FREY

Patrick Frey was at Walter Lee Culp’s to show the new Pierre Frey spring collection. This pattern, Ming, reminds me of Minton, a pattern from the ’90s that became a new and fresh icon of the superior printing being done in Europe at the time, and soon everyone was on the fabric train. You can find Pierre Frey linens at Yves DeLorme, and they are presently looking for distribution of their tabletop collection. Any ideas?

RE: TXU BUYOUT

I did read that, Loyd. It seems that the buyers are also promising reduced prices for consumers (a move directly tied to the threat of government action to break up TXU’s market share and high prices). Most of their environmentally sensitive moves were part of a settlement with environmental groups that had been hounding TXU for years. I guess three coal plants is better than 11. I guess. But isn’t that like saying three punches to the stomach are better than 11? Still hurts.

JAN SHOWERS SPRING SHIPMENT

There’s something really civilized and ladylike about the lunches Jan Showers hosts to show off her new Paris shipments each season. Her spring lunch is Wednesday, February 28 (11:30-1:30) at the showroom, 1308 Dragon St. If you’ve never been to one–or even to her place–spring is a good time to start since the colors will be soft and pretty: camels, palest greens and lavenders, whites, some pink, and ice blues. These are her mainstays–the colors of the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s that are still glamorous and chic. I can’t wait to see if she’s mixing things up more–taking cues from other eras and styles. The era of decorating with one look, no matter what that is, is well on its way out. It’s more fun to mix it up anyway.

TXU BUYOUT IS A WIN-WIN

If you’ve seen the headlines, you probably know that TXU has agreed in principle to the largest buyout offer ever–a $45 billion offer, to be exact. (I was saving my pennies, but some more organized guys beat me to it…) The good news is that this buyout may save us from the creation of 8 of 11 new coal plants. Additionally, the potential buyers are saying they will invest in coal gasification technology, a process that removes carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into our air. Perhaps there is hope yet for Dallas air quality–and perhaps Governor Perry will be forced to look elsewhere for hefty campaign contributions.