RE: TAX PROTESTS

So yeah, I was down at the Dallas County Appraisal District this afternoon. (If your protest is not postmarked by May 31, which is like now, you are OOL.) It was pretty crowded but, as Christine mentioned to you earlier, not as bad as I or the honchos down there expected.

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SHOP-N-HOP EVENT TONIGHT AT SNIDER PLAZA

When’s the last time you got something in Highland Park for free? Besides a traffic ticket? (Oh, wait, you had to pay for that.) Well, tonight’s your chance: the Shop-N-Hop event kicks off at Snider Plaza tonight, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by the host stores and discounts up to 25 percent. Stop in At My Table for cute patterned plates or table accessories, fun vintage-y stuff at Uptown Country Home, or darling linens for the nursery at Baby Bliss. And, lest your neglected wardrobe develop trendy envy, Blues Jean Bar and Melanie Gayle are participating, too. Just don’t let the cocktails persuade you that you’ll find lots of places to wear those five-inch heels. Shop tonight, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Snider Plaza.

PROPERTY TAX PROTESTS DOWN BY 20 PERCENT

Just got a call from the street: an informed property tax protester says it was quite crowded today (the deadline) at the Dallas County Appraisal District office on Stemmons Freeway. Even considering that line of procrastinators, the number of objectors (either by mail or in person) is down by 20 percent compared to last year. More equitable appraisals? Judging by mine, I don’t think so, but you’ve got to wonder. More to come.

FUSION HOME FASHION IS FANCY

We feature the cool shop in our current issue (p. 50). If you haven’t made it to the store just yet, plan on checking it out Saturday night. When the clock strikes 8 p.m., Fusion Home Fashion transforms from fashion-forward art, furniture, and clothing purveyor into happening hot spot. Grab a special someone, and size up art created by local artists, mingle with hip people, sip wine, and enjoy appetizers. A word: please think hard before attempting any of your patented dance moves. It’ll be tough to avoid the temptation–there’s a live DJ.

RAINY DAY SUNDAY

The perfect opportunity to find vintage gems. Rain, rain, you don’t have to go away.

BURGLARS WITH BALLS AND HOME SALES

We are all on deadline, hence the quiet of these here pages. But my ‘hood is a-hoppin’:

1. With terrible crime. The area directly behind and south of us has had twenty burglaries in a row. This holiday weekend there were six, four on Saturday night alone. It has us locking up the house so much I locked myself out the other day. Honestly thinking of packing heat. What I’ve heard is that the burglar is so–excuse me, ballsy–he walked into one house Saturday night with his sticky fingers while the owners were entertaining on the patio!

2. Said ‘hood wanted to join our Hillcrest Estates patrol but the last thing we need is to water down our coverage with these gutsy birds on the loose–so they have formed their own.

3. One homeowner is reportedly so freaked out she’s putting her house on the market. After all, the guy did invade her home while she was cooking dinner…kind of like that commercial.

4. Security alarm sales are up. You don’t suppose the condo developers are out there rubbing palms together?