Articles for April 8th, 2008
Lower Oak Lawn in the Design District
I just came from a long, mostly amicable (except when I asked if I was being admonished) visit with Michael Ablon, whose company Pegasus Ablon in partnership with The Lionstone Group is developing Lower Oak Lawn in the Design District. This is really an exciting project that will keep and preserve the art and design district along HiLine, Slocum and Dragon streets, and make it accessible to all of Dallas. That word accessible is loaded when you consider “to the trade only”; that line in the sand is staying exactly where it is - Design Center to the trade, antique shops open to the public, and the Decorative Center somewhere in between. What I’m referring to is the really big impetus for all of this - finally, an Oak Lawn exit off the Tollway. No, it wasn’t done to please the art galleries, or even at the considerable persuasion of Michael Ablon, it was done to make the Trinity Corridor accessible to North Dallas. Hence, the name Lower Oak Lawn - a pragmatic developer capitalizing on the name of the exit. I’m feeling positive - and I’ll keep you posted.
Art Ability Is All About Honesty
So, I trust that you have taken the time to check out our story about Jay Cantrell in the current issue of D Home. If you have, you know that he has created incredible sketches of downtown Dallas as it goes through various stages of rebirth. Cantrell has since moved to Virginia to pursue his dream of becoming an architect, but he continues to show his work in various galleries around town, including Art Ability. How do I know this? Well, the good people at that gallery called me to let me know that they have sold several of his pieces since the story came out, and they needed to know how to get in touch with him. Makes me happy.
Ed Harris vs. J.W. Foster
You know what, Candy? I see it. If J.W. ever needs someone to play him in a culinary drama, I think we’ve got our man.
Ed Harris Look-Alike in the Fairmont Kitchen
Candy tells us at a meeting a few weeks ago that there’s a good looking chef doing some exciting things with the cuisine at the Fairmont Hotel. “He looks like George Harris,” Candy says. George Harrison? We wondered. “No, not the Beatle,” Candy says. “Ed Harrison?” she suggested. “Ah, Ed Harris,” we said in unison. Well, no matter who he looks like, the word on the ground is that the new executive chef, J.W. Foster, is using all sorts of local purveyors for Texas quail, venison, and even grapefruit. We’ve also heard he’s instituted some wide ranging “green” procedures for the kitchens. He even bicycles to work. What’s the verdict on the food? I appeal to you, dear readers.
Errata
Porcelain appraisers Debby DuBay and David Lackey will be at Forestwood Antique Mall Thursday and Friday. We got that part right.
Debby DuBay has never appeared on the PBS Antiques Road Show, as was misstated in an earlier blog. We apologize for the confusion. Forestwood Antiques Mall would prefer that we word David Lackey’s association with the show as follows: “David Lackey has appeared on the PBS Antiques Road Show as a pottery and porcelain appraiser,” to avoid any unintentional confusion that his talk at Forestwood is connected with the popular show, which it isn’t. Forestwood mall wants you to know, too, that Lackey won’t be talking about Limoges…
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