Most Beautiful House in Dallas

For the September issue of DHome, we are taking on the monumental task of picking the 10, or maybe 20 most beautiful houses in Dallas.  Please help us! We want old, new, classic, modern, whatever just hits you when you drive by on the street. And if you have a great one - tell us why.

Green Acres in DHome

The new DHome is about to come out, and it is a beauty.  But, to truly enjoy the contents you might want to catch up on some old  re-runs - we have the local re-creation of Pixley right down the road towards Athens, and all, or most of the characters, are fondly remembered.  By the way, have you ever noticed a passing resemblance between Eva Gabor and George Cameron Nash?

Icon Makes Dallas Stop

Icon, is an overused moniker.  There are very few professionals who refine, define, and change their chosen professions.  Frederic Fekkai is an icon.  And, he loves Dallas.

Fekkai made a rare public appearance yesterday at Neiman Marcus, Northpark.  Along with Fekkai’s entourage, an adorable tweeny/teeny young man with his father’s eyes stood near Fekkai.  I thought it was poignant and befitting, this week after Father’s Day.  We can post all sorts of gifts, ideas, and silly banter, but seeing this boy look so admirably at his father, melted my heart. 

The Spawn was thrilled with a little afternoon pampering, and delighted in her new tortoise shell hairbrush (autographed in gold by Fekkai). I’m quite certain we were the only attendees schlepping their stylist with them to the event. 

I heard a fabulously funny story from a D Home insider, jump to get that, and some juicy scoop from Fekkai insiders. (more…)

Re: “Sex” and Anichini

Not to worry, Todd, Anichini is still here in Dallas at Casa di Lino on Oak Lawn.  And, Anichini diva Sharon Thompson is there to help you release your inner Carrie, or, was that Samantha?

We Mourn the Loss of Robert Rauschenberg 1925-2008

I met him once, in 1989. He was in town to accept an award. Awards and adulation didn’t seem to faze him, he was Robert Rauschenberg.

He was from Port Arthur, TX. He saw beauty in everything. He was one of us.

The $175,000 Bed

This can be yours for a mere $175,000 and is on display right now at William & Wesley, where designer and author Betty Lou Phillips is signing away her newest book. Meantime, go lay on 250 yards of precious Christopher Hyland fabric and look up at the candelier which is not included in the price. (Would it drive you crazy to pay $175K for a bed and then have some naughty couple, ahem, mess it up?)

Ebby Halliday’s Birthday

Was yesterday. And the bamboo-patterned chairs from her office done by the late interior designer Audrey Price are, for some reason, scattered all over Barney’s shoe department. Or at least they were for the fun D Magazine party at Barneys. I mean, when a girl wants to try on shoes, sometimes she just needs her own special chair…

RE: Chelsea Clinton

Martha Tiller called me last night to say that Rob Reiner joined Chelsea Clinton last night at SCENE…but alas I was on the road driving home from Johnson City and passing the LBJ Ranch about the time Martha called. Kind of freaky: Martha was Lady Bird Johnson’s press secretary. Is that an omen? Sure all went well but I would really love to see and hear the young Clinton offspring sometime. Â

Dallas Women Win Approval of Olsen Twin

Sure, we’re known for our big hair or whatever, but for the most part, aren’t Texas women—and Dallas women, specifically—known for our sense of style? This was apparently news to Ashley Olsen. Her spokeswoman remarked of their trip to Dallas (and Forty Five Ten specifically): “We really had a good time. Ashley was surprised. The women were really chic. A lot of them had such great style. And we didn’t expect there to be so many women like that.” Check out the story in WWD.

What Has Kenneth Blasingame Been Doing?

Helping Laura Bush freshen up the White House, as documented in the new March issue of Architectural Digest. And we know Laura loves green. In fact, the Green Room is her favorite.

RE: The Economy

It did not seem down at all at yesterday’s 2008 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society luncheon and fashion show by Stanley Korshak — my oh my how the fabrics flowed, the bustles bustled, the hemlines dipped high and low in florals, basics, corals, aqua and tons of metallic. You know couture fashion trends precede home interiors. Heart of Gold recipient was precious Lynda Adleta, Adleta Fine Properties. More on her later at Dallasdirt.

HGTV or Desperate Housewives: Spend Valentines In A $50 Million Dollar Bedroom

Details on DallasDirt…

Bigger and Better

Our January-Feburary website is finally up. Have you seen our new issue in person? If not, it’s bigger and in many ways better — lots of clean, white space and full-page images. Check it out, then let us know what you think. Suggestions? We take those.

RE: Those Hicks Boys Engagement

News Christine and I told you about eons ago makes it to the DMN today…..

Mack Hicks Gets Engaged…

And all sorts of other scoop on DallasDirt…Mack Hicks, Justin Leonard, Tom Rhodes, God the dirt flieth.

How About A Dream Garage?

So, a company in Dallas has figured out the answer to one of my most nagging questions: where in the Beejesus are all these condo owners going to park their cars? These are the folks with really nice cars — I mean, you don’t want to leave the Aston on the street where the peons can breathe on it. Seriously, this concern has kept me up at night. Now comes word that Dream Garage Dallas is in the works, 25 luxury garage car suites where you can park your baby and probably do a whole lot more, like relax, drink bubbly, maybe take a bath while James wipes down the hood. FYI the Justin Whitman in this investor group is married to Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.  Details forthcoming on DallasDirt.Dmagazine.com.

Domino’s Destination

I’m leafing through the February issue of Domino. This month’s destination is Houston, which is fine and fantastic and all that. But my eyes were drawn specifically to the byline, which says “additional reporting by Allison Sarofim.” Unfamiliar with Houston-raised, NYC-dwelling Allison? Flip through Vanity Fair, and look in the party pics section. Or read WWD. Or you can read this to find out about her dad’s messy divorce. The point is: really? She’s doing a little reporting on the side? Is Becca Cason Thrash freelancing for extra pocket change, too?

HGTV Looking for Local Homes to Showcase

HGTV show If Walls Could Talk is searching for local homes with great stories. This note was just passed to me from the show’s researcher: “We’re looking for people who have privately owned homes, and through restoration and renovation, have uncovered items (hidden in the walls, floors, attic, secret passageways, etc) that relate back to an interesting history of the house or significant homeowners. Then, by doing some research, they discover an interesting/unusual story linking the artifacts they found to a significant past homeowner or a significant history of the house itself. We are also looking for homeowners who believe the artifacts they found might be valuable because we will bring in an appraiser to appraise the items!” If your house has what it takes, contact Sara Adams at SAdams@highnoonentertainment.com. Good luck!

New York Magazine Says New Yorkers Pollute Less Than Us

And we hog carbon footprints with our mega houses….well, Loyd, what do you think about this? It’s on our DallasDirt Real Estate blog, which I hope you are all checking daily.

RE: At My Table

I knew Leslie couldn’t stay retired for long, and this way, she’ll be down the street from Harold at Mr. Tuxedo…and, of course, Lucy, their Golden Doodle.

Press Release Report

We get a lot of press releases. Sometimes we read them. Today, I will give you the scoop on two of my favorites. First up, why not give someone (presumably a troubled single female friend) an unusual coffee book? Dr. Travis Stork has written Don’t Be That Girl. Stork was the featured bachelor on The Bachelor: Paris and will be on Dr. Phil’s spinoff show. So, you know this dude knows what he’s talking about. Bonus: he’ll be signing books in Dallas on January 17. Also received something from Black & Decker. They have an environmentally-friendly line lawn mowers, blowers, edgers, and so on. Maybe you could pair it with the book for your friend.

The Entree Is Dead? Certainly Gone From Party Menus

I found this article very interesting, especially since we have Craft here in Dallas. The entree seems to be dead, also, at parties. In fact, I cannot recall the last time I went to a party where entrees were served. Is this a new entertainment trend? So what do I serve at my next soiree…

Rise

I got a preview of my friend Hedda Dowd’s new restaurant Rise yesterday in Inwood Village. The antique door is the first hint that this is going to be a unique restaurant. The un-matched wooden planks around the sides are from old siding, antique French desks have been converted to tables, and vintage sofas will be available in the library to look through re-cycled books. Even the silver and linens are old and un-matched from Hedda’s Antique Harvest collection. Why should I be surprised? This is a friend who totally built and furnished her farm house with old stuff, she is obsessed with chickens, and once said “Why would anyone have a fireplace if they can’t cook on it?” She’s the true French epicurean, and we are in for a treat.