tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark/9 2010-02-09T23:04:11Z The Dallas Observer Blog Movable Type Enterprise 4.21-en tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.290292 2010-02-09 17:00:43 2010-02-09 17:04:11

​Longtime Friends of Unfair Park remember this picture -- it was taken a little over one year ago, just as Washington Mutual's box on Greenville Ave. was put on the market after JPMorgan Chase said, "Nah, we're good." A busto...

Robert Wilonsky ​Longtime Friends of Unfair Park remember this picture -- it was taken a little over one year ago, just as Washington Mutual's box on Greenville Ave. was put on the market after JPMorgan Chase said, "Nah, we're good." A busto bank sitting on the former home of a strip club (The Fare) perched right next door to a pawn shop -- it was almost like ... like ... like an art project! Which it is now: Former Observer art critic and Road Agent and troublemaker Christina Rees, now on staff at TCU, sends word this afternoon that she and a bunch o' artists are taking over the WaMu February 20-21 for an exhibition called Modern Ruin.Writes Christina:The two-day exhibition will be the only use for the million-dollar building before the demolition process begins the following week. The bank building is a truly modern ruin -- a building that never met its purpose, and only existed as potential activity, potential economy, and hoped-for growth.Seeking to take advantage of the space -- its social and cultural connotations, its materials, and its presence as direct and immediate evidence of the current economic condition -- 15 artists will create work inspired by and in dialogue with the building. Some artists will alter the building's materials and corporate interior, while others will stage actions and interventions within, and still others will use the background of the space as context for their work.A full list of the 15 participating artists follows, as well as the entirety of the release. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.290201 2010-02-09 16:00:47 2010-02-09 17:02:08

Danny Fulgencio​In the current paper version of Unfair Park, we detail the lengthy battle between Robert O'Donnell and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who extinguished O'Donnell's child support collection business after several courtroom victories. Despite the efforts of Abbott and...

Sam Merten Danny Fulgencio​In the current paper version of Unfair Park, we detail the lengthy battle between Robert O'Donnell and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who extinguished O'Donnell's child support collection business after several courtroom victories. Despite the efforts of Abbott and his office to find O'Donnell's company non-compliant with federal law, several big-name politicos supported O'Donnell (the son of former Dallas County Judge Bob O'Donnell), including Governor Rick Perry. Perry's May 2006 letter to former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt stressed that finding O'Donnell's practices in violation of federal law, which had been previously determined by Leavitt's own agency to be a matter best left in the hands of the state, had "the effect of decreasing competition and potentially decreases the likelihood that the custodial parent will receive their child support payment." This placed Perry in a group of powerful folks we reached out to for comment on the story, and, to his credit, he was one of very few willing to do so. However, what we got back didn't make the cut as the best he could muster was having his deputy press secretary, Katherine Cesinger, answer a few questions via e-mail. Her response to our inquiry about whether the Office of the Attorney General does a better job of collecting child support than other states -- and, of course, why or why not -- struck us as particularly terse. "The Attorney General's State Disbursement Unit is effectively and sufficiently collecting child support in the state," she wrote. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.290181 2010-02-09 14:53:42 2010-02-09 16:05:09

All photos by Patrick MichelsMatt Nix, Code 58's writer and creator, with director Tim Matheson on the set this morning​Like I said Sunday, we'll have much more about Code 58 in the paper version of Unfair Park the closer we...

Robert Wilonsky All photos by Patrick MichelsMatt Nix, Code 58's writer and creator, with director Tim Matheson on the set this morning​Like I said Sunday, we'll have much more about Code 58 in the paper version of Unfair Park the closer we get to the series' debut on FOX. But this morning, I went back to Fair Park to visit with the series' creator, Matt Nix, and the first episode's director, Tim Matheson, who are one day from wrapping the premiere episode that'll introduce Bradley Whitford (Dan) and Colin Hanks (Jack) as mismatched Dallas Police officers whose routine-crimes beat is, of course, anything but routine.Nix, creator of USA's Burn Notice, has been writing and rewriting this series for kicks for almost a decade; it was initially set in Los Angeles, matter of fact, before FOX signed off on shooting and setting its initial 13-episode run in Dallas. I asked Nix how they settled here.Bradley Whitford's Dan is a stuck-in-the-'70s Dallas cop -- hence, the mustache and various shades of brown clothing​"Well, it was a bit of a process," he said. "Basically, the production model for the show is, it's like doing a cable show on a network. It's a cable budget, a cable run of 13 episodes, cable everything except it happens to be broadcasting on FOX. Even in success, it can't go much beyond 13 episodes because Fair Park's only available part of the year. A [full season] 22-episode order would be too much for that. We could get it up to, like, 18."So you look for a city where you can shoot quick and cheap. FOX came up with a list of cities with tax incentives, the infrastructure. There are places with great tax incentives but no crews, and vice-versa. And once Dallas got on the list, I fought very hard for Dallas."I ask him, Why Dallas? "One thing was Fair Park," he said. "To say the city was film-friendly would be a wild understatement. Fair Park makes it possible to put so much more awesomeness on the screen it's not even funny. The other thing is, the look of Dallas. It's important it be a cosmopolitan enough city to justify a wide variety of crime. And, this is a throwback to the classic cop shows, and Dallas has the look of those shows. I kept saying to people, 'If we shoot this in the suburbs, it'll look wrong. We need power cables.'" tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.290102 2010-02-09 12:46:27 2010-02-09 15:01:42

Patrick Michels​A few weeks ago, you may recall, I asked with Dallas Area Rapid Transit spokesman Morgan Lyons why DART wasn't expanding service for the NBA All-Star Weekend. Said Lyons at the time, there just wasn't the need. DART has...

Robert Wilonsky Patrick Michels​A few weeks ago, you may recall, I asked with Dallas Area Rapid Transit spokesman Morgan Lyons why DART wasn't expanding service for the NBA All-Star Weekend. Said Lyons at the time, there just wasn't the need. DART has since rethought that policy."We just looked at it some more, and as we got closer to the event and all the things going on, we decided it would be easy to extend the service, and we'll see how it's received," Lyons tells Unfair Park this afternoon. That's good news, I told him. "Glad to make you happy. I get up in the morning and think, 'How can I make the Friends of Unfair Park happy?'" Damn right.Lyons says they're adding trains, upping frequency and extending some light-rail service till 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. You can get the full schedule for yourself on DART's Web site. Says Lyons, "We'll see how it works out." tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289993 2010-02-09 11:04:32 2010-02-09 12:52:23

One of three John Sirigo originals from the '39 Texas Centennial being sold on the eBay​I'm at Fair Park this very moment -- c'mon, you know why. But speaking of, Friend of Unfair Park PeterK -- who clearly spends more...

Robert Wilonsky One of three John Sirigo originals from the '39 Texas Centennial being sold on the eBay​I'm at Fair Park this very moment -- c'mon, you know why. But speaking of, Friend of Unfair Park PeterK -- who clearly spends more time on eBay than should be allowed, God bless him -- has come across this magnificent find: three original photos of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition taken by none other than Official Photographer John Sirigo, whose images from the event remain among the most iconic photos ever taken of Fair Park. They're a steal at $9.99, though I don't expect them to remain at the nice price for long.Update at 12:50 p.m.: Seriously, someone should give Peter a commission. Bidding's now up to $51. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289985 2010-02-09 10:05:00 2010-02-09 09:55:52

​One of the more intriguing concerts scheduled around the NBA All-Star Week is a Saturday-night Haitian-relief benefit at the Palladium featuring Erykah Badu and Jamie Foxx. A couple of Friends of Unfair Park have asked how they can buy tix....

Robert Wilonsky tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289969 2010-02-09 09:16:49 2010-02-09 12:52:54

No doubt you're familiar with the work of Tony Bones (aka Soler aka Solyer aka Goya). Maybe you recall, if nothing else: My old pal Zac Crain had the graffiti artist provide the cover for his campaign comp waaaay back...

Robert Wilonsky No doubt you're familiar with the work of Tony Bones (aka Soler aka Solyer aka Goya). Maybe you recall, if nothing else: My old pal Zac Crain had the graffiti artist provide the cover for his campaign comp waaaay back when. But here's the rare chance to see Tony at work -- in an intriguing, and apparently controversial, spray-paint promo done inside the local Oink Art LTD warehouse. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289942 2010-02-09 08:08:33 2010-02-09 15:01:58

​A judge ruled last week that the owners of U.S. Global Exotics aren't getting back a single one of the 27,000 animals seized from their Arlington warehouse in December. Hence, the current exotic-animal diaspora: The Detroit Zoo's taking 1,100 of...

Robert Wilonsky ​A judge ruled last week that the owners of U.S. Global Exotics aren't getting back a single one of the 27,000 animals seized from their Arlington warehouse in December. Hence, the current exotic-animal diaspora: The Detroit Zoo's taking 1,100 of the animals (among them five wallabies, four sloths, three agoutis, two ring-tailed lemurs and two coatis, none of them named Mundi), while Petco's giving away almost twice as many starting today at 22 Dallas-Fort Worth locations via Wild Rescue Inc. of Texas. So, if any of these critters are on your wish list, get in line:The rodents, reptiles and amphibians up for adoption include: green anoles, geckos (common, golden, leopard and Tokay), firebelly toads, garter snakes, green iguanas, hermit crabs, long-tailed grass lizards, fancy mice, hamsters (Chinese, robo, Russian and white winter) and white tree frogs.You'd best hurry, because, as I understand it, Carmine Sabatini has ordered Clark Kellogg to deliver any unwanted animals to Larry London for a "special event." tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289812 2010-02-08 17:06:34 2010-02-09 08:59:58

​Since the Sports Business Journal story is subscriber-only, we'll go with Convenience Stores News's recap: Center Operating Company, which runs the American Airlines Center, is finalizing negotiations with nearby neighbor 7-Eleven to open a convenience store in the arena --...

Robert Wilonsky ​Since the Sports Business Journal story is subscriber-only, we'll go with Convenience Stores News's recap: Center Operating Company, which runs the American Airlines Center, is finalizing negotiations with nearby neighbor 7-Eleven to open a convenience store in the arena -- a first for the Dallas-based company. It's a 10-year deal with options that'll have a 1,400-square foot store taking the place of a private entrance for big-ticket holders and will stock "Slurpees, snacks and other items not offered at the arena's 36 concession stands." Alas, "Beer will be available for takeout sales only." Hope this works out better than the Chili's deal.And, speaking of American Airlines ... did you see that beginning May 1, the airline will charge eight bucks for a pillow and blanket in coach during domestic trips? AA spokesperson Andrea Huguely tells the Associated Press the new price tag's because of the economy, stupid: "American evaluates all aspects of the business to ensure that economic decisions are prudent and strategic for the long-term success of the company." tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289788 2010-02-08 16:26:37 2010-02-08 17:16:37

T.J. principal Edward Conger​The Texas Tribune's Brian Thevenot has been studying the U.S. Department of Education's latest pile of funds slated for Texas schools -- $390 million aimed at rescuing the lowest performers -- and asks whether the program's good...

Robert Wilonsky T.J. principal Edward Conger​The Texas Tribune's Brian Thevenot has been studying the U.S. Department of Education's latest pile of funds slated for Texas schools -- $390 million aimed at rescuing the lowest performers -- and asks whether the program's good intentions will wreak havoc on schools doing their best to do better. Take, for instance, Thomas Jefferson High School -- easily, the best high school in the history of the Dallas Independent School District, especially when compared to, oh, W.T. White. At T.J., the principal -- one Edward Conger, former Marine -- has been known to get very Joe Clark on his students: "If his students don't do their homework, it generates an immediate call home and a mandatory two-hour stay after school." (OK, so it's Joe Clark Lite.) Conger's also tough on teachers. And it's working to turn around T.J., writes Thevenot: "Just 18 months after Conger's arrival, the school has upped its overall ranking from 19th out of the 22 DISD high schools to sixth. In math, 72 percent of its students posted a passing rate on the TAKS test this year, compared to just 42 percent last year."Still, the school -- which proudly displays a ginormous banner (I see it twice a day) advertising its achievements -- is considered "struggling." And if it wants a piece of the feds' pie, it'll have to do one of four things ... two of which involve axing the principal and most of the teachers. (The other two: going charter or going away altogether.) T.J. could use a few million, absolutely, but I wouldn't mess with the Marine. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289734 2010-02-08 15:12:24 2010-02-08 18:28:11

A conceptual rendering of the Dallas Watersports Complex. Which piece, we're not sure.​Among the several nonprofit groups updating media folks this afternoon at the Trinity Trust was the Dallas Watersports Complex, which surprised us, since, well, we hadn't heard of...

Sam Merten A conceptual rendering of the Dallas Watersports Complex. Which piece, we're not sure.​Among the several nonprofit groups updating media folks this afternoon at the Trinity Trust was the Dallas Watersports Complex, which surprised us, since, well, we hadn't heard of it. Victor Toledo, who was there representing the DWC, explained why. "We purposely haven't talked about it much until we had all our permits in hand," he said. With 13 of 15 permits in hand and zoning approved in December, Toledo said the DWC is on track to break ground at the end the month and could open sometime in April. The complex, which Toledo said he hopes will soon become a for-profit entity, is a cable waterskiing and wakeboarding park where riders are pulled by an overhead cable at approximately 18 miles per hour. Located in West Dallas on Fishtrap Lake near the corner of Singleton Boulevard and North Hampton Road, Toledo said it will be the 10th such complex of its kind in the country and also the largest one in the U.S. Update: As more than one Friend of Unfair Park has pointed out, yes, we teased this water sports complex last May, when West Dallas Chamber president Toledo announced it during a "State of the West" speech. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289699 2010-02-08 14:24:24 2010-02-08 14:30:46

Justin Terveen​Several Friends of Unfair Park, including the man responsible for this photo, have asked in recent days: What gives with the Chase Tower's color-scheme makeover? One call to building management later, and I can assure you: It has nothing...

Robert Wilonsky Justin Terveen​Several Friends of Unfair Park, including the man responsible for this photo, have asked in recent days: What gives with the Chase Tower's color-scheme makeover? One call to building management later, and I can assure you: It has nothing to do with Valentine's Day or NBA All-Star Weekend doings. Rather, it's in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, and it'll remain that shade till month's end. Here's how it looks when incorporated into the skyline. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289664 2010-02-08 13:29:10 2010-02-08 13:29:15

​Reserved seating in Los Angeles movie theaters has been around a few years, and patrons love it. But, far as I know, that incentive has yet to make its way to Dallas. Till now: Studio Movie Grill sends word that...

Robert Wilonsky ​Reserved seating in Los Angeles movie theaters has been around a few years, and patrons love it. But, far as I know, that incentive has yet to make its way to Dallas. Till now: Studio Movie Grill sends word that it's offering reserved seating beginning pronto. Truth is, Schultz and his director of marketing, Tearlach Hutcheson (ex of Landmark, Magnolia and AFI Dallas), began beta-testing the concept before Christmas, though it was evident only to online ticket-buyers."And it did well," Hutcheson tells Unfair Park. "The funny thing is, we didn't even promote it, but from the very get-go, people started reacting to it. There are a lot of benefits: One, they know they can get the seats they want, and if you're going with a group, well, you know how hard it is to get more than two seats together." Then he mentions it's been a real big hit with parents booking birthday parties: "It's nice being able to make sure all the kids can sit together."Schultz and Hutcheson picked a handful of rows in each theater -- "we picked what we thought were the best seats." But reservations are only taken if you buy a seat and $12 food-and-drink coupon. Ah, but no rushing to the googolplex and waiting in line and hoping like hell you don't get stuck in the front? Priceless. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289615 2010-02-08 12:07:57 2010-02-08 16:30:10

​Friend of Unfair Park PeterK shares yet another unusual eBay find: a 1903 cabinet card featuring one William Doyle, who, best I can tell, played for the mighty Dallas Giants of the Texas League from 1903 till 1905 -- during...

Robert Wilonsky ​Friend of Unfair Park PeterK shares yet another unusual eBay find: a 1903 cabinet card featuring one William Doyle, who, best I can tell, played for the mighty Dallas Giants of the Texas League from 1903 till 1905 -- during which time he counted among his teammates one Branch Rickey, otherwise known as the man who hired Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.Unlike most of Peter's finds, this one isn't cheap: The one-off, made at Sanger Bros. most likely for Doyle himself, is currently going for $549 -- about $250 more than it sold for last summer. Nonetheless, it does give me good reason to post to a history book that's online in its entirety: Chris Holaday and Mark Presswood's 2004 Baseball in Dallas. tag:blogs.dallasobserver.com,2010:/unfairpark//9.289587 2010-02-08 11:22:02 2010-02-08 11:22:18

Dallas IMAX Aerial Showcase from Phillip Thomas on Vimeo.You may not know the name, but you're very familiar with the work of filmmaker Phillip Thomas -- he's the man behind the camera for such things as the Dallas Mavericks' home-opening...

Robert Wilonsky