Scene and Heard

Mr. Dallas: huzzah for Ritz-Carlton and Fearing's

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:32:03 -0600

The host hotel and restaurant of the Rattlesnake Bar, a beloved watering hole and cougar habitat, have been honored by Zagat.

Mr. Dallas: Anatole's Verandah Club spa party

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:40:38 -0600

Body-painted "living statues" are starting to give Mr. Dallas the serious creeps. Especially when they're dung-colored and they've crawled up under a buffet table set with crudites, salmon dill sandwiches and shrimp gazpacho the way they were at the Hilton Anatole's V Spa party Tuesday evening. The few youngsters under foot at the party were fascinated by the inert, allegedly zebra-striped forms draped around the base of the table; me, it put me off my split of Piper Heidsieck.

Still, the $2.9 million renovation and expansion of the spa made for a good meet-and-greet, with hand massages and facials available to visitors. The crowd was mostly older, definitely in the market for the restorative effects of ointments, salves, rubs, scrubs and treatments. Everywhere smelled really, really good.

Mr. Dallas: Wednesday's tippling tip, Park Cities Prime

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:12:13 -0600

Alcohol and deep thoughts combine in one tidy package tonight when Park Cities Prime hosts its "Philosophy Hour." Paul Hunter of North Lake Community College will lead a discussion of Candide, the satiric novella by Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. He used to do the same sort of thing at the storied Montaigne Club on Maple Avenue. (Hope things don't get too liquid -- "Diz is too da best of all possible worlds!") The event runs from 6 to 8 and features specially priced wines and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.

Will Smith in Dallas

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:21:26 -0600

Here's video of Will Smith in Dallas for the premiere of his new movie, Seven Pounds.

Mr. Dallas: Tuesday's tippling tip, beer dinner at Libertine

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:00:02 -0600

The better-than-it-has-to-be Libertine Bar on Lower Greenville hosts its monthly beer-and-food pairing at 7 tonight. It costs $40 a person; call ahead for reservations at 214-824-7900. The details:

"1st course: Hoegaarden Mussels with Herb Garlic French Bread. Served with Hoegaarden
2nd course: Venison hutespot skewers. Served with Bass Ale

3rd course: Chervil goat cheese filled endive. Served with Stella Artois

4th course: Roasted pork loin with cherry lambic glaze served with broccoli timbales and mini gruyere croquettes. Served with Abbey de Leffe Blonde

5th course: Chocolate porter brownie with strawberry mousse. Served with Kone Pipeline Porter"

Alan Peppard: Gwyneth Paltrow returns

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:21:26 -0600

This week's local appearance of Gwyneth Paltrow was nothing new. We've been on a steady Gwyneth diet ever since she dated homegrown actor Luke Wilson.
Following the tragedy of 9/11, Gwyneth escaped the chaos near her downtown New York home by spending a lot of time with Luke in Dallas where she popped up regularly doing lots of Dallasy things like shoe shopping at the NorthPark Neiman's.
One of the first clues we had that she was dating Coldplay front man Chris Martin was when she showed up for a Coldplay concert at Nokia Theatre (then called NextStage).
Now married with two kids, Gwyneth and Chris hit Dallas a couple of days early for Coldplay's Wednesday show at American Airlines Center.
Monday night, the couple drove their own rental car over to Al Biernat's steakhouse and grabbed a hideaway booth in the back.

Alan Peppard: Archie Manning After Closing Time

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:08:39 -0600

There are certain circumstances under which Bob Sambol will let a patron stay at his Bob's Steak & Chop House after everyone has left, the lights are on and the vacuum cleaners are running.
Those circumstances arose Thursday night when the guest was Archie Manning, the former NFL and Ole Miss quarterback and father of two Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli Manning.
Archie wanted to stay and watch the end of the New York Jets-New England Patriots game. Bob was more than happy to accommodate him.
Archie was in town to speak to the Dallas chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Mr. Dallas: weekend tippling tips, burlesque and motorbikes

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:49:33 -0600

Some doings to be done. Meanwhile, Mr. Dallas will be drooling his way back to Loft 610.
Tonight: For those who prefer to watch disrobing accomplished with a patina of tattooed irony, the Lollie Bombs Burlesque Troupe takes the stage at 11:15 at Pocket Sandwich Theatre. $15.

Saturday: Ghostbar hosts the Ben Spies Superbike Championship Party and Sid Vicious (the Hard Rock in Las Vegas) DJs at Wish.

Sunday: Mantus and Four host their usual sexy parties.

Mr. Dallas: Thursday's tippling tip, reverse HH at Loft 610

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:18:17 -0600

The newly beloved lounge Loft 610 in Plano holds a reverse happy hour from 9 to 11 tonight. And the crew at D notes this event.

Mr. Dallas: Tuesday's tippling tip, Havana Social Club

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:13:42 -0600

Before the Lakers game tonight, consider a drop-by to Havana Social Club in Victory Park. It's featuring $5 specialty cocktails from 4 to 7 p.m.

Mr. Dallas: cougar pride in Plano, at Loft 610

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:24:21 -0600

A pal who lives in McKinney had been lobbying for weeks for moi to make a trip to the north country, to Loft 610 in Plano. There, he attested, cougars roamed unfettered and voracious on the weekends -- a far better prospect, in his estimation, than the shiny young 'uns populating Joyce, Wish or Lotus.

Skepticism was overcome Saturday night. This is indeed a meet-and-mingle palace worth hitting the Tollway for. Loft 610 is reminiscent of Sambuca Addison in its late-'90s Budapest-above-LBJ heyday. They have little in common except one major attribute: a circular bar dropped in the middle of the room. Circular bar ... promotes flow, promotes stealthy glances or broad Sarah Palin winks from one single-and-looking to another single-and-looking, promotes elbowing up close amongst the single-and-looking.

Mr. Dallas: Monday's tippling tips

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:12:41 -0600

Rainy and blustery ... happy hour possibilities include $3 margaritas all night at Knox Street Pub and $8 tequila flights at Strong's. This dedicated D tippler is advocating The Goat tavern at 7248 Gaston Ave.

Mr. Dallas: weekend tippling tips

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:29:48 -0600

There's a crisp in the air, finally, and there are things to do ....

Tonight: DJ Rev's CD release party at Wish Ultralounge.
Saturday: O'Neal McKnight and DJ Cassidy are at Suite.

Also, a comely D staffer has come up with this outstanding roundup of great hotel bars. Must do something similar soon. Meanwhile, will be checking out Loft 610 in the north country Saturday.

Mr. Dallas: tippling tips for Election Night

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:58:54 -0600

Politics and drinking have a
long history of association -- think "rum, Romanism and rebellion," FDR's cocktail hours (and hours) with Churchill, Sam Rayburn's cloakroom sessions, Wilbur Mills' embarrassing encounter with Fanny Foxe and the Tidal Basin. Some nightspots are accommodating tomorrow's big event with watching parties.

Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa invites you to come "sip conservative concoctions and liberal libations" while watching the returns on the flat-screens. You can also gawk at Uncle Sam on stilts. Among the cocktails are the Obama Bahama Mama (Myer's Rum, Bacardi 151, coconut liqueur and pineapple juice) and John 10 Cane Punch (10 Cane Rum, pineapple juice, lime juice and Grenadine).

Victor Tango's (above) will have all its screens turned to the election, including the 8-footer.

Wine'tastic features 25 percent off all glasses of wine in honor of the occasion.

Tom Hunt talks about Tom Hunt Energy Hall

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:56:58 -0600

The Museum of Nature & Science formally announced its new Tom Hunt Energy Hall on Thursday morning at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel, where the keynote speaker was, of course, Tom Hunt. Until recently, Mr. Hunt was chairman of the board of Hunt Petroleum Corp. At 85, he's still quite spry and tells a good story. He left the ballroom crowd with something to ponder: "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed," he said. "It can only be transformed." He said he hoped young minds would be inspired by what they see at the new Perot Museum of Nature & Science, which will occupy a 4.7-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street, adjacent to Victory Park. Tom Hunt Energy Hall is being named in honor of Mr. Hunt, in recognition of the $10 million "early leadership gift" that Hunt Petroleum made to the museum in 2005 to move its expansion project forward. (Please click below to read on.)

Photo: Tom Hunt