Affair of the arts: Last year, Mr. B suggested to Diane Wolfe/Jay Downie, the main-sters for MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, that they offer up a VIP package hosted by artiste Mr. B. The package came, but without Mr. B’s participation. This year, the silvery 25th for the universe’s best arts and crafts festival, Mr. B suggested they offer up a VIP package hosted by artiste Mr. B. Again, the package came, and again without Mr. B’s participation. So, a disheartened Mr. B is writing that if you want to see the country’s third-best arts and crafts festival from a VIP box April 8 with food and drinks and featuring a performance by jazz great Kirk Whalum, we have two sets of two VIPers. If you don’t win and want to get in free, you can volunteer to work as a group or individual.   Affair in the Gardens: There’s little better to recommend in springtime than a margarita out on the patio amid the gardens at Joe T Garcia’s. Except in ought8, when there was a torrential downpour and the crafty Lena Popers scampered to move everything inside for the Fiesta de Oro fundraiser. Troy Dungan tweeted and said it will be sunny skies with wonderful foliage, entertainment, food, drinks and auction items April 13 for this year’s Lena Pope Home happiness. We’ve got a pair of tickets to enjoy the evening.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK       Jack Huff of NAI Huff Partners shared “Why it’s great to be in Fort Worth” during a recent Vision FW luncheon at The Fort Worth Club. Paxton Motheral of Cassco Land Co., Inc.; Brandon Brewer of Republic Title of Texas, Inc.; and Elizabeth Northern of Fort Worth Business Press were among those to hear Southwest Parkway be included in Huff’s top six list. See a graphic of the Southwest Parkway changes in the April Chamberletter. See more photos of this event.     Sponsored by

This won’t tire you out: The promotion says, Engines revving, tires squealing and race cars thundering. Sounds like Son NoBGood pulling into the driveway. But these cars go around a track and if you’re not stuck in a line to pay your taxes April 15, then rush on out for Chamber Day at the Speedway. Lunch at The Speedway Club at Texas Motor Speedway, get up close and (not-too) personal with race car drivers, including Tony Stewart, and get free tickets to time trials that afternoon and to all the Friday NASCAR action. We chose door No. 2 and Lydia (Monty’s daughter) Hall gave us two tickets to all the zoom, zoom, zooming you can stand.

Renaissance woman: If you’re not too taxed, we’ve got two tickets to Blossoms in the Dust, a luncheon, style show and bazaar April 15 benefiting the Edna Gladney Center for Adoption at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, a sponsor.  If you’re not too young, you might know Blossoms in the Dust was a 1941 film that tells the story of Edna Gladney, who took it upon herself to start a home for orphaned children. Greer Garson was nominated for Best Actress and the film was a Best Picture nominee. Best Boss nominee Bob Jameson of the Worthington has two seats at his table.

Put me in, Coach: Next February is a biggie for North Texas and we’re not talkin’ Valentine’s Day. The AFC and NFC will do battle at Cowboys Stadium and the winner determines whether we have six more weeks of winter. There’s sooooooo much going on and Frank Supovitz, senior vice president of Events for the National Football League, knows all. He’ll share all as the speaker April 8 for Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.’s 28th annual meeting at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel. There is networking beginning at 11:30 and the luncheon from noon-1:30 p.m. We’ve got two ducats.

Are you spicy? Want to salsa with the stars? Then get out your original salsa recipe and send it to Renfro Foods by mail or via the company website. Grand prize winner(s) will receive a year’s supply of Mrs. Renfro’s gourmet salsa and have their winning recipe on a specialty salsa label.   Grammy whammy: An anonymous source has said an anonymous donor has given an incredible Grammy package donation to an anonymous nonprofit to auction off online and at its gala. Might check out the JPS Partners for Health website.

Tomorrow begins the rest of her life: Lots of love to Donna Parker, former Chamber EVP of Urban Development, who retires April 1 from Jacobs. She helped us “develop” Urban Outfitters, the Urban Land Institute and Urban Meyer.

Friend or foe: James Artre, a work incentives coordinator with Easter Seals North Texas, was visiting with an elderly client who wanted to “share” his near-Civil War era saber. That was all the incentive James needed to get out of there.

Now THIS is protection: This is a guy you’d want looking out for you and your business. Peter Hedrick of MPI, a company that keeps you secure, won his fourth national championship in Double Sticks Fighting, a Filipino martial arts competition. He also won a silver in the Singles Sticks competition. Check out MPI by clicking on its sponsor logo at left.

Armed & able: If Mayor Mike (3M) Moncrief ever needs another bodyguard, he could ask Karen Monez. She’s coach of the national champion TCU rifle team and one of the 50 greatest shooters of the 20th century, according to Shooting Sports magazine.   Seeing the future: The outer-worldly, creative guys at Studios 121 say 3-D and Avatar are only the beginning, that 3-D will invade our lives in movies, TV, videos, photocams, etc. Only problem for Mr. B is he's too vain to wear glasses and is waiting for 3-D contact lenses.

Building Blocks(om): Speed Fab-Crete General Contractors (David Bloxom) is celebrating 60 years in style, having just received a nearly $6-million award from the Fort Worth ISD for major remodels at Eastern Hills Elementary and High School.

You gotta wonder…: This is a real business name--MESS Hair Salon?

Not your father's Goodwill: Upscale, trendy, boutique store by Goodwill Industries Fort Worth has opened in Keller and Jennifer Henderson's JODesign group has it looking...well, upscale. Another store opened Friday on Camp Bowie.

Ho-hum: It’s award season for the brilliant new Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. This time, the President's Award from the Texas Association of Museums, the highest honor the association bestows. 

Hello. How are you? I’m…: If Bethany Tyler of Burnett’s Staffing is the daughter of Steven Tyler, then she would be the sister of Liv Tyler. But she probably isn’t. What she is though, is new chair of the Chamber Am-Bass-Adorables. Vice chair is Terry Sutton of Service Master Advanced Restorations, membership chair is Sean O’Brien of Principal Financial Group, secretary/treasurer is Pepper Hudson of Pepper-L Specialties and immediate past chair is Betty Poage of Ameriprise Financial. For the 1,314th quarter in succession, John Porhamer of Cowtown Insurance Service has won or co-won Top Am-Bass-Adorable of the quarter. This time he shares the honor with Marnie Stites of Guardianship Services.

Newly parked: Frost Bank has completed its remodel to a full-service financial center at Fossil Creek and donated $2,500 to support the White’s Branch Park project.

All in the family: This item is cute as a Buttons. The west-side restaurant has added catering manager Joy Hunt-Clark. Her husband, Billy Kidd, is executive sous chef. Joy describes the fare as “southern chic” or “gourmet soul.”