A dream come true: It was a call out of the blue, but Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was wondering how Mr. B World sounded for the name of the new stadium in Arlington. So B went over, got a tour from HKS’ Dwight Germer and was wowed. How much, B asked? $4 mil a year for 20 years, Jerry said. B asked the Chamber for a raise. Chamber laughed. B asked city of Arlington to sell some bonds. Mayor Cluck clucked. Out of luck, B instead asked Germer for a tour for four of the new stadium as a consolation prize. Germer said it’s a go and he’ll personally do it this month any evening after 4:30 or on a Saturday. HolyRomo!
Going platinum: Twenty years ago, fresh out of college and already bald, David Rotman opened Café Aspen. The restaurant’s anniversary is this Friday, April 17, and Mr. B is getting him a certificate to Hair Club for Men. David, being a nice guy, has gifts for us. This afternoon’s happy hour special is four margaritas and an appetizer for $20; there’s a steak tenderloin dinner for $12.95 (the price from 1989) every night through Saturday and two lucky Newz-E-Letter readers will get lunch for two.
Modern til Midnight And Then Some? Mr. B thought that title was a party until midnight and then everyone goes across the street to Pop’s Safari Room for a cigar and a nightcap. But Kendal (Jump In The) Lake was explaining that the April 18 Modern Art Museum event from 6 p.m. to midnight is in conjunction with the exhibitionThe Collection and Then Some and FOCUS: Rosson Crow. She says there’s food from Café Modern,drink, shopping and, of course, modern art. We have two passes for two.
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Dr. Mike West, University of Texas at Arlington- Fort Worth Higher Education Center, and Victor Garcia and William Giron of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce attended the Economic Development Council meeting last Wednesday at the City Club. Dr. Donald Bobbitt, provost and vice president for academic affairs at UTA, spoke about the status of Tier 1 university legislation.
See more event photos in our Online Photo Gallery.
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Lyin’ eyes: Many centuries ago, when Mr. B was a boy, the local Lions Clubs began providing eyeglasses for those less fortunate. Today, the Lions offer LASIK surgery. OK, they don’t, but they still provide sight for those in need and to raise funds, promotionsbymarti came up with the Lions Fort Worth Challenge. It’s Saturday, April 25 and involves a trivia challenge and then an Amazing Race/scavenger hunt thingamajigee while riding through the city courtesy of donated bus rides from the The T. It all starts and ends with a BBQ dinner at LaGrave Field. Oh, did we mention first place has a $3,000 cash prize. Marti has given us one team ($200 value) of two to give away.
Exponentially: Wow, 10 years! Most of you think back 10 years and harken to the dark days when the ex-Ms. B was kicking Mr. B like a football into the netherlands of the un-married. Mr. B, however, harkens back to the start of the Entrepreneur Expo, which began with a Wing and a prayer. Today, under the guidance of the City of Fort Worth’s Dorothy Wing, it has Expo-loded into an awards luncheon, featuring speaker Mayor Mike, and a full day of business networking and seminars. We’ve got All-Access passes for two lucky business entrepreneurs.
An orderly coup: After two years as head Am-Bass-Adorable, Chris Munizza of AXA Advisors is stepping aside April 20 and the new leadership is chairwoman Betty Poage of Ameriprise Financial, vice-chair Bethany Tyler of Burnett’s Staffing, secretary David Clay of First National Bank-Mid Cities and Elizabeth Oliva of Ambit Energy. Newest Ambassador is Stacey Magovern of Hawk Communications.
Garden party: Stu Arledge and staff from several Marriott hotels have been developing a nature garden with the students at West Area Council adopted school Monnig Middle. They are planting shrubs, flowers and bushes to attract butterflies, grackles and all A’s on their report cards.
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Only 48 Hours: That’s how long it took staff and David Berzina, executive vice president for economic development at the Chamber, to get info to Q-Edge, which eventually decided on Hillwood’s Alliance Gateway hub for its North American electronics assembly and distribution site. 500 jobs! Kudos! (Hear more in the Chamber's Multimedia Gallery.)
Into the Woods: Texas Ballet Theater lifted the curtain on its direction for fund development, hiring Ashlee Woods, whose resume dropout Mr. B might steal for hisownself. She received her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law, a Masters of Library Information Sciences from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University.
Mixing work with pork: There’s been a lot of media play and congrats this year for the The T’s 25th anniversary. Another ride that’s been around 25 years is Silver West Limousines, and Gary Olson and Jerry Smith said one of the company’s more humorous highlights (lowlight?) came this year during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Exposition. One of their stretch limos drove into the arena during the rodeo chauffeuring the world’s most famous racing pig. The WMFRP was wearing a diaper and standing on a pedestal so he was visible through the moon roof with his red bandanna and sunglasses.
Dating diary: Jessica MacFarlane of Benco Roofing is blogging about being a single mother on the dating circuit.
She had fangs: On the way to S. Antonio through Stephenville recently, Newz-E Editor #1 saw quite a number of signs from veterinarians that said, “Get your snake bite vaccine now.” Mr. B needed that before his divorce.
Bart’s smart: Employment guru Bart Castle of the Sapio Group told Chamber Minding Your Business attendees that he was a high school basketball referee for 14 years so no question would be too ornery. On employment, he said:
- It’s worth investing the time to understand why a job has become open as it is looking for a replacement.
- A good policy is to only take applications when you have a job open, and to discard ALL unsolicited applications if your policy is not to accept them.
- Have policies in place and consistently adhere to them.
- Interviewing is an acquired skill. Managers don’t necessarily make good interviewers.
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Will work for…gifts: Steve Shineman, financial funster for 6.5 years, has returned to his alma mater as TCU’s Assistant Director of Gift Planning, which means he still is looking for your money.
No bull! Next Wednesday night at 6:15, you can meet four-time world-champ bull rider Tuff Hedeman at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Stockyards. And it’s free!
Clean-ing up: Couldn’t figure the extremely long lines at Cityview Car Wash & Oil Change last weekend until it was mentioned that the North Texas Council of Governments had reported that there was $600 million of economic recovery money available for “clean” vehicles.
They say it: Some reader submissions of more great taglines – A chiropractor says, "We're always watching your back." A funeral home says, “We're the last ones to let you down."
Park & ride: Worried about finding a spot to park downtown during MAIN ST. Arts Festival? The T has a free shuttle Friday and Saturday from Billy Bob’s Texas every 20 minutes from 5-11 p.m. Friday and noon-11 p.m. Saturday.
Winning with Landry: (Coach) Todd Landry has officially started as the new executive director at Lena Pope Home. Staff had a football-style pep rally -- including their signatures on a football as a welcome gift -- his first day on the sideline.
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Parents must have been the Kreskins: The President of the National Cutting Horse Association is Bronc Willoughby.
Not backing down: Mr. B lifted the TXU gift bags at the Red Cross Chisholm Trail gala and hurt his back. So he’s off with the Am-Bass-Adorables next Tuesday for a ribbon cutting at Estates Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 201 Sycamore School Road. If it’s an estate, can you live there?
Tech trekkers: The Arcos guys were in Chicago for a tech wreck of a convention and came back with a new “tool” that allows for multiple, yet same site, home pages. Ask them, but it’s supposed to be better for sales and analytics, whatever those are.
Money, money, money: The Chamber’s annual meeting is coming up in June at the Renaissance Worthington and because of our support of spending to spur the economy, we approached Fed Chair Ben Bernanke as the featured speaker. He wanted $100k. We approached Mad Money’s Jim Cramer. He wanted $75k. We approached Ben Stein. He wanted $50k. Even Eddie Money wanted $25k. Now we’re down to either Mr. B or the guy behind the counter at Starbucks at Montgomery Plaza. More details to come.
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