Pine-ing for tile: Back about the time LeBron was throwing up (Acme) bricks against our NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, Dennis Knautz and crew at Acme Brick were rolling out the red carpet for Patina, its exquisite home and design center with a concentration on flooring--brick, tile, hardwood, carpet and more. Walk into the Hulen store and you'll be floored with all the choices to upgrade your home. (Who can afford to sell their home at these prices?) And you don't have to think for yourself at Patina, which is a blessing, because there are licensed and certified and degreed interior designers to pave the way. Adrienne Morgan wasn't pulling the rug out from under us when she decided to give away a 5'x7' nylon/olefin rug in Newz-E-Letter. Is BJ's by Bruce Jenner? Ryan Read is opening the new BJ's Restaurant Brewhouse on the perimeter of Hulen Mall--let's stop for an idle thought: think it would help Ryan Read to be known as Reid Ryan, Nolan's son, these days? And, like any good Texas Ranger, you need to practice because that the way baseball go. So Ryan, (Read: not Nolan) has practices scheduled every lunch and dinner from Oct. 24-28. The prospective Ms. B says you “can't get anything but a great meal at BJ's," but admitted she couldn't use all the invites for four diners that Ryan pitched to Mr. B. So we have some leftovers, (invites, not food,) and you and three Read-ers could win lunch or dinner because BJ's beckons.

Picture of the Week     The North Texas economy has significantly benefited from a decade of drilling, according to the results of a new study by The Perryman Group. Commissioned by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and presented to the Fort Worth City Council on September 27, “A Decade of Drilling” affirmed the substantial economic impact of exploration, drilling, pipeline and related activities on Fort Worth, the region and the state. Ray Perryman gave former Mayor Bob Bolen the details at a Chamber luncheon, but you can see the complete study here. For more luncheon photos, go here.   Sponsored by

Clay-nation: The clay shoot item about state champ Mike Micallef of Reata Restaurant fame last month brought out lots of folks gunning for their shot at 15 seconds of fame. Gordon Rhodes of Rhodes Securities, on behalf of 12.48 Foundation, a nonprofit that gives time and talent to the Como neighborhood youth in Fort Worth, wasn't just shooting from the hip when he called. Gordon provided one individual 12.48 Foundation Clay Shoot Tournament entry for this Saturday at Alpine Shooting Range. The entry consists of 10 stations with 10 clays/per person and 100 shells per person. You also get a tacos breakfast and a BBQ lunch.

Attached photo (left to right): Tim Thornhill, Managing Partner, Parducci Wine Cellars; Dwight Cumming, Chairman, Fete du Vin Wine Dinner and Auction; Dr. Sy Sohmer, President and Director, BRIT

Sustained on grapes: Two-time winner Mr. B was clashing last Saturday night with his Baylor green slacks and TCU purple coat, but green was the color of the night because the Botanical Research Institute of Texas was honoring Tim Thornhill and Parducci Wine Cellars with its International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Wine growing. The native Texan uses 100 percent green power and recycles 100 percent of the vineyard's wastewater. Parducci's True Grit petite syrah was the featured wine and we were sipping for every point TCU and Baylor scored. BRIT-hit Chris Chilton was thinking clear enough to stash away two bottles for one reader.

Steaking her claim: Teri Kinsey, the catering and banquet manager at Sheraton Fort Worth, opened the first Shula's 347 with Coach Don in Miami Lakes, Fla.

Sockeye's Chicken Fingers: That almost was the name for Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers on S. Hulen Street, where Am-Bass-Adorables are/were today (coincidentally, just in time for lunch and without an invite to Mr. B). However, the founder's dog, a yellow lab, hung around the construction site of the original restaurant and won out for the name in lights. When Son NoBGood was ChildThrowATantrum, he would eat only chicken nuggets dipped in ketchup...for every meal. All grown up, he has graduated to chicken fingers dipped in ranch dressing...for every meal.

B is for Botox: Should Mr. B or shouldn't he? Could he possibly be any cuter? We'll find out next Wednesday when Am-Bass-Adorables visit Angela (sister B) Brewer and Alliance Med Spa at 2700 Western Center Blvd. Click here for Chamber event photos.

Big yucks from city hall: If you can remember alllllll the way back to 2008, the Star-Telegram's dfw.com debuted an online show called "DaFoWo." Sometimes very funny, mostly very forgettable. Recently, the City of Fort Worth debuted "The Fort Report," which is entertaining and funny. You can subscribe to receive it or view it online or on city TV. Check it out: http://fortworthtexas.gov/fwtv/ (Insert from Editor: The Pets of the Week segment is VERY CUTE!)

Lite lights: If Motel 6 leaves the lights on for us, wonder if Mack Patel keeps the room rates low by using TXU Energy's CFL energy efficient bulbs.

Go South, young man: Dick Davis, top teller for Frost Bank, a Texas bank, has said the institution would never expand to Oklahoma. It is, however, in Mexico. It has one commercial office doing import/export lending.

New and coming: If Hurchel Williams calls, you can answer. He's selling ads into the Chamber's Fort Worth Newcomers Guide. Deadline is Oct. 28. If you buy, call Mr. B for free, offbeat ad content consultation.

Fame not fleeting: Paul Andrews goes into the Business Hall of Fame Nov. 3. The TTI founder and CEO asked Berkshire Boss Buffett to speak, but he is committed so Mr. B will speak...at another function at another site. The Chamber, a sponsor along with Texas Wesleyan University and The Business Press, recently had an interview with Andrews. Two important business quotes in case you missed it:

• “The old saying is true: ‘Hire your weakness.'”
  
• “A wise Fort Worth businessman (Mr. Jack Williams) told me to follow these rules: Make decisions where you are going. Earn more than you can spend, “create margin.” Sell what others are not selling. Share your knowledge. Be in control.”

Is this on your resume? You've heard of ambulance chasers and storm chasers. Paul Davis Restoration has an opening for a “Fire Chaser.” A salesperson that is fast to the scene of a fire and assertive, yet compassionate and trustworthy.

Dog-gone it! Mr. B was dog-sitting, a sick dog, too, and this was causing employee absenteeism and decreased productivity in his one-person shop. So B called Lyndsay Hopper of the Child Care Network at Camp Fire USA for some help. If it's good enough for TCU, Pier 1 Imports and BNSF to belong to the network, it had to be good enough for B. Their employees get --for free --priority enrollment, a network of pre-qualified child care providers, special tuition pricing and enrollment fees, parenting resources and more. Alas, B struck out. You need 200 or more employees to belong and it doesn't do dog sits.

Chop, Chop!: Friday is the dealine for Small Business of the Year applications. What's in their water? Mr. B went to Decker Jones because he heard there was a two-fer on suits. Ooops, it's a law firm. Friendly folks Paula and Tonya offered some water, but Mr. B looked around and declined when he noticed attorneys Leslie Hunt (November) and Kelly Decker (April) are expecting. We can work it out: Berger Allied Van Lines (Ken Berger) and Technology Team (Sherry Green) are Chamber members that have a terrific working and networking relationship. Their latest and biggest is an intra-office move for Southwest Airlines that is several days a week and ongoing. Green recently has had to take time away to babysit her 2-year-old granddaughter. “It's really cool that TT can run without me," she said. Said humorist -- and ex-friend -- Doug Will of Willco: “Your employees are saying the same thing.”

Citi for the cities: Citi has big expansion plans for D/FW. Mission is a local bank with global connections. Incredible to think that a Citi banker in Fort Worth is just four reporting layers from the CEO in New York.

Huh? Under its category listing, Chamber member Red Ball Oxygen Company has Gases--Industrial & Medical Cylinder & Bulk. We're all clear on that, right?

Yakkety-yak: Mr. B called AIT Technologies to speak with Jimmy Carter and get his take on the Republican debates, asking if he thought any candidates were more Presidential than hisownself.