Crowne royal-ty: Mr. B was liking and fan-ing the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial tournament's Facebook page, looking to see if Little Wash had been assigned to a celebrity foursome yet and ordering a faux media pass for the May 16 - 22 festivities. The greatest golfers will be on hand because Colonial and Fort Worth are the kind of folks golfers like.  A Crowne Plaza pop-up ad told B he was the 5,000,000 visitor and he had won two tickets to the tournament, two official tournament shirts and two official tournament hats. Boss Miserly Mistress said B can't take freebies, so wedge your best entry for this dream deal.

Fort Worth City Council Members Kathleen Hicks, Frank Moss and Danny Scarth dialogued with Chamberites at the East Area Council luncheon Nov. 18.  Smokeys BBQ on East Lancaster provided the ribs, brisket and buttermilk pie. YUM! Some attendees chewed the fat while others had a bone to pick. See who was there in our photo gallery.   Sponsored by

Party hearty: Toast of the Town, a benefit gala for the Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County, is one of THE parties of the year. BBB -- Big Boss Bill Thornton --- says the closest Mr. B ever will get to “Toast” is if he continues to cross the line on Newz-E-Letter items. “Your job will be toast!” BBB thundered. This year, Toast is two parties, a rollicking gala that begins at 6:30 Saturday at the Marriott Renaissance Worthington Hotel. The Young Patron's Party begins at 8:30 at the hotel's sky bridge. Both have food. Both have drinks. Both have wonderful piano entertainment. Both will converge at 11 p.m. for The Wonders dance band. Mr. B dug deep in his pockets and couldn't afford both. But we've got two sets of two tickets to the Young Patron's Party.

Office party heartier: OK, so your company is pinching pennies similar to Mr. B's bosses, who pinched some pennies by not inviting him to the office party. Two years ago, your office party lunch was from III Forks; this year, it's from 7-Eleven. World of Wellness is here to make things pain free with its Employee Pamper Event. WOW will bring its touch mobile massage to your office and every employee can enjoy a free 10-minute massage. Even if it takes all day or two days. WOW! (Mr. B expects to be invited as an Employee for the Day.) Let World of Wellness relieve the (economic) stress of your employees if you back into one of these two Employee Pamper Events.

T-minus zero cost: Tis the season for burning fuel at high gas prices to tour the festive lights, caroling as you go. But you would use someone else's (natural) gas if you get on the bus, Gus, and take the T's holiday lights tour Dec. 11-12. Because the eight Hannukah candles will have burned down this year by those dates, you'll have to gorge on the Christmas holiday decorations. The T has the best tour, to the most festive neighborhoods and in the most relaxed atmosphere. We're seeking three groups of four to leave the drivin' to them.

All aboard: This afternoon is the ribbon cutting at new member Smashburger. It's a wonderful opportunity to eat, err, test out if you'd like to be a Chamber Am-Bass-Adorable.

Two fewer Smiths: Non-related except by work as Cantey Hanger attorneys, Susan and Stephanie Smith are engaged - Stephanie to a Harrison and Susan to a Hollingshead.

FM 1205--farm-to-mouth road: The B-mobile, which delivers meals via the Rio but may be upgrading to the Soul because of those marketing hamster marvels, will be at the chefs for farmers event Sunday watching chefs such as Blaine Staniford of Grace and Michael Morabito of Colonial Country Club. Watching because Rios don't eat and on B's pay, who can afford such delicacies. Anyways, the chef supremos are using only ingredients from local farmers.

What happens in Vegas, stays in...This story got out, thanks to Cole Reeder of Reeder General Contractors. Seems a big-time player at the craps table lost $85k in his first two throws, then bet on Cole's rolls. After winning $450k, big-timer tipped Cole all of $500.

Bank on him: Investor Elton Hyder, who runs too many companies to mention, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He gets three years to hang around even more money.

Man in the Mirror: AjaxGlass showroom star and up-and-comer Blake Halpern can't possibly be as talented as he is smart. He works the divinely decorated store on Southwest Boulevard, but more impressive, he built in some job security by marrying Alyson Moses, daughter of AjaxGlass co-owner Buddy Moses.

Shocking news! Twenty-year 3-tabs are being eliminated, according to Greg Fawcett of City Roofing. “They were the (low price) staple of the roofing industry for 30 years,” he said. When Greg was asked if the tabs ever lasted 20 years, Summit Press’ Reagan Ferguson interjected, “Hail, no.”

Panting about this news: A good source said pinstriper Randy Jay finally has gotten over his embarrassment of leaving his BBVA Compass office for an appointment with a long split up the backside of his pants.

Mo' money: A Chesapeake subsidiary is plowing nearly twice as much pipeline this year than last, which should substantially increase the number of mineral owners receiving royalties.

Big-time kudos: If you were one of Freese & Nichols 449 employees, you had more than most to be thankful for last week. The engineering consulting firm was named a 2010 Baldridge Award recipient in the small business category. It is one of the nation's most prestigious quality awards, based on leadership, strategic planning, customer support, knowledge, management, workforce initiatives, process management and business results. Branch-Smith Printing was a 2002 honoree.

Dropping names: Newz-E-Letter presenting sponsor Alexander Chandler Real Estate has a great, friendly, generous owner. That said (to stay in business), Mr. B still was thrilled that Alex came down with laryngitis recently and sent Norwegian Kendahle Roosevelt to a Chamber event in his place. Kendahle has a sister named Kjersti, which is easier to pronounce than spell.