Fort Worth Chamber's Newz-E-Letter: December 5, 2007

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For Members, About Members

December 5, 2007

PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

Last week’s Money Works program hosted by Mr. B was a sellout. Sasha Denman from sponsor Weaver and Tidwell welcomed James Wallace, self-described geek from the Enilon Group, and John Gonzales, newcomer at Texas Wesleyan University. Mr. B collected great newz and promotional prizes from the group for use in upcoming issues, so read on!

Sponsored by

News from The Onion: Back in college, at that wondrous school of academia called Florida State, Mr. B roomed with a baseball player. He was a freshman pitcher with so many pimples and wild hairs from bennies overdosing that batters refused to get into the box to face him. He hailed from Vidalia, Georgia, and a trip to his hometown was B’s awakening to the sweet Vidalia onion. And it’s pretty sweet, indeed, that the Renaissance Worthington has opened a new eatery, called Vidalia’s, and pals Joan Shropshire and Bob Jameson have given us five lunches for two to get you teary-eyed and tummy-filled. The restaurant offers a fresh perspective in authentic southern cooking; we had fried green tomatoes, grilled quail, and a 12-hour pork turnover that turned B over for good.

Military bowling: Have you seen those cool billboards for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl? A patriotic football theme, clean and simple. We even got the Air Force Falcons team to play California at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium Dec. 31, and you could be flying high if you win one of two sets of tickets to the game. Pre-game, there’s a military hardware spectacular.

And to the Republic: You are going to need a place to hide/store all those presents you got that need to be returned because they’re the wrong style, the wrong color, the wrong fit or just plain wrong. C.A.(concert) Hall, our main man at Republic Self Storage, has just the answer. How about one free month of a 10x10 storage unit? And it is climate controlled, so if you say the wrong thing to a gift giver, you could even sleep there and save a month of your electricity bill.

Homeless, but hopeful: Local author Leslie Gordon will have a book signing of The Homeless Christmas Tree Dec. 16 from noon-3 p.m. at the Historic Camp Bowie Mercantile. We’ve got a book that will be signed by Gordon from Mercantile manager Brian Schneider. The Homeless Christmas Tree is a story about hope, Christmas and a city full of caring people, and features water color illustrations by local artist Court Bailey.

Birthday bash: Everybody loves a party and they're even more fun when Mr. B isn't invited. But, hey, two of you could go in his stead. The Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau is turning 20 and celebrating with a luncheon Dec. 14 at the Renaissance Worthington. The FWCVB brings the world to the city and Shivaun Palmer of BizRadio will moderate a discussion looking ahead to the next 20 years. A very wobbly Mr. B probably won't be invited then, either.

File this for the future: For those of you who start filing records this time of year, girlfriend Monica Saye of The Box Outlet has your non-pollution solution. Here’s a bundle of environmentally-correct file boxes for each of three lucky readers, available at any of the three locations: East Side, West Side or Bedford.

Elves of the future: Chamber member UTA/TMAC set up a really cool automated 2007 Flagship Store Holiday Window Project for Neiman Marcus in Dallas. It was a revolving tree with two revolving smaller trees and a papa, mama and junior robot bear picking and placing ornaments. Junior, of course, is dreaming when he grows up that he wants to be a graduate of UTA. This is NM’s 100th anniversary and the theme is the next 100 years and the family of the future. Santa came in on a jet pack, but only because B’s Neon wasn’t available.

Sweet Treat
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Sign of the Acopcalypse: Text messaging. Can you get your kids’ attention any more?
BTW, the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl float again won the People's Choice award (co-winner with Starbucks) AND added the Classic Award from the Sundance Square Parade of Lights presented by CHASE and Devon Energy. BHAFB was the only float to win two awards. Chamber members XTO Energy and BNSF Railway also had floats that were honored.

Holiday memory: This is from Carole Robinson of Downtown Fort Worth Inc. "My birthday is December 16th. My Christmas memories are all mixed up with my birthday memories. School always let out for the holidays on my birthday. (I was in the 4th grade before I realized school was letting out because it was the start of Christmas, not because it was my birthday.) My Aunt Lucille was a teacher in Galveston. She would drive to Fort Worth with my cousins on the day school let out. We always had a special dinner that would stay warm until they arrived: vegetable soup, cornbread and tapioca pudding with peaches. It’s still my favorite winter dinner."

Party planning: For all of you who failed to celebrate someone important’s 37th birthday last month at the Chamber Trade Show, maybe we could have a big bash at new Chamber member Celebrations, Etc. Website looks like fun! Then adult size it by going to Alley Cats?

Powerful party: The December issue of Fort Worth Texas magazine includes a listing of the 50 most powerful people in Tarrant County. Mr. B made the list at No. 9, disguised as Bob Bolen.

Susan Lucci-ed: But alas, for the 21st consecutive year, Mr. B did not make GQ’s Men of the Year issue.
Bratwurst on the side: Kevin Jackson of Companion Trailers has a trailer for your tailgate parties and it features a built-in barbecue grill. If you’re wondering about Kevin’s accent, he is a native of South Africa.

Just wondering: Is Michelle Clampitt of Williams Home Maintenance a descendant of the (Black Gold) Clampitts?

Just wondering 2: What if the Dallas Cowboys can’t sell out those 75,000-to-100,000 seats in the new JerryWorld Stadium. Are we going to have blackouts? Say it ain’t so! Aren’t free Cowboys games and chili pie our God-given rights as Texans?
And that means? Hana Laurenzo has moved her translation company, Teneo Linguistics, to West Vickery, and in January she will start training interpreters/translators as part of TCU’s curriculum.

He’s got the gas: Globetrotting producer/director Chris Quinn of CQ Media is headed back to Basel, Switzerland to do work for pharmaceutical giant Hoffman La-Roche after having spent time in Europe working with Nokia. Back home, CQ is producing a one-hour documentary called The History & Making of the Barnett Shale, which will premiere in part at a Barnett Shale Energy Expo in the spring, and be marketed to The History Channel, National Geographic Channel, PBS and HDNet. Chris says proceeds would go to the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, which offices at the Chamber.

We’ll drink to that: La Bodega Winery was a multiple winner at the Wines of the South Regional Competition. The Private Reserve Merlot 2004 and Private Reserve Cabernet 2005 went home with silver and bronze awards.

Give me a B, give me an E: Congrats to Bethany Tyler of Burnett’s Staffing and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. She’s the Chamber Action Ambassador of the Year.

Searing sale: Mr. B got a gift certificate to shop at Newz-E-Letter sponsor Sears Commercial and with the additional Chamber member discount and promise of future prize winnings (wink, wink), now has a new stainless steel refrig and range and microwave.
Well wishes: Special prayers to numero dos of 13 boss, the Miserly Mistress, who is recovering at home from all the pain inflicted from Newz-E-Letter. That and a pile-up on I-30W. She may be Miserly, but she pays on time and checks don't bounce.