Melt in your mouth: Yesteryear, about six weeks ago, during the Chamber Trade Show, right next to the Slim Fast booth, there was a long line camped out most of the night for The Melting Pot’s addictive chocolate cakettes dipped in a rich chocolatey sauce. Camped out is not an exaggeration. Melting Pot Manager David Hatala was all smiles; he must have a percentage of the Slim Fast franchise, too. David heated up Newz-E-Letter with a $50 gift certificate for his location, Arlington Highlands, and it’s good for cheese or chocolate.   Room at the Inn: Reporter: Mr. B, have you ever won one of your own giveaways? Mr. B: “No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites last night.” And you could, too, this month, if you Wynn this overnight stay at the Western Center location, courtesy of Kay & Buddy. Better hurry, because New Year’s Eve already might be booked.   We salute you: One of the great military salutes anywhere are the days of celebration during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl game in Fort Worth (Dec. 31). The game may have a new Executive Director—Brant Ringler – but the fun and excitement never gets old. This year’s game features Houston vs. Air Force, which sounds a lot like last year's game, which Houston won, 38-24. We have two sets of two tickets.  Speaking of bowls: Congrats to TCU, which also gets a rematch, but on a bigger stage, when it meets Boise State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Speaking of bowls II: The President at the University of Alabama, which plays The University of Texas in the national title game, is Robert Witt, former President at the University of Texas-Arlington.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK       The Chamber's South Area Council Board worked at South Hills High School's career day this week. Left to Right – Marilyn Ackmann, Atmos Energy; Mike Smith, Frost Bank; Glenn Spoons, Chamber; Pennie Blossom, Chamber; Susan Fine, Women’s Center; Randy McGuffee, UNT Health Science Center; Pepper Hudson, Pepper - L Specialties; and Clint Sanders, Texas Health Harris Hospital.   Sponsored by

Touring with a capital T: And the parade of lights in Fort Worth just keep on keeping on. First Chesapeake, which lit the downtown tree, then all those TCU Purple Power lights, then those menorahs with nine candles, and finally, those lighted houses. There’s no better way to house hop throughout Tarrant than on The T’s annual bus tours. The T holiday tour is going places, to more than 200 decorated homes Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, starting each evening at 5:30 p.m. at Stockyards Station. Santa will be there, too, but not touring because he has his own natural gas-powered sled. We’ve got four family packs of four.

I wish I could, I wish I could: We’re just a couple of weeks into the holiday shopping wars and you probably are ready to explode. Why not leave that explosion to someone else?  Extreme Pyrotechnics will blow balls of fire skyward at LaGrave Field Dec. 19 to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. If you still have any friends, we’ve got two sets of four tickets to the reign of fire from Robin (not Fil) Alvarado.

Ice, Ice, Baby: The holiday season has to be good to Reliant Energy, with lights galore aglow. And Sandee Treptow at Reliant Energy is good to Newz-E-Letter, lighting up the inbox with these two tickets to see ICE! at the Gaylord Texan. This year’s attraction, open until Jan. 3, showcases the “Who-ville hating” Grinch, who ville learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Book look: The Courage to Retire by Michael Dallas of Michael Dallas Wealth Management is a good read. Mr. B is similar to many of you; we have the courage, but not the money.   Book it: Up and comers from TCU are looking to meet employers and potential employers. So, TCU Career Services has planned a cocktail networking session for employers and TCU seniors Jan. 23 at the Arlington Hilton. Contact Susan Nethery for details.

Sleepless in December: “December is a caterer's dream/nightmare all at the same time.” So says Carlo Capua of Z's Café, who promises to make an event “you've always dreamed of."

Remodeled marketing: Not that you would need “restoration,” but Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling is looking for fans…Facebook fans. Sign up by Dec. 21 and you could win a drawing of $1,000 for the charity of your choice. (Mr. B is applying asap for his 501c3.)

Charity begins at home: Realtor Lynette Jensen at Coldwell Banker says she had a record-breaking year…and it wasn’t a lot of first-time-buyer houses. She sells luxury, and sold a few million-dollar puppies.

Charity starts … at the track: Children’s Speedway Charities at Texas Motor Speedway gave away a record $1 million to local charities.   Charity starts … at Blue Mesa: The Fort Worth Blue Mesa is one of four parent restaurants that promotes Tacos for a Cause. During the past 10-plus years, it has raised $100,000. Lena Pope Home is the local beneficiary.

Just a little Botox on the side, please: While reading and waiting to get the face re-done so to look 45 instead of 65, Mr. B’s reading glasses noticed that Dr. Robert Anderson at The Fort Worth Plastic Surgery Center was featured in Forbes magazine as one of the country’s Top Ten Cosmetic Surgeons. And it wasn't an advertisement, either.

Think Neiman Marcus will tune in? Want some real Cowboys & Culture? Yes, Fort Worth is legit, but the progressive National Cutting Horse Association has teamed with Internet Cowboys to launch an Internet radio station, ncharadio.com. It’s “Real Country for Real Cutters,” around the clock and around the world. It will offer popular country music and NCHA news, events, promotions and more. It also will be a dream reach for national luxury advertisers.

Market watch: EdwardJones (Dow’s brother?) financial consultant Bill Fairley jokingly says the clients that have worked with him since March 2009 think he’s a genius. BTW, Fort Worth-area EJ offices are a drop-off point for Cowboy Santa toys.

Cooking up holiday cheer: The money markets HAVE been good and the people that work them are just as good. Tomorrow, Dewey (Santa) Isom and his Raymond James Gold Member office elves will present a $5,000 check to Cook Children’s then host a holiday party for patients at the hospital.   Flip fast forward: Have you seen the little books you flip through quickly and there’s movement of the figures in the picture? That’s Pic Flips, and Amy Kelly and her husband bought the rights to license it. They’ve sold 55 licenses in 11 countries. Bet they could sell more if you got younger as you flipped forward.

I’ll watch, you work: Are some people happily unemployed? Tom Martin of Martin Printing Co. says he’s heard the term: “funemployed.”

Can’t go wrong in Portland: Something called the Kosmont-Rose Institute “Cost of Doing Business Survey” says Fort Worth is one of the 10 least expensive U.S. cities for businesses during 2009. Austin, Houston and Dallas made the list as nine of the 10 were in Texas or Oregon.

Dog tired: Chris Fuller of Influence Leadership says he spent 205 days on the road the past year, including a week in Nome, Alaska, where he learned to mush dogs for his book, Iditarod Leadership.   Green Acres or Fox News? Maggie Estes, the assistant director of communications at University of Texas-Arlington, says she would like to add an ammendment to any healthcare bill: “Doctors should be required to tell you which TV channel they show in their waiting rooms before you decide to go there.”

The Way home: Mr. B got a glimpse of his future home once son NoBGood kicks him out. It's The Stayton at Museum Way, a $165-million, 11-story senior living community located in the Cultural District. Ground is broken -- see Chamber ground breaking pics -- and it's due for completion in 2011. The Stayton donated 188 meals to a charity, representing the 188 future families that will make their homes at The Stayton. Special amenities include 5-star dining, concierge services, a fitness center, an in-house art gallery, a dog park, an indoor pool and spa, a performing arts theatre, a wellness clinic and more. Maybe you could join B?