Some people watch NASCAR, I watch City Hall. That’s not a judgment of the sport, it just fits into my schedule a little better. And it moves a lot slower.

Otherwise, they are a lot alike – the competition, the intrigue, the spectacle, the fiery crashes. Like NASCAR, a lot of interesting stuff happens in the pits, and if you aren’t watching, you might miss it.

Unlike NASCAR, it’s harder to identify who the sponsors are. Mike Moncrief doesn’t wear the logos of the people who pay his way like Dale Junior or Jimmie Johnson do.

This much we do know: if Mayor Mikey were a NASCAR driver, his number would be No. 1. And his sponsorship would include Chesapeake Energy, XTO, Devon and Range Resources, among others.

No. 1 because Mike is all about Mike. And we know Mike’s sponsors because of information from the Mayor’s financial disclosure appeared in the Startlegram yesterday. The minimum value of his lease or royalty agreements with 55 oil and gas companies, including major players in the Barnett Shale such as Chesapeake Energy, XTO, Devon and Range Resources came to $633,000. Nineteen of those deals were worth more than $25,000 in calendar year 2007. Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the XTO stock owned by Moncrief’s wife. Those shares – between 500 and 999 of ‘em – are valued between $32,370 and $64,675 at Wednesday’s closing price of $64.74.

How much do his holdings really amount to? We don’t know because the Mayor ain’t talking. He’s released the bare minimum amount of information, and he’s not obligated to release more.

But just with that bit of information, two statewide ethics experts told the Star-Telegram what I have been saying for months – at the very least, the appearance of impropriety exists and Mayor Mikey shouldn’t vote on any natural gas drilling issues.

But here’s where it gets funny – the city attorney’s office released a statement saying that no conflict of interest exists. Go back to being the head cheerleader for the gas drilling industry, Mr. Mayor.
[Read more]

If you’re not going to Wendy Davis’ birthday party tonight, I highly encourage all of you to join me tonight at La Grave Field to watch the Cats take on the Sioux Falls Canaries on Opening Day.

The game starts at 7:05, and there will be fireworks after the game.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Cats are the best value in family entertainment in the city, and possibly the entire Metroplex. Tickets start at $4, and the most expensive seats in the house are only $12. You can’t even park at Whatever-the-hell-it’s-called-now Park in Arlington that cheaply, I don’t think. I know $4 won’t even buy a beer there. (Of course it won’t at La Grave, either, but it’s still cheaper.)

Seriously — drag the clan out on a school night for the festivities, you won’t be disappointed.

In the last few weeks Fort Worth has played host to Main Street Arts Fest, PrairieFest, Fred’s Fest, and Mayfest.

So, if you’ve had your fill of the -fests, you should try something different this weekend: The Fairmount Home Tour. (Of course, if you’re not tired of -fests, then you should make your way over to the Fairmount Home Fest instead. It’s way cooler.)

[Read more]

Okay, so I actually don’t have any proof to back up the headline… but how else do you explain the fact that the Arlington City Council is actually considering passing a very forward-thinking law?

It’s the largest city in the U.S. with no public transportation system. It gives huge handouts to rich folks who want to build stadiums. And let’s not forget our very own Steve-o’s personal jihad against Arlington. And these guys want to pass a law that’s good for the environment? A law that started in, [gasp], San Francisco? 

To be fair to the council, the death of mass transit and the gifts to Jerry Jones were moves given the stamp of approval by Arlington voters in elections. I hope the council can pass the plastic bag ban without having to put it on the ballot!

And if the ban is enacted, I hope Fort Worth is brave enough to follow in Arlington’s footsteps. (That has to be number one on my all-time list of things I never thought I’d say.)

Photo of Fort Worth Police Officers at Mayfest 2007 by Stephen Witherden

The one thing that struck me the most about my Mayfest experience (aside from the near-TOTAL lack of environmentalism themed booths and activities), was the heightened security atmosphere. There were uniformed police officers at every step of the entry process, from the road leading into the park all the way through to the ticket booths. And according to my PR escort, there were an equal number of plainclothes officers milling around in the crowd.
[Read more]

So, who’s the bad guy in this whole Eighth Avenue debacle?

Is it Chesapeake Energy? Sure, they’re easy targets. They’ve been blamed for every bad thing that’s happened in Fort Worth since 1846. And why not? These Oklahoma carpetbaggers come in here and brainwash our children, shoot poison into the earth with their injection wells, pollute our television screens with bad infomercials and build a hellish zombie-beast to run for City Council to advance their devious pro-drilling agenda.

OK, just kidding about the hellish pro-drilling zombie-beast on the city council. Although … a question for all of you … if that did happen, how could we tell the difference between said hell-beast and Carter Burdette? Maybe tie a pink ribbon around the left arm of one of them? Can we go ahead and clear this up by city ordinance just in case?

But would it rock your world if I told you that maybe Chesapeake wasn’t to blame for this bit of gas drilling brinksmanship on the South Side? Well, get ready to hang on to your top hats.
[Read more]

…only this time its your kids they’re after.

[Read more]

It’s going to be a beautiful weekend in the Panther City, and to celebrate, here’s a listing of the music-type events going on throughout our urban core. This is, of course, not listing the guitar-playing hippy or out-of-tune keyboard playing guy who usually inhabit Houston Street in Sundance Square, but I figure their presence goes without saying.

This Saturday is the 7th annual iteration of the legendary Fred’s Fest at Fred’s (obviously). Details below!

Scat Jazz Lounge | Map
Ricki Derek & The Vegas Six - Friday - 9:00 PM
Straight Ahead featuring Clint Strong - Saturday - 9:00 PM

Bass Performance Hall | Map
Liza Minnelli - Saturday - 8:00 PM
Kirk Franklin - Sunday - 2:00 PM

McDavid Studio | Map
No performances scheduled.

Van Cliburn Hall | Map
No performances scheduled.

The Flying Saucer | Map
SuperStar - Friday - 9:30 PM
Poo Live Crew - Saturday - 9:30 PM
Mike Richardson - Sunday

The Pour House | Map
Tropix - Friday
Inside Out - Saturday

8.0 | Map
Hearsay - Friday
Lookout - Saturday

Fred’s | Map
Rodney Hayden - Friday
7th Annual Fred’s Fest - Marty Christian, Rambin Brothers, Panther City Bandits, Blackland River Devils, Scott Copeland, Terry Razor, Goodwin, Pablo & The Hemphill 7 - Saturday - 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
7th Annual Fred’s Fest - Tarantula Pants, Darrin Kobetich, Soul Everlifts, Impulse Of Will, The Me Thinks, Proud Warrior, Stoogeaphilia, Sally Majestic, Katsuk - Sunday - 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Lola’s | Map
Dixie Witch, Mescalero, Hell Goat - Friday - 10:00 PM
Stumptone (CD release), Transona Five, History At Our Disposal - Saturday - 10:00 PM

The Chat Room | Map
No events scheduled.

The Fairmount | Map
James Hand w/ Waylon Pierce - Friday
Jason Eady w/ Chris Curtis - Saturday
Country Grudge - Sunday

1919 Hemphill | Map
No concerts scheduled.

The Aardvark | Map
Swilley, Slimshine Brown, Meander - Friday - 8:30 PM
Green River Ordinance, The Lifters, Tim Halperin - Saturday - 8:30 PM

The Moon | Map
High School Assembly w/ The RedHerrings & Ransom - Friday
The Illiads w/ Fate Lions & Nasty Rumors - Saturday

The Ridglea Theater | Map
Hedkase, Stir The Silence, Turbid North, Parallax View, Deaf Angel - Friday
Otep, Creature Feature, Eyes Set To Kill, A New Revolution, Diesel - Saturday

As always, if there’s something I missed, please let me know in the comments!

Enjoy cocktails, Cafe Modern cuisine, and the sweet sounds of the Tom Reynolds Trio from 5 to 8 p.m. at this month’s First Friday at The Modern. A docent-led, 20-minute spotlight tour of the galleries starts at 6:30 p.m. The tour is free for Modern members and Star-Telegram Press Pass Holders.

Dinner will be served from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and includes featured specials created by Executive Chef Dena Peterson. For reservations, call 817.840.2174.

It was a bit windy at Mayfest yesterday evening, but for an event that has seen cataclysmic weather events in the past it was hardly even noticeable.

I went to see one of my favorite bands, The Gourds, play an amazing set. If you’ve never heard The Gourds, you really missed out. They have a style as broad as Texas, drawing from bluegrass, tex-mex, zydeco, and good old rock-and roll. And the lyrics are razor sharp and smart (for example, they’re the only band I know can pull off working the lyric “Pythagorean Theorem” into a song).

[Read more]