Life in Dallas

An Insiders Look of Dallas

Top row from left: PRC Dinner 2023, Richard Drummond Davis, Cliff Welch, FAIA. Second row from left: Michael Lee, Design Genius, Jack Knox Creates Cafe Pacific Magic, Mother’s Day Home Tour.

Life in Dallas is intended to provide casual snapshots and vignettes of people and places one might see in the course of living in Dallas. These spontaneous and sporadic posts are not intended to give an exhaustive or even a full view of Dallas. Here you will find hints of Dallas.

Aerin Lauder Brings Her Aesthetic Point of View to Dallas

Aerin Lauder's "Life With Flowers" event held at 4007 Normandy Avenue in University Park, Dallas. — Douglas Newby says hello to Aerin Lauder when she visited Dallas at the University Park home of interior designer Cathy Kincaid.

Aerin Lauder’s inlaws are from Texas, so her son gets Cowboys and Notre Dame football from his father’s side of the family, and books and flowers from Aerin Lauder’s side of the family. Dallas is a small town where one feels like they can meet anyone in Dallas and it attracts visits from internationally celebrated authors and business leaders like Aerin Lauder. Here at Cathy Kincaid’s home and design studio, there was a chance to listen to Aerin Lauder and share stories, as she always charms Dallas on her visits. Her book, “Life with Flowers” is fabulous, as well as her AERIN line of luxury home decor, lighting and fashion inspired by her family history, travels, gardens and architecture. Aerin Lauder is one of the best examples of an elegant woman, fabulous wife and mother, and hard-working industry leader.

The interior design studio of Cathy Kincaid is placed at the rear of her University Park home

Interior design studio of Cathy Kincaid Interiors located at 4007 Normandy Avenue, a historic house in University Park, Dallas, Texas. — Cathy Kincaid Interiors design studio at 4007 Normandy Avenue.

Aerin Lauder and Guests Convene at the Design Studio of Cathy Kincaid at 4007 Normandy Avenue

An event with Aerin Lauder held at the home and studio of interior designer Cathy Kincaid at 4007 Normandy Avenue in the University Park neighborhood of Dallas. — The guesthouse behind 4007 Normandy has been converted to the design studio of interior designer Cathy Kincaid. Nestled at the back of the beautiful University Park lot and garden, this studio provides a delightful space for Cathy and her clients to discuss projects and look at samples.

Aerin Lauder’s Luxury Home Decor Exhibited Inside Studio

Senior Design Executive Burcu Cizmecioglu pictured at Cathy Kincaid's studio in University Park at 4007 Normandy Avenue, Dallas, Texas. — Senior Design Executive Burcu Cizmecioglu for Aerin Lauder at Cathy Kincaid’s studio discusses Aerin Lauder’s luxury home decor that was displayed.

Aerin Lauder event held in University Park at the home and studio of interior designer Cathy Kincaid located at 4007 Normandy Avenue, Dallas, Texas. — Aerin Lauder who wrote the book “Life with Flowers” was celebrated at interior designer Cathy Kincaid’s studio where guests were able to buy the book and have it signed by Aerin Lauder.

Connie Harkins Visiting with Aerin Lauder

Connie Harkins with book signed by Aerin Lauder at Cathy Kincaid's studio and home in University Park located at 4007 Normandy Avenue, Dallas, Texas. — Connie Harkins and Aerin Lauder have a good visit when Aerin Lauder signed her book, “Life with Flowers” for Connie.

Douglas Newby is enjoying conversations with Aerin Lauder. Aerin Lauder is gracious and generous with her thoughts and insights. Great design permeates her life, which goes beyond her luxury line of decor. She is innately creative and finds beauty wherever she is.

Douglas Newby Returns to Historic Home at 4007 Normandy Avenue Originally Saved with Preservation Deed Restrictions

Historic Normandy Avenue home owned and renovated by Cathy Kincaid, interior designer, located at 4007 Normandy Avenue in University Park, Dallas, Texas. — Douglas Newby previously sold this unrenovated home on a large University Park lot that would have been torn down if he had not coordinated preservation deed restrictions that were placed on it at the time of the sale.

Dallas City Hall for Dallas

A corner of Dallas City Hall on the plaza in downtown Dallas. — A city hall for the city.

The movement to Save Dallas City Hall continues to grow.

Originally, a group of developers, several city council members, and many prominent business leaders and organizations suggested that once the public was told that architect I. M. Pei’s Dallas City Hall required more than $100 million in renovations, people would quickly conclude the building was not worth saving.

When there was pushback from the public, the projected maintenance cost rose to $300 million. After additional resistance, estimates of needed repairs were projected to exceed $1 billion.

These photographs show Preservation Dallas leading a tour of Dallas City Hall shortly before the Dallas City Council voted to stop additional public tours of the building.

After a 16-hour meeting in March, the Dallas City Council voted to explore in greater detail the comparative costs of demolishing City Hall and relocating it, or renovating the existing building.

If this discussion is truly about the possibility of building a new Dallas Mavericks arena on the City Hall site, then there should be full transparency about the real costs involved. The public deserves to know whether the proposal would include giving City Hall land to the Dallas Mavericks, or providing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives or other economic subsidies.

This is an important issue for Dallas. It deserves transparency, accurate information, and a thoughtful decision.

A group of visitors on the ground floor of Dallas City Hall in downtown Dallas. — While I have watched Dallas City Hall evolve since it was first built, it was fun to join the Preservation Dallas Tour of Dallas City Hall in context of what Dallas City Hall needs and what it offers for the city of Dallas. This image is taken at the front stairs that was originally an escalator.

A view of several floors of the I.M.Pei-designed Dallas City Hall in downtown Dallas. — All six floors of Dallas City Hall have an open floor plan with extensive views across downtown Dallas.

Dallas City Council Chamber in the city hall downtown. — This image shows the steep bank of seating that allows Dallas citizens to look down at the City Councilmembers, while the City Councilmembers look up at them.

Dallas City Hall's City Council Chamber is located in downtown Dallas. — Sarah Crain, the executive director of Preservation Dallas, explains the concept of the Dallas City Council horseshoe looking up at the constituents.

City Councilmember Paul Ridley with Sarah Crain of Preservation Dallas in the Dallas City Hall Council Chamber. — City Councilmember Paul Ridley, who has been very supportive of Dallas City Hall and responsible for helping slow down the process to get more complete information, joined the City Hall Tour led by Sarah Crain also shown in this image.

The Dallas City Hall plaza view of the skyline at night. — In the public reception lounge outside of the City Council Chambers, one sees a view of downtown Dallas. This view is shared by the Dallas Mayor in his office and the Dallas city workers from their offices.

Preservationists inside City Hall in downtown Dallas. — Some of the leading preservationists in Dallas chatted at the end of the Dallas City Hall Tour. They included Preservation Dallas Executive Director Sarah Crain; Marcel Quimby, FAIA; Trevor Brown, Planning & Development Manager – Historic Preservation/Conservation Districts, City of Dallas.

Plaza view of the I.M. Pei-designed Dallas City Hall in downtown Dallas. — Dallas is left wondering if the lights will forever be turned off at City Hall.

Dallas City Hall designed by architect I.M. Pei in downtown Dallas. — For almost 50 years, Dallas has looked at this iconic I.M. Pei architect-designed Dallas City Hall with pride.

Mayor Eric Johnson’s 50 Year Birthday Celebration with Friends

From left, Realtor Douglas Newby, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, and Ray Washburne, owner of Mi Cocina and Highland Park Village, at the mayor's 50th birthday celebration in downtown Dallas. — Douglas Newby is seen celebrating with Mayor Eric Johnson and Ray Washburne at Mayor Johnson’s 50th birthday celebration held at Mi Cocina overlooking Klyde Warren Park.

Mi Cocina was the perfect location for Mayor Eric Johnson’s 50th birthday celebration as it overlooks Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas. At this party, friends were not celebrating the many achievements of the mayor but Mayor Eric Johnson personally. Ray Washburne, besides being the owner of Highland Park Village, has become a major investor in downtown Dallas. Douglas Newby enjoys the enthusiasm and passion that people have for Dallas.

Sugar and Sage is Always a Treat

Sugar and Sage Bakery and Coffee shop located in University Park at 4314 Lovers Lane, in the Idlewild neighborhood of University Park, Dallas, Texas.

Alison Weinstein created Sugar and Sage, which has become a destination for those in University Park, Bluffview, and for that matter people all over Dallas. The clientele evolves through the time of day and the days of the week. Regardless, it is always busy, the service always friendly, and the pastries delectable.

Nasher Exhibition in the Arts District

Artist Otobong Nkanga: "Each Seed a Body" exhibit at the Nasher Sculpture Center located in Dallas Arts District, Dallas, Texas. — The 2025 Nasher Prize Laureate Otobong Nkanga, “Each Seed a Body” exhibition.

Lorenzo Piano designed arched ceiling of glass allowing diffused sunlight is the perfect environment for the exhibition by artist Otobong Nkanga, “Each Seed a Body.”

Artist Otobong Nkanga's exhibit "Each Seed a Body" is at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas Arts District. — 2025 Nasher Prize Laureate Otobong Nkanga: “Each Seed a Body”.

Laura Wilson Permeates Richard Avedon’s American West Exhibit

Richard Avedon's "In the American West" photographic exhibition at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. — “Richard Avedon at the Carter – In the American West” is as compelling an exhibition as it was originally in 1985. It becomes even more interesting as his assistant Laura Wilson has become a nationally acclaimed photographer in her own right. For this exhibition, she helped identify the subjects of these photographs, convinced them to be photographed, and helped set up the shoot. One can see the influence of Richard Avedon in the portraits she has taken of people in interesting communities across the country.

Fort Worth is great fun to visit and enjoy the museums, especially when there are Dallas artists being exhibited. The Amon Carter has brought back the 1985 photographic exhibition in which Richard Avedon was the star photographer. Laura Wilson, as his assistant, was deeply involved with the success of the project. Now she is a nationally admired photographer in her own right, with museum exhibitions of her work and books devoted to her photographs. Now when we think of Richard Avedon photographs, we think of Laura Wilson. In the meantime, between projects, Laura Wilson lives in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas. She is a fabulous talent and is much beloved by the Dallas community.

Rachel Davis Mersey, New SMU Provost, Ignites SMU

The new SMU provost is Rachel Davis Mersey at SMU in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas. — The new SMU provost, Rachel Davis Mersey, has brought to SMU a creative combustion of energy, excellence and leadership.

Rachel Davis Mersey, the new SMU provost, has brought to SMU a creative combustion of energy, excellence and leadership. Along with the new SMU president and provost are many new deans and professors building on and creating momentum for SMU, the most exciting university in the country in 2025. There is a contagious atmosphere of excellence. The president’s and provost’s internal outreach to SMU and their outward reach to Dallas have been reassuring and inspiring. We can anticipate SMU will have unparalleled success academically, socially and athletically. SMU is on fire!

Generations

The Nasher Sculpture Center reveals a rich collection of pieces in its permanent collection in the exhibit “Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture.” The Nasher is one of the most important sculpture museums in the world owning works by internationally recognized artists like Auguste Rodin and Alberto Giacometti. The Nasher also owns pieces created by Dallas artists David McManaway and Frances Bagley. Raymond and Patsy Nasher had a great eye for art, as have the subsequent directors and curators. One of my favorite things about this museum is the dynamic between the internationally famous artists and local Dallas artists whose work holds up with the best. It makes it even more fun for me when I can see works in the Nasher Sculpture Center by artists like David McManaway and Frances Bagley, who were both friends, neighbors and clients of mine. I have highlighted an assemblage piece by David McManaway titled “Ahab” found in “The Assembled Figure” of the exhibition. I have also included an image of an assemblage piece, not in this exhibition, that David McManaway gave to me one Christmas. Images of the Nasher summary of the exhibition will also be shown describing the art and artists that are seen here.

Artist David McManaway's assemblage piece titled "Ahab" shown at the "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" exhibit at the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Dallas Arts District, Dallas, Texas. — David McManaway created “Ahab,” an assemblage piece, that becomes increasingly fascinating as one looks deeper into the layers of the assemblage. From a distance it looks a well-composed piece of modern art. As you move closer, the details and magic emerge.

David McManaway's "Ahab" at the exhibit "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at the Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, Texas. — Close-up of David McManaway’s “Ahab.” This image allows you to see some of the detail that David McManaway draws, carves, and assembles to bring random discarded objects to life.

A description of "The Assembled Figure" is part of the "Generations: 150 years of Sculpture" exhibit at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. — “The Assembled Figure” describes how artists in the collection from Paul Gauguin to David McManaway used the assemblage of objects to create a figure.

David McManaway was an influential Tremont Street artist. — This piece, not in the exhibition, is another example of a David McManaway assemblage. While artist David McManaway is best known for his Jomo boards, he would occasionally do a collage piece to be presented on a pedestal. This piece, David McManaway gave to me as a Christmas present, and I have it displayed with a small book that opens up to present a painting of him as a young boy playing with this object.

Exhibit "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Arts District, Dallas, Texas. — The Nasher did a nice job of explaining how the works of art in their collection over 150 years converse with each other. In this exhibition you will see a rich collection of art that expresses similar and different viewpoints in similar and different mediums.

Exhibition "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at the Nasher Sculpture Center in the Dallas Arts District of Dallas, Texas. — Art just looks better at the Nasher Sculpture Center. Here is another view of the “Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture” exhibition.

Exhibit "Generations: 150 Years of Sculpture" at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas, located in the Dallas Arts District. — Here you see different interpretations of the human figure lined up at the Nasher Sculpture Center “Generations” exhibition.

Douglas Newby Moderates ICAA Contractor Panel at the Sebastian Headquarters

Realtor Douglas Newby of Architecturally Significant Homes moderates the ICAA sponsored Sebastian Contractor Panel including John Sebastian, held in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas. — Douglas Newby moderated a panel of prestigious Highland Park and Dallas contractors at the Sebastian headquarters. Panelists included contractors John Sebastian of Sebastian Contractors, Rusty Goff of Goff Custom Homes, John Jarrett of Jarett Construction, and Corey Ford of Tommy Ford Construction.

Mary Peyton Burgher, Texas Coordinator of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, put together a fabulous panel of contractors at an event space provided at the Sebastian headquarters. Panelists included contractors John Sebastian of Sebastian Contractors, Rusty Goff of Goff Custom Homes, John Jarrett of Jarett Construction, and Corey Ford of Tommy Ford Construction. The information they provided was fascinating, and I am sure I learned the most of anyone in the room, made up of architecture patrons and industry specialists.

The Dallas Art Fair in 2025 was One of the Best Ever

Douglas Newby and art collector Alden Pinnell at the 2025 Dallas Art Fair in downtown Dallas' Arts District. — At the preview of Dallas Art Fair, Douglas Newby and Alden Pinnell share some laughs. Alden and his wife also had an opening at their Deep Ellum warehouse exhibition space, Power Station, during the Dallas Art Fair week.

On a beautiful spring day, the Dallas Art Fair can feel very New York with artists, art patrons, and gallerists mingling. The Dallas Art Fair is a combination of three distinct groups of participants. Many of the best Dallas art galleries participate. Many of the best art galleries from around the country participate. And many of the best galleries from around the world participate. It is interesting and beneficial to see how Dallas artists and their Dallas galleries compare with other artists and galleries from around the world.