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.

Ray Washburne Interviews Mark Lamster at Park House

Highland Park Village owner and developer Ray Washburne interviews Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster at Park House in Highland Park Village. — Highland Park Village owner and developer Ray Washburne interviewed Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster about his new book, Welcome to Paradox City, and Mark’s views about Dallas through the lens of architecture and the built environment.

One of my favorite conversations about Dallas took place at Park House in Highland Park Village. Highland Park Village owner and developer Ray Washburne interviewed Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster about his book, Welcome to Paradox City. What made it so informative and enjoyable was the balance of power between two people whose influence and knowledge of Dallas come from very different perspectives.

Mark brought to light historical and architectural details I had been unaware of. Ray added anecdotes about Dallas history and architecture and observations about the urban grid that I had not considered. They often agreed for different reasons and disagreed with respect and humor.

Both thought the Philip Johnson-designed Kennedy Memorial was not a successful project. Ray, with a smile, asked Mark, “Do you think we should tear it down?” Mark, the author of a book on Philip Johnson, was quick to smile back and say no.

On City Hall, where their views differ, Ray gave Mark the last word to explain why he opposed demolishing the building. Knowledge, congeniality and respect kept both powers in check—neither could rely on easy pronouncements.

The result was a cordial conversation that provided an informative, fun view of Dallas, its history and its future—conversation at its best.

Brady Woods, Mark Lamster and Ray Washburne converse at Park House before Ray interviews Mark about his new book, Welcome to Paradox City. — Founding co-owner of Park House Brady Woods chats with Highland Park Village owner Ray Washburne and Mark Lamster before Ray interviews Mark about his new book, Welcome to Paradox City. The best thing about Park House, a private club in Highland Park Village, is that its programming often includes delightful conversations about architecture, Dallas or preservation.

Park House in Highland Park Village often hosts presentations and panels. — Before Highland Park Village owner Ray Washburne interviewed Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster about his new book, Welcome to Paradox City, those attending began to take their seats in a lovely room. Everyone enjoyed the formal conversation between Ray Washburne and Mark Lamster and the informal conversations between those attending.

Jesuit Homecoming Invitation Celebrated

Jesuit homecoming invitation in Russwood Acres neighborhood of Preston Hollow. — Family and friends celebrate the formal homecoming invitation that is being professionally photographed.

While showing a Midcentury Modern home for sale in the Russwood Acres neighborhood, I observed a group of students beautifully dressed with flowers processing down the street to a young lady’s home where a formal invitation to Jesuit homecoming would be extended.

The 1911 Group Panel Illuminates Corporate Communication and Leadership

The 1911 Group of SMU held the event for Beyond the Press Release: How Strategy and Communication Build Company Value at Park City Club at Sherry Lane Place in University Park of Dallas. — Panelists Steve Soltis of Arvo Advisory; Robin Pou of The Confident Leader; Kamila Chytil of Mastercard; Nelson Mumma Jr. of Cox Media Group; and Stephen Reiff of Arvo Advisory.

Corporate communication was the topic of this panel, which provided profound information on corporate leadership. Internal corporate communication becomes as important as external corporate communication. The two of them together determine the success of a company. Thanks to the panelists listed above for such a thoughtful conversation. Their insights on how communication shapes company value gave every person in the room something to take back to their business.

The 1911 Group held event "Beyond the Press Release: How Strategy and Communication Build Company Value" at the Park City Club in Dallas. — Each of the panelists provided riveting insights on corporate communication.

Dr. J. William Harbour is One of Featured Table Hosts at UT Southwestern’s “Dinner with a Doc,” a Vanguard Event

Dr. J. William Harbour, the Chair of UT Southwestern Ophthalmology Department, seen here at "Dinner with a Doc" presented by The Vanguard at UT Southwestern. — Dr. J. William Harbour is the Chair of UT Southwestern Ophthalmology Department. He was a much requested table host at The Vanguard event “Dinner with a Doc.” This is a UTSW Medical School dinner where supporters of the school each sat with an esteemed doctor. UTSW considered it a huge coup when they were able to entice Dr. Harbour to return to his hometown of Dallas to head the department. UTSW benefits from his remarkable research and also those in his department which include a doctor who might be the first to successfully perform an eye transplant.

Michelin Recommended Restaurant Quarter Acre – Enjoyed with Friends Peter and Patricia Wooldridge

Chef Toby Archibald of Quarter Acre Restaurant located in Dallas' Lower Greenville neighborhood. — Chef Toby Archibald says hello to our table, which included two of my favorite friends, Peter and Patricia Wooldridge. Peter and Patricia have great architectural taste, having owned two architecturally significant homes by prominent Dallas architects – an estate home on White Rock Lake and a Midcentury Modern home in Greenway Parks. They also own a bar at their Hidden Valley Lodge in Montana, adding to their culinary expertise. Quarter Acre Restaurant is the size and presented the food in much the same way as my favorite chef-owned restaurant, Le Kaiku in Saint Jean de Luz, France.

Supporters of Save City Hall Arrive By Any Means to Sign Petition in Junius Heights Neighborhood

Riding a horse through Junius Heights in Old East Dallas to the Garden Cafe for a "Save Dallas City Hall" petition signing. — Garden Cafe attracted “Save Dallas City Hall” petition signers to put a proposition on the ballot. Petitioners came on foot, bicycle, car, and horse.

Park House Balcony in Highland Park Village

Carol Anderson, a member of Park House in Highland Park Village, enjoys an autumn afternoon on the balcony. — Park House member Carol Anderson enjoying a late autumn afternoon on the balcony of Park House in Highland Park Village before a program on architecture and Dallas begins inside.

Alambre de Pescado About to Disappear

Alambre de Pescado, the red snapper entree, is served at Javier's Gourmet Mexicano on Cole Avenue in Dallas, the Knox-Henderson neighborhood adjacent to the Park Cities. — “Alambre de Pescado” — red snapper kebab with double creamed spinach – is served at Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano at 4912 Cole Avenue in Dallas.

My favorite entree at Javier’s is the Alambre de Pescado, a charbroiled red snapper brochette with bell peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms on a bed of rice, along with double creamed spinach substituted for the grilled vegetables. One always associates Mexican restaurants with heavy sauces, cheeses, and indulgent foods. Javier’s has these spectacular dishes as well that I anticipate ordering when I first arrive, but inevitably I will order the Alambre de Pescado because it is so clean and healthy. Javier’s is the only Dallas restaurant I know that I can count on getting real red snapper versus Pacific snapper or some other red snapper imposter. Having it grilled just accentuates the flavor of the red snapper. Now, that is not to say I might not order one or more of my other favorite dishes, courses that might include grilled quail, sauteed garlic shrimp, grilled chicken nachos, the flaming cheese panela, and flan.

You might understand my heartbreak when I learned that after 50 years, Javier’s has removed the Alambre de Pescado from the menu. I never thought I would be mourning the removal of the simplest, healthiest offering on the menu, where the quality of ingredients and preparation trumps the reliance on sauces.