November 29, 2007
A Snuffer's Of One's Own?
The Dallas Morning News reports that Pat Snuffer is going to try franchising his namesake restaurant -- again.
Back in the mid-90's they tried opening franchise restaurants in Houston and College Station, but they closed quickly. They found it difficult to reproduce the same menu with local supply chains, and (I suspect) the locale didn't work well with the concept. Snuffer's has always been more "Austin-like" than anything else (think 'juke-joint'), and that doesn't jib well in College Station, home of the Texas Aggies, nor Houston, which is more closely associated with A&M and U of H than UT or SMU.
I hope that it works out well -- I'd love to see Snuffer's restaurants outside of Dallas/Ft. Worth, but the original store and my new McKinney Snuffer's will always be my favorites.
Snuffer's celebrates its thirtieth year next June!
Posted by Steven at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
September 09, 2007
Synchronicity, Again!
Alanna and I went to White Rock Skate Center like we often do on Sundays. The usual 'rink-rats' were there, including the girl who wins the Limbo every week. Turns out she has a new boyfriend (we're talking about 11 yr. olds). He's a tallish redhead, and today he was wearing his school's band shirt.
Forest Meadows Jr. High Band.
The band I was in thirty years ago.
So of course I blurted out, "I was in that band!" He was really excited about this, and mentioned that his dad was in FMJH band. I asked him what his name was. He said, "Brad Walker." I then asked the $64,000 question, "Do you have an aunt named Andrea?"
"Yes!", he said.
And then I started humming The Police's Synchronicity. This young lad is the nephew of my LO, Andrea Walker.
I told him that his aunt was the reason I joined the band, and I asked him how she was doing. He mentioned that she and her family had moved back to Austin from S.C., so I guess if there's ever another LHHS Class of '81 reunion, she'll be there.
Small World Syndrome strikes again.
Epilogue
Brad, it turns out, is a major force behind the cinema DLP product line from TI. He holds twenty patents on the technology and is the designated representative of TI at the Academy Awards.
Posted by Steven at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
July 09, 2007
Matt Visited, Briefly
Got to see Matt Bailey this weekend. He brought his mom's PC up for me to look at, and I returned it to him late Sunday night at Café Brazil in Dallas, before he had to drive back to Houston.
He's cut his hair and he looks pretty good with the short cut. I still miss the blonde color, but this is a far less menacing look that he used to sport. It's somewhat disturbing how much his head looks like his father's now!
Posted by Steven at 01:34 AM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2007
White Rock Skate Rink Party
I got to celebrate my 45th birthday at the White Rock Skate Rink (to the horror of the seven year-olds who shared my birthday):
Posted by Steven at 02:45 PM | Comments (1)
January 08, 2007
MACRO Match
In my Senior year at LHHS, I devised a "computer matching" fundraising event for my newly formed computer club (MACRO). I created a questionaire, wrote some programs on the Apple ][, and setup tables at lunch to collect twenty-five cents for an entry in the MACRO Match.
Around three hundred students entered (so we made, what, $75? Good haul!).
Here is my results:
What blew my mind when I re-ran this program from 1980 was that someone I actually dated was on the list! I'll leave her name unspoken but if you know me, you'll recognized her. Synchronicity.
(PS. This is not the doctored results everyone figures I did. The doctored results list Andrea Walker!)
Posted by Steven at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2006
Rabbi Dean
Ancient friend from FMJH and LHHS, Dean Ingram (now Rabbi Dean) is in town tending to his ailing mother. I caught up with him at the McKinney Snuffer's.
Posted by Steven at 05:30 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2005
Martha Cates' Xmas Party
We attended Martha Cates' Christmas party tonite. Alanna couldn't make it as she was Monse's best-friend at her quinciñera, so she missed seeing the "APE Tree".
Earlier this year the Schmalzried's and Anne put together a set of decorations for a Christmas tree for Martha with an AP European History theme. We made banana-chip garlands, decoration ornaments with photos in them, and even minature "killer file cabinents" a la when Charles and I decorated her file cabinent as sophomores.
We gave her all the decorations at a dinner outting at The Grape restaurant. We expected to see a tree in her home with this stuff on it, but it never occurred to us that she would take the ball and run with it.
The tree she decorated had much, much more on and under it. She added flags from all the European nations along the visible edge of the tree. She added ornaments themed for each of the students and the two wives (Kim, who is an APE herself, and Anne).
Anne's was a hilarious King Kong climbing the Empire State Building, cleverly joining the 'ape' theme with her home state of NY. She added little text tags to some of the ornaments to explain the meaning of the tree to her guests (I can only imagine their confusion!). She put all kinds of computer-related tcotchkes on the tree in my honor. She even found a copy of Kenneth Clarke's Civilisation to put under the tree. It was beautiful.
A final big surprise for me was seeing Jeff Long and his wife, Ekatrina, for the first time since his mother's funeral. I wasn't able to attend their wedding as I was in Toronto that weekend last year, and I was quick to apologize for not being able to make it. Jeff looked great, and his wife was lovely. I told them about Charles' find (the movie Russian Ark) which I hope the can get a copy of soon. I made a point of getting Jeff's contact info so I can keep him in touch with the rest of the APEs.
The party was a lot of fun, the food was as wonderful as it has always been (love the Sacher Torte). I look forward to seeing the APE Tree next year!
Posted by Steven at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2005
Holloway Working on Stone's 9/11
One of my oldest friends, Bryan Holloway, is working on Oliver Stone's 9/11 movie (untitled) set. He's part of a team reconstructing the wreckage of the World Trade Center. As a veteran set builder and prop designer, he's worked on a alot of films, but this one is really surreal.
Scores of extras loiter, their faces covered in soot. A man sprays gray insulation foam - in lieu of concrete dust - at what looks much like the corner of Church and Vesey Streets in Lower Manhattan. Another tosses reams of paper in the air. Nearby, others are debating precisely how to crush a fire truck and an ambulance.And just over there, across a dirt road in this isolated industrial tract not far from Marina del Rey, the twisted facade and mangled girders of the wreckage of the World Trade Center are taking shape into a meticulously rendered mockup of ground zero.
A continent removed from the scrutiny of scarred New Yorkers, Oliver Stone's film about 9/11 rescue workers is deep into its second month of principal photography. And crew members working round the clock are dressing one of the most sensitive movie sets imaginable.
...
Hundreds of carpenters, he explained, had hand-carved thousands of beams from Styrofoam, molded rubber into countless strands of stand-ins for shredded reinforcing bars, and assembled all of this inside a pit erected atop stacks of cargo containers.
When Bryan was telling me about this film, I didn't expect to read about it in The New York Times, but here is the story! I hope the film is spectacular, profound, moving and of course, accurate.
But also, it's good that he's working and that he and his family will visit Dallas starting on the 18th of December for two weeks. Looking forward to seeing him, Mon and his daughter.
Posted by Steven at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2005
The Battle for Lake Highlands
Apparently, independent film is still alive at LHHS:
Those pesky Russians are at it again – and Lake Highlands is squarely in their sights.The Battle for Lake Highlands, a satirical homegrown video that spoofs the 1984 movie Red Dawn [Ed. Easily one of the stupidest, most jingoistic films of the Reagan Era], was envisioned, acted, directed and produced by Lake Highlands High School students, premieres Saturday as a school fundraiser.
Lake Highlands High seniors James Daniel and Justin Hamilton, filmmaking partners since elementary school, teamed up to write, produce, direct and act in the 45-minute film.
"Our video is in the vein of Red Dawn, but in our project, the Russians don't want the entire U.S., they just want Lake Highlands," Justin said. "There's no good reason for this. They target Lake Highlands just because they want it."
He said the humor derives from the fact that "although this is a ridiculous concept, all the actors take it so very seriously."
Justin, 18, puts the original movie, which starred Patrick Swayze, in the "so-bad-they're-good" category of cinema.
In the local version, about 50 Lake Highlands High students act in the movie, which stars Bryan Goad and Drew Hawkins, who portray student leaders of the Lake Highlands resistance.
The video includes several Lake Highlands landmarks such as Lake Highlands High, "The Boneyard" (Wildcat Stadium) and Flagpole Hill. There is also plenty of what Justin calls "gratuitous violence" wrought by special effects and an aging collection of broken BB guns as the fight for the leafy 1960s suburb stretches through quiet alleyways and neighborhoods.
Cinema fans who search for holes in movie plots, quibble over costuming and props selection and seek out other inconsistencies may want to turn off their brains while watching Battle for Lake Highlands.
Jason Mazzella, a Lake Highlands High teacher, is the only adult in the video. He just happens to be making Bryan and Drew read a Thomas Paine essay on liberty when the Russians' first shots ring out.
By that point, the video purports, all of the suburb's fathers have already been rounded up and held by the Soviets. What about the mothers?
"Plot hole," Justin shrugs.
And don't expect to see any Soviet army surplus on the backs of the invaders. Justin said costumes for Russian soldiers were a mélange of uniforms from Sweden, Germany and elsewhere. James does double duty by portraying the head Russian.
"It is funny," Bryan said of the movie in which he makes his "big-screen" debut. "The audience will laugh at it. But at other times, it's pretty intense, and it is even sad at a few times."
Drew said he and his classmates actually "started the video as a joke in 10th grade; then it got serious."
"Originally, it was going to be a showing for just the senior class, but then we hit on the idea of using it as a fundraiser for the senior class and inviting the entire community," Drew said.
Organizers hope that up to 500 people will attend the premiere. Proceeds will help offset the expense of senior class projects.
Bob Pittman is a Lake Highlands-based freelance writer.
E-mail rhpittman@yahoo.com
IF YOU GO
The video will be shown at 8 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium of Lake Highlands High School at Church Road and White Rock Trail. General admission tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door. More information, including a trailer with scenes from the video, is available at www.bflh.blogspot.com
Posted by Steven at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2005
APE Tree Unveiled at The Grape Restaurant
Dallas, TX - Former members of the APE gang (founded in 1980 at Lake Highlands HS, a noted gang school) conducted a premeditated surprise unveiling of "APE"-themed Christmas tree ornaments to an unsuspecting former teacher, Martha Ann Cates.
(Seen baffled on the right) Mrs. Cates was shocked when faced with ornaments depicting scenes from her 1979 classroom (the infamous paper-shredding file cabinet) foisted upon her by noted gang leader Charles "the Prince" Schmalzried.
Other "APE"-themed items included: Barrels of Monkeys® and garlands of fried banana-chip. Mrs. Cates' own past came back to haunt her when she was forced to open packages revealing minature "APE Diplomas" like those that she awarded the gang members back in 1981. The irony could not have escaped her.
The APE Gang proceeded to eat a sumptuous meal at their quiet, backroom hangout at "The Grape" restaurant on lower Greenville Avenue (noted for its association with mob killers like Jack Ruby). While the authorities had staked out their other hangout (a clip joint known by the name of "Snuffer's") the police completely missed the hints and cues that the gang would perform it's ambush at the other infamous local eatery. The authorities even lost an opportunity to sieze the gang's automobiles from the backlot valet parking.
The Red State Blues has acquired this photo of reputed gang leader Steve "Skates" Staton with his wife/moll Anne "88 Keys" Staton. (Many Bothans died to bring us this photo.) If you see either of these wanted characters, we caution you to report their whereabouts to the authorities in Toontown immediately.
But Seriously ...
Tonite the Schmalzrieds, Anne and I took Martha out to The Grape for dinner, and sprung our "APE"-theme Xmas tree decorations on her. In addition to the aforementioned items, we also made ornamental spheres with images embedded in them (taken from our APE parties and classes), a toy hearse (Charles once drove a hearse up and down her street calling out her name -- it's in the APE Roast), an ornamental picture of The David from my personal slide library, and a minaturized Snuffer's menu from 1985. Kim found (and I once again decorated) dollhouse file cabinets with the the "monster" motif, and Kim and Anne provided "Barrels of Monkeys" and strung the banana garlands. The Schmalzrieds found a monkey hand puppet to sit on the top of the tree (in place of Santa). Except for having to explain the tree to friends, it'll be a hit at her next Xmas party. She was very surprised and moved at our bizarre tribute to our favorite teacher.
Posted by Steven at 08:20 PM | Comments (2)
August 31, 2005
APEs Extinct in Our Lifetime
According to the BBC, APES will be extinct in our lifetime. As a charter member of the APEs, I find this rather disturbing.
But seriously ... the great apes gone in my lifetime? What a huge cockup on humanity's part.
Posted by Steven at 08:21 PM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2005
Ma Cates' BD at Indian Palace
Anne and I joined the Schmalzired's at Indian Palace to celebrate Martha's birthday. We didn't ask how many years ... but we did have a great time chewing the fat, talking about parenting, politics and the new Pope. I brought a silly chimpanzee (APE themed) car for Ma ...
The best part of the evening was not having my usual post-Indian meal reading room session! I know ... TMI ... again ...
Posted by Steven at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2005
Party at John Davis'
John Davis invited a bunch of his old LHHS film club (Fantastic Cinema Productions) friends over Sunday night to hang out at his pad. Bryan and his wife, daughter and mom came, as did Mike Jones and his family, and Paul Claerhout and wife.
I had never been to John's home, so I didn't know what to expect. It turns out that he lives in a home styled much like the ones on Fallbrook Dr. (where he grew up) -- a kind of late 70's bauhaus-style architecture that I think is really cool. The whole house is built around a small courtyard with a modest pool in the center, surrounded by windows -- no part of the house is hidden from any other. In some ways, it's very Japanese. There are some stylings that imply the home was built during the heyday of the Savings and Loan Crisis, when wheeler-dealers were making "swinging singles pads" for themselves. This is one of those homes.
John and Kim have a wild sense of fashion, and their home is a show piece of this.
My favorite piece of furniture is this rabbit-fur covered three piece loveseat
Their den is a kind of 60's retro homage that looks awesome
This lamp is a cloth covered frame that is stunning in person
We spent the bulk of the evening watching really bad commericals, promos and a movie specifically made as a parody of the 50's horror/SciFi films, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. I cannot describe this film ... it's either the worst thing you've ever seen, or the best parody of the worst thing you've ever seen. The DVD extras are worth the trouble to watch ... and they explain a lot of the badness in ways that aren't necessarily obvious.
The evening was a great time and John and Kim were wonderful hosts. I look forward to another get together!
Posted by Steven at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2004
FCP Lunch at Benihana's
Bryan, Mike and I got together for lunch at Benihana's today, and were joined by Paul Claerhout and John A. Davis of DNA Productions, the creators of Jimmy Neutron. John formed the LHHS film club twenty-five years ago, and all of us at the lunch (except Paul) were founding members.
I asked John about his side project involving our first High School film (2112) and we exchanged ideas on how to make the DVD a parody of all the remake and director's cut discs out there. John suggested redoing some of the effects using today's technology, a la George Lucas' remake of Star Wars, but in a way that made it painfully obvious (and thus sillier). I offered to contribute all the media I created during the FCP Reunion of 2002, and offer any other help I could.
Mike Jones and John Davis
Nalynn and Bryan Holloway
John Davis and Paul Claerhout
Bryan and Mon (with Nalynn) Holloway
Posted by Steven at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2004
FCP Chinese Dinner
Several FCP alumni gathered in North Plano last night (despite the ice storm that hit Dallas) to share wedding photos and a silly tribute to Bryan Holloway (he was the "out of town guest") last night. Rik Jones introduced his wife Jo-i, and shared the gorgeous wedding album they made in Taiwan this last May. Bryan and Mon brought their daughter Nalynn, who was a delight to all the parents. Mike and Defang came with Andrew, who played with my son Leo all evening.
We ate at Ivy's China Cafe restaurant on Coit at Parker, which is an authentic Taiwanese restaurant.
Mon, Nalynn and Bryan Holloway, Mike and Defang Jones
Rik and Jo-i Jones
Posted by Steven at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2004
Snuffer's Coming to McKinney
 | As I drove past the new retail construction site on the west side of US 75 just south of Eldorado Parkway in McKinney, I spied the Snuffer's logo on the billboard listing new businesses moving into the plaza. |
Holy mole, a Snuffer's in McKinney.
The. Mind. Boggles.
I'll expect Anne to hold a wake soon.
Posted by Steven at 11:03 AM | Comments (1)