Dark Matter to Tell a Story,” Says the Artist, Originally from New York City

the the radar

[the night watch] Kenny Mencher’s Private Dick.

| now!

Edited by Stacy Girard Stacy by Edited

[culture vulture]

DRAMA-O-RAMA In the tradition of hard-boiled detective mysteries and ’40s film-noir classics, The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon, the paintings of San Francisco artist Kenney Mencher pack major dramatic punch. And Dallas art space Dahlia Woods Gallery is currently putting works from Mencher’s drama club collection on center stage with his Shadow & Light exhibit. Theatrical suspense is the allure of the scene–stealing oil-on-canvas productions that colorfully reinterpret the traditional black-and-white genre. “I think it begins with wanting Dark Matter to tell a story,” says the artist, originally from New York City. His enigmatic and dark tableaus depict In Dallas’ ever-fickle nightlife scene, clubs, mysterious (and often surreal) slices of life, inspired by bars and lounges duke it out for after-dark posed photographs. But, the cryptic scenes leave viewers domination. Here we give you a nightcap to determine their own interpretation of the action. of two hot haunts to put on your radar. Through Nov. 29. 600 Cantegral St., 214.827.0924 or dahliawoodsgallery.com. –Rachel Watkins

Come to your senses The Joule hotel’s new 1,600-square-foot subterranean playground, PM, is the product of party pro Todd Fiscus and his team. Designer fantasy this! Immortalize yourself with a his and hers Rob Dailey created a blood-red backdrop life-size LEGO sculpture snapped together by artist awash in metallic silver, gold and copper Nathan Sawaya. This arresting set will set you back gleam, accented with rococo details and $60,000 a pop and is just one of 350 enticing entries in NIGHT PROWL! twisted with a little humor. “I wanted to Above left: After-dark The Christmas Book from Neiman Marcus. The 82nd create a space that provided more—more drama at PM. Here: edition of the luxe ’log features standout swag, from look, more service, more eye candy, more Inside The Boardroom. $24 chocolate-chip cookies to your own $10 million sex appeal—more everything. As it has turnkey thoroughbred racing operation. After ponying been said before, if it is worth being done, up a half-mill for the Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium it’s worth being overdone,” says Fiscus. Call a meeting The Boardroom means End Zone, you receive the entire 530-square-yards of Evoking the senses was the idea, and business. From the famed Dolce Group, sporting history to put on your own property. Watch Fiscus enlisted modern alchemist Douglas the players behind such hotspots as LA’s the final regular-season game from a VIP box; take a Little of D.L. & Co. fame to create a sultry Les Deux, Ketchup and Geisha House, photo with Jerry Jones in your zone; and tailgate party scent for the lounge (think Labdanum, the sleek leather lounge, located in with the Dallas Cowboys Madagascar, Civet, Patchouli, Bulgarian Victory Park, blends the best highlights cheerleaders. Or have a Rose and Pink Pepper), along with the of a sports bar, fine restaurant and after- custom-built Guinness rock-meets-goth jewelry bedecking the hours hang. Indulge in the restaurant’s Irish pub installed in Louboutin-wearing cocktail mistresses. re-imagined American dishes such as your home for $250,000. With a 30-seat VIP Salon, an onsite Corn Dog Surf and Turf and the Happy We’ll drink to that! sommelier, food service by the hotel’s Thanksgiving Sandwich, while watching –Lisa Martin Charlie Palmer restaurant, Dom Pérignon the game on one of 20 high-def plasma (served on perfumed hankies, scorched screen TVs. Or drown your market- with caramel skulls) as the signature dipping woes in a Two Week Vacation, beverage and an “exclusive” door, this just one libation on their menu of “liquid one’s sure to make the best-guest list. The assets.” 2990 Olive St., 214.740.0555. SNAPPED! Nathan Sawaya’s Joule, 1530 Main St., 214.748.1300. –Stacy Girard life-size LEGO sculptures.

2 | Nov 2008 radar the Sound Waves This month’s music stash is all about funky beats and clever lyrics to match—

| from a Jamaican-produced gem to the darlings of the Austin indie scene. now!

Michael Franti and Spearhead / All fire stateside. The wall of Rebel Rockers (Anti Records) In harmonic guitars in Dreams Michael Franti’s song, Television, Drug Old Men Dream is not too of the Free (from the 1992 debut album far off from Radiohead’s with Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy), 1995’s The Bends, but he described a “cathode ray nipple…that it’s the elastic, arcanely would create a cripple.” Since that time, soulful vocals of singer he’s been kicking out equally literate Nathan Willet that set slivers of reggae, jazz and hip-hop with this band apart. his combo Spearhead. That band’s latest, recorded in Jamaica with legendary producers Sly & Robbie, is especially Okkervil River / The Stand Ins funky. Soundsystem borrows from the (Jagjaguwar Music) Okkervil River Clash and Bowie, while All I Want Is You e x p l o it s l e a d s i n g e r W i l l S c h e ff ’s d r a m a t i c is a typical Kingston slow-jam with edge flair and English-major lyrics to great and purpose. effect on the inherently tuneful fifth full-length album with its earnest, albeit nerdy blend of metaphor and melody. Cold War Kids / Loyalty to Loyalty Despite the skull on the cover, Okkervil (Downtown/Vertigo) Cold War Kids’ River’s The Stand Ins is a pleasant, upbeat highly anticipated second album doesn’t sequel to 2007’s more introspective The disappoint: The urgency of I’ve Seen Stage Names. Low Coastlines and Singer Enough is potent, and the drums are Songwriter share equal parts of the ’60s loud. Popular in the UK, it remains skiffle and post-emo moodiness that to be seen if this California quartet’s have become this Austin, Texas-based powerful underground sound will catch band’s trademark. –Kristi York Wooten

[eat sheet] HIGH JOLTAGE You know the logo all too Lovers Ln., 214.599.7800) lives up to its well—the long-locked goddess with the simple mission: to serve to the highest star in her crown. But a spate of local, quality coffee served at its peak… See the indie bean brew houses want to knock latest from local visual artists at the newly the Starbucks siren off her pedestal… renovated Urban Dog Coffee (2720 Oak Crooked Tree Coffeehouse (2414 Lawn Ave., 214.219.5511), where canine Routh St., 214.953.1142), Dallas’ newest companions and coffee go hand in paw… coffee kid on the block, located in a And Snider Plaza will watch coffee titans charm-packed converted old bungalow Dunkin’ Donuts (3404 Rankin) and in Uptown, offers not only scrumptious Starbucks (6733 Hillcrest, 214.691.4890) blended drinks such as the Pumpkin Jo duke it out, as the doughnut king becomes (made from organic, fair trade beans) and a neighbor to the reigning bean-slinger. a basic latte, but also serves up homemade Let the best blend win! –Laura Noble bites including pastries, muffins and light bites… The market may be down, but the stock is rising for Opening Bell (300 North Akard St., 214.665.2355), with fresh digs at downtown’s stylish Mosaic building. The shop, with an urban NYSE theme, is deaux

part intimate live music venue, part café, bo with such options as the Bluechip (Café hi on T d Mocha), the 401K (peach-mango iced n

tea), as well as pastries and sandwiches. y Bra And at the closing bell, try one of their

cork selections… Hand-roasting their graphy b t o

CAFFEINE CALL: Opening Bell; o coffee onsite, with only the finest grade Right: Bell’s caffeine scene. organic Arabica beans, Drip Coffee (4343 g Bell ph n i n Ope

4 | Nov 2008 radar the | now! True Bijou Close your eyes, and her rasp-rich French accent instantly conjures a picture of timeless style. You’ve probably seen her name in the context of Yves Saint Laurent. But Loulou de la Falaise, famed muse of the late designer, is now adding sparkle to another recognizable name: Oscar de la Renta. Falaise created an opulent collection of gemstone and semi-precious stone jewelry for de la Renta’s vivid Spring 2009 collection. We chatted up the jewelry designer to get the scoop on this history- making collaboration and what fashion has meant to her through the years. –Laura Noble

How did you meet Oscar de la Renta? I met Oscar for the first time with my mother in 1961 when I was at Lycée Francais. I would join them at my mother’s dinner parties.

Your style has been described as “luxurious” and “bohemian.” How would you define it? There are linear moments, baroque moments. I’m attracted to ethnic styles and love color. I’m a bit of a tomboy. I wear trousers often and have a sort of rock ‘n’ roll style I suppose.

How was it working with famed Indian jeweler Mahesh Bharany? I’d never seen so many stones tumbling out of safes and plastic bags. TRÈS CHIC! Loulou de la I had to hold myself back and not go nuts. Falaise and her gemstone creations for Oscar de la Creating with him has been great fun. Renta’s Spring ’09 collection. What do you think your jewelry adds to the collection? I hope my jewelry puts the dot on the “i.”

Dok bag, $25,000, at Hysteria bag, Nancy Gonzalez Which city have you found most fashionably Tod’s NorthPark Center $39,400, at Gucci, handbag, $2,400, dynamic? New York in the ’70s and ’80s: People were Galleria Dallas at Neiman Marcus really sharp. Fashion hits the streets very fast and seems to be well digested into the culture.

What’s your fondest fashion memory? There are so B. Romanek Rockstar clutch, many… I remember doing a mad fashion show in New $2,195 at Barneys Lindy bag, $29,100, York, 1972, with my friend Berry Berenson-Perkins for New York, at Hermès, Highland Giorgio di Sant’Angelo. We had to be dressed as red NorthPark Center Park Village Indians and do our own makeup. We laughed so hard our eyes were watering. Another that stands out is the crocks rock! While handbags have evolved, making collection of Yves Saint Laurent’s moving shows, where bolder statements than ever, we can’t help but notice everyone ended up in tears. There would be moments in the reinterpretations of iconic shapes in predatory croc the show where everything was in perfect harmony and and alligator. Esteemed design house Tod’s created a to- the sheer perfection proved very emotional. die-for doctor’s bag, while Gucci opted to fashion the prehistoric skin into a structured, pleated hobo. Sure Available at Oscar de la Renta, NorthPark Center, they tote hefty price tags (as much as $39,400 for Gucci’s 214.346.0400, oscardelarenta.com. Hysteria bag), but these fierce classics won’t ever face wardrobe extinction. –S.G.

6 | Nov 2008 radar the

ways to | now! 5 blow a wad Bling out, sister. Runways glittered with festive sequined gowns, brightly colored bejeweled clutches, stilettos festooned with crystals—looks that could turn any party 2 pooper into Holly Golightly. Even sunglasses are très 3 indulgent this season, taking up with Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari for a sprinkling of a girl’s best friend. Wear one piece, or pile it on. Now this is one party we can get behind!

1. Bulgari sunglasses, $715, at Ilori boutiques nationwide, www.‌iloristyle.‌com 2. Cecile metal mesh clutch, $1,995, at www.‌jimmychoo.‌com 3. The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection featuring Swarovski crystals by Jimmy Choo, to be auctioned off to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 4 at Saks Fifth Avenue 4. Wavebreaker cuff with black coral and diamonds, $37,000, at Bernard K. Passman Gallery, Beverly Hills, or www.‌passman.‌com 5. Red silk gown, price upon request, at 5 Monique Lhuiller boutiques Grand Total: $39,710+

Flight of Fancy Ever caught yourself keep from losing that big-table ante Below: Victor de Vasarely’s Untitled. Right: Marc daydreaming of wading in the Henry’s with lessons from World Series of Poker Newson’s Sci-Fi vase for Cor Unum. Fork River with renowned fly fisherman bracelet winner Antonio Esfandiari. Mike Lawson helping you hook the Delight in the best of the epicurean perfect trout? Make this dream a reality. world at the Second Annual Pebble As one of six Expert Guide packages Beach Food & Wine festival; or become available to gift-givers who purchase a a life-changing force in the world with Flexjet 25 jet card (starting at $107,900) the help of leading philanthropy advisor through December 15, 2008, the and strategist Marjorie Federbush. Or, if luxury travel experience on Flexjet 25’s none of these feed your fantasy, Flexjet Bombardier fleet can be combined with 25 has teamed with exclusive lifestyle an opportunity to learn through the management service Mint to create an eyes of a pro. Explore the vast world of experience all your own. The sky truly art with distinguished art consultant is the limit. For more information, visit New Bids on the Block So you’ve snagged your 1920s Barbara Guggenheim, or learn how to flextjet.com. –Chris Mizeur bungalow, mid-century ranch, ’90s loft or your ’08 sustainable smart manse. But you still haven’t found the FLYING HIGH! Below: right piece of statement mod. Heritage Auction Galleries Flexjet 25 Expert Gift of Dallas knows that design-savvy people cannot exist on Edition gift card. Left: Catch the big one with cool architecture alone, so they’ve created their first auction “trout whisperer” of 20th century art and design. Whether you prefer Arts Mike Lawson. & Crafts (a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed chair made for an Oak Park, Illinois home), Art Deco (Jean Perzel’s metal lamp, 1940), modern art (Ad Reinhardt’s Abstract Blue, 1952) or contemporary ceramics (Marc Newson’s Sci-Fi vase, 1993), you’ll find plenty to feed your appetite for modern design. Heritage officials predict auction stars to be the Reinhardt painting, valued at $1.75 million to $2 million, and the Wright chair, originally from Barbra Streisand’s collection, valued at $100,000 plus. Dec. 11 at Heritage’s Slocum Street Annex, 1518 Slocum. Bidding begins Nov. 20. Previews, Dec. 6-8. See ha.com/5014 or call 800.872.6467. –Connie Dufner

8 | Nov 2008