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FACES & PLACES 
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 Here's a trio worth watching. We caught Jim Austin, jimaustinonline.com; Robert Sturns, City of Fort Worth; and David Berzina, Fort Worth Chamber, devising plans at the 2015 Real Estate Forecast, hosted by the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth. The event raised $25K for the Chamber's Economic Development efforts. Read more about new retail, industrial and office developments here, and how Fort Worth was a finalist in the Tesla gigafactory project. For more photos of Chamber events, click here. |
 These roses are RED! Without a raise yet again, Mr. B is picking up pennies to save enough money for the Chamber's trip to Tuscany this fall and suggested to the Prospective Ms. B that we skip our over-the-top Valentine's Day gift giving (traditionally a $5.37 spending limit). She wasn't buying in; she can buy her sweetie a lot of Nestle crunch bars on sale with a coupon for $5.37. Mr. B, however, is off to Gordon Boswell Flowers because the luminous Courtney McCaleb will have one hand-picked luscious rose, never wilting, awaiting for pickup. You'll have better luck with Courtney. She has THREE DOZEN long-stemmed roses and a hand-crafted spa gift basket for one reader.
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Greatest loves of all: Eurydice and Orpheus once were a couple and part of one of the greatest love stories ever told, but their public relations peeps weren't so good, especially on social media, and they never attained the popularity of Romeo and Juliet ... or even Laverne and Shirley. It was a long time ago so it's all Greek to Mr. B. The Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts at The Texas Boys Choir will give E & O some props when it performs Eurydice Feb. 20-21. Laura (related to Thomas) Kinkade blew kisses and two tickets our way.
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Scouting out a deal: Mr. B was considering calling Scott and Donnie at Salesmastery, Sandler Sales Training for some business development assistance, but called Katherine Curtis instead. She is the Boss Cookie Monster and has whipped her Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains into selling shape. Three new offerings this year include gluten-free Toffee-tastic and Trios, a cookie made with peanut butter, chocolate chips and whole grain oats. There also are Rah-Rah Raisins, an oatmeal raisin cookie with Greek yogurt-flavored chunks. Nearly 200 million boxes will be sold nationwide and two B2B Insider readers will get a case (12 boxes) of either Thin Mints or Thanks-A-Lots.
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Dealin': He is an actor, singer, comedian and television personality, and his talented personas will be at Verizon Theater Feb. 15. Wayne Brady came to prominence with his co-starring role on Whose Line Is It Anyway? He remains popular as host of Let's Make A Deal. Here's the deal from jimaustinonline.com. You and a guest will receive VIP parking and two seats in the jimaustiononline.com suite. And you can go to jmaustinonline.com for other sweet deals. Congratulations to Jan. 14 Prize Winners:
- McKee Smith, Modern Media
- Cara Kennemer, Underwood Law Firm
- Erika Downs, PeopleFund
- Frederick Schmidt, Tarrant County College District
- Katy Tomlinson, Alliance for Children
Winners will be announced weekly
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Fact daddy: If you want to be a faux Stock Show & Rodeo historian, this can get you started. According to President and GM Brad Barnes at a Vision Fort Worth Table of 10 breakfast, there are just 19 employees and more than 900 volunteers. The first time admission was charged was 1907; it was 25 cents. The 1958 rodeo was the first on national TV - NBC, with hosts Dale Evans and Roy Rogers.
Dialing for dollars: The Fort Worth Business Exchange leads group members contribute "happy dollars" for leads and good events in their lives. During 2014, it collected $1,400, with $1,200 going to Cancer Care Services and $200 to City Life Center. To start 2015, Mike Garza representing Keller Williams "contributed" $2 to the kitty because Aspen Wealth Management's Helen Stephens had been so helpful ... but he had to ask her to loan him the $2. When Garza started to give praise to Matt and Angie Pitts at Replacement Roofing Specialists, Matt laughed and reached for his wallet.
Weighty issue: At least nine members of the Texas Tornados leads group have put up $25 in a 90-day, steel-cage, slimming slugfest. Winner take all for most pounds dropped.
 Proud Mary: During the holidays, Paul and Mary McKinney and Buffalo West hosted the Fort Worth Harley Davidson party. Riders were verry revved up by the food and service and the HOGG Club now meets there regularly.
La. La. land: Raegan Bell of Bell Brothers Moving Storage and Delivery got a call from a person relocating with a company to come pack up a map. Which happened to be an original Louisiana Purchase map. Reportedly just two in existence; one in the Smithsonian and the other in this living room.
Housing (re)starts: This would be similar to losing a young superstar such as Dez or Demarco to free agency, which won't happen. But this happened. Carley Moore, a realtor for six years and No. 1 in her office during 2013, has joined the Bloom Real Estate Group. You might recall her appearance on HGTV's My First Place in 2012.
Steaking a claim: Fort Worth's Del Frisco's Double Eagle was named to OpenTable's 2014 Top 100 Best Steakhouses List in the United States.
Wins with twins: Courtney Summers, marketing/sales development with Consuro, is just days from development herownself of twins. She says the Summers are prepared "because we knew early. But I'm reeeaaally not prepared."
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"The 26th District I represent is pretty conservative. When I talk about Congress not doing anything, they say, 'Hooray!'"
-- Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D.
United States Congressman
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Brickslayers: If you missed last week's Real Estate Forecast, presenter Integra Realty Resources' Viewpoint 2015 report calls for improving property fundamentals to continue driving positive yields and attract additional capital to the sector, while loan volumes simultaneously increase in anticipation of a three-year run of strong refinancing opportunities. Cap rates are expected to stabilize in many sectors throughout 2015.
Numbers 1: Tarrant County College's Northwest Campus trains 10K firefighters annually and 4K police. It also has an aviation training program and a BNSF Railway training center. Forty percent of all revenue generated from continuing education programs at TCCD comes from the Northwest Campus.
 Numbers 2: Lighthouse for the Blind sells $9 million a year of copy paper.
Stating the obvious: A state legislator wants to make the cowboy hat the official hat of Texas. It isn't already?
Oldies but goodies: This from Laura Schroeder, the Community Living Director at Lakewood Village Retirement Community - "I recently talked with a 96-year-old resident who remembers farming in the 1920s. I spoke about my farming in the 1980s and he told me about talking with someone who farms now. Mules to tractors to computers. Wow! I wish we could have children come and learn history from these residents. It would make a more lasting impression than anything ever learned from a book."
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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Date Event Name
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SPLENDID CLIENT GIFT
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Fort Worth: Energized for the Future Coffee Table Book
The Chamber's 200-page coffee table book tells the story of our city's remarkable growth and opportunity. This hardcover book highlights Fort Worth's people, companies and diverse culture through richly photographed pages. Purchase it today for $35.00*
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