Daily Archives: 05/11/2009

(Community Matters) I don’t see it on their roster but friends say Lyle Lovett will be playing at Padre’s in two weeks in Marfa.

hmm, Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n Roll or Lyle Lovett’s?

Oh yeah, and I hear Lance has taken an apartment in Marfa.

(Community Matters) Evidently Marfa bed tax receipts highest in memorable history during 2009’s first quarter. Squares with reports from my friends at a retail outlet in the city.

While the increase in traffic from Americans driving on vacation rather than flying to other exotic locations may have driven hotel occupancy and retail, it evidently hasn’t translated into big ticket purchases such as art.

(Community Matters) Krugman’s NYTimes column

What’s presumably going on here is that key interest groups have realized that health care reform is going to happen no matter what they do, and that aligning themselves with the Party of No will just deny them a seat at the table. (Republicans, after all, still denounce research into which medical procedures are effective and which are not as a dastardly plot to deprive Americans of their freedom to choose.)

The fact that the medical-industrial complex is trying to shape health care reform rather than block it is a tremendously good omen. It looks as if America may finally get what every other advanced country already has: a system that guarantees essential health care to all its citizens.

(Community Matters) The group departed today at 11:30. 12 back to Los Angeles & Newport Beach; Suzanne & David Booth & Kevin Keim returning to Austin.

I’m staying until tomorrow – dinner tonight with Indi Jacob Gallery owners (Villis Indie & Tom Jacob) and Cochineal proprietors (Tom Rapp & Toshi Sakihara).

Miss Steven and wish he could have been here this weekend; he would have loved the tours, dinners and meeting new friends. Though, he had a terrific long weekend seeing plays in London, now settling in for a week of work.

(Community Matters) Fairfax Dorn one of our hostess on this trip. We toured her Ballroom Marfa (which she founded with Jenny Lebermann) on Friday and Saturday night she hosted a super dinner at her Marfa compound.

Fairfax & Kevin center

Louise O’Connor & Julie Speed at Fairfax’s dinner

Our entire party (16) plus Fairfax, Jenny & John, Louise, Julie & Fran, Marianna Stockebrand, a couple of executives from Green Mountain Energy and a few stray friends at the dinner Saturday night. I was having so much fun, forgot to take more pictures 😦

(Community Matters) Friday night at Cochineal’s, I met John Poindexter who invited me to bring the group to tour the 30,000+ Cibolo Creek Ranch. It’s an extraordinary place. Do click on the ranch name for their rich history and other information.

Susan Stockel, Chris (Cibolo Creek), Kevin Keim & USC Dean Ma

a harmless rat snake found on the way out

I think everyone who toured hopes to be a guest; it’s exquisite

(Community Matters) Julie Speed and Fran Cristina hosted our group for drinks and hors d’oeuvres Friday evening. I can’t resist showing off Julie’s art – some of my favorite.

Julie & Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper and his wife, Sue, two of my new favorite friends – long time friends of Suzanne & David’s. Coincidentally they’ll be in Austin this coming week. Those friends attending the Charles Moore Foundation dinner will have a chance to meet.

Fran in the center

Julie & David Booth

David & Suzanne relatively new to Austin and important contributors to Austin philanthropically and in business. David the founder and executive chairman of Dimension Fund Advisors. Suzanne an art preservationist and more than full time volunteer as a board member for national and international arts organizations.

Robert Arber in the center

A couple of doors down from Julie’s studio is Robert & Valerie Arber’s gallery and studio. Robert was the print maker for Donald Judd and continues to print fine works. He also grows extraordinary garlic.

some Donald Judd prints

the four on the bottom: David Robinowitch prints

Julie & Fran more than terrific and very dear friends. Not only did they host us in the studio, they joined us for dinner Saturday night, then for Padres and hosted us for tours of the new home they are building. Two of my favorite Marfa friends.

(Community Matters) Friday, Suzanne arranged lunch at Austin Street Cafe and for historian Cecilia Thompson to join us. Ms. Thompson grew up in the area and has written two books on Presidio/Brewster Counties history.

@ 12:00: Suzanne Deal Booth, @ 1:00 Dr. Cecilia Thompson

Lots of good lore on Marfa’s founding, naming, politics and the art community. Loved her characterization of Marfa when it was founded – nothing but “a Chinese restaurant, a saloon and a brothel.”

Pictures from the Frank Dugan collection (in Marfa 1916 – 1929):