Say Hello to "The Ghost of Goodnight Lane"

We realize it's unbecoming to brag, but we've never been good about doing what we're supposed to. We're psyched about playing a part in an independent feature film called The Ghost of Goodnight Lane. It stars Billy Zane, at right, (so gorgeously creepy in Dead Calm and, admittedly, less exciting in Titanic) and Lacey Chabert, who's been in tons of things but whose biggest movie was probably Mean Girls. Producer/director/writer Alin Bijan is directing and co-wrote the film, which is being shot in Dallas. The movie is -- get this -- based on real paranormal events that have taken place for years at Bijan's production company, Media World Studios in Dallas. Apparently, paranormal investigators have confirmed the hauntings. This is serious, people. But back to us. Actually, the furniture, linens and housewares that we sell at RetroMania appear in the movie -- we don't. (Though our little Fort Worth shop was promised a mention in the film credits.) We've had a blast with our cinematic foray and made some new friends, like the movie's production designer, Adam Dietrich. There was one casualty during filming: the side table that was part of the Tropitan set we wrote about in our last post. The good news is that our two chairs and ottoman are fine and dandy and the price of the now-three-piece set is $295. We gladly suffer for art.

Bar Carts: Not Just for Liquid Lunch Anymore

God bless Don Draper and his pickled little heart. He seems to have single-handedly resurrected the cool factor on the old-fashioned bar cart (not to mention the Old Fashioned itself.)

Not that long ago, they seemed to have gone the way of the three-martini lunch. Now they are back stronger than a New Year's Day hangover. Above is a picture of the bar cart in my office. You'd be surprised how many people are up for a touch of brown liquor in the middle of the day.

A couple of musts (beyond the booze) for any bar cart (IMO) are a great ice bucket, a funky ashtray, cool retro matches, funky swizzle sticks and cool serving tray.

What about y'all? Share your bar cart stories in the comments. What makes a good bar cart? How do you put yours together? Do tell. I'm curious.

2816 Ilahe Drive Dallas, 75233 - $209k

Check out the Palm Springs awesomeness - an amazing Mid-century Modern ranch house designed by noted architect David Braden. This Oak Cliff 2012 SF 4 bedroom, 2 bath beauty is built into a hillside at the end of a cul-de-sac amongst drought tolerant landscaping. Inside you will find vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, brick fireplace, clerestory windows, walls of glass & original built-ins. A covered dining terrace just off the main living areas is surrounded by a custom horizontal cedar slat fence. More pictures can be found on the Virginia Cook website.

Built in 1963, the post and beam home in the Keistwood Estates was custom designed in harmony with nature. The buyer gets original sputnik fixtures, grand clerestory windows and the original blue prints. The best part is they didn't mess up the kitchen.

Braden, a Dallas native, was a renown architect, business leader, and civic leader. Before he rose to fame as a commercial architect, he gained high praise and recognition for the few number of mid century modern homes he designed around Oak Cliff. In fact, it was the design of his own modern residence that wowed fellow architects with its hillside construction. Braden was awarded 1st prize at AIA Dallas competition, just two years receiving his degree in Architecture from University of Texas at Austin.

A few facts about Braden:

Successful commercial architect, business leader, civic leader, lecturer & humorist

Served as President Dallas Chapter AIA and Texas Architect Society, and much more

Personally chosen by George Dahl (architect of Fair Park) to replace him as president and CEO of his successful commercial architecture firm upon retirement in 1973

Only few residential designs, mostly in Oak Cliff, including his personal residence

Braden’s home won the AIA Dallas 1st prize, just two years after the architect received his degree from UT, and it recently was placed on the OOCCL Home Tour in 2009.