November 2008

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Aloft Las Colinas hotel has minimalist appeal

November 24, 2008 in General, News by Monty

by SHERYL JEAN/The Dallas Morning News
sjean@dallasnews.com

The newly opened Aloft  Las Colinas hotel is a study in modern minimalist design. An offshoot of luxury W Hotel, Aloft targets younger travelers with style and technology. Both are Starwood Hotels & Resorts brands.

Upon arrival, guests are met by the “swoof” stripes in shades of blue and yellow underneath the porte-cochere. The lobby features modern furniture, bold colors such as azure and eggplant and exposed pipes and duct work. Guest rooms boast 9-foot ceilings, big windows and walk-in showers.

The $20 million hotel was the first Aloft to open in Texas in early October. Aloft hotels opened this month in Frisco and Plano, and are scheduled to open in downtown Dallas in mid-2009 and in Lewisville in mid-2010.

The five-story, smoke Aloft Las colinas has 136 rooms with rates of $89 to $209.

“We target business travelgoers who want to break out of the mold of the cookie cutter hotel,” said Ryan Miyamoto, general manager of the Aloft Las Colinas at State Highway 114 and O’Connor Road. “Aloft is all about sensory - colors, different textures and smells.”

Aloft spritzes a signature scent, a citrus blend, throughout the hotel to create a sense of serenity, he said. Rooms feature Bliss bath products and a selection of magazines.

Most of the lobby is used as lounge and work space, with the re:mix lounge, w xyz bar and re:fuel, a 24-hour self-service food-and-drink area.

“The interiors are designed to appeal to younger, more style-conscious consumers who grew up with iPods, Ikea and MTV and expect style wherever they go,” said Brian McGuinness, Starwood;s global head of the Aloft brand.

In keeping with its target customer, Aloft provides Wi-Fi throughout and each room allows all electronic gadgets to network to a 42-inch flat panel television.

Aloft isn’t just for Gen-Yers. The hotel provides a goodie bag, kids’ menu, games and a child-size air mattress and bedding for kids 2 to 12.

Aloft is the first of a series of mid-priced, loft-like hotels coming to Las Colinas. A 200-room NyloHotel plans to open next spring, a 123-room Element (also by Starwood) to open in early 2009 and an 85-room Hotel Indigo plans to open in 2010.

Irving Plans to Build Two New Libraries

November 20, 2008 in General by Monty

By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
dfleck@dallasnews.com

Irving has announced plans to build two free-standing libraries to replace the Northwest and Southwest storefront branches. The new facilities would allow the city to offer residents four full-service libraries and eliminate annual lease payments. The new Northwest branch will triple in size.

In addition, the plans include a 5,000-square-foot build-out of the Valley Ranch Library. The central library will be renovated, with an expanded children’s program area, a teen area, a larger computer lab and a quiet area. The East Branch Library will be consolidated with the Central Library. Residents may provide input on library plans at www.cityofirving.org; select “Public Input Opportunities.” The survey will be online through November.

UPCOMING EVENTS IN IRVING

November 20, 2008 in General by Monty

Irving Hispanic Chamber will hold a networking breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 21st at the Glass Door, 1735 N. Story Road. 214-217-8477. www.irvinghispanicchamber.org

VWF Post 2494 will hold a fish fry from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21st at Post Home, 3375 belt Line Road. The Ladies Auxiliary will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 at the home. On Sundays through Dec. 7, the home will serve breakfast from 9 to 11:30 a.m. 972-790-1161.

The Irving Arts Center:
ICT MainStage’s Noises Off - through Nov. 22nd
The Nutcracker - Nov. 28-30 presented by the Momentum Dance Company
The 16th Annual Holiday Exhibition and Tree Decorating Competition - Nov. 29 through Dec. 3
3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. 972-252-2787. www.irvingartscenter.com

North Texas And Big 12 Conference Awarded 2014 Men’s Final Four

November 19, 2008 in General by Monty

 

Contact: Rob Carolla
rcarolla@big12sports.com

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball committee has selected the Big 12 conference and North Texas to host the 2014 Men’s Final four, it was announced. the event will take place at the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“We are extremely pleased that North Texas has been chosen to host the 2014 Men’s final four,” said Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. “This is an outstanding opportunity to showcase men’s basketball throughout the region. In addition to the terrific facilities available, the championship will provide the opportunity to continue to demonstrate our ability to host NCAA events in a first-class manner. Our goal will be to provide the teams and the fans with the experience of a lifetime.”

Since the Big 12 began competition in 1996-97, the Conference has been selected to host NCAA men’s first/second round competition eight times. The league will host first/second round action once again this year, with games slated for March 19 and 21, 2009 at Sprint center in Kansas City, Mo.

“The NCAA Final Four is one of the great sporting events in the country,” said Jerry Jones, Owner of the Dallas Cowboyws, “To have the opportunity to host this spectacle at our new stadium in Arlington is an honor and a privilage. We don’t take lightly the responsibility the NCAA has bestowed upon us, and we look forward to working with the Big 12 Conference to create the greatest Final four ever right here in North Texas.”

The new stadium will have the capacity to seat approximately 93,000 fans. In addition, the stadium’s plaza areas have the potential to give gans and students unprecedented access to the Final four games and the surrounding experience. the venue will stage numberous collegiate events in the coming years, including the 2009 and 2010 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championships. The Cotton Bowl will be played there stating in January 2010, with regular-season college football contests already scheduled in the stadium and the potetial that regular-season college basketball could take place there as well.

“This is a great day for Arlington and all of North Texas,” said Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck. “This has truly been a community-wide endeavor, and seeing those efforts pay off with the awarding of this NCAA Men’s Final Four is something we can all take pride in today. I know that when the nation’s eyes are turned our way in 2014, we will put on the greatest Final Four ever.”

The 2014 Men’s Final four will mark the first time it has been played in North Texas since the 1986 event was staged at Reunion Arena in Dallas. In addition, there have been four more Men’s Final fours staged in the State of Texas - Houston in 1971 (Astrodome) and San Antonio (Alamodome) in 1998, 2004 and 2008. Houston’s Reliant Stadium will host in 2011. entering the 2008-09 season, Texas has hosted 149 tournament games overall, fourth nationally among states .

Along with the Final four, The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) will have its annual convention in North Texas. The NCAA also stages a “Hoop City” fan festival as part of the event.

Dallas Cowboys Auction Pieces of Texas Stadium History

November 18, 2008 in General by Monty

By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
bformby@dallasnews.com

And in true fire-sale fashion, it seems that everything – even showerheads and urinals – must go. Bidding on more than 600 items from the famed structure began this morning on the Web site BidSpotter.com. The auction closes at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Diehard Cowboys fans can bid on everything from turnstiles (starting at $300) to emergency phones placed throughout the stadium (starting at $50). And for fans who have a lot of space to display their goods, there’s the monstrous banners draped over the side of the stadium advertising Dr Pepper, Pepsi and Ford. Or there’s the giant 30-foot-by-18-foot stadium entrance awnings perfect “for the end of your driveway or the gate to your ranch.” Want something that’s been a little more personal to the Cowboys themselves? A urinal from the team’s locker room starts at $300. And a Cowboys locker room toilet – billed as the throne of champions – comes complete with an entire bathroom stall and starts at $300. There’s also a trio of showerheads from the team’s locker room that starts at $500.

Terrell Owens’ locker starts at $2,000. Tony Romo’s starts at $3,000.

But there are also some bargains. Bidding on a sign warning fans not cook within 20 feet of the Corral starts at $10. And a glass-shaped sign advertising “Cowboyritas” starts at $25.

Irving, which owns the stadium, gets a cut from the memorabilia sales. The rest goes to the Cowboys.

The city will also retain 1,000 stadium seats and 100 square yards of artificial turf.

The city leases the stadium to the team, which is expected to vacate next spring. Under an exit agreement between the two entities, Irving can’t use the stadium’s name to market any new developments on the site.