Things were apparently a little too steamy for customers at Coffee Dreamers of Texas in White Settlement. And we're not talking about the cappuccino.
John Holland says he has been taking some heat over barista uniforms since he and his wife, Kim, opened the shop at 750 Alta Mere Drive in White Settlement about six weeks ago.The women servers were dressed "Daisy Duke"-style -- low-cut bluejeans, boots and pearl-snap Western-style blouses with the shirttails tied above the waist -- more Hooters than Starbucks.Not anymore. Last week, Holland said they would now wear knit camisoles under their shirts to hide their once-exposed midriffs.Movie mogulsSeems that John Goff, chairman and CEO of Crescent Real Estate Equities Co. in Fort Worth, has been investing in more than commercial real estate.Goff, and his wife, Cami, are said to be major investors in the Glenn Close film Albert Nobbs. The award-winning Close plays a woman passing as a man to work and survive in 19th-century Ireland. The movie opens nationwide Jan. 27.On Friday, the Goffs will host an invitation-only, red-carpet screening of the movie at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.Close is expected to attend.The Goffs became involved with the movie after attending a dinner party at the White Rock Lake home of Dallas real estate executive John Amend and his wife, Teresa, in the fall of 2010.The party was held to honor Close and film producer Bonnie Curtis. The Amends are Curtis' aunt and uncle.Curtis' film credits include Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.Marketing changesStaff turnover last year has put some new names and faces in the top marketing and communications posts at the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau and Downtown Fort Worth Inc..Merianne Roth joined the bureau in July as vice president of marketing communications. She replaced Kelly Campbell, who left in April after nearly five years. Campbell is now with Global Prairie, a marketing communications consultancy, according to a professional résumé website.Marketing professionals perhaps remember Roth when she served as senior manager of public relations at Pier 1 Imports in Fort Worth. She left Pier 1 in 2005 for a consumer brand marketing and publicity director job with J.C. Penney, which she left last year.Not long after Roth joined the bureau, the organization's marketing communications manager, Leigh Lyons, left for a similar position with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau.Now, Roth has hired Jessica Dowdy to replace Lyons as the new senior manager of public relations and marketing.Dowdy has spent her career in broadcast journalism and marketing, starting with news production for KDFW/Channel 4 in Fort Worth, Roth said. She also spent some time in Los Angeles with Fox as a senior manager of affiliate marketing, promoting and publicizing shows such as X Factor, Terra Nova, Glee and Prison Break, she said.At Downtown Fort Worth Inc., the nonprofit advocacy agency, Becky Fetty is now the marketing and membership director. She replaced Stacey Pierce, who left for a marketing job at All Saints Episcopal School in Fort Worth. Fetty most recently was a regional marketing director at Lincoln Property Co.RV showIf the sunny skies and warm days have prompted thoughts of camping and vacationing, then indulge yourself with a trip to the Tarrant County RV Show at the Fort Worth Convention Center.The show, which opens Thursday, promises eight city blocks of recreational vehicles of all types on display.Thirteen North Texas RV dealers will demonstrate products from dozens of manufacturers and will be making deals at the show, except on Sunday, when state law prohibits sales.Show hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission at the door will be $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. One-dollar discount coupons for adults and seniors will be published in the Star-Telegram and are available at the show's website, www.fortworthrvshow.com/tcoupon.htm.Bus MarketplaceAbout 4,000 folks from across the country connected with charter and other bus tour operators are coming to Grapevine for the American Bus Association's annual Marketplace.The event, which begins Friday at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, will bring bus -- that's motorcoaches -- and tour operators, and hotel and tourism planners and promoters from all over the country to do business."It's a rapidly growing industry, and it's becoming highly competitive," said Dan Ronan, spokesman for the bus association.For shorter trips of 200 to 400 miles, buses are a competitive alternative to the hassles of airline travel with similar, if not nicer, creature comforts and amenities, advocates say. The typical 52-passenger bus tour can generate $10,000 in local economic activity in a single overnight stop, including hotel rooms and meals, Ronan said.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727sabaker@star-telegram.comScott Nishimura,817-390-7808snishimura@star-telegram.comBarry Shlachter, 817-390-7718barry@star-telegram.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
