Today’s edition of Preston Hollow People includes our quarterly real estate section, the creatively named “Real Estate Quarterly.” And that section includes our second edition of Top Producers, the rankings of Preston Hollow’s top real estate agents based on sales reported to MLS. Both times we’ve done this, the same woman was the top listing agent with five sales, including the house seen here. Want to know her name? You’ll have to pick up a paper.

Classic Tobacco offers a variety of products and services to its customers at Inwood and Lovers. In addition to selling hookah, electronic cigarettes, and premium cigars smokeable from the comfort of an in-store leather couch, the staff at Classic Tobacco will unlock your iPhone while you light up. Conveniently, government rules announced Monday, July 26, made the  ”jail-breaking” of iPhones legal. This combination of services could take relieving the stress of dropped calls to a whole new level.

Town North Family YMCA hosted Family Fun Night on July 22. The event included the Punt, Pass and Kick competition, a bounce house in the gym, snow cones, and water fountains.
Photos: Marco Antonio Medina

The process that began six years ago to install speed humps on Crestline Avenue along the stretch between Walnut Hill Lane and Ridge Road is finally over. As it so happened, this momentous occasion fell on the gap between Eric’s departure and my arrival, so this breaking news is two weeks old. But hey, better late than never. City staffer Kerry Elder said there hasn’t been any conflict or negative reaction to the humps. The true test will be when Episcopal School of Dallas starts classes on Aug. 24.

Hi, I’m Claire St. Amant, the new reporter for Preston Hollow People. I’ll try my best to fill the Eric-shaped hole in your heart and blog. When I’m not resting my head on a keyboard, I like to follow Baylor athletics and spend time with my fiancé and his black lab. This is my first week covering Preston Hollow, and I’m trying to get the lay of the land. First things, first: Where should I go for lunch today? I’m doing an interview at Inwood and Lovers. Suggestions, please!

Photo by Alan Henderson

I can’t remember the last time I went to church before Sunday. But it will be hard to forget the service I attended that day.

On Sunday, St. Paul United Methodist Church, aka “the soul of the Arts District,” held its first services since a multimillion-dollar renovation was completed with assistance from Highland Park United Methodist Church.

The refurbished sanctuary was packed. Besides the St. Paul congregation and a contingent from Highland Park UMC, there were also visitors from Bluffview’s Cochran Chapel UMC, where St. Paul held services for 18 months, and Camp Wisdom UMC, which is led by the Rev. Janet Bell Odom, aka “the first lady of St. Paul United Methodist Church.”

Her husband, the Rev. Elzie Odom Jr., delivered a rousing sermon, but he was silent when he first stepped to the podium. Odom simply looked around the sanctuary with a smile, soaking in the atmosphere as the faithful shouted things like “it’s all right” and “take your time.”

When he finally spoke, Odom started with “Praise the Lord. Somebody say, ‘Hallelujah.’ … If you don’t think God is good, just stand on your feet and look around you,” he yelled. “You don’t even have to stand up; just stomp your feet on those wood floors!”

He said much more after that, but I had trouble hearing him, as the spirit moved the church’s five-piece band to crank up at that point. Members of the congregation began whooping it up as well.

Once Odom got through some announcements and thank-yous, he began his sermon, “A Miracle Made.” He said he recently gave a tour of the church to a clergy friend of his from Nashville, who told Odom the project couldn’t have been described in words. Odom’s response: “Miracles are like that.”

Odom said the miracle of the 137-year-old church’s renovation should not outweigh the smaller miracles available to those who devote their life to Christ. As he made his point, he dropped the name of Preston Hollow People’s parent company, which gave me a chuckle:

“Oh yes, the TV cameras and D Magazine and all that, they got the public miracle recorded,” Odom preached. “But God wants to work a miracle in your personal life. God is in the miracle-making business.”

You might know Kirby Warnock as Hillcrest’s former PTA president — and the first person with a Y chromosome to ever hold the job. Warnock is a filmmaker as well, and his documentary about Marfa and a troupe of Hollywood visitors has been lauded by the New York Times, earned its share of awards, and made at least one reporter laugh at loud (OK, and tear up at one point, too).

You can’t buy the full version of Return to Giant anywhere, but Warnock will screen it for the first time in years on Thursday at a special benefit for the Texas Theatre. We said as much in Friday’s issue of Preston Hollow People, with one g-i-a-n-t blunder: the wrong show time was noted in an info box. Argh! Sorry, Kirby.

The real deal:

What: Screening of Return to Giant, followed by a Q-&-A with filmmaker Kirby Warnock

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd.

Cost: $5

To learn more,  click here. The link will take you through the Big Bend Quarterly website (Warnock is publisher) and to an info page about the film.

Mal Malouf Parsons’ new  namesake boutique, in the storefront formerly occupied by Viva a Paris, opened its fabulous doors Monday in the Plaza at Preston Center. The shop, which features an array of trendy clothing and accessories, is affordable, adorable, and run by one of the sweetest shop owners in town. Malouf is as savvy about business and she is about fashion, and we’ll give you the scoop about her in the next edition of Park Cities People. For more info, call 214-234-0606.

The Town North Family YMCA will be hosting a punt, pass, and kick competition during its Family Fun Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The competition is open to ages 8-15. Prizes will be awarded for first-place finishers. Participants are encouraged to sign up at the front desk of the YMCA, located at 4332 Northaven, by 2 p.m. Thursday. The competition is open to everybody, including non-members of the YMCA.

There will also be hot dogs and refreshments, and the the outdoor pool will be open.

A 1970s-era Roy Beard peddles his wares

Eric Nicholson (who has just departed our staff, sadly enough) reported last week that Roy Beard, owner of Roy’s Natural Market, is closing down shop.  A much loved fixture in Preston Royal Village, Beard, 80, will celebrate his retirement Wednesday with a send-off party at the store. Many other tenants are pitching in and taking part in “Roy’s Day,” said event spokeswoman Jennifer Strauss, and the public is welcome to attend. Drop by tomorrow from 2 to 3 p.m.