My plans for the next 48 or so hours include little else besides emerging from a trial-induced coma of information overload. You can find me by the pool with a stiff drink. But the rest of you have no excuse for not making the most of the weekend. Here are your marching orders.

Today: You know that saying, “It’s hot enough to fry an egg outside.” Well, Preston Hollow Presbyterian would amend that slightly to include fish. Stop by the annual fish fry at 5:30 p.m., when the sidewalk is likely to be as hot as the grill. After you’ve had your fill of fish (resisting the urge to make a Biblical reference to the 5 barley loaves and two fishes story. OK, slightly resisting the urge…), head over to another house of worship for more fun. Royal Lane Baptist Church is hosting Men’s Game Night starting at 7 p.m.

Saturday: Remember Micaela White, the Ursuline grad in need of blood and platelet donations? You can help her and other people like her at the Park Cities Rotary Club blood drive 10 a.m. in Dillard’s court at NorthPark Center.

Sunday: I know you probably thought a certain lovable, scar-faced wizard was out of your social calendar for good, but he’s back already. Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Park is hosting a Harry Potter Birthday Party at 3 p.m. Say hi to the Burke family for me, won’t you?

In the July 22 edition of Preston Hollow People, Georgia Fisher wrote about Dallas residents’ efforts to help the orphaned children of Robin and Joshua Berry, who were killed in a July 2 car accident. The Berry children’s cause has since been taken up by a number of celebrities, including Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga.

John and Judy Woolems will celebrate 60 years of marriage on Aug. 4. They were married in Houston on Aug. 4, 1951. Shortly after, the couple moved to Dallas and were blessed with one daughter, one son-in-law, and two grandsons. Mr. and Mrs. Todd Doshier and Ryan and Tyler Doshier join the rest of the family and John and Judy’s many friends in congratulating this loving couple on their 60th anniversary.

Even though this is officially Day 4 of the trial, it’s more like Day 1. Opening arguments are slated to begin at 9 a.m. I’ll be updating hourly, if possible. I moved my dentist appointment, formerly at 10 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., for this explicit purpose, so here’s to hoping I can wrangle my cell phone away from the bailiff that often.

Updates start at 10 a.m. after the jump. Read More…

The family suing the Episcopal School of Dallas is seeking damages in the area of $10 million, an attorney for the family stated today during questioning of potential jurors.

The plaintiffs closed their questioning period at noon, and the defense now has its turn to vet the jury pool. It’s possible opening arguments could start today, although considering they still need a lunch recess, I doubt it.

For the updates on today’s proceedings, go to the jump.

Read More…

I just got off the phone with a clerk at Judge D’Metria Benson’s court, who, with God as my witness, has said I can blog throughout the day as long as I step outside of the courtroom to do so. Despite the fact that’s precisely what I was doing when I was reprimanded, I’ll take what I can get.

Jury selection continues today, so I’m going to work on some other stories and drop into court later. Stay tuned.

St. Bernard Sports in Inwood Village is attracting some well-heeled thieves. On July 13, a shoplifter stole a $37 T-shirt and fled in a yellow 2002 Lexus. Nine days later, someone took a $170 pair of denim shorts and got away in a silver Mercedes SUV.

UPDATE: The folks over at St. Bernard wanted me to point out that the scofflaw in the July 13 incident — who was driving a gold Lexus, not a yellow one — was arrested. I’m trying to figure out why the perp’s name is not readily available from the DPD, as so many of them usually are.

In one of my favorite episodes of Modern Family, Phil and Claire Dunphy celebrate their anniversary by role playing characters who meet in a sophisticated and sexy bar. They ditch the worries of parenthood and the mundane for a brief time while sipping cocktails in what can only be described as a James Bond-style locale.

Well, not to be outdone, right here in Preston Hollow is an equally uber-cool bar at Preston and Forest. While surrounded by not so cool retail like Petland and Beauty Times, the Mercury creates an adult atmosphere that screams “date night.”  I’m not into formal dinners, so I recommend skipping the dining room and ordering your meal in the bar. The food is also enticing, making it a one-stop rendezvous spot. It’s masculine, but not sporty; dark, but not depressing, and the perfect place to begin, or end, a date night with your partner. Phil and Claire Dunphy would love to meet at the Mercury.