After a three-year hiatus, the Jewish Arts Fest of Dallas returned to the Meyerson yesterday to support the Jewish Community Center and local Jewish artists. To say there was a variety of art is an understatement. Appealing to everyone’s interests, the festival included music, speakers, comedy routines, arts and crafts, galleries, food, and more.

Thirty mini-art galleries were scattered throughout the Meyerson, where local Jewish artists exhibited their unique pieces. Galleries displayed oil paintings of biblical stories, “found object” sculptures, Hebrew inscribed jewelry, and more. The Blevins Studio gallery added a competitive element as the husband and wife duo sat side-by-side, simultaneously sculpting the head of a live model. Witnesses saw two masterpieces created before their eyes. At the Meridane Design booth, the buyer played detective, searching for letters and numbers hidden in each piece of jewelry.

Performance arts also captivated the audience. Well-known Jewish artist Rick Recht loosened up the crowd with both modern and classic Jewish music. After Rick rocked the house, Joshua Nelson mixed African-American and Jewish cultures. The fans were entertained by comedian and actor Elon Gold, who is known for his appearances on The Tonight Show and Chelsea Lately. The Slappy and Monday Comedy Show performed a lovable routine with music, dance, and juggling. Throughout the event kids migrated towards the Kidz Kingdom and enjoyed music videos, crafts, tattoos, and photo booths.

Taking advantage of the clientele, Jewish organizations throughout Dallas held booths with information about their services. Onlookers navigated through Jewish youth groups, synagogues, publishings, and schools to find out more about these Jewish services.

Did not make it to the festival? Click here to find out how you can support the JCC.

We’re still waiting on a ruling from Friday’s hearing on the admissibility of phone call recordings purportedly between J. Nathan Campbell and former CFO Chris Burrow. Judge D’Metria Benson is expected to rule on the matter today.

The only remaining witness designated as a definite on the stand by the Plaintiffs is history teacher Marc Salz, wife to Tolly and Campbell’s former officemate. Of course, there’s still the matter of the Former Student alleging sexual abuse in the ’90s, who Benson ruled could be called as a witness, and several other unverified reports by parents and students that Aldous learned about a few weeks ago.

If we actually get started on time, and there aren’t any new motions or meetings in chambers, then maybe, just maybe, the plaintiffs will wrap up their side of the trial today. Read More…

Comedy person Wyatt Cenac, a Daily Show correspondent and Jesuit graduate, was profiled on NPR’s Morning Edition this morning. I caught only the tail end of the piece, but I liked what I heard.

Chris Burrow, former CFO of the Episcopal School of Dallas, called Nathan Campbell and attempted to influence his testimony prior to the civil trial’s beginning, the plaintiffs’ attorneys alleged in court Friday.

Playing audiotapes obtained from Campbell’s criminal defense lawyer, plaintiffs’ attorney Brent Walker showed that, contrary to Burrow’s testimony, the CFO did consider Campbell a friend and wished to help him. Burrow opened one of the recorded conversations by calling Campbell “buddy.” Later, he told Campbell he wanted “to pass on a little information that might be helpful,” and that there was “nothing to lose.” Read More…

Jessica Fay Paup and Morley Dan Campbell, both of Dallas, were united in marriage on Saturday, Aug. 20. The ceremony was held in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas at six o’clock in the evening. The Rev. Dr. Ronald Wesley Scates, The Rev. Dr. Clifford Schreiber Stewart, and The Rev. Joshua Jon Stewart officiated at the ceremony. Music for the ceremony was provided by organist, Michael Lee Shake Jr., and the Corelli Strings Quartet. The vocalist was Laura Katherine Bowden.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the ballroom of The Belo Mansion and Pavilion, where guests danced to the music of the Mars Hill Band of Dallas. On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the parents of the groom at Lakewood Country Club.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Edgar Paup of Fort Worth. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Catherine Cloud Painter and the late Mr. T. A. Painter of Kerrville, Texas, and the late Mrs. Mary Frances “Chan” Driscoll of Midland, Texas.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Dan Campbell of Wichita Falls, Texas. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Morley of Wichita Falls and the late Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Campbell of Rogers, Texas.

Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore an elegant gown of candle light silk organza designed by Rivini. Silk filigree patterned embroidery jeweled with Swarovski crystals embellished the fitted bodice. To complete her ensemble she wore a veil trimmed with a vine of beaded blossoms, which framed her face and cascaded beyond her chapel-length train. She carried a hand tied bouquet of white and ivory hydrangeas accented with Eskimo and Vendela roses and finished with an ivory satin ribbon.

The matron of honor was the sister of the bride, Mary Catherine Parsons of Fort Worth. Serving as bridesmaids were Camille Campbell Barkley, sister of the groom, Caitlin O’Reilly Clyde, and Caroline Boyd Cumbie, all of Dallas; Cara Cunningham Cockerill of Rochester, Minn.; and Robbie Jane Paup, cousin of the bride, of Austin, Texas.

The house party included Kelly Brophy Edmiston of Houston; Stacy Reeves Gulledge of Dallas; Lisa McCleary Horne of San Antonio; Diane Davis Mannina of Washington, D.C.; Allison Ewert McClendon of Dallas; Brooke Crum Paup of Austin; and Paige Elizabeth Redwine of Dallas.

Noah Daniel Knippa of Dallas served as best man. Groomsmen were Kyler William Barkley of Dallas; Elliott Wayne Kruppa of Houston; Jason Reed Lewis of Dallas; Michael Chad Parsons of Fort Worth; and Christopher Lee Smith of London. Ushers were Cooper Dean Keeney and Carson Miller Keeney, both of Mansfield, Texas.

The flower girl was Miss AnniePearl Elizabeth Stroud and the ring bearer was Master Michael Alexander Parsons, nephew of the bride, both of Fort Worth.

The bride attended school in Abilene, Texas, graduating with honors from Abilene High School in 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Texas A&M University in 2006. The bride was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. While attending Texas A&M, she was selected for the Public Policy Internship Program and worked for the International Trade Administration at the U. S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Following graduation, the bride attended the London School of Economics for graduate studies in international relations. She earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from Southern Methodist University in 2008. She is employed as a financial analyst with Wells Fargo Bank in Dallas.

The groom attended school in Wichita Falls, Texas, graduating as valedictorian of Rider High School in 1999. Mr. Campbell graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Texas at Austin Business Honors Program in 2003. Prior to entering graduate school at Harvard University, he worked for Merrill Lynch as an investment banking analyst in the energy sector and for Lazard in mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Campbell completed a Master of Business Administration in finance from Harvard Business School in 2007. A chartered financial analyst charterholder, he is employed as a senior vice president and portfolio manager with Allianz NFJ Investment Group in Dallas.

Following a honeymoon to Hawaii, the couple will reside in Dallas.

While we’ve heard about Erin Mayo practically more than anyone besides Jane Doe II and Nathan Campbell, she hasn’t spoken for herself yet. That’s scheduled to change this a.m., as Mayo will be called to the witness stand.

What do you bet we’ll get another look at that “sad story” email?

Read More…