Steve Brown of The Dallas Morning News has the details.

So maybe the last time you played in a band it was in preparation for your sixth-grade talent show. The Shops at Park Lane is giving you a chance to relive that middle school dream in their battle of the bands competition, “Rock the Park.” The competition is split into two rounds. On April 21 and 23, from 7 to 10 p.m., bands will compete in the first round on the lawn in front of Gordon Biersch. Then, on May 12, at the same time and place, the final two bands will duke it out for the ultimate prize, a chance to play at the Homegrown Music and Arts Festival on May 26.  To compete in the battle, you have to submit a demo by day’s end.

Our friends at Central Market — more specifically, its parent company, H-E-B — have donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross in the wake of Tuesday’s tornadoes. H-E-B also sent a trailer loaded with 20 pallets of bottled water and sports drinks to the Red Cross. Additionally, food, baby food, and health/beauty products were distributed to the shelter in Lancaster, one of the areas affected most by the tornadoes.

Customers can make donations of their own at any Central Market by adding increments of $1, $3, or $5 to their grocery bills.

“We are committed to providing assistance during this time of crisis as many of our neighbors face loss and uncertainty due to the recent tornadoes,” said Stephen Butt, senior vice president of Central Market. “It is our hope that H-E-B’s donations, along with our loyal customers’ support, will help support the needs of our displaced neighbors.”

Back east, there’s a Dunkin Donuts (approximately) every 13 feet. These purveyors of coffee and confection were a part of my youth, meaning I had two friends who worked there so we ate donuts until we heaved.

So when I moved to Texas and started looking around for a DD, I was distressed that the closest one to my apartment is on Preston and 635, 20 minutes from Casa de Pearson. It’s a trek I’ve never made.

Now, hopefully, that will change. Jerry Jones and Troy Aikman are teaming up to bring 50 new Dunkin Donuts locations to DFW in the next five years, making this the first time I’ve actively cheered for Cowboys.

Last year in the Park Cities, home sales actually ticked up two percent, bucking the nationwide trend. North Dallas wasn’t so lucky, with a five percent decline in sales.

Numbers today from the Commerce Department show that nationwide, though, some gains at the end of last year across the country aren’t being sustained. New home sales fell two percent again this month, mimicking January’s similar decline.

But what does this mean for North Dallas? Trey and I have been working on a story about home values for a few months, speaking with agents and appraisers, trying to get a sense of what’s going on in Preston Hollow and Park Cities. Agents seem to be bullish, but, then again, their job is to sell houses.

Any real estate experts want to kick in their two cents on what the next couple months will bring for Preston Hollow home sales?

Established gluten-free baker Tully Philips, of Devonshire, just opened Tu-Lu’s Gluten Free Bakery Wednesday in Preston Center. It’ll be the subject of a story in next week’s paper — and honestly, the goods look pretty delicious.

Anyone had a chance to visit yet?

Houston-based spirit seller Spec’s will head to the former Blockbuster location at Preston Road and Royal Lane, according to the Morning News’ Biz Beat Blog.

The shop will only sell beer and wine, and some speciality foods. Expect it to be open by the summer.

Wonder if they’ve removed the graffiti yet.

Cheryl Hall reports in today’s Dallas Morning News that Preston Hollow billionaire Kelcy Warren has paid for the naming rights to the Woodall Rodgers Deck Park. Never heard of Warren? Don’t feel bad; according to Hall’s report, neither had a Preston Hollow resident with a much higher profile, Mayor Mike Rawlings.

Warren’s undisclosed sum means the park will be named after his 9-year-old son, Klyde. “With that goes a burden,” Warren told Hall. “I want my son to know, ‘You’re being watched. You can’t blend into the upholstery like your dad has done all his life.’ I’m setting the bar a little higher for him.”

The Kurz Group, a property tax consulting firm based in Preston Center, turns 25 this month, and Samantha Kurz, spokesperson for the firm, says they are gearing up for the upcoming tax season.

The group, managed by brothers Rick and Jeff Kurz, currently represents approximately 6,000 properties, and is one of the oldest property tax consulting firms in the neighborhood. With a May tax deadline for commercial property owners, Preston Hollow residents are encouraged to contact the group at kurzgroup.com for consulting help.

Today the Dallas City Council approved a zoning change that will allow Dave and Buster’s to open a new flagship location at the corner of North Central Expressway and Walnut Hill Lane.

The building, formerly the AMC Glen Lakes, is only about a mile away from an existing location, so it is expected that the Dallas-based company will simply move the old location to the more favorable spot.

“This is a very exciting project because it will be the new showcase facility for Dave and Buster’s,” said council member Ann Margolin when announcing the public hearing. After the council approved the measure, Mayor Michael Rawlings said he thought it was a great idea.

Dave and Buster’s public relations department has not been available for comment, but we expect it to be a very long time until the doors open for the new building.