Gone are the days of dropping the kids off at the mall. Effective yesterday, children 17 years old and younger will no longer be allowed to independently patronize NorthPark Center after 6 p.m. The curfew is part of a set of new policies instituted at the upscale Dallas mall that includes restrictions on language and attire.

While you may recall a certain pseudo-scandal involving a 2011 viral email and what reports indicate was a group-beating of a Dallas Academy student in January, spokesman Mark Annick said the updated policies were not in response to a specific incident, but reflect a growing trend nationwide.

“As much as it’s new here at NorthPark, it’s really not so new around the country,” Annick said.

The curfew will not apply to movie-goers, who will be allowed to go in and out of the AMC Theater located inside the mall until 11 p.m. Sunday — Thursday, and until 12:01 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There’s also a loophole for NorthPark employees under the age of 18.

As far as enforcement goes, Annick said the mall will “rely on the judgment and discretion of NorthPark security.”

The policy will be enforced by NorthPark security officers, and violating it is not a criminal offense. Security officers will ask children to produce an acceptable form of ID, or show that a guardian is nearby, or they will be asked to leave. Annick said the officers will call home and request a parent pick up their child.

Sean Bavies, who manages the Lego store at NorthPark, is pleased with the new policy.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s really going to promote better family-friendly shopping.”

The two skills we learn by age 2, walking and talking, are so natural for most of us we often take them for granted. Not so for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Show your support by walking and talking at the fourth annual Talk Walk, benefiting the Parkinson Voice Project. This nonprofit organization provides voice therapy, support, research, education, and awareness to those with Parkinson’s disease.  This Saturday, any time from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., raise money by lapping NorthPark Center with your friends and family. Included with your $30 registration fee is a meal voucher for NorthPark restaurants – Luna de Noche, Corner Bakery, and Maggiano’s Little Italy — as well as discounts to many NorthPark stores.

There’s nothing at DallasPolice.net that explicitly links all of these reported incidents near the corner of Park Lane and Central Expressway, but it doesn’t take one long to connect the dots.

18 WEDNESDAY

At 2 p.m., the rear driver’s side window of a silver 2012 Dodge sedan inexplicably shattered as the car traveled in the 7800 block of Park Lane.

At 6 p.m., two pellet guns were found in a department store at NorthPark Center.

Between 10 and 11 p.m., a gunman fired a shot into the window of an unoccupied office in the 9200 block of North Central Expressway. The bullet went through an interior wall and into a hallway, causing $3,000 worth of damage.

21 SATURDAY

At 8 p.m., police were alerted that a young man was seen carrying a gun at NorthPark Center. Officers found a suspect matching the witness’s description in the food court and discovered that he was carrying a BB gun. The young man was issued a citation for disorderly conduct and released to the custody of his 27-year-old mother.

Thousands of shoppers searching for last-minute goodies, crowds of families screaming and laughing, salespeople running through the racks hoping to please their customers: nothing new at Christmas time at NorthPark Center. However, on my latest trip to the busy mall, I could not help but notice this year’s extra emphasis on giving. Outside Dillard’s and Macy’s, a variety of charities were soliciting busy shoppers to support their cause.

United States Marines stood strong in the center of the Toys for Tots booth. Along with sponsor Jack FM, the Marines collected unwrapped toys for underprivileged children in Dallas.

One by-product of a gift-hunting afternoon: hunger. It must have been hard for any weary shopper to pass up savory Christmas treats, especially when the profits benefit a good cause. Treats of Christmas was a display of treats that puts any high-school bake sale to shame. The goodies were donated by the Texas Chefs Association, and the sales supported the Union Gospel Mission and the North Texas Food Bank.

After sifting through clothing racks for hours, some shoppers gave up on finding that perfect material gift, and instead opted for one that is full of life. The SPCA was auctioning puppies for $185-$285 and older dogs for $95-$195.

It’s 1 p.m. and the fog still hasn’t lifted from downtown. I feel like I’m writing this post while looking out of an airplane window. But don’t let the murky horizon get you down. There’s plenty of fun to be had in the Hollow.

Today: If you love children and Christmas carols, then you probably have a heart and a pulse. Head to NorthPark Center to hear ESD’s lower school students sing at NorthCourt at 2 p.m. Perhaps your Christmas spirit is still running on empty, fill up at 7 p.m. during St. Mark’s band concert.

Saturday: Everyone needs to do some level of holiday shopping. Help out a local school at the same time and buy your gifts at the Jesuit Christmas Bazaar, which starts at 9 a.m. Knock out your Christmas card photo and bring the kids to meet Santa at the Plaza at Preston Center. The sleigh arrives at 11 a.m. Get your reality TV fix in at the JCC’s “Dancing with the community stars” event. The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Sunday: Temple Emanu-El is hosting a Hanukkah Bazaar at 8 a.m., which gives you plenty of time to make Camp Gingerbread at 11 a.m. in NorthPark Center.

The only explanation Dan and I could come up with for the double-thievery of  $50 worth of flash drives, is that the culprit placed the items in his Mercedes after pilfering them from a Mazda.

Then, the universe fought back.

Between 5 and 6 p.m. Oct. 20, a burglar broke into a gray 2010 Mazda at NorthPark Center and stole a $3,000 laptop, a $500 Tory Burch bag, two iPods valued at $400, a $200 black IBM laptop, a $100 Sony phone, an $80 black backpack, a $60 Packard Bell hard drive, five flash drives valued at $50, and a $25 Spanish passport.

And the very next day…

Between 1 and 1:40 p.m., a burglar broke into a black 2011 Mercedes at NorthPark Center and stole a $3,000 laptop, a $500 Tory Burch bag, two iPods valued at $400, and five flash drives valued at $50.

For more zany crimes, pick up a copy of the Oct. 28 edition of Preston Hollow People

It may be a week until Halloween, but some families did not get the memo. NorthPark Center kicked off the Halloween festivities at Saturday’s fundraiser, Sam’s Day. In the mall’s Center Park Garden, there were spooky activities such as an obstacle course, tattoos, balloon, magicians, cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn. While this family fun day was free, donations were encouraged and benefited Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. The event, formerly held at White Rock Lake, began six years ago in honor of Sam Killian, a 9-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Find out how you can support the cause here.

For most children, the weekend came early with Fair Day. About now, that fried Snicker’s bar is probably weighing you down, making you think about spending the rest of the weekend on the couch. Rebel, and seek entertainment that goes beyond your living room walls.

Saturday: I love a good hidden talent. Or rather, I should say I love any hidden talent, regardless of general standards of what is good or bad. What can I say, I have a low threshold for impressment. That being said, just the fact that Valerie Oliver carries the title “Yo-Yo Champion” intrigues me. She’ll perform at 2 p.m. at NorthCourt in NorthPark Center. If you have a more refined taste, The Dallas String Quartet will take the very same stage at 3 p.m.

Sunday: Does your weekend typically revolve around the barbecue pit? Then you won’t want to miss Rick Vanderpool signing and discussing The Texas Hamburger: History of a Lone Star Icon, 5:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Park.