Life in Dallas

An Insiders Look of Dallas

Dr Eric Olson of UT Southwestern at the President's Research Council Dinner 2023.
UT Southwestern President’s Research Council Dinner 2023 with Dr. Eric Olson.
Orphan Outreach hosted Children's Hope Award Dinner with speakers Blair Pogue and Coach Tony Dungy.
Blair Pogue, Cristin Pogue, Tony Dungy and Douglas Newby at Orphan Outreach Children’s Hope Award Dinner honoring Blair Pogue and his family.
Cliff Welch, FAIA, in Home he Designed Celebrated by Patron Magazine
Michael Lee creates something sophisticated and beautiful from original silly flower presentation.
PRC Dinner 2023
Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother's Day Home Tour 2023 in Dallas, Texas
The Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour 2023 held in Dallas, Texas.
Top row from left: PRC Dinner 2023, Richard Drummond Davis, Cliff Welch, FAIA. Second row from left: Michael Lee, Design Genius, Jack Knox Creates Cafe Pacific Magic, Mother’s Day Home Tour.

Life in Dallas is intended to provide casual snapshots and vignettes of people and places one might see in the course of living in Dallas. These spontaneous and sporadic posts are not intended to give an exhaustive or even a full view of Dallas. Here you will find hints of Dallas.

Wilson Fuqua is Star Panelist on Institute of Classical Architecture and Art Panel

Architect Wilson Fuqua was a panelist at the event "Beyond the Gate" held by The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art at 4915 Abbott Avenue in Highland Park, Texas.
Wilson Fuqua is one of the stars on a panel I was asked to moderate by Mary Peyton Burgher, the coordinator of the Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA), at the event “Beyond the Gate” held at the historic Highland Park home at 4915 Abbott Avenue.

Joining architect Wilson Fuqua on the panel were his son, Porter Fuqua, AIA; Anthony Catalfano of Anthony Catalfano Interiors, Interior Designer; Ryan Johnson of M.M. Moore Fine Gardens and Masonry, Landscape Designer; and Marcus Taylor of English Heritage Homes, Custom Builder.

The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art has made a major impact on the understanding of building homes, renovating homes, and preserving homes with its series of panels featuring architects, contractors, interior designers, and landscape designers. Those attending included other professionals in the construction and design fields and those who were interested in preservation, architecture and design. I am grateful to Mary Peyton Burgher, the Texas Coordinator of ICAA, for inviting me to moderate the panel. Out of all those in attendance, I might have learned the most.

Texas Chapter of Institute of Classical Architecture and Art event "Beyond the Gate" in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
Centered in the suit and tie you will see panelist Marcus Taylor of English Heritage Homes in conversation at the reception before the panel discussion.
Institute of Classical Architecture and Art event "Beyond the Gate" held at 4915 Abbott Avenue in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
On the far left is interior designer and panelist Anthony Catalfano speaking to audience member Dallas interior designer Margaret Chambers. On the far right is architect and panelist Porter Fuqua as panel discussion was about to begin in a few minutes.
Douglas Newby moderated the panel at "Beyond the Gate" event held by The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art at 4915 Abbott Avenue, Highland Park, Texas.
The Beyond the Gate panel discussion on the renovation of 4915 Abbott Avenue was about to begin.

Lauren Smyth and Porter Fuqua Represent Generation Shaping Dallas During the First Half of the 21st Century

Highland Park architect Porter Fuqua and commercial real estate attorney Lauren Smyth in Dallas, Texas.
Commercial real estate attorney Lauren Smyth and residential architect Porter Fuqua.

Porter Fuqua is a residential architect who is the son of noted architect Wilson Fuqua, who has designed many important homes and designed the renovation of many architecturally significant homes like the Hal Thomson designed home previously owned by Dan and Cookie Owen. While Wilson has helped shape the aesthetic taste of Highland Park during the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, Porter Fuqua has been helping shape Highland Park and the aesthetic of achievements of Dallas during the 21st century. It is exciting to see Porter Fuqua, who grew up in Highland Park at the architectural knee of his father, now make a great impact on the preservation of architecturally significant homes in Highland Park with his renovation design. He recently wowed the audience as an ICAA panelist discussing the renovation of 4915 Abbott Avenue, in which he was an important contributor. Porter Fuqua has both the talent and background to become a leader in his architectural field and make a great contribution to Highland Park and Dallas through the first half of the 21st century.

Commercial real estate attorney Lauren Smyth represents the type of talent that SMU first attracts to Dallas, in this case Lauren Smyth was raised in Nashville. At SMU, she was a Kappa, a double major, and graduated magna cum laude before she spent a year in France working both in fashion and foreign affairs. She returned to Dallas to attend SMU Law School and now is a key partner at Bradley Law Firm. Lauren Smyth has emerged as an attorney real estate developers and real estate brokers go to in order to make their visions and tentative transactions into a reality. Lauren Smyth is known for her creativity and precision to turn complex questions, leases or operations into simple transactions.

As Dallas increasingly becomes an international city, this generation with global sophistication, talent, aesthetic intelligence, and business acumen is a magnet for other people who want to continue developing Dallas and those moving to Dallas who want to invest in North Texas. Fifty years ago, Dallas was a brash, energetic, optimistic city ready to explode with growth and innovation. This generation, which includes Porter Fuqua and Lauren Smyth, will add additional expertise that will help make Dallas truly an international city and a major city in the center of the United States.

Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes is the Finest Highland Park Home Developer

Cristin and Blair Pogue at the Spanish Revival designed home at 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park, Texas.
Highland Park home developer Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes is pictured with his wife, Cristin, at 4400 Belfort Place during a gathering for a few of his friends and members of the design team that created the home as the finishing elements of the home are being completed.

Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes is a native of Highland Park who has developed a home with the type of Highland Park homebuyer in mind that he grew up with. Rather than relying on generic contemporary styles that are currently so commonplace, Blair Pogue selected the Spanish Revival style that evokes the best of Highland Park. This Spanish Revival style includes a little bit of Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean style elements. The avant-garde and affluent in the 1920s selected the Spanish Revival style for their homes, and the avant-garde and affluent desire this style today.

Home developer Blair Pogue and his wife Cristin seen on the parterre designed by landscape architect Harold Leidner at this estate home of 4400 Belfort Place, Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
Blair and Cristin Pogue are standing on the parterre that surrounds the pool and pool house that is linked to the main house by a covered walkway. They are looking over a large expanse of gardens and terraced lawn.

Maybe most importantly, Blair Pogue recognized that a great appeal of Highland Park is its large lots interspersed with parks and parkways. Having been raised around the corner from 4400 Belfort Place, Blair Pogue recognized that a nearly one-acre lot on the corner of Belfort Place and Armstrong Parkway is considered the best of Highland Park – the privacy of Belfort Place and the forested parkway presence of Armstrong Parkway. Few realize that there are only 36 lots that are one acre or larger in Highland Park. When so many new homes are being built in Highland Park, it is refreshing to see a developer like Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes to develop a home with the architectural grace and precision of 4400 Belfort Place. This Spanish Revival style home certainly fulfills Blair Pogue’s goal of elevating the architectural landscape of Highland Park while building on its earlier traditions.

Developer Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes and friends at 4400 Belfort Place, Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
From left is Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes; Douglas Newby the real estate broker representing Blair Pogue on the sale of 4400 Belfort Place; John Reoch, real estate attorney who has represented Pogue family development interests since he first came to Dallas; and Les Ware, who has renovated one of the most important historically significant homes in Dallas.

It was great fun to join real estate attorney John Reoch and Blair Pogue at 4400 Belfort Place. I helped John Reoch and his wife buy their first home in Dallas when they moved from Philadelphia decades ago. John Reoch’s first client was the legendary developer Mack Pogue, who founded Lincoln Properties. Before John Reoch retired, his last transaction he worked on was the acquisition of the nearly one-acre lot at 4400 Belfort Place where Blair Pogue has developed this home. John Reoch, who has owned several architecturally significant homes, was delighted to see the success of this home that Blair Pogue has developed.

John Reoch and developer Blair Pogue at reception of 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
It was a delight to listen to John Reoch and Blair Pogue exchange stories and reminisce about the late Mack Pogue.
Developer Blair Pogue and John Reoch at reception for 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
The stories that John Reoch and Blair Pogue shared about the late developer Mack Pogue at 4400 Belfort Place were incredible. John Reoch, as Mack Pogue’s real estate attorney, and Blair Pogue, Mack Pogue’s son, have both worked on developments of Mack Pogue’s around the world. The instinct for quality runs in the family and John Reoch was delighted to see this quality at 4400 Belfort Place.

It is a great honor to represent Blair Pogue and Blantyre Homes as the listing broker selling 4400 Belfort Place. Blair Pogue has developed the finest new home in Highland Park. Since I specialize in architecturally significant homes, this is the only occasion where a developer has built a home to sell that has the same architectural significance of the homes in Highland Park designed by the finest architects in Highland Park in the 1920s.

Developer Blair Pogue and Realtor Douglas Newby at reception for 4400 Belfort Place, Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
On the left is Highland Park home developer Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes and real estate broker Douglas Newby who is listing 4400 Belfort Place for sale.
Developer of 4400 Belfort Place, Blair Pogue, and Realtors Douglas Newby and Connie Harkins seen at reception of this home in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
Pictured from left is developer Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes, listing broker of 4400 Belfort Place, Douglas Newby, and associate broker of Douglas Newby and Associates, Connie Harkins.
Cristin and Blair Pogue, the developer, with Realtors Douglas Newby and Connie Harkins at the Spanish Revival designed home at 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park, Texas.
Blair Pogue, Cristin Pogue, Connie Harkins, Douglas Newby.
Developer Blair Pogue and wife Cristin with friend Margot Otte, who has lived in many architecturally significant homes in Highland Park, at the reception for 4400 Belfort Place, Dallas, Texas.
Friends looking at 4400 Belfort Place including Margot Otte, third from left, who also grew up in Highland Park and has lived in many architecturally significant homes herself, and has a great eye and appreciation for fabulous design and quality. Also pictured from left are developer Blair Pogue of Blantyre Homes, his wife Cristin Pogue, Margot Otte, and listing broker Douglas Newby.
Developer Blair Pogue explaining the design of 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park, the Spanish Revival estate home.
Blair Pogue at 4400 Belfort Place explaining his approach to developing this Spanish Revival style home.

Laura Brady is a Great Example of Young Dynamic Business Leaders that Dallas Attracts

Laura Brady, business leader of Strive in Dallas.
Laura Brady, Executive Vice President, Business Development-Wealth Management,of Strive is a great example of the dynamic business leaders that Dallas attracts.

Laura Brady is a great example of the dynamic business leaders that Dallas attracts. Here her success building Strive and her contributions to Dallas are being celebrated. Harvard graduate, Captain of her college hockey team, her contagious success inspires all who meet her. No wonder Dallas keeps building on its success when it attracts this type of talent!

Blair Pogue is Highland Park Home Developer with Best Experience and Greatest Insights for Architecturally Significant Homes

Blair Pogue has established himself as the finest home developer in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas, with a Spanish Revival style home he has built.
Celebrating with Blair Pogue, pictured above, the wonderful success, architectural significance and refinement of the Spanish Revival and Mediterranean style home he has developed at 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park. This is a home that draws from the original architecture of Highland Park and perpetuates great architectural design into the future.
See Architecturally Significant 4400 Belfort Place in Highland Park Developed by Blair Pogue

Visiting the Dallas Mayor at City Hall

Riding the elevator up to the fifth floor office to visit Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, I realized he was the tenth mayor that I had personally met with, most of them at some point at their Mayor’s Office at City Hall. When I arrived on the fifth floor, there was a row of photographs of every past Dallas mayor. These images brought back memories of my first visit to Mayor Robert Folsom’s office and my visit to the mayor’s office when Starke Taylor was mayor. It was fun to see in Mayor Taylor’s office a 12-inch walnut spool of copper wire with two tin cans at the respective end of the wire that had been presented to him when he presided over a Restoration House of the Year Award on his first day in office. This was given to him as a hotline to the neighborhoods of East Dallas. Looking at the pictures on the wall made me recall many of the conversations I had with each of these mayors in their office. It was a treat to meet Mayor Eric Johnson in his office, as I so admire how he has continued to build on the success of the previous mayors. Under his leadership, Dallas has never been stronger. There has also been much written recently about the I.M. Pei designed-City Hall building. It was fun to see the city from the balcony that I.M. Pei designed for the Dallas Mayor.

Douglas Newby on Dallas City Hall elevator going to see Mayor Eric Johnson in his fifth floor office.
A photograph of Douglas Newby on his way up to the fifth floor to see the Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson in his office. It is interesting that often architects place the mayor’s office on the fifth floor of City Hall.
Former Dallas mayors' photographs at City Hall in downtown Dallas.
In chronological order, one enjoys on the fifth floor of Dallas City Hall viewing photographs of all the former mayors who led and nurtured Dallas to its current place of prominence. I have privately met with the last ten mayors of Dallas. I recount all my interactions with past Dallas mayors with great admiration and fondness.
Mayor Eric Johnson is standing on the balcony of his fifth floor office in Dallas City Hall designed by architect I.M. Pei. The Dallas City Hall Plaza and Dallas skyline is seen behind the mayor.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has much to smile about as his successful leadership has made Dallas the strongest city in the country.
Mayor Eric Johnson in his office at City Hall in downtown Dallas designed by architect I.M. Pei.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is shown pointing at pictures of him and his mother when he first arrived as a freshman at his Ivy League college and then again with his mother years later at the same place on campus. The M Award that he was given by SMU is also seen in the photograph at his Dallas City Hall office.
Evening view of downtown Dallas skyline from the fifth floor balcony of the mayor's office of Mayor Eric Johnson at Dallas City Hall.
From the balcony of the mayor’s office on the fifth floor of Dallas City Hall, one takes in the breathtaking view of downtown Dallas in the evening. It is remarkable that the locally owned businesses and buildings downtown have now become international towers of commerce.

John Reoch Pivots from Fine Food and Fine Wine to Gourmet Root Beer Float

In the Bluffview neighborhood, John Reoch, known for his culinary taste and appreciation of fine wines, is enjoying a root beer float at Bluffview restaurant at Lovers Seafood and Market, Dallas, Texas.
John Reoch, known for his high style and exquisite taste in fine wines and food, pivots to having his first root beer float since his youth at the Country Club 60 years ago.

Mary Peyton Burgher Promotes Good Architecture, Preservation and Aesthetics in Dallas and Across Texas

Mary Burgher, the Texas Coordinator of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) at Cafe Pacific in Highland Park Village, Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.
As the Texas Coordinator of the Texas Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, ICAA, Mary Peyton Burgher, has led the way in promoting good architecture, preserving historic homes, and elevating the aesthetic understanding and appreciation of art and architecture in Dallas and across Texas.

John Reoch Opens Bluffview Home

After seeing my post of the Trenton Doyle Hancock exhibition at a New York museum, John Reoch invited me to see his Trenton Doyle Hancock painting. I think this is a particularly good example of his work and is even more meaningful as John purchased it at the first show of Trenton Doyle Hancock that took place in Dallas at the Gerald Peters Gallery.

Art collector John Reoch opens Bluffview Dallas, Texas, home to allow look at Trenton Doyle Hancock painting.
John Reoch on front terrace of his Bluffview modern home in Dallas.
Trenton Doyle Hancock painting in private collection of John Reoch.
Trenton Doyle Hancock painting in the private collection of John Reoch.

Park House Lunch with John Reoch

Park House in Highland Park Village is a convenient spot for lunch halfway between the estate area of Highland Park and Bluffview.

John Reoch at Park House in Highland Park Village, Dallas, Texas
A Park House lunch with John Reoch punctuated a tour of a magnificent architecturally significant Highland Park estate home just being completed, and a visit to his Bluffview home to see a Trenton Doyle Hancock painting of his since I just returned from a New York museum exhibition of Trenton Doyle Hancock.

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