Relish the relics: The Stayton at Museum Way, Mr. B’s future retirement home with lots of other active ancients, is starting to emerge from the ground behind the Residence Inn Marriott-Cultural District. B checked in with Laura Stephenson for a Stayton tour and while there, received a goodie bag with a $50 gift card to Fort Worth Mac's Restaurant, a book about Fort Worth, a bookmark, note cards and a pen. You have the chance for the same bag of goodies AND a one-night’s stay from Jodi and the Marriott crew so you can view up-close the construction progress.     Not standing pat: The TCU Neeley Executive Speaker Series Feb. 16 is stepping out a bit with a be-bop breakfast with Boston musician Patrick Balthrop. Wait. What? Oh, the other Patrick Balthrop, the CEO of Austin-based Luminex. Balthrop will share his concepts on personalized medicine, based on DNA mapping. Luminex develops, manufactures and markets innovative biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life science and diagnostic industries. You might want to check out one of Forbes’ magazine 25 fastest growing technology companies.   Laissez Les Non Temps Rouler! That’s how they talk during Mardi Gras in Paris, Texas. It means, “Can you walk straight after six Hurricanes?” If you can-can put together a Brave Combo twosome (and want to see the band of that name) and can party hearty, it’s Fat Tuesday Fort Worth Sister Cities International-style Feb. 16th. There are costume and King & Queen contests, eating, dancing and drinking, all at Stonegate Mansion.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK         Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke of her plans to address Texas's top issues during last week's sold out Leaders in Government luncheon at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club. The senator talked about education, transportation and the balance of power in Texas agencies. Above (L to R): Lacy Walker, TXU Energy; Kathleen HIcks, Fort Worth City Councilwoman; Danny Scarth, Fort Worth City Councilman; and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. See more event photos in our Online Photo Gallery. Addtional highlights at facebook.com/FTWChamber.     Sponsored by

Fill the (money) bowl: The Tarrant Area Food Bank touches many other nonprofits throughout the county and here is your chance to touch it. Empty Bowls—An Artful Luncheon to Fight Hunger is a sooo-cool fundraiser for the TAFB. About 1,500 peeps sample soups, break bread and devour desserts donated and served by more than 25 local foodies. And you get to leave with a handcrafted or hand-decorated bowl donated by artisans and hobby potters. It’s Friday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall and we’ve got two spots.

Mom of mufflers: “We cater to women, we’re not exclusive to women,” Teresa Dudley was saying. She’s the owner of Aaron’s Automotive and Performance. “We don’t overcharge, we don’t find add-ons to your bill and we tell you if you don’t need something.” Wow, that’s revolutionary for retail! After starring engagements with the Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Business Press and KDAF Ch. 33, Aaron’s has finally “made” Newz-E-Letter with this $50 gift card good for any of its services.

Book mark: The first book by David Thomas, Star-Telegram sports writer and second best humor writer in Fort Worth, is due out in July. Remember Why You Play is the inside story of the 2007 Faith Christian School football season. The book tells the story of the team’s bid for a state championship, and ends with the incredibly heartwarming welcome to the Gainesville State School football players, which illustrated how the life lessons Faith coaches teach through football enabled the game to take place in 2008. A movie – OneHeart -- about the Faith Christian-Gainesville State game is planned for this fall.

What to think? The ladies at Artisan Medspa, Laser and Wellness have invited Mr. B to their Girls Day Out craziness all day Friday. You think it’s for the wellness part?   What to think 2? Last week, Gordon Boswell Flowers gave away roses. Fifty one women and one man wrote back and said, in essence, they NEVER had received flowers.   Growing greens: Jim Lachamp, emcee for the Business Press’ CFO of the Year awards, was introducing his friend and the overall CFO of the Year, Chris Choate of AmeriCredit. “Chris is a guy you’d see in black leather riding his motorcycle … and he’d be on his way to tend his garden.”

The understudy tonight is…: A commercial about Weaver, the presenting sponsor of the aforementioned CFO awards, featured managing partner and CEO Tommy Lawler, among others. “Next year when we sponsor this,” Lawler said, “you might consider using real actors, especially for the CEO.”  Lawler is only the third CEO in the company’s 60-year history.

Speaking of CEOs: Did you see Waste Management’s Larry O’Donnell on Undercover Boss after the Super Bowl? Pretty amazing junk.

Name game: Mack Patel is the sixth Patel that Mr. B has met that runs a motel/hotel. Mack says Patel is similar to Smith or Jones in India. Mack was with Washington Mutual before it closed and now is GM of a Motel 6.

(Un)savoir faire: The Lena Pope Home Sweethearts Dessert Fantasy this month is basically an all-you-can-eat sugar marathon. True story – desserts are so good that some attendees bring something akin to Tupperware, snag a few extra (pound) cakes and more, and take home their (un)just desserts.

Nice save: Alan, the fireman husband of The Modern Art Museum’s PR pro Kendal (Jump In The) Lake, was one of the on-scene saviors who calmed the eight special needs children who were in a school bus accident last week.   In the wrong job: Should have been writing insurance Newz-E-Letters. Angela Medcalf Lamb, Farmers Insurance, has won an all-expenses paid trip to Seattle this summer. And Jill Gunnell Matthews, State Farm, won a trip to Austria. Last trip Mr. B won was to Corsicana.

Coincidence? Looking at the next four Chamber ribbon cuttings, including Feb. 17 at Coaire Corporation, and noticed that during three of them lunch would be served and Chamberite Carole Ann Fleming would attend. At the fourth, there is no lunch and no Carole Ann.

Lively guy: Bill Lively, Super Bowl XLV President and CEO, once was director of bands at SMU and was in charge of entertainment at Dallas Cowboys games for about 20 years. He was also band director at boss Miserly Mistress' alma mater, Bryan Adams High School in Dallas.

Another lively guy: JPS Health Network CEO Robert Earley tells a couple of good stories as a speaker -- 1) Earley says he and his wife have a routine each morning. They have to kiss before leaving the house and they have to say, “See you tonight.” One morning, Earley left without performing the routine. “I texted her while driving ... and then my Board Chairman texted me right back. So, please don’t text and drive.” And 2) "While I was interim CEO, every day someone would tell me, 'The decision you made this morning is what will cause you not to be CEO'.” 

Complaint department: Contract year and boss Miserly Mistress says Mr. B might start looking for another job. One job B doesn’t want is John Riggins’, the CEO at Better Business Bureau. He has to listen to complaints all day from consumers AND clients.   But if you’re looking…If Mr. B does have to find another job, seems like some of Fortune magazine’s Top 100 Places to Work are in the area -- #2 EdwardJones, #20 Devon Energy, #34 Chesapeake Energy and #67 EOG Resources.

Eat & retreat: Tiny Suzi Hill of The Hill Company joined a weight-loss program just to offer moral support to her son-in-law.  She’s lost 20 pounds; s-i-l Robert isn’t talking. “I eat every 2-to-3 hours, something, even if it is sweet,” Suzi said. “Then, when you eat a regular meal, you end up eating about ½ of your food.  I keep different snack foods at the office and home so I don’t wait too long to eat. I drink a lot of water – especially before bed.  Yes, I’m up at least once at night, but it is magic.”

Get Smart: Charter Communications, as part of its Cable in the Classroom program, is offering ten $1,000 college scholarships to seniors in many Texas citites, including the DFW area, who apply by March 31. Wonder why Kevin Allen can’t start a "Cable in the Newz-E-Letter" program and offer scholarships? Applications are available at local high schools and Charter sales and service centers.   Hair today, gone tomorrow: Mr. B was checking out the coupons for members at the Chamber website and happened on the free trial coupon for American Laser Centers’ hair removal. Only problem is that B’s hair is removing itsownself at a rate too rapid.

Zebra at the Zoo: Ridglea Country Club says one of its own (and Fort Worth's, too) was in the Super Bowl game Sunday. He was No. 78, but No. 1 in their hearts--side judge Greg Meyer. He was the highest-rated side judge in the league during the 2009 season.