Alan Peppard

Lyricist and librettist Sir Timothy Rice made a point of stopping in Dallas last week to visit a longtime friend while on his way to El Paso.

Whether or not you're aware of it, you've probably been listening to Tim Rice's lyrics most of your life. In his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Weber he penned "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" for Evita and "I Don't Know How to Love Him" for Jesus Christ Superstar. For the movies, he wrote "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" (for which he won the second of his three Oscars).

Last week, Sir Tim dropped in on locally raised supermodel Jerry Hall and her twin sister, Terry Ferguson.

An avid art collector, Sir Tim visited the Kristy Stubbs Gallery on Fairmount where Terry's artist daughter, Elaine, is featured in the current exhibition, "Elaine Ferguson: London Calling."

Sir Tim took in dinner with Jerry, Terry and Kristy before heading on to the University of Texas at El Paso where the UTEP Dinner Theater honored him at its 25th anniversary concert. Andrea McArdle (the original Annie from the Broadway show) flew in to appear, as did Deborah Gibson and other artists.

Question: Except when he's wearing a toupee to play Silvio on The Sopranos, does Steve Van Zandt always wear that bandana on his head?

Yes, he does.

Little Steven was in town to perform with the E Street Band and his lifelong friend Bruce Springsteen Sunday at American Airlines Center.

Saturday night, he dined at Bob's Steak & Chop House on Lemmon Avenue.

"Jersey boys stick together," says owner Bob Sambol. "We reminisced about our high school days in New Jersey.

Screenwriter and SMU alum Jim "J.V." Hart was back on campus in Dallas on Sunday to be honored by his alma mater.

The Fort Worth-raised moviemaker penned Hook for Steven Spielberg, Contact based on the Carl Sagan novel and Bram Stoker's Dracula. He also teaches screenwriting at Columbia University's Graduate School of the Arts.

On Sunday, J.V. attended the "ring ceremony" at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium, where seniors preparing to graduate are given their class rings. Each year, they choose an alum to be an honorary recipient of a class ring. J.V. was this year's choice.

He is currently working on his first animated movie with children's book illustrator (and fellow SMU alum) William Joyce.

White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier will be in Dallas this week to help chef Chris Ward celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Mercury restaurant.

Roland first started making White House desserts for Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter and has served every administration since. Thursday night, he and Lail Winery owner Robin Lail will be special guests at an anniversary dinner at Mercury.

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