Alan Peppard

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons felt so at home during his recent Dallas visit that when his flight back to New York was canceled, he didn't reschedule.

The Def Jam Recordings impresario spent an unplanned weekend in Dallas before flying straight to his next appearance, the Hip-Hop Summit in Atlanta.

The former Mr. Kimora Simmons kicked back at Nick & Sam's, where he chatted with people about his Nov. 7 benefit for the Diamond Empowerment Fund, Dallas Rocks 2008 at CityPlace.

What could send country star Clint Black driving through the night until dawn: Did he forget to turn the stove off at home?

Nope, it was golf.

Clint had a Monday concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center, but he left Memphis in his tour bus on Saturday night and drove all night so he could pull up first thing Sunday morning at the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine.

He stepped out of the bus and was one of the first players on the course.

His Dallas show was a benefit for Central Dallas Ministries. He told the crowd about the time he visited the tour bus of his fellow Texan Willie Nelson. According to Clint, Willie emerged from "the smoke of some toast he was burning."

Last weekend's grand opening gala of the Joule hotel was notable for the presence of the Jonas Brothers, Martin Scorsese, Sarah, Duchess of York and others. But less known was that the party brought in a boat load of cash for arts programs in the Dallas Independent School District.

The gala raised $500,000, all of which will be used to buy art supplies DISD elementary students.

The Joule opening was brimming with celebrities. Singer-actress Willa Ford brought her husband, Mike Modano; Dallas Maverick Jerry Stackhouse was there, as was his boss, team owner Mark Cuban, wearing black denim jeans and no jacket at the black-tie event.

Dallas Stars player, former Vogue magazine intern and former Rachel Hunter boy-toy Sean Avery also attended, as did Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones.

Actor Greg Kinnear's past caught up with him at Channel 8's Victory Park studio. He was appearing on Good Morning Texas as was comedian Pablo Francisco. Both men lived in Arizona in the '80s, and Pablo remembered Greg from his pre-fame days when the actor sold cable TV subscriptions door to door.

During a commercial break, Pablo told the actor, "Hey, you sold my family cable back in 1984."

"Yup, that was me," answered Greg with a laugh. "Did I give you free HBO?"

Brit band UB40 checked into Hotel Palomar while in Dallas for a show at the Majestic. Staffers who remembered their 1983 hit "Red, Red Wine" were discouraged from inviting the band to the Palomar wine hour to enjoy some red, red wine.

Comedian Wanda Sykes was in town to perform at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium. Saturday night, she turned up for dinner at Screen Door, downtown's new upscale Southern restaurant in One Arts Plaza owned by Scott Jones.

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