Year in Review

Back in January when Tony Romo famously bobbled our playoff dreams, no one would have believed we were watching the prologue instead of the finale. It was the beginning of 12 months of celebrity feasting.

Eight years past his last Stanley Cup, Mike Modano, 37, skated into the marital sunset and cleared the stage for the Rise of Romo.

Meanwhile, smilin' Dean Fearing opened the ultimate Dallas hotspot at the Ritz-Carlton, the Las Vegas kids Scott DeGraff and Michael Morton cranked up Ghostbar, N9NE Steakhouse and Nove Italiano to give our Prison Break actors and arena-playing music acts a place to howl.

The launch of last spring's AFI Dallas International Film Festival filled Dallas with movie stars and turned every Uptown nightspot into The Ivy.

Before we embrace 2008, let's turn for one last look at the celebrity highlights of 2007.

AP

Carrie Underwood and Tony Romo at the Country Music Awards in April

1 Mike Modano marries Willa Ford. You'd think his fans would be pleased by the August nuptials, but you'd be wrong. Mike has a certain Je Ne Sais Cuteness that brings out the inner Glenn Close-dead bunny-"I'm not going to be ignored, Mike!" Willa, if you want to know the meaning of the word ruthless, read the hockey fan blogs.

2 Tony Romo dates Jessica Simpson. What a pair! The budding romance went high-profile with lots of airplay during Sunday's Cowboy game. But did she jinx his mojo? We've reached a headier altitude than the days of the Troy Aikman-Lorrie Morgan romance.

•2A Tony Romo dates Carrie Underwood. It was like watching tennis: First they're together when she cheers him from Jerry Jones' box on Christmas, then they're split soon after he bobbles the field goal snap against Seattle, next they're together in April for his birthday party at Ghostbar.

AP

Cast of HBO's Big Love (Ginnifer Goodwin at left)

•2B Tony Romo dates Sophia Bush. Their few dates ignited the bloody blog war: "Who's hotter, Sophia Bush or Carrie Underwood?" Answer? Sophia Bush.

3 In a life-imitating-art moment, HBO's Big Love star Bill Paxton showed up for an AFI screening of The Good Life at the Magnolia Theatre with the youngest of his TV wives, actress Ginnifer Goodwin. They were with her real-life boyfriend, Chris Klein, who co-starred with Mr. Paxton in the film.

4 In town for an exhibit of her photographs, Mary McCartney (daughter of Linda and Sir Paul McCartney) arrived at Goss Gallery to find flowers and a good luck note, "From Dad."

5 Justin Timberlake had been split with Cameron Diaz for about 30 seconds before he was chillin' at the Dallas Ghostbar following his show at American Airlines Center. He and producer Timbaland, rocked the house with a performance for guests including Missy Elliott and Usher.

6 On March 4, the doors closed at the Hard Rock Cafe sealing in memories of nights with Dan Aykroyd, Paul Shaffer, Joe Walsh, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova, Maureen Starkey and the former Head Rock Isaac Tigrett.

Nan Coulter / Special to DMN

Blues Brothers at the opening of House of Blues Dallas

7 In March, the Hotel Palomar reopened the venerable Trader Vic's, unsealing memories of dark and fuzzy mai tai nights with Conrad Hilton, Mickey Mantle and many who wish to remain anonymous.

8 The House of Blues hosted the richest rock 'n' roller in the world when guitarist and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's band opened for the Blues Brothers.

9 Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks director David Lynch likes to watch. Just prior to a showing of his film Inland Empire at the Magnolia, Mr. Lynch got an outdoor table next door at Ferre and ate his dinner unnoticed while people crowded the red carpet rope line waiting to look at him.

AP

O.J. Simpson in July on MN1.com in Dallas

10 Billionaire fashion mogul Giorgio Armani charmed the Dallas crowd in Italian when he came to the downtown Neiman's in September for a showing of his latest collection at the Crystal Charity Ball best-dressed fashion show and luncheon. Even habitual Armani wearer Lance Armstrong jetted up from Austin to hang with the blue-eyed Italian.

DISHONORABLE MENTION: O.J. Simpson started making regular visits to Dallas last summer for a series of live call-in interviews on Market News First. Happily, his Vegas legal troubles have apparently trimmed his travel schedule.

"I don't think there are any subprime borrowers hanging out here."
—Ben Stein, observing the Ferraris and Bentleys at Al Biernat's valet stand

"I bought my Royal Standard typewriter in 1965. It was secondhand. I have written everything I've ever had published on it, and there is nothing wrong with it."
—Pulitzer-winner David McCullough, defending his refusal to write on a computer during a Dallas book-signing

"The things you are fired for are often the very same things you are celebrated for later in life."
—Francis Ford Coppola at an Inwood Theatre screening, saying he was fired as Patton screenwriter because original star Burt Lancaster thought the opening speech was "too bizarre." George C. Scott gave the speech and won the Oscar.