just me in big D

Things to Do in Dallas, Texas

[justmeinbigd]

Things to Do in Dallas Newsletter 6/20-26

I just posted this week's Things to Do list on the Dallas subreddit. Some followers expressed interest in a newsletter, so here's some commentary to go along with this week's list.

It's dang hot outside and if you're looking for ways to cool off, you might be looking for swimming pools. City pools are great, and I've been meaning to visit the Heritage Aquatic Center in Irving. It's free for people over 50 (and that's me!) Haven't made it yet, but might make it out to the apartment complex pool once or twice this week.

If you're looking for places to swim, your options aren't limited to your gym or public swimming pools. You'll find more than a handful of hotel pool swimming parties on this week's list for Sunday. You can find more on several other days this week and all summer on Eventbrite, which curates a list of pool parties in the Dallas area.

You can also find hotel pools that let you pay to be a guest for the day on ResortPass.com. The pool at the Hilton Dallas Rockwall is a lakefront pool with gorgeous views and day passes start at $30 a day. The Hilton Anatole looks to be the priciest option, starting at $55 a day, but their "pool" is a whole waterpark, Jade Waters. Just know you'll need to figure in extra expenses for parking and food and drinks.

While making the list this week, I discovered that Friday is National Food Truck Day. That worked out well because food trucks have been on my mind since I got back from a work trip to Austin. Y'all know I'm a fan of loving where you live and I never want to badmouth Dallas, but DAMN, the food truck scene in Austin puts Dallas to shame (and back again.) There are food trucks and food truck parks EVERYWHERE.

In April, the Dallas City Council FINALLY eased up on some food truck and trailer regulations in Dallas proper, so hopefully things will be looking better soon. But we need to get a move on.

One way I think you can help is to attend the MLK Food Park at Fair Park, scheduled for this Sunday and three Sundays in July. Yes, it's hot out, but your support for this venture will help in multiple ways. First it shows support for the food truck business and second, it helps the neighborhood of Fair Park and South Dallas. Third, you'll be supporting LOCAL businesses and I know you love to do that. So head over to Fair Park on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you do go to this event or any other outdoor event, bring an umbrella (for shade) or wear a hat, and apply and reapply sunscreen. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, and don't hesitate to duck into your car or an air-conditioned building if you get too hot. This heat is brutal!

By the way, here are my favorite food trucks and where to find them this week.

Ruthie's Food Truck

The grilled cheeses are great, and the mission is even greater. Part of Cafe Momentum's internship program, and always a contributor to our local community and non-profit organizations, you can't go wrong here. Find them at Klyde Warren park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fletcher's Corny Dogs

You don't have to wait for the fair to get your Fletcher's fix, but it does look like you'll have to wait till July. Right now no further events are scheduled for June.

The Butcher's Son

Another favorite of mine from Klyde Warren Park, they'll have their sandwiches, sliders and quesadillas at the park every day this week.

Frios Gourmet Pops, Bruno's Italian Ice

I'm not a big fan of ice cream, especially when it's hot (it MELTS!) but ices and pops are good. These are some of the best I've had! Both will be at Klyde Warren Park on Saturday.

Coming Events

July 4th will be here before you know it, and Fair Park Fourth is back this year. Also Addison Kaboomtown, which you'll either want to plan to attend or avoid. I'll also be watching for news of a streaming fireworks show from Reunion Tower. That one's my favorite because I can watch it from home.

My "If I...Weekend"

Years ago, I used this format for a things to do list I wrote regularly, and I thought I'd bring it back for this newsletter and see how you like it.

If I had a hundred dollars, I'd join the Perot Museum as a member ($95 for two adults.) Instead, I'll just go to Thursdays on Tap for live music, beer, food trucks and the Jane Goodall exhibit. Usually for this one I come up with an event that costs $100, but I may have to raise that a bit to fill this one in the future. We'll see.

If I had kids, I'd take them to see the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on the lawn at the AT&T Discovery District on Sunday night. (This is a bonus not listed in the Reddit Things to Do list, and the details are on a Facebook event page.)

If I wanted to feel like a kid again, I'd go to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Toy Story Live in Concert performance.

If I wanted to feel old (and happy about it), I'd go to see Hard Night's Day at Legacy Hall on Friday night.

If I wanted to feel like an insider, I'd head to the newly opened Dive-In pool bar by the folks from Lee Harvey's.

If I had a dog, we'd go to the nearest MUTTS Canine Cantina on Friday night for Tails and Tunes.

If I wanted to celebrate with beer, I'd hit up the Ash and Ember Brewing two-year anniversary party in Cedar Hill on Friday night. Here's the Facebook event page.

If I wanted to discover some new art, I'd head to Texas Sculpts at The ArtCentre of Plano. The works of nine North Texas sculptors are on display through August 27.

That's all for this week. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider dropping something in my tip jar. It's midway down the out-of-date home page on one of my websites. (Updates coming soon!)

[justmeinbigd]

Best Sweets I Ate in 2021

I love going through my pics from the past year and remembering all the great foods I ate. When I started making my ten best list this year, I noticed there were a lot of sweets. So of course, I made a separate list for the Best Sweets I Ate in 2021.

Of course this doesn't count sweets that friends made for me or that I made myself. I made a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup bundt cake for Thanksgiving that was divine. But these are the ones you can get yourself, from some of the greatest Dallas restaurants and coffee shops. Put them on your 2022 Bucket List for some very happy eats!

Note: There are no affiliate links in this post. If a food was provided to me for free, I've noted it.

10. The Armadillo at The State Fair of Texas

OK, you can't get this one right now, which is why I only gave it 10th place. Hopefully it will make a repeat appearance at the 2022 State Fair of Texas. This winner of the Big Tex Choice Award for Best Taste Sweet was indeed mighty delicious.

Barrerra's concessions stands first took two giant armadillo-shaped cookies, which were more like funnel cakes made with an armadillo shaped branding iron, and fried them up. Then they filled them with cookie butter semifreddo. It was melty and sweet and wonderful in every way. If it's back next year, I'll give it a head-to-head test against my longtime favorite State Fair sweet - the deep-fried chocolate-covered-strawberry waffle balls. Of course there will be more new sweets to tempt us, but this one's definitely going on repeat.

9. Seedless Lemons from The Wonderful Company

The Wonderful Company didn't know how much I love lemons when they contacted me to see if I wanted to try some of their seedless lemons. They sent me some for free, and I took them to the office to share with my coworkers, where we ooh'd and ah'd and marveled how they're naturally seedless. At home, I used some to make frozen-yogurt lemonade. These were seriously my favorite at-home smoothies of the year.

8. Bayou Goo Pie at Lounge Here

I'd been meaning to visit Lounge Here since it opened in 2016, but the right time just didn't come until this year. Even then, it wasn't optimal because I'd already had a big meal. But even though I was behind the times, and not particularly hungry, I was in the neighborhood and I HAD to see it, so I decided to grab some dessert.

They were serving pie slices from Humble Pies in Garland, and I went for the Bayou Goo, a regular on the Humble Pies menu. There's a cream cheese layer, a chocolate later and Chantilly cream on top, with candied pecans in the bottom layer and on top. Chocolate shavings gave it plenty of chocolate flavor and made it pretty too.

7. Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but I was invited to a media event at Jeni's in Deep Ellum to meet Jeni herself. And lots of folks are raving about their flavors, so I had to give it a try. They gifted me four scoops and a waffle bowl, and those flavors were indeed splendid.

The pumpkin cake roll ice cream was pretty inventive and the darkest chocolate might be the best chocolate ice cream I've ever eaten. The Brambleberry Crisp was a perfect blend of tart and sweet (and creamy and crunchy.) But the standout of the night was one of Jeni's signature flavors: Gooey Butter Cake. Now we ate gooey butter cake on holidays and special occasions in my family, and I've always loved it, but this was next level. They crumbled up some of that rich and tasty dessert into cream cheese ice cream and swirled it with butterscotch-caramel sauce. Divine!!

6. Albatross Fudge from Dude, Sweet Chocolate

This one's a favorite I keep coming back to. I love chocolate, but only rich, bold, strong chocolate. Overly sweet chocolate (or fudge) just doesn't do it for me. This fudge is made with blue cheese powder adding depth and complexity to the chocolate flavor. And here's a fun fact: It's the first fudge Dude, Sweet Chocolate ever made.

You can get it when you visit their cool shop in Bishop Arts, or you can buy it online. It's also available at a number of shops that sell local products. I got mine at the Local Yocal Farm to Market shop in McKinney.

This box of fudge is 4 pieces, 5.5 ounces and is priced at $12.00 on Dude, Sweet's website. Dollar for dollar and ounce for ounce, I believe it's the most chocolate bang for your buck available anywhere!

5. Caramel Popcorn at Mama Moore's Gourmet Popcorn

If not for the Shoebox Lunch at Smokey John's Barbecue, I'd have never discovered this treat. And I almost didn't eat it. I'm not a fan of sweet popcorn - caramel corn never appealed to me. But the shoebox lunch came with a bag of Mama Moore's Texas Two Steps popcorn and it was right in front of me after I'd wolfed down the sliced brisket sandwich from the box.

I picked out the cheddar popcorn to eat, and it was so good. I decided to taste a bite of the caramel popcorn that's also part of their most popular flavor mix. I wasn't prepared for what happened next. It was a popcorn epiphany. This caramel popcorn is buttery and rich and not cloyingly sweet. (I'm still not ready for mixed bites of savory and sweet, but maybe next year.) I visted Mama Moore's Gourmet Popcorn shop in Grand Prairie shortly afterwards and I bought a whole bag of caramel popcorn. Plus a few other flavors, several of which were sweet. I liked the green apple popcorn and the lemon pound cake popcorn and well, a whole bunch of their other flavors, but the caramel popcorn needs a shoutout as one of the best things I ate this year.

4. Berry Berry at Miruku Creamery

I'm not sure how ice cream made it into my top ten desserts list twice, but I'm also not sure how this ice cream is so magical. Recently opened in downtown McKinney, Miruku Creamery + Cafe makes a creamy Japanese-style milk ice cream that's not too sweet, and serves it in a pretty, art-filled space. The simple flavors offered are great, but when you order one of their specialty desserts, they get even better.

The Berry Berry is milk ice cream topped with berry compote, crunchy-sweet cornflake bits and has a croffle garnish in the sundae bowl. If you don't know what a croffle is, it's a cross between a croissant and a waffle. It's rich and buttery and oh-so perfect in this special ice cream concoction. Other folks might want some fluffly cotton candy with their ice cream, or some interesting toppings on matcha flavored ice cream or an Affogato dessert that's delectable, and all that is there for you. But for me, this combo of buttery croffle, creamy ice cream and tart fresh berry compote was unquestionably one of the best things I ate this year.

Owners Yim and Kham Phommahaxay are as sweet as their ice cream, and everything about this place is Instagram win! If you haven't been to downtown McKinney lately, Miruku is the top reason you should go in 2022.

3. Cupcakes from Moonlight Cakes

There's no question that cupcakes will always make the list of the best things I ate. I eat way more cupcakes than I should. One of my favorite places for cupcakes is Stephen's Sweet Sensations based in Irving. His Double Dutch flavor is by far my favorite chocolate cupcake anywhere.

But this year, I discovered a new place for cupcakes and this is an experience I'll definitely repeat. I discovered Moonlight Cakes (in Bedford) on DoorDash, and chose some flavors I knew I'd love. They were all spectacular. Pumpkin spice with cream cheese frosting - yes! Tart lemon with sweet buttercream frosting - double yes. They nailed the strawberry flavor in their cupcakes, which is pretty rare - often strawberry cake is like sugar-flavored with pink coloring. Not so here - there are strawberries in the cupcakes AND in the frosting. Best of all, though, was the Snowball, which reminded me of how my grandmother made coconut cake. Ultra-moist coconut cake (not plain white cake!) toppped with vanilla buttercream and rolled in coconut shavings. One bite took me back to my childhood in the best way possible.

2. Crème Brûlée Donut from Detour Doughnuts

Although Jinny Park and I do not agree on how to spell donuts (she's probably more right than I am), I love everything else about her and about her shop Detour Doughnuts in Frisco. This is another visit that had been on my bucket list since they opened, but alas, I don't get to Frisco often.

This summer, I made my vacation a staycation and used the weekdays to go seek out all the places it's tough to get to on the weekends. What I was after was a Pride doughnut. It was a delicious and beautiful thing. But I'd have been foolish to make that drive without trying some of her fabulous gourmet flavors, many of which rotate out on a monthly basis.

I snagged a blueberry frosted cake donut, a blueberry basil donut, a chocolate glazed buttermilk donut (long-time favorite), a passion fruit something-or-other (all outstanding donuts) and the prize of all prizes, the crème brûlée doughnut.

Caramelized on top just like the luxe dessert, this has creamy filling inside and is kind of better than the "real thing" because it's handheld.

1. Chocolate Chip Cookie at LaLaLand Kind Cafe

Cookies aren't usually my favorite dessert and chocolate chip isn't usually my favorite flavor. But this -- this! -- is more than a cookie. As you can see, it's bigger than the full-size muffin I ordered. It's like cake and cookies and scones and candies had babies. The chocolate chips are a true explosion of chocolate within the tender sweetness.

Some foods are so good, you dream about eating them for months after the fact. This is one of those. As simple as it seems, this needs to be on one of those "Things to Eat in Dallas Before You Die" lists. And while the competition was close, by a nose, it's the best sweet treat I ate this year.

[justmeinbigd]

Dallas Christmas Lights: A Tour of 5 Not-Highland Park Neighborhoods

Some of the biggest lights displays in the Dallas area let you take a carload of people for one price, and I guess that’s a great way to go - for families. But it’s “just me,” so it seems like a splurge, especially when I have to shoot photos through the car window.

Dallas also has several great Christmas lights tours, but some of them make a big dent in your wallet. I tried one for the first time last year, and it was great, but there’s no way I’m getting in a bus with other people this year, even if it’s only half full. 

Luckily, the tour company, Dallas by Chocolate is offering special tours this year that you do in your own vehicle, with treat stops along the way. I’m a big fan of Jeanine Stevens and her company that’s been shining a light on local businesses with Dallas food tours year-round, since 2011. Check them out if that’s the way you want to go.

Still, my favorite way to see the lights has always been behind the wheel of my car, armed with Google Maps and copious notes from years of lists from D Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and local blogs. 

Here’s my list of some super fun Christmas lights you can see in Dallas neighborhoods for free, and on your own schedule.

I’ve mapped out a route to take you through up to five (not Highland Park) neighborhoods in a single evening. If you want to go to Highland Park and University Park for more, there’s a list of the highlights at the very bottom of this post!

Swiss Avenue Historic District

Stop 1

Overview: Simple, yet elegant, low traffic most of the time, in  a scenic neighborhood of historic homes.

Map Pin: I started at Aldredge House, at 5500 Swiss Avenue. You can drive down Swiss for 3-4 blocks each direction and then make the circle to go down the other side.

What you’ll see: Stately homes, mature trees (mostly not wrapped with lights), and classic yard decorations and Christmas lights that outline the architectural elements of the houses.

When to go: Of the Dallas neighborhoods known for Christmas lights, this one provides the least crowded drive through experience, so you can come any time. It’s also pretty during the day when it’s not lit up, so give that a try if you’re not a fan of nighttime driving.

Pro Tip: Pics from the passenger side may come out better, so if you’re traveling solo, you may want to get out of the car and walk around for a better vantage point. Otherwise, after pulling over, you’ll have to snap pictures across the wide, grassy median to the opposite side of the street. 

Tour Tip: If you’re not going to Electrict Lizzieland, head North on Skillman or Matilda to exit the Swiss Avenue neighborhood. Avoid driving down Greenville Avenue unless you want to get stuck in traffic (bad) or stop for to-go dinner/drinks/snacks for the rest of the tour(not bad at all.)

Electric Lizzieland (pic coming soon)

Stop 2

Overview: One house with lots of lights and glitter, a bit of a wild take on Christmas, but 100% family-friendly.

You will want to get out of the car for this one, so bring your mask. It can be a little crowded, due to a smaller window of time each evening the display is turned on. 

What you’ll see:  If you took the Christmas decorations from 10 or so houses and put them all on one house, it might look like this. A yard full of playful snowmen and candy canes, rooftop scenes with lighting, and lots more. Head toward the porch to get a close-up of brightly-painted and glittered plywood panels and a tree-covered walkway with hundreds (maybe thousands?) of lights. 

When to go: Lights are on from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.(don’t expect precision on the timing) most nights. When there’s inclement weather, the lights will be off. You can check the status on their Facebook page before you go.

Map Pin: Electric Lizzieland 

If you want to check out other homes in the neighborhood, you can choose a starting point on Newell Avenue between Santa Monica and Lindley. 

Joy Triumphant at Abrams and Trammell 

Stop 3

Overview: A hodgepodge of everything from traditional Christmas to nerdy and nostalgic on a large corner lot with high visibility.

What you’ll see: Every passerby will see the word Joy lit up in giant letters and some fun inflatables. Look a little closer and you’ll find a dinosaur, maybe a Kip’s Big Boy, and lots of other quirky lawn decor.

I call it Joy triumphant because when some of his inflatables were stolen or vandalized, people wrote notes and cards to the homeowner, and some even sent money, which he did not want. Sharing Christmas spirit is what matters to him, and he just keeps doing it with his wacky and joyous lawn.

When to go: Any time. The intersection gets moderate to high traffic, so you’ll need to pull over on a side street  and “zoom with your feet” to view more closely. Please do not attempt to take this photo while driving!

Map Pin: 32.84483, -96.75293

Hit the Highlights in the M Streets

Stop 4

Overview: A neighborhood with lots of Tudor houses, largely occupied by affluent young professionals with children, with lights ranging from simple to “we just threw a little bit of everything out there.” 

What you’ll see: A wide variety of decorations, many with high kid-appeal. Not every house is lit or decorated, and on those that are, you’ll see everything from elegance to extravaganzas and inflatables.  Map Pin and Points of Interest: 2.826532972222225, -96.77127899999999 The map pin and the second photo shown above are for a house that sits next to one of the more exuberant ones (though not the one pictured above it.) The lights above the window say “Bah, humbug.” I found it hilarious to see them side by side. 

Other interesting homes from previous years were in the 5600 Block of Vickery, on Marquita between Matilda and Delmar, and in the 5800 block of Mercedes.

When to go: Some houses turn their lights off by 9, others are on all night. There aren’t “lines” like in Highland Park, but the narrow streets can be hard to navigate with cars parked on the street.

From here, it makes sense to head over to Highland Park, but if you do, you’ll miss my favorite Christmas lights neighborhood. It’s not too far out of the way, and then you can circle back to Highland Park.

12 Days of Christmas at Timberhollow Circle

Stop 5

Overview: Understated, “old school” yard decor of painted plywood with floodlights and the occasional extravaganza mixed in.

What you’ll see: Each of the 12 Days of Christmas are represented, in order at neighboring houses on Timberhollow Circle. Most are very understated, but cute, and at least one is absolutely stunning. 

I also enjoyed driving through the neighboring streets for beautiful and thoughtful decorations including nativities, smaller inflatables, and smaller light displays.

When to go: Any time, just not too late at night; it’s a quiet neighborhood. 

Map Pin: 32°53'26.3"N 96°44'33.2"W

This is my favorite neighborhood for drive-through Christmas lights. Here are pics from two other homes on Moss Haven.

And I guess I’m just giving away my age, but this is my favorite house of all. It’s also on Moss Haven Drive.

Highland Park Highlights Here are some Highland Park highlights I transcribed from an infographic posted by Snow Day on Instagram and from my previous trips.

Highland Park/University Park Highlights 6767 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas 6920 Turtle Creek Blvd 6767 Druid 4316 Edmondson 3200 block and 3600 block (or really ALL) of Beverly Drive 4345 Rheims 4401 Lorraine Further North

3700 Block of Southwestern -  All the Santas. This isn’t even all of it!

6767 Hunters Glen (This is an enormous home with yard lights for nearly a full block. The two pics below only capture a portion of it!)

Wherever you go, please stay safe this Christmas. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy. Merry Christmas!!

[justmeinbigd]

40+ Places to Shop Local (Online) for Christmas Gifts on Small Business Saturday and Beyond

All photos by me - Kristina Rowe (and most are pre-pandemic. Apparently I’m not much of a shopper.)

I hope your Thanksgiving was great and I hope you’ve been able to support some small businesses today. Here’s a list I originally posted on Reddit of some Dallas small businesses where you can shop for Christmas gifts or for yourself. 

Online shopping options are linked or described here to give you the safest possible shopping experience. 

I’ll be sharing some more holiday shopping lists featuring local Dallas businesses soon. (Some of us aren’t into Black Friday shopping, even in non-COVID-19 years.) 

Happy Shopping, you’ll feel great when you shop local! 

Toys

Froggie's 5 &10 - Note: Not much can be purchased online. This store will be moving in 2021 so they are offering discounts on pretty much everything in the store.

Toy Maven - Toys, games, novelties, and lots more.

Toys Unique - Games, puzzles, arts & crafts and lots more.

Twig & Olive - Boxed sets that encourage creative play with no batteries, buttons or screens.

Gaming

Common Ground Games - With board games, trading card games, miniatures and paints, it will also someday once again be a great place to meet others and play games. Their week-long small business Saturday sale runs through Sunday, Dec 6.

Madness Games and Comics (Plano) -  A pop culture mega store with new comics, graphic novels, actions figures, board games, RPGs, and more.

Richardson Bike Mart near White Rock Lake at sunset.

Bikes

Red Star Bicycle Shop - Family-owned bicycle services, repairs, sales, and rentals.

Richardson Bike Mart - Founded in 1962, this local shop has grown into a small chain with stores in Richardson, Frisco, Dallas and McKinney. Their website has multiple holiday gift guides and online shopping.

Oak Cliff Bike Synergy - New and used (some vintage) bicycles.

Preston Hollow Bicycles - Local bike store selling a variety of bikes, accessories, utility items, apparel and more.

Sports/Outdoors

A J Vagabonds - Outdoor & Sporting Goods store in Bishop arts with a motto of “Go Outside Y’all.” They have fun stuff and great gift ideas on their Facebook page, but it looks like most of it cannot be purchased online.

Buddy’s Sporting Goods - In business 40+ years, focus on team sports equipment and apparel.

Dynamic Discs - This company wasn’t “born in Dallas” and isn’t headquartered here, but it’s family-owned and has a small footprint with a strong presence in Carrollton and Lewisville. If you’re into disc sports, you’ll want to shop here.

Not Just Soccer (Dallas & Fort Worth) - locally owned and operated business specializing in everything youth sports.

Play it Again Sports (Plano) - Locally owned, new and used sporting goods and gear.

Ray’s Sporting Goods - The iconic Dallas guns and more store on Singleton.

Plants

North Haven Gardens - Sustained a hard hit from the tornado, got up and dusted itself off and got back into business. Truly deserving of your support!

Ruibal’s Plants - Locally owned and managed with four (beautiful!) locations in Dallas. 

Books

Deep Vellum - A nonprofit publishing house and literary arts organization. Order books they’ve published through DeepVellum.org or request any book you want and they will order it for you through DeepVellum.com.

Half Price Books - OK, they’re a huge chain but they belong to Dallas.

Interabang - Another tornado recovery story, their online shopping system is quite robust.

Lucky Dog Books - Used book stores in Mesquite, Oak Cliff, and East Dallas. No online shopping site, but you can call or email requests to see if they have something you want in stock and they will ship it to you.

The Wild Detectives - To provide an online shopping experience, they’ve leveraged Bookshop.org, which offers a large selection, great service, and supports local bookstores with the proceeds of sales.

Pretty bonbons from Chocolate Secrets.

Chocolates

Cocoa Andre - This Mexican-American family-owned chocolate shop has Mexican chocolates, themed chocolate molds, vegan chocolate, bean to bar chocolates made in house and much more.

Chocolate Secrets - Hand-painted bonbons and truffles are the thing here. They also have a great selection of different chocolate Santas, Christmas trees and other fun holiday-themed chocolates.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Chef Katherine Clapner likes peculiar things and unique flavor combos and it shows (in a good way) in the delicious chocolates and treats she makes.

Kate Weiser Chocolate - Oprah made Kate Weiser’s “Carl the Snowman” famous. Handmade and beautifully painted candy bars are special here anytime and the holiday version is no exception.

Pre-pandemic in the gift shop at Nasher Sculpture Center.

Gift Shops/Flower Shops/Stationery

Abundantly Aromatic -  Soaps, body scrubs, Shea Butter lotions, and more all  handmade locally with all-natural ingredients.

Bettie Lou’s - Sister store to Froggie’s Five and Dime, they offer gift baskets online.

Dallas Museum of Art Gift Shop - Posters and postcards along with more practical items like umbrellas and tote bags to fill your life with art.

Lone Chimney Mercantile - Dallas-themed art, kitchen linens with salty sayings, fun accessories and gifts. Order gifts from their online store or choose art prints and canvases from the owner/photographer’s Etsy shop. 

Nasher Sculpture Center Gift Shop - There’s lots here from home goods to jewelry and accessories ranging from affordable to extravagant. 

The T Shop - East Dallas florist with a lovely gift selection.

White Rock Soap Gallery - Soaps, candles, bath and body products and more from more than 50 Texas makers.

Pets

Scotty’s Bowties - Pet bowties, bandanas and more.

Uptown Pet Wear - Doggie wear, leashes, harnesses and more.

Etsy Spring Bash 2018. Love, love, love these gals!!

Apparel and Accessories

Bullzerk - Undoubtedly the coolest store in Dallas, offering entertaining, Dallas-themed stuff. Shop online and consider checking out the Charity Shirts category to also support the Dallas Zoo and other charities.

Favor the Kind - Apparel, accessories, and gifts. Cyber sale thorough Monday.

Lucky Franklin - T-shirts, sweatshirts and more for dog and cat moms, plant lovers and other wonderful people.

Mosaic Makers - Multiple local makers under one roof (and in one online shop!)

Odin’s Leather Goods - Leather bags, belts, and bracelets are just a few of the offerings at this store that went from making products at their dining room table and selling them on Etsy to a  workshop space in Coppell.

Neighborhoods

Bishop Arts District - This website has links to many of the retailers in the Bishop Arts District. Use the links there to check out which ones offer online shopping.

Deep Ellum - Here’s where to shop in Deep Ellum.  Be sure to “Load More” at the bottom of the page to see them all.Use the links there to visit individual shops for online shopping links.

I bought one of these handmade totes from Lucky Franklin and then I won another one (full of locally made goodies) in a Boho Market giveaway a year or so later.

More suggestions:

Buy merchandise (T-shirts, hats, etc.) online from restaurants, bars, small music venues, coffee shops, breweries, distilleries and more. Just visit the full website of your favorite places and look for a link to “shop.” Or if you’re in a position where you can do so, look for a donation or GoFundMe link on their site and help out some of the hardest-hit places. They could use your support. 

Hardware stores under the True Value and Ace brands are usually locally owned and operated. My favorite is Rooster Home and Hardware because George the Rooster lives there. Online shopping is through TrueValue.com. I’m told Stones Ace Hardware in East Dallas has free beer while you shop.

Shop local from dozens of area makers at Etsy Dallas. Use the links on the page to go to the Etsy stores that interest you.

The State Fair of Texas has a holiday shopping site where you can buy State Fair souvenir gifts and shop from State Fair vendors and GoTexan merchants.

Also, here’s a large list of local businesses offering gift cards, compiled by the Dallas Morning News in cooperation with USA Today.

Next week my list of great gifts of wine and spirits from local producers and shops is coming to the Dallas Observer Food and Drink section. Stay tuned!!

[justmeinbigd]

Pendery’s World of Chiles & Spices

On a recent “pics through the car window” trip to the Dallas Design District, I snapped this shot of an interesting building. Today, I looked up the business and was delighted by what I found. 

Pendery’s World of Chiles & Spices is a 150 year-old business with one retail location (in Fort Worth) and a mail-order warehouse in Dallas. Their specialty is chile blends and rubs, and they offer a wide range of spices and seasonings. They also offer some unique products like seasoned nuts and seeds, Mexican vanilla, and powdered fruit zests.  Someday, when “things to do” becomes “a thing” again, I hope I get to share their annual chili cookoff. Till then, you can learn more on Facebooik, shop on their website, or visit them in person (if you’re so inclined) in Fort Worth. 1407 8th Ave Fort Worth, Texas If you want to drive by and see the building, along with many other unique buildings in the Dallas Design District, you’ll find it at 1221 Manufacturing Street.

[justmeinbigd]

What to Do When “Things to Do” Doesn’t Work Anymore

Well, "things to do in Dallas" doesn't seem like a great concept for a website and blog anymore. But while my Things to Do Lists are now relegated to history, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel. I'll still show you a few Sights, but with tips on how you can enjoy them while social distancing.

I still have some Stories to tell about iconic Dallas places and people. These are fun reads with links to deeper dives if you're into Dallas history.

The Seasons topic isn't going to make sense for a while. Do we even HAVE seasons anymore? It doesn't feel like it. But I am saying my prayers and doing everything I can to earn good karma so that we WILL have a State Fair season this year. If that happens, I'll bring back "all State Fair all the time" content for a few weeks. If the fair is cancelled, I admit it, I'll be inconsolable.

My focus on how to make friends has to take a back seat, since meeting new people just got even harder, but I still have a couple of ideas to share.

On the positive side, I think two of the main pillars of inBigD.com will come into sharper focus during these transformational times.

The Smaller Side

Small businesses have an uphill road ahead, and I absolutely want to show you more of the smaller side of Big D. Look for more quick posts here and lots of shares on social media about the local businesses that deserve your support. I have some long-form stories planned too; those will be added to  the full site (inBigD.com), so stay tuned.

Find Your Happy

When "normal life" is in disarray, the ability to "find your happy" is even more important. Everyday joy will always be a focus in my life and I'll always be sharing how to find it in one way or another.

So hang in there, more focused content is on the way. I'd be delighted to have you follow me and find your happy in Big D.

[justmeinbigd]

Dallas Texas and DFW Area Museum Highlights

Dallas Art Museums

Dallas Museum of Art - speechless, My|gration , Keir Collection of Islamic Art |  Free Permanent Collection | Special Exhibits $16 | On-Site Parking $15 | Easily Accessible by DART Rail & MATA

Nasher Sculpture Center - Barry X Ball: Remaking Sculpture, Resist/Release | Adult Admission $10 |  Easily Accessible by DART Rail & MATA

Crow Collection of Asian Art - One and Another, The Art of Lacquer | Free |  Easily Accessible by DART Rail & MATA

African American Museum - Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, Billy R. Allen Folk Art Collection | Admission $10 | Easily Accessible by DART Rail

Old Red Museum - Big D Gallery, World Crossroads Gallery and more | Admission $10 | Easily Accessible by DART Rail

Museum of Biblical Art - European Art Treasury, National Center for Jewish Art | Admission $15 | Free Parking | Accessible by DART Rail +  the NorthPark Center Shuttle

Meadows Museum - New exhibitions coming in March | Accessible by DART Rail + SMU Express or Museum Express 

Museum of Geometric and MADI Art - Hip Squares | Admission is Free | Accessible by McKinney Avenue Trolley Authority (MATA)

Dallas Contemporary - Serenade is Not Dead, Directional Energies, The Dance | Free | Free Parking

Latino Cultural Center - Armando Sebastian: The Dreamer/Parallel Universe | Free

Oak Cliff Cultural Center - Lucha Libre 2020 thru Feb 14 | Free

Latino Arts Project - Metaphysical Orozco (opening soon) | Admission $12 | Free onsite and street parking

Dallas History, Science, Nature, and Lifestyle Museums

Perot Museum of Nature and Science - 12 permanent exhibit halls, special exhibits, and movies

Holocaust and Human Rights Museum - The history of the Holocaust, advancing human rights

The Sixth Floor Museum -  The assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy

Frontiers of Flight Museum - 13 galleries with stories of aviation and space flight

Haas Moto Museum and Sculpture Gallery - Over 200 motorcycles spanning 12 decades

The Samurai Collection (Free) - Samurai objects from the Barbier-Mueller’s collection

Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison - Aircraft and armored vehicles 

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas -   The Economy in Action (free)

George W. Bush Presidential Center

Museum of Illusions - Interactive art with illusions, instagrammable scenes

Museum of Memories - Interactive art/Instagrammable scenes

Notable Museums in Collin County

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney - Dinosaurs Live and more

National Video Game Museum, Frisco - Videogame industry history + retro games

Notable Museums in Fort Worth

Kimbell Art Museum - Renoir: The Body, The Senses til January 26 (Free permanent collection)

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth - Robyn O’Neil: We, The Masses; The Modern Lights, Julie Bozzi: American Food; Ruckus Rodeo (beginning Jan 17) and more

Fort Worth Community Arts Center - Cultura Del Vaquero, Western Landscapes, & more

Amon Carter Fort Worth - Scott and Stuart Gentling’s Birds of Texas, Puente Nuevo and more

FW Science Museum - Cattle Raisers Museum, DinoLabs and DinoDig®, Launchpad, & more

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame - Honoring women of the American West

[justmeinbigd]

7 State Fair Tips No One Told You‌

Our local media does a great job of sharing information about the State Fair, and they share important things like how to get discounts and save money at the fair. Those are great things to know before you go, but how about some tips you’ve never heard before? Well, I spent the entire opening weekend at the fair, and I’ve found a few tips you may not have discovered on your own. They’ll help you save money and more at the State Fair of Texas.

1. You can borrow a phone charge booster from The Incredible Cord, a phone accessories vendor. Leave your drivers license or keys, and they’ll save the day if you drain your phone battery at the fair. Find them near the Wine Garden.

2. Most freebies are in and around the GO TEXAN Pavilion. But just a few steps away from the Coliseum, you can pick up free goodies from Walmart, sample some Fairlife milk, and get a gimme from DISH TV while entering their Biggest Fan contest. I dubbed it Freebie Row.

3. Big Tex is a great guidepost for finding your way around, but at some places in the park, the Coliseum is even better. Sorry for the less than pretty picture, but look for the green building to orient yourself at the fair. FYI, if the man in this picture turned around, he’d be looking at Freebie Row.

4. The refillable Big Tex Souvenir Cup is a sweet deal at 20 coupons. If you’re coming multiple times with a season pass, you can’t beat this deal. Except you can. Some vendors offer more than just soda and tea for refill choices – a fruit flavored “Brain Freeze” is the same price! Prior year’s refill cups are eligible for the 6-coupon refill too!

5. If you’re recovering from an injury, or have other mobility issues, these scooters are a  lifesaver. The cost is $55 for the day and the battery charge lasts all day. Per the State Fair’s link to their website, it’s best to make reservations, but they had extras available every day I checked. Wheelchairs, strollers, and wagons are also available for a nominal rental fee.

6. Even lifetime fairgoers can learn something new, so don’t feel shy about asking a question at the Information Booth/Hospitality Center. If you hear music from a nearby stage and want to know who it is, just ask. If you see a food that looks good, they can tell you where to find it. Their food listing index has over 2,000 entries!

7. The State Fair is One Giant Singalong! Prepare to sing and dance, or at least smile at other people singing and dancing. Wherever you are in the park, you’ll have a great soundtrack to narrate your day. Have fun, and I’ll see ya there!

[justmeinbigd]

We Can All Be Good Neighbors at the State Fair of Texas‌

While the long-running controversy around the best use of Fair Park may be coming to an end, neighbors of the State Fair of Texas still have another concern, and it’s a pretty trashy story. 

While you’re enjoying the fair, you probably don’t notice that there are trash and recycling bins everywhere. And I mean everywhere.

I think there’s a trash can in almost every pic I took – but that’s OK. That’s a good thing (that they’re there, and that you don’t notice them.) The State Fair of Texas hires people to keep the grounds clean, and presumably, they schedule additional trash and sanitation services to keep dumpsters emptied regularly. The park is the very model of cleanliness, and while I hate that we take it for granted, I’m glad we can.       

Unfortunately, the businesses in Exposition Park and around the fairgrounds don’t have the budget or the resources for all the extra trash collection that’s required during the three-week run of the fair. On a recent visit to the area, when asked what the number one problem was with the State Fair, everyone I asked said trash. When fairgoers leave the grounds, they leave trash on the streets all around the neighborhood. Some who would do the right thing can’t because dumpsters meant for a few days of local business now have to serve hundreds of thousands of fair visitors. That means the trash of the well-meaning people ends up on the ground right alongside that of careless litterers.

This year, I’m asking each Fair Park visitor to help the State Fair of Texas be a good neighbor. Dispose of your trash before you leave the fairgrounds. Maybe even go so far as to pick up trash you see on the streets before it has a chance to pile up. It’s not the most fun thing to talk about, but tell everyone you know who’s excited about going to the fair this year. We can be the change we wish to see. Thank you for sharing this post or its message!

[justmeinbigd]

11 Reasons This Year’s State Fair of Texas Will Be the Best Ever‌

Originally Posted 9/14/2018 on InBigD.com

It’s finally here! I just spent the entire opening weekend at the State Fair of Texas!

If you go every year, you know the fair just gets better and better every year. If you’ve haven’t been to the fair in years, this is the year you want to give it another try. If you went once in the last few years and decided it wasn’t for you, this year will change your mind. And if you’re going for the first time this year, you’re in luck. It’s going to be the best year ever. Here’s why!

#11 – Fair Park’s Future Is Looking Bright

We might have to buy Big Tex some shades, because it looks like, at long last, there’s a plan to make better use of Dallas’s beautiful Fair Park year-round while preserving its status as the long-time home of the State Fair of Texas.  Controversy is no stranger to Dallas, and City Hall maneuvering can be Byzantine to say the least. But this year, the city, its Parks department, its city council, and representatives of Fair Park and its neighbors may finally be on the same page.

If you’ve been attending the state fair for years while worrying that supporting the fair prevents growth in the neighborhood it lives in for part of each year, the developing plans for Fair Park should lighten your step when you visit the fairgrounds this year.

#10 – This Year’s Butter Sculpture Is Very Innovative

For the third straight year, the sculptor of the fair’s annual butter sculpture is local painter and sculptor Ken Robison. As an artist who had worked on other projects for the State Fair of Texas over the years, he was eager to take on the challenge of sculpting butter, despite being a vegan.  In a Texas Monthly interview, he says that’s OK since he doesn’t have to eat the butter.

Even people who love dairy wouldn’t want to eat the butter used for this wacky art. Some of it’s four years old. Eeeewww.

For Robison’s debut butter art, he recreated a prize-winning steer made of butter. Last year, his “Mount Muchmore” became a fun guessing game when he substituted Texans for the busts on Mount Rushmore. This year’s fair theme is “Celebrating Texas Innovation” and, well…see for yourself.

# 9 – There’s Food Sampling From Big Name Chefs

If you’ve read any previous posts I’ve written about my own experiences at the State Fair of Texas, you know that the Cutco Celebrity Kitchen is my favorite part of the fair. Seeing cooking demos by Chef Janice Provost and Chef Uno Immanivong has become part of my state fair opening day tradition.

I credit Janice Provost, chef/owner of Parigi with getting me excited about Dallas restaurants, chefs, and our impressive food scene. Her story of reinventing herself as a chef after a successful career in the telecom industry inspired me to have greater faith in myself during my own career second act. I think that’s appropriate because her success is the kind that’s shared. The 32-year-old neighborhood bistro is rocking along under her leadership; she also founded the The Parigi Scholarship Endowment Fund which offers educational assistance to culinary and hospitality students at El Centro Community College. Parigi has been part of the State Fair of Texas opening day for over 15 years – how’s that for a story?

Each chef who appears in the celebrity kitchen (in the Creative Arts Building) at the fair will share a story, demo something yummy to eat, and share samples with you. This isn’t new at the fair, but this year you’ll see some familiar faces as well as representatives of some of the best restaurants in Dallas and a couple of the newest ones.

Three or four celebrity chefs make presentations each day of the fair. This year’s lineup includes a few you’ve seen on TV – John Tesar (Knife) and Tiffany Derry (Roots Chicken Shack) to name a few. Other well-known and much-loved Dallas chefs include Chris Patrick (Abacus), Graham Dodds (The Statler), David Pena (Goodfriend Beer Garden & Burger House), and so many more. Some of the most elegant Dallas restaurants – Uchi, Salum, Mirador, The Tower Club, Bullion, Fearings, and Perle on Maple – will be featured too.

I know the State Fair is synonymous with corny dogs and fried food, but here in the Cutco Celebrity Kitchen, you’ll find another whole world of can’t-miss fair food. See the full schedule here.

#8 – The Big Tex Choice Awards Winners Look Absolutely Fabulous

The Big Tex Choice awards have been honoring favorite fair food for almost 15 years, and every year, the winners look better and better. This year’s Cotton Candy Taco (most creative) might be the most creative dish I’ve ever seen take this prize. I was rooting for Arroz Con Leche, a sweet crispy rice dish, early on, and sure enough, it took the prize for best sweet taste. This year, for the first time, I have more than half a dozen sweet treats on my must-have fair food list. It’s a good thing I have a season pass – I’m gonna have to make several trips to eat them all (and walk off the calories.)

Winter Family Concessions is no stranger to state fair concessions or Big Tex Choice Awards wins. Their winning savory dish, Fernie’s Hoppin’ John Cake with Jackpot Sauce is made with black-eyed peas, known in the south for bringing luck and prosperity in a new year. Whatever the reason, I know I’m gonna feel lucky to get to eat it.

#7 – The Rides and Shows are High Flyin’

Family-friendly doesn’t have to mean boring, and the Xpogo team and Team Big Air will amaze you with extreme sports pogo and acrobatic basketball. Favorite high-in-the-sky rides like the Texas Star, Midway Skyway and Top o’ Texas Tower will give you a real life birds eye view of the fair. New rides will take you to new heights too – check out the spinning Orbiter and the fast to furious AIRMAXX.

#6 – You Can Enjoy Quiet Time at the Fair

For the first time ever at the State Fair of Texas, a sensory-friendly experience is available at the fair to visitors living with autism, intellectual disabilities or special needs. Even if you just enjoy a moment with less sensory overload, you can take part in special activities and accomodations on Wednesday mornings. You can get the  guided itinerary on the State Fair of Texas website. Others who just need a little time away from the hustle and bustle can spend some time wandering First Avenue, past all the museums to avoid the busier Cotton Bowl, Big Tex, and Midway areas for a little bit.

#5 – You Can Chill With Some Great Wine

Even if you don’t need to dial down the excitement all the way, you can definitely enjoy some laid-back experiences at the fair. The State Fair Wine Garden is a fair favorite that just seems to get better with time. Relax with a sample, glass, or bottle of wine while enjoying performances on the Wine Garden Stage on weekends. Be sure to check out the GO TEXAN Blue Ribbon Wine selections – 12 examplary Texas wines honored with this designation.

#4 – The Visitors Guide to the Fair is Available Online

Unless I missed it last year, this is the first time ever the Fair Guide has been available online. Picking up a visitors guide has always been a high-priority stop at the fair, but now you can get a sneak peek at it before you get there. All of the Big Tex Choice Awards are featured in the guide with the locations where you can find them. The guide also lists ALL of the Thrifty Thursday discount food offerings with their locations.

You might still want to pick up a copy as a (free) memento, but this year you can plan your fairgoing strategy ahead of time or check out that map on your phone while you’re there. See the .PDF version of the  State Fair of Texas Visitor’s Guide here. Remember, the day will be fun whether you’re a planner or a freestyler. Just go, see, and do in the way that makes you happy.

#3 – This Year’s Exhibits Are Enlightening

Whether you want to learn about the past, celebrate the present, or look to the future, this year’s State Fair of Texas has an exhibit for you. I visited the African American Museum to see the Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello exhibit. I found it very moving and wish I’d spent at least half a day just to absorb all the details and experience the emotions it brings up. There isn’t any violence depicted, but from an intellectual standpoint, some of it is hard to fathom. I spent less than an hour (not as much time as I wanted to) but I’m a better person for having seen this up close. I hope you’ll choose a learning experience at the fair this year, and spend as much time as you like soaking it up.

#2 – Pretty Patios and Other Covered Seating

More than ever this year, you’ll find patio umbrellas and awning-covered seating. Whether you’re stopping for a beer or glass of wine, something yummy to eat, or just a spell of people-watching, you’re sure to find a place to make yourself comfortable.

#1 – Weather

What? No triple-digit heat? Forecasts are just predictions, but if they hold up, we’re going to see some of the fairest weather of them all. As of this writing, there are 10 days (during the run of the fair) predicted to have high temperatures in the 70s.  The seventies. Just let that sink in.

I didn’t count it, ’cause that would be immodest, but this year is also the first year you can count on me as a guide. Follow me here for blog posts, follow me on Instagram and Facebook for live video and photos, and follow FunCityStuff.com where I’ve already shared some incredible State Fair of Texas as well as all the fun stuff I can find around DFW.

Enjoy your day at the fair,and if you liked this post, please share!

[justmeinbigd]

Change is the Only Thing Constant

Lots of things have changed since I started this blog a couple of years ago. The good news is that I’m back to writing for FunCityStuff.com again and I finally started working on the website for my Just Me in Big D blog. For now, some of this stuff I wrote for Fun City and for CW33/NewsCastic is still just as fun as it was when I wrote it. And I’m still out there helping you find your happy - and your silly too, but that doesn’t sound as cool. Follow me on Instagram - justmeinbigd - to keep up with what I’ve got working and perking. My bio has a linktree with multiple links for you to enjoy!  I post on Facebook too, and I tweet about Dallas and DFW from time to time. Voyage Dallas called me a “trailblazer” and interviewed me for this really nice feature.  Thanks for your support, and as always, there’s more coming soon!

[justmeinbigd]

10 DFW Mom and Pop Businesses That Changed My Life (And Maybe Yours, Too)

via Flickr: Amro By Kristina Rowe, NewsCastic Most of us have special memories associated with places we went as youngsters. Depending on how many years ago your youth was, those places may have been very different from the ones you frequent now. They may have been smaller stores, and unlike in today's mega stores, you probably knew the owners. Visiting those venues now is like getting a souvenir from a bygone era.

In case you, like me, need a little extra nostalgia today.

[justmeinbigd]

A Taste of Yesteryear: 15 Food Memories Worth Making (or Keeping) in DFW

via Flickr: Steve Rainwater By Kristina Rowe, NewsCastic One of the things that makes DFW special is the blend of old and new — from buildings to businesses to the art and music scene and more. Our food scene is no different. In DFW, you can try the newest cuisines and the freshest concepts right alongside the comfort foods and hometown favorites from restaurants that have stood the test of time.

[justmeinbigd]

10 Delicious Dr. Pepper Dishes in DFW

via Flickr: Steven Labinski By Kristina Rowe, NewsCastic It's been said that if you ask 10 people in DFW whether they prefer Coke or Pepsi, 7 of them will say Dr. Pepper. While this might not hold up to statistical validation, we do love our Dr. Pepper here in DFW. And though you might be perfectly satisfied sipping it from a cold can, bottle, or tall glass of ice, a few DFW restaurants have gone a little further. Check out these places that serve Dr. Pepper in their deliciously different dishes.

[justmeinbigd]

7 Animal Shelters Making Everyday Miracles In DFW

via Flickr: Bryan Rosengrant By Kristina Rowe, NewsCastic August 20th was the 25th annual International Homeless Animals' Day, as established by the International Society for Animal Rights. Recent flooding in Louisiana means many more animals that need to be rescued. Both of these occurrences are timely reminders of the important work DFW animal rescue organizations and shelters do every day.

I’ve seen pleas on Facebook for fun animal videos and pics to help offset the flood of election opinion. How about a story about some great animal shelters in DFW that could put your donations and time to good use!

[justmeinbigd]

The World Should Give Thanks for these Texas Things

We’ve finally made it past Halloween, and while some folks are ready to put up their Christmas lights and drink their eggnog, some of us would like to enjoy Thanksgiving first. And as we head toward that incredible holiday (my personal favorite), you may have noticed the trend on Facebook of posting something daily that you’re thankful for. That comes easily to us here in Texas, but in case the rest of the world gets stumped, here are a handful of Texas things the world can be thankful for.

American Airlines

By some measures, it’s the largest in the world. And while the American Airlines Group and their oneworld alliance partners can't fly you to the moon, they do fly to over 1,000 destinations in 150 countries. You're welcome, world, and we won't say we're sorry. Except maybe for the world's largest parking lot which you'll find at DFW International Airport.  For that, we are a little bit sorry. Photo by Thomas Hawk via Flickr.

America's Team. There's only one team that's called America's Team, and that's the Dallas Cowboys, with their amazing history of greatness. Recently acknowledged by Forbes magazine as the world's most valuable franchise in sports (not football, mind you, but all sports) the team is valued at over $4 billion dollars. And we wouldn't take less than a billion for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, even during a crappy season. Which this one isn’t - they’re looking pretty good! Photo by Lorne Marcum via Flickr.

Chili. Whether it'served up in a bowl, poured into a bag of Fritos, or saucing up some delicious tamales or enchiladas, the official state dish of Texas is another example of our state's greatness. The origins of chili are unverified, but it likely got its start in San Antonio as early as the late 1700s. With chili comes chili cookoffs, and the first known chili cook off took place at the State Fair of Texas in 1952. The first World's Championship of Chili got started in a tiny Texas town called Terlingua in 1967. Originally intended to be a one time event, the tradition is now in its 50th year. The world famous cookoff got so awesome that in 1983, it split into two chili cookoffs, both held in Terlingua, Texas on the same weekend in November each year. (Yes, there's more to that story, and it goes waaaaaay back.) Photo by Don Sampson via Flickr.

Liquid Paper. As we head toward a paperless world, liquid paper may not top the list of Texas inventions, but it's still useful and still widely available. A Texas typist named Bette Nesmith Graham invented it in her kitchen and sold it out of her house for 17 years, before selling her successful company to Gillette for over 45 million dollars.  That’s not the only “invention” she gave the world either. Mike Nesmith of The Monkees called Bette “Mom.” Photo via wikimedia commons.

Drinks! Texas has no official state beverage – how can that be?! Dr. Pepper should be under consideration, as should sweet tea, ruby red grapefruit juice, and Shiner beer. Of course, there is always the margarita – the margarita machine having been invented right here in Dallas! The margarita machine was inspired by the Slurpee machine, and yes, 7-Eleven also hails from Texas. So the world can thank heaven for Texas! Photo by Clifton Johnston via Flickr.

So if you need a kick start for your gratitude posts, you can start with these Texas things - you could go on all month without even needing to use the family, friends, car, job standbys.

[justmeinbigd]

The “Find Your Happy” Weekend: October 28-30, Fall-Free Edition

It’s Halloweekend! I’m not gonna call it a boycott, but I’m not doing Halloween stuff this weekend. Or pumpkin stuff or fall festival stuff. I think it’s just wrong that the State Fair of Texas only lasts 24 days, but all the fall stuff seems to go on and on, so this is my protest. If you’re dying to do Halloween or get your pumpkin on, there are dozens of pumpkin patch and trick (or trunk) or treat events all around town. Hop on Google or hop in the car, and either way it won’t be long till you run right smack into one. For a different take on Halloween, check out my map of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) events all around DFW, this weekend and beyond. But if you want something 100% free of autumn-like festivities, read on – I’ve got some good stuff for you.

Heads Up: The only thing I find more horrifying than Halloween is what comes after it – Christmas – and oh no, the decorations will start coming out!!  If only we could have a rest until Thanksgiving, but if I were you, I wouldn’t bet on it. I’m pulling on the reins of Christmas spirit, trying to hold it back, but I can only hold out for so long – the force is strong with that one. Check back in a couple of weeks when I succumb and gift you with my DFW Holiday Happenings Guide! But for now, without further ado, here’s my Fall-Free “Find Your Happy” Weekend in Big D and around DFW.

Fall Free in Big D

Deliciously un-pumpkin flavored goings-on... All Weekend Dallas Bachata Festival | Thursday - Sunday | Prices vary, Full Event Passes Available | Adults Only |Sheraton DFW Hotel, Irving Wings Over Dallas WWII Airshow | Friday-Sunday | Child, Student, and Adult one-day tickets start at $6 purchased in advance| Kid Friendly |Dallas Executive Airport 

Saturday Muckfest – the Fun Mud Run Dallas | 9AM-? | $105 Day of Even Registration, Free spectator and “Little Muckers” areas | Family Friendly | Charity:  Multiple Sclerosis Society |Southfork Ranch, Plano (Photo by National MS Society, Greater Delaware Chapter, via Flickr) 42nd Annual Harambee Festival| 11AM-6PM | FREE | Family Friendly | Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center | Multicultural fest with arts/crafts, music performances, kids’ games and activities American Institute of Architects (AIA) Dallas Tour of Homes | Saturday-Sunday | $30 ($25 in advance) or $10 per home | Locations vary Sunday Dallas Food Truck Palooza | 11AM-6PM | $5 | Charity: Literary Instruction for Texas™, Guns and Hoses | Temple Shalom, Dallas Dallas Puppy Con | 11AM-2PM | Free | Kid Friendly, Dog Friendly (of course) | Main Street Garden Park  (Warning for Halloween haters: There will probably be costumes, but for dogs, who don’t get to wear cute clothes often enough, so we’re OK with it.)

The Little D

Speaking of different, what else besides Halloween goodies will Denton be serving up? Here’s an assortment. (Photo by Lucina M, via Flickr)

Friday and Saturday Texas Small Tire Throwdown | $15 and up for spectators – kids FREE | Family friendly | North Star Dragway  Saturday Afro-Cuban, Brazilian Ensembles and Latin Jazz Lab Bands Concert | 6:30PM | $3-$5 | Family Friendly | Voertman Hall, University of North Texas

North Texas Roller Derby Open House | 9AM-11AM | FREE | 18+| Lone Star Indoor Sports and Event Center

Cowtown

If you’re nixing fall festivities in Fort Worth, check out some of this fun.

All Weekend Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering & Western Swing Festival | Friday-Sunday | $30 and up, kids free except for the rodeo | Kid Friendly | Fort Worth Stockyards

Friday Modern ‘til Midnight | 6PM-Midnight | $25 (advance discount, free to Modern members) | Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Saturday Texas World Steak Showdown | Saturday | $40 for VIP People’s Choice Judge (Sampling) Wristband | Kid Friendly |Billy Bob’s Texas | Texas Themed Food and Drinks Available to Purchase

Sunday  North Texas Pit Bull Pride Festival | Sunday | FREE | Kid Friendly, Dog Friendly | Coyote Drive-In Fort Worth 

Trinity Park Music Reunion | Noon-7PM | FREE, Canned food & pet food donations encouraged | Family Friendly |  Trinity Park Shelter House

Out in the Burbs of DFW

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, here are some of the best non-Halloween, non-pumpkin, non-fall festival activities in the area.

Addison: Dallas Walk for Brain Injury | Saturday morning | Registration Required, fundraising suggested | Family Friendly | Benefits Brain Injury Association of America | Addison Circle Park

Funniest Comic in Texas Round 3 | Sunday night |$7 and up | 21 and over only | Addison Improv

Allen: Arbor Day Celebration (yes, we know Arbor Day is in April) | Saturday 9AM-Noon | FREE | Orchard Parkl

Anna: Glowfest | Saturday | FREE | Kid friendly | Slayter Creek Park | Hot air balloon fest, music, games, hot rod show, concessions (and admittedly a tiny bit of Halloween mixed in with costume contests for kids) (Photo by Amy, via Flickr)

Arlington: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of North Texas Walk | Saturday | Registration required, available as walk-up Saturday morning | Kid friendly | UTA | Fundraiser for American Cancer Society Bedford: Marvel vs Capcom Arcade Tournament | Saturday 8PM | $10 Tournament entry package, $3 Spectator/Arcade Play | Family Friendly | Quarter Lounge Arcade

Burleson: Art Walk in Old Town | 5PM-8PM | FREE, Art available for purchase | Family friendly | Renfro Street, Old Town Burleson

Carrollton: Wrestling Against Autism | 6PM Doors Open | $10 and up | Family Friendly | Benefitting Autism Awareness and Lions Charities | Plaza Arts Center, Downtown Coppell: Avenue of Artisans | Saturday Morning | FREE | Family Friendly | Coppell Farmer’s Market

Frisco: Teddy Bear Ride | Sunday | $15 per bike + a new teddy bear donation | Family Friendly | Benefitting Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County | Ride Starts at IKEA Frisco, ends at Harley Davidson Financial Services on Alma Drive, Plano (Photo by Steve Carter, via Flickr) Arborfest Tree Planting | Saturday 9AM | FREE | Family Friendly | Warren Sports Complex

BMX Pump Track Grand Opening | Saturday 10AM-Noon | FREE | Family Friendly | Northwest Community Park

Grapevine: The Captain & Camille + The Clinton Years | 9:30 PM - | Free, drinks and food purchase expected | Tolbert’s Chili Parlor Grand Prairie: Hong Kong Market Place Music and Food Festival | All Weekend | FREE | Family friendly | Asia Times Square | Music, Vendor Food, Family Activities Mrs. Ruthe’s Day of Giving – Volunteer Fair and Food Drive | Saturday | FREE, canned good donations requested | Family Friendly | The Summit

McKinney: Monthly Classics on the Square Car Show | Saturday 7:30-10:30AM | FREE | Downtown Square 49th Vibration Show /Cowboys Watch Party | Sunday 1PM -10:30 PM | Food and Drinks available for purchase | Benefitting Breast Cancer Can Stick It Foundation | Hank’s Texas Grill

Mesquite: Anti-Bullying Awareness Walk | Sunday 1PM-4PM | FREE | Mesquite Elk’s Lodge 2404

Midlothian: Midlothian Foodie Market | Saturday | $5 or FREE with a canned food donation (4 cans) | Kid friendly | Midlothian Conference Center | Some samples included, vendor concessions for food

Plano: Plano Steinfest | Saturday | FREE | Kid Friendly |Historic Downtown Plano (Photo by spacebahr, via Flickr) Sling Fest | Sunday | $5-10 | Kid Friendly | Oak Point Park | (yes, it’s pumpkins, but it’s smashing pumpkins, LOL!)

The Compassion Experience | Through Sunday | FREE | One Community Church

Teddy Bear Ride | Sunday | $15 per bike + a new teddy bear donation | Family Friendly | Benefitting Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County | Ride Starts at IKEA Frisco, ends at Harley Davidson Financial Services on Alma Drive, Plano Richardson: Altitude Trampoline Park Grand Opening | Saturday 10AM-9PM | Some events are free, jumping requires admission fee | Family Friendly | Campbell Road, Richardson Rockwall:   Rockwall Ribbon Run | Saturday 7AM-Noon | $15 and up | Family Friendly | Benefitting the American Cancer Society | Harry Myers Park

Southlake: Vocal Trash in Concert | Sunday 2PM-4PM | FREE | Family Friendly | The Marq at Southlake

The Colony: Booktoberfest | Sunday 2PM-4PM | FREE | Kid Friendly |The Colony Library Waxahachie: Texas Country Reporter Festival | Saturday | FREE | Kid Friendly, Pet Friendly | Courthouse Square

That’s just a start – once again there are dozens of Halloween and Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival events all over DFW, OR you can enjoy something different. Whatever you do, I hope you find your happy…in Big D and around DFW.

Hop over to Twitter or my Facebook page and let me know what you’re going to be doing this weekend, or holler at me next week and tell me how much fun you had.