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    Hottest headlines of 2021

    These are the 10 hottest stories that had Dallas talking in 2021

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Jan 3, 2022 | 2:00 pm

     Editor's note: What was Dallas reading in 2021? We are so glad you asked. In another year dominated by "bad news" headlines around the world, it was a lowly bird that captured CultureMap readers' attention most. Just like robin sightings brought a little joy during a harsh winter, so did later news of a big celebrity wedding with Dallas ties, a spectacular Christmas light display competing on TV, and the arrival of a famous Youtuber who made waves in the local food scene. These are the stories that readers devoured this year. Find out our most popular dining, arts, entertainment, travel, society, and real estate stories; most memorable theater experiences; and best and worst movies in their own lists, too.

     

     1. Dallas-Fort Worth is seeing flocks of robins all over their backyards. Amid wintry weather, power outages, water issues, and bursting pipes last February, Dallas-Fort Worth was enjoying at least one ray of sunshine, in the form of a massive influx of American robins. Robins regularly migrate to the South every winter, but in 2021, they became a spectacular presence, with swarms of robins swooping in and hanging out, everywhere from the courtyards of inner-city lofts to the postage-stamp front yards of the suburbs. Come on back this year, little guys!

     

     2. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton ring up top Dallas planner, baker, DJ for glamorous wedding. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton finally tied the knot on Saturday, July 3, and from all the details divulged on social media, this American royal wedding was B-A-N-A-N-A-S. The couple relied on some of Dallas' top wedding vendors to pull off the opulent affair, from a renowned event planner to a TV-famous cake artist and a favorite party DJ.

     

     3. Famous food blogger moves to Dallas, calls out brisket at revered BBQ spot. Mike Chen is the host of Strictly Dumpling, a YouTube channel that has amassed 3.7 million subscribers since it launched in 2013. This famous online food reviewer has moved to Dallas to cover its booming restaurant scene. Since his relocation to North Texas in early March, he'd already posted raves about our ramen, Vietnamese food, and sushi. But uh-oh: He was unimpressed with the city's No. 1 most recommended BBQ spot.

     

     4. Tom Landry home for sale near Dallas' Preston Hollow is an oasis of nature. A former home of legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry and his wife, Alicia, located near the moneyed intersection of Bluffview and Preston Hollow, went on the market in June for $2,999,000 (and later sold). The house was built in 1952 and is at the end of a small, heavily wooded, secluded cul de sac off Inwood Road. It has 5,408 square feet, and is one-and-a-half stories, with a lower level that looks out over an intensely verdant backdrop that features a creek with a footbridge, wildlife, and loads of privacy.

     

     5. Frisco family charged up for $50,000 battle on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight. A Frisco family well-known locally for their "extreme," 70,000-light holiday displays got to shine in the national spotlight on December 2 as competitors on the hit ABC reality series The Great Christmas Light Fight. While the Burkman family didn't win the $50,000 grand prize, they won hearts with their charitable efforts. The lights switched on for the public to enjoy through Christmas.

     

     6. Surprising Dallas suburb named top U.S. city for homebuyers under 35, says study. For some young professionals of Dallas, buying a home in a quiet neighborhood in the 'burbs is proving to be more appealing than a ritzy high-rise within city limits. A study released January 14 by personal finance website SmartAsset ranked the top 50 U.S. cities where homebuyers under age 35 were most commonplace. Just one DFW city made it into the top 10 (drumroll, please): Mesquite.

     

     7. Gas Monkey Bar & Grill in Dallas rebrands, farewell Richard Rawlings. The restaurant and live music spot formerly known as Gas Monkey Bar & Grill in Northwest Dallas announced in September it was rebranding. New name: Amplified, and former co-founder Richard Rawlings was no longer involved. Rawlings then announced he was back with Gas Monkey round two: He's partnered with Refined Hospitality Concepts to reopen Gas Monkey Dallas, at the Mercer Boardwalk development on LBJ Freeway near Luna Road.

     

     8. Major freeway will shut down on east side of Dallas this weekend. There was a major freeway closure taking place one weekend in May, on the east side of Dallas: All lanes of I-30, both eastbound and westbound, would be closed on Saturday May 8, at Galloway Avenue, out by Mesquite. In addition to the mainlanes on I-30, full closures of the Galloway Avenue overpass at I-30 and certain I-30/I-635 direct connectors would also be required.

     

     9. Dallas-Fort Worth no longer a top-25 place to live, declares U.S. News & World Report. Dallas-Fort Worth tumbled out of the top 25 on U.S. News & World Report’s closely watched annual list of the best places to live in the U.S. U.S. News' 2021 Best Places to Live ranking, released July 13, put DFW at No. 37 among the country’s biggest metro areas. That's 13 spots lower than the area’s No. 24 ranking in 2020.

     

     10. President of Uncle Julio's found dead at downtown Dallas hotel. Harper Caron, who was president of the Dallas-based Uncle Julio's Tex-Mex chain, died in a downtown Dallas hotel; he was 45. Police officers were called to the Statler Dallas on Saturday, August 7 where they found Caron at about 5 am. A New Orleans native, Caron worked for Uncle Julio's for 25 years, moving up the ranks to become president in September 2019.

    The vintage cake was created by Dallas' Fancy Cakes by Lauren.

    Gwen Stefani Blake Shelton wedding, Fancy Cakes by Lauren
      
    Facebook/Fancy Cakes by Lauren
    The vintage cake was created by Dallas' Fancy Cakes by Lauren.
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    Weekend Event Planner

    9 best things to do in Dallas on 4th of July weekend

    Alex Bentley
    Jul 3, 2025 | 6:00 am
    Addison Kaboom Town!
    Photo by Catherine Downes

    With the 4th of July falling on a Friday this year, the selection of non-Independence Day events around Dallas is sparser than usual, but there will still be fun things to do. They include two theater productions, three comedians, a music festival with some notable performers, and the final days of a significant art exhibition.

    Addison Kaboom Town!
      
    Photo by Catherine Downes

    July 4th-themed events, like Addison Kaboom Town!, abound in and around Dallas on July 3 and 4.

    Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

    Thursday, July 3

    Independence Day Eve events
    As is tradition, many cities put on Independence Day events the day before the 4th of July. You can find events in Grand Prairie, Garland, Addison, Denton, Frisco, Arlington, Dallas, Irving, and Carrollton.

    Friday, July 4

    4th of July events
    For traditionalists who like to wait until the actual day to celebrate the 4th of July, there will naturally be events all over the place, including Irving, Arlington, McKinney, The Colony, Grand Prairie, Rowlett, Little Elm, Dallas, Frisco, Plano, and Grapevine.

    American Chronicle Theatre Co. presents King Kirby
    King Kirby follows legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby from the tough Jewish ghetto of Hell’s Kitchen in New York, to the harrowing battlefields of Normandy during WWII, to tense Senate hearings in the 1950s. Audiences will watch as he creates some of the most iconic heroes in pop culture: Captain America, Thor, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the New Gods, and countless others. The hero's journey shows Kirby pouring his quintessentially Twentieth Century life into his comics, only to make a fateful mistake that sends him into obscurity while his creations become among the most recognizable in the world. The production runs through July 12 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

    Improv Addison presents Chingo Bling
    Chingo Bling is known for his insightful, unapologetic stand-up comedy, and multiple viral videos. He has appeared in everything from feature films, Netflix, and MTV shows, to comedic web series, musical parodies, and live stand-up comedy shows. His podcast, Red Pill Tamales, can be heard on all listening platforms. He'll perform six times through Sunday at Improv Addison.

    Art Centre Theatre presents Girls Weekend
    In this lightning-quick farce, four women travel to Dot’s Northwoods cabin to consume copious amounts of wine, laugh at their lives, trade stories and chat about their book club’s latest selection. However, after the third case of wine comes through the door, it becomes clear there will be more stewing than reviewing. The production runs through July 19 at Art Centre Theatre in Plano.

    Improv Arlington presents Benji Brown
    Benji Brown began his career in radio while honing his skills as a stand-up comedian with a unique voice and hilarious characters. He became a key fixture on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and went on to work with such A-list headliners as Smiley, Chris Rock, Steve Harvey, and Monique. He's also appeared in a number of TV specials and commercials. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

    Saturday, July 5

    Outlaw Music Festival
    The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature a lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson (whose discography, with the new Oh What a Beautiful World, now numbers 103) & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. The festival takes place at Dos Equis Pavilion.

    Dallas Comedy Club presents Jazmyn W
    Jazmyn W is a stand-up comedian, content creator, host, and actress. She left her career in tech to pursue comedy full-time and was named one of BET’s 2021 "Influencers To Watch." She was a featured comedian in Martin Lawrence’s Lit Tour, Kevin Hart’s LOL Radio Presents: Hot Mic, and Keep Your Distance presented by Kevonstage. She'll perform twice on Saturday at Dallas Comedy Club.

    Sunday, July 6

    Dallas Museum of Art presents "Marisol: A Retrospective" closing day
    Sunday is the final day to view "Marisol: A Retrospective" at the Dallas Museum of Art, the most significant retrospective to date dedicated to the art of Marisol, known one of the most influential artists of the mid-1960s for her delightfully satirical and deceptively political life-size totemic figures. The exhibition showcases more than 250 artworks and documents, including 39 making their public debut with the exhibition tour, that contextualize Marisol’s powerful body of work and demonstrate the extraordinary relevance of her unique vision of culture and society.

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