This Week's Hot Headlines

2 universities take top honors in this week's most-read Dallas stories

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines.

1. 2 Dallas universities make the grade on new list of top Texas schools. Neighborhood review site Niche.com’s latest college rankings, released August 21, rely on U.S. Department of Education data coupled with reviews from current students, alumni, and parents to judge American colleges. Two Dallas universities made the grade among top 10 Texas schools. Southern Methodist University came in at No. 4, and University of Texas at Dallas slid in at No. 10.

2. Restaurant from India debuts in Texas with veggie buffet and luscious breads. A new Indian restaurant from one of India's most famous chefs has opened in Irving. Called Vishnuji Ki Rasoi, it's part of an international concept and is located in Irving, at 2427 W. Airport Fwy. This location opened in April and is the first in Texas.

3. Opulent Texas hotel and spa shine with prestigious double 5-star rating. The luxe Post Oak Hotel in Houston has five shimmering reasons to celebrate, as it has received the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. The new accolade makes the Post Oak Texas’ only Double Five-Star rated hotel and spa, and Houston’s first and only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel.

4. Colorful chef finds cool East Dallas niche for personal new restaurant. A talented Dallas chef has found a new place to weave his culinary magic. The chef is Ross Demers and his new restaurant is called Cry Wolf, located at 4422 Gaston Ave., in a former Subway. Construction is underway with an opening slated for late 2020.

5. Dallas ramen scene gets hot new Japan concept, Dosanko debuting in Plano. There's an exciting new international name in ramen coming to Dallas-Fort Worth: Dosanko, dubbed "the pioneer of Japanese ramen noodle," will open its first location in Texas in Plano, in one of the food stalls at the Mitsuwa Marketplace, tucked in next to the Kinokuniya bookstore.

A combo platter lets you taste a little of everything.

Yelp

A combo platter lets you taste a little of everything.

Pickleball News

Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

Ace

Pickleball paddles face off.

There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club

Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

“I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

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