This Week's Hot Headlines

New downtown Dallas district tops this week's most popular 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. Downtown Dallas veteran buys up land for massive planned district. A veteran player in downtown Dallas has plans to create an urban development extending more than 20 acres that would include offices, residential, retail, and restaurants. Called Dallas Smart District, the development is located on several prime blocks near Dallas City Hall.

2. Dallas' most colorful art auction and gala draws more than $7 million. It was only fitting that Dallas' most artful benefit take place in a setting that was, itself, a work of art. More than 500 patrons gathered inside a stunning 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome at the Rachofsky house for the 2017 Two x Two for AIDS and Art benefit dinner and contemporary art auction.

3. Exciting new bakery-cafe with crusty breads rises in downtown Dallas. One of downtown Dallas' most exciting concepts is ready to pop from the oven: Commissary, the bakery and butcher shop from Joule Dallas hotel owner Tim Headington, will open on November 6, and will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

4. New family Mexican restaurant plays the only game in town for Frisco. A new family-run and family-owned Mexican restaurant is coming to Frisco, with some quintessential combination plates but also some unique specialties. Vakeroz Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is from husband and wife David and Kelli Dickey, who are opening their first restaurant.

5. New boutique hotel opening in Uptown Dallas piles up the perks. There's a new boutique hotel coming to Uptown Dallas that'll channel the art and spirit of the neighborhood. Opening at 2950 Cityplace W. Blvd., Canopy Dallas | Uptown is being developed by Canopy by Hilton and The Javelin Group, and is part of a new chain by Hilton hotels.

Armie Hammer, Melissa Ireland, Howard Rachofky, Cindy Rachofsky, Nasiba Hardland-Mackie, and Thomas Hartland-Mackie at Two x Two.

Armie Hammer, Melissa Ireland, Howard Rachofsky, Cindy Rachofsky, Nasiba Hartland-Mackie, Thomas Hartland-Mackie, Two x Two 2017

Photo by Kevin Tachman

Armie Hammer, Melissa Ireland, Howard Rachofky, Cindy Rachofsky, Nasiba Hardland-Mackie, and Thomas Hartland-Mackie at Two x Two.

hot-headlines

This Week's Hot Headlines

Dallas neighbor blooms as the best place to live and more top stories

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Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week begins with a big accolade for an area city. Plus, a massive mixed-use development is on its way to McKinney, and we introduce you to the Tastemaker Awards nominees for Dallas Bar of the Year. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then visit our event planner for weekend fun.

1. Dallas-Fort Worth suburb blooms as No. 1 best place to live in U.S. One Dallas-area city took the top slot on a new list of "the 100 Best Places to Live in 2025." The list — from relocation marketing platform Livability.com — put Flower Mound at No. 1 for its appealing size and affordability.

2. Massive mixed-use development coming to key intersection in McKinney. McKinney is getting a new $1.3 billion mixed-use development. Called Long Branch, it will be a 155-acre project at the northwest corner of US-75 and the future 380 bypass, consisting of housing, retail, office, grocery, and hospitality.

Long Branch McKinney Long Branch development planned for McKinney Rendering courtesy of Creation

3. 10 best bars in Dallas for 2025 craft cocktails and community. It's time to toast the 2025 Bar of the Year nominees in our annual Tastemaker Awards. The list includes new and not-so-new bars, ranging from a subterranean lounge to a bar perched high in a downtown hotel.

4. 6 Dallas bars unveil new on-trend cocktail menus for spring 2025. Dallas restaurants regularly roll out menus these days that follow the season, keeping things fresh by taking advantage of whatever's being harvested. But bars are getting in on the action, too, unfurling creative drink menus that make the most of seasonal ingredients and flavor trends.

5. Wildlife authorities now find avian flu in mammals in Texas Panhandle. The avian flu creeps closer and closer: According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), recent testing has detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in mammal species in Texas including foxes, raccoons, striped skunks, and domestic cats located in the Texas panhandle.