This Week's Hot Headlines

New crystal lagoon makes a splash in this week's 5 hottest Dallas headlines

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. Central Texas' first crystal lagoon dives in as part of $1 billion mixed-use development. A massive new development is underway in Central Texas, promising retail, restaurants, entertainment, a hotel, office and residential space, and 4-acre crystalline lagoon. Leander Springs will be located on the southwest corner of FM 2243 and 183A, about 25 miles north of downtown Austin.

2. Italian steakhouse with handmade pastas makes Dallas debut at The Colony. Opening day finally came for Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, the Boston-based concept from charismatic chef and restaurateur Steve DiFillippo, which made its Texas debut in The Colony at Grandscape. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening on November 5, and is now open for lunch, brunch, and dinner.

3. Don't take I-30 to Fort Worth this weekend unless you absolutely have to. If you're thinking about heading to Fort Worth this weekend via I-30, maybe think twice: The Texas Department of Transportation will be closing I-30, both east and westbound lanes, to do major construction on a bridge. The span affected will be from FM 157/Collins Street to SH 161/President George Bush Turnpike. The closure will last from 7 pm Friday, November 6 to 7 am Sunday, November 8. Drivers should expect big delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

4. Dallas County sees big blue turnout for 2020 presidential election. The 2020 presidential election on November 3 didn't see Texas "turn blue" as some polls predicted — but Dallas County showed big support for the Democratic candidate at the polls, giving Joe Biden a big lead over President Donald Trump. In Dallas County, Biden beat Trump by nearly 2 to 1, with 596,337 votes for Biden versus 306,069 for Trump, according to the Dallas County election website.

5. New wave of coffee shops in Dallas is enough to perk you up. Coffee is one cuisine that seems to have suffered less drastically from the effects of the coronavirus. We all need our coffee, and there's no substitution for a barista's skills. Here is a list of new coffee spots that have recently opened, plus some news about beloved coffee spots, and a few more that are "coming soon."

Tagliatelle Bolognese at Davio's in The Colony.

Photo courtesy of Davio's

Tagliatelle Bolognese at Davio's in The Colony.

openings vacation coffee transportation politics hot-headlines

Deep Ellum News

Longtime Mexican restaurant in Deep Ellum closes, breastaurant on the way

Maracas

Taquitos, rice, beans, yes.

A longtime Mexican restaurant in Deep Ellum is closing: Maracas Cocina Mexicana, which has been in business at 2914 Main St. in one form or another since 1992, will close this weekend, to be replaced with another concept whose identity is still to be (officially) announced.

The restaurant is going out with a goodbye party on November 25, at 5 pm, with a DJ and its signature cheap drinks.

They've already started clearing out equipment and this will be their final weekend. A spokesperson said that current owner Enriqueta "Queta" Herrera, who also owns a number of Mexican sandwich shops around DFW, is doing a rebranding.

"It's re-opening as a breastaurant, and the menu will be more focused on Mexican seafood," the spokesperson said.

The new name will be La Toxica Mariscos Y Micheladas, and will be a Mexican style breastaurant in the same tradition as Las Flamas Mexican Kitchen, the sports bar at US-75 and Spring Valley, and even the Ojo Locos chain.

Maracas' long history began in 1992 when it was was founded as Monica's Aca Y Alla, named for founder and veteran restaurateur Monica Greene, who opened it on what was then the eastern, rather sleepy edge of Deep Ellum. (Actually, it was originally Eduardo's Aca Y Alla, founded prior to Monica's transgender transformation in 1993.)

By 2012, Greene became restless after 20 years with what she perceived as sluggish development in the neighborhood — a sad irony since it began to blow up just a couple of years later.

She handed over the reins to managers Jose Sanchez and Angel Borjas, who kept much of what it had been — cheap and affordable Tex-Mex, a laid-back party atmosphere — and rebranded it as Maracas. Herrera came on board in 2014.

At 30 years, the restaurant is easily one of the longest running in Deep Ellum. When it opened, it was part of a minority of restaurants in a neighborhood dominated by live music clubs, which have shrunk in number and are now the minority instead.

Some of the employees have worked there for decades, and are reportedly being given the option to work at Herrera's other establishments.

The Friday night party will be $15 at the door, which gets you appetizers. Otherwise, patrons can order of the menu. House margaritas will be $4.50 and beers will be $5.

The restaurant will be be open as Maracas for the remainder of the weekend, including brunch: from 11 am-11 pm Saturday and 11 am-9 pm on Sunday.

"It's been a watering hole for many of us for so many years!" says Kendell Liptrap, a regular.

deep-ellum closings

Holiday News

Where to eat on Christmas 2022 at Dallas restaurants

WallpapersWala.com

Here’s all the info you need on holiday dining.

It seems impossible to fathom but we've reached that point where we are starting to think about Christmas, and restaurants are already cooking up options, whether you're looking to dine out or grab something to take home.

This list has a little bit of everything: places that are open on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, or places doing take-out only. As the holiday draws nearer, the list will surely grow, so check back for updates, which we'll make as they come in.

Here's our list of Christmas dining options:

Dive Coastal Cuisine. To-go items include mini potato latkes, bruschetta ciabatta crostinis, charcuterie, chicken, beef tenderloin, whipped or whole sweet potatoes, holiday everything salad, and whole key lime pie. Order by December 21. 214-891-1700. Closed Christmas Day.

Dolce Riviera. Special edition Feast of the Seven Fishes menu. $85. December 19–December 24. 469-458-6623. Closed Christmas Day.

Mercat Bistro. Christmas Day brunch with festive 3-course menu. $68. Make reservations to sit in the restaurant’s famous Polar Bear section. 10 am–3 pm. 214-953-0917.

Magnolias Sous Le Pont. Open Christmas Day morning with winter themed beverages including Toffee Crunch Affogato, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and frozen peppermint mocha. 469-249-9222.

Postino WineCafe. Family-size to-go menu feeds up to 15, including two starters, bruschetta platter, and salad. Add-ons are available for an additional cost. $285, Order by December 23. 972-210-2102. Closed Christmas Day.

Tacodeli. Chile En Nogada and Spiked Horchata, available for dine-in or to-go.Available through December 23. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. West Dallas – 214-760-1930; The Hill – 214-206-8980; Park & Preston (Plano) – 972-200-5101; Parkwood (Plano) – 214-997-6047.

TJ’s Seafood Market. Holiday to-go menu includes holiday platters, shrimp, smoked salmon, oysters, and gumbo. Order by December 23 for pickup December 24. Preston Royal – 214-691-2369; Oak Lawn – 214-219-3474.

SusieCakes. Christmas desserts include chocolate candy cane cake, holiday cupcakes, cupcakes, frosted sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and decorating kits. Order by December 24. Preston Center – 214-983-2253; Hillside – 945-245-2253. Closed Christmas Day.

Ten50 BBQ. To-go smoked meats, sides, and desserts. Order by December 21. 1-855-QUE-1050 or email catering@ten50bbq.com. Closed Christmas Day.

City Hall Bistro. Restaurant at the Adolphus has a three-course menu featuring squash & kale salad, honey baked ham, cornbread dressing, candied yams, pumpkin pie, and Texas praline crunch brownie. Additional items are available for an extra cost including prime rib and salmon. 12–8 pm. $70. 214-651-3686.

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Bon Voyage

Texas chef invites foodies to explore Europe on guided culinary adventures in 2023

Courtesy of Tim the Girl

Chef Tim McDiarmid is hosting two curated trips through Europe in summer 2023.

Good news for Texans who have been enviously binge-watching From Scratch and other food shows lately: One of San Antonio's best chefs is inviting locals along on a delicious, food-filled adventure through Europe next year. Founder of The Good Kind Hospitality Group (which includes Tim the Girl Catering, The Good Kind restaurant, and the Ivy Hall Events venue), chef Tim McDiarmid is hosting two curated trips in summer 2023.

Born in British Columbia, the award-winning chef is a James Beard Fellow (2019) and former Chopped competitor got her start in New York City, where she worked in restaurants for over 20 years before moving with her son to San Antonio in 2011. As a single mother in need of a flexible schedule, she founded Tim the Girl Catering that same year.

In 2017, McDiarmid opened her first retail outpost, The Good Kind, in the Historic Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall. She went on to open a second Good Kind location in 2018 and took over the management of Ivy Hall Events venue space in the King William district before closing the Pearl location of the Good Kind in 2020. In 2019, she was selected as a James Beard Fellow for the James Beard Foundation's Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program.

Along the way, McDiarmid has guided numerous groups through Italy in collaboration with a travel company, ItalianFix, which organizes tours for those seeking to experience a place, rather than just pass through. McDiarmid is the perfect guide for these adventures, weaving her culinary and hospitality experience into a highly curated itinerary. In turn, she pulls from her travels as inspiration for her catering company and restaurants back home in San Antonio.

In 2023, McDiarmid will host two trips. The first will be a woman-only getaway to the The Cinque Terre, exploring picturesque seaside villages along the Italian Riviera for eight days and seven nights between June 24 and July 1, 2023. The second is open to all adults and spans three countries, traveling through the the Italian & French Rivieras for nine day and eight nights from July 3 to July 11, 2023.

Reservations for these one-of-a-kind trips are open, and payment plans are available after a small initial deposit. Space is limited, so interested travelers should scurry over to italianfix.com to sign up and start planning for the adventure of a lifetime.

chefs vacation

This Week's Hot Headlines

New crystal lagoon makes a splash in this week's 5 hottest Dallas headlines

Tagliatelle Bolognese at Davio's in The Colony.

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquires award-winning California resort

Affluent Dallas suburb leads list of lavish holiday spending budgets in U.S.

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Deep Ellum News

Longtime Mexican restaurant in Deep Ellum closes, breastaurant on the way

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquires award-winning California resort

Affluent Dallas suburb leads list of lavish holiday spending budgets in U.S.

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Holiday News

Where to eat on Christmas 2022 at Dallas restaurants

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquires award-winning California resort

Affluent Dallas suburb leads list of lavish holiday spending budgets in U.S.

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Bon Voyage

Texas chef invites foodies to explore Europe on guided culinary adventures in 2023

Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquires award-winning California resort

Affluent Dallas suburb leads list of lavish holiday spending budgets in U.S.

These are the 9 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This Week's Hot Headlines

Tagliatelle Bolognese at Davio's in The Colony.

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Deep Ellum News

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Holiday News

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Bon Voyage

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