So Much To Say

Sizzling hot Dallas storytelling series Oral Fixation is on the move

With a name like Oral Fixation, it's easy to turn heads. But Dallas' live storytelling series is doing more than that: It's selling out shows.

Founded by Nicole Stewart and husband Anton Schlesinger in 2011, Oral Fixation is coming off a wildly successful third season. And the show has big plans for the future. After consistently selling out its new space at the Wyly Theatre, Oral Fixation has set its sights on a second show in the suburbs.

"If we get a good response to the show, that will certainly encourage us to do this more frequently," says founder Nicole Stewart.

To test the waters, Oral Fixation will host its "Best of Season 3" show at the Wyly on September 15 and WaterTower Theatre in Addison on September 16. The very same cast, which was voted on by fans, will deliver their true-life stories on back-to-back nights for the first time in Oral Fixation's history.

"If we get a good response to the show, that will certainly encourage us to do this more frequently," Stewart says.

As far as selecting Addison for the inaugural encore performance, Stewart says the decision was predicated on feedback from commuters who wanted the show to be earlier in the day so they wouldn't have to go back and forth from downtown to the suburbs.

"We decided to meet them halfway — literally," she says. "Addison is an extremely happening place right now with great food and nightlife. I'm excited to offer this new opportunity to people in North Dallas."

Stewart is also open to the idea of expanding even further into the depths of DFW, with possible venues in Oak Cliff and Fort Worth. "If what we are hearing is true, then there are different audiences in these neighborhoods, and if the demand is there, we are happy to meet it," she says.

The fourth season will start October 13; just five days later, Oral Fixation storytellers from "Best of Season 3" will perform as part of the Dallas VideoFest at the Angelika Film Center. Under the direction of Bart Weiss, each storyteller has been partnered with an independent filmmaker to create an original video that will play during a reading on October 18.

It's another first for the 3-year-old storytelling show, one Stewart is particularly excited — and nervous — about. "It's a little nerve-wracking for me because I won't have any control over the product," she says. "But Bart has a great understanding about how video can support storytelling."

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Tickets for the September 15 and 16 Oral Fixation performances are $25 and can be purchased online or in person at the box offices for AT&T Performing Arts Center and WaterTower Theatre.

Oral Fixation begins its fourth season in October.

Oral Fixation cast

Photo courtesy of Oral Fixation

Oral Fixation begins its fourth season in October.

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Cool Deep Ellum shop named one of America’s best indie bookstores

Deep Vellum Books, independent bookstores in Dallas

Deep Vellum Books/Facebook

Dallas' Deep Vellum Bookstore claimed bragging rights as one of the 20 best independent bookstores in America

Dallas' Deep Vellum Bookstore is claiming new bragging rights as one of the 20 best independent bookstores in America, according to a new guide from Condé Nast Traveler.

The list was published in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day on April 25 — but every day can be Indie Bookstore Day when you're supporting your local shop rather than a national chain like Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Indie bookstores and physical media have been having a much needed renaissance in today's digital (and AI slop-filled) era. More than 400 new bookshops opened in 2025 alone, the American Booksellers Association reported, and local bookstores are welcome third spaces for many literature loving individuals.

Deep Vellum won the title as the best indie bookstore in the Lone Star State, outshining several other popular Texas booksellers. Located at 3000 Commerce St. in Dallas' Deep Ellum neighborhood, Condé Nast said the bookshop serves as "one of the country’s premier translators of contemporary global literature."

"As esoteric as its collection may seem, the bookstore itself makes exploration approachable," wrote editorial assistant Kat Chen. "Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs."

Deep Vellum was founded by Will Evans in 2013 as a community-focused literary arts center and nonprofit publishing house for diverse international literature, as well as local Dallas writers. The bookstore soon followed in 2015, and operations have now expanded to five publishing imprints that produce half English-original works and half international literature.

This mighty bookshop and publishing house has long proved its staying power even after its federal funding was axed last year. In early April, the organization revealed it would launch its inaugural Deep Vellum Music and Literature Festival from July 10-12, 2026.

"Through literary readings, author panels, spoken word, live music performances, and community activations this festival will bring voices from across Texas and around the world," a press release said.

Until then, Condé Nast provided some recommended reading for Dallas bibliophiles that want to check out some (new-to-you) literary and psychological fiction: Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila (translated by Roland Glasser) and Miss MacIntosh, My Darling by Marguerite Young.

dallas indie bookstore deep ellum bookstores conde nast traveler

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