Get Your Calendar Out

Uptown Dallas Inc. maps out your year with roster of exciting events

Let's Talk Uptown discusses important local issues.

Photo courtesy of Uptown Dallas, Inc.

Looking to try something fun and new in 2019? Uptown Dallas Inc. has a whole list of events designed to bring Dallasites together, so start making plans now about which ones you'll want to attend.

It all starts with the Let's Talk Uptown series, which brings together a panel of experts to share their ideas with residents and business leaders on trends and major topics of the neighborhood. Upcoming topics include:

The Future (February 19), held at Canopy by Hilton. Tickets are $5, click here to register
Public safety (May 21)
Education (August 20)
Designing a District (November 12)

Meeting times are 8:30-10:30 am and tickets are limited, so get them early by following Uptown Dallas Inc. on social media or online. Be sure to also sign up for the e-newsletter.

Networking happy hours are also on the agenda; everyone is welcome and the events are free of charge. Each registered guest gets a free drink along with hearty appetizers. Upcoming happy hours are:

February 28, 5:30-7:30 pm at City Council Bar
May 30 (location still to be determined)
August 29 at Katy Trail Ice House
November 21 (location still to be determined)

If art and culture celebrations are more your style, UDI has four crowd-pleasing Pop of Culture Pop-Ups that highlight everything from painting in the park to gallery happy hours and live music in the streets. The first event is March 9 in Griggs Park, where a guided artist will instruct as you create your own piece of art. On June 13 at Bivins Gallery, you'll experience the gallery and meet the brains behind its curation. Keep an eye out for additional dates and events to come.

Movies at Griggs Park returns with family friendly showings of popular films. Be sure to follow Uptown Dallas on Instagram so you can vote for your favorite flick. Movies are free and open to the public, so pack the lawn chairs and picnic baskets (but save some space for the delicious free popcorn). Movie dates are currently set for dusk on June 21 (8 pm) and December 6 (6:30 pm).

The most anticipated event of the year is Uptown Dallas Inc.'s fourth annual Block Party in Griggs Park. On October 10, a popular live band will take the stage for a night of music and fun. UDI has partnered with Community Beer Company so that each guest 21-and-up will get two free beers. Mark your calendars and get ready to party this fall.

For a full list of events in the Uptown district, go to uptowndallas.net/events.

happy-hours movies promoted

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics