Football Season Fun

No matter who wins the TX-OU game, everyone scores big at The Shops at Park Lane

Get ready, fans: “Football Christmas” is coming. For one glorious weekend each year, Dallas practically vibrates with excitement and energy, thanks to the pride and passion of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners, who face off in their historic football rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. This year’s showdown is set for October 11, and we’ve got the inside scoop on how to make the most of it at The Shops at Park Lane (no matter which team you’re cheering for).

Stylish Scores
Call us superstitious, but we think a new game day outfit is just the good luck charm your team needs. Located just across I-75 from NorthPark Center, The Shops at Park Lane specializes in “smart luxury,” and it is just the place for scoring designer game day duds on a budget at names like Nordstrom Rack, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Bloomingdale’s The Outlet, and Old Navy.

Tip: Rumor has it that these outlets receive the best merch in the area, so they’re a must-see. A pair of $150 Joe’s jean shorts for only $29.99? Yeah, they’ve got ’em. Burberry shades in crimson and Marc by Marc Jacobs sunnies in burnt orange for under $100? Check and check.

If your game day style is more traditional, Dick’s Sporting Goods helps you represent with jerseys, caps and more. For more game day style ideas and inspiration, check out The Shops at Park Lane’s TX/OU Pinterest board.

Express Service
Seasoned TX/OU fans know that parking at the Cotton Bowl is a beast on game day. So if you scored tickets to the main event, skip the hassle and park for free at The Shops at Park Lane and hop on the DART rail at the Park Lane Station to head down to Fair Park. DART has done all the work for you; click here for details.

Set the Scene
For fans who will be watching the game at home, load up on all the snacks and sips you need at Whole Foods. Tasty options abound, from grab-and-go wings and freshly made guacamole and salsa to a staggering local and global beer selection; plus, Whole Foods even offers personal shopping. Tip: Mention this page on its website, and your first personal shopping experience is free.

If your buffet set-up leaves something to be desired, hop over to HomeGoods for pitchers, chip-and-dip platters, serving plates and more.

We’ll Toast to That
Don’t have tickets to the game? Grab a seat at one of the hot spots equipped with a gazillion TV screens that are sure to be tuned to the big game. Gordon Biersch brews its own German-style beer and is known for its signature garlic fries. Tip: Go ahead and get an extra order for the table, because they won’t last long.

Grimaldi’s Pizza serves up an authentic slice of Brooklyn, and Bowl & Barrel is the place to watch the game and enjoy a round of bowling. Yes, The Shops at Park Lane is the perfect place to indulge in stylish fun, and to raise your glass in praise of the winning coach’s Gatorade shower.

About The Shops at Park Lane
The Shops at Park Lane is a 33.5-acre mixed-use development in the heart of midtown Dallas. The property is the city’s premier destination for designer fashion and home décor at surprising values. Additionally, it serves up a unique mix of restaurants and entertainment venues, making The Shops at Park Lane the ultimate Dallas destination for smart luxury and stylish fun. Visit The Shops at Park Lane website, and follow it on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Burnt orange and crimson game day looks abound at The Shops at Park Lane. Models pictured in finds from Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off 5th.

TX-OU fans at DART station at Shops at Park Lane

Photo courtesy of Shops at Park Lane

Burnt orange and crimson game day looks abound at The Shops at Park Lane. Models pictured in finds from Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off 5th.

unspecified promoted series554589784

family values

Dallas sees Texas' biggest one-year jump in cost of raising kids

Courtesy of SmartAsset/iStock

Raising a child in Dallas will cost parents over $23,000 this year.

Raising a child is not an easy or inexpensive feat, and a new study has determined Dallas parents are saddled with the second-highest costs for childrearing in Texas, with expenses jumping higher than any other metro statewide since 2025.

SmartAsset's latest report, "Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2026 Study," calculated year-over-year changes in the annual cost of raising a child (factoring in childcare, additional housing costs, food, transportation, medical costs and other necessities) in the 48 largest U.S. metro areas. MIT's Living Wage Calculator was used to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults.

Childrearing costs in Dallas-Fort Worth have grown 4.5 percent since last year, totaling $23,340 for a family of three in 2026. That's over $1,000 more than what it took to raise a child in 2025, and it's $1,414 higher than what it took in 2024.

This is how SmartAsset broke down the cost for raising a child in Dallas:

Cost of childcare: $10,736
Cost of food: $1,826
Other expenses: $10,778

Though Dallas has the second-steepest costs for raising a child in Texas, the metro is actually much more affordable than most other places in the U.S.: DFW ranked 39th in SmartAsset's national list of cities with the highest childrearing costs in 2026, making it the 10th most affordable U.S. metro for raising a family.

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California topped the list with the highest childrearing costs in the U.S., at $43,171. The cost for raising a child in this California metro soared nearly 11 percent higher since last year.

Memphis, Tennessee ranked dead last as the most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child in 2026. Families will spend less than $20,000 to raise a child in Memphis, only 3.24 percent more than what was needed in 2025.

Raising a child in other Texas metros
It may come as no surprise that Austin is the most expensive place to raise a child in Texas, and it appeared as the 31st most expensive U.S. metro for families. Parents will spend nearly $25,000 to raise a child in the state's capital city, which is $703 higher than it was a year ago.

Meanwhile, San Antonio-New Braunfels is the most affordable metro in the Lone Star State for raising a family, and it's the third-most affordable place for raising a child nationwide. San Antonio parents will spend $21,393, or $448 more than last year, on their childrearing costs.

Houston also ranked among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a child, landing in 7th place nationally, with childrearing costs adding up to $22,605 in 2026. That's only $737 more than last year.

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a child in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee ($19,922)
No. 2 – Nashville, Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee ($21,216)
No. 3 – San Antonio-New Braunfels ($21,393)
No. 4 – Birmingham, Alabama ($21,684)
No. 5 – Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Virginia ($22,314)
No. 6 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia ($22,470)
No. 7 – Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ($22,605)
No. 8 – Richmond, Virginia ($22,658)
No. 9 – Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky ($23,270)
No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($23,340)

family dallas fort worth arlington smartasset reports livability