Opt for Optimism

Frost Bank bids high on community improvement at arty Dallas fundraiser

Frost Bank and CultureMap surprised attendees at the Bold Strokes art market and auction.

Courtesy photo

When the Dallas nonprofit Heart House joined forces with local artists and artisans for a market and silent auction, all to make an impact and give back to the community, Frost Bank and CultureMap knew that being involved was a must.

So we popped up at the Bold Strokes event on November 17 at Common Desk in Deep Ellum, ready to #frostitforward by spreading good vibes and big smiles.

Among masterpieces up for bidding and some 20-odd booths from such local social-impact vendors as Gaia Empowered Women, Carrie Song Art, and Symbology Clothing, we passed out $10 Frost cash cards and encouraged the recipients to pay it forward by using the money on someone else.

Since the 1990s, Heart Dallas has provided safety, education, and opportunity to refugee and underprivileged children, as well as interventions and support services to move students from a mindset of chaos to an oasis of calm.

This surprise visit to Bold Strokes, which you can take a peek at in the video above from WingedSun Productions, was the latest in a series of pop-ups that are helping Dallasites show generosity and spread optimism. It's all part of CultureMap's partnership with Frost Bank and in celebration of our comprehensive CultureMap Charity Guide, which is your one-stop destination for area nonprofits and charities.

CultureMap and Frost Bank will be hosting another round of pop-ups to close out 2018, surprising and delighting folks across the state. Want to know where we might show up next? Follow along on Instagram and Twitter for hints about our next stop.

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Fun times in the city

Dallas swings a spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S. for 2024

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Dallas just wants to have fun, according to WalletHub's new ranking of the most fun cities in America in 2024.

The annual report ranked Dallas No. 31 out of 182 U.S. cities.

WalletHub's experts compared each city using 65 metrics to determine their level of "fun." Metrics were split among three main categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost.

According to the study's findings, Dallas was 24th nationally in the category for nightlife and parties, and ranked No. 39 in the "entertainment and recreation" category. That may be especially alluring for anyone who wants to explore the city's vast entertainment opportunities (especially during the holiday season), family-friendly recreational activities, top dining destinations, and more. Plus, Dallas is home to entertainment juggernauts like the State Fair of Texas and TopGolf.

Dallas performed poorly in the overall cost category, earning No. 114 out of all 182 cities. However, this category mostly compares flat costs rather than affordability based on local cost of living.

Potential new Dallasites should do their research before deciding to move here, rather than basing their decision on short trips and vacations alone. But we won't blame them for wanting to live in one of the best cities in the world.

"The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo in the report.

Austin (No. 6) and Houston (No. 9) were the only Texas cities to earn a spot in the top 10 most fun U.S. cities list. Austin moved up one spot from last year, while Houston made a 10-place jump.

Other fun-filled Texas cities that made it in the top 100 are El Paso (No. 53), Fort Worth (No. 55), Plano (No. 78), Arlington (No. 79), and Corpus Christi (No. 99).

The top 10 most fun U.S. cities are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – New York City, New York

Cities were evaluated based on the number of attractions per capita, nightlife activities per capita, the average prices for eating at a restaurant or buying a movie ticket, and more. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Trust for Public Land, and the Council for Community and Economic Research, among others.

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