Give and Receive

Toyota Music Factory will reward you for giving generously this year

This holiday season, Toyota Music Factory is helping Irving families-in-need with a donation drive that's built around the idea of "give a gift, get a gift."

Beginning now through December 15, anyone who donates nonperishable food items, unwrapped toys, or monetary gifts at the Toyota Music Factory locations of Bar Louie, Thirsty Lion, and Freshii will receive their own reward from that participating restaurant.

"We're proud to give back to the Irving community by teaming up with the Irving Police and Fire Department for their annual Blue Christmas toy and food drive," says Noah Lazes, president of TMF developer, the ARK Group. "We are beginning our own tradition too, with the inaugural 'give a gift, get a gift,' program. Patrons of Bar Louie, Thirsty Lion and Freshii at the Toyota Music Factory will not only have the opportunity to make a difference in a local family's life, but also receive a special 'thank you' from one of the three restaurants."

The Blue Christmas Organization provides food, toys, and holiday joy to children residing in Irving that otherwise would have little to no holiday celebration. Generously donated by local businesses and citizens throughout the community, new toys and meals for families are delivered by the Irving Police and Fire Departments.

Developed by the ARK Group, the Toyota Music Factory is a $200-million, 16.7-acre, 453,000-square-foot, mixed-use entertainment and lifestyle complex located in the Las Colinas Urban Center. It is the newest all-in-one entertainment and dining destination for DFW residents and visitors alike, and is expected to draw some 2.5 million guests a year.

Each patrons who brings a donation to Bar Louie, Thirsty Lion, or Freshii will receive a gift from that restaurant in return.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Music Factory

Each patrons who brings a donation to Bar Louie, Thirsty Lion, or Freshii will receive a gift from that restaurant in return.

holidays charity 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.

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