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New do-it-yourself craft spot opens in Frisco with option to BYOB

Houston, CultureMap Charity Challenge Winner, Homemade Hope, 2017, making crafts

The opportunities to get crafty around DFW keep growing.

Courtesy photo

A new crafts place with booze has come to town, this time in Frisco.

Called Pinspiration, it's a Phoenix-based chain that lets you make crafty projects, but with a social media twist: It rotates in an ever-changing menu of projects that it culls from craft project trends it finds on social media.

Beyond the current/fresh/trendiness aspect, it's also BYOB.

The Frisco studio is located in Starwood Village, a shopping center at 6363 Dallas Pkwy., #108. This is the second location in Texas — the first is in Richmond, and there are currently seven locations total including outlets in Alabama and Florida — but a release says that there are 10 more Texas locations in the works. So much craftiness to come.

Credit goes to Pinot's Palette, the Houston-based chain where you drink wine and paint a painting, for helping start this trend. In December, a similar concept from Colorado combining crafts and cocktails called Upstairs Circus opened in Deep Ellum, although they are not specifically BYOB. That is Pinspiration's special sauce.

At Pinspiration, the projects menu includes dozen of options that change according to trends, holidays, and seasons. Everyone can select their own medium and create on their own schedule.

Once you've made your choice, staffers deliver a tutorial and pre-assembled project kit along with supplies, tools, and materials.

Pinspiration Frisco is BYOB, meaning that customers can bring their own wine or beer.

The facility includes a party room as well as a Jackson Pollock-inspired splatter room where customers suit up in paper painter suits to sling paint at canvases and each other to create a messy masterpiece.

Local owners are Angela and Justin Varney, who are big believers in community and creativity.

"This day and age, there is a ton of online connection but not a lot of face to face interaction and here at Pinspiration, we can bring everyone together in a supportive, playful venue to bond, create and make a mess they don’t have to clean up," Angela says in a statement.

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Rolling a strike

High 5 Exchange bowling and entertainment mega-center rolls into Allen

Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

The High 5 Exchange in Austin has bowling galore.

A new family entertainment destination is rolling into Allen, bringing bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, virtual reality, and more. Called High 5 Exchange, the venue has broken ground at 2361 Quail Covey Rd. in The Farm in Allen.

It is expected to open in 2027, according to a release.

High 5 Exchange comes from a family entertainment company founded by husband-and-wife team Scott and Jenny Emley. They opened the first location in the Lakeway area of Austin more than a decade ago; a second Austin location followed a few years later.

Their roots are in Austin - Scott Emley played football for UT Austin - but the couple recently relocated to McKinney. There's also a location under construction in Mansfield.

The entertainment mega-center in Allen will combine indoor and outdoor attractions, dining, and rooms for parties and other group events.

Tasty-looking tacos at High 5 in Austin.Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

Bowling will be the major draw, with 24 lanes supplied by QubicaAMF. The lineup will include 16 traditional tenpin lanes equipped with EDGE String pinspotters, HyperBowling, and Neoverse, along with eight Fly'n Ducks duckpin lanes, the release says. The combination will give guests the choice between traditional full-length bowling and duckpin bowling, which uses a smaller ball.

"Bowling has a unique ability to bring different generations, interests and skill levels together," said Jody Pastula, director of new business development, U.S., for QubicaAMF, in a statement. "By offering both tenpin and Fly'n Ducks duckpin bowling, High 5 Allen is creating more ways for guests to participate and share the experience. We are pleased to be part of a project designed around connection, variety and repeat visits."

Beyond bowling, High 5 Allen will feature laser tag, a virtual reality arena, an arcade gaming floor, escape rooms, an immersive experience from Creative Works called "Limitless," and outdoor miniature golf. The venue will also have dedicated spaces for birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and private events, along with food and beverage service.

While details on the food and beverage program have not yet been announced, the Austin locations feature a full-service bar and a menu of "American classics with a gourmet twist."

High 5 Exchange Allen Rendering of High 5 Exchange at The Farm in Allen.Rendering courtesy of High 5 Exchange

High 5 Exchange will be part of The Farm in Allen, a 135-acre mixed-use development at the southeast corner of the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Alma Drive. Developed by Allen-based JaRyCo Development in partnership with the Johnson family, The Farm combines residential, office, dining, retail, and entertainment components.

"Allen and the surrounding communities have been part of our vision for this project from the beginning," said Scott Emley, co-founder and CEO of High 5 Exchange, in a statement. "The Farm brings together homes, workplaces, parks, dining and entertainment in a way that fits how people want to connect.

"We are excited to create a place where a family can spend an afternoon, coworkers can gather after work, and friends can celebrate the moments that matter."

entertainment and dining bowling allen