This Week's Hot Headlines

Dallas' worst freeway parks atop this week's 5 most popular stories

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines.

1. Freeway by downtown Dallas parks on list of the 15 worst in the U.S. Dallas' Interstate 345 has made a list of the 15 worst freeways in the U.S. Go Dallas. The list is from "Freeways Without Futures 2021," a report by the Congress For the New Urbanism (CNU), a Washington, DC-based organization whose mission is to champion walkable urbanism.

2. American Airlines romances DFW with new nonstop flights to tropical honeymoon paradise. In time for summer wedding season, American Airlines is lifting the veil on its first-ever nonstop flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to the romantic Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. The inaugural American Airlines A321 service will start June 5, departing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on Saturdays through August 14.

3. Holy Cow, this new Dallas burger joint and bar in Deep Ellum sounds good. A new restaurant has opened in Deep Ellum with a thing for burgers. Called Holy Cow! Burger Club, it's a burger spot and bar newly opened at 2711 Elm St., in the space occupied by the bar On Premise.

4. 5 adults-only getaways around Texas for a blissful post-COVID ‘vacci-cation.’ If 2020 was the summer of staycations, 2021 is the summer of “vacci-cations.” You’re now Pfizered-up, Moderna-pumped, and J&J-prepped for some R&R away. Leave your corona troubles behind, grab a travel buddy, and hit the road for a grown-up getaway to one of these dreamy destinations — no kids allowed.

5. Plano takes off with new No. 1 ranking for best parks in Texas. Plano may be the home of dozens of corporate headquarters, but it’s also the park headquarters of Texas. The Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore index, released May 27, ranks Plano’s park system as the 15th best in the U.S. and the best in Texas.

There's been steady talk of tearing it down.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Mann

There's been steady talk of tearing it down.

Yay Sports

CultureMap’s Tailgate scores big with Dallas foodies + sports fans

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Fans showed up supporting all Texas teams.

It was sports heaven at The Empire Room on Monday, December 9, when fans of food, fun, and football gathered for the second edition of CultureMap's Tailgate party, presented by Verizon.

Absolutely perfect weather greeted guests at the indoor-outdoor event, as did the Frisco RoughRiders' mascot, Bull Moose, and excellent tunes from DJ Paiin.

CultureMap Dallas Tailgate 2024 Cowboys fans were out in full force.Photo by Ashley Gongora

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Fans showed up supporting all Texas teams.

Many wore Dallas Cowboys jerseys in support of the Monday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns, which was projected onto two walls of the venue. Mavericks, Rangers, and even a few-out-of-state jerseys cemented that Dallas fans are serious about sports.

Courtesy of presenting sponsor Verizon, VIP admission gave guests access to a special meet-and-greet with former Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek as part of its On the Road to the Super Bowl promotion. Former Texas Rangers legend Rafael Palmeiro also posed for photos with VIP fans and joined Novacek in signing autographs to kick off the evening.

Guests were also able to register for an exciting chance to win a VIP trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans*. And if you missed your chance, don't worry. There's still time to enter now.

CultureMap Dallas Tailgate 2024 Tailgating is all about the food.Photo by Ashley Gongora

Of course, no tailgate is complete without delicious food. Guests gobbled up generous samples from some of Dallas' favorite restaurants, including:

Smash Burger Pizza from Cenzo's Pizza & Deli
Buffalo shrimp and blue cheese grits from McRae's American Bistro & Cocktails
Sweet n' spicy bruschetta from Postino
Pulled pork banh mi from JW Marriott Arts District
Bulgogi Ssam (marinated ribeye lettuce wraps) from JOA Grill
A variety of mini sandwiches from Corner Bakery
Mexican shrimp cocktail and poblano cream soup from Anaya's Seafood
Game Time venison roll-ups from Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
Smoke Signal sliders from Scout at the Statler Hotel
Pastrami and pimento cheese sandwiches from Empire Baking Company
Baked mezze rigatoni urbano from Will Salisbury
The Original ChopShop's Kickoff with Coconut Chia Pudding and Huddle for Hummus with tortilla strips and veggies
Blueberry cheesecake and tiramisu tartlets from La Rêve Gelato & Pâtisserie

With virtually no wait time for drinks, the bars served up signature cocktails by Tequila 512 (the Touchdown Margarita and Mexican Mule Rusher) and Jim Beam Black (the BBG and Rackhouse Black) and beer from EIGHT, along with THC seltzers from Howdy.

CultureMap Dallas Tailgate 2024 An array of beverages ensured guests had fun all night.Photo by Ashley Gongora

McRae's American Bistro scored as attendees' favorite dish of the night. Angry Dog beat out 15 other competitors in a bracket-style tournament to take home the title as winner of the Ultimate Wing Showdown. It was a busy week for Angry Dog — the eatery was also rumored to be one of the locations recently filmed for Guy Fieri's popular TV show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.

CultureMap Dallas Tailgate 2024 Buffalo shrimp and blue cheese grits from McRae's American Bistro & Cocktails won the best dish of the night.Photo by Ashley Gongora

Local sports organizations were well represented, with the 2023 World Champion Texas Rangers raffling off an autographed baseball and the Frisco RoughRiders delighting guests with a prize wheel offering T-shirts, drawstring bags, and Evan Carter and Josh Jung baseball cards. An array of autographed photos, helmets, jerseys, and other memorabilia were also up for grabs in the silent auction.

CultureMap Dallas Tailgate 2024 The silent auction inspired competitive bidding.Photo by Ashley Gongora

Even though the Cowboys didn't win their game that night, fans still had such a good time that a spontaneous dance party broke out. At least someone got to do a victory dance!

---

The Tailgate was presented by Verizon and sponsored by HOWDY, Eight Beer, Jim Beam Black, 512 Tequila, and PicMe Events.

*The NFL Entities shall have no liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in this sweepstakes or any prize awarded. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored this sweepstakes in any way.

sports celebrities contests wings tailgate