Sleigh the heat

These jolly Christmas in July events bring merriment to a miserable month in Dallas

Christmas in July, Santa summer, pool, reindeer

Even Santa's donning his summer skivvies.

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Baby, it's hellacious outside. As the summer scorcher goes on and on, let's rescue ourselves with visions of sugarplums, thoughts of frosty snowmen, and dreams of all things holiday.

These local "Christmas in July" events are here to bring joy and merriment to one long, sweaty month. After all, Christmas is just five months and some change away.

Santa Claus is coming to town, appearing at several places for photo opps. (Hello, Christmas card photos.) Don't worry — he's not requiring you to dig out your ugly sweaters, but an ugly T-shirt might just raise his spirits, too. Here are some holly jolly events and specials that'll get us jingling all the way ... at least until even-hotter August.

Christmas in July at Grandscape, July 21
Christmas in July comes early to the bustling shopping complex in The Colony, which hosts a festive event on the Grandscape Lawn from 5-8 pm Thursday, July 21. "Join Santa and Mrs. Claus as they take some time take time away from their summer vacation to meet with guests and take notes on everyone’s early Christmas wishes," they say. The event also will include a big wave surf inflatable and tropical water slide, airbrush tattoos, Jugo and Pappas Snow Cones snack pop-ups, and pictures with one of Santa’s reindeer. The event is free and family-friendly, and food and drinks will be available for purchase from individual food vendors, the buzziest of which is the Portillo's Beef Bus (details here).

Christmas in July at Lakewood Brewing, July 24
Santa will be donning his summer best for his first visit to this popular brewery's new-and-improved beer garden, and he wants guests to do the same. There'll be an "ugly T-shirt contest" with prizes for both humans and dogs. Even better, this Christmas in July shindig doubles as a beer release party. The brewery will pour its frosty new Hazelnut Temptress and Winter Warmer Ale releases. The Drifin' Outlaw Band will entertain from 12-3 pm, and summer tunes will continue until 5 pm, when the winners of the T-shirt contest are announced. There'll be food specials from the new kitchen and photo opps all day long, too.

Christmas in July at Dallas Arboretum, July 24
As the first big gift, admission to the Dallas Arboretum during the scorching month of July is just $5. (In the scorchier month of August, it's $3.) But on this particular Christmas in July Day, July 24, "Santa is taking a vacation away from the North Pole to visit the Dallas Arboretum," they say. From 11 am-2 pm, guests can get photos with Santa at the Wishing Well (free but donations accepted); at 11 am, Mrs. Claus will host Story Time at Pecan Grove; from 11 am-3 pm, Big D Kona Ice will be for sale. Before you go, be sure to get on the "nice list" for ...

Christmas in July Cookie Decorating Class at the Dallas Arboretum, July 24
Dream of a white Christmas while decorating holiday sugar cookies. Learn the basics of making and baking sugar cookie dough, then mix up royal icing for a lesson in professional decorating techniques. Participants get to decorate and take home six cookies. The class is $49 per person, or $39 for Arboretum members. Class will run from 1:15-2:45 pm.

Christmas in July at Parlor's Ice Creams, July 24-25
To get people out of the mid-summer slump, this still-new, old-fashioned ice cream parlor in Hillside Village will scoop out a holiday favorite for two "Christmas" days, July 24 and 25. "Rocky Rudolph" — a festive take on Rocky Road — consists of chocolate mint ice cream with house-baked chocolate cookie sandwiches and homemade marshmallows. Guests can drop by the shop, which will be decorated with Christmas lights and decor, from 12-9 pm both days. Rocky Rudolph will be served up in single, split single, or double scoops in a cup or a house-made waffle cone for these two days only, before it disappears again until the holiday season.

Christmas in July at Emporium Pies, July 25
Favorite winter pies are back for one day only. Choices include Father Christmas (peppermint cream-chocolate), Merry Berry (chess-cranberry-pecan), Melted Snowman (cookies and cream), and Snowball (coconut custard). Order whole pies ($45) or by-the-slice ($7) for pickup, delivery, or shipping July 25 at all locations — Bishop Arts, Deep Ellum, McKinney, and Fort Worth. For more information and ordering, visit the website.

Christmas in July 2-for-1 specials at Facelogic Highland Park, through July 31
"During the sunny summer month of July, Santa's usually on vacation," the budget-minded Highland Park spa reminds. "The ornaments are still stashed away, and you haven't even started thinking about your holiday shopping list — until now." Get in the spirit with their Christmas in July specials, which include a few very giftable things — for yourself or someone else: $50 for two Airbrush Tans (Regularly $100); $59 for two Vitamin C Peel Upgrades (Regularly $118); $109 for two Microdermabrasions or Dermaplane Treatments (Regularly $218). Check the website or call the spa at 214-696-3223 for more information on the limited-time deals.

Santa's Summer Suite, Omni Dallas Hotel, through August 14
Santa Claus has come to town and he's staying at the Omni downtown. "Santa’s on vacation and wants to share his favorite summer getaway," says the hotel of this limited-time offer. The package offers a two-room Presidential Suite with 180-degree views of the Dallas skyline, reserved pool seating, $250 hotel spending credit (to be used anywhere in the hotel), daily chef’s selection of savory and sweet treats, complimentary nightly valet parking, and more. It runs $1,500-$2,000 nightly. Contact the hotel or book yourself a swanky staycation here by August 14. Too soon? Too close? Hold onto your Santa hat because pretty soon it'll be time for ...

Santa in September Sale at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, September 6-14
Santa lends his name to a big annual September sale at this luxury resort — a favorite Hill Country escape for Dallasites. Running September 6-14, the sale deals will be good for stays during the 2022 holiday season, November 16-December 30, 2022. Sale rates begin at $179 per night for a standard room (taxes and resort fees not included), and guests may book them using the rate code XCX on the resort’s website, www.jwsanantonio.com. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is a luxury destination 12 miles north of San Antonio International Airport. During the holidays, the resort gets festive with magical decor; thousands of twinkling lights; merry music; cheerful elves frolicking around; a nightly holiday light show; seasonal food and beverage offerings; and themed activities.

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Movie Review

The Devil Wears Prada 2 fashions glam Runway comeback with underdressed story

Photo by Macall Polay

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

When The Devil Wears Prada came out 20 years ago, it was a sensation for essentially two reasons: The showcase of the glamour of the fashion industry, and the performance of Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly. Streep’s withering glares, disdain shown toward Priestly’s subordinates, and delivery of several instantly iconic lines rightfully earned her an Oscar nomination.

Two decades later, the gang has come back together for The Devil Wears Prada 2, trying to recapture some of that magic. Andi Sachs (Anne Hathaway), freshly fired from her job at the fictional New York Mirror, is brought back into the fold at Runway magazine to be their features editor. Miranda is still in charge and as standoffish as ever, but Nigel (Stanley Tucci) welcomes her back with open arms.

Like everything else, Runway has had to change with the times, going mostly digital and having to kowtow to advertisers to keep the money flowing. That includes sucking up to Miranda’s former assistant, Emily (Emily Blunt), who’s now the head of the New York branch of Christian Dior. However, even Andi’s incisive writing and Miranda’s keen eye for the next fashion trend may not be enough to keep the magazine afloat.

The filmmaking team of director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna have also returned, and they have done a good job of keeping the tone of the original film without relying too much on nostalgia. Most of the main characters have aged/changed in reasonable and appropriate ways, and it’s initially fun to see them all interacting again. The fashion side of things keeps the film feeling high-class, even if most regular people can’t afford most of what’s on display.

The filmmakers have lots of ideas on how to update the characters for the modern world, but the follow-through on those ideas is not as great. Because there is no longer the same power dynamic between Andi and Miranda, Frankel and McKenna go in search of other conflicts, none of which work as well. The two-hour film ends up feeling like a bunch of individual scenes that are tenuously held together by the barest thread of a story.

Strangest of all, though, is the film’s treatment of Miranda. She remains somewhat imperious, but her influence has diminished in multiple ways. In trying to make her change with the times, including bowing to politically correct terminology, the film has neutered what made her such a great character. There is rarely a point where she feels in charge, and the story choices made because of that weaken the film overall.

In 2006, Hathaway was just barely out of her Princess Diaries phase, and she has gone on to become a major, Oscar-winning star with no fewer than five different films coming out in 2026. She remains the heart and soul of this film, and she elevates every scene she’s in. Streep is hamstrung by the changes in her character, but she still brings her unique presence to the role. Tucci remains a delight and has great chemistry with Hathaway, but Blunt is underserved by a role that keeps her apart from the others for large stretches and tethered to an annoying character played by Justin Theroux.

As with many sequels, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is enjoyable just because it allows fans to spend time with some favorite characters again. Even though the filmmakers don’t utilize those characters in ways that are as memorable as the first time around, the film is still a fun time at the theater that gives moviegoers a glimpse at a world many can only dream to be in.

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The Devil Wears Prada 2 opens in theaters on May 1.

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Movie Review

The Devil Wears Prada 2 fashions glam Runway comeback with underdressed story