Fun on Tap

Boss brews and beats fest returns to Dallas' Shops at Park Lane

Any excuse to throw a music and craft beer festival is a good one, but The Shops at Park Lane has three: terrific location, awesome participants, and the onset (finally) of fall.

A day of brews, brats, and beats is slated for Saturday, October 15, when the second annual Parktoberfest returns. The lawn at the popular shopping center, placed at the southeast corner of Park Lane and Central Expressway, will transform into a tasting garden where guests can sip and sample some of Dallas’ finest food and drink from 11 am to 8 pm.

All the local craft-beer brands will be there, from Franconia, Deep Ellum Brewing Co., and Texas Ale Project to Oak Highlands Brewery, Community Beer Co., and Peticolas Brewing Company.

Handmade brats from Rudolph’s Market & Sausage Factory and soft pretzels from Slow Dough Bread Co. will keep bellies full. Local bands — including Vincent Neil Emerson, Kirk Thurmond, and Charley Crockett — will be playing the jams, and be sure to capture the day with some silly poses in the photobooth. Want swag? You got it, with giveaways happening all day.

A portion of the ticket proceeds benefit the Wilkinson Center, an organization that helps Dallas citizens stabilize financial crises through a food pantry, benefit screening, and temporary rent and utility assistance. The group also helps prepare them for the future with GED and ESL education, financial coaching, and job training and placement.

VIP tickets cost $30 and come with the bonus of admission, three 8-ounce beers, a bratwurst, and a pretzel; get them here. General admission is $10 and only available for purchase at the door. Kids 12 and under are free.

Parktoberfest returns to The Shops at Park Lane on October 15.

Photo courtesy of The Shops at Park Lane

Parktoberfest returns to The Shops at Park Lane on October 15.

music festivals promoted craft-beer

Pickleball News

Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

Ace

Pickleball paddles face off.

There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club

Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

“I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

sports openings trends