This Week's Hot Headlines

Excellent restaurant recs and grand Dallas gala top 5 most popular stories this week

Editor’s note: Another week has come and gone, and there’s a lot we all probably missed. But we’re looking out for you, kid. Here are the most popular stories from this past week:

1. Here's what North Texas will look like in the next 15 years. LawnStarter says that from 2015 to 2030, North Texas' population is predicted to grow by nearly 3 million people — that's more than the current population of the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida, metro area.

2. Where to eat in Dallas right now: 10 restaurants to take your out-of-town guests. December is the month for holidays, and for many people, holidays mean visitors from out of town. These are our suggestions for the best restaurants of the moment to take your out-of-town guests.

3. Best-dressed Dallas ladies radiate elegance at Crystal Charity Ball 2015. The Crystal Charity Ball, known as the grand finale of the fall social season in Dallas, also is famous for bringing out the city's best dressed philanthropists. Every year we can't wait to see what the ladies — and a few dapper gents — wear to the grand affair that raises funds for local children's charities.

4. 6 giftable goodies Dallasites should scoop up at Holiday Pop-Up Shop. On December 6, CultureMap hosted the Holiday Pop-Up Shop, where savvy shoppers picked up everything on their holiday gift list from some of the area's best local stores. Here's just a peek at some of the fun items found at the season's most glamorous shopping event.

5. You won't believe the lavish holiday budgets of these 3 North Texas cities. Personal finance website WalletHub recently revealed the maximum holiday budgets for 563 U.S. cities, and Texas snags 51 spots on the lengthy list. Even more jaw-dropping is that three of the 10 cities with the highest holiday budgets are in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Nancy Brainer, Meredith Messick, Kate Meyer, Rebecca Whitake

Photo by WJNPHOTO

Nancy Brainer, Meredith Messick, Kate Meyer, Rebecca Whitake

hot-headlines

Hits for a Good Cause

CultureMap writer and Cowboys crush it for charity in home run derby

CultureMap's Alex Bentley competing in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby

Photo courtesy of Reliant

CultureMap's Alex Bentley competed in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby.

There was some friendly rivalry on and off the field at the 13th annual Reliant Home Run Derby at Riders Field in Frisco on May 14, where members of the Dallas Cowboys and a dozen local media members stepped up to the plate to raise money for North Texas charities.

Before Cowboys fans showed up for the main event, the day kicked off with the 10th annual Reliant Media League, featuring 12 reporters from around Dallas-Fort Worth - including CultureMap's Alex Bentley - taking their hacks for a charity of their choice.

On what was said to be one of the hottest days in the event's history, each media participant got 10 swings in the first of three rounds, earning $100 for every hit and $300 for every home run.

Bentley, a first-time competitor, advanced to the second round with four others, and with a strong second-round performance - including a home run on his final swing - made the three-swing final round against WFAA reporter Sean Giggy.

CultureMap's Alex Bentley celebrating a home run in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby. Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

With Kristi Scales, sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, calling the action, Giggy narrowly edged Bentley by hitting two home runs compared to Bentley's two hits and one home run.

Collectively, the media members raised $36,220 for local North Texas charities, including $4,335 by Giggy for his charity, Keeper of the Game, and $4,135 by Bentley for his charity, The Street Dog Project.

The Street Dog Project is comprised of a small group of volunteers who, since 2016, have rescued hundreds of dogs from the streets and found them loving homes.

WFAA reporter Sean Giggy celebrating his win the Media League portion of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby WFAA reporter Sean Giggy and his son celebrating his win in the Media League portion of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby. Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

Reached for comment, Bentley said: "For a 50-year-old man who hadn't touched a baseball bat in 16 years to even compete was amazing, but to be one of the finalists was beyond all my expectations. I'm very happy with my performance, but even happier that I was able to raise a lot of money for a good cause."

Ten Cowboys players then took the field in front of hundreds of fans, trading in their pads for a bat for a chance at baseball glory.

Participants included Bryan Anger, Brandon Aubrey, Jake Ferguson, DeMarvion Overshown, Dak Prescott, Luke Schoonmaker, Trent Sieg, Tyler Smith, Terence Steele, and Sam Williams.

With each hit and home run earning a donation from Reliant, the teammates raised a total of $80,000 to benefit The Salvation Army of North Texas.

Ferguson, the Cowboys tight end, was named the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby Champion with $20,600 raised and 22 home runs.

As the winner, Ferguson also received a $10,000 bonus from Reliant for his chosen charity, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson celebrating his win at the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby.Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

charity event culturemap dallas cowboys fundraisers home run derby sports sports-fitness