This week's hot headlines

BBQ restaurant's new spinoff sizzles in this week's 5 hottest Dallas headlines

BBQ and booze thanks to Oak'd.

Oak'd

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. Dallas BBQ restaurant with Wagyu brisket will spin off location in Addison. Like a holiday gift to BBQ fans, a Dallas barbecue restaurant is expanding with a spinoff: Oak'd BBQ, which first debuted on Greenville Avenue in late 2020, is opening a location in Addison. It'll open in February at 4525 Belt Line Rd., a space that was home for 20-plus years to Chamberlain Seafood.

2. Sprawling ranch in Texas bluebonnet mecca steps onto market for $7.75M. Anyone in the market for wide open spaces — where the views go on for days and the hills stretch all the way to the sky — should consider Big Step Ranch. Located in the town of Chappell Hill in Washington County - in the heart of bluebonnet country - the 186-acre property is on the market for $7.75 million.

3. 2 Dallas suburbs shine merry and bright among America's happiest cities, study says. Things are looking especially merry in Frisco and Plano, home to some of the happiest people in the U.S., according to a new study. The two Texas cities land near the top of a new study by SmartAsset that ranks the top 50 places where Americans are happiest in 2022. Frisco comes in at No. 5, and Plano, at No. 6.

4. The 10 worst movies of 2022 range from comedic goofs to fantastic beat-downs. In the post- (ongoing? never-ending?) pandemic world, going to the movie theater is still a roll-of-the-dice for many people. These were our critic's picks for the 10 worst films of 2022.

5. Where to celebrate New Year's Eve 2022 at these Dallas restaurants. Here comes the end of 2022, and plans need to be made ASAP. This list has festivities of all kinds, from a no-charge-at-the-door groovy wine bar toast to an over-the-top meal that costs $495 per head. Here's a list of 14 cool NYE celebrations around DFW (and more weekend events here), and here are the best bets for a festive brunch on New Year's Day.

barbecue rankings home-for-sale movies holidays lists hot-headlines

Video Game Fun

Immersive version of Minecraft videogame makes world premiere in Plano

Photo courtesy of Mojang Studios

The Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will be in Plano starting on October 18.

A new interactive game experience will make its world premiere right here in Dallas. Called Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, it's an immersive event that combines gaming with a scavenger hunt, and it will make its debut on October 18 in Plano, in a former Buy Buy Baby location at 2712 N. Central Expwy., adjacent to DART's Parker Road Station.

The limited time event will take place through at least January 5. A release claims it will hit additional cities around the world, but to be announced at a later date.

Minecraft is a game first invented in 2011 that gives players a virtual sandbox where they can explore, create, and survive. It's one of the most popular video games of all time.

This immersive experience gives gamers a chance to enjoy an in-person version — to be heroes in real life as they go on a one-hour journey featuring an interactive scavenger hunt.

Participants embark on a rescue mission with a team of fellow Minecrafters and travel through multiple Minecraft biomes while building structures and interacting with iconic mobs, aka creatures from the game.

No prior knowledge of Minecraft is required to enjoy the event, as organizers promise that new players, creators, and longtime Minecrafters will experience the game in an entirely new way.

All guests will receive a code to get a commemorative half-zombie, half-villager cape that can be used to customize their in-game character in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

The event was originally announced in May with a debut forecast for September; at that time, the original Stockholm-based developer of Minecraft, Mojang Studios, was involved. But the current producers are two entities identified as Experience MOD and Supply + Demand.

Single ticket prices start at $32, with friends and family multipack tickets starting at $28 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance at minecraftexperience.com.

kids families fairs-festivals