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Goofy Charles Barkley blimp to fly over Dallas en route to Final Four

Charles Barkley-themed blimp

Photo courtesy of Capital One

It’s a bird… It’s a plane… Nope, it’s a Charles Barkely blimp. If you’re outside in Dallas next week and look up, you might just see the former NBA player and sports commentator superimposed on a blimp.

In preparation of the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Phoenix, Capital One (the tournament’s sponsor) is debuting a “Chuck Blimp.” It’s going to fly over DFW on March 25 on its weeklong flight to Phoenix, according to a release.

UPDATE 3-28-2024: The blimp will be flying over White Rock Lake at about 12 pm on March 28.
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The Chuck Blimp is cruising across the country at about 35 mph, and should be viewable from bystanders on the ground. The 128-foot-long blimp is about the length of 20 Barkleys, who is 6′ 6″. It sports a beaming likeness of the basketball legend, laying on his stomach and holding a basketball, Superman-style.

Like Barkley, the blimp has been given several nicknames, such as “Soar Charles,” “Charles Flightly,” “The Up Chuck,” “Air Chuck One,” and “The Ugly Chuckling.” All in fun.

As for human Barkley, he seems to be taking the blimp in good humor. His reaction to learning about the blimp, where he laughs and says, “That’s a handsome blimp,” was posted on Capital One’s Instagram.

There’s also a commercial, of course.

The best spot to see the Barkley blimp will be the Trinity Overlook Park at 110 W. Commerce St. But you can also track its flight status by following Capital One’s Instagram, where they’ll post updates.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Dallas suburb ranks No. 1 for remote workers in week's top stories

Photo by Roger Robinson/Visit Frisco

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Dallas news of the week. Topics varied from remote work to the Super Bowl and, of course, winter weather. Read on for the five most popular CultureMap headlines of the week. And for the best things to do this weekend, consult this guide.

1. Techy Dallas suburb is No. 1 hot spot for remote workers in U.S. Even as many major companies are enacting return-to-office policies across the country, there's a stronghold in the Dallas area where remote work prevails. A new survey of cities with the biggest remote workforces has revealed Frisco is the No. 1 city with the highest share of remote workers in the nation.

2. Super Bowl FanFest debuts in 30 cities across U.S. including Dallas. A Super Bowl-themed festival is coming to 30 cities across the U.S., and that includes Dallas: Called Super Bowl FanFest, it'll take place at stadiums and venues across all 30 NFL markets on Super Bowl LIX Sunday, February 9, in a nationwide Super Bowl lovefest with food & beverages, meet & greets, local music, and interactive games.

Super Bowl FanFest is coming. Cosm Dallas

3. Dallas lawyer and one-time club owner Ray Balestri dies at 64. Dallas lawyer and investor Ray Balestri, who circulated through Dallas' media and entertainment world, died on January 4; he was 64.

4. Dallas ISD to shut down for 2 days and more winter storm cancellations. As Dallas-Fort Worth prepared for winter weather this week, the cancellations and postponements began to roll in, including Dallas Independent School District, which shut down for two days.

5. High-energy Mexican steakhouse is coming to Dallas' East Quarter. A new steakhouse is coming to town: Called Toca Madera, it's a "modern Mexican steakhouse" from Noble 33, a global hospitality group known for its high-energy restaurant concepts, and will open at 2203 Commerce St. in the East Quarter district.