disney treasure trove

Arlington Museum of Art to debut 2 stunning Disney memorabilia exhibits

Mia's coronation crown from Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Disney is bringing its iconic royal heroes (and its villains) to the Arlington Museum of Art with a show-stopping experience for North Texas enthusiasts of all ages.

Starting September 14, two new exhibits will debut over 300 artifacts, costumes, accessories, and more sourced from Disney films and shows over the last 65 years: Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume and All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives. Once open, the exhibits will be available for patrons until March 23, 2025.

This will be the first time these two collections will be exhibited at the same time by a single venue.

Heroes & Villains encapsulates the character development of several classic Disney heroes, antiheroes, and villains through the art of costume design and "textural storytelling." A few of the chosen costumes that will be featured in the exhibition include the wardrobe worn by the Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus 2, Belle's signature golden yellow ballgown from the 2017 live action Beauty and the Beast, and select costumes from the TV show Once Upon a Time.

For expert Disney lore fans, the dress worn by Letha (played by Bette Davis) in the 1978 sci-fi adventure film Return from Witch Mountain will also be on display in Heroes & Villains.

Cinderella, Arlington Museum of Art, Disney Blue ballgown from Disney's 2015 live action Cinderella.Photo courtesy of Disney

The second exhibit, All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives, will take museumgoers on a five-part journey through a Disney character's development and personality via jewelry and accessories.

More than 80 understated costume pieces like earrings, cuff links, and rings will be front and center in the "Every Little Detail" showcase, while "The Feature Vault" is exactly as it sounds: Iconic crowns, tiaras, necklaces, and pendants worn by their famed Disney characters.

Exclusive jewelry pieces that attendees will find in "The Feature Vault" include Elizabeth Swann's pirate medallion necklace (worn by Keira Knightly) in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the coronation crown worn by Mia (played by Anne Hathaway) in Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, and the voice-capturing shell necklace worn by Melissa McCarthy's Ursula from the 2023 adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

Additional showcases in the All That Glitters exhibit include a chronological collection of "Watches Through the Decades"; a behind-the-scenes peek at the jewelry prop creation process in "Made for Screen"; and "Reflections of Reality," a display and analysis of Disney accessories that were influenced by historical events and people.

“Whether on television, in a movie theatre, or at a Broadway show, when we meet a Disney character for the first time, we instantly begin to understand them,” says museum president and CEO Chris Hightower. "That is how extraordinarily important costume design is to conveying persona and how Disney truly sets the standard of excellence.."

Tickets for the two Walt Disney Archives exhibitions will begin in June, and museum members will get early access to free tickets before the public on sale. More information about the Arlington Museum of Art can be found on arlingtonmuseum.org.

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Putting into Plano

New Plano restaurant Sip'Stroke tees up golf with chef-driven fare

Saffron salmon skewers, one of the featured seafood offerings on Chef Madan Oli’s menu at Sip’Stroke.

Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

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It's tee time for a new restaurant featuring a private Full Swing golf simulator and an indoor putt-putt course in Plano: Called Sip’Stroke, the new "eatertainment" spot is opening Saturday, August 1 at 5969 Dallas Pkwy.

The concept comes from Kushal Raj Bastakoti, a cityscape artist and interior designer from Nepal who moved to Dallas in 2013 to attend the University of North Texas. Bastakoti also owns Skyline Lounge in downtown Dallas, which opened earlier this year, and is a franchisee of the Asian beverage and dessert chain Feng Cha Café.

He says he chose the location due to the rapid growth of businesses and residences in the nearby Legacy area.

“At Sip’Stroke we created a space that is entirely unique — it feels like you're on a 9-hole golf course, but paired with exceptional dining,” he says.

Although built around golf, the restaurant is also chef-driven. Bastakoti recruited chef Madan Oli, who launched his culinary career in Copenhagen, where he developed a focus on high-quality ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and presentation.

“My goal is to bring people together through modern American cuisine with bold flavors and global inspiration,” says Oli. “Every dish is crafted with care, balance, and a true passion for hospitality.”

$Sip\u2019Stroke$ At Sip’Stroke, you can catch the game, play a round of putt-putt, and enjoy a high-end meal.Photo courtesy of Sip'Stroke.

Oli designed a menu featuring shared boards, fresh seafood, premium steaks, elevated bar staples, and desserts. Highlights include prime ribeye frites, saffron salmon, maple leaf duck breast, Cabernet-braised short ribs, Wagyu sliders, and a selection of tacos and wings, with prices ranging from $20 to $35.

The full bar serves classic and signature cocktails, along with shots, wine, beer, and zero-proof drinks.

The venue includes a private golf simulator that accommodates up to eight guests, a custom nine-hole mini-golf course integrated into the dining room, seating for 60 indoors, and an additional 15 seats on the patio.

While Sip’Stroke has been operating with limited hours during a soft opening over the past several days, regular business hours begin Saturday, August 1, from 12 noon to 12 midnight daily. A grand opening celebration is planned for late August.

A second Sip’Stroke location is also in the works next to Skyline Lounge at 2012 Commerce St. in downtown Dallas and is expected to open before the end of the year. The owners say restoring the historic 100-year-old building has taken longer than anticipated.

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