A Dallas Cowboys Christmas

The Star in Frisco scores a touchdown with jolly holiday happenings

For diehard football fans — and for those who can never get enough Christmas spirit — this is truly the most wonderful time of year. And right now, it’s prime time at The Star District in Frisco.

The corporate headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys has also decked the halls (and the end zones) with some serious holiday star power.

Here’s how to get in the game and experience all the cheer of Christmas at The Star:

Make the holidays lit
The Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza, powered by Reliant, is the touchdown of the festive season. Held on Tostitos Championship Plaza, the electrifying, 20-minute show ignites The Star with game-day-worthy thrills and Christmas dazzle — and it all kicks off with a performance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

The lighting of the 67-foot LED Christmas tree is a fan favorite; the towering, illuminated stunner is synched with original music and pyrotechnics. Also on the roster are appearances by Cowboys football legends along with a lineup of performers, including the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue, Cowboys Rookie Squad, Rowdy, and a special appearance by Santa Claus.

It all goes down on Fridays and Saturdays from December 2-17.

Go behind the field
After the Christmas Extravaganza, reserve an exclusive guided Christmas Tour of The Star, presented by SeatGeek, and experience the place where the Cowboys train and work 355 days of the year.

In addition to all the behind-the-scenes action, the holiday edition of these tours comes with additional sweet perks like Christmas cookies and limited-edition Cowboys ornaments. Tours will be held on December 2, 9, 16, and 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Pay a visit to Old Saint Nick
Cowboys fans with little ones in tow need look no further than this Santa photo opp at The Star. The jolly chap will be ensconced at his Cowboys-themed cottage, presented by Monument Realty, through Friday, December 24.

Spike your holiday shopping
Seasonal flavors — and lots of amazing shopping — await at the Christmas Sip & Stroll on Thursday, December 15, where many of The Star’s restaurants and shops will fill your glass while you browse.

Plus, look for complimentary gift customization opportunities and exclusive offers, carolers and Christmas music, photo moments, and more.

When you check in, you’ll get a stroll map, tasting glass, and a holiday shopping tote so you’re well-prepared for three hours of shopping and socializing with a twist.

Make your list, check it twice, and book a staycay
Multitask in the best way possible with holiday dining and shopping in The Star District. But first, do yourself a favor and book a room at the Omni Frisco Hotel, where they’re offering holiday specials all season long.

From there, you’ll be mere steps away from all the places to get your holiday shopping handled — especially with the brand-new stores J. Hilburn and Monkee’s along with fan faves like Lucchese, Flea Style, and Luxe Eyewear.

Then, step into The Gents Place, Hiatus Spa, Tangerine Salon, or Cherry Blow Dry to give the gift of self-care to yourself and grab a few gift cards for friends.

Dine and be merry
The Star also has no shortage of places to feast and fest. On Fridays in December, grab a special holiday lunch at Dee Lincoln Prime, complete with a Prime rib bar.

Over at Lombardi Cucina Italiana, don’t miss cheer-laden events like their Tinsels, Tinis, and Toddies Brunch on December 11 and Holiday Truffle Dinner on December 13.

For brand-new scene-stealers, The Glen and its exclusive scotch bar The Monarch Stag were made for that holiday vibe with a mystically unique atmosphere, lush florals, provocative lighting, and incredible food and drink. Snowbird Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen is another sleek newbie that’s not to be missed.

And of course, seasoned faves like Cane Rosso, City Works, Mi Cocina, Wahlburgers, and more are tried-and-true for day and night.

Explore all the ways to make your holiday merry and bright at The Star here

Little kids at Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza

Photo courtesy of The Star

Bring the kiddos for a family-friendly time.

holidays shopping dinner sports promoted

Movie Review

The life of an actor is far from rosy in dramedy Misty Green

Photo courtesy of A24

Rosalind Eleazar in Misty Green.

For every well-known/successful actor in Hollywood, there are thousands of others whose lives are more tenuous as they struggle to find work. The new film Misty Green is about one such actor who, after a period in the limelight, now finds herself on the outskirts of the industry, just hoping to find her way back in.

Misty (Rosalind Eleazar) won an Emmy for a 2000s-era TV show that still gets her recognition, but not much work. Still living in the apartment of a recently-deceased man with whom she was having an affair, Misty spends her days sleeping in and her nights getting blitzed on alcohol and drugs. She seems to be heading nowhere fast until a few things coincide to break up her routine.

The man’s wife (Amy Landecker) shows up and tells her she has seven days to vacate the apartment; Misty’s brother, Jay (Daniel Kaluuya) — who is bipolar — arrives after being kicked out of his facility for non-payment; and Jordan (Chris Rock), a former colleague with whom she had a falling-out, reappears in her life, offering a possible chance to rehabilitate her image.

Written and directed by Rock (his first feature since 2014’s Top Five), the film is a funny and excruciating look at how the entertainment industry might actually work. Misty is her own worst enemy thanks to late nights fraternizing with unsavory characters like Zach (Adam Driver), who deals in drugs and women in equal measure, but her frustration proves warranted when her agent, Randy (Topher Grace), and casting directors like Rhonda (Tracie Thoms) hardly give her the time of day.

Misty tries her best to stay positive, but when jobs like singing in a bar are the best she can do, the mountain seems insurmountable. Rock does an effective job of demonstrating the elements that are within and without Misty’s control that affect her ability to regain her position in the industry. The chip on her shoulder is almost as big as the bias some have against her, and other negative circumstances don’t help matters much.

There are many small touches that Rock and his crew put in the film to give it an air of authenticity. Filming in Los Angeles (a rarity these days), Rock uses both subtle and overt shots of homeless people in the city, suggesting that the line between the haves and have-nots is a fine one, especially with Misty on the verge of not having a place to live. He also has cameos from a few of his funny friends, including a bit of meta-casting of Anthony Anderson (who has faded a bit after starring in Black-ish) in a bit part as a cop.

Eleazar, a British actor best known for appearing on the Apple TV show Slow Horses, is a magnetic presence as Misty. The character herself is somewhat cringey in her decision-making, and Eleazar sells every bit of her righteous indignation and self-defeating actions. The supporting cast is great across the board, including Rock, Driver, Kaluuya, Thoms, Grace, Anna Kendrick, and Rich Sommer.

Misty Green makes you rage against the Hollywood machine, laugh at the various ways different people deal with its maddening quirks, and hide behind your fingers as Misty chooses options that don’t help, either voluntarily or because her back is against the wall. It’s a powerhouse of acting that gives a unique angle on the inner workings of Hollywood, one that ironically might be competing for awards at year’s end.

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Misty Green is now playing in theaters.

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