This Month's Top Shops

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 6 must-hit stores for October

In October, our thoughts turn to the Partners Card, which gets us discounts at myriad retailers around the city beginning October 25. This annual Dallas shopping tradition helps support the Family Place's fight against domestic violence.

Until then, we're visiting new stores for both women and men, in the hopes of getting a jump start on our holiday shopping before the madness truly begins.

Club Monaco
Club Monaco recently reopened its doors at Galleria Dallas. But this time around, the chic international brand boasts 2,500 square feet of clothing and accessories for women only. Sorry, guys. You'll have to visit the West Village store for your dose of dapper fall and winter wear.

James Perse
Keep it casual and cool this fall with Los Angeles-based soft apparel for men and women. With James Perse set to open October 19 at Highland Park Village, we're making room in our closet for comfortable slacks and everyday tees.

J.Crew Men’s Shop
We can’t get enough of J.Crew ever since creative director Jenna Lyons came into the picture. Now the guys have it even better with the first J.Crew Men’s standalone store in Dallas, opening later this month at NorthPark Center. The boutique will carry pieces from the menswear collection, including Ludlow suits, 484 and Wallace & Barnes Japanese selvedge denim, Italian cashmere, and Thomas Mason for J.Crew shirts.

J.McLaughlin
Just in time for fall, J.McLaughlin recently opened at the Plaza at Preston Center, featuring a range of men's and women's wear. J.McLaughlin is where classic meets modern attire: Shop sheath dresses and cashmere sweaters for the ladies and staples like khaki trench coats for the gents.

Topshop and Topman
Nordstrom NorthPark has cleared quite a few racks for clothing and accessories from Britain's grooviest style chain. "Fast casual" fashion at affordable prices? Yes, please. A Topman suit is also coming to Nordstrom at Galleria Dallas in November.

W.O.W.
The Boston-based boutique just opened on McKinney Avenue, boasting a variety of effortlessly stylish clothing, jewelry and accessories. Shop the likes of Jane Mohr, Kedem Sasson and Alembeeka — in a wide range of sizes, from petite to plus-sized.

Topshop and Topman are coming to Nordstrom Northpark.

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Topshop and Topman are coming to Nordstrom Northpark.

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Oak Lawn News

Cosmic Cafe space on Dallas' Oak Lawn is officially on the market

Cosmic Cafe

The price is "subject to offer." Hey, let's offer $5.

The two buildings that housed the former Cosmic Café in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood are officially for sale.

The restaurant closed in October 2021, but the property had been on the market in a very passive "listed online" manner for a couple of years.

Now it's being marketed by CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. Those people don't fool around. CBRE’s Sierra Uselton and Arien Ramsire will represent building owner Praveen Sachdev.

The site, located at 2912 Oak Lawn Ave. consists of two buildings totaling 3,786 sq. ft. on 0.2 acres. The property is over 100 years old and is in a sought-after location with few vacancies, especially on Oak Lawn Avenue.

Originally called the Cosmic Cup, the café was founded by the late character actor Kumar Pallana, who became famous after appearing in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. Sachdev bought it and renamed it Cosmic Café in 1999.

When he closed the restaurant, Sachdev's plan was to to keep it open to host yoga classes, organized by his friend Jim Hunt, owner of Sun Yoga Center in Richardson. At the time, Hunt said that Praveen wanted to close the restaurant but still wanted to have something in the space.

"He doesn't want to make money out of it, neither do I. We're both doing this to offer something to the community," Hunt said at the time.

That was back in the throes of the pandemic. Not as many buyers. We're in boom times now.

There's no asking price. According to a CBRE spokesperson, the listing price is "subject to offer." OK hey let's offer $50. Here it is online: https://retailproperties.cbre.us/p/retail-real-estate-listings/Dallas-TX-75219/2912oaklawn#highlights

"CBRE is honored to market such an iconic Dallas property that has been a staple property along Oak Lawn Avenue for over 100 years,” Uselton, an associate with CBRE’s retail group, says. “The future of this historical site is highly anticipated by many who have come to know and love the restaurant during its tenure, and we are excited to be a part of the next phase of the Cosmic Cafe."

closings home-for-sale

Music Notes

11 must-see artists at ACL Fest 2022 — from Texas and beyond

Photo by Olivia Wolf

11 must-see artists at ACL

It’s game time for two weekends of good times by way of Austin City Limits Music Festival. Since you certainly already have a must-see list comprised of the bigger artists on the lineup if you're making the trip there, here are some choice acts — from Texas and beyond.

Must-see acts from Austin

Spoon
No one really needs to be told to see one of Austin's best bands of all-time. However, just in case you were thinking about skipping them, be sure to note that their 2022 release, Lucifer on the Sofa, plays great in a live setting. You can see them both weekends of the fest on Saturday at 4 pm on the Honda stage.

Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos
Adrian Quesada (of Black Pumas) recently put out a solo album, Boleros Psicodélicos, and you’ll be able to check out all of its Latin America-inspired psych ballads during weekend one of ACL. Catch his set on Saturday, October 8, at 2:15 pm on the Honda stage.

Darkbird
Vet rockers Darkbird were supposed to play ACL in 2021, but a weather delay nixed their set. Expect the band, which is fronted by the always-spirted Kelly Barnes, to take full advantage of the do-over. Their only appearance at the fest will be Sunday, October 9 at 1:15 pm on the BMI stage.

Eric Tessmer
After a couple decades of dutiful shredding around Austin, guitar great Eric Tessmer has finally found his way onto an ACL lineup. His sure-to-be explosive turn at the fest is a weekend one only experience – see it on Sunday, October 9, at 5 pm on the BMI stage.

Good Looks
Indie rock act Good Looks are responsible for Bummer Year, one of the better albums to come out of Austin in 2022, so of course you should have them on your ACL radar. Catch this weekend two-only band on Saturday, October 15, at 1pm on the Tito’s stage.

Urban Heat
Get your new wave/post punk fix via Urban Heat during weekend two of ACL. The buzzy act, who recently put out an EP titled Wellness, will perform on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the BMI stage.

Other must-see acts

Muna
LA’s own Muna, who are signed to Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory imprint, head into ACL on a wave of acclaim for their 2022 self-titled album. The pop act has just a weekend one set on Sunday, October 9, at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage.

Dehd
Dehd’s Blue Skies is loaded with some of the catchiest indie rock tracks you’ll find on any album in 2022, and that’s reason enough to catch them at ACL. The Chicagoans play both weekends – look for them each Sunday at 1:15 pm on the T-Mobile stage.

Magdalena Bay
Synthpop act Magdalena Bay recently dropped a deluxe edition of their hit 2021 album, Mercurial World, and now they’ll put it on display at ACL. Catch the LA-based act both weekends of the fest on Sunday at 4 pm on the Tito’s stage.

Wet Leg
Wet Leg had quite a bit of buzz heading into this year’s SXSW and the fervor surrounding the British indie rockers has only increased with the release of their self-titled debut album, which includes the infectious single “Chaise Longue.” The band is a weekend two-only play, and their set is Friday, October 14 at 2:30 pm on the Honda stage.

Faye Webster
The dreamy, gentle sounds of singer/songwriter Faye Webster will be a treat in the middle of the afternoon at Zilker Park. Be sure to catch the Atlanta-based artist during her weekend two-only appearance on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage. By the way, don’t be surprised if Webster and her bandmates engage in some sweet yo-yo action.

music acl fest austin music austin-city-limits

Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey merch store revs up for Dallas taco party

Courtesy photo

Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey cap

It may not be the Grassy Knoll, but Dallas has one tourist destination that draws visitors from around the world: the Gas Monkey Garage Merch Store, part of the Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey Garage empire, located in northwest Dallas at 2330 Merrell Rd.

The store sits next to Gas Monkey Garage, the shop Rawlings launched in 2002 customizing classic and hot-rod cars for customers worldwide. The garage became the centerpiece of the Discovery Channel's Fast N' Loud, with Rawlings' charisma leading to follow-up shows such as Garage Rehab. He also opened a restaurant, Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill, and live music venue, Gas Monkey Live, both now closed, although he has two new venues in the works.

The merchandise store, which opened in 2012 - "it used to be out of a Ford Econoline van," Rawlings says - features the T-shirts and ballcaps you might expect, but it's all rendered with the same of rock 'n roll edge and obsessively perfectionist eye for detail that Rawlings applies to cars -- some of which are on display inside the store.

It's half memorabilia store - half car museum, with the cherry on the sundae for Rawlings fans being that the man himself drops into the shop a few times a day to talk cars and whatever else is on your mind with whoever shows up.

"We get thousands of visitors - this morning alone, we had people from The Netherlands and Australia," Rawlings says. "Fast N' Loud has appeaared in 100 countries and been translated into 20 languages, and now we have a big presence on YouTube, so they’ll make Gas Monkey a destination."

"I'm usually here, so I try to come over and say hello," he says.

The store boasts about 50 unique T-shirt designs, plus hoodies, books, sunglasses, retro license plates, koozies, Gas Monkey Garage onesies for your baby, plus automative gear including wheels and car-detailing supplies.

There's also a chill lounge area with a massive comfortably-worn leather couch and loveseat setup. Side tables feature antique chrome fender lights. "We make those tabletops - everything in the store, we fabricate ourselves," he says.

There are always vehicles on display, including motorcycles and vintage cars they've restored.

"Right now, we have a 1930 Model A, a '68 Cornet, and a '65 Mustang fastback, but we rotate those in and out," he says.

In the back of the store, there's an outdoor patio they sometimes open for private events, outfitted with a collection of vintage signs that Rawlings has accumulated over the years including a 20-foot-tall gas price sign with a kooky lit arrow.

"I like old motor memorabilia," he says. "I saw that in Minnesota, I passed it when I was up there buying a car, and it took me four years to talk guy into selling it. What's cool about it is that the price of gas it displays is 23.9 cents a gallon."

On Saturday October 8, they'll be hosting an event called Tacos N' Tires, that's open to the public where they unveil Gas Monkey Garage's latest build: a 1952 Chevy Fleetline that was one of Rawlings' very first projects.

Courtesy photo

Richard Rawlings Gas Monkey cap

event-planner shopping

This Month's Top Shops

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 6 must-hit stores for October

Topshop and Topman are coming to Nordstrom Northpark.

Innovative art gallery to open in downtown Dallas with cocktail lounge on-site

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Ridonculous Dallas house inspired by sci-fi movie Tron is for sale

Oak Lawn News

Cosmic Cafe space on Dallas' Oak Lawn is officially on the market

Innovative art gallery to open in downtown Dallas with cocktail lounge on-site

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Ridonculous Dallas house inspired by sci-fi movie Tron is for sale

Music Notes

11 must-see artists at ACL Fest 2022 — from Texas and beyond

Innovative art gallery to open in downtown Dallas with cocktail lounge on-site

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Ridonculous Dallas house inspired by sci-fi movie Tron is for sale

Richard Rawlings' Gas Monkey merch store revs up for Dallas taco party

Innovative art gallery to open in downtown Dallas with cocktail lounge on-site

Dallas investor firm acquires iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Ridonculous Dallas house inspired by sci-fi movie Tron is for sale

This Month's Top Shops

Topshop and Topman are coming to Nordstrom Northpark.

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Oak Lawn News

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Music Notes

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We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

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CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

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