It's Party Time

Throw an unforgettable party with these hot tips from 3 Dallas entertainingexperts

When it comes to lighting, Erin Patrick McDonald of Todd Events says, "Softpinks, pale ambers and melon tones do a world of good for all of our skintones."

Todd Events/Facebook
Even if you have flowers, never underestimate the impact of candlelight onambience, says Mary Wright Shah.

Todd Events/Facebook
Don't skimp on the booze, says McDonald. "With a couple of great old fashionedsor a tasty Cabernet, you'll be a hit."

Photo courtesy of Bon Appetit
Kimberly Schlegel Whitman says to splurge on dessert.

Pure Chocolate Desserts by Zach

Like it or not, the holiday season isn't over till it's over. In our books, that's Valentines Day. You may be recovering from Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and Festivus, but there are still parties to plan — if you aren't going out on New Year's Eve, for example — and little time to figure it all out.

Before you buy some neon colored-lights and and an assortment of cupcakes, take a look at these tips from a few Dallas party-planning experts. They share their insight on organizing a proper fete, no matter the time of year.

KIMBERLY SCHLEGEL WHITMAN, Southern Living editor-at-large, Texas Living TV co-host, author

Plan a lunch
It's not often you get to celebrate the people you love. A lunch allows you to sit down and slow down — to have meaningful conversations with great guests.

Layer in texture and color
It's easy to have an abundance of greenery on a budget. Choose an assortment of greenery for texture and color; during the holidays, that could be holly garland or silvered magnolia. It's affordable decor, and you can even buy garlands at the grocery store.

Indulge a little
It's fun to splurge on dessert. Go for a modern spin on your mother's or grandmother's famous recipe. Every year I attempt to make apple pie — and each year they get better and better.

ERIN PATRICK McDONALD, associate creative director, Todd Events

The guest list is everything
Ask yourself, "Who would I like to party with?" Invite your good friends but blend them with a group of people — perhaps that you socialize with at the office or people you do business with.

The party holy trinity

Food. I often say that people rarely ever remember when the food was good, but they will never forget when it's bad.
Decor. Whether you are hosting a small party for 20 or a robust celebration for 500, make sure the lighting plays a major role. Soft pinks, pale ambers and melon tones do a world of good for all of our skin tones. Stay away from greens — it's worst color for the skin.
Music. The music should evolve from start to finish. Don’t start off with the good stuff; build up to it. Have guests enter to something soft like Andy Williams or Cole Porter, and go from there.

Don't skimp on booze
Even when working with a budget, never flinch on spending your money on booze. With a couple of great old fashioneds or a tasty Cabernet, you'll be a hit!

MARY WRIGHT SHAH, owner, Diamond Affairs

Where to spend wisely
If you're on a budget, the best places to spend your money are with the location, food and drink, and entertainment.

Let there be light
Even if you have flowers, lighting — candlelight or decor lighting — is so important when it comes to ambience.

Mix it up with food and drink
When it comes to the food, you should have a variety in order to best suit your guests' preferences. The same rule goes for the drinks at the bar. Beer and wine is a great money saver, but if you know your guests like liquor, do a specialty cocktail.

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First-rate idea

Goodwill transforms former Plano Walgreens into first small-format store

Photo courtesy of Goodwill

An old Walgreens has become a new Goodwill store in Plano.

UPDATE 7-31-2026: Due to construction delays, the store opening has been pushed back to Thursday, August 13.

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Leave it to Goodwill to find a second use for a former Walgreens. The nonprofit is transforming a vacant drugstore building in Plano into its first ever, small-format store.

According to a release, Goodwill Industries of Dallas will debut the first-of-its-kind store at 3000 McDermott Rd., Plano, on Thursday, August 6.

The organization has converted the former pharmacy into a 10,000-square-foot thrift store and donation center. For comparison, that's less than one-third of the size of the massive, 31,000-square-foot "Broadway store" that opened in Garland earlier this year as the largest Goodwill in Texas and the second largest in the U.S.

The nonprofit says the new concept is designed to serve neighborhoods with a smaller footprint while still offering a steady flow of merchandise. Shoppers can expect about 5,000 new items to hit the sales floor each day, ranging from clothing and housewares to books, toys, and other donated goods.

It's also a creative example of "adaptive reuse" for one of the many drugstores have have shuttered in recent years around Dallas-Fort Worth. (CVS, are you listening?)

The Plano location will create 70 jobs, they say, and include a donation center where residents can drop off gently used items to support Goodwill's workforce development programs.

The opening comes as resale shopping continues to surge nationwide, Goodwill notes. According to the 2024 ThredUp Resale Report, the U.S. secondhand market grew 11 percent in 2023 — seven times faster than the broader retail clothing industry — and is projected to reach $73 billion by 2028.

"This store is a blueprint for how Goodwill Dallas turns vacant spaces into neighborhood assets, creating jobs, funding workforce development, and keeping quality goods accessible to families who need them most," Goodwill Industries of Dallas president and CEO Tim Heis says in the release.

The timing is also fortuitous for shoppers: The store will debut just ahead of Texas' 2026 Tax-Free Weekend, August 7-9, which will offer clothing, footwear, school supplies, backpacks without state sales tax.

Once doors on August 6, open the Plano store will operate 9 am-9 pm Monday-Saturday and 10 am-7 pm Sunday.

Goodwill Industries of Dallas has served North Texas since 1923, using proceeds from its retail stores to fund free job training, employment placement, and career services for people facing barriers to employment across eight North Texas counties.

plano thrift store goodwill preservation shopping