Plot in the City

Deep Ellum Urban Gardens celebrates grass-roots success

Raised beds at Deep Ellum Urban Gardens feature "sponsorship" slats such as thisone by Life in Deep Ellum.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins
Deep Ellum Gardens wunderkind Kelly Clemons thanks volunteers at the June 1ceremony.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins
Deep Ellum Gardens social media whiz Paula Ramirez and supporter admire thefinished product.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins
From left: Sean Fitzgerald, Dave Kasper, Jana Spurgin, Jeff Kiec, Uyen Vo, KatieJensen, Rachel Muldez, Kelly Clemons, Diane Ames, Ariane Baker, Melissa Scogins,Steve McGann, Scott Clemens, Jim Rogers, Paula Ramirez.

Photo by Teresa Gubbins

After years of plotting and hard labor, Deep Ellum Urban Gardens, a community garden on the edge of Deep Ellum, has finally arrived. On June 1, a ceremony saluted the dozens of players who made it happen.

The event had pomp and circumstance, with city officials and speeches, even as many in the audience had themselves contributed in big and small ways. But the ceremony was essential – a pause to reflect on the wondrous, complex things the gardens symbolize: a mighty achievement on their own; a valuable contribution to the neighborhood; and the thrill of grass-roots activity, of individuals working together to create something good.

The gardens also embody what is revered about the neighborhood, said Sean Fitzgerald, president of Deep Ellum Community Association, the umbrella organization over Deep Ellum Urban Gardens (DUG). "This neighborhood is unlike any other, and that's why we all love it and want to keep that," Fitzgerald said.

Project leader Kelly Clemons spoke of the garden's goal to provide an avenue for a sustainable lifestyle in an urban environment with limited green space. She thanked a long list of volunteers: social media whiz Paula Ramirez; architect Steve McGann; construction guru Dave Kasper; neighborhood organizer (and former District 14 candidate) Jim Rogers; security consultant Andrew McClellen; muralist Dan Colcer; Michael Hellman from Dallas parks department; Brandon Castillo of Deep Ellum Outdoor Market; and her husband Justin, among others.

"We love that the Gardens bring Deep Ellum and the Central Business District together," said Kourtny Garrett from Downtown Dallas.

The gardens also saw a unique collaboration between government officials, as city staffers worked with state representatives to help secure the odd piece of property on which DUG resides. It sits under a highway overpass, at the corner of Good Latimer and Canton Street, a patch of land that used to be just grass and now grows food.

That patch of land serves as a bridge between Deep Ellum and the city's Central Business District, said Kourtny Garrett from Downtown Dallas Inc. "We love that it brings the two areas together," she said.

For such a DIY project, the gardens were impeccable: the raised beds enclosed in rough-hewn wood, with "dedication" slats running across the top of each bed. Planting began in March. There were already glossy eggplants, leafy chard, statuesque artichokes and tomatoes galore. All of the plots are spoken for, but there's a waiting list to get one.

And meanwhile, DUG will hold a monthly series of seminars on gardening techniques to get you ramped up, beginning with one on June 15 on bug management. Today the garden, tomorrow the world.

unspecified

Steakhouse News

Al Biernat's takes its legendary Dallas steakhouse to Fort Worth

Steak at Al Biernat's restaurant in Dallas

Al Biernat's Facebook

undefined

One of Dallas' top steakhouses is expanding west: Al Biernat's, the acclaimed steakhouse with two locations in Dallas, is taking its magical ambiance, old-world elegance, celebrity cachet, doting service, and impeccably-prepared food to Fort Worth.

The restaurant - which will be the third location for the local chain - will open at 913 Houston St., across from where Fort Worth's new Convention Center ballroom is being built.

Restaurant co-owner Brad Fuller confirms the opening, noting that they are in the very very early stages of the process, with an opening date still TBD.

"We just signed the lease and are in space planning and design, but hope to share more information with details and renderings once we have them," he says.

Fuller says that Fort Worth had always been on their radar.

"This opportunity arose last summer, and [co-owner] Jeannie [Biernat] and I both love the building and its potential," he says.

Al Biernat's has been serving Dallas the highest quality steaks and seafood since 1998, when founder Al Biernat opened the first location at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, marriage proposals, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town including Conan O'Brien, Tom Brady, Brooke Shields, Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell, and more.

They went on to open a second location, Al Biernat's North at 5251 Spring Valley Rd., in 2017, successfully recreating the same formula as the original in Oak Lawn.

Signature dishes include a 30-ounce porterhouse, filet mignon with lobster thermidor — featuring Prime aged beef — along with Chilean sea bass and their legendary coconut cream pie. Like most steakhouses, they possess a well-stocked wine list, and also frequently host spectacular wine dinners.

They've earned countless nods and awards, from Open Table's Icon Awards to consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence honors, and have been home to many acclaimed chefs over the years.

They've also been one of the most nimble steakhouses in DFW, embracing changing trends such as alcohol-free mocktails. They were the first (and only?) steakhouse to offer a standalone vegan menu with dishes such as grilled portabella mushroom enchiladas. Biernat always wanted to be with the times, not behind the times.

Tragically, he passed away in 2024 after being diagnosed with ALS — but the restaurant has continued to thrive under the watch of Brad Fuller, the director of operations and Biernat's nephew; with Biernat's wife, Jeannie, his daughter Kaitlin Biernat Connell, son Jess Biernat, and Jess' wife, Erin.

And it's just possible that Al is still very much with us in spirit.

"Today is Al's 71st heavenly birthday, and my Aunt Jeannie and I feel it's 'very Al' that this news would be breaking today," Fuller says.

downtown openings steakhouse steakhouses

Plot in the City

Deep Ellum Urban Gardens celebrates grass-roots success

Steakhouse News

Al Biernat's takes its legendary Dallas steakhouse to Fort Worth

New Art Deco-inspired cocktail lounge Marlowe shakes into Uptown Dallas

Buzzy Dak Prescott-backed sports bar expands in DFW and more top stories

Texas ranks as 3rd worst state for women's equality in 2026, per report