Wine Bar News

Dallas' newest wine bar will take Oak Cliff spot known for killer patio

There'll be wine by the glass, bottle, and case.

Photo courtesy of III Forks

Wine bars are a big thing in Dallas right now, and here comes one headed to Oak Cliff: Called Beckley 1115, it's a new concept going into the old Victor Hugo's space at 1115 N. Beckley Ave.

Founder Sharon Van Meter, who oversees the 3015 at Trinity Groves event space, plans to open in August.

"Beckley 1115 is going to be a great wine bar, where you will be able to get wine by the glass, bottle, or case, with locally focused food," she says.

Victor Hugo's closed in May due to COVID-19, after being in that location for nearly seven years. Beckley 1115 will mirror Victor Hugo's hours, open for lunch and dinner, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

"One of the things I love about the location is the incredible patio, and I want to do more to develop the outdoor space," she says.

That includes the addition of a garden as well as the installation of a large showpiece wooden table for "chef in the garden" dinner events, spotlighting local chefs doing chef-driven wine dinners.

She's also recruited chef Diana Zamora, to partner on a unique dessert option inspired by one of her favorite haunts in New York.

"There' a place near NYU called Chika-Licious, it's this street-side counter that only seats seven people, where you can sit down and have a three-course dessert tasting menu," Van Meter says. "People go there late at night and do three courses of pastries with bubbles. I just love that little place, I go there every time I go to New York, and Diana Zamora is such a talented pastry chef, it would be great to feature her desserts."

She says her wine selection will be "all over the place," from an inexpensive glass to a $300 bottle for celebration, and will definitely include labels from Texas.

She'll have wine on tap and also a small market where people can buy wine by the bottle.

Wine bars may be a trend, but they're also a personal favorite.

"I've always loved wine bars," she says. "Who doesn't love going to a great bar that surprises you with wine options where you can have outstanding food? That's what I hope to do."

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Coffee News

Pinkies brews up coffee and cocktails on Cedar Springs in Dallas

Pinkies

Coffee at Pinkies

A gay bar in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood has transformed into a coffee and cocktail lounge: Called Pinkies, it's now open at 3900 Cedar Springs Rd., in the space previously occupied by the Mr. Misster bar.

Pinkies comes from Trey Stewart and Meghan Harris, who also owned Mr. Misster, which they opened in 2019.

According to Stewart, they were looking to provide a more relaxed and cozy space, one that was less focused on nightlife. They figured others might also appreciate a coffee and cocktail concept along the Cedar Springs strip.

"Myself and my husband, who I met at Mr. Misster four years ago, no longer find ourselves out on weekends as consistently as we used to," he says. "We enjoy a nice craft cocktail, a cappuccino after dinner, a comfortable setting, and a place where we can socialize with our group of friends."

The menu features coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas, as well as teas including a popular matcha latte. A small selection of pastries includes doughnuts, coffee cake, blondies, and sweet breads including lemon-blueberry and white-chocolate-raspberry.

Cocktails incorporate some of their morning ingredients such as their espresso martini and matcha martini; they also offer martini flights.

They've updated the space, including painting the exterior a vivid pink, to make it easy to spot. Inside, there are magenta accents and it still feels a little clubby, with purple tile walls and touches of neon lighting. One wall is covered with floral wallpaper and a massive Pinkies Up neon sign. Furniture is a mix of modern white tables and big tufted banquettes.

They hope it will still fit in with the lively night scene in Oak Lawn, since it’ll be a coffee shop by day and high-energy lounge by night.

"Over the past six years, Meghan and I feel that we accomplished our goal of shaking things up on Cedar Springs, and some of the elements that once made Mr. Misster so special have slowly been replicated and duplicated down the block," Stewart says. "That was always our initial intention, to spark change and growth."

"With Pinkies, we wanted to offer a place where you can plug in, sip something great, and get things done without feeling out of place," he says. "Unlike a grab-and-go coffee spot, we want you to sit and stay for a while."

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