Pop-Up News

Pop-up coming to Dallas promises Alice in Wonderland boozy tea party

Alice in Wonderland boozy tea party, coming to Dallas.

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A company known for its touring immersive pop-up bars is bringing another to Dallas: Called The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience, it's popping up in Dallas with what they say will be a tea party to end all tea parties.

According to a release, this boozy Alice in Wonderland experience will open on South Lamar Street — exactly where, they will not say until a later date. But they do have times: It'll debut on August 10 and run through August 27.

First, some words from the release:

"Join us on a topsy-turvy journey where reality bends, and curiosity reigns supreme. Indulge in an interactive tea party like no other, designed for those who possess an insatiable thirst for wonder."

Some of the interactive aspects of this "ultimate tea party" include:

Create your own liquid concoctions under the watchful eye of The Mad Hatter and expect things to get curious and curiouser.
Dive down the rabbit hole and into a fantasy world where you will experience firsthand the magic of Wonderland.
Paint the roses red and devour an 'Eat Me' sweet treat.

This 90-minute alternate reality experience is $47 and includes two cocktails and an 'Eat Me' sweet treat.

If this sounds familiar, it should. Alice is from Viral Ventures, an event management company based in Sydney, Australia, creators of themed pop-up experiences such as The Wizard's Den and Neverland, another boozy pop-up coming to Dallas with a Peter Pan theme in September.

These are all designed to be an "immersive" experience, IE Instagrammable, and with staff who are often actors. At least they're providing employment opportunities to Dallas' local theater community.

Other cities it has hit include Philadelphia and Houston.

Rave reviewers say they were "entranced by the effort and detail in the show and the games," "a great laugh and a fabulous way to spend an afternoon" with "some great cocktails" including a "fabulous" Mad Hatter's Tea Party with "hilarious" staff who "never broke character."

Restaurant closure

Beloved Japanese restaurant Mr. Max to close in Richardson after 2 years

Facebook/Mr. Max

Mr. Max in Richardson will close after February 28.

After nearly two years of slinging its sushi and skewers, beloved Japanese izakaya Mr. Max will depart Richardson at the end of the month.

The restaurant announced that it would shutter its location at 800 N. Coit Rd. in a Facebook post on February 21. The Richardson location of Mr. Max opened in July 2024, joining the Irving original that was founded by the late chef Hare Nakamura. In 2013, Mr. Max was acquired by the Las Vegas-based Mon Restaurant Group, which also brought Monta Ramen to Dallas the following year.

The group did not share a specific reason for Mr. Max’s Richardson closure. It comes less than two years after the original location was named as one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S., and earned a Restaurant of the Year nomination in CultureMap’s 2024 Tastemaker Awards.

“After much consideration, we share that Mr. Max Richardson will close its doors at the end of this month,” the restaurant posted. “Serving you has been a genuine privilege. Your smiles, celebrations, and continued patronage have meant more to us than words can express.”

Over the years, Mr. Max has earned a solid reputation as a destination for authentic izakaya style fare, attracting droves of diners who were willing to line up for its takoyaki and super-fresh sashimi, both perfect for pairing with an ice-cold Sapporo. Though some diners appreciated the grittier, older vibe of the Irving original, the Richardson restaurant managed to deliver the same quality and experience that turned Mr. Max into a DFW icon, making it equally likely to draw a crowd.

Fortunately for its fans, the restaurant confirmed that the Irving location is unaffected by the closure, though it’s not unreasonable to think that the lines at that might be even longer now that there’s only one remaining Mr. Max.

If you’re looking to dine at the Richardson location of Mr. Max one final time, there are still a few days left to swing by before the doors close for good after Saturday, February 28.

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