Dallas can now rent pickleball and tennis courts in people's backyards

PLAY BALL

Photo courtesy of Swimply

Dallas-Fort Worth pickleball and tennis lovers can now play on courts that were previously inaccessible: in people's backyards.

The service is from Swimply, the online provider that has previously let homeowners rent out their private pools by the hour. They've now expanded their services to include courts.

Swimply says in a release that other backyard spaces for rent were the "logical next step" -- especially given the popularity of pickleball.

"Pickleball is a phenomenon and there aren't enough courts to meet demand," the release says."Tennis, likewise, has historically been an exclusive leisure activity where people pay upwards of $100 an hour at private clubs for court time."

In addition to tennis and pickleball, basketball courts will also be listed for rent on the site, beginning at $25 an hour. There are currently nine pickleball courts for rent in the DFW area and one tennis court, spanning from Allen to Aubrey to Mansfield to McKinney. (The DFW service has just started and will surely amass more options.)

These join 200 spaces in Austin, and 300-plus available across markets in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles.

Swimply founder and CEO Bunim Laskin says this new launch is a "game changer" for communities whose members want greater accessibility to recreational spaces.

"We're excited to offer this new opportunity for families and friends to have fun, exercise, and connect with each other in a safe, affordable, and convenient way," Laskin says. "Our mission has always been about democratizing access to exclusive spaces and creating positive social impact, and we believe that court rentals are a natural extension of that vision."

It won't stop there: Swimply is looking into expanding their recreational offerings to include backyards for events, music studios, and more.

Photo courtesy of Carte Blanche

Inside the reservation system that fuels Dallas' hottest restaurants

Table for Two

Once a tiny start-up in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood, Tock’s network has grown rapidly in the past decade, earning a reputation as the industry’s most restaurant-friendly, all-in-one reservation system.

In recent years, Tock has become a go-to here in Dallas for businesses looking to drive incremental revenue through everyday reservations, events, takeout, and more.

Here’s how Tock works for every kind of business, from the avant-garde cocktail lounge to the storied steakhouse.

Apothecary
Tastemaker Awards nominee
Limited reservations with $10 deposits

Known for its whimsical cocktails and innovative techniques, Apothecary is the intimate, speakeasy-style bar from the team behind Rye. They offer limited reservations on Tock, while still holding select seats for walk-ins.

This hybrid system works great for guests who want to make plans in advance, or drop by on a whim — and the $10 deposit per person ensures they’ll actually show up.

Carte Blanche
Tastemaker Awards nominee
Prepaid tasting menu experiences

From a husband-and-wife team comes a fine dining experience that highlights unique wild game and native Texas ingredients.

Full chef’s tour and six-course menus can be booked with prepaid reservations. This allows the team “to anticipate who is coming in and to give guests an all-encompassing experience at the best price possible.”

Pappas Bros.
Tastemaker Awards nominee
Ticketed events

With locations in Dallas and Houston, this award-winning steakhouse, known for premium cuts and an impressive wine selection, dates all the way back to 1976.

Pappas Bros. use Tock to power (and sell out) unique events that suit their brand. For example, this month, they’re hosting a Treasures of Spain wine tasting and an exploration into "A Wonderful World of Pinot Noir."

Tatsu
Tastemaker Awards nominee
Limited, prepaid omakase reservations

Recently named a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation, Tatsu offers a serene omakase experience in the historic Continental Gin Building. Each night, chef/owner Tatsuya Sekiguchi prepares a traditional menu for fewer than 20 guests.

By prepaying, the team knows exactly who is going to show up, so they can focus on creating the ultimate dining experience.

Petra and The Beast
Reservations + pickup

Since being named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America back in 2018, this casual dining spot has developed something of a cult following. With a focus on whole utilization, fermentation, and sustainability, chef Misti Norris supports local farmers while delighting Dallas diners.

She utilizes Tock for à la carte reservations, six-course tasting menu reservations with $25 deposits, and limited takeout, which includes cheese and charcuterie boards for pickup. All of these experiences are displayed side-by-side on their Tock page.

Funky Picnic Brewery & Café
Reservations, classes, and unique events

Born in a Fort Worth garage amongst friends, this craft brewery has grown into a full-fledged business with a kitchen and a backroom.

Photo courtesy of Carte Blanche

Tock helps Carte Blanche book chef's tours and multi-course dinners.

The team utilizes Tock for both free reservations and one-of-a-kind ticketed events. Curious imbibers can book a beer and cheese class, a beer yoga session, seasonal beer dinners, or the occasional late-night drag show.

Interested in using Tock for your business? Learn more here.

Photo courtesy of Becker Vineyards

Wake up and smell the lavender at this Hill Country vineyard festival

Lavender? I barely know her

There's a lot of talk about flowers springing up with the seasonal blooms around Texas, but visitors are generally discouraged from picking and eating them. Fans of floral flavors can look forward to the annual Lavender Festival at Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg, which will serve wine pairings with the unmistakeable aroma on April 15 and 16.

This festival is 24 years running, and still hasn't run out of ideas for the timeless flavor. Over two days, visitors can explore the vineyard, shop for goods like soap and lotion from artisan vendors, enjoy live music, and most importantly, taste the lavender. It's more than a shortbread cookie, too.

Becker's executive chef Michael Lockhart and winemaker Jonathan Leahy invite guests to "Lavender Luncheons" ($125) in the Lavender Haus Reception Hall, a "replica of a barn at the Lyndon B. Johnson Settlement." There's no menu so far, but it will be a meal inspired by the 500 lavender plants in the vineyard. There will also be four "wine and lavender bite pairing sessions" ($60) on Saturday. Less formally, or for those who would rather see the lavender than taste it, there will be three local food vendors on both days: Mac’n Wag’n, Conchita’s, and Garbo’s Seafood.

The history of the festival stretches back almost as long as the vineyard has been producing lavender. The first plants were sown in June of 1998 — that's just one year longer. Although the family struggled to find a healthy variety for the area and lost huge swathes of the three-acre crop, they kept pushing on. Eventually, they discovered that the Stoechas (Spanish) varietal does best in the region.

If readers have struggled with lavender (an extremely likely circumstance), they may find that gardening tips at the festival help this year or next year's blooms. Lavender, unlike the many wildflowers that make the Hill Country famous, does not naturally grow in the region, and instead prefers its native conditions in the Mediterranean. It's starting to make sense that in Texas it thrives in the vineyard, no?

The Lavender Festival at Becker Vineyards is located at 464 Becker Farms Rd., Fredericksburg, Texas. Tickets ($15 general admission, plus add-ons for tastings) are available at beckervineyards.com. The festival is open on April 15 and 16 from 10 am to 5 pm.

Photo courtesy of Becker Vineyards

Becker Vineyards invites Texans to see the fields and try lavender foods and wine pairings.

Courtesy photo

3 ways the new Opendoor Exclusives will make homebuying easier

First Dibs

Opendoor, the e-commerce platform for residential real estate that transformed the buying and selling process, has introduced another new feature.

Opendoor Exclusives is a first-of-its-kind, one-tap buying experience for homebuyers in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as Austin and Houston. Designed to make homebuying an e-commerce-like experience, it streamlines the existing process to make homeownership more accessible.

Merav Bloch, general manager of Exclusive Listings, notes, “Between rising interest rates and low housing stock, it’s a challenging time to buy a home. In a competitive environment with high mortgage rates, aspiring homeowners feel frustrated, anxious, and defeated after losing out on bids. We built Opendoor Exclusives to make homebuying more certain and hassle-free.”

Here are three reasons why you should consider Opendoor Exclusives when buying your next home:

1. Pay with peace of mind
Opendoor homes are available on Opendoor Exclusives for 14 days before they are listed on a Multiple Listings Service. And while on Exclusives, they are offered at a price that’s less than what Opendoor will list the home for.

Even better: Should you buy an Opendoor Exclusive home that appraises for less than the purchase price, Opendoor will reduce the price by up to $50,000 to match the appraised value under its Appraisal Price Match Guarantee. This gives you more confidence that you aren’t overpaying for a home.

2. Avoid bidding wars and price negotiations
The Opendoor Exclusive price means no haggling, no lack of transparency, and no more love letters to sellers. With Opendoor Exclusives, you’re in control. Find a home you love, be the first to sign the contract, and you can make it yours.

Back out anytime and get a full refund on your earnest money deposit: There are no penalties if you change your mind at any point before closing. It’s that simple.

3. Experience a fully digital checkout
Opendoor has digitized the checkout flow, making a home purchase as simple as any other e-commerce transaction.

Opendoor Exclusives customer Colton Katzen reflects on his experience: "We found a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, but didn't want to get our hopes up. After going through this four other times only to ultimately miss out on homes that went well above asking, we were skeptical to move forward. We decided to try Opendoor Exclusives and it could not have been a smoother process from beginning to end. There was no stressing, no haggling, no worrying about an appraisal — it was actually an enjoyable experience! The only thing I would change is starting our search with Opendoor."

Find out more about Opendoor Exclusives here.

Photo courtesy of Bumble

Texas-based Bumble reactivates 'Voter' badge ahead of midterm elections

Voter Bees

Whether your style is dating other passionate voters or convincing unregistered citizens to sign up with your charm and good looks, Bumble just set a target for you. To make sure the midterm elections are getting as much attention as possible, the Texas-based dating app is adding a “Voter” Badge for users who commit to vote in the upcoming race.

“We hope this will lead to interesting, impassioned, and civil conversations,” says a press release by Bumble celebrating National Voter Registration Day in partnership with I Am A Voter. The Austin-based company adds that it’s supporting an existing user behavior. “We found that last year, those on Bumble within the United States selected Filters such as ‘Dating Intentions,’ ‘Politics,’ ‘Religion,’ and ‘Family Plans’ most widely on the app to prioritize finding a partner with shared values and intentions.”

Voters already have a year-round way to show their vigor on their Bumble profile, in the “interests” section, which also adds badges ranging from activism to hobbies and favorite things. In this case, the existing “Voting Rights” Badge implies a viewpoint in current discussions about voting practices — great for those who are really informed, but some users who are excited to vote may not feel equipped to discuss those systems in detail. The registration badge keeps it simple; either you are registered to vote, or you are not. Users will see a "profile" while swiping that will allow them to add the badge.

This badge is not new to the Bumble user interface. In 2016, the dating app rolled out a feature to declare support (and apathy) for one party or another via a temporary sticker, followed by an “I am a voter” Badge in 2018 that went mostly unpublicized, although OkCupid got a little more attention with its own nearly identical feature in 2020, perhaps because of the more hotly contested race.

Some activist groups have used dating apps for similar purposes even without the handy feature, sending members out with messages on their profile inviting other users to match for information or encouragement. On a more self-preserving level, it’s not uncommon to come across an earnest profile encouraging potential matches to swipe left (eliminate themselves from consideration) if they voted for a particular candidate. With the use of a Badge, users can filter preferences through the system, saving a lot of time reading potentially annoying declarations or matching with someone who didn't think to bring it up.

Similar news almost always creates some level of moral panic in news stories, urging young daters to look past their political biases. But political values affect everything from how to raise kids to how to make them — or not. Joan from accounting is probably willing to expound on her differing political views, if you’d rather come home and debate something simpler, like whose favorite show goes on tonight.

Photo courtesy of PTO

Triathletes make Texas history by descending on Irving this weekend

Feeling Sporty

The PTO (Professional Triathletes Organisation) US Open is coming to Texas for the first time ever, and you're invited to cheer on the athletes and party down at the free Fan Fest, plus have a chance to meet Dallas' own Michael Johnson.

Over the course of two days — September 17-18 — you can expect to witness the greatest triathletes in the world racing for glory.

But while they're running, swimming, and biking, you can take it a bit easier at the Fan Fest, which is free to attend.

It's happening at the Levy Event Plaza in Las Colinas, and here's what you can expect:

Delicious food trucks from Mi Cocina and Ferris Wheelers
A high-energy kids' zone
The ultimate watching experience

If you are unable to attend in person, you can stay updated on all the action on the free PTO+ app, available from both the App Store and Google Play.

Here are some key times you won't want to miss:

Friday, September 16, 11 am: Press conference
Saturday, September 17, 11:30 am: Women's pro race
Sunday, September 18, 2:30 pm: Men's pro race

Clear your calendar for this weekend, grab the family, and watch world class athletes race it out in Las Colinas.

You can find more information and a full schedule of events here.

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Dallas restaurants use irresistible ploy for holiday brunches: Santa

Holiday News

Dallas can't seem to get enough of Santa right now. It's not enough to have him for "Photos With," we want him on our train rides, we want him for breakfast, we want him for brunch.

"Brunch With Santa" (and its earlier "Breakfast With Santa" twin) have become a hot-hot holiday dining trend in 2023, with a host of places offering a perk to Dallas' favorite meal (brunch): the presence of Santa while you sip your mimosa and scarf French toast.

The uptick is part of a Santa boom that started last year, according to Santa-for-hire companies like RentSantaDFW and HireSanta.com, which is based in Southlake and is the largest Santa supplier in the world.

HireSanta.com owner Mitchell Allen, who appeared on Shark Tank in 2018, says that his company has added more than 1,100 new Santas this year to a database that already has thousands around the world. Everyone wants Santa, and it's not just the mall: for company parties, personal parties, bar events, and yes, brunch.

"It's part of the continuing move to get back to normal after COVID," Allen says. "We have Santas in every state, the middle east, China, Dubai, so we have a good perspective on Santa, and it has exploded, for the second year in a row. Bookings for 2023 have jumped by 155 percent from last year, and 2022 was a watershed."

During trying times, people often turn to traditions — which could help explain why we're seeing an almost frenetic embrace of holiday-themed festivities in 2023: more light shows, Hallmark Channel hotel rooms, more Christmas bar pop-ups, more holiday teas, more more more. Consider: An espresso martini toast to Santa might help you forget that you're deeply deeply in debt.

In prior years, Dallas may have seen one Brunch with Santa, maybe two. This year, we've counted nine places bringing in the jolly fellow to hang while you nosh on your hash:

Electric Shuffle: Santa Brunch, December 16 and December 17, 10 am-4 pm
Electric Shuffle was a Santa brunch pioneer - this is their third year hosting their annual Santa Brunch, and they do it up big, with prizes for the ugliest sweater, live DJs, and an appearance from the big man himself. "We think it’s a fun way for adults to get into the Christmas Spirit and feel like a kid again (only this time with booze)," a spokesperson says. Every guest receives a whole bottle of prosecco, with brunch boards and pizza served family-style. 90 minutes of shuffleboard are included in the $50 per person price with reservations open for groups of 4 to 20.

Epic Waters: Breakfast with SantaDecember 9 and December 16, 9 am
Breakfast with Santa features a two-hour magical Christmas Experience. You’ll get a complimentary souvenir photo with Santa, a breakfast buffet, holiday crafts, and all-day holiday splash and play privileges. Doors open at 8:30 am. Buy tickets online to guarantee admission. Tickets are $64 or $29 for kids under 3 years old.

The Finch: Breakfast With SantaDecember 10 and December 17, from 10 am-12 pm
The Finch is hosting its first annual Breakfast with Santa on the next two Sundays in December. Festive morning brunch with delightful surprises includes an Unlimited Hot Cocoa Bar where you can ⁠build-your-own hot cocoa with a variety of toppings. Diners will get a complimentary photo with Santa, but reservations are required.

Fowling Warehouse : Fowling Brunch With SantaDecember 10 from 11 am-1 pm
Have brunch and play at Fowling Warehouse in this family-friendly event. Fowling Warehouse DFW does not normally offer brunch, but they wanted to celebrate the seasonal Santa experience and offer something kid-friendly and new. $15 per child includes pictures with Santa, gingerbread cookie decorating, arts & crafts, a letter to Santa, pancakes, and Fowling play. Adults are $10 with pancakes and mimosas for $3, plus game contest and Fowling play.

Maguire's: Brunch With Santa, December 10, from 10 am-3 pm
Santa photos will be available from 10 am-12 pm. Enjoy dishes unique to Maguire's Bistro brunch menu like Quiche Du Jour, the Three Amigos (with 3 flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, jack & cheddar cheese & chorizo served with guacamole & pico de gallo), and Steak & Eggs with 6-oz filet mignon, two eggs, fruit, and breakfast potatoes. Reserve here.

Renny's: Brunch With Santa, December 9, from 10 am-3 pm
Santa will be available for photos from 10 am-12 pm. Renny's brunch menu features dishes like a Sticky Bun Skillet with three housemade rolls with cinnamon, pecans, and caramel; a Monte Cristo - beer battered stuffed with ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijonnaise, topped with raspberry sauce & powdered sugar; or Renny's Biscuits & Gravy. Renny's also offers cocktails and a Mimosa Mini Bar featuring a bottle of House Prosecco or Champagne + choice of two juices and berries for $29. Reserve here.

Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar: Breakfast with Santa, December 10 and December 17, from 10 am-3 pm
Harwood already has the holiday thing aced: They have one of the largest outdoor Christmas trees in Dallas which has become a destination during the holiday. They wanted to enhance their Christmas programming by adding a holiday event at the historic Saint Ann’s that is family- and kid-friendly. Thus: a lavish holiday breakfast buffet with spinach & sausage strata, sausage kolaches, potato hash, 4 cheese mac & cheese, French toast fingers, waffles, chicken tenders, salads, plus holiday music and a special visit & photos with Santa. $55 or $35 for 12 and under.

Stirr: Santa Brunch, December 9 and December 16, from 10 am-12 pm
Get ready for a ho-ho-whole lot of fun with the real Black Santa who is making Saturday morning stops in Dallas throughout December, bringing his merry vibes and soulful spirit. Festive Santa brunch will include free Santa portraits and a special brunch experience with classic chicken & grits and their giant cinnamon roll, plus holiday drinks like their maple bacon Old Fashioned or Rudolph's Spritzer, in a large format to share with friends. Reservations are required.

Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa, Breakfast With Santa, December 9 and December 16 and December 23, from 10 am-12 pm
Frisco resort has been doing Breakfast with Santa for the past two years, as place where families could celebrate together and bring joy to kids' faces, both big and small. They're hosting three dates filled with activities for the kids and special visits from Santa. Indulge in a brunch spread while the kids dive into activity stations such as cookie decorating and crafting their own gingerbread masterpiece to take home, plus an opportunity to engage and take a photo with Santa. The December 23 brunch will feature a visit from Mrs. Claus in addition to Santa. Tickets are $45 for adults, $35 for 12 and under. Reservations: for December 9, for December 16, for December 23.

Peppa Pig reveals all the rides coming to new Dallas-Fort Worth theme park

snorts and giggles

Peppa Pig is arriving soon in North Richland Hills, and the beloved British cartoon character is bringing families new ways to soar, sail, slide, and splash around: The new Peppa Pig Theme Parkhas revealed all the rides and attractions that visitors can expect when it opens in 2024.

According to a release, the "oinktastic experiences" will include five rides, seven themed playscapes, a water play area, and more.

"Designed to be the ultimate experience for little ones, the new theme park combines interactive rides and themed playgrounds with character shows and an indoor cinema for climate-controlled entertainment," park organizers say in the release. "Every corner of the charming new park is crafted with preschoolers in mind, from their first roller coaster rides and fairground games with the whole family, to a pedal path adventure built just for kids, and a colorful splash pad that celebrates 'muddy puddles' jumping fun."

Park attractions will include:

Rides

Daddy Pig's Roller Coaster: A "beginner" roller coaster featuring Daddy Pig driving his iconic red car on a curvy exploration. "This family-friendly thrill ride is the perfect first roller coaster for brave little visitors," the release says.

Peppa Pig's Balloon Ride: A family-friendly aerial carousel ride that takes guests soaring into the sky for thrilling views of the whole theme park.

Grandad Dog's Pirate Boat Ride: A boat ride in search of hidden treasure with Grandad Dog.

Grampy Rabbit's Dinosaur Adventure: An epic dino quest (while riding on a dinosaur) that searches for prehistoric surprises through Grampy Rabbit's Dinosaur Park.

Mr. Bull's High Striker: A hammer hits the bell on Mr. Bull's High Striker, and the whole family bounces up to the sky. "Hold on tight and be prepared for a surprise because, after all, what goes up, must come down," they say.

Peppa Pig Theme Park Ride the roller coaster with Peppa Pig. Photo courtesy of Merlin Entertainments

Play spaces and attractions

Muddy Puddles Splash Pad: A water play area with spouting fountains, slides, and of course, splashing around in "muddy puddles."

Peppa's Pedal Bike Tour and George's Tricycle Trail: A pedal experience that takes kids on camping adventure in the woods, and through mountains and more.

Fun Fair: A fairground adventure with Peppa her friends, filled with free games and rides, including Miss Rabbit's hot air balloon and Mr. Bull's High Striker ride.

George's Fort: A maze through Granny Pig's Garden leads to George's Fort, "just waiting to be explored," they tease.

Grandpa Pig's Greenhouse: A chance to slide around Grandpa Pig's Greenhouse and see what he's growing.

Peppa Pig's Treehouse: Peppa's (not-so-high) treehouse that can be climbed up and then descended via a slide to the bottom, wheeeee!

Rebecca Rabbit's Playground: A playground that encourages kids to get active by finding all the ways to play - jump, crawl, or hop around the rabbit burrows.

Madame Gazelle's Nature Trail: A nature pathway of mysterious footprints to follow and explore with Madame Gazelle.

Mr. Potato's Showtime Arena: Mr. Potato's stage offers live shows featuring songs, games, snorts, and giggles all day long.

The Cinema: Favorite episodes of Peppa Pig will be played on the big screen in an indoor theater.

Announced in spring 2023, the North Richland Hills location (under construction at 8851 26 Blvd.) will be just the second Peppa Pig Theme Park in the world, following one that opened in Lakeland, Florida in early 2022. It will also be an expansion of the Peppa Pig brand in Dallas-Fort Worth, as Peppa Pig World of Play opened at Grapevine Mills in 2019.

"As many preschoolers' first best friend, Peppa encourages kids to explore the world with confidence, treating every first step as a new adventure, from the everyday to the epic," the release says.

The park comes from Merlin Entertainments, which also owns brands like LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds.

The exact opening date for the park has not yet been revealed, beyond "2024." Fans can sign up for Peppa Pig Theme Park emails at peppapigthemepark.com/dallas-ft-worth to stay up to date.

Peppa Pig Theme Park is not the only major family attraction coming to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A Universal Studios-branded Universal Kids Resort is also in the works in Frisco.

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Alex Bentley contributed to this story.

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 7 glam boutiques and pop-ups for December

Where to Shop Now

If you're not all shopped out during this extremely shopping-centric month, there are openings, special-event pop-ups, lots of jewelry and bridal, and a one-day sale benefitting a beloved Dallas nonprofit.

Here's where to shop right now:

The Clear Cut x Watters Designs Pop-Up
Head to Blue Print Store at 2707 Fairmount St. on December 9 from 10 am-2 pm for this limited pop-up shop. New York-based, direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand The Clear Cut is partnering with bridal brand Watters Designs for a morning of sipping bubbly while shopping for something new, something blue, and something sparkly too.

Reem Couture
Founded by Syrian refugee Reem Alazhare, this bridal and evening wear boutique is known for its hand-beaded custom creations. If you're looking to score up to 50 percent off a sumptuous gown, they're having a sample sale on December 9-10 from 12-6 pm both days, at their Richardson storefront, 1411 E. Campbell Rd. #200.

Lovers Lane Shop & Stroll
On December 16 from 12-5 pm, shoppers at Kat + Noelle, Nikki Smith Designs, PaperAffair, Scarlet Reagan, and Tasc can get 20 percent off their purchase with a donation to Community Partners of Dallas' Rainbow Room. Donation items can include hats, gloves, and socks for adults, toddlers, and infants. New coats with tags in all children and teen sizes are also needed.

Nikki Smith Designs
Speaking of the Dallas-based jewelry brand known for its modern, dainty, and affordable items, it has opened a third location on Greenville Avenue. Browse 900 square feet of retail space at 1925 Greenville Ave., across the street from HG Sply Co and between Joy Macarons and Greenville Avenue Pizza Company. The boutique's hours are Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-7 pm.

Tanishq
India's most prominent jewelry retail outlet has come to Texas, with a new boutique in Houston and a flagship store in Frisco. A household name in India, Tanishq currently has more than 400 retail stores across 240 cities in its home nation. Its designs are elaborate and opulent, dripping with gold, diamonds, and colored gemstones. The Frisco store is at 2809 Preston Rd. #1200.

Classic Whimsy
If you have kids, you may already know this brand as Smocked Auctions. It began as a Dallas-founded, social media-based company in 2010 and has since grown to offer both smocked pieces and clothing & accessories for special occasions and everyday wear. It has now rebranded and includes the Classic Whimsy line as well as a curated mix of other brands such as Magnolia Baby, Mud Pie, and more.

The Meteor
Cafe and bike shop spinoff from Austin opened its cafe in Dallas' Design District in August, and now the bike shop is open in the parking garage of the Urby high-rise apartment complex, at 1950 Hi Line Dr.; look for the green CHAIN LUBE sign. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am-6 pm, the bike shop sells and services bicycles, as well as bike gear: shirts, caps, gloves, socks, and mugs. Manager Andrew “Gonzo” Gonzales is rumored to be one of the best in the business. If you are bicycling, it is just off the Trinity Strand Trail at the Hi Line Connector.

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