Pitbull, Ricky Martin, and Enrique Iglesias team up for Trilogy tour headed to Dallas

Concert news

Photo via @LeandrovCo

Three Latin superstars are headed to Dallas on a fall tour: Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull will share the stage together for the first time ever as part of "The Trilogy Tour," which will hit the American Airlines Center on Friday, November 17.

This new 19-city tour produced by Live Nation kicks off in Washington, D.C., on October 14. The Texas leg of the tour hits Houston on November 18 at Toyota Center and AT&T Center in San Antonio on November 19.

As one would expect, the megastars promise to deliver an electrifying mix of their biggest, career-spanning hits with tastes of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic all thrown in for good measure. Each showman will backed by world-class production and state-of-the-art visuals, per an announcement.

Live Nation recommends that fans register now through Sunday, June 4 at 10:59 pm0 for the Verified Fan presale here. Those who are selected to receive an access code will be able to participate in the Verified Fan presale starting on Wednesday, June 7. (More information on Verified Fan can be found here).

A limited number of tickets will be sold during a general on sale starting at 10 am Friday, June 9 at Ticketmaster.com — while supplies last.

Expect a slew of VIP packages and experiences, which include perks like an invitation to the pre-show VIP lounge, exclusive VIP tour poster, specially designed VIP gift item and more. More VIP information can be found at vipnation.com.

From prince to King Enrique
The son of Latin king Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias has evolved from promising pop prince to arguably the biggest Latin recording artist in music history, with a wow-worthy 154 No. 1 singles across Billboard charts and 27 No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart. Iglesias currently holds the record for most number ones in the chart’s history.

At once a sultry crooner and poppy persona, he fluidly moves between English and Spanish and genres to the tune of more than 180 million albums sold worldwide, released 11 studio albums, and three greatest hits compilations. To date, Iglesias has headlined 10 sold-out world tours and performed in front of more than 10 million fans.

Known for big collabs with Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Pitbull, and more, he boasts multiple Grammy, Billboard, ASCAP, and more major awards. His 14 billion views on YouTube/VEVO and 14 billion in streams make him one the most streamed and viewed artists on the planet.

"I am incredibly excited to be going on tour with my friends Pitbull and Ricky," Iglesias said in a tour announcement. "The Trilogy Tour will be an amazing experience for ALL of our fans. It’s going to be a once in a lifetime tour."

La Vida Ricky
A fresh-faced poser boy for '80s pop group Menudo, Ricky Martin grew up before fans eyes into a hunky, bellowing singer known for leaving it all out onstage. Often dubbed the "King of Latin Pop," Martin has scored more than 180 awards and multiple Grammy Awards, most recently for the EP Pausaa and the album PLAY, which features collaborations with Bad Bunny, Residente, and Sting.

The Puerto Rico native is also an accomplished actor, flexing his chops and earning an Emmy nomination in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. He's next set to star in the highly anticipated Apple TV series Palm Royale, alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett.

Martin has championed HIV and AIDS causes and founded the Ricky Martin Foundation, which actively fights against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. He is a Global Ambassador for UNICEF, has received the Hispanic Federation's "Humanitarian Award" and the Human Rights Campaign's "National Visibility Award." The City of New York declared "Ricky Martin Day" to honor his musical legacy and charitable work.

"Going back on the road with not only Enrique, but now with Pitbull it’s very exciting," Martin notes in a statement. "This tour will be a wild party from beginning to end so get ready, it's going to be epic!"

Mr. Worldwide
Grammy-winning showman Pitbull — aka Mr. Worldwide — has a golden touch when it comes to singalong party anthems and killer shows. As an artist, the Miami performer boasts billions of audio streams and video views plus hundreds of gold and platinum certifications. As an entrepreneur, he co-owns the NASCAR racing team Trackhouse and tours with life strategy guru Tony Robbins on motivational speaking engagements.

Famed for his fiesta vibe, Armando Christian "Pitbull" Perez is dead serious about education as he helped establish the nationwide Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!), tuition-free public charter schools.

“It’s a true honor to tour with Enrique and Ricky, 2 music icons, who broke global music barriers for our culture and open doors for someone like myself,” said Pitbull. “We’re excited to take The Trilogy tour around the world and give our fans the time of their Trilogy lives, Dale!"

Here are the official dates for The Trilogy Tour:

Sat Oct 14 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Tue Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Fri Oct 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

Sat Oct 21– Boston, MA – TD Garden

Thu Oct 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Sat Oct 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

Wed Nov 01 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Fri Nov 03 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

Thu Nov 09 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center

Fri Nov 10 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

Fri Nov 17 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Sat Nov 18 – Houston – Toyota Center

Sun Nov 19 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center

Fri Nov 24 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

Sat Nov 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

Thu Nov 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena

Wed Dec 06 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center

Fri Dec 08 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Sun Dec 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Photo via @LeandrovCo

Ricky Martin brings his vida loca.

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These are the 7 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

This Week in Gluttony

There are two anniversary parties this week and both feature food and drink specials along with live music – one from '80s cover bands and the other from a powerhouse in Texas country music.

Meanwhile, Oktoberfest season is winding down, but there are two opportunities this week enjoy German-inspired eats and beer before the festival ends.

Tuesday, September 26

Lori’s Day at Newk’s Eatery
Mississippi-based sandwich, salad, and soup will celebrate its third annual ovarian cancer fundraiser in honor of Lori Newcomb, wife of Newk’s founder Chris Newcomb, who lost her battle with the disease in 2019. Through Newk’s Cares, founded by Lori in 2014 after her diagnosis, all locations will donate 20 percent of sales to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Newk’s has locations in Frisco and Plano.

Wednesday, September 27

Cheers to 10 Years at The Rustic with Pat Green
Dallas bar, restaurant, and live music venue owned in part by Texas country music icon Pat Green will throw a 10th anniversary party featuring the superstar himself in concert. There’ll be drink specials and giveaways from Espolon Tequila and Eight Elite Light Lager, with a special appearance by Eight founder Troy Aikman. Doors open at 5:30 pm and concert opener Dalton Torres will take the stage at 8 pm. Tickets are $27 per person, plus a fee.

Thursday, September 28

40th Anniversary Party at Aw Shucks
All five locations of the Aw Shucks and Big Shucks oyster bar chain (Dallas, Richardson, Lewisville, and Frisco) will host a throwback Thursday 80s-themed anniversary party featuring discounted menu items. Specials include a $19.83 platter of crab and shrimp boil, $19.83 dozen oysters on the half shell, $3.83 margaritas, and $2.83 draft beers. Born in 1983? You get a free slice of key lime pie. There’ll also be 80s cover bands at all locations from 5–9 pm. Break out the big hair and leg warmers because there’ll be costume contests for prizes, too.

Yappy Hour at Ellie’s
The terrace at Ellie’s inside the Hall Arts Hotel will welcome four-legged friends and their humans during this rooftop happy hour. Visit from 5–7 pm for specialty drinks and bites and to meet other Dallas-area dog lovers. Admission is free and valet parking is $5.

Basil Hayden Whiskey Dinner at Bourbon & Banter
Statler Dallas restaurant will host a four-course bourbon-pairing dinner featuring Kentucky-based Basil Hayden whiskey. Menu items include spinach & roasted red pepper-stuffed chicken, steelhead trout en papillote, grilled flat iron steak with truffle potatoes, and Basil Hayden chocolate pot de crème. The dinner is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 7 pm.

Friday, September 29

Oktoberfest at Harwood Arms
The party will start early at 11 am for all-day specials including $22 beer steins ($8 refills) and German cuisine including Bavarian sausages, chicken schnitzel sandwiches, and potato pancakes. There’ll be live music starting at 6 pm along with two stein-holding competitions at 5 pm and 8 pm. Admission is free.

Monday, October 2

Oktoberfest Beer Dinner at Urban Crust
Plano wood-fired pizza kitchen will celebrate Oktoberfest with a four-course German-themed beer dinner. Tickets are $65 per person, including tax and gratuity, and the dinner will begin at 6:30 pm.

Aw Shucks restaurant on Lower Greenville in Dallas, circa 1983

Photo courtesy of Aw Shucks

A local oyster bar chain will throw it back to the 80s with an anniversary party.

New Irish pub with very authentic name opens in downtown Dallas

Pub News

Downtown Dallas has a new Irish pub: Called Patrick Kennedy’s Irish Pub, it's on the ground floor of the Downtown Westin Hotel at 1201 Main Street #100, where it replaces NOLA Brasserie, a New Orleans-themed restaurant that was previously at the hotel that closed in May.

According to a release, Patrick Kennedy's is the latest sibling in a family of Irish pubs from Irish native Alan Kearney that includes Playwright Irish Pub in Dallas Arts District, The Crafty Irishman Public House in downtown Dallas, Trinity College Irish Pub in Fort Worth, and Cannon’s Corner Irish Pub in Oak Cliff. Got all the neighborhoods covered.

This makes the second Irish pub downtown for Kearney, but Crafty Irishman is small and customers are already overlowing. Patrick Kennedy's has 6,500 square feet, with a large high bar, table & booth seating, and a wrap-around outdoor patio.

"This location is a great spot for our concept! We’ve been waiting for something of this size for a while," Kearney says in a statement.

To create a cozy atmosphere, Kearney and his team built out wood walls separating the space into rooms, installed fireplaces, and added and Irish paraphernalia for something of interest in every nook.

"Kennedy’s is nestled into a corner that welcomes many tourists into Dallas with hotels and visiting attractions all around," Kearney says. "We aim to be the spot for residents, downtown workers and traveling tourists. A melting pot of customers — giving a wink to the American dream!”

Patrick Kennedy’s Irish Pub is named for JFK’s great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, whose coming to America was a classic immigrant tale that mirrors Kearney's story, as well.

The menu includes

French Onion Soup served in a hollowed-out onion & Pub Chicken and Mushroom Vol Au Vents served in a puff pastry
Traditional Irish Breakfast
Scotch Eggs

New Ross Sheperd’s Pie and Howth Beer-Battered Fish and Chips are flown in weekly. They also do weekend brunch and Happy Hour with fancy offerings include Irishman Red Ale pints, domestic bottled beers, house wines, well liquor as well as specialty drinks like the Irish Mule, Car Bomb, Green Tea shots and Baby Guinness Shots, Monday-Friday from 2–7 pm. Plus bites including Galway Bay Mussels, Corned Beef & Cabbage Rolls, Irish Nachos, Public House Pretzel, Boneless Wings and Spicy Wisconsin Cheese Curds from 2– 6 pm.

Dallas' Banh Shop unveils 3 new street-side restaurants around DFW

Sandwich News

There's a big comeback for Banh Shop, a Dallas-based restaurant concept centered on the delectable Vietnamese sandwich called the banh mi.

Initially founded in 2014, Banh Shop has three new locations coming soon including one that'll open in Fort Worth in mid-October.

The locations are as follows:

Fort Worth, at 3051 S. University Dr., across from TCU
Las Colinas 7601 N. McArthur Blvd. #105
Dallas, Shops at Park Lane, across from NorthPark

Spokesperson Mark Brezinski says that all three will open within the next six months, starting with TCU in early October. Las Colinas will open by the end of 2023, and Dallas in early spring 2024.

But he cautions not to call it a comeback. "We've still been opening locations, but at airports - just not street side," he says.

The banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich featuring a crusty but light French baguette with an array of ingredients: pickled carrots, daikon, jalapeno, cucumber, cilantro, mayo, a smear of pate, and a protein, with the original featuring marinated pork, although tofu is a common alternative.

Its lightness and combination of sharp, fresh flavors has given it great crossover potential, and all kinds of restaurants now have a banh mi on their menus.

Banh Shop was originally developed by Brezinski with Braden and Yasmin Wages, the husband-and-wife owners of Malai Kitchen, for Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut).

They opened the first location near SMU in September 2014, followed by their first airport location at DFW Airport. The SMU location closed in 2017, but there are now four airport locations including two in Canada, and plans for more. All of those locations are run by SSP, a company that specializes in airport concessions.

Reviving the street locations is ACE, LLC a franchisee of Yum Emerging Brands part II, AKA YEBII, which is the franchisor of the concept, for both airports and street-side locations.

Part of the not-comeback includes a refreshed menu.

"The banh mi is still the heart of the concept, with new sandwiches we've been testing," Brezinski says, “but with still a strong 50/50 emphasis on our popular wok bowls.”

Their menu includes the Fried Rice Bowl with wok-seared white rice, egg, broccoli, scallions, bean sprouts, and cherry tomatoes tossed in garlic soy sauce with choice of protein; pad Thai, the classic noodle dish; Vietnamese-style chicken soup; and eight sandwiches including a tofu version of banh mi, and a turkey sandwich on a baguette.

This seems like a good time to mention that their pork meatball banh mi was called "the best meatball sandwich in America" by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine in 2015.

They're also adding a bar.

"It's still remaining fast-casual but we're expanding the drink opportunities with some wonderful items, including Vietnamese coffee, Thai tea with boba, and matcha latte," he says. "The key thing will be the freshness and vibrancy of the food."

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