After having operated as a tent pole in The Star in Frisco for nearly a year, Cowboys Fit is set to open a new location in Plano, off of Preston and West Park Blvd. Cowboys Fit is a state-of-the-art gym facility offering members a comprehensive fitness experience with high-tech fitness equipment and luxury amenities.
Apart from rigorous training programs and the latest fitness equipment, Cowboys Fit also puts an emphasis on the recovery portion of the workout, offering amenities like cryogenic therapy and other treatments that can’t be found anywhere else.
The Cowboys Fit team of personal trainers consist of former NFL players, cheerleaders, and fitness experts across all disciplines, who will help you with a customized game plan to help you reach your fitness goals and make you feel like part of America’s team.
Cowboys Fit will open their new Plano location in early winter of 2019, right on time to bring in the new year with new fitness goals.
Cowboys Fit, 4817 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX (Coming 2019)
From the man behind Dallas barbeque staple Smoke comes a brand new Asian-inspired concept. Having become a household name in the realm of meats, Chef Tim Byres makes a 180 degree turn with new, nutritious and filling options. At Tight Quarters, Legacy Hall’s newest food booth, guests can choose from a variety of Asian Inspired power bowls, filled with flavorful meats, fresh veggies, and an abundance of spices.
The Steak Pad Thai noodle bowl is one of the many great bowls available for purchase at Tight Quarters. The noodles-to-fillings ratio is just right, and the customer certainly gets their money’s worth on meat and fresh vegetables.
Apart from bowls, Tight Quarters will soon be offering homemade kombucha and Mother of Vinegar Shrub Drinks.
Tight Quarters is now open in Legacy Hall in Plano. For more information on hours and menu options, visit eattq.com
Truluck’s will present a four-course champagne dinner. Savor signature fresh seafood dishes and house-made desserts, sumptuously paired with an array of Champagne selections from the centuries-long Maison Mumm dynasty. For tickets click here.
Photo courtesy of Truluck’s
Scardello Artisan Cheese presents French Wine and Cheese
7/27 at 8:00 p.m.
Scardello Artisan Cheese
Scardello Artisan Cheese will explore 1,000 cheeses paired with fantastic wines from several of the best wine regions of France. Experience true cheese bliss, or as they say in France, “Joie de Vivre!” Tickets can be bought at the door or purchased here.
Photo courtesy of Scardello Artisan Cheese
Lone Star Ranch and Rescue presents Horse-a-Palooza
7/28 at 5:30 p.m.
Tupps Brewery
Lone Star Ranch and Rescue will present Horse-a-Palooza, featuring great food, craft beers, and music from Red Leather. The evening will raise money to rescue, rehab, and rehome some horses. Tickets can be purchased here.
Photo courtesy of Lone Star Ranch & Rescue
2018 Dallas Hip-Hop Dance Festival
7/28 at 7:00 p.m.
Majestic Theater
Dallas Hip-Hop Dance Festival is the largest hip-hop dance festival in the south, featuring dancers of all ages and representing all forms of hip-hop dance. DHDF will host three unique events during the festival: Convention, Battle, and The Show. Tickets can be purchased here.
Photo by Sean Malone
The Rustic presents Stars Stripes and Summer Nights
7/29 at 4:00 p.m.
The Rustic
The Rustic will present an afternoon of live music and everyone’s favorite summer indulgences, all while supporting Folds of Honor. Standout local blues and soul powerhouse Abraham Alexander will kick off the event with live music. Luke Pell, U.S. Army Captain turned country music heartthrob after starring on The Bachelorette, will take the stage next. Catch Pell performing his chart-topping hit, “Ball Caps” and “Blue Jeans.” The live music doesn’t stop there. One of Texas country’s finest, Wade Bowen, will cap off the night with a high energy, full band performance, and with Bowen, you never know who might join him on stage. One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket sales and a percentage of the proceeds from the vendors will benefit Folds of Honor, an organization that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Tickets can be purchased here.
Best of Guide is a proud sponsor of Sunnyland Outdoor Furniture’s Dad’s Gift Grillin’ Eggfest. This Saturday, Sunnyland Outdoor Furniture will be hosting their annual Dad’s Gift Grillin’ Eggfest in their parking lot. Eggfest will consist of various local chefs participating in cooking demonstrations while utilizing the Big Green Egg Grill. Attendees will get the chance to vote for the best cooking demonstration at the conclusion of Eggfest. For more info on Dad’s Gift Grillin’ Eggfest, click here.
Best of Guide is a proud sponsor of Sunnyland Outdoor Furniture’s Dad’s Gift Grillin’ Eggfest
Four Seasons Markets at CityLine
Every Friday in June, CityLine in Richardson will be hosting a European-style market in the plaza. Patrons can purchase a variety of groceries, basic essentials, and various accessories from over 25 local vendors. For a full list of participating vendors, click here.
Today kicks of the first of CityLine’s Four Seasons Market series. (Photo courtesy of CityLine Richardson)
Dirk Nowitzki’s 2018 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game
Tonight, you can catch Dak Prescott, Mark Cuban, Ezekiel Elliot, and many more of your favorite local public figures playing a round of celebrity baseball. Opening pitch begins at 7:00 p.m. at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation. To purchase tickets, click here.
Catch Dirk Nowitzki, along with various other local celebrities, at Dr. Pepper Ballpark tonight at 7:00 p.m. (Via ESPN)
Tough MUTTer
This Saturday, Mutt’s Canine Cantina will be hosting its first ever Tough MUTTer. Participating dogs will attempt to master an obstacle course for a chance to win a gift card from Mutts. Tickets are just $5 per competing dog, and all proceeds benefit the SPCA. To register for Tough MUTTer, click here.
The first ever Tough MUTTer takes place this Saturday (Via Trip Advisor)
Plano Comedy Festival
All weekend long, Plano will be hosting several comedians in the city’s inaugural comedy festival. In a mini-SXSW fashion, the likes of Aaron Aryanpur (Funniest Comic in Texas, FOX), Jonny Bratsveen (Comedy Central’s Hart of the City), and Mac Blake (Just For Laughs in Montreal) will be performing sets at Hyena’s Plano, Taste of the Islands, and Art Centre Theatre. For venue information, a full schedule of events, and tickets, click here.
Aaron Aryanpur (Photo courtesy of Comedy Scene in Houston)
Ryan Carbery and Tim McLaughlin, co-founders of Farmbyrd Rotisserie & Fry
Over off of Ohio and Parker resides one of Plano’s hidden gems. At Farmbyrd Rotisserie & Fry, guests can enjoy a variety of southern style chicken recipes and cocktails based with beers and spirits from local breweries. Since Farmbyrd’s opening, the farm-themed eatery has been oft-regarded as a fresh, modern concept that allows the team to cook high-quality food and focus on serving the best food possible.
Hot off the rotisserie (Via Facebook)
“I moved to Dallas from Los Angeles about ten years ago,” Co-Founder Ryan Carbery said. “I was going to work with a chef to open a restaurant. It was around the time of the recession and unfortunately, the economy caught up with Dallas and the restaurant didn’t end up opening.”
While most people in this situation may opt to return to where they had previously been living, Carbery embraced the new city in which he found himself.
Carbery and crew later opened a restaurant called Lazare in West Village. From there, Carbery went on to make contributions to several high-end restaurants throughout the metroplex, including Nosh by Avner Samuel. Through Samuel, Carbery connected with Edward Bailey and worked as the Executive Chef and the Director of Operations of Bailey’s Prime Plus & Patrizio.
Carbery has been honing his restaurant industry skill set since his single digits.
“I started bussing tables in one of my dad’s restaurants when I was in second grade,” Carbery said. “I remember some guests would ask my dad if I had a work permit. He would laugh and say ‘he’s my son, that’s permit enough.’”
Carbery is a fourth-generation restaurant owner, having come from a family of chefs and connoisseurs of food.
“My dad owned 10 restaurants throughout the time I was growing up,” Carbery said. “These restaurants ranged from Italian pizza and pasta places to steakhouses. They were mostly high-end, full-service restaurants.”
With the skills he had been reinforcing since his childhood, along with the help of longtime friend and Chef Tim Mclaughlin, owner of Lockhart Smokehouse, the pair opened Farmbyrd Rotisserie & Fry in January of last year.
Country-fried ribeye with southern fixings (Via Facebook)
“Tim and I both could see that there was a void in the casual dining scene where the food shined and was the main attraction,” Carbery said. “We believe in simple food done well and in letting the ingredients speak for themselves.”
Farmbyrd offers a variety of chicken, prime rib, catfish, and constantly rotating chef features.
“We locally source our ingredients as often as we can,” Carbery said. “We also support various local breweries, including Tupps, Revolver, and Deep Ellum.”
Farmbyrd offers a selection of beers from local breweries (Via Facebook)
Apart from supporting local farms and breweries, Carbery and crew also support many local educational organizations.
“We try to raise funds for as many schools as we can,” Carbery said. “We host a lot of school spirit nights, and we also support Plano Sports Authority.”
Farmbyrd is located at 3308 Preston Road, Suite 380 in Plano, TX. They are currently nominated for Best Southern/Homestyle Cooking in Plano Magazine’s Best of 2018 category. To vote for Farmbyrd, click here. Polls close May 28.
Tomorrow, Homegrown Music and Arts Festival Returns to Main Street Garden Park for the ninth year. Each of the acts, including Explosions in the Sky, Medicine Man Revival, and Duell all have some sort of connection to the great state of Texas. Tickets for Homegrown are available for purchase here. Check out Explosions in the Sky’s music video for “The Ecstatics” below!
House of DIFFA 2018: Alter Ego
Every year, the Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS puts on a uniquely themed fashion show, the proceeds of which go to funding AIDS research. This Saturday, the DIFFA show returns to the Omni Hotel in Downtown Dallas, with the theme “Alter Ego.” To behold a fabulous collection of fashions and to support a great cause, purchase your tickets for House of DIFFA here.
Mother’s Day Brunches:
Below is a list of our top choices for Mother’s Day brunch this Sunday.
Barnes & Noble Kitchen – Legacy West: At $35 per head, guests of Barnes & Noble Kitchen get a delicious, healthy three-course brunch. Check out the menu below!
Via Twitter
III Forks: Opening at the rare hour of 11:00 a.m., III Forks will be offering brunch this Sunday. Their finely curated three-course brunch menu will allow guests to choose from their
Aged Midwestern Beef Tenderloin, Crabcake St. Francis Benedict, and more. Spots are filling up quickly, so call (972)-267-1776 to get your reservations in.
Via Facebook
V-Eats: Not big on meat or dairy? Not to worry! Chef Troy Gardner will be cooking up a selection of vegan eats this Sunday at Trinity Groves! To RSVP, click here.
Via Facebook
Oak: Looking to splurge? $65.00 will get you a four-course brunch meal at Oak in the Design District. To check out Oak’s lavish brunch offerings, click here.
Via Facebook
Blue Mesa: For just $22, guests of Blue Mesa can enjoy a buffet including an omelet station, taco bar, and more. Mimosas, tea, and coffee come included with this package!
Football fans, rejoice! Football season is underway. Make your way over to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to partake in the NFL Draft experience for free today and Saturday! Can’t make it to the draft? Be sure to download the official NFL Draft App for iOS and Android.
Live Music at Chocolate Secrets
Long week? Unwind with some wine and chocolate at Chocolate Secrets. The multi-talented Darwin Marvin will be performing tonight at 7:30 and locally renowned blues singer Martha Burks will be performing tomorrow at 7:30. Check out Burks’s rendition of “My Funny Valentine” below!
Art in the Square
Southlake’s Art in the Square festival will be ringing in its 19th year this weekend. Enjoy a variety of artworks, food stands, and drink options at one of the top small town art festivals in the nation. Want to arrive to the event in style? Use promo code DFWLOVE for $10 off of your first Uber ride! Art in the Square will be kicking off tonight at 4:00, then again on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Movie in the Park
Tonight, The Shops at Park Lane will be hosting a free showing of the Academy Award-winning film, Coco. The showing will begin around 8:00 p.m., as soon as the sun goes down. Check out the trailer for Coco below!
Arts N’ Beats
Music, art, and fashion all come together at this Saturday’s Arts N’ Beats showcase. Be sure to stop by and see performances by Ron Bultongez, Blue Apollo, and more. Plus, an exclusive live art performance from Desmond Blair. Tickets for Arts N’ Beats can be purchased here. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to The Pursuit of Hope and Operation Go Quickly. Check out Desmond Blair’s inspiring story below!
Addison Health and Wellness Expo
Looking to make healthy life changes? Be sure to pay a visit to the Addison Health and Wellness Expo taking place at The Addison Conference Center this Saturday and Sunday. The Addison Health and Wellness Expo will feature lectures on physical, mental, and spiritual health, plus booths by Amy’s Chocolate, Down to Earth Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine, and more. Tickets for the Addison Health and Wellness Expo can be purchased here.
Taco Libre
The biggest taco party of the year returns to Dallas Farmers Market this Saturday. Taco Libre will feature live wrestling, musical performances, and $2.00 tacos from 25 taquerias! For tickets, click here.
Providing peace of mind is a full-time job. Mark Thompson, the founder of Smith Thompson Security, gladly accepts this responsibility. In a time when tragedies seem to take place on a daily basis, Thompson emphasizes the value of safety and security.
Mark Thompson started Smith Thompson Security in 1978. Smith Thompson Security is often regarded as a company born out of tragedy.
“My father was killed by a drunk driver,” Thompson says. “Our hometown’s newspaper did a story on our family and said we’d be out of town for the funeral. When we got back from the funeral, we discovered that our house had been robbed.”
The look on his mother’s face upon discovery of the horrific incident was enough to motivate Thompson to take action.
“I will never forget how much this broke my mother’s heart,” Thompson says. “Our family completely understands how violating such an act can be.”
Since that day, Thompson has been committed to providing security to families at a reasonable price.
“Back then, home security systems were expensive,” Thompson says. “Only the wealthy could afford them. We tried to find ways to make them affordable for everyone.”
Smith Thompson Security customers can create personalized packages to match the needs of their families.
“Everyone’s needs are different,” Thompson says. “You have to make the system adapt to the customer’s to live with them, not make the customer live with the system.”
Like his home security business, his pest control business, Smith Thompson Pest Control, has also proven lucrative. However, Thompson is a firm believer in working for one’s earnings. At the moment, his children are learning the ropes of the family business.
Smith Thompson’s official Pest Control truck (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
“Everybody in my family starts off like I did,” Thompson says. “I was crawling around in attics running wiring. My son, Jordan, is in the pest control business, and he’s learning it from the ground up.”
Thompson’s years of hard work and dedication have proven to be fruitful. Smith Thompson Security is currently the official home security system of the Dallas Mavericks.
“On our 30th anniversary, my wife and I came up with this crazy idea to visit all 30 NBA arenas,” Thompson says. “It started off as a joke, then it became a dare, then we actually did it. And then, the following year, we became sponsors after receiving a lot of media attention. We’ve been sponsors ever since.”
Having been heavily involved with the Dallas Mavericks for nearly eight years, Thompson won MFFL award at the final Mavs game of the 2017-2018 season.
Rick Carlisle, Lynda Thompson, and Mark Thompson at recent Mavs luncheon. (Photo credit: Tammany Stern)
Despite his staple status in the DFW community, Thompson has remained humble, hardworking, and dedicated to providing quality service to families and homeowners. Since Smith Thompson’s early beginnings, Thompson has never increased his home monitoring rate from $16.95 per month.
Smith Thompson Security currently serves families and homeowners in over 150 cities and towns in Texas. To get set up with affordable home security, call 1-888-888-1695, or visit http://smiththompson.com.
Tired of the same boring brewery tours? Then make your way over to Legacy Hall! Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co. offers tour every Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The tour is led by the hilarious David Jessup and Phil Parsons. For $15.00, each participant receives a souvenir pint glass, two beers, and the brewery tour of a lifetime. If you enjoy raunchy humor, good beer and obtaining educational information, then UABC is the place for you.
A selection of beers available at Unlawful Assembly Brewing Company (photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
EarthX
Dallas’s annual Earth Day festival will be taking place starting today and ending this Sunday. The three-day long free event will feature interactive exhibits and showcase a variety of documentaries. There will also be musical performances by Chucho, Atlantis Aquarius, Black Joe Lewis, and more. To see the musical performances, you will need to pay a $5.00 fee, but on Sunday, if you bring a vinyl record, you can see the music performances free of charge! For a full schedule of events, click here
A screencap from “Bangladesh,” a short film to be showcased at EarthX this weekend (Via EarthX)
Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival
Got rained out of Deep Ellum Arts Festival? Well lucky for you, Fort Worth will be having an arts festival of their own this weekend. The Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival will showcase a variety of food, paintings, sculptures, music and more from local artisans. The best part? Attendance is free! For a full schedule of events, click here
The Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival will have activities for people of all ages (Via Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival)
Live Music at Chocolate Secrets
Chocolate, wine, and music: the best way to end a stressful week. Every weekend Highland Park’s Chocolate Secrets features live performances from local artists. Be sure to catch Cindy Hortsman and Mike Medina tonight beginning at 7:30 and Joe McBride this Saturday at 7:30. Check out Horstman’s “Summertime” below!
If five years ago, someone told me that Plano would grow to be a thriving restaurant and nightlife district, I probably would’ve never believed them. What I love about Legacy West are the many opportunities for shoppers, diners, and consumers to embrace a variety of world cultures. At Legacy West’s newest addition, Toulouse, Planoites are offered a wide selection of fine, authentic French cuisine.
Toulouse is the product of Lombardi Family Concepts, the founders of Taverna. It is the second of three Lombardi restaurants to open in the Legacy West development thus far (the third being Kai, which is set to open later this spring.)
On a Thursday evening, my best friend Nick and I dine in Legacy West’s newest addition. Upon arrival, we are promptly greeted by a hostess, who appears to be in great spirits. Although my reservation has somehow managed to have gotten lost, we are welcomed with open arms and seated immediately.
The restaurant’s walls, ceilings, and floors are decorated in white and silver. Each shelf of the bar is stacked to the brim with fine wines and pricey liquors. It is a replication of an authentic French brasserie.
Moments after being seated, we are approached by a server, who is clearly knowledgeable of the menu, ready to make suggestions based on our tastes.
To kick things off, we both order Old Fashioneds. Traditionally, an Old Fashioned consists of bitters, rye whiskey or brandy. Although the drink is served in a tiny glass, the amount served was satisfying. It is a very strong cocktail, so it is best sipped slowly.
Toulouse’s spin on the Old Fashioned (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
For my second drink, I order the Blackberry Mule. I had previously tried the Blackberry Mule at Taverna and it immediately became a favorite of mine. I am thrilled to see that Lombardi brought it over to Toulouse. The Blackberry Mule is heavy on fruit flavor, but not too strong on booze. It’s like drinking a pressed berry juice with a ginger kick.
The Lombardi signature Blackberry Mule (photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
When it came time to order appetizers, we ordered the Escargot Bourguignonne and the Oysters Rockefeller. When Nick and I order appetizers we typically take a little bit off of each others’ plates, and that night was no different.
I had never tried escargot before, but I am quite surprised by how much I enjoy Toulouse’s. They are easy to chew and taste no different from most kinds of seafood. Plus, the garlic sauce they come coated in adds an absolutely divine kick.
Escargot Bourguignonne from Toulouse (photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
What I like about Toulouse’s oysters is the fact that they aren’t super greasy and oily, like those of most restaurants. Albeit light on oil, Toulouse’s oysters are still very hearty and flavorful.
Toulouse’s signature Oysters Rockefeller (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
For my main course, I order the Duck Two Ways. The Duck Two Ways is a plate containing Long Island Duck Breast, both grilled and fried, compressed apples, potato dauphinoise, and dark cherry demi. I find the duck to be delicious beyond my expectations, and the pairing with the fruits allow for sweet touches.
Toulouse’s signature Duck Two Ways (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
Like the appetizers, Nick and I go splitzies on our desserts. We ordered soufflé and crème brûlée. It was my first time trying soufflé, and I wasn’t expecting it to be so egg-heavy. It’s good, but perhaps I probably would enjoy it more around breakfast time.
Soufflé from Toulouse (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
The crème brûlée, on the other hand, is incredible. The caramelized coating is crisp to the touch, and the custard filling is thick, creamy, and consistent; not at all sloppy or oozy. Toulouse’s crème brûlée is probably the most well put-together version of the dish I have ever had the pleasure to try.
Crème brûlée from Toulouse (Photo credit: Alex Gonzalez)
Overall, I feel Toulouse is a fabulous addition to Legacy West. It is the closest thing to a French brasserie one can get in Dallas and makes for a remarkable cultural experience. Lombardi Family Concepts can do no wrong, and they show no signs of slowing down.
