Local

I was born and raised in Dallas, TX, but I still discover new hidden gems across the city all the time! DFW is such a hub of culture, fun, and food. I’m always searching for new experiences, small businesses to spotlight, and tasty food to try.

If you’re a fellow Dallasite or if you plan to visit Dallas soon, follow along on Instagram for even more of my local favorites.

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Fable & Fire in Rockwall, TX 

The latest hot spot in Downtown Rockwall is part book shop, part coffee shop, and part bistro. Fable and Fire, located at 104 S San Jacinto St, has all the charm of a quiet small town coffee counter by day, and comes to life with...
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Christmas at the Gaylord Texan 

Visiting the Gaylord Texan at Christmas time has been a tradition in my family for many years. My dad would load us all up in the car, drive an hour from Rockwall over to Grapevine, and buy everybody a hot chocolate to sip while we...
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Fair & Square Imports in McKinney, TX 

Shopping and strolling around charming Downtown McKinney is one of my favorite pastimes in DFW. There are dozens of unique local businesses to explore around the McKinney square, where I can always seem to find something delicious to snack on or something pretty that needs...
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XOXO Dining Room in Dallas, TX 

As Miley Cyrus once said, “Pink isn’t a color. It’s an attitude too.” And there’s no better place to embody pink than XOXO Dining Room in Dallas. Being a huge fan of all things pink myself, I’ve had this adorable restaurant on my Texas todo...
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My Gnome Cones Review 

Is it a gnome hat… or an ice cream cone? If you’ve seen pictures of Gnome Cones on social media, it has doubtless captured your imagination with its inventive treats. Have you ever tried the cutest shaved ice/ice cream shop in Denton, TX? Here’s my...
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AAPI Heritage Month Block Party 2022 

May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the Asian Grub DFW Facebook Group decided to celebrate big with a Bishop Arts Block Party! Saturday, May 14 more than a dozen Asian-owned food vendors will gather in the parking lots near Krio in Bishop...
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Pokémon Pancakes from PANKY Doodle 

Did you know that there’s a business in Allen, TX that will transform your favorite cartoon characters into custom pancakes? Meet PANKY Doodle, the pancake business serving up smiles founded by Aanchal Gupta in 2020. Aanchal originally started doodling on frying pans to entice her...
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My Fiatto Review 

This year is a big milestone for Austin and I: we will celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary this fall! I can hardly believe it. Since this year also marked the 5-year anniversary of our engagement, Austin decided to treat me to a whole weekend of...
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My Dahlia on Ross Review 

Austin surprised me with reservations to the cutest Dallas restaurant simply because he knew how much I love all things floral. And Dahlia on Ross has flowers everywhere! Here’s everything we tried at this iconic Dallas spot and some detailed pictures of the ambiance there....
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Spring at the Dallas Arboretum 

The weather is warming up and the flowers are starting to blossom here in Dallas, which means it’s time for one my favorite annual spring festivals: Dallas Blooms at the Arboretum! Spring at the Dallas Arboretum brings 500,000+ colorful flowers, larger than life topiaries, and...
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The Best of Broadway on Lyric Stage 

Live performances are back at last, and there are some fantastic shows coming to Dallas next year! This fall, Dallas County’s locally produced musical theatre organization Lyric Stage invited us to celebrate their return to the spotlight. We heard talented performers belt out classic Broadway...
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Haunted Cocktail Party in Dallas, TX 

This spooky season, we experienced fright and delight at Fever’s Haunted Cocktail Party inside an old Dallas mansion. I’m normally way too wimpy to go inside any traditional haunted houses, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to dress up, sip drinks, and enjoy some...
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Immersive Van Gogh in Dallas, TX 

To celebrate our anniversary this year, Austin and I planned a date night in downtown Dallas at the world-famous Immersive Van Gogh exhibit. As a big fan of impressionist painters, this exhibit was a must-see for me! Whether you’re an art nerd who wants to...
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Fall Fun at YesterLand Farm in Canton, TX 

Tucked away in the East Texas countryside in Canton, TX, there’s a fall farmland full of festive fun. If haunted hayrides, creepy corn mazes, or zombie paintball sound like the perfect way to spend an October weekend, you’ll love YesterLand Farm. Here’s our visitor’s guide...
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POP! by SNOWDAY Dallas Photo Booth Fun 

This week I was invited to preview a new interactive art installation called POP! at the Galleria Dallas. It’s a series of 24 retro-themed photo spaces, complete with lighting effects and props. I ended up exploring this Instagram playground for an hour and a half...
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Tiptoeing Through Texas Tulips 

One of my favorite spring traditions in the Dallas, TX area is our annual trip to Texas Tulips. The beautiful tulip fields look like something lifted straight out of Holland and dropped into the Texas countryside. Here’s everything you should know before you go, and...
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My Rise Soufflé Review 

I’ve had Rise No. 1 (AKA Rise Soufflé) on my Dallas foodie bucket list for over a year, and I finally gave their French feast a try last weekend. It absolutely blew my expectations out of the water!  Here’s everything to know before you try...
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Grapevine: The Christmas Capital of Texas 

Did you know that the Texas State Senate officially named this Dallas-Fort Worth suburb “The Christmas Capital of Texas”? Grapevine wears its title like a badge of honor and shows up to celebrate the season with plenty of festivities every year.  We visited Grapveine at...
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Holiday Tea in the Adolphus French Room 

Ever since I studied in London back in college, I’ve been obsessed with high tea service. The dainty sandwiches, the delicate pastries, and the decadent table spreads just make my foodie heart happy.  It’s hard to find many opportunities for tea when you live smack...
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My Amor Y Queso Review 

Deep Ellum has welcomed a new restaurant to its lineup this month, and it’s so gouda it’ll have you cheesing as soon as you take your first bite. Amor Y Queso (which means Love and Cheese in Spanish) sells charcuterie boards of all sizes and...
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Pitchfork Pumpkin Patch Murder Mystery 

There hasn’t been much good about the year 2020, but there is one bright jack-o-lantern light amidst all the heavy darkness. 2020 is the inaugural year of the new Pitchfork Pumpkin Patch! I’m always looking for local pumpkin patches and fall festivities to celebrate the...
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Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum 

With so many 2020 events canceled due to Covid, it warmed my heart like a cup of hot cocoa to learn that Autumn at the Arboretum would still be welcoming visitors this year. To celebrate their 15th anniversary creating elaborate pumpkin villages, The Dallas Arboretum...
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My SomiSomi Ice Cream Review 

The Dallas area is lucky to have some pretty unique ice cream shops, where crazy flavors meet unique serving shapes. SomiSomi is no exception, and it is one of my absolute favorites! SomiSomi Soft Serve and Taiyaki was founded in Los Angeles, CA in 2017...
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My Bonafide Betties Pie Shop Review 

Did you know that DFW is home to USA Today’s Best Pie in Texas? You can order up an award-winning slice from Bonafide Betties Pie Shop in my hometown of Rockwall! Even if you don’t normally venture far outside the Dallas city limits, I promise...
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My 3 Favorite DFW Pizza Places 

While pizza is loved pretty much universally, opinion on the best place to grab a slice can definitely be diverse. Since I was born and raised in the Dallas metroplex, I’ve tried quite a few local pies and narrowed down a few favorites.  Curious about...
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5 Unique Dallas Ice Cream Shops 

I scream, you scream, we all scream Dallas! Those sweltering Texas temps provide our hometown with the ideal ice cream eating conditions 10 or 11 months out of the year.  I love the Braum’s drive thru as much as the next girl, but sometimes I’m...
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Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta 

Every year as summer transitions into fall, the fountain at The Rockwall Harbor transforms into a gigantic bathtub full of rubber ducks. What brings on this puzzling transformation? A fundraiser and a high stakes duck race: The Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta. I grew up in...
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My Baldo’s Ice Cream Review 

Austin and I always looking for new DFW dessert shops, and National Ice Cream Day offered us the perfect excuse to cool down with a cone last weekend. I discovered through social media that Baldo’s Ice Cream Shop was offering a buy one get one...
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Game of Thrones Feast Watch Party 

Last year around Christmas time we hopped on our broomsticks and flew to The London Baker shop for a special Harry Potter Tea. This spring, The London Baker team decided to bid farewell to the epic saga Game of Thrones with a feast! We were...
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My Cauldron Ice Cream Review 

Have you ever eaten your favorite ice cream out of a waffle surrounded by a cloud of mist? It might sound like I’m describing heaven, but this dream can become your reality right here in DFW. One of the latest additions to the Dallas dessert...
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8 Tips for ICE! at the Gaylord Texan 

It’s not just beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Gaylord Texan Resort. It’s an explosion of Christmas cheer in every hallway of this enormous hotel! I’ve always loved to visit the giant Christmas trees, nutcrackers, and holiday lights inside the main courtyard....
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My Sweet Daze Dessert Bar Review 

If you spend a lot of time looking at food pics on Instagram, you’ve probably seen all the hype about Sweet Daze Dessert Bar in Richardson. If you’ve never heard of Sweet Daze, you are in for a treat (literally). Sweet Daze has an in-store...
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The Trains at NorthPark 

All aboard the Polar Express! The Trains at NorthPark have officially arrived at their mini stations, and we couldn’t wait to see them for ourselves. This year exhibits included the Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Central Station, The White House, Downtown Dallas, and even the State...
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My Dallas Grilled Cheese Company Review 

Now that the weather is turning chilly in Dallas, I’ve started craving comfort foods like grilled cheese and tomato soup. Recently Austin and I visited Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff to create a shop local holiday gift guide, and we couldn’t resist stopping by...
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The Dallas Museum of Art 

Are you constantly searching for fun things to do in Dallas like me? During the sweltering summer months, Austin and I like to find activities to do indoors where we are less likely to burn to a crisp (we are very pale people). Usually our...
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Plant & Sip DFW 

Although I love the succulent craze going on right now and think the tiny little plants are so cute, I’ve never had much of a green thumb when it comes to planting things or keeping them alive. But after an evening learning from an instructor...
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My Chills 360 Ice Cream Rolls Review 

No matter what form it takes, ice cream is always a good idea. But there is something really special about indulging in uniquely prepared food (especially in the Instagram era). The novelty of eating a dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious is...
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The Rustic Warehouse 

If you’ve ever ventured up to the northeast corner of the metroplex to shop, dine, or swim on Lake Ray Hubbard, you probably know all about the charming suburban town of Rockwall. Rockwall has a bustling downtown square with a historic courthouse building, countless lovely...
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Ruibal’s Plants of Texas 

  If you’re visiting the Dallas Farmers Market or you just happen to be strolling down Pearl Street, you can’t miss Ruibal’s Plants of Texas. With a store front and long side patio covered in bright multicolored blooms, it makes for a beautiful contrast against...
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My Edo Japan Review 

In my personal opinion, Edo Japan is the best sushi restaurant in Rockwall, Texas! Edo also serves delicious hibachi meals and has an enormous bar stocked with authentic beverages from Japanese culture. Edo Japan Price Range: $-$$$ Depending on how much you food you need...
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My Charlie’s Burgers & Street Tacos Review 

Whether you’re in the mood for some Tex Mex goodies or a classic, juicy, cheeseburger, Charlie’s delivers. Charlie’s Burgers & Street Tacos is located in the historic downtown square of Rockwall, Texas. It is locally-owned and operated and the whole menu features fresh, quality ingredients....
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My Chiloso Review 

If you are a Rockwall, Wylie, or Rowlett native, then the deliciousness of Chiloso is probably old news to you. But for anyone new to the area or living on the opposite side of the metroplex, you might be missing out on one of the...