Dallas isn’t just the standard metro of yesteryear; there are a lot of new happenings in the Big D for a weekend escape.
Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen opened in historic downtown McKinney in June 2015. It features New American cuisine with Texas undertones – including a dish that shares the restaurant’s name – sugarbacon. The restaurant took over and transformed an 80-year-old filling station, and it’s been on the fast track to a Dallas top 10 spot ever since. The team behind Sugarbacon also opened the sandwich shop Butcher Board this year. Sugarbacon 2 opens in Dallas’ Lakewood area soon.
Like elsewhere in Texas, craft breweries are taking Greater Dallas by storm. Producing a wide range of beers, most offer weekly tours and tastings along with events like yoga classes, pet adoption days, bike races and live entertainment. Among the better known are Deep Ellum Brewing Company, located in the edgy entertainment district near downtown Dallas, and Lakewood Brewing Company of Garland. Denton is home to Audacity Brewhouse and Armadillo Ale Works. McKinney has two craft breweries, the Bavarian-style Franconia Brewing Company and rustic TUPPS Brewery. Also in the area are Grapevine Craft Brewery, Cobra Brewing and Bishop Cider Co., among others.
Bringing large groups of craft brews together under one roof are cozy hang-outs like Ron’s Place, a new spot in Addison that features a unique mix of exclusively American-made beer and no less than a dozen Texas beers at all times.
Popular ‘80s video arcades and the games that populated them are enjoying a resurgence, with some gamers hoping to reclaim, or at least relive, the fun of their teen years. Free Play Arcade opened in Richardson late last year. It features 60-plus vintage video game consoles and pinball machines. After 9 p.m., it’s over 18 only.
Also paying homage to video games past, present and future is Frisco’s National Video Game Museum. The museum offers 20 exhibits, artwork by local artists, rare items and an arcade of 40 iconic machines.
Those with a sweet tooth with be pleased to hear that pastry chef Buddy Valastro, famous for his TLC show, Cake Boss, opened his first Texas bakery in Dallas this year. And yes, Carlo’s Bakery sells the same specialty cakes fans drool over on his TV show.