Beyond Dallas, Calm Yet Lively

“I would challenge new residents to explore and discover areas around the metroplex before planting roots. It may be easy to settle somewhere close to your office or children’s school, but you may find that you spend majority of your time in a part of town not close to these locations.”

Name: Aubrey Coleman

City: McKinney

Company/Title: Microsoft

When did you move here? From where?
My wife Elizabeth and I moved from Houston to the Dallas Region in February 2018. Her hometown is Austin, Texas, and mine is Birmingham, Alabama.

Where else have you lived?
In addition to my hometown, I have also lived in Knoxville, Tennessee; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Miami; Atlanta; Seattle; and most recently Houston.

What made you ‘Say Yes to Dallas’?
Elizabeth and I were both relocated here by our current employers. However, we were excited to relocate to Dallas because of the affordable cost of living, abundance of restaurants, and proximity to our families.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
Proximity to family played a large role in determining where my wife and I would settle. When we first moved to the region, we didn’t have many friends, nor did we understand the city well enough to know the best places for a young couple to live. My sister and brother-in-law (with whom we are very close) lived in Plano and eventually moved to McKinney. Because our jobs are in Plano and Frisco, we decided to settle in nearby McKinney.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
I love the peacefulness of the suburbs. I have a busy work schedule, so it’s nice to relax on the weekends and enjoy a quieter, slower life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With so much development and transplants moving in, we are a short drive to restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, bars, clubs, and more. When we do want to visit friends and explore the city – which we do quite frequently – both Dallas and Fort Worth are nearby.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
Moving can be stressful, and it’s easy to rush finding a home and planting roots. I would challenge new residents to explore and discover areas around the Dallas Region before settling in to one place. It may be easy to choose somewhere close to your office or children’s school, but you may find that you spend majority of your time in a part of town not close to these locations.

What would you miss most about the Dallas Region if you had to leave?
The people! We’ve made such amazing friends during our time here and would definitely suffer from withdrawals from our friends and family if we left. The barbeque would be a close second.

Where do you go and what do you do on the weekends or days off?
I’m a big sports fan, so I take any opportunity to visit a stadium, ballpark, or sports bar to support any of the local teams. Elizabeth is big into the arts, so you will catch her performing with her talented castmates at Firehouse Theater in Farmers Branch. As a couple, we love exploring new restaurants and parks throughout the Dallas Region with friends and family.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Dallas Region?
For breakfast, I love Up Inspired Kitchen in Frisco or Ellen’s. We also enjoy Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Hutchins BBQ, and Coaches Box.

Where do you feel most at home in the Dallas Region?
As a performer, Elizabeth would likely say on stage. I enjoy spending my time in any of the area’s parks or professional sports stadiums.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
Yes, for both work and pleasure. With two major airports, it’s easy for us to travel – whether I’m traveling home to see my family, visiting friends across the country, or taking our annual trip overseas to explore the world.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
The Dallas Region is a special place that we are proud to call home. We are excited to continue exploring the beauty of this area, become more involved in the community, and grow our family over time in this wonderful region.