Dallas Mythbusters

The Dallas Region’s population increases by an average of about 200 people each day. Some of these folks might arrive with a few erroneous, preconceived notions in their heads. That’s why the “Say Yes to Dallas” team morphed into an urban-legend wrecking crew to fill the vacuum of misperceptions with solid, hard-earned intel. Without further adieu:

  • Myth: If you’re not from here, you won’t fit in

    Dallas residents go entire days without speaking to native Dallasites. Seems nearly everyone here is from somewhere else. Our region is made up of people from across the globe, each of whom bring their experiences to Dallas and in turn, help our culture continue to evolve. While you’re sure to find people from your hometown, you’ll also find people (locals or not) ready to welcome you with open arms. Dallas is about combining the best of everything, no matter the point of origin. Dive into our blog for exclusive insights on the vibrant communities and events around the Dallas Region.

  • Myth: We have no bodies of water.

    Don’t tell that to the Dallas Rowing Club, the kayakers on the Grapevine Lake Paddling Trail or the water skiers on Lewisville Lake. While it’s true that Texas has few natural lakes (among them being Caddo Lake, which we share with Louisiana), visitors who fly into Dallas can observe numerous streams, creeks and lakes across our landscape. In fact, there are more than a dozen lakes and reservoirs in North Texas, most of which allow boating, fishing and other water sports. Major lakes – including Lake Ray Roberts, White Rock Lake and Lewisville Lake – offer amenities like marinas, restaurants, boat rentals and boat launches. Combine beach access and waterfront dining at Lake Ray Hubbard, and you’ll see that there’s more to Dallas’ topography than just land. Jump in to one of our lakes >

  • Myth: We’re all about oil and gas

    When some people hear the words “Dallas, Texas,” images of big hair, belt buckles and oil derricks spontaneously pop into their heads. Though energy is an important part of our economy, it’s far from the only trick in our bag. Moody’s Diversity Index ranks the Dallas Region as having the fourth-most diverse economy in the United States. A growing number of corporate relocations have created even stronger demands for skilled workers. Jobs have been created by corporate relocations and expansions, such as the opening of Toyota’s North American headquarters in Plano and the construction of the Charles Schwab campus in Westlake. Check out open jobs here >

  • Myth: Dallas is filled with cowboys

    Though you’ll hear some “y’alls” and “fixin’ to’s,” you’ll also hear dozens of languages here in the Dallas Melting Pot. Nearly 20 percent of the residents in the Dallas Region are foreign-born. As sure as we have rodeos and chili cook-offs, we also have festivals celebrating the cultures of India, Africa and Mexico.

  • Myth: We want barbecue, the whole barbecue, and nothing but the barbecue

    People who spend time in the Dallas Region are surprised by the diversity of dining options Dallas offers. This comes as no surprise, given the diversity of its people. Dallas’ variety of restaurants – Ethiopian sit-down restaurants, Mediterranean cafes, kebab houses, and even German bier stubs – shakes the notion that dining in Dallas involves a date with a herd animal.  And if you think vegans can’t find something Dallas, think again. VegNews named Dallas the eight best vegan city in the United States based on the criteria of food, fashion, and culture.

    That being said, we do have some of the best BBQ joints around and their quality and variety have exploded around here, and to the victors (us) go the spoils.

  • Myth: Things move slower around here

    Few assumptions are further from the truth. While Dallas doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of NYC, there’s a whole lot of moving and shaking going on. Most Dallas people are helpful, and as such, the Dallas Region is home to countless high-energy individuals with networking in their blood. Many outsiders pick up on this vibe shortly after arriving. People love getting things done here – from business, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic perspectives – and they’re always looking for others to join in on the action.

  • Myth: The Cowboys are the only team you’ll have to root for

    Once you settle into North Texas, it won’t take long to be sucked into the drama of the professional sports scene here. Contributing to much of this frenzy is that Dallas is home to one of the nation’s top-rated sports radio stations, The Ticket (KTCK-1310 AM/96.7 FM), which stokes the sports-gossip mill with unmatched fervor. The Dallas Cowboys telenovela is a fun distraction for migrants who choose to keep their allegiance to their original team, proudly flying their team flags on their cars and in their homes, and attending sports bars to root for their teams with like-minded fans. A Google search readily identifies sports bars frequented by non-Cowboy teams with strong followings (the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers, etc.).

  • Myth: Dallas is isolated from other cities

    Dallas is home to one of the nation’s busiest airports (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) and to one of the most convenient (Dallas Love Field). Combined, these venues provide the perfect launch pad for a past time we like to call “travel roulette.” Or, perhaps, “random acts of traveling.” Whatever the phrase, this activity involves booking last-second flights out of Dallas to any destination that’s cheapest, or is cheap-yet-highly intriguing. Round-trip flights out of Dallas to Denver, NYC, Las Vegas or even LA are available for less than $150 including tax – less than a night out on the town.

  • Myth: It’s always hot here

    Local blogger Dallas Whisperer says it goes like this:  “Rainy Spring” starts in February and continues until the beginning of May. “Pleasant Summer” picks up with clear skies and temps in the 80s or 90s until mid-July. That’s when “Sol” season kicks in through August. “Glorious Fall,” a.k.a. porch weather, hits in September until December, when the “Northers” appear. It’s our version of winter. Out of nowhere, temps instantly drop, and sometimes we even see snow! The Northers disappear as quickly as they come, but pop in sporadically into February. So keep your coats. You’ll need them now and again.

 



Miss Texas’ My Dallas Story

Annette Addo-Yobo’s journey to Dallas — and to the Miss America stage — has been anything but ordinary. Born in Ghana, she moved to the U.S. as a toddler, then spent eight years in Canada before her family settled just north of Dallas. Staying close to home was important to Annette.

It wasn’t until 2019 that the idea of competing in Miss America crossed her mind. Inspired by Nia Imani Franklin’s win, and later by Dallas’s own Averie Bishop becoming Miss Texas, she realized she could do it too. After winning a local title and placing in the Top 12 at Miss Texas, she came back stronger the next year, earning the title of Miss Southlake.

Even though she was first runner up in the Miss America pageant in January, Annette looks back at her experience with a smile.



My Community, My People

Laura Pitcher is a blogger (The Bucket List Narratives) who travels to different destinations (especially Disney parks around the world) with her husband David.

How did you get to the Dallas Region?
I was born in Dallas and grew up in Plano. I went to Trinity Christian Academy and American Heritage Academy. I left and attended college for two years in Oklahoma and then moved back. I always knew that I wanted to live here long term.

What made you decide to Say Yes to Dallas?
With what I do, it’d probably be more practical for me to live in Orlando or Anaheim, since I travel so much, but what’s nice about running a mobile business is that I can choose to live anywhere, and I’ve chosen to be based out of Dallas. I’ve found that I like Dallas the most. It’s where I have my community, it’s where I have my people, and, at the end of the day, that’s what I value. There’s a sense of pride and sense of belonging that Texans have, and Dallas has more of a big-city vibe that you don’t get anywhere else in Texas.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
It’s an easy city to be rooted in. I think that the South in general is a very community-driven place and a very relationship-driven place. We have a lot of urban things to do, but it has very Southern roots, so it’s an easy place to find your tribe and your people. Dallas has all the appeal of a big city like New York or Chicago, but you have hospitality and friendship and community and sort of that small town feel.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
I’m gone at least once a month, sometimes more, but I’m at the airport at least once a month. I’ve been to so many airports all over the world and DFW International Airport is definitely the easiest to navigate. It’s just so easy to fly out of and fly into. It’s also the easiest city to drive in compared to other cities. California traffic, Orlando traffic, anywhere – Dallas roadways are just the best.

What would you miss most about the area if you had to leave?
I would definitely miss my community the most. That’s what mainly keeps me rooted in Dallas, but I also just love the area. There’s always something new to eat, there’s always something new to try, and it’s not super expensive yet like New York or Paris.

What is your passion, and how does the Dallas Region help fulfill it?
What I really want to be able to do is travel and write about it and fulfill my dreams while still being rooted in community. Dallas helps me do that by providing a home base that feels safe and feels familiar and feels comfortable, but also lets me grow and lets me expand.

Where do you like to shop? Why?
I like to shop at NorthPark Center. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. It has a lot of good memories and I think anyone that lives in the Dallas Region likes going to NorthPark. I also like the shops at Watters Creek and Highland Park Village. If I’m going to thrift stores, I really like Buffalo Exchange and Genesis’ Benefit Thrift Store. Dallas has a lot of good thrift stores in general.

What do you like to do when you aren’t traveling?
I love to hang out with my friends. My husband and I love going to Klyde Warren Park and coffee shops. We spend a good amount of time going to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. They have really fun movie parties – they just did a Christmas in July “Elf” movie party where you throw snowballs at each other in the theater. When we aren’t traveling to Disney, we like to travel to other places – and when I’m not traveling, I’m planning my traveling. We just got back from Hawaii, Europe, Savannah, and Charleston.

What is your favorite festival/event?
I love Taste Addison, I love Texas Tulips at Pilot Point, I love the Bluebonnet Trails Festival. I love Christmas in Dallas – that’s my favorite. I love NorthPark at Christmas, I love watching “A Christmas Carol” they put on every year at Wyly Theatre. I love the lights at Highland Village Park. They do a “Gingerbread Stroll” where you can walk around store to store and look at gingerbread houses.

What’s your favorite Disney event?
They do a “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas” event every year which is very fun. There’s an “International Flower and Garden Festival” at Epcot where they do these giant flower topiaries and there’s food and it’s super fun. I just like all of it.

Photo Credit: Holly Nguyen 



When life gives you lemons, make potatoes.

Dallas-Fort Worth has sports bars, wine bars, dive bars … and for those looking for complex carbs rather than alcohol, a potato bar.

“We started in the Frisco Fresh Market, but relocated to a ghost kitchen in South Dallas – we do takeout and delivery from there. We’re looking to expand into Arlington and back towards Frisco/Plano,” says Sheena Marie Scott, founder of The Pot, baked potato bar, who describes herself as a cook, not a chef.

“My son’s the chef,” she laughs, “he even has a YouTube channel called KaiVersations.”

Customers can load up on stuffed spuds Tuesday through Saturday. With choices like The Humbler, on the left; and the Taco-ato, on the right, this is not where you go for a light snack.

 

“I want customers to have a great experience every time they come in – that means not spending a lot to get a lot.”

The idea for the eatery didn’t hit her like a lightning bolt, it materialized over a few years and has its roots in childhood.

“My aunt Lula, who raised me, taught me to cook. And there were no shortcuts – we made everything from scratch.”

In 2016, JPMorgan moved Scott from Wisconsin to Dallas, but she was part of a lay off in 2018. She moved back to the Badger state for another job opportunity with the company.

“I liked the area and wanted to stay, but a job opportunity came up in Wisconsin, so I went back.”

But not for long. The friendliness of the people, the potential for growth, and the weather compelled her to try Dallas again. She strategized, and in 2020 came back on her own terms.

“I had already started thinking of a long-term plan to start a business; DFW is the perfect place to get in front of a lot of people fast. And I think my child’s father had been sending me subliminal messages for years.”

You see, Scott doesn’t just cook potatoes, she loves to eat them too.

“He’d just roll his eyes and say ‘another potato?’”

Little did either of them know saying yes to the savory spud would lead to saying yes to being a small business owner in Dallas.

“This time I settled in Frisco with my two boys.”

And she opened The POT potato bar in 2021.

In her downtime, she’s learning to golf, loves entertaining … and visiting Nebraska Furniture Mart. No, seriously.

“(Laughing) yea, I love to just walk around. There’s something I find incredibly relaxing about it.”

As a business owner (something she never imagined calling herself when she was growing up), she wants to use her influence to help create a better quality of life in Southern Dallas County.

“This area has been labeled a food desert, there’s less economic growth than you see in other parts of Dallas, and fewer employment opportunities. I want to do what I can to turn that around.”

And she wants to do it with a loaded baked potato and plenty of sour cream.



Bishop Smith

Empowering Local Families and Strengthening Communities One Camper at a Time

Bishop Smith
Bishop Smith & Wife

The most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the consumer price index for urban consumers in Dallas-Fort Worth, which had been trending downward, rose .3 percent through the months of June and July. This was driven by the food index, which increased 0.7 percent –all items less food and energy index fell 0.1 percent.  

Stretching a dollar can be hard for everyone, particularly for families with children, and felt more acutely during the summer. From roughly mid-May through August, school-aged children aren’t guaranteed a mid-day meal and have what can feel like endless days of unstructured time. At best this results in an academic slide – when kids can forget critical academic and social skills; at worst, it’s a formula that adds up to trouble. 

Bishop Clinton Smith knows this first-hand. Born and raised in Pleasant Grove, he got involved with gangs in the 1990s and went to jail. He says his was a single parent household and his mother created a good home, but trouble still found him. He wants to help families avoid the same path by keeping young people engaged and active — key to avoiding trouble and stemming the summer brain drain. That’s why eight years ago, he and his wife, Somer, started a summer camp run out of Praise Works Family Church, on Dorrington Road, in Southeast Dallas. It’s open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, from June to August. 

“We just wanted to do something to help keep kids out of trouble, and give them some fun in a safe environment,” said Smith. They use the building strategically — keeping older and younger kids separated and creating activities best suited for each group. On the day the DRC visited, camp director, Jasmin Wilson explained the basic schedule and how the chapel would be used for field day. 

“Anything we’re doing outside we do from drop-off to about 8:30 a.m.,” she said, a nod to the Texas heat. “We have activities for the little kids until lunch and then they take a nap. The bigger kids have a similar schedule, but no nap. On field day we’ll have things like a balloon relay, volleyball, and a talent show.”  

Upstairs, teacher Breanna Flakes reviewed the recipe for chocolate chip cookies that the 11-to-16 age group would be baking. Measuring, working together, following directions – this requires shifting between cognitive functions, and learning how to communicate with each other. Flakes says she sees improvement from week to week. 

“We had one boy last summer who came in a little angry sometimes and had trouble being part of a group. So, we worked with him – showed him how he could use his words to let people know if something was bothering him and if he needed some time alone. Now he communicates more.” 

It’s not an exact science, but Praise Works is about progress, not perfection. 

“A lot of our kids come with behavioral issues and don’t know how to channel what they feel,” said Wilson, adding that the first thing they do is listen, and then look for an opportunity to defuse the situation. 

“We’ll sit in the kitchen and talk or sit at the table and color … eventually they forget.” 

For many Americans, summer camp is a rite of passage – a place where friendships are forged while doing arts and crafts projects, learning a new skill, or hanging out in log cabins. According to the American Camp Association, which notes 10-thousand members on its website — more than 14-million children and adults take advantage of day- and overnight-camp experiences, which adds up to a roughly 3.6-billion-dollar industry. Cost per child, per summer, can easily run five- to six-thousand dollars. 

Initially, Praise Works summer camp cost families just twenty dollars per child per week. This summer, with overall inflation still high, the cost was just $40 per head, per week. Seventy to 80 campers typically attend – many of them becoming familiar faces as they return each season. Wilson says that consistency builds trust and creates long-term bonds – not just during the summer months, but throughout the school year too. 

“That’s the part that’s most fulfilling. In the spring we had so many high school graduation invites from kids who used to come here.” 

The church describes itself as a ‘family-based ministry that exemplifies love and forgiveness.’ Families aren’t required to be part of the congregation to send their children to camp, but Wilson says more than a few have joined after getting to know the church through camp.  

To keep it running, Praise Works depends on donations throughout the year from large corporations like Walmart, which gives things like water and school supplies; WinCo gives water as well, and Dickey’s BBQ donates gift cards to the staff. And of course, there are smaller but no less significant donations from congregation members – one of whom dropped off a pile of new blankets so that each younger camper has their own for nap time. The church is always looking for community partnerships with individuals as well — people to give their time for career day or just show the campers and congregation members something cool.  

Contact information for Praise Works is available on the website.