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UTD vs UTA vs UNT: The DFW university showdown

Three major public universities in DFW. Which one is right for you?

• Enrollment: ~32,000. Source: utdallas.edu
• Strengths: Computer science (#1 in TX public), engineering, business (Jindal School), neuroscience
• Vibe: Commuter school transforming into traditional campus. New housing, dining, student life.

A Fort Worth painter has work in the Smithsonian AND the Whitney and nobody in DFW seems to care

Sedrick Huckaby lives and works in Fort Worth. His paintings are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Those are two of the most important art institutions in the country.

Homeschooling in DFW: Co-ops, resources, and what you need to know

Homeschooling is growing in DFW. Whether you're considering it or already doing it, here are the resources.

• Texas is one of the most homeschool-friendly states. No registration, no testing requirements, no curriculum approval needed.
• Requirements: cover reading, spelling, grammar, math, and good citizenship. That's it.
• Source: Texas Education Code 25.086, THSC (Texas Home School Coalition): thsc.org

Houston food truck scene: The best trucks and where to find them

Houston's food truck game is deep because the city's diversity means you can find Nigerian suya, Salvadoran pupusas, and Korean tacos within the same parking lot.

• The Waffle Bus — Started as a truck, now has a brick-and-mortar too. The chicken and waffle sandwich with sriracha maple is Houston's best food truck item.
• Bernie's Burger Bus — School bus turned burger truck. The burgers are creative and messy. The Detention is their signature.
• Truck Yard (Washington Ave) — Multiple trucks, beer garden, that weird tree house thing. Good vibes on weekends.

The Dos Equis Pavilion sound quality is terrible and I'm tired of pretending it's fine

Went to a show at Dos Equis Pavilion last week and the sound was muddy garbage. I was in the pavilion section (not lawn) and the bass was overwhelming everything. Could barely hear vocals.

Live music this week in DFW: Free and cheap shows April 1-7

Here's what's happening on DFW stages this week.

• The Rustic (Uptown) — live Texas country/Americana nightly. No cover most nights. Source: therustic.com
• Truck Yard (Lower Greenville) — live bands Thu-Sun, no cover. Source: truckyarddallas.com
• AllGood Cafe (Deep Ellum) — Sunday open mic, free. Source: allgoodcafe.com

East Austin gentrification: The neighborhood that changed the fastest

East Austin — specifically the area east of I-35 between the river and 12th Street — has undergone the most dramatic transformation of any Austin neighborhood in the last 15 years.

• Craft cocktail bars next to auto shops
• $800K townhomes on streets where houses were $150K in 2010
• The best restaurant scene in Austin (Suerte, Nixta Taqueria, Launderette) is almost entirely on the East Side

Houston BBQ is underrated and I will fight anyone who says otherwise

Everyone talks about Austin BBQ and DFW BBQ. Houston BBQ gets disrespected despite having some of the best pitmasters in the state.

• Pinkerton's Barbecue (Heights) — The beef rib is the star. Massive, perfectly rendered, smoky. The sides are better than most restaurants' main courses.
• Killen's BBQ (Pearland) — Ronnie Killen's brisket is as good as any in the state. The bread pudding with caramel sauce is transcendent.
• Ray's BBQ Shack (Third Ward area) — The boudin links. Gulf Coast meets central Texas. You can't get this style anywhere else.

DFW divorce support: Resources and communities that actually help

Going through it right now. Instead of venting (I'll do that in therapy), I want to share the resources I've found in DFW for anyone else in this situation.

• Texas is a no-fault divorce state. You don't need to prove wrongdoing. Source: Texas Family Code Section 6.001.
• Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas — free legal help if you qualify. Source: lanwt.org, (888) 529-5277
• Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program — free consultations for low-income. Source: dallasbar.org/dvap

Cold front hurtling toward Texas with snow possible in areas - chron.com

Cold front hurtling toward Texas with snow possible in areas chron.com --- Hot take or cold take? You decide.

Source: news.google.com

Houston energy industry reality: What the boom-bust cycle actually looks like from inside

Houston is the energy capital of the world. When oil is at $80, this city is swimming in money. When it drops to $40, the layoffs start within weeks. Here's what the cycle actually looks like for regular people.

• Hiring is aggressive. Every major and service company is posting roles.
• Salaries inflate. Entry-level petroleum engineers start at $90-110K.
• The Galleria area restaurants are packed. Westchase and Energy Corridor offices are full.

POV: You just told someone from Fort Worth that Fort Worth is "basically Dallas"

I have made a terrible mistake.

• Cutting someone off on 635
• Telling a Texan you prefer Kansas City BBQ
• Wearing an Eagles jersey to AT&T Stadium

Beginner guide to anime: Where to start if you have never watched a single episode

New to anime? Overwhelmed by the choices? Here is a curated starter guide based on what genres you already like in Western media.

• Your Lie in April (22 episodes) — A piano prodigy meets a violinist who changes his life. You will cry. I am warning you.
• Cowboy Bebop (26 episodes) — Space bounty hunters with a jazz soundtrack. Style, substance, and the greatest anime ending ever.

Road construction updates for Rowlett — what's closed, what's delayed, what's coming

Keeping track of every construction project in Rowlett so you don't get caught off guard. Updated March 2026.

• What: New road connecting Sapphire Bay development to Bayside area and PGBT access
• Status: Under construction, Phase 2
• Timeline: Estimated completion Q4 2026 (originally Q2 2026 — delayed due to utility relocation)

I-35 and MoPac: A daily commuter guide to surviving Austin traffic

Austin has two major north-south highways and they're both terrible. Here's how to cope.

• Peak misery: 7:30-9:30 AM southbound, 4:30-7 PM northbound
• The upper deck through downtown is a white-knuckle experience at any speed
• The stretch from Round Rock to downtown should take 20 minutes. It takes 50-70 during rush hour.

DFW power outage/storm preparation: Lessons from 2021 and beyond

February 2021 taught DFW a brutal lesson. Don't get caught unprepared again.

• 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 5-day supply
• Fill bathtub before expected storms (for flushing if pipes burst)
• Keep extra water for pets

What concerts are you going to this summer in DFW?

I'm trying to plan my summer concert schedule. Already have tickets to a few shows but looking for recommendations. I like rock, hip hop, and electronic — pretty open to everything.

Alamo Heights "09" — is it worth the hype?

The zip code carries weight in SA. Great schools, old money vibes, beautiful houses, walkable to the Pearl and Broadway. But the property taxes are brutal and the lots are small.

DFW dog training: Best trainers and classes by area

Whether you have a new puppy or a stubborn adult dog, here's where to get help.

• PetSmart/Petco — $130-170 for 6-week course. Good for basic puppy socialization. Source: petsmart.com
• Zoom Room (multiple DFW) — indoor training facility. Agility, obedience, puppy. $200-350 for multi-week courses. Source: zoomroom.com
• Camp Bow Wow training — offered at many DFW locations. Combines daycare with training. Source: campbowwow.com

Sober nightlife in DFW: What to do when you don't drink

Not everyone drinks. Here's how to have a great night out in DFW without alcohol.

• Cidercade (Deep Ellum) — $12 unlimited arcade games. BYOB but plenty of people don't drink. The games are the point. Source: cidercade.com
• Free Play (Richardson, Arlington, Denton) — same concept, vintage arcade. Full bar but arcade-focused. Source: freeplayinc.com
• Bowlounge (Design District) — bowling + good food. You can order non-alcoholic cocktails.

Southtown is the arts district SA needed

First Friday art walks, Blue Star Complex, amazing restaurants, walkable streets. Southtown has become the creative center of SA and I'm here for it.

Katy vs Sugar Land vs The Woodlands: Houston suburban showdown

The three mega-suburbs of Houston. If you have kids and a commute, you're picking one of these. Here's the honest comparison.

• Commute: I-10 into downtown is 45-75 minutes depending on time of day. The Katy Freeway's 26 lanes still aren't enough.
• Vibe: Family-oriented, newer construction, chain restaurants and shopping centers. Not exciting but functional.
• Price: $300-500K for a 4BR in a good subdivision. La Centerra is the main shopping/dining area.

Brisket snobs are killing BBQ culture

BBQ is supposed to be fun. Community. Gathering around a pit with a beer and eating good food. Somewhere along the way it turned into a competition over who has the most opinions about bark, smoke rings, and post oak.

Ella Langley Releases Cinematic Music Video for 'Choosing Texas' - National Today

Ella Langley Releases Cinematic Music Video for 'Choosing Texas' National Today --- Curious what the rest of DFW thinks about this.

Source: news.google.com

DFW wedding vendor disasters: How to protect yourself and pursue refunds

Wedding vendor disputes are some of the ugliest consumer fights in DFW. Thousands of dollars on the line and emotions running high.

• Vendor no-shows: File a police report for theft of service (TPC 31.04) if they took payment and didn't show. Then file with TX AG and BBB.
• Substandard work: Document with photos/video. Compare to contract promises. Small claims for damages up to $20K.
• Refund refused: Credit card chargeback within 60 days. Then small claims.