KnowYard Community

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.

Famous people from Rowlett, TX — you'd be surprised

Rowlett isn't exactly a celebrity factory, but the city has produced or been home to more notable people than most residents realize. Here's the list.

• The Dalrock, Schrade, and other founding families whose names are on streets, schools, and parks throughout the city
• Long-serving city council members and mayors who shepherded the city's growth from farming community to lakeside city
• Pro Football Reference — Kyle Orton career statistics

DFW bucket list: 25 experiences every resident should have

How many have you done?

Rental scam alert: Fake landlord listing real houses on Zillow and Apartments.com

A sophisticated rental scam is targeting DFW renters. Scammers are listing REAL houses for rent that they don't own, collecting deposits and first month's rent, then vanishing.

• They find houses that are legitimately for sale on Zillow/Redfin
• They create a rental listing for the same property at a believable price
• They show the property using a lockbox code or open house times

Wine bars in DFW for when you want something more civilized

Not every night is a beer-and-shot night. DFW has excellent wine bars.

• The Grape (Lower Greenville) — been here since 1972. Intimate, excellent wine list, bistro food. This is a classic. Source: thegraperestaurant.com
• Times Ten Cellars (Lakewood, Henderson) — local winery with tasting rooms. Relaxed, educational tastings. $15-20 per flight. Source: timestencellars.com
• Veritas Wine Room (Oak Cliff) — self-pour wine machines, 100+ wines. Bishop Arts area. Source: veritaswineroom.com

DFW towing company nightmares: Your rights under Texas law and how to fight back

Your car got towed from a DFW parking lot. Before you pay $300+ to get it back, know your rights.

• Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308
• TDLR — towing regulations and fee caps
• Texas Occupations Code 2308.451-458 (tow hearings)

Moved here from the northeast and this culture shock is real

Three months in. Some observations from someone still adjusting.

• People genuinely say "sir" and "ma'am" and it's not sarcastic
• The speed limit says 65 but everyone is doing 80 and if you go 70 you're in the way
• Restaurants bring chips and salsa like it's bread and butter. I am not complaining.

Trade jobs vs college degree: Texas edition

I'm 19. Everyone in my family says college. But I've been looking at the numbers and I'm not sure it makes sense anymore.

Is Rowlett becoming the next Frisco? Growth data comparison 2016-2026

You hear this a lot on Rowlett Facebook groups: "Rowlett is the next Frisco." Let's look at the actual numbers and see if the comparison holds up.

• Frisco: 154,000 → 240,000 (+56%)
• Rowlett: 60,000 → 68,000 (+13%)
• Frisco: $330K → $550K (+67%)

PSA: AT&T Stadium concerts are a completely different experience depending on where you sit

Went to a concert at AT&T Stadium last month. My friend was in floor seats, I was in the upper deck. She had an amazing time. I might as well have watched from home.

Interview red flags from Texas employers

I've been job hunting for a few months and the number of sketchy interviews I've had is wild. Compiling a list so others know what to watch for.

• "We're like a family here" = you will have no boundaries and be guilt tripped for using PTO
• Won't give a salary range = it's low and they know it
• "We work hard and play hard" = 60 hour weeks and a pizza party once a quarter

Late night food in DFW: What's open after midnight

It's 1:30 AM. You're hungry. Where do you go?

• Whataburger (everywhere) — the undisputed champion of DFW late-night food.
• Buzzbrews (Deep Ellum + Lakewood) — 24-hour breakfast. Pancakes at 3 AM are valid. Source: buzzbrews.com
• IHOP/Waffle House (various) — the universal late-night backup.

Moving from apartment to house: what nobody tells you in TX

Spent 6 years in apartments. Just bought a house. Here's what nobody warned me about.

• Lawn care in Texas heat is a part-time job. Mowing every week in summer. Watering constantly. The grass will die if you look at it wrong in August.
• Property tax hits different when you write the check yourself. In an apartment it's hidden in rent. Now I see the $8K bill annually.
• Everything that breaks is YOUR problem. AC went out the second month. $400 repair. In an apartment I would've called maintenance.

Just got laid off. Tech industry is brutal right now.

Got the email Wednesday morning. My entire team — 14 people — eliminated. 2 years at the company. Good performance reviews. Didn't matter.

Telecom Corridor is getting a glow-up. Tons of new development happening in Richardson.

Drove through the Richardson Telecom Corridor area this week and there's construction everywhere. New mixed-use developments, office buildings, restaurants.

The DFW tech scene is real but nobody outside Texas takes it seriously

I work in tech in DFW and when I talk to people in SF or NYC about the scene here they have no idea what's going on.