KnowYard Community

Is anyone else spending $400+/month on gas commuting?

My commute is 35 miles each way. That's 70 miles a day, 350 miles a week. My truck gets 20 mpg on a good day. Gas is hovering around $3.20.

DFW influencer marketing scams: When the "collaboration" is actually theft

Small business owners in DFW are getting burned by fake influencers demanding free products and services. Here's the playbook and how to protect yourself.

• Follower-to-engagement ratio: Real accounts average 1-3% engagement rate. 50K followers with 100 likes per post = purchased followers.
• Comment quality: "Nice!" "Love this!" "Fire" from random accounts = bot comments. Real engagement has specific, detailed comments.
• Growth pattern: Use Social Blade (socialblade.com) to check follower growth. Sudden spikes of thousands = purchased followers.

How do adults actually make friends in a new city?

Moved here 8 months ago for work. Know my coworkers and that's about it. I'm in my early 30s. No kids. Don't go to church.

Interview tips for DFW's biggest employers: What they actually look for

Interviewed at 8 major DFW employers in the last 2 years (and got offers from 5). Here's what each company actually cares about.

• Behavioral interviews focused on teamwork and continuous improvement
• They LOVE STAR format answers
• Ask about "The Toyota Way" — it matters to them

Water main break floods intersection at Lemmon and Inwood — DWU on scene

A major water main break at the intersection of Lemmon Ave and Inwood Rd is flooding the roadway. Dallas Water Utilities crews are on scene.

• Intersection completely impassable — water is 6+ inches deep
• Traffic being diverted by Dallas PD
• Several businesses on the southwest corner reporting water intrusion

Road construction has been going on for 3 years and nothing changed

There's a stretch of highway near me that has been under construction since before the pandemic. Orange barrels. Lane closures. Reduced speed limits. For THREE YEARS.

DFW holiday events guide: November-December must-do list

DFW goes all out for the holidays. Here's the complete guide.

• Interlochen neighborhood (Arlington) — same concept, massive light displays. Free drive-through.
• Prairie Lights (Grand Prairie) — drive-through light show, 2+ miles. $30-45/car. Source: prairielights.org
• Dallas Arboretum Holiday at the Arboretum — 12 Days of Christmas theme. $18-22. Source: dallasarboretum.org

Anyone else feel like their electric bill is a second mortgage?

July bill just hit: $387. For a 1,600 sq ft house. Thermostat set to 76.

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.

Best mechanic in town that won't rip you off?

I need a trustworthy mechanic. Not a dealership — they quoted me $900 for brake pads and rotors on a midsize sedan. I can buy the parts for $200.

Worst employers in DFW: The blacklist thread

Let's save each other time and money. Which DFW employers should people avoid?

• Share your experience, not rumors
• Be specific: what was bad and for which role/department
• It's okay to name names — this is salary transparency's cousin

Am I wrong? My partner wants to move to the suburbs and I want to stay in Dallas proper

We've been together 4 years, living in an apartment in Knox-Henderson. We're ready to buy.

• More house for the money (400K gets you 2500 sqft vs 1200 sqft inside the loop)
• Better schools (thinking long term)
• Safer neighborhoods

Is Texas getting too expensive or are we just not keeping up?

Groceries are up. Rent is up. Insurance is up. Gas somehow went down and then right back up.

Water main break floods intersection at Lemmon and Inwood — DWU on scene

A major water main break at the intersection of Lemmon Ave and Inwood Rd is flooding the roadway. Dallas Water Utilities crews are on scene.

• Intersection completely impassable — water is 6+ inches deep
• Traffic being diverted by Dallas PD
• Several businesses on the southwest corner reporting water intrusion

Who has the worst drivers -- your city or the one next door?

Every city in Texas thinks the city next to them has the worst drivers. It's like a universal Texas experience.

Texas drivers... let's talk about it

I've driven in a lot of states. Texas is on another level.

What Texas stereotype is actually 100% true?

I've been here long enough to know which stereotypes are BS and which ones are dead on. The big trucks one? Absolutely real. Every third vehicle on the highway is an F-150 or bigger.

Private school vs public school in DFW: An honest comparison

The private vs public debate in DFW is heated. Here's the data-driven take.

• Hockaday (Dallas, girls) — $30,000-35,000. Source: hockaday.org
• St. Mark's (Dallas, boys) — $30,000-35,000. Source: smtexas.org
• Parish Episcopal — $20,000-28,000. Source: parishepiscopal.org

Best Texas road trip you've ever taken?

Looking to plan something for a long weekend. Done the usual stuff close to home but want to go further out.

HEB vs Kroger vs Walmart: where do you actually shop?

I know HEB is the correct answer on the internet. But I want to know what people actually do week to week.

Best group date spots in DFW for double dates or friend groups

Sometimes you need a spot that works for 4-8 people without needing a reservation 3 weeks out.

• Cidercade (Deep Ellum) — $12/person unlimited arcade games. BYOB. The best value hangout in DFW.
• Topgolf (multiple) — divisive but it works for groups. $25-50/hr per bay. Split it.
• Pinstack (Plano) — bowling, laser tag, arcade, food. All-in-one group date.

DFW commute tips: How to survive driving 30+ miles each way

The average DFW commute is 28 minutes one way. Source: US Census Bureau. Here's how to make it less miserable.

• Waze over Google Maps. Waze catches real-time incidents faster in DFW. Set departure time alerts.
• Learn the service roads. In DFW, most highways have parallel frontage/service roads. When the highway locks up, exit and use them.
• I-35E alternative: Jupiter Rd or Coit Rd run parallel through Richardson/Plano. Slower but predictable.

I started doing open mics in Dallas 6 months ago. The comedy scene here is way deeper than I expected.

So I did the thing everyone says they want to do — I signed up for an open mic at Dallas Comedy Club on a Wednesday night. Hands shaking, material written on my phone, absolutely terrified. Bombed my first set.

What's one thing you wish you knew before moving to Texas?

Been here about a year now. There were things I expected — the heat, the big trucks, the BBQ obsession. All true.

Update on the string of home burglaries in the M Streets — pattern identified

Following up on the M Streets burglary thread from last week. Dallas PD Northeast Division shared an update at the neighborhood association meeting.

• 11 confirmed burglaries in the M Streets and surrounding Lakewood area since March 1
• All between 10 AM and 2 PM on weekdays (when homes are empty)
• Entry method: forcing back doors or entering through unlocked side gates