Through Loss, Singer LO Found Her Musical Purpose

On her upcoming album Holy Wars, LO creates a dark and dreamy pop landscape, evoking a whirlwind of  emotions, not unlike what the year 2020 has felt like. The work will be a two-part album expressing the 25-year-old singer-songwriter’s duality. Holy Wars was preceded by the lead single “Lost in Translation,”…

An Update on (Almost) Every Live Music Venue in DFW

When COVID-19 hit, music venues were forced to shut down, leaving artists without tour dates and patrons without the joy of music. As restaurants reopened with new guidelines in place, many bars and music venues remain closed. Not all can afford to build kitchens to function as a restaurant —  one…

Iranian Refugee Singer Shab Turns Pain Into Power

Having spent much of her life moving between countries, Persian singer-songwriter Shab has had to learn to adapt to various cultures. Over the past few years, Shab has built a strong Persian fanbase. Now, the Dallas-based mother of two is ready to break into the English market. This past spring,…

Chef Diana Zamora: From Kitchens to Pop-Ups and Helping Others

If you’re living in Dallas and have a sweet tooth, you’ve probably tasted some of chef Diana Zamora’s creations. Over the years, the Northwest Dallas resident has built an impressive resume: In the past year, she has been the pastry chef at Nosh Bistro and the self-proclaimed “doughnut queen” at…

Austin Leach Says Studio Closures Can Allow Artists More Freedom

When 2020 kicked off, Dallas-based singer-songwriter Austin Leach was ready to hit the road and play venues throughout the country. In February, he was performing in Philadelphia, in a string of shows he expected to be the first of many. In March, COVID-19 hit, and you can imagine what happened…

Pop-Punk Band NU-95 Encourages Fans to Stay Off Social Media

Feeling energetic can be a challenge now, but Dallas-based pop-punk band NU-95 wants to radiate positive energy. During this time of ongoing political debate and uncertainty about the post-pandemic future, NU-95 is encouraging fans to not feed into hate or negativity. NU-95 first formed in 2015. The band has since…

Stocks & Bondy Expands Beyond the Dallas Farmers Market

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of some of Dallas Farmers Market’s small vendors was uncertain. Thankfully, many were still able to pivot to online, carryout and home delivery. Although stocks and bonds seem to be a huge concern in the midst of this economic downfall, Dallas favorite Stocks &…

Ellen’s Brings Diner Food and Social Justice to Allen

A West End favorite has set up its second shop in the suburbs. Founded by Joe Groves and chef Russell Mertz, Ellen’s offers Southern cuisine and diner food, inspired by Groves’ mother, Ellen. And it’s now open in Allen. Ellen’s first opened in downtown Dallas eight years ago with 32…

Americana Singer Sarah Johnson Erupts With Volcano

Dallas-based Americana singer Sarah Johnson is an example of the truth behind the old saw that it’s never too late to follow one’s dream. At 32 years old, she’s set to release her debut EP, Volcano, next month and is more sure of herself than she’s ever been. Over the…

12 Years in, Paul Wackym Is Still Baking Sweet Treats for Dallas

Sweet treats from Wackym’s Kitchen are seemingly everywhere, including the Dallas Farmers Market, Albertsons and Central Market. But these light, crisp cookies with 39 flavors are local, starting just 12 years ago by the efforts of Paul Wackym. Wackym, 59, founded the business in the fall of 2008, during the…

Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy Brings the Superheroes to Dallas

In the Season 1 finale of Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy, Vanya Hargreeves (Ellen Page), a superhero-turned-villain whose power is the ability to convert sound into energy, plays a concert that results in an apocalypse. When her brother Five (Aidan Gallagher) manages to gather all of their siblings in…

Good to Go: La La Land’s Toasts Are Kind and Fulfilling

Good to Go is a column where our food writers explore Dallas’ restaurant scene through takeout orders, delivery boxes and reheated leftovers. It may be a tough time for our country — politically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally — but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive to make America kind again…

Amore Bey Plants a Garden of Truth Through Music

Growing is an essential part of life, and that’s a message that Dallas-based singer and rapper Amore Bey conveys in every one of his songs. After facing deep losses, Bey is using the hard life lessons he’s learned to plant seeds of wisdom into his art, while planting literal seeds…

Deep Ellum Burgers Slide North for Another Location

A Deep Ellum favorite is sliding over to Grapevine. Easy Slider is set to open its second physical location in a new food hall in the North Texas suburb this fall. Harvest Hall comes as part of new development project Grapevine Main, a $105 million transit-oriented project located at the…