While many of our favorite bars and restaurants in Dallas have shut down or have had limited capacity, crowds from the city are flocking to the suburbs to enjoy live music and get their entertainment fix. One development that has gained momentum lately is the entertainment district Frisco Star, where…
Since the death of George Floyd, the floodgates have opened for Black Lives Matter-themed murals covering walls across Dallas and beyond. But what does the future hold for these works, once the boarded up windows are reopened? Many local murals were spearheaded by notable local artist IZK Davies, who began…
Dane Manshack and Adrian “Scrapp” Brackens are an unlikely duo, with just the exact amount of opposing qualities needed to make a musical masterpiece, which they’ve been doing, on and off, for over 20 years. It hasn’t always been an easy ride, and their journey to their latest album has extended…
Psychedelic Robot first arrived in Dallas in 2018, during a time when pop-up museums were becoming the rage (and chagrin) of the art world. Before the Sweet Tooth Hotel and Museum of Illusions, Bivins Gallery conceptualized an explosive pop-up with colorful walls and an interactive design, where you don’t observe…
Darian Parks and Terina Smith met in 2017 when they both arrived at the Green Elephant to sell jewelry as vendors for different companies. What began as a friendly business competition would soon become a first meeting straight out of a romantic comedy. When there was only one vendor spot left, the…
Many of us dream of creating a brand, but few of us have the time, resources and ambition to move forward. Two Allen natives, Nick Dennison and Aiden Savitch, found a way to combat these obstacles and create the brand they’ve been conceptualizing since high school, Bleach U.S.A. Dennison and…
There’s something titillating about a badass, admirable woman baring her breasts with confidence and pride. Throw in veteran credentials and political activism, and you’ve got a person who could rule the world. Born in Oak Cliff to a Baptist family of 12 children, Chasity Samone’s rise from “rebel child,” as her…
When Joel “Leo J” Salazar first conceptualized Battlegrounds, he was DJing at a weekly in what was then Independent Bar & Kitchen in Deep Ellum. Every week, the bar would host a hip-hop artist showcase, featuring MCs, DJs and art. He noticed one important cultural element was missing, though. “Dance…
Some artists go to great lengths to bring together a space where their creativity can thrive, spending large sums of money (often while living on lackluster means) to create studios that allow for the freedom of expression, not just for themselves, but their friends and guests. Whether it’s to create…
Many have tried, but few have succeeded in bringing a truly successful, long-reigning music festival to Dallas. Thanks to the rich DFW electronic scene, Lights All Night has been able to sustain a decade-long perennial party, celebrating a 10-year anniversary this past weekend. In true trap-style fashion, it exceeded all…
Our city was graced this past week with the exuberant presence of an artist who has been rightfully missed. Dallas native turned New Yorker Dezi 5 returned to the city that raised him for a week packed full of musical merriment. In his time back, he graced various local stages…
The red carpet rolled out at Canton Hall on Tuesday evening for the 31st annual Dallas Observer Music Awards ceremony. The venue was buzzing with excitement from the moment the doors opened, letting in lines of fur, sequins, leather and oh so many accessories. There’s no doubt it was the…
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced last week upcoming plans to remove the ability to see others’ likes from the platform in the U.S. On their quest to become the safest place on the internet, Mosseri provided reasoning to BuzzFeed that the decision was “about creating a less pressurized environment where…
Something many artists struggle with at some time or another is the ability to transition between work and play while staying true to their values. This is one of the feats that Dallas DJ Colton Carlyle, aka Carlyle, has had to overcome in his career as a millennial musician-turned-businessman. A…
Artists promote themselves in a variety of ways; some hire managers, others use YouTube and social media, and some rely on a favorable word of mouth while booking shows themselves. There are also those who approach their artistic careers with a shrewdly open business mindset — building bridges by networking everywhere…
“Shh,” a man in a black blazer laughingly urges as he attempts to quiet the packed-full, studio dance room inside Dancing for a Cause’s headquarters. It’s the dance organization’s final Friends and Family Night, and nearly 100 onlookers buzz with excitement in preparation for the dancers to enter the room…
Stone Mecca is brimming with creative energy as he assembles his band for rehearsal at an unremarkable shopping-center studio in Northwest Dallas. The chemistry is immediately apparent between Mecca, Rakim Al-Jabbaar and DQ Hampton, two prominent Dallas hip-hop artists he has chosen to join him as opening acts at the…
The road to becoming The Black Water Hose was not one that was conveniently paved. After struggling to find band members and navigate life in Los Angeles, James and William Levanas decided to return to Dallas and try their luck at performing as a brother duo. James reminisces on his…
In his native Mexico City, Bware Sparks often envisioned he’d one day become an architect. After dropping out of college in 2011, he believed he’d failed and fallen into a category of minorities trying to succeed based on a shiny American dream. His love of art, though, led him to…
After moving to Dallas three years ago, Jay Knox found himself in the worst-case scenario — living out of his van. His home, which most days can be found parked off Elm Street in Deep Ellum, is painted blue and covered with stars. He’s played in cities from Washington to…
When you think of ghost hunters, you might imagine dorky, middle-aged men spouting cheesy invocations at a dark, empty room. But don’t expect to see that in Dallas’ new paranormal investigation series, Ghost Babes, which stars two baddie burlesque dancers on the hunt for the supernatural. In an extrasensory production…
Brunch is more than a common practice for the people of Dallas. It’s a way of life, a religious ceremony in which we eat the Benedict eggs and drink the Blood of Mary, and fall into a seemingly eternal, daylong state of oblivion. From mimosas at Public School 214 to…
