Fat Tuesday, SaturYAY, and Dolly's Dean

⸺Local News and Events + Hot Topics Beyond the Bubble

Author

Nicole Barron
March 04, 2025

Welcome back to Frisco FYI, the official newsletter of Lifestyle Frisco!

Take your antihistamine because this week's edition invites you to live your best Frisco life by jumping into spring and enjoying one of the many fun outdoor events on the calendar! Meanwhile, FC Dallas invites you to their home opener, and we’ve rounded up the latest Frisco headlines for you.

As you read this week’s edition of Frisco FYI, consider what you like, dislike, or wish for in a local newsletter. We want to be your favorite; how can we stand out in your Inbox? 👇👇👇👇

What Do You Want Rt Podcast GIF by Rooster Teeth

Top 5 Things to Do This Week

⛳️🏌️‍♂️Try Golf at PGA Coaching Center: There’s a “Try Golf” clinic this week for anyone experiencing FOMO since PGA of America moved into town. Or, try one of the Women’s Golf Clinics on the calendar, which we think sounds like a great way to tee up lunch with girlfriends.

🚗🚬 Cars & Cigars at Industrial Cigar Co: Come hang with the cool kids at ICC! This free event welcomes all ages to admire exotic cars while sharing a cigar and a cup of coffee (okay, so maybe the cigar isn’t for all ages).

🧘‍♀️🎶 SaturYAY at Kaleidoscope Park: Grab your family and friends to kick off the weekend at Frisco’s newest Instagram-worthy outdoor entertainment space! Come prepared for a beginner’s yoga class, a petting zoo, live music, and more.

⚽️🔥 FC Dallas Home Opener: Don’t miss the start of the FC Dallas season as they rival Chicago Fire FC at Toyota Stadium! The team is poised to make an immediate impact with a new coach and some big-time players.

🌸🌼 Dallas Blooms: It’s time for one of North Texas’ favorite annual events at the Dallas Arboretum! Spring is in full swing, and new blooms are arriving daily. Pack a picnic and enjoy some vitamin D with your favorite people.

Looking for additional things to do? Check out our events calendar.

Weekly Flavor Fest

Today’s the last day to dive into the vibrant world of Mardi Gras! Whether you're a seasoned reveler or a first-time participant, our guide will help you make the most of this festive celebration today. Grab a bib and get ready for crawfish boils, beads, and live music!

Frisco Rumor Mill

The latest whispers and speculations about exciting local developments, from potential new biz openings to upcoming community projects and events everyone is talking about. Have a scoop? Send us a note.

  • Frisco famous: Frisco resident Erin Watkins will appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show today at 2:00 pm to highlight her nonprofit, "Refresh.” Founded in 2019, Refresh provides free customized hygiene products to North Texas students in need, aiming to boost their self-confidence. Erin's mission has led to the organization serving over 2,200 students across multiple school districts. She told NBC5, “There’s a lot of self-confidence issues at that age, and I wanted to ensure that every kid in our community could have access to these products and feel good about themselves.” To learn more or get involved with Erin and her fellow volunteers, visit refreshntx.org.

  • Breaking records and taking names: While enjoying random San Diego-esque weather and before a record-breaking crowd of 11,000K baseball fans at Rider’s Field, the LSU Tigers clinched the Frisco College Baseball Classic title by defeating Sam Houston State. With this victory, LSU improved their season record to 11-1, marking their sixth consecutive win. The Tigers' performance in the tournament showcased their strong form and determination early in the season.

  • Balancing the Budget: Despite passing a $30.8 million deficit budget for the 2024-25 school year, the FISD Board of Trustees has urged FISD staff to cut costs and find new sources of revenue to balance the 2025-26 budget. One of those new revenue sources is Access Frisco, an open transfer program beginning in 2025-26 to welcome students from outside District boundaries to enjoy the unique student opportunities and programs available in FISD.

    Over 330 students who have applied to Access Frisco have been offered and accepted a seat on available campuses for an additional $3 million in state funding. New revenue from the Access Frisco program will help the district make up for more than $17 million in projected losses due to declining enrollment.

  • Rite of Passage Denied: Due to the aforementioned budget constraints, Frisco ISD has decided to transition the traditional 5th-grade camp experience from a three-day overnight camp to a day camp in the 2025-26 school year. Many rising 5th graders who’ve waited for their turn to bunk with their buddies are disappointed, but FISD says the new day camp format will include many of the same activities that students have enjoyed in the past, such as team-building exercises, nature exploration, and hands-on learning opportunities. But what about that zipline the kids love so much? (Thoughts? Reply to this email and let us know.)

  • Neiman Marcus's impending closure in downtown Dallas has many locals expressing their heartbreak and nostalgia, sharing memories of shopping trips and special occasions at the iconic flagship store. Some are even calling for a "Save Neiman Marcus" movement, complete with hashtags, or on the flip side, joking about staging fashion-forward protests and turning the store into a museum for designer handbags. Some city officials are trying to save it, but the parent company is doubling down with “nope.”

Recommendation of the Week

Now’s the time to plan your summer vacay! Maybe you’re inclined to road trip to a National Park or you’re vibing with the beaches of 30A. What if you let the 19 Best Amusement Parks in the U.S. dictate your course? As you map out your summer fun, consider weaving in a day to visit Kennywood, Silver Dollar City, or Holiday World.

A handful of 🔥hot headlines🔥 and odd stories from elsewhere.

  • Starbucks is trimming its menu, removing 13 of its less popular drinks this week. The Iced Matcha Lemonade? Gone. The Java Chip Frappuccino? History. The company explained that the nixed items are not frequently ordered, can be complicated to prepare, or are similar to other drinks they offer. The behemoth beverage-makers believe these changes will shorten wait times, enhance consistency, and pave the way for new innovations. Here’s to hoping your go-to order wasn’t on the list.

  • Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, passed away yesterday at 82 years old. Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at age 18, and later, he inspired her classic song, “Jolene.” Parton told NPR in 2008 that she wrote the song about a flirty bank teller who seemed to take an interest in Dean. “She’s got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

  • Not an athlete? No problem. The Florida Man Games are back for Round 2, as teams from around the state gather to prove they have what it takes to join the ranks of the world’s worst superhero. New events added this year include Hurricane Party Prep, Grocery Aisle Brawl, and Human Beer Pong.

  • Meet the woolly mammouse, a triumph of genetic editing. Scientists at Colossal Biosciences have created a "woolly mouse" by editing its genes to include traits from the woolly mammoth. This mouse has thicker, woolly fur, a golden coat, and other cold-climate adaptations. The goal of this experiment is to advance the de-extinction of the woolly mammoth by understanding how multiple genes work together to produce these traits. The mammothy-y mouse is really cute, but don’t expect to see them in your local pet store anytime soon.

Live the Lifestyle: This Week’s Featured Properties

(a.k.a. your next dream home.)

ICYMI

We understand that there are a lot of emails in your Inbox. That’s why we’re here with the “In Case You Missed It” moment from last week’s newsletter.

Mariana’s Taco Shop has been serving up authentic, no-nonsense Mexican food for years — long before downtown Frisco became what it is today. It started in a small, unassuming space and quickly became a local favorite, especially for those craving true California-style Mexican food. And, we’ve gathered recommendations for what you should order! Read: Mariana’s Taco Shop: A Frisco Staple for Legit California-Style Mexican Food

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Nicole Barron
Editor