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Mardi Gras, Cali-Tacos, and the Expansion of Kaleidoscope Park

Mardi Gras, Cali-Tacos, and the Expansion of Kaleidoscope Park

⸺Local News and Events + Hot Topics Beyond the Bubble

Nicole Barron
February 26, 2025

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

This week's edition invites you to live your best Frisco life by visiting a long-standing taco shop, watching premier college baseball, and keeping informed on the latest development news. Plus lots of other fun things, too. Enjoy, and have a great rest of your week, Frisco!

Top 5 Things to Do This Week

⚾ 9th annual Frisco College Baseball Classic: Batter up, Frisco’s annual premier early-season event in college baseball is set to take place at Rider’s Field this weekend, featuring some of the nation’s best collegiate baseball teams!

📣 Gold Rush Cheer Showdown: Competitive cheer is energetically tumbling into the Ford Center this weekend for a showdown on Friday that will culminate with the Super Nationals on Saturday-Sunday.

🤠 Texas Independence Day at PGA: Celebrate the Lone Star State’s birthday at PGA with whiskey tastings, a custom hat bar, and live music from “Unwound: A Tribute to George Strait.”

🎶 Kaleidoscope Live: Catch the Park’s first Saturday concert of the year! Enjoy a high-energy performance by Counterfeit Radio, a dynamic, 6-piece cover band playing a mix of Dance, R&B, Pop, Rock, and Country hits.

🎭 Mardi Gras: Let the good times roll! (Or, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” if you take this occasion very seriously.) It’s time to make your plans for Fat Tuesday! We’ve rounded up some cool happenings in Frisco and further south into Dallas. Grab your purple, gold, and green beads, and don those masks, because there’s fun to be had!

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

Weekly Flavor Fest

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.

If you’re missing that carne asada California burrito stuffed with crispy French fries, Mariana’s has you covered. Their tacos are solid, the burritos are packed, and the tortas are prepped the right way — fresh bread, quality meats, and just the right toppings. Their house-made red and green sauces bring the heat and flavor, and you can’t go wrong washing it all down with a Mexican Coke or Jarritos.

We have gathered recommendations for what you should order! Read: Mariana’s Taco Shop: A Frisco Staple for Legit California-Style Mexican Food

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.

A few weeks ago, we gave you a long-awaited update about “The Hole on the Toll.” It’s official, dirt is moving and millions of gallons of water is being removed from “the hole” formerly known as an underground parking garage. Meanwhile, TheMixFrisco.com teased some additional deets about what to expect, including new renderings and descriptions of the various walkable retail and dining options coming our way. You may remember that the OG plans circa 2014 included Whole Foods, but it hasn’t been confirmed they’ll be a part of the new design. The developers, however, have said Frisco can expect an upscale grocery store of some kind, so go ahead and start speculating.
A proposed 1.44-acre expansion of the Instagram-worthy Kaleidoscope Park will be moving forward following approval from the Frisco CDC. The proposal includes a new water feature, outdoor video screen, stage and possible public parking garage. The agreement would also "formally abandon" prior plans to provide a performing arts center in Hall Park (although that project is seeking approval in another area of town).
A new restaurant is ready to elevate the dining scene in downtown Prosper this summer in what was formerly the Prosper Wine House. 1902 is a new American dining concept that will include a speakeasy called Mary Ann’s, and feature an elevated but approachable menu from a renowned Chef. Jason Young, creator of Verona Villa in Frisco and co-owner of Alora Hospitality Group, the group behind the investment, told the Dallas Morning News, “It’s called 1902 because it was the year the town of Prosper was formed, so we’re paying homage to the local community.”
Have you noticed that Zipline tower off 121 in The Colony? That’s Fritz’s Adventure at Grandscape, set to bring Branson’s signature blend of indoor adventure, family-friendly entertainment, and interactive experiences to North Texas. The owners say, “It started with a question: Where could a construction dad put together all the things his kids loved to do? If it was fun, it went on the list—and that list of family attractions became Fritz’s Adventure.”
Last week at Lone Star High School, classes were interrupted when water began to rapidly flood the floors following a post-icy weather pipe burst (at least that’s what people are speculating to be the cause). Depending on who you ask (hint: not a high school student), it was an unfortunate disruption to the school day.

Recommendation of the Week

Reba McIntire and Post Malone at the 59th ACM Awards in Frisco

Don't miss your chance to be part of country music history as Frisco hosts the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards this May! Tickets are still available and can be purchased through SeatGeek. We have more info for you here 👉👉 Tickets for the 60th ACM Awards Go on Sale This Weekend: Here’s How to Get Yours

If country’s not your thing, check out these other concerts coming to DFW this year! Paul Simon, Post Malone, Willie Nelson, The Weeknd, and more!

Sports Spotlight

From rec to pro, there’s always, always (literally always) a game to catch in “Sports City USA.”

The Texas Legends are home this week! Watch them take on the Long Island Nets March 1 and 2 at Comerica Center. Legends’ games are super family-friendly and bonus, they’re affordable too.
The recent MSM Middle School 7v7 Championships, presented by Scottish Rite for Children, delivered an action-packed weekend of competition, with Griffin Middle School’s Gators making waves across all grade levels! One 6th grade team secured a commanding 30-6 victory, while the 7th graders stood strong against defending champions and the 8th graders faced a hard-fought battle against a dominant Argyle team. The weekend was about more than competition, though. The kids had a blast enjoying a sport they love with their school peers. Read more about how the tournament played out and get into about MSM 👉👉Griffin Gators Dominate at MSM Middle School 7v7 Championships Presented by Scottish Rite for Chil

A handful of 🔥hot headlines🔥 from elsewhere.

Today is the last day you can stuff your Stanley with ice cream at Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream! You’ll have to drive a smidge to either East Plano or Richardson to do it, but we know those giant stainless trophies can keep it cold all the way back to Frisco.
Parents can now ever-so-slightly more afford a new smartphone for their teenager (though it's still no joke of an expense!) Last week, Apple unveiled its latest budget-friendly smartphone, the iPhone 16e. Priced at $600, the new product offers a somewhat diluted experience for a $200 lower price tag, although you might not notice the feature gaps unless you actively use or value an iPhone's ultrawide camera, Dynamic Island, MagSafe accessories, or your carrier's fastest 5G networks. This new model marks a significant change in Apple's design philosophy: the home button is officially gone, replaced by a Face ID system. On the bright side, Apple promises a notable boost in battery life over the iPhone 16 for the iPhone 16e.
KFC is packing up its secret recipe and heading to Texas! While we don't expect the Colonel to permanently swap his string tie for a cowboy hat anytime soon, the famous chicken chain is moving its corporate headquarters from Louisville, KY, to Plano. Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, announced that about 100 employees will be making the move. Yum Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is consolidating its corporate offices to two main hubs in Plano and Irvine, CA.