Chef Kendall Williams has officially opened the doors of Bluebonnet & Thyme Southern Bistro & Bar, her first brick-and-mortar restaurant, in the heart of Victory Park. Located at 2610 N. Houston St. in the former Dirty Bones space across from American Airlines Center, the 3,386-square-foot restaurant and bar is now serving Dallas a concept Williams describes as a “Cajun and Texas culinary explosion” which is a mashup of her Louisiana heritage and Lone Star roots, built with the technique of Southern food. Bluebonnet & Thyme takes its name from two staples of Williams’ own story: the Texas state flower and a Southern herb she reaches for often in the kitchen. After a soft opening on Aug. 7 introduced the neighborhood to the menu, the restaurant is now fully open for dinner, weekend brunch, and happy hour.

Dinner entrees include Golden Fried Hen with sweet cream corn, a 2 lb. Gulf Red Snapper served over dirty rice, Seafood Linguine made with lobster, crab, shrimp and a white wine butter sauce. Save room for dessert! Chef Williams family favorite is on the menu: a Southern Banana Pudding made with warm vanilla custard, wafers, fresh banana, and whipped cream. Weekend brunch includes catfish and shrimp with grits, whole fried Cornish hen, red velvet waffles, stuffed French toast with cheesecake and Strawberry compote, and $30 bottomless mimosas. Behind the bar, longtime William’s collaborator Dr. Angela Williams leads the beverage program, crafting Texas-inspired cocktails such as the DAMM Good Old Fashioned and the Bluebonnet Ranch Water from fresh, local ingredients.

Williams describes the newly designed dining room as “your grandmother’s house — if your grandmother happened to be Dolly Parton.” The look mixes alligator-skin seating, floral cast-aluminum bistro chairs, exposed stone walls, and a Texas longhorn skull, with an outdoor patio and lounge rounding out the space.

Williams has spent a decade building a name for herself in Dallas food circles. A history graduate of Texas Woman’s University, she taught herself to cook out of passion, made her first solo Thanksgiving dinner for her family at just 13, and later traveled internationally to sharpen her technique. In 2019, she founded Pretty Tasty Foods, the catering company and Pretty Tasty Pasta concept that first introduced her Creole- and Italian-influenced cooking to Dallas.

Her cooking has also earned recognition beyond her own kitchen, including a 2025 Big Tex Choice Award for Most Creative Dish at the State Fair of Texas for her Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders. While this particular creation isn't on the menu, diners can order an assortment plate of Chef Kendall's award-winning deviled eggs, featuring a half-dozen flavors: Texas BBQ, seafood boil, smoked paprika, hot honey chicken, Birria taco, and smoked salmon.

Bluebonnet & Thyme is open Monday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are available via OpenTable, and complimentary three-hour parking is offered at 1701 Payne St. More information, menus, and online ordering can be found at bluebonnetandthyme.com.

Photo credit: Jason Byg

Dr. William D. Allen is proud to announce his appointment as the new Director of Bands for Dallas ISD’s South Oak Cliff High School, effective for the 2026–2027 school year. A Grammy Award-winning music educator, accomplished musician, and nationally recognized leader in arts education, Dr. Allen will return to the campus where he previously helped elevate the Nu Soul of the South marching band into national prominence. For Dr. Allen, the appointment represents more than a professional milestone, it is a homecoming. Returning to the "School of Champions" offers an opportunity to continue building a program rooted in excellence, discipline, leadership, and opportunity for every student.

During his previous tenure at South Oak Cliff High School, Dr. Allen led the Nu Soul of the South Band during a period of national recognition, culminating in the program receiving the 2021 GRAMMY Museum Signature Schools Award, one of the nation's highest honors recognizing outstanding achievement in school music education. The award celebrated the dedication of the students, staff, families, and community that have long supported the program's tradition of excellence.

Today, Dr. Allen returns with a vision to build upon that legacy by developing musicians who excel not only on the performance field and concert stage, but also in the classroom and in their communities.

"South Oak Cliff is more than a school, it's family," said Dr. William D. Allen. "Returning home to lead the Nu Soul of the South is both an honor and a responsibility. This isn't about picking up where we left off; it's about building the next generation of leaders, musicians, and champions. Together, we'll honor the legacy that has been established while creating new opportunities for every student who walks through our band hall doors."

Dr. Allen brings more than a decade of experience as a music educator, performer, arts administrator, and nonprofit leader. Beyond his work in public education, he founded the Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory (TSMAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to music and performing arts education for youth throughout North Texas. His leadership across education and nonprofit service reflects a lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for young people through music and the arts.

As Director of Bands, Dr. Allen's primary focus will be leading and growing the South Oak Cliff band program while inspiring students to pursue excellence in music, academics, leadership, and service. Under Dr. Allen's leadership, the Nu Soul of the South Band will focus on:

●      Developing exceptional musicians and student leaders

●      Expanding college scholarship opportunities

●      Strengthening academic achievement and character development

●      Increasing community engagement and alumni involvement

●      Building one of the premier high school marching band programs in Texas

Known throughout Texas as the "School of Champions," South Oak Cliff High School has earned statewide recognition for excellence in academics, athletics, and the performing arts. The campus has celebrated multiple UIL Football State Championships and continues to build upon a tradition defined by resilience, discipline, and community pride. The vision for the Nu Soul of the South extends beyond performances. It is centered on preparing students for college, careers, and lifelong success while strengthening the program's legacy as one of the most respected high school band programs in Texas. Student registration for the 2026–2027 Nu Soul of the South Band is now open for incoming students in grades 9–12. Families interested in joining the program are encouraged to contact South Oak Cliff High School or follow the Nu Soul of the South social media platforms for additional information and upcoming events.

On the evening of May 2, 2026, more than 250 of Dallas' most passionate arts advocates gathered at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the heart of the Dallas Arts District and the city reminded itself, once again, why it is one of America's great theater towns. CENTERSTAGE 42, the annual gala benefiting the Tony Award®-winning Dallas Theater Center (DTC), raised $545,000 in a single extraordinary evening, a testament to the deep well of generosity and belief this community holds for the performing arts. More than a fundraiser, it was a love letter to everything DTC has built over six decades, and a bold declaration of where it is headed next.

The evening unfolded with an effortless elegance befitting a night of this scale, beginning with a cocktail reception where guests mingled and captured photos. As the sun shone over the Diane and Hal Brierley Esplanade, guests gathered for an outdoor reception filled with conversation, anticipation, and a shared excitement to be back at DTC’s home. Familiar faces including Diane and Hal Brierley, Lynn McBee, Jeff Netzer, Donna Wilhelm, Gayle Halperin, Grace Cook, D’Andra Simmons-Lock and Jeremy Lock, and Laura (Custard) Burcham and Richard Burcham, set the tone for an evening rooted in both celebration and community. Education and community engagement programs under the Public Works initiative were brought to life through a custom timeline installation, serving as a powerful reminder that DTC’s impact extends far beyond the stage and deep into neighborhoods across Dallas and North Texas.

Dinner was served in the Potter Rose Performance Hall and was an intimate and theatrical touch that set the tone for an evening of genuine feeling. The night's centerpiece was the presentation of DTC's most prestigious honor, the Linda and Bill Custard Award, to Larry Angelilli, whose more than thirty years of financial stewardship, strategic leadership, and unwavering advocacy have quietly shaped the cultural infrastructure of Dallas. 

A moment was then taken to honor the enduring legacy of two of Dallas Theater Center’s most beloved community members who left us this past year, Linda Custard and Sarah Warnecke. For decades Linda and Sarah were pillars of support for the Dallas arts community. It was noted that Linda was co-chair for three Centerstage Galas including the inaugural gala in 1984, and Sarah co-chaired twice including the 50th anniversary gala. DTC will continue to tell their story of love, beauty, and selflessness. 

Then came the music and the evening truly took flight.

When original headliner Michael Urie was called away for commitments with his acclaimed Apple TV+ series Shrinking, DTC leaned into its greatest asset: the depth of talent that calls North Texas home. Broadway powerhouse Tiffany Mann stepped in and owned the room. A DFW native whose musical journey began in the church and was shaped by the legendary Texas Girls' Choir, the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, and the concert halls of Oklahoma City University, Mann has since become one of New York City's most celebrated performers, originating roles on Broadway in Be More Chill and gracing the stage of Waitress the Musical. Seeing her return to Dallas was a full-circle moment that had the audience on its feet.

Joining Mann were Guest Artists Bri Woods and Akron Watson, fresh from DTC's acclaimed production of Ragtime. Woods, an SMU Meadows graduate finishing her first year as the Linda and Bill Custard Meadows Actor in the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, represents the next generation of Dallas theater. Watson, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist whose Broadway credits span The Color Purple, Hamilton, and The Play That Goes Wrong, brought the kind of star power that belongs on any stage in the world, and chose to share it with Dallas.

This year's gala also broke new ground in how it was led. Rather than naming a single chair, DTC welcomed back event chairs from the past ten years to lead collectively, which was an unprecedented reunion of philanthropic champions whose dedication helped build CENTERSTAGE into one of the city's most anticipated cultural events. Gala leadership included Peter Altabef, Mickie & Jeff Bragalone, Stephanie Byrd, Scott Davis, Melinda Johnson, Brett Levy, Michelle Lockhart, Ann Mahowald, Deborah McMurray, Scott Moore, Scott Orr, Andy Smith & Paul Von Wupperfeld, Hamilton A Sneed, and Krista Farber Weinstein. This gesture was as meaningful as it was strategic: honoring the community that made DTC what it is, while rallying them around what comes next.

And what comes next is extraordinary. DTC enters a new chapter under incoming Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda, whose vision promises to push the boundaries of what theater can be and who it can reach. Proceeds from CENTERSTAGE 42 will directly fuel that future — funding initiatives like Project Discovery, Summer Stage, Saturday Sessions, and Community Workshops, programs that ensure the stage belongs to everyone.

CENTERSTAGE 42 was made possible through the generosity of "Company" level sponsors Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Diane and Hal Brierley, Linda Custard, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Deedie Rose, and Donna M. Wilhelm, along with "Cast" level sponsors HALL Group, PNC Bank, Texas Instruments, and many others, with media support from PATRON Magazine.

Photos c/o Tamytha Cameron and Chase Hall 

Dallas Theater Center’s annual fundraiser, CENTERSTAGE, will return to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Original headliner, Michael Urie, has been called away to promote his hit show Shrinking. DTC is thrilled for his success and looks forward to welcoming him to Dallas for a future event. In a celebration of DFW talent, Centerstage will now welcome DTC Alum and DFW native, Tiffany Mann, as the evening’s headliner. She will be joined by Guest Artists Bri Woods and Akron Watson, who have just starred in DTC’s acclaimed production of Ragtime.

Tiffany Mann is one of New York City’s premier Broadway talents, hailed as a “powerhouse” performer with a commanding presence that electrifies every stage she touches. Her musical foundation was rooted in the church, later refined through formal training with the renowned Texas Girls’ Choir under founder Shirley Carter. She continued her artistic development at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and toured extensively with the Singing Girls of Texas. After studying vocal performance and opera at Oklahoma City University, Tiffany transitioned seamlessly into professional theater, building her early career with standout performances across DFW before making her way to New York City. Now a sought-after theatrical force, Tiffany is celebrated for her work in Jelly’s Last Jam and Ragtime at New York City Center Encores!, and the Off-Broadway premiere of Oh Happy Day! at The Public Theater. On Broadway, she originated the role of Jenna Rolan in Be More Chill and appeared in Waitress the Musical.

Bri Woods joined DTC’s 2025-2026 season as the Linda and Bill Custard Meadows Actor in the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, having just received her MFA for Acting from SMU Meadows School of the Arts. Akron Watson is a Grammy and Emmy-winning actor and singer who has starred on Broadway in The Color Purple, Hamilton, and The Play That Goes Wrong.

Before these artists take the stage, guests will enjoy a cocktail reception highlighting the artistry of Dallas Theater Center’s scenic, costume, and props artisans, as well as the theater’s Public Works education and community engagement programs. Guests will then move into the Potter Rose Performance Hall for a seated dinner on stage honoring the 2026 Linda and Bill Custard Award recipient, Larry Angelilli, followed by a vibrant live auction and paddle raise.

A limited number of tables and tickets are available. Tables start at $15,000 and single tickets at $1,500.

Can’t make it to the event? Enter the Centerstage Raffle for a chance to win one of two great prizes while supporting DTC. Prizes include a $5,000 gift card generously donated by Susser Bank, and a New York City trip for two that includes luxury hotel, Broadway tickets, cast meet and greets, and more. Tickets start at just $25.

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit www.DallasTheaterCenter.org/Gala, email Robin.plata@dallastheatercenter.org or call 214-252-3915.

Proceeds raised from CENTERSTAGE enable the TONY AWARD®–winning theater to advance its nonprofit mission of producing innovative, impactful theater while expanding its inclusive education and community engagement initiatives, including Project Discovery, Summer Stage, Saturday Sessions, and many others. As DTC looks to the future and welcomes Jaime Castañeda as its new Enloe/Rose Artistic Director, the organization enters an exciting new chapter defined by artistic excellence and creative growth.

Women’s Alliance of McKinney (WAM) recently welcomed 80+ attendees to its Spring Lunch & Learn held at The Lodge in Trinity Falls, which centered on the theme “Relationships Before Transaction.” Guests were encouraged to support the event’s nonprofit partner, the McKinney Community Food Pantry, with donations upon arrival, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to community impact.

Committee Chair Rita Townsend opened the program by emphasizing the importance of leading with connection, setting the tone for a dynamic panel discussion featuring three of McKinney’s most respected leaders in business community engagement. Panelists included Monica Szewczyk, co-founder of Texas Property Sisters, who is recognized for championing local businesses and creating meaningful connections; C’Ella Clayton, Director of Marketing for Trinity Falls at Johnson Development Corp., known for her thoughtful, community-building approach to partnerships and placemaking marketing; and Kathy Blank, CCE, IOM, a longtime leader celebrated for her ability to bring people together and foster opportunities through genuine relationships.

Moderated by Miranda Talley, General Manager of Community Impact at McKinney and Allen, the conversation explored how authentic relationships can shape leadership, open doors, and create opportunities for others across business and community. Attendees left with a resonant takeaway: “What door are you trying to walk through this year—and who could help you open it?”

Women’s Alliance of McKinney continues to provide a platform for building meaningful connections that support both personal and professional growth. Sponsors included Far Beyond Marketing, Trinity Falls by Johnson Development Corporation, Carpet Tech, Commercial Interior Solutions, AR Workshop Garland, The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center, Spineally Chiropractic, American National Bank of Texas, IV Nutrition of McKinney, and Texas Defense Firm.

Photos courtesy of Suzi Levitt, Little Moments Photography