Starting Sunday, Nov. 10, Galleria Dallas will begin the creation of what has become the most iconic holiday visual in the state of Texas: the construction of its 95-foot-tall Christmas tree, the tallest indoor holiday tree in the United States. This year, in addition to new lighting schemes for the tree’s unique Twinkly LED lighting, there will be festive new starburst ornaments joining the thousands of ball ornaments for which the tree is known. The massive evergreen has been a fixture at the shopping center for decades.

It takes a team of nearly 50 of Santa’s best elves five days to construct the tree. After the massive steel frame, which weighs five tons, goes up, teams will work to install more than 700 branches, each of which is essentially a 3’ to 5’ tree. It took 14,000 shop hours to hand-sew twigs on them.

Galleria Dallas’ Christmas tree features LED lighting by Twinkly, the Italian firm that also creates the lighted tree at the Vatican, that allows for brilliant, animated and immersive light shows on the tree.  There are over 200,000 programmable LED lights on the tree, which allow for animations that include dancing reindeer, Santa Claus and floating candy canes and holiday gifts that move across the surface of the tree. The tree is topped by a 100-pound, 10-foot LED star that was the first of its kind in the United States.

“The holiday season has always been our time to shine at Galleria Dallas,” said General Manager Angie Freed. “The beautiful handiwork and visually stunning technology will truly allow us to create the biggest, brightest, merriest holiday experiences for all of North Texas.”

The tree will be complete by Thursday, Nov. 14 and will stand until Monday, Jan. 6. A time-lapse video of the construction of the 2023 Galleria Dallas Christmas Tree can be found here.

However, for most North Texans, the finest visual of the Galleria Dallas Christmas Tree is during the center’s famed Grand Tree Lightings, which occur at noon Black Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30. These massive free tree lightings and skate shows will feature two-time national champion and 2022 Olympian Ashley Cain, two-time Olympian Keegan Messing and 2022 Olympian ice dancers Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker. Nearly 100 students from the Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center will perform whimsical group numbers. Then, the real celebrity arrives. Missile Toes, Galleria Dallas’ backflipping Santa who shoots fireworks from his skates, officially rings in the holiday season.

The show closes with a countdown and a pyrotechnic spectacle. The fireworks were added to the Grand Tree Lighting shows in 1993 and new features and improvements debut almost every year. But those fireworks require special precautions. For example, the colorful suit worn by Missile Toes took more than five years to develop and requires special flame-retardant protection.

Galleria Dallas’ Christmas Tree provides special holiday memories throughout the season. More skaters ice-skate around the tree than around the one at Rockefeller Center in New York City each season. And each year, many couples decide to pop the question while skating around the special tree. Several times each day, shoppers come to a stop to watch the Illumination Celebration, which will be an amazing sight to see when the 200,000 Twinkly lights on the tree “dance” in time to specially orchestrated music. The Illumination Celebration will occur daily at noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. starting Black Friday.

The entire shopping center is bedecked to match the splendor of the Christmas tree. There are 44 palm trees lining Level 3 custom wrapped with an additional 50,000 lights. Ten additional Christmas trees (2 36’, 2 12’ and 6 9’ trees) throughout the shopping center are festooned with an additional 40,000 lights. Outside the center, the 30 trees along the Dallas North Tollway are adorned in 100,000 red LED lights.

The new outdoor plaza at Galleria Dallas will serve as the site of a massive holiday art installation. Roseaux, an interactive art installation created by Canadian creative company 1ToMn, was installed on Nov. 1 and will remain up through the holiday season. Composed of individual reeds that are 15 feet tall, Roseaux invites users to step on sensors that rhythmically propel multiple colors up the stems. Friends can race each other to try to give different reeds a single, solid color. Adding in sound, the installation creates an energizing sensory experience for users of all ages.

Each day during the holiday season, Galleria Dallas hosts amazing free shows and entertainment. A full list of the holiday experiences at Galleria Dallas can be found at www.galleriadallas.com/holiday.

About Galleria Dallas 

Galleria Dallas is an iconic shopping center with a unique collection of more than 200 retailers, restaurants and experiences including Nordstrom, Macy’s, the world’s only GAP, Banana Republic and Old Navy combo anchor, The Westin Galleria Dallas and the signature Galleria Ice Skating Center. Welcoming more than 12 million visitors annually, only Galleria Dallas delivers the consummate Dallas shopping experience. Visit galleriadallas.com for hours and to learn more about the shopping center. Galleria Dallas is owned by MetLife Investment Management, managed by Trademark Property Group, Inc.  Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, Texas, 75240.

For Social Media:  @GalleriaDallas #GalleriaDallas @galleriadallasiceskating #galleriadallasiceskating

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As part of a season-long program, ¡Yo Quiero! has teamed up with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to honor some of Texas high school football’s brightest figures — team moms! On November 1st^th, ¡Yo Quiero! recognized Grapevine Hogh School Team mom Kristin Powers with a Team Mom Appreciation Award for going above and beyond to support her son’s team throughout the season.  

“We are consistently impressed by the collective dedication required to keep those iconic Friday Night Lights shining week after week here in Texas,” said Jay Alley, Co-Owner and Vice President of ¡Yo Quiero!. “This is largely thanks to the unwavering support from friends, families, coaches, and, especially, Team Moms.”

This season, eleven Team Moms who have made a positive impact on their communities will be selected to receive an award and a $500 donation to their school, along with the other ten honorees, will be eligible for the Ultimate Team Mom of the Year Award, with voting taking place on texasfootball.com at the end of the season.

Tara Murray, VP of Marketing for ¡Yo Quiero!, noted that “Texans should keep an eye out for ¡Yo Quiero! and the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football crew at games across the state as they recognize these deserving individuals during the 2024 Texas high school football season, all while satisfying the crowd’s craving for everyone’s favorite Texas-made dips!”

Based in Rhome, Texas, ¡Yo Quiero! is a trailblazing, family-focused dip company that’s revolutionizing the Guacamole, Salsa, and Queso category nationwide by offering flavorful, “Better for You” dips made with quality ingredients. “At the core, we’re making it easier for football fans and families to enjoy their favorite foods together in a healthier way, whether they’re celebrating the game at home or in the stands,” said Murray.

ABOUT Dave Campbell Texas Football

For over 65 years, the iconic Dave Campbell’s Texas Football media brand has been “the bible” for millions of football fans across Texas. Its annual summer edition is essential reading for rabid football fans, previewing every high school and college team in the state. Known for its comprehensive coverage, TexasFootball.com offers extensive digital content, including team and recruit rankings, scores, exclusive interviews, podcasts, and daily shows. Additionally, TexanLive.com streams over 1,500 live sporting events each year, bringing fans closer to the action.

About ¡Yo Quiero!

¡Yo Quiero! Brands is a Texas-based avocado, guacamole, and dip company with state-of-the-art facilities in Rhome, Texas and Guanajuato, Mexico. With a mission of selecting and growing the freshest and finest ingredients, ¡Yo Quiero! creates delicious, hand-crafted products that can be found in most local retailers. Bringing years of experience and dip expertise to the category, ¡Yo Quiero! leads and innovates with integrity and passion. The current lineup of premium handcrafted dips can be viewed on our website. For additional information, recipes, or product availability, please visit www.yoquierobrands.com

The Most Exciting Light Show South of the North Pole Returns to the Lone Star State

LINK FOR HIGH RES PHOTOS

 Texans are in for a dazzling holiday treat as The Light Park officially opens in six Texas markets across the state  offering families and friends an unforgettable holiday experience. Opening in Round Rock, Arlington, Frisco, Katy, Selma, and Spring, this spectacular drive-thru light show synchronized to holiday music promises a magical journey through millions of twinkling lights, just in time to kick off the holiday season.

The Light Park has gained popularity for its immersive holiday light displays, allowing visitors to enjoy the festivities from the comfort of their vehicles. This year’s event brings new features, more lights, and synchronized music to create a memorable and safe experience for people of all ages. The Light Park has been heralded as “one of the coolest ways to brighten your holiday season”, where guests witness millions of lights synchronized to an electric mix of music powered by DJ Polar Ice from the North Pole’s #1 Hit Radio station, K-GLO.

The Light Park’s Matt Johnson shares, “We are excited to bring even more holiday magic to Texas this year. Our goal is to provide families with a fun, safe, and joyful experience as they kick off their holiday season. With six locations across the state, we’re thrilled to spread the light and joy of the holidays.”

Those interested in learning more or purchasing admission can visit www.thelightpark.com. Tickets must be pre-purchased , and admission cost varies per showtime from $29-$49 according to the calendar that can be found online at www.thelightpark.com. Prices are per vehicle, not per person.  Visitors must stay in their vehicles the entire time while visiting the park and while on the park property. Guests are encouraged to bring their snacks to enjoy while in their cars, but there are wonderful ways to upgrade your experience with pre-purchased snacks and fun souvenirs to enhance the experience of The Light Park. 

*Please note no vehicles over 30 feet will be allowed in the park; this includes limousines, trailers and buses.

Event Details:

The Light Park has announced the opening of its dazzling holiday light displays at six Texas locations—Round Rock, Arlington, Frisco, Katy, Selma, and Spring—starting on November 1, 2024. “By opening a bit earlier in the season and adding a sixth location, we’re giving our guests more opportunities to join in the holiday spirit with us! Throughout the season, we see carloads of people returning because the experience is so visually captivating and full of energy,” says Matt Johnson, Co-Creator of The Light Park. “Our best advice to visitors is to plan early and get ready to be amazed by the brilliance of millions of spectacular lights in our drive-thru holiday park. While the lights go up, the prices stay down with early-bird pricing on pre-purchased tickets.”

Opens on November 1, 2024

Mondays - Thursdays: 5:30 - 10:00pm

Fridays - Sundays: 5:30 - 11:00pm

CHRISTMAS WEEK HOURS

Dec 18-25: 5:30-11pm

Where:

Frisco (runs through 1/5/25)

Riders Field

7300 Rough Riders Trail

Frisco, TX 75034

Arlington (runs through 1/5/25)

Hurricane Harbor Arlington

1800 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006

Katy (runs through 1/5/25)

Typhoon Texas Waterpark Parking Lot

555 Katy Fort Bend Rd

Katy, TX 77494

Round Rock (runs through 1/5/25)

Dell Diamond

Parking Lot

3400 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665

San Antonio (runs through 1/1/25)

Retama Park Parking Lot

1 Retama Pkwy

Selma, TX 78154

Spring (runs through 1/1/25)

Hurricane Harbor Parking Lot

21300 Interstate 45 N

Spring, TX 77373

Prices: $29-$125

To Purchase Online: https://www.thelightpark.com/

About The Light Park

The Light Park offers six parks in Texas: Round Rock, Spring, Katy, Selma, Arlington and Frisco. Each Park features more than one million LED animated lights and boasts the world’s largest synchronized LED light tunnel. Opens November 1^st, 2024. Shows start at 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (weekdays), and 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (weekends and Christmas week); visitors can enjoy a safe and unique experience as they drive through the one-mile holiday light show curated to seasonal music.

Red Vending Machine Shines Light on an Easy Way to Give This Holiday Season

NORTH TEXAS -- Just in time for the holiday giving season, the Light the World Giving Machine returns to Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas, benefitting seven charities.

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of more than 100 cities worldwide to host Light the World Giving Machines in 2024.  Five local DFW charities will benefit:

Salvation Army North Texas, Catholic Charities Dallas, Lovepacs, 6 Stones and Agape and two global charities, including Lifting Hands International and UNICEF - USA.

 What is a Giving Machine? Red vending machines that allow users to donate items like clothing, baby supplies, medicine and even goats for people in need during the holidays.​ With a swipe of a card at the machines, items can be purchased ranging in price from $5 to $150 and include staples for charities. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the participating charities. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Giving Machine is part of the Light the World holiday campaign, providing an instant act of service.

The Giving Machine will be in three locations throughout the metroplex from Nov. 22 – Jan. 1, 2025

• It will start in Grapevine, the Christmas Capital of Texas, Nov. 22 – Dec. 5 at Napoli’s Italian Kitchen & Market (309 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051)
• Then, the Giving Machine will travel to make its debut in Frisco on Frisco Square from Dec. 7 – Dec. 18.
• It will make its final stop in Historic Downtown McKinney at Guava Tree  (104 S Chestnut St, McKinney, TX 75069) from Dec. 20 until Jan. 1, 2025.

“The Giving Machine is sponsored by our Church as a way to have an unforgettable giving experience with friends and families,” North Texas Area Authority Jonathan Cannon said for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "These moments help us feel the Savior's love for all of God's children.”

"I love the concept of the Giving Machines," Jen Leney, featured charity 6 Stones Executive Director, said.  "I love that you are teaching families charitable giving. There's a lot of need and as we collaborate together, we can transform whole communities.”

"The Giving Machine concept of spreading Light around the World is exactly what we do," Leney said. 

The Texas Giving Machine will also be in Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

Since the first Light the World Giving Machine launched in 2017, hundreds of thousands of people have generously contributed $32 million to assist those in need.

About Light the World Campaign

During the holiday season, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites people everywhere to light the world by lifting and serving others in small and simple ways. One unique, fun, and memorable aspect of the Light the World initiative is the popular Giving Machines. These customized vending machines allow the public to donate necessary products and services to those in need worldwide.

More details on texasgivingmachine.org/dfw/

@TexasGivingMachine on Instagram and Facebook                                     

A Broken Reflection

by

Shelly M. Patel

A baffling series of murders are all connected to one couple.

A Broken Reflection by Shelly M. Patel is a dark and baffling tale of mystery and murder. When women connected to either Claire Bell or her husband, Stephen, become the victims of murder, the police take note and start asking very probing questions. Claire soon finds herself suspected of being a serial killer. 

Claire is the main character in this twisty tale of murder and deception and is as baffled as the police about who is killing women she has some connection to. She’s a mild and amazingly forgiving woman, especially considering her knowledge of her husband’s infidelities. However, she wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone another human being. But why is she missing great blocks of time from her life? And what’s going on then that she doesn’t remember? 

The plot moves quickly, using multiple points of view to reveal the story. The reader learns early on that Claire is being watched, but it could be any number of mysterious people. While she wavers back and forth about her husband’s cheating, the killer seems to take those matters in hand for her as each one of her rivals becomes a victim. The different narrators all have an axe to grind regarding Claire, and the descriptions of their relationships with her vary greatly – almost as if they are not dealing with the same person. 

The story is easy to read, but there were a few places that required re-reading to figure out what the author was trying to say, and there were a couple of awkward transitions between points of view that were confusing. Still, the story was interesting, entertaining, and short. 

I recommend A BROKEN REFLECTION to readers of psychological or domestic thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.