The celebration of the Lunar New Year officially begins on Wednesday, Jan. 28, but Galleria Dallas is beginning its celebration early with an art installation of nearly 250 enormous lanterns over the ice rink to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. The beautiful lantern festival installation will be complete Jan. 17 and will stay up through Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Galleria Dallas also will host the HD Lion Dance Foundation, who will perform a colorful dragon dance at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 on Level 1 near Sephora. In addition to the exciting dance performance, visitors will enjoy a high-energy drumming performance as a part of the celebration. According to ancient tradition, the Year of the Snake will bring transformation, renewal and personal growth, all traits celebrated at the popular shopping destination. For families, on Thursday, Feb. 6, author Isabelle Engler will share music and stories celebrating Lunar New Year during her popular PALS Showtime performance at 10:30 a.m. on Level III near the Children’s Play Place.

“Our Lunar New Year celebration has become one of our most popular traditions each year,” said Galleria Dallas General Manager Angie Freed. “From the time the beautiful lanterns raise above the Galleria Ice Skating Center through the high-energy Lunar New Year celebration, there is an energy and joy that really brings a sense of community to Galleria Dallas.”

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

The Ann & Charles Eisemann International Young Artist Competition, a prestigious event presented by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (RSO), is set to take place on January 11, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas. This year's competition will feature 13 of the most talented young pianists, ages 18-26, as they compete for the chance to perform a standard concerto with the RSO. 

Recognized for its commitment to fostering the next generation of classical musicians, the competition alternates annually between string and piano categories. The generous support of Ann and Charles Eisemann makes this remarkable event possible, providing a unique platform for young artists to showcase their extraordinary talents on an international stage. 

An esteemed panel of judges will preside over this year's competition, including Dr. Pamela Mia Paul, Regents Professor of Piano at the University of North Texas; Dr. Yoshikazu Nagai, Professor of Piano and Chamber Music Chair at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music; and Professor Alan Chow, Professor of Piano and Piano Department Chair at the Eastman School of Music. 

The event is free and open to the public, offering an exceptional opportunity for music students and enthusiasts to experience the artistry and skill of these young pianists firsthand. The schedule is as follows: 

- Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025 

- Location: First United Methodist Richardson, Richardson, TX 

- Semi-final rounds: Begin at 9:00 AM 

- Final round: Begins approximately at 4 PM 

We invite teachers, students, and the community to attend this inspiring event. 

Junior Achievement of Dallas (JA Dallas) is proud to announce Palak Patel as the 2025 JA Dallas Student of the Year. A senior at Plano East Senior High School, Patel was selected from a competitive pool of more than 100 applicants for her outstanding academic achievements, leadership and commitment to community impact. As part of this prestigious recognition, Patel will receive the Sandi Smith Scholarship, a $10,000 award to support her higher education journey in college and pursuit of a career in business.

Patel has been involved with JA Dallas as a participant in the JA Career Speaker Series and as an intern with JA Dallas. In her application essay, she described the lessons she learned as an intern: “I found myself diving into projects that challenged me to think in new ways and take on responsibilities I had never expected. It wasn’t just about tasks and deadlines; it was about learning how to navigate the complex world of business and understanding the value of making smart, informed decisions.”

As the JA Dallas Student of the Year, Patel will play a key role in the upcoming Dallas Business Hall of Fame, presented by Ryan, LLC, on February 22, 2025, at the Omni Dallas Hotel. During the event, she will address an audience of business and community leaders, sharing her inspiring journey and future aspirations. The student will also be recognized at the Laureate Reception, an exclusive gathering honoring this year’s distinguished Hall of Fame Laureates: Allie Beth Allman, Curtis C. Farmer and Dale Petroskey.

The Dallas Business Hall of Fame benefiting Junior Achievement of Dallas celebrates the best and brightest in the Dallas business community who have made a meaningful impact in the region. Now in its 27th year, the gala raises essential funds to support Junior Achievement’s mission to inspire and prepare young people for success in a global economy.

“Each year, the JA Dallas Student of the Year reminds us of the incredible potential of our young people,” said Chris LaTurno, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Dallas. “Palak Patel exemplifies the qualities of leadership, perseverance and ambition that we strive to instill in every student who participates in our programs. We are proud to honor Palak at this year’s Dallas Business Hall of Fame and are excited to see her future unfold.”

The Sandi Smith Scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who has participated in Junior Achievement programs, with applicants evaluated on academic achievement, leadership and a personal essay. This scholarship underscores Junior Achievement’s commitment to fostering education as a pathway to opportunity.

About the Dallas Business Hall of Fame 

Since its inception, the Dallas Business Hall of Fame has raised more than $5 million to support Junior Achievement of Dallas’ mission of inspiring and preparing young people for success. The annual gala celebrates the achievements of Dallas’ most influential business leaders while raising critical funds to provide students with learning experiences in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Through these programs, JA Dallas has reached over 700,000 local students, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become the next generation of leaders. For more information on the event, visit jadallasbusinesshalloffame.org.

About Junior Achievement of Dallas

JA Dallas prepares students for the business of life. The nonprofit organization equips young people with hands-on learning experiences in financial literacy, workplace readiness and entrepreneurship so they can thrive in our complex world and workplaces.

Last year, more than 2,500 business and community volunteers helped lead JA’s proven learning experiences across Dallas, Collin, Denton and Kaufman counties, engaging more than 100,000 students in real-world skills that life and employers demand. JA alums are more likely to have a college degree, make higher earnings and start businesses. For more information, visit www.jadallas.org

Tickets for the 67^th annual Junior Symphony Ball will go on sale Wednesday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. Over 2,000 high school students from 35 schools are expected to attend the event set for Saturday, February 1 at Gilley’s from 7:30 – 10:30 pm. The JSB is a “Party with a Purpose” fundraising event where high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors come together and celebrate with an evening filled with dancing, professionally staffed gaming tables, raffles, prizes and refreshments. Detroit native Brandon Williams, known globally as 13LACKBEARD, is the official DJ.

General Admission tickets will go on sale for $175. Click Here for ticket information.

The JSB is the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s longest running fundraiser. It was founded with the concept of “student-led, parent-guided” leadership. While JSB has evolved in scope and participation size, it has always been a high school student fundraising event for the DSO hosted by area 10^th-12^th grade high school students and their parents. Proceeds support DSO outreach programs such as the Young Strings program and the Young Musicians program. 

JSB Co-chairs  - photo by Tamytha Cameron
From left to right-Gracelyn Nix, Tanner Krug, Emerson Mayes, Teddy Fleiss, Avery Black, Zach Shapiro, Kate Davidson, Jack Steed, Clara Tolleson, Johnny Willingham.

Follow JSB on Social Media

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JSBdallas/
Instagram @jsbdalas

Deathwish

Superhero, #2

by

Justin Richman

Fast-paced and exciting, Adam's a regular guy with superhuman ability, and his story may be better than the debut of the super series.

Adam's body has the unexplainable ability to heal itself almost instantaneously, and he's been supplementing his income from his retail position by fighting for money in the alley behind his best friend's bar. But one night, after an encounter in Decker City with the vigilante crimefighter known as The Gray Hood, he begins to consider the possibility that he, too, could put his special ability to better use. After he loses his day job, he goes on a ride-along with a police friend, Lt. Shane Cranston, and Adam's smitten: he wants to fight crime. 

At this time, Decker City is a hotbed of violence and criminal activity, but Adam's hometown, nearby Mapleton, is fairly quiet until Adam and Shane get involved in some of Decker City's investigations. Suddenly, both their lives are on the line, and Adam is finding out firsthand how much damage his body can take and still come back. 

Deathwish is the second novel in author Justin Richman's great new Superhero series, and I believe it is even better than his debut outing. It's a fast-paced, exciting, and entertaining story about a regular guy with a superhuman ability to heal even his most grievous wounds instantly. Adam was dealt a tough hand when the ability was discovered and has really been on his own his whole life. I really liked the clever and snarky guy, even his (at times) "Dad joke" dialogue. He's an extrovert and ready to take action, shake things up, and make things work. I loved that he jumped into action even as bullets were flying, knowing absolutely nothing about what he was doing or heading into. I laughed out loud quite a bit and would have read this book cover to cover in one sitting if I hadn't had to deal with real life. 

As in Richman's first Superhero book, there are some great secondary and supporting characters. Shane Cranston, Adam's friendly connection in the Mapleton PD, is a nice guy who is good at this job and genuinely tries to help the wayward Adam find his way. The same can be said for Adam's best friend, Chuck, who is the only other person who knows Adam's secret. I liked Adam's flirtation with Kate Phillips and would love to see that go somewhere for Adam. However, there is a particularly interesting lock-picking officer, Liz McKenzie, who would be fun to get to know better. 

I also enjoyed the crossover between this and book one, The Silver Hood. Usually, a series will maintain the same setting throughout, but in the second Superhero book, we're actually in a nearby city. It was interesting to see the towns all used the same radio dispatcher until Decker City got so busy and crime-riddled that they had to set up a separate system. It was reasonably true to life regarding the lack of cooperation and exchange of information that can arise between agencies. I appreciated that the author didn't let Shane and Adam "poach" on Decker City's jurisdiction without the DC PD initially asking for assistance and, later, the two rightfully anticipating repercussions for overstepping. 

The action in the story is steady, with exciting, almost frantic moments regularly kicking the pace up a notch (to "Eleven"). A major plot twist made me exclaim aloud; I was that surprised. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending, and there are still some shadowy things and people lurking in the background that predict this author has much more planned! There is also an intriguing explanation for how Adam acquired his unique healing ability.

 With its entertaining premise and non-stop excitement and action, I recommend DEATHWISH to readers who enjoy fantastic superhero tales. (This book has some death and destruction and drinking, but no drugs or "kissing scenes," if that is a consideration for sharing with a younger audience.) 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.