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If you’re one of the millions of Americans who indulged just a little too much this holiday season, you may be thinking of starting the new year with a clean slate. Dry January began in 2012 as a public health challenge in the UK. It’s now been adopted by millions worldwide. During Dry January, participants opt to stay away from wine, beer and spirits all month long. Studies have shown that regular drinkers who stopped drinking for this amount of time had health benefits such as sleeping better, having more energy and lowering blood pressure.

To help Dry January celebrants stay on the straight and narrow, Fish City Grill and Half Shells are rolling out a slate of mocktails from Executive Chef Molly Winkler that feature exciting, elevated ingredients that will keep customers from missing their alcohol-infused counterparts.

The mocktails are:

  • The Nojito has all the flavor but none of the rum of its sister beverage, the Mojito. It contains mint, lime juice, blood orange and sparkling water.
  • This Punchline will make you smile with hibiscus tea, pineapple juice, lemon juice and passion fruit.
  • The Sparkling Colada has a kick of piña with pineapple juice, coconut and sparkling water.

Those who wish to celebrate a Dry January can order one of these beverages beginning Jan. 7.

For more information on the restaurants, visit fishcitygrill.com.

 

LOCATIONS

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Allen – Watters Creek

Burleson

Dallas – Lake Highlands

Dallas – Preston & Royal

Flower Mound

Prosper

Richardson – CityLine

Mansfield

Waxahachie

Half Shells – Plano

Half Shells – Snider Plaza

 

Austin Area

Georgetown

Waco

 

Houston Area

Half Shells – Katy

Pearland

Sugar Land

 

San Antonio Area

Northwoods

Culebra

South Rim

Alamo Heights

 

Oklahoma

Edmond

 

Arkansas

Rogers

 

Florida

Lakeland

 

ABOUT FISH CITY GRILL & HALF SHELLS

 

Fish City Grills and Half Shells are neighborhood seafood joints serving great seafood and cocktails in a comfortable, casual setting. Our tagline says it all; “Friendly folks. Serious Seafood.” We are equally proud of our company culture and the personal relationships we have with our Team Members, our Customers and our neighborhoods.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells have 23 locations throughout Texas, Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma with more to come!

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Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa has named Michael Nahat as its new resort director of food and beverage. Nahat, an accomplished food and beverage leader with a track record of driving revenue growth and operational excellence in luxury hotel and resort settings, comes to the property from Omni Tucson National Resort, where he held the same position. He has been with Omni Hotels & Resorts for more than six years.

As resort director of food and beverage at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Nahat will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the food and beverage operations across the 660-acre campus. This includes managing the 7 dine-and-drink venues across the resort, including Trick Rider, The Apron, The Lookout Lounge & Bar, Toast & Tee Coffee Collective, Green Catus Café, The Leisure and Bluestem Pool Bars, as well as banquets and catering services and in-room dining.

“Mike is known for achieving consistently high guest satisfaction scores in his previous roles, and we’re happy to have him bring that energy and approach to our already-successful restaurants and bars across the property,” said Jeff Smith, Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa’s general manager.

Before working at the Omni Tucson National Resort, Nahat, a Texas native who grew up in Southlake and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, served as assistant director of food and beverage at Omni La Mansion Del Rio and Mokara Hotel and Spa in San Antonio. There, he was instrumental in achieving and maintaining the AAA 4-Diamond rating for La Mansion Del Rio, reflecting a commitment to exceptional service and culinary offerings. Nahat also has worked for Gaylord resorts in Orlando and Nashville, as well as a stint with Hilton in Chicago.

“I truly enjoy working in the food and beverage realm and feel lucky to have joined the team at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa,” Nahat said. “I enjoy participating in the evolution of the hospitality and dining industry and look forward to what the future holds.”

About PGA Frisco

PGA Frisco is a public/private partnership between the PGA of America, Omni Hotels & Resorts, the City of Frisco, and the Frisco Independent School District. The 660-acre campus is a unique destination that includes: two world-class 18-hole championship golf courses, collectively known as Fields Ranch, and a state-of-the-art clubhouse; the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, featuring 500 guest rooms and suites and 10 exclusive four-bedroom Ranch Houses, four pools, destination spa and 127,000 square feet of meeting and event space; the Monument Realty PGA District which features The Swing, a lighted 10-hole short course, The Dance Floor, a lighted 2-acre putting course and an expansive retail, dining and entertainment district, including an outdoor area for concerts and events, the high-tech, data-driven PGA Coaching Center; the Home of the PGA of America and the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House.

 

About Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa

Opening May 2, 2023, Omni PGA Frisco Resort offers a reimagined destination resort experience for the ultimate getaway. With a wide selection of unique experiences and remarkable year-round programming and activities, the resort provides a diverse and fun-filled destination for guests of all ages. The oasis of the 660-acre PGA Frisco campus, this luxury resort will be both one of the world's leading meeting and conference destinations as well as a bucket list leisure destination featuring two championship golf courses at Fields Ranch designed by Gil Hanse and Beau Welling. With comprehensive resort amenities featuring a signature spa, 13 restaurants and bars, and retail shops - there's something designed for all. Featuring subtle nods to Texas culture, each of the resort's 500 guest rooms and suites and 10 exclusive four-bedroom modern-Texas ranch houses, offer sweeping views of lush surrounds. The resort features more than 127,000 sq. ft of indoor and outdoor space for meetings and events, including 2 ballrooms; 19 meeting rooms; 9 outdoor event venues; and Panther Creek Pavilion, the ideal venue for weddings. Visit omnipgafriscoresort.com or call 469-305-4500 for more information and room reservations. Follow Omni PGA Frisco Resort on Facebook and Instagram.

 

About Monument Realty

About Monument Realty: Founded in 2017, Monument Realty is a next-generation, full-service real estate brokerage based in Frisco, Texas, headquartered at The Star. Named the Number One Best Large Company to Work For by the Dallas Morning News, Monument is the Official Real Estate Company of The Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dak Prescott, and PGA of America. For more information, visit monumentrealtytx.com and follow Monument Realty on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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A Shade of Vampire

A Shade of Vampire, Book 1

by

Bella Forrest

 

A fun, easy-to-enjoy vampire story.

 

This very imaginative tale is told in first person from the perspective of the two main characters and features our world with vampires living in seclusion on a hidden island fortress. The leader of the vampire community, Derek Novak, has been asleep for 400 hundred years since establishing the secret sanctuary. But Derek is scheduled to wake up soon. 

The vampires of this coven leave the island periodically to kidnap humans to use as slaves and their source of nourishment. In preparation for Derek regaining consciousness, his sister and brother kidnap several young and beautiful girls to serve him in his harem, and in doing so, select Sofia Claremont, who was discovered walking along a deserted beach on her 17th birthday after arguing with her best friend, Ben. When Derek awakens, he is taken with the young captive as he fights to control his blood hunger, and eventually, they become emotionally involved with each other. 

The story has interesting characters with unusual backstories. Sofia grew up under difficult circumstances and was taken under the wings of Ben's family. She was falling in love with Ben. Derek was once a hunter of vampires and was "turned" by his father. Derek's older brother, Lucas, has been passed over to rule the coven in favor of Derek courtesy of a prophecy. The island's protection against discovery by the vampire hunters was set in place by Cora, a powerful witch whom Derek wooed to the vampires' side. Cora, dead for centuries, has been succeeded through the years by her descendants, currently by one named Corrine. Ben also reappears to complicate the story further. 

The setting is fun and imaginative. The island itself, known as "The Shade," is kept in eternal night by a spell crafted and maintained by Cora and her family. Prisoners are kept in "The Cells" and slaves in "The Catacombs." A medieval town known as "The Vale" and "The Baths" serve as the meeting, shopping, and social centers of the coven. The members of the first vampire families are known as "The Elite" and live in modern, fantastic tree houses or villas, with the members of the royal family residing in the best of the best – "The Penthouse." 

Mystery, murder, a foiled escape attempt, and romance all serve to spice up this fairly short (152 pages) and quick introduction to the world and characters of this series. I recommend A SHADE OF VAMPIRE to readers of vampire stories.

 

For this and my other reviews, go to Boys' Mom Reads!

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2024-25 Stans NYE PARTY SM Post 1080 x 1080 BBv2.j

Stan’s Blue Note has your New Year’s plans wrapped up

Lower Greenville’s iconic bar, Stan’s Blue Note, is ready to close out 2024 and welcome 2025! Voted Dallas’ best sports bar, Stan’s is known for hosting exciting events with all the best sports along with great food, drinks, and fun times.

Stan’s is your home for holiday fun and games!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Bowl games are our thing, so we open at 11:00am to watch the competition play out on our screens. The games start when Alabama takes on Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl at 11:00am followed by the Sun Bowl, Citrus Bowl, and at 2:30pm the Texas Bowl in a faceoff between LSU and Baylor.

College football playoffs quarterfinals ramp up on New Year’s Eve with the Fiesta Bowl at 6:30pm. Watch #3 Boise State take on #6 Penn State.

A DJ will keep the mood hopping from 9:00pm-2:00am and food and drinks specials are on tap! Our New Year’s Eve specials include $4.25 domestic drafts (11:00am-10:00pm) and $5 frozen margaritas, Expresso Martinis, house wine, White Claw and Nutril (8:00pm-close). Stan’s will be ready to party all day so stay around for the late-night fun and free champagne toast at midnight.

CRAWL ‘TIL THE BALL FALLS

Want to crawl all night? December 31 you can join us for Barcrawlerz, a Dallas Bar Crawl like no other. Crawl 'Til the Ball Falls features the Best Drink Specials and the Best Bars in Town.

Get your wristband ticket in advance then make the rounds! Stan’s is excited to be one of the select participating bars with Dubliner Irish Pub, Christie’s, Dodie’s Reef, and more. Learn more about the bar crawl and get your ticket here

Stan’s NYE specials continue with $5 Frozen Margaritas, Frozen Espresso Martinis, White Claw, Nutrl and wine. Then let’s toast the new year with party favors and champagne!

NEW YEAR’S DAY

New Year’s Day means more of the College Foot Playoff Quarterfinals, and we will have them all. At 12:00pm #4 Arizona State takes on #5 Texas in the Peach Bowl, followed by the Rose Bowl at 4:00pm between #1 Oregon and #8 Ohio State. The evening matchup kicks off at 7:45 pm with #7 Notre Dame facing #2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Stan’s will have domestic drafts on special for $4.25 from 11:00am-10:00pm so get a beer and let’s watch some great football, play some pool, and kick off 2025 with friends.

Stan’s Blue Note, Dallas’ oldest continuously operating drinking establishment, is in Lower Greenville at 2908 Greenville Ave and features an exciting sports environment, renovated patio, and great food and drinks. See all the New Year’s details online at StansBlueNote.com

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Step back in time at The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park in El Paso, Texas, where Old Hollywood glamour will take center stage this New Year's Eve.

Join guests at El Paso's only Michelin Key hotel for a one-night New Year’s Eve celebration. Begin the evening by savoring the New Year over a dinner buffet at the transformed, 1940s-themed Trost Ballroom and Mezzanine from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. 

What's on the Menu?

Start at live marisco station, abundantly filled with bites such as ahi tuna, hamachi, octopus and accented by classic Mexican coctel sauce, verde sauce, or spicy habanero sauce. Then continue the edible festivities to the entrées, which include a cochinita pibil, short rib mole amarillo, pescado zarandeado and more.

Want something different? Then wander to the other stations that will include a salad station, a bread station, and a taco station -- perfect for providing a little something for every appetite. Don't miss the sweet treats that will include decadent crème brulée, cajeta cream puffs, and other surprises yet to be revealed. Following dinner, guests can dance their way into the New Year with a live DJ where a Midnight Balloon Drop will take place with a Champagne Toast.

Attire:

Vintage-inspired attire is recommended but not required.

RESERVATIONS and TICKETS:

Reservations for the New Year's Eve celebration can be booked on Eventbrite.

For guests looking to create an all-inclusive experience, The Plaza offers a New Year’s Eve Room Package. Starting at $499 plus tax for a Classic King Room, overnight guests will receive a welcome VIP amenity delivered to the room: Two New Year’s Eve tickets, which will include the dinner buffet, champagne toast, and grand balloon drop in addition to a New Year’s Day breakfast for two at Ámbar Restaurante. Reservations can be booked through The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park’s direct booking link.

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Assistance Center of Collin County at FlexEtc Help

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, The Assistance Center of Collin County handed out the holidays to 300 local families, distributing the bounty donated by local organizations and individuals that adopted families this season.

Operating out of space gifted for the season by FlexEtc Plano, Hope for the Holidays matches families in need with generous donors who provide gifts from the children’s wish lists and other essentials.

When the Assistance Center needed a home this season, FlexEtc answered the call, donating space for the holiday headquarters, where families drove home with Christmas cheer.

 

About FlexEtc

FlexEtc is a co-warehousing concept started in Los Angeles, that opened in Plano this year after an investment of $16.5 million transformed a former call center into more than 100,000 square-feet of state-of-the-art co-warehousing space. In addition to serving growing businesses, FlexEtc is committed to being part of the community, and is also providing space for Minnie’s Food Pantry this holiday season.

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Remarkable Seventeen “A” Safety Grades in a Row

 

DENTON – Medical City Denton has achieved an “A” safety rating for the 17th consecutive time from The Leapfrog Group, a remarkable and elite accomplishment.

 

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

 

“This 17th ‘A’ rating validates our unwavering dedication to patient safety,” says Steven Edgar, CEO at Medical City Denton. “I am very proud of the care that our doctors, nurses and hospital colleagues provide to ensure excellence always in every action, every patient, every time.”

 

Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  

 

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Medical City Denton,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Medical City Denton, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”

 

Data used to identify Top Hospitals is gathered and publicly and reported through The Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which compares hospitals’ performance on national standards of patient safety, quality, efficiency and management structures that prevent errors, providing the most comprehensive picture of how patients fare at individual institutions. The data collected also enable hospitals to benchmark their progress toward The Leapfrog Group’s standards and measure the care they deliver.

 

ABOUT MEDICAL CITY DENTON

Medical City Denton is a 208-bed, acute care hospital serving the growing communities in Denton, Wise, Cooke and Montague counties. With a medical team of more than 900 physicians, Medical City Denton offers a broad range of services including a Level II Trauma Center, a Primary Stroke Center and an Accredited Cycle VII Chest Pain Center offering advanced open-heart surgery. “A” rated for safety by the Leapfrog Group and Magnet® recognized for nursing excellence.

 

Medical City Denton is part of Medical City Healthcare. 

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Remarkable Seventeen “A” Safety Grades in a Row

 

DENTON – Medical City Denton has achieved an “A” safety rating for the 17th consecutive time from The Leapfrog Group, a remarkable and elite accomplishment.

 

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

 

“This 17th ‘A’ rating validates our unwavering dedication to patient safety,” says Steven Edgar, CEO at Medical City Denton. “I am very proud of the care that our doctors, nurses and hospital colleagues provide to ensure excellence always in every action, every patient, every time.”

 

Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  

 

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Medical City Denton,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Medical City Denton, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”

 

Data used to identify Top Hospitals is gathered and publicly and reported through The Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which compares hospitals’ performance on national standards of patient safety, quality, efficiency and management structures that prevent errors, providing the most comprehensive picture of how patients fare at individual institutions. The data collected also enable hospitals to benchmark their progress toward The Leapfrog Group’s standards and measure the care they deliver.

 

ABOUT MEDICAL CITY DENTON

Medical City Denton is a 208-bed, acute care hospital serving the growing communities in Denton, Wise, Cooke and Montague counties. With a medical team of more than 900 physicians, Medical City Denton offers a broad range of services including a Level II Trauma Center, a Primary Stroke Center and an Accredited Cycle VII Chest Pain Center offering advanced open-heart surgery. “A” rated for safety by the Leapfrog Group and Magnet® recognized for nursing excellence.

 

Medical City Denton is part of Medical City Healthcare. 

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Kathy Beazley
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Photo credit Enchant Christmas, LLC

Due to popular demand, Classic Christmas by Enchant, presented by Coca-Cola, has announced expanded dates for its immersive holiday experience at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington.

Previously, Classic Christmas ran from Nov. 22 through Dec. 29. Event organizers are extending the magic by adding six additional dates—Dec. 30 and Jan. 1-5—giving more visitors a chance to experience DFW’s premier holiday destination before the lights go out for the season. Classic Christmas will open nightly at 5:30 p.m.

For event days  Dec 30 - Jan 5, there will be two ticket package options available. For those interested in the Admissions + Activities Bundle with unlimited snow slide rides and ice skating, tickets prices will be $25-$35. A general admission ticket will be available for $15-$25 for those who want to stroll and enjoy the lights. Tickets are currently available at ClassicChristmas.com.

At Classic Christmas, guests can immerse themselves in 55,000 square feet of awe-inspiring light sculptures, interactive Coca-Cola-themed displays, and festive activities. Highlights include the dazzling Classic Christmas Ice Rink, a thrilling snow slide, and picturesque photo spots featuring stunning lights —creating unforgettable moments of joy and togetherness. It’s an ideal getaway for families with kids on holiday break, staycationers, out-of-town visitors, and even romantic date nights.

The experience also offers the Classic Christmas Eatery featuring seasonal food and drink, an interactive dance floor grooving festive beats, and the Cinemark Theatre to catch movie previews and classic Coca-Cola shorts.

“We’re thrilled that the response to the inaugural Classic Christmas has resulted in the addition of new dates,” said Michelle Leyva, vice president of marketing and digital for Enchant Christmas, the creators of Classic Christmas. “The updated schedule will offer more opportunities for families and friends to enjoy the magic of DFW’s  largest and best holiday attraction. Since space is limited in order to facilitate the best possible visitor experience, we encourage everyone to purchase tickets sooner rather than later.”

ABOUT CLASSIC CHRISTMAS BY ENCHANT, PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA

  • Nov through Jan 5, 2025
  • Choctaw Stadium (1000 Ballpark Way | 76011)
  • Tickets available at ClassicChristmas.com

ABOUT COCA-COLA SOUTHWEST BEVERAGES

Dallas-based Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB), a company of Arca Continental, is one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States. CCSWB produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola brands throughout Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The company employs more than 8,500 associates who operate 7 production plants and 37 distribution facilities, serving more than 31 million consumers. Headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico, Arca Continental is one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, with an outstanding history spanning more than 91 years. Within its Coca-Cola franchise, Arca Continental serves more than 118 million consumers in Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and the Southwestern U.S. Arca Continental also produces and markets snacks under the brand names Wise in the U.S., Bokados in Mexico and Inalecsa in Ecuador. For more information, visit www.cocacolaswb.com and www.arcacontal.com.

ABOUT ENCHANT CHRISTMAS, CREATORS OF CLASSIC CHRISTMAS

Enchant is the visionary behind the award-winning World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze, a story-driven holiday experience that has captivated millions across the U.S. and Canada. Since its founding in 2016 by Canadian entrepreneur Kevin Johnston, Enchant has become renowned for producing immersive holiday events that feature expansive light displays, ice skating experiences, live entertainment, and more. Classic Christmas, one of Enchant’s latest creations, offers a nostalgic, community-focused celebration that brings the magic of the season to life all in partnership with Coca-Cola. Enchant’s events are designed to create magical memories for guests of all ages. Learn more at EnchantChristmas.com and ClassicChristmas.com.

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM GNC! 

We hope your holiday season is full of friends, family, and great times. And here’s to crushing next year’s goals