09.26
Let the
Rebellion Begin!
FOLLOW YOUR DREAM HOME.
$2,000,000 $995,000
$1,425,000
$1,425,000
1508 Main Street SOUTHLAKE Live Brilliantly Southlake’s Premier Brownstone Amber Butcher 214.770.2175
4887 Cloudcroft Lane IRVING Gated Golf Retreat In Las Colinas 15th Fairway Dan Holmes 817.528.4606 Roxann Taylor 817.312.7100
$2,650,000
$5,900,000 $1,725,000
$1,975,000
516 Cascade Springs Drive SOUTHLAKE Timeless Luxury In Prestigious Winding Creek Traci Fradkin 817.416.2700
10531 Cole Road PILOT POINT A Showstopping Modern Farmhouse Gaye Barrett 940.299.8490
2951 Sunset Boulevard FLOWER MOUND Lakeside Village Villa - Shops - Dining - Entertainment Roxann Taylor 817.312.7100
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
$2,850,000
712 Crescent Heights SOUTHLAKE Contemporary Luxury | 10,000+ SF Estate Derek Baiza 325.267.1403
1700 Live Oak Lane SOUTHLAKE Luxury Living Powered By Tesla Innovation + Guest House Roxann Taylor 817.312.7100
517 Pine Island Circle HEATH Extraordinary Waterfront 1.5 Acre Estate - 6 Suites Darius Jackson 972.581.9577
$2,799,000
$2,235,000
$2,298,000
1740 Oakbrook Drive KELLER Move In Ready New Build Cambium In Oakbrook Hills Kayson Smith 817.713.2343
2800 Lakeside Parkway1003 FLOWER MOUND Stunning Condo w/ Sweeping Lake Views Roxann Taylor 817.312.7100
1116 Park Avenue KELLER Custom Built By M Builder In Greenway Park Cassandra Hughes 817.714.8915
2856 Peninsula Drive Grapevine Lake Community Home Muska Buczek
GRAPEVINE 214.773.3010
Engel & Völkers | Dallas Ft. Worth 1111 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 460 Next to Glorias | 817.416.2700
D F W. E V R e a l E s t a t e . c o m ©2026 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. If your property is currently represented by a real estate broker, this is not an attempt to solicit your listing. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.
20 YEARS OF SOUTHLAKE STYLE
rebel spirit… STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLISHER
Mike Tesoriero Mike@SouthlakeStyle.com SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Nicole Tesoriero Nicole@SouthlakeStyle.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Katelynn McKee Katelynn@SouthlakeStyle.com EDITOR
Cynthia Naugher Cynthia@SouthlakeStyle.com STAFF WRITER
Tim Glaze Tim@SouthlakeStyle.com GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT
Fran Sherman ADVERTISING & SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Katie Neumann
I am food obsessed. There. I said it. Food has always been my love language, and few things make me happier than tinkering around in the kitchen for the people I love. Alas, that is easier said than done these days. My daughter is firmly in the picky-eater camp, content with a fairly short roster of favorites. My 16-year-old, who plays Dragon football, has gone in the opposite direction. Lately, he’s obsessed with elevating his post-practice protein-packed rice and veggie bowls, experimenting with seasonings and adding enough heat to set your insides on fire. And that’s before he finishes with a liberal dousing of Frank’s RedHot or Momofuku Extra Spicy Chili Crunch. Would I make all of his choices myself? Probably not. (Frankly, I’m not sure my poor stomach could handle it.) Do I love finding him at the stove, experimenting? Absolutely. There’s something wonderfully rebellious about food when we stop worrying quite so much about the way others expect it to be done. That spirit runs throughout this year’s Food Issue. Nicole Heere, this month’s cover subject, may embody it most literally. Her Housewife Rebellion wine bottles look like something a perfectly coiffed 1950s housewife might hide behind the flour canister. And her new Grapevine tasting room is every bit as cheeky. We also sit down with Carroll’s new head football coach, Lee Munn, who has his own unexpected way to wind down off the field: by cooking country breakfasts for his family and even baking bread from scratch. And fan-favorite private chef Aly Romero has a few thoughts on how to turn that plain Jane tailgate spread into something with a big personality. I also feel it’s my duty to mention the breakfast quiche Lorraine I ate at Hotel Ritual in Jacksonville, Texas. I was not expecting one of the best slices I’ve had outside Paris to turn up in East Texas, but there it was. And I am a sucker for quiche. Isn’t that the fun of food? There really isn’t one right way to do it. So, make the quiche. Pour the wine. Upgrade the tailgate. Douse dinner in Frank’s, if that’s your thing. Just make it yours. With gratitude,
Katie@SouthlakeStyle.com OFFICE MANAGER
Kelly Rose
Cynthia Naugher | Editor Cynthia@SouthlakeStyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AYE Creator Mike Lewis Rodney Wooters / Woo Doo Photo
next issue
HEALTHY, WEALTHY CONTACT US 180 State Street, Suite 225 Southlake, TX 76092 817.416.4500
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& WISE
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 01
Dona Robinson presents
HILL COUN T RY INSPIRED ESTATE AVAILABLE | 1203 Perdenalas Trail | $7,999,000
Voted DALLAS' BEST + SOUTHLAKE SUPER AGENT
214-906-7069 dona.robinson@alliebeth.com
Dona Robinson
Dona Robinson
ENTERING A
new season the best CHOOSE
AVAILABLE
SOLD
920 Independence Parkway Southlake | $1,699,000
2222 Barcelona Court Westlake | Sold Off Market
James Keoughan
Dona Robinson
972.523.9740 james.keoughan@alliebeth.com
214.906.7069 dona.robinson@alliebeth.com
SOLD
SOLD - Represented Buyer
912 Silverton Street Southlake | $3,300,000
8009 Long Trail Drive North Richland Hills | $710,000
Wynne Moore
Nanette Ecklund-Luker
817.781.7060 wynne.moore@alliebeth.com
817.235.8260 nanette.ecklundluker@alliebeth.com
AllieBethAllmanAssociates
@AllieBethAllman
AllieBethAllman
alliebeth.com
Voted DALLAS' BEST + SOUTHLAKE SUPER AGENT
817-235-8260 nanette.ecklundluker@alliebeth.com
Nanette Ecklund-Luker
Nanette Ecklund-Luker
contents
24 48
features 24 REBELLION IN A BOTTLE Grapevine's newest tasting room is full of wine, wit, & whimsy. And pink.
36 HOMEGROWN LEADERSHIP Get to know Lee Munn, Carroll's new head football coach.
departments 10
TRAVEL WITH STYLE
12
GOOD READS
18
SPOTLIGHT
29
LOCAL FLAVOR Tailgating. But better.
40
Q&A 5 minutes with... Christine Kane & Deborah Bowles 56
BOARDING PASS Hotel RITUAL
60
ARTS & CULTURE
64
PARTING SHOT
32 43
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS: Dining Guide Top Lawyers
36
56
VOL 21
09.26
ON THE COVER SOUTH LAKE
Drink Pink.
STYLE
Photo by Adrian Cortes
Let the
Rebellio Begin!
n
MBER
SEPTE • 26
06 • SEPTEMBER 26
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 11 ATTORNEYS OF KOONSFULLER, P.C. FAMILY LAW ON BEING NAMED TO SOUTHLAKE STYLE’S 2026 TOP LAWYERS LIST.
Jessica Janicek*
Heather King*
Rob McEwan*
Eniya Richardson
Paul Leopold*+
Spencer Mullins
Jeff Stewart
Tarrah Lett
Sally Pretorius*
Courtney Walker*
Drew Williamson*
*Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. +Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
SERVING SOUTHLAKE FAMILIES FOR OVER 45 YEARS. For over 45 years, KoonsFuller has guided families through life’s most complex and sensitive family legal challenges. Our Southlake office is home to eight attorneys, six of whom are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, including an attorney Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law. With 28 more attorneys across our four Dallas-area offices, KoonsFuller offers clients unique access to a localized yet collaborative approach. From informal negotiations and mediation to litigation, our experienced attorneys are equipped to handle estates of all sizes, and custody issues of any kind. To learn more, visit KoonsFuller.com.
DALLAS** 1717 McKinney Ave., Ste 1500 Dallas, Texas 75202 214.871.2727 **Principle Office
DENTON 320 West Eagle Drive, Ste 200 Denton, Texas 76201 940.442.6677
PLANO 5700 W. Plano Parkway, Ste 2200 Plano, Texas 75093 972.769.2727
K O ON SFULLE R .COM
SOUTHLAKE 550 Reserve Street, Ste 450 Southlake, Texas 76092 817.481.2710
style’s SNIPPETS add to CART
listicle 10 Spots for a Pre-Game Snack 1. Muchacho. Tacos before touchdowns.
SHOW TOTE CLEAR ENVELOPE KELLY GREEN $248 SHOWTOTE.COM Consider your game-day bag dilemma solved. Show Tote’s Clear Envelope pairs scratchresistant clear PVC with smooth Kelly Green leather trim for a stadium-approved look that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. At 6 by 7 by 2.5 inches, it’s compact enough for strict venue policies but still holds the essentials, with card slots and a leather-backed pouch to keep smaller items contained. The best part? In Dragon green, it feels practically made for Friday nights in Southlake. From football games to concerts, this is one clear bag you’ll actually want to carry.
Read about Show Tote’s co-founders on p. 40
08 • SEPTEMBER 26
2. Whistle Britches. Biscuits, chicken, and zero restraint.
POWER PLAY City turns up the heat on local utility providers
3. Taverna Rossa. Grab a pie. Call it carb-loading. 4. Mi Cocina. Chips, queso, Mambo Taxi. You know the drill. 5. Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café. Because pre-game Nutella absolutely counts. 6. Moxies Southlake. Shareables and screens. Already game-ready. 7. Gloria's Latin Cuisine. Pupusas and margaritas. Solid warm-up.
WINGING IT Dallas’ WNBA team finally puts the “Dallas” part to work
RENT CHECK Southlake investors under fire over conditions at properties across DFW
8. Cork & Pig Tavern Southlake. Deviled eggs, crab dip, no regrets. 9. Malai Kitchen. Thai and Vietnamese bites before Friday night lights. 10. Postino Southlake. Bruschetta boards. Share and conquer.
THIRST TRAP Heat plus school sports has Gatorade Zero disappearing from shelves
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
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womenʼ s LUNCHEON ten years of connecting community
PRESENTED BY
CHARLOTTE COLBY FOUNDER OF FORM YPS
KELLY ANN WINGET WEALTH STRATEGIST
"Healthy, Wealthy & Wise" Monday, October 26 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Westin Southlake
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1 0% O F TI CK E T SALE S WI LL B E N E F IT TH E M E SQ UA R E D C A N CE R FO U N DATI O N
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ACCLAIMED PASTRY CHEF
SPONSORS
SCAN TO GET YOUR TICKETS
MODERATED BY
LYNDA WARNER
SOUTHLAKE LEADER & COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
P RO M OTI O NA L TA B LE S P O N SO R S
Discover Strength • Ever/Body Colleyville • goGLOW • Jocelyn Hope State Farm L.A.B. Med Spa • Rose & Rivets • Show Tote • SkinRX Clinical Spa • Southlake Dermatology Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital • Texas Regional Bank
I N - K I N D S P O N SO R S
Event Art Co. • Pacific Table
travel with STYLE
SEPT. SUBMISSION
DRAGON PRIDE Bob and Kay Tergerson bring Style to Ljubljana, Slovenia's iconic Dragon Bridge.
10 • SEPTEMBER 26
Take us along on your next adventure! Pack your copy of Southlake Style, snap a photo, and share it with us. You just might see yourself in an upcoming issue. Don’t forget to include names and your destination.
Upload photos at SouthlakeStyle.com or use the QR code.
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
ESSENTIAL COOKBOOKS EVERY KITCHEN DESERVES
good READS
SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT by Samin Nosrat Simon & Schuster, 2017
Part cookbook, part cooking class, Samin Nosrat’s modern classic breaks great food down to four essential elements. In the foreword, author and food journalist Michael Pollan calls the book “indispensable” and writes that he “can’t imagine living without it.”
THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA COOKBOOK by Ina Garten Clarkson Potter, 1999
Ina Garten has built an empire on recipes that feel polished but never punishing. James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and Food Network host Gale Gand praises Garten’s recipes as “well tested” and “reliable,” adding that they’re also “human.” It is elegant, doable, and somehow always exactly what you want to serve.
MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck Knopf, 40th Anniversary edition, 2001
The icon. The legend. The reason so many home cooks have attempted boeuf bourguignon with great ambition and possibly a little panic. Gand also named Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” as a must-have, specifically pointing to Volume One as the one to keep close. Technique, patience, and plenty of butter never really go out of style.
ESSENTIALS OF CLASSIC ITALIAN COOKING by Marcella Hazan Knopf, 30th Anniversary edition, 2022
If French cooking has Julia, Italian cooking has Marcella. Food writer and cook Nigella Lawson once wrote, “If this were the only cookbook you owned, neither you nor those you cooked for would ever get bored.” It is easy to see why. This beloved volume is deeply practical, with recipes that show how a few good ingredients can become something unforgettable.
BUTTER, SUGAR, FLOUR, EGGS by Gale Gand, Rick Tramonto, and Julia Moskin Clarkson Potter, 1999
Gand has written several popular cookbooks covering desserts, brunch, and casual meals, but “Butter, Sugar, Flour, Eggs” is the one even she uses the most — “falling apart and stained” from years in the kitchen. Organized by ingredient rather than format, the baking book is built around the way people actually crave dessert: chocolate, citrus, nuts, spice, and everything sweet in between. See Gale speak live about her craft at Southlake Style's 10th Annual Women's Luncheon on October 26!
12 • SEPTEMBER 26
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
www.gallery19c.com
1500 Solana Blvd, Suite 5150, Westlake, TX 76262
Gallery 19C Bringing the Nineteenth Century Into Focus
“Every picture shows a spot with which the artist has fallen in love.” — Alfred Sisley Located in Westlake, Gallery 19C is an international gallery devoted exclusively to nineteenth-century European paintings. The gallery celebrates the revolutionaries who paved the way for Impressionism and modern art, while also bringing renewed attention to the academic painters whose brilliance has long deserved reconsideration. This August, Gallery 19C invites visitors to experience a rare work by Alfred Sisley, At the Edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau, painted in 1868. Long regarded as the purest of the Impressionists, Sisley remained deeply committed to landscape painting and the study of atmosphere, light, and the natural world throughout his career. Created near Barbizon, where the Forest of Fontainebleau became a defining site for generations of nineteenth-century landscape painters, the work speaks directly to the gallery’s mission to present museum-quality paintings that deepen our understanding of the century and its lasting influence. Early works by Sisley from the 1860s are exceptionally rare, SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
making this painting a compelling reflection of the caliber and historical significance of the works presented at Gallery 19C. Gallery 19C’s commitment to scholarship and connoisseurship is reflected in its placement of works with major museums, including the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Van Gogh Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This fall, the gallery will also collaborate with Trois Crayons, a London-based platform dedicated to connecting the global drawings community. From October 22–29, Gallery 19C will host the Dallas-Fort Worth presentation of On Paper: Drawings from the Renaissance to the Modern Day, bringing 80–100 works on paper to Westlake in an intimate gallery setting. Whether you are a seasoned collector, a new enthusiast, or simply curious to experience art history up close, Gallery 19C offers a rare opportunity to encounter the nineteenth century in a fresh and meaningful way. SEPTEMBER 26 • 13
P R OM OT I O N
ask an EXPERT
DARLA STAPLETON
The Concierge Jewelry Experience D-Flawless Founder On Personalized Service And Fine Jewelry
What is a concierge jeweler? We are your personal jeweler! We are passionate and dedicated to providing not only the finest pieces of jewelry but also a superb customer experience. We do everything from custom designs to all types of repairs. We offer a customized and private service to our clientele to help understand their specific needs, preferences and budget, ensuring that the final product is uniquely tailored to their desires. You can also schedule a one-on-one confidential appointment to go through our extensive showcase of fine jewelry or customize your own. What kind of pieces do you offer? We offer the most exciting trends of unique, custom designs that you won’t find in your typical jewelry stores while also carrying staple, classic pieces as well. We have a strong network of suppliers and vendors where we can handpick the pieces that are original and cater to the latest modern contemporary styles and trends in the industry. How do you keep up with jewelry trends? We attend several jewelry trade shows where the trends often emerge. These events are excellent for seeing firsthand what’s coming next in the jewelry world. With over 30 years of experience in the jewelry industry, my team ensures that anyone who visits my store will leave with beautiful pieces of jewelry and a smile on their face. What is one of your favorite pieces of jewelry? A pair of diamond ear studs are always in style, no matter the size. You can wear them with a pair of jeans or a cocktail dress. They are a staple piece that should be in everyone’s personal jewelry collection. What advice do you usually give people about jewelry? Insure it and wear it! You should always enjoy wearing your beautiful pieces. D-Flawless offers appraisals, which are an essential aspect of managing your sentimental and valuable jewelry.
Darla Stapleton | SOUTHLAKE 817.416.0825 DFlawlessJewelers.com
14 • SEPTEMBER 26
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
A RARE BLEND OF LUXURY & INNOVATION 85 5 H A R BOR COU RT | SOU T H LA K E , T EX AS 6 BED | 11 BAT H | 8,6 07 SQUA R E F EET | 2 . 57 ACR E LOT
Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
Situated in a prestigious Southlake cul-de-sac, this gated estate encompasses 2.57 stunning acres of lush, private grounds. Blending cutting-edge craftsmanship with timeless luxury living, this home is designed for grand-scale entertaining and effortless everyday comfort, showcasing exquisite finishes, sophisticated technology, and resort-style amenities. And now, it can be yours.
SHARON REDD M : 4 6 9. 8 3 5 . 5 3 6 3 | S H A R O N . R E D D @ C O M PA S S . C O M
FEA TURED BUS INESS
TWO CONCEPTS, ONE POINT OF VIEW How RVU Is Building Two Distinct Southlake Culinary Destinations
R
e s t a u r a n t Ve n t u r e s U n l i m i t e d i s a r e s t a u r a n t management and ownership group headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas, with a portfolio of distinctive dining concepts across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company focuses on creating memorable experiences through elevated American cuisine, craft beverages and thoughtfully designed spaces. Its portfolio includes Jane, Volstead, Tycoon and The Tavern at Lakeside, with Jane & Volstead serving as sister concepts in Southlake, each offering its own distinct atmosphere and dining experience. With continued growth on the horizon, the company is expanding its footprint with a new restaurant planned for Roanoke, Texas, with details to be announced.
gathering with friends. The restaurant features an extensive wine selection, handcrafted signature cocktails and an inviting atmosphere designed to keep the good times going. A standout feature is Jane’s large patio, providing an ideal setting for casual get-togethers, celebrations, corporate gatherings and private events. With its stylish atmosphere and flexible space, the patio adds another dimension to Jane’s appeal and makes the restaurant a natural destination for hosting groups. Jane also keeps its calendar fresh with monthly events, giving guests new reasons to return throughout the year. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m.
JANE At Jane, girls’ night can easily turn into an all-night celebration. Effortlessly chic with a playful personality, Jane pairs a lively atmosphere with cocktails, wine and a menu designed for lingering over good conversation and great company. From leisurely weekend brunches to dinners that stretch into the evening, Jane offers an experience equally suited to a casual night out, a special celebration or a long-overdue
Jane | 682.477.4478 | JaneSouthlake.com
P R O MOTI O N
“Our goal is to create places people want to come back to — not just because of what’s on the menu, but because of how they feel when they’re here.” — Dave Coussirat, President and COO VOLSTEAD Tucked away in Southlake, Volstead is a hidden gem inspired by the atmosphere and spirit of the Prohibition era. Named for the Volstead Act of 1919, the restaurant and bar combines a distinctive themed setting with flavorful cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and a welcoming environment built for connection. Volstead’s signature martinis and handcrafted cocktails are complemented by a diverse wine selection, making it a destination for both cocktail enthusiasts and those looking to settle in for lunch or dinner. The restaurant’s intimate, immersive atmosphere encourages guests to relax, let their hair down and stay awhile. For those looking to unwind after work, happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. Volstead also offers a late-night experience every evening, with specials during the final hour before closing.
With its distinctive Prohibition-era character, attentive service and lively events calendar, Volstead offers something beyond a traditional night out—a place to enjoy great food and drinks while creating memorable moments. Both Jane and Volstead have earned Readers’ Choice awards and other recognition across multiple categories and publications, reflecting their growing presence within the Southlake dining scene.
Volstead | 682.476.8186 | VolsteadSouthlake.com
SPOTLIGHT focus
More Words, Bigger Impact
Tamika Taylor’s Podcast Is Now Among the World’s Top 5%
T
amika Taylor is proving that authentic conversations can have a global reach. The Colleyville mindset coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and 2024 Southlake Style Women's Luncheon keynote speaker recently announced that her podcast, Say More Words, has climbed into the top 5% of self-help podcasts worldwide. It's a remarkable milestone in one of podcasting's most competitive categories. The achievement is especially meaningful for Taylor, who admits fear almost kept the podcast from ever launching. She delayed the project for nearly two years, intimidated by the technology and the work required to produce it. Once she finally pressed record, however, she quickly discovered the platform was becoming much more than a podcast.
18 • SEPTEMBER 26
Listeners began sharing how episodes had encouraged them through difficult seasons, offered comfort during challenging moments and even become part of their daily routines. One listener told Taylor that her college softballplaying daughter listens to the show before games. One of the podcast's most impactful episodes, "Finding the Joy in My Trauma," has become its most shared installment. By opening up about her own experiences, Taylor found healing herself while creating space for others to do the same. Her long-term goal is to continue elevating voices that inspire resilience, growth and transformation — and eventually push the podcast into the top 1% globally. “It’s been the most amazing experience, getting to help people and be a part of their lives,” Tamika says.
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT community
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SMILES Thanks to everyone who shared their favorite first-day-of-school photos with us! We loved seeing so many smiling Dragons ready to take on a new year. A special thank-you to Tolleson Orthodontics for sponsoring this year’s Back to School Smiles photo contest — and congratulations to our lucky winners, Grace & Nixon, who received a prize package filled with Tolleson swag! Here’s to a great school year, Southlake!
SOUTHLAKE TOP DOC EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION Dr. Michael Briseño, a Southlake-area orthopedic spine surgeon, has earned a national Barricaid® Platinum Center of Excellence designation for his work improving outcomes for lower-back surgery patients. The recognition honors physicians who demonstrate clinical excellence, patient-centered care, and commitment to reducing repeat procedures. Briseño practices with North Texas Orthopedic & Spine Center and Texas Health Orthopedic & Spine Surgery Center Heritage.
DRAGON FOOTBALL LANDS FIVE ON DALLAS MORNING NEWS TOP 100 Carroll was well represented in The Dallas Morning News’ preseason Top 100 football player rankings, tying North Crowley for the most selections with five players. The Dragons featured Luke Wilson (No. 29), Tristan Dare (No. 31), Brody Knowles (No. 35), Blake Gunter (No. 46), and Brooks Biggers (No. 84). The recognition highlights Carroll’s talent entering the 2026 season under new head coach Lee Munn.
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
SOUTHLAKE PILOT LANDS NATIONAL CROWN Southlake native Amanda Higginbotham has been crowned Miss Volunteer America 2027 after representing Texas in the national competition in Jackson, Tennessee. A first officer for SkyWest Airlines, Higginbotham impressed judges with a classical piano performance while also earning recognition for raising more than $26,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Her title includes a $50,000 scholarship and national ambassador roles with St. Jude and The Salvation Army.
SEPTEMBER 26 • 19
SPOTLIGHT community
SOUTHLAKE RANKS AMONG AMERICA'S MOST AFFLUENT SUBURBS Southlake has been ranked the No. 8 wealthiest suburb in America in a new MoneyLion study, making it one of three Texas communities to crack the national top 10. The report cited Southlake's 2024 average household income of $384,530 and highlighted the city's continued reputation for strong schools, high property values, low crime rates, and an exceptional quality of life. Colleyville also earned a spot at No. 46.
CARROLL'S SEXTON NAMED USA COACHES ALL-AMERICAN Recent Carroll graduate Ava Sexton was named a 2025-26 United Soccer Coaches Girls High School AllAmerican, one of just 36 players nationwide to earn the honor. The standout defender helped lead the Lady Dragons to a 26-1-1 record, an undefeated District 4-6A championship, and a berth in the UIL Class 6A state semifinals, capping one of the program's most successful seasons. Photo by Rodney Wooters.
METROPLEX SEES HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM WORLD CUP The FIFA World Cup brought a global spotlight to North Texas, with 631,843 spectators attending nine matches at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, more than any other venue in the tournament. The event generated an estimated $160 million in economic impact for Arlington, while the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was projected to see between $1.5 billion and more than $2 billion in total economic impact, with Arlington also recording a record $31 million in hotel revenue in June.
Service | New Pool | Weekly Cleaning | Renovation
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CLAFFEYPOOLS.COM
20 • SEPTEMBER 26
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
ELSA KACKLEY YO U R T R U ST E D LO C A L R E A LTO R ®
CARROLL RANKED NO. 8 IN PRESEASON 6A POLL Carroll enters the 2026 football season ranked No. 8 in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football preseason Class 6A rankings. The Dragons return as one of the state’s top programs after a 14-1 finish and state semifinal appearance in 2025. Under new head coach Lee Munn, Carroll faces a challenging early schedule featuring preseason top-10 opponents North Crowley and Allen before beginning district play. Photo by Rodney Wooters. NEW CONNECTOR AT DFW AIMS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW Getting around DFW Airport just became easier with the opening of the new East-West Connector. The 1.65-mile roadway links State Highway 161 and State Highway 360, providing a more direct route through the airport's southern corridor while improving access to terminals, rental cars, and future development. The project is part of DFW Forward, the airport's $12 billion modernization initiative designed to enhance the travel experience.
KEEPING SOUTHLAKE BEAUTIFUL, ONE STREET AT A TIME ReCoat Revolution of North DFW recently celebrated its first year participating in Southlake's Keep Southlake Beautiful Adopt-A-Street Program, maintaining Peytonville Avenue between FM 1709 and Elks Lane. The Worrel family, joined by friends and Carroll students, has turned quarterly cleanups into community events while helping preserve one of Southlake's busiest corridors. The program encourages businesses, families, and civic groups to keep the city clean through volunteer service. Photo by Jennifer Worrel.
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LO C A L E X P E R T I S E . H O N E ST G U I DA N C E . E XC E P T I O N A L R E S U LTS . 817-600-5375
Elsak@kw.com
SEPTEMBER 26 • 21
FEA TURED BUS INESS
(L-R) Liv Brabson, Mike Speets, Joelene Mizer
Crush It! Social 22 • SEPTEMBER 26
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
P R O MOTI O N
THE EVOLUTION OF CRUSH IT! SOCIAL From Indoor Golf Lounge To Interactive Entertainment Destination
W
hen Crush It opened more than six years ago, the vision was to create a premier indoor golf lounge where players could practice, compete, enjoy the game year-round, and catch their favorite sports on TV. While golf remains at the heart of the business, it was ultimately the guests that shaped what Crush It would become. Over time, it became clear people wanted more. They wanted a destination where they could socialize, celebrate birthdays, host corporate team-building events, enjoy date nights, gather with family, and create lasting memories. That evolution has transformed Crush It into one of DFW's most unique interactive entertainment destinations. From the beginning, founder Mike Speets knew that long-term success would depend on constant innovation. That mindset fueled Crush It's $2 million expansion in 2024, ushering in what the team calls "Crush It 2.0." Today, Crush It offers an experience that extends far beyond golf. Guests can enjoy state-of-the-art golf and sports simulators, duckpin bowling, interactive darts, a pickleball simulator, and a growing lineup of interactive games and experiences. Scratch-made shareable cuisine and fresh, handcrafted cocktails have become an important part of the Crush It experience, complemented by limited-time seasonal menus throughout the year. Recent additions include a fall espresso martini flight, a maple bacon old-fashioned, and a party-sized charcuterie board designed for groups to share. "While I'm incredibly proud of what we've built, the credit belongs to my remarkable managers and team members," Mike says. "Their positive energy, attention to detail, and genuine
care for our guests are what transform first-time visitors into loyal regulars. Genuine hospitality is evident in every event. That's the heart of Crush It's culture." From corporate gatherings to family celebrations, the team's approach and attention to detail keep guests coming back. One couple first came to Crush It to celebrate their baby shower. They later returned with their newborn for a family outing and, as their family grew, came back once again to celebrate their child’s birthday. Stories like theirs represent what Crush It has become: not simply an entertainment venue, but a place that becomes part of the milestones in its guests’ lives. And Crush It isn’t finished yet. With plans for an upgraded bar, dining, and gaming space, the next chapter will continue to build on what guests have helped create. While the experiences and food and drink options may expand, the mission remains the same: deliver exceptional experiences and create a destination the community is proud to call its own.
“Crush It is no longer just about golf. It's about creating a place where people eat, drink, celebrate, and make lasting memories together.” — Mike Speets, Founder
401 W. State Hwy. 114, Grapevine | 817.270.9600 | CrushItSports.com SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 26 • 23
Rebellion IN A BOTTLE
Nicole Heere Pairs Pop Art, Wine & Wit at Her New Grapevine Tasting Room BY CYNTHIA NAUGHER PHOTOS BY ADRIAN CORTES
icole Heere is in her garage, hand-painting resin wine flight trays while her daughter is at school. Shaped like oversized artist palettes, each tray is punctuated with holes precisely sized to hold small wine glasses — a clever little marriage of art and utility. It is the only uninterrupted time she has to work through the many details involved in transforming a 19th-century house just a couple of blocks away from Grapevine’s Main Street into something part tasting room, part gallery, and entirely her own. The trays are a fitting introduction to Housewife Rebellion, a brand built on making familiar objects do something unexpected. Nicole’s bottles feature pop-art style portraits of mid-century women wielding household items like cheese graters, hairbrushes, and cocktail glasses with a defiant wink. The imagery is vintage. The attitude is not. The tasting room was originally supposed to open last September. Then Christmas. Then February. Historic properties, construction timelines, and lease negotiations, she has learned, rarely operate on the same schedule. But inside the space that finally opens on Grapevine’s Worth Street in early September, the extra time shows. The result is anything but generic. Pink walls catch the light with a subtle glittery sheen. Pink bows trim the curtains. And in a touch that feels especially on-brand, Nicole’s 9-yearold daughter, Mina, has created a pink glitter lemonade, served in cups printed with her own signature logo. Like the bottles themselves, the room is feminine, witty, and fully committed to the bit.
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 25
A Recession, a Cart, and a Reinvention Nicole’s path to artist and winemaker began in a far less romantic setting: corporate real estate. She spent a decade in the field before the recession upended that version of her life. “I thought to myself, well, I can’t make money doing a job I’m not supposed to like,” she says. “I’ll try doing a job I like, but I’m not supposed to be making money at. Artist life.” That decision eventually led her to New Orleans, where she moved into a 200-square-foot apartment near Jackson Square and worked as a street artist in the French Quarter. Each day, she wheeled out her cart, painted in public and talked with the tourists who stopped to watch. She and her now-husband had only planned to pass through on the way to Florida. Instead, she saw possibility everywhere and stayed. It remains one of her favorite chapters, and one that shaped the way she thinks about art and commerce. In New Orleans, she says, artists are woven into the life of the city rather than treated as an afterthought. Eventually, life brought her back to Texas. There was an engagement, a marriage, and stops in Austin, Charleston, and Columbia, where she opened a small gallery. But with family in the Dallas area, and the chance for her daughter to grow up near a cousin just six months apart, proximity began to matter more than bohemia. She came home.
A Label Looking for a Bottle Nicole is quick to point out that she is relatively new to wine. “During COVID, I started drinking wine — you know, like a normal person,” she says with a laugh. But as someone immersed in contemporary art, she noticed an opening. The art world, she says, is still heavily driven by male consumers and collectors. The majority of actual wine consumers, by contrast, skew female.
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SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
“I thought, well, let me try what I’m doing and see if I can do it with wine,” she says. In 2022, she designed labels featuring her artwork and placed them on wine bottles as part of an art show display. At the time, the bottles were simply props. She was not technically even allowed to open them. But people responded immediately. On the final day of the show, a high-end artist she admired pulled her aside. “He said, ‘Whatever you do moving forward, keep the wine,’” she recalls. Then came the viral moment. Someone with millions of followers shared her work, and Nicole’s phone lit up with notifications. Soon after, German Vogue took notice. Vogue Paris did, too. At the time, she was home with a newborn, staring at her screen in disbelief. The pieces that took off reflected the sharp humor that has since become her signature: superheroes doing housework, Catwoman vacuuming, Spider-Man folding laundry, Storm Troopers in yoga poses. The point was the reversal. Familiar figures were placed in unexpectedly domestic roles, stripped of their usual mythology and recast with irony.
Learning the Wine World, One Question at a Time Nicole approached wine the same way she approaches most things: with curiosity. She talked with everyone she could, from winemakers to the men driving the trucks, wanting to get beneath the romantic facade of the industry to understand the mechanics driving it. There were early rejections from wineries she admired. Some never replied at all. Eventually, she found the right winemakers — people who understood the concept from the start. “I feel like they’re partners,” she says. “They know what they’re doing.” Her wines are produced in the Texas Hill Country, and her Pinot Grigio is her most awarded. “I like to drink it by the pool,” she says. Her rosé has also earned major accolades. There is family history behind the business, too. Nicole’s family is from Fredericksburg, and during Prohibition, they owned the only pharmacy in the tri-county area. “My family had access to materials during Prohibition that nobody else did. They may have exploited some loopholes,” she says with a wry laugh. “We kept the Hill Country wet with the good stuff.” That legacy stayed with her. As she looked at what Fredericksburg has become — and at the buildings her family once owned on Main Street before selling them decades ago — she found herself thinking about what had been lost and what might still be reclaimed. Today, her father and uncle live in the neighborhood, about a mile from the crush facilities, and her uncle has even helped bottle the wine. What started as a creative business idea now feels, in part, like a return.
A Rebellion Needs a Roof Nicole had a clear vision for the tasting room from the beginning. It had to be in a historic home, and it had to be in a walkable area. “That’s very difficult,” she says. “I mean, it’s stressful. It’s impossible to find.” With a decade of real estate experience behind her, she knew how to search. There were near-misses: a McKinney property that fell apart over bathroom logistics, another historic home
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 27
that sold to a developer and one Grapevine location that was not quite right. Then, a few hours after learning that first Grapevine space would not work, she found the house. Built in the 1890s and located just across from Esparza’s, it checked every box. It also gave her room to think bigger. The delays were frustrating, but they also gave her time to keep creating. “Because it keeps getting delayed, I keep making more,” she says.
Pretty With a Purpose Designing the tasting room brought accessibility into sharper focus. Nicole’s mother had cancer and used a wheelchair, so she has seen how often public spaces meet the minimum requirements without offering much dignity or delight. She wanted more than compliance. She wanted beauty. One bathroom is dedicated to Frida Kahlo, complete with flowers and statement wallpaper: a nod to one of the world’s most iconic artists, who created while living with chronic pain and physical limitation. The other has its own distinct identity, adding another layer of surprise to the space. Even small layout choices mattered. The house was already large enough to accommodate wheelchair access because a winery had occupied it before, but one sink had to be moved farther into the corner after her landlord pointed out that its placement would limit usability. “Oh God, I’m so glad you thought of that,” she recalls telling him. “Because I already have so much brain burn going on.”
Domestic, yet Defiant People often tell Nicole that Housewife Rebellion is a brilliant brand concept. She laughs at that. The work grew naturally out of earlier series featuring superheroes and sci-fi characters in mundane domestic scenes. But the housewife pieces hit differently because they are more personal. They play with
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expectation, femininity and frustration, turning familiar visual language into something sharper and more subversive. At its core, the rebellion is not against domestic life itself. The dishes still need washing. The laundry still needs doing. But Nicole’s work refuses to let the women doing it fade into the wallpaper. Her housewives are funny, feminine, and fully in on the joke — background figures recast as the main event. One painting, “Miss Mary Jane,” depicts a seemingly proper housewife in her garden, though not the kind most neighbors would expect. Another, featuring a tea tray with “pairings” of Xanax and Vicodin, was licensed by a theater company in Poland for its production of “All About My Mother” and continues to appear each time the play runs. “My art is very true to who I am,” Nicole says. “It’s part of my personality.” She describes herself as deeply introverted, which may help explain why the work is so direct. It says the quiet part out loud for her.
Drink the Wine, Keep the Rebellion At Housewife Rebellion, visitors will find paintings for sale alongside the wine. Some pieces come from Nicole’s personal collection. Others live on the bottles themselves, with labels designed to feel as display-worthy as what hangs on the walls. “The bottles should be on the shelf,” she says. At home, she keeps one of her rosé bottles with a rose tucked inside. Just switch out the flower, she says, and it becomes part of the room. Her idea is simple: “One bottle to drink, one to keep.”
Housewife Rebellion 211 E. Worth St Grapevine HousewifeRebellion.com
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
LOCALFLAVOR good eats
Fine Dining Goes Off Script
Punk Noir Is Trading Dinner Jackets for Neon, Graffiti, and 20 Courses
PHOTOS BY AMY ZAWACKI AND SAMANTHA MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY
White tablecloths? Not even close. At Punk Noir, dinner comes with black lights, neon graffiti, projection-mapped walls and tables, and a Mistress of Ceremonies running the room like you've wandered into a very well-fed fever dream. And that's before the first of 20 courses even hit the table. The concept blends haute dining, dinner theater, and after-hours nightlife into something entirely its own. Created by Dallas natives John McKeel and his sons, Cole and Clay McKeel, Punk Noir was designed to deliver the precision and creativity of world-class dining without the formality that often comes with it. The immersive experience unfolds across multiple spaces, with each setting introducing a new chapter of the evening. The 9,500-square-foot warehouse space is built to keep guests moving throughout the night. The journey begins in a communal dining room limited to just 26 guests to enjoy what appears to be a simple white table. Moments later, projection-mapped visuals transform the tabletop into a moving canvas while hidden vents send plumes of dry-ice smoke drifting across its surface. Graffiti-covered walls and theatrical lighting blur the line between restaurant and performance. From there, diners are escorted into the open kitchen for several courses presented by James Beard Awardwinning chef RJ Cooper, whose inventive approach to fine dining earned him the 2007 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Guests watch Cooper and his culinary team at work before moving into a neon-lit dining room for the evening's finale, where A5 Wagyu, bluefin tuna, and desserts topped with Osetra caviar showcase that the creativity continues into the kitchen. The night concludes in the Noir Lounge, where bespoke "Off the Cuff" cocktails are crafted around each guest's preferred spirits and flavor profiles. Guests can choose from the signature 20-course Ritual tasting menu for $295, featuring premium ingredients like Wagyu, caviar and bluefin tuna, or the 20-course Sojourn menu for $195. For those with a smaller appetite there’s a seven-course experience for $135 that offers a shorter introduction to Punk Noir's theatrical approach. Punk Noir offers just 26 seats per seating, creating an intimate experience that feels equal parts culinary showcase and immersive art installation. If you're already sold, you may as well go all in by booking their VIP chauffeur service. Oversized black-out sunglasses not included.
Punk Noir 139 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 130 Dallas PunkNoir.com
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 29
LOCALFLAVOR review
Chef Aly
Long Live the Tailgate!
Aly Romero Shares Her Playbook for Easy, Elevated Game-Day Food
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great tailgate is not about putting the most food on the table. It is about building the right lineup and doing enough before kickoff that the host gets to enjoy the party, too. That does not mean abandoning wings, dips, or anything served on a slider bun. It means giving the menu a little more thought, and making sure the food works for the way people actually eat while watching a game. Private chef and Southlake Style Readers’ Choice winner Aly Romero knows how to make familiar food feel party-worthy. Her first rule for a great game-day spread: keep it handheld. "Wings, sliders, skewers, or dips,” Romero says. “Something that’s going to be a couple bites
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and easy to eat, easy to prepare, but elevated beyond your typical burgers or hot dogs.” Pick a Theme The best game-day spreads are not necessarily the biggest. They are edited. Rather than filling the table with a dozen unrelated dishes, Romero likes to begin with a theme and choose one item to serve as the star of the menu. The teams, hometowns, or host city can all provide inspiration. For championship games, dishes representing your favorite team can turn the menu into part of the competition. Romero recently built a World Cup soccer watch party around Spanish tapas, serving patatas bravas, garlic shrimp with tomato toast, smoked paprika
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LOCALFLAVOR review chicken skewers, and a fresh arugula, fennel, and citrus salad. A theme also makes the inevitable “What can I bring?” question much easier to answer. Guests can contribute something that fits the plan rather than arriving with the fourth bowl of queso. Choose One Star Player From there, Romero recommends building a balanced lineup: one star dish, something fresh, something warm, something that can sit comfortably at room temperature, and something sweet. The main event might be reverse-seared tri-tip sliders with chimichurri, pulled pork sandwiches, or grilled steak skewers. None requires a knife and fork, and none leaves guests trying to manage an oversized sandwich while standing in a parking lot. A build-your-own nacho bar offers the same flexibility with even less assembly for the host. Keep queso warm in a slow cooker and set out chips, grilled chicken or steak, pulled pork, candied jalapeños, onions, cilantro, salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese. It gives guests choices without forcing the cook to make multiple entrées. Even the usual tailgate suspects can benefit from a little zhuzh. Buffalo chicken dip is more interesting than a standard layered dip. Queso can get an upgrade from poblanos and pepper jack. Wings might take on Middle Eastern spices with a Greek yogurt dip or an Asian-inspired lemongrass sauce. Skewers can go in nearly any direction, from teriyaki to fajita-style steak with chimichurri. The goal is not to make tailgating fussy, but to make familiar food feel more exciting. Prep Is Your Pregame The work, however, should happen before the party begins. “I’m always a do-things-ahead person,” Romero says. “Being organized is the key, so you can relax later.” Marinate the wings, thread the skewers, mix the sauces, and assemble the sliders at home. Dips can be prepared in advance and reheated over a flame or in a slow cooker. Meats can be cooked most of the way before guests arrive, leaving only a quick finish on the grill. That philosophy matters even more for an early game. Romero’s first choice is a batch of foil-wrapped breakfast tacos filled with eggs, bacon, sausage or chorizo, crispy potatoes, and salsa. Breakfast sandwiches on English muffins travel just as easily. What should not be on the menu? Anything that keeps the host working while everyone else is having fun. “Nobody wants to be flipping pancakes in the middle of a parking lot,” Romero says. The bottom line: the winning spread is the one that feeds a crowd easily and lets the host make it to kickoff, too.
WHERE'S THE BEEF? Central Market Chef Aly’s everyday pick for quality, convenience and knowledgeable butchers — ideal for steaks, sausages and grilling cuts. Booth Creek Wagyu When it’s time to splurge, Romero calls the Park Village shop’s steaks “phenomenal.” Think steakhouse swagger for a game-day crowd. Allen Brothers For special occasions, Romero orders restaurant-quality cuts from the Chicago-based purveyor, including dry-aged, bone-in cowboy ribeyes built for a confident sear.
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 31
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: DINING GUIDE
on the menu
FILET & GNOCCHI 16OZ DOUBLE CUTserved BONE-IN 8-ounce tenderloin over PORK CHOP parmesan black truffle gnocchi, spinach As of the Signature Smokehouse andpart mushrooms selections, family side options include skillet mac and cheese and more.
JELLICO’S: EXPERIENCE THE NEW ... at a glance Led by Executive Chef Calisxta Reyes, Jellico’s at The Westin Southlake introduces a bold new culinary direction. Positioned as a borderless table of Texas smoke and Mexican soul, the menus are rooted in fire, smoke, and regional ingredients, blended into into a celebration of shared culinary heritage.
Signature Smokehouse selections take center stage, including the Double Cut Bone-In Pork Chop, Smoked Half Chicken, and prime cut Steaks, complemented by family-style sides like Blue Corn Grits and Cowboy Beans. The menu also features Borderless Table Entrées, including Gulf Coast Fish and Shrimp, Kettle & Garden soups and salads, and First Fire starters such as Skillet Cornbread and Texas Hot Honey Fritters. Breakfast and Brunch includes favorites such as Chilaquiles Verdes, Blue Corn Pancakes, Chicken Al Pastor Street Tacos, and Jellico’s Benny. Desserts include Texas Bread Pudding and Bourbon Peach Cobbler. Eat Well options include salads, a Portobello Burger, and Grilled Nopales.
LEARN MORE
RIGATONI & BOLOGNESE Pomodoro sauce with wild boar ragout, CHICKEN AL PASTOR STREET TACOS sausage and mozzarella Achiote marinated chicken, grilled pineapple salsa, fresh chicharrónes, corn tortillas
HOURS: Breakfast, Monday-Friday, 6:30-11 a.m. Weekend Breakfast, 7-11 a.m. Weekend Brunch, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., with Live Music on Sundays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Dinner Daily, 5-10 p.m.
1200 E. State Hwy. 114, Southlake 817.873.1900 | Jellicos.com
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RESERVATIONS, CARRYOUT, PRIVATE-DINING, VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS
CHILAQUILES VERDES OVEN ROASTED HALIBUT Corn tortillas, salsa verde, Alaskan halibut lemon withchorizo, asparagus queso house breakfast risotto,fresco, roasted peppers, caperpotatoes, butter withItalian two eggs any style and parsley
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: DINING GUIDE
on the menu
TUNA CRUDO Delicately sliced tuna served with house ponzu, a touch of sriracha, avocado crema, crispy wontons, and sesame. FILET & GNOCCHI 8-ounce tenderloin served over parmesan black truffle gnocchi, spinach and mushrooms
THE HENLEY ... at a glance
Discover a renewed dining experience at The Henley Kitchen & Bar, where elevated comfort meets refined sophistication. Showcasing a newly refreshed dining room, the space invites guests to settle into a warm, thoughtfully designed atmosphere that blends modern elegance with Texan charm, extending outdoors to inviting fire pits perfect for relaxed evenings under the open sky. At the heart of the experience is a new menu from Executive Chef Patrick McElroy, thoughtfully crafted to highlight seasonal ingredients and bold, approachable flavors. Whether joining us for a leisurely breakfast, a polished business lunch, an intimate evening dinner, or daily Social Hour, each visit to The Henley is designed to feel both distinctive and effortlessly welcoming. We invite you to reserve your table and savor the experience, and we can’t wait to welcome you.
HOURS: Monday-Saturday: 6:30 a.m. - 12 a.m., Sunday 6:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
FULL MENU
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6 OZ. FILET A perfectly prepared petite filet accompanied by roasted garlic & chive mash, charred kale, and finished with compound butter and crispy onion strings.
RIGATONI & BOLOGNESE Pomodoro sauce with wild boar ragout, sausage and mozzarella
CRAFT COCKTAILS Expertly crafted cocktails ranging from elevated classics to custom creations, tailored to your taste, including zeroproof options.
1400 Plaza Place, Southlake 817.305.2170 | TheHenleySouthlakeDallas.com
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RESERVATIONS. TO-GO. CARRYOUT. GLUTEN-FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS.
OVEN ROASTED HALIBUT Alaskan halibut lemon with asparagus WHISKEY CAKE risotto, roasted peppers, caper butter A decadent sweet finish with and Italian parsley dark chocolate, caramel sauce, and fresh berries.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: DINING GUIDE
on the menu
HAPPY HOUR CHEESEBURGER Fresh ground chuck on a house-made bun with fully dressed toppings, served alongside hand-cut fries.
WINE WEDNESDAYS Half-off bottles $100 and under, and $50 off bottles over $100, all day Wednesday.
PACIFIC TABLE ... at a glance
Pacific Table, from FAR Out Hospitality, is an eclectic mix of modern Pacific Northwest cuisine rooted in classical technique, led by chef Marian Serroblanco. Oysters, sushi, seafood, fire-grilled steaks, oven-roasted chicken, sandwiches, salads and more are served daily in a sophisticated Southlake setting. Happy hour, Monday to Friday from 3-6 p.m., features $9 martinis, $6 wines by the glass and a house-made happy hour cheeseburger. On the weekends, guests can enjoy a delicious and unique brunch, complemented by a lively, beautiful full bar serving signature cocktails, craft beer and fine wines from around the world. Located near the corner of Southlake Blvd. and Kimball Ave., Pacific Table showcases an exhibition kitchen with a televised sushi bar, making it the ideal spot for brunch, lunch or dinner with friends and family.
WEEKEND BRUNCH Brunch favorites ranging from jumbo lump blue crab omelettes to blueberry pancakes, plus half-off bubbles and fresh oysters.
HOURS: Monday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Happy Hour, Monday to Friday, 3-6 p.m. FULL MENU
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2221 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake 817.516.6328 | PacificTable.com
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RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED. EVENTS.
PRIVATE DINING Private dining room accommodates groups of up to 50.
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4.5 Star Italian Steakhouse
6 Private Dining Rooms 43 Years in DFW Family Owned & Operated
Restaurant: (817) 251-2525 1200 William D. Tate Grapevine, TX 76051 Private Events: (469) 999-8811 www.FerrarisRestaurant.com BUILDING BACKYARD GAME COURTS IN SOUTHLAKE FOR 35 YEARS PLAY UP TO 15 GAMES ON YOUR BACKYARD COURT
TM
Official Court Builder for World Cup 2026!
Customizable to Your Space & Budget Visit Website SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
(817) 283-4646 SEPTEMBER 26 • 35
The PLACE They Call HOME Meet the Family Man and Trusted Coach Now Leading Carroll Football BY TIM GLAZE | STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY RODNEY WOOTERS
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SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
PERSONAL PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE MUNN FAMILY
When Riley Dodge left Carroll to join the SMU coaching staff, it created an unexpected opening at the helm of one of Texas high school football's best-known programs. But inside the Carroll program, there wasn't much mystery about who players and coaches wanted to take over. They wanted Lee Munn. After eight years as defensive coordinator and associate head coach, Munn had earned the trust of the people alongside him. To understand why, it helps to know the person beyond the football field. Away from football, Munn is a loving husband to Bridgett and a doting father of three. While the camera was being set up at the Southlake Style office for their photo shoot, Munn was on the floor playing football with his two young daughters and one son, lining them up like little offensive linemen, and tossing the ball back and forth. His biggest smiles were when Bridgett and the kids were in the frame with him. It was an unfiltered glimpse of Lee Munn, the dad — completely at ease and clearly having fun with the people he loves most. Ask him about football, though, and another side quickly comes into focus. Under Munn's direction, Carroll has consistently fielded one of the state's better defenses, including last year when the Dragons allowed just 12.5 points per game. At this year's Carroll preseason parent meeting — his first as head coach — Munn offered a glimpse into the standards he expects from his program. “Early is on time,” he said. “On time is late. And late is unacceptable.” It's a simple philosophy, but it illustrates the precision Munn brings to football. The same attention to detail that helped make his defenses so effective now shapes the way he runs the entire program. Riley Dodge saw that side of Munn long before he became Carroll’s next head coach. “I wanted a defensive coordinator that was a great teacher of the game that was also a detailed guy,” Dodge says. “I’m a firm believer you have to know the lay of the land to be the head coach at Carroll. He was with me for eight years and understands what makes this place so special.” That combination helps explain the outpouring of support that followed Munn's hiring.
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Todd Dodge, who worked with Munn at Westlake, called the hire “a no-brainer.” Quinn Ewers, the former Dragon quarterback, posted two words on X before the school board vote: “Lee Munn.” Former Carroll linebacker Eric Garza, now at Texas, posted, “Only one right answer! Lee Munn.” Former offensive lineman Drew Cunningham added, “#HireMunn.” For Munn, the players' support meant the most. “The response has been great. Nothing but positive feedback from everybody,” he said shortly after being named head coach. “The kids in the program really went to bat for me through social media and also their presence at the board meeting.” “They have my back, and that's really all that matters to me.” SMALL-TOWN BEGINNINGS Southlake is a long way from Omaha, where Lee and Bridgett grew up. That's Omaha, Texas, a tiny East Texas town with a population of about 938 — closer to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, than Dallas. It's the kind of place where a third-grade teacher can eventually become your mother-in-law. Lee and Bridgett’s families were friends. Bridgett's mother taught Lee in third grade. Eventually, the two became high school sweethearts. It's about as small-town Texas — and Friday Night Lights — as it gets. Munn played football and earned a degree in Exercise and Sport Science at Mary-Hardin Baylor, returning as a graduate assistant while earning his master's. He then coached at Marble Falls and Austin Westlake, working under Todd Dodge as a position coach. When Todd's son, Riley, became Carroll's head coach in 2018, he brought Munn with him. “It's not like we were looking to leave Westlake,” Bridgett says. “Sometimes these opportunities present themselves when you aren't expecting it.” That became an eight-year run at Carroll, where Munn helped build one of the state's most successful defenses. During Riley’s tenure, with Munn as his assistant, Carroll went 108-10. In January 2021, Munn got his first taste of being a head coach when Riley tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to coach
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“They have my back, and that's really all that matters to me.” — Lee Munn
Carroll's state semifinal against Duncanville. Munn stepped in as interim head coach while continuing to call the defense, leading the Dragons to a 34-27 victory and a spot in the state championship game. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE Eight years at Carroll also gave Munn roots that went well beyond Dragon Stadium. Bridgett now teaches first grade at Carroll Elementary, two of their three children attend Carroll ISD schools, and their youngest isn’t far behind. “Our house is in Keller, but we live in Southlake,” Munn says. “The only thing non-Southlake about us is the zip code.” And for the Munns, home life isn't all football and school, either. Lee is an accomplished cook who often makes homemade country-style meals for the family and is known for baking bread from scratch. For someone whose professional life is built around schedules, preparation, and early mornings, there is something fitting about the coach unwinding in the kitchen, making a meal for the people waiting for him at home. When they're not at home, the family might head to Bear Creek Park or Bicentennial Park, or spend an afternoon with the kids running around at Urban Air or Ninja Kidz. The Munn children have energy to burn, Bridgett said, so playtime usually involves running. Those ordinary routines are part of what made the opportunity
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at Carroll so meaningful. Lee Munn wasn't simply stepping into the job he had worked toward for years. He was doing it in the community where his children are growing up, where his wife works, and where the family has built its everyday life. “Our kids would have been pretty upset if he didn't get the head coaching job,” Bridgett says with a laugh. THE FAMILY MAN AND THE FOOTBALL COACH One game into Munn's first season, those qualities are already familiar to his players. They see the same attention to detail and high standards that defined his time as defensive coordinator, along with a coach who builds relationships, and keeps the team connected. Senior left tackle Luke Wilson, a third-year varsity starter, says Munn's impact can be found in the details — and in the way he brings energy to the people around him. “He’s been phenomenal, and I'm not just saying that because he's the head coach,” Wilson says. “The way he goes about the everyday small details brings a new light into our program. He finds a way to incorporate fun into many different situations, and raises the morale of the team exponentially.” “The team seems to love him and knows he was the perfect hire for the job.”
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
LUXURY LIVING IN SHADY OAKS
Offered at $3,099,000
One of the largest lots in the neighborhood, 1008 Lexington Terrace offers five bedrooms, a four-car garage and expansive indoor-outdoor living designed for everyday life and entertaining. As a Shady Oaks resident, mom of two Carroll Dragons and local Southlake real estate expert, Lacy Milani-Ingalls knows what makes this community (and this home) special.
Call today for a showing! LACY MILANI-INGALLS 214.228.7936 | MilaniProperties.com
FIVE MINUTES with ...
The Duo Behind Show Tote Are Making Venue-Approved Bags a Lot More Stylish
B
efore Christine Kane and Deborah Bowles launched Show Tote, they had both experienced the same very modern event-day frustration: getting stopped at the gate because of a bag. Kane, a Southlake resident who has built her career in the music business, was turned away from a Taylor Swift concert at AT&T Stadium when her bag did not meet the venue’s size requirements. Bowles, who spent 25 years in the spirits industry and regularly attended concerts, sporting events, and large-scale gatherings, had the same problem at the Super Bowl. For the childhood best friends, those experiences sparked an epiphany. Their solution was Show Tote, a collection of luxury leather and clear bags designed around the policies of stadiums, arenas, and amphitheaters across the country. Even better, the brand does the research for you: shoppers can search by venue on the Show Tote website and shop bags designed around that location’s requirements. For the two founders, the idea is simple: Create “the bag that gets you in” while proving that venue-compliant and stylish do not have to be mutually exclusive.
THE IDEA FOR SHOW TOTE CAME FROM… getting turned away. I had the wrong-size bag at the Taylor Swift concert at AT&T Stadium, and my husband had to walk it back to the car. So I thought, “This is not an acceptable outcome.” Deborah had a similar experience at the Super Bowl. We started asking why there was not one place where you could find the right bag for a venue without sacrificing style. OUR FRIENDSHIP BEGAN… when we were 8 years old. We have been best friends since childhood, so we already know how the other person thinks — and we tend to finish each other’s sentences. That history gives us a level of trust that is incredibly valuable when building something together. THE PROBLEM WE WANTED TO SOLVE WAS… the confusion. Does the bag need to be clear? Is the limit 4 by 6 inches? Is a larger clutch allowed? Every venue is different, and policies can be difficult to find. On our site, shoppers can search a venue and see bags designed to meet its policy. THE SHOW TOTE DIFFERENCE IS… that we are solution-oriented first, but fashion still matters. There are plenty of clear bags available, but many of them feel disposable or purely functional. We wanted highquality materials, thoughtful details, and bags people would actually want to carry beyond the event. THE DETAILS WE OBSESSED OVER INCLUDE… credit-card pockets, lipstick loops, secure closures, removable straps, and small interior pouches so everything is not bouncing around inside a clear bag. The newer collection also includes elevated hardware, protective feet and charms. Every bag comes with a music-note charm as a nod to Christine’s background.
40 • SEPTEMBER 26
OUR COLLECTION INCLUDES… clear bags in several colors and leather styles designed around common venue-size policies. Some are small enough for stadiums with strict 4-by-6-inch limits, while others work for venues that permit larger clear bags. We are also adding sports and music charms, along with scarves in college and NFL-inspired colors. THE BEST PART OF TALKING TO CUSTOMERS IS… realizing almost everyone has a bag story. People have walked back to the car, hidden bags outside a venue, or been told their purse was an inch or two too large. The frustration is incredibly common, which confirms that the need is real. STARTING LOCALLY MATTERS BECAUSE… North Texas is filled with concerts, football games, rodeos, and major events. We have AT&T Stadium, American Airlines Center, Dickies Arena, Toyota Music Factory, and so many college and high school venues. It is the perfect place to build the brand from the community level. OUR SOUTHLAKE CONNECTION IS… personal. Christine lives here and has been deeply involved in the school community, including serving as PTO president at Rockenbaugh Elementary. We want Show Tote to become part of the local game-day and concert-going routine, including clear options for Dragon Stadium. THE MOMENT WE KNEW THE IDEA RESONATED WAS… when we started showing the bags to people and immediately heard, “I need one.” It is practical, but it is also emotional because no one wants the night they have been looking forward to derailed at the gate. OUR GOAL FOR SHOW TOTE IS… to take away the stress. You should be able to search your venue, choose a bag you love, and know what to carry before you leave home. Going to the show should be the fun part.
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
FIVE MINUTES
with ...
COURTESY OF SHOW TOTE
CHRISTINE KANE & DEBORAH BOWLES
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 26 • 41
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
If you’re seeking legal guidance, Dallas-Fort Worth offers an impressive roster of accomplished attorneys. This month, we are proud to highlight our 2026 Top Lawyers, nominated by their peers for excellence in practice. Representing twenty areas of specialization, these 211 professionals are among the most trusted advocates in our community.
BANKRUPTCY Kevin McCullough Rochelle McCullough Lawyers RomcLaw.com | 214.580.2580 Dallas BUSINESS Megan Adeyemo Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani GRSM.com | 214.231.4726 Dallas Chad Allman Allman Law ChadAllmanLaw.com | 817.237.1117 Fort Worth Spencer Chaffin BC Counselors at Law BCCounselorsAtLaw.com | 972.584.9668 Grapevine Rick Eanes Ross & Matthews RossAndMatthews.com | 817.255.2000 Fort Worth Leslie Kramer Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC BrandyAustinLaw.com | 817.841.9906 Arlington Scott Lindsey Boyd, Powers & Williamson Law Firm BPWLaw.com | 817.887.8147 Fort Worth
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Lu Pham Pham Harrison, LLP PhamHarrison.com | 817.632.6363 Fort Worth
Jeffery Smith Fletcher Farley FletcherFarley.com | 214.987.9600 Dallas
Kara Carreras Carreras Law Group PC FortWorthDefense.com | 817.318.6022 Fort Worth
Jose Rubio Griffith Barbee PLLC GriffithBarbee.com | 214.446.6020 Dallas
Bronté Story Vela Wood VelaWood.com | 214.821.2300 Dallas
Jeff Daniel Clark GreenClark Law Firm GreenClark.law | 817.953.8699 Dallas
Brandon Weaver Allen & Weaver, P.C. AllenWeaver.com | 817.567.2721 Euless
Mollee Westfall Cantey Hanger CanteyHanger.com | 817.877.2800 Fort Worth
Cody Cofer Cofer Luster Law Firm CoferLuster.com | 682.328.0748 Fort Worth
CIVIL LITIGATION
CORPORATE
Ryan Childress Jain Law & Associates JainLaw.com | 214.446.0336 Irving
Alyson Rubio Vela Wood VelaWood.com | 214.821.2300 Dallas
Ryker Torti The Torti Law Firm PLLC TortiLawFirm.com | 682.306.9338 Southlake
CRIMINAL
Don White Hayes Berry White Vanzant HBWVLaw.com | 940.230.2386 Denton COMMERCIAL John Ivie Jain Law & Associates JainLaw.com | 214.446.0330 Irving Nhu-Thinh Nguyen Ryan Law RyanLawyers.com | 214.716.8471 Plano
Frank Adler Law Office of Frank Adler 682.702.0506 Arlington Art Brender The Brender Law Firm BrenderLawFirm.com | 817.334.0171 Fort Worth Miles Brissette Gill & Brissette GillBrissette.com | 817.803.6918 Fort Worth Tiffany Burks Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth
Mimi Coffey The Coffey Firm MimiCoffey.com | 817.831.3100 Fort Worth Craig Dameron The Dameron Law Firm DameronLawFirm.com | 817.222.0624 Fort Worth Andrew Deegan Andrew Deegan, Criminal Attorney at Law AndrewDeeganLaw.com | 817.689.7002 Fort Worth Ryan Eady Michael & Associates ZealousAdvocate.com | 214.253.4143 Dallas Taylor Ferguson The Law Office of Taylor Ferguson, PC TaylorFergusonLaw.com | 682.710.3625 Fort Worth
SEPTEMBER 26 • 43
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
VARGHESE SUMMERSETT WHAT TYPE OF LAW DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE? Varghese Summersett is a premier family law, personal injury and criminal defense practice dedicated to helping people through life’s greatest challenges. Each division is full of experienced, award-winning attorneys who are dedicated to providing exceptional communication, unmatched service and obtaining unparalleled outcomes.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER FIRMS? Our clients not only receive the highest-caliber legal representation but also a supportive and understanding environment where their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed. From the very first call, clients will realize 44 • SEPTEMBER 26
how Varghese Summersett is different. We are committed to treating every client with the dignity, respect and compassion they deserve while guiding them through every step of the legal process.
WHY DO CLIENTS COME TO YOU? Life can take unexpected turns — prominent couples divorce, upstanding people get arrested and wonderful families suffer catastrophic accidents. People turn to Varghese Summersett for experienced legal help during their toughest times. We provide the personalized attention and exceptional service this community expects while maintaining the privacy and discretion they deserve.
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WHAT ACCOLADES HAS YOUR FIRM RECEIVED? Varghese Summersett has been named a DFW Favorite, Best Law Firm, Readers' Choice, Small Business of the Year, Best Company to Work For and Best Place for Working Parents. The firm's lawyers have also been recognized as Top Attorneys, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Best Lawyers, and Ones to Watch in America. And, five lawyers are board-certified, which is the highest designation an attorney can reach.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF YOUR PROFESSION?
drives us every day. Seeing a client’s relief and gratitude after we have successfully resolved their legal issue is incredibly fulfilling.
Varghese Summersett 3120 Sabre Drive, Suite 110, Southlake VersusTexas.com 817.415.1575
Helping people through the toughest times of their lives and getting them the best possible outcome is what
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 26 • 45
TOP Lawyers 2026 Erika Flores Texas Mexico Law TexasMexicoLaw.com | 817.335.2331 Fort Worth
Jennefer Lowe The Lowe Law Offices TheLoweLawOffices.com | 817.369.9666 Bedford
Frank Sellers Sellers Law Firm SellersTrialLaw.com | 817.918.8722 Fort Worth
Sheena Winkfield Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 214.903.4000 Dallas
Steve Gebhardt Fulgham Hampton Criminal Defense Attorneys CriminalAttorneyFortWorth. com | 817.631.1397 Southlake
Jonathan Lowe The Lowe Law Offices TheLoweLawOffices.com | 817.369.9666 Bedford
Chance Smith Law Office of Justin Chance Smith JustinChanceSmithAttorney. com | 817.841.9887 Decatur
Bonnie Wolf Law Office of Bonnie Wolf BonnieWolfLaw.com | 682.224.3438 DFW
Robert Gill Gill & Brissette GillBrissette.com | 817.803.6918 Fort Worth Steve Gordon Steve Gordon & Associates SteveGordonAndAssociates. com | 817.877.0610 Haltom City Stephen Green GreenClark Law Firm GreenClark.law | 817.953.8699 Dallas Leon Haley, Jr. Law Office of Leon Haley, Jr. 817.715.0443 Fort Worth Audrey Hatcher Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Michael Heiskell Johnson, Vaughn, & Heiskell Johnson-Vaughn-Heiskell.com | 817.457.2999 Fort Worth Christy Jack Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Jeff Kearney Kearney Law Firm KearneyLawFirm.com | 817.336.5600 Fort Worth Jeff Kennedy The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy CriminalLawyerFortWorthTX. com | 817.605.1010 North Richland Hills Trey Loftin The Loftin Firm TheLoftinFirm.com | 817.441.8933 Fort Worth
46 • SEPTEMBER 26
James Luster Cofer Luster Law Firm CoferLuster.com | 682.328.0748 Fort Worth Bret Martin The Law Offices of Bret Martin 214.505.2168 Southlake Letty Martinez Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Nathan Miller Law Offices of Nathan Miller NathanMillerLaw.com | 940.251.2050 Denton Thomas Murphree Chamblee Ryan, PC ChambleeRyan.com | 214.905.2003 Fort Worth Shawn Paschall Cole Paschall Law ColePaschallLaw.com | 817.477.4100 Fort Worth Andy Platt Law Firm of Andy Platt LawyerPlatt.com | 817.877.1700 Fort Worth John Robinson Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2122 Bedford Sarah Roland Sarah Roland, Attorney at Law SarahRoland.com | 940.323.9305 Denton Michael Schneider Schneider Law Firm TeamSLF.com | 817.755.1852 Fort Worth
Justin Sparks Sparks Law Firm SparksLawFirm.com | 817.381.7846 Fort Worth Anna Summersett Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Alex Thornton Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Dorys Tijerina Juan Tijerina Law Offices TijerinaLaw.com | 817.624.7800 Fort Worth Veronica Veyhl The Law Office of Veronica Veyhl VersusTexas.com | 817.945.6954 Fort Worth Greg Westfall Cantey Hanger CanteyHanger.com | 817.877.2800 Fort Worth Kyle Whitaker Law Office of Kyle Whitaker KyleWhitaker.com | 817.332.7703 Fort Worth Luke Williams Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams BHWLawFirm.com | 817.993.9249 Keller Bryan Wilson Bryan E. Wilson, The Texas Law Hawk TexasLawHawk.com | 817.440.3953 Fort Worth
Stacie Wright Tarrant County District Attorney's Office TarrantCountyTX.gov | 817.884.1400 Fort Worth ESTATE Maya Bismar Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth Antoinette Bone The Law Office of Antoinette Bone, PLLC ABoneLaw.com | 682.428.3046 Euless Bryan Campbell Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth James Davidson Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth Matthew Davidson Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth William Dismuke Dismuke & Waters, P.C. DW-Law.com | 817.277.2077 Southlake Tena Fox Leach & Fox Law LeachFoxLaw.com | 817.280.0811 North Richland Hills Michael Grover Law Office of Michael James Grover MikeGroverLaw.com | 817.760.0654 Fort Worth
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
(L-R) Candace Sandifer, David L. Cook, Olivia A. Sheppard
HARRIS COOK, LLP WHAT TYPE OF LAW DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE? Harris Cook, LLP is a full-service law firm providing sophisticated legal counsel in the areas of Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate, Business Law, Civil Litigation, and Real Estate. Our Family Law Division is led by Board Certified Family Law Attorneys David L. Cook and Donna Smiedt, along with Senior Attorney Olivia A. Sheppard, who represents clients in high-net-worth and complex divorce matters, as well as child custody cases. Senior Attorney Candace Sandifer focuses on Estate Planning/Asset Protection, and Probate, helping clients safeguard their Businesses, Families, and Legacies.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER FIRMS? What sets Harris Cook apart is our commitment to strategic, client-centered representation. We recognize that every legal matter carries
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
personal, financial, and often generational consequences. Rather than applying a one-sizefits-all approach, we develop customized legal strategies tailored to each client's unique goals while drawing on the collective knowledge and experience of our multidisciplinary team.
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO HANDLING HIGH-STAKES CASES? Preparation, communication, and sound judgment are essential in high-stakes cases. We take time to understand each client's circumstances, anticipate challenges, and advocate with confidence and integrity. Our clients trust us to protect what matters most and provide thoughtful guidance through life's most important legal decisions.
Harris Cook, LLP 1560 E. Southlake Blvd. HarrisCookLaw.com | 817.592.5577
SEPTEMBER 26 • 47
TOP Lawyers 2026 Shannon Guthrie Guthrie Law Firm Guthrie.law | 817.482.6280 Southlake
Andrew Anderson Anderson Legal Group, P.C. AndersonLegalGroup.com | 817.934.4475 Colleyville
Paul Daly Anderson Legal Group, P.C. AndersonLegalGroup.com | 817.934.4475 Colleyville
David Kelley Kelley Lawrence, P.C. KelleyLawrenceLaw.com | 817.587.8717 Fort Worth
Artemis Kourosh Kourosh Law, PLLC EstateLawyersTX.com | 817.541.0680 Southlake
Jessica Arreguin Tefera Law Firm, PLLC TeferaLaw.com | 817.503.0776 Colleyville
Christiana Doherty Anderson Legal Group, P.C. AndersonLegalGroup.com | 817.934.4475 Colleyville
Heather King KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake
Annalise Lange Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth Ann Lopez Wick Phillips WickPhillips.com | 682.432.0781 Fort Worth Heather Miller Peabody Law Firm PeabodyLawFirm.com | 817.576.6188 Southlake Krista Paschke Peabody Law Firm PeabodyLawFirm.com | 817.576.6188 Southlake Megan Procter Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.6138 Fort Worth Candace Sandifer Harris Cook HarrisCookLaw.com | 817.859.7355 Southlake Lori Steenken Davidson Law Group YourTexasLegacy.com | 682.235.7193 Dallas FAMILY Laura Alexander Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams, PLLC BHWLawFirm.com | 817.482.6770 Keller Katherine Allen Allen & Weaver, P.C. AllenWeaver.com | 817.567.2721 Euless
48 • SEPTEMBER 26
Leslie Barrows The Barrows Firm BarrowsFirm.com | 817.481.1583 Southlake Norma Bazan Tarrant County District Attorney's Office TarrantCountyTX.gov | 817.884.1400 Fort Worth Eric Beal Beal Law Firm DFWDivorce.com | 817.261.4333 Southlake Stephanie Beamer Law Office of Elizabeth Rivera LizRiveraLaw.com | 817.717.3538 Fort Worth Fiona Boyd Fiona Worthy, Attorney at Law PLLC FionaWorthyAttorneyAtLawPLLC.com | 817.873.5107 Grapevine Kristen Carr Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Nicole Carroll The Griffin Firm TheGriffinFirm.com | 817.865.1853 Keller Mark Childress Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth McKenzie Coe Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth David Cook Harris Cook HarrisCookLaw.com | 817.859.7355 Southlake
Robert Epstein Epstein Family Law EpsteinPC.com | 972.232.7673 Dallas Rashelle Fetty The Fetty Firm, PC TheFettyFirm.com | 214.546.5746 Colleyville Kayla Gertsch Law Office of Kate Smith PLLC KateSmithLaw.com | 817.479.0534 Colleyville Wade Griffin, Jr. The Griffin Firm TheGriffinFirm.com | 817.865.1853 Keller George Griffith Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Desiree Hartwigsen Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Taryn Horton Schneider Law Firm TeamSLF.com | 817.849.2404 Fort Worth Craig Jackson Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.415.1575 Southlake
Hailey Klingbeil Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.415.1575 Southlake Mark Lane Mark Lane Law Offices MarkLaneLaw.com | 817.377.1077 Fort Worth Konnor Lee Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Paul Leopold KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake Tarrah Lett KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake Michael Livens Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Jim Loveless Webb Family Law WebbFamilyLaw.com | 214.871.2730 Dallas Sean Lynch Sean Lynch Family Law Attorney SeanLynchLaw.com | 817.668.5879 Fort Worth
Jessica Janicek KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake
Dana Manry Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth
Tracey Justice Justice Law Firm JusticeLawDFW.com | 817.477.6756 Southlake
Jane Mapes Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2123 Bedford
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
JUSTICE LAW FIRM WHAT TYPE OF LAW DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE? We practice all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, adoption, termination, post-marital and premarital agreements, and collaborative law. We also do wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND? At the Justice Law Firm, we have over 80 years of combined legal experience. Tracey Justice has been voted Top Attorney every year since 2009, while the rest of her team have also been named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Our clients come to us because we provide the quality of a large firm with the attentive service of a small firm.
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
HOW IS YOUR TEAM INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY? Tracey Justice has been a proud member of the Hills Church for 28 years and the Southlake community since 1998. She’s also a founding board member for the Stepping Stones Foundation, a local nonprofit helping homeless and at-risk teens.
Justice Law Firm 1100 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 400 JusticeLawDFW.com 817.421.0300
SEPTEMBER 26 • 49
TOP Lawyers 2026 Patton Maynard, Jr. Maynard Law Firm, PLLC MaynardFirm.com | 817.335.9600 Fort Worth
Sarah Pricer Gardner Smith & Vaughn, PLLC GSVLawyers.com | 817.737.4000 Fort Worth
Lori Spearman Spearman Moore Law SpearmanMoore.com | 817.490.5075 Arlington
Patton Maynard, Sr. Maynard Law Firm, PLLC MaynardFirm.com | 817.335.9600 Fort Worth
Michelle Purvis Michelle Purvis Law MichellePurvisLaw.com | 817.809.8199 Southlake
Robert McEwan KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake
Eniya Richardson KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 214.871.2727 Dallas
Keith Spencer Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2121 Fort Worth
Brent McMullen McMullen Law Group McMullenLawGroup.com | 817.988.0893 Colleyville Constance Mims Mims Ballew Hollingsworth MBHTexasLaw.com | 817.383.8139 Southlake Rick Mitchell Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Spencer Mullins KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 214.871.2727 Dallas Chris Nickelson Goranson Bain Ausely Family Law GBFamilyLaw.com | 817.631.6408 Fort Worth Elizabeth Parmer Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Jessica Phillips-Presswood Schneider Law Firm, P.C. TeamSLF.com | 817.849.2904 Fort Worth Alison Porterfield Schneider Law Firm, P.C. TeamSLF.com | 682.276.6050 Mansfield Sally Pretorius KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 972.769.2727 Plano
50 • SEPTEMBER 26
Sarah Robbins Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth David Routzon Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Brad Scalise The Scalise Law Firm TheScaliseLaw.com | 817.617.8058 Hurst Adam Seidel Seidel Tabakman Family Law STFamilyLawyers.com | 214.528.3344 Dallas Lori Shannon Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2124 Bedford Olivia Sheppard Harris Cook HarrisCookLaw.com | 817.859.7355 Southlake Dwayne Smith Gardner Smith & Vaughn, PLLC GSVLawyers.com | 817.737.4000 Fort Worth Kate Smith Law Office of Kate Smith, PLLC KateSmithLaw.com | 817.479.0534 Colleyville
Jeff Stewart KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake Melissa Swan Schneider Law Firm, P.C. TeamSLF.com | 817.618.6270 Fort Worth Bat-Sheva Tabakman Seidel Tabakman Law Firm STFamilyLawyers.com | 214.528.3344 Dallas Karim Tadrous Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC BrandyAustinLaw.com | 817.841.9906 Arlington
Cindy Tisdale Goranson Bain Ausley Family Law GBFamilyLaw.com | 817.631.6408 Fort Worth Courtney Walker KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake Sommer Walker Hawkins & Walker HawkinsWalker.com | 817.877.3355 Fort Worth Megan Weiershausen Law Offices of Mark M. Childress, PLLC MarkChildressLaw.com | 817.484.0759 Fort Worth Mark Wewers Law Office of Mark E. Wewers. P.C. NorthTexasDivorceLaw.com | 817.410.4735 Grapevine
Carrie Tapia The Draper Law Firm, PC DraperFirm.com | 469.715.6801 Bedford
Drew Williamson KoonsFuller, P.C. KoonsFuller.com | 817.481.2710 Southlake
Chrissy Tefera Tefera Law Firm TeferaLaw.com | 817.503.0776 Colleyville
Dena Wilson Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.415.1575 Southlake
Anna Teller Teller Law Firm, P.C. DTellerLaw.com | 817.642.8454 Grapevine
IMMIGRATION
Donald Teller Teller Law Firm, P.C. DTellerLaw.com | 817.642.8454 Grapevine Cassidy Terrazas Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth J. Turner Thornton Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth
Sasha Butt The United Firm FirmaDefensora.com | 844.800.5517 Dallas Maria McIntyre Nayar & McIntyre, LLP DFW-Immigration.com | 972.445.4114 Irving INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Edward Meagher Carter Deluca Intellectual Property Counsel CarterDeluca.com | 631.501.5700 Southlake
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE MUNDHEIM FIRM WHAT AREAS OF LAW DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE? We guide clients through transactional real estate, estate planning, and matters related to starting and running a small business. With over 30 years of experience, we help clients navigate these important and often emotional decisions.
WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND? I graduated from law school in 1996 and joined a small firm in Hurst, focusing on probate and guardianship matters. Along the way, I served as an Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Colleyville and the Town of Lakeside, and later as the Guardianship Auditor for Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2. In 2012, I opened this practice with a focus on transactional matters.
WHAT SETS YOUR FIRM APART? We combine extensive knowledge of real estate and title matters with equally extensive experience in estate planning and small business planning, understanding how those decisions will affect your family when they need them most. The last thing you want is a plan that falls short by making things harder than they need to be or not covering everything it should. We don't develop a plan and then push you out the door. We are here for you as your needs, family, and business change.
The Mundheim Firm, PLLC 1205 Hall Johnson Road Colleyville TheMFirm.com | 817.479.0076
SOUTHLAKESTYLE.COM
SEPTEMBER 26 • 51
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
2025 TOP DOCS
(L-R) Office admin Traci Kriesman, attorney Kayla Gertsch, attorney Kate Smith, paralegal Kara McLeroy, legal assistant Alyson Bellinghausen.
KATE SMITH WHAT TYPE OF LAW DOES YOUR FIRM PRACTICE?
WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KEEP IN MIND WHEN SEEKING AN ATTORNEY?
We take all family law, estate planning and probate cases. My staff and I focus on keeping clients out of the courtroom as much as possible by utilizing alternative dispute resolution methods such as collaborative divorce.
Litigation is expensive and generally doesn’t result in a “win” for anyone. If you can resolve your dispute using collaborative divorce or mediation, it will save you time and money, and you can avoid the stress of being involved in the court system.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER FIRMS? I am board-certified in family law and hold a master of law in dispute resolution. I am also master credentialed in collaborative law. Litigation is sometimes necessary, and being board-certified means I have lots of courtroom experience. 52 • SEPTEMBER 26
Law Offices Of Kate Smith, PLLC 6500 Colleyville Blvd., Suite 100, Colleyville KateSmithLaw.com | 817.479.0534
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TEFERA LAW FIRM WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL BACKGROUND? Jessica Arreguin has been in the legal field for over 16 years. She primarily practices Estate Planning, Probate, and Family Law. Chrissy Tefera is Board Certified in Family Law. She has practiced Estate Planning, Probate, and Family law for 19 years. With 35 years of combined experience, our clients can feel secure that they are getting the representation they need. WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KEEP IN MIND WHEN SEEKING AN ATTORNEY? People should look for experience. The majority of cases settle before trial, but if you need someone to litigate, make sure the attorney you hire has experience in the courtroom. WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER FIRMS? Our caring approach is at the center of our practice. We provide peace of mind while supporting the legal and emotional needs of our clients. We work hard to ensure the client feels heard and has a plan for handling their case.
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 53
INJURY ATTORNEYS
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54 • SEPTEMBER 26
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TOP Lawyers 2026 JUVENILE DEFENSE Lisa Herrick Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth LABOR Caroline Harrison Pham Harrison, LLP PhamHarrison.com | 817.632.6311 Fort Worth Andrea Paris Brackett & Ellis, P.C. BELaw.com | 817.339.2471 Fort Worth LITIGATION Brad Timms Brackett & Ellis, P.C. BELaw.com | 817.339.2468 Fort Worth MEDICAL MALPRACTICE John Polewski Polewski & Associates PolewskiLaw.com | 972.200.4506 Dallas PERSONAL INJURY Brandy Austin Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC BrandyAustinLaw.com | 817.841.9906 Arlington Taylor Brumbaugh Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth John Burton Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams, PLLC BHWLawFirm.com | 817.482.6770 Keller Brent Chandler Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys ChandlerRossLaw.com | 940.800.2500 Denton Michael Francis Francis Injury FrancisInjury.com | 817.329.9001 Fort Worth
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David Frisby David Frisby PC DavidFrisbyPC.com | 817.924.2889 Haltom City
Rachel Montes Montes Law Group MontesLawGroup.com | 214.522.9401 Irving
Damian Williams Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 214.903.4000 Dallas
Brandon Fulgham Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys FHLawGroup.com | 817.697.4400 Southlake
Alfred Pandolfi Law Office of James M. Stanley Law-JMS.com | 817.591.4222 Fort Worth
PROPERTY
Michael Galyen Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2121 Fort Worth
Brad Parker Parker Law Firm ParkerLawFirm.com | 817.214.1788 Fort Worth
Ana Lee Gonzalez Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2122 Bedford Brian Hargrove Brian Hargrove Law BrianHargroveLaw.com | 817.444.4878 Bedford David Hart Hart Law Firm, PLLC TheHartLawFirm.com | 817.485.8888 Colleyville Jason Howard Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams, PLLC BHWLawFirm.com | 817.482.6770 Keller Luke Lafitte Law Office of Dr. L.S. Lafitte PeopleOverProfits.net | 214.263.1435 Garland Jesse Lotspeich Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams, PLLC BHWLawFirm.com | 817.482.6770 Keller Brooks Lynn Brooks P. Lynn, Attorney at Law 817.656.7050 Colleyville Kent McAfee Law Office of J. Kent McAfee OneLegalPlace.com | 817.332.7676 Fort Worth
Travis Patterson Patterson Law Group PattersonPersonalInjury.com | 817.784.2000 Fort Worth John "Tony" Ross Chandler Ross, Injury Attorneys ChandlerRossLaw.com | 940.800.2500 Denton Katie Steele Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Ty Stimpson Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Andrew Strong The Barber Law Firm TheBarberLawFirm.com | 972.231.5800 Plano Benson Varghese Varghese Summersett VersusTexas.com | 817.203.2220 Fort Worth Tennessee Walker Patterson Law Group PattersonPersonalInjury.com | 817.784.2000 Fort Worth Rocky Walton Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers RockyWaltonInjuryLawyers. com | 817.438.2697 Fort Worth
Jeffrey Nanson Ryan Law RyanLawyers.com | 972.996.7480 Plano Susan Ross Susan Ross, Attorney at Law SusanRossLaw.com | 817.799.7677 Hurst REAL ESTATE Richard Hayes Hayes Berry White Vanzant HBWVLaw.com | 940.230.2386 Denton Christopher Sullivan Sullivan Law offices SullivanLawOffices.com | 469.718.5819 Southlake SOCIAL SECURITY Ian Croall Bailey & Galyen Attorneys at Law TheTexasAttorney.com | 817.438.2123 Bedford TAX David Coffin David Coffin PLLC DavidCoffinLaw.com | 817.580.3356 Southlake Al Malone Law Office of Al Malone MaloneAttorney.com | 817.953.3112 Southlake Bobby Ola Ola Tax OlaTax.com | 817.442.9200 Southlake TRANSACTIONAL LAW Marla Mundheim The Mundheim Firm, PLLC TheMFirm.com | 817.479.0076 Colleyville
SEPTEMBER 26 • 55
BOARDINGPASS hotel RITUAL
PHOTO BY JOEL ALLEGRETTO
bp
Good Vibrations
Inside Hotel RITUAL’s Eccentric, Restorative East Texas Escape
W
hen I arrived at Hotel RITUAL, owner Whitney Graham wasn’t checking in with a contractor or reviewing housekeeping. She was walking the property with an energy healer, quietly moving through the hotel’s lush, almost Garden-of-Eden grounds and making subtle tweaks to the balance of the space. It was an unconventional welcome, but a fitting one. At Hotel RITUAL, atmosphere is every bit as intentional as the design. From the outside, Hotel RITUAL looks like a grand old house plucked from the Garden District of New Orleans and dropped into the middle of East Texas. Tucked away in Jacksonville, about two hours east of DFW, the eight-suite retreat is eccentric and welcoming in equal measure, with the creative soul of Austin, the polish of a Parisian sitting room, and enough lush greenery to make the whole place feel hidden from the rest of the world. Founded by Graham, this is a wellness sanctuary for guests looking for more than a pretty room and a good
56 • SEPTEMBER 26
breakfast. Though, happily, it has both. The property includes quirky suites, quiet garden corners, a cedar sauna, an outdoor rain shower, farm-inspired breakfast, and on-site treatments ranging from massage and facials to Reiki, sound baths, yoga, shirodhara, lymphatic massage, and aura work. If that sounds a little woo, it is — and that’s part of the allure. RITUAL does not sand down its edges to appeal to everyone. It leans all the way in. On the wellness menu, guests can book a Royal Treatment Facial, Swedish massage, lymphatic massage, Reiki, a sound bath, or Shiro-Glow, a next-level shirodhara treatment involving sound medicine, warm energy point massage, chakra tuning, and, yes, “resurrection complete.” There is also a Reiki forgiveness bowl, a burning ceremony for letting go of past memories and feelings that no longer serve you. In another setting, it might feel performative. Here, it feels completely sincere. Graham’s background helps explain why. She studied pre-med and economics at the University of Texas at
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
BOARDINGPASS hotel RITUAL
bp
PHOTO BY DAVE SHAFER
Austin before following a winding path through surgical medicine, molecular anti-aging science, beauty, Ayurveda, sound therapy, and energy work, with chapters in New York, Paris, and beyond. After years of working with global brands, doctors, scientists, and traditional healers, she began shaping RITUAL around a belief that true wellness is less about one dramatic fix and more about daily practices that bring the body, mind, and spirit back into balance. That philosophy shows up in the rain shower tucked outdoors, in the quiet invitation to write down what you need to release, and in the way the whole property nudges you to put your phone down without ever announcing itself as a digital detox. It would be remiss not to mention Parker Edmondson, better known online as Dr. Parkinstine, who may be the most Hotel RITUAL detail of all. A resident pianist, singer, TikTok influencer with 1.2 million followers, and all-around keeper of the mood, he plays only 1920s tunes on a vintage piano of the same era tuned to 432 Hz — described as the harmonic frequency of joy. If you are lucky enough to get a private concert in the drawing room, the whole place starts to feel less like a hotel and more like an enchanted time warp. What makes Hotel RITUAL especially interesting, though, is that the experience does not end at the hotel. It spills into Jacksonville itself, which may be one of the most unexpectedly charming small towns in Texas. Think “Hart of Dixie,” but real. A little sleepy, a little quirky, filled with antique shops, charming local restaurants, painted brick storefronts, and the kind of small-town character no development team could manufacture.
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 57
BOARDINGPASS hotel RITUAL
PHOTO BY DAVE SHAFER
bp
PHOTO BY DAVE SHAFER
PHOTO COURTESY HOTEL RITUAL
Take RITUAL Luncheonette, Graham’s café concept where East Texas warmth meets modern wellness: organic ingredients, herbal teas, craft cocktails, nourishing dishes, and a very pink exterior wall that feels made for a girls’ trip photo. Meals from RITUAL Luncheonette can also be delivered to the hotel, which means you can stay tucked into the mood without having to reenter the world before you are ready. We’d highly recommend the strawberry cake. Trust us on this one. That is the beauty of a stay here. You can spend the morning having your chakras tuned, the afternoon wandering antique shops, and the evening eating pie by the flamingo-covered Christmas tree at Sadler’s Kitchen. Somehow, it all makes sense. Jacksonville is far enough away to feel like a true change of pace, yet close enough that excuses aren't necessary. Build a weekend around treatments, antique shops, and long lunches — or skip the itinerary entirely and sit by the pool, which is an equally alluring option. RITUAL is not polished in the resort-brand sense. It is far more personal than that: more layered, more alive, and, frankly, more memorable. It’s the kind of place where the eccentricities are not distractions from the experience; they are the experience.
Hotel RITUAL 540 El Paso Street Jacksonville 903.810.6695 HotelRitualTexas.com
58 • SEPTEMBER 26
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 59
ARTS & CULTURE focus
sept 17-20
Raise a Glass
GrapeFest Celebrates 40 Years of Wine, Tradition and Community
I
t's that time of year again. Historic Main Street closes to traffic, wine glasses start clinking, and, for four days, Grapevine gives itself over to a celebration unlike any other in North Texas. There’s live music and carnival rides, artisan shopping, and food — plus the inevitable question of whether you really need one more pour. This year, there's even more to celebrate as GrapeFest turns 40. In a region where festivals often come and go, GrapeFest has become a North Texas tradition. What began in 1987 as a one-day event featuring six Texas wineries has evolved into the largest wine festival in the Southwest, drawing approximately 250,000 visitors annually while helping transform Historic Main Street into the thriving destination it is today. Along the way, the festival has championed Texas wineries, introduced visitors to wines from around the world and created memories for families who return year after year. This year's theme, "Connecting Wine Traditions, One Glass at a
60 • SEPTEMBER 26
Time," reflects both the festival's local roots and growing international reach. Guests can sample Texas vintages during the People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic, explore selections from Grapevine's Sister Cities and revisit the legendary Judgement of Paris through a special tasting featuring French and Napa Valley wines. Beyond the wineries, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, artisan vendors, the fan-favorite GrapeStomp, Champagne Terrace, carnival rides, and family-friendly attractions. Forty years after its humble beginnings, GrapeFest remains more than a wine festival. It's a celebration of the community that built it, the traditions that have sustained it and the visitors who continue returning to raise a glass together.
DETAILS Sept. 17–20 Historic Main Street Grapevine
SOUTHLAKESTYLE MAGAZINE
ARTS & CULTURE events
APEX ARTS LEAGUE
sept-june 2027
SEPT – JUNE 2027
sept 12
SOUTHLAKE, WESTLAKE & SURROUNDING AREA | The Apex Arts League has unveiled a packed 2026-27 season featuring music, art, film, dance and live performances throughout Southlake, Westlake and the surrounding area. The lineup runs from September through June and includes the Avant Chamber Ballet’s Nutcracker Short and Suite, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s Sounds of the Season, Cinema D’Arte screenings, APEX Jazz Fest, chamber music performances and several art exhibitions and receptions.
CELEBRATE SOUTHLAKE
FOOTBALL: CARROLL VS. ALLEN
THE CHICAGO CONCERT XPERIENCE
SEPT. 11
SEPT. 12
DRAGON STADIUM | Friday night lights return to Dragon Stadium as the Southlake Carroll Dragons host Allen in one of the most anticipated early-season matchups on the 2026 schedule. With the Dragons coming off another deep playoff run and a new season bringing fresh expectations, September football in Southlake promises big crowds, high energy and all the tradition that comes with a night under the lights at Dragon Stadium.
GRAPEVINE | Experience the timeless music of Chicago with The Chicago Concert Xperience, bringing the legendary band’s signature blend of rock, pop and jazz-inspired sounds to the stage. Fans can expect an evening filled with familiar favorites, soaring melodies and the classic songs that have made Chicago a fixture in popular music for generations.
TIM MCGRAW SEPT. 11
sept 11
DOS EQUIS PAVILION | Country superstar Tim McGraw brings his hit-filled live show to North Texas for an evening of powerhouse vocals, decades of fan favorites and the unmistakable sound that has made him one of country music’s biggest stars. With a catalog spanning charttopping songs and beloved ballads, McGraw’s Dallas stop promises a night of country music nostalgia and highenergy entertainment.
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SEPT. 12 RUSTIN PAVILION | Celebrate all things Southlake as the community comes together to commemorate the city’s birthday with an afternoon of local pride, entertainment, and family-friendly fun. The annual celebration brings local organizations, community groups and nonprofits together with activity booths, food vendors, entertainment and the Youth Entrepreneur Summit for an event that showcases what makes Southlake such a special place to call home.
ITALIAN CARFEST SEPT. 12
sept 12
NASH FARM | Start your engines for ItalianCarFest, a celebration of Italian automotive style and craftsmanship featuring an impressive collection of classic and modern Italian automobiles. From Ferraris and Alfa Romeos to Fiats, De Tomasos and more, the annual event brings car enthusiasts together for an afternoon of beautiful machines, Italian flair and plenty of opportunities to admire these iconic vehicles up close.
SEPTEMBER 26 • 61
ARTS & CULTURE events PRINTING THE PAST SEPT. 12–NOV. 13
MATCHBOOOK 20
GRAPEVINE | Step into the past with Printing the Past, an exhibition exploring the history and artistry of printmaking through a collection of works that showcase the enduring power of the printed image. The exhibit offers visitors a chance to discover how artists and printers have used the medium to document history, tell stories and push creative boundaries across generations.
SEPT. 25 GRAPEVINE | Sing along to the hits of Matchbox Twenty with Matchbook 20, a tribute act bringing the band's familiar rock anthems and nostalgic favorites to the stage. From radio staples to fan favorites, the performance offers a night of '90s and early-2000s nostalgia for anyone who remembers the soundtrack of the era.
SOLID GOLD HITS OF THE ’70S SEPT. 25 GRAPEVINE | Take a trip back to the groovy sounds of the 1970s with Solid Gold Hits of the ’70s, a nostalgic celebration of the decade’s biggest music. Expect a lively evening filled with familiar classics, timeless melodies and plenty of songs that will have audiences singing along from the first note to the last.
sept 17-20 sept 17-20
ADDISON OKTOBERFEST
sept 17-20
SEPT. 17–20 ADDISON CIRCLE PARK | Mark your calendar — and dust off your dirndls and lederhosen — as Addison Oktoberfest returns for four days of Bavarian celebration with a Texas twist. One of North Texas’ most beloved fall traditions for more than 35 years, the festival brings together authentic German food, live polka music, bier, family-friendly activities and plenty of “Prost y’all!” moments. From the ceremonial keg tapping and PartyHalle festivities to the annual Dachshund Dash, Addison Oktoberfest offers a taste of Munich without leaving North Texas.
SAVANNAH BANANAS SEPT. 25–27
sept 25-27
GLOBE LIFE FIELD | Baseball has never looked quite like this. The Savannah Bananas bring their viral Banana Ball experience to Globe Life Field for a three-game weekend packed with choreographed celebrations, nonstop entertainment and a unique twist on America’s favorite pastime. Known for turning baseball into a full-scale spectacle, the Bananas will face the Texas Tailgaters during their Arlington debut.
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS THAT’S NOT ME COMEDY SEPT. 25 DALLAS | Comedy takes center stage with That’s Not Me Comedy, bringing a night of laughs, storytelling and fresh perspectives to Dallas. Featuring talented performers and a lineup built around sharp observations and relatable humor, the show offers a chance to discover some of the area’s funniest voices in an intimate live setting.
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SEPT. 25–OCT. 18 FAIR PARK | Big Tex is calling, and the State Fair of Texas is ready to welcome visitors back to Fair Park for nearly a month of everything that makes this Texas tradition so beloved. From iconic fair food and thrilling rides to live entertainment, livestock, shopping and the towering presence of Big Tex, the annual celebration offers something for everyone — with plenty of new sights, sounds and flavors to discover along the way.
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JUDAH & THE LION SEPT. 26 THE STUDIO AT THE FACTORY | Nashville-based folk-pop favorites Judah & the Lion bring their energetic live show to Dallas for an evening of heartfelt songwriting, infectious melodies and genre-blending sounds. Known for combining folk, alternative and rock influences, the band continues to build a devoted following with emotional lyrics and crowd-pleasing performances.
GONE COUNTRY SEPT. 26 GRAPEVINE | Country fans can enjoy an evening of Alan Jackson favorites with Gone Country, a tribute celebrating the traditional country sound and memorable hits of one of the genre’s most beloved stars. Expect plenty of honkytonk energy, familiar songs and classic country nostalgia.
HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION SEPT. 26 SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE | Celebrate Southlake’s Hispanic and Latino community at the second annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Town Square. The free festival features two stages of live entertainment, including mariachi, folklórico dancers, salsa and bachata, plus a Selena tribute finale. Guests can also enjoy Latin American and Caribbean food, a beer and wine garden, more than 150 vendors, artisan displays and a dedicated Kids Zone. The celebration runs from 3–10 p.m.
sept 17-20
BROOKS & DUNN
oct 9-10
OCT. 9–10 DICKIES ARENA | Country music legends Brooks & Dunn return to North Texas with a celebration of more than three decades of hits. Featuring classics like “Neon Moon,” “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and “Only in America,” the duo’s tour showcases the signature country-rock sound that made them one of the genre’s most successful acts.
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SEPTEMBER 26 • 63
parting SHOT
POP ART Bubbles meet bold walls at Housewife Rebellion
64 • SEPTEMBER 26
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GLOBAL REAL ESTATE ADVISOR
THE ART OF
LUXURY
REPRESENTATION LEADING BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY IN SALES IN 2026
Ranked #1 companywide, year-to-date, at Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, Kim Bedwell sets the standard for sales across Southlake, Westlake and the Dallas-Fort Worth luxury corridor.
PRIVATE OFFICE 22 Arta Drive, Suite 110 Westlake, Texas 76262 817-229-9445 kbedwell@briggsfreeman.com
SOUTHLAKE | WESTLAKE | DALLAS-FORT WORTH LUXURY CORRIDOR