The Dallas Download: Week of February 24, 2025
Welcome to The Dallas Download—your weekly dose of what’s happening around town. Every day, my inbox overflows with press releases announcing the latest restaurant and retail openings, invites to must-attend galas and parties, and previews to the latest exhibits and attractions. From food to fashion, reality TV to movie premiers, cultural events to celebrity sightings, this city is happening and I’m here to dish out the most noteworthy updates and juicy tidbits landing on my desk. I’m also sharing the piping hot tea from local outlets that I consider buzz-worthy.
Consider this your curated roundup of what’s happening in Dallas this week.
Bookworms and bread fans in Dallas have already been treated to the coffees and pastries at La Casita, the new shop attached to the flagship Half Price Books on E. Northwest Highway. On Feb. 26, 2025, that same restaurant will open at dinnertime as a tiki bar. Read more at https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2025/02/26/tiki-bar-open-dallas-half-price-books-coffee-shop-cocktails-dinner/
Earlier this week, a Facebook user mis-reported the closure of Pepe & Mito’s to an invite-only group with nearly 7,000 members. The fake news spread quickly but I am happy to share that the 30-year-old Tex-Mex restaurant in Deep Ellum, is not gone forever. I highly recommend the Shrimp Enchilada plate. They will rock your taste buds! (More on the DMN)
If you’re not making the trip to New Orleans this year to celebrate Mardi Gras, Dallas still has plenty of opportunities to make the most out of Fat Tuesday — which lands on March 4. From parades to crawfish boils, PaperCity has published a guide to celebrating Mardi Gras 2025 in Dallas and so has CultureMap. Photo c/o Revelers Hall
Last week, we all thought the world was ending when it was announced that the century-old Neiman Marcus would have to shutter its iconic Downtown store immediately due to a dispute with the landlord. CultureMap then reported, “According to a release from downtown advocacy group Downtown Dallas Inc., a landlord who owned a piece of land on which the store resides has agreed to donate it to the city of Dallas, so that there are no obstacles for the store's continued operation.”
Just when we all collectively breathed a sigh of relief, the DMN said, “Hold my beer…” and reported that Neiman owner Saks Global said its plans to close the store at the end of March have not changed. I called this from the beginning saying that Neiman’s has been in and out of bankruptcy for years and this closure was not about a land deal - but about money honey.