🎹 Charlie Puth Friday + a Warm Meatball

Howdy, neighbors!

Charlie Puth is playing the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory this Friday, and yeah, Irving is a little past our usual map. But when an actual pop star books a show 25 minutes down the road, we figured you would want the heads up. Tickets are still under $50, which for a name that big is kind of wild.

We are saving Saturday for Celebrate Highland Village out at Doubletree Ranch Park. It is the town's biggest party of the year, with a fishing derby in the morning, live music at night, and fireworks once it gets dark. We will get there early, claim a patch of grass until the show starts.

The World Cup is on too, and Grandscape has free watch parties on the lawn all weekend. Easy afternoon, no tickets, just bring a blanket.

One more to circle: a free Taylor Swift Eras Tour tribute hits Wayne Ferguson Plaza next Tuesday, June 16, costume changes and all. It is our free pick this issue, so if there is a Swiftie in your house, that is your night.

- Jason

The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving
Friday, June 12
7:30 PM
Tickets from around $41 | Get Tickets

Quick confession before we start: Irving is a little outside our usual map. The Pavilion sits about 25 minutes south of the lake, so yeah, it's a drive. But when an actual pop star books a show that close the night after this issue lands, we're not going to pretend it isn't happening.

Charlie Puth is the guy behind "Attention," "Light Switch," and that "See You Again" song that's shown up at every graduation for a decade. He's also the rare performer who builds his songs right there on stage, so you watch the whole thing come together instead of just hearing the finished version.

Lawrence and Ally Salort open, so you get a full night, not a headliner and a long wait. The Pavilion is covered, the drive down is easy, and you're home before it gets ridiculous.

Tickets start around $41, which for a name this size is a STEAL. Got a teenager who lives on his playlist? Easy yes. They're moving, so don't sit on it.

This is our go-to when we want a grown-up dinner. It's a wood-fired grill and wine bar off Justin Road, dim and cozy inside, and they hand you a warm meatball while you wait for your table, which is a small thing that wins us over every time. Date night, an anniversary, or just a Friday you actually want to dress up a little for.

The meatball app is the move to start, and the shrimp dip is big enough to feed the whole table. Most people come for the hand-cut steaks off the wood fire, and the au gratin potatoes get talked about almost as much as the entrees. We've had the blackened redfish and the salmon with Brussels and both held up. The wine list is long and the cocktails are worth ordering, so this is more of a sit-and-stay-a-while dinner than an in-and-out one.

Two things to know going in. They don't take reservations, but they run a call-ahead and online wait list, so get your name down before you leave the house on a weekend. And they're closed Sundays, so this is a Thursday-through-Saturday plan this week.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon-Wed 4pm-10pm
Thu 3pm-10pm
Fri 3pm-11pm
Sat 4pm-11pm
Closed Sun
therusticogrill.com

If you've walked through Old Town Lewisville and wondered about the shop next to The Perc Coffeehouse, park the car and go in. Main Street Mercantile, The Merc to everyone around here, is a vintage market and boutique that Randy and Ronda Owens opened in 2013.

They grew up in Lewisville, and it shows in how the place is put together. Two floors
packed with vintage furniture, farmhouse and shabby-chic home decor, seasonal pieces, women's apparel, jewelry, and stationery. Solid gift territory.

The surprise is the food. Locally made jams, peanut butters, and canned goods you won't find at the grocery store, plus candles poured nearby. Reviewers keep landing on the same two notes: fair prices, and staff who actually want to help. Give yourself an hour, because the inventory turns over fast. What catches your eye this week might be gone next.

Easy win if you're already next door for a latte.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon–Sat 10AM–7PM
Sun 12PM–6PM
mainstmerc.com

5 beds
6 baths
4,429 sqft
0.21 acre lot

A) $899,000

B) $975,000

C) $1,100,000

D) $1,249,000

The Lewisville ISD board approved pay raises for teachers, substitutes, and non-teaching staff at its June 9 meeting, funded largely by the state's new House Bill 2. The bill sends the district about $15.6 million for teacher raises and another $4.4 million for other staff. Starting teacher pay is set to begin around $62,525, which puts LISD ahead of neighbors like Denton and Frisco.

The notable part is the timing: the raises come even as the district projects a $9 to $10 million deficit for the year, driven by enrollment-tied funding pressures, budget cuts, and school consolidations. If you have a kid in LISD or you work for the district, this is the one to track as the full budget gets adopted.

Source: Star Local Media

Dallas favorite The Rustic is opening at Grandscape in The Colony this summer, taking over the old Lava Cantina space at 5805 Grandscape Rd. It is the brand's fifth Texas location, with wood-grilled scratch cooking, daily happy hours, weekend family-style brunch, and live music five days a week.

It is part of a bigger Grandscape build-out that already added TOCA Social earlier this year and has a Costco under construction targeting fall. No firm opening date yet beyond "summer 2026," so treat this as a coming-soon and watch for an announcement.

Source: Star Local Media

As of early June, Lewisville Lake was measured at right around 100% of conservation capacity. A brim-full lake going into peak boating and the July 4 stretch is good news for ramp access and shoreline parks, and it is worth a quick mental note for anyone watching flood-pool levels near the water.

Lake levels move, so check the current number before you load the boat. The Army Corps manages the lake for flood control, Dallas water supply, and recreation.

Sources: Water Data for Texas | USACE Lewisville

The city's free Learn Lewisville open house runs Saturday, June 13, from 1 to 4 PM at Thrive, 1950 S. Valley Parkway, with free food and drinks. Kids can climb on the LPD SWAT BearCat and a fire truck, watch a police drone demo, and check out a snake-catching demo from Animal Services.

Public Works, Planning, the Library, and Economic Development will all be on hand too, so it doubles as an easy way to see how your city services actually work. Free, no registration, just show up.

Source: City of Lewisville

Mark the calendar for next week: Lewisville's three-day Juneteenth celebration, themed "The Cookout," runs June 18 through 20. It opens Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 PM with a poetry slam at the Grand Theater (free), rolls into a Friday, June 19 concert at Wayne Ferguson Plaza headlined by an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute (free), and wraps Saturday, June 20 at 8 PM with stand-up comedy (tickets $15 and up).

Source: City of Lewisville

His name is Porkchop and yes, it's perfect. This three-year-old domestic shorthair came in as an outdoor cat, which means he's seen some things, done some things, and is now fully ready to retire indoors. He weighs 12 pounds, which feels right for a cat named Porkchop.

He's a little hesitant in new situations. Not unfriendly, just the kind of cat who needs to take stock before he decides he likes you. Give him a calm, quiet home and some patience and he's going to settle in and become exactly the low-drama companion you didn't know you needed. He's litter box trained, fully vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped.

They don't have info yet on how he does with kids or other animals since his background is mostly outdoors. If that matters for your household, you can stop by and see how he does in person before you commit.

Porkchop is at Lewisville Animal Services on College Parkway. Walk-ins are welcome during visiting hours.

Lewisville Animal Services
995 College Pkwy, Lewisville, TX 75067
(972) 219-3478

🦎 Summer Clubhouse: The Creature Teacher Animal Show - The Colony Recreation Center | 5151 N Colony Blvd, The Colony | 9:00 AM-11:00 AM | Free | More: thecolonytx.gov
A live exotic-animal show that kicks off the city's free Summer Clubhouse series. Great morning out for younger kids before the heat sets in.

🍿 Family Movie Matinee: Toy Story 4 - The Colony Public Library | 6800 Main St, The Colony | 1:00 PM-2:30 PM | Free | More: thecolonytx.gov
Snacks and a Toy Story 4 screening in the cool library. An easy, free way to beat the afternoon heat.

🎬 Friday Family Matinee - Lewisville Public Library | 1197 W. Main St, Lewisville | 2:00 PM-4:00 PM | Free | More: library.cityoflewisville.com
A free PG movie in the kids' wing, no registration needed. Under-6 should bring a grownup.

🎸 Sounds of Summer: Members Only Band - Corona Stage & Lawn at Grandscape | 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 8:00 PM-10:00 PM | Free | More: grandscape.com
A free, family-friendly '80s tribute show out on the Grandscape lawn. Bring a blanket or chairs and let the kids dance it out.

🌊 The Cove at The Lakefront - The Cove | 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm | 11:00 AM-8:00 PM | $15 youth/senior, $20 adult, under 2 free | More: thecoveatthelakefront.com
Little Elm's indoor-outdoor water park with slides, a lazy river, and a FlowRider. The reliable hot-day move.

🎆 Celebrate Highland Village - Doubletree Ranch Park | 310 Highland Village Rd, Highland Village | Gates 5:30 PM, fireworks after dark | Free | More: highlandvillage.org
The town's biggest party of the year. Live music from Emerald City Downtown Fever at 6:30, food vendors, a kids' zone, and fireworks at dark. Residents can grab a parking pass, and there is shuttle service from Copperas Branch Park and the Municipal Complex starting at 5.

🦕 Cretaceous Continent: Dinosaur Escape Experience - Flower Mound Public Library | 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: flowermound.gov
The library turns into a dinosaur theme park and you try to escape before getting eaten. Drop-in, all ages, free.

🎨 Chalk the Walk Art Contest - Heritage Park | 600 Spinks Rd, Flower Mound | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: flowermound.gov
Turn a concrete square into a chalk masterpiece. Free pastels for the first 75 to register, with prizes by age plus a family division.

🐦 2nd Saturday Bird Walk - Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area | 201 E. Jones St, Lewisville | 7:30 AM-11:00 AM | $5 per person plus $5 per vehicle, ages 10+ | More: app.amilia.com
A guided walk with an expert birder along LLELA's trails, good for families with older kids. Registration required, and bring a card since it is debit or credit only at the gate.

🎣 Lions Club Family Fishing Derby - Doubletree Ranch Park | 310 Highland Village Rd, Highland Village | 8:00 AM-10:30 AM | Free | More: highlandvillage.org
The morning fishing derby that kicks off Celebrate Highland Village. Bring the kids and a pole.

⚽ Summer of Soccer: Brazil vs Morocco Watch Party - Corona Stage & Lawn at Grandscape | 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | Free | More: grandscape.com
Free World Cup viewing on the big lawn. Bring a blanket and grab dinner from one of the spots nearby.

📚 Family Storytime - Lewisville Public Library | 1197 W. Main St, Lewisville | 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Free | More: library.cityoflewisville.com
Books, songs, and activities for all ages with a caregiver. Free tickets go out 30 minutes before.

🎲 Ready, Set, Game! Board Game Afternoon - Lewisville Public Library | 1197 W. Main St, Lewisville | 12:00 PM-4:00 PM | Free, ages 6+ with adult | More: library.cityoflewisville.com
Drop-in tabletop gaming with demos and door prizes. Bring your own or learn something new.

🧸 Stuffed Animal Sleepover - The Colony Public Library | 6800 Main St, The Colony | 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Free | More: thecolonytx.gov
Kids bring a stuffed animal for story time, then tuck it in for an overnight at the library and pick it up the next day with a memento.

🌊 The Cove at The Lakefront - The Cove | 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm | 10:00 AM-6:00 PM | $18 youth/senior, $22 adult, under 2 free | More: thecoveatthelakefront.com
Peak-summer Saturday at the lakefront water park. Slides, lazy river, and the FlowRider.

🧘 Move with Mama (Mommy & Me Yoga) - Tullia Sage | 162 W. Main St, Lewisville | 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Ticketed | More: eventbrite.com
A beginner-friendly mommy-and-me yoga session in Old Town, with a latte bar, snacks, and a photographer after. Tickets are sold through the organizer.

🏊 Playtri Little Elm Lake Triathlon - Little Elm Beach | 701 W. Eldorado Pkwy, Little Elm | 7:00 AM-11:00 AM | Registration for racers, free to watch | More: lakefrontlittleelm.com
A sprint and Olympic triathlon on the lakeshore. Free, high-energy spectating for families even if you are not racing.

⚽ Summer of Soccer: Netherlands vs Japan Watch Party - Corona Stage & Lawn at Grandscape | 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 3:00 PM-5:00 PM | Free | More: grandscape.com
Free World Cup viewing on the big lawn. Easy, no tickets, and a fun way to introduce the kids to the tournament.

🥞 Brunchela at JĀKÖ Cocina y Agave - Grandscape | 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 11:00 AM-3:00 PM | À la carte | More: grandscape.com
Weekend Latin-inspired brunch at Grandscape. A relaxed way to start a Sunday on the campus.

🎹 Piano in the Park - Klyde Warren Park | 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM | Free | More: klydewarrenpark.org
Sit down at the park's green piano and play, or just listen. Free and open to everyone, about 30 minutes away.

🌊 The Cove at The Lakefront - The Cove | 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm | 12:00 PM-6:00 PM | $18 youth/senior, $22 adult, under 2 free | More: thecoveatthelakefront.com
Sunday afternoon water-park hours to close out the weekend.

⚽ USA vs Paraguay Watch Party - Buffalo Hirsch | 206 W. Main St, Lewisville | 9:00 PM-11:00 PM | Free to attend | More: visitlewisville.com
A World Cup watch party at Old Town's open-air cocktail truckyard, big Jumbotron, craft cocktails, and beer. Walkable grown-up night out. (Kickoff time may shift, so double-check before you head over.)

⚽ FIFA World Cup: USA vs Paraguay at Cosm - Cosm | 5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 8:00 PM | Ticketed | More: cosm.com
The USMNT's home World Cup match beamed onto Cosm's 87-foot dome. The most immersive way to watch in the metro.

🎶 Acoustic Fridays: "Glass" Songwriters Challenge - Lewisville Grand Theater | 100 N. Charles St, Lewisville | 7:00 PM | Free | More: visitlewisville.com
A quarterly original-songwriting showcase in an intimate listening-room setting. Arrive by 6:45 if you want to sign up and play.

🎸 Lakeside Music Series: Chris Raspante Duo - Lakeside Village | 2412 Lakeside Pkwy, Flower Mound | 7:30 PM-9:30 PM | Free | More: lakesidevillage.com
Free outdoor live music by the water, an Americana set this week. Bring chairs and a cooler, outside food and drink are allowed.

🧘 Feel Good Fridays: Relaxation Stations - Lewisville Public Library | 1197 W. Main St, Lewisville | 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Free, adults only | More: library.cityoflewisville.com
An hour of grown-up unwinding with calming activity stations. A quiet reset before the weekend.

🥃 BENDT Distilling Co. Tour & Tasting - BENDT Distilling Co. | 225 S. Charles St, Lewisville | 6:00 PM | Ticketed, 21+ | More: bendtdistillingco.com
A 45-minute grain-to-glass tour of North Texas' premier whiskey distillery, ending in a guided tasting. Walkable from Old Town.

🍸 Live DJ Sets at JĀKÖ Cocina y Agave - Grandscape | 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 10:00 PM-2:00 AM | Free entry, 21+ late night | More: grandscape.com
Friday-night DJ sets and late-night agave-bar energy to cap the evening.

🧘 Tai Chi in the Plaza - Wayne Ferguson Plaza | 150 W. Church St, Lewisville | 9:30 AM-10:30 AM | Free | More: playlewisville.com
A free outdoor tai chi class in Old Town's plaza. No gear or experience needed, just show up in comfortable clothes.

🏃 Celebrate Highland Village 5K & Fun Run - Doubletree Ranch Park | 310 Highland Village Rd, Highland Village | 7:00 AM | Paid registration | More: runsignup.com
The early-morning 5K and fun run that opens the Celebrate Highland Village day. Beat the heat and the crowds.

🤠 Dale Watson & His Lone Stars - Lewisville Grand Theater | 100 N. Charles St, Lewisville | 8:00 PM | $25-$35 reserved | More: tix.com
Honky-tonk living legend Dale Watson headlines the city's Texas Tunes series, with Celine Lee along for the night. A polished, seated date-night concert. Lewisville residents can get $20 seats in person with proof of residency.

💃 LoneStar TribeFest - Lewisville Grand Theater | 100 N. Charles St, Lewisville | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $20 at the door | More: zaarabellydance.wixsite.com
A showcase of DFW belly dance across three evening shows, hosted by Zaara Belly Dance. Cabaret, Tribal Fusion, and more.

🎨 Opening Reception: "She Saw a Need!" - Lewisville Grand Theater Art Gallery | 100 N. Charles St, Lewisville | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Free | More: lewisvillegrand.com
Meet the Quilting Sisters of Color at the reception for their 30th-anniversary quilt show. Free and right in Old Town.

🐯 Adults Only Night: Jump into the Jungle - The Cove | 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm | 8:00 PM-11:00 PM | Ticketed, 21+ | More: lakefrontlittleelm.com
A 21-and-up jungle-themed after-dark pool party with a live DJ, full bar, the FlowRider, and costume prizes. The marquee adult night in Little Elm this weekend.

🥃 National Old Fashioned Day - Buffalo Hirsch | 206 W. Main St, Lewisville | 11:00 AM-6:00 PM | Free to attend | More: oldtownlewisville.com
A whiskey-cocktail celebration on Old Town's massive open-air patio, with food trucks and craft drinks. A laid-back Sunday-funday for grownups.

🥊 UFC: Freedom 250 at Cosm - Cosm | 5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony | 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Ticketed | More: cosm.com
UFC delivered cageside on Cosm's immersive 87-foot dome. A big-night-out experience for fight fans.

Wayne Ferguson Plaza
51 W Church St, Lewisville
Tuesday, June 16
7:00 PM-9:30 PM
Free
More info

If you have a Swiftie in the house, this is the one to circle. Sounds of Lewisville, the free Tuesday-night concert series that has been an Old Town tradition since 1991, hands its June 16 slot to Lover: The Unofficial Eras Tour, a full Taylor Swift tribute fronted by Charity Eden. The Legacy Music Studio house band opens, so you get two acts for the price of nothing.

What it is: A genuine Eras Tour stand-in, not a cover band playing a couple of hits in the background. Lover runs through the eras with the outfit changes and choreography to match, and the show is built to be sung along to at full volume. Presented by Mosquito Joe, it is one of ten shows the city stages at Wayne Ferguson Plaza across May, June, and July, and the production value on these has gotten genuinely good over the years.

Plan it (Tuesday evening): Gates and food trucks are going well before showtime, so come early, claim your patch of lawn, and let the kids burn around the plaza first. The Legacy Music Studio opener plays 7:00 to 7:45, and Lover headlines 8:00 to 9:30. Free public parking is right there along Main and Charles streets, with overflow at Lewisville City Hall a short walk away.

What to expect (a few hours): This is the full Old Town summer-night setup. Two bands, a row of food trucks, local vendors, and Play Lewisville on Wheels activities to keep younger kids busy between sets. The plaza fills up for the popular shows, and an Eras tribute is going to pull a crowd, so the earlier you grab your spot the better your sight line. Dress your in-house Swifties in their concert outfits and let them have the night.

Logistics: Free admission, no tickets, no registration. Bring blankets and low lawn chairs. Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome. Food and drinks are available on site from the trucks and vendors. Restrooms and shaded spots are limited once the lawn fills, so plan accordingly with little ones.

Heads up: This is the standout night of the series, but it is not the last. Sounds of Lewisville keeps rolling on Tuesdays and wraps July 1 with the Red, White & Lewisville fireworks night, so if June 16 does not fit your week, there is still plenty of free music left on the calendar.

Medical City Lewisville, the 190-plus-bed hospital off I-35E, is filling nursing, clinical, and support roles, with RN positions the priority push plus patient care techs, imaging, and food and environmental services.

👉 Browse openings

Denton County posts steady openings across road and bridge, public health, the sheriff's office, elections, and administration, many based a short drive up I-35E in Denton.

👉 Browse openings