🎁 Denton's Gift Fair: Shop Once, Give Twice

Hey, y'all!

Costumes are put away. Clocks fell back. And those holiday shopping lists? Already creeping into our heads. Before the crowds hit, there's a better way to kick it off. The Alternative Gifts Fair at First United Methodist Church of Denton is back this weekend, 30-plus mission and nonprofit booths under one roof. You shop for somebody on your list, the money goes to somebody who needs it. Shop once, give twice. Hard to beat that.

Saturday morning, Grandscape puts on a free walk for type 1 diabetes research out on the Stage & Lawn. Grab a friend. Dress warm.

In the news: Denton County's putting $40 million toward helping local families buy homes, and Lewisville ISD is figuring out what to do with three empty elementary campuses.

Also inside: a family-run diner in Lewisville, a wooded showcase home near the lake in Hickory Creek to price-guess, and a big ol' friendly dog hunting for a couch.

See you on Main Street,

- Jason

Most of us set up home and auto insurance once and never look at it again. Bramble Insurance is an independent agency, so a licensed agent can compare options across more than one company before winter weather shows up. Fill out their online form and finish a quote with a licensed agent, and they’ll send you a $5 Chick-fil-A gift card.

First United Methodist Church of Denton
201 S Locust St, Denton, TX
Friday, November 6, 2026
5 to 8 p.m. (also Saturday, November 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, November 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
$5 first look on Friday evening
Browse the 30-plus mission booths and artisan tables at the Alternative Gifts Fair

Denton's been doing this one a while. And the idea? Hard to beat. Shop once, give twice. You grab a gift for somebody on your list, the money goes to folks who need it.

More than 30 mission and nonprofit booths fill the church. Crafts and artisans too. Local artists donate pieces to a booth that backs one nonprofit picked fresh each year. Last year the fair pulled in $94,068.

Go Friday night for the first look. Or wander in over the weekend. Bring a list. Bring an open mind. Leave with something that actually means something.

Family-run diner in Lewisville. The menu? Wisconsin, Texas and Hispanic favorites, all on one plate. Chef Jose Aguirre came down from Wisconsin in 2023 and opened the place in February 2024 with his brother Librado and Keila Hernandez.

The skillets are the move. The menu features a WiscoTx steak skillet, a Polish kielbasa skillet, a Mexican Benedict, a patty melt, a Monte Cristo and WiscoTx crepes. Portions are big. Regulars keep showing up. That tells you plenty.

Price: $
Hours:
Mon - Sat 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sun 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

4 beds
3.5 baths
4,117 sqft
0.87 acres

A) $1,225,000

B) $1,290,000

C) $1,349,000

D) $1,395,000

Listed by Cynthia Day and Ana Cantu, eXp Realty LLC

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Denton County Commissioners Court authorized the Denton County Housing Finance Corporation to hand its 2026 private activity bond allocation, $40 million, to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

About 132 Denton County families could get help buying a home through the state's Texas Homebuyer Program, including nearly $1.4 million in down payment help and access to low-interest 30-year mortgages. Since January 2025 the program has backed 49 Denton County mortgages worth about $15 million.

County Judge Andy Eads says it adds no new county debt. Eligibility and applications go through the Texas Homebuyer Program.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette

In October, Lewisville ISD trustees voted 7-0 to approve a non-binding letter of intent for one or more ground leases at BB Owen, Creekside and Polser elementaries. All three closed after the 2024-25 school year and were declared surplus in August 2025.

A ground lease lets the district keep the land and collect rent. June board documents describe the plan as attainable homeownership, with the district weighing in on how many homes go to LISD staff. No developer name, lease terms or dollar amounts are public yet, and the letter doesn't bind the district.

Source: Lewisville ISD | Citizen Portal

Flower Mound's council passed a new ordinance for massage businesses on Monday, October 19, 2026. Shops have to keep hours between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., meet state licensing and sanitary standards, and post a price list for every service.

Therapists stay fully dressed. Clients stay draped. Nobody under 18 works in one. Break the rules and the town can deny, suspend or revoke a Certificate of Occupancy. Owners do get an appeals process.

Police Chief David Coulon said the point is to line town rules up with state law.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette

A WalletHub study of more than 1,300 U.S. cities with 25,000 to 100,000 residents put Flower Mound in the top 9% for 2026, ahead of Little Elm, The Colony and Coppell. The study weighed affordability, schools, safety, commutes and restaurant variety.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette

Leonidas is a 2-year-old Mastiff mix. He tips the scale at about 94 pounds. So, yeah, that's a whole lot of dog. He's friendly with other pups, and the listing calls him high energy, so he'll want folks who love long walks and a big backyard to tear around in.

He's vaccinated, wormed, microchipped, heartworm negative, flea treated and fixed. Ready to roll.

His adoption fee is $90. Find him at the Lewisville Animal Shelter, 995 E Valley Ridge Blvd, Lewisville, TX 75057. 972-219-3478. Ask for Animal ID 61898661. The shelter's closed Sunday, so Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. is your weekend window.

👉 Meet Leonidas and the rest of the adoptable dogs at the Lewisville shelter

🦬 LLELA Trails - Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville, TX 75057 | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $5 per vehicle, card only | More: llela.org
Cool mornings, quiet trails and miles of prairie. Gate takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover or debit only. No cash, no Amex, no tap.

🧗 Fritz's Adventure - 5651 Nebraska Furniture Mart Dr, The Colony, TX 75056 | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | $26.99 general admission, $36.99 all access (55 inches or taller), ages 0 to 4 free with an adult | More: fritzsadventure.com
Ropes courses, crawl spaces, a 48-foot climbing wall. Open late on Fridays.

🩵 Breakthrough T1D Walk Dallas - Stage & Lawn, Grandscape, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX 75056 | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Free to register | More: grandscape.com
Morning walk, music, activities, all for type 1 diabetes research. Our Free Event of the Week, see below.

🌊 The Cove at The Lakefront - 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm, TX 75068 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $18 ages 15 to 49, $14 ages 2 to 14 and 50+, under 2 free | More: thecoveatthelakefront.com
Indoor water park. Warm escape from a cool day, lazy river and slides and all.

🏃 Dorothy's Dash 5K and Kid's K - Bakersfield Park, 1201 Duncan Ln, Flower Mound, TX 75028 | Kid's K 8 a.m., 5K run or walk 8:30 a.m. | $20 Kid's K, $35 5K, sign up on site starting at 7 a.m. | More: flowermound.gov
The race honors Dorothy Walkup, a former town employee who died of MS in 2004. Net proceeds go to the Texas Chapter of the MS Society.

🌊 The Cove at The Lakefront - 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm, TX 75068 | Noon to 6 p.m. | $18 ages 15 to 49, $14 ages 2 to 14 and 50+, under 2 free | More: thecoveatthelakefront.com
Sunday afternoon splash time for the whole crew.

🛍️ Alternative Gifts Fair - First United Methodist Church of Denton, 201 S Locust St, Denton, TX 76201 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Free | More: fumcdenton.com
Last call for the fair. Grab your gifts before the booths pack up at 1.

🏈 Dallas Game Day - Corona Stage & Lawn, Grandscape, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX 75056 | Noon to 2 p.m. | Free | More: grandscape.com
Cowboys at Colts, noon kickoff on FOX. Watch free on Grandscape's giant outdoor screen, or head inside for game-day specials at a few of the restaurants.

🧗 Fritz's Adventure - 5651 Nebraska Furniture Mart Dr, The Colony, TX 75056 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $26.99 general admission, $36.99 all access (55 inches or taller), ages 0 to 4 free with an adult | More: fritzsadventure.com
Ropes courses and a climbing wall. Doors close at 6 on Sunday.

🥃 BENDT Distilling Tour - BENDT Distilling, 225 S Charles St, Lewisville, TX 75057 | 6 p.m. | 21+ with ID, book online | More: bendtdistillingco.com
A 45-minute walk through a Lewisville distillery. Ends with a tasting.

🥃 BENDT Distilling Tours - BENDT Distilling, 225 S Charles St, Lewisville, TX 75057 | 1 and 3 p.m. | 21+ with ID, book online | More: bendtdistillingco.com
Two shots to tour the stills and finish with a tasting.

🎷 Jim Snidero Quartet at Windmills Craftworks - Windmills Craftworks, Grandscape, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX 75056 | 7 to 9 p.m. | $30 table seating, $20 bar seating | More: grandscape.com
He placed top five on alto sax in DownBeat's 2024 International Critics Poll, and he's bringing his new quartet for a live jazz night.

🍹 JĀKÖ Brunchela with a Live DJ - JĀKÖ Cocina y Agave, Grandscape, 5754 Grandscape Blvd Suite 110, The Colony, TX 75056 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | No cover, order off the menu | More: grandscape.com
Modern Mexican, a patio, and a live DJ every Sunday. The grown-up way to do brunch at Grandscape. Reservations help if you're bringing a crew.

Saturday morning, the Grandscape lawn turns into a gathering spot for the Breakthrough T1D Walk. Folks walk together for research, advocacy and support for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Free to register. Music and activities to go with it. Good one for neighbors, coworkers and families who like a morning stroll with a purpose behind it.

The money raised goes toward type 1 diabetes research and support. So grab a friend. Dress warm. Come walk for a good cause.

Stage & Lawn at Grandscape
5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Free to register
More: grandscape.com