Free ABBA + a 150-Soda Wall

Howdy, y’all!

The lake is full, the heat is relentless, and this Sunday hands us something that only rolls around once every four years. If you follow soccer at all, you already know it is the World Cup final, and this is the first one on American soil in a generation. What you might not know is you can watch it wrapped all the way around you inside Cosm's 87-foot dome over at Grandscape. Close enough to hear the bench talking.

The rest of the weekend is built for surviving July. Friday night Grandscape puts on a free ABBA tribute out on the lawn, so spread a blanket, let the kids dance, and grab dinner from the shops right there. If you would rather just outlast the heat, the splash pads and aquatic centers are all open, and the trails at LLELA stay shady if you go early.

We are keeping our weekend slow, because it’s been a busy week. A lap through a farmers market in the morning, and maybe hitting up a splash pad. Somewhere in there we are finally getting to that Flower Mound tavern with the big covered patio we keep meaning to try.

Scroll down for the weekend planner, some local news, a candy shop worth the drive, and a kitten looking for her people.

Stay cool out there.

- Jason

Cosm
5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX
Sunday, July 19
2:00 p.m.
Tickets from $110
Learn More

This is the one weekend a soccer fan waits four years for, and it is happening right in our backyard. Instead of hunching over the living room TV, you can watch the World Cup final wrap all the way around you inside Cosm's 87-foot dome at Grandscape.

Their Shared Reality setup drops you pitchside, close enough to catch every held breath, with spatial audio that makes the roar feel like it is rolling in from behind your seat.

Food and drinks come to you, and the party continues into The Hall, Cosm's sports bar with a wall-to-wall LED screen.

This is the first final on American soil in a generation, and seats are moving quick. Grab yours before somebody else claims your spot.

Verf's is a family-owned, chef-driven grill and tavern where everything is made from scratch, and the big covered patio makes it a real option even in July.

It is relaxed but a notch above your average neighborhood bar. It’s the kind of room where a business dinner and a table of kids can both feel at home. Fifty-plus beers on tap, a solid wine list, and craft cocktails round it out.

Folks come back for the hand-cut ribeye and the O.G. Kobe burger, and the salmon boats and pecan-crusted chicken have their own loyal fans.

Entrees mostly land in the teens and twenties, with steaks running higher.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30am-9:30pm
Fri 10:30am-10:30pm
Sat 10am-10:30pm
Sun 10am-9pm

Atomic Candy is a proper old-school candy shop, with 192 bulk bins, retro and international sweets, novelty gifts, and a soda wall that goes more than 150 kinds deep, including a root beer selection that stops kids and grown-ups in their tracks.

Denton Record-Chronicle readers have voted it the best store on the Square, and it is easy to see why.

It’s a bit out of our normal coverage range, but if you’re in the Square, it’s a surefire stop.

Grab a glass-bottle soda you have not had since you were ten, let the kids fill a bag, and browse the toys and gag gifts on your way out.

Price: $
Hours:
Sun - Thu 11am-7pm
Fri - Sat 11am-9pm

4 beds
3.5 baths
3,387 sqft
1.00 acres lot

A) $1,065,000

B) $1,170,000

C) $1,265,000

D) $1,350,000

Denton County reported its first human West Nile case of the season on Friday, July 10, and positive mosquito traps keep piling up around the lake. Lewisville had crews out this week near the 900 block of Rachels Court, Flower Mound sprayed near the 7500 block of Emerson Lane the week before, and Argyle has logged two positive traps too.

Spraying runs overnight, usually between about 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., within a half-mile of each positive trap. The insecticide breaks down fast, but if you're in one of those pockets, close the windows and keep pets in while the truck passes.

The bigger job is your own yard. Dump any standing water, wear repellent with DEET at dusk and dawn, and cover up if you're out by the water in the evening. Lewisville gives out free mosquito dunks at City Hall (Permitting Counter, second floor), and Flower Mound runs a No-Spray list you can join at 972-874-6340.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette | Denton County WNV

Mio Nonno Trattoria, the central-and-southern Italian spot that's been a Lakeside DFW staple since 2017, is opening a second local location at The Shops at Highland Village (4061 Barton Creek, Suite 110), in the old Rockfish Grill space next to Ben & Jerry's. Same wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta, and salads that built the Flower Mound following.

The Shops keep filling up, too: Hudson House, an upscale East Coast spot, is under construction there with a fall-or-winter target. No opening date yet for Mio Nonno, so consider this your heads-up to watch for it.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette

DCTA's A-train is marking 15 years this summer. The 21-mile commuter line, funded by Highland Village, Lewisville, and Denton, has carried more than 5.4 million riders since 2011, with ridership up 3% this year for a sixth straight year of growth.

There's a bigger reason to care: DCTA is planning to extend the line past Trinity Mills to Downtown Carrollton, where you'd transfer to the DART Silver Line for a straight shot to DFW Airport, Addison, or Plano. For anyone near the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake or Old Town stations, that's a real car-free way to the airport down the road.

Source: Cross Timbers Gazette

Justice is a two-month-old domestic shorthair over at the Lewisville shelter, a little black kitten right at the age where everything is new and worth investigating. She is small enough to nap in the crook of your arm and just old enough to go home with you.

We will be straight with you. The shelter does not post much of a backstory on their kittens, so we are not going to pretend we know all her quirks yet. At two months old, she’s still developing her personality, and that is part of the fun of a kitten this young. You get to be the one who finds out what she is into. The best way to get a real read on her is to go say hello in person.

Adoption at the Gene Carey shelter is a flat $90, and that covers her spay, microchip, vaccines, heartworm test, and city registration. Walk in during open hours, or call first if you have questions.

Lewisville Animal Shelter (Gene Carey Animal Shelter)
995 E Valley Ridge Blvd, Lewisville, TX 75057
(972) 219-3478
Hours:
Mon by appointment
Tue-Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Sun Closed

🎪 Mystère by Cirque du Soleil in Shared Reality at Cosm - Cosm Dallas, 5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 1 p.m. | Ticketed, see site | More: grandscape.com
Cirque du Soleil's Mystère reimagined inside Cosm's 87-foot dome, so the acrobatics wrap all the way around you. A cool, jaw-dropping way to spend a hot afternoon.

🎶 Sounds of Summer: Waterloo, A Celebration of ABBA - Corona Stage & Lawn at Grandscape, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 8 p.m. | Free | More: grandscape.com
A free, family-friendly ABBA tribute out on the lawn. Bring a blanket or chairs, grab dinner from the shops nearby, and let the kids dance it out.

🏊 Sun Valley Aquatic Center - 801 S Valley Pkwy, Lewisville, TX | Noon to 7 p.m. | Residents $4, non-residents $8, under 2 free | More: playlewisville.com
Lewisville's full aquatic center, with a lazy river, two double-loop slides, and a tot pool, so every age has something. Bring proof of residency for the cheaper rate.

💧 Heritage Park Splash Pad - 600 Spinks Rd, Flower Mound, TX | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Free | More: flowermound.gov
Free, shaded, and no reservation needed, with a batch of water features plus a toddler area. Kids under 12 need an adult along, and pack swim diapers for the babies.

💧 Doubletree Ranch Park Splash Pad - 310 Highland Village Rd, Highland Village, TX | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Free | More: highlandvillage.org
Another free splash pad, tucked into a park with trails and a pond for a lap after. Mornings are calmer for the toddler crowd.

💦 Denton Water Works Park - 2400 Long Rd, Denton, TX | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | $19 over 48 inches, $14 under | More: dentonwaterworks.com
Denton's city water park, a full day of tube slides and a lazy river. Parking is free, and there is a twilight discount later in the day.

🌊 The Colony Aquatic Park - 5580 N Colony Blvd, The Colony, TX | See site for daily hours | $7, $5 residents with photo ID | More: thecolonytx.gov
A splash zone for the little ones and a shaded leisure lagoon for everybody else. Check the daily swim hours before you load up the car.

🔬 Ancient Adventures in STEAM: Rock On! - Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound, TX | 2 to 3:30 p.m. | Free, registration required | More: flowermound.gov
A hands-on session in archaeology and geology for grades K-5, and every kid leaves with something they made. It's free but you have to register, and sign-ups opened July 4, so grab a spot before it fills.

🌺 Hawaiian Waters The Colony - 4400 Paige Rd, The Colony, TX | 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Day passes from about $40, cheaper online | More: hawaiianwaters.com
The old Hawaiian Falls, freshly renovated, with a wave pool, a lazy river, and a little-kid zone built around a 1,000-gallon dumping bucket. Parking, tubes, and life jackets are free, and tickets run cheaper online than at the gate.

🍫 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in Shared Reality - Cosm Dallas, 5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 12:30 p.m. | Dome from $22 | More: cosm.com
The 1971 classic wrapped around you on the 87-foot dome, a themed dessert included, with effects timed to the film. A dark, air-conditioned room and a matinee start make it an easy midday break from the heat.

🥕 Denton Community Market - Denton County Historical Park, 317 W Mulberry St, Denton, TX | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Free | More: dentonmarket.org
Local makers, farm stands, food trucks, and live music on the historical park grounds. Get there early for the good produce and the shade.

🥕 Flower Mound Riverwalk Farmers Market - 4203 River Walk Dr, Flower Mound, TX | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Free | More: flowermound.gov
Produce, local vendors, and a pretty walk along the River Walk. A nice, slow Sunday stop before the afternoon heat.

🎶 Sunday Serenades with Savannah at Tande - Tande Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 4 to 6 p.m. | Free | More: grandscape.com
An easygoing acoustic set on the patio to close out the weekend. No cover, family-friendly, grab a bite while you listen.

🌿 Third Sunday Nature Talk at LLELA - Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E Jones St, Lewisville, TX | 9 to 11 a.m. | $5 per vehicle | More: llela.org
A naturalist-led morning inside the 2,000-acre preserve below the dam, early enough to get ahead of the worst heat. Bring water and closed-toe shoes, and note the gate is card only, no cash.

🥃 BENDT Distilling Tour - BENDT Distilling Co., 225 S Charles St, Lewisville, TX | 6 p.m. | $10, 21+ | More: bendtdistillingco.com
Forty-five minutes through Old Town's craft distillery, ending with a tasting. Reservations required, and they fill up. Happy hour runs 7 to 10 after.

🕺 Bop To The Top (18+) - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, 300 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX | 9 p.m. | Ticketed, see site | More: livenation.com
A late-night live-band tribute to Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and the whole Disney Channel and 2000s catalog. Pure nostalgia, open-air at the Pavilion.

🎸 Taylor Young, Acoustic at Truck Yard - 5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX | 4 to 7 p.m. | No cover | More: truckyard.com
A laid-back acoustic set at the dog-friendly beer garden, with rotating food trucks and a patio made for a warm evening.

🎷 Windmills Craftworks: Summer Camargo Quartet - 5755 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 7 p.m. | Ticketed for shows | More: windmills-usa.com
Live jazz in the showroom of Grandscape's brewery-and-restaurant, with a lake view and house-made beer.

🍺 Truck Yard - 5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX | 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. | No cover, 21+ after 9 p.m. | More: truckyard.com
The dog-friendly beer garden with rotating food trucks and live music most nights. Fridays go till 1, and the back patio is the move once the sun drops.

🎸 Live at The Lawn: Like Combs, a Luke Combs Tribute - The Lawn at Little Elm Park, 701 W Eldorado Pkwy, Little Elm, TX | Evening, see site | Free | More: lakefrontlittleelm.com
A Luke Combs tribute out on the lakefront lawn. Bring chairs and a blanket and settle in for a country night by the water.

🎹 Paul Lees Trio at Windmills Brewery - 5755 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 7 to 9 p.m. | Ticketed | More: grandscape.com
Standards and jazz in the showroom with house beer and a lake view. An easy dinner-and-a-set that skips the crowds.

🎶 Acoustic Sessions with Rachel & Adam at Tande - Tande Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, 5752 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 4 to 6 p.m. | Free | More: grandscape.com
A low-key acoustic set at Tande, the kind of place you settle into with a craft cocktail and a few bites. No cover.

🎤 Tribute to Summer on the Plaza - The Plaza at Toyota Music Factory, 316 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX | 9 p.m. | Free | More: irvingtexas.com
A free tribute show out on the plaza. Grab dinner at one of the restaurants and drift over for the music.

🪩 Glow Night (21+) - The Cove at The Lakefront, 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm, TX | 8 to 11 p.m. | 21+, see site | More: lakefrontlittleelm.com
A neon, adults-only night on the water at The Cove, with a live DJ, a full bar, and glow-themed everything. Wear the brightest neon you own.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

⚽ 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Watch Party - Cosm Dallas, 5776 Grandscape Blvd, The Colony, TX | 2 p.m. | Tickets from $110 | More: cosm.com
The main event of the weekend, the World Cup final inside the 87-foot dome. Pitchside sound and picture, food to your seat, and a crowd that makes it feel like the stadium.

🥃 BENDT Whiskey Garden - BENDT Distilling Co., 225 S Charles St, Lewisville, TX | 2 to 9 p.m. | Free entry, 21+ for the bar | More: www.bendtdistillingco.com
No tours on Sundays, but the tasting hall and outdoor whiskey garden are open for craft cocktails and a slow wind-down to the weekend.

Here is a Friday night out that costs you nothing and still feels like an event. Grandscape's Sounds of Summer series brings Waterloo, a full ABBA tribute, out to the Corona Stage and Lawn, and if you have ever caught yourself belting Dancing Queen in the car, you already know you are going.

It is free, it is family-friendly, and the lawn setup means you can spread a blanket, let the kids dance, and grab dinner from the shops right there without leaving.

Come a little early to claim good grass, because free plus ABBA on a summer night pulls a crowd. Bring chairs or a blanket, since seating is whatever you haul in yourself, and maybe a light layer for after the sun drops. Easiest yes on the calendar this weekend.

Medical City Lewisville keeps a steady stack of clinical openings, whether you are a brand-new grad or twenty years in. Recent postings include an Emergency Services RN (full-time nights), a PACU RN (PRN), a Seasonal NICU RN, and a Clinical Support Coordinator RN. It is a short drive for most of Lewisville, Flower Mound, and Highland Village, and HCA leans on tuition help and a nurse-residency program for new grads.

👉 Emergency Services RN posting

Texas Health Presbyterian Flower Mound is hiring across the hospital, and here is a timely one: they are holding a NICU Charge RN hiring event with on-the-spot offers on July 23. Other recent listings include a Patient Care Tech on Med/Surg and NICU nursing roles. It is a 99-bed hospital on Long Prairie Road, so it is a close-to-home option for clinical and support staff alike.

👉 NICU Charge RN hiring event

City of Lewisville has both full-time and seasonal work posted. Police Officer runs from about $83,682 to $105,724 depending on certification, with a Police Recruit track around $79,147 for folks starting out, plus a Director of Human Resources role and summer parks jobs. These are local, benefited city jobs, and some close as soon as they are filled, so do not sit on it.

👉 Police Officer posting

Town of Flower Mound drops fresh openings every Friday across public works, parks and rec, police, and administration. Recent listings include a Utility and Public Works ULM Supervisor (around $67,600 a year), a Police Officer Recruit, and a seasonal Head Day Camp Counselor. Benefited municipal jobs close to home.

👉 ULM Supervisor posting

Nebraska Furniture Mart (Grandscape, The Colony) hires across the sales floor and the warehouse, so there is a fit whether you want to be with customers or moving freight. Recent role types include Warehouse Customer Pick-Up ($18.58 to $23.13 an hour), a Return Dock Specialist, a Warehouse Lead, a Floor Manager, and Security. NFM leans on its staff discount, benefits, and a long no-layoffs track record.

👉 Browse NFM openings

Lewisville ISD is staffing up hard for the 2026-2027 school year, with heavy hiring for instructional aides, special education, elementary teachers, bus drivers, and child nutrition. A lot of the support roles do not need a teaching degree, and the school calendar lines up with family life.

👉 Special Education openings