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PAINTING THE CITY
Armando
journey to color the walls of Dallas
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL | Photography by AMANI SODIQ
From drawing Superman logos as a child to painting murals that captivate the Dallas community, Armando Aguirre’s journey as an artist has been fueled by perseverance and inspiration from his family.
One of the recent projects Aguirre was a part of was a mural dedicated to NBA star Luka Do nčić , who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, a move that devastated Dallas Mavericks fans.
The mural is located in Trinity Groves at 343 Singleton Blvd. and has drawn plenty of
attention as loyal Luka fans take photos of and with the mural, which depicts Do nčić from two angles with the words “Luka Magic.”
Aguirre was born in Michigan and moved to Oak Cliff in the second grade, where he later attended South Oak Cliff High School. He says he’s always been drawing since elementary school.
“It started with that simple Superman ‘S,’ and then from there I started doing graffiti letters,” Aguirre says. “That’s how I got started.”
His creative side came in part from his
mother, who would knit and embroider on fabric used to keep tortillas warm.
“ She would do birds, flowers, the embroidery on the edges and everything. And then she would draw, so she was the first one that started doing stuff like that,” Aguirre says. “Her and my cousin were the first creative people I looked up to in my life.”
From there, Aguirre saw graffiti and decided to pick up spray paint in middle school. He went on to attend the University of Texas at Dallas where he got a bachelor’s degree in visual arts.
Aguirre’s
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“I knew I wanted to do something with art, but I didn’t know what that would look like,” Aguirre says. “Growing up, the only two options I ever thought of for art was you’re an art teacher, or you could do tattoos.”
After graduating, he worked with a nonprofit to help get people registered to vote. Then, the pandemic hit, and he picked up his paintbrush to do live paintings at pop-up events.
“I wouldn’t even go to sell. I would just live paint because I wanted people to see that I’m an artist,” Aguirre says. “I had sold a few paintings like that, and that got me excited. I was like, ‘Well, maybe there’s something that I can actually do.’ And then COVID hit and the whole social distance thing. That’s when I was like, ‘Well, let me try to do murals,’ because I had always wanted to.”
The idea of painting large-scale where many people would see his work was appealing to Aguirre. He started with murals on a shipping container and on the side of a corner store. One of his first large-scale projects was a mural off of Beckley and Clarendon relating to the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I just felt frustrated. I wanted to paint something,” Aguirre says. “I got the owner to give me, like, $150 for some of the paint, and then the rest I put on myself. That was the first one that I did that made me feel like, ‘Wow, I can actually execute this and do this.’”
From there, he was able to book more projects and realized he could make money off of his work. He painted for a taco shop on Singleton and a property owned by Proxy Properties.
“Little by little, if it would take me a month to try to get one other job, or longer, then I just kept sticking with it,” he says. “I got a studio, and I was just kind of faking it till I made it.”
He says what helped the most during this part of his journey was surrounding himself with other artists who convinced him that he belonged in the space. The COVID era was also beneficial in some ways.
“I think COVID helped a lot with not being afraid, because everyone was losing jobs, and what was the point of trying to secure something like that if everything kind of stopped? We all had to move a little different,” Aguirre says. “A lot of businesses were wanting to display positive messages and doing murals, and I think murals got really popular during that time.”
Aguirre has worked with the City of Dallas on several projects. One of his favorite projects was a 7-Eleven in San Diego.
“I was just happy and blessed that I was able to travel and do that,” he says. “I mean, they paid me and brought me out there. I think that was the first time I was just extremely proud.”
Aguirre is going on five years of doing murals full-time. His goals for the future include being able to paint and travel and
how does a neighborhood conserve
Stevens Park Village neighbors continue their efforts for a new conservation district
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL | Illustration by LAUREN ALLEN
Stevens Park Village is in the process of becoming Oak Cliff’s newest conservation district.
A conservation district replaces the base zoning with zoning tailored specifically for the neighborhood and determined by the neighborhood to promote development or redevelopment that is compatible with its existing character.
There are currently eight conservation districts in Oak Cliff, with South Winnetka Heights, established earlier last year, being the most recent.
“The conservation district just provides a set of guidelines for the changes to the neighborhood that keep the historic character of the neighborhood intact, and these are determined by the neighborhood itself,” says David Preziosi, a member of the neighborhood committee. “They come up with the list of items that they would like to regulate as part of this conservation district process.”
To be eligible for a conservation district, at least 75% of the neighborhood’s buildings must be at least 25 years old. Stevens Park Village residents have the desire to protect the unique qualities of
the neighborhood such as the architectural styles and scale of the homes.
The process began with the neighborhood committee submitting a request for a determination of eligibility to make sure that the neighborhood qualifies for conservation district status, Preziosi says.
Community meetings were held to determine what development, architectural and optional standards they would like to include in the conservation district. The standards that neighbors most wanted to include were building height, permitted uses (stories), setbacks and architectural styles.
When less than half of participants opted for the optional standards like paint, landscaping, garages and steps, they were omitted from the petition.
Neighborhood committee member Donovan Westover said they received their petitions last July and began collecting signatures. The city requires 58% of the neighborhood or 82 signatures, though the committee had higher goals.
“We said, ‘OK, we’re going to require 75% to move forward, because otherwise we just don’t feel like we’ve got enough
people on board, and that’s leaving too many neighbors out,’” Westover says.
Gathering the signatures ended up being a quick process, largely due to the strategy put in place by the committee. In the end, 106 out of 141 households signed the petition, just above 75%.
In March, the city accepted the signed petitions and will now hold a series of public meetings to determine the details of the regulations based on neighborhood input. After an ordinance is drafted and finalized, the city council will decide on final approval at a public hearing.
During the public hearing process, the city council will have a series of meetings where they go through each one of the criteria, as outlined in the conservation district ordinance, requiring the neighborhood to address whether they would like to regulate it.
“Massing, setback, heights, porches, garage location, that sort of thing,” Preziosi says. “If we say we want to regulate heights, we have to decide, is it one story or two story or one and a half story? That all gets determined in these public meetings.”
“i think the impetus was really just to protect the historic character of the neighborhood.”
After those meetings are concluded, the city’s planning and development department will put together a draft conservation district ordinance for the neighborhood. The neighborhood will review it, and then it will go to the City Plan Commission for review. The CPC will hold public hearings, then city council will make the final determination on whether or not the conservation district ordinance should be passed.
For Preziosi, Westover, the rest of the committee and the neighbors who support the conservation district, the main goal is to keep the neighborhood as it is now.
“I think the impetus was really just to protect the historic character of the neighborhood,” Preziosi says. “There’s a lot of development pressure in Oak Cliff, so we wanted to make sure that whatever potential new development took place in the neighborhood or changes to the existing structures kept the character of the neighborhood intact and don’t diminish the neighborhood.”
Thank you for a spectacular year, Oak Cliff. If you’re looking to buy, sell or invest in this incredible community – and beyond – I’m here to serve.
Historic charm meets Turkish flavor
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL | Photography by KATHY TRAN
AFTER YEARS OF UNCERTAINTY, A RESTAURANT OPENED IN THE HISTORIC MAYOR’S HOUSE ON ZANG AT THE END OF 2023.
A restaurant was rumored to be opening in the building since early 2017. The Mayor’s House by Selda, a spinoff of Selda Mediterranean on Belt Line Road, has been open for business for just over a year now.
The building is the former home of 1935-1937 Dallas Mayor George Sergeant. Believed to be built in 1910, it received a parking variance in 2017 that allowed property owner Jim Lake to renovate it for restaurant use.
Sergeant is said to have served lemonade on the home’s front porch to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when they were in town for the Texas Centennial.
In 2019, it was announced that Chef Graham Dodds would spearhead the restaurant opening, but he left the project later that year due to construction delays and timing conflicts.
Mert Tezkol purchased the building with his wife, Becky, and decided to open The Mayor’s House by Selda, which has a similar menu to the flagship location with Turkish-style Mediterranean cuisine, a pizza oven and a hookah lounge.
“We were thinking about opening a second location, most likely in the Far North Dallas area, but I was going to come and see my friend here in Bishop Arts. I was just passing by, and I saw the sign that this is for lease,” Tezkol says. “I’m from Turkey, so when you go there all these places are very historical. So we have this kind of concept in Turkey, like having an old house and turning it into a restaurant.”
When he was passing by the building, Tezkol had the vision to do the same concept here in Dallas. He called the landlord and set up a meeting.
“We just want to bring that Turkish culture, Turkish welcoming, because I don’t believe that we have that much
The Mayor’s House menu features traditional Turkish dishes, such as grilled salmon with tabbouleh quinoa salad and mustard sauce.
The Mayor’s House by Selda is bringing Turkish culture to Oak Cliff
Turkish culture in the North Texas area, unfortunately,” Tezkol says. “Even people who work here have the Turkish accent, they know what we have and what we serve.”
The structure has high ceilings, wide doorways and a centerpiece staircase. You can step from room to room, through the wide-open frames, and from upstairs, you can look out the windows and see the full Downtown Dallas skyline.
“To be honest with you, I had some doubt when opening this location because of the location,” Tezkol says. “I assumed that people around this area don’t know as much about Turkish food as those who live in Far North Dallas, or even the East Coast. I thought it was going to be challenging, but from day one, we started very well.”
Tezkol says he believes the historical appeal of the building has helped draw in customers. It helps that the building has a large outdoor seating area complete with decor and string lights. Friendly service and the food also keeps customers coming back, Tezkol says.
“When you go to Turkey or Europe, you have this atmosphere where you can sit outside and have a coffee or cocktail,” Tezkol says. “People love to come and just relax outside. From 5-9 p.m., it’s more like a restaurant, and after 9 o’clock, it becomes more like a lounge.”
The kitchen is open until midnight, and the menu features traditional Turkish food. Turkish pizza, which has a very thin crust and ground beef, is a best seller. The signature adana kebab is also popular and has hand-chopped lamb with red pepper.
Since opening, Tezkol has received plenty of positive feedback, and the restaurant made it on Yelp’s List of Top 100 Places to Eat 2025.
Tezkol is planning to expand to another location in Frisco as well as open a Turkish bakery in Richardson.
“We really want to spread the Turkish culture and make it welcoming to people who live around us,” Tezkol says.
The Mayor’s House by Selda. 635 N. Zang Blvd., 214.940.9137, themayorshousebyselda.com
The Mayor’s House has plenty of space and seating for guests with several different rooms.
BEST BARBER SHOP
WINNER - OAK CLIFF BARBERS
2ND - BISHOP BARBERS
3RD - THE BARBERS LAB
BEST HAIR SALON
WINNER - V+F BEAUTY LOUNGE
2ND - MJ CHIC STUDIO
3RD - GLOW SALON
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LOCAL SERVICES
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WINNER - HAMPTON’S KWIK KAR WASH
2ND - HELLO! DELUXE CAR WASH
3RD - OAK CLIFF DETAILING (TIED)
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BEST ALTERATIONS
WINNER - VICTOR’S TAILOR SHOP
2ND - DALLAS DENIM REPAIR
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WINNER - FAULKNER’S FINE DRY CLEANING
2ND - ARTISTIC CLEANERS OF OAK CLIFF
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WINNER - RAMIREZ BOOT AND SHOE REPAIR
2ND - EAGLE STONE SHOE REPAIR & SHINE
3RD - ALANIS SHOE REPAIR
218 W 10TH ST. 469.779.8236 HIGHERLEVELSKINBEAUTY.COM
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WINNER - RESORT NAIL SPA (TIED)
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2ND - B B NAILS
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2ND - YAYA FOOT SPA BISHOP ARTS
3RD - OUR WELLNESS COMMUNITY
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WINNER - YOALI STUDIO
2ND - BISHOP ARTS WELLNESS & RECOVERY (THEBAWR)
3RD - RESTORE WELLNESS STUDIO, LLC
BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP
WINNER - AL’S AUTO REPAIR SHOP
2ND - OAKCLIFF AUTO ELECTRIC REPAIR
3RD - BRONCO MUFFLERS & BRAKE
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WINNER - PINK MAIDS CLEANING SERVICE
2ND - MURILLO HOME CLEANING
3RD - BETHEL CLEANING (TIED)
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BEST CONTRACTOR
WINNER - SOUTHPAW TRADING CO.
2ND - OMNI CONTRACTORS
BEST HOME IMPROVEMENT
WINNER - SOUTHPAW TRADING CO.
2ND - SHEFFIELD PLUMBING CO.
3RD - CODY & SONS PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR
BEST INTERIOR DESIGN
WINNER - MYSTIQUE PAINT & WALLPAPER
2ND - HOUSE OF AMELIA
3RD - HOUSS ON BISHOP
BEST LANDSCAPING
WINNER - VARGAS LANDSCAPE AND SPRINKLERS
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WINNER - URBAN HIPPIE WELLNESS COLLECTIVE
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WINNER - OAK CLIFF DENTAL CENTER
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WINNER - MERCY FAMILY CLINIC
2ND - RICHARD C. GALPERIN, DPM
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WINNER - TODAY’S VISION OAK CLIFF
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BEST PEDIATRICIAN
WINNER - OAK CLIFF PEDIATRICS
2ND - DR. EWE G. GOH PEDIATRICS
3RD - KYLE OHOLENDT, MD
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WINNER - GLORIA’S FLOWERS
2ND - JOYCE FLORIST OF DALLAS
3RD - DIRT
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WINNER - CARLOS LUEVARO JR. - STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENT
2ND - OAK CLIFF
3RD
BEST PET GROOMER
WINNER - BRUNO’S PLACE DIY DOG WASH (SELF-SERVE ONLY)
2ND - OAK CLIPS PET BOUTIQUE & GROOMING
3RD - BISHOP ARTS DOG GROOMING
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WINNER - PAWLICIOUS COOKIES
2ND - GREEN PET
3RD - BONES AND BACON PET RESORT
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WINNER - CLAIREVISTA HOLISTIC HEALTH & FITNESS
2ND - OAKFIT
3RD - COLAW FITNESS OF OAK CLIFF GYMS
BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO
WINNER - OAK CLIFF PILATES
2ND - BLACK SWAN YOGA- BISHOP
3RD - JUNGLE- STUDIO FITNESS
FRUITS OF INDEPENDENCE
Inside the Oak Cliff home filled with history and culture
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL | Photography by LAUREN ALLEN
This Winnetka Heights home features decor inspired by Kenya, including the bust of Kenyan Freedom fighter Muthoni Kirima.
David Henderson and Josephine Thinwa’s home in Winnetka Heights is more than just a place to live — it’s a reflection of their identities, values and passions.
From the moment you walk in, the space tells a story of Black history, civil rights and personal heritage with eclectic touches.
With art, books and unique decor that hold deep meaning, including a bust of a Kenyan freedom fighter and shelves filled with banned books, every corner is a testament to the couple’s journey, their commitment to learning and their love for each other.
Designed with vibrant color and texture, the home offers a sense of comfort and creativity.
“We told our designers straight up — we do want it to look like Black people live here,” David says. “From the moment you enter the house, we want there to be art reflective of who we are.”
The home features plenty of touches of Black history and civil rights themes.
“We’ve learned that our style is eclectic, but ‘eclectic’ doesn’t really even tell you anything, because it becomes a question of what categories you like to mix together,” David says. “So we like to mix categories involving civil rights, involving Kenya, involving other ethnicities in the United States.”
David loves to cook, and a unique touch in the dining room is the built-in bookshelves filled with cookbooks.
“A cookbook either has to be about a place we want to learn more about, or about food that people eat that we want to learn more about,” David says. “The bulk of the books up here are all ethnic cookbooks.”
Designing shelves comes naturally to David, and the meticulously placed books and decor are all done by him.
“The designers said a lot of people want bookshelves, but then they have to go buy books because they don’t have enough books,” Josephine says. “David is like, ‘No, I have enough books,’ and every single bookshelf in this house, he organized and arranged it.”
A key piece in the dining room is a bust of Muthoni Kirima, a Kenyan freedom fighter.
“When Kenya was going through its struggle with the British to try to free itself from colonialism, they had this underground army, and had obviously very few women who were part of it. But not only was she one of the few women who joined this underground army, she was actually a colonel in positioning authority,” Josephine says. “The artist who made this piece is actually Kenyan, so we were so excited.”
The bust holds special meaning and inspiration for Josephine, which is the couple’s goal in terms of decorating the home.
“We wanted the stuff that we have on display to be stuff that’s actually relevant to us,” David says. “We had done the (Winnetka Heights) Home Tour like two years before, and folks had houses that were done nicely, they had this stuff, but it’s like random that had no connection to them. We didn’t think it was as cool that way.”
A lot of the art or knick-knacks in the home were purchased by the pair while traveling, and there are plenty of personal touches, like a pinboard in the kitchen filled with notecards of recipes from David’s mom.
Moving into another living space, the huge shelves are filled with books, of course. Each book on the shelves has been banned or sparked controversy.
“The more we looked at them, the more interesting they became,” David says. “It’s actually a really good reading list, what’s on here. It’s kind of shocking to see what’s banned.”
On the opposing side of the banned books shelves is a huge piece of art that holds the most meaning to the couple — a huge metal panel with David’s wedding vows engraved on
it. Surrounding it are plenty of photos of the couple.
The window in the stairwell features stained glass that shines beautiful colors in the home when the sun hits it. This is one of their favorite parts of the home that holds special meaning.
“David decided to go to seminary to learn about theology and other interesting things. It’s a cathedral kind of window, but a little more abstract, so not very literal,” Josephine says. “So there’s actually a lot of crosses in there. They’ve kind of been done in a slightly abstract way, where you don’t immediately see a bunch of crosses, but if you actually pay attention, you can find it, so it was meaningful for that reason.”
Upstairs, one of the most unique rooms in the home is an all-red office. The couch, chairs, wallpaper, ceiling, curtains, shelves, desk — all red.
All of the bookshelves in the home are filled with books that hold meaning to the couple, whether it be in relation to their studies or history.
“We literally stood right here and had a debate about whether or not the ceiling should be white. And I was like, you gotta go all in, yeah?” David says. “We were actually nervous about painting it all red. And once we decided we weren’t gonna have kids, we’re like, nah, let’s just go all out and put a lot of color and texture.”
Another unifying theme in the home is having a variety of spots to work.
“We both work a lot,” Josephine says. “We have to have different zones. We get kind of antsy sitting just in the office, and so we have to have different zones that inspire creativity.”
Josephine works as an infectious disease physician and holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology.
“I mostly run a lab, and I have people employed, Ph.D. students, and other Ph.D.s who come in and actually do a lot of research,” Josephine says. “What we work on is trying to figure out how to boost the immune response, like how our bodies naturally fight infections in the brain.”
David is a civil rights lawyer and works at one of the few independent civil rights law firms in Dallas.
“Our mission is we’ll represent any member of a marginalized group that’s facing discrimination,” David says. “So if you’re being discriminated against based on gender, based on orientation, based on race, we’ll represent you.”
The bedroom is one-of-a-kind in that the goal was to replicate a hotel room
feel. It has a coffee station and a couch to lounge on while watching TV.
“A secret little pleasure we have is just being in a hotel room,” Josephine says. “Our bedroom becomes like a little hotel room during the holidays when the house is packed.”
A common theme throughout the house is interesting books. The bedroom, of course, features meaningful books for the couple with shelves decorated by David himself.
“I think one of the coolest books in the entire house is in this room,” David says. “It’s an anthology of the jewelry that rap musicians wear. I think it is so cool.”
Color is a key component of the home, with browns being a theme downstairs and a two-toned stairway adding a colorful touch.
“A lot of people are afraid to use color, so once we got past the point of being worried about doing it, that’s really what all of it is,” David says. “With a few $100 worth of paint, anyone could do what we did.”
Between second-hand shops and finding people who can reupholster things, it doesn’t take much to create a cool space, David says.
“We had a really good time, and I think that’s what we really enjoyed is even though we work with designers, I feel like we pushed them maybe more than they even pushed us,” Josephine says. “We just had a lot of ideas and a strong point of view in terms of what we wanted. We’re very happy with it.”
A standout feature of the home is a stained glass window in the stairwell, which casts bold colors through the home when the sun shines through it.
TOP 2024 Re ltors
The Advocate’s annual Top Realtor special section recognizes the Top 5% of all active neighborhood Realtors, determined by reported sales volume.*
TOP 25
JASON SAUCEDO
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
THANI BURKE
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
EUGENE GONZALEZ
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
MELISSA O’BRIEN
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
KATHY HEWITT
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
MICHAEL MAHON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KAY WOOD
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l
ROBERT KUCHARSKI
David Griffin & Company
SUZANNE ALTOBELLO
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
CHRISTY BERRY
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
CHRISTINA BRISTOW
United Real Estate
YULIA BURT
VIP Realty
CHRISTIE CANNON
Keller Williams Frisco Stars
CODY CONWAY
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BRIAN DAVIS
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l
MARK DEWEY
West Residential Realty, LLC
EMILY RUTH CANNON
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
ANN ANDREWS
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
NICK ROPER
JPAR Dallas
JAMES RYDER
United Real Estate
CHRIS HICKMAN
Ebby Halliday, Realtors
ROGER LOPEZ
Value Properties
LESTON EUSTACHE
Bray Real Estate Group- Dallas
SUSAN MELNICK
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
CRYSTAL GONZALEZ
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
KENT FREDERICK
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
RICHARD GRAZIANO
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
DAVID GRIFFIN
David Griffin & Company
MOHAMMED JABER
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
ERICA KUPPIN
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l
IRFAN MALIK
Keller Williams Realty
NICHOLAS MCMAYON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
JEFFREY MITCHELL
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
GED DIPPREY
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
TY DUNCAN
Duncan Real Estate Co.
JEREMY MOORE
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
BRIDGETTE HARRINGTON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
BART THRASHER
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
PATTY TAFOYA VALENZUELA
C21 Fine Homes Judge Fite
DECARLA ANDERSON
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
MARY POSS
Ebby Halliday, Realtors
ADAM MURPHY
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
ANN O’BLENES
RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs
RUSTY PIERCE
RE/MAX DFW Associates
DANIEL QUINTANA
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
JOE RAMIREZ
Jose E Ramirez
STEPHANIE RENNELLS
Paragon, Realtors
DIANE SHERMAN
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
JENNI STOLARSKI
Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC
LINDA WARD
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
PHILIP WELLS
United Real Estate
KATRINA WHATLEY
Ultima Real Estate
NANCY WILSON
Coldwell Banker Realty
LAURA WISWALL
Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
CAROL ANN ZELLEY
Allie Beth Allman & Associates
THE BURKE GROUP
From East Kessler to Winnetka Heights, Kay is the Oak Cliff
1126 Turner Avenue
927 N. Edgefield Avenue
219 N. Willomet Avenue
1943 Marydale Drive
THAT’S THE SPIRIT
Devin Odell’s whiskey line is paying homage to an iconic Dallas institution
Story by NIKI GUMMADI
Photography by YUVIE STYLES
Dallas native Devin Odell got his start as one of the “best kids in Texas.” Before he became a member of the craft alcohol world, Odell was a professional paintball player. His journey is part of Dan Napoli’s 2017 documentary Best Kids in Texas, which features the story of Odell’s team, the San Antonio X-Factor. As a player, Odell was traveling the world on tour. He wanted to create a product he could travel with and share wherever he went. This was the genesis of Dynasty Spirits, which now operates a distillery and bottling plant in the Dallas Design District. The company has a diverse offering, ranging from tequilas to vodkas to ready-to-drink margaritas and more. Dynasty Spirits’ newest venture, the eighth addition to its portfolio, is Lasso Motel Whiskey. With this lineup of 13 different whiskeys, Odell sought to recreate the essence of Dallas’ iconic Belmont Hotel, where he stayed for over four years. In its heyday, the hotel was frequented by musicians and other creatives, and it is this dedication to the road less traveled that is reflected in the Lasso Motel brand.
WHY DID YOU START DYNASTY SPIRITS?
Dynasty Spirits started in 2010, while I was living in San Diego and playing professional paintball. My brother approached me with the concept of launching a vodka company together. I knew paintball wasn’t something I could do forever, so the timing felt right. It also gave me the opportunity to tap into the Texas craft spirits movement, which was just gaining momentum.
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE SPIRITS
INDUSTRY?
Spirits tell stories. They bring people together and create moments, whether at a dinner party, an event or an intimate gathering with friends. I’ve always been drawn to the role spirits play in these experiences, and having the opportunity to craft products that enhance them is incredibly rewarding.
WHY SUCH A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF SPIRITS?
For me, alcohol is a journey. Each spirit — bourbon, scotch, wine, gin, tequila — has unique nuances to explore. As my own preferences have evolved over time, so has the inspiration for our portfolio. Lasso Motel Whiskey took over four years to perfect. Even before the first bottle was released, we spent two years refining every detail to ensure it was exactly what we envisioned.
WHAT HAS GROWTH
BEEN LIKE FOR DYNASTY SPIRITS?
In this industry, there’s no such thing as overnight success. Developing products takes years, and it often takes five to eight years for brands to truly resonate with customers. Patience, consistency and a commitment to quality have been the foundations of our success. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far the company has come — what began with one product has evolved into a portfolio of brands, including my most recent, Lasso Motel Whiskey.
WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR STAY AT THE BELMONT HOTEL?
The people. The Belmont attracted a diverse and creative crowd — artists, musicians, models and innovators. Whether they
were staying long-term or just passing through, the energy was electric. Late nights in the lobby by the white grand piano are some of my favorite memories, and they inspired both the name and the concept behind Lasso Motel Whiskey.
HOW DOES THE WHISKEY REFLECT THE BELMONT HOTEL?
Lasso Motel Whiskey was born from a desire to capture the spirit of those who choose the road less traveled. The Belmont Hotel is a place that echoed rock-and-roll nostalgia and served as a hub for artists and creatives. The Belmont’s rich history and my personal memories there laid the foundation for the timeless essence of Lasso Motel Whiskey. The whiskey itself is designed to stand out, not just in taste but visually as well, with its heavy-grade glass decanter and paperweight cork.
ODELL’S COCKTAIL:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FLAVOR PROFILES OF LASSO MOTEL?
Lasso Motel offers a spectrum of flavor profiles, from beautifully aged whiskeys to those enhanced by nuanced cask finishes. Each one tells its own story and offers something unique for the palate.
Add ingredients to a mixing glass, stir and strain into a double old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube
GLASSWARE
Double old-fashioned
GARNISH
Orange twist
Lasso Motel appeals to a wide range of drinkers. From bourbon enthusiasts to those seeking a unique whiskey experience, we’ve crafted something for everyone. Even wine lovers have been drawn to the brand, thanks to the variety of cask finishes.
YOU USE CASKS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES FOR AGING. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THOSE SPECIFIC CASKS?
We source our bourbon from Kentucky and bring it to Dallas to finish in casks from around the world. Each cask adds its own distinct character. For example, Amburana casks from Brazil impart warm notes of cinnamon and a nostalgic Teddy Graham-like sweetness. In contrast, Cognac casks from France lend rich leather and tobacco undertones. This approach highlights the transformative power of cask aging and the craftsmanship behind it.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY LASSO MOTEL?
One large rock is ideal for the entire lineup, allowing the flavors to shine. Personally, I love ending the day with the 8-Year — it’s my go-to nightcap.
DESIGNING
DREAMS
How Brittany Lyons transformed an ’80s-style home into a modern masterpiece
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL
Photo courtesy of Justin Rasco | Mustard Seed Media Productions.
Photo courtesy of Brittany Lyons.
Brittany Lyons’ job as an interior designer originally began as a side hustle, but now, she’s turning ’80s-style homes into full-on contemporaries and creating astonishing transformations.
The 35-year-old Oak Cliff resident quit her job in September 2020 to focus on the design career she never intended to have.
Her first commission came in 2015 after she moved into her first place, fixed it up the way she wanted and posted pictures to Instagram. A friend from high school saw it and asked her to make over her house, and that began a steady stream of clients gained through word-of-mouth.
Lyons and her husband moved to Dallas in 2016, and she used social media to market herself here.
She works on everything from massive suburban homes to intown apartments.
An article previously published in the Oak Cliff Advocate led to Lyons booking her biggest project of 2024 in Kessler Place. The 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home was in desperate need of a makeover for an owner who wanted to be able to enjoy her home in retirement.
“It was a complete overhaul,” Lyons says. “We completely renovated the house. We gutted it out. We moved walls. She went from a three-bedroom, two-bath to a two-bedroom, two-bath, but we did a very large primary suite.”
Bedrooms were combined, with one becoming a closet, and entryways were changed and created.
The kitchen was updated with all new appliances and flooring, and a laundry room and pantry were created.
It was a complete transformation of the home.
“We did the reveal, and she had family and friends come,” Lyons says. “Normally, it’s just me and the clients, but she had all these people come, and they were like, ‘This is not the same house.’ We do renderings and design boards and samples and all that. It looks good there, but actually seeing it and being in it, living in it, it really kind of makes it surreal.”
LAURA SALVIE SANDRA BUSSEYGED
She described the home before as being ’80s style and outdated. The goal was to create a more functional home with a contemporary design.
The biggest change was the custom cabinetry work in the home due to a lack of storage.
“Any time I go into a client’s house, I always tell them, ‘Don’t feel the need to clean up and have your house be spotless, because I need to be able to see the pain points,’” Lyons says. “So if you have shoes collecting at the door, I need to be able to see that, because you need something for that. Or, if you aren’t able to put your pots and pans and plates away, or your kids are doing homework at the kitchen table. I need to be able to see all of that so I can help you with the issues. And so there was a huge storage issue in the home, and we brought in tons of cabinetry to be able to combat that.”
One bedroom features touches of pink, and the bedroom that was turned into a closet features tons of shelving and space for clothes.
“Everything definitely looks different, and it’s pretty but also functional,” Lyons says. “If you can have a beautiful space, but if it doesn’t work the way that you need it to work, what’s the point?”
The home was also updated with retextured walls, which were originally outdated crow’s feet texture, and the flooring was redone.
They also turned an old garage space that was being used as storage into a livable space.
“So we enclosed (the garage space), we moved the entry farther down to the end of that space and we created a laundry room, mud room and a pantry there,” Lyons says.
Working on such a large project has many moving parts. Scheduling with the plumber, the electrician and the painter, getting permits and having inspectors come out — a lot of coordination goes into any project.
“As we’re moving along the project, there’s always some sort of issue that arises,” Lyons says. “We get it fixed, then we move on. And it can be a slow process. Like I always tell clients, it’s a marathon. It’s not a sprint.”
One of the most rewarding parts of Lyons’ job, she says, is the final reveal.
“Seeing demo day, having everything be cleared out and then bringing them in at the end for that final reveal is always very nice,” Lyons says. “That makes all the hard work worth it.”
Interior designer Brittany Lyons transformed an outdated home to contemporary in her latest project. Photo courtesy of Justin Rasco | Mustard Seed Media Productions.
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MOVE ON UP
The Bishop Arts home moved to west Dallas
Story by JILLIAN NACHTIGAL
WHEN A HISTORIC BISHOP ARTS HOME was on the chopping block, Michelle Rogers and her father-in-law decided to save it.
Developer Alamo Manhattan wanted to demolish the cottage at 228 W. Seventh St., which was built in 1907, to make way for a temporary construction trailer and, eventually, a planned second phase of its Bishop Arts development.
The house was the first to receive a review under the city’s preservation rules that require a hearing before certain old properties can be demolished.
The house, which was at least 86 years old at the time, was included in the Historic District Demolition Overlay that the city created for part of Oak Cliff in 2016. The overlay requires a waiting period and review before certain buildings 50 years or older can be demolished.
A search of newspaper archives shows that the White family lived in the house during the 1940s. Three of the family’s sons served in World War II; one was captured by Nazis after his plane was shot down over Budapest. Another was “lost in action,” and a third was injured in the war.
After a couple of hearings, Alamo Manhattan offered up the house for free to anyone who could move it by Jan. 15.
West Dallas-based Rogers Jr. Housemoving decided to move the house to a property it owns at 4013 Peoria and preserve its history.
Michelle’s father-in-law ended up moving the house onto her property and renovated it. The plan for now is for Michelle’s oldest son to rent the home.
neighborhood in mind. It was a struggle to decide how true she wanted to stay to the original style of the house and how much she wanted to change.
“I think one of the things about redoing one of these homes is you try to kind of take in what else the neighborhood has,” Rogers says. “We try to stay a little bit true to more of a traditional home, but it’s modern at the same time. We want to enhance that for the neighborhood, for the community.”
Restoring the home was a long, tedious and expensive process, Rogers says.
“I’m not an expert, but it’s really expensive to restore homes, and it’s probably cheaper, believe it or not, to redo,” Rogers says. “Sometimes it’s cheaper to just knock it down and rebuild. We are huge on reusing. And to me, it is such a waste, because a lot of these homes have really good bones.”
The community feedback from moving the home instead of destroying it was positive, and many neighbors became invested in the whole process.
“They want to know, ‘Where did it go, or what did you do with it? Did it really get torn down?’ And a lot of people have asked us, ‘What did you guys do with it?’ We’re like, ‘Well, it’s standing, and it’s so pretty,’” Rogers says. “I’m happy I kept it because now it’s kind of something fun to talk about, and people are just so amazed. They’re like, ‘What do
