2023 May| June Plano Magazine

ALL IN. EVERY TIME. INCREDIBLE. TOGETHER.

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OLD as

What remains of the century-old Haggard Farms

DIRT

will now be part of a mixed-use development

story Alyssa High | photography Lauren Allen

BEFORE PLANO was a city sprawling with hundreds of thousands of people, it was a small town, like any other in Texas. Farmers such as the Haggards settled into the area and grew cotton, raised sheep and donkeys and produced crops.

As suburban areas in the metroplex grew in population, most farmers moved north to more rural areas.

But not the Haggards.

Planoites know the Haggard name. Besides the farm, the name resides on a middle school, library and a park downtown. But the history of the farm goes back four generations to C.S. Haggard.

C.S. settled the area in 1884 with 123 acres and started a family line of Planoites that is still growing five generations later.

Now, Rodney Haggard, a fourth-generation Haggard who grew up on the family farm, continues the legacy with Chisolm Development Company, which was put together to preserve some of Plano’s farm heritage.

“It’s been a blessing for sure,” Rodney says. “We’ve gone from a farm [town] to an unbelievable city. It was probably only 2,500 to 5,000 people when I was growing up here. We had airplanes flying over the fields and my grandfather would move sheep from one side of town to the other… it was a lot of fun.”

“With the city growing and streets going through our property, we kind of had to figure out a way to pay for all the streets,” Rodney says. “So we started in the development business and kind of learned it ourselves, formed partnerships with different lenders.”

With Haggard Farms still in operation, it is one of the longest-running businesses in the United States and the

third oldest in Texas, according to a study. However, the amount of farmland has decreased over the years as development continues in the area.

“We’ve been really blessed to be here; there’s not many of us left anymore,” Rodney says. “We really cherish still being part of the community and still trying to make a contribution.”

Now, a mixed-use development at the corner of Parkwood Boulevard and Spring Creek Parkway is set to break ground soon. The first phase of the development will include farm-themed restaurant The Almanac, a hotel, a pond and a greenhouse.

By the end of the development, there will be more than 700,000 square feet of offices, 700 multifamily residential units, a 98-room hotel, a retail village, a senior housing community, townhomes and more than two dozen acres of land for parks and open spaces.

The project was approved in December 2021, and after months of rezoning and council meetings, the project is set to start the first phase in May. The “livework-play” development has been vocally supported by the Haggards, Mayor John Muns and several of the council members.

Over the years, many have expressed interest in developing the land, but the Haggards put emphasis on keeping the farm-feel and history of the area alive while developing to keep up with the growing city, Rodney says.

“We never imagined Plano would be what it is now. It is truly rewarding to be able to develop things like this and make it be something significant that people remember,” Rodney says. P

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TIME IS BRAIN; TIME LOST IS BRAIN LOST

Rashedul Hasan, M.D., Medical Director of Comprehensive Stroke Program for Baylor Scott & White Medical Center explains

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Stroke Association, statistics show:

• Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.

• Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies from a stroke.

• Every year, 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke.

• Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disabilities in the United States.

• Every minute without treatment following a stroke, 2 million brain cells die.

“Time is brain; time lost is brain lost,” according to Rashedul Hasan, M.D., Medical Director of Comprehensive Stroke Program for Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano. There are two types of strokes – the clotting type and the bleeding type. Eighty-five percent are due to blood clot and the rest, 15%, are due to brain bleeding.

Dr. Hasan says even though stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in this country, 80% of strokes are preventable. The number one cause of stroke is uncontrolled hypertension. Among others are diabetes, high cholesterol levels, Atrial Fibrillation, smoking, illicit drug use, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. By keeping these risk factors under control, you can markedly lower your risk of future stroke.

Who is at risk and why?

Dr. Hasan says a stroke can happen at any age; know your own risk factors. Based on the age group the risk factors may vary. Childhood stroke is typically linked to genetic causes but stroke in early twenties or thirties is related to preventable risk factors. Unfortunately, because of the increased prevalence of childhood obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and illicit drug use the incidence of stroke among this age group is rising. In the elderly one third of strokes happen due to irregular heart rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation which increases your stroke risk by five times compared to general population. Another risk factor in the elderly is cancer which changes the blood chemistry and increases the tendency of blood clot formation in your system.

Some cancers, when metastasized, can mimic stroke symptoms, especially in breast, melanoma, kidney, colon and lung cancers, but tests can determine a cancer’s relationship to a stroke, all on a case-by-case basis.

“Stroke rates are increasing among young people and decreasing among the elderly as they are taking a more preventive approach to controlling their risk factors,” Dr. Hasan says.

Why?

Dr. Hasan is a huge proponent of the Mediterranean Diet to help mitigate stroke risk.

“The Mediterranean Diet focuses on healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, lean proteins, and heart healthy fats.

“Once stroke patients are discharged from the hospital, they should follow-up with their neurologist and their primary care provider for risk factor management and to promote education and prevent a readmission.

Dr. Hasan says if you witness a stroke, call 911 rather than trying to drive a stroke victim to the hospital. Calling 911 is a more efficient strategy since EMTs pre-notify the ER they are bringing a stroke victim, and the stroke team awaits the arrival, he says.

“The time window is very narrow, and one should get to the hospital immediately. A stroke victim can be treated medically up to 4.5 hours of the ‘last known normal,” and up to 24 hours after a stroke, wherein it is possible for a catheter device to pull out a blood clot but any delay is unwise.”

Don’t lose time, and don’t lose brain. For more information, visit BSWHealth.com/PlanoNeuro.

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers

EMBRACE LIFE AGAIN?

150 years of excellence

June 3 marks Plano’s 150th anniversary story Alyssa High

Plano is a chart-topping city. She’s called the City of Excellence for a reason, after all. But not long ago, Plano was less suburbia and more Farmville.

So what made Plano the great city she is today?

Dear Plano,

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to this beautiful city we call home! Year after year — for 36 years — you have filled the theater to see our dancers grace the stage. So many thrilling performances and so many tender memories will forever connect us together. Photos of smiles and hugs are just a taste of the joy we have shared. You have embraced our passion for dance with immense support allowing us to perform time and time again as our dancers grew up before your eyes. One generation gracefully made way for the next generation as the curtain opened continually. So many lavish costumes, so much wonderful music, so many beautiful dances! And so many proud dancers and happy families sharing cultural experiences that enriched their lives!

With Love, Plano Metropolitan Ballet

Dear Plano,

I wanted to take a moment to express my deep love and appreciation for this city that I call home. From the very moment I was little, I knew that I wanted to live in Plano. And now, years later, can finally say this is my hometown.

There are so many reasons why I love this city, from the Plano Balloon Festival and Oktoberfest to the Wine Walk and Dickens during Christmas time. I love exploring the city’s history through ghost tours and also enjoying live music at the new McCall Plaza. Plano has been the setting for some of my most cherished memories, including my engagement photos and the rehearsal dinner over at Urban Crust. And of course, my favorite bar in the world, Brix — RIP.

But my love for Plano goes deeper than just its events and attractions. This was the first city I ever lived in on my own, where I found love, and it’s where I decided to marry the love of my life. Plano has played a huge role in shaping who I am today, and I will always be grateful for the people who have poured into my life here.

No matter how many miles may separate us, I will always consider Plano my home. Thank you for being a wonderful city and for providing me with so many amazing memories. I look forward to more memories with you and I can’t wait to introduce you to more of my family members. You truly are a City of Excellence.

With Love,

Jacob Hernandez

Dear Plano,

1873 - Plano is incorporated. It looks like any other western town, with cotton fields, tractors driving through town, and abundant sheep and mules.

1900 - A school system is created, a newspaper started, and the Houston and Texas Central Railroad Station is built, turning Plano into a major stop on the way from Dallas north to Oklahoma. The railway paved the way for a population and business boom in Plano. The city has 1,304 residents.

As a native Plano resident, I grew up learning of all the fabulous things that our city has to offer. However, my awareness and appreciation of these things recently became heightened as I now have a family of my own and am raising young children in our great city! Safety, of course, is of utmost importance to us and the Plano Police Department is always very fast to respond, even for non-emergency calls. The officers are thorough in their investigations and truly care about their citizens — they go above and beyond to fully embrace the motto of “protect and serve.” The Plano Independent School District offers award-winning campuses, great programs and helps prepare students for future success. My family is especially grateful for all of the beautiful city parks and playgrounds that encourage us to spend time outside together!

With Love, Natalie Johnson

TODAY - Plano has more than 291,000 residents, according to the World Population Review. It is one of the 10 largest cities in Texas and in the top 100 cities by population in the United States.

LATE 1882 - Plano is known for paying its teachers salaries rather than vouchers, attracting students from around the rural areas north of Dallas. County funds allowed for the opening of the Plano Institute at the site of the current Cox Administration Building.

Dear Plano,

Being a resident of your beautiful city for the past 19 years, and having lived in other places, I realize we are a little bit spoiled here. Driving down your streets, it’s hard not to feel pride in how clean and picturesque the neighborhoods here are. It’s a joy living in a city that constantly reinvests in itself.

Some of my favorite things in Plano are all the free entertainment our family has gotten from your public libraries and parks over the years, your beautifully maintained soccer fields (where we spent many a very early Saturday morning), and the numerous free concerts and festivals we’ve attended in your charming historic downtown. There is so much to do here, but our family does have our favorite places. One of our most-visited eateries is the Taco Delite at Independence and 15th Street. We’ve gotten religious about picking up weekly curbside orders at your new H-E-B. And we find ourselves walking around Legacy West at least once a month, to try a new restaurant or shop.

I personally love the diversity of your residents. I’ve been lucky to meet so many engaged and passionate residents who never stop trying to make things better here and who have exposed me to so many different viewpoints.

I love your history and the people who take pride in preserving it, evidenced through treasures like the Heritage Farmstead Museum and Interurban Railway Museum. I am thankful for your organizations who make sure every Planoite has a chance to be enriched by the arts, like the ArtCentre of Plano and North Texas Performing Arts.

I’m mostly thankful for all the teachers and staff in our Plano ISD schools who started my kids out from the very beginning knowing that they were important, lovable little somebodies (Shout out, Shepard Patriots!).

Plano is my home, and I’m grateful for all the people who’ve made it such a great home.

With Love, Jennifer Shertzer, Plano Magazine founder and former editor

- The names of early school board members Mendenhall, Schmelpfenig, Davis, Hendricks, Harrington and Wyatt can be found on Plano Public Libraries, celebrating education as one of Plano’s biggest draws. PISD ranks in the top 1% of the Most Diverse and Best Schools in Texas. PISD also ranks in the top 8.5% of the Best Places to Teach on Niche.

- Downtown’s businesses grow around the railroad until a massive fire destroys almost 60 buildings, forcing residents to rebuild.

Dear Plano,

I want to express my deep appreciation for you. You have been my home for almost 30 years, and I am so fortunate to have served you as your police chief for the last several years. I came to Plano in 1994 from San Antonio after leaving active duty in the U.S. Army and rose from a police officer assigned to patrol your streets to my current position in 2020. As the police chief, I have witnessed the strong sense of community and care you have for each other. Your commitment to safety is unparalleled. Through this sense of community — of neighbors helping neighbors —we have been able to come together and make Plano an even better place to live.

I was filled with excitement and anticipation when I first arrived in Plano in 1994. I had heard so many wonderful things about this city, and I was eager to explore all it offered. And explore, I did! From the charming downtown area to the sprawling suburban neighborhoods, I found my perfect place to call home. I’ve lived in many cities due to my 10-plus years of active military service. However, Plano residents are some of the most passionate and dedicated people I’ve met, and it’s been my pleasure to serve you. From the small business owners to the service organizations, everyone has always had a smile and a willingness to help others. I have always appreciated your endless hospitality and kindness. I have watched this community grow and evolve over the years, and it has been so amazing to witness. The many new subdivisions, business developments, parks and trails built over the years have made Plano an even better place to live, work and play.

You have a police force dedicated to the community’s safety and well-being; I am proud to be part of it. I am also amazed at the diversity of people and cultures that make up Plano. I am inspired by the stories of people who have come here from around the world and made Plano their home. I am also proud of how you have welcomed them, treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for your support of the police department. Every day, I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the community. Whether it’s through donations of time or resources, you have been a constant source of support for the police department, and for that, I am genuinely grateful.

Plano, you are truly a special place, and I am honored to serve you.

With Love, Chief of Police, Ed Drain

1900 - The first Plano Fire Department is created. Firemen would pull buckets of water to water wells with hand pumps and long hoses. Residents who need the fire department fire three pistol shots into the air to call for help.

TODAY - Plano Fire Department has 386 sworn firefighters, 13 fire stations and a state-of-the-art fire training facility.

1871 - Plano’s main businesses are plumbing and stove plants, a garment factory and an electricwire factory.

TODAY - Many leading global corporations such as Toyota and Frito-Lay call Plano home, and there are more than 10,000 businesses in the city.

Dear Plano,

Thank you for providing a foundation for my values, for educating me well and launching my career and for a lifetime of inspiring friendships.

I graduated from (the then one and only) Plano High School in 1973. There were about 350 in our graduating class, most of us together since elementary school (just four elementaries in town back then). We were an extraordinarily close class. Today, we are planning our 50th reunion. The years and wrinkles will fall away as we reminisce about the best growing-up experience ever.

As a cub reporter for my hometown newspaper, I covered the glorious welcome-home parade in 1973 for the late Col. Samuel Johnson, a POW in Vietnam for seven years. His heroism made the war real in our tiny corner of America. We went to school with his daughters, wore silver bracelets with his name inscribed (I still have mine) and rejoiced as a small community when he was released. It was the epitome of the hometown pride that characterized Plano, then and still.

The Friday night lights, the amazing teachers and coaches, our quaint downtown with the brick street, cherry limes and tater tots at Dude’s after school, and oh, the enduring relationships! I’ve lived many places since I moved away in 1980. But I will always be a Plano girl.

With Love, Teresa (Terri) Moore

MAY 4 HAPPY HOUR HIKE

THUR. , 6 P.M., LEGACY WEST, 7800 WINDROSE AVENUE SIP-AND-SHOP EVENT

MAY 4-7 TRIXX AT PLANO HOUSE OF COMEDY

THURS.SAT., 7 P.M., 7301 LONE STAR DR., $24 COMEDY SHOW WITH TRIXX, RECENTLY SEEN ON KEVIN HART’S LOL NETWORK, JUST FOR LAUGHS, AND MORE.

MAY 5 LITTLE FARMER FRIDAYS

FRI., 10 A.M., HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM, 1900 WEST 15TH ST., $5

INTERACTIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND THEIR GROWNUPS TO HANG OUT ON THE FARM.

MAY 5-7 DISNEY DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL

FRI.SUN., 1 P.M., WILLOW BEND CENTER OF THE ARTS, 6121 WEST

PARK BLVD, $12 A MUSICAL BASED ON THE DISNEY FILM DESCENDANTS, ADAPTED AND PERFORMED BY STUDENTS AND ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES.

MAY 6 PLANO ASIAFEST 2023

SAT., 5 P.M., HAGGARD PARK, 901 EAST 15TH ST., FREE ASIAFEST WILL SHOWCASE THE CULTURES OF ASIA THROUGH PERFORMANCES, FOOD, VENDORS AND DEMONSTRATIONS.

MAY 6 SALT THE RIM FEST

MAY 26-JUNE 4

NTPA Willow Bend performed by NTPA Collegiate Pursuits students in grades 10-12

JUNE 15-18 Courtyard Theater performed by NTPA Plano students in grades 3-10

JUNE 16-18

SAT., 6 P.M., MCCALL PLAZA, 998 EAST 15TH ST., $35 THE FILLMORE PUB HAS CREATED FOUR DIFFERENT CRAFT MARGARITA RECIPES FOR A TASTING COMPETITION.

MAY 10 MELON DASH 10K/5K/FUN RUN

SAT., 7:45 A.M., 2801 E SPRING CREEK PKWY, $39 THE 5K, 10K AND FUN RUN WILL BE FULL OF ACTIVITIES, GOODIES, BEER AND WATERMELON.

MAY 19 TEXAS MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW

FRI., 10 A.M., PLANO EVENT CENTER, 2000 E SPRING CREEK PKWY, FREE VENDORS SELLING MINERALS, FOSSILS, GEMSTONES, JEWELRY, HOURLY DRAWINGS AND MORE.

NTPA Willow Bend performed by NTPA Repertory adult professional actors

JUNE 30-JULY 9

NTPA Willow Bend performed by NTPA Community Theatre all ages

JUNE 1 HAPPY HOUR HIKE THUR. , 6 P.M., LEGACY WEST, 7800 WINDROSE AVENUE SIP-AND-SHOP EVENT

JUNE 2 AEROSMITH TRIBUTEWALK THIS WAY FRI., 7 P.M., LEXUS BOX GARDEN AT LEGACY HALL, 7800 WINDROSE AVE., $25-250 ENJOY LIVE MUSIC FROM AN AEROSMITH TRIBUTE BAND WITH LEGACY HALL’S 20 EATERIES AND 5+ BARS.

JUNE 3 PLANO’S 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! SAT., DOWNTOWN PLANO ARTS DISTRICT, 102 E. 15TH ST. PLANO IS TURNING 150, AND WE’RE CELEBRATING WITH FOOD, LIVE MUSIC AND MORE DOWNTOWN.

JUNE 11 FARMERS MARKET AT THE BOARDWALK SUN., 11 A.M., GRANITE PARK, 5601 GRANITE PKWY THE FARMERS MARKET BRINGS YOU FRESH PRODUCE, HOMEMADE GOODS AND MORE EVERY SUNDAY.

JUNE 16 CABARET: THE BAD SEED FRI., 6 P.M., THE ART CENTRE THEATRE, 1400 SUMMIT AVE., $18

THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE SET IN A BERLIN NIGHTCLUB IN THE 1920S.

JUNE 17 GREASE THE MUSICAL! SAT., 2:30 P.M., WILLOW BEND CENTER OF THE ARTS, 6121 WEST PARK BLVD., $20 THE NTPA REPERTORY THEATRE PRESENTS GREASE THE MUSICAL WITH SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

JUNE 21

TUMBLERCON 2023 WED., 3 P.M., PLANO EVENT CENTER, 2000 EAST SPRING CREEK PKWY

TUMBLERCON BRINGS MORE THAN 100 VENDOR BOOTHS, SHOPPING, PRODUCT TESTING AND CREATIVE INFLUENCE TO PLANO’S TUMBLER SCENE FOR SHOPPERS AND CREATORS.

JUNE 24 RUN FOR THE KIDS

5K & FUN RUN SAT., 7:30 A.M., OAK POINT PARK AND NATURE PRESERVE, 5901 LOS RIOS BLVD., $25 RUN FOR THE KIDS BENEFITS WIPE OUT KIDS CANCER. IN-N-OUT, A BEER GARDEN, KID ZONE AND MORE WILL BE AVAILABLE.

Meet Michelle Hawkins

DOWNTOWN PLANO’S NEW MANAGER SETS HER SIGHTS ON REVITALIZING THE DOWNTOWN SCENE

story Alyssa High | photography Lauren Allen

DOWNTOWN PLANO HAS SERVED AS A COMMUNITY hub for small business owners, City Hall workers and local patrons since the first rail stop opened in 1908.

However, the addition of shopping centers in West Plano and pandemic shutdowns have redirected foot traffic elsewhere.

To try and remedy this, the City of Plano created the position of downtown manager for Michelle Hawkins, who served as the city’s arts and events manager for nearly 20 years. Hawkins’ duties entail connecting with the downtown community, creating events downtown and working with local entities to help drive business.

“Plano has been very good to me. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed all of it,” Hawkins says. “I keep on saying that if I have nothing to contribute or if I’m not having fun then I’ll leave, but it’s been a while, and I’m still having fun.”

One new business she has worked with, Plano Shopping Co-Op, is a collaborative retail space featuring a bookstore, curated vintage store and pop-up opportunities.

Hawkins also hopes to educate residents about downtown Plano’s history.

“Downtown Plano really holds the history of Plano, and I think there are a lot of Planoites who don’t even know it exists,” Hawkins says.

Downtown has many nods to its history, including the Plano Interurban Railway Museum. The museum is located at the site of the old train station on East 15th Street, where a railcar can be toured as guides talk about what it would have been like to ride the train.

“The one thing that downtown has is the history. No other place can have that,” Hawkins says.

On June 3, Plano’s 150th Birthday Bash will bring food, drinks, entertainment and interactions with Plano’s history to Haggard Park. Plano ISD students will also have birthday cards to the city on display. An after-party at McCall Plaza will round out the evening.

Hawkins has scheduled many events in the coming months, including the 19th Annual Plano AsiaFest, which celebrates Asian Heritage (22% of Plano residents identify as Asian) with a fashion show, martial arts demonstrations, cultural booths, performance art and food.

Aside from big festivals, downtown hosts regular events every week like sip and shops and plays at The Courtyard Theatre. Plano Community Band will host five free concerts in Haggard Park through June and July.

“Western shops like Legacy are very polished, and this is just kind of more relaxed, more neighborhood. Your neighborhood,” Hawkins says. “It’s got a little funky vibe. It’s more casual.

Hawkins is advocating for a stronger, more unified downtown area.

“Unifying the district with a brand that the downtown community creates will just further enhance its vibe, and I think visitors will be able to feel that when they’re here,” Hawkins says. To find more information and keep up with the buzz downtown, follow @planoarts and @visitdowntownplano on Facebook and Instagram.

A GUIDE TO PLANO’S ASIAN MARKETS

story Alyssa High

photography Lauren Allen

It’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and here’s how to celebrate.

On top of attending AsiaFest May 6, Planoites can celebrate by buying and eating from Asian-owned businesses and Asian markets in town. Here are 10 of the biggest and what to expect:

H MART PLANO

Pan-Asian 3320 K Ave.

H Mart is a nationwide Asian grocery chain. Though groceries are its biggest section, the store also sells everyday essential and upscale products through a booth-like adjoining store. Prominent sections include fresh seafood, a cosmetics area and a food cart.

BMART INDIAN GROCERY AND HALAL MEAT

Indian 8201 Ohio Drive Suite 102

In West Plano, a bodega-eque BMart sells halal meat and specific Indian grocery items. While it’s not quite large enough for a full grocery haul, it serves as a quick place for West Planoites to get that missing item on their lists. BMart is located next to restaurant Bawarchi Biryanis.

TAJ GROCERS PLANO

Indian/SE Asian

6921 Independence Parkway #210

Taj Grocers is a South Asian grocery chain with a large selection of produce and a variety of traditional Indian dishes like masala and paneer. There also is a seating area to enjoy the made-before-you dishes before returning to shopping. Nearby is a Desi-owned butcher shop.

INDOPAK SUPERMARKET

Indian/Pakistani

2060 Spring Creek Parkway #4285

Indopak is a small supermarket and cafe that sells samosas, kabab, curry and a wide selection of produce and halal meats. While the food court-esque area is more frequented than the grocery section, the store makes it easy to grab a few necessities and a bite at the same time.

ZTAO MARKETPLACE COIT

Chinese/Pan-Asian

2049 Coit Road #300

On the west side of Plano, zTao Marketplace sells groceries, dinnerware, health and wellness products, and beauty supplies. zTao has an online ordering system, diverse seafood display and plenty of the hot pot fixins.

DAISO JAPAN

Japanese

101 Spring Creek Parkway #731

Though this “market” doesn’t sell many groceries, Daiso sells just about anything else you can think of. The discount store is full of stationary, stuffed animals, housewares, toys, decor, and much more at discounted prices.

MITSUWA MARKETPLACE

Japanese

100 Legacy Drive

In close proximity to both 99 Ranch and Jusgo, you’ll find Mitsuwa Marketplace. The chain offers Japanese groceries, cosmetics, appliances and housewares. Surrounding the store is a Japanese bookstore, a revolving sushi bar, boba, salon that specializes in Asian hair-types and Korean, Japanese and ramen restaurants. The mochi bar and bento to-go stations set Mitsuwa apart from its supermarket neighbors.

OASIS INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Middle Eastern/Pakistani/Indian

6150 Independence Parkway

Oasis International Market is a local grocery store centered around Mediterranean and Desi products. All meat offered is Certified Zabiha Halal, and the market has a massive selection of Middle Eastern herbs, spices and other goods. Aside from groceries, Oasis also sells Islamic wear. The store also has a bakery and cafe, where you can find shawarma, hummus, mudammas and other regional dishes and is located near a Pakistani juice bar and the G.E.M Multicultural Center.

99 RANCH MARKET

Pan-Asian

131 Spring Creek Parkway

99 Ranch Market is a grocery chain carrying imported specialty foods plus meat, seafood, produce and baked goods. Near Sri Ganesha Temple in Plano, 99 Ranch stands at the center of the shopping center, surrounded by Chinese, Afgani, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese restaurants, a Chinese dance school, and 99 Ranch’s typical accompaniments: Daiso Japan discount store and 85°C Bakery Cafe.

ASIAFEST will be held on May 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Haggard Park. Almost immediately following, Salt the Rim is headed to McCall Plaza with Plano’s third-annual margarita tasting from 6 to 10:30 p.m.

JUSGO SUPERMARKET

Pan-Asian

240 Legacy Drive #200

Jusgo Supermarket sells fresh and packaged foods from several Asian countries, plus meat and seafood. Inside the market is a Chinese porcelain store, a bakery and a clothing store in stall-like shops. Surrounding the market are Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese restaurants. Sweet tooths can check out the rice yogurt (a dessert comfort food in many Asian countries) or boba tea in the area.

Zato Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar offers you traditional Thai cuisine and fantastic sushi prepared by our expert chef with over 10 years of experience. Come experience our great traditional Thai dishes and sushi. We welcome you to enjoy our delicious cuisine and make unforgettable memories.

zatothaicuisine.site

214.241.4033

19129 PRESTON ROAD (JUST SOUTH OF GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE)

THAI CUISINE & SUSHI BAR

Paris in Plano

Isabel Mota makes cooking French pastries easy

story Alyssa High|photography Jessica Turner

Madeleines, macarons and crepes. Oh my! These French pastries are characteristically hard to make, but one Planoite has a solution.

When Isabel Mota moved from Paris to Plano, she found that French pastries in the States didn’t live up to what she was used to eating in France.

“[In the U.S.] madeleines are very underrated, because what I have been eating here when I got to Starbucks, they’re very hard and not like the sponge cake that we have in France,” Mota says.

“I realized that French food was seen as very good but also very complicated. I thought maybe I could help people here realize that food can be very technical, but it can also be very simple if you work with simple recipes and simple ingredients.”

After moving to Plano for her husband’s job, Mota started making treats for neighbors, coworkers and friends. She found that people really loved them and wanted to learn to make them themselves.

Mota started teaching macarons to people in her house, and after seeing people’s excitement in finishing the pastry, started teaching classes at a French-American school in Dallas, at cooking camps and schools.

“I was really excited to show people how to make French food but in a less stressful ambiance,” Mota says. “That was really my goal, and it’s still my goal.”

Mota opened her store at 3033 W. Parker Road in 2019. After six months of classes, COVID-19 hit and the store had to close.

“In the meantime, I’ve been working on products and baking mixes,” Mota says.

Mota’s products and baking mixes came to be My French Recipe, a brand characterized by “quick and easy” recipes with QR video tutorials of Mota cooking the pastries herself.

The My French Recipe website also provides soonto-be French pastry chefs with recipes to customize their macarons, tools to up their pastry game and other cooking-related goodies.

Mota’s signature macaron mix, French pound cake mix, madeleine mix, chocolate lava cake mix and gingerbread chocolate chip cookie mix are about $8 each and make 8-16 servings.

Now that the shop has been able to open again, Mota still does classes every weekend on different pastries and French dishes.

In May, Mota is hosting a spring pop-up shop and classes themed after petite pastries class, a French countryside dinner, macarons, profiteroles, eclairs and croissants.

“The goal is to touch a lot of people who like French food or Francophiles or [those who] have been to France, and they want to recreate something they’ve eaten in France,” Mota says.

My French Recipe baking mixes are available at World Market locations nationwide, as well as Whole Foods locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

My French Recipe, 3033 W. Parker Road, 469.605.4151, myfrenchrecipe.com

Mota leads a baking class in her in-store studio.

SENDS AND SUFFERS

MARIO STANLEY CLIMBS HIS WAY TO HBO MAX

story Alyssa High photography Lauren Allen

When Mario Stanley went looking for a date idea in college, he went the unconventional route and thought, “why not rock climbing?” Though he didn’t expect it, Stanley fell in love that day — but not with the girl.

That date did not go well. Instead, Stanley found a sport that would change his career path from ministerial work to coaching rock climbing.

Over a decade later, Stanley has climbed indoor facilities throughout the United States, along with legendary climbs around the world in Catalonia, Wadi Rum and throughout southern Jordan.

Last year, Stanley was invited to take part in an eight-episode HBO Max competition show for rock climbers called The Climb , where Stanley went against nine other amateur climbers for a chance to win $100,000 and a climbing contract.

Though Stanley dropped out of the competition in the third episode, the show encouraged him to keep climbing and seek new opportunities.

Aside from the show and Summit Plano, where Stanley works, he hosts a podcast called Sends and Suffers . It discusses the highs and lows of life during climbing trips, coaching and his outdoor adventures.

Recently, Stanley co-founded a group called Beyond Climbing. The group formed after a customer came into Summit upset that the business wasn’t ADA-friendly. To address the concern, Stanley and the leadership team began inviting amputees, children in wheelchairs and others who may need extra help climbing the walls.

“We are simply trying to go beyond just climbing and meet people where they are at,” Stanley says. “I think that goes beyond the sport.”

How did you get into rock climbing?

Coming up through seminary and through all these different life changes, eventually I kept on going back to it as something that brought me a lot of joy. At one point, I just committed to volunteering at an old gym that doesn’t exist anymore. Shortly after, they offered me a job, and I started working for minimum wage. It was just something for me to do.

At some point, I met one of the managers of what was Dallas Rocks and is now Summit Dallas, and they offered me a job at the gym. From that moment, my career took off.

What made you want to stick with rock climbing after graduating from seminary?

Once I started coaching, that is where the world kind of lit up for me. I like working with kids. They make you realize that life is really not that serious.

When you think of Texas and rock climbing, I want you to think of me. I’ve kind of dedicated my life to making the sport easier for people to get into. I’m in the business of creating rock climbers and creating opportunities for beginner and intermediate rock climbers to get outside and get in here.

How has your seminary background helped you with rock climbing?

You’ve got to be someone’s friend first. And in order to be someone’s friend, you have to meet them where they are. Rock climbing is an inherently terrifying sport. If you’re bouldering, you’re supposed to fall on the ground. Or if you get on these rope climbs, you have to trust someone. It’s kind of beautiful honestly, where most people who really want to try this are going outside of their comfort zone. So they’ve already made the decision to put themselves in a vulnerable and compromising position. You are choosing to be brave. And I’m easing you into helping you be as brave as you can possibly be.

What was it like to be on an HBO Max show?

The Climb is an amazing show for the fact that it is beautiful, brilliant climbing around the world. I got to make friendships that last a lifetime. I still talk to these people regularly, almost every day. Granted, I didn’t win, but I tried my best to showcase and represent Texas the best way I could. The biggest thing I walked away with from that show is I learned another level of intimacy with 10 people I’d never met, and these 10 people are probably the cornerstone of a big portion of my climbing life now. P

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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