Arlington All Grown Up

from April 2023

‘Hero’ Perfectly Suits Her

I was driving west down I-30 one night recently when I looked to my left and thought I saw a familiar glimmer of a skyline. I’d been living outside the state for several years, and before that I hadn’t spent any serious time in Arlington since college in the early 2010s. How long had I been away? “Arlington is all grown up,” I thought to myself.

2018. Around the same time, owners of 4 as a city that was primed for a growth spurt and they wanted to get in while the getting was good.

Former Arlington mayor Jeff Williams can be credited with attracting a lot of the glitz and glam of this most recent development in his term from 2015 to 2021. But what’s less known city in his capacity as president and CEO of Graham Associates Inc., a civil of helping to build Arlington. In “Building Arlington,” we take a walk down memory lane as we let old newspaper clippings its founding under Jack Graham to its leadership under the late Jim Wagnon.

Mark Bauer

The faint outline of a skyline wasn't a mirage, it was all the shimmering lights from the new development in the Entertainment District. Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium were easy to pinpoint amidst all the twinkling. There was Choctaw Stadium too. Next to that is the Live! by Loews’ mammoth $550 million hotel and the new Arlington Convention Center, as well as a new 300unit residential community project being constructed by the Cordish Companies and Texas Rangers, expected to total 532,000 square feet.

That skyline, it turns out, isn’t by accident. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross told the Dallas Business Journal last year that it’s serious about attracting new business to the area, and it’s being intentional

He also told the Business Journal that Arlington is just getting warmed up.

It certainly feels like something is cooking in Arlington. In our Local Eateries and Bar feature, we highlight Hurtado Barbecue, which started serving barbecue in a pop-up in Arlington in

In Finish Line, former mayor Richard Greene–who himself was instrumental in keeping the Texas Rangers in Arlington by jockeying for the old Ballpark in Arlington and who famously quipped that “Arlington is nobody’s damn suburb”–pays tribute to Arlington Today’s publisher, Judy Rupay, who was honored last month with the Inspired Women’s Luncheon “Hero Award.” The award recognized her commitment to this community as a businesswoman, former city councilwoman and mentor to countless young leaders who care about

Truth be told, Arlington has been grown up for quite awhile. But that can-do spirit in us doesn’t stop us from continuing to reach for the sky.

Mark Bauer is the Editor of Arlington Today Magazine.

Itinerary

Family Fun

The inaugural Texas Street Food Festival is coming to Texas Live! April 15-16 from 2 pm to 8pm. The Food Fest is a lively culinary event that celebrates the vibrant and diverse street food culture found around the world, with a particular focus on Texas and Latin American cuisine. Attendees can indulge in a variety of delicious dishes, from tacos and empanadas to BBQ and burgers. In addition to food, the festival features live music, entertainment, and a fun and festive atmosphere that brings together foodies and families alike. Tickets $8 at texas-live.com/ events/2023-04-15-street-food-fest

The inaugural Asian Heritage Celebration was such a success that it’s back for a second year on Saturday, April 15 from 12 pm to 4 pm. This free event is fun for the whole family, with vendors and food trucks present. On stage, watch the famous Lion Dance and enjoy a fashion show. This event is hosted by the Mayor’s Asian Advisory Council along with Levitt Arlington. levittpavilionarlington.org

Theatre Arlington is set to present Noises Off, a classic British farce that follows an under-rehearsed cast and crew as they

Nothing On.

The inspiration for Noises Off came from as a playwright, where he noticed that he found what occurred backstage to be far more interesting than the production itself. Award-winning director Cheryl Denson leads an impressive cast of Equity actors, including Gigi Cervantes and Jakie Cabe, production team.

Theatre Arlington's 50th-anniversary season will also see the unveiling of the Walk of Fame.

Showtimes through April 16: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm

The horses are running again at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Thoroughbred Racing Season: Opening Night is Thursday, April 13. World-Renowned Elvis

Baseball’s back in full swing at Globe Life Field. The Texas Rangers host the Orioles April 3-5, the Royals tribute artist Kraig Parker will be performing between races. Gates open at 4:30 pm. Admission is $8, parking is free. Tickets: lonestarpark.com

April 10-12, Athletics April 21-23, Yankees April 2730. Tickets: www.mlb.com/rangers/tickets

The Uncrated exhibit at the Arlington Museum of Art is a fascinating showcase of contemporary art that reimagines the museum's permanent collection. This unique exhibition features over 50 works of art from the museum's archives, many of which have never been displayed before. The exhibit will be showcased from April 1 to May 14, 2023.

It wasn’t here for long, but Tippin’s pies left an indelible mark on the city. In 1988, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram called the chain formerly located at selling 2,100 pies in one day during the holiday season. Pies ranged from 1.60 to $2.35 a slice or $4.75 to $7.25 for a whole. Legendary indeed.

8,500

The number of staff employed by Arlington ISD, the largest employer in Arlington.

Source: City of Arlington

234,000

The number of vehicles projected to traverse I-30 each day by the year 2035.

Source: txdot.gov

+320

The number of restaurants listed on the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

Source: arlington.org

Have you done your taxes yet? April 18 is the deadline to get individual tax can request an extension.

Source: IRS.gov

A tasty way to support a good cause

When it comes to supporting good causes,ing way to help those in need.

Arlington Charities' Help & Hope event is an annual fundraiser that has been bringing together the community to support the most vulnerable members of Arlington for the last several years. This event aims to raise funds to help families who are struggling to meet unforeseen circumstances.

The event features a variety of activities and live music, but what really gets you salivating are the tastings by local restaurant chefs with wine pairings from a professional sommelier. This year, local tastings will be provided by Green of the new Hearsay Arlington, Maurice Ahern of Grounds & Gold and Gold Ribbon Champion, who also appeared on the latest show. emceed the event and featured cooking and

The funds raised through this event go directly to support Arlington Charities' mission - been able to help hundreds of families through their various programs, and the Help & Hopeers of the year.

Arlington Charities recently rolled out a new mobile pop-up pantry for providing access to healthy foods in food deserts across the city, as well as to give residents an opportunity to receive nutritional education, assistance with - ment, and information referrals.

The number of people seeking help from the - driving up cost of goods and services.