L BEST OF DALLAS 2022 ast year, as the staff at the Dallas Observer began work on our annual Best of Dallas® issue, the city was stuck in an uncomfortable in-between place: The worst of the pandemic appeared to be over, and a return to normal life seemed imminent. We decided to ignore the recent past and focus hopefully on the future. “Roaring Twenties,” we called last year’s issue. So, our optimism might have been a bit premature. But are we chastened? Oh, hell no. We’re doubling down. Maybe all the headlines about the imminent end of democracy, looming civil war and the death of the planet have you down. Not us. We live in Dallas. If doomsday ever does arrive, the people here will likely be too busy to notice as they keep opening businesses, checking out new restaurants or hustling to make names for themselves. It’s hard not to be optimistic in Big D, a city filled with the kind of people who look at labor shortages and broken supply chains and decide that now is a great time to open up a business. Our artists breathe color into the city by painting grand murals on buildings while knowing that time, weather and change will one day wipe away their works. But they also know there’ll be a new canvas for them tomorrow. Developers, entrepreneurs, artists and activists working on behalf of those less fortunate are all driven by the same spring — the belief that with hard work and creativity, the stars are in reach. Best of Dallas is the space where we pause to celebrate the old timers and newcomers whose knowledge, energy and optimism will launch the city higher. Our space cowboys make us ignore the gutter and point our eyes toward the stars, and Best of Dallas is our annual thank-you note to them. It’s also a reminder that tomorrow can be better, and if more than three decades of publishing Best of Dallas issues have taught us anything, it’s that it probably will be. Contributors Advertising editorial EDITOR Patrick Williams ART DIRECTOR Sarah Schumacher PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael Wilson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Taylor Adams, Elvis Anderson, Malen Blackmon, Simone Carter, Tyler Daniels, Jennifer Davis- Lamm, Lauren Drewes Daniels, David Fletcher, Danny Gallagher, Madalene Garcia, Alex Gonzalez, Desiree Gutierrez, Anisha Holla, Merritt Martin, Kendall Morgan, Kate Pezzulli, Angie Quebedeaux, Eva Raggio, Patrick Strickland, Scott Tucker, Hank Vaughn, Jacob Vaughn, Chris Wolfgang PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHER Kathy Tran @kathytranx PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Daniel Rockey @danielrockeyx, Xochitl Gonzalez @xochitl.psd, Johnson Tran @Johnsontrantv RETOUCHING Daniel Rockey BOOKING AND CREATIVE DIRECTION Sarah Badran @creativecurrency @sarabadran_ STYLIST Dana Williams @dana_cua talent COVER MODEL Chastity Samone @chasitysamone STYLIST & MAKEUP AND HAIR Miguel Atkins @miguelofdallas FOOD DESIGNER House of Armadaus / Robert Lee P Percy @houseofarmdaus MODEL Jelani Hopkins @big_body_lani ASSISTANTS Patric Edwards @Mellowhype Kynedi Nalls @kynedichrystine TABLE OF CONTENTS DESIGNER Aporia Designs @aporiadesigns, Jasmine Levario MODELS Lauren Kern @laurentkern, Paris Garden @Parisgarden MAKE UP Liza Lai @brite.beauty, Belene Garza @iambelene SPORTS READERS’ Picks SHOPPING & Services ARTS & Entertainment FOOD & Drink SPORTS & Recreation 4 10 13 41 67 101 DESIGNER K Daniels, Keiandrea Daniels @KDanielsdesigns MODEL Roxy Pyror @roxx_lyn MAKE UP Liza Lai @brite.beauty ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTIST Parker Twomey @parkertwomey SHOPPING MODEL AND STYLIST Rosa Pears @roseypears ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Brett Robertson DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Charlie Dondlinger SENIOR MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Holli Perry SALES TEAM LEADER Michelle Kimbrell MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Travis Alberson, Tracy Alvarez, Christian Brown DIGITAL STRATEGIST/ TEAM BOOST Michelle Graves DIGITAL COORDINATOR Collin Rohr NATIONAL MARKETING DIRECTOR Jennifer Robinson REGIONAL MARKETING & PROMOTIONS MANAGER Leah Beard MARKETING & PROMOTIONS MANAGER Lexie Nolen EVENT MARKETING COORDINATOR Jenna Ketter V Digital Services VMG SALES DIRECTOR Ryan Daughtry SALES ENABLEMENT MANAGER Allisen Picos DIGITAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Shelby Holloway Circulation CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Carlos Garcia Business GROUP PUBLISHER Stuart Folb BUSINESS MANAGER Kelly Foster FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT Kimberly Holleyhead BUSINESS COORDINATOR Amber Friend Voice Media Group EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christine Brennan EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR Andy Van De Voorde CORPORATE CONTROLLER Beth Cook LEGAL COUNSEL Steve Suskin CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jeff Mars CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Scott Tobias TABLE of Contents MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2014 DALLAS OBSERVER | CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | MOVIES | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | SCHUTZE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS | dallasobserver.com
