Collin County Living Well Magazine January/February 2020

KEEP WARM OR GET OUT EITHER WAY, DART’S YOUR TICKET W hen winter winds blow, DART can help stave off the cold by taking you to an array of cozy destinations. On the other hand, we’re lucky to get some winter days that are crisp but not cold, when a comfy sweater and the great outdoors beckon. DART’s got you covered there, too. Come in from the cold … Grab a cup A hot drink at Rosalind Coffee will warm you. A short walk from Downtown Garland Station and nestled on the town square, it’s cozy and invit- ing, and uses some of the most expertly roasted beans around. Grab a window ta- ble and take in the quaint scene, where shopping and dining options abound. Or hit Downtown Plano Station and head to 1418 Coffee- house, a quintessentially in- die spot with comfy couches, locally sourced coffee and a wide selection of tea, all in cool early 20th-century digs. Cozy up to a fire A roaring fire staves off the chill and DART delivers you to “hot” spots where you can take your food and drink hearthside. The Rustic boasts several fire pits in its large yard, and live Texas music on its stage. The popular favorite is next to Uptown/Cityplace Station. Monica’s Tex-Mex Cantina near Cedars Station not only has a hot menu and awesome cocktails, it also offers both a super-cool indoor fire pit with mid-century swank to spare, as well as a rustic version outside. Turn up the heat. The spicy kind, that is. Zest Fest aims for a weekend of forehead sweat, with the spiciest food from around the country in one place. If you like it hot, you’ll find yourself right at home, with thousands of options to sample. Add cooking demos, live music and contests, and you’ve got the ingredients you need to crank up the heat. The zest happens Jan. 24-26 at the Irving Convention Cen- ter, a short walk from Irving Convention Center Station. Take in a show. An evening – or matinee – at the theater can take you to another time and place, and DART serves three of the area’s best venues. Near Addison Transit Cen- ter, revisit the timeless Harvey at WaterTower Theatre from Feb. 6th - 23rd. For more nostalgic fun, check out The Drowsy Chaperone from Jan. 30th - Feb. 23rd. The parody of 1920s musicals plays at The Firehouse Theatre, right across the street from Farmers Branch Station. Keep the retro theme going when Frank, Dean and Sammy hit the Granville Arts Center, directly next to Downtown Garland Station. The Rat Pack Lounge runs from Jan. 16th - Feb. 2nd. Or be regaled with anecdotes of old-school Holly- wood when actress Renée Taylor brings My Life on a Diet to Richardson’s Eisemann Center, just across the plaza from Galatyn Park Station. The one-woman show is full of juicy reminiscences of her life in the movies, rubbing elbows with the likes of Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe. It runs Feb. 14th -16th. … or embrace the cool. Take a wild excursion One of the milder days in Febru- ary would be the perfect time to head to the Dallas Zoo. Especially since every day of the month is a Penguin Day – meaning it’s only $6 admission to check out the exotic animals, creepy reptiles and beautiful grounds that make the zoo such a gem. Dallas Zoo Station puts you at the front gate. Snow tube like a Northerner No matter the actual forecast, Frost Fest brings cold weather fun to Irving. Real (well, sort of) fluffy snow, a tubing hill and other wintry stuff will be at Cimarron Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 1st. Enjoy train rides, a photo station and more at this free annual event. Bus Route 401 departs from North Lake College Station and takes you straight to this picture-postcard winter festival. Go on the hunt Discover the art, culture and history that make the Downtown Plano Arts District such a cool, DART- able destinations – by participating in a scavenger hunt. Let’s Roam is an app-driven activity that’s great for groups, and lets you select your own time. It’s perfect for a sunny winter day, and afterwards, all the shops and restaurants clustered near Downtown Plano Station await you and your crew. Check out letsroam.com for details. Go small or go home Nothing beats a day spent explor- ing a neighborhood and browsing independent, locally owned shops and restaurants. On the first Saturday of each month, the merchants of Historic Downtown Carroll- ton go all out for Shop Small Saturday. The shops are all open, the atmosphere’s chill, and – hey – if you actually catch a chill, just go inside one of the district’s eclectic boutiques or eateries. The neighborhood lies just south of Downtown Carrollton Station. COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 23

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