Aunt Stelle’s

One more weekend and summer is officially over! Aunt Stelle’s Sno Cones will be open Labor Day weekend including Monday and then no more sno cones until until Summer ’11! I’ve meant to get there all summer and finally checked out this highly recommended spot today. It lived up to my expectations. It’s the ultimate sno cone stand. Located right in a residential neighborhood of Oak Cliff and shaded by a huge pecan tree, this decades-old institution had a steady stream of driving and pedestrian customers. Truly snowy ice and 29 flavors that they’ll mix as you like – great refreshment on a hot day. Open last Sunday in April through Labor Day, 2pm until exactly 9:00 Mondays through Thursdays. Located at 2002 W. Clarendon in Oak Cliff.

The Long Summer

I’ve been a slacker this summer. I must admit that when the extreme heat hits, it’s a little less tempting to get out and maybe even a little harder to brag on Dallas. But when the “cold front” arrived yesterday and I realized that the State Fair is right around the corner, I started thinking of what to feature next. We also have a new house guest, an exchange student from Korea. Suddenly I’m seeing things through the eyes of a teenager who is new not just to Dallas, but to the country. Should give me some new perspectives!

Here’s where I need the help of my readers. Suggestions? Recommendations? I would love to check out the places that you find to be unique to this area, and to hear why. And I’d love to know what you think are the best places to show off to someone entirely new to the country and the area!

(P.S. Can’t they just call them “less-hot fronts”?)

Into My Garden

We’ll probably never sell our house, because our thoughts of where to live next usually take divergent directions. Every time the subject comes up, my husband starts longing for the peace and quiet of moving further out. I’m liking the new “urban” areas sprouting up along the DART rail, and could probably enjoy a move further in toward downtown. My favorites are the stops that were once town centers and still offer the best of old and new, like downtown Carrollton and historical downtown Plano. Into My Garden is a cute little tearoom in Nooks ‘n Krannies mall on 15th and K Avenue in Plano. I had a wonderful salad and my sister enjoyed her quiche. Quilts and table linens, china like your grandmother’s house, and a quiet place to visit all made it a delightful stop on a hot day. Nooks ‘n Krannies is also one of the better malls I’ve seen of its kind (even if they do spell Krannies with a K). Quality items artfully displayed; especially fun if you’re shopping for children. The entire neighborhood is a pleasant pedestrian area with shops, restaurants, and close proximity to Haggard Park and Plano’s Courtyard Theater.