Local readers may still think of 216 W. Mulberry St. as The Filling Station. Today the building holds several small businesses. Rowdy Return, a sustainable living shop, and Malibu Matcha, a new concept from the founders of Eagle Cawffee, are already open. Burnout Vintage sells vintage clothing in the same space. Velcrokid, an art gallery and designer toy store that started in Lewisville, expects to open there on Nov. 6, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle.
The date matters because Nov. 6 starts a run of downtown events that lasts every weekend until Thanksgiving. New places to eat are close to most of them: a smokehouse on Hickory and an Indian restaurant on South Elm that both opened in September, and a coffee shop on East Sycamore. So November gives you a different reason to go downtown each weekend, plus a new place to eat or browse nearby.
Nov. 6 to 8: Velcrokid's opening weekend is also The Mousetrap's
The first weekend is the busiest, with three events in walking distance of the Square.
- Velcrokid at 216 W. Mulberry St. The gallery and designer toy store expects to open Friday, Nov. 6, alongside Rowdy Return, Burnout Vintage and Malibu Matcha.
- "The Mousetrap" at the Historic Campus Theatre, 214 W. Hickory St. Theatre Denton's production of the Agatha Christie whodunit plays in the Point Bank Auditorium Nov. 6 to 8 and again Nov. 12 to 15. Evening shows start at 7:30 p.m., weekend matinees at 2 p.m., and tickets start at $20.
- The Alternative Gifts Fair at First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Locust St. The annual fair has more than 30 booths supporting local and international causes, with artisan crafts from around the world. Friday admission starts at $5, and Saturday and Sunday are free.
Those three cover a Saturday from late morning to curtain time. Start with matcha on Mulberry and browse the fair on Locust while admission is free. Then go to the 2 p.m. matinee, or eat first and see the 7:30 show.
For a sit-down meal in between, Nandi's opened Sept. 17 at 508 S. Elm St., Suite 105. Community Impact reports the menu includes biryani, mandi, tandoor-cooked dishes, curries and chaat.
If your weekend is about the backyard, Saturday also has a free Backyard Chickens session from 11 a.m. to noon at 3310 Collins Road. Joann Grope of the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association will cover natural fertilizing, pest control and fresh eggs. If that time doesn't work, Denton County AgriLife has a backyard poultry training on Nov. 12.
Nov. 15: The Sunday crawl ends near the newest barbecue
Week two moves from shopping to food. The Downtown Denton Mac and Cheese Fest runs Sunday, Nov. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It starts at Oak Street Drafthouse and Cocktail Parlor, 308 E. Oak St., and moves to other downtown venues. Community Impact counts more than 25 macaroni and cheese dishes from local restaurants. Tickets start at $25, and the money goes to Denton ISD lunches.
The crawl wraps up at 2:30 on a Sunday. Smithers Smokehouse at 300 Hickory St., open since Sept. 26, serves until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. The menu includes chopped brisket, burnt ends, St. Louis-style ribs, beef ribs and turkey. It also offers mac and cheese, if the crawl didn't fill you up. Founder Cody Smithers told Community Impact the outdoor bar and patio are dog-friendly. The restaurant took over the space Shine it Auto Detail used before the shop moved to West Parkway Street.
If you'd like coffee before the crawl, try Zeal Grounds, a coffee shop and co-working space at 650 E. Sycamore St. The Record-Chronicle reported it has held a soft opening.
Nov. 20 and 21: A Friday show, then a Saturday with two start times
The weekend before Thanksgiving fits the most into the least time. On Friday, Dan's Silverleaf at 103 Industrial St. hosts The Willie Specials, a group of musicians paying tribute to Willie Nelson, at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $12. Community Impact notes that only standing-room tickets are available at the door, with no table reservations.
On Saturday, the two events don't overlap, so you can do both.
| Saturday, Nov. 21 | Start | Where it begins | Price starts at | Proceeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey Roll Bicycle Rally | 9 a.m. | 3001 Bronco Way | $15 | Denton Breakfast Kiwanis Club causes for children and local projects |
| Craft Beer Crawl | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | 110 W. Hickory St. | $20 | Downtown Denton Foundation |
The Turkey Roll has four routes, from 8 to 62 miles, with rest stops stocked by Raising Cane's and Rudy's Bar-B-Q. If you ride the 8-mile route, you'll have plenty of time to get downtown before the Craft Beer Crawl starts at 1. The crawl stops at several downtown beer spots pouring beers from Denton breweries and ends with a door prize drawing.
"The Mousetrap" isn't on this weekend's calendar. Its final performance is Sunday, Nov. 15, the same day as the Mac and Cheese Fest.
Thanksgiving morning goes around the Square
The Denton Area Running Club holds the 11th annual Downtown Denton Turkey Trot 5K on Thursday, Nov. 26, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. It starts at 300 E. McKinney St. and runs through Texas Woman's University and around the Square. Registration starts at $50. Kids can do the Gobble Wobble 1K for $15.
The race is done by 10:30, so families can get home well before most Thanksgiving dinners.
Nov. 28 moves to the mall, and Dec. 5 brings everything back to Quakertown Park
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the only weekend this month without a downtown event. Hart and Guin Photography hosts the Second Annual Santa's Christmas Market at Golden Triangle Mall, 2201 S. Interstate 35 E. It runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 28, with more than 40 vendors and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission is free. The mall is also home to Alpaca Moona, a new shop selling handcrafted Peruvian goods.
If the weather is bad over the holiday weekend, Urban Air Adventure Park at 3615 E. McKinney St. was scheduled for a soft opening on Halloween. It is the chain's first Denton location, with trampolines, slides, climbing walls and an obstacle course. Owner Dev Ray told Community Impact the park would bring 35 to 50 part- and full-time jobs.
Then the season comes back downtown. The Denton Holiday Lighting Festival, a Denton tradition since 1988, takes over Quakertown Park at 215 E. McKinney St. on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 9 p.m. The tree lighting is at 5:45 p.m. Here is the Tree Lighting Stage lineup from the official schedule:
- Lady Cass and The Fellas, 3 to 3:45 p.m.
- Denton ISD Mariachi, 4 to 5:15 p.m.
- Denton Community Band, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.
- Festival Ballet of North Texas, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
- Brave Combo, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
The festival homepage mentions the Holly Jolly Trolley, but the festival map still says it "will be available later this year." Check back before you plan parking.
At Miranda Realty Team, we love seeing our neighbors fill new storefronts like the ones on Mulberry, and we keep an eye on how changes like these play into home values across Denton. If you're curious what your home is worth this season, just ask. Get Your Free Home Valuation.
