Next Sunday (July 27), 4064 W University Dr becomes home to a 40,000-square-foot entertainment complex set to be the largest Dave & Buster's in all of North Texas. The grand opening ribbon cutting is at 9:30am - and the first 100 guests through the door get free all-day gameplay. No purchase required.

For the uninitiated: Dave & Buster's is part sports bar, part arcade, part restaurant. The McKinney location is the latest addition to the entertainment corridor along University Drive, joining TopGolf and Andretti Indoor Karting as the area cements its position as a go-to family and date-night destination.

At 40,000 sq ft, this isn't just another strip mall restaurant - it's an anchor tenant that signals real developer confidence in McKinney's growth. University Drive has added significant entertainment retail over the past three years, and this one is the biggest of the bunch.

Mark it: Sunday July 27, 9:30am ribbon cutting at 4064 W University Dr. Be in the first 100. (Source: Event Sales Manager Jeff York / Dave & Buster's McKinney)

McKinney's newest facial bar just held its grand opening last Saturday, July 18. Face Foundrié specializes in 30-minute express facials - results-driven treatments you can fit between errands - plus curated skincare retail. The launch party brought free facials, swag bags, giveaways, and local vendors.

Now open | 8701 W University Dr, Ste 400, McKinney, TX

This season, I’m reaching for something different: Vesper by Pique.

Pique is known for blending ancient botanicals with modern science to create elevated wellness essentials. Vesper might be my favorite yet. It’s a non-alcoholic, adaptogenic aperitif that delivers the relaxed, social glow of a cocktail. Without alcohol or the next-day fog.

It’s what I pour when I want something special in my glass on a bright spring evening. Each sip feels celebratory and uplifting. Relaxed body. Clear mind. No haze. No sleep disruption.

Crafted with L-theanine, lemon balm, gentian root, damiana, and elderflower, Vesper is sparkling, tart, and beautifully herbaceous.

If you’re ready for a new kind of happy hour, try Vesper here. 🌿✨

Get 10% off for life

The extended Runway 18 at McKinney National Airport (TKI/DTX) became operational at 6am CDT today (July 20), following a brief closure July 17-20 for final construction work. With this infrastructure complete, McKinney's airport is now runway-ready for commercial air service - Avelo Airlines kicks off nonstop flights November 11, 2026 from the airport's new 46,000 sq ft terminal. (Source: McKinney National Airport / City of McKinney Newsflash, July 15, 2026)

The McKinney Performing Arts Center - housed inside the original 1875 Collin County Courthouse at the heart of downtown - remains on track for a Fall 2026 reopening following its most significant renovation in decades. The project is restoring original Victorian decorative elements to the 150-year-old building and adding a new basement gallery space. Downtown's arts anchor is coming back. (Source: City of McKinney, 2026)

Bring a piece of McKinney home with our beautifully detailed printed city map. Hang it on your wall and impress your visitors with this museum-quality Giclée print with rich, fade-resistant color and exceptional sharpness. Shipping fee temporarily only $1.19.

🥁 DCI: Drum Corps International
Precision marching, wall-of-sound brass, and tightly choreographed field shows from corps competing across the country - all at McKinney ISD Stadium. If you've never seen DCI live, the sound alone is worth the ticket. Starts at 8PM when the heat advisory has passed.
McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, 8PM (ticketed)

♟️ Chess Night
Show up, grab a pint, and test your endgame. McKinney Chess Night draws a mix of casual players and serious club members - beginners welcome, no registration needed.
Lion & Crown McKinney, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy APT 1600, 6-9PM (Free)

💃 Free Line Dancing Class in McKinney
Boots optional, good times mandatory. Instructor-led beginner line dancing at District 121 - no experience needed, just willingness to look slightly ridiculous in the best way.
District 121, 5800 Town and Country Blvd, 6:30-8:30PM (Free)

🎸 Mr. Blue Sky - An ELO Tribute
Living thing, living thing - and this Tuesday it's living at Harvest. Mr. Blue Sky brings the full Electric Light Orchestra catalog to life with tight harmonies and serious '70s energy. Great date night fuel.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St, 6:30-9:30PM

🍷 Premium Wine + Hutchins BBQ Pairing Experience
This is the Tuesday night you didn't know you needed: Lone Star Winery pairs its premium selections with barbecue from Hutchins BBQ in a guided tasting. Brisket and bordeaux? Sold.
Lone Star Winery, 103 E Virginia St, 7-8:30PM (ticketed)

🏓 Pickleball Vibes - Epic Edition (Indoors)
Two reserved indoor courts at Courts of McKinney - 5 players per court, 1.5 hours of action. $8 gets you in. All skill levels welcome; reserve your spot in advance via Zelle (details in Meetup event).
Courts of McKinney, 3253 Alma Road, 8:30-10:30PM ($8)

🎸 Justin Till
Singer-songwriter Justin Till takes the Harvest stage for a three-hour midweek set of acoustic-leaning originals and covers. Intimate, unhurried, and the best non-zero thing you'll do on a Wednesday night.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St, 6:30-9:30PM

🎤 Open Mic Hosted by Dana Wells
Every Wednesday the Brass Tap hands the mic to McKinney locals for four hours of acoustic sets, original songs, and raw talent. Dana Wells hosts - the kind of low-key Wednesday night that makes you glad you left the couch.
The Brass Tap - McKinney, 4030 W University Dr Ste 100, 8PM-12AM (Free)

🏛️ Chestnut Square Village Tour
Guided walk through McKinney's preserved 19th-century heritage village - restored buildings, real history, knowledgeable guides who actually make it interesting. A walk through time that doesn't require a textbook.
Chestnut Square Historic Village, 315 S Chestnut St, 11AM-late ($10 adults / $7 students, seniors & military)

🦆 Silly Goose Wall Hanging or Shelf Sitter
Porch Goose fever hit McKinney - and now you can make your own for a fraction of the store price. Build a wall hanging or shelf sitter goose plus 4 seasonal accessories (sunflowers, fall leaves, Halloween, Christmas) at this Paint & Sip craft night at Boom. All supplies included, full bar on site. 21+, only 12 spots.
Boom Restaurant and Bar, 9055 N Cotton Ridge Rd, 6:30-8:30PM ($37-$45)

🎸 Paul Renna Live
Paul Renna brings a long Thursday evening of originals and fan favorites to Harvest. His shows go deep into the catalog - fans stay the full run.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St, 6:30-11PM

🎸 Tony Vea Live Music
McKinney's favorite neighborhood pub hands Thursday night over to Tony Vea for a three-hour set of live Texas sound. Free to walk in, pints encouraged, good vibes guaranteed.
Lion & Crown McKinney, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy APT 1600, 7-10PM (Free)

There's a restaurant at 311 E. Louisiana Street that has been feeding McKinney since 1988. No rebrands, no Instagram pivots, no trendy reimaginings - just Adelina Ortega starting her day before sunrise making tortillas and tamales from scratch, the same way she has for the past 23 years.

Juarez Mexican Restaurant opened in McKinney back in 1988, just as the city was beginning its slow transformation from small agricultural town to suburban destination. Manuel and Adelina Ortega took over ownership in 2003, buying the business from the original owner after Manuel's sisters - who worked there - mentioned it was available. Manuel had a simple answer when asked why: "I wanted to own my own business." The recipes came with the deal.

The menu reads like a greatest hits of authentic and Tex-Mex cooking: caldo de res (a rich Mexican beef soup that Manuel says is consistently the top seller), chicken enchiladas, chili con queso, breakfast plates served all day, and Adelina's specialty - enchiladas a la crema, two chicken enchiladas topped with the house sour cream sauce for $9.95. About 45% of their business is repeat customers, many of whom have been eating there since childhood.

What's kept them going for almost four decades while countless other downtown spots have cycled in and out? Manuel points to two things: flavor and price. "Lower-than-expected prices" is how he describes what surprises first-timers. That, and 10-hour days, seven days a week, from two people who have made McKinney home for 24 years. (Source: Community Impact, July 16, 2026)

Mon: ☀️ Sunny and hot, heat advisory in effect (heat index up to 108°F), high 100°F
Tue: ☀️ Sunny and hot, heat index reaching 109°F, high 103°F
Wed: ☀️ Sunny and very hot, high 104°F
Thu: ☀️ Sunny and hot, high 100°F

Triple digits all week. Stay hydrated, limit outdoor time midday, and keep an eye on kids and pets. 🪴

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