An Oak Cliff taqueria will close its doors at the end of 2026, ending nearly 37 years serving the neighborhood. Cafeteria y Loncheria El Padrino, the brightly painted-brick gem at 408 W. Jefferson Blvd., will lose its lease at the end of December, according to Juan Contreras, son of the restaurant's owner.

With early application season in full swing, two Dallas-area universities are racking up new accolades on a new list of the 10 best Texas colleges for 2027.

A new drive-thru beverage shop is bringing tropical-inspired drinks, matcha, nitro cold brew, and house-baked treats to The Colony. Called Sunfly, the shop will debut Friday, October 16 at 4740 S. Colony Blvd.

An annual trolley-themed tasting party and fundraiser this week will feature some of the best bites and beverages from restaurants along Dallas' M-Line route. Also this week is the Dallas debut of a Mexican wine, which includes a guided tasting; a bourbon workshop; and a doughnut decorating session for a good cause. The week wraps with an opulent champagne dinner at one of Dallas' hottest new restaurants.

If local pumpkin patches and haunted houses aren't quite scary enough, it is time to plan a Halloween-themed road trip. The brave can explore everything from haunted hotels and cemeteries to ghostly aircraft carriers, and even ride in a decked-out hearse. No plane tickets are required; just round up some brave friends, pack snacks, and hit the road for a weekend of one or more of these creepy thrills.

A celebrity chef's duck-fat-fried chicken will soon be satiating hungry crowds at a bustling Irving entertainment center. Chef Tiffany Derry's Roots Chicken Shak has plans for a second location at Toyota Music Factory in the Las Colinas area.

Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week includes the passing of a local restaurant legend and the reveal of the new Michelin Guide. Plus, future plans for Dallas' beloved Neiman Marcus bridal salon and restaurant. Read on for our most popular stories, then plan your weekend right here.

CultureMap's monthly Where to Eat column highlighting the best restaurants to try returns for October with a theme of new and diverse. Every restaurant on this list is a recent arrival, including at least one that has been open for only a day. If you want hot, fresh, and new, you've come to the right list.

For every well-known/successful actor in Hollywood, there are thousands of others whose lives are more tenuous as they struggle to find work. The new film Misty Green is about one such actor who, after a period in the limelight, now finds herself on the outskirts of the industry, just hoping to find her way back in.

A prolific eatery famous for its customizable menu featuring proprietary crazy feta and healthy bowls is under construction in Oak Cliff. The fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava is building a branch at 671 W. Illinois Aven., in Wynnewood Village, which continues to undergo a multi-million-dollar redevelopment project.

Canadian rock band Nickelback will embark on their Everything Under The Sun Tour in 2027, a massive global arena run that will include a stop at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday, April 27.

A Houston investor has snapped up a mixed-use portfolio of nine buildings in the Bishop Arts District, the second Bishop Arts property acquisition since August.

Five Texas-made products took top honors in Quest for Texas Best, the annual competition hosted by Texas supermarket chain H-E-B, sharing $110,000 in cash prizes, as well as a chance to be sold at H-E-B stores.

An acclaimed Mexican restaurant in Plano is expanding: Mexican Bar Company, which has been a bright spot at The Shops at Willow Bend for eight years, will open a second location in Allen at 800 Shelby Dr. in Sloan Corners, a master-planned community from the Billingsley Company located at the intersection of SH-121 and US-75.

North Texas is in the middle of the pack for women in tech, a new report says.

The State Fair of Texas is offering yet another way to save at this year's event: Free parking for one day only on Friday, October 9.

The 2010 film The Social Network -- about the early years of Facebook after Mark Zuckerberg created the social media site -- was a landmark movie in many ways. But given the time it was made -- just four years after it went public beyond colleges -- the impact Facebook had on society was minimal compared to what it is today (the film's tagline references 500 million users on Facebook; there are now over 3 billion).

From Pilates high above the Dallas skyline and outdoor HIIT to hiking, yoga, wellness pop-ups, and even a little downward dog with actual goats, this month's fitness calendar is decidedly more social -- and more adventurous -- than another hour on the treadmill.

The Texas restaurant scene is once again in the international spotlight. On the morning of October 8, the Michelin Guide revealed its statewide selections for 2026 via press release, breaking from its invite-only ceremony of the previous two years.

A sprawling Uptown Dallas restaurant known for its posh atmosphere, scenic rooftop views, and all-day dining has announced a date for its anticipated Plano debut. The Henry will open its second Dallas-area location on Wednesday, October 21 at 7700 Windrose Ave., in Plano's bustling Legacy West mixed-use center.

This busy weekend of new events in and around Dallas will be heavy on the performing arts; it includes seven theater productions, three dance events, and an opera. The other four options are concerts -- one featuring a video game, another from a rising pop star, a classic Halloween movie accompanied by a symphony, and a return visit from a country superstar. And don't forget about Texas/Oklahoma weekend at the State Fair, where students can use their free tickets.

A luxury steakhouse from a celebrated culinary family is coming to Dallas. Steak 48 will soon begin construction on a 14,000-square-foot restaurant in Dallas' Knox-Henderson area, at the corner of McKinney and Monticello avenues.

Trailblazing North Texas producer, director, and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan will add a new award to his shelf in 2027. Sheridan has been named one of two recipients of the History-Making Texan Award, which the Texas State History Museum Foundation (TSHMF) will present in Austin in spring 2027.

For 16 years, Chefs For Farmers Food & Wine has brought Dallas together around great food. But what began as a single farm dinner in 2010 has grown into something much bigger: a platform for the chefs, farmers, producers, restaurateurs, and hospitality leaders who continue to shape the city's food scene.

It's a good thing Dallas likes pubs, as a new one is coming to Lower Greenville. Called The Irish Goodbye, it'll open at 1928 Greenville Ave. in the space previously occupied by Hide, which closed in March.

The reality competition show Dancing with the Stars will once again go on tour in 2027, bringing their moves to more fans than ever in arenas, including a stop at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday, March 16.

Roughly 15 miles separate two fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, McKinney and Frisco. Yet they share highly coveted territory in the safety department.

Shopping at Round Top, Texas' famous antique shows can be daunting -- even for the most experienced pros. There is a lot of ground to cover, with shopping spread across miles of fields, barns, and venues along Highway 237.

The October edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column offering advice on the best cocktails to try around Dallas, has a slightly spooky theme. It includes the popular happy hours that are a common theme of Where to Drink, but also some special menus that celebrate fall.

A pizzeria born in East Dallas and famous for its unconventional toppings and extended hours is coming soon to Duncanville: Zalat Pizza will open Monday, October 12 at 325 S. Cedar Ridge Drive near Wheatland Road in the Aldi-anchored Cedar Park Shopping Center.

The rock band Staind will add on a second leg of their Break The Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour in 2027, which will include a stop at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas on Friday, March 19.

While no state is invulnerable, some do more to protect their residents than others. And a new study has declared Texas one of the five least safe states in America.

Multiple days of rain have put a damper on the 2026 State Fair of Texas, but Fair officials are turning that bad weather into a rainbow by allowing students to use their free tickets any day of the event, including the final two weekends.

A powerhouse Michelin-starred chef will stop over for an evening at his Dallas "den" to collab with executive-chef colleagues on an exclusive multi-course dinner. Throughout the week, a popular dry goods food truck will pop up around town to launch the latest in his sauce collection. A tantalizing Halloween-inspired afternoon tea tempts fans of the tradition with tiny sandwiches, scones, and sweet pastries, and a number of frightfully fun food events fill out the rest of the week and weekend.

The interior design experts at Houzz are unveiling the hottest renovation trends for Dallas homeowners who are ready to say goodbye their outdated bathrooms and step into updated, self-care retreats.

A powerhouse Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur will stop over for an evening at his Dallas "den" to collab with executive-chef colleagues on an exclusive multi-course wine-pairing dinner. Throughout the week, a popular dry goods food truck will pop up around town to launch the latest in his sauce collection. A tantalizing Halloween-inspired afternoon tea tempts fans of the tradition with tiny sandwiches, scones, and sweet pastries, and a number of frightfully fun food events fill out the rest of the week and weekend.

Halloween has long been about way more than the day itself, with all sorts of spooky and not-so-scary events throughout October to get people in the mood for the season.

Matthew Posey, the actor, director, and playwright who founded Ochre House Theater and was a founding father of Dallas' experimental theater scene, died at his home on October 2, 2026, the theater confirmed. He was 68.

East Texas is gaining a new state park at Lake Palestine that will include amenities like hike-and-bike trails, campsites, and lakefront access.

WHAT: New Friends New Life 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon

Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week includes a star-studded Dallas gala and the best small cities in America. Plus, local restaurants get into the State Fair spirit. Find our most popular stories below, then plan your weekend right here.

A Dallas restaurant legend has died: Michael "Mico" Rodriguez, dubbed the "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex," died on October 1; he was 68. According to a friend of the family, Rodriguez exhibited symptoms of a heart attack and died late Thursday night.

A Dallas restaurant legend has died: Michael "Mico" Rodriguez, dubbed the "Godfather of Dallas Tex-Mex," died on October 1; he was 68. According to a friend of the family, Rodriguez exhibited symptoms of a heart attack and died late Thursday night.

A Mexican restaurant with a killer happy hour has debuted in North Dallas: Alexander's Cantina & Cocina, a family-owned restaurant and bar, has opened at 4805 Frankford Rd. #105, a space most recently occupied by Casa Don Luis Tex-Mex and before that, a Corner Bakery.

For the very first time, the State Fair of Texas will welcome bands from a neighboring city to take over the stage for a day: Hear Fort Worth Day will spotlight Fort Worth musicians who will perform throughout the afternoon and evening on Monday, October 5.

CBS Sports and Tony Romo have officially parted ways, one month after the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Anne Hathaway has been inescapable for movie fans in 2026, starring in no fewer than five different movies across multiple genres, including Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, and The End of Oak Street. The actor (who's pregnant and about to take a well-earned break) is wrapping up her supremely busy year with the psychological thriller, Verity.

Three Texans have been named 2026 MacArthur Fellows, one of the most prestigious honors in the U.S. for artists, scientists, and scholars. Among them is Dallas historian and author Ariel Ron, who directs the Clements Center for Southwest Studies at Southern Methodist University.

The Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas closed its doors for good on September 30, and some longtime customers were so bereft, they dressed in black and laid flowers at the food of the entrance. Many took to social media to share memories of shopping for bridal gowns, dining at The Zodiac Room, and visiting with Santa at Christmas time.

WHAT: Farrah Fawcett Foundation 2026 Tex-Mex Fiesta