Has anyone noticed how full the square is feeling? Head down there and sit on the lawn on any weekday or even Sunday night right now and you’ll be impressed with the amount of foot traffic and activity there is. Why do you think that is? We’d like to suggest that the combination of East Side Social Club, Oak Street Draft House, and LSA are pretty big factors. Couple the crop of new businesses with some good weather and you’ve got the perfect storm of foot traffic downtown that results in some real strides made in economic development. We’re going to predict that First Friday at the end of the week is going to be gang-busters and it’s our hope that the long-term effect is more shops, open later, more variety and higher quality. Just make sure ya pick up your trash, though. We will have hit our apex when the first late night artisanal toast shop opens. How’s that for vision?

Questions, comments, rumors and truths may be directed toward glen@wedentondoit.com

Wednesday, April 22nd
The Band Of Heathens | Dan’s Silverleaf | 8PM | $15
One of the greatest live bands you’ll see at Dan’s. Hands down.

Thursday, April 3rd
Gasland 2 Screening: A Denton Premier | Dan’s Silverleaf | 7:30PM
We wonder what they’ll light on fire for this one. This free event is put on by the Frack Free Denton folks who are collecting signatures for a referendum on tracking in Denton so there’s an agenda behind the screening but it’s still a free movie at Dan’s and there will probably be free popcorn.

Friday, April 4th
Mother Falcon / Leoncarlo / Chinaski | Dan’s Silverleaf | 8PM | $15
This fantastic young band of string players rolls through Denton on an already packed night of events. This will be a good place to end up after taking in all the square’s got to offer. Thank us later.

DIME Store Birthday Bash | The DIME Store | 6PM
One of our favorites turns one this Thursday. Time to PAR-TAY. Also, this party continues on over to Saturday, yo.

First Friday | Downtown | 6PM
Shops stay open late and the streets will be full of folks taking in our beautiful square. There’s no excuse to not go to this and check out all that downtown’s got going for it right now.

Saturday, April 5th
Market Opening Day 2014 | Denton County Historical Park | 9AM
Finally it’s here! Saturday mornings really aren’t the same when you can’t meet up with a few folks, down a locally roasted coffee and sample some food-truck faire while counting the goat soap. We can’t wait to see what new stands, new items and fresh faces will be out. Spring is here, y’all.

Denton Mud Run | Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch | 7:30AM
If running a 5K through mud and obstacles sounds like your idea of awesome then have we got an event for you.

Dan’s & Little Guys Annual Crawfish Boil | Dan’s Silverleaf | 3PM | $15
This is as Denton as it gets. Complete the incredible Jay B and the Zydeco Posse. Eat and dance your face off.

Monday, April 7th
Saintseneca / Blessed Feathers / Nite | Dan’s Silverleaf | 8PM | $13
Here’s a nice Monday offering. Touring bands supported by Nite. Not bad for a Monday at Dan’s.

Sip’nScience | Oak Street Draft House | 4PM
Another fundraiser for the Explorium Denton people which will feature bar games and food trucks. You know, normal Denton stuff. We’d like to suggest a Slip’nSip benefit featuring a gigantic slip’n slide going down the hill on Oak St. past ESCC.

March 26, 2018

EVEN MORE DENTON WOMEN OF DISTINCTION

Women’s History Month is the perfect time to revisit some of the amazing Denton ladies who have been town saviors, trailblazers, hellraisers, social activists, and pioneers. Heck, over at TWU is the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame and the archives for the WWII WASP Archives, so you know there are stories a’plenty to tell. Here are a few more of our local favorites, including a 1920’s newspaper publisher, a tiny songstress with a big voice, and a political crusader.

It's Time For Taste of North Texas

Once a year in Denton, many of our local restaurants and bars get together for a good cause and make their food and drinks available for roughly the price of a single restaurant meal. This year’s event will feature around 35 participants, including a great mix of established Denton institutions (hi, Beth Marie’s!) and places that are new to Denton.

February 19, 2018

2018 DENTON MINI MAKER FAIRE

What image pops into your head when someone uses the word “maker”?

The images that tend to appear in the mind—not to mention Google’s image search—involve wires and circuit boards. As important as those skills and the people who enjoy them are, they only represent one type of maker. Many skills can fall under the maker umbrella, whether it’s programming robots to make pancakes or turning a bicycle wheel into a musical instrument. Artists, scientists, crafters, and engineers can all be considered makers. If you can take a set of materials and transform them into something cool, you are welcome in the maker community!

December 1, 2017

DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO

One of our favorite holiday traditions, the Holiday Lighting Festival, is this weekend. The annual free event features music, food, performances, a toy drive, and various other holiday activities. Happening simultaneously to the Holiday Lighting Festival is Wassail Weekend. Dozens of local shops extend their hours and welcome patrons to sample their wassail, a hot cider-like beverage. Wassail Weekend On Friday evening the Downtown Denton square will be shut down to traffic to make way for wassail-guzzling pedestrians to walk around and enjoy all of the festivities. You'll find us circled 'round the tree like the Whos down in Whoville, holding hands and singing with joy. We're not sure who the Grinch is in this situation, though.

If you plan on coming out to sample the wassail and find the joy of the holiday in your cold, black heart, here are our tips and tricks to making sure you get to squeeze as much holiday cheer out of the event as possible.

November 9, 2017

THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER

There’s been a lot of buzz around the recent arrival of the oft-rumored Fine Arts Theater hitting the real estate market, with a hefty pricetag in the ballpark of $1.5 million. Owned by the McBride family since 1983 with high hopes of renovation, there were overtures in 2014 and then renewed interest in 2016 but alas… it has never come to pass. A recent episode of the Politically Denton podcast explored some of the backstory and future possibilities, but I figured it would be a hoot to have a look back at the history of this iconic spot from back in the day.

November 7, 2017

THE BEST THANKSGIVING WE EVER HAD

Ever been to a pop-up dinner? More over, ever heard of a pop-up dinner? The events are normally one-offs in which facilities become restaurants for one night only and feature special food prepared by up and coming chefs. Pop-up dinners are gaining in popularity across the country and you have a chance to check one out in Denton this week! On November 9th at Denton County Brewing Company there will be a pop-up dinner featuring the food of Chef Chad Kelley from Barley and Board that will be paired with beers selected by Seth Morgan of Denton County Brewing Company. Read on to find out more info on this great Denton dining opportunity.

November 1, 2017

DENTON STARTUP WEEKEND 2017

Entrepreneur. It’s kind of a dumb word if you think about it, and to most people (especially students) it carries some buzzwords with it that seem very business-y. When I first heard “entrepreneur," I thought to myself, “That’s for people in the college of business.” It never really struck me as, “I’m an entrepreneur,” even though looking back on my life, I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was a kid. Everything from trading Pokémon cards, making beaded bracelets and necklaces, and burning CDs for friends before we learned we probably shouldn’t were all entrepreneurial endeavors that were abundant in my youth (as they probably were in yours).

That’s the thing, though. Being an entrepreneur isn’t about putting on a suit jacket or making apps. It’s about making a living doing something you love, while making sure other people love it too (that’s what we call customer validation). And this is one of the things I learned going through Startup Weekend.

Click through to read more about the upcoming Startup Weekend taking place in Denton, TX.

October 31, 2017

STOKE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Since opening in August of 2016, Stoke, Denton’s entrepreneur center and co-working space, has provided space for local businesses, entrepreneurs, freelance workers, and remote workers. The center has also hosted a variety of educational, professional networking, and social events. There has been formal and informal mentoring for new entrepreneurs and collaboration between several of the businesses located at Stoke. All of these things have provided great benefit to Denton’s tech and business communities, allowing them to contribute more to the Denton community and economy.

THE DEN10: APRIL 2

SPONSORS:

RECENT POSTS:

WDDI FAVORITES: