Sponsored: Light Up the Holidays at Mockingbird Station

Mockingbird Station is urging patrons to make the season brighter for families in need by decorating a special tree for Touching Our World organization’s Project Christmas Hope November 25 – December 5. Beginning November 25, visitors can stop by Lavo Collections, Michael Raymond Salon, Movida, Relativity Outdoors and Rockfish and purchase a $2 ornament at checkout to place on each store’s holiday tree. On December 9, the trees will be collected and dropped off at the homes of local families in need of holiday trees. All of the proceeds from the ornaments will go to the Touching Our World organization’s mission of promoting education, social services, health and spirituality in service to the community. Join them in lighting up the holidays for a special family this season!

For more information, visit Mockingbirdstation.com/events or Touchingourworld.org.

This post was brought to you by Mockingbird Station:

Sponsored: Cook for a Cause on November 14

Sponsored: The People's Last Halloween Bash

Join CultureMap Nightlife Editor Jonathan Rienstra and The Dallas Diva Farah Fleurima as they host a sinister pre-Halloween evening of decadent complimentary bites, a cauldron of custom cocktails, music by DJ Blake Ward, classic slasher flicks, our favorite fortune teller and more at The People's Last Stan in Mockingbird Station. Two sinfully fabulous prizes will be given for the best costumed guests, so don’t forget the fake blood!

This post was brought to you by Mockingbird Station:

Chef Blythe Beck Cooks for a Cause on April 25

See how I did that... I get to hang out with celebrity Chef Blythe Beck on April 25 and schmooze, sip and graze with the cool kids - all while raising money for a great cause. I love it when that happens. Seats are limited so please grab your ticket TODAY!!

Spring-a-Ding-Ding, Vegas Style

Cynthia Smoot, Sean Charles, Lisa Petty, Ugo Ihemelu and Priya Bhola Rathold

Last Thursday, the young and fashionable headed to the Mezzanine outside of the Angelika Theater at Mockingbird Station for a What to Wear Spring-a-Ding-Ding Fashion Show hosted by DFW Style Daily. My dear friend and editor, Lisa Petty, was brave enough to let me join her fashion panel along with Priya Bhola Rathod and Sean Charles of DFW Style Daily, and Ugo Ihemelu of FC Dallas. Vegas-inspired fashions had been curated by Petty and came from Mockingbord Station retailers including Movida Boutique, LOFT, Urban Outfitters, Relativity Outdoors, Gap, Francesca’s Collections, and Victoria’s Secret.  The evening capped off with a concert from crooner Ricki Derek.  To see more photos from this event, visit DFW Style Daily on Facebook.

Oh So Tasty: Chicken Stuffed Avocado at The People's Last Stand

Last week I was invited to a media lunch to sample the new menu at The People's Last Stand in Mockingbird Station.  People's has been open for a year and until this luncheon, I had never been. Not for any other reason, than it used to be primarily a bar and, well, my hanging out at bar days are kind of far behind me.  The place has a super cool vibe. Lots of couches and club chairs. Very loungey, but it a sophisticated way. There are also many 4-top tables and high-cocktail tables as well, if lounging isn't your thing.

We nibbled on several items, but the standout for me was the Chicken Stuffed Avocado. For $10 you get an entire avocado that's been halved and filled with a mixture of chicken, shallots, garlic, cilantro, lime, Colby and spiced Cheddar cheese. It's served in a shallow bowl that's been prepped with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkled with mustard seeds. It's fresh and light but the mixture is rich and filling. It's a heavenly combination.

Oh So Tasty: Smashburger

(top) Jalapeno Bacon Burger (bottom) SmashFries, Sweet Potato
SmashFries and Haystack Onions

Smashburger recently opened their 11th Dallas-area location in Mockingbird Station and invited me to come by for a media lunch to sample their menu. I've eaten at a Smashburger before. They have a BBQ, Bacon and Cheddar burger that I like, but I'd never given them much thought. After the meal I had that day, I've been thinking about them... a lot!

Smashburger is an American chain of fast casual burger restaurants that originated in Denver, Colorado. Originally named IconBurger, the name Smashburger was introduced when it was thought to better explain the process of how its burgers are cooked: they are smashed onto the grill using a metal plate thus searing in the juices.

Smashburger was founded in 2007 by Tom Ryan, a veteran of fast food chains including Quiznos, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Long John Silver's. At McDonald's he introduced the company's thin crust pizza, McGriddles, and the McFlurry. Ryan felt burgers had become bland, mass-produced and boring. He wanted to develop a restaurant that put the excitement back into a hamburger.

Smashburger's menu features burgers, but they also offer grilled and fried chicken on their sandwiches, a handful of salads, some tasty sides and delicious milkshakes made with Haagen Das ice cream.  Some standouts on the menu are the Jalapeno Bacon Burger (developed especially for the Texas market), Spinach Goat Cheese Chicken Sandwich, Sweet Potato Smashfries and (my favorite) the Salted Caramel Milkshake.

Smashburger's goal is to deliver a "better burger". In my book, they have succeeded. And how!