The on-demand rideshare program, already successful in its pilot year with 85,000 rides since last December, will continue in 2019
Early this December, the Arlington City Council approved a one-year contract renewal with Via Transportation, Inc. Via has been the provider of Arlington’s Via Rideshare Program that has celebrated more than 85,000 rides this year.
The Via public transportation pilot program serves residents, students and visitors six days a week. And with the abundant success the program has had, Via will increase its fleet from 13 to 15 vans in 2019.
Via operates six-passenger Mercedes Metris vans that have become recognized around Arlington as part of the Via Rideshare Program. And with more vehicles in 2019 will come more jobs in order to keep passengers’ waiting times below 12 minutes.
The many reasons for the program’s success have been apparent, which is why the Arlington City Council approved the program extension.
Via uses an app on your smart phone to provide on-demand trips between 6 am and 9pm Monday-Friday and from 9 am to 9pm on Saturdays. Passengers enjoy access to destinations all around Arlington, including Downtown, UT Arlington, major hospitals, the Entertainment District, the Parks Mall, Arlington Highlands, and the CentrePort TRE Station. The rideshare has no fixed routes or fixed schedules, as with traditional public transportation options, allowing for a personalized experience to get around the city with true convenience.
Trips cost $3 per passenger per trip. You can even buy a ViaPass for $15 per week and ride up to four times daily all week long.
Arlington, TX was one of the first cities in the U.S. to offer an on-demand rideshare program. Public transportation solutions today require innovative solutions and better city planning, which is why the City Council felt empowered to launch this program. Affordability and mobility are vital to residents’ quality of life, and it was with great satisfaction that the Council was able to approve the program for another year after its successful pilot in Arlington.
As the year comes to an end, Arlington, Texas is celebrating another successful year for the city, which has been one of leadership in the exploration of innovative technology connected to transport, economic, touristic and educational opportunities.
Arlington plans for a bright future are still a goal for the city in the coming year, according to Mayor Jeff Williams. He made a powerful and forward-facing statement at the 2018 State of the City address hosted by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, hosted at the Esports Stadium in Arlington that opened on December 12.
Williams stated, “our competitive, can-do spirit makes dreams a reality. It’s a positive spirit that has been demonstrated many times over with big initiatives throughout our history.” He went on to add, “we are home to a host of global, domestic and family-owned businesses. The American pride in our culturally-diverse citizens is undeniable.”
Arlington, which proudly dons the name The American Dream City, has had some significant milestones this year that are especially worth mentioning:
–The opening of Esports Stadium, the largest gaming and esports event facility in North America
–The new Texas Live! $250 million world-class dining, entertainment, and hospitality district
–Winning the 2018 National Gold Medal Award in Parks and Recreation
–Being named the best-run city in Texas
Arlington was also the first city in the United States to offer an autonomous shuttle service through the recent pilot program. Through collaboration with Drive.ai, now these shuttles are available for public use.
The progress of the city in the last years has been noticed around the world, and Richard Florida, the Director of Cities from the University of Toronto, stated that Arlington is “defining what it means to be an innovative city” and that he is amazed with the incredible progress that has been achieved.
The city has big plans for the future, and the major discussed some of those as well. These include Arlington serving as a home to XFL in 2020, whose games will be played at the Globe Life Park. Another exciting plan is the new Fine Arts Center and Athletics Complex expected to be finished in 2020. Many more achievements can be celebrated in coming years with the strong project-management that leads this city towards innovations and fruitful investments, including Rangers Kids Zone, and much more.
Ladi was born and raised in Nigeria and since then has lived in Texas and Kathmandu, Nepal. He completed a B.S in Mathematics at The University of Texas at Arlington and taught for 3 years, but is currently pursuing his music career at full force in the DFW.
Ladi began by teaching himself the guitar and drums. He has always been inspired to write deeper music that conveys an array of emotions. Ladi does not let anyone else’s boundaries determine his level of creativity or how his art should be produced.
His music career began with his stint in Kathmandu, Nepal where Ladi collaborated with several local artists and companies. Since living in Kathmandu, he learned to not only sing popular Nepali songs but also write them for himself after learning the language with help from friends. Ladi was featured in an episode of Yomari Sessions filmed in Pimbahal, Lalitpur. He also collaborated with Thujey of B-8eight and performed live in the streets of Nepal.
Ladi began recording his EP ‘NEXUS’ with Alex Danforth in 2017. It released it in March of 2018 and can be found on all major music streaming platforms.
He currently works in the artistic duos Igimeji and Seshun Music. His main project is Famous Exchange a collective of sonic alchemists who will be performing at the House of Blues in Dallas December 21st. He is hoping to continue to collaborate with more local artists and share his message of love and understanding through his art.
This year, for the 43rd time, residents of the Interlochen neighborhood in Northwest Arlington, Texas will put up their traditional Christmas lights. This is a neighborhood-wide effort that will showcase displays that are anticipated all year round. The holiday lights attract nearby residents as well as a vast number of visitors to Arlington. More than 200 homes participate in displays every year.
You can see all the best and brightest decoration in Interlochen, from Tropical Santa Claus and his elves to #HippieHolidays and Nativity scenes. Driving through to admire all these displays is totally free.
According to a resident in the neighborhood, Sandra Campbell, the number of people that visit the event says a lot about how well-known the display has come to be. Campbell went on to say that this is “the place to go” in Texas when you want to get in the holiday spirit.
This year’s 43rd annual tour started on the 14th. And because last year there were tens of thousands of visitors, it’s expected to be crowded this year as well. The Arlington police department will control traffic, ensuring a smooth and cheerful time for every visitor. The families that drive through will enter at Westwood Drive at Randol Mill Road (please note that all other streets will be blocked off).
The Arlington PD advises families to anticipate driving slowly and recommends visiting during the week if possible, since weekends will be the most crowded. They also advise leaving the left lane open for emergency vehicles and to remember to buckle up.
To help visitors, the city has alsoposted a map which you can follow to better get around the neighborhood.
For the homeowners that participate in the event, there’s a chance to win one of ten awards, including Best Theme, Most Artistic, and more!
The Texas Rangers Fan Fest is scheduled to happen soon on January 26 in the New Year. The 2019 event will be held at the Globe Life Park in Arlington. That Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM, fans of the Texas Rangers can interact with their favorite football heroes.
After the successful sports year that Arlington, Texas had with the opening of the Esports Stadium, the city will continue the tradition from the start of the new year.
Fans who are interested in the Texas Rangers Fan Fest can buy tickets on the MLB webpage or by calling 972-RANGERS.
There are two types of tickets that can be purchased for the event. The first is the basic entry ticket, with which you get access to autograph sessions with the top players, Q&A sessions with players and coaches, and exclusive photo opportunities. For adults the cost is $10, for season ticket holders $8, and for children 13 and under, $5.
Alternatively, fans can buy the All-Autograph Pass, which costs $500. It gets you to the front of the line for every autographing session at the event. These pass cards will be limited, so if you’re planning on buying one, be sure to do so with anticipation.
The Fan Fest is presented in 2019 by Dasani, and the individual autograph-signing sessions will take place in the Capital One Club, the Visitors Clubhouse, the Hyundai Club and the Jack Daniel’s Club.
Other highpoints of the Fan Fest will be behind-the-scenes looks and informational sessions around the construction of the park; free tours of the Rangers clubhouse and dugout; special sales from the Rangers Baseball Foundation; access to the batting cages, free play time in the Rangers Kids Zone, and much more.
For the second year in a row, Enchant Christmas will be lighting up Arlington, Texas nights all December long.
Enchant Christmas is a spectacular holiday festival inside Arlington’s beloved Globe Life Park. This month-long event is guaranteed to bring holiday cheer to a whole new level. The festival will even take place over the Christmas holiday, right up to December 30th, with times ranging from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM depending on the date. After December 13th, the park will not be open on Mondays.
Last year over 250,000 people came to see what the new event had to offer, and this year brings an even larger light display, market, and new themes perfect for a romantic date night or for family fun. This is Enchant Christmas’s second year in our great city—before Texas, the festival was held in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The 2018 updates include the World’s Largest Holiday Light Maze (because everything is bigger in Texas) based on the storybook “Eddie – The Mischievous Elf,” by Leanne Johnston. The event is sure to amaze children (and children at heart) of every age.
The maze itself takes up the full playing field of the baseball park, and that’s a lot of room for gorgeous light displays as well as plenty of tricky spots for the character Eddie to hide Santa’s toys. Are you up for the challenge? When you conquer the quest to save Christmas from Eddie’s mischief ways, you can reward yourself with holiday treats at the concessions stands surrounding the maze.
And located at the main stage is nightly live entertainment by a rotating schedule of amazing artists and shows. It’s the perfect time to kick back, relax, and enjoy the holiday cheer. And while you’re there, check out Santa’s Landing where your children can tell Mr. Claus himself their important Christmas wishes. And after that, families can head over to Mrs. Claus’s Story Time where she shares her favorite holiday tales.
What else could you possibly want from an amazing night filled with cheer?
For good measure, Enchant Christmas has included two new attractions this year. The first is a stunning Ice-Skating Trail and Skate Shop. That’s right—it’s not just your everyday rink! This skating trail whisks you through yet another breathtaking light display. Grab your favorite skating buddy and show off your skills.
The second new and improved attraction is the Enchanted Christmas Artisan Market. This holiday market is filled to the brim with an array of hand-selected vendors offering their unique gifts and trinkets. You can explore the over 100 all-local line-up on the website vendor list page.
To all you animal lovers, make sure to save the date for December 27th in particular, where Enchant Christmas will be buddying up with Arlington Animal Services. This Paws N’ Claus Night will donate a portion of every ticket bought to Arlington’s Animal Services to help get those pups and felines a home of their own for the holidays.
For questions and information about Enchant Christmas, head over to their website or check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Tin Cup is a local mom and pop deli shop in Arlington, TX that uses the power of good food to build community. For the first time in the fifteen and a half years that The Tin Cup has been in business, they are hosting an after-hours event that is open to the public. The First Annual Christmas Spectacular on Saturday, December 15 from 7-10pm is an open mic that will feature local talent and desserts you wouldn’t find on their traditional menu.
Bradi and Damon Carney moved from California to the DFW in the early 2000s. The young family decided to call Arlington, TX home because it had the best schools for their children. Two years later in April of 2003 Bradi opened her dream coffee shop The Tin Cup.
The business transitioned from coffee shop to deli a few years later. They ditched the espresso machine for a panini press but continued to open up at 9am every morning to serve the regulars that would come in for coffee. Although they have since passed away, Bradi keeps a photo of the each of the two gentlemen that would come in every morning for a warm cup of coffee on the wall.
The Tin Cup is unique in the fact that you are served a smile with every order. The Carneys pride themselves on building a business that focuses on establishing relationships with customers.
The Tin Cup works to create that sense of family amongst its employees as well. Several of the menu items including the Black Gold and High Noon were creations that former employees loved to eat. Bradi creates a working environment that puts her employees first and is currently hiring. Most employees are high school and college students, so she works with their schedules. Several former employees still visit and offer to help when they have the time.
Pixie, the elf on the shelf, inside the restaurant has had a helping hand in planning the First Annual Christmas Spectacular as well as working on a new Christmas Day sandwich which will be on the menu for only one day. Bradi wants to remind customers that The Tin Cup is family and Pixie is one of the ways that she is doing it. Her goal is to create a restaurant where families feel welcome. Kids can play on the antique piano, pull on curtains, and be themselves without parents having to worry.
Ultimately, the Carneys want to create that sense of comfort for all of the customers who walk through their doors. Whether those are individuals, couples, or families expect Bradi or her husband to strike up a conversation and get to know them.
Bradi used to teach drama at the Pantego Christian Academy just down the street. With the popularity of open mic nights in Arlington, TX on the rise, a former student of hers convinced her to open The Tin Cup up to an after-hours event that featured local talent. Three employees will sing Saturday night, a former employee and her brother will play their clarinets, and a former student of Bradi’s who currently attends UTA will perform a magic show.
The event will also serve hot chocolate and sweet treats that you wouldn’t usually see on The Tin Cup menu. The sweet treats include an array of cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, and their class banana pudding. Check out their Facebook event here to RSVP.
Bradi believes this will be the first of many after-hours events for The Tin Cup. Her ultimate goal is to bring in the community and create good fellowship. Her love for Arlington, passion for building community, and great food are what makes The Tin Cup a local staple.
“This is our community and I love Arlington. The people of Arlington stand behind local businesses,” says Bradi.
Idlewild Botanical is a new nursery in Arlington, TX with a focus on community and local art. Their ribbon cutting event Thursday, December 6th is intended to invite new customers in to learn more about the plants, herbs, gifts, and containers they sell as well as the social events they host.
Jennifer and Michael Greathouse, An entrepreneurial couple from Fort Worth, began GreatWater Irrigation & Ecoscapes to offer smart watering solutions to homeowners. The business began to integrate landscape design, lighting, installation, maintenance, and drainage services.
As the couple drove up Arkansas Lane in West Arlington to drop their daughter off for school each morning, they noticed the Redenta’s Garden property for lease. Jennifer and Michael saw this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to find a storefront for their plant pop up shop Idlewild Botanical and move GreatWater to Arlington. They bought the property in August and began renovation. Only ten weeks later they opened Idlewild Botanical, an organic nursery.
They organized a grand opening event for mid-October that would include food trucks, facepaint, drinks, and events in the greenhouse, but had to cancel the event due to severe weather. This didn’t stop Idlewild Botanical from opening a week later.
Several regular customers from Redenta’s Gardens still visit the familiar location. They grab products they would routinely purchase but are greeted with a unique shopping experience. Instead of hoses, trowels, and planting supplies, you will find handmade gifts made by local artists inside the shop.
“Inside the store we are focused on local artists,” explained Jennifer.
The shop features collections from local artists that rotate every three months. For December hand-woven pine needle baskets, hand dyed macrame plant hangers, sealed flower petal jewelry, and hand beaded accessories made by local artists are discounted by 20%.
Behind the shop, you will find locally sourced soils and fertilizers, native Texas plants, and a greenhouse with tables arranged into a communal workspace. The unique part of this nursery is the emphasis on plants native to the area as well as the sale of organic herbs year round.
“We are strongly focused on native plants…we are trying to make them more affordable and readily available,” Jennifer says.
Idlewild Botanical hosts recurring events: Thursday night socials, Saturday garden talk with experts, and Sunday yoga in the garden
Jennifer and Michael still have more plans in store for Idlewild Botanical. This includes integrating local delivery of custom gift packages and arrangements, a cut floral farm for fresh special occasion arrangements, an outdoor kitchen for cooking lessons with goods from the garden, an array of exotic vegetables, partnerships with local breweries for upcoming events, building a stage for live music, building a chicken coop, raising pygmy goats, and turning the space into a reservable venue.
This Thursday, December 6 from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Idlewild Botanical will host their ribbon cutting ceremony with the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Food from Inspirations Catering, desserts from Cake-aholics, champagne, and beer will be served during the event. Stick around after the ribbon cutting for an ornament making class in the greenhouse or smash pumpkins to raise funds for the Humane Society. RSVP for the event here on their Facebook page.
The Christmas season is upon us and the city of Arlington, TX has a host of events planned. Whether you’re looking for fun with the family or an evening with friends, there is an event for you. This list will continue to grow as we find more great holiday events.
Lights and Activities
Six Flags Holiday in The Park
The Holiday in the Park event hosted by Six Flags is one of the longest running holiday traditions. From November 16 – December 30th you can sled down a snow-covered hill, enjoy storytime with Mrs. Claus, sing your heart out to Christmas karaoke, and watch the Holiday Tree of Light Spectacular in this winter wonderland. Expect tons of Christmas goodies like campfire s’mores funnel cakes and so much more. Check out pricing on their official site here.
Enchant Arlington
Enchant Arlington features the world’s largest Christmas light maze. The twinkling lights are a sight to behold. If you’re a photographer or love taking the perfect selfie this event is a great photo opportunity. Enchant features an ice-skating trail, live music, caroling, and vendors. Use the code ‘ASD2018’ at checkout to give a charitable donation to the City of Arlington Animal Services Department at no extra cost to you. Visit their official site to buy tickets and find out prices here
Holiday Lights Parade
Coming up pretty soon on the 8th of December is the Arlington Annual Holiday Lights Parade. The parade starts at the corner of Main and Center Streets and ends on the edge of Abram and East Street. Watch the magical floats pass by and get into the Christmas spirit with the lighting of the Christmas tree following the parade. For event updates and volunteer opportunities visit their official site
Interlochen Lights
Drive through one of the most beautiful light displays in the Interlochen Neighborhood. It has come to be known as one the best neighborhood light shows in Texas and is one of the busiest spots in the DFW Metroplex during the holiday season, so you want to get there early. It runs December 14th to December 25th, and for a free light display, you definitely want to check this out. Link
Olde Town Christmas
This event is hosted by the Dottie Lynn Recreation Center and Arlington Parks and Recreation on the 30th of November and the 1st of December. This event will feature Arlington High School Choir, a visit from Santa Claus, shopping and free admission. You don’t want to miss this event. Visit their Facebook page here
Cookies with the Clauses
Take the whole family to the Hugh Smith Recreation Center on the 8th of December from 10 am to 12 pm to decorate cookies, play games, and make holiday cards with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Space is limited at this event. Buy tickets here
Mayor’s Holiday Pajama Storytime
Celebrate the season with Mayor Jeff Williams at the new Arlington Public Library on the 12th of December. Children are encouraged to dress in their most comfortable pajamas to enjoy songs, stories, and unique crafts. This is a free event open to the public. Find more information here
Music
Symphony Arlington
If you’re a music lover, you won’t want to miss the Holiday of Color concert with Sarah Gartland on the 13th of December and the Arlington Music Hall. Tickets range from $25 – $45. Learn more about the artist here and visit the official page to buy tickets
AMH Spectacular Christmas
Arlington Music Hall will feature spectacular singers, dancers, costumes, and a very special visit from Santa Claus. This event is happening on the 9th of December. To get your tickets to visit their official site
The Chris Milyo Big Band Swinging Christmas
The second installment of Swinging Christmas brings the Chris Milyo Band with special guest vocalist JE McKissic to the Arlington Music Hall. Featuring Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite and other musical selections. If you love jazz music, you don’t want to miss this event. Buy your tickets here
Markets
Texas Christkindl Market
Experience a unique shopping experience with the Texas Christkindl Market. This German tradition features holiday gifts, decorations, collectibles, and many more unique items. Pick up handcrafted German Christmas items from Käthe Wohlfahrt and many other vendors. The market is open from November 23rd to December 23rd. Visit the official site here
Decorator’s Warehouse
Get your house ready for Christmas with one of the largest Christmas stores in the world. It features more than an acre of Christmas décor and impressive displays. Over 130 styles of lifelike pre-lit Christmas trees will be available. Check out their site here
Happy Holidays Pop-Up Market
Support local artisans by visiting this pop-up market running from the 8th to the 23rd of December. It will feature unique hand-crafted products from artisans in the area. Get there early to find that special Christmas gift or home decoration before it’s gone while supporting the community. Visit their official site here
West Meyers is a multi-instrumentalist and recording artist currently attending UT Arlington. While he is pursuing a degree in Business, double-majoring in Accounting and Finance, his artistic passion has been playing Rock and Blues. West has regular performing gigs for Potbelly Sandwich Works in Euless and Southlake, but he also books performances at restaurants across DFW. Currently, he is recording his first collection of original music, performing each instrument himself.
