Denton Texas Restaurants

Poly Maynard received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of North Texas.  Her love for music and children resonate through the kiddie tunes performed by her band, Miss Poly & Her Big Band.  But that’s not Polly’ as only passion.  It seems that theatre receives just as much love as her music.

What first inspired you to become active in the theatre?  

I auditioned for a show in High School, and was hooked.   That teacher was the “one that made a difference” in my life.  Theatre teaches you so much: self-discipline, time-management, how to take care of yourself, how to behave in a professional manner, empathy, how to take criticism, etc.  And learning lines?? Whew!! It keeps your brain active.

Is this a hobby or something you are pursuing full time? Why or why not?

I do not pursue theater professionally. I have done paid shows/industrials in the past, but generally found it unfulfilling.  Plus, the competition is too great.  Music is my first love, but as it is my vocation, that takes a good deal of the fun out of it.  I don’t want that pressure with theatre. 

How long have you been with Community Theatre?/How did you get involved? 

I auditioned for a show c. 1993 and got cast!  They’ve been stuck with me ever since.

Were you nervous at auditions for Sly Fox? Why/why not

I used to be terrified of auditions, but now I just try to have fun.  My thought process is:  “This may be the only chance I will ever have to say these lines on stage, so I’m just going to go for it, and have a good time”  It can be a very nerve-racking experience.  You want to be prepared, yet if you over-prepare, then it becomes difficult to be flexible.  For example: if you spend too much time studying the script, you may develop such firm opinions about the characters that when you read with another actor their approach may differ considerably from yours, and it can throw you.  Or the director may ask you to do something that conflicts with your idea of the character or scene, and you may have difficulty doing it.  And if you can’t demonstrate your ability to be directed, it’s unlikely you’ll get cast.  Balance is key.  First impressions are rarely correct – in life, or in theatre.  So – I read a script a few times,   mull over the relationships, situations, goals of each of the characters, style of the show, etc.  Then I just try to do my best.  Sometimes I get cast, sometimes not.  It IS difficult to handle the rejection when I don’t get a role, especially one I’ve really fallen for.   

If you could describe Sly Fox in one word it would be:  Manipulation.

What do you like about your character?/What is your character like? 

My character is a scheming, self-centered, morally vacant floozy.  Sadly, there are probably lots of people who would say it was type-cast!!  But Miss Fancy has unlimited confidence in herself, something I do not possess at all and am envious of. She doesn’t care about others. I really do.  She doesn’t care what others think of her.  I very much do. She is all business, all the time.  I’m too unfocused to be that way!

Have you guys had fun putting this production together? Any good stories?  

Oh my gosh – YES!!!   I love, love, love, this cast and crew. But if you want the scoop, you’ll have to buy me a “Sly Fox”.  

What would you tell someone thinking about attending one of the Sly Fox productions? 

Go to Dan’s Silverleaf, Oak Street Drafthouse, Hickory Street Lounge and the Greenhouse.  Order a “Sly Fox” (drink) at each place, and you will receive a poker chip.  (Each bar has a different color.)  Take your chips to the theatre, purchase 2 tickets for the price of 1 AND use the chips to vote for the bar that you think invented the best “Sly Fox” drink.  Then get yourself to the theatre and be prepared to laugh.  After the show, use your ticket stub to get a discount at any of the above mentioned establishments.

What brought you to Denton?

UNT Music School, where I earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance.

Where are your favorite places to do some #Dentoning?  

Dan’s Silverleaf, Oak Street Drafthouse, Hickory Street Lounge, and the Greenhouse. 

Favorite thing that makes Denton quirky? 

The entire artistic community here makes it such a vibrant, inspirational, exciting,  colorful place to be.  The music scene is insanely good.  People here have no idea how spoiled they are.   

If the Mayan Apocalypse happened tomorrow and you got to eat at one last restaurant in Denton… where would you go?   Mr. Chopstix

Would you rather get free coffee drinks at all your favorite spots in Denton for a lifetime or have free access to any concert in Denton forever?   Free access to music concerts.

Twilight Tunes is gearing up for its 20^th season of free music on the square. Every Thursday evening May 2- July 4, the Denton Main Street Association puts on a show for Dentonites to enjoy. With the weather so perfect for lounging around, grab a blanket and pick up dinner to-go at one of the many great restaurants around the square. You could always just skip straight to dessert and grab a cold treat to beat the heat from Beth Marie’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream. Banana split, anyone? Once you’re picnic-ready, claim your spot on the Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn and enjoy a nice evening in the sunshine (or under the shade of a tree) with music playing in the background to set the mood. Since these shows are free, you can kick the weekend off early. No matter what your taste in music, you’ll find something to enjoy at Twilight Tunes with everything from Classic Rock to Jazz/Funk/Pop.

Keep these fun Thursday evening concerts in mind when you’re looking for something fun to do around the square with your friends, significant other, or family.  Rain or shine, Twilight Tunes will go on. In the chance of rain, Twilight Tunes will be held at Sweetwater Grill, Dan's Silverleaf or Abbey Inn. Check Downtown Denton-Denton Main Street Association’s Facebook page for updates in the event of rain. See below for a full list of who will be performing at Twilight Tunes.


Playing on West side lawn
May 2- Los Patos Poderosos (Chicha)
May 9- The Poor Kings (Singer/Songwriter/Pop)
May 16- Jeff Glover, Joe Pat Hennen & Brian Houser (Texas Singers/Songwriters)
May 23- A Taste of Herb (Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass Tribute Band)
May 30- Chris Watson (Texas Blues Rock)

Playing on East side lawn
June 6- Charlie Shafter Band (American Roots/Acoustic Rock)
June 13- Gravity Feed (Jazz/Funk/Pop)
June 20- The Fun-Addix (70’s & 80’s Classic Rock)
June 27- Bonnie & Nick Norris Band (Country/Acoustic/Multi-Styles)
July 4- Sol Tax (Folk/Rock) *12:30—2 p.m.

A couple of hundred of us from Denton County are in Austin this week for Denton County Day, an event held every biennium when the Texas Legislature is in session.   We visit and thank our state and federal legislators for the work they do representing us.  It's an important time to share the issues and challenges facing our County and to demonstrate our connectivity, support, and community.

Austin was one of the first places I associated with food trucks.  I remember at one time, there were three or four that would group together in a parking lot on Congress near the 6th Street area.  Not really knowing what I was seeing, I had no appreciation for the trucks or the kind of diners they attracted.  Since then, the gourmet food truck culture has spread well beyond Austin.  We've even had some temporary experiences with them in Denton, like last October when we held Denton's first ever Foodie Truck Festival at the A-train's Downtown Denton Transit Center.  And we've dabbled here and there when a rolling chef serves at UNT for a day, along Fry St., or at the Saturday morning Community Market on Carroll at the Historical Park.  One thing we've all learned is that the food trucks are worth the effort to discuss.  Gourmet fare is no exaggeration!

Since we are here in Austin where the truck movement started for both of us, my colleague Karen Dickson and I decided to check out one of Austin's several permanent food truck parks when we went looking for a local dining option.  Karen is the Vice President of Economic Development.  The nature of our jobs has exposed both of us to the Denton discussion about the topic; so, seeing how Austin's handled the delicate balance of the trucks, their mobile parks, and the brick and mortar restaurants seemed like a tasty research project.

We drove to the once blighted South Congress area where two of the food truck parks are located.  We parked and decided just to walk and soak up the sense of place.  The two parks are tucked into a corridor of Austin personality.  Local shops selling beatnik and hippie chic thread together some of Austin's more popular local eateries, all of which were busting at the seams during the lunch hour with patron lines out the door.  People were milling about everywhere.  We checked out both parks, each with around six foodie trucks peddling gourmet pizza, sandwiches, cupcakes, tacos, sushi, and more.  Community market style vendors complimented the trucks in both parks, as well, featuring handmade purses and jewelry and souvenir shirts and fad items.  We  settled at a picnic table in the shadier of the two parks and decided on a gourmet sandwich and fresh-made chips from the "Hey...You Gonna Eat or What?" truck, renown as Austin's rudest business with the absolute best of the food truck fare.  The chef, formerly well-known among New Orleans' upscale restaurants, is the real deal.  He's comically rude, but believe me - you go for the food.  Wow!

I used to think Austin was one of the coolest cities in Texas.  Then I discovered Denton and learned how deep "cool" can go, how it can permeate and define a community culture and be the fabric of its life.  Because Denton really is that cool.  Austin still has spots of cool - like the food truck parks.  But Denton is wholly cool.  Let's keep it that way.

Oh, and the food trucks?  They won't make or break us in the cool factor.  But, they will absolutely be a very tasty add.

Karen at Big Mike's right next door to the rude guy.

It’s exciting when the legislative session gets underway every other year in Austin.  Our elected officials and lawmakers don’t just gather, stick some laws on the books, and head for the house.  No, a lot is going on down there and we the people get to participate.  Thousands of groups, individuals, passions and priorities converge on the capitol to make their voices heard as lawmakers struggle to best represent their constituencies.  The Texas Travel Industry, a major component of which is represented by convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) like Denton’s, converged last week, on February 12-13. 

When our industry converges, we do it big.  The Texas Travel Industry Association hosts the Unity Dinner at the Austin Convention Center and then the following morning, 800 + professionals from CVBs, hotels, restaurants, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, among many others arrive in tandem and blanket legislator offices with the message that “Travel Matters” - because it does.  In fact, right here in Denton County the travel industry is responsible for 5,580 jobs and a more than $12 million impact on our local tax receipts.  And, most Texans probably have no idea that travel puts $840 into every Texas household.  That’s how it adds up when you distribute the $7.9 billion in state and federal taxes Texas brings in directly from travel spending.  It’s important!

State Representative Myra Crownover and State Senator Craig Estes always participate as part of our Unity Dinner delegation from Denton.  This year, our group of 16 included leaders in City, Chamber, and County plus, for the first time ever, Denton’s music scene.  The Denton CVB sponsored the music for the Unity dinner event and brought two of Denton’s own singer/songwriters to showcase the important role Denton plays as a leader in Texas music.  Zach Balch and Karyna Micaela impressed the 1,000 person dinner crowd that included legislators and leaders from across Texas, becoming the surprise highlight before a fork was even picked up.  Everyone “quasi-gets” that Denton has music.  But hearing it first-hand really drove it home.  DentonRadio.com partnered with the CVB to unveil Denton music in the heart of Austin.  They made us proud, Denton!

And, our music is a major part of how we talk about ourselves in the Texas travel marketplace.  It’s integral to our character, to Denton’s sense of place.  And our music scene is a cornerstone draw for travel’s local tax impact I mentioned above.

It’s a great day in Denton.  Then again, it almost always is.

In the early 1880s Quakertown was a thriving African American community nestled in the heart of Denton; by 1923 Quakertown had disappeared and the land was being developed into a city park, originally named Civic Center Park and renamed Quakertown Park in 2006 in honor of the Quakertown Community.  The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has recognized Quakertown as a significant part of Denton and Denton County history by awarding it an Official Texas Historical Marker. The dedication ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, at the Denton Civic Center at 321 East McKinney, and Quakertown Park.  The marker will be placed in Quakertown Park next to the Civic Center. 

Denton County Judge Mary Horn and Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs will speak at the event, which is sponsored by Denton County Historical Commission (DCHC), Denton Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Denton Public Library.  The dedication ceremony is free and open to the public.

The marker will be unveiled by Colette Johnson, president of the Southeast Neighborhood Association, Denton County Commissioner Andy Eads and Denton Councilman Kevin Roden.  Former Denton councilwoman Charlye Heggins will read the marker inscription. The Denton High School Color Guard will present the colors followed by the national anthem by the American Legion Hall Senior Chorus.

THC provided the funding for the Quakertown historical marker through their Undertold Story program, which funds applications for undertold stories from counties throughout the state.  The program began in 2006 with a $100 marker application fee that was used to fund markers to address historical gaps, promote diversity of topics and proactively document significant undertold or untold stories.  The Denton County Historical Commission Marker Committee submitted the application for Quakertown to THC in 2010.  The application was selected as one of 17 topics for funding that year.  Since 2008 -2012, THC has funded 81 topics throughout the state, spread through 51 counties.

Quakertown, a town within a town, was built in the 1870s on the banks of the Pecan Creek just below the College of Industrial Arts (now Texas Woman’s University). It encompassed an area bounded by Withers Street on the north, Oakland Avenue on the west, Bell Avenue on the east and Cottonwood and Pecan Creeks on the south.

By 1920, it had almost 60 middle and working class families and had developed its own school, three churches, a mortuary, lodges, restaurants and other businesses.  Dr. Edwin Moten moved there in 1907 and was the first African American physician in the county.  Ever since the college was established in 1903, there was a “rumble” to remove Quakertown from the shadows of the women’s college.  Also, civic groups of Denton, spearheaded by local women’s clubs were looking for a location for a city park and fair grounds.

In January, 1921, a petition went out calling for a bond election to purchase the Quakertown property for the city park.  The election held April 5, 1921, had 367 votes for and 240 votes against the sale.  Some of the homes were moved more than a mile away to Solomon Hill.  Many of the homes were destroyed or did not survive the move from Quakertown.                        

In the 1980s, the story of Quakertown was “rediscovered” by local historians.  A City of Denton  Historic Landmark marker for Quakertown was placed in the Civic Center Park.  The marker was placed close to the location of the Fred Douglass School that had burned in 1913.  

 St Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church at 509 Lakey Street began as the Second Baptist Church in Quakertown.  Located between Sanders and Oakland Streets in Quakertown, it was established in the mid - 1880s and served the community until 1922.   THC approved the Subject marker for the St. Emmanuel congregation in 2006.  The historical marker inscription notes that the church’s pastor at that time, Rev. J. A. Ayers, was vocal about his opposition to the forced relocation and reportedly left town and the church due to threats.  A second church, Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, at 1107 East Oak Street, was founded by a group of black pioneers who came from White Rock community in Dallas to Denton County in 1875.  They named their settlement Freedman Town. A THC Marker was dedicated in 1985.

In 2008, the Denton County Historical Commission moved one of the remaining houses that once stood in Quakertown to the Historical Park of Denton County. It is now the Denton County African American Museum.  A DCHC Landmark marker was dedicated for Quakertown House in 2009. 

 

After laying the foundation for Oklahoma HQ last year, The City of Denton invites all Sooners and OU fans traveling to Texas this year for the October 13^th game to come together in Denton for a full weekend itinerary of Oklahoma football fun, including deeply discounted hotels, Sooner parties, special drinks and food, and hassle-free transportation to and from the game through the A-train and DART. Located just two hours from Norman and a quick train ride from Downtown Dallas, Denton is making sure all weekend details are covered so fans can stop in Denton and have 4 days of OU/TX activities to celebrate the Sooners, including a route to the Cotton Bowl.

“When people think of the annual OU/TX football game, especially Oklahoma fans, we want them to think of Denton,” says Kim Philips, Vice President of Denton CVB.  “For a lot of folks traveling into downtown Dallas for the game can be a huge expense and a logistical hassle.  We are working closely with a number of Denton partners to make sure we provide an easy, and affordable, option for everything – from hotel rooms to weekend-long entertainment and gameday transportation. Denton is home to more than 45,000 college students and is a perfect fit for college football fans looking for things to do. The A-train is also a huge part of this and will play a big role in making sure OU/TX fans can get to the game before kickoff and enjoy a worry-free return.”

Similar to last year’s package, Denton has put together complete weekend packages for visitors that included 1 or 2 night stays with an Official OU Welcome Party, live music throughout the weekend, nightly drink specials, and passes on the A-train and DART for gameday.

Denton’s Oklahoma Headquarters Weekend Package provides a full itinerary of activities for visitors interested in the OU/TX game. A full list of accommodations, attractions, restaurants, and bars participating in Denton’s Oklahoma Headquarters promotion are available at www.oklahomahq.com, along with the train schedule for gameday October 13^th.

It’s a great time to be outdoors in north Texas and historic downtown Denton offers the perfect activities for taking it all in this spring. The downtown merchants of the Denton Main Street Association (DMSA) invite you to enjoy shopping, dining, and a fashion show during the Spring Open House weekend May 5^th and 6^th. Many shops will be open extended hours and will be offering specials to their clients, such as refreshments, discounts, and drawings for prizes.

DMSA will host a fashion show at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5^th, on the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn, 110 W. Hickory St. This is an eye-catching, entertaining way to give shoppers an impression of what downtown businesses have to offer. Apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories will be modeled in the show from various shops participating in the Open House weekend. Come for a “taste of downtown” with samplings from area restaurants while you watch the fashion show.

New this year, look for “check-in” promotions throughout Spring Open House weekend. Businesses will enroll people for a drawing if they check-in on Foursquare, Facebook, or any of the other social sites. The more places a shopper checks-in, the more chances he or she has to win a prize.

Want another way to enjoy downtown Denton? Come to the Square for the Denton Main Street Association’s Twilight Tunes concert series. The concerts start May 3^rd, with Hollertime returning to Denton after a memorable performance at 35 Denton back in March. Twilight Tunes concerts are free every Thursday night in May and June from 6:30 to 8 p.m. All concerts are on the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square lawn, 110 W. Hickory Street.

Enjoy the beautiful weather with friends and family and a meal-to-go from one of the many downtown eateries. Spread your blanket or set up your chairs, and enjoy an evening of great live music as the sun sets over downtown Denton. The 2012 Twilight Tunes series offers an eclectic assortment of music for all listeners. It is the perfect way to kick off the weekend early and listen to some of the best local bands in the Denton area.

For more information and a complete schedule of Open House weekend activities and the Twilight Tunes concerts, please visit the website at www.dentonmainstreet.org .

When Qantas Airlines announced earlier this year that they were offering a non-stop flight from Sydney Australia to DFW, travelers in both countries were excited and looking forward to take advantage of the flights for both business and leisure. One group in particular that took some fancy to the new schedule was a group of superstar Travel Agents from Australia. And what did they want to see? Well the Western lifestyle in Texas of course!

The Denton Convention & Visitor Bureau was excited to learn that 12 of Qantas top sellers were headed to Texas and their first stop was the North Texas Horse Country.   Despite the jetlag, the group was ready and eager to start their True Texas experience.  Their adventure began at Lantana Lodge Resort & Marina at Ray Roberts Lake State Park where they enjoyed dinner at the Bronze Buffalo Grill and overnighted in rooms that overlooked the lake and cedar, post oak and black oak trees. 

An early rise the next day, the group was met by Monica with Black Mustang Ranch who had horses ready for a scenic trail ride through the wetlands of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Immediately after the trail ride and as soon as the summer heat started to rise, these influential travel experts boarded a motorcoach for a driving tour of the beautiful Horse Country including a behind the scenes tour of the famous Valor Farm.

It wouldn’t be Horse Country Tour without a stop to Dennards Western Store. When the travel agents “saddled up” on the motorcoach again it was with a heap of western treasure. Many of the top sellers could not contain themselves at the sight of the child sized boots in assorted colors. Several kiddos in Australia will be bragging about mom or dad’s recent trip to Texas while adorned with Texas attire.

Dana Lodge, Sales Director with the Denton CVB, was the tour guide on the recent venture, “This was a great opportunity for Denton to be able to showcase our wonderful Horse Country to these individuals who have the capability to influence and send us many visitors from Australia.”

In true Texas hospitality before the group headed out of Horse Country there was room for one more stop at a local favorite. Lucy’s Mom’s on Main in Aubrey, had a home cooked spread that only “mom” would be able conjure up. The unique antiques that adorned the restaurant and the amazing ranches just visited were the topics of conversation while the group was introduced to Texas comfort food.

It was just a glimpse of the western lifestyle many of the Australian visitors were eager to discover. The Dallas CVB was the next host and while these top selling Travel Agents were on their way to visit some iconic Dallas attractions, the character, charm and new purchases in Horse Country will make it to the top of conversation when it comes to Texas Travel.

The Texas Travel Fair, produced and sponsored by the Texas Travel Industry Association of Texas during the Texas Travel Counselors Conference (TTCC), represents one of the premier showcase opportunities for Texas destinations.  Held April 28, 2011 in Arlington, the Travel Fair is a trade show targeting Texas Department of Transportation officials, Texas Travel Counselors from the 12 Texas Travel Information Centers at Texas points of entry, and Texas Parks & Wildlife officials.  More than 100 travel counselors participated in the show along with another 100 visitor center managers and AAA office representatives from around the state of Texas. 

Communications & Visitor Services Manager for the Denton Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB), Veronica Maldonado, manages information for the CVB’s visitor center and attends the TTCC each year.  The education sessions and tours of the host city area give Maldonado greater expertise regarding travel opportunities throughout Texas.  She shares new knowledge with CVB Visitor Services staff so visitors and residents get the most up to date information and quality service when they visit the CVB and Chamber offices.  TTCC also allows her to spend time one-on-one with the other tourism representatives to educate them about what Denton has to offer. 

At the heart of the TTCC is the Texas Travel Fair, an expo showcasing Texas cities and attractions beyond the host region.  Kim Phillips, Chamber Vice President and Director of the Denton CVB, along with Ken Willis, co-owner of Beth Marie’s Ice Cream, promoted Denton at the travel fair. 

The Denton CVB’s exhibit was a creative mini-version of Beth Marie’s Ice Cream on the square.  A little chalkboard just like the famous menu at the restaurant presented four uniquely Denton flavors-of-the-day ice creams.  Travel counselors and managers returned to the Denton booth multiple times to “dip into” more awareness of Denton.  The Beth Marie’s theme provided a tangible way for attendees to experience a little of the ambience of Denton’s vibrant downtown.  While serving up ice cream cones, Kim and Ken talked about attractions, entertainment, special events, and accommodations in Denton.  New and existing collateral materials including the Horse Country Tour brochure, Hip to be Square brochure, and the Denton Live magazine were also on display. 

Travel Counselors left the Travel Fair armed with new information about Denton that they, in turn, will pass along to the thousands of visitors passing through their centers throughout the year. 

The Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau’s all new Hip-2-B-Square brochure hits the streets in May with lots of exciting new content – content driven by new businesses clambering to be in the heart of Denton’s hip downtown district. 

Denton is special.  The CVB team members know this perhaps better than anyone else, working as they do year-round to promote Denton, often rivaling for tourism business against cities similar to Denton in size and demographics.  “The Denton product always outshines competitors when the contest comes down to “sense of place,” says Kim Phillips, CVB Vice President.  “When clients pit our Square against other Texas town squares, we win most of the time.”  A testimony to this fact, Denton will host the Texas Main Street Managers Preservation Conference in June 2011, all of their conference activity centered downtown – the crowning triumphant edge that secured Denton as their host.

Denton’s appeal is the fact that it’s real.  No faux downtown copying Anywhere, USA.  What Denton has is uniquely Denton’s – buildings and ambience.  The result is a personality, a vibe that even casual observers pick up on quickly.  The vibe is vibrant, a pulsing energy all day that doesn’t stop at night.  After hours entertainment has become one of the biggest economic growth areas for downtown – and the whole district is that much more hip, that much funkier, and that much more of a draw because of it.

The Industrial Street businesses have been a magnet for diners and nightlife seekers for several years.  Their pull is all the stronger now with the added action of their cross street:  the daily-evolving Hickory Street development that includes loft-style living, cool restaurants like Weinberger’s Deli, Raman Republic, the newly opened Love Shack, and soon-to-open Mellow Mushroom.  New pubs like the smoke-free Hickory Street Lounge and Cellar 22 add texture to the already-bursting-with-color fabric along Hickory Street and around the Square:  Abbey Inn, Beth Marie’s, Loophole, Ruby’s Diner, J&J’s Pizza, Abbey Underground, Andy’s Bar, Hooligan’s, Vigne, The Labb, Banter, and on and on and on.  And the entire hip experience is anchored by our beautiful courthouse – one of the most photographed courthouses in all of Texas and keeper of our story in the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum. 

Yes, Denton’s downtown life is rich fabric indeed.  And visitors are drawn to it, becoming just as enamored as do the locals.  We have the real deal downtown which is why everyone is discovering that in Denton, it just is “Hip-2-B-Square.

Hip-2-B-Square is available at the Denton Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau lobby at 414 Parkway and is available for download at www.discoverdenton.com.

Story by Kim Phillips
 
 
Our heritage is a compass. It tells how we became who we are and where we have been. It is the foundation of where we will go in the future.

Our heritage is the basis of Texas pride. It is preservation and education. It is discovery. And heritage tourism is economic development.

For several decades, heritage tourism through the Heritage Trails program of the Texas Historical Commission has been an economic shot in the arm for rural Texas, to be sure. But it’s not just about the small communities.

As the Denton Convention and Visitor Bureau director, I know that heritage tourism is integral to our identity and building on it has launched Denton into the international tourism spotlight.

The Heritage Trails are “thematic” tourism that presents a holistic adventure for visitors — one that does not demand that tourists acknowledge city limit signs.

Case in point:

In 2005, Denton partnered with two other communities — Fort Worth and Pilot Point, both participating cities in the Texas Lakes Trail Region — to apply for a Texas Historical Commission Partnership Grant for development of cross-jurisdictional heritage tourism projects.

Our partnership was awarded the grant, with which we developed the North Texas Horse Country Tour, a program that invites people to experience North Texas in the Lakes Trail Region, where more than 300 horse farms and 25,000 horses make the equine industry the largest agricultural economic impact.

It is beautiful country and the only place in the United States boasting virtually every breed and every discipline of horses, plus world-famous trainers, breeders, stallions and mares. 

Three cities, all vastly different in size and budget, put the North Texas Horse Country into the tourism marketplace and have welcomed visitors from all over the U.S. as well as international locales like Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Denmark and Germany.

In Denton, we realized a boom in tourism, particularly the group tour market — going from one tour every once in a great while to almost 50 full motor coaches in 2010 — of 2,500 new tourists.

Every tour roams the region and even the state, making an impact in multiple communities: a restaurant in Pilot Point, a ranch tour in Denton, a hotel in Lewisville, a Western wear store in Fort Worth and so on. 

The Horse Country Tour is award-winning as one of the most successful partnerships ever to develop a shared tourism product and to sustain it, even making it grow.

In 2010, collateral supplies were exhausted. The project grew from the original three cities to nine communities to produce 50,000 new brochures and a website to facilitate the visitor experience in the region.

Such a partnership would have been impossible without the umbrella of the historical commission and the forum provided by the Heritage Trails for networking and developing creative collaborations built on uniquely Texas themes.

The Butterfield Overland Trail project is another great example that used the North Texas Horse Country project’s successful model and greatly expanded it. This trail commemorates and invites visitors to experience the first transcontinental mail route in the U.S.

Much like the revered Route 66 that still plays host to thousands of visitors every year, the Butterfield Trail provides a theme to gain attention and qualify visitor interest and then infuses the communities all along the route as it is today, with those visitors spending money and discovering parts of Texas they would likely never have explored.

Where the Horse Country Tour involved nine cities within the Texas Lakes Trail region — an amazingly cooperative feat to begin with — the Butterfield Trail project ended up involving 30 Texas cities and spanned four of the 10 Heritage Trails.

Today, 75,000 Butterfield brochures are in circulation and tours are beginning to gain momentum, with multi-day treks between small towns and with day trips originating at various starting points all along the trail from Sherman to El Paso.

The Texas Historical Commission is vital for the Heritage Trails program to operate effectively.

The commission provides a credible umbrella that unites the individual trails into a bigger program, a state initiative, if you will, that carries a lot of weight when municipalities are considering partnerships of any kind that require shared expenses.

The commission’s oversight is paramount, as well, to maintaining the forum through the Heritage Trails program for these unconventional partnerships to be forged, massive projects birthed, and then — most difficult of all — for them to be completed and sustained.

The Heritage Trails encompass the truly Texas experience people imagine when they think about Texas.

Our name conjures up mystique, adventure and yet-untamed places unlike any other state in the nation. And rural Texas authentically delivers on those expectations. 

Heritage tourism is revenue to Texas, one of the solutions — not burdens — within the weighty budget challenges our Legislature faces in the current session.

Chris Flemmons faced lots of hurdles to get music lovers to realize the importance of 35 Conferette as a must-attend festival.    But…he has done it!  What started as NX35 in 2009 with a few hundred attendees welcomed 17,000 people just one year later.  Projections for 2011 are that attendance will push well beyond that ceiling this year.

In just 3 years, 35 Conferette has accomplished what it set out to do…put the spotlight on Denton’s unique music paradise.

Since Denton is literally THE music land of Texas, festival-goers get to see and experience what local Dentonites enjoy on a routine basis.  The recently released schedule includes a mix of local, regional, national and international bands, including some very impressive headliners.

Taking advantage of one of Denton’s greatest attributes, its historic Square,  35 Conferette is set to come alive among the historic buildings,  shops, restaurants, cafes, bistros, wine shops and plenty of pubs and bars all within walking distance of the Square and each other.  There are 11 official venues with bands playing back to back every night, and, new this year, 3 additional outdoor concert stages Downtown where shows will begin at 4pm on Thursday and Friday and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Not sure what show to attend? Check out 35C’s extensive schedule and playlist.   Purchase a 35C 4-Day Pass wristband for $85 for the best music crawl experience:  any show, any time plus all the conference sessions.  Day passes all the way down to tickets for individual shows are also available.  And, outdoor concerts on the stage at the Square are FREE!

Scott Porter who plays with the band Record Hop (which have played 35C and are on the schedule again this year) summed up the festival best in a 2009 interview with the Denton Record-Chronicle.  “Where music is made doesn’t matter as much as it used to; but, Denton’s wonderland of music would be difficult to replicate anywhere else.”