After the cold front moved through this week, the weekend should remain in the double digits ... around 97 to be precise. You know what this means? You can go back to doing outdoor activities. Here in Irving, we worship the outdoors and all the fun it brings. From swim parties to outdoor movies to patio concerts, we've got your weekend itinerary all planned out.  Because, you know, outdoors was really missing you.  

For additional area events, visit our website at www.irvingtexas.com.

There's a cold front blowing in this weekend! Yep, we'll be rocking it in the mid 70's, brrrrrrrr! Enjoy the "Fall" weather and get out and enjoy the fun stuff around town. If it makes you feel more in the mood wrap up in a scarf and grab a pumpkin spice latte to get you moving. 

Phil came home on Friday, exhausted from a week of selling fabrics to his apparel clients.   But as tired as he was, he still had the energy to fire up the grill.  Phil was a master griller.  In fact, his neighbors, family and friends became very familiar with Phil's grilling.  The delicious smell would travel for blocks.  Phil wore a cowboy hat to keep the sun off his head and he'd tie a red bandana around his neck because sitting next to a grill all night sure works up a sweat.  That's how he earned the nickname "Cowboy Phil."  Tonight it was three whole chickens on a skewer that would roast slowly until  perfection.  Of course his wife, Jeanette, gave the chickens a good rub with her special blend of spices.  Once the charcoals were at just the right color, Phil sprinkled on some mesquite chips that had soaked all day.  He had just set the chickens to grill when the phone calls began.  By dinner time, he had eight guests and happily prepared more chickens.  After a lengthy discussion, and against the advice of their friends, Cowboy Phil and Jeanette decided to open their first restaurant in Dallas.

For two weeks before opening their doors to the public, curious shoppers stopped by to see what they were up to. Cowboy Phil gave them free samples from his menu, so by the night of the grand opening, a group of new customers, neighbors, family and friends created a line that stretched around the corner.  Phil was delighted!  Word got out about his hand-rubbed, slow roasted chicken, as well as his homemade side dishes.  And don't forget dessert.  Jeanette makes a great apple cobbler, too.  Once everyone was seated, he spent some time ringing up orders, greeting everyone, explaining his process, answering questions, until suddenly he realized that no one was in the back cooking

So into the kitchen he went, only to discover there was no fire in the grill!  Somehow, while everyone was visiting, the wood just began to smoulder.  Cowboy Phil apologized to the crowd, who was very forgiving. 

"Don't worry, we'll wait," they all said.  So back in the kitchen he went.  He placed the chickens on a skewer and set them to roasting.  Phil was so excited that he would finally be able to serve dinner and watch as his customers cleaned their plates.  Only when he went to check on the chickens, they had all slid off the rod and into the fire.  There was no food to serve on opening night.  It was the disaster of all disasters. 

Phil and Jeanette were devastated.  With a broken heart he began to tell his customers one by one there would be no food that night.  He started giving everyone's money back, but some people refused to take it.  They said they would just come back the next night.  Although the crowd was forgiving, Phil and Jeanette began to question their decision to risk everything and open a restaurant.  But because of their tenacity, they became even more determined to make a go of it, and they opened the next night to another large crowd.  That night they served everyone.  And their customers came back.  And they kept coming.  Phil ran his restaurant that first year in the evenings after he worked all day selling fabrics.  And the customers kept coming.  He was doing something right!

That was 1981 and twenty some odd restaurants ago.  Today, Cowboy Phil is accompanied by a full staff who make sure all of his restaurants have that down home feel.  And most importantly, he makes sure that what he serves is still good, honest food that keeps customers coming back time and again.  You can visit Cowboy Phil and try out the newly opened Cowboy Chicken, located at 3351 Regent Blvd. #100, here in Irving.  You can also visit them online at www.CowboyChicken.com.  Look in their website for next week's calendar.  It's full of grand opening activities and specials.

It’s the weekend y’all!  You’re now free to use your smart phone and go find stuff.  Really.  It’s fun.  You don’t even have to download an app to play.  There are several characters around town and they’re waiting for you to go find them.  To give you a hint where they are, we’re showing you what they look like and what time they’ll pop up.  How easy is that?  So join us in finding fun stuff to do this weekend in Irving.  Who knows, this game may catch on and you’ll be sharing with your friends all about what you found.

Do you remember as a kid how excited you were on the last day of school?  You could hardly concentrate as you said your goodbyes, talked about what you were doing that summer, or where you were going.  You couldn’t wait for the bell to ring before you bolted out the door, ready to embrace summer like a long lost love.

That excitement can be recaptured right here in your home town of Irving.  This weekend’s line up of events will bring back the sounds, smells and tastes of your childhood summers.  Check out the fun below and be sure to tag us at #visitirving when you post your selfies.

What does your Dad mean to you? It’s a fair enough question. And it’s a simple question really.  How do you feel when you think about your Dad? We asked this question to our male co-workers and received a myriad of answers.  But do you know that when we asked these same men, all of whom are fathers themselves, what they would want most as their Father’s Day gift from their own children, we received the same answer - time spent together with their family. Time spent before the kids grow up and leave.  Time spent while you can still shape their minds and enrich their souls. Time spent with those you love and who love you.  Time is finite; it cannot be replaced.

Now, if your family is like my family, we love to spend time together EATING.  And how fortunate we are that there are so many great restaurants in town from which to choose. To find a restaurant to treat your Dad on Father’s Day, click here. Then to extend your time together, you can also take in a concert or play, or attend any of these events our fine city has to offer.  

Just know that a year, even five years from now, he may not remember the wrapped gift you gave him, but he’ll certainly remember the memories you made together.

Here comes the sun, da ta da da.  And I say, it’s alright!  This weekend the weatherman’s anticipating lots of sunshine, and here we are rousing up a storm of celebration, fun, food, music and culture!   Be sure to check your groove before leaving the house this weekend because we are rockin’ this town!

I hope you’ve cleared your calendar for this weekend because there is so much to see and do! A celebration of the senses awaits you in Irving with some fun and exciting events to enjoy. Bring the family, bring your friends, but don’t miss out on these local delights.

For more events in Irving and around the area, check the events calendar.

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Smell and Taste this...

Location: Cimarron Park

Price: Free

When: May 14

Taste of Irving
Get your taste buds

Hello friends.  It’s me again helping you to plan your weekend.  And what a full weekend it is!  Whether you’re a long-time resident, moved here recently, or just passing through, we can fill your itinerary with arts, music, sports and family fun.  Check these out . . .

Here comes the weekend . . . and plenty of sunshine to boot!  What better time is there to enjoy the fun festivities around town?  All over the city there’s concerts, food, dancing, shopping, cars, books galore and more!   I know, it’s hard to decide what to do when you want to do it all.  So we’ll help you out.