Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

Howdy Frisco -

Frisco is raising property taxes for the first time in nine years. There's also an Eagles tribute dinner show Wednesday, a $172 cigar-and-whiskey networking night Thursday, two Dallas restaurant heavyweights headed to HALL Park this fall, and a bowl-turning class if you've ever wondered how those wooden bowls get made.

Here's your week ahead.

Frisco has held its property tax rate flat since 2017. Nine straight years. That streak is ending.

Last week, City Council approved a proposed maximum tax rate of $0.4413 per $100 valuation, a 3.71% increase over the current rate. For the average homeowner, that works out to roughly $9 more per month. The city is also voting on a $325.3 million budget for FY 2026-27, up from $306.3 million this year.

City Manager Wes Pierson framed it as Frisco "entering a new stage of maturity" - essentially acknowledging that the boom-town era of holding everything flat while growth paid for itself is winding down. Despite the increase, Frisco's rate is still lower than Prosper, Little Elm, Richardson, and The Colony. The 20% homestead exemption (the max allowed by state law) stays in place, plus the $80,000 senior/disabled exemption and tax freeze for 65+.

The public hearing is tonight (Aug. 18) at Council Chambers, 6:30PM, with a second hearing Sept. 1 and the final vote Sept. 15. If you have thoughts on how your tax dollars get spent, tonight's the night to show up.

Headington Companies, the Dallas group behind The Joule Hotel, is bringing its cafe-bakery-gelateria-market hybrid to HALL Park. Breakfast tacos, morning buns, grab-and-go lunches, weekend brunch, and a market with beer, wine, gelato, and fresh bread - all under one roof. The Frisco location will also serve as the brand's flagship and house all bakery production for every other Commissary location.
3101 Gaylord Pkwy, Frisco (Coming fall 2026)

Same group, same address, different concept: a modern steakhouse on the ground floor of The Monarch luxury apartment tower at HALL Park. Intimate, upscale, and the kind of place Frisco hasn't had before.
3101 Gaylord Pkwy, Frisco (Coming fall 2026)

Frisco's first dedicated esports venue, offering coached league play for kids ages 7-17 across games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Minecraft.
2959 Preston Rd, Frisco (Opening soon)

Mialetta Bakery is a home-based microbakery in Frisco offering baked goods using quality ingredients you can feel good about eating such as:

For more information, check out @mialettabakery on Instagram

& visit hotplate.com/mialettabakery

🏢 HALL Park keeps transforming. The 162-acre mixed-use development on Gaylord Parkway continues its shift from office campus to walkable work & play neighborhood. Beyond Commissary and Tango Room, The Monarch luxury apartment tower is rising, the HALL Park Hotel (Autograph Collection) is open, and a sculpture garden already draws weekend visitors. It's becoming its own small city within Frisco.

🚧 New school zones active this year. The city released a "Progress in Motion" video walking through new school zones, a new traffic signal, and changes to school zone hours for the 2026-27 year. If your commute takes you past any Frisco ISD campus, the timing patterns may have shifted - watch the video on friscotexas.gov.

📷 Bird photography show opens at the Frisco Art Gallery. Texas Master Naturalist John Garbutt's debut solo exhibition, "Birds," runs through Aug. 28 with a People's Choice vote at the end. Free, open daily during gallery hours.

🚐 GoZone rides are still free through Sept. 4. The on-demand shared-ride van service normally runs $3-5 a trip, but it's free for anyone booking within the Frisco zone through Labor Day, no promo code needed. Book through the GoZone app (iOS or Android).

Eastbound Meadow Hill Drive just east of Rogers Road is closed starting this week for underground utility work, expected to last about three weeks. Separately, new pavement replacement is starting on Parkwood Blvd and 5th Street, plus ongoing repaving continues on Alstone Dr, Brunswick Isles Way, and Preston Trace Rd.

☕ 1 Million Cups Frisco
Weekly entrepreneur meetup - hear local founders pitch their businesses, ask questions, and connect over coffee. Open to anyone, not just entrepreneurs.
Plug and Play, 3800 Gaylord Pkwy #1050, Frisco, 9-10:30AM (Free)

🪵 Bowl Turning with Carbide Tools
A hands-on woodworking class where you'll turn your own wooden bowl on a lathe from scratch - no experience needed, you take the bowl home.
Rockler Woodworking, 2930 Preston Rd Suite 850, Frisco, 1PM-3:30PM ($162.38)

🀄 Mahjong Night at Rollertown
Free weekly mahjong night at Rollertown's taproom - beginners get a quick rundown of the rules, regulars just pull up a table.
Rollertown Beerworks, 6450 Main St, 6-8PM (Free)

🍷 Elijah Caver at Didi's Downtown
Live music over dinner at one of downtown Frisco's coziest spots - full menu, craft cocktails, and a warm room.
Didi's Downtown, 8924 N 7th St, Frisco, 6-9PM (Free)

🦅 Dinner Show: Eagles Tribute - Desperado!
Vocal harmonies, precision instrumentation, and every Eagles classic from "Hotel California" to "Take It Easy" - over dinner and drinks.
Revel Patio Grill, 9305 Preston Rd, Frisco, 7:30-9:30PM (From $23.43)

💅 Femmeland
A weekly Wednesday night out for women - food, drinks, hookah, games, and "Girly Confessionals" interviews. Come with friends or solo.
8820 Main St, Frisco, 8PM-12AM ($10)

🍷 Sonny Lynn at Didi's Downtown
Thursday night live music and dinner downtown - the Didi's lineup rotates every night, and Sonny Lynn takes the stage this week.
Didi's Downtown, 8924 N 7th St, Frisco, 6-9PM (Free)

🥃 Cigars, Wealth & Whiskey
A curated networking evening for entrepreneurs and professionals over premium cigars and whiskey. Not a pitch fest, just real conversations in a small-group setting.
Industrial Cigar Co., 9500 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco, 6:30-9:30PM ($171.79)

🪵 Wood & Epoxy Charcuterie Board
Build your own epoxy river charcuterie board in this hands-on workshop - all materials provided, you leave with a finished board.
Rockler Woodworking, 2930 Preston Rd Suite 850, Frisco, 1PM-3:30PM ($189.44)

📺 Video Music Bingo at MVPs
A weekly music bingo night at a different venue from the usual Rollertown edition - same concept, different crowd and room.
MVPs Bar & Grill, Frisco, check listing for time (Free)

Wed: ☀️ Sunny, high 107°F
Thu: ☀️ Sunny, high 108°F

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That's it for now. See you Thursday with the weekend picks!

Cheers,

Sebastian

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