Howdy Frisco -
Well, that was humbling. Yesterday I had to call an Uber for my mother-in-law because my AWD was doing the cha-cha on Preston Road trying to get to DFW. She's here to meet the baby, and I'm out here sliding around like I'm auditioning for Ice Capades.
Emily's already given me the "I told you so" look about three times. Welcome to Texas winter, where we get four inches of ice and collectively forget how cars work.
Now, let’s get into it! ⬇️
🏈 Jeff Rayburn Named Coach of the Year
Frisco Lone Star's Jeff Rayburn earned District 5-5A Division Coach of the Year honors.
Rayburn took over Lone Star in 2013 and has led the Rangers to both of Frisco ISD's only state championship game appearances, according to Star Local Media.
Why it matters:This year's team was special, with Rayburn replacing the entire offensive line while still maintaining championship-level play.
The NFL pipeline is real:
Marvin Mims ✅
Nick Bolton ✅
Trey Taylor ✅
Ashton Jeanty ✅
All current NFL players who came through Lone Star. The school's lightheartedly called "Frisco's NFL factory."
Our newborn son won't be playing football (Emily's already made that clear), but this matters because culture matters. Frisco ISD's commitment to excellence is exactly why we moved here.
Congrats, Coach.
💻 Frisco Dominates Remote Work Rankings (Again)
Frisco just reclaimed the #1 spot nationally for remote work. Again.
And if you’ve ever wondered why coffee shops are packed at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, this is why.
A new SmartAsset study ranked 357 U.S. cities (100k+ residents) and found 33.7% of Frisco’s workforce works from home - about 42,000 people. That’s the highest share in the country.
Who Frisco Beat: Berkeley (31.5%), Cary (30.6%), Boulder (29.8%), and Scottsdale (28.0%). Our remote share dipped slightly from last year (34.2%), but Frisco held the top spot while others climbed.
The infrastructure that matters
Median remote salary: $111,000
Internet speeds: 271 Mbps (up to 526 Mbps)
Broadband coverage: 99.5% (5th nationally)
Cost of living: 92.7 (lowest in the top 10)
What it looks like in real life: I work at JPMorgan Chase in Legacy West and see this daily. Some commute in. Others don’t. Coffee shops stay busy mid-morning. The Preston Road Starbucks is basically a coworking space.
As Wave Connect’s CEO put it: smaller cities can offer better value to remote workers.
Translation: Frisco delivers big-city earnings without big-city prices.
Remote work holds at 22% nationally despite return-to-office pushes. In large cities, it’s declining.
Frisco’s 33.7% isn’t just above average - it’s more than double.
This isn’t a fluke. It’s a structural advantage.
☕ The Aussie Grind - Australian Café Culture Hits Preston Road
If you survived the ice storm and need to reward yourself with Biscoff French toast on warm Ghirardelli chocolate, The Aussie Grind is calling your name.
The backstory: Lui and Angie Monforte ran a café in Brisbane, Australia for eight years before opening The Aussie Grind in Frisco in 2019, followed by a Flower Mound location in 2024, according to Community Impact.
They researched the fastest-growing cities in America and discovered Frisco topped the list.
What to try:
Flat whites (proper espresso with steamed milk)
Eggs Benny - the top-selling menu item with applewood-smoked ham and house-made hollandaise
Avo Smash - avocado toast on sourdough with cherry tomatoes and pomegranate
Breakfast pizza with house-made pesto, roasted bell peppers, scrambled eggs and cheese
Chicken parmy - an Australian pub take on chicken parmesan served on fries rather than noodles
The drinks: Fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, and cocktails (they call it "grog"). The Brisbane juice is $8.95 - fresh orange, apple, and pineapple.
They roast their own coffee beans at the Flower Mound location.
Where: 3930 Preston Road, Ste. 120
Emily's been eyeing this place for a Saturday morning with the girls once the ice melts. I'm eyeing everything.
📅 This Week in Frisco
Today, Tuesday, 1/27
🩸 9am-3pm: American Red Cross Blood Drive - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11000 El Dorado Pkwy.
Thursday, 1/29
🎨 6pm-7pm: Vertical Art Show Celebration - Frisco ISD Administration Building, 5515 Ohio Dr. Honoring student artists from Lebanon Trail HS, Centennial HS and feeder schools.
Friday, 1/30
🥊 5pm: Peak Fighting Championship 50 - Comerica Center, 2601 Avenue of the Stars. Former Dallas Cowboy Greg Hardy makes his Peak Fighting debut. Tickets required.
🎸 9:30pm-1am: 80s Gadgets Live - The Revel Patio Grill, 9305 Preston Rd. Live 80s hits from Prince, Billy Idol, Queen, Duran Duran and more. Tickets required.
Saturday, 1/31
🍖 12pm: Gao's BBQ & Crab Grand Opening - 9144 Prestmont Pl #250. Free snow crab legs for first 100 guests. Authentic Chinese BBQ and Cajun seafood boil.
🛍️ 12pm-7pm: The Immersive Ramadan Market - Frisco Event Hall, 5353 Independence Pkwy. Two-day market (1/31 & 2/1) featuring 100+ Muslim-owned vendors. Handmade goods, jewelry, art, food, home decor. Tickets required.
Sunday, 2/1
🤠 1pm-5pm: Frisco Annual Dolly Day Market - Frisco Rail Yard, 6600 Oak St. Western-themed shopping, local artisans, food trucks, live music, best-dressed Dolly costume contest (2:30pm). Free admission, family and dog friendly.
