👀 Frisco missed this comeback, casting call, and ghost kitchen story

Samuel L. Jackson is coming to town, and you can literally be in the show.

Casting calls are open for Frisco King, the new Paramount+ drama from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. Jackson plays a hitman who trades New Orleans for... Frisco, Texas. ("San Francisco? No, Frisco, Texas and here's your golf polo to fit in.") Filming runs March 20 through April 14 across North Texas, and they need background actors for a bunch of scenes.

A few open spots worth knowing about:

And yes, there's also a March 23-27 call in Southlake for white supremacist extras. So. Range.

Apply at mycastingfile.com. City officials say about 70% of their cast will be locals, and they've specifically set up a separate talent page for Frisco residents. Mayor Cheney says the city itself is basically a character in the show, and they've committed to portraying it positively.

The jumbotron was fun but a Paramount+ credit would be a serious step up.

I drive through Legacy West basically every day. So when I saw that Legacy West Eats opened at 5908 Headquarters Dr. in Plano, I had to look into it.

It's a ghost kitchen, which means it's not really a restaurant. It's more like 20+ restaurants that all happen to share one kitchen and zero dining rooms. You order online or at a kiosk, then pick up your food or get it delivered. The concepts include Mad Burgers, Taco Dorado, Bows of Rice, Bunch of Dumpking, and a bunch more.

The idea is that local chefs and small operators can run a full restaurant brand without the overhead of a storefront. For customers, you get a lot of variety from one pickup spot.

Is it a little weird to order from a "restaurant" that doesn't technically exist as a place? A little, yeah. But as someone who has exactly 25 minutes to grab lunch between back-to-back meetings in Legacy West, the concept of picking up a rice bowl AND a burger for two different people from the same window is genuinely appealing.

Check the full lineup at their website before you go; the concept roster apparently rotates.

Frisco ISD is launching Frisco Flex this fall - a full-time virtual learning option for high school students, made possible by a 2025 state law that expanded how districts can deliver education.

The program is open to all high schoolers, including students from outside the district. Teachers are building courses from scratch in week-to-two-week learning chunks with regular check-ins. It's not just independent study; it sounds like a legit structured curriculum, just not in a building.

Here's the context that makes this interesting: FISD was once the fastest-growing school district in Texas. They've lost hundreds of students in recent years as families move around the region. Frisco Flex is partly about bringing them back. Associate Deputy Superintendent Wes Cunningham said it plainly: "We're trying to bring them back home."

I'm not here to relitigate the homeschool vs. public school debate in a newsletter. But I do think it's worth noting: Frisco ISD is paying attention to the fact that families want options. Frisco Flex isn't homeschooling, but it's a signal that the district is willing to meet families somewhere new.

Worth watching as fall enrollment opens up.

🍱 Pepper Lunch opens March 28 - Japanese fast-casual at 9180 Warren Pkwy, Ste. 150. DIY teppanyaki on 500-degree hot plates.

⚽ 15 FISD soccer teams are in the playoffs - First round games Thursday and Friday. District champs include Heritage and Wakeland in both boys and girls 5A. Go Coyotes.

🎓 Frisco kids raised $10K pitching startups - YEA! Frisco's annual Investor Panel awarded $10,000 in seed funding this week. Two student ventures: Glowga and Bioming Lab are heading to nationals in June. In Frisco. Very cool.

🚆 Rail study approved for Plano-to-McKinney corridor - The RTC greenlit a new passenger rail study connecting Plano and McKinney. Could be a DART Red Line extension, could be regional rail. Study takes 12 months. Big potential for the commute picture up here.

👨‍💼 Frisco City Council tabled a public speaking ordinance - They're considering cutting public comment from 5 minutes to 3. Tabled for now, comes back April 7.

🏡 135 Frisco homes sold in February - mostly in the $400K-$700K range, slightly down from last year. If you're thinking about making a move, my wife Emily runs a free referral service that matches you with the right agent for your situation - way better than spinning the wheel on Zillow. Book a time with her here.