Howdy Frisco and happy birthday, Janine (resident since 2018)!
Yes, Janine gets a birthday shout-out.
No, this is not favoritism.
She told me her birthday.
So here’s the deal… Hit reply with two things:
how long you’ve lived in Frisco
your birthday (month/day)
When your day rolls around, you get a shout-out too. Welcome to the Howdy Frisco Birthday Club. Requirements: live in Frisco, reply to this email, tolerate mild public attention.
Also, I'm nosy and want to know how many of you moved here in the last year vs. have been here since Main Street was just a street.
Now, the news:
🐕 Frisco Is Building a $12.8M Animal Facility (And It's Not Your Average Shelter)
This might be the most Frisco thing Frisco has ever done: build an animal facility through a public-private partnership that includes dog boarding, grooming, training, AND adoption services all under one roof.
What's happening: City Council signed a letter of intent in November with Wiggle Butt Academy founder Nicole Kohanski to operate the facility. If approved in January, construction starts October 2026 and opens January 2028.
How it works:
Frisco CDC pays $12.8M upfront for the site
Operator leases it for 20 years, pays back $7.7M in rent
Zero additional taxpayer dollars needed
What makes it different: This isn't a traditional animal shelter. It's part public service (short-term holding, reunifications, adoptions), part private business (boarding, grooming, training). Think: one-stop shop for everything pet-related.
Why it matters: Right now, if Frisco Animal Services picks up a stray, it goes to the Collin County shelter in McKinney. Frisco makes up 11% of animals there. This facility would handle more locally, making reunifications way easier and taking pressure off the county shelter.
The city's been getting asked about this for years. Frisco's solution? Let a private operator run most of it while the city handles the public service piece. Very on-brand.
Council votes in January. If approved, start looking for those "Now Hiring: Dog Trainer" signs in 2027.
🏈 Lone Star's Wild Ride: Epic Comeback, Then Heartbreak
Last Friday, Frisco Lone Star pulled off one of the wildest comebacks in Texas high school football history.
Down 52-35 with 8 minutes left against Aledo (12-time state champs), sophomore QB Trey Wright led three straight touchdown drives, scored 28 fourth-quarter points, recovered an onside kick, then ran in the game-winner.
Final: Lone Star 56, Aledo 52.
Aledo was up 45-28 entering the fourth. They don't blow leads like that. Except they just did.
Then came last night's state championship at AT&T Stadium.
Wright injured his ankle in the first half. Backup John Madden couldn't spark a comeback. Smithson Valley's defense dominated: forced fumbles, pick-6, total shutdown.
Final: Smithson Valley 28, Lone Star 6.
Smithson Valley wins back-to-back titles. Lone Star came up one game short after the semifinal for the ages.
The silver lining: Wright's a sophomore. This team's young. They'll be back.
🛍️ Belk Market Quietly Opened in the Old Big Lots
Remember when Big Lots closed on Preston Road? Belk Market moved in and opened December 8th with almost zero fanfare.
What it is: A smaller version of the department store Belk (founded in 1888, headquartered in North Carolina). This is one of two new "Belk Market" concept stores they're testing.
What they sell:
Men's, women's, and kids' clothing
Shoes, handbags, accessories
Home décor and fine jewelry
Mix of national brands and their private labels
They're promising "frequent deliveries of new brands and styles tailored for each community," which is retail speak for "we'll see what sells in Frisco specifically."
Where: 3333 Preston Road, Suite 700 (the old Big Lots spot)
Not exactly groundbreaking news, but if you've been wondering what went into that empty storefront, now you know.
🎄 What's Actually Worth Doing This Weekend
Saturday, Dec 20:
Morning/Brunch:
Brunch with Santa & Friends at Westin Stonebriar | 10am-12pm, $60 adults/$42 kids | Santa & The Grinch, cookie decorating, gingerbread houses, photo ops.
SaturYAY: Holiday Edition at Kaleidoscope Park | 10am-12pm, FREE | Santa, crafts, mini train rides, Letters to Santa station.
Afternoon:
Afternoon Tea at Omni PGA Frisco | 11am-2pm, $75 adults/$35 kids | Premium teas, fancy bites, live acoustic guitar.
Evening:
Home on The Range for The Holidays at PGA Frisco | 5-8pm, FREE (some activities extra) | Merry Mini Golf, real reindeer, holiday train, letters to Santa, holiday movie after. S'mores and Build-A-Buddy available as add-ons.
Photos with Cowboy Santa at PGA Frisco | 6-8pm, FREE | Complimentary 4×6 photos at Santa's Ranch House. Noah's note: Did this with my family and got adorable free photos. Worth it.
Show Pony Revue: A Night at the Nack - Holiday Spectacular | Nack Theater, $40+ | Live band burlesque show with holiday classics, craft cocktails, vendors, raffles. Showgirls and sparkle.
Still Running Through the Holidays:
Christmas in the Square (through Jan 5): Free light show, 6-10pm nightly.
The Light Park at Riders Field (through Jan 4): Drive-thru lights, longest light tunnel in the world.
Santa at The Star (through Dec 24): Photos from $39, use code STAR5 to save $5.
📬 Got a Tip?
Spotted something opening? Know a hidden gem? Let me know.
Enjoy the weekend,
Noah