OT: Moving to the Metroplex - Part 2

by rangersfan34 on Feb 20, 2008 6:36 PM CST Comment 32 comments

Hello to all of you in the LSB community! Last summer I posted a diary regarding the possibility that my family might be moving from Orange County to the Metroplex sometime in 2008 and many of you were gracious enough to offer suggestions on where to live, etc. Now, the possibility appears as though it's becoming more of a reality and we're headed out there on Friday to spend the weekend looking around at housing, etc. We've narrowed our neighborhood search down to a lot of the usual suspects (Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Southlake, etc.), but I wanted to see if any of you had suggestions for good grocery stores, restaurants and other "family" activities.

If you're familiar with the California store, Trader Joe's, we're hoping there is something similar out there. (Small market, kind of health food oriented, but really just a cool market to run in and grab a tasty, pre-packaged meal.) We also want to track down some good restaurants for lunch and dinner... These don't count, but we're planning on hitting up Whataburger and Cracker Barrel for sure (we Californians envy the states that have Cracker Barrel!!), but it would be great to know of some of the hidden restaurant treasures out there... Also, are there places out there geared toward families with newborn babies (our little girl is just shy of five months old)?

Any and all advice is appreciated... I'm beyond excited to hopefully be able to call Texas my home later this year, and as soon as we're settled, I'll start seeing all of you at Rangers games!

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Trader Joe's

There are a few Whole Foods here which is similar I think.

by Agreen07 on Feb 20, 2008 6:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Also, Central Market. I guess they have those in Cali...

by miles on Feb 20, 2008 6:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Central Market, which has locations in Southlake, Fort Worth, and Plano. Whole Foods has multiple locations in Dallas, a store in Plano, and one in Arlington, but none in Fort Worth or Southlake.

I'm a big fan of both- each has things they do better than the other.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 20, 2008 6:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Big diff, though

Trader Joe's is ridiculously cheap. Even cheaper than the military commissaries.

Whole Foods and Central Market, while having a really cool selection, are almost ridiculously overpriced, in my opinion.

I don't think DFW has an equivalent to TJ. They may get them in the next few years, though. They have them in NM.

As an aside, i was happy to discover that they had TJ's on the east coast. Unfortunately, east coast Trader Joe's suck ass.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 20, 2008 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You should

open one here and make lots of mula.

by miles on Feb 20, 2008 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Trader Joes is the BEST...

great selections of fresh prepackaged meals, cheap yet good wine, just a really wonderful selection of health conscious things and of course a great produce section. They have them all over California and it sure makes life easier. Whole Foods is a rip off even though the selection is excellent. I love Bristol Farms the most though, the one in Beverly Hills is very pricey but what an amazing selection of delicious food!

Rumor has it that The Ahmad, HH,Brooks,and Sharky are banding together for an unprecedented showing of TROLL POWER. Watch out for the "Ahmad Squad".

by LAMuscleFag on Feb 20, 2008 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whole Foods

Some of us out here call it "Whole Paycheck," which is a fairly apt description.

The one I go to in Plano has reasonable prices on some things, like wine and produce, but their prices on meat are just insane. I'll buy sausage and whatever meat's on sale there, but I mostly stick to the produce, cheese, and bread. They also have some hard-to-find vitamins and teas that I like.

Central Market has a great selection of snack foods, and their olive bar kicks ass. My favorite thing there, though, is the coffee.

I've never been to a Trader Joe's, but everyone I know who has raves about the place. Hopefully we'll get one in the North Dallas/Plano area soon.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 20, 2008 9:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I bet

it would be really popular...

Whoever opens one will will be smart to do so...

hint hint.

by miles on Feb 20, 2008 9:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Central Market

in Ft. Worth has the best pomegranate green iced tea. Great food selection as well. I also appreciate their sommelier. If you need assistance picking out wine, they can be very helpful.

Too bad I no longer live in the state. I actually miss Ft. Worth.

"heres to you brett for making me get all wet" -NYTXFAN

by jparks77 on Feb 20, 2008 10:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Frisco

is a cool place, something for everyone.

Growing fast, lots of new schools ect.

Check out Gattitown in Frisco, its a kids restaunt.

by miles on Feb 20, 2008 6:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Frisco's great

Second only to San Diego on my (albeit limited) list of Places I Have Spent Time In.

http://heartbreakplex.blogspot.com "I'm a winner." -Miles

by BudLight on Feb 20, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Frisco's OK

Just leave an hour early for everything...the traffic's ridiculous.

Mama named me after JD.

by Clueless on Feb 21, 2008 10:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Denton

Whatever you do, don't move to Denton.

Hope that helps!

Unstoppable....Eli Manning is with his Citizen Eco-Drive.

by TheBZA on Feb 20, 2008 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No worries...

I've heard that on more than one occasion... Denton is not on our list!

"Hello win column..."

by rangersfan34 on Feb 20, 2008 7:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Talk about a dark hole.

by miles on Feb 20, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no Fat Weasel

in TX. Just a heads-up.

by SteveP on Feb 20, 2008 7:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

where will you be working?

it could make a big difference on the location you choose to live.

I live in Dallas so I'm biased on city vs. suburbs.

depends on if you want to be like everyone else, buy the same SUV, same house, go to the mall for entertainment - then Frisco is your place

if you want to join a cult - Southlake is your place

McKinney can get far depending on where you have to go

Plano has good and bad - depends on which area.

There are lots of good places to live all over the Metroplex

I tend to focus on things like how convenient is home to your work, key social places (church, arts, sports, whatever you like) and friends and family (if that exists here) and perhaps the airport if that is something that is important (for instance do you travel a lot).

by simplesimon on Feb 20, 2008 7:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If things work out...

...I'll be working from home. I work in graphic design and I'm able to do my work from anywhere. The deciding factor regarding how soon we'll be able to move is whether or not my current employer will let me keep my job and not be in Southern California. If they nix the idea (should know within the week), I'll be trying to find graphic work somewhere out there prior to actually packing up and heading out there.

"Hello win column..."

by rangersfan34 on Feb 20, 2008 8:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cult?

I will accept many criticisms of Southlake as I am from there, but you will have to elaborate on what you mean by this.

To the original poster: I would highly recommend Southlake for a place to raise a family.

by Los Rangers714 on Feb 20, 2008 8:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing like Trade Joe's...

Someone mentioned Whole Foods, and Central Market...Cool stores, but nothing like TJ's. Man, I love that place. Whole Foods and Central Market are both extremely expensive. You'll love it here, I moved from California as well. Great place to raise a family. Only drawbacks? No Trader Joe's and no deli's...As far as where to live - I would look in Dallas as well as the outlining areas. I live in Lake Highlands and it's great. Lot's of old trees. Frisco is nice, but everything looks the same in my opinion. My wife and I needed some character...Old home, close to the Lake. Just my two cents.

by JB on Feb 20, 2008 8:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Southlake

I haven't spent much time there, but my impression is that it's a very wealthy, white, soccer-mom kind of suburb, like a bigger version of Coppell.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 20, 2008 9:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Southlake

The median household income is $131,000, so that should tell you something. To fit in, I would think you'd need to make in the high $100k to $200k plus range.

60% of residents in Southlake have at least a bachelor's degree. The national average is 23%.

It's a society of elite. Not saying there is anything wrong with that, but I can understand the cult comment. When you factor in the Southlake football program, it magnifies that a bit.

All of that being said, it's a nice place. I enjoy shopping there occasionally.

I'd love for part of the "new look" to be a return to the red uniforms of the 1990s. - Ian Kinsler

by ortonius on Feb 20, 2008 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A restaurant

That isn't anything exceptional, but offers family style country Mexican cooking, even a few Califonimexitex seafood dishes, is Mariano's. The one just across 360 from the Ballpark is my favorite. You get treated like family and fed to the gills, and it's good food.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Feb 20, 2008 8:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

2 more things

Consider Fort Worth. Seriously.

And as for restaurants, Pappadeaux's, baby. Pappadeaux's.

Rex Hudler is in demand as a motivational speaker.

by Brian Thomas on Feb 20, 2008 9:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No kidding...

I live in Lake Worth, and I think Lake Worth kicks ass.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Feb 20, 2008 10:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 Fort Worth

Fort Worth is great. There are some really nice neighborhoods and the whole downtown is great. Check out Ridgela Hills, anything off/around Hulen, Camp Bowie, the TCU area, Forest Hills or University Park.

It's far more laid back than Dallas and all of it's suburbs. Most of the houses are older, with character, rather than the cookie cutter, one of four design plans in a sub-division. Not to mention that Fort Worth is cheaper than Dallas but not really far away from anything.

Take a day to check out Fort Worth, it'll be worth your time.

by Hull Fan on Feb 21, 2008 12:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Arlington

I'm originally from Arlington and I have nothing but praise. Great school district, you're close to both Dallas and Ft. Worth. The Parks mall is great for shopping, good restaurants, all that junk Not to mention the Ballpark, Six Flags, etc.

Unstoppable....Eli Manning is with his Citizen Eco-Drive.

by TheBZA on Feb 20, 2008 10:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If you want good draft beer, nice drink, good wine

I know all the great places in the metroplex.

MrExcel Video Podcast ... Loves me some LSB

by hurlerhurley on Feb 20, 2008 10:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

you my friend

are lucky!!

i used to live in dfw but moved to san diego, ca in october of 2007 because my job relocated me out here ( im a computer engineer)

i miss texas very much and if you go out there get me a job with ya! haha

san diego is nice and all but texas is home and i prefer it over cali.

good day

Free Palestine!

by The Ahmad on Feb 20, 2008 11:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Murphy

Living in Murphy, like it, nice and quiet. There is grocery competition, with Albertson's, Walmart (one of the small grocery-only kind), and Krogers, and a new store opening this summer called Sprouts, which I'm really hoping will add some high-quality produce to the neighborhood.

The biggest downer living here is I have to drive like 12 miles to find a liquor store.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Feb 21, 2008 9:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs