2023 July | August Plano Magazine

THE GUIDE TO THE GOOD STUFF

A 10-minute lung scan could bring years of peace.

If you are a former smoker and the risk of lung cancer concerns you, a non-invasive lung screening may bring you peace of mind. Ask your doctor if a lung screening is right for you.

Learn more

Hearing Care is a journey, and we are here for you every step of the way.

Total Hearing Care was formally established in 1987 and is the preeminent Audiology practice in Dallas with 5 locations to serve your Hearing and Hearing Aid needs. Our skilled audiologists have over 150 years of combined experience and achieve excellent patient results for most types of hearing loss.

Our new Plano location opened this year so that we may better provide for our patients who live North of Dallas. We offer a full range of services, including Hearing Tests, Diagnostics, and Hearing Aid Fittings.

Neighbors voted to select the best of 2023. Be sure to visit all of these local spots, and share your pictures on social media — we’d love to see you around Plano.

Shopping

GARDEN STORE

WINNER - WELLS BROTHERS PET, LAWN & GARDEN

2ND - LIVING EARTH- PLANO

3RD - HOGAN NURSERY & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY

GIFT SHOP

WINNER - SAMPLE HOUSE AND CANDLE SHOP

2ND - LA FOOFARAW

3RD - SWEET HOME BATH & BODY

HOME DECOR

WINNER - HIGH STREET ANTIQUES & DESIGN

2ND - SUTTON PLACE FURNITURE

3RD - SPECIAL TOUCHES- HOME DECOR & GIFTS

KIDS’ BOUTIQUE

WINNER - ANIMAL CRACKERS

2ND - ONCE UPON A CHILD

MEN’S STORE

WINNER - BONOBOS- LEGACY WEST

2ND - TRAVISMATHEW

3RD - FILSON

PET SUPPLIES STORE

WINNER - HOLLYWOOD FEED

2ND - THREE DOG BAKERY

3RD - WOOF...COOL STUFF FOR DOGS

SHOPPING AREA

WINNER - LEGACY WEST

2ND - THE SHOPS AT LEGACY

3RD - THE SHOPS AT WILLOW BEND

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE

WINNER - LYLA’S: CLOTHING, DECOR, AND MORE

2ND - THE IMPECCABLE PIG

3RD - ELLA BLEU

Dear Planoites,

Every year when we start our “Best Of Plano” project, I think about what makes our city the best. If we are the City of Excellence, what makes us excellent?

When I was reading books on Plano’s history for the 150th anniversary, I found that what made Plano great in the 19th century is what makes it great now — families and businesses.

In the spirit of Plano’s families being the best, we’ve covered lots of the newest and coolest things to do with your kids in Plano in this issue. From pickleball places to organizations benefiting children with disabilities, Plano is filled to the brim with ways to bring together our city’s families.

With school starting up in August, we’ve also highlighted several of our city’s accomplished authors. They have sci-fi, historical YA and children’s fiction covered.

Thanks for helping us select the “Best of Plano” in this issue, and tag us on Instagram when you visit your favorite Plano places with #BestOfPlano2023.

Sincerely,

Alyssa High Editor

INNOVATIVE LEAPS. AMAZING STRENGTHS. INCREDIBLE. TOGETHER.

At

FAM ILY FRI ENDLY FU N

Plano’s newest family activities

story Alyssa High | illustrations Jynnette Neal

With one of the best school districts in the state, it is no surprise that families are drawn to Plano. Plano also ranked No. 16 in the nation in Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore for the city’s many parks and recreational spaces. Young children throughout Plano have the opportunity to have the packed schedules of CEOs, but family-friendly fun doesn’t stop at the elementary school age.

New businesses have been cropping up with fun for families with older kids and fun for teens without being glued to a screen. Here’s a few we’ve found that are worth trying out.

BATTLE HOUSE LASER TAG

2300 Coit Road, Suite 400

Battle House Laser Tag is no ordinary glow-in-the-dark laser experience. The facility features a 14,000-square-foot gaming space with eight separate two-story buildings, tramways and passageways, high-tech and low-tech props, and a lounge area. Tickets for 1.5-hour gameplay are $35 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, $40 on Fridays and Saturdays and $30 for an hour on Sundays. Tickets include a standard issue Raptor gun and other weapon upgrades are available for purchase. Players must be at least 7 years of age for the first game of the day. Afterward, the minimum age is 10 years old. While reservations are not required, they are highly recommended.

FOWLING WAREHOUSE DFW

1714 14th St., Suite 300

In a twist on an American family favorite, Fowling combines football and bowling by having players throw footballs at bowling pins. The warehouse play area is $15 per person for unlimited fowling for open play or an hour with a private lane that includes a private table and server. For those looking for adults-only fun, Fowling Warehouse DFW has adults-only hours and a VIP club-like lounge.

PINSTACK PLANO

6205 Dallas Parkway

Pinstack Plano is full of indoor family activities. The bowling chain also features an LED rock climbing wall, full-service restaurant, a high ropes course, two-level laser tag, bumper cars and video games. Bowling in the main lanes is $26 per hour Monday through Thursday. Attractions are paid for with a point system: Laser tag and ropes course are 24 points, and bumper cars and the rock wall are 20 points. Points can be purchased at staggered rates, with the lowest being $20 for 100 points.

Culture & Entertainment

PLACE IN PLANO TO TAKE KIDS ON A RAINY DAY

WINNER - CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

2ND - THUNDERBIRD ROLLER RINK

3RD - CINEMARK THEATERS

PLACE TO EXPLORE PLANO’S PAST WINNER - HERITAGE FARMSTEAD

MUSEUM

2ND - HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PLANO

3RD - INTERURBAN RAILWAY MUSEUM

PLACE TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC

WINNER - BOX GARDEN AT LEGACY HALL

2ND - LOVE AND WAR IN TEXAS

3RD - URBAN RIO (ON THE ROCKS)

BOWLING ALLEY

WINNER - PINSTACK

2ND - PLANO SUPER BOWL

3RD - MAIN EVENT ENTERTAINMENT

EVENT VENUE

WINNER - COURTYARD THEATER

2ND - HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM

3RD - ROOFTOP EVENT SPOT

EVENT/FESTIVAL IN THE PAST YEAR

WINNER - PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL

2ND - DICKENS IN DOWNTOWN PLANO

3RD - DEERFIELD LIGHTS

OUTING ON A BUDGET

WINNER - HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PLANO

2ND - PLANO CITY PARKS

3RD - HERITAGE FARMSTEAD MUSEUM

THEATER COMPANY

WINNER - ROVER DRAMAWERKS

2ND - NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS

3RD - ART CENTRE THEATRE

WAY TO GET ARTSY

WINNER - PLANO METROPOLITAN BALLET

2ND - ARTCENTRE OF PLANO, INC.

3RD - PLANO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

WAY TO GET YOUR HEART RATE UP

WINNER - GO APE TREETOP ADVENTURES

2ND - GRANITE PARK BOARDWALK

3RD - DARK HOUR HAUNTED HOUSE

ACTIVATE GAMES

5013 W. Plano Parkway

Competitive families beware. Activate Games puts teams of two to five together to try and accomplish as many 1-3 minute games as possible in 75 minutes. The games cover anything from laser mazes, trivia and basketball shots, and other combinations of the 11 options that cover communication, agility, speed and memorization. Because of the physical and mental requirements, it is suggested that players be over 10 years of age. Booking online is highly suggested; cost is $25 per person regardless of age.

11TH HOUR ESCAPE

601 J Place, Suite 300

Unlike other escape rooms that have skill limits, making it difficult for families with younger children to participate, 11th Hour Escape has customizable difficulty for all of their rooms. Currently, they have two escape room themes: Fallout Shelter and The Upside Down. Participants can choose between three difficulty levels: the 50% success rate, 25% or 10%. Both rooms can be enjoyed by ages 10 and up, but at least one adult is required to be in the room. Tickets are $29 per person, and at least four people are required to book a room.

NORTH TEXAS ESCAPE ROOMS

8232 Preston Road, Suite 100

North Texas Escape Rooms’ Plano location has 7 rooms, each with different themes and skill levels. For several rooms, you can choose between the 45-minute or 60-minute version. Pricing ranges from $27-$36 per person depending on the number of people in each room and what version is chosen. Current themes include Killer’s Campground, Dragon’s Curse, Empire City: Villains, Empire City: Superhero, Summer Camp, Penthouse and Jailhouse. Participants must be 9 or older to play the game, with some rooms including higher age requirements.

in a pickle

ALL ABOUT THE SPORT TAKING OVER PLANO’S COURTS

On any given summer day, people of all ages around Plano can be found in groups of two to four, hanging around pickleball courts ready for a game.

There are so many pickleheads in Plano, in fact, that the city of Plano is planning to open more pickleball courts with an amended lease agreement that allows the public to play pickleball at the Plano Sports Authority at Carpenter Park starting June 19.

Some of pickleball’s growth can be attributed to its accessibility. The game can be played by those in a wheelchair or prosthetic, including youth, older adults and others for whom more aggressive sports are difficult.

Currently, there are 12 indoor pickleball courts at Plano recreation centers and 32 outdoor courts at PISD school sites and High Point Park Tennis Center.

Planoites aren’t the only ones obsessed with the sport. An estimated 10% of Americans are pickleball players.

For those wanting to become involved, Plano Pickleball Club, a Facebook group for players, has more than 2,000 members. Run by Suzanne Atkins, the club hosts clinics, tournaments and helps players connect with others for meet-ups.

One of these players, Karen Nielsen, finds that the sport and community easily became addicting.

“My family will attest that I’m pretty obsessed with pickleball,” Nielsen says. “I love the game, the strategy, the technique, the exercise — all that. But it’s the people who are the best part. Everyone is so nice and friendly and always happy to be there.”

Nielsen took her first two-hour class at High Point Tennis Center with friends in April 2022 with instructors Suzanne Atkins and Laurie McDaniel. A little over a year later, Nielsen is playing four to five times per week as a member of three weekly leagues, participating in tournaments, taking lessons and drill classes and contemplating pickleball-themed vacations.

“Pickleball is a social activity as much as it’s a sport. It’s commonly played in an open-play format where 50 or even more players show up and rotate games and partners,” says Brandon Mackie, co-founder of Pickleheads, an online platform that matches picklers with other players in their area.

“You also almost always play pickleball as doubles, which leaves many opportunities to socialize and meet players.” P

What you need:

• Wiffle ball

• Pickleball paddle

• A court with a net

• A friend (or friends) to play with

Pickleball Rules

SERVING: Players must keep one foot behind the backline while serving.

Players must serve with an underhand swing. Serves must be aimed at the service court located diagonally over the net and clearing the no-volley zone. Service starts from the right-hand court, with only one fault allowed.

When playing doubles, both players get to serve once before the serve is taken over by the opposing team.

THE GAME: The pickleball must bounce once on each side before the player may hit the ball at least one time from the start of the game. Afterward, players may volley the ball provided they are not within the designated no-volley zone.

A player or team scores a point only while serving.

A pickleball game is played until a team reaches 11 points.

Winners must win by at least two points.

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FARM + FEED

GAME AND GRUB COME TOGETHER FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

story Alyssa High|photography Kathy Tran

Food & Drinks

BAR/PUB FOOD

WINNER - HOLY GRAIL PUB

2ND - THE FILLMORE PUB

3RD - 32 DEGREE ROOFTOP BAR

BBQ JOINT

WINNER - LOCKHART SMOKEHOUSE

2ND - BURNT BBQ & TACOS

3RD - WINNERS BBQPLANO

BEER SELECTION

WINNER - UNION BEAR BREWING CO.

2ND - KATY TRAIL ICE HOUSE OUTPOST

3RD - BEERHEAD BAR & EATERY

BRUNCH

WINNER - WHISKEY CAKE

2ND - BREAD WINNERS

CAFE & BAKERY

3RD - FIRST WATCH

BURGER JOINT

WINNER - KENNY’S BURGER JOINT

2ND - RODEO GOAT ICE HOUSE

3RD - YE OLE BUTCHER SHOP

COFFEE SHOP

WINNER - 1418

COFFEEHOUSE

2ND - MUDLEAF COFFEE

3RD - BLACK RIFLE COFFEE

HEALTHY EATING

WINNER - SEASONS 52

2ND - TRUE FOOD KITCHEN

3RD - BELLAGREEN

INDIAN FOOD

WINNER - KUMAR’S

2ND - EVEREST INDIAN

HIMALAYAN RESTAURANT AND BAR

3RD - MALGUDI GARDEN

Can’t get the kids off of their devices long enough for a family dinner? Farm + Feed says if you can’t beat them, join them.

Named after two gaming terms that seem food-related to normies (nongamers), the restaurant combines video games and family dinner with over 30 booths fit with a Nintendo Switch and an XBOX Series X or a PS5. The restaurant also has over 30 custom-built gaming PCs to choose from.

Families, friends and business partners are free to come in, choose a gaming system and play their favorite multiplayer games while dining on gaming-inspired concoctions.

Max Steel, the owner and brains behind the concept, created Farm + Feed last year to fill a need he saw in an already expansive gaming community.

“What got me into restaurants was this notion of bringing people together, obviously over food or drink,” Steel says. “Farm + Feed really came to a head where something I’ve always been passionate about is geek culture, video games and board games. … It’s a great way to get people out together and to have a place where you can celebrate geek culture or celebrate gaming where you’re always welcome no matter what

walk of life you’re coming from.”

The DFW area and Plano already have a thriving video gaming community. Plano is home to game developers like Robot Entertainment and Stray Kite Studios. Gearbox Software, Dreamhack Dallas, many Twitch streamers and specialized gaming stores are also nearby.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is how big of a gaming community is in the area,” Steel says. “The gaming industry has taken note by having a lot of their studios move down to the Dallas or Austin area. … You have this huge network and you have a lot of colleges and young people that want to play board games and whatnot and are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.”

Of course, with a restaurant, there’s much more than video games to consider. Steel brought in Riot Games/ ISS Guckenheimer Executive Chef Matt Yuen to create the first menu. Farm + Feed Executive Chef Lindsey Rush took that menu and expanded it, which Steel and the team are constantly adjusting.

“We worked on a simple menu of gaming treats but with nuanced flavors and flavor profiles,” Steel says. “We learned early on that that was too limiting, so we’ve been constantly every quarter iterating on our menu and either expanding items or

Farm + Feed has over 30 custom-built PCs for individual or team gaming.

Zato Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar offers you traditional Thai cuisine and fantastic sushi prepared by our expert chef with over 10 years of experience. Come experience our great traditional Thai dishes and sushi. We welcome you to enjoy our delicious cuisine and make unforgettable memories.

MARGARITAS

WINNER - MI COCINA

2ND - URBAN RIO

3RD - CHUY’S

MARKET FOR FOODIES

WINNER - CENTRAL MARKET

2ND - TRADER JOE’S

3RD - EATZI’S MARKET & BAKERY

MEXICAN FOOD

WINNER - MI COCINA

2ND - MI DIA FROM SCRATCH

3RD - CHUY’S

PATIO FOR DAY DRINKING

WINNER - KATY TRAIL ICE HOUSE OUTPOST

2ND - URBAN CRUST (ROOFTOP)

3RD - LAZY DOG RESTAURANT & BAR

PIZZA

WINNER - URBAN CRUST

2ND - TAVERNA ROSSA

3RD - KENNY’S EAST COAST PIZZA

PLACE FOR A COLD TREAT

WINNER - HENRY’S ICE CREAM

2ND - SUGAR PINE CREAMERY

3RD - FAT STRAWS BUBBLE TEA & MOCHI DONUTS

PLACE FOR CARNIVORES

WINNER - BOB’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE

2ND - FOGO DE CHAO

3RD - DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAKHOUSE

PLACE TO DRINK TOO MANY TRENDY COCKTAILS

WINNER - WHISKEY CAKE

2ND - MEXICAN SUGAR

3RD - CRAFTWAY KITCHEN

PLACE TO SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH

WINNER - BETTER THAN SEX

2ND - SPRINKLES

3RD - TELL ME SOMETHING SWEET BAKERY

QUESO

WINNER - TORCHY’S TACOS

2ND - CHUY’S

3RD - MI DIA FROM SCRATCH

taking items that aren’t selling well and moving them to specials.”

Farm + Feed’s current menu features their twist on typical appetizers and handhelds. Many of the dishes are inspired by Asian cuisine, a nod to the origin of the biggest PvP (player versus player) games and characters. Rather than plain french fries, one appetizer is kimchi sweet potato cheese fries, which are loaded with kimchi, gochujang nacho cheese, yum yum sauce, green onions and black sesame seeds.

Many popular dishes also have nods to popular games, like Boawsers, which are 24-hour beef brisket, spicy hoisin mayo, cilantro, jalapeño, pickled carrots and daikon-filled fried bao buns. The Rush Hour features raw tuna and salmon, rice paper crackers, diced mango, diced cucumber, avocado, edamame, chili aioli, green onion, cilantro and black sesame.

“We want to have one or two items that focus on the major cultures that are in gaming and geek culture and have those be represented in our menu,” Steel says. “Our menu is in constant flux, but we’ve had that core foundation and we constantly interact with both our guests as well as our staff. … That is something that we focus on tremendously.”

Guests can choose from hundreds

of gaming options across board games, PC, PS5, Switch or XBOX Series X. Booths for more than three people are $20 weekdays and after 10 p.m. or $30 on the weekend. Booths range from $15-$30 and PCs range from $5-$7 depending on time and number of participants. PCs are $5 on weekdays and after 10 p.m. and $7 on the weekend. Reservations are not required, but are suggested to ensure that guests get the console and games that they prefer at their booth.

“They [the staff] are all gamers themselves and that is what makes us very unique,” Steel says. “You’ll have our serving staff and waitstaff sit with you and try to get you past that hard level or show hints of how to get by things. Or if you don’t know how to play, they will sit there and curate that experience for you.”

Farm + Feed’s walls are also full of Easter eggs, with the original League of Legends server and World of Warcraft server blades signed by the development team. Farm + Feed is open 4 p.m.-12 a.m. MondayWednesday, 11-12 a.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 11-2 a.m. FridaySaturday. P

Farm + Feed, The Shops at Legacy North, 7401 Lone Star Drive, 432.356.3467, farmandfeed.com

“Baowsers” are bao buns filled with brisket, spicy hoisin mayo, cilantro, jalapeño and pickled carrots.

RESTAURANT FOR A DATE

WINNER - HAYWIRE

2ND - SIXTY VINES

3RD - URBAN CRUST

SANDWICHES

WINNER - BREAD WINNERS CAFE & BAKERY

2ND - MR. G’S DELI

3RD - THE BISCUIT BAR

SEAFOOD

WINNER - SEA BREEZE FISH MARKET & GRILL

2ND - URBAN SEAFOOD

3RD - EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD

SUSHI

WINNER - RA SUSHI

2ND - DENSETSU

3RD - EBESU

WINE LIST

WINNER - SIXTY VINES

2ND - BOB’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE

3RD - CRU WINE BAR

PLACE TO GRAB A SNACK

WINNER - EATZI’S MARKET & BAKERY

2ND - CRAVE POPCORN

3RD - HOJA BUBBLE TEA & ASIAN STREET FOOD

SOUTHERN/ HOMESTYLE COOKING

WINNER - NORMA’S CAFE

2ND - WHISTLE BRITCHES

3RD - POOR RICHARD’S CAFE

STORIES THAT SELL

stories Alyssa High

Greg Hasty finds that music and faith drive the inspiration for his novels, which span over multiple genres.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

photography Hunter Lacey

Greg Hasty never limited himself to one genre. Fiction, nonfiction, religious self-help: He’s done it all.

Hasty started his career in journalism, where he worked as a disc jockey at an ABC affiliate in Lubbock after graduating from Texas Tech. Like many journalists, Hasty found money to be short and decided to go into banking.

“It was a very boring job, but it paid the bills,” Hasty says. “Finally, after retiring, I started painting and writing, and it has just poured out since then.”

Since the start of COVID, Hasty has published Unsettled Business , Jana and Lydia and I’m a Nobody.

Hasty’s first books discussed a young man who gets into trouble with drugs and finds God, and an underaged girl who is kidnapped from a bar and sex-trafficked.

“When you start writing, you want to be famous. That’s what everybody wants to do,” Hasty says. “I’ve found that the publishing business is very, very tough. … So I don’t think I’m looking to get famous as much as I am to enjoy doing what I’m doing and maybe some people learn something through the books.”

Woodstockers , Hasty’s fourth and newest book, features a teen girl who rebels against her mom’s wishes and goes to Woodstock alone. Along the way, she encounters the messy world of music and learns a little about herself along the way.

“[I fell] just head over heels with music,” Hasty says. “I went to the Lewisville festival, which was two weeks after Woodstock, so I got to experience a Woodstock locally. That stuck with me for a long time. The bands, the music, the atmosphere, the hippies, just all of the goings on at these festivals inspired this book.”

After publishing Woodstockers , Hasty switched to non fiction.

“It’s kind of weird, because most authors stick with a genre and go with it, but I have a lot of interests,” Hasty says.

Currently, Hasty is working on a book detailing the history of Oak Cliff, the neighborhood in Dallas where he grew up.

“I’ve interviewed so many people in Oak Cliff, particularly people of color,” Hasty says. “What I found out is that the history of Oak Cliff tends to be all about the white side, which misses 50% of what went on.”

Before moving to Plano, Hasty was a fifth generation Oak Cliff resident. According to him, his great great grandfather fought in the Civil War and then settled in the area.

“[Moving from fiction to nonfiction] is like if you’re in a normal class, and you get moved to the AP class,” Hasty says. “It was a big transition, but now that I’ve done it and on such a radical scale, I think I can do it pretty easily on something else.”

While writing the Oak Cliff book, Hasty met musician Johnny Taylor’s son, who asked him to do a biography on his life. The biography will become his sixth book.

On top of writing about anything and everything, Hasty likes to paint and attend live concerts, undoubtedly getting his creativity back after 40 years in banking.

All of Hasty’s published works are available for purchase on Amazon.

COMFORT IN CHARACTERS

photography CJ Lee

As a young girl, Lyla Lee could often be found in the Davis Library, her head stuck in a young adult novel all afternoon. Originally from South Korea, Lee moved around frequently in her childhood before settling down in Plano and found comfort in books.

“Books have friends that you can take along for the ride,” Lee says. “I always wanted to write the books that make other people feel less lonely as well.”

Lee wrote her first book while in the eighth grade at Rice Middle School, and she quickly learned the publishing game wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped.

“Of course, it didn’t get anywhere, but it was a very long process of learning the craft,” Lee says. “I’m self-taught. I basically learned how to revise and do all the stuff I needed to do in high school until I got an agent after college.”

Lee was naturally drawn to novels for younger audiences, and has published over 40,000 copies in multiple languages of her two YA novels and nine books for elementary readers and will soon publish a novel for her new middle-level series.

Her elementary-level series, Mindy Kim , features a young Asian American girl as she grapples with typical childhood topics from her cultural perspective.

Mindy Kim’s adventures with school lunches, holidays and vacations were inspired by the books Lee read herself as a kid, like Junie B. Jones and The Magic Treehouse.

Lee has also written two YA books, I Should Be the One and Flip the Script I Should Be the One is a romcom-esque drama featuring aspiring K-Pop singer Skye Shin as she navigates Korean beauty standards and the K-Pop industry. Flip the Script dials up the romance with protagonist Hana as she navigates the contract romance required of her new TV-show gig while falling for her on-screen rival.

Though many of her characters are very different from herself, Lee hopes that young girls find a sense of representation in her novels.

“All of my books feature Korean American protagonists because, even though I grew up with very good books, there wasn’t that much representation,” Lee says. “I didn’t see books with people that looked like me, so I really want to help diversify the shelves so that teens today see themselves in books.”

Being Korean-American isn’t the only thing that Lee and her characters have in common. Mindy Kim, Skye Shin and Hana are all goal-driven characters, something that Lee has noticed readers appreciate.

“I’m very ambitious,” Lee says. “I decided randomly in the fourth grade that I wanted to be an author, and I’ve been pursuing that ever since. I feel like that’s very much like my characters.”

Lee has just returned from a book research trip to South Korea, where she is working on her 10th Mindy Kim book. Lee also is working on a mid-level book series geared toward 8th-12th graders starting with GiGi Shin is Not a Nerd , which will be available in spring 2024. Lee is also anticipating a new project called The Cuffing Game, which she describes as a novel K-drama take on Pride and Prejudice if Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy were forced to work on an LGBTQ-friendly Love Island -esque reality TV show. The Cuffing Game is slated for winter 2025.

Lee’s books can be found on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, Indiebound or Book Depository. Lee also offers signed books at Bibliobar (located in Plano Shopping Co-Op downtown), Pantego Books in Dalworthington Gardens, Book People in Austin and a few stores in New York City. P

Lyla Lee finds a bit of herself in each of her characters, who are all goal-oriented Korean American girls.

FUTURE’S DARK PAST

Plano neighbor John Yarrow’s first sci-fi stories seemed too far-fetched for editors’ liking. In the ’90s, he dreamed of artificial intelligence and gene splicing. Now, the technology in his stories comes to realization almost faster than he can publish.

John started writing in college, where he wrote several novels before graduating and settling down to start a family. While his kids were in school, he taught computers and English while coaching at Carrollton ISD. Intrigued by quickly changing technology, he went on to get his master’s in cognitive systems, which applies cognitive science to computer systems.

The knowledge he gained in that degree inspired a series of unpublished sci-fi novels that John calls his “learning novels.”

“They said that mainframes would never be able to be broken into and gene splicing would never happen, so [the books] were just unrealistic,” he says.

Fast forward nearly 30 years, and John’s wife Leanne is his right-hand woman, giving input on and editing his stories.

“I’m like the chief storyteller, and she’s the chief content manager,” John says. “She’s touched pretty much every word in a story or novel, and she’ll help rearrange it and sometimes write additional material to go into it.”

John’s latest book, Future’s Dark Past , is his first published work. He signed with publisher The Story Plant before the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was able to work on the second and third books in the series while waiting on publishing to resume after the pandemic.

Future’s Dark Past is the first in his Time Forward sci-fi trilogy featuring a woman who endures genetic modifications to become a time traveler in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. The woman is thrust into the 21st century, where she is partnered with an AI scientist to attempt to fight destructive forces across the continuum.

Though the book has only been out a few months, it has already amassed 4.8 stars with nearly 100 reviews on Am -

azon, where reviewers describe it as a “grab-you-by-thethroat” novel that “keeps you wanting more.”

According to John, technology has progressed so much since starting the book that he’s had to move dates backward up to 10 years, and that isn’t always a good thing.

“The whole concept was to make people think about what we are doing to our future now,” John says. “Could we do something different? What are we focused on? That’s really going to make people stop and think about how if we don’t change the way we’re acting, talking and working together then this could really happen.”

A novella that serves as a half-sequel to Future’s Dark Past will be published this fall. The second novel, Time Unfolded , in the series is scheduled for release in winter of 2024. Future’s Dark Past is available now at JLYarrow.com or on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indigo or Indie Bound.

photography Hunter Lacey

John and Leanne Yarrow met on a blind date through a coworker when they were both teaching for Carrollton ISD, and have now been married for 36 years.

Meeting where they’re at

WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM IS A SAFE PLACE FOR NEURODIVERSE KIDS

We Rock the Spectrum serves as a thirdplace for kids with autism to play, but each piece of equipment also serves a purpose toward occupational therapy.

story Alyssa High photography Lauren Allen

FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, occupational therapy can be the key to reducing sensory overload when doing everyday activities. However, therapy often doesn’t give children the chance to experience these stimuli while around their typically developing peers.

We Rock the Spectrum, a neighborhood gym and third place for children with autism and children who are typically developing to play and mingle, aims to change that.

The gym is run by Taylor Wiesner, who has done behavioral therapy for kids with autism for more than 10 years.

“I primarily did in-home therapy with kids, which I love because parents can be super-involved, and we are able to teach skills to kids with autism where they need it most,” Wiesner says. “However, they really struggled with social skills at home because they only had siblings, and you can only force a sibling to practice playing a game or whatever would be so often.”

Wiesner opened her first We Rock the Spectrum location in Preston Hollow in January 2020. Families that attended therapy at Wiesner’s office next door began playing at the gym, and neighborhood families followed suit. Now, We Rock the Spectrum has about 150 kids with a membership who attend multiple times a week, and a Plano location opened in August 2022.

“I have three typically developing kids, and I was looking for a way to get to have a place where my clients who have special needs could come and play with kids who are typically developing some place where it doesn’t matter if you have words or if you have autism or if you’re flapping or if you’re screaming or whatever it is that everyone can just play in a safe place,” Wiesner says.

The gym features a toddler area, swings that serve different occupational therapy needs, a zip line, a trampoline and other play items that help special-needs children with different sensory needs.

“All of the swings have a specific purpose,” Wiesner says. “They’re either working on balance, or they’re getting some sort of sensory input from them.”

When the open play area becomes too much, We Rock the Spectrum has a quiet room for kids to work on regulating their sensory overload.

“For kids who have autism, oftentimes the gym can get overwhelming. Any

place can get overwhelming,” Wiesner says. “So this area is soundproof.”

The room also features a sequined wall for sensory stimulation, a blue-lit bubble feature for a calming effect and an egg chair that kids can sit inside and close for a dark and cozy moment to themselves.

We Rock the Spectrum also hosts birthday parties, field trips and summer camps for both special-needs and typically developing children.

“One thing that differentiates our summer camps is that any kid can come regardless of their ability,” Wiesner says. “We just have to know what needs there are, and we supplement by having volunteers come hang out with the kids who need extra one-on-one time.”

The play area also features a rock wall and an area that rotates seasonally. Currently, the area is set up like a pirate ship complete with life jackets for children to learn about water safety.

“That’s a concern with kids right now, especially those with special needs who don’t know how to swim,”

Wiesner says. “A lot of them are attracted to water, so we are going to have safety stories printed out that parents can take home to teach their kids about water safety or what to do around water.”

Within the play area, there is a classroom where kids can play with magnets or a dry erase board, do crafts or camp activities, or have one-on-one time with their occupational therapist.

“The whole goal, even for myself, being a mom of three, is that it’s a great place that your kid can learn to be around kids who are different from them,” Wiesner says.

“[That] is what makes our open play concept and our camps quite different from a lot of other play spaces, because we’re always teaching kindness and compassion. They might not have words back to say to you, but you can ask them to go play and they might still join you.”

A day pass to the open play area is $12 per child. Monthly memberships are also available for $70 for one child with discounted rates for siblings. We Rock the Spectrum, 1941 Preston Road, Suite 1022, 214.954.7221

One of Taylor Wiesner’s sons plays at the gym regularly, where typically-developing kids and those needing occupational therapy play together.

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MEET STRAY KITE STUDIOS

GROWING GAME DEVELOPMENT COMPANY MOVES TO PLANO

story Alyssa High |

photography Lauren Allen

Every day, thousands of teens around the world launch Fortnite Creative on their gaming consoles and build islands to play their own versions of the popular game. Behind these screens are developers, designers and artists ensuring that each part of the game is artfully and practically designed. Some of these developers come from Stray Kite Studios, a Plano-based game development company created by industry veterans who are focused on the storytelling potential of interactive media.

Paul Hellquist and Plano resident Shovaen Patel started Stray Kite five years ago after leaving Robot Entertainment due to company layoffs.

“Prior to Robot, I was at Gearbox which at the time was around 300 people, now 1,500 or 1,600 people,” Hellquist says. “The difference is the impact [we have] on literally every part of the business and the products we’re doing. Everyone at our studio has a significant impact on our products and we’re very open and transparent.”

The pair began pitching themselves to potential companies seeking contracted developers and landed a project with Epic Games developing Fortnite Creative.

The project quickly grew and Patel and Hellquist had to expand the team, bringing in former co-workers from Robot Entertainment and new talents from around the country. In just five years, Stray Kite has grown to over 30 employees. Together, the team brings credits from known industry franchises like Borderlands, Bioshock, Saints Row, Age of Empires, Fortnite and Destiny.

“They [Epic] were so easy to work with,” Art Director Paul Slusser says. “It was a really fun time building games for

that environment.”

In addition to Fortnite Creative , Stray Kite Studios has partnered with Gearbox and 2K to produce Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and is currently partnering with Genvid Entertainment to develop an unannounced massively interactive live event.

Since its inception in 2018, Stray Kite has been based in Richardson. Now that many are returning to the office, Patel and Hellquist sought out a larger office space that is centralized to the staff’s home addresses.

“The spontaneous creativity that happens when people are together that has been very difficult to recapture in a full remote environment,” Hellquist says.

The team laid out everyone’s addresses on a map and estimated their commute times during peak hours and lined it up with mixed-use communities to attract younger talent. They landed on an office space in the Village 121 development, which has several apartments, restaurants and other amenities.

While the office is still under construction, the team is aiming to move in in the fall. After working on the Fortnite Creative project for years, the team has discussions in the works with other game development companies and hopes to trademark their own games.

One example of these games is Hogwarts Legacy , which many on the team have been playing in their freetime.

“We are very big on what we call player stories,” Hellquist says. “Those are the stories that the players create through their play so how they interact with the game creates these special moments that are very unique to that particular player.”

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