Lakeside, TX June 2024

Welcome to City Lifestyle

Hello, and welcome to the premiere issue of Lakeside Lifestyle - where we’re inspired by our community, and hope this magazine inspires you, too! As the publisher, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our magazine, a platform that celebrates the communities that reside between Lake Lewisville and Lake Ray Roberts – Little Elm, Oak Point, Lakewood Village, Crossroads, Krugerville and Aubrey.

We’re thrilled to be your source for all things local. Lakeside is not just a publication; it's a testament to the collective spirit of our community, a reflection of our shared passions, ideas and aspirations.

As you flip through these pages, you’ll be drawn into the incredible stories behind the people and places that call Lakeside home.

From the carefully crafted food being served up at local restaurants like Tender BBQ to beautiful homes in Spiritas Ranch, from start-ups and successful businesses such as Christian Brothers and the Barnes Group to local artists, designers and fashionistas, our goal is to share the stories of everything and everyone Lakeside has to offer - and the things that matter most to you, our readers, for whom we produce this magazine each month.

To our readers, thank you for joining us on this exciting adventure. Your support and engagement are the driving forces behind Lakeside's mission, and we are thrilled to have you on board.

ALEXIS JACKSON, PUBLISHER

@LAKESIDECITYLIFESTYLE

June 2024

PUBLISHER

Alexis Jackson | alexis.jackson@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Gabrielle Bailey

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Vashti Moore

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Vashti Moore, Michelle W. Parnell

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Alexis Jackson, Savanna Romano

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling

Alexis Jackson LAKESIDE CITY LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER

Centurion American CENTURIONAMERICAN.COM

Elevated Property Group ELEVATEDPROPERTIESTX.COM

Barnes Group BARNESEMPLOYMENTGROUP.COM

ASP ASPPOOLCO.COM/FRISCO

Farmers Insurance AGENTS.FARMERS.COM/TX/AUBREY/BRAD-KIESLING/

Christian Brothers CBAC.COM/AUBREY

Bloomfield Homes BLOOMFIELDHOMES.COM

Little Elm Medical Weight Loss LITTLEELMMEDICALWEIGHTLOSS.COM

Huffines HUFFINESKIACORINTH.COM

Olivia Clarke Homes OLIVIACLARKEHOMES.COM

HBW&V HBWVLAW.COM

Allan Retail Group ALLANRETAILGROUP.COM

Aubrey MMD AUBREYMDD.COM

Little Elm EDC LITTLEELMEDC.COM

Pilot Point EDC DEVELOPPILOTPOINT.COM

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: LE*NKS (Little Elm Networks) morning networking event. 2: LE*NKS morning networking event. 3: April Chamber Luncheon at Tender Smokehouse 4: Mom and son Swim, Surf & Slide, presented by the Little Elm Chamber of Commerce. 5: Friends gather to celebrate an award within Little Elm. 6: Mom and son enjoy a surf and slide.

DEIDRE

Discover growth with The Barnes Group

Experience innovative HR, staffing and payroll solutions powered by cutting-edge technology. The Barnes Group specializes in saving you time, cutting costs, and ensuring compliance. Empower your business to thrive with personalized service and streamlined operations. Give your team the best tools for their job with the leader in HCM technology. Don’t forget to ask about the small business owner promotion.

Experience the sleek elegance of our fiberglass pool installation. Get ready to make a splash with unmatched style and durability. If you’re looking to own a pool but are worried about the lifetime costs of having one, a fiberglass pool might be the right option for you! We’re ready to make your backyard fun.

Brad KieslingFarmers Insurance

As a 25-plus year resident of Lewisville and the surrounding area, I am proud to serve the community as your local Farmers® agent. Customer service is what is most important to us here at the Kiesling Agency, and we will always do what is in your best interest and treat you like a part of our family. We will work to match you to your needs while keeping your premiums down.

Scan to read more Scan to read more ASP Frisco are your pool experts!

Photography by Brad Kiesling

Photography by ASP Frisco

BARBEQUE AND FAMILY

HOW TENDER SMOKEHOUSE IS MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF AND THE COMMUNITY

Welcome to Texas! The state is known for standing on its own, rodeos, and more importantly, barbeque. Of course, every state and region has its own style of barbeque, but when it comes to Texas, no state does it better. While there are many barbeque pits and stops to choose from in the DFW region and Fort Worth alone, there is one specific restaurant that stands out. Tender Smokehouse is a family-owned Texas barbeque restaurant that focuses on quality foods and outstanding customer service.

ARTICLE BY VASHTI MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXIS JACKSON

With four locations across the DFW region, including Frisco, Celina, Aubrey, and its newest spot in Little Elm, Tender BBQ offers innovative barbeque dishes, recipes and, as they put it on their website, "Fave and Crave" selections. The owner and pitmaster, Dante Ramirez, brings many years of experience in the food and catering industry. He is joined and partnered with Eddie Bell, Torii and Katrina Hunter, and Audrea Weimer.

With a five-star rating on Yelp, Tender Smokehouse is a local hot spot bringing a fun and family-friendly atmosphere to all of its locations. It’s no wonder it’s a fan favorite because there’s no better way to

bring people together than with delicious barbeque. Those planning on making a stop at Tender Smokehouse should come hungry or with a little room in their stomachs. It’s easy to get full from their fan favorites, such as the prime brisket sandwich, loaded potatoes and banana pudding. Those loaded potatoes are no joke, either. As they like to describe them, they are the size of footballs and will “wow” you at first sight.

Their “Fave and Crave” specials include the “El Jefe” sandwich, which has brisket, pork, sausage, and a scoop of barbecue beans between their Texas Toast, all topped with a pork spare rib.

"Our employees are the heart of Tender - we have a remarkable team."

Of course, what is barbeque without a crisp, refreshing drink to go along with it? Tender Smokehouse offers a variety of handcrafted beer at all of their locations, all of which are local to the area. If beer isn’t a go-to, consider trying one of their Dublin sodas, which come in three flavors: Texas Root Beer, Grape Soda, and Orange Cream.

However, it’s not just the food and drinks that make Tender Smokehouse a popular choice. Behind every small business and family-owned restaurant is a hardworking staff who is considered family.

“Our employees are the heart of Tender and we have a remarkable team from the kitchen to the front of the house,” said founder and partner, Audrea Weimer. “We strive to provide an exceptional customer experience to everyone who walks through our doors.”

Tender Smokehouse has built its business on the number five allowing it to operate on a number five rule. It has five partners, is open five days a week to allow staff a balanced lifestyle with family, and uses no more than five ingredients in a recipe. Tender Smokehouse is open Tuesday to Saturday,

7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is closed Sunday and Monday. For those planning a special event and need catering, Tender Smokehouse offers its services of delivery, pick up, full service, and much more. Patrons can even plan an event for a private dinner for the full dining experience.

It doesn’t matter how customers choose to enjoy Tender Smokehouse BBQ. Whether a customer wants to choose an online order, dine-in, or catering, it's a safe bet that between the food and staff, locals will be coming back for more. After all, there can't be a barbeque spread without family involved.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST

ARTICLE BY MICHELLE W. PARNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNA ROMANO

AS PILLARS IN NORTH TEXAS' HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, COLTIN SHERRELL AND DAKON DOGGETT'S BOND TRANSCENDS BEYOND A STEPFATHER-STEPSON RELATIONSHIP.

Having a mentor or someone who provides guidance and direction in life is invaluable. Coltin Sherrell, an entrepreneur based in North Texas, knows this firsthand. For him, one of his biggest mentors and supporters is his stepfather, Dakon Doggett.

“I’ve known Dakon my entire life. He married my mom when I was very young and has always been a father figure to me. He's very levelheaded and so good at navigating tough situations,” shared Sherrell. “It's really incredible watching him work in any capacity, even if it's difficult relationships with other people.

“He is always asking things like, ‘How can we understand the situation better?’ or ‘How can I understand where you're standing, and you understand where I'm standing so that we can proceed to make this a win-win situation?’ He's so good at that and it's something that I really admire and respect about him. It's something that I've tried to learn as best I can from him.”

Growing up, Sherrell watched as his mom, Amy, and stepdad founded and grew several businesses, including the Mule Barn Sports Bar & Grill, Lone Spur Café, LS Catering, and Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat. As a teen, working alongside his family in these businesses and observing how his family handles situations gave Sherrell great insight into being successful.

While it seems overwhelming to manage multiple businesses, Sherrell said Doggett taught him one simple rule that creates a sturdy foundation for any company.

“I think the keystone of how my family runs our businesses is that we treat everybody with respect,” he explained. “We understand people are human beings and make mistakes, but treating them as if they are less in some way is completely against what we stand for and what we want to achieve.”

Last fall, Sherrell opened Higher Grounds, a local coffee shop that serves coffee, breakfast burritos brought in from a local chef, and pastries while providing a welcoming atmosphere and gathering place for the community. According to Doggett, opening Higher Grounds is a perfect fit for Sherrell.

“Coltin grew up in the hospitality industry and it comes naturally to him,” said Doggett. “If you’ve talked with him or done business with him, you know that hospitality is his blood.  In the hospitality industry, at the end of the day, it's all about making people happy and exceeding their expectations.”

Sherrell, who loves making connections with people, wants the coffee shop to provide a great space for locals and a fun work environment for employees. As Sherrell took his first solo venture into owning a business, he looked to Doggett for guidance. Apart from cheering him on, Doggett advised Sherrell to proceed with caution and make educated decisions when it comes to financing and running a business. Sherrell also sought Doggett’s counsel on balancing cultivating a company and having the business run you.

“The biggest thing that I've learned is that success is so relative. It's not all just numbers on a spreadsheet. It's how good the relationships are with your friends, family and community,” Sherrell shared. “It’s also important to trust the people that you've put in positions to do the job that you hired them to do. It’s good to guide them as they do their jobs, but hiring someone and then micromanaging them means they will never be efficient.”

For Doggett, watching Sherrell open his own business is a full-circle moment that brings him joy not just as a mentor, but as family.

“I'm very proud of him and I think he's doing great,” he said. “Coltin has always been very self-disciplined, motivated, and a hard worker, even when he was young and in school, so I’m also not surprised that he’s doing well.”

Each of the family’s businesses focuses on bringing people together and creating connections in the community. The restaurant, bar, café, and catering businesses allow people to gather for any big or small occasion. Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat serves as a venue for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events by offering picturesque scenery and opportunities to leave the stress of regular life behind. Overnight accommodations, on-site catering, outdoor activities, and fully equipped meeting spaces ensure groups and families have everything they need for an all-inclusive event or getaway.

“They all cultivate the same thing: a sense of community and togetherness,” said Sherrell. “I think it's indicative of the people we are because you don't spend lots of money and years of your time working to build something that cultivates community unless it's something really important to you.”

"THE KEYSTONE OF HOW MY FAMILY RUNS OUR BUSINESSES IS WE TREAT EVERYBODY WITH RESPECT."

Perfecting Your Golf Swing

ARTICLE BY DANIEL SCHOWENGERDT

Whether you are a new golfer or have been playing for decades, we all want the same thing—to be a single-digit handicap (or better). In some professions, golfing with clients is a must, and slicing off the tee box can kill the deal.

Get fit for equipment.

01.

If you are buying clubs off the rack, you aren’t giving yourself the best chance for success. Golf technology is evolving every year, and although you don’t need to buy a new driver each year, if you’ve been playing with the same clubs for 5+ years, it’s time to take advantage of the new equipment. Newer clubs have lower and deeper center of gravity (CG), creating an easier launch off the face. Even off-center strikes can produce a straight shot with the right set of clubs. Any major golf store will fit you for free—just make sure you get the correct length club and size grip. The clubs don’t swing themselves, so don’t neglect instruction and practice, but getting the right equipment is a vital piece of the puzzle.

On drivers and hybrids, some of the newest equipment have premium shaft options off the rack. Generally, a $300 driver has a low-grade $15 shaft that you should change. The shaft is the engine of the club, so getting custom shafts will add distance and forgiveness—guaranteed.

As for the putter, you use it more than any other club in your bag on every round of golf. It should be the most tailored club in your bag.

Get good golf instruction, REGULARLY.

02.

We’ve all heard someone say, “I should get a lesson sometime.” To be effective, you need regular lessons from a PGA certified pro, not just one lesson. Getting quality instruction from the same instructor can turn slices into draws and give you the confidence to play with anyone on any course. Years ago, golf instructors started instruction with chipping and putting and then graduated to the driver. Now, instructors have been pressured to start with the driver because we all want to outdrive our friends. Resist that temptation! Get instruction on your short game and irons first. My friend regularly outdrives me by 50 yards, but my ball is in the hole first most of the time because of my training and practice on the short game.

Read quality golf books for a higher golf IQ.

03.

There are thousands of golf books, but don’t worry, you only need to read a handful of them to up your golf IQ. Here are some top reads: Short game: Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz

Mental game: Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella Mechanics: Practical Golf by John Jacobs

Ball flight laws: The Practice Manual by Adam Young (only read the first 50 pages)

Practice your short game every day.

04.

You don’t even have to spend time away from your family while practicing if you don’t have a golf simulator. You can practice putting and chipping on the carpet while watching TV with your family.

Chipping and the bump and run: The only mechanical advice I will give is the most important lesson you can learn in the short game. When you miss your approach shot you must be able to chip the ball within 8 feet of the hole for a one putt. Try this shot from Dave Peltz’s short game book. It gets me up and down from 25 yards out to just off the green.

Instructors have been pressured to start with the driver because we all want to outdrive our friends. Resist that temptation! Get instruction on your short game and irons first.

Position the ball in the back of your stance, just inside your back ankle. This will help avoid hitting it thin. That ball position will also help you hit the ball with a descending blow, and as Dave Pelz says, “hit the little ball (golf ball) before the big ball (the earth).”

Turn your feet 30 degrees toward the target and have 70% of your weight on your front foot which also promotes the descending blow.

Use a putting stroke to hit the ball. That’s right—do not use your hands or wrists for power. Using a putting stroke just off the green will create consistency and clean contact.

Don’t take the club back very far (depending on the length of the shot) and make sure your follow-through is 20% further than your backswing. This will ensure accelerating through the ball.

Use the right club. I use anything from a 9 iron to 60-degree wedge for this shot. Use a 9 iron or wedge when you need the ball to roll further once it hits the green, and use a more lofted club for less roll. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

If you perfect this shot, you’ll be chipping in and getting up and down much more often.

Retractable Technologies

Jennette Espinosa Executive Director

Natasha Roach Assistant Director

Jennifer Eusse Business Relations Manager

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.

Bringing Joy

Back into the Kitchen

Chef Dennis Prescott Talks Falling in Love with Feeding People and the Connection Food Creates

Whether you know him from the Netflix hit Restaurants on the Edge or from his absolutely mouth-watering food photos as @dennistheprescott on the ‘gram, this former-musician turned internationally-renowned Chef is an amazingly talented, thoughtful, and globe-trotting force to be reckoned with. When it comes to inspiration for creating experiences around food and your community, as well as creating travel bucket lists to some of the world’s

most unique and delicious destinations off the beaten path, Chef ‘Dennis The Prescott’ is a culinary change maker whose feed you’ll want to feast on.

Originally an aspiring musician, Canadian-born Dennis Prescott’s journey began while in university with a single invitation from another solo musician who asked him to tour with him around the US. This eventually took him to Nashville where they began making records and pursuing their musical dreams.

In the midst of all of this eating take out, dollar menus, etc, had become a way of life for Dennis. A friend stressed that he needed to start taking care of himself, and the advice was simple: “You need to start eating better.” He knew his bad eating habits weren’t good for mind, body or spirit, but he didn’t know where to begin to make changes. However, Prescott thought to himself, “I KNOW good food because I have literally traveled all over America, all over Canada, and into Europe with my music, eating great food and learning what I like.”

The Start

Dennis went to a nearby library and borrowed three books only to have his friend ask why he chose those in particular. Dennis remembers saying verbatim, “I don’t know? The guy on the cover looks kinda good looking, and I feel like I could probably pull these recipes off, and he seems really happy too!” As it turned out they were three books by Jamie Oliver; it’s just that he had no idea who Jamie Oliver was at the time.

Flash forward and Dennis’ first dinner-hosting experiment was made up of twenty people from the music studio, all sitting in camping chairs with beer koozies and makeshift tables in his apartment.

“I remember at the time this moment of, okay, the food is on the table, it’s a stressful thing, and then everybody tucks in and they take their first bite, and there’s a moment of hush that kind of came over everyone; it got really quiet just for a second, and then everyone started talking and getting into it and I fell in love with food right there at that moment. I didn’t realize that you can create these beautiful experiential moments at the table in the same way that I did playing someone’s favorite love song. Knowing that that was a thing to me was the most fascinating thing in the world.”

Dennis even got to the point where he was cooking so much that he started to forget what recipes he had successfully made, so he began a photo journal and started taking photos of all his completed dishes. And so it began like it does for most; Dennis began posting food photos to Instagram for the next few years.

“All of that was initially with no agenda, no intentionality; I just loved it and I wanted to share. I fell in love with feeding people.”

Regarding social media, Dennis’s professional advice is to check your DMs. A person who worked at Food & Wine Magazine at the time sent him a DM, asking if he would do recipes for the magazine, which turned into writing a monthly column. That experience helped him land a cookbook deal, which led to a wealth of TV and media publicity and Dennis feels he owes a lot of his success to that first opportunity with Food & Wine Magazine. Oh, and did we mention he is a self-taught photographer who now does all of his own food shots? This guy has drive.

His drive and innate talents ultimately led him to the opportunity of a lifetime via another DM. This time, it was a Netflix executive producer who offered him the chance to work for two seasons on Restaurants on the Edge, a show where “three food and design experts travel the world to revive failing restaurants by connecting them to the local culture beyond their gorgeous views.“

If I can inspire more time as a community at the table, then that’s a win.”

What followed were 13 episodes over nine months where they traveled to and filmed restaurant revivals that included three in Canada, one in the continental US, one in Hawaii, and others outside of North America, including Hong Kong, Slovenia, Austria, Malta, St. Lucia and Finland.

Travel Recommendations for Foodies

“Slovenia borders Italy and Croatia, which is to say there are a lot of shared values in and around food; they have really great cheese, dairy, beef, pasta, but very few tourists, hardly any. So if you love Italy, that kind of specific travel and food experience, particularly Northern Italy, because you can see the Alps from where they are. It’s picture perfect, a beautiful place, and also where orange wine is from.”

Dennis also highly recommends Costa Rica, Hawaii and Finland.

“Most people love the idea of travel, but we tend to pick the same places when we travel, and there is nothing wrong with that, they are amazing for a reason, but when you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.”

One of the most common fears Dennis hears from people cooking and/or grilling at home is, ‘where do I start? I don’t know how to get going, so I just don’t.’

Rather than overcomplicating it, Dennis recommends cooking the things that bring you joy — things that are on a restaurant menu you can’t NOT order because you’re so pumped that those dishes are on there.

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

Favorite Things

Kitties

We rescued Rosie in April of 2020 and Layla in June of 2023. They were fast friends and cuddle buddies.

Coffee

I love a good cup of joe. My favorite recipes include oat milk and a shot of vanilla.

Cheese

I cannot and will not live without cheese. It's a steady part of my daily life and habits. My favorite at the moment is brie.

Brunch Travel

I love to travel. I know a lot of people say that. If I am not traveling, I am watching TikTok videos of people packing. The beach is my favorite destination.

My favorite meal to eat out is brunch. I love the ceremony of it and that multiple drink choices are encouraged.

events

JUNE 1ST

Little Elm Craft Brew & Que

Little Elm Park: 701 West Eldorado Parkway Little Elm, TX 75068 | 4:00 PM

Join in on the 9th annual Little Elm Craft Brew and Que. Enjoy a night filled with local beer and wine tastings from national award-winning breweries and wineries. Sample BBQ tastings from pitmasters across Texas and end the night with an amazing fireworks show. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lakefrontlittleelm.com

JUNE 5TH

Food For Thought

Virtual Networking Lunch | 12:00 PM

Connect with other small business leaders on this virtual networking event. Hosted by Sherry Sutton and Alexis Jackson, this gathering is joined by other dynamic speakers each month. To learn more or register for the call, visit littleelmchamber.com.

JUNE 15TH

Summer Music Series

Veterans Memoral Park | 6:00 PM

Come out to and enjoy the summer tunes with the family and enjoy the two bands for the night. 6:00pm - Payton Howie and at 7:30pm - Clay Hollis hits the stage.

JUNE 15TH

An Evening Of Music

Fortunata Winery: 2297 FM-2931, Aubrey, TX 76227 | 6:00 PM

Visit Fortunata Winery for an evening filled with wine ,wood fire pizza and live music by ASM from 6-9pm.

JUNE 15TH

Alpaca Yoga

TX-Ture Farm: 1833 Dr Sanders Rd Aubrey, Texas 76227 | 11:00 AM

Experience yoga as never before! Join us for our

more information.

JUNE 26TH

Ladies' Luncheons!

Hula Hut: 210 E Eldorado Parkway Little Elm, TX | 11:30 AM

Set a reminder for the Ladies’ Luncheon at Hula Hut. Connect with other women and listen to guest speakers. Visit littleelmchamber.com to register and learn more.

POWER POSES

BRIDGE POSE (SETU BANDHA SARVANGASANA)

Project radiance up and out from your heart while strengthening your back body.

Open your heart for increased confidence and counteract “text neck” while you’re at it.

ARTICLE BY CAITLIN AGNEW PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIFE N LIGHT

Brett Larkin, founder of Uplifted Yoga, teaches yoga designed to ignite a personal transformation. A trailblazer in the online yoga space, her award-winning YouTube channel has over 500,000 subscribers. Here she shares power poses to incorporate into your practice for a confident and powerful year.

WILD THING (CAMATKARASANA)

Take up space. Get fierce. Practice stretching into the fullest expression of who you are.

CAN YOGA HELP BUILD SELF-ESTEEM?

Confidence is all about feeling good in your own skin, and practicing yoga makes you more aware of your body. You are tuning into your breath, your feelings, and your true vision. Physically it strengthens you. Mentally it helps you focus. With improved posture, you stand taller; and with a clear mind you are more prepared and confident to take on what comes your way.

For more info about Brett and her online training options for all levels, go to BrettLarkin.com.

CAMEL POSE (USTRASANA)