Sky theater
The sky is not the limit at the on-site planetarium at the University of North Texas. Instead, the 100-seat Sky Theater featuring a 40-foot domed ceiling promises (and delivers) an out-of-this-world experience. Located in the Environmental DENTON Sciences Building on the UNT campus, Sky Theater is open to students and the general public alike. From a detailed, precise replication of the night sky to movies about astronomy, the theater helps visitors understand and experience the sky differently than they ever have before. Through this experience, it’s possible to visit different stars and planets in the solar system, take a breathtaking ride on a celestial roller coaster or even travel through electrons within an atom — all without ever leaving your seat. Thanks to vivid color and HD projections, the films live up to their goal of making viewers feel as if they are actually living the experience, not just watching it. In addition to being able to stargaze regardless of the time of day or how clear the sky is, the planetarium also holds a weekly screening of a star-related film.
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gnome Cones
Gnomes are enjoying a pop culture moment, but in Argyle, Alex Sparks and Bret Hawkins have turned that moment into a movement. ARGYLE With the opening of Gnome Cones last year, the lighthearted duo introduced a fanciful frozen treat that even trolls can’t help but love. The snow cone shack on Highway 377 is not your typical frozen treat stand. It looks entirely possible that it could be the actual home of garden gnomes. (Spoiler alert: It’s not.) Instead, it serves up all-natural snow cones free of dyes and preservatives with syrups made fresh daily. In addition to serving up their special brand of gnome-shaped snow cones, Sparks and Hawkins make sure visitors have plenty of reasons to stop. “We all dress like gnomes, we collect gnomes, and if you bring a gnome, you get a free cone,” Sparks says. “We love that we get to be a quirky part of the community.” And now, they’ve become part of summer tradition in Denton County. You might even say they’ve made quite a gnome for themselves.