Happy Friday, Grapevine Lake. In today’s edition: School closures vote, holiday movie on the lawn, family storytime with Ruth Parrott, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

New momentum at transit hub: The first pieces of Carrollton’s $1.5 billion Trinity Mills Station district are complete, debuting a 3-acre greenspace and the 436-unit EVIVA apartments with 10,000 square feet of retail, half leased — see what’s planned.

Big cat’s local momentum: Caterpillar expanded its DFW footprint, buying 901 W. Walnut Hill Lane near its Irving HQ to support growth, alongside a Dig World sponsorship and an intensified focus on power sales — read the full story.

Heated meeting draws crowd: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD trustees voted 5-2 to close Bransford and Dove elementary schools amid enrollment declines and budget pressure, with closures taking effect before the 2026-27 school year and reassignments forthcoming — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Shop local lakeside with live music
• Exchange gifts at Grapevine’s Warhammer store
• Bring friends to Thursday bingo
• Give holiday joy at Grapevine’s Giving Machine
• Meet Scuba Claus at SEA LIFE Grapevine
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

Community unites for children: Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare rallied about 30 elected officials for his office’s first Toys for Tots drive in Southlake, aiming to be the county’s biggest. The push came as Toys for Tots faced a donation shortfall after a 43-day federal shutdown, cutting gifts per nonprofit to 200-250. O’Hare plans to make it annual. Read the full story.

Skate into the season: Ready to lace up? Local Profile rounds up North Texas skating spots, from Frisco’s only outdoor real-ice rink at Skate the Square to Galleria Dallas’ rink under a 95-foot tree. Look for highlights like Comerica Center’s Dec. 13 holiday show and Irving’s Toyota Music Factory rink, which opens Dec. 12. Check out the full lineup.

Hair day, leveled up: Skip the meh trim and turn it into a mini reset at Cloud 9 Salon and Spa. Local since the ’90s, they do color, balayage, extensions, plus spa add-ons like facials, lashes, and massage…all under one roof. Perfect for looking like you actually slept.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎬 Holiday Movie on the Lawn @ Bedford Senior Activity Center | Friday (12/12) at 5:00pm – Nothing says holiday cheer like The Muppet Christmas Carol under the stars behind the Senior Activity Center. Pack blankets, claim a patch of grass, and let Kermit handle Dickens, the ghosts, and your cozy nostalgia when the sun dips.

🎸 Survival Songs House Show Tour @ St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church | Friday (12/12) at 8:00pm – If your idea of a good night is songs you can actually hear, come catch Derek Webb playing an intimate Dallas house show. Expect living room acoustics, sharp songwriting, and stories between tunes. Think grown-up hang, not bar scene, with actual conversation afterward.

This weekend

🧶 Stitchcraft Circle @ Grapevine Public Library | Saturday (12/13) at 10:30am – Whether you quilt like a pro or still knot your thread, join the Stitchcraft Circle to stitch quilts for the Grapevine Animal Shelter and the hospital, or bring your own project. Adults and 16+ only, Library Card and registration required, no spells, just stitches.

✨ Christmas Ornaments Masterclass @ Art Wheel Studio | Saturday (12/13) at 2:30pm – Get cozy and creative with an afternoon of hand-painted ornament making. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or can barely draw a stick figure, this class keeps it fun, festive, and stress-free. Leave with a custom keepsake—and maybe a little extra holiday cheer.

🌟 A Night of Hollywood @ Lewisville Public Library | Saturday (12/13) at 5:00pm – Dress to impress and shine like your name just hit the Walk of Fame. This end-of-year Hollywood affair brings glam contests, red-carpet moments, and plenty of chances tofor flex your best power pose. Add music, good company, and a potluck feast, and you’ve got a party worthy of its own award.

🧩 Holiday Pastimes @ Coppell Arts Center | Sunday (12/14) at 3:00pm – The Coppell Community Orchestra is ringing in the season with nostalgic favorites, warm harmonies, and just enough sparkle to make you forget your to-do list. Think hometown charm without the mall parking. Bring your brood, your best sweater, and your holiday spirit.

🧵 Learn to Spin Yarn with a Drop Spindle @ Grapevine Public Library | Sunday (12/14) at 3:00pm – Think you could spin a decent yarn, literally? Learn to spin on a top-whorl drop spindle, with spindles, wool roving, and guidance provided, no registration, adults only. Bring your own spindle if you have one, and leave with newfound patience, and possibly actual yarn.

🎄 A Very Merry Park Village @ Park Village | Sunday (12/14) at 5:00pm – If you need a nudge into holiday mode, Park Village is serving Santa photos, free cocoa and cookies, and a very photogenic tree. Bring your own camera, your favorite people, and your smile. Yes, in Southlake, Santa found parking.

Next week

🤠 The Texas Tenors @ Palace Arts Center | Monday (12/15) at 7:30pm – Swap the mall madness for The Texas Tenors at the Palace, where Emmy winners, Billboard toppers, and AGT favorites deck the halls with O Holy Night, Joy to the World, and goosebump harmonies. Expect Bootdaddy, some Righteous Brothers, and a lot of swoon.

📚 Family Storytime with Ruth Parrott @ Grapevine Public Library | Tuesday (12/16) at 6:30pm – Travel back to 1773 as the Boston Tea Party comes alive through storytelling, hands-on boat-building, and a splashy “tea dumping” adventure. Kids can craft sponge ships, sail them across mini harbors, and finish the night with sweet tea cakes. A fun, history-packed evening led by Ruth from the Captain Molly Corbin Chapter NSDAR.

🔔 Sounds of the Season @ White’s Chapel Methodist Church | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:00pm – Nothing says Southlake holidays like bundling into White’s Chapel for live Nutcracker moments, White Christmas, and a Holly Jolly sing-along. It’s festive without the mall chaos, charming without the kitsch, and just the right excuse to claim cocoa as dinner.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Friday Nights @ The Sound at Cypress Waters – 4 pm
• 12/14 11th Annual Chanukah @ Southlake Town Square – 5:30 pm
• 12/18 Randy Rogers @ Marty B’s – 7 pm
• 12/19 Incognito @ O’Sheas Irish Pub – 9 pm
• 12/20 The Nuttier Cracker @ Palace Arts Center – 3 pm
• 12/21 Concert Bells of Fort Worth Christmas Concert @ Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church – 5 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Grapevine Lake edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Michele Balady Beach (Compass RE Texas, LLC.)

In Northlake Woodlands, this lushly landscaped, updated 5-bed, 3.5-bath blends classic formals with a modern heart. The redesigned kitchen brings custom cabinetry, quartz, Wolf induction and double ovens, plus a Sub-Zero fridge. Formal living frames the pool, spa, and gardens. Kitchen and den connect easily. Upstairs, four bedrooms and a game room, including an oversized multigenerational suite.

Epoxy floored three car garage and electric gate add polish and function. Quiet, tree lined street near Mockingbird Elementary and Middle School East, with quick trips to The Sound, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Lake Grapevine, Lake Lewisville, and DFW Airport in 15 minutes.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →