Friday, March 29, 2024

Celebrate National Dog Day August 26 with Pet-Friendly Dining in Southlake

Grab some grub with your best furry friend in Southlake on Sunday, August 26, during National Dog Day. With more than two dozen pet-friendly patios in town, celebrate this pawesome occasion and dine out with your dog.

Hungry for fresh? You and Fido will find scratch food fast at Café Express. With recipes crafted by James Beard Award winning Chef Robert Del Grande, who was inspired by European café cuisine and his deep Southwest roots, savor freshly prepared salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastas and more. Outdoor seating and large table umbrellas offer an inviting atmosphere, complete with plenty of passersby around Southlake Town Square for a dog-watching good time.

Enjoy flavors from the coast at Rockfish Seafood Grill. The chef-driven, distinctive menu features guest favorites like Shrimp Baskets, Fish Tacos and Seasonal Wild Copper River Alaskan Salmon. Quench your thirst with a signature Rock-a-Rita margarita and ice cold beer—or a refreshing bowl of water, if you’re a dog. With nautical décor to match the seafood dishes and a fenced-in outdoor patio shaded by trees, this restaurant is a lucky catch for both people and pets.

Order some pizza with your pup at Mellow Mushroom. With groovy pizza names like Kosmic Karma, Funky Q. Chicken and Holy Shiitake Pie—and equally unique customizable toppings ranging from salami and sausage to tempeh and tofu—enjoy a psychedelic taste sensation with your dog on Mellow Mushroom’s covered, partially enclosed outdoor patio.

Take tu perro to Torchy’s Tacos for a south-of-the-border flavor fiesta. Founded by a former executive chef turned food trailer entrepreneur, Torchy’s Tacos now has several brick-and-mortar locations. Having garnered many awards and national praise for “tacos for every appetite,” patrons will find creative cuisine in hand-held form with fillings ranging from fried avocados and seared ahi tuna to Jamaican jerk chicken and beef brisket. Park yourself and your pup at one of the outdoor picnic tables, and don’t forget to save room for Lil’ Nookies (fried chocolate chip cookie dough dusted in powdered sugar and topped with cherries).

Drive thru with your dog. If you’re grabbing a cup of coffee for yourself, be sure to ask for a complimentary puppuccino for your pal at Starbucks or a puppy latte at Dunkin’ Donuts—a small cup filled with whipped cream. Chick-Fil-A and Sonic have also been known to give dog treats to pup passengers.

Visit the online Southlake Dining Guide to review all dog-friendly dining options as indicated by a paw print icon next to the name of the restaurant. For more information on all of the ways Southlake is pet-friendly, including parks, grooming, pet-friendly hotels, pet-focused retail shops and more, visit the Pet Friendly page on VisitSouthlakeTexas.com.

Southlake Police K9 Officer and Partner Duco Receive Top Honors

Congratulations to Southlake Police K9 Officer Nate Anderson and his partner Duco for receiving the Top Patrol Dog award at the annual K9 conference held in Dallas.

Officer Anderson and Duco recently attended a conference hosted by the North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA) to obtain their annual re-certification. There were approximately 26 teams in attendance. Following the conference and certification process, awards were given out for three categories: Top Dog, for overall performance, Top Narcotics Dog and Top Patrol Dog. Duco and Officer Anderson were awarded Top Patrol Dog. The Top Patrol Dog award is based on performance for obedience, apprehension, tracking, and building and area search.

“It’s a great feeling to know that individuals with years of training and experience recognize your passion and hard work. It’s definitely a compliment to Duco and me as well as our training group,” said Officer Anderson.  Officer Anderson and Duco are credited with assisting the Southlake Police Department, and other police agencies, with numerous drug and suspect searches, as well as other crime-fighting cases. They have been partners since February 2015.

Officer Anderson and Duco are dual certified. In addition to their patrol certification, they carry a narcotics certification through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) program.

It is an honor to have this incredible team working for the Southlake Police Department and helping to keep our citizens safe. Congratulations again Officer Anderson and K9 partner Duco.

Annual Oktoberfest Celebration returns to Southlake October 2 – 4, 2015

 

The 14th annual Oktoberfest of Southlake returns to Town Square from October 2 – 4, 2015. Hosted by the Southlake Chamber of Commerce and presented by Millennium Title and Grubbs Infiniti, the family friendly event is one of the largest German-inspired festivals in the area.

Attendance for the weekend is expected to exceed 100,000 this year. With free parking and admission, everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy this community event that offers everything from live entertainment, food and beverages to wiener dog races.

Live entertainment will take place all weekend on two stages. Micah Blalock, Brave Combo and School of Rock return, joining other performers like The German Band of North Texas, the Alpine Dancers and the Carroll Jazz Band, just to name a few.

Food vendors will be stationed throughout the event offering a wide variety of concessions including everything from authentic German cuisine to traditional fair food. Up to 100 area arts and crafts exhibitors will offer hand-crafted products for sale, including jewelry, furniture and artwork. There will also be a special area for children, which will feature bounce houses, rock climbing, an obstacle course and much more.

Annual Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest Wiener Dog Race – Photo courtesy of Southake Chamber of Commerce

The wildly popular wiener dog races will take place on Saturday morning of the festival, beginning with the costume parade at 9:30 AM and races at 10:00 AM. Dachshund owners may register their dogs online for a $20.00 entry fee or on site for a $25.00 entry fee.

Hours of operation for Oktoberfest Southlake are Friday 5:00 to 11:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 PM. For additional information, contact the Southlake Chamber of Commerce at 817-481-8200 or visit www.OktoberfestSouthlake.com.

Southlake K9 Officers Recognized and Partner “Rex” Inducted into “Animal Hall of Fame”

Former Southlake Police Officer Ron Wyrick and Sgt. Gaylon Music, along with K9 partner “Rex”, received top honors at the Twelfth Annual Veterinary Community Awards Banquet on December 11th. Ron is a Vietnam Veteran who retired from the Police Department and returned to serve in Iraq with Dyncorp and his bomb-sniffing partner “Rex.”

On May 17, 2004, while on patrol, a suicide car bomber exploded a vehicle near their location killing eight soldiers and severely wounding Ron and “Rex.” Both have since recovered but still need continuous medical care.  That’s when Sgt. Music, whose experience with K9’s at Southlake, stepped in for his friend Ron. He unselfishly took over the care and medical needs for his friend’s K9 partner. “Rex” has undergone several major medical procedures including the removal of a large tumor that still contained flecks of metal from the bomb blast. Sgt. Music says, “It’s an honor to take care of “Rex” for Ron who is one of my mentors and a great friend.”

Both Sgt. Music and Ron spoke at the banquet and Ron told the very moving story of what happened that day.  You could hear a pin drop in the room as he said, with his voice choked back by tears, “I told the medics to take care of my dog first. I wanted them to save “Rex.”  The bond between these three friends is unshakable and shows the true meaning of partnership and friendship.