Five stories that have North Texas talking: Dallasite Rachel Lindsay debuts as the first black "Bachelorette"; only one North Texas barbecue joint makes Texas Monthly’s Top 10 list; West Dallas renters will now be able to buy their homes and avoid eviction; and more.
Spoiler alert! ABC's hit reality TV dating show “The Bachelorette” debuted its first black lead on Monday – and she revealed that she is, in fact, in love and engaged.
The show is pre-recorded, so the new couple usually has to live separately and out of the spotlight until the season is over. In the past, some contestants have walked away without finding love at all.
Rachel Lindsay is a Dallas-based lawyer, and she instantly captured the hearts of Americans and Bachelor Nick Viall during her run on the most recent season of “The Bachelor.” She ultimately didn’t get the last rose, but made it to the final three.
Now at the start of her own season, Lindsay told NPR she’s nervous to be the show’s first big attempt at diversifying, after 12 seasons of the “The Bachelorette” and 21 seasons of “The Bachelor.”
“To be the first at anything, that's terrifying. And I was representing myself as a woman, as a professional, as somebody in their 30s and being black,” she said. “But it was such a great opportunity. Just, the pros outweighed the cons.”
Lindsay said she plans to discuss race openly on the show. Listen to the NPR interview here:
And here's Lindsay on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMBm-CCsZRM
- Only one Dallas-Fort Worth area barbecue joint made it onto Texas Monthly’s “Top 10.” And it’s not Pecan Lodge! This year, in Daniel Vaughn's list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas, Dallas-area restaurant Cattleack Barbeque nabbed the No. 3 spot, while the beloved Pecan Lodge slipped out of the top honors, after being ranked No. 2 four years ago. The Lodge still managed to land in the Top 50. The Akaushi ribs at Cattleack Barbeque, according to Vaughn, “give new meaning to ‘well-marbled.’” The brisket is “incredibly moist,” while the pork ribs are “hefty and high quality.” The absolute best in Texas though? Snow’s BBQ in Lexington, about an hour east of Austin. [Texas Monthly]
- The owner of hundreds of aging West Dallas rental homes, slated for closure, will now sell them to tenants. HMK Ltd. plans to offer up 75 occupied houses as well as a few dozen vacant homes for sale – each for $65,000. HMK will offer financing, with monthly payments of about $575. At a news conference Monday morning, HMK Ltd. owner Khraish Khraish said the deal is “a win for West Dallas,” and for the city. "I don't see any losers here," he said. In a statement, Mayor Mike Rawlings said he felt “encouraged” by the offer. Hours after the announcement, a Dallas County district judge extended a move-out deadline for remaining renters until October. [KERA News]
- Following an emotional farewell performance at the Paramount Theatre last week, Austin songwriter Jimmy LaFave died Sunday, after a battle with cancer. He was 61. LaFave, known for his emotive, gritty voice and his penchant for folding Bob Dylan covers into his sets, stood onstage one last time Thursday, surrounded by the Austin music community – including Christine Albert, Sarah Lee Guthrie, John Fullbright, Shinyribs, Butch Hancock and Ruthie Foster. News of LaFave’s illness, a type of sarcoma that affected his lungs, was largely kept secret until this past November. [Austin Chronicle]
- Starbucks is opening a small-batch coffee bar in Uptown Dallas. The Starbucks Reserve is currently under construction at the McKinney & Olive building. It’s a spinoff of the Seattle-based Starbucks brand, dedicated to hard-to-get coffees and complex pours. But don’t fret! This shop will also serve up Starbucks’ signature items – like Pike Place coffee. The Dallas Morning News reports a Starbucks Reserve is also expected to open in Plano at the new Legacy West development. [Guide Live]
The High Five is KERA’s daily roundup of stories from Dallas-Fort Worth and across the state. Explore our archives here. And sign up for our weekly email for the North Texas news you need to know.
