It's Opening Day For The Rangers — Here's What You Need To Know

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Texas baseball season begins; a dumpster-diving chef will host a dinner party; picking bluebonnets is legal but frowned upon; and more.

The first day of spring was two weeks ago, and bluebonnets are well in bloom, but Texans can celebrate the season to the fullest starting today. The Texas Rangers will throw their first pitch of the year against the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

While there’s glory in tradition, there are a few new things to check out at the stadium. Primarily, the food. For all you baseball-loving vegans, you can finally eat something besides peanuts. In section 16, you’ll find “Ballpark Vegan,” with options like garden salads, black bean burgers, vegan hot dogs and more, according to Texas Monthly. And for you good ol’ carnivores, the new sandwich, “Wicked Pig,” will not disappoint. Try not to get a heart attack/voracious appetite from reading this description: “It’s a double-decker sandwich on a sweet Hawaiian roll bun that features pulled pork, bacon, sausage, ham, prosciutto, and pork rinds,” Texas Monthly said.

Watch Evan Grant, sports writer for The Dallas Morning News, manage to take a bite:

Besides hyperbolic sandwiches, Globe Life Park also sports new team gear, lighting system and video display for fans, Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The Star-Telegram also wants to know who fans think is the greatest Texas Ranger of all time. The competition has been narrowed to eight players, including Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan and Juan Gonzalez. Check here this week to participate in the next round.

KERA checked in with Rangers fans over the weekend to get their hopes and dreams for the new season.

Last but not least, here’s an opening day guide from The Dallas Morning News with what you need to bring, where you need to park and how to purchase tickets. [Texas Monthly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, GuideLive, The Dallas Morning News]

• Waste not, want not. Dallas-by-way-of-Ireland chef Finn Ahern has been dumpster diving since the late ‘90s when he realized how much good food was being thrown out in the city’s garbage, he told D Magazine. He couldn’t eat all the food he would collect each night by himself, so he started to prepare meals with the thrown out food at the restaurant, where he worked as a cook. Soon, Ahern will offer his way of cooking to interested Dallasites in an “upscale, experiential dinner series,” he told D. He’s planning a five-course Euro-Asian family-style meal, but specific ingredients will depend on what he finds that week. The event takes place on May 6, 7, and 8. The meal costs $200 per person. Read more. [D Magazine]

• In more food news, McDonalds wants Texans to create an “official” burger of Texas, forgetting that Whataburger already exists. McDonalds is doing the same thing in several regions of the country, Texas Monthly reported, like Chicago’s new burger, "The ChiTown Classic," made with bacon, ham and pepper jack cheese. Voting on Texas’ official burger started April 2, but Texas Monthly wants you to refrain. See the second-best options here. [Texas Monthly]

• Technically, you can pick bluebonnets, but only if you want "bad karma." GuideLive said: “It's one of those urban legends that sounds just Texan enough to be real. Everyone ‘knows’ the Legislature has protected the state flower by making it a crime to damage it.” GuideLive spoke with Gina Rokas, tourism director for the city of Ennis, the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas, who said: "We just say if everybody's picking them, they won't go back to seed. It gives us an opportunity to tell them not to trespass onto private property." It’s not hard to believe Texans follow unofficial rules when it comes to the state’s spring jewel. “The state legislature first considered picking a state flower in the spring of 1901, spurring fierce floor debate.” In case you haven’t had the chance to get out on the side of the highway yet, the annual Bluebonnet Trails Festival will take place April 15-17 in Ennis. [GuideLive]

• In case you missed it, Colleen Walker, CEO of the Perot Museum, has resigned after less than two years. A letter from John Jaggers, chairman of the museum board, stated the Executive Committee and Walker were developing “different views concerning the museum’s strategic direction and focus.” Art&Seek reported: “Walker was hired from her position as head of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (she’d also had a college background in science and an MBA), and she replaced founding CEO Nicole Small, who’d retired after 13 years.” Read what Walker had to say and revisit her June 2015 interview on KERA TV’s CEO with Lee Cullum. [Art&Seek]