Lifestyle

With the holiday season right around the corner, it can be a busy and hectic time – so eating out or picking up ready-made meals is worth exploring. This Thanksgiving - why not try some delicious local plant-based options that will make even carnivore Uncle Bob’s mouth water?

We’re kicking off our four-part 2019 Green Gift Guide with some ideas for the smallest among us. In this list, we've included innovative Earth-friendly gifts to appeal to youth of all ages. You might even find something for yourself!

Earlier this month, Terry Lantrip, owner of the Lake Dallas Tiny Home Village, welcomed residents to the first in-town neighborhood built exclusively for tiny houses in North Texas. Now five tiny homes are snuggled into a one-acre field that was once part of a historic farm.

Fort Worth now recycles Styrofoam, making it the second city in North Texas to do so. Residents must drop off clean, uncontaminated polystyrene at designated stations. While some applaud this effort, others argue that recycling Styrofoam promotes harmful production. The material will be recycled into items like crown molding.

The Texas Veggie Fair, now at Dallas Farmers Market on Nov. 2, features plant-based foods, vegan vendors, and live music. Expect over 15,000 visitors and highlights like speakers, cruelty-free products, and food from vendors like El Palote and Beyond Meat. Parking and transit options are available.

Texas A&M AgriLife in Dallas unveiled its renovated campus, featuring eco-friendly technologies and new facilities. Highlights include the Urban Agriculture Building, greenhouses for research, the Water and Land Resources Building, the Gardens, and the Benny J. Simpson Ecopark, all promoting sustainability and educational outreach.

The "Botanical Art Worldwide: America’s Flora" exhibit in Fort Worth showcases 46 artworks depicting native U.S. plants in various media. Developed by the American Society of Botanical Artists and the U.S. Botanic Garden, it aims to raise awareness of plant diversity and runs free through Nov. 27.

Viridescent Kitchen, a new vegan café in Plano, offers a plant-based, largely gluten-free menu. Founded by Laura Thornthwaite, Gabrielle Reyes, and Brooke Ali, it features dishes like Monster Nachos and Beyond Beef Figgy Burger. The restaurant prioritizes taste, environmental friendliness, and caters to dietary needs.

Dallas artist Sharon Zigrossi transforms castoff hubcaps into art, embellishing them with found objects to create vibrant designs. Her work, sold under "Blooming Hub Caps," uses discarded materials, reflecting her love for recycling. She also hosts workshops, sharing her meditative creative process with others.

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s 10,000-square-foot Rainforest Conservatory has quietly reopened after being closed since 2016 due to maintenance and safety issues. Repairs included glass replacements and mechanical overhauls. A grand opening is planned for early 2020, supported by varied funding sources amid ongoing renovation needs.