🌱 Boozy Alice In Wonderland Tea Party + Suspect Dies In Custody

Hi all. I'm back with your new copy of the Dallas Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Hot with sunshine. High: 103 Low: 78.

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Here are the top three stories today in Dallas:

1. An immersive pop-up event called "The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience" is coming to Dallas, promising a boozy tea party inspired by Alice in Wonderland. The experience, organized by event management company Viral Ventures, will take place at an undisclosed location on South Lamar Street from Aug. 10-27. Participants can expect interactive elements such as creating their own cocktails, diving into a fantasy world, and enjoying themed treats like the iconic "Eat Me" sweet treat. Tickets for the 90-minute experience, which includes two cocktails and a sweet treat, are priced at $47. (CultureMap Dallas)
2. Dallas police are investigating the death of a 39-year-old man, Xzavier Franklin, who died after being taken into custody as a person of interest in a murder investigation. Franklin experienced vomiting and requested to go to the hospital during the interview at Dallas Police Headquarters, and he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. This marks the second death in custody involving a Dallas police officer this year, following the case of Manuel Najera in January. Separate investigations by Dallas police and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office are underway. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
3. Construction has begun on a unique glow-in-the-dark playground called Joya in nearby Farmers Branch, which is expected to be the "crown jewel of playgrounds." The futuristic attraction will feature a 27-foot climbing sphere, a zip line with interactive lights, and other eye-catching interactive elements. The playground is designed to be accessible to all ages and abilities and is set to open this fall. (dallasinnovates.com)

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Today in Dallas:

Thursday, June 29

• East Dallas Networking Lunch At JJ's Cafe (11:30 AM)
• Cool Thursdays Concerts - Sounds of Summer At The Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Garden (6:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Don't miss out on the opportunity to save 10 percent on a Dallas Zoo membership, which includes exclusive perks such as free tickets to Destination: Dinosaurs Presented by Reliant and access to members-only events. Act quickly as the offer expires on Jun. 30. (Dallas Zoo via Instagram)
• Applications for elite runners to participate in the marathon and half marathon events of #TheUltimateRaceWeekend in 2023 are now open until Nov. 1. To apply and find additional details, click the link provided in runDallas' bio at the link. (runDallas via Instagram)
• Peanut, an adorable and friendly dog, has returned from a Borrow-a-Buddy outing and discovered his love for swimming. He is available for adoption at the SPCA of Texas, and potential adopters can meet him any day from noon to 6:00 p.m. without an appointment. (SPCA of Texas via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.