Rye Wants Good Vibes Only for this Fyrefest Fundraiser
A fundraiser on Monday will raise money to support Rye, the McKinney restaurant that suffered a catastrophic fire in August. The event was dubbed “Fyrefest” by Rye co-owner Tanner Agar, who said that the fundraiser was organized by industry friends and partners.
“They came to us and said, ‘hey, we love you guys, we’re so sorry this happened. Can we put together an event for you?’” Agar says.
Fyrefest won’t go down like the actual Fyre Festival, the would-be luxury music festival that never was, Agar says. Instead, there will be specialty drinks and complimentary bites with guest bartenders dressed up as different celebrities, like Ja Rule, Billy Joel, and Bad Bunny. It’ll take place at the Rye in Dallas at 1920 Greenville Ave.
Agar says he doesn’t want the fundraiser to feel melancholy, but rather a place where supporters can come celebrate what’s to come for Rye.
“Rye was designed to be a place that brings people together,” Agar says. “This isn’t about this bad thing that happened. It’s about the next steps that are going to happen for team and how we’re going to rebuild.”
The blaze caused the most damage to the back of the building, where the kitchen was, Agar says. The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, but that hasn’t stopped the Rye team from moving forward with rebuilding.
Rye was in the former law office of Texas Gov. James W. Throckmorton, who led the state after Reconstruction and served a few terms in the Legislature in the late 1800s. The building was old. The most difficult part hasn’t just been dealing with insurance or building codes; Agar says the real challenge is having to move the staff from the McKinney location to the one in Dallas. But the team has stuck together, and it’s been fun to have everyone collaborate on one project, he says.
“We’ve revamped the menu significantly. We’ve got more stuff coming,” Agar says. “It’s a really fun thing to be a part of.”
Rye Dallas | 1920 Greenville Ave. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Better Half Bistro Announces a Second Run at Parterre
The couple behind frequent East Dallas pop-up Better Half Bistro will take over the kitchen at Parterre every Monday night for a month-long residency.Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore plan to offer a menu of Detroit-style pizzas. The two have been running the pop-up restaurant after Kelley closed Frank’s Underground in 2019. Since then, they’ve taken over the kitchens at Cosmo’s, Lounge Here, and more. The latest stint at Parterre will be their second. Better Half’s nights will be on Oct. 10, 17, 24, and 31. Reservations can be made through Parterre. Parterre | 1601 Elm St. Ste. 120.
Snooze Makes its Way to Plano
Breakfast and brunch restaurant Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is opening at Preston Shepard Place in the suite that was once occupied by LYFE Kitchen. The restaurant is known for its over-the-top pancakes and breakfast plates that conjure up an hours-long waitlist.A Snooze spokeswoman said an opening is planned for early 2023. Plano will be its fifth location in Dallas-Fort Worth. A sixth is also planned for Frisco, according to its website. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery | 1900 Preston Rd., Plano.
Holiday Tea Reservations Open in the French Room
The Adolphus has opened up spots for its annual holiday tea at the French Room. The menu includes a two-course meal that features croissant sandwiches, pork rillettes on sweet potatoes, and bread pudding. To accompany your teas (a unique blend from Zatki), there will also be pastries and a complimentary glass of Champagne. Reservations can be made through Resy or at 214-651-3615. Tickets are $75 for adults and $35 for children under 12 (not including tax and tip). Pinkies up! The Adolphus | 1321 Commerce St.
Rise + Thyme Shutters in Downtown Dallas’ AT&T Discovery District
A sign on the countertop of Rise + Thyme, the boutique café owned by celebrity chef Amanda Freitag, says a new “morning pick-me-up” option is on its way to the Exchange Hall in the AT&T Discovery District. After some research, we discovered that Rise + Thyme closed in August and may be headed to Victory Park, according to CultureMap. The move may allow the café to open a bar in addition to its pastries and coffee, a spokesperson said.
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