KnowYard Community

Road construction has been going on for 3 years and nothing changed

There's a stretch of highway near me that has been under construction since before the pandemic. Orange barrels. Lane closures. Reduced speed limits. For THREE YEARS.

Doctor/dentist recs that take insurance and aren't booked 3 months out?

I've been trying to find a primary care doctor and a dentist for two months. Everyone is either not taking new patients, doesn't take my insurance, or has the next available appointment in August.

Who has the worst drivers -- your city or the one next door?

Every city in Texas thinks the city next to them has the worst drivers. It's like a universal Texas experience.

Is anyone else spending $400+/month on gas commuting?

My commute is 35 miles each way. That's 70 miles a day, 350 miles a week. My truck gets 20 mpg on a good day. Gas is hovering around $3.20.

USAA in DFW: The military-adjacent employer everyone wants to work at

USAA has a massive DFW presence in Plano. Here's the inside scoop.

• Financial services for military and their families
• Plano campus: 5,000+ employees
• You do NOT need to be military to work there (common misconception)

Fake job scams targeting DFW: The warning signs and how to verify real opportunities

Job scams are spiking in DFW as the market tightens. The FTC reported $508 million lost to job scams nationally in 2023, up 116% from 2020.

• Fake warehouse jobs in DFW airport area
• "Amazon flex" clones asking for deposits
• Fake remote work opportunities from "companies" with addresses in far Denton County strip malls

Texas heat survival tips for people who aren't from here

Your first Texas summer is going to be a shock. Here's what got me through mine.

• Hydrate before you're thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. Keep water with you always.
• Car prep matters. Windshield sunshade, tinted windows, and a remote start if your car has it. Your steering wheel at 3pm is a branding iron without a shade.
• Plan around the heat. Outdoor stuff before 10am or after 7pm. Midday is for indoor errands and AC.

Is Texas getting too expensive or are we just not keeping up?

Groceries are up. Rent is up. Insurance is up. Gas somehow went down and then right back up.

I just moved to DFW: What do I need to know? (The honest version)

Just got here from Portland. My company relocated me. I know literally nothing about this place except that it's big and hot.

• What should I know that the "moving to Dallas" articles don't tell you?
• What mistakes do newcomers make?
• What's the culture actually like?

Fentanyl in DFW: What every parent needs to know right now

This is not fearmongering. This is data.

• 2021: 427
• 2022: 539
• 2023: 612

What Texas stereotype is actually 100% true?

I've been here long enough to know which stereotypes are BS and which ones are dead on. The big trucks one? Absolutely real. Every third vehicle on the highway is an F-150 or bigger.

Auto repair shop ripoffs in DFW: Know the tricks and your rights

Auto repair is one of the top consumer complaint categories filed with the Texas AG. Here are the most common shop scams.

• Written estimate required. Texas Occupations Code 2305.151 requires a written estimate before work begins.
• Authorization required. No work beyond the authorized estimate without your explicit approval.
• Right to old parts. You can request all replaced parts be returned to you.

Best breakfast tacos near me -- GO

I need a solid breakfast taco spot. Not a sit-down brunch place charging $16 for two tacos on a fancy plate. I want a no-frills spot where the tortillas are fresh, the salsa has actual heat, and I can eat for under $10.

Best Texas road trip you've ever taken?

Looking to plan something for a long weekend. Done the usual stuff close to home but want to go further out.

Best gym that isn't Planet Fitness?

Planet Fitness is fine for what it is but I've outgrown it. No squat racks, no deadlift platforms, the lunk alarm is embarrassing, and the gym is packed from 5-8pm every weekday.

What to do this weekend in DFW: April 4-6 edition

Here's what's happening this weekend across the metroplex.

• Alamo Drafthouse Terror Tuesday (Richardson) — horror movie night. $10. Source: drafthouse.com
• First Friday on Magnolia Ave (Fort Worth) — shops open late, live music, food specials. Free.
• Deep Ellum Art Walk — free gallery openings, street performers, live music. Source: deepellumtexas.com

What's your DFW hot take that you'll defend to the death?

No wrong answers (but some answers are more wrong than others).

ERCOT is going to get someone killed one of these summers

Every summer the same thing happens. Heat wave rolls in. ERCOT issues a conservation alert. They ask everyone to set thermostats to 78+ and avoid running major appliances during peak hours. Meanwhile it's 108 outside.

Mexican food here vs actual Mexico -- am I wrong?

Just got back from a week in Mexico City. The food was unbelievable. Came home and went to my usual Tex-Mex spot and it hit different. Not bad, just... different.

Best sweet tea in town?

I'm on a mission to find the best sweet tea around here. Not the bottled stuff. Not the lightly sweetened "is there even sugar in this" version. I want proper Texas sweet tea where you can feel the sugar dissolving your teeth.

DFW towing company nightmares: Your rights under Texas law and how to fight back

Your car got towed from a DFW parking lot. Before you pay $300+ to get it back, know your rights.

• Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2308
• TDLR — towing regulations and fee caps
• Texas Occupations Code 2308.451-458 (tow hearings)

DFW food festival calendar 2026: Every food event worth attending

DFW loves food festivals. Here's every major one on the calendar.

• Taste of Addison — May 2026. Addison Circle Park. Live music + food from 50+ restaurants. $10-15 admission. Source: addisontexas.net
• Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival (Richardson) — May. Music + food + art. $20-40. Source: wildflowerfestival.com
• Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival — April. Multi-day event, ticketed dinners, tastings. $50-150/event. Source: fortworthfoodandwinefestival.com

Whataburger is overrated and I'm tired of pretending

Before y'all come for me — I've eaten there plenty of times. It's fine. The patty melt is good. The honey butter chicken biscuit is legitimately great.

Moved here from the northeast and this culture shock is real

Three months in. Some observations from someone still adjusting.

• People genuinely say "sir" and "ma'am" and it's not sarcastic
• The speed limit says 65 but everyone is doing 80 and if you go 70 you're in the way
• Restaurants bring chips and salsa like it's bread and butter. I am not complaining.

Active shooter preparedness: What DFW residents need to know

No one wants to think about this. But DFW has seen mass casualty events and preparation saves lives.

• Have an escape route in mind wherever you go. Restaurants, malls, offices — know where the exits are.
• Leave belongings behind.
• Help others if possible, but don't let them slow you if they won't move.