Kristin Brewer, along with her husband Chris and children Sutton, 12, and Wyatt, 10, love that they call Farmers Branch home. Kristin, who works for a Christian nonprofit, says that living in the “City in a Park” has given them many opportunities to meet new people.
Favorite family restaurant: We have always enjoyed going to Cuquitas and Nuevo Leon in Farmers Branch. They are both local, family-owned restaurants with delicious Mexican food! The new Starwood Cafe in Mustang Station is great for brunch and has huge portions. Cuquitas Restaurant, 13260 Josey Lane, Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch; 972/243-1491; Nuevo Leon Mex-Mex Restaurant, 12895 Josey Lane, Farmers Branch; 972/488-1984; Starwood Café, 12990 Bee St., Farmers Branch; 972/913-4412
Favorite green space: We love going to the park-slash-creek right next to the Farmers Branch Manske Library. It is centrally located to meet up with friends, provides a playground and a long path for walking or biking. There’s plenty of shade and we often check out or return books before or after letting the boys play at the park. 13613 Webb Chapel Road, Farmers Branch; 972/247-2511
Favorite family outing: At home, we love to play board or card games, take walks around our neighborhood where we get to meet and see our neighbors, and simply just let our boys play out front while we sit in our chairs. We also enjoy bike rides and finding new parks to visit and throw the football or frisbee around. The city of Farmers Branch puts on so many events throughout the year, we have always loved taking advantage of those. 13000 William Dodson Pkwy., Farmers Branch; 972/247-3131
Go-to date night and girls night spots: There are many to list but our favorite date night place is Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill! We have also really enjoyed the burgers at Hudson House, I love anything from Neighborhood Services, fajitas from Chuy’s, Mesero and Meso Maya are delicious, the tacos at Taqueria La Ventana provide a quick bite (all are good for girl’s night or dates!). A place I frequent to meet friends for lunch is Flower Child. So good.
Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill, 5000 Belt Line Road, Suite 775, Addison; 972/392-9663; Hudson House, 4933 Belt Line Road, Addison; 214/702-5002; Neighborhood Services, 5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 795, Addison; 972/789-9639; Chuy’s, 4440 Belt Line Road, Addison; 972/661-1019; Mesero Prestonwood, 5505 Belt Line Road, Addison; 972/788-8180; Meso Maya Comida y Copas, 5280 Belt Line Road, Addison; 469/480-7471; Taqueria La Ventana, 4180 Belt Line Road, Addison; 469/828-2035; Flower Child, 5290 Belt Line Road, Suite 100, Addison; 469/480-8556
For self-care: Native Coffee is one of my favorite places to sit and work, read or to meet a friend. I have heard great things about Champions Nail Spa but have yet to give it a try! Native Coffee Co., 4319 Alpha Road, Addison; 214/217-4744; Champion Nail Spa, 14380 Marsh Lane, Suite 130, Addison; 469/505-1428
Get active: Bike rides are at the top of our list. We love taking our bikes across Marsh through the Addison Trails down to Vitruvian Park and going all the way down to circle Brookhaven College if we have the energy! We always love seeing the ducks, geese, turtles and other animals along the way. Vitruvian Park, 3875 Ponte Ave., Addison; 972/774-0552; Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch; 972/860-4700
Cool off: The Farmers Branch Frog Pond is a perfect place to go! It’s affordable, secure and not so big that you can’t see from one side to the other. Snow cones at Lyn’s Tasty Sno on Beltline is a local favorite and we love going there. Once a week, we go to Art of the Fruit and love their smoothies, milkshakes or fresh-squeezed lemonade. Frog Pond Water Park, 14032 Heartside Place, Farmers Branch; 972/919-8720; Lyn’s Tasty Sno, search on Facebook.
Give back: We love our church, The Branch Church. We partner with Metrocrest Services during the summer and other school breaks to box up and deliver food (and Christmas gifts!) to our neighbors in the community who rely on the schools to provide food throughout the year. I currently am the PTA secretary for both of the schools our boys attend. The Branch Church – Farmers Branch, 3035 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch; 972/247-2109; Metrocrest Services, 13801 Hutton Drive, Suite 150, Farmers Branch; 972/446-2100
Why Farmers Branch is a great place to raise a family: The city of Farmers Branch provides countless events and services to make this the best family-friendly city in which to live. There are so many opportunities to meet others. Farmers Branch is known as “City in a Park” with 27 parks and 13 playgrounds in only 12 square miles. We have made some wonderful friendships with so many neighbors we have had since moving here in 2005. 13000 William Dodson Pkwy., Farmers Branch; 972/247-3131
Find your tribe: There are many Farmers Branch moms that attend our church who I have been in community with for years, but I have also gotten to know other moms through school and just meeting moms in each of the three neighborhoods we have lived in. There are also Facebook groups, various city events and other opportunities to meet moms at any number of the parks we have visited.
Featured photo courtesy of Timothy Going Photography.
