MEREDITH HESSEL
STORIES
PaperCity | Trump’s Supreme Court Pick Rules Against Dez Bryant On Catch That Still Haunts Dallas Cowboys Fans
July 10, 2018
This Redskins Fanatic Was Smart Enough to Marry a Texas Woman At Least.
As we digest the news of the Supreme Court justice nomination, we’re reminded of when Brett Kavanaugh addressed Marquette University Law School and said Dez didn't catch it.
PaperCity | Dallas Mavericks Hire NBA’s First Pregnant Coach — and This is No PR Stunt
August 08, 2018
How Jenny Boucek More Than Earned Her Way Into League
Women are breaking the glass ceiling in many industries, but Jenny Boucek is shattering tempered-glass backboards as the NBA’s first pregnant coach and soon-to-be single mother.
PaperCity | Moonshine Company Started in a Hill Country Cave Takes Off, Shoots Down Those Old Outlaw Stigmas
August 02, 2018
This Drink is Texas Legal — and Quite a Kick
To distill or not to distill? That is the question. Shane Berber and Sam Wakefield, co-founders of Crystal Creek Moonshine, sought to answer when they opened the doors to their flavorful moonshine business five years ago.
PaperCity | A Fleet of Electric Rental Scooters Zoom Into Dallas
July 03, 2018
A Neat New Transportation Trend or Bike Gate 2.0?
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But when Dallas gives you Lime-S, you ride scooters. The popular, electric-green bike sharing company, Lime (formerly known as LimeBike), rolled out its electric scooters, dubbed Lime-S, in The Big D on Monday.
PaperCity | Texas Fast Casual Restaurant Chain to be Scooped Up Into New Mediterranean Giant in $300 Million Deal
August 23, 2018
There’s a New Food Power to Challenge Chipotle and Shake Shack
You may have seen Cava dips on the shelves of Whole Foods, but you are about to see a lot more of Cava in Texas since Plano-based Zoes Kitchen agreed to an acquisition by the privately-held Cava Group, a D.C. fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant conglomerate.
PaperCity | Beloved Deep Ellum Coffee Bar Suddenly Shutters — and a New Hotspot is Already Taking its Space
August 01, 2018
Why Drugstore Cowboy Fell Off the Saddle
It looks like Deep Ellum’s Drugstore Cowboy was bucked off its horse. The bar, coffee shop and music venue abruptly closed shortly after the Fourth of July.
PaperCity | The Most Shocking and Touching Moments From MTV’s VMAs
August 21, 2018
Madonna Gets Strange, Post Malone Stars and Birthday Suits Rule
The MTV Video Music Awards are known for stirring up drama à la Miley Cyrus twerking it out in a wild 2013 mash up with Robin Thicke, Houston-proud Beyonce’s 2011 pregnancy reveal during a performance of “Love On Top,” and Kanye’s infamous 2009 “imma let you finish” moment during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.
PaperCity | Dallas’ Coolest Dessert Shops — The Best Ice Cream, Chocolate Splurges and Pops
August 09, 2018
Your Frozen Treats Guide
While Bruno Mars and Cardi B are drippin’ in Finesse this summer, Texans are dripping — no, drenched rather — in sweat. Dallas transforms into an Easy Bake Oven every August, but luckily The Big D’s frozen treat scene will bring you some much-needed chill.
PaperCity | Massive Bastille Day Bash Storms the Bishop Arts District
July 11, 2018
It’s Time to French Party — For Free.
It’s time to break out a très chic black-and-white-striped top, beret, or maybe even a Coco Chanel-esque little black dress for Oak Cliff’s 8th annual Bastille on Bishop
PaperCity | Llamas Take Over Dallas’ Retro Hotel Palace, But This is No Ordinary Animal Party
July 27, 2018
Celebrating $12 Million Raised (and Counting) For One of the City’s True Standout Annual Affairs
AWARE Affair’s annual gala was nothing short of extravagant this year with llamas, cocktails, and auctions — oh my!
Texas’ Own Monster Summer Wine Festival — and the Texas A&M Tradition That Started it All
August 03, 2018
Your Guide to Messina Hof’s Harvest Fest.
You don’t need to travel thousands of miles to Napa Valley to experience a wine festival. The Lone Star State has one huge summer wine festival in two locations.
PaperCity | Genius Project at Forty Five Ten Proves Now is the Best Time to Buy Winter Jackets
June 20, 2018
Despite the 100-degree weather, now is the time to stock up on rare Moncler outerwear and accessories at Dallas’ Forty Five Ten. The luxury designer boutique in the heart of downtown Dallas is the exclusive wholesale retailer in Texas for the Moncler Genius project
Freshman’s custom cake company finds new home in residence hall kitchen
Lugging her cake pans, stand mixer and ingredients down the stairs from the second floor of Potomac House, freshman Lena Geller now operates her cake decorating and catering business, Lena’s Lunchbox, out of the kitchen in her residence hall.
Story picked up and linked by The Washington Post
Interior design class creates vibrant space for local nonprofit
When a group of students from an interior architecture and design graduate class came to the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project headquarters to redesign the space as part of a class project, staff thought they would just rearrange the administrative office’s furniture and add a coat of paint to the walls.
But they were wrong.
BLOGS & PRESS MATERIALS
Do it for the ‘Gram | 6 Photo-Ops You Can Only Get at the Dallas Arboretum
January 01, 2020
It’s time to stop, snap, and smell the roses. The Dallas Arboretum features 66-acres of a beautifully designed and maintained display garden, perfect for photo-ops. The colors, different gardens, and views of Dallas can spice up any Instagram.
Eight GR8 Tips to Reduce Your Waste
January 01, 2020
We’ve all seen the “Don’t Mess With Texas” bumper stickers, billboards and merchandise, but you might not know that the slogan is actually dedicated to a deeper cause: eliminating litter in the Lone Star State. In the United States, the amount of trash generated daily averages 4.4 pounds. If this waste were packed into cubic feet, it could fill the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
National Museum of American History Receives Archival Materials Related to the History of The Academy of Washington, D.C.
March 13, 2018
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History received a donation of archival materials from the board members of The Academy of Washington. The collection of 16 boxes containing photos, program books, newsletters and organizational history will be housed in the museum’s Archives Center.
National Museum of American History Exhibits Art’s Contribution to Economy
March 22, 2018
What do a toaster and the Empire State Building have in common? Industrial design. “Art in Industry,” opening March 22 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, looks at how training in visual arts, design and craft contributed to the country’s economic development.
Congressman Sam Johnson Donates POW Possessions to Smithsonian
February 13, 2018
On the 45th anniversary of “Operation Homecoming,” the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History accepted a donation from Rep. Samuel Robert Johnson (R-Texas), a fighter pilot who endured almost seven years as a prisoner of war (POW). Johnson gave the tin cup and toothpaste tube he used while held in one of the prisons the captives nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton.”
INTERNATIONAL REPORTING
Reflecting on the Past 100 Years in the Czech Republic
October 03, 2018
It’s no coincidence that the shiny astronomical clock in Old Town Square just unveiled, the National Museum is about to re-open, and many other historical Prague buildings are opening after renovations all at the same time. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Czech and Czechoslovak statehood.
Oldest Condom Brand in the World From Czech Republic Rolls Out New Design
October 08, 2018
Primeros, the oldest condom brand in the world, has been bringing safe sex to households since 1909. It was branded as “the utmost perfection of modern hygiene,” but that was back at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Uncovering the Truth Behind Czech Christmas Food Traditions
December 10, 2018
Tis’ the season to be jolly, merry and full of delicious food. The Czechs load up the dinner table on Christmas Eve with foods that will ensure good health or even predict the future. Here’s a list of a few holiday foods and the stories behind them.
Love It: Taste A Slice Of Italy In The City Center
December 12, 2018
There is no need to travel over 800 kilometers for an Italian authentic meal anymore when Love It is located right in the heart of Mustek. With chefs and staff hailing from Italy, and authentic Italian foods, wines, and decorations, there is a genuine slice of Italy in Prague.
Running a Coffee and Bake Shop Mixed With a Museum is not a Piece of Cake
November 28, 2018
Just ask Petr Holata and Patricia Ebelová. The couple owns Cukrarna Alchymista in Prague 7, after taking it over from Patricia’s mother, Kateřina Ebelová, 6 years ago.
Czech Street Artist Sells 878,600 Kč in a Bag for 1.1 Million Kč
October 08, 2018
It’s known that money talks but turns out its message is pretty loud.
Anonymous Czech street artist, Epos 257, is a quarter of a million richer as of last night after auctioning off an art piece that was simply money in an old plastic bag.
Understanding Franz Kafka
November 01, 2018
Franz Kafka is a man of mystery. He is a man of many written words, but most stories remained unfinished. Somehow this bizarre Jewish author from Prague still fascinates the world with all his literary, psychological and philosophical thoughts in his dark works.
What Czechs Eat For Breakfast
October 29, 2018
About 86 percent of Czechs eat breakfast regularly, according to novinky.cz. They seem to take to heart that breakfast is the most important meal of the day because a very small percentage skip the morning meal.
Prague’s First All-Avocado Restaurant Is Here
December 12, 2018
It’s time to smash (avocados, that is). Prague’s first all-avocado restaurant opened in the Karlin district. Avocado Gang matches the artistic vibes of the area with splatter paint tables and funky, mismatched plates.
Scooter Startup Lime Launches Car-Sharing Service
November 14, 2018
It’s time to share the limelight. The popular, electric-green bike sharing company, Lime (formerly known as LimeBike), rolled out its electric scooters, dubbed Lime-S, in Prague at the end of September.
The Ultimate Guide to the Czech Republic’s 100th Anniversary - Part I
September 24, 2018
It’s here. The annual celebration for the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. But this year’s festival will be the biggest yet for the 100th anniversary. The festivities begin on Friday, September 28 (St. Wenceslas Day) and end on Sunday, October 28.
The Ultimate Guide to the Czech Republic’s 100th Anniversary - Part II
September 24, 2018
It’s here. The annual celebration for the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. But this year’s festival will be the biggest yet for the 100th anniversary. The festivities begin on Friday, September 28 (St. Wenceslas Day) and end on Sunday, October 28.
The Ultimate Guide to the Czech Republic’s 100th Anniversary - Part III
September 24, 2018
It’s here. The annual celebration for the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic. But this year’s festival will be the biggest yet for the 100th anniversary. The festivities begin on Friday, September 28 (St. Wenceslas Day) and end on Sunday, October 28.
The 5 Best Indie Book Shops in Prague
September 24, 2018
The cold front makes now the perfect time to curl up next to a fire and read a good book. Independent book stores are popping up all over the place and are perfect places to find gifts for friends and family. Here are the best five that will release everyone’s inner book worm.
The 7 Coolest Secret Courtyards in Prague
September 24, 2018
While the temperatures just began to dip, the fall weather is expected to heat up at least for a couple of days. Savor these warmer days by soaking up the sunshine in an outdoor courtyard. Here is a curated list of the eight best hidden courtyards in Prague.
Where to Find the Best Tacos in Prague
October 01, 2018
Today in National taco day in America—yes, there is a holiday just for this traditional Mexican dish. Hailing from Texas, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on this food. Let’s taco ‘bout the three best in Prague—the three amigos—so ex-pats and locals alike can celebrate.
Tap Into the 10 Best Pilsner Beer Spots In Prague
October 10, 2018
It’s no secret that Czech’s love their beer. In fact, the Czech Republic consumes the most beer per capita in the world (and has been for the past 24 years) per a study completed by Kirin. Nothing beats the refreshing taste of Pilsner at lunch or work with friends.
Five Best Second-Hand Shops in Prague
October 17, 2018
Feel good about spending money by shopping at one of Prague's second-hand charities. Get a new outfit, help out some organizations, save the environment and save money. Here are the best second-hand shops in the capital city to shop 'til you drop.