Observe Juneteenth

Opened in October 2021, Daisha Board Gallery uplifts the works of BIPOC artists, LGBTQ+ artists, and artists with disabilities. Starting June 8, it will feature “The Mount: A Photo Collection on Restoring America’s Buried Past.”

The photography exhibition from Dallas-based journalist, filmmaker, and former CBS News producer Rodney Hawkins follows his personal journey to restore his family plot at Old Mount Gillion Cemetery in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas. Like many Black cemeteries, it was in a state of disarray and in need of historic preservation and restoration. Hawkins’ photos document his family’s efforts to honor their ancestral roots and legacy.  2111 Sylvan Ave.

Make a Pan-African Connection

When friends come to town, Board takes them to the Pan-African Connection bookstore, art gallery, and resource center in South Oak Cliff. The Black-owned shop has bracelets, t-shirts, and fresh juices available to purchase from local vendors. Every first and third Sunday, the bookstore hosts the open-air Ubuntu Market, which features local small businesses. 4466 S. Marsalis Ave. 214-943-8262.

Currently Reading: You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience, edited by Tarana Burke and Brené Brown.

Shop Oak Cliff for Sneaks (and More)

Board heads to O.C. for the best vintage and footwear. At Daily TX, the new streetwear and barbershop concept store on Jefferson Boulevard, she can bring her boys in for a haircut and sneaks. Her go-to vintage shop is Good Cycle on North Tyler Street. Daily TX, 216 Jefferson Blvd. 682-235-4573; Good Cycle, 413 N. Tyler St.

Appreciate Whiskeys

Whiskeys, a beautiful spirit-​centered lounge in Exposition Park, opened in 2021. The Black-owned bar has more than 200 whiskeys, including a collection of rare and Japanese options. Board’s go-to craft cocktail is Impeach Me, a bourbon beverage with a touch of peach syrup and a splash of orange bitters. Check Instagram (@whiskeysdallas) for tastings. 835 Exposition Ave. 214-702-2959.

Visit a Factory Turned Gallery

Board loves going to 500X, the longstanding artist-run cooperative gallery set in a former tire factory and air-conditioning warehouse in Exposition Park. The majority of all proceeds go directly to the artists, while a percentage helps fund emerging artists not represented by traditional galleries. 516 Fabrication St. 214-828-1111.

Listen to King’s Disease II by Nas

“That’s my jam. Queensbridge all day,” Board says of Nas’ 2021 album, referencing the public housing development in Queens, New York, where the rapper grew up. Board was born in Queens but raised in Arlington. “I love that he brought Lauryn Hill back [on the album]. It was really good to hear her voice.” 

Favorite Lyrics: “Itʼs OK to keep the mystique, I learned that in the street/On me, solo or deep, Iʼm puttinʼ on for the Gs.”

Enjoy Sculpture En Plein Air

For those who could use a moment of self-reflection in nature, Board recommends a visit to the Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden in North Dallas. Formerly a private retreat on 4.5 wooded acres designed by landscape architect Clarence Roy, the grounds and gallery were opened to the public in 1965. 6616 Spring Valley Rd. 972-239-2441.