Photo courtesy of Yogurtland

It’s National Froyo Day, which means you can get FREE frozen yogurt at any Yogurtland location between the hours of 4 and 7 pm today. I’m only posting this in case there are any weirdos out there obsessed with Yogurtland’s spoons. Yogurtland is giving out special edition collector spoons and cups that would look great in my, uh, growing collection.

NorthPark Mall
7700 W. Northwest Hwy.
Dallas, TX 75225

Garland-Firewheel Market
4170 Lavon Dr.
Garland, TX 75040

Frankford Pavilion
4520 Frankford Rd.
Dallas, TX 75287

Carrollton
2625 Old Denton Rd.
Carrollton, TX 75007

Southlake DFW
1251 E. Southlake Blvd.
Southlake, TX 76092

Montgomery Plaza
2600 W. 7th St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76107

Let's feast on pumpkin!

Oh, how I love anything made with pumpkin. Yesterday, I bought a dozen pumpkin bagels at Einstein’s. Starting today, I’m searching for anything made with pumpkin–desserts, soup, pancakes, bread, pasta—anything. If you see it or make it, let us know below.

UPDATE: Natsumi has a space in Shed 2 at the Dallas Farmers Market. If you haven’t been to the newly remodeled Shed 2 recently, you must go.

The raffle prizes don’t stink either: a 32GB iPad plus 3G, two tickets to Shirin Askari’s fashion show, one free yogurt per week for a year, 100 t-shirts, gift cards, and more. Work off the few calories you’ve taken in by grooving to tunes provided by DJ Tek-Neek.

The deals continue throughout the weekend: on Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12 guests will receive 20% off all day and have another chance to win the 32GB iPad+3G.

Lady Gaga, the new Madonna.

Trends come and trends go.  Some of us witnessed the frozen yogurt craze in the 80s and early 90s.  Now it’s back in a big way.  Or is it gone already?  Are we really, as DMN’s Leslie Brenner contends, in the midst of a taco uptrend?  Or is she very late to the taco party that has been happening here for decades?  How long before all of the cupcakes stores are empty waiting for the next cupcake?  Oh, it’s here! Cake balls. I guess I should ask what is the next cake ball?

Jump for the fascinating, decidedly unscientific data.  And then tell us, what’s the best trend you’ve seen lately?  What do you really enjoy?  And which trend do you just shake your head at, and wonder, “Why?”

I admit there is nothing even remotely coming close to scientific about this investigation.  Let’s just Google and see what we come up with, OK?

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen Yogurt (from Google Maps)

Looking first at frozen yogurt shops.  Take a look at those dots.  There are even overlapping dots.  Do we need that many Froyo shops?  I’d say, a decided yes, to good frozen yogurt on a hot day in Dallas, Texas.  As a comparison, go look at the number of dots for frozen yogurt in Pittsburgh.  I count only about 10.  We love our ice cream, frozen yogurt and gelato in Dallas–ten minutes of relief from the heat.  Or a great bribe for the kids.  Sewell Automobile dishes up some Paciguo (I know, it’s not technically froyo) in their service bay while you wait for your car repair.  Yes, in Dallas, we deserve as many as we can get.

Tacos (from Google Maps)

Let’s look at the taco dots.  Is the taco stand on the upswing, or has it peaked?  Time will only tell if some of the newer restaurants make it.  I would argue though, that a taco diner is not a new trend in Dallas.  They’ve been here forever and will continue to be.  Only a real Texas native can recognize that.  Escondido, Sol’s, Herrera’s, and even Taco Diner, and Tin Star have been here now longer than a trend would make.  No, taco stands are not new.

Cupcakes (from Google Maps)

So how about cupcakes?  If you want a little shock, go ahead click on that link.  Amazing.  Look at those dots.  Count me in the “I don’t get it” line for cupcakes.  Why would anyone stand in line in Dallas heat for a cupcake?  Please someone tell me this is a fast trend on a downward slope.

Cakeballs (from Google Maps)

Only a few for cakeballs.  Does this mean it will never happen or that the masses haven’t hooked on to this next fine trend?

Is there another trend like these coming?  Are you a cupcake visionary?  What do you want more of?  Less of?  What’s the next hot thing? I like to find dots.

Asparagus stands at attention at Al’s Steakhouse and Salad Bar.

To be honest with you, the main reason I went to eat at Al’s Steakhouse and Salad Bar was because it was close to Pinkberry in Preston Royal. It was early in my addiction to pomegranate frozen yogurt. I liked the dinner but loved the rush across Royal for swirly goodness.

As a recovering FroYoHo, it was difficult for me to dine at Al’s a second time. Not only could I look out the front window and see Pinkberry customers toting their swirly goodness to their swirly expensive cars, the opening chef, swirly Gaspar Stantic, had left the kitchen. I survived and so did both of my dining experiences. Al’s is a small, friendly, neighborhood steakhouse that serves high quality meat at lower than upscale steakhouse prices. With a Pinkberry across the street. With mango frozen yogurt. And a new frequent buyer card (buy 10 get one free). Across the street from Al’s Steakhouse and Salad Bar in Dallas.