The promotional materials for the Nov. 20 tree lighting ceremony in Snider Plaza included the phrase “holiday tree,” and I can understand why. Given their commercial interests, the shopping center’s merchants were trying to appeal to all customers. The same goes for Highland Park Village, which hosted “A Village Holiday” on Friday.

The town of Highland Park, on the other hand, is less motivated to attract all comers. I find it refreshing that Mayor Bill Seay and company will be lighting a Christmas tree on Thursday evening. And that’s coming from a guy who’s been bar mitzvahed.

So. Snider Plaza’s annual tree-lighting is Sunday, and your friendly neighborhood news team will be working a booth with Laguna coffee, games for kids, and (I sense) some other surprises. Publisher Karen Mordecai and managing editor Dan Koller are even going to introduce Santa himself, if you can imagine, so we hope you’ll drop by and say hello.

The Plaza website has event details.

So it’s now been one year since University Park voters overwhelmingly approved sweeping changes to the city’s alcohol laws.

In today’s paper, we chatted with a few businessy folks this affected, but didn’t talk to any average Joes on the street. Here’s your chance.

Good, bad, indifferent? Happy to grab a six-pack on your way home? Think the city’s slouching towards Gomorrah? Spill it.

That’s the word from our friend/Sith overlord Nancy Nichols at Side Dish. She gives a brief history of the restaurant, but says she can’t get anyone on the phone to tell her why they closed.

Any insight, Parkies?

UPDATE: Not closed, just moved. See below. Thanks to our departed production director Kate Mitchell’s sister for the pic.

Chef and owner of Snider Plaza’s Dive Coastal Cuisine restaurant, Francesca Nor, will host a cooking class at Duo tomorrow. The menu, which is influenced by Nor’s Miami background with a few seasonal touches, features mussels with champagne and chorizo, seared halibut with butternut squash hash, and Bosc pear and blackberry crisp for dessert. Expect light, healthy fare with plenty of flavor without all the fat.

The class is $65 and starts at 6:30. For more information, contact Duo at 214-884-2979.

Let’s face it, back-to-school shopping is meant for girls because, for the most part, boys really don’t care what they’re wearing. I asked my 8-year-old son what he’d like for school clothes this year. After a long blank stare, he mumbled, “I guess I’ll take a few Burger House and Kuby’s T-shirts if I have to get something new.”

And then the thing took on a life of its own. Now he has declared he’ll wear a shirt advertising something every day for the whole school year. We’ve got Burger House, Kuby’s, Highland Park Pharmacy, Wild About Harry’s, and JD’s Chippery. But if this is going to be an everyday deal, we’ll need some suggestions to increase the wardrobe.

Fuqua, the kid wants to know why Plaza Health Foods doesn’t have tees.

1. Do you like fishing? Do you own a fishing rod and bait? Are you a young child? —  I’ll assume you’re not. You might know one, though, who’s game to take part University Park’s annual Children’s Fishing Derby this Saturday. Read the fine print here.

2. It’s official: Paulette Martsolf, owner of Snider Plaza boutique Allie-Coosh (where’s she’s also the designer and primary print model) has launched her own jewelry line —  complete with eye-catchers like feathers, amber, and dinosaur bones/fossils. I’m serious, by the way, about the latter; Martsolf’s husband Rick is a retired paleontologist, and she’s always loved rocks and nature. Pick up next Friday’s paper for more dirt.

3. Need some stress reduction? Tai Chi classes begin 8:15 a.m. Sunday at First Unitarian Church of Dallas.

A reader sent this photo taken at the Snider Plaza Starbucks this morning. Acceptable or a little gross?

1. The new pop-up Warby Parker store opened at Nest last night, leaving McKinney Avenue crippled from the sudden influx of thrifty hipsters. The store will remain open until May 28, so snatch up your specs before everyone is “over it.”

2. Tomorrow night, take the gals to Dive for the Young Professionals, Business Women Creating Alliances “Girls Dive Out” event benefiting the American Cancer Society. Drop by at 7 p.m. for delicious bites from restaurateur Franchesca Nor, as well as beauty treats, shopping, and plenty of relaxation-inducing cocktails. Yum!

3. But before you run out to Dive with the girls, stop by Good Eats to see Irish-born author and Turtle Creek resident Patricia Falvey. She’ll have a book signing from 6 to 8 p.m. with copies of both The Yellow House and The Linen Queen available for purchase. Already have a copy? Bring it by, too!

Thanks to the staff of Osgood O’neil Salon and Christy M. Boutique in Snider Plaza, Tammy Favors has a brand new look for mother’s day.

As the winner of our Mother’s Day Makeover contest, Tammy will also receive a free personal training session from Gene White (a $90 value).

Check out the cover of this week’s Park Cities People to learn more about why the Highland Park mother won.

Congratulations, Tammy, and happy Mother’s Day to all the nominees out there.