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Syra Castillo

I am a recent graduate of Southern Methodist University who is passionate about journalism and writing. I am currently the Lake Highlands Advocate Editor and Preston Hollow Advocate Blogger. I have a passion for writing profiles and dining stories. I am eager to refine my writing and learn more about the world of reporting. I am always looking for new stories. 

Preston Hollow •

Preston Hollow neighbor Aashna Jain brings women’s cricket apparel brand to the U.S. - Preston Hollow

Sixteen-year-old Preston Hollow resident Aashna Jain hated the cricket uniform.
As the daughter of Anurag Jain, who co-founded the U.S. League and Texas Super Kings in 2023, Jain knows the ins and outs of the sport. She also understands the problem many cricket female athletes face when buying their uniforms. White and transparent uniforms that stain easily, boxy and loose pants and minimal sizing options.


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Lake Highlands •

Toastique brings gourmet toast and brunch to Park Lane in Dallas - Lake Highlands

Toastique, a new gourmet cafe where toast takes center stage, recently opened Oct. 10 at The Shops at Park Lane. Owned and operated by franchise owner Guy Grantham, the new breakfast and brunch spot is bringing a fresh dining experience to North Dallas with a menu featuring gourmet toasts, smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices, coffee and more. 
Toastique first debuted in Washington, D.C.’s Wharf District after founder Brianna Keefe’s passion for healthy snacks as a Division I athlete inspired her...
Lake Highlands •

Dallas City Council decisions: White Rock Lake services, police training center and more - Lake Highlands

Dallas City Council met for its scheduled regular council meeting on Oct. 28. Listed below are decisions from the meeting that impact our neighborhood, along with other citywide items residents should know about.Watercraft rental service on White Rock Lake
Dallas City Council approved a five-year contract for a watercraft rental service at White Rock Lake through the Park & Recreation Department. The contract is expected to generate $49,668.77 in annual net revenue for the city, according to a c...
Lake Highlands •

Less country club, more clubhouse: The story behind Stonethrow Club and the families shaping it - Lake Highlands

After exploring more than 100 social clubs, Nick Clark and Dawson Williams finally realized what Lake Highlands is missing, a family club. Stonethrow Club, a membership-based family social experience, planned for 10405 E. Northwest Highway, could break ground later this month.
After leaving Common Desk in January 2024, Clark reached out to Williams about creating a program that was designed around placemaking, memberships and one audience. Luckily for both former co-workers, the audience they w...
Lake Highlands •

They grew up eating Italian food in Albania. Now they're bringing their family recipes to our neighborhood at Sorella. - Lake Highlands

The sisters dreamed of opening their own restaurant for years. But dreams are often interrupted by more stable career choices.
Ajro ventured off into luxury real estate in Southlake and Dallas, while Bajraktari focused on her art and managing restaurants for 15 years. Even with successful careers that eased their minds off of owning a restaurant, a commute to Lake Highlands would shift their attention back to their dream.
Ajro started driving from her home in Southlake to Dallas six days a wee...
Preston Hollow •

The goats and sheep are gone: Northaven Trail's TAILS program wraps up its second season - Preston Hollow

Forget lawn mowers. Northaven TAILS, a herd of goats and sheep, helped manage vegetation along the Northaven Trail from Oct. 2-10.Over the course of the season, the animals grazed 55 designated pollinator areas between U.S. 75 and Webb Chapel Road, covering 15 acres.
As part of the Friends of Northaven Trail’s TAILS program, the animals helped clear overgrown vegetation and prepare the areas for native wildflowers. The program returned for a second year after its inaugural 2025 season drew commu...
Lake Highlands •

His parents ran Pizza by Marco. Now, he’s keeping their legacy alive in our neighborhood with Ghost Pizza. - Lake Highlands

Although it was a daunting responsibility for a middle schooler, Nuccio had been helping his father with the pizzeria since he was 8 years old. By then, he knew the ins and outs of creating the perfect pie.
Decades later, those early lessons continue to shape Nuccio’s approach to pizza. As the owner of Ghost Pizza, located in Northview Plaza in Lake Highlands, he’s applying everything he learned about consistency and quality to a new generation of customers.
“I never really pictured myself sta...
Lake Highlands •

Midtown Dallas Inc. brings three planned mobility projects that will improve connections to the SoPac Trail, Ridgecrest Road and Greenville Avenue - Lake Highlands

The planned Shared Use Trail from Midtown will run along Greenville Avenue from Northwest Highway to just short of Royal Lane, creating connections to the SoPac, Ridgewood, Northaven and White Rock Creek trails. 
The project was selected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to receive federal funding through its Transportation Alternatives grant program, which supports non-motorized infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes and shared-use paths.
The project received an award of a...
Lake Highlands •

L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary's Principal Katie Benningfield wants students to thrive - Lake Highlands

Teaching was not in Benningfield’s career plans at the time. Becoming an immigration attorney was. Still, she diverted over to the table with eager recruiters sitting behind it.
“(The recruiters) really spoke about this vision of one day all students, regardless of ZIP code, would have access to a quality education and great opportunities,” she says.
The recruiters’ words reminded her of the educational gaps she faced when she enrolled in her neighborhood’s high school in Santa Fe after reloca...
The Daily Campus •

Finding your G.I.F.T: SMU alumnus R. Mateo Magdaleno inspires students with passion

When R. Mateo Magdaleno ‘06 stepped onto the stage, he didn’t stay there long. Within moments, Magdaleno walked through the aisles, shaking hands, laughing and radiating the same energy that has defined his life’s mission: to help others discover their G.I.F.T., which he describes as being “Grounded in Faith and Truth.”
On Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Hughes-Trigg Oren Family Auditorium, Magdaleno’s keynote address was part of SMU’s Social Change and Intercultural Engagement (SCIE) Office’s Hispanic...
Dallas News •

All-you-can-eat mainstay Cicis Pizza has Plano native at the top

Jeff Hetsel never imagined he would lead Cicis Pizza, the brand that pioneered the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, as president. Growing up, his dream was to have his own spot.

“I absolutely thought I was going to have more of a four-star dining restaurant that I owned, and that was going to be my path,” he said. “It certainly wasn’t in pizza or franchising.”

Today, Hetsel helps steer the nationally known brand, based in Coppell, as it strives to stay relevant and affordable in a crowded and com...
Dallas News •

9 festivales de comida que no se puede perder en Dallas-Fort Worth este 2025

Syra Castillo is an intern with The Dallas Morning News' Arts & Entertainment team and is a student at Southern Methodist University. Her coverage areas with the newspaper include food, entertainment, events and more.

Syra Castillo is an intern with The Dallas Morning News' Arts & Entertainment team and is a student at Southern Methodist University. Her coverage areas with the newspaper include food, entertainment, events and more.
Dallas News •

9 food festivals not to miss in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2025

From whiskey tastings to barbecue throwdowns, North Texas is packed with food and drink festivals in 2025. Here are nine events for foodie and fun-seekers across Dallas-Fort Worth.

America’s largest traveling whiskey festival will be returning on Saturday, March 15 at Fair Park from 4 to 7 p.m.

Perfect for whiskey lovers and the whiskey curious, Whiskey Riot will bring a wide variety of whiskey brands such as Milam & Greene, J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey, Von Payne Whiskey, and more.

Gene...
Dallas News •

How the ‘Keith Lee Effect’ impacted D-FW restaurants, 1 year after food critic’s visit

It’s been a year since TikTok food critic Keith Lee visited nine restaurants and food businesses across Dallas-Forth Worth, delivering his standard one- to three-minute reviews that instantly sent the local establishments into the spotlight.

With 17 million TikTok followers, Lee’s opinion and reach has the power to influence the perception and reputation of a business, leading to a phenomenon dubbed the “Keith Lee Effect.”

Lee typically only visits a restaurant once and orders takeout under a...
Dallas News •

Frisco-founded cookie company continues to grow

“Can we turn this into a cookie?”

It’s a simple question that husband and wife Jeff and Marissa Allen ask themselves anytime they visit a restaurant or try a new food.

The Allens have loyal fans across Dallas-Fort Worth for the unique flavor combinations they infuse into the sweets they make at their bakery Cookie Society.

The couple opened their first brick-and-mortar Cookie Society location during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 in Frisco. The brand has since grown to include three more store...
Dallas News •

This Dallas soul food cook-off is back in 2025

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will host its third annual “Taste of Soul,” a soul food cook-off on Saturday, Feb. 22.

This event, which is free to attend and supported by the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture, features an array of food samples, live entertainment and raffles, among other activities, for attendees to enjoy in celebration of Black History Month.

One of the competition’s stars is Emanuel Cortez, a 16-year-old high school student at Lancaster High School Ear...
The Daily Campus •

SMU alumnus Dr. Jesus F. Martinez reshapes Sunset High School’s legacy with heart

For nearly a century, Sunset High School has lived powerfully through numerous historical events, from the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and school desegregation in the 70s. With such a storied past, it is no surprise that Dallas ISD chose a principal that could stand on par with the legacy of Sunset.
Known for always wearing suits with extravagant cowboy boots, Dr. Jesus F. Martinez has served Sunset High School for the past four years as its lead principal.
An alum...

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