Joy Donovan

Joy Donovan is a contributing writer for CandysDirt.com covering the Midcities and Fort Worth.

Southlake Interior Designer Goes from Volunteer to Award Winner, With a Little Push from Friends

By Joy Donovan / December 10, 2024 /

From full-time volunteer to professional designer, a Southlake interior designer has surprised herself finding herself at the top of her game, recognized by her peers. Marlene Small of Heritage Interiors recently won two first-place awards in the 2024 American Society of Interior Designers Celebrating Design Texas awards competition. And though she says she got a…

This House is Ready for Its Next Act in Ryan Place

By Joy Donovan / December 6, 2024 /

Aspiring stars, here is the house for you. The house at 2633 College Ave. in historic Ryan Place has everything a rising rocker, divine dancer, or especially a great saxophonist needs to live the dream…at home. The home boasts its own stage in the backyard. Owner John Mink performed many a mini concert atop this…

This Ryan Place Candlelight Tour Is the Perfect Setting for a Hallmark Movie

By Joy Donovan / December 3, 2024 /

Is anyone hoping to live like one of those happy, romantic characters in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Here’s a thought on how to live out the fantasy right here in North Texas. Put on your cutest coat with a very stylish hat, plus a pair of trendy boots, and maybe extra blush on your cheeks…

Mediterranean in Ravinia Heights Checks All the ‘Must-Have’ Boxes

By Joy Donovan / November 29, 2024 /

On those TV shows where viewers get to look over the shoulders of prospective buyers searching for houses, there’s always a checklist of “must-haves.” So, let’s create a checklist for this week’s Friday 500,000 listing. “Must-haves” on this list would be the Oak Cliff area, historic charm without the headaches of updating, a distinctive facade,…

You Might Say H-E-B Grocery Avoided an Identity Crisis in Northeast Tarrant County

By Joy Donovan / November 26, 2024 /

H-E-Bs in HEB can be confusing. Yes, the triple suburbs of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford are often known as simply “HEB.” But the acronym is tossed around in multiple ways, with only context clues revealing which HEB to which one might be referring. Such as HEB — Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. Or HEB — Texas…