Co-Founder Deb Johnston heads to Dallas for BBQ, business and TonicDM community.
Travel and food were highly prized in my family: my Dad was Australian Air Force, we moved every two years and he traveled even more often, returning from overseas trips with stories and new strange food like wasabi peanuts, char kway teow, poppy seed cakes.
My travel has led me to America. I’ve been fascinated with the States since I was young — Disneyland and club sandwiches were the first to capture my heart. A posting to Hawaii in my early teens has developed into a lifelong love affair with the islands and spam musubi, and immigrating here in 2010 fueled my passion for the diversity and opportunity the United States has to offer. Since then I have been lucky enough to travel to and eat in many U.S. cities. This country's diversity is amazing and nothing has brought me more joy than combining my love of travel with visiting our customers. Knowing where someone works — seeing it, feeling it, experiencing it, tasting it — gives a realness to what we’re doing at TonicDM and who we’re doing it for.
For my most recent trip was to Dallas, Texas. The perfect opportunity had opened up: a total solar eclipse and the opportunity to visit with some amazing customers and the call of Texas BBQ.
Firstly, the eclipse! TOTALITY... 4 minutes of solar totality. A fake night in the middle of the day, a rebirth, a bonus. What a delight to get to experience it with my best friend Rahbin at the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Allen, Texas. It was better than I imagined. The crickets came out like it was dusk, people cheered, the stars emerged and as the new dawn broke, the birds sang. Even the cloud cover that dampened the viewing added an element I still have trouble describing, and I hope these snapshots convey some of it.
Whenever Reg or I visit customers, we try to organize a TonicDM Community Dinner which is an opportunity for us to meet with our customers as a group, to gather feedback, to connect and to enjoy a meal together. With the help of Pia Gandolfo, a total foodie and an architect at Boka Powell, we found Quarter Acre by Chef Toby Archibald who, like Reg, is from New Zealand. Pia and I were joined by Luke and Ray from OMNIPLAN Architects, Roberto and EJ from CaCo Architecture, and Vickie from HKS, who was granted special permission by her gorgeous newborn, Anika, to join us for a truly delicious meal.
The following day, I spent time at OMNIPLAN’s downtown Dallas office. Looking out over the city, Ray pointed out all the local buildings designed by their firm. OMNIPLAN has been transforming the Dallas landscape since its founding in 1956 to become a multi-disciplinary practice with an incredible team and a creative culture. Seeing the finished product of our customers' efforts ranks high on my list of “the unexpected benefits of working with design firms” (which might be the title of my next post).
I then drove half a mile in torrential rain to the beautiful HKS Dallas office to host a “lunch and learn” for the firm. Patrick, who is my co-pilot in all things HKS, directed me to Louretta Denton, a hospitality wizard at HKS, who organized the food from a local BBQ caterer. The place smelled delicious. I have no doubt it lured staff to our meeting more effectively than the topics on my agenda. HKS reflects that same, rooted Dallas history. Founded in 1939 by Harwood K. Smith and his wife, Kate, in a small office, the firm now has 23+ offices worldwide. While I was there, I heard a story (which I have not fact-checked but like enough to share) about the days Harwood roamed the Dallas office. A new HKS employee admonished Mr. Smith for taking an item off her desk without realizing he was the “big boss.” Mr. Smith smiled, apologized, and returned the item and went on his way. The story was shared as a reflection of his involvement in the firm and the down-to-earth nature of the man.
Generally, the legend of Harwood K. Smith and all of our Dallas TonicDM customers (those who attended and those who couldn't make it) reflect the same values: absolute professionalism wrapped in down-to-earth hospitality.
As I left HKS, I headed to Deep Ellum and a BBQ joint named Pecan Lodge. Overwhelmingly agreed on by consensus at dinner, that if I was downtown and wanted good Texas BBQ, this was THE place to go. The group didn't steer me wrong. They also offered the attached list of other “local” approved BBQ joints if your travels take you to Dallas - Lockart Smokehouse -who ship BBQ nationwide 1050 BBQ and Hutchins BBQ.
As I waited at DFW, as busy as it ever has been, belly and soul full, I was filled with deep gratitude for my parents who opened the world up to me, for my lifelong American Dream and for TonicDM, without which I wouldn’t get to combine so much of what I love in one purposeful place.
I feel very at home here.
If you made it to the end, a sincere thank you for your time. If you want to chat TonicDM, food or cool space things reach out: deb.johnston@tonicdm.com
