Hi! I’m Keela McGraw, Arlington Texas Today co-founder and Realtor. I’d love to help you find your next home. Click here to search current homes for sale in the area.Are you someone who enjoys trivia?
I am. I love learning little known facts that I can share in a moment’s notice. Among my favorite hobbies are reading liner notes and watching Jeopardy. BTW, have you seen this fellow Jeopardy fans?
So if you corner me at a cocktail party or an Arlington Texas Today meetup (coming soon), I’ll try my darndest to amaze you with my range of useless yet interesting knowledge.
One area of information I sorely lacked was about Arlington. Since I’ve lived in Arlington since 2005, there’s a lot of cool factoids I had no idea about. Yet these little nuggets are common knowledge to lifelong Arlingtonites.
If you’re an Arlington transplant like I am or new to town, you may find this interesting.
Here are five cool facts about Arlington you may not have known.
Guess Where The First Ballpark Nachos Were Served
When you’re taking in a sporting event, there’s no doubt making a trip to grab concessions will bring you face-to-face with nachos. There is something special about combining gooey nacho cheese and tortilla chips. Imagine my surprise when I learned that ballpark nachos were first sold at Arlington Stadium in 1976. How cool!
The Creator Of TOMS Shoes Is From Arlington
Blake Mycoskie
Blake Mycoskie, an Arlington native and Martin High School graduate, created TOMS shoes in 2006. What makes TOMS shoes unique is each time someone purchases a pair of TOMS shoes, the company donates a pair to a child in need. Blake has been recognized around the world for his work. He is also the author of the bestselling book Start Something That Matters.
The Frozen Margarita Machine Has Ties To Arlington
Mariano Martinez
Have you enjoyed a frozen margarita lately? Did you know that it has ties to Arlington thanks to Mariano’s owner Mariano Martinez? In 1971, while running his restaurant in Dallas, Martinez wanted a consistent way to make frozen margaritas.So he adapted a soft serve ice cream machine to making margaritas and created what is now know as “The World’s First Frozen Margarita Machine”. The idea was sparked after seeing 7-11’s Slurpee machine. In 2005, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History acquired the original frozen margarita machine.
This REALLY Smart Organization Calls Arlington Home
Ever heard of Mensa? Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. Talk about smart! The National Office of American Mensa is located right here in Arlington, Texas.
Six Flags Over Texas Is #1…Literally
We all love having Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. What’s funny is that each I had no idea until a few years ago Six Flags Over Texas is the first and original Six Flags theme park.
By no means is this a complete list of cool Arlington facts. But it is a list of information that surprised me once I learned about them. Do you have any cool “under-the-radar” facts about Arlington newbies and transplants might not know? Share them in the comment section.
