Memorial Day weekend may not be the official start of summer, but it sure feels like it. Here’s your ideal three-day opportunity to start the season off right—under the sun, on a boat, in the water or high above the city—and raise the bar for the rest of your summer excursions. Get hot in these haute 5 outer-city locales, sure to rank above par for your party.

It’s like a dream: the moment summer hits, the sun beats down mercilessly on the heads and shoulders of those of us scurrying from our air conditioned cars to the comfort of our offices. Luckily, we are saved, at least on weekends and holidays, by wide spans of endless blue water, cool and inviting, waiting for us to dip into after we gain that perfect glowing tan, sipping mojitos on a comfortable chaise. Looking for a wet getaway amidst the scorching Texas sun? Keep reading.

It’s good to be green, and sometimes it can be oh-so fashionable as well. Forget the hybrid car and go straight for the bicycle– a luxury version, of course. Electra is the manufacturer of a slew of gorgeous bi-wheel rides with the exquisite taste and comfort of their customers in mind. The cool retro style and state of the art engineering make for a truly aristocratic cycling experience. Here are a few of my faves.

The official start of summer is next week, and just in time for the warmer climes Salon Lucien has opened its doors in Preston Center to update your look from winter bleak to summer chic. To celebrate their opening, the stylists and staff threw an early evening soiree Wednesday with champagne, gourmet bites and complimentary cuts and blow outs.

Leggiadro is Italian for aesthetically beautiful, so it’s no wonder the brand’s line of quality women’s clothing is so superior in looks and texture. Lucky for the discerning ladies of Dallas, the high-end boutique has opened its doors here at Highland Park Village, celebrating their grand opening with a champangne reception on Wednesday.

Yes, we all like our regular spots. The restaurants and lounges you walk into during happy hour and everyone turns to toast you and invite you to dig in to their heaping plate of calamari. But when the bartender knows exactly how many martinis it takes before you start to hit on that stranger across the way that’s a good 20 years your junior, it may be time to switch things up. Take a chance at one of these hotspots, newly added to the Dallas scene.

It’s always important to support local projects, specifically in the realms of fashion and entertainment. Dallas is gradually rebuilding its notoriety as a hotspot for film and television production, and boy are we happy about that. Monday night at the Magnolia Theater in the West Village, the series premiere of “The Beautiful People” took place after a red carpet photo op and pre-show cocktail hour.

The fashion forward gathered atop the Mosaic complex downtown Saturday night for the much anticipated Miami in Dallas Fusion Fashion Show benefiting the Zacarias Guerra orphanage in Nicaragua. Thankfully the weather was perfect, so the poolside runway and glittering Dallas skyline were thoroughly enjoyed by guests sipping cocktails and swaying to Latin beats supplied by incredibly young DJ’s.The idea was to bring the calientefashion of Miami to Texas, with a focus on minority and female designers and talent.

Sure, April showers bring May flowers. Which is why we are now petal deep in my favorite time of year: wedding season. And since we here in Texas know that everything is better when it’s bigger, it comes as no surprise that Dallas is home to some of the most creative and luxurious florists that cater to all those big-time, big-money weddings. But even if you’re simply looking for that perfect vase collection for the front entry table, these boutiques will give you the finest of flora.