Picasso’s Pizza and Grill won the WFAAList contest in the best pizza category, a write-in contest with winners determined by public opinion. Picasso’s moved its restaurant to Skillman at the northwest corner of Walnut Hill a couple of years ago and is known for its build-your-own pizza menu.

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For the few remaining folks who don’t know yet, it has been announced that developments at Timbercreek Crossing include a Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and JCPenny; they’re among the stores planned for the 44-acre development at the southwest corner of Skillman Avenue and Northwest Highway. Thoughts? Lots of our neighbors aren’t too happy about the store selection. Check out the blogging commotion that’s been going on at the Advocate’s BackTalk Blog at advocatemag.com.

The Cake Ball Company, cakeballs.com, celebrated its third birthday recently. The Cake Ball Company is owned and operated as a small family business by Lake Highlands’ resident Robin Ankeny. Ankeny grew up in South Texas eating her mother’s one-of-a-kind cake balls. As she started a family of her own, she began making cake balls for her family and friends. Word spread, orders began piling up and the Cake Ball Company was established. The rest, Ankeny says, “is crazy, delicious history.” Today, you can find cake balls at the company’s retail store, 10230 East Northwest Highway (southeast corner of Northwest Highway and Easton).

A Lake Highlands mom on a mission to always have a pic of her kiddos on hand has just launched a home-based business that will have you thinkin’ “why didn’t I think of that?” Tonya Dalton, owner of Kotori, mykotori.com, created a line of handmade jewelry that includes photographs set in your choice of high-quality silver pieces and then sealed in a clear, waterproof, UV-resistant coating. Prices on these custom-made pieces start out at $35. It’s a sweet, unique way to keep those precious pics on hand. Incase you were wondering, Kotori means baby birds in Japanese.

Do you ever wonder who keeps all of Lake Highlands’ little ladies and babes in bows? Julie Peek, Lake Highlands resident and owner of Julie’s Bows, has been in the bow business since the fourth grade. She took a break from bows while in high school and college, but started up the biz again when she was pregnant with her first child. Five years later, she’s selling more than 500 hair accessories a month. You can check her bows at home shows this fall; visit juliesbows.com for information.

A fence-scaling, plant-stealing chimp caught on video and in the news recently may have hit Brumley Gardens on Church Road in Lake Highlands, says owner Chris Brumley. Nothing has been confirmed, but I’m guessing he was after the monkey grass <insert comedy drum roll and loud groan here>.

For the past 13 years, Lake Highlands resident and Hastings Stained Concrete owner Nick Hastings has added his signature stained concrete designs to many remodeling projects in the neighborhood. This uber-hip treatment is often seen in lofts and restaurants but is becoming a popular, cost-effective alternative to hardwoods or carpet in living areas, kitchens and laundry rooms. Back in the day, Hastings (LHHS class of ’95) was an apprentice with the contractor installing the floors at NorthPark Mall. Check out hastingsfloors.com to see samples of his work.

Photo Finish Barber Shop opened recently on the corner of Plano Road and Walnut Hill (next to the Quilt Shop). Owner Eve Cox has been in the barber business since the late ’70s and in the Dallas area for the past 12 years. This is her first venture as a shop-owner. Stop in for an old-school straight razor shave or for a trim. The shop’s open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome, or call 214-341-6577 to schedule an appointment.