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THAI ONE ON Pakpao, 1628 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.749.7002; pakpaothai.com LIKE HEAT-SEEKINGFOR J. McLAUGHLIN MISSILES WE'LL MAKE A STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY FOR DUDS FOR THE CAPE, LUBLU KIRA PLASTININA FOR BOLD AND BRIGHT DRESSING, PAKPAO FOR BAMBOO-SHOOTS- JOY ZHANG PHOTOGRAPHY FRESH SPOTS TO SHOP GAZE AND GRAZE , Add Pakpao — named after the handmade diamond-shaped white kites sailing above its wooden tabletops — to the Design District's expanding cluster of culinary hot spots. "My father is from Thailand, so the idea of opening a Thai restaurant that was authentic, fresh and modern has long been on my radar," says Tiffanee Ellman, who also co-owns with her husband, Richard, Oak next door and Belly & Trumpet in Uptown. Peek into the open kitchen, where Bangkok-born, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin takes a unique approach to traditional Thai flavors. Taste complexity begins with cocktails: Try the Phuket Fashioned, an aromatic blend of bourbon, house-made star-anise honey and orange bitters, or the Bangkok Snow, which melds vodka, coconut and Kaffir lime. For savory, order a basket of beef or pork jerky. Two winning appetizers are Louk Chin Kai (coriander-flavored chicken meatballs, with yellow curry, the chef's family recipe) and Pla Douk Todt Grob (crispy fish cakes topped with diced mango and red onion). Order sticky rice to roll into balls — yes, with your hands — and sop up sauces. A memorable entrée, Neua Massaman (melt-in-your mouth braised short ribs with sweet potatoes, peanuts and massaman curry), pairs deliciously with spicy Soop Nor Mai, a bamboo-shoots-and-mint salad. And, of course, there are noodle dishes for pad Thai lovers. Pakpao's bright, cozy interior has a compact dining area, counter seating around the bar's perimeter and patio tables for mild evenings, all enveloped in misty green and gray with neon pink jolts, nicely mirroring the varied notes and multiple layers of flavor on the menu. Terri Taylor TASTY FLICKS. LIMITED AHOY AMERICANA ENGAGEMENT , AND-MINT SALAD, KITCHEN LTO FOR THE NEXT GREAT CHEF AND ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE FOR J. McLaughlin, 4040 Villanova Dr. in Preston Center, 214.890.7994; jmclaughlin.com F or post-Ivy Leaguers with a penchant for weekends at the Cape and Lyford, J. McLaughlin has long been the go-to for high casual weekend wear. The company was started 35 years ago by then-20-something brothers Jay and Kevin McLaughlin. Flush with capital from historic Brooklyn Brownstone renovations, the sibs picked a strip of Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side next to a couple of their favorite patrician watering holes. Their exalted circle of American taste featured looks inspired by the Jazz Age and Camelot, tweaked and updated, adhering to style not fashion. Thankfully the ethos remains, and now two Texas stores are opening almost simultaneously in Dallas and Houston. The 1,400-square-feet boutique at Preston Center stocks tweaked-traditional embroidered belts; muted foulard trousers; checked linen shirts in sherbet colors (and the famed McLaughlin blue); twill shorts with dog, fish, sail and lobster motifs; and swimwear for men and women. Also look for Hamptons-worthy duffels and totes, Dopp kits, cosmetic bags, correspondence cards and a special men's shirt case that thwarts wrinkles en route. And almost everything can be monogrammed, of course. Caroline Starry LeBlanc REMEMBER THIS ALAMO Kitchen LTO, 3011 Gulden Lane, no phone number at press time; kitchenlto.com Foodies with commitment issues will find their spirit animal at Kitchen LTO, the Trinity Groves pop-up restaurant showcasing up-and-coming culinary talents. "If you enjoy the latest food trends," says founder Casie Caldwell, "you're going to love this concept." "LTO" stands for limited time offer, and the clock starts ticking when the space opens its doors Tuesday, September 3. Three times a year, a new chef and designer transform Kitchen LTO into the restaurant of their dreams; a four-month stint allows them to strut their stuff for diners, critics and potential investors. First up: executive chef Norman Grimm (Acme F&B, York Street, Mercury and Nosh Euro Bistro) and his proposed modern French/American menu, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Designers John Paul Valverde and Miguel Vicens of Coeval Studio (CampO, Belly & Trumpet, Sunset Lounge and Pakpao) will convert the 2,500-square-foot space into environs harmonious with Grimm's cuisine — plans include a clever vanishing tile art piece. Says Caldwell, "Just as Trinity Groves is giving restaurateurs like myself an opportunity to flourish, Kitchen LTO is providing a platform for rising chefs and designers to display their skills … something they might not otherwise have." Terri Taylor tarting August 9, cinephiles, epicureans and craft beer enthusiasts will find common ground at the new 30,000-square-foot Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson Heights. What sets it apart from other food-serving theaters? Unique "See the Film, Taste the Film" programming that pairs menus with tasty flicks such as Eat, Pray Love and Lord of the Rings. (Finally, you can nosh on liver and fava beans with a signature Cannibal Chianti while viewing Silence of the Lambs!) Inspired by the area's history as a telecom corridor, this particular Alamo gives a nod to the nifty '50s with an atomic-age angular façade and a 3-D lobby mural of mid-century tech gone awry. Locally sourced dishes, freshly muddled cocktails and 32 draft beers are served in all seven theaters as well as the gastropub-inspired Glass Half Full lobby bar. In addition to showing first-run hits, the Alamo will screen 35mm classics with similar themes as the blockbuster du jour, pairing the likes of Godzilla and Metropolis with Pacific Rim. But before buying tickets, remember the theater's golden rule: no talking or texting. The Alamo has zero qualms about kicking verbose moviegoers to the curb. Kendall Morgan dd Lublu Kira Plastinina to our list of favorite Russian imports — which, up until two weeks ago, was dominated by beluga, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Moscow Mules. Southern Methodist University senior and Russian fashion mogul Kira Plastinina has brought this much anticipated boutique to the Plaza at Preston Center. The 21-year-old communication studies honor student has already amassed a large Russian and European fan base with more than 300 stores across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, employing more than 2,000. Just as she oversees every piece of clothing in her collection, Plastinina dreamed up the 1,000-square-foot boutique's scheme, her first designer collection flagship store in The States. Light floods through windows onto travertine floors, custom leather and marble furnishings and open-floor bronze clothing racks. The soft tones set a quiet backdrop for her bold and bright offerings. Shoppers can expect to find Plastinina on the store floor, though she'll be balancing return trips to headquarters in Russia and, of course, earning that undergrad degree. Jessica Elliott S GET THE BALL ROLLING Bowlounge, 167 Turtle Creek Blvd., 214.741.7737; bowlounge.com DANILA GOLOVKIN Alamo Drafthouse, 100 S. Central Expwy., Richardson, 972.534.2120; drafthouse.com CLOTHES CALLS Lublu Kira Plastinina, 8383 Preston Center Plaza, 214.346.3922; lublukiraplastinina.com A To say that Craig Spivey and Tom Weber had their minds in the gutter when creating Bowlounge is meant to be a sincere compliment. The co-owning duo made good on their longsimmering idea by transforming a previously vacant warehouse in the Design District into a 12-lane bowling mecca. They purchased and dismantled a defunct alley in Longview, Texas, then shipped its salient parts to Dallas and refinished everything to a pristine — but proudly retro — condition. The menu comes courtesy of Jason Boso of Twisted Root Burger Co.; wet your whistle with one of 33 draft beers, half of which are Texas-centric craft brews. The added allure of portraits from The Big Lebowski on the walls, silver vinyl booths and the occasional live music act proves this is a destination that knows the score. Amy Adams