Name: Casey Walker
Age: 24
Job Title: Digital Marketing Manager           
Place of Work: FreeRange Concepts
Favorite Quote: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you’ve imagined.

Q: How long have you lived in Dallas?
I’ve lived in Dallas nearly 3 years- moved here in June 2014.

Q: What are a few of your favorite Uptown stops?
I can’t go too long without stopping at LF Dallas in West Village to get a little shopping in! I usually make a point to stop by MiniLuxe for a quick pedi while I’m in the area. I spend a lot of my weekends at Eastwoods- I’m from Kansas and so are the owners, it’s nice finding a little bit of home in my new city! I can also be found on the patio at The Rustic- whether it’s for work of play, I probably have a Froze in hand.

Q: Favorite place to dine in Uptown? What’s the go-to meal of choice?
I love eating at Hopdaddy! I’m a sucker for a classic cheeseburger, truffle fries and caramel & sea salt shake.

Q: Favorite place to shop in Uptown?
LF Dallas in West Village! The selection of vintage wear is amazing. The bi-annual 60% sale is the way to my heart.

Q: What’s one thing you think people should know about you?
My favorite hobby is going to the gym, but my favorite food is icecream… I guess they even each other out, right?

Q: What’s one thing you think people should know about Uptown?
Uptown is more than just a bar scene! It’s family friendly- and somewhere I love spending my afternoons wondering around!

Q: If you were sitting on a bench in Griggs Park, who would you like sitting next to you on the bench and why
That’s tough! I would love Scooter Braun to be next to me. I think he’d be someone fun to get to know, but also someone I want to learn from. What better place to pick someone’s brain than on a park bench on a beautiful spring day in Dallas?

Q: Early bird or night owl?
Night owl- no questions asked! I would rather sleep until 11 every day and work late into the night. I blame my mom for keeping me up late as a kid to watch our favorite reality shows together.

Q: If you were a city, which city would you choose to be and why?
I would be Venice! I love that it’s such a melting pot of people, similar to Dallas, but it has a beach! People love visiting there. It’s full of art and culture- and sun and sand. It’s laid back but a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle LA.

Q: If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Expect the unexpected!

Q: What’s your preferred method of transportation?
Jet Ski! But that doesn’t get me very far in Dallas.. So I guess I’ll have to say riding shotgun in someone else’s car… because who actually likes to drive?

Q: Where can Uptown improve?
I would love to see Uptown become more bike friendly! I went to school in Fort Worth and loved that I could rent a bike and spend the afternoon wondering around on 2 wheels with my friends.

Q: Who inspires you and your work?
Lady Gaga (cue laughter). I love that she has always paved her own path and goes against the grain. She sticks up for what she believes in. She’s hard-working, creative and talented- and has been through so much that has helped her get to where she is today. I aspire to be strong, creative and talented in everything I do and work on, just like Lady Gaga.

Q: You work as a Marketer for The Rustic, tell us a little bit of what your day to day as a marketer for The Rustic is like.
I spend a lot of time with social media! From checking on consumer posts and reviews, to posting content- Facebook and Instagram are the most used apps on my phone! When not on social, I work on creative brainstorming for new concepts and when I’m lucky, I’m taking food photos! Not everything is glamorous, there’s a lot of research and book keeping involved, too, but I focus on the phone! The best part is when I get to hang out at The Rustic and get to know the team members and regulars that come in all of the time.