The Cozy Cottage  recently won Best of the Metroplex 2010 for Best Kid’s Clothing Store. Owner Cynthia Herndon says, “You had to have 50 nominations just to be on the ballot, and there were only three stores in the metroplex that made the 50 cut off. We couldn’t believe we had 50; we didn’t even know we were nominated!” The store was nominated for the WFAA AList Best Children’s Clothing award. “Last year we came in third, which was really cool because Hollywood Ranch, which makes and designs all of their own clothing, won, and then in second place was Baylor Medical Center’s Simply Mom’s. We were tickled with third; we couldn’t believe it.” It didn’t make it to first place in the contest this year, but the store did come in second. 214.941.1110, cozycottageboutique.com, 336 W. Eighth.

Craving some locally made chocolate? Coco Andre will be this month’s social butterfly. The mother-daughter tag team, Andrea and Cindy Pedraza, who have been in our neighborhood since November 2009, are whipping up delectable events during month of February. On Feb. 11, the chocolatier will be featured at the Oak Cliff Cultural Art Center at 7 p.m. for a free event of The History of Chocolate presented by Andrea Pedraza. “We’ll be talking about the history of chocolate, and my mom will be giving a 30-minute speech. Then people are going to sample chocolate and wine,” says Cindy Pedraza. The shop will also host Chocolart 2 (an all chocolate art exhibit) Feb. 12 from 7 p.m.-midnight, featuring Three of One production company. One of the production company’s members, Jerod Alexander Davies, also is the logo designer for the chocolatier. This is the second Chocolart the shop has hosted; the first was in November. The theme is Valentine’s Day, and the event will include pre-made and live art. 214.941.3030, cocoandre.com, 831 W. Davis.

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Zola’s Everyday Vintage will have a soft opening for its newest gem, a “pocket boutique” (mini boutique within the store) beginning Feb. 19. The boutique will feature the vintage designs of Tracy Popken, a seamstress and designer who collaborates with the store. The pocket boutique features remade and vintage-inspired clothing by Popken. Some of Popken’s signatures include one free alteration on any of her items and extra wide seams for clothing adjustments. “I’m working on beautiful classic dresses,” Popken says. “One thing I’ve noticed in the last couple of years of working in various boutiques is that the dresses that people just melt for are the ones with the really classic, beautifully feminine, silhouettes: the ’50s and ’60s, and even the ’40s … What I think people really want, and what I really want, is something beautiful and simple and flattering.” 214.943.6643, zolasvintage.com, 414 N. Bishop.

BEE: Best Enchiladas Ever , the new concept from Dallas-based restaurateur Monica Greene, opened last month. The restaurant, which is taking the old Quinn space on West Davis near Zang, is similar to the build-your-own concept of Chipotle and Freebirds, except with enchiladas instead of burritos. Greene hopes the Oak Cliff location will spin off into franchises like the burrito joints have done. facebook.com/bestenchiladasever, 202 W. Davis.

The original Gloria’s at West Davis and Llewellyn is moving to a new spot in the 90-year-old former fire station at the northeast corner of West Davis and Bishop. The new Gloria’s is expected to open this month. 214.948.3672, gloriasrestaurants.com.

Texas Dance Theatre artistic director Wil McKnight is opening the School of Texas Dance Theatre on Jefferson Boulevard. Classes for ages 2 through adults begin the first week of February. The school also has an apprentice program for aspiring professional dancers who may have the opportunity to perform with the professional company, as well as a young men’s class for male dancers ages 8-15. 817.773.1354, texasdancetheatre.com/texasdancetheatreschool, 907 W. Jefferson.

Bishop Arts Village LLC is seeking a $2 million grant from the city of Dallas to acquire land and build a residential/commercial development that would cover more than 1 million square feet of Oak Cliff. The area is bound by Interstate 35, Colorado, Twelfth and Tyler.

Edwin Cabaniss received the 2010 Ruth Chenoweth OOCCL Conservation Achievement Award from the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League for his efforts in restoring the old Kessler Theater and turning it into a thriving live music venue.

Sara Jane Semrad, founder of La Reunion TX and Art Conspiracy, was a finalist in the Dallas Observer’s MasterMind Awards. Also on the list was filmmaker Eric Steele, who is a partner in Aviation Cinemas, which recently took over management of the Texas Theatre.

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce recently handed out awards to its neighborhood “best of” picks in 2010. The winners are: business of the year, Kessler Theater; event of the year, Opening the Giants of Savanna Exhibit at the Dallas Zoo; public servant of the year, Delia Jasso; community advocate of the year, Vicki Fitzgerald (posthumously); new business/development of the year, Urban Acres; president’s award, Craig Schenkel; and chairman’s award, gooakcliff.org.