Hip - or Happy? In Grand Prairie, we choose the latter.

Sure a local paper thought it newsworthy that Grand Prairie ain't hip - or more accurately, least hipster - among all the Cities in the United States. As determined by Movehub.com. Something about not enough coffee places (have they ever been to the Brass Bean?), few tattoo parlors (still wondering how that's a negative), and little in the way of vegan food options.

Yet perhaps they should have taken a deeper dive first at what WalletHub.com recently declared: Grand Prairie is the 10th Happiest City in the U.S.

Said we're number 3 when it comes to community and environment. Among the top 20 as it relates to income and employment. And I'd add (since all these rankings are subjective anyway), the tops in authenticity and credibility.

I've always encouraged Cities to try and set themselves apart - to sanctify themselves - and not be afraid to BE themselves. Be who you are without having to be like someone else. That's really the most attractive attribute possible to a community.

So hey - perhaps instead of throwing stones at us for falling short of the hipster target (or at least for now; we are seeking a microbrewery or two Downtown and we have two new sidewalk murals), how about you come over sometime and check out the restored, mid-Century architecture on Grand Prairie's Main Street? Stand in line and taste (while it lasts) Zavala's Barbecue across from the award-winning Farmers Market some Saturday morning. Catch a concert at Verizon Theatre, a performance at the Uptown Theater, a wave on the EPIC Waters Flow Rider - or a catfish in Lake Joe Pool. Buy (and assemble) some IKEA furniture, cheer (and perhaps place a bet on) a thoroughbred at Lone Star Park, or watch young ballplayers in the making at AirHog Stadium.

There truly ain't nothing but the real thing here, baby. And we're all pretty pleased about it.