Sports & OutdoorsIf baseball, basketball or Ferris wheels are on the agenda, Dallas offers a variety of entertainment complexes sure to please the discerning fan. Scattered around the city are plenty of spots to provide excitement and thrills.
1. Located in Irving, Texas Stadium is home to “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys. Famous or infamous (depending on who you ask,) the Cowboys are a major draw every fall. Texas Stadium also plays host to a variety of events year-round including concerts, festivals, carnivals, college football and high school football. Contact the stadium at tsc@dallascowboys.net.
2. Fans of roller coasters can find adrenaline bliss at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The enormous theme park is home to such heart-stopping rides as the Superman Tower of Power, a 325-foot skyrocket that catapults brave riders up before dropping them at 45 miles per hour. Other thrills include the monstrous wooden Texas Giant coaster and the famous Oil Derrick. For ticket information, call 817-607-6150. 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington.
3. Also located in Arlington, Ameriquest Field is where baseball fans can find the Texas Rangers. The baseball-only complex includes a youth baseball park, a 12-acre lake and a four-story office building. The open-air complex seats up to 50,000 people, and invites fans to enjoy delicious hot dogs under the Texas sun. For more information, call 817-273-5222. 1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington.
4. The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars play home games at American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas. The 20,000-seat arena also hosts a variety of popular concerts. For ticket information, call 214-373-8000. 2500 Victory Ave., Dallas.
Arts Museums & Landmarks
Looking for a bit of culture? From historical museums to trendy art galleries, Dallas offers something for every art guru.
1. Arguably the city’s most important art venue, The Dallas Museum of Art features a permanent collection that includes Asian, African and contemporary art. One installation is a replica of a French villa that includes works by Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Degas. For more information, call 214-922-1200. 1717 N. Harwood Street, Dallas.
2. While smaller than the others, the Kimbell Art Museum is widely regarded as the most impressive. A substantial collection of ethnic art combines nicely with masterpieces by Goya, Monet and Picasso. Landscaped ponds encourage guests to contemplate their peaceful surroundings near quiet fountains. For more information, call 817-654-1034. 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.
3. Directly opposite the Kimbell sits the Modern Art Museum. The concrete, aluminum and glass building houses 53,000 square feet of exhibition galleries. The permanent collection includes works by celebrated artists including Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Richard Serra. For more information, call 817-738-9215. 3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth.
Dining
Not surprisingly, steak plays a huge role in the Dallas dining scene. Other dining traditions include Tex-Mex, a blend of grilled favorites combined with Latin spices.
1. Open since 1993, Bob’s Steak and Chop House has consistently landed at the top of critics’ lists as the best spot to enjoy a steak in Dallas. The dark, clubby atmosphere complements the famous sugar-glazed carrots and corn-fed steaks. For more information, call 214-528-9446. 4300 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.
2. Established in 1935, Joe T. Garcia’s brings visitors to Fort Worth for Tex-Mex favorites including traditional cheese enchiladas and famous fajitas. Outdoor seating allows locals and tourists to mingle over robust margaritas. The restaurant is still run by the Garcia-LanCarte family, and keeps tradition by only accepting cash. For more information, call 817-626-4356. 2201 N. Commerce Street, Fort Worth.
3. Locals flock time and time again to Al Biernat’s in Oak Lawn for tasty offerings such as warm goat cheese salads and Cowboy Cut ribeyes. Mr. Biernat is often at the door to greet patrons as they enter through the outdoor garden. The interior spotlights a painted dome ceiling. For more information, call 214-219-2201. 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas.
4. A 24-karat dome sits atop III Forks in Addison, lending elegant atmosphere to a notably pristine restaurant. Featuring 12 private dining areas and an impressive wine cellar, III Forks is in a dining league of its own. “Texas French” cuisine includes Tenderloin Tips with Red Wine Sauce and Trout Pecan. Boasting its own humidor, the restaurant offers a selection of featured cigars such as Ashton, Macanudo and Cohiba. For more information, call 972-267-1776. 17776 Dallas Parkway, Dallas.
5. Devotees order the brisket tacos at Mia’s Tex-Mex on Lemmon Avenue, a real “ma and pa” business founded in 1981. Once popular with the cast of the television show Dallas, Mia’s satisfies cravings for Tex-Mex with prices that won’t break the bank. For more information, call 214-526-1020. 4322 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.
Shopping
Of the greatest magnitude to some and merely crucial to others, the Dallas shopping scene is a focal point of Dallas life. High-end boutiques meld with trendy pedestrian areas, and mammoth malls mesh with the most recognizable names worldwide.
1. Housed under a giant glass dome, the Dallas Galleria makes shopping a sport. Destination spots such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci mingle with spacious department stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s. Various dining options surround a premier skating rink that is most popular during the holiday season, when a giant Christmas tree takes center court. Plan to spend an entire day, as seasoned shoppers won’t want to rush. For more information, call 972-702-7100. 13350 Dallas Parkway (I-635 at the Dallas North Tollway), Dallas.
2. Renowned for stores including Neiman Marcus and Tiffany & Co., NorthPark Center offers a wide selection of fine boutiques, popular favorites and fine dining venues. Arguably one of Dallas’s top attractions, NorthPark Center is home to hard-to-find stores such as Anthropologie, Juicy Couture and dELiA*s. For more information, the NorthPark Center concierge can be reached at 214-361-6345. 8687 N. Central Expwy., Dallas.
3. Located in the northern tip of popular Uptown, the West Village is one of the city’s trendiest spots for shopping, dining and entertainment. A giant Borders bookstore sits on a major corner in this fashionable pedestrian zone. The West Village is home to the Magnolia Theater, which regularly hosts independent film festivals. The area offers complimentary valet parking during the day. For more information, call 214-922-9622. McKinney Avenue and Routh Street, Dallas.
4. One of the largest malls in Texas, Grapevine Mills, is located northwest of Dallas in the suburb of Grapevine. This retail and entertainment mega-mall features more than 200 stores, 30 dining venues and a massive movie theater. Desirable destinations include Last Call from Neiman Marcus Clearance Center and the OFF 5th-Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet. For more information, call 972-724-4900. 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine.
Events
1. On June 8, 2006, NASCAR roars to life with the IRL IndyCar Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice and qualifying rounds. Races continue through June 10, with the Bombardier Learjet 500K. All races are at the Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth.
2. The Third Annual Juneteenth Film Festival kicks off on June 15, 2006. This year’s celebration includes a new category for animated films. For more information, call 214-353-4445. 10455 N. Central Expwy., Suite 109, Dallas.
3. Addison Kaboom Town presents fantastic fireworks displays every Independence Day. Fun for the whole family includes games, entertainment and a variety of food vendors. The festival is located in Addison Circle Park, Addison.
4. Taste of Dallas is a delicious blend of food, music and family festivities. From July 7 to 9, 2006, the festival will feature live cooking demonstrations by popular chefs including Kent Rathbun of Abacus. Non-stop music includes local and regional acts performing everything from country to jazz. For more information, call 214-741-7185.
5. Nothing says the Lone Star State like the State Fair of Texas, running from Sept. 29 to Oct. 22, 2006. Events include an auto show, livestock exhibition, concerts, and of course, lots of exciting rides. For more information, visit
www.bigtex.com.
Gay Pride Events and Gay Parades in Dallas
Neighborhoods
1. Downtown
The last five years have been huge for the downtown area, as the formerly deserted streets are now busy with fabulous restaurants, sleek nightclubs and renovated loft housing. The famous skyline has been seen on television for decades, and continues to beckon suburbanites with its colorful lights and familiar architecture. The DART light rail network helps workers commute through the downtown grid.
2. Uptown
Fashionable and upscale, Uptown is home to everything cool and hip. McKinney Avenue features various restaurants and bars ranging from impossibly trendy to sporty and casual. Visitors can people-watch from patio dining in the West Village while others enjoy sumptuous meals at fine dining establishments in Turtle Creek.
3. Addison
Teeming with office buildings and apartment complexes, Addison is also home to fabulous dining and shopping. Just 10 minutes from downtown, Addison offers the famous Improv Comedy Club and the Cavanaugh Flight Museum.
4. Fort Worth
Home of the historic Stockyards, Fort Worth epitomizes Texas traditions. Fort Worth is famous for Billy Bob’s Texas, “the world’s largest honky tonk,” as well as a myriad of museums and art galleries. NASCAR and IndyCar racing draw large crowds at Texas Motor Speedway.
5. Plano-Frisco
The North Dallas area encompasses several neighborhoods, including well-to-do Plano and Frisco. Large shopping complexes, like the famed IKEA, meld with chic pedestrian areas, such as The Shops at Legacy. Plano and Frisco both boast highly-acclaimed school districts and rising populations.
6. Market Center
Just outside of downtown sits one of the largest wholesale merchandise resources in the world. The Dallas Market Center is composed of four buildings: the World Trade Center, the Trade Mart, the International Floral and Trade Center and Market Hall. The Dallas Market Center acts as a global source for products ranging from home furnishings to gourmet items to clothing. An estimated $7.5 billion of wholesale transactions are conducted within the DMC complex annually.
7. Irving-Las Colinas
Known for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the Irving-Las Colinas area is also home to numerous company headquarters. Visitors flock to this area to attend football games at Texas Stadium and see the Mustangs of Las Colinas outdoor sculpture.
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