Dallas Slice of Life
Posted by dezmoterion@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 39 comments
I'm planning on moving Dallas soon and I'll be there in August to do a little recon of the city. I want to get a feel for what the people in Dallas/Texas are like.
What are your favorite things to do, places to eat, things to see in the downtown area (or surrounding area as I will be taking Lyfts all over)?
For context I'll be staying at Mint House hotel. I like museums, art, cultural stuff. I want to check out country music (heard Red River was fun), see cowboy stuff, try good BBQ, and like I said just get a feel for the city and nightlife.
I'm female, single, 40s.
Please serious answers. Thanks!
BudgetScience2000@reddit
Oh, somebody else mentioned this in a different thread, but here's one for you, a horror film-themed coffee spot downtown. Only open during the week though, since it's in the pedestrian tunnel/skybridge system.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
This is awesome!
goodjuju123@reddit
Go to a show in the Arts District.
imamakeyoucry@reddit
If you want fancy bars check out Monkey Bar in Highland Park, CatBird, Honor Bar. In August there isn’t much to do here but go to brunch and drink, go to the pool and drink, eat and drink. Then drink. Wake up the next day and repeat.
goodjuju123@reddit
What about shopping at Northpark though?
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
What is Northpark?
DistributionStreet58@reddit
a nice high end mall
Tejanisima@reddit
That's underselling it a bit. It's a gorgeous 1965 complex with sculpture installations, fountains, a library branch, and over 200 stores. From Wikipedia: "In November 2007, NorthPark Center was named one of the 'seven retail wonders of the modern world' along with the Neiman Marcus’ store at Natick Collection in Massachusetts, Japan's Mikimoto store in Ginza, England's Bullring shopping center, Poland's Złote Tarasy in Warsaw, Apple's flagship store in New York City and Italy's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II." Many of us Gen X locals and some of our Boomer elders have fond memories of going there as kids and climbing up the enormous planters, throwing coins in the water feature that has a bridge, and so on. It continues to be an elegant and sprawling complex, good for people watching and with regular stores as well as luxury brands.
goodjuju123@reddit
And penguins
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
It's going on the list!
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thanks! In which months is there more to do, and what would those activities be?
JustMeInBigD@reddit
In the fall (and to a lesser degree in the spring), there are so many festivals you couldn't go to all of them if you tried. Summer's slower for a number of reasons, but you can still get that "slice of life" you're after.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Sounds like more eating and drinking ;)
Tejanisima@reddit
Up in Richardson there's Cottonwood Art Festival twice a year, spring and fall. It does have a few eating and drinking opportunities but is much more noticeable for a wide variety of art in every imaginable medium, including jewelry, painting, sculpture, etc. etc. etc.
BudgetScience2000@reddit
Let's see, walking distance from your hotel I like The Mitchell, a wonderful bar and kitchen. Ride the M-Line Trolley (vintage streetcars) and get off at a few places on the loop, like at Klyde Warren Park. All the museums in the Arts District there are good, or for one less well-known, the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum (fantastic samurai collection). Walk down to Dealy Plaza, site of the JFK assassination, and chat with some of the vendors there, always a trip.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thanks so much!
NotUglyJustBroc@reddit
Where are you heading from?
Jackieray2light@reddit
In August I like to sit in my house with the AC running. I went to Cowboys Dance Hall in the early 00s and was quickly chased off due to visible tattoos being against their rules. I am sure that rule has changed since then, maybe when they added Red River to their name.? There are a couple hat and boot shops in the West End downtown but if country is what you are looking for you should head to the stock yards in Ft Worth 1 evening. As far as favorite foods we got the bacon cheesecake from the jazz club The Free Man Cafe and the dinosaur rib from Pecan Lodge, both in Deep Ellum downtown.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thanks!
y6x@reddit
Pioneer Plaza is a 1/2 mile from where you're staying, and has a cemetery near it with graves going back to the 1850s.
Alamo Drafthouse sometimes plays cult and older horror movies - 8/2 - 8/3 they have a cat video fest, and then on 8/28 - 8/31 they're playing the original Jaws.
Texas Theater is another independent theater that will play classic movies: https://thetexastheatre.com/calendar/
Landmark Theater has a Rocky Horror screening on August 30th.
If you're here on the cusp and around at the end of July:
7/25 - 7/26 Texas Haunter's Convention, https://www.irvingtexas.com/event/texas-haunters-convention/40317/
7/30 - Horror Movie Trivia at Black Dog Retro Arcade - This one's in Arlington, so would be about a half-hour drive or uber ride. If you really like arcade games and trivia, or have made friends with someone local by then, it might be worth it.
Also related to the Dallas Horror scene - You're not going to be around for the screenings, unfortunately, but this might give you an idea of what the local film folks are creating: https://texashorrorcult.com/sonny-vicious-1
In the Arts District :
Keep an eye on the Dallas Museum of Art calendar. They usually have a "Late night" event every month. https://dma.org/meet-me-at-the-museum
The Nasher (across the street) has their 'Til Midnight on August 15th : https://www.nashersculpturecenter.org/programs-events/event/id/2136?til-midnight-at-the-nasher
Klyde Warren is across the street from both, as well, and will usually have something happening: https://www.klydewarrenpark.org/events-programming
Sammons Park / AT&T Center is another calendar to keep an eye on: https://attpac.org/visit/venues/sammons-park
There's a free trolley in that area: https://www.mata.org/ride/route-map/
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thank you!! This is awesome 🩷
TakeATrainOrBusFFS@reddit
Take the train to go to fun stuff downtown.
Ineffable2024@reddit
I don't want to be a downer, but keep in mind that you may be unprepared for how hot it is in Dallas in August. During the day, if you are outside, you need to have cold water with you, be very lightly dressed, and pay attention to how you are feeling, because you may become ill. Also, it does not cool off and get decent at night like you might expect. (Obviously if you are from Houston or New Orleans or something you can ignore this advice.)
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Miami :)
cvs256@reddit
Still a lot worse but just keep in mind August is the worst month to visit.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Welp. I'm moving there so I will inevitably be enduring August at some point.
cvs256@reddit
No it was just so you wouldn’t get disheartened! And yes humidity is better!
Bec21-21@reddit
I just moved from Miami to Dallas and, so far, the weather is way more enjoyable. It is hotter than Miami but it is also considerably less humid. You can step out side and not be instantly drenched.
Ineffable2024@reddit
Ah, OK. I haven't been there but I don't think you need the advice!
KindaJaded@reddit
Dallas heat is still bad, but Houston is more like Miami.
oconnor9sean@reddit
No disrespect, but I feel like Red River is an 18-23 year old bar and you might feel quite out of place in your 40s. Also, depending on the time you go, it might not even be country music.
If you want a taste of the cowboy/country culture that DFW has, you might as well go to the Stockyards in Fort Worth and do the real thing. Plenty of nightlife, live music, party atmosphere and “country” vibes.
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thanks!
eatersnotfoodies@reddit
I will also flag the 20-year-olds are also going to the stockyards. There's much more to see and plenty of dancing bars to do in the stockyards versus the 1 Red River that's nearby our historic stripper line if you catch my drift.
y6x@reddit
You can search for 'cowboys red river' on Youtube and look at videos of the crowd to judge for yourself the validity of their comment about the age group.
The Longhorn Ballroom appears to be close to where you're staying - If you're going to be here on August 2nd, you might enjoy that night.
eatersnotfoodies@reddit
I would second the stockyards experience versus Red River
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Thank you!
secret-shot@reddit
White rock lake, deep ellum (CBC is definitely my favorite bar in the city), Dallas comedy club, and the Texas theater are my slice of life!
From a more tourist point of view, sixth floor museum is a cool exhibit about the JFK assassination. Crow museum is a great collection of Asian art outside of Asia I think. And the heat is never as bad as anyone on this sub makes it out to be. Just apply copious amounts of sunscreen.
RandomRageNet@reddit
dezmoterion@reddit (OP)
Nice, thanks!