Hidden Dallas - What's to see?
November 9, 2011 11:26 AM Subscribe
Dallas/Ft. Worth - What to see, do and eat off the beaten path?
I'm going to have completely free time in Dallas this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, after attending an event on Thursday evening.
I love to see the "off the beaten path" type things when I travel, but I'm open to the more mainstream "must see" attractions too. I like History, Art, weird stuff, neat stuff, whatever. I'm not interested in the Aquarium or Zoo, I can see those anywhere. Bars and Nightlife aren't really my thing this time around as I'll be alone. I want to see the 6th Floor Museum and stop and see Bonnie and Clyde's grave, but so far that's my only plan.
I also have a penchant for local, really terrific cheap-ish eats in my daily life and when I travel -- what I should really not miss? (Confirmed Carnivore!)
Details that may or may not matter: Traveling alone, female (if it matters), staying near the Medallion Center in Dallas. I will have a rental car, but completely open to public transportation too! I'm on a budget, but I have wiggle room for admissions.
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
I'm going to have completely free time in Dallas this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, after attending an event on Thursday evening.
I love to see the "off the beaten path" type things when I travel, but I'm open to the more mainstream "must see" attractions too. I like History, Art, weird stuff, neat stuff, whatever. I'm not interested in the Aquarium or Zoo, I can see those anywhere. Bars and Nightlife aren't really my thing this time around as I'll be alone. I want to see the 6th Floor Museum and stop and see Bonnie and Clyde's grave, but so far that's my only plan.
I also have a penchant for local, really terrific cheap-ish eats in my daily life and when I travel -- what I should really not miss? (Confirmed Carnivore!)
Details that may or may not matter: Traveling alone, female (if it matters), staying near the Medallion Center in Dallas. I will have a rental car, but completely open to public transportation too! I'm on a budget, but I have wiggle room for admissions.
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Best answer: Your question is mainly about Dallas, but you mention Fort Worth. If you're already out in Fort Worth, I would stop by Joe T. Garcia's for an epic old-school Tex-Mex experience. At dinner, there are no menus, just your choice of enchiladas and tacos or fajitas. (Do the enchiladas and tacos.)
posted by grouse at 11:36 AM on November 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by grouse at 11:36 AM on November 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Also in Fort Worth, fantastic, world class art museums. You shouldn't miss them.
posted by txmon at 11:38 AM on November 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by txmon at 11:38 AM on November 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'm a recently-ex-Dallasite and if I hopped a plane this weekend I would do the following things:
Eat at Mai's Vietnamese (45B combination clay pot)
Go to the Dallas Comedy House (and there's a Twisted Root down the street, though there are better burgers in Dallas)
Have a weekend morning wander around the Bishop Arts district in Oak Cliff and then probably some soul or Mexican food.
Pick something to do in Sundance Square/downtown Fort Worth (maybe see if anything interesting is playing at Bass Hall).
I love Fort Worth, it's a little gem, and the 7th Street area is getting pretty cool. The Kimbell is a great museum, as is the Amon Carter and the Cowgirl museum (and they're all on the same plaza, too).
And I would go to the zoo because I love the Fort Worth Zoo (Dallas not so much). But if the weather is pretty and you're in Fort Worth, the botanical gardens are awesome (and the Japanese Gardens worth admission). Joe T's is the tourist thing to eat in Forth Worth, but I don't know why you would when there's so much *good* food (and Joe T's is fun with a group but would be a sad place to go alone).
posted by Lyn Never at 11:41 AM on November 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Eat at Mai's Vietnamese (45B combination clay pot)
Go to the Dallas Comedy House (and there's a Twisted Root down the street, though there are better burgers in Dallas)
Have a weekend morning wander around the Bishop Arts district in Oak Cliff and then probably some soul or Mexican food.
Pick something to do in Sundance Square/downtown Fort Worth (maybe see if anything interesting is playing at Bass Hall).
I love Fort Worth, it's a little gem, and the 7th Street area is getting pretty cool. The Kimbell is a great museum, as is the Amon Carter and the Cowgirl museum (and they're all on the same plaza, too).
And I would go to the zoo because I love the Fort Worth Zoo (Dallas not so much). But if the weather is pretty and you're in Fort Worth, the botanical gardens are awesome (and the Japanese Gardens worth admission). Joe T's is the tourist thing to eat in Forth Worth, but I don't know why you would when there's so much *good* food (and Joe T's is fun with a group but would be a sad place to go alone).
posted by Lyn Never at 11:41 AM on November 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Café Brazil for crepes, omelettes, and coffee. Mia's for Tex Mex. La Madeleine for tomato basil soup. Chocolate Secrets for chocolate. Taco Diner for margaritas. Yummmm.
posted by neushoorn at 11:48 AM on November 9, 2011
posted by neushoorn at 11:48 AM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: A day at the art museums in Ft. Worth (I suggest Modern + Kimball) plus some barbecue or Mexican can't really be beat.
I'd also suggest a wander around the Bishop Arts district- I can't name specific places, but you'll luckily be visiting when Dallas weather makes walking around actually somewhat pleasant, as opposed to something to be endured, so explore! If you like looking at cool houses, go drive around Kessler Park (in the Oak Cliff area as well). Watch the sun set over White Rock Lake!
posted by MadamM at 11:52 AM on November 9, 2011
I'd also suggest a wander around the Bishop Arts district- I can't name specific places, but you'll luckily be visiting when Dallas weather makes walking around actually somewhat pleasant, as opposed to something to be endured, so explore! If you like looking at cool houses, go drive around Kessler Park (in the Oak Cliff area as well). Watch the sun set over White Rock Lake!
posted by MadamM at 11:52 AM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: Javier's is a great, not inexpensive restaurant close to Downtown Dallas. They serve one of the best dishes of all time...cheese stuffed filet with this crazy yummy brown cause over the top...here is the menu description. I try to go there for that dish whenever I get back there.
FILETE CANTINFLAS - 28.95 tenderloin beef filet thinly sliced, stuffed with Chihuahua cheese and seasoned butter, topped with a mild chile mulatto sauce and sliced avocado-served with rice and black beans
posted by murrey at 11:54 AM on November 9, 2011
FILETE CANTINFLAS - 28.95 tenderloin beef filet thinly sliced, stuffed with Chihuahua cheese and seasoned butter, topped with a mild chile mulatto sauce and sliced avocado-served with rice and black beans
posted by murrey at 11:54 AM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: We were just in Dallas for a weekend last month.
Dream Cafe was a little hidden gem for breakfast.
Smoke Restaurant (by the Belmont) was a real treat with gourmet, locally sourced regional cooking. Excellent cocktails if you're into that swanky mixology stuff.
And then my favorite hidden gem is this little museum of Geometric Art. The only one of its kind in the country.
And there's a regular arts market in Deep Ellum that's fun to peruse, a few blocks away from the farmers market.
posted by cross_impact at 11:54 AM on November 9, 2011
Dream Cafe was a little hidden gem for breakfast.
Smoke Restaurant (by the Belmont) was a real treat with gourmet, locally sourced regional cooking. Excellent cocktails if you're into that swanky mixology stuff.
And then my favorite hidden gem is this little museum of Geometric Art. The only one of its kind in the country.
And there's a regular arts market in Deep Ellum that's fun to peruse, a few blocks away from the farmers market.
posted by cross_impact at 11:54 AM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: I'm not interested in the Aquarium or Zoo, I can see those anywhere.
If you mean the publicly owned Dallas Aquarium, you're right. If you mean the Dallas World Aquarium, you are very, very, wrong my friend! This is a world-class aquarium. It's also a rainforest habitat. It has an amazing layout, gorgeous and happy animals, SLOTHS, pigmy marmosets, manatees, gorgeous tropical fish (of course) and octopi, playful river otters, butterflies and parrots flying all over the place... it is special. (I say this as someone who also recently visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Different aquariums, both amazing.) If you aren't into aquariums or animals, don't bother, but if you are, this place is worth the somewhat high admission. If you can go on a weekday, do that to avoid the weekend crowds.
Agree with others that the FW zoo is better than the Dallas one.
I lived in Dallas for over 10 years and didn't own a car in that time, so it's doable, but I wouldn't, like, recommend doing public transit for everything, it's just not great, and not really a fun way to spend vacation. If you're right near DART and going somewhere that's also right near DART, sure, but otherwise, probably not the best use of your time. If you're going to the Fort Worth museum district, that can be a fun trip to do on public transit. I would drive to the DART station, take the TRE to Fort Worth, and then the bus to where the Kimball and Fort Worth Modern are. You can read and relax on the TRE instead of dealing with the incredibly vast distance between Fort Worth and anything else (YMMV, I hated driving in Dallas, I kinda hate driving in general though). The Fort Worth Modern is a really excellent museum.
Also, a lot of people who haven't been to Texas before, or the South in general, don't get how BIG Dallas is. Dallas and Fort Worth get listed together because of DFW airport not because they're smushed together or anything, and they aren't even as close as, say, San Francisco and Oakland. They are giant, giant, sprawling cities that are more like dozens of huge suburbs rammed together. You can find nearly everything in them that you would in another city of the same size, plus more totally special stuff... but all of that is probably going to be over 5 miles apart.
I like The Cosmic Cafe a lot, but it's actually hilariously, delightfully Berkeley / hippie in its aesthetic, so coming from the Bay Area, that might not be as special :)
Since you like museums, do check out the Dallas Musuem of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. Both are world-class museums. I think you can get a pass that makes it cheaper if you go to both in the same day.
If you're looking for the "cool" part of Dallas, one of the big ones is on Greenville. It's kind of like Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, but not as dense. It's one of the few places where there's any concentration of shops, boutiques, consignment shops, non-chain stores of any significant number, an indie concert venue, fun restaurants, and bars.
If you're yearning for nature, the weather is pretty good there this time of year, and I like the Trinity River Audubon Center.
posted by fireflies at 12:14 PM on November 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
If you mean the publicly owned Dallas Aquarium, you're right. If you mean the Dallas World Aquarium, you are very, very, wrong my friend! This is a world-class aquarium. It's also a rainforest habitat. It has an amazing layout, gorgeous and happy animals, SLOTHS, pigmy marmosets, manatees, gorgeous tropical fish (of course) and octopi, playful river otters, butterflies and parrots flying all over the place... it is special. (I say this as someone who also recently visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Different aquariums, both amazing.) If you aren't into aquariums or animals, don't bother, but if you are, this place is worth the somewhat high admission. If you can go on a weekday, do that to avoid the weekend crowds.
Agree with others that the FW zoo is better than the Dallas one.
I lived in Dallas for over 10 years and didn't own a car in that time, so it's doable, but I wouldn't, like, recommend doing public transit for everything, it's just not great, and not really a fun way to spend vacation. If you're right near DART and going somewhere that's also right near DART, sure, but otherwise, probably not the best use of your time. If you're going to the Fort Worth museum district, that can be a fun trip to do on public transit. I would drive to the DART station, take the TRE to Fort Worth, and then the bus to where the Kimball and Fort Worth Modern are. You can read and relax on the TRE instead of dealing with the incredibly vast distance between Fort Worth and anything else (YMMV, I hated driving in Dallas, I kinda hate driving in general though). The Fort Worth Modern is a really excellent museum.
Also, a lot of people who haven't been to Texas before, or the South in general, don't get how BIG Dallas is. Dallas and Fort Worth get listed together because of DFW airport not because they're smushed together or anything, and they aren't even as close as, say, San Francisco and Oakland. They are giant, giant, sprawling cities that are more like dozens of huge suburbs rammed together. You can find nearly everything in them that you would in another city of the same size, plus more totally special stuff... but all of that is probably going to be over 5 miles apart.
I like The Cosmic Cafe a lot, but it's actually hilariously, delightfully Berkeley / hippie in its aesthetic, so coming from the Bay Area, that might not be as special :)
Since you like museums, do check out the Dallas Musuem of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. Both are world-class museums. I think you can get a pass that makes it cheaper if you go to both in the same day.
If you're looking for the "cool" part of Dallas, one of the big ones is on Greenville. It's kind of like Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, but not as dense. It's one of the few places where there's any concentration of shops, boutiques, consignment shops, non-chain stores of any significant number, an indie concert venue, fun restaurants, and bars.
If you're yearning for nature, the weather is pretty good there this time of year, and I like the Trinity River Audubon Center.
posted by fireflies at 12:14 PM on November 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Avila's brisket tacos are the best. It is this dude's childhood home that he runs as a restaurant now.
Tillman's Roadhouse is located int the Bishop Arts District -- which in itself is a nice place to visit. It is the La Reunion failed settlement on the south side of old Dallas. Tillman's is fancy roadhouse food and worth every penny. It is upscale, but not dressy and definitely unique. Cook some smores for dessert.
Fuel City is a gas station that has a taco stand. Buy some corn from a vendor on the way out... and eat on the picnic benches outside. Look at the donkey and longhorn while at it. It is now pretty well known, but 5 years ago it was a locals only place. It still has great tacos and is pretty chaotic and off the beaten path. Sometimes there is a mobile Tejano karaoke taking place in the parking lot and homeless zombies will slowly mob you.
...we mostly focus on food when we travel around. I miss those places since we have moved away from Dallas.
Fair Park -- Site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, Fair Park boasts the world’s largest collection of Art Deco exhibit buildings, art and sculpture. I think it is pretty underrated. It is a nice place to stroll around.
posted by LeanGreen at 12:15 PM on November 9, 2011
Tillman's Roadhouse is located int the Bishop Arts District -- which in itself is a nice place to visit. It is the La Reunion failed settlement on the south side of old Dallas. Tillman's is fancy roadhouse food and worth every penny. It is upscale, but not dressy and definitely unique. Cook some smores for dessert.
Fuel City is a gas station that has a taco stand. Buy some corn from a vendor on the way out... and eat on the picnic benches outside. Look at the donkey and longhorn while at it. It is now pretty well known, but 5 years ago it was a locals only place. It still has great tacos and is pretty chaotic and off the beaten path. Sometimes there is a mobile Tejano karaoke taking place in the parking lot and homeless zombies will slowly mob you.
...we mostly focus on food when we travel around. I miss those places since we have moved away from Dallas.
Fair Park -- Site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, Fair Park boasts the world’s largest collection of Art Deco exhibit buildings, art and sculpture. I think it is pretty underrated. It is a nice place to stroll around.
posted by LeanGreen at 12:15 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: The Medallion Center, at Northwest Highway and Skillman?
Buzzbrews is a good, cheap place to eat nearby.
Mockingbird Station and North Park Mall are near there also; I think they give you a good look into the true character and aspirations of Dallas. (Probably not especially FUN, if you don't like shopping, but possibly insightful.)
If you're going to be downtown at all, Fountain Place is a really neat building to walk around the outside of. They call it Fountain Place for a reason.
If you're going to be uptown at all, the McKinney Avenue trolley is kinda fun.
Paciugo Gelato has several locations and is definitely worth checking out.
Angry Dog in Deep Ellum has really, really good burgers.
Avoid 635 at all costs. Unless, of course, you want to spend your weekend stuck in traffic.
I agree that the following are cool and worth looking/eating at: the Nasher, Fair Park, Dream Cafe, Chocolate Secrets, Dallas Comedy House (but be careful in this area after dark), Dallas World Aquarium, Fort Worth Zoo.
posted by hishtafel at 12:30 PM on November 9, 2011
Buzzbrews is a good, cheap place to eat nearby.
Mockingbird Station and North Park Mall are near there also; I think they give you a good look into the true character and aspirations of Dallas. (Probably not especially FUN, if you don't like shopping, but possibly insightful.)
If you're going to be downtown at all, Fountain Place is a really neat building to walk around the outside of. They call it Fountain Place for a reason.
If you're going to be uptown at all, the McKinney Avenue trolley is kinda fun.
Paciugo Gelato has several locations and is definitely worth checking out.
Angry Dog in Deep Ellum has really, really good burgers.
Avoid 635 at all costs. Unless, of course, you want to spend your weekend stuck in traffic.
I agree that the following are cool and worth looking/eating at: the Nasher, Fair Park, Dream Cafe, Chocolate Secrets, Dallas Comedy House (but be careful in this area after dark), Dallas World Aquarium, Fort Worth Zoo.
posted by hishtafel at 12:30 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: I stumbled onto the Phillip Johnson designed Fort Worth Water Garden. If you do make it into Fort Worth it's a very interesting sensory experience. It's right across from the Texas and Pacific train station (itself an art-deco masterpiece) which the is the terminal for the weirdly cute train that runs between Dallas and Ft. Worth.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 12:33 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by Cold Lurkey at 12:33 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: You guys are truly fantastic. Thank you for taking the time to recommend a plethora of amazing options. Now I have to carefully pick & choose what I can cram in. I'm totally willing to be wrong about the Aquarium & Zoo, but those feel like all day exhausting adventures to me, so maybe next time.
I've decided I have to fit in the Kimball (OMG Caravaggio Exhibit!), Museum of Geometric Art, The Dallas Comedy House (prefaced by a burger @ Angry Dog) if I can muster the courage to go alone, heh -- Sundance Square, plus Fuel City & Avila's for tacos at some point. Oh, and the Arts Market, Fountain Square and The Audbon Center sounds like a lovely place to visit too.
I also appreciate the travel advice: Stay off of 635; stuff is further apart than I think. Check.
I plan to check this page for the closet yummy thing when I'm getting on hungry so I know I'll have excellent meals. Thank you all so much.
posted by trixare4kids at 1:13 PM on November 9, 2011
I've decided I have to fit in the Kimball (OMG Caravaggio Exhibit!), Museum of Geometric Art, The Dallas Comedy House (prefaced by a burger @ Angry Dog) if I can muster the courage to go alone, heh -- Sundance Square, plus Fuel City & Avila's for tacos at some point. Oh, and the Arts Market, Fountain Square and The Audbon Center sounds like a lovely place to visit too.
I also appreciate the travel advice: Stay off of 635; stuff is further apart than I think. Check.
I plan to check this page for the closet yummy thing when I'm getting on hungry so I know I'll have excellent meals. Thank you all so much.
posted by trixare4kids at 1:13 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: Let me suggest Il Cane Rosso for some good Neopolitan Style Pizza.
posted by holdkris99 at 1:54 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by holdkris99 at 1:54 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: Angelo's on White Settlement Rd. is one of those places that people will argue for being the Best Barbecue In The World, and it's not far from the museums.
posted by cmoj at 6:15 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by cmoj at 6:15 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: I'll throw out two more Kalachandjs restaurant. The food is good solid vegetarian. The draw is the attached temple that WILL take you to another world. Be there when worship happens to see the whole temple.
The second is King Spa & Sauna. Another other worldly place to wash your troubles away. It's a Korean style bathhouse. Ala "Spirited Away". This place is my hands down favorite to spend time at. You'll see old men being bathed by their grandsons. Whole famlies will spend the night there. Both these are other cultures transplanted to Texas.
If you want to see the caricature of a Dallasite go hang out at North Park Mall.
posted by Pecantree at 8:16 PM on November 9, 2011
The second is King Spa & Sauna. Another other worldly place to wash your troubles away. It's a Korean style bathhouse. Ala "Spirited Away". This place is my hands down favorite to spend time at. You'll see old men being bathed by their grandsons. Whole famlies will spend the night there. Both these are other cultures transplanted to Texas.
If you want to see the caricature of a Dallasite go hang out at North Park Mall.
posted by Pecantree at 8:16 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: Whatever you do, avoid driving on I-30 in Arlington during the middle of the day on Sunday. The Cowboys are playing a noon local time home game against the Bills, and traffic is going to be rough. Hell, traffic may not be terribly great on Friday evening or Saturday on that stretch of I-30, since there are going to be high school football playoff games at Jerry World.
Fort Worth - Kincaid's - It's a hamburger joint. The original location is still there on Camp Bowie, just north of I-30.
Arlington - Bigote's - It's a mom & pop Mexican place. It's on Abram street just west of New York avenue. They have an all you can eat lunch special of enchiladas, tacos, chalupas, rice & beans. That has been dangerous for me, because it's very easy to stuff yourself so much that you have a hard time focusing at work afterwards.
Bedford - Alwadi Cafe - If you like Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants, this is a great place. BYOB. It's on Brown Trail just south of Harwood road.
I'd like to second the person who said try Greenville avenue. There are lots of good places to eat & drink. If you like music stores, there's a place called Good Records on Greenville.
Beyond that, I'd say pick up a copy of the Dallas Observer or Fort Worth Weekly, flip through, and find a restaurant or event that sounds intriguing.
posted by AMSBoethius at 9:58 PM on November 9, 2011
Fort Worth - Kincaid's - It's a hamburger joint. The original location is still there on Camp Bowie, just north of I-30.
Arlington - Bigote's - It's a mom & pop Mexican place. It's on Abram street just west of New York avenue. They have an all you can eat lunch special of enchiladas, tacos, chalupas, rice & beans. That has been dangerous for me, because it's very easy to stuff yourself so much that you have a hard time focusing at work afterwards.
Bedford - Alwadi Cafe - If you like Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants, this is a great place. BYOB. It's on Brown Trail just south of Harwood road.
I'd like to second the person who said try Greenville avenue. There are lots of good places to eat & drink. If you like music stores, there's a place called Good Records on Greenville.
Beyond that, I'd say pick up a copy of the Dallas Observer or Fort Worth Weekly, flip through, and find a restaurant or event that sounds intriguing.
posted by AMSBoethius at 9:58 PM on November 9, 2011
Best answer: Mama's Daughter's Diner - I'm partial to the Irving Blvd location, which is just off of downtown Dallas (This is another area to be careful of after dark). This would be a good place for breakfast or lunch when you are checking out the 6th floor museum.
posted by lootie777 at 12:43 AM on November 10, 2011
posted by lootie777 at 12:43 AM on November 10, 2011
Best answer: Another really good breakfast place is the All Good Cafe located in Deep Ellum.
Seconding the Amon Carter, one of my favorite places.
I'm really curious what you end up seeing and what your perceptions are of the area.
posted by Pecantree at 5:53 PM on November 10, 2011
Seconding the Amon Carter, one of my favorite places.
I'm really curious what you end up seeing and what your perceptions are of the area.
posted by Pecantree at 5:53 PM on November 10, 2011
Best answer: There's a $5 (cash) parking lot directly across the street from the Dallas Comedy House (and next door to the building with Angry Dog in it). There's about 4 very polite people who walk up and down the sidewalk there asking for money and are used to "no, sorry", and there's also pretty much always patrons of the various restaurants standing outside smoking and/or waiting for tables, so you're unlikely to ever be alone.
If you decide you're burned out and just want to go see a movie, find a Movie Tavern or Studio Movie Grill. Food and booze and comfy chairs. There's also an Angelika at Mockingbird station for any arthouse/indie film needs.
And this is the alt-weekly, you might take a quick look to see if there's anything extra special going on you don't want to miss.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:36 AM on November 11, 2011
If you decide you're burned out and just want to go see a movie, find a Movie Tavern or Studio Movie Grill. Food and booze and comfy chairs. There's also an Angelika at Mockingbird station for any arthouse/indie film needs.
And this is the alt-weekly, you might take a quick look to see if there's anything extra special going on you don't want to miss.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:36 AM on November 11, 2011
Response by poster: had a marvelous, whirlwind, and as it turned out, mostly ON the beaten path tour of Dallas/Ft. Worth area - but what a wonderful beaten path it was. I know this is long, skip whatever you like. The short report: The weather was damn perfect, Super friendly people everywhere I went; world-class art, some damn fine food (with a few misses).
Day One - Arrived @ my host's place in the late afternoon, got to my event "A Conversation with Stephen King" at the Majestic Theatre. I was one of the very lucky ones to score a ticket to the meet and greet reception beforehand. So I, along with 99 other people got our pictures and a polite word or two. He was very personable and handled the crowd with grace and a lot of wit. The talk was just OK, but I'm glad I got to go and meet the man who's been scaring the hell out of me since I was 7 and read Carrie. The Majestic Theatre is a jewel - I love old theatres and this one has been well taken care of and/or restored. Beautiful! Also Downtown was very clean and orderly. A long way from the nasty scrabble of Downtown Oakland.
The Press Box: (not recommended by anyone here) Patooey! I went here with some folks I'd met at the reception. The young waitresses were very inexperienced. It wasn't crowded, but they were always off somewhere smoking a cigarette or hanging out in the backroom. I had to go to the bar twice to get a drink because she hasn't showed up for 20 minutes. She also handed hot plates across 6 people instead of going around the table. Weird. I made the mistake of ordering fish & chips - I hadn't eaten since 6am and it was going on 9pm. The "fish" was a flat, hard thing - seriously overdone like a hockey puck. Took one bite, sent it back, and she was shocked, confused & just said "oh" and looked at me with a "WTF is YOUR problem?" expression instead of "I'm sorry, can I bring your something else?" So didn't bother ordering anything else. After taking my plate back to the kitchen, she had a very obvious, sour-faced, whispered conversation with another waitress where she pointed me out and they both stared at me. The only unfriendly/nasty person I ran into on my entire trip. I can count on one hand the number of times I left no tip. This was one of them. I stopped at a gas station and grabbed some chips in desperation.
Day Two
My hostess came with me to Ft. Worth, so that was nice to have some company.
Barbecs - (my hostess said I needed to eat here). Greasy spoon, with edible, but very greasy food. My eggs were swimming in grease - like they poured in on after plating or something. Heh. I tried the biscuits which were more like slightly sweet, fluffy rolls to me, but they were delicious, hot and tasted fresh. Half a biscuit with butter & a little honey was plenty. The gravy was from a can or mix, alas, and tasted like flour & chemicals. Overall, typical Diner fare - wouldn't be a favorite spot but you know, OK for a diner, I suppose.
Modern Art - First of all, what a stunning piece of architecture - I love the way the building flows into the looking pond and the balance of soft/watery with concrete & steel. Positively Delightful. There is a huge Debenkorn exhibit right now - that was wonderful to see.
Kimball - Carraviago - I feel so damn lucky that I came to Texas at the right time. That was a truly amazing experience. Oh the light, the expressions, the translucent, ethereal skin, the stories the paintings told, oh, oh.. I just couldn't get enough. True Masters. If I did nothing else in the area, that would have been worth it. The permanent collection at the Kimball is also terrific.
Amon Center - I didn't stay as long at the Amon center, but I enjoyed it very much; there's a great photography exhibit right now. I think most of my brain was still back at the Kimball and I still felt immersed in the deliciousness Carraviago & His Followers, so everything else seemed.. muted by comparison. I'd like to give the Amon Center another go with a fresher brain.
Ft. Worth Water Gardens - We drove down to the Ft. Worth Water Gardens. It was getting on toward evening, but the weather was still perfect and it wasn't even crowded. There were 3 different girls all dolled up for their quincenera pictures & a bride and groom taking pictures also. I enjoyed the various installations and thought was a unique, interesting spot it was. It was nice to sit quietly, listen/watch the water and let the days' art wash over my brain. A perfect way to end a long day of art. I loved it & glad I got to see it.
Joe T. Garcias: Exhausted with a brain full of art, we went to Joe. T. Garcia's for dinner. That places is HUGE! The service as super fast & friendly. The weather was gorgeous so we sat outside on the patio by the fountain & tried both the the Enchiladas/Tacos AND the Fajitas. Way too much food, whoops. We could have easily split one entree and still have leftovers. Everything was delicious and it was very nice experience over all.
Day 3 - By Myself
Dream Cafe for Breakfast just about the moment the opened. It was a little tricky to find, but I finally got it. Yum, yum, yum! I had the Austin Taco Breakfast or something like that - Whole Wheat Tortillas with eggs, bacon, potatoes and some kind of yummy something sauce on top. It came with black beans & brown rice. Yummy! It was terrific way to start a very long day: Delicious flavor, but not too over the top for breakfast. The meat, eggs & potatoes were soft, moist and flavorful - a nice blend of flavors too - nothing was too sharp or over bearing. I can be a slow eater & I had the nicest waitress EVER here who kept not just refilling my coffee, but bringing me a fresh cup - and I never felt the slightest bit rushed. She cheerfully offered a "to go" cup of coffee when I was ready to leave. Big tip? Hell yeah, ya'll. This would be my go-to breakfast spot if I lived in the area.
JFK Memorial & Dealy Plaza, followed by the 6th Floor Museum. I went to see the JFK memorial wandered about Dealy plaza for a bit. Then headed right over to the 6th floor museum when it opened. I have to say it was the only low point on my trip. The museum was nothing more than pictures blown on up card stock, some videos and a few timelines. Meh. It's honestly an overblown, tourist trap & I felt silly and exploitative in a way. I actually felt kinda dirty when I left there. Plus I hated the "NO PHOTOGRAPHY" thing they had over all the windows that overlooked the street where JFK was shot. Screw that, I took a few anyway.
Red Courthouse Museum - the building is amazing & the museum was an interesting way to learn about some history & culture of the Dallas area, since I knew basically zip before I stepped in the building. I think I would have also enjoyed the architectural tour they give on some days, but I wasn't there at the right day/time.
Sonny Bryan's -- Wandered around that section for a town, just soaking it all then, and realized I was ready for lunch so I picked the nearest BBQ place, Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse. I got some $13 plate that came with 2 meats and a side. I picked brisket (perfectly done, delicious) and pork ribs (ugh!). The ribs had to have been made the day before and sat around for a long time. They were really dry - like sat under a heat lamp for 12 hours kind of dry, almost to the point of jerky/complete dehydration for a big part of it - completely inedible by ANY standards. Sent them back and got some more brisket instead. OK potato salad, but nothing to write home about.
The Nasher - I'm not a big sculpture person so I expected to take no more than a cursory glance & walk-through but wow.. I was honestly very, very impressed - gorgeous, clean, serene, powerful, textural, extraordinary space & art. The garden and perfectly spaced sculptures were brilliant. I spent a long time here and I'm well & truly glad I got to see it. I might have skipped over it were it not recommend here.
The Crow Collection - A big portion of it was closed off for a wedding, but it was free so I can't complain too much. I particularly enjoyed the tiny snuff containers & the current animation exhibition by Qiu Anxiong. I was enthralled by her two ethereal, sometimes dark, surreal pieces, watching each from beginning to end.
Fuel City - At the Crow Collection, I started up a conversation with a very nice couple from some other city in Texas and we talked for a long while. I told them I'd heard of this great little taco stand and we ended up meeting there for dinner. They were an older, friendly couple and just as nice as can be. They grew up in Texas, raised horses & were fascinating and interesting to converse with. They weren't stuffy at all and were totally game to go to a gas station that had tacos. So we met at Fuel City. My god! The tacos! I'm still dreaming of the tacos. Maybe the best, most authentic tacos I've had in a long, long while, if ever. Authentic, bursting with flavor, fresh, perfectly cooked meats, and oh-so-cheap. Probably my favorite meal of the entire weekend. Got some corn and we sat outside as recommended to gobble everything up. I wish I had room for more. I wish I could have gone back. I will think fondly of those tacos for a long time. I parted ways with the couple, but not before they extracted promises that I was to come back to Texas to visit them. I know they were just being friendly, but it was a nice, random connection.
McKinney Area - It was getting on dark now, but it was still too early to go home. My hostess was lovely but my head was too full and I didn't feel like being social yet so I looked up what was playing at nearby theatres and decided on Herzog's "Into the Abyss" (BTW, I tend to love Herzog but this one didn't hit the mark - wait for DVD.) I wanted to see something at the Angelika Film Center that someone here recommended, but the timing wasn't right. Based on what they were showing, the Angelika would be THE place I went to see movies if I lived in Dallas, though. The McKinney theatre was on the other side of downtown from Fuel City, but the timing was right and someone recommended I see that area. I got there with a bit of time to wander around and see the shops & the hopping night life. I loved that there was a trolley ala San Francisco! Felt like a bit of home.
Day 4 -
Cafe Brazil for breakfast - I liked the coffee bar, friendly folks. I had a great omlette and pretty terrible crepes. The omlette was cooked perfectly with lots of fresh-tasting ingredients. The crepes came completely drowned in creme fraiche and fruit sauce. Someone should teach them that less is more. The creme fraiche was very yellow, super watery and just didn't taste that good or that fresh. I think it was canned or powered or something. The fruit sauce was too sticky sweet and there was far too much of it. Had I known, I would have asked for them plain. I'd certainly go back for the omelettes and other offerings, though.
Dallas Museum - Back to the arts district to catch the opening day of Jean Paul Gaultier couture show. I'm not a fashionista but I enjoyed it very much. They were trying to make it all "elctro/techno" & projected faces that talked & looked around onto some of the manikins and personally I found it incredibly creepy and awful - but the couture itself was sublime up close and personal. After that, I toured through the early century art as well as the Reeves collection and then my feet and brain just gave out all at once. I was, how do you say.. KAPUT. Overload. I'd love to go back to the Dallas museum and spend the day there, I'm sad I didn't get to see everything. I found out afterward that the Gaultier show hits San Francisco next, doh! I would have skipped it and spent more time in the permanent collection.
Avila's -- I was going to go to the King Spa for a few hours, but I chickened out. That's the kind of thing I think I need to do with someone "in the know" the first time. I was feeling tired & insecure. Instead, I opted for more food. I drove over to Avila's, had some truly wonderful, wonderful brisket tacos - smokey, moist, delicious - with all the fixings. I want to come back here and try other things too! mmmm! I then headed for the airport a little early. Turned in the rental car, found a quiet corner to sit and indulge in some reading before my flight.
I read somewhere that DFW is the 8th busiest airport in the world -- and yet security took all of 5 minutes. SFO on the other hand was more like 35. I'm not sure, but I think DFW had more security stations. Other airports could do right by themselves by studying DFW.
A little something about the people of Dallas/Ft.Worth - DAMN NICE. Seriously, Everyone was so warm & gracious. Every time I stopped to ask for direction or just made general chit chat (I tend to talk to strangers) everyone was incredibly receptive, friendly & helpful.
All in all, I had a great trip - and you helped make that happen. I kept this paged bookmarked on my phone & checked it frequently. I loved having options & suggestions as I figured out where to go or eat next. A sincere thanks to all of you for taking the time to make so many wonderful suggestions, I wish I could have gotten to them all. I hope I get to come back and check out some more.
posted by trixare4kids at 3:10 PM on November 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
Day One - Arrived @ my host's place in the late afternoon, got to my event "A Conversation with Stephen King" at the Majestic Theatre. I was one of the very lucky ones to score a ticket to the meet and greet reception beforehand. So I, along with 99 other people got our pictures and a polite word or two. He was very personable and handled the crowd with grace and a lot of wit. The talk was just OK, but I'm glad I got to go and meet the man who's been scaring the hell out of me since I was 7 and read Carrie. The Majestic Theatre is a jewel - I love old theatres and this one has been well taken care of and/or restored. Beautiful! Also Downtown was very clean and orderly. A long way from the nasty scrabble of Downtown Oakland.
The Press Box: (not recommended by anyone here) Patooey! I went here with some folks I'd met at the reception. The young waitresses were very inexperienced. It wasn't crowded, but they were always off somewhere smoking a cigarette or hanging out in the backroom. I had to go to the bar twice to get a drink because she hasn't showed up for 20 minutes. She also handed hot plates across 6 people instead of going around the table. Weird. I made the mistake of ordering fish & chips - I hadn't eaten since 6am and it was going on 9pm. The "fish" was a flat, hard thing - seriously overdone like a hockey puck. Took one bite, sent it back, and she was shocked, confused & just said "oh" and looked at me with a "WTF is YOUR problem?" expression instead of "I'm sorry, can I bring your something else?" So didn't bother ordering anything else. After taking my plate back to the kitchen, she had a very obvious, sour-faced, whispered conversation with another waitress where she pointed me out and they both stared at me. The only unfriendly/nasty person I ran into on my entire trip. I can count on one hand the number of times I left no tip. This was one of them. I stopped at a gas station and grabbed some chips in desperation.
Day Two
My hostess came with me to Ft. Worth, so that was nice to have some company.
Barbecs - (my hostess said I needed to eat here). Greasy spoon, with edible, but very greasy food. My eggs were swimming in grease - like they poured in on after plating or something. Heh. I tried the biscuits which were more like slightly sweet, fluffy rolls to me, but they were delicious, hot and tasted fresh. Half a biscuit with butter & a little honey was plenty. The gravy was from a can or mix, alas, and tasted like flour & chemicals. Overall, typical Diner fare - wouldn't be a favorite spot but you know, OK for a diner, I suppose.
Modern Art - First of all, what a stunning piece of architecture - I love the way the building flows into the looking pond and the balance of soft/watery with concrete & steel. Positively Delightful. There is a huge Debenkorn exhibit right now - that was wonderful to see.
Kimball - Carraviago - I feel so damn lucky that I came to Texas at the right time. That was a truly amazing experience. Oh the light, the expressions, the translucent, ethereal skin, the stories the paintings told, oh, oh.. I just couldn't get enough. True Masters. If I did nothing else in the area, that would have been worth it. The permanent collection at the Kimball is also terrific.
Amon Center - I didn't stay as long at the Amon center, but I enjoyed it very much; there's a great photography exhibit right now. I think most of my brain was still back at the Kimball and I still felt immersed in the deliciousness Carraviago & His Followers, so everything else seemed.. muted by comparison. I'd like to give the Amon Center another go with a fresher brain.
Ft. Worth Water Gardens - We drove down to the Ft. Worth Water Gardens. It was getting on toward evening, but the weather was still perfect and it wasn't even crowded. There were 3 different girls all dolled up for their quincenera pictures & a bride and groom taking pictures also. I enjoyed the various installations and thought was a unique, interesting spot it was. It was nice to sit quietly, listen/watch the water and let the days' art wash over my brain. A perfect way to end a long day of art. I loved it & glad I got to see it.
Joe T. Garcias: Exhausted with a brain full of art, we went to Joe. T. Garcia's for dinner. That places is HUGE! The service as super fast & friendly. The weather was gorgeous so we sat outside on the patio by the fountain & tried both the the Enchiladas/Tacos AND the Fajitas. Way too much food, whoops. We could have easily split one entree and still have leftovers. Everything was delicious and it was very nice experience over all.
Day 3 - By Myself
Dream Cafe for Breakfast just about the moment the opened. It was a little tricky to find, but I finally got it. Yum, yum, yum! I had the Austin Taco Breakfast or something like that - Whole Wheat Tortillas with eggs, bacon, potatoes and some kind of yummy something sauce on top. It came with black beans & brown rice. Yummy! It was terrific way to start a very long day: Delicious flavor, but not too over the top for breakfast. The meat, eggs & potatoes were soft, moist and flavorful - a nice blend of flavors too - nothing was too sharp or over bearing. I can be a slow eater & I had the nicest waitress EVER here who kept not just refilling my coffee, but bringing me a fresh cup - and I never felt the slightest bit rushed. She cheerfully offered a "to go" cup of coffee when I was ready to leave. Big tip? Hell yeah, ya'll. This would be my go-to breakfast spot if I lived in the area.
JFK Memorial & Dealy Plaza, followed by the 6th Floor Museum. I went to see the JFK memorial wandered about Dealy plaza for a bit. Then headed right over to the 6th floor museum when it opened. I have to say it was the only low point on my trip. The museum was nothing more than pictures blown on up card stock, some videos and a few timelines. Meh. It's honestly an overblown, tourist trap & I felt silly and exploitative in a way. I actually felt kinda dirty when I left there. Plus I hated the "NO PHOTOGRAPHY" thing they had over all the windows that overlooked the street where JFK was shot. Screw that, I took a few anyway.
Red Courthouse Museum - the building is amazing & the museum was an interesting way to learn about some history & culture of the Dallas area, since I knew basically zip before I stepped in the building. I think I would have also enjoyed the architectural tour they give on some days, but I wasn't there at the right day/time.
Sonny Bryan's -- Wandered around that section for a town, just soaking it all then, and realized I was ready for lunch so I picked the nearest BBQ place, Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse. I got some $13 plate that came with 2 meats and a side. I picked brisket (perfectly done, delicious) and pork ribs (ugh!). The ribs had to have been made the day before and sat around for a long time. They were really dry - like sat under a heat lamp for 12 hours kind of dry, almost to the point of jerky/complete dehydration for a big part of it - completely inedible by ANY standards. Sent them back and got some more brisket instead. OK potato salad, but nothing to write home about.
The Nasher - I'm not a big sculpture person so I expected to take no more than a cursory glance & walk-through but wow.. I was honestly very, very impressed - gorgeous, clean, serene, powerful, textural, extraordinary space & art. The garden and perfectly spaced sculptures were brilliant. I spent a long time here and I'm well & truly glad I got to see it. I might have skipped over it were it not recommend here.
The Crow Collection - A big portion of it was closed off for a wedding, but it was free so I can't complain too much. I particularly enjoyed the tiny snuff containers & the current animation exhibition by Qiu Anxiong. I was enthralled by her two ethereal, sometimes dark, surreal pieces, watching each from beginning to end.
Fuel City - At the Crow Collection, I started up a conversation with a very nice couple from some other city in Texas and we talked for a long while. I told them I'd heard of this great little taco stand and we ended up meeting there for dinner. They were an older, friendly couple and just as nice as can be. They grew up in Texas, raised horses & were fascinating and interesting to converse with. They weren't stuffy at all and were totally game to go to a gas station that had tacos. So we met at Fuel City. My god! The tacos! I'm still dreaming of the tacos. Maybe the best, most authentic tacos I've had in a long, long while, if ever. Authentic, bursting with flavor, fresh, perfectly cooked meats, and oh-so-cheap. Probably my favorite meal of the entire weekend. Got some corn and we sat outside as recommended to gobble everything up. I wish I had room for more. I wish I could have gone back. I will think fondly of those tacos for a long time. I parted ways with the couple, but not before they extracted promises that I was to come back to Texas to visit them. I know they were just being friendly, but it was a nice, random connection.
McKinney Area - It was getting on dark now, but it was still too early to go home. My hostess was lovely but my head was too full and I didn't feel like being social yet so I looked up what was playing at nearby theatres and decided on Herzog's "Into the Abyss" (BTW, I tend to love Herzog but this one didn't hit the mark - wait for DVD.) I wanted to see something at the Angelika Film Center that someone here recommended, but the timing wasn't right. Based on what they were showing, the Angelika would be THE place I went to see movies if I lived in Dallas, though. The McKinney theatre was on the other side of downtown from Fuel City, but the timing was right and someone recommended I see that area. I got there with a bit of time to wander around and see the shops & the hopping night life. I loved that there was a trolley ala San Francisco! Felt like a bit of home.
Day 4 -
Cafe Brazil for breakfast - I liked the coffee bar, friendly folks. I had a great omlette and pretty terrible crepes. The omlette was cooked perfectly with lots of fresh-tasting ingredients. The crepes came completely drowned in creme fraiche and fruit sauce. Someone should teach them that less is more. The creme fraiche was very yellow, super watery and just didn't taste that good or that fresh. I think it was canned or powered or something. The fruit sauce was too sticky sweet and there was far too much of it. Had I known, I would have asked for them plain. I'd certainly go back for the omelettes and other offerings, though.
Dallas Museum - Back to the arts district to catch the opening day of Jean Paul Gaultier couture show. I'm not a fashionista but I enjoyed it very much. They were trying to make it all "elctro/techno" & projected faces that talked & looked around onto some of the manikins and personally I found it incredibly creepy and awful - but the couture itself was sublime up close and personal. After that, I toured through the early century art as well as the Reeves collection and then my feet and brain just gave out all at once. I was, how do you say.. KAPUT. Overload. I'd love to go back to the Dallas museum and spend the day there, I'm sad I didn't get to see everything. I found out afterward that the Gaultier show hits San Francisco next, doh! I would have skipped it and spent more time in the permanent collection.
Avila's -- I was going to go to the King Spa for a few hours, but I chickened out. That's the kind of thing I think I need to do with someone "in the know" the first time. I was feeling tired & insecure. Instead, I opted for more food. I drove over to Avila's, had some truly wonderful, wonderful brisket tacos - smokey, moist, delicious - with all the fixings. I want to come back here and try other things too! mmmm! I then headed for the airport a little early. Turned in the rental car, found a quiet corner to sit and indulge in some reading before my flight.
I read somewhere that DFW is the 8th busiest airport in the world -- and yet security took all of 5 minutes. SFO on the other hand was more like 35. I'm not sure, but I think DFW had more security stations. Other airports could do right by themselves by studying DFW.
A little something about the people of Dallas/Ft.Worth - DAMN NICE. Seriously, Everyone was so warm & gracious. Every time I stopped to ask for direction or just made general chit chat (I tend to talk to strangers) everyone was incredibly receptive, friendly & helpful.
All in all, I had a great trip - and you helped make that happen. I kept this paged bookmarked on my phone & checked it frequently. I loved having options & suggestions as I figured out where to go or eat next. A sincere thanks to all of you for taking the time to make so many wonderful suggestions, I wish I could have gotten to them all. I hope I get to come back and check out some more.
posted by trixare4kids at 3:10 PM on November 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
What to see, do and eat off the beaten path?
Don't eat anything off of paths at the zoo.
posted by resurrexit at 11:35 AM on November 9, 2011