DEEP ELLUM, Dallas

The Gypsy Tea Room is a well known favourite in the Dallas area and was voted 2000 Best of Dallas Scenes, by the Dallas Observer. No matter what kind of music you like, Gypsy provides it. The Ballroom is a 10,000 sqft area with room for up to 200 guests in banquet style, or up to 700+ in reception style. The Tea Room entrance is on Elm Street and The Ballroom entrance is on Main Street.

This is 2-in-1 club--at least on Saturday nights. One portion is techno music and other part is pop/hip-hop music. This club is kind of a mixture between a nighbar out on the lounge and the Addam's family house...if that makes any sense. Anyway, it's a cool club.

Dress Code: Well, they seem to allow anything from casual to pants and sneakers.

Although I haven't been to all of the hotspots in the D/FW (yet), Club Blue is very high on my list. The girls that show up at this club are just...caliente (esp. the "Latin" nights and the "Asian" nights)! The DJs play a decent spin, and the dance floor is huge. If you find a good bartender the drinks will be pretty good. Basically, if you're young and want to show out, this is definitely one of the places to do it in D-Town.

One thing to keep in mind though...they're starting to frisk everyone before they enter the club, and that's never a good sign.

Dress Code: As far as I could tell, the dress code is casual. No jeans, sneakers, jerseys, etc. As with most places catered towards young people, the good looking women get in free and can wear dang near anything (or very little) as long as it's done in a tasteful manner.

A very unusual place....it's a hookah bar, as the name suggests. In case you don't know what a hookah is, it is a device that acts as a pipe so that you can smoke tobacco from it. It is a popular way to smoke in the middle eastern countries. Anyway, you can get a hookah and your choice of tobacco for $10. The whole place is decorated as to resemble a tent with seating available only on the floor with big cushions and pillows strewn everywhere. Even the DJ is sitting on some pillows as he spins great mellow house music and acid jazz. They also have a full bar and kitchen so there's something for everyone!

Dress Code: Whatever your heart desires, except for shorts and flip flops, I'm sure.

I've never actually been to any of the Deep Ellum Film Festival screenings, but the friends of mine who have been enjoyed the festivities. I know that Sandra Bullock has shown up a couple of years as well as other folks like Bill Paxton when he had his directorial debut of Frailty. Dallas has amazing independent film support with not only groups like this one but an ever-growing number of independent film theaters such as The Angelika, Magnolia, Inwood, etc.

Deep Ellum Film Festival (DE/F2)
Now in its fifth year, the Deep Ellum Film Festival is Texas’ fastest growing film event and the premier independent film festival in Dallas. DE/F2 is unique in its mission of promoting the art of filmmaking while supporting the ongoing battle with cancer.

The USA Film Festival also takes place each year in Dallas. It's scheduled for April 22-29th, 2004. I've been to some of their screenings last year and it really is a cool experience to see a movie and then sit for a question and answer session with the director as is sometimes scheduled. It's fascinating to be that close to the creativity and to deconstruct the film into what it actually took to make it.

Tree's has been a favorite venue of mine for awhile. I guess I was more fond of it a few years ago when I was still in college, but I still don't pass up acts I want to see there.

It is a rather smokey joint with a decent sound set-up. It's one of those places that make you feel involved with the musicians. Another bonus is that I'd say about 80% of the time, you get the opportunity to meet the bands after the show. Just wait out around their bus until the crowd disperses and they'll usually come out and hobnob, chat, take photos, sign autographs, etc.

A few of the bands I've seen and met in Deep Ellum include:

Powderfinger (from Australia)
David Gray (From Wales)
Sister Hazel (US)
Kasey Chambers (from Australia)
30 Seconds to Mars (US)

Dress Code: * Hours are normally 8:30 - 1:00 On Weekdays (unless otherwise noted). 9:00 - 2:00 Fri and Sat
* Trees is open Wed. thru Sat., but will open Sun, Mon, and Tue for special events.
* You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
* You must be 21+ to drink (NO EXCEPTIONS, it's the law).
* You must have a valid (real) Drivers License to enter.
* We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
* The Trees box office opens at 9:00 pm and does not sell hard tickets
* Tickets for select Trees shows are avaliable at , Good Records 214-7524663, CD World 214-826-1885, any Albertson's in Texas or by calling Star Tickets at 888-597-7827. Some other show tickets are available at most Ticketmaster outlets.

Dallas is an amazing place for some small cozy live music venue's. Some of my favorite's are in Deep Ellum. It's kind of a younger area, but when good music is involved, age is no object. It's also become a little more ghetto-ish in the last year or so, but it seems the police are trying to crack down and maintain a safe atmosphere there.

Keep in mind, this hasn't kept me from eating or seeing shows in the area. There is usually a large police presence during the busy hours there and the only situation I might feel uneasy in is if I parked down a dark secluded alley-way somewhere and had to hike to the clubs.

Deep Ellum boasts not only some of the greatest small music venue's such as Gypsy Tea Room, but also events such as The Deep Ellum Art's Festival and The Deep Ellum Film Festival which draws a hip crowd each year. Also, some of the coolest lofts and apartment's in Dallas can be found in this area.

Dress Code: Interesting historical information:

Deep Ellum is an entertainment and arts district on Elm Street east of downtown Dallas in Dallas County. The area was settled as a "freedmens' town" by former slaves after the Civil War; its location on Elm Street, just east of the Houston and Texas Central tracks near the depot, was too far from downtown Dallas to be desirable. The area was called Deep Elm or, as early residents pronounced it, "Deep Ellum."

This information was found on found @ http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/DD/hpd1.html

Deep Ellum is the arts and entertainment area of Dallas. It was a former warehouse district and many of the buildings have been transformed into loft apartments and night clubs.

Many famous jazz and blues musicians have played in this neighbourhood since the 1920's which music was introduced here. It was also at one time a red light district and many murders took place around the nightclubs. It is a lot safer of course these days but like anywhere, precautions should always be taken.