Unique Places in Dallas

If you know where to go there is great, live Texas music that can be enjoyed every night without fighting a large crowd or commercialization. For a $8-12 cover you can go to a number of restaurant/bars and sit 10 feet from the stage and enjoy authentic music. Some of the best places are Love and War in Texas in Plano and Grapevine, Hanks Grill in McKinney, Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, the Granada in Dallas (more of a theater), the Kessler in Oak Cliff, Woody's Tavern in Ft. Worth (Billy Bobs is big and crowded but fun, too), there are 2 or 3 places in the stock yards with live music like Thirsty Armadillo and White Elephant Saloon, Last Chance Saloon in Plano, Poor David's Pub in Dallas. These are where local people go to enjoy genuine Texas music (mix of country, southern rock, blues - also called Americana music). A lot of local artist from DFW and also Austin/San Antonio play here. Pull up the restaurant/bar website to see who's playing; listen to the artist's music on itunes/myspace and pick someone you like and catch their show while you're in town. You won't regret it.

Bend Studio is a yoga studio located at 5014 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75205. What is less known is that on Friday and Saturday evenings, they host concerts, part of their Intimate Concert series. Seating less than 85 people, it offers a venue for you to get close to the artist and enjoy music in a unique, intimate, barefoot, and non-smoking listening environment.

It is BYOB (no hard liquor) with a $3-$4/person corkage fee. Non-alcoholic drinks are for sale.

If you go to see Cary Pierce play, I'll be there.

Grapevine: This small town has vineyards, wineries and other cool shops and botiques. I'd head over here if you have time.

Las Colinas: It has a great mustang monument, and it also has relaxing canals with gondolas. A very romantic place to take a date.

White Rock Lake: The best kept secret in Dallas. A beautiful lake that is very scenic, with fountains, monuments and much more.

The Studios at Las Colinas: If you are a film buff, it's fun to come over here and tour the facilities.

Roanoke: A small town that has Babe's Chicken, a local eatery that I highly recommend checking out.

Addison: This up and coming area is fast becoming one of Dallas' premiere nightlife areas. There are many cool cafes, clubs and restaurants around here to visit.

Benbrook Lake: Near Fort Worth, this beautiful lake has horseback riding, and is a fun place to see boaters and fishermen.

Well any JFK assassination supporter will know the significance of this theatre. This was where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured in 1963 after he assassinated President Kennedy. Apparently Oswald felt like seeing a movie after the assassination but he didn't want to pay for it, so he just walked right on into the theatre. The teller called the police and 12 squad cars arrived within minutes to arrest him.

In 1965 the owners tried to modernise and covered the elaborate walls with stucco. The Oak Cliff foundation bought the theatre in 2001 and began proper renovations.

Address: 231 W Jefferson Street, Oak Cliff.

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On my visit to Dallas in 1997, the bus stopped by these houses. I've always been fascinated by Victorian architecture, so I wanted to come back here, but I didn't know where is was or what it was called.

The two blocks are entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Historical Sign for the Wilson Block says:

"Swiss native Jacob Nussbaumer, a colonist in the Pioneer La Reunion settlement of the Dallas area, purchased this land prior to the Civil War. In 1898, his wife Dorothea and children sold it to her niece Henrietta Frichot Wilson (1864-1953), the daughter of La Reunion settlers.

"Henrietta and her husband Frederick P. Wilson (1863-1923) built their residence at this site in 1899 and later constructed six additional homes as rental property. Together the houses were the center of a residential area known as the Wilson block of Swiss Avenue. The neighborhood was the home of many early Dallas leaders, including Charles D. Hill, who became one of the area's prominent architects, and Dr. Theodore L E,. Arnold, an early Dallas ophthamologist whos son Charles pioneered in microphotography.
"The various architectural styles represented in the hostoric Wilson Block reflect Victorian and Queen Anne influences. The homes feature similarities in composition, including frame construction, clapboard siding, decorative shingle patterns, gabled roofs and intricate ornamentation.

"Today the Wilson Block serves as a reminder of Dallas' rich heritage and early development."

The Historical Sign for the Beilharz Block says:

"The Beilharz Block is named after Theodore Beilharz, an early settler who built the Beilharz House and carriage house located at 2800 Swiss Avenue. Mrs. Beilharz was a sister to Mrs. Frederick Wilson, whose house anchors the Wilson Block. All the other structures on this block were built between 1887 - 1901 within a mile of the site and were moved and restored by the Meadows Foundation in 1984 - 1985 to serve as offices for non-profit community organization."

For a fun night out, go to The Rose Room. It is located inside of what use to be The Village Station. It is a female impersonation show. It is so much fun! The guys look great (I need to take hair and make up tips from them). Be sure to bring plenty of $1 bills to tip the singers.

Go to the original Half Price Books on E. Northwest Hwy. (just east of Central Expressway, you can see the sign as you whizz by.) It's huge, it's cheap, and it's not Barnes and Noble. Inventory? No, they don't have one of those. This is a treasure hunt, that's where the fun lies. They buy used books all day long and you never know what you'll find. There are also a lot of new books at half price - look at the display tables for these. This place is just amazing, I've spent entire days in there shopping and finding tons of bargains. It's also an ecologically sound company that takes an active interest in the community and its employees, so you can spend your money there and feel good about it. You can't buy anything off the website but it usually has some interesting tidbits posted on it.

Every New Year's Eve, to celebrate the following day's football game, the Cotton Bowl organization throws a parade which features 20 of the best high school bands in the country. Also, the two college bands and the Kilgore College Rangerettes are a big draw.

This parade marches the Fair Park complex, right off Grand Ave. and 2nd Ave.

3pm New Year's Eve, Admission is free, however parking is $8 per car.