Tell me something about Dallas, TX

"New York Sun editor Charles Dana, tired of hearing Chicagoans boast of the world's Columbian Exposition, dubbed Chicago the "Windy City."

Flower Mound is northwest of Dallas, actually in Denton County, I think. It's kind of a shithole - imagine combining white-flight suburbia will rural rednecks. Count yourself lucky if there is a TGI Friday's.

If you can actually get into Dallas, I'd recommend: Sonny Bryan's Barbecue (unless you're vegetarian); almost any non-chain Mexican food place; Bubba's in University Park; Campisi's Egyptian Lounge; the Sixth Floor Museum (Kennedy Assassination Museum); and Bill's Records, which is an excellent record store. Addresses for these can easily be googled, I'd imagine.

Windy City

Popular myth has it that this nickname for the Chicago was coined by Charles Dana, the editor of the New York Sun, in 1893. Chicago was competing with New York to host the 1893 Columbian Exposition and Dana allegedly coined the name as a derogatory moniker. Supposedly the term is not a reference to the winds off Lake Michigan as one might suppose, but rather refers to the Chicagoan habit of rabid boosterism and shameless boasting. To a New Yorker like Dana, Chicago was full of hot air.

The story simply isn't true. The name dates to at least 1885, and clearly refers to the breezes off the lake. 1885 references include "city of winds" as well as "Windy City." This isn't new information either. Mathew's Dictionary of Americanisms, published some 50 years ago, includes an 1887 quotation of "Windy City, but the myth persists--largely due to newspaper reporters and editors who repeat the tale without checking the facts."

http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorw.htm

And there's a Straight Dope article about it, too, where Cecil contends that the "hot air" myth might be part of the reason the name stuck, but is not its origin. I can't get that site to load right now, but check it out later.

Of course people are going to be talking more about Chicago.

http://www.kcbi.org/images/State%20Fair%2003%20Big%20Tex%20Vertical%20web.jpg

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990917.html

This one is mostly about both "Big Apple" and "Windy City," the earliest reference to the latter being traced back to 1877, about 20 years before the "hot air" comment.

And then there's this, just for kicks.

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_054.html

FITE!

Dallas is not ugly at all. If anything, it can be a tad "generic metropolitan area", as it was designed not in the style of Chicago or New York, with lots of old buildings and a vibrant downtown feel, but spread out and uncluttered.

I don't think Houston is uglier than Dallas, or prettier, or better or worse.

There are quirkier places on Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum and the Oak Lawn area (just north of downtown). Restaurants and shopping are things Dallas is not lacking. What we're lacking is really that old city personality, and the fact that for art and culture, Dallas can't really compete with the NYC/Chicago/San Frans of the world. We're trying!

Dallas does have Good Records, a good store by Deep Ellum.

and Bill's Records, which has several copies of every single record you could ever want, only at post-eBay prices.

I hear Denton has nice parts.

The only strong memories I have of Dallas are of the area around the Starplex (I think it's called Smirnoff) Amphitheater, which I was told is sorta centrally located. Unfortunately, that area of the city didn't seem to be particularly friendly or safe and the only fond memory of my stay there that wasn't concert-related or didn't have anything to do with how refreshingly yummy it was to take a cold shower after being in 105-degree heat all day was my experience with dining at Furr's Cafeteria, which is a bit like the very best Luby's Cafeterias, but with more flavor in the food.

Oh yeah, and I also remember the bus station. Whoo! ;)

Argharghargh. I meant, I think it's called Smirnoff now!

we're actually staying in Keller which seems to be at the point of a triangle between d and fw.

Wha? No, there isn't!

So there's this mayoral race.

(And this was worth reviving just to see the combination "Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II)" on the New Answers page.)

Oh, Assasination City. . .

Ed Oakley is a massive, massive scumbag.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-06-14/news/no-doze/

Providence's metro population is only like 1/3 of Dallas. Lame article

http://eater.com/archives/2010/04/29/innout-burger-does-dallas.php

congrats texas

All I know about Dallas is that it is full of Dallasers, or Dallasinians, or Dallasites, or whatever they get called. Which, purely coincidentally, also leads me to wonder whether Paris is full of Parisites?

I think they prefer to be called 'american tourists'

can't decide if dfw or houston is worst of texas major cities

Houston, definitely.

yeah but houston rap >>> dallas rap

so no one has anything to recommend to do in Dallas? Aside from eat Mexican food?

Well you COULD have gone to the Super Bowl. But you can still.. hang out in malls and stuff. Damn, I was born and lived half my life there and still drawing a blank.

Google the "Arts District" downtown, there's quite a bit. Haven't been there in 6 years so I'm not up on what's new. Guidelive.com will have info on goings-on, restaurant news/reviews etc.

For bars, almost anything in Lakewood. My favorite burger ever is at Adair's, a pretty legit honky tonk in Deep Ellum. (otherwise, avoid deep ellum)

What are some good Tex-Mex places in Dallas / Fort Worth? I'm thinking of going there next week, b/c it's not so far away & I've never been & I could use some Tex-Mex.

For good Tex-Mex just find an authentic looking Taqueria and eat there.

Bishop Arts is the newest gentrifying area of Dallas - galleries, etc. It really wants to be Austin
Deep Ellum has a mini-resurgence going on. It's been years since any skinheads have beaten random passers-by half to death!
Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculture Center are nice.

sweet, sounds like I can't miss!

any thoughts on the Fort Worth Zoo or on the either of the Dallas Aquariums (Aquaria?) I'd be coming with kids so aside from eating Tex-Mex 2/3/4 times a day, I'll have to think of other things to do (Dallas Museum of Art def. on the list, looks like a great place)

A couple of great quotes:

"Y'all take it easy now--this isn't Dallas, it's Nashville." (Haven Hamilton/Henry Gibson, Nashville)

"Oh Dallas, you're just too much. Texas, your enthusiasm is just overwhelming. It's real king-size." (David Johansen, Dolls Live: Dallas '74)

I imagine they're of no practical value to you or your kids.

Ft Worth Zoo is better than Dallas. If you go to that side of the Metroplex, skip the DMA and hit the FW Museum District - The Modern, Amon Carter and Kimbell are within a half block of each other (University Drive, about two miles north of I-30), and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (very kid-friendly, with an Omni Max Theatre) is just west of them on Montgomery Street.

Should be able to see the regular collection of each museum without an admission fee, to boot. The Kimbell's best works are 15th-19th century European paintings, the Amon Carter has a great photography and print collection, the Modern is mostly mid-late 20th century stuff in a gorgeous (but kind of austere) building.

Thanks! That sounds great.

tex mex:

upscaley: Javier's (knox & 75), Luna de Noche (Northpark Mall)
sceney: Mi Cocina (Highland Park Village)
best: Ojedas (Maple ave), Cafe san Miguel (henderson), Mia's (Lemmon), Herrera's (Oak Lawn)

Personal fave: Tupinamba's (Inwood Rd). Tupy Tacos are the best food ever.

My rec for you is Cafe San Miguel, great food, great Dallas location

My rec for you is Cafe San Miguel Mi Cocina, great food, great Dallas location

sorry meant Mi Cocina. Which is not a snob's choice, I just think it's a very solid small chain with a good atmosphere and good drinks and very good food.

Cafe san Miguel is a little more hole-in-the wall in an hispanic nabe

Just found out I'll be moving to Dallas in a month or so. I know squat - haven't even been to visit yet. My wife has, and got a job she really wanted so away we go.

Any neighborhoods we should look at, any to avoid, places to go or not? Anything at all would be of great help.

The Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff is gentrifying with some cool bars/etc. But the line between gentrifying and not at all is pretty narrow.
Uptown has the good movie theaters, bars, etc. but it's yuppie as hell.

Honestly, though, it's Dallas. You're going to be driving everywhere, so neighborhood isn't of prime import.

Thanks milo! I think many of my wife's soon to be co-workers are Uptown residents. At least, that's the only area I've heard mentioned from them so far.

I'm out past the suburbs in my current locale so driving everywhere is pretty normal for me. I hope I can do a little less of it in Dallas, even if it's just a good watering hole and some decent food options nearby.

A house in uptown will be pricey (and it probably wouldn't technically be 'Uptown' - the boundaries of Dallas 'hoods confuse me), but there are a ton of lofts/apartments in that area.

Dallas as a whole feels kind of lame, but it's huge, so there are a lot of decent bars hidden around and quite a bit of non-chain good food.

If you know anyone in Dallas/Fort Worth, keep them in mind right now - two huge tornados approaching both cities from the south. Scary.

Scary scenes around DFW. No reported fatalities yet, by major damage.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/13/us/dallas-police-headquarters-shooting/index.html

(6 further packages found, they just said on CNN)

I'm not following this live - it's just "we don't know anything but let's talk about with our experts who don't know anything either"

So I just found out I’ll be going to a conference in Ft Worth in April. I’ll probably take an extra night there cuz it’s unlikely I’ll ever return & might as well see it.

Any suggestions for good record stores or — even better — neighbourhoods with a smattering of good record / book shops that are reasonably fun to walk around in? I’m particularly into 45s right now if there’s a place that’s got a good selection.

I haven’t really been there since COVID but that was Near Southside - not really an organic neighborhood but bars, nicer restaurants, small shops. Basically across the highway from downtown.

Doc’s was the best record store but it’s moved twice since I was buying records I’m not sure if the current iteration is still good.