dallas? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

roachboy · 10-30-2006, 05:47 PM

i'll be in dallas from 9-12 november for a conference. a big conference. lots of people, lots of panels. any suggestions about stuff to do that is not a big conference with lots of panels and lots of people?

jorgelito · 10-30-2006, 06:08 PM

Do you like football? There may be a home game in Dallas and I bet that a Cowboys game would be something else. And besides, seeing how you're from Philly, you could go just to boo T.O.

If that's no good, then just stay locked inside your hotel room and start a bunch of threads on TFP.

Deltona Couple · 10-31-2006, 05:38 AM

I think I can give you better advice if you give us a range of interests. Hard to advise people of what to do otherwise. Do you like dining? entertainment? sports? clubbing? Adult entertainment? Give me something to go on, and I can probably get you where you want to go.

filtherton · 10-31-2006, 08:20 AM

I've only been to the greyhound station, and let me tell you, it was a blast. Between attempted shake-downs by militant pan-handlers to some guy telling me that my red hair reminded him of a 14 year old girl he turned out i couldn't figure our why anyone wouldn't want to be at the dallas greyhound station all of the time.

roachboy · 10-31-2006, 08:29 AM

i think this conference thing is going to be pretty busy---lots of film people running around some hotel complex near the aerodrome---so what i would like to do really is (a) maybe meet some tfpheads if any live in the area and (b) if there are experimental music venues in the city, maybe check one or two out or (c) check out museyrooms and/or galleries. mostly (a) tho.

the bus station sounds suitably ambiguous as experiences go.
i am not entirely sure that my schedule will permit such ambiguity hunting, but it is nice to know where i might find it should the desire for ambiguity overwhelm me and sometimes it does.
this because it is hard to know when the desire for ambiguity will come over you. i keep my trusty mp3 recorder handy for just such occaisons except when i do not. so i am and am not like an ambiguous boy scout.

Deltona Couple · 10-31-2006, 09:30 AM

Downtown Dallas has a LOT to offer the music and art aficianado. The Dalas Art Museum is a WONDERFUL place to visit, and from there you can find many of the small clubs catering to the outcoming music artists. Being at the Aerodome? I know it has been a few years since I have been there, but not sure if you are talking about near the Superdome, or Dallas cowboys stadium?

Elphaba · 10-31-2006, 10:20 AM

I haven't lived in the DFW area since the early '90's so don't give to much credence to my recommendations. Jazz Alley was an excellent venue for a wide range of musical genre. There were also a number of small jazz clubs that were not so "tourist" driven.

At the time, the Deep Ellem area hosted most of the art gallaries. This link might be helpful:
http://www.10best.com/Dallas/Shoppin...ies/index.html

I hope you enjoy your visit.

jorgelito · 10-31-2006, 12:14 PM

Elph, you're awesome....for a radical moderate.....

roachboy · 10-31-2006, 05:10 PM

i am still a bit confused about where i am staying, actually--it is near the main airport for the city.
so i'll probably be away from most interesting stuff, but an expedition would be good.
and i will no doubt need to flee so that i can continue to act like a nice person.
everyone has a finite amount of nice.
it requires maintenance.

tropicdiver · 10-31-2006, 05:35 PM

Well, I just moved from that Godforsaken Hellhole of a city named Dallas a month ago, so I prolly know a thing or two to do in Dallas.

If you're based around D/FW airport, your run into dowtown Dallas is about 40 or so minutes, if the Traffic Gods are smiling on you (downtown Ft. Worth is about the same distance, also).

Deep Ellum is a hip music scene in Dallas. It is pretty much dead during the day, but does come to life once the nite falls. You can park your car down there and walk around. <b> Keep in mind that Dallas has been ranked as one of the top five cities for crime, so pay attention to your surroundings. </b>

As previously mentioned, the Dallas Art Museum is very nice. Also, the Dallas Aquarium (downtown, not the one at Fair Park) is <b> very good </b> to go and hang out and it's less than a 10 minute walk from the West End of Dallas, which is a great place to walk around and kill a couple of hours (just 2 blocks north of where Kennedy was assassinated, too, if you want to soak up some history, while down there). A bit north and east of downtown at the Dallas Arboretum they are having an ultimate tree house exposition, while you're there, if you are into architecturally designed tree houses. It is rather neat.

Don't rule out Ft. Worth. It is a safer town to visit and is the same distance away from D/FW airport. You could go to Billy Bob's and hang out and also catch a rodeo at the Stockyards just about any Friday or Saturday nite. Going to this area of Ft. Worth is like hanging out at the West End in Dallas, just a bit more countryfied.

Hope this helps.

Elphaba · 10-31-2006, 05:37 PM

The airport is midway between Fort Worth and Dallas and there is little of interest in the area that I remember. Your hotel will likely have shuttles to either city.

Oops...Tropic beat my post, and has much more recent experience in the *joys* of the D/FW area. (I never left anything behind that would cause me to go back there.) Billy Bob's is a kick, if you need a drastic antidote to the convention attendees, and the Stockyard's shops offer unusual purchase opportunities. You can buy those bull balls for that special someone, for example.

I am trying to imagine you wearing a Stetson and riding the mechanical bull.

Deltona Couple · 11-01-2006, 05:17 AM

He had mentioned that he was going to be at the main airport for the city. Although I DO agree that is is most likely DFW, remember that Dallas has its own airport, Love Field. Some people get that preception that the main airport for Dallas is Love Field. So it IS important to know which one. Love Field is close to TONS of Dallas nightlife locations.

roachboy · 11-01-2006, 10:07 AM

thanks folks....very useful information.

it is d/fw airport, not love field that i'll be near.
i suspected it is in the middle of nowhere from the emails i have been getting. i have not been to texas before--any of it---whence the confusion.

strange that i forgot about the kennedy assasination--if i walk the site, i will get to feel like i am walking around in a jg ballard novel, which could be interesting. i think that would be an experience optimized by a hallucinogen--and it is only in the context of trippping that i could imagine riding an urban cowboy mechanical bull thing.

getting a fabulous hat is always an option---but so far i have not been persuaded of the fabulousness of a stetson. i expect this is situational. but maybe not.

now going to a rodeo is another matter...i think that would give my ambiguity hunting side material to work on for months.

Gatorade Frost · 11-01-2006, 03:24 PM

Yeah, I'll put in my agreement about Dallas and Deep Ellem (Gypsy Tea Room and the Gypsy Ball Room is where I end up with the music scene). Also, I'll toss in agreement that the Dallas World Aquarium is phenomenal - I actually went for the first time in 15 years this last summer and it blew me away.

hunnychile · 11-02-2006, 05:56 AM

Yes, Deep Ellum is the area I used to frequent when I lived in Dallas many years ago. There are many clubs on Greenville Avenue that start at Deep elllem near downtown and go north towards Richardson. The farther north you go the more sedate & boring the clubs get due to suburbia/blue laws etc. I lived in Turtle Creek for a bit and that's a fun area, too. Half gay, half artsy, half 5 star restaurants, half jazz clubs and boutiques. If you love fine food, try The Mansion on Turtle Creek or go to Star Canyon. Both are amazing & famous for their recipes and menu selections. Be aware that downtown can be slow and quiet after midnight. The rest of the fun in in Addison near the Galleria.

If you can get Cowboy tickets, go to see a game. Watching the crowd there is worth the laugh IMHO. Big hair, big jewels and big egos....and thats just in the cheap seats!

Deltona Couple · 11-02-2006, 08:00 AM

I gotta add as far as restaurants go, if you like a nice steak...you need to hit "restaurant row" right of I-35, on the FAR North side of Dallas. Stop by a place called "Traildust Steakhouse" best steak you will EVER eat, plus live entertainment on weekends. Here is a map of their locations. http://www.traildust.com/Locations.htm#dallas

hunnychile · 11-02-2006, 08:10 AM

I concur...Traildust Steakhouse has great steaks! Good music and nice bar, too.

roachboy · 11-02-2006, 05:17 PM

excellent. thanks.

and here is something i found--this is either among the best or the worst (depending on your view of such things) podcast/streams of cheesy french pop music i have heard in a while.

http://www.bide-et-musique.com/song/5470.html

the page is about a really bad song i was looking for....the netradio interface doo dah is at the bottom.

the stream is like.....um....irony calethenics, say.
enjoy.

stevo · 11-03-2006, 09:14 AM

There's a bass pro shops right near DFW airport. I could spend days in a bass pro shops. you can look a fishing gear, boats, fish, guns, shoot guns. theres also a restaurant thats pretty good. other than that, when I go to dallas I just visit my folks in plano. I have been to the aquarium though, that was nice.

Glory's Sun · 11-03-2006, 02:04 PM

The only place that I really like going to in Dallas is the Lizard Lounge.. great Dj's and hot chicks.

I prefer Fort Worth over Dallas.

tropicdiver · 11-03-2006, 07:24 PM

The Dallas Cowboys will be playing away.

jth · 11-04-2006, 10:27 AM

Yeah, I say go to the Dallas Museum of the Arts. It's really a special place.

Dallas has all sorts of great clubs and places to eat as well as some nice parks and things like that. It is a rough city though as mentioned. Some parts of the city I avoid as much as possible.

Lots of beautiful women as well.

greytone · 11-06-2006, 02:53 AM

If you have never been to Texas you might find an interesting cultural experience by going to one of the big boot stores. I don't know if they still do this, but back in the 80's you could free beer and BBQ. It was always fun to see people passed out on their 19th birthday by 3pm wearing $500 ostrich boots.

10-30-2006, 05:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	dallas? i'll be in dallas from 9-12 november for a conference. a big conference. lots of people, lots of panels. any suggestions about stuff to do that is not a big conference with lots of panels and lots of people? __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

10-31-2006, 05:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	I think I can give you better advice if you give us a range of interests. Hard to advise people of what to do otherwise. Do you like dining? entertainment? sports? clubbing? Adult entertainment? Give me something to go on, and I can probably get you where you want to go. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

10-31-2006, 08:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	i think this conference thing is going to be pretty busy---lots of film people running around some hotel complex near the aerodrome---so what i would like to do really is (a) maybe meet some tfpheads if any live in the area and (b) if there are experimental music venues in the city, maybe check one or two out or (c) check out museyrooms and/or galleries. mostly (a) tho. the bus station sounds suitably ambiguous as experiences go. i am not entirely sure that my schedule will permit such ambiguity hunting, but it is nice to know where i might find it should the desire for ambiguity overwhelm me and sometimes it does. this because it is hard to know when the desire for ambiguity will come over you. i keep my trusty mp3 recorder handy for just such occaisons except when i do not. so i am and am not like an ambiguous boy scout. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

10-31-2006, 09:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	Downtown Dallas has a LOT to offer the music and art aficianado. The Dalas Art Museum is a WONDERFUL place to visit, and from there you can find many of the small clubs catering to the outcoming music artists. Being at the Aerodome? I know it has been a few years since I have been there, but not sure if you are talking about near the Superdome, or Dallas cowboys stadium? __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

10-31-2006, 05:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	i am still a bit confused about where i am staying, actually--it is near the main airport for the city. so i'll probably be away from most interesting stuff, but an expedition would be good. and i will no doubt need to flee so that i can continue to act like a nice person. everyone has a finite amount of nice. it requires maintenance. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

10-30-2006, 06:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Do you like football? There may be a home game in Dallas and I bet that a Cowboys game would be something else. And besides, seeing how you're from Philly, you could go just to boo T.O. If that's no good, then just stay locked inside your hotel room and start a bunch of threads on TFP.

10-31-2006, 08:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	I've only been to the greyhound station, and let me tell you, it was a blast. Between attempted shake-downs by militant pan-handlers to some guy telling me that my red hair reminded him of a 14 year old girl he turned out i couldn't figure our why anyone wouldn't want to be at the dallas greyhound station all of the time.

10-31-2006, 10:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	I haven't lived in the DFW area since the early '90's so don't give to much credence to my recommendations. Jazz Alley was an excellent venue for a wide range of musical genre. There were also a number of small jazz clubs that were not so "tourist" driven. At the time, the Deep Ellem area hosted most of the art gallaries. This link might be helpful: http://www.10best.com/Dallas/Shoppin...ies/index.html I hope you enjoy your visit.

10-31-2006, 12:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Elph, you're awesome....for a radical moderate.....

10-31-2006, 05:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
tropicdiver Amazed Location: Austin, Texas	Well, I just moved from that Godforsaken Hellhole of a city named Dallas a month ago, so I prolly know a thing or two to do in Dallas. If you're based around D/FW airport, your run into dowtown Dallas is about 40 or so minutes, if the Traffic Gods are smiling on you (downtown Ft. Worth is about the same distance, also). Deep Ellum is a hip music scene in Dallas. It is pretty much dead during the day, but does come to life once the nite falls. You can park your car down there and walk around. <b> Keep in mind that Dallas has been ranked as one of the top five cities for crime, so pay attention to your surroundings. </b> As previously mentioned, the Dallas Art Museum is very nice. Also, the Dallas Aquarium (downtown, not the one at Fair Park) is <b> very good </b> to go and hang out and it's less than a 10 minute walk from the West End of Dallas, which is a great place to walk around and kill a couple of hours (just 2 blocks north of where Kennedy was assassinated, too, if you want to soak up some history, while down there). A bit north and east of downtown at the Dallas Arboretum they are having an ultimate tree house exposition, while you're there, if you are into architecturally designed tree houses. It is rather neat. Don't rule out Ft. Worth. It is a safer town to visit and is the same distance away from D/FW airport. You could go to Billy Bob's and hang out and also catch a rodeo at the Stockyards just about any Friday or Saturday nite. Going to this area of Ft. Worth is like hanging out at the West End in Dallas, just a bit more countryfied. Hope this helps. __________________ Bob Life is short. Break some rules. Last edited by tropicdiver; 10-31-2006 at 05:42 PM..

10-31-2006, 05:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	The airport is midway between Fort Worth and Dallas and there is little of interest in the area that I remember. Your hotel will likely have shuttles to either city. Oops...Tropic beat my post, and has much more recent experience in the joys of the D/FW area. (I never left anything behind that would cause me to go back there.) Billy Bob's is a kick, if you need a drastic antidote to the convention attendees, and the Stockyard's shops offer unusual purchase opportunities. You can buy those bull balls for that special someone, for example. I am trying to imagine you wearing a Stetson and riding the mechanical bull. Last edited by Elphaba; 10-31-2006 at 06:07 PM..

11-01-2006, 05:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	He had mentioned that he was going to be at the main airport for the city. Although I DO agree that is is most likely DFW, remember that Dallas has its own airport, Love Field. Some people get that preception that the main airport for Dallas is Love Field. So it IS important to know which one. Love Field is close to TONS of Dallas nightlife locations. __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

11-01-2006, 10:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	thanks folks....very useful information. it is d/fw airport, not love field that i'll be near. i suspected it is in the middle of nowhere from the emails i have been getting. i have not been to texas before--any of it---whence the confusion. strange that i forgot about the kennedy assasination--if i walk the site, i will get to feel like i am walking around in a jg ballard novel, which could be interesting. i think that would be an experience optimized by a hallucinogen--and it is only in the context of trippping that i could imagine riding an urban cowboy mechanical bull thing. getting a fabulous hat is always an option---but so far i have not been persuaded of the fabulousness of a stetson. i expect this is situational. but maybe not. now going to a rodeo is another matter...i think that would give my ambiguity hunting side material to work on for months. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

11-01-2006, 03:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
Gatorade Frost Rookie	Yeah, I'll put in my agreement about Dallas and Deep Ellem (Gypsy Tea Room and the Gypsy Ball Room is where I end up with the music scene). Also, I'll toss in agreement that the Dallas World Aquarium is phenomenal - I actually went for the first time in 15 years this last summer and it blew me away. __________________ I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well." Emo Philips

11-02-2006, 05:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	Yes, Deep Ellum is the area I used to frequent when I lived in Dallas many years ago. There are many clubs on Greenville Avenue that start at Deep elllem near downtown and go north towards Richardson. The farther north you go the more sedate & boring the clubs get due to suburbia/blue laws etc. I lived in Turtle Creek for a bit and that's a fun area, too. Half gay, half artsy, half 5 star restaurants, half jazz clubs and boutiques. If you love fine food, try The Mansion on Turtle Creek or go to Star Canyon. Both are amazing & famous for their recipes and menu selections. Be aware that downtown can be slow and quiet after midnight. The rest of the fun in in Addison near the Galleria. If you can get Cowboy tickets, go to see a game. Watching the crowd there is worth the laugh IMHO. Big hair, big jewels and big egos....and thats just in the cheap seats! __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB Last edited by hunnychile; 11-02-2006 at 05:59 AM..

11-02-2006, 08:00 AM	#16 (permalink)
Deltona Couple Addict Location: Spring, Texas	I gotta add as far as restaurants go, if you like a nice steak...you need to hit "restaurant row" right of I-35, on the FAR North side of Dallas. Stop by a place called "Traildust Steakhouse" best steak you will EVER eat, plus live entertainment on weekends. Here is a map of their locations. http://www.traildust.com/Locations.htm#dallas __________________ "It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

11-02-2006, 08:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
hunnychile Alien Anthropologist Location: Between Boredom and Nirvana	I concur...Traildust Steakhouse has great steaks! Good music and nice bar, too. __________________ "I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

11-02-2006, 05:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	excellent. thanks. and here is something i found--this is either among the best or the worst (depending on your view of such things) podcast/streams of cheesy french pop music i have heard in a while. http://www.bide-et-musique.com/song/5470.html the page is about a really bad song i was looking for....the netradio interface doo dah is at the bottom. the stream is like.....um....irony calethenics, say. enjoy. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

11-03-2006, 09:14 AM	#19 (permalink)
stevo Rail Baron Location: Tallyfla	There's a bass pro shops right near DFW airport. I could spend days in a bass pro shops. you can look a fishing gear, boats, fish, guns, shoot guns. theres also a restaurant thats pretty good. other than that, when I go to dallas I just visit my folks in plano. I have been to the aquarium though, that was nice. __________________ "If I am such a genius why am I drunk, lost in the desert, with a bullet in my ass?" -Otto Mannkusser

11-03-2006, 02:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	The only place that I really like going to in Dallas is the Lizard Lounge.. great Dj's and hot chicks. I prefer Fort Worth over Dallas.

11-03-2006, 07:24 PM	#21 (permalink)
tropicdiver Amazed Location: Austin, Texas	The Dallas Cowboys will be playing away. __________________ Bob Life is short. Break some rules.

11-04-2006, 10:27 AM	#22 (permalink)
jth Insane Location: HRM	Yeah, I say go to the Dallas Museum of the Arts. It's really a special place. Dallas has all sorts of great clubs and places to eat as well as some nice parks and things like that. It is a rough city though as mentioned. Some parts of the city I avoid as much as possible. Lots of beautiful women as well. __________________ "A real leader faces the music, even if he doesn't like the tune." - unknown quote

11-06-2006, 02:53 AM	#23 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	If you have never been to Texas you might find an interesting cultural experience by going to one of the big boot stores. I don't know if they still do this, but back in the 80's you could free beer and BBQ. It was always fun to see people passed out on their 19th birthday by 3pm wearing $500 ostrich boots. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"