Articles about Dallas Must-Do List
The Dallas Must-Do List: The Galaxy Drive-In
The Galaxy Drive-In is a welcome sight on an empty stretch of I-45.
We were almost to Ennis by the time my friend started getting antsy.
“Have you ever seen Jeepers Creepers?” she asked me. “Because I don’t wanna get Jeeper Creepered.”
I haven’t seen it, but I know what she’s getting at. We were heading south to catch a Sunday night movie at the Galaxy Drive-In (to accomplish my ninth of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do), and the rural access road that we’d just turned onto was especially empty at the moment. Not that Ennis is some bayou backcountry where the purtiness of your mouth is a common conversation topic. It’s just that it was dusk, and we’ve both seen more scary movies than is psychologically healthy.
But as I learned, hitting that countrified stretch of I-45 just means you’re getting close. Because a minute later, the Galaxy’s flashing roadside marquee came into view, with four massive, white rectangles – which turned out to be the theater’s four screens – just beyond it.
Nothing at the Galaxy is new. The buildings are small and dated, and most things could stand a touch of paint. But there’s something intrinsically nostalgic about going to a drive-in theater in the first place, so the wear and tear just adds a 60s-era charm. (more…)
The Dallas Must-Do List: Ride a Mechanical Bull
Katie masters the beast.
When I learned that the youngest mechanical bull rider at Gilley’s was 15 months old, and the oldest 93 years, I had no choice but to accept the mechanical bull riding challenge and in doing so complete my 13th of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do.
In stepping up to the wooden booth where Jeremy, the mechanical bull operator, twisted, turned, and pulled the shiny levers, I was greeted with a startling question. “So what will it be today: Bubbles, Cupcake, or Whiplash?” I felt my gut sink. Whiplash? Definitely not. “Bubbles, please,” I replied nervously as I beheld this three-names-in-one creature.
Gilley’s is just one corner of the venue. Next door sits the Palladium Ballroom, Southside Music Hall, and The Loft. To get there, I had exited the music area where a band was playing something old in a new way — very trendy these days — and strode onto the patio. The dark crisscross caging combined with the black iron chandeliers, antique hanging lights, wooden table tops with barrel bases, and scarred wooden paneling creates a rustic atmosphere that momentarily gave me the feeling of being in the 1956 movie Giant. If only James Dean would have appeared…
I am snapped from my daydream by Jeremy’s orders to “step up and sign your life away,” pointing to the release form pinned down to an old clipboard. (more…)
Dallas Must-Do List: Trinity River Audubon Center
TRAC keeps the tours kid-friendly.
After dining at Jimmy’s recently, I’ve done seven out of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do. This past weekend, I took on the task of completing my eighth: Explore the Trinity River Audubon Center.
Because I was babysitting Sunday afternoon, I thought that bringing the kids to TRAC would be the perfect activity for us to do. And I was right. After some initial confusion about where exactly the place is located, we finally drove down a dirt road into the 120-acre reserve and hopped out of the car. (more…)
The Dallas Must-Do List: The Potter’s House
The Bishop delivers his message.
After greeting the troops last week, I’d done seven of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do. In tackling my eighth — attending a service at the Potter’s House — I was forced to do something I’d rarely done before.
I actually showed up early for church. I’m not talking crazy early — I could count the spare minutes on one hand — but seriously, arriving at church early might be a first in my long-standing family tradition of religious tardiness. So I was patting myself on the back for punctuality on Sunday as I turned onto Kiest Boulevard, the road that leads to the Potter’s House.
Then, I had a revelation: a few minutes early isn’t enough minutes early.
The massive parking lot that surrounded T.D. Jakes’ megachurch was completely full. Fortunately, traffic cops were redirecting cars to an even bigger lot across the street, where there were still some open spots. We pulled in, parked, and then worked our way across a pedestrian bridge along with an eclectically clad group of worshippers. Some were wearing their Sunday best, though plenty had on jeans and t-shirts.
After we walked in, we settled into seats near the back of the lower floor. The choir was singing something ultra energetic. I can’t recall exactly what it was about — about Jesus, I’d guess — but I do distinctly remember one thing: It. Was. Awesome.
Dallas Must-Do List: Slide the NorthPark Planters
It's been a long time since Katie's had this much fun.
I can finally say that I’ve accomplished 12 of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do. My latest opponent was a brick planter outside of Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center, which doubles as a slide for kids. And, now, for D Magazine interns too.
Here’s what you need to know if you too have never participated in this rite of passage:
First, and most obviously, if you are over 4 feet tall, accomplishing this feat will be a challenge.
Secondly, you must leave your pride at home, at the office, in your car, or wherever you keep it, because this is not a very flattering undertaking.
Third, there was a mall cop watching me the entire time, and he just laughed. No worries about getting reprimanded. (more…)
Dallas Must-Do List: Welcome Home the Troops
Our fighting men and women get a warm welcome home at DFW.
It sounds like a tagline from a Ford commercial:
“Welcome to America: The land of cold beer and warm women.”
In truth, it was the line of choice for a middle-aged man who spent last Thursday afternoon hanging out at DFW Airport. His name was Wolf, as near as I could tell. I say that because it was stitched onto the chest of his black Harley Davidson vest, a part of his ensemble that ceded focus only to the foot-tall Uncle Sam hat that rested on his head. Wolf was ultra-gregarious, chatting it up with everyone around him, though he wasn’t really there to make friends. He was there, at Terminal B, Gate 37, for the same reason as everyone else: to salute our men and women in uniform who were coming home from deployment for some R&R.
I’ve done six of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do, and I decided to do something for others when I crossed number seven off my list: welcome home the troops. By the time I made it to the gate a few minutes past 1 pm, there was already a collection of people waiting. It wasn’t a hulking crowd — maybe three dozen, by my count — but it seemed a solid turnout for the middle of a workday. Quite a few were there to greet a loved one. The rest were just there to show their gratitude. Everybody had an air of nervous energy about them. (more…)
The Dallas Must-Do List: Call in to KERA’s Anything You Ever Wanted to Know
After perusing our list of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do, I realized that I’ve accomplished maybe five. I’m still young, but getting no younger, so I figured I ought to start on number six: Calling in to KERA’s weekly Anything You Ever Wanted to Know.
No matter how hard I’ve tried over the years, I’ve always been a terrible prankster. Seriously, every prank I can ever remember doing has either failed or fizzled. A few real-life examples: As a kid, I ding-dong ditched my own family. I once tried to toilet paper a friend’s house with a lone roll of single-ply. The only crank call I ever attempted occurred in the early days of caller ID. It ended with my “victim” calling back and yelling at me.
So I had doubts that I’d be able to ask Jeff Whittington, host of Anything You Ever Wanted to Know, the significance of the big red “D” on the side of that building downtown at the corner of St. Paul and Ross without making it painfully obvious as to how hilarious I thought I was being (In case you don’t know, the big red “D” is for D Magazine).
Now, I fully admit that this might be the most innocuous, boring prank ever conceived, but there were two reasons I had to follow through with it.
Reason 1: D Magazine will never pass up a chance for free publicity.
Reason 2: I had nothing else.
Take the jump to find out what happened (plus hear the audio yourself.)
Inside the Nasher’s Balloon Room
A ray of light shines into the abyss.
On Friday, a few of us here at D were invited to take a swim through the Nasher’s new balloon room. Technically, it’s an installation by British artist Martin Creed. But really, the only thing you need to know is that there’s a room and it’s filled, floor to (almost) ceiling, with approximately 9,000 gold balloons. I couldn’t not try it.
After slithering in sideways to displace the least amount of balloons, I lasted about two minutes. The best way I can think to describe the whole bizarre experience is to ask you to imagine that you’re a caribou, plodding warily through some abnormally tall grass. You pause occasionally to eat some of the grass, but you’re on the alert for predators. And then all of a sudden the grass starts moving and there’s a tiger and you’re probably lunch meat. But it was kinda fun, until the rapid balloon movement whenever someone got close to me started to freak me out and I had an unfortunate encounter with a wall.
The Dallas Must-Do List: Sam Moon Shopping
Courtney found a place to camp out for awhile.
Moving right along, I’ve now done 5 of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do. The next item on my list: Mix it up at Sam Moon.
Sam Moon is no joking matter. I know I’ve heard people talk about how big it is and how much stuff it has to offer, but — WOW — even I was impressed. Being an avid shopper at Forever 21 stores all across the area, I thought I was going to be prepared for the hectic, jam-packed ways of Sam Moon. I was wrong.
The store’s flagship location in Dallas has purses, earrings, necklaces, rings, luggage, and as if that weren’t enough, an entire section on faux hair. A security guard sits at the front and monitors what seems like thousands of women packing the inside of this mega store.
Although a little overpowering at first glance, the store is actually (somewhat) organized by large hanging signs clarifying what section you are in. It’s easy to get confused when first walking in, but after the initial anxiety wears off, it’s really not too bad.
A crucial part of the Sam Moon shopping experience (more…)
The Dallas-Must Do List: Cinnamon Roll at Mecca
D Magazine intern Katie Minchew checked the list of Things Every Dallasite Must Do and discovered she’d accomplished on 10 in her lifetime. To remedy this situation, she’s tackled one of the more delicious challenges: enjoying a cinnamon roll at the Mecca restaurant. It turned out to be slightly more difficult that she’d imagined. Read about it on SideDish.
The Dallas Must-Do List: Eat CFS at Babe’s
D Magazine intern Courtney Foreman felt like she just didn’t have her life quite together, having completed only four items of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do. So she’s set out to change that: starting with some chicken-fried steak.
The Dallas Must-Do List: Prove You’re a Local
The cover story of the April issue of D Magazine invites you to take stock of your existence. Are you fully leading the life you’ve always imagined? You’re in Dallas, Texas. Have you embraced that fact and taken advantage of all that this city has to offer?
By checking how many of the Things Every Dallasite Must Do you have accomplished, you’ll learn whether you’ve earned the right to call yourself a local. In other words, you’ll discover whether you’re well on your way to a life filled with passion and happiness, or if you’re stuck in a rut.
We make this guarantee: As you check off the items from the list, taking on experiences you’ve never imagined before, you’ll feel better about yourself. And you’ll feel better about Dallas. You’ll find that you never again complain about the city’s lack of nearby mountains or beaches. You’ll be a more fully realized human being.
And we’ve made it easy to view these items on your smartphone. When you visit DMagazine.com on your phone’s browser, you’ll find a button that takes you right to the list. Then…. (more…)
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