A friend and transplanted Californian recently commented to me that "Dallas is like a smaller, cleaner L.A. with less to do." I'm still trying to determine if his assessment was correct. Among those who haven't ventured to big D, stereotypes abound: 10-gallon hats, tumbleweeds, spurs ... longtime Dallasites have heard them all, and we still roll our eyes when we hear them. Granted, the ever-popular series "Dallas" didn't do much to discourage those images. If viewers took the series literally, they'd believe Dallas was the land of big hair, big oil wells and even bigger egos.

The truth is, Dallas is a mix of all of these images and much more. As with any other city, it's best to come on down, see for yourself and make your own judgment. Just don't come during the summer months unless intense heat is something you enjoy (temperatures here often linger in the triple digits from June through September).

Dallas is unlike many other major cities in the respect that a significant percentage of its attractions aren't within the downtown area. Actually, until recently, downtown Dallas didn't offer much at the end of a work day. Several major corporations were based here, perhaps out of principle more than anything else; these businesses wanted to portray a sense of connection to the pulse of Dallas by placing themselves downtown. But in reality, the pulse of Dallas left at the end of the work day with the commuters. That's all changing these days. Downtown Dallas has experienced a revival. The young and professional as well as the retired set are heading back downtown, both for the convenience and the excitement it offers. A number of historic buildings have been converted into loft apartments and are commanding high rents, which residents are paying without batting an eye. Average rents in Dallas range from $1 to $1.25 per square foot. Get out of city limits, and you'll find lower rents, although the suburbs are feeding the demand for luxury apartments, as well.

The city's Uptown neighborhood also has experienced a revival. This European-feeling area, lined with brick streets and traversed by a trolley, is filled with some of the most expensive rental properties in Dallas. Nevertheless, many properties are filled before they even open their doors, and waiting lists are common. Uptown is known for its chic eateries and retail shops, including a four-story ultramodern Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and the kitschy Knox Street Antique Mall. The beautiful people frequent Uptown bars like Palomino Euro Bistro, AquaKnox and Star Canyon. If nothing else, this is a heck of a place to people-watch. The interesting thing about Dallas is that your expectations may indeed be confirmed -- you'll spot an occasional cowboy hat and pair of boots -- but these more laid-back types are just part of a much larger and more diverse crowd.

Dallas is a shoppers' and eaters' paradise. You may wonder if we do anything else here. Sure we do, but only after we've shopped and eaten. Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York City. Consider, for example, the town of Addison, which is actually a section of far North Dallas. About 125 restaurants are situated within a five-square-mile radius in Addison. Competition is fierce here for aspriring restaurateurs, and selecting the appropriate restaurant for an evening is truly a challenge. If you're seeking a genuine culinary experience, spots like the Mansion on Turtle Creek, situated in one of Dallas' most beautiful neighborhoods, will exceed your expectations. Local journalists have made a sport out of celebrity-watching at this critically acclaimed restaurant.

Among Dallas' neighborhoods, Highland Park and University Park, which collectively make up the Park Cities, are among the most stunning (and most expensive). These homes are an eclectic mix of old and new (a number of available lots remain, and buyers are selecting an interesting variety of architecture for their homes, including French chateau-style). Ranging from quaint English bungalows to white-columned Plantation-style estates, the homes are all unique. These heavily treed neighborhoods are quiet and safe. Residents enjoy the advantages of a quality public school system (an anomaly in a city whose school district has experienced its share of political strife and other challenges to success) and a family-oriented environment. Southern Methodist University is situated within the Park Cities, at the end of a tree-lined drive highlighted by a spectacular rotunda.

If you're looking for something to do besides eat or shop, you're in luck. In addition to a mulititude of recreational sports (including the obvious football as well as soccer, basketball and the popular Dallas Stars hockey team), Dallas has a wonderful selection of live music venues; world-class theaters and museums, including the Dallas Museum of Art; and a variety of cultural offerings, highlighted by the Myerson Symphony Center, at which the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs. For a more comprehensive list of local offerings, head to .

As the eighth-largest city in the United States, Dallas is one of Texas' most cosmopolitan destinations. It's a unique mix of traditional and modern, Western and progressive. Located less than three hours (by air) from any other U.S. city, Dallas sits right in the middle, reaping the benefits of a diverse mix of cultures and attitudes. Despite all of its fashionable homes, revered restaurants and chic shops, Dallas' best selling point is its people. They're among the friendliest you'll meet in your travels anywhere in the United States. If nothing else convinces you to stick around big D, the locals will.

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Published: March 22, 1999

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