A weekend getaway to Dallas

When the opportunity to visit Dallas came up naturally I jumped at the chance. I’d never spent much time in Texas except for work travel. And this would be the first time I’d be hitting the historic Texan city. I figured a weekend getaway to Dallas would be just the ticket to get to know the town and a break from the East Coast. Plus I needed to pay homage to the place that gave birth to one of my favorite spots. No not Southfork but Neiman Marcus!

 

Where to stay

For my getaway to Dallas, I stayed at the historic Statler Hotel and Residences right downtown in the Main Street District. It’s surprisingly walking distance to the original Neiman Marcus (naturally I had to pop in for a quick peek. More on that later!) The hotel was originally a Hilton property that opened in 1956. However by the early 2000s, it had fallen in disarray. With its re-opening in 2017, the landmark hotel has become a hot spot for Dallas downtown.

And it’s no wonder it’s such a hub of activity. The Statler has 3 restaurants, Over Easy, Fine China and Scout the latter boasts pool and ping-pong tables and even a bowling alley. On the roof is Waterproof, the hotel’s pool bar by day and rooftop lounge at night. In the basement is Bourbon & Banter, a speakeasy whereby you gain admittance through a phone booth. Other amenities included a multi-use fitness center and a relaxing garden court.

The mid century design of the hotel also extended into my hotel room, which was a nice size with a gorgeous bathroom. One of my favorite spots was that bathroom. I could’ve spent a day in the tub! However with such a short stay planned, my tub time was cut short and I ventured off into the city.

 

Day 1 – Food and Shopping

 

First stop was downtown shopping. Neiman Marcus known for its over the top fantasy gifts and super lux Christmas catalog opened in Dallas in 1907. The first store was just a walk from my hotel. I had to go in to see where all the magic started. It’s a special place for me because for the past twenty years, I’ve picked up a Christmas ornament or two from the store. What’s nice is that each ornament is tagged with the year it was sold. It’s become a tradition to add a new ball for the tree each year. I couldn’t think of a better way to start off my holiday season! Wait until you see this year’s pick. Or should I say picks?

 

If high-end boutique shopping is your thing there are two other shops not to be missed in Dallas’ Main Street District . Next to Neiman’s is Traffic Los Angles located in The Joule, another noteworthy hotel located in the heart of downtown. Traffic Los Angeles in the Joule consists of 2 boutiques, a men’s store adjacent to the ladies shop. Here you can find favorite contemporary fashions from the likes of Comme de Garcons, D Squared and Rick Owens.

Head across the street and you’ll reach Forty Five Ten, another luxury boutique. This time the collections are more eclectic. The store features more experimental and unconventional designers and fashions. What’s neat is that the collections are showcased as if they are on display at a museum. I would’ve loved to spend a little more time here and find the perfect statement piece to bring back to DC with me. Unfortunately for this getaway to Dallas I had limited suitcase space and a tight agenda to keep. It’s also another reason to go back in the near future.

Shopping makes me hungry so we headed upstairs of Forty Five Ten to Mirador. This hip restaurant offers modern American cuisine by Executive Chef Michael Ehlert. My suggestion? Go with friends share all the appetizers! Deviled eggs, whipped ricotta toast, crispy chicken bites and tuna cruda were all stellar.

After lunch it was a bit more shopping. You get the gist of what I did Day 1? For those who love a mall experience, my suggestion is to run to NorthPark Center, located about a 20-minute drive from downtown. Tons of stores at all price points. The Neiman Marcus corner features such brands as Gucci, St. Laurent and Ferragamo. While on the other side you can find Nordstrom and Macy’s where there is an H&M and a Zara. This is where you can really test your meddle. You can craft high/low looks. Plus shop a lot of great stores in between.

With my shopping done, I was working up another appetite. I was time for dinner. Let me stop right here. I knew I was going to be eating a lot of Tex Mex but I wasn’t prepared for how much Texans love their queso! We practically had queso 24/7. It’s a treat here in Washington. In Dallas it’s a staple and I love it!

For dinner it was off to Monica’s Mex-Tex Cantina. Just like DC, Dallas is broken up into several neighborhoods or districts. Monica’s is an institution in Dallas and located in the Cedars, another Dallas neighborhood, and yes we had queso! Monica does a queso blanco, which was absolutely to die for. I could’ve licked the bowl! And who’d thought a shrimp risotto at a Tex Mex restaurant could be so tasty!

But the more interesting thing is Monica’s story. Well established and loved, Monica Greene arrived in Dallas from Mexico City in 1974. She arrived as Eduardo, a 17-year-old man. Twenty years later, after a marriage, two children, and a great career in Dallas as a successful restaurateur, Eduardo underwent a sex change operation. “I took a risk of losing what was perceived as successful. Are people conservative here? Yes. Are we liberal? Yes. Can we understand each other? Yes,” she says. “Dallas helped me to become fearless, and I believe that the city deserves all the credit for my success.”

 

Day 2 Food and Culture

 

You can take the boy out DC but brunch will always be on the menu. We started the second day of our getaway to Dallas with brunch. This time we headed to the Harwood District for a meal at Saint Ann. Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar was originally a historic school built in 1927 that was transformed into a modern environment with the largest garden patio in Dallas. The restaurant is consistently voted as “Best Patio in Dallas” by D Magazine and “Best Outdoor Dining” by OpenTable. Note to self. Always say yes to the Mimosa Carafe with your choice of juice. (I went with grapefruit). I figured it was the healthy way to wash down my chicken and waffles stack.

After brunch we ventured to the Dallas Arts District, located in the northeast corner of downtown Dallas. It is the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. Here we took in the Nasher Sculpture Garden. Open since 2003, the Center is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world, featuring more than 300 masterpieces. The exciting thing to note while walking around the museum and the gardens is the how the pieces are strategically arranged. Pieces that don’t seemingly go together are placed to tell interesting stories. Or just the placements of pieces such as pants under the stairs let visitors create their own narratives and the meaning of the work.

Just like queso, Dallas loves their margaritas! Did you know that the first frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas? So when in Rome….. Actually Texas many margaritas are the drink of choice. Over in Trinity Groves we were all in for the Liquid Nitrogen Margarita. Celebrity chef Julian Rodarte of Beto and Son personally made his signature cocktail which contains hand-selected Beto & Son Avion Resposado tequila, fresh lime juice, agave, orange liqueur and fruit encapsulated pearls. The drinks don’t need any water or ice to freeze. That just makes them stronger! Of course we had to drink it with some more fantastic Tex Mex cuisine including more queso. Rodarte is also the ambassador for the Margarita Mile, a collection of the best and brightest margaritas in the city. The app will guide you to some of the best margaritas in the city. It’s a must do for my next trip to Dallas!

Trinity Groves houses the Restaurant Concept Incubator program, a program that helps chefs and restaurateurs bring their visions to reality. These entrepreneurs are turning rehabilitated warehouse spaces into thriving businesses. Two of my favorites were Cake Bar and Kate Weiser Chocolate.

Don’t think it was just eating, I also took in a bit of history. No visit to Dallas is complete with a visit to the Westend Historic District. It is here where President John F. Kennedy Jr was assassinated. The Grassy Noll, the painted Xs on the road and the Texan School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza are somber reminders of the tragedy that happened here.

Day 3 Food and Self Care

 

A new day meant another district to explore. This time it was the Bishop Arts District, which calls itself, “The Most Independent District.” It is home to over 60 boutiques, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, theaters and art galleries. It was another day and still a weekend so that naturally meant brunch. Hattie’s brings the menus from the coastal regions of the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia and transforms them with a modern twist for Dallas. They make one mean Bloody Mary complete with candied bacon! And if you’re going to be that bad, opt for the scramble or the shrimp and grits. They do low country cooking well. To help all the food digest, my suggestion is to walk around and check out the boutiques. There are some great finds.

No vacation is complete without some self-care. Spa Adolphus, is a gorgeous dry spa located in the The Adolphus Hotel, another Main Street district hotel. Booking a service in this lush spa also provides complimentary access to the fitness center as well as the pool. After my facial, I passed on the fitness center and the pool. Instead I hit the relaxation room and relaxed.

Feeling refreshed was just one of the things to make my weekend getaway to Dallas complete. If all that eating and drinking wasn’t over the top, I needed one more dinner. Homewood over in Oak Lawn by Chef Matt McCallister is one of Dallas’ most anticipated restaurants of 2019. Chef McCallister, business card says both executive chef and home gardener because he grows some of the food himself outside of the restaurant, composting and sourcing locally. I had a sinful Truffle pasta that is still making my mouth water! It was the perfect meal to end my weekend getaway to Dallas!

Weekend Getaway to Dallas Resources
Attractions			Districts
Cake Bar	3011 Gulden Lane Suite 117		Bishop Arts District
Dallas Aquarium	1801 North Griffin St.		Dallas Arts District
Dealey Plaza			Harwood District
Kate Weiser Chocolate	3011 Gulden Ln #115		Main Street District
Margarita Mile			Oak Lawn
Nashar Sculpture Garden	2001 Flora Street		The Cedars
Spa Adolphus	1321 Commerce Street		Trinity Groves
Visit Dallas			Westend Historic District
Bars			Hotels
Bourbon & Banter	1914 Commerce Street		Statler Hotel	1914 Commerce Street
Waterproof	1914 Commerce Street		The Adolphus Hotel	1321 Commerce Street
			The Joule	1530 Main Street
Dining
Beto and Son	3011 Gulden Ln #108		Shopping
Fine China	1914 Commerce Street		Forty Five Ten	1615 Main St, Dallas
Hatties	418 N Bishop Ave		Neiman Marcus	1618 Main St.
Homewood	(4002 Oak Lawn Ave		Northpark Center	687 N Central Expy
Mirador	1608 Elm Sreet		Traffic Los Angeles	1608 Main Street
Monica’s Mex-Tex	1326 S. Lamar Street
Over Easy	1914 Commerce Street
Saint Ann	2550 Harry Hines Blvd
Scout	1914 Commerce Street

This trip was sponsored by VisitDallas. The opininions are my own.