We live in Austin, and have been to the DFW area many times for business. Many times. Now we have a comp. weekend at a hotel in Dallas are are taking a small vacation up there.

I'm looking for hits, tips, and nooks 'n crannies.

We like museums, (have been to the Kimball several times and the Dallas Art once or twice), shopping in unique, or neighborhood areas, and fun ethnic restaurants (fancy, or "fine" dining nice, but not required).

We are both amateur wine-makers and have thought about going up to some of the wineries north of Dallas, but are clueless about where to focus.

We'll be there the first weekend in December.

kcd

kcidg,

You might want to look at this link to an Oct. 30 NY Times article about visiting Dallas for a weekend. It seems to discuss all of your interests, e.g., museums, restaurants. If you can't reach it via this link, go to the Times website at nytimes.com, then go to "travel", and then "going to."

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/3...s%2fGoing%20to

The NYT article is a good start.

I highly recommend Nasher Sculpture Center. Admission is free every first Saturday from 10am-noon.

If you like classical music, the first weekend in December, the DSO will be playing Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Mahler Symphony No.1

The Dallas Museum of Art current exhibit is on Duchamp, Cornell, Johns, Rauschenberg - if you like their stuff. Pretty interesting exhibit.

I've been to Dallas many times, and I think the best thing to do there is eat. The BBQ is great (favorites are Bakers and Sammy's). Also a good Burger joint called Angry Dog, and Tex-Mex called Monicas. Those are my recommendations. Restaurants in Texas, including Dallas, are underrated IMHO.

As for other, cultural things, take someone else's advice. I never felt compelled to check that stuff out.

Eat!

If you like wine, come to Grapevine! There are SIX small wineries in town, and I bet you'd enjoy visiting them. Plus, the historic downtown is fun for shopping! Here's the website: http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/

Dallas has some amazing ethnic restaurants. www.guidelive has a good directory by cuisine type.

I lived in Dallas for 25 years and have lived in San Miguel de Allende, MX for 2½ years. The NYT's articles which I read everyday now on line have no clue into either community, just like the op-ed and editors have no clue about reality.
Check www.guidelive.com
M

Gee whiz, that NY Times article is a JOKE!! I guess that's what New Yorkers would do if they were visiting Dallas? As a local, I can honestly say that those editors managed to miss just about everything that is truly Dallas...

mikemo-

then why don't you read the national review online, rather than the paper of record? almost every post I see from you involves some right wing political bent. this is supposed to be a travel forum, not a left v. right contest.

I dont' understand why some posters think the NYT article is not helpful.

I live in Dallas, and I go to the Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher at least a few times a year. I think both of them are excellent museums. I have personally been to the Duchamp/Cornell exhibit at least twice already since it opened.

I also go to the Dallas Symphony at least once every 2 months.

Also, the new restaurant by Stephen Pyles mentioned in the article, I read about that restaurant in this month's issue of D magazine.

Anyway, I think the NYT article has some good suggestions and not a complete joke.

Just my 2 cents.

I talked to one of my friends in Dallas who read the NYT article and thinks that it has worthwhile suggestions. Just my two cents, too.

When I bring visitors to Dallas, we usually eat at some of Dallas' excellent Mexican or BBQ restaurants, do a lot of shopping, and occasionally listen to live country or rock music. I am not into modern art, and I doubt I will ever go to Nobu or The Mansion on Turtle Creek. I guess I am just not into the haute cusine and art museum scene, that's all.

Why not drive over to Ft. Worth? Every Saturday there is a cattle drive down the main street. Some good BBQ(Risky's) and funky shops. White Elephant and Billy Bobs for dancing. I happen to like the Museums over in Ft. Worth better than Dallas.
Have you been to the 6th Floor museum in Dallas? There is also a "Conspiracy Museum"not far from it..always wanted to go , but never did.

When I go to Austin, I use citysearch to find the ins and outs and have never been disappointed.

Try this for a start for Dallas:

http://dallas.citysearch.com/roundup...o%2Ddallas_2_0