Hello:
Need you all's help! I am going to Dallas on the weekend of Dec 20. That Sat night we have tickets to La Boheme, and we would like to go afterwards to dinner, club, or trendy bar kind of place. Any suggestions? We are in our mid 20's and would like to hear any suggestions out there? Also any recommendations for great, must have brunches, lunches, and dinners are greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

I'm not sure where you are staying but try Cool River at 1045 Hidden Ridge in Irving, TX. It has great steaks, looked like awsome seafood, wine, beer, martini's, pool, cigar room. All very hip. All ages of people it seemed. The steaks were in the $25 range, but my sister & I split one. The waiter didn't care or charge extra for splitting. It was plenty of food and the best steak I've had. After eating stay to play pool or sometimes they have live bands.

For brunch try Blue Mesa Grill, website: bluemesagrill.com
Wonderfull southwestern mexican food with a hugh brunch and all you can drink mimosas. I eat there everytime I am in Dallas.

For a fun atmosphere and cajun seafood and great drinks such as Swampthing, we go to Razoo's. There are several locations and I'm sure you can do a web search for them.

Have fun!

Shoot, help me out someone. That trendy area downtown -- and the restaurant with the same name. I keep wanting to say "deep vellum" but that sounds like something you'd buy at Office Depot.

Deep Ellum

Yep, it's Deep Ellum. The Uptown area is pretty hip, too.
I can ask my young Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader friend, if you like.
She knows all the hip stuff in Dallas.
Let me know if you want me to ask her.

It's been several years, but what about The West End? Is that area still pretty cool? Many bars near each other, you pay one price to go to all?

When we go to the West End, we are either going to The Palm (restaurant) or parking and walking to the American Airlines Center (for Dallas Mavericks games) West End is the 'walking around destination' in Dallas with many other restaurants, carriage rides, etc. There is also a Hooters near the Palm so we usually spy plenty of male 20's down that way.

My teenage / young 20's relatives tell me that Deep Ellum is edgier (ie - music scene) Of course brother-in-law was once mugged there too.

Are you interested in big city Dallas or a little flavor of the west? You might enjoy the western side of DFW. You can take the train from Dallas to Fort Worth and then wander around Sunset Square, a true jewel in downtown Fort Worth. If you have the time, schedule a visit for when the cattle drive is through town. Eat at Reata for gourmet nouveau western in a fantastic atmosphere. Journey to the cultural district and take in the world-class free art museums. Go to Joe T's and have a classic margarita inspired Tex-Mex meal (but bring cash, they don't accept credit cards)

Let us know how your trip turns out.

>
The Dallas Morning News (local newspaper) can provide you with suggestons on places to eat, clubs, bars, etc. --- www.guidelive.com
La Boheme is playing at the Fair Park Music Hall, which is a short driving distance from the Deep Ellum area.

Linda-
Not sure where you are staying or where La Boheme is playing but here are some trendy restaurants (I've been to some or my friend have recommended) that you may like:

Ferre- Italian in the West Village. Great people watching and in a fun area of town with a wine bar nearby as well as a "Russian" themed bar/restaurant called Nikita. Also, great gelato at Panciugo
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/295332/

Citizen or Steel- trendy sushi/Pan Asian. Great people watching. Food at Citizen is a bit better I think.
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/294186/
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/294989/

Dragonfly- I have not been hear but friends say it is good but spendy...it is in the new "it" hotel- Hotel ZaZa
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/106893/

Green Room- In Deep Ellum. Great food and close to bars with live music, etc.
http://www.guidelive.com/profile/101904/

As for brunches, I like Ciudad for creative Mexican
http://www.ciudaddf.com/food_view.php?menu=lunch

Have a great time!
Jane

Definitely Deep Ellum! JBX is corect that it is just a few minutes' drive from Fair Park. Green Room is good, and so is St. Pete's Dancing Marlin. For nightlife, Club Clearview is several clubs in one and there will be something for everyone. Yeah, the neighborhood down there can get dicey; just don't venture off the main streets and you'll be fine.

West End is NOT cool anymore. It's mostly tourists, or folks going to On The Border before the sports games at the AAC...

Thank you all for your responses.
I will take all of your suggestions into consideration, plan, and then when I come back, I'll let you know the outcome!

thanks again,

Linda