I have a very long week business trip coming up and would like to know what kind of area Irving is and where are good places to eat and if there are things to do at the weekend. I believe Fort Worth is a good place to go, have only been to Stockyards which I liked. I will have use of a rental car.

Oops I meant a long business trip lasting several weeks!

Irving is not one "kind" of condition. Optimally, you can stay at the Omni Mandalay, which is in Las Colinas and only a couple of miles from Dallas. The location is only 15 minutes from downtown Dallas and about the same distance from Addison; it's about 40 minutes from downtown FW. Las Colinas refers to various sections of Irving that started with the mixed use development in which the Omni Mandalay is located.

What things are you trying to do on the weekends? Dallas is the 9th largest city in the US and the DFW Metroplex is the 4th largest metro area so there's bound to be something happening. Irving isn't the bar/club area of the Metroplex - it's a residential town, not an entertainment district.

As BigRuss said, Las Colinas is a very upscale part of Irving. South of 183 it gets pretty dicey. In addition to the Omni Mandalay, the Four Seasons is very nice.

Tell us what you like to do and what kind of food you like and I'll give you ideas.

Note that there is a lot of construction around Irving, mostly in the 114 corridor. If you plan to travel west on 114, especially on the weekends, check dfwconnector.com.

If you plan to travel west on 114 on a weekend, go to the Bush pike and connect with 183. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in traffic for an hour going through Grapevine (that's the heaviest construction).

That's a really good tip, as I do intend to go to Grapevine and Southlake for shopping, thank you. I will be staying in Las Colinas and like Mexican food or Tex Mex and barbecue (I liked Up In Smoke in Keller and Babe's Chicken in Roanoake for example, anything that tells me I'm in Texas). I enjoyed horseriding last time and shopping in Galleria.

If you check dfwconnector.com, it will tell you about lane closures. If there are a lot, plan an alternate route west. You can go 161 to 183, to 360 north, exit Glade, Glade to Pool which turns into Brumlow which turns into Caroll, which takes you to Southlake Town Center.

Have you tried Feedstore BBQ in Southlake? It's on White Chapel Blvd. My husband likes it better than Up n Smoke. For Mexican we like Taco Diner in Southlake Town Center or Mi Cocina also there.

Grapevine has some antique stores if you're into that. and of course the outlet mall Grapevine Mills.

Thank you for the suggestions, will try them out.

If you like Japanese food, try Jinbeh's - they have really good sushi (so my husband says). It's right next to the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Las Colinas.

Going to Southlake from Irving will be a nightmare, but definitely worth it. Just be sure to check the website noted above, take your time, and be careful. It's craziness even when you KNOW where you're going.

Gaylord Texan hotel has an ICE display that is supposed to be really good. I've never been, but everyone I know that has been, really enjoyed it.

http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord...av-cid=lsc-ice

Grapevine is a nice little downtown to visit.

Fyi - there is a Babes in Carrollton (I 35 / Beltline) if you need another fix.

http://www.babeschicken.com/Babes-Ch...arrollton.html

For Mexican, I prefer Uncle Julio's or Rio Mambo, both in Grapevine. I've never liked Mi Cocina.

I also really like Mercado Juarez, which is either in Irving, or right next door.

Mi Cocina and Taco Diner are different sides of the same coin - both are part of the same corporate chain. And you can do better. I like the SW Tex Mex at Blue Mesa Cafe more than most of the straight Tex-Mex places (which are really Mexican plus fajitas). There's a Blue Mesa on the way to Southlake Town Center.

The ICE display is very interesting and this year's theme is Shrek. Last year it was A Charlie Brown Christmas. Do NOT go to an evening showtime - do something during the day if at all possible. Evening showtimes tend to be mobbed and to run 1-2 hours behind. We actually scored a refund in '09 because the admissions were running 90 minutes late, which the boss would not tolerate in her (7+ months pregnant) condition.

The Ranch @ Las Colinas is pretty good Texas-inspired food and it's less damaging on the wallet than Cool River Cafe. Jinbeh sushi is fine, nothing creative but well made. Reikyu in Dallas and the regrettably named SushiZushi (which has a full and extensive menu of Japanese dishes) are better.

If you like wood-fired pizzas, Cavalli's in Irving (Belt Line, south of 635) and il Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum are good choices.

Thanks, appreciate the additional suggestions!

Oh, and leave the ravens that normally latch onto your shoulder at home. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huginn_and_Muninn]

We have enough black birds that flock all over the Metroplex (grackles) that re-coat the pavement without one-eyed Norse gods bringing their pets to contribute to the area.

;-)