Sooooo, the combination of 1) being out of town (YAY! I got to see my parents), 2) being a little under the weather and 3) being extremely busy (training for a new job, being out of town, and still working all the other jobs) has given me about 2 weeks with very little “me” time to go out and explore Dallas.
I figured I could get away with the list last week, and worry about posting a new, exciting thing to do this week. Well, obviously that didn’t work out.
There were “in bed by 10, up by 6” days for about a week straight. And then “Oh, lets just get in bed and hope we fall right to sleep so we can sleep for as long as possible” nights, which were about the same as the first nights. And finally, worst of all, there were the “I just got off work and it’s 11, but look at that, I have to be up in 4 hours.” Those just kill the entire day, especially when you “catch up” on missed sleep on a plane.
I’m convinced that sleeping on a plane doesn’t count as real sleep. It’s all a dream. Crammed between two people, who both want their arm rests, and forced to lean back maybe 10 degrees from the normal upright sitting position just doesn’t count.
Lack of sleep may have been the cause for the little cough I had, but it definitely accounted for the fatigue that built up over the week.
Anyways, since I haven’t really been able to explore anything new, I just wanted to post that there is nothing new here.
Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy this past week, and unable to get out and explore the rest of D-town. But, that doesn’t mean I want to stop writing this. And this blog will be a little flashback for me, as well as a look at where I want this blog to go.
One of the things I have been doing is looking at just about everything I can find about the Dallas area, from magazines to newspapers to blogs about the area. One of the best resources I have found is D Magazine. They have no care for what people think they are writing about, so there is a lot of attitude and freedom from all those that actually contribute to it.
One of the most useful things that I will be able to utilize in this blog for myself is an article they put out recently with a list, regarding Things Every Dallas-site Must Do. There are a lot of things on this list that I may never get around to completing, or really care to check off this list (for example, “Score a copy of the Dallas social,” of “Get fake boobs”). There are also others that I have completed, some way too easily (“Get Pulled Over in Highland Park”).
Some of the things on the list have a decent meaning, and are based on good morals (“Welcome home the Troops”). In the meanwhile, there are some that nobody wants to remember (“Join the crowd at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Greenville”- been there, done that, not going back).
Basically, from here on, if I can’t seem to find something to do, this will be my fall back plan.
So here is the complete list (yes, I clicked on every image in order to get them all) of everything that they have compiled together in order to be a true Dallas-ite:
(the ones in bold are ones I have accomplished, along with my comments on that subject)
Ride a Mechanical Bull
Slide down the brick planter at NorthPark- If you grew up around here, there was no way you could go to the mall and not do this. Along with feeding the ducks, turtles and Penguins (yes, the same tuxedoed, little creature of the arctic), this was a must. It’s a little hard to do when you’re a full-size adult, but I can imagine it is still just as much fun.
Forget that Louie’s accepts only American Express
Drink a frozen margarita at Mariano’s
Cheer the White Rock Marathon along Swiss Avenue
Party at the Byron Nelson Paviliion
Get pulled over in Highland Park- Some consider this the easiest act to perform on the list, and I believe it. Whether it’s a tail light out in the middle of the day, or going a few miles over the speed limit (literally, 32 in a 30), they Highland Park Police are everywhere in their giant, navy blue police Chevy Tahoe.
Eat chicken-fried steak at Babe’s in Roanoke
Eat frozen grapes by the pool at the Joule
Enjoy the View at
Five-Sixty– now, I have not been in Five-Sixty, but I have been to the top of Reunion Tower for the 360-degree view of the Dallas skyline. I am going to consider this complete for the sake of the fact that it’s the same view as what I would get actually eating at the restaurant.
Belmont Hotel
Ghostbar
Join the crowd at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Greenville– This is one giant party, where this year there were estimates of 100k people in attendance of the parade. It is a sea of green up and down Greenville Avenue for the entire day, even though the parade doesn’t get underway until close to 11 AM. People are out tailgating before sunrise, and those that survive the day continue on into the night at the block party on lower Greenville for music and entertainment. It is absolutely ridiculous.
Swear at Ships Lounge
Attend Cattle Baron’s Ball
Graves of the Famous (and infamous)
Lee Harvey Oswald
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Bonnie and Clyde
Visit the R-rated bathroom at the Angry Dog- I have been to the Angry Dog, but I have not been privileged enough to enjoy the view in the bathroom, so that doesn’t count.
Tour the Sixth Floor Museum- I’ve been to Dealey Plaza numerous times, but I can’t recall if I’ve ever actually visited the museum, so this is remaining on the list.
Drink at the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth
Order Ketchup at Stoneleigh P
Eat a Nieman Marcus Popover
Call in to KERA’s Anything You Ever Wanted to Know
Get lost in the downtown Dallas tunnels– Now, fortunately for me, every time I have visited this part of downtown, I have had a guide to take me where ever we are going to eat. But, if you wander around downtown Dallas during lunchtime and wonder where everyone from the few skyscrapers we do have goes to eat, they are right beneath your feet. It amazes me how much is down there, that I will need to set aside some time to go get lost on my own, but I can say that I have been turned around a few times, even with some help.
Score a copy of the Dallas Social Directory
Cheer yourself with Christmas Spirit-
Nieman Marcus Window Display- Absolutely incredible. That’s the only way to describe it until you see it for yourself.
Horse Rides through Park Cities- Horse ride, convertible ride, it’s all the same. Especially when it is still 70 degrees in December.
Trykoski house in Frisco
Mix and mingle at the Primo’s Patio on a Tuesday night– Cheap Margarita’s and an interesting crowd make for a good night. It’s hard to get out on a Tuesday, but on the rare occasion, Primo’s is a prime stop (Bet you never heard that before)
Get Al Biernat to remember your name
Go to the Plano Balloon Festival
Arts District
Wyly Theatre
Winspear Opera House
Meyerson Symphony Center- This is something that I have done a few times, but not nearly as many times as I would like to. It’s really neat to hear all the different varieties of music they bring in. Yes, it may seem a bit dull, but finding a way to connect it to you is what makes it interesting.
James Turrell’s Tending
Nasher Sculpture Center
Eat Tacos at Fuel City
Go to a Southlake Carroll Dragons football game- Texas football is incredible just about everywhere you go. The Friday night atmosphere of life or death depends on the game could not be more true. I haven’t been to Southlake, but I have been to a few comparable games.
Eat lobster shooters at Abacus
Hit the boulevard at SMU on game day-Boulevarding is, in a sense, similar to tailgating, but don’t mention that to students or alumni. Be prepared for lots of red, white and blue. Eat, drink, relax, people watch. Can’t go wrong with that on a Saturday in the Fall, just as long as you find some shade.
Shop!
Get lost (or stand out) in the crowd at Cedar Springs on Halloween
Spot Troy Aikman at Mi Cocina
Eat a Sandwich at Jimmy’s Food Store
Attend a wedding at the Dallas Arboretum- if you saw in another post of mine about the arboretum (as well as took a look at the pictures I have on flickr- direct link on the sidebar), then you can understand why there would be wedding’s galore there. Being right off the water of White Rock Lake, it really is gorgeous. Now, I haven’t been to a wedding there, but I have been there so I am counting this one.
Eat Bob Armstrong dip at Mattito’s
Mix it up at Sam Moon Trading Co.
Eat a cinnamon roll at Mecca
Welcome home the troops
Get fake boobs
Find the Wild Wild West
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
Mesquite Championship Rodeo– This is something I have very fond memories of growing up in Dallas. I can picture me in my all denim outfit, my black and white cowboy boots and chasing the calf to try and get the blue ribbon attached to the tail. This was a fun time, mainly because it was the family that all got together to go, and it was a completely different experience from living in the city. No I don’t talk with a southern drawl, but until the day I die, you will not catch me saying you all. It will forever and always be ya’ll (or y’all, or however you spell it).
Cowboy Church
Run into Don Henley at Whole Foods
Eat a steak at Dunston’s (But only if Linda serves it)- Delicious, delicious steak. The open fire grill in the middle of the restaurant, providing a wonderful mixture of smells of meat cooking and smoke, cooking steaks till they are perfectly done. It’s a neat experience that you don’t find too often, especially in a city.
Drive-in at the Galaxy
Meet Dean Fearing
Cede the popularity of Oak Cliff
Eat Chili at Tolbert’s in Grapevine
Move your spirit at the Potter’s House
Hire a Day Laborer
State Fair of Texas– Growing up in Dallas, there was always State Fair Day. From the rides, to exhibitions, to the now famous fried-food competition, you are always in for a good day when you head to the state fair. Big Tex just got a new makeover, so he should be there for at least another 59 years. I plan on going a few times between now and then.
Explore the Trinity River Audubon
Alright, there are 15 out of the 64 or so on this list that I have done. That leaves quite a bit for me to fill up my time. Hopefully I will be able to complete a lot of this before they change it up. I would like to consider myself a Dallas-ite at some point in my life. That would be nice, since I have spent only 12 out of my almost 24 years of my life in Dallas. Time to get a jump on it.
UPDATE: So the voting and everything for the internship with Isla Palenque is finally complete, and unfortunately, I did not make the cut. I am glad I at least went and tried for it. I put forth my best effort and I am happy with that. Thank you for all those that helped me out. I really appreciate it.
The Spring is a great time to get outside and enjoy the weather (even if it is changing from 80 to 50 and then back to 80 every other day). With the beautiful weather, there are a lot of events that plan on putting this time to good use. One thing that I enjoyed this past weekend was the Deep Ellum Music Festival. This was amazing, I just wish I had been able to enjoy more of it, and not just the final 3 hours of the event that I was able to catch once I finally got off work.
This festival was a “three-day, free-to-attend outdoor ‘street party,’” which featured artists, photographers, musicians and street performers. From beaded necklaces handmade from wood, to hemp satchels, a wide variety of art and were available interspersed between the 5 music stages set up down the multiple blocks of Deep Ellum. There were music of all kinds as well. Southern rock, jazz, acoustic, as well as hip hop were all present.
I’m extremely disappointed I missed the Pet Parade (a “tail-wagging promenade down Main Street”), but I was fortunate enough to catch the street performers the Circus Freaks. I was able to sit back and chill to former American Idol semi-finalist Tim Halperin perform some of his original works that are on his upcoming album. I got the title for this blog in some of the lyrics he sang. I also really enjoyed listening to Grades Of Absolute Truth (G.O.A.T), and his collaborations with JackRabbit James and Elle.
While I was wondering around, and stumbled across the stage where G.O.A.T. was performing, I was pulled into an abstract drawing where I was actually made into a model. Yes, a model. I don’t know if I was the right person for the job, but I don’t believe the picture actually looks like me, so I can always deny it (I’ve been told it looks more like George W. Bush,with a mustache).You can make up your own mind looking at the image on the below on the right, but I thought it was a really cool experience. And, since I was going to be in the area listening to the music, I figured I could stick around and be a muse. It’s not a regular occurance, for me at least, to be a participant in some street art, so I thought I could watch. The rest of the drawing is very abstract, and as the artist ( I never really caught his name) was describing it to me afterwards, he wanted to use “free-flowing images to take aspects of the gorgeous day with the sun and sky to surround the profile of my face.” Whatever this means, I like it, even if it doesn’t actually look like me (I did end up getting to keep the drawing too). Who knows what I am going to do with it.
Other times when I was was walking around taking a look at all the stalls, I was able to relax, sit in the shade, and enjoy one of my favorite past-times: people- watching. And boy was this the place to people watch. Dog-friendly, family-friendly and, best of all, very hippie-friendly. I loved every bit of it. This kind of scene is something that I really enjoy. I’ve enjoyed it in Austin, Texas, and Eugene, Oregon. I never thought this kind of environment would appear in Dallas. I’m glad I got to experience it though, and I will be looking forward to the festival next year.
There is currently another festival going on in Dallas right now, and I will be checking it out for sure. It is the Dallas International Film Festival. It started on the 31st of March, and goes until April 10th. There were over 6,000 films submitted, of which 812 were selected, from 49 countries. Each film is only $10 ($8 if you’re a student), and they are spread out at theaters all over the Dallas area. Hopefully I can get out of work early enough to check out some of them. I also heard about the Homegrown Music and Arts Festival. It’s local Dallas music, and tickets range between $10 and $20. I know there are a few more in the near future that I’m going to try and check out, but I’ll figure that out when it get’s closer.
And once again, I still need help voting for my video for the Isla Palenque Island Internship. The voting for my internship began last week, and if you follow the link below, you will be able to find where you can vote and really help me out. If you have been following me at all, you already know what this is for. But if you haven’t, here is a brief synopsis: I am applying for an internship with a resort based in Panama, named Isla Palenque. I will be blogging, Facebook-ing, Tweeting, along with any other form of social media you can think of for them about excursions, exploration, etc. on their little island. It’s a pretty sweet set up, but I stand a better chance of advancing to the interview portion if I get some help from everyone. You can only vote once from your computer (it logs your internet IP address and will not allow anymore votes from that IP address), but you can vote from your smart phone as well. Also, I can get more votes if you share it with everyone you know. I really, really appreciate it.
Unfortunately I was unable to attend the roller derby event this past weekend, but I guarantee that it will occur in the near future, that is for sure. Instead, I was able to go to the Dallas Arboretum last Tuesday for the Dallas Blooms! soirée.
My family has a couple of memberships, and we also have a couple of the flower beds dedicated to my Grandmother, and my Great-Grandmother. Both beds are side-by-side, and can be seen in this photo, on the right. Their beds were just beyond the DeGolyer home, which you can see in the background of this picture.
When Mrs. Nell DeGolyer passed away in 1972, her estate was given to Southern Methodist University, who in turn sold it to the City of Dallas. Along with the purchase of the 22 acre property next door in 1980, the combined acreage for the entire property is 66 acres, which are filled with gardens, the Degolyer house, and a “Texas Town” and fairy tale castles for kids to enjoy. The arboretum and botanical gardens were opened to the public for the first time in 1984.
NBC says that this “ ‘floral festival’ is comprised of 500,000 spring-blooming bulb including tulips, daffodils and hyancinth, 3,000 azaleas, 100,000 pansies, violas, poppies and more along the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas.”
This little event had great food, but it wasn’t really about the food. It was really beautiful to see all the flowers that had just bloomed, or started to bloom. I was able to take a lot of pictures. More specifically, I was able to take over 300 in just about 2 hours. I got a little carried away, and just started taking one after another. Seeing all of the tulips make me want to go to the Keukenhof, which is located in the Netherlands. Fields upon fields of bright colors and beautiful flowers. The Arboretum is still amazing though. You can compare for yourself.
Then I ventured off to other areas of the arboretum and only the fact that they were closing kept me from taking more pictures. There are a few here in this blog, but a lot more can be seen in my Flickr account, linked directly on the side of my blog.
Unfortunately, I was only able to see half of what the Arboretum had to offer. Part of this was due to the fact that I was socializing with family, as well as networking, and meeting new people, but more importantly was the fact that this place enormous.
The weather was absolutely incredible, which only helped my aimless wandering. And, now is the best time of year to go out and check out this place, especially before the temperature starts getting up into the triple digits. At that point, it won’t be so enjoyable to be stuck outside for hours on end.
It is relatively cheap too. You can find a listing of all their prices and everything here. I will be taking advantage of the few memberships my family have, and will become a frequent visitor.
Now that that portion is over, I have a small request. The voting for my internship begins today, and if you follow the link below, you will be able to find where you can vote and really help me out. If you haven’t been following, I am applying for an internship with a resort based in Panama. I will be blogging, Facebook-ing, Tweeting, along with any other form of social media you can think of for them about excursions, exploration, etc. on their little island. It’s a pretty sweet set up, but I stand a better chance of advancing to the interview portion if I get some help from everyone. Please vote as many times as you possibly can, and share with everyone you know to do the same. I really, really appreciate it.
I have always been involved in sports. Pretty much from birth. I grew up playing sports. I’ve attended sports events all my life. I even went to school to study sports (Sports Management to be exact). So with all of the NCAA basketball games going on this past weekend, I was going to try and fit as many games as possible into my busy schedule. My schedule unfortunately prevented me from catching a lot of the games, but I was able to explore a few places this past weekend and watch a few games while at it. There are also a few other sports bars that I’ve been to in general before that I really enjoy, and will share about those as well.
(Again, just to reiterate, I am not someone to rely on for what food and beverage is delightful and eloquent. This is are my thoughts and opinions. I will eat just about anything everything. Just wanted to put that out there.)
Fortunately, I was able to catch a couple of the early first round games at the Fox & Hound in Richardson. They had a large set up with plenty of TV’s and some projection screens, as well as some good food. Unfortunately, our group set up in the smoking section, so as we were sitting behind the large recliners they had set up (which would have been great to sit in ourselves), we were inhaling puff after puff of smoke. I’m not one to care whether someone smokes or not, and I know it’s not up to me to make them change, but in places like that, on days where events increase the number of interested people coming to their store, it’s probably better to open up more of a non-smoking section in order to accommodate everyone. Now, I’m not saying kick the smokers out, because some will come to that location because they know they can smoke.
Humperdinks was a fine place to watch basketball, as well as any other sport. Lots of TV’s were able to show all of the games, and I was able to view them from one seat without having to arch into awkward angles. Also, their “Towers of Beer” made it easy for a group of us to watch and not have to worry about flagging down our waitress for new rounds. Their food was a bit pricey, but very good.
In the past, I’ve also watched games at Lemon Bar in the Village. They aren’t necessarily a sports bar, but they offer cheap food and cheap drinks, especially Saturday mornings where they had all you can drink Mimosas and Bellinis. Because of the non-sports bar trying to be a sports bar atmosphere, there are not as many TV’s as Humperdinks, but there are enough to catch a particular game that you may want to watch, even if you end up with a crick in your neck. Also, the crowd there tends to be uninterested in sports, but in a worse-case scenario you can only make it there, it will suffice.
One of my favorite bars to go to, not necessarily to watch sports, but to also visit on any other regular occurance, is the Londoner. I have been to the one in Uptown, as well as the one in Addison, and both have the same, great atmosphere. When the weather is cooler, it is better in my opinion to watch at the one in Addison. They have plenty of large TV’s, as well as a large projection screen. But, as I’ve seen now that the weather is getting better and it is actually nice to be outside, I enjoy going to the one in Uptown because they can roll out large TV’s onto their patio. The food is great, but then again, I really enjoy English pub food. Bangers and Mash, fish and chips, shepherds pie. All of the above, are some of my favorites.
The biggest draw for me to go to the Londoner is the extensive amount of soccer that they play there. I really enjoy watching games, and it’s nice to go somewhere, at 8 in the morning, to watch soccer. It’s a surreal feeling, because I know that even though I’m at a bar, the rest of the day is still there for me to be productive with my life.
There are a few other places that I want to check out as far as sports bars, but for the time being, I think I know where to go where I will have a good time watching the rest of the tournament. As far as the next blog, I’m exploring 2 options. This week I was able to go to the Dallas Blooms exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum. So I will do a piece on that soon, but I have an interest in possibly going to a roller derby event this weekend. It would be my first venture into the sport, but it seems interesting and I found a place that has it here in Dallas. You will find out which of those options I choose when you read the blog.
And now, for a little self-advertising:
Once again, I am posting my Isla Palenque Island intern video here. If you haven’t heard by now, I am applying for an internship with the resort Isla Palenque, based in Panama. Part of the application process is creating a YouTube video, and the applicant with the most views automatically gets in to the next round where they will conduct interviews. They will also bring in 4 or 5 more candidates with the highest votes on their website the week of March 26th through April 2nd. They will have another 4 or 5 more that the Board of Directors will choose to interview, but I am hoping not to rely on getting their approval and need some help to get the most views/ highest amount of votes that week. So if you can please watch and share this with as many people as possible. Please and thank you.
So this past weekend was a busy one for most people here in Dallas, mainly due to the fact that it was the weekend of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and block party down Greenville Avenue. A day when, what I’ve heard upwards of 100,000 people lined up for the festivities that usually start at 6 or 7 AM, and don’t stop until either you can’t go on, or you don’t know you’ve stopped.
I on the other hand, went with about 5 hours of sleep on each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night because of early morning starts for my jobs on all 3 days. It made for a very long weekend, but I was able to get out at one point and enjoy something in Dallas that I’ve heard a lot about, but never been able to actually go enjoy: TopGolf.
TopGolf is a “revolutionary entertainment facility, aimed at golfers and non-golfers alike, that offers great food, fun and competition year-round.” Basically, a driving range that utilizes advances in technology to make it a fun experience for anyone and everyone involved. Whether you have played golf all your life, or if you’ve never hit a ball. I’m somewhere in between, but now that I may have a beautiful new addiction, I can improve my game just a bit.
I was able to get a couple hours free Friday afternoon, and took advantage of the beautiful weather before I had to go into work, and I was able to have a good time.
To get started, I had to purchase a playing card, which initially costs $35, but you receive $45 worth of game credits. Once you have this, you can purchase your golf balls to hit. To do this, you have to purchase a game or multiple games at a time (1 game= 20 golf balls). The rate for each game ranges between $3 and $6, depending on the time of day/ week. Then you pick a suite, and you can get set up.
Each ball is registered with your name in a computerized microchip, and it will track where you hit the ball if it lands within range of a hole. For every ball that lands within the specified scoring area, you receive points, and all of these will add up to determine an overall score. You can receive multiple bonuses for hitting consecutive balls into the scoring zones.
It takes a few tries to understand what is going on, especially if you have never done it before. You have to understand that to get points, you have to hit it into the scoring zones. You can hit it as far as you want, and as straight as possible, but you won’t score any points unless it is close to a hole, where it will fall into grates and is scanned, producing your score. This, I suppose in the long run, makes you more accurate and a better overall golfer, rather than someone one who can whack the living daylights out of the ball.
My first game score was a 33, considered relatively low. But, after that round, I improved each time around. eventually by the 4th game hitting over 60. Still not great, but an obvious improvement on what had previously transpired.
It’s not very often you have a golf game where you actively seek out shooting the highest score, though I know after numerous occasions on a golf course, I am usually the winner in this regard.
I know that I will be going back to TopGolf, and soon. It also helps their business due to the fact that I have $30 of credit remaining to use up. In the end, though I spent $35 initially on getting started up, I feel like this could easily be a cheap avenue for some fun stress relief, or some friendly competition with buddies.
After looking on their website, they also offer memberships, which at this time in my life may be a bit out of reach ($100 initial start-up, plus $100-125 per month), but for unlimited play, and a whole list of other benefits, it might be something to look into when I retire.
There is more than just the driving range available to enjoy at TopGolf. There are some short game practice area, along with 54 holes of Putt-Putt. Now, this Putt-Putt I remember well, because that has been there since I was little, and it was where I celebrated many birthdays with friends. Formerly Scotty’s Golf Park, I remember the unnaturally turquoise-blue water and the rushing heat coming from the astroturf playing surface. All of which still remain, and are free with a membership, or you can play them without the membership for $7 a game as an adult ($5 for age 13 and under).
Along with the golf, they also have batting cages, as well as a full service restaurant, bar and lounge, which can serve you while you are in your suite hitting balls. They have done an excellent job of setting everything up so that it is easy to understand, and get started playing.
I may look into golf taking up more of my life in the coming months, that is, if I can stand the Texas heat come summertime.
What’s Up Next: I would like to think that I can plan what I am writing about in advance, so I can give a little heads up. Most of the time I will have already researched what I am writing about (i.e., been to the event/ place/ etc.), but you never know. I may need some more input. So here is a preview of what I want to write about:
With the full-blown intensity of March Madness upon us, beginning today, I am going to start looking into places that offer anything and everything that relates to sports, college basketball, and especially the NCAA tournament for my next blog. This will mainly be a focus on sports bars and places in the area that I have been to and enjoyed/ not enjoyed, and will be a primarily opinion based blog. I know of a few places, but not all the little dives that are as fun of an environment as the games. If you have any place you want me to check out, please let me know and I will look into it.
Thanks for reading, and again, please keep watching my video for the Isla Palenque Island Intern. If you haven’t heard about this, please look at the bottom of the page here for more information on what the video is for. Or, take a look at their website with my profile, Isla Palenque Island Internship.
Sorry this Blog is a little behind when I wanted to get it out, but I will explain below as to the the reasoning behind this. Thanks for reading and enjoy:
I like to consider myself a pretty active and healthy guy. I keep my weight within a healthy range, and like to work out. The thing is though, I don’t have the funds to keep up a gym membership, and I am not that fond of running just for the sake of running. This does not include being chased by tigers. At that point, I am very fond of running. But, really only in that instance, is running a good thing in my mind. It may have something to do with bad knees, or the boredom that sets in very quickly. I’m not sure what it is, but you will rarely find me running when it is not part of another sport/ activity, or a game of (big) cat-and-mouse.
That being said, I have been on the hunt for ways to be able to eat whatever I want, and not shed a pound. The days of high school where I could eat Wendy’s after football practice, eat dinner with my family an hour later, and then have ice cream or dessert (spelled with 2 “s” because you always want seconds) and not gaining a pound are long gone.
I have always been physically active and have found that I sleep better, have more energy, and am more productive if I can keep up with a regular workout/ exercise plan. The hard part is actually doing it, on my own, and sticking with it.
At the beginning of 2010, I had a job, and I was starting to look around at gym’s I could join. Well, I actually put a lot of research into it, with graphs and charts on my financial capability to spend a certain amount on 1) a membership and 2) monthly dues. There was no way that I could sign a 2 year contract because I want the flexibility to be able to move and go where I want without being tied to a particular gym. I also didn’t want to pay a ton upfront and monthly for a month-to-month contract. That left me with few options, but I still kept looking.
The nice thing about this phase of the game was free-trials. Oh, the free trial periods were fantastic. I could work out at one gym for a week, then be at another for the next week, and so on. This lasted me about a month or so. There were a few problems with this though.
First off, I was in no mood to work out after work, at 5pm, when the rest of the world gets off and wants to go use all the machines and free weights. That is just not conducive to getting a good lift in. That left me to work out in the morning. Well, that’s great and all, and I can do that, but getting up that early left me very little time to explore and do anything at night, due to the early wake up call. I didn’t want to consider myself the old guy of getting up at 5, and going to bed at 10. Not just yet anyways. I felt like I was missing out on a lot. This was just a problem in general to wanting to work out, and not necessarily attributed to the free trials, but it was a problem nonetheless.
Next was the issue that all of these free trials were on successive days. You had 7 days in a row to work out, and then it would expire. Well, it’s tough to work out 7 days in a row, period. Throw in that I got sick one week, I went out of town another weekend, and there were days when I just needed a day off, for my body and my mind. So all in all, I was able to work out for only about 5 days in each trial. That is may sound like quite a bit, but I don’t think it was nearly enough to consider throwing roughly $300-$500 a year on in dues. The trials let me see how I was able to fit it in my schedule for a week, but things changed, and I knew my weekly work and social schedule would change from week to week, so it was hard wanting to commit that amount of money into something that I may not even be using.
So, to conclude with that portion, I chose not to join a gym, and see what I could do on my own that would count as exercise and keep me in my peak physical condition (it’s all relative).
Fortunately, right about this time I was asked by a buddy to play some pick-up basketball. We got together at Park Cities Baptist Church, where they had an open gym on Monday nights starting at 7. This gave me plenty of time to get off work, get home and get some energy in me (food), and make it over there in time to run myself ragged.
The first time I played, I was unable to stand up when as I was trying to leave. I couldn’t lift my arms, much less open the trunk of my car to put my things away. I came home, sat down, and fell asleep. This was at 9:15pm, and I slept until I had to get up at 7:30 the next morning. I was the definition of exhausted, and not to mention sore. The next day was a pain (literally) to do anything that didn’t involve just sitting there. Picking up phones was next to impossible, so I learned to use the speaker phone pretty well. Lunch time became nap time. It was a long day.
Over the next couple weeks I began to play a little more at a park near my house to get into some sort of shape to play on Mondays. It was a struggle, but was a lot of fun every day. Unfortunately, my schedule got busy and I was unable to continue with Monday night pick-up games. It was about this time when I discovered the Katy Trail.
The Katy Trail is a 3 1/2 mile path in Dallas that follows Turtle Creek from the edge of Highland Park to the American Airlines Center. It has two cross streets, and then it is a non-stop pedestrian path for about 2 1/2 miles. Now, as I stated earlier- not a fan of running. But fortunately for me, my uncle, who used to compete in triathalons, had an extra bike that he had been unable to use due to an injury that he was willing to let me borrow (as well as all the gear).
Now, to get into biking, it is not necessarily cheap. I was fortunate, but if you ask around, you may be able to find something. Going used is a good way to get an idea of what you like/ don’t like. You won’t know unless you try something. Also, go into bike shops and just ask the guys. Yes, they may want you to ride out of there on their new, top-of-the-line 2011 models, but you can just say no. Just to ask the guys that know the most is a good place to start.
Also, find a friend that would be interested in going with you. That always helps to make the experience easier and a lot more fun. I was able to explore all of the Katy Trail, as well as a few others around town, including White Rock Lake, with a buddy of mine, and it was always an easier ride. At least it gives you someone to complain to, or with. During the colder months it was hard to get out, but there was a weekend this January when the weather was in the 70’s and 80’s that I was able to get the bike out. It’s starting to get warmer and warmer each day, and with that, there is more of an opportunity to get out and enjoy doing something productive each day. Besides, I need to look good in a bikini for the summer, so it’s time to shape up.
Now onto the reason why this draft was a little delayed. One of the reasons I started this blog was to find things to do in Dallas. Another reason, and probably a more valid reason is that I am in the process of applying for an internship with The Resorts at Isla Palenque, based on an island just off the coast of Panama. With this internship, I would be responsible for many different forms of social media, from blogging to tweeting, that cover all the excursions and activities that are available on the island.
It is an amazing opportunity, and I wanted to get a chance to show off my talented writing skills with some samples for the people in charge of selecting the intern to take a peek at.
Another portion of the application process includes submitting a YouTube video about yourself. This was my first video I have ever produced, and I got caught up in working on it. I had an idea for the production of it going in, but took many man-hours to piece the video together exactly how I wanted. That being said, I was delayed in producing this blog because I wanted to have this video up and completed with plenty of time to gain views before the application deadline at the end of March. So please please please watch this video and share it with all of your friends and family. I would greatly appreciate it.
You can also view it on the Isla Palenque website here:
So I decided to take a step back, and really take a look at things I’ve done before that I enjoyed doing over the past couple years. I consider myself pretty outgoing, but I think that my group of friends tend to get in ruts, going to the same bars every weekend, and well, plainly stated it get’s boring. Not that my friends are boring, but changing up the scenery is a must in my book. I need something that makes for a little bit more spontaneity in my life.
My first venture will be trying to change it up slightly. Nothing from way out in left field, but never-the-less, something different. Exploring different bars, and what I can find to mix it up, will be a good start. Things I’ve done in the past includes going to Happy Hours, as well as bar trivia nights. I think that’s the best way to get a feel for a bar I’ve never been to. Getting a group together to explore is great, but having a chance to win some of bar tab away is always a great incentive.
Now when it comes to Happy Hour, my work schedule tends to get in the way. Quite a bit actually. It’s hard to make it to happy hour when you are working straight through them. But, on the rare occasion I can make it out, I feel it’s a good chance to relax and have some fun.
I have been able to find a few bars in Dallas that provide a fun atmosphere, and have various outside forms of entertainment (other than the main revenue source of food and beverage) to keep you preoccupied. Now I am not adequately experienced in any aspect to review, restaurants, bars, hot dog stands, or vending machines of any sort for that matter. These are just my thoughts and opinions on forms of entertainment, which may or may not include food and beverage. Nothing from a qualified point of view. Just a word of caution before you take anything too seriously.
Starting with Happy Hours that I have actually been to, I suppose the biggest draw for anyone to go to a Happy Hour to begin with, revolves around the idea that one can get off work, and share some drinks for cheap. Now, cheap is all relative, but less expensive than the normal price is always better, and a better description of what I’m in for. With the right group, it can be a very good time. One of the latest Happy Hours that I have been able to check out was at Three Sheets (http://www.threesheetsdallas.com/). The drinks were fair, and it was a neat little set up just off of Ross Street. One of the most intriguing things I saw was there outdoor back patio, complete with pool table and giant Jenga. It amazes me how this child’s game is still able to entertain twenty-something’s. It is as if the size of game grows with it’s intended audience. Surprisingly, this little (or big) game can be a blast.
It can be even more entertaining when you pair it with throwback video arcade games, like at Barcadia (http://www.barcadiadallas.com/). The pleasure of giant wooden bricks falling and crashing all around you, joined with eating dots as Ms. PacMan and good old fashioned skee-ball is hard to top. That’s right. I said skee-ball. The only negative I can think of for giant Jenga is being the one that has to purchase the next round when you lose. Not only is this place fantastic for our generation (think of it as an adult Chuck-E-Cheese), but it has a good selection of drinks at reasonable prices. The biggest draw for me is the ability to play endless hours of street fighter, off into the wee hours of the morning, all for free on Wednesday nights (that is, as long as I keep winning in the winner-stays-on mindset of all gamers). Skee-ball, Street Fighter, PacMan and giant Jenga= I am a happy guy, and my wallet stays packed full of… well, since there’s not a whole lot in there to begin with, it’s better to say that I don’t have to take anything out of it.
Trivia night always leads to an interesting night as well. I am no genius, and the secret to success for this fantastic little game lies in the power of numbers. Unfortunately with the large numbers, the winnings are split up to very small portions. This is unfortunate, but I suppose it’s not all about winning (but it really is). My favorite Trivia Night that I have been to is up in Addison on Tuesday nights, at the Flying Saucer (http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/addison/). There are a few Flying Saucer locations spread throughout the country. It is an interesting set up, with hundreds of beer at the ready. An an iconic tradition at the Flying Saucer is that you can join the UFO Club, and once you have purchased/ consumed 200 beers, you are rewarded with a plate, a “saucer” if you will. Upon said saucer, your name and a motto of your choosing will be forever emblazoned upon and hung from the wall, among the other hundreds of other alcho.. *ahem* I mean connoisseurs of beer that have reached this milestone.
Trivia night at Flying Saucer is begun with a warning about crude language, an insulting MC, and the difficult task of determining a name your team. The most creative and funny names are applauded and cheered, or simply just laughed at. Once the actual questions begin, each round is filled with useless random question, where in a large group (this is where the power of numbers comes in), someone is bound to know the answer. The topics vary from episodes of Seinfeld, to ancient geography. They really do run the gamut. I know I remember useless random facts, that have no applicable use to my everyday life, but knowing that the human small intestines range between 19 and 21 feet long has proven it’s worth at least once, therefore no longer remaining a useless fact in my mind.
Alright, so there are some of the things I have enjoyed doing. I have a good little list here of some stuff that I haven’t done, or things I don’t think I have done enough of, but if you have any suggestions at all, please let me know. At this point I feel like Mike Rowe, begging for more dirty jobs, but I haven’t quite run out yet so I’m not to the begging stage… yet.
Thanks,
Collin
ANSWER: Barbara Millicent Roberts- Barbie’s full name is Barbra Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents’ names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin- Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie (YES, I had to look it up)
I am just starting this blog, mainly to vent, ramble, and learn from my experiences here in Dallas, and share them with others. I think I will touch on various subjects, including finding a job, food ( I find it impossible to not take food into account with my everyday life) , traveling out of Dallas (since this will be my personal journal, I can do whatever I please, thank you very much), but I will mainly be taking a look into various outings and things to do IN Dallas. Events, parties, activities that are affordable, fun, but can possibly be done outside of Dallas to entertain others with my same problem: the lack of a real job.
I have lived in Dallas now for 2 years on my own. I grew up here until as I was about 13, but at that point in my life I was still requiring my parents to haul me around everywhere, and had little, to no money from allowance to afford a driver to take over their position. Having been here now, with my own means of transportation (still working on getting that driver), for a couple of years, I figured I would have been able to find plenty of things to do and keep me entertained while looking for a job, once I had a job, and once I won the lottery to where I wouldn’t need a job.
When I first got here, in my mind I had endless options of things to do to keep my busy. But, as I learned fairly quickly, it’s only so exciting to go to the bars here every weekend when you can afford to spend money on it every weekend. Being in a college town was a great time, and I thought that spending $10 for a movie ticket, popcorn and a drink was expensive, I had no idea what I was in for when I moved up to the big city. Now what I found out in Dallas is that it is almost more enticing to stay at home, watch a movie on Netflix, eat saltines, and drink tap water, than pay roughly $20-$30 for the same thing at a movie theater.
Now, I am not any kind of high-maintenance, but I do like nice things just like the next guy. Finding clothes that look good without breaking the bank is one tough job in itself ( my definition of “look good” is always changing and different, but stays pretty classic and as far as you can be from the dragons and lions bedazzled on the shirts that many wear today). I want to wear good looking clothes, but I run through my closet pretty quickly. And what doesn’t help, is 9 times out of 10, my laundry still has all the “going out” shirts I own still unwashed, for the next time I want to go out.
Considering I had not found a job that was in the realm of what I wanted to do by the end of summer when I was about to move to Dallas, I was able to use some connections and found a volunteer opportunity that would be a great resume builder and a stepping stone to a real job. I found out how quickly my life plan of graduate high school, go to college, graduate college, get a real job changed when the economy took a hit and I was stuck with a degree from a good school, that was almost worthless. I was fortunate to have family and friends that I was able to live with cheaply in the Dallas area, and took advantage of that opportunity. Well, after a couple months there, and some side jobs for some extra spending money, I could barely even afford to go out at all. On a positive note, some extra weight was lost during this period. But that didn’t really help my financial situation, and in fact, it was a small hindrance. Well, at one point a couple months down the road, I had a job. Then the organization struggled, and I didn’t have a job anymore. I had some side jobs that kept me alive and through that next summer, but not the 9-5 kind of job that basically everyone has. The most important aspect of this was the lack of a steady revenue stream to enjoy the luxuries of life, such as eating out at Chipotle and Whataburger.
A couple things changed this past Fall, and as it stands, I am working two volunteer positions that I love, and two paid positions I work to survive. The way things are, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I won’t get too in-depth about what I do, but I will say that I get to travel a lot with the volunteer positions (one of my favorite things to do, so that is fair payment for the time being), and I get to work a lot. I suppose that second bit goes hand in hand with the fact that I have four jobs. Overall, in a regular work week, I work just over 50 hours, spread out amongst the four positions. So it could be worse, but I still want to be able to enjoy my life as a twenty-something. It’s hard to get a break, but it sure is enjoyable when it comes around once in a blue moon.
Needless to say, I work hard. But, equally important is that I like to play hard. Finding enjoyable forms of entertainment to fill my spare time, that won’t leave me begging the parents for money (or a ride) are crucial. Now, I’m not necessarily limiting this to night-time activities. I love to go out and do things on the occasional day off. I am open to all suggestions. I’m not necessarily looking for free things to do, but things that can be done cheaply.
There. That’s my back story for this blog. If you skimmed through everything I just said, you only need to come away with this:
I’m bored, frugal, and running out of options. What is there to do in Dallas?
TopGolf
Big D, Big Life, with just a little common cents 