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Central business district in United States
Photo: Fjord003975, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District of the city of Dallas. Traditionally defined as the area within the belt of freeways surrounding the centre, it is now deemed to have expanded to an area known as Uptown, north of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway thanks to the new walkable Klyde Warren Park, while in the east the center spills across US-75 into the Deep Ellum neighborhood.
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More than just an aquarium, this unique zoo tour starts at the canopy level of a rain forest. Visitors wind their way down past many types of animals to find the aquarium at the bottom.
One of the defining landmarks of the Dallas skyline, has been renovated. There is an observation deck and restaurant at the top of the distinctive ball-shaped tower.
In many ways this park is redefining the city's character. The Klyde Warren Park is a privately-funded public space over the underground section of the Woodall Rodgers Freeway which forms the northern boundary of Downtown. With greenery and performance/event spaces, it is one of the rare places in Downtown which allow outdoor recreation and enhances walkability towards Uptown. It is named after a living person, the son of its primary benefactor, Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren.
Constructed in the early 1970s, the City Hall of Dallas is a unique architectural monument, shaped by its architect I.M. Pei as an inverted pyramid placed in the centre of a large open plot of land. While constructed of uncovered concrete, the building is not obnoxiously brutalist, as the colour of the concrete was carefully chosen to match the earth tones of the surrounding grounds. Unusual when constructed, it now provides a unique retrofuturistic vibe, which lent it to star, e.g. in Robocop as a dystopian corporate headquarters.
World-class art museum downtown befitting Dallas' status as a center of the oil, finance, and technology industries. Exhibits from all historical periods from antiquity to the present day. General admission is free; only temporary exhibits require admission.
This collection of sculpture provides a fantastic outdoor oasis in the heart of the downtown arts district. The Renzo Piano designed facility pulls in the surrounding light and energy of the district but does not overwhelm. The indoor-outdoor collection of renowned Dallas collector Raymond Nasher is truly astounding. Ask about the combined admission ticket to see the Nasher and the Dallas Museum of Art, directly across Harwood St.
Tells the story of the development of Dallas County from pre-historic times to the present day. This museum opened in May and the quality of the exhibits and explanations is unusually high. Very much worth a visit if you want to understand the historical context of Dallas. In the restored 1892 Courthouse Building, a few minutes' walk from the Sixth Floor museum.
The Dallas Natural History Museum relocated to this spectacular building funded by Ross Perot, a former Presidential candidate and local billionaire. It is a large science museum featuring permanent educational exhibits that are mainly geared toward kids but may also be entertaining for adults, plus more serious temporary exhibits that appeal more to adults.
An unfortunate part of Dallas' history is that it is the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Texas Book Depository is the site where shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, and the museum is on the sixth floor of the same building, with an extra exhibition on the seventh. It is a moving experience with videos, full-wall descriptions and photographs, along with artifacts from the event. The museum's gift shop is in a different building.
Museum displaying various artifacts and eyewitness testimony from the Holocaust.
The Samurai Collection
Small Uptown museum displaying a private collection of samurai arms and armor. Admission is free with a timed entry pass booked on the .
Located close to Dallas World Aquarium, this museum will take you from reality to the world of imagination, fusing fun with education.
Home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Choir, features a busy schedule of classical music performances
Home of the Dallas Opera company and Texas Ballet Theater, both with wide repertoires, and also welcoming guest performances by acclaimed artists from all over the globe.
Unorthodox in its design, the Wyly Theatre has its functions "stacked" one upon another, creating a relatively tall twelve-storey block, covered with anodized aluminium rods on the outside, with main stage seating for up to 600 spectators. The home company is the Dallas Theater Center.
Dallas' professional basketball team, playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ticket prices vary from $10 up to $240 for a seat very close to the action. In 2011, the team won the NBA championship. Though the centerpiece of that team, Dirk Nowitzki, has long since retired, the Mavs remain relevant thanks to Luka Dončić.
Dallas' professional hockey team, playing in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Under Main St in Historic Deep Ellum, the Undermain Theatre produces exciting, original plays and acclaimed international works. Undermain stirs emotions and inspires the imagination.
Offers short hands-on courses in cheese-making and cheese pairing.
Kind of classy Mexican food in the West End. Try the quail.
Good Cinnamon Bread. Great customer service.
El Salvadoran/Tex-Mex in Dallas with many locations.Great food & Margaritas. Try a Meltdown. Very cheap.
Excellent Tex-Mex. Great frozen margarita. The flagship restaurant is Highland Park Village. Mi Cocina has other locations throughout Dallas.
A great steakhouse with very good service, be sure not to miss the bone-in filet. Dark, romantic atmosphere. Dress code enforced. It also has a great bar scene for anyone over thirty that wants something a little more sophisticated.
Excellent sushi.
French dining with a distinctly old-fashioned feel. A Dallas institution since 1948.
A place for a quick cocktail, or impeccably prepared food accompanied by a selection from an impressive wine list.
Amazing Tex-Mex with dimmer light.
Excellent pizzas for main course and desert.
The Deep Ellum location of the Dallas favorite.
This restaurant truly has some of the best Tex-Mex in Dallas. Try the tacos norteños, the fried taquitos, or the shrimp enchiladas verdes. You can't go wrong; there's not a bad choice on the menu. Everything is homemade, even the chips & sauce.
A casual place to drink beer and eat some good southern style food with your friends.
McKinney Avenue Area
A party bar. Unbelievably crowded on the weekends and extremely popular. Typical 20s-30s crowd.
In Uptown Dallas, Dragonfly is a trendy bar and lounge that attracts an eclectic mix of Hollywood celebrities and world travelers. Open year round, the lounge offers a chic, poolside retreat.
Shows W-Su. One of the oldest live music venues in Deep Ellum. They have a nice patio in back.
On the far east edge of Deep Ellum. This venue hosts live music of all types from local and national acts.
Spacious rooms, quality furnishing. Reasonably sound proofed and quiet air conditioning (for USA). Connected to Convention Center.
Offers European-style rooms, a day spa, business center, meeting space and wedding facilities, and a private club.
Re-opened in 1999 and is in the oldest high-rise building in downtown Dallas. Adorning the top of the building is a red lighted Pegasus, which is a permanent fixture in the Dallas skyline. The hotel offers great features, location and amenities, such as: complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks, breakfast and cookies and milk at bedtime.
This renovated luxury boutique hotel is an historic property that is a staple of the neighborhood. This unique property features a skyline penthouse, Bolla Modern Italian restaurant, a full-service spa and top-of-the-line accommodations.
Very nice and has a modern feel. Check out Ghost Bar if you stay there.
This boutique hotel features a variety of concept suites, meeting and wedding facilities, luxury day spa, and dining and nightlife spaces.
Trendy shopping mall for the 20/30-somethings.
A functioning, if not bustling, farmers' market in a convenient downtown location
The flagship store of this luxury department store chain.
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