Guest post by John Whitaker, founder of HR Hardball
Coming to Dallas SourceCon? Bring Cab Fare…
Bonus Fun Stuff: 9 Ways You’ll Love Fall Flavor in Dallas.
Well howdy folks, and welcome to Dallas ~ now get your Smartphones out and download the Uber app. On behalf of the Metroplex (I’ll get to that in a minute), please bring your consumer dollar and spend liberally. If you’re one of the hundreds of people headed down (or over) here for #SourceCon, why not bring the spouse or significant other (or both) and make it a long weekend? The “Metroplex” includes all of the cities and communities that include/bridge the Dallas/Ft. Worth corridor. Having grown up in Ft. Worth, then living in Dallas, Irving, Bedford, and now Southlake, I feel moderately qualified to make a few recommendations.
Howdy, Ya’ll!
Full disclosure, folks – this ain’t Chicago (or New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Boston, or Vegas) but it’s one helluva place to live. And, since you picked a week to come where the weather might actually fool you into thinking we have a “moderate” climate, it’s a good time to enjoy what we have to offer.
There are probably more comprehensive lists but there may still be a few things you could do that would make this a truly memorable experience – and NONE of it occurs in Dallas. As a Ft. Worth boy, I can impartially tell you that Ft. Worth blows the doors off of Dallas and demands your attention, and sits only a short 25-minute drive away.
Joe T. Garcias
There’s only one Mexican food experience that counts around here, Joe T’s., located on the North Side of Downtown Ft. Worth, is an institution. Authentic family-style Mexican food, margaritas that are flammable (again, Uber app), and the perfect place for a pre-game meal or post-game capper with friends. One of a kind, take advantage of the opportunity while you’re here.
LOCATION
2201 N. Commerce St
Ft Worth, TX | Route Map
TURF: Ft Worth
WHAT MAKES IT FUN?
Landmark food for the area, lots of history. Their online menu is broken — just trust us.
Categories: Fun Places
Billy Bob’s Texas
Billy Bob’s — yeah, it’s cliché, and it’s a little hokey, but the place is massive and lies just down the road from the aforementioned Joe T.’s. Dancing, mechanical bull-riding, honest-to-God cowboys and goat-ropers (don’t ask), this Friday (Sep 18, 2015), it’s featuring Bret Michaels. I’m not a fan, but still – Bret Michaels.
LOCATION
2520 Rodeo Plaza
Ft Worth, TX | Route Map
TURF: Ft. Worth
WHAT MAKES IT FUN?
Merle Haggard once bought a round for the entire honky-tonk — 5,095 drinks = 40 gals of whiskey!
Categories: Fun Places
Sundance Square
This is downtown Ft. Worth. You may have heard of the Bass Brothers – they started financing the re-building of our downtown back in 1979. Outside of Austin, this is the best downtown in Texas. Great restaurants, great scene, and you can walk anywhere without fear. Try that in Dallas, but make sure your dental records are up-to-date. In downtown Ft. Worth you’ll actually see mounted police in cowboy hats ~ I don’t care who you are, that’s pretty cool, padnuh.
LOCATION
Main St
Ft Worth, TX | Route Map
TURF: Downtown Ft. Worth
WHAT MAKES IT FUN?
Broad variety of arts, dining, clubs. Houston St. even has a REAL speakeasy! We’d tell you, but we’d have to …well, you know.
Categories: Fun Places
Globe Life Park
Yeah, I know, this is an Arlington highlight, but this is Major League Baseball. Located next door to Jerry Jones’s Death Star (literally, they can share parking lots) in Arlington, the Texas Rangers are on a home stand & they are in the throes of a pennant race. Playing the Houston Astros on Thursday, the Seattle Mariners on Friday and Saturday (September 2015). Beautiful stadium, outrageous food, meaningful baseball in September – what’s not to like?
LOCATION
1000 Ballpark Way
Arlington, TX | Route Map
TURF: Arlington
WHAT MAKES IT FUN?
Here’s a lame list of Texas Rangers jokes.
Categories: Fun Stuff
So do yourself a favor while you’re here in Cowtown ~ grab a few buds, get a ride, and go see a more “Texas-y” part of Texas. You have my personal, bias-free endorsement.
Editors’ Note: If you’re lucky enough to be in town long enough to catch the Texas State Fair (even though it’s in Fair Park, Dallas), read up on FunCity Stuff’s adventures at the Big Tex Choice Awards and maybe win some admission tickets while you’re at it!
John,
I couldn’t agree more. It is so funny, I have practically lived here my whole life and yet, I have only recently visited the four places you mentioned (3 for work and one for church) in the past year.
In regards to Uber, I LOVE IT! I use it exclusively when I travel. Also Airbnb, but that’s another story.
FullCustodyDad
http://DaddyGotCustody.com