Strap on your boots and pull out your high intensity hairspray--we’re tackling dating in the big ‘D’!
Dallas has a great sense of appreciation for different cultures and the arts. If you have a pioneering spirit and you like the heat, this is your city. Don’t shy away from looking for a two-step partner to step out with here. Even though Texas is riddled with stereotypical types, there really is someone for everyone here; it’s not all gun-strapping men and busty blondes. There is a burgeoning arts scene and a lively liberal faction (gasp!) growing steadily upon its conservative roots. The LGBT community also has a home here and some great spots to meet new people. If you are serious about dating in the DFW area, get ready to drive. It’s vast. Plus, you might want to explore the options in it’s sister city, Ft. Worth, and surrounding mid-cities.
So go west and start dating!
The Scene
Dating in Dallas is delicious (try saying that 5 times fast in a southern accent). There is enough amazing food to feed a small army and no shortage of quality people to date. Here’s the caveat: you’d better be ready to go big or go home. There is more of an urgency to finding someone “special” in the South. Settling down and having babies before you are 30 is a pretty common goal. Of course, there are those who take their time, preferring to court a mate beyond their 30’s; but don’t be surprised if all of your friends marry their high school sweethearts. There is something to be said for Southern-style charm and romance! In my experience, it has all of the workings of a great love story: it’s soft, but sweeping and adventurous. However, the Southern veneer is sometimes a mask of false pretenses. People are often very excited to get to know you in the beginning, but can quickly lose interest. As with any dating experience, there is a little bit of playing the game. When in Dallas, play it with a smile, even if you aren’t winning. Treat it like a high-stakes hand of “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
The Spot
Beauty and the Feast: Located in the Greenville Avenue neighborhood, Truck Yard in Dallas is a date hot spot. It’s an outdoor food truck park with live music, beer on tap, and food samplings from across the globe. Meet your date there and each order something different to eat. Share bites and compare notes. After you’ve had your fill, head over to Beauty Bar in lower Greenville for cocktails, dancing and...manicures. Yes, you can actually get a martini and a manicure before hitting the floor with your freshest moves and freshly polished fingers!
The Culture Vulture: The Arts District is booming! Dallas recently pumped a lot of money into their arts scene as evidenced by the AT&T Performing Arts Center, which is also home to the Dallas Theatre Center. The Winspear Opera House, The Nasher Sculpture Center and Perot Museum of Nature and Science are also close by. You could make a whole day out of hanging in this area. Start with a walk in Klyde Warren Park and then head over to the theatre to see one of the new works put on by DTC. Other nearby theatre companies like, Kitchen Dog and Second Thought Theatre are also excellent options for those with more adventurous tastes.
Cowboy Be-Bop: If you want a true Texas experience, take your date to some country line dancing at Adair’s Saloon in Deep Ellum. It’s a dive bar with a lot of character (and quality cowboy spotting). Two-stepping is encouraged, as well as bringing a Sharpie to leave a personal note on the wall! Come prepared with a sweet little verse to commemorate your date--he or she will be delighted. A notable spot for the Queer community is The Round-Up Saloon and Dance Hall. Possibly the best gay western bar in the U.S.! Lady Gaga is rumored to stop by on occasion, having frequented the place frequently during her early career.
The Story
(submitted by Greg F., age 28, Dallas, Texas)
Highland Park is a beautiful neighborhood in Dallas. During the Holiday season, it has a lot of Christmas lights that people come from miles around to see. I had been dating my girlfriend (now wife) for about 3 months and her birthday was approaching. I really wanted to do something magical for her and I knew she LOVED Volkswagon vintage vans. To this day she still talks about how she wants one. So I put an ad out on Craigslist asking if anyone had one I could rent for the evening. A gentleman responded to let me know that he not only had one, but would personally chauffeur us around in it. He also let me know that the van was covered in Christmas lights and asked me if that was ok. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I dropped my car off at the restaurant we would end up at, and had my girlfriend's mother drive me to her house. When I showed up, she was confused as to why her mom had driven me, until the “man in the van” drove up in a glittery vision of Christmas glory. Her confusion became surprise and excitement. We drove around looking at Christmas lights in the neighborhood before heading to The Royal Tie for an amazing dinner. It was one of the most magical evenings of my life, and by far my best date in Dallas.
If you have a great date story, we’d love to hear from you! Looking for submissions from San Francisco next!
Date Wherever You Are,
Misty
The Wayfaring Dater
Photography from Staycation