Christmas Downtown

Uptown Dallas Today

 103 degrees outside and Christmas is just around the corner. The City of Dallas will be opening the new Main Street Gardens in November . The Downtown tree lighting will be at the new park on November 20th and 21st . The cafe that will be at Main Street Gardens may be open at this time also. The Christmas tree has stood at Pegasus Plaza the past few years surrounded by tall buildings. 

 The new location will be in the shadow of the Mercantile Building. That is the building with the clock, it works too, on top. This park may just be a great location for New Years Eve celebration,just a thought.The old Hotel next to the park will be covered in some way to make it look a little better. The old City Hall building will be converted to the University of North Texas Law School. Even with all the hot weather Christmas is just around the corner.

 The Rosewood Court high rise on Cedar Springs and pearl will have a new restaurant coming this fall. The Ocean Prime will open soon. Cupcakery as some of you alrady know is now open.Split Peas restaurant, from El Paso, is also now open. They are both Located on Mc kinney Ave. Free tonight at the Nasher Sculpture Garden and Dallas Museum of Art. 

 See you there .            

Nasher Free Thursday Night

Uptown Dallas Today

 Spent a wonderful Friday in Ft Worth yesterday . We took the Trinity Railway Express to downtown Ft Worth for  5 $ per adult. What a deal ! Spent the day in Sundance Square and enjoyed  the shops and restaurants and even went to the Stockyards for an evening Rodeo.

A great time was had by all .

 The Nasher Sculpture Garden is free this Thursday night July 30th. If you have never been to this museum it is a one of the best  sculpture museums in the world. At night the garden is incredible with all the tall buildings and lights of downtown Dallas. Take advantage of this fantastic deal on Thursday night. I will be the one standing next to the Walk to the Sky sculpture.

 The Taste of West Village is this Tuesday night and it will benefit the North Texas Food Bank. A worthy cause and they need your help more now than ever. The All About Uptown Festival is coming again on September 26th from 11 to 10 pm. They are looking for Arts,Restaurants and organizations to be in the festival. If you or someone you know is interested  contact Sandra Johnson 214-871-7696. 

 Enjoy the Summer day .

       

    

Uptown Film

Uptown Dallas Today 

 Uptown is the home to 8 film production companies . Wow almost like Hollywood. They mostly do post production work ,but, do have some big national clients. 

 Uptown has been used as a backdrop for several commercials lately. If you watch local stations you will see the Mc Kinney Ave Trolley being used several times. Griggs park has been used for a Texas Lottery commercial. I have seen many photo shoots in the area. Including a vending machine set up on the corner of Hall and Mc Kinney. One time there were several  models in wedding dresses walking up Bowen for a photo shoot. 

 You never know In Uptown when you just might walk up on a film shoot. The Uptown area looks good on film. We have tall modern buildings and many Victorian homes and a vintage Trolley passing by on Mc Kinney. Smile, you could be discovered in Uptown . 

         

Thomas and Worthington

Uptown Dallas Today

 Thomas and Worthington are two streets that intersect in the the middle of Uptown.Condominium and town homes and apartments in every direction. In 1931 this corner was home to the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library. In 1931 this was a residential neighborhood with mostly wood frame homes up and down each street. 

 The Dunbar Library was built to serve the African American community that lived in " North Dallas" as the Uptown neighborhood was called in 1931.This library would also serve Booker T Washington just a few blocks south of the corner. Booker T Washington was the African American High School at the time. 

 The Library was named after Paul Laurence Dunbar a distinguished African American poet. The Dunbar Library remained in Uptown until 1959 when it was closed and moved farther out from the Central Library downtown. 

 If you live on this corner of Uptown and get a need to read now you know why. Remember to support the Libraries. In Dallas they will be cutting 90% of the new books purchased for next year. If you have a good book you have finished donate that book . Pass it on to others. 

  Time for some coffee and a good book. I am heading to Crooked Tree Coffee House on Routh St ,one block south off Mc Kinney. They have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.           

Texas State Fair and Exposition

Uptown Dallas Today

 Just north of downtown Dallas, in 1886 near what is now Cole Park ,the first Great State Fair of Texas was being held. The fair was called the Texas State Fair and Exposition. Drawing thousands of visitors this Fair was considered somewhat of a success.

 The Dallas State Fair which was being held at the same time , near Fair Park , lost more than 100,000 dollars. The two competing Fairs came from a disagreement with a groups of founding fathers. Sounds like today's political environment in Dallas .When an agreement could not be reached two opposing groups created two Fairs.

 Thank goodness in 1887 the two groups came together . They agreed to have the  State Fair of Texas  at what is now Fair Park. The Cole Park group got to decide the name and of course helped pay some of the debt. Horse racing was the big money maker at the Fair for many years. Today the State Fair is the largest in the country.  

 Just remember when you are the State Fair that it has roots all the way to Uptown .The Great  State Fair of Texas begins on Friday September 25th hope to see Y'all there.

 Today is buy one get one ,entrees, at the Dream Cafe . Located in the Quadrangle just one block off Mc Kinney.  Look for Roccos Pizza to move to the Quadrangle soon.

               

Way Down Below Uptown

Uptown Dallas Today

 Just below the surface of Cole Park is an underground vault. Cole Park,named after Jack Cole, is just north of North Dallas High School and is at the northern edge of Uptown. The park is now under construction with new sidewalk and  other amenities being added.

   When you go past the park you will notice a non-descript building on the southwestern corner,near the tennis courts. Within that building there is an elevator shaft that will take you to the Cole Park Detention Vault. The vault is totally dark as you would expect it to be. There are 13 vaults here spreading over 842 feet in the direction of Turtle Creek. Each vault is 24 feet wide and 40 feet tall . The 13 vaults have a 71 million gallon capacity. These vaults are used for capturing flood waters before they reach Turtle Creek. 

 The vaults were built in 1993, at the same time as Central Expressway,and have been used at least 3 times since,during heavy rains. The vaults  then hold the excess rain water and slowly release back into the creek . We do not get a lot of rain here ,but, when we do it can bring a flood very quickly. 

  Now you know a little about what is down below Uptown. Downtown Dallas has many tunnels leading to most of the major high rises. The downtown tunnels are open during the day,Monday-Friday, and have many retail shops and restaurants. A good place to go walking if you do not like the hot summer sun.             

     

Up Over Uptown

Uptown Dallas Today

 If you want one of the best views of Uptown I suggest a trip downtown to the Chase Tower. That is the building with the hole at the top. At the base of the hole is the Sky lobby with fantastic views of north and south Dallas.

 The Sky lobby is open Monday-Friday from 9-5 pm and is accessible from the ground floor lobby.Take the Sky lobby elevator, of course,directly to the 40th floor. No stops required and very quick . A beautiful decorated lobby awaits. With plants and water and watch that step ! Very easy to walk off into the water if you are over whelmed by the incredible view .

 From the south view you can see Fair Park and many of the tall downtown high rises and just below is Dart line . 

 From the north view you can see the Museum District , a view of the Catholic church Bell Tower and the Federal Reserve Building. An incredible view of Uptown and the State Thomas Historical District. Depending on the wind you will see Southwest Airlines landing or taking off from Love Field. Almost close enough to wave to the pilots.

 Give this a try unless you are afraid of heights.Easy to get to on the corner of Pearl and Ross or better yet take Dart to pearl station and walk over. You can also take the Trolley , stopping at St Paul, and walk over from there ,about 4 blocks. A fantastic view of Uptown and Dallas and better yet it is FREE !          

Construction on the Trail

Uptown Dallas Today

 Construction has begun on the Katy Trail overlooking Lee Park . The plaza will be known as Snyders Union and it will take about 5 months to complete the project. A trail bypass has been completed around the project. This plaza will have a wonderful view of Lee Park and Turtle Creek. This will be a great addition to the trail.

 Snyders Union is located between Hall and Lemmon streets. A large apartment complex is currently under construction also.There still is a sidewalk connection from Carlisle street for those coming from the Uptown area.  

 Coming soon will be the extension of the Katy Trail northward to Mockingbird Station. Funding is in place and construction will hopefully start before the end of the year. This will create a connection to the Lower Greenville Ave area. 

 For those of you that use the trail,and there were a lot of you this morning, today is a good day to join. You can do so by going to the web site www.katytraildallas.org . Check it out and become a member.                

They are watching you

Uptown Dallas Today

  The Uptown Public Improvement District has paid for the installation of 11 video monitoring cameras . The cameras are located on Mc Kinney Ave at almost every intersection . They look over Golds Gym, Albertsons ,West Village and several of the late night spots . They are being monitored by the Dallas Police Department.

  I have taken a tour of the facility and the cameras are remarkably clear and can zoom in very close. They are scattered all over downtown and some in the Fair Park area. They have reduced crime in the areas they have been used. If you have ever been to England they use these type of cameras and have been doing so for a long time. If used wisely they will reduce crime.

 Dallas Area Rapid Transit will soon begin using cameras at all of there transit stations. A grant from Homeland Security will help pay for installation and operation. In the Uptown area that will be the City Place station.DART now has a mobile phone system that allows you to know when your bus will arrive and where it is now. Very cool and in real time .  

 When you are out and about in Uptown and it feels like someone is looking over your shoulder . They are !               

Taste of Dallas

Uptown Dallas Today

 Taste of Dallas is the weekend Friday,Saturday and Sunday . They are busy setting everything up today . You can follow Mc Kinney Ave all the way to the West End. Some parking may be available under the freeways,but, most lots around the West End will be used for the event. The best way to get there is to take Dart from Cityplace. Buy a 3$ all day pass and get off at the West End station and you are there. The Trolley will be running also and it is a 5 block walk down Ross Ave to the West End. The Trolley will be running late on Friday and Saturday night.

 Studio 2600 will be having a big sale on Saturday from 10-4 pm. The is a great little neighborhood art shop. Almost everything will be on sale 40-70% off regular retail.A great time to stock up on Christmas gifts . Its just around the corner you know. At least it felt like wintertime yesterday when the big hard snow flakes fell from the sky. Sounded like Reindeer on the roof,too. 

 Could just be delirium from the heat.

       

Sunday Walk

Uptown Dallas Today

  Just back from my walk around Uptown. A slow day is being had by all. Weather is warm with a few cool  raindrops  that felt very good. The trolley was mostly full as they usually are on a weekend day.

  Looks like the Cupcakery at 2222 Mc Kinney will be opening soon . Also looks like a new,really just a local eatry moving to new location,  restaurant will be opening at the Crescent . The West Village will be having live music on Tuesday night near the Magnolia Movie Theatre.

  Construction continues on the Granite Properties office high rise although it now looks like they have  a tree on top. This signifies that this is the top of the , 19th floor , building. The Gables apartment high rise is also getting near its 19th floor and they are already putting in balconies on the north side of the building. No announced retail at this time.

 Well I guess it is time to get a glass of wine and go on the balcony and watch the world go by on a slow Sunday afternoon.       

       

25th of May 1908

Uptown Dallas Today

 On May 25th 1908 the Trinity River crested at 52.6 ft  after 15 inchs of rainfall. This left the Trinity River 2 miles wide in some places and totally cut off newly annex Oak Cliff from the city of Dallas. Most of downtown was under water as was Mc Kinney Ave in downtown. Today that part of town is the West End and Victory Park. Both areas were under 6-10 foot of water. The water went up Mc Kinney Ave to just past where El Fenix is today. If you ride the Trolley when it makes a right turn on to St Paul the flood water was just one block down on Mc Kinney Ave .

 Of course most of Turtle Creek , western boundary of Uptown,was under water also as the flood waters backed up the creek. All the bridges crossing the Trinity were washed away. A new bridge , Houston St via duct , was quickly completed connecting Oak Cliff with downtown Dallas again. The reason it was so quickly completed is that for the next 18 months the area had very little rain. Not a day was lost due to rainfall. 

 That is why we love rain in Texas . With the flood today comes the drought tomorrow.

Happy Birthday America! 

        

The 4th and the 3rd

Uptown Dallas Today

 Time to celebrate Independence Day. Tonight in Addison they will have Kaboom Town starting at 5 pm. The Cavnaugh Flight Museum will have an old Warbird Flyover at 7:30 pm  followed by the Kaboom Town fireworks at 9:35 pm. Then an outdoor movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at 10.00 pm. Sometimes you can see the fireworks from Uptown,but,you will need to be at least 3 floors up.

On the 4th at Fairpark Dallas will have a big celebration starting at 5 pm. With live music and free admission to the museums till 7:30 pm . The fireworks begin in Fair Park at 9:30 pm on Saturday night. You should be able to see most of the fireworks from Uptown and will definitely hear the boom of the fireworks. Of course the higher you viewing point the better the view.

 Have fun be safe and enjoy your Independence.