Lark on the Park, which I review in this week's paper, feels like the start of something to me. Downtown Dallas can be such a sleepy place in the evenings, and pedestrians are few and far between. There are a few lines outside of the clubs deeper downtown, and the bars draw a few patrons, but the streets always seem empty.
See Also: - This Week's Review: LARK Brings Lunch to the Park
After one late dinner at LARK I took a walk around Klyde Warren Park and admired the skyline. I felt like I was in a different city. The park was dead compared to a busy Saturday afternoon, but there were a few people milling about. And you could hear the chatter from LARK's outdoor patio from across the street.
Then I had to grab my car from the valet. It was nice while it lasted.
Klyde Warren gets people out and on their feet, and a good collection of restaurants and or a café or two could keep them there. Dallas has been trying to draw people downtown, and I think these new developments could really accomplish something. The park is dangerously close to Uptown, and the trolly line connects everything to downtown. You can almost see people really, you know, walking around. You might even bump into one on the sidewalk. Pack your Purell, OK?
LARK breaks another trend I'd like to see shift more in Dallas. They're open till 1 a.m. on the weekends, which is very late by Dallas restaurant standards. I hope more restaurants can follow suit. It's a bummer when you leave a show at one of the venues downtown, only to find you have to eat at Velvet Taco or a greasy diner.
