Let’s be honest, going to concerts at outdoor venues really sucks during the hot Texas summer. Not only is it still hotter than hell after dark, but you’re going to get eaten alive by mosquitos and have to share a crowded space with a bunch of sweaty strangers. Put simply,…
To say that Mexican food in Texas is in a period of transformation is a serious understatement. Tex-Mex restaurants that were inspired much more by Tejanos in Texas may have once been more popular than traditional interior Mexican dishes, but chefs like Nico Sanchez at Meso Maya and Abraham Salum…
It’s not as if anyone really needs a reason to drink a few beers, but sometimes it’s nice to feel like your booze habit can actually benefit others. If you’re a fan of local beer and want to get a little tipsy for a cause, head to Community Beer Company…
George Strait The Cowboy Rides Away Tour AT&T Stadium, Arlington Saturday, June 7, 2014 Last Saturday night, a massive crowd of dedicated country music fans crammed into AT&T Stadium to say goodbye to the king of country music, George Strait. After 30 years of making some of the best music…
It’s been a pretty terrible past few years for country music. The rise of “bro country,” music made for and by red-blooded, America-loving, beer-drinking white guys like Luke Bryan and Eric Church, has turned the country music airwaves largely into a cesspool. There is one glaring exception, though: reigning queen…
After spending five years on tour in support of his platinum hit, “Collide,” Howie Day was looking for a much-needed break. Day has been largely off the radar since 2011, making the choice to focus on writing music instead of performing live. He also dealt with some high-profile run-ins with…
If you haven’t been to King Spa & Sauna, you’re missing out on one of the most unique cultural experiences in Dallas. Called jjimjilbangs in Korea, these sometimes gender-segregated, sometimes co-ed bath houses offer an opportunity to detoxify (whatever that means) in ornately decorated saunas, eat Korean food, have a…
It seems as if Dallas is quickly becoming a destination for chefs that hail from California. Several well-reviewed kitchens across the city, including Gemma and Victor Tangos, are helmed by chefs who honed their skills in Napa, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. Chefs Melody Bishop and Dennis Kelley of Lark…
The beverage side of your dinner bill is sometimes just as costly as the food that you’re eating. The rising costs of food, everything from limes to bacon, have restaurants looking for creative ways to make extra cash. The wine list is a prime spot for boosting profits, and that…
Food trends come and go, but for the last few years poutine has been cropping up on menus across the country. Poutine originated as a lowly diner food for drunk Canadians in the 1950s, but chefs are adding their own upscale twists to the dish as it becomes one of…
In the last few years, the Dallas Design District has become a true food destination. Matt McCallister’s FT33 is responsible for much of that, but Chef Richard Gras is making his own kinds of waves down the street at Oak. After the departure of Jason Maddy in late 2012, Gras…
For my dining dollar, dessert really isn’t as great a value as that foie gras add-on or an excellent cheese plate. Once I ordered the Basque cake at Gemma, though, I had to reconsider my no-dessert policy. In France, gâteau Basque is a traditional dessert of the Basque region. This…
Local musicians in Dallas have it tough. We don’t have a cultivated, nationally-renowned music scene like Austin or Seattle, but there is plenty of great talent in the metroplex that is looking for a place to shine. Red Bull Sound Select is a sort of corporate incubator for local “on…
For decades, steakhouses have been the driving force behind the Dallas dining scene. As any experienced local chef will tell you, here, meat is king. Recently, though, an increased focus on lighter, produce-driven dishes has diversified menus and put the city on the radar of national food critics. With his…
This time of year, the temperatures in Dallas remind us why we all choose to live in Texas. The weather is beautiful, but it will soon turn into a sweltering inferno that will turn all of us into sweaty, pissed off jerks. When it’s 110 degrees outside, as it will…
I used to think that I was a nerd, especially in high school. I spent a lot of time watching C-SPAN, reading The New York Times and generally being awkward and ignoring the interests of my peers. I wasn’t into sci-fi or Star Wars or Magic The Gathering, but I…
Driving up U.S. 75 toward Durant, part of me was excited about seeing Hank Williams Jr. live. I knew that he was an arch-conservative, a bit of a racist, and probably too old to be any good, but there is always something exhilarating about seeing and hearing songs from your…
After being praised for their barbecue prowess by what seems like every publication in Texas, Pecan Lodge owners Justin and Diane Fourton decided that it was time to stretch their legs and start serving their loyal fans in a bigger space. On May 12, the Fourtons served up the last…
In the past five years, the local Dallas music scene has cranked out some incredible talent. St. Vincent, Sarah Jaffe, and the Baptist Generals have all been drowned in music critic acclaim, along with their more silent partner Robert Gomez. Gomez is no stranger to critical acclaim, having been given…
For the past few years, an increased focus on local produce has dominated menus across the city. Chefs began to move away from using the bland produce that is available year-round in favor of a more seasonal approach that makes fresh produce shine on the plate. No restaurant has been…
After Chef Eric Shelton cooks his last meal at Kitchen LTO on June 1, a new chef chosen by the people will start fresh with a brand new concept. Last week, owner Casie Caldwell held a tasting and voting party where diners could choose a winner from the five semi-finalists…
Buying fish can be hard. The selection at grocery stores is often lacking in terms of both variety and sustainability, and the quality often leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve dropped a bundle of cash at Whole Foods or Central Market on supposedly fresh fish that has actually been…
