Back in April, Beck Ventures, a Dallas-based investment management company, told us of their big fancy plans to transform the Valley View Center into "Midtown Dallas; a mixed-use lifestyle project, creating an urban oasis at one of Dallas' most venerable and desirable locations."
As we all know, the best thing to do with a huge plot of land hugging a major thoroughfare that's under massive construction is throw a bunch of money at it. Which includes an internationally recognized five-star hotel, high-rise office buildings, plus multi-family and luxury residential towers.
But, before all those dreams come to fruition, the next best thing to do is throw a food truck park at it.
Accordingly, the first phase of the oasis is the Midtown Food Truck Fest, which will take place the 3rd weekend of every month, beginning July 20, 21 and 22.
The MFTF will have over 30 food trucks, some in the parking lot and other set up inside the mall's food court area, operating out of test kitchens. Plus, some holdouts from the mall-days will still be around, like Colters, Subway, Big Easy Cajun, RANA Grill, New China Grill, Oishii Tokyo, Thirsty's and Wetzel's Pretzels.
Fortunately there will be both indoor and outdoor places to chill and eat. There's also going to be live music, bounce houses, a mechanical bull (You weren't expecting that one, were you? Me neither.), a carousel, local art fair, a beer garden and bungee trampolines.
The art fest, or Gallery at Midtown, will take place on Saturday form 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - indoors.
It doesn't appear to cost to attend the event and there are a handful of sponsors lined up, so hopefully that's the case. A call and email to Beck haven't been returned.
Beck Ventures expects there to be as many as 15,000 attendees to each event. Check their site for full detials.
UPDATE: There is, in fact, a $5 gate fee to get in, however kids 15 and younger are free and entrance into the art fair is also free. All food and vendor sales are done through coupons. The outdoor food trucks will be set up in the covered parking garage with cool mist fans.