They say everything’s bigger in Texas. Dallas is certainly proof of that! From its beautiful and well-lit skyline, the city expands out over many miles, nearly touching her nearest neighbor, Fort Worth! But it’s not just sprawl that makes it bigger. The city is at once a metropolis and southern in its styles and hospitality. There’s very little one cannot find in Dallas! As you know, your Itinerant Attendee is never satisfied with the mundane, though. We’re here to talk about what’s different!

One of the aspects of Dallas that causes it to stand out above other conference destinations is the choice of quality restaurants. Texas is cattle country; you can have your steak and eat it any way you like in Dallas, from the unusual Texas de Brazil restaurant’s South American flavors and style to the classic Morton’s Steakhouse with its extensive wine list and outstanding service… and these are just a couple examples of the many steak houses in the city. While we’re talking about awesome places to eat, a new find: The Grape Restaurant! This Dallas landmark’s blackboard menu is surprisingly affordable, offering true culinary delights! Their wine list (available by the glass) was a pleasant surprise as well! What may very well be the unexpected surprise of the trip, though, was found in the Oak Lawn area. Along the very festive Cedar Springs Road, we found Buli’s, a sidewalk cafe offering fresh-grilled panini sandwiches, served in lunchboxes. That was endearing, but the gelato was pure heaven! I’ve not had that flavor sensation since the last time I was in Italy! Bravo, Buli’s!

In such an eclectic city, there are myriad attractions, both common and uncommon. Sure, the Six Flags and Medieval Times are there (Go Green Knight!,) but there are some truly enriching experiences that don’t cost a fortune to visit as well. The Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art is one such noteworthy place. This museum preserves over 700 scrolls, paintings and art objects from China, India, Japan and Southeast asia. Display pieces include rare jade ornamentals from China, and a huge sandstone facade from 18th century India, amongst the 300-plus works one can view. This rare view of Asian art made a huge impression on me, and admission was free!

When it comes to nightlife, Dallas is one hopping town, no matter how you like to move your groove! Rock & Roll, Salsa, Country, Jazz or Disco, live music or dancing — you name it, there’s at least one place that shares your tastes. We were pretty exhausted most nights, but did manage to hit a couple clubs on Friday night. No Dallitude while we were there! Everyone seemed to be there to have fun. We all had a blast!

Though Dallas is a relatively new growth town, you’ll want for nothing there. From the cultural diversity and rich new architecture, from the Tex-Mex to the down-home Howdy, Dallas is a really enjoyable place to visit! I’ll be looking forward to our next conference in D-town!

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