Five O'Clock Dallas Blog

Fire burns Lower Greenville bars - Terillis, Hurricane Grill, Mick's & Greenville Bar & Grill

Alyssa — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:01:51 +0000

According to the Dallas Morning News, early this morning a fire broke out in Terilli's Restaurant and Bar on Lower Greenville. The 1920s era building, also home to Hurricane Bar & Grill, Mick's Bar and Greenville Avenue Bar & Grill, quickly raged into a four-alarm fire, causing the building's roof to cave in.

Photo: Jim Mahoney, Dallas Morning News

One firefighter was injured during the blaze, but it's believed no one was in the building when the fire broke out. It's a horrible blow to Lower Greenville, especially right before its major St. Patrick's Day celebrations. One of our friends went by there this morning - and he thinks they're all a total loss.

We'll keep everyone posted throughout the day as we hear more about each bar's future. If you hear any information that you'd like to pass onto us, send us a tweet or leave a note in the comments.

Crush Wine Bar Update: Inventory Moving Sale

Alyssa — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:30:05 +0000

We've got a quick update for everyone about the impending closing/moving/teleportation of Crush Wine Bar in Knox Henderson. We've received an email from them that makes it sound like they're just moving (we've got our fingers crossed!) and, in the meantime, you can stock up on some discounted wine!

From the email:

SPECIAL INVENTORY MOVING SALE
Monday, February 15th thru Saturday, February 20th

No Hype here. Wine is fragile and we don't want to move it so it's just good savings to our loyal customers Here's what you save:
Bottle Quantities 1 to 5 = 15%
6 to 11= 20%
Case (12 +) = 25%

The above discounts are only for off-premises sales (not for bottle wine opened and served in the shop) and do not apply to wines already sale priced. Due to timeframe, all sales are on a first come basis. Phone in orders must be prepaid and picked up by Saturday, February 20th.

BOGO dinners this week at World Piece Cafe

Alyssa — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:17:52 +0000

This week, World Piece Cafe is showin' us the love! This Wednesday and Thursday, one FREE main course per table Wednesday and Thursday! Just make a one day advance reservation by email (mail@watels.com) and mention Five O'Clock Dallas - and, of course, how much you love us!

Need to know more about World Piece Cafe? Well, it's the new kid on the block on Greenville Ave - boasting a global menu and a diverse wine list. For more info, check out their website!

Crush Wine Shop on Knox Henderson is Closing

Colin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:45:42 +0000

It's come to our attention that Crush Wine Shop on Knox Henderson has lost its lease, and will thus be closing for the time being. It seems as if it has been undecided if Crush will reopen, and if it does, where. The team at Five O'Clock Dallas have only been to Crush once in the past, but we did enjoy our experience, and are disappointed in the loss of good Dallas wine shop. I've copied the e-mail from the owner, Jim, below.

Did you ever go to Crush? What did you think of the establishment?

To our many valued patrons and friends - On February 22, 2010, Crush Wine Shop will no longer be operational at 3205 Knox St. We have lost our lease and will be moving from this location. Future plans are uncertain at this time...but stay tuned. It has been a pleasure being part of the Knox area retail community and hopefully we have provided you, our customers, with a quality experience and good memories. That has always been our goal. You have my deepest appreciation for your patronage and loyalty during our almost three year s tenure. I have been fortunate to have the absolute greatest employee group. James Jordan and Travis James have been an invaluable full-time management team. In addition to James phenomenal palate (from which we have all benefited) and Travis wine passion, they have played a vital role in helping me deliver the level of customer service and wine values that helped make Crush the place it is. Chip Coker, who kept my computer systems and newsletter going strong and the part-time staff Bronwen, Jennifer, Dorothy, Sherry, and Lee are all accomplished business professionals who brought a myriad of skills and most importantly a love of wine to their roles. I thank them all. While this announcement may seem sudden, it has been under discussion with the property owners since early January. However, please understand that to have made any public comments prior to the recent completion of these discussions would have been premature and inappropriate. We will be conducting an inventory clearance sale this week to avoid having to move any more stock than necessary, so come shop for some super deals. I ask our entire group of Crush Club Wine Program members to be sure and pick up their January wines and any other prior month s wines not yet retrieved. Words cannot express the feelings I have regarding this turn of events. Crush and the ambience of the Knox St. site was a long-time dream of mine. It brought all the wonderful experiences I anticipated...and a few challenges I didn t. Getting to know you, my customers, working with my wine distributors, and meeting winemakers from all over the world was truly a kick for a wine nut like me. It was, in fact, a joy. Just in case this is a final Word from Jim.. Thank you all for being the best clientele a business owner could ask for. - Jim Larkin

Bargain Beer for the Big Game

Alyssa — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:55:32 +0000

You want Widmer, your buddy wants Shiner. Your one friend won't drink anything but Miller Light (really?) and you've got a hipster coming over that only likes PBR. What's a Super Bowl party host to do?

Solution! Head to Central Market - they've got 20% off ALL BEER through 2/9/2010. All beer. Cans, bottles, big bottles, mini kegs. And if you've been to Central Market before for beer, you know they've got something for everybody.

Except your friend who doesn't like beer. What's up with that?

And one more thing.... WHO DAT?

(Thanks to @JohnnyBravvo for the heads up!)

Go Red at BlackFinn for a good cause!

Alyssa — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:21:27 +0000

Party for a good cause on February 5th at BlackFinn American Saloon - in both Addison and Arlington! Attend their Go Red Happy Hour from 6 PM - 9 PM and help raise money for the American Heart Association. Admission is $10 ($5 if you're wearing red!) and includes free food & a chance to win a Tiffany's Loving Heart Necklace.

Drinks all night will be served with a pomegranate twist, in honor of the fruit's antioxidants - which have been shown to prevent or reverse cardiovascular disease. Support the American Heart Association and recognize American Heart Month this February 5th at BlackFinn! For additional information on American Heart Month and the American Heart Association, please visit www.americanheart.org and for more info on the event, visit www.BlackFinnDallas.com, or follow BlackFinn on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BlackFinnAddison and www.twitter.com/BlackFinnArlTX.

Growlers: Beer and Take Out

Alyssa — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:45:34 +0000

There are many tools a beer lover must have. Glasses. Snacks. A Kegerator. Topping the list? Growlers. Beautiful, easy-to-carry glass jugs that store pints upon pints of hard-to-find, fresh-from-the keg beer. Hefeweizen, IPAs, Stouts, Ales, Lagers - you could probably even get one full of Bud Light (but why would you do such a thing?)

Unfortunately, growlers haven't caught on yet in Dallas. And we can't figure out why. Just look at it, in all of its beer transporting glory:

It's like a pitcher. And a jug. A moveable keg. It's perfect for patio drinking, tailgating and barbeques. It turns the great beer you find in a bar like the Gingerman or Flying Saucer into take out. And who doesn't love drinking-related take out?

This guy loves drinking-related takeout.

Growlers got their start in the late 1800s, when enterprising young drinkers decided to take beer from the pub home in steel containers. The sound of the beer sloshing (in addition to a certain level of intoxication) led people to call them growlers.

As a happy hour website, we see no downside to growlers. Economically, filling up a growler is typically cheaper per beer than going out to the bar. Socially, you have to go to a bar, brewery or liquor store to fill it, so it's a step above drinking by yourself at home (not that you would ever do such a thing, am I right?)

Growlers encourage you to try new beer - sample with a taste or a pint (or 3), and if you like it, you get to take some home. Sometimes we wish the same applied to other things: mattresses (which need a test drive), pets, and that guy you met at the bar last Saturday night.

So, we implore you, bars of Dallas. Please start stocking growlers so that we can take home the beers you so lovingly choose for us. We promise we'll come back and visit, even if we're just getting a refill.

Photos: smcdevitt and chimney23

It’s a Scotch-Off: Macallan vs. Dewar’s

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:47:53 +0000

Editor's note: the following is the first of 3 special posts by Rosilyn Rayborn. A whisky novice and BBQ connoisseur (thanks to her Memphis roots), Rosilyn spends her nights and days exploring Dallas for the best (cupcakes-Cretia's, margaritas-Iron Cactus, barbeque-THE ORIGINAL Sonny Bryan's) the city has to offer.

Think fast: How many of your high school history class lessons do you remember? How many lab experiments and field trips?

My guess is that you don’t really remember Ms. Long’s Chaucer lecture too well (unless Ms. Long was really hot), and that you do remember that cool science lab and even your first field trip (if you’re a fellow Memphian, it was Graceland).

Why? Because interaction makes more of an impression on us than simply listening.

Point being: I recently attended two scotch tastings

here in Dallas: one for Macallan single malt scotch and one for Dewar’s blended scotch. Now, both brands have great tasting scotch, but the bottom line for me (and for them) is: When I go to Centennial and see Macallan on one end of the aisle and Dewar’s on the other, which will I buy? Well, I’ve made my decision and it has absolutely nothing to do with taste.

I always judge experiences based on sensory stimulation: the more senses you stimulate, the more points you score with me and when it comes to delighting my sense of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste, there’s no heads or tails of it. Macallan and Dewar’s had great high-quality digital media displays and music streaming during the event, they fed us and we held, smelled and sipped the best they had to offer in scotch. And, we even learned a little bit about Scotland along the way.

Have you been to a liquor, wine or beer tasting? What ended up being your favorite, and why? Stay tuned for more on Rosilyn's tasting experiences!

New Year's Eve 2010 Roundup: 16 Places to Celebrate The New Year in Dallas

Colin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:10:09 +0000

We're suckers for any excuse to party. And New Year's eve is the ultimate excuses to party. Days off from work, an abundance of alcohol and events means you don't have to try too hard to have fun. Here's a round-up of 16 places where you can get into some choice debauchery in the wonderful city of Dallas.

Flying Saucer Addison
New Year's Eve at the Flying Saucer
$10 cover
Live music by Chant!
Champagne Toast at Midnight
More Info

Old Monk, Idle Rich & Blackfriar Pub

The Monk, The Idle and Blackfriar Pub will celebrate New Year's Eve with free party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. DJs will entertain at each location starting at 9:30pm. The kitchen is open until 10pm, serving our full regular menu. There is a $5 cover after 9pm.

Doublewide
FREE "Champagne of Beer Toast" (we assume this is at midnight)

The Londoner Addison
DJs Christian Zanni & Dave Allardice
$10 cover gets you a champagne toast at midnight, plus party favors. Enjoy DeKuyper flavored Jello Shots.

Bryan Street Tavern
Live music featuring the Deathray Davies, Buttercup, Salim and The Dufilos. Free midnight pizza buffet, champagne toast and party favors. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Mercy Wine Bar
4 course dinner for $59.95 per person

St. Martin's Wine Bistro
3 course meal for $75 per person, reservations are required.
More info

Pearl
"Blue Moon Blues" New Year's Eve with Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King
Admission is $30 (or $27 if purchased online) and includes a night of live blues music, party favors, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast.

City Tavern
Live music starting at 10pm with Somebody's Darling and Southern Drive

Quarter Bar
Revisit your high school days with a Prom experience. $50 (if purchased online - Paypal Link) gets you Tito, Captain, Jameson, Lone Star Beer, PBR and Spiked Punch all night long. The Quarter will even crown a best dressed king and queen! Be sure to dress like you did for your very first prom.

Barley House
4 sets from Beatles tribute band, A Hard Day's Night. $40 gets you free champagne at midnight, party favors, and food.

Whiskey Bar
Celebrate the 80s with DJ Joel Cajewski
"Come out for the Whiskey Bar NYE 2009 party. No bottle service, no cover, not fancy.... just a good old fashion party."

Bread Winners
4 course meal for $47 per person, includes glass of champagne or wine.

Knox Street Pub
Happy hour prices all night long. Cover is $20 (ladies are free all night), which includes special guest DJ, complimentary valet, and a champagne toast at midnight. Guys get their first drink free.

Fuse Dallas Closing?

Colin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:55:45 +0000

Hearing rumblings from Twitter that Fuse, downtown Dallas' Asian / Tex-Mex fusion restaurant has permanently closed, but will re-open within a month with a new concept. If this is true, I'm a little surprised. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was very good - plus they had some really stellar mojitos.

Can anyone confirm this? Or should it be filed under the rumor category?

Update:

Looks like it is closed for a remodel folks. See you at the new place in the spring!

The Hangover Cure: Easing the Pain

Alyssa — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:14:07 +0000

Hangovers. We've all had them, and with the holidays in full swing, we're sure that there are many more on the horizon. We've tried greasy food, Vitamin B, the hair of the dog and 12 hours of moaning in bed, but nothing seems to be a foolproof fix.

Enter The Hangover Cure. These fellow Dallas drinkers know what it's like to wake up after a night spent knocking back tequila shots. They insisted we try their product, so, in the interest of research, we got wasted.

And wasted we were. It should be noted that rum & cokes at the Cavern are probably some of the strongest in the city. If you drink 6, it's best to have The Hangover Cure on hand, alongside some pizza and potato chips (not that we're speaking from experience).

One thing The Hangover Cure has going for it is its ease of use. It's a pre-portioned tube that you mix in a glass of water. So easy, a drunk person can do it (and we did):

When it's done fizzing and doing it's thing, it looks kinda like pink lemonade. Kinda.

Our ratings (on a scale of 1-10)
Taste: 8 (not bad, but we were also pairing it with pizza.)
Ridiculously long list of vitamins, electrolytes and various other good-for-you things: 10
Ability to make even the most restless drunk person sleep through the night: 28
Intensity of headache the next morning: 1 (Team Member A) and 3 (Team Member B - only complaint, but reports say Team Member B felt "way better" than after similar nights of debauchery)
Likelihood someone we know is getting The Hangover Cure for Christmas: 10

Well, there you have it. Whether your hangover involves not sleeping, a wicked headache, spinning floors or something worse, The Hangover Cure will probably make it suck less.

Celebrating Douchebags this Holiday Season

Alyssa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:49:22 +0000

Happy holidays, everyone! No, no, no, we don't mean Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving or New Years. Those are too average for a classy happy hour site like ourselves. What are we really excited to celebrate? Why, International Douchebag Awareness Day, of course!

We consider ourselves Douchebag Experts. We can spot them from a mile away in West Village or Uptown, smell their cologne and excessive hair gel from across a crowded bar and, let's face it, the sparkle from Ed Hardy shirts kind of stands out.

Join the cause. Help someone in desperate need of a dose of good taste.

(Thanks to @3horn on Twitter for the heads up!)

A Bar For All Seasons

Joe Flowers — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:39:41 +0000

I’m a seasonal drinker. I don’t just sip from a longneck 365 days a year. Instead, I adapt my consumption to be more in tune with the season. In summer there’s nothing better than a cold Dos Equis or Corona by the pool, but on a cold winter day I will choose mulled wine or spiced rum and cider first every time. That being said, I also prefer to sit by a fireplace over a patio in January. So where do I go to best enjoy my wintertime drinking? I’ve got a couple suggestions for a night out alone, with your friends or a date that are sure to keep you warm until this cold snap is over (so in four weeks or so).

Best Spot to Fly Solo

Cosmo’s – Often hailed as possessing the ‘Best Jukebox in Dallas,’ Cosmo’s is the place to go for a good (strong) drink, good tunes and a great fire. It’s unassuming and you’ll see people of all shapes and sizes hanging out in groups or flying solo. Depending who you ask, Cosmo’s can be defined as ‘retro,’ ‘hip,’ ‘scummy,’ ‘trendy,’ or ‘hipster.’ However, one thing everyone agrees on is ‘fun.’

Runners Up: Luna de Noche at North Park to get a break from shopping or La Madeline for a nice treat during your work lunch.

Best Spot to Go With (Furry) Friends

Lee Harvey’s – Whenever I go to Lee Harvey’s it’s like I’m stumbling onto a great block party where my invitation got lost in the mail. The first time I spotted this bar was while walking with a friend and her dog. We lingered outside the chain link fence before deciding to drop the pup off and returning for some cocktails by the fire - until we noticed all the other dogs chilling with their owners. That’s right, friends, Lee Harvey’s is dog friendly so grab your pooch and your pals and a thirst for some Lone Star and pull a bench up to the fire.

Runners Up: Capitol Pub, The Loon (but leave the furry kids at home)

Best Spot to Set the Mood

Wood Fire Kirby’s – Formerly Kirby’s Steakhouse on Greenville, this hot spot on a cold night has a trick up its sleeve – build your own s’mores. Or should I be more specific and say build your own s’mores with Wood Fire Kirby’s homemade marshmallows? Yea, homemade marshmallows. . .believe it. The food’s just as good as Kirby’s has always been so bring a date, get a bottle of wine (or two) and some s’mores for the perfect winter date night.

Runners Up: NYLO, Mercy Wine Bar

Joe Flowers is an almost native Texan who spends his days working in communications for a non-profit association and his nights scouring the city for the best drinks and eats. You can find his reviews on Yelp (http://unhatched.yelp.com) or read about his personal culinary exploits on his blog (http://unhatched.posterous.com) or on Twitter (@unhatched).

Photo Credit

Champagne Time: We're Going to SXSW!

Alyssa — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:27:19 +0000

Pop the champagne, beers on us and shots all around! Five O'Clock Dallas is proud to announce that we've been selected (along with In This Economy and I Live in Dallas) to speak at this year's SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin! (Got happy hour suggestions? Let us know in the comments!)

Major thanks have to go out to all of you that voted for Team CJ (go Citizen Journalism!) - and, for a bit of nostaliga, here's the video that helped get us there:

Food and Drink Specials at Tre Amici

Kevin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:48:32 +0000

Tre Amici Prime Steakhouse and Seafood is a nice joint, no question about it. But it's not every day that we can afford a nice steak and a bottle of wine. Thankfully, Tre Amici offers some great deals that deliver all the fancy steakhouse fun at a fraction of the fancy steakhouse price.

Each week Tre Amici spotlights its bar menu, signature menu items and select libations Monday through Saturday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00pm to 11:00pm.

The bar menu includes some serious fare like Kobe Meatball Sliders and Hand Breaded Calamari, each for the friendly price of just $5. Bar guests can also enjoy signature main menu items during happy hour, including Lobster Bisque ($6), Smoked Salmon Bruschetta ($8) and Ahi Tuna Tartar ($9).

To wash it all down, Tre Amici offers drink specials like half price wine by the glass, $6 specialty martinis, $3 bottled domestics and imports and $5 wells.

And aside from the great deals, Tre Amici has another draw -- live music. Pianist Adrian King entertains the well-fed crowd Tuesday through Saturday of every week. King toured with the Beatles and Rolling Stones, plus has played for Queen Elizabeth, so expect to be impressed.

Kevin Gray is the Dallas Drinks Examiner for Examiner.com and is the editor of Cocktail Enthusiast, a blog dedicated to cocktail recipes and liquor reviews. Contact Kevin at twitter.com/dallasdrinks.

Bar Food Bargains at Library Bar

Alyssa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:13:59 +0000

Disclosure: we love Library Bar. Especially their chef. That said, we're very excited that Library Bar has expanded their menu! Now, in addition to Calamari Salad (free on Wednesdays!), they've added small plates, large plates and more. Combine that with their happy hours, and you've got a classy, and affordable, night out. Here are some highlights:

Appetizers/Small Plates

Shrimp cocktail ($10)
Fried pot stickers ($8)
Potato Pierogi with Polish Vodka ($7)
Butternut Squash Ravioli ($8)
Grilled Flatbread ($11)

Salads & Sandwiches

Crab Cake Sliders ($12)
Tomato Bisque & Grilled Cheese ($12)

Large Plates

Grilled Chicken Breast & Gemelli Pasta ($15)
Cedar Planked Salmon ($19)

Adventures in Beer: Bud Select 55 Calorie

Alyssa — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:00:17 +0000

A few months back, Bud announced that the'd be releasing a 55 calorie beer: Bud Select 55. In the name of research, we procrastinated and discussed how disgusting this beer would be. THEN, again, in the name of research, we gave it a shot. Check the video for awesome reactions. The highlights:

It tastes like a can, but it's in a bottle!
It smells awful.
It's got a 3% alcohol content. That's like water you left out overnight. If you drink a regular beer, you're looking at 4-5%. And if you drink a triple (and you've had a really bad day), it's like 11-12%. We've made our case.

Conclusion? Waste of money. Find yourself a real beer and toast to the fact that you're not grimacing as you drink.

A World Tour near Fair Park

Alyssa — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:32:44 +0000

On a recent night, we found ourselves standing outside Fair Park's Green Line Station, craving beer and sustenance. Mostly beer. And, for those of you wondering what the heck we were doing in Fair Park/Deep Ellum/That Area: we weren't sketched out. It's not the best area, but it's certainly not the worst. Plus, we saw signs of good things to come: a pizza lounge (to open this month), rezoning for a tavern/pub down the street and several art galleries hosting what sounded like a fun reception. Our prediction? This is one neighborhood to watch.

Our adventure took us to 2 bars that were everything we could ask for in a pub. Our first stop:

The Meridian Room

The Meridian Room is a pub, through and through. I believe I've waxed poetic before about my passion for Pimms Cup (if you haven't tried it yet, c'mon!) and they have it. Listed. On. Their. Menu. +100 cool points. Their staff is awesome, and a shot of rum ordered after a long night came out 3 shots high and rang up for $5. Cheers! Meridian Room also has an excellent menu, from the classics of fish & chips to an encyclopedia of fries, including sweet potato and portabello. Rumor has it that you get some sort of food discount on Wednesday... After satisfying our appetites for food and libations, we decided to adventure on. We turned the corner and meandered over to:

Amsterdam Bar

This is Dallas. We have patio weather 10 months out of the year, 12 if you've got enough heat lamps. And Amsterdam Bar does. Their beer garden is huge (and you'd never be able to tell from the outside) - it's got picnic tables, heat lamps and an odd collection of children's bikes (we won't ask.) Their rotating tap selection satisfied the tastes of everyone in our group, and enough can't be said for the awesomely friendly staff. It was a fairly busy evening, but we were helped by, not one, but two bartenders within seconds of walking up to the bar.

Pro tip: they've got board games near the back of the bar. We recommend brushing up on your Uno skills and betting a round of beer for whoever wins.

And so, our Deep Ellum Fair Park Whatever neighborhood journey came to an end. Sadly, we didn't make it to the 3rd highlight of this area: Fallout Lounge, so leave your reviews in the comments!

The Tipperary Inn: Resurrected?

Colin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:24:50 +0000

So let me preface this post by saying, this is only a rumor. And it's a grapevine rumor at that, but one that's been brought to us by several independent sources.

It was a sad day back in mid May when the Tipperary Inn suddenly closed its doors. And not because it was a fantastic bar, but more because we lost a good neighborhood pub that was fun to go to for a couple pints.

Since the day the bar closed up shop, it's remained terribly vacant. And not that we're generally in the Lakewood area during the day, but as residents of the Lakewood hood, we never saw any activity at the Tipp's building.

However, toward the end of last week, we received a message from a friend that the Tipperary was going to re-open in March. Without any hard data, we opened it up to the Twittersphere, to see if anyone else had any information.

Along comes @mathewl5, a former Tipperary employee, with some good information. Paraphrasing the original e-mail he sent us, Matthew said that the previous Tipp owners did not understand the business end of running a bar, which ultimately led to its demise.

Having ran into another local Lakewood pub owner, who had talked to the owners of Tipperary roommates, The Wine Therapist (the grapevine at work...), he learned that the owners of Poor David's Pub would be taking the spot over, and turning it into a sports bar.

Now, as far as the likelihood of this rumor coming true, I'd put it at 50/50 at this point. But, another sports bar / pub in Lakewood would not be an unwelcome move.

What do you think? Have you heard any more rumors of a Tipperary resurrection?

How to Spot a Dallas Girl in Her Element

Alyssa — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:54:09 +0000

It's the girls' turn. For every Dallas douchbag you find, there's at least one girl parading around in a miniskirt in 50 degree weather. Thus, we present to you, our list of classic Dallas Girl characteristics.

Blonde (and not natural blonde)
Hairdressers in Dallas must be making a ton of money (and we must be in the wrong business). Bleaching brown, black and red hair into platinum blonde is probably responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in income every year. A Dallas girl is easily recognizable, even under black lights at clubs, if only by hair alone.

Do you have the urge...to herbal?

Jaywalking
Dallas girls are directionally-challenged. Sure they can find their way around the West Village, but can they navigate a crosswalk? Survey says...no. Make sure your brakes are good before you head towards Uptown on a Saturday night, and you should make it out okay.

Giant Bags
If you can't carry enough supplies to take care of a family of four for 2 weeks, your bag isn't big enough. You should be carrying, at minimum, a handle of Jager, four red bulls, Lady Gaga's makeup collection and a full change of clothes (for a walk of shame? We're not judging.) Ideally, your bag could also double as a traffic sign in color and size. Also, it should cost more than an Audi.

Fashion Failures
Weather be damned, fashion is the most important thing to a Dallas girl. Even if they only make $30,000 a year, they're spending at least $27,000 of that on clothes. The valets at Northpark know their names, and their credit cards catch on fire almost seasonally. Plus, there's no weather too cold, no rain too hard, no day too gloomy, to put away the neon-colored minidress.

Dating Douchebags
By a vote, this was the defining characteristic of a Dallas girl. Showing up at a bar with an Ed Hardy-wearing, expensive car driving, $30,000 millionaire acting douchebag puts you, without a doubt, in the category of Dallas Girl.

Thanks to @txpch, @chubby_kid & @wkay for the Twitter help on the post!

Photo credit: SheliaKane & Valentin.Ottone

How To Spot A Dallas Douchebag In The Wild

Colin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:32:08 +0000

Meet, the Dallas Douchebag.

The Dallas Douchebag Fashion

Ed Hardy Shirts

The Ed Hardy craze has definitely reached its fashion peak. Hopefully it won't be long before the Ed Hardy brand goes the way of Uggs & Miniskirts, Crocs, and tie dye. If you run into a few of these ubiquitous fashion items in a Dallas bar, run far far away, because you may have entered the realm of Dallas Douchebags.

Affliction Shirts

Much like its fashion twin, Ed Hardy shirts, an Affliction shirt is a staple in many a Dallas Douchebag's wardrobe. How is it that we let questionably stylish clothing, promoting a small California brand, and MMA fighters penetrate so far into our culture? I know we all like to get a little edgy, but really?

The Sideways Cap

Didn't this go out of style in the early 90's? I could have sworn it did. Despite the fact that I know fashion comes in waves, this is most definitely a faux pas. Next time you see a couple of these in a Dallas bar, flip a few of those caps in a new direction - and then run really fast.

Blonde Frosted Tips

Yet another early decade fashion trend that's definitely run its course. When was the last time you saw frosted tips, and it actually looked good?

An Over Reliance on Hair Gel

You know those Axe commercials? The ones where girls correct a guy's over gelled hair? Those have to be the only somewhat accurate Axe commercials out there. Coming from a guy who used to use a lot of hair gel back in the day, I can tell you that crusty hair did not feel good, so I can't possibly imagine it impressing a member of the opposite sex.

Popped Collars

Yes, popped collars are still an issue. I thought we figured out that popped collars were just a staple of douchebaggyness… but, apparently not. Much like the Ed Hardy shirts, if you see a few of these in a bar, turn around, walk out , and head to the nearest dive bar.

The Dallas Douchebag Lifestyle

Expensive Cars, Cheap Apartments

A Dallas Douchebag is all about the nightlife. And when your out on the town every night - you gotta be sure you have a bitchin' ride, right? After all, what good is picking up your date in a used civic when you could just as easily sport an Audi? Of course, the typical Dallas Douchebag isn't exactly rollin' in the dough, so it often comes at the expense of other things, like living space. Don't be surprised if the next Dallas Douchebag you see in that sweet european, also lives in the Village.

This train of thought plays right into…

The Dallas Douchebag Attitude

30,000 Millionaire

The 30,000 Millionaire attitude is the hallmark of any Dallas Douchebag. Eager to make a name for themselves, and intently focused on image, the Dallas Douchebag lets nothing get in his way, especially money. So if you're with a Dallas Douchebag, and he happens to order a round of drinks - be careful, he just might not be able to pay.

Thanks to @mathewl5, @justjessib, @dallaszip75201, & @erinjkelly for help on the post!

Photo Credit

One Arts Plaza Introduces Art-Inspired Drinks

Kevin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:58:31 +0000

This month, the restaurants of One Arts Plaza, the new, modern structure at the edge of the Dallas Arts District, are introducing signature cocktails to celebrate the growing arts scene that includes the recent unveiling of the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

The Performing Arts Center has been underway for years and will hopefully be a boon to the Arts District. And since the arts are best enjoyed with a fresh cocktail in hand, here's hoping the addition of good restaurants, plus well-crafted drinks, will add to the excitement.

Check out the signature cocktails below.

The Artini (Fedora) - Fresh muddled raspberries, raspberry vodka, a splash of cranberry and a splash of pineapple, all topped with champagne.

La Flora (Jorge’s) - Blood Orange Mexican Martini, made with Herradura Silver, blood orange fruit puree and sweet & sour. Shaken and served straight up.

The Encore (Screen Door) - Absolut Raspberry, St. Germaine, Champagne, a splash of cranberry with a berry garnish. This drink was created by Screen Door bartender Ryan Charles.

The Rubayiyat (Dali) – An equal shot of cranberry and pomegranate juices, followed by Prosecco and a raspberry garnish. Served in a champagne flute.

Sunset Opera (Tei-An) – Citrus vodka, pomegranate, fresh grapefruit juice and lime juice.

Kevin Gray writes about cocktails and spirits for CocktailEnthusiast.com and Dallas bars and restaurants for Examiner.com. Contact Kevin at twitter.com/dallasdrinks.

Henderson Ave Pub Crawl

Colin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:18:39 +0000

Dallas loves to valet. Bars, restaurants, the mall, sub shops, you name it, we're not bothering to park our own cars at it. Knox Henderson might be the valet capital of the world, a neighborhood where street parking and even paid parking lots have been replaced by hustling valets (why do they all run like that?)

Because we're frugal, we want you to get your bang for your valet buck. So, here's our Henderson Ave pub crawl - and don't blame us if you find your valet recommending a cab at the end of your evening.

Stop 1: Vickery Park

Vickery Park should be your first stop for a few reasons. First, if you get there early enough, there actually IS self parking. And it's free. Ish. Anyway, Vickery will also get your evening off to a great start with their fantastic beer selection and quite possibly the BEST mussels platter in town. No lie. Got your fill of shellfish? Then wander on over to...

Stop 2: The Porch

The Porch has one of the best patios in the Knox Henderson area, and it's fantastic for people watching... aka - watching the drunkies stumble around the street. While you're entertaining yourself with the nightly ritual, grab a cold drink, glas of wine, shot... you get the point. You'll enjoy the Porch's modern interpretation of southern living.

Stop 3: Victor Tango's

Victor Tango's brings new meaning to the term "house cocktail". Theirs consists of top shelf liquor and fresh ingredients. When we say fresh, we mean day-of muddled blackberries, pureed ginger and straight from the market herbs. Got the munches? We recommend the ahi tuna nachos or tasty fries. Don't take too long, though, because your next stop is:

Stop 4: The Old Monk

We're recent converts to the Old Monk fan club. It might be because of the giant mugs of beer they're now serving, but we can't be sure. Toss back a couple (if you're feeling adventurous, order a Snakebite) and then it's on your way home... in a taxi or in your car, we can't be sure.

Honorable mentions:

If you're not a fan of shellfish, patios, top-shelf liquor or beer, here are some other Henderson Ave. bars to check out:

Hacienda on Henderson (the new kid on the block)
Tei-Tei (sushi paradise)
Cuba Libre (who doesn't love pitchers of margaritas and sangria?)
Hibiscus (watch out, high roller!)

Bailey's Prime Plus Opens new Dallas Location

Kevin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:44:33 +0000

We recently had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of Bailey's Prime Plus, the brand new, very upscale steakhouse near North Park Mall.

Upon entering the premises we were immediately impressed. This is not your father's steakhouse. Rather than dim lighting and dark wood panels, this joint trims the place in gold and drops six trees in the middle of the dining room. It's certainly a feast for the eyes, if you can stop feasting on the delicious food long enough to notice your surroundings.

Over all, the decor was opulent, the food decadent, and the bar, well, it's still working out some kinks. The cocktail list includes some interesting fare, including a red drink bubbling ominously from the dry ice dropped into the bottom of the glass. But when ordering off-menu, the bartenders had some trouble making a manhattan and finding certain ingredients. But hey, it just opened, so we're happy to cut them some slack, especially since they were so friendly and accomodating.

If we can drum up the cash, we're looking forward to going back for dinner or having drinks in the gorgeous bar, where, if you stop in on a weekend, you'll enjoy some live music. We hope to see you there, and if you've already been, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Kevin writes about drinking in Dallas for Examiner.com and edits the cocktails and drinks blog CocktailEnthusiast.com. Contact Kevin at twitter.com/dallasdrinks.

It's Raining, It's Pouring... Let's go to a bar!

Alyssa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:14:46 +0000

As I write this post, a storm rages outside. We may not survive. But, if we do, I want you to be prepared for nights like this in the future. Growing up, board games, cards, books and ghost stories were a way to pass the time on a rainy day. Now that we're grown ups, all those things are, of course, fun, but it's always better if you add alcohol to the mix. And, if El Nino has anything to say about it, we're in for a long, rainy autumn.

Here's our go-to list of rainy day bars:

The Flying Saucer (Addison)
The Flying Saucer is our top recommendation because it's tried and true. We rolled up to this legendary beer bar as the tornado sirens were howling, but the awesome staff got the patio doors closed just in time. Plus, what better way to toast a storm with a delicious beer and some pretzels and queso!

Trinity Hall Irish Pub (Mockingbird)
As always, we've got to give credit to our Twitter followers. @L_Red recommended the fantastic Trinity Hall Irish Pub at Mockingbird Station. We agree - they have plenty of rainy day activites, from Irish dancing to trivia. Pair it with a Guinness and shepherd's pie and you're good to go!

Bryan Street Tavern (East Dallas)
Pizza. Shuffleboard. Pool. Board games. It's everything you loved about rainy days as a kid (well, if you were cool enough to have a pool table). And, you better hope it rains on Tuesdays, so you can take advantage of their awesome happy hour specials!

Libertine (Greenville)
So you had a Sunday Funday scheduled, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Fear not! Libertine's got your back from dawn to dusk - $3 mojitos & mimosas for brunch and half-priced food for the rest of the day. You can call out sick on Monday if you need to recover.

Cork Wine Bar & Store (Uptown)
It's like an arcade. Of wine. You get to play with touch screens and drink wine, all at the same time. It can even double as a learning experience - imagine impressing your next date with your knowledge of estate wines!

Quarter Bar (Uptown)
We love Quarter Bar's patio, but we have to admit that this place is prepared for a rainy day. Rainy Manic Monday? Feel a bit better with some PBR and pizza.

Photo: Mikael Miettinen

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30,000 Millionaire

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One Arts Plaza Introduces Art-Inspired Drinks

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Henderson Ave Pub Crawl

Stop 1: Vickery Park

Stop 2: The Porch

Stop 3: Victor Tango's

Stop 4: The Old Monk

Honorable mentions:

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It's Raining, It's Pouring... Let's go to a bar!

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