Entertainment in Dallas–Fort Worth
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A
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
You definitely won’t go thirsty: the bar inside this old brick building is made for craft-beer-lovers (80 brews on tap). How can you not love a bar whose jam-packed patio is called ‘Half-Acre Hell?’ The waitresses slinging beers in Catholic-schoolgirl outfits are kinda weird, but hey, this is a funky old place that flips the bird to political correctness – if the old-fashioned cigarette machine is any indication.
reviewed
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B
Bass Performance Hall
The stunning, acoustically dazzling Bass Performance Hall recalls a classic European opera house, with over 2000 seats beneath a dome of painted sky. Along with touring artists, it’s also home to the Fort Worth Symphony, the Fort Worth Opera and the Texas Ballet, plus plenty of touring shows.
reviewed
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C
Wyly Theatre
The vertically stacked, 12-story Wyly Theatre broke the architectural mold by challenging traditional theater designs. Worth seeing just for the building, it’s the headquarters of the Dallas Theater Center. This is a major American regional theatre, producing classic dramas, musicals and edgy new works.
reviewed
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D
Stoneleigh P
Stoneleigh P channels the spirit of its original building with black-and-white photographs of medicinal items stocking the antique pharmacy cabinets, Texas memorabilia and two working jukeboxes. As the sun goes down, this restaurant becomes more of a bar, serving 'drugstore drinks', beers and hard liquor at the converted soda counter.
reviewed
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E
Double Wide
Are these rednecks pretending to be hipsters or hipsters pretending to be rednecks? In any case, everyone and their mom seems to be coming to Deep Ellum to drink PBRs on toilet seats and gaze at naked-lady paintings while they revel in being ‘trailer trash,’ if only for an hour. Live music keeps the irony from killing the fun.
reviewed
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F
Billy Bob’s Texas
The 100,000-sq-ft building that is now the world’s largest honky-tonk, called Billy Bob’s, was once a barn housing prize cattle during the Fort Worth Stock Show. After the stock show moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Center, the barn became a department store so big that the stock keepers wore roller skates.
reviewed
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Balcony Club
This mysterious upstairs hideaway feels like a secret even though it’s not. Emerald walls, a tiny stage and a cozy nook of a patio above the Landmark Theater draw all ages for nightly live music – mostly jazz – and sassy drinks like moonlight martinis and three-way tropical punch.
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Libertine
Any Austinite hipster who dares to call Dallas uncool should be forced to drink a single beer in this bar. We like how the sophisticated pub food and convivial neighborhood vibe, all wrapped up in a sultry retro setting, make us feel just slightly cooler than we actually are.
reviewed
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Iron Cactus
With over 80 selections of Mexican tequila, this bubbly downtown party spot is oft-rated the best happy hour in Dallas. It’s certainly the breeziest patio, with a multitiered deck overlooking fountains below. Try the deadly cactus juice.
reviewed
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Cowboys Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys got the nickname ‘America’s Team’ after they won three US football championships in the 1990s. Their snazzy, new, retractable-roof home, Cowboys Stadium, opened in 2009.
reviewed
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Pearls Dance Hall
On the edge of the stockyards, this raucous old brothel once owned by Buffalo Bill Cody is an atmospheric place to hear traditional country music with an edge. Texas luminaries like Dale Watson are known to rock out here.
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G
American Airlines Center
The American Airlines Center in Victory Park hosts megaconcerts and is home to the Dallas Stars ice-hockey team and the Dallas Mavericks pro basketball team.
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Landmark Theatres
The Landmark Theatres operate two historic cinemas in town: the Inwood, and the Magnolia in the West Village. Both show foreign and independent films.
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Barcadia
Come for the games, stay for the drinks. Great for making meaningful eye contact with cute strangers to whom you have nothing to say and share nothing in common, except for a love of Connect Four.
reviewed
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Granada Theater
This converted old movie theater, often praised as the best live music venue in town, books popular rock and country bands like Of Montreal and Junior Brown that appeal to an older, hip crowd.
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Poor David’s Pub
Texas music legends Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kelly Willis, Guy Forsyth and Steve Earl have all graced the stage at this venerable old club near Gilley’s. For most shows, buy tickets at the door.
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Usual Bar
The Usual Bar serves up debonair drinks like ‘Jimador’s revenge’ and ‘taxation & representation’, so you know the retro craft-cocktail craze has come to Fort Worth.
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AT&T Performing Arts Center
With the opening of the multibillion-dollar AT&T Performing Arts Center in October 2009, Dallas now has several new architecturally noteworthy performance venues.
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Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre
This is the setting for the summertime Shakespeare Festival of Dallas ([tel] 214-559-2778, www.shakespearedallas.org), a series of free outdoor performances of the Bard’s works.
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Lakewood Theater
A local fave is the beloved Lakewood Theater, a 1938 restored art-deco palace that shows films, music and other diversions like trivia, karaoke and burlesque.
reviewed
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City Tavern
Every city needs an old classic like this, with pressed-tin ceilings, live music and a low-key, feel-good, throw-back-a-beer vibe that chains only wish they could manufacture.
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H
White Elephant Saloon
Stockyards cowboys have been bellying up to this bar since 1887 (now Tim Love owns it too). Local singers and songwriters are showcased nightly.
reviewed
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Soda Gallery
A unique soda shop featuring old-fashioned brews, where you can curl up on a red leather sofa with a homemade ginger ale and a board game on a blistering afternoon.
reviewed
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I
Cowtown Coliseum
For intense rootin’-tootin’ action, catch a real live rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum at 8pm on Friday and Saturday nights year-round.
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Cavern
A homage to the Beatles’ old venue, this tiny indie spot books good alternative acts. Don’t miss the Frank Sinatra cover night on Sunday, a local institution.
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