Sitting at home looking wistfully at a map of the USA, certain cities are always likely to catch your eye: New York, LA, San Francisco, and other major cities. This month, however, across television screens and internet pages, it is the city of Dallas, Texas, that will suffer the our gaze, as the world reflects upon the assassination of President Kennedy, fifty years on. Beyond that dark morning however, there is much of Dallas that will delight a curious globetrotter, and there is hope that this month's surge in cityscapes will grant them some deserved attention. (Photo "City Shots" by dui_247)On paper Dallas impresses; it is the 9th largest city in the States and as an economic powerhouse and financial hub, is referred to as one of the country's 'alpha cities'. However below its butch reputation for business, burgers and cowboys, the city also has a surprisingly vibrant cultural scene that extends beyond the celebrated - if now retired - Barney the Dinosaur. Home to the largest center of urban art in the country, visitors to Dallas can visit the city's Arts District, where the Winspear Opera House and Texas Ballet Theatre are situated, and the renowned Dallas Symphony Orchestra play. One can also find here the mammoth Irvin Arts Centre which is comprised of four galleries, two theatres and an outdoor sculpture garden. For the traveler on a shoe-string, in the Arts District there are plenty of smaller institutions which put on a variety of events from outside concerts to the Chinese Lantern Festival, currently lighting up the city and displaying a pagoda composed of 680,000 pieces of porcelain dishware.
Such multi-culturalism is not to be found only in the art of the city. Texas has in the past been part of both the French and Spanish Empires, as well as Mexico, before being annexed by the USA in the 1840s. Marinating in such a mix of cultures, the state's cuisine had thrown up 'Tex-Mex'; third or fourth generation Mexican food that has evolved into something fresh in the hands of its new environment. Though the central ingredients are much the same as traditional Mexican food, Tex-Mex recipes make use of non-Mexican spices like cumin, leading to the creation of dishes such as chili con carne and fajitas. (Photo "Downtown Dallas" by elemntz11)
Restaurants serving quality and cheap Tex-Mex can be found in the center of Dallas, confusingly referred to as 'downtown'. The real foodies can also visit the bustling Farmers' Markets on intersection of Pearl and Cadiz brought, where they have been held since cows and sheep were brought to be haggled for in the early 1800s. Armed with fresh produce, one can kick back with a few Frozen Margaritas - invented in the city in 1971 by restaurateur Mariano Martinez - and then later sober up with a walk down to the White Rock Lake, a popular haunt for boaters, joggers and others seeking peace and quiet.
Of course, before such activities can be enjoyed, practical considerations must be taken into account. If traveling to Dallas from outside of the States, it is important to ensure you are aware of any visa requirements that may be applicable. You can find assistance with this at sites such as this one here. This can also help you navigate the greencard system, if you are planning a longer stay in the country.
