Dynamic DFW

Hello Readers! *Author's note: I originally wrote this in 2014 and recently recovered the lost file. I hope you enjoy! Sorry, there are no pictures for this post. As some of you may know, I've been getting into the swing of things at my new job as a grant writer for a local nonprofit organization. As a result, I haven't had much time to update Dynamic DFW. Now that things are on an even keel at work, I am hoping to post regularly again, though it will likely be monthly instead of weekly due to time constraints. For this post, I wanted to focus on the  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas. Named after Texas Instruments co-founder J. Erik Jonsson, the library is the heart of the Dallas Public Library system and has a few really neat features! Make a beeline for the 7th floor. There you can see: 1. An original broadside print from July 4, 1776 of the Declaration of Independence. This was basically one of the drafts handed out before the official Declaration...

*Editor’s note: I originally wrote this in December, but due to a series of personal events was never able to post it. I hope you enjoy this belated winter post! Up to this point, my blog has mostly focused on the Dallas half of “DFW”, so I wanted to write a little about Fort Worth.  I was so excited when a friend invited me to see “The Nutcracker” at Bass Performance Hall in Downtown Fort Worth . I would never have guessed that the most memorable part would be the train ride there. For those who have never been to the DFW area, it’s important to note that living in the Metroplex is a lot like living in Los Angeles: Most people have cars and public transportation is typically used only for special occasions.  However, in the last few years, the Dallas Area Rail Transit (DART) and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) have made an excellent marketing effort to get more riders. Because it’s about an hour drive from Dallas to downtown Fort Worth, including several highw...

A feminist walked into an antique store for men. No, that’s not the start of a bad joke. It’s what happened when I checked out DFW M’Antiques in the Bishop Arts District . DFW M’Antiques is like the treehouse with the “no girls allowed” sign after the boys become teenagers: It’s a place for the boys to escape to, but they clearly still want the girls to stop by and appreciate their cool clubhouse. In fact, the store has a section of women’s clothing and jewelry, and it’s clear within moments of talking to owner Compton Creel that the intent of marketing antiques to men isn’t a dig at the ladies. Based on these Yelp! reviews , the female patrons mostly appreciate the niche marketing tactic and enjoy the store all the same.             “We wanted a place that was just for guys to hang out,” Creel said, adding that they offer all patrons a free cup of beer as they shop. That “we” refers to himself and business partner ...

View of the Texas School Book Depository Building (far left) where it is believed Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated JFK from a sniper's nest on the sixth floor. Photo courtesy the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy’s motorcade pulled onto Elm Street in downtown Dallas, preparing to end what had been a highly successful campaign stop. Suddenly, a shot rang out and the president slumped to the side. A second shot rang out and the scene devolved into chaos as the motorcade sped to get out of the line of fire and onlookers dove for cover or scattered. Autopsies would later reveal that the president was shot twice: Once in the throat and once through the skull . Check out this cool interview with Henry Wade who was the Dallas County District Attorney in 1963. Eye witness testimony, along with amateur videos and photos, led to confusion about where the shots were fired from and whether there was a second shooter. Some say they saw a...

View of AT&T Stadium from Lot 13 One of the largest draws to the Dallas area for out-of-towners is AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Dallas Cowboys fans still refer to the complex as “Cowboys Stadium” or “Jerry World” in honor of billionaire Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. But the move to rename the stadium in honor of corporate sponsor AT&T is a huge financial plus for the Cowboys that is expected to draw $17-$19 million per year with 5 percent going to the City of Arlington, according to this Dallas Morning News article . Let’s face it, after the great Super Bowl Debacle of 2011 , the stadium could use the image makeover. Side view of the HD display board. I was fortunate to check out the stadium when my alma mater, Texas Christian University, squared off against Louisiana State University in the Cowboys Classic on August 31. Although my Horned Frogs were ultimately defeated, it was a heck of a game and I am excited to watch the mostly-sophomore team grow over the next c...

Hi folks! In honor of the holidays this week and since I've been a bit under the weather, I am taking a short hiatus. Check back on Monday for the latest post, and enjoy your week!

Visitors to Dallas know that Dealey Plaza and Elm Street is the site where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. But in their casual exploration of this area, they may notice a red brick building whose elaborate design (including turrets and terra cotta wyverns ) contrast the utilitarian design of the surrounding properties. Built in 1892, the Old Red Courthouse looks like a storybook castle. This may account for its popularity as a wedding spot (what bride doesn’t want to feel like a princess?). But as cool as this building looks from the outside, the inside is definitely worth a visit for history buffs, Dallas tourists, or really anyone with a sense of curiosity. Pictured above is "Little Maggie", the frozen margarita machine invented in Dallas. The former courthouse is now home to the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture . The museum features highlights and low points of Dallas County history, dating from prehistory to modern day....

Since moving to Dallas in 2010, I have always had a bit of a fascination with the Inwood Theatre. From the vintage neon sign outside to the neat murals and etched glass inside, I suspected that there was more to the story of this little three-screen movie theatre. That’s why I was very excited to find the theatre’s history listed on its website, which you can access by clicking here . One of many fish etched into glass at the Inwood Theatre. The mural in the back is located on the right wall along the stairwell. Built in 1947 by the Interstate Amusement Company, the Inwood Theatre was designed with an aquatic theme that is still visible for visitors today. This theme includes a ceiling mural of naked nymphs, an aquatic mural along the stairway and glass etched with beautiful fish. According to their website, the glass has always been lit to create the effect of looking at an aquariums. The murals were painted by Dallas artist Perry Nichols, who also created the mural in f...

Left is the Peters Colony Land Grant Office and right is a replica log cabin at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. As you might have guessed from my previous posts, the only thing I like more than learning about history is learning about history for free. That is why I was so excited to find out that the Farmers Branch Historical Park offers visitors the chance to get a glimpse through time without spending a dime. Even better, the park provides several “hands on” opportunities for guests. “As you’ll see, there’s no Plexiglas and we offer one-on-one tours,” said Barbara Judkins, Museum Educator. “Our attitude is 'Come on in and get immersed in the history'.” The cornerstone of the Historical Park is the Gilbert House, which was built in 1856 and is the oldest structure still on its original foundation in Dallas County. The dogtrot style of the house means that the rooms branch off from a large central breezeway. Like so many historical homes, the Gilbert House ...

Love him or hate him, there is no denying that George W. Bush’s presidency occurred at the turning point of global history. From the Florida Recount to 9/11, from Hurricane Katrina to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the eight years George W. Bush served in office were turbulent, controversial and fascinating. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum does an excellent job of taking visitors through his presidency without glossing over the controversial events. One area I was particularly impressed with was the Decisions Points Theater that simulates the decisions the 43 rd President had to face throughout his presidency. Visitors are provided with a computer that allows them to pick and choose what advice to listen to and then are forced to make a decision within a limited amount of time. Media tree where visitors can take a photo to pledge to volunteer in their communities. Another highlight was the media tree that allows visitors to take a photo of themselves in ...

I’m going to be completely upfront and say that I have a personal connection to the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance. I began volunteering there in 2012, and I currently assist with special events as well as work a monthly shift at the front desk. So let me tell you about why I am so passionate about this little museum. Many of our World War II Veterans and Holocaust Survivors are now in their 80’s and 90’s, and beginning to die out. As time has distanced us from the events that occurred during the Holocaust, it has become easier for Holocaust deniers and conspiracy theorists to spread their lies. Today, in many parts of the world, people believe that the Holocaust never happened or was exaggerated for some sort of political gain. For this reason, the preservation of history is more critical than ever before, and the Dallas Holocaust Museum offers visitors the chance to connect with the real stories of local survivors. Founded in 1984 by a group...